Speakeasies of Toronto

Brett Tauer | November 21, 2019

As a culinary graduate, foodie, and cocktail mixologist, I have often been asked the question: “what are some of the best speakeasies and hidden bars in Toronto?” BarChef, Cocktail Bar (Jen Agg), Bar Isabel, Bar Raval, and LoPan are just some of the places that scratch the surface, but good places to start none-the-less.

First, we must ask ourselves: “what makes a good cocktail?” To me that would consist of the quality of alcohol used, the freshness and utilization of real fruit or citrus juices, and the level of service you receive coupled with the environment you’re in. A speakeasy or cocktail bar to me needs to be more upscale, maybe costing a little more but still affordable for the quality of the product. They usually have a rating of over 4.5 on Google Reviews which I monitor constantly.

You must also ask: “what experience am I looking for tonight?” People go to bars for different reasons. You could be on a date trying to impress someone, you could be out with some friends to watch a big game, you could even be out just to find your favourite drink experience in the city.

If you’re going out for a night on the town, my best suggestions are (including the ones above) The Shameful Tiki Room, PrettyUgly Bar, Hanmoto, Library Bar, The Cloak Bar, Mahjong Bar, Gift Shop, and my personal favourite Coffee Oysters Champagne (C.O.C.). The most interesting thing about C.O.C. is that the façade of the restaurant/ bar itself seems like a very neat place for a glass of bubbly and maybe some oysters; however (spoiler alert!) if you ask to see their private champagne room politely, you may be taken in there to see a certain surprise awaits. Without giving too much away of the presentation, they do eventually take you to the real speakeasy in the back, where the cocktails, service, and food are beyond phenomenal.

Barchef (image from view the vibe)                                                C.O.C. (image from Toronto Life)

Wear a Crown at Koronadal

Vacations are really expensive. Beach more than $1,000. The food $200 per person. Believe me, I had the same problems but I discovered Koronadal City in the Philippines.

WHERE TO STAY

Before going to the Philippines, I researched hotels and was surprised to see hotels that range from $14 to $136 a night. TheFarm at Carpenter Hill is a resort and hotel, that accommodates events so it’s very convenient for every occasion.

WHAT TO EAT

Who doesn’t love food? Well, not me. I noticed when I was there were the food places!

Pantatan Fortune Field Resort Restaurant serves the best Filipino fish dishes you

want to try, from tilapia to catfish.

Basilio’s Based-Basil Pasta & Resto and $3 for lasagna is worth it!

Tintin’s Bakery Cafe! They serve the best cakes and coffee. My

ultimate favourite was the red velvet cheesecake.

No need to bring $200 per person, $200 is enough for three people.

WHAT TO WEAR

The Philippines is hot, so you should bring reserved summer clothing, like tank tops. Also, bring a bottle of water when you go out if you want to spend less.

Christine's Blog: Travel Zamboanga, Philippines

Here's the link to my blog:

https://travelmindanaophilippines.travel.blog/

Best Toronto Eats on a Budget!

Best Toronto Eats on a Budget!

By Cristina Nikolic

If you’re a student like me, you’re probably always looking for ways to save money. Next to living and transportation costs, my next biggest expense is food. I find it extremely difficult to eat healthy while on a budget – and going out to eat? Forget about it. Groceries are expensive as is, and most students simply can’t afford to eat out at restaurants. 

Photo from BlogTO

That is, until The Warehouse came along. The Warehouse is a restaurant that boasts a menu with every item costing just $5.95. As they say on their website, “the Warehouse Group culinary team provides quality food to our patrons without making a dent in  their wallets” AKA perfect for penny-pinchers like ourselves. 

The Warehouse goes by various names depending on your location. The Dime and El Furniture Warehouse are a couple examples. My personal favourite location is located on Queen Street West in Toronto. Although there are two locations on Queen Street West, I prefer The Dime over the Queen St. Warehouse as it is further west and usually less busy. The staff are incredibly friendly and the interior of the restaurant is half inside and half on their back patio which is absolutely beautiful in the warm weather. 

Photo from TripAdvisor

Usually, I find that cheap eats come at the cost of quality - that is not the case with The Warehouse. Their menu is simple but offers something for everyone. My personal favourite item is their veggie burger – and I’m not lying when I say it might be my favourite restaurant veggie burger of all time. It comes with avocado, salsa, cheddar, lettuce and tomato and it’s served on a warm brioche bun. Did I mention it’s $5.95? 

Do you know of any other restaurants that provides cheap eats at this level without sacrificing quality? Let me know! Until then, I’ll be at The Warehouse!

         

                   Where to go in Algeria

    Growing up in the northeast of Algeria, I always dreamed of visiting the giant desert in the south of the country. Eventually, I had the chance to see Biskra, a province that is 363km southeast of the capital of Algeria.  The province is called “The Gate to the Algerian Desert” and it contains most of the cultural and scenic glories of Africa’s largest country.  Fifty kilometers before arriving at the main town, I stopped at “Al Kantara”, which literally means “The Bridge” that was built by Roman soldiers. The marked inscription by Napoleon III on the walls makes you physically experience the great Roman history.

 How to experience traditional vibes?

 The local people made me, and other tourists feel at home, with their hospitality and the comfort they provided after a long, arduous journey. Expert Algeria tours agency provided such a lovely experience which included riding camels with Tuareg nomads and sleeping under the stars.

sleeping under the stars 

                             

Seeking relaxation?

I ended my breathtaking trip 3 miles (5 km) northwest of the province in one of the major “sulfur springs” attractions. The one I went to is called “Bath of the Saints”, also known as Hammam Saline in Arabic. I enjoyed the natural hot water that is also used for medical purposes because it is believed to heal a variety of skin conditions and even rheumatism.

                   

    

  The city is spectacular, with its tree-lined streets, far away from the noise of the cities, made my trip more than perfect. This getaway was needed to relax, and it was affordable with my  expenses being  less than $400 including all the activities and two nights at the alluring AN Hotel. Many people might think that this destination would be too unfamiliar, but I found it accessible and exciting with experiences I will remember for the rest of my life.

                                                                                 

                       

My Favourite Place to Visit

From the CBC

Getting Lost in Art 

-- Prabhy Rehal

Lawren S. Harris

As a student and a lover of art my favourite place to visit the AGO. The Art Gallery of Ontario is an ideal spot for introverts just like me. It’s a places where you can connect with art from around the world. The gallery isn’t somewhere I go every weekend because sadly they don’t change the exhibitions that often. But whenever they do, I know I’m going to spend a good 4-5 hours at the gallery. If travelling to the gallery I suggest using the subway. It will save a lot of time finding parking and you won’t have to deal with downtown traffic. I always love walking into the gallery because it   feels like time had started moving slower and the troubles of the fast pace city is no longer an issue. The tickets for any travelling exhibition are usually $25 but be sure to ask for student discounts or if travelling in a group ask for group discounts. These exhibitions stays in the gallery for a few months so one can take their time to see them, which helps in the winter. Past exhibitions have included Impressionism from Europe, Photograph from World War I, Art by the Group of Seven and my favourite Guillermo Del Toro: At Home with Monsters. 

The Pale Man from At Home with Monsters  
Credit:Prabhy Rehal 

If you have never seen the permit collections they are breathtaking as well, and you’ll learn a lot about Canadian Art and Artist from the past and present. When in the Gallery I always stop the Gallery’s coffee shop, it is pricer than the average Tim Hortons but I feel adds to the experience, having a delicious croissant while looking at beautiful art, sounds like heavenly to me. The AGO is a staple of downtown Toronto and should be a staple of every art lover’s diet.  

My Favourite Place to Visit

Are you audacious or adventurous? Then you may just enjoy this read.

Petit Piton, Soufriere, Saint Lucia 

Soufriere, Saint Lucia

As a lover of adventure and all things landscape, I’m often asked where my favourite place to visit is, and that’s an easy answer, anywhere in the district of  Soufriere, Saint Lucia.

Soufriere has the most picturesque locations to make for an exciting day, include:

• the world’s only drive in volcano
• Sulphur Springs park
• twin Pitons
• numerous waterfalls
• nature trails

Tet Paul Nature Trail

Before leaving for college, I made it my duty to revisit some of my favourite spots on island and this time I took my family to spend a day at Tet Paul Nature Trail.

Tet Paul is a light walk nature trail just about 45 minutes long that almost anyone can complete. I was accompanied by my extended family including my five-year-old cousin and 85-year-old grandma.

Typical '80s house situated at Tet Paul Nature Trail

Just about 10-minute drive from the main town, Tet Paul comprises of a walk through a flower garden, view of a typical '80s Saint Lucian house, flight of stairs called Stairway to Heaven, trail carved out of boulders and rocks to make for a slightly rough terrain and one of the best views in Saint Lucia.

It was a little challenging steading our breaths and ensuring everyone was doing good while climbing, but being able to reach the very top felt like such an accomplishment for everyone.

Stairways to Heaven, Tet Paul Nature Trail

At the top we were able to view one of the most breath-taking sights, not one, but both Pitons; Gros Piton and Petit Piton, feel the cool breeze hit our faces, view the luscious vegetation down below, cloudy blue sky and breathe in fresh, clean air.

It was such an experience being able to visit this location with my entire family, take pictures which appeared like our fingers were touching the top of the Pitons and just simply having fun.

View of both Gros Piton (left) & Petit Piton (right) from the top of Tet Paul Nature Trail

If you’re anything like me, someone who loves adventures and loves spending time with family, Soufriere, Saint Lucia and Tet Paul Nature Trail is a must visit location for you and yours.

My Family and I at Tet Paul Nature Trail

Let me know, would you be interested in taking a hike up Tet Paul?