Dardana M.'s Profile

Hype is a bitch.

Most of the time, its existence compels me to stay far away until the dust has settled, until I have a chance to judge the thing in question from as pure and unbiased a position as possible.

I have allowed all talk of this hallowed pizzeria on the incomparable Ossington strip to fade quietly into the background for a couple of years now. One of my dearest friends recently tried it for the first time and she swore I had to try it, that I had never had anything like it.
Her response being so genuine and enthusiastic, it became quite contagious.

The night we tried, we (of course) could not get a table, and went across the street "for a drink" while my cellphone sat at the corner of our table in dizzy anticipation.

Drinks turned into burgers and I finally got a call 2.5 hours later (they said it would be 40 minutes to an hour), while back at home, and in my pajamas: "we have a spot at the bar that just opened up if you're still interested." Hmm. That's gotta be some damn good pizza!

Cut to a few months later and I end up there on a whim with a different group. Excitement does not even begin to cover it. I cannot believe how lucky we are to even be sitting here! the dipping oil for the bread is unlike any other! the bread is so soft and fresh, the coca cola...a little watery and almost flat. Fitting punishment I guess, for those of us too cheap to order wine in stylish stemless glasses.

And then...as my sister said:  "I could see the disappointment in your eyes when it got to the table." But that's not the extent of it, because I would never judge food based on looks alone. I was expecting the arugula to be sauteed or something, not just dumped on there BUT THAT WASN'T MY PROBLEM. Am I too critical? Is there something wrong with ME because I thought the menu could use a little variety (almost non-existent non-meat /non-pork options), and while quite tasty, the crust was slightly soggy and maybe a touch too burnt? That my prosciutto-laden pie was a little too salty? That my sister's duck confit and pear was sorely lacking in pear? That just because something is kinda different and more "authentic" than the other varieties it's competing with, that doesn't give it an automatic "genius" pass??

I liked it, I really did. But I want you to know that I really wanted to love it. Life-changingly and all that jazz.

F- you, hype. Way to mess with a perfectly pleasant pizza-eating experience.

It is a very good thing that this store is so far out of my way, cuz even though I enter many like it, and manage to exit with little-to-no wallet damage, here I spent almost $30 in a matter of minutes.

It has a bit more of an ole-tyme feel than my closest cheese-merchant, with bulbous mounds of it hanging from the ceiling. MMmmm.

I got some fancy French mustard, a little bite-sized wheel of brie (presumably what French children get in their lunch-boxes?) and the best part- a "cheese grab bag"! My cheese-love is usually confined to balls of Tre Stelle mozzerella (which I find to be rather luxurious, especially if you eat the whole thing), but for the first time, at an extra 30% off, I got buy some of what I like to call "high class cheese". I haven't tasted it yet, but it smells deliciously pungent.

I probably haven't been in this store in a couple years. But more than a couple years ago, boy-oh-boy, how I loved this place!

I have a similar opinion as a lot of these guys when it comes to the "vintage" aspect. I don't think I have ever purchased any used clothing from here, cuz most of it just doesn't catch my eye. I pretty much used to just scan over those racks until I came to the- yes! lame silkscreened t-shirts. I have had so many of these guys over the years, but very few really stood the test of time in my wardrobe cuz the quality is usually not so hot. The Clash doesn't look quite so different from The Rolling Stones in these transfers. Oh, I kid...but only kinda.

With one exception: my sweet-ass George Michael blue-capped-sleeve iron-on shirt that I've had since I was fifteen. And that my roommate managed to pretty much wear out in the last year. That was from one of the *other* racks where the shirts cost about twice as much as the basic black. Thank God for those 50% off sales.

What a terrific little hidden gem this place is. Hidden from the view of the main streets, that is. Cuz the people seem to know about it, cuz I have heard them talking about it.

I happen to live right off of Dovercourt, and thus walk down this street all the time. I'm not sure how long these guys have been here, but I think I've been missing them for awhile. The service was very pleasant, and the coffee delicious. I'm not sure if I just picked a good time to go, but I had my choice of tables, by the window!, and a nice quiet (but not too quiet) moment in the day to enjoy my sandwich and free weekly Toronto-culture newspaper.

And the sandwich really was excellent. I loved it; grilled, free-range chicken breast, arugula, sun-dried tomatoes, roasted red peppers and goat's cheese. I feared that the combination might be a little too familiar, since I eat some combination of these ingredients on an almost daily basis. But they managed to make it somehow taste a bit more interesting than I was expecting. I think it was some kind of magical mayonnaise or something. Pretty basic oil and vinegar on the salad wasn't exactly a revelation, but everything I eat doesn't need to be. Sometimes it's just good.

*Le sigh*. I never got to have my Fashion Crimes moment.

I had many moments of wandering in there as a young thing, making day trips into the city. My friends and I referred to it as "the princess store", as we took in its magical racks of shimmering, flowing robes and change rooms ensconcing us in curtains. Ugh, we were such losers; losers who couldn't read the damn name on the sign for all the fairy dust in their eyes. Seriously, we actually didn't know what it was called.

The only foreseeable reason to purchase anything, yes, *PROM*! got wasted on the previously mentioned (thanks for reminding me, Melissa), and far-cheaper, Fairweather. No, I was no princess, but I assure you, it was not by choice.
Whatever, prom was lame anyway. Maybe I'll save this place for my wedding...

I promise this will be the last review that
1. mentions the Kids in the Hall
2. mentions the fact that "all I had was a drink, once, here" (at least this time it's not organic).

So, the KITH did a *secret* TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY SHOW here a couple months ago. Due to my Film Festival job commitment, I *did not* go wait in line for tickets, which I knew I would get if I got there oh, just before dawn the day of the show. What I did not know was that I would also have gotten them if I went around a reasonable hour, like 8 or 9, according to the couple we met while drowning our sorrows at the bar. Or if I had sent a friend who loves me *that much* (I have a couple).

So, instead of thinking how cool it would have been to see them here back in the day, now when I walk by, I get a pain in my gut of anger, disbelief, and self-hate at missing them, practically on purpose. I doubt I'll be checking the Pad Thai out anytime soon.

I can't say all that much yet about this place, cuz I have only run in there once to grab a coffee to go. I feel like it's sort of the equivalent of one of the cool kids who lived on my street when I was younger. There's something going on there that I am not a part of, but I sort of am, cuz I have to see it everyday, and I walk by and awkwardly say "hi" after like, the hundredth time, cuz I can't just *pretend* like it's not there, cuz they recognize me from school.

Anyway, I read on some site that it's been there for "a few years", and if that's true I'm kind of terrified cuz I must be going senile (or I was senile and now I'm...not?) a little earlier than expected. My story is, that one day it was there, and then the next day, a bunch of people were there. And they never left.

In all seriousness, the coffee was really awesome, or rather the Americano. She even poured the water in for me, and asked me how much I wanted. Maybe I should just try again, but even though I had previously thought "Oh cool! A new place to go sit and do my work," I didn't feel super comfortable there, and it seems like I am really gonna have to fight it out if I want a coveted spot. And I don't want it that badly, thanks...I don't know if PCs are allowed there, anyway.

I liked this place, and would probably go there often to see the new stuff, if it were closer to where I live. I will still probably go, out of my way as it is, because I know it has the potential to serve me up some good finds. You can just tell these things.

When this next time occurs, I will be sure to lug over some of my old stuff cuz there is a certain part of my closet that may as well have a revolving door on it. The other part should have a glass case and an alarm system, in case you were wondering. But seriously? I never thought that thrift store shopping could get any more exciting and then you lay this trade and sell business on me. Pretty good idea, methinks.

Another good idea? If anybody here is like, a size zero, get your tiny ass over there and buy the greatest pair of hottest pinkest jeans (they're Wrangler, too!!) I have ever seen in my life. It will do nothing but hurt me if I have to look at them again with the knowledge that I can't buy them. I considered even making them into a denim pillow or something.

Massey Hall is officially my favourite concert venue. If a band I love (even like a lot) announces that they are playing there, it is like winning the lottery. The seats are pretty comfortable, the view is exceptional from *any* seat in the house, and the sound is literally heavenly.

Best Massey Hall Memory: running up the stairs, hand-in-hand to our (excellent view!) Lou Reed balcony seats while the opening of Sweet Jane wafted through the hall.

Most Uncomfortable Massey Hall Memory: wanting Billy Corgan to stop dicking around with his self-indulgent guitar solos, and just play Thirty-Three instead, which he did not do.

Second Best Massey Hall Memory: realizing that purchasing a "Friend's First" membership was totally worth it, cuz we had 5th row Kids in the Hall Seats.

Worst Massey Hall Memory: missing Eddie Vedder (teenage idolX1000) due to unintentionally surrendering fan club membership, rustiness in (own) scalping skills, underestimating scalpers' skills. The chants of "Eddie! Eddie!" from outside still torture me to this day.

This venue is my happy place (*ahem*...usually).

I just realized something like, a minute ago, that I think is pretty hilarious. This is the only other strictly vegetarian restaurant I have *ever* set foot in, and as I did with the other (see review of "Live") all I had was an alcoholic beverage.

It was like, 2 years ago (at least) and a friend of mine was acting as DJ (yes, we was dancing, I don't know if that happens there often, I think it was for some specific occasion), and it seemed alright enough. It was kind of lounge-y at that hour, so I didn't try the eats, but...I had an amazing  screwdriver-type drink. All I remember was that it was made with the freshest, realest orange and grapefruit juice I have ever had and did I mention they mixed this with ALCOHOL? The idea literally seemed revolutionary to me. Man, that was a good drink.