Wendy "Wacktose Intolerant" H.'s Profile

Eight. Dollar. Manicures.

Yep. They've got my colours, they've got some snippers and they've got the price.

Since I've moved to the neighbourhood, there's never been more than three ladies working, and I ALWAYS have to wait at least 15 minutes. But I just take a little walk to The Sweet Potato (a mere 57 seconds away), then come back with a bag full of kale, and fingernails ready to be womanhandled.

The jobs are efficient and quite well executed (in my experience). I've never had a pedi in their care, so can't speak to that. But I must say - after 2 months of regular manis, my nails look fierce. I mean, it could be the kale (SHOUT OUT TO KALE), but it could be the Pearl. I like to think it's a little bit of both.

You know what?

I order the bean and cheese. No cheese. No rice. 2 salsas plus the fresh pico, lettuce and cilantro. So what we have here, basically, is a bean and lettuce burrito. I KNOW THIS SOUNDS ENTICING TO YOU.

But like I said, you know what? I like it a lot.

Sometimes I'll get it 3 days a week for lunch. I'll assassinate it with limey hot sauce and by the time I get half way through, it's dripping a lake into my burrito basket. But I don't care. I like the steamy tortilla and the bean party in my mouth. So, here's a big fat Kanye shrug for ya.

Plus: I also love the 3 minute walk from work, and the 5 dollar price tag!

I used to sit on the sidelines, watching Zack S mow down a plate (or sometimes 2) of these famous El Pastor tacos. He would moan and glisten with sweat and tremble slightly. I now realize this sounds like I'm describing the symptoms of food poisoning, but it's because he was in food bliss.

One day I decided to join in on the fun. I ordered the Quesongo  (mushroom) tacos, which come nestled together like 5 wee bear cubs my plate. And then I destroyed them.

The guacamole is decent, but the tacos - based on my experience and Zack S' - are to kill for. I had tacos at a different place last night and wanted to throw my plate off a bridge in disgust. It's not that they were inedible - they just paled in comparison.

So, 5 stars based on one plate. All you need is a moment to know that you're in love.

The Sweet Potato and I - we have a good thing goin'. Two or three times a week, our worlds collide; just the perfect amount to keep our relationship fresh 'n relevant. You know, much like their GLORIOUS SELECTION OF PRODUCE.

I'm a fervent supporter of farmers markets, but in this work-a-day world it is slightly difficult to manage a consistent market schedule (if they are not in your immediate vicinity). Lucky for ME (and also you), The Sweet Potato keeps a rainbow supply of bright, local plant edibles. They're priced to please, and just as farmer fresh as your mom.

They stock mostly anything else a gal could need - nutritional yeast, hemp seeds, maca powder - you know, all that typical woman stuff.

Many items are actually cheaper at Essence of Life, but due to my High Park transplant and EoL's earlier closing time, convenience wins. Also The Sweet Potato is cash registered by the sweetest of gals!

They're open til 8pm (or 9pm, later in the week), which is wonderful for us folk who work til 7ish.

So here's the thing. I just came back from a 4.5 month voyage where internet cafes were a coveted treat. And then you'd find a lovely spot to set up shop, only to find yourself fighting over the one power outlet in 7 square miles (or not have the proper adapter for your North American cord). Oh, it was perfectly fine and I was happy as a clam to be there at the time, but as of 8 minutes ago, I've experienced a little something called ~~**perspective**~~.

Just Us! on Spring Garden in Hafffilax is roomy as sh*t. 3 billion people could fit in here, and definitely way more microbes. The free space for microbes is unbelievable. The edibles are to be revered. And best of all... BLOWING MY MIND RIGHT NOW BESZT OF ALL... power outlets EVERYWHERE! A chair for every bum and an outlet for every laptop! I am sitting in a cushy leather chair, and there are 4 outlets on the wall beside me! This is living. This is prosperity. This is freedom. This is exactly how I want to be spending my afternoon. Thanks for the wonderful welcome back to society, Just Us!

Listen, fool. If you've got $50-$100 bucks to drop on a nice dinner - for a special occasion, mayhaps - get your fat butt to Rub Watchco. For serious, though. Ruby Watchco is a revelation. EAT THERE.

You know the background story, right? TV chef Lynn Crawford (Restaurant Makeover, Pitchin' In) is in the driver's seat, and the whole place came to be with the discovery of an old sign that read "Ruby Watch Co". She was like, "man, I gotta do something with this sign. Sho betta open a res-to-rant." And she's right - the sign IS something else. I should know, I sat right under it. She's a beaut.

The food is all locally sourced, nothing factory farmed or pumped full of hormones. Love it. The 4-course menu changes daily and beyond dietary restraints, there are no modifications. You will eat what they wanna serve you, and rest assured you will like it. (A note on dietary modifications: they are VERY good at catering to your needs.) They serve the food family style, not individually plated. I think this adds to the restaurant's cozy intimacy; it may be expensive but it definitely doesn't feel hoighty-toighty. You don't have to be fancy, you just have to be willing to EAT.

This was a special dinner for me and because the food is all sustainable, I allowed myself to eat some chicken and dairy in order to get the full RW experience. I still requested no pork or beef, and they pulled off the changes with ultimate grace.

Our menu:

Escarole & Perth Pork Bacon Salad (Brown Butter Croutons, Garden Radishes, Dates,Toasted Walnut Vinaigrette) - Delicious. They made me a separate salad sans bacon and on a normal day, that woulda been my dang dinner. Big!

Crispin Apple Roasted Brick Chicken (Herb Spaetzle & Cremini Mushrooms, Caramelized Onion Sauerkraut, Carron Farm's Red Beets with Pickled Mustard Seeds) - Oh shit, son. Gorgeous. The sauerkraut had bacon in it so they brought me some summer artichokes which were mad tasty. Also, I didn't know what spaetzle was, so our server explained graciously. (It's a tiny pasta that is poached, so has a very light, spongy texture. It was awesome).

Le Riopelle De L'Isle (Maple Spiced Butternut Squash Butter with Prosciutto Dust) - I haven't had cheese in almost a year so it was an indulgence to say the least to savour some riopelle. They also made me separate squash butter without prosciutto.

Ruby's Chocolate Cherry Mess (Chocolate Meringue, Lake Lee Orchards Vanilla Spiced Cherries, Hewitt's Dairy's Whipped Cream) - F***ing divine.

So now that I've written an essay, please note my enthusiasm and treat yourself one day. $50 per person (plus drinks if you so desire - the dinner gets exponentially better with dranks). Ruby Watchco is one of those places where the hearty comfort food will appeal to most and nobody will feel uncomfortable in such a homey atmosphere. Our server was fab - every time he described the course, he seemed as if he was conducting an orchestra. The paper towels in the bathroom had RW stamps on them. The playlist included SWV, the Black Keys and N*E*R*D. I am an instant convert. You should be too.

When we stepped up to the door and saw the plastic sushi plates in the window, Katie Z and I knew we were in for something truly unique.

(Read: sarcasm)

The ambience: Dime-a-dozen, been there, done that. This isn't a "come for the atmosphere" restaurant, it's a "come for the cheap lunch specials" typa spot.
The service: Decent. Smiles. Timely tea refills.
The food: Not an attraction. The rice was quite chewy and tasted old. Otherwise you can't really mess up an avocado or yam tempura roll; they were supermarket satisfactory. Can't speak for the fish. The edamame was way over salted.

On the plus side, this little joint was close to Don Mills subway station (a 4 minute drive). AND it was crazy cheap - 2.50 for each of my rolls and 2.99 for the edamame. That I can get behind.

The first couple of times I visited Le Commensal, I was tickled tofu. A diverse selection floats my boat big time, and also sets my heart a-flutter. Le Commensal is NOT lacking in selection. They've got cold salads, hot casseroles, steamed kale, brown rice, quinoa, lentil salads, salad salads, potatoes and pizza. They've got desserts, juice, wine and coconut water. They've got a vegan version of bourguignon and tons of other concoctions. The selection will knock your face off and you will want to try all of it.

Then you start to get a feel for what's good. You massage your plate tactics and choose nice combos. You begin to think that some of the stuff isn't overly amazing, but A FOR EFFORT, guys.

Next, like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day, you realize that things never change. You will never NOT see bourguignon on the buffet line. That Moroccan stew will always be there, too. Comforting? Maybe. Disappointing? A bit.

Whenever I'm in the area I like to hit up Le Commensal, but for the taste and the overall price (they charge by weight and my plates are never under $12), not to mention their competition in Camros and Kale Organic Eatery, this spot ranks in at a definite 3 stars.

I've been going to Essence of Life for months, not even realizing that its closest competition was merely 5 steps away! Wellsir, I set foot into Tutti Frutti for the first time today, and I DO DECLARE, it will become part of my weekly Kensington rotation FO REAL.

While slightly unorganized, there is much to love about this place. Prices of some bulk items run cheaper than Essence, so it will be customary for me to now buy, say, nooch at Essence and raw cashews at Tutti. I didn't check hygiene products or supplements yet, so we'll see how that stacks up!

Speaking of supplements, these bishes have a vunderbar selection. They're just kind of... all over the place. I love their little nut snack packs at the cash register, and some green krispie squares (with spirulina) that I'll definitely have to sample one day.

OH! I just remembered that their frozen berries are 3.79 per bag - cheaper than anywhere else I've seen so far (except for the time Whole Foods had them on special 2 for $5). Essence sells them for 4.99.

THIS JUST IN: Kat's review says they have spirulina in bulk!!! *raises eyebrow* This place could raise to a 5, one day. Oh, yes.

Oh dayummm, y'all. Sometimes I find excuses to go to Dupont, just so I can hit up Live. Actually, my latest excuse to go to Dupont is just "hit up Live". It's divine.

I love their big salad bowl, I love their juices and smoothies and refreshing spritzers, I love their raw lasagna and I'd probably love their desserts if I ever had any room to try them. I'd like to love the spaghetti but I've yet to try it (there is so dang much to choose from).

A few years ago I used to think raw was silly, but I was ig'nant. SO VERY IG'NANT. Not everything on the menu is raw, but a good portion of it is. Plus: they've also got a lovely brunch menu!

In conclusion, life is better now with Live in my world.