The holidays are fast approaching, and it is tine to get those survival kits ready for those last minute and unannounced guests that will inevitably drop in for a drink and a snack, or perhaps an impromptu party on a cold and snowy eve. Also, it is gift-giving season, and there are lots of great ideas out there of what to buy, and my preference always leans to food and drink so here are a bunch of suggestions. This issue of my Holiday Survival Guide is for the people who don’t like to bake, but like to indulge. I have compiled a small list of some pro’s that you can order treats from for the holidays to keep around for you and your family, your guests, or to take to places you have been invited to share some goodness with others. Ordering treats for any one of these great local businesses will make you a hero at your dinner or cocktail party, office holiday lunch, to bring to a friends for a gathering, or just to have around the house. Support your local bakers! Also, here is a cool recipe I did last year during the holidays, a Pomegranate Shortbread with a Chocolate Schmear. 

I present to you some of my favourite shops around Toronto where I get treats when I am out and about, in my Holiday Survival Guide Baked Goods Edition. As well, here are the links to the Holiday Survival Guide Fine Food and Beer Editions in case you missed those posts. 

Kyle Demming isn't necessarily a name you know, but if you venture to the eastend at all there is a likelihood that you might have eaten his food. Kyle was the chef of Ceile Cottage, a place that most of us have been, and if you haven't then I suggest you add it to your list. Ceile was always an island of refuge in the east, and a place I would travel too, especially for their legendary St. Patty’s day fests and some good cheer any time of the year.

For a while I had heard a rumour that Kyle and his wife were opening a sausage shop, and to me this is quite exciting. I had never met Kyle, but did have the pleasure this summer to finally connect after much tweeting back and forth. His much anticipated opening sa a few set backs, but he recently was able to open. Queen St east of the DVP has been seeing lots of new food business pop up, and I am finding myself out there quite often these days, which is nice.  So, recently when Kyle tweeted that he had made the shops first hot dogs I knew it was time to make the trek to visit.

Fall is a time for comforting leisurely brunches with good friends, and to spoil yourself with rich foods that make your belly full and happy. Lately I have had a hard time keeping up with both my old time favourites and all of the new restaurants on the scene in Toronto, and there have been some quality places popping up. A lot of the places that are on my hit list are not open for lunch, and this is when I tend to eat out, so brunch is a perfect excuse to check out one of these places.

My gorgeous and very talented friend Peggy

Art and food are a natural synthesis and have been influencing each other for centuries. A group of chefs who do dinners together all over the city recently decided to use images and create dishes to reflect the story behind them. Brilliant. Calling themselves The Group of 7 also has a resonance to us as Canadians, so that adds an extra element of excitement to the evening that saw 30 diners come together for food, drink, and to be wowed in the studio space of the westend gallery The Department. 

One of the things I love about these types of dinners is the camaraderie between cooks, and how they work and joke together like they have been friends since childhood. It is always a good time, and fun to get to hang out and witness the debauchery that happens while magic is being made and canvasses created on a plate. 

The food scene in Toronto right now is, as my nephew would say, SICK! So many talented chefs, and great places to eat all over the city, it seems a new hot spot is popping up every few weeks. International influence, local ingredients, focused menus and even some great VQA wine or local craft beer to wash it down. I love our city, I love the talents that make Toronto a food mecca and leader in innovative cuisine. I am lucky to know some of these people, and call them friends, and have opportunities to see what goes on behind the scenes and try off-menu items from time to time. I love my life.