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Danforth Gems

Bistro Camino – 2750 Danforth Ave. at Dawes Road


Stop what you’re doing and make plans to go to Bistro Camino.  When I asked our excellent server what the heck this restaurant was doing at Danforth and Dawes Road, she said “we get that question a lot.”  I could write about our whole meal, but the good people at Now Magazine wrote it already and I couldn’t agree more.

“At dinner, the prix fixes begin with warm, linen-draped baskets of French bread and cruets of both balsamic vinegar and olive oil. An appetizer platter follows: delicate china cups of creamy asparagus soup, tapas-style slices of Atlantic sole in citrus escabeche, house-smoked salmon and prosciutto of no particular provenance, figs marinated in red wine, mini-croquettes stuffed with Brie, and cheddar biscuits dressed with tobiko flying fish roe. Read the rest of the review here.

Caketown – south side of Danforth, just west of Woodbine

I haven’t made it in myself, though I hope to soon.  All reports are that the pastries are incredible.  Peter says: “it’s the best brownie I ever ate.”  I’m also told through the grapevine that the decor is simply delightful.

Emerald Restaruant – south side of Danforth, steps east of Caketown

I know even less about this restaurant except to say that it is open and serves Indian food including, yes, samosas.  The one report I’ve received is that it is clean inside.

O.k. so these aren’t the most well-rounded Danforth Gems that have ever graced this site, but now you know about these places.  So if you can shed more light and share your experiences, post them here.


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Hot Neighbourhood

Today’s Globe and Mail includes Danforth (Village/Mosaic/East?)  as one of it’s Five On The Rise Hot Neighbourhoods. The writer notes that one of  the positive ‘harbingers of change’ for this neighbourhood is that a Sunset Grill has opened up here.  I guess change is slow.

Pumpkin Parade

Carlos Osorio/Toronto Star

We’re having a parade!  A pumpkin parade.  On the day after halloween, bring your jack-o-laterns to East Lynn Park where we will line and light them along the path.  Then marvel in the orange glow.  (The photo above is from a pumpkin parade in Sorauren Park in the west end.)  Heather Bean is organizing this very cool event and she could use some help on the night of the parade (Monday, November 1st)  to help light and arrange the pumpkins.  Can you help?  Let Heather know at hbbean@gmail.com

Pre-natal Yoga

If you are interested in some pre-natal yoga, Amanda Montgomery (Remember the Simply By Amanda soaps?) teaches it in her home.   To find out more, contact her at amanda@simplybyamanda.com.

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Busy Week

Lots of things to tell you about this week…

Photo courtesy of Stephen Caissie

East Lynn Farmers’ Market

At 4:30 p.m. this week, bring your little movers and shakers to dance with Pegasus Dance Studio.

Do you know that along with ballet, hip hop and jazz, Pegasus also offers boys-only dance programs, a preschool arts program, parent and tot music classes and pilates and yoga classes? Pegasus is near Danforth and Coxwell on Glebeholme.

Also Nana Jokura is back with more CranioSacral therapy – a gentle, hands-on therapy where your head and sacrum are stimulated to release tensions of the nervous and fascial systems.

Little Footprints Toys

Little Footprints is an internet toy company run by a local resident and mom featuring eco-friendly toys and games for kids of all ages.  This weekend they’re having a real bricks and mortal sale at 1390 Danforth, just east of Greenwood.   There will be lemonade and toys to try, including the Piggy Paint nail bar where you can try out the ‘natural as mud’ nail polish.  There will be sale prices on educational products for back to school.  The sale starts Friday.  Check out the details at at www.littlefootprintstoys.com.

Walking Tour

On Monday, September 6th, join local historian Gene Domagala for a walking tour of our little section of east Toronto starting at Hope United Church at Main and Danforth at 1 p.m.

Back To School Dinners

If the thought of the hectic school schedule has got you twitchin’ I notice that Cozy Cafe and Bakery at Danforth and Woodbine now has frozen foods to get you through the week.  All homemade and delicious, there are hearty soups, lasagnas (ask anyone about the vegetarian lasagna and be prepared for gushing), shepard’s pie and much more.

Stephen Caissie Photography

All summer long, I’ve been featuring beautiful photographs from the market in this space thanks to DECA member and volunteer Stephen Caissie.  Stephen also did the portraits in the park during the Art of the Danforth and many of his portraits have appeared on the blog webpage of Deca Diaries.  His work is stunning and the prices reasonable.  Learn more about Stephen and his work at stephencaissiephoto.com.

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Perfect Summer Afternoons

The forecast for this evening is lovely – a great night to head out to the market!  All summer long, I’ve been taking my two little boys to the market, buying some fruit and cheese, taking part in the 4:30 fun activities, playing in the wading pool and chatting with friends and neighbours along the way.  It’s been week after week of wonderful afternoons in the neighbourhood.  I’m not alone, I’ve heard other stories of perfect summer afternoons at the market too.  Do you have one you’d like to share?  Post it here on the blog or send it to me and I’ll post it.

This week promises to be no different.  See you there. – Natasha

Break-Ins

In decidedly less pleasant news, several cars on Drayton Ave. were broken into last night.  The thieves went through glove compartments and storage spaces looking for valuables.  Items were strewn all over the cars this morning.  Apparently the cars were locked.  Just a reminder to lock your vehicles and don’t leave any valuables in them.  Also – be sure to report these kinds of incidents to the police. They likely won’t do anything, but all of these reports get filed and the more incidents that get reported, the more police are dedicated to a particular area.  If you don’t feel like calling them, send an e-mail here for north of the Danforth and here for south of the Danforth.

Second Exit At Coxwell

I was wondering why the TTC was putting in second exits all along this stretch except Coxwell station.  The TTC tells me that it has identified 14 high priority stations for emergency second exits and Coxwell is not one of them.  On the other hand, the TTC does have a plan to install elevators at all stations, however Coxwell is not slated to get an elevator until 2013.

Donations!

Thank you to all of you who have offered to donate to help paint the pool at East Lynn Park.  I was surprised by the number of you who want to help.  This neighbourhood is awesome.  Anyway, we’re working on the best way to accept donations.  We can’t paint over the graffiti in the pool until the season is over because it takes at least three days to cure.

Green Hair Care (Not Just For People With Green Hair)

Paola Girotti of Sugar Moon wants you to know that they are now carrying a eco-hair-care line called Onesta. She’s also offering a free gift with your full-body brazillian.  ‘Nuf said.

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Danforth Gems

Two little local gems to pass along – the first from our favourite local shopper – Pat Chartier.

RHD Appliances

I’ve taken shopping local to new spending heights: we bought a “scratch and dent” Kitchenaid Gas Range from the new store near Woodbine, RHD Appliances.  No scratches, no dents but it was missing one small part, which the RHD owner ordered in for us, as he promised. What a great deal: $700, delivered and the same stove would otherwise go for about $2400.

Sandy’s (Chinese Canadian) Restaurant

Thanks to Nancy for sending along a thumbs up for Sandy’s on the south side of the Danforth, just east of Woodbine.

Sandy’s is owned by Jimmy and Sandy along with their adult son and daughter.  It is clean, friendly and they have a tasty, specially priced menu where a family can eat a meal for under $30, taxes included.

I also noticed two new shops the other day on the north side of Danforth, west side of Coxwell, toward Greenwood: a card and gift shop (how many of you have told me how you yearn for a local card shop?!) and a crepe shop.


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Too Hot To Cook!

Uber local shopper, Pat Chartier, posted this on the blog this morning and I thought it was so timely, I wanted to make sure you all saw it in time for dinner tonight. – Thanks Pat!

Here are a few Danforth dinner suggestions for those nights when it’s too hot to cook indoors…or at all:

–Grill hamburgers made with the outstanding ground beef sold at the Plank Road, where Roger grinds it himself. All you need is a little salt and pepper to get incredibly juicy and flavourful burgers. And wrap them in hamburger buns from Celena’s or Cozy Cafe.

–Serve up tomato-basil sandwiches on Celena’s wonderful Sourdough White bread. THE perfect summer meal!

–get some of the terrific spanikopita from Cozy Cafe and serve with a salad for another delicious light meal that won’t heat up the kitchen.

Other great meat treats from our neighbourhood:
The strip loin steaks from Plank Road
Tri-Tip Sirloin from Royal Beef.
Organic lamb from the East Lynn Market–that’s become our Summer Thursday dinner tradition.
Buffalo/bison burgers and sausages, also from the Market.