An Urban Forest by the Lake

According to toronto.ca, Toronto has set a goal to double its tree canopy from 17% to 34%. This goal is part of the city’s Climate Change, Clean Air and Sustainable Energy Action Plan, “Change is in the Air” introduced in June 2007.

This weekend people are meeting at Humber Bay Park West to plant some trees. If you don't have any plans, I think this is a great way, not only give back to the community, but also to make your mark on making this city a little greener.

Refreshments will be served, but in an effort to make this a litterless event, you're asked to bring your own reusable containers.

To get you prepared, the site provides some tips for planting:

• Gloves and shovels are provided.


• Plantings go rain or shine.


• Some sites are muddy – so you might get dirty!


• Most of our sites do not have permanent washroom facilities. However, portable toilets will be available the day of the event at each location.


• Wear comfortable clothing and close-toed shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty.


• Dress for the weather - you may need a raincoat and rubber boots or sunscreen and a hat.

Here's more info on the event.

On another, but slightly relevant note, I've created group on Flickr for you to share your photos of life by the lake. Be the first to post a photo of the tree planting event. I can't be there this weekend, so I'd love to see you all digging away! Access the group here.

George's The Greek

It's so funny how easily my plans can change for the night (half the time it doesn't take much to twist my arm). I was supposed to go to the gym for my BodyFlow class but the traffic was bad and by the time I got home I didn't feel like jetting off again to "Rock" with the Goodlifers.

M had been in Vancouver yesterday and wanted something quick for dinner so we decided on greek. We took a trek back down to Long Branch to check out George's the Greek. We had seen this place when we were looking at houses in Long Branch a year ago.

George's is a small little greasy spoon type place on the corner of Long Branch Avenue. The atmosphere was friendly and most tables were full of regulars. Our sweet server gave us our menus and then took our order. Her smile lit up the room as she shuffled from one table to the next.

M ordered the pork souvlaki dinner (sm $8.95) and I, the chicken souvlaki dinner (sm $9.95). The plates came heaping with meat, salad, rice, bread and potatoes -- more than enough for one sitting. Both of us commented how the meals weren't overpowered with garlic as I find that most souvlaki dinners are.

So the dinner was great, but mostly I loved how the staff treated everyone coming through the door. As I mentined, most of the patrons seemed to be regulars who seemed like part of the family. Some sat at the counter waiting for their orders, laughing and joking around with the staff that cooked their meals. It was fun to watch.

We'll definitely go back to George's next time we're craving some good 'ol home cooked greek food.

George's the Greek
3575 Lake Shore Blvd.
Toronto, ON
M8W 1P5
416-503-1201

Tea Time

When my good friend Abbey invited me to a tea tasting event at DAVIDsTEA, I thought it sounded like a interesting idea. Abbey is a lot of fun to hang around with and the thought of tasting tea instead of wine for a change sounded perfect (especially on this blustery April Day!).

DAVIDsTEA is tucked into a string of stores along the popular Queen Street West cooridor in Toronto. It's a tiny place that shares space in a way with Le Chateau just east of Spadina. About 20 chairs were planted at the front of the store facing a long white table that housed some porcelain cups and several clear ramekins full of loose tea.

We were seated and introduced to tea guru, Richard Guzauskas. Guzauskas instantly commanded presence from the crowd; not because he demanded it, but more because he looked so... fresh. His cropped white hair framed his smooth tanned face; so clear and pristine looking, it was almost as though he bathed in tea, whilst drinking it.

Once he began speaking, I couldn't take my eyes off him. I hung onto every word that filled his stories and information -- I never thought I could be so immersed in the world of tea.

I won't even attempt to relay any of the stories told, but I will go through the tasy teas Guzauskas fed us through out the night.

We tried six teas: two white, two green, two oolong and two black.

The first were a duo of white teas; one from Sri Lanka called Silver Needles and the other from China called Bai Hao Yin Zhen. I don't have info for the latter, but according to my info card, the Sri Lankan tea comes from expertly selected long leaf buds that are chosen and plucked to produce one of the finest and purest of all white teas.

Next we tasted two green teas: an Organic Gyokuro tea from Japan and a Chinese Snow Peony Green Tea. The leaves from the Gyokuro are sheilded from the sun for two weeks before harvesting which results in a sweeter, more energizing tea. The Snow Peony reflects every phase of its production, from from hand plucking the leaves to hand rolling and drying the leaves in a shaded ourdoor area.

The interesting thing about the difference between Japanese and Chinese green teas that I never knew is that Japanese people don't care what their tea looks like so they tend to just chop it down, steam it and brew it in covered cups; whereas Chinese like to see their leaves so they take great pride in hand picking their leaves and brewing them in an glass cup so they can see the leaves take shape in every cup.

Our next tasting was my favourite: Emerald Oolong and Organic Tie Kwan Yin. I've always read about Oolong but never tried it. According to Guzauskas, Oolong takes the most work to produce and to get the best cup, it's best to steep it for 7 minutes or more.

I found these Oolongs were pretty buttery and full-bodied and really lovely to drink all around. I'm so excited I got to try them in a setting where I could really get information on how to brew it properly.

Last but not least, we tried two delicious black teas: Red Dragon Pearls and Wild Black Tea. I loved how the dried Red Dragon leaves looked as their name suggests, little pearls of tea. Their leaves are plucked, oxidized and hand rolled to preserve the essential oils.

The Wild Black tea comes from years of deep forest growth which has enriched the flavours in each cup.

Now as a PR person, I loved attending this event because it was a really neat way to get the information out about tea. Guzauskas provided tons of info and advice about tea without so much "selling" DAVIDsTEA. But at the end of the night, you can bet the attendees were lined up to by a tea or two to bring home.

It was a fabulous event and well done. I will definitely be visiting DAVIDsTEA again, especially since one is opening in Bloor West, which is a bit closer to my neck of the woods. Nice work David!

DAVIDsTEA
336 Queen Street West (beside Le Chateau)
Toronto, ON M5V 2A2
www.davidstea.com
www.twitter.com/davidstea

Posticino

Tonight is my hubby M's birthday so I wanted to take him out for a yummy Italian meal at Posticino. Tucked away in a tiny space located at Royal York and The Queensway, Posticino is a quaint restaurant with all the comforts and atmosphere of a cozy Italian eatery you'd find in Italy. The lighting is low and inviting and the tables are dressed in crisp white linens.

That said, my experience there wasn't the best. Now, I don't want to sound like a snob, really I don't. But after dining there tonight, I don't get what the big deal is about Posticino. Maybe it's because it was an off night for them. Or maybe it's because we got married in Italy and ate the most amazing and delicious Italian food for three weeks. Not sure. But I can say that I wasn't too impressed with the place and I probably won't be going back anytime soon.

We had a reservation for 7 p.m. and other than being seated right away, no one really acknowledged us until at least 7:20. No water. No wine. No bread. When the waiter finally came over, he was pleasant, albeit harried, and I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. The place was packed on for Tuesday and he wasn't getting much help from his assistant.

After ordering wine, we waited another 10 mins or so before the waiter came back for our order.

We started off with an order of Insalata Tartufata ($14) a medley of mixed organic greens with sliced pear, walnuts and shaved parmiggiano in a truffle, dijon, honey vinaigrette. Unfortunately, the salad had little flavour. It was bland and disappointing.

Next we had the grilled calamari ($12), which was topped with a sauté of tomato and balsamic vinegar. The flavours were complementary and one of the nicest dishes we had tonight.

For dinner I ordered the "famous" Paglia e Fieno ai Fungi Porcini ($18). This is the dish that everyone talks about and apparently one of the best on the menu. There's even an article posted at the entrance that talks about how great the dish is. It melds together spinach and egg noodle pasta with a rich wild porcini mushroom rosé sauce. Again, I don't mean to be Debbie Downer, but the dish didn't taste like anything. As in it lacked flavour. M ordered the risotto special which was delicious thankfully (since it was his birthday!). It combined flavourful veal sausage with mushrooms and was set in a velvety red sauce. I was considering switching it for my meal when he wasn't looking.

Earlier, I mentioned that I probably wouldn't go back, but quite honestly, I'd like to try it again on a weekend to see if the quality of the service and food are different. There has to be something I'm missing from this place. Maybe I have to be a regular to get it.

sunday dinner

We had a great weekend of visits from friends and family. But I have to say I did way too many dishes, so we were going to head over to Everest Indian Cuisine for dinner. But then M mentioned Lick's. I can't say no to Lick's for some reason. In all honesty, we should have gone for the Indian...