A Few of My Favo(u)rite Things
Here's a list of some stuff that I like. It's not exhaustive and it changes often. Some classics are sure to stick around, but other items come and go. As you'll see, food and the outdoors are important parts of my life. So are books. And people (friends, family), but I don't want to pick favorites in that area. They're not listed here for that reason.
Food
Food is fundamental to life. It sustains us. It gives pleasure. There is little room for mediocrity, but good food doesn't have to be expensive. It just has to have good ingredients, be prepared skillfully and be interesting or compelling in some way. The places below are pretty good at achieving that balance, and range in price from extremely cheap to extremely expensive.
- Dinner at WD-50 was fascinating...and delicious. Highlight was lamb chops cooked in banana consomme with dehydrated olives. And the dessert called simply 'soft chocolate, avocado, licorice, lime.' Possibly my favo[u]rite use of the squeeze bottle ever.
- For all around quality and experience, Tapawingo is probably still my favo[u]rite meal ever.
- Eden, at the Rimrock Resort in Banff, was also quite good. The dessert I had there (darjeeling tea creme brulee with campari sorbet) was an absolutely perfect balance of a fascinating array of flavo[u]rs.
- I also really like Le Chanteclair in Ferney Voltaire, France (near Geneva). The food is consistently excellent and creative. It's also the place where I had my first truly exceptional meal (highlight: scallops atop an apple-lime slaw with a sweet potato chip on top).
- My favo(u)rite places I've been to in Toronto are:
- Senses, which was even more fascinating than WD-50. Each course (there were 14!) required instructions on how to eat it. (Highlight: Too many...ask me!)
- Rain - Edgy! Loved some of it, hated some of it. Excellent overall. And a great setting (waterfalls!).
- Chiado - Great, classic Portuguese place. Great starters, desserts and fish. Pheasant was a bit dry.
- Canoe - Fun, diverse, tasty menu. Nothing shocking, though.
- Jamie Kennedy Wine Bar - Just good, fresh stuff. His fries are quite good. Everybody knows that already, though.
- North 44 - Good, fairly interesting stuff. Nothing too surprising. Dessert was excellent.
- Marcello's - Great, cheap pizza. Esp. the one with potatoes.
- Grappa - Extremely good Italian (esp. pastas) in a really friendly, neighbo[u]rhood sort of place.
- Bread from Zingerman's is simply stellar. It needs no accompaniment (and I have yet to find its equal in Toronto -- suggestions, anyone?), but if you're there you may as well try the #51, one of the better sandwiches available on earth. I recommend substituting sourdough bread. You also can't miss with the #2. Check out the Buenos Aires brownies if you still have room.
- Gelato from both La Paloma and American Spoon are both pretty good too. And a lot cheaper than a ticket to Italy.
- I also love grocery shopping in Kensington Market, a tremendously colo(u)rful and vibrant Toronto neighbo(u)rhood where you can find just about anything.
Books
The best stuff I've read lately:
Activities
- I love riding my bike pretty much anywhere, but two of my favorite trails are the Potawatomi and the North Country Trail segment right by Harbor Springs, MI. If I'm riding my road bike, one of my favorite rides is on Sheridan Road north of Chicago.
- I also enjoy sailing a ton. I've been lucky to spend many summers at Michigania and Camp Maplehurst, where I got to spend most days sailing on Walloon Lake and Torch Lake in northern Michigan.
|
|