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Let’s be real, we’re not going to a wine bar anytime soon. While the city is awash with stellar new (permanent!) bottle shops, we’re equally blessed with refreshed selection of wine subscription services. Each offers more than your standard LCBO fare some focus specifically on Spanish bottles and skin-contact wines, while others scour the province for a curated selection of Canadian-made vino. And they range in style and commitment level, with a range of price points for every budget. All you need is a credit card and a bottle opener. Here are some of the most interesting options. ....
1977 Dundas St. W., 416-530-1430, @tommyswinebarto Weeks before the first lockdown, Tim Morse and Jamal Watson were carefully turning an old convenience store into their dream coffee-shop-slash-wine-bar. Though the timing for a wine bar was unfortunate, the bottle-shop iteration of Tommy’s has nestled perfectly into the Dundas West strip. Expect the comforts of a good local laid-back energy, stellar espresso but with fridges of boozy (and non-boozy) bevvies. The vibe: Pop in for a coffee, end up leaving with at least two bottles of wine The snacks: Patties from Patty King and ham sandwiches from Donna’s The selection: Strongly local, and more than just bottles of wine: bottled cocktails from Solid Olive; wine-beer hybrids from Hamilton’s Merit Brewing; and Ramona, a canned wine by sommelier Jordan Salcito ....
Tote bags, tees, masks and other cool swag from Toronto restaurants for last-minute gifting Tote bags, tees, masks and other cool swag from Toronto restaurants for last-minute gifting With only a few shopping days left until Christmas, there’s no time like the present (pun fully intended) to shop local curbside pickup is your best bet to guarantee gifts will end up under the tree on time. This year, many of Toronto’s restaurants have released stylish, limited-run merchandise, perfect for the hard-to-buy-for foodie on your list and a great way to support local eateries during this second lockdown. Here, a short but sweet list of local restaurant merch you can put in your virtual cart. ....
by John Szabo MS In what seems like a lifetime ago, back on May 7 th, 2020, I hosted a virtual round table discussion on Austrian wines with a panel of top Canadian wine minds. Around the table we had: Jennifer Huether MS, co-founder of the Social Herbivore and author of an upcoming book on plant based food and wine pairings, Krysta Oben, proprietor/sommelier of Paris Paris Wine Bar/WineShop and one of the Grape Witches (wine shop, events), Christopher Sealy, head sommelier for the Alo Food Group, and Bruce Wallner MS, proprietor of the Grand Cru Deli wine bar and Sips bottle shop as well as the SommFactory wine school. ....
The Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide 2020 We scoured the city (and beyond) and cherry-picked the year’s most covetable gifts, from affordable stocking stuffers to jaw-dropping splurges $585 and up Now shipping to Canada, lab-grown diamond studs from Clean Origin are the perfect gift for this holiday season. Ranging from ¾ carat to tw0 carats, these sparklers come complete with their own diamond certificate from the IGI. $41.70 Bulleit s unique high rye content and distinct spicy flavour make it a great bourbon for any cocktail. It s a favourite among bartenders, and its attractive taste and long, lingering finish makes it the perfect gift for those who enjoy premium quality. ....