2012 is a Time for change

Thank you so much for reading my blog.  I have moved locations to www.stephintoronto.com  I hope that you will join me there.  It will take a little while to fully populate everything, but I'm working on it!

Monoprix Adventures

I absolutely love exploring grocery stores while I am away, especially not high end ones. I had fun one afternoon, schlepping around the Monoprix in Strasbourg and walking up and down the aisles. I would be in so much trouble if our local supermarket carried 40+ types of foie gras! just amazing. It all looked so yummy!Foie Gras:Foie Gras:Foie Gras.....Petits Macarons in the frozen food aisles? Have I died and gone to heaven?
underagers were out in full force deciding what libation they would drink for the evening.

A Trip to Grand Chinese Cuisine for Dim Sum

A group of us went to the north of the ciry for some fantastic Dim Sum on the 2nd of January for some of the best Dim Sum in the city.  Here are some of the pics from the lunch.  Grand Chinese can be found at the Double Tree Hilton Hotel, 655 Dixon Road, Toronto, ON.  Phone 416 248 9898

Auberge du Pommier - Menu Degustation

I was treated recently to a lovely tasting menu at one of the continually best rated restaurants in Toronto, Auberge du Pommier. I hadn't been there in ages and the meal was fantastic. It was truly lovely and the wine pairings were spectacular. What a treat. The tasting menu, and other menus, can be found here, but I took some pics while we were there. They are slightly dark, as I was really aware of not disturbing the other diners, so did not use a flash. I wish I could go back right now!

Food Trucks

Declinaison Chocolat - Artisan Chocolatier d'Alsace

The first night that we were in Strasbourg we walked through the city and I was mesmerized by the window at Declinaison Chocolat. Little did I know that it would be a window that we would stop by to stare at often and it's contents would catch my attention often. The window was fantastic and simple and the chocolates inside were simple and exquisite.

A close up of the marroon glacee, which were all over Europe at this time of year, and the chocolate Christmas Tree. Each layer was a different variety of chocolate topped with a variety of fruits and dried nuts.

La Boutique d'Antoine Westermann - Plats cuisines Epicerie fine Vins

I was sure that there was a link on the web to this most fabulous food and wine shop, and am sad not to find one. 

My father and I popped in one day as I peered in and saw that it was not only a twinkling jewel in the window, but was the most exquisite cavern in the basement. The store was simply breathtaking. It had an open staircase that lead from the upstairs mecca of prepared foods, caviar, mustard's, spices, salts, culinary tools, to a "sous sol" of wine, specialty oils and a very special, albeit small, selection of french hand painted bake ware. I picked up some truffle oil here for a song, for myself and for my most favourite friends J and L as a special treat. I can't wait to make the most fabulous scrambled eggs with just a hint of truffle!

A view from half way up the stairs

Into the cavernous beauty of the Sous Sol and all of the delights it held!

The lovely french mustard's, chutneys and jams, as well as the bake wear. You can also see the beautiful stone walls. I could have spent hours down here!