Kinka Izakaya had to re-brand in late 2015 due to the ending of a business agreement with a company from Vancouver. Therefore, all Toronto Guu locations at the time were renamed to Kinka Izakaya, which means "golden flower” in Japanese. The current name highly emphasized the idea of happiness, as that's the brand's mission - to offer guests delicious dishes, and providing high-quality service. Since then, they have continued to provide great food and excellent service with three locations in the GTA and one in Montreal.

Having been to various cities in Japan, I do feel as though I am transported back to Japan whenever I am here. Kinka Izakaya offers an authentic dining experience of popular Japanese eateries including taatami seating in the non-communal area. 

I have been to Kinka Izakaya a few times over the years, and have always enjoyed my dining experience here. Earlier last week, we were invited to check out the new Kinkalicious menu at the Bloor location. Kinkalicious is Kinka's take on the long-running Summerlicious, where they offer a set course meal for an affordable price. It's a great way to sample the menu without breaking the bank. It's available now until July 21, 2019, for groups of 2 or more. 

 Instead of beer, I opted for one of my favorite drinks - Kinka Original Ramune ($4). Ramune is a popular carbonated soft drink originally sold in Japan, but it is also available worldwide. The drink is widely known for its distinctive codd-neck bottles design, where you need to use pressure to open the bottle. The drink available at Kinka Izakaya has been re-branded with the Kinka logo, and for every bottle sold, Kinka Family donates $0.50 to SickKids. So drink for a good cause!  

 Course #2 - The second course was the Sashimi Platter. It was beautifully plated and came with a variety of fresh fish. Thickly cut too!

 Course #3 - Gyu Shabu Salad

  

Course #4 - The third course was the Angus Beef Yukke, which was angus beef tartare topped with scallion, raw quail egg yolk, and nori. It was a dish that I would never order as I don't eat raw beef, but my friend really enjoyed it. 
 

  
Course #5 - The Fry Platter was my absolute favorite of the night! It consisted of the three items that I always order whenever I am at a Kinka Family establishment including Kinton Ramen. Their gyoza is one of the best I've ever had, especially with the accompanying sauce. The takoyaki was plump and wasn't overly battered.

  Course #7 - Next up before dessert was the Kinoko Bibimbap, which is a hot stone with rice, mushrooms, cheese, and seaweed sauce. It's a vegetarian dish, and you can mix it yourself or ask one of the servers. This dish was really good!

  Course #8 - We ended the night off with a scoop of Matcha Ice-Cream. Very sweet ending!

I have a blog post on my visits to JaBistro in the works, but it's not an everyday place to eat. So if you're craving pressed sushi, then definitely get an order of Salmon Oshizushi ($13.50) - blowtorched Atlantic salmon pressed sushi. I really enjoyed it, and the ratio of salmon and rice was good. 

If you're unable to make it to Kinkalicious, don't fret! Kinka Izakaya also offers an everyday set menu with 10 courses for $35 per person. Overall, Kinka Izakaya is a very solid izakaya option in Toronto. However, I would not recommend going there if you have an aversion to loud sounds, or headache, as its atmosphere is very lively. Thank you to Kinka Izakaya and Jesika for hosting!

Address: 559 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M5S 1Y6

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Disclaimer: The food provided in this post was complimentary. However, all of the opinions expressed in this review are of my own.

Outside historic Port Hope lies a 200-acre farm where guests can experience farm life. You get the opportunity to go behind the scenes and interact with a variety of animals like Nigerian Dwarf Goats, Huacaya Alpacas, Exotic Chickens, Icelandic Horses, Apiary, and Tornjak Livestock Guardian Dogs at Haute Goat Shmurgle. This place is a great family activity.

It was there that I learned that "Shmurgle" was a word made up by the farm, and pretty much means goat hugging. Their definition is as followed:

SHMURGLE Definition; snuggle, smooch, hug, cuddle ANY animal but particularly and with emphasis – a Nigerian Dwarf Goat.

When we arrived at the farm, we were greeted by the two friendly owners - Jack and Teja. They gave us a little lesson about the various animals that reside there and learned the history of Haute Goat Farm. Afterward, we walked out to an enclosed gated area where the staff let at least 25 goats out of their playground pen. Being a city girl, it was surreal just being able to have this experience - as I don't think you can cuddle and interact with goats anywhere in Toronto.

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Hanging out with the Nigerian dwarf goats was definitely the highlight for me. As we entered the gated area, the Nigerian dwarf goats all ran freely, while guests were trying to chase after them for photo opportunities. There was a mixture of guests from friends, families to couples ... the perfect group activity I would say. The whole experience took about an hour. 

We were also given fresh cedar leaves to feed the goats. It was a complete wild yet fun experience for me, as a few goats were extremely forthcoming. They weren't violent, but they really did want the cedar leaves. They left as quickly as they came - onto the next person with food.

There were a few baby goats around, and you can also hold them in your arms to "cuddle". However, be prepared as they don't really stay still in your arms. Mine kinda squirmed out of my arms. 

On the Haute Goat Farm are also alpacas. Guests can pet and feed them as well.

After your experience with the Haute Goat Shmurgle, I do recommend you guys to stop by their new cafe called Screaming Goat Café located on the farm property.

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The cafe is opened for lunch, snacks and special events from Wed to Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm. The menu is created by their Chefs in residence, Rob Hogg and Alicia Ricci of "Nosh + Nourish". They have created a small menu of fresh, playful dishes inspired by the city's seasons and local ingredients. For my main, I opted for the grilled cheese sandwich that was absolutely great with the chorizo!



Haute Goat Shmurgle is available from May to December and costs $30 per person. You can pre-purchase tickets here.

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Besides Haute Goat Shmurgle, the farm also offers a variety of fun activities including: 

Haute Goat Yoga
Farm Life Workshops – such as milk a goat, make cheese, basics of beekeeping, keeping chickens and how to make goat milk soap
Gift Shop – featuring delicious goat cheeses, luxury goat milk skincare such as soaps and creams and alpaca products

Address: 1166 5th Line, Port Hope, Ontario L0A 1J0

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On April 7th, 2019, I had the pleasure of attending the inaugural Toronto Bridal Brunch. It was every bit as dreamy as I pictured. As I walked through the flower-adorned entrance by Opening Night Flowers, captivation of my attention towards the glamour décor was met hand in hand with the elegant space.



Intended as a semi-intimate gathering for brides-to-be, the seated brunch was held at the luxurious Globe and Mail Centre and was the center wedding inspirations that day for every guest attending. An impressive line-up of elect vendors was present, and the event was chock full of wedding inspirations, from the ornate centerpieces, wedding services, wedding gowns showcase to the decadent sweets display.



We arrived at the registration table on the 16th floor, and the check-in experience went smoothly. Guests were asked to provide a cell phone number, and they would receive a text when their brunch table was ready. The main event was a full-service brunch presented by Presidential Gourmet, which was nothing short of being visually elegant and tasty.


The Globe and Mail Centre was a perfect fit for this event as it’s one of the very few venues in Toronto offering such a splendor panoramic city and lake views from the top floors. Combining elegance with contemporary sophistication, the soft light of the sun, and the beautiful tiled wooden floors was nothing short of spectacular, matched by its floor-to-ceiling windows and dazzling displays. In this case, the subtle touches of the decor and place settings by Detailz Couture Event Rentals have branded the event into a Parisian café sensation with the gram in mind – photo friendly! It was the perfect backdrop for a morning brunch.

There are many elements that come into play when planning the perfect wedding including food, venue, hair and make-up, photography and more. The Toronto Bridal Brunch was pretty much a one-stop-shop for brides-to-be and their bridal parties. This event was a stark contrast to the large bridal shows, as guests here were able to get more of a hands-on and personal experience from vendors and panel guests. It was pretty much a curated vendor marketplace.

 Upon entering the venue, guests were treated to complimentary mimosas. The mimosa bar by Juice Concepts definitely kept guests satisfied until their timed brunch seating.

Now onto the actual brunch at the Marie BrunchCafé. Named after one of history's most notable fashionistas, Marie Antoinette, the full-service brunch cafe by Presidential Gourmet offered plenty of treats for guests. We were promptly seated at 11 am, and on the table was a small selection of mini Parisian breakfast pastries for us to enjoy. My favorite was the buttery croissant!


Although the brunch entree menu only consisted of four options, Presidential Gourmet definitely showcased their culinary talents with a rather diverse menu. The options included Egg Benedict a la Marie, Brûlée Souffle Pancakes, Vegan Sweet Potato Waffle, and Modern Nicoise. My sweet tooth holds no bound, so I opted for the Brûlée Souffle Pancakes. Two pancakes came covered in a caramelized sugar crust, flambé bourbon cherries and topped off with Madagascar Vanilla Chantilly cream. It was light and fluffy, and rather reminiscent of the Japanese pancakes that have been popularized in Toronto.



 My guest opted for the classic Eggs Benedict a la Marie. A plate of soft poached eggs, smoked duck bacon, toasted brioche, blood orange hollandaise, frisee salad, and radishes.


After brunch, guests made their way to the elaborate desserts display from The Lenotre Patisserie Bar, where they can choose up to 2 desserts. It was an incredibly hard decision, as it all looked so decadent and aesthetically pleasing. I got the Strawberry Rose Beignet and Macaron.





After the brunch, we wandered through the venue to take a look at the vendors. There were a variety of wedding vendors stationed throughout the venue to help people with their wedding planning or just get inspirations. There was something for everyone like wedding makeup services by alistbeauty, interior design ideas by Art of Celebrations, and flower bar services by Willow and Stems.

A tremendous amount of work was poured to produce the event, and it clearly showed. The Toronto Bridal Brunch was truly filled with fantastic food, amazing music, and great vendors. I had an amazing time. The team behind the event definitely did an amazing job by providing an immersive guest experience.

Disclaimer: Collaborated post with EventSource.ca. The food provided in this post was complimentary. However, all of the opinions expressed in this review are of my own.

On our flight home in April 2017 from Stockholm, we had a 20-hour layover in Amsterdam. We enjoyed Amsterdam on our last visit, so decided to splurge on our hotel stay since it was the last night in Europe. It was a pretty last minute booking, but we ended up choosing to stay at the W Amsterdam due to its close proximity to the downtown core. Out of all the hotels available, I chose this hotel as the W brand is pretty synonymous for luxury hotels, and caters toward a more younger generation.

DISCLAIMER: This post was not sponsored. The views and opinions expressed in this review are purely my own.

We arrived at the Amsterdam Airport Schiphol with the worst news ever - all trains were stopped. A man decided to get super drunk and passed out on the train tracks. He was grazed by an incoming train, so they had to stop all service to assist him. Most trains in the city share the same tracks, so this man's action stopped all incoming and outgoing trains. Luckily, he wasn't severely hurt. Anyway, we didn't arrive at the hotel until a little after 4 pm and didn't get to really enjoy the amenities like the pool or lobby as we wanted to eat lunch (a very late one).

W Amsterdam is a modern and hip upscale hotel located near Dam Square. The hotel is split into two buildings, a former telephone exchange building, and a bank. We stayed in the bank building, which was an intriguing design mix of heritage and contemporary style. Our room was the Wonderful Exchange room with a King bed. We opted for the Atrium view in the Exchange building, and it was €322 for the night. That converted to $481.80 CAD a night. For a few euro more, you can get a city view for €340. At the time, I didn't really take many pictures for my Instagram (and I don't think stories existed yet), so I didn't care to have a city view or not.


The hotel room was pretty well-stocked with all kinds of amenities and drinks. Some were free, while others you had to pay.


Two cons - it can get loud on weekends and the layout of the hotel was a little confusing (a lot of different glass doors on each floor). While it is a luxury hotel, the above outdoor pool turns into a lounge on the weekends. So, it can get loud as the lounge goers come/go. We stayed there on a Saturday, so it was pretty bustling. Luckily, we were exhausted after a day of exploring and shopping, so we slept pretty well despite the noise (you don’t hear the music too clearly, but the beats were noticeable).


Just a heads up that upon checking out, there is also an additional 5% city tax (of the room) collected by the hotel on behalf of the Amsterdam City.



This particular stay in early 2017 was very memorable to us, as it was our first luxury hotel experience. Our logistics and e-commerce business was starting to do well at the time, and it really made us believe that we were heading in the right direction. We no longer regretted quitting our full-time careers to become entrepreneurs. It was the right decision! To this day, I still believe in experiences over materialistic goods, so I do think it was money well-spent. My parents would contradict that though cause you know ... Asian parents =)

Address: Spuistraat 175, 1012 VN Amsterdam, Netherlands

About two weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending one of Toben Food by Design‘s pop-up dinners at their new partnered venue, Grace. Guests were treated to an amazing family-style dinner in a multi-faceted space. Grace was the perfect backdrop for the evening: a beautifully designed space using a mixture of heritage tones and contemporary touches.

Blog by me, and edited by EventSource.ca. Read my blog and more pics here.


For those who desire some Asian influence and nostalgia in their meal, I highly recommend checking out Toben Food by Design‘s Lǚkè Pop Up Series: I. “Meaning Traveler in Mandarin, Lǚkè transports each guest to a different location by combining flavour, design, style and service for a full globetrotter experience in your very own city.”



Pop-up dinners are not new in Toronto, but to execute one with such exceptional food is what sets this one apart. The Lǚkè dinner embodies the small community closeness of the Asian culture, without sacrificing the privacy and space to which western dining culture is accustomed. Having traveled all over various parts of Asia, both Chef Toben and Chef Liam brought forth their inspiration from their trips straight to the dinner tables in the most wonderful way.

Upon entering Grace, guests are escorted to their communal tables, and drink orders were taken. The inspiration from their Asia travels is quite evident right from the presentation of the tables to the subtle nuances across the 8 courses we had the pleasure of enjoying. Each course was carefully prepared with consideration of its Asian influence such that the overall experience was an adventure in itself.

The three specialty cocktails (Taramind Sour, Sake Cocktail and Thai Coconut) perfectly complemented all of the Asian-inspired dishes.  I opted for the Thai Coconut, a sweet mixture of white rum, lemongrass syrup, lime bitters and coconut water. Yum!



As a seasoned traveler myself, I’ve had the chance to experience my share of Asian cuisine and can attest to the fact that the best cuisine out there really stimulates all five taste senses: saltiness, sweetness, bitterness, sourness, and umami. The dishes prepared by Toben certainly did just that: it is clear that a lot of attention was placed into ensuring that each one of these flavors was incorporated and balanced across the 8 delectable dishes.

We began dinner with three snacks. First up, deviled eggs which were carefully crafted with miso-crème fraiche yolk – a sensational taste of its Italian origin coupled with an Asian accent thanks to the red shisho, and Liam’s cured salmon roe. These were to die for, and the general consensus of our table was that we wished we had more of them!



The second snack was the Vegetarian Hot and Sour soup, which was the dish we found incorporated the greatest amount of Asian influence. With its exotic mushrooms, and 5 spice lotus root chips, this soup did not shy away from its Asian heritage leaving a very savory experience in one’s palette.

The third snack served as a tasty palette cleanser to the first two dishes, “resetting” our respective palette in preparation for the main meal. I cannot think of a better way to do it than using Hamachi Crudo paired with baby cucumber, and various herbs. This dish’s origin is actually Italian and serves as an answer to the Japanese Sashimi. The idea here was to bring the ocean to your dish without countering the natural flavors. This dish itself was light, gentle and served its purpose in preparing us for the main courses.

 

The first main course was Jumbo Fried Chicken Wings accompanied by its own set of Bachan – Kimchi, Cucumber Salad, and Picked Daikon. Over the last several years, Korean Fried Chicken (KFC) has popped up everywhere and has earned its staying power for a very good reason. The idea of having bachan Korean sides that are light and breezy, followed by fried chicken really elevated the flavours as opposed to fried food on top of fried food that you typically find at most fried chicken restaurants.








The next main course was the Charred Octopus, another very well-known Italian dish, seasoned with Black Bean Pineapple, and Lime. The two chefs cleverly fused an Asian staple food to this dish that every Asian household is very well aware of: Lap Cheong Sausages. The sausages were cut into tiny pieces to create a visually pleasing presentation, but also added flavor that complemented the octopus.



We ended off the main meal with a rather intricate salad consisting of many ingredients. The Shaved Winter Vegetable Salad composed of Kohlrabi, beets, heirloom carrots, Brussels sprouts, dandelion greens, radishes, pumpkin seeds, heirloom cherry tomato, and drizzled in a creamy golden miso dressing. I liked that it was filling and packed with flavor.



Wok Fried Water Spinach is an essential dish in Asian home-style cooking and restaurants. Toben’s version mixed oyster sauce, lemongrass, galangal and garlic to re-create a classic vegetable dish.

The night ended off on a sweet note with the Black Tea-Sea Salt Creme Caramel. Simply divine!



Overall, the evening certainly lived up to its goals of delivering guests that true globetrotter experience. Every detail of the dinner from start to finish was meticulously arranged, which culminated into a fantastic dinner and overall guest experience.

We look forward to the next pop up event hosted by these two seasoned traveler chefs! If you’re interested in giving this meal a try, the next event in the Lǚkè Pop Up Series: I will take place  at Grace on April 5th at 7 pm.