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profile
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restaurant
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taste
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6 | Goodlife Forest Hill - November - December 2014
Sugar plum dreams come true for ballet star Sonia Rodriguez
Amaya caters to foodies craving Indian cuisine and hospitality
Shopkeeper entices with inspiring spices from across the globe
people Mefits: lovable characters with winning smiles and unique traits
30
shopping
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home
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spirits
48
travel
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goodwill
37
Heat up your fall and winter wardrobe with shades of red
It’s a ‘cellars’ market when it comes to storing your wine
Raise your glass in a patriotic toast to Canadian whisky
Eight hundred years of history and culture await in Stockholm
Young professionals encouraged to give back through ‘motionball’
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• EDITOR’S NOTE •
Revel in the warmth of the season
I
ON THE COVER: Photo of Sonia Rodriguez taken at her Forest Hill home, by Tom Hicken.
8 | Goodlife Forest Hill - November - December 2014
CONTACT US
f you’re going to do it, you might as well do it right. Just ask Nitsan Weinberg. Check out our feature on his stunning St. Clair Avenue wine cellar. You may well drool over the $85,000 wine cellar he had built – beautiful to see and quality in content. It’s a 200-square-foot walnut encrusted treasure. We wonder if he has a few bottles tucked away of the Beaujolais wine reviewer Michael Pinkus highlights in this issue. If you can’t build yourself a wine cellar we at least have some wine storage tips and preview some wine accessories for your interest. But if wine isn’t your – ahem, cup of tea – check out this edition’s features on Canadian whisky or bold Ontario brews. Or warm yourself up with the spicy flavours at Amaya Indian Room and see why chef and owner Hemant Bhagwani is bringing something unique to the city’s food scene. It’s never too early, of course, to plan a springtime vacation. Why not try Stockholm, the ‘Venice of the north’? Did you know Stockholm is actually built on 14 islands, with water covering about a third of the city? A tip: The best tours are those by boat – once you get there. At the very least, we can get your mind there with the beautiful photos of this edition’s travel feature. A season of celebration is fast approaching,
Publisher Ian Proudfoot
by Peter Haggert
and judging by the emphasis on food and drink in this edition, one might suggest there’s a party or two to be had. We know it’s a grand time of year for people getting together because we see it reflected in our community calendar listings at insidetoronto.com. We see an increase of events across the city and we see more people than ever checking events listed in our calendars. If you are an event organizer, we urge you to include a free listing of your event on our website. You can access the calendar information at bit.ly/torontocalendar While it’s festive season for many, it’s not for all. Please take the time to consider those less fortunate who will not have the opportunities we do to enjoy the season. Don’t forget to give generously to a local cause that can lift the spirits of the less fortunate. As always, let us know what you think of GoodLife magazine. Until next our edition, stay warm.
Peter Haggert is the editor in chief of Metroland Media Toronto and GoodLife magazine. Contact him at phaggert@insidetoronto.com
Mailing address: Metroland Media Toronto 175 Gordon Baker Rd. Toronto, ON, M2H 0A2 For further information regarding all our products, please call us at 416-493-4400
General Manager Marg Middleton Editors Julie Caspersen Antoine Tedesco Advertising Director Rob Falbo Regional Director of Production Katherine Porcheron Graphic Design Julie Caspersen Story Contributors Warren Cartwright Natalie Chu Elizabeth Glassen Amanda Jerome Jean Ko Din Erin Lukas Louie Piacentini Justin Skinner Antoine Tedesco Photography Contributors Tom Hicken Joseph Howarth Peter C. McCusker Dan Pearce Nick Perry GoodLife is a lifestyle magazine published six times per year: January/February, March/April, May/June, July/August, September/October and November/December by Metroland Media Toronto, a division of Metroland Media Group Ltd. It is delivered to 20,000 households in the Forest Hill, Leaside, Rosedale and Lawrence Park neighbourhoods of Toronto, to households served by The City Centre Mirror or The East York Mirror. GoodLife magazine is also available at select retail locations in these areas. Statements, opinions and points of view expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent those of the publisher, advertisers or GoodLife magazine. All rights reserved. Any reproduction of this publication in whole or in part must be approved by the publisher.
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Ian Proudfoot Publisher Marg Middleton General Manager Peter Haggert Editor-in-Chief Warren Elder Director of Advertising Gord Paolucci Regional Dir. of Classified, Real Estate Mike Banville Director of Circulation Katherine Porcheron Regional Director of Production
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ore than 20 years ago, John Muscat met Jennifer Wells while in university and they hit it off, professionally speaking. As the two got to know each other, they would plan and dream about what they could create within the fashion world. A few years later, when the duo known as John and Jenn hit 30 years of age they launched LINE Knitwear, now an internationally known knitwear line, frequently worn by A-list celebrities such as Sandra Bullock, Mila Kunis, and Kourtney Kardashian. Before LINE was created, Wells already had her own business – she had opened her own store – when Muscat convinced her to start over again. “‘I just need your help making a couple of things,’” Wells remembers Muscat saying to her. “‘Don’t worry, it won’t be a big deal,’” Muscat recalls saying.
John Muscat, left, and Jennifer Wells at the Toronto office of LINE Knitwear, where they create knitwear collections that make maximum use of draping, embellishment and exaggerated detailing.
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10 | Goodlife Forest Hill - November - December 2014
or what needs changing. Wells is the designer. “There’s a large collaboration with the design team,” Wells says. “The initial base, I would say, is put together by the design team and then John comes in ...” “...and drives everyone crazy,” Muscat interjects, laughing.
Over the nearly 15 years LINE has been in existence, the woman that LINE identifies with has evolved. “She’s definitely professional; she travels for business and she travels for fun. She’s obsessed with shopping, but she takes her shopping very seriously. She’s kind of a worldly girl,” Muscat says, adding that LINE has become refined over the years and has become more grown up than their other brand, John and Jenn. LINE’s spring 2015 collection takes a whole new direction, according to Wells. “We’ve concentrated a lot this season on new shapes, so there’s definitely a lot more over-sized. We’ve played a lot with mesh and textures and transparencies.” Their spring collection will begin hitting stores between late 2014 and early 2015 and can be found at Holt Renfrew, TNT and Mendocino. GL
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he walls were covered with hearts the day Sonia Rodriguez auditioned for the National Ballet of Canada. “I came in February, I auditioned on Valentine’s Day,” she says, recalling her first experience of the National Ballet. “It’s hard to forget that because the whole building was decorated with hearts.” Rodriguez had just turned 17, and although she was born in Toronto, she had grown up in Spain, her family’s homeland and where her parents decided to return when she was five. Rodriguez ventured back to the place of her birth and was auditioning on the recommendation of Betty Oliphant, co-founder of the National Ballet School of Canada, who had seen her perform at an international dance competition in Italy. “I got an offer right on the spot,” she says now, decades later, still with a sense of bewilderment. “Leaving home at such a young age and being so far away, not speaking English, it was really overwhelming, but I think I thought I was going to come here and it was going to be a somewhat temporary thing, or a stepping stone to something else, and 25 years later I’m still here.” Rodriguez’s career has not only been long, but extraordinarily successful, with her dancing the principal roles in such ballets as Swan Lake, Giselle, Romeo and Juliet, The Sleeping Beauty and Alice in Wonderland. “I’m very, very fortunate to have done as much as I’ve done so far,” she says. “Just to have the opportunity and the luck, because you need a little bit of luck that your body holds up and still cooperates with you.” Rodriguez is everything you’d imagine a ballerina to be. Her body is small and lithe, and when she moves across a room it is with care and grace. As slight as a bird, she looks as if she could fly away at any moment, but her large, expressive eyes let you know she means to stay, which you’re glad of >>
BY AMANDA JEROME PHOTOGRAPHY BY TOM HICKEN
Sonia Rodriguez in her Forest Hill home. GoodLifeMagazine.ca | 13
Photo by Aaron Vincent Elkaim
Sonia Rodriguez in company class.
>> because of her exceptionally warm and personable character. Like most professional ballerinas, she started dancing when she was fairly young, but unlike most she didn’t start out in a traditional studio. Her first experience of ballet was through a television screen and her first steps were learned at a gym. “I started dancing quite young,” she says. “I had never actually seen ballet live, but I saw a performance of Swan Lake on TV and I just thought it was so magical. It was a world that I had not experienced before and I was really drawn to it. So I convinced my mother to enrol me to take some classes at a local gym – it wasn’t even a ballet studio, per
14 | Goodlife Forest Hill - November - December 2014
se, but they had some ballet classes – and so that’s how I started. It was love at first sight, but not once I started dancing. I found it very constrictive and I actually struggled a little bit at the beginning and didn’t really enjoy it, but I was not about to admit that, so I kept on going.” That spirit of determination and perseverance paid off. “I think probably by age eight I was really having fun, but by age 12 I knew that it’s what I was going to do. I knew I was going to be a ballet dancer.” Despite growing up in Spain, her career and her home life are now intrinsically linked to Toronto. With more than two decades at the Toronto-based
National Ballet of Canada and in the Forest Hill community where she and her husband, champion figure skater Kurt Browning, have chosen to raise their two sons, the city is where her career and her family have a home. With her and Browning’s demanding schedules eating up a lot of time, finding a balance between their work and home life in the city takes some finesse. “It’s a stretch,” she says. “It takes a lot of planning, it takes a lot of calendars constantly revised and synched in and just trying to make sure our busy working life doesn’t take over everything. My job is pretty steady with my seasons here, so I >>
>> know really far in advance when my busy times are and we do some travelling, but not in excess. We’re really based here in Toronto, so that helps a lot with the children.” Like any Toronto family, they spend their fair share of time taking advantage of the city’s cultural facilities and encouraging their kids to be active. “The children have now started skating, so we spend a lot more time at the Granite Club,” she says. “Recreational swimming is sort of a fun thing that we do. We like going to the Science Centre, we’ve been members for three years now, and the ROM is always fun for the kids too. Those are kind of our winter go-tos as a family when the weather is too cold to be outside.” Rodriguez adores her children. She showers them with affection when they’re with her; theirs is a home full of big hugs and kisses placed atop heads, and her voice takes on a tone full of pride and love when she speaks about them. Time spent away from her boys is the most difficult part of her job. “I think the demanding hours, perhaps more
...it’s exactly where I want to be. It’s exactly what I want to be doing. It just gives me satisfaction, even on the hard days... – Sonia Rodriguez than anything else, because a lot of times, especially when we’re putting a full-length together, it’s not just about my needs, but it’s about the needs of the full production,” she says about the difficulties of being a principal dancer. But despite the long hours there’s nothing else Rodriguez would rather be doing. “Everybody says, ‘Oh, it must have been so hard, and you sacrificed so much to get to where you’ve been.’ But I never felt that way. I think that as long as the love and the passion for what you’re doing is so strong that you don’t see any sacrifices really. I don’t, it’s exactly where I want to be. It’s exactly what I want to be doing. It just gives me satisfaction, even on the hard days, even on the days I might be doubting myself, ultimately >>
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>> there’s nowhere else I’d rather be...I love performing because it’s sort of the culmination of everything and you immerse yourself in the moment and you lose everything else, but I love the rehearsing part, the discovery part and sharing that time with your partner and seeing how far you can go with things.” In December, Rodriguez will be re-appearing in the Christmas classic, The Nutcracker, which has gained holiday tradition status, as families attend year after year to see one of the National Ballet’s most popular works. “I think it’s something that is very rewarding for the artists because you know how much it means to the audience that’s there,” she says. “For me it’s taken on a whole new meaning af-
16 | Goodlife Forest Hill - November - December 2014
I feel so blessed that I can physically do what I love to do so much... – Sonia Rodriguez ter having children, too, because I get to experience it through their eyes again. Sometimes you can forget the impact it makes on the young person to see something like that, to experience it firsthand again all over, it was really special to me. I always do the Sugarplum Fairy, so I get the magical entrance from the Fabergé egg – you can’t beat that.” Families who come to The Nutcracker don’t have to
Photo by Bruce Zinger
Sonia Rodriguez in ‘The Nutcracker.’
worry about missing out on seeing Rodriguez as the Sugarplum Fairy any time soon, as she’s not considering leaving the stage. In fact, she still feels after all these years that she’s improving as a dancer. “I feel so blessed that I can still physically do what I love to do so much and I’m not at a point where I feel like I’m compromising anything in that sense,” she says. “I think you get at one point in your career where that will start to happen, but I still haven’t reached that and I still feel like I’m improving in certain aspects and I’m still growing, so it’s wonderful.” The Nutcracker is on stage Dec. 13 to Jan. 3 at the The Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W. Visit http://national.ballet.ca to learn more or to purchase tickets. GL
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• TASTE •
BY ANTOINE TEDESCO PHOTOS BY DAN PEARCE
I
n 2007, chef Hemant Bhagwani opened Amaya Indian Room at 1701 Bayview Ave. just south of Eglinton Ave. E. Seven years later, the Amaya Group of Restaurants has grown to include several Amaya Express and food court locations, a catering arm, gourmet products for purchase, and Amaya Bread Bar at 3305 Yonge St. just north of Lawrence Ave. Together with Indian Room’s manager Yatin Bhatia and New Dehlitrained Executive Chef K Prasad, Bhagwani brings authentic Indian cuisine to the Bayview Village neighbourhood. GOODLIFE: What inspired Amaya? Hemant Bhagwani: Since I arrived in Canada, I saw Indian food confined to buffets and greasy spoons. While learning French culinary in Switzerland, I had always believed that Indian food was as flavourful as French or other major cuisines. The passion of doing Indian food with good quality in20 | Goodlife Forest Hill - November - December 2014
gredients was the whole idea behind Amaya. GOODLIFE: What did your upbringing and training bring to Amaya? Bhagwani: I learned cooking in Switzerland culinary school but the hospitality and love for food came from my grandmother. GOODLIFE: Do you bring ingredients in from India?
tially means real. We try to do it real at Amaya. Since we opened we’ve tried to make everything as real as possible. We make all our sauces, cheese, spices we grind them in-house – it’s all from scratch. There are no shortcuts. Our chefs are trained in that manner. That’s what we bring to our guests, and they love it. GOODLIFE: What makes Amaya stand out from other Indian restaurants?
GOODLIFE: What is Amaya bringing to the restaurant scene in Toronto?
Bhagwani: Inspired by the growers and producers of Ontario our menu utilizes regional and seasonal ingredients. Unique and delicious dishes are crafted to satisfy the palate, while remaining true to the very essence of the ingredients. Pairing Indian food with wines and cocktails is also a standout at Amaya.
Yatin Bhatia: The word itself, Amaya, has a very deep meaning. It is a Sanskrit word, which essen-
Bhatia: If you take a look at our wine list, our cocktail list, it all works with the food, which >>
Bhagwani: Spices and herbs are from India. Whole spices are brought to Canada and we grind and blend them here, onsite.
Courtesy photo
This page, clockwise from top left: Chef Hemant Bhagwani, owner of the Amaya Group of Restaurants; the dining room at the Amaya Indian Room at 1701 Bayview Ave.; Indian Room manager Yatin Bhatia with the Hyderabad dum Biryani (pair with Pinot Noir); lighting in the entranceway; the Saffron Chicken Korma (pair with Pinot Grigio); Opposite page: Lasooni Cauliflower, the vegetarian version to the restaurant’s famous Chicken 65 (great with a Bollywood Mojito).
>> is something very unique in the city. It’s only at Amaya, for Amaya.
GOODLIFE: Are there specific wines that work best with Indian food?
GOODLIFE: Amaya puts a strong emphasis on wine and cocktail pairings. Why?
Bhatia: Most Indian food works best with white wine (Marsanne, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay), but it depends on the curries. We have some dishes that have a very thick sauce; some dishes are grilled and roasted, or a lamb dish or a steak dish; with these, I would recommend a nice glass of red (Gamay, Pinot Noir).
Bhagwani: Why not? As a sommelier I have always believed that there are some amazing wines which can be paired with Indian herbs. Cocktails are all done with a traditional twist. Bhatia: The inspiration was the food first, then after we solidified our approach to food we thought, why stop with the food, why not look at the drinks? We researched what worked, did some experimenting with flavours and ingredients, and created cocktails with spices that are in the food. Initially it was difficult to create the right pairings, but eventually we did it. Our guests liked it, and eventually started ordering the Bollywood Mojito or the Bolly Bellini.
GOODLIFE: Does Amaya focus on a specific style or region of Indian? Bhatia: India is such a massive country, and there’s a saying that every 10 kilometres you’ll find a different people with their own food culture. Our menu has its staple dishes – butter chicken, chana masala, dal makhani – but we always try to change things. We go on trips to India with our chefs; we go to people’s homes to
get the authentic recipes. We want to understand what people eat in different parts of India, and that’s what impacts the menu, which we change up every three to four months. GOODLIFE: What is Amaya trying to do with its tasting menu? Bhatia: Amaya is known for its tasting menus - we have a four-course and six-course tasting menu. We work with our guests, find out what they like, their spice level, any allergies they might have, and give them a truly unique experience. We even do a liquid nitrogen kulfi. GOODLIFE: What do you want people to take away from Amaya? Bhagwani: A love for Indian food. Our philosophy was to create casual Indian dining with quality ingredients. GL GoodLifeMagazine.ca | 21
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W
hen Allison Johnston started her Toronto spice shop, she wasn’t really a fan of hot
sauces. “Now I miss it if I don’t have it,” Johnston says, after spending years tasting and educating herself about chilies and other spices. Through The Spice Trader shop, at 877 Queen Street West, Johnston hopes to similarly expose customers to the wide range and versatility of spices. From Saigon cinnamon to the Turkish Aleppo pepper, The Spice Trader carries hundreds of spices sourced worldwide and inspired from regions such as Morocco, India and Thailand. Johnston also creates specialty boxes with custom mixes to represent each area. “I hope people will realize that spicy doesn’t mean hot, spicy means flavour,” Johnston says. Certain chili peppers, for instance, can offer bold flavours without being too hot on the tongue. Ancho chilies, a dark red poblano pepper from Mexico is perfect for soups and stews. The purple, Middle-Eastern Urfa pepper has a fig, raisin smell to it, and is something Johnston considers “absolutely delicious.” Johnston started The Spice Trader with her partner, Neil Bougourd, in 2005. Both were avid home cooks (Bougourd also worked in restaurants) and spent a year researching spices before opening the shop. They had seen an array of specialized spice shops during their travels. “We realized no one was doing re-
24 | Goodlife Forest Hill - November - December 2014
ally good high-end quality spices here in the city,” she says. They focus on organic, if not wildharvested spices and hand-blend and hand-tin everything. Emphasizing the beauty of the whole spice, Johnston no longer sells popular items such as ground pepper or nutmeg. A good mortar and pestle goes a long way, she says. Whole spices have a shelf life of three to five years. Over the past decade, Johnston says she’s developed a network of small suppliers all over the globe. “Organic is not necessarily going to be more flavourful than fresh, nonorganic, but like anything in farming you’ll notice that a smaller-yield, more hands-on product is generally better quality than something that is mass produced,” she says. Freshness is key to spices and the main reason Johnston believes in buying small-batch, high-quality spices. “If you think about spices having octaves of flavour, in the beginning they have two octaves and then they start to loose their top and bottom notes,” she says. “You could put in 20 tablespoons and you’ll never get the range of flavour that you had initially.” Peppercorns, for instance, are a spice that Johnston swears by buying organic. “I would say buy the spices you use the most of fresh and organic. A lot of people use pepper every day so you want to get something that’s very high quality and healthy.” But The Spice Trader isn’t just a onestop-shop for spices. Johnston offers classes in making mustards and sausages, and she pairs her spice mixes with popular cookbooks, such as Jerusalem by U.K. chef Yotam Ottolenghi. “We really try to get people excited about cooking and trying to branch out beyond their comfort levels,” she says.
Allison Johnston, owner of The Spice Trader, has developed a passion for all things hot and spicy. Through her Toronto shop she hopes to introduce others to the realm of exotic and inspiring spices from around the world.
Chicken Curry with sanaam chili
Chicken Curry
This recipe highlights the sanaam chili, a traditional Indian spice. It’s a great alternative to cayenne pepper with a less hot flavour profile. Johnston sells sanaam chili in her Organic Indian Spice Box with eight difference spices, including fenugreek, coriander seed and cardamom.
2 cloves garlic, minced
Basic Curry Powder Blend 1/4 tsp sanaam chili 4 tsp coriander seed 4 tsp cumin seed 1 tsp black mustard seed 2 tsp black peppercorns 2 tsp fenugreek seeds 1 tsp ground ginger 2 tbsp ground turmeric Dry roast the whole spices over a medium heat until aroma intensifies, stirring or shaking the pan frequently to prevent burning. Transfer to plate and leave to cool, then grind to a powder. Add ginger, turmeric and sanaam chili, blending well.
3 tbsp olive oil 1 small onion 3 tbsp basic curry powder blend 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp paprika 1/2 tsp ginger 1/2 tsp white sugar salt to taste 2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, halved and cut into bite-sized pieces 1 tbsp tomato paste 1 cup plain yogurt 3/4 cup coconut milk 1/2 lemon, juiced Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. SautĂŠ onion until lightly browned. Stir in garlic, curry powder, cinnamon, paprika, ginger, sugar and salt. Continue stirring for two minutes. Add chicken pieces, tomato paste, yogurt, and coconut milk. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in lemon juice and simmer for five more minutes.
GoodLifeMagazine.ca | 25
A Winter Wedding by the Lake
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xtraordinary! Not Ordinary.
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By JEAN KO DIN
T
win sisters Rayelle and Cayla Haché grew up being compared to each other all the time. People have told them that one is taller than the other. They both wear glasses, but one parts her hair to the left and the other parts her hair to the right. One wore braces, but the other had wider hips. One had blonder hair. One had bigger feet. They’ve heard it all. “As twins, people pointed it out between the two of us a lot, comparing us all the time and right to our faces,” says Rayelle. “It became a different struggle for us because we’re not being compared to different people, we were being compared to each other all the time.” They always talked about a “magic age” when these comparisons would stop, but now in their thirties, they’ve realized that it’s
just not going away. Rayelle and Cayla grew up in Victoria, British Columbia. They moved to Toronto in 2001 to study at OCAD University. In 2006, Rayelle and Cayla were working together on a thesis about the beauty of belonging. They spent hours talking about how differences can disconnect people. From that thesis, they were inspired to create a brand that embraced differences and encouraged acceptance. The story of the Mefits was born. They created 12 handmade characters of colourful eco fleece felt made of recycled PET bottles and filled with biodegradable corn fibers for fluff. Each quirky character has a unique size, shape and colour. They range from six inches to nine inches tall. They can have different
Top, sisters Cayla and Rayelle Haché are the creators of the Mefits characters.
accessories and hairstyles. Some have extra fluff for their butt or their tummy. Some have bows in their hair and some wear capes. But they all have a broad smile, an organic cotton heart patch and a button that reads: i like me, do you? Each Mefit also come with a
small storybook that celebrates a commonly misunderstood trait. “The books and the characters came out of celebrating these (traits) and saying, ‘Hey, glasses are awesome,’” says Rayelle. “Frankie Four Eyes is a whole story of why he loves them or Spotty Dotty who talks about all the benefits of >> GoodLifeMagazine.ca | 27
why freckles are great.” In 2009, the Mefits books and toys officially launched at Toronto’s One of a Kind Christmas Show & Sale where the Haché sisters were able to interact with people and get instant feedback. “(Customer feedback) really is the main motivator for us,” says Rayelle. “We’ve been asked to create so many characters, but it also helps if we can somehow relate to them...It really depends on how many times we get asked. Even though the family keeps growing, we’ve always got to add one more.” Five years and 36 characters later, the Mefits are gaining fans across North America. The Haché sisters have grown their product line to include T-shirts, mugs, stickers and other merchandise. They even sell Mefits Bits so customers can customize their Mefits dolls even more. >>
As the brand has grown, the Haché sisters have expanded their company to local printers. Still, Rayelle maintains that 80 per cent of their products are handmade. “The reason why our dolls are unique is because we did something slightly different. We would actually comb a hair a different way...and we just get so into it,” she says. “Everything that has a sewing element to it is made by our four hands. We do have some graphic design elements that we design but we don’t print ourselves.” The sisters now live on separate coasts; they have 12-hour meetings over Skype and Google Chat, and like to work in their pajamas.
Creatively, they share the workload. Practically, Cayla mostly works with their connections in Toronto, including their relationship with the organizers of the One of a Kind Show. Rayelle lives and works in Los Angeles, California and focuses on research and sourcing suppliers.
This November, Rayelle and Cayla will reunite in Toronto at their Mefits booth at the One of a Kind Christmas Show & Sale. “This year marks our fifth anniversary as a company and we don’t have anything planned yet, but it’s definitely a milestone for us,” says Rayelle. “(The show) has just been a really good relationship for us. They’ve been really, really key for us in our starting process, so we’re really grateful.” The One of a Kind Christmas Show & Sale is also celebrating a milestone. This year marks its 40th anniversary. More than 800 artisans from across North America will be at the Direct Energy Centre at Exhibition Place Nov. 27 to Dec. 7. GL
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• SHOPPING •
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8 This on-trend hue is a fit for your entire family BY ERIN LUKAS
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MORE RED HOT FASHIONS AND SHOPPING DETAILS >> GoodLifeMagazine.ca | 31
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BOYS AND GIRLS 1 • Let her twirl around in Lacoste’s woven flouncy skirt with whimsy polka dots; Girl’s Dot Skirt, $75 at Lacoste. shop.lacoste.ca • 2 • Cute and functional, these boots are made for stomping around in the snow and you’ll never worry about her staying dry. Hunter Original Kids Tonal Contrast Boot, $120. hunterboot.com • 3 • Fewer patterns are more festive for the holiday season than Fair Isle. Dress her up in Gap Kid’s cozy pullover, crewneck sweater to get her into the holiday spirit all while keeping snug and toasty; $44.95 at Gap Kids. gapcanada.ca • 4 • A dress with a sweet ruffle hem and eye-catching equestrian inspired print is the ultimate anecdote for frosty days. Ralph Lauren Childrenswear Jersey Dress, $47.50 at Hudson’s Bay. thebay.com • 5 • Keep him looking smart in the classroom and at holiday gatherings in a festive wine-coloured polo. Boy’s Long-Sleeve Classic Pique Polo, $65 at Lacoste. shop.lacoste.ca • 6 • Bold stripes on a vivid red hoodie will be sure to put a smile on his face. Ralph Lauren Childrenswear Cotton Fleece Hoodie, $62.50 at Hudson’s Bay. thebay.com • 7 • This bold puffer will keep him cozy on the playground and thanks to this sporty design he’ll be excited to put it on – getting him ready for school will be a breeze! Sport Puffer Vest, $54.50 at Tommy Hilfiger. tommy.com • 8 • He can pound the playground in Dr. Martens’ replica of their iconic model for kids. Bruiser Boots in Cherry Red, $95 at Dr. Martens. drmartens.com 9 • This pair of down-filled mitts by Canada Goose is equipped with a waterproof outer shell and reinforced palm and thumb so he won’t feel the chill. Youth Down Mitts, $75 at canadagoose.com FOR WOMEN 10 • Ward off the winter blues in Ann Taylor’s eye-catching berry coat all season long; $228 at Ann Taylor. anntaylor.com • 11 • Stand out in the sea of little black dresses at every holiday soiree this year in this fiery red cocktail dress; $175 at Banana Republic. bananarepublic.ca • 12 • Upgrade your classic biker jacket with Gap’s modern update of the classic silhouette; $108 at Gap. gapcanada.ca
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13 • Winter florals are in bloom when wearing Valentino’s delicate ruby, crimson and maroon macramé top and its delicate lace adds a feminine touch to any outfit; $2,590 at Holt Renfrew. holtrenfrew.com • 14 • Swap tried-and-true blue denim for a pair in bordeaux; Fidelity Mila Jeans in Zen Vintage Twill Bordeaux, $188. fidelitydenim.com • 15 • Pack a punch with a cherry Coach satchel on your arm. Bold accessories are an easy way to incorporate colour to a winter wardrobe that can often reflect the season’s weather; Ryder Satchel in Nubuck, $650 at Coach. coach.com • 16 • When it comes to buffalo plaid the fabric conjures up thoughts of cold weather, the outdoors and hot coca. Pink Tartan has stylishly revamped the pattern into a flattering skirt; Buffalo Plaid Circle Skirt, $325 at Pink Tartan. pinktartan.com • 17 • Tabitha Simmons’ red-hot heels are the ultimate holiday party dancing shoes. A scallop trim adds visual interest without competing with any of your frocks; Tabitha Simmons Sofia pump, $745 at David’s Footwear. davidsfootwear.com MEN’S WEAR 18 • Simple but impactful, Common Projects’ sleek minimal sneakers get a seasonally appropriate refresh in red suede; Achilles Suede Shoe $485 at Gravity Pope. gravitypope.com • 19 • Refresh your weekend wear with Ted Baker’s update on the classic-cut polo. Super-soft cotton and paisley lining along the collar are modern details set this trusty closet staple apart. Grainyo – SS Gros Grain Collar Polo, $120 at Ted Baker London. tedbaker.com • 20 • PYA Patrick Assaraf’s slim, modern fit cashmere sweater is an ideal layering piece that will help you look put together; $295 at Harry Rosen. harryrosen.com • 21 • Never lose track of time throughout the busy holiday season thanks to Victorinox Swiss Army’s classic model Dive Master 500; $1050 at Victorinox Swiss Army. swissarmy.com 22 • Brave the great outdoors but not without forfeiting style in Victorinox Swiss Army’s ultimate explorer jacket; $595 at Victorinox Swiss Army. swissarmy.com
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• WINE •
Beaujolais Nouveau is Gamay, but Gamay isn’t always Beaujolais and Beaujolais isn’t always Nouveau ... did you catch all that? Let me explain: As we cruise through the month of November and get closer to the third week of the month, there’s a noticeable hype in the air at the LCBO (it was ‘hypier’ in the 1970s and ’80s but it’s still there). That’s because Beaujolais Nouveau is coming to town. Beaujolais Nouveau is our first taste of the new vintage (in the old world). It’s a wine that is made very quickly – something like six weeks from pick to shelf – what some may call a bubble gum wine, especially because of its sweet cherry flavour. It’s easy drinking and quaffable by the bottleful; it’s also a fast-drinking wine, meaning it is not one I would put in the cellars for any length of time. Buy it in the morning, put it in the fridge for the afternoon and drink it that evening.
beaujolais basics by MICHAEL PINKUS But real Beaujolais is so much more than Nouveau. It’s “Cru” wine from places like Fleurie, Morgon, Brouilly, Chenas, Julienas and Moulina-Vent (there are 10 in total). This is wine from specific vineyards and plots of land, and it’s made for the cellar. It’s a multi-faceted, versatile wine to be enjoyed with a meal of salmon or steak – it is worthy of respect. A good Cru Beaujolais is worth its weight in gold. On another level you should be looking for the Beaujolais-Villages classification of wines. This is
wine in a simpler style but still could use a little aging and pairs great with food. Think of it as a simpler Pinot Noir with more cherry than earth. Beaujolais is made from the Gamay grape in France, but it is not the only place you can get quality Gamay-based wines. In fact, right here in Ontario we have some wineries making amazing wines from this seemingly simplistic grape variety. So enjoy your Nouveau now, but when the dust settles why not look up these amazing Gamay-based wines that should prove once and for all that Gamay and Beaujolais aren’t just for consumption between American Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day. Michael Pinkus’ website is devoted to the love, enjoyment and promotion of wine. Visit MichaelPinkusWineReview.com
Maison Coquard 2012 Fleur de Printemps Fleurie $22.95 - #364984
Malivoire 2012 Gamay Noir, Alive $17.95 - #591313
Villa Ponciago 2012 BeaujolaisVillages $14.95 - #32513
Louis Jadot 2013 BeaujolaisVillages $18.95 - #365924
A Cru that’s known for softer, juicier fruit but still has elements that help it to age quite well. Aromas of violets and pretty cherry, while the palate is juicy and fruity with lots of cherry and touches of that floral you found on the nose. Elegant and yummy.
The wine is pure cherry in both aroma and flavour. It does add raspberry into the mix and touches of white pepper on the tongue, but nothing gets in the way of that purity of fruit that is a well-made Gamay. And it’s from Ontario!
Here’s a great value in a BeaujolaisVillages that you should have on hand in the wine fridge ready for consumption whenever company comes over. Lovely and fruity with great cherry, perfectly Beaujolais to its core. So much fruit it simply sings in the mouth.
This one has a little more firmness than the Villa Ponciago wine, It doles out black cherry and cassis with some raspberry and blueberry on the finish.
34 | Goodlife Forest Hill - November - December 2014
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36 | Goodlife Forest Hill - November - December 2014
• AT HOME •
F
BY AMANDA JEROME
Nitsan Weinberg’s custom wine cellar.
Photo by Peter C. McCusker
or Nitsan Weinberg. a wine cellar spells success. “I think collecting wine is one of the symbols of status,” he says about why he chose to build a wine cellar in his St. Clair Avenue West home. “It’s like driving a fancy car or living in an expensive house; it’s like a status kind of thing, and I enjoy the wine, so I decided, yeah, why not start collecting it.” In a room with plush, royal purple walls, a set of glass double-doors stands out. These are the doors to Weinberg’s cellar. The 200-squarefoot space outfitted with walnut wood shelves cost $85,000 to construct, and is home to his collection. >>
GoodLifeMagazine.ca | 37
Photo by Dan Pearce
38 | Goodlife Forest Hill - November - December 2014
>> “I had a few hundred bottles, which I decided to keep refrigerated and keep their value,” says Weinberg proudly. “It goes well with the house. For re-sale value it gives the house a little bit extra, puts it in a different league.” Weinberg himself is a home builder and appreciates well-designed spaces. He wanted to be involved in the layout of his wine cellar so he sourced a consultant who would work with him on its development. “I designed the wine cellar myself with just a little bit of help from Steve from Papro,” he says about working with cellar consultant Steve Papadimitriou. From initial design to construction completion, the cellar took about two years to finish, but despite the lengthy process Weinberg was happy to be able to work with a consultant like Papadimitriou. “Let me tell you something about Steve,” he says, leaning in earnestly. “I had about 60 to 70 trades that I’ve been dealing with over here to build this house. I don’t know if you’ve ever done renovations, but the construction industry is very complex. It’s very hard to find people that are reliable from all aspects and priced reasonably. Steve, I’d say, was one of the only three trades/suppliers that I had over here that I didn’t have any issues with. He was top notch and I’ve recommended him to a number of people already. That’s what I think about Steve.” Steve Papadimitriou is the senior consultant and owner of Papro Wine Cellars & Consulting. He’s been in the construction business for more than 20 years, but roughly eight years ago he decided to strike out on his own and go into wine cellar construction full-time. His company does everything from design and construction to wine cellar management and maintenance. Based out of his Leslie Street showroom, Papadimitriou has worked on wine cellars across Toronto and beyond. He’s even received calls for consultation from countries as far away as South Africa and Mexico. “It’s the whole process from design to having something functional where people can actually enjoy their wine consumption and it’s also convenient for them, too. They don’t always have to run to the LCBO and this way they have a place for their wines,” says Papadimitriou. “The design for me is the biggest part of the wine cellar. When I go into someone’s home with the initial consultation, before I walk out I already have the cellar built in my head.” >>
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The entrance to Weinberg’s wine cellar features glass walls.
optimal wine storage In order to ensure your wine is properly stored, the following conditions need to be taken into consideration: Light Exposure Avoid sunlight or incandescent lighting that can adversely affect the wine. Humidity Consistent humidity levels between 65 to 75 per cent are ideal. Temperature Constant temperatures between 10 and 15 C are ideal. Vibration Vibrations can alter wine chemistry so the less vibration, the better. Bottle Orientation For most wines any bottle orientation that allows for at least 50 per cent of the cork to be submerged (in order to stay moist) is fine. Storing bottles on their sides, angled down, angled up (no more than a 10 degrees) or even upside down works equally well. Sparkling wines or Champagnes, however, tend to age better standing upright. – www.paprowinecellars.ca
40 | Goodlife Forest Hill - November - December 2014
Photo by Peter C. McCusker
>> Papadimitriou has designed cellars for collections from as large as 5,000 bottles to as small as 110. The size of the wine collections varies as much as the desired designs, keeping Papro Wine Cellars & Consulting busy. “I design almost 200 cellars a year and I build over 60 cellars a year,” says Papadimitriou about his workload. “Some people do like the traditional wood cellars and other people want ultra modern. Business has been steady. A lot of the builders now are incorporating wine cellars in their design. You have your gym, you have your home theatre, and now you have your wine cellar. Especially in the larger two-million-plus homes.” For clients like Weinberg, Papadimitriou’s attention to design detail makes all the difference in their space. The glass double-doors of Weinberg’s cellar are flanked by two columns of wine racks you can see through the glass walls from across the room. These columns of bottles frame the stunning light feature on the back wall of the cellar – a back-lit onyx panel. The light shines through the stone and gives the cellar a warm glow while attracting onlookers to walk through the cellar’s doors. “The lighting is a custom LED panel, it was actually from a company in Ajax, Ontario, surprisingly enough,” Weinberg says. “It’s onyx, which is a type of stone, like marble or granite, but you can see the light shining through it so you can see all the veins. “I went with Steve to a couple of places up north that sell onyx slabs and we basically lifted 10 pieces. There were some big sky lights at the place and we wanted to see what it was going to look like when the sun shines through this. And that’s how we picked that particular stone.” Wine cellar construction starts at around $10,000 and goes up depending on the type of racking and the design details included in the space. “It’s personal preference. Some people want a showpiece, some people want it to maximize on storage, sometimes they’ll do a blending of both, so it does come down to personal preference,” says Papadimitriou. “All my cellars are special. I really get attached to the whole process from design to completion. I always get excited over each cellar, it doesn’t matter how small or big it is, and at the end of the day when the client goes ‘gasp!’” GL
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• SHOPPING •
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Essential tools every wine connoisseur needs for the party season
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BY ERIN LUKAS
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A uniquely shaped decanter is not only a practical table piece but also a work of art guaranteed to be a conversation starter. Riedel’s limited edition crystal decanter is formed without any moulds so no two are alike and it holds three litres of wine. Riedel Amadeo Double Magnum Black & Red Wine Decanter, $1,990 at Yonge Street Winery. yongestreetwinery.com
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A worst-case scenario when hosting a dinner party is fumbling when it comes time to open the bottle of wine. Prevent any embarrassing mishaps with Zwilling’s multi-functional wine knife. The design may be compact, but it’s equipped with a foil cutter, two-lever corkscrew and integral bottle opener. Zwilling Premium Waiter’s Knife, $50 at zwilling.ca
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Enhance every drop by placing this pewter funnel into a glass holder. Not only will the wine flawlessly aerate, the funnel’s spiral shape will amplify the wine’s flavours and bring life to the table. Royal Selangor Archimedes Funnel, $129.99 at Yonge Street Winery. yongestreetwinery.com
Heighten a celebratory experience and slice open the champagne with a saber. Crafted by a single master cutler in the Laguiole region of France, each saber’s quality is top-notch to match the choice in sparkling wine for the night. Laguiole En Aubrac Champagne Saber, $435, online only at williamssonoma.com
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Arrive in style to the season’s soirées but not without the host’s gift in toe. This multi-purpose carrier safely stows champagne or wine, thanks to its padded interior and pocket fit for corkscrews; it also serves as a chic evening bag. Pink Wine Purse, $54.95 at Rosehill Wine Cellars. Rosehillwinecellars.com 42 | Goodlife Forest Hill - November - December 2014
Save time and savour each glass of wine at the perfect temperature with this set of chilling wands. Once pre-chilled, the stainless steel drops are able to cool a glass up to 20 times faster than a fridge can chill an entire bottle. Williams-Sonoma Wine Chilling Wands, Set of 2, $59 at Williams-Sonoma. williams-sonoma.com
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• SPIRITS •
Confederation Oak Reserve Forty Creek Distillery (Grimsby, ON) Maple on the nose and taste with a undertone of spice. Raisins, vanilla, fig on the palate. Dried fruits as it lingers on the tongue this New World whisky has superior smoothness with a tinge of dry and no heat to kick back. Very complex, evolving aroma and flavours that coat the mouth leaving you wanting another sip. Rating: 4.5 out of 5
By Louie PIACENTINI Photography by Nick Perry As the temperature dips and the days get shorter, it’s time to warm the bones and soothe the soul with a bold, creamy glass of whisky. Like the maple leaf, hockey and winter toques, this spirit holds a strong, patriotic heritage as Canada produces some of the finest whiskies in the world. Believed to be invented by Irish monks in medieval times, whisky in Canada was romanticized during the 1920s prohibition of alcohol in the United States. Today, many Canadian distillers tout their involvement in the smuggling of their brands into the U.S. as part of trendy modern-day marketing campaigns. “It’s who we are. It’s what we do and it’s a big part of being Canadian,” says Dan Tullio, master brand ambassador of Canadian Whisky for Beam Suntory Inc., current owners of the Canadian Club brand. He predicts whisky – distilled from a mash of fermented grains, including barley, corn, rye and wheat – is poised for an unprecedented era of experimentation, especially with foodies and younger consumers. Their newest product, CC Chairman’s Select 100% Rye, is meant to meet the demands. “What single malt is to scotch, 100% Rye is to Canadian whisky,” says Tullio. Distilled in copper tanks, since copper removes sulfur-based compounds from the alcohol, whisky takes its flavours and aromas from the wooden casks 44 | Goodlife Forest Hill - November - December 2014
in which it rests. In so doing, it rivals the same varied complexity of wine. Not to be confused with Bourbon or American whiskies, by Canadian law whiskies must be produced and aged in Canada, and aged for no less than three years. In order to be exported as a Canadian product, a whisky cannot contain more than 9.09 per cent imported spirits. This strict adherence to what makes Canadian whisky Canadian has created a unique whisky culture in this country. Although not quickly associated with food pairings, whisky has a unique flavour profile that lends itself well to spicy foods like Indian or Thai, as well as burgers and sandwiches. If you’re adding water or soda water, preferably served cold, whisky works wonderfully with fried foods. And for salty snacks go with a straight shot. Never ones to shy away from a tasting session, the GoodLife tasting panel turned their palates to sampling some of Canada’s best whisky offerings. The selection varied greatly, with some standout whiskies that needed to be in the spotlight (see the sidebar for our Top 3 selections). RUNNERS UP: Before the Top 3 were selected another seven whiskies were sampled: The sugar cookie sweetness of 2014 Evolution by Forty Creek Distillers (Grimsby, ON) was tempered by the buttery, nutmeg spice found on the tongue; Collingwood (Collingwood, ON) offered two whiskies, but it was the 21 Y.O. that almost cracked the Top 3 with its spicy, floral, and fruitcake dried fruit smooth 100% rye heat; Canadian Club came at us with three distinct whiskies – Classic 12, Sherry Cask, and Chairman’s Select 100% rye – each with their own unique body: Classic 12 with its warming Christmas eggnog smoothness with a subtle pineapple sweetness; the Sherry Cask’s jammy lacing, black licorice and strong burnt toffee sweetness; and finally the 100% Rye, with its clean, straight-forward heat - smooth with a kick; and finally, Crown Royal Reserve’s nutty, cinnamon depth.
Read Forty Creek Distillery’s patriotic story of its Confederation Oak Reserve: ww.fortycreekwhisky.com
Alberta Premium Dark Horse Alberta Distillers Ltd. (Calgary, AB) Thick with fat legs lacing the glass. Aromas of clove, toffee and vanilla on the nose and palate. Ruby-rich mahogany in colour with a burnt sugar sweetness, taste of plums and an earthy, woody smooth finish. Tastes like Alberta, if that makes any sense at all. Rating: 4 out of 5
Royal Canadian Sazerac du Canada (Montreal, QC) Nutty pralines jump at you immediately. Mandarin-coloured, thin lacing, but full of the smooth flavours of citrus, maple and spice. The warm soothing floral heat of this awardwinning small batch whisky is creamy, coating the mouth for the next sweet sip. Rating: 4 out of 5
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• BEER •
With summer officially behind us and colder days ahead, beer changes with the seasons. It gets a little warmer on the palate, a little heartier for the soul. With the fall come harvest ales, slightly deeper in flavour with colour profiles that match the season: reds, browns, oranges and yellows across a range of styles. For example, Autumn Hop Harvest Ale (Amsterdam Brewing Company) pours a deep golden colour with a piney scent and notes of citrus. Those aromas are also present in the flavour. The cooling weather calls for toastier, more robust flavours that pair perfectly with the hearty stews, roasts and comfort foods of the season. Of the offerings sent to GoodLife magazine for tasting – ranging from crisp pilsners to deep-flavoured all-rye Roggenbiers – five truly stood out. However, we found more than a few worth picking up at the LCBO – if you can still find them. Vanilla Porter (Mill Street Brewery) is so delicious it should be an ice cream. Stouts and nut brown ales are also great for this time of year with their nutty flavours and aromas: Red Rocket Coffee Spiced Stout (Sawdust City Brewing Co.) and Division by Zero (Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery) were real standouts in this style. A high dose of hops, with a taste of toffee in the dark coppery Muskoka Harvest Ale (Muskoka Brewery) was delicious. Brewed in the Belgian
harvest
brews Trappist style, Epiphany No. 1 (Black Oak Brewing Co.) is quadruple aged on cherry wood, with notes of cherry joining toffee and fig. It takes a few mouthfuls to get used to Holy Smoke (Church Key Brewery) but once you get past the initial smoky malts, this dark scotch ale is slick on the palate. Pumpkin is definitely for-the-season with all the flavours in a pumpkin pie making Paranormal Imperial Pumpkin Ale (Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery), Saison DuPump (Great Lakes Brewery) and Mash’n Pumpkin Ale (Lake of Bays Brewing Co.) three great examples of the pumpkin beer style. The easy-drinking Saint of Circumstance (Collective Arts Brewing Ltd.) was the lightest of the bunch, but a refreshing change with its orange and lemon flavours. Staying with notes of citrus, IPAs made an appearance as they most certainly would this time of year: 10 Point IPA (Lake of Bays Brewing Co.) hands out tropical fruits and some needed bitter-
ness; Twice as Mad Tom (Muskoka Brewery) always delivers a complex hoppiness with big, bold citrus flavour and aroma; and the American-style pale ale Rhyme & Reason Extra Pale Ale (Collective Arts Brewing) is consistently on point. Autumn is the time when the malty rich lagers of Oktoberfest come into season. Marzen, the classic Oktoberfest beer, was traditionally brewed in March and aged in cold cellars until the fall. Night Marzen (Beau’s All Natural Brewing Co.) is a fine example of the style, pouring brilliantly clear with a creamy head and a slight note of bread. And then there’s the Oktoberfest Mix Pack (Beau’s All Natural Brewing Company) with four standout brews waiting to be enjoyed: Dial ‘Z’ for Zwickel is a beautiful copper-coloured lager that’s slightly sharp at first sip, then mellows out with a refreshing hoppy finish; the pale blonde Bohemian Happy Pilsner is crisp, floral, slightly bitter, with a great malty balance; the wood-fire-kilned malt smokiness of Rauchstack is a great surprise, rich in malty sweetness; and finally the Spaceballs-inspired Dark Helmut Imperious Schwarzbier is an opaque charcoal black with firm notes of dark chocolate and coffee – a pleasant bitter taste. Like it or not, winter is coming and with it the the warming flavours of cinnamon, honey, orange and ginger in Winter Ale (Great Lakes Brewery).
Resurrection Roggenbier Cameron’s Brewing Co. (Oakville, ON)
State of Mind Session IPA Collective Arts Brewing (Toronto, ON)
Lake Effect IPA Great Lakes Brewery (Toronto, ON)
Pigskin Pilsner Lake of Bays Brewing Company (Muskoka, ON)
Ontario Wet Hop Nickel Brook Brewing (Burlington, ON)
A hearty beer that comes with an interesting story: Roggenbiers were declared illegal in 1516 by the Germanic Lords because the Bavarian Purity Law outlawed the use of rye for brewing beer. T h a n k f u l l y, Cameron’s has resurrected this style, which leaves notes of raisin and fig sweetness on the palate. The combination of German rye, malted wheat and two-row barley fermented with German Hefeweizen yeast gives this beer just the right combination of clove with hints of banana and bread.
This new, lighter IPA from Collective Arts was a pleasant surprise. The bitter zing of tropical fruit and orange immediately hits your palate leaving you wondering what else they’ve added to this full flavoured IPA. Hints of grapefruit and pine are also present in this beer. The combination makes it a must-try for any hop-loving beer drinker looking for a new State of Mind.
Can Great Lakes brew a bad IPA? No, and Lake Effect IPA is definitely another great offering by the Toronto brewery. It pours hazy orange with the taste and smell of grapefruit and pine. Surprisingly carbonated for an IPA, the bubbles are a sensory reminder of the choppy waters of Lake Ontario in the fall. The Tank Ten series IPA has a nice balanced finish of sweet caramel on the front and a smooth bitter back.
Pouring crystal clear with a dense w h i t e head, Pigskin stays true to the German-style pilsner it aims to be. You c a t c h f re s h - c u t hay and floral aromas, with an unmistakable graininess. Light-bodied with a hint of citrus and tang make this CFL Alumni Association collaboration a crisp German-inspired Canadian pilsner. Stock up for the Grey Cup before this growler is gone.
Nickel Brook Ontario Wet Hop Ale is a good beer for the fall harvest. The first thing you’ll notice when pouring a glass of the hazy goldencoloured beer is the citrus, hoppy aroma with a hint of caramel and apricot. Then taste the noticeable flavour of citrus and hops with a slight bitterness that goes down smooth. There are also slight notes of wheatgrass and bubble gum to this American pale ale.
Eat with: burgers, Cajun dishes, and oilier fish like salmon
Eat with: salted nuts, fried chicken, Indian and Thai dishes Rating: 4 out of 5
Rating: 4 out of 5
46 | Goodlife Forest Hill - November - December 2014
Eat with: curries, spicy Mexican and fried foods
Eat with: hot dogs, burgers, chili – anything to warm the bones
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Eat with: anything spicy like hot buffalo wings, jambalaya, Indian food Rating: 3.5 out of 5
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• TRAVEL •
words and photos by WARREN CARTWRIGHT
48 | Goodlife Forest Hill - November - December 2014
ften marketed as “the Capital of Scandinavia,” Sweden’s capital city is a diverse metropolis, and ranks as one of the most beautiful capitals in Europe, if not the world. Stockholm earns one of its other titles, “The Venice of the North” as the city is built across 14 islands, and is surrounded
by Lake Mälaren and the Baltic Sea. As water covers about one third of the city, it is an important and defining aspect of life in Stockholm. Stockholm is a very compact city. Walking is one of the best ways to experience and appreciate this unique place. For those locations and attractions further afield, an excellent transit system makes it
easy to get around. However, if you want to see all that Stockholm has to offer, your best bet is one of the many boat tours that will take you around the city. The two-hour Under the Bridges of Stockholm tour is one of the most comprehensive and takes you around the whole city, including through all of Stockholm’s locks. Dating back to the 13th
century, there is almost 800 years of culture and history to be explored, which has resulted in a rich selection of museums and attractions. From the National Historical Museum, taking you back to the days of the Vikings, to the more contemporary Stockholm City Museum, the full history of the region is on display. >>
Södermalm, a district in central Stockholm that covers the large island of the same name. It is one of the most densely populated districts of Stockholm, and an elevated section of the district provides great views back toward Gamla Stan, and the buildings of the old city. GoodLifeMagazine.ca | 49
The Riksdag , or Swedish Parliament, sits on its own island, a stone’s throw from the Royal Palace. Both of these imposing structures are well worth a visit.
Specialty museums abound, including five separate museums within the Royal Palace, the Nobel Museum and perhaps the best museum in the world, the Vasa Museum. With any major urban centre, truly experiencing a place can take a lifetime. Stockholm is no different, but there are a few “must have” experiences, even if you are
>>
only able to visit this jewel of a city for a short time.
THE VASA MUSEUM Entering the Vasa Museum, you are struck with wonder at the ingenuity and desire of people to preserve their heritage. The Vasa Museum was purpose-built to preserve the wreck of the 69-metrelong warship Vasa, which sank in
1628 on its maiden voyage in the middle of Stockholm harbour. The ship was recovered 333 years later when it was raised from the bottom of the sea in 1961. The Vasa is the only preserved seventeenth-century ship in the world. Despite being on the bottom of the Baltic Sea for more than 300 years, more than 95 per cent of the ship was recovered and is
intact, including some of the sails and rigging. In an unmatched feat of preservation and restoration, the ship has been painstakingly restored to a state approaching its original glory.
GAMLA STAN Gamla Stan, the Old Town, is one of the largest and best preserved medieval city centres in >>
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Europe, and is where Stockholm was founded in 1252. Winding, ancient streets lined with cafés, restaurants, boutiques and bars offer the perfect place to explore and spend days discovering what lies beyond the next bend. There are many exceptional churches and museums in Gamla Stan, including the Stockholm Cathedral and the Nobel Museum. Stortorget is the oldest square in Stockholm and is the central point from which runs Köpmangatan, the oldest street in Stockholm. Mårten Trotzigs gränd is the narrowest alley in Gamla Stan. At only 90 centimetres wide at its narrowest point, this tiny street can be hard to find, but is worth the search.
>>
The Royal Palace While wandering about Gamla Stan, be sure to visit the Royal Palace, one of the largest palaces in the world with more than 600 rooms. There are five very interesting museums in the Palace, most notably the Royal Armoury, with royal costumes and armour. And, of course, you cannot miss the parade of soldiers and the daily changing of the guard.
Fotografiska
Stockholm harbour on a clear night is a magical place. Tall ships and the lights of the city reflect in the calm waters. The Vasa Museum is one of the great museums of the world. For more than 50 years, the museum has worked to restore the Vasa, a 64-gun ship – the only almost fully intact 17th century ship that has ever been salvaged. Such discoveries as the colour of the paint that once adorned the ship are presented in scale models located throughout the museum, and give visitors the ability to visualize what this mighty vessel would have looked like when she left port on that fateful day. The carvings on the stern of the Vasa, show the detail and workmanship that went into the construction of this massive ship. After spending more than 300 years at the bottom of the harbour, the remains of the Vasa are incredibly well-preserved. Visitors to the Vasa Museum are exposed to a unique glimpse of life in the 17th century, while also being able to experience a unique historical artifact.
Where to Stay?
When to Go?
When staying in Stockholm, there really is only one choice. The Grand Hotel Stockholm is Scandinavia’s leading hotel, and occupies a prime location on the Stockholm waterfront, facing the Royal Palace and Gamla Stan. Staying at the Grand Hotel Stockholm is an extraordinary experience. It opened in 1874 and has a long and fascinating history, including hosting the first Nobel Prize banquet in 1901. Each room is unique, with distinctive decor and its own colourful history.
The best time to visit Stockholm is in late spring to early summer, from May through early July, with June being the ideal month. As Stockholm sits relatively far north, late June allows you to experience long hours of daylight, festivals focused on Midsummer and the first taste of the warmer summer weather. In June, the weather is ideal and the summer crowds haven’t yet arrived. For those exploring the Swedish countryside, the spring brings wildflowers bursting into bloom after a long dark winter.
For a change of pace, Fotografiska is one of the world’s premier destinations for contemporary photography. The gallery stages four unique, large exhibitions and dozens of smaller exhibitions annually. In addition to seeing great works of photography, the bar and restaurant on the top floor provide stunning views of Stockholm. GL
Warren Cartwright is a nature and landscape photographer. Visit his website at www.warrencartwright.com
GoodLifeMagazine.ca | 51
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• PETS •
BY Pia Lauretti et’s be honest, oral health isn’t the first thing most pet owners think of when considering their pet’s health. But if you’ve ever had to see your furry one recover from dental surgery, or felt the impact of the vet bills for that surgery on your bank account, you know that old adage about an ounce of prevention is true. To keep the vet from wagging their finger at you as though you’d just told a dentist you don’t floss, here are a few tips to keep your pet’s pearly whites in sparkle-mode.
Proper oral care will keep your pet’s smile healthy and can prevent costly vet bills
Pia Lauretti is the volunteer president of the Etobicoke Humane Society. Visit www.etobicokehumanesociety.com
54 | Goodlife Forest Hill - November - December 2014
Brush, brush, brush!
What stinks?
It may sound like a Saturday Night Live skit in the making, but you can brush your pet’s teeth. Armed with a special pet toothbrush and toothpaste and a vast amount of patience you can train your pet to allow teethbrushing. Here are a few key steps:
Funky breath can be a sign that periodontal work may be needed. Here are more tips that may indicate a vet visit is best:
√ Buy a brush that fits the size of your pet. A trip to your local pet store will offer a variety of sizes for large and small dogs as well as cats. √ Buy pet toothpaste. Human versions can harm your pet’s stomach. √ Ease into it. Start by putting the paste on treats for a few days, then try brushing one or two teeth, and gradually increase as your pet makes peace with the new routine.
Crunch! Hard food and treats can act like a naturally abrasive cleaning agent to scrape built-up plaque and tartar from teeth.
√ Bad breath √ Change in eating or chewing habits (dogs) √ Pawing at the face or mouth √ Depression √ Excessive drooling √ Misaligned, discoloured, broken or missing teeth √ Red, swollen or bleeding gums or growths within the mouth √ Yellow-ish-brown tartar crust along the gum line This may not be the most glamorous pet conversation we’ve ever had, but if it keeps your pet’s grin healthy and wide and your wallet a bit thicker then we’ve done our job.
• CALENDAR •
out
& about
what’s happening in and around the communities of forest hill, leaside, rosedale & lawrence park
Gourmet Food & Wine Expo Nov. 20 to 23 Sip and savour your way through international gourmet cuisine, exotic delicacies, incredible wines, cuttingedge cocktails, craft beers and much more; at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. foodandwineexpo.ca AMICI CHAMBER ENSEMBLE Nov. 23 Alla Zingarese (gypsy style) gala concert, featuring TSO concertmaster Jonathan Crow leading music with a tradition of fire, ferocity and lively rhythms. In support of Amici Chamber Ensemble’s Young Composers Program. At the TELUS Centre for Performance and Learning, Conservatory Theatre, 273 Bloor St. W. amiciensemble.com BLOOR STREET ENTERTAINS Nov. 25 CANFAR hosts an evening of luxurious indulgence. Be inspired as boutiques and galleries in Bloor-Yorkville are transformed into elegant dining spaces, complete with stunning floral arrangements and signature culinary art dishes, starting at 6:30 p.m. The evening aims to make a difference in the fight against HIV and AIDS. The after party is at the Royal Ontario Museum at 9 p.m. bloorstreetentertains.ca ONE OF A KIND SHOW & SALE Nov. 27 to Dec. 7 Shop for holiday gifts from
more than 800 artisans, at the Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place. oneofakindshow.com/ toronto/index.php SOULFUL MESSIAH Nov. 28 & 29 Soulful Messiah combines tap, African-Caribbean, ballet, jazz and modern styles for a holiday classic, soulfully danced to Quincy Jones’ rendition of Handel’s ‘Messiah’. Presented by Ballet Creole at Harbourfront Centre, Fleck Dance Theatre, 207 Queens Quay W. harbourfrontcentre.com/ nextsteps/performances LOWE’S TORONTO CHRISTMAS MARKET Nov. 28 to Dec. 21 An old-world European Christmas market with unique and local handcrafted items. Family friendly entertainment includes musicians, carollers and children’s choirs. At The Distillery District, 55 Mill St. torontochristmasmarket.com CAVALCADE OF LIGHTS Nov. 29 Featuring the illumination of Toronto’s official Christmas tree, performances by some of Canada’s top musical talent, a fireworks show and a skating party at Nathan Phillips Square. http://bit.ly/1pXtd87 GLADIATOR LIVE Dec. 5 Experience Ridley Scott’s swords and sandals 2000 epic ‘Gladiator’ in HD. Hans Zimmer’s and Lisa Gerrard’s sweeping score will
56 | Goodlife Forest Hill - November - December 2014
be brought to life by a live orchestra and chorus with featured soloist Clara Sanabra. At the Sony Centre For The Performing Arts, 1 Front St. E. sonycentre.ca
Choir and directed by ‘George Frideric Handel’. Seating is general admission by voice part. Bring the whole family; non-singers welcome. At Massey Hall, 178 Victoria St. tafelmusik.org
THE TORONTO CONSORT Dec. 12, 13 & 14 The Little Barley-Corne, Yuletide Revels from the Renaissance, is a Christmas party of rollicking English ballads, infectious country dances and enchanting French noëls. At Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre, Jeanne Lamon Hall, 427 Bloor St. W. torontoconsort.org
Jesus Christ Superstar Jan. 16 to 31 ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ contains some of the most memorable music of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s career – energetic, bold rock ‘n’ roll with a vocal score as epic as the story it tells. Presented by Hart House Theatre at the University of Toronto, 7 Hart House Circle. harthouse.ca/jesus-christsuperstar
DJ Skate Nights Dec. 13 to Jan. 21 The scenic rink is set against the shore of Lake Ontario, and the DJ Skate Nights will run weekly from Dec. 13 to Feb. 21, 8 to 11 p.m., at Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay West. harbourfrontcentre.com WELCOME CHRISTMAS II Dec. 16 Orpheus Choir and the Hannaford Street Silver Band present a sparkling and festive Christmas celebration of big brass and song at Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, 1585 Yonge St. orpheuschoirtoronto.com SING-ALONG MESSIAH Dec. 21 Presented by Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber
MICHELANGELO: QUEST FOR GENIUS Continues to Jan. 11 The story of Renaissance master Michelangelo Buonarroti and the frustrations of his creative process. The exhibition centres on a loan of 28 drawings from the Casa Buonarotti, Florence, whose collection is formed from Michelangelo’s own. At the Art Gallery of Ontario, 317 Dundas St. W. ago.net/michelangelo-questfor-genius ROM: 100 YEARS OF COLLECTING Continues to March 29 The doors of the Royal Ontario Museum opened in March 1914. Celebrate a century of collecting at the museum, 100 Queens Park. Visit the website for details on all the exhibitions. rom.on.ca
Toronto...
• GOODWILL •
the Etherington Brothers – Paul, Sean and Mark – embody the spirit of giving through their motionball endeavours by JUSTIN SKINNER rowing up in a philanthropic family with parents who were deeply involved with the Special Olympics movement, brothers Sean, Mark and Paul Etherington learned the value of giving back at an early age. Upon graduating from university, however, they found the spirit of giving was often sorely lacking in members of their generation, due in part to a dearth of events geared toward young professionals. To help change that, the brothers started up motionball out of a North Toronto office, close 58 | Goodlife Forest Hill - November - December 2014
to where they all lived. The fundraising organization is a key supporter of Special Olympics Canada. While they have hosted a series of events, theirs have a noticeably different focus than many others. “There were a lot of galas we attended growing up, but they normally catered to the C-suite (senior executive) type of individual,” says Sean, a Leaside resident. “Our demographic from the start was definitely young people, because we were young and because our demographic
wanted to have fun.” From concerts to sports days to golf tournaments to gala evenings, they have certainly hit the mark. Their first event was a Tragically Hip concert back in 2002, for which they charged concert-goers a mere $5 at the door. Later that year, the Etherington brothers held their first motionball gala, which targeted young professionals. The event, featuring DJs, a fashion show, an open bar and other party elements, raised roughly $45,000 for the Special Olympics Canada Foundation. >>
That is a drop in the bucket compared to the $4.5 million they have donated overall, however. “Our goal this year – and it’ll be close because our (fundraising) year ends on November 30 – is to donate $1 million net,” says Mark. While the gala has been a runaway success, it has been eclipsed by motionball’s signature event, the Marathon of Sport. That event sees participants squaring off against one another in a variety of sports, with each side also featuring a Special Olympics athlete. “When people get out there and compete with the athletes, they see who they’re supporting,” says Sean. “We let the athletes themselves do the advertising for us.” Paul notes that playing alongside the athletes inspires people to give what they can, whether that’s time or money. He was moved to coach a Special Olympics floor hockey team after getting to know a co-worker with an intellectual disability 13 years ago. “As I spent time with the athletes, their parents and their families, I realized I needed to get more involved and more engaged,” he says. That attitude is contagious; motionball has grown to the point where 11 cities now host Marathons of Sport, and more and more college and university campuses are getting involved as well. “There are so many guys and girls who initially knew nothing about the cause who have become leaders for us because it just sucks you in,” says Lawrence Park resident Paul. Most recently, the brothers have taken a leading role in the Yellowcard Campaign that aims to eliminate the use of the R-word from everyday vernacular. The campaign asks people to take a pledge stating they will no longer use the
>>
The Etherington brothers, Paul, Mark and Sean (above right photo), have been running motionball for the past 12 years. The organization supports Special Olympics Canada with events like Marathon of Sport.
motionball A not-for-profit organization that builds awareness and raises funds for the Special Olympics Canada Foundation, targeting a ‘next generation’ of supporters – Canada’s professional crowd who are not defined by their age but rather by their mind-set.
As I spent time with the athletes, their parents and their families, I realized I needed to get more involved and more engaged. – Paul Etherington word ‘retard’ and that they will speak out when others do, as well. “It’s really an awareness campaign to let people know that every time someone uses that word, it insults a million Canadians,” Mark says. The campaign arose when Special Olympic athletes pointed out to the brothers just how hurtful the R-word is. “They told us they have terrible memories of being bullied with that word,” says Sean. “We wanted to reach out to our motionball database and start spreading the word there.” The brothers are continuing to host events while working to increase motionball’s reach across Canada. While events in Toronto are easier to operate, the Etheringtons have managed to find a strong network of supporters who carry the torch in other cities. Their events continue to target young professionals, particularly those who are just entering into careers, even as motionball’s founders have become more established themselves. “It’s always going to be for the young at heart even though we’re not in that 25 to 35 age bracket ourselves anymore,” Sean says. For more information about motionball and its various initiatives, visit www.motionball. com GL GoodLifeMagazine.ca | 59
Coppermill Painting Francesco Angeloni 647-225-9018
Add some color to your holiday season
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Rock climbers reach new heights during an exercise at Joe Rockhead’s indoor rock climbing facility.
BY BRENT BISHOP t’s said that variety is the spice of life. And this couldn’t be more true when it comes to your fitness routine. With winter upon us, keeping motivated could prove challenging as comfort foods and comfy clothes can win out at times. Here are some excellent options around the city to keep you fit, active and motivated once the mercury drops.
The Monkey Vault 100 Symes Rd. 416-760-8989 themonkeyvault.com If you’re looking for a fun, full-body workout that unleashes the monkey inside you, then The Monkey Vault may be the perfect playground. In this 10,000-square-foot space, you won’t find your typical gym equipment and you won’t hear trainers preaching weight loss – it’s all about
human movement and performance. Sample a combination of classes ranging from acrobatics, gymnastics and parkour all with the element of play – geared to help you move better for life and sport. Class prices are around $20 per class based on frequency.
Joe Rockhead’s 29 Fraser Ave. 416-538-7670 joerockheads.com Build your endurance, escape the cold of winter and get your climb on inside Canada’s first indoor climbing gym. Whether you’re an experienced climber looking to challenge yourself or a novice looking to learn the ropes, Joe Rockhead’s has a solution for you. With a threehour introductory course and thorough skills training, you can be sure that safety comes first.
Joe Rockhead’s also offers training options for kids from 13 and up, making it a great winter activity solution for the whole family. Looking for a team building activity to raise employee morale? Corporate programs are also offered at this 22,000-square-foot indoor climbing gym. Prices are based on whether you are a novice or an experienced climber and include day pass, shoe and harness rental.
Skyzone 45 Esandar Dr. 416-421-4567 www.skyzone.com/ca/toronto Offering an ‘out of the box’ workout experience, Skyzone offers 10,000 square feet of fun. This experience involves bouncing on a series of interconnected trampolines and provides an exhilarating activity for people of all ages. >> GoodLifeMagazine.ca | 61
Photo courtesy of Joe Rockheads
• HEALTH •
With safety and fun being of utmost importance, Skyzone is an excellent solution for kids’ parties and corporate team building. Enhance your speed and co-ordination with Ultimate Dodgeball, bounce 10 feet in the air and practice your dunk with Skyslam or burn up to 1,000 calories an hour in a low-impact Skyrobics class. Skyzone offers a great fitness solution that is easy on the joints, great for balance and co-ordination and improves cardiovascular health without the monotony of cardio equipment.
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Rediscover the Joy of Saving
Toronto Circus School 75 Carl Hall Rd., Unit 8 416-935-0037 torontocircus.com Learn to do amazing physical feats in a fun, supportive environment no matter what your age or ability is. This 15,000-square-foot facility offers state-of-the-art training equipment and professional coaching with safety and enjoyment being priority number one. Activities include soaring through the air on a flying trapeze, learning how to walk on your hands and defying gravity with exciting acrobatic moves. Benefits of training at Toronto Circus School include enhancing balance and co-ordination, increasing joint strength and range of motion and escaping
the boredom that often comes with traditional fitness routines.
Xtreme Couture 700 Kipling Ave. 416-503-1600 xtremecouture.ca For those seeking a rewarding workout solution that involves fighting skills, Xtreme Couture offers 33,000 square feet of training pace that includes a full size octagon and boxing ring, a huge open mat area and over 30 punching bags. Practice your combat skills with classes that involve boxing, Muay Thai, wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Whether you are just learning or at the competitive level, mixed martial arts can be an effective solution to reaching your fitness goals. Benefits include, aerobic conditioning, weight loss, increased strength, hand-eye co-ordination, full-body strength and the development of practical self-defense skills. GL
Brent Bishop is a celebrity trainer, on-air fitness expert, author and owner of Think Fitness Studios. Learn more about Brent at www.iambishop.com
Canadians all over the country are saving with WagJag. Its free to join. You get great deals while trying new things and discovering new passions.
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Rose Tacconelli participates in Toronto’s Biggest Kettle Bell Class to benefit the Hospital for Sick Children at Xtreme Couture.
62 | Goodlife Forest Hill - November - December 2014
Celebrate
Rafti
416-285-0870 | www.MetroPrep.com | 49 Mobile Drive, Toronto
• SOCIAL •
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5 OPERANATION: Light up the Night gala, billed as ‘North America’s biggest opera party,’ is a fundraiser for the Toronto-based Canadian Opera Company, the largest producer of opera in Canada. This year’s extravaganza was held in October at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. Here’s who was there (and the most recent opera performance they watched):
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photography by Joseph howarth
1 Mike Lobo and Min Min (COC’s Carmen). 2 Beverley Bergman and Andrea Bergman (COC’s Madama Butterfly). 3 Michael Seater and Paula Brancatie (COC’s West Side Story). 4 Jackie Timpener and Holly Timpener (COC’s Don Giovanni). 5 Hundreds of opera fans unite in support of the Canadian Opera Company. 6 Megan Leahy and Chris Chekan. 7 Melissa George and Shaman Clews (COC Ensemble Studio Competition). 8 Kaylee Pare, who has never been to the opera, and Carry Quigley (Madama Butterfly). 9 Athena Konverianos, who has never been to the opera, and Melanie Roy (La Boheme). 10 Alexander Neef, General Director of the Canadian Opera Company, and Clare Christensen. 11 David Jansen and Dr. Francis Si Wai Zih (COC’s Madama Butterfly). 12 Kristina Govan and Helen Frank. 13 Janelle Lapalme, Jean-Philippe Fortier-Lazore – COC ensemble, and Karine Boucher – COC ensemble (COC’s Madama Butterfly). 14 Nadia Effendi, who last saw Carmen in Ottawa, and Jessica Bakhos, who last saw Aida in Italy. 15 Emma Stainton and Ayrton Dick (COC’s Madama Butterfly). 16 Jill Lajoie (COC’s Hercules), Elizabeth Han (COC’s Madama Butterfly) and Nicole Martin (COC’s Hercules). 17 Aqual Shayok and Cynthia Amoah (Aida at the COC). 18 Anna Wu and Mike Graham. 19 Keith Cole leads the Yacht Rawk Flash Mob as part of the OPERANATION gala. 20 Kate Taylor Martin and Hilary Bonebakker (COC’s Madama Butterfly).
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