First bike ride of 2013 went through High park down to the lake and up to Kensington Market.

A couple of my friends gave me a Burger Bar gift card for Christmas. Part of me wanted to dash off and use it right away, regardless of already being full of anjitos and craft beer. It was an awesome and thoughtful gift as it gave me a reason to stop and savour a visit to Burger Bar. Christmas rolled by and I got an email from fellow Toronto Beer Lover and friend Steve to tell me that the Burger Bar was closing and that New Years Day would be the last day. I can speak for myself and several other Toronto Beer Lovers and say that we have had many good visits and each time Brock Shepherd and his staff at Burger bar have taken good care of us.

The Toronto Beer Lovers first came across Brock Shepherd at the Great Lakes Brewing Companies monthly Project x event. The Burger bar was catering the event, serving meatball sliders. The sliders were exceptional. Quality food and the promise of craft beer lead us to book a gathering at the bar. We were more than happy with the service the incredible burgers and options as well as a stellar line up of craft beer. A special mention should go out to the house brewed tequila, smooth and wonderful.

With attention to quality in both food and craft beer the burger Bar has been a place of repute among beer lovers and Kensington Market revelers. As I understand the Burger Bar has been sold and may actually continue on as the Burger Bar. It will have to forge its own reputation and with any luck to the new owners they make something as special as the place has been.

Brock Sheperd introduced the Kensington Brewing Company and produced their flagship beer the Augusta Ale. Named after Augusta avenue where the Burger Bar resided a few short steps from College street. The Augusta is one of the most well rounded local ales and a beer I joyously return to regularly. Recently Kensington Brewing had also released the Baldwin Fish eye PA India pale ale an excellent sessionable compliment to the Augusta Ale. The Baldwin Fisheye PA’s name is a whimsical nod to the fish mongers that have long been a part of Kensington Market inhabiting Baldwin street for over a century. As yet the Kensington Brewing company had been brewed at the facilities of other craft brewers and shortly will be brewing and serving with in the heart of Kensington Market.

http://www.kensingtonbrewingcompany.com/

A Kensington Market mainstay. Last year during the indie coffee passport I mentioned that I had long been a patron of Moonbean Coffee Co. Between my habits changing, trying to visit all the Indie Coffee Pass shops and all the new places opening in the city I’ve spent a lot less time in the Kensington area and have had very few chances to drop in. I do like it in Moonbean, it’s taking a lot of will power to avoid the baked goods. While I take the time to write and listen to people talk about cultural change and the landscape of neighbourhoods the city. My Indie Coffee Passport selection the Jasmine Matcha Latte is a tasty repast for a rainy Sunday Afternoon

http://www.moonbeancoffee.com/

http://www.indiecoffeepassport.com/toronto/index.html

A day in moderation July 21 2012 The day began as many do. I woke up. A large cat, gently whacked me with her tail and discussed how she should be paid attention to and most importantly fed. I tip toed around to explore the depth of my mild hangover and slowly pulled myself together to go off into my day. Hang over and wobbly warped rear tire and all I cycled off through the set up for yet another Toronto street festival. Off to push myself through a workout at the gym while listening to to Ted talk radio hour. Today’s program as I lifted heavy things and put them down again was about crowds. From how applause happens to Internet usage and staged pranks from Improv Everywhere. Like most of the TED programming it was informative clever and interesting.(All things really lacking at the gym). Back onto the bike for a slow leisurely ride to Kensington Market . I locked up wandered through the market and over to KOS at Nassau and Bellevue for way too much food in the “Can’t talk eating ” breakfast.

Eggs,bacon, home fries and pancakes out on a breezy patio. After breakfast I wandered the market and picked up groceries.

Cycled down to queen to pick up fabric to make a scarf to keep the sun off my neck. Up towards home the street fair was up and running so I walked my bike through that.

After laying down for a bit I made a fruit salad full of pineapple, mango,strawberries papaya and a few cherries. Then sliced up vegetables to make a grilled ratatouille.

Both to share this evening at the Dream in High Park. Where Canadian Stage is running a Midsummer Nights Dream.

The Dream in High Park was pretty great. Ran into some friends and found a little place to park ourselves. The play itself was fun. The set was curiously sparse and some of the characterisations were hilarious. The show ended just as the bugs came out for a nibble and we all wandered out of the park. In an uncharacteristic turn I skipped the pub and went home to rest after a typical day in our beautiful city.

http://www.ted.com/talks

http://www.kensington-market.ca/Default.asp?id=1&l=1

https://www.canadianstage.com/Online/default.asp?doWork::WScontent::loadArticle=Load&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::article_id=BF12C351-C313-4108-84E4-2D29FED9864D&sessionlanguage=

I joined my friend for her birthday for Tasty Tours Guided walk through a bit of China Town and Kensington Market. Before the tour we had breakfast at KOS which and found that nine thirty or so on Sunday was the perfect time to go. Lots of space and quick service. As the weather was crazy bouncing from rainy to pouring and later in the day some impressive hail. We went on walk through China town in search of a suitable umbrella. I actually don’t believe in the things myself. Well I believe in them and have seen a few, I just find them a pain in the butt and being Chicago’s rival for windiest city umbrellas in Toronto are nigh useless.

Umbrella in hand we hit Moon bean coffee and found our way to the tour rendezvous spot at 492 Dundas East the Butterfly Bakery.

Rounded up by our guide, we were walked through the premise of the tour. Whose purpose was to get people into local stores we might not have gotten into before and to try new things and expand our palate by opening up a bit to things we may not have tried before. Our first treat was a Chinese egg tart at Butterfly Bakery. It was very much like a western custard tart though generally lighter and it was quite good the filling was bright yellow leaving most of us to assume it was a lemon tart.

Our guide was rather knowledgeable about the confection we were trying and explained that the tart was popularized in the 1940’s in China as a way for cafes to compete against Dim Sum restaurants. Though these days egg tarts are often offered in those same places.

Off into Kensington Market up to 69 Kensington Avenue to Miss Cora’s Kitchen. We were offered both carrot and chocolate cupcakes. The chocolate ones were amazing fluffy and not too sweet with delicious icing. My tour mate asured me the carrot was just as fantastic. I did miss the explanation on the history of Cupcakes as I was in the back and taking photos.

Back into the rain which then became the impressive hail, it was like someone throwing popcorn kernels at us. Further up into the Market we went into the Chocolate Addict. The chocolates in the display case are all made on premises which allows them to come up with different flavours sometimes not available anywhere else. They were delicious and well made. I tried a white chocolate green tea chocolate it was so well prepared and the flavours blended well. In my experience white chocolate is really hit or miss and green tea Is a hard flavour to blend into things and make palatable. The chocolate was so good I could have ended the tour right then and gone home happy.

Pancho’s Bakery up at 214 Augusta. This is a dangerous place that I have long avoided in Kensington Market. The winter fat had its way with me as it was and I did not need to be acquainted with a place that made churros. Especially when we when in and I found out you could have it filled with sauces. Strawberry, chocolate and caramel. I tried the caramel one and it was amazing.

Further North on Augusta we were brought into the Blue Banana Market.

First we tried the Butter Baked Goods Marshmallows. I went with the strawberry one and it was really good. It was interesting to learn that Marshmallows were so named because they actually originated from the sap of a marshmallow plant. Originally the sap was drank with honey as a tea to help with sore throat and similar ailments. Later the French figured out how to make them into the puffy marshmallow more like what we think of when picturing marshmallows. They became very popular and it was found that the marshmallow sap was too labour intensive and expensive so manufacturers figured out how to to replace the sap with corn syrup and other sugars thus eliminating any health benefit and making them the camping staple we now know and love.

We went over to Chocolate corner in Blue Banana and discussed chocolate for awhile before going over to the British section and trying our final sample a piece of a Cadbury flake bar. The Flake bar itself was actually the result of using chocolate cut away from another product. At the time ads for confections and products like chocolate were usually a page long news paper article explaining the benefits of the chocolate. Needing to stave off bankruptcy Cadbury started producing propaganda like poster ads to directly market there product. Which became the basis for the bombardment advertising that we have known in the last several decades.

The Tasty Tour was a fun way to become more acquainted with some of the shops and places that we may never make it into. Each one was interesting and good at what they do. Our guide was pleasant and fun to have lead us in the tour and the history of some of the lovely things we got to experience.

http://www.tastytourstoronto.com/index.php

Dashing around Christmas shopping in Kensington Market became a great chance to check out Ideal Coffee at 84 Nassau St. Ideal is pretty much what I’d assume I’d find for a Kensington cafe. An unassuming and slightly cluttered atmosphere that makes it seem comfortable. It smelled amazing in there due to the large coffee roaster sits in the center of the shop. I’d love to drop in while they were roasting. It would be incredible.

My cappucinno was smooth and delicious. While sipping way I found you could see the C.N. tower from the front window and being in the Kensington it offered excellent people watching. Toronto boasts some pretty fantastic cafe’s and my ideal coffee experience makes me excited to continue one visiting them all.

http://www.indiecoffeepassport.com/

http://www.idealcoffees.com/

Today’s indie coffee journey took us to a coffee spot I’ve long been familiar with. Located at 30 St. Andrew st. in the fabled Kennsington market. I have been a patron on Moonbean Coffee Co. for many years. With a full array of fair trade coffee and teas as well as cakes and other baked treats. Moonbean as been a a staple in my Toronto Cafe history. I’ve long done my grocery shopping in the market and most often those trips ended with a coffee from Moonbean. Todays drink of choices was a chilled caramel latte which was fantastic for taking the edge off some late afternoon Christmas shopping.

A break from Christmas shopping at Kings Cafe in Kensington Market. Such nice fresh vegan food.

Grilled chicken breast in a whole wheat bun. Toasted with creamy Camembert. Served with spinach cherry salad and Mohitos. After the fantastic Burger Bar experience I went through Kensington Market and picked up food for the evening. The camembert from cheese magic and the rolls came from My Market Bakery. It was nice to go looking at the good food and delving into the bakeries and veggie markets and come up with a good meal.