Two secret ingredients

Yesterday I went to the Dufferin Grove Farmer's Market and got carrots and beets. Today they impromptu turned into a soup. To liven up the broth, which was otherwise the salted water from simmering the vegetables, I fried minced carrot greens stems and parsley in olive oil with garlic. I also added two secret ingredients: sweet smoked paprika and aged dried orange peel that I previously wrote about.

Butterscotch Peanut Butter Marshmallow

Let me start by saying that these are all gone.

There is so much sugar in these that the Redpath factory went into backorder. 

I'm finding it hard to explain my love for these without expletives.

Just look at the pictures. And keep three things in mind:

1. Butterscotch chips 
2. Peanut Butter 
3. Marshmallows

Victory Soya Mills Silos

As seen from the hill in front of the Corus building

I Love Tap Water

In light of the Experimental Lakes Area (ELA) being given the shutdown notice by the Federal Government of Canada, here is a photo of mine hilighting the importance of things we take for granted every day. Tap water. The ELA has been a means of important and leading scientific research into the ways water systems react to contaminants and other stressors. I have used and processed data gathered in the ELA, and there is essential knowledge of natural water systems that would not exist were it not for this unique system of study. Since water systems are all eventually inter-connected globally, wonderful things like tap water are impacted by natural water systems. For instance, wetlands can filter out contaminants from water which many water filtration systms do not. Think of all the potential knowledge we will be missing out on for the savings of $79.3 million. This is just another reason for the brain drain to continue.

Snapshots of Roncesvalles

While enjoying a Cherry Bomb Coffee outside back when the weather was nice! This was also just after the peak of the cherrry blossom bloom a week and a half ago. I think Cherry Bomb and Cherry Blossom Bloom go quite well together. 

Meaaat!

Pure and simple beef burgers to be @ Burger's Priest on Queen East.

Saw a guy painting this sign on the sidewalk outside Mercury

Photos - Hearn Generating Station

I managed to capture only a small portion of the giant smokestack protruding from the decommissioned Hearn Generating Station in Toronto's Portlands area. Originally a coal-fired plant starting in the 50s, it was later converted to a natural gas-fired facility in the early 70s. Hearn ceased to generate power in the early 80s. Here's an analogy, or thought experiment. How many of us experience frustration and the futility of waste when our smartphones (apparently worth $600) last us a year? Scale that up to the humongous (650 000 metres cubed) power generating facility that is Hearn, which fulfilled its function for roughly 30 years.

Urban beauty

Vibrant colours and repeating patterns under the Gardiner Expressway. Found on the way home from a bike ride last week. 

On Track!

Toronto didn't have a winter this year. The number of snowfalls worth mentioning and days below -10°C I could count on my hands. What that meant was joyrides all through the winter. Bike rides, that is. The latest took Geoff and I east of the DVP and down near the coal plants where we had antics on the train tracks.

Galerie Voltaire

People have been talking about this abandoned space for years (since at least 2008 from what I can gather), and it's always with the same comments: "This place has been abandoned/boarded up for years" and "But I've seen lights on." My theory is that it's not really an abandoned building. How else could its decrepit charm be maintained consistently since 2008? Then again, some artists showed there back in 1997. A quick search reveals that this is an oft-photographed building. Maybe the gallery has turned into art itself.

What do Red and Yellow Make?

Red and yellow make orange! Welcome to orange level of the Dufferin Mall Parking Garage.

Indie Coffee Update

As a follow up to my earlier post about indie coffee shops in Toronto, I have decided to comment on a few of the places. Since I wrote the earlier post I have visited for the first time: Lit, Sam James, Capital, and Lost and Found.

Lit had a wonderfully earthy espresso which I described as tasting like a tree. Unique flavour right there. Definitely recommend.

At Sam James Espresso Bar I have been happy with the drinks I've gotten. Lovely americanos & cappuccinos. I love sitting in the window there and watching Harbord go by.

Americano and Latte

Geoff enjoying a latte

First time I was at Capital Espresso I had one of the the best shots of espresso I've ever had. I'm not saying this just because I met Damien the other day. He came in to R2 looking for decaf beans 'cause they were running low over at Capital. The espresso shot I had was rich, rich, rich in flavour and well-balanced for my tongue.

Lost and Found espresso was delicious with a bit of an alcohol-y finish in a good way. Love the space and the idea of combining clothing and coffee - two great loves of my life. Jonathan was super friendly and Evan and I procured some Metropolis beans which I've tried in the french press with great success.

Minor setback

Nearly done relining a black leather coat only to find that I have sewn the sleeves into something resembling a mobius strip!

Pipes

Three Speed

Went to three speed on the spur of the moment with @Evanjerred on the same rainy night of shooting the dufferin mall. I had no expectations of the place but I like it there. Pretty laid back, pretty lights, good crowd. And bonus, it's a five minute walk from my house. Here are some photos I took of the place.

I definitely had Waupoo's cider and seem to remember getting something else, but I forget.

drinks

Great lighting, and you can just see "three speed" in the right of the frame written on the brick wall

The crowd