Meet Shanea
From dives to fine dining, street art to private art exhibitions, boutique hotels to grand dames, farmer's markets to gastronomic food halls, join me on my adventures in finding the hottest to the hautest. As a Canadian, I focus mainly on my hometown of Toronto and my second home in Miami, also journeying frequently to New York and Italy, but nothing is off-limits for me. My love for food has led me here, to share all things I savour – and I will continue to search out the best and most impresssive, highlight culinary excellence, with dishes that inspire me and regional specialties, feature art, hotels, and current trends, and offer my experience on where to roam, where to stay and where to dine all over the world.Shanea
June 11, 2017
Barrio Cafe Gran Reserva offers refined tasting menus and a la carte dishes featuring carefully sourced ingredients, and bold flavours, some dishes using more than twenty varieties of chilies.
June 11, 2017
Located in the new Found:Re Boutique Hotel, Match Cuisine and Cocktails was on Phoenix Magazine list of promising Valley restaurants. But less than 6 months in, this attractive restaurant had already lost its chef, ouch!
June 11, 2017
A restaurant that has been generating a lot of buzz in Scottsdale is Fat Ox, a mega restaurant that opened in November 2016 at 6316 North Scottsdale Road under the leadership of Chef Matt Carter, previously of Zinc Bistro and The Mission.
June 8, 2017
Dining at Binkley's in Phoenix was one of my most memorable experiences that I won't soon forget. Without a doubt, it is the best restaurant in the city.
June 8, 2017
The views are wonderful and the music is chill – relax in a cabana or a day bed, and order bottle service. If you don't travel or have a cottage, this is a nice little refuge from the maddening crowd, and it is right in the city.
June 5, 2017
One of the things I love about New York is that are no shortage of wonderful little neighborhood restaurants everywhere you look. One such gem, new to the scene is Gloria.
May 31, 2017
Georgette Frakas has herself a great brassiere that serves French fare, and serves it to a well-heeled upper east side crowd. As the New York Post said, "it is something to cluck about".
May 30, 2017
Chris Bianco, the James Beard award-winning chef, who has a national reputation for pizza has himself another winner, with his newest venture, Tratto in Phoenix, AZ.
May 28, 2017
Virtu Restaurant, in Scottsdale, opened four years ago in 2013. That same year they were named Best New Restaurants in America by Esquire Magazine and they have also received a James Beard nomination. I thought I needed to check out the place and see for myself.
May 25, 2017
Ocotillo in Phoenix is the quintessential modern Arizona eatery. They are a new gold standard, capturing the hearts of locals and tourists alike.
May 22, 2017
All the dishes at Canis in Toronto have simple descriptions on the menu, but when you receive the food you see how complex each dish is, with many components to them.
May 20, 2017
I am not exaggerating when I say that the lobster at Lobster Sea Grille in Miami is the best damn lobster I have had in eons. My table all raved about the quality and execution.
May 20, 2017
One of the reasons I think Lake Inez in Toronto is jam packed and so popular is the hands on approach of the owners, who constantly come by to see how everything is going.
May 16, 2017
Doug Penfold's new Toronto restaurant, Atlas, features dishes inspired by the his travels to Morocco and the Atlas Mountains. The cuisine presents a rich tapestry of spices and herbs, textures and tastes.
May 15, 2017
Since returning to Toronto from Miami, one of my most anticipated new restaurant openings has been La Banane. In a few short months it has become Toronto's "it" restaurant.
May 9, 2017
Toronto's Grey Gardens is fresh, seasonal and creative. A neighbourhood place where you can drop by for a drink and snacks, or stay for dinner.
May 1, 2017
Bar Ape uses refined recipes and serve an artisanal, handcrafted from scratch, gelato bar. The flavours are intense and the mouth feel is sinfully creamy.
May 1, 2017
The Upper East Side crowd gets to feast on bold flavours and textures with unique interpretations of dishes. The plates are small, but inventive and elevated with a complexity that isn't expected.
April 28, 2017
At Valentino Italian Cucina in Ft. Lauderdale Chef Giovanni creates expertly prepared Italian dishes with a modern twist using fresh, high-quality ingredients in all that he prepares.
April 26, 2017
Jerusalem Chefs Rina and Alice have created a tasty and inventive menu in their modern and cozy restaurant. We were happy to have this option on a Saturday afternoon in Jerusalem.
April 25, 2017
At Forte dei Marmi in Miami they go to great lengths to bring you the flavours of the Amalfi coast, using high-quality ingredients, exceptional regional specialties and inventive Italian cooking in a beautifully presented in a relaxed and vibrant setting.
April 18, 2017
Harry's Char Broil & Dining Lounge in Toronto is like stepping back in time, I felt I was entering a greasy spoon from the 60's.
April 17, 2017
The emphasis is on freshness, combined with high quality ingredients and sophisticated cooking techniques. The dishes are creative and showcase a modern cuisine focusing on Moroccan and Mediterranean influences.
April 16, 2017
The Norman Hotel is elegant and sophisticated and the staff is courteous, respectful and well-trained. It offers 24-hour concierge service, high-end interiors, and great personalized customer service. A stunning new addition to central Tel Aviv.
April 13, 2017
The emphasis is on fresh, local, simply prepared food. The menu changes on a whim, so you may not find a favourite dish again but you will certainly be surprised and pleased at the offerings.
