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
October 31, 2016
Glass and Vine in Coconut Grove was created by Chef Giorgio Rapicavoli, a James Beard Award nominee and winner of the Food Network's show, Chopped, and Grove Bay Hospitality Group. The indoor/outdoor 200 seat restaurant is located in the heart of Peacock Park.
October 30, 2016
The menu is quite large with unique takes on Tuscan-style cuisine, plus the waiters ramble off a number of nightly specials. The servers are polite, knowledgeable and provide great recommendations based on your preferences. Chef Angelo Elia still cooks in the kitchen and occasionally greets familiar guests.
October 28, 2016
Art Toronto 2016 features a carefully selected roster of Canadian and International modern and contemporary galleries. The show is on till October 31 at the Metro Toronto Convention Center.
October 28, 2016
The restaurant offers a classic French cuisine like onion soup, bouillabaisse, mussels, steak tartare, duck confit, coquilles Saint-Jacques and herb crusted lamb. We were pleasantly surprised to have such a nice neighborhood spot that was so deliciously satisfying.
October 27, 2016
For me, the restaurant was hit and miss, and more on the miss side of things. The rolls were beautiful looking, but not at all traditional.
October 25, 2016
Everything at Maple Leaf Tavern in Toronto is made in-house. Other restaurants take note: you can really taste the difference here. I appreciate their effort and the quality of ingredients.
October 24, 2016
I am a big fan of soft serve ice cream, and I heard a lot of hype about Sweet Jesus ice cream in Toronto since last fall. People are flocking here, and it was even busy in the cool months.
October 23, 2016
L'Express in Montreal is charming, lively, and, I think, the closest I've found to a true Parisian-style bistro in North America. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily, the cuisine is well-crafted – based on creating rich flavours using simple ingredients. It's a great option for a bite after shopping on Rue Saint-Denis.
October 18, 2016
Pi Co. is Yorkville's new grab-and-go place in the Bay and Bloor area at 1200 Bay Street. The verdict? Not bad. I think they will do very well at this spot and I predict this will be the first of many locations.
October 17, 2016
D Liche doesn't cut corners and it shows, they have really hit a home run with their product. The triple chocolate was off the charts delicious. It was moist, dense, intense in flavour and incredibly rich. It was not your average cupcake, surpassing the many previous versions I have tried. The cupcake "bar" has been raised.
October 14, 2016
I have my friend Fenwick to thank for recommending I try a new spot at 17070 West Dixie Highway in North Miami.
I am often asked for suggestions for not-so-fine dining, reasonably priced neighborhood restaurants that also serve great good.
I think the newly opened Lettuce and Tomato Gourmet Gastrobar fits the bill.
October 11, 2016
Bachour Bakery and Bistro in Miami is great for breakfast, lunch or brunch. Be sure to leave room for one of Bachour's breathtaking creations. He was a 2016 James Beard Awards Outstanding Pastry Chef semifinalist.
October 8, 2016
Montreal has a rich food culture which we have enjoyed exploring on our short trip there. One of the toughest reservations to snag was at the iconic restaurant Joe Beef at 2491 Notre-Dame West. We actually had to use connections to get in. It didn't help that it was voted the #4 best restaurant in Canada in 2016.
October 6, 2016
Big Tuna Poke Bar in Toronto is no doubt one of the first in a wave of poke shops that is sure to flood the city. Recommended! Affordable and cheerful!
October 5, 2016
Look for the Chase Bank on the corner and Bergen Hill is in the same building off a side street. It's a great neighbourhood spot. I haven't seen this kind of creativity and execution from a kitchen in a long time.
October 3, 2016
Miami’s dining scene keeps getting better. Let me introduce you to last season’s favourites, new restaurants and my most anticipated for the Fall and Winter of 2016-2017 ...
September 29, 2016
All the food is well-seasoned and they are not afraid to add some spice to some dishes, which I find refreshing. The staff was super friendly, engaging and helpful. The lines move quite fast, and the pacing of the buffet style service was pretty sound. I predict it will be a mainstay of the area and service hungry Torontonians.
September 27, 2016
Planta in Toronto is a great option for vegetarians and healthy eaters, but it doesn't cater to this group exclusively. I don't fall in those categories and I enjoy eating there. It is just an amazing alternative with tasty food, in a pleasant setting in a great Yorkville-area location.
September 22, 2016
The Montreal Museum of Fine Art is one of the most impressive museums in North America. I especially enjoyed the modern art, sculpture garden, and Canadian art sections. Worth a visit when visiting Montreal.
September 20, 2016
I was so wowed with my experience at Toque in Montreal that I had to go to the other establishment that is overseen by Chef Normand Laprise, Brasserie T, located next door to the Place des Arts.
September 20, 2016
The tasting menu is always a surprise. They won't tell you what it is in advance. They only ask if you have any allergies or aversions.
September 19, 2016
On September 12th internationally renowned artist and philanthropist Peter Tunney opened his first exhibit in Toronto. He brought 55 new pieces and also created live art right on the streets of Toronto in support of Artists for Peace and Justice.
September 15, 2016
This is truly a foodie experience. Everything is well executed. Not only is it a warm and welcoming atmosphere, the food is adventurous and creative, and the servers are professional and attentive. They really catered to us and made us feel special.
September 14, 2016
The new Dizengoff location in Chelsea Market, New York, is one of the most exciting new restaurant openings this year. I tried a few extra toppings that they were kind enough to bring out for me from the back and they were fabulous and added another dimension to the hummus.
