Toronto

music and more for a cause: projectliftph

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When Rudy Boquila isn't busy being a chef,  he makes music with his band, DATU. On Wed, Dec 4th, special guest Scratch – from The Roots (yes!) is performing live with DATU at ProjectLiftPH #Haiyan  #YolandaPH fundraiser event! 

Here's DATU performing this year at The Canadian Philippine Fashion Week


There will be great food from: Lamesa Filipino Kitchen, Porzia, Sukho Thai  among others.

For more info on the full line-up of amazing performers and participants on Facebook.

Get your tickets here now: 

Please share and support :) 


4suppers no.4 : sept 22nd at porzia · basilio pesce x jason carter

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The final installment of Porzia's 4suppers is on Sunday, September 22nd at 7pm. Every one of the past three have been incredible. This one featuring a collaboration between Porzia's chef and owner, Basilio Pesce and Chef Jason Carter will be no exception. Contact Melissa Clemente at 4suppers@porzia.ca or call the restaurant at 647-342-5776 to book tickets.

There are only a couple of tickets left! 

announcement: 4suppers series at Porzia this summer

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Hello, Toronto + anyone planning a visit this summer. I'm very excited to co-host 4Suppers with Melissa Clemente at Porzia starting on June 23rd. Here's the 411 below. Stay tuned for more in the coming weeks. Please spread the word and we hope to see you this summer! :) 

~ Catherine Mangosing 

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Porzia announces 4Suppers

A summer dinner series in collaboration with local Toronto chefs

TORONTO, ON — Porzia is pleased to announce a new collaborative dinner series with local Toronto chefs, 4Suppers. Taking place at its Parkdale location (1314 Queen Street West), 4Suppers will feature a four-course dinner with wine pairings and cocktails for $70 in advance and $85 at the door. 

Happening one Sunday a month from June to September, Porzia will welcome popular chefs into its kitchen starting on June 23 with Rob Rossi of Bestellen. Also joining Basilio Pesce—Porzia’s head chef and owner—will be Rudy Boquila of Lamesa on July 28, Matty Matheson of Parts & Labour on August 25, and Jason Carter previously of Centro on September 22. 

“4Suppers allows us to showcase local chefs that we’re not only friends with but respect and who are doing great things with food in the city,” said Basilio Pesce. “I’m excited to mess around in the kitchen with my friends and create completely one-of-a-kind menus for the event.”

Porzia looks forward to hosting unique events all summer long in collaboration with well-known Toronto chefs that will bring guests. Tickets are available for purchase at Porzia: 1314 Queen Street West or via email at 4suppers@porzia.ca. For media inquiries or high-res images please contact: 

Melissa Clemente or Catherine Mangosing, 
4suppers@porzia.ca or 647-342-5776

Follow Porzia on Twitter: twitter.com/porziaparkdale

“4Suppers allows us to showcase local chefs that we’re not only friends with but respect and who are doing great things with food in the city,” said Basilio Pesce. “I’m excited to mess around in the kitchen with my friends and create completely one-of-a-kind menus for the event.”


water as inspiration

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Last night I attended a Toronto Fashion Week party at the recently opened Thompson Hotel. I fell in love with their chandeliers. Aren't they beautiful? The delicate individual glass droplets appear to have been inspired by water. In fact, it seemed to be a theme. Bravo to local lighting design firm, Viso for designing them. I could not look away. 

 Top photo is my own, two bottom images are via Thompson Hotel website.

 

cinematic light : artist michael harrington

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I came across the paintings of Canadian artist, Michael Harrington while strolling down Queen Street West in Toronto last weekend. Katherine Mulherin Contemporary Art Projects had the top painting (Lookout! oil on canvas 40x60 inches) in the window and I had to stop and inquire. I love the melancholy, Edward Hopper-like quality to his work. They are almost sad, mundane scenes featuring no one or no place in particular. I LOVE the cinematic quality of light executed in a way that doesn't look overworked. There's a certain looseness to his technique that I find so beautiful.

a thanksgiving palette

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I celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving this past weekend with my family. It was the first one in years and years that I spent with my sisters. I really enjoyed cooking alongside my brother-in-law. He took care of the roast chicken (we skipped the turkey this year). I took care of the rest – including dessert. 

I was reminded this weekend of just how consistent the colour palette is for the fall. You could say that everything we see and eat is, well, orange. :)

building charm : one street in toronto

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I'm taking notice of the variety of architectural styles in Toronto – particularly on one street in my sister's
neighbourhood. For someone who's accustomed to being around Brooklyn's brownstones or taller apartment
buildings, the idea of free-standing houses seems pretty novel in an urban setting (although the city does
have it's share of it's own row-house style, Victorian buildings). Toronto has many quiet suburban-like 
neighbourhoods right in what's considered "downtown." I documented a few of them (all on one street).
Adorable, right? I might have to find one to call my own...


 

This one is still under construction – reminds me very much of west coast architecture

This might be the smallest one on the block! Love the trellis entrance.

Brooklyn to Toronto in september

So the BIG news of the year in my world: I am moving to Toronto in September! It's not a city I've ever lived in. But my two sisters both live in Toronto and I have been wanting to be closer to them – particularly in light of my sister Caroline's recent house fire. I love New York dearly and will miss it here. It's been home to me for 11 and a half years. But, frankly, I need a break.

I am excited about being somewhere new and be near my family again. My dog, Lexie, will be happy to have her doggie cousins around too. No more worries of pit bull attacks – they're banned in Toronto (and the UK)! Hooray! This also means I will have this whole new, culturally-rich city to explore and share with you on my blog! I do plan on maintaining my client relationships here in New York. Technology makes it all possible these days. I've been wanting to expand my network in Canada (and, hopefully, Europe!). I also have exciting new ventures to pursue – all in an effort to steer clear of a conventional/corporate existence! 

My plan is to sublet my apartment for a few months and then see how I feel later this year. I will leave things open for now. That said, I'm looking for very cool, smart, creative Torontonian bloggers/Twitterers to follow and/or meet. Know any? Send some names or links my way via the comments section below :) 

Photo credits: 
1) Toronto skyline
2) Old City Hall building 
3) Kensington photo 
4) Dundas Street

portrait at the barbershop

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my dad at the barbershop, toronto

I took a blog break last week to spend time with my dad. He was visiting New York, New Jersey and Toronto from Manila. I asked my sister Caroline to take some portraits of him. It had been a while since either one of us took proper portraits of him. I was excited about what she would come up with given all the recent family photo restorations that I've been working on as well as conversations about family history.
During his visit to Toronto, my sisters took my dad to Mankind – a spa and barbershop just for men. I must mention that my dad is no stranger to spa treatments. He's what we might refer to nowadays as "metrosexual." Only I remember him getting facials back in the late 70s and 80s – long before the term was coined and before I really understood what facials were all about. All I knew is it was a form of grooming for the face.
I really love this portrait Caroline took. It was shot exclusively with natural light (which is totally amazing to me). My dad looks like he's part of the mob here (yet again!). The photo looks very cinematic. He looks quite intimidating and sombre here. Ironically, he's usually more of a jokester but you'd never know it looking at this photo.