Urban Repair Squad

Last week on Torontoist, Jonathan Goldsbie wrote about a covert mission undertaken by the Urban Repair Squad, an organization that wants to "encourage bicycling as an antidote to the poison that is car culture." They say, "Your city is broken. Don't wait for the bureaucrats to fix it. DO IT YOURSELF." In the past they've painted bicycle lanes on streets that don't have them (Bloor Street West!) and just on Easter weekend they did this: http://torontoist.com/2009/04/the_plywood_man_argument.php. I love this video.

We Offer Good Health with Delight & Taste

A month ago, I planned to write about Japanese chocolate and candy for Torontoist in anticipation of Easter. In my exhausted mind, Easter was next week so I didn't have nearly as much time as I thought I would. Thank goodness Ayngelina already had the candy and was taking photos for me. I woke up at 7AM and hopped on the subway to pick up the candy from her so that I could get back here, taste everything, and write the post.

Meiji and Morinaga, the two companies I wrote about have extensive information online in Japanese, but not in English so I had to call my parents in Nova Scotia and get them to translate a few web sites and box copy.

I ate more than 10 different kinds of chocolate and candy this morning. No more. The rest is coming with me to work on Monday.

Here the the post: http://torontoist.com/2009/04/good_health_with_delight_and_taste.php. And above is a picture of my messy desk post-post. Why do I need two phones?

California (Dreamy) Sandwiches

I know I'm probably the last person in Toronto to have tried the veal sandwiches at California Sandwiches, since they've been around since 1967, but I never got around to it. Finally on the weekend, I went with my dear friends from my first job and it was amazing. I've been to Mustachio in St. Lawrence Market many times and enjoyed it for the most part, but now I've seen what is possible. The breaded exterior of the veal is fresh and crisp without feeling greasy. The tomato sauce is light and not at all tinny. And the mushrooms are so fresh. No cheating here at all.

The meatball sandwich is also delicious with a pillow soft, enormous (I'm guessing veal) meatball, but my heart belongs to the breaded veal sandwich.