Pizza Al Metro

If you're looking for some good Italian food and nice ambiance north of the city then you should definitely check out the recently opened Pizza Al Metro. I don't think I've ever posted about this place, but I after I went again on Friday I decided it with high time. When we arrived the place was packed with people enjoying a good meal and we got a private room that was nice and cozy (there are several of different sizes you can book for a special occassion or if you just want a bit more privacy.)

An Example of Pizza Al Metro

As always I'm a bad blogger and didn't bring along a camera, but I've relied on some photos found on the web to help me illustrate this story. The pizza al metro concept is pretty popular in Europe but I haven't seen it much on this side of the ocean. Basically you get a metre of pizza that can serve up to four or five and you can section it into a couple different types of pizza so everyone can sample a bit of each.

Aside from this pizza specialty the restaurant also offers personal-sized pizzas, meat dishes cooked over open flame and some great appetizers. Although torn I decided to go with the rice balls and was not at all disappointed. Even though I prefer mine without peas these were really, really good. For my main I went with the Doppia Facce, half a Margherita pizza and half a calzone stuffed with soft ricotta. Delicious, but unfortunately I could only get about half way through it and then M ate the rest. Two thumbs up from his side of the table.

Our table then ordered some Speducci but I could only manage to try a bite (they were very tasty). I was so full I had to forgo the Nutella pizza dessert on the menu and opt for two espressos instead. All in all a delicious night!  What did you do this weekend?



Images 1, 3, 4 via

Winner of the Sarah Tucker Photography Giveaway!

Spice Route

How is everyone? I hope you're all enjoying your weekend. Today we're headed BBQ shopping (we have yet to pick table, chairs, or couch, but my husband obviously has his priorities in order) and then later on we're meeting friends at Spice Route for some yummy Sunday goodness. What does everyone else have planned for the day? One lucky reader's Sunday will include choosing the Sarah Tucker Photography print she'd like to take home. The winner is...

Stephanie at The-Loudmouth

Congrats Stephanie! Please email me your

shipping info and the print you've chosen.

Galleria, Milano by Sarah Tucker Photography

Thanks so much to everyone who entered and to Sarah,

who so generously offered up one of her pieces to give away!

17 Steps & A New Artist Discovery

One of my great pleasures in life is trying out new restaurants while M has a habit of wanting to go back to those tried and true places. I guess it's good for me he's the loyal sort. This Saturday I was happy to get the chance to check out a new one. 17 Steps is a rustic and charming Mediterranean restaurant tucked underground (hence the 17 steps) in Bloor West. Not only are the owners and everyone who works there charming, gracious and inviting but the food is pretty great, too.

To start we had flatbread with a selection of dips and spankopita, and for my main I had the yummy bacon-wrapped beef tenderloin with some to-die-for truffle frites. We usually skip dessert, but we went in for the Greek nut cake (served warm) and weren't disappointed. I found that, price wise, it's also a really great value. You can read some more reviews here.

During dinner I found myself admiring some of the colourful artwork on the walls only to find out they were the work of Cynthia van Leeuwen, who I also had the pleasure of meeting that night.

Cynthia was very friendly and lovely, someone with a true passion for her art. What did you do this weekend?

I. Hate. Lineups. and a Giveaway Winner

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So here's the deal, I'm not exactly the world's most patient person. Truth be told there's not much I loathe more than waiting and lineups make me want to claw my eyes out. If I had a choice there would be very little I would actually line up for. I mean, other than a million dollars, not much springs to mind that would be worth the wait. Which is why I can't understand restaurants that deliberately try to provoke me by not taking reservations and encouraging block-long lines outside their doors.

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Case in point: Guu Izakaya. When some friends put the screws to me and forced me to accompany them recently, I insisted we go during the week as I've already heard stories about the long wait times (even with a sitting time limit of 2 hours). I had also heard raves about the restaurant so I figured that even if I ended up in my seat with bleeding eyes I would at least be compensated with some good eating. I wasn't disappointed. The food was good, reasonably priced and the atmosphere is lively. Portions are small, tapas-style, so great for ordering lots and sharing among dining partners. Still doesn't answer my question as to why the restaurant can't accept reservations--especially for large parties, although I do understand that it is a small place. And while our wait wasn't as long as some of the stories I've heard I doubt I will be going back if I have to face a line up again.

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Seems that several pizzerias in the city like Terroni and Pizzeria Libretto also buy into the no-reservation policy (although Terroni does make exceptions for certain areas at certain locations). Slightly frustrating, but at least with places like Libretto they will take your cell number and call you when a table opens up. I'm much more agreeable when my waiting is done at the bar across the street downing drinks rather than standing outside the restaurant like a fool. Maybe it's just me.

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You can imagine how happy I was to find out that the new offering from Libretto's team, Enoteca Sociale, does accept reservations for fifty-percent of their seating (which isn't much, the place is small but cozy). I've been twice now and I have to say that I enjoy it. The staff is super friendly and I like the tasting menu options (great for sharing and not feeling overstuffed). The arugula with veal sweetbread app I had on my latest visit was seriously amazing.

How do you feel about no-reservation restaurants?


On an unrelated note, Toronto peeps, have you eaten at Parts and Labour? I've only had drinks there, but I've heard mixed things about the food. Plus, I'm not a very adventurous eater. Menu items like "fried pigs face" and anything horse do nothing for me.
 If you've tried the food let me know what you thought.

And the winner of the Dear Colleen giveaway, chosen via random.org, is...

Mackenzie from Design Darling

Congrats Mackenzie!! Shoot me your shipping info via email when you can.

Check out Dear Colleen's store to score one of your own gorgeous prints:

A Great Pizza and a Glimpse into the Future...?

Last week while chilling at a street festival on College Street--after eating a really great tomato-and-mozzarella pizza at Vivoli (I've been many times, mainly for the rooftop patio, and I think this is the best dish I've had there, much better than the food I've sampled in the past)--we happened on a psychic/tarot card reader set up on the street. For some reason I was inspired and decided to get a reading despite M teasing me mercilessly.

I'm not entirely sure if I believe in these kinds of things. Truthfully, I think there probably are people with these types of gifts (I've heard of cases when psychics have been spot on and specific) and many who are fakes, mostly just gifted at generalizing and reading people. I have no idea if the woman who read my cards was the real deal, although considering what she told me I certainly hope she was (hearing what she said even had M changing his tune!)

I didn't actually ask any questions as I figure that's a way to tip your hand and made it easier to falsify a reading. I mean, you should tell me if there's anything important coming up--right? Anyway, a few books I've read lately have also included psychics and they just seem to be popping up here and there so I thought I'd ask the question:

Do you believe in psychics and/or mediums? Have you ever had someone predict something that ended up coming true?

{Photos via weheartit.com}

Happy Weekend & Five Questions

Hello lovelies, I hope you're all having a wonderful weekend. Remember to enter the Dr. Perricone giveaway if you haven't had a chance to yet. I was tagged by Melissa of Oh, My Darling to answer the following five questions:

1. What's for dinner tonight? I think we are heading to Enoteca Sociale for dinner tonight.

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2. What movie star would you choose to play you in a film of your life? See here.

3. What's your biggest fashion faux pas? I love flip flops and some of my pants are too long when I wear flats.

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4. Which song always puts you in a happy mood? There are many but the first that comes to mind is "Girls Just Want to Have Fun."

5. How crafty are you, and what has been your best project? I wish I was much more crafty than I am. I haven't actually attempted too many DIY projects. I did make my own wedding programs, which I thought turned out okay.

I'd like to tag anyone who wants to answer these questions!

 

 

 

"Weekends don't count unless you spend them doing something completely pointless." ~ Bill Watterson

 

 

 

Oh Louise! Giveaway Winner

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Hope you have all had a wonderful weekend. Mine has been pretty much non-stop, per usual, which is good as long as you don't put a premium on sleep. On Friday it was dinner and drinks with the girls at The Roosevelt Room, yesterday we took some out of town visitors to Terroni (if you're ever in Toronto a must try, in my opinion) and then, yes, drinks. Today was for the moms of course, breakfast with my in laws and then an early dinner with my family. The rest of the night has been pretty quiet, with M jetting off to his weekly soccer game with my dad and me, my mom, sister and grandmother watching Shutter Island. A very good movie, I thought. What did you do this weekend?

And now to the winner of the Oh! Louise stationary set...The Zhush. Congrats! A big thanks to Eleanor for participating in this giveaway and to all of you who entered. Stay tuned for a new giveaway to celebrate my having reached 200 followers! Happy Mother's Day!

Love It!: Urban Rose

Hope you all had amazing weekends. We were pretty busy these last few days with family obligations, but we managed to start looking for appliances. I know its early, but I'm just trying to sort out what I want and then go from there. We also went to Pizzeria Libretto, a must-try if you're ever in Toronto for great, authentic Napoletano pizza (the eat-it-with-a-fork-and-knife kind of pizza). No reservations and usually long wait times (which you can while away at a bar across the street), but worth it. Apparently they even imported a used pizza oven from Napoli. After pizza we headed for drinks at a bar on Ossington that recently opened and still has no sign and then on to Jezebel.

The perfect answer to the Mondays blues--and my statement necklace obsession--are these gorgeous creations from Etsy seller Rebecca3030's shop.

{Doesn't this just scream summer?! LOVE}

Stunning!

Thank you to the lovely Cashon and Company

 for this Happy 101 Award. If you haven't

yet, definitely check out her blog!

And a big thank you to Dawn at

The Alternative Wife for this amazing

You're Going Places, Baby award!

To accept this award I need to blog about where I want to be in 10 years...

I'd like to be doing a lot of what I'm doing now: happily married, blogging, dreaming up ways to decorate our house and make it a home. I'd also like to be a mother, a traveller, and surrounded by family and friends. Where would you like to be in 10 years?