Winterlicious (LiciousTO) Restaurants to Follow on Twitter

Toronto is well known for its wide range of cultures and cuisines as well as an ever-evolving foodie culture. In fact, Toronto is such a food-lover’s paradise that selecting a restaurant can be a daunting task even without a Winterlicious Festival.

The ten restaurants profiled below have made this list for two reasons: 1) They have received praise for delicious, adventurous and consistent food and drink paired with excellent service and 2) They provide patrons with information of interest and a sense of community through updates online.

Here is a list of restaurants participating in @LiciousTO 2012 with active and engaging Twitter accounts:

Annona Restaurant – @Chef_JMonfaredi

‘Joan Monferedi, executive chef for Park Hyatt Toronto, including Annona Restaurant’

Chef Monferedi tweets regularly about other contemporary chefs, current food events and invitations to the ‘Masters of Food and Wine’ series hosted at Park Hyatt by the executive chef herself.

Auberge du Pommier, Biff’s Bistro, Canoe, Jump, Oliver & Bonacini Cafe Grill – @Oliver_Bonacini

‘What’s happening with our Chefs and restaurants’

Follow five of the big name players in Winterlicious 2012 in one fell swoop; this account is packed with delectable tidbits, twitpics, haggis races and plenty of compliments to the chef from the twitterati.

Bier Markt – @BierMarkt

‘An atmosphere that balances sociability with sophistication’

Bier Markt’s friendly Twitter approach retweets patrons’ comments and keeps followers in the know about oft-occurring specials and events, and of course, new additions to the best bier list in the city.

Cafe Moroc – @TheSultansTent

‘Admire the charms of belly dancers & enjoy a four-course Feast or create a menu suited to your event’

Twitter followers of Cafe Moroc—one of Toronto’s favourite dinner party locations—are kept aware of changes to menus, last-minute specials, weather updates and, most importantly, belly dancer set times.

The Drake Hotel – @thedrakehotel

‘Hotbed for Culture’

The Drake’s Twitter account, with over 21,000 followers, projects the spirit of Toronto’s lively arts scene with a brilliant personal touch. Take this reply for example: “@CherylKozoriz The menu isn’t vegan but we spoke to Chef Rose though + he said he’d create a vegan Winterlicious option if you’d like!”

earth Bloor West – @globeho

‘Globe Bistro, earth Rosedale & earth Bloor West owner-operator, gourmand and lover of meat, wine and cheese. Think global. Eat local’

Foodies take note: Ed Ho, owner-operator of local and seasonal Toronto establishments Globe Bistro and both the Rosedale and Bloor W. earth locations tweets about burgers, business and gives shout outs to smaller restaurants like Mother’s Dumplings in Chinatown.

Embrujo Flamenco -@embrujotapasbar

‘Enjoy with us the regional cuisines of Spain!’

An extensive wine selection pairs off with authentic Spanish specialties served tapas-style. There is dancing Wednesday through Saturday, and tune in for flamenco nights—they’re complimentary!

Prime – @windsorarms

‘Consecutively voted the #1 hotel in Toronto by Conde Nast Traveler Magazine’

Prime’s @LiciousTO offerings include an herbivore’s delight: a 100% vegan prix fixe menu served in Toronto’s premier boutique hotel. This handle communicates updates from the hotel, restaurant and Toronto herself.

Pure Spirits – @spiritspure

‘Oyster House’

Turn your @LiciousTO dinner into a date night in the Distillery District and tune into @spiritspure for specials on seafood ( $1.50 oysters), goings-on @DistilleryTO and mouth-watering meal descriptions.

Scarpetta – @ScarpettaTO

‘Famed Chef Scott Conant oversees Scarpetta – the first international outpost of the acclaimed Scarpetta Italian Restaurant’

Located in the Thompson Hotel, retweeted reactions to Scarpetta’s $35 @LiciousTO dinner menu are flooding the stunning resto’s online feed. Get online and join the conversation—if you can get a reservation, that is!

8 Tips on Planning and Hosting Winter Events

The days are shorter, the night are longer but don’t let old man winter stop you from hosting your most fabulous event yet! Follow these CityEvents tips to create a Winter Wonderland on any budget

1. Pick a Theme and Stick to it!

For a winter event let the season inspire you and all your décor, theme, activities, and food options. A fun festive tip to try is pick one winter item, anything from a crystal icicle, a snowy forest, or a roaring fire and from that item recreate the feel, smell, taste, touch and sound that object brings you in all your event’s details.

2. Stay Warm!

The temperature may be dropping but your parties are heating up!  Make sure your guests stay warm, and bundle up coming and leaving your event. It can be anything from having a heated area when lining up to enter the venue to as simple as offering extra mittens and scarves to your guests when they leave (bonus points for having your event logo on the accessories!). For smaller parties have your guests brave the cold with a cup of Goodnight Hot Chocolate!

3. Make Outside Inside

Why let the seven feet of snow outside your door limit your options. Make outside inside with different heating setups. Try installing a tent area to take advantage of a larger lawn. Small budgets are no problem, as decorating a yard with fairy lights and having folded blankets on chairs creates a winter wonderland while giving your guests a chance for a breath of frosty fresh air.

4. Safety First

Safety should be a concern for all savvy planners year round but winter presents its own unique challenges. As much as possible check the weather reports for the day of your event and shovel, salt, and snow-blow all walkways! Always do a run-through of your whole floor-plan to make sure there are no slipping and sliding risks. Have enough coat racks (or coat check) as well as mats for wet boots and shoes. As always, for any guests who were feeling the festive winter spirit and consumed have alcohol, insist on a taxi or have alternative transportation on standby. Two numbers for the Toronto area are: Beck 416-751-5555, and City Taxi 416-740-2222

5. Use the Season to Your Advantage

Winter is the best time to match your décor to the season. Ice sculptures, and ice luges (for beverages) are beautiful, reasonably priced, and an impressive visual for your guests. The lower light of the afternoon sets any candles and lighting aglow. Rich colours: crimson, snow white, pine greens pop against the drab background of the urban winter. The crisp air makes savoury smells more noticeable, and any warmth always draws people in off the street. Counterpoint the heat and energy of your party with the frosty outside and all your event choices will be that much more of a standout.

6. Try Something Different

As beautiful as the winter season is there is something to be said with doing the exact opposite! Vacation sales spike in the New Year for a reason – people want an escape! This is the perfect time to juxtapose a wacky or different theme to shake your guests out of their winter hibernation. Who wouldn’t want to try a January Hawaiian Luau or a Murder Mystery Dinner instead of a traditional February Valentine’s day party?  Get creative and try something no one else is doing! It’s sure to be noticed.

7. Timing is Everything

They’re called the “Winter Blahs” for a reason. Holiday season is very busy with Christmas, Chanukah, New Years and reunions. Guests may be worn out by January 1st, but there is a large empty period from Jan – March. This is the perfect time to plan your winter party and give your guests something to look forward to! Half the trick in creating a good buzz is standing out from the competition, and with little else going on even the smallest party will shine.

8. Make it Fun!

This is the most important thing to remember! As planners we can get caught up in the detail and forget to see the big picture. People come to events to have fun, so think critically. Is this something I would have fun at? Spontaneity is the key to fun; why not whip up a snowball fight at midnight? Drop snowflake confetti? Keep your guests guessing and keep it fun! Happy Planning!!

 

CityEvents Holiday Soiree

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CityEvents’ Holiday Soiree was a great way to celebrate the Holiday Season. Deb Lewis and CityEvents hosted the event at one of Toronto’s Hot New Lounges! Nothing says Christmas to us like a good old, joyful Christmas Soiree with all our friends and contacts!

We thought about having an intimate time with all of our clients, supporters, partners and friends there to celebrate the festive season with us. And it sure was.

It was the season for great food and gifts, christmas hats and a fun filled night at CityEvents by Deb Lewis’ Holiday Party!

The event was not complete without a  DJ, free light snacks and tasty Heineken/Molson beer. Next year’s event promises to be even to be better.

For pictures of the event follow this link: www.flickr.com/photos/cityeventstoronto

The Parlour
270 Adelaide St W, NE @ John St.

New Years Eve

MyNextRace.com 2012 Toronto Midnite New Year’s Eve 5k Run & Party CoHosted by CityEvents

Turning the Distillery District into the Toronto Christmas Market

Every event requires planning, in most cases the more the better. The Toronto Christmas Market in the Historic Distillery District, then, is no exception; workers began prepping the area nearly a month ago to ensure the Distillery (which can look sombre against the colourless November skies) was in a state of continuous improvement and all set for the Dec. 2 opening of the 2nd annual Toronto Christmas Market.

The first sign of Christmas in the Distillery came when Trees Ontario donated a 45 ft. Christmas tree, erected right in the middle of the cobblestone courtyard. The tree is something to see, with sashes of mint green complementing shiny red decorations and over 12,000 reed switch component Christmas lights and at its peak is a shining Christmas star.

Gorgeous Christmas tree? Check. Next on the list was the installation of the antique clock. Believe it or not, this clock has been knocked over on more than one occasion by trucks delivering goods to the Distillery, so this was more like a re-installation. This time, the 15-foot clock tower was installed amidst a barricade of four metal poles to ensure that this antique clock is in the Distillery to stay. Good thing, too; the clock is beautiful, and adds a special ambiance to the area, and the Christmas Market in particular.

Stunning antique clock? Almost. As every good Toronto mortgage broker should know, the land beneath the Distillery’s cobblestones is wet and, elevation-wise, not any higher than Lake Ontario. The suction truck actually had to remove enough moisture from the ground before workers could pour cement and secure a foundation for a timekeeper that should stand the tests of time. Stunning antique clock? Check.

Next, a sound system was installed all around the Distillery to ensure that shoppers everywhere could hear the musical performances, carollers and well-wishers amplified from the central stage in the courtyard.

Lowe’s, the sponsor of the Market, donated more than fifty 1-room wooden huts, scattered throughout the Distillery. Each hut was transformed into a little outdoor shop, selling the likes of: fudge, schnitzel, pretzels, retro movie gifts, Dutch sweets, sports team scarves, apple cider made with organic ingredients and much, much more! The Distillery really did take on a ‘Santa’s workshop’ feel that day as forklifts whizzed around the village carrying miniature houses with them.

The final days of November saw the finishing touches added to the Christmas Market. ‘Elves’ in safety jackets were seen constructing a hedge maze that leads straight to Santa’s house! ‘Biergartens’ signs started popping up (yes, the entire neighbourhood is licensed for this holiday occasion) and there’s enough mulled wine, hot chocolate, candy canes, sugar pies and plums on offer to skyrocket the business of many a Toronto dentist.

Nn its second year, the Toronto Christmas Market has more street vendors, buskers and costumed performers, and a star-studded entertainment lineup. The Toronto Christmas Market is a European market style attraction that is, as well, its own uniquely Canadian festival. Don’t miss this year’s Toronto Christmas Market in the Historic Distillery District!

 

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