365 grateful project (count=207)

• Chilly walk through Brickworks along the Danforth led to dinner at the Pan
• Rainy walk through Riverdale/Leslieville with a break at St John’s (herbed dinner rolls for me + cinnamon bun for him) led to dinner at Table 17
• I talked about the book so much that he decided to get the movie; I always love the book more but the movie does capture the quietly devastating tone
• Dinner at Guu with Denise/Jessica/Albert; I arrived at 5:15 to secure a table and it was most definitely worth the effort
• Dinner at Mideastro with Carl/Sharon

365 grateful project (count=184)

• Delish brunch at le gourmand: the Spadina location; was so sad when the Bloor location closed
• Preceded by free tour of 401 Richmond as part of images fest; you can watch all the films at the media centre (+ free coffee too)
• Brunch with Tushar at fire on the eastside, his neighborhood spot; love the smoked salmon & spinach Bennie (on corn bread)
• Tanya starting super exciting new job with International Rivers; planning to visit her in Thailand later this year
• Carl’s geese fondue + Sharon’s crazy dessert that I cannot name = amazing

365 grateful project (count=176)

• New Idea Fest at Alumnae Theatre: He says he likes the second play the best because it was the most realistic; I say I like the second play the best because it was the most absurd; the play is about the meeting of two women at a laundromat; the old woman thinks life is a play; the young woman thinks life is a reality TV series.
• Preceded by Mylk Uncookies for milk (almond milk latte) and cookies (not usually a cookie person but this cookie has more salty choco than cookie).
• The barista at Crema has been giving me double stamps for some reason, so I’m getting a free cappuccino every other week.
• Lunchbox Exchange: When I cook, he gets to bring the leftover for lunch; when he cooks, I get to bring the leftover for lunch.
• Dinner at the Rosedale Diner; loved the apple cake and the duck confit (in a cassis veal jus).
• Health Mandate: I ask him if he thinks it’s constitutional; he says “No Act of Parliament can be unconstitutional, for the law of the land knows not the word or the idea”.

365 grateful project (count=158)

• Sipping in a comfy chair at seven grams (love the splatter on wood artwork)
• Liège waffle (wiki: “richer, denser, sweeter”) from Petit Dej
• it has been six months

365 grateful project (count=146)

• architizer: The New York Times quotes MoMA’s chief curator of architecture and design (and jury member) Barry Bergdoll, who says that Wendy is “pro-active, it’s not apologetic… It’s going to be amazing from the No. 7 train!”
• Penny Plain much darker than I expected; yes I expected romance at the end of the world to be more lighthearted; zoomermag: “The plot intrigues, and at points seems inspired by something out of Beckett or Arthur Miller. // One of the highlights is the appearance of Geppetto and his grown son. The symbolism, in terms of the plot and of the character’s relation to Burkett himself, is ripe for interpretation”
• preceded by the always delish smoked salmon sandwich from petit four; last ate there with Yiding; can’t believe I haven’t been there for four months; used to go there every week when I worked for OW
• T+T’s sticky black rice bun is my idea of real fusion: layer of (flower scented?) sticky black rice between french bread)
• trio of green tea snacks: cracker with green tea leaves; uji green tea cream sandwich; matcha meltykiss (will visit Nagoya and eat this one day)

365 grateful project (count=133)

• wish i had visited Paris and saw leviathan by Anish Kapoor but planning to visit Chicago this year so will have another chance to gaze into cloud gate
• delish brunch with Denise at Jules Cafe Patisserie: from quinoa/lentil/beet salad to chocolate cake; got chubby brioche to go
• visiting June’s new baby and new house: Claire is a happy baby; love the skylights and walk through kitchen
• ichiban sushi + Assyrtiko: “In the volcanic soil of Santorini, there appear to be some unique characteristics that develop in the grape variety, and therefore in the wine. One of these characteristics is that Assyrtiko does not lose its acidity even if it is very ripe.”

365 grateful project (count=126)

• Icelandic moss ring
• spent two hours at yorkdale: got angora sweater (on sale for $30) from French connection & hoping it comes from a French angora bunny; he got shirt from armani exchange
• vietnamese noodle lunch with Zack; he took some super nicely scented tea from his dad for me
• sushi lunch with Neil; wow sushi is wow

365 grateful project (count=117)

Have had many amazing tasting trips to Niagara on the Lake over the years (2006 / 2008 / 2010 / 2011) but this is easily the best

• Mild winter not the best for harvesting frozen grapes but perfect for amble through the vines
• cecile’s house is impeccable from chocolate bread to bathroom tile
• Not impressed by Sand and Gravel in fact me thinks Ravine is more style than substance but discovered southbrook which has great style and great substance
• cattail creek was my favorite: 2008 Select Late Harvest Meritage + Dark Chocolate Butterscotch Crunch
• amazing osso bucco at epicurean accompanied by white bean cassoulet and wild mushrooms
• rhubarb pickle is perfect with pork or field greens

365 grateful project (count=111)

• One thing I stopped doing when I started traveling for work is bringing leftover shampoo home. But cannot not bring L’Occitane home!
• Dinner with dad at le paradis. I love the open kitchen but we sat in the third (quieter more intimate) room, enjoying duck confit and conversation.
• Weekend of wine and choco with Sharon & Carl. I’m interested in: 2008 Sauvignon Blanc + Chocolat au Herbes de Provence @ Stratus; 2008 Pinot Noir + Caramalized Pine Nuts & Dark Chocolate Square @ Reif; 2010 Sand and Gravel Cabernet Franc + Salted Pretzels Dipped in Milk Chocolate @ Ravine

365 grateful project (count=105)

• coffee table inspired by Mies
• cappuccino doppio at caffe furbo
• olive oil massage
• roasted salmon sandwich at mbco. yes romantic afternoon of self.
• 105 > 100