In addition to having her hands full with IDS10 (she's an account manager for the show), Toronto girl-about-town Karen Kang keeps an eye on design goings-on with her own design blog, Le Petit Poulet. Karen is the epitome of the saying "Ask a busy person ...", so we crossed our fingers and hoped she'd have the chance to guide us. We were not disappointed ...

Eat

Guu, 398 Church Street (near Gerrard)

Guu, a recent transplant of the popular Vancouver Izakaya chain, opened recently in Toronto. As an avid fan of the Guu restaurants in Vancouver, I was a little wary that the one in Toronto would not be able to capture the chaotic madness that makes the Guu restaurants in Vancouver so unique.

Guu restaurant (photo via BlogTO)

The restaurant in Toronto is a dark-tiled, boxed space set aback in a parking lot with a small little white sign on the side. If you blinked, you would miss it. Inside, the space is bright and airy - a real mix of modern lines with traditional wood paneling. It's not the type of place you would go on a first date or if you wanted to discuss deep thoughts. Servers and chefs greet every single person who enters, orders are shouted aloud....Go with a big group of friends, an empty stomach, an adventurous palate (they have amazing specials daily) and don't forget to order the big giant mugs of Sapporo. They don't take reservations, so go early and be prepared to wait.

Terroni, 57A Adelaide Street East

Terroni, a regular mainstay for Torontonians, opened a monster location on Adelaide Street a couple of years ago. Located in a former courthouse, the space is beautifully designed by Giannone Petricone Associates. The interior is a mix of imposing structure with reworked found objects, courtesy of Commute Home. The food choices are abundant, have a real "home cooked" feeling to them and are pretty fantastic. The wine list is extensive, be prepared for only Italian wines.

Nadege Patisserie (photo via BlogTO)

Nadege, 780 Queen St W (by Trinity Bellwoods Park)

Housed in a corner lot, this old photographer's studio has been transformed into a bright airy space. This patisserie reminds me a lot of the ones I visited when I was in Paris last Spring. Every piece of cake and pastry really is a work of art by sight and by taste. Or if you wanted something savory, they also have the most beautifully crafted sandwiches.

Ceili's Cottage, 1301 Queen St East (near Leslie)

This is a recent discovery in my neighbourhood, Leslieville, and what a gem of a discovery it was! This restaurant is the newest venture by Patrick McMurray (of oyster shucking fame and owner of the equally excellent restaurant, Star Fish Oyster Bed & Grill. The space is literally a cottage - very small, rustic and raw with exposed beams and peeling paint. It is divided into two spaces. When you enter, there is a small front room that has seating and tables and the other room hosts the bar and some very limited seating. The atmosphere is warm, the drink of choice is beer and the food is honest, simple (think Mac & Cheese, Mutton Stews etc) and well made. The one caveat is that the menu is quite limited so if you're someone who needs lots of choice, this is not the place for you.


Drink

Tattoo Rock Parlour (567 Queen Street W, near Portland) is one of Charles Kabouth's (the King of nightlife entertainment in Toronto) many ventures. The music is always fresh and interesting (not your usual club beats) with a mix of up & coming DJs or live acts. My favourite part about this space is that Mr. Kabouth spared no expense to the design... The space is very rock & roll with a glamorous twist, look out for the Tom Dixon lights and Moroso chairs.

Czehoski (678 Queen Street W, near Tecumseth) is a smaller space that has great food and a cozy atmosphere. People who want to enjoy a good dinner should go for the earlier setting and for those wanting just drinks, come later and go to the second floor.

Drake Hotel is one of my old standbys for all-purpose night of drinks/dinner or dancing. It has 3 levels that serve slightly different purposes. Dinner is held on the main floor and in the summertime, the rooftop patio cannot be beat.


Other places to check out in Toronto while you are here:

Cubeshops (photo via BlogTO)

Cubeshops - a new introduction to the Toronto scene, this tiny gift store is nestled on Baldwin Street among some other really great restaurants. The owner collaborates with independent designers in Japan to create limited edition gifts. My favourite items to get as gifts so far are the Talking Seasoning Dispensers.

Type Bookstore - is what every local bookstore should be. The original one on Queen Street is my favourite. It's no super book store, so don't expect every selection on the best sellers list. It's a curated selection of known/not-so-well known authors, and it also has a small but great selection of gift items. The windows are always interesting and the staff knowledgeable. Grabbing a book and walking across the street to Nadege for lunch is my favourite Saturday pastime.

Art Gallery of Ontario - So much has been written about the AGO, Gehry's latest work in Toronto, that I feel ill- equipped to talk about it. All I can say is that you have to visit it. The architecture is simply breathtaking.

Gardiner Museum Shop - I don't know if a lot of people realize this, but this museum has one of the best gift shops in Toronto. My favourite part is that they buy from a lot of local Canadian talent.