In the wintertime, who wants to run to Tim’s to get an Iced Capp? Or excited to get home and have a big bowl of ice cream?  Nobody.  In the winter, the majority of the time, we shudder at the thought of having to leave our warm and cozy beds to brave the outdoors.  We hold on to our cup of hot tea like it’s the only thing guaranteeing our survival.  Sipping on a warm drink is the first thing we cling to in the morning, and the last comfort we have before bed.  If you think I’m exaggerating, think again.  Tea sales during the winter season are at an all-time high.  Perhaps even more surprising, tea is actually the world’s most popular prepared drink. 

Tea was first discovered by a Chinese Emperor in 2737 B.C., when a tea leaf accidentally fell into his bowl of hot water.  Thousands of years later, tea lovers will spend time and effort trying to search for their favourite blend, all thanks to an accidental discovery. The first tea shipment to arrive in Canada was imported by the Hudson Bay Company in 1716 and took more than a year to arrive.  Canadians have been tea lovers ever since.

Transasia ancient tea route.

If you don’t already drink tea, maybe now is the time to start.  Not only is it good, it’s good for you.  Research indicates that naturally-occurring flavonoids found in tea have very effective antioxidant properties. Drinking tea is a natural and pleasant way to increase dietary exposure to antioxidants.  Furthermore, antioxidant-rich foods like tea are said to play a role in reducing the risk of certain cancers, heart disease, and stroke. 

So, since so many of you seem to love your tea this winter, we’ve put together a list of all the great tea shops and tea rooms in Toronto for your enjoyment.

Some of the most lavish and impressively stocked tea rooms and stores downtown include:

Perhaps the most lavish and traditional tea room is at the Windsor Arms Hotel, located just down the road from 8 Park Rd.  Though it was closed and completely demolished 10 years ago, a perfect replica has been built in its place with, of course, a condo on top!  The hotel and private residence is discreet, with room prices varying from $295 to $2,000 a night.  One of the hotel’s best features?  The tea room, of course!  You don’t have to be a guest to enjoy the fine dining and tea time at the Windsor Arms.  Everyone is welcome!

Inside the Windsor Arms

Established in 1927, Tea at Windsor Arms has become a tradition of elegance and indulgence. The room is decorated for an Afternoon Tea to allow guests to relax in comfort and sophistication.  Their selection of teas is extensive; featuring flavours and blends from all over the world.

Reserve the Tea Room for intimate gatherings or a get-together with friends and family. All Tea Rooms are available for either full or partial bookings.

Location & Contact:

18 Saint Thomas Street
Toronto, ON M5S 3E7

(416) 971-9666
http://windsorarmshotel.com‎

Looking for a tea set to enjoy at home?  Visit The English Tea Store to choose from a wide selection of vintage or contemporary tea sets.  The selection includes fine bone china, hard porcelain, ceramic, and miniature tea sets.  Sets include 4 cups and saucers, a teapot, and a sugar and creamer.

One of the beautiful tea sets available for purchase at the English Tea Store.

Sources (images included):

http://blog.freepeople.com/2013/02/doubt-drink-tea/

http://www.teatrends.com/

http://www.blogto.com/toronto/the_best_tea_in_toronto/

http://www.blogto.com/toronto/the_best_afternoon_tea_in_toronto/

http://www.windsorarmshotel.com/tearoom/

http://www.tea.ca/Page.asp?PageID=122&ContentID=640

http://www.englishteastore.com/teasets.html

http://www.etsy.com/listing/112594069/vintage-china-tea-set-phoenix-china-in

Coffee Shop Night Club?

Not really, though it may seem so at first glance.  C House Lounge Café, which opened in late October of last year in the upscale Yorkville neighbourhood, has all the looks of an exclusive Miami night club-esque establishment.  Though everyone knows the saying, “don’t judge a book by it’s cover,” it’s difficult not to when the place is adorned with swanky chandleliers, plush leather chairs and sofas, mirrored ceilings and blue fluorescent spotlights yet dim overall lighting.  It has all the makings of a Queen Street late night party spot.  Yet, C House Lounge Café calls itself a luxury coffee shop first and an upscale dining experience second.  The company originates from Italy, Milan specifically, and its Yorkville location will be the first venture into the Canadian restaurant market.  A quick perusal of the menu, ambience and reviews will let you know if this relatively new opening is worth checking out.

First, if you want to find the “lounge café,” you may need some helpful tips.  Like many restaurants in Yorkville, it’s hard to spot.  The doors are just below eye level, meaning you’ll have to take a short walk down a flight of exterior stairs to get in.  If you happen to be a low-key Starbucks-is-too-fancy kind of person like me, resist the urge to turn around upon entering.  The restaurant’s interior begins with a catwalk-like aisle, lighting your way with spotlights to the dining area.  The seating is more of a “lying” arrangement, with rows of identical white leather chairs and couches with black pillows and the C House insignia.  Over the top?  Or just fashionably comfortable?  For those who love the luxurious seating fit for the rich and famous, you’ll feel right at home!

The C House Lounge Café opens bright and early at 9 a.m.  At this time, they serve a European continetal breakfast that consists of croissants, fruit plates ($8) and yogurt parfaits ($8). They also have various salads to choose from, some include caesar salad with organic chicken breast and shaved grana padano ($14), many different sandwiches, and for dessert, cake slices (apround $5) and fresh baked goods.  As the day goes on, the breakfast and lunch menu is set aside for the early evening patrons.  Served between 5-8 p.m., this is drastically different from the earlier menu, with its tapas-style items and servings that consist of a wide variety of cocktails and snacks.  C House closes at midnight on weekdays and 2 a.m. on weekends, which makes it available virtually all day and evening for its customers.

After studying their menu a bit, it’s clear why they call themselves an “italian high style coffee house.”  Their extensive list of coffees, iced coffee beverages, spiked hot coffees, and tea includes a white mocha made with white chocolate ($4.35), house-made hot chocolate ($4.25), and frappe caramel ($5.40). Their espresso is the brand’s proprietary Italian blend, unavailable elsewhere or for wholesale purchase, and quite rich.  Aside from coffee drinks, C House also has an extensive cocktail list.  They offer an impressive variety of wine and spirits, including the chili mai tai ($14), which according to a recent review, is one of the most delicious cocktails and definitely worthy of a visit.  They also offer non-alcoholic cocktails, as well as smoothies for $5.25. 

Generally, C House seems to specialize in great espresso-based drinks, but also provides pastas, salads, sandwiches, desserts and other foods.  Whether you’re up for a coffee break or looking for a nice light meal accompanied by a relaxing atmosphere, C House promises it’s worth the trip.

If Yorkville is a far trek from your home, there’s also a Queen West location slated to open between the summer and the end of 2013. This location will be suited towards take away customers, with a concise menu and quick ordering. 

Have I tempted you enough to try it out?  Go to http://www.chouseitalia.com/it/home/home.aspx to peruse their menu some more, or call for a reservation at 416-928-1315.  Or simply walk in for a meal at 70 Yorkville Avenue, just west of Bay Street. 

Want to live close to C House in upscale Yorkville?  Don’t hesitate to contact us at (416) 929-1660, or stop by at 270 Wellington Street West, Suite 101.  We’d love to help you find your perfect home. 

From everyone at Axon Capital, we hope you had a wonderful holiday and happy New Year!

Sources:

http://www.chouseitalia.com/it/home/home.aspx

http://www.blogto.com/cafes/c-house-lounge-cafe-yorkville-toronto

http://www.postcity.com/Eat-Shop-Do/Eat/August-2012/C-House-Lounge-Caf-a-swanky-franchise-from-Italy-is-opening-two-locations-in-Toronto/

Everyone wishes for good things to come in the New Year. So why not solidify those wishes by eating foods that are known to bring good luck in the New Year? We’ve listed 10 of the luckiest foods known to man!

1. Long Noodles *It’s only lucky if you don’t break the noodle before its all in your mouth!” 

2. Because pigs root for food with their feet planted, pork signifies progress and future prosperity.

3. Resembling coins, lentils are eaten to bring good fortune in the New Year. As they cook, they get plump, symbolizing growing wealth.

4. Many people believe fish to be lucky because fish swim forward, and others believe them to symbolize abundance because they swim in schools. 

5. Money is green and so are many good luck foods. Enjoy kale, collards, and cabbage to welcome a prosperous year!

6. Black-eyed peas are believed to bring prosperity due to their shape and abundance representing coins.

7. Pomegranates. Linked to abundance and fertility, many people enjoy this tasty fruit.

8. Popular in Chinese cultures, setting out bowls of oranges and tangerines promote prosperity. Coincidentally “tangerine” and “orange” sound like “luck” and “wealth” in the Chinese language.

9. 12 grapes. One for every strike of the clock and month of the year. Originating in Spain, eating grapes welcomes a sweet year. 

10. Round or ring-shaped cakes are a popular New Year’s tradition all around the world.

Source:

http://www.delish.com/entertaining-ideas/holidays/new-years-eve/lucky-foods

Nothing says the holidays like twinkle lights and Christmas carols. Head to the Village of Yorkville Park (located at Bellair St. & Cumberland St.) for the official lighting ceremony and kick-off to this year’s Holiday Magic on November 17^t.h.. Hosted by Global Toronto’s Liza Fromer and Antony Robart, this special holiday event will get your paws warmed up with complimentary hot apple cider and fresh baked cookies. The event runs from 5-7 PM, but make sure to get there in time to seeCanada’s beloved vocalist, Matt Dusk!

Image c/o http://www.flickr.com/photos/hotashi_shutterbug/4280812830/sizes/m/in/photostream/

Source:

http://www.bloor-yorkville.com/holiday_magic/

Image c/o http://mplcatseyeview.blogspot.ca/2011/11/my-winged-thanksgiving-dinner.html

Big holidays can be stressful for hosts and organizers. Those living in a smaller space may have the added stress of figuring out the logistics of accommodating a large crowd. Today, we’ll be discussing ways to optimize your holiday dinner.

The first thing to do is to plan ahead. How many guests are you expecting? What will you be serving? How should you decorate your space? These are questions that you will need to address in your planning process. Once you have a rough estimate of who will be attending and what you will be serving, it’s time to get the party organized.

No space in the kitchen?

A small kitchen may not be ideal for huge Thanksgiving dinners, but there are a few solutions to that problem. The first thing to do is to prepare your kitchen, preferably the night before. Make sure you have sufficient cookware, plates and all the food for the big day. Consider the order in which you will be preparing foods and lay things out accordingly.

You could also forgo the whole idea of a traditional sit down meal – why not make it a potluck or buffet event? For example, the host can take responsibility for the largest part of the meal, the turkey, while guests can bring along all the supporting dishes. This will free up lots of space in the kitchen. If you do opt for this solution, make sure to create a checklist to know exactly what each guest is bringing.

Whether or not the host does decide to create the whole meal, it’s best to use as little cookware and dishes as possible. Roasting potatoes in the same pan as the turkey, for example, is a good way to cut down on extra dirty dishware.

Finally, why not rethink the turkey all together? Although it is the typical ingredient in the Thanksgiving tradition, it also creates the most hassle. It often takes five to six hours to roast in the oven and takes lots of preparation. This will free up the oven to bake pies, rolls and casseroles.

Seating
Seating may be quite a challenge for a small place. Again, there are many ways around this problem. As mentioned, you could forgo the table altogether and opt for the buffet style dinner where people can stand, mingle and roam around your condo. Keep the main dishes in one room and have your guests line up and fill their places – this will open up the rest of your space for mingling. Get creative when it comes to seating – use everything that could potentially be sat on! Mix and match furniture from different parts of your home. Bring in stools, sturdy boxes and small tables to substitute as extra chairs.

Décor
Hosting a Thanksgiving dinner wouldn’t be the same without the festive décor to create the ambience. Fall colours and decorations are key to creating a Thanksgiving atmosphere. Check out our blog on fall decorating tips here.

Coping with the aftermath
Be ready for a huge clean up session. Have all the correct tools at your disposal before the big day. If you don’t have some already, now is the time to buy sponges, scrubbers, dish soap and clean drying towels. Make sure to have Tupperware handy for all the leftovers! If you don’t have room to store them in your fridge, offer leftovers to each guest before they leave. It’s also a good idea to have large garbage bags around, to help keep the mess from scattering all over your condo.

Who says a condo space is too small to host the party of the year?

Sources:

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/hosting-thanksgiving-small-spa-101519

http://ohmyapt.apartmentratings.com/cooking-in-a-small-kitchen.html

http://voices.yahoo.com/thanksgiving-dinner-small-space-solutions-1948102.html?cat=25

http://blog.padmapper.com/2010/11/16/thanksgiving-tiny-apartment/

http://www.ihostgator.net/tag/hosting-thanksgiving-in-a-small-space/

Image c/o Fashion Magazine

RAC Boutique is a trendy fashion shop located at 124 Cumberland Street in Yorkville.

Co-owners Glenna Weddle and Faith Orfus are long time friends who both have a lot of experience in the fashion and retail industries. And, when it comes to fashion sense, they each bring something slightly different to the table.

“Faith is more street; I am more polished,” Weddle told the Toronto Star. “When we are on a buying trip, we keep each other in check: ‘You can’t buy that.’”.

 When it comes to their boutique:
“We try to be eclectic with an edge,” Weddle said. “We also want to have classic pieces for the moms and also target the daughters. Our customer is someone who wants to be adventurous.”

Compared to other Yorkville boutiques, RAC is priced more modestly. Most pieces go for $300-$500. Some of the collections they carry include: Mara Hoffman, Rodebjer and Camilla Skovgaard.

Yorkville is a neighbourhood full of great shops, services, and restaurants. If you’re thinking of moving to the area, check out 8 Park Road. For more information, feel free to contact us at (416) 929-1660 or email us at resupport@axoncapitalrealty.com. We would be happy to help you find the perfect condo!

Sources:

http://racboutique.com/

http://twitter.com/racboutique/

http://www.thestar.com/living/shopping/article/1138123–rac-boutique-is-alone-in-affordable-edginess-among-yorkville-shops-zekas