Dessert Decadence

Val Cappelli serves up the finest in Italian delights.

Just as an artist gazes at his muse to inspire his masterworks, Val Cappelli looks to his dedicated clientele base to continue doing what he does best: artistic cakes, creative desserts and sumptuous delicacies made fresh every day at The Big Cannoli.

“My customers know that when they request a pick-up time, what they ask for is always made that day – and on time,” explains Cappelli. With his mom, Gina, and son, Michael, working with him, Cappelli ensures that with every bite, The Big Cannoli will delight. That’s because the family uses time-honoured recipes passed on from dear and knowledgeable friends of the family. Read more

The Art of Bread

From top left: Toby, Imma, Mary, Angela and Joe make up the Country Bake Shoppe team.

“Bread to me is a delicacy,” says Joe Vella. He and his brother-in-law Toby Gareri rise before the sun seven days a week to prepare over 20 different types of sumptuous breads. From corn bread and focaccia, to satisfying potato loaves, The Country Bake Shoppe is emerging as the go-to bakery in the burgeoning community of Nobleton. Savoury fruit-filled strudels, cream-filled pastries, customized cakes and a 16-station hot table makes this establishment a gastronomic haven. “We love baking and making our clients happy,” says Vella with a smile.

THE COUNTRY BAKE SHOPPE
Tel. 905.859.0857, www.countrybakeshoppe.com
13305 Hwy. 27, Nobleton Plaza, Nobleton, ON

Gord Martineau, Kicking up Good Will

Gord Martineau doesn’t just sit back delivering the news – he’s making it. Back to work from a relaxing getaway in the sun, Martineau sits across from me in Citytv’s CityNews boardroom, perfectly calm and coiffed and clad in a black blazer and crisp dress shirt. Although he’s just a few short hours away from delivering the 6 o’clock news to his faithful viewers, Martineau retains his composure, thanks to his early-morning regime of cycling, weights and martial arts. The 60-year-old also reveals that he has a fourth-degree black belt.

The lively pulse of CityNews trickles through the boardroom’s thick double-doors, yet his energy is much more palpable. And this isn’t just because of his recent jaunt to sun-drenched Sarasota, Fla., Read more

Money Issues — Moving into the Right Mortgage

Some say luck breeds success, but Alex Haditaghi knows nothing of that. The fortune of his company hails from savvy business acumen and a driving spirit that is triggering his triumphs at every turn. Lifting his company to smouldering heights, Haditaghi is the chairman and CEO of MortgageBrokers.Com (MBC), which revealed late last year a mouth-dropping revenue growth of 4,000 per cent over the span of just three years. “I am very confident for where we are and where we’re going. MBC was Canada’s fastest-growing merchant company last year, and we’re going to continue with the tremendous growth we have,” says Haditaghi, 34. Read more

Money Issues — A Buyer’s Market

If you’ve been longing for your dream home, now’s the time to turn that reverie into reality. Yes, it’s true: lower interest rates, a 10 per cent reduction in home pricing and an abundance of builders’ incentives is pushing economic woe aside and providing you with the opportunity to snag a home priced at a modestly lower price tag. “Because of the current market, it is more realistic and much more affordable to own a home. The incredibly low interest rates assist as well,” says Lou Grossi, broker and manager of Intercity Realty Inc., Brokerage. “In some ways it will be a slower year … that’s for sure. But there will be a lot of opportunities for people,” he says optimistically. Read more

Colin and Justin: Va-Va-Rooms on a Budget

The cheeky hosts of HGTV Canada’s Home Heist sit across from me at a sleek table in Senses Restaurant at the Soho Metropolitan Toronto, a subdued yet upscale establishment gussied up in elegant tones of warm chocolate and cream. Both seem to have stepped out of a chiaroscuro painting: Colin McAllister’s dark hair is flawlessly coiffed and pairs nicely with his fitted grey zip-up; Justin Ryan’s green eyes pop with his white-and-blue-striped dress shirt, while his pale blond hair is uncharacteristically dishevelled. “You must excuse me, but I got lost in Toronto buying business cards today,” he explains. Regardless, Colin and Justin are just as witty and handsome in person as they are on screen. Read more

Run Away to Jamaica

On a comforting  chaise lounge facing a pale blue sea, I reach my hand out to accept a pina colada, a velvety sweet texture of rum, coconut cream and pineapple juice that cools me from the sultry Caribbean heat. Music spills at just the right volume behind me, mixing with the fragrantly sweet air and salty mist that whispers gently off the sparkling ocean. I exhale and smile, thinking back to how eager I was to peel off my sweater just a few short hours ago. The small plane I was on smoothly touched the landing strip of Donald Sangster International Airport, as the verdant mountainous terrain and turquoise coastline of Jamaica’s Montego Bay unfolded below me. After quickly gathering my luggage and clearing customs, the humid air and jostling vibe of Jamaica embraced every inch of me with warmth as I stepped outside. Read more

Wearing her Heart on her Couture Sleeve

Toronto’s own Jeanne Beker walks effortlessly towards me through FashionTelevision studios; carried by sky-high patent leather pumps and a black cap-sleeved designer dress fitted to her knees. Supermodels Cindy Crawford and Naomi Campbell smile seductively from life-size posters, having quietly eavesdropped on sit-down chats in the studio with Oscar De La Renta, Issac Mizrahi and Shalom Harlow, to name a few. Read more

Policaro Auto Group: Pursuing Perfection

A staple of luxury, the smooth curves of a Lexus vehicle will transform your life the minute you slide into its high-quality interior engineered with excellence. While the powerful engine purrs seductively as you maneuver its crafted elegance to your destination, trust that Policaro Auto Group will heighten your senses when it comes to choosing the car of your reveries.

Basil, Tony and Paul Policaro are the unbeaten trio of brothers who have steered Policaro Auto Group into a successful five-car dealership business, which includes Northwest Lexus and Northwest Toyota, Acura 2000 and Acura Barrie and Family Honda. Read more

Legends, Charms and Superstitions

On a recent getaway to Italy, a distant cousin approached me with a smile on her face. “Look how pretty you are,” she exclaimed, “and your eyes, they are so beautiful … just like your grandmother’s.” Later that night, hot oil from a cooking pan spurted violently on my left arm, inflicting me with burns that ran from my hand up to my shoulders. Shocked, I quickly covered my throbbing limb with a wet towel, and applied soothing after-sun lotion to quell the redness and bubbles that were beginning to form. Worried that the marks would stay, I decided that the best thing for me was to relax and go to bed. I dozed off, but while I slept, Read more

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