Vinsanto: The Pinnacle of Fine Dining

Nothing caps off a long week like a decadent evening out at a first-class restaurant. But what really makes a great dining experience? Is it the mouth-watering cuisine? The relaxing and welcoming atmosphere? The exceptional service from a maître d’ who inspects each plate before it’s served? Or a seemingly endless wine list with world-class vintages from top vineyards? At Vinsanto Ristorante, each of these things is an integral part of the whole package.

Much like the delectable baked oyster mushrooms from its popular antipasto Funghi di Bosco, this is just the start of the Vinsanto Ristorante experience. “My motto is passion, ambience and decadence,” says John Di Vittorio, owner of Vinsanto Ristorante. “That’s what I’ve strived for from Day 1.” It’s this uncompromising dedication to the perfect dining experience that has Read more

Restaurants, Delectable Cuisine and Dining Hot Spots

1. SARPA Becoming a local favourite for York Region foodies, Sarpa’s relaxed atmosphere and phenomenal entrees are the perfect blend for a great evening. Its décor is a modern interpretation of more traditional, rustic features, while the cuisine is stacked with succulence. Savour the Pan-Seared Veal Tenderloin, sink your teeth into the Grilled Lamb Chops ‘Scottadito’, or relish the seafood mix of the classic Zuppa di Pesce. www.sarparestaurant.com

2. Harbour Sixty There are few Toronto dining establishments that offer the pure, unadulterated level of class that Harbour Sixty so elegantly exudes. The food is premier. The décor: stunning. If you’re looking to celebrate a milestone anniversary, impress a client or simply dine like royalty, Harbour Sixty will not disappoint. Read more

City Search October/November 2011

Deep acrylic paint engulfs this intense stare with shadows in Laurence Nerbonne’s Les Yeux Noirs IV. This 24-year-old artist focuses on faces to create intimacy with her subjects. www.thompsonlandry.com

How do you “trash” breast cancer? With a pink ribbon garbage bag, of course. These unmistakable bags are available at select retailers throughout October, the month of breast cancer awareness. www.bcsc.ca

Using Rubik’s Cubes as an artistic medium, Cube Works Studio employs unique colour combinations to reconfigure the faces of celebrities, like Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe and Bob Marley, in vivid ways. Read more

The Terry Fox National School Run Day

The name Terry Fox has become synonymous with hope, perseverance and goodwill. His determination to fight cancer and prove that every dream is a step away from reality makes him a symbol of strength for Canadians and citizens of the world.

Losing his leg to bone cancer in 1977 at 18 didn’t deter Terry Fox from striving to raise money for cancer research and inspiring people with his 143-day Marathon of Hope, in which he ran more than 5,000 kilometres. Fox’s race ended when cancer was found in his lungs, but his legacy continues to this day through those that participate in the annual Terry Fox Run around the globe. September 18, 2011 marked the 31st run; to date more than $550 million has been raised. Read more

Montessori School House

A child’s mind is like a sponge, constantly absorbing and processing information, determining consequences of actions and understanding how to navigate the world. Dr. Maria Montessori describes this ability as the “absorbent mind.” She desired to create a learning environment that stimulates and caters to this important aspect of childhood development, and as such, the Montessori School House was born.

Using a “structured freedom” approach, the Montessori School’s teachers (“directresses”) foster a setting that cultivates the child’s imagination, allowing them to be creative and think outside the box, but to do so while working alongside others. Each directress keeps a watchful eye on every student, demonstrating discipline, supportively guiding them, and staying constantly aware of the child’s readiness for specific, new material. This right-material-at-the-right Read more

L’ORO JEWELLERY: The Insiders on Everything Desirable

Luxury is not only defined by the look of something, it is defined by the way it makes you feel. It is not only apparent in a piece of jewelry, but is visible in a welcoming and unpretentious atmosphere. L’Oro immerses itself into these definitions, carrying premium jewelry while valuing the strong relationships it has built. “Our customer is someone who expects and understands quality because they live this in their daily life,” says storeowner Haigo Derian.

With a progressive approach to traditional business, L’Oro has been placed in a favourable position within the jewelry industry. Among its exclusive brands, Chopard is one of the elite jewelry names partnered with L’Oro. “They are one of the few family owned companies left in the watch industry, and the Chopard family has built an incredible enterprise,” says Derian. Read more

Andre Agassi: BREAK, FAULT, LOVE

At his last Wimbledon appearance in 2006, the same tournament that embraced him with his first Grand Slam win, he stepped onto the sacred grounds of the All England Club wearing a necklace given to him by his son, a choker of block letters spelling ‘Daddy Rocks.’ He certainly did cause seismic effect in his young days, juxtaposing the very essence of tennis refinement by sporting hot lava tights, denim shorts and mullet toupees. During that tumultuous period of his life, however, he was just a boy, tormented by his hate for the lonely sport of tennis; a man-child choked by his unfound identity while finding his volleys and fine-tuning his backhand. Long before his departure from the game, the American athlete did break free from breaking convention with the clothes his enthusiasts often imitated; with John Varvatos and the sentimental accessory that spheres his neck now part of his signature look. He didn’t know then who he was as he took centre court, but the sport and his devotees certainly Read more

Chef’s Challenge: Cooking for a Cure

When six culinary masters enter a kitchen arena – cooking utensils at the ready – leading a team of amateurs into gruelling cooking combat, who will walk out the winner? Why, Mount Sinai Hospital, of course.

That’s because these cuisine-creating warriors won’t be taking up arms against each other, but instead, will be turning their blades towards cancer at the second Chef’s Challenge. Six iconic Food Network celebrity chefs will gather at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on Nov. 26, 2011, to whip up food and funds, all in support of breast and ovarian cancer research at Mount Sinai.

“I feel I have the responsibility to get involved in my community,” says David Rocco, host of David Rocco’s Dolce Vita, and one of six celebrity chefs competing in the Chef’s Challenge. Read more

La Closette

Whether you need a wardrobe consultant, image advisor or personal stylist, La Closette is opening doors everywhere. La Closette’s dynamic team is powered by the fashion-conscious duo MT Meikle and Liza Amlani. Not only do they have a keen sense of what’s hot and trendy but a realistic view of wearable style.

“We believe women should love what they wear and feel confident and empowered, as well as looking fashionable. We help our clients be stylish and classy with their look but we also want to help them be smart with their fashion choices and not get caught up in trends that won’t take them from season to season,” says Meikle.

Assessing a client’s look using their own personal style, body type, age and lifestyle while introducing current up-to-date fashion into their wardrobe in an intelligent way is La Closette’s Read more

The Good Deeds Page, Chapter 1: Why Give?

Excerpt from The Power of Giving, by Azim Jamal and Harvey McKinnon (Tarcher, 2008).

There’s no denying that life in the 21st  century is demanding. There never seems to be enough time to do all the things that need to be done: keep up with work or studies, spend time with family, earn enough money to pay the rent and buy necessities. With so many challenges to cope with, you may ask yourself, “Why should I expend any effort in giving?” or “I’m already scrambling to deal with all the demands and pressures on me. How will I find time and resources to give more?” or “No one gives to me, so why should I give to others?”

Probably the biggest gift you will ever receive is the huge investment your parents made in you. But they are not the only ones who have given to you. During the course of your life you have received many things from other people – teachers, relatives, strangers. Read more

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