All I Want for Christmas

When I was a kid, I remember hearing stories about the greater meaning behind Christmas, and what the spirit of the season is supposed to be about. But in between our frantic shopping and obsessive decorating, we somehow forget the bigger picture. Despite this seasonal spell of unavoidable hype, there are ways to calm our busybody habits and put them to good use.

The power of philanthropy was something I discovered when visiting El Salvador in 2001. Staying at the Hogar del Niño hospital for handicapped and abandoned children, Read more

Vinsanto Ristorante – Linguine Vinsanto Seafood Marinara

When a restaurant operates on an essential motto of ambience, decadence and passion, you know its cuisine is something out of the ordinary. Vinsanto Ristorante offers this exquisite seafood pasta dish, guaranteed to tantalize the palate and make your guests beg for more. And if you don’t have time to make it, Vinsanto’s doors are open. www.vinsanto.ca

In a large skillet, heat one tablespoon of olive oil, then sauté the onion and garlic for two minutes. Add the saffron threads, fish broth, fresh chives, butter, chopped basil, dry white wine and heavy cream. Read more

Tresca Trattoria – Cedar Plank Shrimp, Swordfish & Roasted Vegetables

The fruits of the sea can be a sinful delight when prepared well. If there’s one place you can find a delectable seafood creation with a positively pummeling burst of flavour, it’s at Tresca Trattoria. This dish is sure to dazzle your guests with an overwhelming array of sumptuous satisfaction. Try it at home or visit Tresca to see how it’s done!  www.trescatrattoria.com

In a bowl, toss the jumbo shrimp and swordfish with olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt and pepper and set aside. Layer the bottom of the cedar plank with the onions Read more

Rosanna Riverso

Hamilton’s very own Rosanna Riverso has exploded onto the
music scene as a highly acclaimed songstress that is determined to prevail. From an early age, Riverso began belting out her sweet voice in religious performances. Today, she is working hard on producing a new album, which she plans to release late this year. Th e modest singer-songwriter says she couldn’t have done it all without support from her family and friends. 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

True Visionaries

We open our eyes each morning and look out the window, wave to our neighbours, read the paper and drive to work. None of this would be possible without sight, which for most of us, is something we don’t give much thought to. However, what is merely a taken-for-granted sense to many, may affect the life of someone who is visually impaired.

But not for Domenic Condo, a 35-year-old man who has experienced life with poor vision ever since he was a child. Today, he is a well-respected businessman and talented recording studio owner/record producer who is determined to educate Canadians that the definition of “legally blind” Read more

City Search – Oct/Nov 2008

Image 1: Harry Rosen

The revamped Harry Rosen on Toronto’s Bloor Street after a
$20 million renovation.
www.harryrosen.com

Image 2: Purdy’s

These scrumptious milk chocolate truffles are filled with hints of pumpkin, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. Read more

David Rocco – Eggs in Purgatory with Scamorza

This is devilishly easy. It’s one of the first tings I mastered when I was a kid. I’d take my mother’s tomato sauce, pour it into a large pan and heat it up. When it started to bubble, I would crack in a couple of eggs, some salt, and throw in whatever cheese we had in the fridge. Being in an Italian household, it was either parmigiano, mozzarella, percornio or (my now favourite) scamorza, which I would either slice up or grate into the pan. And all of them work well. I would turn off the heat, tear up some basil and throw that in, then put a lid over the pan and let the eggs poach in the heat of the tomato sauce. While it was cooking, I’d grab a plate and some bread for scooping up the melted smoky scamorza and tomato sauce. Within five minutes, I was having what is still one of my favourite anytime meals. Read more

Tremonti Ristorante – Salmon Cooked in Papillote

A gastronomic jewel,Tremonti Ristorante is a leader in Italian cuisine. By using great-tasting, healthy foods, Tremonti is an award-winning restaurant distinguished by the Eat Smart! Program. Bring Tremonti home with you by preparing this tantalizing recipe on your own!

♦ Place fresh salmon skin side down on parchment paper, put salt, pepper, scallion, butter, thyme, lime segment and white wine on, then fold the parchment and bake at 350 F in a preheated over for 12 minutes. Meanwhile, blanch the leeks, red pepper, corn, asparagus and sate with touch of butter.

♦ Make a bed of leeks, red pepper, and corn in the middle of the plate, open parchment and place salmon and asparagus on top. Garnish with potato chips and fresh parsley. Read more

The World of Technology

If there’s one thing that surrounds us almost everywhere we go, it’s modern technology. The fast-paced, computerized age we live in has become a part of our everyday lives – and it’s only getting faster. Many of us can’t go one hour, let alone one day, without using it. Whether sending a text message, checking the latest weather report, or buying groceries online, we’re constantly making use of technology. With different variations at every turn, we have to wonder: Is it good or bad?

Take stem cell research, for example. Technology and modern science have made it possible to remove stem cells from a human embryo, and transform them into useful cells and organ tissue. Read more

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