Toronto Tourism Magazine 2009 - (Page 10) Cityscapes around town Shopping the Mink Mile The stretch of Bloor Street between Yonge Street and Avenue Road is known as the Mink Mile. The phrase is used only half in jest: it’s ground zero for Toronto’s fine-shopping axis. The gleaming Holt Renfrew (50 Bloor St. W., www.holtrenfrew.com) is stocked with a laundry list of designer labels and must-haves and an awardwinning handbag hall where Prada bowlers and Tod’s totes perch on ledges. Nearby, historic Canadian jeweller Birks (55 Bloor St. W., www.birks.com) has a Van Cleef & Arpels boutique and the signature Alhambra clover collection. The flagship Harry Rosen (82 Bloor St. W., www.harryrosen.com) recently had an extreme makeover and added a bespoke department overseen by master tailor Nello Sansone (suits start at $3,500), so there’s no need to jet to Savile Row. Next, choose from a minimalist LBD at Chanel, diamond panthers at Cartier and boho prints at Gucci, or make a visit to Tiffany & Co. (85 Bloor St. W., www.tiffany.ca) for sculptural vases and jewellery from Canadian architect Frank Gehry’s collections. Luxury sunglass boutique Ilori (95a Bloor St. W., iloristyle.com) showcases exclusive Proenza Schouler, Derek Lam, Gold & Wood and Chanel styles in the vitrines of its VIP room. Grab a Monogram cabas tote at Louis Vuitton (111 Bloor St. W.) for stashing all that loot, then duck into Prada (131 Bloor St. W.) for whatever Miu Miu loves this week. Noir (151 Bloor St. W.) stocks anything but the usual suspects — think sleek like Undercover, Raf Simons and Margiela — while Mendocino next door has a Cali vibe. Behind the Canadian limestone facade of the new Hermès boutique across the street (130 Bloor St. W.) score a Kelly (or on a budget, a silk carré) and, from French makeup mecca Sephora (131 Bloor St.), va-voom red lips to complete the bon chic, bon genre look. Once you’ve signed all those credit card receipts with a Meisterstuck fountain pen from Montblanc (151 Bloor St. W.), head back to Cole Haan (101 Bloor St. W.), to stock up on heels and dress shoes that incorporate Nike Air technology. You’ll need them for the repeat lap. — Nathalie Atkinson 10 | www.SeeTorontoNow.com Bright Bites In a big city like Toronto, bigname chefs can dominate the restaurant scene. But there are lots of promising places where tomorrow’s star chefs are toiling away turning out amazing food night after night. If you crave the extreme tastes of Asian food, head over to Foxley. Tom Thai’s busy boîte does not take reservations, but a table is worth the wait; almost every pan-Asian dish has intense layers of sweet, salty, spicy and citrus flavour. Thai built a strong following around Toronto where he moved around from cooking Asian fusion at several downtown restaurants, notably Youki, to rolling sushi at Tempo, a small sushi bar. And his fans continue to line up for his famous succulent short ribs, creative ceviches and explosive flavours. 416-534-8520 Ted Corrado, executive chef at C5, located on the top floor of the newly renovated Royal Ontario Museum, is taking a decidedly local approach to institutional dining. His menu is built upon the best-quality local ingredients, including the house favourite, sable fish with lobster hollandaise. His 10 years at several Toronto favourites, including Luce, Zoom and Rain, gave him an appreciation for building strong relationships with local suppliers. His creativity extends far beyond the dining room at C5; he also manages the restaurant in the museum’s lower level and serves what may be the best afternoon tea in the city. 416-586-7928 Christopher Brown took the helm of Perigee Restaurant in the historic Distillery District about two years ago. Although the neighbourhood is old-world, the restaurant is modern, with a glass-enclosed kitchen right next to the diners. The fishbowl design does not deter Brown from composing thoughtful plates rooted in French tradition. Indulge in roasted prime rib steak and crispy sweetbreads with a carpaccio of green zucchini. Brown, who did stints at Toronto’s famed Splendido and Avalon, gives diners both a visual and sensory feast. 416-364-1397 — Emma Waverman Photo: Kazuyoshi Ehara http://www.holtrenfrew.com http://www.birks.com http://www.harryrosen.com http://www.tiffany.ca http://www.iloristyle.com http://www.seetorontonow.com
Contributors
Welcome
Cityscapes
Toast of the Town
In the Night Garden
Gooooal!
Take a Moment
Faces of Toronto
Red Rocket
Past Perfection
Water Lust
The Artist’s City
Living the Green Dream
York Region and North Toronto
Mississauga Marvels
Vine Country
Discovery Walks
Neighbourhoods of Greater Toronto
Listings
Visitor Resources
2009 Event Calendar
Parting Shot
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