Stevie Jewel

Short and Sweet

I discovered Short and Sweet Bakeshop on instagram because of their highly photographed treats, so naturally while I was in Toronto last weekend, I hunted the location down to sample some sweets for myself.

First off, the little shop on Yonge is adorable, and secondly the staff was super friendly.  The treats in the display case looked good, but I was there for the mammoth milkshakes I had been insta-dreaming of since our first digital encounter.  I initially ordered the “hot wet canadian summer” milkshake and the “Dr. Strange” ice cream sandwich, and what I think is called a “monster bar”.

Somehow my order got mixed up and I ended up with the milkshake and the bar, but it turned out for the best because that in itself was enough sugar for an entire weekend.  I did witness the “Dr. Strange” make an appearance, and I kid you not, it was the size of my face, so I didn’t feel bad about the mix up given the gargantuan size of that ice cream sandwich and that I would have been responsible for eating it.

The milkshake is like a liquid smores; absolutely delicious, and the monster bar is a combination of over 10 different cookies, so for a cookie lover it was heavenly.  All in all, I can’t wait to go back for another round of sweet treats!

Best Restaurants – New York City

I’ve been to NYC multiple times, and I always have amazing food while I’m there.  I’ve eaten in critic favorites like Hundred Acres to little hole in wall amazing Ramen spots, but this trip was planned intentionally with specific restaurants in mind.  We tried several different places and these are my favourites from this trip!

One if by Land, Two if by Sea

This restaurant was incredible.  It has history, atmosphere, excellent service, and the food was beyond amazing.  It was so great I didn’t even bother taking my camera out for the food because I wanted to enjoy the experience!

Sugar and Plumm

The ultimate in whimsy, this spot was as sweet inside as it’s plated food!  With a glass tiled wall that created sweet treat art, and an extensive dessert menu, this became one of my favorite stops of the trip.  They had crepes, waffles, and all sorts of creative takes on traditional brunch favorites, one of them being a short rib benedict!  I had the brioche berry french toast and it was as sweet and crunchy as it looks in the picture!

B Side Pizza

Pizza was obviously on the menu and our first foray into the world of cheese covered pies was B Side!  It had great Yelp reviews and the  honeyed pizza did not disappoint!  It was an interesting flavor combination and one I welcomed, as a departure from typical pizza flavors.  The kale salad (because, healthy, right?) was also amazing with a tangy almost sweet dressing that complimented the pizza.

Red Eye Grille

I had heard, from the depths of social media, about a sushi burger breaking onto the food scene in New York days before we landed, so naturally I had to try it while I was there.  I was expecting amazing, and it was exactly that.  I didn’t know until I ordered it that you can customize it, to reflect your favourite sushi roll!  All in all, it was amazing and I completely recommend it.  The service was great and the lobster mac and cheese was the perfect side dish!

Levain Bakery

They claim to have the world’s best cookie.  We waited in line for 45 minutes.  Then got to consume the world’s best cookie!  I was skeptical, I’ve eaten a lot of cookies, I would consider myself a cookie connoisseur, and this cookie was delicious.  I tried two; the raisin, the dark chocolate and both were so damn scrumptious, that I wanted to go back the next day for more, but ran out of time!  Suffice it to say, next time I’m in New York City, this will be one of my first stops.

Baked By Melissa

Have you ever had a really good cupcake? I mean really delicious; the kind with soft moist cake with the perfectly adequate amount of frosting for the size of the cupcake.  That’s what Baked By Melissa is, with one tiny exception…all the cupcakes are BITE SIZED.  Which at first my sound disappointing, but when you realize that you can try ten different delicious baby cupcakes for the calories of one typically sized cupcake any disappointment vanishes instantly!  I have gotten Baked By Melissa almost every time I’m in New York City.  I’ve tried most of the original flavors and I have yet to find one I don’t love.  If you’re visiting New York City, make sure this pipsqueak bakery of awesome is on your to-do list!

Just Chil

My friend who introduced to some of the great local places to dine in London also recommended this frozen yogurt gem.  Chil is a small dessert shop near the universities in London Ontario.  This place was presented to me with a lot of hype, so my expectation were high…and it didn’t disappoint!  I can’t eat dairy on the days that I sing, so I had to time my visit carefully, but this place was magical.  I was told it was a frozen yogurt shop with greek yogurt as the base flavor for everything, along with some vegan options.  The outside wasn’t anything remarkable, but the inside! It was so cute and the flavors were impressive, especially the super fruit and the original greek yogurt.  They boast the largest available toppings of any frozen yogurt shop in Canada, and they don’t disappoint.  They have everything from apple pie to golden oreos to warm white chocolate sauce and everything in between.

London by Local

I have a wonderful friend who went to school in London Ontario and she recommended to me some of the best local spots in London.  Along with my own research I found my way to three places that are well kept secrets of London.  Here are my top 3 spots to eat in London.

1.  Thaifoon

This Thai restaurant is only open for late lunch and dinner, but it was worth the wait!  With some great originals and a few fresh takes on traditional thai food, I’d definitely visit this spot again.  It’s located downtown very close to Covent Garden Market, so it’s also convenient to get to!

  1. Early Bird

A restaurant with personality! This was featured on Food Network’s “You Gotta Eat Here” and once you walk in you can see why.  It’s bright and colorful with band posters all over the walls, four elvis busts painted with KISS makeup, and a tiki bar in the back! I had the “Pancake Stack” and my friend had the “Toad in the Hole” and both had fun presentations and were creative interpretations of breakfast classics.

  1. The Salad Bowl

This spot is in Covent Garden Market, which seems to be a bit of a hub for activity in London.  It has fantastic and highly customizable salads, with all sorts of variations for any diet restriction you may have.  The staff was friendly and helpful and the final product was delicious and healthy; the latter of which isn’t always easy to find when traveling with a hectic schedule! Forgot to snap a picture by The Salad Bowl, but it’s not far from this Chocolate Factory stand!

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