Liz Feltham

I remember being in Smith’s Bakery a long time ago; it was a cluttered, crowded storefront with a jumbled assortment of cake decorations and other baking supplies for sale, and everywhere was the intoxicating smell of fresh bread. The baking bread smells wafted out onto the street and drew you in to find an amazing […]

If you were ordering Chinese to celebrate the Chinese Year of the Dog, you wouldn’t be barking up the wrong tree (sorry, couldn’t resist) if you picked Jean’s Chinese. This eatery makes its home in the former Pita Boys on the Robie end of Spring Garden, in an unassuming dining room decorated in a spare […]

Walk into local jo and prepare to instantly feel comfortable. The rustic interior, brightly painted in oranges and yellows, is warm and homey. Wooden tables and chairs, and broad planked flooring are far removed from the slick stainless urban coffee houses that have become so prevalent. This place is all about community. There’s a cushioned […]

While watching the Food Network recently, I caught a repeat of Opening Soon, a series about what goes on behind the scenes in the months leading up to the opening of a new restaurant. On this episode, Bish was featured, and I watched as owners Stephanie and Maurizio Bertossi painstakingly turned yet another dream into […]

There are not a lot of female role models in Metro’s culinary scene, but even if there were, Unni Simensen would rank among the top. The talent behind Scanway Catering, Simensen is proof that success is possible in the fickle restaurant world—provided you have passion for your craft, an innate ability to give your guests […]

If 2005 was the Year of Bad Service then 2006 might very well be the Year of Eating In. Continuing poor service will be just one of several factors leading to a decline in restaurant attendance this year; television chefs and food and equipment availability are also encouraging kitchen divas to be more adventurous and […]

Two thousand five might well be dubbed The Year of Bad Service. From fine dining to fast food, I encountered servers with attitude ranging from obnoxious to indifferent and novice servers who had no idea about the menu and were unable to answer even the simplest of questions. I’d like to blame the restaurant owners […]

Jim’s Pizza House has been an institution on the Bedford Highway for as long as I can remember. The long, narrow restaurant perches overlooking the rail tracks and the Bedford Basin. Forget trying to find a parking spot at 5pm, when all the early birds come out to eat. The front half of Jim’s, the […]

Sometimes, the best meals turn up in the most unexpected places. Driving along Rocky Lake Road between Bedford and Waverley, in an industrial area, there’s a small, squat building with a flat roof surrounded by a partially paved parking lot. A hand-made sign advertising Clams and Chips is tacked to a telephone pole by the […]

It’s hard not to think of a festive feast without thinking of your festive beast. Most holiday tables feature fowl (turkey, goose, duck) as the centrepiece of a meal, or perhaps a prime rib or lobster. But what to do if you’re vegan? No dining on animal products, including dairy and honey—so much for the […]

“Eatin’ good in the Neighbourhood” goes the Applebee’s slogan, and despite the grammatical awkwardness, it’s a catchy phrase. The latest chain to hit Metro, its shtick is that it celebrates neighbourhoods—each outlet is decorated with pics and memorabilia reflecting the ’hood in which it sits. I’m always up for “eatin’ good” and I’m “in the […]

The SuperCity’s wine palate is finally starting to catch up with its exploding culinary scene. No longer confined to “house red” and “house white,” wine menus are expanding, wine bars are opening and local wineries are beginning to get the respect they deserve. Education has been the key to unlocking our new grape love. A […]