Three local loves

With the weather ripe for long afternoon walks, I wanted to celebrate a few local Danforth area gems:

Maselli's supermarket, between Donlands and Jones
After 50 years in business, Maselli's groceria has everything you'll need from meat to veggies to lentils. Brother Mario visits the food terminal every morning to get the freshest produce, and Mr. Maselli Sr. makes the house proscuitto and sausages. This place is around the corner from our house and I visit almost every day. Their prices on meat and produce are better than most of their larger competitors.  ...and I just love that it is family run.

The Danish Pastry Shop on Pape
It turns out the Danes are experts at more than just modernist furniture. The windows of the Danish Pasty Shop on Pape are always filled with delectible treats, and in the morning you can watch the bakers pulling their latest works or art out of the ovens. This is the perfect place to pick up some sweets for your Valentine's Day celebration! I think I'm going to get some chocolate cupcakes.

Crema Coffee

Crema's newest location has landed on the Danforth. My friend Megan swears they have the best almond croissants east of Calgary, but I am partial to their lattes. The foam is dense and smooth and the temperature is perfect. Starbucks has nothing on these guys. Their Danforth location is adorable with a glass garage-style window that opens up in the summer, and a bright red laquered church bench sits inside, perfect for relaxing on all afternoon with a warm beverage. 

What are your favourite spots?

Carrier friendly coffee

I often hit the pavement with my baby in a carrier (I am partial to the Trekker, which I blogged about here). Though I'm tempted to grab a coffee at my local coffee shop, the thought of spilling a hot drink on my little one's face or head makes me nervous.

I recently learned that Starbucks has a universal option called "kid's temperature", which is hot enough to make your beverage enjoyable, but will not burn your baby if you happen to spill.

If you're at a non-Starbuck's coffee shop (I hit the new Crema on the Danforth the other day - it's FABULOUS!), just ask for your latte between 120 and 130 degrees and you'll be baby safe.

Make that a vente for me please!

Brew masters

How do you make your perfect cup of coffee?

Both my Mom and Grandmother drank Nescafe instant coffee when I was younger. This is a family legacy that I chose not to carry on. Reeeevolting sludge.

Since I'm the only coffee drinker in our house nowadays, I make most of my coffee in my Bodum* or my beloved espresso machine.

But my favourite coffee maker is my vintage GE percolator, which I inherited from my Grandmother, and which she received as a wedding gift (talk about standing the test of time!!). It has an elegant shape that goes from counter to table, makes perfect coffee, and even has a 'warming' function. Best of all, it makes enough coffee for a crowd, or for a lazy day of coffee drinking and newspaper reading for one.

I have since bought two more of these beauties - one off of Craigs List and another at Eclectisaurus, a fabulous vintage store on Gerrard East in Cabbagetown. I am keeping one as a backup in case mine breaks, and the second was given to my friend who developed a life long passion for percolated coffee at his cottage on Lake of the Woods.

While I adore my collection of coffee makers, I will not be turning down a cup of drip coffee made by someone else anytime soon.....after all, coffee tastes best when someone else makes it!

* I previously bought a very inexpensive french press coffee maker at Canadian Tire that worked great. It was just as good as my Bodum. But my mom cracked the beaker while washing it, and so at that point I upgraded to the Bodum. Somehow its shape is just a little more beautiful and its stainless steel frame just a little more sparkly than its no-name cousin.

Chocolate wine

Years ago my friend introduced me to this wine,Yellow Tail Shiraz Grenache. We call it chocolate wine, because it is so delicious, and so drinkable. It is soft yet a bit spicy. It's easy drinking, and stands up well to meat. Perhaps best of all, it is very affordable at only $11.95 at your local LCBO.

Before our friends came over last Saturday, my husband picked up a few bottles at the LCBO. We all had a good laugh when our friends also brought some over too. Clearly it's a crowd pleaser!