What I've been up to lately - June 2023

And just like that, we have hit summer in Ontario. Honestly, Ontario is so so so beautiful in the summertime. I always find that I just want to stay here and explore all of my favourite towns instead of packing up to visit other provinces or countries. So far, we have already hit up Prince Edward County (which, TBH is super fun in the winter, too), and Manitoulin Island, all by travelling on a motorcycle!

Food I ate

With the travelling we've been doing lately, we've been lucky enough to eat at some great gems. First up was our trip to PEC.

Our friends booked us a reservation at Darlings, a PEC pizza place with the same Superpoint owners in Toronto. We got the sausage pizza and the Clam pie, and they were both crunchy, soft and chewy, and the Focaccia with Nduja Oil IS NOT MISSED! Dip in your pizza crust after for an incredible second serving. We also hit up the Farmers Market in Picton, enjoyed Jamie Kennedy's J.K. Fries, and picked up some pastries from Small Scale Bread and some flufffffyyy bagels to enjoy at home from The Elmbrook Farm.

Then we headed to visit our friends on Manitoulin Island who own a couple of restaurants and shops up there, including:

• Lake Huron Fish and Chips - The white fish with the spicy tarter is the move.

• The Mutchmor - An arts market full of the owner's favourite artists or items that they have discovered during their off-season travels around the globe.

• The Peace Cafe - For the perfect coffee and treat to start the morning

• And the Mutchmor Lofts - Where they have converted the top of the Muchmor into multiple rental units for the summer.

We always have the absolute best time up there, and one of the best ways to get to Manitoulin is by the Chi-Cheemaun. The ferry between Tobermory and Manitoulin Island, just be warned, you must arrive at least 1 hr before it leaves, or you will be pushed to stand by. So book a reservation if possible. On our ride back from Manitoulin, we stopped to visit another Toronto sister company Hearts Tavern, for a crisp glass of lambrussco, some steak tartare and their famous sticky ribs.

I have been on a pretty big Alison Roman kick lately because I got her new baking cookbook Sweet Enough which means I've been baking and cooking a lot from her recipes. I have made her Old-Fashioned Strawberry Cake, A Better Banana Bread, and her Steak Like Tartar. I've also decided to try my hand at a stromboli which is basically like a rolled-up pizza. I remembered seeing this recipe from Cheese Boutiques Afrim Pristine during COVID and knew it was the time to give it a try, and it did not disappoint.

Things I did

Well, one big thing that happened was that I ~finally~ got COVID. I can't complain, though, because I did manage to go almost 3 years without getting it or even getting sick, so it was probably time. Shoutout to my clients, who were super understanding :) And I've also been checking out some great apartments with clients this month. I think my new favourite amenity is an outdoor rooftop pool. While it may not be something you use all year round, when that Toronto summer weather hits, there's nothing like popping upstairs for a cool dip - especially when they look as lovely as this.

I've also been checking out some old Toronto homes that need, let's just say...some love. Like this old kitchen that looks like it may have definitely been haunted at some point, lol.

Things I read

BNN Bloomberg's Rental market will suffer most amid Bank of Canada interest rate hike: Experts

This is especially true for renters with their 1-year rentals that are now eligible for a rent hike for new buildings without rent control measures. As many expect the recent interest rate hikes to indirectly cause rental rates to rise as landlords look to pass off higher costs to tenants. And with no rules to help protect them, it seems like a messy summer rental market is coming full steam ahead.

CMHC's Monthly Housing Starts and Other Construction Data Tables

The CMHC records the number of housing 'starts,' AKA the number of residential housing projects that have started over a specific length of time to see how we are keeping our promise to build more homes. The news isn't great, particularly for Vancouver and Toronto, the 2 cities that need housing the most. Vancouver was down 45%, Toronto down 28% and Montréal down 35%.

New York Times 36 Hours in Paris

Please wait here while I plan my 2024 trip to Paris 😉 We went for our honeymoon and I can't wait to head back to this beautiful city. If you're planning a trip, this is the article to read!