Sometime during the last 10 years the zeitgeist decided that the moment the temperature dropped, and night turns to day around 5 pm, is also the official marker of cuffing season. Due to this romantic phenomenon, this time every year more and more new and long-time couples are ditching their park parties for cozy hideaways to cuddle up, one on one. Daters have many things to consider when scoping out where to share their romantic tête-à-tête. First things first is location. Neighbourhoods across Toronto boast inviting, dimly lit spaces, perfect for you and your boo to catch up and canoodle. An ..read more

Bourbon, the quintessential American spirit, is easy to turn to as the sun sets sooner and the evenings get cooler. For a whiskey to qualify as bourbon, it has to be from the United States, aged in new oak barrels for at least three years and must be made from at least 51 per cent corn. Most bourbons — around 95 per cent — are made in Kentucky, with production in the state skyrocketing by 250 per cent since 1999. Something strong might be needed to help with all the upcoming family gatherings, so we’ve rounded up six bourbons to stock up for the winter ahead ..read more

Pho lovers across the country will debate for hours on what makes the perfect bowl of the beloved Vietnamese soup. For me, it’s all about the broth. This rich and savoury beef bone broth, made aromatic from traditional warming spices, creates a perfect harmony of flavour that is beyond comforting. A good bowl of phở bò, or beef rice noodle soup, must also have a bouncy rice noodle, loads of rare or cooked beef (or if you opt for seafood, chicken or veggies, lots of those too) and a collection of bright and crunchy garnishes like green onion, cilantro and lime, that add freshness to this deeply ..read more

Filipino Feast Adobo — marinated meat — isn’t the only Filipino food to go crazy over. Filipino cuisine is multifaceted and features tons of regional dishes that are nothing short of delicious. Whether it’s street food favourites, beloved adobo or the tradition of kamayan (sharing a communal meal with friends and family that’s all eaten with your hands), these restaurants are showing Canada just what Filipino cooking has to offer. Across our NEXT Three Cities, we found the hotspots for you to enjoy a taste of the Philippines. Kain Tayo ..read more

Over the last couple years, aperitifs have seen a worldwide boom, growing so quickly they’re set to overtake the total alcohol category by 2025! What this means is that there are going to be so many more tasty things for us to spritz up in the future. We’ve all had an Aperol spritz. Now, what if you wanted something different? We’ve got five new aperitifs for those who want to change it up this summer. Add sparkling wine, soda and enjoy. Just don’t forget the 3:2:1 spritz rule: 3 ounces sparkling wine, 2 ounces aperitif and 1 ounce soda. And the ever-important olive ..read more

The sourdough explosion didn’t just overtake home kitchens over the last two years, bakeries from across our NEXT Three Cities are baking up some of the tangiest, crunchiest and crustiest loaves in the country. Sourdough became the hobby of many during the darkest parts of pandemic, but this month, we’re taking a moment to celebrate the mighty loaf and give it the praise it deserves. Sourdough bread is a fermented art form perfected by many bakers and home cooks alike. Because sourdough starters are alive, you have to look after them in order to ensure fantastic bread. Sourdough has a lively ..read more

Soju, which literally means “burnt drink” in Korean, is the bestselling liquor in the world by volume. A clear, traditionally rice-based spirit clocking in at around 12 to 24 per cent alcohol by volume (ABV), it can burn you if you’re not careful! It’s off-dry and has a faint aromatic and herbal sweetness. Also called “Korean vodka,” and much like its counterpart, is best served chilled. Deeply embedded in Korean culture, soju is at the heart of every gathering. The eldest pours the little shots for everyone and everyone refills each other when the glasses are empty! There is a mind-boggling n ..read more

A dobo — marinated meat — isn’t the only Filipino food to go crazy over. Filipino cuisine is multifaceted and features tons of regional dishes that are nothing short of delicious. Whether it’s street food favourites, beloved adobo or the tradition of kamayan (sharing a communal meal with friends and family that’s all eaten with your hands), these restaurants are showing Canada just what Filipino cooking has to offer. Across our NEXT Three Cities, we found the hotspots for you to enjoy a taste of the Philippines. Kain Tayo! Where To Score Great Filipino Food In Your Town ..read more

Crisp, refreshing and light, rosès are coming back in a big way as a whole new generation of winemakers is exploring unique biodynamic winemaking practices and injecting fresh flavours and funky colours into the category. Made everywhere around the world from Australia to the U.S.A. — even Georgia! — now is the time to grab a cool bottle and take it to your next BBQ! There’s so many to choose from, so we rounded up six of the best here in Canada and a couple from France, of course ..read more

Get your drink on this summer with these new THC drinks. Since the drop of cannabis-infused beverages, the market has been overflowing with options to imbibe on. With more and more flavours and types of drinks to consume, there’s never been a better time to swap out that Whiteclaw for something a little more enlightening. Get your hands on some of these new THC sips and keep the party going all summer long ..read more