As Canada’s quintessential sweet treat it’s only fitting that butter tarts be the centrepiece of your holiday table this year. While most festive desserts are imported, these tarts are a national treasure that are sure to end your turkey dinner with a bang. When hunting for the perfect butter tart, it is very important that the pastry is doughy yet flaky, the buttery caramel filling is gooey but not so runny that it oozes out of the tart, and the crust must be caramelized enough to ensure that first bite crunch. Whether you opt for raisins, pecans or stick to the traditional tart, these bakeri ..read more

Warming comfort foods are all we want to eat this time of year and what’s more comforting than a big bowl of chili? This hearty and spicy stew is a staple in the colder months, and for good reason. Originating in Texas, chili was traditionally made with roasted chili peppers, braised beef and spices, but now you can find dozens of riffs on chili across the globe. Whether you’re a Texas-style purest or a bean-and-veg lover, these restaurants in our NEXT Three Cities are here to make your winter days a little warmer. Toronto: Leslieville Pumps 913 QUEEN ST. E. leslievillepumps.com This gas stati ..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

To most locals on the Islands of Hawaii, poke is a common grab-and-go snack, but now it’s migrated from the islands to the mainland and beyond. Now, poke bowls have made their mark as a healthy, refreshing meal for any time of day. Piled with flavourful toppings that complement the delicate pieces of seafood or vegetarian options, poke is a picnic food that’s great on the go. Not too heavy and lighter on the wallet than your average sushi excursion, this is the ultimate summer dish. WHERE TO SCORE GREAT POKE IN YOUR TOWN ..read more

The smash burger continues to bash its way into foodie hearts with its delightful, retro-simplicity hiding the culinary craft at the core of these crispy-edged delights. The smash burger has been winning the bun battle at the best American fast food joints like Shake Shack and In-N-Out, for years. The smash patty is as simple as a regular chuck burger flattened down into a thin patty that’s then sizzled on the flat top until its shaggy edges are crispy and the centre is tender. Making a permanent mark north of the border, smash burger joints across our NEXT Three Cities are giving those fast f ..read more

Sometime during the last 10 years, the zeitgeist decided that the second the temperature dropped, and day turned to night around 5 pm was also the official marker of cuffing season. Every year, this fall phenomenon moves couples to ditch their park parties and tuck into cosy hideaways where they can spend some time, one on one. Daters have many things to consider when scoping out where to share a romantic tête-à-tête. Neighbourhoods across Toronto boast inviting, dimly lit spaces, perfect for you and your boo to catch up and canoodle. Lighting and music are both obvious contributors to romance ..read more

Every weekend you can find dozens of events celebrating the many facets of our city’s diverse culinary scene. Some last a day, others a whole weekend, but one thing these festivals have in common is a drive to bring the whole town together over a shared love of food and drink. Whether you’re looking for a flight of Ontario’s best beers, a collection of spicy snacks or the best and brightest chefs in the city, make the most out of your summer and check out some of these can’t-miss food festivals ..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

There’s nothing better than a bowl of ramen. Its savoury broth, chewy noodles and endless choices of toppings make it one of the most popular soups on the planet. Known for its versatile yet classic range of broths like shio (salt-based), shoyu (soy sauce-based) and miso ramen, this often pork-bone broth is beloved for its rich umami flavour and its slurpable quality that people can’t get enough of. Japanese ramen houses are known for being a quick and easy place to stop off for a quick meal, but here in North America, ramen has become so popular that hungry diners will line up around the bloc ..read more