Get In My Jelly Belly

As I was re-stocking my pantry on Saturday with a trip to Chinatown, I decided to have lunch at Swatow. Now and then, it makes the rounds as one of the places chefs go to after work. As anyone goes by at 2 a.m. can attest, this place is hopping for the late-night crowd. It's also busy for lunch too (and pretty much all the time).

Even such a fixture has also evolved with the times. The new tables are cheap, but classier-looking engineered wood. There's some etched frosted-glass touches at eye-level. And the Chinese-only menus are no longer scribbled papers taped to the walls, but professionally printed and mounted. But the food is as cheap, quick, and tasty as ever.

Swatow's soups are not only yummy, but at $4.50 may be the cheapest nosh in town (with pho pushing $7 and ramen usually coming in at $10+). Mine came with plump shrimp wonton with the perfect mouth-feel. The wheat noodles were soft but chewy, and the broth was light. This was enough for lunch but my eyes were greedier than my stomach so I had ordered two more dishes. The fried bean curd ($0.90) had a crispy skin, giving way to moist tofu. The beef curry fried noodles ($9.50) had the typical super-soft Chinese beef with some great crispy noodles. The curry added a bit of messy spiciness. The vegetables were perhaps too lightly cooked: it kept the green peppers fresh and crunchy, but that meant the onions were essentially raw.

On the way home, I stopped off at Jelly Modern Doughnuts to grab some mini-donuts for an evening dinner. Though the regular doughnuts were twice the size for only $0.50 more, the "3-bite" version ($2.25) worked better as desserts. There was a variety of interesting options. I went with traditional lemon curd but also glammed it up with some chocolate cherry and s'mores doughnuts.

L.A. Story

Local comedienne Inessa Frantowski is moving to Hollywood. On Friday, the Comedy Bar hosted her annual Christmas variety show/send-off party. Things didn't start so well with the show being late by about an hour. Since we were lined up in the crowded bar area outside the comedy room, people were not as forgiving as a late set from a live band. Some left and others were grumbling about how "this better be the funniest show ever". Not a great mood to create for your audience.

It was a funny show although there were a few loosy-goosy moments. Some were simply concepts that didn't work such as Henri Faberge's masked Kanye rant about Frantowski's imminent departure: "We should never have let her make the video" (in reference to her comedic role in this popular video.) Unfortunately, others were simply indulgent half-baked "let's put our friends on stage" acts. Fun in a low-key show, not so great when there were people paying $15 due to the hype from the local media.

Luckily, most of the acts were great. Maylee Todd provided some chill synth-pop. Alana Johnston and Pat Thornton gave us a couple of funny sketches. Oddly, there were 3 dance numbers including an opening "flash mob", Semi-Gold's gyration to Rasputin (Bony M), and Sarah Hillier's emotive "contemporary" number set to "Nothing Compares 2 U". Though the laughs came from the dorky, white-people-dancing moves, it actually highlighted that some of those dancers, especially the women, could actually wind their body. The audience wasn't left out though, as our "7th inning stretch" involved learning the sexy "skanky legs".

But the highlights of the night belonged to Frantowski and Buddy Cole (Scott Thompson). She made for an engaging and quick-witted MC alongside Hillier, her comedic co-host. Her alter-ego as "the best entertainer from the future" got some major laughs. As for the gay lounge lizard from Kids In The Halls, Buddy Cole delivered a gut-busting story that started with a knee fungus ailment (from kneeling in too many bath-houses) and ended up in Egypt during the recent demonstrations.

Dream Weaver

Given everyone's schedule, it was easier to have a Christmas lunch than dinner this year. It also meant that although there was lots to eat, there were no "all-day-slaving-away" dishes like turkey or a roast. I finally met my second niece. At 4 months old and 20 lbs, she was a big baby (100th percentile) with a strong grip and pleasant disposition. With my evening free, I was going to watch some TV but feel asleep.

I've had stranger dreams but since this one happened on Christmas day (night), I might as well jot it down. After debarking the bus at a small mall, I wandered around futilely looking for the subway entrance. I finally realized I had gotten off at the wrong stop and went back out. But there was a large crowd waiting for public transit, and every bus that passed by was full.

After 4 (!) hours, I finally decided to take a taxi to my original destination (with its connecting subway). Oddly enough, this would have been Jane and Finch. But I was unable to convince other people to share the cab fare, which would have reduced the cost to $5-7 per person. So I ran down the empty street looking for a taxi.

The streetscape suddenly changed to one which best appealed to me: old, historical buildings with vibrant, immigrant (non-gentrified) stores and restaurants. An owner and a female passerby gave me directions to the nearest metro stop. Interestingly, I found out I was in Montreal and not Paris as was my first impression. Deciding that I wanted to see more of the area first, I accompanied the girl for a stroll. After it got less interesting (i.e., new condos were going up), I bid her good-bye and headed for the subway.

Most of the dream elements are obvious. Lately, I've been taking Ottawa transit which is atrocious. Many stops are not cleared of snow, most buses are over capacity (not even any room to stand), and are very late. Sometimes, I'm too much of a miser. I've been thinking that instead of taking a 40-min transit trip home after a late show, a taxi ride would be less than 10 min. At a mere $10-15 (one perk of living downtown), this is affordable and convenient. Finally, though I do enjoy gourmet bistros and hip bars, not to mention the pixie-haired girls who go to them, it's the slightly run-down neighbourhoods with its larger cross-section of humanity that I love. Sadly, they are disappearing rapidly from Toronto.

The Montreal angle is interesting. Obviously, Paris is one of the great cities. In contrast, I never think about la belle provence. Possibly because what usually makes the news from there is the xenophobic, "pure laine" rhetoric which is a turn-off. But culturally, Montreal should have lots of grand old neighbourhoods (though no doubt also gentrifying).

Needs More Iron(y)ing

I wasn't sure where the hipster hang-out is in Ottawa. The Glebe, Elgin, and Westboro are too upscale. The Byward Market is too touristy. I finally decided that there may be a small population near Chinatown. So on Monday, I went to Pressed Cafe for dinner.

Located on quiet Gladstone near Bronson, it fitted to a tee. There was the local artwork: in this case large portraits done with spray paint. There was the eclectic decor: church pews for seats, knick-knacks, and even a non-functional 60s synth organ. And in the corner, there sat a group of pixie-haired 20-somethings wearing boho-chic clothes. But outside of the chef, there was a distinct lack of bearded dudes. No worries, they came in later for the bluegrass music.

By day, the spot offered quick noshes including salads and panini sandwiches. At night, there was a small dinner menu. I opted for the smoked chicken ($16) and a side-order of mac and cheese ($5). The claim that the mac was their best dish was correct: it was soft, gooey, and comforting. Not sure whether the curds added anything. Unfortunately, the main was disappointing. The parsnip smash was too tangy. Combined with the vinaigrette on the salad, and the whole dish puckered the lips. In contrast, the pan-seared chicken was overly salted. Too bad because the skin itself had good texture and the meat was tender. The cafe has a nice vibe but they need to step it up in the kitchen.

Yuletide Cheer

Although I wanted to do more than the typically Ottawan "hunker-down" for the winter for my visit, alternating conditions of either -39 degrees or never-ending snowfall meant that I have been hunkering down lately. But on Saturday, I finally left my den for a Holiday party (though dinner parties are also very Ottawan).

Being a minimalist sort (or perhaps cheap-ass miser if you're uncharitable), I am always impressed by a well-furnished home. This one has always been amazingly spotless, with only (recent) minor messiness in the kid's play area. With the added bonus of the holidays, we have Martha Stewart-level Christmas tree, garlands and wreaths, and a beautifully set dining table (but there were 6 rambunctious children sitting nearby). It was a pot-luck, though the hosts provided more than half of the dishes. Everyone had a good appetite and most of the dishes were more than 75% eaten, even my sad-sack contribution of some vegetarian stir-fried noodles. The only relatively untouched dishes were the goose pate and the spinach dip because there was simply too much appetizers. The pulled pork was tender, though a touch too sweet for me. In contrast, the meatballs were nicely spicy. The potato salad, lasagna and vegetable chicken cheese casserole were filling for a Winter's eve. Though everybody was filled to stuffing, we made room for some richly textured chocolate mousse cake.

With the cake and some Kinder eggs chocolate, the kids were hopped up on sugar and were bouncing off the walls. Not surprisingly, most of the dinner conversation revolved around what Santa will be bringing this year. One the consensus being that teachers who do not send "Dear Santa" letters home to the parents make things harder for Santa to make wishes come true (and thus add some additional last-minute headaches.) Oh, dear. The lengths Santa need to go through to fulfill those special requests was eye-opening. The night finally wound down and everybody went off to dream of sugar-plum Pokemons dancing in their heads.

What's In A Name

On Friday, I was at the long-running venue Zaphod Beeblebrox for some live music. With the cold snap gripping Ottawa and some unknown bands on the bill, not many ventured out tonight. I looked around the place with some nostalgia. I was last here years ago when the Shuffle Demons came through. Like tonight, it was practically empty except for me and my friend. And hard as it is to believe now, we were as young as the baby-faced crowd who came to cheer their buddies on stage. The bands tonight, oddly enough, did not play music that "matched" their names.

Chris Spencer charmed the audience with his English accent and disarming manner. His songs were typical pop about love, not love, and more love. Unfortunately, his drummer and lead guitarist were ragged around the edges, making the set a bit amateurish. The Tenebaums, all the way from Winchester, did not actually played the kind of twee music suggested by their moniker. In fact, backed by tight bass and drums, they played furious, short, and punchy punk-pop. But it was mistifying why the singer adopted a growly voice because for all the energy, their music was more pop than punk/metal.

The headliners were local band The Riot Police. Again, you would expect in-your-face music from such an aggressive name. But their background in vocal groups meant their songs were full of 2 and 3 part harmonies and little flourishes and details in the arrangements. It was catchy pop with numerous forays into "power ballad". Not to disparage their skills, but with their boyish youth, they'd probably find bigger success going after the "Jonas Brothers" crowd.

Get Together

I was heading down Rideau St to the Byward Market Friday night. Despite the ubiquity of restaurants, its touristy status means that most places in this popular Ottawa area are not that intriguing. The Smoque Shack, located in a non-descript house on York St., seemed to offer something different. But the hipster-chic facade led to a typical bar in the front, and strictly utilitarian tables at the back. These were crammed cheek to jowl to accomodate the large crowd of pragmatically dressed Ottawans.

On the menu were all manners of bbq meats and some venture into ethnic cuisine with Jerk pork and chicken. I ordered the 1/2 lb beef brisket ($16) and a side-order of greens ($6). Both dishes were average but not outstanding. The slightly sweet bbq sauce was bold and not subtle. The brisket was tender but dry. Kale and swiss chard were supposedly also "bbq"-ed. Nevertheless, they were not sufficiently cooked to really bring out the flavour, remaining rather green and fibrous. An adequate but pedestrian option in the heart of downtown Ottawa.

Cool Bunning

Christmas shopping continued on Sunday along Bloor around the Bloordale area. This area has sufficiently gentrified so that there were more choices than Dollar Marts. Near Bloor and Ossington, a bazaar offered a variety of knick knacks both "vintage" and new. The stores around Lansdowne were more niche: Zebuu offered pricy carved wooden birds from around the world, alongside soft Turkish towels and scarves; Fenigo specialized in lunch-related merchandise of all sorts: bento boxes, tiffin containers, thermos, eco-friendly metal straws.

I went in vegan baking company Through Being Cool for a snack break. In addition to baked goods, they also can mustard, pickles, and marmalade. There was also a freezer full of vegan entrees including chickpea pot pie, lasagna, and mac and cheese. I settled into a corner nook with a sugar and cinnamon doughnut ($3). It was soft and felt denser than usual, but not too cakey. I liked that it wasn't too sweet; there was just enough sugar to satisfy your palate.

The Peg

The Juno Concert Series enlist a number of local acts to play various Canadian music with money going to a music-related charity. The recent incarnation at The Horseshoe Tavern on Saturday night highlighted songs from musicians who came out of Winnipeg "the gateway to the West".

The show had a relatively early start with multiple sets anchored by a band and various guests joining them on stage. I was in a tired stupor after dinner and was dozing off and on. Combined with the Winter chill, it took several tries before I finally woke up fully and convinced myself to head out the door. So I missed the first set with The Harlequin and guests.

I arrived as Tonight's the Night (Neil Young) was being played. The second set had young band Harlan Pepper being the stage band. In fact, many "close to geriatric" audience remarked that they hardly looked old enough to shave. After they covered Don't Be Denied (Neil Young), Ridley Bent came on and ripped through an energetic version of his song Suicidewinder. Wait, can you pay tribute to your own song? He followed up with Guns Guns Guns (Guess Who). Del Barber came on for a song about Fort McMurray. Hmm, didn't sound like a tribute either. Most of the Peppers left so that the New Meanies can back their lead Damon Mitchell on 3 blistering numbers including Southern Man (Neil Young).

The next set had Cuff the Duke manning the stage. They were joined by Nikki Yanofsky on Undun (Guess Who). This 19-year-old, who mostly sang jazz-pop as a precocious teenager, had a big voice. The next guest was the highlight of the night. Randy Bachman of The Guess Who came doddering on stage. But he came alive once his guitar was properly set up. Bachman and Yanofsky did a sweet duet of These Eyes. But he really revved up the crowd (who actually was a bit tepid in cheering when he was announced) with blistering guitar solos alongside Ian Blurton on BTO songs Rock Is My Life This Is My Song, Stayed Awake All Night and hits American Woman and Takin' Care of Business.

It was a hard act to follow but Jeremy Fisher slowed things down with a melancholy tune. Neville Quinlan (NQ Arbuckle) also sang quieter songs. Refreshingly, he chose newer "Winnipeg" songs The Superman Song (Crash Test Dummies) with Miranda Mulholland and Blood's Too Rich (Luke Doucet). Cuff The Duke closed out the set with Powderfinger (Neil Young).

I headed home as the techies were setting up for the final set. I guess I wasn't as hardy as some of the "geriatrics". Though the crowd had thinned, many were still going strong with the boozing and whooping it up.

That's a Big Boy

Parkdale restaurant and bar Parts and Labour recently won best burger on a reality TV show on the Food Network. Flushed with this success, they decided to open P&L Burgers near Queen and Spadina (in competition with A&W, Hero Certified, Burger's Priest and a host of others) this past week. Before starting my Christmas shopping, I stopped by on Saturday for lunch.

The long and narrow space is painted in black and white. One wall is adorned with a giant graffiti of some sort of mutant, rampaging Hamburglar monster. There is a stretch of stools along the wall. The order counter occupies the middle space with some additional seating at the back. But these are right in front of the only washroom so don't seem appetizing. The kitchen is tuck away at the back with a counter where a cook will holler your completed order.

I got the combo ($13) with The Philly, fries, and some root beer. The burger was quite large, especially when compared to Burger's Priest at a similar price point (around $9 for just the burger). The meat was loosely packed which made for a sloppy bite, even before the sauteed mushrooms, hot peppers, mayo and American cheese. The patty was good, but could have used a bit more seasoning. The cheese was an error on my part because it tasted like Kraft cheese slice. That certainly makes it an "authentic" Philly cheesesteak flavour but sat like bad memory on my tongue. The bun was soft but thick to hold the gooey insides. The fries were reasonable but not great.

Keen No More

I was around the Yonge and Bloor area on Friday night. This strip has always had a proliferation (and turnover) of restaurants. Thinking I should stick to a known place, I stopped off at the 3rd location of Kenzo Ramen just south of Wellesley. This franchise, owned by Guu Izakaya, was the first to bring quality ramen to Toronto and started the craze. I remember the long line-ups at the location near Dundas and Bay.

I ordered the spicy King of Kings ($12.95), some agedashi tofu ($3.50) and takoyaki ($9.99). Everything was reasonably tasty and serviceable but seemed to no longer be so exciting: meaty pork and chewy ramen, soft tofu with a slightly sweet fried skin, gooey banana-flavour ball with a small octopus tentacle inside. It could be a quality control issue: not every location is on the money. It is also likely competition: the other joints have elevated the game. In which case, they should be worried. Their much better competitor on Dundas, Sansotei Ramen, also has a small printed sign in the window of an empty shop just a little bit north on Yonge.

Thought and Pop

Thursday night was the album release party (Bound) for Kashka, barely a year after putting out their first (which came on cassette). After Kat Burns' disbanded dreamy Forest City Lovers, she was looking musically in a new direction. The show coincidentally featured other performers which I thought I would see for the first time tonight, but events had transpired such that I got a "preview" of them a few days early at other venues.

First up was Kelly McMichael and the Gloss. Last week at the small Piston, they played a soft 80s pop. The bigger sound system here highlighted more details in their songs. Nevertheless, with numbers like Solo, Makes Men, and cover Erase Rewind, it was "bedroom" pop, the kind you put on as you lie around and chill. So McMichael's languid voice played better with pop than the more indie-rock tunes. Casey Mecija played next with her new act Warm Myth. With a set-up full of pedals and effects and a second guitarist (though drummer Kieran Adams is currently touring as Diana), it was clearer what the new approach was about. Vocal fragments and repeated phrases by Mecija, floating over an atmospheric layer of reverb, electronic synth, and often her own voice.

It was too bad there weren't more people here at the Great Hall for Kat Burns' solo effort. I have heard Kashka at smaller venues with just her, the guitarist, and a bevy of electronics. For this occasion, she had put together a full band. Paradoxically, given that this "folkpoptronica" can be done more or less with just computers, a live band gave it more muscle, more dynamism, and yes, actually more dance. This was the best performance yet. Many songs (Never Had It, Prophet, Body Like Lead) were dance-floor worthy while others (Bloodlines was about connecting with the painful past of her Polish predecessors) were more introspective. But they all had intelligent, evocative lyrics.

It's a bit of a bind. Burns' has admitted that "smaller" Kashka makes touring economically easier. Yet this "full experience" would win many more fans by highlighting the Austra-esque (intelligent pop) quality of these tunes. But the fans have to be there for "big" Kashka to make sense. Not sure how to solve this knotty problem. Body Like Lead's debut is doing great on the Canadian indie radio charts, so hopefully this will give Kashka momentum. Because a venue should be packed with dancers grooving out to her engaging music.

Meat Market

Long time Kensington Market shop Toronto's European Quality Meat and Sausages, packed on the week-end, closed up operation after 50 years. But given the opportunity, nearby Sanagan's Meat Locker decided to take over the space. On Thursday, I dropped by for a bite at lunch as they also retained the sandwich counter across from the meat section.

I ordered a roast beef ($7) and an old-fashioned glass bottle of pineapple from pop shoppe. The bread was crusty whole-wheat dotted with various grains. The roast beef oozed out covered with melted cheese and mushroom. It was rich, satisfying and a bit messy. Though the portion didn't look substantial when they prepared it, it was filling. Note that there wasn't much space for dining, as this is primarily a butcher shop. You can stand by some some small wooden tabletops near the door, or have your sandwiches to go.

Don't Get In My Belly

The ubiquity of Mexican food in Toronto really started with all the local burrito franchises that opened in the last several years. Feeling a bit peckish from the small portions at charity event ProjectUpliftPH, I headed over to Fat Bastard Burrito for a bite. With selections like butter chicken, this was multi-culti burritos. But I opted for the traditional pulled pork ($7.99). Like all these joints, after a base of beans and rice (said no to the vermicelli noodles), you can add more toppings like salsa, onions, etc. I got the works plus the hot option which meant 4 squirts of hot sauce.

The burrito came out fragrant from the grill, bulging and certainly filling. Yet with all those ingredients, it was oddly bland. I wouldn't even have known there was pork if I had ordered it myself. This was certainly not the first mediocre burrito I've had lately (and from different franchises). Toronto needs a good burrito joint to set the bar, similar to all the gourmet taco places that have sprung up.

Edit: What was I thinking? Long-time New York Subway near Queen and Bathurst has long provided excellent burrito. But they take their time making orders so you can't be in a rush.

Uplift

Wednesday night, I went to the Great Hall for a charity event (Project Uplift PH) organized by the Kapisanan Centre. The aim was to raise money for the recent typhoon Haiyan disaster in the Philippines. In addition to some musical guests, there were food kiosks, raffles, and a silent auction. I bought some raffle tickets hoping to win but struck-out 0 for 17 items.

Wandering past the food tables, I started with a slider and calamansi slaw and a green raspberry ginger smoothie ($5 for both) from Chef G catering. The slider was crunchy with a slightly sweet sauce though the pork berry was bit too rich. The smoothie sounded like an odd combination but was actually quite tasty. Then it was next to Lamesa for a chicken arroz caldo ($5). This was chinese congee soup given a filipino twist. With flecks of crunchy fried scallions, seaweed, ginger, and chicken, this was warm, comforting, tasty food.

The musical act started with the Mecija sisters (Ohbijou). They played atmospheric shoe-gazey pop from Casey's new act Warm Myth and some old favourites from Ohbijou. But it was perhaps a little too chill for the noisy crowd, who were energized from the food, booze, and excitement from the raffle. There was a moment of silence when Casey gave a rather emotional speech about the current situation in the Philippines. Things got dancey with Abdominal and The Obliques, whose rap has a funky vibe from an upright bass and jazzy guitar. They were a last minute replacement for Maylee Todd who had to pull out. I was getting tired and left before Datu took to the stage with Scratch from The Roots, though the prospect of hip-hop combined with gamelan and South Asian percussion sounded intriguing.

Bang Bang

It was "nu music" at The Horseshoe Tavern on Tuesday. Listening to samples online, the bands were in the "loud rock" category. I wasn't feeling it tonight, so I skipped the first two (Speed Control, Love Tapper). I arrived as Salt of the Chief Cornerstone was getting into their set. This instrumental band from Windsor comprised of a guitarist and a drummer. Together, they had a big sound. Their instruments were transparent: from the clear drum kit (lit up with white LEDs) to the plexi-glass-esque guitar. Though not metal, they got heads banging with their tight and synchronized changes. Both were good, but unfortunately the "rock vocabulary" isn't too complex. Guitar simply alternated between riffs and power chords, chunky melody and rhythm. Drums did have complicated polyrhythm but essentially boiled down to furious rock banging.

Language-Arts was the final band. Their set varied between light pop and impressively catchy rock. Lead singer/guitarist Kristen Cudmore might seem twee in speech, and that did carry over into some song lyrics, but her array of 12 pedals refuted that label. Though their latest album was not even officially out yet until next year, they played mostly new songs that were not on either records. These were quite raucous but still retained a melodious core.

New Growth

At the edge of Christie Pits Park, the Regal Garden chinese restaurant has been replaced with hipper Northwood, offering coffee and a variety of drinks and cocktails. On Sunday there's a brunch until 3 pm. Sometimes, a pop-up dinner is offered. I dropped by around 12:30 pm to try the eats.

The inside was all dark wood with walls adorned with knick-knacks. The chairs have been stamped/painted with small storks. The vibe was definitely hipster trendy with boho clothes, beards, and Macbooks galore. I opted for the ham rosti ($13), a mulled cider mimosa ($6), and a vieux carre of rye, cognac, vermouth, and benedictine ($11). On top of home fries laid a sunny-side up egg with a variety of pork products: ham, pancetta, sausage, and bacon. It was typical diner fare with above average execution. Combined with the booze, it was a pleasant way to spend a rainy afternoon.

Wintersong

Saturday night, I headed over to City Hall for the official start of the holidays with the Calvacades of Lights. The skating rink was already packed with skaters. The night of musical entertainment started with community choir "Choir! Choir! Choir!" singing a medley of carols. Before the lighting of the Christmas tree, Rob Ford the crack-smoking mayor came on to a growing chorus of boos. It was unfortunate that he dragged his wife and young kids on stage with him. I laughed when he asked if people were here to see the tree get "lit up". Ah, too easy.

There were 4 singers, backed by a professional band and the choir, each performing 3 songs. MuchMusic teen idol Tyler Shaw came on first, to some shrieking from the teens in the crowd. He sang run-of-the-mill pop (Kiss Goodnight, It's Christmas Time). Cold Specks was the stand-out of the night. She did 3 winter-themed numbers, but no heartwarming classics for her. Her songs were bleak and cold (Winter Solstice) especially the chill-inducing cover of Fleet Foxes' White Winter Hymnal backed by 4 background vocals and that 60-strong choir. Divine Brown had a huge 5-octave voice, but her Christmas tunes were forgettable. The exception was her cover of Stevie Wonder's beautiful Someday At Christmas. Carvin Winans closed out the show with a couple of funky Christmas tunes and a duet with Ms. Brown (Lennon's Happy Xmas).

After the fireworks and laser light show, Diamond Rings and his band came on to entertain the crowd with 80s inspired dance/pop. There were some titters at his costume changes from the older people but glam was obviously part of his image. Younger people cheered at his antics and songs (I'm Just Me, Runaway Love, A to Z). Diamong Rings usually stayed in his lower register reminding me of Pete Burns (Dead Or Alive). Though his tunes varied between moody and upbeat, dance and rock, the encore number Day & Night was entertainingly pure boy band.

Subway Eats

Saturday night I went to Richmond Station, a restaurant run by Carl Heinrich, the season 2 winner of Canada's Top Chef. Tucked inside a commercial building surrounded by other high-rise and offices, it could be easy to miss the small door at Yonge and Richmond with a tiny sign overhead. It was more welcoming inside: 2 levels, long and narrow, but with high ceiling. Reservations are likely needed for busy days.

I started with the duck liver pate ($9). It was smooth and creamy, but milder than I expected. I want my pate to have an earthier flavour. In fact, it was easily overwhelmed by the apple-allspice chutney. However, the portion was quite generous so you can compensate by slathering on thick spreads over the soft brioche. The butternut squash ($7) was also too quiet. I suppose my taste buds are insufficiently refined. Yes, the soup was rich, and the pumpkin seeds, sage oil, tarragon, and chives were nicely balanced. But there was no "mmm..." moment.

So far, it was all good food but I was a bit underwhelmed. Luckily, the chili and fennel pasta ($23) came through. The handmade orechiette was nicely al dente with a great chew. The toscano cheese and (quite abundant) sausage were fragrant. The basil and chili gave it a bit of an Asian flair. Don't forget to get some bread to mop up the sauce. It was an excellent and satisfying entree.

Laughter Is The Best Medicine

Local comic Pat Thorton has been running a 24-hour stand-up marathon to raise money for the Stephen Lewis Foundation to combat HIV/AIDS in Africa. Running from 7 pm to 7 pm at the Comedy Bar, he'd try to tell jokes (livestream on the Internet) with minimal breaks. He has help, of course. People in the audience, typically other comedians, would write jokes on slips of paper and drop it into a bowl for Thorton to read. By the end of telethon, the stage would be littered ankle-high in discarded papers. This spontaneous nature can result in some surreal topics as the community play off each other's contributions. A few years ago, an extended riff on Kevin Sorbo eating out of garbage cans went viral and caught the attention of the actor. This lead to Sorbo hosting a Kevin Sorbo Garbage Week-end at the Comedy Bar later that year. This year was the 5th installment of Pat's 24 hours.

I caught an hour online Friday night when the topics were "shitty Noah", "Upside-down Terry", and "Bad Oprah". Early Saturday morning, I dropped by at 5:30 am to see the show in person. The crowd had dwindled by then but started to pick up by the time I left at 9:30. When I arrived, the riffs were about rejected show episodes (Rejected TNG, Rejected Golden Girls, etc.) with a sidetrack into rejected kites (e.g., bricks, dead birds), friendly house ("I love wearing a toilet paper costume for Halloween"), scared kid, and the occasional bad Oprah. The two strongest topics were a down-trodden Coolio trying to survive on the street and singer Jann Arden's voracious appetites for eggs. The latter were particularly surreal: she tries to invent a time machine when she found out about dinosaur eggs; calling Godzilla Eggzilla because egg is God; gobsmacked about fish (i.e., roe); even trying to eat words with the letter O. A lot of it was, no surprise, quite blue.

Serendipity played a big role. A misreading of "is Coolio" as "15 Coolio" introduced a roving gang of 15 Coolios who eventually graduated from homeless hobos to assassinating JFK in a time-travel mission. The arrival of young kids at 9 a.m. (who submitted their own jokes) meant that some of the adult material couldn't be used. This spurred the introduction of Insufficient Plot Summaries. Jann Arden became aware of the show via twitter. Though she was in the Greater Toronto Area, an attempt to get her to come in person fell through, though she did make a donation online.

Thorton did more than just read the jokes. He injected personality and wit to make them work. And a lot of them did. I've been to shows where the jokes weren't half as good. He rallied the troops when the energy flagged, especially since they were writing the material. He even did a couple of improv bits including an extended monologue on whether or not, as a note he read stated that "Everybody has a dink", this could be true (given that all such factual updates obviously came from respected news anchor Peter Mansbridge.)

My own energy was flagging by mid-morning. So I grabbed some free tarts and doughnuts and headed out. This year, the telethon raised over $30,000.