Good Eats from the Toronto International Film Festival

Luma's deconstructed shrimp salad...

The Toronto International Film Festival recently wrapped, and while I was there working as a publicist on a few titles, food was never far from my mind. And fortunately the food scene is as international as the festival itself.

Downtown Toronto's Entertainment District is the brand new home to the festival, where activity centers around the TIFF Bell Lightbox, a 6-story complex of state-of-the-art cinemas and film related exhibits, as well as two noteworthy restaurants from famed Canadian group Oliver + Bonacini (as in critically acclaimed Canoe and Jump).

And Luma's warm octopus salad

Canteen is a sprawling street front, corner cafe for all day dining and fine people watching. If you're on the go, or between screenings, grab a freshly made sandwich or gourmet salad.

The Lightbox's second floor restaurant, Luma, serves global and Canadian fare in a chic, relaxed space.

Standouts include the warm grilled octopus salad with pickled eggplant and romesco ($16/23), and shrimp salad ($16/23), a deconstructed plate of tender shellfish and veggie spring rolls. Other light dishes include the lobster burger ($21), and beef tongue pastrami on pretzel bread ($9). Weekend brunch service just started.

Chances are you'll hit the Entertainment District on a night out in the city. Home to four national sports teams, theatre, opera, concerts, and rows of clubs, the area just added a new dining hot spot The Shore Club, across the street from Roy Thomson Hall, home of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (and site of big film premieres). This swanky Canadian steak and seafood chain screams "Mad Men" and martinis. Even the appetizers like fresh oysters and spicy popcorn shrimp ($14) are seductive enough to heat up the night.

Le Select Bistro

If you're craving authentic French fare, Le Select Bistro is a short cab ride into the Garment District. With 1200 wine labels and a classic zinc bar, the bustling bistro easily transports you to the side streets of Paris.

Don't leave without trying the sensational soo yook ($10) from Swish by Han. This thinly sliced beef shank is braised for 48 hours and topped with spiced greens and mustard seeds.

Soo yook packs a flavor punch

And if you venture off to Little Portugal, another must try is Porchetta + Co, a five seat sandwich shop that gets rave reviews for serving one of life's greatest foods: Italian slow roasted pork sandwiches ($5.95-$8.95).

Make sure you fly Porter Airlines to Toronto. Even their complimentary snacks are delicious.

The World's Greatest Food Market

Borough Market

London's Borough Market is one of my favorite food destinations in the world. And my visit last week reconfirmed why:

1. It's brimming with the best traditional British purveyors (exceptional international vendors too) - demonstrating why London's food scene is world class. Gorgeous pork pies, famous English produce, mouthwatering artisanal cheeses and traditional game. Classic Britain.

2. The maze-like setting oozes charm and history. It's located in the shadows of Southwalk Cathedral, and originally dates back to 1276. Go hungry and get lost in time.

3. Cool British films like "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels," "Bridget Jones' s Diary," and "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" were shot here. It just looks like a movie set.

4. The sights, smells, tastes and variety are out of this world. One stall in particular just sells French Comte cheese. That's it. And it's incredible. Then there's the famous cheese shop Neal's Yard Dairy. Take one whiff inside and you're floating in cheese heaven. Tasting is encouraged so take advantage of it. Vendors are excited to share their passion and knowledge.

5. Every corner holds an edible work of art. Even hanging rabbits and pheasants look like a still life masterpiece.

And if that's not enough....

Here are a few more mouthwatering reasons why it's unmissable:

A giant vat of Thai green curry

Fish and prawn wraps from Applebee's Fish Shop

Grilled chorizo sandwich from Tapas Brindisa

Pork!



Anything from Roast To Go




Brighton Beach, a Foodie's Delight

Going to Brighton Beach (aka Little Odessa) for the day makes me feel like an excited foreign tourist. A 40-minute subway ride from Manhattan transports you to a vibrant Russian seaside community - and a far cry from the hot dog and Cyclone experience of neighboring Coney Island.

If the weather is still nice in the next few weeks, pack a towel, sunscreen, and your adventurous appetite and get out there. The subway drops you off onto bustling Brighton Beach Avenue, and a block from the boardwalk. Before you hit the beach, wander up and down the main drag to work up an appetite. The street is chock-a-block with enticing Russian and Eastern European gourmet shops, fruit and vegetable stands, and a grand supermarket called Brighton Bazaar, which has a massive hot and cold food bar by the pound. The only catch is if your Russian is rusty, you will feel like a foreign tourist. Much of the signage is in Russian, so are product labels. And even communicating with store staff can involve a lot of hand gestures and confused smiles. But what the hell. This is the time to sample and be adventurous.

Armed with an excellent Brighton Beach food guide from New York Magazine, I set off on my culinary adventure. Here are some highlights:

Gold Label Deli's winning baked goods

Gold Label Deli (281-285 Brighton Beach Ave.) - Definitely stop here for some of the best street snacks. This deli has a storefront bakery window doling out sweet and savory treats: classic Russian pirozhkis (fried yeast dough filled patties with cabbage or meat), cheese pastries and terrific poppy seed rolls. The menu is in Russian. The kind servers don't speak much English, but you won't be disappointed.

Bulk candy

Vintage Food Corporation (287 Brighton Beach Ave.) - Next door to the Gold Label Deli, this bustling little shop is a real find for gourmet bargain hunters. It's packed with bulk bins overflowing with high quality dried fruit, nuts and colorfully wrapped Russian chocolates and candy. The bulk sweets section is labeled in Russian, so create a mystery mix 'n' match bag of goodies.


Brighton Bazaar (1007 Brighton Beach Ave.) - This supermarket is packed with not only an enticing produce section, but also rows of specialty goods from around the world, pickles galore, breads, smoked fish and meats and lots of boxed chocolates. The hot and cold food bar by the pound is impressive and extensive.

Honey poppy seed roll

Cafe La Brioche (1073 Brighton Beach Ave.) - Enter this bakery and you are instantly seduced by a whiff of heavenly baked goods. The fresh honey poppy seed rolls are so delicious, I had to stock up. The rugalach looked equally yummy. And the cases were stuffed with sinful cream filled cakes.

M & I International Food (249 Brighton Beach Ave.) - This expansive two-floor food emporium features extensive deli counters of sausages and smoked meats, smoked fish, a bakery, and freshly prepared food. Brighton Beach's version of Zabars, it's an ideal place to stock up on Russian and Eastern European delights. I found some Turkish sesame coated simit bread, which is so delicious.