dimanche 30 décembre 2012

Malta - December 2012


This is the end…that is of our stay in Malta, at the end of this year (2012). Leaving tomorrow.

Weather was normal for this time of the year; around 20 degrees, clear sky most of the time…and windy (mind you, we are quite exposed – not so much at the flat but Fort-chambray itself, giving right on the sea, from the top of a cliff…)

12 days or so, resting and reading (about Italy, Peking, getting ready for Rome; doing correspondence); most of time…

We took a Christmas concert in, at Victoria’s Cathedral, at the Citadel. As Cynthia put it, Carol and Michael keep us culturally connected!

We took a few meals outside: lunch at Moby Dick in Xlendi; dinner at Patick’s Tmun (a couple of time); Xmas lunch at the Kempinski; and lunch at Ambrosia in Valetta, on Malta.

Leaving for Rome in the morning…

December 28, 2012

dimanche 2 décembre 2012

Restaurants in Toronto



I am often asked where to eat in Toronto. Here is a few of our best experiences (not necessarily in order) eating out in this city:

1) At Acadia; a small place – open kitchen – on Clinton Street, off College or Dundas Street; unique food (southern accents) and excellent!

2) At Colborne Lane; rather extravagant (chef Aprile, it seems, has had a long history in the food business, including some time at Le Bulli…) and enjoyed!

3) At Splendido; exceptional dinner! But not cheap!

4) At Nota Bene; Italian, downtown, lunch.

5) At Lucien, close to home on Wellington, traditional French.

6) North 44, McEwan’s flagship restaurant I think; reliable if expensive! (Fabbrica, for Italian, is a favorite, also of his, much closer to the office);

7) Some of Olivier & Bonacini restaurants; they have 7 or 8 of them in town – check their website. I have been to most of them if not all, but would avoid Canoe though, which I thought was way overpriced for what they served!)

8) Cynthia has enjoyed above, and also Patria on King West, Spanish…y; as well as ICI Bistro; and more recently Momofuku, the noodle bar, adjacent to the Shangri-la hotel; very new!

9) Places we go often to: Le Select on Wellington Street, mainly for brunch, and The Canteen at the TIFF building, because it’s convenient and consistently good, both places

10) One we will likely try soon, it’s the new place own/run by Susur Lee (Bent on Dundas West?)

Now that I have enumerated the above, I am starting to think of many others which should probably be on this list… But those above could be counted on…



Toronto, December 2012