Most meals are amped up with mushrooms and the dried version are a particular favourite of mine. So much so that rather than feeling overwhelmed by its size, I was delighted when a friend gave me the 1/2 kg container of mixed dried mushrooms from Costco for Christmas. For mushrooms, I’ll do some rearranging!

Winterlicious debuted in 2003 to promote Toronto’s restaurant industry during the slower winter months. Since then, the event has grown significantly, reportedly serving over 450,000 meals annually. This year, more than 230 places offer three course, fixed price menus at reduced rates. Six of these are within an easy walk of my office on the Danforth.

Zero are available in Weston.

So I’m doing my own Weston Winterlicious. My criteria? walking distance from my house; food cooked onsite; table service; and open for lunch.

Winterlicious debuted in 2003 to promote Toronto’s restaurant industry during the slower winter months. Since then, the event has grown significantly, reportedly serving over 450,000 meals annually. This year, more than 230 places offer three course, fixed price menus at reduced rates. Six of these are within an easy walk of my office on the Danforth.

Zero are available in Weston.

So I’m doing my own Weston Winterlicious. My criteria? walking distance from my house; food cooked onsite; table service; and open for lunch.

Driving home from work, I listen to Here and Now, CBC Toronto’s drive-time talk show. On Thursdays, their chef guest answers callers’ food-related questions. This week, a listener asked how to prepare rapini. I was inspired. It’s been awhile since I’ve had any. I picked some up at the grocery store today, with a plan.

Winterlicious debuted in 2003 to promote Toronto’s restaurant industry during the slower winter months. Since then, the event has grown significantly, reportedly serving over 450,000 meals annually. This year, more than 230 places offer three course, fixed price menus at reduced rates. Six of these are within an easy walk of my office on the Danforth.

Zero are available in Weston.

So I’m doing my own Weston Winterlicious. My criteria? walking distance from my house; food cooked onsite; table service; and open for lunch.

This is the last part of the three-part series I wrote for rabble.ca in January 2019, just a few weeks after Jack died. In January 2020, I won a Canadian Online Publishing Award for the series, giving me the confidence to begin writing more seriously. The law firm, Iler Campbell, where I was then a partner had a monthly column, called Pro Bono, a platform for the lawyers of the firm to write about legal issues. This was the first time any of us had taken a chance and written something personal. Thanks to the rabble editors for publishing it and submitting it for a COPA. And many thanks to the COPA judges. I am forever in your debt.

I’d hosted friends on Dec 28. The next day, I had treats to use up. My lunch? Homemade cream of tomato soup garnished with thyme from my garden aside a grilled asiago and kielbasa sandwich with a dollop of sriracha mayo for dipping.

This is part two of the three-part series I wrote for rabble.ca in January 2019, just a few weeks after Jack died. In January 2020, I won a Canadian Online Publishing Award for the series, giving me the confidence to begin writing more seriously. The law firm, Iler Campbell, where I was then a partner had a monthly column, called Pro Bono, a platform for the lawyers of the firm to write about legal issues. This was the first time any of us had taken a chance and written something personal. Thanks to the rabble editors for publishing it and submitting it for a COPA. And many thanks to the COPA judges. I am forever in your debt.

This is first of a three-part series I wrote for rabble.ca in January 2019, just a few weeks after Jack died. In January 2020, I won a Canadian Online Publishing Award for the series, giving me the confidence to begin writing more seriously. The law firm, Iler Campbell, where I was then a partner had a monthly column, called Pro Bono, a platform for the lawyers of the firm to write about legal issues. This was the first time any of us had taken a chance and written something personal. Thanks to the rabble editors for publishing it and submitting it for a COPA. And many thanks to the COPA judges. I am forever in your debt.