HOT OFF THE CANADIAN COOKBOOK SHELF:

Nature’s Candy by Camilla Wynne

In Nature’s Candy, award-winning cookbook author Camilla Wynne welcomes you into the magical world of candying fruit—the classic tradition of imbuing fruit with sugar to preserve it as a glistening confection—and tempts curious bakers to work with this fascinating ingredient in a chose your own adventure–style masterclass. Will you candy the whole fruit (cherries, anyone?) or just pieces (hello, orange peel!)? And which of Camilla’s classic and contemporary baking recipes will you select to let it shine? Will it be the Stollen Pound Cake or maybe the Ginger Cashew Caramel Corn? Or perhaps the Banana Split Blondies?

As Camilla’s previous cookbook, Jam Bake was for baking with jam, Nature’s Candy is a game-changing cookbook for baking with candied fruit — learn the foundations and discover the magic! You can read our interview here.

Bacon, Butter, Bourbon & Chocolate Cookbook by Brian Feldeisen

In The Bacon, Butter, Bourbon, and Chocolate Cookbook, Chef Bruno focuses on four distinct ingredients to create some of his favourite recipes. Each one of these ingredients is remarkable on its own and together they produce a range of tastes and experiences that all food-lovers are greedy for salty, sweet, silky, chewy.

Bruno Feldeisen was born in the small French town of Clermont-Ferrand. He began his career as an apprentice at one of France’s most renowned chocolate shops in Moulins: Les Palets d’Or. He graduated from his apprenticeship with an almost-perfect score. After working as a chocolatier at Hotel de Paris in Monaco under the leadership of Chef Alain Ducasse, Bruno moved to the United States in 1988, working in a number of prestigious restaurants and hotels in California such as Patina and the Highlands Inn. In 1994, he became the executive pastry chef at the Four Seasons Hotel in New York. Bruno’s culinary journey continued when opened Soléa, an American-French restaurant in San Francisco. He later became a pastry chef instructor at the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts in Vancouver, British Columbia and the executive pastry chef at the Four Seasons Hotel in Vancouver. Feldeisen was named one of the Top 10 Pastry Chefs in America by Chocolatier Magazine two years in a row and has been nominated twice for the James Beard Award for Outstanding Pastry Chef. He has been a judge for all eight seasons of The Great Canadian Baking Show on CBC Television.

Soups, Salads, Sandwiches by Matty Matheson

Chances are you’ve eaten a soup, salad, or sandwich in the past day (or maybe all three). This trio makes up so many of our meals but is rarely given the attention it deserves–until now. Matty Matheson, known for his bold, innovative flavours, has created a cookbook that will revolutionize how you think of these kitchen basics. This book is for anyone and everyone, offering up Matty’s signature twists on the classics, delivered with minimal effort for maximum flavour.

The acclaimed chef, New York Times bestselling author, and executive producer and actor on The Bear redefines cooking’s iconic trinity: soups, salads, and sandwiches.

Packed with character, personal stories, scrumptious recipes, and vivid photographs of a day in the life with Matty and his family, Soups, Salads, and Sandwiches will have you fearlessly whipping up your own combinations in the kitchen.

Chuck’s Home Cooking: Family-Favourite Recipes from My Kitchen to Yours by Chuck Hughes

Chuck’s Home Cooking features Chuck’s favourite go-to recipes to cook for his family, whether it’s an easy weeknight dinner, a delicious weekend treat, or a dish to impress on special occasions. One thing is for sure: they’re all on steady rotation in Chuck’s home. Juggling work and a young family, Chuck knows first-hand that the hustle of daily life can make mealtime feel like a chore—but with his simple planning and prep-ahead methods, delicious dishes with bold flavours come together with ease!

Celebrity chef and TV host Chuck Hughes shares sure-fire advice and 85 of his favourite recipes to cook at home for friends and family.

Good Food, Healthy Planet by Puneeta Chhitwal-Varma

In this simple-to-follow guide for today’s households, food writer and climate activist Puneeta Chhitwal-Varma provides everything you need to prepare good-for-us, good-for-the-planet food. Beginning with a primer on “the big why” of eating with emissions and land-use in mind, and a comprehensive guide to stocking kitchen essentials and making the most of your pantry, Puneeta outlines the accessible, achievable framework she calls “Eating with Benefits.”

The book’s 75+ recipes are climate-conscious, mostly meat-free, low-waste, and, of course, delicious! In chapters on versatile staples, mornings, dips and condiments, toasties and snacks, small plates, mains, and sweets, you’ll find workhorse recipes designed to maximize diversity in your diet and minimize waste, as well as back-to-basics techniques like sprouting lentils, making yoghurt and cooking just about any kind of dried bean you can imagine.

The Depanneur Cookbook by Len Senater

The Depanneur Cookbook celebrates Toronto’s astonishing cultural diversity, telling the modern immigrant story of the city through 100 recipes from 100 cooks and exploring the Dep’s transformation from an old corner store to a buzzy place of tremendous culinary creativity.

Over a decade ago, Len Senater set out on an adventure to create meaningful experiences using food as the medium. Since then, Len’s idiosyncratic pop-up space, The Depanneur—a tiny, old corner store transformed into “A Place Where Interesting Food Things Happen”—has featured hundreds of talented cooks and served thousands of eclectic meals. Through culinary events such as casual Drop-In Dinners family-style Supper Clubs, hands-on Cooking Classes to insightful Table Talks, The Depanneur has discovered unique ways to foster community through food, all while avoiding the pitfalls of more traditional restaurant experiences. This is evident in The Dep’s continued success and its large and enthusiastic audience—the aggregation of the innumerable family and friends of all people who have cooked here. From a decade of unbridled culinary creativity emerged the idea of celebrating the remarkable accomplishments of this experiment as a book.

MORE COOKS IN THE KITCHEN, PLEASE:

We are always keen to learn and here are some exciting classes to gift! We’ve found classes for all levels of home chefs, newbies, kids and everyone in between.

Ladurée Canada Pastry Making Class:

From the most iconic French patisserie in the world comes this unique opportunity to learn from an actual Ladurée pastry chef. Executive Pastry Chef Alexandra Launey and her expert team of chefs guide an intimate class in recreating the famous Ispahan right in the Ladurée Laboratory (Toronto). Each participant will gain insight into how the delicate and tasty pastry is perfected from start to finish. And yes, you get to take home your creations to enjoy!  More information here.

Eataly Cooking Classes:

For the love of Italian cuisine comes this fun and interactive series of classes designed for food lovers! Learn how to make pasta and shapes from scratch as well as sauces from various regions. Or how about making Tiramisu for your next holiday gathering? How about a crowd pleasing Lasagna Bolognese? There are even classes for kids. Classes are led by Eataly’s team of chefs. Available at the Yorkville, Sherway and Don Mills locations. Find the full schedule of classes here.

The Depanneur Cooking & Baking classes:

Len Senater founded The Depanneur in 2011 as “A Place Where Interesting Food Things Happen”, and if the 1,000+ pop-up food events they’ve hosted since then are any indication, he has kept his word.

The Depanneur became best known for hosting unique, family-style dinner parties and fun, hands-on cooking classes that showcase the remarkable diversity of Toronto’s culinary talent. After more than a decade operating out of a converted corner store on College St., The Dep, as it’s known amongst regulars, reopened as a new culinary event space at the Center for Social Innovation in 2024.

Whether they’re hosting a Kazakh dinner party, an Indigenous Food Lab, a Mexican tamale workshop, or a Filipino brunch (just to sample a few recent events), the new and improved The Depanneur offers a roster packed with exciting and unique culinary activities.

Since most people already have plenty of ‘stuff’, Senater likes to encourage people to give the gift of amazing experiences. Gift certificates are also available for purchase on their website.

Le Dolci Baking Classes: 

From cake decorating to bread and dough making to adult boot camps and masterclasses, Le Dolci’s culinary classroom has been a popular one for many reasons. Take a deep dive into all things sweet and delicious at any level. There’s even a fun “date night” collection perfect for two. Classes take place in-person but they also have online classes available. Learn more here.

FESTIVE GATHERING WITH FRIENDS:

Festive Royal Brunch at Louix Louis (St. Regis Hotel): December 25 & 26

Celebrate this Festive Season in Royal Style with an Exquisite Brunch at LOUIX LOUIS in the heart of Downtown Toronto. Join us for a lavish Festive brunch at LOUIX LOUIS, where every detail is designed to elevate your holiday celebration. Seafood lovers will delight in our bountiful seafood sharing platter, featuring mussels, shrimp cocktails, crab claws, and fresh oysters. Complete your feast with our Pumpkin Cheesecake, the perfect seasonal dessert to crown your royal Festive brunch. You might also want to check out their other festive offerings (Festive Dinner, Afternoon Tea, Festive Turkey to-go) this season here.

Holidays at the Fairmont Royal York: Saturdays and Sundays until December 29

The timeless tradition of the Clockwork Holiday Tea continues under the rosy glow of the hotel’s stunning clock. Enjoy buttery house-made scones, holiday-inspired sandwiches and an assortment of festive sweets, while you sip on LOT 35 Fairmont curated teas. NEW this year, choose from three seatings PRELUDE, SERENADE, or GRAND FINALE. More details and other festive offerings (House of York Holiday Experience, REIGN Holiday Buffet, REIGN Christmas Dinner and Brunch) can be found here.

Winter Chalet at the Kimpton Saint George Hotel Toronto:

Running from now through the end of January, the Winter Chalet offers a nostalgic ambience with festive décor and classic records setting the mood for guests staying at the hotel. The fun includes hot chocolate station, social hours, and more. Ideal spot to get cosy and relax over mulled wine and bites as you tackle your holiday shopping list in the city.  Furry friends are also welcome.

High Beau-Tea with Guerlain at the W Hotel Toronto:

Pamper yourself with W Toronto’s High Beau-Tea in collaboration with Guerlain. W’s beauty-inspired high tea features curated sweet & savoury petit fours inspired by the newly relaunched Rouge G lipstick and iconic Guerlain beauty line. Indulge in edible lipsticks, clotted ‘night’ cream, météorite powder cakes and more. Served in a makeup case, these fashion-forward bites come with premium loose-leaf teas or make it bubbly with prosecco & Champagne. For a limited time, reservations include an exclusive promotion towards Guerlain beauty products and access to the beauty retail pop-up in Living Room.

Winter Village at The Distillery:

This has officially become one of our traditions in the city during the holidays. Stroll through the cobblestone lanes and visit the local shops and food purveyors that line them. Enjoy some of the most delicious (and yes, now social media “viral” treats including the S’mores Hot Chocolate and the Christmas Poutine). It’s our favourite holiday market in the city! Note some peak entry times require tickets. More information here.

Ginger’s Cocktail Bar: at Le Dolci, 121 Sousa Mendes Street

Worth a visit is this enchanting winter wonderland with an array of Santa approved cocktails and festive sweets. The upper level of the beloved culinary studio has been transformed into a pop-up to provide a joyful and immersive Christmas experience with holiday-inspired décor, music, cocktails, alcohol-free drinks, sweet treats, photo opportunities and more. Visit the site here for more details.

Shop ’till you drop the Jingle Bells

Kilne Cookware Mini Everything Pan:

Mini but mighty. From sides to single serves, skillet cookies to morning eggs, Kilne’s new Mini Everything Pan packs versatility and functionality into a size that perfectly suits your space-saving needs. Meticulously crafted in Italy, the pan is your compact solution for big flavour. This mini version packs all of the versatility and functionality of its larger counterpart, the multi-award-winning Everything Pan, into a size that perfectly suits your space-saving needs. Ideal for solo meals, small kitchens, and on-the-go cooking adventures, the Mini Everything Pan is your culinary companion wherever you roam. Whether you are a busy professional, a college student in a dorm room, or an RV enthusiast craving homemade cuisine on the road, this pint-sized powerhouse delivers big on convenience and flavour. Kilne is a Canadian company! Also, check out the complete line here!

Balzac’s Coffee Roasters:

Inspired by the Grand Cafés of Paris, Balzac’s Coffee Roasters wanted to bring that culture to Canada. Starting as a coffee cart in 1993, they opened their first café in Stratford, Ontario in 1996. Since then, they have grown to 16 distinct locations – yes, each one is unique to its location, with a loyal following. Their roasts can be found on the shelves of grocery stores across the country. Perfect for coffee connoisseurs, secret Santa gifts, and stocking stuffers!

Eataly’s Panettone:

The popular and the icon of Italian holiday tradition, a Classic Panettone from the Italian market’s in-house panettone collection is a standout! The Classic Panettone is one of Eataly’s most popular flavours, in the collection, as it is a leavened sourdough and enriched with raisins, candied orange, and Bourbon vanilla. Its citrus scent makes every slice irresistible. Perfect for bringing to your holiday house parties to enjoy or as a gift for dinner hosts and neighbours.  Great for Christmas morning too and your brunch spread.

Chocolat de Kat:

Founder, Kata, started with a simple idea of making chocolates she would be proud of to give to friends and family. Each bonbon is considered a piece of art and bursting with exciting flavours and ingredient combinations. The artisanal chocolates are created right here in Toronto with the highest quality ingredients. Kat believes her chocolate must taste as good as they look! And they really do! Order directly from her magical chocolate shop here.

Saul Good Gifts Co.: Give the gift of Canadiana with this locally sourced, as well as neighbourhood themed artisan gift box/basket  company. Products have been locally sourced since 2006. With creative names that celebrate local Toronto neighbourhoods such as: “Salute to the Six”, “Bay Street” and “Kensington Market”,these sustainably packaged gift boxes will thrill both the giver and receiver. There’s also a box that celebrates our Indigenous values in their “Turtle Island” themed box. A Certified B Corp, Saul Good Gift Co. uses regional distribution and purchasing strategies to reduce shipping and carbon impact. 

Grand Order of Divine Sweets (The GOoDS): Our favourite geeky sweet shop specializes in uniquely detailed desserts and fine chocolates all made right here in Toronto by Master Sweets Designer, Sam Lapointe. For that Star Wars or Harry Potter fan in your life, these are sure to bring unforgettable smiles. This season there are three seasonal standouts including LUMP OF COAL (a gourmet Madagascar infused vanilla bean marshmallow with golden salted caramel wrapped in a chocolate shell, encrusted in Oreo). WELCOME TO HOGWARTS Sweet Gift Basket, and S’MORES SANDWICH. Of course, if you’ve been assigned dessert duty at your gathering, you’ll want to check out their line of cakes!

MOONMILK’s Toronto Gingerbread House Kit: We love this local bakery and their Deluxe Gingerbread House Kit! This year’s design is inspired by Toronto’s Ward’s Island homes. The kid includes royal icing, candies, and additional gingerbread cookies to enjoy while you craft! The kit includes 21 pieces. OR if you don’t feel like decorating your own, they have pre-built kits. Delivery available in Toronto.

The post Toronto’s Best Gift Ideas for Food Lovers appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

SACHA-ISH: Zing and Pay Chen (Toronto-based food writer, TV and radio personality) have created this savoury chili condiment.  Launched just in time for the holiday gifting and entertaining season, this versatile and delicious jar of goodness can be used in many ways. Sacha-ish is inspired in part by some of her favourite food memories of hot pot where dipping sauces like shāchá jiàng were always a feature at the dinner table. Great for dipping everything from chips to dumplings. Enjoy it as a side sauce for your favour protein. Try it in a veggie stir fry or noodles.  Dollop a spoonful even on top of eggs! Currently available for order online at Zing. You’ll want to check out the rest of the collection too! A three-jar set would make a great gift idea!

KILNE Everything Pan: the name says it all from this high quality Canadian kitchenware brand that sells directly to consumers online. We were impressed with their kitchen knives and steak knives so when they introduced the Made in Italy pan we couldn’t wait to get our hands on it. Cook your favourite recipes directly in this pan on the stove top (induction too!) – pancakes and eggs slide off easily! It also can safely go into the oven! Cleaning is a dream.

Trip to Eataly: Eating is very much part of travel for some of us. Having just returned from Italy I can say you can put me on this list! Why not gift the food lover in your life a whirlwind tasty treat with Italian treats like panettone, olive oils, biscottis and more from Eataly Toronto? There are curated gift boxes ready to go at various price points or create your own. The “Trip to Eataly” gift box sells for $119 and includes Torrone, EVOO, Pistachio spread, Dadi Mixed Cremino Chocolate and Cherry Preserve. They also ship across Canada.

General Assembly Pizza: The popular fresh-to-frozen pizza home delivery subscription based service is a great solution not just for families but also for anyone who has a full calendar and wants a quick but damn great pizza in 7 minutes. They’ve also recently launched a New York Sicilian style pizza complete with Impossible Meat — a perfect option also for holiday gatherings as an appy.

Charlie’s Burgers Wine Club: For the wine lover, gift them this subscription to Ontario’s most exclusive wine club. Built by the same team members who brought the Michelin Guide to Toronto, this monthly delivery of curated and exclusive selection of imported wines from the world’s best vineyards and not found at the LCBO. Deliveries also come with notes about the wines each month.

Crafty Ramen: For the noodle-head in your life, gift them a subscription to this Canadian ramen company. Each ramen kit contains fresh made noodles, broth, protein, sauce to make a delicious warm and savoury Japanese noodle soup bowl. They were also recently on Dragon’s Den!

Genuine Tea: for the tea lover in your life this is a company worth exploring. While we love their Creamy Earl Grey, the Silver Needle tea is one that caught our attention. Considered one of the most prized in the world, it’s beautifully complex.  This mild white tea has notes of chamomile and peach. It also can be re-steeped multiple times. Toronto-based Genuine Tea was founded by two tea aficionados who have a passion for hand-crafted artisan teas. After travelling to plantations across Asia and learning about various teas and how different cultures enjoy them, they bring a wealth of knowledge to share with other tea lovers.

Blume: Cozy up with a mug full of chocolaty goodness is a winter ritual. If you’re looking for a guilt-free option worth a try is their Reishi Hot Cacao. According to this Vancouver-based company, this vegan option for our favourite hot beverage also comes with some healthful properties. Support your immune system and fight off the blues with this mystic mushroom hot chocolate. Known as the mushroom of immortality, reishi is a popular stress-soothing adaptogen that helps you fight off the blues and improve your sleep cycle. Cacao helps to support the production of anandamide AKA “the bliss molecule”. You may also want to check out their other offerings all inspired by our favourite beverages but can do more for us. Also all organic and plant-based. Their holiday lattes are delicious including the nut nog, gingerbread, and mint cocoa. I’m also loving their Rose London Fog Blend. 30 servings per 100 g package.

Balzac’s: Coffee lovers across our country are probably familiar with this Canadian coffee house – we visit the one in the Distillery District often! Founded in Stratford, Ontario and inspired by the Grand Cafés of Paris. We came across their customizable coffee roast subscription – frequency of delivery, grind, weight and preferred roast (which can be adjusted anytime) including their popular organic and fair trade beans.

Galerie au Chocolat: Canadian Made – Located in Montreal, Galerie au Chocolat is Canada’s best kept secret for chocolate lovers since 1985. The line of indulgence for the holiday season includes with new luxurious assortment of chocolate offerings from their Artisan, Fairtrade, and Liesse Sugar-Free lines.

Just Vertical: for the person who misses their garden and loves fresh herbs throughout the year, Just Vertical’s hydroponic growing system offers beautifully designed indoor garden systems that are easy to use, sustainable — perfect for the urban gardener. The EVE is a space-sensitive indoor garden that’s built into a seriously beautiful piece of wooden furniture. If that’s too big of a commitment start with one of their Seedling Kits and grow popular herbs like basil and chives then transplant them to your own indoor garden.

Gingerbread Wood Board (Indigo): charcuterie boards and butter boards are all the rage and we can’t get enough of them! But this wooden board shaped as a Gingerbread man is so sweet! We can easily fill it with gingerbread cookies, tarts, chocolates and candy canes as a great leave behind hostess gift at any upcoming holiday party.

Ciselier Alpen Italiano Classico Kitchen Scissors: what do you get the ultimate foodie on your list? They wouldn’t guess you’d gift them “the perfect kitchen scissors”. These heritage crafted scissors are perfect for those artisanal pizzas, to debone chicken, and more. The ergonomic design makes them safer to use than knives. Centre tool is a bonus to crack those lobster shells.

The Edgy Veg EASY EATS Cookbook: We adored Candice Hutchings’ previous cookbook and have been keeping an eye out for this latest one. She taught us that we don’t need to sacrifice creativity or bold flavours with vegan dishes and now you won’t have to sacrifice time or ease either! Each recipe in this book takes no longer than 45 minutes to create. No need to go to fancy health food stores for ingredients either!

Lucky Iron Fish: is a simple, reusable and effective cooking tool that adds extra iron to your daily foods or drinks. Made from food-grade electrolytic iron powder that is FDA certified and approved for food fortification worldwide. Many love this as it offers a side-effect free source of iron, especially for those with iron deficiency anemia.

The post Toronto 2022 Food Lover’s Gift Guide appeared first on Toronto Guardian.