HUG Cookies & Champagne Holiday Party

It’s that time of year again when the Holiday party invites are starting to pile up, and your iCal is cluttered with events. I know you have lots of swanky parties to choose from in the few weeks leading up to the holidays, but ladies may I suggest one where you get to sample hundreds of delicious cookies made with love by 200 of your closest soon-to-be friends?

The second annual Hip + Urban Girl Cookies and Champagne Holiday Party is happening soon and you should come. You know how much fun I had last year so dont miss out! Get your ticket and then we can start brainstorming yummy cookie ideas together.

Save the date!

Thinking about Eat to The Beat TO at Snacktime

Salmon Rolls from Spice Route

It’s 3p.m. meaning the mid-day snack monster is about to be unleashed. This bag of Halloween chips at my desk, however, just won’t compare to all the amazing treats I sampled a few weeks back at Eat to The Beat culinary fundraiser for Breast Cancer. I’ll just have to look at the photos and remember each savory bite….

If you want to make yourself feel bad about that boring salad you had for lunch then check out morefrom the event here.

ohm nom, nom, nom......

This Summer I…

Summer is over and the memories begin. Here are some things that made it a great season.

Went to great social media events with my official plus one, @stephullman

Enjoyed High Tea

Became a Bridesmaid

Took my first Trip to Barcelona

Returned to my favourite city in the world (Paris)

Did a lot of baking (these are pistachio biscotti)

Experimented with Nail Art

Ate many wonderful meals (this is the octopus salad from Fabbrica)

Made new blogger friends

Ate as much ice cream as possible

Enjoyed lazy cottage weekends

How was your summer?

The Newsfeed Still Runs While I’m Away

I’m back to the keyboard after the end of my amazing European getaway.

I’m a little groggy and still longing for the cobblestone streets of Paris and Barcelona, but happy to get back to writing. While I was away a few of the items I had be working on went up, so if you missed them like I did here they are again:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Away We Go on Styleninetofive.com for all your travel essentials

Parisian Chic: A Style Guide Book Review on Hipurbangirl.com for some satorial summer reading

I’m also excited to have written my very first food-related reviews of  The Collective Restaurant and Bar in NYC and Bigabaldi’s Restaurant for Hip Urban Girl. Looking forward to many more tasty writing experiences soon.

Buon Appetito! HugTo’s Italian Feast & Friends Night

*WARNING* Reading this post may cause hunger pains. 

Last Thursday evening I had a wonderful meal. Actually, I think I’m still full.

Ready for cooking!

The ladies at Hipurbangirl hosted their latest networking event, Italian Feast & Friends with personal chef Massimo Bruno.

Massimo preparing the pasta

Chef Massimo cooked us a classic Italian 7-course meal at his Kitchen Studio Loft in Corktown, Toronto.

The Menu

We started with platters of antipasti: Buffalo Mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, carpaccio, salami, figs and focaccia bread, then moved on to the primi: handmade cavatelli pasta with tomatoes, arugola and ricotta. Next came the secondo: panfried veal with a lemon sauce and grilled zuccini, and finished the night with a dessert of panna cotta with raspberries and espresso.

Cavatelli Pasta

Everyone crowded around the kitchen with wine in hand as Massimo showed us every step of the meal, and shared with us a bit of his cooking philosophy and his secret ingredients. The best part of the night was having a chance to roll up our sleeves and join in on the pasta making lessons with training from Massimo.  Talk about earning your meal!

Handmade pasta by yours truly

Cooking lessons, a savoury home made meal, wine and some awesome dinner mates made for a perfect night!

Yummy Yummy in my Tummy

Who doesn’t love a nice bowl of hot soup on a cold winter’s day?

Brian McKilligan knew how much people love a hearty soup to pick them up when they are down or feeling ill, so he decided to make a business out of it.

He started Yummy Tummy Soup Co. last year as a service that sends home made care packages to anyone you are thinking of across Canada.

See the full story on TalentEgg.ca