Batch: A New Brewpub in the Heart of Downtown Toronto

By: Saema Nasir

“This is going to be good.”

Those were the words my friend exclaimed as he surveyed the crowded room filled with the chatter of strangers and the music of a live band.

And it turned out he was right.

The crowd was hip, the beer was flowing and the music was loud in the dimly lit room. This is the scene I found myself in for Batch Toronto’s pre-opening bash. 

A new gastropub in the heart of Toronto, Batch’s menu features carefully crafted cocktails and an extensive selection of craft beer brewed in-house as well as traditional pub eats with a fresh twist. 

The upscale décor is really what stands out. The open space features exposed brick, tasteful and ultra-current accents such as mason jars, copper hardware finishes as well as a retro touch of lighting and seating booths reminiscent of a 50s diner. With two levels, there is plenty of room and the space is great for big groups or even an intimate dinner for two. Think of Batch as the most upscale pub you’ll ever go to. 

I was presented with three beer selections, each with a distinct taste and flavor. The Porter beer was a deep chocolate colour, with a chocolaty, deep taste to match. This was a filling beer that had real depth. Next came a foggy, amber, wheat beer, which was surprisingly refreshing and light. I could see myself drinking this on a cottage patio in the summer. The last beer was the lightest in look and flavor; it had a bitter taste that didn’t linger but is potent when it first hits your tongue. 

After whetting my whistle, the food was served, which was superb. Expect traditional pub fare done excellently and differently, which will pleasantly tingle your taste buds. One example is the fried pickles. This may seem like a simple dish served in many other places, but in the hands of Chef Ben Heaton, he turns this humble snack into something wonderful that is both crispy and light. Paired with the dill and ranch mayo this is a must-have!

The lamb burger was juicy and the curried lime pickle mayo had a creamy tang that complimented the taste of the meat.

My personal favorite were the wings which came in garlic and honey or house hot sauce. Elevated beyond what usual wings are, these small bites had a kick without too much heat and a sweet tang without the sugariness. Also of note was the curried chicken flatbread, which was buttery yet still light, savory and spicy. The herbs stood out and the flatbread itself was fluffy. 

I was impressed by the beautiful space and elevated pub fare. If you want a comfortable atmosphere that is still trendy and delicious and affordable food, definitely make Batch your go-to weekend haunt.

Photos of interior by Joel Levy Photography.

Photos of food by Paula Wilson.

Saema Nasir is a communications professional who blogs, writes, paints & explores her beautiful city of Ottawa. She has a Masters in Public Relations and also blogs at thecityquill.com. Follow her on Twitter @saemanasir. 

Oikos Creations: Greek Yogurt Never Tasted So Good!

By: Zena Rebello

Healthy living, including regular exercise and eating right, has always been a part of my life. I'm an avid Muay Thai practitioner and strive to make healthy food choices. When it comes to snacks, I've always enjoyed the smooth and creamy taste of Greek yogurt. I eat it in the morning, during my afternoon break and even sometimes as a late night delight. 

Recently, I had the opportunity to sample Danone's new Oikos Creations. I got to try the coolest new flavours including Lemon Meringue, Banana Choco, Coco Flakes and Raspberry Choco. Each flavour I tried was better than the one before it. For all the ice cream lovers, the Banana Choco flavour is reminiscent of a banana split. My personal favourite is the Lemon Meringue. The light, tantalizing taste of the much-loved lemony dessert melted in my mouth. Its rich, creamy texture reminds me more of a decadent dessert than a healthy snack. 

I was pleasantly surprised to learn that each little decadent cup of Oikos Creations has 100 calories, 8 grams of protein and nine essential amino acids and active yogurt cultures. After sampling each flavour, my mind started buzzing with all of the creative things I could do with the yogurt. I could make frozen yogurt pops with Raspberry Choco, or give my morning smoothie an island twist with the addition of Coco Flakes. 

One morning, I decided to make Banana Choco pancakes. I followed my go-to pancake recipe (any pancake recipe that calls for yogurt will do) and substituted the Banana Choco Oikos Creations for plain yogurt. The pancakes turned out fluffy and fantastic! With hints of banana and the taste of chocolate, this heavenly protein-rich breakfast was so yummy that my boyfriend and I devoured them immediately! 

The freshness of the flavours combined with the nutritional value left me highly satisfied. With a variety of flavours that Oikos Creations offers, there is a something to appease everyone's cravings!

Zena Rebello is an environmental and atmospheric chemist by day and an ardent Muay Thai practitioner by night.

If/Then - Theatre Review

By: Nikita Raja

If/Then is a musical that centres around the story of a newly divorced heroine, (Elizabeth) played by the talented Jackie Burns, who comes to New York City to start afresh. Reacquainting with her past, starting a new job, fighting for what she believes in and finding love are some of the elements that make up the intriguing modern-day Broadway musical. 

Elizabeth carries the audience through two different paralleled alternatives of her life: the life she leads and the life that could have been. In one universe, she falls in love with a soldier, (Josh), played by the charming Matthew Hydzik. Fate and chance brought them together and theirs is a loving and passionate relationship.

Burns' strong vocal prowess brought the house down on many occasions throughout the show. Hydzik’s captivating on-stage presence and charm made for many tender moments between him and his leading lady. The pair's vibrant chemistry was the anchor that kept pulling me in throughout the show. 

Meanwhile, in another world she follows her passion for a career in urban planning and makes questionable romantic decisions with old flames from her past, such as with her old friend (Lucas), played by the Broadway favourite Anthony Rapp (most famous for this role as Mark in Rent). Rapp’s performance brought a raw, comedic yet lovable energy to the stage. 

The seamless set transitions made it easy to keep up with the overlapping versions of Elizabeth's life. This is a story about those “what if” moments in our lives, and how our decisions can impact and change the course our lives within seconds. David Stone’s production is filled with deep and meaningful realities of life that we can all relate to, question and reflect upon. This, coupled with Tom Kitt’s memorable musical numbers (and my personal favourites) such as “What If?“, “No More Wasted Time” and “Best Worst Mistake” brings together a stellar ensemble cast. But it was Burns’ vocal range and charisma that truly made her shine through as the strongest performer.

If/Then isn’t your typical musical where you can predict sequential story arcs and plot points. At times, it had you leaning one way and then jolted you into a completely different direction. It’s honest, emotional and moving. The artistic story-telling will leave you inspired and will challenge you to interpret your very own “what if” moments and their significance in your life. 

Starring: Jackie Burns, Matthew Hydzik, Anthony Rapp & Tamyra Gray

Directed by: Michael Grief

Music by: Tom Kitt

Book & Lyrics by: Brian Yorkey

Photos: Joan Marcus

If/Then plays at the Princess of Wales Theatre until May 8, 2016.

The Judas Kiss - Theatre Review

By: Saema Nasir

From the first provocative scene to the final, heartbreaking act, The Judas Kiss will have you glued to your seat and riveted by the action unfolding before you.

A retelling of Oscar Wilde’s last years, the play deals with the themes of loyalty, love, betrayal, and friendship as it explores his run from the authorities who wanted to punish him for his sexuality. Depicting Oscar Wilde’s relationship with his long-time advisor and former lover Robert Ross and his current lover Lord Alfred Douglas, we see the external factors that Wilde had to contend with, while simultaneously struggling with his internal impulses on whether to escape prosecution by fleeing England or staying to face certain imprisonment. 

The star attraction is Rupert Everett who plays Oscar Wilde with gusto. Relishing in every quip, with witty repartee rolling off his tongue, Everett creates a Wilde who is infuriating as well as sympathetic. Portraying Wilde’s downfall from wealthy and fêted raconteur and socialite to an impoverished expatriate, Everett showcases Wilde’s weaknesses with subtlety and his legendary spirit and wit vividly.

Under Neil Armfield’s skilled direction, each actor shines, adeptly showing how their characters impacted Wilde and his decisions as they enter and exist in his life.

Charlie Rowe as Lord Alfred Douglas is arrogant and easy to dislike. In spite of all his shortcomings, Wilde truly loved him. 

Alister Cameron as a musty butler brings a lively touch to the scenes he is in while Cal MacAninch shines as a loyal and spurned former-lover of Wilde. He brings a raw intensity to the character whose heartbreak is worn on his sleeve.

The Judas Kiss asks very important questions around the importance of loyalty, the sting of deceit and the value of love. More poignantly it depicts the cruelty of a society so capable and willing to ruin a brilliant man simply for who he was.

See The Judas Kiss for its superb acting, engaging dialogue and entrancing action, as well as for the important lesson it teaches on the perils of letting the law into the bedroom.

The Judas Kiss is playing until May 1, 2016 at the Ed Mirvish Theatre in Toronto. Tickets can be purchased online at mirvish.com.

Photos: Cylla von Tiedmann

Saema Nasir is a communications professional who blogs, writes, paints & explores her beautiful city of Toronto. She has a Masters in Public Relations and also blogs at thecityquill.com. Follow her on Twitter @saemanasir. 

The Crackwalker - Theatre Review

By: Paul Lewkowicz

The Crackwalker, written and directed by Judith Thompson, tells a powerful story of characters Theresa and Alan, and Sandy and Joe, as they live a life of poverty, abuse, and addiction in Kingston, Ontario. Throughout the play, the demons and challenges faced by the two couples is shadowed and met by a mysterious man known as the The Crackwalker.

The cast delivers strong and powerful performances. Yolanda Bonnell did a masterful job of portraying Theresa, a young and innocent woman who is cheerful and positive despite being subject to constant insults about her weight, sexual activity, and learning disability. Stephen Joffe plays the character of Alan (Al), a young man who looks up to the older Joe and who is a follower desperately seeking to fit in. Greg Gale portrays Joe, a tough guy addicted to alcohol and persistently looking for work while regularly parading around with the mayor of Kingston. He relishes telling stories of music and bars that are dear to his heart.

Waawaate Fobister portrays The Crackwalker, a man who appears as the voice and tells the stories of the four characters through dance. In the background is the mysterious Bonnie Cain, the town gossiper who spreads numerous rumours about the promiscuousness and mistakes of the Theresa, Joe, Al and Sandy.

The play has many key themes that haunt the characters and draws emotion from the audience. Theresa and Al are so innocent and desperate to fit in and to be accepted by others. They constantly worry about what Joe and Bonnie Cain think, despite the fact that these individuals have hardly been good to them. Theresa is so easy to please, as she leaves her troubled home and seeks a better place to stay. This results in her being taken advantage of and a quick marriage and pregnancy that have tragic consequences. The theme of sexual assault and abusive relationships confront Theresa and Sandy. Their stories of pain, abuse, denial, anger, submission, and a desire for happiness are painful reminders of the tragic situations that many individuals constantly face, particularly women.

Bonnell and Armstrong deliver outstanding performances that show their characters confronting their innermost demons that complicate and harm their lives. Their performances were particularly poignant as it came on the same day of the verdict of a major sexual assault trial in Canada and also amidst the attention that domestic violence and sexual assault has received from the media, politicians and legislators.

Joe’s addiction to alcohol and abuse towards Theresa and Sandy makes him the villain throughout the play, until the end when he demonstrates a small glimpse of his humanity in trying to wrestle with the tragic consequence facing Al and Theresa. Al’s struggle to grieve the loss of his father, his questioning of his sexuality, and his desire to fit in puts him in a place of vulnerability. Lastly, one cannot help but feel compassion for the plight of Al and Theresa, who question and grapple with “the system” that is the constant backdrop to their lives. Whether it be Al’s blame of doctors for the death of his father or Theresa’s persistent reference of the judgements and directions from her social worker (some of which are insulting), the audience gets the feeling that the system and society as a whole could have done more to help these four characters. It also makes one question how many children are in the care of families facing similar tragic situations.

The Crackwalker is a powerful play that is definitely worth seeing. As articulated by The Crackwalker character, the play showcases the intersection of two rivers: a river of poison (demons and stories that haunt the characters) and a river of purity (innocence and joy). The cast portrays complex characters that tackle sensitive issues that resonate with the audience in different ways. It forces us to reflect on how we as a society can help those in need and mitigate or avoid tragic events that plague so many lives such as those of the characters in the play.

The Crackwalker runs until April 10 at the Factory Theatre in Toronto. https://www.factorytheatre.ca/tickets.

Photos by Joseph Michael Photography.

Paul Lewkowicz is a fan of politics, the arts, travel and tennis. He lives in Toronto.