The Fish Store

I REALLY REALLY hate posting a picture of myself after a title like that, but.......



photo by Taylor



blouse: H&M
trousers: Zara
belt: Aritzia
sandals: Gucci (from Milano, not Toronto)
ring: Le Chateau....only 18 bucks!  It makes me want a piece of toffee real bad.........



Im really lucky in my relationship......the stars aligned & I found a man who is as much of a food slut as I am.  Seriously, watching us on a date is like watching 2 hogs at the feeding trough.  Hes been introducing me to all kinds of little culinary gems around the city.  On our first date, he rolled out the red carpet and took me to a 5-star restaurant; the bill was $400+.  Then we slept together and now he takes me to places like "The Fish Store";  a tiny little "mom & pop" shop that specializes in serving......wait for it.......fish.

The Fish Store: exterior

The Fish Store: Interior.......id ballpark it about 300-350 sq. feet


We both got the soup & sandwich combo; I chose Boston Chowder & a grilled shrimp sandwich, he chose the Manhattan Clam Chowder & an arctic char sandwich.  We did half-sies on the sandwiches:

Boston Chowder

Manhattan Clam Chowder

Left: Grilled Shrimp
Right: Arctic Char

Let me tell you, IT WAS ARGUABLY ONE OF THE BEST SANDWICHES I HAVE EVER TASTED.  Wait, wait, wait, lets start with the soups: The Boston Chowder was good, I really loved that the clam & other seafood in it was cooked to perfection & wasnt "rubbery" at all.  The broth was a bit bland & needed pepper; it also wasnt as creamy as I would have liked.  As with most things from New York, the Manhattan Chowder was WAYYYYY better.  Tomato-y, savoury & chocked full of flavour.....the seafood bits in it were also perfectly cooked.

The sandwiches were absolutely to die for; both the shrimp & char were grilled to perfection.  Combined with fresh, ripe slices of avocado (a $1extra but an absolute must) and a delicious bakery fresh roll.....it was heavenly.  I smothered it in hot sauce (not because it needed flavour, just because I like spice) and devoured every last morcel of my meal.  After we were done, the owner completely forgot we hadnt paid for our food yet......normally I would have taken advantage & bolted, but it was SO DELICIOUS that I reminded him & shelled out the cash.  Snacks I Have Known rule: you dont scam a "mom & pop"......save that for the big corporations.

This is a definite SNACKS I HAVE KNOWN reccomendation.  Both combos came to about $15 each (cash only), but considering how fresh & "real" the ingredients are.....it was well worth the money.


Now all they need to do is work on that name.......




FIERCEWITHAHIGHWAIST

What A Girl Wants


Casual friday, no big deal:

courtesy of Kanga

boots: Little Burgundy
leggings: TNA
sweater: Wilfred
tank: Forever 21

I was chatting with a 22 year old today about what kind of boys shes attracted to.  What I got from her lengthy answer was an "Abercrombie & Fitch" looking guy who would be willing to change his facebook status to "In A Relationship" and could do a keg stand.  Its interesting how what we as women consider "attractive qualities" in men change as we get older.  At 29, even tho I am nowhere near ready for marriage and/or children, I find that I cannot feel a deep sexual attraction to a man until I know the answers to questions like these:
"Would he make a good husband?"
"Would he be a good provider?"
"Would he make a great father?"
"Will he let me be the female in the relationship?"
"Is he a true gentleman?"



I guess at the end of the day, what women really want is........

"She wana shop with Jay, play box wit Jay
She wana pillow fight in the middle of the night
She wana drive my benz with 5 of her friends
She wana creep past the block, spyin' again
She wana roll wit Jay, chase skeeos away
She wana fight wit lame chicks, blow my day
She wana inspect the rest, kick me to the curb
if she find one strand of hair longer than hers
She want love in the jaccuzi, rub up in the movie
Access to the old crib, keys to the newbie
She wana answer my phone, tattoo her arm
Thats when I gotta send her back to her moms
She call me Heartbreaker, when we apart it makes her
grab a piece of paper, scribble down I HATE CHA
But she know she love Jay because
She love everything Jay says Jay does..........."




FIERCEWITHAHIGHWAIST

Too Fatty for St. Patty

Ive made the executive decision to go to the gym tonite instead of drinking my face off for St. Patricks Day.....pause for reaction.  Ive been hitting the gym really really hard this week, and the last thing I need is to make all my hard work moot by filling up on green beer & pub food.

photo by Kanga

cardi: Ebay
tank: H&M
high-waisted paperbag trousers: Aritzia
flats: Costa Blanca
necklace: Ardene
watch : Guess


Dont worry about me, my little hams.  It breaks my heart to miss out on free beer & food, but Ill be alright.  I dont need St. Patricks Day as an excuse to go out and get shit-faced.....I can do that whenever I want!



FIERCEWITHAHIGHWAIST

The Burger's Priest

It doesnt get any more fiercewithahighwaist than these pants:



photo by kanga

 tank: Urban Outfitters
cardi: Aritzia
trousers: Zara
belt: Aritzia
cut-out brogues: Urban Outfitters
earrings: Ardene
watch: Guess

I finally got a chance to check out "The Burger's Priest", a new burger joint on Queen West.  Their slogan is "Redeeming the Burger One At A Time"......Im pretty sure they are owned by hardcore Christians; check out their website, you'll see what I mean.  Anywhoo, I decided not to hold that against them and pay a visit to see what all the commotion was about.  I found a tiny little take-out place that was RAMMED with people....no bother to me, as I love mom & pop greasy spoons....but just a warning that sitting down to eat is pretty much impossible. 


Their menu was very short & sweet; burgers with a veggie option brilliantly titled, "The Option."  I decided to order "The Priest": a cheeseburger with "The Option" in it.  It was superyum; the beef was obviously fresh and not overseasoned, and I discovered "The Option" is a portobello mushroom stuffed with gooey cheese, breaded & deep fried.  I, of course, teamed it with a side of fries & ketchup:

While I enjoyed the burger...I wasnt blown away by it.  "The Option" added a nice crunch & texture, but the gooey cheese filling combined with the cheese on top of the burger was a little much for me.  I liked the fact that there was more filling (burger patty, battered portobello) than bun.  Their fries were mediocre....I honestly expected more because they are fresh-cut and made on the premises.  Through my experience as a self-described french fry savant, Ive learned that NOBODY can match McDonalds fries......

The porker I was with ordered the chili cheese fries......I decided to pass because I was all cheesed-out from my meal.......

THE VERDICT:  yummy & a little bit different.  Its not something I would go out of my way to get again or crave when Im PMSing.....but I definitely suggest you try it.  Get ready to shell out some dough though; each person's order will come to about $20 with fries & a drink.  Not exactly cheap for a burger joint, but it is fresh and as with most things in life: you get what you pay for.

Can I get an "Amen"??




FIERCEWITHAHIGHWAIST

Spring Forward

Daylight Saving Time is supposed to be a sure-fire sign of spring, but after seeing this bullshit on the weekend, its hard to stay hopeful of warmer days:

Still, I really need to stop complaining about Toronto's weather.  I was horrified by the images of the Japanese earthquake/tsunami, and its plenty reassuring to know our city is pretty much a natural disaster free zone.  Also, I LOVE the fact that it only starts getting dark around 7:15ish now.  After being cooped up at work all day, its nice to see daylight on my walk home; not feel like Nosferatu emerging from the crypt.





photo by Kanga

 sweater: Winners
skirt: Urban Outfitters
leggings: H&M
booties: Aldo
watch: Shoppers Drug Mart




FIERCEWITHAHIGHWAIST

B.F.A. (Big Fat Ass)

I dont care what anyone says......I LOVE my mom jeans.....or any other article of clothing that makes my ass & thighs look juicier than a georgia peach......



photo by Kanga

 cropped sweater: H&M
high-waisted mom jeans: Urban Outfitters
belt: Aritzia
boots: Miss Sixty
watch: Garage
hoops: Ardene


Im told on a daily basis that I have a "big fat ass."  While Ive always thought of and taken this as a compliment, Im not sure the individual who says this to me means it as such.  Some women think having no curves (translation: 12 year old boy bodies) is sexier....and they are completely entitled to their own opinon......Kate Moss is built like this and I think she is a stunner.  But I definitely do not fall under this category.  My B.F.A. has ALWAYS been my favourite body part.  In my opinion, the most beautiful women in the world have some serious B.F.A.s (my J.Lo, Beyonce, Shakira, to name a few).....and pretty much every man I have ever come in contact with has agreed with me.......even tho Im sure they were probably just trying to sleep with me.


I think Sir Mix-A-Lot summed it up best: "L.A. Face with an Oakland booty."  Check this out to hear an homage to all the B.F.A.'s of the world: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kY84MRnxVzo.  SIDE NOTE: the girl in the tight yellow dress at the beginning pretty much has my dream physique.





FIERCEWITHAHIGHWAIST

I Dot You, Babe......

Is there anything that screams "Im A Girl" more than polka dots???



photo by Kanga

 secretary blouse: H&M
high-waist trousers: Bebe
skinny belt: Club Monaco
shoes: BCBG
watch: Garage
hoops: Ardene

I found the polka-dot secretary blouse a little too "sweet", so I sexed it up a bit with some hardcore accessories:

Nothing says "bad-ass" like a pair of snakeskin stripper heels and a crucifix tattoo........




FIERCEWITHAHIGHWAIST