Sips, Sweets & Snacks

This week’s local love is a new Toronto spot that I might even call my favourite cafe in the city. Specializing in tea, coffee, house-made confiture, and the fluffiest, butteriest scones you’ve ever tasted, Kitten and the Bear is the perfect place for an indulgent afternoon tea alone, a romantic outing, or just catching up with friends. Due to extremely limited space, expect to take your goodies to go, and be pleasantly surprised if a table is available (don’t worry, a picnic in High Park is just a few blocks away!)

Owned and run by Sophie and Bobby, two of the cutest folks you’ve ever met, the shop offers scones and mini servings of jam to-go if you’re in a hurry. They also sell tins of Sloane Tea, hand-picked vintage tea ware, and their fresh, handmade, local-fruit-filled jams in adorable jars to go (in case you’re ever planning on getting me a gift, look no further.) They’re always dreaming up something new too- in fact last time I visited there was talk of jam parfaits with local yogurt, and I got to sample some not-yet-released jam sweetened ice tea (which, in case your wondering, is the best thing ever!)

I could go on and on about banana jam that tastes like heaven, and pots of Perfectly Pear tea, but just take my word for it: stop by Kitten and the Bear next time you’re craving something sweet. I promise you’ll leave will a full belly, a smile on your face, and most likely a shopping bag full of jam, tea, and tea ware to take home!

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Dear Diary

I haven’t had time to do a local love post for awhile now because I’ve been so busy running around with all sorts of talented people and working on big exciting projects, so this one has been waiting around in my drafts for a couple weeks (hence the incorrect hair colour!)

Good Egg has been one of my favourite shops in the city ever since I first ventured in looking for a magazine a few years ago. A cookbook shop filled with adorable kitchen supplies and novelty items, there are so many foodie-finds here that you won’t see anywhere else in town. If you’re looking to dig up some new recipes, grab a cute tea towel, or load up on special gifts for your friends, this is totally the place to go!

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Dress Up

Where do I even start with Bicyclette?

I have so much love for the ladies that run this whimsical little shop. A bright sparkling shop tucked away in a busy stretch of Queen West right by Trinity Bellwoods park, Bicyclette is a breath of fresh air in a city that’s so often much too dark and dingy.

Paige, the owner of Bicyclette, and her team of superstar staff redecorate the shop constantly, adding magical handmade touches each season to compliment the always adorable clothing. This past week the store was filled with cute little plants and bright coloured sunnies! Carrying some of my favourite brands like Wildfox and Ban.do, and a whole bunch of labels I’ve never seen anywhere else, this shop is by far my favourite place to play dress up!

Over the past few months, I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know Paige in real life, and together we came up with a bi-weekly blog series for the Bicyclette blog called Take Me Out. Basically I get to take clothing from her shop out on adventures around the city and blog about it (there’s a very sweet new post coming out today in fact, so keep your eyes peeled!) I’ve been a fan of the shop itself since I moved to Toronto six years ago, so its been extra lovely to get to know the woman behind the fairytale. Every time Paige posts on instagram or whips up a new blog post, I’m always swooning, and I feel so lucky to not only be a fan, but a friend now too.

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Photography by Brianne Burnell