Thursday

Movie Ticket Giveaway

Movie Ticket Certificates

It's the first day of summer and it's time to celebrate! I wanted to giveaway a pair of movie certificates for one of my lucky followers on Twitter to get your summer started in the right direction. I just want to give a little something back to the fun community on Twitter. Please enter and Good Luck. Now which movie would you watch if you WIN?

Disclaimer: Contest is valid for Toronto/GTA residents only. Contest is subject to change at anytime without notice. Winner selected via PromoSimple.

Friday

Marben Kicks off 3rd Annual Sausage League

I had the opportunity to visit the newly renovated Marben restaurant for the 3rd Annual Sausage League. The basic premise of the Sausage League is to have various local chef's make a sausage dish; with the winner winning a trip to Chicago. Different pairs of chefs compete head on, every Wednesdays. Marben customers vote on their favourite sausage dish and to be paired with a Muskoka Brewery beer. The final battle ends this summer. Check them out if you're looking for a cool vibe. Very smart of Marben to build community by inviting various chefs to collaborate in a fun competition.




Marben is just about finished with the renovations. I had the opportunity to preview the lower level of the restaurant which reminds me of the "Please Don't Tell" in the east village NYC. Nice leather booths and an extensive bar. Marben will be a hotspot for the King West area of Toronto. Looks like they've paid attention to the details right from the menu to the little design elements of the interiors.




The lower level lounge preview at Marben.


Bathrooom interior is cool.


Taxidermy fixture reminiscent of PDT NYC.

For more info on Marben: Marben restaurant

Info on Sausage League: $25 per person - Gets you 2 sausage dishes and 2 glasses of Muskoka Brewery Beer.

Disclosure: I was invited by Marbens Public Relations to enjoy a complimentary sampling for Sausage League.

Monday

Do you SmallenFreuden?



Do you SmallenFreuden? SmallenFreuden means using your VISA card for small purchases you'd make anyway. You can earn rewards on your small purchases. For me, I'm trying to mimimize carrying pocket change and cash to some extent. Using my VISA card to pay keeps everything simple and in one place. I'll make my coffee or lunch purchases via the VISA.



SmallenFreuden might not be the way everyone makes purchases but it's a great option and simple way for transactions for all the small purchases if you are that type of person with these spending habits. It's always good to have options, right?



Currently with the NHL Playoffs and the Finals all set with Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks, you can increase your chances of winning various prizes from VISA if you smallenfreuden.

Click for a chance to WIN a #smallenfreuden Ultimate NHL Experience. Vote for the smallest play of the game. SMALLENFREUDEN

You could smallenfreuden your way to the Stanley Cup Playoffs with VISA. Are you game?

Thanks to VISA, I'll be also giving away a $100 Pre-Paid VISA card to one of my Twitter followers. Enter now. WINNER will be selected on June 24th.

Tweet me:  How you would smallenfreuden? Be creative with your tweet. For example:

@Clickflickca @Smallenfreuden I would smallenfreuden my coffee purchase. #Smallenfreuden



a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclosure: I received compensation for this post. However, all opinions expressed are 100% my own.



Tuesday

E11even Spring Menu Tasting



I recently was invited to the E11even restaurant to try a NEW Spring Menu Tasting that is not yet released on their menu. It was a great opportunity to sample some of the dishes and cocktails served and created by Chef Graham Pelley @E11evenChef. The New Spring menu will be available at E11even in the near future. A highlight for me was that some of the ingredients used in the dishes are local from the Mennonites and are Ontario hometown grown. It's always nice to see chefs and restaurants supporting local community.

I've always frequented Real Sports which is located next door to E11even and are owned by the same parent company MLSE which owns the Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors. E11even is more sophisticated and refined than it's counterpart of Real Sports but don't let that fool you. It's quite affordable and fair in it's pricing. For example, the 2 hotdog sliders for $5(NEW Menu item) is a great game day appetizer to enjoy before a Leafs or Raptors game.


Shareable hot dog sliders from E11even.

I'm not going to bore you with more reading and just get straight to the food porn. Check them out next time you head to the ACC or want to find a spot to enjoy the patio in the heart of Toronto.


This is my favourite offering of the tasting: Tuna Tartare

It's tuna tartare with fried shallots, a touch of sirracha, chives, chiles, cilantro and ailoi. This reminds me of Hawaiian Poke or sashimi. It's plated like a small mini cake. All tuna goodness in there.


Wedge salad with oven dried tomatoes, blue cheese and country bacon. The cheese is from a Mennonite farm.


Sweet Peas. Simple and very addictive. Great healthy snacking.


Ling cod organic fish with wild mushroom and sweet pea purée squeezed with lemon citrus.


The dishes featured here will be on the Spring Menu at E11even. I still had the opportunity to try 3 different desserts. All 3 are great, my favourite is the Oreo ice cream cookie sandwich with Tahitian vanilla. All the dessert portions are shareable. Order the Oreo ice cream cake if you don't like to share your desserts. It's good enough for one person.


Oreo ice cream cookie.


Broken banana pie: Graham crust, bananas, banana cream and whip cream.


This Pavlova Meringue was amazing. It's got a "Macaron" chewy texture to it. Very nice and light dessert.

Please give E11even a visit and enjoy the downtown patio. It's a great opportunity to try many of the menu offerings. This is a shortlist of the Spring menu offerings. They've got a gnochhi dish and Caprese salad which are amazing too! Thanks again to the E11even staff for the hospitality and great food and drinks.