“Now at least we don’t have to go to the Ex”…jpr

Our “Ex” days are on hold until those grandchildren come…But yesterday we got to see the practice for the air show while waiting for the streetcar at College and Bathurst. AND we had our waffle.  If only there was a ferris wheel…

Our last days of summer ice cream vacation is drawing to a close. We made a nice outing of it by visiting the AGO first, to catch the Surrealism exhibit before it closes. Some of the Dali stuff looks like the mash up at the Cold Stone Creamery, but you might want to wear one of the Fabulous Schiaparelli gowns to Dolce, on College St. in Little Italy. We walked there – and arrived so starving and without lunch that we practically dove into our plates. Pretty place though -  a gorgeous palate of gelati coulours, and the room all sleek and black and slate. Service however, also on the too cool side. For serving such happy making food, you’d think they could lighten up a little.

Pistachio or Pistachio?

The gelato is in fact a knockout. I had to “go pistachio”, in order to be able to compare around town, and Dolce upped the ante by offering TWO, a pale dreamy, creamy Sicilian, and the usual bright green kind, but with candied pistachios. Oh my. I tried alternating tastes, then finished the bright green, to make the Sicilian last. The Waffle? I’m going to let Jamie explain…

Oooohhhhh......I'm so FUUULLLLLLLLLL......

Thanks Jackson and MJ for the heads up on this one…

King of the Queensway

West End Pleasures

It felt like it was time to head west, to bust out of our East End cocoon. We know very well that we are going to have to go to Little Italy or Corso Italia for true gelati, but for the moment classic soft serve was very much on my mind. Having just returned from Newfoundland  (where soft serve came in 40 Flavours in Woody Point !)  I wondered how Toronto was measuring up, especially after the Listeria hysteria of late June – the “scoop” brought to us by The Star. (sorry)

The West End also provided the delightul opportunity to bring along our seldom seen friend Audrey, who set aside her chore list in Parkdale and entered into the spirit completely, She offered reminisences of her soft serve background in Saskatoon. Thus do our experiences expand along with our belt notches.

Absolutely Audrey

Forgot how we heard, but we’d heard that Tom’s Dairy Freeze on the Queensway between Park Lawn and Royal York was the kind of joint we were looking for. Tom’s doesn’t just do all things ice cream, it is also serves up hamburgs, hot dogs, onion rings etc. Despite our pledge that  ice cream would BE the meal, we broke down and had hot dogs; mine was with everything and tasted indeed like the olden days. In a good way. Jamie can never resist a chocolate malt, so that was his treat. Audrey had the thick regular chocolate shake. Both received high marks. Tom’s has  an enormous list of Sundaes with hilarious names, including one called “June Bride”. Jamie asked what was in that – I can’t remember all of it, but there was butterscotch and marshmallow, and of course a cherry on top…

Mango Burst?

It was up to me to do the Soft Serve. I chickened out- could not ask where they ranked on the coliform count. I know. I am not very good investigative reporter. Tom and his Mom (I have no idea if this is true, but they looked related) were really friendly and we got to look at everything up close and it all seemd just peachy to me. I ordered the vanilla soft serve, with a “flavour burst” of mango. I had hoped their process was like the Newfie one -where the syrup goes right in the mixer – but no, this is just a twirl that decorates the outside and doesn’t really BURST with flavour. But the ice cream itself is real, not ice milk or an edible oil product, and  the portion is large, and the price was only 2.65 for a small.  Paper hats off to Tom!