Frequently pass by the Markham Station diner near Markham Rd/Sheppard Ave.  But business must be good as it's been there on the corner for years and years.  But it is also opened 24hours and is an all-day-breakfast. So if you're really had a bacon and eggs or burger craving at 3am; there's a place to go.

We recently when there to try their brunch.  We got there in time to enjoy their before-11am price which started at $4.99.  This included 3 eggs, toast, homefries and choice of bacon, sausage and ham.  We decided not order a special each and opted instead to try pancakes and bagel.  The food tasted as it should...Homey and warm.

The diner is spacious and has a relaxed and casual atmosphere.  It was busy so the service was a bit slow but our host did come around to refill the coffee.  I think I'm enjoying this diner; Cora's nice and fancy and Panagio's is a specialized brekkie spot; but for if you're looking for good food and good price; I feel this is the better choice. 

I had made a deal with mom, for having her help out with the garage sale on Mother's Day weekend, I will treat her to tea.  A deal came up on-line for C House Lounge Café in Yorkville, high-tea for two for $29.00+ tax/gratuities.  Mom doesn't usually get to venture Downtown or the vicinity so I thought it might be nice...High tea in a fashionable neighbourhood and then interesting shops to browse around.

The place is nicely decked out with a reasonably spacious front-door bistro area.  White and black and mirrored walls lends an air of sophistication.  There were a number of smartly dressed ladies enjoying the high-tea on this sunny, hot afternoon.  The small cool flute of champagne that started off the high-tea experience was a welcomed drink indeed.  

The tea selection was minimal and as we were utilizing a coupon/voucher, we were told it would be a shared pot of tea.  This seemed rather unusual;  and the pot was quite a small pot though it was readily re-filled with hot water.  It really was just a teabag after all and it didn't seem like it would be that much more costly to have two small pots going.  Although I know I'm using a voucher, I expected loose-leaf teas...Something a little more classy to match the environment of the establishment.  The food started with finger sandwiches  (smoked salmon, salami etc.) on the bottom tier, flavoured French bread with three macaroons on the middle tier and four petit (one-bite) chocolate tarts on the top.  Funny things was, we were browsing at the Pusateri's fine foods store next door and saw the exact same flavoured French bread ($4.99).  While the food tasted ok and I did enjoy the macaroons, it seemed somewhat underwhelming.  I was a bit surprised that scones, a staple for high-teas, was not offered.

Was it good?  This depends on how one looks at it.  As a high-tea; the one I had a Royal York was so much better.  But then again, that was $35/person there.  Here, it's almost like a 2-for-1.  The food wasn't as fine but the ambiance and location was nice.  If you're after the real high-tea experience, then don't skimp, pay for the real deal at Windsor Arms or Royal York.  But if you're looking for a nice place to chill with a friend and have some light bites, then this was fine (just don't expect a true high-tea).  The host was attentive and the food; while nothing fancy; was fine.  On the way out, I saw an advert for Sunday Brunch  (buffet?), 11am - 3pm for $30/person...Might be nice to lounge in their outdoor area for a Sunday brunch if in the area.

Ahh...Brunches.  Nothing says indulgence like brunches on the weekends...Or Afternoon High-Teas...Or Dessert Buffets...Or maybe even Mid-night Snacks (more of an Asian thing I think).   I believe that any time you are enjoying one of these meails, it means you're off from work, free and don't give a nilly as to the time of day.

This is my third visit to Panagios.  It's an unassuming all-day breakfast spot dishing up the usual suspects...Omelettes, sausages, eggs benedict, breakfast wraps etc with a small lunch section as well.

I went with scrambled eggs and sausages and asked for the toast and home-fries be substituted with more fruit.  While they readily agreed to it, it wasn't that much more fruit. The toast and home-fries make for a better deal.  Coffees came with refills.  My friend ordered the Eggs Benny and commented the tasty Hollandaise sauce.  While we enjoyed ourselves today...The food this time 'round wasn't as good as my previous visits.

On this Saturday, the place was full but not fully packed and so we enjoyed our meal slowly and chatted away.  Every girl needs a few great girlfriends to chatter with and to go shopping with...Which we did!  But only to work off the calories...

Fushion food is fun...You get mix-matched items and the pairings can be endless.  It either suits your personality or not...And since I'm a 'Bamboo Girl' (mish-mesh of Western/Asian upbringing) fushion is me!  Though I must say, of the three bamboo girls in this family, I am probably the one who would most often opt for asian fare...Give me a HK-styled milk tea over a latte any day!

Perhaps more accurate to describe this as Hong Kong-styled breakfast; it usually includes or a variation of: choice of eggs, choice of breakfast meats (ham, luncheon meat, bacon or sausage), toast and bowl of soup noodle (Macaroni or vermicelli with ham, satay beef or minced pork with peserved vegetable.  This all gets washed down with a hot drink, lemon tea, coffee or Hong Kong-styled milk tea. 

Pros: Very filling breakfast at around $5-$6.00.  Much cheaper than a western brunch and healthier than a fast food breakfast.  Love the mix of dry, salty food (eggs and bacon) with a soupy noodle (this is the Asian side of me coming out).  Love milk tea!

Cons: My pet-peeve...They use the word 'sausage' but it's really hot dog wieners which leaves me disappointed.  Places that serve this food tends not to be a place where decor and comfortable seats are priority.

But here at 'Made in China', the place is relativey clean and they've got some interesting bird cages going on as their ceiling decoration.  The booth seats are much too wide to eat comfortably though and we changed to regular tables/chairs.  It's an interesting restaurant; it shares the kitchen in the back with their sister restaurant next door, a Korean BBQ.  Made in China is a hot pot lunch/dinner restaurant but they're clever to draw in the morning breakfast people.  The staff are young and can be a bit abrupt but I'm here for good food and value. 

Brunches and good friends are a terrific combination and I suspect there will be many entries on this topic. 

The Bristol yard was recommended by a friend and it certainly lived up this it's name.  There's an eye-catching unionjack hanging above the front door.  The all-day break ranges from about $12 - $15 and the portions are generous.  The only draw-back is that it's TINY.  Seems like everyone was out this day for exactly the same thing...A big hearthy brunch meal.  We waited a good 30mins or more for our table.

Given my low-carb diet, I opted for what sounded like a vegetarian-option...The description did not mention anything about my portobellow mushrooms and heirloom tomatoes being served on a English muffin.  So I was a bit disappointed at not getting what was expected. 

However, to be fair, the food was great and the few little pieces of homefries I nibbled on guiltily were tasty. You cold get brunches a bit cheaper, but if you're a big eater, this is the place to go. 

One recent Saturday, we decided to try one of the brunch places we had looked up on blogTO.  Cora's and Wimpy's may be good but we were on an adventure to try smaller establishments and/or indpendent ones.

We were in the Danforth Ave. when our hunger got the better us and so we stopped at a cute cafe we spotted while driving down the road.  Patisserie La Cigogne is THE cake and pastry place.  Beautifully crafted tiered cakes, pies, macaroons, eclairs...Just heavenly.  The only reason we didn't order any of these delectable offerings was that it just seemed wrong to have cake as our first meal fo the day.

Aside from the bakery section, they do have an all day breakfast and brunch menu but it doesn't seem that extensive, a few crepe, quiche and breakfast options.  This is not your egg/sausage type of brunch and I suppose it's the breads and cakes which are the feature products.  We decided go for their weekend brunch special, Tart Flambee but was informed that it is only available at their Bayview sister branch.  In  the end we chose Croque Madame and a ham/swiss chess crepe as well as their $2.00 coffee with free refill.  Specialty coffees are also available. 

Looking for a cup of coffee and a savoury bite led us to this quaint little shop in the Bathurst/Dupont area on Sunday.  There weren't many patrons, just one other lady enjoying her spot by the window.  During the time we were enjoying our food, a few more came, some just for a coffee and one to purchase a pie.  A tempting sweet table kept me busily eyeing that particular corner of the cafe.

The cafe features pies and quiches.  The nice man who seated and served us apologize that the naan selections were unavailable as the delivery guy was  unable to make it last Friday due to the snowstorm.  But he recomended the two  specials of the day, meat tortiere and the sweet potatoe pie.  We choose the  meat tortiere and selected one of the quiches.  This is part of their brunch selection which does not include drinks.