After being discovered by a TV producer at a jazz gig in her hometown of Edmonton, award winning jazz vocalist Dawn Chubai made the switch to TV in 1999. She’s been the face of Breakfast Television Vancouver for 13 years, bringing a pleasant morning to viewers with antics like flying with the Snowbirds and rappelling down a 20-storey building in a latex suit. Now, she’s in Toronto as the host of Good Morning TSC, giving her viewers the latest news on trends, from fashion and beauty to electronic.
While you may only see her talking about designers and beauty brands on TSC, she’s also loves dining and has great recommendations on cities in which she’s lived. Here are some of her suggestions on dining in Toronto and Vancouver.
Breakfast in Toronto
The full English breakfast at Oxley in Yorkville. What makes this one so special is that they make their sausages in-house and serve them with a homemade ketchup. I could eat those all day long.
Lunch in Vancouver
I actually love dining alone at the bar at Le Crocodile. A glass of Champagne and the steak tartare (OK, and maybe the fois gras crème brulee) and you are transported! There is an elegance and sophistication here that in no way comes across as pretentious. I have yet to find a French restaurant anywhere that compares.
Dinner in Toronto
I love Bar Isabel. Spanish tapas with a contemporary flair, everything is meant to be shared and it’s a real dining experience. Favourite items include garden pickles and patatas bravas, and the garlic snow pea leaves are ah-maz-ing. The servers won't let you order too much, but they will make sure you have a balanced menu, It offers a cool funky, eclectic vibe, and yes, you're likely to run into a few stars (I saw Kiefer Sutherland and Elizabeth Moss on my last visit). To drink, you need to try the Baragana; has a really spicy kick to it.
Drinks in Vancouver
This one is a bit of a tie. Juniper takes their G&T to a celestial level; they have five or six versions. When the bartender makes them, it is poetry in motion. When you have it served to you, it's a work of art. Then. you sip... I smile just thinking about it. But. I am also a huge fan of the cocktails at L'Abattoir--classic and spirit forward, served in vintage glasses, it brings about your inner "Mad Men".
