Category Archives: Food, Health and Nutrition

The pain I felt reading Kathleen Turner’s interview

Posted on August 12, 2018 by barczablog

There’s a great deal in Kathleen Turner’s fascinating recent interview with David Marchese.  So naturally if you’re a beautiful actress people will react, comment, and draw their own conclusions about what’s really important. I find it desperately sad when I see what … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Food, Health and Nutrition, Personal ruminations & essays, Popular music & culture, Psychology and perception | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

What I learned from Bourdain

Posted on June 10, 2018 by barczablog

Anthony Bourdain, a man of contradictions, has died.  Yes he ended his life, but he seemed to know more about how to enjoy life than anyone I can think of.  As I watch CNN’s marathon of favourite episodes of Parts … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Health and Nutrition, Personal ruminations & essays, Popular music & culture | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Vegan in Toronto

Posted on November 7, 2017 by barczablog

Where would you take a visitor to Toronto if you knew (s)he were vegan or vegetarian? I was in a rut for awhile, with two standard answers to that question, one in Kensington Market, one on Bloor St.  But now … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Health and Nutrition | 6 Comments

CBD, part the second

Posted on August 5, 2016 by barczablog

After writing two pieces last night (one about the AGO, one about a trip to a dispensary to get CBD), I decided to take one of the pills, a gel capsule containing cannabidiol (aka CBD). Please note, this is just … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Health and Nutrition, Personal ruminations & essays, Psychology and perception | Leave a comment

CBD, part the first

Posted on August 4, 2016 by barczablog

A loving family member cajoled me to try something new today. My chief pain management strategy for dealing with my arthritic symptoms could be summed up (before tonight) with the following quote: “Denial ain’t just a river in Egypt. It’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Health and Nutrition, Personal ruminations & essays, Psychology and perception | 1 Comment

Gourmet Schnitzel House: look eastward, Toronto

Posted on June 22, 2016 by barczablog

I don’t want to provoke an argument, particularly not one of those regional disputes where someone tries to suggest one place is better than another. Toronto is a city full of neighbourhoods, ethnicities, communities, and nothing stands still because it’s … Continue reading →

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Rite of Survival: a cheap drunk’s view

Posted on June 11, 2016 by barczablog

Let me first explain myself, why I’d admit (or even boast) that I’m a cheap drunk. Anyone wanting to cut to the part about the beer and avoid the theoretical talk, please skip down to the pictures. Our culture associates … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Health and Nutrition, Personal ruminations & essays | 2 Comments

Colourful Kensington

Posted on April 22, 2016 by barczablog

Late this afternoon, hungrier than I’d expected to be, I found myself at the corner of Oxford & Augusta. The Morrocan Stew I consumed at Urban Herbivore left me full.  That should have been enough. But then I noticed the … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Health and Nutrition | 3 Comments

The Coffee Mill and old Yorkville: multiculturalism & a changing city

Posted on August 30, 2014 by barczablog

When I saw the piece earlier this week in the Toronto Star about the impending closure of The Coffee Mill, I knew I had to go one last time. Tonight four of us went for a last nostalgic whiff, even … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Architecture & Design, Food, Health and Nutrition, Popular music & culture, Reviews | 2 Comments

A conversation

Posted on June 7, 2014 by barczablog

One of the glories of travel is the encounter with the other. It’s fun to get to another country and talk to countrymen who just happen to be abroad. But that reminds me of the Accidental Tourist. Remember the film? … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Architecture & Design, Food, Health and Nutrition, Personal ruminations & essays, Politics | 1 Comment