Let's Eat: Windsor Arms - Winterlicious 2016 Preview

Though winter has been kind to us (so far) I'm always on the look out for fun things to do in the city that don't involve being outside. A great event that is happening in Toronto, January 29th - February 11th is Winterlicious - a culinary celebration offering an opportunity to discover delicious cuisine at more than 200 restaurants and experience unique culinary events - INDOORS!!! And what could be better than this? How about an invitation to preview the Winterlicious menu for one of my fav places for tea - Windsor Arms. It has been years since I've eaten at WA and was excited to get to see their Living Room restaurant and taste some mouth watering food.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words - so for all you foodies out there enjoy: 

a sampling of what Windsor Arms is serving up to its guests for Winterlicious 2016.

Lobster Bisque

Roasted Baby Beets, Peppery Citrus Salad - with aged Balsamic reduction

Wild Mushroom Veloute and Black Trumpet Mushrooms Croquette

Crispy Calamari - with heirloom tomato salsa

Chicken Roulade - stuffed with spinach and mushroom, polenta,vegetable tempura and thyme jus

Pan Seared Sea Bass - with beet ravioli, shaved fennel and lemon butter sauce

Braised Lamb Shank- with sweet potato puree, glazed root vegetables and French beans tempura

Marinated Beef Rib - butternut squash and rosemary fingerling potatoes with horseradish jus

Vegan Truffles, Lemon Trio, Creme Brulee

This is just a small sampling of the scrumptious dishes on the menu. You can find a full lunch and dinner menu here.

My picks: Crispy Calamari with Heirloom Tomato Salsa - the light batter was perfection and the calamari were cooked just right; Lobster Bisque - creamy, rich, smooth - my fav; Roasted Baby Beets, Peppery Citrus Salad with aged Balsamic reduction - I'm not a huge fan of beets but I have to say this salad had me enjoying bite after bite. Marinated Beef Rib - tender, moist, melt in your mouth - my fav; Braised Lam Shank - fall off the bone goodness; Chicken Roulade - light and tasty. Vegan Truffles - surprisingly yummy - loved the pistachio; Lemon Trio - the sorbet definitely had a cleanse your palate kick - the lemon pie - tres pucker lemony - my fav;

Seating fills up quickly so don't be disappointed and make your reservations today! Windsor Arms Hotel is located at 18 St. Thomas street, Toronto, ON - tel: 416-917-9666 or visit their website . 

How amazing is this decor?
Relaxed, elegant, casual, funky all wrapped up together.

For more photos of my evening with some awesome Toronto lifestyle and food bloggers, pop on over to my instagram here.

Will you be checking out any of the 200 restaurants that are participating in Toronto's Winterlicious 2016? Is there a similar event where you live? 

You are the curator of your life so live it luxuriously ,


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Step out of the cold and into Windsor Arms for a cup of hot tea - Toronto

Long time readers of High Heeled Life know that I love a good cup of afternoon tea and Windsor Arms is one of my favourite spots in the city to enjoy a leisure afternoon with my girl friends over a cup of tea anytime of the year! And with the temperatures in Toronto remaining steady below freezing, it was a welcomed invitation to escape to such as fabulous place. 

Image credit - Google and Windsor Arms

The Windsor Arms is located on a quiet little side street off  Mink Mile just south of Bloor street. This neo-gothic building with its brown brick, cast stone trim, and a royal looking crest sets the mood that you are going to be transported from the fast pace of city life/shopping to a magical place back in time, when people actually took time for themselves regularly to re-energize. As you step through the entrance, you find yourself  in the most welcoming lobby. Staff greet you with a smile and welcoming hello, your transformation from hectic to calmness begins instantly. 

WA offers three spectacular areas to take tea. The French-style lobby tea room brings back memories of some wonderful salons de thé I have experienced during my trips to Paris; the Purple tea room - with its dark egg-plant walls, luxurious velvet seating, art on the walls and the original working fireplace which dates back to 1927 - is where you will find me taking tea on most of my visits; and The Russian Red tea room with its vibrant red walls, gold trim, glamorous chandelier and decor, is the perfect choice for small private gatherings - think girl outings, bridal showers, birthdays, I'm thinking it would be perfect for a Resilientista inspiration gathering. 

I invite you to take a little pause in your day and come along on a virtual afternoon tea with my friend J. and I as we settle in the Purple Room to enjoy a hot cup of tea and some sweet and savory treats, on this cold Toronto day.

With an extensive selection of loose-leaf teas there is something to satisfy everyone.

My friend J.s tea selection: was a Ginger described as:
Imagine the white tea is Fred, paired with Ginger we present a smooth, effortless, elegant cup that is certain to be a classic. Gentle nuttiness with the perfect hint of tea. Ms. J. was delighted with her selection and savoured every sip. 

How gorgeous is this setting ... 

My tea selection: Chai Arms - a perfect blend of cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, ginger, pepper and organic black tea. It was exactly what I needed to warm up on this cold afternoon. While this tea is a wonderful complement for milk, I chose to have my as is. 

 Potato Blinis with Smoked Salmon, RosettePinwheel Egg Salad,Vegetarian with Sundried Tomato Paste and Dill Cream Cheese,Croque Monsieur

 Goat Cheese and Caramelized Shallot Tart , Fresh Scones

 Petits Fours

 This is simply DIVINE! - yes my favourite ...

 The warm tart is smooth, creamy and delicious just the right amount of
caramelized shallot and goat cheese.

Preserves and Devon Cream

The scones are light, soft and the perfect vessel for the Devon cream and WA homemade sweet preserves.

Tea at Windsor Arms has been synonymous with elegant, afternoon indulgence, since 1927. The majestic Purple room with its original fireplace takes my breath away each time I take tea in there.  

The crystal chandelier is beautiful and photos do not capture its full brilliance! 

Located inside the French-style lobby tea room you will find a hat rack with the most exquisite hats. For a $5 donation (proceeds benefiting Look Good Feel Better, in support of women affected with cancer) you are welcome to borrow a hat to enhance your magical tea experience. And let's be honest lovelies we all have an inner child in us, and what better way to let her play than with a little dress up and tea party.

 
I hope you have enjoyed your virtual tea and pause in your day, as much as Ms. J. and I did. This winter get out of the cold, and create memories with friends, family, and colleagues with tea at Windsor Arms.

Disclaimer: this afternoon tea was sponsored by Windsor Arms - all opinions are strictly my own and based on my personal experience.

You can read about some of my previous tea experiences at Windsor Arms: 

Here, Here, Here, and Here 

You are the curator of your life so live it luxuriously ,

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A Hidden Gem in the city - Windsor Arms Spa

My love affair with Windsor Arms goes back to the days of the cigar lounge - when I would go with one of my girl friends to mix, mingle, enjoy the music, atmosphere and kick back on a Thursday or Saturday night after a long week at the office. The smell of a good cigar in the air was intoxicating while we sipped cognac. Yes, the good "old" days. An other friend introduced me to afternoon tea after Christmas shopping in Yorkville one afternoon - and it became an annual outing with many tea adventures throughout the year as well. But I had never checked out the Windsor Arms Spa... until today! 

In my quest to find unique places to explore in Toronto and bring you wonderful experiences to inspire you to practice your own self care, I came across the December Delights spa specials at Windsor Arms. The Candy Wrap and Butter Rum manicure and pedicure really intrigued me.. so here goes, I invite you to come along my dear readers ...

Upon arriving I was greeted with a warm welcome and smile, from Tamar. I seated myself in the greeting area stocked with fruit infused water, tea, and coffee (Starbucks - ah  yes please!!) and cookies.

After taking a few moments to enjoy my Starbucks - I was guided to the women's change room. Plenty of plush white towels, lockers, dressing table with essential amenities, showers and facilities can be found here. Everything you need to prepare for some self care. I was also introduce to Daniela, who would be transforming me from holiday stressed to relaxed and rejuvenated.

The sink area was breath taking !!! the sink reminds me of murano glass (it may be, I forgot to ask).

Once undressed and robed - I was ready to be candy wrapped. The treatment begins with a full body peppermint exfoliation followed by a delicious chocolate chip mask and is finished with a white chocolate souffle massage that leaves you relaxed and rejuvenated!

Here you go ladies the lengths I go to, to find you new places and things for inspiring you to self care.

I may or may not have sampled the chocolate mask. The aroma of chocolate was beyond divine!! It was after all neck to toe!! and ignited my senses.

after showering off the peppermint exfoliation and chocolate mask, came the chocolate souffle massage can you say after me  - BLISS!!!!!!

that was just the beginning .. next a butter rum pedicure

These warm booties helped the oils to penetrate leaving my feet hydrated and silky smooth. 

next up ... a butter rum manicure ....

just like the booties .. my hands were also placed in warm mitts treating my hands too!!

Sugar cane, butter rum, and sweet vanilla exfoliate, smooth, and nourish hands and feet.

The Spa is spacious and offers many sitting areas to sit back and take a break before, after or in-between treatments. I learned there are some spa packages which include a light lunch ...and the area is filled with an abundance of natural sunlight. I noticed a large terrace off this area - which I could envision sitting back with a glass (or two) of bubbly with my girl friends in the summer after self care treatments.

image credit - Windsor Arms

 The holidays can be both exciting and stressful - so make sure that you are taking time to practice some self care whether you treat yourself to some spa treatments or some DIY treatments at home.

If you can't make it before the holidays - Tamar shared with me, that the December specials will be extended to the month of January. But ladies I suggest securing your spa reservation as soon as possible, as times fill up quickly.

I'm beyond thrilled to have discovered this little hidden gem in the city. Unlike most elite spas this one offers a relaxed atmosphere while offering upscale treatments and services. As a long time client, whom I had the opportunity to chat with while getting my pedi said "this is a well kept secret".  I hope you will give it a try and experience your own bliss. I'm already dreaming of experiencing a full day at the spa in the new year.

Oh did I mention ...
the scrumptious cookies? or how
wonderfully relaxed and rejuvenated I felt?

For readers who may not be familiar with Windsor Arms I invite you to visit their website and discover this unique boutique hotel and all the wonderful services it has to offer.

And if all the amazing spa services are not enough ... 

in February the spa launched the Healing Salt Cave .. which is complimentary with spa services exceeding $150. It can be booked as an independent treatment as well. I will be sharing more of my experience in the salt cave in the next week or two.

You are the curator of your life so live it luxuriously ,

Stay in Step with High Heeled Life ...

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