Last weekend while in Toronto I got to visit some great restaurants, but my favourite was Bannock.

Bannock is located on the corner of Queen and Bay in Downtown Toronto and has actually carved out space from The Bay next door. I passed it while on the streetcar, and the graphics immediately caught my eye. I had put it on my potential hit list for my visit, since someone had instagrammed an image from the restaurant a week prior to my trip, and I was intrigued.

The restaurant's focus is on Canadian comfort food. Here's how it's described on their website:

Bannock’s honest approach to food is rooted in familiar, wholesome ingredients that are reflective of Canada’s rich regional and cultural diversity, delivered in an innovative and playful way. Everyday classics are revitalized as the Chefs pay homage to traditional Canadian comfort foods, putting our cultural favourites front and centre.

The menu is also surprisingly affordable. Everything was well priced considering the quality of the food.

I started with the soup special of the day, which was a Cream of Field Mushroom soup. It was perfect for the cold blustery day outside.

Choosing a main was difficult, as there were so many great choices on the menu. In the end I went with my first instinct, which was the Pickerel Taco with Cucumber Apple Salad. The taco was served on a steamed bun and featured pickled rutabaga and caviar tartar. The tacos were awesome. I could have eaten twelve. The salad was a bit lame. My recommendation would be to substitute the salad with another taco. And the presentation on the plate was a bit lacklustre.

To finish, I had the Canoe Fireweed Butter Tart. Since they make the tart with honey rather than sugar, the centre is more liquid than a typical butter tart. It was delicious and was served with a berry compote. It paired excellently with my Earl Grey tea.

The room was nicely outfitted but didn't blow me away. Although I am so over the barnboard thing, it did make sense in a Canadian restaurant. Maybe they could have tried something different with the application. The antique wood is actually reclaimed from one of the Queen's warfs that was submerged in Lake Ontario for the past 100 years. So that's cool.

My favorite feature was the brown wool blankets that were rolled up to act as a window treatment. You can just see them in these pictures.

Here's the view from inside the Bay. The restaurant is actually a joint venture between The Bay and the restauranteur, and this location is hopefully the first in a chain of locations to open in Bay stores nationwide. The best news is that the first city they are hoping to expand to is Calgary!

I also have to mention my server, Marcel, who was absolutely fantastic. He had such enthusiasm for the food and made for a very pleasant visit.

So next time you are in Toronto, I highly recommend a visit. Or maybe it will be coming to your city soon.

The most exciting thing for me when I visit design shows is always the more conceptual exhibits, and IDS11 didn't disappoint. This year the installations were entitled Sibling Revelry, which featured designer siblings creating spaces together.

The first space was called the Green Bunker by My and Thien Ta Trung, who operate the design studio, Periphere, and their shop, Domison, in Montreal.

My and Thien created the most conceptual space in the exhibit featuring free form upholstered stool, sculptural plants stands, and a textural paper installation.

The second space was designed by David and Glenn Dixon, from Dixonhouse in Toronto.

The inspiration for this space was the story of the 1000 paper cranes. The ceiling was finished with lattice work, from which the 1000 paper cranes were suspended. The quality of light within the space was really beautiful, and it was hard to believe you were in the middle of an exhibition hall.

The third space was designed by the Brothers Dressler, who operate a woodworking studio in Toronto.

The space perfectly reflected their vision of repurposing and up-cycling materials by combining all sorts of salvaged wood pieces in unique ways. Some forms were more raw salvage, like the exterior wall made up of the old windows. Others were very refined, like the furniture pieces you see below.

The last space was designed by Sarah and Theo Richardson, of Sarah Richardson Design, and Rich Brilliant Willing respectively.

Obviously this space was most popular, as both siblings are super stars in the design world. This space appealed to me, because it was the only one where the siblings came from very different design aesthetics. I loved seeing the contemporary lighting and furniture from Rich Brilliant Willing's line, juxtaposed with Sarah's classic eclectic style.

So which was my favourite? I'm gonna say the Richardson Siblings was the space I most responded to. I loved that they created three small spaces, I loved the pops of colour, and the eclectic mix of pieces that were used in the space. Maybe it's the obvious choice, but it certainly hit all the check marks for me. Yes, it wasn't as conceptual as some of the others, but maybe I'm not as deep a thinker as I claim to be. Besides, I think it's always best to follow your gut, and I just felt happy here.

S0me snapshots from a Sunday afternoon wander in Toronto.

I wanted to get my roundup of my favorite things at the Interior Design Show in Toronto up right away, so that anyone thinking about going down this weekend will know what to check out. So without further adieu...

John Paul & Co

Booth 2234

beautiful and unique tablewares

Jane Lockhart Platinum Series

Booth 2315

Jane Lockhart's collaboration with Gresham House, a Canadian made upholstery company. Beautiful detail and contemporary style.

Snob

Booth 1910

Luxurious African Imports

North on Sixty/Yuill Built Inc

Booth 1422

Reclaimed lumber and wood is transformed into beautiful new furniture pieces. Great attention to detail.

Selene Italian Lifestyle

Booth 1228

This fantastic bookcase design is accessible from both sides, while keeping each view unique and interesting.

Modern Weave

Booth 1112

Contemporary area rugs with a bold passion for colour.

StyleGarage

Booth 612

A lovely mix of contemporary furniture with a vintage touch.

Metropolis Living

Booth 327

Reclaimed and repurposed industrial vintage pieces.

Crown Wallpaper and Fabrics

Booth 128

I loved seeing the Amy Butler wallpaper collection in person. Vintage inspired designs with Amy's signature flair for colour.

The Carroll Street Woodworkers

Booth SN-13

Unique handcrafted wood pieces, many utilizing salvaged or refuse materials.

All in all, it was a really inspiring show, and there is much more for me to share. The Sibling Revelry installations are great, and the entire Studio North area is amazing. But I didn't want to give everything away for those hoping to see the show still. If you want to check it out, visit the IDS11 website for all the details.