The Interior Design Show (IDS) is back for 2015, once again transforming the Metro Toronto Convention Centre into a sprawling showcase for the latest in furniture and home design. At this year's show, the pieces were enough to light up design lovers' imaginations -- say, furniture that folds like paper, or the world's slimmest TV screen -- but many of the displays provide an interactive, immersive experience that bring visitors in deeper contact with designers' creations.

Check out our highlights from this year's show in our photo gallery.

Poutine might yet become one of Canada's most renowned culinary exports, even the BBC is predicting that fries, curds and gravy is likely to be one of this year's top food trends in the U.K.

Here at home, Toronto's diverse restaurant scene has embraced the classic Quebecois comfort food, and of course, added their own eccentric, cross-cultural spins. One interesting interpretation comes to us in the form of the Butter Chicken Poutine ($9) at Nawab Fusion Grill.

Light and crispy hand-cut fries form a solid base which is thoroughly coated with shredded marble cheese and smothered in rich butter chicken sauce and chopped bits of chicken tikka.

The curried "gravy", really a tomato cream sauce is unsurprisingly a winner over fries - in fact, it's pretty close to a similar U.K. pub food that's gaining popularity on Toronto menus - call it a culinary exchange if you will.

The cheese will likely have purists up in arms. Why not curds? Heck why not paneer? Still, the shredded cheddar serves its purpose - it arrives melted into a pool of liquid that pulls into gooey strings as it's eaten.

Need something to wash it down with? Bottles of Kingfisher ($7) are a perfect pairing.

Thanks to IBM for sponsoring this post. IBM Watson's cognitive system helps chefs create new recipes and helps businesses cook up new ideas.

Know of any Toronto restaurants doing interesting takes on poutine? Let us know in the comments.

The TTC has released its customer charter for 2015, which includes a long list of performance and maintenance promises tracked on a quarterly basis. In total, there are 38 goals laid out in the document. Some highlights include the installation of 90+ additional information screens, spring and fall cleanings of every station, a new route map in streetcars, all collector booths will accept debit and credit payment, Presto will be available in all streetcars and 10 new subway stations.

There's not a lot of new information here, but by breaking these goals into quarterly targets, it's easier for riders to keep the Commission accountable for its rollouts, some of which you could characterize as ambitious (Presto will be a challenge, to be sure). The TTC has been publishing such charters since 2013, and while a list of promises will not make everyone happy, I think it'd be hard to argue that the TTC's attention to customer satisfaction hasn't improved under the leadership of Andy Byford.

What do you think of the TTC's 2015 customer charter?

Photo by Hamish Grant in the blogTO Flickr pool.

This B.C. company sold all-natural skincare and essential oil-based remedies to west coasters for decades before finally moving into Toronto last fall, crowning this product-packed Queen St. West store as their flagship. (And when they say all-natural, they mean it -- their products don't contain synthetic ingredients of any kind.)

Read my profile of Saje Natural Wellness in the fashion section.

The best new bars in Toronto for 2014 came in all shapes and sizes, each of them bringing something new to Toronto's drinking scene. While some of the usual neighbourhoods saw new additions, it was a pleasant surprise to see many of the city's best bars opening up further away from the downtown core. It's all a good sign that the city is spreading out and becoming bigger.

Here are the best new bars in Toronto that opened in 2014.

See also:The top 10 new pubs in Toronto for 2014

Photo by wsquared photography in the blogTO Flickr pool.

It'd be fair to say that we're transit-obsessed in Toronto. Perhaps it's because our commute takes up a disproportionate amount of time, and we just can't stop thinking about how bad we have. Or perhaps many of us are secret transit nerds who rejoice at the thought of fantasy subway maps and vintage photos of TTC vehicles. Whatever the reason, a new photography show at Stephen Bulger Gallery aims to capitalize on our subway obsession.

Named simply "Subway," the exhibition gathers photos from subway systems around the world, including New York, Montreal, Tokyo, and of course, Toronto. "Since the late 19th century, cities have turned to tunnelling to transport their ever growing mass," reads a press release. "Efficient, claustrophobic, worn down and constantly updated, for many city dwellers subways are a necessary part of their daily lives. Transporting oneself underground seems both otherworldly and commonplace; it is a place where solitude is often felt strongly."

There are many strong photographers represented in the show, but a personal favourite is Michael Wolf's Tokyo Compression series. If you think you've been packed into a TTC subway car like a sardine before, these photos will probably offer a little perspective. Our rush hour commute is positively spacious compared to Tokyo's.

"Subway" opens at Stephen Bulger Gallery on Saturday, January 24, 2015.

The former executive chef of the members-only Spoke Club has pulled a 180 and opened a casual takeout spot on Dundas West with his partner, offering delicious and healthy GMO-free, vegan and vegetarian takeout options. In addition to beautifully made salads and soups, fresh smoothies, juices and gluten-free sweet treats await. Best of all, proceeds go towards some good causes.

Read my review of Veghed in the restaurants section.

The last 12 months have seen a number of Toronto-based start-ups enter the dining apps fray, and many Toronto restaurateurs have taken notice. No longer do restaurants only have the option between, say, Open Table and Bookenda to make dining experiences for their customers (and themselves) more streamlined.

Here are five made-in-Toronto apps that are starting to make inroads in the local restaurant scene.

Tab (iOS/Android)
This mobile payment app for restaurants solves a common dilemma for Toronto restaurant patrons: waiting for the bill. It lets users pay immediately without waiting for their bills. Users can also use the app the split the bill when dining with friends and tip their servers.

Maegan (iOS/Android)
Is slow service an issue? Maegan allows users to browse through menus, order, pay and post about their dining experiences all from their phone. The app also lets foodies order for home deliveries and for pick-up.

TouchBistro (iOS)
This iPad app allows wait staff to show off photos of the food on offer, send orders to the kitchen or bar while staying with the customer, and even split the bill by seating with just a swipe of the hand.

Higgins
This cloud-based mobile platform acts as "personal register" for businesses including restaurants, retailers, offices and more. It too allows patrons to pay for their meals directly from the app. Higgins also clocks inventory reports, and allows restaurants to keep track of orders and expense reports.

Pass The Table (iOS/Android)
This just-launched mobile app connects diners with one-of-a-kind culinary experiences. Browse the app to find exclusive restaurant experiences (like a special prix-fixe menu not available to regular diners) or culinary events popping up at unique venues.

What did I miss? Let me know in the comments.

Did you know blogTO has apps too? Download our main app for iPhones and iPads (Android coming soon), our Bars, Pubs and Late Night Eats app, our Toronto Patio Guide app and our app to help you find Toronto Food Trucks.

Writing by Samuel Dunsiger.

Nailing down a list of the oldest restaurants in Toronto is much harder than you might think. There's no central database (that I know of) that details exactly when each of this city's thousands of eateries were founded, and there are all kinds of grey areas. Like whether or not a hotel or bar that serves food counts as a restaurant, or if a move to a premises kills some of the magic. Because this post was intended to be a list of places one can dine in historic surroundings, we had to establish a set of ground rules.

We decided changes are OK, but the restaurant has to have remained in the same location--moves reset the clock, the primary purpose of the business must be serving food (apologies to the Wheat Sheaf, Kind Edward, and Royal York,) and prolonged closures (more than a couple of years) are also grounds for disqualification.

With these criteria in mind, here's a list of (what might be) the oldest restaurants in Toronto.

The Senator - 1929
Hiding out just steps from the clamour and bright lights of Yonge-Dundas Square, the venerable old Senator opened as Busy Bee Lunch in 1929. A classified ad printed in the Globe in 1936 tempted prospective customers with "delicious meals; dinners at reasonable prices." Not much has changed since. The diner was renamed The Senator in 1948 and given its current interior fixtures courtesy of the Toronto Refrigeration Fixture Company the same year. In 2013, the diner's kitchen was given an overhaul, but the original interior remains.

Duckworth's Fish and Chips - 1930
Opened by the eponymous Edith and Jack Duckworth at 2638 Danforth Ave. in 1930--the year before the Toronto Maple Leafs moved to Maple Leaf Gardens--Duckworth's has been serving up Britain's most beloved dish for almost 85 years. The company, now run by its founder's grandchildren, has also produced two spin-offs: on Kingston Rd. and another in Atherley Narrows, both run by members of the family.

Reliable Halibut and Chips - 1930
As its name suggests, Reliable has been consistently serving halibut and chips to the denizens of Leslieville for more than 80 years. The owners and signs have changed (the business was given a complete overhaul during an episode of Restaurant Makeover in 2007,) but Reliable has never budged from its corner location on Queen between Logan and Carlaw. Right now, it's tied for the title of oldest fish and chips restaurant in the city with Duckworth's.

Lakeview Restaurant - 1932
Cleaned up and overhauled in 2008 after a brief closure and change of owner, the Lakeview Restaurant is, once again, a neighbourhood institution. Interestingly, it's also the second historic Toronto restaurant on this list to feature Refrigeration Fixture Company booths--the Lakeview's ones are made out of solid mahogany. Some time before the 2008 refit the gorgeous old neon sign that used to hang over Dundas St. was lost. Unlike the old cooking oil found in the deep fryer, it's missed.

Steve's Restaurant - 1946
This Bathurst and Wilson stalwart traces its roots back to 1946, making it a shade older than its nearest rivals: Steak Pit (previously The Small Fry) on Avenue Rd., which opened in 1948, and the 60-year-old Vesta Lunch at Dupont and Bathurst. Like its contemporaries on this list, Steve's serves home-style dishes such as omelettes, hamburgers, pancakes, and sandwiches, proving perhaps the restaurants with the most staying power are the ones with the heartiest food.

What did I miss? Add your suggestions in the comments below.

Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.

Images: City of Toronto Archives, Patrick Cummins (Reliable)

Seinfeld's phenomenon about nothing defines a generation obsessed with pop nostalgia and the kind of can't-catch-me irony that ensnares the New York Times into hailing the rise of two or three fashion movements per year that don't actually exist. Toronto, what are you wearing to the normcore ball?

While venues like KITCH and The Beaver host Seinfeld trivia nights in the city, on February 8th Double Double Land will hold "the Seinfeld costume-and-trivia party to end all Seinfeld costume-and-trivia parties," Scenefeld: The Celebration. If your trivia game is rough and you're low on frumpy 90s outfits, get serious about your Elaine dance and you can still be in the running for a prize.

February's weirdest party will see an elimination style "Scene It: Seinfeld" trivia tournament, Seinfeld music, food, and hidden art installations, plus bonuses like a screening of LJ Frezza's Nothing, and live slap bass. The costume and Elaine dancing contests will be decided by applause, then at the end of the night three audience selected episodes will screen.

To sign up for the tournament or contests, check out the event page on Facebook.

Up until now, unscrupulous drivers visiting the Big Smoke could use their non-Ontario license plates as a handy shield against parking laws. To the relief of many (and the chagrin of a few), that's no longer the case, as Mayor John Tory announced today the city will begin cracking down on illegally parked drivers from out of province.

Up until now, the city had a policy of towing drivers with three outstanding parking tickets, but non-Ontario plates weren't being uploaded to the central database checked for ticket records by law enforcement officers. They're finally fixing that error, with habitual offenders now subject to towing as early as the beginning of February. Tory added the city issues roughly 100,000 tickets to out-of-province drivers every year, with most of them going unpaid.

Photo by Ian Muttoo in the blogTO Flickr pool.

In recent years, more couples are deciding to raise children in the downtown core. In the area south of Queen between University and Dufferin alone, the percentage of children under age five has grown by 65 per cent since 2006. But, oddly, businesses that have come to life in order to support these families are closing up shop.

The spots that are closing are built on a cafe-style model. Parents or other caregivers can come in with children in tow and not expect a gaggle of bespectacled 20-somethings to glare up at them in annoyance, interrupted from clacking away on their weathered MacBooks. Rather, these places are created for children. Play is encouraged. Noise is expected. So are copious messes.

So, if the face of Toronto is growing ever younger, why are places like Leslieville's Little Bean n Green closing its doors? Roncey's Smock will close at the end of the month, and Playful Grounds shuttered last year. Rumour has it Play Cafe, at Bayview and Leaside, is in the process of a move to Peterborough, but they didn't respond to my request for comment.

I reach Smock's owner, Sara Wood, on the phone to ask what's going on with her business. The culprit, according to Wood, was the final phasing in of all-day kindergarten this past September.

"The impact has been huge. We used to be full pretty much every day, at least for lunch. Now it's empty, [except for] maybe groups of moms with babies on mat leave."

She says her revenue is less than half of what it was before nearby schools had all-day kindergarten.

Wood explains that the business is more than a mom-and-baby drop-in, and includes arts programming and crafts. "We're really geared to provide enriched activities outside of school for school-aged kids. Now that all these four and five year olds are sequestered away in school, they just don't need the programming. Parents and caregivers don't have these half-days they need to fill with activities."

She stresses that she can only speak for herself, and not for other, similar businesses that have closed their doors.

Wood laments that there is no government programming in place to support child-centred businesses. She also faces some competition from creative parents in the area who are starting up their own small businesses in the form of piano lessons or art classes.

She concedes there are flaws in the business plan she went with, too. Many families in Roncey are dual-income, and that means children's nannies would often bring them to the space instead of their parents. But families don't always bestow the nannies with the added cash to bring children to a play space because, as Wood puts it, "they are already shelling out for a nanny."

And for other families, the stay-at-home parent will often be at their lowest earning potential because they don't work outside of the home, so they may not have the cash to spend, either. The other thing is the cost involved to run the business. For Wood's business, she provides diapers, and then there's the supplies required to clean up after the messes that are inevitably always being made.

"It's not particularly lucrative. The overhead is just so high. I suspect thats what happened to the others, too."

She started the business because, as a parent herself, she knew firsthand how isolating it can be to be stuck in the home raising children, or hanging out at an uninspiring community centre. She wanted to do something to quench parents' desires to be out and "part of the world." In that regard, she says, she was successful, but now that business has slowed so dramatically, she "can't run a charity."

If there's a problem with the cafe model, there's one woman in the city who knows how to fix it. Emily Pengelly is a co-owner of Sprouts in Leslieville. Her space is a 6,000 square foot indoor playground that lets children run wild, bounce on trampolines, or take one of the many classes on offer. Classes focus mostly on movement and motor skills: think dance, cooking, and construction lessons for little ones.

She says there's lots of interest in franchising from cities across North America. One of the reasons her model works is precisely that it's not a cafe.

She and her business partner, Faye Rauw, used to have demanding careers which, at times, required them to work 18-hour days. As parents, they knew they didn't want to keep up the same pace, but rather, they both wanted to run their own business and have a little more control. Pengelly used to live in Manhattan, and that's where the inspiration for such a large play space came from.

"People who live in apartment buildings don't usually have extra rooms, or playrooms, or backyards. Now that we have children, we thought, 'Why aren't these kinds of things available here in Toronto?' We call it a private club for families with children under seven."

Sprouts includes space where parents can sit down and have coffee, and there are 50 classes offered per week, from pre-school to after-school programming. Summer camps and March break camps are on offer, too, and they're open seven days per week.

"We did look at [the play cafe model]," Pengelly says, "but we realized it wouldn't work. Nobody in their right mind who doesn't have a child is stopping in for a sandwich or a coffee."

She says once kids reach the age of 18 months or so, the cafe model doesn't work so well because kids get rambunctious, and they start running around and "knocking over babies."

Her model works, she says, because people are required to invest in play passes, and so they feel a sense of community, if not ownership, and are compelled to take care of the space. Everyone's first visit is free, but after that, people either have the option of purchasing a six visit play pass (which entitles them to use of the playground area only), or an unlimited 30-day pass for $95. That accommodates two adults and up to three siblings. Single drop-ins are not offered past the first visit.

As for expansion, Pengelly intends to focus on Ontario first. She says there's been interest in Roncey, Markham, and Etobicoke, among other spots. If that goes well, she says she'll look at filling out the rest of the provinces, and into the U.S.

While times look bleak for the play cafe model, on the other hand, Wood says she's not bowing out of the children's services game entirely. Smock may not exist in bricks and mortar form past the end of the month, Wood plans to move her business online, where she will post craft tutorials and healthy, kid-friendly recipes. She'll also sell birthday parties in a box, craft kits and her custom made Wonder Boxes.

Photo of Smock

Toronto catering options abound, whether you're looking for full-service party planners able to staff and decorate your next event, office lunch options, or pick-up platters of prepared foods. There's something for everyone on the list no matter personal preference or dietary restrictions.

Here are my picks for the top catering options in Toronto.

FORMAL FUNCTIONS

Daniel et Daniel
The off-site caterer has established itself as a pro at pulling off distinct weddings, corporate events and private functions. Use their services for planning, staffing, even, locating a venue - they can accommodate everything from cocktail receptions to sit-down dinners, buffets, or dinner stations.

Marigolds & Onions
In business since 1991, this experienced team of event planners boasts a portfolio of big corporate clients and successful 5,000-person events. From weddings and special occasions, to corporate orders for breakfasts, sandwich luncheons or a la carte meals.

Elle Cuisine
Chef Lauren Mozer and team gained acclaim at the Toronto Underground Market and continues to create elegant and memorable events through their full service operation. Event coordinators can help plan and execute weddings, parties and sit down dinners, but most fun of all are interactive food stations that let guests build their own tacos or sundaes, and chow down on fun street foods like poutine or mac and cheese.

A La Carte Kitchen
Since 1981, this Catering's company has amassed a reputation for its multi-course player dinners, buffets, passed hors d'oeuvres and more. Currently operating the bistro at the Gardiner Museum, they are also on the preferred caterer lists at other notable Toronto venues like the Toronto Botanical Gardens and Roy Thompson Hall.

The Food Dudes
This large scale catering operation has the capacity for massive events and proven track record for producing all types of functions from start to finish. They'll serve intimate sit down dinners, lavish weddings and corporate events with panache, but most fun and unique options include interactive stations like a stuffed baked potato bar or s'more buffet.

Toben Food By Design
The Cordon Bleu trained chef and team produce corporate and private events and can look after everything from rentals to staffing. No matter if the guest list is 10 to 1000 strong, expect beautifully presented food be it for breakfast, lunch, dinner or a cocktail affairs.

WORKING LUNCHES

Cafe Plenty
While pretty much every other place on this list will do lunch, Cafe Plenty makes it their niche. Group lunch orders can enjoy a scrupulously crafted sandwich, salad, dessert and a drink for a set price.

Petit Four Bakery
Working lunches don't get much better than this, with the menu featuring fresh-made focaccia sandwiches, salads and hot entrees like grilled salmon over quinoa, and slice flat iron steak with couscous.

Acqua Fine Foods
A retail space on The Queensway stocks prepared foods for walk-ins but does the bulk of its business in catering orders. Sandwich platters for corporate lunches, and a party starting lineup of hors d'oeuvres keeps its steady clientele satisfied.

McEwan Catering
While McEwan will arrange for servers if necessary, what this catering operation does best is boardroom ready, self-serve platters piled with sandwiches, cheese and charcuterie boards, apps, and even large format entrees.

Pusateri's
The chain of fine foods shops will cater banquets complete with hors d'oeuvres, multi-course menus or ambulatory food stations, but where they really excel is with their catalogue of easy to order catering options for the business set featuring continental breakfast platters and corporate lunches.

Art of Food
No matter the type of event or type of service style sought, this events caterer can deliver. Corporate clients looking to spice up the boardroom should look no further than the vast lunchtime offerings including boxed lunches, deli and antipasto platters, and hot seasonal entrees.

VEGETARIAN

The Goods
The all-vegan, all-raw lunch delivery service based on Dundas West can easily cater groups of 10 to 400 people with its made-from-scratch menu featuring salads, grain bowls, smoothies and soups.

Doug's Public Kitchen
Specializing in organic, plant based cuisine like vegan comfort foods, gluten-free, macrobiotic, or raw living cuisine, Doug and his team will create custom menus for private events from date-nights to galas.

Karma Chamealeon
The Hamilton-based food truck is 100% vegan and is available for hire for private events. The fun menu features street foods like jerk jackfruit tacos, chili fries and Cajun tofu po'boys.

Veggie D'Light
This meat-free caterer can accommodate orders for small group functions, up to 20 people with just 48 hours notice. Menus offer apps like lettuce wraps, spring rolls and samosas, and vegan entrees like lasagna or crispy Thai-style seitan.

FLEXITARIAN

Urban Acorn
Catering to dietary restrictions of all types, this catering company makes it their mission to accommodate meat-eaters, vegans and gluten-free eaters all at once with farm to table fare. Corporate events, private functions and weddings all welcome.

Lisa Shamai Cuisinière
Parties of up to 1,000 can enlist this east-side kitchen to satisfy vegetarian, vegan and omnivorous guests with diverse menus that offer a little something for everyone.

The Steady
The Bloor Street home for dance parties and brunch is where meat-eaters and vegans can unite. The catering menu from The Steady is just as inclusive, offering finger foods, family-sized food stuffs like chips and guac by the litre, and enchiladas by the dozen, plus there's donuts, specialty cakes, and other confections.

COMFORT FOODS

Parts & Labour
Expect a wide range of catering styles from this Parkdale kitchen which can produce everything from casual street food stations, to elegant canapé receptions and seated multi-course dinners. The catering company operates three downtown venues while also offering a planning division to coordinate off-site events including street fests, outdoor function (even picnics), weddings and corporate events.

Barque Smokehouse
Catering menus by this smokehouse on Roncy offer options for elegant full service including plated appetizers and meat carving stations. For corporate luncheons and casual events opt for self-serve platters of appetizers or sandwiches, and piles of barbecued meats, sides and salads.

J.K Fries
Chef Jamie Kennedy still hosts private parties at his Gilead Cafe, but it's the french fry operation that's available for hire at private events. Served in paper cones, or as poutine, these promise to be a delicious and unique addition to any function.

Calabria Bakery
Need a whole tray of veal cutlets, entire lasagnas, salads, pizzas or sandwiches? This Italian bakery can cater homestyle favourites for parties of ten or more.

CLAM BAKES & SEAFOOD BOILS

Rodney's Oyster House
Aside from delectable oyster bars, this seafood purveyor offers catering packages featuring lobster boils and clam bakes with salads, corn on the cob, and all the fixins.

Smoked & Cracked
The restaurant on Mount Pleasant is still young but owners Michael Kash and Ron Rayner have over 40 years catering experience. The passionate seafood chefs can turn an office party into an East Coast lobster shack, or serve surf and turf dinners to 100 wedding guests.

Feast Your Eyes
Among the many different catering packages offered by this full service event planner, the
Down East Lobster Boil and Seafood Buffet is easily one of the standouts. The all-out seafood feast opens with apps like steamed mussels, crab cakes and chowder then features steamed crustaceans with drawn butter, salads, sides and desserts.

WHOLE HOGS

Rui's Roasted Piglet
Order online for $149.99, traditional Portuguese leitao a bairrada (roasted piglet), that will arrive to the party all crispy, juicy and warm. Servicing the GTA, this butcher and BBQ caterer will carve the beast before delivery, or present it whole in all its glory.

Culinary Artistry
A division of this Toronto catering company is devoted entirely to rotisserie roasted pigs. Order a piggy in a box for pick-up, have it carved on the buffet line, or even opt to have the whole hog cooked on a spit on site.

See also:The top 10 BBQ Caterers in Toronto

FILIPINO

Lamesa
The catering service offered by this restaurant on a Queen West is completely customizable to suit intimate dinners to weddings. Keep to the traditional, or opt for a modern take on Filipino cuisine offered in varied service styles ranging from buffet, to food stations, passed hors d'oeuvres, or plated dinners.

Tita Flips
The Market 707 vendor offers party trays of spring tools, noodles, rice, and crowd pleasing pork dishes like adobo pork or pata.

Chef George
Custom menus for any occasion are available whole there's also convenient and easy-to-order party trays that can be ordered in advance and picked up the day of your event. Chef's suggestions include chicken fried rice, miki bihon, bihon guisado, and pancit luglog.

LATIN

Sabrosito
Cordon Bleu chef, Carlos Fuenmayor specializes in small in-home parties of up to 20 people, though he has catered larger affairs, including dinners for up to 60 and canapés receptions for 125. His repertoire is expansive but Latino fare is a favourite to cook.

JD Best Fine Foods
Latin American baker, and owner of El Cafetal on, Julia Salcedo brings family traditions to Toronto events with staple menu items like cocktail sized empanadas, bite-sized quiches and mini affajores.

D.Kinnas Lanchonete
Providing parties with finger foods, 100 mini snacks at a time, find the menu featuring Brazil favourites like mini pastels stuffed with chicken or beef, cheese balls, heart of palm pie and kibe beef rolls.

CARIBBEAN

King Catering
Personal chef services and corporate and event catering will satisfy guest appetites with diverse offerings from Trinidad and Tobago-born chef, Deon King. Recent party menus have featured braised jerk pork ravioli, deep fried breadfruit with spicy Trini meatballs, and a coconut sorrel mousse.

Randy's Roti
Two food trucks can roll up to any corporate event, outdoor wedding or curbside event. Party down with doubles, jerk and fried chicken, stews and roti.

Jan's Catering Service
Bring a taste of the islands to your next party with cocktail-sized beef (or veggie) patties or pholourie balls. This Caribbean caterer in Markham is a good source for stacks of dhalpuri served with curry chickpea or goat, jerk chicken or shrimp fried rice.

SOUTH ASIAN

Babu Catering & Delivery
Spicy, exotic flavours including a wide assortment of authentic Indian, Sri Lankan, South Asian and Thamil foods are the specialty from this Scarborough take-out counter with the capacity to take large orders. Meat eaters and vegetarians alike will spicy or mild options from snack foods like vaipan, vadai and soosiyam
to curries, biryani and items from the tandoor oven.

Nantha Caters
The Sri Lankan takeout shop in Scarborough deals in paruppu vadai, samosa, koththu roti, curries that can feed large groups at remarkable value.

PERSIAN

Torsh
This catering kitchen operates from a second floor unit in little Italy, serving up beautifully presented Persian staples miniaturized for cocktail hour (think, mini noon paneer sabzi and kashke bademjan bites. Dips, stews and trays of chargrilled kebabs are excellent to order for mass consumption too.

Baran Catering
Based in Richmond Hill, this catering operation from chef Nader Taheri specializes in Persian and Mediterranean cuisine. Kebab platters and trays of

KOSHER

Zutcher Berk
Count on this kosher cater for any Jewish occasion, the company offers complete event planning for weddings and bar mitzvahs, plus shiva orders on short notice (24 hours requested).

Ely's Fine Foods
The retail counter on Bathurst stocks a wide array of salads and dips along with traditional Jewish staples like matzo ball soup, gefilte fish, roast beef brisket, and er, loads of kosher Chinese foods. It's easy to order pick-up meals for parties or shivas, while the full service caterer is happy to assist planning weddings, bar mitzvahs and corporate events.

Milk N' Honey
The catering menu from this Kosher restaurant in North York boasts trays of cheese blintzes and platters packed with sandwiches, bagels, cheese, or smoked fish, plus a wide array of sharable salads.

Yitz
Specialties from this Jewish deli counter include deli buffets, bagel and schmear brunches, and hot roast brisket family dinners for ten with all the traditional accompaniments like matzoh ball soup, chopped liver and roast potatoes.

Mitzuyan Kosher Catering
This strictly kosher mobile kitchen means any beautiful venue can be matched with freshly prepared kosher food cooked on site. They do multi course menus in a variety of styles, as well as interactive stations showcasing sushi boats, hot smoked meat carving stations, and chef-carved shawarma and falafels with DIY fixin's.

ECO-FRIENDLY

10tation
From menus to venues, this Etobicoke-based company has got you covered. Not only is it among the most experienced and most capable at handling large events, it's also abides by its own green mandate that includes diverting and reducing waste, sourcing local food and refusing to supply plastic water bottles.

Yorkshire Pudding
Guests tend to rave about the parties and events this full service Etobicoke-based caterer puts on. Among their many merits is their initiatives to become a sustainable catering company which includes extensive recycling and composting programs, seasonal local menus, and reusable or biodegradable service pieces.

Vert Catering
Vert services corporate clients with breakfast buffets, sandwich platters and bistro menus, as well as weddings and private functions with passed apps, and sit-down or buffet dinners. The company is committed to producing less landfill waste than any other caterer in Toronto.

L-Eat
The catering company services weddings, social functions and business clientele with custom menus. Past events have showcased antipasto food stations, multi-course plated feasts, and a vibrant array of cocktail party chic finger foods. The L-eat Group also cultivates a 3,000 sq. ft. urban garden in North York while practicing green initiatives that don't just include recycling and composting, but also using fryer oil for bio-fuels.

What did I miss? Add the catering companies that have rocked your past parties in the comments section.

Lead photo from Daniel et Daniel.

Over the weekend Toronto's club scene celebrated the finale three nights of the storied Guvernment nightclub with a packed and shirtless house. Resident DJs Mark Oliver and Manzone & Stong opened and closed the night, Deadmau5 headlined the final party, Armin van Buuren played for 6 hours (while Knife Party played a mere 90 minutes), and bodies were still spilling out onto the street at 8am before the club shut its doors for the last time. The sweaty was thick but there were few tears, maybe because dancers knew Sound Academy will soon take the club's place.

Here are 30 memories from the Guvernment's finale nights on the waterfront.

The best karaoke bars in Toronto offer a little bit less pressure than public, open mic karaoke nights. Love to belt out a tune or two with friends, but too shy to do it in front of an entire bar? Private karaoke rooms can be found all over the GTA and are ready to serve you drinks, offer songs in an array of languages (in English, Korean, etc.) and range from current popular jams to nostalgic oldies - all without the daunting possibility of public humiliation.

Here are the best karaoke bars in Toronto.

See also: Karaoke nights in Toronto by day of the week

Photo by Peter Bowers in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Today in Toronto you can meet two of the city's weirdest filmmakers and animators, Clint Enns and Leslie Supnet of Regional Support Network. Watch a massive line up of screenings and learn more about Toronto and Winnipeg's transgressive underbelly at Trinity Square Video. If you're still obsessed with Alvvays' "Archie, Marry Me" or, randomly, the Toronto Raptors, head to No One Writes to the Colonel. For more events, click on over to our events section.

• Film/Art: Clint Enns & Leslie Supnet: Adventures in Transgression (Trinity Square Video)
• Music/Film: Music On Film: Let's Get Lost (Bloor Cinema)
• Lit: True Stories Told Live (The Garrison)
• Poetry: Shab-e She'r Poetry Night XXV (Beit Zatoun)
• Art: OCAD U Free Public Talk: Artist Dylan Miner (OCAD)
• Music/Sports: Indie Nights: Archie, Marry Me (No One Writes to the Colonel)
• Party: In The Jungle Vol.3 (Phoenix)

Have an event you'd like to plug? Submit your own listing to the blogTO Toronto events calendar or contact us directly.

Image: Leslie Supnet

This week on DineSafe there are no closures to report, though there are some familiar names on this list. Liberty Shawarma gets a yellow card again, which is exactly how their last five inspections have ended. In case you're wondering why that hasn't resulted in a shut down, the whole process is rather complicated.

Here are the rest of this week's worst on DineSafe.

Bento Nouveau (200 Elizabeth St.)
Inspected on: January 22, 2014
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 2 (Significant: 2)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Gourmet Gringos (1384 Bathurst St. West)
Inspected on: January 22, 2014
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 4 (Minor: 1, Significant: 3)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Liberty Shawarma (4K Spadina Ave.)
Inspected on: January 21, 2014
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 3 (Significant: 3)
Crucial infractions include: Operator fail to maintain hazardous foods at 60C (140F) or hotter.

New Generation Sushi (493 Bloor St. West)
Inspected on: January 21, 2014
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 2 (Minor: 1, Significant: 4)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

RaviSoups (2535 Dundas St. West)
Inspected on: January 22, 2014
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 1 (Significant: 1)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Stay Cafeteria (388 Spadina Ave.)
Inspected on: January 22, 2014
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 3 (Significant: 2, Crucial: 1)
Crucial infractions include: Operator fail to maintain hazardous food(s) at 4C (40F) or colder.

Far Niente (187 Bay St.)
Inspected on: January 20, 2014
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 5 (Minor: 2, Significant: 3)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Mugshot Tavern (1729 Bloor St. West)
Inspected on: January 22, 2014
Inspection finding: Yellow (Conditional)
Number of infractions: 5 (Minor: 2, Significant: 3)
Crucial infractions include: N/A

Demolition continues in Regent Park, with the steady teardown of the Peter Dickinson-designed 605 Whiteside Place, one of five towers the architect contributed to the community in the late 1950s. This building is the second last remaining of the high rise portion of Regent Park, an area which is being razed as the third phase in a massive redevelopment project that's already garnered international recognition.

Although this is just one in a series of these towers to be torn down, the manner in which the demolition has been carried out has revealed a unique view of the multicoloured units that once made up the 14-storey tower. With much of the facade removed from the building, one can examine the grid-like inner design of the structure, which features two-storey apartment units, something that's exceedingly rare in Toronto.

There's a curious tension on display during these last days of 605 Whiteside. On the one hand, there's an intriguing glimpse into the design principles of Canada's preeminent modernist architect. On the other, there's an intimate view of what were once people's homes, residents who lived in social housing development that was flawed in major ways. It's a sight that demands contemplation.

Have a look at the final days of 605 Whiteside Place below.

Photos by Vik Pahwa