My Day on a Plate

There's nothing more exciting than trying out a new restaurant or dessert spot. But do you know what's even better? Trying both in the same day!

Lately there's been a boom in new eateries and cafes in Toronto. That means tons of Instagram-worthy food photos showcasing the coolest and most creative additions to the city. With my "must-try" list longer than usual, I was excited to check some of those off.

Recently a colourful photo of a Baja Fish Taco found its way onto my timeline and it immediately caught my attention. The fish looked perfectly crispy and the toppings were vibrant. Everything about the taco was visually pleasing and enough for me to want a sample.

Located in the heart of Kensington Market in Toronto, you can find a neat little shop called Seven Lives. The take out style shop offers a few sweet variations of their California style tacos. For only $6 each, you won't have to limit yourself to one flavour.

As per the photo I saw, I ordered the Baja Fish taco. It had a large piece of crispy fried Haddock, fresh veggies, and yummy sauces that were ready to drip as soon as I scooped it up. I attempted to use a fork to try and make the least amount of mess, but unfortunately these tacos weren't meant for eating clean.

The portion sizes were literally perfect. As someone who often gets overwhelmed by the giant plates most restaurants serve, these were a refreshingly manageable size. You'll be able to finish every last bite and still have room for seconds (or thirds) depending on how you feel.

Naturally I needed a second, and this time I went for the Camarones a La Diabla—a spicy shrimp and cheese taco. This one was hands down my favourite. The shrimp were big and super juicy. They were covered in a mix of ooey gooey cheese and a spicy sauce that gave it a nice kick. Plus, you really can never go wrong with anything covered in cheese!

Based on the two that I tried, I have high hopes for the other flavours on the menu. Even better, it means another Taco Tuesday in the near future!

With a belly full of tacos, a highly anticipated dessert was on my radar.

Over the last week, I've noticed a few local food bloggers visiting a place called Lab Sense. This cute little shop on Yonge street is home to ice cream made with liquid nitrogen.

Everything is made fresh right in front of you and it's actually really nice to watch. As the liquid nitrogen is added in, you see a cloud of smoke surrounding the mixer. When your ice cream is served, the smoke continues to swirl around it for about a minute until it burns out.

Each regular size cup is about $6. I got Triple Chocolate, which was absolutely delicious. They add two toasted marshmallows on top and there were bits of chocolate mixed in the ice cream. My boyfriend tried the Strawberry Cheesecake, which, like mine, had pieces mixed in the ice cream as well as some larger pieces decorating the top.

Sounds cool, right? It gets better!

A pretty wall with pink and white flowers is the best spot to grab a pic of your yummy treat or even just a selfie for Instagram. There are two comfy hanging chairs in front, so you can get as creative as you want with your photos. If that's not enough, there's a ball pit—yes I said a ball pit—which your inner child will be begging you to sit in.

The desserts aren't overly elaborate, making them a guilt free treat for when you're craving something sweet. Next time I'm hoping to get my hands on the tiramisu ice cream since that was a close second this time around!

Both Seven Lives and Lab Sense have the "summer in Toronto" vibe, making them ideal places to visit as we move into the hot season. I mean, come on. Shrimp and cheese? Liquod nitrogen? Now that's a combination!