1.    Boonsik

 
Where: 50 Clinton Street (Little Italy)

Must Try: Korn Dog – mozzarella and beef sausage wrapped in rice and bread flour breading with ketchup, mustard, and a pinch of sugar on top.

Paul Kim transformed the fine-dining Korean restaurant, Doma, into a hot spot for Korean street food. Boonsik translates into “food made from flour” and refers to the many snack foods sold in casual restaurants that differ in flavour across South Korea. Kim has taken the challenge to try and balance these flavours in his new restaurant that is unique to Toronto.

Get a taste of Korean soul food at Boonsik as well as pick up any Korean snacks sold for $1 – just like in convenience stores. You’ll love the buzzing ambience, tasty new food, and of course, some K-Pop playing.
 

2.    LOV’s

 
Where: 620 King St. W. Suite 102

Must Try: Any of your favourite dishes, but made with local ingredients!

Give your eyes and stomachs a treat at Toronto’s first LOV location. LOV stands for local, organic, and vegan and promises healthy, plant-based, and tasty dishes in a beautiful restaurant that glimmers with sophistication.

Originally from Montreal, LOV serves up-scale, hearty, vegan dishes including plant-based alternatives to traditional meals like lasagna. Enjoy the garden-like environment as you relish in the nutrient-rich foods.
 

3.    Lobster Burger Bar

 
Where: 214 King St. West

Must Try: Lobster Meets Beef Burger – 5 oz beef burger with lobster and cheese

Calling all seafood lovers – mainly lobster lovers! Using ingredients and lobsters from local farmers and our neighbours in the east, Lobster Burger Bar puts a fun spin on classic seafood meals and serves delicious cocktails. Whether you want to have your own “Lobster Meets Beef” burger or order a bunch of shareable foods to try everything, you’ll be having a one-of-kind Canadian meal. And of course, they serve a poutine because Canada, eh!
 

4.    LosCo Vegan

 
Where: 111 Richmond Street (Financial District)

Must Try: Chef Herrera goes back to her roots as a pastry chef with her all vegan churro twists.

Hold on to your hats because you can now enjoy completely vegan Mexican food at LosCo Vegan. Elia Herrera, a previous Top Chef Canada contestant has opened this food stall in the Financial District serving all day breakfast made from healthier ingredients like young coconut ceviche, acai bowls, and coconut chia bowls.
 

5.    Libertad

 
Where: 113 Jefferson Avenue (Liberty Village)

Must Try: Blackened Arctic Char – Canadian Arctic char, salsa agaucate, cabbage, onion, cilantro, and pineapple

Hold on to your hats, taco and quesadilla lovers, this Mexicana cocina has a menu that exclusively includes tacos and quesadillas. But not just any kind, with a wide selection of different kinds of tacos you can get, Libertad also puts a Canadian spin on their dishes with char and turbot locally sourced. Choose from potatoes, beef tongue, and cauliflower for your main ingredient and enjoy.

The Plant Study’s Method

 
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) publishes the official assessment of species in The Red List of Threatened Species. The study done by Couvrer et al used a similar, but more efficient method to conduct the assessments. Using a new algorithm incorporating all of the relevant data, the team was able to classify 17% of the plant species in tropical Africa under threat and 14% as potentially threatened.

This algorithm offers a new, automatic method to determine the conservation status of plants over a large area. In this case specifically, the rainforests of western Africa and the Ethiopian highlands hold a large part of the threatened species. Its automation provides a way to provide important data that will direct the actions necessary to protect the plants from extinction.
 

Just the Tip of Rainforest Problems

 
The research team and the IUCN have only assessed 8% of all plant species worldwide. In contrast, about 86% of mammals and 61% of birds of the world have been studied. The new algorithm can help speed the process to determine the conservation status of the estimated 35 200 other plant species in the world. Knowing the status of as many species as possible will shave time off reversing the effects of human intervention on natural species.
 

The Ecological Issues of Plant Extinction

 
Since the Industrial Revolution, 571 plant species have been completely wiped out. Without any direct action, thousands more will be gone, seriously impacting global biodiversity. Greater biodiversity benefits humans since in areas with more biodiversity, there is less disease. Additionally, these plants absorb carbon dioxide and release the oxygen that is clearly vital to the survival of the human population.
 

It’s Not Too Late

 
Though the results of this study are grim, Dr. Couvrer says there is still a chance to reverse the negative effects on plant species so that they can survive. In a time where climate change is precariously close to eliminating important natural resources, governments or other entities in power must use the data gleaned with this algorithm to set proper changes.

As always, this is easier said than done. Ecological issues move slowly due to the obstacle geo-political tensions among countries. As it gets harder to ignore the scientific data and strong urges from the community and deny climate change, it will be too late to conserve species and will have permanent effects to everyone and everything on earth.

Tickets restaurant is based on the idea of fun!

Here are ten things that are special about Tickets:
 

1. It Was Ranked 20^th in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2019

 
There are a lot of restaurants out there. And Tickets rated 20^th in the top 50!
 

2. Albert Adria is a Star Chef

 
Adria received not one, but two Michelin stars in 2013 for Tickets and 41°. In 2017, another of his restaurants, Enigma received a Michelin star.

Adria was honoured as one of the 13 most influential people in the world of gastronomy and food by TIME magazine in 2013. In 2015, British fine dining magazine Restaurant named him The World’s Best Pastry Chef.
 

3. Haute Cuisine in an Informal Setting

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The space is full of colour and fun, featuring several bar counters. This is the place to experience “La vida tapa”.
 

4. Innovative Food Offerings

 
The tapas are prepared right in front of the diners, and includes legendary favourites that were first offered at El Bulli, a popular Michelin star restaurant that had closed, but the food lives on at Tickets.

Tickets chef illustrates mastery of molecular gastronomy, the art and science of selecting, preparing, serving and enjoying food. Their mastery and work go into the food that you get to experience!
 

5. The Food is Always Evolving

 
Tickets takes into account and reviews the dining experience and the ways that diners are eating and adjusts accordingly.
 

6. Seasonality

 
Foods served are based on what is available on a seasonal basis.
 

7. Order Off the Menu or Get a Custom Tasting Menu

 
Your two menu options are to order straight off the menu or go with a tasting menu where the server chooses assorted tapas for you, based on what you like and don’t like, and what you might be allergic to.
 

8. The Food Keeps Coming

 
The portions are tapas portions or small plates. They will keep bringing dishes to you until you tell them to stop. It is up to you to keep a running tally because they won’t be discussing the prices and asking if you still want more.
 

9. Save Room for Dessert

 
When you have finished with the meal, they will take you to the dessert room, which is filled with giant fruit art and colourful décor. As with the main courses, they will keep bringing dessert dishes until you tell them to stop.
 

10. Make Reservations

 
Don’t just show up. Make reservations.

For reservations online, keep in mind that the reservation system books for all the El Barri restaurants.

There is a two-month window on reservations, and once reservations are available, they can sell out in as little as ten minutes.

Enjoy and have fun!

Getting the opportunity to visit a country you’ve never seen before is one of the richest experiences a person can have. Travel is a privilege and it broadens your mind like nothing else. But there are different ways to do it, and they aren’t all equal.

Dropping into a foreign country is exciting, and you’ll be stimulated and have a blast. Though working abroad allows you to better soak up the culture, meet life-long friends, and altogether have an unforgettable experience.

Teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) is a popular way for people in North America to travel and work abroad, because they have a skill that’s very in demand around the world. There are programs for teaching English in Korea which will have you set up abroad on a deep and extended travel adventure you’ll never forget!

Learn more about why working abroad is the best way to travel, and what you can expect when teaching ESL in a foreign country.

Steep in the New Country

 
When you arrive in a new place across the world you’ve never been to, the sights and sounds and smells tend to stick out because they’re so different than what you’re accustomed to. This is exciting and fun, and it’s one of the thrills of travel.

But getting used to these things is a sign that you’re really absorbing the new place, which leads to a deeper kind of relationship to it. You might learn some of the local language, and pick up important insights about the culture, politics, geography and more.

Time is a great teacher, and the more you have of it abroad the richer the experience will be.

The Right Support

 
Moving to another country to begin work is a bold and intrepid decision, but it can be difficult unless you get the right support. There are travel companies that specialize in smoothing out the necessary but boring parts of your journey.

They’ll handle all your Visa paperwork, find you a clean and comfortable lodging in a convenient neighbourhood, book and pay for your flights, and help you get adjusted to classroom life. When you arrive in an exciting new country, the last thing you want to do is sort out mundane logistical issues.

Important Cultural Exchange

 
Language is the root of culture because it is the most basic element of what connects us all. Getting to introduce people to your language is a satisfying and enriching experience that will enable your students to connect with English speakers.

On a practical level, being able to speak, write and understand English also grants people better access to higher paying jobs. Both of these reasons will only make teaching English feel more rewarding, as you impart the basic elements of your culture to people seeking it.

There are many great ways to travel, but if you engage the right travel company you’ll see that teaching ESL allows you to have a long and unforgettable trip.

It seems like a real no-brainer that you would want to exercise restraint when packing for a trip. Why pack that one green patterned shirt in the back or your closet, or that book that’s been sitting on your shelf for three years when you would never wear or use them regularly? People, in their packing zeal, forget that day-to-day life doesn’t require all that much stuff. It’s pretty minimal.

Really, all you need to do in order to pack light is cut your clothing down, which you can accomplish by choosing clothes made of materials that stay fresh. For instance, for light travel you want merino wool socks and underwear, as well as shirts, because they wick away sweat and stay fresh for days; you can pack like two pairs of merino underwear and get away with a weeklong trip.

And there are benefits to packing light, which far outweigh the benefits you might experience packing a gigantic suitcase stuffed with stuff. In this article, let’s walk through a few of the reasons you should consider going minimalist on your next trip.

Packing Light Saves You Money

With airlines levying pricey checked baggage fees nowadays, you can save yourself a lot of money packing just a carry-on for a round trip. And you’ll also find, as you travel around your destination, that not having a big piece of luggage frees you up to save on transport. Whereas you might regularly take public transit or walk, with a big suitcase you often wind up shelling out for a cab.

A Light Load Allows for More Freedom

Want to be spontaneous when you travel, wake up and decide to go somewhere completely new? With luggage weighing you down, you’re less likely to make these beautiful, impromptu decisions. You tend to feel tied to a certain place. Packing less can be freeing that way.

Being Choosy Makes You More Considerate

One of the key tenets of minimalism is that, as you whittle down your possessions, you become more considerate of each item, more attuned to quality. With a clutter of clothing and every known toiletry under the sun stuffed into your bag, it can be hard to take pride in your possessions, to vouch for their value.

Bring Less And You’ll Have Less to Lose

Finally, a practical consideration: statistically speaking, the fewer things you bring, the fewer things you are likely to lose. If juggling 30 items of clothing, for instance, it’s pretty easy when you leave to forget the one that slipped underneath the hotel bed. With 8-10 articles of clothing, each can be easily accounted for. You don’t need all that jewellery, either; whatever small feeling of class is gained by packing it, the risk of losing it outweighs.

In short, when packing for a trip, don’t bring what you don’t need. Find clothing items that stay fresh for a long time, and pack just a few of them. Leave the jewellery and all but the essential toiletries. You’ll be glad you did.

If we told you that Coors Light, everyone’s favourite ice-cold beer, is running a series of contests this summer in collaboration with some of the best outdoor events Canada has to offer, how excited would you be?

We’ll take one guess: very excited.

If you stop by Contestscoop.com you’ll be able to read all of the entry details for the Mountain Calls contest. In the meantime, take a look at what you could gain from entering this exciting opportunity.
 

OSHEAGA

Experience some of the world’ most diverse and exciting music with the Osheaga Music and Arts festival held in Montréal next month. You and three friends could win airfare, hotel accommodation, and tickets to the festival just by taking a photo of yourselves enjoying a Coors Light and submitting it to a Coors Light social media pages like Instagram or Facebook.

Picture yourself with some of your best friends in one of North America’s most beautiful cities, enjoying some of the world’s best musical talent. August 2 to 4, Parc Jean-Drapeau hosts the likes of Gucci Mane, Interpol, Beach House, and so much more. Don’t miss out on this perfect summer vacation!
 

Iceberg Alley

Are you looking for some east coast Canadian action? Coors Light is offering a paid trip for four to Canada’s most eastern city and province: St. John’s, Newfoundland. Surrounded by the cool breeze of the Atlantic Ocean, you and your friends could attend Iceberg Alley — a festival with some of Canada’s top musical talent. You and your friends will also witness the beauty of this unique province; one with old traditions embedded in sea culture, music, and you guessed it, lots of beer drinking.

You and three friends will stay in historic St. John’s from September 13 to 15. Check out Contest Scoop for more information!
 

Festival d’été de Quebec

Celebrate summer in Canada’s oldest city, Québec City. From July 12 to 14, you could be partying at The Major Festival of the Year, as voted by the Canadian Live Music Industry Awards, The Festival d’été. You’ll experience two nights in a beautiful Québec City hotel, as well as travel accommodations.

What better way to truly ring in summer than with an ice cold Coors Light and live entertainment from everyone from Mariah Carey to Lynyrd Skynyrd? You won’t want to miss this chance to spend some time in such an enchanting place, and all the while taking in some incredible entertainment.
 

Prize Events Draw Dates

Bask in the glory of our country this summer! And do it without breaking the bank. Head on over to ContestScoop.com to learn further details about this and other incredible Canadian contests!