The One Eighty (formerly Panorama)

Renowned for its spectacular panoramic north and south views of the city, what used to be Panorama on the 51st floor of the Manulife Centre has now been re-launched as The One Eighty, a sophisticated restaurant and cocktail lounge offering specialty cocktails and an innovative food menu. I remember back in the day when I was still in school Panorama was the place for a guy to take a girl on the first date. I remember the last time I was there I was on a date too...like 10+ years ago. I wasn't really into food nor cocktails back then but man, I remember feeling so "grown-up" just being there. The place was so chic and fancy, you know? Downtown Yorkville, Bay & Bloor, 51st floor, pretty desserts and drinks. Yep, 'Sauga girl in the big city! Oh, how times have changed...

Anyhoo, let's not get off track. The decor at The One Eighty (Twitter: @the51stfloor, Facebook: The One Eighty) is a mix of classic and contemporary. Modern lines with shades of grey, touches of wood, and gold/bronze accents all evoke a sense of luxury in the revamped 2,500 sq. ft. space. Actually, I'm really loving those glossy white arched ceilings.

The restaurant accommodates over 90 guests for sit-down dining and up to 250 guests for cocktail receptions and events. The One Eighty also has a 1,500 sq. ft patio offering breathtaking views of the city.

A nice semi-private nook for a small group of friends

Mother's Day Lunch at Langdon Hall

I haven't been able to stop thinking about Langdon Hall since my last visit there almost a year ago (scroll to the bottom for last year's posts). The place is honestly too beautiful and gorgeous to forget and - dare I say - visit only once. Maybe this is some sort of addiction on my part? If that's the case then I'm not ashamed to admit that I brought my parents to Langdon Hall for Mother's Day this year not for them but for me, to get my "Langdon Hall fix". The first step in curing an addiction is accepting that I have a problem, right? *Sorry Mom*

Okay, maybe a teeny tiny bit of me also wanted to show my folks this elegant hotel & spa in Cambridge and have them dine at the 5-diamond award winning restaurant. After all they do deserve the best :) Anyway, we arrived at Langdon Hall (Twitter: @Langdon_Hall, Facebook: Langdon Hall Country House Hotel & Spa) about half an hour before our lunch reservation to walk the gardens' it looked like it may rain so we made sure we did that before lunch.

I wasn't able to get a reservation for Sunday (Langdon Hall had a special Sunday Brunch for Mother's Day) so we opted for lunch on Saturday instead, which is the standard lunch served from Monday to Saturday 12:00 PM to 2:30 PM in the restaurant's main dining room.

PIERRE FRICK ALSACE GEWURZTRAMINER ($70)

HOUSE-MADE SOUR DOUGH BREAD & BUTTER

Hot Stove Club at the Air Canada Centre

I'm willing to bet that not many of you have been to (or have heard of) the Hot Stove Club. I don't blame you because up until last year I haven't heard of it either. The fact that the restaurant is located inside the Air Canada Centre ("ACC") is probably the number one reason why (I don't frequent sports games or concerts so I'm really never there). Another reason is because for the longest time the Hot Stove Club was a members-only establishment (this is no longer the case). So armed with this new found knowledge, you should really consider grabbing a bite at the Hot Stove Club before a game or a show. Let's face it - whether it be a Raptors game next season (sorry I had to!) or the U2 concert in July, there is only so much concession food that one can tolerate. I mean, you already splurged on those tickets, right? So might as well treat yourself to some good food. Your tummy deserves much more than overpriced popcorn, nachos and hot dogs!

Established in 1963, the Hot Stove Club is a place where guests can enjoy modern steakhouse cuisine. The restaurant has three bars, a lounge area, and a decor that's warm with earth-tone leathers, dark wood, and cozy plush seating.

A fireplace warms the communal dining area that comfortably seats parties of eight. The middle of those tables can convert into a raw bar.

The Fran's 75th Anniversary Giveaway Winners are...

@MUSHYSPAPPY

@ericinmarkham

Congratulations @MUSHYSPAPPY and @ericinmarkham! Both of you have just won a $50 gift card to Fran's! Please email me your first and last name along with your mailing address to foodjunkiechronicles@gmail.com. I hope you will enjoy your time at Fran's :) Remember you can use your gift card at the following Toronto locations: 20 College St. (Yonge/College), 200 Victoria St. (Victoria/Shuter), 33 Yonge St. (Yonge/Front).

I also want to say a big THANK YOU to the 77 contestants who participated in the contest. 

Here's a snapshot of the Excel spreadsheet where I tracked the #fjcfrans hashtag from day one of the contest. The tracking was done using chronological order, as in, #1 was the first person to enter the contest. To enter, the person had to tweet "Hey @foodieyu I want to celebrate #frans75 with a $50 gift card to @fransrestaurant! http://bit.ly/1Q6Wzkj #fjcfrans". Each person could tweet once a day for the duration of the contest. Once the contest was over and everybody's entries were accounted for I checked to see if they follow me (@foodieyu) on Twitter. Below are the 213 valid entries:

.I used "True Random Number Generator" from random.org to pick two winners for me:

Fran's 75th Anniversary Giveaway

In celebration of Fran's Restaurant & Bar's upcoming 75th birthday on Friday, May 8th, I'm giving away TWO $50 GIFT CARDS to Fran's!

Take a trip down memory lane on Friday, May 8th, as Fran's Restaurant & Bar (Twitter: @fransrestaurant, Facebook: Fran's Restaurant) celebrates its 75th anniversary. From 11AM to 3PM, Fran's Front Street location (33 Yonge Street) will offer a special 1940's menu, complete with 1940's pricing! Select items, including a .25¢ Banquet Burger and a .15¢ slice of Homemade Apple Pie, will be on offer.

Fun Fact: Created in 1940 and originally named the "Forest Hill", Fran's “Banquet Burger” is now known worldwide by its common name: the bacon cheeseburger.

Fran's has grown significantly in its 75-year history. Recognized for its all-day breakfast and something-for-everyone menu, the diner's menu features fresh, house-made fare alongside the staples that popularized its reputation as a family-friendly restaurant, including waffles, burgers and milkshakes. Fran's has introduced new food items as well - such as Chicken & Waffles and a Portobello Mushroom Benedict - which expands on current comfort food offerings. The restaurant also features healthy options, including fruit smoothies, and an extensive cocktail menu that includes classic and contemporary drinks.

 Social media users will enjoy this too: Starting in June, Fran's will offer an Ultimate Milkshake menu that features milkshakes chosen by customers during “#MilkshakeGames”, a social media initiative happening this month that calls for customer input. This is right up my alley!

Whatcha waiting for? Enter my contest now for your chance to win one of two $50 gift cards to Fran's Restaurant & Bar!

HOW TO ENTER

1) You MUST be following me (@foodieyu) on Twitter

AND

2) Tweet the following sentence, exactly as shown, nothing before or after it: 

Hey @foodieyu I want to celebrate #frans75 with a $50 gift card to @fransrestaurant! http://bit.ly/1Q6Wzkj #fjcfrans

1. For your entry to be valid, you need to tweet the above sentence exactly as shown

2. You may tweet once a day for the duration of the contest. Re-tweeting others do NOT count as a valid entry

3. Contest is tracked by the #fjcfrans hashtag. If you don't see your tweet in the hashtag stream it means there is no entry from you. Read this to find out the possible reasons why your tweets are not showing up

4. Gift cards have no expiry date.

5. Gift cards can be used at the following Toronto locations: 20 College St. (Yonge/College), 200 Victoria St. (Victoria/Shuter), 33 Yonge St. (Yonge/Front).

CONTEST DURATION

Contest starts on Friday, May 1 and ends on Friday, May 8 at noon. 

Two lucky winners will be chosen randomly from www.random.org and I will announce the winner shortly after.

GOOD LUCK!!! ^_^