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Welcome to my city

Food-allergy advocate Pauline Oseña takes us on a tour of Toronto’s Leslieville area

The mother of three takes time out of her busy schedule to show us around the city's family-friendly, waterfront neighborhood

November 2, 2019

Text: As told to Waheeda Harris

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I was born in Manila but raised in Toronto, where my family migrated when I was five. My parents met in Manila: dad is from Quezon, while mom hails from Iloilo. Manila is a city that holds many memories for me. My sister still lives there, and my last visit was in 2011, to celebrate dad’s 70th birthday and when I found out I was pregnant with my first child.

In Canada, I grew up in Mississauga, a suburb in Toronto, but moved downtown for university. Since then, I’ve settled in this part of the city and I now live in Leslieville with my husband and three children. It’s wonderful to see how this neighborhood has grown and flourished in the last seven years.

When my first son was born, I was a business marketing analyst. But things changed when he began showing signs of food allergy at six months old. I knew nothing about such health conditions so it was a steep learning curve. We eventually discovered he would have adverse reactions to some food items, including peanuts, tree nuts, dairy products, eggs and other common ingredients found in many dishes.

I started reading up on the topic, engaging in food allergy advocacy, creating an online community and support group for parents of children with allergies in Toronto and writing a blog called HypeFoodie.com. That led to me becoming a bi-weekly contributor to the Huffington Post, where I wrote a column called the “Allergy-friendly Recipe Makeover”. This involved offering alternative recipes to popular dishes such as pumpkin pie and shortbread cookies, without common allergens like eggs, wheat, soy, nuts and dairy. Although I don’t have formal restaurant training, I love to cook. For that, I thank my mom, who taught me the essentials of Filipino cuisine.

While learning to test recipes, the priority was to feed my son without compromising his health, but it was important that my food tasted good too. As he got older and it became less appropriate to bring his own food to restaurants, my husband and I recognized the need for a restaurant where people with dietary restrictions can dine. We decided to start our own restaurant that would serve up allergen-free dishes.

We opened Hype Food Co, on the corner of Gerrard Street and Jones Avenue in Leslieville, in May 2018. We didn’t hire a restaurant consultant – instead, I learned from friends in the F&B industry about recipe development and food service, focusing on creating systems that would avoid cross-contamination between ingredients, like ensuring cutting boards and knives are cleaned after every use and placing all ingredients in covered containers with dedicated tongs.

I’m committed to offering great food that is free from gluten, dairy, nuts, soy, sesame, fish and eggs. Everything at Hype Food Co is made in-house. I want to make our space a welcoming place for families: There is a train play table and a Lego table for kids as well as drawing boards and books, and an area to park strollers. Many of our regular customers don’t have any dietary restrictions, but visit us daily because they appreciate tasty homecooked meals.

SATURDAY

9AM

My weekend begins with my family and I visiting one of our favorite places in the east end, the Evergreen Brick Works. The kids love to play in the outdoor area and the hiking trails are not too challenging. It has several old buildings, and it’s an important part of Toronto’s history as a former factory and quarry in the Don River Valley that was revived as a multi-use space. I love that you can see the decades-old graffiti on the former brick factory walls. 550 Bayview Avenue

10:30AM

Token Gift Shop is a quaint little shop owned by Leslieville couple Nicole Babin and Stefan Powell. I like to pick up unique gifts for all ages here, such as tea towels depicting iconic Toronto landmarks by British artist Julia Gash. The store is committed to sustainability and reducing waste. 777 Queen Street East

12PM

A ten-minute walk from Hype Food Co on Greenwood Avenue is Maha’s. It opened in 2014 and has since been expanded to accommodate more diners. This Egyptian brunch place has so many creative dishes like shakshuka (eggs scrambled with tomato), the Cairo Classic (fava beans, eggs, tomato, bread and falafel) and Beleella (slow cooked barley, milk, vanilla, sugar, raisin, walnut and shredded coconut). There’s always a line but it’s worth the wait – especially for its honey-cardamom latte! 226 Greenwood Avenue

2PM

We don’t have to go all the way to the Theatre District to catch a show. The Crow’s Theatre is a 200-seater playhouse in Leslieville that offers morning, matinee and evening performances such as Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar or The Flick by Annie Baker. It’s beside a swanky restaurant – Gare de l’Est, a contemporary French brasserie perfect for pre-theater bites like charcuterie and cheese or petit moules (mussels in white wine and garlic sauce). 345 Carlaw Avenue

5:30PM

Everybody loves the lively back patio and the colorful tuk-tuk that decorates the entrance of  Lahore Tikka House in the Gerrard India Bazaar – Toronto’s Little India district on the eastern end of Leslieville. This eatery can get a bit chaotic with its shared tables, but that’s all part of the fun. Try the classic curry, biryani, tandoori dishes and traditional kulfi ice cream. 1365 Gerrard Street East

 

7PM

We love going to Yard Sale Bar to enjoy its rooftop patio. It just opened this summer, and also happens to be right next door to Hype Food Co. It offers delicious retro cocktails paired with a rotating menu of appetizers and is a great place to unwind after a long day, thanks to its eclectic soundtrack of ABBA, Electric Light Orchestra and Joni Mitchell. 1062 Gerrard Street East

9PM

A former industrial space, Wayla Bar & Lounge features a long narrow expanse and brick walls that make up a laid-back spot to meet friends after work. The bar’s regular schedule of live music is a great way to discover new and emerging musicians. 996 Queen Street East

SUNDAY

9AM

On Sunday mornings, my family and I visit the Leslieville Farmers’ Market (20 Woodward Avenue) at Jonathan Ashbridge Park, not far from the shores of Lake Ontario. After shopping for fresh fruit and vegetables, many people take out their picnic blankets to relax on the grass, enjoy food and listen to live music. Sometimes we go to the Sunday Artisan Market at Evergreen Brick Works (550 Bayview Avenue) for local produce.

11AM

It’s a Toronto tradition to go for leisurely lunches on Sundays. The build-your-own meal menu at  Hype Food Co has options for everyone in the family, including those with dietary restrictions and vegans. There are zucchini noodle and salad bowls for the health-conscious, pasta with marinara sauce for traditionalists, and our iconic chicken coconut green curry rice bowl. Finish off your meal with dessert from the large selection of plant-based and gluten-free cupcakes, donuts, cookies and dairy-free soft-serve ice cream, while kids entertain themselves in the play area. 1060 Gerrard Street East

1:30PM

My favorite park in this neighborhood is  Greenwood Park. When my children were young, we would come here nearly every day, enjoying the playground or watching the dogs run around in the leash-free area. There’s also an outdoor skating rink that doubles up as a concrete track in the summer. My three kids learned how to cycle, scooter and skate here. 150 Greenwood Avenue

3PM

Looking for a 1950s evening gown or vintage homeware? You can find so many collectables and quirky knick-knacks that spark nostalgia at Gadabout Vintage, a two-story shop that sells garments dating from the 1800s to the 1970s. 1300 Queen Street East 

4PM

When I need to do some work away from the restaurant, I go to Dineen Outpost just a few shops down for a much-needed hit of caffeine. It’s the third location for this boutique coffee chain, and the only one that offers cocktails. 1043 Gerrard Street East

6:30PM

Not many people know that restaurant chain  Queen Margherita Pizza’s first location was in Leslieville before it became a city-wide name with two more branches. For dinner my pick is the delicious Neapolitan-style pizza, which uses Ontario-sourced ingredients like mozzarella. The restaurant has such an easy-going vibe – it’s my favorite go-to spot for date nights or big family gatherings. 1402 Queen Street East

8PM

To finish off the weekend, I head to  Black Lab Brewing, a brewery and tap room that’s dog-friendly – the owners took inspiration for this concept from their black labrador Snoopy, who is also the store’s unofficial mascot. This two-story watering hole is where I can chill out with a cold IPA or pale ale before preparing for another busy week of work and family life. 818 Eastern Avenue

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    Welcome to my city

    Designer Marga Nograles takes us on a tour of Davao City

    Discover Tagbilaran with graphic designer and artist Felix Mago Miguel

  • Explore
    • Things to see and do
    • Dining and nightlife
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    Neighborhood guide: Seoul's booming Euljiro scene

    Brewing up a wave in Hanoi

  • People
    • Welcome to my city
    • Interviews
    • Travel essay

    Drag queen Manila Luzon serves Philippine-inspired looks

    Her wish is for Bicol to become the country's next culinary destination

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