I bet you thought Paris was the undisputed culinary capital of the world, right? Not so fast, Madame, says journalist and bon vivant Andrew Braithwaite. One of the contributors to an intriguing new anthology, The Edible City: Toronto’s Food from Farm to Fork, Braithwaite and his fellow gourmand and wife left our fair city for France’s gastronomic mecca a few years back. Since then, the cosmopolitan couple have found themselves – as well as their highly refined palates – more than ...

If you’ve ever wondered what doctors actually think about injectable fillers, Women’s Post has found the answer. Dr. Barb Loiskandl is a mom, wife, and physician who uses cosmetic enhancement herself to reflect her inner radiance. Working at a women’s magazine, I get into many conversations about what makes a woman truly beautiful. Beauty is a combination of qualities that both delight the senses and stimulate the mind. Enhancing their physical appearance helps many people fully ...

I have to admit that I am a Neanderthal when it comes to the digital world. But I am proud to say that I finally bought groceries online through Grocery Gateway. And not only did I save time, it was a great experience. Before Grocery Gateway, I liked to read labels and get a feel for the size and texture of my choices. Given that appearance, smell, and touch are impossible to convey online, I wasn’t sure I could trust a stranger to pick my fruits and vegetables. I changed my mind,...

A woman lucky enough to find a spa where she feels completely at ease in the hands of one of its technicians should probably work on maintaining that relationship for life. But a woman lucky enough to find a spa where she feels completely at ease in the hands of cosmetic doctors should just thank her lucky stars. When I first learned about True MediSpa, owned and operated by Dr. Romy Saibil and Dr. Francine Gerstein, I thought it...

On moving north, I encountered rural environmentalists for the first time. They are an endearing species. Light-hearted, rarely aggressive unless directly challenged, these gentle creatures blend into most gatherings like a whippoorwill on the forest floor. They can be spotted by subtle markings: organic garlic, solar panels, handcrafted plumage. The males, particularly, often drum in circles like grouse. They flock to art auctions, informative seminars, and pot-luck dinners. Unlike their urb...

Shawna Page has been a believer in organics and natural supplements for over 20 years. She buys milk in glass bottles, eats organic food, and uses natural beauty products, right down to her deodorant. “I was into organics before it was fashionable … I was taking vitamins when people thought people who took vitamins wore Birkenstocks and were into [going] naked,” says Shawna, founder and CEO of femMED, a line of all-natural supplement...

What is part Scottish, part Hawaiian, and part hyaluronic acid? Stumped? (And not just because you don’t know what hyaluronic acid is?) Ann Kaplan, founder and CEO of Medicard Finance Inc., quipped to Women’s Post over three years ago that she was a mix of those components. Yet I must beg to differ. Ann may well embody all three, but they are still a long way from defining one of the most successful businesswomen in Canada. I met...

Lorraine and Brian Gribben have been married for 15 years. Between them, they have four daughters and a small insurance sales business. They go to church. They golf. They have a dog. They each have their quirks, some character defining, others less so. Lorraine, for example, admits she’s been known to shed a tear over a particularly heart-warming advertisement. Brian’s latest quirk was physical; he was having issues with his hand and thought he might have mild carpal tunnel. But his nuis...

In an effort to save money and be environmentally conscious, I’ve started taking the subway to work. On my travels, I’ve noticed the latest advertisement campaign from the Canadian Cancer Society: “Driven to Quit.” To all smokers: If you quit, you could win a Chevrolet Malibu hybrid. I like the symmetry. Malibu-producer General Motors is quitting its dependence on the gas-powered...

The Baby Boomers are planning on taking their vitamins and living into their 100s. For many, health issues aren’t a given upon retirement; as a result, a huge gap exists between selling the family home and 24-hour care. The Dunfield fits the gap. Marketed as "refined seniors living," for the most part to the active, independent senior, The Dunfield will open in August as rental suites at Yonge and Eglinton in Toronto — a far cry from out to pasture...