Fresh - a locally-owned chain of vegetarian / vegan restaurants in Toronto - made eating plants cool before it became cool. With their bistro feel, ever-evolving menu, and delicious picks for omnivores and veggie-eaters alike, Fresh has a well-earned reputation as a top-notch restaurant for the lucky Torontonians that can actually frequent the place.

For those outside of the 416, Fresh has three cookbooks you can use to recreate some of their classic dishes (like quinoa onion rings and tangled Thai salad), as well as a bunch of exclusive recipes created by their head chef and inspired by what the brand stands for. In their latest offering, Fresh, they also include some vegetarian dishes to reflect their takeout options - making this a great choice for people who maybe just dabble in vegetarian / veganism.

The recipes are mouthwatering and surprisingly simple to actually make - once you have the ingredients. The only downside to the cookbook is they occasionally source ingredients that are a lot more difficult to find once you're out of a metropolis, or even just a home chef outside of the food industry. That being said, the glossy photographs were beautiful and upgraded the luxe value of the book. I appreciated that they did a lot of integrated recipes, as a restaurant ought to. What I mean by that is they frequently use certain sauces and toppings on multiple dishes, so when you whip up a batch of one sauce and you only need 1/4 cup of it in one recipe, rest assured there are three others that can use the same sauce for dinner a few nights later.

For a sneak peek of the book, including the recipes for the Tangled Thai Salad, Peanut Lime Dressing, and Fresh Salad Topper, feel free to visit my blog - [....].

It's really tempting to think of Jennifer Reese's 'Make the Bread, Buy the Butter' as a cookbook - but quite honestly, it's so much more than that. And if you consume it like you would a cookbook (piecemeal) than you'll be seriously missing out. The book came out of Reese being laid off from her job during the economic crisis a few years ago. Confronted with financial woes and general frustration towards corporate America, she decided to start experimenting with homemade foods. Eventually (or perhaps immediately, as a means to a financial end) she compiled these experiences and successful recipes into a book.

There are roughly a dozen sections in the book that cover everything from raising livestock (chickens, turkeys, ducks, goats, and bees have all been denizens of Reese's backyard at one point) to the experience of whipping up simple dishes (croutons) and complex creations (danishes). Almost every recipe - or lack thereof, since some of her experiments were failures - is accompanied with an anecdote. And that's what truly sets this book apart. I genuinely recommend you read it from cover to cover first, with the understanding that you will want to jump up and make a million of the dishes along the way, because that way you not only get some entertainment value and storytelling (her family is well characterized), you also get a good gauge as to what type of person Reese is, and how manageable her recipes and foodie adventures would be if you tried adapting them for your own lifestyle.

The bonus benefit of this book - or perhaps simply the core benefit - is the way it skewers the industrial food system. Every recipe is prefaced by three bullet points: should you make it or buy it? how much hassle is it? what's the cost compared to store-bought? Of course, on the latter point in particular, cost shouldn't be your primary factor: a lot of Reese's recipes focus on the nutritional benefits (avoid preservatives, trans fats, and other nasty shelf stable food staples) and the actual taste benefits. Even if something costs a little more than store bought, she might recommend you make it at home because the taste is so much better. But she's also willing to take a few hits - sometimes her recipes simply can't beat store-bought, and she wholly accepts that the convenience of grocery foods isn't to be messed with. Sometimes.

Two minor knocks against the book: one, it has no pictures (again, why I see it as more of a memoir than a cookbook). Two, it has no nutritional information - although her arguments against shelf preservatives are pretty solid. Despite those two things, I loved this book, and the first recipe I tried was a wild success. I'm not going to recommend it as the be all and end all for making everything by yourself at home, mostly because the gamut of recipes included here are a little random and based on Reese's personal preferences. But the combination of storytelling, the no-nonsense approach to recipes, and the sheer level of inspiration you'll feel while paging through this book *easily* make it a worthwhile buy.

After working out with a variety of Biggest Loser DVDs for several months, I finally picked up one of Jillian Michael's solo projects, the 30 Day Shred. This DVD includes 3 levels of difficulty, meant to be worked up to over 30 days (presumably spending 10 days in a row on each level). Once you've hit the 30 days, or whatever schedule you work out for yourself, I recommend rotating all 3 levels for a nice variety.

To summarize, this DVD is fantastic. Jillian employs a unique 3-2-1 circuit training system - three minutes of strength training (divided into two 30 second / 1:30 intervals), two minutes of cardio (divided into two 30 second repeating intervals), and one minute of abs, which you do three times with different moves in each circuit. Jillian has two 'helpers' working out behind her - one who generally does an easier, modified version of a move, the other who does a more hardcore move to work your way up to.

Level 1 is a nice light workout that will still get your heart going, but without killing you - a great intro to the system and as Jillian promises, it does get easier with time, helping you to build up confidence in your body. Level 2 is by far the hardest of the 3 levels, with a large focus on the arms / shoulders / plank pose. Level 3, although challenging in its own way with many plyometric / jump training moves, also has some really creative moves I haven't seen in the other workout DVDs I've used, which actually makes it more fun than level 2.

Jillian herself is, as always, a great motivational force. She doesn't talk too much, her instruction is very intuitive to make sure you don't strain your muscles or perform something incorrectly, and she seems to know exactly when you want to quit. Her 'bodies' in the back are a little less inspiring, angling more towards the robotic end of things, but they thankfully show good form, and also a little humanity when they get as tuckered out as you do (PS - keep an eye on Natalie, she cops out on a few moves, which Jillian occasionally calls her out on...you know it's a tough workout!).

And most importantly - the results. This was a game changing DVD for me. I believe all of the working out I'd done leading up to this DVD was the perfect foundation for finally getting results. I've noticed my muscles firming up, my body slimming down, and generally just felt healthier and stronger, and very happy with how I've progress in general. I don't do all the tough moves all the time (or in a few cases, ever), and I should probably do Level 2 a bit more often, but I still feel great and happy I tried this DVD out, I definitely want to check out other Jillian Michaels products.

A couple of caveats for everyone out there - I feel like this DVD would be extremely challenging for someone who hasn't been working out on a relatively consistent basis. Having done five months of Biggest Loser DVDs, I was used to the types of moves explored here - lots of squats, lunges, planks, etc. Don't be afraid to slow down the pacing of this DVD - work your way up in longer than 30 days, I myself spent two weeks on each level instead of just 10 days. Additionally I think if you're on the older side, this DVD would be quite challenging, as I tried to get my mom to do a Level 3 jumping lunges move and she nearly fell over. Finally, I wouldn't recommend anything heavier than a 3 lb or 5 lb weight, unless you're going for a bodybuilder look. As it is, I mostly stick to the 3 lb as I find many of Jillian's moves are pretty explosive and can strain your muscles with a 5 lb weight. That's not to say it's not worth challenging yourself - but be aware that this DVD is not for the ambivalent towards getting fit!

This book is really a great study of a writer's style - or in this instance, how adaptable Vikas Swarup's style really is. The story is a murder mystery with, you guessed it, six primary suspects. When Indian playboy Vicky Rai is acquitted of a murder he's blatantly guilty for, the nation of India is in an uproar. To celebrate, Vicky throws a party at which he is subsequently murdered. All 500+ guests are frisked and six suspects carrying guns are fingered. A dedicated investigative journalist aims to uncover the truth, at which point we learn all about the backgrounds, motives, evidence, and outcomes for the sacred six.

The 6 stories are extremely diverse in terms of both characters and style. Ranging from an American hick from the backwoods of Texas to a popular Bollywood actress / sex symbol to a corrupt bureaucrat or two, each section of the book is wholly devoted to that character and written in a different form, including third-person omniscient, diary entries, and perhaps most challenging - entirely in dialogue. Of course, there are wavers of connections between all 6 characters that pop up throughout the book giving the reader a bit of extra delight as you try to unscramble who the murderer actually is - in fact, you can envision the book as a bit like the movie Babel.

That being said, the success of the book really lies in the fact that it's not a murder mystery that focuses on its worthy victim or the crime - it's a murder mystery that looks at how six people from all sorts of backgrounds could possibly end up in the position of being accused of a murder, and the effects Vicky Rai's initial acquittal and subsequent death have on the Indian public.

I suppose the only criticisms I can offer are the fact the book can get a bit confusing and unlikely - for every realistic scene or incidence of kismet, you have to suspend your disbelief for something else that may seem wholly unfamiliar or bizarre to the typical North American reader. Also if you've never read a book set in India or with Indian main characters, I suggest doing so - there are a lot of cultural references and sprinklings of language that might be completely mind-boggling otherwise. Still, I enjoyed myself throughout the book and came to appreciate each of the 6 stories at one point or another - especially as the ending continues to unwrap the mystery once and for all.

I agree with another reviewer on here that this book will do well just based on its eye-catching cover - and indeed, my favourite scenes in 'A Vintage Affair' surrounded protagonist Phoebe's new business venture as a vintage dress shop owner. However, the story is much more complex and layered than that - it is a story of guilt, redemption, regret, memories, family, love, doubt, fear, and all those other roiling emotions to make for a multi-faceted book.

I think the true message in the story is about how the past - while valuable, as demonstrated in Phoebe's love for vintage clothing and the stories each piece tells - needs to be in the past. You can't dwell or beat yourself up over what's happened, or you'll never move forward.

Overall I enjoyed that this book never tried to be too much of any one thing. It wasn't trying to be a cheesy British rom com chick lit, nor was it trying to be an over-the-top sympathetic tale of wartime tragedy (which majorly comes into play through the stories of one of Phoebe's customers). It was simply a slice of life about the vintage clothing industry (fun) and the emotional baggage we all tend to wear, whether we want to or not.

Sometimes the writing was a tad oversimplified, particularly the dialogue. Sometimes you wanted the story to just kind of focus on one element rather than jumping all over the place on different themes. But in general it was entertaining and a breath of fresh air in the way it combined so many themes and storylines.

As an aside, I found a cute video about vintage fashion on the publisher's website - check it out if you enjoy the vintage dress scenes as much as I did! [...]

I'm a big reader of books of all kinds - teen fare that I can get away with reading, the oh so popular chick lit (a la Bridget Jones Diary), and of course classics and top sellers. So I've got a lot to compare Ann Brashares 2nd offering to - and overall I'd give it a 3.5 stars rather then 4 or 3.

The story itself picks up 10 months after the last one began - summer break yet again with the girls beginning their yearly tradition of breaking into the gym where their mothers had exercise class together and thus brought the four main characters together -

Lena - gorgeous but shy and serious, deals with lessons in love and heartbreak via Kostos (her Greek grandparents family friends son) in this novel...my only problem is that she doesn't really seem to change her attitude much from the last book until the very end, and even then she seems unaware that she is growing up.

Carmen - Rehashes the storyline of the last book in this one with a few plot points changed - basically plays a bratty daughter yet again. Carmen is probably my least fave character in terms of development both plot and characterwise - she never seems to learn anything (which perhaps is a character trait).

Tibby - Seems to have a much smaller role in this book, particularly towards the end, doens't really grow much but revisits the previous summer in an interesting way.

Bee - My fave character and in my opinion has the strongest and most interesting storyline - where she impulsively takes off to Alabama to visit her long lost grandmother and to discover more about her bi-polar mother who killed herself many years ago. Its interesting because Bee appears to be the only one who changed OVER the course of the year, and thus you get to watch her become something from those changes instead of just re-visiting last summers experiences and lessons.

All in all I enjoyed Brashares writing, I love the quotes she uses, and she makes you feel for each of the characters. The only thing I have to criticize her on is the lack of major growth the girls should have experienced during the school year, as the mistakes they made in this book were far too similar to the previous years. Personally the summer before grade 10 and the summer before grade 11 (or grade 11 and grade 12) were completely different times for me, and I think the girls really should've learnt something more then quadratic functions over the year. Another small criticism is that the girls are almost too functioned on their said plot points...Brashares could've created a more 3-dimensional world but granted a book can only show you so much. Finally I think she makes the girls a bit over-emotional at times to the point where it becomes unbelievable. However if you are into the ever popular continuity-necessary teen novel that dominates the market today, then pick this (and the first) book up for some fun summer reads.

Maroon 5 is riding high at the moment - with a few hit singles under their belt their album is selling like hotcakes, and rightfully so. Lead singer Adam Levine proves himself as a songwriter, and vocally with his infectious twang/soul/funk/pop voice. The band as a whole also creates an impressive layered sound on each track. Their style can be described as a blend of pop (channeling Justin Timberlake circa *NSYNC on some tracks), reggae, 70's funk, nu-school jazz (a la Jamie Cullum or Michael Buble for example), and some good ol' fashioned rock and roll. While this intense mix of music leads to a fresh sound in todays bass or scream heavy music - I found a lack of super diversity in style on the album - the guys seem to just lean towards one direction moreso on each individual track, sticking true to a core sound and branching out in one or two directions per song. Still this is not an album to be easily looked over or passed up as it features some truly awesome tracks and is fun to listen to as your speeding down the highway, relaxing in your room, or playing as background music for gatherings.

"Harder To Breathe" is the bands first offering, a short rock-inspired track, very catchy and a good single. If you haven't heard "This Love" you must be living under a rock, as the album features the version most heard on the radio - and is an awesome pop track with a great riff instrumentally, and an intensely catchy hook for the chorus. The song that has truly skyrocketed the guys into a new stratosphere of stardom. "Shiver" exemplifies a bit of Santana-esque guitars, and boy band-esque vocals, particularly during the chorus. Catchy and fun :) "She Will Be Loved" is the boys third single and probably the track that really sold me to finally go out and buy the album - after only hearing it once. A really sweet, mellow, guitar-driven ballad you will find it incredibly infectious, especially when listening to the emotion behind Levines' vocals.

"Tangled" shows a bit of that 70's funk sound mentioned earlier, with a good drum beat, but the harmonies remind me a LOT of *NSYNC back in the day. "The Sun" has got a bit of a funk sound to it, but also a bit of a loungey vibe, I don't think it was a good choice to put right after "Tangled" as they sound kinda similar, but is a decent song regardless. Bass player Mickey Madden shows patience in the next track, "Must Get Out", an easy-to-listen to and downright enjoyable song. I love how simple the verses are.

"Sunday Morning" is probably one of my fave songs on the album, showing off that nu-school jazz style that Levine is perfectly capable of (see Jamie Cullum for comparison). Its just an awesome song all-around and really bright sounding throughout, especially on the chorus. "Secret" spends the first 45 seconds with a very subtle intro, then centers on very simple acoustic guitars, and is another awesome mellow lounge-pop track. A nice departure from the sometimes over-enthusiastic production of other tracks.

"Through With You" starts off a bit Radiohead-inspired, and is a bit more abstract with a rock vibe. Feel the beat in this one as it matches up with the vocals almost perfectly - the instrumentals almost outshine here. "Not Coming Home" has some really awesome funky guitar bits to it and is performed live - which is ridiculous as it sounds liek there have been about 100 studio takes to put a track like this together, however if its an indication of their talent then these boys are amazing. "Sweetest Goodbye" is a bit pop, a bit soul, and a very simple exit to the album - not a particular standout but a nice finish to the disc.

Altogether if you are looking for a new sound to add your collection guaranteed Maroon 5 won't sound like anything else you have (although it might borrow sounds here and there). A solid effort inspired by Levine's supposed muse 'Jane', which I've theorized might also be a moniker for the female population as a whole (IE: Jane Doe) saying that the trials Levine writes about in each track aren't inspired by one girl, but many. Either way give these guys a listen!

On Avril Lavigne's freshman album she worked with production duo the Matrix, and recorded a solid album of mainly guitar-driven pop/folk/punk tracks. Now with her sophomore album out, Avrils growth as a person both lyrically and vocally are apparent, but even more notable is the heavy influence the production teams she chooses to work with has. Don't be mistaken, its not like Avril has done a drastic 180, in fact there are very strong parallels that can be drawn between certain tracks and sounds on this disc to her last one - but in general the album shows increased growth - from everything to the lyrics to the instrumentation of each song.

"Take Me Away" (similar to 'Losing Grip' on her first album), "Together", "Nobody's Home", and "Forgotten" are all produced by Don Gilmore, who has worked with artists such as Linkin Park and Eve 6, and lends a heavy rock sound to these four songs. "Together" features some of the strongest verses but the production on the chorus sounds cheap and abrasive at some points. "Nobody's Home" is a good song lyrically about a girl who feels alone and trapped, and Avril's vocals shine here, and "Forgotten" is a stand-out track in terms of style as it channels gothic proportions - but isn't necessairly one of my faves.

"Don't Tell Me" (Avrils first single, comparable to "Complicated" off of her first album), "My Happy Ending" (Her second single), and "Freak Out" exemplify another style, namely poppy, and probably are due to the influence of producer Butch Walker, of the late 90's band "Marvelous 3". If you haven't heard Avril's first two singles both are really awesome, "Don't Tell Me" has a good girl power message and nice production with pianos and guitars, and "My Happy Ending" is a really sweet heartbreak song, with an awesome hook and the video is also really good. "Freak Out" is just a good sing-along anthem in general.

Finally one must draw attention to the power couple of Canadian music that has heavy influence on Lavigne throughout. Chantal Kreviazuk, Avrils "new best friend", hails from my city and is best known in Canada for her cover of "Leaving on a Jet Plane" or one of her many hits including "Now I Think I'll Get Through". Chantal co-writes half of the albums tracks, as well as injects a bit of her style with the lush layered vocals, poetic lyrics, and folky-guitars on some of the mellower tracks. Chantal's husband Raine Maida plays double duty as producer and co-writes one of the tracks (one of my personal faves lyrically) "Fall To Pieces". Maida is best known for his stint as the frontman of the super popular Canadian rock group Our Lady Peace, and lends some of his style (vocally and production-wise) to the rest of the tracks on the album. These include the pop-punk "He Wasn't" (similar to "Sk8er Boi"), the super mellow "How Does It Feel", the rock-pop anthem "Who Knows", and the closing track dedicated to Lavigne's grandpa who died while she was on tour. "Slipped Away" is again one of the best tracks to show off Avrils vocals particularly during the raw piano accompanied parts, and is a touching end to a solid album.

Altogether Avril fans new and previous, young and old, will be satisfied with this 12 song offering that explores new territory for the young singer - musically, vocally, and lyrically. She mixes styles based on production (harder rock, pop, and a folk-rock vibe) and proves that she deserves to be in the spotlight as a still-rising singer/songwriter.

...Except for the fact it is Simply Amazing! Its difficult to even describe the style of music at hand here - chill-out, lounge, trance, with traces of jazz, classical, and pop music throughout. Zero 7 takes you from porno music to polished, sultry and sinful to sweet and smooth within tracks and within the album. No matter what kind of music you listen to, "Simple Things" will surely relax your mind and your soul as you just take in all of the delicate yet complex songs arranged.

There are a number of styles explored on the album, which can be categorized in two large subdivisons - with vocals and with out. The vocal songs mainly feature male singer Mozez who stars on the albums opening disco-lounge track "I Have Seen", the absolutely amazingingly mysterious title track, and the sultry ballad "This World".

The two female vocalists are quite similar sounding, as noted on the stunningly addictive "Destiny" where they share lead vocals. The sound of Sia Furler and Sophia Barker's voices is accented softly with both a British sound, and almost a southern twang, but no worries their voices are like liquid on all the songs they sing. Furler returns on one of my fave tracks on the album "Distractions" a sweet love-ish ballad, while Barker is given the slightly weaker "In The Waiting Line" which shows the difference in the two girls voices as they are back to back, although Barker recuperates on the closing track "Spinning".

Within the non-vocal tracks the guys that make up our beloved band in question experiment with 1970's synthesized porno beats and keyboard sounds, mixed with smooth bass, acoustic guitars, and elegant strings, and of course that "air" sound that has led them to be labelled as "british air". But if that doesn't sound appealing trust me it is - I'm not a fan of music with out vocals but this album wouldn't be complete without Zero 7's delves into the instrumental and vocal-track worlds. Of course there are a few exceptions to the general sounds they use, including the Semi-lyrical African masterpiece "likufanele" sung by the Philanai Mothers and mixed over a xylophone (i think) driven sound. Another exception is the track afterwards, "End Theme" which is rightfully titled as it sounds very much like a song you'd find in a movie score. A beautiful and energetic, almost regal arrangement of strings is what you'll find here, and is another one of my faves on the album for its uniqueness alone, I'm proud of the guys for taking a chance and putting this song on the album.

The best thing I can say to you at this point is to definitely buy this album, if just to give it a listen, because after hearing the opening strains of "I Have Seen", the vocals of Furler and Barker, or the smooth tones of any of the instrumental tracks you will be so hooked on this album! Its great to play as background music during a dinner with friends, or when you are stressed and enjoying a drink after work, or even just to play in the car - works well for rainy or sunny days. I suppose the most amazing part of it is how simple the songs appear at first glimpse - but when examining the layers and the beauty in each track, you'll begin to realize your feelings for this album are anything BUT simple.

An avid fan of the GG series, I was really excited to find that Cecily Von Ziegesar has released a 5th installment after a dry spell. This segment of the lives of rich and popular (and not so rich and popular) private school new york teens follows them a few days before, during, anda fter spring break.

The only reason why I gave this book 4 stars instead 5 is that it seemed much more focused on a very short span of time - one that isn't too long after the last book was set. Its almost as though von Ziegesar wrote the first 4 books with the hopes they would do well, and cover as much of the school year as possible, but now that they are so popular she is trying to stretch the series out by only writing about one week, instead of one or two months of time passing by. A nice possible feature is that the books do not necessairly need to end when the senior year of the central characters of the story ends, since they all go to different schools anyway in high school it is still possible to at least write a little bit of GG in college...there are always those crazy holidays to get the kids back in NYC together again!

Regardless of which the book is still very entertaining and keeps you captivated and guessing as usual, as if you are yourself one of the interested teens curious to find out just who gossip girl is, and check in on the lives of some of the most interesting people residing in New York. Featured in this book - more clues to who GG is, what Blair, Serena, Nate, Chuck, and Georgie get up to on a ski trip, whats up with Jenny and her new man, and the fate of Vanessa and Dan.

The next book promises to be just as captivating as it is left right on the brink where von Ziegesar could've let more happen but has chosen to keep us waiting. Until next time, you know you love her books :)