Home / Andrea Yu – Toronto Freelance Writer

Foodism Toronto • 21st March 2018

Food For All? Making Toronto a more food secure city

Charitable campaigns and office food drives have concluded until the jingle bells ring again. But the needs of Toronto’s hungry persist year-round and the data shows that the level of food insecurity in the city is reaching unprecedented levels.

Toronto Star • 8th April 2017

Craft beer taps into Prince Edward County

After a decade-long boom, the growth of wineries in Prince Edward County has hit a plateau so county businesses are focusing on another boozy beverage — beer. Since 2016, five breweries have opened in Prince Edward County and five more are under construction.

enRoute • 8th January 2016

Jordan Rainhard's 6 Favourite Spots in Toronto

Jordan Rainhard started home-brewing beer in his parents’ house six years ago. These days, he’s crafting IPAs, porters and stouts at his eponymous west-end Toronto microbrewery. He raises a glass to his favourite spots in the city.

Post City • 22nd June 2017

How the Food Dudes put their stamp on Toronto’s dining scene

It’s a sunny Wednesday afternoon and 50-odd members of the Food Dudes catering staff are gathered in the offices of their east end facility for a team meeting. Among the crowd are event planners and administration staff, plus chefs and cooks in logo-embroidered jackets.

Escapism Toronto • 2nd April 2018

Room Service: Hyatt Regency Scottsdale

Scottsdale has long been a winter escape destination for Canadians and the Hyatt Regency Resort & Spa is a worthwhile spot for sun-seekers, golfers and families alike. The luxury resort spans 27 acres set at the edge of the Sonoran Desert and the Gainey Ranch Golf Club and offers picturesque views of the McDowell Mountains.

enRoute • 3rd June 2018

Must-Try: Candy Making in Toronto

Satisfy your sweet tooth with a side of new knowledge at Barcelona-based Papabubble’s sleek Toronto candy shop. Watch hard candies, made with detailed designs and greetings (reminiscent of Murano glass), be rolled out to a final diameter of just one centimetre. Candy makers train for three months to learn their craft.

Toronto Star • 10th April 2015

Mirvish Village artisans face uncertain future

In a basement unit on Markham St. in Mirvish Village, ceramicist Catherine Carroll lays out a selection of subway tiles. Glazed with an uneven texture in shades of grey, they have a slightly imperfect quality — proof they are made by her hands.

Escapism Toronto • 19th February 2018

Room Service: Wakefield Mill and Spa

First constructed in 1838 as a flour mill powered by nearby MacLaren Falls, the Wakefield Mill has seen a few different lives – as a sawmill, woolen mill and general store – until it was renovated into a destination hotel and spa in 2000.

Foodism Toronto • 22nd March 2017

The Kids of Koreatown

It’s 8 P.M. on a snowy winter evening and the dinner rush is in full force at Korean Village Restaurant. General manager Jason Lee stands tableside by two patrons who are dining at the 38-year-old Koreatown institution for the first time.

Post City • 21st February 2017

Brandon Olsen has gone bananas

Brandon Olsen is a man obsessed with process. Prior to opening of his French restaurant on Ossington, La Banane, the chef spent hours in the kitchen breaking down every element of his menu in progress.

Canadian Traveller • 1st December 2017

A Gilded State

While Florida’s warm oceans and natural beauty are typical draws for Canadians visiting the Sunshine State, why not consider its history and culture offerings by exploring its oldest city: St. Augustine?

Escapism Toronto • 12th February 2018

Winging It: Pittsburgh

With a population of just over 300,000, Pittsburgh’s personality wavers between small city and big town. Skyscrapers in its Central Business District rival those of Toronto or New York City but span just a few short blocks. Without the fierce competition and aggressive real estate markets of larger metropolises, industries in Pittsburgh have room to experiment and grow.

enRoute • 4th February 2016

Must-Try: Wedding Band Workshops in Toronto

For a DIY take on your upcoming nuptials, head over to the Devil’s Workshop on Queen Street West, at the edge of Trinity Bellwoods Park. In the warm, intimate studio space behind the jewellery shop storefront, owner and instructor Sarah Wan offers a popular, weekly Wedding Band Workshop.

Post City • 17th May 2017

From Piano Piano to the Cancan

Two years ago, Victor Barry and his wife, Nikki Leigh McKean, promised each other to not open a new restaurant for at least a year. It was a difficult proposition for a chef still glowing from his latest venture — transforming Splendido into the wildly successful Piano Piano.

Extra Crispy • 13th September 2016

BeaverTails Are the Canadian Pastries Taking Over the World

To make a BeaverTail doughnut, whole wheat dough is hand-stretched into an oval shape and fried in canola oil. It’s still warm when the pastry is served, topped with cinnamon and sugar or more extravagant additions and part of the BeaverTails experience is watching the decadent treat being prepared in front of you.

Toronto Star • 22nd July 2016

Why Toronto’s craft breweries are working together

In Toronto’s west end, Callum Hay and Eric Portelance are brewing the first-ever batch of beer in their new operation — Halo Brewery. Hay is clad in industrial overalls, crouched over a pump to adjust settings that will transfer the contents of a stainless steel vat into a nine-foot kettle that sits adjacent.

Extra Crispy • 31st March 2017

The Science Behind Maple Syrup

On April 1st, over 60,000 people will gather at the world’s largest maple syrup festival in Elmira, Ontario. There are plenty of tributes to this liquid maple gold at the event, from pancake breakfasts to high-fiving the pancake-shaped mascot (aptly named Flapjack).

Toronto Star • 6th February 2016

Vintage engagement rings find favour with modern brides

Shriram Venkataramana had two months to look for an engagement ring for his girlfriend, Payal Uttam. He wanted to propose while they were on vacation in Bali, but he was overwhelmed just thinking about finding the perfect ring. “It was very intimidating,” Venkataramana says.

Extra Crispy • 5th August 2016

How the Peameal Bacon Sandwich Became Toronto's Signature Dish

On July 9th, Toronto Mayor John Tory stood on a stage facing a small crowd of food festival-goers. At his side, an assistant held a museum-like bell jar displaying a flour-dusted white bun stuffed with slices of lean and salty pork and a ruffle of lettuce.

enRoute • 7th April 2016

Must-Try: Surf-Inspired Workouts in Toronto

Surfing ocean waves is decidedly a great warm-weather workout, and for lovers of the sport, long Canadian winters can be a drag. Luckily for year-round enthusiasts and aspiring surfers alike, Surfset Toronto has brought the boards indoors to an intimate studio in the Yonge and Eglinton neighbourhood.