I am on the last leg of my exchange so my proclamations are bittersweet. Exchange has both raised and dampened spirits to the extremes but the aggregate result is decidedly positive. Under no alternative scenario through time and space would this adrenaline-pumped experience have been possible and for that I am deeply grateful. I have not earned this luxury so I receive its benefits in complete modesty.
But the grass is always greener and so my relaxing weekend in my new mother-country (my first weekend in France since my weekend of arrival, and therefore the first weekend I have not had to scurry around in search of a sim-card on my phone) and its awe-inspiring views of the cote d'azure have reminded me of the equally beautiful home I've left behind (minus the CN tower perhaps). Whether it be the Canadian flag waving confidently in front of the Fairmont Monaco or the Canadian-accented sommelier at wine-tasting or the badges of Canada Goose - they all induce the strongest fevers of homesickness. But more than anything is the headstrong and unpretentious food of Toronto.
In many ways it is more successful than Paris. not by Michelin stars, certainly, but Toronto has opened over a thousand restaurants in the previous year, a pace matched by only a few cities in the world. In gastronomy, Paris is a white dwarf and Toronto is a new-born star. Both have their own redeeming qualities.
Toronto life just published its top 10 new restaurants of 2013. Despite my restaurant hopping across the corners of Europe (today I go to Cage sur Mer, a no-name train stop en-route to Cannes even the most alert travelers would miss completely for some simple seafood in the retiring outfit of a well-decorated Michelin star chef) at a rate of a few Michelin stars a week, I am hopelessly homesick and wanting some Canadiana cuisine. The food in Europe is always intricate and well laid-out. But they are rigorous in place of fun; Torontonian eateries on the other hand are always exciting, from the innovative 10-courses at Shōtō to the sharing plates underneath at Daishō to the family run hole-in-the-walls like Edulis to the feel good esprit of Hopgood Foodliner (all top 10 in 2013).
Despite my efforts to stay on top of Toronto's food scene (I am a top 50 blogger on Urbanspoon) all but one eluded me. Of course that simply means a lot more to go around this summer.
And by some twist of fate my dealings with the perennially bureaucratic and top-heavy organization that is COMSOC have reminded me of Queens and Kingston. I surmise that Queen's Global Markets, the new darling of COMSOC (ratified this year) is the fastest growing committee by reputation. If anyone were to compare the club today with that of a few years past, it would be impossible to recognize. Luckily, I am the only remnant of those hard days and thanks to the previous cochairs, the new offspring which is QGM has a stellar cast and an admirable position in an overpopulated space. We asked some ridiculous questions in the interviews (ranging from Giffen goods to growth rates in random countries to Michelin star figures) but candidates surprised us over and over again. I look forward to the opportunity to working with everyone to continue the committee's ascent next year.
Three more trips and then it is over. Then, a whole new adventure to come.