born and raised – Urban Suburban Mommy

We did it. We went out. Urban met Suburban and the two of us got to spend a long, luxurious evening together, enjoying dinner and cocktails at The Good Son recently.

Chef Vittorio Colacitti at work in the kitchen

Just to clarify, it was us – Michelle and Elisa. No kids. No husbands. Just a girls’ night out – a mommies’ night out!

It happens so rarely that either of us get out without kids that it was a bit of a shock. And the truth is, most of the time when either of us gets out of the house for an evening, it’s with the hubby.

Getting out with a friend used to be so commonplace. Before getting married I was out every and any night of the week. Before having kids, a night out with friends or husband was always fun but not a special occasion.

Now, finding time, coordinating schedules, making sure nobody’s kid had a soccer game or baseball game or playdate or cold or a boo boo to kiss or… Let’s just say it took a long time to find a date to work for us both.

It was a Tuesday, and it was spectacular.

It’s hard to fathom whether the most delicious part was the cocktails, the dinner, the dessert, or just the fact that we enjoyed a night out without kids. At least we got to discover the most sumptuous of restaurants in Toronto’s West Queen West area. Chef Vittorio Colacitti was kind enough to have us as guests at The Good Son, and we can’t wait to go back again.

Being that both of us are moms to two boys, there was no lack of irony that we were headed to a restaurant called The Good Son.

If you haven’t yet been, and you’re in the area, go. Just go. The room is gorgeous, the menu is full of flavours and enticing ingredients – and the drinks…

Great staff

With the wonderfully attentive Adam at our service, he left us wanting for nothing – in fact these two mamas had to cut ourselves off after 2 cocktails (it was a school night and, who are we kidding, those kids get up way too early to have a third on a Tuesday night!).

While I stuck with a classic bourbon sour – it went well with the ambiance, the food and the fab company – Michelle got adventurous and Adam helped her find just the right mix on the menu for her cocktail-drinking pleasure. Enter the Tikki Tikki Bang Bang. Trust us, your life isn’t complete until you’ve tried one. Michelle ended up with what can only be described as a sweet one-two punch of tropical fruit juice and good rum. Later on, she switched over to a martini – Yesterday Once More. (We have the recipe for you if you’d like to try one at home!)

We dined the way friends do. As plates arrived we shared and tasted.

Scallops

We indulged.

Jerk Shrimp

Chef Vittorio stopped by, helping us decide on the next course – and the next. Jerk Shrimp, Steak Tartare, Seared Scallops, even a trio of desserts!

No grabbing. No snatching. No complaints. No drinks spilled. No hollering that someone wants to leave before mom has finished eating. No eating quickly to anticipate a restless child or his ill-timed bathroom breaks!

Though I did wear an off-white top which will never be the same after drips of several different foods landed on it.

I always say I can’t wear white because of my boys. I have to stop lying to myself. I’m the reason I cannot wear white. Sad but true, though the wait staff did teach us a great trick with lemon juice and soda water that seemed to work wonders.

You know what you’re missing in your life? A mommies’ night out. We always make time for all of the sports and activities, the playdates and the outings for the kids. Mommy needs some time to herself too. It comes back gradually, as the kids get a bit older, but it’s amazing how long we can put off taking time for ourselves.

Let us know where you go for Mommies’ Night out – we’d love to hear what you discover!

If you’re headed to Toronto, head on over to Queen West and Dovercourt. The Good Son at 1096 Queen St. W. is not to be missed. The 5,000 pound wood-burning oven in the open kitchen is a showpiece, and watching Chef Vittorio Colacitti and his talented team prepare dish after dish is a show in its own right. The Good Son has got a people-watching perch of bar stools and counter facing Queen, while the eclectic and elegant dining room is indulgently comfortable, calm and appealing. High ceilings, low light and lots of great design plus great food, spectacular drinks and NO KIDS! (or bring the kids, they’re welcome too) equals a meal to remember.

For a bit of nightlife, Wayward is located upstairs and has an edgy speak-easy feel, where DJs spin hip-hop and hot beats all weekend. For those outside of the city, Vittorio has just launched Born and Raised. His food and inspiration are as diverse as his clientele, but everything is whole and local and rich with flavor.

Make a date, make a reservation, have a drink and enjoy. You’ll be glad you listened to us!

The Good Son 1096 Queen St. W.

@thegoodson_TO

The Good Son Toronto

The Good Son_TO

I was born and raised in the city. In fact there are times when I still refer to myself as a city-diot. Many friends and family would still agree with this statement too – so what if I would prefer to swim in a pool rather than a lake? Seeing the bottom of where anyone is swimming does seem incredibly logical if you ask me.

Speaking of swimming, that’s one of the first things that I think of when it comes to raising my child. I didn’t learn how to swim until we moved up to Parry Sound. My mom enrolled me in swimming lessons, and shortly after I was cannon-balling my way through local lakes and Georgian Bay. I am pretty sure that my husband was swimming on his own by the time he could walk, so it was clear that our son needed to know how to swim at a very young age. Unfortunately Parry Sound does not have a decent pool. (We did take lessons last year but the temperature of the pool was never above 65 degrees so the experience was overshadowed by my son’s blue lips.) So unless you’re up for the 75 minute trek to Bracebridge, swimming in the off season is not an option.

Times like this always make me think about raising our son in a small town. Of course I can only reference how I was raised (in Toronto). And Ian can only reference his small town upbringing (Parry Sound). Although I feel like this would be a suitable time for a PROs and CONs chart, I have streamlined my list for reader benefit.

Support

Our small town has a ton of support. My doctor’s office always fits me in. In fact, they have a baby nurse that’s a phone call away for those quick questions like “I am ready to give my kid peanut butter. Now what?!”.

The support from the local agencies such as Hands and Social Services is huge! The Early Year programs that run throughout our community are amazing. Whether you want to get out of the house and learn about foods to introduce to your baby, or have craft time with other young children, or just have a place to meet for tea in the first few weeks after giving birth, the support is there. (More on the actual birthing experience in a small town some other time.)

As a community, the support is nothing short of amazing. The way we band together when someone’s child is born with a heart disease, or stand by a family after a tragic death – in general, a small town is there to support you in ways that a large city can’t.

Comfort

To some it may seem like a small thing, but I love knowing that when my son is old enough to ride his bike to the corner store, that he can. And unsupervised. And he will return safe and sound. There is a comfort in a small town that just makes you feel okay that your child is out there on his own.

Easy commute/great pace

I am done work at 2pm. I pick up my son at 2:07 and we are home by 2:20 many days. And he’s still in (and out) of a car seat. I love that by 2:30 we are “doing” something! There are lots of options for afternoon and evening activities – music class, hockey, long walks to the park, swimming, etc. They’re all at very reasonable times which still allows us to eat dinner as a family, etc.

Culture and diversity

This is an area that we often lack in, however, the city is only just over 2 hours away. It’s a reasonable weekend family trip even if it means getting a hotel room so you’re not spending half of the day in the car with your little one.

And although shopping should likely have a category on its own, it is another area that we are lacking in a small town. Luckily in this day and age, we are able to order just about anything within seconds on our smart phones so although we miss the hustle and bustle of a shopping mall, we can still obtain everything that the city folk can!

Parry Sound does all seasons well – especially summer. If you haven’t had the chance to experience the little town that I call home, I hope that you can find the time to do so. Small town life isn’t perfect. But neither is city life. But if you’re wondering about the choice between a big city, or a small town, I would encourage you to give a small town a good look. And believe me, a few years ago I could only imagine raising my child in the city. Now, I can’t imagine it any other way. I’d like to think that we have the best of both worlds with Toronto being a short drive away.

Krista Holmes, KH Mgmt, became a mother in the summer of 2014. She works behind-the-scenes in the Canadian music industry, designs several social media campaigns and manages special events. Her love for motherhood & music can be found on her blog, mommylovesmusic.wordpress.com.

@KHmgmt

Urban Suburban Mommy

Tag Archives: born and raised

Mommies’ night out

Raising my son in a small town