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Caroline Aksich

Caroline Aksich, a National Magazine Award recipient, is an ex-Montrealer who writes about Toronto’s ever-evolving food scene, real estate and culture for Toronto Life, Fodor’s, Designlines, Canadian Business, Glory Media and Post City. Her work ranges from features on octopus-hunting in the Adriatic to celebrity profiles.

Latest from Caroline Aksich

“Pastry helped me embrace my queerness”: How chef Jayden Park baked his way to self-acceptance

“Pastry helped me embrace my queerness”: How chef Jayden Park baked his way to self-acceptance

His new bakery, Gateau Ghost, opens this week

What's on the menu at Lao Food Co., a new Lao kitchen in Carleton Village serving Sunday brunch

What’s on the menu at Lao Food Co., a new Lao kitchen in Carleton Village serving Sunday brunch

Motivated by the lack of Lao food in Toronto, Daovy Chanthalansy started a culinary side hustle

Inside the kitchen of food writer and television host Pay Chen

Inside the kitchen of food writer and television host Pay Chen

Stocked with exotic fruit, an epic chocolate drawer and stacks of cookbooks

Inside the kitchen of Shant Mardirosian, the founder of the Burger's Priest

Inside the kitchen of Shant Mardirosian, the founder of the Burger’s Priest

Stocked with a cotton candy machine, an outdoor grill and legions of sparkling water

Inside the kitchen of Diego Reyes, head chef at Chantecler

Inside the kitchen of Diego Reyes, head chef at Chantecler

Stocked with second-hand appliances, parsnip ice cream and a rare cookbook from the chefs at Noma

What's on the menu at Piggy's Island, a Korean barbecue restaurant in Thornhill that bounced back from a devastating fire

What’s on the menu at Piggy’s Island, a Korean barbecue restaurant in Thornhill that bounced back from a devastating fire

After nearly three years, the family-run spot is finally back in business

Inside the kitchen of Taylor McMeekin, the new executive chef at the Drake Hotel

Inside the kitchen of Taylor McMeekin, the new executive chef at the Drake Hotel

Featuring 14 boxes of cod tongues, a dozen De Buyer saucepans and a full floor dedicated to McMeekin’s home bar

Inside the kitchen of Jonathan Larrad, the owner of Spanish Pig

Inside the kitchen of Jonathan Larrad, the owner of Spanish Pig

Stocked with anchovy-stuffed olives, tinned razor clams and an eclectic cookbook collection

What's on the menu at Mishree, a new 6,500-square-foot Indian restaurant and cocktail bar in Mississauga

What’s on the menu at Mishree, a new 6,500-square-foot Indian restaurant and cocktail bar in Mississauga

There’s a cocktail under that bubble

Hot Plate: Eight Toronto takes on steak tartare

Hot Plate: Eight Toronto takes on steak tartare

The city’s restaurants are beefing up the bistro staple with modern meaty makeovers

What's on the menu at Aera, O&B's new steakhouse on the 38th floor of the Well

What’s on the menu at Aera, O&B’s new steakhouse on the 38th floor of the Well

Think of it as Canoe's slightly more relaxed (but still pretty sleek) younger sibling

Six ways to transform sad instant noodles into restaurant-quality ramen

Six ways to transform sad instant noodles into restaurant-quality ramen

Clement Leung, the TikTok-famous foodie better known as “Ramen Guy,” shares simple tricks to elevate the student staple

Inside the kitchen of Julian Bentivegna, the chef and owner of Ten

Inside the kitchen of Julian Bentivegna, the chef and owner of Ten

Stocked with Deep’n Delicious cakes, three bottles of maple syrup and his grandmother’s pasta maker

What's on the menu at The Joneses, O&B's new restaurant dedicated to retro Americana

What’s on the menu at The Joneses, O&B’s new restaurant dedicated to retro Americana

Including shrimp cocktail, Detroit-style pizza and ice cream sundaes

Inside the kitchen of Jennifer Coburn, the owner of Gia

Inside the kitchen of Jennifer Coburn, the owner of Gia

Stocked with vegan brie, instant coffee and two massive juicers

Inside the kitchen of Davide Ciavattella, the executive chef at Don Alfonso 1890

Inside the kitchen of Davide Ciavattella, the executive chef at Don Alfonso 1890

Including a frozen rabbit, tomatoes from Mount Vesuvius and a 30-year-old balsamic

Twelve of Toronto's best new private dining rooms

Twelve of Toronto’s best new private dining rooms

Holiday party planners, take note

The best holiday gifts for foodies

The best holiday gifts for foodies

Including a mini jamón carving kit, a drop-dead gorgeous French cake and exquisite conservas

Inside the new 25,000-square-foot Eataly at Sherway Gardens

Inside the new 25,000-square-foot Eataly at Sherway Gardens

Toronto’s second location of the Italian emporium opens November 2

Inside the kitchen of Ryusuke Nakagawa, the executive chef at Aburi Hana

Inside the kitchen of Ryusuke Nakagawa, the executive chef at Aburi Hana

Stocked with three kinds of miso paste, a hefty collection of Japanese cookbooks and Popeyes take out

What's on the menu at Paros, Yorkville's clubby new Greek restaurant

What’s on the menu at Paros, Yorkville’s clubby new Greek restaurant

Including flaming saganaki

What's on the menu at Porzia's, chef Basilio Pesce's long-awaited lasagna restaurant

What’s on the menu at Porzia’s, chef Basilio Pesce’s long-awaited lasagna restaurant

The popular pandemic pop-up finally has a brick-and-mortar home

Inside the kitchen of Juan Alvarez, the head chef at Rosalinda

Inside the kitchen of Juan Alvarez, the head chef at Rosalinda

Stocked with Mexican candy, an impressive hot sauce collection and vegan ice cream

Ten pick-your-own-flower destinations within driving distance of Toronto

Ten pick-your-own-flower destinations within driving distance of Toronto

The best farms for sustainable bouquets, Instagram-worthy sunflower fields and more

Private School Guide

The Private and Independent School Directory Spring 2025

The Private and Independent School Directory Spring 2025

Big Stories

Inside the rise and fall of the Vaulter Bandit, the 21st century’s most notorious bank robber

Inside the rise and fall of the Vaulter Bandit, the 21st century’s most notorious bank robber

To fellow tourists he met around the world, Jeffery Shuman was a semi-retired developer with a bright smile, an even tan and a fat wallet. In truth, he was a legendary bank robber on the run from the Toronto police and the US Marshals

Anchor Man: Fox News host John Roberts on Trump, the trade war and the American psyche

Anchor Man: Fox News host John Roberts on Trump, the trade war and the American psyche

If Fox News seems an unlikely landing spot for a guy who got his start pumping out Platinum Blonde on MuchMusic, you probably haven’t heard his thoughts about joining the notorious network, the Canada–US relationship and what he misses most about Toronto

Trump's Loss, Toronto's Gain: Meet the artists, professors, scientists and other luminaries ditching the US and moving north

Trump’s Loss, Toronto’s Gain: Meet the artists, professors, scientists and other luminaries ditching the US and moving north

They’re coming from Big Law, the Ivy League, arts institutes and beyond, brimming with smarts and energy and united by a common cause: avoiding the carnage of Donald Trump. True tales from the brain gain

Dancing Queens: Patrons, staff and performers share their wildest memories of Crews and Tangos, Toronto’s most storied drag bar

Dancing Queens: Patrons, staff and performers share their wildest memories of Crews and Tangos, Toronto’s most storied drag bar

Crews and Tangos has been enforcing the rules of the Village for more than 30 years: wear what you want, kiss who you want, but don’t forget to tip the drag queens. With a condo development looming, we asked around for tales from the iconic spot

The Joy of Sex with Strangers: A Toronto hotwife’s adventures in ethical non-monogamy

The Joy of Sex with Strangers: A Toronto hotwife’s adventures in ethical non-monogamy

Three months ago, I was a suburban mom in a monogamous relationship. Now I’m sleeping with people I meet online—with my husband’s blessing—and we’ve never been happier. Don’t judge us until you’ve read our story

The Scandal, the Firing and the Fallout: Anatomy of a Bay Street fiasco at RBC

The Scandal, the Firing and the Fallout: Anatomy of a Bay Street fiasco at RBC

Nadine Ahn was a high-ranking executive at the bank. Ken Mason, her subordinate, was rapidly promoted. Then someone claimed to see them canoodling at the Royal York, tipped off HR and triggered an inquisition

Edward the Conqueror: The unlikely ascent of Canada’s telecom king

Edward the Conqueror: The unlikely ascent of Canada’s telecom king

Edward Rogers was dismissed as a meddling nepo baby—until he muscled out his siblings, acquired his competitors, cornered the telecom market and became the dominant force in Canadian sports

Lady Parts: Inside Meredith MacNeill and Jennifer Whalen’s new show, Small Achievable Goals

Lady Parts: Inside Meredith MacNeill and Jennifer Whalen’s new show, Small Achievable Goals

The Baroness von Sketch Show alumnae have elevated joking about women’s issues to an art. Their new show takes aim at menopause. How funny is that?

Murder in the Blue Mountains: The story behind the killing of Ashley Schwalm

Murder in the Blue Mountains: The story behind the killing of Ashley Schwalm

Ashley and James Schwalm had what seemed like a fairy tale life—two wonderful children, fulfilling careers and a gorgeous home close to the private ski club where they’d fallen in love. Then Ashley’s remains turned up in a burned-out car at the bottom of a ditch, and all signs pointed to her husband

Dark Horse: Inside the fall of Eric Lamaze, Canada’s most famous equestrian

Dark Horse: Inside the fall of Eric Lamaze, Canada’s most famous equestrian

For years, Lamaze was the world’s top-ranked show jumper, living an enviable life filled with fancy cars, international travel and adoring fans—the kind of life a person might do anything to protect

Dividing Line: How the Bloor Street bike lane turned the city into a battlefield

Dividing Line: How the Bloor Street bike lane turned the city into a battlefield

A few kilometres along Bloor has become Toronto’s most contested strip of concrete, igniting fights over congestion, safety and the future of downtown

The Chosen One: At just 23, Scottie Barnes is the new face of the Raptors—and the team’s best chance of salvation

The Chosen One: At just 23, Scottie Barnes is the new face of the Raptors—and the team’s best chance of salvation

Barnes is shouldering the weight of an impatient, basketball-mad city, a hit-and-miss team, and his own colossal ambitions. Does he look worried?

Almost Famous: Inside the Beaches’ rise to rock stardom

Almost Famous: Inside the Beaches’ rise to rock stardom

A viral earworm about a breakup turned the Beaches into Toronto’s hottest export. Now, the panty-throwing, stage-diving, all-girl rock band is seducing fans around the world

"I was nearly beaten to death by my partner. The case was dismissed because it took too long to get to trial"

“I was nearly beaten to death by my partner. The case was dismissed because it took too long to get to trial”

How an overburdened justice system is failing survivors of intimate partner violence

Buy Canadian

"We felt disconnected from the outdoors before": What St. Lawrence Market North vendors think of their new home

“We felt disconnected from the outdoors before”: What St. Lawrence Market North vendors think of their new home

And what locally made and grown goods they’re selling

Sort-of Secret: Amelia’s Market, a Geary Avenue grocer selling local goods and light lunches

Sort-of Secret: Amelia’s Market, a Geary Avenue grocer selling local goods and light lunches

Like lovely cheese plates paired with glasses of Ontario-made wine

“There’s more attention now on shopping close to home”: How Broadfork Produce is connecting Toronto’s top chefs with Ontario farmers

“There’s more attention now on shopping close to home”: How Broadfork Produce is connecting Toronto’s top chefs with Ontario farmers

And the west-end supplier is opening to the public soon

The US tariffs are coming for your espresso martini

The US tariffs are coming for your espresso martini

With Kahlúa no longer available at the LCBO, Toronto bartenders are getting creative