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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

The best diners and dairy bars within road-tripping distance of the GTA

The best diners and dairy bars within road-tripping distance of the GTA

They're serving soul-soothing comfort food with a big dollop of nostalgia

What's on the menu at Ristorante Sociale, Enoteca Sociale's splashy new sister restaurant with dining room dancers and bottle service

What’s on the menu at Ristorante Sociale, Enoteca Sociale’s splashy new sister restaurant with dining room dancers and bottle service

It's not exactly a carbonara copy

Where the owners of Somun Superstar eat pierogies, burek and Bosnian baked goods in Toronto

Where the owners of Somun Superstar eat pierogies, burek and Bosnian baked goods in Toronto

The couple takes us on a tour of the city's greatest Slavic hits

Sort-of Secret: Pho Ngoc Yen, a hopping Vietnamese restaurant tucked away in a Mississauga industrial park

Sort-of Secret: Pho Ngoc Yen, a hopping Vietnamese restaurant tucked away in a Mississauga industrial park

The airport-adjacent spot is popular for its short rib pho, bar snacks and warm hospitality

Where to eat and drink in Prince Edward County, according to these Toronto chefs who moved there

Where to eat and drink in Prince Edward County, according to these Toronto chefs who moved there

Jamie Kennedy, Alexandra Feswick, Albert Ponzo—and many others—weigh in

"We’re cranking out 60,000 pizzas a month": Piano Piano chef Victor Barry on his plans for worldwide frozen pizza domination

“We’re cranking out 60,000 pizzas a month”: Piano Piano chef Victor Barry on his plans for worldwide frozen pizza domination

Barry is now the proud owner of General Assembly’s line of frozen pies

What's on the menu at Chantecler, the new Bloorcourt location of Parkdale's favourite French restaurant

What’s on the menu at Chantecler, the new Bloorcourt location of Parkdale’s favourite French restaurant

The bistro is back—and this time it comes with a big park-facing patio

What's on the menu at Prequel & Co. Apothecary, a whimsical new Queen West cocktail lounge from the owner of BarChef

What’s on the menu at Prequel & Co. Apothecary, a whimsical new Queen West cocktail lounge from the owner of BarChef

Just don't call it a speakeasy

What's on the menu at Lao Lao Bar, a new restaurant and cocktail lounge from the owners of Sabai Sabai

What’s on the menu at Lao Lao Bar, a new restaurant and cocktail lounge from the owners of Sabai Sabai

Not even an expropriation order from the city could keep Seng Luong and Jason Jiang down

Six of the city's tangiest, creamiest, cheesiest fondues

Six of the city’s tangiest, creamiest, cheesiest fondues

Including a smorgasbord of dippables from Wvrst, a funky blue-cheese blend from Caren's and a vegan fon-dupe from Avelo

What's on the menu at Bitter Melon, a new spot on Spadina for "Toronto Chinese" small plates and cocktails

What’s on the menu at Bitter Melon, a new spot on Spadina for “Toronto Chinese” small plates and cocktails

Including a Taiwanese take on a Korean corn dog and tteokbokki with an Italian twist

What's on the menu at AP, chef Antonio Park's new restaurant on the 51st floor of the Manulife Centre

What’s on the menu at AP, chef Antonio Park’s new restaurant on the 51st floor of the Manulife Centre

Including premium fish, Osetra caviar, Wagyu beef and a fleck of gold leaf here and there

Sort-of Secret: Grateful Chicken, chef Brandon Olsen's fried chicken comeback

Sort-of Secret: Grateful Chicken, chef Brandon Olsen’s fried chicken comeback

Also on the menu: Basque cake and champagne

Inside Good Egg's refreshed Kensington Market space

Inside Good Egg’s refreshed Kensington Market space

How the food-focused bookstore got a second life

Inside Flying Books, the travelling bookstore that finally found a permanent home

Inside Flying Books, the travelling bookstore that finally found a permanent home

How Martha Sharpe built a single-shelf operation into a literary fiefdom

Inside Art Metropole's new College Street space

Inside Art Metropole’s new College Street space

A tour of the non-profit indie bookstore run by an artist collective

Inside Little Ghosts, Toronto's haunted indie bookstore for horror enthusiasts

Inside Little Ghosts, Toronto’s haunted indie bookstore for horror enthusiasts

A tour of the city's hub for devotees of the macabre

Where to eat, drink and stargaze during TIFF

Where to eat, drink and stargaze during TIFF

More than a dozen newish spots worth visiting during the film fest

Inside Muskoka Beer Spa, a hop lovers’ utopia in cottage country

Inside Muskoka Beer Spa, a hop lovers’ utopia in cottage country

For those who like to retox as they detox

Inside Altea Active, Liberty Village's 89,000-square-foot fitness mecca for the hard-core athlete

Inside Altea Active, Liberty Village’s 89,000-square-foot fitness mecca for the hard-core athlete

With an Olympic Village–worthy recovery space to soothe sore muscles

"I'm hand-picking each vendor. There will be no A-list chefs here": A Q&A with Suresh Doss about bringing Smorgasburg to Toronto

“I’m hand-picking each vendor. There will be no A-list chefs here”: A Q&A with Suresh Doss about bringing Smorgasburg to Toronto

The new weekly food fest kicks off July 23 on the waterfront

What's on the menu at Roses Cocina, the new-wave Tex-Mex kitchen inside Hotel X

What’s on the menu at Roses Cocina, the new-wave Tex-Mex kitchen inside Hotel X

Think wagyu fajitas with unbeatable waterfront views

What's on the menu at Bar Chica, a new kitchen on King West for Toronto-style tapas

What’s on the menu at Bar Chica, a new kitchen on King West for Toronto-style tapas

It's in the old Bar Buca space

What’s on the menu at Beast Pizza, Scott Vivian’s new pizzeria serving meaty pies and whole-animal feasts

What’s on the menu at Beast Pizza, Scott Vivian’s new pizzeria serving meaty pies and whole-animal feasts

Also: what are quite easily the city's coolest takeout boxes

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