The popular rewards program at Starbucks is about to see some changes and Starbucks lovers don’t seem to be too thrilled about it. 

In case you aren’t familiar with Starbucks Rewards, it’s simply a rewards program in the Starbucks App that awards you Stars as you spend money at Starbucks. You can use these Stars to redeem various menu items like coffee or bakery items, for free!

So what are people so upset about?

Starbucks has updated its rewards program increasing the Number of Stars it will cost to redeem a free item as of February 13, 2023. 

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Here’s how many Stars it will cost to redeem various menu items (one item per set of points):

100 Stars: Hot brewed coffee or steeped tea, iced brewed coffee or tea, a bakery item such as a cake pop, a packed snack such as potato chips, Cold Siren Logo Plastic To-Go Cup (24oz), or a Siren Logo Plastic Hot Cup (16oz). 

200 Stars: Any hand-crafted beverage such as a latte, or any hot breakfast item such as a breakfast sandwich. 

300 Stars: Packaged salad, lunch sandwich, protein box, or packaged coffee item such as whole bean coffee.

Until February 13, these items cost 50, 150, and 200 Stars each. 

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The silver linings? One is that Starbucks didn’t completely strip us of our occasional free treats by taking away their rewards program all together. The second is that it will cost fewer Stars to redeem a bag of coffee beans once the change is in effect. 

You can read all about how to earn Stars here.

So, If you’ve been saving up your collection of Stars, you may want to redeem them before February 13 to get the most out of them before the change takes place. 

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It’s no secret that Canadians are obsessed with Filipino fried chicken chain Jollibee. Between the fried to perfection chicken, tasty sides, and sweet treats that the chain offers, Jollibee does it all and the restaurant does it oh-so-well. That’s why we can share the excitement that the chain is opening a new restaurant in the GTA.

According to BlogTO, Jollibee’s newest GTA location will be located in Brampton.

The newest location for Jollibee is set to open in the fall and BlogTO reports that construction will start in a week. The store will be 4,000 square feet and will be near the entrance of Bramalea City Centre.

Currently, the only Jollibee locations in the GTA are located at Billy Bishop Way (Dufferin/Wilson) and on William Kitchen Road in Scarborough.

This new restaurant is all part of the chain’s plan to open 100 new Canadian locations within five years.

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Mothers Day will be different this year given that we’ll all still be self-isolating. In years past, mothers everywhere have looked forward to a day just for them, where expectations go out the window and they can pamper themselves without guilt. Usually what this means is no cooking, no cleaning, and a lighter load of “mom duties”… but not this year. The kids will be home ALL day, the house will likely still be a disaster thanks to all the homeschooling and arts & crafts, and the mountain of dishes will still be there. If you’re wondering what can you do this year to make Mother’s Day special for your mom or spouse? Get takeout or delivery from her favourite restaurant. And you’re in luck — many Toronto restaurants have amazing specials on just mom’s special day!

Here are 10 Mother’s Day specials from Toronto restaurants that you can get via takeout or delivery.

The Carbon Bar

Treat mom and the entire family to a $47/person special at The Carbon Bar that’s available for pick-up from May 7 through May 10 from 3 p.m to 9 p.m. The three-course menu will include a cucumber salad, a pitmaster platter that comes with ribs, chicken, sausage, pulled pork, fries, coleslaw, pickles, and lastly, Granny’s apple crisp dessert. Thirsty? Throw in a bottle of bubbly prosecco for an extra $21.

MARBL

For every occasion you can count on MARBL to offer the ultimate meal. For Mother’s Day, there are two options. First up is the “Tulip and Moet For Mom” package that offers an $80 tulip bunch and two gold Moet goblets with the purchase of any 750ml bottle. The second, “Tulip, Brunch, and Moet For Mom” includes a complimentary tulip bunch valued at $30 when you purchase the “Every Day is Brunch” package, which includes a mini Moet, OJ, a champagne flute, and ready-to-eat brunch of eggs, potatoes, bacon, and sausage.

NODO

NODO is doing something different with a special offer at both its Hillcrest and Leslieville locations. For a limited time, you can get a gift with purchase — spend $50 to receive a $10 gift card, spend $75 to get a $15 gift card, and spend $100 to get a $25 gift card.

Mary Be Kitchen

Mary Be Kitchen is offering a Mother’s Day brunch box including brunch for four, as well as a Mother’s Day card from local brand Swell Made Co., and a stylish plant-baby from Jomo Studio. The box will contain a challah french toast kit, housemade berry compote, maple syrup, and more. Want to keep it a surprise? The boxes will be delivered on May 9, and you’ll receive a discrete text message when it arrives at your door so that mom won’t find out about the sweet surprise too early!

KOST

KOST will be offering a Mother’s Day basket complete with DIY coconut pancakes, a bouquet of tulips, macarons, Veuve Clicquot, and complimentary champagne flutes with an option to add on baked eggs. Base pricing is $70 for two and $125 for four.

French Made

With four items per box, French Made is offering customizable build-your-own pastry boxes. Options include butter croissants, blueberry danishes, cinnamon buns, chocolate cookies, walnut amaretti, and more for $15. To step it up a notch, optional Veuve Clicquot and tulips are being offered at $50 for 375mL and $100 dollars for a 750mL bottle.

Miku Toronto

If mom is a sushi lover, treat her to a meal she’ll never forget! Available on only May 9 and 10 is a very special Mother’s Day special from Miku.  For $110, the special features a bottle of Giulio Straccali Pinot Grigio, paired with wagyu beef & foie gras, lobster ravioli, sushi, and a mini green tea cake. This offer is available on UberEats, Ritual, and directly from Miku, where guests will save 10%!

Mildred’s Temple Kitchen

Brunch in a box is now available for you to pick up, cook, and enjoy at home for Mother’s Day thanks to Mildred’s Temple Kitchen. The restaurant is offering its signature Mrs. Biederhof’s Buttermilk Pancake Dry Mix for four with additional add-ons available that include ready-to-bake buttermilk biscuits, smoked salmon, wine, Walter Craft Caesar Mix, and much more. Plus, you’ll also receive a complimentary copy of the restaurant’s cookbook when you spend over $100.

Earls Restaurant

Earls’ King Street location is offering a takeout brunch kit with instructions. The kits available are a chocolate chip buttermilk pancake kit, avocado benedict kit, and chorizo hash kit. Make sure to pick up your order directly from Earls to take advantage of 20% off!

Tutto Pronto

Place an order for a Mother’s Day prix fixe lunch to go with Tutto Pronto. The menu includes the choice between a quiche, smoked salmon platter, roast chicken, and multiple additions. Orders must be placed by noon on Friday, May 8 and cost $69 for two people and $129 for four people.

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If you are a beer lover, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to hear that a mega beer market is set to open in Toronto. Last night the StyleDemocracy team was invited to check it out and we can tell you now, it was pretty impressive!

The Craft Beer Market is located at 1 Adelaide Street and is truly a sight to be seen. The massive hall spans two floors and features a huge seating area, open bar table space and over 100 beers on tap.  The design is typical of a Beer Market – think a lot of wood mixed with industrial finishes and an overall vintage feel.  While we were there to sample the vast array of beer options, we were pleasantly surprised by the food. The variety and quality of the food offerings are on par or above any other beer or eatery. The combination of great food, great beer, and a great location will surely make the Craft Beer Market a huge Toronto success.

While an official opening date has yet to be 100% confirmed, we were told that the new Beer Market is expected to be opened within the next week.

We will keep you posted when we get more information.

For now, check out the photos:

Image: Instagram/@crafttoronto

Image: Instagram/@crafttoronto

Image: Instagram/@crafttoronto

Are you excited about the new Craft Toronto? Let us know!

Featured Image: Instagram/@Crafttoronto

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Toronto’s food and drink scene is unlike any other and the city’s reputation for a dynamic and diverse restaurant forte is well deserved. With over 9,000 restaurants and counting, Toronto’s vibrant multicultural population continues to push culinary boundaries to delight locals and visitors alike. From hidden speakeasies to illustrious rooftop restaurants, there’s a lot to love about Toronto’s current dining scene. To help you decide which hot spots to check out next, here is our list of the most hyped restaurants in Toronto right now.

Aloette

163 Spadina Ave.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bamgcc5h35b/?taken-by=aloette_restaurant

This modern diner near Queen and Spadina is getting major buzz already, largely because it’s from the same people as Alo upstairs. Aloette is more casual than its big sister but it’s still elegant, providing elevated, fun spins on traditional dinner meals such as burgers and milkshakes.

Mahjong Bar

1276 Dundas St. W

https://www.instagram.com/p/BbVK35olIPm/?taken-by=mahjongbar

This secretive snack bar hidden behind a bodega on Dundas West is the place to be if you love watermelon cocktails, wontons and smashed cucumber salad. Mahjong Bar is like stepping into a Hong Kong time warp and its great food mixed with its 1960’s aesthetic is sure to have chefs and bartenders from other restaurants around Toronto stopping by.

La Palma

849 Dundas St. W

https://www.instagram.com/p/Ba_1I2KgXK2/?taken-by=lapalmato

From the minds behind Campagnolo, it’s tough to get a weekend dinner reservation at this hot new Italian spot. Thankfully, La Palma holds a section of tables exclusively for walk-ins (so get there early). The restaurant is open all day for coffee and Italian-inspired cocktails, plus sharing-style pizzas and pastas.

Pray Tell

838 College St.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZJZuxXg5u-/?taken-by=praytellbar

Little Italy’s newest addition to the bar scene is Pray Tell – a 50-seat snack bar from Track & Field’s Nickie Minshall and Dustin Keating, along with Home Of The Brave chef Sonia Mondino. The speakeasy is small but the food is hearty and with a curated wine and cocktail list, plus brews from Left Field and Mill Street, you can’t go wrong.

BlueBlood Steakhouse

1 Austin Terrace

https://www.instagram.com/p/BbDDDC7g1ZM/?taken-by=blueblood_steakhouse

Located inside Casa Loma and garnished with Andy Warhol art on the century-old walls, this steakhouse is both a showstopper when it comes to aesthetic and, most importantly, food. BlueBlood hosts massive steaks and towers of seafood among their menu for the ultimate luxury dining experience. Plus we can’t forget to mention their raw bar.

Kost

80 Blue Jays Way

https://www.instagram.com/p/BbaovFhBG0A/?taken-by=kosttoronto

Found in the Entertainment District on top of the Bisha boutique hotel, Kost offers guests breathtaking views of the city coupled with Baja-esque dishes. With refined plates of roasted tofu, tuna tartare, steak and tres leches cake, plus an accompanying list of fine wines, Kost is a must-try.

Brothers

1240 Bay St.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BNKmn0sjM-a/?hl=en&taken-by=brothers_toronto

This quaint restaurant above Bay station may seem simple, but its food is anything but. With a constantly overturning menu of spare three-ingredient plates and a glowing recent New York Times review, it’s nearly impossible to get a seat at Brothers.

Cafe Cancan

89 Harbord St.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BahTHFflwDe/?taken-by=cafecancanto

This new restaurant has been winning over Torontonians with its delicious French fare and its variety of takes on foie gras. From the same owners of Piano Piano (located right across the street on Harbord), Cafe Cancan is a bright, airy spot that’s undeniably pleasing to the eye – and the stomach.

Kiin

326 Adelaide St. W

https://www.instagram.com/p/BaxD–rDgjO/?taken-by=kiintoronto

From the team behind Sukhothai and Pai, this Entertainment District restaurant boasts elevated, shareable Thai plates in a bright atmosphere. With a fresh take on traditional menu items, you can expect to experience the most intricate of handmade dumplings along with the nostalgia of DIY lettuce wraps, establishing a new meaning for comfort food.

Pinky’s Ca Phe

53 Clinton St.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BTEiQB3FYTg/?taken-by=pinkys_caphe

Tucked away just off College on Clinton is the kitschy-cool Pinky’s Ca Phe from owner and chef Leemo Han of Hanmoto and OddSeoul. The spot is quickly becoming known for its tasty Asian snacks of bone marrow beef, Korean squid and ceviche.

Would you visit one of the most hyped restaurants in Toronto? Let us know in the comments.

Featured Image: Instagram/@cafecancanto

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Will they? Won’t they? There seems to be a little flip-flopping behind Sears‘ strategy to provide groceries to its future companies. Earlier we reported that the struggling retailer intended to sell groceries. Subsequently, we had to amend the article after Sears got in touch with us and informed us they would not be selling groceries.

While Sears may not directly sell groceries to customers it looks like the brand will partner with a grocery supplier and sell fresh produce and food within sears, but operated in partnership.

The Financial Post is reporting that Sears Canada Inc. is looking to expand its plan to sell organic groceries and create “dash-buttons” to help customers shop from home.

The financial post article quotes Sears’ executive chairman Brandon Stranzl as saying the grocery offering will be “Kind of like Whole Foods at a Joe Fresh price,”

Sears Canada Inc. is looking to expand its plan to sell organic groceries and build so-called dash buttons to help customers purchase their favourite products from home as the retailer better known for tools and appliances looks to reinvent itself.

Additionally, in an effort to integrate the Sears brand into shoppers everyday lives, Sears plans on creating “dash buttons”. Dash buttons have been popular with mega brands like Tide who have partnered with e-commerce platforms like Amazon to create pushable buttons that are connected to online ordering system and live on a physical product. For example, Tide buttons can be attached to your laundry machine, when you are low on Tide, you simply push the button and Tide is automatically ordered to your house through a platform like Amazon.

According to the Financial Post, Sears reported a $45.8 – million loss in its most recent quarter, and the brand is trying desperately to diverse its product offering in an effort to appeal to a new customer.

The interesting question will be can Sears attract customers with food? Brands like Ikea have been successful bringing customers in with food options, and Loblaws di the reverse attracting customers in with clothing options.

Source: The Financial Post

Lobster Clam Jam is coming to Toronto and as seafood lovers, we couldn’t be more excited. LOBSTER CLAM JAM is a highly acclaimed outdoor food festival originating out of Montreal, showcasing a variety of food from renowned local chefs and restaurants. There will be over 20 restaurants, a Mixology Bar, a Beer Bar, a Wine Bar, a Coffee Bar, and Dessert stations on site!

The Food Network has rated Lobster Clam Jam as one of the top food festivals in the world as it caters to food lovers from all walks of life. Even if you don’t like seafood you don’t need to worry as guests also have an opportunity to experience meat, fowl, game fish, and of course lobster and other shellfish.

The event is great for families including those with small children, as well as catering to adults looking to have a good time.