A few weeks ago, my wife, a friend, and I were given a restaurant recommendation by one of my co-workers. Being the ethnic food lovers that we are, we decided to dine at Casa Manila, a Filipino restaurant close to our office.

We did not know what to expect when we arrived at the restaurant as no reservation had been made, and the place was already packed with customers. Nonetheless, the greeter at the door gave us a warm welcome and told us that the wait would be appropriately 20 minutes. As it turns out. the wait was only about 10 minutes, as the staff were very efficient in cleaning up and setting up the tables.

After we were seated, the menus were placed in front of us by our friendly server, however, we didn’t know where to start because Filipino food was new to us, and everything looked delicious. Casa Manila had hot plates full of beef, pork, chicken, and shrimp, soups filled to the brim, tantalizing signature stews as well as appetizers, rice and noodles. Our server was very friendly and attentive even before we presented them our dilemma.Immediately, they asked if it was our first time visiting the restaurant, gave us recommendations, and described the different menu items in detail.

Our food orders arrived at the table attractively presented, hot, fresh, and very delicious. Throughout the meal, our drinks were refilled without any delays. The owner / manager of the restaurant was very pleasant as well. She was down-to-earth and genuine when she chatted with us and the other customers about their day and how they were enjoying their meals.

Near the end of the meal, we were very full. When our server offered dessert to us, we were very reluctant to decline, as the desserts looked amazing. From the Halo Halo dessert made to satisfy even the most adventurous sweet tooth to the warm and crispy Turon Banana Crepes, I’m sure that if we were not so full, we would have ordered everything off the dessert menu just to try it!

Since we were unable to try everything on the menu that evening, we plan to go back to Casa Manila on another day. I highly recommended Casa Manila for its friendly, quick, and attentive customer service coupled with hot, fresh, and delicious food at a reasonable price.

Casa Manila
879 York Mills Road
Toronto, ON M3B 1Y5
416-443-9654
www.casamanila.ca

About seven years ago, when my family and I first moved to our current house, our front lawn was a disaster. There were weeds everywhere, and most of my summer was spent with the Fiskar lawn tool – which my back says is the greatest invention since sliced bread. Despite spending so much time getting rid of the weeds, the lawn needed constant attention.

I finally decided to call in the big guns at Weed Man Lawn Care to see if they could help me out with my lawn problems. Not only were the co-managers Shawn and Lisa polite, friendly, and a pleasure to deal with, but their employees quickly assessed my lawn and provided me with a variety of flexible lawn care program. The first program we worked out included seeding, fertilization, and weed control, and when the weeds became less and less of a problem, they changed the program to best meet my needs.

Clearly their approach worked, as by the end of the first summer people in my neighborhood commented about how my lawn went from being the worst to the best on the street!

Weed Man Lawn Care continued to show their flexibility and excellent customer service when I called them last year with a chinch bug problem. They came to my house the next day, identified the problem and immediately worked out a strategy to address these annoying bugs. While I’m not out of the woods….er…turf…just yet, I can safely say that my lawn is once again on the road to recovery.

Interestingly, Weed Man Lawn Care becomes a Christmas decorations service during the holiday season, and while I don’t personally put up any lights, I’m sure that their work with during the holiday season is just as fantastic as their work on lawns.

For fast, friendly, quick and professional service on your lawn, I highly recommend Weed Man Lawn Care.

Weed Man Lawn Care
15 Lesmill Road, Unit 5
Toronto, Ontario M3B 2T3
416-510-0777

With our mothers meeting in pre-natal class, Mitch Rose and I joke around that we have known each other since before we were born. Since that time and throughout the years, we have remained great friends and kept in contact despite living in different areas, following different fields of study, and taking separate career paths.

When we were in university, Mitch had the ambition to study law, while I focused on business and hospitality. When we graduated from our studies, Mitch was practicing law in various areas, before focusing on litigation. Meanwhile, I got involved in several business, and went on to start Sensors Quality Management Inc.

During the first few years that Mitch practiced law, he worked on his own before joining a small law firm called Stancer Gossin LLP. Through his hard work and dedication, Mitch soon became a partner of the firm, which was renamed Stancer Gossin Rose LLP.

During the years Mitch’s work brought us together on several occasions, including: doing my will and Power of Attorney, assisting with real estate transactions, reviewing leases, and in settling business related matters. Mitch is always a pleasure to work with, because he is methodological and reasonable in his approach. He is all about what is in the best interest of his client rather than trying to punish the other guy. Being methodological and reasonable, it is no surprise that he is great with mediation, which in more recent times has become the focus of his practice. Not only has he earned the respect from his clients, but many lawyers find him reasonable and a pleasure to deal with as well.

Stancer Gossin Rose LLP has a wide range of expertise that includes, but is not limited to, corporate law, litigation, and mediation. Their fees are also reasonably priced for the excellent and professional service provided. If you are ever in need of a lawyer like Mitch, then I highly recommend reaching out to Stancer Gossin Rose LLP.

Mitchell Rose
Stancer Gossin Rose LLP
1210 Sheppard Avenue Suite 310
Toronto, ON M2K 1E3
416-224-1996

For several years now, my good friend John Fisher has been handling my investments. I’ve always had trust and confidence in John, as he has always proven to act in my best interest. John believes that acting in a client’s best interest is the same as “eating your own cooking.” This philosophy is serving him and his clients well, as his company, Bridgeport, is steadily growing. Bridgeport now has more than $250 million under management and serves approximately 100 families inside and outside of Canada.

The philosophy of “eating your own cooking” involves investment managers who take their own advice… making the same investments for themselves, as they do for their clients. When John and I discussed more about his philosophy, I became even more confident about the effectiveness of it. This is because John views every stock investment as if he himself is acquiring full ownership of the business. To John, it isn’t about just acquiring a piece of paper for the stock exchange.

John’s philosophy on investments further helps clients like myself because with his research skills and ability to analyze investments, he is able to choose companies whose business models have less of a threat. He calls it value investing, and he’s always looking for “steady-eddie” companies with predictable earnings that will provide me with healthy profit margins, recurring revenue, and a high return on invested capital.

Overall, I highly recommend getting in contact with John for your investment needs, or any questions you may have. I guarantee that you will be very well taken care of because of his personal philosophy of “eating your own cooking.”

John Fisher
Managing Director
Bridgeport Asset Management Inc.
1255 Bay Street
Toronto, ON M5R 2A9
416 323-3241

For several years now, I have been seeing two optometrists. They are Doctor Dale Gray and her associate Doctor Munheer Haji. For Doctor Gray specifically, I have known her for over 20 years. After all these years, Doctor Gray still takes very good care of me whenever I have issues with my eyes. Despite the fact that her office is always busy and packed with patients, she puts her undivided attention at the patient in front of her. If you call in for an emergency, all the office staff will be extremely accommodating.

I have gone to the office numerous times for minor and bigger issues. Whether an eyelash is stuck in my eye or if the outer layer of my eye is scratched, the office is always professional and obliging no matter how big or small the issue.

Along with Doctor Gray, Doctor Haji is amazing when it comes to fitting contact lenses. She has multiple options and makes sure that you are aware of them. Another particular staff member who I would like to mention is Annie, the receptionist. She knows every patient by name and adds a very personal touch to the usual military-style operation you would find in other optometrist offices.

Overall, I would highly recommend going to Doctor Gray’s office for anyone with eye care needs. You will always find a very professional and accommodating environment when you go there.

Dr. Dale Ellen Gray Hamilton
1333 Sheppard Ave,
North York, ON M2J 1V1
416 494 6155

Several months ago, my wife had a serious problem with her back. When her problem was diagnosed and she felt excruciating pain, I knew that one of the best things to do was to put her in physiotherapy. I could have seen Chris or Shaun from Sport Medicine Clinic, but the problem was my wife’s inability to walk due to the severe pain.

Aware of this issue, my sister-in-law recommended Physio Active and Thomas Hein. Thomas then referred her to Polina Provad, a physiotherapist. First of all, Polina had squeezed my wife into her busy schedule when we almost cancelled the appointment in the beginning. My wife’s pain was so bad that we were contemplating going to a hospital instead of a physiotherapist. When I informed Polina, she offered to stay late so they could get the treatment going.

Polina is a very experienced and skilled physiotherapist. She analyzed and assessed my wife and came up with a treatment plan. She was very accommodating! When we first entered the clinic, we faced a small challenge of moving my wife to the treatment bed. To help my wife, the clinic brought a wheel chair and pushed her to the room every single time. When my wife had to go there on a daily basis in the first couple of weeks, the clinic deliberately scheduled its patients so that she could have easy access to the room in a wheelchair.

As my wife was on the road to recovery, Polina started to introduce other methods like acupuncture and massage therapy. Overall, the entire clinic and the office staff members are excellent in their field. Ashley, the office manager, was very patient and friendly whenever we saw her. Thanks to Physio Active, my wife is in much less pain and almost back to normal! A large part of that is because of their wonderful efforts.

Physio Active
1450 Clark Avenue West Unit 22
Thornhill, L4J7R5
905 695 0371

In more recent times, as I have been recovering from my rotator cuff injury, Chris has referred me to Dr. Shaun Lemann. Shaun is a chiropractor who works alongside Chris at the Sport Medicine Clinic and he is highly skilled and reliable in his field. While moving into the final phase of my injury treatment, Shaun has recommended a number of necessary therapy approaches. Recently, I have been working on my range of motion with Shaun, and I have already been seeing improvements. Asides from chiropractic, Shaun has experience in a number of different experiences in therapy and physiotherapy.

Like Chris and other experts at the Sport Medicine Clinic, Shaun will patiently listen to your issues and problems. He will professionally assess you as he is very good at identifying specific problem areas. Although sometimes the treatment is painful and I cry of severe pain, Shaun has significantly helped to maintain my usual bright and positive self. Both of these doctors, Chris and Shaun, will gladly see to your injury even if it’s not a sports injury.

Sport Medicine Clinic
79 Wellington St. West,
36th Floor, Toronto, ON M5K 1J5
416 865 0903