As a foodie and young Torontonian, I like to participate in my favourite weekend activity: brunch.
For many people, a Sunday morning in Toronto is devoted to finding the best place for eggs Benedict, coffee, bacon and, occasionally, a mimosa.
A mimosa, for those not in the know, is a cocktail that consists of orange juice and champagne and customarily accompanies breakfast or brunch.
It's definitely a gourmet addition to have champagne with breakfast and they can be quite pricey. At a nice restaurant, a mimosa goes for $10 to $15, which is a lot for something that is mostly juice, usually cheap champagne and comes in a tiny champagne flute.
However, that doesn't stop me from indulging.
I believe that even though money may be tight, it's important to still enjoy life's little pleasures; therefore I have come up with a list of my Top 3 favorite places to get a great mimosa without breaking the bank.
The first is a favourite for many reasons, Nirvana on College Street at Bathurst.
If you're low on cash, but want to feel like you're rolling in it, their breakfast is basic, but delicious and best of all it's a great price (from $5 to $8) although I'm not a fan of their hollandaise sauce.
The best menu item, of course, is their mimosa.
For only $10, you can get a half litre of mimosas with freshly squeezed orange juice. It's divine and at the price, it doesn't come with a side of guilt.
The next place is The Lakeview Restaurant on Dundas at Ossington.
Their breakfast is slightly pricier (from around $9 to $14), but you get more for your money as the food is creative and they boast fancy items like maple sausages or grilled portobello mushrooms. Their claim to fame is the coveted, light and refreshing $3 mimosa they offer any day of the week. The price alone is reason to try it out.
Third place for a delicious mimosa goes to The Bloordale Pantry on Bloor at Landsdowne. Normally I wouldn't travel that far west on the weekend, but I have to admit it's worth the trek.
Their food is delicious, which due to the size of the restaurant usually means you'll be waiting at least 20 minutes for a table. Their food is priced pretty low at around ($7 to $12) and I would heartily suggest either the Roadside breakfast or the B-fast Burger.
Their mimosas are $7, which is pretty high for my standards, but it's high quality: made with freshly squeezed orange juice, pink champagne and a splash of Grand Marnier.
When paired with a delicious breakfast for $6.99, your total is so reasonable you'll do it again and again and again.
Jessica Ruby is in public relations by day and is a foodie by night. After leaving her hometown in B.C., school brought her to Montreal and then Toronto, where she has sampled the great food these amazing Canadian cities have to offer. This only increased her love for gourmet food and her desire to uncover the latest trends and best new restaurants in Toronto, all on a low budget in a hard economy. Now Jessica is working for Gemini Public Relations (www.GeminiPr.ca) and she continues her quest to discover the best food and the best deals Toronto has to offer. Follow her on twitter @really_Ruby.