"Mazal!" I said sleepily, "How are you? I'm in Toronto and I don't have an overdraft." (I still have post-debt traumatic stress disorder).
"No, no sweetheart," said Mazal. "Your account is fine. I was just worried about you. Are you okay?"
Puzzled, I said, "Yes, I'm fine. Why?"
"Well," said Mazal. "I was just reading about the balagan in Gaza and I was in a panic! I thought you might be there for work and I wanted to make sure you were alright. It's terrible that you don't have a mother in Israel to worry about you."
****
My actual mother - you know, the one who lives in Canada - spoiled me to death during my 9-day whirlwind visit.
My mother.
We celebrated being together, as we always do, with (shopping and) our favourite foods: Udupi, the vegetarian South Indian restaurant ("we grind our own spices") on Gerrard Street was our first stop - the fabulous dosas are a family tradition.
We had lunch at Terroni no less than three times, because we just could not get enough of their funghi salad and gnocchi in tomato sauce.
Terroni's gnocchi with tomato sauce.
Adina took me to the Red Tea Box, which has become our favourite new place for sister chats. We talked a lot about the baby.
Tea and cake at the Red Tea Box.
Adina and my gestating nephew at the Red Tea Box.
Red Tea Box - perfect place for sister chats.
I took Hadas for Vietnamese food at my favourite hole-in-the-wall on Spadina. I love watching my friends fall in love with the food I love.
Had a brunch of eggs and laughter one weekend morning with Adina and Chris, Elana and The Dude (also known as Elana's husand). Elana bought me ginger snaps in Kensington Market - officially for the flight home, but they didn't last that long.
Across from the Red Tea Box, I went to hang out with Samira and her sister Salome at their ultra-hip Iranian restaurant, Banu, which shot to fame after it was reviewed in the Guardian (I knew that newspaper was good for something ;) ).
Samira and Salome at Banu. Photo by David Laurence for Now Magazine.
My mother.
We celebrated being together, as we always do, with (shopping and) our favourite foods: Udupi, the vegetarian South Indian restaurant ("we grind our own spices") on Gerrard Street was our first stop - the fabulous dosas are a family tradition.
We had lunch at Terroni no less than three times, because we just could not get enough of their funghi salad and gnocchi in tomato sauce.
Terroni's gnocchi with tomato sauce.
Adina took me to the Red Tea Box, which has become our favourite new place for sister chats. We talked a lot about the baby.
Tea and cake at the Red Tea Box.
Adina and my gestating nephew at the Red Tea Box.
Red Tea Box - perfect place for sister chats.
I took Hadas for Vietnamese food at my favourite hole-in-the-wall on Spadina. I love watching my friends fall in love with the food I love.
Had a brunch of eggs and laughter one weekend morning with Adina and Chris, Elana and The Dude (also known as Elana's husand). Elana bought me ginger snaps in Kensington Market - officially for the flight home, but they didn't last that long.
Across from the Red Tea Box, I went to hang out with Samira and her sister Salome at their ultra-hip Iranian restaurant, Banu, which shot to fame after it was reviewed in the Guardian (I knew that newspaper was good for something ;) ).
Samira and Salome at Banu. Photo by David Laurence for Now Magazine.
The entrance to Banu.
Saw Joey, all too briefly, at his birthday party.
Joey, at his birthday party.
Chris and Adina at Joey's birthday party.
Joey was away on a business trip the night Adina and Chris made a kick-ass dinner, but wonderful Wendy was there.
Wendy
Chris and Adina's kick-ass dinner. Shrimp and corn cakes, sweet potatoes mashed with garlic and honey, and salad. (followed by my mother's mocha cake).
After dinner, as we were getting ready to leave, Adina turned around and quietly donned some costume props, then faced us and waved. I took six shots, but was shaking so hard from laughter that I couldn't keep the camera still. Only one of the photos was even vaguely in focus.
Adina, the comedienne.
In the end I did not have time to call everyone - the time went too fast. I wanted to see Adam, Debra (Rabbi Landsberg of Temple Emanu-El - blog here), and their gorgeous triplets (yes!)... But I'll be back soon - after the long, cruel winter, thank you very much!
So now I'm back in Tel Aviv (John was my apartment sitter) - a tad chubbier, with a very heavy suitcase that needs to be unpacked (I bought so many books that I had to pay for excess baggage weight) and a wee bit of jetlag.
The Toronto photos are in a set here.
