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Riverside Flavours – Fall Edition: Spiced Hot Chocolate by Amber Kitchen (Feature 7 of 7)

We’re down to the LAST WEEK of Riverside Flavours – Fall Edition! Try all these items before they’re off the menu forever!

Running until November 15th, Riverside Flavours – Fall Edition is a made-in-Riverisde campaign that spotlights local participating venues offering a unique dish or drink inspired by classic fall warming spices: cinnamon, ginger, cardamom and nutmeg.

Previously on the blog, Eastbound Brewing Co. introduced us to their pumpkin ale-based cocktail. For the last of our Riverside Flavours – Fall Edition blog features, we’re trying Amber Kitchen’s fun version of hot cocoa:

Spiced Hot Chocolate

Participating Business: Amber Kitchen and Coffee (@amberkitchento)

Address:4 Boulton Ave, Toronto, ON M4M 2J3

Staying true to their Middle Eastern roots, Amber Kitchen and Coffee created the Spiced Hot Chocolate for Riverside Flavours – Fall Edition. Featuring Baharat, a Middle Eastern spice blend which includes cinnamon, nutmeg and cardamom, the Spiced Hot Chocolate is not your ordinary cup of cocoa. It’s spicy and bold. The sprinkling of cocoa powder and marshmallows on top gives it a much needed sweetness. If you’re feeling brazen, an alcoholic version with Bushmills Irish Whiskey is also available.

More about Riverside Flavours – Fall Edition:

More than just a showcase of culinary creativity, Riverside Flavours is also a chance for you to show support for local businesses in the Riverside neighbourhood. 

With every order of any Riverside Flavours item, you can enter our raffle and vote for your faves in 3 fun categories! There will be weekly and grand draw winners — plus, an esteemed panel of food & drink experts will be voting for their top dish or drink!

To view the full contest rules and important raffle information about Riverside Flavours – Fall Edition (and HOW to enter the raffle), click HERE!

Read through the fine print of Riverside Flavours – Fall Edition and come right back to the blog to read more about the featured dishes and the BIA businesses behind them!

Check @riverside_bia on Instagram and the Riverside Blog in the coming weeks for updates on Riverside Flavours –  Fall Edition!

BLOG: Riverside Flavours – Fall Edition: Gin Amore Cocktail by AURA (Feature 1 of 7)

BLOG: Riverside Flavours – Fall Edition: Cornmeal Porridge by BlessedLove (Feature 2 of 7)

BLOG: Riverside Flavours – Fall Edition: Best West Mac and Cheese by The West Cork (Feature 3 of 7)

BLOG: Riverside Flavours – Fall Edition: Baharat Sour by Tabulè (Feature 4 of 7)

BLOG: Riverside Flavours – Fall Edition: Pumpkin Risotto and Osso Buco by ēst Restaurant (Feature 5 of 7)

BLOG: Riverside Flavours – Fall Edition: Patchwork in the Rye by Eastbound (Feature 6 of 7)

We acknowledge and thank the City of Toronto, Government of Canada and FedDev Ontario for support of this campaign as part of the ‘Riverside Ramps it Up’ project through the Transit Expansion Construction Mitigation Fund 2025.

The 2025 Riverside Holiday Market is Happening on Nov. 23rd!

The much anticipated ho-ho-holiday event in Riverside is back and this year, we’re going INDOORS!

Yes, you read that right! The 2025 Riverside Holiday Market is happening inside Ralph Thornton Community Centre (765 Queen St E) on Sunday, November 23rd at 11am-4pm!

You can enjoy holiday fun in the comforts of the Ralph Thornton Community Centre — warm and toasty + no cold hands!

From fun shopping featuring local vendors to free hot cocoa and activities, here’s everything happening at this year’s Riverside Holiday Market:

Holiday Market

Shop from a curated selection of 30+ local vendors and small businesses.

Live Entertainment

DJ Stevie Kicks will be playing nostalgic holiday tunes outside the venue.

Christmas Crafts

Little ones get to release their creative juices with cupcake decorating and crafts.

Photo credit: Tim Hortons

Cozy Up with Some Cocoa

Keep warm with a comforting cup of hot chocolate from Riverside’s locally owned Tim Hortons — on us!

Window Wonderland Tour

Take a peek at the amazing work of local artists for this year’s Window Wonderland.

And More!

  • Meet and Greet Santa – Say hello and snap a photo with the big guy in red and white!
  • Holiday Drag Bingo with Toronto’s Delusional Diva, Messy Margaret – Hosted by the Toronto Public Library Queen/Saulter Branch
  • Free Henna
  • Take a selfie with our pop-up holiday sign outside the entrance

Get your FREE tickets to the 2025 Riverside Holiday Market by clicking on the RSVP button below. In the meantime, check out @riverside_bia on Instagram and the Riverside Blog to stay updated on exciting events in the neighbourhood!

We acknowledge and thank the City of Toronto, Government of Canada and FedDev Ontario for support of this campaign as part of the ‘Riverside Ramps it Up’ project through the Transit Expansion Construction Mitigation Fund 2025.

Riverside Flavours – Fall Edition: Patchwork in the Rye by Eastbound (Feature 6 of 7)

10 DAYS LEFT of Riverside Flavours – Fall Edition! What’s your favourite featured item so far?

Running until November 15th, Riverside Flavours – Fall Edition is a made-in-Riverisde campaign that spotlights local participating venues who offering a unique dish or drink inspired by classic fall warming spices: cinnamon, ginger, cardamom and nutmeg.

Earlier this week, ēst Restaurant treated us to a fall-inspired spin on the risotto and osso buco. Today, we’re switching gears with a pumpkin ale-based cocktail from Eastbound Brewing Co.:

Patchwork in the Rye Beer Cocktail

Participating Business: Eastbound Brewing Co. (@eastboundbeer)

Address: 700 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M4M 1G9

For Riverside Flavours – Fall Edition, Eastbound highlights a seasonal favourite at the brewery into Patchwork in the Rye, a beer-based cocktail. “At Eastbound, we like to incorporate our signature beers into fun cocktails. Our Patchwork Orange Pumpkin Ale has beautiful notes of warming spices so we thought it was perfect to incoporate in Riverside Flavours,” said Tara Lee, chef at Eastbound Brewing Co. The Patchwork in the Rye Cocktail packs quite the punch with notes of cinnamon, ginger, cardamom and nutmeg!

More about Riverside Flavours – Fall Edition:

More than just a showcase of culinary creativity, Riverside Flavours is also a chance for you to show support for local businesses in the Riverside neighbourhood. 

With every order of any Riverside Flavours item, you can enter our raffle and vote for your faves in 3 fun categories! There will be weekly and grand draw winners — plus, an esteemed panel of food & drink experts will be voting for their top dish or drink!

To view the full contest rules and important raffle information about Riverside Flavours – Fall Edition (and HOW to enter the raffle), click HERE!

Read through the fine print of Riverside Flavours – Fall Edition and come right back to the blog to read more about the featured dishes and the BIA businesses behind them!

Check @riverside_bia on Instagram and the Riverside Blog in the coming weeks for updates on Riverside Flavours –  Fall Edition!

BLOG: Riverside Flavours – Fall Edition: Gin Amore Cocktail by AURA (Feature 1 of 7)

BLOG: Riverside Flavours – Fall Edition: Cornmeal Porridge by BlessedLove (Feature 2 of 7)

BLOG: Riverside Flavours – Fall Edition: Best West Mac and Cheese by The West Cork (Feature 3 of 7)

BLOG: Riverside Flavours – Fall Edition: Baharat Sour by Tabulè (Feature 4 of 7)

BLOG: Riverside Flavours – Fall Edition: Pumpkin Risotto and Osso Buco by ēst Restaurant (Feature 5 of 7)

We acknowledge and thank the City of Toronto, Government of Canada and FedDev Ontario for support of this campaign as part of the ‘Riverside Ramps it Up’ project through the Transit Expansion Construction Mitigation Fund 2025.

New Street Art in Riverside (November 2025)

Here in Riverside, you know we champion all things local. It’s what we do! This not only means promoting local businesses but also working with local artists and providing opportunities to share their art and stories.

If you’ve been to this part of the East End before, you’ve probably noticed a mural or two (or 30+!) around the neighbourhood done by brilliant Toronto artists we’ve worked with over the years. Over the past few months, we’ve gotten some new additions to this open air gallery. 

In case you missed it, check out the newest street art in Toronto’s Riverside neighbourhood:

Riverside Love, Underneath The Moon by Jasmine Vanstone

Location: 3 Munro St

This mural by artist Jasmine Vanstone (pictured above) (@articulately_jasmine) is a love letter to community life, interconnection, and the small wonders that root us. Inspired by the story of Joel Weeks and the revitalization of the local park in his name, this work transforms memory into a vibrant ecosystem where joy, growth and care thrive. Through bold colour and lyrical imagery, the mural invites viewers to imagine what’s possible when we tend to one another in public space. More about “Riverside Love, Underneath the Moon” HERE. Thanks goes to the City of Toronto Outdoor Mural and Street Art program for funding for this mural, and to Oma Chiropractic and Wellness for providing space for public art. Sincere gratitude to the artists Sagal (@sagal.duale), Morgan Velasquez (@pioquez), and Amirah Star who assisted the installation of this mural.

Waters That Wander by birdO

Location: 4 Boulton Ave

This mural by Jerry Rugg (@jerryrugg) a.k.a. birdO celebrates the Don River’s winding past through the lens of one of its quiet architects: the muskrat. A symbol of adaptability and balance, it is shown amid local plants and food sources that sustain river life. The imagery is bold and imaginative, inviting children and families to pause, wonder, and reconnect with the stories of nature woven into Toronto’s landscape. We thank the City of Toronto Outside Mural and Street Art Program for supporting this mural in 2025. You can read more about “Waters That Wander” HERE. Thanks goes to the City of Toronto Outdoor Mural and Street Art program for funding for this mural, and to Amber Kitchen & Coffee for providing space for public art.

Public Art by Gust of Wind Studio

Location: 791 Queen St E and 785 Queen St E

The mural by Gust of Wind Studio (@gust_of_wind_studio) is inspired by the idea of “pass it on,” reflecting the area’s spirit and ongoing care for the community. The design weaves together universal symbols of compassion, renewal and belonging into a vibrant and hopeful composition. These elements are unified on a geometric grid referencing the Riverside BIA’s visual identity. The grid also brings rhythm, balance and a sense of connection — showing how individual parts come together to create a greater whole, and celebrating the spirit of continuity, care, and passing it forward. This project was in collaboration of the Riverside BIA and Fontbonne Ministries Mustard Seed location (791 Queen E), with space also provided by Re/Max Hallmark Realty Ltd. (785 Queen E) . The project was made possible thanks to the City of Toronto’s Transit Construction Mitigation Grant.

The Riverside Common Art Project

Location: Riverside Common Park, 657 Queen St E

For the Riverside Common Art Project, the BIA collaborated with Nipissings First Nation born, multi-disciplinary artist Quentin “Que Rock” Commanda (@que_rock_ | @miangunclan) to do mural art on several pieces in the space, which include benches, tables, posts and an electrical box. For the Riverside Common wall (pictured above), we collaborated with Pop Marquee (@pop_marquee) to include this wayfinding word art which is visible from Queen Street.  Que Rock’s art is inspired from the Anishinaabe creation story of The original 6 nations peace treaty and more about it can be found in his narrated video.  This project was in collaboration of the Riverside BIA and with permission of City of Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation). The project was made possible thanks to the City of Toronto’s Transit Construction Mitigation Grant.

Head over to Riverside and check out all this new neighbourhood art! If you post on social, don’t forget to tag us @riverside_bia — we love seeing your photos! In the meantime, follow us on Instagram and check the Riverside Blog as we publish new stories every week on what’s hip and happening in Riverside!

Riverside Flavours – Fall Edition: Pumpkin Risotto and Osso Buco by ēst Restaurant (Feature 5 of 7)

How many of the Riverside Flavours – Fall Edition featured dishes have you tried already?

In case you didn’t know, Riverside Flavours – Fall Edition is a campaign by the Riverside BIA that highlights local venues offering a unique dish or drink inspired by classic fall warming spices: cinnamon, ginger, cardamom and nutmeg. Riverside Flavours – Fall Edition runs until November 15th!

Previously on the blog, we went behind the bar at Tabulè for the Baharat Sour. This week, we’re headed east, or should we say ēst, to try an autumnal take on an Italian classic:

Pumpkin Risotto and Osso Buco

Participating Business: ēst Restaurant (@est.restaurant)

Address: 729 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M4M 1H1

For Riverside Flavours – Fall Edition, ēst Restaurant is paying homage to their early days. “When we first opened, we started out offering a more French-Italian menu before we eventually went fully French. We wanted to do this Italian dish to show where we came from, a nod to our roots,” said Jordan Diniz, chef and owner of ēst Restaurant. By incorporating pumpkin and nutmeg, ēst’s Pumpkin Risotto and Osso Buco is fall in one bite.

More about Riverside Flavours – Fall Edition:

More than just a showcase of culinary creativity, Riverside Flavours is also a chance for you to show support for local businesses in the Riverside neighbourhood. 

With every order of any Riverside Flavours item, you can enter our raffle and vote for your faves in 3 fun categories! There will be weekly and grand draw winners — plus, an esteemed panel of food & drink experts will be voting for their top dish or drink!

To view the full contest rules and important raffle information about Riverside Flavours – Fall Edition (and HOW to enter the raffle), click HERE!

Read through the fine print of Riverside Flavours – Fall Edition and come right back to the blog to read more about the featured dishes and the BIA businesses behind them!

Check @riverside_bia on Instagram and the Riverside Blog in the coming weeks for updates on Riverside Flavours –  Fall Edition!

BLOG: Riverside Flavours – Fall Edition: Gin Amore Cocktail by AURA (Feature 1 of 7)

BLOG: Riverside Flavours – Fall Edition: Cornmeal Porridge by BlessedLove (Feature 2 of 7)

BLOG: Riverside Flavours – Fall Edition: Best West Mac and Cheese by The West Cork (Feature 3 of 7)

We acknowledge and thank the City of Toronto, Government of Canada and FedDev Ontario for support of this campaign as part of the ‘Riverside Ramps it Up’ project through the Transit Expansion Construction Mitigation Fund 2025.