The final Summer Saturdays of 2025! I know there are technically still three weeks of summer left, but with children going to school and the temperature already dropping - it feels like we should all move on from the season.

BAKING

I reached out to Spirit Tree Estate Cidery to see if they’ll give me the recipe for their carrot cake muffins because I will dream about how good those muffins were for the rest of my life.

COOKING

I bought a fresh seafood mix from the Halifax airport to make a chowder for my parents and thank god I used this recipe because it was heavenly.

CRAVING

Tiny Tom donuts from the CNE.

DRINKING

About to make a batch of this September sangria that sounds wild. Didn’t know blackberry brandy was even a thing.

EATING

I had an incredible panzanella salad (with fior di latte, heirloom tomatoes, marinated red onions, garlic toasted croutons, avocado, basil pesto with an aged balsamic vinaigrette) from The Bicycle Thief in Halifax. Also, the Digby scallops from Finer Diner were a dream.

Panzanella from The Bicycle Thief in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Digby scallops from Finer Diner near Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia

EXPERIENCING

Peggy’s Cove! Absolutely beautiful, I’ve never seen a lighthouse I didn’t love.

LISTENING

The song My Kink is Karma on repeat. (Am I three years late to this song? That’s none of your business?)

LOVING

The basil soft serve from Dairy Bar in Halifax. UNREAL.

SHOPPING

An ungodly amount of corn from Allison’s Farm Market. I am definitely a corn snob (go bi-colour or go home), but this stuff is eons better than anything you’re getting at a grocery store.

WATCHING

We went to the Halifax Museum of Natural History to witness their 103 year old tortoise named Gus eat a snack. Seriously, he does this at 3pm each day. He eats or takes a walk, whatever he feels like doing. I am not being sarcastic when I say that this was absolutely wonderful to see. Gus for life.

WEARING

Sweatshirts in the summer. I never used to do this, but the air-conditioning in every single store is outrageous this year.

And that’s that! You’re sweet to read any of these little summer updates. I love doing them. Depending on how busy the fall gets, Fall Fridays might make a return…

You can find last week’s Summer Saturdays Vol. 12 over here.

Whenever I fondly think of my days at the CNE, I swear to you I can almost smell the Tiny Tom donuts within those memories. To this day, it's impossible for me to visit that place without coming home with at least a few dozen mini donuts. I used to solely get them because my dad always requested that we bring some back home, but now I'll make sure to get them since it feels sort of wrong to see their stand and casually walk past it.

I had no idea that the company originated in 1959 and made its first CNE debut that same year. I always thought it was some American company that we were lucky enough to get in Toronto, but no - it's Canadian! Of course it is.

If you haven't tried a Tiny Tom donut by this point, I don't know what you're waiting for. And if you're especially going to the CNE to try one of their yearly abominations of culinary experiments (I mean, a cake poutine? Come on. DON'T TRY TO MAKE POUTINE BETTER, IT AIN'T HAPPENING) then you're completely missing out on one of the great staples of the exhibition.

Summer Saturdays Vol. 13

Tiny Tom Donuts