Arabian Night

Moroccan inspired Foundation Room is a great space for a cocktail or two. It's dark and intimate, softly lit by tea lights and Moroccan chandeliers that glitter with coloured glass. Deeply coloured and heavy drapery and fabrics contrasted by mirrored tables makes this subterranean bar/lounge on the corner of Front and Church a retreat into the exotic.

We sipped our sparkling wine cocktails and nibbled on chicken skewers with lemon aioli, mushroom terrine served on pita and phyllo parcels of braised beef.

As usual, it was good catching up with Lorenz. We had met at the hostel here in Toronto. We'd both arrived from Europe, about a week apart, searching for something from this place. We'd meet once every few months and compare notes about how we felt about this city. Our conclusions are the same.

This particular evening as we swapped impressions and experiences about life in general, I noticed half of the bar was reserved, each table had seats on opposite sides, set in a general circular formation. Then came the Singles. One by one they came through the door, chatted to someone at the bar and were handed their name badges. In this harem-esque setting, Singles are preparing to flirt, flatter and fawn upon each other for a night of Speed Dating!

After observing and amusing ourselves with their collective body language (some very forlorn Singles. Out of practice? Or out of touch?) we left them to their 3 min bursts of endorphins. I hope they found what they were looking for.

We ended the evening and we left the Foundation Room on foot. At an intersection I noticed the street sign. We’re on Toronto Street. It's not my final destination and I can't wait to get home.