The fresh fish and seafood franchise Hooked is no longer located at the Rowe Farms store on Bayview Ave. In a short post the Leslieville “ethical-seafood” market thanks customers for their interest during what is called a pop up in the neighbourhood. It notes that the Leslieville and Kensington shops are open as usual. It seemed that Hooked might be planning a longer stay when it opened on Bayview in May. At that time,  the Post Magazine called the venture a partnership with Rowe Farms.  The interesting marketing strategy which emphasizes careful selection of food, sustainability and respectable sources was in the forefront. It is of interest just how compelling this approach may be to consumers.  It is seldom spoken of by large grocers with the exception perhaps of Whole Foods. Loblaws staff say off-the-record that organic products, for example, are shunned by many people who simply don’t see value in them.

It’s still true. Coffee fans always knew it was good for you — in moderation — and Japanese research confirms it. People who drink three to four cups of coffee a day have about 40 percent less risk of getting heart, cerebral vascular or respiratory diseases compared with those who barely drink the beverage, according to a summary of findings published online by Japanese researchers. Coffee — maybe about 400 milligrams a day — keeps you more alert, gives you somewhat more endurance and is good for the brain. Tim’s, Starbucks, Lit — oh heck, Instant Nescafe — it’s all the same for the therapy.  Oh yes, coffee drinkers had a 24 percent less risk of dying from cancer compared with nondrinkers. The research was conducted on about 90,000 people aged between 40 and 69 living in 10 prefectures of Japan in the 1990s, and followed up on them until 2011 to determine the relationship between their daily habits and major causes of death among Japanese. Those who said they drank three to four cups a day had a 36 percent less risk of dying from heart diseases such as angina and heart attack. The figure rose to 43 percent less for cerebral vascular diseases such as hemorrhaging and stroke, and to 40 percent less for respiratory diseases, such as pneumonia.

Oprah Winfrey has bought into Weight Watchers in a big way, laying down is $43.2 million for a 10-percent stake. She joins the company’s board. Weight Watchers shares are up almost 75 percent in pre-market trading on word of the deal  Winfrey has given the company the right to use her name, image, likeness and endorsement for the company, its programs, products and services, subject to her approval. She will also make personal appearances on the company’s behalf.

Jon Burnside (Ward 26) has formed the North Leaside Traffic Committee (NLTC). It is composed of volunteer North Leaside residents are asked to address such neighborhood concerns about high traffic volumes and driving violations. It is hoped this work will make the community safer and reduce congestion. The Councilor is asking for public opinion on this idea and the problems to be solved. This is for Leaside residents only. North Leaside Survey

It is the $64 million question. Who won the $64 million dollars in the Lotto 649 jackpot with the ticket purchased in Mississauga? It is enough to make a person Miss-iss-auga-auga-auga.  A single winning ticket for the $64-million grand prize, the biggest lottery jackpot in Canadian history, was sold in the city west of Toronto. There’s no word whether it belongs to a single person or to a larger group. Previously, a Canadian lottery record was $63.4 million for a 649 draw in April 2013. That pot was split among four ticket holders, who each banked nearly $16 million.

TD Bank is said to be ready to lay off hundreds, maybe several hundreds, of employees this week. The down-sizing will hit the ranks of both retail and wholesale employees and may include department heads. Reuters says that about half the municipal bond traders employed by TD in New York will be let go. It isn’t clear just what that number might be. Only a cynic would say the slimming down falls into the tumultuous period of election day and beyond by anything but pure coincidence.

Diners have taken to social media to suggest the bizarre snack of two pork patties, bacon and Sichuan pepper sauce was inspired by “concrete or pollution”, while one asked, ‘burger or rock?’  The bun’s odd gray hue was said to be “the colour of despair.” The limited edition meal is available in China until November 3 and is the latest in a series of hamburgers made with buns dyed black, red and even pink. Mailonline

There was some excitement on South Bayview Saturday afternoon when police received a report that there was a person with a gun near Bayview Ave. and Millwood Rd.  They got there right away and arrested a person but no gun was found. Whether this was a robbery attempt or mere bragging is so far unknown They are still investigating and there is more to come.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the U.S. has rejected a consumer group’s call for an investigation into whether Coca-Cola Co., PepsiCo Inc. and other manufacturers have falsely advertised artificially sweetened soft drinks and food products. The complaint contends the claim is false and could cause users to actually gain weight. The California-based group, U.S. Right to Know, filed citizen petitions in April asking the agency and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to stop companies from branding products with the word “diet” if they contain an artificial sugar substitute, including those containing aspartame, the most widely used sweetener. But the FTC said it has “carefully considered” the science of such ingredients and decided to take no action. Mary Engle, the agency’s associate director for advertising practices said “We considered a number of factors related to resource allocation and enforcement priorities, as well as the nature of any FTC Act violation and the type and severity of any consumer injury.”