Okay, I really only got to 9 but here they are:
1. Take a lesson from IKEA: better use of vertical space. Bunk style stacked seating so you can fully recline or sit up.
2. Be more like the Star Trek Enterprise NCC-1701D. Get rid of flight attendants and make all food and beverage self-serve. Added bonuses: not being woken up for meals and bussing your tray-table as soon as you are done. Nothing worse than the lingering smell of airline food. Well, not anything I'm prepared to discuss.
3. Be a bit progressive about food allergies. Hello 21st century? Not worried about lawsuits are we airline industry? At least tell me the ingredients in both standard options when I check-in. None of the special meal categories allow me to specify that I am allergic to eggs and slightly lactose-intolerant. What is the opposite of a lacto-ovo-vegetarian, you ask? Me. Let me think about new terminology and get back to you. Monisa-tarian doesn't seem quite appropriate.
4. Don't board passengers and then push back from the gate if the systems need to be rebooted. Or at least quit giving us a hard time if we need to pee before reaching cruising altitude. Especially on a mid-morning flight. Because, turbulence schmurbulence, this coffee has to go somewhere dammit.
5. Don't bother keeping this morning's Globe and Mail for the return flight. After a full business day, as 680 news puts it, it's history. Also, I didn't watch the debate but it seems to me that Harper is using the same campaign strategy - stick to your message - as Bob and Doug, no?
6. Put some sort of seal on the plastic blanket wrap to indicate the last time it was cleaned. Or at least a bio-hazard warning. And my mother laughs at me for traveling with my own pillow and blanket.
7. There's no need to remind us that smoking is not permitted anywhere on the plane. When was the last time you saw an ashtray in a public place? Indoors, I mean. Patios don't count, especially if you're sitting out there at rush hour in downtown (insert Toronto or other bustling North American metropolis here).
8. It costs about the same to fly to Vancouver now as Hong Kong. The same level of customer service would be much appreciated (newspapers, booze, experienced cabin crew).
9. It's great that there's power onboard. Now when can I get free wifi?
So, I managed to clear immigration in less than 10 seconds at Hong Kong International Airport courtesy of my HKID chip card and thumbprint scanner. Why can't everyone be so efficient?
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Four Seasons Tea
I'm going to start by saying that the Four Seasons is my new favourite tea place. The ladies had all been here before but it was my first time and I will definitely be going back.
When I arrived, we were all seated around the tiny table right at the entrance to the Lobby Bar. This was probably the only thing I didn't like about the Four Seasons: that you can see the driveway from this tiny little table. But it was cozy and we're not *that* classy. As usual, Dining Queen was late (!) so the waiter started us off with a round of iced blackcurrent juice (this is Ribena, for all you connoisseurs of fruit juices) and little shot glasses filled with whipped cream and strawberries. God, so yummy!
I phoned ahead about my egg-allergy and they were very good about it. Not only did them substitute out the egg salad with an extra cucumber sandwich, but they served them to me on a separate plate. Now, this was not at all necessary - it's a digestive, not anaphylactic, allergy - but I was grateful all the same.
The scones were wonderful, although we had to request more Devon cream a couple of times (yes, we're pigs) and the petits-fours looked lovely. I have stopped eating these though. It's bad enough that I'm awake most of the night without having to deal with egg-induced catatonia in the early afternoon.
I had the organic Assam tea (no Darjeeling, strangely enough) and it was perfect. I have come to the conclusion that you can tell the best tea places because the waiter is Indian. Perhaps I should find me an Indian man and train him to serve me tea every weekend...
http://www.fourseasons.com/toronto/dining/lobby_bar.html
(Sticker shock warning: the cost of afternoon tea is not listed, with good reason!)
When I arrived, we were all seated around the tiny table right at the entrance to the Lobby Bar. This was probably the only thing I didn't like about the Four Seasons: that you can see the driveway from this tiny little table. But it was cozy and we're not *that* classy. As usual, Dining Queen was late (!) so the waiter started us off with a round of iced blackcurrent juice (this is Ribena, for all you connoisseurs of fruit juices) and little shot glasses filled with whipped cream and strawberries. God, so yummy!
I phoned ahead about my egg-allergy and they were very good about it. Not only did them substitute out the egg salad with an extra cucumber sandwich, but they served them to me on a separate plate. Now, this was not at all necessary - it's a digestive, not anaphylactic, allergy - but I was grateful all the same.
The scones were wonderful, although we had to request more Devon cream a couple of times (yes, we're pigs) and the petits-fours looked lovely. I have stopped eating these though. It's bad enough that I'm awake most of the night without having to deal with egg-induced catatonia in the early afternoon.
I had the organic Assam tea (no Darjeeling, strangely enough) and it was perfect. I have come to the conclusion that you can tell the best tea places because the waiter is Indian. Perhaps I should find me an Indian man and train him to serve me tea every weekend...
http://www.fourseasons.com/toronto/dining/lobby_bar.html
(Sticker shock warning: the cost of afternoon tea is not listed, with good reason!)
Tequila Bookworm
This place won't be around much longer but I figured I might as well write about it anyway. It's current location (moved recently, I believe) is on the north side of Queen Street West, between Spadina and Bathurst, across from the burned out hole in the ground that was the huge fire of last winter.
Now, Tequila Bookworm is cute, eclectic, eccentric, comfortable. Please don't go there if you have a stick up your butt. I have eaten there once before and decided to repeat my usual brunch standby: smoked salmon and a bagel. I don't know where they get their salmon but wow is it ever good. It's plump and fresh and pink and tasty. And not overpriced like Eggspectations (although I will continue to eat there, I guess). The Montreal bagel was a treat too, not overtoasted and the cream cheese was perfectly chilled. Plus, my plate wasn't smothered with red onions and capers; they came in a tidy little pile, looking like sophisticated, understated garnish. Seriously, really good salmon.
I have to confess though, the service... well, like I said, don't go there if you're uptight. Our waiter forgot my coffee and had to be reminded. And my water glass had a short, dark (straight!) hair on the rim and smelled overwhemingly of bleach. In their defense, the other waiter brought me a very clean glass of water with a straw and lemon wedge when I asked for a new glass of water because the old one smelled "bleachy". Also, loads of plugs for laptops. Some in unexpected places!
Now, Tequila Bookworm is cute, eclectic, eccentric, comfortable. Please don't go there if you have a stick up your butt. I have eaten there once before and decided to repeat my usual brunch standby: smoked salmon and a bagel. I don't know where they get their salmon but wow is it ever good. It's plump and fresh and pink and tasty. And not overpriced like Eggspectations (although I will continue to eat there, I guess). The Montreal bagel was a treat too, not overtoasted and the cream cheese was perfectly chilled. Plus, my plate wasn't smothered with red onions and capers; they came in a tidy little pile, looking like sophisticated, understated garnish. Seriously, really good salmon.
I have to confess though, the service... well, like I said, don't go there if you're uptight. Our waiter forgot my coffee and had to be reminded. And my water glass had a short, dark (straight!) hair on the rim and smelled overwhemingly of bleach. In their defense, the other waiter brought me a very clean glass of water with a straw and lemon wedge when I asked for a new glass of water because the old one smelled "bleachy". Also, loads of plugs for laptops. Some in unexpected places!
Lola's Commissary, 634 Church Street
Last Sunday, before heading to the One of A Kind Show, I had brunch with some friends at Lola's Commissary at Church just south of Bloor (Hayden). It was my first time so I decided to check out the brunch menu ahead of time to make sure there were at least a couple of options for me. I phoned to ask whether the multigrain waffles were egg-free (they aren't) and talked to the owner/chef, Therese.
Since I phoned ahead, she suggested vegan French toast. Now, I haven't had French toast in maybe 20 years and I really miss it. When she said that she could do it, I was so thrilled and excited that she had agreed to accommodate my allergy. Therese said she had a background in nutrition so I figured that she must know what she's talking about.
Turns out, she does. Absolutely. She made the French toast with vanilla and tofu and served it with a compote of strawberries, rhubarb and beets (okay, not crazy about those) and bananas. The toast was amazing, not too sweet and very much like the French toast I remember. Except, perhaps less sweet than my mother used to make - this is a good thing! The compote was tangy and the bananas balanced it all out perfectly. And, if you love coffee, the decaf soy latte was so good I almost had another. It was definitely a brunch to remember!
I would love to phone her and talk to her some more about vegan breakfast foods. Perhaps she has some other tasty treats up her sleeve?
http://www.lolascommissary.com/
Since I phoned ahead, she suggested vegan French toast. Now, I haven't had French toast in maybe 20 years and I really miss it. When she said that she could do it, I was so thrilled and excited that she had agreed to accommodate my allergy. Therese said she had a background in nutrition so I figured that she must know what she's talking about.
Turns out, she does. Absolutely. She made the French toast with vanilla and tofu and served it with a compote of strawberries, rhubarb and beets (okay, not crazy about those) and bananas. The toast was amazing, not too sweet and very much like the French toast I remember. Except, perhaps less sweet than my mother used to make - this is a good thing! The compote was tangy and the bananas balanced it all out perfectly. And, if you love coffee, the decaf soy latte was so good I almost had another. It was definitely a brunch to remember!I would love to phone her and talk to her some more about vegan breakfast foods. Perhaps she has some other tasty treats up her sleeve?
http://www.lolascommissary.com/
Sunday, August 30, 2009
I could go on and on Annona...
But I won't because I have a full Sunday evening planned with Detective Murdoch and my couch. Five of us had high tea at Anonna* at the Park Hyatt this afternoon and it was good. It was not too pricey ($26) as far as Yorkville goes, but I'm hungry again which is a bit unusual. However, the food was good.
Finger sandwiches included:
I ordered the white tip darjeeling (duh) and also tried the jasmine (refreshing but a slight hint of something astringent) and Eros (orange and vanilla, was really delicious and this from an herbal tea snob).
For dessert, I had a bite of the chocolate ganache and almost went into egg-accelerated chocolate shock. It was rich enough to marry, have kids and then happily divorce. I also tried a small bit of the english trifle shot but the flavour was masked by the ganache monster in my mouth.
The waiter and kitchen were very accommodating of my allergy so that was much appreciated. Good enough to recommend to my mother and her friends.
*I want to link directly to the tea menu on their website but it prompts me to download or open a PDF which is frankly annoying and unprofessional.
Finger sandwiches included:
- watercress and cheddar pinwheel on whole wheat (two for me),
- devilled eggs with ham (which I skipped, of course),
- grilled chicken and pineapple crepe roll up,
- smoked salmon salad with dill on white,
- roast beef with horseradish on rye.
I ordered the white tip darjeeling (duh) and also tried the jasmine (refreshing but a slight hint of something astringent) and Eros (orange and vanilla, was really delicious and this from an herbal tea snob).
For dessert, I had a bite of the chocolate ganache and almost went into egg-accelerated chocolate shock. It was rich enough to marry, have kids and then happily divorce. I also tried a small bit of the english trifle shot but the flavour was masked by the ganache monster in my mouth.
The waiter and kitchen were very accommodating of my allergy so that was much appreciated. Good enough to recommend to my mother and her friends.
*I want to link directly to the tea menu on their website but it prompts me to download or open a PDF which is frankly annoying and unprofessional.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Cafe 668
I had yummy Vietnamese dinner last night. I'll be honest. Vietnamese is not my favourite but this was not pho style food. It was more Asian fusion than any vietnamese restaurant than I have ever been to.
I went with an old friend and her friend to Cafe 668 on Dundas west of Bathurst last night. We got there late and stayed until close. The food was excellent although service was a bit slow. The owner, Han, is the waiter and bus boy and cashier and sommelier. His wife cooks. But the food was every bit worth the wait.
We split three appetizers and three entrees.
Appetizers: Summer Rolls, "Veggie Duck" and pan fried dumplings.
The summer rolls were fresh and tasty. If you enjoy vietnamese cold rolls, try these. They won't disappoint. I'm not usually one for veggie duck but I do enjoy bean curd sheets and these pan fried treats were very similar to the texture of duck. The pan fried dumplings were just good. I mean, how can pan fried dumplings not be good?
Entrees: Spicy pad thai, spicy fried tofu and stir fried broccoli and mushrooms.
The pad thai was quite spicy so go easy on that if you're not tolerant of mild spices. The faux meat was not convincing because it lacked taste but the rest of the dish was good. The tofu was good and stir fried broccoli and mushrooms were excellent. I can't remember the last time I saw such green broccoli. It was crunchy and very flavourful. There was a good variety of mushrooms which were fun to eat. We almost ordered an extra side of rice but we ended up with leftovers so it was a good thing we decided to hold off. Apparently the black bean eggplant is good too but we held off because my friend is allergic to eggplant.
I would like to go back and try one of the specialty drinks. My friend and I each had a glass of wine and her friend had oolong tea. The wine list is small but adequate. And last, but not least, dessert was divine. "Mango Heaven" is a deep fried mango pastry served with creamy coconut.
Don't let the name of the place get you lost. They're located at 885 Dundas at Euclid but they used be located at number 668. Lots of metered street parking. The ambiance is nice and, if you can swing it, ask for the table at the top near the aquarium. It's a saltwater aquarium and the starfish dances for you if you watch him long enough.
This place was definitely a big hit with this non-vegetarian. Total with tax and generous tip was $100 for three (with two drinks and one shared dessert). Cash and debit only.
I went with an old friend and her friend to Cafe 668 on Dundas west of Bathurst last night. We got there late and stayed until close. The food was excellent although service was a bit slow. The owner, Han, is the waiter and bus boy and cashier and sommelier. His wife cooks. But the food was every bit worth the wait.
We split three appetizers and three entrees.
Appetizers: Summer Rolls, "Veggie Duck" and pan fried dumplings.
The summer rolls were fresh and tasty. If you enjoy vietnamese cold rolls, try these. They won't disappoint. I'm not usually one for veggie duck but I do enjoy bean curd sheets and these pan fried treats were very similar to the texture of duck. The pan fried dumplings were just good. I mean, how can pan fried dumplings not be good?
Entrees: Spicy pad thai, spicy fried tofu and stir fried broccoli and mushrooms.
The pad thai was quite spicy so go easy on that if you're not tolerant of mild spices. The faux meat was not convincing because it lacked taste but the rest of the dish was good. The tofu was good and stir fried broccoli and mushrooms were excellent. I can't remember the last time I saw such green broccoli. It was crunchy and very flavourful. There was a good variety of mushrooms which were fun to eat. We almost ordered an extra side of rice but we ended up with leftovers so it was a good thing we decided to hold off. Apparently the black bean eggplant is good too but we held off because my friend is allergic to eggplant.
I would like to go back and try one of the specialty drinks. My friend and I each had a glass of wine and her friend had oolong tea. The wine list is small but adequate. And last, but not least, dessert was divine. "Mango Heaven" is a deep fried mango pastry served with creamy coconut.
Don't let the name of the place get you lost. They're located at 885 Dundas at Euclid but they used be located at number 668. Lots of metered street parking. The ambiance is nice and, if you can swing it, ask for the table at the top near the aquarium. It's a saltwater aquarium and the starfish dances for you if you watch him long enough.
This place was definitely a big hit with this non-vegetarian. Total with tax and generous tip was $100 for three (with two drinks and one shared dessert). Cash and debit only.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Fresh - Good old standby, visit number 5 (I think)
I have been to Fresh a number of times before. They have three locations in Toronto, of which I have been to the ones on Bloor and on Spadina. Although the place started as a juice bar, I have never been disappointed with the food. I have tried the yam fries, the Baby Buddha, the Baby Warrior and the black bean burrito.
It's all vegetarian and they are really great about accommodating food allergies. None of the staff give you attitude if you have questions about ingredients and you can substitute out dairy and soy and gluten. One of the things that I love is the 1 L carafe of water with lemon slices which automatically appears when you sit down at every table.
Last weekend, I went for lunch with a vegetarian friend and we both enjoyed our meal. To be honest, I don't remember what she ordered. I had the egg-free banana pancakes. I haven't eaten pancakes for years and I was so very happy to be able to eat them at Fresh. I ordered the kids portion (2 pancakes) but my order arrived with three. I didn't say anything to the waitress but she realized her error and corrected the bill. She didn't bat an eyelid when I said I wanted to take them home. (I don't have maple syrup at home so I ate them the next day with Nutella and oh they were so good fresh out of the toaster oven). And their take out containers are biodegradable! I also ordered the decaf latte with soy milk and it was excellent. The entire meal made me feel very happy.
I always leave feeling full and wishing I could sample more of the menu in one sitting. In fact, I know what I'm having next time I go back.
Caveats: the place is always busy and it's not where you want to go if you want a quiet, romantic ambiance. Also, I always spend the afternoon feeling a bit gassy, which is only to be expected if you substitute meat protein for beans! Lunch for two was less than $40 after taxes. Don't linger, there is always a line up of hungry people waiting for your spot.
It's all vegetarian and they are really great about accommodating food allergies. None of the staff give you attitude if you have questions about ingredients and you can substitute out dairy and soy and gluten. One of the things that I love is the 1 L carafe of water with lemon slices which automatically appears when you sit down at every table.
Last weekend, I went for lunch with a vegetarian friend and we both enjoyed our meal. To be honest, I don't remember what she ordered. I had the egg-free banana pancakes. I haven't eaten pancakes for years and I was so very happy to be able to eat them at Fresh. I ordered the kids portion (2 pancakes) but my order arrived with three. I didn't say anything to the waitress but she realized her error and corrected the bill. She didn't bat an eyelid when I said I wanted to take them home. (I don't have maple syrup at home so I ate them the next day with Nutella and oh they were so good fresh out of the toaster oven). And their take out containers are biodegradable! I also ordered the decaf latte with soy milk and it was excellent. The entire meal made me feel very happy.
I always leave feeling full and wishing I could sample more of the menu in one sitting. In fact, I know what I'm having next time I go back.
Caveats: the place is always busy and it's not where you want to go if you want a quiet, romantic ambiance. Also, I always spend the afternoon feeling a bit gassy, which is only to be expected if you substitute meat protein for beans! Lunch for two was less than $40 after taxes. Don't linger, there is always a line up of hungry people waiting for your spot.
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