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!)
Showing posts with label hit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hit. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
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.
Niche, 626 Queen Street West, Toronto
On Saturday afternoon, I had lunch with a high school friend who recommended Niche on Queen West. Other than very high bucket-style bar stools which were impossible to navigate in a lady-like fashion, the place did not disappoint.
We both ordered the 16 0z masala chai lattes and they were gooood. My friend had the Niche Benedict (eggs benedict on cornbread with peameal) and I had the smoked salmon on a bagel. My meal came with a salad which was yummy, if a bit overdressed. The salmon was fresh and the cream cheese wasn't overdone, as it is in so many places. My friend at her entire portion of eggs so it must have been good because she rarely does that. The place is small but we weren't rushed. And the waitress was new which, combined with the busyness, meant things took a bit longer than they should have. But we weren't in a hurry and she was very helpful with our questions.
All of their coffees are available in decaf and they have a good selection. They also offer skim milk and soy milk. Finally, I brought home a cranberry chocolate scone which was to die for. I ate it plain, that's how good it was.
The total bill was less than $40 for both of us, with my scone to go. Single bathroom but it was clean. I will be going back, hopefully soon.
We both ordered the 16 0z masala chai lattes and they were gooood. My friend had the Niche Benedict (eggs benedict on cornbread with peameal) and I had the smoked salmon on a bagel. My meal came with a salad which was yummy, if a bit overdressed. The salmon was fresh and the cream cheese wasn't overdone, as it is in so many places. My friend at her entire portion of eggs so it must have been good because she rarely does that. The place is small but we weren't rushed. And the waitress was new which, combined with the busyness, meant things took a bit longer than they should have. But we weren't in a hurry and she was very helpful with our questions.
All of their coffees are available in decaf and they have a good selection. They also offer skim milk and soy milk. Finally, I brought home a cranberry chocolate scone which was to die for. I ate it plain, that's how good it was.
The total bill was less than $40 for both of us, with my scone to go. Single bathroom but it was clean. I will be going back, hopefully soon.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Walima Cafe
http://www.eyeweekly.com/food/review/article/52464
This review is overly critical, in my opinion. Especially for a brand new, understaffed restaurant. Go and try it out yourself. It is on Danforth west of Coxwell on the north side. There is lots of street parking and Green P lots nearby. A short walk from the subway as well.
Just be patient with the service and don't make any plans for after dinner. Also, it helps to arrive before you're starving and ready to drop from low blood sugar. Order the hummus and Moroccan salad to tide you over until the entrees arrive and be sure to try the fruity non-alcoholic beer. Raspberry is best.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Hong Kong Food Phase I
I have been in HK since Thursday afternoon and I haven't done that much eating out. However, two places are worth noting.
A couple of nights ago, some family friends took us to Tung Choi (Ladies Market).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tung_Choi_Street
It was a lot of fun to see all of the stuff for sale to random tourists and locals alike. I didn't buy anything but I will probably go back for souvenirs.
Afterwards, we went for dinner at the Temple Street night market.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_Street,_Hong_Kong
We went to the Spicy Crab place on the corner and sat outside with the locals and ate what was basically glorified "street meat". It was fun, fast, tasty and cheap. We ate for around HKD$85 per person (less than CAD$15). Admittedly, this type of eating is not for the faint of heart or squeamish tourist. But if you like cheap Chinese food and authentic experiences, this is a hit.
This afternoon, a friend from high school took me to Isola at IFC mall. It was lovely.
http://www.isolabarandgrill.com/about.html
We just had coffee (I had hot chocolate) and sat and caught up on the last 15 years. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. The atmosphere is relaxed and comfortable, it was surprisingly quite considering how busy it was, the service was great and our foam came with pretty designs (hearts and spiderwebs). There is even an outside seating area but we decided not to bother with it because it was a little muggy and overcast today. I will definitely go back there again.
A couple of nights ago, some family friends took us to Tung Choi (Ladies Market).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tung_Choi_Street
It was a lot of fun to see all of the stuff for sale to random tourists and locals alike. I didn't buy anything but I will probably go back for souvenirs.
Afterwards, we went for dinner at the Temple Street night market.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_Street,_Hong_Kong
We went to the Spicy Crab place on the corner and sat outside with the locals and ate what was basically glorified "street meat". It was fun, fast, tasty and cheap. We ate for around HKD$85 per person (less than CAD$15). Admittedly, this type of eating is not for the faint of heart or squeamish tourist. But if you like cheap Chinese food and authentic experiences, this is a hit.
This afternoon, a friend from high school took me to Isola at IFC mall. It was lovely.
http://www.isolabarandgrill.com/about.html
We just had coffee (I had hot chocolate) and sat and caught up on the last 15 years. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. The atmosphere is relaxed and comfortable, it was surprisingly quite considering how busy it was, the service was great and our foam came with pretty designs (hearts and spiderwebs). There is even an outside seating area but we decided not to bother with it because it was a little muggy and overcast today. I will definitely go back there again.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Long overdue update
So, a couple of things.
1. It has now been so long since we visited The Olde Curiosity Tea Shoppe that I doubt I can do it justice anymore. Highlights include the jam and cream-filled shortbread cookies which only come with Tea for 2 but are well worth it. The tea selection is impressive. There were almost one hundred different types of tea on the menu. Also, the service was excellent, considering the large size of our group (eight plus baby) and the small size of the establishment. The waitress brought each of us our tea selection to (for lack of a better word) smell. As a result, most of us ended up changing our tea choice. They were very accommodating all afternoon. I'm fairly certain that I had the darjeeling (I know, I'm nothing if not predictable) but I can't remember anymore. It might have been the Windsor Castle something or other. Finally, the owner was very friendly and gracious. I will definitely be going back in the new year.
2. Since the other tea ladies don't have time to blog (husbands, babies etc), I am commandeering this blog for my travels to HK and India. I won't be able to blog frequently but I will try to compensate for lack of predictability with length and detail. I am hoping to have high tea in Delhi and Calcutta but my schedule is rarely up to me. Look for updates on facebook as well.
I have eaten at some really great places so here are some shout-outs if you're looking for places to try in 2009:
My favourite Thai place - Golden Thai, Church and Richmond
http://www.goldenthai.ca/goldenthai_home.html
>Great service, good food, decent price - Hit
Recent date place (or maybe it wasn't a date?) - Rain, Mercer Street
http://www.rainrestaurant.ca/rain.htm
>Great decor, excellent service, decent food, very pricey - Hit if you're willing to spend the money. My "date" called it "food on a diet". The menu appears to have changed since I was there a few weeks ago but the mushroom tasting was excellent, as was the black cod. The salmon/tuna pairing was good but the salmon was a little fishy. I ate it anyway but I wish I hadn't.
As a caveat, I think that they served me something with egg in it after I specifically told them about my allergy. I didn't complain as I thought at the time that I was on my first real date with this person. I now wish I had said something because I'm starting to think it wasn't a real date at all. Didn't have dessert and there's a story behind this. Ask me if you're interested.
Recent rehearsal dinner - Asian Legend, Yonge north of Empress
http://www.asianlegend.ca/webe/menu.htm
>Surprising nouveau decor, good food, typical Chinese restaurant service, good price - Long time hit. Has been here for ages and the food is as good as I remember from their hole-in-the-wall days
Recent dinner with family and friends - Dynasty, Bloor west of Bay
>Overpriced Chinese food - Miss and go to Pearl at Harbourfront if you can't stomach the thought of eating at Chinatown. Looking forward to Chinese banquet this Saturday at Pearl for Andrew's wedding!
http://www.pearlharbourfront.ca/
Low key dinner with Jay on a weeknight - Jack Astor's, Dundas Square downtown
>If you're looking for something predictable and fast, by all means go to Jack Astor's. The food is significantly better than the Pickle Barrel or Milestone's (although Milestone's has great ambiance and a kickass patio) if you're looking for a safe, generic place to take your visiting cousins. However, this Jack Astor's is very small and you will likely have to wait for a table and may even end up at a small, bar height table as we did. Service was fast and good, as always. Food was exactly as it always is. We had two screens to watch basketball and hockey which was exactly what we needed: to sit, have dinner and not be too sociable (gotta love guy's night :). But it was loud, loud, loud. Good place for quick dinner, a beer and the game. Not a good place to take the girls for a catch up session.
Okay, that's all folks. Next post: overseas!
1. It has now been so long since we visited The Olde Curiosity Tea Shoppe that I doubt I can do it justice anymore. Highlights include the jam and cream-filled shortbread cookies which only come with Tea for 2 but are well worth it. The tea selection is impressive. There were almost one hundred different types of tea on the menu. Also, the service was excellent, considering the large size of our group (eight plus baby) and the small size of the establishment. The waitress brought each of us our tea selection to (for lack of a better word) smell. As a result, most of us ended up changing our tea choice. They were very accommodating all afternoon. I'm fairly certain that I had the darjeeling (I know, I'm nothing if not predictable) but I can't remember anymore. It might have been the Windsor Castle something or other. Finally, the owner was very friendly and gracious. I will definitely be going back in the new year.
2. Since the other tea ladies don't have time to blog (husbands, babies etc), I am commandeering this blog for my travels to HK and India. I won't be able to blog frequently but I will try to compensate for lack of predictability with length and detail. I am hoping to have high tea in Delhi and Calcutta but my schedule is rarely up to me. Look for updates on facebook as well.
I have eaten at some really great places so here are some shout-outs if you're looking for places to try in 2009:
My favourite Thai place - Golden Thai, Church and Richmond
http://www.goldenthai.ca/goldenthai_home.html
>Great service, good food, decent price - Hit
Recent date place (or maybe it wasn't a date?) - Rain, Mercer Street
http://www.rainrestaurant.ca/rain.htm
>Great decor, excellent service, decent food, very pricey - Hit if you're willing to spend the money. My "date" called it "food on a diet". The menu appears to have changed since I was there a few weeks ago but the mushroom tasting was excellent, as was the black cod. The salmon/tuna pairing was good but the salmon was a little fishy. I ate it anyway but I wish I hadn't.
As a caveat, I think that they served me something with egg in it after I specifically told them about my allergy. I didn't complain as I thought at the time that I was on my first real date with this person. I now wish I had said something because I'm starting to think it wasn't a real date at all. Didn't have dessert and there's a story behind this. Ask me if you're interested.
Recent rehearsal dinner - Asian Legend, Yonge north of Empress
http://www.asianlegend.ca/webe/menu.htm
>Surprising nouveau decor, good food, typical Chinese restaurant service, good price - Long time hit. Has been here for ages and the food is as good as I remember from their hole-in-the-wall days
Recent dinner with family and friends - Dynasty, Bloor west of Bay
>Overpriced Chinese food - Miss and go to Pearl at Harbourfront if you can't stomach the thought of eating at Chinatown. Looking forward to Chinese banquet this Saturday at Pearl for Andrew's wedding!
http://www.pearlharbourfront.ca/
Low key dinner with Jay on a weeknight - Jack Astor's, Dundas Square downtown
>If you're looking for something predictable and fast, by all means go to Jack Astor's. The food is significantly better than the Pickle Barrel or Milestone's (although Milestone's has great ambiance and a kickass patio) if you're looking for a safe, generic place to take your visiting cousins. However, this Jack Astor's is very small and you will likely have to wait for a table and may even end up at a small, bar height table as we did. Service was fast and good, as always. Food was exactly as it always is. We had two screens to watch basketball and hockey which was exactly what we needed: to sit, have dinner and not be too sociable (gotta love guy's night :). But it was loud, loud, loud. Good place for quick dinner, a beer and the game. Not a good place to take the girls for a catch up session.
Okay, that's all folks. Next post: overseas!
Monday, October 6, 2008
The Olde Curiousity Tea Shoppe
http://cuppa.ca/
This review is pending mental clarity and decaffeination of my blood stream. Please stay tuned. In the meantime, check out these awesome Nuit Blanche photos.
This review is pending mental clarity and decaffeination of my blood stream. Please stay tuned. In the meantime, check out these awesome Nuit Blanche photos.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Bottega Gianduia Grappa
Ladies, pay attention. I have discovered sex in a bottle. That's right, chocolate grappa. It is the best thing since... Geoff's mother's cooking. Yes, that's right, that's how good it is. Now, I'm not a fan of regular chocolate liqueur. Creme de cacao is awful and chocolate martinis are an abomination to the entire martini food group. Chocolate grappa, however, is like liquid dessert. Imagine drinking chocolate fondue out of a shot glass with a bit of a kick at the end. Ah, so good.
I feel like I need to provide a backstory for this information. Last night, I went to the Fat Belgian for dinner with Anjali and two other girlfriends. I really like this restaurant and wish that it wasn't across the street from Hooters and Circa. However, the location is great if you want to have dinner and drinks downtown before you go out to a club. Or even if you don't plan to go out afterward. If you can find room in the budget to pay $10 for parking and can forgive the occasional fire truck that pulls out of the neighbourhood fire hall (ooh, chocolate grappa and firemen! I digress), this restaurant doesn't disappoint.
I have had dinner here many times before. Their online drink list doesn't appear to be up to date. I had my usual pina colada style martini but if I had seen the butterball martini on the menu, I definitely would have ordered that for dessert! We shared the fried calamari and the goat cheese wrapped in phyllo pastry appetizers. For our main course we shared the Fat Belgian mussels and the moules mariniere. All of the food here was excellent as always so I won't even bother to tell you that the phyllo was flakey, the calamari was crunchy and the mussels were tasty enough to make a toxicologist forget that they're filter feeders.
The head waitress comped us a round of shots. This is when we discovered the chocolate grappa. As soon as I post this, I'm going to the liquor store to buy myself a bottle. Or seven. It is not available at all LCBO stores though so check before you head to your local store. And a word of advice from the waitress. Before you crack the seal and serve, give it a good shake otherwise it will pour out lumpy. Yes, that's how chocolatey it is!
For dessert, we indulged. We shared the Deus creme brulee, the mango sorbet and the chocolate trifle. All were excellent. A warning about the creme brulee though. Deus Brut de Flandres is a champale and you can definitely taste the ale. If you don't like beer flavoured food, give this a miss. It was otherwise an excellent brulee.
In the interest of full disclosure, I only sampled two spoonfuls of the creme brulee and trifle as I'm allergic to eggs. After we split the bill, we ended up paying about $50 each so this was not a cheap night out but I thought it was worth it. I hope I still think that when I get my VISA bill!
The Fat Belgian is definitely a big hit. I'll be back there in less than a month.
I feel like I need to provide a backstory for this information. Last night, I went to the Fat Belgian for dinner with Anjali and two other girlfriends. I really like this restaurant and wish that it wasn't across the street from Hooters and Circa. However, the location is great if you want to have dinner and drinks downtown before you go out to a club. Or even if you don't plan to go out afterward. If you can find room in the budget to pay $10 for parking and can forgive the occasional fire truck that pulls out of the neighbourhood fire hall (ooh, chocolate grappa and firemen! I digress), this restaurant doesn't disappoint.
I have had dinner here many times before. Their online drink list doesn't appear to be up to date. I had my usual pina colada style martini but if I had seen the butterball martini on the menu, I definitely would have ordered that for dessert! We shared the fried calamari and the goat cheese wrapped in phyllo pastry appetizers. For our main course we shared the Fat Belgian mussels and the moules mariniere. All of the food here was excellent as always so I won't even bother to tell you that the phyllo was flakey, the calamari was crunchy and the mussels were tasty enough to make a toxicologist forget that they're filter feeders.
The head waitress comped us a round of shots. This is when we discovered the chocolate grappa. As soon as I post this, I'm going to the liquor store to buy myself a bottle. Or seven. It is not available at all LCBO stores though so check before you head to your local store. And a word of advice from the waitress. Before you crack the seal and serve, give it a good shake otherwise it will pour out lumpy. Yes, that's how chocolatey it is!
For dessert, we indulged. We shared the Deus creme brulee, the mango sorbet and the chocolate trifle. All were excellent. A warning about the creme brulee though. Deus Brut de Flandres is a champale and you can definitely taste the ale. If you don't like beer flavoured food, give this a miss. It was otherwise an excellent brulee.
In the interest of full disclosure, I only sampled two spoonfuls of the creme brulee and trifle as I'm allergic to eggs. After we split the bill, we ended up paying about $50 each so this was not a cheap night out but I thought it was worth it. I hope I still think that when I get my VISA bill!
The Fat Belgian is definitely a big hit. I'll be back there in less than a month.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Oh right, I'm Indian too
I have had a very Indian few days. Not only have I had Indian food three out of the last four days, I saw the most atrocious film. But this is not about that (because I don't want to slam the film and put my name to that review) This is, however, about fooooood.
Udupi Palace, 1460 Gerrard St. E (at Coxwell), Toronto
On Friday night, I had dinner at Udupi Palace. A (non-Indian) friend wanted a dosa for her birthday dinner. She had the Mysore masala dosa which she seemed to enjoy and I had the regular masala dosa and a mango lassi. Our other brown friend had the paneer dosa (yummy and filling).
For those of you unfamiliar with dosas, they are basically an Indian-style rice crepe. They can be quite large but only the centre part is stuffed so start in the middle and work outwards. Usually dosa is served with chutney and coconut sambar. The paper dosas were *huge* so be warned!
We ordered appetizers because we were starving. We shared the combo platter (idly, daal, pakoras, medhu vada - like a lentil donut - and chili pakoras) and samosas. The samosas were good as were the idly and pakoras. I opted out of the chili pakora and the medhu vada was a little dry but perhaps it's supposed to be? Frankly, I have no idea.
For dessert, they were out of rasmalai (my favourite, I was heartbroken!) so I had the gulab jamun ice cream. If you like gulab jamun (dry milk and cottage cheese balls, deep fried and dipped in light syrup and rose water, served warm), skip the ice cream. It basically froze the second piece of gulab jamun before I could start eating it and the entire thing was too sweet, even for me.
They serve vegetarian, vegan and jain food. It looks like a basement food court with the bright lights and ghetto furniture but you don't seat yourself, you order from a waiter and they bring you the bill. Apparently they request that you tip in cash but we paid the entire bill in cash so we weren't asked. Bathrooms were not too bad but it was early in the evening (7.30 pm).
I will go back there if I'm feeling like dosa or want to remember whether or not I like utthapam. Overall good value for money ($80 for 5 people with tax and tip), decent service given the ambiance, excellent mango lassi.
Lahore Tikka, 1365 Gerrard St. E.(at Greenwood), Toronto
On Saturday night, I had dinner at Lahore Tikka. Another non-Indian friend (and altogether different ethnicity) wanted Indian food. Actually she loves all things Indian but her family won't eat Indian food as it's too spicy. She is vegetarian and heard about this place through her brother's girlfriend.
It's a large restaurant and can be quite confusing. When we walked in, we seated ourselves in what appeared to be one of a number of different rooms. The tables and chairs were patio furniture and I think that the entire restaurant was a series of interconnected trailers. It wasn't exactly clean and it's cafeteria style dining. The waiters will bring you a menu and a pitcher of water but you have to place your order at the front cashier. They give you a number and the food is delivered to your table.
We had the paneer tikka masala, the combo sizzler, till (sesame) naan, regular naan and I had a mango lassi. The combo really is a mixture of palak (spinach), chana masala (chick peas), aloo ghobi (cauliflower) and tarka dal (lentils). It was actually not very appetizing. The paneer (cottage cheese) tikka masala was good though. We forgot to order rice but, when we did ask after the food arrived, it came quite quickly. The portion sizes were not very large, especially considering how much we paid ($22 each with tax and tip). The lassi was only passable and we didn't try dessert. I don't think I will go back there.
Eddie's Wok and Roll, 6400 Millcreek Drive, Mississauga
I had lunch with a coworker here today. It's close to the office, located in a plaza at the south east corner of the intersection of Erin Mills Parkway and Millcreek Drive. The restaurant serves Hakka food and was nicely decorated, quiet despite being quite busy (arrive at noon if not earlier) and the service was excellent.
I had the butter masala chicken lunch special ($7.50) and the mango lassi ($3.50). I had to forgo the soup choice (hot and sour or creamed corn) because both had eggs in them. Instead, the waiter gave me an extra spring roll. The portion sizes were generous and I took half of mine home. The butter chicken was actually very good. I was quite surprised and will definitely go back there to try something different. Or maybe I won't be adventurous and stick with what I like :)
All three places were reasonably quick. There are other places on Gerrard Street that I would like to try (Siddartha, among others) but I would venture back to Udupi Palace with vegetarian friends and definitely will go back to Eddie's for lunch when I'm back at work full-time.
Udupi Palace, 1460 Gerrard St. E (at Coxwell), Toronto
On Friday night, I had dinner at Udupi Palace. A (non-Indian) friend wanted a dosa for her birthday dinner. She had the Mysore masala dosa which she seemed to enjoy and I had the regular masala dosa and a mango lassi. Our other brown friend had the paneer dosa (yummy and filling).
For those of you unfamiliar with dosas, they are basically an Indian-style rice crepe. They can be quite large but only the centre part is stuffed so start in the middle and work outwards. Usually dosa is served with chutney and coconut sambar. The paper dosas were *huge* so be warned!
We ordered appetizers because we were starving. We shared the combo platter (idly, daal, pakoras, medhu vada - like a lentil donut - and chili pakoras) and samosas. The samosas were good as were the idly and pakoras. I opted out of the chili pakora and the medhu vada was a little dry but perhaps it's supposed to be? Frankly, I have no idea.
For dessert, they were out of rasmalai (my favourite, I was heartbroken!) so I had the gulab jamun ice cream. If you like gulab jamun (dry milk and cottage cheese balls, deep fried and dipped in light syrup and rose water, served warm), skip the ice cream. It basically froze the second piece of gulab jamun before I could start eating it and the entire thing was too sweet, even for me.
They serve vegetarian, vegan and jain food. It looks like a basement food court with the bright lights and ghetto furniture but you don't seat yourself, you order from a waiter and they bring you the bill. Apparently they request that you tip in cash but we paid the entire bill in cash so we weren't asked. Bathrooms were not too bad but it was early in the evening (7.30 pm).
I will go back there if I'm feeling like dosa or want to remember whether or not I like utthapam. Overall good value for money ($80 for 5 people with tax and tip), decent service given the ambiance, excellent mango lassi.
Lahore Tikka, 1365 Gerrard St. E.(at Greenwood), Toronto
On Saturday night, I had dinner at Lahore Tikka. Another non-Indian friend (and altogether different ethnicity) wanted Indian food. Actually she loves all things Indian but her family won't eat Indian food as it's too spicy. She is vegetarian and heard about this place through her brother's girlfriend.
It's a large restaurant and can be quite confusing. When we walked in, we seated ourselves in what appeared to be one of a number of different rooms. The tables and chairs were patio furniture and I think that the entire restaurant was a series of interconnected trailers. It wasn't exactly clean and it's cafeteria style dining. The waiters will bring you a menu and a pitcher of water but you have to place your order at the front cashier. They give you a number and the food is delivered to your table.
We had the paneer tikka masala, the combo sizzler, till (sesame) naan, regular naan and I had a mango lassi. The combo really is a mixture of palak (spinach), chana masala (chick peas), aloo ghobi (cauliflower) and tarka dal (lentils). It was actually not very appetizing. The paneer (cottage cheese) tikka masala was good though. We forgot to order rice but, when we did ask after the food arrived, it came quite quickly. The portion sizes were not very large, especially considering how much we paid ($22 each with tax and tip). The lassi was only passable and we didn't try dessert. I don't think I will go back there.
Eddie's Wok and Roll, 6400 Millcreek Drive, Mississauga
I had lunch with a coworker here today. It's close to the office, located in a plaza at the south east corner of the intersection of Erin Mills Parkway and Millcreek Drive. The restaurant serves Hakka food and was nicely decorated, quiet despite being quite busy (arrive at noon if not earlier) and the service was excellent.
I had the butter masala chicken lunch special ($7.50) and the mango lassi ($3.50). I had to forgo the soup choice (hot and sour or creamed corn) because both had eggs in them. Instead, the waiter gave me an extra spring roll. The portion sizes were generous and I took half of mine home. The butter chicken was actually very good. I was quite surprised and will definitely go back there to try something different. Or maybe I won't be adventurous and stick with what I like :)
All three places were reasonably quick. There are other places on Gerrard Street that I would like to try (Siddartha, among others) but I would venture back to Udupi Palace with vegetarian friends and definitely will go back to Eddie's for lunch when I'm back at work full-time.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Wedding Cake and Fallen Angels
I didn’t drink tea but I was given mad e-props for knowing where to find the best gelato in the City.
We started at 7 West. I’m not sure why I had never heard of the place before considering it’s practically around the corner at Yonge and Charles. Three floors of cozy hard wood floors and small tables topped by a west-facing windless but worthwhile patio. I had one martini – a wedding cake - but would love to return for dinner soon. The wedding cake was more like a pina colada. Vanilla vodka, Malibu and a splash of pineapple juice. Except for the whipped cream. I think that was the “wedding” part. Which would have been fine had it not melted quickly in the afternoon heat and slid obscenely down the side of my martini glass. Fortunately, I rescued it with a napkin. The incident may have been too risqué for the company I was with.
Second stop for the evening was The Red Room at College and Spadina. Again, great atmosphere with interesting art, quirky lighting and medieval feast furniture in the back. Picture oversized benches and long wooden tables which would be perfect for a large group of starving and thirsty graduate students from U of T. The patio is one of the few, if not the only one, on Spadina. My Wedding Cake was stripped of its whipped cream and demoted to a Fallen Angel. She treated me well though and I will likely to return to pick her up again. We ordered perogies and the chicken fajita. Both were more than reasonable in portion size and, although I didn’t sample the fajita (again, a little too risqué?), I did enjoy the perogies. They don’t measure up to Lord English’s culinary creativeness but they’ll do in a pinch. Don’t be in a hurry though, unless you’re prepared to be assertive with the service.
Next up, gelato. The Big Chill in Little Italy has been one of my favourite places since a coworker discovered me to it last summer. It’s a tiny nook just off College on Manning and is worth the walk for a scoop or three. Filled with cows, it offers a surprising array of flavours and options for its limited 500 square footage. Thursday’s tasting included pistachio for me and strawberry for The Other. While I was offered a taste, I was too coy to take advantage of the situation. More fool me. The pistachio rivalled Ed’s at The Beach(es).
Finally, a pre-pumpkin drink at Il Gatto Nero (College and Crawford). The patio was sizeable, the service acceptable. We even saw a minor celebrity, according to the patron at the adjacent table. Never figured out who he was though. They have Guinness on tap which was apparently a hit with The Other. My mystery Riesling – Canadian, with a hint of bleach – was not worth a repeat trip but I haven’t entirely written off a second visit.
We started at 7 West. I’m not sure why I had never heard of the place before considering it’s practically around the corner at Yonge and Charles. Three floors of cozy hard wood floors and small tables topped by a west-facing windless but worthwhile patio. I had one martini – a wedding cake - but would love to return for dinner soon. The wedding cake was more like a pina colada. Vanilla vodka, Malibu and a splash of pineapple juice. Except for the whipped cream. I think that was the “wedding” part. Which would have been fine had it not melted quickly in the afternoon heat and slid obscenely down the side of my martini glass. Fortunately, I rescued it with a napkin. The incident may have been too risqué for the company I was with.
Second stop for the evening was The Red Room at College and Spadina. Again, great atmosphere with interesting art, quirky lighting and medieval feast furniture in the back. Picture oversized benches and long wooden tables which would be perfect for a large group of starving and thirsty graduate students from U of T. The patio is one of the few, if not the only one, on Spadina. My Wedding Cake was stripped of its whipped cream and demoted to a Fallen Angel. She treated me well though and I will likely to return to pick her up again. We ordered perogies and the chicken fajita. Both were more than reasonable in portion size and, although I didn’t sample the fajita (again, a little too risqué?), I did enjoy the perogies. They don’t measure up to Lord English’s culinary creativeness but they’ll do in a pinch. Don’t be in a hurry though, unless you’re prepared to be assertive with the service.
Next up, gelato. The Big Chill in Little Italy has been one of my favourite places since a coworker discovered me to it last summer. It’s a tiny nook just off College on Manning and is worth the walk for a scoop or three. Filled with cows, it offers a surprising array of flavours and options for its limited 500 square footage. Thursday’s tasting included pistachio for me and strawberry for The Other. While I was offered a taste, I was too coy to take advantage of the situation. More fool me. The pistachio rivalled Ed’s at The Beach(es).
Finally, a pre-pumpkin drink at Il Gatto Nero (College and Crawford). The patio was sizeable, the service acceptable. We even saw a minor celebrity, according to the patron at the adjacent table. Never figured out who he was though. They have Guinness on tap which was apparently a hit with The Other. My mystery Riesling – Canadian, with a hint of bleach – was not worth a repeat trip but I haven’t entirely written off a second visit.
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