Eating T.O

Rebozos Mexican Restaurant

2008-07-06T10:52:00.012-04:00

First off before the review.. We're back! After being AWOL for too long, we're back with a highly anticipated review... hello? hello? ahh, who are we kidding! Hopefully a rediscovered love of writing will keep this blog up to date and continue to spread the love of good food and good eating in Toronto. Now onto the adventure..

Rebozos Mexican Restaurant

Date: July 5th, 2008
What's on the menu: Mexican
Drinks: Mexican sodas, water, pop.. no alcohol
Atmosphere: Down home casual
Cost: anywhere from $5-25 per person

After doing some extensive research for an upcoming trip to California and coupled with my own taco hunting in Toronto, I've coined myself somewhat of an expert on tacos. Well not really, but you know when you've read about something so much you start to believe you know everything about it? That's how I feel about tacos. I even have the ordering down pat... "Tres tacos por favor... asada, carnitas, al pastor".

Having already been underwhelmed by a previous taco hunt (taco hunt adventure) we know we're in for an uphill battle to find that exclusive Mexican taqueria that can be rivaled with the many fine establishments in the southwestern states. And after reading many positive reviews on Rebozos we knew there could be hope.

Rebozos, located in a mostly residential neighbourhood just west of Dufferin and Rogers Road, is a very small Mexican restaurant that prides itself on bringing a taste of Mexico City north of not 1, but 2 borders. Ironically, Rebozos is just a stone's throw away from Toronto's smallest home (link).

Inside is a no frills, down home casual taqueria, Sunday finest not required. There are maybe 4-5 red and white checkered tables here, so grab what's available. A cheerful waitress brings us our menus as we take in the surroundings. Near the front of the restaurant is a LCD TV that is tuned into what looks like Telemundo. A table away two friends quietly chat while waiting on their food. The coziness of the restaurant makes as feel as though we're guests in someones home and truthfully we probably are.

The menu items are just what we're looking for... sopes, tostadas, quesadillas and of course tacos. A selection of meats by the kilogram are also available, carnitas (their specialty) and Barbacoa de Borrego (barbequed lamb, possibly mutton.. weekends only). Interesting items on the menu not typically seen in Toronto include pozole (stew of hominy and pork), tortas (Mexican sandwich) and a tres leche cake (3 milk cake, proclaimed "Our Proud..."). There is also an "Especial" whiteboard listing daily specials. It takes us a few minutes to absorb the choices, but we finally put in an order hoping to get the best Rebozos has to offer.

Not long after our food arrives. Our eyes and mouths widen as almost everything is brought out at once. First up are the chicken sope and chorizo tostada. There's no real difference between the two, both are topped with frijoles refritos, lettuce and sour cream. The real decision comes with do you like a soft (sope) or crunchy (tostada) crust? Words of wisdom... when in doubt go crunchy, if all else fails crunchiness adds texture to a dish that lacks flavour. Sadly, that is the case here... the saving grace is a good salsa roja with some heat (Side note: go easy on the salsas, extra is charged $1 per bowl). A plain quesadilla is also ordered. It's refreshing to know that no yellow cheese is used, but it's missing something salty. Next time we'll add chicken.

Now for the real test, the tacos (various $2-2.50 each). We ordered three types, carnitas, lengua and al pastor (one of the specials of the day). All tacos are served on fresh homemade corn tortillas that are fragrant and taste like corn (smell your hands afterwards) and topped with onions, fresh cilantro and a couple of lime wedges on the side. The carnitas (braised pork), while juicy didn't have the caramelized crispness to it typically what you get by broiling it in the oven just before serving. Lengua (beef tongue) is slow cooked tender and moist, but lacks seasoning. Best of the three by far is the al pastor, lots of salty goodness with the right amount of grease and slightly burnt crisp from the trompo grilling. These should be on the menu everyday. Our only suggestion for Rebozos... give the tacos the cilantro and lime they deserve. No more skimpy portions of these taco enhancers! (extra limes can be bought, 50 cents each. Not terrible considering the costs these days)

Normally we would have been satisfied with what we had ordered to this point, but as always curiosity got the best of us, so we had to order the pozole. We're served 2 bowls of this tender pork and whole kernel hominy stew. Garnished with oregano, red pepper flakes, a little lime squeeze and topped with a baked crisp tortilla. This was a tasty flavourful soup, certainly would be excellent on a cold day. What's not to like about it? Price! It's 8 bucks that's better used towards some more al pastor tacos.

At his point we know we've overindulged and bordering "stuffed", but how can we not try their proud, tres leches cakes. We already drove quite a distance to get to Rebozos and simply could not leave this out. Now in dessert-land (yes it exists) there are two types of cake sweetness: the mild kind you get in a cheesecake that is further mellowed with fruit adding a tartness to it, then there's the chocolate cake types where it's very sweet, but also very rich in taste and smell from the bitterness of the chocolate. Tres leches cake is probably about 5 times up the sweetness scale. This dish is best paired with a double-shot of your darkest espresso. Other than it being extremely sweet, the cake is very moist (wet) from the drenching it gets from the three types of milk. We're reserving judgement on whether it was a good cake or not since this was our first time trying it. Interestingly enough perhaps it was our unaccustomed palates not attuned to this popular Latin American dessert, everyone we saw at Rebozos ordered it. (and the other was the milanesa torta!)

Oh, before I forget, Jarritos, the popular Mexican soda brand, is very good. Rebozos has about 6 flavours. We tried grapefruit and apple (although I don't think apple soda is a Jarrito offering). It's not overly sweet, a little less carbonated and naturally flavoured.

So how does Rebozos stack up by North American standards? A resounding "ok..not bad". We're not talking "lonchera truck" prices either (just over 40 for the two of us), but in a city like Toronto, starved of good taquerias, Rebozos is up there with the best of them... certainly their al pastor is the best we've had in the city. A revolving tacos list including birria, cabeza, al pastor, suadero keeps things interesting (One glaring taco filling missing is carne asada, not sure if it's part of the rotation). Whether it's worth a special trip for most in the core and outlying burbs and boroughs I'd say no, but on the days where the taco craze overcomes you, much like this day did... Rebozos is worth it. Just opt for a takeout trio of tacos or perhaps what looks like a great torta.

Rebozos Mexican Restaurant is located at 126 Rogers Road

**Another little side note, CFO thinks the ratings have been too generous, so I've toughened myself up and made the drool scale a little more demanding**

Susur

2008-05-31T18:00:00.017-04:00

Colville Bay Oyster with Aged Sherry,

House Pickled Gherkin Vinaigrette

Clear Gazpacho with Shrimp

Peppercorn Crusted Bison Loin
Polenta and Corn Cake
Green Asparagus with Pancetta
House Smoked Barbeque Sauce

Roast Smoked Squab
Zucchini, Mint, and Pea Puree
Swiss Potato
Vanilla Foie Gras Reduction

Seared Foie Gras
Mango Tart and Foie Gras Pate
Wild Berry Vinegar Jus

Pork, Squab, and Foie Gras Terrine
Foie Gras Mousse
Pave of Foie Gras

Marinated White Asparagus Salad
Tarragon, and Artichoke
Pickled Oyster Mushroom
Parmigiano Cheese Mousse

White Asparagus amd Wild Fiddle Heads
Braised Morel and Enoki Mushrooms
Sauteed Apple, Parmigiano Cheese Tuile
Gorgonzola Cheese Sauce

Fresh Lychee and Papaya
Pineapple Lemongrass Juice

Curry Tempura of Soft Shell Crab
Orange Chipotle Mayonnaise
Tamarillo Salad

Sashimi of Japanese Scallop and Abalone
Fresh West Coast Spotted Prawns
Soya Yuzu Glaze
Cucumber and Miso Barley Salad

Carmalized Black Cod
Shrimp, Cucumber
Chorizo, Salted Duck Egg
Crustacean Broth

Pan Roasted Halibut with Wild Rice Crisp
Potato, Mustard, and Goat Cheese Salad
Sweet Corn Sauce

Sweet Dim Sum

Toronto Turkish Festival

2007-08-05T22:17:00.000-04:00

Irie Food Joint

2007-08-05T22:16:00.000-04:00

Approval:

Kenzo

2007-07-14T22:10:00.000-04:00

Approval:

Taste of Thailand

2007-07-14T22:09:00.000-04:00

Ethiopian House

2007-06-30T22:00:00.000-04:00

Approval:

Vic Hong

2007-06-30T21:55:00.000-04:00

Approval:

Memphis BBQ

2007-03-31T21:48:00.000-04:00

Approval:

Sushi Kaji

2007-03-10T17:21:00.000-05:00

Approval:

Patachou

2007-02-10T17:17:00.000-05:00

Approval:

Black Camel

2007-02-10T17:13:00.000-05:00

Approval:

Veda

2007-02-10T17:09:00.000-05:00

Approval:

Taco Hunt

2007-01-20T15:38:00.000-05:00

Mexitaco
This was the first stop on our hunt. Practically empty at noonish, which wasn't a good sign. Ordered Tacos Al Pastor and Nopales (Cactus). Arriving first are condiments - watery red and green salsa, onions, limes. Filling for Al Pastor was good, needs a bit more pineapple. Cactus was watery and tasteless. Corn tortilla's are oily, but decent. Service is friendly and efficient.

As a whole, this was not a good start to the hunt. Everything seemed to be too watery at Mexitaco. Return visit is unlikely.

Approval:

El Trompo
Popular quick eats spot for those in Kensington. Ordered Tinga tacos and nachos. The trend at Toronto taqueria's seems to be watery salsa - 2 bowls sit at each table. Tinga tacos taste ok, but lack any heat (They're advertised as spicy). Nachos are of the Tex-Mex variety, again nothing spectacular. Tortilla's are better here than at Mexitaco.

The one dish we didn't order (but should have) ... the names escapes me, but it's the crispy cheese dish. One diner is seen ordering this dish and a beer... cheese and a cold one, can't think of anything better.

Approval:

Chimichanga
This place is in the mould of a Quesada Mexican Grill, serving mission style burritos and tacos. Ordered 3 tacos, one of each of the meats (beef, chicken, shrimp). Tortilla's are commercially made, lightly grilled to warm. Despite Tex-Mex toppings (what we were looking to avoid), these tacos are actually quite tasty. Good lime flavour, everything fresh... just a little on the cold side.
Haven't tried burritos, but could be an alternative to Burrito Boyz.

Approval:

Taco El Asador
In the heart of old Korea town. Very popular among locals, which makes finding a table at this place extremely difficult. Owners are not Mexican, but El Salvadorian. Ordered 1 soft beef, 1 crispy chicken and cheese pupusas. Crispy is the way to go for tacos, nice crunch. Do not miss the El Salvadorian staple pupusas (like a fluffier quesadilla), they're done very well at El Asador.

Approval:

Hodo Kwaja (Walnut Cake)

2007-01-06T17:06:00.000-05:00

Approval:

Mother's Dumplings

2007-01-06T17:03:00.000-05:00

Approval:

Chippy's Fish & Chips

2007-01-06T17:00:00.000-05:00

Approval:

Owl of Minerva

2007-01-05T16:52:00.000-05:00

Approval:

Thee Asian Kitchen

2006-12-21T16:47:00.000-05:00

Approval:

BBQ & Sushi King

2006-12-16T19:30:00.000-05:00

2111 Sheppard Avenue East
Toronto, Ontario
(416) 495-0259

Google Map

Date: December 16, 2006
Cost: $25/ person
What's on the menu: Korean and Japanese food

At first glance the name may seem curious to passerbyers. Barbeque and sushi? Ribs and raw fish? Turns out the BBQ portion is actually Korean BBQ. Interestingly enough the restaurants decor looks as though it was a steakhouse/BBQ joint at one time. Inside the restaurant there is no shortage of tables at this large venue. A couple of sections are quarantined off with portable Japanese walls and booths... even more space is available by the sushi bar.

The menu is comprised mostly of Korean food items... bulgogi, buckwheat noodles, pork bone soup are familiar names. A portion of the menu is dedicated for sushi items - sushi by the piece, maki rolls, handrolls and sashimi, what you'd expect in a fully stocked sushi bar. What catches the eye though is the $17.95 all you can eat BBQ - short ribs, beef bulgogi, pork bulgogi, chicken and squid with free sushi (12 pieces maki, 8 pieces nigiri sushi).

Already separated from our non AYCE eating friends, we're moved even further away after several failed attempts at starting the grill at our table. A bit of a nuisance, but still an earshot away. At our new table our waitress starts up the grill... a coal burning grill! Don't think we've ever seen one at the places we frequent. As the grill heats up the crackle from the coal keeps us on our toes.

A short while later the food arrives. For side-dishes there's kimchi, pickled seaweed salad, bean sprouts and japchae (mixed vegetables with noodles). Raw meats are served on a large plate. We're also given a plate of a pancake type dish, it's unclear whether the dish is for our table moving troubles. Nonetheless, we're never ones to turn down food. Of the BBQ meats, the short ribs are the overwhelming hit of the night. These short ribs actually have meat on them, tender and marinated in sweet soya sauce. Sushi comes about halfway through the meal... quality is decent, about what you'd find at a quality AYCE Japanese restaurant.

Service at BBQ & Sushi King can be described as inconsistent, but always with good intentions. Example? Throughout the night the grill is cleaned with napkins from the table (unused, thankfully) with the meat still on the grill. The end result does not look pretty. One concern with the restaurant is ventilation, our single grill produced enough smoke to fill the restaurant. Even with a door open there was a cloudy haze over the room. Fortunately for the owners, our group was the only people left at that point.

On the whole, our experience at BBQ & Sushi King was pleasant. The Korean BBQ was better than most we've been to, serving decent sushi is a welcomed bonus. While there certainly needs to be something done about ventilation, a late night dinner return isn't out of the question.

Approval:

Congee Queen

2006-12-13T16:53:00.000-05:00

Approval:

The Great Burrito Tour - Burrito Boyz, Big Fat Burrito, New York Subway

2006-11-26T18:00:00.000-05:00

Burrito Boyz
120 Peter Street
Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2G7
(416) 593-9191

http://www.burritoboyz.ca/
Google Map

Date: November 26, 2006
What's on the menu: Burritos and quesadillas
Drinks: milk, juice, pop, water
Atmosphere: hole in the wall
Cost: $3.75 to $4.75 for 8" burrito, $5 to $7.25 for 12" burrito, $4 to $5.25 for quesadilla

Approval:

Big Fat Burrito
285 Augusta Avenue
Toronto, Ontario, M5T 2M1
(416) 913-7487

Google Map

Date: November 26, 2006
What's on the menu: Burritos, side orders such as Mexican rice and refried beans
Drinks: milk, juice, pop, water
Atmosphere: diner
Cost: $4.25 to $6.00 for 10" burrito, $6 to $7.25 for 12" burrito

Approval:

New York Subway
20 Queen Street West
Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2B3
(416) 703-4496

Google Map

Date: November 26, 2006
What's on the menu: Burritos, wraps, and subs
Drinks: milk, juice, pop, water
Atmosphere: diner

Approval:

Wasabi

2006-11-25T11:30:00.000-05:00

270 West Beaver Creek
Richmond Hill, Ontario
(905) 881-6288

Google Map

Date: November 25, 2006
What's on the menu: Japanese buffet with a small selection of Chinese dishes and dim sum
Drinks: Tea's, fresh fruit juice, pop
Atmosphere: hip, modern, casual
Cost: $14.99 for lunch on the weekends, Dinner $17.99 and up

What’s the saying? If it looks like a duck and it quacks like a duck… Wasabi falls into a long list of All You Can Eat (AYCE) Japanese restaurants popping up in the Scarborough/Markham/Richmond Hill area. After we had sworn off AYCE restaurants (except for our favourite, Sushi on 7… shameless plug ), there was something about Wasabi that drew us back. What exactly made it stand out? Well for one thing, it’s big… Wasabi, the Home Depot of AYCE Japanese restaurants - no longer should long lineups be a problem. The other thing is décor – sleek lines, dark wood tables, cream coloured chairs… almost hip and modern enough to make us cool.

Food at Wasabi is served buffet style. At the front is the sushi/sashimi area. Behind that is the salad and cold foods area, serving anything from D.I.Y. salads to mussels and peel & eat shrimp. Another section serves up Chinese buffet foods – sweet and sour pork, black pepper beef and the like. You’ll also find a noodle station, dessert platters and ice-cream, chocolate fountain, and the deep fried area (tempura, french fries, spring rolls, etc., but no deep fried banana was in sight). CFO notes that there is also a small section for Dim Sum (Har gow, siu mai and a couple of others), nice touch, but not much to choose from. Rounding out the buffet is the Teppanyaki area - line cooks slice and dice meats to order over an iron griddle.

From the foods we sampled everything was decent. Sushi and sashimi was fresh, but choices are extremely limited unlike made to order AYCE restaurants (there were only 3 types of handrolls at lunch). Other Japanese staples such as pork cutlet and katsu don were also not available. Tempura shrimp was first served in a popcorn shrimp batter, but we later find out it’s just a case of mislabelling (There actually is “real” tempura). One barometer we use to judge an AYCE restaurant is by their seaweed salad and Wasabi’s is good, but we're beginning to think all AYCE places buy in bulk from one supplier.

If you’re used to AYCE places with drinks being included in the price, Wasabi doesn’t do that. Tea costs $1/person, soft drinks an even more ridiculous $1.99. On a positive note, the good thing about Wasabi is that you don’t have to worry about time restrictions, ordering too much food or hiding food you can’t or don’t want to finish for fear of added charges (not that anyone does that).

So it’s official, we’ve sworn (for real this time) no more AYCE Japanese restaurants unless we’re going to Sushi on 7. Nothing against Wasabi and others, but the consistency we’re looking for is just not there. If you’re into the free for all style of eating with a good overall selection of foods (not necessarily good tasting), then Wasabi is your place. For us, we’ll continue our stubborn ways and stay away from AYCE restaurants for as long as our stomachs can… usually till the next “new” place opens up .

Approval Rating:

Debu Saha's Biryani House

2006-11-23T18:00:00.001-05:00

25 Wellesley Street East
Toronto, Ontario
(416) 927-9340

http://biryanihouse.com/
Google Map

Date: November 23, 2006
What's on the menu: upscale Indian cuisine
Drinks: Small wine and beer list
Cost: $45 - 5 course non-vegetarian tasting menu, $38 for vegetarian (available only on reservation)

This ultra-dark second floor restaurant is Chef Debu Saha’s venue for upscale Indian dining. Window seats over look Wellesley subway station, but on cooler nights the single pane window doesn’t seem to keep the draft out. Attentive servers seat us and quickly recognize we’ve pre-ordered the 5 course tasting menu. On the drink menu are Indian staples - mango lassi, masala tea and Kingfisher beer. A few choice wines and domestic beers are also available. Food is served a short while later.

Non-veg tasting menu for this particular night with brief tasting notes:

1^st Mango salsa with seared scallops and lobster claws
-Salsa had a bit too much onion, scallops excellent, lobster meat almost mushy
2^nd Lentil soup served with caviar and king prawn
-Not sure why caviar was served? Soup was creamy smooth, very good
3^rd Rack of lamb with spicy tomato sauce and basmati rice
-Tender lamb, finally get a spicy dish

4^th Barbequed chicken breast served with butter and almond sauce
-Couldn’t really taste almond sauce, chicken nicely charcoaled

5^th Desert trio – Carrot cheesecake, mango ice cream and rice pudding
-Of the 3, rice pudding was the best, but none were that great

Throughout the night, one dish that seemed to float by our table quite a bit was Subz Mangoda Basket (vegetable and daal fritters served in a papaddam basket). Despite being quite full we decided to order this as well and are we glad we did. Best dish of the night, deep fried fritters served on a bed of fresh vegetables in a crisp papaddam basket… very very good! Incidentally, one of the better deals for $5.95

Overall, this night was solid. Normally a $45 tasting menu we’d consider a steal, but having gotten a chance to taste the à la carte menu, we’re almost tempted to say stick to that. If you’re like us and have difficulty making choices off a menu, the tasting menu will give you a good idea of the depth of Chef Debu’s abilities. In terms of quality and presentation, Biryani House probably ranks as one of the top Indian restaurants in the city… but it’s a big step up from the $8.95 buffets we’re used to.

Approval Rating:

Lai Toh Heen

2006-11-11T13:30:00.000-05:00

692 Mount Pleasant Road
Toronto, Ontario, M4S 2N3
(416) 489-8922

http://www.laitohheen.com
Google Map

Date: November 11, 2006
What's on the menu: Dim sum, upscale Chinese cuisine
Drinks: Good selection of chinese tea's, cocktails, sake, wine list
Atmosphere: contemporary
Cost: $128 for 2 - 6 course truffle menu, $4 to $7 for dim sum

First Course
Truffle-flavoured pastry with minced quail & lotus roots

Second Course
Butter squash puree with truffle & chicken consommé

Third Course
Pan-seared roulade of truffle & scallop mousse

Fourth Course
Deep-fried truffle-scented crispy Cornish hen

Fifth Course
Sliced beef tenderloin rolled with truffle & enoki mushroom

Sixth Course
Yang Chun noodle and lobster tossed with truffle

Dessert
Butter squash steamed bun with truffle honey

Pan fried soft rice caked filled with chocolate

Approval Rating:

Harvest

2006-10-07T18:30:00.000-04:00

106 Bridge Street, Picton, Ontario
(613) 476-6763

http://www.harvestrestaurant.ca/
Map

Date: October 7, 2006
What's on the menu: County cuisine on locally sourced, seasonally available ingredients
Drinks: local and international wines, cocktails, beer
Cost: 6 course tasting menu - $75

First course
Velvety Hagerman's Farm Cauliflower Soup with Waupoos Apples and Saffron

Second course
"Boars of Babylon" Wild Boar Terrine, Celery-Walnut Salad and Cornichons

Seared Duck Foie Gras with Baby Beets Glazed in Sherry Vinegar

Third Course
Sea Scallops with County Sweet Corn Pancakes and White Truffle Oil

Grilled Tuna Salad with Arugula, Oven Dried Tomatoes, Romano Beans and Olives

Fourth Course
Lemon Sorbet

Fifth Course
Dana Vader's County Lamb, North African Spices and Sour Citrus Sauce

Spiced Magret of Duck, Vicki's Organic Carrots and Sweet and Sour Sauce

Sixth Course
Crème Brûlée

Maple Bread Pudding with Pumpkin Compote

Approval Rating:

Taste!

2006-10-07T10:30:00.000-04:00

Historic Crystal Palace, Picton Fairgrounds
Picton, Ontario

http://www.thecounty.ca/taste/
Map

Date: October 7, 2006
What's on the menu: regional cuisine - lamb chili, mini emu burgers, gourmet caramelized onion pizza, and roasted wild boar to name a few selections
Drinks: local wines, ciders, and beers
Atmosphere: lively
Cost: $12.5o for admission, sampling tickets are 50 cents and delicious foods and beverages cost from 1 to 6 tickets

Merrill Inn
Duxelles stuffed mushroom cap served with sauce foyot

Smoked whitefish "eclair": house smoked whitefish mousse filling in a choux pastry bun

Iron Duke Café
Bite sized cornish pastries

Waring House Restaurant
B.J. Big Bird farms mini Emu burger served with fresh County tomato relish

Claramount
Maple smoked salmon on savoury lemon pepper biscotti with late summer corn relish

Angélinés Restaurant
Lamb consommé with truffle meat dumpling

Cherry Valley lamb chili with Black River cheddar flatbread

Acoustic Grill
Pork tenderloin medallion marinated with County premium cider cooked over apple wood chips served with carrot and cucumber salad

Capers Restaurant
County beef short ribs with minced root vegetables in merlot beef stock reduction with a herbed barley risotto

2 raviolis (celery root and apple; pumpkin stuffed with aged Black Riger cheese) garnished with shaved smoked duck

Carmela Estates
County Maple pulled pork mini sandwich

Isaiah Tubbs
Short back ribs rubbed with pepper berry and seasoning finished with a county Maple syrup and Balsamic vinegar reduction

Harvest
Spit-roasted wild boar

Viki's Veggies
Carmelized onions on a puff pastry with Black River mozzarella cheese

Buddha Dog
The County poutine dog - limited edition handmade Aman Buddha Dog laced with Black River cheese curd, served on a limited edition Pastry House Potato bun made with fresh Hagerman Farms potatoes, finished with a Vader lamb gravy

Graham Farms
Elk chili -shaved on crustini

Dinkel's
Apple fritters

Gurth Pretty
Sample plates of Ontario cheese

Approval Rating:

Review in Pictures

2006-10-02T00:00:00.000-04:00

Due to our busy schedules, we haven't had time to do a detailed review of the following restaurants:

Perigee
Maple Yip Seafood Restaurant
Ninth Gate
3 Monkeys
Mai Thai
The Chef

For now, please enjoy the pictures:

Perigee

Maple Yip Seafood Restaurant

Ninth Gate

3 Monkeys

Mai Thai

The Chef

The Chef

2006-09-30T17:00:00.000-04:00

115 Times Avenue, Unit B2 & B3
Markham, Ontario, L3T 0A2
(905) 882-1110

Google Map

Date: September 30, 2006
What's on the menu: Thai fusion
Drinks: tropical mixed drinks
Atmosphere: hip and casual
Cost: $35-40 per person

Approval Rating:

Mai Thai

2006-09-22T19:30:00.000-04:00

2364 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario, M4P 2C4
(416) 488-2250

http://maithai.sites.toronto.com/
Google Map

Date: September 22, 2006
What's on the menu: traditional Thai food
Drinks: domestic and imported beer
Atmosphere: hip and casual
Cost: $30-35 per person (1 drink)

Approval Rating:

3 Monkeys

2006-09-21T19:00:00.000-04:00

1585 Warden Avenue,
Scarborough, Ontario, M1R 2S9
(416) 754-3665

http://www.3-monkeys-eatery.com/
Google Map

Date: September 21, 2006
What's on the menu: pub fare, steaks, chicken & ribs, pizza, pasta
Drinks: beer
Atmosphere: hip and casual
Cost: $30-35 per person (1 drink)

Approval Rating:

Ninth Gate

2006-09-15T17:30:00.000-04:00

11 Jarvis Street
Toronto, Ontario, M5E 1N3
(416) 981-1919

http://ninthgate.ca
Google Map

Date: September 15, 2006
What's on the menu: Korean
Drinks: Small cocktail and wine list
Atmosphere: hip and casual
Cost: $30-35 per person (1 drink)

Approval Rating:

St-Viateur Bagel

2006-09-06T18:00:00.000-04:00

263 St. Viateur West
Montreal, Quebec
(514) 276-8044

www.stviateurbagel.com
Google Map

In the North American bagel world there are only two distinct types, New York or Montreal style. Endless debates have resolved little in the battle for bagel supremecy. Montreal natives swear by their smaller, sweeter variety, but they are rarely seen here in Toronto. The two most famous Montreal bagel makers are Fairmont and St-Viateur. It was recently discovered that St-Viateur's coveted circle bread was available for online orders. Having never tasted an authentic Montreal bagel, I jumped at the opportunity.

Ordering through St-Viateur's website is a breeze. After quickly registering pertinent information, you're presented 3 options, seasame seed bagels, poppy seed bagels or half and half. The minimum order is 6 dozen for a respectable $33. Unless you're a bagel addict or prepared to gain a lot of weight, sharing an order with a neighbour, family or friends is advised. After selecting quantity, delivery options are given (extra cost of course!). Toronto residents are given the option of fast or faster - with Xpress post shipment our orders turnaround time was 1 day and I can't imagine priority shipping being any faster.

About 24 hours later, your order arrives conveniently packed into a box. After cutting open the box you immediately get a whiff of the bagels - relatively fresh even after their long journey. With so much hype riding on these bagels, I grab one of the bagels from the bag to taste - a seasame seed bagel. The smell from the toasted seasame seeds is strong, almost like seasame oil, bite into the bagel and you'll notice these are much sweeter (from being boiled in honey water). The texture is dense, less chewy, but oh so good. I sit wondering how these bagels would taste fresh from the oven, something you can try the next time you stop by St-Viateur's 24 hour bakery.

The next tasting involves putting the bagel through the heat test, otherwise known as toasting. Winner!!! Just when you thought it couldn't get any better, toasted with a touch of butter made this the best bagel I've ever tried. Crunchy on the outside, soft and warm on the inside. The sweetness of the bagel is perfectly balanced with the butter. Absolute heaven, like no other bagel.

If there's one complaint about this bagel, it's how small they are. Thinner, flatter and a bigger hole, but it's been a Montreal trademark... who am I to argue with perfection (Besides, each order has enough to feed the neighbourhood).

So, what to do with the remaining bagels? In addition to giving some to loved ones (and I mean really loved), St-Viateur offers a helpful tip - slice them up and freeze them. When you're ready to have one, just pop it in the toaster... tried and tested method.

If you've never tried Montreal style bagels, you're really missing out on something great. Just like smoked meat from Schwartz, you won't get a true taste of the city unless you've tried them. Thankfully though, St-Viateur has offered to ship you a taste of Montreal to your door. Even with the slightly inflated price and added shipping costs, they're worth every penny. Make sure to order yours.

Approval Rating:

Maple Yip Seafood Restaurant

2006-08-28T18:00:00.000-04:00

4227 Sheppard Avenue East
Scarborough, Ontario, M1S 5H5
(416) 297-1438

Google Map

Date: August 28, 2006
What's on the menu: traditional Chinese food
Atmosphere: family restaurant
Cost: Dinner for 9, $150

Approval Rating:

Perigee

2006-08-26T19:00:00.000-04:00

55 Mill St.
Distillery District, Cannery Building, 2nd Floor
Toronto, Ontario
(416) 364-1397

http://perigeerestaurant.com/
Google Map

Date: August 26, 2006
What's on the menu: blind tasting menu's (5, 6 or 7)
Drinks: Wine list (glass, 1/2 bottle, bottles), cocktails (non-alcoholic available), wine pairings with meal
Atmosphere: relaxed, comfortable upscale (if that makes any sense)
Cost: 5 course - $95 (wine pairing $50), 6 course - $115 (wine pairing $60), 7 course - $125 (wine pairing $70)

Approval Rating:

Laide

2006-08-25T23:00:00.000-04:00

138 Adelaide St E
Toronto, Ontario
(416) 850-2726

http://www.laide.ca/
Google Map

Date: August 25, 2006
What's on the menu: Tapas menu
Drinks: Full bar list
Atmosphere: cool, cozy and casual
Cost: $30/person, but depends on how much you drink

After an evening of watching street performers at the Toronto Buskerfest (including an incredibly amazing Fire in the Sky show), CFO and I were looking for a little late night snack. With few choices this side of Yonge, our hopes of decent food fell on Laide. Located on its namesake street (Adelaide), just west of Jarvis, is the inconspicuous, erotic themed lounge.

Walk into Laide and you'll get why owners, Racquel Youtzy and Sam Gassira, fittingly named the sexy, casual lounge that way. The entrance is adorned with naked figures in suggestively provocative positions, vintage porn movies playing throughout the night... a stripper pole sets the ambience for the evening.

Feeling a little out of place in an unfamiliar venue, we find any empty spot in one of the few booths. Luscious, comfortable couches allow you to slip off your shoes, sit back and relax. Thin curtains add intimacy to your evening. Friendly waitresses come by as you’re seated to take your order. First timers (like us) can ask to see the smallish menu.

The menu consists of a Tapas foods section and a list of stylishly named drinks. Laide’s $25 nightly special (2 mains, 1 dessert) is a perfect way to share a meal and connect with that important person. Still feeling the effects from our meal at Milagro, we decide to limit ourselves to the five-spiced rubbed back ribs ($15). Drinks are a little harder to decide with so many seductively tempting options - Nymphomaniac - spiced rum, peach schnapps & malibu, Deep Throat - frangelico, vanilla vodka & a squirt of cream and the seductively inviting Threesome - a three layer surprise (drinks between $10-15).

Laide's inviting atmosphere keeps the scene diverse - the after work crowd, club goers, people in the area... enticing for all. With such a relaxing atmosphere, its easy to forget that we're here to try the food. Soon after, our ribs arrive on a wooden sushi tray - a bowl of ribs accompanied with a plate of kettle chips. Tableware is asian themed - tacky and unnecessary.

A taste of the ribs.... surprisingly very good. Meat is juicy and tender, there's a peppery taste from the spices, but also sweet from the hoisin sauce. Kettle chips are a bit stale, probably store bought, but helps balances the sweetness of the ribs. A finger bowl is smartly placed with the ribs to help clean sticky hands. We finish our plate quickly, but only to sit back and enjoy the rest of our evening.

Apart from Laide's comforting couches and relaxing atmosphere, there's actually a restaurant worthy menu. With a kitchen open late everynight and savoury food items, midnight diners now have a new venue for a delicious meal. From the looks of it though, most aren't here to try or discover Laide's food and it's too bad.. our small sample will have us coming back again.

Approval Rating:

Milagro

2006-08-25T18:00:00.000-04:00

5 Mercer St
Toronto, Ontario
(416) 850-2855

http://www.milagrorestaurant.com/
Google Map

Date: August 25, 2006
What's on the menu: Mexican
Drinks: Wine list, cocktails (including some specialty margarita's, sangria's), good list of tequila's, Beer
Atmosphere: somewhere between casual and swanky
Cost: $150 for 2 (with tax, tip and drinks)

Ask any Torontonian what the one cuisine in the GTA's diverse ethnic culture that lacks depth and they'll tell you authentic Mexican. It's not as if Toronto has a shortage of Mexican places (we, like most cities, have adopted the safe and reliable Tex/Mex types), but true, nachos free Mexican cooking is something nobody dared venturing into, at least successfully. So with the opening of Milagro, two Mexico City born bothers (Arturo and Andrés Anhalt), brings the hope of a different take on what Mexico has to offer.

Reservations in hand, CFO and I, walk into the restaurant expecting your neighbourhood Mexican cantina. Not so with Milagro, it's decidedly more hip and upscale - deep coloured wood floors, tables and chairs, lighting is dimmed for an intimate feel. Make no mistake though, at the heart of it all Milagro is undoubtedly Mexican - the colour of the walls, high arched-pillars and posters of masked wrestlers remind you of that.

We're quickly shown to our table by a pleasant waitress and shown our menus. Browse through the drink list and you'll find a wide-ranging list of cocktails and tequilas. Specialty margaritas, made with Jose Cuervo Gold, include fruit flavors ranging from strawberry and mango to pomegranate. Overwhelmed by the selections, I leave the drink choice up to our waitress. She comes back with an oversized pomegranate margarita ($12.50). Overly sweet margaritas are what we're used to, but this one is done just right - not too sweet, the tartness of the pomegranate is happily present... add in a fair amount of quality tequila and orange liqueur and you have the makings of a good margarita.

Foods are in arranged in familiar categories, botonas, ceviches, ensaladas, sopas, plato fuertes. To start we order, Taquitos Rosarito (lobster tacos- $16) and Pulpos en Escabeche (marinated octopus - $11.50). Entrusting our waitress, for mains we order the suggested Cochinita Pibil (roasted pulled pork - $25) and Pescado Rodrigo (pan-seared fish fillet - $26). Wondering if we've ordered enough for two big eaters, we're told that mains come in sizable portions.

First to arrive is the octopus. On a smallish plate are pieces of octopus marinated in a serrano vinaigrette. Octopus is tender, tastes fresh with lime juice, but noticeably lacking is the heat from the serrano chilies, perhaps it was just a vinaigrette marinade. Arriving at our table a short while later is the lobster tacos. 3 tacos are served with a black bean spread and topped with tender chunks of lobster, on the side is a fairly hot chipotle salsa. Absent are any remnants of Tex/Mex influences (sour cream, cheese). Tacos are a little bland, but the salsa adds a much needed kick. Homemade tortillas are a nice touch. Both dishes are a decent start, but lack the "wow'ness" factor in its flavours.

Early from the start, Milagros service stands out. From our genuinely friendly waitress to swift food runners, we note the emphasis Milagro has placed on providing a complete dining experience. Small touches, such as wiping the table between courses and changing plates and cutlery are not gone unnoticed.

In the glow of the candle lit room, fellow diners are seen softly chatting away. There's a buzz to the room, but still calm enough to carry-on a conversation. Crowd is diverse with young families, stylish couples and groups of friends out for drinks. Mains arrive together, CFO is served the pan-seared fish fillet and I, the pulled pork. The fish fillet is small, CFO wonders where the sides are, but there are none.... they are ordered separately. It eats like the octopus appetizer with fish replacing octopus, ordinary, not something you'd order again. Pulled pork is plated on a banana leaf and served with black bean spread, pickled red onions, sliced plantain and the homemade tortillas. Pulled pork is moist, but the orange-achiote sauce adds little to its taste. A nicely done pickled red onion, spicy from the habenero, is the best part of the dish. Perhaps expecting too much, but portion sizes at Milagro are small, especially given the price and lack of sides with the mains.

We decide to order another appetizer, Queso Fundido (melted cheese - $8 + $1.50 for optional sautéed mushrooms). Not long after ordering, our dish arrives. Melted cheese is served in a bowl, topped with sautéed mushrooms and accompanied with a large tortillas, unfortunately not made out of masa like the smaller taco counterparts. The cheese is thick and stringy, difficult to portion between the tortillas, a quick bite and we're immediately taken aback by how salty it tastes. We're not sure if the dish is supposed to be this way or if this was just a slip of the hand. Either way we're left disappointed.

Dessert menu is one page list of foods and specialty coffees. Our waitress raves about the chocolate truffle cake. Once again trusting her recommendation, Trufa de Chocolate Maya ($7) is ordered along with a traditional Mexican hot chocolate ($3.50), served regular or spicy. Success is had with the chocolate cake - molten chocolate spews from the centre of the cake. Crust of the cake is spongy and moist, absorbing the melted chocolate. A spicy whipped vanilla cream balances the sweetness. Hot chocolate is served in a large Irish coffee glass, rich with chocolate with a touch of spiciness - an excellent way to end the meal. Absolutely full from the meal, we slowly stagger out the restaurant that is now much busier than when we first arrived. It's proximity to the clubbing district probably puts it in the "meal before partying" realm.

Pondering our experience we're left both happy and disappointed - service is rough around the edges (lack of knowledge about dishes), but sincere and well-meaning. Food is average for our tastes, but perhaps it was a case of ordering the wrong dishes. Prices border unreasonable status. We're giving Milagro the benefit of the doubt though - opened less than a month, there are a few kinks that inevitably need to be worked out. Despite our food complaints Milagro is off to the right start, wooing patrons with service, then providing a taste of authentic, upscale Mexico... tastes most of Toronto is yet to be accustomed to. We'll be back if there's some positive feedback, if not for the food, definitely the service.

Approval Rating:

L'Escargot Bistro

2006-08-19T19:30:00.000-04:00

3185 Yonge St
Toronto, Ontario
(416) 485-8338

http://www.lescargot.ca/home.html
Google Map

Date: August 19, 2006
What's on the menu: French bistro cuisine
Drinks: Wine list by the glass, 1/2 litre or bottle, Martini's
Atmosphere: Small and quiet, dress is casual to smart casual
Cost: Dinner for 2, under $100 including wine, tax and tip

This dinner began long before we took our first bite of the food. The evening was all about celebrating a friend's birthday and as requested, guests were required to dress as "posh" as possible. Both CFO and I, dressed in matching "posh" gear, found L'Escargot a short walk from our parking spot.

As we walk into the restaurant, we're immediately pointed to the back of the restaurant where the rest of our companions were waiting. L'Escargot is a small restaurant, but it has that comforting feeling you'd expect from a neighbourhood French bistro. The back of the restaurant houses the private dining area, which our friends have booked for the evening. Large metal, almost medieval looking, doors seperate us from the main dining area. The room is spacious enough for 20, but perfect for our group of 14.

We're given a few minutes of chit-chat and catching up before our waiter comes by to take drink orders. I'm tasked the duty of selecting suitable wines for the group, but as I often do, returned the favour to the waiter. An extensive list of international wines by the bottle are available, ranging from $35-200, with most being closer to the $35 side. 2 bottles are quickly found in our budget. A short while later, wine is shown and poured to the table.

On the menu is a small list of classic French items - escargot, French onion soup, bouillabaise, chocolate mousse are among the familiar. L'Escargot offers a nightly 3 course special for $25, which most of the table opts to order. CFO's "table d'hote" includes escargot, grilled salmon and the chocolate mousse. My cravings steer me towards the French onion soup ($7) and a 9oz NY Cut Black Angus Striploin ($23).

The table continued its usual chat clamour, but 10-15 minutes go by and some of our hungry companions start to notice the lack of bread (something every French restaurant should have). Finally 2 large baskets of warm baguettes arrive at our table. Alas, it was worth the wait... crusty warm bread with a chewy center is served with a soft butter. The bread quickly disappears as it is passed around the table.

Not long after, the appetizers arrive. Escargot is the choice for most at the table - served in traditional escargot plates and topped with a bourguignons sauce. The escargot is slightly chewy, but easy enough to eat. Sauce is perfect for dipping the bread with. The French onion soup comes freshly out of the oven. Soup is rich, but a touch too salty. The cheese and bread topping holds nicely with the soup. Both appetizers are comforting, good food.

The lengthy wait between appetizers and mains was bothersome for a hungry few, but when they did arrive, plates came in succession. First to arrive was the grilled salmon served with green beans. Salmon was flakey and moist, but lacking flavour. Accompanying tomato salsa adds freshness to the dish. NY Striploin arrives cooked to your specs, but something does not feel right about this dish. The meat is juiceless and almost cold... not from a choice cow either. Frites on the otherhand were wonderful...crisp and flavourful - condiments need not be added. Some of the best fries in Toronto, but don't ask me, see some of the posters outside L'Escargots windows.

Service at L'Escargot is efficient and friendly. Water pitchers replaced without asking, wine glasses never too empty, bread baskets refilled as needed. Max Ballin, owner, keeps a close eye on our table... never too far away to strike up a conversation, even encouraging us to use our long forgotten French.

Ending our dining adventure was a classic chocolate mousse. The mousse was whipped light, but still creamy and full of chocolate flavour. Good for those not into thick and heavy desserts. Other desserts observed, but not eaten included a crème brûlée and an orange sorbet. Both looked acceptable, but nothing spectacular.

The 3 hour celebration ends with a French inspired happy birthday song and a birthday cake... just in time, before L'Escargot closes and has to kick us out. Reflecting on L'Escargot on a pure food standpoint certainly did not put it at the top of Toronto's French culinary choices, but it's atmosphere and friendly service provided the ideal place for a lively group to celebrate a friend's birthday. Dinner parties are as much about the company of good friends as they are about about the food.

Indecisive diners in the area should give L'Escargot a try - chat up Max and enjoy the inexpensive, simple Parisian fare.

Approval Rating:

CNE

2006-08-18T18:00:00.000-04:00

Exhibition Place
210 Princes’ Boulevard
Toronto, Ontario
(416) 393-6300

http://theex.com/index.php
Google Map

Date: August 18, 2006 (CNE runs from Aug 18-Sep 4)
What's on the menu: Fair food, street eats, food pavillion
Drinks: Pop, juice, water, beer available at selected locations
Cost: Most items under $10

The CNE is an annual tradition for many of us - the games, the rides, the shows, but most importantly the food. Whether it's the street vendors selling us deep fried goodies or visiting the food building, The Ex is once a year eating indulgence for a lot of us Toronotians before the summer ends and we prepare for the long winter ahead.

We arrive with much anticipation for what this years Exhibition has in store for us. The crowds are light, but it usually is on the first day with everyone still trying to squeeze as much as they can out of the summer. First stop is the food building, located in it's familiar position by the train/TTC stop. With over 90 vendors featuring traditional and non traditional fare, the food building is the perfect place to start our eating adventure.

Located in each corner of the food building is Maggie's hot dog stand. A staple at the food building for as long as we can remember. What makes specials Maggie's so special isn't the quality or taste of their dogs, rather it's their price. 99 cents jumbo hot dogs, made from 50-60% beef? the dog has a grainy texture, but it's suprisingly tasty. Condiments include the usual suspect - ketchup, mustard, and packaged relish. Wash down your dog with $1 pop, cheapest you'll find anywhere at The Ex.

Also located at each corner of the food building is the other 99 cent special, Primo's spaghetti. Another food stand that's been around for quite some time. Served in a small bowl is a watery spaghetti with a meatless tomato sauce. A dash of parmesan cheese can be added for an extra 39 cents, but at almost half the cost of another bowl, why bother. As for the taste?!? You get what you pay for comes to mind. Don't skip Primo's though, it won't be long before we'll be calling it $2 spaghetti.

With tradition foods out of the way, it was time to find the new stuff. CFO stumbled across a new vendor, Memphis BBQ, which she wanted to try. I had already been to their newish store up in Woodbridge and could attest to their good food. Memphis BBQ serves up some of the city's finest BBQ food. One of the owners is a former owner of The Purple Pig who has teamed up with a former director at Pickle Barrel to create Memphis BBQ. We order their 1/2 rack dinner for $13, which is the same as their restaurant price - a bit of a suprise since higher prices are almost expected at The Ex. Our dinner includes 6 ribs, fries, coleslaw and baked beans. Ribs are the best we've had in Toronto, strong smokey flavour with just the right amount of BBQ sauce. Fries are battered and deep fried crispy. The vinegar based coleslaw is below average, but the smokey baked beans more than makes up for it. Considering some of the prices in the food building Memphis BBQ has one of the better deals - their 1/2 rack dinner could feed 2.

For dessert it's a waffle cone from Swiss International. A small waffle cone is topped with ice cream and a strawberry topping. Average tasting for me, a tradition for many others. Outside we see ice cream waffle sandwiches being made. 2 warm waffles are served with a thick slice of ice cream in between.... it's very good. One word of caution, don't buy from the vendor just outside the food building where the ice cream waffle's are $4, a quick walk around and you'll find every other vendor selling them for $3. With full stomachs we were ready to see some shows and play some carnival games.

After a few hours of walking around, our appetites were starting to grumble again. We find a corn dog stand selling the non-pogo variety. At $4 a pop they're no deal, but they taste great. The hot dog is dipped in a sweet batter and deep fried. The outside is crispy, inside the dog is flavourful (definitely not a 99 cent Maggie dog). This is our favourite of the night.

One of the newer items available at The Ex (probably 4-5 years old) is a deep fried chcoclate bar. A Mars bar is cut into pieces dipped in batter and deep fried. Over the years this item has steadily gone up in price to an almost ridiculous $5 for 6 small pieces of a chocolate bar. The melted chocolate pieces are sinfully delicious, but too expensive... even for The Ex.

Having felt our CNE cravings were satisfied, we were ready to head home. Another year at The Ex, another tasty adventure. Those who haven't created their own CNE traditions should certainly go out and start... with so many good food choices every year, there are endless possibilies. There isn't a better way to end of the summer than at The Ex.

Approval Rating:

Hot & Spicy Food Festival

2006-08-11T18:00:00.000-04:00

Harbourfront Centre
235 Queens Quay West
Toronto, Ontario
(416) 973-4000

http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/wr/festivals/hsff.php
Google Map

Date: August 11, 2006 (Fesitval runs from August 11-13)
What's on the menu: Hot & spicy food samples from around the world
Drinks: Cold beverage tent, pop, water, juice and decent selection of international beers
Cost: free samples, full dinners $8-10

Lost in the hype of the Taste of The Danforth was the litte known event the Hot & Spicy Food Festival. This is where pretenders like CFO and I go to tantalize our taste buds with fiery foods. Located in the always popular Harbourfront Centre, we arrive early on the first day of the event only to be met with a sparse crowd. Unfazed, we continue our walk along the beautiful boardwalk.

Our first stop was the World Café. Inside we find a handful of international food vendors. A quick count finds 3 caribbean food vendors, 1 Chinese booth, 1 Latin booth and 1 Indian vendor. Not exactly the most diverse selections, but the Harbourfront Centre rotates vendors throughout the summer. Popular food choices include jerk meat (chicken, pork), Indian curries, BBQ chicken, Chinese stir-frys and a few others. We decided to skip the Café for now until we found the real fiery foods.

After a brief search, we finally find the Red Hot Market inside a smallish tent. Up a flight of steps and into the tent we're disappointed to find only a few vendors offering up tiny samples of their foods. We tried a tasty, but no so spicy jambalaya, a pad thai lacking any heat, some fiery pepper dips with tortilla chips and a few samples of pepper jellies. In and out of the tent in 5 or so minutes, we're left wondering if this is all the Hot & Spicy Food Festival has to offer?! We decide to walk around the rest of the Centre in search of anything to fill us up.

A quick stroll around the area finds nothing, so we settle for what's in the World Café. We decide on the Latin food vendor and a couple of apps from the caribbean food vendor, Coco Bananas. From the Latin foods we order a bbq chicken dinner served with rice and a salad, a cheese filled empanada and a plantain. The chicken is dry like jerk chicken, but without the taste. Side dishes include a decent salad and rice. The empanada was good - deep fried and crispy, sprinkled with sugar giving it a sweet taste at first, but once you bite in further your mouth is filled with a warm melted cream cheese. Plantain was also good slightly caramelized on the outside and filled with a touch of the same cheese in the empanada.

From Coco Bananas we ordered pressed plantains and acra's. Pressed plantain is well... plantain pressed flat then fried. Tasteless by itself, it comes with a mild hot sauce that adds a bit of flavour. Acra is a black eye bean fritter, deep fried and filled with a bean mixutre almost like a samosa, best described as "meh".

With half filled stomachs we continue to check out the rest of the event. On the main stage is a drum & dance group loudly playing some catchy beats. Surrounding the stage are vendors selling various crafts. Just off to the side we find Churros Ricos Churros, a vendor selling freshly made churros. Our churro is pulled straight from the deep fryer and dusted with powdered sugar. Crispy on the outside, moist on the inside, sweet with a touch of saltiness... this is the best churro we've had.

To the back of the stage are a few more food vendors. One caribbean vendor has sliced platains on the menu, served cheap at $3 a plate - they're good too.. crispy and sweet. No food festival is ever complete without a roasted corn on the cob vendor. The Hot & Spicy festival is no different - corn is roasted slowly on a barbeque, rubbed with lemon and coated with a spicy mixutre. A relative steal for $2.50 considering other festival prices.

With much disappointment we decide to head home. As we slowly walk along the boardwalk, a street magican catches our eye. Max the magician performs 15 minute street shows to anyone willing to watch. Hilarious tricks (Max is somewhat of a comedian) ranged from guessing cards to pulling a squash out of a hat. Definitely one of the highlights to an otherwise disappointing night

We certianly cannot recommend this festival to anyone. Even novice hot and spicy eaters would be disappointed by the lack of heat. It wasn't just the lack of heat though, there weren't enough vendors or people at the festival. The best food at the event was the churros, which would probably register about -100 on the Scoville heat scale. Don't worry if you missed this event, hot & spicy food lovers, this yearly food festival will probably be back next year and if organizers read this blog posting they might even get the Scoville units pass the beginner level.

Approval Rating:

Hot House Cafe

2006-08-06T10:30:00.000-04:00

34 Church St.
Toronto, Ontario
(416) 366-7800
Google Map
http://www.hothousecafe.com/

Date: August 6, 2006
What's on the menu: Italian (pizza, pasta, steaks, sandwiches), Sunday brunch buffet
Drinks: Full bar menu (beer, wine, cocktails), fresh squeezed juices, speciality coffees
Atmosphere: Casual and lively
Cost: $56 (tax, tip and drinks)

What better way to start a beautiful Sunday morning than with a hearty brunch meal. Toronto is filled with viable brunch options, but our restaurant choice this time is close to our afternoon destination, the Sky.... Rogers Centre. Hot House Cafe is a known favourite among locals and tourists alike for quick, casual italian fare. Even more known is their famous Sunday brunch buffet ($17.95), so our morning begins with a little concern for availability of a table at this hot spot (no pun intended).

As we walk closer to Hot House Cafe we're relieved to see empty patio spots. Inside, we're greeted by friendly wait staff who offer us a table inside or outside. We opt for the luxury of air conditioning on this hot day... something we know we won't have when we're at the Rogers Centre.

The cafe is big - the west section slightly elevated overlooking a large bar, the bar itself has space available for lone diners, patio seating is plentiful as they line the windows of the restaurant. Our table is in the back of the restaurant in a room normally reserved for private events. CFO is happy our table is within viewing distance of the buffet.

Without even giving our waitress a chance to take our drink order, we're both up and reviewing our food options. The buffet is divided in stations - "designed by you" omellet station, hot food area, salad section, fruits and raw vegetables platters, pastries & breads, waffles and french toast area.

The omelette station catches our eye - omelettes are made to your liking by the Hot House staff. Toppings include mushrooms, roasted red/green peppers, onions, caramelized onions, bacon slices, italian sausage crumble, sundried tomatoes, fresh tomatoes, feta cheese, cheddar cheese and a few others. Needless to say there are enough choices for even the pickiest eaters. As we go back to our table our waitress is waiting nearby to take our drink orders - 2 coffees ($2/cup unlimited refills). I sample my omelette, it's good, but it can't really be bad if it's filled with everything I like.

Round 2 is reserved for the salads and hot foods. At the salad section there is pasta, potato, 3 bean, thai stir-fry noodle, Greek, baby shrimp, even a spinach salad with a red wine vinaigrette. Sans the stir-fry, everything was good if not spectacular.

Now onto the hot foods.. what was there? Scrambled eggs, sausages, real bacon slices, roasted potatoes, lasagna al forno, cappeletti pasta, rice pilaf, steak and mushroom pie, bbq chicken thighs and drums, chipotle mussels and a stunningly large roast beef. Again everything was solid... only bad item were the mussels which were overcooked and didn't smell too fresh. Some cuts of the roast beef were a little tough, but given the right slice and a touch of extra spicy horseradish it was excellent.

Next up were the pastries, CFO and I aren't big sweet eaters so we limited our choices to a self-made waffle and an over soaked French toast. The waffles were fluffy and topped with your choice of chocolate sauce, maple syrup, whipped cream or a berry topping. French toast was soaked in syrup and topped with an apple and raisin mixture - not so tasty. We also saw a good selection of breads, bagels, cinnamon buns, cookies, an apple crumble and for dessert lovers 5 whole fresh cakes sliced and served as needed.

Health conscious eaters can rejoice, there was a section just for you - A selection of freshly cut fruit, a fruit salad, raw vegetables with dip, poached salmon, olives and fresh cheese. A quick look around and you'll find most groups enjoying fresh squeezed juices. Among the most popular is the Hot House Juice - a blend of strawberry, raspberry, mango, guava and lime juices ($3.95)

As we fill ourselves with all the tasty food we slowly see the cafe fill to capacity. The crowd is quite diverse - large family gatherings, tourists groups, couples and singles. The omlette station has a steady stream of people. A live jazz band plays in the background. Busy is the ony way to describe the staff. The Hot House Cafe is full of life.

After stuffing ourselves for almost 2 hours we finally decided to call it quits while we could still walk. The Hot House Cafe certainly lived up to expectations - great food and a lively crowd, it was a perfect way to start the day. The overall quality of the food was superb even for a buffet. A couple of items were less then stellar, but with so many choices it was easy to forget the bad dishes. Service was efficient as dishes were quickly cleared and coffee cups always filled. Brunch fans should put Hot House Cafe on their "to try list", our only suggestion.. make reservations, just to be safe.

Approval Rating:

Cava

2006-07-21T18:00:00.000-04:00

1560 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario
(416) 979-9918
Google Map
http://cavarestaurant.ca/

Date: July 21, 2006
Cost: $250 for 4 (tax, tip and 1 drink)
What's on the menu: Tapas menu with flavours from Spain, Italy, France and Mexico, nightly specials
Drinks: Good selection of wines by the glass, cocktails (Mojito, Margarita, Sangria...)
Atmosphere: Casual, rustic feel

"I think Brian is lost!"
"No I'm not... I'm sure it's here......"

Our evening at Cava begins with our search for the restaurant. Car parked and ready to eat, we slowly walked up Yonge St in search of Chris McDonald's new dining venture, Cava. After a few minutes of doubt, we finally find the restaurant tucked away inside the small shopping complex, Delisle Court.

As we walk into the restaurant, we're suprised to find empty tables. Our dining companions, CFO's mom and sister, wonder if we've picked the right place. "It's early..." CFO points out. Undaunted by the lack of people, we take in the ambiance of the restaurant - conrete floors, wood tables, colourless walls... rustic is the theme. The dining room manager greets us and thoughtfully offers us our choice of tables. We pick a window spot just by the bar.

Sitting down, we notice the compactly put place settings. A folded napkin and house-made breadstick all wrapped with a brown sheet. Our waiter for the evening comes by to let us know our neatly folded brown sheet is also our menu.... clever we thought. The menu is tapas inspired with over 30 items that night ranging from popcorn to beef tripe basquaise with seared foie gras ($3.50-$24). We're told the general rule is 3-4 dishes per person. The task of picking 12-16 dishes was no easy feat and our waiter offers to pick a few items for us, but tonight we felt up to the task.
What did we order this night? Too many dishes to go into detail about, but there were a few dishes we loved and a few that we didn't. We were told there would be no particular order to how the dishes would be served, but generally lighter fare was served first followed by the meat courses. Cava did a fine job of keeping the flow of courses consistent, never having to wait long for the next dish or two.

The Full List:

Chipotle-caramel popcorn (served nicely in paper cones)

Grilled flatbread with minty eggplant

Papas fritas

Pinchos of avocado, guindilla & salmon machaca

Salad landaise

Charcuteria

Tuna ceviche tropical style

Grilled octopus with bread salad

Broiled, cider-glazed sablefish with black rice & escarole

Shrimp with favas, toasted garlic & pearl onions

Venison carnitas tamal with an ancho chile-wild plum sauce

Piquillo peppers filled with braised lamb, taro foam

Wild mushroom socca

Porky beans with crispy braised pork belly

Crema catalana foam with leche frita, raspberry compote & an oatmeal tuile

Dessert tapas (churros, vanilla rice pudding & slice of cake)

Chef McDonald slicing Jamón serrano (unfortunately did not order). We saw 4-5 legs of Jamón serrano hanging from the bar.

The good:
Papas Fritas - Crisp fries and served with deep fried sage and rosemary
Salmon Machaca - Salmon nicely marinated and shredded, not too dry
Salad Landaise - Tender gizzards with foie gras adding a nice creamy texture
Tuna Ceviche - Traditional ceviche with tuna served with deep fried taro chips
Charcuteria - House-made chorizo was the hit of this dish. Served with bread and foie gras mousse
Pork Belly - Crispy skin, melt in your mouth pork belly fat
Sablefish - Sweet, moist fish... overwhelming favourite of the night

Not so good:
Piquillo peppers - lacks flavour, but taro foam was nice
Venison - Venison is dry... least favourite at the table
Grilled octopus - Octopus was too salty, but bread salad nicely done
Dessert Tapas - Cake was disappointing

Our eating adventure began with empty tables, but by the end of our meal the restaurant had become a full house. Bustling with activity, runners and waiters/waitresses are seen promptly serving tables - our own table is never left unnoticed. With our stomachs full, we're left to wonder why we never had a meal at Avalon (Chef McDonalds previous undertaking for 11 years and one of Toronto's best fine dining restaurants), sadly we'll never get the chance.

Formalities are finalized (read paid the bill) and we slowly get up to leave. The walk to the car is quietly enjoyable as we take in the surroundings of the pleasant neighbourhood... but we'll be back - it was too good not to.

Approval Rating:

Pizza Pide

2006-07-07T18:00:00.000-04:00

949 Gerrard St E.
Toronto, Ontario
(416) 462-9666
Google Map
http://www.pizza-pide.com/

Date: July 7, 2006
Cost: Under $10/person including drink
What's on the menu: Turkish pizzas (thin or regular crust) with a selection of toppings, traditional pizzas/slices, Turkish desserts, meat ball/chunks served with vegetables
Drinks: Yogurt drink, pop and juice.
Atmosphere: Neighbourhood pizza parlour, more commonly referred to as "hole in the wall" pizza joint.

Review:
When I first showed CFO Pizza Pide's website we both could not wait to try this place. Pizza Pide is a Turkish pizza place at Pape and Gerrard in the Riverdale area. Having never had a Turkish pizza, our desire to try it was based solely on Pizza Pide's website pictures - pictures of canoe shaped pizzas with a sunny side up egg on top was all it took.

Our adventure begins on Friday night, July 7. Finding Pizza Pide was accidentally easy. We stumbled across it stopped at a traffic light. It is located diagonally across from Gerrard Square. Incidentally, Gerrard Square provides ample "free" parking to those who choose to drive. We quickly turn into Gerrard Square and made the short walk across the street to Pizza Pide.

Inside Pizza Pide lies your typical pizza parlour - large white counters, stainless steel pizza ovens and what looked like a brick oven used to cook the Turkish pizzas, called pides. Behind the counter was a nice man, who we'll call Mr. Pide. Mr. Pide, who I think is the owner, also takes your order, makes your pizza and gladly brings your food to one of the few tables at Pizza Pide, if you decide to dine in. Germaphobe's beware though, there was no evidence of hand washing after handling money.

After a short wait in line Mr. Pide takes our order. Being the decisive people we are (actually quite indecisive, everything always looks good) and having drooled over the menu many nights before we order number 18 from the picture menu on the wall. Number 18 is described "Karisik (Assorted - every slice is a different taste, contains variety of slices of our best seller pides)" - $9.99. We figure this is the best choice for first timers - a little bit of everything on our pie. Mr. Pide tells us "30 Minutes"...... 30 minutes? Wonder if he offers the Pizza Pizza guarantee? Seems a little long for a pizza, but this is no ordinary pizza, it's pide. Our hungry stomach's quickly reply "Ok".

Not wanting to wait around inside we decide to check out the rest of the neighbourhood. Our choice's were Gerrard Square or a western style karaoke tavern, that had an alarmingly high number of patrons at 6pm... we settled on Gerrard Square. Not much to see in there, they're currently renovating... excellent spot for a pit stop though. Anyways... back to Pizza Pide.

Back at Pizza Pide, we scope out the best table available - a nice spot by the door. Mr. Pide tells us "2 minutes" and our growling stomachs acknowledge. We watch Mr. Pide pull our pide out of the oven and as a finishing touch, brushes it with a little egg yolk. Our pide is delivered right to our table in a long tray. I get up to pay, but Mr. Pide tells me "later, later... eat pizza, have drink". CFO wanted to try one of those milky drinks everyone else was having. The drink is some sort of yogurt mixture, called aryan ($2.00). Needless to say it wasn't what we expected and didn't go well with the pizza. Think salty plain yogurt in drink form.

The number 18 pizza actually has 5 different sections - ground beef, mozzarella cheese and herbs, chicken, Turkish sausage and pastrami, and ground lamb meat. All is accompanied with lemon wedges, tomato slices and parsley. The taste is similar to a white pizza with only the Turkish sausage having a distinct taste to it... good taste that is, meat is Halal. Crust is flakey and the canoe shape allows it to hold all the toppings. Best slice? CFO says chicken, meat was tender. For me, it was the Turkish sausage. Although I thought it was all great. The only disappointment for us was it didn't come with an egg on top, which is half the reason we wanted to try Pizza Pide. No worries on future visits though - egg's on top available for an extra $0.99.

Our pide is devoured in under 10 minutes and we contemplate whether or not to get pide #2, one with an egg. After much deliberation, we decide to save it for a future visit. After cleaning our table, we pay for the pide and 1 yogurt drink - total is $13.67. Sadly, we left Pizza Pide a little hungry, but at least our curiosity had been satisfied, if not our tummies.

Overall, we had an enjoyable experience. Pide was excellent, service was great and all this for under $14.00. Definitely recommended to anyone who is looking for a different, but delicious, take on traditional pizzas. Oh and if you're thinking of adding an egg on top of your pizzas at home, it's a lot harder than it looks. CFO killed 2 eggs in the oven as they ran off the side of the pizza.

Approval Rating:

Starfish

2006-06-24T17:30:00.000-04:00

100 Adelaide Street East
Toronto, M5C 1K9
(416) 366-STAR (7827)
Google Map
http://www.starfishoysterbed.com/

Date: June 24, 2006
Cost: Dinner for 4, $225
What's on the menu: Oysters, seafood, small "from the land" section (seasonal menu)
Drinks: Beers, cocktails, champagne, wine list
Atmosphere: Cozy and intimate

Review:
Our first taste of fresh shucked oysters about 4 years ago didn't exactly leave a lasting impression on either of us - too expensive for so little reward we thought. Fast forward a few years and now our palate's have suddenly developed a liking for the sea dwellers. Toronto never known to be a hotbed for seafood limited our options. Rodney's or Oyster Boy? probably both good choices in their own right, but Starfish is where we've heard is the place to go.

Set on the rim of the financial district, Starfish manages to keep a low profile in an otherwise busy area. Inside Starfish we're startled to see tables filled this early in the evening. We know we've picked the right place when we're asked if we have reservations at 5:30. Luckily, we're told a spot is available for our party of 4. As we're seated, we admire the coziness of the restaurant - dim lighting, lit candles, tables placed intimately together. Our table is in backroom away from the action of the oyster bar, but still peering into the main dining area.

Not long after being seated, we're brought our menu - a single loose sheet of paper clipped to the wine list describing the daily changing menu for the evening. Oysters and other shellfish at the top, small area for "land" items and the remaining area dedicated to the sea. Seasonal oysters tonight include Malpeque's, Galway flats, Gigas, Glidden Points and a few others. Our waitress takes our drink order and asks to see if she can start us off with some oysters. She explains that not even world champion oyster shucker, Patrick McMurry (owner), can shuck fast enough for everyone. We order 30 Malpeque's, a steal for only $44, and an oyster stout for CEO.

Patrick's Oyster Stout was a joint development by Patrick and Durham County Brewing Co. 1 keg of Patrick's Oyster Stout contains the liquor of 1000 Malpeque's. Starfish's website claims this stuff is so potent that a couple of pregnancies are reported after an evening drinking Patrick's Oyster Stout. Drinkers beware!

Patrick lives up to his reputation (world record holder - 33 shucked oysters in 1 minute) and our Malpeque's arrive in no time. Set on a bed of crushed ice and served with lemon, fresh horseradish, champagne migonette and cocktail sauce... we take in the fresh smell of the oysters. Hot sauce is offered to us, but oyster purists advise against it - the spiciness overpowers the oyster. The rest of our order is taken. We decide on seared scallops, atlantic trout and a fresh 2lb maritime lobster.

Eating oysters offers a bit of challenge to rookies. Do we scoop out the oyster? slurp it? grab it out? Finally, we discover holding the oyster to our mouths and sucking the oyster out works best. Our first few oysters are combined with the grit of the oyster shell, but as we get the hang of it our oysters become sand free. The oysters are fresh, smelling like the sea, sweet in taste, a hint of saltiness with the horseradish adding a bit of a kick. Our dining companions (CFO's sister and friend), oyster doubters at first, are gradually converted into oyster fans. Almost as fast as Patrick shucks, the oysters are finished and we eagerly anticipate the rest of the meal.

Not long after, our dishes arrive in succession - scallops, trout and lobster. Scallops are seared to perfection, served with cured bacon the saltiness adds the right amount of flavour. Trout is pan seared, skin is crisp and meat is moist, but something is lacking in taste, garnishings are seemingly bland. The lobster is a big hit with CFO's sister. Boiled to the correct tenderness and cut down the middle it is served with clarifed butter so clarified we almost mistake it for olive oil.
As the final lobster claw is eaten, we are left a little hungry, but nothing else on the menu peaks our interest. We decide to order all 3 desserts - flourless chocolate cake, crème brûlée and a lemon tart. Our waitress, remembering that tonight was a birthday celebration adds a nice touch to the evening by presenting our dessert platter to the birthday girl. The flourless chocolate cake was a little too rich and creamy for us, but perfect for a true chocolate lover. As for the crème brûlée, it was good but nothing spectacular. Noble effort on all 3 desserts, but stick to what Starfish does best... seafood.

We wrap up the evening and reflect on the great dishes we had. Starfish provided a wonderful evening for a quiet celebration. In a city not known for it's love of the sea, we had found a place we could tell our friends was a great spot for seafood...world class oysters and seafood dishes worthy of high praise we're left pondering when our next visit should be.

Approval Rating:

Lai Wah Heen

2006-04-15T12:00:00.000-04:00

Metropolitan Hotel
108 Chestnut Street
Toronto, Ontario M5G 1R3
(416) 977-9899
Google Map
http://www.metropolitan.com/lwh/

Date: April 15, 2006
Cost: $80 for 2 people (tea, tax and tip included)
What's on the menu: Dim sum, upscale chinese cuisine
Drinks: Good selection of chinese tea's, cocktails, sake, wine list
Atmosphere: Not quite fine dining, but elegant and serene

Review:
Mmmm... dim sum, something near and dear to CEO's heart (read stomach). If he had it his way, we would be having dim sum every weekend, but CFO's desire to try different cusine's has sadly prevented us from going on a regular basis.

Located in the Metropolitan Hotel, Lai Wah Heen is widely considered the top spot for dim sum in the GTA. On this Saturday morning there is plenty of parking available in the terrifyingly small underground lot. Swift elevators take you up to the 3rd floor restaurant. At the front, we are greeted by a smartly dressed Maître d', who suddenly makes us wonder if we're underdressed. Nonetheless, we're promptly shown to our table - corner window seat overlooking the street below.

As we get settled in, our waitress asks us for our tea of choice. Those who are familiar with chinese tea will find Lai Wah Heen's tea list (7-8 choices) a welcome suprise. Neighbouring tables ask to see a rather large wine list. We opt for a familiar tea, "Tien Kwan Ying" ($4.00/person).

While our tea is prepared we browse the menu. It is divided into sections - Chef Terence Chan’s Specialty Dim Sum, Lai Wah Heen’s famous Dim Sum and a section for rice and noodle dishes. From what we can remember we ordered, crystal shrimp dumpling, siu mai of pork, shrimp and scallop, baked mini puff pastry turnover with cured ham, shrimp and pork and a few others. Ingredients are very fresh and everything is made to order. One by one our dim sum dishes are brought to us in familar bamboo tray's or sleek white dishes . We admire the detail in the dishes, but it's the taste that wins us over. Each creation leaves us smiling with approval.

If you're looking to get away from Chinatown's loud and busy restaurants, Lai Wah Heen certainly provides a tranquil setting. Master dim sum chef Terence Chan dishes are truly unique in presentation, but the simple flavours and quality of ingredients are what separates him from others in the city. Cost aside, Lai Wah Heen is simply Toronto's best dim sum restaurant.

Pictures:

Approval Rating:

Joons

2006-04-09T18:00:00.000-04:00

4852 Yonge St.
Toronto, Ontario
(416) 840-0589
Google Map

Date: April 9, 2006
Cost: $24 for 2 people (including tax and tip, drinks extra)
What's on the menu: Korean cuisine
Atmosphere: Casual family restaurant

Review:
We picked this restaurant after reading a great review from Elain, a friend of CFO's. It's been a few months since we last visited this restaurant, so our review will mostly consist of pictures.

As recommended by Elain, we ordered the Joon Special - Dak Gal Bee. We were tempted to order additional dishes but our waitress insists the Joon Special is more than enough. Not ones to argue, we stick with Dak Gal Bee. Complimentary side dishes (changes daily and always refillable) are a Korean staple, that night we are offered sugar mashed potatoes, kimichi, pickled radish and a couple of others.
The basic Joon Special comes with only spicy chicken and veggies. Extra add-ons include rice cakes, sweet potato, and mozzarella cheese (Apparently Korean's are big cheese eaters). We got all the add-ons except for the noodles.

All the raw ingredients were cooked in a big pot on a gas stove infront of us. Home cooking at it's finest, but without all the prep time and clean up. CFO can't help but get her hands dirty, so she takes over the cooking duties from our waitress. The hands on experience was quite fun! Once all the ingredient were cooked (approximately 15 mins), the cheese was added which created a unique but delicious taste. Everything worked really well together!

Being the big eaters that we are, we were quite surprised to see that we still had some leftovers. Not wanting to waste any food, our waitress offered to cook the leftovers with rice ($1/bowl). We happily accept her offer and order 2 bowls of rice.

By the end of the night, we were extremely full. The meal at Joons definitely satisfied both our stomachs and budget.

Approval Rating:

Bloggers Intro

2005-08-25T08:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Eating T.O! This blog was created by me, Brian, and my amazing GF and eating buddy, Jennifer.

Both of us are the biggest foodies in the world. We've been trying different foods/restaurants together for years and finally decided to put it all into a blog to share with everyone (also for ourselves so we can remember where we went). This blog was actually created in July 2006, but we wanted to post a few restaurants we visited in the past.

Unofficially, we also created a food club (only 2 members, but happily accepting) and gave ourselves titles. I'm the CEO, Chief Eating Officer, and Jennifer is the CFO, Chief Food Officer. If you're wondering about the hierarchy of this club, as with any company/organization we all know that the person who controls the money is the one who makes the decisions - so that means CFO > CEO.

The purpose of this blog is not so much to review a restaurant, but to share our experiences. Although there is an attempt to give a rating, we figured since there is nothing we absolutely hate, we wouldn't be objective enough, so take it for what it's worth (I call it the drooling system, the more drools the better - up to 5). How we choose where to eat is based on word of mouth, what we read or simply what our stomachs are craving.

Please feel free to ask us questions or suggest a place for us to try. In the meantime enjoy the adventures, follow/ignore our advice and Happy Eating!!

p.s. Kindly ignore spelling mistakes and ill-fated attempts at humour in our posts.. thanks!