http://www.blogto.com New listings of restaurants, bakeries, cafes, bars and grocery stores in Toronto. Copyright 2009 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST1 Listed in Baked Goods

OMG Baked Goodness on Dundas West radiates an electric and eclectic energy that justifies its outcry of a name 100%. And the hot pink sign and huge antlers(!) in the window are just the tip of a sweet-eating experience that's larger than life and ultra-funky fun. Case in point, the actual size of the place immediately catches my attention. The area behind the counter is huge -- big enough to hold dance parties or (more likely) cooking classes, which are on a long list of future plans. Owner and goodness expert Lesley Mattina tells me that the business that she's run for two years, previously in a wholesale capacity, got a bit of a push to move into retail when this irresistible space came up. The opening process that began in late-summer appropriately sounds very fun and organic; the bench by the door was built by her friend, and the area under the counters is decorated with baking pans, which I hadn't noticed til she pointed them out. The place has an effortlessly unique aesthetic that feels as cool and comfortable as hanging out in a good friend's loft -- a particularly creative friend who likes to feed me cupcakes (and has an amazing loft). This is the kind of aura she's aimed to create. "I want people to feel welcome. I don't want them to feel intimidated or to not know what it is they're looking at. I want them to see the food and want to grab it and stuff it in their mouths." Mission very much accomplished. Everything looks oversized and fluffy, but is well-priced in spite of this. Much bigger than sample-size offerings of carrot cake, pumpkin-cranberry sticky toffee pudding and chocolate cupcakes silently compete for my attention. I go for the carrot because I already know that I'm gonna get the giant cupcake no matter what. The carrot ($2.50) is lighter than any I've ever had, with none of the usual chunks it's known for -- including raisins, thank goodness. I've never wanted to eat carrot cake in such copious amounts before. I'm implored to try the sticky toffee (a current favourite), and once again, it's far more up my alley than I was expecting. Chewy, but not tough or too dense, it has that tiny bite of spice that seems so right for an early November afternoon. With all this sweetness, we get to talking about more savoury eats. She hopes to build up this side of things more, mentioning items like sausage rolls as possibilities for the near future. For now, I try a very satisfying cream cheese and roasted veggie turnover ($2.50). I like my sweet purveyors also to know the value of salt, and it looks like I'm in good hands here. "I'm a meat-asaurus," she says with a firm pride. But in providing product for the Blue Banana in Kensington Market, she was inspired to broaden her appeal and include more specialty items. The mix of all these elements, she says, is very important to her and vital to the inclusive vibe. "I only wanted to do vegan desserts if I was sure that I could really get it right," she explains. Without sacrificing her standards of taste and quality, Lesley has managed to come up with something that tastes like I am being tricked: the completely incredible vegan chocolate cupcake ($2.50). I keep trying to detect the absence of butter and milk (flavours I know exceedingly well), but it simply cannot be done. I'm still wrestling with the thought of this two days later. Apparently I'm not the first meat-asaurus to succumb to its charms. "I gave one to my friend from the Black Hoof without telling her that it was vegan, and she said it was the best cupcake she's ever had," Lesley says with a satisfied smile. OMFG, you have made a believer out of me. ]]> http://www.blogto.com/bakery/omg-baked-goodness http://www.blogto.com/bakery/omg-baked-goodness Baked Goods Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST Listed in Restaurants

My Place - A Canadian Pub opened earlier this Fall near the corner of Bloor and Jane in Bloor West Village. While I don't normally frequent this part of Toronto, it was easy to get to - a short subway ride and quick jaunt from Jane station. The restaurant itself is a sight to be seen. It's huge. Separated into a number of themed rooms, My Place takes on a range of personalities from nuevo elegance to classic eerie 1970's hotel (think the Overlook hotel from the Shining). The menu, it has been well noted, is the creation of Brad Long who some may be familiar with from Restaurant Makeover or perhaps his old gig as Executive Chef at the Air Canada Centre. He's also co-owner of Veritas. To start our meal we order the charcuterie plate ($20), because, well, it seems to be the menu item of the moment. Having said that, it's not on My Place's menu but was available that night and came with an assortment of meats (duck, pork terrine) and cheeses (cubes of cheddar and ricotta) on a large wooden plank. Garnishes included a homemade grainy mustard, pickled pearl onions, radish slices, salt, chives, garlic and a horseradish-mayo sauce with slices of French baguette. Yum. Next up was the Flatiron Steak from Kerr Farms ($18) which came convincingly recommended by our waiter. Perfectly cooked, it was seared crisp on the outside and gave way to exceptionally juicy and buttery beef in the middle. The steak sat atop roasted carrots, fingerling potatoes and a fried potato-herb croquette. Due to my sad lack of attention to menu details, I was a bit surprised when my Tilson burger ($14) came with a five-point tortilla instead of an expected bun. No worries. The medium-rare longhorn was nicely fatty and paired well with a slice of cheese and aioli. If anything, the tortilla just served to take away from the overall heft of the burger - a remark we let slip to our waiter who proceeded to inform us we could actually order the food anyway we like - with a bun next time if that's my preference. For dessert we split the cheesecake ($9) made by the Cheese Boutique. The texture and flavour was very ricotta-y and strangely grainy AND cream cheesy. Not the best slice we ever had. Better was the Niagara peach preserve that came as an accompaniment.]]> http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/my-place-canadian-pub http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/my-place-canadian-pub Restaurants Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST Listed in Restaurants

Simon's Wok in East Chinatown is a vegetarian Chinese eatery that is worth seeking out. Those thinking that vegetarian food is limited to tofu burgers and salads, are sure to be amazed by this restaurant's astounding array of 111 menu items. We are intrigued by the items bearing "Vegetarian" roast duck, chicken, shrimp, squid and fish on the menu. Somewhat taken aback at first, we are all delightfully surprised by the artistry of Chef Simon who has mastered the art of fabricating fake meat from tofu and gluten for over a decade. He is against ordering prepackaged goods and prefers to craft everything by hand. Our appetizer, the Special Homemade Stuffed Bean Curd Roll ($3.50), is paper-thin, crisp and enveloping shredded carrot, mushroom and delicately-spiced bamboo fungus. Our Assorted Wheat Gluten ($4) was also beautifully presented. All representing different "meats," each item was different in texture, taste and complexity. I particularly like the sweet and sour gluten ball, which I'm told is meant to replicate sweet and sour pork. Shredded Egg Plant with Minced Gluten ($6.95) turns out to be succulent morsels of eggplant and chunks of fried tofu braised in a savoury black bean sauce. It comes sizzling in a ceramic casserole and proves to be the perfect match for a bowl of steamed rice. Out of curiosity, we try Vegetarian Shrimp, Squid & Fish with Vegetables ($6.75). The "shrimps" shockingly taste like the real thing, bearing sea salt flavour, as do the rubbery bits of artificial squid. Fried Noodle with Mixed Vegetables & Bean Curd ($6) is surely a dish not to be missed! The vegetables tossed in a rich soy-based sauce over egg noodles are crisp and light, and not the least bit greasy. Leave everything you think you know about tofu and gluten at the door. Simon's Wok introduces a completely new perspective on vegetarian food that is diverse, creative and endless in variety. This is an experimental foodie adventure not to be missed! Be sure to keep an open mind, as you first timers may have a hard time with the English descriptions on the menu. The staff are wonderfully friendly, but English is very limited at this venue. Photos by Casey Cunningham]]> http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/simons-wok http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/simons-wok Restaurants Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST Listed in Restaurants

Glow Fresh Grill & Wine Bar, in the Shops at Don Mills, got off to a rather unfortunate start. Back in August, only a few weeks after opening a patio heater got a little too friendly with a designer chair, igniting a fire which led to extensive damages. Bummer. Good thing owner Rose Reisman and her Pickle Barrel partner aren't quitters. After a temporary closure to clean up all the mess Glow is back in business with the same locally sourced, health-focused menu as before. We arrive hungry and seconds after opening the menu I'm immediately attracted to the in-house burger. But what's this? Attraction quickly turns to disillusion when I realize the burger comes without a bun. Apparently the no-carbs Atkins diet fad is alive and well in this small pocket of North Toronto. To console myself I order instead what's called the burger slider appetizer. But these three mini burgers (photo at top) are also served sans bun. One is ground turkey topped with dried fig chutney. Another is beef with caramelized onions and fingerling potato, and the third is a pungent ground lamb served with a mint infused hummus and feta topping. Bun or not, this cultural tour of pairings and flavors surprises and is a definite recommend. Next up, our waiter brings us an amuse bouche of fresh bread and three dips - an under seasoned hummus, something with a ricotta flavor, and a refreshing melange of spinach and yogurt. For our mains we stick with the carbs. The mac and cheese is a refreshing aternative to the often too rich and creamy upscale versions of this dish. The macaroni, cooked perfectly al-dente, is paired with gruyere, cheddar and tiny pieces of lobster under a skin of earthy herb encrusted bread crumbs. This was no Kraft Dinner my friends. It was damn satisfying and perfect comfort food for a cool Fall night. Because Glow is on a health kick, the kitchen pairs the mac and cheese with a small side salad that comes with berries, various greens, avocado, sunflower seeds and a maple vinaigrette. Across the table, my diner in crime chowed down on the strip loin ($26), well seasoned and cooked to a perfect medium rare. Served with grilled oyster mushrooms, fingerling potatoes, asparagus spears it too was a hit and well worth the price tag. For dessert, we can't decide between a plate of four Canadian cheeses ($18) or an assortment of dessert shooters ($3 each). After a bit of a debate we go for the shooters and order up two of the nine options available - the carrot cake and the tiramisu. How did they taste? Exactly how you'd expect, albeit with less sugar. We were a bit disappointed though. I guess we expected something a bit more innovative. So what did we think of Glow? Overall, we weren't a fan of the relatively small portions and moderate to high prices. But the menu is well thought out and definitely offers something different for those tired of too many carbs, butter and other fattening fare. ]]> http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/glow-fresh-grill-wine-bar http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/glow-fresh-grill-wine-bar Restaurants Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST Listed in Restaurants

Mogette opened in the middle of the recession. A bold move considering the last thing uptown Toronto needs is another French restaurant. So for them to fill it with fiercely loyal (and often unadventurous) middle aged yuppies and celebrate their first anniversary debt-free is no small feat. The charming 29-seat bistro, owned by a retired schoolteacher named Gino Muia, is located midway along the elegant stretch of posh restaurants, boutiques and antique shops on Mount Pleasant between Eglinton and Davisville. While Muia schmoozes diners in the front of the house, the kitchen is run by his son and chef Daniel, who worked with Didier Leroy at the The Fifth, as well as Celestin, Jamie Kennedy and Lumiere in Vancouver. The co-chef is Daniel's friend and equally accomplished Alsatian Philippe Couerdassier of Batifole and Celestin. Perusing the menu, my dinner companion and I are drawn to the ultimate cold weather comfort food - French onion soup. Mogette's Soupe a l'Onion Granitee ($14), topped with a reserve Jura Flora Comte cheese, is sublime with its deep flavor and velvety texture. It's worth the price, but not exactly a light start to a meal that promises to keep delivering on gluttonous French favorites. Next up, the Dungeness Crab Cakes ($12). There's something about crab, like a goat cheese car crash for me -- whenever I see it on a menu I can't look away. But perhaps I should have reconsidered for something else, like the Escargots au Brie that sounded so sinful. The crab cakes, done with Yukon gold potatoes, are creamy smooth and finely crusted and served with tossed greens, corn and roasted pepper relish and saffron aïoli. The dish gets top marks for presentation but I find the flavor is too delicate and needs more of a kick. Or maybe all it needs is more salt and seasoning. For mains, we indulge in the *Noisettes of Lamb with Merguez Sausage ($25), featuring grilled lamb medallions served with a ragout of mogette beans, rapini and garlic confit sauce. The lamb, although unevenly cooked, is rich and moist. The mogette beans, the small white dried French variety the restaurant is named after, are slightly soft and cooked to perfection while the North African spicy Merguez sausage is almost as good as my Moroccan mother makes. Our second choice of entree is the Rainbow Trout Provencal ($24), pan-seared with ratatouille, gaufrette potatoes, green beans a black olive ravigote. The trout is beautifully crisp on top and succulently plump everywhere else, while the accompaniments offer a light and lovely balance to the end of our meal. Dessert will have to wait till next time.]]> http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/mogette-bistro http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/mogette-bistro Restaurants Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PDT Listed in Restaurants

Buddha Pie, formerly Lou's Coffee bar, opened about a month ago on the southwest fringe of The Junction. A brief once-over of the menu upon arrival made it clear Buddha Pie's tiny, take-out oriented premises is attempting something altogether different. Owners Cyndy and John kept the coffee component of Lou's, but decided to take on an auspicious challenge, to make Toronto's most authentic Italian margherita. Judging by the rambunctious debate over this city's non-reputation for producing decent pizza, this is currently a contest with few serious contenders. As a starting point, John sought advice from Cosimo Mammoliti of Terroni on what, exactly, the ideal margerita would be comprised of. The advice? Don't cheap out by using Canadian mozzarella (they test-sampled different types of Mozzarella di Bufalo to customers and opted for the Italian import). Buy the best tomatoes available (the homemade tomato sauce is also the product of Italian tomatoes). Be picky when it comes to the basil (Buddha Pie get theirs from Boncheff Herbs). After much fine-tuning, 6 types of pizza and 4 gourmet sandwiches that would comprise the menu were settled on. The spelt crust that I'd read about will be an option as of next week. I formed an initial good impression of Buddha Pie before even setting a foot in the place. Being a paranoid type after too many empty-bellied ATM traipses from cash-only eateries, I called ahead to check whether Buddha Pie accepted debit. "We take debit" the extremely cheerful male voice that answered informed me, "we take cash too, and..." here he paused, "if you bring a gun, it's free". That exchange pretty much exemplifies the immediate familiarity that you're greeted with at Buddha Pie. On the night we eat there, I arrive earlier than my companion and seat myself. The place is so small that even alone I occupy 50% of the table seating. Locals, all of whom seem to be on joking terms with the owners, drift in and catch up while their pizzas are being prepared. I order a very good coffee (from the local roaster that supplies primo grocer Pusateri's) and talk to the owners while I wait. Once my friend arrives we debate over what to order and are very kindly treated to samples of the pepperoni to help us narrow down the decision. We take John's advice and modify our pepperoni & cheese to a half Zen margherita, half pepperoni pizza ($12.99). Being a more-is-more kind of person when it comes to pizza toppings, I'm not convinced that I'm going to be satisfied by a basic margherita but, as it's the most popular item on the menu, it wouldn't be fair to overlook it. Once the pizza arrives my skepticism dissolves. It's as far removed from the doughy sauce tray that often passes for pizza as the scent of a Glade plug-in is from anything remotely resembling an outdoor breeze. The base is so deliciously thin, crisp and light that it seems like it should barely support the topping. After initially trying the potently spicy pepperoni side, I bite into the margherita and immediately wish that I'd ordered two of them. The tomato tastes so fresh and flavourful that I start to wonder if I've ever eaten one so tasty before. Likewise, the basil is sweet and pungent without being remotely acidic, and the mozzarella is creamy and pronounced. The whole pizza is so light and delicious that I realize why everyone coming in is making a point of ordering one per person. Because we've shared the pizza, there is room left to try the baked dessert slices that are brought in from a local bakery every day. Apparently there is a daily choice of kind-of-healthy or indeed-less-healthy. On this particular day that means either a date slice or a white chocolate cranberry square generously drizzled with dark chocolate. Aesthetically, there is no competition - so I get the latter and we order more coffee. The slice is pleasingly chocolate-laden and stodgy but is definitely too filling for a dessert so we pack it up for the journey home. Buddha Pie has treated us well and we leave surprised and happy. A lot of people may never visit Buddha Pie because of the location and the mostly take-out set-up but if all you are interested in is good pizza, no wine or atmosphere required, then it's worth a specific trip there. Opening hours are 11 a.m-9 p.m Tuesday-Saturday. Sundays 3 p.m-8 p.m All pizzas are between $12.99-$14.99 Photos by Anna Lisa Sang.]]> http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/buddha-pie http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/buddha-pie Restaurants Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PDT Listed in Baked Goods

Hansen's Danish Pastry Shop and its stately black and white sign is hard to miss on this stretch of Pape Avenue, north of the Danforth. Owned by the same family for forty-nine years, there is virtually nothing around it which shares a similar aesthetic or cultural perspective. It startles. And startle me it did, as I pressed my nose up against the foggy window of the Don Mills 25 bus for the first time, almost exactly a year ago. Visions of Danish butter cookie tins from my childhood danced in my head, and all I could think, through the sheer force of superficiality and imagination was: "I want to go to there." It consequently became a mission of epic proportions to find it again (damn those foggy windows and my complete lack of directional skills), and to find myself there when it was actually open. The reality most certainly did not disappoint, and due to our conflicting schedules, and the space between us, every visit is a precious treat. My most precious treats happen to be cookies with lots of butter. Now, I am no baking expert, nor Danish cuisine expert, but the butter appears to be pretty plentiful around these parts. The raspberry cookies (30 cents each, $3.65 a dozen) have a lovely golden tinge, and smooth texture which would suggest as much. Many of the other cookies seem to share these traits, as they do that piped shape which warms my soul (those ones used to be my second-favourite in the tin). The pecan tarts ($1.50) also carry the use of this ingredient to a blissful extreme - the richest, smoothest, freshest I've had anywhere. The crust and filling practically disappear into each other, in a mass of chewy comfort, and even the one that got crushed in my bag on the way home tasted of perfection. Despite their intense sweetness, their relatively small size is perfect for those of us who can only take our desserts in small doses (and it's the same case with most of their cookies). They are also the perfect size to appear downright magical, and to treat a large group of loved ones for not very much money at all. My favourite thing here though is probably the no-nonsense "white cream buns" ($2), which are usually my inspiration to get off the bus in the first place. Like an éclair, only better, the pastry is impossibly light and flaky, as well as very moist. It is filled with cream - not custard, but cream. See? No nonsense. They are divine. That age-old phrase about kids in candy shops was created for establishments of this ilk. The treats are all laid out in grand piles, behind a store-spanning pastry case and through the front window, perfect for some more nose-pressing-against. Oh, and I can assure you that it will have just the right amount of fog on it, soon enough. The result is very old-fashioned, and very European. The kind of feeling everyone knows that their pastry shop *should* have; the one that gives us that enchanted sensation in our bellies (even before trying the food). A fellow customer has just exited, his arms full of bags and boxes (tied up with string!), and politely inquires about my photo-taking. He is a long-time fan of Hansen's, and of a Northern European background himself. Of course, my own assessment of the flavour is rooted in a Canadian (and Southern European) context, so I'm curious, "Is the food -- ?" "Yes, it's very authentic," he nods emphatically, before I can even finish. So authentic that he recounts a time in the past when he had heard rumors of closing, due to a momentary lack of bakers with the proper expertise. I trust that this was nothing more than a bad dream. My box of pastries and I go and patiently wait to get back on the bus, preparing to lavish our loved ones with sweets for no particular reason. ]]> http://www.blogto.com/bakery/hansens-danish-pastry-shop http://www.blogto.com/bakery/hansens-danish-pastry-shop Baked Goods Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 PDT Listed in Restaurants

Thai Elephant is a run-of-the-mill, westernized South-East Asian eatery across from Terroni on Queen. It offers all of the usual dishes you'd expect from your local Spring Rolls outlet, and they deliver! The darkly-painted dining room is in dire need of a facelift, but the service is warm, helpful and representative of traditional Thai hospitality. Their paper fold-out menu is a resounding flashback to Thai dishes first introduced to Toronto over a decade ago. Coconut shrimp is butterflied, coated in shredded sweet coconut and deep fried. Although appealing to the eye, it's bland and could use more spices or a twist of lime juice for balance, instead of the overly-sweet honey dipping sauce that comes with it. Mango salad ($8) with thick strips of sweet red onions, slivers of bell pepper, peanuts and toasted cashews comes doused in an acidic vinaigrette. The sharpness of the vinaigrette is a nice light appetizer for the carb-centric meal to follow. Curry Pad Thai ($10) is a generous portion of flat rice noodles, tofu and chicken thickly coated in a powdery curry sauce. The noodles are lacking flavour and could be easily enlivened with a dash of sweet chili or blend of savoury Thai spices. Similarly, Green Curry Chicken ($9) with mixed veggies and strips of chicken breast comes in a sauce that seems straight out of a packet and directly served onto our plate. The accompanying bowl of steamed rice, however, is better than most, as it comes with a yin yang mix of both white jasmine and purple wild rice. Many may turn their noses up at pseudo-Asian cuisine, but I can always appreciate the merits of a good General Tsao's chicken or sweet and sour pork. So, while I may not ascribe to Thai Elephant's claim to "Authentic Thai Cuisine," it may work for those accustomed to Westernized Asian franchises and prefer their Thai cuisine on the milder side.

Photos by Francis Jonas Yap.]]> http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/thai-elephant http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/thai-elephant Restaurants Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:00:00 PDT Listed in Bars

Samovar Room in Cabbagetown is the third Russian-themed bar in what's becoming Rumen Dimitroff's east-end dynasty. Located behind the Winchester Hotel in the old Laurentian Room, Samovar embodies old-world Russian glamour as smartly as Dimitroff's other ventures, Rasputin and Pravda, embody csarist and soviet Russia, respectively. Just off Parliament St, and upstairs through an unmarked door, the bar feels very for-those-in-the-know and slightly prohibition-era. Inside, dark walls, heavy burgundy curtains, and a wall lined with fireplaces conjures Russia as I've always imagined it: opulent, ornate, and elemental. The long bar dominates one side of the room, while small tables dot the bench that runs the length of the opposite wall. Unlike Rasputin and Pravda, where cozy groupings of chairs and tables inspire intimate, conspiratorial chats, Samovar is more of a dance club, with live DJs and hired dancers keeping the energy level high, and drinks like absinthe keeping the inhibitions low. Samovar offers a vast selection of vodkas, as with the other bars in Dimitroff's Eastern Bloc, as well as a variety of fine champagnes, four different kinds of absinthe, and a menu of delicatessen-style foods that complement the drinks and ambience perfectly, such as caviar and smoked meats. For those who want the full experience, the large, wood-lined freezer room behind the bar doubles as a "tasting room". Patrons are provided with fur coats and hats and served food and vodka a la Russe: AKA, while cold. A night out at Samovar merits your best duds, as you'll be keeping company with the young and fashionable - the ones who can afford a taste for the finer things. Fur or military hats might get you confused with the staff, but after a glass of absinthe you won't care. Samovar is only open Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from 7pm. Writing by Jessica McGann]]> http://www.blogto.com/bars/samovar-room http://www.blogto.com/bars/samovar-room Bars Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:00:00 PDT Listed in Restaurants

Burger Bar has opened in Kensington Market in the space formerly home to Rice Bar. But this restaurant on North Augusta is more than just a place to fill up on burgers. How about appetizers with a burger theme? Two Cheeseburger Spring Rolls can be had for 5 bucks. Burger Bar opened on October 13th and while many might wait a month or so for them to iron out the kinks, we just couldn't wait and showed up hungry on day number 2. Sure, we expected a few choke ups but since we were paying customers we didn't expect the service to be overly flawed. We start with the Saag Poutine, mainly because it just sounded so good, but also because it was recommended by our server. The menu describes the dish as paneer cheese simmered in spices, cream and spinach, served over fries ($9.00). Now, perhaps we should have compared this poutine to the offerings at Smokes or Poutini's but since one of us just returned from a weekend in Montreal it was hard for her not to contrast with the 3am snacks in La Belle Province. As for the rest of us? Well, the fries were crispy and well-seasoned but the topping just didn't do them justice. I love saag paneer (a spinach, mustard leaf and paneer cheese curry dish), but this saag paneer was watery and bland. Service was great at first. Our server made a genuine effort to answer our questions about the menu (albeit with frequent returns to the kitchen), she provided extra plates and helped us to divide our burgers to make it easier to share. But things started to go off the rails once the kitchen made an appearance. We initially ordered the Uni Burger (one topped with sea urchin butter and mustard oil - $10.95). But half an hour after ordering, the waiter informed us they couldn't find the uni butter in the fridge. Hungry but not discouraged, we decided to try the LambBAM ($9.95) instead, a burger that came with kimchi, Danish Blue cheese and Dijon mustard. With influences from so many different countries we should have known the ingredients wouldn't complement each other. Innovative, but no dice. The Aiba burger ($9.95) was served with truffle aioli and grape tomatoes. The truffle aioli tasted earthy and nutty and the grape tomatoes were nice and sweet. Unfortunately, the actual beef patty was dry and devoid of meaty beef flavour. This was extra disappointing because the restaurant itself smells like beef heaven (or, well, hell for the cattle). Vegetarians - you have been warned! The transformation from Rice Bar to the Burger Bar was pretty quick (maybe less than two weeks) and it showed. Although I liked the touches of unfinished wood, the 3D cardboard moose heads on the walls and the exposed filments of their lightbulbs, the space still felt incomplete and non-cohesive. We sat at the only long table by the window. But as it was sunset, this meant that half of us were blinded by the sun (the windows were bare). The final blemish? After we paid the bill our change was "forgotten". Burger Bar might improve over the next few weeks, but personally, I won't be back to find out. Hours: Mon - Thurs 11:30am - 10pm Friday 11:30 - 2am Sat 11am - 2am Sun 11am - 10pm]]> http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/burger-bar http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/burger-bar Restaurants Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:00:00 PDT Listed in Restaurants

Veritas likes to keep it local. On a recent visit we start off with the daily soup - a puree of green peas with bacon. While I'm not usually a fan of peas, this beef stock-based soup was comfort in a bowl and I suspect fellow diners could hear the scraping sounds coming from me trying to savour every last ounce. Next was a green salad. Nothing to write home about, although the locally sourced lettuce was super fresh and crispy. For my main, the buttermilk and honey-glazed chicken was hands-down the best fried chicken I've ever had. It may not be the best looking chicken breast, but was incredibly tender and moist. The batter was a herb mixture with a lightly sweet honey taste. All fried chicken should taste like this one at Veritas. Sadly, the Braised Venison Osso Bucco (pictured at top) was under-seasoned and a bit bland. The roasted butternut squash it was served with was delicious though -- sweet, smooth and creamy goodness. The Nova Scotia Lobster Lasagna with Vanilla Foam was the best dish of the night (even eclipsing the chicken). It came with perfectly cooked pasta sheets, fresh lobster, watercress, cheese and an excellent sauce reduction. We really couldn't taste any vanilla, but it was still excellent anyway. Unlike traditional lasagna, it wasn't heavy and every bite was as good as the next. For dessert, we couldn't resist tasting the homemade Four Layer Carrot Cake with Marscapone and Brownbutter Frosting. The cake was perfectly moist and the cream cheese icing not heavy or overpowering. The milk chocolate and fresh fruit parfait on the other hand was a miss. There was something not quite right with the texture of the mousse. It was grainy instead of smooth. Still with dessert, the Maple Crème Brûlée was good but standard -- eggy, creamy and slightly maple sweet with crisp burnt sugar top that was light and crunchy. A few other notes....Their wine list has a good selection of reasonably priced VQA wines. Service is attentive but the kitchen snail slow. Even though the restaurant was half full on a Saturday night we still must have waited 30 - 45 minutes between our appetizers and mains. Photos by Michelle See.]]> http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/veritas http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/veritas Restaurants Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:00:00 PDT Listed in Bars

The Double Deuce Saloon near Queen and Beaconsfield opened in August with plenty of early hype. Ambitiously located on the strip between the Gladstone and the Drake, co-owner Dave Mitton, also behind Czehoski and Harbord Room, and partners Jeff Salvian and chef Cory Vitiello (Harbord Room, the Drake) have come together to create a relaxed and casual drinking establishment with that designer dive bar feel. This bar, it must be said, is not named for the 1989 movie Roadhouse, in which Patrick Swayze plays a world-renowned bouncer who uses his mastery of both martial arts and philosophy to clean up a local bar called the Double Deuce. It was named by the winner of a Facebook contest, who walked away with a $1000 bar tab as a prize and beat out runners-up "Concession" and "Service Station." It's just as well, because West Queen West's Double Deuce is pretty much as unlike the Double Deuce in Roadhouse as it is possible to be. It does not have a pool table or a thieving staff of corrupted thugs. It doesn't have Jeff Healey, playing country music in a cage. It does not boast rowdy patrons in cowboy hats, carrying shivs and looking to brawl/striptease. What it does have is the perfect location, offering a quiet alternative to booming venues like the Drake or the Gladstone, or smaller scenester spots like the Beaconsfield or the Beaver. It also has 12 fancy beers on tap and a tasty, moderately-priced menu of sandwiches, chili and appetizer platters. There's a small patio out back that hasn't quite lived up to its potential yet but still offers outdoor space for hot nights. Designer Bradley Denton made the Double Deuce look dive-bar-chic with pieces like an enormous burnt-out neon sign across one wall that reads "Cocktail BAR", and a mounted boar's head. The rough reclaimed wood that lines the walls gives the space warmth and depth. There's no live music - yet - but there is a small stage and plans for entertainment in the works. In the meantime, the iPod's spinning an eclectic mix of indie, '80s and classic pop hits. There's also no bouncer. But here on West Queen West, things aren't likely to get more heated than a debate about discography, and everyone's already a philosophy major anyway. Writing by Jessica McGann]]> http://www.blogto.com/bars/double-deuce-saloon http://www.blogto.com/bars/double-deuce-saloon Bars Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:00:00 PDT Listed in Cafes

Sophie is a bright and cheery spot in the ever increasingly bright and cheery neighbourhood of Leslieville. Occupying a prime corner location at Queen and Logan, its energy is hard to miss, and draws you in with its meadow-green signage and hint of something lovely happening inside. After briefly stopping by the previous day (though unfortunately just before closing), I got a hint of the treats that would await me when I returned. With the image of their quiche stamped in my mind, I managed to refrain from eating all morning until I made it back. I knew it would be worth the wait. We arrive around lunchtime and confront a serious rush. Although a bit of a surprise, we take this as a good sign. The last time I walked this stretch of street, there was no sign of Sophie. But it seems she's already made many enthusiastic friends in the month since the café opened. And, insofar as there's a real Sophie behind the name of the cafe, I mean that both figuratively and literally! I scramble to get a table and then make many attempts to get a good view of the pastry case, surrounded by the throngs of fast-moving fans. It's borderline chaotic, with coffees to go, and lunches to stay -- so my companion and I decide to sit back and think long and hard about the decisions ahead. There are few things I appreciate more than the combination of pastry and cheese (and other goodness of the salty variety -- the tourtiere, for instance, which they also offer), thus either the quiche or savoury flan a must. What seems like a benign little piece of pie reveals itself to be far more rewarding than I'm prepared for. My cooking-enthusiast sister almost makes a bit of a scene with her first bite, "(gasp!) that is goood." There is indeed a great depth to the flavor, which is creamy and densely eggy, not to mention gloriously smooth; the satisfaction belying its relatively small size. A tiny but yummy salad on the side catches me unawares (didn't see that coming), and the pomegranate seed garnish is a nice touch -- you would think that with the last couple years' worth of pomegranate mania, I would have encountered this before, but I haven't. We alternate between the savoury flan and sweet (but not too sweet) plum galette. The plum, in my humble opinion, never gets enough play, so I find this rather refreshing. Nevertheless, I won't pretend that the choice of dessert was an easy one, with the array of homemade looking slabs of pastry (lemon bars being one of my greatest weaknesses and all), powder-sugared cookies (see previous...), and rather gigantic scones all crying out to be piled on my plate, like so many endings to Thanksgiving dinners. In a city that is on the verge of hibernation, Sophie reminds me of the few scattered days when fall feels startlingly like spring -- even for just a few hours. I will anticipate their many pastry-encrusted jewels and coffee in adorable cups like so few and precious sunny days this winter. ]]> http://www.blogto.com/cafes/sophie http://www.blogto.com/cafes/sophie Cafes Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:00 PDT Listed in Bars

Swirl Wine Bar is a unique destination in Leslieville that puts me in mind of first dates. I can't help feeling that it is impressive to know about because it is secretive, unusual and classy. I asked my companion if he would be impressed if I had suggested it, were we on a first date, and together we decided that a day of fun activity followed by an evening nightcap at cozy and elegant Swirl was a foolproof recipe for presenting yourself as a dynamic and interesting person. That's a free tip for you, daters! Located above a pet supply store called The Bone House in what was once a tiny one-bedroom apartment, Swirl is treading into the kind of real estate territory only hair salons seem to flourish in. In fact, so accustomed am I to our city's standard two-storied buildings, with their street-level retail spaces, and second-storey living spaces, that I felt briefly mortified breaching the top of the staircase, as though I were about to walk into someone's apartment, even though the name "Swirl" was clearly painted on the steps. Upstairs, design firm Fame has worked hard to make Swirl's space nicer than any tiny one-bedroom you've ever been in before. Cool shades of grey on the wall and on the reclaimed furniture make the space feel bright and a bit prim in a high-tea sort of way. Vintage photos hang on patterned wallpaper, and sumptuous chandeliers hang from the ceiling. In the early evening, the space is bright and cheery. When the sun goes down, it is romantic and quaint. If the term "wine bar" sounds a bit frou-frou to you, there is nothing to fear at Swirl, where the sommelier has put together a small but well-chosen selection, from which even an unrefined drinker can find a $6 glass or order the bar's singular beer, Theresianer Premium Lager. One of Swirl's true delights is its menu. Although the former apartment no longer houses a kitchen, Swirl sidesteps the issue with the kind of initiative and efficiency that would make your boss proud. Chef Joan Olsen (Brassaii) whips up a selection of pates, spreads, and even desserts that are stored and served in tiny Mason jars, available for $6 each. Since there's no kitchen, it never closes, which means you can enjoy dishes like marinated olives, duck confit, or delicious Stilton and Caramelized Apple over baguette right up until the bar closes. Elbow-to-elbow on busy nights, you'll surely make friends with some of your neighbours if you're a Leslieville local. It's friendly and laidback, but more elegant than your average watering hole. Wear anything that makes you look academic and channel the movie Sideways and you'll really be in the right frame of mind. And if you're going there on a first date, well... remember to do something adventurous first, and then you can thank me in your wedding speech. Writing by Jessica McGann]]> http://www.blogto.com/bars/swirl-wine-bar http://www.blogto.com/bars/swirl-wine-bar Bars Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:00:00 PDT Listed in Restaurants

Casa Manila, on a weekend, is more like a church after party than a restaurant. The particular Sunday that we head north of the city to pay a visit, we happen to crash a private Baptism bash for eighty. We tiptoe past the glistening suckling pig, the platters of desserts and swerve between the grannies and rosy-cheeked children lined up for their private buffet, to the back of the restaurant, where those who aren't on the list are cast away. Located in a strip mall surrounded by office towers, the space is large, clean and typical of any Asian restaurant. Their dizzying menu may be a bit hard to navigate for first timers, but owner Lilian Velasco-Co has a knack for anticipating what customers will enjoy at first glance. She patiently goes through a range of possibilities before we narrow it down. A menu splashed with colourful images also come in handy. Bicol Express ($8.99) shows just how cross-cultural Filipino cuisine really is. A dynamite mix of bitter melon, aubergine, bell peppers, okra in a buttery coconut milk, laced with shrimp paste and pierced with a sharp chili heat, is a harmonious blend of flavours. Chicken Adobo ($9.99, pictured in lead photo above), possibly the most well-known dish hailing from the Philippines is easily adaptable to Western taste buds. Like chicken with a thick, salty gravy, Casa Manila adapts to Western tastes by using skinless, boneless chicken breast and being shy on the vinegar. Philippine's national pride, Milkfish ($10.99), is seared to a golden brown, doused in a light soy sauce, sprinkled with salt and finished with a twist of lemon. The texture of the fish may not be for everyone as it is on the drier side and is rather firm. It's a fish dish that I can easily see my mother, or grandmother make and serve with love. Simple, slightly bland and completely de-boned (so that the young ones don't choke), this is evocative of typical Asian homestyle cooking. It would truly be a travesty to leave Casa Manila before trying their heavenly Halo Halo ($5.50). A mountain of shaved ice topped with a rainbow of beans, a river of condensed milk, caramelized plantain, sweet taro paste, yams, coconut jellies, lime jello, taro ice cream and flecks of sugary pseudo Frosted Flakes, this vibrant dessert instantly etches a smile across my face. The friendly staff, children playing hide-and-go-seek and rustic home cooking, all make me feel comfortably at ease and very much at home in Casa Manila. Photos by Francis Jonas Yap]]> http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/casa-manila http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/casa-manila Restaurants Sun, 18 Oct 2009 00:00:00 PDT Listed in Restaurants

Dumpling King satisfies my love for dumplings. These precious little flour pockets cater to all different tastes and offer wonderful variety -- there are veggie-filled dumplings, meat-filled dumplings, seafood-filled dumplings, and if you're looking for a more well-rounded meal, there's even the three-in-one dumpling! If for some odd reason you're not feeling the dumpling fever, Dumpling King also offers noodles, rice, seafood, vegetable, meat, cold dishes and desserts to choose from. Our party of two chose the boiled (steamed or pan fried options are also available) leek, shrimp, and pork dumplings (12 for $5.99). Service was efficient, the food came quick, and was consumed even faster. Served with a choice of black or red vinegar for dipping, the dumplings come well packed (i.e. not to tightly), which let us easily identify the fresh ingredients. The shrimp was wrapped whole inside the dumpling, which is pretty impressive. Also excellent was the hot soup explosion, coming with enough heat and anticipation that I burned my tongue on the first bite. Next were the cold noodles with sweet and sour soup ($5.99). This dish comes with parsley, kimchi, a hard-boiled egg, beef, cucumbers, sesame seeds, and of course, noodles. The noodles were different -- semi-clear and slightly chewy. But overall, they were a nice and refreshing balance of sweet, sour, and garlicky flavour, comparable to the Korean dish of naengmyeon. The third, and only disappointing dish, was the sticky rice ($3.25). I'm a big fan of dough fritters and dried, shredded pork, and this combination of fried dough, preserved veggies and shredded pork, wrapped with steamed sticky rice is usually a hit with me. In this case, however, there wasn't enough pork, and the fried dough tasted too crunchy and dry - like it was fried multiple times. According to their website, their head chef hails from ShenYang province in China and serves the best Imperial cuisine in the country. We saw flour-covered staff at the back, deftly rolling out round discs of dough, transforming it in a few hand motions to rows and rows of neatly wrapped dumplings ready for customers to enjoy. With decent service, cheap prices and (mostly) delicious food, Dumpling King is certainly worth a try. Photos by Michelle See.]]> http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/dumpling-king http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/dumpling-king Restaurants Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:00:00 PDT Listed in Restaurants

Nunu Ethiopian Fusion isn't your traditional Ethiopian restaurant. Found two doors down from Addis Ababa near Queen and Northcote, the just opened eatery is owned and operated by a woman named Nunu who just so happens to be the sister and former business partner of Addis Ababa's Aster Belayneh. The name Nunu literally translates as "come, come", and that's just what Nunu and her husband would like you to do. The stark, modern interior beckons to the street through the floor-to-ceiling front windows, but at first glance it's easy to see why you might not imagine a traditional Ethiopian menu here. Nunu wanted me to know right away that they don't actually serve "fusion" cuisine, and she was absolutely right. Instead, the kitchen combines traditional Ethiopian dishes with a modern presentation. On the menu there's some not-so-traditional Ethiopian fare like couscous and brunch (under $10). But there's also the standard sharing dishes (at $17 per person). For singles or non-sharing diners, the menu also boasts a selection of meat and vegetarian offerings. We started with little-old-lady made Sambusa, which is similar to a Samosa minus the potato and veg. The pastry was savory and the filling was delicately spiced. Paired with a yogurt dip, it provided just the right amount of heat and refreshment for the start of our meal. The main attraction was Misto Misto (top photo), a shared dish with no less than 13 items to mop up with the giant, homemade and very delicate Injera. Chicken, lamb, curry, tripe, red lentils in mustard, and roast beets were just a few of the items circled around a fresh and garlicky green salad. The flavours were complementary, warm and rich, clearing pointing to the freshness of the ingredients. Nunu sources locally as much as possible, and nothing comes in tins. As our unbelievably friendly hosts brought out their vacation slides of their latest trip to the homeland we enjoyed a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony, complete with presentation of the roast beans and typical frankincense. We capped off the meal with a fresh mixed berry trifle and a peach trifle with custard and cream. The dedication to the honesty of the food was apparent when they shared with me that they had actually hand picked each of the peaches themselves from a friend's farm down in Grimsby. Open from 11 in the morning until 12 at night, at Nunu you can find something to suit any mood, from brunch, to mid-afternoon coffee with free Wi-Fi, to a full-on traditional dinner feast. Here you can expect honest, unpretentious food in a casual setting, despite appearances from the street.]]> http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/nunu-ethiopian-fusion http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/nunu-ethiopian-fusion Restaurants Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:00:00 PDT Listed in Cafes

SpiceSafar recently opened it's second location, in a hood that I don't frequent very often - King West. But I like to be reminded of its offerings every once in awhile, and I'd like to think it feels the same way about me. SpiceSafar seemed intimidating from... afar (forgive me), but has a mellow, comfy inside - albeit a sophisticated one. Mellow, like acoustic versions of Semisonic (remember a little ditty called "Closing Time"?), and U2. Sophisticated, like a "coffee experience which includes a side of sparkling water and two delectable treats from [their] pastry kitchen," which is explained on their digital screen menu outside. It's worth noting that both traits come together in the sounds of "Tom's Diner" over the stereo, which pretty much always makes my day. I appreciate someone taking the time to make my coffee an "experience", and the sleek shot glass of water, the wooden block it was carried in on, and a Danish-basket provide just that. The coffee itself (an Americano, $2.95) comes in an enormous, bowl-like vessel, with self-branded sugar, and no dairy products to be seen. I almost wimp out and ask for some, but I remember my summertime Albanian coffee training and just go with it. Incidentally, the side of mineral water and tiny, complimentary sweets on the side also remind me of Europe. Skipping the dairy was a good decision; I have never had black coffee go down so smoothly. The coffee is "our own," the manager tells me, "shade grown in the Mexican rainforest", and roasted in Montreal for this and their other location at Adelaide and John. My ricotta and blueberry Danish ($2.95), is delivered to me in a cute (but not too cute) little basket with handles.The pastry mildly on the stiff side, a dollop of lemon-tinged cheese on top sweetens and softens, and the tartness allows the blueberry flavour to really pop. Other offerings include a variety of croissants, an apple and marzipan turnover and sticky buns. All I really want though, is another Danish. But I can't be late for work. Should I decide to stay, I could lengthen my visit with a variety of lunch options like sandwiches ($7.95-$9.50), salads ($4.95) and a daily soup ($4.95); draw it out even further thanks to their recently-launched "Complimentary Internet" service. I know that it is no different than the "Free Wi-Fi" everyone else gives me, but it just sounds better. But where it's really at is with the after-work crowd. Even as I'm making my way out in the early afternoon, it's getting more and more full. "It's a nice place to finish the day," I'm told, "there are a lot of ad agencies around here... people like to come in after work... they can sit and have a coffee, while their friend has a drink." Yes, they serve alcohol. The place even turns into a bonafide lounge as the night stretches on, which is, presumably, a smooth transition. Dramatic lighting, glamorous faces on the wall (framed by super cool wallpaper that deserves a mention) and the cushy indulgence of this coffee-drinking experience has already added a little nightlife... or, at least, "good life" into this grey and horribly rainy day. Now, is that too much to ask for? King Street West offers a resounding "no". ]]> http://www.blogto.com/cafes/spicesafar http://www.blogto.com/cafes/spicesafar Cafes Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:00:00 PDT Listed in Restaurants

Massimo's has been getting a lot of press lately. First, there was the whole sanitation and rats issue that forced the popular late night pizzeria to close temporarily. And then there was a large fire that effectively closed the place for good. But then last month we received word that co-owner Tony DeBartolo mas moving Massimo's south - to Queen and Dovercourt - and rechristening it Vinny Massimo's Pizza & Pasta. After a few weeks of renovations it's now open and once again serving the hot slices that made the original location famous. The new location is bare bones, channeling classic take-out minimalism and a certain je ne sais I don't give a f***. I can appreciate the sentiment: pizza is one of those dishes that, if made well, requires no adornment. The slices in the takeout display certainly look good when I arrive, so I order a piece of margherita, plus a tiramisu and an Italian salad. With its thin crust, snapping-crisp edges and brown-baked cheese top, my slice puts on a good show, promising flavour and texture tasty enough to put an end to the neighbourhood's skinny jeans phase. But, like a girl with Spanx under her pants, my pizza is hiding a secret: it's old. Sweet tomatoey sauce, thin crust and delectable clusters of parsley oil all indicate that this was once a masterfully crafted pie, but too much chew and un-stretchy cheese also tell a tale of display-case neglect. Even stale, the pizza is pretty good: I just lament that I didn't get to it earlier, when I'm sure it would've been sublime. Too bad I can't say the same about the tiramisu, which is dominated by two distinct flavours: espresso and refrigerator. Unlike my pizza, which tastes like it's been sitting around for hours, the tiramisu seems to have been stagnating for days. Lucky I have a crisp, fresh Italian salad to chase it down (yes, I ate my dessert first). The thing about the salad is that it too is misrepresented: instead of the advertised artichokes, one of my favourite toppings, it's covered in black olives. Vinny Massimo's is pretty small, and I could actually hear how this happened. It went something along the lines of Hey, do you know where the artichokes are? followed by a No, just put olives on it. Now, in this era of rampant allergies, not to mention food preferences and consistency standards, substituting explicitly listed ingredients without customer consent is just not cool. Torontonians are pretty sophisticated when it comes to pizza, and Massimo's delivers enough flavour to show me that once again it could emerge to be among our city's top pizzerias. But if Massimo's is going to impress me, they're going to have to step up their game. I hope they will take advantage of this fresh start to clean up their act and concentrate on delivering what they clearly know how to make: super-tasty pizza pies. ]]> http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/vinny-massimos-pizza http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/vinny-massimos-pizza Restaurants Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:00:00 PDT Listed in Restaurants

Helena's Magic Kitchen is a landscape of meat pies, quiches and hearty home cooked dishes stretching as far as the eye can see. Despite the dimly lit subterranean feel of Village by the Grange food court, it has long been a microcosm of independent eateries offering global cuisine. Sean Lee and his wife, Sunni Lim took on the business from Helena nearly four years ago. On the surface, it seems that little has changed from the Eastern European staples; however, upon closer inspection, the dishes do embody a distinctive Korean flair. Rather than the dense, creamy custard of traditional French quiches, Magic Kitchen's broccoli quiche replicates the light, soft, silky texture of Gaeran-Jim (Korean egg custard). Sean assures me that it's "30% less fat than traditional recipes," since he uses milk rather than heavy cream. We opt for a combo ($5.30), which includes any slice of 'pie' and two side salads. Confronted by a technicolour myriad of veggies before me, we finally choose their curry lentil rice salad, along with their string beans simply tossed in a coarse sea salt and crushed black pepper. The beans are fresh, crisp and perfectly seasoned, while the rice salad is severely undercooked. I try Sean's claim to fame, the stuffed chicken with spinach. A meaty breast stuffed with creamy spinach is breaded and deep-fried. The crunchy exterior seals in the juicy meat and luscious spinach inside. It is quite tasty, yet not the least bit oily. I also try a latke with sour cream. The latke is flecked with carrots and is much doughier than the Ukrainian version. Rather, it is more reminiscent to Kamja-Jeon (Korean potato pancakes). Beet salad proves to be a tad overcooked and the natural sweetness is masked by apple vinegar and sugar. Buckwheat salad with slices of radish, marks an entirely new sensory experience. I find it rather bland at first bite, but it leaves a pleasant earthy aftertaste. Ukrainian and Korean food may seem like an odd coupling, but Helena's Magic Kitchen somehow makes it work effortlessly. Just be sure to beat the art students, high school kids, office workers and the Chinatown crew, as most items are completely sold out during the lunch rush. Photos by Casey Cunningham.]]> http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/helenas-magic-kitchen http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/helenas-magic-kitchen Restaurants Sun, 11 Oct 2009 00:00:00 PDT Listed in Cafes

Quaff Cafe may be pretty new to the Queen West strip (four weeks to be exact), but to at least two of my friends, it's already a near and dear neighbourhood fixture. A lot can happen when you're away, it seems (which is what I'd always feared, but never believed). It's almost too appropriate that in the midst of re-orienting myself into Toronto's coffee culture, I ran into these same friends walking away from the establishment in question. After heading back in with them so we can all marvel at what a small world it is (the boys have a rapport with the owners that exceeds even the one I'd cultivated mere moments before), we walk away with take-out orders as they rave about their favourite new spot. Their joy focuses largely on the uncommon kindness of the owners and the quality of their espresso, "the smoothest in Toronto!", Dylan swears, with Stevie emphatically nodding in his wake. They also swear by the gently-decorated interior with its unobtrusive music and conversation (and free Wi-Fi!), calling it the perfect workspace. But this is all in the future. Before I knew any of the above, it was just me, wandering in on a Sunday night. The impending dusk pushing my craving for coffee and pastries away in favour of something a little more substantial. With the sandwiches having been mostly been snapped up, I'm offered some soup. "Borscht," to be precise. "Ooh, is that the red stuff?" I've never had it before, so I decide I may as well. I've been pretty adventurous lately. This one has a tomato-base, cabbage, big chunks of carrots and some slow-cooked beef; mouth-wateringly hearty, it tastes like the cook behind it has spent quite some time perfecting the process. I am absolutely certain that it's the warmest, most lovingly-made thing I've eaten since I left the care of my compulsive-cooker relatives in the Balkans two weeks ago. It fills me with sustenance and comfort, and makes me want to welcome autumn for the first time this year. I'm equally appreciative of a platter full of tiny treats for $1.50, as I always get a kick out of all things small and perfect. I would be remiss not to mention those little single-serving jars of jam which I've always wished I could buy. They're here, on sale ($1.50) and display, which comforts me somehow. Other treats include the one-bite butter tart, which seems perfectly engineered to satisfy my tiny craving, but I know there is no way I can ignore the Alfajores beside it; delicate little cookies sandwiching a filling of dulce de leche, and garnished with powdered sugar and coconut. But before I get a chance to try them, I'm lavished with an oatmeal chocolate chip cookie-- immediately followed by a white chocolate Macadamia nut cookie, once my secret chocolate hate is divulged by the guy who served me earlier (whose suggestion of an chocolate croissant I had to refuse). They're a house specialty, baked fresh on site with those croissants I sadly did not get a chance to sample (yes, I have issues with almond flavouring too, I'm sorry, and I don't know what my problem is). It's very fresh and chewy and ensures that I really won't need to eat any dinner tonight after all. This quiet Sunday evening is exactly what I needed, somewhat depressed after having returned home to the death of summer. The streets are peaceful and subdued in this bluish light, and Quaff, with its simple, sophisticated storefront, and twinkling chandelier seems very much at home next to its neighbours, and everything finally seems to be getting back in order for me. ]]> http://www.blogto.com/cafes/quaff http://www.blogto.com/cafes/quaff Cafes Sun, 11 Oct 2009 00:00:00 PDT Listed in Cafes

T Café is trying to overcome an identity crisis. Located in the prime hub of the Annex student ghetto, T Cafe offers an international assortment of teas, a changing tapas menu, baked goods and pub grub. Owner Marnie Goldlust's concept is seemingly simple. "I want to become a leader in the tea revolution and in transforming traditional tea houses into bright and fashionable urban teashops... by specializing in premium full leaf tea and creating unique culinary experiences inspired by and infused with tea," she explains. From their wide assortment of international teas we try their Chai Latte ($4.35), London Fog ($4.35) and a pot of White Orchard ($4.50). Arriving piping hot in an ornamental Asian teapot, my white tea is fragrant and light, complete with refills. The tea lattes both arrive almost lukewarm, but are nonetheless aromatic and flavourful. Haunted by Dooney's past glory days at this location, and the anti-Starbucks uproar still etched on the sidewalk of the entryway, it seems that T Café is taking cautious strides. It has a refreshing concept of tea-inspired cuisine, which stands a part from other tea cafés that do little more than replicate the same coffee chain model. However, rather than staying true to their original concept, T Cafe continues to branch out aimlessly, hoping that something will stick. Their disorientation translates into their confusing menu of anything from samosas, to tapas, to sandwiches, to meats off the grill. Warm sweet potato chips are thin and crispy, sprinkled with coarse sea salt and crushed pepper ($4.50). The accompanying wasabi mayo is creamy, with a pleasant scent of green tea. These pub-worthy crisps are best paired with their range of seasonal bottled micro beers from Quebec and Ontario. Bite-sized rosti ($6), small morsels of shredded potatoes with crumbled loose- leaf green tea, are crunchy and topped with fresh, house-cured salmon. The delicate balance of fish and spud is overshadowed by strong goat cheese, which would be better substituted for a milder fresh cheese or sour cream. Baby lamb shanks encrusted in crushed Chunmee green tea and rosemary with a tea-honey mustard sauce for dipping ($9.95) is imaginative, but the lamb is overdone and arrives an unappealing greyish tint, albeit still tender. The duck wrap is arguably the most disappointing of the lot ($6.99). Packaged applewood smoked duck, bagged greens and roasted red bell pepper, pressed in a generic whole wheat tortilla leaves much to be desired. A slab of BBQ Back Ribs ($8.75) drenched in an Assam black tea barbecue sauce seems a bit too substantial to be considered a "tapa," but the meat is fall-off-the-bone tender and the sweet, sticky sauce leaves an aromatic tea aftertaste, which lingers long after fingers are licked clean. T Café is at heart, a great idea. With aims to elevate tea beyond a mug full of hot water, they try to incorporate into just about anything edible. It's just the lack of a clear direction that's slowing them down, perpetually caught in limbo, somewhere between restaurant and café serving muffin tops (yes, muffin tops). Looking around the dim dining room, it's clear that T Café's fate is being swayed by its patrons. Seats are occupied by students and young professionals with their laptops, shuffling music on iPhones, while gingerly hugging bowls of tea lattes. We are one of the few tables here for a sit-down dinner and it's difficult to catch the eye of the lone server/counter person/cashier/barista in between courses. Without resolving their split personality, T Café is just going to be another stamp of mediocrity in an area that is already past its prime; when it really has all the potential to become "the holistic experience" it set out to be. Photos by Claudia Lama]]> http://www.blogto.com/cafes/t-cafe http://www.blogto.com/cafes/t-cafe Cafes Thu, 08 Oct 2009 00:00:00 PDT Listed in Restaurants

Woo Buffet Restaurant & Lounge is perched atop Yonge-Dundas Square, amid the massive billboards, neon lights, towering televisions and retail outlets. It's the new player in Toronto's buffet and lounge scene, or shall I say, the only player. Stepping out from the shadow of his father of Star Walk Buffet fame, owner and operator Wayne Woo set out to create a new and exciting venue while living by the motto stick to what you know. Entering 10 Dundas East, we ascend the three levels of escalators arriving at Woo. Our booth offers a grand view of Yonge-Dundas Square. Avoiding a more traditional decor, the dining room is a well-conceived attempt at the modern restaurant-lounge while accommodating the formality necessary to offer a buffet-style food service, i.e. prepared food islands. After a failed attempted at an a-la-carte-only menu, Woo has returned to what he does best, and, with the help of newly appointed Executive Chef Chris Kanka, implemented a rotating menu of fusion-inspired cuisine featuring unlimited Chinese, Japanese, Indian, and Vietnamese eats. Sadly, the impressive breadth of Woo's offerings translates to a lack of depth in many of the more complex dishes. The sushi at the Japanese station includes oily mackerel, buttery soft salmon, bbq eel, and impressive tamago (egg). Unfortunately the sushi rice is over-cooked and tightly packed which gives the nigiri a moist and somewhat mushy mouth feel. The tempura suffers from re-used oil. The deep fried crab claw with shrimp paste is light, perfectly fried and delicious.  In good Star Walk tradition, the Chinese station offers buffet classics such as fall-off-the-bone bbq spare ribs, delicate steamed fish, crispy sweet and sour pork, mussels and noodles; none memorable but all edible enough. The dim sum station features four unlabeled steamers containing steamed buns; banana leaf wrapped rice, and steamed shrimp dumplings. The dumplings, thick with an abundance of dumpling skin come with surprisingly tasty shrimp. Most popular is the hearty butternut squash and shark fin although they should really stop serving this and go watch the movie Sharkwater. The glowing centre buffet islands offer chilled items like ketchupy mango salad, deviled egg, fusilli and subtly spiced cold shrimp. Desserts include an insanely dense and chocolaty cake, sweet and toasty coconut macaroons, refreshing and subtly coconuty jelly cake, exceptionally fresh fruit and ice cream. Dinner runs $20.95 (weekends $23.95), and lunch is $13.95. Photos by Jason Lam]]> http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/woo-buffet-restaurant http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/woo-buffet-restaurant Restaurants Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:00:00 PDT Listed in Restaurants

Karine's, a new eatery in the Village on the Grange food court, offers a rare combination of all-day breakfasts and plentiful vegan treats. I'd never been to the restaurant before, so I was surprised to be greeted familiarly by a smiling lady in a hot pink headscarf. Hand to jutting hip, she purred, "Hi baby. What can I get for you, baby?" Now, grown woman to grown woman, this baby talk is a novelty, and my usual response to the catcalled 'hey baby' -- a middle finger and some stern words -- just doesn't seem appropriate. Still, I'm tempted to give her a good "you don't know me" finger wagging, until I notice the menu. $5 for breakfast? The choice was clear: I make an exception, order and serve myself a tea while Karine fries my eggs. (Is she actually Karine? I don't think so, but if she gets to call me baby, I get to call her Karine.) Bedecked in hot-pink flowers and flashy purple prints, Karine's looks like an exploded fragment of Barbie's Dream Home, but thankfully the specials are geared more towards paper bag princesses than the plastic-doll crowd. At $5, breakfast includes 2 eggs, toast, and a choice of salad, bacon or sausage, plus fries, tropical fruit garnish and unlimited coffee or tea. Fries come in regular and garlic varieties, but unless you're planning to kill a vampire later, I suggest choosing the regular. The breakfast is surprisingly generous, so I have time to read the menu while I devour my crispy bacon and perfectly fried eggs, and scrape raw garlic from over-garnished fries. Ranging from pedestrian standards like the $5 breakfast and sandwich combos, Karine's also offers vegan waffles and burgers, fattoush salads, raspberry turnovers and exotic cheese platters. I decide to get a vegetarian platter to take home, and am greeted this time as "honey-bunny." Although the $8 take-out platter is supposed to include four choices plus salad and pita bread, Karine insists I take more, piling my container high with mushroom-fried and tomato-pesto-topped tofu, tomatoey baked eggplant, a vegan burger patty, a serving of roasted vegetables and a scoop of celery and fava bean salad. Like my breakfast, the platter is a satisfying mix of garlic-dominated flavours, with rich portabella tofu, sweet pesto tofu, perfectly roasted vegetables and a divine baked eggplant the definite highlights. I could do without the greasy, rice-heavy vegan burger, but will definitely be back for more of Karine's tropical-fruit topped combos and sugary sweet talk. ]]> http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/karines http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/karines Restaurants Mon, 05 Oct 2009 00:00:00 PDT Listed in Restaurants

The Grilled Cheese in Kensington Market has taken a simple concept, perfected it and unleashed it on the neighbourhood at just the right time to capitalize on the mass patio exodus that fall instigates. The Grilled Cheese serves variations on traditional plain grilled cheese and nothing but (save for an accompanying daily soup). Their menu ranges from the basic 'Classic' grilled cheese which contains three types of cheese, with varying degrees of sharpness, plus tomato slices and the 'Dill-icious' a dill Havarti, pesto and sun-dried tomato medley that tastes even better than it sounds. Occupying the space formerly taken up by a Belgian waffle shop, The Grilled Cheese was conceptually transplanted from New York to Toronto by Rob Yuill. The simplicity of the idea (reclassifying grilled cheese as a late-night option by having extended opening hours and serving it in take-out containers) is a logical continuation of Toronto's appetite for a diaspora of specialist comfort food. After gourmet burgers, poutine restaurants and cupcake stores what makes more sense than epicure grilled cheese? We stopped by The Grilled Cheese for weekday lunch after a few previous attempts to visit left us staring at closed doors during posted opening hours. In the initial days of opening The Grilled Cheese was a one man operation, but two weeks on staff have been hired and opening hours have expanded to include lunch time. We ordered the Grill Works ($7) and the aforementioned Dill-icious ($6) to have in, plus a Classic ($6) to take out. The grilled cheese here is more of a panini than a pan-fried grease missile, an appreciable feature when each variation is loaded with multiple, molten, gooey cheeses. All orders arrive in takeout boxes and come with tortilla chips plus a side of pickles. The Grill Works, a roasted vegetable and three cheese fusion combining Provolone, Monterrey Jack and Swiss is amply-filled, with the mushrooms, red onions and peppers balancing out the cheese content well. The Dill-icious though, is so tasty that it makes my choice seem bland by comparison. The mix of pesto, dill, onion and sun dried tomato works well with the creaminess of Havarti, infusing it with flavour. Overall, The Grilled Cheese is exactly what you'd hope it would be. The food is good, the bright, wood-paneled interior makes the place feel more like a cozy cabin than a fast-turnover enterprise and it's a great compliment to both I Deal Coffee and Ronnie's Local on Nassau St. Photos by Anna Lisa Sang.]]> http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/the-grilled-cheese http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/the-grilled-cheese Restaurants Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:00:00 PDT Listed in Restaurants

Anatolia is one of the few places where you can find Turkish food, culture and arts in Toronto. Passionate about revealing her homeland, Chef/Owner Ayse Aydemir has built her lively little restaurant in Etobicoke through her personal journey, cumbersome obstacles and inspiration. Technicolour tapestries, ceramics and decorative plates adorn the whitewashed walls. Bright azure beams graze the ceiling, giving the space a much more intimate feel. There is a definitive Mediterranean feeling to this place. Much of the menu is completely foreign to me, and I seek Ayse's help to decode it, despite the English translations. There are no lahmacuns or donairs here. Rather, I am confronted with unfamiliar titles and descriptions that list a slew of ingredients not commonly mixed together: "eggplant with tahini, butter and yoghurt?" Ayse leads her restaurant with a simple approach: "I want to make people happy." Impeccable hospitality and quality food has kept customers returning for the past ten years. Anatolia's approach to cuisine is simple, straightforward and true to tradition, but newer adaptations of classic recipes are also a feature with the introduction of young Head Chef Tin Tin. Most of the dishes include phyllo pastry. Whether it's deep fried, baked or soaked in syrup, phyllo is the foundation of most dishes. This is what Ayse built her mini empire on. Her humble beginnings started in her own apartment kitchen, where Ayse sold her homemade phyllo to restaurants to make ends meat. Anatolia's phyllo is crisp and light, but somehow also dense, with a bite to it, unlike the store bought variety that has all the crisp, but none of the texture. One bite into the Sigare Boregi ($9), fresh phyllo rolled "cigars" with melted feta and fresh parsley and I'm hooked. They are crisp, with a smooth creamy filling. Beyti ($19), phyllo drizzled in tomato sauce, toasted pistachios and melted butter enveloping savoury lamb meat. The rich blend of flavours is unlike anything else that I've ever experienced. Ayse's signature Walnut spread comes in a complex tomato and red pepper reduction, as opposed to the peanut-butter nuttiness that I'm expecting. And Ali Nazik ($19), succulently charred lamb meat on a bed of smooth eggplant puree infused with rich spices, creamy tahini, tomato and butter, is a harmonious blend of flavours. Each dish bursts in flavour and freshness; revealing that a firm commitment to quality and health is not necessarily linked to organic, local or fair trade produce. Rather, Anatolia dishes out quality home cooking with the love and pride that you can taste in every bite. Unbelievable Pistachio Baklava is a must at Anatolia. The buttery hand-rolled phyllo pastry is soaked in a simple syrup of water, sugar and a twist of lemon. The baklava is at once dense and moist without being overly heavy or sweet, a perfect accompaniment to the thimbleful of strong Turkish coffee. We get our fortunes read by Nadire, Ayse's assistant. She peers deep into our dark, grind-filled espresso cups as we are both captivated by her intensity. Based on the shapes that our grinds form, she begins to unravel the tangles of our past and deconstruct our future. It's all very mysterious and absorbing. Who knew that coffee could be so revealing? We are completely entranced and caught up by the insight of a complete stranger. A great ending to an exotic afternoon during which we seemingly journeyed into a distant land, far away from just another strip mall in Etobicoke. Photos by Francis Jonas Yap.]]> http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/anatolia http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/anatolia Restaurants Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:00:00 PDT Listed in Restaurants

Mainsha Plus is a ray of sunshine in the dreary Jane and Finch Plaza. To step inside is to inhale a deep and instant hunger, as racks of BBQ, fried and jerk-sauced chicken tempt would-be-diners with their spicy scents. Luckily, the long line moves quickly, with staff doling sassy smiles and saucy chicken as the Bob Marley soundtrack reminds patrons not to worry about a ting. What's there to worry about? With full meals starting at $3--seriously, $3--Mainsha Plus offers a deep discount on flavour. Inspired by the mouth-watering chicken on display, my sweetheart and I order a king's ransom of Caribbean treats: a jerk chicken, stew chicken, and curry goat meal. Unfortunately , the curry goat has all been gobbled by 7pm, so we settle on curry chicken instead. $17 and 2 minutes later our feast arrives, the scents from the brown take-out bag making it hard to concentrate on the drive home. It's tough not to tear into the sauce-stained bag, but we are rewarded for our patience. The tender pieces of halal chicken would be tasty on their own, but a smoky sweet jerk sauce, earthy bay-leaf stew and sharp yellow curry each stamp indelible brands of delicious on their respective fowl. Soft, earthy of heaps of rice and beans soak up juices, while tiny containers of crisp coleslaw offer the requisite nod to vegetables. We're both hungry, enthusiastic eaters, but even our piggy ways cannot get us through all three containers. So, for $17 we get an amazing dinner AND lunch for two! We wash it down with Mainsha's homemade juice, a pink guava drink that tastes like a tart, tropical Kool-Aid. The Mainsha chain, with additional locations on Dufferin and Eglinton West, has expanded their offering of traditional Caribbean by adding "Plus" to the name, and Khmer food to the Jane/Finch location's menu. Although we didn't try it, the fat pink prawns and fish stews made for some good menu-browsing, and I plan to grab some when I return for Mainsha Plus' Toonie Tuesday special: a mini chicken meal for $2.50, tax included. Mainsha Plus is a place to be proud of: a cultural and culinary marriage that provides comfort food in often uncomfortable surroundings. If neighbourhoods were measured in flavour, then Mainsha Plus proves Jane and Finch is truly rich. ]]> http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/mainsha-plus http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/mainsha-plus Restaurants Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:00:00 PDT Listed in Cafes

Café Princess is where you should be hanging out if you've ever been jealous of where rich kids take their afternoon tea in Korean television dramas. What makes a café a princess café? Well, with the liberal use of pastel colours, delicate flowers, mini teddy bears and Victorian-era design touches, the decorations make the place look...cute, and slightly surreal. Located on the second floor of a Yonge and Finch strip mall with a Noraebang (karaoke), PC Bong (internet café) and Korean restaurants, Café Princess is a quiet place where you can sit on fancy chairs and chat with your "courtiers" about the current state of the country for hours at a time. If you're looking for something less brain draining, but equally intense, board games are available to while away your time - if you fork over $2.50 of your princess change. When the princess stomach started to rumble (mine, of course), there were a variety of hot and cold specialty drinks (~$2-$5), bubble tea ($4-$5), sandwiches (~$5-$9), bagels (~$4-$7), cakes ($5.98), fondue ($14.28), banana splits ($7.98) and ice cream waffles ($8.78) to satisfy my desires. The drinks came quickly. Dunggule tea ($2.78), which apparently is made with the root of a special plant, was disappointing when it arrived in a tea bag and tasted like regular Japanese roasted green tea. The iced green tea latte ($4.98) was better - ice cold, smooth and creamy, with just the right amount of sweetness and green tea bitterness. It hit the spot. Waffles with ice cream and fruit ($8.78), comes with a choice of two flavours, vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, green tea or cookies and cream. The waffle was freshly made, although a bit on the dry side. The fruit was plentiful, with bananas, strawberries, kiwi, and weirdly, honeydew melon. The green tea ice cream was delicious, but I can't say the same about the cookies and cream. There were hardly any cookies, and it was overly sweet. Food at Café Princess is a bit of a miss, but judging from the number of tables and couches, the convenient location must be big factor for the after-dinner crowd of young princes and princesses of North York. Photos by Michelle See.]]> http://www.blogto.com/cafes/cafe-princess http://www.blogto.com/cafes/cafe-princess Cafes Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:00:00 PDT Listed in Bars

If you go to Suba Nightclub at College and Spadina, you should go after midnight and you should be young and it will also probably be helpful if you are slightly (to fully) hard of hearing. If you go around 11:30pm like I did, you will be the only patron there and there won't be any other bodies in the space to absorb the WALL OF SOUND coming from the live DJs. You won't be able to order a drink because the bartender can't hear you, and you will really start to wonder what you are doing there. "SPICED RUM!" I hollered at the bartender, both of us rendered deaf by the wall-rattling decibel of the music, "SPICED rum!" After a few minutes of this, he at last looked at me with dawning comprehension and mouthed, "RUM AND COKE?" So the first thing is, don't order anything fancy unless you have a pen and paper or another non-verbal way of communicating it. I would've liked to sit but the only seats were around a small scattering of tables near the speakers from which The Wall Of Sound was booming. The prospect of standing at the bar drinking white rum and Coke and destroying the last tenuous fibres of my eardrums was daunting. But that isn't to say that Suba isn't a perfectly enjoyable place to be. The thing is, I am, like, 90 years old. I am as old as the hills. But you - you are young! I am sure you are young and you like to party. Suba is for you! Me... I like cats and housecoats and I have arthritis in one toe. I'd rather sit in front of the TV with some moonshine. Back in the 20th century, though, when I was your age, I used to go to clubs like Suba and I used to have a swell time. A Latin club on the cusp of Little Italy, Suba has live DJs every night (Wed-Sun), spinning R&B, reggae, hip-hop, salsa and merengue, and a variety of events. These are theme nights for the most part, with pricey cover charges, so be sure to check out their website at subaclub.ca, or their Facebook page, "House Your Body", before you go. Most of Suba's event posters have "Dress code in effect" splashed across them, so the bouncers won't let you in if you look like a total slob. But even if you're shelling out $20-$30 to get in, the vibe up in the club is decidedly more after-hours club than swanky ballroom - unadorned and virtually furniture-free, Suba's bare bones space is designed to house noise and dancing bodies, and noise and dancing bodies only. If you're in your early twenties and you get dressed up to go out on College St and you recognize any of the following names: DJ Edwin "El Sonido", DJ Johan "El Paisa", DJ Picante, or MC Baby Black... then grab your hair straightener and go have fun before you become an old fart like me! If you're on the other side of 25, though, and your style is more jukeboxes and irony, you might just want to trot on down a block to Augusta Ave and see what's shaking in Kensington Market instead. Writing by Jessica McGann]]> http://www.blogto.com/bars/suba http://www.blogto.com/bars/suba Bars Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:00:00 PDT Listed in Cafes

Sam James does some amazing things with coffee... like making it taste like blueberry. He also makes cappuccinos with heart designs on top, so whatever additional coffee knowledge or skill he possesses, he's already won us over with these two tricks. When Alyssa orders a mochaccino from him this week at his brand new, self-titled coffee bar at Harbord and Clinton, she asks if it will come with a fancy design on top. "You betcha," says Sam. Hook. Line. Sinker.Coffee people like to give Sam James accolades, sometimes even in the form of official awards (like Canadian Central Regional Barista Champion). They throw his name around like celebrity (coffee celebrity!), with top-notch institutions like Cherry Bomb, Manic and Hank's. "Cherry Bomb is where it became fun," he says, of the Roncesvalles café where he got his start as espresso-making champ. His propensity for coffee fun definitely contributes to an endearing presence and personality (and probably those cappuccino designs) but fun aside, there's a science experiment on the counter. "What's that thing?" I ask."That's a siphon," he answers, pointing to the "siphon" option on the menu ($5.31 for a cup). It's categorized under "old school" coffee. He's happy to launch into an explanation of what, exactly, the siphon does to produce a cup. I can't quite catch all the details (aside from the fact that it's like a manual clover) but I'm really happy that Sam James has taken the time to learn them. "Do you want to try some?" he asks. You betcha.Everyone inside the tiny café (with almost no seating) gathers around to watch the siphon in action. We're totally enthralled. "Did you invent that thing?" asks one particularly excitable customer whose clothes are drying at the Laundromat across the street. "No," says Sam, grinding the coffee beans in a manual grinder mounted on the wall. "This was invented around 1840."Each observer gets a taste of the siphon coffee and is told to save some for later because the taste changes as it cools down. The first sip is a deliciously smooth and light but flavourful bit of coffee. It's made with an Ethiopian bean from Toi et Moi, a coffee company in Montreal. "Everyone assumed I would use Intelligentsia," says Sam, "but I wanted something different, more local."While we're waiting for our siphon brew to cool, we try out Alyssa's mocha (the one with the heart design) and my Americano ($2.30). They go down so smooth that the caffeine kick seems to come out of nowhere. Alyssa starts to feel like she's on drugs. But you know what's really trippy? That siphon coffee. It's cooled down. It's fruity and floral now, subtle as tea. Sam comes over to ask about it. "Can you taste the blueberry?" he asks. Good Lord, that's what it is. S.J. is right on the money.The excitable customer finishes up some blueberry coffee of her own and throws in her two cents on the operation. "As a resident of this 'hood, I'm excited," she says, earnestly. "There's nothing north of College." "Really?" I ask, naming a few coffee places off the top of my head. I don't doubt that Sam James is a welcome addition to the area but doubt, instead, the necessity. Excitable says that there's nothing good at Bloor and Clinton, and College is too far if you're just stepping out for a cup. Sam James is top of the line and right-outside-her-front-door-convenient.So we're a spoiled bunch when it comes to coffee and I blame Sam James. Seriously, give me a coffee that tastes like blueberries and I'm going to start to think I can have anything I want. Photos by Alyssa Bistonath]]> http://www.blogto.com/cafes/sam-james-coffee http://www.blogto.com/cafes/sam-james-coffee Cafes Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:00:00 PDT Listed in Restaurants

RaviSoups offers a little refuge. Alas, autumn is upon us again and it's time to pack up picnics and patios for yet another year. As a balmy summer shifts to cooler autumn temperatures, there is definitely a need for hearty, soul-warming comfort food. Ravi Soups has been creating a buzz since opening last year, receiving awards and widespread acclaim. Owner/Chef Ravi Kanagarajah draws inspiration from his 13 years experience as the saucier and reknowned "soup master" of Mildred Pierce in creating a restaurant closer to his roots. Spurred by the tradition of making "kool" in his native Sri Lanka, whereby family and neighbours gather to make a rich seafood stew; Ravi views soup as a symbol of family bonding and a way to bring people closer together. But I wonder how an enterprise catering to blurry- eyed partygoers and suburbanites seeking a cheap meal post- clubbing receives such high praises? Cynicism aside, we walk into Ravi Soups late in the afternoon to find a simple interior occupied by students and nearby office workers. A cash counter up front and a quick, eat-in bar looks out onto the street. There is also a massive wooden communal table and a quaint back patio for sit-in diners with more time to spare.An uncanny assortment of menu items like Chicken Hot Pot and Apricot Curry soup, along with a plethora of perfectly pressed wraps catch the eye. Each item bears a straightforward Western name, but ingredients are inspired from the Far East. Unaware of the sizeable portions to come, we order two soup and sandwich combos ($10.99). Impossibly creamy, lactose-free Crab Corn Chowder is a rich blend of spices, fresh corn niblets, coconut milk, frayed crabmeat, topped with crispy shallots and strewn with fresh Thai basil. At once spicy, salty and sweet, all of Ravi's dishes evoke this delicate balance of varying flavours. A Pork Shoulder Wrap with slowly roasted pork, edamame, slaw, baby spinach in a tangy tamarind ketchup is nearly bursting at the seams. All meat served is marinated overnight in Ravi's secret blend of spices, slowly cooked for six hours until the morsels are juicy and melt- in- your mouth tender. The succulent Curry Lamb Wrap packs an electrifying pungent curry punch, which is muted by generous chunks of sweet potato and stuffed with baby spinach. Vegan Porcini Mushroom soup is also miraculously creamy. Blended mushrooms, barley grains and a splash of truffle oil raise this seemingly simple soup to new culinary heights. There are plenty of vegan and vegetarian-friendly options, with substitutions possible for most items, as they use a strictly vegetarian stock. One bite into their buttery, cheddar Cheese Biscuit ($1.50), with its flaky crust and warm interior, and I'm convinced that RaviSoups will be joining my regular lunchtime repertoire. When Ravi's not satisfying the lunchtime lineups on Adelaide, he's overseeing the completion of his second location along West Queen West beside the Drake Hotel. Photos by Casey Cunningham]]> http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/ravisoups http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/ravisoups Restaurants Sat, 19 Sep 2009 00:00:00 PDT Listed in Baked Goods

Pancho's Bakery is a godsend. By way of explanation, here are four main reasons why I love this place: 1. It's simple. I know exactly what I'll find on the inside because it says so on the outside: Mexican Bread. I seriously find the idea of a straight-up bread bakery enticing, and kudos to Pancho's because it takes confidence to build a business around one simple item. There are about a dozen baskets full of fresh bread, mostly sweet and of slight variation. Many items involve cinnamon or marmalade. We bag vanilla conchas (which also come in chocolate), cinnamon buns and orejas (something we've never tried before). On our way out, I notice (in the nick of time!) a handmade sign taped to the counter listing tamales and chorizo. These items are stashed in a freezer and out of sight (so as not to disrupt the bread coherence?) and I feel relieved to have noticed them, and yet burdened at the same time because I'm going to have to make an additional purchase and I'm out of cash. 2. The service is charming. We get our tamales for free. I try to pay for them with a credit card but Pancho's only accepts debit (and cash). I guess we clearly appear disappointed at the idea of leaving the tamales behind, because the young guy behind the counter says it's okay and hands us the bag of tamales on the house. I'm not saying it takes a freebie for the service to be good, but it sure doesn't hurt. There's a definite language barrier between him and us, but we manage to glean minimal info: His family is from Michoacan where they have plenty of Pancho's Bakeries (est. 1927). Pancho is the founder and this young man's father. Everything is baked on site and the place has been up and running (in Toronto) for about two months now, supplying Mexican food joints around the city including La Tortilleria. 3. Bang for your buck. This place has offerings that hover around a dollar. There are even a few pastries for forty-five cents. This pleases me because it means that Pancho's Bakery is doing something right and getting a lot of business (you can't make a living off of forty-five cent pastries in less you're selling a lot of them, I imagine). It also pleases me because it means I can purchase a pastry for forty-five cents, which feel like a miracle because it's not 1958. The conchas are a buck fifty, tax included. The tamales are two bucks each and it looks like a lot of work has gone into them, certainly handcrafted. 4. It's delicious. The day I go to Pancho's is the day I eat too much. The vanilla conchas are gigantic. They should probably be split between friends or enjoyed over time, but I put one away on my own in twenty minutes. That gloriously fresh, sweet and soft Mexican bread gives me a stomachache for a short while (because, really, it should be split between friends or enjoyed over time). I warm up the tamales a couple hours later but can find no one to share them with, so I finish them on my own. But I have no regrets. They're comforting, with ever-so-gently-spiced pork and chicken mole.]]> http://www.blogto.com/bakery/panchos-bakery http://www.blogto.com/bakery/panchos-bakery Baked Goods Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:00:00 PDT Listed in Restaurants

Taste of Tandooree, the new Indian restaurant in Parkdale , has barely been open for a month, and it's already become a pleasing fixture of my week. Its position on Queen West, just west of Dufferin, makes for an ideal mid-way point in the inevitable segue stumble under the bridge that results from a westward bound bar crawl along Queen. Until now, Parkdale hasn't had the best selection of late night eating options for the decidedly unsober. Finding yourself there, bleary eyed and empty bellied at 2 a.m usually meant a coin toss between pizza and the convenience store. Thankfully, Taste of Tandooree has interceded. The neon 'open' sign of this canteen style, unadorned gem stays on until 6 in the morning and it's a welcome sight indeed. A decently varied but not overwhelming selection of in-house made, traditional Indian food makes up the menu. Limiting the options to pakoras, samosas, curry and naan, as well as a small but enticing dessert menu keeps the deliberation to a minimum and the food turnover high. We start with a plain lassi ($2) which is refreshing and not overly sweet. I order the Karahi Gosht ($7.99) which is made with goat and generously ladled with enough sauce to keep our accompanying tandoori and butter naan breads ($1.25 each) well occupied. As the pistachio kulfi is sold out, I get the gulab jamen ($2.50 for 2 pieces) instead. It turns out to be a fortunate substitution. The dough-like, deep-fried milk balls are loaded with cardamom and have just enough delicious rose scented syrup on top. They're also accompanied by a generous side of what looks and tastes like a delicious portion of payesh (milky rice dessert). Getting change from $13 for a very tasty drink, entree and naan combination (that is too much food for me to finish!) means I'm inevitably lured back the next week for more value-for-money eats. It's not a habit that I'll be in a hurry to break. Take away is available. Photos by Jeremy North-Lewis]]> http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/taste-of-tandooree http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/taste-of-tandooree Restaurants Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:00:00 PDT Listed in Bars

Jezebel Burlesque club is a great idea in theory. Until I went, I had no reservations about Ossington's burgeoning transformation into a destination strip, and a titillating concept bar like Jezebel seemed to fill a unique niche. Surprisingly, visions of Toronto's club district filled my head when I walked in the door. Past the beefy trio of bouncers standing in the alley behind Ossington, replete with headsets and clipboards, and the girl at the door collecting the $10 cover, we stepped into a scene straight from any one of Adelaide or Richmond's upscale locales. A group of young ladies in telltale bachelorette party garb were going crazy for the DJ's remixes of popular songs in the Usher/Shakira/Black-Eyed Peas spectrum. Near the bar, a handful of young men in tank tops and fedoras were eying them wolfishly. My companion - as stout an indie fan/dive bar patron as you'll ever find - wondered aloud if what we had loved about Ossington was gone forever. I took the old person's high road - not begrudging the young their youth: "Look at them," I said. "They're beautiful, they look amazing in those outfits, and they love Usher - so what?" But in my heart of hearts, I was thinking about gentrification and wondering if all urban development, ultimately, culminates in Top 40s dance clubs. On the Ossington strip, do all roads lead to John and Adelaide? Is its transformation to destination strip just an inevitable trajectory to homogeny? Nowhere is this transformation more apparent than at Jezebel - a dressed-up, sparkling jewel of a bar lined with plush benches, mirrored surfaces, and twinkling chandeliers. Up until very recently, this space was home to Baby Dolls - a seedy, lost-in-time strip bar, where wooden tavern chairs congregated around a rickety pole, and the beers were advertised in neon. Like Jezebel, Baby Dolls was also in the business of dancing ladies and flesh, but with no pretension to art, or homage to the bells-and-whistles routines of strippers past - the original burlesque dancers. If Baby Dolls was the licensed adult entertainment bar that fit the Ossington of old, then Jezebel is the licensed adult entertainment bar that fits it now. Warned repeatedly that it is impossible to get into Jezebel, I aimed for a timely 10:30 arrival, since my request to get on the guestlist went unanswered. We went in right away, only to learn that the first of two burlesque numbers doesn't usually go on until 1am. I bought two drinks for a cool $24 and couldn't help but do some quick profit/loss analysis around the cover charge, drinks prices, and how long it would be until I saw a lady in sequins. There was plenty of seating available around the stage, where the plush benches curve around small tables, perfect for 5 or 6 people, but we were told that on busy nights, these niches get reserved quickly by high-rollers looking to splurge on bottle service (in the $400 range for a two bottle minimum). Burlesque numbers are put on every night by the bar's in-house troupe, but have yet to be seen by anyone I know who's been to the club. After a couple of hours of wallet-lightening, and not a feather in sight, I couldn't help but reflect that you got more bang for your buck at Baby Dolls. There may have been no art to it, but at least there was almost always someone on stage. By the time we had to leave, the increasingly gregarious bachelorettes were still the only girls we'd seen dancing. In the works for Jezebel are international performers from places like Crazy Horse and Moulin Rouge, part of co-owners Giancarlo Spataro and Michael King's plans to bring some of that old world, Las Vegas glamour to our cold, puritan city. I love the concept behind Jezebel - a lavish, retro, dress-up party, paying homage to the time of lavalieres and bathtub gin. But with short, infrequent performances, and a growing reputation for over-promising and under-delivering, it has yet to distinguish itself from the many velvet-rope clubs downtown. Writing by Jessica McGann]]> http://www.blogto.com/bars/jezebel http://www.blogto.com/bars/jezebel Bars Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:00:00 PDT Listed in Restaurants

Traditional Korean Restaurant (aka Wonjo), is a gem in the midst of a multitude of self-proclaimed best Pork Bone Soups, Bibimbops and Soon Tofu restaurants in North York. Though the name may not be unique, who needs to be when you are serving 5-alarm spicy soul-warming traditional Korean food? This modest restaurant is the epitome of hole-in-the-wall. It was difficult to find, as we passed by a couple times before realizing it was nestled in a small plaza flanked on each side by a pediatrician and a Chinese herbal store. Stepping into Traditional Korean Restaurant felt like visiting a family home, with baby photos adorning the walls and '90s pop songs on the stereo. The Wednesday evening crowd was made up of tables of young friends and older men, all Korean-speaking, of course. Despite there being only one waitress, service was attentive and courteous. The homemade banchans (side dishes) arrived quickly and were delicious. We immediately inhaled all the kimchi, sweet dried soybeans (our favourite), cucumbers, spicy pickles, pickled radishes and bean sprouts. Wonjo serves different versions of soon tofu (raw bean curd stew) ($7.08), beef, pork, kimchi, seafood, oyster and for those not into spice, mildly spicy stew. All come with purple rice cooked in a stone bowl. The oyster soon tofu came bubbling hot - always a good indicator of quality. The tofu was soft and silky, with a smooth taste. Caution to those adverse to spice - this is one of the hottest Korean stews I have ever tasted. I almost broke out in sweat, tears and swollen lips. Next came the cuttlefish and noodles in hot sauce ($10.18) to share. The noodles came with a mix of tender cuttlefish, onions, herbs, green onions and sesame seeds. This dish again had a strong spicy kick, but with a sharp sweetness to it. The delicate, silky noodles made the dish oddly comforting... for people who can't live without hot peppers. If you can't handle too much spice, other menu items that come mild include bibimbap (rice with sautéed vegetable, meat and a fried egg) ($7.08), pork bone soup ($7.08), cold buckwheat noodles ($8.55), jajangmyun (noodles with black bean paste, meat and vegetables) ($5.30), and of course galbi and bulgolgi, both for a very reasonable price. For those who like to know what they're getting into, the menu has colourful photos and descriptions in English, Korean, and Chinese. Come spring, Traditional Korean Restaurant serves their special Spring Bibimbap, which uses "spring" vegetables/wildflowers like fernbrakes and dandelions along with their regular vegetables ($10). From what I've heard, it's definitely worth a return to try out. Hours: 11am - 11pm Mon to Sat Photos by Michelle See.]]> http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/traditional-korean http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/traditional-korean Restaurants Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:00:00 PDT Listed in Restaurants

Osteria Ciceria e Tria feels like a remote Southern Italian escape, far removed from the bustling financial district just blocks away. Heralding our entrance are two sculptural relief lion heads high above the demure black and white awning. Through the double glass doors, we step into a style-conscious interior where modern architectural design collides with rustic Italian charm. Exposed brick, unfinished wood planks and exposed air ducts give the interior a rigid industrial presence, which is softened by the country style furnishings and sentimental touches. Owner Cosimo Mammoliti delicately ties in black and white family portraits, affixes common Italian names plates (including his own) to every table, along with a quirky course map of the Giro de Italia to the main wall. Everything evokes a sense of family pride and is a true testament to his rich Italian heritage. Oversized canary yellow lamps shine upon the communal table, as if it were an architect's blank drawing board. In the back end of the restaurant is nonna, mechanically hand pressing orrecchietti, pasta distinctive to Puglia. Sure, the setup is all a bit staged, but the fresh pasta is delicious and she's adorable to watch, so who can really blame them? A contemporary twist on a traditional Italian tavern, we start the meal with a sampling of assagini (small tastes). There is an intriguing play of flavours in the tapas-sized portions of five different dishes ($15 per person). We split a one-person order between the two of us. The Carpaccio di Tonno, paper-thin slices of tuna with crunchy slivers of fennel are infused with fragrant mint and lemon, is a stark contrast to the Arrosto d'Agnello, a succulent fatty lamb stew. Similarly, Crostini cu l'Alice, marinated fresh anchovy with roasted bell peppers atop a crunchy wedge of baguette, has little in common with the Pitta di Patate, a savoury baked potato gratin. The single drawback to the medley is the dish of mini meatballs marinara, which bear a paste-like consistently. We try a duo of pastas from the menu ($15). The Orrecchiette e Cime di Rapa, springy short pasta with fresh rappini, sardines, garlic, dusted with bread crumbs and is simply tossed in a high-quality olive oil. The Ravioli di Branzino, seabass stuffed ravioli with clams arrives in a light seafood broth peppered with vegetables. Both pastas are daringly minimal, but equally successful in highlighting the flavour of each ingredient. The simplicity of these dishes remind me of home cooked meals from the Italian countryside, where fresh farm produce is combined with whatever else is at hand to create some truly memorable meals. Our shared plate of Carpaccio di Purpo, octopus carpaccio with a beet side salad are also deceivingly simple. The sushi-quality octopus is sliced thin and doused in a strong olive oil with a citrus-scented potato salad. Both are subtle in flavour, and the chewy texture of the mollusk stands in nice juxtaposition to the starchy density of the boiled potatoes. Clearly, there is a master blue print slowly being unveiled here. Through Chef Giovana Alonzi's subtle and innovative execution of classic home style cooking, Osteria Ciceri e Tria is taking cautious strides in distinguishing itself apart from the omnipresent Terroni enterprise. Photos by Francis Jonas Yap.]]> http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/osteria_ciceri_e_tria http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/osteria_ciceri_e_tria Restaurants Fri, 11 Sep 2009 00:00:00 PDT Listed in Restaurants

Raaw Japanese Cuisine, a slickly decorated, upscale sushi restaurant opened in Liberty Village in July. The interior of Raaw is in stark opposition to most sushi restaurants, being dark-walled and dimly lit by stylized light fixtures that look like LED neurons. Apart from the lighting and bright orange chairs, the inside of Raaw is mostly black and minimal, giving it more of a bar-like appearance. The main menu is extensive; it includes all the anticipated donburi/udon/maki choices but also includes a lot of themed variation (tempura ice-cream, sushi pizza) and is so substitution/customization friendly that even an orthorexic would be well-catered for. I was fortunate enough to go through a protracted sushi brat phase five years ago when my Japanese friend, then studying in Vancouver, took me to a succession of her favourite local sushi restaurants. It didn't take long for me to become accustomed to sushi restaurants since they're more ubiquitous than ATMs, cheaper than Subway, and friendlier than your favourite bartender (she would often order for both of us in Japanese, immediately endearing her to staff). The experience gave me a partiality to Japanese food so strong that when the occasional craving strikes it feels akin to a medical condition. The nearest place that deals in sashimi, even if it looks sub-par, is the only antidote. The timing of our visit to Raaw worked out well. It had been months since my last sushi dose so I was more than ready for Raaw when we walked into the restaurant on a bright Thursday afternoon. Arriving at noon, we look through the main menu before deciding to order from the separate, more concise lunch menu. Happily, Raaw haven't eschewed the ever-reliable bento box option from their menu so for $10 you can sample the teriyaki, gyoza, rolls and tempura. We order a salmon teriyaki bento box with brown rice ($2 extra) and the chicken teriyaki lunch meal with California rolls ($9) to share. The chicken teriyaki is presented as a sliced chicken breast, drizzled with sauce, with a dome of rice and a side salad. The chicken is well-cooked and sits on top of nicely sautéed rings of onion, which are a lot more palatable than the standard heap of watery bean sprouts that usually accompany teriyaki meals. The brown rice tastes fine but has an odd chemical-like smell that's a bit off-putting. The bento box starts off well; the tempura is fresh and crisp without too much batter and the gyoza have a tasty chicken filling. The salmon used in the teriyaki is almost half fatty grey fish and the California rolls that come with both meals are standard issue, bland rolls with artificial crab. Lunch at Raaw is not bad, overall. The ingredients are fresh, the service is fast and for an average of $10 for a combination meal, the lunch is reasonable. I probably wouldn't make a specific return trip there but if I was in Liberty Village already I'd head back to Raaw and try something from the main menu. Photos by Anna Lisa Sang]]> http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/raaw http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/raaw Restaurants Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:00:00 PDT Listed in Restaurants

MoRoCo Chocolat is a chocolate lover's paradise nestled in the heart of Yorkville. With hundreds of sinful chocolate concoctions, there's seemingly no limit to Chef Iris Roteliuk's imagination. A dark loungy environment serving up tantalizing treats, this chocolatier is bringing the sexy back to plain old cacao. Walking through the boutique is like opening a jewelery box of delights. Adopting a clean all white concept, tempting goodies stock the streamlined shelves. Technicolour macarons are gently stowed away in dainty pull out glass display cases. This is not a place where baked squares are served on parchment paper. Instead, the delectable treats are presented with a touch of finesse. I'm utterly immobile in front of the chocolate fountain. Watching the continuous flow of chocolate cascading over tier after tier is quite seductive, and reinforces why chocolate is such a potent aphrodisiac. The shop opens up on to a grandiose lounge. Plush velvet banquettes, chandeliers and offbeat sculptural busts are all very bourgeois. However, the stuffiness of neo Rococo décor is offset by quirky twists found at every corner. Courteous staff members are quick to point out the pièce de résistance: a complete tea set suspended upside down from the ceiling of one of the woman's bathroom stalls. General Manager, Terry Hughes describes it best: "This place is really like Alice and Wonderland meets Rock and Roll!" We recline on stylish daybeds out on the sun-drenched patio. After settling in, I begin to notice the kitschy touches thrown in at every corner. The frog stools, the garden gnomes dancing across the astro turf hedges and the oversized Elizabethan throne all manage to bring a smile to my face. MoRoCo offers an extensive menu of French bistro fare for lunches, brunches and light dinners, as well as a full-out high tea service if given 24 hours notice. However, we are here for one thing only: the chocolate. If you have been fortunate enough to visit Angelina in its heyday, long before it became a prime tourist trap in Paris, then you're already familiar with the luxurious Parisian pastime of sipping chocolate in swanky surroundings. Of MoRoCo's three sipping chocolates, I try the dark ($12 for a small pot). My espresso cup of velvety Valrhona chocolate is sinfully delicious. In between sips of melted bliss, I bite into a Caramel Roasted Pecan chocolate ($3.75). The gooey caramel oozes forth from its protective chocolate shell, a nice compliment to the bitter pecan. I sit back to enjoy the sugar rush and lapse into a surreal state, completely lost in a swirling Willy Wonka wonderland. Greedy gulps of the Frozen White Queen ($16) further my buzz. A frothy, frozen, white chocolate martini heavily spiked with Cointreau, vanilla vodka and complete with an edible chocolate stirrer is sure to win over even those lacking a sweet tooth. I try a trio of salty caramel, pistachio and lavender cassis macarons ($2 each). In the past few months I've made it my personal mission to scour the entire city looking for the perfect macaron. A smooth ganache sandwiched by two perfect meringue disks that are crisp and break upon contact, but do not compromise on its dense, chewy texture. While I still vividly remember Pierre Herme and La Durée in Paris, the ones at MoRoco are pretty good. The consistency of the ganache in the Lavender Cassis is like sugary jam and the taste of the pistachio is overly perfume-like, but the salty caramel is just right. We also try their chocolate-vanilla twist frozen yoghurt sprinkled with chocolate pearls. Light, tart and ice cold, it comes as a shocking contrast to the indulgent sampling of creamy chocolates beforehand. To top off the gluttonous buffet, we are presented with a smorgasbord of house made marshmallows, dark chocolate petals, warm caramel and chocolate sauces with an antique Mayan inspired burning torch. All of this hoopla is to transform s'mores ($22), the ultimate campfire treat, into the most exquisitely interactive experience for two. An ingenious way of bonding with a partner over a warm flame or breaking the ice on a frigid first date. MoRoCo certainly brings out the childlike whimsy in even the most jaded. Whether it's the secluded patio, the handsome interior or the individual bathrooms complete with light dimmers, there's something undeniably romantic and wonderfully magical about this place. Photos by Francis Jonas Yap. ]]> http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/moroco-chocolat http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/moroco-chocolat Restaurants Sun, 06 Sep 2009 00:00:00 PDT Listed in Cafes

Cream Tangerine Café is in the process of workin' it out. They've got big plans for their big space and are busy smoothing out a shtick for September. Lisa Shuttleworth, owner around here, has visions of a rentable space for community groups, after school clubs, art openings, and classes of various kinds (starting with Yoga this fall, taught by Lisa herself). Alyssa and I are finishing up lunch, and Lisa's joined us at the table to talk about her new cafe inside The Great Hall at Queen and Dovercourt. "And I'm an Ayurvedic nutritionist," she says, "so I thought of doing something where I read people and tell them what their body needs and then have juices and teas available to suit those needs." She pauses before continuing, "I think people would like this because we all enjoy talking about ourselves, right?" Right. It's true. We laugh a bit. Much of Cream Tangerine is still in the works, but its far established itself as a fresh little café. The space is big with a bit of furniture, high ceilings, lots of natural light and paintings on the walls. New art goes up every second Thursday (which means there is also an opening every second Thursday). They've got free WiFi, which means they've also got a lot of lone customers on those Macintosh computers and the place is very quiet because work is getting done. The fridge is packed with nice looking ingredients ready to be assembled into a sandwich with fresh bread baked in house (with dough imported from Alcoa bakery). Coffee is brewed from Organica (an organic and fair trade brew) and Barzula beans, the blend rotating every week. Emily (the girl behind the counter that day) bakes most of the cupcakes and muffins and Lisa bakes the sweet and savoury croissants (a gigantic ham and cheese croissant looks rather enticing). I ask Lisa where she learned to make croissants and she almost looks confused by the question. She shrugs her shoulders, "I don't know, I just..." Me, I'm rather intimidated by the process of baking a croissant, but I guess for some people (for Lisa!) it ain't no thing. For lunch I had a turkey sandwich, slightly toasted with mustard and shredded cheese, thick slices of meat and lots of dill. Alyssa had a tiny slice of quiche with spinach and bacon, quite rich and dense and not so eggy. Both plates had a side salad with sesame seeds and avocado. Our meals are simple with a just a few ingredients, but everything is fresh and energizing, so I feel good when I'm through. It's enough for me to return for one of those Ayurvedic consultations and juice, especially since I get to talk about myself! Photos by Alyssa Bistonath. ]]> http://www.blogto.com/cafes/cream-tangerine http://www.blogto.com/cafes/cream-tangerine Cafes Sat, 05 Sep 2009 00:00:00 PDT Listed in Restaurants

When I ask Tom, one of the owners of the Cabbagetown ice-cream parlour Sweet Creamery, what inspired him to develop his obscene, peanut butter sucker-punch sundae 'The Parliament' he pauses and smiles. "Well, I'm American..." he says wryly, acknowledging the mandatory exposure to both the nutty paste and the obscenely indulgent ice cream desserts that comes with growing up south of the border. As it turns out, he actually recreated a favourite sundae from the U.S restaurant chain 'Friendly's' that he'd been hankering for since moving to Canada. His innocuous announcement of nationality actually has more significance in the founding of Sweet Creamery than you'd expect. Cabbagetown that the area lacked an independent ice-cream parlour, they set to work surveying residents to figure out what would make the perfect store. Which independent ice-cream supplier should they use (Kawartha Dairy won out)? Which flavours would people most like them to carry? Tom named every sundae on the menu he developed after a different Cabbagetown street and Emilio attended George Brown chef school in preparation for handling the baking section of the operation. During the first week of opening, local volunteers even helped to get the place up and running, serving customers through the initial rush period. My motivation for visiting to Sweet Creamery was mostly fueled by hearing rumours of a place that made the ultimate sundae for the peanut butter addicted and I'm extremely happy to say that said rumours are well-grounded. 'The Parliament' is a stupendous combination of a waffle basket lined with hot chocolate fudge sauce, peanut sauce (which is imported from Massachusetts), filled with chocolate peanut butter ice cream and topped with whipped cream and Reese's Pieces. My friend gets 'The Carlton', an equally irresistible medley of both cherry and raspberry cheesecake ice creams, hot fudge sauce, chocolate sauce, whipped cream and chocolate chips in a waffle basket. Sweet Creamery also serves in-house made gelato and sorbets, tarts, shortcake and cupcakes as well as the aforementioned Kawartha ice cream. After having a sundae there, I'll have a hard time ordering anything else in future but the baking and the gelato look pretty outstanding too. Definitely worth a special trip. All sundaes cost $7.50 Photos by Emma McIntyre.]]> http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/sweet-creamery http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/sweet-creamery Restaurants Fri, 04 Sep 2009 00:00:00 PDT Listed in Restaurants

Bamburger, which opened in May on Yonge a few blocks south of Eglinton subway station, is a place I'd heard mixed opinions of. Finding the best burger in Toronto seems to have become a more common pursuit since the glut of 'gourmet' burger establishments sprung up as part of the apparently recession-ushered trend towards trussed-up comfort food began a few years ago. Bamburger can certainly be grouped in with the not-much-change-from-$10 crowd that includes Burger Shoppe and Gourmet Burger, though it does have its own distinguishing features. Although everything on the menu is available for take out, Bamburger, with its plentiful booth seating and wine selection, is more geared towards eating in than its fellow ground chuck peers. Bamburger also eschews offering any signature burgers in favour of total customization. This means that everything from the bun to the type of condiments has to be chosen individually (horseradish fans rejoice!). While this theoretically means that everyone can construct their fantasy burger, regardless of how bizarre their tastes (potential toppings include tzatziki, mango chutney, curry sauce or pineapple) it also means that anything above the $7.95 basic burger, even pickles, will cost you extra. It should be noted, however, that fries are included in the price of any basic burger and substituting onion rings etc. is only $1 extra. Paying per topping seems to be the crux of most of the grumbling about Bamburger that I've heard and certainly, if you object to the notion on principle, you'd be better going elsewhere. On the night we visit Bamburger, we're plenty hungry and very much in the mood for constructing our own gorge-burgers. My friend orders original beef Bamburger ($7.95) with extra blue cheese ($1.75) brie ($1.75), maple bacon ($1.75) with a side of sweet potato fries ($1). Our photographer gets the portobello mushroom sandwich ($9.95), which is essentially two sizable grilled portobello mushrooms stuffed into a whole wheat bun with red onion, provolone, tomato and garlic mayonnaise, served with fries. She also adds a generous side of spicy chipotle mayonnaise ($1.35) for dipping. Someone has to get the double-sized patty BamBamburger ($11.50), so my friend gamely volunteers, electing for a whole wheat bun and sweet potato fries on the side. I go for the original Bamburger, topped with the house cheddar sauce ($1.75) and buttery mushrooms ($1.75). The food arrives quickly and we're all pleased with the crisp but not desiccated sweet potato fries. The BamBamburger is impressive looking and has the heft to defeat all but the most determined burger fiend. The burger patties themselves are well cooked, neither too oily or too dry but the meat could do with a little more seasoning as it's slightly bland. As the desserts are all made in-house and are available in either regular sized or a post-burger mini-portion for 99 cents, we all follow up with a second course. The mini brownie is bigger than we expected and comes topped with Kawartha vanilla ice cream. The desserts are all delicious, which comes as a welcome surprise from a restaurant that specializes in the savoury. The brownie, which is moist and densely chocolatey, emerges as our group favourite. The ultimate combo ($2.95) is comprised of miniature versions of the hot fudge sundae, apple Betty and brownie. After bracing ourselves for possible disappointment, we all leave Bamburger satisfied. It might not be as worthy of a special trip as Gourmet Burger, but with the myriad of possible variations on the basic burger that it offers, Bamburger is at least a notable contender. Photos by Emma McIntyre.]]> http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/bamburger http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/bamburger Restaurants Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 PDT Listed in Restaurants

The Annex Live sees some pretty slow Mondays. Entering with a group of hungry friends, I was surprised to be the only patrons in the shiny, streamlined dining room. Forgoing the loneliness of sleek black tables and an empty stage (home to local jazz bands other nights of the week), we opted for the sunny back patio, a bright oasis tucked behind the dark bar. Although most dishes on The Annex Live's menu read like mains, a coy note at the bottom reminds patrons that all selections are appetizer-sized. Now, finding ways to get recession-weary diners to spend more seems like a bad idea to me, but I believe that whatever the economic climate only two things justify asking patrons to dig deep for each dish: 1. call it 'tapas' and 2. make damn sure it's good. The Annex Live doesn't take either approach, but does temper the financial sting by offering a Prix Fix menu. With choices of Watermelon or Mixed Greens Salad, Yukon Gold Gnocchi or Egg Yolk Tagliarini, Roasted Sea Scallops or Cornish Hen, plus a selection of premium ice creams, the $25 Prix Fixe provides variety and good value, prompting most of us to order it. Our dinner begins on a low note. Watermelon in the Watermelon Salad is too mushy and bland to pair it with a ricotta that bears the same description. I had assumed the mint and jalapeno infused oil would provide the necessary kick, but jalapeno is barely-there, and the mint cannot carry this dish alone. Seeking but never finding that flavourful bite, I find myself wishing the chef had a taken a cue from The Globe's Sebastian Centner and spiked this dish with punchier feta and balsamic instead. The Mixed Green Salad is similarly mild, verdant and fresh with a hint of citrus, but noticeably lacking in zing. It's alright, but as one of my dining companions says, it could use something else. I believe that missing something is called flavour. Before all is lost, the next round arrives, redeeming both hopes and palates. Although swimming in oil, each bite of the Yukon Gold Gnocchi is so tender and cheese-toasted we forget about the appetizers, suspending conversation and digging in to the feast of sweet starch, roasted red peppers and sharp cheddar. Egg Yolk Tagliarini is even better, the soft noodles rich with deep mushroom, and snappy with garden-fresh peas. Our hopes once more afloat, we look forward to the third round. The Cornish Hen meets our desires, crispy crust and tender flesh contrasting nicely with a tangy side of salty goat cheese. If only the Roasted Sea Scallops were so tasty. There's no band playing tonight, but the scallops are so cold and undercooked I wonder if this is how the "live" got into The Annex Live's name. Nestled in a flavourful, but texturally questionable pool of cauliflower puree, the cool, near-raw scallops are a huge disappointment. Strangely, the sultana vinaigrette--an odd choice for scallops and cauliflower--is the meal's only redemption. One or two decent bites, however, are not enough to save this dish, or to allay my fears that the undercooked scallops will make me sick later (they don't).In the end, we determine that a meal at The Annex Live is like a great jazz standard played on an off-key saxophone: the good parts are inspiring, but the squeaks and skipped beats are cringe-worthy. Clearly The Annex Live has some idea of what it takes to make a hit--perhaps they just need a little more practice. ]]> http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/annex-live http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/annex-live Restaurants Mon, 31 Aug 2009 00:00:00 PDT Listed in Restaurants

Pho Ai My is yet another restaurant that joins the sprawling Vietnamese community in Chinatown. Walking into a white-on- white concept dining room in this neighbourhood is like finding a shiny brand new Mac store in a desolate strip mall, I'm a sucker for simplistic design and Pho Ai My gives the appearance of being far cleaner than most restaurants along Spadina. The staff are generally friendly, but patience is key at this family- run establishment, as English is limited. We navigate through their extensive menu solo and look for items beyond the standard bowl of beef pho. Our Vietnamese iced coffee ($1.75) is similar to an Italian cafetieri and drips slowly over the condensed milk and iced cubes. This strong coffee mixed with creamy condensed milk offers a surge of potent caffeine and sugar rush. I am all too happy to see my mango milkshake ($3) piled sky high. Made with fresh mangos, blended with condensed milk and ice. It is thick and could easily be a meal on its own. Spring rolls ($4) here come sans lettuce. They are crunchy and filled with vermicelli, pork, carrots and the usual trimmings, but I find them overly salty, especially when dipped in the fish sauce. Described as "Cubed Beef on Salad Plate with rice" ($8), a soy- based beef stir fry with slivers of bell peppers arrives instead. There is an attempt at conforming strips of beef into square shapes, though it is far from the medallions I was anticipating. The whole notion of salad seems to have been abandoned altogether, with the exception of the single lonesome lettuce leaf propping up the goods.I find the beef far too salty and the dish leaves a lingering MSG taste long after the meal is done. Fried minced shrimp on a sugar cane, grilled pork chop with vermicelli ($7), also known as #137 is refreshing as it is delicious. The pork is lightly charred and bears a smoky flavour. When mixed in with the tangy slaw, vermicelli, toasted peanuts and fragrant fresh mint, it is possibly the perfect way to beat the summer heat outdoors. Vegetarians are out of luck, as there is only a single veggie option out of the 267 items listed on their menu. For everyone else, Pho Ai My is surely another wallet friendly find right in the heart of downtown. Photos by Francis Jonas Yap.]]> http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/pho-ai-my http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/pho-ai-my Restaurants Sun, 30 Aug 2009 00:00:00 PDT Listed in Cafes

Coffee Culture is a franchise. Let's just get that point out of the way. It's a medium-sized (31 stores) Canadian franchise spread across Ontario. Furthermore, it's a franchise that decided to open its first Toronto location right across the street from (arguably) the most celebrated little quality coffee shop in the city. C'mon, that is gutsy. That is oddly impressive. Who are these people at Coffee Culture? More importantly, who do they think they are?If their gaudy website and/or info pamphlet are any indication, they are first and foremost a place that has free Internet and a plasma TV. Now, I haven't thought about plasma TV in a long time, but I don't remember it being such a bad thing. Plus, the website says they carry sandwiches and welcome casual business meetings, so Alyssa and I and one of our business partners went over there for lunch on Monday to check out this confusing establishment.The first thing I notice about Coffee Culture is... the booths. There are many and they look really comfortable and over/undersized (each side is not quite big enough for two people, not quite small enough for just one). Most booths are occupied by lone individuals on their laptops, presumably enjoying that advertised free wifi, so the three of us are left with some comfy chairs in the corner next to the faux fireplace and plasma TV broadcasting a muted CP24.The offerings are extensive: grilled sandwiches of all sorts, bagels and soups of the day, espresso drinks and freshly baked (from frozen) Danishes. There is also a selection of "famous cookies" and cakes from La Rocca. Although no one can tell me where the bread and bagels come from, the service so adorably pleasant that I can only assume these people are happy I'm here.Collectively, we have three different sandwiches (margherita chicken, chicken and roasted vegetables and honey grilled ham with Swiss), a soup of the day (tomato bisque) and one coffee. The soup ($2.50 to add) "tastes kind of homemade." The sandwiches ('bout $6 each) are not terribly disappointing, obviously recently assembled and about on par with any mid level food franchise (like one of those Subway sandwiches). Alyssa is the one with the coffee and she shrugs her shoulders about it. "On the better side of standard," she says.To sum up: as far as the food and drink go, there are no surprises here at Coffee Culture, which is precisely what's so... surprising. The place is full to the brim. We couldn't even get a booth! Sandwiches are being ordered left, right n' centre and the place appears to be doing killer business, even across the street from Manic, and Kahawa which we dropped into for comparisons sake and found pretty quiet (and they even have a lunch menu and a sign offering free wifi at Kahawa).I like to drop into Tim Horton's from time to time because it's a remnant comfort from my childhood. I understand the presence of Second Cup and Starbucks because they were around way before this indie coffee house Toronto blow-up in recent years. But this new place confuses me. It's comfortable in there, but I wouldn't expect it to thrive in a quality coffee neighbourhood like this. I wouldn't even expect it to appear in a neighbourhood like this. Who are these people at Coffee Culture with their comfortable booths and their standard brew? Photos by Alyssa Bistonath]]> http://www.blogto.com/cafes/coffee-culture http://www.blogto.com/cafes/coffee-culture Cafes Sat, 29 Aug 2009 00:00:00 PDT Listed in Baked Goods

Wild Earth Bakery is shiny and brand new. And there's something refreshing about stepping into this Beaches bakery. For one thing, the tables and chairs match, quite the anomaly these days. And the walls are walls. No exposed woodwork here. From the interior and the tunes to the coffee and the treats, there's nothing trendy about this place - unless you call inclusive baked goods trendy, which you might, since they're a somewhat new phenomenon. But I won't call them trendy. For the sake of my wheat sensitive friends, I'll call them progress! The Queen streetcar tracks are in a pretty tough spot these days, so on our way to Wild we had (way too much) time to discuss how frustrating it would be to be afflicted with a wheat allergy. I'm sure Wild Earth is a bakery balm for folks in the Beaches with dietary restrictions. The entire bakery is nut free ("we don't even carry coffee with nuts in the name") and each pastry is accompanied by a little sign indicating whether it's gluten free and/or vegan and organic. The pastries that do involve flour are made with spelt, so you're bound to make an all 'round good decision whatever you choose. Furthermore, everything looks lovely. The goods are baked in Whitby and shipped in fresh, including some rather intriguing options such as the chocolate peaNOT butter bar and a gluten free, sugar free, vegan toddler teething bar. I don't have any toddlers to purchase teething bars for (though I'm definitely going to keep that thing in mind) so I choose a cookie sandwich while Alyssa, who does not have a wheat allergy (as far as she knows), selects a gluten free chocolate cupcake, in solidarity with those who do. I'm happy to report that she took one bite of it and said, "at least I could still have this if I had a wheat allergy." It was fresh and light with hunks of chocolate baked inside of it and topped with sweet buttercream. My own dessert was loaded with buttercream (which is why I selected it) sandwiched between two fresh chocolate chip cookies with that distinct spelty taste and texture that always makes me feel fantastic about consuming sugar. The buttercream was cold and rich and definitely on the sweet side. Both of us had coffees from the fair trade, organic brewing company, Mountain View. It's available by the pound, along with tea from the same company. Wild also offers a plethora of gluten free cereals and crackers, natural honeys and homemade sauces and preserves. They plan to introduce soups and sandwiches on to the menu in the fall. At the counter I found free samples of gluten free cookies and cheesecake (sadly, no teething bar) and everything was delicious. Wild Earth's website declares you won't be able to tell the difference between gluten free items and plain old organic goods. A visit here proves this to be true. Without those little signs, I'd be lost as to what's what. Photos by Alyssa Bistonath]]> http://www.blogto.com/bakery/wild-earth-bakery http://www.blogto.com/bakery/wild-earth-bakery Baked Goods Sun, 23 Aug 2009 00:00:00 PDT Listed in Restaurants

Great Cooks On Eight and T Spot are not easy to find; they're well-hidden in the outer reaches of the Hudson Bay tower at Queen and Bay. However, those in-the-know have been fortunate enough to sample the rotating lunch menu, sip on the aromatic teas, or even participate in cooking classes led by celebrity guest chefs. Over a light lunch with the Old City Hall as my backdrop, I delve into a company that has been thriving for the past 20 years, veiled from the public eye. Great Cooks on Eight offers a casually elegant dining room overlooking one of the busiest corners of the city. The simple pine wood furniture offset by the palette of creams and white make up an understated space. Wall to wall windows make the restaurant a great lookout point for the action below and offers some stunning panoramic views of Nathan Philips Square. The soup of the day ($6), Cherry Gazpacho, is an instant refresher from the stifling heat outside. Pureed tomatoes, fresh Bing cherries, cilantro, garlic, lime, and a kick of chili heat complimented by a dollop of sour cream create a combination potent in flavour. The Niçoise Salad ($16) with sesame-encrusted yellow fin tuna seared to perfection, fails to impress otherwise. While the olive oil in the basic balsamic vinaigrette is of good quality, the vegetables and fish lack in original flavour without being doused in dressing. The Chicken Mushroom Parpadelle ($18) is accompanied by a wedge of pesto garlic toast. The pasta is delightfully al dente and the sauce is creamy, but could use more depth in flavour. While munching away on a Boulart baguette, I cannot help but notice the massive industrial kitchen on the other side of the dining room. Head Chef Maggie McKeown and her team specialize in both corporate and public cooking classes in a fun, interactive environment. Maggie and Brazilian Sous Chef, Ismael Pacheco give me a quick rundown of the past 20 years at Great Cooks. "In the 70's, eating out options in Toronto were limited to spaghetti or stuffy steak houses," says Maggie. "It was not until the 80's that more options became available and this is when Esther (Creator of Great Cooks) decided to reveal the talented chefs behind the new wave of burgeoning restaurants." Esther, then on the administrative end of Dufflet, hosted workshops from the back of the shop; where guest chefs like Mistura's Massimo Capra led classes. These days business is thriving at Great Cooks, from their bustling restaurant in full swing at lunchtime, quaint takeout café to their ever popular cooking classes. A budding home chef myself, I ask Maggie what to expect from a cooking class with Great Cooks, to which she simply replies: " I want them to love to cook and learn how to do it!" We venture down into the depths of the basement to the sister outlet specializing in teas and takeaway lunches for the mole people of the PATH. T Spot is surprisingly charming and as with most siblings, a stark opposite. A display dome features all of the day's offerings: Fresh salads, cellophane wrapped ciabatta sandwiches, sweet treats from Dufflet and savoury entrees waiting to be re-heated. There is also an extensive lineup of international teas. The Goat Cheese Strawberry Spinach Salad with Grilled Asparagus ($6.95) is made to order and ready within minutes. Each ingredient complements the next and together, form the perfect balance in flavour. It is so fresh and simple that I am convinced that I can make this at home. Great Cooks has a way of inspiring the home chef in everyone with their simple approach to food. And for those who can't toast bread without setting off the smoke alarm, you can always enroll in one of their many cooking classes. Photos by Francis Jonas Yap]]> http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/great-cooks-on-eight http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/great-cooks-on-eight Restaurants Fri, 21 Aug 2009 00:00:00 PDT Listed in Baked Goods

My road to Nadege Patisserie was longer and harder than I ever could have expected. 4 weeks, to be exact, as our visit fell on their one-month anniversary, and about...4 weeks after I had initially planned to go. My Nadege dates and I had made many futile plans to visit during this time (you know how the summer is), and they visited without me even more times than that. Thus, when we all finally rendezvoused at this West Queen West establishment, the hype had reached epic proportions. The sharp, white corner facing off with Trinity Bellwoods Park is hard to miss, and its pristine white and shiny walls, tables, sugar bowls, and absolutely everything seem frighteningly easy to mess up. I suddenly feel underdressed. But I am still treated like someone who has every right (financial and otherwise) to be indulging in some magical little French delicacies known as "macarons". These light and crisp cookies sandwich a variety of thick and creamy ganaches. Lucky me, I am with the macaron twins and they purchase enough on their own to give me a pretty broad sample, including poppy, pistache, and rose. "I almost cried when I ate one of these in the car the other day," Dylan says. "Seriously. I was like, okay, pull over and have your moment, before you get us into an accident." Steve verifies. Sweet and coolly fragrant, it melts in my mouth as I melt, ever so-slightly, into my chair. My coffee is sweetened with perfect, imperfectly-formed lumps of white and brown sugar, while my tiny spoon tinkles against the sides of my fine glass teacup. I feel far daintier than I should ever be allowed to feel (especially in this Guns 'n Roses t-shirt). Last week I was (apparently) Jay Gatsby, today I am Marie Antoinette. The Sophia Coppola version, FYI. My friends' macaron-bender allows me the freedom to indulge in one of the apricot croissants that first caught my eye. It's everything that I hoped for; only the mildest bit of sweetness in this fine custard, and a dense yet flaky pastry. Two gleaming halves of a slightly-glazed apricot are set on each side, like fruity jewels. Nadege herself, Executive chef and co-owner (along with her husband Morgan), is a sweet and friendly (and French) lady, and she takes me on a bit of a tour. She makes it very clear that every item is crafted to be a shining example of quality and care. Gourmet ingredients are brought in from the locales which do them best; for sandwiches, it's white ham from Paris, prosciutto from Italy and Spain. The bread is baked on site fresh every morning (as is everything here, she adamantly states) and with such flavours that will most perfectly complement the other elements- raisin and walnut buns, for one example. They are all garnished with only the freshest, local produce. I am encouraged to try some samples of gourmet marshmallows which are displayed on top of the pastry case. I had already helped myself the second I walked in, but not to the Gin and Tonic or Violet, which are profound lessons in grown-up candy-making. Light, airy and certainly unlike any I've ever had, they are "very trendy in Paris," she tells me. "Did you try one of the cakes? You have to try the cakes!" Nadege insists. "They're our specialty." My dining companion and I dig into the first of two painstakingly-crafted creations. (Our group is down one by now). "I feel like I'm destroying art," Steve says to me. That's because we are. Delicious, delicious art. Morgan walks by and proudly notes, "everything is edible, except the gold foil at the bottom". Paper-thin sheets stamped with the store's logo hold together a rectangular creation that we both, independently of each other, refer to as a "house". The black currant flavour explodes in a dense, tart mousse that is perfectly complemented by an even tarter lemon and subtle-as-air violet. This subtlety of flavours is repeated in our second round. A lovely, lemondrop-shaped specimen that still leaves me skeptically thinking, "there's no way this can beat the other." But it certainly elicits the same brand of eyes-closed savouring. The integrity of the pink champagne is miraculously maintained as it literally bursts in between chunks of strawberry and mango. We are dizzy and so very full. From what I gather, this is all in a day's stroll through Paris. "We walked by this one chocalatier's shop," Morgan says as I half-intrude on his conversation with another lady well-versed in the city's glamorous ways. "And we thought it was a jewellery store." It's all starting to make sense to me. The white gloves, just-so table-settings, neat little rows of croissants, and those kickass "Oui Madame" t-shirts they all seem to be wearing. It's not just dessert to these guys; it's an art, an opulent experience. My Guns 'n Roses t- shirt and I can use a little of that every now and again. Merci, Nadege. ]]> http://www.blogto.com/bakery/nadege-patisserie http://www.blogto.com/bakery/nadege-patisserie Baked Goods Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:00:00 PDT Listed in Restaurants

Madras Pantry is certainly making an impression since opening a few weeks ago next to Noce on Queen West. The new dosa-oriented take-away has been so busy that it's repeatedly shut its doors early due to having nothing left to serve. The first night we stopped by (an hour before official closing time) a hand-written note entreating the disappointed to come back another day was taped to the door. Figuring that lunchtime would be a safer bet, we returned two days later to see what delicious offerings were behind all the anticipation.

Madras Pantry is the most casual offering so far from the owner of/design team behind Kultura and Nyood. The interior design, which is apparently inspired by street markets and carnivals, is sleekly pulled together to coordinate with the re-imagined 'street food' on offer.

The walls are left exposed apart from the huge, colourful paintings of a sword swallower, Siamese twin pigs and wrestling chimeras. A miniature Ferris wheel in the window attracts attention from almost every passer-by and the shelves of dry goods for sale look more like an art installation than a retail add-on.

A single, long wooden table means communal eating for those that eat in but as we're visiting on a stiflingly hot day most customers grab their dosas and head across the street to the park.

The ordering process at Madras Pantry is kept simple: they only serve dosas, lassis and kulfi. You make your decision at the counter (the staff are very helpful if you want recommendations), receive a number and watch while your food is quickly assembled in the open kitchen.

The dosas here are decidedly non-traditional; they're cooked to order then wrapped up like a crepe for portability. Fillings range from Szechuan Beef with cucumber dressing to Jerk Chicken with tamarind date sauce. Everything except the lassis are brought in from Kultura every morning, so closing time is effectively whatever time they run out of food.

At $6-$7 including tax, a dosa costs less than I expected, considering how sizeable they are. Finishing the whole thing is a challenge, unless you're really hungry.

I order the spinach and paneer dosa with coriander mint sauce, which is one of two new fillings on the menu. It's suitably fresh and spicy but apart from that it's surprisingly bland, though this might be because huge potato chunks comprise proportionately more of the filling than the other ingredients.

Anna-Lisa, the photographer, makes a better choice with the butter chicken with coriander mint sauce. Though most of the filling ingredients are the same, the butter chicken component is succulent and generously distributed so overall the flavour is more varied.

We both order a lassi ($4 each), Anna-Lisa gets the mango flavour and loves it. The lychee-mint variety that I order is much sweeter, so we agree she's again made the better choice. We're too full for kulfi this time but I'll definitely stop by another time to try the pistachio.

If you're around West Queen West and in the mood for an impromptu picnic in the park then Madras Pantry is worth a visit. However, if you're planning on dinner there anytime soon then call ahead to make sure they're open or be prepared to find a back-up. Photos by Anna-Lisa Sang]]> http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/madras-pantry http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/madras-pantry Restaurants Tue, 18 Aug 2009 00:00:00 PDT Listed in Restaurants

WOW Rotisserie Chicken, a newish joint at King and Portland, is boldly named. As a verb, to wow is to amuse or delight. As an interjection, it indicates surprise, and depends heavily on tone for meaning. My guy and I visited Wow's little dining room on a recent Friday night, finding occasion for several different types of wows. Our first wow was the excited kind, inspired by a menu filled with creative choices at affordable prices. We ordered the Half Chicken Combo: we were content to take a side of Purple Coleslaw, Stuffed Potato and pop, but impressed that for an extra $3.50 we could've swapped our slaw for Caesar Salad and added a brownie. We also ordered a Half Rack of Ribs, and the Seasonal Soup: Creamed Corn and Chicken, and started feeling excited about the feast to come. Our "Creamed Corn" and Chicken Soup arrived first. Much to our surprise, it was neither creamy nor corny. In fact, it was so visibly un-corny looking we questioned our server immediately: "Is this the Creamed Corn and Chicken Soup?" She glanced at it, whispered a halfhearted "Yeah", and spun on her heels, hightailing back to confer with the cooks in the semi-open kitchen. We were pretty sure they were talking about the soup back there, but no one came out to explain why the Creamed Corn Soup was completely devoid of corn, creamed or otherwise. "Wow", we said disapprovingly, "this soup sure is poorly named". Whatever it was, it tasted alright: generous chunks of chicken and a plethora of vegetables, but too salty for my taste. Normally I'm a big salt fan, the kind of gal who dips her finger in salt and vinegar popcorn seasoning, gleefully eating scoopfuls of pure sodium until the top layer of my tongue starts to peel. So when I say something is too salty, it should be taken as a serious warning. Unfortunately, almost every dish we sampled that night was like that, challenging both our taste buds, and my vocabulary. Brackish, briny, saliferous and saline--my thesaurus holds the key to describing a meal with very little depth or range, a meal dominated by the singular flavour of salt. So sodium-coated was the flaccid, rubbery skin on my not-too-tender chicken that it was difficult to eat. Determined not to waste our meal, I suggested to my love that we bring it home so I could boil it into a tastier soup, but he refused. "I'm not taking that home" he protested. "I'll buy you a deli chicken from Sobey's, but nothing good can come of that chicken". Same went for the side of sauce, our little container tasting like Swiss Chalet's version, plus caramel colour and an extra tablespoon of salt. Gleefully, our too-tough ribs were not too saline, each straight-from-the-BBQ-sauce-bottle-bite providing welcome contrast to the tongue curling sodium fest of the other offerings. Similarly, sides of purple slaw offered crunch and a novel flavour: too much pepper. The stuffed potato was perhaps the most interesting dish we sampled. Like a time machine, it took me back to the 1980s, to the days before non-hydrogenated, heart-smart versions of butter's bastard sister dominated the bread-spread landscape, when margarine was bright yellow and tasted like nothing else but margarine. This dish, margarine-mashed potatoes nestled in potato skin, offered a flavour I hadn't had in years. Although that flavour wasn't very good, it did spark forgotten memories, like visiting my mom in the hospital, and eating her cafeteria leftovers. My guy and I had entered WOW Rotisserie Chicken and Ribs hungry and excited, but left dejected. Halfway home, my sad sweetheart turned to me, and smacked his lips, "Wow," he said, "I'm thirsty". Half Chicken Combo: $11.50 Half Rack of Ribs: $9.50 Mystery Soup: $2.75]]> http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/wow-rotisserie-chicken http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/wow-rotisserie-chicken Restaurants Mon, 17 Aug 2009 00:00:00 PDT Listed in Restaurants

Lady Marmalade, in the former Pulp Kitchen space, ups the ante on standard brunch by offering locally sourced organic food (when possible), and plenty of options for our non-meat eating friends. Mexican inspired ingredients also add an extra twist to simple items. Unlike other Mexican fusion brunch options across the city, all dishes are health- centered. No greasy offerings here as there is thankfully no deep fryer on the premises. After a tempestuous thunderstorm, we walk into the casual Leslieville eatery late in the afternoon. Perhaps it's partially the weather, but there is an undeniable West Coast feel to the place. Little has changed from the menu, which seems to be a direct copy from the original Victoria location. At the helm of operations in Toronto is Head Chef Clara's brother, David Cherry. Along with his partner, Natalia Simachkevitch, these Toronto natives have been trying to keep up with the unstoppable crowds since opening in July. The interior is very retro chic, with most items salvaged or second hand. The eclectic mélange of mismatched furniture gives the place a great vintage vibe. I particularly like the different sets of salt and peppershakers; the grandmas on rocking chairs set being my favourite of the lot. There is even a chalkboard and mini play nook to occupy rambunctious kids. I get the Club Sandwich ($9.95), which comes stacked and speared beside a ginger- sesame side salad. Overall, the crispy bacon, avocado, chipotle mayo, tomato and spinach pressed between slices of quality bread are good. The freshness of the ingredients is evident with each bite, but I find the chicken breast rather bland. Yoghurt Parfait ($9.50) is beautifully presented with interchanging layers of fresh fruits, creamy yoghurt and house-made granola. The half cinnamon bagel hanging from the side of the glass is a stylish touch. They serve Fernwood organic fair trade coffee, a small West Coast company making an intro on the Toronto market, thanks to Lady Marmalade. My mug-full ($2.50) is good, strong and advertised as bottomless, though our server never once came to offer a refill. Open just over a month ago, Lady Marmalade is still ironing out some minor kinks, but seems to have a good thing going on. It's the kind of place where I could have easily spent the rest of my rainy afternoon, admiring the local art adorning the walls or simply with a book and a cup of coffee. Photos by Casey Cunningham]]> http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/lady-marmalade http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/lady-marmalade Restaurants Sat, 15 Aug 2009 00:00:00 PDT