Toronto Uncovered

Archive for the ‘Eats’ Category

I made my first trip down to New Orleans last week in celebration of  a friends wedding.  New Orleans is a magical sort of place, that tells it like it is every chance it gets. Bourbon Street boasts “Huge Ass Beers”, tawdry cabarets and live sex shows, daiquiris on every corner and Southern hospitality in every restaurant. If Amsterdam and Vegas hooked up, New Orleans would be their love child.

If you are planning on hitting ‘Nawlins’, keep the following in mind:

1. It is hot as sin in New Orleans – 35 degrees plus humidity! Make sure you get a hotel with a rooftop pool. We stayed at the Omni Royal, in the French quarter. The rooms were small, quaint and well priced and the roof top bar and pool area was amazing.

2. Practice asking for a ‘To Go Cup’. In New Orleans you can drink any time, any place, on any street, as long as you aren’t drinking from a glass cup or bottle. If you are moving bars, ask for your drink in a to go cup and take it with you!

3. Eat up, its good for you. All the food we ate in New Orleans was amazing. We tried Mr. B’s Bistro for a real Southern meal of deep fried soft shell crab, bbq shrimp, and jambalaya. At the rehearsal dinner at renowned Chef John Besh’s masterpiece dishes, including seared scallops in an oxtail jus risotto (seriously to die for). My favourite restaurant  was a small local joint called the Green Goddess. The menu was unique and fused food together in a August restaurant, we filled up on world delicate perfection. We tested as much as our stomachs would allow. Some of the real show stoppers were the BBQ peaches with bacon and blue cheese and the pulled pork marinaded and wrapped in a banana leaf. Quite possibly the best pulled pork I have ever tasted. We also sampled their cheese selection which was diverse and delicious. The owner chatted with us all night, explaining the different thinking behind each dish. This restaurant is a MUST.

4. Drink the bourbon. The old expression ‘when in Rome’ definitely applies here. The bourbon in the south is readily available at any bar you saunter into. I prefer it on the rocks and tasted quite a few different brands. My favourite picks were Sam Houston’s and Makers Mark.

5. Dress in as little clothing as possible – like I said, it is HOT. But make sure you always bring a small sweater or jacket with you cuz they pump the A/C like there is no BP oil spill.

6. Prepare to party. This is my last tip to you. There is no room for party-poopers or sour faces in New Orleans. Prepare to go out and have a great time, no matter what you do!

Feeling proud? Well, maybe that’s because it’s Pride Week here in Toronto! That’s right folks, from June 25^th to July 4^th Toronto pays homage to the rainbow flag. Lots of fun stuff is lined up for this weekend including a street fair with vendors and artisans along Church Street on Saturday and Sunday and of course, don’t forget the 30^th Annual Pride Parade starting at Bloor and Church on Sunday at 2pm. Check out the Toronto Pride website for more details and a handy map of the stages set up as well as the parade’s route.

These festivities can get a little wild so if that’s not your thing organizers have set up a drug and alcohol Free Zone at Paul Kane Parkette (off of Wellesley Street East between Yonge Street and Church Street) for those of you looking to express your pride inconspicuously. The Free Zone will feature a DJ and a stage with live performances, holistic services, green lawn and confidential recovery meetings. A family zone has also been set up as part of Family Pride on the grounds of the Church Street Junior Public School (southeast corner of Church Street and Alexander Street) offering inclusive, family-friendly activities and events.

Have a fun and safe weekend everybody!

Long time no contribution. I must admit, I’ve been slacking off a little but here’s why – it’s summer! Patio season is here folks so slather on the SPF and get your mmm on outside like I did the other day.  Java House, located at 537 Queen Street West on the southwest corner of Queen and Augusta, is without a doubt a hipster hot-spot. Personally, I’m not all that hip but I still appreciate quality food that doesn’t break the bank.

Their eclectic menu features lighter pub fare and a variety of Thai entrees in the $5, that’s right $5 price range, not to mention daily specials, all day breakfast, and a good selection of coffee, teas and cheap pitchers.

Upon first impression, Java House looks like a dive bar and a coffee shop had a one night stand, but that’s precisely the restaurant’s charm. Though be warned, the bathrooms are of the, to quote my friend Angela “flush with your foot” variety.

On busy days, inside can be a little cramped with a line-up for the large patio. Luckily for my friend and I we arrived at Java House before yesterday’s dinner rush. We were promptly seated outside at a wobbly table but brushed it off as that small price we were willing to pay for sunshine.

Service at Java House is whimsical. If you go in expecting to be treated like royalty chances are your expectations will not be met. I’ve returned to Java House many times and I’ve had adequate service and terrible service but never the type of service to sing praises about, but then again I’m not picky. What keeps me coming back to Java House is the great prices, yummy food and, as I fancy myself a people watcher, the quirky clientele. Still, I don’t want to speak ill of the servers at Java House. It’s not that the servers are rude to their customers, rather in most cases they are in general a bit green and sometimes forgetful. Our server yesterday spilled our water (though the wobbly table was partly to blame) and of another server my friend requested an ashtray, which never came. Neither of those things particularly irked either of us,  as said before we weren’t all that concerned about the quality of the service. We were just hungry.

We both ordered the stir-fry and vegetables. Angela had the tofu option while I went with the chicken. Portion size was large enough that Angela didn’t finish her rice where as I stopped short of licking the plate when I was finished. We also shared a pitcher of Amsterdam Blonde between us. In the end, the sum total for everything was around $28 and we left Java House happy enough with our experience yesterday that I’m sure we’ll both continue to gravitate there this summer and many summers thereafter.

I now have a BBQ on my front patio. This has without a doubt changed my life. Why steam, bake or fry something when you can grill it? Seriously, everything is just better hot off the grill, including pizza. When I came across this recipe for barbecued pizza, I couldn’t resist putting my grill skills to the test. I had to try it, and I’m glad I did. It was absolutely delicious, rustic and crunchy, with the perfect amount of flavour and char. In the mood to put the tongs down and try something new? Man Up!

BBQ Pizza

Ingredients

We decided to make 2 different types of pizza. The first was a fresh and delicious marriage of basil and bocconcini, which I would highly recommend. The second, Greek prosciutto, got a little more creative and followed the fresh taste of the first pizza perfectly. I cant say which turned out better. Both were amazing.

Basil Boccancini

1 small can basil tomato sauce

1 tbsp. chopped garlic

8-10 whole basil leaves

200g sliced bocconcini cheese

1 hand full of halved cherry tomatoes

6 pieces grilled zucchini

Greek Prosciutto

1 small can basil tomato sauce

1 tbsp. chopped garlic

100g crumbled feta cheese

1 bunch of green and black olives

7 sliced sun-dried tomatoes

1 large sliced green Thai chili

5 small antipasto peppers (red)

Instructions

**note: this is a 2 person job

1. Roll out the dough into “circles” which will likely look more like mis-shapen ovals

2. Chop all pizza toppings and place them in separate sections on the cutting board

3. Add about a tbsp. of garlic to 1/4 cup of olive oil (mix to infuse the oil with garlic flavour)

4. Fire up the grill – medium to high heat, coat with a layer of the garlic olive oil

5. Carefully lay one of the rolled out pieces of dough on the grill, brush the top with a thin layer of garlic olive oil

6. Gently flip the dough when browned on the bottom

7. When both sides are evenly browned, remove the crust from the grill and layer on your toppings. Place the pizza back on the grill on low to medium heat and cover until the cheese melts and the toppings are cooked

8. Remove first pizza from heat and repeat with the second pizza.

9. ENJOY!

It would have been obvious to anyone walking by that there was something serious going on at One Restaurant Wednesday night.  Lines of well dressed, young professionals snaked down Yorkville Avenue all the way to Avenue Road;  big signs bordered the entrance; and loud music poured out onto the crowded street.  It was the official launch party for Yahoo! Canada’s new website, a definite who’s who of Toronto’s advertising and marketing elite,  joined by household celebrity names like Ken Daneyko and Tie Domi.

Since Yahoo! Canada is a client of the marketing firm where I work,  my colleagues and I joined the party to see what all the fuss was about. I had never been to One before, and have to say that my first impression was, “Wow, this place is huge”. I had assumed that it would be one large open space with maybe a couple of rooms, but was proven very wrong. There were 4 main rooms all occupied with different stations.

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I’m a big fan of stations at parties because they keep them interesting and entertaining. Yahoo’s stations included a photo shoot with lots of fun and crazy props (wigs, swords, helmets, big glasses and boas), a lip balm bar where you customized your own balm, a bar station where you ordered your own drinks (what? it counts), and a make your own taco station. This last one wasn’t really for me, by the time i got there it looked like a thousand small children had been there first, sticking their fingers into the cheese and various sauces. In short, it was kind of a mess and turned me off a little. Good idea in theory, poor in execution.

The music, spun by DJ Starting from Scratch, was selected by party goers who could make requests when sending their RSVP. This was a good way to make people feel involved and to ensure everyone heard at least one song they could dance to. It would have been even better if you could also tweet your requests (since social media is a big part of the new Yahoo! Canada site).

Canapes were flowing from the time I arrived until the time I headed home. They started with sliders, butter brazed lobster, sesame coated tuna sashimi, and boxes of poutine, followed by sweet key lime and pecan filled deserts. Hats off to Food Network’s Chef, Mark McEwan for providing delicious treats all night long.

Given that the theme of Yahoo’s new website, It’s Y!ou,  is all about customization, this party was on point with their message.  I had a pretty good time and would definitely attend another party at One Restaurant. Yahoo!

Did you attend? What did you think?

I’ve lived between the boundaries of Yonge St. and Sherbourne St. for most of my adult life. In previous posts, I have pointed out that the East side, while offering many benefits (especially if you are a home owner), lacks the same epicurean vibe that its Western counterpart flaunts so brightly. East-enders have to look a little harder to find a really solid restaurant that satisfies all of our basic dining needs: ambiance, service and food.

I have been dining at Hair of the Dog (Church and Carleton) since my University days. It is small and intimate and built into the side of an old house. In the summer, it provides a great balcony setting to enjoy caesars over brunch. In the winter, it embodies the feeling of a cozy cottage, dimly lit with comfortable chairs and benches. It’s furnished with dark wood and draped with rich velvet.  Soft house music plays dimly in the background, providing just enough melody to muffle the chitter chatter of other diners. It is instantly relaxing.

Hair of the Dog is a popular spot and does not take weekend reservations, however, I have never had to wait for more than 15 minutes, during which the bar tenders and hostess provide excellent service, including prompt martinis and regular table updates and check-ins. You’re never left waiting and wondering (unlike some other trendy hot spots, ah hem, Guu). Once seated, the service is fast and friendly. No complaints.

OK, now onto the really important part: the food. The menu at HoTG is not huge, but it has something for everyone. My personal favourites include the jambalaya, the 1lb burger and the chicken stir fry. The pulled pork sandwich and grilled seafood dishes are also amazing.  I will warn you, if you order the jambalaya add the scotch bonnet sauce with care, it is not for fair-tongued eaters. Unless you like to feel the burn the next day, take it easy on the hot sauce. Most dishes range from $10.00-$20.00. Expect to pay about $60.00 per person including liquor, tax and tip.

If you’re in the area definitely check it out. Let me know what you think!

As January rolls in, many of us are looking for ways to shed the extra pounds we have undoubtedly packed on over the holidays.  I’m thankful that my parents pounded into my head the importance of exercise and healthy eating at an early age  (of course, I  wasn’t so thankful when I was 10 and searching endlessly for the hidden Halloween candy in my Mom’s closet). Now that I am older, I usually seek out healthy food naturally. I actually love and crave big salads with lots of different toppings. I have come across some pretty amazing salad and prepared food bars in Toronto which are both healthy and delicious.

My favourite place to grab a prepped salad is Whole Foods. I LOVE Whole Foods. Its totally yuppie and I don’t care. The salad bar and prepared foods section is amazing. First, you have a choice of romaine lettuce, baby greens and baby spinach, before working your way through toppings like sesame tofu, grilled eggplant, baked cloves of garlic, candied yams, mini potatoes, 3 different types of quinoa and at least 6 cultures of cheese. Their prepared food section doesn’t end there. They also have a hot bar for anyone looking for fresh lasagna, turkey meatballs or beef stir fry. The list goes on, but those are my favourite dishes. I usually mix the hot and cold bars – because I am a grazer, and at the end of the day I have a hard time saying no to food.  Whole Foods does not sell any products that contain unnatural ingredients like dyes or preservatives and most of their food is organic.  For between $10.00-$15.00 dollars you are guaranteed a delicious, filling and totally good-for-you meal!

I used to work downtown at Bay and Queens Quay, which is rammed with lots of bad-for-you, fast food. If are in the financial district a lot and looking for a good place to grab a salad the Longo’s Market (BCE Place) is a safe bet. Like Whole Foods, they have a wide variety of salad toppings – chicken, boiled eggs, seafood salads, smoked salmon, and a ton of veggies and cheese. I usually paid about $12.00 for lunch and looked forward to treating myself at least once a week.

Bay and Elm houses one of my other favourites called Commensal. I uncovered this restaurant back in my vegetarian and vegan days. All of their food is vegetarian friendly, but it is so amazingly delicious you would never know it. They have a hot and cold bar as well as a full counter of deserts! Because this is a vegetarian menu only, you get more variety than your typical hot/cold bar. I especially love that you can choose between 2 types of hummus and a variety of other dips and spreads, not to mention their vegetarian lasagna, quiche, chilli and stir fries.  Yummy! I haven’t been vegetarian/vegan for years, but I still love going back to Commensal. This is the more expensive of the three – usually upwards of $15.00-$20.00 per person.

Do you have a favourite prepared food spot? Any good hot or cold bars in Toronto that I am missing?

Last night I was among the lucky bloggers and journalists in Toronto to receive an invite to a very intimate Inniskillin wine tasting.  The event was hosted in the back room of  Nancy’s Cheese at Dupont and Spadina, which provided  amazing cheese and a cozy atmosphere for us learn about the various wines that make up Inniskillin’s Winemaker Series.

I am definitely no wine connoisseur, but I do know what I like when it hits my pallet. Throughout the evening we tried four wines from the series and listened as Marketing Director, Scott Starra, regaled us with stories of Inniskillin’s past and present accolades.

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We started the tasting with a 2008 Two Vineyard Riesling. Unlike most Rieslings this particular blend was not overly sweet, but instead had strong notes of citrus, leaving a refreshed feeling in your mouth. If you like your Rieslings dry with higher acidity levels this is a great choice. It is also highly versatile for food pairings, going well with Asian, Thai and Indian dishes as well as squash soups.  Scott explained that if you are ever unsure of what to pair with a particular meal, a dry Riesling is a good choice as they often accent most flavours and foods.

Our second wine was a 2008 Three Vineyard Chardonnay, oaked in both French and American oak for a full robust bodied taste.  As with the Riesling, this Chardonnay was high in acidity, which is a common element in 2008 white wines because of the long, warm nights that summer was blessed with. I usually prefer an unoaked Chardonnay, however, found this one to be really tasty when paired a strong cheese  like the Roaring Forties Blue from Australia. You can also pair it with buttery foods like lobster, seafood, buttered popcorn (with truffle oil if you’re feeling swanky), and even turkey.

It was finally time to move onto the reds. While I enjoy my whites, I am a red wine girl at heart. I was thrilled to learn our first selection was a Pinot Noir. Maybe it stems from the scene from Sideways in which Miles gives a full description of the delicacy, sensitivity and temperament of the Pinot grape, or maybe its just because i have good taste, but Pinot has been high on my list of favourites for some time.

The 2007 Three Vineyard Pinot Noir owes its full body and distinguished tastes to the hot summer we had in 2007. If you’re looking for a mild Pinot, this is not for you. On the other hand, if you like your wines to have a little bit of attitude and be able to stand on their own this is a great choice.  In terms of pairings, Scott suggested anything with earthy mushroom flavours, pork, duck, or a good brie. I also liked it with the Blackburn cheese from Quebec that we sampled last night.

Our final vino of the soiree was a 2007 Cabernet Franc from Inniskillin’s Reserve Series. As with all wines from 2007, the Cab Franc was very full bodied, without being too strong or intrusive on the pallet.  I liked this wine a lot and since it is the only one we tried last night currently on the stands in the LCBO will definitely be picking some up for the holidays. Priced at $16.95 you’re getting a lot of value at a low cost. This wine is well paired with lamb, steak and grilled chicken as well as a strong well-aged cheese.

The first three wines featured will be hitting the shelves in the near future. If you’re not already familiar with the different wines Inniskillin and other Niagara region wineries have to offer, its high time you get acquainted. For more information on Inniskillin check out their Facebook page, including videos, interviews and recipes.

I usually refuse to set foot in a mall during the pre-Christmas craziness. I’m not huge on malls to begin with, and I really don’t have the tolerance to withstand the crazy crowds. Since I am also not prepared enough to start my shopping early, I rely on the thousands of online stores, ready to ship my parcels with the click of a button.

There is only one problem with this method: I’m not supporting my local vendors. This year, my mission is to incorporate more vendors from the GTA who also have online stores.  Below are some I have found so far:

Duration of Ownership: 2.5 hours. Chocolate Lover? Check. Human? Check.

Neslo Chocolates: Neslo is owned and operated  by two cousins who hand make every batch of delicious, high quality Belgian chocolate. They experiment with unconventional flavours like Banana Brandy, Salted Caramel and Strawberry Wasabi. These chocolates are melt in your mouth. If you don’t finish the box in the first couple of hours  not only are you not a chocolate lover, you may not be human either.  These are a perfect gift for anyone in your life, just make sure you pick up a box or two for yourself while you’re at it.

You cant get much cooler than having a Star Wars and Computer combo!

Orange Fish: This online-only store caters to the knick-knack lover. Products range from characterized USB keys, to belt buckles, to artisan undies and magnets. I particularly love their cuff links, many of which are made out of  pieces of real items like hockey pucks, working compasses,  footballs and Madison Square Gardens flooring.  Everything on OrangeFish.ca is unique in either creation or design and range in price from as little as 4 or 5 dollars through to around 200. Their items would be great stocking  stuffers or Secret Santa gifts.

Warning: Owners may also experiment with copping a feel

Clothing Brand Experiment (CBE for short): CBE hoodies are a Toronto based company offering some funky and colourful hoodies for men and women. The hooded sweatshirt was the first “experiment” CBE went after.  Their goal was to make a locally produced, hooded sweatshirt with all the features they loved. Looks like they did a pretty decent job and don’t have to charge their clients an arm and a leg. Check out their online store – good gift for anyone hoping to stay warm this winter in style.

Simply splendid and simply de-lic-ious (num num num num num)

Simply Splendid: OK, so this one you cant order online, however, you can just pick up the phone and place your order that way. And since you can still accomplish this from the comfort of your couch, it still counts. Simply splendid owner and baker extraordinaire, Marilyn Mirabelli, specializes in making the most delicious shortbread cookies I have ever tasted. I have tried her vanilla and chilli chocolate which were both good enough to make me go back for seconds, but the real show stopper was her curry flavoured shortbread. I know it sounds kind of weird but its amazing. Her teas and cookies can be purchased separately or as sets. Definitely a good gift for any sweet tooth in your life. She will also come to your house and put on a full British-style Victorian Afternoon Tea.  A great gift idea for moms, grandparents, Brits and any cookie lover in your life.

Where have you been doing your online shopping this year? Any great Toronto vendors to share?

A couple of months ago a friend invited me to have lunch at Four Restaurant. Since then, it has quickly become my favourite Bay Street restaurant. I have eaten there at least 5 times for and recommended it to friends, colleagues and clients.

Im not really a picky eater, and will usually try anything at least once, however, I am usually pretty health conscious. What I like about the menu at Four is that everything on it is under 650 calories, low in fat and still high in taste. Instead of flavouring their dishes with butter, salt, and sugar, they use more herbs and spices to bring out the natural taste of the food.  None of their dishes are deep fried and most are specialty diet friendly (South Beach, Weight Watchers, etc.) The portions are of a reasonable size (I have never left still feeling hungry) and you aren’t saddled with gut rot for the rest of the afternoon.

My favourite part of eating at Four is the deserts, which are served in shot glasses for $2.00 a piece. Your waiter brings around a tray of 10 different deserts to choose from, ranging from fresh fruit to cheese cake. All deserts are health conscious as well, all under 200 calories.

If you end up trying Four, make sure to make reservations as it is a popular lunch spot. Let me know what you think and what you end up trying! So far, Ive had their burgers, pastas, appetizers and most of the deserts. I have yet to be disappointed, unsatisfied or underfed.