Toronto Uncovered

Archive for the ‘Eats’ Category

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.

Growing up, apple picking was an annual tradition in the Morrison household. I used to love running up and down the rows of blossoming apple trees, plucking only the shiniest and ripest apples to catch my eye.  My brothers and I used to climb the larger  trees to get to the best, sun-kissed apples at the top.

I am happy to admit that not much has changed. Last weekend, some friends and I took a short road trip to Chudleigh’s apple orchards. Luckily, the weather was on our side – sun shining and not a cloud in the sky. This made for a                                       great escape from the city. Almost immediately, we returned to our childhood, lowered our already questionable maturity levels, and ran around the orchard picking apples of every variety we could find. We eventually tired our selves out and found a spot to lay in the sun and enjoy our surroundings.

Everyone left with a few bags of gorgeous apples, and some jams and other baked goods from the Chudleigh’s store. The best part of having all of these perfectly ripe apples is the inevitable baking to follow. Below are some delicious apple recipes I plan on trying out this week!

Apple Crisp Recipe via Roberts Place

Apple Stuffed Chicken Breast

Other Apple Recipes via Ontario Apple Growers

Friday night a bunch of my  girlfriends treated me to a belated birthday dinner. We headed to Ossington’s Watusi, a 1960′s themed cocktail lounge that opened its doors last Spring. Watusi is fairly small and intimate, seating approximately fifty or sixty people. Since there were  eight of us, we decided to split a bunch of different things off the menu, tapas-style. Most of the dishes are smaller servings, so this worked out perfectly.

We ordered nearly every item, including wanton nachos, lamb sirloin, blue cheese pizza and black cod.  Side note: is there anything  blue cheese doesn’t taste good on? Everything was fabulous.  Simple, well infused dishes that perfectly married natural flavours with delicious spices and marinades.

I am not usually a big dessert person. I typically prefer to fill up on “food food” over sweets.  But since it was my birthday, I decided to have my cake and eat it too. The desserts turned out to be  my favourite part of the meal.  The avocado white mousse and pineapple crumble are two items I have developed permanent cravings for. Both were very original and not too sweet or rich.

It wouldn’t be a proper birthday (or even normal day) celebration without some drinks to wash down all of this great food. Two words: Dirty Martinis! They make a mean one!

Total cost worked out to about $50.00 a person, including tax and tip. The only thing lacking was a patio!

Photos courtesy of CityNews

I have mentioned a few times that I am completely in love, and possibly have an unhealthy obsession, with all things food. Luckily, I am active enough to stave off severe weight gain as a result of my never ending quest for delicious delicacies. Last weekend, I discovered a new restaurant on Queen West called Vdara (aka mmmm Vdara).  It has since been added to my ‘must go back and try everything else on the menu’ list.

Before I get too carried away with the details of the actual meal, I want to quickly highlight the ambiance and atmosphere. For a restaurant to be truly successful on Queen West, it needs to meet a few conditions: First, low yuppy appeal. Check. The decorative wall art featuring nude dancers left little to the imagination and should promptly scare away any easily offended,  square types. Second, it needs to appeal to a diverse crowd. Check. Whether you’re looking for drinks, dinner, P. Diddy’s Ciroc cocktails, or a dimly lit corner to rehash the latest pitfalls of your life, you wont be disappointed. Third, it should have a trendy name that new comers aren’t quite sure how to pronounce – think Czehoskis, Noce and Addis Ababa. Check.

Now, onto the meal itself. There was a large group of us for dinner so we ordered six or seven appetizers to share. The herbs and spices fried chicken strips and empenadas stuffed with pulled pork were amazing, but the real show stopper was the breaded and baked mac ‘n’ cheese cakes topped with smoked bacon and home-made ketchup.  I literally dreaded swallowing every bite for fear it would be my last. In short, moanfully good. For my main, I ordered the blackened tilapia with fruit salsa and baked sour cream and chive potatoes.  I’m a huge fan of blackened anything, so this was right up my alley. The poor, unsuspecting guy sitting next to me ordered grilled beef tenderloin (my second choice) which smelled so good I insisted on sampling his more than once.

I’ve been promoting Vdara to everyone who is looking for a really great meal, at a reasonable price (expect to pay approx 60.00-70.00 with wine, tax, and tip). If you’re in the area its well worth stopping in – let me know if you do.

Last Saturday I decided to try Harlem Restaurant on Richmond. I had been once or twice before for drinks and dancing, but had never been early enough to catch their dinner service. We arrived around 8pm, taking our chances without reservations. The restaurant was packed, and we were lucky enough to score their last table.

Dimly lit chandeliers sparkled from the ceiling, providing just enough light to take in the rustic decor. Live vocals from CarolynT filled both the up and downstairs with jazz, soul, and reggae. The overall atmosphere left little to be desired.

The menu was filled with all sorts of Southern dishes: Jambalaya, BBQ Chicken, Braised Short Ribs, Seafood Fondue, and my personal best friend Mac-n-Cheese. I’ve always had a healthy appetite so I started with a Hummus and Avocado appetizer, served with homemade crisps and just the right amount of Southern heat. This was followed by BBQ Chicken and sides of Cornbread and Mac. I could not have been happier. The chicken was so tender it practically fell apart on the plate and should most definitely have been served with an extra pile of napkins. If you’re OK with getting your hands dirty and having the odd bit of BBQ sauce on your face, this is the dish for you. Polite eaters beware!

The services was also fantastic. We were never without food, and our wine glasses were never empty. The total bill came to about $120.00 for two people, including tax and tip. All in all, a great experience. I would highly recommend Harlem to anyone looking for a fun (and filling) way to spend an evening.

- Heather

Over the years, sushi has become a staple to my overall happiness and satisfaction. It’s not that I need it daily (or even weekly for that matter), but after a few  weeks, the cravings begin, and I experience strong symptoms of withdrawal.

Being that Toronto is so multicultural, it has millions (if not zillions) of sushi restaurants left, right and centre. Being that I have become something of a sushi-holic, I have tried many of them, and have weeded many more out. It seems, fortunately for all those reading this post, that I am a bit of a sushi snob. I wont eat just any sushi, and if I don’t enjoy a venue’s sushi the first time, I wont bother with a second.

That said, below is a list of Heather-Approved sushi restaurants:

1. Sushi on Bloor: I have been frequenting this fine establishment since my second year at U of T. Even though I no longer live in the Annex, I will happily make the treck to Bathurst and Bloor, pay for parking, and wait in line, to eat there (as a general rule, I don’t wait in lines, so this speaks volumes). SOB offers high quality sushi, and a ton of different rolls, specials, and boxes. If you are a wasabi fanatic (or just really need to feel the burn) make sure you order their Ginger Wasabi rolls, but be careful – they’re not to be taken lightly.  Service is good, and they recently opened up their second floor for extra seating.

If you’re not in the mood to eat out, you can pick your food up and receive a 20% discount! Or, if you are being lazy and live in the area they will also deliver at no additional cost.

2. Kokyo “rhymes with Tokyo” Sushi is located at Yonge and Alexander. If you aren’t sold on their catchy tag-line, I can promise that you’ll  never have to wait in line, and  your service and delivery will always be prompt.  Kokyo is also good value for your money. You always get tons of food with every order and enough selection to please even the pickiest sushi lover.

3. Sushi Inn. If you’re looking for more of a highbrow, uptown, experience check out Sushi Inn on Cumberland.  You’ll definitely need to make reservations for this ‘hot spot’, as lunch and dinner service is often busy and lined up out the door.

The overall food quality and freshness is high, and their sushi pizzas are delicious (they even have a vegetarian option!). For eat in, or take out, Sushi Inn is a safe bet.

4. Ki. Ki is my “I’ve had a rough day” or, “I’m in the mood for a sushi-splurge” venue .  If you are looking for a ‘scene’ sushi place look no further. Thursday night is their ‘high-roller’, cash flash night, where all the ‘big wigs’ from Bay Street congregate and try to impress each other with the size of their wallets. If you like this scene, GO THURSDAY NIGHT. If you don’t, go for lunch, or any other night of the week.

The menu is extremely creative offering a fusion of different types of fish, vegetables, and sometimes even fruit in your rolls. The fish itself is amazingly fresh and almost melts in your mouth. If you’re not in the mood for fish, their Strip Loin Cubes are incredible (I have to admit I sometimes day dream about them). If you have yet to eat at Ki, I would recommend giving it a shot.

There are a few more sushi joints that I intend to check out in the near future – Hiro being at the top of my list.

What is your favourite sushi haven and why?

- Heather