In Search of Yummy-ness

Tarte Tatin

2012-02-01T13:25:00.000-08:00

Here's an easy dessert that's sure to impress your dinner guests!

Tarte Tatin
(serves 6)

Ingredients:
1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed

4 tbsp unsalted butter

1/2 cup of white or brown sugar (I like to mix a bit of both)

6 golden delicious or honey crisp apples
3/4 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup sour cream
1 tbsp liqueur such as rum, calvados, Grand Marnier etc.

Pre-heat your oven to 425 degrees. Make sure the oven rack is in the middle.

Peel, core and slice your apples. Try not to make them too thick.

Melt the butter in a skillet on medium-low heat.

Remove the skillet from the heat and sprinkle the sugar over the melted butter.

Carefully arrange the apple slices in the pan.

Return the skillet to medium-high heat and cook until the mixture becomes an amber colour. This should take 15-20 minute, but keep an eye on it.

Roll out the puff pastry and use a plate as a guide to create a circle. Cut out the circle and prick all over with a fork.

Place the pastry on top of the apples and bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes.

Meanwhile, whip the heavy cream and sour cream together until they form soft peaks. Add the liqueur and continue to whip until medium peaks form.

Remove the tarte from the oven and invert onto a large platter. Spoon the remaining syrup in the pan over the tarte.

Serve with the whipped cream!

Last post for 2011

2011-12-17T16:46:00.000-08:00

*~ Happy Holidays ~*

I hope you are having a wonderful holiday season filled with lots of good food!!!

- S.A.

Introduction to Mood Food

2011-11-29T07:04:00.001-08:00

Image borrowed from the Mood Food Culinary Website

As I'm on the topic of the PC Cooking School classes, I think this is a good time to introduce you to someone I met there!

Patricia Muzzi is a personal chef and the founder of Mood Food Culinary. What is mood food? Well, I'm hoping to find out more soon... Meanwhile, her website says:

"Patricia fuses chemistry and cooking together, educating her clients about how the foods we eat affect the chemical balance in our brain."

Pretty neat right? I'm hoping to find time in 2012 to chat with Patricia about her work and get some photos for you. Meanwhile, be sure to check out her website and you can also look for her on the PC Cooking School website as she runs classes there too.

http://www.moodfoodculinary.com

Casual Cooking Classes

2011-11-22T08:15:00.001-08:00

President's Choice Cooking School
www.pccookingschool.ca

Hey folks!

I haven't had time to blog for weeks, sorry about that... I recently started taking some casual cooking lessons (at the suggestion of a couple friends) and I'm really enjoying them. President's Choice hosts several cooking lessons inside of their stores, and I've been to 3 sessions already. The photo above is from the Thai cooking lesson (fried bananas with syrup, yum!).

I'm not affiliated with PC but I enjoy these classes so much that I wanted to let you know about them. You can sign up online or in-store for the individual classes that you are interested in. Most classes are set up so you just watch the instructor cook, but you do get to eat everything which I think is pretty cool. Other classes are offered as "hand-on" lessons, but they are more expensive so I haven't gone to one of those yet.

So far I've learned how to make a few simple hors d'oeuvres, an apple tart, fried rice, pad thai, coq au vin, red bell pepper soup etc. They provide you with a copy of each recipe so you can have it for reference later on (although really the last thing I need are more recipes in my house...) and most, if not all, ingredients can be found in a Loblaws or Real Canadian Superstore.

Have you tried these classes before? Let me know what you think of them :)

Red Rose Tea BOGO Coupon & Donation Offer

2011-11-09T11:13:00.000-08:00

screen shot from Red Rose Tea website

Red Rose Tea is currently giving away BOGO Free coupons for their new Canadian Breakfast blend! You can order your coupon online here: http://www.redrosetea.ca/ShareTheWarmth/ by clicking "Get My Coupon".

You can also donate up to 3 pots of tea to registered Canadian Charities on this website.

You don't get to pick which charity unfortunately, but it's still a good cause and doesn't cost you a penny. The website does require you to fill in your name and email address though.

Once you click "Share the Warmth" and fill out the form, you will see a thank you note like the one I took a screen shot of (above).

Announcement: Everyday Exotic Cookbook Released Today

2011-10-28T07:56:00.000-07:00

Image borrowed from: http://www.rogermooking.com/whatsup/

This is just a quick post to let you know that Food Network Canada's chef Roger Mooking has released his first cookbook. The recipes are from his TV show "Everyday Exotic"and it looks like it has some yummy recipes:

Lime Leaf Chicken with Lime Mayo
Coriander Meatloaf with Cilantro Pesto and
Tomato Chutney
Curried Macaroni and Cheese Pie
Five Spice Lamb Burgers
Saffron Halibut Packets

I have actually made the halibut before (the recipe was on the food network website) and it's pretty good.

The book is now available al all major book retailers. For more info on the book, click here.

Once I get my hands on a copy, I will write a post about it :)

Happy Thanksgiving!!

2011-10-08T08:42:00.000-07:00

Here's an inedible turkey idea...

The Pinecone Turkey Craft

Popcorn kernels are optional :)

Ok, so this isn't exactly food related... but I wanted to share this easy craft with you. Enjoy!~

Click on image to view larger version

PUR Gum (sale has ended)

2011-10-06T12:05:00.000-07:00

PUR gum is the only gum I can chew, because anything with aspartame gives me a terrible headache. Sadly, aspartame is in pretty much every popular brand of chewing gum (and diet soda's etc.)

I tried PUR gum recently and found that it's a good substitute although the texture is a bit different than regular chewing gum. Also, the flavour doesn't last as long but I don't mind. I prefer to chew 2 pieces at once, because the pieces are a a bit smaller than other gums of this kind (chicklets?). The spearmint is your typical minty flavour and the pomegranate is also good. I haven't tried the other 2 flavours yet.

The downside of this aspartame free gum is definitely the price!! You can get it from Whole Foods but it's expensive (I can't remember exactly how much) and it's a bit cheaper on well.ca.

~~HOWEVER!~~

Today there is a deal where you can get a case of 24 packs for just $20! This turns out to be even cheaper per pack than some regular brands of gum. I believe shipping is free in Canada with this deal too. I just bought my certificate and will redeem it next week (only valid after Thanksgiving I think).

Find the deal here: http://www.dealfind.com/mississauga/purgum21?a=080cc6a2e3d9

Read more about this product here: http://pur-gum.com/

Rosewater - Summerlicous 2011

2011-10-02T12:29:00.000-07:00

Rosewater
19 Toronto St., Toronto
416-214-5888
http://www.rosewaterroom.com/

Summerlicous: $20 Lunch

They've changed the name from "Rosewater Supper Club" to just "Rosewater"

Warm Asparagus Salad with Rhubarb Jam Crostini, Baby Greens, Hollandaise
When you eat all the separate parts together, it's very tasty.

Rosewater Strip loin Burger:
Monterey Jack, Caramelized Onion, Chipotle Mayo, Country Style Fries
This may look like any other burger, but the beef was moist and flavourful and the country style fries rocked!

Thai Pesto Glazed Salmon:
Cucumber Dynamite Roll, Tender Greens, Carrot and Ginger Essence
This dish was just ok. Although the fish was cooked nicely, the flavours were too mild.
The dynamite roll seemed out of place on the plate and didn't taste good.

Roasted Apricot Galette: Vanilla Cream, Candied Almonds, Strawberry Coulis
Rosewater knows how to do desserts! The presentation alone was enough to impress me, but the flavours are what really what blew my mind. This was a stunning dessert that I want to have again.

Raspberry Cream Tart:
Chocolate Whipped Ganache, Caramelized Chocolate Cocoa Nibs
Again, the presentation on this dish was superb! This elegant dessert was creamy and rich, with a nice balance of chocolate and raspberry flavours.

This was so pretty, it deserved a second photo!

As you can see, we really enjoyed these desserts!

Overall: We had a really positive experience at Rosewater. The food was good, the building is beautiful and the staff were friendly. Aside from the noise level in the restaurant, we have no real complaints. If you haven't been here before, it's worth checking out!

Restaurant's Hours:

Lunch: 11:30am to 2:30pm Monday to Friday

Dinner: 5:30pm to 10:30pm Monday to Saturday

Why we haven't posted in a while...

2011-09-29T10:00:00.000-07:00

Hey folks,

Sorry for the lack of content this month (and during summer...oops). I've been working and doing training courses which are keeping me busy. M.L. has gone off traveling and won't be back for another week or so.

I'm working on scheduling this blog into my weekly planner, so that we can continue to put up content here at least 3-4 times a month. I've shot a couple "Snack Attacks" so hopefully I can get the photos edited and uploaded soon.

Thanks for your patience,
- S.A.

Portico - Summerlicious 2011

2011-09-01T15:23:00.000-07:00

Portico

Cambridge Suites Hotel
15 Richmond St. E., Toronto
416-601-3774

www.porticorestaurant.ca

Summerlicous: $20 Lunch

Pretty decor

Comfy Seats

Roasted garlic & tomato soup with creme fraiche, sea salt crostini:
This was tasty, and it was nice to have a selection of crisps to go with it.

Black & Gray Cocktail:
The vanilla vodka was lost in this drink, overpowered by the fresh lime and blackberries.

Cherry Cow Cocktail: This stuff is dangerously strong!
It's a combination of Kahlua, Chambord, Creme de Cacao, Cream & Sour Cherries

Braised beef short ribs, mushroom polenta, blistered tomatoes & pan reduction:
This was a nice dish with a decent portion size. The beef was delicious!
Looking back, I don't remember there being mushrooms in the polenta... maybe it's just a flavouring. It did taste good, and that's what matters.

Maritime shrimp & scallop risotto with garlic lobster butter & basil oil:
This dish was a huge disappointment! It was bland, stodgy, and the presentation was a mess. Thankfully the seafood was cooked properly, but it wasn't enough to save the overall dish.

Vodka vanilla soaked berries, white chocolate ice cream with fresh mint:
This dessert was a light and refreshing end to the meal. The cookie was a bonus that we could have done without.... truthfully, it didn't taste good.

Cherry brulee with mascarpone cream, chocolate crackle:
Does this photo look very appetizing to you? It didn't look any better in real life either. That black stuff is some sort of preserved cherry, I think. It had a strong, almost bitter, flavour to it and I did not enjoy them. The rest of the dessert was lovely though. The torched sugar top gave a satisfying "crack" when hit with the spoon, the inside was smooth and the fruit sauces on the plate were nice too.

Overall: M.L. had a nice lunch, and I left disappointed so it's hard to give a fully positive review on Portico. The service was ok, and the atmosphere is nice enough but I'm not sure that I'd go back... then again, if the short ribs and polenta were on the regular menu I would go just to eat that again!

Restaurant's Hours:

Couldn't find them on the website... :S

Just Greek

2011-08-07T12:06:00.000-07:00

Just Greek Restaurant
3004 Bloor St. W., Toronto
416-239-5000
www.justgreek.ca

Greek Salad: nice feta & plump olives

Phyllo Shrimp: crunchy with a spicy sauce

Chicken Souvlaki: marinated chicken, fresh tzatziki

Mediterranean Bread: roasted veggies topped with feta & oregano

Moussaka: layered eggplant, zucchini & ground beef with potatoes

Overall: This big restaurant has good food and a nice decor. Best dishes were the Med. Bread and Phyllo Shrimp. Worse dish was the Moussaka (just a personal preference). They also have pretty good fries too. You should check out this restaurant if you're in the neighbourhood, there's lots of parking near by as well.

Looking for a 2nd opinion? Check out the review on the Toronto Life website: http://www.torontolife.com/guide/restaurants/greek/just-greek/

Restaurant's Hours:

Monday - Thursday & Sunday: 11:30pm - 10pm

Friday - Saturday: 11:30pm - 11pm

Take-out available from 11:30am - 9:30pm

Summerlicious Experience - BLD

2011-07-20T08:09:00.000-07:00

BLD Restaurant

36 Toronto St
416-777-0253

www.bldrestaurant.ca

International Cuisine

"BLD Restaurant is located in the St. Lawrence and Financial District in "Old Toronto" in the historical milkcamps building. Daily features are made with locally sourced products lettting the food speak for itself. Everything is made in-house daily from the freshest ingredients possible."

Summerlicious Price: $20 (+ tax & tip)

Grilled Calamari
pickled fennel | orange segments | pea shoots | spicy chorizo oil

Verdict: The acidity of the pickled fennel really works to balance the flavours in this dish. Without it, the calamari is very plain. Although I personally prefer crispy calamari to grilled, I did enjoy this dish.

Cucumber Gazpacho
yogurt | mint (vegetarian/vegan without yogurt)

Verdict: My lovely lunch companion T.F. had this soup as her starter. As you can see, it's not the prettiest dish... the flavours were also quite strong and, although it wasn't listed as a main ingredient, T.F. was pretty sure there was a fair bit of cilantro in this soup (which she doesn't care for).

Verdict: Words cannot properly express how amazing this sandwich is!! You NEED to try this if you like short ribs. The meat was delicious... and so tender.... I will forever dream of this sandwich... *sigh* The salad, however, was bland.

Verdict: Another amazing sandwich!! The photo does not do it justice. T.F. and I shared our sandwiches so I can honestly tell you how yummy this is! The shrimp is grilled nicely, the avocado was perfectly ripe and the spice of the chipotle makes this sandwich addictive... I want one right now! Again, the salad was less than yummy. We both wished it had more acid in the salad dressing.

Bread Pudding
crème anglaise, fresh berries

Verdict: T.F. loves bread pudding, and this one did not disappoint. The texture was lovely, and the portion size is good for a dessert that can be a bit on the heavier side.

Chocolate, Orange Tiramisu
with fresh berries

Verdict: This is a lovely, light dessert that has a pretty topping of chocolate and orange zest.

Rooibos Vanilla (front) & Quangzou Milk Oolong

Verdict: T.F. and I both love a good cup of tea, so we were excited when our server told us about their tea menu featuring whole leaf organic teas. I had the Rooibos Vanilla which tasted of vanilla and almonds (I love almonds). T.F. had the Quangzou Milk Oolong which smelled like gym socks at first, but becomes sweet and creamy with the addition of milk.

Watermelon Martini (careful, this one is strong!)

Overall Verdict: BLD is a great place to have a enjoy a meal with a friend of two.

The decor is interesting too, there was an old film being projected onto the glass panels which was pretty cool. This restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner most days (as indicated by the name "BLD").

I very much recommend that you go and try the prawn sandwich at this restaurant, it's amazing!!

I didn't see the short rib grilled cheese on the regular menu...I might have missed it but just in case, you have 4 days left of Summerlicious to get your hands on one of these!!

(It really deserves a spot on the main menu, if it isn't there already)

HOURS

Mon - Tue	Breakfast	8am - 11am
	Lunch	11:30am - 2:30pm
	Dinner	closed
Wed - Fri	Breakfast	8am - 11am
	Lunch	11:30am - 2:30pm
	Bar menu	3pm - 6pm
	Dinner	6pm - 10pm
	Bar menu	10pm -
Saturday	Bar menu	4:00pm - 6pm
	Dinner	6pm - 10pm
	Bar menu	10pm -

Posted by: S.A.

A Mad Hot Tea Party

2011-07-06T21:25:00.000-07:00

I recently attended the National Ballet of Canada's annual fundraising gala "Mad Hot Ballet" (or "Mad Hot Wonderland which was this year's theme).

The evening included some excerpts from the company's repertoire, which was introduced by the current Artistic Director, Karen Kain.

The first time I went to one of these galas the dance showcase was spectacular. Sadly, that was about 4 years ago and since then they've chosen to go with moody duets and emotional solos instead of intricate group pieces. Not that there's anything wrong with... actually, one sec....

Dear National Ballet of Canada,

I love your Mad Hot (or White Hot) Gala's. It's a great excuse to dress up, the food is usually quite good and it's fun to people-watch while sipping on the signature drink of the evening.

That being said, I thought this year's dance showcase was dull. I didn't understand the decision to put 2 similar modern-ballet pieces back to back (yes, I know they are not actually the same at all technically). Your decision to showcase Greta was appropriate but surely you could have found something else for her to perform other than the iconic solo from Swan Lake. Yes, it's iconic, it's also been seen a fair bit don't you think? And could you have chosen anything more depressing??

Luckily, I had not yet seen Alice in Wonderland so those excerpts were a wonderful preview for me. On that note, Alice was one of the most entertaining shows I have seen and it was refreshing to see such a theatrical ballet performance. In fact, I thought the show was down right amazing!

I would love to see more works like this in your repertoire.

Lastly, there has to be a better way to put out the finger-food for the ~~commoners~~ regular ticket-holders* which doesn't result in me getting crushed by a mob.

Sincerly,

S.A. of The In Search of Yummy-ness Blog

Sorry folks, I had to get that one off my chest!! To make up for it... umm.... more photos!!

I want all of these tea cups!! (From William-Ashley)

Apparently the food was catered by North 44, one of Mark McEwan's Ventures. I don't know what this is, but it was DELICIOUS!!!!

A yummy gourmet cupcake

There's a bunny in my cup!! SO CUTE!!!
This is a "White Rabbit Cocktail"

He isn't food-related, but here's a pic of Rex Harrington!

My photos aren't great because I didn't take my DSLR (it would have clashed with my dress....ha ha).
For more (better) photos (which don't belong to me) visit this website

*A ticket that included the post-performance dinner (again, catered by North 44) cost $1,500. Tables ranged from $15,000 - $25,000. I can only dream...

Blog Update

2011-07-04T16:13:00.000-07:00

Hey Folks,

Sorry for the lack of content lately, we have a pile of blog posts waiting to be edited once things calm down a bit over here.

We're super excited about our Summerlicious reservations and we can't wait to share our experiences with you. In the meantime, check out our Summerlicious posts from last year if you haven't read them already:

http://insearchofyummyness.blogspot.com/2010/07/summer-luvin-for-foodies.html

http://insearchofyummyness.blogspot.com/2010/07/summerlicious-2010-part-1.html

http://insearchofyummyness.blogspot.com/2010/07/summerlicious-2010-part-2.html

http://insearchofyummyness.blogspot.com/2010/08/summerlicious-2010-part-3-better-late.html

Note: our in-restaurant photos are never the same quality as our other blog photos because neither M.L. or I like the idea of dragging the giant DSLR into a restaurant. We just use a simple point-and-shoot so we don't distract others dining around us :)

Summerlicious 2011 - Where we're going

2011-06-28T09:21:00.000-07:00

Hey Folks,

Here's another quick Summerlicious post for you. We can confirm that we will be reviewing the following restaurants:

- Portico (M.L. & S.A.)
- Rosewater (M.L & S.A.)
- BLD (S.A. & T.F.)

If we add on any more, we'll let you know!

Where will you be going for summerlicious?

- S.A.

Summerlicious 2011 - Menus

2011-06-13T21:22:00.000-07:00

Hey folks,

This is just a quick post to let you all know that the menus for Summerlicious 2011 in Toronto have been posted!! Click here for full details.

"A highlight of summer in Toronto! Take advantage of the incredible value and exclusive 3-course prix fixe menus offered at 150 of Toronto's top restaurants." - summary from Toronto.ca

Lunch prices range from $15-$25
Dinner prices range from $25-$45

There are lots of restaurants to choose from, so be sure to take your time and figure out what fits your taste and budget. It's a good idea to pick more than one place to go in case you can't get a reservation to your first choice. Reservations go fast!!

Remember: Restaurants won't begin taking reservations until June 23, 2011.

PS. Check back here for more Summerlicious 2011 posts coming up!!

A Change from Mac 'n Cheese

2011-05-30T13:29:00.000-07:00

Macaroni Pie Recipe

Every Caribbean household seems to have their own version of this cheesy baked dish. It’s a comfort food staple in the West Indies, and it’s pretty easy to make. This sweet version is my mother’s recipe. If you prefer a more savory pie, omit the sugar and add a pinch of salt to the mixture.

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 30-40 minutes

Serves 4

2 cups uncooked dry elbow macaroni

1 ½ tsp salt (for cooking water)

2 eggs

2 ¼ cups grated cheddar or marble cheese (reserve ¼ cup for topping)

1 ½ cups evaporated milk (approx. 1 can)

¼ tsp white pepper

1 tbsp granulated or brown sugar

Method:

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Boil macaroni in salted water until tender, then drain.
In a large bowl, beat eggs until fluffy.
Add milk, pepper, and sugar and stir until combined.
Stir in 2 cups of cheese, and the cooked macaroni.
Pour into a greased, 8 x 8, baking dish and top with reserved ¼ cup of cheese.
Bake until firm (aprox. 30-40 minutes).
Allow pie to rest for 10-15 minutes before serving, so it can set.

Variations: There are so many ways you can make this dish your own. You can try different types of cheese, add grated onion to the mixture or top with fresh herbs, breadcrumbs or ketchup.

Tips:

- Cold cheese is easier to grate.

- The older the age of the cheese, the more “cheesy” it will taste

- If the cheese begins to brown too quickly, add a piece of foil over the top of the baking dish.

- This dish can be made ahead of time and kept in the fridge, but it does not freeze well.

Serving Suggestion: Serve with stewed or barbequed chicken and a salad of leafy greens.

Enjoy!~

Snack Attack! - Grapefruit (Updated)

2011-05-26T21:04:00.000-07:00

Baked Grapefruit with Brown Sugar

I love the combination of sweetness and acidity in this recipe. This makes a great breakfast or dessert!

How to make it:
1. Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees
2. Cut a pink grapefruit in half
3. Use a small knife to cut around the segments (so you can scoop them out of the skin later)
4. Sprinkle with brown sugar (you may also add honey over the sugar if you want it sweeter)
5. Bake until the sugar melts and caramelizes
6. CAREFUL! It will be really hot, so let it cool down a fair bit before eating.

Tips:
- Avoid the temptation to broil these. In my experience they just burn really quickly
- Grapefruits can become a little bitter when baked, you may need to add more sugar if it bothers you

ALTERNATIVE: Warm the grapefruit through on your BBQ then add your sweeteners and serve :)

Enjoy!~

Baking with a Friend

2011-05-20T08:00:00.000-07:00

Flourless Chocolate Cake: "easy to make, easier to eat"

My friend T.F. and I made this a few weeks ago, and it turned out really well!

It's like a thin brownie and it pairs well with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Warning: It is SUPER CHOCOLATE-Y!!!

Click on the link to get the recipe we used:

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Flourless-Chocolate-Cake-14478

Chopping up the chocolate

Melted butter and chocolate (sorry for the flash)

The finished product with an icing sugar design

Whipping cream in the Kitchenaid mixer!

Finished product, moments before it was devoured...

Words can't describe how good this is. Just try it for yourself!!!

Bonus: Super cute measuring cups!!!

Have a great weekend everyone!!

Korean BBQ Restaurant Review

2011-05-17T11:39:00.000-07:00

Miga Korean & Japanese BBQ Restaurant

http://www.migabbq.com/

2382 Dundas St. W., Mississauga, ON

Phone: (905) 822-9200 or (905) 822-9300

Cuisine: Korean & Japanese

Summary: Yummy-ness found!

Ambiance/Décor:
Elegant and minimalist. Beyond that...we actually don't remember... we were too focused on the delicious food to remember the decor.

We sat at a small table with a BBQ pit in the middle. There are large exhaust vents over each table to take away the smoke from the BBQ-ing.

They also have party rooms which give you an authentic Korean/Japanese experience of eating on low tables while sitting on the ground (but you still feel like you are sitting in a chair as the ground is dug in so there is room for your feet!). If you are using these rooms, shoes must be taken off and left outside.

What We Ate + Taste/Presentation:

Banchan: Miso Soup, Bean Sprouts, Cooked Watercress? Potatoes with sweet soy sauce

More Banchan: Seaweed Salad? & Kimchi

All meals come with a complementary set of appetizers (called Banchan in Korean) that consists of miso soup, bean sprouts, seaweed, potatoes, and kimchi. These items are served at room temperature.

Marinated Beef

Stone Pot Rice with Mixed Vegetable, Beef and an Egg Yolk

We couldn't go to a Korean BBQ restaurant without having meat! The marinated beef was tasty and tender.

We also had the Stone Pot Rice which was delicious! The stone pot gets so hot that the rice becomes crispy on the outside. The abundance of toppings helps keep the rice from drying out while adding lots of flavour. Once you break the egg yolk it warms through and binds the rest of the ingredients together to make a comforting dish with interesting textures and tastes. You also have the option of adding chilli paste if you want to add some colour and spice to your meal!

Edamame (soybeans)

California Roll & Dynamite Maki Roll with Spicy Sauce

In addition to these dishes we tried their sushi, edamame, and fried dumplings. The sushi was perfect. We don't know what they use to make the spicy sauce but it's so good! The fried dumplings were very crisp and came with a really nice dipping sauce.

Price:

Roughly $21 per person for food and tea, including tax.

When we went there was an "all-you-can eat" lunch special for roughly $15. This is a good option if it’s your first time and you want an opportunity to try a variety of items from the regular menu. You get more than your money's worth with this deal, for example, the stone pot rice costs $12-15 on its own, and the size they served for the "all-you-can eat" menu is the same as what you would normally get otherwise.

The dinner menu is pricy, so if you want to save a few dollars go to Miga for lunch instead!

Service:

The service was great. The servers are very friendly and polite. They also have a service button on the table so if you need anything, all you have to do is ring! (So cool!)

If you decide to do any of the B.B.Q combos they offer, you will have to cook the meat yourself. The staff will explain what to do, and change the grills for you as needed. Don’t worry, they’ll keep an eye on you!

Bathroom: Somewhat clean, floors were a bit sticky...we've seen worse though.

Do we recommend this place?

Yes! Finally a decent Asian restaurant to visit in Mississauga! There’s a wide selection of food that we haven’t tried yet to, which means we will have to go back soon. Also this place is run by Koreans, so you know the food is authentic! =P

Interesting Thing:
If you order BBQ items for lunch from the all-you-can-eat menu, they will BBQ your meat for you. Keep this in mind in case you are going with the intention of grilling your own meat!

M.L.'s Tip (Yup, she's back!):

If you plan on going to eat here, especially if you plan on doing the B.B.Q, leave any unnecessary belonging in the car if possible. Be warned…they will smell like BBQ'd food for days!!!

Snack Attack! - Pita Chips

2011-04-18T11:52:00.000-07:00

Easy Pita Chips (and Hummus)

Get Michael Smith's hummus recipe here

Pita chips are super versatile and very easy to make. Yes, I know you can buy them in stores but I prefer to make my own because it's cheaper!

IMO, nothing goes better with pita chips than hummus! I don't have my own hummus recipe, so I used Michael Smith's (see above for link). I've included photos of both the hummus and the chips because everything just looked so yummy :)

How to make Pita Chips:
1. Pre-heat your oven to 400 degrees
2. Cut the pitas into triangles (easiest way: cut the circle in half, then half again, then half once more)
3. Put the triangles into a bowl, drizzle with olive oil and season as desired (I just use sea salt usually)
4. Spread the trianges out on a sheet pan, bake for 6 minutes or until crunchy. I try not to overcook mine because I find they become hard instead of crunchy.
5. Let the chips cool the serve with hummus. Chips can be stored for a few days in a zip-top bag.

Enjoy!~

Snack Attack!: Red Bells

2011-04-04T10:54:00.000-07:00

Sautéed Red Bell Peppers

How to make it:

1. Wash and cut 2 red bell peppers into strips (be sure to remove the pith and seeds!)

2. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat

3. Add the pepper strips, and saute for 6-7 minutes, or until the peppers soften and the skins char a little.

4. Season with salt and pepper (or a lemon pepper blend)

Enjoy!~

Random Thursday - Ribena

2011-03-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

"Ribena I know what you’re drinkin'..."

Ribena is a blackcurrant fruit drink concentrate that is popular in the Caribbean and the UK. It can be diluted with hot or cold water to make a tasty fruity drink. I prefer to have it cold...

Easy Apple Dessert

2011-03-14T11:37:00.000-07:00

Apple Crisp a la Mode

This is a simple (and sort-of healthy) dessert that can be thrown together in no time.

I prefer to have more topping than apples, so this recipe is perfect for me. You may need to play around with it to suit your taste. It's awesome with vanilla ice cream :)
Click here for the recipe

Thank you to Mrs. Floyd for sharing the recipe with me and T. Floyd for making it with me!

Cooked from a Book

2011-03-07T08:00:00.000-08:00

Beef Bourguignon

From: French Taste

chapters.indigo.ca

I believe this is a companion cookbook to Food Network Canada's TV Series French Food at Home with Laura Calder. It's described as "elegant everyday eating."

PROS: This cookbook gives you recipes with French flavours without the fuss. I have made Beef Bourguignon the traditional way (which takes far longer) and this recipe was almost as tasty. I also enjoy the relaxed approach of this book.

CONS: I'm a very visual person, so the lack of photos is upsetting to me. The few photos that are in the book are nice though.

OVERALL:
This is a basic (although not necessarily authentic) French* cookbook that includes recipes like Onion and Bacon Tart, Vichyssoise, Salmon en Papillote and Salad Nicoise.
I'm a fan of the French Food at Home show, and I think this book really captures Chef Calder's laid-back personality. The food is elegant enough to serve to guests but easy enough to cook for yourself as well. NOTE: The recipe I tried out is time consuming compared to other recipes in the book, so I wouldn't recommend making it on a weeknight.

Mise en Place
Flour and garlic
Flour, garlic, beef, carrots, onion, broth & lots of red wine
Into the oven for 2 hours
Out of the oven, reducing the liquid on the stovetop
Sauteed Mushrooms and Onion
Served with Mashed Potatoes

This recipe is time consuming (2 hours in the oven and about 30 minutes to reduce the sauce), but it's not difficult. It's worth making it you have the time, as the meat becomes tender and it's pretty tasty.

You're suppose to throw out the carrots and onions when you take the stew out of the oven, but I felt that was a bit of a waste. I threw out the onions because I was adding more with the mushrooms anyhow, but I kept the carrots... I'm not sure that I'd recommend doing that though... they literally have no flavour left in them. So I guess you should throw them out if your conscience allows you.

*In case it's not obvious, the cookbook is written in English

Random Thursdays! - Back in the day....

2011-03-03T08:00:00.000-08:00

What is this?

An old vegetable peeler!!

Cooked From a Book

2011-02-28T08:00:00.000-08:00

Cottage Pie

From: the main {recipes}

chapters.indigo.ca

This is a companion cookbook to the Food Network Canada TV Series The Main with Anthony Sedlak. The description says that Chef Anthony "takes one ingredient and prepares it in distinct yet complimentary dishes that together make a fantastic meal."

PROS: This cookbook has amazing photos, taken by David Bagosy. In fact, there is a 2-page photo spread before every recipe. The overall design and layout of the book is very easy to follow, and every recipe includes a "Timing is Everything" section that gives you the order in which you should cook everything.

CONS: Most of these recipes are not "weeknight" recipes because they are either too time consuming or just have too many parts.

OVERALL: The recipe that I "tested" for this review is not my favourite. That being said, I have cooked several other recipes from this book which are delicious, including the "Slow-Roasted Prime Rib with Button Mushrooms, Horseradish Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes, and Yorkshire Puddings" that are now a Christmas/New Years dinner staple at my house. This is a good book for anyone who is willing to put in the time to make a great meal.

Classic Cottage Pie
Ground Beef
Potatoes
Carrots, waiting on onion and celery
"Cooking out" the sauce
I've got too many things going on at once...
Topping the mashed potatoes and breadcrumbs with pats of butter
Out of the oven

Dinner... after almost 2 hours of cooking!

I (stupidly) attempted to make this on a weeknight. It took me almost 2 hours to prep, cook all the components of the Cottage Pie, and then bake the pie. After all that work, it didn't has as much flavour as I thought it would... it wasn't bad, just not as tasty as it should have been.

I didn't bother with the "Irish Peas and Cabbage" side dish that is suppose to go with this... I made simple buttered peas instead.

Random Thursdays! - "Home Grown"

2011-02-24T09:54:00.000-08:00

Home Grown Figurines

These are so cute, I just had to photograph them for the blog!

I thought the info on the bases might be useful... (click to enlarge)

Mine were purchased from Casino Rama, but it seems you can purchase them online as well:

- Home Grown Sweet Potatoe Pig Figurine
- Home Grown Red Onion Cat Ornament (I couldn't find a link for the regular model, sorry)

Other creatures I want to buy:

Cooked from a Book

2011-02-17T11:29:00.000-08:00

A New Series!

I have a growing cookbook collection that lives in my kitchen, but I hardly try out new recipes. While I enjoy reading cookbooks like novels (on the couch with a cup of tea) I don't really use them for cooking... which is why I've started this new series on our blog. I will try out recipes from various cookbooks and then tell you how my meals turned out. The idea is that it will give me a reason to use the cookbooks and give you (hopefully) useful feedback about the cookbook itself.

Buttermilk Fried Chicken and Biscuits

From: The Best of Chef at Home

This is a companion cookbook to the Food Network Canada TV Series Chef at Home with Michael Smith. It's described as a cookbook with "essential recipes for today's kitchen."

PROS: Both recipes were easy to follow, had ingredients that were easy to find, and tells you how to personalize the recipe with your favourite herbs, spices. etc. I also really like that the book has photos for every recipe as well as a description of what you're about to make.

CONS: The heat and cooking times suggested in the book didn't work for either recipe. For example, the book suggests cooking the chicken on medium-high heat, and my first batch burned before the inside could cook. Medium-low heat worked out much better. Keep in mind though that all ovens/ranges/microwaves have different power levels and therefore it's expected that you will have to adjust your cooking time etc.

OVERALL: I really like this cookbook because the recipes are easy to follow and both items tasted great. It's a good cookbook for beginners or anyone who is looking for a cookbook with tasty staple menu items like fried chicken, herb-roasted potatoes, chicken noodle soup and pancakes.

Buttermilk Fried Chicken

The chicken marinated over night in buttermilk

Breaded with seasoned flour and left to dry out

Mmm... crunchy!

This chicken was probably the best fried chicken I've ever had. It was moist on the inside with a crunchy coating and reheated well in the toaster oven the next day.

I would add more spice to it the next time I make this.

Frozen Butter Biscuits

Mixing the dry ingredients

Ready to be baked

Don't they look good?

These biscuits are AWESOME. They came out fluffy even though I was sure I overworked the batter. They were even better the next morning, warmed with butter and strawberry jam.

Overall, a tasty (not-so-healthy) meal that wasn't too hard to make. Frying chicken can be tricky, but it's worth trying out at home at least once :)

Dinner!~

Snack Attack! - Popcorn

2011-02-14T12:18:00.000-08:00

Make Your Own Microwave Popcorn

I LOVE popcorn, I could eat it everyday. Not the over-salted popcorn from the movie theatre, not the greasy leaves-a-film-on-your-tongue microwave popcorn, I mean real popcorn. Don't get me wrong, I love the convenience of microwave popcorn, but not the taste (although I eat it all the time out of sheer laziness). Anyhow, I prefer plain air-popped popcorn because I can flavour it with whatever I want and it's healthier than commercial products.

Making popcorn from scratch can be a hassle though... I've broken more popcorn machines than I'd like to admit and, up until now, the only other way to make it is to cook popcorn kernels in a pot on my stovetop and hope that the lid doesn't blow off in the process sending popcorn shrapnel at me (it has happened).

The other day I was reading this post on the College Fashion website and someone left a comment explaining how to make microwave popcorn from scratch.

Homemade popcorn in the microwave? ...
*angels sing*

Obviously I had to try it out, and I'm so happy that I did because I may never buy commercial microwave popcorn again!! FYI, I adjusted the directions from the College Fashion post comment after experimenting a bit.

You will need:

- 1/4 cup popcorn kernels

- 1/2 tsp olive oil (or other oil of your choice)

- 1 brown paper bag

- additional oil and salt (to taste)

How to make it:

1. Measure 1/4 cup of dry popcorn kernels and place them in a brown paper bag

2. Measure 1/2 tsp of olive oil and drizzle on top of the kernels

3. Fold the top of the bag over 2 times and shake the bag to coat the kernels with the oil

4. Place the bag on its side in the microwave and heat for 1 minute and 50 seconds on high heat*

*Be careful not to burn your popcorn! Listen for the popping...

5. Carefully remove the (now hot and greasy) bag from the microwave and let cool until it's safe to handle

6. Empty the popcorn into a bowl and season with whatever you desire

Mmmm... Popcorn.....

Today I used salt and olive oil, but my personal favourite is salt and coconut oil (try it, it's good). You could also add garlic powder, paprika and/or parmesan cheese!

- S.A.

What's your favourite popcorn topping?

New Year = New Blog Design!

2011-02-08T09:25:00.000-08:00

Hello!

It's been about six months since our last post... we could make excuses but the truth is that we both got busy and totally forgot about the blog.

You haven't missed much though, we were too busy to go out for dinner in the Fall and it's been too cold recently to go out at all!!! (Ok, too cold for me... M.L. on the other hand has been taking snowboarding lessons!) Once we start to thaw-out we'll be back in action with restaurant reviews.

Until then, we will put up some different kinds of posts and we'll be getting started on those soon.

We're already a month into 2011, but the Lunar/Chinese New Year has just begun! So I think it's a great time for us to have a fresh start, and what better way to re-launch the blog but with a brand new (drastically more attractive) design! We hope you enjoy it!!!

- S.A.

Summerlicious 2010 - part 3

2010-08-23T12:37:00.000-07:00

Kultura

www.kulturarestaurant.com
Address: 169 King Street East, Toronto, ON M5A 1J4

DISCLAIMER: The executive chef of this restaurant is Roger Mooking. I do know Roger personally, but that does not affect my opinions of this restaurant. *EDIT: Roger Mooking is no longer affiliated with Kultura Social Dining (Dec. 10 2010)

Summary: Yummy-ness has been found for some time now, this wasn't my first visit.

Ambiance/Decor:

Sleek and modern, the decor combines elements of wood, glass, exposed brick and an interesting use of light. The music is front and center here. It's not the calm ambient music you find at other restaurants, instead the music is loud (not blaring though) and they play popular songs that you could sing along to (I tend to dance in my seat...)

What We Ate:

(The full menu for Summerlicious at Kultura can be found here)

Appetizers

Mediterranean Chicken Samosas: Asiago Cheese, Sage & Spiced Apple Gari Chutney

- Palak Paneer Naan: Truffle Oil, Jalapeño, Peppered Honey (vegetarian) - (no photo, sorry)
- Complimentary dish: I think they were poppodom chips with a mango chutney... (no photo)

Sushi Pizza: Pickled Daikon Radish, Japanese Pepper, Tuna, Spicy Mayo

Mains

Mushroom Orecchiette: Pasta with a Pinot Noir Pear Chutney and Aged Cheddar (vegetarian)

Beef Striploin: with Red Miso, Sunchoke Tater Tots, Tomatillo Salsa, Honey Sriracha
(Photo Credit: Dianne)

European Sea Bass: Shredded Snow Peas, Sansho Pepper, Cassava, Ginger, Sour Dashi

Desserts

Doughnut Holes: with Chocolate and Caramel Dipping Sauces

Flourless Chocolate Cake: Chocolate Pudding on top, Caramel Parfait, Frozen Lemon Curd on the side

Sorbet Trio: daily assortment, we had Berry, Ginger, Apple (vegan)

Drinks
- Breakfast at Tiffany's Cocktail
- Coke (or Pepsi?)

There were 4 of us at dinner. We all shared, so I was able to taste everything :)

Price:
$35 per person, for the 3-course meal. Drinks are extra. (Summerlicious pricing)

Taste & Presentation:

My Favourite Item...
I'm torn between two items, so I'm going to pick both: one sweet, one savoury.

Savoury: Mushroom Orecchiette
This dish combines the sweetness of pears, the earthiness of mushrooms, and the richness of cheese to create a creamy, delicious pasta that I absolutely love. The portion size is small, but it's so rich that you wouldn't want much more than that.

Sweet: Flourless Chocolate Cake
This dessert combines my love for lemon with my cravings for chocolate. I took forever to finish eating this, because I was savouring every bite. It's rich, creamy, tangy, sweet...*sigh*

The Worst Item....
The "Breakfast at Tiffany's" drink was disappointing. It tasted like diluted orange juice, and definitely was not up to par with other cocktails I've had there before.

Other Items...
- The apple sorbet was outstanding. It could have made it to my favourites list too, to be honest. It was tart and refreshing, and I want to eat a bowl of this while sitting outside in the sun...
- The Mediterranean chicken samosas are crispy and have a tasty ground chicken filling inside. Also, my brother would like to have a jar of the spiced apple gari chutney at home, so he can eat it whenever he wants...
- The sushi pizza wasn't very pizza-like, but it was pretty! Tasted good too :P
- I'm generally not a fan of store-bought or franchise-coffee-shop doughnut holes...they're either heavy and cloying, or so tough they could be used as golf balls. The ones at Kultura are light with a crunchy coating of sugar, and I enjoy being able to dip them in one of both of the sauces served with them. Yummy!!

Service:

The staff here are friendly and professional. They explain everything they serve to you, and check on your table often enough to be helpful but not so much that they are in your face.

Bathrooms:
Usually, I have no complaints here. However, this time was different... One bathroom was completely out of soap, and the other was running low. Even though I mentioned the problem to the hostess, the bathroom was still out of soap when we left the restaurant. Maybe they were really busy that night, but as a frequent hand-washer/germaphobe the lack of soap bothered me.

Do we recommend this place?
Yes, if you like tapas, sharing plates and the idea of social dining. It's not the kind of restaurant where you go to have a big meal. The portion sizes are small and the idea is that you order a bunch of items to create a full meal that your table can share*. It is pretty pricy, so we only go on special occasions or during the Summerlicious (or Winterlicious) events. But when we do go, it's worth it!
*Note: During Summerlicious, each person just picks 1 item per category as part of their prix fixe meal.

Interesting Thing:
There is no sign that says "Kultura" at the entrance of the restaurant. It's very easy to miss it! Look for glass-front with a red pole in the middle. I wish I had taken a photograph to show you...

M.L. and I are hoping to do a review of Roger's other restaurant, "Nyood", soon! - S.A.

Random Thursdays! - Fun Utensil

2010-08-19T10:00:00.000-07:00

2-in-1 Tong/Strainer

The package says this is "great for Tempura".

(This is on the back of the package)

I used this the other day for removing kettle chips from hot oil, it's handy!

Random Thursdays! - Peas

2010-08-12T10:00:00.000-07:00

Snap, no crackle, Pop...

Pretty peas blossoms

Snap it off the tree and pop it in your mouth

Random Thursdays! - Strange Crackers

2010-08-05T10:00:00.000-07:00

An Interesting Rice Cracker Flavour....

S.A. bought this thinking it would be sweet... it is not.

It's salty with an.... interesting... after-taste.

Neither of us want to eat this again.

Summerlicious 2010 - part 2

2010-07-27T16:06:00.000-07:00

Big Daddy's Crab Shack and Oyster Bar

Cuisine: Cajun Seafood

Website: http://www.bigdaddys.ca/

Address: 212 King Street West, Toronto

Summary: Some Yum...

Ambiance/Decor:

Cozy! Lot's of artwork on the walls featuring jazz musicians, hanging baskets and embossed copper tin tiles on the ceiling.

What We Ate:

(The full menu for Summerlicious at Big Daddy's can be found here)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LUNCH (for 2 people)

Appetizers

- Cup of Chowder: served with oyster crackers

- Coconut Chicken: with charred jalapeno and orange dipping sauce

(Photo Credit: T.Floyd)

Mains

- Wild-Caught Coastal Shrimp Boil: 5 large shrimp boiled Louisiana style and dusted with Creole spices, served with chorizo sausage pieces, corn on cob, seasonal vegetables, red skin potatoes and roasted jalapeno garlic butter

- Cheese and Asparagus Stuffed Ravioli: In a basil garlic fondue, topped with a ragout of mushrooms and served with garlic toast.

(Photo Credit: T.Floyd)

Desserts

- Molten Brownie: served with bourbon chocolate sauce and vanilla ice cream

- Triple Berry Crumble: mixed berries covered with a buttery granola and served warm with ice cream

(Photo Credit: T.Floyd)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DINNER (for 4 people)

Appetizers

- Popcorn Shrimp: with smoked tomato & pepper dipping sauce
- Clam Chowder: served with oyster crackers
- House Salad: mixed greens with Big Daddy’s Vinaigrette

Mains
- 8oz New York Striploin: with sweet potato fries, seasonal vegetables and a red wine cracked pepper sauce
- Fettuccine Natasha: tossed in a smoked salmon roasted red pepper vodka cream sauce

Desserts
- Lindt Chocolate Ice Cream
- Mississippi Mud Pie: their own creation of baked marshmallows, served warm with chocolate drizzle
- Apple Crumble: Served warm with cinnamon sugar and vanilla ice cream

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Price:

$15 lunch, $25 dinner (Summerlicious pricing)

Taste & Presentation:

My Favourite Item...
Their clam chowder is absolutely delicious! It's creamy and rich, and not too "fishy". I ordered it on both my visits.

The Worst Item....
The shrimp boil was pretty bland, I really had to drown everything in the garlic butter... and I couldn't taste the roasted jalapeno in the butter.

Other Items...
- The coconut chicken skewers were moist and crunchy, went really well with the dipping sauce.
- The popcorn shrimp is also very tasty, has a great sauce
- The Fettuccine Natasha was tasty, but a bit salty
- The striploin was nicely seasoned, but a bit overcooked from what was ordered
- The best dessert out of all the ones we tried was the Mississippi Mud Pie. It's sweet and decadent!
- The lindt ice cream is also really good

Service:

The staff there is efficient and friendly.

Do we recommend this place?
It's definitely worth a visit, there are some really nice items on the menu.

Interesting Thing:
There are four locations of this restaurant, we visited the one in downtown Toronto.

Hope you're enjoying the Summerlicious posts! - S.A.

Summerlicious 2010 - part 1

2010-07-22T19:16:00.000-07:00

Bymark
Cuisine: Bistro
Website: http://www.bymarkdowntown.com/
Address: 66 Wellington Street West, Toronto, ON

This Toronto restaurant is as famous for its $37 hamburger as it is for its creator: celebrity chef Mark McEwan.

Summary: Yummy-ness found!

Ambiance/Décor:
From the outside, it looks like the restaurant is dimly lit but on the inside it is actually quite bright and comfortable (despite the fact that there are no windows). The decor is very simple, clean and elegant - much like McEwan's menu. The ambient music is quiet enough that it doesn't interfere with your conversation.

The only complaint we had was that the tables were pretty close together, and the poor guy sitting next to us had to move his table over in order to get out of his seat.

What We Ate:
(The full menu for Summerlicious at Bymark can be found here)

Appetizers
- Variegated Asparagus Salad (prosciutto, frisee, toasted hazelnuts, Vidal ice wine vinaigrette)
- Bonus: piece of olive bread (very yummy)

Main
- Grilled Marinated Skirt Steak (warm spring beans, wild mushrooms, citrus butter)

Desserts
- Chocolate Eclaire (pastry cream, house made chocolate ice cream)
- Strawberries & Cream (puff pastry, bittersweet chocolate dipped strawberries)

Drinks
- Pink Champagne Cocktail
- Sangria

Price:
As part of the Summerlicious menu, the 3-course meal was $25.00
(drinks were extra)

Taste & Presentation:
The earthy asparagus was wrapped in salty prosciutto, and nestled next to a small nest of frisee. The sweet vinaigrette and hazelnuts were an unusual pairing with asparagus, but it was tasty. Although, if you don't like white asparagus (S.A. doesn't) you won't like it any better eating it cold in this dish.

When we tucked into our main dish, we were silent for several minutes. Not many foods can render us speechless, but this dish certainly did. The steak was absolutely melt-in-your-mouth soft, and ever so tasty. The citrus butter gave it an extra kick which brightened up the flavours of everything else on the plate too. We don't know what kind of mushrooms were on the plate, but they were yummy~!!

Just when we thought we'd be able to speak again, our desserts were brought out. The chocolate on both desserts was to die for. Totally perfect in flavour and texture, I think we could pour it on just about anything and be happy. Both desserts were light and delicious, but we both thought the eclair should have been a bit bigger. Everything was artistically presented, of course, and all of the garnishes were edible (which we love).

Service:
We had multiple servers bringing food throughout the meal and all of the staff we encountered were very professional and friendly. We didn't feel rushed or neglected at any time. We thought it was nice that someone walks around with fresh bread and asks you what kind you'd like. You can nosh on this while you wait for your meal to be cooked.

Bathroom: Clean, nice design, only a few stalls. Took us a moment to figure out which door was for the ladies as both doors have abstract artwork on them. You have to look at the...anatomy... to figure it out.

Do we recommend this place?
Yes!! We had a very relaxing and satisfying experience, and if you can try it during the Summerlicious (or Winterlicious) events, it's worth every penny. It's also conveniently located close to Union Station, making it very easy to get to. We would definitely like to return to try out some other items in the menu.

Interesting Thing:
The infamous "Bymark Burger" was not on the menu (not even the mini-version) but if you'd like to try it out at home, the National Post has the recipe here.

Sorry, the photos didn't come out great. We shot them mostly with cellphones...

Summer Luvin' for Foodies

2010-07-17T14:48:00.000-07:00

Summerlicious is here!

Summerlicious is a special dining event that's held every year in Toronto. Over 100 restaurants take part, offering three-course prix fixe menus at reasonable prices.

The almost-month-long event helps to make the fine dining of Toronto more accessible as these fixed meals cost only a fraction of each restaurant's regular prices. It allows people like us, who generally can't afford an expensive dinner, to taste the cuisine of the high-end restaurants. One day when we have the cash, we'll go back!

Admittedly, not all the restaurants on the list are overly expensive to begin with, but even so... the event does allow you to take notice of places you might not have considered eating at before.

Lunch prices range from $15 - $25
Dinner prices range from $25 - $45

This event runs until July 25, 2010. If you're only hearing about it now, it's not too late. Many restaurants are still accepting reservations! Check the website for a list of participating restaurants and their menus.

We'll be posting our own Summerlicious experiences soon!

PS. Summerlicious can be a crazy-busy time for restaurants. At some establishments, this can result in having to wait for your table or having a stressed waiter/waitress. We believe that you should always treat your server with respect (and vice-versa), so arrive on time, smile, and you should be able to enjoy your meal :)

Random Thursdays!

2010-07-15T11:00:00.000-07:00

The most entertaining bag of rice I've ever seen.

It looks innocent enough at first..

(click image to enlarge)

But on the reverse, it has a small novel. It's nice when rice has a sense of humour...

(click images to enlarge)

So that's why my rice never turns out right... I don't sing!!!

Finally, a good reminder, although I always wash rice anyhow because I'm a germ-a-phobe...

Want to hear the jingle? Visit the Mr. Goudas website and click through, you'll find it. It's... interesting :)

- SA

Mmmm....

2010-07-11T16:51:00.000-07:00

Cold Stone Creamery
Cuisine: Ice Cream/Desert
Website: http://www.coldstonecreamery.com/
Address: 800 Bancroft Drive, Mississauga, ON (Inside Tim Hortons)

Summary: Yummy-ness found!

Ambiance/Decor:
Not applicable. This particular Cold Stone is just an extension of a normal Timmy's. Although we'd love to see Tim Hortons expand their stores to include some ice cream parlor charm, it's not likely to happen.

What we ate:
- "Founder's Choice": Sweet Cream ice cream, pecans, brownies, fudge, & caramel
- Oatmeal Cookie Dough ice cream with roasted almonds

(Oatmeal Cookie Dough with roasted almonds)

Price:
Roughly $4 for the "like it" size scoop in a paper cup

Taste & Presentation:
When does ice cream not taste good? There's not exception here, in fact, we prefer the taste of this ice cream over another popular brand... *cough* Baskin Robbins *ahem*

One thing that really surprised us was that the ice cream is not overly sweet. Even the "Founders Choice" treat with all those mix-ins was sweet without being cloying.

It's fun to watch the guys fold the mix-in ingredients into the ice cream, it's part of the experience (think of it as "cold teppenyaki"). ML was lucky enough to have a server with flair, who threw her mixed ice cream blob into the air and caught it in her cup. She wants to go back just to see if he can catch it every time!

Service:
You think Tim Hortons is already popular? Visit a location with a Cold Stone Creamery, the line was out the door! While that's to be expected on a warm summer day, the tiny store was packed. Luckily, we didn't have to wait very long to be served. The only unfortunate thing is that on a busy day like that there is absolutely no where to sit inside the store Ice cream melts fast in hot parking lots.

Do we recommend this place?
Yes! With unique flavours to choose from and the fact that you can mix and match ingredients, how can you go wrong? (although, if you create a combination and don't like it, you've only got yourself to blame =P). According to the company's website, there are over 11.5 million ways to customize your ice cream, so go experiment!!

Interesting Thing:
We're not a fan of their creative names for sizes... but we find Starbucks confusing too so maybe it's just us.... At Cold Stone, "small", "medium" and "large" are replaced by "Like it", "Love it" and "Gotta Have It"

First Post!

2010-06-24T21:58:00.000-07:00

This is not the first place we've visited… but it is the most recent! This is our first attempt at blogging and we hope that our reviews are at least interesting to read...

After Rain (Restaurant)

Cuisine: Asian (Japanese/Korean)

Website: no longer available
Address: 723 Central Pkwy West, Mississauga, ON

Summary: Not much yummy-ness to be found...

Ambiance/Decor:

As we approached the building, we had high hopes. The signage on the restaurant is attractive and they have nice bright “open” sign to welcome you in. On the inside, the décor is contemporary and serene, with just a few stereotypical touches (like an Asian umbrella). The only thing that seemed out of place was a couple of Christmas decorations that were still hanging around... It's June people!

What we ate:
- 1 order of Tempura (appetizer)
- Bulgogi Hot Pot Rice (comes with miso soup and a green salad)
- Beef Teriyaki (comes with rice, miso soup and a green salad)

Price:
Reasonable, about $20 per person (shared appetizer, main course, no alcohol).
We wanted to try their Bento boxes, but the dinner sizes are a bit expensive at about $20 each and they don't come with rice.... what are you suppose to eat the Teriyaki with??

Taste & Presentation:

Tempura
Decent presentation, the shrimp was made into a tipi, and the veggies sat underneath them. The texture of the tempura was ok, but it wasn't the best we’ve had.

Bulgogi Hot Pot Rice: (eaten by ML)

It looked nice in the pot! The bulgogi (beef) itself was bland. It was the pepper paste sauce that saved the day, without it, I don't know how I could have even finished it. Since the appetizer, and all the little side dishes came within a minute apart, I couldn't get to the hot pot right away, so the rice at the bottom was overcooked and stuck to the bottom. Hard rice...yum? :S The kimchi that came with it was bitter, which is a first experience for me. The only other thing I have to say is that there weren't a lot of vegetables to mix with the rice.

Beef Teriyaki: (eaten by SA)

The meat is served on a hot plate, with grill marks. The rice is served separately in a bowl.
I’ve had teriyaki before and this was more like teri-yucky. The meat was so dry and tasteless that I didn’t want to finish my meal. Marinating and not burning the meat would have probably helped. The teriyaki sauce wasn’t as tasty as other’s that I’ve had and dish was so bland that I ended up using some of ML’s pepper paste to make it edible. At least the rice was good...

Additional items:

Both meals came with miso soup, a small noodle soup (with tempura crisps), and a small salad.

The salad wasn't much of a salad… just some lettuce and a slice of tomato. Not a whole slice, mind you, it was about 1 quarter of a slice.

The miso soup had, lets say, a "different" taste to it. Sort of oily and gross. Neither of us have ever had noodle soup with tempura crisps in it but it turned out better than the miso soup. The broth was actually quite nice.

And last, but not least, a complimentary dessert...wait for it... one 1.5” x .5” strawberry jelly cube. The server set it down in front of us without a word, and then scoffed at us when we asked what it was. It tasted like strawberry jam, and had a weird grainy texture to it, which was not so jelly-like.

Service:
We went on a Wednesday evening and it was not very busy. So really, there was no excuse for the service we received. Seriously, this place has the worst service we've seen in a long time!

We had 2 different servers who never introduced themselves. They asked only one of us for our drink order and then she automatically assumed that we both wanted that and walked off. The water glasses are the smallest ones we’ve ever seen, they look more like a whisky glass than a water tumbler. On top of that, they didn’t offer to refill our drinks even when the glasses were empty. Although they kept approaching our table, they wouldn’t ask if we needed anything. Instead they chose to stare at the table to see if we had any empty dishes to clear.

We ordered our appetizer at the same time as our meal, and everything came tumbling onto our table at once. The hot pot rice came with side dishes of vegetables, instead of being inside the bowl with the meat and rice like you would expect. When the waitress put down all the dishes, with our soups, she didn’t explain which meal they belonged to. I’m sure that regulars at the restaurant would have known, but since it was our first time there, we had to ask what everything was.

The waitress seemed irritated with our questions but, in our defence, there was no way we would know what was on the table. The menu itself was confusing and unclear. Meals don't state whether they come with side dishes or even just rice, you have to ask. One of the servers didn't seem to know either.

The one good idea they had was the little service bell that you ring if u needed something, which replaces you having to try and wave down a server when you need them.

Suggestions for this restaurant:
The menu needs to be re-written so it’s easier for first-time visitors to understand it. Main courses should say, “comes with rice, soup and a salad” for example, so that you can make an informed decision. The servers should also learn the menu and be more patient with newcomers.

Do we recommend this place?
No, and we don't plan on returning

Interesting Thing:
The Toronto Star reviewed this restaurant back in 2008. We can only assume that the management has changed since then, because this article doesn't sound anything like the restaurant we went to.

*whew* that was long! Sorry! Our future posts will probably be shorter :)