Discovering Liberty Village

The feeling I had this past Friday night was exactly what I was hoping for when I set out on this journey and writing this blog. I said I wanted to discover and explore Toronto and so, I'm amazed when I uncover an area which up to now has been completely unknown. I always knew where Liberty Village was, drove by there often and even partied there (Maro anyone? lol), but to actually walk around and take in the area is completely different.

We started off our newest culinary adventure with some bevies at The Brazen Head Pub. As far as pubs go it isn’t any different from anything I’ve been to before. But the patios. Oh the patios. This THREE-FLOOR pub has the most outdoor seating that I’ve ever seen. Just make sure that you get on the right side (not literally right) of the place otherwise you could be dealing with some serious wind/breeze on what is otherwise a beautiful day. Another thing that sets this pub apart from the others is their choice to steer away from the standard pub fare. I mean don’t get me wrong, they have your burgers, nachos and being an Irish pub all the traditional Irish pub favorites, but they also have a great selection of salads (not just caeser and garden) and more grown-up options like the Baked Brie, Tempura Halibut bites, Baja Chicken Tacos and a Portobello Quesadilla. Great venue to waste away the lazy weekend days or drown the after work stress.

Address: 165 East Liberty Street

Sometimes when a place is recommended to me more than just a few times I get my hopes really high and then get inevitably disappointed. Caffino did NOT disappoint. After developing a slight beer buzz from the Brazen head we took a leisurely stroll to King Street for dinner at this hidden gem – literally, because the building (which happens to be the old Carpet Manufacturing building) is COVERED in greenery and moss. Once you walk through the iron gates and across the walkway you are inside a sweet and beautiful little restaurant that feels as if it’s been plucked out of The Secret Garden. Very vintage and European inspired with the high ceilings, large windows, mosaic décor, white linens and floral center pieces. The view is their very own patio which I must make sure to discover at some point this summer.

They had a great list of martinis’ to choose from but the highly recommended Pomegranate martini was my choice of the evening. On the menu for the 5 dining divas:

Martinis: Pomegranate, Lychee, Chocolate, Espresso
Bruschetta
Rigatoni Bolognese – Rigatoni with a homemade meat sauce
Penne a La Puglia – Penne with sausage, roasted red peppers, black olives and baby spinach in a spicy plum tomato sauce
Pasta a La Veneziana – Casarecci pasta with smoked chicken, bacon, onions, sun dried tomatoes, baby spinach and mushrooms in a white wine cream sauce
Pasta Toscana – Parpadelle with chicken and sun-dried tomatoes in a roasted garlic wine cream sauce
Antonietta Pizza – tomato base topped with goat cheese, spinach, grilled chicken, fresh tomatoes and drizzled with pesto

Be-still my heart and stomach. There are no words. Our table was speechless aside from the noises being made from sheer delight and satisfaction. And yes, this reaction was caused by FOOD.

AMAZING, I wish my vocabulary was wider to find some better word but there just isn’t. By far some of the best Italian food that I’ve had. The owner has made a commitment to bringing traditional tastes and flavors from being brought up in an Italian home and she has found her recipe for success. Literally. The sausage penne (which clearly you’ve seen is my go to meal) had the perfect kick to it and was paired with the right amount of veggies. The pizza I could have done without to be honest. The other pastas that I sampled from the other ladies were each different and unique in their taste yet amazingly full of fresh ingredients and flavor.

Pair the food with a beautiful venue, kick ass service an affordable prices – I’ve found a keeper!

Address: 1185 King Street West
416-588-9010 (good idea to make reservations)
Parking: street parking and I believe there’s a lot close by
Price: $$ - Affordable
Ratings:
Ambience – 9.5/10
Service – 9.5/10
Food – 9/10 (damn pizza)

My sad disclaimer: I WOULD have had better pictures but my camera was left in a cab (did I mention the martinis were strong...)

My Perfect Man...as a Restaurant

Walking around college and trying to pick a restaurant is like being a kid in a candy shop. OR to relate more to myself - being a girl in her 20s in a boutique with SO MANY clothes to choose from! On this beautiful Thursday I found myself walking around College street and decided to try out Kalendar, the famous Kalendar that I’d heard so much about, known about for so long and still hadn’t tried out. After about a 20 minute wait, and a very attentive dining partner, we scored a prime seat on their packed patio which is perfect for dining and people watching on a balmy summer night.

Much to my surprise, and delight (shocking I know), there was a slight Indian touch to their meals. There was a prominent use of naan in many of their appetizers and their pizza crust is made up of a “thin dahl-puri crust”. Interesting. Their appetizers consisted mainly of hummus dips, breads (naans) and traditional Italian fare such as bruschetta and mussels. They also had what seemed to be one of their signature options called Nannettes - appetizer size oven baked naan bread with various fillings). The mains were also a combination of standard Italian pastas and pizzas as well as another signature item called Scrolls – Kalendar’s crepe style roti with various fillings served with a dinner salad.

On the menu for the evening:
Warm Mushroom Salad – a mix of wild mushrooms with sun dried tomatoes and apple sautéed in Cassis, served in a radicchio cup on a bed of belgum endive
Scroll Five – oven roasted chicken, avocado, plum tomatoes, feta & herbed mayonnaise with a side salad

Food was great and the portions were HUGE. The scroll five with the side salad was shared amongst 2 people and it was MORE than enough. Being that it was a first time visit here I think played it safe with my Scroll option. So next time I think I may have to walk on the wilder side. I’m thinking Scroll Four – tomato meat sauce with spicy Italian sausage, parmesan, sundried tomatoes, carrots, mushrooms, onions and mixed peppers. YUM.

Ambience and service were both fantastic – the place is perfect for a dinner out with the girls, but the cozy atmosphere, candle lit tables and greenery covered patio roof makes it an intimate spot for a romantic rendez-vous. Our waitress was friendly and beyond accommodating.

Overall this place could be compared to as my perfect man – Italian by nature with a little Indian flare, cozy and comforting yet romantic at the right times, delicious yet satisfying and keeps you coming back for more!

For next time and the time after that…
Coffee – I know this sounds weird but apparently the beans have been infused with cinnamon for an amazing flavor
Warm apple/walnut salad – chopped apples and walnuts sautéed in a sweet brandy sauce over chevre cheese on a bed of greens
Nannette One – pesto, plum tomatoes, garlic and fresh basil
Scroll Four – tomato meat sauce with spicy Italian sausage, parmesan, sundried tomatoes, carrots, mushrooms, onions and mixed peppers
Scroll Six – roast beef, portabella mushrooms, caramelized onion, asiago cheese & plum tomatoes with a horseradish mayonnaise
Scroll Seven – mara curry, a 7 vegetable spiced red curry with chickpeas, potatoes, peppers, broccoli, tomatoes, mushrooms and onions

I also keep hearing about their brunch – BK you in??

Address: 546 College Street
416.923.4138
Parking: plenty of street parking
Price: $$ - Affordable
Ratings:
Ambience – 9/10
Service – 9/10
Food – 8/10

SUMMERLICIOUS IS HERE!!!

Visit http://wx.toronto.ca/inter/se/restaurants.nsf/Summerlicious?Openform for all the participating restaurants and menus. On my short list:

Domani Restaurant and Wine Bar
The Drake Hotel
Edo
Eight Wine Bar and Restaurant
Joy Bistro
Jump
Kultura
La Fenice
Latinada
Matisse
Rosewater
Senses
Trapezzi Supper Club
The Roosevelt Room
Trevor Kitchen and Bar
Tutti Matti
Ultra Supper Club
Vaticano

:)

Follow up Post - Toronto Life has made up their own short list of the best Summerlicious venues:
http://www.torontolife.com/features/best-summerlicious-2010/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=WeeklyDishnewsletter&utm_content=1041135938&utm_campaign=WeeklyDish-June222010&utm_term=BestofSummerlicious

Brunch at Brassaii

Brassaii is clearly becoming “my spot” for the summer – been there on a few random nights out, had my birthday debacle there and now ventured to the multi-faceted venue yet again for their much talked about brunch. My darling friend B (bless her heart) loves her brunch. She lives for that interesting meal in between breakfast and lunch, which in my eyes is the perfect excuse to sleep in. Not like I many more excuses. Anyways, it’s because of her that I’ve now adopted this marriage between two traditional meals as one my favorite dining experiences.

On this humid Sunday morning (after consuming A LOT of Italian wine) we ventured out to King West for Brunch at Brassaii. I won’t lie that it was odd being in a place for a meal which is bursting at the seams with over-intoxicated and underdressed loungers the night before just but to our surprise the place didn’t reek of stale alcohol and they cleaned up nice from whatever madness went on in the wee hours of the morning.

We were seated in their dining area which had a boisterous crowd all noshing on the somewhat limited but still satisfying menu. On our plates for the ‘afternoon:

Lotsa Coffee
Cinnamon Danish ($3.50)
Egg White Omlette (made regular) with goat cheese, steamed asparagus, grilled tomatoes and turkey bacon ($12)
Eggs Your Way (2 eggs – your choice, bacon, toast and home fries) ($8)

All their toast is multi-grain, they have turkey bacon and chicken sausages to substitute with AND $5 breakfast cocktails. Perfect brunch blend. Food was affordable, tasty and portions were the perfect size. Enough to give you energy for a day of walking around downtown (which we did!). Service was also friendly and accommodating with all our many substitutions. I have to try the banana pancakes next time because every time the waiter brought them out for someone I swear I stared as if Justin Timberlake were on the plate.

To try:
Banana pancakes with apple and cinnamon compote
Crunchy cinnamon French toast coated with cornflakes and warm caramel sauce
Benedict

Address: 461 King Street West
416-598-4730 (not a bad idea to make reservations)
Parking: Street parking readily available
Price: Affordable

Ratings:Ambience – 8/10
Service – 8/10
Food – 8/10

The Perfect Friday Night

As if the fate angels were playing a little game with me, I started this blog and then 3 months later I found myself relocating to College/Bathurst for a new job. Could it get any better?
My first week is over and in between the alcohol stocked cabinets, Friday company lunches and co-workers dogs running around the office, I’ve embarked on what will more than likely be a very fun and interesting journey. The best part is that the World Cup is in full effect and I’m right smack in the middle of one of the areas that has some of the most passionate and dedicated fans known to man. Given that the owner of Café Diplomatica had a hand in getting Toronto the 10am drinking license, you can be sure to be running into some interesting characters on the street throughout the day.

After a successful first week, the girls (Meets, Nuv and Tee) came down to my new stomping ground to take in some of the sights and more importantly some of the drinks and food – all resulting in the perfect Friday night.

The weather was doing a good job of holding up for us, so we decided to take advantage and sit on one of the handfuls of patios. Drinking Tip #1: Bar Italia has Martini Madness every Friday night ($6 for 2oz Martinis). No better way to start a Friday night then with a little buzz ;) We then made our way to Public the newly opened resto-lounge which from the outside and inside has a very sleek and high class look and feel. The inside is adorned with black furnishings, chandeliers, couches and black/white wallpaper setting them slightly apart from the typical small and cozy College street eateries. We were seated on their patio which faces Clinton Street and provides the perfect sights for my other hobby – people watching. As always we decided to eat family style because there were too many options to choose from and we always want a little bit of everything. On the menu:

Pitcher of white wine sangria
Stuffed mushrooms with goat cheese
Wild mushroom Crostini
Poutine
Seafood Linguine with shrimps, mussels and scallops in a black Zambuca and garlic sauce
Stuffed chicken with ricotta and spinach with a side of potato salad

The food was OKAY. Service was hospitable and friendly, and at times humorous, but the food definitely lacked in something to make you want to come back. Atmosphere and décor definitely ranked high but overall would not be in my top places.

Address: 596 College Street
416-539-8890
Cuisine: Italian
Parking: If you can get there for 6ish you’ll score street parking otherwise there’s a Green P a block away
Price: Affordable
Ratings:
Ambience – 9/10
Service – 8/10
Food – 6/10

Next up we headed to The Big Chill to channel our inner children – literally, just keep reading. On the corner of College and Manning, you can’t miss this place a) because of the multicolored walls and seating area and b) for the constant line up of customers outside the place. As soon as you get up to the front you are overwhelmed by the intoxicating smell of fresh waffles being made inside. And much to our pleasure we discovered that the smell was also because they HAND MAKE their waffle cones. Fresh waffle cones?? SIGN. ME. UP. Their ice cream selection isn’t huge but the flavors they do have range from classic, to extraordinary and hard to find (I finally found my coconut ice cream!). They also have Belgian waffles, sundaes and fresh cupcakes. The retro, 70’s diner like feel inside with cow-inspired decorations just adds to the uniqueness of this place.

There was no sharing going on here so we ended up with Coconut, dark chocolate peanut butter, vanilla brownie toffee and pralines and cream. Along with discovering this gem of a place, I also realized that I will never ever laugh at a little kid when they drop their ice cream. Being the 4 year old that I am, my craved-after scoop of coconut ice cream FELL. I did get a replacement scoop but the look on my face was just sheer disappointment. Glad I could make you ladies laugh your heads off though! :)

Address: 367 Manning Street
Cuisine: Ice Cream – and other baked delights
Parking: If you can get there for 6ish you’ll score street parking otherwise there’s a Green P a block away
Price: Affordable – cash only!
Ratings: 10/10

The City I Wish Was Mine

Fresh off a fantastic trip to the Big Apple I am recovering in more than ways than one from the food, the walking, the shopping and of course the nightlife. NYC could be a strong contender for the city that never sleeps seeing that our routine 4am nights were becoming the norm. I contemplated for some time whether or not I was going to blog about the trip and all the fabulous places we ate at but realized that I may be losing sight on what this whole blog was about – discovering MY city. That being said, a discovery and appreciation for another city (especially one that we're always trying to measure up to) couldn’t necessarily hurt.

Instead of detailing all of our culinary adventures (and there were plenty – thanks BK!) I figured I would least offer a mention off the places we ate that I loved not just for recommendations (for all my readers lol) but also for my memory’s sake, which seems to fade a little more and more with each passing day! You will notice that our meals basically consisted of BRUNCH and DINNER. The 4am nights made breakfast non-existent and the intake of an evening meal was deemed mandatory for the amount of alcohol that always followed.

Blue Ribbon (Downing Street) - http://www.blueribbonrestaurants.com/rests_downingSt_main.htm
Tucked away on the small (and pretty much miss-able) Downing Street in the Village is Blue Ribbon which boasts a variety of fresh brunch, lunch and dinner options as well as variety of different branded locations acting as either a market, restaurant or even a sushi grill. We ordered full flowing cups of coffee and then indulged in some hearty (and way too big for one person) sandwiches. They were although the best tasting sandwiches I’ve had in a really long time. Unfortunately the menu doesn’t seem to list the two that we tried but from what I remember, one was a roasted vegetable and goat cheese and the other was a turkey, mozzarella and olive paste combination. Both cam with hearty helpings of salad which made the meal delicioius and complete.



Norma’s (at the Parker Meridien Hotel) - http://www.parkermeridien.com/eat1.php
If the Blue Ribbon sandwiches were the best lunch I had then this was by the far the best brunch. All I can say is – portion size, hello!!! Three of us shared two mains and we were OVER stuffed. Prices were a little on the high side but the taste and experience makes up for it. We started with French pressed coffee ($7/person) and for a girl who doesn’t drink coffee, I found love. It was rich and dark and all the other things that coffee drinkers describe as an AMAZING cup of coffee. I couldn’t get enough. We then proceeded to fill ourselves on Very Berry Brioche French Toast ($21) and Chicken and Wild mushroom Omelet with Fire Roasted Peppers and Onions ($21). The French toast was about the size of my head and yes I do have an abnormally small sized head but STILL. Imagine a one inch slice of French toasted warmed to perfection with a pile of blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and strawberries sitting on top and then other 3 inch piece of French toasted on top to create a jam like texture in between and then ALL drizzled with sweet maple syrup. To die for. The Omelet was a standard omelet but just triple in size and overflowing with chicken and veggies accompanied with an assorted bread basket. We had to eat something healthy!

Kittichai - http://www.kittichairestaurant.com/
Upscale Thai resteraunt (read TAO, Buddha Bar kind of vibe). The menu included a variety of share plates, appies and mains which you could pick and choose amongst. It was a late dinner and there were 6 of us so we opted to pick a bunch of different options and share – family style ;) Food was overall good – I would rate it a solid 7 out 10 but that may also be based on not favoring Thai cuisine in general. My favorite was definitely the Green Papaya and Mango Salad just on presentation alone! It came to the table in a half cut pineapple shell! Picture below with my official food model (thanks TR!)

Crispy Rock Shrimp, grilled eggplant and palm-sugar tamarind sauce
Green Papaya and Mango salad with dry shrimp and chili cashew dressing (2 orders)
Cabbage rolls with chicken (not on the menu hence the lackluster description) (2 orders)
Northern Thai beef salad, Chinese long beans and roasted sticky rice
Banana spring rolls with burnt honey ice cream
Thai tea ice cream sundae with palm seeds and coconut jelly
Bottle of red

Scuderia - http://www.scuderianyc.com/
My friends are never allowed to complain when I say that I’m tired. If it weren’t for my over-walked feet and strong desire/craving for a glass of sangria we would have never stumbled upon this GEM of Italian dining in the heart of Greenwich Village. Initially we just stopped to rest our feet and grab a drink on the patio but after receiving EXTREMLY adorable service (including free drinks and heart shaped flat bread) we had to change our original dinner plans and move them to this place. Upon arriving for dinner, Gianni (our very colorful waiter) had a perfect table for 8 overlooking the street waiting for us and a bottle of wine ready to be consumed. As we were getting ready to order, much to our surprise, a round of bruchetta appeared to our table as if by magic. Our menu consisted of salads, mussels, calamari, Parpadelle with chicken mushroom and a rose sauce and Penne with capers, anchovies, olives and tomatoes. The food was great but what really made this meal was the service. We literally were pampered and served on as if we were celebrities. He didn’t even end up charging us for our appetizers. If you’re ever in the village or looking for some good Italian hospitality the definitely hit up this place. Just ask for Gianni and tell him his Canadian wife sent you :)

Oh New York, like a sordid affair or good dessert, I can never get enough!

The 100 Best

PostCity.com recently listed the Toronto's Best Places to Eat in their May 2010 edition so I figured I would share the knowledge and also give myself a little checklist to see how many places I've actually visited - dare me to hit all 100?? I've never said no to dare before...

These are in no particular order:

1. Pastis
2. Scaramouche
3. Nota Bene
4. Black Hoof
5. Centro
6. Cava
7. Hashimoto
8. Mistura
9. Hoof Cafe
10. Splendido
11. Scaramouche Pasta Bar
12. Lai Wah Heen
13. George
14. Lucien
15. Buca
16. Niagara Street Cafe
17. Local Kitchen and Wine Bar
18. Seven Numbers
19. Lee
20. Omi
21. North 44
22. Oro
23. Kaiseki Sakura
24. Colborne Lane
25. Amaya
26. Bymark
27. Caplansky's Deli
28. Grace
29. Grand Chinese Cuisine
30. Torito
31. Golden Turtle
32. Kultura
33. c5
34. Casa Barcelona
35. Osteria Ciceri e Tria
36. Pangaea
37. Nyood
38. Edo
39. Mengrai Thai
40. Tutti Matti
41. Auberge du Pommier
42. Guu Izakaya
43. Lee Garden
44. Hiro Sushi
45. Gilead Bistro
46. Romagna Mia
47. Gallery Grill
48. Burrito Boyz
49. Chiu Chow Boy
50. Trevor Kitchen and Bar
51. L'unita
52. Tati Bistro
53. Harbord Room
54. Simple Bistro
55. Edo-Ko
56. Celestin
57. Loire
58. Noce
59. Origin
60. New Sky
61. Frida
62. Ame
63. Mogette Bistro
64. Ruby Watchco.
65. Wine Bar
66. Sorn Thai
67. Starfish
68. Cravings
69. Foxley
70. Blowfish
71. Fressen
72. Cha Liu
73. Big Ragu
74. Big Mouth Kee
75. Pizzeria Libretto
76. Milagro
77. Ba Shu Ren Jia
78. Morton's
79. Swatow
80. Tabule
81. Brassaii
82. Sariwon Korean BBQ
83. Casa Imperial
84. Mildred's Temple Kitchen
85. Live Organic
86. Ajisen Ramen
87. Miga
88. Didier
89. Canoe
90. King's Noodle House
91. Brant House
92. Drake Hotel
93. Asian Legend
94. Dos Amigos
95. Bar Mercurio
96. Prime Steakhouse
97. Le Paradis
98. Le Papillon on the Park
99. Me Va Me
100. Highway 61

Damn that's a lot of eating...