Mili @ Mildred’s

For the record, no my name is not short for Mildred, Millicent or Milorad for that matter. Its just Mili, short and sweet just like me lol ;)

On yet another Summerlicious adventure, we’re headed out to Liberty Village to check out the popular and much talked about Mildred’s Temple Kitchen. Once you find this place (I swear it took an entire BBM conversation, 3 phone calls, a U turn and a very confused look on my face) you are instantly taken in by the huge space, open concept kitchen and ultra modern decor. The place wouldn’t be best described as cozy but as one of my lovely dining partners MM described it “its kind of like a space-aged cafeteria but with comfier seats!” We were seated inside although they did have patio which is small but definitely cozy.

If you think the name of this place sounds familiar its because only a mere few months ago they created a great deal of controversy by encouraging their patrons to "celebrate" Valentine's Day in their much talked about bathrooms. The bathrooms have actually made the top 10 list of Best Restaraunt Bathrooms in North America. Go figure.

Back to the food...

Our Summerlicious menu consisted of:
Panzanella salad — garden fresh tomatoes, crunchy garlic crouton, caper berries and Italian parsley
Roast chicken breast with green bean potato salad and tomato relish
Mildred’s Classic Profiteroles with Lindt milk chocolate ice cream

I usually love tomato salads, especially in the summer time. It’s the perfect refreshing appetizer to any meal. This one however was a little on the oily side. It was almost as if they forgot to shake the dressing and ended up pouring most of the oil out instead of the dressing! The main meal was pretty standard, meat, potatoes and veggies but I’ve learned it’s how you put these three basics together which really makes the difference. The green bean potato salad melted in your mouth, the chicken was juicy and tender and the tomato relish added a sweet after bite to the chicken. Wiped my plate clean. The dessert was great mainly because of presentation! Profiteroles (which took me about 5 tries to pronounce correctly) are a flaky pastry which Mildred cut into two pieces and scooped a ball of Lindt milk chocolate in between. That’s right ICE CREAM SLIDERS! Honestly, it wasn’t really extraordinary in any way but they just looked so cute.

The regular menu otherwise is a combination of small appetizer sized plates meant for sharing and then traditional fare like burgers, hot dogs and pizza designed with “grandma’s recipe” in mind. Oh and the service. Not only were the waiters VERY nice to look at but SO incredibly nice and hospitable, the smiles never left their faces.

In the words of Mildred “Worship Flavor”.

On the menu for next time:
Gnocchi Poutine (just think about that for ONE second – good lord)
Flatbread with caramelized onions, arugula and goat cheese

Address: 85 Hanna Avenue (Liberty Village
Parking: Parked in the big plaza with the Metro, otherwise I believe there’s street parking and underground parking that I couldn’t find
Price: $$$
Service: 8.5/10
Food: 7.5/10
Ambience: 8.5/10

Persian Perfection

Everyone in life needs a friend like my bestie MS. She’s the friend that blurs the lines between friendship and family, the one who you know your kids will play with (or in this case learn Hindi from) and she’s also the girl that broadens your horizons, breaks your borders and makes you try things you may not if left to your own devices. Between her being a doctor and me having unreliable work hours we don’t get to see each other as often as we like so this get together was a mix of:

- Belated birthday dinner
- I have this cool new place for your blog
- Catch up on what’s happened to each other in the last 2 months
- I love you and miss you

All great reasons for a night out, not like I need any more reasons to justify eating out as much as I have been lately!

Tonight we find ourselves in the cozy arms of a small, quaint, yet infamous Persian restaurant called Pomegranate. Small enough to be missed, its located right at College and Bathurst setting itself apart from the myriad of Italian restaurants the area is known for. Once inside you literally feel as if you have been flown to Iran with all the beautiful tapestries, rugs, tablecloths and paintings that adorn the place from floor to ceiling. There is traditional music playing and the staff is even dressed up in traditional (yet functional) Persian attire. By the time we were wrapping up dinner the place was PACKED. The menu is a blend of home-style appetizers, salads and entrees all influenced from the different regions of Iran. I always check out the menu before I go to a new place to eat and I won’t lie, I was definitely intimidated by the choices. Luckily MS had been there so it was easier to figure out what to order.

On the Menu:
Mirza Qasemi – charred eggplant in a mildly spicy garlic tomato sauce
Zeitoon Parvardeh – vegetarian caviar – a tapenade of green olives marinated in a pomegranate walnut sauce with a generous amount of fresh garlic
Vegetarian Fesenjaan – a smooth rich stew of ground walnut, pomegranate syrup, portabello and button mushrooms service beside a plate of saffron basmati rice
(the entrées all come with salad and plain yogurt but we upgraded to the maast-e saadeh which is yogurt dusted with dried mint and rose petals)

They have a big selection of meat dishes as well but since MS is vegetarian and I’m not the biggest fan of lamb (mostly on the menu) we opted for an all-veggie spread. Our two appies came out first along with basket of warm naan-like bread. All I have to say is that I would go back JUST for the vegetarian caviar dish. SO GOOD. Olive pastes are already one of my favorite spreads to use on bread but this one took it to the next level. The blend of tart olives with the sweetness of the pomegranate was to die for. I couldn't get enough! That was the one stand out part about the food which really teased my taste buds – the blend of different flavors. At first read you would think that pomegranates, walnuts and olives wouldn’t exactly blend well together but MY GOD do they ever! The charred eggplant was very similar to an Indian eggplant dish, and unfortunately this one was lacking some salt. Still good though when spread on the naan.

Our entrée came out and there was more than enough food for two people to share. Portions are huge so if you don’t have a hefty appetite then share!
The stew didn’t look so much like stew but more of dip, again so yummy and filling because of the portabello and button mushrooms that surprised you along the way. The yogurt was fresh and clean tasting and neither the mint or rose petals over powered it. Overall the food was simple in its presentation and preparation but the blend and combination of flavors was complex and perfect for a palette that’s craving some change.

Address: 420 College Street, 416-921-7557
Parking: plenty of street parking
Price: $$
Service: 8/10
Food: 8/10
Ambience: 8/10

It’s All About Sauce Distribution

I’m on the hunt for a few things this summer (food wise – lol) - the best sangria, the best pizza, nicest patio and of course, my personal favorite, the best wings in town! During the good ol’ days of Laurier, wings were always a standard part of my weekly dining – Morty’s wings anyone? So it’s only natural that I find myself a new spot and introduce the wing night back into my life. Wings and beer on a hot summer day, love it!

On this particular warm and balmy Tuesday I find myself at Duff’s Famous Wings on College. Have I mentioned how much I love working on this street? My two buddies VK and AB, also fellow wing connoisseurs join me after a 2 week planning session of trying to get together. Why and when it got so hard to meet up for wings and beer I have no idea! We lucked out because Tuesday turns out to be Duff’s wing night - $6.75 for 10 wings with the purchase of drink. We got there for about 7ish and there was about a 10-15 minute wait for a table. Once seated we noticed that not only was the line-up starting to lead out on to the street but that it was constant for the entire 2 hours that we were there. Good sign I would say.

The first thing I noticed was that although the flavors were pretty standard they were all measured on a SHU scale. What’s a SHU scale you ask?
“ The Scoville Heat Unit (SHU) is the standard for measuring the heat of a pepper. It is a measurement that involves adding sugar to a solution until one can no longer taste the pepper. The wing sauces SHU values used on the chart have been carefully estimated to represent the degrees of heat and are based on the SHU of a cayenne pepper.” Educational and delicious!

The chart:
0 – Plain
0 – Honey Garlic
0 – BBQ
800 – Mild
1,500 – Mild Medium
8000 – Hot Honey Garlic
8000 – Spicy BBQ
10,000 – Medium
23,000 – Medium Hot
35,000 – Hot
150,000 – Super Hot
500,000 – Death
850,000 - Armageddon

I’m a medium girl, not too spicy but definitely not mild. And yes I was talking about my wing flavor preference ;)
On this day I decided why not up the ante a little and go for the Medium Hot. Definitely do-able. I may even try to raise my own stakes and go for the Hot next time.
We decided that the criteria which wings should be judged should be different then other food. Quantity, size of wings and sauce distribution (that was VK’s personal contribution, he’s very passionate about good sauce distribution).

Duff rates a solid 8.5/10 across the board – 10 wings in a serving, good sized (not too big and not too small) and ample amounts of sauce which makes for great sauce distribution.

Definitely up there in the search for the best wings in the city, although apparently I’m missing out by not having tried the New York Butter wings at Turtle Jacks….

Address: 558 College Street, 416-963-4446
Parking: Plenty of street parking
Price: $

Chilling in Distillery

I officially LOVE the Distillery District. From the cobblestone streets to the twinkling lights in the trees and the live jazz music playing in the center of the square, it truly is a little piece of Toronto which is probably so underappreciated but has so much charm and personality. Depending on how you choose to spend your time here, it could feel like New York City’s Soho, LA or the historic streets of any European city, but luckily its all Toronto and all ours! The area is a combination of restaurants, café’s and businesses all housed in beautifully restored industrial buildings that combine modern design while keeping the history of the area alive.

“The Distillery District is a national Historic Site with an incredibly rich history. The site was once The Gooderham and Worts Distillery, and represents the largest and best preserved collection of Victorian Industrial Architecture in North America”

The night was perfect, a gentle warm breeze in the air, three besties out to spend some good ol’ QT together and of course indulge in some great food, potent drinks and great conversation. Love you monkies!


We started out our night at the Pure Spirits Oyster House and Grill. The first thing we all noticed was how HUGE and spacious their patio was. Apparently voted as one of Toronto’s Best Patios, it doesn’t make for a good people watching venue but definitely caters to large groups or small intimate encounters. The menu is full of fresh seafood infused options which even non-seafood lovers like me will find delectable. I had unfortunately already had dinner so I was only checking out the drink menu but TR opted for the a fish that I can’t remember and for some reason is not on their online menu and BK went for Summerlicious – Ahi Tuna Tartar with Banyuls vinaigrette and a spicy avocado salad, Tagliatelle with goat cheese, arugula and sundried tomatoes and the chocolate Trio.

Note to Kultura – looks like ordering off the main menu and Summerlicious IS possible.

Even though the wine took forever to arrive (so long that we cancelled), my mojito was lacking in taste and the waiter looked like he wanted to stab us with a fork – the food was DELICIOUS. I’m not a huge seafood fan, everyone knows this, but from what I sampled and tasted it was fresh, full of flavor (but not so much to take away from the dishes) and appropriately portioned. Tina’s fish was draped in a smoked salmon sauce which was new to the both of us and sat on a bed of soft and flowy mash potatoes. The Ahi Tuna Tar was SO good and although the pasta was pretty standard, we all know my love for anything with goat cheese.


On the menu for next time:
Smoked Pacific Salmon Flatbread
Chili Tiger Prawns
Olive Crusted Chilean Sea Bass

Address: 55 Mill Street, 416-361-5859
Parking: Big Lot right out on Mill Street, street parking if you look around
Price: $$$
Service: 6/10
Food: 8/10
Ambience: 9/10




With our bellies full but still no wine consumed by the girls we decided to hop and skip (maybe literally) across the restaurant to The Boiler House. IS THIS PLACE FOR REAL? As you walk down the aisle which is lined with life size lit up planters from the outside entrance, you look to the left and there’s a full sized bar with tables full of people chatting and drinking away and then you look to the right and there are GORGEOUS cabana tables with huge beds all sectioned off with flowing white drapery and dim lights. There are also smaller but still cozy couches for smaller groups. The DJ blends a great mix of smooth 80s and 90s R&B and soul which creates the perfect backdrop for chilling with a drink or a romantic, relaxing night out. With martinis and wine in hand we sat back and just took in the atmosphere and were in shock that this place was not packed. Apparently it was an off night and on a regular Saturday its bumpin’! Definite re-do in store!

Note: Heading out for their Sunday Brunch which is voted Best Brunch by Toronto Life magazine, made-up of an all you can eat buffet and live jazz. Can’t think of a better way to spend lazy Sundays!

Update (08/11): The Brunch is great! Not necessarily the greatest diversity in the food, pretty much your basics but a HUGE selection ranging from breakfast favourites to lunch items. They even had a waffle bar although the chef had FML written all over his face. The best part of this brunch was by far the ambience - live jazz music, the hustle and bustle of the massive space that is the Boiler House and of course the bottomless cup of joe which is perfect after a Saturday night debacle :)


Address: 55 Mill Street, 416-203-2121
Parking: Big Lot right out on Mill Street, street parking if you look around
Price: n/a
Service: 8/10
Food: n/a
Ambience: 9.5/10

Kultura – Lacking in Culture?

I used to be a big fan of Summerlicious. Whenever that first announcement of participating restaurants would be released I’d make my short list and get right on making my reservations. This year, not so much. Although I was looking forward to it, I’m starting to feel that the charm and worth of the whole thing is dwindling, and quickly. To add to my new distaste is the recent feedback from participating restaurants saying how “They really don’t look forward to Summerlicious”. Really? Then don’t participate and offer me lower than tolerable service.

My first booking this year was at Kultura – which I had scoped out previously as a possible venue option for an event and been to for drinks. Was always intrigued by their minimal yet diverse selection of entrees, which are meant to be ordered as share plates. The venue is gorgeous, very New York-eque with hardwood floors, exposed brick, dim lighting and very unique wall décor and light fixtures. Two floors with ample seating for big groups and special spots for a more romantic rendezvous. Love the exposed brick and comfortable, plush leather seating, makes you want to sit and just spend hours eating and drinking. So in other words, I was looking forward to it.

As hospitable patrons, we arrived at 7:20 for our 7:30 reservation at which point we were told our table wasn’t ready but we could have a drink at the bar. Not much convincing needed there! After waiting for just over half an hour and with my “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” cocktail in hand (made predominantly of just orange juice) we were finally seated close to 8:00. So the point of making the reservation is what exactly? We were seated and began to look at the menu. I decided to order from the Summerlicious menu while MD and TR decided to order off the regular menu. Much to our surprise, our "friendly' waiter informed us that either everyone has to order from the regular menu or the Summerlicious menu. No mixing and matching. Interesting. We re-grouped and all decided to order off the regular menu which, after now reading the website, was not even the full menu – only about half the options (which were coincidentally also on the Summerlicious menu) were up for grabs.

Our choices:
Mushroom Orecchiette – Malivoire Pinot Noir, Pear Chutney, Aged Cheddar
European Sea Bass – Snow pea, Sansho Pepper, Cassava, Ginger, Sour Dashi
Beef Striploin – Red Miso, Sunchoke Tater Tot, Tomatilla Salsa, Honey Sriracha

I won’t lie, the food was really good and rich hence why the portions weren’t an issue for us. Melt in your mouth meat, rich pasta with a very intense blend of cheeses, mushrooms and pears and flavorful, light and flaky fish (although I’m not a huge seafood fan). The concept is meant to be a fusion of world inspired cuisines and tastes which is evident through their combinations of traditional fare with international flare. It’s hard to appreciate the food though when your service and experience have been so mediocre. Really goes to show that you can put together a really chic, trendy, upscale venue and offer a great spread of food but the quality of service really seals the deal. They don't call it hype for nothing.

I probably would go back again, this time with a few ACTUAL cocktails consumed before-hand and with the hopes of ordering from their full menu. And maybe showing up half an hour late.

On the menu for next time:
Chicken and Gnocchi
Mushroom Orecchiette – SO YUMMY
Sushi Pizza
Miso Black Cod
Chocolate Delice
Caramel Sugar Doughnut Holes
**YUP…dessert WAS NOT AN OPTION ON OUR MENUS!!!!!**

Address: 169 King Street East, 416-363-9000
Parking: Street Parking readily available
Price: $$$ - options range from
Service: 5/10
Food: 8/10
Ambience: 8.5/10

Panini Heaven Indeed

Because I’m not tempted enough when it comes to food on a regular basis, I also subscribe to newsletters which fuel the fire every. single. day.

About a month ago as I was perusing my daily edition of the Sweetspot newsletter, they profiled Negroni on College Street, otherwise dubbed by them as Panini heaven. I have a profound love for sandwiches. It's my safe “go to” food whether I’m on a date, attempting to be healthy or simply just unsure about what to order. The sandwich to me is the perfect meal. A Panini in my books is what I call a sexy sandwich – maybe it’s the fancy bread, maybe because its grilled or maybe its how all the toppings fuse together to make a taste sensation that I’ve come to love.

Because I’m so lucky I find myself working RIGHT ACROSS from Negroni. Something told me that my work would order in a lot from this place (and they do) so I needed only to be a littttle patient before these little pieces of sandwich heaven were introduced into my life. The first Panini I tried (and by far my favorite) was the Mortadella/Soppressata with provolone, arugla, spicy pickled peppers, mayo. I am a horrible, horrible Hindu girl. This Panini made mostly of cured Italian sausage and pork literally melts in your mouth and then kicks you on its way down. Just like most of the food that makes the top of my list, it blends taste, flavor, spice and everything nice. I’ve also had the pleasure of sampling the Roasted Chicken with provolone, arugula and red onion mayo and the Segovia Sausage with fontina, slow roasted onions and sundried tomato pesto. The chicken was definitely great but also probably one of the safer choices on the menu. Not a fan of the sausage one since I turned it over at one point and there was oil just dripping out. :(

I’ve never actually sat inside Negroni to experience the ambience and service but from my brief walk-in to pick up my food one afternoon it seemed like a great spot for a casual lunch with plenty of seating inside and small quaint patio on the outside.

Side Note: Menu is very vegetarian friendly – not like I would take advantage (horrible, horrible Hindu girl)
Second Side Note: because the panini's come in two halves they are PERFECT for sharing/swapping!

To try:
Marinated Mushrooms with goat mozzarella and arugula pesto (okay maybe I'm not SO horrible)
Prosciutto, smoked mozzarella, red onion mayo

Address: 492 College Street, 416-413-0005
Parking: Plenty of street parking and two lots within walking distance
Price: $$ (all panini’s between $10-12)
Service: n/a
Food: 8.5/10
Ambience: n/a