Bangkok Garden – Winterlicious

Better late than never, it’s been a busy week!

For my last Winterlicious adventure I went to what I’ve heard is a Toronto staple in Thai dining and has been around for almost 30 years – Bangkok Garden on Elm Street. I had first heard about this place when I was  booking a spa day at Elmwood Spa because they have great packages which include dining at Bangok Garden as part of your retreat. I then discovered that it was actually one of the first Thai places to open up in the city.

Upon walking up to the small awning on Elm Street you would think that the space would be very small and quaint but to your surprise (and mine) you will find a large, open, two storey venue with a lush garden inside and a small river running through the main floor. The lighting is dim and the ceiling is adorned with wooden fixtures and lighting. It definitely surprised me because it almost felt like the design didn’t belong in Toronto – it felt like an older uncle of the famous New York Tao but their carpets and upholstery could DEFINITELY use some upgrades!

We sat down to our meal and quickly ordered our drinks and then made our choices for the meal – everything on the menu looked so good, a great combination of crowd favorites and adventurous options.

On the Menu:

Appetizers:
Chicken Satay – tender strips of chicken marinated in coconut milk with a hint of curry and barbequed to perfection, served with peanut sauce and tangy cucumber salad
Thai Calamari – Calamari marinated in a Thai curry powder batter and fried until golden crisp, served with sweet chili garlic dipping sauce

Mains:
Seafood Pad Thai – Thai rice noodles stir-fried with black tiger shrimp, scallops, calamari and eggs in a homemade tamarind sauce
Grilled Lemon Grass Cornish Hen – Cornish Hen marinated in lemon grass and hoisin sauce grilled to perfection and served with stir-fried vegetables and steamed jasmine rice

Dessert:
Banana Fritter & Coconut Ice Cream

The appetizers were both exactly as described and because the calamari was fried (NOT the healthy option) I definitely indulged. The sauce they came with is one of my favourites, perfect combo of sweet and spicy. The chicken was juicy and tender and I actually didn’t mind the peanut sauce so much. Both these appetizers were great for sharing which of course we did!

The pad thai was pretty standard, nothing out of the ordinary but still delicious. I still wonder about this rumor that the pad thai sauce used in restaurants is really just ketchup….

The seafood helpings in the pad thai was very generous and we still wiped the plate clean so no complaints. The Cornish Hen was also great – mainly because of the lemon grass. I didn’t actually know what lemon grass was but whatever it is, it made my chicken DELISH and added the perfect kick. After my duck experience at Origin, anything I see that’s marinated in hoisin sauce I’m all up for trying. So good. except that the portion was HUGE as you can see by the picture. No way we could finish this one.

Coconut ice cream.  That’s all I have to say.  Ever since my Barcelona excursion a few years ago I can’t ever have plain vanilla and I'm still on the search of where I can buy a tub of coconut ice cream so it’s always in my freezer.  The banana fritter was a great companion but for me, it was all about the ice cream.

All in all a good meal, definitely not something you would be taking a risk on if you ventured out there. I feel if they were to update their décor a little, throw in a kick-ass DJ nestled in the garden/flowing river, they could have a pretty happening spot on their hands.

And so another Winterlicious closes with some great success and a few extra pounds to burn off at the gym! So when does Summerlicious start???

Address:  18 Elm Street, 416-977-6748
Parking:  Street parking if you're lucky, otherwise you might have to look around
Price:  $$
Service:  7.5/10
Food: 8/10
Ambience: 8/10

ROTD - Southwestern Ranch Salad

On a trip to LA last year with a few of besties, they noticed a trend in the meals that I would order at restaraunts - all of them had some kind of south western flare.  I'm a sucker for the blend of salsa, guac, corn, black beans and the cajun inspired spices that bring it all together.

I came across this recipe and it instantly became a part of my collection for a few reasons:

1) it was a perfect southwestern salad
2) it actually didn't include any meat so a good vegetarian option
3) it was a healthy option

Prep Time - 15 minutes

Ingredients
Torn mixed salad greens
Black Beans
Corn
Tomatoes
Red Pepper
Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Salsa
Light Ranch Dressing
Crumbled Tortilla Chips

Combine all ingredients in order and enjoy!

Definitely one of the easier recipes, extremely filling and as a meat eater I don't miss the meat for one second.  I didn't include any measurments because what's the fun in telling you EXACTLY how to put the salad together - creativity is half the fun!

ROTD - Tri-Colour Stuffed Peppers

Welcome to Recipe Of The Day! (I won't lie, this might not be a daily thing, but I like the name)

I've always liked how stuffed peppers look.  Everytime I've seen them at a resteraunt or come across them in a recipe they always look amazingly delicious. Obviously I had to try to make them.  Tonight was the night.

Kraft Canada offers some great (read easy and quick) recipes for those who are looking for healthy meal options that don't take a long time to prepare or plan for.  Here's a great recipe for stuffed peppers with a little twist a la Mili (ie spices) since Kraft's recipes are a little on the bland side!

Prep Time: 15-20 Minutes
Cooking Time 50-55 minutes
Makes 6 servings

Ingredients:
2 pouches frozen simulated ground beef (much better for you and I avoid been when I can)
1 cup of corn
1 cup of salsa
1.5 cups of water
1.5 cups of instant rice
1/2 cup of shredded cheese
1 each large green pepper, red pepper and yellow pepper
pinch of salt and pepper
pinch of chili pepper

Directions:

MIX 2 pouches simulated ground beef, 1 cup corn and 1 cup each salsa and water in a large nonstick frying pan. Stir in 1-1/2 cups instant white rice. Bring to boil, stirring frequently.  Add in salt, pepper and chili pepper to tatste. Cover and remove from heat; let stand 5 minutes. Add 1/2 cup grated Kraft Monterey Jack Light Style Cheese; mix well.

CUT 1 each red, yellow and green bell pepper in half lengthwise. Remove and discard the seeds. Spoon burger mixture evenly into pepper halves; place in 13x9-inch baking dish. Pour 1/2 cup water into dish; cover with foil.

BAKE at 400°F for 30 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with additional 1/2 cup cheese. Bake an additional 10 minutes.

Domestication

Who would have thought it?  Mili Jain has become domesticated.  UNREAL RIGHT??
It's February 15th and exactly 4 months ago I did something that I had been talking about for SO long.  I finally moved out on my own to a downtown condo in the heart of Toronto.  The perfect excuse to discover My City. 

I say the same thing to everyone who asks me what the change has been like - I have my life back.  Weekends feel like weekends and weekdays now don't rush by in a blur of rush hour traffic.  It's been refreshing and uplifting and eye-opening being on my own and having only myself to depend on but that's a whole other conversation.

With my move came all these different things that I guess I expected but also didn't really expect at all which led to the domestication of Mili Jain.  One of the parts (the only one I'll share lol) is the whole cooking thing.  For all of those who thought the Subway underneath my building would be my second home - I've proven you wrong!  This girl can cook...and actually enjoys it!  It only made sense to merge my cooking discoveries with my city discoveries.

Just like my reviews my cooking posts won't feature professional photos or anything overtly complicated.  Just recipes that I enjoy, that are easy and of course are DELICIOUS!  I hope that it inspires some (I'm looking at you LF and surprises others!)

Let the domestication continue!

Toula Restaurant - Winterlicious

Its Friday Night, a long day of work is behind me and all I can look forward to is the second Winterlicious dinner I have planned with some of my favorite ladies of all time!

Off we were to Toula Restaurant located on the 38th floor of the Westin Harbour Castle hotel. This is probably one of the best views of the city because you have Lake Ontario on one side and the beautiful skyline on the other. Just perfect and breathtaking – reminds me of how beautiful this city can be at times. We were lucky to get one of the tables with a great view. The ambience otherwise gives the aura of fine dining with dim lighting, a large bar at the back and plush, inviting seating areas.

Toula is actually part of an Italian chain of restaurants under the Italian Toula Group which had its beginnings in Treviso, Italy near Venice in 1961. Needless to say one can expect some delicious and authentic fare in a beautiful setting. I was really excited for this meal because I had been to Toula a few years back for a Summerlicious lunch and it was by far one of the best meals I had not just due to the selection and choice but the food was so fresh and flavourful. We got to the restaurant to find that they were actually behind schedule so we ended up waiting for about 5-10 minutes which wasn’t a big deal because they have a nice little lobby area by the elevators where you can sit.

Upon getting seated and getting our drinks we decided on our meals and tried our best to sample everything on the menu given that there were 6 entree choices – very rare for a Winterlicious menu.

On the menu:

Appetizers:
Jumbo Black Tiger Shrimp wrapped in Prosciutto di Parma, drizzle of Aged Balsamic Vinegar Reduction

Insalata Tricolore Caprese - Vine Ripped tomatoes, Fresh Imported Mozzarella di Buffala Cheese and Sliced Fresh Avocado, Finished With a light drizzle of Tuscan Cold Pressed Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Mains:
Toula Classic AAA Rib Eye Steak with a Medley of Wild and Porcini Mushrooms in a Amarone Red Wine Reduction Served with Herbed Roasted Parisian Potatoes

Hand Made Tagliolini with Fresh P.E.I Lobster Meat Lightly Spiced Tomatoes Sauce topped with a Fresh P.E.I Lobster Tail

Oven Backed Chilean Sea Bass Fillet with "San Gimigniano" Saffron and Dill Cream Sauce Served on a bed of Lemon & Chive Carnaroli Risotto

Free Range Stone Pressed Oven Baked Cornish Hen "Alla Diavola" Topped with a Rosemary Pinot Grigio Extra Virgin Olive Oil Sauce. Served with Sauteed Spniach Alla Milanese with raisins & Toasted Pine Nuts

Dessert:
Famous Toula Homemade Fresh Tiramisu

Homemade Fresh Apple Strudel on "Callebaut Belgium" Chocolate Fondue

Homemade Fresh Cappuccino Cheese Cake served with Fresh Marinated Blueberries

The appetizers were nothing special and we all clearly opted for more of the safer options.  I had the Caprese salad thinking that it would be a light, fresh way to start the meal but after having the Buffala Mozzarella at Origin, I don't think anything will ever compare.  The salad itself felt as if it had been stored in a fridge for far too long which makes me believe that they mass produced them for Winterlicious.  



Next came our main meals which consisted of the steak, lobster pasta, sea bass and chicken.  All the food in my opinion sounded alot better than it tasted.  Most of it was was very luke warm which again makes me believe that it was mass produced and sitting around for a while and nothing was as delicious as how it was described in the menu.  I had the Lobster Tagliolini and it had a fishy smell to it which was not very appetizing and the pasta seemed undercooked.  The steak was tender from the small amount that I tasted and the chicken was dry.  The risotto which accompanied the sea bass wasn't bad.  This was also the point which we nicknamed our waiter "Zippy" because it was as if he we was trying to speed us through our dinner as quickly as possibly.  Before we could even finish our list of things we needed he was gone returning only to have us finish our requests (ie salt, hot sauce, spoons).

  

There's a reason I love dessert.  In this case it was the saving grace of the entire experience.  Each dessert we had was SO good.  Perfect portions, delicious and and decadent all at the same time.  If it hadn't been for the dessert this meal would have been an absolute disaster.  I had the apple strudel and if this had come with a side of vanilla ice cream I would have actually been in heaven!

Overall definitely disappointed with the service and the meal itself.  I can't say that I wouldn't go again but maybe on a regular night instead of Winterlicious.

Address: 1 Harbour Square (Westin Harbour Castle)
Parking:  Parking to the left of the hotel in a small alley or underground
Price:  $35 Winterlicious Dinner, $$$ - regular menu
Service - 6/10
Food - 6/10
Ambiance: 8/10

93 Harbord - Winterlicious

Winterlicious is here!!! Every time I get the email letting me know that one of the ‘licious events is on its way I get nothing but excited to try new restaurants and indulge in some delicious food! This year I have three dinners booked and you never know if there will be any last minute additions! First up on the list is 93 Harbord with my favourite dining partner Miss Furtado – I think she’s the only other person I know that has the love affair with food that I do!

93 Harbord serves up a modern interpretation of classic Middle Eastern cuisine in a small yet upscale environment located (obviously) at Spadina and Harbord. The venue is long and narrow but inviting with the cozy/dim lighting. The tables are relatively small and close together but provide an intimate setting for a date night or a group of people. There is an open style kitchen at the back and the exposed brick walls adorn photography of Middle Eastern people and cities. If you’re like me then you always check out the menu before going out to eat and while doing so I came across an abundance of reviews for the place all of which rated it at least 4 stars or more. Needless to say we were excited to eat and to see what all the hype was about.

On the Menu:

Appetizers:
Beef and Lamb Kufta Kabab, Grilled Pita, Harissa Spiced Tahini Sauce
Grilled Calamari, Turkish Fig Salsa

Mains:
Chicken Tagine with preserved lemons and olives and steamed couscous
Lamb and Shiraz Fig Tagine, Ginger Red Wine Coulis, Sauteed Greens

Dessert:
Apricot Almond Tart
Walnut and Pear stuffed Phyllo, Honey Date Syrup

Upon getting seated we were promptly asked for our drink order and before we could even take our jackets off and settle in, a complementary platter of warm pita and crushed olive spread arrived at our table.

We ordered our wine and our courses for the night and awaited anxiously to try the food which sounded so flavorful and exotic. Our appetizers came out shortly after our wine arrived and they were both bursting at the seam with a blend of spices and flavors.  I’m not the biggest fan of grilled calamari as you may have read in my past posts but the Turkish Fig Salsa that it was draped in was to die for. The Kabobs were a little on the dry side but again the spiced tahini was a perfect companion and we literally wiped the plate clean.

Both of our mains were a dish called “Tagine” which I learned actually has its origin in Morocco and is named after the special pot in which the meal is cooked. The pot is made almost entirely of clay and acts as a sort of slow cooker for all the meat and vegetables that are part of the meal. Our tagines arrived with a side serving of a couscous mountain and greens. I ordered the lamb which again is not usually my meat of choice but when it arrived I was pleasantly surprised. The lamb was so soft and tender that it literally melted in your mouth with the help of the Shiraz Fig/Ginger Red Wine reduction. The chicken on the other hand was accompanied with olives and lemon which gave it a tart flavor that blended wonderfully together. No doubt that neither of us could clear our plates. We literally fell back on our chairs because we were SO full.

On to dessert – my favorite part! I think I may have set a record at how fast I ate.  The stuffed Phyllo with pear and walnut was almost like a Baklava but without the heaviness. It was perfect. The Apricot Tart was sweet but definitely not my fave.

Overall the meal was great and service friendly and quick. I’ve been to a few Middle Eastern restaurants and although I can appreciate the cuisine and enjoy it, I can’t say that that it's one of my favorites. First Winterlicious meal and I’m a happy camper. The full menu at 93 Harbord is made of some amazing choices which sound like a fusion of traditional fare with some modern updates so it sounds like a great option outside of Winterlicious.

Address: 93 Harbord

Parking: Plenty of street parking

Price: $25 Winterlicious Dinner, $$ - regular menu

Service: 7.5/10

Food: 8/10

Ambiance: 7/10