Deals on Drinks

More than delicious food, I love a good deal.  As a follow up to my post on getting drinks in the city I've decided to start an ongoing list of places that offer up weekly specials on, you guessed it, DRINKS!  Perfect way to spend a night out with the girls, catch up with a friend or dodge an awkward first date.

Disclaimer - these are places that I would probably go to versus just a laundry list of deals.

DRINKS
Monday - Milestones // $40 - 4 Bellinis and 4 apps
Tuesdays and Thursdays - Joe Mamas // $5 Martini's
Tuesday-Friday - Spirithouse // $7 mixed doubles + $2 oysters (5:30-7pm)
Wednesday - Hey Lucy // $5 Martinis
Thursdays - Cibo Sociale - Cibo Wine Bar // Specials on cocktails and wine (4-7pm)
Friday - The Fifth/Cabin 5 // $3.50 drinks until midnight

Friday - Crush Wine Bar // 1/2 select bar items (5-7pm)

La Cubana

Brunch really is one of my favourite meals.  I'm one of those people that can't eat first thing in the morning and I always hear the preaching of everyone around me "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day."  Whatever.  With brunch, I get the best of both worlds. I get to sleep in, not eat something right away and then have a blend of some of my favourite foods because the ironic thing is, I actually LOVE breakfast foods.

So you can imagine my joy, when two of my really good friends RS and SS (Yes, you are finally getting a shout out!) texted me on Saturday morning asking if I wanted to do brunch.  In my half sleepy state I texted back "um, yah I do!".  So off I went on a rainy November Saturday, hopped on the King Streetcar and landed in the lovely little area of Roncesvalles.  I love this little neighbourhood.  I could totally see myself settling down here when I grow up ;)

SS had suggested we try La Cubana which was getting some great reviews and comes to us from the same people of Delux on Ossington.  Apparently Cuban food is quite rare in the city and most of the reviews I read were of pure joy that an authentic cuban diner has opened its doors.  Its a super kitchy, cute and small place that makes you feel like you're in a very clean subway station with the tiled walls and minimalist furniture/decor.

I grabbed us a table by the window where we could get some light and still enjoy the view of the restaurant.  They had their brunch menus in the form of table mats out so we started to peruse our options as the rumblings in our bellies were growing louder.

Once the waiter offered mimosas we couldn't say no.  Especially when the options were guava, mango, pineapple and orange.  Now that's how every morning should start.  The menu had options that seemed familiar but all with a little bit of cuban flare. After much deliberation we decided to start with Cuban Grilled Corn and then we each got the Cuban Breakfast (Slow roast pork, poached eggs and served with rice & beans, tostones and slaw.

There are no filters on these photos for the record.  The corn was just a wonderful little starter.  I love love love corn on the cob and since I've started to experience this new style of dressing it, I've fallen even deeper in love.

The breakfast itself was such a nice treat away from the standard eggs benny.  As RS put it "the egg is not the star of this show".  My poached eggs were a little overdone, i do prefer them runnier but because everything else surrounding them was so delicious, I didn't really mind.  The pork was soft and tender and had the right amount of salt.  The slaw was tart and tangy and brought the crunch to the whole meal.  The rice & beans, one of the more cuban side dishes was simple and filling.  The tostones were probably my least favourite.  I think they were meant to act as a hash brown but were a little harder than I expected.

I would definitely go back because there were a few options on the menu that I would have liked to try but all in all it was really nice to do something different for brunch and of course experience a different style of cuisine.

La Cubana
392 Roncesvalles Ave.

Origin - Better than EVER!

The best part about trying new places and experiencing the different cuisines the city has to offer is when you find those gems and start to build your own list of tried and true favourites.  Origin is one of those places that has quickly become one of my go-to places for an experience that I know won't disappoint.

The last time I was at Origin was years ago, I want to say close to when it first opened.  I thought the food was okay, portions were small and I didn't necessarily feel satisfied after we were done, especially for the price point.  Since then they have opened two more locations (Liberty Village and North York) and the takeover doesn't seem to be slowing down.

Two of my favourite ladies, BK and TR, were up for going back and it was also going to be TR's first experience since she had heard me go on and on about the Chinois duck wrap and how much I was in love with it.  So on a blistery October evening we set out to experience the amazingness that is Origin.

I also have to make a note about our waitress who was AMAZING.  I'm a big believer that a huge part of your experience at a restaurant is based on how you are treated.  She was helpful, kind, not overbearing and because we were three people she made sure there were 3 portions in every dish we ordered.  Simple but well noted.  Thank you!

Everything is built to share and they recommend ordering two dishes per person.  For us she said 5 would be totally fine.  After quickly perusing the menu we decided on some dishes to start with.

From the Mozzarella Bar we ordered the fior di latte + mushrooms + truffle oil + spinach
From the Chilled section we ordered the beet + goat cheese + pickled red onion + walnut + sherry dressing + yogourt
From the Hot section we ordered the pumpkin risotto (which is not showing up on their online menu right now) but it had pumpkin, butternut squash, marscapone and crispy fried plantains

These three dishes alone contain every single one of my favourite foods - beets, mushrooms, pumpkin/butternut squash and THREE different cheeses.  HEAVEN.  The beet salad came to our table first and I was in shock because it looked like Snow White's apple on a plate.  A full beet surrounded with creamy yogourt, goat cheese and sprinkled with walnuts and the sherry dressing.  It was a perfect portion for the three of us after I cut it into equal pieces. So fresh and creamy and a wonderful way to start. I then moved on to the mushroom/mozzarella bites which were just a delightful mix of textures. Crunchy, soft, a little tart and perfectly bit sized.  Then on to the risotto which was a really good portion size for the three of us and holy was it RICH.  The way I described it to people the next day was that it felt like I was being hugged on the inside.  Such a flavourful fall dish with the sweet pumpkin and butternut squash, hints of cinnamon and spices.  You are left with a creamy comforting feeling after.  I definitely want to come back for this!

So after feeling pretty satisfied we couldn't leave without having the Chinois Duck + flour tortilla + cucumber + hoisin + sour cream + sriracha (right???)

I mean come on.  Do I even need to describe this?  You only needed one and it was every flavour and texture all in wrapped in a beautiful little taco.  Sweet, spicy, crunchy, creamy and soft. Move over La Carnita!  On a side note, we also had the Spanish Fries which I wouldn't recommend because in all honesty, they were just regular ol' fries hence the lack of a picture.

No evening would then be complete without the "always look up" shot to try and capture some interesting light fixtures or a cool intricate ceiling.

I don't think there's anything more I can really say except just go.  Go and experiment and try the numerous dishes on their menu or any of these that I had the honour of trying. I can't wait to go back for some old favourites and new discoveries.

Origin
107 King Street East
www.origintoronto.com

Follow me on Twitter if you're already (@CityismineTO) or find me on Facebook (The City is Mine)

Drinks Anyone?

If you’ve read the intro to my blog then you know that one of the reasons that I set out to do this was to answer some popular questions that I often get about “where should I go for the best pizza?” “where do I got on a first date?” “where should I have my birthday party?”.  All things that I’m of course still trying to figure out.

 

The one offer I hear the most is “Let’s go for drinks.”  In my mind this usually means that dinner isn’t involved, there could be some appies, and you'll end up at a place where you can casually or not casually enjoy a few beverages.  Most people would probably end up that their neighborhood pub or even their favourite restaurant.  I on the other hand, really do enjoy a place that puts as much effort, thought and creativity into their food as they do their drinks, and also doesn't turn into a crazy club after.  Don’t get me wrong, I understand that this request usually comes with a price tag but sometimes it’s really worth it.  Especially when you don’t have to deal with a super annoying host that tells you and your guest “Sorry we don’t allow people to come in for drinks unless they’re buying dinner.” Whomp whomp.

So here I set out on a quest to find some cool, interesting (read not pretentious) and fun places to just grab drinks.  Two places that are usually my go-to’s are Spirithouse and BarChef.

Spirithouse is located at Adelaide/Portland and if you weren’t looking for it as you walked by you may completely miss it.  As you head downstairs you become completely enveloped with the dark and dim lighting.  You can sit at the bar or in some of the more plush leather couches in the back room area.  I’ve been here a few times (on a date and with groups of girlfriends) and to be honest, the place never really disappoints.  Yes you will probably pay at least between $12-14 for any of their signature cocktails but I believe it’s worth it to go somewhere that serves more than just your standard vodka/soda.  If you also happen to be there on a slower night, sit at the bar and watch the bartenders be super attentive and actually take the time to get to know what you like and don’t like. 

The other spot BarChef I’ve only been to twice (once for a special event and very recently with some girlfriends).  This most recent time was super fun, the vibe was exactly what we were looking for, we scored some prime seats right at the bar and took our time just chatting and sipping on super delicious Basil Margheritas and Coconut Mojitos.  I won’t lie, when we first arrived there was a line up which put me off a little bit but turns out there was a massive birthday party they were waiting on.

Some other places of note that won’t make a big deal if you’re not having dinner are Earls, Joeys, The Drake, Hemmingway’s, Remy’s, Mavrik Wine Bar, Beaconsfield oh and of course your standard Friars, Firkins and Foxes.

A few places I’m looking to try soon are Salt, Midfield Wine Bar, Skin and Bones and Glas Wine Bar.

Where are you favourite places to sit back and enjoy a few bevvies?

Buca

Buca has been on my list of places to go since it opened back in 2009.  Finally I had the opportunity to visit Rob Gentile’s now infamous and still wildly popular restaurant in the heart of King West.  Between raving co-workers and friends and a few mixed reviews, I was excited to finally get the chance to make my own opinion on this traditional Italian resto.

Buca is located in the back alley way just east of Portland next to Mexican restaurant Valdez (the old Cheval and an AWESOME spot for tequila!).  Upon entering, you are taken down a slightly winding staircase and enveloped with brick walls, dark wood dim lighting and the smell of all things delicious.  I found out that it was old 19^th century boiler room which would explain the simple and clean décor and setting.

 

We were a little early for our reservation so we parked ourselves at the bar which is in the front foyer (best way to describe it) and proceeded to order the only Prosecco based cocktail.  Obviously amazing and delicious.  Our party arrived and we were seated and started to pour over the endless options on the menu.  We all decided to share the Salumi Di Buca (meat plate) and asked if the chef could select the options.  We also shared the Nodini (warm bread knots in olive oil, rosemary, garlic and sea salt).  I wasn’t a huge fan of the meat plate, to be honest I’ve had better and the bread knots could have been softer but they were still a great small dish to share with the table.

 AC and I shared the Prosciutto pizza and I think my most favourite part was that it came with scissors to cut!  Again, I feel like it wasn’t the best pizza I’ve had but definitely nothing wrong with it.

 

 

The BEST part of the entire meal was by far the dessert.  The tiramisu was to die for.  I may or may not have wanted to bathe in it.  Three of us shared it and from the first spoonful the only thing we kept saying was “Oh my god!”

 

Overall, Buca was an okay experience.  Its highly possible that I didn’t order the right things so I would definitely give it another shot.  There’s a duck egg pasta that View The Vibe wrote about which sounds and looks amazing!  http://viewthevibe.com/toronto-restaurants-buca-on-king-west/

The place is beautiful and really nice for small groups or a one on one.  I will need to go back if only for that tiramisu.

Till Next time!

Buca
604 King Street West
www.buca.ca

Campagnolo - BEST Meal Ever

It was a bold statement.  I knew it the minute it came out of my mouth but it was true and I couldn’t deny it.  I had just had the BEST MEAL OF MY LIFE.  Crazy right?  Maybe I was still hazy from the "out of this world" meal I just had but the fact is that I’m still thinking and talking about it.

Campagnolo has been on my list of places to eat for months.  After being on every “Top Restaurant” list that the city puts out including Canada’s 50 Best Restaurants, there was no way I couldn’t try out this place and it had to be soon.  Thank god for my lovely friend SB for suggesting it instantly when we were trying to figure out a place to go eat good food and catch up.  The owner apparently created the concept as an homage to his nonna’s Venetian cooking keeping all aspects of the food and drink, simple, authentic and ridiculously tasty.  This lovely little gem is located at the North East corner of Dundas and Euclid and is only open for dinner 5 days a week.  Reservations are HIGHLY recommended.

The restaurant itself is very cozy with printed wall paper, wood ceilings, booth seating and dim lighting.  You walk in and the place may seem empty but within minutes there is not one vacant seat.   The wait-staff is super attentive and friendly and I love how the bend down to be at eye level when speaking with you. 

 

I had read a blog a while ago where they spoke so highly of their Spaghetti that I already knew going in that I had to have it.  So on the menu for this evening was:

Appetizer:  Fresh Burrata Cheese with Roasted Grapes and Toasted Bread

Mains:  House-Made Spaghetti All’Amatricana and Wild Boar, Spare Rib, Meatball and Tripe Ragu with Soft Polenta

Dessert:  Salted Caramel Budino – pudding with crunchy toffee chocolate bits

I don’t’ think my pictures or description will do it justice but I literally wanted to lick my plate clean.  The Burrata appetizer was a plate of fluffy, cloud like cheese spread over toasted bread and drizzled with olive oil and toasted grapes.  The saltiness of the cheese and the sweetness of the grapes was the ultimate combination.  I probably could have easily ate two of these servings on my own.  Great sharing plate though.

 

I ate EVERY bite of the Spaghetti.  The sauce was fresh, you could taste the delicate herbs, it had a bit of kick to it which I loved and had small tender bits of pork which weren’t overwhelming as you at but added an amazing texture and saltiness to the dish.  Simple is sometimes clearly the way to go.  The Wild Boar dish was quite heavy and was A LOT of food but again, you just wanted to eat EVERYTHING.    One thing I will say (also because I asked) this place is probably not extremely vegetarian friendly as they won’t accommodate adjustments. There are two veggie options and one fish option on the menu.   Most of my friends are not big meat eaters and will usually stick to chicken which is hardly on the menu so unless you’re willing to expand your meat eating horizons, this may not be the place to dine.

 

 

The dessert.  Good god the dessert.  I basically told the waiter that I work down the street and that he may find me at the bar during the week just having this dessert.  Whoever decided to mix salt and caramel is a genius.  The pudding was sweet no doubt but I have a big sweet tooth and didn’t mind at all.  The crunchy and light toffee/chocolate wafers also added the perfect texture to the dish.

 

Bottom line – don’t come here if you’re scared of meat or paying for amazing tasting food.  Who wants to go again???

http://campagnolotoronto.com/

832 Dundas Street West
416-364-4785

Bazara - Sushi on Ossington

One of the most interesting parts about trying new places or going outside of your comfort zone is the feeling of not knowing what to expect.  I love walking into a new restaurant or bar and just taking in the sights and sounds while deciding if I'll end up coming back one day.  Trying to keep "my list" up to date is hard but with the help of Toronto Life, dineTO and other bloggers/sites I can at least try and keep up.  My lovely friends who keep me in the loop are also a HUGE help.

This past week I read about a  new Sushi place on Ossington called Bazara and everyone knows I LOVE my sushi.  So when RM and AC brought up a Friday night outing, I knew we had to try this place out.  Ossington is of course the area in the city that has the most buzz about it right now with new resto's opening up almost weekly and smaller more intimate bars bringing in the non-club district crowd.  All in all its a win-win situation.

Immediately when you walk in to Bazara you don't feel like you're in a typical sushi place.  Its intimately lit, plush booth seating, exposed brick walls and a GORGEOUS chandelier in the middle of the room.  Really great atmosphere for small groups or a one on one.

They don't have a drink menu ready which made ordering drinks a little bit difficult.  We went with a bottle of wine to keep things simple and because we didn't feel like complicating things for the waiter.  Their menu is made up of Chinese, Thai and sushi dishes but turns out that their true speciality is sushi and some of their special rolls.

On the menu for the evening was:
- Chicken Gyoza
- Vegetable Tempura
- Riceless Spicy Tuna and Avocado
- Spicy Salmon Sushi
- Trio Roll
- Hamachi Roll
- Butterfish Sashimi

We also ordered the Bazara roll (their house roll) which never arrived.  Sad.  Its made of smoked salmon, avocado, cucumber, seaweed and black rice so we were all super excited to try it.  Check out this picture to get a visual - MUST TRY! http://www.torontolife.com/daily/daily-dish/opening-daily-dish/2013/02/11/bazara/

The food was SUPER delicious and everything tasted really fresh.  The tempura and gyoza didn't feel over fried and the sushi rolls had enough special ingredients to make them different from your typical rolls but not overwhelming so you can't decipher what you're tasting.  After ordering, we thought we got too much food but it was the perfect amount for three people.  The prices are also super reasonable which makes you want to try EVERYTHING on the menu!

 Chicken Gyoza and Vegetable Tempura

 Spicy Tuna and Avocado Riceless Roll (tasted like a salad!)

 Spicy Salmon Sushi Pizza

Trio Roll

Will definitely need to head back soon if not to just the Bazara roll but also try their sweet potato tempura topped with spicy tuna and the deep fried ice cream.

Any takers?

Location:  188 Ossington (Dundas and Ossington)
Atmosphere:  8/10
Service: 8/10
Food:  8/10
Price:  $$

Winterlicious 2013

I know people have their mixed feelings about Toronto's Winterlicious and Summerlicious events.  They don't get the same level of service, food quality is not as great, limited selection and lack of availability.  I get it.  I've probably said all those things myself at one point or another but the honest truth is that its the one time that I feel people actually make an effort to make plans, book a reservation and come out for dinner.  Sad but true.  Most of my experiences have been mediocre to great, nothing awful but nothing super fabulous either.  The one place that definitely stands out more than others is Trevor Kitchen. The food was fabulous, service was amazing and a great reason to try a place that's been on my list!

So Winterlicious 2013 is here, officially starting on January 25th.  As usual I've gone through the restaurants and made my short list of the places I want to try.  Can't wait to start booking them in!


Bella Vista – College Street ($25 Dinner) - BOOKED
Bohmer – Ossington ($45 Dinner)
Hush – King West ($25 Dinner)
Jump – Financial District ($35 Dinner) - BOOKED
Mildred’s Temple Kitchen – Liberty Village ($35 Dinner) - BOOKED
Noce – Queen West ($35 Dinner)
Sazerac – King West ($25 Dinner)
Scarpetta – Thompson Hotel ($45 Dinner)
Trevor Kitchen – Wellington East ($35 Dinner)

New Year, New Adventures

This post is clearly 3 weeks late! I actually said to myself that I want to make sure I give my blog more attention in 2013 and low and behold I let 3 WEEKS go by without one peep.  Not the best way to start a new year and try to accomplish a resolution.

So with my favourite motto in my head - better late than never - here I am giving this blog the love and attention it so deserves.  Here is what I solemnly swear to my few but very loyal readers.

At LEAST, one official blog post a week including 3-4 weekly Facebook page content posts.

What I hope to do this year is to discover more about the places I love to go not just to eat but to hang out, grab a drink, relax and just do the things that I love to do.  When I first started writing I wanted this to be a lifestyle guide.  A way for me to document all the things I enjoy doing while also challenging myself to do things that might be outside my own comfort zone.  Somewhere along the way it turned out to be more of a food blog and let's be honest, I love to eat so really its not surprising at all.  I'm also making it a commitment to myself to write about different things - what I love about the city and maybe even what I don't.

Alright, time to start promising and start doing! 

Electrifying Mexican Delights

After starting to pay attention to the dining scene in Toronto you realize that just like fashion we go through our own ebbs and flows of trends.

There was a time when everything was “Enoteca something”.  Then there was mixology which I still don’t completely understand.  Gastro-pub invaded the city for time period which I loved and now it seems to be a trend towards authentic, eclectic and DELICIOUS Mexican food.  From the likes of Playa Cabana, La Carnita and Grand Electric leading the charge, we finally have more options than just Burrito Boyz for our Mexican food fix.

 I’ve been to La Carnita and loved it – review here: http://torontoismine.blogspot.ca/2012/08/la-carnita-fusion-of-food-art-and-music.html and Playa Cabana is still on my list.  I did however get to check out Parkdale’s ever popular Grand Electric.  Just from the lineup that forms outside night after night it was clear this place was building a reputation of its own.  It’s a small little place with hip hop music blaring from its windows and the second you enter its doors you know you’re embarking onto something special.  We got to sit outside in what I like to call their backyard because it’s probably not big enough to be called a patio but feels cozy enough to feel like you’re in your own backyard.  Except you probably don’t have a huge lit up menu like this in your backyard:

 

Ambience Check.  Hip-hop music check.  Cute backyard check.  And really strong tequila drink which I can’t remember the name of (obviously) CHECK!

 

And then came the food.  SO good, so messy and doesn’t matter who you’re with, you’re gonna lick your fingers and the plate CLEAN!

From the selection we decided to go with Baja Fish Taco, Spicy Arbol Chicken, Corn Supreme and Beef Cheek – I was too scared to try the beef cheek, won’t even lie.  Something about the words cheek, belly and other body part names in my food that just throws me off.

 
Everything was to die for.  From the tender tilapia to the smoky heat in the sauces and the fresh citrusy flavors of onions and coriander.

We also tried the special of the night which was sweet and sticky ribs which fell off the bone and made me realize that it had been a LONG time since I had good ribs.

 

 

The line ups in these places really don’t amuse me but I guess it always comes back to the old adage of good things come to those who wait.

Will definitely have to head back to a) figure out what the name of that drink was and b) enjoy the little backyard patio before winter invades our city.

Till next time!

Nothing much on their website:  http://www.grandelectricbar.com/

Follow them on Twitter:  @grandelectricTO

Smith – It’s all in the details

It’s the small things that matter.  Probably one of my favourite life mantras which seems to become more relevant the older I get.  It’s not the expensive piece of jewellery, it’s sending your favourite flowers.  It’s not the fancy dinner but the home cooked meal.  It’s not the 3 hour conversation but the text message to say “I miss you.”.  No matter what it is, the small things ALWAYS matter.

Smith Restaurant located in The Village seems to be one of those places that focuses on the small things if you can make the effort to notice them.  The name comes from the blacksmith themed décor and since opening in 2011 it has quickly become one of the must go-to brunch spots in the city.  Since summer was in full effect on our visit we had to take advantage of their adorable and amusingly romantic back patio.  Its a nice enough place to make you feel special but cozy enough to make you feel right at home.  Even their menu is inspired by traditional comfort foods and traditional  home cooking.

 

One of the first things that I took notice of was how their menu was designed as the morning paper.  Small thing, amazing thing.  There aren't a huge number of things to choose from but the minute the waiter mentioned homemade vanilla whipped cream I was sold – clearly.

 

On the menu for this lovely afternoon with my Sha Sha – Smith Breakfast (two eggs any style, choice of bacon, sausage or pea meal,  hash browns and toast) and the Daily Smith Waffle which today was toasted almond with the homemade vanilla whipped cream.

 

 

Simple, comforting and delicious!  Literally the waffle disappeared in about 5 minutes.  Melt in your mouth DELICIOUS.  Dessert or breakfast? Who knows!

The prices are great, the wait staff friendly and attentive and the food is DAMN good.

Definitely need to go back and get a Smith Benedict in my life.

They also do dinner which again seems to be inspired by good ol’ home cookin’ with a side of style.  Think Buttermilk Fried Chicken, Meat and Potatoes (aka Steak, crispy fingerlings and Chimmichurri aioli), Creole Catfish, Classic burgers and Mint Lamb.

Only negative thing I can say is that the menu isn’t very vegetarian friendly.

For more information:  http://www.553church.com/

La Carnita - Fusion of food, art and music!

Looks like my real life commitment issues are overflowing into this blog as I noticed the last time I wrote was a month ago.  Art imitating life.  Go figure.

I was scrolling through the photos on my phone and realized that I've been to some pretty cool place over the last month and shared them with no one.  Awful.  So here I am on the afternoon of a lazy long weekend Monday trying to play catch up.  Kinda wish I was on a beach instead.

The buzz around La Carnita was absolutely palpable.  The first time I heard about the Mexican pop up was when I went to the Toronto Underground Market Street Food Block Party.  Say that ten times fast.  Their fish tacos were delish and then before I knew it the little pop up resto "popped up" a few blocks down from my office.

Between the reviews from co-workers, crazy Tweets and pictures that literally induced mouth watering reactions, I knew I had to plan a visit.

I showed up with my dear friend on a Saturday night and based on their no reservation policy put our name down and had to wait 45 minutes which I actually expected so it didn't come as a shock.  Once inside it was a sensory overload of conversation, music and abstract wall murals and art. I didn't know whether to keep following our waiter to the table, stop and look at the art on the wall or start two stepping to the hip-hop beats.

We sat down, ordered some kick-ass margaritas and tried to figure out what to eat.  Oh and LOVE the slight references to hip-hop on their menu, ie their list of BALLER CHAMPAGNES.

On the menu for tonight - Ceviche, Mexican Street Corn, Tacos (In Cod We Trust and Chorizo) and a Coconut Paletas.

The street corn was what I was most excited about - I mean look at it! It was drizzled with Mexican creama, queso anejo and arbol and ancho chili powder.  I don't think I actually know what most of those mean but it basically comes down to a creamy sauce with some heat inducing spices.  Delish.

The ceviche was fresh and was a cool, refreshing starter, not something I would get again but glad I tried it.  The tacos literally disappeared before we could even speak.  I had the Chorizo which had a spicy kick to it and the Cod was flaky crunch with green apple and cabbage.

We finished off our meal with a Coconut Paleta (read Popsicle) which obviously didn't even make the cut of a full picture.

The best part of La Carnita is that every time you go back you can go and try something new. The price point is affordable, the atmosphere is buzzing and its a perfect spot for any occasion.

Can't wait till the next time!

For More info visit: http://lacarnita.com/

Or follow them on Twitter @la_carnita

Cheers to the Weekend - June 29-July 1

The smell of BBQ is in the air, the beaches are packed and the city is buzzing.  Long weekend is in full swing and there's SO much going on if you're not whisking yourself away to the cottage.  Whether you're celebrating PRIDE or Canada's birthday there's something for everyone in the city this weekend.  Check out my short list!

Pride Guide Courtesy of She Does The City - http://www.shedoesthecity.com/your_2012_pride_guide

Digital Dreams Music Festival (wish I had tickets!)

Toronto Jazz Festival (Nathan Phillips Square)

The Thompson All White Party (Sunday)

Happy Birthday Canada!

Cheers to the Weekend - June 16-17

Summer is in full effect and there’s so much going on this weekend! Of all the weekend that I need to go home and put in some family time!

The weather is going to be beautiful and there’s a little something for everyone.

A few of the highlights (and likely where I would be spending my time!)

Opening of La Carnita (Love me a good taco!)

Opening of Bar Hop on King West – craft beer bar with 24 beers on tap and another 50 by bottle/can

Friday Night Live @ The ROM – the revealing of the world’s largest dinosaur – Futalognkosaurus

Luminato – its wrapping up this weekend so it’s your last chance to take in the best of music, art and literature around the city

Taste of Italy – one of my FAVE taste events of the summer – College street comes alive with music and the best in Italian eats!

Whatever you get up to this weekend be safe, have fun and enjoy!!

Loving Long Weekend

It's May 2-4 Weekend which means only one thing- the official kick off to those long awaited summer months.  From here on out its nothing but sunny skies, open toe shoes, summer dresses and patio hopping!  I can't wait!

It's been a long week and I'm fortunate enough to get Friday off for every long weekend in the summer - thank you advertising and hello 4 day weekends :)

There's plenty to do this weekend and here's a few things that you can do and hopefully I'll be checking out too!

Friday Nights @ The Rom - The Out Film Festival
Toronto Blue Jays vs. New York Yankees
Marben Fridays  - 90s Hip Hop and R&B
Artisans at the Distillery - Outdoor arts and crafts showcase
Ward Island - Picnic Time

Enjoy the long weekend everyone and most of all be safe!

Friday Nights Live @ the ROM

Remember those grade school field trips to the museum that we all dreaded and just used as an excuse to get out of the classroom and create trouble with our friends?  Well believe it or not but the museum is now actually a hot place to be!

Thanks to the Royal Ontario Museum they're giving us a chance to relive our childhoods but in a more adult way.  Introducing Friday Nights Live @ the ROM!  Every Friday from April 20th to June 22nd, the museum keeps its doors open beyond regular hours from 6pm to 11pm and features the best in the city's food, drinks and cultural programming.  Cover is only $9 and food and drinks start from $5.

This is exactly the kind of event I looked for when I wanted to try different things in the city and explore those places that were always on my list but I never got around to going to.

Low and behold a perfect chance to visit the ROM and not feel like I'm 12 again.

For more information on the weekly event themes visit:
http://www.rom.on.ca/fridays/

On my list to check out:
May 11 - Photography
May 25 - Toronto Live
June 8 - Music
June 22 - iDrum presents Gondwana Beats

Gusto 101 is Gusto!

Living and working on College Street can sometimes spoil you when it comes to Italian food because there are just SO many options.  I have however quickly discovered that as many options as there are, the actual quality doesn’t always measure up.  It seems that as delicious as the food at some of the places here is it can also feel heavy, bulk-made and sometimes hastily prepared without much attention to the nuances of spices and flavors that bring Italian food to life.

Gusto 101 (which literally means “tasty” in Italian) opened its doors earlier this year by transforming an old auto garage into and open concept, industrial-style feast for both the eyes and the tummy.  The owner has already made her mark and built her reputation off the success of her previous venture Café Nervosa in Yorkville (which I still have to try).  I started hearing rumblings of this place on various different newsletters and blogs and instantly had to add it to my list of places to try.  Judging that the place is always packed to the point where people are spilling outside I was excited to see if the food would live up to the hype.  

The atmosphere is exactly that of what you want for the bustling King West location – loud, busy, crowded with the noise from their open kitchen battling over the conversations from small groups, dates and after work drink seekers.  It’s hard to get reservations for any seating after 6ish so the trick is to get their early.  When you are lucky enough to get a table you are greeted by very friendly and knowledgeable wait-staff who know the menu, know their wines and have stepped into the new age of technology by taking your order on i-Phones.  Love. 

On this sunny Thursday evening we found ourselves in the back corner table ready to indulge!  We ordered our drinks and then promptly decided on appetizers.  They have a great selection of wines and also have their own winery in their basement.  House Wine for only $1 an oz – which is clearly why it was sold out on this visit of ours L  You can also book out the wine cellar in their basement for private group engagements – definitely  need to keep that in mind!

 Fresh Ricotta Bruschette (herbs, maldon sea salt, house made focaccia) and Arancini (rice wild mushrooms, fontina and tomato sauce)

Ever since I first had Arancini at Enoteca Sociale its actually become one of my most favourite appetizers.  Rice stuffed in a deep friend breaded ball?  SIGN ME UP.  The Gusto version was nothing less and literally made me not want to share!  But they do come two in a serving so it’s perfect to split.  The ricotta that came with the bruschetta was maybe the freshest, softest and fluffiest ricotta I’ve ever had, just perfect with the their focaccia and when that ran out, we used our bread basket!

On to the mains!

Spaghetti Chitarra alle Vongole (manila clams, white wine roasted tomatoes, toasted bread crumbs, pepperoncino), Ravioli di Ricotta e Spinaci (ricotta, spinach, tomato, smoked mozzarella di bufala), Fettucine ai Funghi (portobello, oyster mushroom, porcini, truffle paste, light cream) and Da Dee Pizza (sweet potatoes, cavolo nero, local fior di latte, spanish onions, pecorino, rosemary)

The spaghetti was not my cup of tea just because I’m not the biggest clam/mussels fan.  Just something about the texture but it LOOKED absolutely delicious.  So many textures and colors all in one plate.  The Ravioli was also nothing to write home about but still a great option if you’re looking for a vegetarian dish that’s simple.  My FAVOURITE pasta dish was by far the Fettuccine.  First of all, we all know my love for anything with cream and mushrooms so this was already a winner before it even got to the table.  It was full of flavor and each bite just melted in your mouth.  It doesn’t rival the mushroom pasta from Spuntini but it’s definitely up there.  The Da Dee pizza was an interesting choice.  We weren’t sure how the sweet potatoes and kale would work together but they actually created a perfect blend of bitter and sweet.  Not sure I’d go for it again but glad I tried it.

Looking at the menu now it looks like I’ve tried all the pastas that I would (and clearly have a favourite) but would love to try some of their pizzas.  The Funghi, Prosciutto and Salisicce are all on my list.  They also have some great salad options (starter and meal options) but who can go for a salad when there’s so many delicious options.

And Finally Dessert!

Being that we were 4 girls, there was really only one option – the Dessert Platter!

Dessert isn’t on their menu but from what I remember this included a caramel crème Brule, mini cinnabons, and mini chocolate cupcakes.  The Crème Brule was the clear winner of them all.

So all in all the food was sort of hit and miss.  You almost need to figure out what your favourite dish is and then not stray from it.  I found mine but feel excited that there are still some other options to try.  I’ll definitely be back seeing as Gusto 101 is so close to home, their open late Thursday-Saturday, have Brunch AND are opening their 90 seat roof top patio this summer!

Till Next time!

Address:  101 Portland Street (King and Portland)

Parking:  Plenty of street parking and lots

Price:  $$

Food:  7.5/10

Ambiance:  8/10

Service:  9/10

Khao San Road

So let’s start off with the apologies. I’ve said it once and I’ll probably say it few times.

“Life got busy. I forgot to blog. But I always remembered to eat.”

The bright side of the whole situation is that in my absence I actually didn’t venture out to try anything new or do anything particularly out of my comfort zone. So really you didn’t miss much. But I’m back and this first excursion was totally worth the mini hiatus.

Everyone has their go to foods – pizza, sushi, pasta, shwarma. The meals you know at the end of the day will satisfy your appetite and won’t fail you when the cravings hit.
A lot of people’s go to food is Thai. Its never been that way for me. Of course I’ve enjoyed my fair share of Thai Basil Chicken and Pad Thai but when it came down to it, I could do with out it.  The flavorless “ketchup” based pad thais, goopy and thick curries and most of all dry stir frys were not at the top of my list.

Until I took a walk down Khao San Road (not literally – but maybe one day!).

My workplace also supports my food craze and they have an International Supper Club where once every few months we try and get together to try out a new cuisine or restaurant in the city.

When I found out that we would be heading to Khao San Road I was beyond thrilled because I had been hearing about this place since they opened up just last year.. Rave reviews paired with my lack of excitement for the cuisine were going to make this an interesting night.

Khao San Road is located on the corner of Peter and Adelaide in a small space that you would probably miss while walking by if not for the bright little neon sign. We found out that on any night the standard wait could be from 15-45 mins and this was no surprise since at 9PM on Tuesday the place was packed.

The setting doesn’t boast anything over the top – long wooden dining tables for bigger groups and small tables for couples along with a long bar for those who can’t be bothered to wait for a table.

They have one beer on tap (SINGHA) which is a cold and refreshing compliment to the abundance of flavor and heat the food brings.

What I ended up indulging in on this visit (as there will be more) are:

Starters:
Gra Bong - Fried squash fritters battered with red curry paste, shrimp paste and lemongrass
Po Pia Pak Sod Gai Yaw - Fresh Rolls filled with home made chicken sausage, lettuce, carrots, mint leaves and Thai Basil, served with Tamarind, garlic sauce topped with peanuts and Thai coriander
Tao Hoo Taud Samoon Prai - Garlic Tofu - Nuggets of fried tofu breaded in a crispy garlic and fresh kaffir lime coating served with a sweet and tangy garlic sauce (we had the chicken version as well but Tofu was better)

Pad Thai (Street Style) with chicken
Pad Kee Mao - stir fried rice noodles with fresh green chili and fresh garlic, long green pepper, bamboo shoot and Thai Basil laves
(the above dishes can all be served with Tofu, chicken, beef or shrimp, ask the staff for the best combo)

They don't lie when they say this is the best Thai food in the city.  I have found a new love for Thai food but I can never eat any where else except here.  There is nothing more to be said except the the food is dripping with flavour, fresh ingreidents, heat made the way you want and most of all authenticity which seems to be lacking in today's Thai cuisine.

Another dish that I plan to have next time which I only had a taste of this time around was the Khao Soi - egg noodles in a coconut milk enriched curry, garnished with crispy noodles, green onion and lime.  Can be served with chicken or braised beef.

Highly recommended to go with a group of people so you can all order different things and sample.  Truly a gem of the city.

I will be back soon and there will be more photos - if I can be patient enough to take them.

Address: 326 Adelaide West (Adelaide and Peter)
Parking: Plenty of street parking or a lots
Price: $$
Food: 9.5/10
Ambiance: 8/10 (simple and quaint)
Service: 8/10 (very attentive, quick and accomodating)