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

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!!

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

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...)

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

A Makeover Done Right

There's no better feeling then taking a chance on something and having it work out. Whether its a new hair cut, a paint color, a short skirt or even love, its never easy to take a risk and be able to reap nothing but benefits. I guess that's partly where this blog came about - taking chances on new things and discovering my surroundings and maybe even in the process, discover more of myself.

BUT before I start spewing out any more "Sex and City" intro material, let's get to the topic at hand. Like I said, taking a chance on something is never easy. Especially when it comes to nightlife. Saturday nights are about letting go, forgetting about the trials and tribulations of the week before and dancing the stress away. So the last thing you want is to try something new and be let down. I think that's why we typically opt for the tried and true options because we're guaranteed a good time. This Saturday proved that theory wrong. By chance I came across this article about how Brassaii had recently renovated and was now trying to compete with the lounge/club filled King West strip with DJ's on weeknights and Saturdays. Keeping with my motto of trying new things I thought, why not? I had been to Brassai before for dinner and was underwhelmed with the menu and venue so I was excited about the possibility of a new spot but nervous it could flop.

Brassaii is tucked away in a hidden (but not creepy), romantic alley/courtyard at King and Spadina and has a spacious patio/outdoor seating adorned with beautiful greenery and twinkling lights. The entrance is by no means hard to miss with its large staircase and oversized doors. Upon entering you're greeted by a suprisingly upbeat bouncer and ladies who will check your coats at no charge. I remembered Brassaii for being an extremely long and somewhat narrow space with a minimalist theme for decor. Very stark white with metal and chrome finishing. This is no longer the case my friends! The new renovations now combine a cafe, wine cellar, dining area, bar and lounge all in one. With the addtion of plush cozy seating, dimmer lights and heart wrenching artwork (Love Me Until I'm Me Again), Brassaii has truly proved that a makeover can be done right.

A back to back bar now splits the once narrow dining area into a seating lounge area in the front and a sit-down dining area in the back. If you don't take the time to walk through upon entering you may think this is all Brassaii has to offer. Luckily we walked through. Off to the right of the bar is a smaller hallway which leads to the room where the party is in full effect. Think Ultra meets Spice Route. A room which houses nothing but a large bar and bottle service booths also leaves enough room to bust out your best moves on the dance floor (or be followed by a French-man speaking to you in Francais all night). No long waits at the bar even at the busiest point of the night- and best of all - King West drink prices are NOT in effect! $7-8 for mixed drinks and shots makes for messy messy nights.

Overall I had a fantastic night surrounded by beautiful people (the crowd wasn't so bad either lol) and listening into great music in a venue which in my humble opinion will be raising the standard for nightlife in Toronto.

Looking forward to when the weather gets better and the patio area will more than likely be swinging. Possible birthday venue? I think so!

Address: 461 King West
Parking: Street parking - or park on Wellington and use the alley way to walk through to King West
Cover: None
Dress Code: Ladies get your dress one, gents leave the runners at home
Age: 25+
Lounge Nights on Tuesdays-Saturdays
Website: http://www.brassaii.com/