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)

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!

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!

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)

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: $

Discovering Liberty Village

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

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

Address: 165 East Liberty Street

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

My Perfect Man...as a Restaurant

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SUMMERLICIOUS IS HERE!!!

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

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

:)

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

Brunch at Brassaii

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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/

Don’t Knock the Local Talent

I get it. Downtown Toronto is “where it’s at”. The nightlife, the culture, the events – they’re all downtown and I have no problem venturing down there. BUT that doesn’t mean that suburbia doesn’t have its own plethora of places and events to discover. One of which I randomly stumbled upon (literally) on Sunday night. After a messy night consuming rounds of shots in the double digits at a wedding (classy girl) I was no doubt craving something that would make the spinning stop. The weather decided to stop being depressing so it only made sense to take advantage and get a dose of Vitamin D. Off I went with my partner in crime to Milton and ended up at a little pizzeria called Portabellos. Very cute and quaint place with an outdoor patio and conveniently connected with other little shops, dessert places and cafes.

On the Menu:
House Salad – Mixed greens with a Balsamic Vinaigrette
BBQ Chicken Pizza (10”) – Mozzarella, chicken, tomatoes, onions, cheddar topped with BBQ sauce
The Big “O” Cookie Dough – half baked gourmet, cookie dough in a 6” pan topped with three scoops of vanilla ice cream. We opted for half chocolate chip/white macademia

House Salad pretty average – nothing out of the ordinary and the white onions were WAY too strong. Not helping the hangover. When the BBQ Chicken Pizza came to our table it almost looked TOO good to eat! It was a piece of art the way they drizzled the BBQ sauce on top and how all the ingredients were held together with the double dose of ooey gooey cheese. The actual pizza itself was not so bad either. Not a doughy crust but not wafer thin either – just a solid balance between the two. Now for dessert. I get now why they call it the Big “O” – and that’s about all the details I’ll divulge on that subject, the dessert however was by far one of the most satisfying and delectable desserts I’ve had in a while. A warm half baked cookie dough base warm enough to melt the three oversize scoops of ice cream to create the perfect blend of sweet heaven. You have the option of chocolate chip or white macademia nut - of course we we want halfsies. I suggest you share this one because it’s pretty rich and there’s no need for guilt after that kind of indulgence. Ladies and gentleman I’ve found my dessert!

On the Menu NEXT TIME:
The Big “O” Cookie Dough – that’s all THIS girl needs!

Address: 1580 Derry Road East #103
Parking: Located in a plaza so plenty of parking
Dress: Casual
Price: Cheap
Overall Rating: 3 1/2 stars

Once you go Italian...

Here's a perfect example of a restaurant that’s been around forever, one that I’ve driven by about 100 times but NEVER eaten at. For my first culinary adventure I ventured out to Vivoli on College Street with 4 of my besties for some good ol’ Italian eats. Vivoli boasts being a trendy-chic combination of a restaurant, pizza bar, café and rooftop patio. The famous wood-burning oven adds authenticity to their pizza and the glowing embers make the atmosphere warm and cozy. Along with a heated roof-top patio which plays Latin, funk, house and lounge music, Vivoli seems to have all the ingredients for the perfect night out.

We arrived for about 8:00 on Friday night without reservations since they don’t take them after 7. We lucked out with parking – green P around the corner and street parking. Being a party of 5 we didn’t have much trouble getting a table after a short-lived game of musical chairs. The advantage of this College street hot spot is the multitude of options for an after dinner drink or dancing escapade.

On the Menu:
Pitcher of Sangria
Insalata di Vivoli – baby spinach, raddicchio, mixed berries, toasted pecans, goat cheese tossed in a bittersweet ice-wine dressing
Grilled Calamari – grilled calamari marinated with garlic, parsley and XV olive oil
Linguine Genovese – with chicken in a fresh basil cream pesto sauce
Rigatoni Contadina – with chicken and mushrooms in a white wine cream sauce
Piccante Pizza – Pomodoro, mozzarella, Italian sausage, garlic, roasted red peppers and hot peppers
Dulce de Leche Cheesecake – traditional South American style caramel cheese cake on graham crust topped with chocolate

In one word, the food was FLAVOURFUL, you could literally taste each of the ingredients they listed in their descriptions. After a week from hell all I wanted was a big glass of Sangria and unfortunately was a little disappointed – tasted watered down and not enough fruit! The Insalata di Vivoli’s combination of sweet berries and sour dressing was a perfect way to start, the dressing was fabulous and anything with goat cheese makes my day. Calamari seems to always be a fan favourite when it comes to appetizers and I’ll always take a nibble if someone orders it. I’ve learned my lesson – MUST BE BREADED. The grilled texture just doesn’t work for me. Of the two pasta choices I was a fan of the Rigatoni Contadina over the Linguine Genovese. As hard as I try, I just can’t seem to enjoy pesto. The white wine cream sauce and mushrooms weren't too heavy and made a perfect companion to the chicken and pasta. The Piccante Pizza was by far the prize winner in my books, although as long as there’s Italian sausage involved it usually wins me over! (mmm love me some Italian sausage lol). It had a great kick to it, hence being dubbed the Piccante, the crust was just thin enough and baked to perfection. The manager was hospitable and seemed to take kindly to 5 girls laughing, giggling and gossiping in the corner so before we knew it a tray of 5 shots (Swedish Berry shots?) was making its way to our table. After a quick toast we put in the order for the waitress recommended Dulce de Leche Cheesecake. GOOD LORD – caramel topping, cheesecake center and graham cracker crust. I usually find cheesecake on the heavy side of desserts (probably because I order it all to myself) so sharing it with 4 other people was a brilliant idea. Needless to say, walking to the car was somewhat painful and trying to fit into a dress the next day was a struggle. PURE INDULGENCE.

On the menu NEXT TIME:
Bruschetta (just for you LF)
Agnalotti – pasta stuffed with butternut squash in a basil sauce
Annalisa Pizza – pomodoro, goat cheese, Italian sausage, diced tomatoes Apple Caramel Cheese Cake (we were so sad NM)
Must experience the rooftop patio

Address: 665 College Street
Parking: Green P around the corner/Street parking if you’re lucky
Dress: Casual/Dressy
Price: Average
Ratings:
Ambience – 8/10 (cold by the door and the rooftop had an odd smell to it)
Service – 9/10 (the no reservation policy could mean long waits on weekends, free shots can always make up for it!)
Food – 10/10 (no complaints when it came to the food, drinks, 2 apps, 3 mains and a dessert was the perfect amount for 5 people to share)