When I want a beer and a sandwich, I usually eat at home. The sandwich menu at Urban Herbivore in Kensington has so far proved uninspiring, and unless I want to eat a salad wedged between two slices of bread, there isn't a lot of choice out there. Right now, I'm not-so-happily munching on a Tofurky sandwich and slugging back a Stella while I watch traffic flow freely on the Gardiner.
Since I moved here, I've been on the lookout for a good watering hole. I've been dragged to a few places, mostly The House on Parliament, but nothing's really felt like my own Cheers. I mean, The House is okay, the beer variety is fairly good, but it's a heck of a long way away. There's a few bars around here I've been meaning to check out, but haven't had a chance yet. For now, the quest continues.
I remember back in the day, before I moved here, a night out would entail getting smashed at some music venue or club, then heading over to the New Ho King (416 Spadina, between Oxford and Nassau) for greasy, salty, MSG-laden Chinese food. (Well, actually, they may be MSG-free, but I highly doubt it - the food's too damn good.)
Although the NHK is plagued by rats, cockroaches, threadbare carpets, dirty fish tanks and a peculiar odour that rises from the basement, it's one of my favourite late-night spots to grab a bite. Not only are they open until 4 am, but they also have a nearly half-price late-night menu filled to the brim with calorie-laden goodness.
I've been going to the Ho King for over six years now, and (almost surprisingly) I've never been sick from the food. Like any other regular - and there are many - I have my preferences. I typically start my meal with a vegetarian spring roll ($1.25), and occasionally the salty fried squid, if my wallet allows ($8.99). The NHK serves main dishes on giant platters, so I usually restrict myself to only two or three dishes if my party totals less than five. I always get rice and the Hunan tofu ($7.25), sometimes with grouper (add $1-$7, depending on the waiter), eggplant in garlic sauce (no meat, $7.25), and steamed baby bok choi in oyster sauce ($9.95). I have several friends who go nuts over the General Tso chicken ($12.95), which always makes their faces redder than the old, reject chili mixture set out on every table. Although the taste varies a slight bit each time on the hunan tofu - sometimes it's so spicy I cry, other times there's no spice at all - the rest of the food is pretty consistent. It's always tasty, however, which I swear by even when I'm sober. My friends do, too - if you're with me in the city, you know a trip to the Ho is usually on the menu. Hell, I've even subjected my mother to it, and she thought "the food was good, but it's really dirty. Ew."
Sometimes, my friends ask me for a good story. Once in a while, I tell them the story of how the Ho King broke my heart. Yes, it's true, once I went there to eat and found the place temporarily closed on the order of the Health Department, due to a cockroach infestation. Boo. Hiss. I threw a mighty good fit on the sidewalk, cried, and went back home. (I called Fuwloon for delivery, which I'll write about later.)
Alas, the Ho is still the place to go, in my opinion, and it's one of the few places in the city I know of that serves a large amount of grub for a decent price. I've done the leftovers test too, and the Ho still stands up after four to five days in the fridge, on average. (Hunan meals last only two to three days, though, as the vinegar tends to separate the sauce.)
If you go to the Ho, I recommend sticking to the pre-killed menu and avoiding anything that comes from the tanks - you'll see why. I also recommend asking for cold tea. And tipping your waiter if you don't want to get jumped on in the alley. And parking where there's plenty of lights. And not looking into the kitchen while you're eating. And not sending anything back. Good luck.
Bonus: If you eat there often enough, Swine Flu will have nothing on you. En garde!
***Prices are listed from memory, not from the menu. Actual prices may vary in light of the recession and the restaurant's lost business on account of numerous suspensions from the Health Department.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
St. Lawrence Spotlight: Ying Ying Soy Foods
I don't go to the St. Lawrence Market often enough. It's a shame, really, because the Market offers some of the freshest, tastiest grocery items I've ever come across. Local, organic, or trucked from afar, the foods at St. Lawrence are pretty much guaranteed to taste good.
Last time I went, I shopped with a former professor of mine. She tipped me off to the farmers' market just north of St. Lawrence; facing the building from the other side of Front Street. In return, I tipped her off to Ying Ying Soy Foods, located in the basement near the bakery.
Ying Ying, an Oakville-based company, provides some of the best tofu products I've ever tried. I have seriously cut down on the amount of soy in my diet, so it's somewhat of a guilty pleasure for me now. The problem is, everything at Ying Ying is so good, I honestly feel like I'm going to hell every time I waddle away with a grocery bag stuffed full of soy products.
On my last trip, the store owner introduced me to their newest product, soy bacon ($4.50/8 large slices). I took it home, pan-fried it, and actually felt like I was eating real bacon again. The soy bacon is perfectly flavoured with liquid smoke and soya oil - not too strong, not too salty - and when cooked just right, parts of the "bacon" are crispy, while others remain soft - just like real bacon. It's a great substitute for those who are looking to lower their cholesterol and caloric intake, while still getting that satisfying "fried-chewy-pig-fat-in-my-mouth" kind of feel. If you try anything from Ying Ying, make sure it's the soy bacon, which I'm sure will soon become their biggest hit.
Ying Ying also has their own version of Tofurky, a homemade roast with real stuffing ($12.99). It requires only 10 minutes of steam time (as opposed to Tofurky's four hours in the oven), which makes it ideal for a host in a hurry. Every mouthful is so good, there's no need for gravy. Each roast serves 3-4 people comfortably. And, as I remember, it's relatively preservative-free; packed airtight. It's a welcome change from the usual arms-length list of preservatives that go into most other soy products.
Bonus: The outside of the roast is made of Ying Ying's own smoked tofu (priced by weight), which is perfectly cured and good anytime as a snack, hot or cold. Also available are flavoured soy pieces for stir-fries, various sauces, dried goods, tofu and tempeh, and frozen vegetables like edamame. One item not to miss is okara, which is the leftover soy bits from the tofu-making process - highly nutritious, and cheap as dirt ($1.50 for a three-pound bag, roughly). My professor, a Japanese citizen, referred to okara as "poor man's food," which is how it's commonly referred to in Japan. In short, it's a cheap, quick, delicious meal when fried up with some cabbage and carrots. I wish I had known about okara during my poor university days, but apparently it's very hard to find. I snatched up the last bag and plan to go for more. *Thumbs up*
Want soy? Think Ying Ying. Even if you're hesitant, samples of most of the products are always available on Saturdays, so you can try before you buy. Ying Ying Soy Foods accepts cash, debit and credit, so you can pig out and pay later.
Last time I went, I shopped with a former professor of mine. She tipped me off to the farmers' market just north of St. Lawrence; facing the building from the other side of Front Street. In return, I tipped her off to Ying Ying Soy Foods, located in the basement near the bakery.
Ying Ying, an Oakville-based company, provides some of the best tofu products I've ever tried. I have seriously cut down on the amount of soy in my diet, so it's somewhat of a guilty pleasure for me now. The problem is, everything at Ying Ying is so good, I honestly feel like I'm going to hell every time I waddle away with a grocery bag stuffed full of soy products.
On my last trip, the store owner introduced me to their newest product, soy bacon ($4.50/8 large slices). I took it home, pan-fried it, and actually felt like I was eating real bacon again. The soy bacon is perfectly flavoured with liquid smoke and soya oil - not too strong, not too salty - and when cooked just right, parts of the "bacon" are crispy, while others remain soft - just like real bacon. It's a great substitute for those who are looking to lower their cholesterol and caloric intake, while still getting that satisfying "fried-chewy-pig-fat-in-my-mouth" kind of feel. If you try anything from Ying Ying, make sure it's the soy bacon, which I'm sure will soon become their biggest hit.
Ying Ying also has their own version of Tofurky, a homemade roast with real stuffing ($12.99). It requires only 10 minutes of steam time (as opposed to Tofurky's four hours in the oven), which makes it ideal for a host in a hurry. Every mouthful is so good, there's no need for gravy. Each roast serves 3-4 people comfortably. And, as I remember, it's relatively preservative-free; packed airtight. It's a welcome change from the usual arms-length list of preservatives that go into most other soy products.
Bonus: The outside of the roast is made of Ying Ying's own smoked tofu (priced by weight), which is perfectly cured and good anytime as a snack, hot or cold. Also available are flavoured soy pieces for stir-fries, various sauces, dried goods, tofu and tempeh, and frozen vegetables like edamame. One item not to miss is okara, which is the leftover soy bits from the tofu-making process - highly nutritious, and cheap as dirt ($1.50 for a three-pound bag, roughly). My professor, a Japanese citizen, referred to okara as "poor man's food," which is how it's commonly referred to in Japan. In short, it's a cheap, quick, delicious meal when fried up with some cabbage and carrots. I wish I had known about okara during my poor university days, but apparently it's very hard to find. I snatched up the last bag and plan to go for more. *Thumbs up*
Want soy? Think Ying Ying. Even if you're hesitant, samples of most of the products are always available on Saturdays, so you can try before you buy. Ying Ying Soy Foods accepts cash, debit and credit, so you can pig out and pay later.
Monday, April 27, 2009
For the Unemployed...
"How are you?"
"Oh God, I feel Falafel."
Who hasn't heard that pun at least once? I know I get it at least every other week. It's cool, though, because I'm a pretty big fan of falafel. Especially falafel that's smothered in tahina. Mmmm falafel.
Lucky for me, there's a couple of falafel places within fair walking distance of my place. Here's how they compare:
Pita Way
King at Dufferin
If you know this corner, you know there's a McDonald's, Burger King, Island Foods, and a lot of people who wander around looking lost. It's not the cleanest corner of Toronto, but food is cheap - and plentiful. At Pita Way, falafel wraps are priced at $2, and chicken kebab wraps at $2.99. The falafels are decent, sometimes a touch dry, but it's nothing a little sauce can't fix. Toppings appear to be unlimited, at least in my experience. They're decent - not great - and you have to ask for extra tahina, as it's a bit watery with too little flavour. Sandwiches are wrapped and warmed on a grill, so everything's warm when you bite into it.
The place is well-kept but not overly concerned about appearances (there are only two tables and a very Spartan feel otherwise), there's no bathroom, and the jury's still not in on the health inspection side, but I haven't had any problems yet. The owner is fairly friendly and the portions are pretty generous. You can get a hummus and falafel plate for $5.99, which includes hummus, falafels, salad, and a garlic dipping sauce.
Overall, Pita Way is decent when you're hungry and short on cash, but it's hard to complain when $2 barely gets you a pack of gum these days, nevermind a meal. Pita Way seems to be open long hours, Monday to Saturday. Cash only.
Falafel King
Atlantic Avenue at King
Falafel King is one of the restaurants located in Liberty Village that tries to capitalize on the yuppie lifestyle that prevails there. The food's not exactly cheap, but there's currently a 2 for $5 falafel special, which suits me just fine. I was none too impressed by the slow and disinterested service, though, and ordering became a little aggravating because of it.
Beyond the service, the food was alright, even though it took quite some time to prepare. I waited about 25 minutes for two falafel sandwiches and one chicken kebab wrap, which included the time I had to wait for an employee to acknowledge my existence, another to ask what I wanted, and wrap assembling/warming time (the falafels were pre-cooked, in case you were wondering, but the wraps were warmed on a grill briefly). The 2 for $5 falafel deal was okay - the falafels were not quite as moist as I like, but done well, and the small wraps were of a decent size. They were a pain to eat, though, as the pita was completely halved, which caused them to fall apart more easily while I was eating them.
At Falafel King, falafels are the cheapest item on the menu right now - Other wraps seem to be, on average, $5.99-$7.99 for a small and $7.99-$8.99 for a large. They also serve soups and salads so you can get a complete meal. The space and serving area looked very clean and well-kept, and the toppings were fresh.
Overall, it was okay, and the falafel deal is very reasonable. Hopefully, I'll be served by someone who cares next time. I also hope to try their lentil soup, but not if it'll cost me another 15-20 minutes of my life.
Holy Land Books and Video
Roncesvalles at Howard Park
I've reviewed this place before. Their falafel sandwich comes in a small pita, priced at $3.99. It may not be the biggest falafel wrap around, but it's the tastiest one I've ever had. The falafels are moist, cooked to order, and otherwise very fresh tasting. I approve - because the falafels are freshly fried, they're nice and hot, and your lettuce, tomato, etc, aren't subjected to grill torture, so they're still nice and firm and juicy when you bite into the sandwich. Thumbs up.
The owner boasts that he sells several hundred of these sandwiches a day. All around, full marks for falafel, toppings, and price; the only downside is the size - I have to eat two of these to be fully satisfied. It's a nice little shop, though, filled with grocery items and fresh-made sauces, dips, and patties to take home, so I go there for more than just the sandwich. Service is fast, and very friendly. I suggest you grab a falafel sandwich (or two) and explore Roncesvalles on a nice day. Just be sure that you have some water handy if you opt for a falafel with the homemade hot sauce. You've been warned.
My thoughts: The hunt is still on for the best falafel in the city: moist, fresh-cooked, with the right amount of spices, and the perfect size. Know of a good place? Feel free to let me know. I'd love to check it out. On my poor days, I stick to Pita Way. If I feel like a bit of extravagance (but not really), it's Holy Land all the way.
"Oh God, I feel Falafel."
Who hasn't heard that pun at least once? I know I get it at least every other week. It's cool, though, because I'm a pretty big fan of falafel. Especially falafel that's smothered in tahina. Mmmm falafel.
Lucky for me, there's a couple of falafel places within fair walking distance of my place. Here's how they compare:
Pita Way
King at Dufferin
If you know this corner, you know there's a McDonald's, Burger King, Island Foods, and a lot of people who wander around looking lost. It's not the cleanest corner of Toronto, but food is cheap - and plentiful. At Pita Way, falafel wraps are priced at $2, and chicken kebab wraps at $2.99. The falafels are decent, sometimes a touch dry, but it's nothing a little sauce can't fix. Toppings appear to be unlimited, at least in my experience. They're decent - not great - and you have to ask for extra tahina, as it's a bit watery with too little flavour. Sandwiches are wrapped and warmed on a grill, so everything's warm when you bite into it.
The place is well-kept but not overly concerned about appearances (there are only two tables and a very Spartan feel otherwise), there's no bathroom, and the jury's still not in on the health inspection side, but I haven't had any problems yet. The owner is fairly friendly and the portions are pretty generous. You can get a hummus and falafel plate for $5.99, which includes hummus, falafels, salad, and a garlic dipping sauce.
Overall, Pita Way is decent when you're hungry and short on cash, but it's hard to complain when $2 barely gets you a pack of gum these days, nevermind a meal. Pita Way seems to be open long hours, Monday to Saturday. Cash only.
Falafel King
Atlantic Avenue at King
Falafel King is one of the restaurants located in Liberty Village that tries to capitalize on the yuppie lifestyle that prevails there. The food's not exactly cheap, but there's currently a 2 for $5 falafel special, which suits me just fine. I was none too impressed by the slow and disinterested service, though, and ordering became a little aggravating because of it.
Beyond the service, the food was alright, even though it took quite some time to prepare. I waited about 25 minutes for two falafel sandwiches and one chicken kebab wrap, which included the time I had to wait for an employee to acknowledge my existence, another to ask what I wanted, and wrap assembling/warming time (the falafels were pre-cooked, in case you were wondering, but the wraps were warmed on a grill briefly). The 2 for $5 falafel deal was okay - the falafels were not quite as moist as I like, but done well, and the small wraps were of a decent size. They were a pain to eat, though, as the pita was completely halved, which caused them to fall apart more easily while I was eating them.
At Falafel King, falafels are the cheapest item on the menu right now - Other wraps seem to be, on average, $5.99-$7.99 for a small and $7.99-$8.99 for a large. They also serve soups and salads so you can get a complete meal. The space and serving area looked very clean and well-kept, and the toppings were fresh.
Overall, it was okay, and the falafel deal is very reasonable. Hopefully, I'll be served by someone who cares next time. I also hope to try their lentil soup, but not if it'll cost me another 15-20 minutes of my life.
Holy Land Books and Video
Roncesvalles at Howard Park
I've reviewed this place before. Their falafel sandwich comes in a small pita, priced at $3.99. It may not be the biggest falafel wrap around, but it's the tastiest one I've ever had. The falafels are moist, cooked to order, and otherwise very fresh tasting. I approve - because the falafels are freshly fried, they're nice and hot, and your lettuce, tomato, etc, aren't subjected to grill torture, so they're still nice and firm and juicy when you bite into the sandwich. Thumbs up.
The owner boasts that he sells several hundred of these sandwiches a day. All around, full marks for falafel, toppings, and price; the only downside is the size - I have to eat two of these to be fully satisfied. It's a nice little shop, though, filled with grocery items and fresh-made sauces, dips, and patties to take home, so I go there for more than just the sandwich. Service is fast, and very friendly. I suggest you grab a falafel sandwich (or two) and explore Roncesvalles on a nice day. Just be sure that you have some water handy if you opt for a falafel with the homemade hot sauce. You've been warned.
My thoughts: The hunt is still on for the best falafel in the city: moist, fresh-cooked, with the right amount of spices, and the perfect size. Know of a good place? Feel free to let me know. I'd love to check it out. On my poor days, I stick to Pita Way. If I feel like a bit of extravagance (but not really), it's Holy Land all the way.
Back in Black
Well, quick update - I left my full-time job and am now back to my old pursuits. It's great - summer's coming up and I can't wait to enjoy Toronto. I have the best view of the city, and I can often smell the fresh lake air from my balcony (pleasant when it's not TOO fresh). Life is good.
So, what does an unemployed marketer/artist/photographer/epic spender do? Besides dusting off old moving boxes to use as furniture (times are tough, yes), I've been putting an emphasis on wandering around my neighborhood and exploring all it has to offer. There are so many great little shops, bakeries, and restaurants that make for an interesting experience. More on this soon - there's a ton of neat little places in Parkdale that are well worth a visit.
I'm also getting into the art scene again - visiting galleries, going to openings, and exploring ideas for my own work. Photography, painting, and even music are all on the menu. I've been doing commercial photography work lately, but I want to get back into event photography. I'm going to start photoblogging my experiences soon, so you can view the city with me.
Stay tuned...
So, what does an unemployed marketer/artist/photographer/epic spender do? Besides dusting off old moving boxes to use as furniture (times are tough, yes), I've been putting an emphasis on wandering around my neighborhood and exploring all it has to offer. There are so many great little shops, bakeries, and restaurants that make for an interesting experience. More on this soon - there's a ton of neat little places in Parkdale that are well worth a visit.
I'm also getting into the art scene again - visiting galleries, going to openings, and exploring ideas for my own work. Photography, painting, and even music are all on the menu. I've been doing commercial photography work lately, but I want to get back into event photography. I'm going to start photoblogging my experiences soon, so you can view the city with me.
Stay tuned...
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Expanding Your Horizons
When I moved to Toronto, I had expected to continue freelancing, wandering the streets, taking it all in. But I've found myself employed full-time, short on cash, and with a back injury (getting better), so getting around has been harder than I hoped. I'll probably be writing about things other than restaurants, at least for the next little while, at least until I get back on my feet.
That being said, I still have a couple of things to do with food - it's one of my favourite things, so I take dining out seriously. Right now, I'm on the hunt for Toronto's best veggie burger. Finding a good burger joint is hard, and a veggie burger even harder. I've tried a few burger chains, but so far I haven't been impressed.
My initial thoughts: The burgers should be thick, and as juicy as possible. I like the buns a bit chewy, but Kaiser is okay. Veggie burgers taste best with a bit of pepper and garlic, I find, and a good amount of mushroom flavouring. Naturally, being a veggie burger, it should be accompanied with a lot of fresh veggies as toppings.
I'm sure the vast majority of my readers aren't vegetarians, so I'll try and bring along a meat-eater to comment on the regular burgers. Otherwise, I have plans to explore the galleries on Queen West and go along the shops on Gerrard, so I'll write more soon...
That being said, I still have a couple of things to do with food - it's one of my favourite things, so I take dining out seriously. Right now, I'm on the hunt for Toronto's best veggie burger. Finding a good burger joint is hard, and a veggie burger even harder. I've tried a few burger chains, but so far I haven't been impressed.
My initial thoughts: The burgers should be thick, and as juicy as possible. I like the buns a bit chewy, but Kaiser is okay. Veggie burgers taste best with a bit of pepper and garlic, I find, and a good amount of mushroom flavouring. Naturally, being a veggie burger, it should be accompanied with a lot of fresh veggies as toppings.
I'm sure the vast majority of my readers aren't vegetarians, so I'll try and bring along a meat-eater to comment on the regular burgers. Otherwise, I have plans to explore the galleries on Queen West and go along the shops on Gerrard, so I'll write more soon...
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Odds and ends
Money's been tight so I've been cooped at up at home lately. I haven't been out much, but when I'm tired I grab sushi, Ethiopian, or, if I'm feeling adventurous, I have a night out at Lahore Tikka House.
There are a few places I've visited that I've meant to do a review on but haven't gotten the chance to yet. Seeing as how this post would be pointless otherwise, here's two places I used to (and still occasionally) patronize.
Pho Asia 21
King and Dufferin
This pho place is near my apartment, and it's the place I go when winter's chill is at its worst. I developed a bad pho habit when I spent most of my time in Mississauga, and I have a weakness for hot vegetable soup with rice noodles. Being a veghead, I've never actually tried to traditional beef pho, but I hear it's good.
Pho Asia 21 is a pretty typical pho place - the food is cheap, the Rooster brand chili sauce is plentiful, and there are quite a few non-liquid offerings on the menu that are deep-fried and in large portions. The decor makes you feel like you're trapped in Wonderland, and I'm sure it would be quite trippy after a night of drinking, what with the giant bedposts and plastic flower gardens. The servers are keen and seem happy to accommodate substitutions and requests, and the soup is quite good. The only real downside to the place is that it's cash only, but there's a CIBC right next door, which happens to be one of the banks I don't have an account with. But oh well. I think this place claims to have the best pho in Liberty Village, if I remember correctly, but I think it's the only pho in Liberty Village... and it's in the outskirts at that. Still, I enjoy it.
Mother India
Queen and Close
Ah, Mother India. If you like roti filled with bhaji, this is a decent place to go. If you can't handle spice, ask for mild. If you can, ask for medium. If you have a death wish, ask for hot. Oh, and ginger's totally in at Mother India, so if you don't like it, don't eat here. If you do, hopefully you like ginger. A lot.
The menu at Mother India is reasonably priced, with most rotis at $8 or $9. I personally prefer the chickpea with eggplant, which costs about $9. There's veggie, meat, and shrimp rotis on the menu, and dosas. The place is hit and miss, but mostly good. I've tried quite a few things and I think the eggplant/chickpea combo is by far the best roti. Eating in is kind of uninspiring, and the service isn't great because there's only one guy manning the tables and the take-out counter, which is what you should be ordering. Do yourself a favour and get it to go.
There are a few places I've visited that I've meant to do a review on but haven't gotten the chance to yet. Seeing as how this post would be pointless otherwise, here's two places I used to (and still occasionally) patronize.
Pho Asia 21
King and Dufferin
This pho place is near my apartment, and it's the place I go when winter's chill is at its worst. I developed a bad pho habit when I spent most of my time in Mississauga, and I have a weakness for hot vegetable soup with rice noodles. Being a veghead, I've never actually tried to traditional beef pho, but I hear it's good.
Pho Asia 21 is a pretty typical pho place - the food is cheap, the Rooster brand chili sauce is plentiful, and there are quite a few non-liquid offerings on the menu that are deep-fried and in large portions. The decor makes you feel like you're trapped in Wonderland, and I'm sure it would be quite trippy after a night of drinking, what with the giant bedposts and plastic flower gardens. The servers are keen and seem happy to accommodate substitutions and requests, and the soup is quite good. The only real downside to the place is that it's cash only, but there's a CIBC right next door, which happens to be one of the banks I don't have an account with. But oh well. I think this place claims to have the best pho in Liberty Village, if I remember correctly, but I think it's the only pho in Liberty Village... and it's in the outskirts at that. Still, I enjoy it.
Mother India
Queen and Close
Ah, Mother India. If you like roti filled with bhaji, this is a decent place to go. If you can't handle spice, ask for mild. If you can, ask for medium. If you have a death wish, ask for hot. Oh, and ginger's totally in at Mother India, so if you don't like it, don't eat here. If you do, hopefully you like ginger. A lot.
The menu at Mother India is reasonably priced, with most rotis at $8 or $9. I personally prefer the chickpea with eggplant, which costs about $9. There's veggie, meat, and shrimp rotis on the menu, and dosas. The place is hit and miss, but mostly good. I've tried quite a few things and I think the eggplant/chickpea combo is by far the best roti. Eating in is kind of uninspiring, and the service isn't great because there's only one guy manning the tables and the take-out counter, which is what you should be ordering. Do yourself a favour and get it to go.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Vintage, Anyone?
Sorry about the lag in posting. My back has been in bad shape from the accident I had on the TTC stairwell, and I've barely been able to get through work, dinner, and showering each day. I haven't been out and about much, mainly because I can't stand for longer than a minute and it hurts to walk around. I'm pretty frustrated and in a lot of pain, so I'm hoping this clears up soon.
Anyway, on my lunch today, I was roaming around Craigslist for no reason whatsoever and I found myself in the furniture section. My apartment's somewhat bare and in serious need of some end tables and bookshelves, and I think I found a post on some old cabinet or other from a shop called Eclectisaurus on Gerrard, near Jarvis. I jumped to their web site, and saw some interesting furniture and glass pieces. I've always sort of liked vintage things but never gave it much thought. However, I fell in love with a pair of donut lamps that had unfortunately been sold. There were a few other things that interested me, and right before I clicked off I decided to check out the appliances section - suddenly, one of my long-time dreams came true.
I found something I've always wanted, but have never seen anywhere - a vintage 1940's stand mixer in perfect working condition. It reminds me of being in my great-grandmother's house as a child and playing with all her vintage appliances. I've had a fascination with finding things just like them for a long time, and I got so very excited when I found this mixer. I've wanted a stand mixer like this for a long long LONG time, and this one is incredible! I had been debating whether or not to buy one of those overpriced, mass-produced Kitchen-Aid stand mixers that everybody has, but for me it's just not the same as what I remember. This was nearly identical. It even came with the original two Pyrex glass bowls! They just don't make things like this anymore.
Hot stuff.
Walking through Eclectisaurus brought back a flood of childhood memories and the owner was gracious enough to let me pick through every nook, cranny and display case to entertain my curiosity and recall my great-grandmother's kitchen. There were also vintage juicers and coffee sets and storage canisters and all sorts of other things that I wanted, but I'll have to save it for another trip... after I get paid.
For those of you interested in the strange, the vintage, and the antique, check out Eclectisaurus at 249 Gerrard Street, just east of Jarvis. You won't be disappointed. Besides the stand mixer, I also got an original costume sketch for Domina's character from a 1980 production of "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" in Toronto (Toronto Arts Productions). It's signed and one of a kind. I'll post a picture as soon as I have a moment. There are so many neat things in the shop, particularly lamps, art and art deco pieces, vintage furniture and appliances, and hard-to-find kitchen sets. Everything seems to be in great condition and the shop itself is very clean and bright and well-lit. It's very easy to fall in love with the rare and hard-to-find items that line every inch of the shop in a very tasteful way. A fraction of the items are posted on their web site at www.eclectisaurus.com. Eclectisaurus is open Wednesday to Saturday, noon to 7 p.m.
Anyway, on my lunch today, I was roaming around Craigslist for no reason whatsoever and I found myself in the furniture section. My apartment's somewhat bare and in serious need of some end tables and bookshelves, and I think I found a post on some old cabinet or other from a shop called Eclectisaurus on Gerrard, near Jarvis. I jumped to their web site, and saw some interesting furniture and glass pieces. I've always sort of liked vintage things but never gave it much thought. However, I fell in love with a pair of donut lamps that had unfortunately been sold. There were a few other things that interested me, and right before I clicked off I decided to check out the appliances section - suddenly, one of my long-time dreams came true.
I found something I've always wanted, but have never seen anywhere - a vintage 1940's stand mixer in perfect working condition. It reminds me of being in my great-grandmother's house as a child and playing with all her vintage appliances. I've had a fascination with finding things just like them for a long time, and I got so very excited when I found this mixer. I've wanted a stand mixer like this for a long long LONG time, and this one is incredible! I had been debating whether or not to buy one of those overpriced, mass-produced Kitchen-Aid stand mixers that everybody has, but for me it's just not the same as what I remember. This was nearly identical. It even came with the original two Pyrex glass bowls! They just don't make things like this anymore.
Hot stuff.
Walking through Eclectisaurus brought back a flood of childhood memories and the owner was gracious enough to let me pick through every nook, cranny and display case to entertain my curiosity and recall my great-grandmother's kitchen. There were also vintage juicers and coffee sets and storage canisters and all sorts of other things that I wanted, but I'll have to save it for another trip... after I get paid.
For those of you interested in the strange, the vintage, and the antique, check out Eclectisaurus at 249 Gerrard Street, just east of Jarvis. You won't be disappointed. Besides the stand mixer, I also got an original costume sketch for Domina's character from a 1980 production of "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" in Toronto (Toronto Arts Productions). It's signed and one of a kind. I'll post a picture as soon as I have a moment. There are so many neat things in the shop, particularly lamps, art and art deco pieces, vintage furniture and appliances, and hard-to-find kitchen sets. Everything seems to be in great condition and the shop itself is very clean and bright and well-lit. It's very easy to fall in love with the rare and hard-to-find items that line every inch of the shop in a very tasteful way. A fraction of the items are posted on their web site at www.eclectisaurus.com. Eclectisaurus is open Wednesday to Saturday, noon to 7 p.m.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
The Best Restaurant in Toronto
I'll admit, I haven't eaten everywhere in Toronto. But I think I can say with a lot of confidence that I've found the best restaurant in Toronto, and here's why:
M&B Yummy
1263 Queen Street West
www.mbyummy.com
I'll try to make this review as concise as possible, but that may be hard, because there's so much to describe. My roommate found this place while looking up vegan restaurants in Toronto. Yes, it's vegan, but you'd never guess it. I've never been too keen on the vegan restaurants, as I find the endless substitutions leave you with a plate of carbs and veggies that generally tastes like old bread. But M&B Yummy's food is so amazing, you'd never know it was vegan.
On a sidenote, I've never had Ethiopian in my life. I took a look at their online menu, which included dish names but not descriptions. I looked up Ethiopian cuisine on Wikipedia and it sounded good, so I thought I'd give it a shot.
Back to the review: M&B is located on Queen Street between Dufferin and Elm Grove Avenue. It's nearly across from the Gwynn streetcar stop on the Queen West streetcar, two doors down from Stones' Place. When I walked in, I was greeted by the smell of incense, very low lighting, and four tables (there are more in the back). The owner is also the hostess and the chef, so she seated us and promptly took drink orders. Although the menu explains all the dishes better than the web site, I still asked her to clarify what was what, and she was more than happy to. We decided to split a "Beef" Combo ($10) and Ground "Beef" Kitfo (soy ground beef with onions and spices, $9). I also tried to order the Sesame Fir Fir appetizer (sesame seeds mixed with injera - a sourdough flatbread - lemon, and spices), and she told me not to because two entrees would be more than enough. But everything looked good, so I still asked for a Teku Dumpling ($1.50). It's a good thing she stopped me from ordering more, because I wasn't prepared for what she served.
To begin, the dumpling was amazing; it was very similar to an old-fashioned donut and it was served with a dipping sauce that was slightly spicy, slightly gingery, and very creamy tasting (but it was vegan). I was very tempted to order the remaining two in the display case, but unfortunately they were snatched up by some other diners. They're served hot to order, and I highly recommend them.
After a short wait, dinner came out on a giant tray that took up half of our table space. The food was all made fresh to order, and I had to blink a few times to take it all in. Entrees are served atop a giant roti-like pancake called injera, which is a sourdough flatbread. It's 20" across, and half of it was covered with the Ground "Beef" Kitfo, and the other half was covered in piles of vegetable-based stews. The combo comes with Chickpea Shiro Wot, which is chickpea flour cooked with spices; Red Lentil Missir Wot, red lentils slow cooked with spices (my personal favourite of the veggie offerings); Cabbage Stew, made with carrots and onions (amazing); String Bean and Carrot Fasolia, string beans and carrots in a gravy (also amazing); Collard Green Gomen, which was spinach and kale in a gravy (a very close contender for best veggie offering); and Yellow Beans, which was split peas stewed with onions and garlic. It also came with "Beef" Tebs, which are chunks of soy beef in gravy. The meal came with four quarters of another injera rolled up for eating, and utensils for those who are picky about eating with their hands. The two of us could only get through half of the meal, and we took the rest to go, placing a duplicate order to bring home for our other roommate and her friend.
There was a great selection of vegan desserts as well, so I had to help myself to a generous portion of blueberry cheesecake ($3). I thought I had died and gone to heaven. It tasted, felt, and smelled like real cheesecake, with a fresh blueberry compote on top. I ate every last bit of it and felt like a pig, but I had to. I was fuller than full, but enjoyed every bit of it. The main course was fairly spicy, but tasted so incredible I couldn't stop myself from eating fast. It burned and I even cried a little, but I loved every second of it, and the cheesecake was a great follow-up.
Throughout the meal, we periodically spoke to the owner about her food, her store, and how incredible every bite was. She even chuckled a few times because my entire meal was very much like Meg Ryan's O-face scene in When Harry Met Sally. The service was amazing, and when she saw how much I liked the cheesecake, she told me I should come back in the summer for soft serve. I thought I had misheard her, but then she pointed out her Tofutti soft serve machine. I thought I had died and gone to heaven for the second time in two minutes. While I was off in la-la-land dreaming about Tofutti soft serve, I caught her saying that she had the only Tofutti soft serve machine in Canada, and that there's always a line-up around the block for it in th summer - and I believe it.
I could go on and on some more about this absolutely incredible restaurant, but I don't want to jinx it because I'm going back on Sunday for her $12 complete brunch. She also has various soups at $4 a serving, sandwiches ($6), and all-day breakfast for $7-8 a plate. There are quite a few appetizers and entrees that I haven't gotten into, but I intend to order everything on the menu at least once. The combo I ordered offered a small taste of nearly every entree on the menu, but there's a lot more to get through, and I'm looking forward to it.
M&B is closed all day Tuesday, and every day from 4-5. It opens all other days at noon, with the exception of Sunday (11 am). There's free delivery on orders over $65, but unless you intend to feed a family of 12, that's not worth going for. For my meal, food for four plus an appetizer, two beers, and dessert came out to $47 (!!!). We left a very generous tip because the service was great and she tossed in some extras.
It's a special place because it's dirt cheap, the food is amazing, and the service is even better. It's very rare to find a hostess/waitress who will pay that much attention to you. She addressed all concerns I had about the food being dairy-free, and even explained that she goes out of her way to buy gluten-free injera so that her menu is safe for people with Celiac. As we were leaving, she was dishing out a generous portion of cheesecake to a lucky birthday girl and singing "Happy Birthday" with much gusto. I don't' know what else to say... There's vegan organic soap in the bathroom... It's my new favourite restaurant... Ah-mazing.
M&B Yummy
1263 Queen Street West
www.mbyummy.com
I'll try to make this review as concise as possible, but that may be hard, because there's so much to describe. My roommate found this place while looking up vegan restaurants in Toronto. Yes, it's vegan, but you'd never guess it. I've never been too keen on the vegan restaurants, as I find the endless substitutions leave you with a plate of carbs and veggies that generally tastes like old bread. But M&B Yummy's food is so amazing, you'd never know it was vegan.
On a sidenote, I've never had Ethiopian in my life. I took a look at their online menu, which included dish names but not descriptions. I looked up Ethiopian cuisine on Wikipedia and it sounded good, so I thought I'd give it a shot.
Back to the review: M&B is located on Queen Street between Dufferin and Elm Grove Avenue. It's nearly across from the Gwynn streetcar stop on the Queen West streetcar, two doors down from Stones' Place. When I walked in, I was greeted by the smell of incense, very low lighting, and four tables (there are more in the back). The owner is also the hostess and the chef, so she seated us and promptly took drink orders. Although the menu explains all the dishes better than the web site, I still asked her to clarify what was what, and she was more than happy to. We decided to split a "Beef" Combo ($10) and Ground "Beef" Kitfo (soy ground beef with onions and spices, $9). I also tried to order the Sesame Fir Fir appetizer (sesame seeds mixed with injera - a sourdough flatbread - lemon, and spices), and she told me not to because two entrees would be more than enough. But everything looked good, so I still asked for a Teku Dumpling ($1.50). It's a good thing she stopped me from ordering more, because I wasn't prepared for what she served.
To begin, the dumpling was amazing; it was very similar to an old-fashioned donut and it was served with a dipping sauce that was slightly spicy, slightly gingery, and very creamy tasting (but it was vegan). I was very tempted to order the remaining two in the display case, but unfortunately they were snatched up by some other diners. They're served hot to order, and I highly recommend them.
After a short wait, dinner came out on a giant tray that took up half of our table space. The food was all made fresh to order, and I had to blink a few times to take it all in. Entrees are served atop a giant roti-like pancake called injera, which is a sourdough flatbread. It's 20" across, and half of it was covered with the Ground "Beef" Kitfo, and the other half was covered in piles of vegetable-based stews. The combo comes with Chickpea Shiro Wot, which is chickpea flour cooked with spices; Red Lentil Missir Wot, red lentils slow cooked with spices (my personal favourite of the veggie offerings); Cabbage Stew, made with carrots and onions (amazing); String Bean and Carrot Fasolia, string beans and carrots in a gravy (also amazing); Collard Green Gomen, which was spinach and kale in a gravy (a very close contender for best veggie offering); and Yellow Beans, which was split peas stewed with onions and garlic. It also came with "Beef" Tebs, which are chunks of soy beef in gravy. The meal came with four quarters of another injera rolled up for eating, and utensils for those who are picky about eating with their hands. The two of us could only get through half of the meal, and we took the rest to go, placing a duplicate order to bring home for our other roommate and her friend.
There was a great selection of vegan desserts as well, so I had to help myself to a generous portion of blueberry cheesecake ($3). I thought I had died and gone to heaven. It tasted, felt, and smelled like real cheesecake, with a fresh blueberry compote on top. I ate every last bit of it and felt like a pig, but I had to. I was fuller than full, but enjoyed every bit of it. The main course was fairly spicy, but tasted so incredible I couldn't stop myself from eating fast. It burned and I even cried a little, but I loved every second of it, and the cheesecake was a great follow-up.
Throughout the meal, we periodically spoke to the owner about her food, her store, and how incredible every bite was. She even chuckled a few times because my entire meal was very much like Meg Ryan's O-face scene in When Harry Met Sally. The service was amazing, and when she saw how much I liked the cheesecake, she told me I should come back in the summer for soft serve. I thought I had misheard her, but then she pointed out her Tofutti soft serve machine. I thought I had died and gone to heaven for the second time in two minutes. While I was off in la-la-land dreaming about Tofutti soft serve, I caught her saying that she had the only Tofutti soft serve machine in Canada, and that there's always a line-up around the block for it in th summer - and I believe it.
I could go on and on some more about this absolutely incredible restaurant, but I don't want to jinx it because I'm going back on Sunday for her $12 complete brunch. She also has various soups at $4 a serving, sandwiches ($6), and all-day breakfast for $7-8 a plate. There are quite a few appetizers and entrees that I haven't gotten into, but I intend to order everything on the menu at least once. The combo I ordered offered a small taste of nearly every entree on the menu, but there's a lot more to get through, and I'm looking forward to it.
M&B is closed all day Tuesday, and every day from 4-5. It opens all other days at noon, with the exception of Sunday (11 am). There's free delivery on orders over $65, but unless you intend to feed a family of 12, that's not worth going for. For my meal, food for four plus an appetizer, two beers, and dessert came out to $47 (!!!). We left a very generous tip because the service was great and she tossed in some extras.
It's a special place because it's dirt cheap, the food is amazing, and the service is even better. It's very rare to find a hostess/waitress who will pay that much attention to you. She addressed all concerns I had about the food being dairy-free, and even explained that she goes out of her way to buy gluten-free injera so that her menu is safe for people with Celiac. As we were leaving, she was dishing out a generous portion of cheesecake to a lucky birthday girl and singing "Happy Birthday" with much gusto. I don't' know what else to say... There's vegan organic soap in the bathroom... It's my new favourite restaurant... Ah-mazing.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Eat and Greets
I haven't been out much because of my back. It's been a real mess and very painful. The painkillers started upsetting my stomach so I had to stop using them. Today was the first day that I've been able to shuffle around since my accident, so I called a friend and tried to catch up on some grocery shopping. Driving is hard for me because I drive stick, and even when I walk I can feel my muscles screaming. I'm still cursing the TTC and hoping they'll get back to me.
Before my fall, I had a Christmas party dinner at Sidecar restaurant (577 College Street), which I hadn't gotten around to writing about. I looked it up before going, and I saw a lot of fairly negative reviews. Going into it I didn't expect much, but to be honest, I thought it was a nice place. Even though it was a Saturday night, the service was prompt and pleasant. Our waiter had quite a sense of humour and a fairly good memory. I was most impressed, however, because substitutions were not a problem. I didn't feel like an idiot asking for a dairy-free meal, or different accompanying items. The funny thing is, most higher-class restaurants can easily do it, but they make a fuss about it. I asked for a dairy-free meal with swiss chard instead of asparagus, and I got it without a problem - and it was tasty, too. The waiter didn't give me a hassle about it, or make a fuss. If anything, he was very accomodating and understanding, so I was able to actually enjoy my meal (for once).
The drinks at Sidecar were a tad on the expensive side, but they had decent prices for bottled wine. I ordered a signature Sidecar and wasn't too impressed by it, but it was stiff enough to get me buzzed before dinner arrived. The atmosphere was nice and the service wasn't pushy, the only things I noticed that weren't so great involved the layout and the seating - every time the door opened, an icy blast blew into the restaurant, chilling the crowd. And the table of three next to us was huddled around a surface that would have been cozy for two, which I thought wasn't such a great idea (although perhaps they chose that arrangement). It's a small space, though, so I think they've done the best they could with it.
Sidecar's on the higher end of average for dinner, with wine and an appetizer it worked out to roughly $50 per person. Dinner entrees were generally between 16 and 22 dollars, and everyone in the party seemed to enjoy their dinner. The plates weren't too frilly and weren't too plain, they were visually appealing and cooked just right. I treated myself to sea bass and an ahi tuna appetizer, and although I've never had sea bass before, I was very impressed with the taste and the way it melted in my mouth. The ahi tuna was very good (also a first for me), but four small chunks with sauce cost $14. I'm aware that it is an expensive delicacy, although I'm not sure what the average price is. I wouldn't necessarily say it was worth it, but it may be for someone who really loves ahi tuna. Anyway, Sidecar's a restaurant I'd definitely try again, and I would love to see what kind of a vegan meal they can whip up. The kitchen's small but very open and very clean, which also impressed me. Recommended.
Before my fall, I had a Christmas party dinner at Sidecar restaurant (577 College Street), which I hadn't gotten around to writing about. I looked it up before going, and I saw a lot of fairly negative reviews. Going into it I didn't expect much, but to be honest, I thought it was a nice place. Even though it was a Saturday night, the service was prompt and pleasant. Our waiter had quite a sense of humour and a fairly good memory. I was most impressed, however, because substitutions were not a problem. I didn't feel like an idiot asking for a dairy-free meal, or different accompanying items. The funny thing is, most higher-class restaurants can easily do it, but they make a fuss about it. I asked for a dairy-free meal with swiss chard instead of asparagus, and I got it without a problem - and it was tasty, too. The waiter didn't give me a hassle about it, or make a fuss. If anything, he was very accomodating and understanding, so I was able to actually enjoy my meal (for once).
The drinks at Sidecar were a tad on the expensive side, but they had decent prices for bottled wine. I ordered a signature Sidecar and wasn't too impressed by it, but it was stiff enough to get me buzzed before dinner arrived. The atmosphere was nice and the service wasn't pushy, the only things I noticed that weren't so great involved the layout and the seating - every time the door opened, an icy blast blew into the restaurant, chilling the crowd. And the table of three next to us was huddled around a surface that would have been cozy for two, which I thought wasn't such a great idea (although perhaps they chose that arrangement). It's a small space, though, so I think they've done the best they could with it.
Sidecar's on the higher end of average for dinner, with wine and an appetizer it worked out to roughly $50 per person. Dinner entrees were generally between 16 and 22 dollars, and everyone in the party seemed to enjoy their dinner. The plates weren't too frilly and weren't too plain, they were visually appealing and cooked just right. I treated myself to sea bass and an ahi tuna appetizer, and although I've never had sea bass before, I was very impressed with the taste and the way it melted in my mouth. The ahi tuna was very good (also a first for me), but four small chunks with sauce cost $14. I'm aware that it is an expensive delicacy, although I'm not sure what the average price is. I wouldn't necessarily say it was worth it, but it may be for someone who really loves ahi tuna. Anyway, Sidecar's a restaurant I'd definitely try again, and I would love to see what kind of a vegan meal they can whip up. The kitchen's small but very open and very clean, which also impressed me. Recommended.
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