Fusaro's Kitchen

Location:

147 Spadina Avenue, Toronto

Cost: $10-15 for lunch

www.fusaros.com

This is a long overdue post; I guess because it's such a frequented lunch spot for me that I simply thought I was having a home-cooked meal at times!

If you don't get there by 11:45am at the latest, be prepared to wait in a long line up that runs out the door!



The pre-made pizzas, sandwiches, quiches etc are all very good - a pizza slice will only set you back a few dollars and is way better than Mama's Pizza. I really like the croissant with chicken, olives and feta (a bit o' cheese never hurt anyone)...although it's a tad salty.



The panini's and pastas are made to order and add $2 for a side salad...



Their daily specials are listed on the fairly new blackboard on the side (Fusaro's has undergone some interior design changes in the last couple of years - going from orange walls with black and white photography to plain blue walls with the menus on blackboards - for a more minimalist look or realistically, more spatially accommodating for the sheer volume of the lunchtime crowd.



I've had many a pasta dish here and I have never had a bad experience.



I have heard from my yoga instructor however, that she gained weight eating the salads here (So, note to self, and to you reader). It's all that dressing - which they actually do put a bit too much of .

I even hosted a birthday brunch here a few years ago (the Evite was aptly titled: "Let's get some f*****ckiin freeeeeench toast" a la 40 year old Virgin).



Someone else got the calabrese, like so:



Salmon & eggs:



Eggs florentin:



Not a lot of people know about the brunch on Saturday, but it's lovely and not at all like the cafeteria-style-lunch-time atmosphere. The food, on the other hand, is just as good :)

Lola's Commissary

Location:

634 Church Street, Toronto

Cost: Approx $25 pp

www.lolascommissary.com

I think seeing "sexy potatoes" on their online menu (although I think it's actually "sexy sweet potatoes"  on the menu) is what sold us to eat here. That, and the recommendation from a friend at work whose paintings also hang in the restaurant :)
Our gaggling girlie troupe landed on the (beautiful) Lola patio for brunch this past Sunday and never before have we been able to so freely enjoy a brunch in such a large group (8).  Mil"dread"'s wouldn't seat us, other brunch places don't take brunch reservations but at Lola's Commissary (open 6 weeks, now), it's not a problem. 



We took a while perusing the unique menu and daily specials which were such a mix of dishes that we had to take another few minutes to decide. 



 In the meantime we got some drinks...


The service is friendly and accommodating. The food is fancy brunch fare (a tad pricey but tasty to boot) and gorgeously presented!

As usual I got the (straight up - challah bread dipped in egg custard) french toast due to my loctose-intolerancy and not being able to stomach the cheesecake french toast.  I also got a side of fresh fruit ($6) and a side of sexy potatoes to share around ($6).



The other items ordered were as follows.

Multigrain waffles with a side of berries, dense and filling...



The egg white frittata (goat cheese, mushrooms, spinach and hemp pesto)

 

Eggs Lola: poached eggs, ancho chicken, torillas, avocado, creme fraiche



Lobster and goat cheese omlette



Roasted trout with quinoa and tabouli



 Beef hash brunch feature

 

Therese DeGrace (executive chef) came out to greet us which was super. She's wonderfully warm and took the time to chat with us, which was really pleasant and so uncommon in the city!


The interior of Lola's is sort of industrial chic with brick, wood, high ceilings and tall windows. 



The paintings in the dining hall lend a certain mellow sweetness to the vibe with the upstairs catering to more of a loungey atmosphere with funky retro seats and laminated fantastical art on the walls.



Even the washrooms are spa-like and immaculate, with artwork adorning almost every surface (including a wall outside the restaurant).



The complimentary Nutella Cheesecake dessert was delish and perfect split eight ways.


Lola's is a definite must-try in the Bay/Bloor area - the patio alone will make you want to spend your whole afternoon there. We certainly did! And unlike so many other places in the city, our patronage was welcome! We're already planning our return!

Wanda's Belgian Waffles

Location:

331 Yonge Street, Toronto



I love that this is called a cafe, yet there's barely enough standing room for two! Meant to be more of a street vendor (order through the window) this little 'cafe' serves up the best waffles I've ever had from the street! Forget morning breakfasts and brunches, you can pick up a tasty hot waffle after a horrible dinner at Salad King and be totally content.



Run by a father and son team:



I've read some complaints about the sanitary conditions of the joint (not washing hands after taking money) but when we went and as you can see in the pics, gloves were worn throughout.



Sure it's a bit messy and gooey if you order the ice-cream and strawberries on top, or if you wait a bit too long to eat it (like in our case but still damn tasty!):





I'd say it's a marvellous way to grab a fun treat split between friends!

Happy Valentimes: Butler's Pantry

Location:

591 Markham St. Mirvish Village, Toronto, ON

Cost: $28 incl tip

www.butlerspantry.ca

How fitting a name for a place that serves everything that could possibly exist in a Pantry!  (On a side note: A butler's pantry was commonly used for the storing, cleaning and counting of silver by the butler...).



Whatever the name, this cosy nook in the Annex  serves brunch until 4pm.



And forget the Butler, who's the chef?  His pantry must be huge!  There's such diversity to the 2 page menu, that we're too confused to know what to order.  There are a lot of indian inspired dishes which made us question who the chef was.  Apparently the owner is from Bangladesh and married to an Egyptian lady and they hired a chef who was working in a palace in Egypt!  He must have been well versed in international foods 'cause although the brunch side of the menu is simple...Eggs Bene, French Toast, Omlettes, Scrambled Eggs, Scones....it's the other side that amazes us: Bul go gi, Tandoori penne, Biryani, Seafood Quiche, Jambalaya, Khowsway (a Burmese dish) , Shepherd's Pie, Veggie curry pie, Moroccan Veg Tajine!  And the list goes on...with loooooads of vegetarian options included!  It's incredible...we wanted to order it all! 

We especially wanted to try the Zuchini pancake but learned they were out of it but our server also confided that she enjoys it paired with a beer as a greasy pub meal since it's very similar to potato pancakes (latkes).   Worked out well then 'cause I don't like latkes.

We finally decide on the chicken bastilla pie and the french toast.

Another thing to note is that the main dishes (except for a select few) are served with a fresh garden salad and Butler's famous dressing (pictured below).



Also, and as you know by now, a must for me is an Earl Grey tea, which arrives in a lovely ceramic teapot.  The loose-leaf bagged ORGANA tea is divine...almost candy-like in its sweetness.



It doesn't take long at all for our food to arrive! 

The Butler's French Toast at $7.25 (side of bacon - $1.25) is a steal!  Such a humongous portion ; it's ideal for sharing.  It comes with two thick slices of bread, a generous helping of fresh fruit and dallops of whipped cream.  The toast is not at all soggy even though the maple syrup has already been drizzled on top.  It's just the perfect consistancy.  A must for anyone who, like me, loves french toast. 



The Chicken Bastilla Pie is a popular order and we wanted to try their version of the famous Moroccan dish - which is pastry stuffed with chicken, omlette, cinnamon & almonds.  For $10.25, it's a hearty meal for one; which we split into two.  It was very tasty, albeit on the salty side.  Traditionally the cinnamon appears on the top of the pie along with powdered sugar...but in this case it was incorporated into the filling, which was nice but altogether a bit too "cinnamony". 



The salad it came with really balanced out the saltiness of the pie and the "Butler's Famous Dressing" was fantastic!

 

Looking more like a gravy than a dressing, it had a nice sharp taste to it and paired really nicely with the onions in the salad. 

The next time you're strolling around the Annex, keep the Butler's Pantry in mind.   

Zoe's Bakery Cafe

Location:

548 King Street West, Toronto

Cost: $8.50 average

www.zoesbakerycafe.ca

A great girls get-together should revolve around (I think) good food and drink....if those two components aren't there, it's almost as if one of your girlfriends is washing her hair.

Our plan was to meet at Zoe's for lunch and despite the TTC strike everyone was able to make it out (mostly thanks to my considerate friend and her fancy new wheels).

Zoe's is on King street near Brant; it's hard to miss the giant black signage on the front and side of the cafe.



During the summer climate bright red umbrellas line the sidewalk in front of the cafe, under which enthusiastic patrons munch on enormous gourmet sandwiches and hearty salads.



Being slightly lower than ground level, the interior of Zoe's is dimly lit although there is enough light streaming in through the many windows to make you feel warm and cosy. For a quick bite during the week there are round tables and high chairs in the front room and for longer, leisurely lunches there is additional seating to the right of the counter. Further down the hallway is a giant conference room (not pictured) for lunch meetings as well.



If you're not one to break out in goosebumps at the slight bite of something cold, you'll enjoy biting into the sandwiches at Zoe's. I, for one, prefer my sandwiches toasted. I like toasty bread slices, melting cheese, warm grilled chicken----you get my drift.

Alas, I failed to reveal this to our server when we placed out order, so what I ended up with was a cold Cajun chicken sandwich.

CAJUN CHICKEN sandwich
house-made mango chutney, pea sprouts, citrus aioli & mixed greens on 10-grain



Don't get me wrong, it was quite tasty. The mango chutney was an especially great addition to the sandwich. If only it were hot. But, why didn't you just ask to get it toasted, you ask? Great question! Thanks for asking. I think my problem wasn't just the bread not being toasted...everything was cold. It would have had to have been microwaved (mmm....microwaved bread....) and that didn't seem much more appealing. At least we had warm chicken quesadillas!

CHICKEN QUESADILLAS
filled with Cajun chicken, julienne bell peppers, red onions & cheddar



This was a hit with all of us. I think mainly because it was served hot and the cheddar had melted into a gooey mass over the chicken, pepper and onions.

AVOCADO sandwich
tomatoes, shaved granny smith apples, pesto aioli & mixed greens on 10-grain



There were no complaints from my friend who ordered this although I wouldn't be likely to order it next time as it's very close to what I made myself for lunch yesterday (but toasted, thank you very much).

CHICKEN WRAP
Cajun chicken, roasted peppers, cheddar, pesto aioli, shaved fresh apple & mixed greens



I preferred this over the cuban chicken sandwich...somehow wraps are easier to eat cold than giant sandwiches. Or maybe that's just me?

GRILLED PORTABELLO MUSHROOM sandwich
julienne roasted peppers, herbed chèvre, tomato pesto & mixed greens on 10-grain



My vegetarian friend seemed to enjoy this immensely....and 'roasted' makes me think it was warmer than my sandwich...



Zoe's has Illy coffees, a variety of teas and fresh juices (Good ol' OJ pictured here...in a bottle....which turned out to be great, actually).

For a Saturday, I expected there to be more of a lunch crowd, however the few patrons who trickled in for a sit down lunch had fully emptied out by 3pm. Our server also proved to be quite absent-minded leaving me to trek back and forth with requests for cutlery, water and finally, after she'd disappeared altogether, the bill.

Jules Bistro & Cafe

Location:

147 Spadina Avenue, Toronto

Cost: $20 for a main



[Interior: Jules]

Hi. Do you have a take-out menu?

Sure, here you go.

Thanks.

...

..

Hi there...we'll get the grilled salmon with ratatouille, salad and fries.

Will you have it for here or to go?

We'd like to take it to go, but we may eat outside on your patio.

No sorry, we don't allow that. You can eat in or take it to go but not take it to go and sit in.

Oh. So we can eat here and then pack it to go?

No.

Uh. [pause, look at each other....] Okaaaay, we'll change our order from take out to eat in then.

No, it's too late, the prices are different if you want to do that and I've already put the order in.

{But, we haven't even paid yet!}

Fine. We'll just take it to go.

..

.



...

..

.

[At the park]



Mmm.....not too bad....

Yeah. Too expensive for what it is, though...fries, salad, the smallest portion of ratatouille and that chef just fried the salmon in butter, I saw him.

Oh yeah?  Tasty fries...although...they're kind of like McDonald's fries hahaha!

Yeah! I know! But Mcdonald's fries are like, two bucks!

Yeah....mm...so this is ratatouille? I'm not impressed...definitely doesn't look like in the movie!

I know. And the salad is drenched through...way too much dressing...why do they always do that?

I don't know...we should get it on the side, next time.

Nah...I don't think I'll ever go back there.

Me either.

***

Such was our experience at Jules, the fancy-schmancy place on on Spadina (north of Richmond and RIGHT BESIDE FUSARO'S!).

Two completely different eateries.

Fusaro's Kitchen always has a lunch line-up that goes out the door and practically down the street, has consistently friendly service and delicious (albeit high fat) foods...whereas Jules rarely has more than two tables filled, has terribly rude (and potentially racist) service and mediocre dishes! 

The BEST thing on their take-out menu was the dish we ordered for $20...and that's not saying much at all!  And they don't have such an impressive wine selection either!

Not to forget one price for eating in and another for eating out!  Seriously, do they even want customers?

BUT, to each his own as they say.  If you feel like eating pretentious French cuisine in a highly pompous environment, by all means, Jules is your venue.  Knock yourself out!  You'll need to before seeing your bill!

 

Il Fornaio, San Jose, CA

Location:

302 South Market St.
San Jose, CA

Cost: less than $30 for two

www.ilfornaio.com

Redemption, baby!

Il Fornaio was easily the best breakfast we had on our trip. After barely eating the day before we were ecstatic over the prospect of breakfast!

The Hotel Montgomery's desk clerk suggested we breakfast at Il Fornaio which was literally down the street, so we decided to give it a try.

We found it situated inside The Saint Claire, a gorgeous 1920s boutique hotel.




The enormity of the restaurant is not fully conveyed through these two measly photographs. With high ceilings, buttery walls and toast-coloured seating (okay, that may just be my stomach talking) Il Fornaio had a superb ambiance for breakfast and all things edible.







FILONE CON RIPIENO PICCANTE $8.95

Filone bread stuffed with eggs, sausage, bell peppers, onion, tomatoes and Tabasco topped with cheese (in my case, cheese on the side). With a glass of Arancia (Orange juice) $3.50

The Babelfish translation for this dish is: "TRADITION WITH FILLING PICCANTE" (anyone?)...whatever, it was delicious and it's something I plan on creating myself one of these days!



UOVA PIACERE $5.95

Two eggs (we chose egg whites only) , any style, grilled potatoes and onions; toasted filone bread.

Yes, "EGGS APPEAL TO" appealed to me very much, thank you Babelfish.



Beautiful china like this was filled with coffee and my usual, Earl Grey tea.

Overall Il Foranio gets huge props for its lovely ambiance, friendly service, great prices and tasty dishes! In fact, we would have gotten some pastries from there too but we'd heard that Bijan Bakery & Cafe boasted an enormous array of delectable treats, so we decided to head over there instead.

Le Gourmand Grocer Cafe

Address: Two locations:
152 Spadina Ave., Toronto
20 Bloor St. East Unit R1-2, Toronto
Cost: $3+

www.legourmand.com

As I sit here writing this, I can hear thunder rolling in the distance and can feel a cool breeze on my skin. Perfect weather for some tea and cake, I think to myself. Although, anytime is 'perfect time' for tea and cake for me. Which is why, almost every week for the last two years, I've ended up at Le Gourmand Grocer Caf? sometime after 3 pm for my tea (and by tea, I mostly mean cake) break.



It must be the banana bread pudding which always brings me back, either for it's generous proportions or combination of flavours. One thing is certain, it's definitely best eaten fresh as I've learned after receiving the slightly hardened corner slices mid-afternoon. Still, when it's good, it's delicious; the bread soft with mashed banana and a crust thick with chocolate chips and icing sugar.

photograph credit: Andrew Lam

It's a tie for 'second place with the mini nocci cookie and the chocolate 'bomb'. While the nocci may be small, it's a crumbly mouthful of glorious chocolate, suitable for one.

The chocolate 'bomb', on the other hand, is suitable for two. Covered in a dusting of icing sugar, it appears robust on the outside but is in fact a delicate explosion of dark chocolate mousse on the inside. Still, it leaves you wanting something more. It needs an extra punch of something - Cardamom? Mint? Raspberry? Orange? Hazelnut? Chilli? Something.

Next on my list is most definitely the chocolate chip walnut cookie. It's quite simply, the best cookie in the world. Yes, that's what I said. After all this, there's still much to be had at Le Gourmand. The croissants are good although not great. The raisin croissant is decent; flaky but a little on the eggy side for taste.

The blueberry scone is delicious, but ask to have it warmed and buttered to really make it worthwhile.

photograph credit: Andrew Lam

The lemon poppy seed muffin is not terrible, but perhaps better when fresh out of the oven in the morning. I must say, it was a nice compliment to the "Taylors of Harrogate Lemon & Orange Tea"; a wonderfully invigorating tea.

I was unlucky with my chocolate raspberry tart I ordered one afternoon, which melted by the time I got home (it was a really hot day), but I'm glad to say it still tasted good. Although I am a fan of the occasional Turkish Delight of the rosewater kind, the mastic Turkish Delight was not to my taste. I found the flavour to be sickeningly sweet with an overwhelming aroma that wouldn't go away afterwards. During the summer season, they serve a selection of gelatos which, according to owner, Milton Nu?es, is brought in from La Paloma Gelateria & Caf? in Toronto. However, I have to say apart from the hazelnut chocolate, the gelatos are quite disappointing. The raspberry flavoured gelato tasted like a "maybe it's Maybelline's", while the mango had a very tart after-taste.

photograph credit: Andrew Lam

If you have time, you can sit in a cane chair under the high-ceiling with fans circulating lazily above you while you sip your tea and gaze up at the giant wall of goodies on one side of the cafe. They have a wide selection of chocolate bars, teas & coffees (Illy, Dean & Deluca); olive oils, pastas, sauces, vinegars and other products, which can be made into gift baskets if you so desired.

Le Gourmand's prices are a little on the high side, but the atmosphere is nice and the service is pleasing when you get an experienced staff member. The separate queues for ordering food versus drinks can be confusing if you've never been there before but because everyone is so friendly you'll find you aren't annoyed when you leave with your brown bag full of goodies.

Read my BlogTO review here.

Bonjour Brioche

Location:

812 Queen Street East, Toronto

Hours: Tues to Fri: 8 -5
Sat: 8-4
Sun: 8 - 3

Cost: an average dish is about $8 (and it's CASH only)

This is the view you're guaranteed to get when you're lined up outside Bonjour Brioche on a busy Saturday or Sunday morning for breakfast/brunch. Yes. It gets that packed. Somehow that and the curt service doesn't seem to put off patrons who show up every weekend for a bit of breakfast or a quick take-away baguette or tart. I know I haven't been put off. In fact, if you're lucky enough to score a seat in this crowded establishment and shrug off the no-nonsense behaviour of the wait-staff, you'll find yourself eating (and eating well) in one of the best breakfast nooks in the city.



Croque Madame: toasted brioche layered with ham and gruyère and topped with a fried egg



Croissants: chocolate, almond and custard....all were very good and not overly buttery or eggy tasting.



Freshly squeezed orange juice, a nicoise salad, a sandwich of some form (I don't remember which kind my friend ordered) and scrambled eggs with smoked salmon (topped with chives, creamy horseradish and caviar).



Cheesy quiche with a mixed greens salad and a toasted and buttered baguette.

Next time I'll have to try the french toast which seemed to be on most people's plates! It's hard not to notice when their meal could practically be mine when seated so close!

So, if you don't mind being tightly packed into the small (and warm) space, Bonjour Brioche is well worth a visit. Speaking of which, It seems the last two times I've been has been in April of '06 and '07....I'd say it's about time for another visit.

The Boiler House is smokin'

Address: 55 Mill Street, Toronto, (Distillery District)
Cost: $30 pp for brunch (live jazz included)

Brunch served from 11am - 3pm on Sunday only
www.boilerhouse.ca

One of our early anniversaries landed on a beautiful Winter's Sunday which we celebrated by brunching at The Boiler House in the Distillery District.

A high vaulted ceiling and bright airy light greeted us as we walked in. We were also greeted by the hosts who helped us out of our coats and hung them on the clothes rack off to the side. The bare bricked walls and raw wooden booths are offset by the bright purple seating at the far end of the room. The interior is minimal playing up on the rugged, steel style of the old warehouse with its iron beams and concrete floors, making them much a part of the decor as the delicate white orchids perched upon the wooden booths.



We were seated at one of these said booths which, although not uncomfortable, wasn't especially cosy. The once airy ambiance now felt drafty and cold. No matter, food should warm us up, right?!


Brunch had been set up in a little alcove not far from where we were seated, so we sauntered over to set our sights on the menu!



Oh and were our sights ever satisfied!

There was an incredible array of breakfasty and lunch items. A wonderful omelette stand (made to order) and then a generous spread of bacon, sausage, prime ribs, ham, home fries, scrambled eggs, eggs benedict, crepes, hot pasta, croissants, bagels, waffles, custard tarts, danishes, muffins, fruit, smoked salmon, tomato & boccocini, shrimp, potato salad, pasta salad and mixed greens salads.....AND....a dessert table with assorted cookies, tarts, mini-cakes and other treats. PLUS coffee or tea.





All while being entertained with a wonderful jazz band just above us.



Incredible, ya? Yes.

The only complaint we did have was that the service wasn't the best (I know, you're thinking "but Atims, didn't you serve yourselves?) Yes, but when we actually NEEDED someone (like, you know, to pay the bill?) it was difficult to get his attention! We even had to go over to the bar/cash to pay! *grumble*

Still, we were thoroughly stuffed by the end of it all and had an enjoyable anniversary! I'd definitely recommend The Boiler House to family or friends (or first dates!) for brunch 'cause not only do you get a tasty meal but you get to walk around in the beautiful Distillery District afterwards...what better way to spend a Sunday afternoon?