Product: Chimes Ginger Chews

A friend of mine at work brought these in once, and we all tried it.  They're a burst of flavour in your mouth, but I think they're better described by Lurgs herself.

Check out the blog she writes with her friend YY; the two of them are insanely creative and their blog explores everything that is supercoolawesome!

My Little Sweatshop

And although she is definitely not cunning, Lurgs is most definitely crafty,  so be sure to also check out her Etsy site where you can find the cutest buttons, ornaments and magnets, such as these (all images copyright of Cunning and Crafty):

Moxie’s, Yorkdale Mall

Location:
Yorkdale Mall, 1 Yorkdale Road, Toronto

Moxie's has the lowest lighting possible, which is really no excuse for bad photos, and these really are the worst pics ever, so I'll just leave you to them whilst I turn away.

Harbour Sports Grille

Location:

10 Yonge St., Toronto

www.harboursportsgrille.com

Fish n' Chips..............check.

Fish n chips

Beer....................check.

mmmmmmmmm....beer

TVs....................check.

Over 50 TVs and 2 big screens

Random pasta dish.............check.

Pasta

Can't ask for more from Harbour Sports Grille.

Easter

Happy Easter!

Pizza Libretto & Golden Turtle

Location:

PL 221 Ossington Ave,. Toronto

GT 125 Ossington Ave., Toronto

It all started with an image of Chocolate Affogato on A's FB page which then sent us on a taste-test-excursion to Pizza Libretto as they are one of the (maybe few?) restos in TO who serve it.

Excitedly, I arrived at said location, looking for my friend, only to be  stopped by the hostess who demanded I tell her what I was doing.  Surprised, I quickly told her I was looking for a friend who may already be seated somewhere in the depths of the crowded (and loud!) restaurant.  She looked at me incredulously and stated that there was no way anyone could be waiting for me since her waiting list was 2 pages long (!) (and they don't take reservations - another !). Now it was my turn to be confused, so I gave her my friend's name to which she confirmed with much finality that A was not on the list.

Shrugging I decided to wait for A, who within minutes bounded up to me with as much enthusiasm as I had had a few seconds ago myself .  Together we tackled Hostess and put our names on the 2 page long list.  Hostess told us we could enjoy a drink and then she'd call us.  We thought she meant hang out at the bar and then she'd call upon us, but she literally meant go out and have a drink somewhere else and then she'd call my cell phone.  In 40 minutes.  40 minutes!!!

Hungry and deflated, was I, not to say annoyed with the abruptness of the Hostess.  A, still in good spirits suggested Golden Turtle just down the street.  We decided to check out their menu and then decide whether we wanted to eat there or wait the 40 minutes.  The menu was not posted outside, so we had to go inside and ask.  By doing so, we were waved to have a seat, to which we lamely protested that we simply wanted to see the menu.  Too late.  We'd just been seated and handed menus.  And we were rather liking this kinder hospitality.

So be it.  We'd wait for PL to call and then go back for dessert, which was what we had originally scouted it out for.

Golden Turtle is one of those brightly lit, bustling, no-nonsense Vietnamese joints where the pho keeps pho'ing and the well, you get the drift.

A was reminded why she loves a good photo to go with the menu options, as we couldn't tell what a damn thing was on there.  Finally, we opted for the beef cold rolls, the chicken vermicelli with shrimp on a bamboo stick, and beef vermicelli.

Beef Vermicelli

The cold beef rolls were hearty and refreshing, and we both agreed, a perfect start to the meal.

Cold Rolls

My shrimp on a bamboo stick (highly recommended by A and looking mighty tasty on all the dishes being served around me) looked amazing in my bowl...until I turned it over with my chopsticks.  *Cue the waah waah's*

A solid strand of hair was coiled around it in the worst way.

Definitely, not a good start to the meal.

We showed it to our waitress who simply said, 'Okay' and brought me another bowl of my order.

I have to admit, once I'd gotten over the image of the hair out of my head, I fully enjoyed that bamboo shrimp stick.  Gnawing on that that stick until the rest of my dish went cold.

Chicken Vermicelli



Besides the hair, we did have a nice meal.   During our meal, my phone shrilled twice; PL calling with our "reservations" (why don't they just take reservations in the first place?).  We took our time finishing up at GT and sauntered over to PL for our dessert.

So a little more than 40 minutes later we were back at PL where the Hostess, as much as she wasn't pleased with us for not answering her calls, was more concerned with her waiting list and adding more helpless patrons to it.   I must admit, at that point, it was nice to be instantly whisked away to our reserved seats.

Our declaration to our server about us only being there for dessert and not dinner didn't go over well, at all.  Neither did our request for two hot waters.  We did look over at the tables beside us and salivated at what we saw everyone tucking into.  Also, it turned out, my yoga instructor and her friend were sitting beside us;  they'd endured the 40 minute wait and it seemed it had been worth it.  A and I looked at each other, semi-kicking ourselves for not waiting and vowing to come back soon and try the pies.  The pies and maybe the tiramisu again, but certainly not the affogato which was disappointing and nothing like the image burned onto my brain.  (See first image below, borrowed from this site) and then see the chocolate affogato at Pizza Libretto.

That was the image I had in mind.

Cold Rolls

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="332" caption="Chocolate Affogato"]
[/caption]

This is what we got:

Pizza Libretto

Pizza Libretto

The tiramisu looked a bit better, and A loved it (and for someone who doesn't like tiramisu, that said a lot). I thought it didn't taste like tiramisu, which, perhaps, also says a lot.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="384" caption="Tiramisu"]
[/caption]

A few hours later, with sore throats from having screamed over the din of the restaurant, and after many cutting glances from our server, we called it a night.   They seemed to want our table to seat the staff for their dinner.  How long did they have to wait for it, I wonder?

Before all you PL fanatics jump on this review with your rants on how it serves us right and that we should have waited yada yada, note that we are right this moment, planning our return to PL.

Will keep you posted.

Supermarket

Location:

268 Augusta Avenue, Toronto (Kensington Market)

www.supermarkettoronto.com

[Now open for Saturday & Sunday Brunch 11am - 3pm]

This post is a long time coming.

The Supermarket is one of those places I thought was an actual super market.  Turns out it's a) not and b) a venue where work parties can take place.

Such as c) with lots of deep fried goodness and cold wrapped-ness:







Yum.

Over Easy & The Coffee Mill

Locations:

Over Easy 208 Bloor Street West, Toronto

www.overeasyrestaurants.com

Coffee Mill 99 Yorkville Ave, Toronto

www.coffeemillrestaurant.com

Our girlie gatherings usually revolve around food;  specifically, brunch!  What better way to start the day.

This time, our choice brunch location was Over Easy since the plan was to check out the latest addition to the ROM (mainly, The Lee-Chin Crystal addition) after brunch.

I think it's quite safe to say that brunch is easily unscrew-up-able.    Am I right?

And while nothing was screwed per se, there was certainly nothing memorable about eating there (except for the company).

I do have one gripe, however.

My tea was lukewarm.

I truly dislike a lukewarm tea which brings to mind A Salmon of Doubt by Douglas Adams where he describesa perfect proper cup of tea.

I've noticed lukewarm tea all over the city - ya know, that "hot" water from that hot water machine just doesn't cut it.

Anyway, here's some of what was eaten.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="512" caption="Eggs and chicken sausage $6.99"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="604" caption="Spanish Omelette $9.99"][/caption]

I must say, the pots that the hot drinks came in were  loads of fun!

After a blustery walk from the ROM, all we wanted was a warm hideout and a hot drink to warm up our hands.

Starbucks was full, and the next best idea was the Lettieri but before we made it there, we found The Coffee Mill!

Interior of The Coffee Mill

Nestled within the shops at 99 Yorkville is the quaint old (est. 1963!) hideaway for just these types of gatherings.   The pastry selection got us all salivating, so a chocolate cake and an apple (or was it rhubarb ?) strudel, it was.

Chocolate Cake

Strudel

Interior

As far as copy coffee shops go, this one has the cosy part down pat.

Beer Bistro

Location:

18 King E., Toronto,

www.beerbistro.com

Was hyped to go to Beer Bistro having heard so many great things about the huge selection of beer etc etc etc...



And I have to say, although the beers were good and the selection massive...we were a tad disappointed with the food. We went for brunch and everything looked fantastic and our service was excellent.



There just wasn't anything overly fantastic about the meal.  Definitely not the place for brunch, but yes to after work drinks, me thinks.

So here's what we shared for brunch.  Some appley-type fritters...



Gorgeous presentation, but not outstanding flavour.

Eggs benedict sandwich, something something.   Disappointing.



Certainly had interesting beers...we got a taster ($6 for any 3).





We thought the interior looked like a rock climbing gym...funny blue coloured ceiling with holes in it, stuccoed walls and lights that look like hanging harnesses....

Or maybe we'd just had too much to drink...

It IS called Beer Bistro and not Brunch Bistro for a reason.  Go for the drinks.

TRAVEL: India!

Foodhogger is off to India to savour all that is India: dosas, idlis, vadas, jalebis, curries, not to mention the fish, that I so love!

See you in a few.
Photo from: sachinkelkar.blogspot.com

Winterlicious 2010

Has a great ring to it, but will you be doing it this year?

I have my eye on a few, like Black Skirt, Amaya, Conviction and The Chefs' House Restaurant.

Check out the listing and let me know which restos you'll be checking out.

Starving Artist

Location:
584 Lansdowne Ave, Toronto

Cost: $9-10 per breakfast entree

www.starvingartistbar.com

What better way to end (and start) a year than to brunch?

First, there was the 31st.

Upon the suggestion of a friend, our annual xmas reunion, of sorts, took place at Starving Artist, one of the few places open for brunch on New Years Eve (they were very accommodating with our large-ish group, and open at 10am, which was a bonus for our schedule that day).

In a highly residential area, just north of Bloor on Lansdowne, sits the Starving Artist, with all of the ambiance of a Queen West indie bar, it's a non-commission-taking gallery/performance space/restaurant/bar.

Interior

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="340" caption="Waffle Benny $9"][/caption]

The Waffle Benny, wonderfully presented and heartily enjoyed by those who ordered it.

The Hitchhiker [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="340" caption="The Hitchhiker $10"][/caption]0

The Hitchhiker, what I ordered - Scrambled Eggs with Cheddar – 4 Pieces of Caramelized Bacon – 2 Mini Waffles (Upgrade to Waffled Bacon for $2 extra)

Of course I upgraded, but instead they gave me the regular waffles (a mistake I am certainly NOT complaining about because to make up for it they gave me a complimentary side of waffled bacon).

Focusing on the caramelized bacon...

Not only was the regular bacon out of this world, I was very happy with the waffled bacon, as well. Perfect combination of sweet and salty, which is my weakness.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="512" caption="Side of Waffled Bacon $5 – served with Maple Syrup"][/caption]

All the dishes come with salad and fresh fruit

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="512" caption="Chicken Bacon Club $9"][/caption]

Chicken bacon club, with Havarti, Secret Sauce and Cucumbers - possibly not such a hit with my friend C who didn't finish her meal...*okay, she says it was good, but she was just too full from the 3am crepes she'd devoured a few hours earlier!*

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="340" caption="Breakfast Waffle $9"][/caption]

The Breakfast Waffle - two poached eggs, two potato waffles and caramelized bacon, the bacon can be substituted with avacado, was tasty, but likely better with bacon..just my humble opinion.

My Earl Grey cup through Hobography's tilt-shift lens

(Mine was not a very good attempt at using the tilt-shift lens, see far more impressive examples on Hobography's blog)

Cappuccino "Cappuccino $3.50".50

According to my coffee enthusiast friends, their Americanos/espressos/ cappuccinos (supposed specialties of the joint) weren't strong enough. Also, the draft in the back area of the bar, that we all felt, quickly cooled down our hot drinks.

So there you have it.

Dark and drafty, Starving Artist is like a beer...only, waffled.

Definitely worth a try especially if you're near the area.

Red Room

Location:

444 Spadina Avenue, Toronto

Cost: $7-10 for an entree

Ah, the Red Room....takes me back to my university days...when "dining out" meant spending less than $5.

An item on the eclectic menu will set you back about $7 - 10 and the portions are decent enough to split when you order a few items.

That's what a bunch of us did one snowy Friday night after work.

The chicken quesadillas, wings and spring rolls are good (it's so dark in there that there's no way you can get away without using flash). Also, the service is slow, but that's not what you're paying for.

Spring Rolls

Wings

If you want an atmosphere that allows you to feel years younger (relatively), and a meal that won't cost an arm and a leg, the Red Room is a great place.

Oatmeal!

If you're looking for some good ol' fashioned hot oatmeal in the city on these cold mornings, Le Gourmand's Irish Oatmeal with berries and maple syrup, is $4.50 +tax and is big enough to share between two.

Today's came with strawberries and bananas (instead of blueberries) and raisins.