TRAVEL: Paris: McDonald's

Don't judge me.

We did it in India, so we had to do it Paris.

Eat at a McDonald's, that is.

And it was très magnifique!

Gotta love this guy who posed for the picture!

Oh we also had a Kronenbourg 1664 beer, but it wasn't cold enough.

Soon Torn Bahn Thai

Location:

210 Lakeshore Rd E., Oakville

You want spicy. We'll give you spicy.

Be careful what you wish for.



Refreshing mango salad to start.  Could have used this after the spicy dishes.

Wonton soup.



The fish is in there, somewhere.  Trust me. And it was hoooooot!

Ironic, that the chicken came in a fish shaped platter.

See the hot sauce on the side?

Wasn't needed.

Bahn Thai delivers when you request something to be made hotter than the menu.

And if something you didn't order comes to the table (like the tea that arrived which we thought was complimentary and started to pour ourselves), don't be surprised when it is whisked away upon realization that it's delivered at the wrong table.

TRAVEL: Boston: Mike's Pastry

Location:

300 Hanover Street
Boston, MA

www.mikespastry.com

Is it touristy? Yes. 

The woman behind the counter insisted that we take a plastic "Mike's Pastry" bag for our box even though we had a bag we were going to put it into.  Nothing like advertising by carrying their logo, right?



Is it ridiculously crowded, ALL THE TIME?  Yes.

Came here twice in one weekend and the first time, I was able to get to the counter.



The second time, it looked like this:

But are these the best mo-fo cannoli's you'll ever taste?  You bet your a$$ they are!

Valentine's Day Eats

If you're looking for places to dine on VDay, here are a few options:

• For Italian,  Mercatto


• Feeling like Japanese? Give Ki a shot.


• If desserts are what you're looking for, try the yummy chocolate fondues at MoRoCo


• For a more minimalist Valentine's dinner, try Messis


• The Blake House is one of my favourites, for a cosy atmosphere.


• Grab a bunch of fancy desserts from Le Gourmand and stay in?

Or if you're feeling brunch on Sunday:

• Visit our friends at Frankly Eatery for a masala-fied breakfast!


• For an all-out great menu? Try Mitzi's Sister


• Fried chicken? Harlem Underground


• For a waffley good time, Starving Artist


• Take a stroll in the Distillery District and stop by The Boiler House

Or you can always stay home and make

GOOD OL' FASHIONED PANCAKES!



Happy Valentine's Day!

xo

 

 

 

TRAVEL: Boston: Tory Row

Location:

3 Brattle Street
Cambridge, MA

www.toryrow.us

YOU GUYS, I'VE FOUND MY FAVOURITE FRENCH TOAST!

It's at Tory Row, in Cambridge, Massachussettes!

At first I was a little dismayed by it's small portion size, making sharing all the more difficult.

But with the blueberry jam and the New England maple syrup, and for only $7, with a side of applewood smoked bacon,

I was in love.





And to think I almost went with the english muffin egg sandwich. Wtf.

(If you know me, or have been reading this blog) I always get french toast for brunch).  Always.

N gave me a look when I said, "Maybe I won't get french toast, this time." hahahaha! Who was I kidding? SO glad I did.  It was perfect...not soggy in the middle or eggy smelling, which I hate, but crispy and moist and just cinnamon-y enough..and with that blueberry jam and NE maple, I want to go back.

Besides that, the "hashbrowns", which are really cut up potatoes were incredible!  Especially with the pico de gallo (salsa) it came with.





One thing they could definitely improve upon is to serve hotter coffee!  As it was, when served, it was luke-warm at best and then our server took longer still to bring the as-is cold milk, which further cooled down the coffees.  We asked to get our cups warmed, but then received new coffees, which were still not hot enough.  And, no Earl Grey tea?!Fo' shame.  I did enjoy my OJ, though and the Spiced Apple Cider was lovely.





The flatbreads are served on wooden boards, looking very rustic and also easy to cut into if needed. The jalepeño chicken sausage, black bean, egg flatbread ($9) was good, but the pico de gallo would have been better as the sauce spread atop the flatbread instead of the black bean.



The vegetable frittata arrived in an iron skillet.  The only problem with this is that the egg overcooks sitting in its heat, and is too hot to eat before it overcooks because its sitting in it's heat - see where I'm going with that?



The greek yogurt filled with berries and bananas and granola (from Nashoba Brook Bakery) is a steal at $5 and a great light breakfast.



Next time, would love to try the parmesan prosciutto black pepper scone ($3) from the Nashoba Brook Bakery and something from the lunch menu - those burgers were massive!

The decor is simple and modern.



Perched on the high stools at long commune tables, the place was mainly filled with Harvard students, with their friends or parents.  There are Shepard Fairey pieces on the back wall.  That's the artist who did the famous Obama "Hope" poster.



As an aside:  those coffee shop white mugs with the wide-as-your-lips-rims, have gotta go.  Come on, people; drinking from them makes you feel as though the coffee's going to dribble over the side of your mouth.

That said, Tory Row is a keeper.  Kept!

TODAY: Starbucks 50% OFF

Starting TODAY, get 50% off Tazo Tea Lattes at STARBUCKS, until February 20, 2011 between 2pm and 5pm.

TRAVEL: Honolulu, Hawaii: Roys

Location:

226 Lewers St
Honolulu, HI

www.roysrestaurant.com

After visiting Mama's Fish House in Maui three years ago, we didn't think anything could come close.  Let me tell you, Roy's comes pretty close!

I've never been to a restaurant where there has been such incredible attention to my dietary concerns!  Our server was worried that I would be in need of medical aid if I ate something I couldn't (dairy).

With that, the butter sauces came on the side and there was nary a smidgen of cheese on anything.

They started us off with edamame - nom nom nom- which disappeared in a matter of seconds.

Then, it was champagne paired with the ahi tuna, baby back rib and chicken spring roll appetizer, which was delicious (and this was pre-Kauai roosters, so I was still eating chicken).



Thank goodness I'm not allergic to nuts!!

Hello, macadamia encrusted opah! Get in my belly!



Served with simple but oh-so delicious potatoes and asparagus.  Paired with a white and red.



Salmon ginger sauce with cucumber and radish salad.  The fish was amazing, but the salad a bit too tangy for me.

For dessert, we had the chocolate souffle and ice cream and the macadamia nut tart.



Paired with ports, the chocolate souffle was divine!

The tart was overbearingly nutty but amazing for a couple of bites. If I hadn't already had the macadamia encrusted fish, this would have been heaven.



Service and presentation could not have been better; we had such an incredible time and were thoroughly stuffed and satisfied.

The washroom signage was super cute, too.





If you're on Oahu, check out Roy's, there are three locations on the island, and several more throughout the States.

Vegetarian Cafe @ The Big Carrot

Location:

348 Danforth Avenue,Toronto

www.thebigcarrot.ca

As far as vegetarian cuisine goes, a lot of it is spent on trying to recreate MEAT!  I've got an idea.  Don't!  Vegetables are delicious on their own, and we don't need the fake stuff pretending to be what it ain't.

Since returning from Hawaii a month ago, I've stopped eating chicken, and have to admit I don't miss it.  However, I'd rather eat the real deal than the fake meat made with soy products.

As good as the texture and shapes are in replicating real meat, I find they tend to be overly salty and really wreck havoc on my system.  That said, I do like Morningstar's ground soy - which works really well in tacos.  Sadly, it's only available in the States (for now, do you hear me Morningstar people?)

At the Vegetarian Cafe, most of the dishes seemed to have curry powder or cumin in them, which lent a kind of ethnic, indian curry flavour to most of the foods.





Not a fan.

The best tasting dish was probably the spicy squash and the roasted vegetables, but those are things I could have cooked at home for far less.



Each item is weighed on  your plate but you have no control as to how much the servers plop on your plate!  I ended up with more than I would have served myself, and it weighed in at $17!



I also didn't like that they warm up your plate in either a MICROWAVE or oven.  We much preferred the oven option.   For $17, I'd like to think there was some work involved.

For veg cuisine, I won't be returning to The Big Carrot's Vegetarian Cafe.  Nor would I shop there for my groceries - the "Kiss My Face" hand soap I did purchase there was rung in by a surly looking cashier.  Would it kill you to smile? Honestly.

I'd much rather visit Dukem for their authentic Ethiopian veggie plate.  Nummy.

Herbal Infusions

Location:
404 Adelaide Street West
Toronto, ON

www.herbalinfusions.ca

Just west of Spadina on Adelaide is a hidden gem of a gourmet tea shop.



While rounding up everyone for our daily tea train, it's been referred to as "that fancy new tea place" and,when they were giving away free steeped tea a couple of weeks ago, "the free tea place". :)

Well, its name is Herbal Infusions, and even if the name doesn't stick, the tea flavours will.

The wall of teas is the focal point of the the store, with black, herbal, green and white teas all neatly labeled in see-through canisters. Part of the experience is having a canister presented to you for smelling. Unlike David's tea, these teas actually taste the way they smell!

I recently had the roasted almond tea (herbal tea but with soy milk) and it was incredible!



I hate to admit that I veered away (mostly from the urging of Lurgs to try something different) from my usual Earl Grey staple to try it. I was not disappointed. Clearly Dan and the gang know their teas and how to steep them, 'cause I've never had a steeped tea that tasted so good.



Everyone there is not only super friendly but also knowledgeable about tea and skillful in preparing the perfect cup.

Other touches that make Herbal Infusions stand out from the other gourmet tea shops in the city:
their variety of sugars (cane, beet)



that add a nice touch to the teas and the delicious desserts they have on hand, which I believe are from Sweets from the Earth.



Highly recommended if you like tea!

Recipe: Spicy Baked Tilapia

Okay, here's my latest favourite tilapia recipe. Inspired by Olivado's Lemon Zest Avocado Oil! Nyum nyum.

Ingredients:
8 frozen or fresh tilapia fillets
Enough lemon juice to wash and lightly coat the fillets
2 tbsp Olivado's Lemon Zest Avocado Oil (or any lemon infused oil or olive oil)
2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp turmeric
2 tsp salt
1/2 cup of Ajvar (spicy relish that you can find in any grocery store)
1 tbsp of maple syrup
pepper if desired

Directions:
Set oven to 350 degrees F
Cover two standard baking pans with foil.
Wash the fillets thoroughly with cold water and then with lemon juice.
Place four fillets in each pan.
Lightly drizzle the oil over the fillets.
Add chili, turmeric and salt evenly to fillets, using utensil or hand to rub the dry spices into the fillets, on both sides.
Add Ajvar onto fillets, evenly on both sides.
Drizzle maple syrup on top of fillets.
Add pepper is desired.
*Optional, crush handful of cornflakes and add to the top of fillets.

Bake for 30 minutes, or until fish is tender. Then broil on high for 2-5 minutes (or longer if you prefer it more crispy/dry).

Serve with anything you like (rice, pasta, salad).

Tastes incredible wrapped in a tortilla shell with with avocado, refried beans and spanish rice, like a fish taco. YUM!