Jumbo Hairpanada

Location:

245 Augusta Ave., Toronto

Cost: under $15 for two empanadas, a drink and a pastry.



What is that hairy toy you smack around to get the candy out? Piñata! That's right!

But I digress.

Perhaps Jumbo Empanada should be renamed Jumbo Hairpanada.

We started with lunch at Jumbo Empanada and ordered the chicken and veggie empanadas and an alfajor. We wanted the chilean salad too, but Irene (owner) was busy and she said she was low on staff that day. Disappointment numero uno.



What was numero two-o? Yes, yes, numero dos? Discovering a hair baked into the alfajor. Irene was "good" enough to exchange it.



The replaced alfajor. Made out of condensed milk and biscuits/pastry (correct me if I am wrong).

The empanadas were tasty as was the salsa (although not hot enough for my taste - we asked for extra hot sauce and were told that the salsa was it).



Sorry foodies, this salsa isn't that good. Wait till you read about the salsa at Eggs n' Things in Oahu, Hawaii....now, THAT'S salsa!



The VEGGIE Jumbo Empanada...pretty JUMBO, wouldn't you say?



The inside of the VEGGIE Jumbo Empanada.



The CHICKEN Jumbo Empanada.



The inside of the CHICKEN Jumbo Empanada.

Then I discovered another hair baked into my chicken empanada crust. Yum.



Disappoinment numero tres.

That was the end of that.

That's TWO hairs.

I wasn't aware hair was an ingredient!



On the way back to work, we passed by Miss Cora's Kitchen and saw the desserts in the window and the pesto chicken pizza scribbled on the blackboard inside and since I was still hungry, we went in......let's just say it was so good that I have to save the FULL review for next time!

Caffe Greco

Address:
423 Columbus Ave
San Francisco, CA
www.caffegreco.com

Cost: Items range from $1.85 (water) to $7.95 (panini)

Caffe Greco was another place we had walked past on the way to Union Square with the intention of coming back.  

So, on Day 2 when we were looking for a place to have coffee, I was determined to find "the place with the posters" and we turned our noses on many other cafes in search of it, all the while ignoring our tired calves and thirsty throats.   When we finally found Caffe Greco, and squeezed into the last corner window spot, and rested our aching feet on the worn wooden floors, with this view...all our effort was without a doubt, worth it.



With high ceiling fans and art nouveau playing fancifully on the cream-coloured walls to jumbo glass canisters filled with delectable treats and an open 'book' menu behind the counter, this place embodies everything that is caffe Italia.



Around since '88, Caffe Greco serves homemade (and award-winning, according to their website) tiramisu (I'm happy to say we tried it, and it's simply the best tiramisu I've ever had!), cannoli and gelato.

 

We also had a chai caffe latte ($4.25/5.75) which is a tea AND coffee latte.....and it was absolutely heavenly...a definite MUST-HAVE if you're ever in North Beach.  My usual Earl Grey ($2.50), was divine and fared well with the large square of moist, creamy succulent tiramisu ($4.75)...it was so good, I wish the inside of my mouth were made of it!

Wooden chairs that creak with good use, illy coffee tins, leather benches and familiar wall hangings all gather together to make Caffe Greco a really warm and popular home for locals (I know it looks empty, but everyone happened to be either, out of shot, sitting outside or in the other room when I captured this photo).





Caffe Greco, I miss you. We'll be back again, someday.  If you live in SF, and haven't been....what on earth are you waiting for?  I'm so jealous.

Walking.

Location: Fisherman's Wharf



The sea-lions were an eye-ful (and an ear-ful) at Pier 39.



Apparently there's a "bush man" who hides behind these bushes and jumps out at tourists. He wasn't there when we walked by..but his beer was chillin'.



There's another Boudin Sourdough bakery! This time with a baker in the window and a bready croc on display....quite fitting when you think about how tough skinned sourdough is.



"Hot clam chowder" - now, that's what I should have had!



Or these bloated crab sandwiches. Wait, is that sourdough bread?

Messis

Address: 97 Harbord Street, Toronto

Phone: (416) 920-2186

Cost: Valentine's Day special prix fixe menu at $35 pp

Messis sports a minimalist, airy interior, definitely a good thing when seated elbow-to-elbow with love-sick couples on Valentine's Day. We were lucky to score a reservation that wasn't after 9!

Although a prix fixe menu, Messis boasted a much greater selection of dishes (including seafood, chicken, duck, steak and liver!) than other restaurants on the Winterlicious circuit (even though Messis was not on the Winterlicious circuit this year). After sneaking peaks at the items ordered by the patrons beside us, we decided to go with the curried shrimp and crab cakes and the grilled scallops to start.

Curried shrimp and crab cakes with coconut, mango, red pepper slaw and cilantro green onion drizzle.

The curried shrimp and crab cakes were pretty darn tasty with a crispy outer crust and a tender, flaky and savory filling.

The coconut, mango, red pepper slaw on the side added a nice contrast to the cakes and cilantro sauce.

Grilled scallops with a small salad of blood orange, and fennel served with pepper coulis and a mango drizzle.

The grilled scallops could have used a little more of something...more heat in the coulis, perhaps?

Next, we had the chicken and the fish.

The roasted free range chicken breast stuffed with pancetta served with zucchini, portabellini-mushrooms, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes and roasted sweet potatoes in a gorgonzola broth (we ordered it without the cheesey broth) was the tastiest dish we ordered and I wanted it back after promising to share half with my husband.

Roasted free range chicken breast stuffed with pancetta served with zucchini, portabellini-mushrooms, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes and roasted sweet potatoes in a gorgonzola broth

His fish dish wasn't quite as good. Bland, actually. The shrimps were okay, but again, lacked flavour. I also always feel that bok choy is filler on a plate, much like sprouts.

Pan seared black cod with a jumbo shrimp brochette served with roasted potatoes and sauteed baby bok choy with a shrimp essence.

Dessert was much better. We ordered the "Grand marnier chocolate mousse cake with raspberry ice" which was entirely too dense but quite good. We simply could not finish it and "had" to take it to go.

Grand marnier chocolate mousse cake with raspberry ice

Messis is just West of Spadina on the South side of Harbord, steps away from where Eduardo's (formerly Latitude, now The Harbord Room) used to be. So for now, and for the area, Messis is one of the nicer places you could go for a sit-down dinner.

El Penco

On the shady side of the sidewalk, near the corner of King & Portland sits a Mom and Pop place called El Penco Cafe.

Having worked in the area for a couple of years, I've always known it to be "the" place to get a sandwich. The lineups at noon often extend to the worn wooden doorstep so you have to get there early. The menu is very simple. Turkey on rye. Chicken Kaiser on a Bun. Pea Soup. My favourite used be the small Chimichanga for $2; tiny enough for a snack with an order of two or more creating a whole lunch, but you may not be satisfied. Which is probably why they're no longer on the menu. What's still on the menu? Their Sante Fe Chicken, Raging Bull, Chicken Cordon Bleu, Grilled Ham n' Cheese sandwiches and their Spinach Torta and Chicken Empanadas. Vegetarians are not to be left out however; they also have Veggie empanadas and three types of home-made pasqualina and apple-pie! Everything is under $6 which makes for a great quick lunch!







*****UPDATE***** Sadly, El Penco has closed down. Craft Burger has taken its place.

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.

Ouzeri

Location:

500A Danforth Avenue
Toronto, ON

www.ouzeri.com



I love love love Greek food.  I'm a huge fan of souvlaki and greek salads and spanokopita etc etc....but of all the greek restos in Greek town on the Danforth, Ouzeri is kind of forgettable.  Don't get me wrong; it's not bad by any means.  Not at all.   

The ambiance was lovely (gorgeous, really) and the service was very good.  I guess the food just wasn't that memorable 'cause I can't remember what we ate, although I'm sure souvlaki and spanokopita was probably on the table...and unfortunately I don't have any foodographs.

I should probably go back sometime to really complete this review, but to be completely honest, I'd rather check out some other Greek places next time. 

 

New York Sub

Location:

520 Queen Street West,
Toronto

Cost: $4-10

It's definitely NOT a sub. Not sure why they call it one, but one thing is certain, it's so tasty you won't be able to stay away. You'll wonder why you have pregnant-woman-cravings in the middle of the day, and you'll find yourself ditching your friends (who are heading out to Burrito Boyz - stupid them) so that you can savour the goodness that is a New York 'sub'.



Sure, it's a hole in the wall and when you sit down at one of the tables, your world will be slighted tilted..but what NYS lacks in ambiance it makes up for in taste. If you like Gandhi's, you'll like NYS...they're owned by the same person and both share the same great zest for flavour and spice. A NY Sub is almost like a roti of sorts...or a wrap...a wroti, if you will. It doesn't matter WHAT it is...alls I know is that it makes one delicious meal!



The beef burrito/sub/whachamacallit.



The shrimp burrito/sub/whachamacallit.



My ultimate favourite, the chicken burrito/sub/whachamacallit......Oh man, the photographs are giving me those cravings.....I'll be right back!