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: Bombay: Jalebi

Our first jalebi stop was in Bombay and I think it's appropriate to start with jalebi, right? Y'all know me!

JUMP!

Location:

18 Wellington Street West, Toronto

www.oliverbonacini.com


Where do you go when all the kitchens around the Fairmont Royal York (including the Fairmont) are closed?  JUMP! That's where.

A hotspot for the Bay Street crowd, and quite hidden on Wellington, within the Commerce Court building, it was just the place for us to grab a late night bite (and by late night, I'm talking only 10pm - shame on you, Toronto).

What a great find!  It was the perfect setting for a celebratory dinner, as we scored a quiet corner in a separate dining area away from the noisy crowd, and received the full attention of our rather surly-faced but competent server.

Interior

We were presented with the late-night menu, which was still quite extensive, but it didn't take long for us to decide on the duck poutine and crab cakes.  Nom nom nom!

The appies

Crab Cakes

I still dream about that Duck Confit and Maple Smoked Cheddar Poutine $7.95 (Yukon Gold, sweet potato fries and cranberry gravy) - it was divine.

Chicken

Hot Smoked Chicken Breast - cheddar scallopped potatoes and grilled asparagus $26.50. Blander than the poutine, but still good.

I can't recall what the dessert was exactly, but it was miniature and chocolatey and just the perfect amount of dessert.

Dessert

Jump is another one of Oliver & Bonacini's pets and it was a nice surprise especially in that area.  It's certainly better than the overrated Beer Bistro.

Jump!

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

TRAVEL: Banff: The Maple Leaf

Location:

137 Banff Avenue
Banff, AB

www.banffmapleleaf.com

After a two hour trek across Lake Louise and back to the Chateau and by the time we reached Banff, we were riddled with cravings for salmon (or really, anything other than sandwiches and soups), so we headed straight to The Maple Leaf, number one on my list of Banff eateries.

Also, after not finding a single fireplace (working) at the Chateau, we were tempted to ask if there was a fireplace at the Maple Leaf, to which we got the response, "one moment please", and then, voila! A table RIGHT beside the fireplace!   Mind you, not only a fireplace, but a giant moose head to go with it, right above us.  

GIANT moose head!

I love Banff. Everything's so rugged, so earthy, so natural. If it isn't wood, it's leather or stone. The Maple Leaf ambiance was beyond cosy.

Such a cosy interior

Oh so comfortable leather chairs

The many celebs who have visited

We'd scoured the outdoor menu to make sure that there was salmon and I knew what I was going to have:

The Atlantic Wasabi Salmon...sesame-scented Asian noodles, nori, pickled ginger.

The other item we ordered was the Mahi Mahi sandwich (I know I said enough with the sandwiches, but it sounded so good!) with potato and leek soup (okay, I take it back).

Yummeh x 2!

Our only - and very slight - qualm was that the "Coke" tasted more like Cola and then we figured out it was DIET Coke. Er, no thanks. Not on vacation (or any other time, for that matter).  Our server was very accomodating and made no fuss.  Our adjoining table of seven or eight however, complained about their regular burgers being too pink and found out that the regular burgers also had a mix of bison in them (the server said something about bison burgers being more on the pink side).  They voiced that the menu made no mention of the bison mix in the regular burg and they'd have loved to have known beforehand...etc.etc.

If I hadn't overdone the whole burger thing having had two in the last four days, I would have ordered the regular burg as well, but the salmon and mahi mahi sandwich was exactly what we needed. 

Wasabi Salmon

The salmon dish was amazingly good.  Surprisingly, the noodles were chilled, but together with the crispy (breadcrumbed and fried) salmon and the fresh ginger slices, the dish was refreshing and satisfying. 

Mahi Mahi Sandwich

The fish sandwich was tasty as well; we tried to pinpoint the "indian" flavour in it.  At first I accredited it to the chilly yogurt mentioned in the menu, but then it dawned on me as being CILANTRO (to the joy of N and to my dismay).  If you know me, you know I am not a fan of the green stuff and its overpoweringly horrid scent.  That said, it was still a good sandwich.  Washed down with a cold glass of real Coke, that is.

Potato and Leek soup

The potato and leek soup was the perfect antidote to an active Winters day, while the Maple Leaf was the perfect end to an active Winters vacation.

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.

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas filled with lots of good eats and treats.

I hope to have some time to bake this xmas...perhaps some zucchini chocolate orange cake?

Foodhogger is off for the holidays but will be back in 2010 with loads more reviews and recipes!

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.

Frugal Fare #4: Ghazale

Location:

504 Bloor St. W, Toronto

Cost: $3.49 for a falafel

www.ghazale.ca

We found ourselves searching for food in the Annex one evening before the start of Filmi 2009.

I laugh now when I think about how we walked right PAST Ghazale (even though it was packed; which we all know is a clear indication that the place is damn good) and over to Mount Everest (which I've also heard is amazing) to check out their menu and see if we could have a sit-down dinner there in under 30 minutes (answer: no). So again, we walked about perusing outdoor menus and turning our noses down to practically everything we didn't have a hankering for. Finally with less than 15 minutes left before the start of the fest, we shared a quick slice of Pizzaiolo pizza (I am a fan of their chicken pesto slice) vowing to get a proper meal after the show.

Alas, after the show and after chatting with friends, we realized it was too late to enjoy a fancy restaurant experience on a weeknight, but not too late for a falafel! And after hearing how good Ghazale is from the said friends, we had to try it.

I present you with:

Falafel Sandwich "Falafel Sandwich $3.49".49

Ghazale Menu

Fresh ingredients

Ghazale is situated beside the Bloor Street Cinema

Happy Falafel it was.

Frugal fare at it's best in the city!

They're open till 4am all week, and a new location just opened at Church & Wellesley (78 Wellesley St.)

Mount Everest has some competition now.

Product: Truffle Pig

You know how much I love bacon.

And chocolate.

The taste combined? Not so much....

The name combined?  Works really well.

Behold,

The TRUFFLE PIG.

Hagensborg Chocolates: Truffle Pig

I certainly hope that the hasty manner in which these photographs were taken are an indication of how darn decadent these chocolates are!  I obviously couldn't wait to rip open the package and take a bite.

Speaking of packaging, isn't it adorable?  LOVE the design!

The chocolate itself comes in lovely voluminous piggy shapes.....sadly, not evident in this image...I was too eager, what can I say?

Dark & White Raspberry

You'd be too.

Check out the fantastical Hagensborg Chocolate company based out in Vancouver Canada, for more. Sadly can't buy these delights online, however, Zimbel's Cafe carries them ($3) in Peanut Butter, Orange and Raspberry flavours.  There's also plain ol' milk chocolate which I suspect is anything but plain.

Hemmingways

Location:

140 Cumberland Street, Toronto

Cost: Avg main is $13

www.hemingways.to

In the heart of Yorkville there's a cosy little people (or celeb) -watching pub that has the likeness of some Great-Grandfather's study. Green walls, heavy bookcases laden with old books, equestrian oil paintings lit up with dimmed wall sconces, antique wooden furniture dusty with age ----oh, hang on, that actually is my Great-Granddaddy's study...

I got carried away.

But you get my drift, Hemmingways has the authenticity of an ol' pub that Hemmingway himself might have frequented, but with a menu that's a mash-up of Eastern and Western delights, ie: bruschetta, spring rolls, escargot, Boston Clam chowder, Caesar salads, Greek salads, Tandoori what-nots, roti, pad thai, kung pao whatsits, souvlaki, fajitas....it's a really eclectic menu.

The ambiance at Hemmingways

I had the chicken souvlaki once and it was great; couldn't complain. I did however complain about the wine which tasted like that cloth one uses to wipe up counters...YOU know the one! They even confessed that they had that particular bottle sitting out for a while and opened a new one for me.

Chicken Souvlaki [caption id="attachment_1286" align="alignleft" width="604" caption="Chicken Souvlaki $13.99"][/caption]3.99

Besides that one incident (and I only ordered beer after that night), Hemmingways is quite simply: cosy.

And if you can't make up your mind on what to have for dinner, or if you have picky company to dine with, go to Hemmingways. Lots of food options PLUS beer.

Ackee Tree

Location:

170 Spadina Ave. Toronto

www.ackeetree.com/

I've not eaten a full meal at Ackee Tree.

The Jerk fries that I ordered were quite sadly limp and lacking in any real Jerk flavour, however, that said, my friends who ordered the chicken roti and BBQ chicken meals were more or less satisfied with their meals.

Here, the said orders:

Not so fresh Jerk Fries

Boneless Curry Chicken Roti [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="384" caption="Boneless Curry Chicken Roti $11.99 "][/caption]1.99

BBQ Chicken [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="512" caption="BBQ Chicken $10.95"][/caption]0.95

I was fully pleased with my Old Jamaican Ginger Beer...especially when the first sip exploded with some tang! through my nasal cavity.

Always a fan of ginger beer..with sometang.

Old Jamaican Ginger Beer

I've not written off Ackee Tree, I can't do that based only on fries...