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In Dessert

Big Gay Ice Cream Shop: Twist Cone with Sprinkles in New York

June 21, 2012

When visiting New York, I knew I had to go try te Big Gay Ice Cream Shop. I saw it on Food Network a few months ago and I had to see what all the buzz was about. It was a very hot day in New York, so ice cream was definitely needed!

They also have a Food Truck called Big Gay Ice Cream Truck!

The interior is very small, so you can’t really sit down anywhere. You basically go in, give your order, pay, get your order and leave. A lot of people were eating outside or were walking around.

Vanilla and Chocolate Twist Cone with Rainbow Sprinkles

So many sprinkles! I had the choice of choosing between chocolate sprinkles or rainbow sprinkles. I think I made the right choice! It really does turn you into a kid again.

The taste was quite good, but it wasn’t super amazing. It’s something simple that’s enjoyable. They also have other more adventurous types of ice creams too. I really wanted to try something more basic. I did enjoy my visit!

We Rate Big Gay Ice Cream Shop:

Address:
125 East Seventh Street
New York, NY

Website:
http://biggayicecream.com/

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In Bakery

Mike’s Pastry: Holy Cannoli in Boston, MA

June 19, 2012

Mike’s Pastry is very famous and popular amongst tourists. I’m not exactly sure why it’s so famous, but there were tons of people lining up to get a taste of their pastries. CanuckGirl and I decided to come here for a snack because Trip Advisor told us we had to check this place out.

There are no lines here, you have to budge and shove your way to the counter to get someone to take your order. Even though there are tons of people, you can get out of here with your box of pastries quite fast.

Pistachio Cannoli ($3.50) is a traditional Italian pastry, but with bits of pistachio at both ends.

Don’t be fooled by the pictures because it is packed full of cream! It’s quite dense and will make you full. It was so rich that I could only finish half of it in one sitting. The outside shell was nice and crunchy. What I didn’t like about it was how green and artificial it looked. I had to make sure it didn’t dye my lips green.

Hazelnut Cannoli ($3.50) was similar except for the bits of hazelnuts on both ends. The flavour was similar since a majority of the cannoli was the Ricotta Cheese in the center.

Overall, it was great to try out their famous cannoli’s, but you can get quite sick of the after a while. Most people take the pastries to go. One of the servers said to CanuckGirl that it would last a few days…but I don’t think you should leave these uneaten for more than a day. The crust do eventually begin to get soggy due to the Ricotta Cheese. It’s best to eat them right away for within a few hours.

Words of Wisdom:

Very Touristy
Best to share with a friend
Long lines but it goes quick

We Rate Mike’s Pastry:

Address:
300 Hanover St
Boston, MA

Website:
http://www.mikespastry.com/

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In American

Parish Cafe: Sandwiches by Famous Local Chefs in Boston, MA

June 18, 2012

CanuckGirl and I were looking for a place close to our hotel for dinner. After surfing on Urbanspoon, we decided to go to Parish Cafe. It was created by Gordon Wilcox and he had a simple concept. He approached all the famous local chefs and asked them to create a sandwich for the Parish Cafe menu.

Each Sandwich is named for the chef and the restaurant they are from. Since most of our menu items are created by other chefs, the standards are high and that’s how they have become quite popular.

On the walls, there are tons of articles about their restaurant.

On a busy weekend, it was quicker to get a table inside than sitting on the patio. 45 mins wait for the patio or a 5 min wait for inside the restaurant? Of course we chose to sit inside.

The Lumiere ($10.50) was created by Michael Leviton, the Chef/Owner of Lumiere, Newton. The sandwich is a slow-roasted pork butt sandwich on a seeded bun with a lime and green curry tartar sauce. Served with an ocean papaya salad topped with peppered peanuts.

The Schlow ($13.25) was created by Michael Schlow, the Chef/Owner of Radius & Via Matta in Boston. It s a roasted rare sirloin, sliced thin, with caramelized onions, tomato confit, arugula and a horseradish-cream sauce. Served on Tuscan wheat bread with coleslaw and mixed greens.

It was quite delicious and had a good amount of rare sirloin.

Overall, the sandwiches were great. The service was quite mediocre as the servers were always in a rush. We would signal to them that we were ready to order but they would not return. It took a while to get their attention.

Words of Wisdom:

Decent prices for lunch and dinner
Good quality food
Get their sandwiches!
Close to Arlington Station

We Rate Parish Cafe:
Address:
361 Boylston St
Boston, MA

Website:
http://www.parishcafe.com/

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In Four Beakers

Neptune Oysters: A Must Visit For Seafood in Boston, MA

June 17, 2012

Neptune Oysters is the place to go for Oysters and seafood when you are visiting Boston. Usually tourists go to the Union Oyster House for seafood, as it is the oldest restaurant in America. We chose Neptune Oyster House because it was highly talked about and MedicalGiraffe told me I had to go.

CanuckGirl and I came here after a day of sightseeing and shopping. It was around 5:30 and we put our names down. We still had to wait a little bit. Even though there are no physical lines outside the restaurant, there will be one on a piece of paper. Usually people just walk around the area and come back.

We sat at the bar area and it was fine for a group of 2 people. The servers were very nice and for some reason they were all women.

They also have a few larger tables too, if you have a big party, definitely come early as they do not take reservations.

You order all your oysters on a sheet and it comes with all the information you need. It was great having the descriptions so you know what to expect if you are an oyster noob. CanuckGirl just ordered the oysters that originated from the West Coast. Since we were near the East Coast, I decided to try the medium-sized ones.

The oysters do range in price, but they aren’t too expensive. It comes with cocktail sauce, vinaigrette, and lemons. The descriptions of the oysters are accurate and the people who shuck these oysters do a great job!

Maine Lobster Roll ($25) the lobster comes on a toasted roll with the lobster in hot butter. You can also have the lobster cold with mayo instead. Canuckgirl liked it better in its hot form with butter. The pieces of lobster were massive and worth the price. It also comes with a side of fries and ketchup. Highly recommended!

Neptune Burger ($16) has cheddar cheese, burger, fried oysters, garlic mayo and relish. It also comes with fries and ketchup on the side. You can choose the degree of wellness of your burger, I chose mine to be medium-rare and it was AMAZING.

It was a bit too big to hold with my hands, so I used the fork and knife to devour this bad boy. It was very very delicious! Probably one of the best burgers I have ever had. The oysters were lightly battered and had such a delicious taste. The burger was perfectly done and the juices that poured out of the meat was so yummy. Highly recommended!

Overall, we had a great time here. The food was great and the service was great as well. If I was to visit Boston again, I would definitely come here again!

Words of Wisdom:

Oysters are a must!
Good service
Long waits at peak hours
No reservations
Neptune Burger, Maine Lobster Roll and Oysters are a must!

We Rate Neptune Oyster House:

Address:
63 Salem St
Boston, MA

Website:
http://www.neptuneoyster.com/

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In Cafe

Food Adventure in New Westminster: Ki Sushi, Tre Galli Gelato, Karmavore, and Boathouse

June 13, 2012

Foodology Disclaimer: The Food Adventure was paid courtesy of the Salient Group. The reviews are unbiased as the restaurants were chosen by the winner and no restaurants had prior knowledge of our presence.

A few weeks ago, I held a contest to have a reader join me for an all-day food adventure with me. Through the powers of Excel, @depotato got drawn as the winner. Since it was also her sister’s (@seapotato)birthday, we took her along on our adventure in New Westminster. She selected a few places to go to – Ki Sushi, Tre Galli Gelato, Karmavore and the Boathouse.

Since they have never been to New Westminster, we walked around checking out a few really cool stores like the retro video game store and a board game store. Clearly, we 3 were very nerdy and loved video games. The day was very fun despite some restaurants being a hit and miss.

Ki Sushi

At 11am, we went to Ki Sushi. Since they just opened, it was quite busy, but by 12pm there were definitely more customers. They sell the usual type of Japanese dishes. I’ve been here about 5 years ago and they have undergone some renovations.

Salmon and Tuna Sashimi ($11.95) has about 5 pieces each and was a decent price. It tasted delicious and fresh. What I liked out the place is that they use Wild Sockeye salmon rather than the usual salmon.

Seafood Salad ($9.95) was very massive and had a good amount of seafood. It had ebi, hoki, tako, baby shrimp, avocado, shredded lettuce, and a citrus sauce. The salad was good, but we wished it was larger pieces of lettuce rather than the shredded lettuce. Also, there was way too much sauce.

Gyoza ($3.50) was very sloppy and poorly executed. When you pick up the gyoza, it would fall apart instantly. I assume when they were making them, they probably didn’t seal it well enough.

Prawn Tempura ($8.25) was a good size and was crunchy on the outside.

American Roll ($12.95) has half a soft-shelled crab and seaweed on top of 8 rolls. The inside of the roll has avocado and crab. It is wrapped with tuna. This was my favorite roll, but it was a bit expensive.

Vancouver Roll ($9.94) is topped with avocado and eel on top. It was also a favorite of the table.

Maple Roll ($6.96) has wild sockeye on top and the inside has tuna. If you love sashimi, you’ll definitely love this.

Overall, the food can be a hit and miss. The service was ok, but we did notice some of the dishes were quite dirty so we had to swap them. The food came out fairly quickly which wasn’t too bad.

Words of Wisdom:

Hit and Miss dishes
Good sushi
Decent prices

We Rate Ki Sushi:

Address:
31 8th St
New Westminster, BC
Website:
http://www.kisushi.ca/index.asp

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River Market

We stopped by after our lunch to check out The River Market near the waterfront. They have the worlds tallest toy soldier, a good amount of shops and restaurants. It was moderately busy on the weekends. The busiest areas were inside River Market since there are some amazing restaurants there – Wallys Burgers, Re-Up BBQ, and some other places.

I use to come to this area quite often as a kid and this area has definitely transformed a lot!

Right by the dock, there was also the Samson V Maritime Museum. It’s free to enter and you can look into their engine room, captains deck, and their living quarters.

Tre Galli Gelato

As we were walking around River Market, gelato caught the eyes of @seapotato and she just had an urge for gelato. Tre Galli Gelato Caffe has a large selection of gelato and they serve coffee.

Guava Gelato / Espresso Gelato ($3.75) was a strange combination by @seapotato but she enjoyed it.

Espresso Gelato / Hazelnut Gelato ($3.75) was chosen by @depotato and she liked both flavours. She also said the hazelnut gelato was more dominant compared to the espresso gelato.

Hazelnut Gelato ($3.75) was what I chose. The flavour was very nice and strong, so it was nice for a hot day outside.

Overall, the gelato was a good price and the flavours were very delicious. It’s a good item to snack on if you are at the River Market chilling with a few friends.

Words of Wisdom:

You can sample the flavours
A good selection of drinks
Decent prices
Close to New West Skytrain

We Rate Tre Galli Gelato:

Address:
810 Quayside Dr
New Westminster, BC

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Karmavore – The Vegan Shop

Karmavore is a vegan shop in the heart of New Westminster. They have a eco-friendly retail shop on the main level and a grocery store/deli in the basement. They are 100% vegan. It’s the perfect spot if you are vegan.

They have a few tables downstairs, but the space isn’t too large. You can find some unique items here. We were drawn here by their root beer floats but it turns out they were not available. We were quite sad, but we decided to grab some other snack and drinks since we were there anyways.

We consumed the following:

English Breakfast Tea ($1.75)
Carob Peanut Butter Puck ($2.50)
Edible Flours Mini Red velvet Cupcake ($1.99)
Happy Planet Lost lagoon Mango Smoothie ($2.79)
King Island Coconut Water ($1.49)

Overall, we were a bit disappointed since they didn’t have the root beer float even though it was still written on their chalk board. As we ordered our pastries, they were quite hesitant to give us a plate since we wanted to eat it in the shop. It seems like it really was a “grab n go” deli. Nonetheless, it’s a good spot to go to if you work or live in the area to grab something.

We Rate Karmavore:

Address:
610 Columbia Street
New Westminster, BC

Website:
http://www.karmavore.ca/

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Downtown New Westminster

As we finished our snack, we walked around Columbia Street to see what was in the area. We stopped by the Trapp + Holbrook presentation center and had a tour of their apartments. It was very pretty and I was so amazed by their fridges since it was built into their cabinets.

We check out most of the stores on Columbia street and walked up a giant hill onto 6th st. We huffed and we puffed and then we went to Blenz to grab a drink before heading back down to the River Market for dinner. We also found some vegemite and marmite at Sherlock’s Cafe.

The Boathouse

For our dinner, we decided to get our fill of seafood by going to the Boathouse. It is located right by the River Market and is known for their steaks and seafood. As we arrived, we were really looking forward to oysters and lobsters. Unfortunately, they already sold out of lobster tails and Shrimp Kisses. We were very disappointed since it was very early in the evening, so there was no way they would have been sold out. It was a weekend, so it didn’t make sense they wouldn’t be prepared for the weekend rush of customers.

@depotato and @seapotato decided to get 3 course dinner set for $35 instead.

Complementary bread was very good. It was fluffy in the center and nice and nice and crisp on the outside. It also came with some herb butter to spread.

Boathouse original West-coast Chowder didn’t seem very hearty like how a chowder is supposed to be.

Crispy Calamari comes with Tzatziki. It was nice and tender. Very soft and chewy.

6 Kusshi Oysters + 6 Royal Miyagi Oysters ($17.99) tasted good and their tastes were a bit different, but Kusshi is definitely the better oyster. What I noticed when I reviewed by photos was how battered the oysters looked. Whoever shucked these were quite aggressive with them.

Thai Crab Cakes ($12.99) comes with 3 pieces and the taste was alright, but we did notice there was not a lot of crab meat compared to the amount of bread crumbs.

Mixed Seafood Grill has grilled sockeye, crab stuffed jumbo prawns, pan seared sea scallops and fire grilled prawns with tomato pesto orzo and vegetables.

7oz Sirloin Steak with stuffed prawns ($29.99) was asked to be cooked medium rare, but the cut of meat was very tough.It seemed to be cooked medium instead. I just left it since I didn’t want to be picky. They gave M a steak knife for his steak, but didn’t give me one for some reason. So, I just assumed I would use my regular knife. It was very hard to cut, I had to use a lot of strength to cut up my steak.

14oz Prime New York Steak ($39.99) was what M ordered and it was a huge steak. He ordered it rare and there are visible grill lines. On the menu it states “the top .2% of world class beef – the best quality available and exclusively cut for Boathouse”. M did not think the quality was there. He was quite disappointed as well.

Molten Chocolate Brownie ($8.99) is served warm with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream and strawberries on the side. M said the brownie was very warm and the ice cream definitely balanced it out.

Famous Mud pie is also known as the mocha ice cream pie. It comes with a chocolate ganache sauce and maple almonds. It did taste good.

Creme Brulee was ok according to @depotato. She did say the crust was very hard and it made it a bit bitter.

Overall, I was not satisfied with the service or food at this Boathouse location. I’ve been to other Boathouse locations and the quality was not here. I would not return to this location again. Even though we told the server that it was @seapotato’s birthday, they did not provide a sparkler on her cake compared to the other customers in the restaurant. Also, they charged us for the cake when it was supposed to be complimentary. You can pay the same price at Black & Blue Downtown to get better quality…and pay less.

Words of Wisdom:

Quality is not there
Overpriced
Inconsistent service amongst customers

We Rate Boathouse:
Address:
900 Quayside Dr
New Westminster, BC

Website:
http://www.boathouserestaurants.ca/

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In American

Mr. Bartley’s Gourmet Burgers: Patties The Size of Baseballs in Boston, MA

June 12, 2012

Mr. Bartley’s began in 1960’s across the Harvard courtyard serving up delicious burgers. Since then it has become a Harvard Square institution attracting visitors from around the world. They have won several awards and have been featured in various publications. Some have gone as far to say that they serve the best burgers in the United States.

There is obviously lots of hype over this place, so, when CanuckGirl and I visited Harvard, we needed a taste of it. Around noon on a Monday, there was a line going all the way outside. An old man (who may or may not be Mr. Bartley) gave us menus as we waited in line and took our older. He really hustled everyone in line and we felt that it was quite rude as the menu is quite extensive. We also found it very weird how you had to put down your order before you even got a table. When we did get a table, the server asked us for what we wanted to order. CanuckGirl and I were so confused, so we said we gave our order outside. There seems to be a bit of a coordination issue right from the beginning.

The inside is indeed busy and all the walls have different posters, pictures, and other wacky items. Most of the people who were eating here are tourists (just like us).

Guy Fieri also featured them on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. He always leave his signature logo on the walls of restaurants he visits.

Mr. Bartley’s Famous Bottled Root Beer ($1.95) Can you believe they make their own root beer?

Fresh Lemonade ($2.99) is one of their specialties. It was sour and sweet. It comes in a very large cup, so it does take a bit of effort to drink it all. It’s probably because I am not a huge fan of lemonade.

The iPhone Burger ($12.45) has boursin cheese, grilled mushrooms & onions. It comes with a side of sweet potato fries. You are able to choose how you would like your burger done! CanuckGirl decided to have her burger medium rare. It was spot on! The sweet potato fries were delicious too.

The Guy Fieri Burger ($10.15) has Muenster cheese, tomato, lettuce, red onion, and russian dressing. It comes with french fries and a pickle. There’s nothing too amazing about it. I got my burger medium well done. The fries tasted alright. I did enjoy their patties!

Overall, their specialty burgers are what lures most tourists, but whats interesting is that their regular type of burgers are way cheaper. I would recommend you to stick with their regular menu. Their burgers are definitely good, but I would not say it’s the best .

Words of Wisdom:

Lines long at peak hours, but seats become available quite quickly
Service is quite mediocre
Around $10 – $15 for lunch

We Rate Mr. Bartley’s:

Address:
1246 Massachusetts Ave
Cambridge, MA
Website:
http://www.mrbartley.com/

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In Back Bay

Au Bon Pain: It Came From Boston, Not Paris

June 11, 2012

Au Bon Pain is a chain of cafes that originated in Boston. The cafe can be found all around the world from Taiwan to Kuwait with over 250 locations. The idea came about at Faneuil Hall Marketplace in 1978, where founder Louis Kane wanted to bring fresh-baked goods to the people of Boston.

While I was visiting Boston, I would constantly bump into this cafe. At first glance, I would not think it originated in Boston. After Ange bugged my to try something besides Starbucks, I decided to check it out.

The interior remind me of a cafeteria. It’s layout is a little bit strange for my liking, but it’s layout is supposed to resemble a marketplace. They have an assortment of baked goods, soups and a bunch of other items.

There is also a counter to order freshly made sandwiches, wraps and salads that can be highly customized.

As I was just needing a snack, I grabbed a cappuccino and a chocolate croissant.

Cappuccino was quite bad. It was very heavy and it seemed more like a latte instead. There was barely any foam and was not representative of the calories indicated on their menu.

Chocolate Croissant was a bit disappointing too. It didn’t have a flakey texture that a croissant is supposed to have. It has powdered sugar and a chocolate drizzle on top.

On the inside, the croissant has a bread-like consistency and hollow is the center. It was quite mediocre and nothing too special. You could tell it was sitting out for a while. It might be good to heat it up in their microwave for a few seconds.

Overall, Au Bon Pain is good if you want something quick and decent. It’s not good if you have high expectations. Service is also quite mediocre.

Words of Wisdom:

Complementary Wifi
Quick and fast

We Rate Au Bon Pain:

Address:
26 Park Plz
Boston, MA

Website:
http://www.aubonpain.com/

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In Four Beakers

Schwartz’s Deli: Montreal Smoked Meat At It’s Finest

June 10, 2012

Schwartz’s Deli is an iconic restaurant in Montreal and is known to have huge lines! As I was in Montreal, I knew I had to have a taste of their smoked meat. People around the world have been raving about this place, so I had to see for myself if it lives up to all that hype. PLUS, Celine Dion and her husband own a portion of this restaurant.

As I left CanuckGirl to hike up Mount Royal by herself, I headed over to Schwartz’s. Exercising is good and all, but I can exercise in Vancouver too. I know, I’m horrible…I just love food.

There was a huge line outside and it would probably take 30 mins to an hour to get a seat. I decided to bypass the line by ordering takeout. If you do get takeout, you just walk through the door and no one in the line should bother you.

The restaurant is very narrow so no wonder they can’t fit too many people here. For takeout, just walk up to the right of the restaurant and order, then pay on the left side of the restaurant near the door.

I got my sandwich and found a park to eat at, I was sad that the sandwich was so small. FYI, when eating at a park, you will probably attract a few birds and squirrels….so guard your sandwich.

Mmm… look at that meat.

The meat was very thickly cut, fatty and very tender! The cross-section of the sandwich does look quite amazing, but it’s still not that large of a sandwich. Since it was only $6.15, it was a decent price. I have never seen any other restaurant have such thickly cut smoked meat. Any smoked meat needs mustard, but it sucks how it had to be the usual yellow mustard.

Overall, I loved it and I would go again just for their meat. If you have no patience for lining up and just want that sandwich fast, do takeout and you will save yourself lots of time.

Words of Wisdom:

A must-go spot for tourists
Under $10
Long lines
Must get the smoked meat

We Rate Schwartz’s Deli:

Address:
3895 Boulevard St-Laurent
Montreal, QC

Website:
http://www.schwartzsdeli.com/

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In Sandwich

Insomnia Cafe: Food Worth Sleeping Through in Toronto, ON

June 9, 2012

In the Annex of Toronto, I saw Insomnia Cafe and it seemed like a super cool place to have food. It’s quite popular for brunch, but I didn’t have time to have brunch here, so I opted for dinner.

CanuckGirl, BaguetteGirl and I headed over for dinner.

There is a good amount of seating and some lounge seating in the back of the restaurant.

The front of the restaurant looks great and is most beautiful during the summer as they open the doors and windows.

Proscuitto Wrapped Asparagus ($10) is garnished with asiago cheese and a honey pear vinaigrette and tomatoes. It tasted good, but not justified for $10! I would not order this again. Very disappointed.

Avocado Grilled Chicken ($10) has melted brie and red onions on top of the bread. You also get a side of fries and salad. CanuckGirl enjoyed it!

8oz. Black Angus Beef Burger ($9) has lettuce, red onion, tomato and garlic aioli. You can also add additional ingredients on top too. BaguetteGirl added mozzarella and sauteed onions on top. It also comes with the fries and salad.

Quesadilla ($9) contains house made refried beans, avocado spread and monterey jack cheese. You also get some mayo and sour cream to dip the quesadillas into. Just like the other dishes, you get the fries and salad too. I thought it was ok, but wasn’t anything amazing.

Overall, Insomnia Cafe was ok for sandwiches, but their dinner and appetizer menu is a bit overpriced for what you get. It’s a good place for drinks and late night chillaxing.

Words of Wisdom:

Filling sandwiches, but taste alright
Mediocre service
Nice relaxing decor
Good for drinking
Lots of drink specials

We Rate Insomnia Cafe:

Address:
563 Bloor St W
Toronto, ON

Website:
http://www.insomniacafe.com/

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In Faneuil Hall

Boston & Maine Fish Company: Lobsters at Quincy Market

June 8, 2012

Quincy Market is an awesome place to check out when you are in Boston. It’s located in the Downtown area and is a few minutes from the center of Downtown. It has lots of stores and it’s a great place to EAT.

After our walking tour of the Freedom Trail, CanuckGirl and I decided to get a bite to eat. She decided to get clam chowder and I was on the hunt for a lobster. Ange kept telling me to eat lobsters, so I just had to find one without killing my wallet.

As I walked inside, I saw that Boston & Maine Fish Company was selling tons of lobsters and there was a huge line up. The lobsters looked good, but I decided to walk around the whole market to see if there was a better deal. It seems like they were the only place serving steamed lobster.

They were offering a steamed lobster with corn and butter for $17.99. It was alright, so I decided to get one.

We sat in the 2nd floor seating area. There are a few seats open during peak hours, so you really gotta keep your eyes open for a spot. You can also eat outside if it’s a nice day.

Once the lobster is chopped up it doesn’t look too big. It was probably around a pound in weight. Most of the meat is in the tail and claws. I still was full eating it all. The meat was nice and tender.

You get the whole lobster, so you have to stare at its face. Some can tolerate it, some just get scared. I tend to play with my food so I wasn’t squeamish.

After eating all of the meat in the lobsters tail and claws, it was time for the best part… THE BRAINS. I normally never eat the brains since I leave it to my mom to enjoy the fatty goodness. CanuckGirl told me to suck it out, but it don’t think it works for lobsters (it works for prawns), so I just used a fork to scoop out the brains. I took a photo because sometimes I like to be stupid.

Overall, it was a decent size for a lobster for $17.99 , but it’s the cheapest. I got it here since I didn’t want to pay $40 for a lobster at a restaurant. I got my lobster fill in Boston…and yes I even bought a lobster plushie too from a nearby store.

Words of Wisdom:

Decently priced lobsters
Very crowded on weekends
No free wifi, but just stand near the Starbucks in the building

We Rate Boston & Maine Fish Company:

Address:
200 Fanueil Hall Marketplace
Boston, MA

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In BBQ

Rotisserie Romados: Top 50 Restaurants in Canada

June 7, 2012

Rotisserie Romados is located in Quebec near the Plateau Mont-Royal area. It was recently named one of Canadas Top 50 restaurants. When looking at the list, it was the only one that was under $10. I just had to check this little place out since I was in town for a few days with CanuckGirl. They are best known for their chicken rotisserie!

During peak hours the lines can get quite long. Nonetheless, don’t let any lines discourage you because it is quite quick to get to the front. At the back of the restaurant is where you order the chicken and on the right is where they have pastries and baked goods.

The menu is in all french, but you can use your iPhone is translate what is says. Majority of items are under $10, which is awesome. If you don’t know french, they speak english too.

1/4 Chicken Breast with Fries and Salad ($7.09) is basically a mound of salt and peppered fries. I asked my chicken to be spicy. It also comes with a large bun.

The fries tasted good and the chicken was succulent. The only let down was the salad because some of the leaves were not fresh and a bit wilted and turning black.

1/4 Chicken Leg with Salad and Fries ($6.29) CanuckGirl said she enjoyed it.

The bread that comes with it is good, but it’s gonna make you super full. CanuckGirl and I couldn’t finish ours with our meals, so we just took it back to the hotel room for later.

Overall, it was a very filling meal for cheap! It’s not the most healthiest meal, but it’s worth the price. Definitely check it out!

Words of Wisdom:

Limited amount of seating, most people do takeout
Under $10
Friendly staff
Must get the chicken!!

We Rate Rotisserie Romados:

Address:
115 Rue Rachel Est.
Montréal, QC

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In 24 hours

Resto la Banquise: Epic Poutine From Montreal, QC

June 6, 2012

Resto la Banquise is located in Plateau Mont-Royal and is known to have very good poutine. It is open 24 hours, so University students can go any time to chow down on delicious poutine. They have tons of variations of poutine and are known to satisfy all the crazy poutine lovers.

CanuckGirl and I came here since we heard it was a must-try place for poutine. It’s not the most healthiest, but at least there is a park nearby.

We had the option of sitting inside or on the patio. We chose the patio since it was a very nice day outside. In case it rains, there is a tent above the seating.

Obelix Poutine ($8.25) is topped with Montreal smoked meat, cheese, and gravy over a bed of fries. The cheese was slightly squeaky as it rubs against your molars when chewing. It was quite good, but I am not used to eating a large amount of fries.

Classic Poutine ($5.95) has cheese curds and gravy over a bed of fries. CanuckGirl also liked it and is the most authentic! She ate everything off her plate, so I am sure she enjoyed it.

Overall, it’s a great place to get poutine. It’s open 24 hours, so you can go anytime without worrying it will close. They also have other items on the menu, so you don’t need to get poutine.

Words of Wisdom:

Classic Poutine is always good
Open all the time
Indoor and outdoor seating
Service is a bit spotty since they have so many customers

We Rate Resto La Banquise:

Address:
994 Rue Rachel E
Montréal, QC

Website:

http://www.restolabanquise.com/

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In Brunch

Le Gros Jambon: Consuming Lots of Cheese in Montreal, QC

June 4, 2012

BraisedandConfused suggested we give Le Gros Jambon Diner a try when we were in town. CanuckGirl and I went when we were in the area for Cirque Du Solei. They serve simple diner style food such as mac n cheese, burger, pizza, hotdogs and salad.

All seating is in rows, so you can’t really sit down with a large group. It’s best to come in small groups. Even if you are eating alone, it won’t feel awkward either.

Since it is a diner, they have some cool retro posters all over the wall.

Bottled Coca-Cola gives it a nice look in the diner. I love bottle Coca-Cola! It taste slightly better than in those plastic bottles.

Duck Confit Mac & Cheese ($11) was ordered by CanuckGirl and she just loved it. Its has a good amount of duck confit and is oh so cheesy!

Four Cheese Grilled Cheese ($8) has a side of fries and coleslaw too.

The fries are a bit limp, but they have a bit of a sweet taste to them for some reason. They do look quite brown, but don’t let the color discourage you.

The grilled cheese was VERY CHEESY! The cheese wouldn’t stop oozing out. I would suggest a napkin if you don’t want it accidentally getting on your clothes.

Overall, great diner concept and delicious food! I’m sure it’s not the most healthy for you but isn’t comfort food done right.

Words of Wisdom:

Limited seating
Good decent prices
Mac and Cheese is a must

We Rate Le Gros Jambon:

Address:
286 Notre Dame O
Montreal, QC

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In Dessert

Les Givres: Artisan Ice Cream in Montreal, QC

June 3, 2012

After meeting up for dinner with BraisedandConfused, she took us to Les Givres for some post-dinner treats! Les Givres specializes in artisan ice cream. It is all made in-house and made with the best ingredients. They always try to come up with some crazy flavour combinations that tastes great.

Once you enter, there is the counter on the left and seats on the right. It’s really a great spot to just chill after dinner.

They have a good amount of flavours to choose from, so I am sure you will find something that tickles your tastebuds.

If you aren’t into ice cream, they have other desserts such as chocolate mousse cakes and macarons.

We grabbed a few and just stole a little bit from each other so everyone could try a bit of the flavours. There is coffee, pistachio and green tea. These all had strong flavours and were very enjoyable, the downside is that each scoop is about $3, so it’s not cheap at all.

Green Tea (matcha) Ice Cream

Apple Pie Ice Cream is another one we got after our initial 3 types. The taste is very subtle and you can start tasting the flavours once you stumble upon the apple pie pieces inside.

Overall, great place to just chill and catch up with friends or just anything.

Words of Wisdom:

Made in-house
Can be a bit expensive for ice cream

We Rate Les Givres:

Address:

3807 Saint-Denis
Montreal, QC

Website:
http://www.lesgivres.ca/

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In 24 hours

St. Viateur Bagel & Cafe: Awesome Montreal Bagels

June 1, 2012

St. Viateur Bagel and Cafe is known best for their freshly made bagels. It is a family owned business since 1957. They are open 24 hours and sell about 1000 bagels each day! This isn’t their original location, but they still make fresh bagels here too.

CanuckGirl and I were passing by and we just had to have a taste of their famous bagels!

Right at the counter of the cashier, you can see them make all the bagels. They are very fresh! If you look into the oven, they have a few dozen in their making. It’s really fun seeing them work their magic.

Their mascot is called sesame and he can be seen depicted on their bags, murals and interior decor.

Sesame Bagel ($0.70) was still very hot when we got it. We decided to get this flavour since the mascot is a sesame bagel. It was the most mazing bagel I’ve ever had. 1000000x better than anything in Vancouver. We ate this bagel right away and it was crunchy on the outside and super hot and chewy on the inside.

Words of Wisdom:

Must get the sesame bagel and eat it right way!
Cheap
Can’t sit down in the cafe if you are just ordering a bagel

We Rate St. Viateur Bagel & Cafe:

Address:
1127 Ave Du Mont-Royal E
Montréal, QC

Website:
http://www.stviateurbagel.com/

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In Downtown

Kamei Royale: Kamei Kiss Dining Package Review

May 31, 2012

Foodology Disclaimer: VANEATS.ca approached me to try out their “Kamei Kiss” dining package and write a review about it. I got a complementary dining package for myself and I brought along M to keep the review as unbiased as I could.

Kamei Royale Japanese Restaurant is located on Burrard near West Georgia, thus very close to the Burrard Skytrain. They are owned by the Kamei Group that also owns Ebisu and Daimasu. I’ve visited Ebisu and Daimasu before, but I have not been to Kamei Royal until this experience.

The guys at VANEATS.ca is offering a new dining package called Kamei Kiss for $19, where you get 4 courses consisting of:

Healthy Agedashi Tofu
Crab Salad
Oda Roll
Ice Cream Tempura

The interior is quite nice and the interior is large too. I would think this would be a good location for large parties. Some of the staff are even dressed up in kimonos.

Crab Salad has a crab mixed with avocado, mango, mayonnaise and tobiko. It is garnished with tomatoes, fried lotus roots, sprouts and greens. It is served in a martini glass and was a little bit difficult to figure out how to eat it since we were unsure if we should be eating the large leaf of lettuce or not. In the end, M and I just at the crab mixture and the garnishes and left the large leaf. M enjoyed the amount of crab and the accompany ingredients.

Healthy Agedashi Tofu is deep-fried and topped with kinpira, nameko mushrooms, edamame beans and lotus roots. It sits on top of a bed of ponzu sauce. The outer skin of the agedashi tofu was a little big soggy due to the ponzu sauce and the ingredients on top. It’s best to eat the item fairly quickly when it arrives at your table before the skin gets too soft. Nonetheless, the tofu does have a delicious flavour that balances with the sauce.

Oda Roll has mango, avocado, cucumber and salmon inside. It is topped with tempura eel and cream cheese. The server comes by and torches the top of the cream cheese with a blowtorch. It’s a fun little show, plus it looks amazing. I’ve never seen cream cheese being torched since it’s usually raw fish.

The creaminess from the cream cheese and the avocado made it a delight. The scorched cream cheese added a nice smokey taste that accompanied the tempura eel quite well.

Ice Cream Tempura has vanilla ice cream deep-fried in tempura batter, drizzled with chocolate and topped off with powdered sugar and a cherry. It’s about the size of a baseball. When we cut into the ice cream tempura, the inside was still cold, but it does start to melt quite quickly. M really enjoyed the dessert and was tempted to purchase another one just for himself.

Overall, if you look at Kamei Royale’s regular menu, you will see that the dining package is a steal! The Oda roll by itself is $15.50, the crab salad is $8.50, agedashi tofu is $5.95, and then tempura ice cream is $5.50. You save about $16.45 with getting the package. If you get the package and an additional noodle or rice dish, two people can get full.

The package is on sale now till it’s sold out, so you can grab this at VANEATS.ca for $19.

Words of Wisdom:

Beautiful decor and food presentation
Good for large groups
Tea costs $1.50 🙁
Overpriced for what you get, there are many cheaper options Downtown

We Rate Kamei Royale:

Address:
1030 W Georgia St
Vancouver, BC

Website:

http://www.kameiroyale.com/

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In Cafe

Cafe-Bistro Van Houtte: Coffee in Montreal, QC

May 31, 2012

Walking around Montreal, I found that there were more Van Houtte Cafes in the area than Starbucks. I guess it isn’t’ too strange since Van Houtte is based in Montreal Quebec. Since I always need a cup of coffee to get my day started, I thought I would try this place out.

The interior is large and modern. Plus, they have wifi access, which is awesome especially for people who need to lounge around.

The cups even have their logos on it.

The latte tasted good and had a pleasant aroma. It’s good to have something besides Starbucks for a change.

Words of Wisdom:

Free Wifi
Decent coffee, decent prices
Nice interior to chill

We Rate Cafe-Bistro Van Houtte:

Address:
1 Place Ville-Marie
Montreal, QC

Website:
http://www.vanhoutte.com/

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In Brunch

Lola’s Kitchen: Delectable Brunch in Toronto, ON

May 30, 2012

Lola’s Kitchen is located in Yorkville in Toronto. They serve up some delicious brunch and is an excellent place to dine on the weekend. They have lots of seats inside and outside.

BaguetteGirl and FaceMan took CanuckGirl and I here for some yummy brunch.

The restaurant is in a house, but does have several floors and is cozy.

Green Tea uses the usual Tetley tea bags and there wasn’t anything special about it. The cup was quite small too and they couldn’t give us a pot of hot water to fill up ourselves.

Orange Juice

Pomegranate-green tea iced tea

Eggs Rancheros ($12) has chipotle spiced organic black beans scrambled with eggs or organic tofu in a crisp whole wheat tortilla bowl topped with cheddar cheese, guacamole, tomatillo pico de gallo & lime yogurt. You can choose between salad, fries or potatoes.

Warm Chick Pea Wrap (#12) has grilled organic tofu, warm citrus & herb marinated chick pea mash, Lola’s tomatoes, baby spinach & organic sprouts in a grilled whole wheat tortilla. You can choose between salad, fries or potatoes.

‘Shroom Benny ($11) has toasted organic whole wheat biscuits topped with caramelized onions, baby spinach, roasted mushrooms, poached eggs & our hollandaise sauce. You can choose between salad, fries or potatoes. CanuckGirl really enjoyed the benny and the potatoes.

Brunch Burger ($15) has an all beef burger with grilled peameal bacon, caramelized onions, Lola’s cheese blend, sweet pickles, sunny egg, house made ketchup aioli on a multigrain bun. I chose to have the salad to balance out the fatness of the burger.

It was a pretty meaty burger, but the sunny side egg made it a bit difficult to eat with hands. I resorted to the knife and fork technique. The flavours were good, but I think my beef patty was a bit scorched, so it had a smokey/burnt taste to it.

Lola’s Stuffed French Toast ($12) has a lemon vanilla cheesecake sandwiched in Challah French toast with seasonal fruit compote. It was so delicious! It even made some other people come up to our table to see it. It wasn’t too sweet either! It’s a must order!

Overall, pretty good brunch options here.

Words of Wisdom: