toronto Archives - Foodology

In Contest

Trying out Skip the Dishes + Contest

November 25, 2017

Now that the weather has dropped, it feels like the cold has sapped me of all motivation, to leave the house, to scavenge for food, etc. Luckily for me, Skip the Dishes reached out to us last week. They must have intercepted the cry for help that I sent out to the universe when it was -10 in Toronto as they they kindly offered me the chance to try their meal delivery service.

Contest open to Canadian residents. Contest ends Wednesday November 29, 2017 11:59pm EST.

Comment below with which restaurant on Skip the Dishes would you order from.
For additional entries, check out the widget below for more ways to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Skip the Dishes

Skip the Dishes offers meal delivery services across North America, including Toronto and Vancouver. You can access their services either through their website or the app. Personally, I like the option of using the website version (because who needs another app on their phone). I simply entered my address and a long list of the nearest restaurants comes up.

I liked that the service offered a diverse mix of cuisines (Italian, Indian, Chinese, etc.), local restaurants and chains, plus a several options for “hangover food” (Smoke’s Poutine, Burger’s Priest or Fat Bastard Burrito) . You can choose delivery (which may be free above a certain amount, or have a flat rate) or pick up. Then you choose your preferred time, so if you’re super organized, you can order at work and have it delivered as soon as you step through your door. The website and app tracks your order status and let’s you know where your driver is with your food. I chose the delivery time of “ASAP” and the food was delivered to my friends and I within the estimated delivery time (45 minutes on a Friday night in downtown Toronto – not bad).

Levetto

Since it was a frigid Friday night we decided to embrace our carb up. We ordered from Levetto, a fast casual chain Italian restaurant that makes their own homemade pasta and fresh pizzas. Right off the bat, we noticed that the portions were massive, more than enough for the three of us (even considering that my friends and I are all prone to overeating on the regular).

Romano Pizza

We kicked off the decadent carb-fest with a Romano Pizza. We had the Patate and it was delicious with thin slices of Yukon Gold with rosemary, green onion, grana padano, ricotta and lots of white truffle oil. We really liked their crisp, olive oil glazed, foccacia-like crust.

Carbonara

Next came our pastas…The Carbonara was piled high with smoky bacon, grana padano and scallions. The creamy sauce was a bit stiff and dried out given that carbonara is served best straight off the stove. But the many chunks of thick bacon made up for it. And the fact that the Carbonara could have fed three people alone.

Cavatelli Pasta

The Cavatelli Pasta was with a pea pesto, roasted red peppers, baby spinach and topped with ricotta and a drizzle of truffle oil. Mmm, in my mind, pesto + ricotta + truffle oil is the ultimate pasta trifecta.

Trecce Pasta

Finally, we had the Trecce Pasta which was a sundried tomato lover’s dream. It was also infused with garlic olive oil and topped with arugula and tons of goat cheese.

Final Thoughts

Overall, it’s definitely a convenient service for those meals where you can’t be bothered to face the cold, the lines and the wait. Skip the Dishes is offered all across the major Canadian cities, so if you would like to stay in and try the service yourself, Skip the Dishes has offered readers $7 off their first order of $25+ with this referral link.

In Fusion

Rolltation: Roll Your Own Sushi Burrito in Toronto

October 29, 2017

As someone who grew up on the West Coast, sushi is considered a basic food group. So when I moved to Toronto and heard about this magical invention that took my favourite fresh elements of sushi and rolled in into my drunk food of choice…I was very intrigued.

Last week, I attended the opening party for Rolltation’s newest restaurant at Yonge and Carlton. This is Rolltation’s third location in Toronto and their first franchised location. The restaurant is bright, with light wood accents and a Toronto graffiti mural wall. There is some booth and bar seating, but the restaurant is definitely geared for the grab & go customers.

We munched on octopus takoyaki balls as the owner introduced the new location.

Each of the guests were invited to roll their own sushi burrito. First, we watched the servers press the sushi rice onto the seaweed. Next I chose raw tuna as my protein. There’s also raw salmon and cooked beef, chicken, shrimp or tofu. For my vegetables, I chose cucumber, carrot and cabbage. My sauce of choice was the Sriracha Mayo. Finally, I topped it with tamago, tobiko and avocado. I definitely had a lot of fun choosing all my toppings because there was a large variety of fresh Japanese, Asian-inspired and vegetarian ingredients.

The sushi burrito was hard to roll (because I got so greedy with my toppings – no regrets), but thanks to some expert advice from the owner Chris, I managed to compress my hefty baby into something that sort of resembled a sushi burrito.

My masterpiece!

If you are the sort of person that gets overwhelmed by too many options, you can select from the eight signature burrito options, or several poke and salad options. Prices rage for the sushi burritos range from $9 to $15 and the portion sizes are large and filling.

If you’re looking for a personalized, fresh & filling lunch, check out Rolltation at 3 Carlton Street. Or you can order it online for pick up or from the Foodora app for delivery.

Address:
3 Carlton St, Toronto

Website:
http://rolltation.com/

In Seafood

Hogtown: Pub and Oysters in Toronto

October 26, 2017

Hogtown Pub and Oysters in Toronto is located in the Little Italy neighbourhood. I was meeting up with my friend Flo for a pre dinner meal while I was in town. Always good to catch up with friends over appies and drinks. They are a local favourite and have locally sourced produce where possible. You will also find a good amount of local craft beers on their menu too.

Interior

The restaurant is pretty narrow and has a good pub feel with all the picture frames on the walls and the booth style seating. Good for small to large groups.

Drinks

My friend got a ginger ale and I got Stiegl grapefruit radler, which is delicious, light and sweet. A good Summer drink.

Oysters

We got a dozen oysters for $30 and I thought it was a bit mediocre. If you’ve ever had a fresh West Coast Oyster, these didn’t compare. I think these were from the East Coast and it has more salty notes to the taste. If you love oysters, they do have some specials throughout the week if you want to save.

You can add some sauce to the oyster to give it some added taste. My personal favourite is always a drop of tabasco sauce.

Mussels

Mussels sauced with either white wine and garlic, zesty tomato or green curry. We went with white wine and garlic sauce and it was pretty delicious. There is toasted bread served with it too. The mussels inside the shells were pretty small sizes.

Sauteed Octopus

This dish has tender octopus served with chorizo sausage, purple fingerling potatoes and rapini tossed with their secret octosauce. It was a good dish that I really enjoyed.

Final Thoughts

Being from the West Coast in Vancouver, the seafood doesn’t compare, but since Toronto is far from either coast, I hear that local do love this place. Perhaps I just have higher standards since its readily available to me. It’s still a nice place to chill over drinks and bites with friends.

We rate Hogtown Pub & Oysters:

Address:
633 College St, Toronto

Website:
http://www.thehogtownpub.com/

In Dessert

Kekou Gelato: Asian Inspired Desserts in Toronto

October 25, 2017

When I was in Toronto, my friends highly suggested I go to Kekou Gelato for a taste of their unique flavours of gelato. They specialize in Asian-inspired frozen desserts. Since I sometimes have a sweet tooth, I couldn’t say no to coming here with my friends. I had less than 24 hours in Toronto, so I needed to eat as much as I could.

Interior

There are lots of tables inside this location and the line starts on the right side of the shop. It was late into the evening, but there was a good amount of people inside.

Tasting

There were lots of flavours to choose from, so I tried a bit of everything. How could I resist? All the flavours were pretty darn delicious, so it made deciding on one flavour very difficult.

In a Cup

One of my favourite ones that I tried was the HK Milk Tea gelato. I got it as one scoop in a cup. It was pretty smooth and made well. The tea flavour stood out and was addictive.

In a Cone

Instead of a cup, you can get it as a cone too.

If you are in Toronto for a visit, I would highly recommend this place for a nice sweet gelato treat. I sure enjoyed it.

We rate Kekou gelato:

Address:
394 Queen Street West, Toronto

Website:
https://www.facebook.com/kekougelato/

In Bar and Grill

Kellys Landing: A New Addition to the Financial District

October 6, 2017

Kellys Landing recently opened at Front and York, right across from Union Station. This is the newest location of the Landing group of restaurants and it’s biggest to date, with seating for 550. It’s more of an upscale bar and grill that caters to the Financial District crowd and those that are a fan of Cactus Club, King Taps or Milestones.

When we went on a Thursday night, it was packed with the after work crowd. It had a high energy atmosphere but the servers definitely know how to manage the crowds.

We sat were under the retractable roof which was open that night in the 25 degree weather.

Behind this fireplace is the outdoor patio which has several large patio seats as well as cozy fireplace couches.

At our server’s recommendation, we shared the Pan Seared Scallops to start. The three scallops were juicy and served on a lightly charred slice of pork belly and finished with a maple sherry glaze. The glaze was so addictive and made me proud to be Canadian…

God bless that maple glaze

The highlight of the meal was definitely Chef Marco’s famous Landing Carbonara. It was spaghetti alla chitarra with house-smoked chicken, local pork belly (one can never have enough pork belly), parmesan cheese and topped with a fried egg.

Check out that oozing food porn egg

We also ordered the 100Km Roast Half Chicken. The dish came with market vegetables, roasted herb potatoes and pan gravy. The maple cider chicken was satisfying but I didn’t taste the maple cider and I found that the gravy was too salty for my taste.

For dessert, we ordered the Sticky Toffee Pudding and the Mascarpone Cheesecake. The Pudding was soft and gooey with a chili salted caramel glaze that was amazing with the slightly melted vanilla ice cream.

Mascarpone cheesecake had a light and fluffy texture but unfortunately it didn’t have much taste, especially contrasted with the pudding.

All in all, Kellys Landing is high energy, well-located restaurant for large groups, after work drinks or if you’re en route to the Air Canada Centre. In the summer, I can definitely see how the patio will be a tourist favourite as well.

Address:
123 Front Street West, Toronto

Website:
http://kellyslanding.ca/

In Event

Celebrating 25 Years of Beretta Farm’s Good Food Journey

August 10, 2017

When I first received my invitation to this event, I honed in on two things: there would be an abundance of farm-to-table goodness & the suggested attire was “country chic.” I’m the girl who lined up an hour and a half for barbecue and I’m counting down the days until Boots & Hearts Country Music Festival, so this event could not have sounded more promising.

In honour of their 25th anniversary, Beretta Farms hosted a dinner at Wynchwood Barns, a historic streetcar facility that has been transformed into an arts and event space. As we approached the entrance, we were greeted by Priscilla, the whole roasted pig slowly spinning over the coals. Lucky for me (a carnivore), this event continued to impress with melt-in-your-mouth beef brisket, fresh cocktails and some classic Shania songs!

Since we were invited to learn about Beretta’s “Good Food Journey,” let me share their story with you. Beretta Farms is an organic meat producer based in Etobicoke, Ontario. Their founders, Mike and Cynthia Beretta, have been dedicated to producing healthy meat products since 1992, when they started their first farm as newlyweds in Huron Country. Today, they still own their 800 acre farm and they partner with other committed ranchers across the country. The best way for you to get a sense of what Beretta Farms is all about is to see for yourself below!

Here’s a snapshot of Beretta’s early years. They started off in Huron County but moved to a bigger farm in King City as demand grew, and they still operate the King City farm today.

Gingham + horseshoes = country, white flowers in mason jars = chic.

One of the talented chefs assembling a delicious pulled pork slider.

It’s like this event was tailor-made for me. I’m a gin girl through and through, and their signature cocktail was Beretta’s “Beef Eater” Gin with peach juice, sparkling water and fresh cranberries. They went down way too easy, but hey, cranberries are high in vitamin C!

This is their 12 hour smoked brisket with pear and cabbage slaw and a dab of Kozlik’s triple crunch mustard. It was fall apart tender and my favourite dish of the night. Let’s just say that the chef manning this station became very familiar with me…

These sliders were a bite-sized delight. They were served in a soft bun with pulled pork, caramelized onions and crunchy arugula. Why are miniature things so much more satisfying to eat?

Beretta’s team also prepared some Ocean Wise sustainable shrimp with a tequila lime chimichurri and red chili crème fraiche. These were a great contrast to the meat options.

Walter’s was serving their all natural craft Caesars at the event. While they were fine-looking Caesars, I didn’t try any as I don’t like the taste of Caesars in general. I know, it’s very unpatriotic of me.

Here’s one of their many desserts. Unfortunately, I couldn’t take a food blogger-worthy photo of the mini vanilla cupcakes and the flaky strawberry jam tarts but they were as good to eat as this cake was to look at.

I left the event happy and stuffed and with a heavy goody bag in tow. While the bag contained many culinary treats, my favourite item was Beretta’s own beef jerky. Man, I can never touch another piece of jerky from the gas station again.

I’d like to give a big shout out to Beretta Kitchens. This is Beretta’s “farm-to-fork” catering company and they did an incredible job. They definitely set the bar very high for the next few events I attend. If you want to experience a taste of Beretta yourself, you can find their products at retailers across the country.

Website: https://berettafarms.com/

In Dessert

Summer’s Ice Cream: Fresh, Homemade Ice Cream Since 1984

August 8, 2017

Summer’s Ice Cream Shop in Yorkville invited me to try their ice cream the other week and since I consider ice cream a major food group, I obviously obliged!

Summer’s Store front

Summer’s is a family-owned ice cream shop that’s been making homemade ice cream since 1984. Tucked away on Yorkville Avenue, it’s a great place to catch a break from the Toronto heat (and stilettoed ladies with tiny dogs). They have 24 flavours that are made in small batches daily. Since the shop was crammed with customers, it was difficult to take a photo of all their offerings. Instead, I decided to include a preview of their top flavours along with a recommendation of the type of person I think would enjoy them…

I apologize for the photos, they don’t have the most blogger-friendly lighting. For the full list of flavours, check out their website.

Chocolate Fudge Brownie: this is their most popular flavour, it has homemade brownies and rich fudge in Summer’s signature chocolate ice cream.

Pairs well with: that friend that never disappoints. They’re always down to grab beers, they actually carry cash, and they pick you up when you’re down (in life, beer pong, etc.)

Birthday Cake: chunks of real birthday cake swirled in vanilla ice cream

Pairs well with: that gal/guy that LOVES red velvet. And probably Taylor Swift.

Toronto Pothole: Almonds, marshmallows, peanuts, chocolate chunks

Pairs well with: the life of the party. Whether it’s keg stands or spontaneous karaoke, this person is full of surprises that will leave you with a stomach ache from laughing too hard (or drinking too much).

This girl is stressing hard about picking a flavour…

Yes…I was being judged by many passersby as I attempted to take this shot. Do it for the Gram right? That English butter toffee swirl though…

I tried a scoop of their Almond Butter Toffee in a freshly made waffle cone. The ice cream was made up of a creamy almond base with bits of toffee, crunchy almonds, and an English butter toffee swirl. It was very delicious. I wish I took the time to savour it but unfortunately I had to gobble it quickly as it was melting in the 27 degree heat. I don’t know what this choice says about my personality, but please feel free to slide your psychoanalyses into my DMs.

If you need a break from the boujee-ness of Yorkville, I recommended stopping by Summer’s Ice Cream. I rode the TTC in sweltering heat to try a scoop and I’d do it again. If you knew me and my low tolerance for the Toronto transit system, then you’ll know that means Summer’s is worth it. And if you’re unable to come by the store, their pints are sold at several retailers across Ontario like Loblaws, Sobey’s and Rabba’s. The Summer’s team was kind enough to let me take home a pint of their Pistachio ice cream. It reminded me of marzipan and was very tasty with some shaved coconut and berries.

Whoops I wasn’t able to take a picture of my delicious homemade sundae – the aesthetics weren’t “right” (which means I ate it before I could take a picture, sorry I’m only human).

Address:
101 Yorkville Ave, Toronto, ON

Website: https://www.summersicecream.com/

In Promotion

The Captain’s Boil Pirate Party: Celebrating the Launch of the Lobster Rolls & Lobster Bisque

July 14, 2017

The Captain’s Boil held a pirate-themed party on Toronto’s Tall Ship Kajima to celebrate the launch of their new Lobster Roll and Lobster Bisque. The ship was docked at downtown Harbourfront and attracted a lot of attention with its pirate flag, loud music and Instagram-worthy lobster pool floaties. As soon as we boarded the ship, we were greeted by an elaborate seafood spread. There were huge pots of shrimp, crawfish, king crab and of course, lobsters, displayed grandly like floral centerpieces at a wedding. There was also a photobooth with crustacean and Captain Jack Sparrow-themed props which many people (me included) took part in. Within an hour, the boat was filled with hungry bloggers, many dressed in their best sailor stripes.

Spotted: a king crab trying to photobomb and take attention away from the evening’s guest of honour: the lobster

Warning: several lobster rolls were harmed during the making of this photo.

While the ship and décor were fun and engaging, more importantly, the lobster rolls lived up to the hype. Large chunks of fresh lobster were tucked in between a toasted buttery bun, with crisp lettuce and a slice of bacon for good measure. We weren’t the only ones that inhaled our lobster rolls as quickly as we grabbed them. As soon as the servers emerged from below deck, they would be swarmed by hungry bloggers. If you couldn’t elbow your way to the front, you would be left hungry, disappointed and lobster roll-less. Good thing we made friends with one of the servers who kept us happily supplied with plenty of rolls.

This cocktail went really well with the lobster – there was also a lemonade soju and a mixed berry option.

After an ungodly amount of rolls were consumed, (it’s embarrassing how many we had, all in the name of “research”), we washed them down with some refreshing mango & passionfruit soju.

One of the brave servers on deck (no one wants to tell food bloggers that they have to wait a few minutes until the next round of food)

Mmm…

Next we tried the lobster bisque. They were served in small cups that made it way too easy to shoot down, one after the other. The bisque was delicious, savoury and creamy, but balanced with a tangy spice, similar to the Cajun and Asian flavours found in the famous Captain’s Boil sauce. Every serving of bisque had a chunk of lobster. The bisque was definitely tastier than other bisques or chowders I’ve tried, as those can be too heavy on the cream and potatoes with not enough seafood flavour.

To sum it all up, here’s what I have to say: I was lucky enough to experience fresh Nova Scotian lobster last summer and with the sea breeze (ok fine, the Lake Ontario wind) blowing and the fresh delicious seafood, it (almost) felt like I was back in Halifax! Since we Torontonians don’t have the luxury of local lobster, I suggest hurrying down to the nearest Captain’s Boil if you want a similar seaside-like experience.

The Lobster Rolls and Lobster Bisque launch July 15th. Downtown Toronto is home to three Captain’s Boil locations, with 16 restaurants in Ontario.

Website: https://www.thecaptainsboil.com/

In Airplane Meals

Air Canada Rouge: Toronto to Orlando

June 6, 2016

Off to our next destination – Orlando. From Vancouver, we made a stop in Toronto (YYZ) and then got on a connecting flight to Orlando (MCO). Air Canada doesn’t offer direct flights, so this was the only option at a cheaper price.

We were on the Air Canada Flight 1864 boarding at 2:45pm and arrives at 5:28pm. The duration of the flight is 2 hours and 41 minutes.

Our gate was awesome! There were a bunch of iPads available to use for free. We were able to catch up on the news and browse our Facebook before boarding.

The plane was an Air Canada Rouge fleet – Boeing 767-300ER. The economy section has a 2-3-2 seating configurations and can seat up to 256 passengers. In business class, it has a 2-2-2 configurations and seats 24 passenger.

There are no entertainment systems on board. They want you to rent their devices from them. Since it’s a pretty short flight, you might as well use your own device.

There is a power outlet for laptops under the seat in front of you. If you have an iPhone, there isn’t a USB charger, so make sure you bring the adapter with you. Since I basically carry an entire desk with me in my backpack, I am always set.

This time on the flight, I asked them for a whole can of soda. You can ask for a whole can and its free. You might as well since you do get a bit dehydrated from the flight.

They have food and snacks that you can purchase on the flight, but I never buy anything.

As we began descending to the Orlando International Airport, the weather changed quite dramatically from the dull cloudy skies to bright blue. Very smooth flight too with no issues.

Now, our journey to Disney World and Universal Studios begins!

Website:
http://www.aircanada.com/

In Toronto

UP Express: Pearson International Airport to Union Station

June 2, 2016

What is the best way to get to Downtown Toronto from Pearson International Airport? If you have a group of 4, it’s easier to take a bus, Taxi or Uber. If it’s just you and a friend, the new UP Express is a great alternative that is also cheap and fast. Since we had a long layover for about 6 hours, we thought it was the best way for only $12 to go to and from the Airport.

It gets travellers to and from the airport in 25 minutes, with trains departing every 15 minutes.

UP Express tickets can be purchased online, on your mobile device and at the vending machines or service counters at UP Express stations. I was a bit confused on what tickets to get since the names of the tickets aren’t intuitive.

Long Layover Return $12

You just need to return back to the Up Express within 7 hours.

Between Pearson and Union, UP Express stops at Weston and Bloor stations as well.

We just followed the signs and eventually get there. It was a bit of a walk from the Domestic arrivals, but the signs are pretty clear.

They have automatic doors that open when the train arrives. A cool feature that reminds me of the MTR in Hong Kong.

Trains are equipped with convenient amenities including:

WiFi
Flight disruption information
Overhead luggage storage
Luggage racks at access doors
Space for oversize baggage
Power outlets
Tray table on seat backs
Toronto events information

Once the train starts, one of their staff comes through the train checking tickets. When they make stops at Weston and Bloor stations, it’s very seamless and doesn’t stop for too long.

At every seat, there is a guide to the city. There might be some useful information to those new to the city, but since I knew where I was going, I didn’t have to read it.

Photo Credit: UP Express

Once we were at Union Station, everything is within walking distance. We didn’t have any luggage with us, so we didn’t feel weighed down.

Since we did arrive really early at 9am, we headed off to St. Lawrence Market for a snack before meeting up with a few friends.

Website: https://www.upexpress.com/

In Airplane Meals

Air Canada: Vancouver to Toronto Red Eye

June 1, 2016

Air Canada Flight 1172 from Vancouver (YVR) to Toronto (YYZ) departs from YVR International Airport at 12:25am and arrives at 7:55am at Pearson international Airport. Total time of about 4 hours and 30 minutes.

As this is a domestic flight even though we were on our way to Orlando, Florida. There are a lot of connecting flights that go through Pearson International. Air Canada didn’t have a direct flight to Orlando.

We check-in online 24 hours ahead of time, checked our seats, and got our tickets loaded onto our phones. We also had to check a bag in, so it cost us $25USD. Pretty annoying how it’s in USD, but we didn’t have a choice.

Since it was late at night, going through security was seamless. Staff were very friendly and if you are Canadian, you can show your passport, Drivers License or Government issued ID.

None of the shops or stores are open, so you won’t have anything to do to kill time waiting for boarding. There is Wifi, so as long as you have a device of some sort, you can browse the internet.

It was a packed flight, so they asked that anyone with a carry on that wanted it checked in for no additional price can do so.

The row configuration is 2 -2 in Business class with 14 seats and then in Economy class, a 3-3 configuration with 169 seats. They use their Airbus A321-200 fleet.

The seats have a USB outlet, touchscreen entertainment system and an outlet for charging other devices like laptops.

They have pretty recent movies like Star Wars: The Force Awaken.

Once the plane lifts off, they offer passengers a complementary beverage and the option to buy any snacks or meals off their menu. I went with water because I always get so thirsty on flights.

Most of the flight, everyone is sleeping. There was a bit of turbulence, so there was announcements once in a while to make sure people have their seat belts on .

Once we get closer to Toronto, they offer another complimentary beverage.

This time I went with tomato juice since it tastes a lot better in the air. There were studies done where loud noises suppress sweet flavours and enhance savoury ones.

The flight wasn’t eventful, which it shouldn’t be. We were able to sleep through the plane ride with no issues. I can fall asleep even with the loud engine noises as it is a consistent noise.

We got to Toronto and had a long layover, so we explored the city for a little bit a met up with a few friends before heading off to Orlando.

Website:
http://www.aircanada.com/

In Brunch

Le Neuf Cafe: Brunch in Toronto

November 4, 2014

Le Neuf Cafe is located near Spadina and King by Clarence Square Dog Park. This cafe is cute because it’s located among a row of cozy town houses. The cafe is founded and staffed by lifelong Parisians, so you may get a bit of some attitude when ordering.

Flo took us here when we were in Toronto and it was a delight to try some authentic French brunch.

It was very busy when we came here at 10:30am, but barely managed to get a table for 5.

Cappuccino ($3.75) is large and topped with a good amount of foam.

Benedicto ($12.90) has prosciutto, basil, tomato, and hollandaise. You can choose it to be served on top of brioche or english muffin. There are sides of homefries and salad. The egg was poached perfectly and oozed all over the brioche bread.

Mediterranean Galettes ($13.95) is a savoury crepe with prosciutto, fresh tomato, basil and mozzarella. The galette was really good!

French Toast ($11.50) is served with fruit, cinnamon butter, housemade caramel and topped with powdered sugar.

Overall, the food is pretty decent and the cafe has a really nice charm. Service is ok, but if you ask for customizations, the staff might get feisty.

We Rate Le Neuf Cafe:

Address:
9 Clarence Sq
Toronto, ON

Website:
http://leneufcafe.com/

In Deli

Caplansky’s Delicatessen at Pearson International Airport in Toronto

November 3, 2014

Caplansky’s Delicatessen has been pitched on Dragons Den in 2011 to expand his business by opening food trucks, but was unsuccessful. He went on again to pitch a second time, but still unsuccessful due to their evaluation.

When I was in Toronto, I saw them at special events, but didn’t have time to stop by their truck. They have claimed to have Downtown Toronto’s best smoked meat, so when I was at the airport, I knew it was my last chance to give it a try.

In August 2014, they opened their first franchise at Toronto Pearson Airport in Terminal 3 after the security check. They bring their famous BBQ beef brisket and deli classics like blintzes and kniches to people traveling out of Toronto. I had dinner here before my flight back to Toronto.

They have a dining area and also a take out area for people in a rush. It was really busy during dinner time, but I had to give it a try before my flight. You will find them near gate B39.

Coke ($3) is what I ordered to quench my thirst and add a little kick of caffeine without drinking coffee.

Smoked Meat Deli Sandwich ($9.95) comes with a slice of pickle.

The quality of meat was ok, but wasn’t as succulent as they portrayed on tv. The smoked meat with pretty lean, but did need their signature mustard to add more flavour. This item was featured on Diners, Dive-ins and Dives, but it doesn’t look the same, but perhaps its because it’s a franchise.

We Rate Caplansky’s Delicatessen:

Address:
Terminal 3
6301 Silver Dart Dr Mississauga, ON

Website:
http://www.caplanskys.com/

In American

Holy Chuck: Best Burger in Toronto

August 17, 2014

During my visit to Toronto, there was one place I was dying to try out – Holy Chuck Burgers. I tried going on my trip to Toronto earlier in the year but it was closed due to the long weekend.

This time, I made it a mission to come here and I am glad I did. They opened in 2011 and have been serving quality burgers ever since. They hand roll their patties every hour, which are made of aged high quality steak. Their most popular burger – Holy Chuck burger was named the best burger in Toronto by a few celebrity chefs. Plus, have been rated one of the Top 100 restaurants in Toronto for 2014.

Looking at the menu, there are a lot of choices and everything looks pretty good. You’ll be staring at this board for a while trying to figure out what to get.

Holy Chuck Burger ($9.99) is a double cheese burger with bacon and caramelized onions. Everyone at the table ordered this and you can get it cooked to any wellness level. Fabo got her burger patty done to Medium.

Everyone loved this burger and you can tell the patties were so juicy and full of flavour!

Mmmm everyone was so addicted to this burger. Yum! I would highly recommend this. It’s quite a simple burger with a few ingredients, but it all works together really well.

Grind n’ Shine Burger ($10.99) with hand cut crispy fries ($3.49).

The Grind n’ Shine Burger is a double cheeseburger with bacon, caramelized onions, topped with crispy potato chips and a fried egg. Oh boy, was this delicious!

The fries were ok, but it wasn’t all the crispy. Some were limp and some were crispy.

Just take a look, it look amazzzzing! The differing textures works well, especially the egg, potato ships and the onions.

Overall, this place does have delicious burgers and oh man, the patties are juicy and dripping with flavour! I’ll definitely be back for more.

We Rate Holy Chuck Burgers:

Address:
1450 Yonge St,
Toronto, ON

Website:
http://holychuckburgers.com/

In Brunch

Lola’s Kitchen: Brunch in Toronto

May 24, 2014

I came to Lola’s Kitchen about two years ago during my last visit to Toronto. I remember it being good and super busy during the weekends. Fabo, M and I came here on the Easter Long Weekend and they were closed on the Friday and Monday. But, it was good they were open on the Saturday and Sunday. I needed a brunch-fix.

Blackberry-Cherry Ginger Lime Soda (Small $3) they suggested we can top it off with some soda to make it a large. We didn’t mind and she highly recommended it.

Cranberry- Raspberry Limeade (Small $3) I did the same for this drink too. It didn’t dilute any of the drinks at all.

It was good and there are a few other daily juices on their special menu. The other one was orange juice.

Eggs Benny ($13) includes english muffin, grilled peameal bacon, two poached organic eggs, house made hollandaise and your choice of salad, frites or Lola’s home fries. Fabo chose the frites. She enjoyed this dish but she did enjoy the Mushroom benny more than the regular benny.

Brunch Burger ($16) has Ontario all beef burger, grilled peameal bacon, caramelized onions, Lola’s cheese blend, sweet pickles, housemade ketchup, garlic aioli, challah bun and a sunny organic egg with your choice of salad, frites or Lola’s home fries. M chose the homefries.

The burger looked so much better than the one I had last time. M really enjoyed the burger.

When you put the top of the bun on top, it looks huge! The patty is monstrous and all the extra meat was delicious.

Brunch Bowl ($13.50) is gluten-free. It has Lola’s home fries, baby spinach, caramelized onions, mushrooms, chorizo sausage, cheese curds and two organic eggs any style. I got my egg sunny side up.

It was good. A good size for brunch and I was very happy with it.

Overall, the brunch was pretty good and always get sunny side up eggs because the gooey yolk is so good! The downside of going to Lola’s is that the wait for your meal can be quite long. We waited for a long time before getting our food.
We Rate Lola’s Kitchen:

Address:
634 Church Street,
Toronto, ON

Website:
http://www.lolaskitchen.ca/

In Cafe

Aroma Espresso Bar: Coffee Time

May 23, 2014

M, Fabo and I were taking a very long stroll to the movie theatres near Eglinton. It took us a while to figure out its a long walk from Bloor and Younge. We took a break half way and went to Aroma Espresso Bar to have a drink.

We have seen several Aroma Espresso Bars around town. Aroma Espresso Bar actually first opened in Jerusalem in 1994, but it wasn’t until 2007 when the first Canadian store opened in Toronto in the Annex area.

It was a Sunday afternoon and this place was busy. They serve coffee, sandwiches, pastries, salads, and even breakfast.

Brewed coffee ($1.70) is made with their own house-blend of beans. It comes with a piece of milk chocolate.

Cappuccino ($3.95) is made with a short shot of espresso, blended with steamed milk, and topped with froth. It also comes with a piece of chocolate.

Mango Smoothie ($4.85) is apparently made with 100% real fruit. M thought it was ok, pretty average. But it was nice that it came with a piece of chocolate too.

Overall, it a nice place to stop by for a drink. We saw some people study and some other people catching up over drinks.

We Rate Aroma Espresso Bar:

Address:
1407 Yonge St
Toronto ON

Website:
http://www.aroma.ca/

In Cafe

Dark Horse Espresso Bar: Coffee in Toronto

May 16, 2014

When exploring Toronto, always ask the locals where to go. Dark Horse Espresso Bar popped up in that list and we were on our way! We like a good cup of coffee and Starbucks or Tim Hortons wasn’t going to cut it.

There are 4 locations of Dark House all around Downtown Toronto. We went to the location on Queen West. A lot of people have said this is the best coffee in Toronto. Huffington Post says its a great place to do some work. Also on BlogTO, best cafe on the West Side.

The interior was narrow and had seats along the wall and a bit more in the back.

They have a good variety of coffee. Even French Presses and Pour Overs if you have time to stick around. I find that it’s a nice place to hangout with friends.

Once you order at the counter, you wait for your beverage to be created by their amazing baristas. I love hearing the sound of milk being steamed.

Cappuccino ($3.33) was delicious. It had a nice bold espresso flavour with the lovely heart on top.

The place was packed on a weekend, but some tables freed up quite quickly.

We Rate Dark Horse Espresso Bar:

Address:
684 Queen Street West
Toronto, ON

Website:
http://darkhorseespresso.com/

In Four Beakers

Bar Isabel: Canada’s Best New Restaurant

May 4, 2014

My most recent trip to Toronto to visit a few friends over the long weekend was a blast. I got to catch up with old friends and chill. Flo recommended we hit up Bar Isabel as it is one of the hottest restaurants in town. I am not familiar with any restaurants in Toronto, so she made reservations a few weeks in advanced and we got a spot. This experience in Toronto was created in partnership with momondo.

It is highly recommended you have reservations before you come dine here or else you might be out of luck. The open everyday from 6pm – 2am.

They serve up spanish tapas and are best known for their grilled octopus. They have been named Canada’s Best New Restaurant 2013 by Air Canada’s enRoute magazine. Also, they have been named one of Toronto’s top restaurants in 2014 by Huffington Post.

The interior is pretty cool. It’s a bit dark inside and really red. It was really hard to take photos in here. To have a good time, groups of 2 or 4 are best.

Hopeless Mermaid ($16) has Elyx vodka, St.Germain elderflower liquor, fresh lime and grapefruit juice, rich ginger syrup, Angostura bitters, and grapefruit zest.

We Choose Yer Own Adventure ($15 – $20) is great for indecisive people. The server will have a chat with you to see if you like refreshing/light or bold/sturdy drinks. Then, they will choose something for you.

Roundhouse ($16) has Auchentoshan 12yr scotch, Jameson Irish whiskey, Los Arcos amontillado sherry, bad azz orgeat, fresh lime juice, Angostura bitters, and lemon oils.

All the drinks were pretty good! Pricey…but the quality was really good.

Cured Meat Plate ($16) has some pickled vegetables and you can choose 3 types of cured meats from the menu. We chose chorizo, beef carpaccio and coppa.

Bread ($4) was soft in the centre and has the crunchy crust.

Spicy Fried Squid ($8) has crispy tongue and kale on top. The squid is very soft and tender. I found that the tongue and the kale didn’t add anything special to the squid to accentuate the flavours.

Smoked Sweetbreads ($18), has raw tuna, spicy pickled green tomato, and brown butter. If you don’t know what sweetbreads are, it’s not what you think. It’s really glands from an animal. This dish tasted pretty good and the sweetbreads had a chewy spongy texture to them.

Albacore Tuna Tiradito ($14) has asian pear, celery, jalapeño and fried rosemary. It had a good assortment of ingredients that pairs nicely with the tuna.

Whole Sea Bream Ceviche ($26) was pretty awesome! It even comes with the deep-fried fish carcass and on top of that is the ceviche. Very delicious!

1/2 Grilled Octopus ($34) was my favourite part of the meal. The half-size was plenty enough for the 4 of us. Wow, this octopus was tender. When you bite into the tentacles, the suction cups just fall apart in your mouth. Hands down best octopus I’ve ever eaten. It has great flavours! I still think about this dish a few times a week. MmmMmmmm so good!

Leche Frita & Salted Dulce de Leche ($6) this was my favourite dessert. It was really delicious and the sweetness and flavours were nicely put together. It was like a churro.

Salted Dark Chocolate Ensaimada ($7) was ok, not as good as their other 2 desserts. The star here is the salted chocolate ice cream. The ensaimada didn’t add much to the dish.

Basque Cake ($8.50) has Sherry Cream all over it. The cake was moist and the sherry cream was perfect with it. So simple but so good. My other friends thought this was the best dessert.

Overall, the four of us had a good time at Bar Isabel. The food was good and I would definitely come back.

We Rate Bar Isabel: