tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64540679719556202342024-03-13T17:20:16.713-07:00the food adventures of lumico ♥Despite their polar differences, Amy and Lulu do share two things: 1) passion for food and 2) a great long distance friendship. Created as an outlet to share each other's experiences, they hope to show you all culinary goodness Vancouver and Toronto has to offer!
Lumicohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14777763829480960537noreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454067971955620234.post-7602401303137674822015-04-28T19:44:00.000-07:002016-04-28T20:17:13.836-07:00IBM Cognitive Cooking and Creative PoutineEver have one of those days where you have a few ingredients here and there but don't know what dish you can make without running to the grocery store to buy another few items? Worry not, as Chef Watson can help. When given a handful of ingredients, IBM's Chef Watson can use that data to create new and original recipes.<br />
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Named after IBM founder Thomas Watson, IBM Watson is a cognitive computing system that thinks like a human. Chef Watson is part of IBM's efforts to explore if a machine can be creative. Watson can sift through mass amounts of data, recognize patterns, make connections and organize information the same way a human brain would. (If you want to see the massively intelligent Watson, watch <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lI-M7O_bRNg" target="_blank">this video</a> of it owning at Jeopardy!).<br />
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The cool thing about Chef Watson is its ability to analyze billions of times more information than a human chef could consider and to be able to create new, surprising recipes that would actually taste good to most people. I don't think Chef Watson is meant to replace real chefs, but rather to make life easier or provide inspiration.<br />
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As a sponsor of last week's <a href="http://lapoutineweek.com/toronto" target="_blank">La Poutine Week</a>, IBM hosted a poutine tasting event in Toronto (also one in Montreal) and featured five unique poutine recipes that reflect the cultural make up and cuisine preferences of the cities' residents.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Source: Watson Press Kit</i></td></tr>
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<a name='more'></a>I was very happy to be invited to this tasting event, and definitely enjoyed trying all the different type of poutines. Seeing the real food product really put things in perspective for me as to how technology like cognitive cooking and cognitive computing could touch our lives. Here are the poutines that were showcased that night. None of them were your ordinary poutine and all of them were delicious! (Please excuse the quality of the photos. Some of the food stations didn't have enough lighting..)<br />
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In addition to the fun side of things, cognitive cooking can also bring lots of social benefits, such as developing menus for hospitals and schools to meet very specific dietary needs in combinations that actually taste great. It can also help us cut waste through effective meal planning in our everyday lives. I found this technology to be very fascinating and if you want to learn more about IBM Watson, check our their <a href="http://www.ibm.com/smarterplanet/us/en/ibmwatson/" target="_blank">website</a>. They even have a Chef Watson cookbook available on Amazon!</div>
Luluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10538654276890765445noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454067971955620234.post-37265586731450611712015-02-10T18:15:00.002-08:002016-04-28T19:44:30.420-07:00Winterlicious at The Drake Hotel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://thedrakehotel.ca/" target="_blank">The Drake Hotel</a> was the first placed I made reservations for from my <a href="http://hungrylumi.blogspot.ca/2015/01/top-picks-for-winterlicious-2015.html" target="_blank">list</a> of restaurants this year. I picked it not only because it's a place I've always been eyeing, but also because they source locally for their ingredients. I'm not a vegetarian, but they do offer lots of vegetarian options, which I also appreciate. A snow storm was hitting Toronto, but that didn't stop us and it was so worth the trek! </div>
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<a name='more'></a>We wanted to be closer to the windows and I loved the bookshelves on the walls. So homey and cute!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soup of the day: Beets and cabbage borsch</td></tr>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="more"></a>Borsch is my favourite type of soup so I had no hesitation when the waitress told us the soup of the day. The soup item varies, but will always feature a winter root vegetable. The soup was very heart and savoury, but was a little salty for my taste. The sour cream and dill as garnish did balance it out a little though.<br />
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The salad on the other hand was very refreshing. The dish was very well presented, and there were lots of surprises each bite due to all the different types of ingredients. I loved the mixture of different textures. Ingredients include: quinoa, rye berry, wild rice and pearled barley with sheep's feta, thick yogurt, brussels sprouts, squash, pickles, carrot, zucchini and maple vinaigrette.<br />
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The bavette, which is another name for flank steak, is made from naturally raised Ontario cows. On the side there are roasted baby red potatoes, broccoli, wild mushrooms, and the oh-so-delicious beef jus. As you can see, the sides of the steak are charred. While the inside was a perfect medium, the sides of the steak were a little bit too burnt and bitter for my liking. The beef jus was spot on. I think steak is best served like this as you can taste the real and natural taste of the beef, instead of having a sauce that overpowers it.<br />
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If your first thought was Swiss Chalet when you saw rotisserie chicken, you are not alone. While I do love Swiss Chalet, Drake's rotisserie chicken was on a whole different level. The chicken was super tender and amazingly juicy. Even without the chicken gravy on the side, the chicken was still flavourful, probably also because of the herbs on top. The wild rice stuffing was a great addition to the chicken, adding to the heartiness. It may look like a small plate, but worry not, as I am told that a grown man was very full from it. </div>
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Caramel may not be my flavour, but this custard was perfect. It was not overly sweet, and the cranberry preserve added a good tang to it. The cinnamon shortbread was also a nice small treat on the side.<br />
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The plate included goat cheese, house made seed toasts and compote, which is kind of like a sauce made from fresh fruit cooked in syrup.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Super cute coaster!</td></tr>
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All in all I was extremely pleased with my first dinner experience at the Drake. Our dinner as on the night of the Super Bowl, but even with the crowd our waitress was very attentive and our water glasses were always full. I will definitely go back again to eat, and I've heard great things about their rooftop patio, or Sky Yard, so I'm putting it on my to-do list to check it out in the summer. The Drake Hotel is also a top boutique hotel in Toronto, so perhaps a staycation destination? </div>
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Taste: ★★★★☆</div>
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Environment:★★★★★</div>
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Service: ★★★★★</div>
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Price: $$$</div>
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<a href="http://thedrakehotel.ca/" target="_blank">The Drake Hotel</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.google.ca/maps/place/The+Drake+Hotel/@43.643255,-79.424594,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x882b35001adabff1:0x4bd4cc8717937dde" target="_blank">1150 Queen Street West</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.google.ca/maps/place/The+Drake+Hotel/@43.643255,-79.424594,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x882b35001adabff1:0x4bd4cc8717937dde" target="_blank">Toronto, ON M6J1J3</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/10/131516/restaurant/West-Queen-Street-West/The-Drake-Hotel-Toronto"><img alt="The Drake Hotel on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/131516/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a>Luluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10538654276890765445noreply@blogger.com1The Drake Hotel43.6431078 -79.42464569999998543.6430573 -79.424724699999985 43.6431583 -79.424566699999986tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454067971955620234.post-83429020654036585322015-01-26T08:00:00.000-08:002015-01-26T08:00:04.856-08:00Dine Out Vancouver 2015: La Terrazza <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><a href="http://www.dineoutvancouver.com/listings/La-Terrazza/18811/0/">La Terrazza</a></i> has been on my radar for quite some time now, but somehow always manages to get overlooked. This year, I finally took the opportunity to try it out as their Dine Out menu price is very reasonable compared to their normal prices. I was pretty surprised at how spacious yet cozy their interior was and made myself a mental note that next time I would definitely consider this place for a special occasion. </div>
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Our meal started off with amazing truffle meatballs topped with a thick tomato sauce and some parmesan cheese. The meatballs were dense and carried the spicy tomato very well. This appetizer just made me wonder how mouthwatering their pastas would be. </div>
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Someone decided to splurge and go for the roasted lamb racks, and what a great decision that was! The lamb was so melt-in-your-mouth tender, buttery and juicy with just a hint of game to it. I usually like to douse my lamb in sauces to really amp it up but the natural flavours in this dish were so succulent that the even the light pea puree was enough to compliment it. It's funny how we were both really impressed with the lamb as just moments before our first bite we were actually just discussing how we've yet to come across <i>really</i> good lamb. The Agnello came with a side of potato pave which acted as a nice, creamy wrap up to the dish. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Agnello ($15.88 Supplement)</td></tr>
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It took every ounce of self discipline in me to not order the pasta dish but to try the Cioppino instead. I was not disappointed as all the seafood in here was really fresh and chorizo-tomato broth was a light alternative to my usual hearty preferences. That said, I do wish that this dish had just a little bit more seasoning to it and maybe a longer cooking time for the flavours of the broth to really seep into the potatoes. Potatoes aside, I was very satisfied with everything else in the Cioppino and especially enjoyed the crusty bread to soak up the broth. </div>
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Clearly, the pig in me out shined the blogger in me that night, because I completely failed at taking pictures of my dessert before I demolished it. I will go out there though, and say that both the desserts on their Dine Out menu are amazingly delicious. Honestly, the vanilla creme brulee sounded...well, vanilla. But one decadent bite of custardy heaven after, I was won over. The tiramisu was an equally divine concoction of mascarpone and moist sponge cake, topped with a raspberry and chocolate shavings. </div>
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To my pleasant surprise, I was absolutely stuffed at the end of the meal. I was expecting fine dining portions and hasty dine out preperations but no, <i>La Terrazza</i> delivers quite well in both terms of quality and quantity. Couple that with friendly, attentive service and suddenly I've got myself a new favourite. Everyone, make sure you don't miss out on La Terrazza! Oh and to all the vino lovers, I hear they also boast quite an extensive wine list :)</div>
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Taste: ★★★★★</div>
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Environment:★★★★★</div>
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Service: ★★★★★</div>
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Price: $$$</div>
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La Terrazza<br />
1088 Cambie St<br />
Vancouver, BC<br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/14/181059/restaurant/Yaletown/La-Terrazza-Vancouver"><img alt="La Terrazza on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/181059/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02582856473155888022noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454067971955620234.post-39655833464727266022015-01-25T15:19:00.001-08:002015-01-25T15:26:34.721-08:00Dine Out Vancouver 2015: Baru Latino<span style="text-align: justify;">It's that time of year again! I'm sure for all the fellow foodies out there, </span><a href="http://www.dineoutvancouver.com/" style="text-align: justify;">Dine Out Vancouver Festival </a><span style="text-align: justify;">is like a second Christmas, the perfect chance to try something new, have a really good value meal, or just to pig out for no reason. Perusing the menus was half the fun, so this year after endless clicking and scrolling, I decided to kick off the event with </span><i style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.dineoutvancouver.com/listings/Baru-Latino-Restaurante/20409/0/#dineoutdinnermenu">Baru Latino</a></i><span style="text-align: justify;">. </span><br />
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I braved my tastebuds and opted for the Chili Prawns to start. The heat was actually very tolerable in this dish, especially paired with the lime. Only downside was that it was quite small.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VFEGko5lSE4/VMHovAD6VqI/AAAAAAAAAQc/1H2PIv47tRg/s1600/IMG_2219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VFEGko5lSE4/VMHovAD6VqI/AAAAAAAAAQc/1H2PIv47tRg/s1600/IMG_2219.jpg" height="280" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chili Prawns</td></tr>
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I chose the Paella Baru for my main course as it was a cocktail of many things that I love - chorizo, seafood medley and salsa. The flavour in the rice was well infused and there was a good amount of seafood mixed in there, but it just didn't have that wow factor to it. I found it kind of odd that this dish was served with flatbread since it there wasn't really any excess moisture that could have been used for dipping. I also would have appreciated a nicer presentation but I guess for Dine Out purposes they just make this in a big batch and scoop it onto a plate?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-06v_aVctb6Q/VMHowGUptCI/AAAAAAAAAQo/BQ4dFqyt5oM/s1600/IMG_2227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-06v_aVctb6Q/VMHowGUptCI/AAAAAAAAAQo/BQ4dFqyt5oM/s1600/IMG_2227.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paella Baru</td></tr>
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<a name='more'></a>There was only one dessert option and it was by far the best dish out of the three. The flan was incredibly thick and creamy bursting with caramel flavour. However, as the flan itself was very sweet already, I think it could have gone without the berry reduction on top. I did like the smear of mango sauce though as it was very refreshing and added a little extra tang to counteract the heaviness of the flan.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zdBa-L7opS0/VMHov-UWbXI/AAAAAAAAAQg/snLmkB3kxpM/s1600/IMG_2232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zdBa-L7opS0/VMHov-UWbXI/AAAAAAAAAQg/snLmkB3kxpM/s1600/IMG_2232.jpg" height="270" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Latin Flan w/ Caramel </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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From the food aspect I still enjoyed my dining experience at <i>Baru Latino. </i>Service was friendly but our food took a painstakingly long time (half an hour!) to arrive. I'm in no hurry to come back for a follow up visit, and would probably list this place under my "been there, done that" checklist.<br />
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Taste: ★★★☆☆</div>
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Environment:★★★☆☆</div>
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Service: ★★☆☆☆</div>
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Price: $$$</div>
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Baru Latino</div>
2535 Alma St<br />
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Vancouver, BC</div>
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/14/180132/restaurant/Kitsilano/Baru-Latino-Vancouver"><img alt="Baru Latino on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/180132/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02582856473155888022noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454067971955620234.post-59264277135674253692015-01-15T12:11:00.000-08:002015-02-10T18:12:26.756-08:00Top Picks for Winterlicious 2015It's that time of year again where, after a short month of rest from all the belly stuffing during Christmas holidays, more eating! Although I shouldn't use the term "stuffing" for this culinary event as it is all about exploring and really enjoying what the Toronto culinary scene has to offer. <br />
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Before I go into my 2015 Winterlicious wish list, I wanted to highlight previous restaurants that I have been to during previous Winterlicious/Summerlicious events since they are also on this year's list: </div>
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<i><a href="http://www.ariaristorante.ca/%E2%80%9D" target="”_blank’">Aria</a> (<a href="http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=f34a91cb228c9410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD&key=90C446E4CBE7A9978525794F0070378D" target="_blank">Menu</a>): </i>I would still recommend it for the delicious food, yummy wine, friendly service as well as awesome decor. Great for a girl's night out or a romantic date. </div>
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<i><a href="http://www.bigdaddys.ca/" target="_blank">Big Daddy’s</a> (<a href="http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=f34a91cb228c9410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD&key=D7EF0F49ADCF491A852574DC006FE80F" target="_blank">Menu</a>): </i>You can't go wrong with their clam chowder, fried pickles or jambalaya. </div>
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<i><a href="http://www.ciaowinebar.com/" target="_blank">Ciao Wine Bar</a> (<a href="http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=f34a91cb228c9410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD&key=5F5D1F61FBC944BD852570130073BB4A" target="_blank">Menu</a>): </i>Very good deal for what it's worth. The food and vibe is great. Good for friend gatherings or romantic dinners. </div>
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<i><a href="http://www.lamaquette.com/" target="_blank">La Maquette</a> (<a href="http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=f34a91cb228c9410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD&key=8769C6976BEDEF3585257004007B5337" target="_blank">Menu</a>): </i>Best place for a <a href="http://hungrylumi.blogspot.ca/2013/03/la-maquette.html" target="_blank">romantic</a> dinner with candlelit dinner by a fireplace accompanied by live music. Also, did I mention lobster? <i> </i></div>
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<i><a href="http://www.weslodge.com/" target="_blank">Weslodge</a> (<a href="http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=f34a91cb228c9410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD&key=BF8BBECB90EE4C8885257CD70068F9FD" target="_blank">Menu</a>): </i>Cutting edge decor and innovative dishes without the hefty price tag. The scotch egg is delicious.<br />
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I will probably revisit any one of these restaurants this year if I can manage. This will also be my first year attending one of the <a href="http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=8648df3d56182410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD" target="_blank">culinary events</a> as part of Winterlicious. <i><a href="http://hungrylumi.blogspot.ca/2013/04/rosewater.html" target="_blank">Rosewater</a> </i>is no stranger to me so I am super excited about this one:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i984Ad8IiNM/VK3i11K7DVI/AAAAAAAAA_c/n505eR-rNOo/s1600/Rosewater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i984Ad8IiNM/VK3i11K7DVI/AAAAAAAAA_c/n505eR-rNOo/s1600/Rosewater.jpg" height="400" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://libertygroup.com/ipadcompat/events/winterlicious_rosewater.html" target="_blank">Source</a></i></td></tr>
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Every year I try to check out new places, so here are my top 5 picks for Winterlicious 2015 (in alphabetical order):<br />
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<i><a href="http://americarestaurant.ca/" target="_blank">America Restaurant</a> (<a href="http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=f34a91cb228c9410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD&key=7FC69396F558D92D85257D86005BF8D9" target="_blank">Menu</a>): </i>I was invited to the restaurant opening launch party and the food was amazing. The mac and cheese was probably the best I've ever had.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ju9icctsO1s/VK3lv_Cf_uI/AAAAAAAAA_w/jUmvlGGAefo/s1600/DSC04099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ju9icctsO1s/VK3lv_Cf_uI/AAAAAAAAA_w/jUmvlGGAefo/s1600/DSC04099.jpg" height="345" width="500" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_2ijPnDLYU8/VK3i_dFE7rI/AAAAAAAAA_k/JkR_NeeaHYs/s1600/America.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_2ijPnDLYU8/VK3i_dFE7rI/AAAAAAAAA_k/JkR_NeeaHYs/s1600/America.jpg" height="158" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://americarestaurant.ca/" target="_blank">Source</a></i></td></tr>
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<i><a href="https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CDQQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedrakehotel.ca%2Fdining%2F&ei=hjC3VIvNMomiyQSFnIGQDg&usg=AFQjCNEw_q1IgVs9NO2k53v9r-KORaxEXA&sig2=ZHuiRbcyzYay5ybvGUAp7A&bvm=bv.83640239,d.aWw" target="_blank">Drake hotel</a> (<a href="http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=f34a91cb228c9410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD&key=EBE4D2CD1AF5E00C852570040077DE26" target="_blank">Menu</a>)</i>: Seasonal comfort food and reinvented classics in a fun environment at one of Toronto's most popular boutique hotel.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Eems39yoAfQ/VLcsoamdS4I/AAAAAAAABAM/7-NLaqcT2t0/s1600/drake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Eems39yoAfQ/VLcsoamdS4I/AAAAAAAABAM/7-NLaqcT2t0/s1600/drake.jpg" height="332" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://notable.ca/nationwide/restaurants/Summer-School-Dining-Hall-at-The-Drake-Hotel" target="_blank">Source</a></i></td></tr>
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<i><a href="http://www.habitsgastropub.com/" target="_blank">Habits Gastropub</a> (<a href="http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=f34a91cb228c9410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD&key=5BC695DCB496C42585257AA8004806C8" target="_blank">Menu</a>)</i>: Cozy college street bar offering local and fresh ingredients, with a great craft beer and whisky collection. They have 7 choices for the main entree! Good for groups that want to try various dishes.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8QfB8xSJokE/VLc0nxIC6BI/AAAAAAAABAg/WsUGMNdsrC0/s1600/Habits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8QfB8xSJokE/VLc0nxIC6BI/AAAAAAAABAg/WsUGMNdsrC0/s1600/Habits.jpg" height="331" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.habitsgastropub.com/" target="_blank">Source</a></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<i><a href="http://www.templekitchen.com/" target="_blank">Mildred's Temple Kitchen</a> (<a href="http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=f34a91cb228c9410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD&key=442A83C8DB27F101852574DC00706B99" target="_blank">Menu</a>)</i>: Nicely lit with lots of natural lighting and with a vast space, the restaurant offers market fresh contemporary dishes. I'm definitely having the chicken and waffles, but too bad I can't have their legendary fluffy buttermilk pancakes as dessert. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uHvu-vTZjxU/VLc6arnggmI/AAAAAAAABAw/kjaix_xqVwY/s1600/mildreds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uHvu-vTZjxU/VLc6arnggmI/AAAAAAAABAw/kjaix_xqVwY/s1600/mildreds.jpg" height="283" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.jacquelynclark.com/category/tackling-toronto/" target="_blank">Source</a></i></td></tr>
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<i><a href="http://www.volos.ca/" target="_blank">Estiatorio VOLOS</a> (<a href="http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=f34a91cb228c9410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD&key=0FB731B6707F7BBA8525795100549265" target="_blank">Menu</a>)</i>: An authentic but modern expression of Greek dining that takes you beyond typical Greek clichés. Lobster with feta cheese? Yes, please. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uU6IXzPK2kA/VLc7S426_jI/AAAAAAAABA4/IBnRFtKC7HQ/s1600/volos.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uU6IXzPK2kA/VLc7S426_jI/AAAAAAAABA4/IBnRFtKC7HQ/s1600/volos.JPG" height="284" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.volos.ca/" target="_blank">Source</a></i></td></tr>
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Be sure to make your reservations quick as lots of the restaurant bookings fill up fast!<br />
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Luluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10538654276890765445noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454067971955620234.post-86504814195663562692015-01-08T14:01:00.000-08:002015-01-17T14:44:32.970-08:00Recipe: Raspberry Oreo Chocolate Cheesecake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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For a friend's birthday during Christmas holidays, I decided to make a cake. Her roommate is allergic to gluten, so I had to whip up something that didn't have any flour. After scrolling through Pinterest, I came across this recipe and I absolutely loved it. I'm not a huge fan of cheesecake, but the Oreo cookie base and chocolate ganache topping made it irresistible. The red raspberries also add to the colours of Christmas. I like this recipe as it doesn't require any icing or decoration, which saved me a lot of time!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aGirUf-egLY/VKDLYFPXBWI/AAAAAAAAA-0/bH7khMWxliY/s1600/DSC04269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aGirUf-egLY/VKDLYFPXBWI/AAAAAAAAA-0/bH7khMWxliY/s1600/DSC04269.JPG" height="347" width="500" /></a></div>
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Ingredients:</div>
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*For the Oreo crust, you can choose between making your own from Oreo cookies, or buy the oreo baking crust in a box. I have tried both ways and the results are the same. I usually go for the box if I can find it since it's less work and I don't want to waste the icing filling. </div>
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<b style="text-align: justify;">Oreo crust from Oreo cookies:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>20 Oreo cookies, remove the fillings</li>
<li>1/4 cup granulated sugar</li>
<li>5 tablespoons of melted butter </li>
</ul>
<span style="text-align: justify;">Otherwise, follow instructions on the baking crumbs box</span><br />
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<b style="text-align: justify;">Cheesecake:</b><br />
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<li>8 ounces of cream cheese, at room temperature</li>
<li>2/3 cup granulated sugar</li>
<li>1/2 cup sour cream</li>
<li>4 large eggs</li>
<li>1 teaspoon vanilla extract (you can also use raspberry extract for a tangy twist)</li>
<ul>
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</ul>
<b>Chocolate ganache topping:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped</li>
<li>4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped</li>
<li>1/2 cup heavy cream </li>
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</ul>
<b>Raspberry topping:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>2-4 boxes fresh raspberries </li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Baking tools needed:</span><br />
<ul>
<li>9 x 3 inch springform pan with removable bottom (normal cake pans will make it much harder so I do suggest using a springform one) </li>
<li>electric hand mixer or stand mixer with <a href="http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/2014-06/2/17/enhanced/webdr04/enhanced-16993-1401745200-25.jpg" target="_blank">paddle attachment</a> </li>
<li>measuring cups and spoons</li>
<li>spatula </li>
<li>whisk</li>
</ul>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6KW0rmMmttc/VKXMsxdqcDI/AAAAAAAAA_A/htwZUSeo3ts/s1600/DSC04256.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6KW0rmMmttc/VKXMsxdqcDI/AAAAAAAAA_A/htwZUSeo3ts/s1600/DSC04256.JPG" height="329" width="500" /></a></div>
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<b style="text-align: justify;">Instructions:</b><br />
<b><br /></b><b style="text-align: justify;">Oreo Crust:</b><br />
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<ol>
<li><span style="text-align: justify;">Preheat oven to 350°F. Crush Oreo cookies to small bits or crumbs, whichever you like as long as they are smaller than half a finger nail. Mix crumbs with sugar. Add melted butter and mix until combined. </span></li>
<li><span style="text-align: justify;">Press cookie mixture into the bottom of a 9 x 3 inch springform pan. Bake for 10 minutes and remove to cool completely. </span></li>
</ol>
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<b style="text-align: justify;">Cheesecake:</b><br />
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<ol>
<li><span style="text-align: justify;">Reduce oven temperature to 325°F. </span></li>
<li><span style="text-align: justify;">Use hand mixer or stand mixer with paddle attachment to mix together cream cheese, sugar and sour cream until well combined, about 2 minutes. Beat in each egg one at a time, mixing well before adding the each egg. Mix in vanilla or raspberry extract and pour onto Oreo crust. </span></li>
<li><span style="text-align: justify;">To avoid crust from burning, set the springform pan on a piece of wide aluminum foil. Fold the foil up the sides without any tears. </span></li>
<li><span style="text-align: justify;">Set the pan in a large baking dish or roasting pan and pour in boiling water to reach halfway up sides of the springform pan. I also tried will room temperature water and it works the same in case you don't have boiling water handy. </span></li>
<li><span style="text-align: justify;">Bake for one hour at 325°F. Turn off the oven and prop the door open and let the cake cool for an hour. Remove from oven and let cool completely before removing carefully from springform pan. </span></li>
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<b style="text-align: justify;">Chocolate ganache topping:</b><br />
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<li><span style="text-align: justify;">Place chopped chocolate in a small bowl and set aside. The smaller the pieces the better as they will melt better. </span></li>
<li><span style="text-align: justify;">Heat heavy cream in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until small bubbles appear at the outside edge of the cream. Careful not to let the cream boil. </span></li>
<li><span style="text-align: justify;">Pour hot cream mixture over the chocolate, and using a small whisk, gently stir from middle out until a smooth shiny mixture.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-align: justify;">Allow the chocolate ganache to cool slightly and then pour over the cheesecake. </span></li>
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<b style="text-align: justify;">Raspberry topping:</b><br />
<span style="text-align: justify;">Place raspberries on top the chocolate ganache covered cheesecake. You can choose to cover the whole cake or just to have a circle around. </span><br />
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<i style="text-align: justify;">Tips:</i><br />
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Make sure raspberries are completely dry after wash before placing on top of the chocolate ganache topping. </div>
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If you are tight on time, I've tried letting the cake cool in room temperature for 20 minutes after the bake. I kept it in the freezer overnight and added the chocolate ganache topping the next day. If you do this, make sure the cake is defrosted before pouring on the chocolate ganache or it the ganache will freeze as your pour on and it will be hard to spread and you will lose the nice and smooth shiny texture.</div>
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Hope you enjoyed this recipe! It was adapted from <i><a href="http://hipfoodiemom.com/2014/07/30/raspberry-cheesecake-with-oreo-crust-for-nationalcheesecakeday/" target="_blank">Hip Foodie Mom</a></i>.<br />
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<i>Get the printable recipe version or save as a PDF by clicking on the printer icon below! Click to delete any parts or photos you don't need to save ink.</i></div>
Luluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10538654276890765445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454067971955620234.post-1829152997531734862015-01-04T14:04:00.002-08:002015-01-04T14:04:38.545-08:00An Afternoon at Butter Avenue<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
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<a href="http://www.butteravenue.com/" target="_blank"><i>Butter Avenue</i></a> has been on my list of dessert places for the longest time, but I never got to visiting the store as it is a bit out of the way for a downtowner like me. The main location is on Yonge street in a nice neighbourhood between Lawrence and York Mills. They also recently opened a second location downtown (yay! much closer) on Queen Street close to Spadina. </div>
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We each ordered a different type of dessert to try and an iced coffee and latte. The coffee was good but pretty standard, and I was a tiny bit disappointed that my latte didn't have latte art. </div>
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I didn't have any macarons at the store, but did buy some to go. My favourite flavours are lychee raspberry and dark chocolate. </div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">The pistachio tart was sweeter than expected. I loved the bright pink and bright green color combination. It was almost too cute to eat! The tarty raspberry macaron and raspberries did help balance the sweetness of the pistachio a little and overall made the pistachio tart enjoyable.</span><br />
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In comparison, the chocolate mousse cake was less sweeter than expected, probably cause of the dark chocolate ganache. I liked the santa chocolate adding to the festivity of the season. The cake was very chocolatey and rich, and went well with my coffee. It was a classic, and I wouldn't recommend if it you are looking for a surprise or something more out of the ordinary.</div>
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The store was fairly spacious, with about 4 small tables. It is good for pairs or bigger groups since you can easily move the tables and chairs around. I didn't find that there was much around to do in the area, but a nice afternoon at Butter Avenue would definitely be well spent. </div>
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Taste: ★★★★☆</div>
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Environment:★★★★★</div>
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Service: ★★★★★</div>
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Price: $$</div>
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<a href="http://www.butteravenue.com/" target="_blank">Butter Avenue</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.google.ca/maps/place/3467+Yonge+St,+Toronto,+ON+M4N+2N3/@43.7341617,-79.4044203,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x882b32ea5f99431d:0x9e790c8e31a3abaf" target="_blank">3467 Yonge Street</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.google.ca/maps/place/3467+Yonge+St,+Toronto,+ON+M4N+2N3/@43.7341617,-79.4044203,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x882b32ea5f99431d:0x9e790c8e31a3abaf" target="_blank">Toronto, ON M4M2N4</a> </div>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/ButterAvenue" target="_blank">@ButterAvenue</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/10/1646451/restaurant/North-Toronto/Butter-Avenue-Toronto"><img alt="Butter Avenue on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1646451/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a>Luluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10538654276890765445noreply@blogger.com0Butter Avenue43.7341617 -79.4044202999999743.7334447 -79.405680799999971 43.7348787 -79.403159799999969tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454067971955620234.post-13476560940428953452014-08-16T12:26:00.000-07:002014-08-16T12:26:40.660-07:00Let Down at Locus Lounge <div>
Waking up naturally on a sunny Sunday with no particular plans in mind is the ideal condition for growing brunch dates. Even though I adore <a href="http://hungrylumi.blogspot.ca/2012/09/love-at-first-bite-cafe-medina.html">Cafe Medina</a> to no end, my curiosity and aversion to block-long line ups on the most popular brunch day of the week led me to <i>Locus Lounge</i>! The place exudes a dark, gothic vibe when it comes to its decor, so I was very surprised to learn that they served brunch.<br />
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<i>Locus Lounge</i> has quite an extensive brunch menu, so it took us a while to finally decide what we wanted. First up was the Huevos Rancheros. I was expecting a hearty mess of ingredients thrown together but their version was surprisingly light and refreshing. I would have liked the salsa to have more kick in it but overall this dish managed to keep me on my toes without being too overbearing. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Huevos Rancheros $13</td></tr>
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Exotic ingredients always catch my eye so I knew I had to try the Pulled Wild Boar Benny. My anticipation of gracing my tastebuds with tangy, fluffy, tear-jerking pulled boar was met with nothing other than disappointment. The meat was bland and any hint of its flavour was quickly stifled by the running yolks of the poached egg and hollandaise sauce. While this dish still made for a nice filling brunch, it sadly did not deliver the fireworks I was expecting. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pulled Wild Boar Benny $13</td></tr>
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I'm sure for people who live in the area will most certainly make <i>Locus Lounge</i> a brunch spot staple. However, the most memorable part of this meal for me was the complimentary bread basket (which was absolutely delicious, by the way, with three types of breads and two spreads to choose from!) and its friendly service. It's a quaint spot to drop by once a while as its decor is certainly special (but perhaps not to everyone's tastes) and it will do the job nicely if all you're looking for is some good old eggs benny to warm up your belly.<br />
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<span style="line-height: 20px;">Taste: ★★</span><span style="line-height: 20px;">★</span><span style="line-height: 20px;">☆</span><span style="line-height: 20px;">☆</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 20px;">Service: ★★★★</span><span style="line-height: 20px;">☆</span></div>
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Locus Lounge</div>
4121 Main St<br />
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Vancouver, BC 5V5 3P6</div>
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/14/181104/restaurant/Riley-Park-Little-Mountain/Locus-Lounge-Vancouver"><img alt="Locus Lounge on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/181104/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02582856473155888022noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454067971955620234.post-43161969056643157172014-08-01T00:37:00.000-07:002014-08-01T08:13:33.493-07:00A New Favourite: Siena Restaurant Tucked just ever so slightly away from the hustle and bustle of Broadway and Granville sits <i>Siena, </i>a nice little neighbourhood gem. The space is small but inviting, with its use of wood and its handwritten chalkboard of the daily specials. Unfortunately, since we had a later reservation, many of the special items were already sold out.<br />
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Nonetheless, <i>Siena</i>'s staple menu still had many things that caught my eye. I'm always a little iffy when it comes to pork tenderloin because often times it can end up being tough. This was certainly not the case as the pork came out to be melt-in-your-mouth good. Even though the portion did not look intimidating, I'm sure I would have been satisfyingly full if I had polished this off on my own.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>While this was a very ordinary dish, it turned out to be exceptionally delicious. The tomato sauce is hearty, full of flavour with a hint of spice, leaving me one very content diner. <i>Siena'</i>s pasta would easily be one of my top picks if I ever had to choose!<br />
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At this point I was already really full from my meal, but I am never one to say no to dessert! The hazelnut torte was a nice way to round off a meal, but otherwise it wasn't anything too amazing. We didn't end up finishing the torte as it was really sweet.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Double Chocolate Hazelnut Torte</td></tr>
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I enjoyed my meal at <i>Siena</i> very much and would highly recommend this place whether it be a small intimate date or a large festive gathering as they do have tables to accommodate both. Judging by how much I enjoyed their main dishes, it won't be long before I come back to sample some of their other menu items, especially those sell-out dailies!<br />
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Taste:★★★★☆</div>
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Environment:★★★★☆</div>
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Service: ★★★★★</div>
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Price: $$</div>
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Siena</div>
1485 W 12th Ave<br />
Vancouver, BC V6H 3J5<br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/14/1649324/restaurant/Fairview/Siena-Vancouver"><img alt="Siena on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1649324/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02582856473155888022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454067971955620234.post-79731049820182850622014-06-10T19:06:00.002-07:002014-06-10T20:41:50.476-07:00CraveTO: Senses Ignited<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The <a href="http://www.craveto.com/" target="_blank">CraveTO</a> event was, in my opinion, a huge success. It was my first time at Wychwood barns and I love the venue. The last food event I had gone to was at Evergreen Brick Works, so I was mainly comparing this event to that. I really liked that Wychwood barns had lots of places to seat, whether it be the grass, concrete steps or plastic tables and chairs on the sand. </div>
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When we arrived at 7, there was a fair amount of people, but it got more crowded as the night went on.<br />
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Our first stop was to grab a drink at <a href="http://dillons.ca/" target="_blank">Dillon's</a>. I did not know about them before this event, but the cuteness of their set up and the pastel colours immediately drew my attention.<br />
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<span style="text-align: start;">Dillon's Distillery has 4 signature spirits, and their gin and rye were featured that night. We got to choose between Rhubarb Blossom and </span><a href="http://dillons.ca/honey-rye-lemonade" style="text-align: start;" target="_blank">Honey Rye Lemonade</a><span style="text-align: start;">. They were very generous with the alcohol and almost half of my small plastic cup was rye. Although a bit strong for me, the drink tasted very good. I liked the citrusy flavour and freshness. </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.asadamexicangrill.com/" target="_blank">Asada</a> was at the top of my <a href="http://hungrylumi.blogspot.ca/2014/05/craveto-ignite-your-senses.html" target="_blank">to-try list</a> for this event. For the night, they offered 2 selections, chorizo or pulled pork, in burrito or taco form. The burritos were pre-rolled so I went for the tacos as I wanted to see the ingredients.<br />
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I was fully expecting to like the chorizo more, but pulled pork won my heart instead. Probably because of all the sauces and toppings, the chorizo's savouriness was overpowered. The pulled pork taco on the other hand was perfect. The BBQ sauce was an ideal balance between savoury and sweet.<br />
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The staff also showed me other items on their menu in-store. She definitely succeeded in getting me to want to venture out to the store one day!<br />
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<a href="http://oysterboy.ca/" target="_blank">Oyster Boy</a> was offering P.E.I Malpeques. I love oysters and I love Oyster Boy, so I really had to limit myself or I would be glued to their booth slurping dozens of oysters and missing out on everything else. </div>
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Tocino Boys was also a food vendor that I was really looking forward to visiting. Just thought of sweet bacon made me feel all giddy! I loved the sweet chorizo and it was definitely worth waiting in line for. I also really liked the fact that they were bite sized because I was really getting full and wanted to try more things. </div>
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Pizza Libretto was not on my list to try, but they were too cute to resist. The palm sized portion was also very manageable. I did find it to be a bit on the salty end for me though. <br />
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By the time we got to the sweets I was already bloated. But there's always room for dessert right? It was around 8:30 or 9 when we got to <a href="http://sweetsammies.ca/" target="_blank">Sweet Sammies</a> and they are almost sold out! This triple c (chewy chocolate chip cookie with chocolate ice cream) ice cream sandwich was the last one left. It was delicious and I wouldn't have ended my night of food in any other way. </div>
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Although I was really looking forward to having the fish tacos from the Food Dudes, I was way too full and I was getting a bit tired from a long day at work to line up. Their line was the longest of all vendors, so it goes to show how good their food must have been! I'll have to keep in mind to go to them first if I see them at another event.<br />
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All in all I truly enjoyed my time at this CraveTO event. The weather was perfect, the food was delicious and it was a great venue. I thought there was just the right amount of space and people - not overcrowded but also busy enough. We had a great time trying out to eats and drinks and had fun meeting new people.<br />
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If you haven't attended any <a href="http://www.craveto.com/" target="_blank">CraveTO</a> events, you should definitely go! They have another event coming up at the end of this month called <a href="http://www.craveto.com/toronto-food-event-2/2014/06/03/craveto-is-returning-to-honest-eds/" target="_blank">CraveTO Get Local</a>.Luluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10538654276890765445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454067971955620234.post-36232074658408874362014-05-26T20:40:00.000-07:002014-05-30T20:15:14.030-07:00CraveTO: Ignite Your Senses One of the main reasons why I have learned to love Toronto is because of how multicultural it is and how much the city embraces that. The <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/492533267514471" target="_blank">CraveTO event</a> that I was invited to this Friday is the perfect example. This upcoming food event features unique independent street vendors selling various types of food and cuisines. The event lineup also includes craft beers and Toronto DJs. What better way to enjoy food than with music and beer?!<br />
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<a href="http://www.craveto.com/" target="_blank">CraveTO</a> is an outdoor festival showcase of Toronto street food, craft beer and DJs.The event<br />
was created to promote Toronto’s cultural movement towards local food and drink, and<br />
showcase the creators driving this movement.<br />
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Event Information:<br />
<b>Date: </b>Friday May 30, 2013. 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm<br />
<b>Venue: </b>Wychwood Barns, 601 Christie Street<br />
<b>Tickets: </b>$16.75 each. Buy tickets <a href="https://www.uniiverse.com/listings/craveto-ignite-your-senses-tickets-toronto-DBMZS/1401483600" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<b>How it works: </b>Tickets are for general admission. Beer and food offerings will be additional at around $5 each.<br />
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Here are some of my top picks to try:<br />
<a href="http://www.asadamexicangrill.com/" target="_blank">Asada</a>: I have never tried their food, but I will never say no to tacos and burritos...more guacamole please!<br />
<a href="http://thefooddudes.com/foodtruck/" target="_blank">Food Dudes</a>: Speaking of tacos, the <a href="http://instagram.com/p/mWmM69ESdR/" target="_blank">fish tacos</a> at the food dudes are amazing. Must try.<br />
<a href="http://oysterboy.ca/" target="_blank">Oyster Boy</a>: This one should be self-explanatory. Oysters will always be a yes.<br />
<a href="http://sweetsammies.ca/" target="_blank">Sweet Sammies</a>: I had tried their <a href="http://t.co/gOr7eF9nX6" target="_blank">ice cream sandwiches</a> at a previous food event, and they are a must! Dessert doesn't get better than this.<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/TocinoBoys" target="_blank">Tocino Boys</a>: Filipino food is new territory for me, but sweet bacon and chorizo sounds very enticing.<br />
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For a full list of the line up, visit <a href="http://craveto.com/lineup/">http://craveto.com/lineup/</a>.<br />
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I am very much looking forward to this event, and am excited to be attending with a fellow food blogger at <a href="http://www.chew-street.com/blog/" target="_blank">Chew Street</a>!Luluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10538654276890765445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454067971955620234.post-73467919444059517802014-04-10T18:03:00.000-07:002014-04-10T18:10:26.133-07:00High Tea at Lobby Lounge, Shangri-La<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The <i>Lobby Lounge</i> is located right by the entrance in the lobby (hence the name, probably) of the Shangri-La Hotel. As soon as you enter, you can hear the elegant sounds of live piano and feel the warm and tranquil vibe. The area is very spacious with many large comfortable couches holding many cushions and pillows. </div>
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The $40 per person (before taxes and gratuity) high tea menu is predetermined and includes a selection of desserts, sandwiches and scones, with your own choice of teas from an extensive tea list. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Selected Tea Cakes</span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Temptation</b></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Layers of chocolate ganache, raspberry compote, chocolate sponge and soft chocolate crémeux</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Tropical Bombe</b></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Passion fruit bavarois, calamansi gelée and coconut crunch</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Pineapple Verrine</b></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Caramelized pineapple. ginger cream and génoise cake</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Vanilla sponge, citrus curd, raspberry and pink pepper meringue</span></div>
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The rich and chocolatey Temptation was the only cake that I went back for second and third bites, but the other desserts were fairly good too. I definitely appreciated that the sweets were all very delicately made and unique.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Warm chamomile and traditional plain scones</span></div>
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The scones were my absolute favourite and were definitely the highlight of my afternoon. The fluffiness of the warm scone paired with the rich cream and tart berry jam was to die for - calling it heavenly to me would be an understatement. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Selection of Finger Sandwiches</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Roasted chicken and grain mustard mayonnaise on mixed seed bread</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Egg and watercress with crispy Serrano ham on whole wheat</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Lobster and chive with curried mayonnaise on brioche roll</span> </div>
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The sandwiches were also very delicately made but tasted more standard to me.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9mONwWUSWZo/UyZoqVjGQVI/AAAAAAAAAlU/Vjk_ENVzAzM/s1600/DSC02803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9mONwWUSWZo/UyZoqVjGQVI/AAAAAAAAAlU/Vjk_ENVzAzM/s1600/DSC02803.jpg" height="400" width="276" /></a>My tea was called Blue Moon and the tea library described it as a "blend of black tea, flowers, berries, and berry essence. Rare and unique experience with rich and beautiful aroma carried by an intense and invigorating earthiness".<br />
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I did notice that the teas were mainly from countries such as India, Japan and China. The teapot and teacups also had oriental designs.<br />
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Overall I had a wonderful time at <i>Lobby Lounge</i> and am already planning my next visit! I do want to remind you that their schedule does pack up very quick. If you want to come here on the weekend, it is definitely a good idea to call ahead a week in advance. They ask for your credit card for a deposit in case you do not show up.<br />
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Taste:★★★★★</div>
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Environment:★★★★★</div>
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Service: ★★★★★</div>
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Price: $$</div>
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Lobby Lounge</div>
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Shangri-La Hotel</div>
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<a href="https://www.google.ca/maps/place/188+University+Ave/@43.6492855,-79.3858557,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x882b34cdfffd71f1:0x6901a84ea7a264ae" target="_blank">188 University Ave.</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.google.ca/maps/place/188+University+Ave/@43.6492855,-79.3858557,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x882b34cdfffd71f1:0x6901a84ea7a264ae" target="_blank">Toronto, ON M5H 0A3</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/10/1730343/restaurant/Entertainment-District/The-Lobby-Lounge-and-Bar-Toronto"><img alt="The Lobby Lounge and Bar on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1730343/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a>Luluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10538654276890765445noreply@blogger.com0Shangri-La Hotel43.6492855 -79.38585569999997943.6492405 -79.385934699999979 43.6493305 -79.38577669999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454067971955620234.post-28668592410372150772013-08-02T08:21:00.003-07:002013-08-03T14:09:15.858-07:00Foraging for Fresh Eats!<i>*Excuse us once again for the unexpected hiatus... we've been doing some more rampaging around the world :)</i><br />
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Ah, <i>Forage</i>, back when it was young, fresh and unexplored. Their newly minted menu seemed full of potential, and the concept of sustainable dining was a plus. Our friends and I came in here with great expectations that grew even larger upon seeing their decor -- simple, clean and modern, with a touch of rustic. Our server was extremely attentive, patiently answering all our questions and giving recommendations of his own. All was well...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smoked Albacore Tuna $22</td></tr>
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The first dish to arrive was the smoked albacore tuna. The tuna was pretty nicely cooked as it had retained lots of moisture and flavor. I especially enjoyed the pickled vegetable and berries on top as it added an extra kick of sweetness to the fish.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roast Bison Bone Marrow $15</td></tr>
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This dish was probably the most anticipated of the night. While the presentation was pretty cool (you'll feel extra carnivorous trying to dig at a giant bone sawed in half), the taste was wholly missing. I am not kidding when I say this dish tastes like a lump of fat with some bread. Even as a lover of <a href="http://hungrylumi.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/suika.html" target="_blank">fatty meats</a> I was not impressed.<br />
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Given that this is a stew, I would have liked it to be much more hearty. While it was good, it seemed like it could have used a couple more hours simmering in the pot.<br />
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I especially liked the bouncy texture of the skin, but overall these pierogies were quite bland in taste. The chips up top did add a nice crunch to supplement the soft bite.<br />
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Sadly, the burger was probably the best dish of the night. It wielded the most flavor and satisfaction factor as it had a big juicy slab of smoky meat with fresh toppings. I especially liked their home-made ketchup to go with the thick-cut fries. It was almost like a salsa which I found to be especially refreshing after downing the heavy burger.<br />
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While the crab cake was nice, I'd have to say the superstar of this dish was definitely the salad. There's just something about that dressing! Otherwise, the crab cake itself is quite standard.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BC Spot Prawn & Seafood Chowder $12</td></tr>
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To be honest, I held high hopes for <i>Forage </i>because it had such a nice interior as well as yummy looking dishes. Unfortunately, my expectations were not met and I had left the restaurant full yet unsatisfied. Don't get me wrong, the food is alright, but if you're looking for something to really hit the spot, <i>Forage</i> wouldn't be the place to turn to. Of course, our visit took place shortly after their opening, perhaps they've improved by now?<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Taste: ★★</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">☆</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">☆</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">☆</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Service: ★★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">★</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Forage<br />1300 Robson St<br />Vancouver, BC</span><br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/14/1714696/restaurant/Robson-Street-West-End/Forage-Vancouver"><img alt="Forage on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1714696/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; padding: 0px; width: 104px;" /></a>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span>Lumicohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14777763829480960537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454067971955620234.post-64084233011266368942013-05-16T00:00:00.000-07:002014-12-15T18:01:26.168-08:00Thumbs up for Sansotei<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Since last year when <a href="http://hungrylumi.blogspot.ca/2012/08/kinton-ramen-talk-of-town.html" target="_blank"><b>Kinton Ramen</b></a> opened, numerous other ramen joints started popping up in various corners of downtown Toronto. Amongst them is <i><a href="http://sansotei.com/" target="_blank">Sansotei Ramen</a></i>, which is one of my favourites. It took me this long to blog this place because I always get too excited and dig in before I can take photos!</div>
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<i>Sansotei</i> keeps it quite simple with their menu selection. They only have 4 types of ramen soup bases for you to choose from (tonkotsu, miso, shoyu, and tonkotsu shoyu), but you get to choose between thin, original, and thick for the thickness of your noodles. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miso Ramen with Thin Noodles ($9.50 + tax)</td></tr>
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Although their menu recommends thick noodles for miso ramen, I opted for thin noodles. The bowl of ramen comes with yolky egg, pork belly chasu, corn, bean sprouts and green onion sprinkled on top. I have been to <i>Sansotei</i> many a times and have felt that the consistency in the soup base isn't always there. I always order miso ramen, and some days it's a bit more salty and other days the perfect flavouring. I remember one particular time when we went first thing in the morning and my miso ramen was extra garlicy and very delicious!<br />
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The tonkotsu ramen ingredients are a bit different from the miso one. It includes black fungus, pork belly chasu, yolky egg, and green onion. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tonkotsu Ramen with Original Noodles $9.25 + tax </td></tr>
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The original noodles are only a little bit thicker than the thin ones. I thought that they were a little bit more chewy. The tonkotsu soup base is more meaty and you can definitely taste the pork flavour. You can't go wrong with this classic. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zangi $4.50 + tax </td></tr>
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The term "zangi" has a similar meaning to the widely known "chicken karaage" and is used in areas such as Hokkaido. Since the first time ordering this deep fried chicken, it has become a must-have every time I come here. The fried batter is cripsy but not overly hard and the chicken is very juicy! The small portion is just right since the bowl of ramen can get pretty filling. </div>
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The gyoza here is also worth ordering if you want some dishes to share in addition to ramen. They were perfectly cooked, with the skin thin and crispy without being too dry. </div>
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Although <i>Sansotei</i> has been opened for a while, the line ups can still get pretty long especially on weekends during dinner time. The restaurant itself is very small but the seating isn't too cramped. I would definitely recommend to plan ahead and try and go during non-peak hours if you can in order to avoid waiting. Also, they aren't open on Sundays - guess who's made that mistake before.. </div>
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Taste:★★★★★</div>
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Environment:★★★★★</div>
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Service: ★★★★☆</div>
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Price: $</div>
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<a href="http://www.sansotei.com/index.html" target="_blank">Sansotei Ramen</a></div>
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<a href="https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=179+Dundas+Street+West++Toronto,+ON&hl=en&sll=56,-96&sspn=50.63237,156.09375&hnear=179+Dundas+St+W,+Toronto,+Toronto+Division,+Ontario+M5G+1Z8&t=m&z=16" target="_blank">179 Dundas Street West </a></div>
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<a href="https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=179+Dundas+Street+West++Toronto,+ON&hl=en&sll=56,-96&sspn=50.63237,156.09375&hnear=179+Dundas+St+W,+Toronto,+Toronto+Division,+Ontario+M5G+1Z8&t=m&z=16" target="_blank">Toronto, ON</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/10/1701932/restaurant/Downtown-University-of-Toronto/Sansotei-Ramen-Toronto"><img alt="Sansotei Ramen on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1701932/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; padding: 0px; width: 104px;" /></a>Luluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10538654276890765445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454067971955620234.post-57087921451251261412013-05-09T16:45:00.001-07:002014-06-10T20:36:58.394-07:00The (Best) House on ParliamentOn Saint Patrick's day weekend, friends and I went to <i>The House on Parliament</i> for some hearty brunch before filling our stomachs with green beer. Sitting in Cabbagetown, this pub is very cozy and has a patio, a bar, and seating in the front and back of the place.<br />
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They have a special weekends only menu for brunch, so we all selected from that list.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eggs Parliament $10</td></tr>
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The Eggs Parliament is the traditional eggs benedict with a twist. The 2 poached eggs sit on a toasted english muffin topped with smoked mozzarella and is covered by hollandaise sauce with crispy double smoked bacon sprinkled on top. On the side, there is also plum tomato chutney, home fries, and fruit. I especially loved the smoked mozzarella and plum tomato chutney combination. Usually richness of hollandaise sauce makes me feel a little sick after the first benedict, but not here! If I had to be picky, I'd say there could've have been more meat on top of the sprinkled bacon bits.<br />
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The Scotch Breakfast was quite an interesting dish to me. It is basically pheasant and cognac scotch egg wrapped by wild boar meat into a ball and fried. Then they cut it in half and slather hollandaise sauce on top. The part about wild boar did not particularly interest me, but I gave it a try anyway. To my surprise, it didn't taste gamy as I had expected, and the meatiness made up for the lack of in my Eggs Parliament.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Number 27 $13</td></tr>
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Now this baby is what we call meaty! The 8oz sirloin patty sits on lettuce and tomato, and is topped with a poached egg, peameal bacon and hollandaise on a sesame egg bun with frites on the side. Needless to say, the burger was substantial and heavenly. Usually, a burger ain't a good burger without ketchup to me, but the hollandaise sauce was quite fitting in this case and definitely complimented the burger.<br />
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The food was plentiful and the environment was very homey and cozy. The service, however, was another story. Our waitress seemed a little out of it and spoke in a voice that was barely audible. Instead of using her voice, she would resort to poking us with her finger, which I found weird and unprofessional.<br />
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Taste:★★★★★</div>
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Environment:★★★★★</div>
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Service: ★★☆☆☆</div>
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Price: $$ (for brunch)</div>
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The House on Parliament<br />
454 Parliament St<br />
Toronto, ON<br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/10/132388/restaurant/Cabbagetown/The-House-on-Parliament-Toronto"><img alt="The House on Parliament on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/132388/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; padding: 0px; width: 104px;" /></a>Luluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10538654276890765445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454067971955620234.post-1540958078571639952013-04-26T01:20:00.000-07:002015-01-15T09:10:26.123-08:00Winterlicious: Rosewater<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<em>We went on a short vacation and now we're back! Be on the look out for posts from our mini Eurotrip! </em></div>
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Another Winterlicious stop I made was at <em>Rosewater.</em> The pricing was very reasonable and we loved that they offered wine pairings with each of the courses on their Winterlicious menu. As soon as I entered the restaurant, I was mesmerized by the decor as well as the great ambience. Their friendly staff greeted us right away and offered to check our coats, which is always a plus! </div>
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We were seated in the Rosewater Room in the upper floor but I liked that we could look down the balcony and get a great view of the bar and lower dining area. <br />
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We didn't find the bread to be anything special, but the whipped butter was very much appreciated by our party. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Butternut Squash Soup</td></tr>
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Butternut squash soup is one of my favorites and I really liked it. The texture was thick and the flavour was rich.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fire-Roasted Chicken Breast</td></tr>
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I hadn't expected much of the chicken breast, but as a matter of fact, it was quite delicious! The chicken was juicy and tender while the sauce was meaty but not overpowering the chickens original taste. The bread pudding also caught me off guard since I've never tried it with a savoury sauce. To my surprise, the sweet and the savoury did not clash but rather went quite well together. That sauce was definitely a key ingredient to the overall success of the dish.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vQlWrnvDHjw/UTffZWWhwBI/AAAAAAAAAeY/HEEFthIFF3I/s1600/DSC02114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="338" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vQlWrnvDHjw/UTffZWWhwBI/AAAAAAAAAeY/HEEFthIFF3I/s400/DSC02114.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chocolate Mousse Bomb (?)</td></tr>
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The dessert option was slightly different from the original Winterlicious offering, so thanks for understanding if I got the dessert name wrong. This dessert was quite the bomb! It is a ball of dark chocolate coated chocolate mousse sitting on a crunchy hazelnut flakes base. It was no surprised that the mouse would be really rich and sweet, so the sour berry sauce on the side was good for leviating some of that richness. The passionfruit flavoured bubbly mousse underneath the raspberries was also an interesting surprise. <br />
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Our overall dining experience was pleasant. We had delicious food, friendly service, and great company in a comfortable environment. In fact, our lunch date went on for 3 hours! I hear that the Rosewater Room is very popular for private functions and that they hold great wedding parties. Well, maybe one day! <br />
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More photos:<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FFvObvg_xSo/UTffPsXRvGI/AAAAAAAAAdo/BI2-vcmcFbc/s1600/DSC02089.JPG"><img border="0" height="100" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FFvObvg_xSo/UTffPsXRvGI/AAAAAAAAAdo/BI2-vcmcFbc/s200/DSC02089.JPG" width="151" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z0QGIsPSrR8/UTffWFaE7CI/AAAAAAAAAeI/hG-LeO2un3Q/s1600/DSC02094.JPG"><img border="0" height="100" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z0QGIsPSrR8/UTffWFaE7CI/AAAAAAAAAeI/hG-LeO2un3Q/s200/DSC02094.JPG" width="151" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ms77c5JjjHA/UTffVDKRztI/AAAAAAAAAeA/3i3hY8SdxP4/s1600/DSC02103.JPG"><img border="0" height="100" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ms77c5JjjHA/UTffVDKRztI/AAAAAAAAAeA/3i3hY8SdxP4/s200/DSC02103.JPG" width="151" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kFuVHcPWHBM/UTffUXOEoNI/AAAAAAAAAd4/l8FKo_ujY5U/s1600/DSC02104.JPG"><img border="0" height="100" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kFuVHcPWHBM/UTffUXOEoNI/AAAAAAAAAd4/l8FKo_ujY5U/s200/DSC02104.JPG" width="137" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lAiuZ4QvOw4/UTffbSsFX4I/AAAAAAAAAeg/xzO8U_KtyIo/s1600/DSC02118.JPG"><img border="0" height="100" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lAiuZ4QvOw4/UTffbSsFX4I/AAAAAAAAAeg/xzO8U_KtyIo/s200/DSC02118.JPG" width="151" /></a><br />
House-Smoked Duck Prosciutto, Spiced Garlic Shrimp, Cast-Iron Seared Cobia Bass, Short Rib Sandwich, Warm Maple Roasted Apple & Raisin Crumble<br />
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Taste:★★★★☆</div>
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Environment:★★★★★</div>
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Service: ★★★★★</div>
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Price: $$$$</div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span>Rosewater<br />
19 Toronto St<br />
Toronto, ON<br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/10/135001/restaurant/Downtown-University-of-Toronto/Rosewater-Toronto"><img alt="Rosewater on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/135001/minilogo.gif" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; height: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 104px;" /></a><br />
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Luluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10538654276890765445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454067971955620234.post-8757784080647371452013-03-04T18:10:00.001-08:002015-01-15T09:09:32.908-08:00Winterlicious: Oh-So-Romantic at La Maquette <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>La Maquette </i>was chosen because we wanted to try out French cuisine and I wasn't going to turn down lobster. We had heard that this place was one of the most romantic restaurants in Toronto and surely it was compared to all the places I've been to. (The lighting was very dim so please excuse the photos.)</div>
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As we entered, we were greeted by the beautiful silences of the room until we heard our hostess' footsteps scrambling down the stairs. She took us in with great delight and led us up the turning stairs to a mesmerizing dining floor lit up by the chandelier. As you step into the dining room, the sounds of conversation and cutlery come to life, with the melodies of live classical guitar playing in the background.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Warm Pulled Duck Confit</td></tr>
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I've only had duck made in the asian way (such as Peking duck or <a href="http://hungrylumi.blogspot.ca/2013/01/chou-izakaya.html" rel="nofollow">Japanese style</a>), so the duck confit was a new experience for me. It was served with grilled vegetables, goat cheese, and drizzled with red pepper coulis. The duck had a very meaty flavour and was quite tender. The serving portion was quite generous in my opinion.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lobster Bisque Soup</td></tr>
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It is quite clear how excited I was for the soup judging from that spill on the side. While the presentation was only mediocre, I liked the taste of the soup. It was creamy with rich lobster flavour, but not too heavy to the point where you would feel sick. My tastebuds were certainly pleased.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4oz Lobster Tails </td></tr>
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The highly anticipated lobster tails was surely the highlight of my night. Served with white wine cream sauce over jasmine rice, the lobster meat was so fresh and juicy. Not only that, the tails were quite large and the texture was so bouncy - they weren't joking when they said it would be 4 ounces. I also absolutely adored the cream sauce, which made my rice taste like delicious risotto.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pan Seared Venison Medallions</td></tr>
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The venison was served with berry and cassis reduction, glazed ontario parsnip and sweet potato yams. The dish looked extremely attractive to me, but I was hesitant after learning venison was deer meat. Amy had told me such great things about venison and the meat looked so tender as I watched it being cut. Finally I mustered up the courage to try it and boy was it tender! I enjoyed my bite until this distinct aftertaste arose in my mouth. I think it'll be a while until the next time I have venison..<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ekdfwQmad3Q/UTJondNBhjI/AAAAAAAAAcg/nZW1WPdWKZk/s1600/DSC02171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="331" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ekdfwQmad3Q/UTJondNBhjI/AAAAAAAAAcg/nZW1WPdWKZk/s400/DSC02171.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chocolate Petit Fours filled with Mango and Rapsberry Mousse</td></tr>
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After the two satisfying courses, this dessert was quite a disappointment. The fruits were sour and the mousse just tasted like normal yogurt. It definitely brought down my overall dining experience.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mini Chocolate truffle with Florette</td></tr>
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The chocolate truffle with warm baileys creme was a little better, but not enough to turn things around. It was a bit dry and too overly sweet. The desserts were the only thing that we did not finish.<br />
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The atmosphere and exquisite decor at <i>La Maquette </i>was simply breathtaking. The fireplace keeps you warm and the lighting is just enough that you can see each other faces while keeping a romantic vibe. This is definitely the place to enjoy a romantic date.<br />
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Taste:★★★★☆</div>
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Environment:★★★★★</div>
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Service: ★★★★★</div>
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Price: $$$$</div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span>
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La Maquette<br />
111 King Street E<br />
Toronto, ON<br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/10/132907/restaurant/St-Lawrence-Market-Old-Town/La-Maquette-Toronto"><img alt="La Maquette on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/132907/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; padding: 0px; width: 104px;" /></a><br />
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Winterlicious Menu </div>
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La Maquette's Lobster Bisque Soup</div>
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or</div>
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Warm Pulled Duck Confit</div>
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or</div>
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Red Oak leaf, Mustard Red Leaf and Wasabi Arugula (vegan) tossed in Lemon Herb Dressing </div>
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Pan seared Venison medallions</div>
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or</div>
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Two 4 oz Lobster Tails</div>
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or</div>
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Roasted breast of Cornish Hen</div>
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Duet of chocolate petit fours</div>
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or</div>
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Mini Chocolate Truffle with Florette</div>
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or</div>
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Fresh Fruit Bowl (vegan)</div>
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Luluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10538654276890765445noreply@blogger.com0111 King Street East, Toronto, ON M5C 1G6, Canada43.6499211 -79.37389129999996818.1278866 -120.68248529999997 69.1719556 -38.065297299999969tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454067971955620234.post-251309969802947932013-02-21T09:28:00.001-08:002013-02-21T09:33:38.038-08:00Hello to HarooMy food cravings alternate several times throughout the day. One minute I'll want some fresh sashimi and next thing you know, I'm dying for some Indian curry. Oddly enough though, Korean food rarely makes it into my cyclic yearnings, so my Korean restaurant forages never really go beyond Jang Mo Jib. Thus when that next bibimbap craving hit, I decided it was about high time I tried <i>Haroo. </i><br />
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Homey is the best way to describe <i>Haroo's </i>warm, simplistic atmosphere. It almost feels like going to grandma's house for a nice home cooked meal! The place is run by a sweet old couple who do the serving and cooking themselves, so service could get a little slow if the place is busy.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2Fe4GTsdCB0/UEBIIJvSb4I/AAAAAAAAAt4/cftDFPpytqw/s1600/IMG_0795.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2Fe4GTsdCB0/UEBIIJvSb4I/AAAAAAAAAt4/cftDFPpytqw/s320/IMG_0795.jpg" width="257" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Complimentary Congee + Salad</td></tr>
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The meal started off with a complimentary congee and a standard salad. This congee was really a nice and warming appetizer, which may look bland but was actually quite hearty due to the broth. Perfect for a cold wintery day!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Complimentary Side Dishes</td></tr>
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The side dishes were also quite yummy and tasted very much home made. I'm obsessed with the potato side dish so that went really quick.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0V2p0siE_5k/UEBIMq7jHNI/AAAAAAAAAuI/H-PN_7hF5j8/s1600/IMG_0798.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="292" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0V2p0siE_5k/UEBIMq7jHNI/AAAAAAAAAuI/H-PN_7hF5j8/s400/IMG_0798.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bibimbap</td></tr>
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Naturally, there had to be bibimbap. It was quite a big bowl so I would imagine it to be very filling if I had to eat the entire thing. It has all the usual toppings which were all very nice. The hot sauce it comes with was not very spicy so I helped myself to a generous amount.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nAwN3QjOHe0/UEBIOY9qhwI/AAAAAAAAAuQ/oYnU8NtBnsE/s1600/IMG_0800.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nAwN3QjOHe0/UEBIOY9qhwI/AAAAAAAAAuQ/oYnU8NtBnsE/s400/IMG_0800.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kimchi Sundubu</td></tr>
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No korean dine out would be complete without some sort of hot soup! This kimchi sundubu was one of the best I've had so far -- very hearty and satisfying. Warms and fills you right up.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JDiuYOWSqrM/UEBIQbHQ6MI/AAAAAAAAAuY/Xvl248h2WxM/s1600/IMG_0803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JDiuYOWSqrM/UEBIQbHQ6MI/AAAAAAAAAuY/Xvl248h2WxM/s400/IMG_0803.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tteokbokki</td></tr>
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Since we were feeling extra hungry, we had an order of tteokbokki. This was my first time trying this dish, and I really enjoyed the bouncy, chewy texture of the rice cake. It wasn't all too spicy so first timers can breathe a sigh of relief!<br />
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All in all, <i>Haroo </i>had<i> </i>successfully provided us with a comforting meal, and at a decent price too. I know it won't be long before I visit again, even if it means clawing my way through for a parking space! Although I guess if you come from a Korean family, you could just stay home and get the same thing...<br />
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<i>*Apologies for the lack of prices...apparently I was too hungry and forgot to pay attention! </i><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Taste: ★★</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">☆</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">☆</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Environment: ★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">☆</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Service: ★★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">☆</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Price: $$</span><br />
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Haroo Korean Homestyle Cuisine<br />
8580 Alexandra Rd<br />
Richmond, BC</div>
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/14/1592968/restaurant/Vancouver/Central-Richmond/Haroo-Korean-Homestyle-Cuisine-Richmond"><img alt="Haroo Korean Homestyle Cuisine on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1592968/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; padding: 0px; width: 104px;" /></a>Lumicohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14777763829480960537noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454067971955620234.post-32462989090115894842013-01-31T16:02:00.002-08:002013-02-20T11:27:19.392-08:00Going in Blind: Dark TableBlind dining is a concept that has been steadily increasing in popularity. The idea is that by taking away vision, the other senses will heighten as a compensation mechanism. I had been looking forward to trying something like this for some time now, so you can imagine my excitement when I found out about Vancouver's first dark dining restaurant.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What your meal will look like</td></tr>
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The experience starts outside the doors, where somebody will take your order. They offer a set menu from which you can pick either a starter/dessert and a main for $33 or all three for $39. Once everyone decides on what they want, you are led single file by your (visually impaired!) waiter into the opaque abyss that is <i>Dark Table...</i><br />
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For my entree, I had the peppered garlic prawns with citrus risotto and seasonal vegetables. To be honest I wasn't expecting very much food-wise because presumably, dining at <i>Dark Table </i>focuses on the experience rather than the tastes. But to my pleasant surprise, my meal was actually very yummy! There was quite a generous amount of prawns, all succulent and quite large in size as well. The citrus risotto was amazing, going way beyond my expectations. Usually with creamy foods I tend to get sick of it really fast, but the strong citrus flavour really balanced out the heaviness of the cream.<br />
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I couldn't really identify what my dessert was, but vast majority of it was a clump of custard. It was tasty, but a little on the stale side. The texture of it made it quite obvious that the dessert had been prepped a while ago and kept cool.<br />
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Now that we've gotten food out of the way, lets get down to what most of you are probably wondering most about -- what's it like eating in complete darkness? In one word, terrifying. I've never experienced so much darkness before! I was expecting my vision to adjust to the low light levels after a while, except it was pitch black inside so that never happened. It came to a point where I became disoriented and even slightly nauseous. Supposedly this gives you a chance to really concentrate on tasting the food, however I felt that I wasn't able to fully enjoy my meal because the lack of light was so daunting.<br />
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I could go on and on about my experience at <i>Dark Table</i>, but really the best way is to go try it for yourself! Even though my meal was more scary than enjoyable, blind dining is still one of those must-do activities, so be sure not to miss out on this fun opportunity. Be prepared for an all new dinner experience....and food on your fingers!<br />
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Dark Table<br />
2611 W. 4th Avenue<br />
Vancouver, BC<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Taste: ★★★☆</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">☆</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Environment: ★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">★ (For novelty!)</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Service: ★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">☆</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">☆</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Price: $$$$</span><br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/14/1700004/restaurant/Kitsilano/Dark-Table-Vancouver"><img alt="Dark Table on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1700004/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; padding: 0px; width: 104px;" /></a>Lumicohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14777763829480960537noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454067971955620234.post-51127050498081576742013-01-26T19:37:00.002-08:002013-01-27T08:00:36.078-08:00Recipe: Nutella Pinwheel CookiesTime for another recipe! I was introduced to this amazing recipe around 2 years ago and it is still my all time favourite. My friend found the recipe on <a href="http://www.thegalleygourmet.net/2010/12/1212010-nutella-pinwheel-cookies-well.html" target="_blank">The Gallery Gourmet</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n0ifEYW-V-s/UQScatSzN1I/AAAAAAAAAaY/_9Np0zTQWWk/s1600/DSC01167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="331" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n0ifEYW-V-s/UQScatSzN1I/AAAAAAAAAaY/_9Np0zTQWWk/s400/DSC01167.JPG" width="500" /></a></div>
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Ingredients: </div>
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8 oz unsalted butter at room temperature </div>
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1 cup sugar</div>
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2 extra large egg yolks</div>
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2 teaspoon vanilla extract</div>
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2 and 1/3 cup all purpose flour</div>
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1/4 teaspoon salt </div>
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1/2 cup Nutella </div>
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Prepares around 3-4 dozen depending on thickness of each cookie<br />
Preparation Time: 3 steps, 10-15 minutes each, excluding refrigerate time<br />
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Instructions:</div>
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<li>In a small bowl, stir flour and salt and set aside. </li>
<li>In a big mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar with stand mixer or hand mixer. Add egg yolks and vanilla extract and mix until well blended. </li>
<li>Switch the mixer to low and add the flour mixture. Mix until combined and forms a soft dough. </li>
<li>Transfer the dough onto a floured surface. Shape dough into a flat square and divide in half.</li>
<li>Wrap each half individually with saran wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. (They can be left longer or even overnight while you doing something else. It will just take longer for the dough to soften after removing from refrigerator) </li>
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<li>Unwrap one half of the dough and place it on a flour surface (or parchment paper if you have any). Cover dough with a sheet of saran wrap and roll the dough till about 1/4 thickness. </li>
<li>Using a spatula, spread 1/4 cup of Nutella on the dough but leaving a 1/4 in edge on all sides. </li>
<li>Roll the dough into a tight log starting from the longest side </li>
<li>Refrigerate log for another 30 minutes and repeat with the remaining half of the dough. (The logs can also be frozen and will last for 2 weeks)</li>
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<li>Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper</li>
<li>Unwrap the log and slice 1/3 in slices. Place the slices on baking sheet and bake for 12-15 minutes until golden around the edges. Viola! </li>
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The log rolling was a bit challenging for me when I first learned the recipe, so my cookies did not turn out as round and swirly. However, practice did make it better! The key is the timing - roll when dough is softer at room temperature to avoid cracks in your logs. However, the dough cannot be too soft when applying Nutella or the sticky and thick Nutella may also break your cookie dough as you're spreading it!<br />
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This recipe may require more work than other cookies, but it is worth it! They are a great crowd and definitely a stomach pleaser :)<br />
<br />Luluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10538654276890765445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454067971955620234.post-34271188755482139412013-01-13T18:57:00.001-08:002014-06-10T20:39:03.940-07:00Chou Izakaya: the Underdog<h4>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>**Note: This restaurant is now closed.</i></span></span></h4>
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My visit to <em>Chou Izakaya</em> was a result of my Groupon addiction. I was intrigued to check out this place from friends' recommendations and just couldn't turn down a great deal! It was such a bargain that I even bought two Groupons, so get ready for some overflowing yumminess!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grilled Mackerel しめ鯖 (Special) $8.00</td></tr>
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The grilled mackerel was simply unreal. Accompanied by a dippnig sauce resembling a sweet soy sauce, it is prepared by searing the marinated fish with a torch gun. My friend and I were hooked on this light but flavourful dish. I was so tempted to place another order, but didn't since I had to save space in my stomach for the dishes to come. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beef Tataki 牛たたき (Special) $11.00</td></tr>
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Served on a chunk of ice and with a dipping sauce, the thin slices of beef tataki was quite a piece of art. I've had beef tataki in lots of places, but never I have ever had it in the form of a flower. While the presentation was mesmerizing, I thought the taste was mediocre in comparison. I still think <i><a href="http://hungrylumi.blogspot.com/2012/02/koyoi-restaurant-bar-forget-line-ups-at.html" target="_blank">Koyoi</a></i> has the best beef tataki.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yuzu Duck 柚子鴨 (Special) $7.50</td></tr>
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I hadn't expected much from the yuzu duck simply because I wasn't a fan of coconut. At first bite, all I could taste was the disfavoured coconut which was so heavy that it overpowered the original meaty taste of the duck meat. We voted this as the most unsuccessful item of the night. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Curry Korokke カレーコロッケ $5.50</td></tr>
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The curry korokke balls was basically a fried ball of curry flavoured mashed potato and ground beef. Different from what was claimed on the menu, there was hardly any ground beef. Also, the shell wasn't as crispy as anticipated. Nothing about this dish stood out.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kamo Rice 鴨飯 (Limited) $6.00</td></tr>
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The kamo rice consisted of slices of duck on a bed of oily rice. This was like a redemption for the yuzu duck earlier - the duck was very meaty and juicy. The only drawback was the rice that was rather bland. <span style="text-align: center;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pwjAE_vwDVI/UPNolPvwotI/AAAAAAAAAZo/6a4tvMLFaq8/s1600/DSC02007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pwjAE_vwDVI/UPNolPvwotI/AAAAAAAAAZo/6a4tvMLFaq8/s400/DSC02007.JPG" height="331" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kimchi Pork Cheese チーズ豚キムチ $6.50</td></tr>
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This had the strongest flavor of all dishes. The thin pork slices were heavily seasoned and the kimchi was spicy. I'd never thought the combination of the three would be so delicious! I also liked that it was served on a hot plate because the pork sides got crispy as they were left on the plate for longer. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gunkan Sushi 軍艦寿司<br />
Left: Squid & Salmon Roe $2.50<br />
Right: Beef Tataki $3 </td></tr>
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I hadn't come across gunkan sushi in Toronto yet, so was determined to try it out. The second time here, they didn't offer the beef tataki from above, so we compromised by having the beef tataki sushi. The texture of the beef was different as it was in chunks. The squid and ikura sushi was less enjoyable - the squid was bland although fresh and the salmon roe was extremely salty.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sashimi 刺身 $14.00</td></tr>
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This was hands down the freshest sashimi I've had in Toronto. I adored the sweet shrimp in particular and enjoyed sucking out the brains of the shrimp (ew, I know, but I loved it!) They also used real wasabi instead of artificial paste. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rice Burger ライスバーガー $6.50</td></tr>
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By the time the rice burger arrived, I was almost too full to enjoy it. I was hoping the burger would resemble the rice burgers at Mos Burger in Asia, but it wasn't. The rice was made crispy (although it turned soggy very soon) and the contents of the burger was ordinary. </div>
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On top of the expert presentation and great taste of food, the service at <i>Chou Izakaya</i> was impeccable. The servers were extremely attentive and friendly. The restaurant is also quite spacious with a warm ambience. The only thing that I found weird was the top 50 pop songs that were playing - I was expecting something along the lines of J pop. </div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Taste: ★★★★☆</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Environment: ★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">☆</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Service: ★★★★</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">★</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Price: $$$</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Chou Izakaya </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">556 Church Street</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Toronto, ON</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/10/1693777/restaurant/Gay-Village/Chou-Izakaya-Toronto"><img alt="Chou Izakaya on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1693777/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; padding: 0px; width: 104px;" /></a>Luluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10538654276890765445noreply@blogger.com0556 Church Street, Toronto, ON M4Y 2C6, Canada43.6658898 -79.38102179999998543.6658448 -79.381100799999984 43.6659348 -79.380942799999985tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454067971955620234.post-77817827844610373722012-12-09T18:05:00.000-08:002013-01-13T19:07:26.232-08:00This is The One <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Japanese Green Tea Slush 抹茶冰沙<br />
$6.25 + tax</td></tr>
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Whenever it came to satisfying a bubble tea craving, Richmond would be my go-to place simply because of familiarity with the bubble tea cafes there. However, one night, a friend who works in Burnaby took me to <i>The One</i> for a late night munch. I was happy to be venturing out of Richmond and was excited to see what was in stock for me. </div>
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For those who have been to or have heard of <i>The One</i> before, you will probably immediately recognize the sky-high slushie pictured right, as it is one of their iconic features. While they are very generous with the portions, this didn't mean that they were lacking on quality. My green tea slushie with pearls was smooth and creamy and not diluted at all.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S-ABaBsgk-E/UHHRy-4LXBI/AAAAAAAAAR4/QcMaoeRSdV8/s1600/DSC00979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="321" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S-ABaBsgk-E/UHHRy-4LXBI/AAAAAAAAAR4/QcMaoeRSdV8/s400/DSC00979.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chinese East Northern Hot Pot 酸菜白肉鍋 $11.75 + tax </td></tr>
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<a name='more'></a>For food, I ordered the Chinese East Northern Hot Pot, also called the Manchurian hot pot. The main ingredient of this pot is Chinese sauerkraut ("suan cai") and fatty pork slices. Other elements of this delicious pot includes tofu, meatballs and glass noodles. Although the meat already had taste from absorbing the soup, dipping it in the accompanying sauce made it even more flavourful. My friend who had never had this dish before didn't enjoy it so much, probably because of the pickled cabbage and sour stew. I, on the other hand, adored this pot of sour goodness! This is the perfect dish to have on a cold damp day.<br />
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The only downside of this place would probably be the environment. Although the restaurant is quite big, it is always packed, which also means parking can be quite a pain. But then again, these are signs of a good restaurant!<br />
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More photos:<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y0QBC2D6g-o/UHHRZAlSqFI/AAAAAAAAARs/C4BKvHtzZBc/s1600/DSC00978.JPG"><img border="0" height="100" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y0QBC2D6g-o/UHHRZAlSqFI/AAAAAAAAARs/C4BKvHtzZBc/s400/DSC00978.JPG" width="151" /></a>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oBpt2ye80Zg/UHHQmxD3sbI/AAAAAAAAARQ/FEA6qU01Cws/s1600/DSC00970.JPG"><img border="0" height="100" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oBpt2ye80Zg/UHHQmxD3sbI/AAAAAAAAARQ/FEA6qU01Cws/s400/DSC00970.JPG" width="151" /></a>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N4pP4HxmxUU/UHHQ3c7viXI/AAAAAAAAARc/kys5ITDwB4E/s1600/DSC00971.JPG"><img border="0" height="100" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N4pP4HxmxUU/UHHQ3c7viXI/AAAAAAAAARc/kys5ITDwB4E/s400/DSC00971.JPG" width="151" /></a>
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Taste: ★★★★☆<br />
Environment: ★★★☆☆<br />
Service: ★★★★☆<br />
Price: $$
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The One Restaurant </div>
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5908 Kingsway</div>
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Burnaby, BC</div>
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/14/1504742/restaurant/Vancouver/Burnaby-South/The-One-Restaurant-Burnaby"><img alt="The One Restaurant 美味關係 on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1504742/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; padding: 0px; width: 104px;" /></a>Luluhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10538654276890765445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454067971955620234.post-23522350728661118672012-12-01T07:57:00.001-08:002012-12-01T07:57:37.137-08:00Sucker for Suika<span style="background-color: white; color: #ea9999;"><b>AMY:</b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: orange;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">Driving down Broadway can be a bit of a multi-task. First there's the constant roar of traffic, a million lights to pay attention to, all while you try not to focus on which of the many restaurants that line this street have yet to be visited. Situations like this can often lead to a complete overlook of dining gems, such as <i>Suika. </i>The outer decor is not particularly flashy or eye-catching, but that is totally misrepresentative of the inside, because the food and energy of the place has certainly caught my attention...</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sashimi "Shake" Salad $7.80</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #ea9999;"><b>AMY: </b></span>Salads never appeal to me. There's just nothing mouthwatering about a bowl of raw vegetables slathered with sauce. But <i>Suika</i> takes salad to a whole new different level with their Sashimi Shake Salad. There's just something about the oh-so-fresh sashimi slices, lightly drizzled with a tangy sauce, ending with a refreshing crisp of vegetables that has got me hooked. I would never think twice about ordering this dish at <i>Suika</i>!<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: orange;"><b>LULU:</b> </span> Contrary to Amy, salads are always my favourite. This sashimi salad, which was highly spoken of by friends, did not disappoint at all! It was probably my favourite dish of the night because of the freshness.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Torotoro Cha-Shu $8.80</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #ea9999;"><b>AMY:</b> </span>The Tontoro Cha-Shu took me completely by surprise. On the surface it looks mediocre at best...not much color or texture going on. Upon tasting however, my taste buds experienced a heavenly explosion of buttery goodness, followed by the gentle caress of tender, juicy meat. This might boil down to personal preference though, as I am a big fan of fatty meats.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: orange;"><b>LULU:</b> </span><span style="background-color: white;">Although I agree with Amy on a lot of things, the cha-su was my least favorite. I do not like fatty meats and therefore to me, it tasted like nothing but a blob of oil. But based on the texture, I can understand why fatty meat fans would appreciate it. After a small bite, I decided I would just stick to my refreshing salad and get rid of the oily feel in my mouth. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Agedashi Ebiten Tofu $6.40</td></tr>
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<b><span style="color: #ea9999;">AMY:</span> </b>This is your standard Agedashi Tofu, topped with pieces of fried shrimp, nothing more, nothing less.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kakuni Bibimbap $8.80</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: orange;"><b>LULU:</b> </span>The kakuni bibimbap containes rice with pork belly, dried shrimp and scallions. The waiters mix the rice for you after bringing the stone bowl to your table. The tender pork belly was very rich in taste and melted in your mouth. Overall, I thought the rice was a bit too sweet from the sauce.<br />
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<span style="color: #ea9999;"><b>AMY:</b></span> The quality of the kakuni bibimbap seems to be quite inconsistent. I remember the first time I had this dish, it took me to food heaven. This time, it simply conjured a simple "mmm" and was promptly pushed to the boundaries of my plate to make room for the other dishes.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rrtbpl55N1g/UEmzo39uZAI/AAAAAAAAAzM/Xs10paSWF3c/s1600/DSC00890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="236" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rrtbpl55N1g/UEmzo39uZAI/AAAAAAAAAzM/Xs10paSWF3c/s400/DSC00890.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chicken Karaage $7.80</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: orange;"><b>LULU:</b> </span><span style="background-color: white;">The chicken karaage, a must have whenever eating at Japanese restaurants, was your ordinary fried chicken. Nothing stood out and it wasn't a memorable dish. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hellz Chicken $8.80</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #ea9999;"><b>AMY: </b></span>The Hellz Chicken is certainly unique to <i>Suika</i>. It is advertised as so spicy that it warrants its own warning sign on the menu! One whiff of this chicken is enough to ruffle those sensitive mucous membranes and make you crinkle your nose, but in truth it really isn't all that spicy. It will leave your tongue and lips numb for a bit, but even as a non-spicy eater, this dish was definitely tolerable. Plus, after you get past the zesty outside, there is a tender, juicy chicken core awaiting you! Just think of it as chicken karaage on steroids.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Suika Shirley Temple $4 & Suika Soda $7</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #ea9999;"><br /></span><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">AMY</span>: </b>My Suika Shirley Temple brought a nice twist to a traditional shirley temple by using fresh watermelon juice. True to the restaurant name <i>Suika</i>, this drink delivers a cooling splash of watermelon flavour guaranteed to quench your thirst, especially after a mouthful of Hellz Chicken.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: orange;"><b>LULU:</b> </span><span style="background-color: white;">Thirst quenching, indeed! I never thought watermelon and alcohol would go so well together. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #ea9999;"><b>AMY</b></span>: Overall, a gathering at <i>Suika</i> is never disappointing. It has an upbeat, vibrant environment that will leave a lasting impression on your mind and a fun menu to leave a tasty impression on your tongue!<br />
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<span style="color: orange;"><strong>LULU:</strong> </span>Oh, and when you're here don't forget to check out their washroom. On top of the appealing decor, they thoughtfully set up a basket by the sink counters with tissue, toothpicks, and even mouth wash with mini paper cups. It's these little things that really leave a good impression! </div>
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Taste: ★★★★☆</div>
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Environment: ★★★★★</div>
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Service: ★★★★☆</div>
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Price: $$<br />
Suika<br />
1626 W Broadway<br />
Vancouver, BC</div>
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Lumicohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14777763829480960537noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454067971955620234.post-76630484956422938452012-11-05T11:06:00.003-08:002012-11-05T11:14:07.886-08:00Cheesecake, Cheesecake and Cheesecake, Etc<span style="color: #ea9999;"><b>AMY:</b></span> <i>Cheesecake Etc</i> is easily one of the most well known dessert spots in Vancouver, and quite possibly also one of the best of its kind. The menu is simple - they specialize in cheesecakes and offer very little of anything else. Upon walking into the store you will find that the place is dimly lighted and sparsely furnished. My guess is that they're trying to set up some sort of ambience, but to me it's just really dark. I often find myself back here week after week, not only because they are open late night, but also because I really do like their cheesecakes!<br />
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<span style="color: orange;"><b>LULU:</b> </span>The last time I was at <i>Cheesecake Etc</i> was more than 5 years ago, but it didn't really feel like it had been that long already. The place still looks the same and has the same vibe, besides the fact that it is now twice the size of what I recall. Most of all, the cheesecake was just as delicious as I had remembered.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Original Cheesecake $4.50 w/ Chocolate Sauce $1.25</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheesecake w/ Strawberries $5.75</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #ea9999;"><b>AMY:</b></span> I usually opt for the Cheesecake with Strawberries because it's such a classic way to have cheesecake. There is a generous amount of strawberry sauce which I find to be a little on the sweet side, but the tanginess of the cheesecake balances it out nicely. All their cakes are topped with freshly whipped cream, which I absolutely love. It adds such a lovely layer of creaminess and is incredibly airy, which counteracts the dense, heavy cake.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hkwTRE0O9yg/UHss-kLlfAI/AAAAAAAAA4Q/o3OYYK7xGjw/s1600/IMG_1229+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hkwTRE0O9yg/UHss-kLlfAI/AAAAAAAAA4Q/o3OYYK7xGjw/s400/IMG_1229+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chocolate Cheesecake $5.75</td></tr>
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<b style="color: orange;">LULU:</b><span style="color: orange;"> </span>I took a very long time deciding on my choice of cheesecake because they all seemed so good. To be honest, I had mixed feelings about my chocolate cheesecake. While I wished the cake had a richer chocolate taste, the distinct mixture of the sourness from the cream cheese and the sweet but also a bit bitter chocolate was a confusing but magical balance. While this was an interesting pick, I think I would opt for cheesecake with chocolate sauce next time instead.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheesecake w/ Chocolate Sauce & Pears (daily special) $6.50</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #ea9999;"><b>AMY:<i> </i></b></span><i>Cheesecake Etc</i> offers daily specials on rotation every night, so make sure to ask the server for the special of the evening! Usually the specials are never as enticing as the cheesecake with strawberries, but the pears certainly did appeal to me. I enjoyed this one very much because I found the pears to be much more light and refreshing.<br />
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If you haven't yet been to <i>Cheesecake Etc</i>, what are you waiting for? Get off your chair and go (unless of course it's before 7pm, in which case you will have to wait...but feel free to browse our blog until then).<br />
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Taste: <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">★</span><br />
Environment: <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">☆</span><br />
Service: <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">☆</span><br />
Price: $<br />
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Cheesecake Etc<br />
2141 Granville St<br />
Vancouver, BC<br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/14/180348/restaurant/Fairview/Cheesecake-Etc-Vancouver"><img alt="Cheesecake Etc. on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/180348/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; padding: 0px; width: 104px;" /></a>Lumicohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14777763829480960537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454067971955620234.post-42078606785736502062012-10-10T16:35:00.001-07:002012-10-12T19:18:58.558-07:00New Dim Sum Favourite: Fisherman's Terrace Dim sum restaurants are a dime a dozen in Richmond, so I'm sure everybody has their go-to place. For years I've been mindlessly going to our family staple, but recently we decided to venture out and what a great decision that was! The venue of choice was<i> Fisherman's Terrace</i>, located conveniently on the top floor of Aberdeen Center.<br />
<br />
Let me start off with my new found favourite - the baked BBQ pork pastry. BBQ pork is good. Everyone agree? Now imagine BBQ pork stuffed within the flakiest, most buttery pastry ever. Mouth watering, isn't it? Normally savoury pastries don't really appeal to me but this was just amazing.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5-NgMOj_JY0/UEm_7oIUZDI/AAAAAAAAAzw/_U81fS7EK4c/s1600/IMG_1251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="272" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5-NgMOj_JY0/UEm_7oIUZDI/AAAAAAAAAzw/_U81fS7EK4c/s400/IMG_1251.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baked BBQ Pork Pastry</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a name='more'></a>When mother dearest is around, she always demands at least one vegetable dish. Here we had the peatips with tofu skin, which was pretty standard. The peatips really depends on the daily selection as sometimes the vegetable can tend to be a little bitter.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PE62_7cwwQI/UEm_-kIE1XI/AAAAAAAAAz4/ckyQuzy2Z4A/s1600/IMG_1252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="260" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PE62_7cwwQI/UEm_-kIE1XI/AAAAAAAAAz4/ckyQuzy2Z4A/s400/IMG_1252.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peatips w/ Tofu Skin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The deep fried shrimp dumplings is not on my usual list of dimsum foods, but to go along with the venturing theme we ordered it to try. To my delight it was very yummy and quite reminiscent of shrimp salad spring rolls.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R5gbAgHG1EE/UEnABK841cI/AAAAAAAAA0A/qFYSZHKrxB4/s1600/IMG_1255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="275" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R5gbAgHG1EE/UEnABK841cI/AAAAAAAAA0A/qFYSZHKrxB4/s400/IMG_1255.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deep Fried Shrimp Dumplings</td></tr>
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Shumai, a must order, no matter where. Again, standard.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eeyvC0969Rk/UEnADvI1-cI/AAAAAAAAA0I/HfcI44tSjWE/s1600/IMG_1259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="278" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eeyvC0969Rk/UEnADvI1-cI/AAAAAAAAA0I/HfcI44tSjWE/s400/IMG_1259.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shumai</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The spareribs didn't leave much of an impression on me...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-com-xUiVtWA/UEnAFM4ZuSI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/XkJ8nrsCxcw/s1600/IMG_1265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="258" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-com-xUiVtWA/UEnAFM4ZuSI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/XkJ8nrsCxcw/s400/IMG_1265.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spareribs & Pumpkin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Chicken feet is always good!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VjIId8LC7nM/UEnAGxcRCqI/AAAAAAAAA0Y/164IDM9Dsgs/s1600/IMG_1270.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="251" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VjIId8LC7nM/UEnAGxcRCqI/AAAAAAAAA0Y/164IDM9Dsgs/s400/IMG_1270.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chicken Feet</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Shrimp dumplings are one of my favourite items. I like to dissect and disassemble my dumplings before eating them, filling first then skin. The filling was fine, but I would have enjoyed this a lot more if the skin had more bounce!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hs6Zk6VxOPA/UEnAJBTbj4I/AAAAAAAAA0g/92VY6dl_Hug/s1600/IMG_1272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="268" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hs6Zk6VxOPA/UEnAJBTbj4I/AAAAAAAAA0g/92VY6dl_Hug/s400/IMG_1272.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shrimp Dumplings</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Originally, I was a little put off by the minced fish (that's what happens when you translate Chinese dishes into English), but at the end of the meal this turned out to be one of my favourites. The rice noodle wrap doesn't have much taste to it, so it nicely balances out the savoury filling, while the fried tofu skin adds a nice crunch.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NatlhLon5OQ/UEnALBSpC0I/AAAAAAAAA0o/XH8rAs-Q9j0/s1600/IMG_1274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NatlhLon5OQ/UEnALBSpC0I/AAAAAAAAA0o/XH8rAs-Q9j0/s400/IMG_1274.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Minced Fish Rice Noodle Wrap</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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A chinese restaurant of this calibre is expected to deliver a certain standard of food, and this meal definitely did not disappoint! On top of all, the restaurant is well lit, spacious and nicely decorated. Just don't go expecting the servers to wait on you hand and foot!<br />
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Next time your head is spinning from trying to decide where to have dim sum, breathe a sigh of relief and head over to <i>Fisherman's Terrace</i>!<br />
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">
Taste: ★★★★☆</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">
Environment: ★★★★★</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">
Service: ★★★☆☆</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">
Price: $$$<br />
<br />
Fisherman's Terrace Seafood<br />
4151 Hazelbridge Way<br />
Richmond, BC</div>
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/14/180629/restaurant/Vancouver/Richmond-Central/Fishermans-Terrace-Seafood-Richmond"><img alt="Fisherman's Terrace Seafood 釣魚台海鮮酒家 (時代坊內) on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/180629/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; padding: 0px; width: 104px;" /></a>Lumicohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14777763829480960537noreply@blogger.com2