Foodie | Style Blog

Foodie: Harlem

Harlem East Side

67 Richmond Street East
Toronto, ON M5C 1N9

(416)-368-1920

Perfect For: Brunch, Dinner, Date Night

As an ex-Texan, I can tell you that my love for Southern food runs deep. Give me some corn bread and blackened catfish and I’m a happy camper any day! So when le boyfriend invited me to Harlem for brunch, there was definitely excitement on my part.

The moment you walk through Harlem’s doors, you’re enveloped by the warmth of colors, sounds, and smells. Motown’s best tunes lightly play in the background, as we settle into our comfy booth. There’s lots of choices, and my appetite is always bigger than my stomach, so I have to really pace myself. Le boyfriend goes for a smoked salmon/avocado/fried egg sandwich ($12), while his mom orders Harlem Benny ($12)…not wanting to copycat their orders, I go for the omelette of the day, which happens to be cheese ($10). We order a round of coffees, and enjoy our Sunday morning.

The service was a bit slow at times, but the nice lady that brought us our food informed us that the waiter had fallen ill and she was covering for him that day. Not a big deal for us, and didn’t seem to bother anyone at tables nearby. Both the chef and our server that day could not have been nicer to us!

On to the food. My omelette was simple, but fluffy and delicious, with plenty of cheese (just the way I like it), side salad was again – simple, but fresh…and the only thing I had huge hopes for – the biscuit – left me a tad disappointed, as it has gotten soggy from the salad dressing (next time I’ll ask for it on the side). Le boyfriend’s sandwich was good, but not sensational, and his mom’s eggs benny were slightly spicy, and she genuinely enjoyed every bite.

If you’re into live music, Harlem has a variety of nights for you to attend…from Music is the Answer Wednesdays, when some of Toronto’s most talented musicians, visual and spoken word artists help fundraise for disaster relief in Haiti, to Monday Open Jam nights, and to many others in between – most music lovers would find an event of their liking.

As far as brunch places go, Harlem offers a few Southern alternatives to the good ol’ eggs and bacon, but I really want to go back for dinner, instead, to try their blackened catfish – the one dish that I wasn’t able to find at too many Toronto restaurants, and their fried chicken has been touted as one of the best in the city. With a promising dinner menu, friendly service, and a nice patio for those last few warm summer nights, I am sure we’ll be back to Harlem in no time.

Smirnoff Graphic Party

A few weeks ago, I had received a mysterious comic-strip invitation to a Smirnoff-sponsored party. Intrigued, le boyfriend and I made our way to Corktown to find a huge lineup of people waiting to get in – so much for being fashionably late. After signing our lives (and rights to our images) away, we made our way down the red carpet, lined with hotties in red dresses and into the art gallery/party room for the night.

Right off the bat, we were given smokin’ (literally) Smirnoff cocktails – don’t really know the name, but it freaked me out a bit. After a bit of wandering, we stumbled upon a photo booth of sorts, where a graphic artist did live drawings on a computer, which were then projected on a wall as a background for photos. We took a couple of pictures and headed out to the rooftop patio. Thankfully, we arrived early, and a few lounge chairs were still empty.

We settled in on one of the cozy divans, Smirnoff in one hand, my head on le boyfriend’s shoulder, and watched the crowd, as the patio grew louder and louder with throngs of bloggers, personalities, designers, and other party people. After a long day at the office, surprisingly, being at one of the hottest parties in town was also quite relaxing. The continuous buzzing of the crowd, starry sky above us, and an intoxicating feeling of alcohol flowing through my veins – or was it love? Wish I took more photos of the night…there were definitely some stylish attendees there, but I guess sometimes a gal’s just got to put away her camera, kick up her heels and enjoy the night.

I Wore: Dress – H&M; Bag – Louis Vuitton; Shoes – Nine West

Courvoisier Exclusif Mixology Event

As a blogger, attending various PR events is quite common nowadays. Companies believe in the power of word-of-mouth, as well as non-traditional media outlets today more than ever. But while some events make you wish you hadn’t left home, others really make you understand why those companies are in the business of PR. Such was definitely the case with Courvoisier Exclusif Mixology event held by the lovely Matchstick team last week.

My friend Diana and I showed up at Hyatt’s Roof Salon after a gruelling day at the office, only to be greeted by friendly smiles and some yummy Sidecar cocktails. Hanging out before the event began, I stared at the CN Tower across the city, looked down at the crazy car jam on Queen’s Park, and felt really freaking lucky to be able to enjoy a nice summer day in good company, cocktail in hand, anticipating something fun to come!

Once we got seated at tables decked out in all types of drink accoutrements (including chili peppers and jam), the event itself started with some dancers dressed in Napoleon-era costumes, with some dude on stilts, who looked more like a pirate rather than the emperor himself, walking around the room, freaking people out. After the bizarre beginning, the educational portion of the event began, where we learned about the flavors of Courvoisier Exclusif and Courvoisier XO – ranging from gingerbread, to coffee, to iris flower. As with the Macallan event, I learned a lot about cognac…and felt a bit more like a real grown up by the end of it.

And while strong liquors were never my cup of tea, the mixology portion of the event proved to be a blast, as well as made me a convert to the aromatic world of Courvoisier. The reason why this event in particular really stuck in my mind, and made me smile throughout, was that we (bloggers, and guests) all got to interact in a fun, interactive setting, mixing drinks, drinking drinks, making fun of each other’s drinks (ahem…there was one cocktail that had bread as a main ingredient…it did not taste good). It was lighthearted, slightly drunken fun.

We met a few cool people at our table, like the boys of the The Panic Manual, and Scott “Evil” McMaster – professional bartender, who couldn’t technically create a drink for us, but did help out with the mixing and advising on the ingredients. After picking the drink that Di and I put together to represent our table, team VSOP was really hoping to be the one to nab the top prize out of the 10 tables present. And guess what? We did! Our drink – Josephine’s Hat – was picked as the judges’ favorite and we did walk away with great prizes (full-size bottles of Courvoisier Exclusif for everyone at the table). High-fives all around!

So not only did we walk away from the event with full knowledge of “the cognac of Napoleon”, but we actually took some home too! Let the experimenting begin! If you are curious to see the recipe of our amazingly delicious concoction, scroll down and click to see more!

So I guess the moral of the story, other than Courvoisier rocks…is that memorable and interactive events make for fun times, and better stories to share with your friends, family, and blog readers. Don’t you think?

And you know what else rocks? Helping others. If you have a couple of minutes, please consider taking this survey. For each survey completed, $2 will be donated to the Redwood Women Shelter.

The recipe for our “award”-winning Courvoisier cocktail is after the jump!

Foodie: Hoof Café

Hoof Café

923 Dundas St W
Toronto, ON M6J 1W2

(416) 792-7511

Perfect For: Brunch

Was originally going to post Capocaccia review before this one, but then decided that reviewing mediocrity and poor service is less of a fun task, than writing about the yumminess of the Hoof Café! Am I right or am I right?

As a long-time lover of the Black Hoof, I’ve been curious about its little sister the Hoof Café for a while now. And this Canada Day, when Al and I decided to venture out to Saving Grace for brunch, which was closed, we ended up at the Hoof Café instead and I am happy that we did.

Instead of being adventurous this time around, both of us went with Brioche French Toast ($12), which was quite small, compared to other portions of French toast around the city, but definitely full of flavor, and so yummy, that no crumb was spared in its devouring.

And since we still had room for more, and since both Hoofs are famous for their charcuterie, we got us an order of Ploughman’s ($14). A little bit of prosciutto, duck, mortadella, terrine, some crostini, and much more, and I am transported right back into my childhood, where breakfast would consist of salami or mortadella on a piece of toast with cheese and butter. Homemade and delicious. Just like the lovely Hoof Café.

The service is knowledgeable, friendly and consistent. The atmosphere is airy, and comfortable. We both leave happy and satisfied, ready to take on Toronto on this lazy afternoon. Certain that we will definitely be coming back for more.

Foodie: School Bakery & Café

School Bakery & Café

70 Fraser Ave
Toronto, ON
(416) 588-0005

Perfect For: Brunch

School’s out for summer, but a couple of weeks ago, I gladly (and voluntarily) went to School…School Bakery & Café that is. Though I originally thought that a visit to SBC would be a cool surprise for le boyfriend, he went on to inform me that he was the one who suggested this place months ago, and I was just probably not paying attention. Well, it didn’t matter who discovered the place, School Bakery & Café is one cool restaurant – and is perfect for brunch!

First of all, there are a lot of tables – it is crucial to have generous seating for the hungry masses on Sunday afternoons, when most brunch places have snaking line-ups. We waited for 5 minutes before getting a table, and another 15 to get the menus – it seemed that they were a bit understaffed. Needless to say, when food arrived, taking photos for the blog escaped both our minds and we all but licked out plates clean.

One of my favorite things about SBC brunch was the variety of dishes on the menu. It’s not just your regular eggs and bacon and toast. No, at SBC you are treated to tempting dishes such as “Overstuffed Croissant of Smoked Salmon and Spicy Scrambled Eggs”, “Super Cheesy French Toast”, and “Chipotle Biscuit Sandwich”. And though I wanted to sample every dish on the menu, I settled on Caramelized Banana Pancakes ($15) with a side of bacon ($3), while le boyfriend went with the Overstuffed Popover with Gruyère, Smoked Bacon, and Greens ($11). Both were delicious, though I must add that the bananas on my pancakes were not at all caramelized and the coffee was sub-par. But even that didn’t change the fact that I want to come back to SBC for brunch, lunch, and dinner, as all three menus are permanently etch-a-sketched in my mind.

And the decor…it’s almost worth a trip to School just for the ambiance. Pencils, and blackboards, and apples…oh my! There are flat-screen TVs to watch the World Cup, patios to enjoy the sun, and baked goodies to round out your meal…what’s not to like? If you find yourself looking for a new place to try in the Liberty Village, try going to School…you might enjoy it for once.

Foodie: Saving Grace

Saving Grace

907 Dundas Street West
Toronto, ON
(416) 703-7368

Perfect For: Brunch

I’ve been a terrible girl, I completely forgot about this Saving Grace post, and now it’s been literally months since my last visit. Well, we’re heading into the long weekend, and if you’re staying put in the city, perhaps trying a new brunch place is in order?

Saving Grace is a teeny-tiny eatery on Dundas St. West, that does not take reservations, and seats about 20. They have a clipboard, hanging by the door, for you to put your name down (with about 15 other names waiting ahead of you), and then you can wander off for an hour or so (2 hours in our case) before it is your turn to be seated. I know this doesn’t sound very appealing, because noone likes to wait for their food on a Sunday morning, right? Well, in Saving Grace’s case, the wait is well worth it!

By the time we got a table, both le boyfriend and I were desperately hungry…and smelling and seeing delicious somethings on other people’s plates definitely did not help. The blackboard inside the restaurant showcases daily specials and all-time favorites. Having heard that their Caramelized Banana French Toast was delish, my sweet tooth ordered just that, while le boyfriend opted for Poached Eggs with Coconut Black Rice, served with some veggies and toast.

The toast, the caramelized bananas, the maple syrup…it was all perfection. Gooey, sweet, crunchy, soft perfection. I almost bit le boyfriend’s hand for trying to steal a piece of toast off my plate…that’s how freaking delicious that toast was. The.Best.I’ve.Ever.Had. His rice and potatoes, too, were something extraordinary! Smooth, flavorful and delicate…I wish more of my meals were this good.

The service at Saving Grace is efficient and friendly, the setting is quirky, and selections are vast. It was definitely one of my most memorable brunches ever. There’s nothing bad to say about this place whatsoever…except for the wait. But if we could do it in the midst of the freezing cold winter, I think waiting around in the summer should be a piece of French Toast cake. Especially, with The Communal Mule Espresso Bar just down the street, where you can grab a coffee, read the paper, relax at one of their cool wooden tables, before heading back to Saving Grace to see if your table opened up. After all, good things come to those who wait.

Foodie: Tom’s Dairy Freeze

Tom’s Dairy Freeze

630 The Queensway
Toronto, ON
(416) 259-1846

Perfect For: Ice-Cream, Hot-Dogs, and Sunshine

It’s been a few years since I moved to Toronto, and I never looked at sunshine the same way again. Not to bore you with my Houston stories, but truth is…it’s sunny there almost all the time. Sure, there are hurricanes and all that jazz, but more often than not – it is sunny. Not so in Toronto. Which is why I tend to grab each sunny day by its horns and enjoy it to the max.

Well, last weekend was a perfect opportunity to enjoy some sunshine and some well-deserved ice-cream, after le boyfriend and I ran/rollerbladed a huge chunk of Lakeshore! Not falling for the proximity of those ice-cream trucks, we held out for the better, yet farther option of Tom’s Dairy Freeze. This little hole-in-the-wall has been open since 1969, and judging by the hordes of ice-cream lovers we encountered last weekend, it’s got no signs of slowing down.

The menu at Tom’s is quite extensive, and most everything is customizable to your liking. Le boyfriend’s fave is Parfait, which seems to be layered with nuts, strawberries, chocolate syrup, and who knows what else. I got a small banana split (which was quite huge to be honest), and a hot-dog. This is obviously not a fine-dining establishment, but their ice-creams are so darn delicious, I didn’t want to stop ordering. Oh, and if you’re wondering about the hot-dog, it was grilled to perfection and was very very tasty!

There’s quite a few parking spots around Tom’s Dairy Freeze, so you shouldn’t have trouble finding a place to park. But do make sure to bring cash, as they do not accept credit cards nor debit. And once you’ve ordered – grab a wooden bench, stretch out your legs, grab a spoon, and enjoy your summer!

Foodie: Lola’s Commissary

Lola’s Commissary

634 Church St.
Toronto, ON

416-966-3991

Perfect For: Brunch

A few weeks ago, the girls and I have finally broken our “Fran’s Rut” and met up for our brunch date at an entirely different place. No diner vibe here, just an airy, welcoming space, and “Better Than Your Momma Made It” dishes. Well, the last statement may or may not be true, but we sure did clear our plates!

First of all, as a regular brunchee (don’t care if that’s not a word), I am used to waiting for my food on Sunday mornings…it’s just the way most places are – no reservations, and limited seating (cough*Saving Grace*cough). Well, at Lola’s they do take reservations, and what’s more – they have plenty of seating (indoors and out)! Plus, apparently Saturdays aren’t as busy as Sundays, so the day we went, we didn’t have to wait at all! Unheard of, no?

On to the food…Upon spotting Cheesecake Stuffed French Toast ($12), I immediately knew that there would be nothing else to order that day (diets be damned!). Al went with her fave – Eggs Benny ($11) with some frites, and Love, going against the brunch grain, asked for…gasp…a BLT Wrap ($10) with some sexy potatoes (a mix of sweet and regular potato wedges).

Perhaps due to my high expectations, the French Toast was not all it was cracked up to be in my head…It was definitely tasty, but not KABOOM (that’s short for taste explosion), as I was hoping. Not sweet enough, or something, but I still gobbled it up…down to the last crumb. Al was very happy with her Eggs Benedict, and Lovelys with her wrap…I snacked on their frites and sexy potatoes…and loved the sexy potatoes! I make mine similar, but have not called them sexy until now…sounds much better than just POTATOES, no?

The service was great, and my request for a table in the back was met with understanding. The location is also great, not too far from the bustle of Bloor Street, yet cozy enough to be a relaxed place to eat and chill on a weekend afternoon.

Overall, Lola’s Commissary was a pleasant find, coupled with good food, great service, and availability of reservations – I will definitely be back for more!

What I Wore: Cherry Blossom Girl

Thank goodness, le boyfriend and I ended up at High Park two weeks ago! Had we waited to this weekend, the cherry blossoms might’ve been gone completely due to the crappy weather we’ve been having. We missed the blossoms last year, and I was not about to miss them again!

After a quick stop at King Slice on Bloor St for some really delicious pizza*, off to High Park we went. The trees were in bloom, the grass was covered with bodies and blankets, the choo-choo-train was full of kids and parents, and the dogs were running around, having the time of their lives. All is right with the world again now that spring is in the air. I actually climbed** a cherry tree for a photo, which was fun, until an elderly Asian lady tried to do the same without bending her legs…thankfully she didn’t get hurt…but we did get a laugh out of it.

As happy as that weekend at High Park was for me, I did get sick that day – with a cold that took me out of commission for a full week! Live and learn. Next year, I am wearing a sweater to watch the trees bloom and maybe a wrap blanket too, and I don’t care if the little kids make fun of me.

*If you live in Toronto and still haven’t tried King Slice – shame on you. Go on, and try not to like their pizza – impossible!

**I didn’t actually climb the tree, but was kind of sort of helped up by le boyfriend…same thing.

What I Wore: Blazer, Purse – Zara; Tights, Shoes, Top, Scarf – H&M; Floral Shorts, Necklace - Forever21

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Style Blog, April 26th 2010 | Tags: Cherry Blossoms, Floral Shorts, Foodie, Forever21, H&M, High Park, King Slice, Organic Style, Ray Ban, Street Style, Toronto, What I Wore, Zara
Posted in Fashion, Foodie, Organic Style, What I Wore

Foodie: Oddfellows

Oddfellows

963 Queen Street West

Toronto, ON

416-534-5244

Perfect For: Brunch

While I’m sure many of my Toronto readers have experienced Oddfellows for themselves at least once in their Toronto existence, le boyfriend and I haven’t had the pleasure until a few weeks ago. I was very glad that we did! Saturdays and Sundays, Oddfellows offers a great brunch menu from 10am-3pm, which includes general population staples such as Eggs Any Style ($10, including toast, homefries, and choice of meat), and Nelly staples, such as brownies, apple pie, float, and banana split ($6-$9).

This time around, however, I settled on the “boring” eggs overeasy (perfectly done), which came with fruit garnish, and crispy succulent bacon. One of the things le boyfriend and I have in common is our love for…wait for it…dipping chunks of toast into the egg-yolk of the overeasy eggs. So delicious! No brunch should ever be without some toast dipping! And dip I did! The coffee was quite good, but nothing crazy or special…though mine was served in a “30 and still a wild child” cup. I should’ve taken offense, but I decided not to…I don’t look 30…no way-no how…so the cup was probably meant for le boyfriend. Haha! He ended up ordering Rebekah’s Buckwheat Cakes ($12) with some sautéed bananas on top of three pancakes, which is really not enough to satisfy most guys, so he had some of my bacon and eggs too. I really, really liked the flavor of his dish, but that could’ve been due to the fact that I love sautéed bananas!

The decor itself is reason enough to pay Oddfellows a visit. Little knick-knacks all around the dining room are indeed odd, but blend well into this tiny space. Service was good, and our cups didn’t go coffee-less for too long. Our bill was presented inside a Harlequin Romance book, and noone ever yelled at me for messing up the lettering on the magnet board to shamelessly self-promote. All in all, if you are looking for a decent and fun-looking brunch place in the heart of Queen Street’s shopping stretch, Oddfellows is a great choice – with tasty food, good service, and fun things to look at.

Foodie: Ciao Wine Bar

Ciao Wine Bar

133 Yorkville Ave

Toronto, ON

416-925-2143

Perfect For: Date Night, Girls’ Night Out

For as long as I remember, I’ve always complained about the lack of good eats in the Yorkville area. Having lived and worked nearby, I’ve always found eating out a challenge. Of course, there’s the usual suspects – Sushi Inn, 7 West Cafe, Cafe Nervosa, Hemingways and lately M0R0C0. But for an area such as Yorkville, there was never enough variety and heartiness in those places. Well, no more. Because the new-ish hot spot Ciao Wine Bar is everything I’ve ever wanted – cozy and beautiful space, hearty food, and good service.

Ciao’s food menu is extensive, so it’s probably a good idea to check out their website before heading out on an empty stomach, as it might take you a while to decide on your order. The main attraction for me was the promised yumminess of the baked eggplant ($11), but that dish was the only disappointment of the night. Tough and chewy eggplant, drenched in way too much olive oil, and topped with non-existent bocconcini cheese. Never again. Next time I will go with the pastas, which were delicious. The Gnocchi with fresh tomato sauce and ricotta cheese ($17) was airy, fresh, and light. Each bite simply melted on my tongue, and I wanted more than just a bite of le boyfriend’s dish. Gnocchi is what I am ordering next time I’m at Ciao.

Jo’s Penne in pink vodka cream sauce with pancetta ($15) was hearty and full of flavour. And Donkey’s (it’s a long story) Orecchiete with rapini and spicy Italian sausage ($17) looked good and was devoured by him in a flash, though I didn’t get a chance to have a bite. My Arugula Salad with prosciutto di parma ($13) was tasty, with slightly bitter flavour of arugula offset by the saltiness of the prosciutto. Yum!

All in all, we had a solid experience, leaving full and happy, though dragging everyone there was a bit of a problem, but that’s another story. Next time you’re in Yorkville, stop by Ciao Wine Bar, there’s something for everyone.

Foodie: Cinq 01

Cinq 01

501 College St

Toronto, ON

416-964-1555

Perfect For: Date Night, Girls’ Night Out

For months now I’ve been wanting to try Cinq 01, a new-ish Toufik Sarwa hot-spot restaurant on College St. Well, recently on a rainy Saturday night, I finally got a chance to. From the minute you walk in, the ambiance of the restaurant envelops you into a stylish, yet cozy cocoon of white leather couches, wooden tables, and dimmed lights. Perfect place for a date, I thought. But don’t do it spontaneously, like we did, or you might not get a table, as this still fairly new restaurant books up in advance, especially on the weekends. Thankfully, our ever accomodating host Toufik Sarwa was on hand to get us a table before the 9pm rush – wasn’t a big deal for us, but if you’d like to lounge for a while - reserving a table is highly recommended.

While waiting for our food, I scanned Cinq 01′s well-heeled clientele – mostly twenty-thirty-somethings with a good sense of style, hence don’t come wearing flip flops or Uggs, or you might feel slightly out of place. Service was quick and efficient, but not very friendly – while the hostess and the owner were nice and attentive, our server seemed a bit rushed or distracted. Oh well, I don’t like being bothered at dinner anyway.

On to the food. Le boyfriend’s choice for the night was as simple as it gets – Steak and Frites ($29), which came with a side of greens. I really liked the tender strips of meat, and the crispiness of fries, but he wasn’t wowed. I particularly enjoyed the bitterness of the mixed greens, which complimented the meat quite well. For my meal, I went with Croque Monsieur ($15), which, to me, tasted more like a grilled cheese sandwich. I do realize that Croque Monsieur is a sort of a grilled cheese and ham sandwich, but the ones I’ve tried before (in Paris and in Toronto) usually came on a different type of bread - less Wonder, more Sourdough. The word “croquer” in French, means to crunch, and the bread on my Cinq 01 Monsieur wasn’t all that crunchy. Not to say that I didn’t enjoy it! The gruyère cheese was plentiful and deeelicious, and the salad dressing had just the right amount of tartness to balance out my greasy sandwich.

I do wish we had some time to try their deserts, as I’ve heard that they are actually the best part of the experience. But I suppose, that gives me a reason to come back. All in all, we had a good time at Cinq 01, the atmosphere is wonderful, and the staff does their best to make you feel welcome. I can’t judge the food much, as we only had time to try two dishes this time around, but we both walked away satisfied and not at all disappointed with our dinner. If you are in the College and Bathurst area, Cinq 01 is a stylish place to see and be seen.

Foodie: Arepa Café

Arepa Café

490 Queen St. West, Toronto

416-362-4111

Perfect For: Lunch, Coffee, Quick Bite

I’ve been very curious to try Arepa Café for a while now. I love Latin American food (and music), so I was quite sure that I was not going to be disappointed with my visit. I was right. Although we were not able to get a proper table to sit at (Arepa Café is just that – a small café), we settled on a pair of bar stools overlooking the stove and the actual cooking process – not the best view, but it gave me a chance to interact with the friendly Venezualan chef.

Arepas, for those that haven’t had a chance to try one before, are sort of a Venezuelan equivalent of a sandwich, only instead of your usual bread, the grilled buns are made out of corn flower, and have a bit of a grainier, corn-bready (I know it’s not a word) texture. As for the fillings, there is a full menu of various meats, seafood, and cheese to choose from.

We ordered Carne Mechada ($6.50), La Llanera($9.00), and as per our server’s suggestion a side of Yuca ($4.00). Our Yucaarrived first, sided with a little cup of Guasacaca – which is like a pured spicy guacamole and is amazingly tasty. Both le boyfriend and I were in love with Yuca. To me, it tasted like a mix of plantain and potato fries, but the result, dipped in guasacacasauce was simple perfection. Yum!

When our arepas arrived, I couldn’t help but feel slightly disappointed at the size of our sandwiches. I am not a big eater, but even to me, those arepas looked tiny. After the first bite, however, my disappointment was gone. Tender, stringy, juicy flank steak, seasoned with cumin, garlic, pepper, and tomato was pure deliciousness. And after a few bites, I was done. As in full. As in, I still had some of the sandwich left over on my plate uneaten. Le boyfriend’s tenderloin was slightly less flavourful, but just as good, with huge chunks of avocado and cheese – it was gone in a flash. And to my surprise, he barely could eat what was left over of my arepa! Those suckers look small, but are quite filling, so don’t judge these arepas by their size!

After hearing about their famous alfajores ($1.75each), we couldn’t leave without trying some. As I tend to be quite greedy about my deserts, I was going to order 2, but settled for just 1 to start, and I am happy that I did that, because the cookie, smothered in rich dulce de leche, was the last thing I could eat without feeling like a complete glutton.

Overall, I really enjoyed my Arepa Café experience. It is by no means a fine dining establishment and service can be a bit chaotic, but it’s a lovely place in Toronto to have a quick bite of something other than burgers and sandwiches. Next time, I’ll try to come in early to have a sip of their Raw Brown Sugar Cane Lemonade ($1.75), they were all out the last time I was in. If you like to try new things, you should definitely give Arepa Café a go!

PS. I would not recommend getting arepas to go or for take-out, as most of the fillings end up making the bread a bit soggy, if not eaten right away. That is a matter of preference, of course.

Carne Mechada

La Llanera

Alfajores

Foodie: Ame

Ame
19 Mercer St.
Toronto, ON
416-599-7246
Perfect For: After work drinks, Romantic Dinner, Girls’ Night Out

Sometimes a work week is so long and gruelling, Friday night after-work drinks become a must! A couple of weeks ago, Al and I decided to check out Ame (pronounced Ah-may) – Japanese restaurant on Mercer St. (formerly Rain). We went without reservations or expectations, with just one goal – to get a couple of drinks and have a nice chat. From the get-go, we both were very impressed with the decor and the service. The space is very warm and inviting; Asian decor influences are mixed with modern lighting and wooden panels. Each place setting comes with a cute pebble to rest your chopsticks on. And both the server and the hostess were very attentive and welcoming.

Now to the food. The best Spicy Tuna Roll ($14) I’ve ever had! As in the best. Fresh fish, amazing seasoning, and crushed pepper. Delicious! All six pieces were gone in a flash. Al’s Robata Grill Butter Fish ($19) came covered with a large, green, chip-like shell. It was spicy, but tasted a bit like a Cheeto. Not exactly sure what to make of it, but it was tasty. The Butter Fish was small, garnished with mushrooms and some sort of a creamy sauce. Ah-mazing! Really, really flavourful. But not as flavourful as the Sushi Rice ($6) side. Such yummy rice! It was really tough to eat it with chopsticks, but if I had a few more Stellas, I would lick the plate! By the time we polished off our dinner, both Al and I were blissfully happy.

Another thing we loved about Ame, is that noone ever bothered us about holding a table for 3, while waiting for le boyfriend to arrive. He made it to the restaurant about 2 hours after we first sat down and we never felt rushed and neither did he. After le boyfriend polished off his Tuna Sashimi ($16), we were all ready for some desert!

One Liquid Chocolate, one Lemon Meringue, and one Apples and Chestnuts later (each $9). We were stuffed and unable to move. All three deserts were visually beautiful, and tasted divine! Combinations of crunchy, liquid, mousse, and ice-cream…simply amazing. The names don’t give those deserts justice!

All in all, our Ame experience was very solid! Attentive service, yummy-licious Japanese food, gorgeous, and just as yummy, deserts, all set in a wonderfully decorated dining room – added up to a belly-full night to remember. Wish more of my restaurant experiences were this fab! If you love Japanese cuisine, and still haven’t checked out Ame…you’re really missing out!

Deserts after the break!

Foodie: McMacaron?

Ok, so this is apparently old news now, but even French fast food places are infinitely more chic than the ones in Canada! McDonald’s restaurants in France (at least since September) are selling macarons at their fast-food locations! And not just any old macarons, their supplier is The Holder – Ladurée’s owner (and if you are a macaron lover and haven’t tried a Ladurée macaron yet - shame on you!). What I don’t understand, however, is why, oh why would anyone head to a McD for a macaron, when the country is chock-full of delicious patisseries. Still though…the ads are tres cute!

Photo Credits: McDonald’s

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