vi pei, oh my

no question about it, this girl loves brunch. and discovering a delicious brunch spot within walking distance from home is quite the finding! the whole (quite critical) group was in agreement: we will definitely return to vi pei bistro (formerly vi vetha)

EC, BC, JW, CS, RK and i went to vi pei in the yonge and lawrence area, on a beautiful sunny march day (a tease by mother nature). there was lots of cousin-chatter and smiles all around. the service was great and the food was fantastic. the menu offered creative options for typical brunch food, plus some interesting specials. the menu was extensive, making it difficult to choose what to eat. all in all, everything was plentiful! the restaurant itself has a plain decor, but what vi pei lacks in atmosphere, they more than make up for with lick-your-plate brunch.  

brunch:

eggs nova 
poached eggs on english muffin over smoked salmon with hollandaise.
served with salad & home fries

salmon omelet
fruit smoked salmon, capers & green onion
with salad & home fries  

3 cheese omeletprepared with asiago, cheddar & mozzarella cheeses
with salad & home fries

eggs benny special
two poached eggs, smoked salmon, brie and hollendaise
served with side salad and homefries

french toast special
brie-stuffed french toast with caramelized
peaches, strawberries and bananas (WOW)
bacon and sausage

note: get there early... the place was buzzing and full by 11.
looking forward to next time!

my name is leslie jones

leslieville dining always tends to be a positive experience. ap + ng, rk + i finally got our acts together and headed downtown for our much-anticipated double date. after waiting in line at a different restaurant, we decided to walk down queen and see what we could find. 
lucky for us, we hit gold. leslie jones is the gem of leslieville. located on queen at the corner of jones ave, leslie jones has a cozy atmosphere with food that will not disappoint. the ever-changing menu uses locally-sourced ingredients, while the old-school, open kitchen showcases chef george wensley's talents.
leslie jones is high on the recommendation list!

complimentary fresh bread and a unique chickpea based dipping sauce

appetizers

rk enjoyed the grilled calamari, marinated with lemon, capers, moroccan olives and chillies
because it was grilled, it tasted fresh and was the perfect appetizer

ng enjoyed the avocado salad with tomato, red onion, coriander, and fresh lime dressing

i guess great minds think alike. ap and i both ordered
the beet salad with ricotta, fresh pear, smoked almonds and greens
it has inspired me to start making beets again

mains

ap enjoyed her eggplant stuffed with spinach, zucchini, basil puree and goat cheese
it looked and smelled incredible

ng enjoyed linguine with scallops, tiger shrimp, mussels,
chilies, fresh herbs, spinach, tomato and white wine

rk can never turn down risotto. it was the daily special, with mushroom and, peas.
ever a critique of the consistency of risotto, he licked the bowl clean.

i devoured my braised beef brisket with dark ale, rosemary, paprika and caramelized onion. the meat was cooked tenderly and the veggies and potato were packed with flavour.

we were (unusually) too full for dessert!
it was a great evening: from the excellent service and vinyl-spinning chef to the local art showcased on the walls, leslie jones never disappoints.
we will definitely be back in the warmer weather to enjoy a drink or two on their infamous patio!

gusto 101

happy sunday! another weekend, another toronto restaurant review.

last sunday night we finally made our way to gusto 101 down at king and portland. it is not to be missed! having just celebrated their one-year anniversary in a town that spits out new restaurants by the dozen, we knew we had to give it a go. after waiting a half hour in the crowded bar area, we were  debating whether or not we should leave. there are only so many times you can be elbowed in the ribs before giving up. luckily, we were seated before we made the decision to look elsewhere.
we sat at a great table by the open kitchen. the industrial, abandoned auto body shop that was once 101 portland is now a trendy, food-focused destination. the chef, Daniel Mezzolo, is right on point and fun to watch, even chatting with us briefly about what he was cooking up.

check it out for yourself.

they sold these cute little sacs the bread was served in

appetizers

RK and i shared the mozzarella di bufala. i would argue it is toronto's best.
roasted tomatoes, basil oil, parmigiano crisp, smoked paprika, arugula

AY and MS shared the bruschetta ai funghi
wild mushrooms, truffle oil, manchego

mains 

AY ordered the rigatoni heritage pork sausage
rapini, peperoncino, ricotta salata

MS ordered the rigatoni lucani, and was impressed by the amount of meat:
shredded braised lamb shank, tomato, fresh herbs, shaved pecorino

i loved the roasted pumpkin agnolitti
sage brown butter, marmigiano, poppy seeds
i'm still thinking about it...

RK enjoyed the recommended spinaci pizza
spinach, buffalo mozzarella, pecorina, fresh ricotta and sliced garlic

dessert

two for the table
a divine dessert, budino al cioccolato
we should have ordered 4 this was so scrumptious

overall, great vibe, great food, great service! a definite recommendation!

before we left, our amazing waiter took us up to the second story to show us the new renos. come summer 2013, good luck getting in to gusto 101

lady of brunch

during the last few days of our two-week vacation, NA (of 'where the locals go') and i finally carved out some time to hit up the queen east hotspot, lady marmalade. 
although it was a dreary january day, the air was light and cheery inside the bustling restaurant.
lady marmalade, while itty bitty in size, offers a wide range of unique dishes, catering to the ever-changing leslieville crowd. from hipsters and hippies to families and yuppies, lady marmalade had everybody smiling (once they were seated).
tip: be sure to get there about an hour before you want to eat. this place is busy everyday of the week. even on a thursday morning, we waited close to an hour.
enjoy.
recommendation? yes.

warm coffee on a snowy day

we both ordered the eggs benny..

it was a tough call between the good morning poutine, but in the end,
NA ordered the “cochinita pibil” yucatecan pulled pork & citrus marinated red onions

i ordered the roasted vegetables & aged white cheddar
i could have done without the (overdressed) salad

what's brunch without a side of bacon

until next time!

rosedale diner rendez-vous

for months now, a friend and her (new) husband have been planning to attend a blog-worthy double date. after much restaurant and menu deliberation, we finally selected the rosedale diner for their bohemian style and eclectic menu items. 
we made an 8pm reservation and the restaurant was packed. it's a tight little spot, so be prepared to get cozy to the people at neighbouring tables. this family-run restaurant has graced many "best of" lists, and has certainly secured a spot with us!
see below.

menu

 appetizers:

Melted Brie a la Shum | w/ garlic & za'atar, served w/ apple fans & pita points 

Duck Liver pâté | port, crispy leeks, schmaltz, blueberry balsamic reduction

The Caesar | parmesan & herbed croutons, our famous dressing

 mains:

delicious (and very rich) poutine au canard:
off the bone duck confit & quebecois cheese curds, frites, demi-glaze gravy

steak frites: aged sirloin, brushed garlic and a bourbon compound butter with sauteed market vegetables

King Cole Duck Confit | in a cassis veal jus w/ sautéed market vegetables & herb-roasted potatoes

 desserts:

flourless chocolate tort

raspberry chocolate tartufo

thanks to TS, SS and RK for a great night out! our meals were pricey, but the food was delicious! check out their winterlicious menu coming soon.
can't wait to do it again!

chicken soup for the soul

today was a cold, rainy, relaxing sunday.  my bones were chilled. i needed some hot soup. chicken soup, actually. hold the matzo balls (this time).
if soup is your thing, give this recipe a try. it is simple but delish.
first: find a reliable recipe. i believe most of the women in my family use the one pictured here. i used it, too.

second helpings, please! a staple in jewish homes.

find a LARGE stock pot. add cold water and chicken thighs (or legs...or a soup bone, etc.). let it boil while you prep the rest. make sure to skim the fat off the top. 

now for the veggie prep!

carrots

onion

celery

throw it all in the pot and let it simmer for a few hours.  don't forget the S & P!!

hour 2.  take our the chieken before you serve.

yummy final product. add in some of the cooked chicken for protein.

serve with a side of fresh challah (for dunking!)

 enjoy! i hope this soup warms your soul!!
happy sunday!