five doors north

i have driven by five doors north about five thousand times, always meaning to 'give it a try sometime'. i have totally been missing out. located in the yonge-eglinton-davisville corridor, this restaurant, with 5 multi-coloured doors hanging outside, is a quirky hotspot for locals. casual but cool, five doors north is a spot to return to again and again.

a small group of us went for dinner, and were all more-than-pleased with the atmosphere and delicious food. it is a great place to go with a group, as there are lots of plates worth sharing. the hand-written menu is complete with interesting choices, while the chalkboard boasts their succulent specials. can't go wrong here!

bear with me, as i try to remember what we all ate!!

2088 yonge street
midtown toronto

i had the lovely roasted beet salad
with scallion aioli and lotus chips
meant to share. did not happen.

rk enjoyed the grilled calamari with
tomato chili jam and pesto (off the secondi menu)

ay ate the BBQ baby back ribs with crispy matchstick potatoes 

their gorgonzola gnocchi is a infamous dish! rich and savoury, you can't go wrong!
ms ordered it as an app and i had it as my main

jd ordered the sardines

 grilled lamb chops with roasted garlic and caramalized onion juice

spicy seafood stew with mussels, calamari, shrimp and stripe bass

rk ordered one of the daily pastas

great atmosphere. upside down lamps all around, funky feel.

i definitely plan on returning to five doors north. strongly recommend this wonderful place!

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!

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!

sushi moto saturday!

it's been a while....i have been a busy lady! i started a new teaching job (dream job, actually), and have been nursing a month-long cold, so those factors might contribute to my absence!

anyhow, a few weeks back we went for a great sushi eve. our little foursome had our own private room at sushi moto: delicious saki, sumptuous sushi and a whole lot of laughs. enjoy.

yum....this sake warmed us up.

yonge and sheppard, check it out.

my apologies, we ate everything so quickly i didn't get to photograph it all.
fun times, RK, MS and AY!

stay tuned, hope to be back soon!

capocaccia

went to a favourite resto this weekend, and was surprised to see a little facelift had taken place!

although the original decor was lovely, the addition of some new chandeliers and tables was duly noted. 

capocaccia, at yonge and balmoral (south of st clair), offers authentic and delicious italian food in a comfortable, trendy setting. a must-try!

i must recommend my favourite dish: ravioli di funghi-wild mushroom ravioli in a porcini, cream truffled sauce

rigatoni primavera, with added goat cheese

daily special: veal chop on a bed of mushroom risotto

new chandelier...perhaps from elte?

a great place to walk in to any night of the week.

enjoy! you will not be disappointed!

terroni: a raving review

went to the new terroni at yonge and summerhill friday evening.
it was delicious. phenomenal vibe.
our waiter was so friendly.
a few meal shots from the eve, complete with menu description.

salad from the nightly specials. pomegranate, arugula,
nuts and buffalo mozzarella.
YUM!

HIGHLY recommend the Rigatoni Arcobaleno
mozzarella di bufala, zucchini, light cherry tomato sauce, basil

DELISH Ravioli di Zio Paperone
homemade ravioli stuffed with duck confit, fig, roasted butternut squash,
sauteed with oyster, button mushrooms and parmigiano

tiramisu

capped off the evening with a loose leaf blood-orange tea.

definitely recommend this new terroni. enjoy!
1095 Yonge St  Toronto
http://terroni.com/