This page was moved to our new blog:
Showing posts with label Riverdale. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Riverdale. Show all posts
16.10.16
22.8.15
Savour Toronto Coffee Tour
This page was moved to our new blog:
https://www.ispalette.com/ilianaspalette/2015/08/savour-toronto-coffee-tour.html
https://www.ispalette.com/ilianaspalette/2015/08/savour-toronto-coffee-tour.html
15.7.12
Lady Marmalade
http://www.ladymarmalade.ca/
People have asked me what my favourite restaurants are, and strangely enough I never wrote about them. Perhaps, its some kind of selfish back thoughts, that I like to keep them gems untouched. Or perhaps being afraid that my benchmark places might end up disappointing me for whatever reason. Either way, I have decided to start.
On my way to the beaches, if I ever have over an hour and an appetite, I am coming in. (not to mention, if I feel like spoiling myself with the city's top bennies)
APPEARANCE
light, bright
Light green and yellow front with well-tracked, hand-painted, elegant serif type and always a long line, you can't miss this little hub on Queen East. Recently they have started opening their windows, hopefully soon enough they'll figure out a way to make all front window panels retractable.
SWIRL
pear, floral
As the line gets shorter and you enter there is a curtain, to separate people in line from drooling on others' food, or giving them looks. To entertain the hungry crowd there is a wall with all kinds of small local artists and events happening. On top of that, the walls inside have local art. This time there was some really neat photographs with perspective lines of thread on top and some 3D photo collages. The green walls everywhere and energy of people give this place the feel of spring morning. My favourite part of this place is that no two chairs match, same goes with their cutlery and there's also a variety of tables.
NOSE
light honeysuckle, hints of apple and mineral
The long line realistically took about 30min - not bad, at all. Once we sat down menus were quickly given out to us. They are rather flimsy, and these were also wet. There has always been a doodle-like portrait at the front, a bit too tight around the edges. Cheri is convinced its Muammar Guddafi, but our waitress didn't seem to think so. We saw a special on their little chalk stand-up board - french toast with banana caramel so we had to give it a shot. Also, to share, one of my favourites -Brie, Avocado, Bacon Benny. My other benny recommendations are the Ham, Red Option and Chipotle Mayo and the Cheddar, Bacon and Mango Salsa.
PALATE
medium-light bodied, light acidity, smooth
Their caramel banana french toast seemed to be too popular, so we went with their second best option - Chocolate Raspberry. Getting our food took some time, no matter how long it would've been, its worth the flavour. The hollandaise is just the perfect texture, the eggs are just the right amount of solid & liquid and the brie, bacon, green onion and avocado just make it above and beyond. With a pinch of paprika/chipotle (perhaps a bit on the stingy side), a side of home-made fries and a small bowl of salad this is all I can ever ask for.
We had never tried their french toast, and what a mistake that is. With a few fruits on the side and a side of maple syrup, this chunk of sweet goodness is not to miss. I kept on wandering how this dish was possibly made - there wasn't a single dry or undercooked part, also hardly any air inside. This bread was made to be a fresh toast (not just a last minute decision) and my assumption - it just came out of the oven. It was a generous chunk, definitely for sharing. A bit on the heavy side though, with chocolate chips and berries inside, topped with chocolate syrup and raspberry jam.
FINISH
sweet notes of flower and light spice
Energizing like spring - the bright, local, small community feel together with mouth-watering food draws me to Lady Marmalade again and again.
As for the line, there's always one.
overall.. a warm, aged Riesling with a soul.
People have asked me what my favourite restaurants are, and strangely enough I never wrote about them. Perhaps, its some kind of selfish back thoughts, that I like to keep them gems untouched. Or perhaps being afraid that my benchmark places might end up disappointing me for whatever reason. Either way, I have decided to start.On my way to the beaches, if I ever have over an hour and an appetite, I am coming in. (not to mention, if I feel like spoiling myself with the city's top bennies)
APPEARANCE
light, bright
Light green and yellow front with well-tracked, hand-painted, elegant serif type and always a long line, you can't miss this little hub on Queen East. Recently they have started opening their windows, hopefully soon enough they'll figure out a way to make all front window panels retractable.
SWIRLpear, floral
As the line gets shorter and you enter there is a curtain, to separate people in line from drooling on others' food, or giving them looks. To entertain the hungry crowd there is a wall with all kinds of small local artists and events happening. On top of that, the walls inside have local art. This time there was some really neat photographs with perspective lines of thread on top and some 3D photo collages. The green walls everywhere and energy of people give this place the feel of spring morning. My favourite part of this place is that no two chairs match, same goes with their cutlery and there's also a variety of tables.
NOSElight honeysuckle, hints of apple and mineral
The long line realistically took about 30min - not bad, at all. Once we sat down menus were quickly given out to us. They are rather flimsy, and these were also wet. There has always been a doodle-like portrait at the front, a bit too tight around the edges. Cheri is convinced its Muammar Guddafi, but our waitress didn't seem to think so. We saw a special on their little chalk stand-up board - french toast with banana caramel so we had to give it a shot. Also, to share, one of my favourites -Brie, Avocado, Bacon Benny. My other benny recommendations are the Ham, Red Option and Chipotle Mayo and the Cheddar, Bacon and Mango Salsa.
PALATEmedium-light bodied, light acidity, smooth
Their caramel banana french toast seemed to be too popular, so we went with their second best option - Chocolate Raspberry. Getting our food took some time, no matter how long it would've been, its worth the flavour. The hollandaise is just the perfect texture, the eggs are just the right amount of solid & liquid and the brie, bacon, green onion and avocado just make it above and beyond. With a pinch of paprika/chipotle (perhaps a bit on the stingy side), a side of home-made fries and a small bowl of salad this is all I can ever ask for.
We had never tried their french toast, and what a mistake that is. With a few fruits on the side and a side of maple syrup, this chunk of sweet goodness is not to miss. I kept on wandering how this dish was possibly made - there wasn't a single dry or undercooked part, also hardly any air inside. This bread was made to be a fresh toast (not just a last minute decision) and my assumption - it just came out of the oven. It was a generous chunk, definitely for sharing. A bit on the heavy side though, with chocolate chips and berries inside, topped with chocolate syrup and raspberry jam.
FINISH
sweet notes of flower and light spice
Energizing like spring - the bright, local, small community feel together with mouth-watering food draws me to Lady Marmalade again and again.
As for the line, there's always one.
overall.. a warm, aged Riesling with a soul.
24.3.12
Bonjour Brioche
http://bonjourbrioche.com/I did not understand what the hype is all about when it comes to a brioche pastry. It is an airy, plain bread which slightly resembles a muffin. Regardless, it was going to be a french-style bakery so I was all in.
APPEARANCE
simple, bubbly
From the outside, it is right by a lonely bridge, but the blue and yellow awning paired with the smell of warm bread made it very welcoming.
NOSE
light and mixed, some green fresh fruit
Inside it is tiny and people line up near the middle when waiting for a table.. Kind of weird, I thought. As we sat down we did not take our eyes off the pastries, which we had once come by to try. The new bunch of plain de chocolate had just left the oven and were quick to finish.
The tables have an old looking, colorful patterned tablecloth. The laminated single sheet menus are simple and I find amateur, but do the trick. A beige yellow and orange background is interrupted by blue spirals and black type - too much clutter.
SWIRL
some sulphates, a bit sweet
Our waiter had thick-framed glasses and tried hard to act French, when pronouncing the items on the menu - a bit overdone for my liking, but polite nonetheless. I decided to try their Croque Madam, as it was the only brioche consisting dish, while Cheri had their meatloaf sandwich.
As we waited, we enjoyed the smallest wall, as it was completely filled with frames. It had a certain charm to it. Throughout our wait, Edith Pief songs were making my day.
It did not take long. My Croque Madam consisted of a toasted brioche with ham and gruyere cheese, covered by an egg and topped with a few chives. It came with a side of greens. Overall it was small and lite. This is probably why I had a random piece of baguette on the side too. I would have wished my egg was runny, as it felt so plastic. The meatloaf sandwich was great. It was on a perfect baguette - crispy outside with white marks of flower, and inside soft and airy. The meat in combination with caramelized onions and dijon mustard, made the sandwich.
PALATE
astringent, easy-going, dry
It did not take long. My Croque Madam consisted of a toasted brioche with ham and gruyere cheese, covered by an egg and topped with a few chives. It came with a side of greens. Overall it was small and lite. This is probably why I had a random piece of baguette on the side too. I would have wished my egg was runny, as it felt so plastic. The meatloaf sandwich was great. It was on a perfect baguette - crispy outside with white marks of flower, and inside soft and airy. The meat in combination with caramelized onions and dijon mustard, made the sandwich.
FINISH
light but lively
What I found really made the experience was the crowd - ppl of all ages constantly rotating.
overall.. a new Prosecco
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