I asked this question many years ago (http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/499810) and didn't find anything. I'll be interested to hear if any classes have started up since.
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bread baking class(es)
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Asian Grocery Stores in London
A competitor to United Supermarket has opened in the Sears Outlet plaza near Oxford/Wonderland, named Food Island or Foodland (name seems to vary). Lots of people checking out the wares on grand opening weekend.
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Another BBQ joint [Smoke BBQ House on Harbord]
Care to elaborate on the food a bit more?
how does it compare to other places that are not a 2 hr drive (maybe it's shorter when on a high horse?)
how vinegary is vinegary? i happen to like vinegar
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Buying great olive oil
I have discovered a source of extraordinary olive oil on the Danforth:
Uzel Olive
"the best olives in the world"
974 Danforth Ave.
Toronto ON
M4J 1L9
647 477 3170
www.uzelolive.com/
They claim the gemlike black olives are grown without pesticides or chemicals. The oil not a heavy and cloudy; instead, it is fresh, herbaceous, and delicious. Not cheap, but not prohibitively expensive. A gallon costs about $70. (They sell smaller quantities.)
They also sell sumptuous olives, fresh tapenade, olive oil soap, Turkish jams, Turkish honey, and spices. In the winter months, I buy dried figs from the recent harvest.
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ISO Horseradish - Where's the good stuff?
I recall Kozlik's does a horseradish - http://life.nationalpost.com/2011/04/17/shelflife-a-better-bitter-horseradish/
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Ursa Restaurant
Yes, I know its definitely more pricey than most others at that price, and I think other restaurants I have visited lately (ie. hopgoods, Acadia, Edulis etc) are much better value. However, it was a good meal and having eaten at almost all the "noteworthy" restaurants in the city, a bit of creativity and well prepared/seasoned food goes a long way with me, so I am willing to pay the price. Having said that, it was definitely not the best meal I have had in the city lately, and now having been to all of the enroute selections for 2012 (in Toronto), I definitely did not feel it deserved to be ahead of some of the others.
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John & Sons - odd Globe review
While I don't always agree with CNS, I respect his opinion. His willingness to go beyond the predictable places shows he wants to do more and give more to readers than your average critic. All this is preamble to saying, if you know of a place that's like Dr Laffa, but better, VVm, name it. I'd put money down he'd investigate your claim.
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Restaurant For Small Wedding Reception
I'm always skeptical of "anywhere in the GTA" requests. It's your wedding. Are you sure you don't want a place close to home so anniversary celebrations are easy and good memories nearby? Is parking a consideration? Is wheelchair accessibility required? What type of food is preferred by one and all? Does $60. include alcohol?
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The Best Pork Sandwiches In Toronto, 2012
not to worry, I'm starting a best tacos in Toronto discussion on the 28th once I post about it on my Tumblr. Would love your input.
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Recommendation for Kingston
I vote Aquaterra. I've been there a lot for journal clubs, so I know the dinner menu well. The apps and entrees are good dessert is mediocre; however, the creme brule is very good.
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Bakeries - Toronto and area
I finally tried San Remo donuts. They are very pleasing! The raspberry-filled and apple fritters are very good. The chocolate dip were good and the cream-filled were decent. The raspberry remind me of Epi Breads but not nearly as oily .
I tried the brownies that look amazing. But sadly aren't.
As an aside, this place has a crazy amount of baked stuff. While I realize some of it is brought in from other bakeries, they seem to do a lot. Some of their X-Mas cookies were good (shortbread gingerbread and the icing sugar covered C-shaped cookies). I'd like to try other stuff... pity it is SO far away from me!
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New restaurant @ Avenue Road/Eglinton: Darbar (Persian) - long
I too was excited to try this restaurant. I am often in the area. I have had Persian food with Persian friends at two other restaurants. My first visit was pleasant. It was 5:00 pm on a weeknight. My friend had the white skewered chicken with saffron rice and barberries. She also had the yogurt soda. I had the chicken stew. We both had shirazi salad. We were happy with the food and for the most part the service. One complaint was the waitress had a cloth bracelet on with a long tie. She kept reaching across our plates to pick up the empty bread plate etc. At one point her frayed bracelet touched my rice. Although grossed out I said nothing and did not eat that part. I chalked it up to new servers. We tipped well and made reservations for our holiday dinner on Friday December 22. We actually cancelled our annual dinner at Auberge du pommier we liked Darbar so much.
The good news ends here. We arrive on the stated time. Warmly greeted we sit in good moods although our reserved table had been given to someone else. It happens. The server was asking to take drink orders before we had our coats off. They still have no drink menu. Okay I guess staff are still inexperienced one month from our initial visit. We order shirazi salads. Now I love red onion but the salads were 75% onion. Still palatable. We both ordered the white breast chicken with barberry rice, the dish my friend had last time. At our last visit my friend loved it, I had a taste and loved it too.
Our mains arrive too quickly. The server, another one, all told we had 4 people serving us that night but none well, tried to snatch my friend's unfinished salad. Okay we begin our mains. The rice is lukewarm with globs of unmelted butter in it. The chicken is raw in the middle, raw!!!! I tell the manager?? Owner?? Sunni, she apologizes nicely. I know mistakes happen. But wait. She takes my friend's chicken back asap. Not mine. Finally I get her attention and she takes mine. My friend asks if Sunni can take our rice and heat it because it is cold. She agrees.
We are given a complimentary appetizer of olives and nuts, a paste. Nice.
But I throw in the towel when the rice comes back stone cold, my friend is given a new chicken dish but I get her and my leftovers mixed up on the same plate, very overcooked.
When addressed I am told I ate half the chicken before sending it back. I calmly explain I am quite willing to pay full price. I explain it was more towards the middle that the chicken skewer was raw, I had eaten more then my friend and asked my friend to check her chicken, and indeed hers was raw too. I was not going to quibble over how much damn chicken I had eaten. You serve raw chicken, cold soggy rice, I suggest if sent back you remake the whole dish. I was civil and pleasant throughout.
We decide to try desert. It was our holiday dinner. I asked the server is the cheesecake made in house, she said yes. Well it was okay but obviously bought frozen as it was frozen in the middle. Lol a farce. We got Persian tea and it was barely warm.
In parting I told Sunni we were so looking forward to the dinner and so disappointed. She gave a card for 15% off next time. Big deal. I can understand a mistake. But it is all In how it is rectified, this was dealt with badly and was mistake after mistake.
I will not go back. My work and friend's work were going to book office dinners but we advised to go elsewhere.
Dismal.
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The Best Vegetarian Sandwiches in Toronto
Also, get a tofu banh mi from Rose's Vietnamese Sandwiches on Gerrard, south side, just east of Broadview. It's quite substantial, filled with tofu and lots of yummy pickled veggies, and for under $3, you can't go wrong.
http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/10/134994/restaurant/Riverdale-Leslieville/Roses-Vietnamese-Sandwiches-Toronto
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Kingyo is open
So can I take this to mean that I don't have to line up for 30+ minutes outside to eat here?
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Best oxtail,where to buy???
Yeah, when I cook oxtail, I just look for the cheapest meat. Which is hard, because it isn't a cheap meat at all now.
I was a bit surprised to read someone looking for high quality ox tail!
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Sherry Vinegar
Thank you. I have never been to Marilus, but heard lots about it. I'm not far from Starskys and frequent Denningers, so will give both a try.
Thanks for the suggestions.
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Great pecan pie?
Wanda's http://www.wandaspieinthesky.com/bakery/custard_nut_pies.html
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Excellent Chicken Wings in Brampton
After a long day of last minute Christmas shopping with the family. We were starved to say the least. We drove by this restaurant named Chicken Master in the Sandlewood & Hurontario area and were not disappointed. We ordered the family combo which comprised of a whole chicken with 20 wings and bunch of extras. The chicken is rotisserie style, flavourful and juicy. But what really stood out was the wings. The wings were a deep fried buffalo style variety. For flavour we chose hot, which must have been Frank's Red Hot sauce. I'm not sure how I can best describe them but they will definitely be ordered for my home superbowl party!
Thanks for reading and hopefully I helped someone else out there...
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JaBistro- wow
we went for dinner on thursday night after reading the good reviews on here. what a disappointment...
i had the spicy celery sake cocktail that tasted mostly of overly-sweet ginger without a hint of sake. not unpleasant, but i would have believed you if you told me it came of the virgin list. gf had the shiso smash with bourbon, that was also too sweet. we later followed these with a draft sapporo and a very small pour of a very forgettable albarinho
the pork belly "snack" was tasty, but not memorable. the accompanying shrimp toast was the best part of the dish.
there was nothing terribly wrong with most of the sashimi sampler that we had. most of the fish was respectably fresh, and the variety was refreshing for toronto. the geoduck and uni were of good quality and a nice change from the standard offering, but the cuts on the toro and mackerel were inconsistent, while the sea bream was completely butchered. it was literally a tangled mess that looked like someone had gone after a beautiful fish with a pair of dull children's scissors.
the last dish was the biggest disappointment. i love soft shell crab (even enough to order it out of season) but Ja's version was overly battered, excessively oily, and served with "chili". silly me for thinking chili would be some sort of chili sauce. silly server for not explaining that it was actually chili. the type with beans. it was actually a decent white chili, but not a good pairing with oil soaked fried crabs, and definitely unexpected.
the server also extolled the virtues of "fly fish eggs" at one point and couldn't answer questions about what was on the sashimi plate without going back to check twice.
in summary, it felt like an amateur effort at best. which would be fine if the price point was lower ($150 all in for 4 drinks and 3 small dishes).
i would not return
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Fagor Pressure Cookers in the GTA?
I tried to call Fagor Customer Service twice. Both times "nobody is to answer you right now, Leave your phone number". They never call back.
E-mail was unanswered too.
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