CLOSED: America (Toronto)

Posted on Sunday, February 15, 2015 by
Location: Toronto, Canada
Address: 325 Bay Street (inside the Trump Hotel, 3rd floor)
Type of Meal: Dinner
If Stock was where Bay Street met to discuss deals, the new America is where they go to celebrate afterwards. It’s much darker than the former restaurant and lit in a lilac glow, giving you a glimpse of the lounge it morphs into later in the night.

Gone from the menu are the seafood towers; American favourites make up the options instead. Their Winterlicious menu ($45), although offering little from their regular menu, provided tastes from various states. From Hawaii, the heritage salmon poke ceviche was adorned with pineapple and macadamia nuts. Despite the menu noting the dish having coffee and coconut in it, the predominant flavour was citrus… to the point that it overpowered the fish. Although was refreshing. 


For me, the pressed BBQ pork was the better starter. The meat was sweet and flavourful and resembled chunky pieces of pulled pork molded together. Additionally, the braised apple mustard on the side complimented it well. Tasso ham crackling and bacon powder finished off the dish, giving it flourish but kept with the theme.


Our entire table opted for the Wellington County steak and beef cheeks for the main. If you like meat, this is for you – a large portion of ultra-tender beef cheeks and two generous slices of nicely cooked but slightly chewy steak. Along with creamy heirloom grits, collard greens, roasted carrots and a smoked bourbon butter topping it, this dish is delicious but heavy. I rarely do not finish my plate, but the components were all so rich that I simply couldn’t do it.


To be fair, it was likely due to my poor judgment with the bread. I couldn’t help it, their jalapeno corn bread was so buttery and delicious I just had to have a second piece! This is hands down the best corn bread I’ve ever had – including all the ones I tried in New Orleans.  


The granny apple sticky sourdough pudding was sweet and rich sitting in a pool of Maker’s Mark bourbon pecan toffee sauce. But, the slightly salty pretzel ice cream on top really helped to calm the sweetness. All in all, a great dessert.


While the peanut butter panna cotta sounded delicious, the consistency was way too rich and resembled nothing like the light panna cotta. Instead, it felt like we were eating spoons of sweet creamy peanut butter – tasty for one taste but really doesn’t leave you wanting more. Topped with peaks of toasted marshmallow and chocolate this dessert is best split amongst a table of four.


Despite being stuffed I couldn’t help but try a small piece of the dark chocolate rocky road bar that accompanies the bill. It’s a nice ending if you want something small to sweeten the end of your meal.


Luckily, America continued their former counterpart’s attention to service. Everyone I encountered that evening was genuinely friendly and warm. America, I salute you.

Overall mark - 7 out of 10

Is Winterlicious worth it?

As a special feature to the Winterlicious blogs, I will attempt to calculate the savings being offered (based on my meal selection).

Winterlicious - $45

Regular menu* - $74 -  salmon ceviche ($23), steak and cheek ($37) and sticky pudding ($14)

Savings - $29 or 39%

* At America, it's hard to determine the savings as most items aren't part of their regular menu; prices based on the fried oysters and pork loin

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____________________________
Gastro World's Grading System
  • Anything under 5 - I really disliked and will never go back
  • 6 - decent restaurant but I likely won't return
  • 7 - decent restaurant and I will likely return
  • 8 - great restaurant that I'd be happy to recommend
  • 9 - fantastic restaurant that I would love to visit regularly and highly recommend
  • 10 - absolute perfection!



The 2015 Tin Chef Competition (Toronto)

Posted on Saturday, February 14, 2015 by
Location: Toronto, Canada
Address: 85 Hanna Avenue
Website: http://www.templekitchen.com/


As part of the Winterlicious Culinary Events series, Mildred's Temple Kitchen hosted the Tin Chef Competition where five contestants competed for the Tin Chef title. In just 60 minutes they created four portions of a winning dish using the required secret ingredient - lamb. 

I'll admit, when I heard about it I was intrigued about participating (after all, I make decent food). But, who am I kidding, I'd much rather relax and be a spectator instead! And luckily I did as the competition was intense! Having people gather around and watch you while you prep and cook. Working in a professional kitchen with a dozen people mingling around you. Not to mention the time pressure - it's not something your average home cook can do.


Plus, I much preferred grazing through the hor d'oeuvres and food stations while sipping a glass of wine. My first stop was the oyster station where the light chilled seafood went so well with my wine.


There was also a beautiful crudites spread and vegetarian flatbreads for those who'd rather not eat meat.


But, the highlight was the hot passed foods of the night. My favourite was the juicy sliders .... they were so good that I had two. The patty matched the soft milk bun in size and was packed with flavours from the tomato relish and sharp cheddar.


The fried chicken and waffle bites were also delicious, especially when hot. The dollop of sour cream and gherkin on top added an unexpected lightness to it.


The cured trout spoon was beautifully presented, with the Asian pear on top adding some sweet freshness to the bite.


What I thought was a normal chicken satay turned out to be a chunk of juicy and flavourful piri piri chicken.


And lastly there was the tomato goat cheese spoon. Although, I did miss one passed food item, grilled cheese, due to its popularity.


But, people really come here for the competition. To see the sweat and tears (well maybe none of that) that comes from putting your culinary creativity on the line. The five contestants: Christine Emerson, Sean Kay, Roman Kliotzkin, Eugena Kwon and Laura Wright had one hour to cook four portions of their signature lamb dish. Aside from the main ingredient they had a pantry shelf to work with.



As I walked around, watching everyone at their prep stations, it was surprisingly how calm and in the zone they were. Despite people mingling within inches of them, everyone seemed to be able to block the crowd out and focus on the task at hand.


The judges were chefs across Toronto - Paul Brans (O&B), Saverio Macri (Ciao and Cibo) and Alida Solomon (Tutti Matti). They mingled in the kitchen area talking to the contestants. All while Donna Dooher, the Master of Ceremonies, interviewed them to the crowd's delight.


After a heated hour, the restaurant was filled with the most delicious smells. And finally the judges got to sit down to enjoy the spoils for the night. Unfortunately, it was never announced who made which dish, but they all looked delicious. Most contestants opted for lamb chops.

 

While two used the tenderloin instead.


It was interesting to see all the interpretations of the dish. But in the end, there could only be two winners. The first, was Laura Wright, who was the People's Choice winner, awarded by the participants from last year's competition. 


And the crown for the Tin Chef went to Roman Kliotzkin. What a lovely picture ... who knows he may be holding the young chef that will go on to win this 20 years from now. 


In all, it was a great night. A very different food experience that allowed people to mingle and meet new individuals. Spectators also left with a copy of Donna Dooher's 'Out to Brunch' cookbook. Just in case they wanted to start practising for next year's competition. Head over here to get your own copy of Out to Brunch.


Want to read about the Tin Chef Competition more? Check out #Parv's recap of the night. 

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Mildred's Temple Kitchen on Urbanspoon

Cluny Bistro (Toronto)

Posted on Sunday, February 08, 2015 by
Location: Toronto, Canada
Address: 35 Tank House Lane
Type of Meal: Dinner


Be prepared to take in the sights as you step into Cluny’s dining room. Wrought iron and light posts comingle with black & white gingham and creamy wood furniture. The end product leaves you feeling like you’re dining on a Parisian patio (when sitting in the middle) or in a bistro overlooking the patio (if sitting on the outskirts). For further details, including pictures, about their atmosphere check out #Parv's writeup.

Even all the dishes are charming with beautiful embroidery and a subtle “Cluny” embossed on them. Their Winterlicious menu ($35) offered many great dishes at an affordable price. The tomato and saffron braised calamari arrives hot in a stainless steel pot, wonderfully fragrant and soaking up the sauce’s flavours. Normally, I have calamari grilled or fried, but braising it changes the texture leaving it very tender and almost juicy.


I could have done without the tasteless fennel but the sauce of tomato and stewed peppers was delicious. It was perfect for dipping piece after piece of soft bread into.


The beer braised beef cheeks encapsulated so much of what I enjoy. Tender, flavourful beef that’s hearty and makes you want to close your eyes to savour the juices. The subtle zing of horseradish that hits you in an unexpected way. Roasted celeriac and beautifully caramelized brussel sprouts to calm the meatiness of the dish. And the plump grains of barley which provides just a bit of contrast against the softness of the dish.  


Perhaps it’s due to the richness of the beef cheeks but the BBQ steelhead trout was very bland in comparison. The fish was flaky and moist but lacked seasoning; the almond sauce merely seemed non-existent. The flageolet beans was also fairly lackluster and could benefit from some bacon. Only the roasted carrots showed any promise with their natural sweetness shining through.


A quintessential French dessert is the light as air profiteroles. At Cluny, they are filled with a rich chocolate and roasted hazelnut chantilly and arrives with warm chocolate sauce that you can drench on top of everything.


Thankfully, Cluny didn’t inherit the snooty French service attitude, everyone we dealt with was friendly and warm. But, what I loved most is when a restaurant offers a drink pairing with their Winterlicious menu. For an extra $20, a small light ale accompanied the calamari, a full glass of red wine helped wash down the beef cheeks and a dessert wine to sip after polishing off the profiteroles.

Cluny was certainly the Winterlicious highlight for me this year. With its lovely location in the Distillery District and the promised patio outside, I can’t wait for the weather to warm up and to go back for some brunch. 

Overall mark - 8.5 out of 10

 Is Winterlicious worth it?

As a special feature to the Winterlicious blogs, I will attempt to calculate the savings being offered (based on my meal selection). 

Winterlicious - $35

Regular menu* - $47 - calamari ($13), beef cheeks ($24) and profiterole ($10)

Savings - $12 or 26%

* In Cluny's case it's pretty hard to deduce the potential savings as most items aren't part of their regular menu; prices are based on the snail cassoulet and hunter stew
    Like the blog?  Follow me on twitter to chat and for notifications on new posts - https://twitter.com/GastroWorldBlog

    ____________________________
    Gastro World's Grading System
    • Anything under 5 - I really disliked and will never go back
    • 6 - decent restaurant but I likely won't return
    • 7 - decent restaurant and I will likely return
    • 8 - great restaurant that I'd be happy to recommend
    • 9 - fantastic restaurant that I would love to visit regularly and highly recommend
    • 10 - absolute perfection!


    CLOSED: Pappas Grill (Toronto)

    Posted on Saturday, February 07, 2015 by
    Location: Toronto, Canada
    Address: 440 Danforth Avenue
    Type of Meal: Dinner



    It’s been a while since I’ve ventured to the Danforth for delicious Greek food. The Taste of the Danforth is a bit hectic for me, I’d rather go on a normal night where tables are plentiful and the crowds subdued. But, we were visiting for a reason: my friend and I were attempting to cultivate our artistic side and try out a Paint Nite class.

    But, before the Picassos in us would come out, we had to fuel up on food and wine (at Pappa's a decent cabernet sauvignon only set us back $35 a bottle). The grilled calamari ($11.95) was cooked until it had a light smoky char and turned out tender. It was simply presented with olive oil, fresh thyme, bits of bell peppers, capers and a wedge of lemon. On one hand, I liked that the calamari was the star of the dish; but found the presentation a little lacking. Although, the spoonful of sauce in the middle was salty and flavourful so you really don't require tons of it.


    Although hard to pronounce, the garithes me feta (baked shrimp with feta cheese; $12.95) was great for sharing. Inside were four plump sautéed shrimp topped with garlicky crushed plum tomatoes, red onion slivers and an ample portion feta cheese. 


    It’s almost like a warm bruschetta but richer (likely from the butter and liquor added to it). With the sheer amount of sauce given there was plenty to slather on the soft white bread.


    With all the starters, we ended up sharing an entrée. Visiting a Greek restaurant is my opportunity to have lamb – something they do so well. With four choices available we went with the roast leg of lamb ($18.95). The leg is a leaner cut but also tends to have a gamier taste to it (although not overwhelming).


    Pappas gave such a big portion that I’m glad we shared as it’d be too heavy for one person. There were different cuts put on the plate, and the top slices where the meat also contained a thin sliver of fat and connective tissue was best. Although there was a lamb gravy jus that accompanies it, I personally wanted something more as it was slightly bland given there wasn’t much of a crust on the lamb itself. 

    At Pappas it was my first experience with having baklava ($4.95) warm. I found it mellowed out the sweetness, but did cause the bottom to crystalize and stick to the plate. All in all, it was good but could have benefited from more ground nut mixture as I found it was predominantly phyllo pastry.


    All the food and wine left us satisfied and ready to paint! I’ll be the first to say I’m not artistic – trying to get my hand to recreate what’s in my head is so hard. But, the instructors broke it down step-by-step and encouraged us to just have fun with it. Soon I started relaxing and just going with it – plus with paint if you make a mistake you can repaint over it. In the end, I was happy with my creation and it will look perfect in the guest bathroom. If you're interested in reading more about the Paint Nite experience, #Parv's post offers a better insight.


    Pappas was better than I expected – I knew a restaurant that had to rely on Paint Nite activities to bring in customers likely isn’t booming with business. Portions and prices were reasonable, the service friendly and efficient, and the dishes tasted decent.

    If only they didn’t cram all the painters into the top section of their restaurant (you wouldn’t want to experience if you’re clusterphobic) my friend and I could have even had more wine given their low bottle prices. Alas, the close quarters left no table space for glasses and certainly didn’t encourage us want to stay for another round of drinks after painting.  

    Overall mark - 6.5 out of 10

     Follow me on twitter to chat, be notified about new posts and more - https://twitter.com/GastroWorldBlog

    ____________________________
    Gastro World's Grading System
    • Anything under 5 - I really disliked and will never go back
    • 6 - decent restaurant but I likely won't return
    • 7 - decent restaurant and I will likely return
    • 8 - great restaurant that I'd be happy to recommend
    • 9 - fantastic restaurant that I would love to visit regularly and highly recommend
    • 10 - absolute perfection!



    Estiatorio Volos (Toronto)

    Posted on Sunday, February 01, 2015 by
    Location: Toronto, Canada
    Address: 133 Richmond Street West
    Website: http://volos.ca
    Type of Meal: Dinner


    Estiatorio Volos may not be the easiest to pronounce, but once you understand what it means – an upscale Greek restaurant from Volos (a city in Greece) – the name makes sense. The dining room is spacious, tables covered in linen and the chairs comfortable. And their menu doesn’t have a skewered meat in sight, instead focusing on the seafood dishes of this port side city.

    Of course, their prices also reflect the “estiatorio” nature of the restaurant. Which makes their Winterlicious offering (refer to the “is Winterlicious worth it?” section below) even more attractive. For $35 a person, the value is one of the higher dinner savings I’ve experienced and the portions generous to match.

    The grilled Moroccan octopus appetizer was tender and meaty, where it was very lightly smoked and flavoured simply with an olive oil and balsamic dressing. The garlicky eggplant dip on the side went well with the octopus or was even better on top of a slice of warm baguette.


    We certainly got our fill of bread (a second helping was required) when adding an order of the saganaki ($12). Essentially a giant slab of kefalotyri cheese doused in ouzo and flambéed. It’s a great sight to behold with an exclamation of “Opa!” before a final squeeze of lemon finishes it off. Yes, it’s a bit cliché but certainly brings the cheerful Greek flair to a meal.


    Deliciously salty and gooey, the cheese has the consistency of mozzarella but the flavourful punch of feta. Containing a substantial portion of cheese, this is best shared amongst a table of three or more.


    The lobster kritharoto wasn’t exactly what I expected (but then I had no idea what kritharoto meant) yet was enjoyable. I loved the smooth texture of orzo mixed with chunks of sweet lobster, salty feta, more ouzo and a slightly spicy tomato sauce to give a risotto finish to the dish.  


    But our table definitely experienced food envy when we saw the lamb shank my friend ordered. It was huge and impossibly tender as it flaked apart while she tried to give us a taste. Flavourful, rich and hearty it was likely the better choice out of the main options.


    Volo’s baklava was the best I’ve ever tasted. The phyllo was crispy and retained its airiness since it wasn’t doused with syrup. Stuffed with plenty of finely chopped walnuts and pistachios the dessert was sweet and satisfying but not overly heavy.


    Volo’s mission is to deliver a sense of warm Greek hospitality and during our visit they successfully accomplished this. From taking your coat at the door and bringing wine tastings when decisions were unclear to the light hearted conversations, I got a sense of that friendliness.


    Furthermore, they have expanded my appreciation for Greek food with tasty seafood creations that doesn’t involve calamari. I will always have a love for the garlicky tzatziki yoghurt. But the salty kefalotyri cheese, meaty lamb shank and flavourful kritharoto simply didn’t need it. Sometimes it’s nice not having to eat a meal off a stick.

    Overall mark - 8 out of 10

     Is Winterlicious worth it?

    As a special feature to the Winterlicious blogs, I will attempt to calculate the savings being offered (based on my meal selection).

    Winterlicious - $35

    Regular menu - $54 - Octopus ($17), lobster kritharoto ($28)* and baklava ($9)

    Savings - $19 or 35%

    * The lobster kritharoto isn't part of their regular menu; the price based on the seafood kritharoto
      Like the blog?  Follow me on twitter to chat and for notifications on new posts - https://twitter.com/GastroWorldBlog

      ____________________________
      Gastro World's Grading System
      • Anything under 5 - I really disliked and will never go back
      • 6 - decent restaurant but I likely won't return
      • 7 - decent restaurant and I will likely return
      • 8 - great restaurant that I'd be happy to recommend
      • 9 - fantastic restaurant that I would love to visit regularly and highly recommend
      • 10 - absolute perfection!




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