Good weather screams for a long boozy lunch. Sometimes when nice weather, no bugs, and no traffic align, even on a patio. When Legend Spirits Company opened in Parry Sound this summer, locals and cottage goers rejoiced to find a place that not only made their own alcohol but operated a restaurant where you can sample it with food.

Their cocktails are a bargain at $13, but the reasonable price point also means the bar gets slammed and backs up during the lunch period. Don’t be surprised if your food hits the table before a tipple.

Both the Great North mule and spicy vodkarita were well balanced with enough alcohol to create a kick that reminds you there’s 2oz in the drink. And while the pink raspberry lemonade looks and tastes refreshing, the fake raspberry flavour just didn’t cut it for me.

We all agreed that their fries rock. The parmesan truffle fries ($12) feature cut potatoes that arrive sizzling hot and covered with enough grated parmesan to create a melted crust on top. The truffle oil was a bit muted but I’m fine with it not being so overpowering. Their sweet potato fries ($12) are one of the best I’ve sampled, fluffy and cut thinly so there’s a lovely crunchy crust to encapsulate the sweet soft interior.

The fries going wonderfully with the buffalo chicken dip ($15), a gooey creamy sauce that has quite the cheese pull as well as large chunks of chicken breast. I only wish it was served with the “warm flat bread” noted on the menu instead oily fried pita that was so heavy paired with the dairy. I just stuck with the fries for dipping.

In between a starter and a main lies the seafood chowder ($20), which arrives hot with a few scant slices of toasted baguette. The soup has a wonderful flavour but is more potato than seafood… I tasted some white fish and perhaps a bay scallop but little of the lobster and wild salmon that is touted on the menu.

If you’re looking for something to soak up the booze, their handhelds are the way to go. The turkey burger ($23) features a surprisingly juicy patty (when compared with their beef burger) that gets a bit of extra flavour from the feta and spinach that’s mixed into the pulverized patty. The sweet and savoury tomato preserve was an interesting condiment that lends the burger a hint of cranberry sauce taste.

Legends creates their own whisky, vodka, gin and liqueurs. Whether you’re waiting for a table (they do not accept reservations) or don’t want to leave just yet after your meal, their gift shop allows you to sample the spirits (for free!) and purchasing a beautiful bottle to go. Here’s your chance to get creative with their peanutty Nutski whisky. 

Since the Scarborough institution Beef Noodle House closed in 2024, I thought my chances of tucking into a bowl of properly braised beef noodles was gone. Then I heard about 579 Taiwan Beef Noodle House a Canadian outpost of a chain from Taiwan. 

At first glance, it seems there isn’t a lot of beef in the braised beef soup noodles ($15.99 for large) but the five slices are cut thicker, which gives it a heartier feeling. And while some restaurants may use a pure meat cut, 579 Taiwan braises a part that has cartilage attached so some pieces have a gelatinous bite, a texture I don’t mind but others may find grizzly.

You’ll likely want to upgrade to a large bowl as there aren’t that many noodles in a portion. Made to a medium thickness, they’re a little soft for my taste. But the salty broth does hold up against the carbs and already contains some chili oil so there’s a bit of a kick. For those who want it spicier there’s more tableside, just be careful as the chili oil is powerful.

What adds to the noodles are the chopped pickled vegetables, which you’ll want to sprinkle liberally into the dry mixed noodles with minced pork ($14.99 for small). While the dish already contains julienned cucumber and bean sprouts, the pickled vegetables provide interest to the otherwise tame garlicky noodles.

If noodles aren’t your jam, 579 Taiwan also offers dumplings as a base, eight nuggets topped with your choice of beef, tendon, and/or tripe. A great option for those who want a lot of protein. I decided to try the boiled dumplings ($9.99) solo and liked that they arrived freshly made and boiling hot. The seafood, meat, and chives filling just wasn’t the greatest, too fishy for my taste.

The Taiwanese popcorn chicken ($6.99) was delicious, enough to share amongst two people and is sizzling hot and crispy. Being well seasoned, the chicken doesn’t need condiments, it’s juicy and delicious nude.

Other ways to round out a meal is with a side of A choy ($4.99) that’s boiled and topped with sweet soy sauce and crispy shallots.

There’s also an array of side dishes ($3.49 for one + $3 for each additional dish). The thinly sliced jellyfish was tossed with julienned vegetables and a slightly spicy sauce. It’s not as crunchy as the Cantonese version but more flavourful and refreshing. Meanwhile, I didn’t love the lack of crunch with the cucumber and the sweetness threw me off… I guess I was expecting the Korean kimchi version.

Loyalty is rewarded at 579 Taiwan Beef Noodle House with a punch card where eight bowls get you a ninth for free. Cash payments garner a 5% discount, and the bill comes with a coupon for a free small dish for a following visit. Mark my words, after the success of the first Scarborough location, I’m sure we’ll see more 579 Taiwan restaurants popping up across the GTA.

Summerlicious returns and this year I’ve narrowed my visits to only one place, Ēst Restaurant, that was recommended by a friend. They’ve been meaning to visit the casual French establishment and at last we had an opportunity and reason to get out to the East side.

Their Summerlicious menu ($75 per person) is at the highest price point, but still good value compared to normal prices (reflected in this post). For example, the burrata & caviar starter is typically $41, more than half of the special deal, which is surprising given its modest size.  

Hopefully, they usually give a full burrata as the palm-sized portion barely whet the appetite. Served on top of toasted pain-au-lait with a dollop of sturgeon caviar, the starter was a blend of flavours with the olive oil and honey. It’s good, but would I order it again for $40? Let’s just say I’m glad I experienced it with Summerlicious.

Unlike the burrata, they weren’t stingy with the lobster agnolotti ($39) with plenty of plump stuffed pasta to go around. The chopped lobster and ricotta (?) filling was wrapped in an al dante shell that went nicely with the light champagne butter sauce. Simply topped with chopped fermented garlic scapes and a yuzu foam, they complimented but didn’t overpower the seafood.

You can’t go wrong with the braised beef short rib ($51) a large hunk of tender beef sitting on silky pomme purée (or mashed potatoes for the English) swimming in a lovely red wine jus. It’s a classic for a reason, excellently executed at Ēst.

If you like chocolate, you’ll love the Ēst chocolate cake ($15), a rich dark chocolate dessert with sweet chocolate whipped cream and more warm chocolate sauce on the side. It’s A LOT but thankfully there’s a bit of vanilla gelato to help cut through it all.

At the other end of the spectrum, the piña colada sorbet ($15) was lighter with coconut sorbet topped with crispy coconut, pineapple, and nuts. It’s good, if you wanted to end on a more manageable note.

At the risk of sounding like Goldilocks, the crème brulee cheesecake was just right - a balanced sweetness with a creamy and not overly dense texture. The scoop of gelato didn’t hurt either. Of the three desserts, this was my favourite.

I’ll say it again; I commend restaurants that build their Summerlicious menu around dishes they normally serve. Ēst held true to the experience along with their friendly and unhurried service. Thank you for allowing diners to taste a typical meal at a deal. 

There’s a dizzying number of Vietnamese restaurants opening along the Scarborough and Markham border area. Another newcomer joining the fold is Pho Ahn Vu, an addition to the growing chain that’s spreading across the GTA. Its claim to fame: an ornate dining room with fake pink blossomed trees that’s photographed just as much as their actual food.

To be fair, their food tastes good too. If you’re feeling hungry their bún thịt nướng (or rice noodles with grilled meat) dishes are very filling. It starts with a generous portion of vermicelli and tops it with your choice of protein.

The grilled pork, spring roll, and shrimp on sugarcane ($22.95) offered a bit of everything including cardboard thin slices of marinated pork, a hot and delicious crispy spring roll, and a golf ball sized fried shrimp paste that made up for its petiteness with flavour. Along with a mix of fresh herbs, julienned cucumber, bean sprouts, pickled vegetables, and roasted peanuts it’s a cool refreshing dish for the warmer months.

My tip: try the dish with a mixture of their chili sauces. That hit of heat goes so nicely with the fish sauce vinaigrette.

Their pho is tiny in comparison. The special rice noodle soup ($17.95) had a decent amount of protein with slices of rare beef tenderloin, well done flank, a couple cubes of tendon, maybe two beef balls, and a couple thinly sliced tripe, but a scant portion of noodles. So, you’ll either want to upgrade to the larger size ($21.50) or add a side dish to round out the meal.

At least their broth was on point – full flavoured and perfectly seasoned. I only wish it was hotter as it became lukewarm after the raw bean sprouts were added. Like the vermicelli, their pho contains several herbs creating a bright bowl of noodles.

I can see why Pho Ahn Vu’s expanding so quickly, opening locations in Mississauga, Hamilton, and Whitby. Pretty pink flowers, solid recipes, and friendly attentive service. Now this is the type of ‘send noods’ I can get behind.