Showing posts with label burrata. Show all posts
Showing posts with label burrata. Show all posts

Francobollo (Toronto)

Posted on Saturday, March 24, 2018 by
Francobollo Toronto

While there are tons of Italian restaurants in the York Mills/Lawrence area in North York, Francobollo stands out with their fancy contemporary décor … it’s the place to go to for a nice date night or a swanky evening with the ladies. The restaurant is also about the little touches - like the soft focaccia accompanied by a mini bottle of warmed olive oil. While storing the oil in a warm place causes it to spoil faster, this wasn’t a problem at Francobollo as the golden oil tasted bright and vibrant.


Sitting by the kitchen we could smell the arancini ($16) as it was prepared, how intoxicating the aroma can be for deep fried, smoked provolone smothered products. The arancini’s coating was thin and after breaking through we're greeted with soft risotto rice flecked with wild mushrooms and laced with truffle oil. The starter was good, especially with the hearty tomato sauce that’s thick enough so the crispy balls don’t get soggy.


The burrata ($23) was a sizeable portion, the cheese’s lovely creamy consistency going well with the juicy heirloom tomatoes dressed with basil, thickened balsamic, and olive oil. However, I could have done without the plum pieces, which were hard and somewhat sour and detracted from the dish.


First introduced as a special of the day, the lobster pappardelle ($29) has become a permanent fixture. I can see why the dish was popular: the thick egg noodles are done perfectly and the spicy rose sauce adding just a hint of heat and the perfect consistency to completely cover each noodle. Moreover, Francobollo doesn’t skimp on the lobster; with the concave dish, it’s sizeable portion of pasta as well.


Assuming the restaurant has access to fresh fish daily, they should consider adding the grilled whole orata ($39) to the menu as well.  While the kitchen will filet the fish for you, there’s something about having the meat stay intact on the bone that makes it juicier and more flavourful. So, I asked for it to be left whole and did the work myself.


The orata was nice and flaky, but since the plate was very hot, the bottom of the fish became overcooked by the time I got to it. To be fair, the kitchen already placed it on top of garlic smashed potatoes, roasted parsnips, asparagus, and rapini (to keep it from directly touching the plate). Short of removing the fish and putting it another plate when served, it’d be difficult to stop it from becoming overdone – something that would happen if you’re sharing the fish, especially since it’s a significant portion.

While my husband and I were both stuffed, we continued with dessert to keep the evening going. The mille-feuille ($9) crispy pastry and custard layers were well-balanced, but the dessert could have forgone the raspberry coulis. Meanwhile, the tiramisu ($12), although very creamy, was too sweet and didn’t incorporate enough espresso to balance out all the mascarpone.


Despite the average desserts, the rest of the meal was delicious and Francobollo has now joined the rotation for date-night dinners in the neighbourhood.

Overall mark - 8 out of 10
How To Find Them
 Location: Toronto, Canada
 Address: 1959 Avenue Road

 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!

Is That It? I Want More!

Other Gastro World posts similar to this:

Francobollo Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Amalfi Coast Ristorante (Thornhill)

Posted on Saturday, March 10, 2018 by
Whenever I’m asked about the best pasta consumed, I’m transported back to a pier in Positano. Tired from hours of walking along the hilly landscape, we settled into a random restaurant and decided to split a seafood spaghetti and drinks. My expectations were tempered, given we were on the pier where cruise ships drop off guests, thinking it’d be a tourist trap. One swirl of the pasta in the light flavourful sauce and I was in heaven. The meal was before my blogging days so the exquisite pasta was never documented, a distant memory that I’d love to experience again.

Hence, when I heard about Amalfi Coast Restaurant, I could taste the al dante pasta and garlicky tomato wine sauce right away. Of course, there were some differences: the restaurant is in Canada, the dining room more opulent, and I didn’t need to walk for hours before dining.

Then again, the chittarra pasta allo scoglio ($25.50) wasn’t even close to the quality of the Positano restaurant. While the spaghetti noodles were homemade, it’s also means the pasta is too soft and doughy. Perhaps, it sat too long at the pass, but the dish could be hotter and there was little left of the olive oil and wine sauce. The pasta needed more salt and didn’t contain any clams (as noted on the menu), but at least what was included was cooked decently.


If you’re ordering pasta, stick with the scialatielli allo stile amalfitana ($22). The creamy tomato vodka sauce is thicker so doesn’t soak into the thick homemade egg noodles and the flavours go well with the plump tiger shrimp.  


Their burrata di bufala ($15) was creamy and buttery, but served too cold and didn’t incorporate enough olive oil or salt. Nonetheless, for the price, you received a surprisingly large portion of the burrata, which also arrives with ample slices of cured bresaola and a simple arugula and torn radicchio salad.


Amalfi’s margherita pizza ($14.50) incorporated enough toppings – sweet tomatoes and a relatively thick layer of cheese – which also has the downfall of rendering the centre of the pizza soggy. Luckily, the crust had a nice smoky essence and a nice chewiness.


Personally, I preferred the bruschetta ($3), each crispy piece of olive oil covered crostini topped with garlicky tomatoes, oregano and cheese.


What stops me from awarding Amalfi a 7 (out of 10), is their service. While everyone was friendly, they just weren’t attentive, despite checking in so often. Some suggestions, to the restaurant:

  • Avoid having staff remark to dinner guests, “You’re all finally here”, especially when they’re only late by 10 minutes and another employee has already said something similar. It’s awkward for everyone at the table.
  • Limit the people approaching a table with questions to two individuals. We had at least three people asking similar things throughout the meal that it was annoying being interrupted so often.
  • If someone is training, make sure someone is around to teach them. While the trainee was bubbly and nice, she was so nervous and hesitant that it made the experience awkward. Especially, stopping our conversation every time she refilled the water by asking each person whether they wanted more – just re-fill it.
  • If there’s a private event, bring in more staff or don’t take reservations. Our waiter wouldn’t let us order appetizers first (while deciding on the mains), stating that they were too busy and he wanted to put everything in at the same time. It’s a bit rude, especially since the dining room was only 70% filled.
  • Most importantly, have someone keep track of whether tables are getting what they ordered. After finishing all the appetizers, our drinks still didn’t arrive. I finally had to follow-up with someone, even with two people coming by and asking about the food. Why did no one notice we were without wine and beer?
Unfortunately for my taste buds, the Amalfi Coast Restaurant is no match to a random restaurant by the Positano pier. 

Overall mark - 6.5 out of 10
How To Find Them
 Location: Thornhill, Canada
 Address: 8020 Bathurst Street

 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!

Is That It? I Want More!

Other Gastro World posts similar to this:

Amalfi Coast Restaurant Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

CLOSED: Campagnolo (Toronto)

Posted on Sunday, July 30, 2017 by


Campagnolo has been on my restaurant bucket list for years, after various sources speak so positively about their meals. After failed attempts, a Toronto staycation was what finally made it happen - an experience I suggest every Torontonian try once in their life. Not wanting to deal with the stress of a scheduled vacation, my husband and I decided to stay in town and do day trips around and outside the city, followed by dinner and drinks at one of our city’s many establishments to end the evening.

With tons to see, do, and eat, narrowing down our choices wasn’t easy – even with all our local knowledge. Boy am I glad that Campagnolo made the list! The dinner was as delicious as touted and will definitely have me returning.

Their fresh burrata cheese ($16) is out of this world; the creamy oozing sphere perched on a thick slice of well-toasted bread sitting in a pool of olive oil. Although looking seemingly simple, there are so many tastes with each ingredient – the silky milky cheese, a peppery kick of olive oil, or the sweetness of the roasted grapes. Then when everything’s combined the magic happens... the flavours pool together and the creamy cheese against the oily crunchy bread with pops of soft grape is just an incredible combination.


Not realizing how indulgent the burrata would be, we also ordered the roasted bone marrow ($15), which was fully done throughout so the blubbery marrow simply melts onto the crusty crostini. It’s further enhanced with ox tail to give each bite a lovely meatiness and pickled plum pieces that cut through some of the fat.


Campagnolo takes the humble spaghetti ($19), a dish that’s been replicated across households for decades, to another level. Their fresh pasta is a slightly thicker chewy egg noodle, which although soft still manages to have an al dante bite. The sauce is rich in guanciale (cured pork cheek), garlic, and onion, to tame any acidity from the tomatoes. It’s rich and satisfying and with a healthy mound of cheese combines to become gooey heaven.


Despite looking overcooked, the duck breast ($29) was tender incorporating a small sliver of crispy rendered skin. Likely, the fowl was darker than normal as it’s been dry aged really deepening the duck’s flavours and augmenting the gaminess of the meat. The stronger taste is balanced with a kohlrabi slaw, grilled green onions, and a silky rhubarb sauce.


Other than the burrata, Campagnolo’s portions aren’t large, but with the rich ingredients each dish can be split and still leave you satisfied.

To end, their large slice of olive oil cake ($12) is great for sharing. The traditional white cake is infused with a golden olive oil and a hint of lemon. On its own, the dessert is rather neutral and good for those who don’t like sugary items, but it’s even better with the sweetened buttermilk sorbet and crunchy almond slivers.


Having heard friends rave about the salted caramel budino ($10), I coerced my husband into ordering it, knowing sweet and salty puddings weren’t something I’d want more than a few spoons of. By itself, the pudding was rich but plain, it really needed the crunchy pieces of chocolate meringue incorporated into the dessert. I suggest you try some on the olive oil cake - the sweet and salty caramel flavours deepen with the pastry and adds an almost espresso taste to the cake.


Campagnolo’s friendly service makes you feel warm and welcomed; they’re careful to ensure you’re not disappointed. For example, when I ordered to Vacanza fizz ($8) cocktail to start, Jeff warned us that it’s non-alcoholic, confusing since it’s at the bottom of the list. Nonetheless, to pacify my desire for a cocktail, he noted they could easily add vodka (additional $7) to it.

The first sips of the watermelon juice drink was refreshing, especially with the lime and mint infused into it. I love fizzes for the frothy egg white foam on top (it adds a creamy smoothness to the drink), which is what the first sips were like. However, after letting the Vacanza fizz settle for a few moments, the egg’s aroma starts seeping through … although still drinkable, the smell of egg is the last thing you want when sipping a refreshing drink.

Although Campagnolo’s food is fantastic, their drinks are where my experience falters. Aside from the eggy smelling foam on the cocktail, my Chianti had so much sediment in it that I couldn’t finish the last third of the glass (although my husband also ordered it and his was fine). Of course, I could have “returned” the wine, but haven’t had most of it and the meal almost over, I felt bad.

Luckily, their food is so good that these minor slips can be overlooked. Campagnolo is a restaurant I’ll return to when I want an indulgent rich meal. Thanks to the Toronto staycation, I’ve finally learned where the best burrata in the city awaits.

Overall mark - 9 out of 10
How To Find Them
 Location: Toronto, Canada
 Address: 832 Dundas Street West

 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!

Is That It? I Want More!

Other Gastro World posts similar to this:




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