Bymark (Toronto)

Posted on Sunday, August 20, 2017 by


Take a walk through TD Centre’s concourse level and you’ll encounter Mark McEwan’s domination of the floor: the second McEwan grocery store and eatery occupies an entire corner, walk in a bit further and his long time restaurant Bymark (a creative conjunction of “by” and “Mark”) takes up the rest of the corner. It’s a restaurant known for its decadent foie gras burger with a hefty price to match. Like most of McEwan’s ventures, it’s a fine dining establishment where bill totals easily reach $100+ a person. Hence, during Summerlicious, their special $48 dinner menu always draws a crowd.

What looks like mechanically processed tuna certainly tasted that way - instead of dicing the fish by hand, the tartare arrives pulverized so you end up spreading (rather than scooping) the mixture on the crispy wonton chips. I could have looked past the fish’s mushy texture if it was seasoned better; too bad the miso-ginger vinaigrette was so light that most of the flavours were from the fish’s natural oils and the chip. Thankfully, the crisp shaved fennel salad on the side helped to wake up the dish, if only smaller pieces were combined into the tartare itself, maybe the starter would have tasted better.

While the Summerlicious website describes the cod as being from "Fogo Island", Bymark’s actual menu revises it to "Atlantic". Honestly, I don’t care that much about the origin and I’m glad the restaurant was honest about the fish’s source – having read Olmsted’s Fake Food Real Food, it’s a shame how often establishments try to pass off non-authentic ingredients to diners, I applaude Bymark for being truthful.

Arriving as a sizeable piece, the baked cod was moist and flakey. Normally, the delicate texture would be fine, but since the accompanying polenta was also silky and smooth, it'd be nice if the fish was seared with the skin-on to create a crispy layer for contrast. Unlike the starter, the main incorporated plenty of flavour from the salty olive tapenade, rapini, and unexpected kick of chili oil. All in all, it's a satisfying dish.


Too bad the same couldn’t be said with the strawberry shortcake … I’m getting so tired of deconstructed desserts! The strawberry shortcake came with the usual elements: soft vanilla shortcake, delicious macerated strawberries, and whipped cream. Additional crisp meringue pieces were a nice touch, providing an extra texture and sweetness to the cake. Dutifully, I combined all the ingredients to make my own cake, only to find the Chantilly creamy overly salty. Perhaps it was the pastry chef wanting to play up the earthiness of the basil purée, but it didn’t work for me. Strawberry shortcake doesn't work as a sweet and salty dessert.


Meanwhile the s’more’s tart was elegant and delicious. Not normally a fan of rich chocolate desserts, I was even drawn in to take a bite of the smooth dark chocolate ganache and ever so slightly salty graham cracker crust.


Having previously visited Bymark for Winterlicious and a regular dinner, this was by far the worst experience. Indeed, I understand what's served during Summerlicious may be a modified menu with less expensive ingredients, but looking back on the Winterlicious experience from about six years ago, it was executed much better and was of closer quality to a regular dinner service. This time, nothing wowed us and the dishes were passable at best.

Luckily, their service didn’t falter; they were just as friendly and attentive as ever. For example, when our waitress noticed my friend rooting through her beef cheek pasta to find the actual meat - another downfall of Summerlicious is some dishes are cooked in larger batches so plates aren’t always split evenly - she offered to get the kitchen to bring out more beef cheek for her to add to the pasta. What a thoughtful gesture that made the experience better. Maybe next time she can take my dessert and make it into a real cake… feasible right?

Overall mark - 6.5 out of 10
Is Summerlicious worth it (based on my meal selection)?
Summerlicious - $48
Regular menu - $72.50 - tuna tartare* ($19), cod ($40) and shortcake ($13.50)
Savings - $24.50 or 34%
* Based on the steak tartare and cheesecake
How To Find Them
 Location: Toronto, Canada
 Address: 66 Wellington Street West (in TD Centre)

 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:

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

Beaumont Kitchen (Toronto)

Posted on Saturday, August 19, 2017 by

Having been a Toronto resident for over 30 years, I rarely venture west of Avenue road. When I do, it's usually for a wedding or meeting up with friends in Port Credit, but rarely does it entail going to a mall. Beaumont Kitchen, a new entrant to the Oliver & Bonacini empire, has given me a reason to visit Sherway Gardens, which is a lot nicer than I’ve been led to believe.

Connected to Saks Fifth Avenue, like their sister restaurant Lena with the Saks downtown, Beaumont Kitchen is more down-to-earth and family friendly. During a weekend visit for their Summerlicious lunch ($23), the tables generally held three generations, all sitting together breaking bread ... it’s sort of refreshing that there wasn’t a suit or hipster in sight. Their menu is modeled like an O&B Café – no real ethnicity’s cuisine being featured, but rather popular “safe” options that diverse tables can choose from.

With so much raspberry dressing on the 100km beet salad, it was too tart. Luckily, the roasted beets’ sweetness help to cut down on the acidity, so after cutting the cubes into even smaller pieces and ensuring there was a bit of beet with each bite of overdressed spinach, the salad was decent.


Most of the table agreed the chicken piccatta was one of the better mains. Despite being a thick piece of chicken breast that was thoroughly cooked, it was still moist. The capers weren’t overpowering, adding a light saltiness to the dish and when combined with butter a great topping for the smashed potatoes, which sucked in all the juices. Even the crispy grilled broccolini were delicious, a healthier  balance to the dish.


Served really hot, you have to contain your excitement when the pudding chômeur arrives or risk burning your tongue. The rum caramel sauce is light on the rum (for those sharing with children) and isn’t too sweet so nicely balances the dense fudgy cake.


Who knows, after the lunch at Beaumont Kitchen, maybe I’ll go to Sherway Gardens more often; when the traffic is moving, it doesn’t take that much longer to drive there than Yorkdale or Fairview and parking is a whole lot easier to find. Summerlicious can be a beautiful thing, it encourages people to go out and try new restaurants. For me, it encouraged me to venture west out of my comfort zone. 

 Overall mark - 7 out of 10
Is Summerlicious worth it (based on my meal selection)?
Summerlicious - $23
Regular menu - $37 - salad ($12), chicken picatta ($17) and dessert ($8)
Savings - $14 or 38%
* None of Summerlicious items are part of their regular menu, estimates are based on spinach salad, chicken breast sandwich, and carrot cake
How To Find Them
 Location: Toronto, Canada
 Address: 25 The West Mall

 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:

Beaumont Kitchen Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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CLOSED: Food Society (Toronto)

Posted on Thursday, August 17, 2017 by

Toronto’s 2017 summer has been a wet one; hence, when Mother Nature graces us with a sunny day, make the most of it and get out there! Seize every moment and opportunity as what’s left of the summer will be short.

For a quick weekday lunch enjoyed outdoors, Food Society has an ideal option: a $10 barbeque plate that includes a choice of protein, salad, and pop. Simply head to the patio at the back of their restaurant, grab a seat, and let Chef Joe know what you’d like.


The proteins are pre-cooked and then re-heated on the barbeque as ordered. Unfortunately, the meat isn’t at its peak juiciness, but this does allow diners to get a dish without a long wait. That afternoon I had a choice of a burger, jerk chicken, or ribs. Having had a taste of the jerk chicken and the ribs, both were well marinated and flavourful. The ribs incorporates herbs in the rub giving it a refreshing essence while the jerk chicken wasn’t overly spicy - there’s heat but it’s merely in the background.


Chef Joe hails from North Carolina, the mecca of barbeque cooking. He explains that there are three common styles: dry, wet, and vinegar-based. That afternoon he was featuring the dry rub method, which isn’t as popular in Canada given our love for sauce laden meats. It’s a style I’ve recently grown to like as my husband began experimenting on the Big Green Egg. For one, dry rubs are less messy to eat (no sticky hands and crumpled napkins) and you can appreciate the meat’s juices rather than tasting a ton of sugary sauce.

Nevertheless, Joe explains that he’s going to run through different types of recipes – so don’t worry if you like your meat smothered – and given his last stint was working as a private chef for a vegan client, he’ll likely feature a vegan-friendly option as well.

Generally, Food Society caters to those who want healthy but flavourful food. I experienced this with the barbeque plate where the salad was lightly dressed and the meat very lean. By the end of the meal, I left energized, despite the filling meal.

The adjoining cafe features an array of coffees including butter coffee (currently growing in popularity) and nitro cold brews ($3.95) that’s great for the summer. Even though I generally take milk and sugar with my drinks, the nitro cold brew coffee is full-flavoured without being bitter, so smooth I could handle it black.


Aside from all-day breakfast and mains such as soba noodles and quinoa bowls, Food Society’s café has items to satisfy your sweet tooth. From smoothie bowls (which could easily substitute for frozen yoghurt) to acai bowls, I still like the pastries sourced from La Bamboche best.

Having tried the gluten free coconut, dark chocolate, and oat cookie ($3.25) it was surprisingly good for something that didn’t have an ounce of flour. Rather than turning into cardboard, the cookie still had the chewiness and crispy edges you’d want in a biscuit. Saving it for an afternoon break, the dark chocolate was rich and satisfying, keeping me full well into the dinner hour. In the end, they want to ensure the food they serve is never frozen and free of preservatives.

While Food Society only opened in May, they continue to add on and expand. Oliver Knox, owner of Food Society, notes they’ll begin catering services later in the summer (complete with a cooler for chilling smoothie bowls) and will feature local bands on their patio starting September when they expect to receive their liquor license. Best of all, they’ll continue offering the barbeque plate in the evening, so when you go by to listen to the live music you can grab a bite to eat as well.

While the café and lounge areas are swathed in gorgeous lacquered wood and rose gold furniture. The backyard patio has a comfortable whimsical feel with tables in the sun or shade. It’s a space that can be rented for private events (complete with barbeque if you wish), holding 80 for comfort.




For me, I can’t wait until Food Society scores their liquor license. After work drinks on a patio? The requisite way to spend an evening while Mother Nature cooperates. 

Overall mark - 7 out of 10
Disclaimer: The above meal was complimentary. Rest assured, as noted in my mission statement, I will always provide an honest opinion.
How To Find Them
 Location: Toronto, Canada
 Address: 650 Bay 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!Food Society Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

The Big Feastival is taking over Ontario this weekend!

Posted on Tuesday, August 15, 2017 by
All pictures in this post are from past UK events courtesy of Faulhaber Communications
People in the UK know how to party. For the last six years, Jamie Oliver has been connecting foodies and their families for a weekend of music, family friendly entertainment, and of course tons of food. Given his love for our country, in 2017, he's bringing the Big Feastival to Ontario as Canadians gather at the Burl's Creek Event Grounds to partake in what our UK counterparts have enjoyed so long.

There's an array of musical acts from the family friend Fred Penner and Splash 'n' Boots, to musical groups like Weezer or the Strombellas. I can imagine it already... sipping on a frozen cocktail or chilled wine while dancing up a storm with my friends.


Where I hit a predicament is what to eat... wow there's a TON to choose from. Some are perennial favourites like Caplansky, Eva's Original Chimneys, and Buster's Sea Cove. Then there are many that I've never had the pleasure to try but sound enticing: Hawley Crescent, Wafel Bar, and Tori's Bake Shop, I'm coming for you!

At some point, the Cheese Cave will be a welcomed respite from the sun as the Cheese Boutique, ACE Bakery and Adamo Estate Winery come up with a great tasting. Hopefully, I'll even learn a thing or two from Chef Rob Gentile and Alexandra Feswick at their Cooking School. Having attended one of Vikram Vij's event and seen Dan the Prescott at the Food Bloggers of Canada Conference, I know already they curated a great line-up of individuals to learn from.

Who knows, if I've had enough to drink, maybe I'll partake in a yoga class, listen to Victor Barry tell a story, or snap a selfie with Paw Patrol. The sky is the limit!

Tickets range from $45 - $145 for a single day pass, depending on your age and whether you want access to the coveted VIP tent. Those with children 12 and under, they go for free! With so much to do, you could go the entire weekend ($85-$255) and if you want to stay over camping and really party into the night, a weekend with camping combination are selling for $100-$295.


I'm excited to be going with a group of girl friends - not glamping for the entire weekend, but rather making a day trip out of it from Toronto on the Saturday. Having never experienced it before, I'm excited for, as one friend describes it, Coachella for foodies!

Although I'll likely leave my flower crown and fringe at home, the iPhone and appetite will be coming with me. Follow me on Instagram or Twitter on August 19th to get a glimpse of the day with me. Or come back later to read all about the day - love, food, and peace!

 If you want to join in for the day of fun, you can head to their website to purchase tickets. 

How To Find Them
 Dates: August 18 - 20
 Address: Burl's Creek - 240 Line 8 S (Oro-Medonte,  Ontario)

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

Nami Japanese Restaurant (Toronto)

Posted on Sunday, August 13, 2017 by
Good luck getting a day-of reservation for Summerlicious lunch at a restaurant in the Financial District. After calling two establishments, they could only do a 1:30 seating; luckily, Nami came to the rescue and allowed me to eat a decent time. 

 One look around the place and I can see why they were able to accommodate us. their dining room is huge with various tables, private booths, and larger rooms situated along the sides of the restaurant. Surprisingly, for seating so many people, they’re also efficient - our meals were served quickly so lunch lasted about an hour.

The appetizer sushi contained the popular trio - tuna, salmon and shrimp – all done well with evenly cut seafood and the rice a nice consistency. Just keep in mind there’s already a fair amount of wasabi used in the sushi so go lightly with the soy sauce… my first bite was a sinus clearing experience. Two rather large pieces of spicy salmon roll were also included, with the salmon mixture made from diced pieces of fish rather than the pulverized mess mixed with tempura bits that some restaurants serve.

Nami appetizer sushi

Along with a bowl of salad covered in a creamy ginger dressing and a hot bowl of miso soup, the first course was substantial. If you’re a light eater, you can likely take the main to go.


Rather than the typical piece of thigh that's grilled than cut into strips, Nami’s chicken teriyaki are larger chunks, char-grilled with a light smoky essence, then tossed them in ample amounts of sauce. This creates a more flavourful dish and the house made teriyaki sauce nice and thick. Along with wedges of roasted potato, asparagus, boiled carrot medallions, and a bowl of sticky rice, I was thoroughly filled.

Nami chicken teriyaki

Yet, I still couldn’t turn down the matcha ice cream, the ice cold sphere of green tea dessert a refreshing ending. A blob of unappetizing looking but delicious tasting thick red bean paste also arrives, so you can swirl it into the ice cream creating another flavour profile.


After a satisfying lunch, I’m glad the other restaurants were booked. Certainly, the appetizer sushi was more fulfilling than a salad any day. If you’re looking for a day-of reservation for lunch during Summerlicious, check out Nami, they can likely accommodate your table and you’ll leave content.  

Overall mark - 8 out of 10
Is Summerlicious worth it (based on my meal selection)?
Summerlicious - $23
Regular menu - $40 - appetizer sushi* ($16), chicken teriyaki lunch ($19) and dessert* ($5)
Savings - $17 or 42%
* Based on the sashimi sampler and the dessert is a wild guess by me

How To Find Them
 Location: Toronto, Canada
 Address: 55 Adelaide Street East

 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:

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

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