CLOSED: Wish (Toronto)

Posted on Sunday, August 23, 2015 by


Wish Cafe Toronto
Wish has a patio that elicits, “This is so adorable!” comments. With the white washed furniture and cream drapery, there’s a Tetro Verde vibe and allows for people watching on a quieter street in Yorkville. Service is rather slow, but when you’re seated on comfortable couches and having a great conversation with friends, the wait is actually enjoyable.

Visiting for a Summerlicious ($35) dinner, the restaurant was still calm at 6:30. However, an hour later, every table on the patio was occupied. Luckily, we had our orders in so the starters came out at a decent time. The grilled New Zealand lamb chops smelled intoxicating with the scent of charred meat comingling with the mint and citrus pesto.

Lamb chops wish cafe

Although our server requested how we’d like the lamb done (medium rare and medium the consensus), they all arrived well done. Restaurants need to carefully consider their ability to execute upon requests. If it’s difficult to meet exact demands during busy periods, I’d prefer the chef just decide what’s best and serve. Although I prefer the lamb less done, it was still tender and well flavoured; if it was just served that way I’d be content. However, I couldn’t help feeling something was wrong as, in this case, as it wasn’t cooked to my initial specifications.

The poached salmon was moist and flavourful having been brined in a spice mix prior to cooking. Vibrant roasted heirloom carrots set off the pale pink salmon while their natural sweetness complimented the creamy kale veloutee (essentially a creamed kale).

Poached salmon wish cafe

My friend’s half cornish hen was succulent and the dish had a rustic feel to it with the simple but delicious romesco buttered vegetables and a sprinkling of burnt rye toast crumbs on top for added texture.

Cornish hen Wish cafe

It was during dessert where the food started to falter. The Summerlicious menu tempted me with an “apple cinnamon divine”, but despite ordering before 7pm, they had already run out. If a restaurant is only responsible for offering three menu items, the pastry chef needs to ensure they have adequate amounts of it. Sure, I understand if something stocks out at 9pm… but, close to the start of dinner service? That’s poor planning.

An apple crumble pie was the mediocre substitute. Although the filling had a fair amount of apples, it was served cold and unadorned – no scoop of ice cream or even drizzle of caramel – hardly an adequate replacement for something that was “divine”.

Apple pie wish cafe

The spiced kraken rum rice pudding was thick and its paste-like texture not the most pleasant. Personally, I feel just a splash of coconut milk would help thin it out and help it develop a velvety texture. A huge slab of white chocolate speared the dessert adding a decorative element; if broken into smaller pieces and mixed into the pudding instead, it could have provided the much needed texture and flavour contrast.

Rice pudding wish cafe

Wish's plating is on point, providing Instagram worthy photos that will certainly draw in crowds. Sitting out on the patio, with the natural lighting and pale grey back drops, it was a breeze to snap a picture I was happy with. But, what keeps people returning to restaurants will always be the food. In Wish’s case, the savoury dishes (especially the mains) were a hit. However, the lackluster desserts hardly provokes a positive last impression for diners.  

Overall mark - 7 out of 10

Is Summerlicious worth it (based on my meal selection)?
Summerlicious - $35
Regular menu - $47 - lamb chops ($21), salmon ($22) and pie* ($8)
Savings - $16 or 31%
* The pie were based a wild guess from me

How To Find Them
 Location: Toronto, Canada
 Address: 3 Charles Street East


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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!

Is That It? I Want More!

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CLOSED: Copacabana Brazilian Steakhouse (Toronto)

Posted on Saturday, August 22, 2015 by

For people who like meat, especially copious amounts of it, Copacabana Brazilian Steakhouse is for you. As a rodizio restaurant, it’s all-you-can-eat: servers bring skewered churrasco (barbequed) proteins to your table until you signal them to stop with a simple flip of the sign. The full Copa experience is $40 on Sunday to Thursdays or $45 on Friday and Saturday (when salmon is served).

Sides, vegetables, charcuterie and other hot eats reside at a buffet area that’s self-serve. There’s actually quite a good selection and their salad bar is great, I particularly enjoyed the quinoa, mango and blueberry and kale salads.


As the server arrives table side, they announce what’s on the skewer. If you want a portion, they slice into it, you use the small tongs provided to grab onto the loose piece and then they finish slicing. Voila! You now have a piece of thinly sliced meat. Usually, they’ll have pieces with varying doneness so you can request something that’s cooked less or more.


The top sirloin was flavourful and tender and probably the meat I had the most of that evening. Other delicious picks was the herby chimichurri steak, fatty and moist butter milk rib eye and juicy flaky salmon.


The salmon, although looking overdone, was surprisingly delicious – glistening and just cooked through.


I find the prime rib with cheddar and filet mignon wrapped in bacon a tad salty, but they also tend to be crowd favourites. Luckily, the Toronto location has toned down their use of seasoning as I found the Niagara branch extremely salty, which for a long time was why I didn’t want to return to a Brazilian steakhouse.

Other beef items include skirt steak, picanha Brazil (a slightly chewier rump cut), flank steak and beef ribs (pulled off the bone and somewhat dry). But, it’s not all beef, Copa also serves chicken (drumstick, parmesan and Moraccan), leg of lamb (tasty and worth a try) and pork sausages.

After I’ve had my protein fill, the thing I enjoy the most is their grilled pineapples. Crusted lightly in cinnamon sugar, the heat helps sweeten the pineapple even more and get their juices flowing.


Fried bananas, corn bread and cheese puffs are brought around in baskets, so enticing that you can’t help but have one. The fried banana was crispy and has the same cinnamon sugar dusting as the pineapples. Their cornbread, always served hot out of the oven, is fluffy and aromatic. Only the cheese puff was a bust for me as the center was doughy and soft rather than airy or molten. 


Copacabana offered great service; the manager coming by on separate occasions to ensure we were satisfied. When we noted that the meat service was a little slow he instantly had more gauchos (servers) visit the table. When we started turning away items citing, “We’ve had this already” they asked us what we wanted and made sure to bring those items in return trips.

Live music and a dance performance may seem cliché but provides a cheerful environment; momentarily distracting me from the food and bringing a slight twinge of regret for accepting the third helping of top sirloin.


Overall, Copacabana was a good experience, especially for an all-you-can-eat atmosphere. Indeed, I probably wouldn’t want to visit too much, as it does promote over consumption on meat. But, as a once in a while indulgence, it’s not a bad way to spend two hours (their seating limit).

Overall mark - 7 out of 10
Is Summerlicious worth it (based on my meal selection)?
Summerlicious - $35
Regular menu - $45 
Savings - $10 or 22%

How To Find Them
 Location: Toronto, Canada
 Address: 150 Eglinton Avenue East


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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!

Is That It? I Want More!

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Lalibela Ethiopian Restaurant (Toronto)

Posted on Sunday, August 16, 2015 by

Lalibela Ethiopian franenscence

For the last class of a food writing course, we celebrated with a group dinner at Lalibela Ethiopian Restaurant – an ideal place to meet vegan, gluten free and carnivore dining demands. Prior to the experience, I’ve never had Ethiopian food and knew little about the cuisine. Lalibela’s menu is rather extensive with a surprisingly large amount of meat options.

Although the tibs, a dish of sautéed meat with vegetables, sounds delicious, the meat is dry, hard and chewy.  Served on a sizzling platter, the zilzil tibs ($16) was aromatic when presented, but eating the beef was reminiscent of chewing on leather.  The rib tibs ($14.50) were better with the lamb pieces containing some fat which helped provide some much needed moisture. Additionally, the garlic onion and jalapeno tossed with the lamb was more pronounced and flavourful.

Lalibela Ethiopian zilzil tibsLalibela Ethiopian rib tibs

Personally, I’d suggest sticking with the stewed and braised meat dishes instead. The lamb stew’s ($12.50) liquid looked rather pale but was packed with flavour being made from a mixture of ginger, garlic, aromatic butter and light sprinkling of curry. If only the liquid was thicker it’d be even better as it was rather difficult to scoop the liquid with the injera.

Lalibela Ethiopian lamb stew

The special Ethiopian chicken ($16) were pieces of leg meat slow-cooked with caramelized onions, berbere (chili powder), garlic and ginger then served with hard boiled eggs. Although it was decent, it could use more berbere as the spiciness was so sedated. I’ve heard Ethiopian cuisine is known for spicy meats and rich flavourful sauces and hoped a dish with “special” in its name would be more impressive.


I noticed their menu was out-of-date and items such as the lamb stew, rib tibs and zilzil tibs are anywhere from $0.50 - $2 higher when the bill was presented. One discrepancy I can understand, but three out of five dishes is excessive.

The best dish of the night was the vegetarian platter sampler ($20) an impressive spread of eight thick stews on a piece of injera accompanied with salads. Injera is a risen sourdough made with teff flour with air pockets giving it a light spongy consistency. All the little crevices are perfect for scooping up the chickpea, lentil, beet, spinach and other stews. Traditionally, Ethiopians break off pieces of injera and with their right hand use it to pick up food.

Lalibela Ethiopian injera

Although a full platter of injera comes with the meal, the most flavourful piece would be the one the vegetarian platter is served on, soaking up the different sauces. The jalapeno laced salad in the middle was delicious and the crunchy cool lettuce a great contrast against the soft stews.


Lalibela offers traditional Ethiopian coffee ($10 and is sufficient for 4 people). If you’re interested, order it at the beginning as it takes time to prepare. First, the beans are brought out in a hot pan to showcase the intense coffee aroma while they’re roasting. They’re then brought back into the kitchen to finish roasting then grounded.

Lalibela Ethiopian coffee

After the meal, the coffee is brought back in a beautiful clay vessel along with lit frankincense billowing out a licorice smelling smoke, which is said to go well with the coffee. The coffee is poured into quaint little cups and can be taken with sugar or salt but with no milk. It’s rich and has a strong coffee flavour but not as intense as espresso. On the side is a large platter of popcorn; our waitress explained that in Ethiopia individuals tend to have snack foods while enjoying coffee.


Finishing our writing course with a meal was a great idea! I love the light injera where you feel you can have piece after piece without feeling stuffed. The vegetarian platter is a good choice for trying a variety of stews and ideal for the summer as it’s light. Eating at Lalibela was a unique experience, opening my taste buds to a world of new flavours.

Overall mark - 6.5 out of 10


How To Find Them
 Location: Toronto, Canada
 Address: 1202 Danforth Avenue

 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!


Saving Gigi (Toronto)

Posted on Saturday, August 15, 2015 by


Saving Gigi Toronto

Saving Gigi, a cozy coffee shop, is the antithesis of Starbucks. Although there’s plenty of people with laptops using free Wi-Fi or others pouring over books, Saving Gigi’s environment is calmer and its mishmash of eclectic furniture homey, in a hipster sort of way. Indeed, the two employees that don’t expect an order the moment you walk up and allow you to pursue the menu, indicates the restaurant’s not about efficiencies and getting people out the door.


The dinner menu is a one pager of soups, salads and sandwiches. A new menu item, the solar bowl ($10.95), sounded ideal for my hot summer visit. Not knowing what to quite expect, the colourful salad of mixed greens, peppers, green onions, beer slivers and carrots, got my attention. Topping the crisp combination of vegetables was a healthy portion of creamy avocado, hot spicy chicken (marinated tofu available as an alternative) and roasted pumpkin seeds.

solar bowl

I wasn’t expecting the chicken to be spicy but the flavour was great and gave the salad interest. Some organic brown rice greeted me at the bottom of the bowl, which helped make the salad heartier and soaked in the chicken and vegetables’ juices.

Saving Gigi is popular for their coffee, which is organic and fair-trade. Even while visiting in the evening, people were still stopping by to get one to go. At first, I was going to abstain from caffeine for, fear of not being able to sleep, but the intoxicating aroma got the best of me. The iced coffee ($3.25?) was strong and rich with a nice smooth finish.

iced coffee


If you’re in need of something stronger, they’re also licensed for a selection of wines, cocktails and beers; the pints seemed to be popular amongst the patio. As a warning, there is one other thing that differs between Saving Gigi and Starbucks – air conditioning or the lack thereof. So, while visiting on a hot humid day, the patio with a tall cold drink is definitely where you’ll want to be.  

Overall mark - 6.5 out of 10
Disclaimer: The above meal was complimentary. Rest assured, as noted in Gastro World's mission statement, reviews are still my honest opinion.
How To Find Them
 Location: Toronto, Canada
 Address: 859 Bloor 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!

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Fiskebar (Copenhagen)

Posted on Saturday, August 15, 2015 by
I admire the Danish’s ability to make any occasion into a celebration and enjoy it. Indeed, we’ve heard for years that they’re one of the happiest countries in the world and after visiting Copenhagen, I saw first-hand the great attitude they have. During a visit to Fiskebar, the weather was rather cool for spring. But, plenty of people sat outside on picnic benches and around a campfire enjoying time with friends and family.

Located in the meat packing district, the restaurant is in a lively compound filled with other restaurants and bars. It’s about a 45 minute walk from Nyhavn, but along the way interesting sites and artwork will keep you occupied.


Fiskebar essentially translates to fish bar, so it’s no surprise their menu is largely seafood based. Served raw, cold and hot, dishes are meant for sharing. My pet peeve with shared plate format meals is dishes arrive simultaneously so you feel compelled to eat quickly. But, Fiskebar timed the succession of dishes perfectly, ensuring we were done before another arrived.

The fish and chips (95 DKK) were a decent portion served with a traditional newspaper cone. The cod was lightly smoked so the fish had flavour even without sauce, while the crust was thin and crispy. A handful of freshly cut fries accompanied the dish and went nicely with the crunchy raw remoulade. 


It seemed like every table had a big bowl of blue mussels (105 DKK). Unfortunately, they were excessively gritty, especially the ones that didn’t arrive immersed in the cooking liquid. But, the buttery herbed apple cider broth was tasty so I stuck more to dipping the loaf of crusty bread into that instead.


The poached black lobster (180 DKK) was cooked well so its natural sweetness was still prevalent. Garnished with peas, pea shorts, morrels, terragon and a light foam, the dish had a lot of different textures. Interestingly, Fiskebar turned bone marrow into a powder that further intensified the taste. 


Arriving with a beautiful golden crust, the pan fried turbot (155 DKK) looked exactly how I like fish. Personally, I would have liked it cooked a bit less but it was still moist and tender.


Fiskebar has an enticing dessert menu, so my husband and I ended up each ordering our own. I wouldn’t suggest sharing as the dessert’s aren’t large and so good that you wouldn’t want to share.

The chocolate mousse (105 DKK) was luscious and rich, made with 72% dark chocolate. Paired with buckwheat ice cream and salted caramel, there were two flavours that complemented the chocolate well.


I love strawberry shortcake and Fiskebar’s deconstructed version (believe was also 105 DKK) didn’t disappoint. Compared to the chocolate mousse, it’s a lighter dessert with sweet strawberries, thick cream, crisp cookies and refreshing mint.


On a tour, I learnt that despite high taxes and prices, Danes adjust by spending money on experiences rather than material items. I certainly share that mindset - sharing a delicious meal with friends and loved ones beats having a designer bag any day!

Overall mark - 7.5 out of 10


How To Find Them
 Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
 Address: Flæsketorvet 100

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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!


Sweetery: A Food Festival Supporting Sick Kids, Will Sweeten Your Weekend

Posted on Tuesday, August 11, 2015 by


As the weather warms in Toronto, the street festivals begin. Most food festivals are culture based, Sweetery will instead focus on all things sugary with recipes that’ll entice your sweet tooth. The best part is that you’ll have an excuse to indulge in the taste test, scavenger hunt and piñata breaking activities – 100% of the proceeds will go to support the Sick Kids Foundation!

Key Details

Date: Weekend of August 15 and 16
Time: noon to 10pm
Location: Front Street West and Portland Street
Admission: Free

With the plethora of vendors in attendance, bringing friends and family is a must to be able to try as many sweets as possible. The Hungarian chimney from Original Chimneys, butter tart from Beverley’s Bakers, sakura mocha milk from Kakigori and Vietnamese coffee cheesecake from Catering Diva has my name all over them!


George Brown Pastry chefs will be at the festival making pastries so you can see what it takes to concoct these decadent treats. Famous home cook, Christopher Siu of Master Chef Canada, will be offering Chinese inspired macarons and matcha crepe cakes.

There will also be the Canadian favourite sweet treat Beavertails, vegan cupcakes from Bloomer’s, bespoke marshmallows from I Love Puffy Love, Filipino desserts from Tito Rons and Mexican pastries from Pancho’s. But, if you want to have a meal before dessert, Fufu Rocks will be serving up savoury meals.


Check out Sweetery and take a whack at the piñata to help reach their $10,000 goal to support Sick Kids. Sweet treats will be available from $3-$5 and all attendees will receive a complimentary loot bag that gives you a chance to find a “golden ticket” to win a prize. So I encourage you to channel your inner Charlie and visit the chocolate factory this weekend.

How To Find Them
 Location: Toronto, Canada
 Address: 510 Front St. W. (at Portland St.)

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CLOSED: Bobby C's Dockside (Bowmanville)

Posted on Sunday, August 09, 2015 by

Bobby C's Dockside
After visiting Jungle Cat World near Bowmanville, my friends and I decided to check out a local restaurant - #Parv gets the credit for finding Bobby C’s Dockside located at the Port Darlington Marina. Much larger than I expected, we arrived by car but you can also pull up by boat as the restaurant is located right on the dock.

Bobby C’s burgers seemed popular and I can see why. They’re large and filled with tons of toppings – the kind of dish you order after seeing a server walk by with one. The California burger ($13.69) consisted of a thick beef patty, sliced avocado, sprouts, roasted red peppers, smoked cheddar and tzatziki sauce.

California burger

The prime rib and ground chuck mix had a nice combination of flavour and fat; if the chef took it off the grill 30 seconds earlier it would have been even better. The combination of ingredients worked with the beef and arriving with a fried pickle was the cherry on top for me.

The chicken BLT burger ($13.69) sounds promising made with buttermilk fried chicken, bacon, smoked cheddar and barbecue sauce. Perhaps it’s because I tried this second, but the chicken was no longer crispy, which was a bit disappointing. But, Bobby C’s does sneak an onion ring into the burger that helps give some crunch.

Chicken BLT burger

Although I didn’t try the French onion soup ($5.99), it looked amazing. Arriving with plenty of gooey cheese, it’s a bit large for a starter, but if paired with a salad makes for a good meal.

French onion soup

Unfortunately, it was raining during our visit or I would have loved to walk around the small but cozy marina. Indeed, their 150 seater patio would likely have been bustling if the weather was nicer.


Port Darlington Marina

Bobby C’s menu is predominantly meat based despite their nautical environment. Imagine cracking into a fresh crab (matching the one used in their logo) while sitting outside in the summer. Oh how magical that would be…

Overall mark - 7 out of 10
How To Find Them
 Location: Bowmanville, Canada
 Address: 70 Port Darlington 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:


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