CLOSED: Guu Izakaya North York (Toronto)

Posted on Sunday, September 13, 2015 by




Vancouver Empire Guu continues to expand its central Canada presence, with the latest outpost opening in North York. Larger than its downtown sister, there’s greater opportunity for sitting in its 90-seat dining room and 60-seat patio. Reservations are available, making it the most customer friendly location. Even if there is a wait, plenty of bars in the area, so a pint at the Frog can easily keep you occupied.  

As part of their summer menu, Guu was offering tako karu ($10), a cold octopus carpaccio dressed with a refreshing yuzu ponzu (citrus soy) dressing. It’s light and flavourful and the thin jalapeno slices provide an extra bite for those who can handle the spice. Crunchy slivers of daikon is a great make shift salad for soaking up ample amounts of chili vinaigrette.  


Personally, I found it was a better alternative to the maguro tataki ($8.30), which is similarly dressed except uses seared albacore tuna sashimi than octopus. I find the garlic chips too overpowering, the jalapeno is a much better garnish, in my opinion.


The gindara ($12.80) was flavourful having been caramelized with a slightly smoky crust. The typical sweet and savoury miso glaze is eased with a citrus twist, but the fish could be cooked just a tad less to help retain more of the cod’s oily moisture.


For me, the takoyaki ($5.50) was forgettable; nothing to complain of but the soft deep fried octopus studded balls just didn’t stand out. The okonomiyaki ($7.50) is such a similar dish: also sporting a golden crust that’s doused in a tangy tonkatsu and horseradish-like karashi mayo. It even has pieces of diced squid mixed into it. What makes it better, for me, is the thicker batter that incorporates plenty of shredded cabbage, which gives it some textural contrast.


The ebi mayo ($8.80) is a popular appetizer in Japan, a simple dish of deep fried prawns drizzled with thinned mayonnaise. At Guu, the shrimp are plump and arrive freshly fried, with the mayo having a light spiciness to it. The batter is on the doughier side, so tends not to be as crisp.


To ensure you’re not hungry in an hour, some filling starches are a smart choice. The chewy thick noodles in the kimchi udon ($9.30) were slick and well-seasoned, but definitely required more kimchi. The yaki udon seemed popular amongst other guests and contains thinly sliced beef to make it more substantial.


A must-order dish for me at Guu is the kinoko bibimbap ($9.30). Something about the combination of sticky rice, plump mushrooms, cheese and the earthy seaweed teriyaki sauce is so delicious. Served in a sizzling stone bowl, the dish is aromatic. If you’re patient, it even develops a slightly caramelized crust on the bottom that makes the rice even more flavourful.


Guu’s matcha cheesecake ($6.50) has an Uncle Tetsu flare to it but the mixture is richer and creamier. The green tea powder gives the cake a great Japanese taste and aids in giving it flavour without relying solely on sweetness.


If you’re sitting at the bar by the open-concept kitchen, it’ll get HOT! Take it from me – wear layers so you can strip down if required. To help us cool off, we ordered a round of mojito. Both the lychee ($7.80) and ume (plum wine; $7.50) versions were revitalizing with the squeeze of lime and fresh mint.


Compared to the Church location experiences, North York’s service was much better. For one, despite ordering the majority of the items at the same time, the kitchen released the dishes in a timely procession allowing us enough time between dishes so we didn’t feel rushed. The servers checked in throughout the meal to ensure we were attended to and asked whether we were finished before collecting the cutlery.

One thing has not changed – the ear-piercing greetings from the entire team as people enter and leave. Alas, it’s likely become too synonymous with the restaurant that it’d be impossible to stop. The food on this visit was positive, if I can just score a table on the patio away from the screaming, that would make the experience complete. 

Overall mark - 7.5 out of 10


How To Find Them
 Location: Toronto, Canada
 Address: 4775 Yonge Street (Hullmark 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!

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Stella Artois's Sensorium Dinner (Toronto)

Posted on Saturday, September 12, 2015 by

A white dome has descended on King West, in time for TIFF, promising to offer its own entertainment: an evening of dining with all five senses as the atmosphere, food and drink work together. The star of this production would be the voluptuous Stella Artois: each chalice rinsed, filled and finished to highlight the crisp slightly sweet pilsner.


Upon entering, the parking lot transforms into a tranquil starry garden; two long tables softly lit enticing diners of what’s to come.


Before the meal begins, diners mingle at the front with bars prominently showcasing the star drink. The excitement is palpable … there’s a buzz in the night air, when at last at 6:30 the gates swing open and individuals find a seat amongst the garden.


You’re instructed to sit in a certain section, the seats themselves are then first-come first-serve. The dinner a great opportunity to meet people around you (I was surrounded by wonderful companions); the crowd is diverse but everyone shares a love for excitement and food.

As an amuse-bouche, there was a chalice of air, concocted by Dr. Irwin Adam Eydelnant of BevLab, where each is unique and promises a different smell and taste. Mine held a faint whiff of cotton candy but alas tasted like nothing when I attempted to inhale the smoke through the mouth.


Our salad was already at the centre of table, held in shovels and test tubes. The solid form consisted of miniature vegetables accompanied with a crunchy puffed rice, mushroom soil and a thick roasted garlic aioli. Individuals walk by periodically spritzing a floral scented water, so you really embodied the sense of eating in a garden.


Meanwhile, the test tube held Greek salad, an intensely flavoured distilled liquid that tasted of fresh tomatoes and cooling cucumbers. The most molecular dish of the evening, Chef Richie Farina (former chef at one Michelin starred Moto) excited my palette. What a wonderful crisp opening that also helped to cleanse the garlicky dressing for the next course.


As director Jamie Webster’s illusions changed from leafy greens to dazzling white crystals, we knew the seafood course was coming. To confirm our suspicions a poem encased in sea salt was presented to heighten the suspense.


Large shells holding scallops and halibut are rolled into the centre of the table as water is added to activate the dry ice and create a billowy cool smoke. The sliced raw scallops were quickly seared/smoked to heighten its natural sweetness, while the pieces of dried scallop presented a stronger flavour. With a sprinkling of the sea salt, these were rather delicious.


The same can’t be said for the hunk of halibut. Although the menu notes it’s “poached” and adorned with “a young coconut puree”, my piece contained neither of those characteristics, instead tasting like the sea (and not in a pleasant way). To salvage the dish, I used a liberal sprinkling of sea salt, sliced the fish thinly into sashimi form, wrapped it in seaweed and “paired” it with a gulp of Stella… what I wouldn’t have given for a dish of soy sauce and wasabi to magically appear amongst the smoke.   

As the chargers were cleared, a dip in the table was revealed. Soon, it was covered with a bowl of aromatic anise broth and a drummer took the stage. Perhaps the most inventive course, it featured compositions from Nyles Miszczyk and Joe Organ, as the broth danced to the beating drum.


A bowl of crispy noodles, bean sprouts, herbs and jalapeno was then tossed into the soup after the presentation. For a person who adores soupy noodles, this was a horrible version of the dish. The broth was understandably lukewarm, which could be overlooked if it weren’t also lacking flavour and the only pizzazz stemming from the shock of eating a piece of raw jalapeno.


If you’re patient, the crispy noodles slowly rehydrate and become softer transforming back to regular rice noodles. However, the bean sprouts and herbs will always remain raw given the tepid soup temperature – Chef Farina should consider blanching these first as grassy hard beansprouts and leafy herbs isn’t the most appetizing.

The most substantial dish of the night arrives next, a cloche filled of smoke covering a bird’s nest. Although the smoke in mine had long dissipated, the campy smell was still prevalent in the room, a delicious treat for the nose.


It’s a whimsical dish with the egg containing a surprise – in reality a buttery cauliflower puree instead of the perceived quail’s egg. The nest consisted of braised beef cheek slivers comingled with fried enoki mushrooms – richly flavoured but stark cold. The dish did its job on highlighting the sense of touch: the creaminess of cauliflower, chewiness of beef, softness of salsify and crunch of pork rind.  


The campfire theme continues into dessert as skewers of marshmallow arrive with a flaming centerpiece. My advice is to be patient and roast them well - inside one is a sphere of chocolate ganache, which would have been absolutely delicious if it was warm and gooey.


My sweet tooth was sedated by the s’more square that arrived with it: a luscious layer of milk chocolate, spongy marshmallow and buttery graham cracker crumbs.  

A glass of Cidre (not cider) was paired with the dessert. The drink is much lighter than and not as sweet as traditional ciders – I thoroughly enjoyed the crisp taste of apples that left a refreshing feel to the palette.


Overall, Sensorium lived up to its claim of being a dining experience for all the senses. The stunning visuals, sounds of nature, variety of textures, aromatic smokes and tastes were all featured.

Unfortunately, the sense that was worst represented was taste… certainly the most important for me when it comes to dining. Although they used an ingenious method for serving most dishes (having the centre strip of the table slide in an out), those that needed to stay hot (the soup and beef) were served by hand so loses its temperature by the time it arrives. Many others simply lacked flavour, which may have been a conscious decision as to not detract from the light pilsner.

At $148 per person (inclusive of drinks, taxes, gratuities and ticket charges), the dinner isn’t cheap, yet isn’t unreasonable either. Beer lovers will especially enjoy the evening as chalices of Stella are regularly brought over to replace any that’s nearing empty.

 In the end, you’re attending Sensorium for the experience, not the food. There were many creative touches such as the edible rice paper menus. Sadly, you may want to eat the menu as the portions are small and won’t leave you satisfied. With no bread baskets or petit fours to follow, you will need to head out for another bite after Sensorium ends.


How To Find Them
 Location: Toronto, Canada
 Address: 525 King Street West


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


Is That It? I Want More!
Read about #Parv's experience with the same meal.
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Hashi Izakaya (Toronto)

Posted on Saturday, September 12, 2015 by


Hashi Izakaya

Hashi Izakaya is a surprisingly spacious restaurant with a row of wooden tables flanking one side of the dining room, easily accommodating groups of 30. An ingenious bamboo overhang can be released to provide privacy between tables, but does little to block out the cheers of semi-drunk diners. But then again, no one really goes to an izakaya excepting a quiet romantic meal; it’s the noise, drinking and sharing food that makes the restaurant fun.   

Hashi Izakaya

Sharing is strongly encouraged as Hashi serves sizable portions. For example, the squid butter yaki ($9), essentially a squid cooked in butter, arrives whole and cut into thin bite sized slivers. The squid was overcooked and a tad tough. Moreover, the sweet soy butter glaze was rather muted and the mayonnaise dip is definitely not the flavour I wanted with the dish.

Hashi Izakaya: butter squid

Similarly, the grilled gindara ($13) could use more of the saikyo miso marinade given the black cod is such a neutral fish. The dish is an improvement over the last, with the fish cooked well, although could benefit from a crispier skin.

Hashi Izakaya: gindara

The kamikaze ($12) and dynamite rolls ($13 on menu; $10 actually charged) were large and filled with spicy tuna (kamikaze) and shrimp tempura (dynamite) along with avocado and cucumber in both. Perhaps a bit too much sauce was doused over the kamikaze; not a drop of soy sauce was required for either roll.

Hashi Izakaya: maki rolls

There were a number of dishes I enjoyed: the karaage ($6) was hot and juicy, with an unexpected ginger twinge in the marinade.  

Hashi Izakaya: karaage

Calamari rings, shrimp and bay scallops were abundant in the seafood yaki udon ($13). While the plump noodles retained a springy bite and had a spicy kick from the oyster sauce mixture.

Hashi Izakaya: seafood udon

For larger tables, the oden nabe ($13), a comforting soup brimming with assorted fish cakes, tofu and mushrooms will help wash down the heavier dishes. Served on a portable stove, diners can go back and grab sips without fear of the broth getting cold.

Hashi Izakaya: oden

Overall, the food at Hashi isn’t fantastic, but it’s decent enough. Portions are generous, prices are reasonable and tables are abundant. For affordable, stress free dining, Hashi is an ichiban choice.

Overall mark - 7 out of 10


How To Find Them
 Location: Toronto, Canada
 Address: 5582 Yonge 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!

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Simply Snacking: Thomas Henry Mystic Mango Lemonade

Posted on Tuesday, September 08, 2015 by


Normally, I don’t drink too many juices. Then, during one dinner in Germany, alcohol didn’t seem appealing but water felt too plain. This was when I discovered Thomas Henry’s mystic mango lemonade, a lightly sweetened carbonated drink.

There’s an intoxicating mango smell that gives me a sense of where the concept of “mystic” comes from. Although the label notes lemonade in the mix, there’s but a slight citrus undernote, with the tropical taste most prevalent.

Thomas Henry if a relatively new company from Germany specializing in unique drinks for adults. Classic mixers such as tonic water, soda water and ginger ale is given a twist, which can be drunk plain or used in fancy cocktails – cherry blossom tonic, anyone?  Unfortunately, for Canadians, Thomas Henry is not available at our bars and retail stores. So, this is something to look for while vacationing (most likely found in their head quarter Berlin).

For a person who doesn’t like sweet juices, I found the drink refreshing and a great alternative to pop. Yet, I sense it would be equally stunning mixed with a spirit to make a sparkling cocktail.

MORE: Back to Simply Snacking

How To Find Them 
 Website: http://www.thomas-henry.com/
 Approx. Price:  €1.29

Pot Rice & Rolls House (Toronto)

Posted on Monday, September 07, 2015 by



If you’re looking to eat for less, there are tons of inexpensive options at suburban food courts. My parents introduced me to Pot Rice and Rolls House, after they walked by it one day and found a crowd surrounding the relatively plain looking stall.

After looking at the menu, they soon realized why – Pot Rice’s congee combos were a steal. The only drawback is the menu is written in Chinese, so illiterate individuals would never know about the deal. For $5 you get a pretty filling meal:
  • A choice of congee: century egg with pork, dried vegetable with spare rib, free run chicken or a giblets mixture;
  • A rice roll filled with either beef, pork, pork liver or dough fritter; and
  • Soy milk.
We tried the century egg with pork congee, where there was plenty of the preserved egg but little pork. The black egg with jellied egg white and creamy yolk is an acquired taste, as the yolk has a strong metallic tang to it (the black jellied egg white is unflavoured). The congee itself, a thick consistency, was a bit too paste-like for my taste.


The dough fritter wrapped rice roll was better and I enjoyed that you dress it yourself; you can put as much soy, hoisin and sesame sauce to your heart’s content. The dough fritter could be crispier, but some do like their rice rolls to be chewy rather than crunchy.


The eatery offers other dishes as well: rice and noodle items normally found at congee restaurants. The stir-fried rice noodles with beef ($5.50) were accompanied with bone broth soup and soy milk. It lacked the colour, flavour and aromatic essence you’d normally expect from this dish. Green onions, which would help improve on all the above, was definitely required. If you’re going to eat at the Pot Rice, just stick with the congee.


As a food lover, I generally appreciate taste over value and found the meal disappointing. However, in an age where McDonald combos are $7+, I can certainly see the appeal of the filling $5 congee and rice roll meal. As such, Chinese illiterate individuals, you are now also in the know. 


Overall mark - 6 out of 10


How To Find Them
 Location: Toronto, Canada
 Address: 633 Silver Star Boulevard

 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!













Luttner and Wagner (Berlin)

Posted on Sunday, September 06, 2015 by

Lutter & Wegner has approximately nine locations across Germany, with the majority of them in Berlin. Their original restaurant, is located just steps away from the bustling Gendarmenmarkt and is huge. Not only is there the main restaurant (with subdivided eating areas), but there’s also a sizeable wrap around patio and a smaller dining area beside the main building.

For wine lovers, you may want to request a table in the smaller building as the walls are stocked ceiling to floor with wine bottles. Despite the abundance of tables, you’ll still want to make a reservation - even during our Monday evening visit they were turning away some walk-ins.

To start, we shared the caeser salad (€9.50), which was a decent size. Unlike the North American version, Lutter & Wegner’s also includes sweet cherry tomatoes, onions and two types of mild olives. There was still a garlicky kick to the dressing, but it was lighter and closer to a vinaigrette than a creamy sauce.


Their schnitzel (€14.50 for a half or €22.50 for a full order; half order pictured below) is amazing and unlike any I’ve tried. 


Pounded to the thickness of felt, the veal is coated in an ultra-fine bread crumb coating. It’s unclear whether it’s fried or baked, as the schnitzel is dry and not greasy at all, yet there’s a great crunchy crust. Inside, the veal is moist and because air pockets separate the meat and the crust, the bread crumb coating doesn’t get soggy.


A dish of squashed potato salad accompanies the schnitzel making it a filling meal. The dressing, an oil and vinegar mixture, isn’t overly heavy and the thinly sliced cucumbers and radish provide additional crunch and freshness.


My husband’s sauerbraten (€19.50) was much heavier consisting of tender sliced beef that’s like pot roast. The beef is very flavourful having been marinated in a spiced vinegar and wine mixture, with the vinegar giving it a sour tang. On the side was some overly sweet and mushy sauerkraut, nicely roasted potatoes and crunchier fresh cabbage. It’s an interesting dish with an acquired taste – one that my husband loves and was looking forward to. 


At first, I was apprehensive about visiting a “tourist district” restaurant to sample traditional German comfort food. However, my experience at Lutter & Wegner was wonderful and I hope to taste such superb schnitzel again.

Overall mark - 8 out of 10


How To Find Them
 Location: Berlin, Germany
 Address: Charlottenstrasse 56

 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!


Union Social Eatery (Toronto)

Posted on Saturday, September 05, 2015 by


Union social eatery

Union Social Eatery is a new casual dining restaurant in the Yonge and Sheppard area. Their comfort food heavy menu is reasonably priced with no dish over $20. The crispy buffalo chicken tacos are a steal at $9.98 for three; they’re also packed with flavour from cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses, a gorgonzola ranch sauce and salsa.


After eating here at lunch and dinner, I found the atmosphere similar to the Jack Astor’s down the street and the food quality slightly higher. Perhaps they were experiencing issues in the kitchen during opening month, but my first lunch visit was a tad slow to meet a corporate crowd’s dining needs.

Since my husband and I had the day off, we weren’t in a rush; but three tables in our vicinity were asking about the status of their dishes. The meal took about one and half hours, which is not outrageous but could be improved for a table of two. My advice: develop a lunch menu incorporating easy to execute dishes to help speed up lunch service.

My husband had the grilled fish tacos ($11.98), which weren’t as substantial as the buffalo chicken version - the small fish pieces became lost in the napa slaw. But, the kick from the wasabi sauce was a nice change against the typical chipotle mayo.


The U.F.O. burger ($11.96) appeared to be a popular lunch choice. The freshly made beef patty could be cooked less to allow it to be juicier. Nonetheless, it was a decent size and there was an abundance of fixings topping the burger.


I chose to upgrade the Yukon fries to the truffle option ($3 supplement) and sadly found the truffle aroma and taste non-existent. If they were marketed as parmesan and rosemary infused fries, I would have been pleased as there was no shortage of any of these ingredients, but to have the truffle taste missing was a disappointment.

On a return visit with friends, we ordered the appetizer version of the parmesan truffle fries ($7.94) and it was a touch better – this time I could at least get a whiff of the white truffle oil, albeit the taste was still covered from the strong grana padano cheese and herbs.


In my opinion, just go with the plain fries, in both experiences I found the truffle ones to be too oily and glutinous feeling. The plain variety that accompanied the Steam Whistle fish and chips ($15.44) were good enough for me. Even though Union Social isn’t an English pub, the fish was pretty good – a large piece of haddock with a crispy airy batter. A house made sweet gherkin tartare sauce and a buttermilk coleslaw rounded out the dish.


For those who like coconut shrimp, the banana coconut crusted chicken ($16.91) would be the perfect main. The chicken breast was relatively moist and had a distinct sweet coconut crust. I wasn’t fond of the tamarind, mango and brown butter sauce and found the poor quality rice lackluster. However, in fairness, this generally isn’t a dish I’d order; we did so on the recommendation of our server. One friend, who does like sweet coconut dishes, found the chicken enjoyable.


While the weather is still beautiful, visit Union Social to sit on their rooftop patio. It’s one of the best features of the restaurant and they have incorporated plenty of awnings and umbrellas so you’re not roasting.


Even their cocktails are reasonably priced; the original mojito ($6.81) was refreshing and incorporates generous amounts of muddled mint leaves. If you enjoy beer, their weekend specials should entice: $15 pitchers on Fridays and $5 Sleeman & Steam Whistle pints on Saturday and Sundays.


Overall, Union Social’s food is decent and it’s great, that their prices, will not break the bank.

Overall mark - 7 out of 10


How To Find Them
 Location: Toronto, Canada
 Address: 4899 Yonge Street
 Website: www.unionsocial.ca

 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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