Yunaghi serves a wonderful kaiseki inspired menu, offering a collection of dishes with different tastes, textures and temperatures. Each dish is a small presentation of artfully arranged ingredients with vibrant colours and carefully placed garnishes. Having read many kaiseki articles before going to Japan, we tried on various occasions to try it but ended up disappointed as the restaurant was closed, we ran out of time or I fell ill. I only had but a small abbreviated taste of it when we lunched at Hishinuma.

So it was bittersweet when I heard about Yunaghi. In Japan, a traditional kaiseki meal can easily run upwards of $200 a person. But, I was in luck as Yunaghi’s inspired version is only $68 for 7-courses or $80 for the longer 9-course option. During our visit, they were even running a promotion where we received the 9-courses for $68. Trust me, even without the deal, you’ll want to go with the 9-course meal as to miss any of the dishes would be disappointing. Plus, they’re not large so you won’t be stuffed afterwards.

To clarify, Yunaghi’s menu doesn’t follow the traditional series of dishes. Their cuisine is influenced by French ingredients and practices. Items such as foam, pouring sauces (in this case soup) tableside and the desserts are certainly where French elements stood out.

Up first was the sakizuke dish, a small bite to fire up the palate. A slice of hamachi “warm” sashimi, with warm in quotations as it becomes that way once the dashi tea is poured over top. Wrapped inside the delicate fish is a thick sesame sauce giving it an unexpected creamy twist. Delicate masago arare (rice pearls), black sesame seeds and chives are sprinkled on top finishing off the dish.

Afterwards the hussun appetizer platter, a stunning dish filled with tons of little bites – each different and offering a new taste.

Following was another lidded dish, which creates suspense as you’re not quite sure what’s inside. In this case, a duck confit dumpling perched on a fennel egg tofu topped with chives, dashi and duck consommé. I love the moment you lift the lid off - while you take in the beauty, you also get a whiff of the duck and truffle oil. The dumpling reminded me of a more flavourful shu mai found at dim sum. The tofu an interesting texture from the addition of the crunchy fennel. After eating everything please pick up the bowl and finish off the lovely fragrant consommé!

The shira-ae, a nicer name for mashed tofu salad, features vegetables with a dressing made from tofu purée. That night the seasonal vegetables consisted of beets poached in a light vinegar so they had an ever so slightly sour taste against its natural sweetness. Crisp peas were great for scooping up the white bacon powder and cheesy grana padano tofu paste on the bottom. On top were sweet almond glass chips, refreshing orange zest and dots of squid ink. I enjoyed the shout-out to Canada with some beets carved to resemble the maple leaf, which we currently find littered on the ground.

Another favourite is the chawanmushi, a delicious savoury steamed egg.  At Yunaghi theirs is infused with squid ink (a popular ingredient) and topped with a variety of mushrooms. There was something added to the mushrooms that tasted like orange peel which I personally would have liked left out. But, the egg itself was silky and comforting.

The fish dish was lovely seared sake and salt cured halibut(?). Around the plate were lotus root, house made ricotta (so light and smooth), wasabi infused sour cream (a little out of place on this dish) and green garlic emulsion.  Every element of the plate was so artfully placed, even the small broccoli like floret on top of the fish.

Following was an upscale take on chicken ramen.  A piece of super tender roasted chicken topped with a shichimi foam. On the side some ibonoito somen noodles, which we were advised by our waitress is a special occasion noodle that’s prized in Japan. With only two spoonfuls of it served I made sure to enjoy every bite of it. Around the plate were also braised leeks, green onions and scallion purée.

It was through this dish our table got a sense that Chef Tetsuya Shimizu wanted each dish presented at its optimal state. As the waitress was holding the soup and explaining it to us, the chef came out and encouraged her to pour it on to ensure everything stayed hot. We lucked out and got to meet and speak to him.

To end the gohan (rice course) of Japanese glutinous rice. Its texture was interesting; although it’s sticky, each grain was still so distinctly formed and creamy. Accompanying it were marinated honey mushrooms, karashi cured celery and dots of chilli ume.

Dessert was the only course where we had to make a decision. Naturally my husband and I got one of each so we could try both. My first choice was the butter milk pannacotta. On top a slightly savoury yuzu miso whipped cream, followed by paillete feuilletine (crunchy cocoa flakes), ending with the rich pannacotta cream layer. It was a salty and sweet, crunchy and smooth parfait.

The chocolate orange mousse would be more appropriately described as a gelatin than mousse.  Most of it consisted of a thick milk chocolate layer, but on top a soy milk then orange layer. The flavours worked well together and my husband thoroughly enjoyed it. Around the plate were pieces of almond brittle, stewed candied oranges and delicious house made marshmallows (the popcorn like clusters). The Chef also added a savoury element to this as well by topping each cube with some unexpected chili flakes.

Indeed, Yunaghi’s atmosphere won’t remind you of a ryokan having taken over the minimalistic space of Ici Bistro. But, the service was reminiscent of Japan where individuals are more than just friendly and attentive – you get the feeling that they truly want to make sure you’re enjoying yourself and appreciate what you’re eating.

For example, my friend recently had to stop eating gluten and dairy products for a short period. As I wasn’t accustomed to these dietary restrictions, no warning was given to the restaurant when I made the reservation.  But, it wasn’t a problem for Yunaghi and they accommodatingly adjusted her dishes (sometimes removing ingredients and at other times substituting them) so that she got the same experience as us.

As a warning, don’t visit starving as you may leave unsatisfied. Each course is small so if you’re looking for hearty portion sizes Yunaghi is not for you. Personally, the meal was not about how much food consumed but rather the overall experience. As each dish arrived I couldn’t wait to see how it’d be presented. It’s the epitome of eating with your eyes first … studying the ingredients and taking in beautiful presentation. It reminds you to be mindful about your food and the chef’s craft in making it. For that, I thank Chef Tetsuya Shimizu for coming to Toronto from Tokyo – my taste buds certainly appreciate your journey.

When Toronto Common offered a taco Tuesday menu at La Mexicana for $20 (including taxes and gratuities), it was too good to pass up. Being a person who loves to try a bit of everything, having the opportunity to eat four different tacos and wash it down with a margarita seemed like an amazing sounding meal to me!

While waiting for the feast to arrive, a basket of tortilla and dips arrived. The chips were thin, crispy and not overly oily. The salsas, the traditional roasted tomato and tart tomatillo, were fresh and simple. These were great for munching on while sipping on the margarita.

Up first two chicken taquitos and a lobster taco accompanied with a creamy tangy guacamole and some pico de gallo.

The chicken taquitos seemed to be a popular dish ordered by other customers at La Mexicana. Plenty of shredded chicken is stuffed into a deep fried crispy corn tortilla. I found it a little dry, but once some guacamole or salsa was added to it, became better. In seeing the taquitos served from the regular menu (arriving three to an order), they were smothered with guacamole, pico de gallo, sour cream and cheese. Indeed, this would have likely tasted better if there was more condiments accompanying it.  

On the other hand, the lobster taco was juicy and filled with flavour – it didn’t need anything else. I enjoyed the flavourful guajillo salsa and softened bell peppers/onions, but IT was a tad messy (not recommended for first dates). Admittedly, the lobster got lost in the smoky chili sauce and became indistinguishable from shrimp but not a deal breaker.

In my hurry to dive into the next dish, I forgot to snap a picture. This plate held a baja fish taco and an al pastor taco with chopped cilantro, onions and lime wedges on the side.

The al pastor taco was filled with strips of pork stewed with chunks of pineapple. There was a slight heat from the pork’s marinade mixed into the sweet fruit. The cilantro and onions worked well to enhance the savoury element of the taco and to bring some freshness to the taco. Generally, I’m not a fan of pineapple with meat (with the exception of sweet and sour pork), but must admit it was better than I expected.

With so many restaurants doing baja fish tacos, La Mexicana’s faltered in comparison. The fish was too battered and became dry and lost amongst the slivers of cabbage and typical spicy aioli. This could have benefited from the addition of the guacamole and pico de gallo so it would been better to serve them with the taquitos.

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Perhaps it’s due to format of the menu (having two types of tacos per plate), but all the food arrived lukewarm. Personally, I prefer my food piping hot as it seems to taste better and I find the aroma is more prominent. Food, in my opinion, must be a feast for the eyes, tastebuds and nose. As a whole, the food was decent (and the excellent value for the price we paid) but didn’t impress me enough to warrant regular return visits. 

In the past, all my visits to Asian Legend were at their Scarborough location (read more about it here). But, my husband and I were craving soup filled dumplings, so decided to drop by the closer North York location instead. Not quite as large, it still has ample seating and was very busy during our weekend visit (make reservations if you’re planning to go with more than two people).

Of course we had to get what we came for - the steamed soup filled pork dumplings ($5.99). These tasted the same - decent wrapper thickness and a good amount of soup encapsulated in each one. But, we also opted to try the steamed soup filled crab and pork dumplings ($7.99) as well. I didn’t bother taking a picture of both because they look exactly the same.

At first I felt dubious about the addition of crab and weather it’d be worth the extra $2. But, am happy to say that you can certainly taste and see the extra ingredient. Overall, it brings an extra depth of flavour to the dumpling; an aromatic seafood essence. Since I eat mine without vinegar, I could taste the crab’s natural flavours mixed in. But, if you’re going to top the dumplings with a lot of condiments, I wouldn’t bother going past the traditional pork.

Their pork potstickers ($4.99) were not as juicy as the Scarborough location. The wrapper also could be improved as a couple were splitting apart (hence letting all the juices run out). Additionally, it lacked the more developed crust of their sister location.

The Singaporean style fried vermicelli ($10.99) had some great flavours to it with the generous dusting of curry powder. Indeed, it’s a much smaller portion than my previous experiences and found there wasn’t much of the staple ingredients of shrimp, BBQ pork and egg.

Overall, the taste of the dishes are similar as they seem to follow similar recipes. However, the execution of dishes (the potstickers) and value-for-money (the noodles) definitely falls behind their Scarborough counterpart. But, if you’re craving Shanghainese comfort food and don’t want to travel far, Asian Legend’s North York location may help tide you over.

All in all, this dinner experience was in line with all my previous meals. There’s a consistency to their food quality and presentation that you can come to expect. During the day, Bier Markt offers a lunch menu. You can refer to my post on my lunch experience from earlier in the year here.

Overall, it was a satisfying dinner. We all left stuffed with a bit of the sugar high. Drinks were ridiculously affordable with three glasses of sauvignon blanc totaling $17 (with taxes). G’s reasonable pricing and informal atmosphere makes this a great place for a low key meal. Of course, you could always also stop by for a quick breakfast, a scoop of gelato or even some pastries.

Bodega is a quaint bistro situated in Baldwin Village. The dining area, split into two rooms, is more spacious than it appears; swathed with traditional dark woodwork and white linens. Despite the hushed surroundings, service is surprisingly friendly and boisterous putting diners are ease to let loose.

Of course, their cocktail hour from 4 to 6:30 also helps. What a great deal of $5 pints, $6 cocktails and $7 wine. You’re allowed to choose from anything on their menu. I tried the strawberry tonic (regularly $9) a refreshing concoction with gin, muddled strawberries, grapefruit bitters, thyme and tonic water. It was delicious and I’d highly recommend.

Bodega has a fairly extensive menu with even a few Spanish dishes thrown in the mix. Their affordable $35 prix fixe dinner is hard to turn down, so the majority of our table ended up ordering from that. The rabbit terrine appetizer was a generous slab (much meatier than expected for a lean animal). It wasn’t overly gamey and went well with the pommery mustard, gherkins and plenty of pieces of crostini.

Most of my friends opted for the grilled flat iron steak for their main. Adorned with shallot butter and crispy Yukon gold frites it was a satisfying portion for everyone. My friend thoroughly enjoyed the frites, but the crispy coating (perhaps from being tossed in flour?) wasn’t how I generally prefer fries made.

The grilled salmon I had was a big portion covered with rosemary, mustard and maple glaze. The maple syrup definitely stood out, to the point that it was a tad too sweet for my taste. The menu notes the dish is accompanied with fingerling potatoes and vegetables (roasted carrots and snow peas). But, it made no mention of the creamy sauce covering the sides. Personally, I could have done without it as found the creamy cheesiness mixed with the maple’s sweetness to be an odd combination. But, the salmon itself was cooked nicely.

My friend ordered the roasted pork tenderloin ($24) off of their a la carte menu. As with all their dishes, it was a hearty portion. The pork was tender and I enjoyed the sage vinaigrette accompanying it, although I must agree with my friend who found it a bit strong.

To end we shared the lemon tart and crème brulee. The tart was delicious – sour enough to taste the lemon but with some sweetness to remind you it’s dessert. The shortbread crust was also excellent, buttery enough without covering up the lemon.

The vanilla crème brulee was a deep dish portion so you get plenty of the creamy custard. The sugar crust on top was a tad thick but well bruleed and caramelized.

All in all, Bodega has the old fashioned charm synonymous with traditional restaurants. It’s an ideal location for date nights or somewhere to bring the parents (unless they of course love blaring music and sharing small plates). I’m just glad it’s a good balance and also not too stuffy.