The Smoke (Collingwood)

Posted on Sunday, December 20, 2015 by
The Smoke Collingwood
Collingwood has a thriving restaurant scene, especially in the Blue Mountain area. During a girl’s weekend, we decided to venture away from the Mountain and try the restaurants within the town itself – the first being a BBQ joint, The Smoke, which was featured on You Gotta Eat Here.

As their name indicates, the restaurant is known for smoked foods; not only meats but also fish and bananas used in ice cream. So, it’d be a shame to visit without trying something prepared using their namesake method. The smoked BBQ wings ($12) were fantastic, so delicious that we put in a second order right afterwards. The BBQ sauce had a light tanginess to it but wasn’t too strong to mask the aromatic smokiness. The wings were grilled after being tossed in the sauce to help provide a deeper caramelized flavour.


The Smoke sampler ($29) was perfect for our first visit, allowing us to share and try the ½ rack of back ribs, 8oz of pulled pork and 6oz of beef brisket. 


At the restaurant, they cook their meats in the smoker then cry-o-vac and chill them. As dishes are ordered, the meat is revived in a sous vide water bath before being finished on the grill. This method certainly makes for a juicy and tender meat, but also dampens the strong BBQ flavour.


However, if anything is lacking in the flavour department, the bottles of sauces at the table will correct the problem. I love the fact that we didn’t have to choose when we ordered and could take our time trying all of them. Indeed, everyone had their favourites. For me I found the smokin’ hot BBQ sauce great with the ribs, the smoky sweet BBQ sauce with the brisket the slightly vinegary Carolina mustard sauce great with pulled pork.

For the sides, two orders of mac ‘n’ cheese ensured we wouldn’t have to fight over it. The penne was nice and al dante but the cheese sauce could be stronger. Maybe it’s due to the meats and sauces being so intense, the pasta’s smoked cheddar cheese sauce didn’t stand out at all.

With all the heavy meats, the leafy garden salad ($8) was a welcomed side and had a great mustard dressing. Meanwhile, their soup of the day ($9), a potato cheddar, was thick, velvety and flavourful.


The complimentary corn bread was pretty bad – horribly dry, crumbly and lacked flavour… even a pat of butter couldn’t revive it. If the recipe can’t be improved, The Smoke should consider offering another carb instead. Based on the Charleston episode of Parts Unknown, supposedly the best one to pair with BBQ is plain soft sliced bread.


But, I can overlook this small misstep … really who needs to fill up on bread when you have such amazing smoked wings?

Overall mark - 7.5 out of 10


How To Find Them
 Location: Collingwood, Canada
 Address: 498 First Street
 Website: http://thesmoke.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!

Other Gastro World posts similar to this:

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


CLOSED: Little Fin (Toronto)

Posted on Saturday, December 19, 2015 by
Little Fin
The Chase Hospitality Group has made quick service food a little more refined. Little Fin, located a few steps off Yonge on Temperance is conveniently located for the Bay Street crowd. Meals aren’t inexpensive, but is lower than their sister restaurant – Chase Oyster and Fish.

Moreover, the portion sizes are generous. The calamari po’ boy sandwich ($11) arrived brimming with hot freshly fried crisp calamari pieces, crunchy lettuce and various condiments – creamy Thousand Island, sweet corn relish and pickled red onions. The sesame studded bun didn’t stand a chance at containing all the ingredients, so protect yourself with a napkin. Tons of seasoned potato wedges (well flavoured but could be crispier) and a delicious vinaigrette based coleslaw (loved the horseradish like kick) fills the container.


If you’re fond of gooey cheese, Little Fin’s shrimp mac ‘n’ cheese ($13) will not disappoint: every forkful reveals long strands of white cheddar. This dish is full of flavour with pieces of smoky pork belly thrown in for good measure. I was impressed by the number of grilled shrimp mixed throughout, they certainly weren’t hard to find.


If only there was more macaroni and the pasta wasn’t cooked so long it’d be even better; the noodles were too soft and became lost amongst the ingredients. The thick sauce was actually great for slathering over bread, so share this with someone having a sandwich and borrow a piece of their fluffy bun.

Little Fin also treated me to one of their fresh pressed juices ($3), an apple raspberry blend. Normally, I refrain from juices as they’re overly sugary. However, Little Fin’s must be naturally flavoured as it was no sweeter than having an apple. The raspberry seeds remaining at the bottom was a telltale sign that the juice was actually made with fruit.


The restaurant’s prime location and catering service makes Little Fin great for office lunches - indeed, during my visit they were busy preparing for a large party order. After all, who needs another boring deli sandwich, when you can have a hot satisfying po’ boy instead?

Overall mark - 7 out of 10
Disclaimer: the above meal was complimentary. Rest assured, as noted in the mission statement, I will always provide my honest opinion. 
How To Find Them
 Location: Toronto, Canada
 Address: 4 Temperance 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:




Simply Snacking: Prana Coconut Chips

Posted on Monday, December 14, 2015 by

Prana Coconut Chips
Even if you don’t enjoy coconuts, you may like the chips. It was a friend who first opened my eyes to these snacks about two years ago. At first, I wanted to pass; dry shredded coconut is an ingredient I still haven’t acquired a taste for. However, after one bite of the crunchy chip, I was hooked.

Until now, the chips I’ve had were plain: essentially shavings of the coconut that are roasted until they’re dried and crispy. Much like Prana’s Classic flavour, although you taste the coconut’s faint natural sweetness, it’s still relatively neutral and there’s a lovely creamy finish on the tongue.


Then, in October, Prana really made the product suitable for snacking by introducing spices to their recipe:

Hula – Sea salt and pepper flavoured, which makes an interesting sweet and salty combination with a kick at the end. For me, I found them a tad salty, but were the most reminiscent of actual chips.


Charleston – A subtle BBQ seasoning with undertones of hickory smoke that’s mixed into the sweetness. Depending on the slice, you’ll also get a hit of spice to finish.


Jive – My favourite of the three. Although it’s described as “spicy chili”, its heat was no stronger than the Charleston and noticeable as an after taste. The seasonings had a nice Cajun influence and an aromatic slightly garlicky scent.


Like their other products, the chips are vegan, organic, gluten-free and GMO-free. So, although they provide the salty crunch I crave in chips, it’s a lot healthier. Plus, the product contains a lot of natural fats and fibre, so I’ve found I’m satisfied after a small palm full. Moreover, the hint of sweetness also keeps follow-up snacking at bay as after the savoury crunch, I’m not craving something sugary to round out the experience.

Prana named the line of coconut chips after popular dances from around the world, as a reminder for customers to just enjoy playing with their food. After all, snacking is fun; you shouldn’t feel guilty about the experience, just appreciate it! 

Disclaimer: The above snacks were provided on a complimentary basis. Rest assured, as noted in the mission statement, I would never promote something I didn't actually enjoy.
MORE: Back to Simply Snacking

How To Find Them

  Website: https://www.prana.bio/en_ca/
  Approx. Price: $3.99

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Wooffles & Cream (Markham)

Posted on Sunday, December 13, 2015 by
Wooffles & Cream

It’s inevitable, even with a busy mall’s distractions, when the Hong Kong egg waffle’s caramel aroma enters the nose, I become entranced in its melodic lullaby. Sweet dreams seem near but waiting ten minutes for a fresh batch feels excruciatingly long.

At Wooffles & Cream, you’d be lucky if the wait is under ten, given the waffles are made to order and there’s no hurrying their production time. Even with only a few people ahead of us, it took 20 minutes to get the delightful desserts.

Both the waffle and ice cream is $3.50 each; combining them won’t fetch you a discount, but makes the dessert that much better. Between four of us, we shared the original wooffle with matcha green tea and the black ‘n’ white sesame with vanilla - the perfect amount to satisfy without feeling glutinous.

A slightly crisp shell, airy inside and a mix of sesame to add interest; if we didn’t just have dinner I could easily have one to myself – breaking off a bubble and slathering it with ice cream before enjoying it. As my mouth settles into the warm memory foam waffle, the comforting spongy snack relaxes me – eyes momentarily flutter shut and a satisfied exhale follows.



Childhood memories of simpler times play out as each bubble prolongs the idyllic mood. With our hectic lives, society certainly deserves a luxurious catnap, even if it happens in a crowded suburban mall.

How To Find Them
 Location: Markham, Canada
 Address: 8360 Kennedy Road (inside New Kennedy Square)

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

Is That It? I Want More!

Other Gastro World posts similar to this:

Wooffles & Cream Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Choice of the Orient (Richmond Hill)

Posted on Sunday, December 13, 2015 by


Choice of the Orient (Richmond Hill)
Choice of the Orient (“COTO”) is a chop suey restaurant, serving a “bit of everything” with dishes that have been adapted towards a Western palette. Personally, I feel the “Western” palette has now transformed to enjoy and desire more traditional fare. Yet, old school chop suey restaurants, which have been in business for decades still have a loyal following. One person would be my husband who insists we visit COTO annually to sample the Chinese food of his childhood.

In all honesty, I would never go to the restaurant in my own free will; there are so many delicious authentic offerings that paying relatively high prices for okay food isn’t appealing. However, the restaurant has grown on me throughout the years and I actually started looking forward to one dish – their hot and sour soup ($3.50).


Only available by individual bowls, the soup arrives nice and hot with a generous sprinkle of fresh green onions. It has a nice balance between spicy chilies and tart red vinegar, working together to form a flavourful broth. COTO doesn’t skimp on ingredients – there is tons of black fungus, tofu, egg and bamboo shoots within it.

The Peking chicken ($12.95) is also pretty good: large chunks of tender white chicken meat, deep fried and smothered in a sweet “ging do” sauce that’s lightly caramelized on the sizzling plate.


Even the sweet and sour chicken balls ($10.95) weren’t as repulsive as I expected. Although the breading looks thick, it’s rather fluffy on the inside and has a crunchy exterior. If only COTO marinates the chicken to give the actual meat more flavour, the dish would be even better.


Although not spicy at all, the stir fried broccoli with hot spicy sauce ($9.95) retains its crispiness and the thick savoury vegetable sauce on top is a nice addition to their rice dishes. Certainly, the chicken fried rice ($8.95) needs the extra boost of flavour as by itself is rather tasteless and bland.


The julienned crispy beef ($13.95) was the sole disappointing dish that’s part of their specials board (although I’ve seen every year so it’s likely a permanent stay). Sliced way too thinly, after the beef has been deep fried, it loses all chewiness and ends up tasting like beef rind glazed in an overly sweet sauce.


What impresses me most about COTO is their ability to carve a niche for themselves and continue to serve this dedicated market for so many years. Certainly, most of the Chinese restaurants of my childhood have long shuttered and closed. So, to have a place that tastes like the days of your youth, there’s something endearing about that.

Overall mark - 7 out of 10


How To Find Them
 Location: Richmond Hill, Canada
 Address: 9555 Yonge 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:

Choice of the Orient Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Kaka All You Can Eat (Markham)

Posted on Saturday, December 12, 2015 by

KAKA All You Can Eat (AYCE) - aburi offerings
All you can eat (“AYCE”), a situation that sounds like bliss, yet often ends in disappointment and guilt. Disappointment because the food is generally satisfactory at best and guilt because I just succumbed to the glutinous monster in me; eating far too much unnecessarily.

When the positive comments from fellow bloggers started emerging about KAKA, the monster started stirring. There was the warning that KAKA was pricier than others: dinner is $27.99 for weekdays and $31.99 on the weekend, while lunches $27.99 on weekends and a la carte during weekdays. However, with the higher prices also came better quality and fancier options not found at other AYCE establishments.

For example, their aburi sushi offerings, where pieces are lightly blow torched and adorned with garnishes. The salmon with jalapeno is always a good choice, given the fish oils lends itself to being heated; the beef tataki with the citrusy sweet grated daikon (?) was tasty as well.


The oshi or pressed versions were equally appealing, both the tuna with marinated shiitaki and shrimp with pesto were flavourful. However, the rice to toppings ratio in the oshizushi leans much heavier towards the carbs side.


Relying on the technological age, each table is equipped with an iPad for self-ordering. No longer will you need to flag someone down, have them frantically write on slips of papers and risk having dishes go missing. Additionally, with the exception of some desserts, the menu also includes pictures to help you decipher differences. Best of all, you order by piece, which helps satisfies the table while keeping down wastage.

A large number of maki rolls graced our table that evening, some better than others. Aside from the beef tataki roll, I found the typical spicy salmon and dynamite versions more suited for me as the others tended to include sweet and tangy sauces on them. 

Kaka AYCE

My first experience with sashimi was at an AYCE restaurant and made me detest the unadorned raw fish: cut too thick and simply felt cold and fleshy. At KAKA, the ingredient’s quality and preparation is much better - the platter of salmon, tuna, tai (snapper) and hokkigai (surf clam) was nicely presented and delicious. They even offered beef tataki, slices of lightly seared meat with a ponzu soy sauce. 


Other notable dishes include the spring egg: slowly poached so the yolk’s left runny and runs into the slightly sweet miso broth. The simmered seaweed pieces were a smart addition to add some contrast to the silky egg.


The shrimp skewer was hot and cooked nicely so the shrimp retained its natural sweetness, much better than the pork belly, which I found rather plain.


Juicy and well marinated, the deep fried Asian-spiced quail was delicious and worth ordering.


Although the noodles could be cooked less, KAKA’s beef ramen was a satisfying way to end the meal. Still a sizeable portion, the broth was piping hot and it had tons of other ingredients including a slice of fish cake, seaweed and green onions.


Not everything was good, some of the grilled dishes were cooked much too long and became dry: enoki beef roll and grilled salmon neck. Moreover, the saba (mackerel) released an unpleasant odour when cut into (although tasted fine).


The salmon belly teriyaki and grilled beef ribs are better options, having enough fat to help retain moisture.


For a vegetable dish, the grilled eggplant (which has a creamy sauce in the centre) is quite nice. It’s just too difficult to share as cutting it into pieces with chopsticks is impossible.


The baked mussels or oyster with cheese were both nicely flavoured but could have been hotter as the cheese was somewhat congealed by the time it was presented.


For the starters, the lobster bisque is decent with its thicker consistency and even a single bite of lobster added for good measure.


Finally, their fried options are also good interpretations, hot and crispy without too much excess oiliness. Things like the gyoza, pork cutlet, calamari, shrimp tempura and scallop tempura, hit the spot for a bit of crunch.


KAKA doesn’t skimp on the desserts either, with enough options to make choosing difficult. However, many, although listed on the menu, are actually not available by the time you attempt to order. Both the mango lychee slush and green tea crème brulee were delicious – the slush cool and refreshing after having so much hot food and the green tea creamy and well balanced. The sole dessert that didn’t impress the table was the lavender chocolate pots, which had an after taste reminiscent of soap.


Even during our Monday visit, the restaurant was packed. So, our table wasn’t ready by the reserved time and they did get behind at clearing away empty dishes. Nonetheless, the food came out quickly (either eat fast or order in small batches) and service was still friendly (at least they made sure to address that they would be back to clear the dishes).

Their popularity means you have to make reservations, often far in advance. For me, indulging in AYCE is generally a short-term decision, as I have to have the craving to consume copious amounts of food. Of course, I could always just eat a “normal” amount, but somehow in the heat of the moment when everything is presented the Hulk in me comes out. And have you tried to silence the Hulk before? Good luck.


Overall mark - 8 out of 10


How To Find Them
 Location: Markham, Canada
 Address: 3235 Highway 7 East (at First Markham Place)

 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!


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



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