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



Krispy Kreme's Day of the Dozens Celebration

Posted on Tuesday, December 08, 2015 by
Krispy Kreme

Krispy Kreme lovers book December 12 into your calendars now. You won’t want to miss the company’s Day of the Dozens event: when you purchase a dozen Original Glazed Doughnuts ($9.75), receive another dozen free!

How are these plain looking doughnuts so delicious? Covered in a sweet vanilla scented glaze, the doughnuts are soft and airy … before you know it, it seems to have melted in your mouth. These were the baked goods that made the company famous over 75 years ago.

The company has plenty of filled and flavoured versions as well, if you’re looking to bring a selection to the office or a party ($1.20 each, $6.90 for a 6-pack or $9.75 a dozen). The Red Velvet takes the cake recipe and makes it into a moist crumbly doughnut covered in a gooey rich cream cheese icing.


Otherwise, the filled doughnuts are a popular choice. I particularly enjoyed the Chocolate Iced Kreme filled doughnut, which uses a traditional plain batter, fills it with a smooth vanilla kreme and finishes it with shiny chocolate icing. It’s lighter than a Boston cream and not overly sweet. 


For those who want a serious sugar rush the Caramel Kreme Crunch will satisfy the craving: the yeasty doughnut is filled with a thick caramel kreme and the chocolate icing is further topped with crunchy buttery toffee pieces.


For the holidays, their Santa’s Belly, Snowman or Holiday Sprinkles variety would add cheer to any celebration. You can’t help but smile when you see the jolly red belly … in my mind I heard a faint “Ho Ho Ho!”  To my surprise, Santa appears to like sweets, as the doughnut was filled with a chocolate frosting, making this a rather sweet baked good.


If you’re visiting their café locations, they have a seating area, welcoming patrons to stay and enjoy their goods in store. Aside from baked goods, Krispy Kreme also offers a selection of drinks. The Kaffe Kreme ($3.55-$4.55) was delicious and satisfying – a café latte laced with the same flavour their Original Glazed Doughnuts are known for. There was enough flavour in it that you really don’t even need to add any sugar.


In my haste to try the hot chocolate ($1.95 - $2.95), I forgot to snap a picture. It’s rather luxurious, made by heating milk and melting chocolate into it. A flourish of whipped cream and chocolate shavings finishes off the drink. If you prefer it less sugary, I’d suggest asking them to skip the whipped cream as the hot chocolate itself had a nice balanced sweetness.

So, is December 12th in your calendar yet? If so, visit one of their Canadian locations listed below and bring a copy of their coupon included at the bottom.
How To Find Them
 Address: 

  Ontario
  • Toronto (Downtown) – 164 McCaul St.
  • Toronto (Downtown) – 215 Harbord St.
  • Mississauga – 5920 Mavis Rd.
 Quebec

  • Montreal (Greenfield Park) – 600 Auguste St.
  • Quebec City – 1560 LeBourgneuf Blvd.
 Website: http://www.krispykreme.ca/

Don't forget to print out a copy of the coupon below. Here's wishing your a delicious Day of the Dozens!


Disclaimer: I was invited to an event to taste the doughnuts and drinks. Rest assured, as noted in the mission statement, I will always provide an honest opinion.


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Krispy Kreme Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Kinka Izakaya Bloor (Toronto)

Posted on Sunday, December 06, 2015 by
Kinka Izakaya Bloor

Ever wonder what happened to Guu? Rest assured, the chain of lively izakayas has not succumbed to the competitive Toronto landscape, but has rather morphed into Kinka. The menu is still comprised of reasonably priced shared plates, the staff as energetic as ever and the boisterous greetings haven’t disappeared.   

To celebrate the transformation, Kinka invited bloggers to dine on their tasting menu ($33/person for a minimum of two people). It's ideal for those who are overwhelmed by the abundance of choices and would rather trust their stomachs to the experts. All the dishes are available a la carte, hence their individual prices have also been provided in the post. Overall, the 9-course menu is well thought out with a selection of hot vs. cold, grilled vs. fried and vegetables vs. proteins choices; are still meant for sharing.

Normally, I shy away from ordering salads but rather enjoyed these lighter dishes. The seaweed and tofu salad ($7) certainly incorporated enough flavours with a citrusy ponzu soy vinaigrette, sweet crunchy marinated seaweed and slivers of toasted nori. Meanwhile, the creamy sesame sauce on the gomaae ($4), went surprisingly well with the cold blanched spinach – adding a salty nuttiness to the vegetable without being overpowering.


It’s unclear whether the tasting menu’s ordering of dishes remains the same, but I’d suggest splitting the lighter dishes: first serving the salad and then at the meal’s midpoint presenting the gomaae to help cut through the heavier dishes and revitalize the palette.

For example, the gomaae would have been perfect after having a kaki mayo ($8.50) - a large oyster loaded with mushrooms, spinach, and creamy garlic mayonnaise also covered with cheese. The oyster was hot and delicious, yet very rich, so the cool sesame spinach would have been nice to have before progressing into the meats.


Continuing with thoughts of menu progression, Kinka should continue serving karaage ($7.80) earlier in the meal. The plump juicy fried chicken pieces marries so nicely with a cold drink. On the side is some garlic mayonnaise, but since the chicken is marinated with soy sauce, I found it flavourful enough to enjoy without the condiment.   


A perennial favourite of mine is the maguro tataki, thinly sliced tuna sashimi that’s lightly seared to provide contrast and dressed in a vibrant ponzu soy, crunchy garlic chips and green onions. The refreshing daikon slivers on the bottom shouldn’t be forgotten having soaked up all the flavours.


Yet, it’s the kinko bibimbap ($9.30) that I insist on having each visit – a dish that they’d likely shun in Japan with its Korean cooking methods and westernized cheese. Oh well, its aromatic seaweed laced caramelized rice smell and gooey creamy texture is so good that I don’t care.


Grilled dishes being showcased on the tasting menu included karubi ($7.80; beef short ribs) and gindara ($12.80; black cod). The beef short ribs, although tender and flavourful, lacked the lovely charred grill marks and smoky essence. In contrast, the black cod was superb – flaky, moist and enough salty sweet miso. Best of all, the skin was crispy and left that way given the sauce was served on the plate.


To finish a boozy slice of sake tiramisu ($6) with a crazy adult kick. There was plenty silky cheese cream and soft cookies, but the dessert could have benefited from the cookies being soaked in a sweet sauce, which would help mellow out the sake.


The tiramisu was actually stronger than Kinka’s cocktails! The cassis peach oolong ($7.20) and nama grapefruit were both easy going drinks sweetened with fruit liqueurs and grapefruit juice, respectively. The nama does take some elbow grease as the grapefruit is served fresh and with a juicer.



Compared to Kinka’s other locations, the Bloor one is comparably tranquil. Especially since we were sat in the tatami room away from the busy kitchen and most of the shouting. Although the room looks like floor seating, there’s actually hidden leg areas below thus feels no different from sitting on a stool. I’ll have to keep this in mind as have always appreciated the restaurant’s food, but find the constant yelling grating on the nerves. Finally, I’ve found the perfect location where I can indulge in their bibimbap while still being able to carry a conversation.

Overall mark - 8 out of 10*
Disclaimer: The above meal was complimentary. But, rest assured, as noted in the mission statement, I will always to provide an honest opinion. 
How To Find Them
 Location: Toronto, Canada
 Address: 559 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!

Other Gastro World posts similar to this:

KINKA IZAKAYA BLOOR Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato
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