Shabusen (San Francisco)

Posted on Thursday, December 24, 2015 by
Shabu-shabu is like a Jacuzzi for food. Thinly sliced meat poaches with tofu, mushrooms and vegetables amongst a flavoured broth; it’s an easy-going dining method, putting you at ease. Derived from the Chinese hot-pot style of cooking, it somehow seems less frenzied – perhaps it’s due to a smaller menu or the soup steaming on a low boil rather than a feverish bubbling.

Situated in Japan Town, Shabusen’s location puts you in the mood: while glancing outside a five story pagoda graces the skylight. Their lunch menu is affordable and filling, my friend and I sharing the regular beef ($14.99), small pork ($11.99) and a side of ramen ($3.50). With two people, they also offer a split pot so you can sample the dashi and spicy broth – the spicy being my favourite.


The meat is shaved to order, arriving a glorious hue of red and pink. They’re tissue paper thin and simply takes a few swishes in the soup to be edible. Both had enough marbling to be flavourful without being overly chewy.


Each person also receives a dinner plate filled with vegetables (napa cabbage, carrots, green onions), cubes of tofu, rehydrated shitake mushrooms, and bites of bean curd thread & udon. The portion was already substantial enough to be filling, but the extra ramen is the key to enjoying the broth after the essence of all the other ingredients melded into it.


The broth needed more salt as it was very plain on its own. Shabusen does provide a large bowl of ponzu (a lemony soy sauce) and goma (a silky sesame sauce) for dipping, with chilies and garlic paste at the table to add further flavour. Although great for seasoning the meats and vegetables, when it comes to the noodles I just want to enjoy it with leftover broth, so it’s lack of saltiness made for a disappointing last bite.


As a warning, like a Jacuzzi, it can get hot eating amongst the steaming pot. So, ask to switch tables if you’re seated in the sun – a mistake we didn’t realize until later in the meal. Additionally, ensure you give yourself enough time to enjoy the experience; it’s supposed to take time … so, just lie back and relax. 

Overall mark - 7.5 out of 10


How To Find Them
 Location: San Francisco, USA
 Address: 1725 Buchanan Street

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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!

Other Gastro World posts similar to this:

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


CLOSED: Dojima Ann (San Francisco)

Posted on Wednesday, December 23, 2015 by
Like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, Dojima Ann appeared to us: a glistening beacon of hope on the horizon. After a morning of site seeing and shopping, my friend and I were hungry; craving something warm and comforting. After going to various restaurants and finding them closed or full, turning down O’Farrell Street was such a great decision.

Of course, it wasn’t all happy endings – the restaurant was still busy and there was a wait. So, we wrote our names down on the clipboard at the door and tried to be patient. Luckily, the tables turn over relatively quickly, so within 15 minutes we were finally seated.

As soon as my site glanced upon the iron bowl, I knew the nabeyaki udon ($11.25) was going to be my lunch. The large hot pot was filled with a rich seaweed and bonito infused broth, its heat I used to poach the raw egg on top.


Diligently, the tempura shrimp was eaten quickly to avoid the coating from getting too soggy and then I could relax and sample the soup. There were tons of other ingredients: slippery doughy udon, diced chicken, slices of salty fish cake and soft chopped vegetables. But, it’s the comforting broth that’s the highlight, especially once the runny egg mixes into it.

To stave off the hunger pains, we ordered the spicy tuna roll ($6.25) hoping it’d arrive quickly. Disappointingly, it ended up taking the longest and wasn’t presented until well after the steaming noodles graced our table. They were satisfactory: the rice a nice consistency, tuna not too pulverized, and spiciness prevalent but mellowed by the crunchy cucumbers.


Overall, Dojima was a delicious find, located in the heart of a touristy district of Union Square. For a person who generally likes to plan out my meals, I’m glad we abandoned our original choice and stumbled upon this iron pot at the end of the rainbow instead.  

 Overall mark - 7.5 out of 10


How To Find Them
 Location: San Francisco, USA
 Address: 219 O'Farrell Street


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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: Fran's on Front (Toronto)

Posted on Tuesday, December 22, 2015 by
Deciding on a restaurant for weekday lunches with friends or co-workers can be difficult. Where can you go that doesn’t take two hours, has a menu that can satisfy multiple cravings and isn’t too expensive? Fran’s is the place I turn to for these occasions, especially since they have great lunch specials that make it quicker for large groups.

The fair sized lunch salads are great if you don’t want something too heavy. Although not the highest quality meat, the grilled steak ($11.99) has always been satisfying – an amped up Greek salad adorned with flavourful grilled beef.

When I’m craving a hearty filling lunch, their tuna wrap with Greek salad ($8.99) is my go-to order. The wrap is stuffed with tuna that’s lightly mixed with mayonnaise and onions. The layer of lettuce between the filling and the soft tortilla helps to keep it from getting soggy too quickly.


During colder weather, their soups are warming and the chicken noodle is chocked full of ingredients. And the hot Western sandwich ($8.99) has a hefty layer of omelette within the slices of toasted bread.



Around since the 1940’s, Torontonians have been relying on Fran’s for their all day breakfast and large portions of comfort food. For me, I’ve been relying on Fran’s for their affordable quick lunch menu. Of course, their spacious patio is also great for the summer.

 Overall mark - 7 out of 10


How To Find Them
 Location: Toronto, Canada
 Address: 33 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!

Other Gastro World posts similar to this:

Click to add a blog post for Fran's on Zomato

Bryggeriet Flakhaven (Odense)

Posted on Monday, December 21, 2015 by

Bryggeriet Flakhaven is one of the restaurants run by the Flakhaven Brewery. Situated in the old City Hall building, it’s conveniently located and windows look out into the city centre. The restaurant’s website provides a delightful recount of the building’s history: it once held the famous author, H.C. Andersen’s, grandmother prisoner as she had a baby out of wedlock; these same dungeons have now been transformed into the brewery.

Their menu consists of hearty dishes that pairs with well with, not surprisingly, beer. The small order of spare ribs (175 DKK) was huge - an entire rack of soft moist ribs. They appeared to be baked rather than smoked or grilled so lacked the strong charcoal scent, but were still succulent and tasty. Served with a baked potato, forgettable coleslaw and two large canisters of barbecue & steak sauce (think of the peppery Worcestershire laced HP sauce), I could dip to my heart’s content.


The Brewery’s burger (159 DKK) seems to be a popular dish as almost every table had an order. They certainly didn’t skimp on toppings, the steak patty was topped with bacon, cheese, tomato, lettuce, red onions and pickles. Thick roasted potato wedges and a generous portion of mustard mayonnaise finished off the dish.


Being a person who loves choice, their three beer tasting flight (59 DKK) was perfect. Containing the popular pilsner, brown ale and a seasonal brew, the Weizen-bock, it was a nice selection of flavours and richness.

Bryggeriet’s dining room is bright and airy, more like a cozy brunch place than brewery. Additionally, unlike other similar restaurants, which tends to be huge, their dining room only consists of a dozen tables so make reservations to avoid disappointment. It’s a quaint environment, ideal for relaxing and people watching, and great for admiring their beautiful copper distilling equipment.


Overall mark - 8 out of 10


How To Find Them
 Location: Odense, Denmark
 Address: Flakhaven 2

 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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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

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