Conductorchris's Profile
your best kitchen related purchase of 2010
I too have always had problems fitting into Oven Mitts, but the W-S ones fit me great. And if they are still too small for you try BBQ brands like Weber. My Weber mits are huge. And I am an XXL guy.
What's your most disappointing dining experience?
Have to agree with you on Czehoski's. Although we had a great waitress the food was diappointing to everyone of our table of 9. I had the poutine which was fine except I paid $10 for it. For $10 they should give you a big plate full. 95% is potatoes and there is hardly a cheaper ingredient in the kitchen. Now I am not suggesting mamoth proportions but just fill the damn plate.
For my main I had the cheeseburger. I was not the first to mention the patty was overcooked and tasteless. I think when you serve a $12 cheeseburger without any sides it should come with some pretty iinterestinfg condiments rather than Heinz Ketchup and French's mustard. A
Big diappointment.
What's your most disappointing dining experience?
I went to Foxley with a friend last year and I can be critical of a restaurant if it rubs me the wrong way, but we had a great time. The dishes may not be for everyone but we both loved everything that we ordered and had good service.
What's your most disappointing dining experience?
My wife and I decided to go out for a special evening one night. We stopped at Cowbell soon after it opened, on a weekday night and decided we'd see if we could get a table. The wailress that met us at the door could not have been more condscending. "You have to make a reservation if you want o eat here!" I said to my wife, "we'll see if you need a reservation in a month or two."
Surprisingy, we have not gone back to see if we still need a reservation.
Pots/Pans Choice for Bride
It's not about the name on the handle but how you like the feel.
Long Branch, New Toronto, Mimico Restaurants & Food Shops
I agree, I can skip Mama Martino's any day. My wife and her family love it though. At least its cheap.
Anyone have any new Lakeshore or Mimico favourites?
Registry Critique
Hello Simpsongal1,
Your list looks like a mirror list of my wife and I +/- a few items. We got the 22 pc. Wustoff Classics. After a year of use, I bet hlf of the knives have not cut a thing yet. Could do with less...but I like having them all. My wifes favourite item has been the Kitchenaid Stand Mixer. She said to me after using it for the first time, "This must be the feeling you boys have around fast cars."
You mentioned the Peugeot Peppermill, do you have the matching salt mill? Love mine
We love the All-Clad. We bought the biggest set. Here is one problem we have found. A number of the smaller pots i.e. 1 1/2 and 3 quart are the same size around, one is just higher. So the smaller one seems a waste. I think it is the 6 quart pot that we use almost daily. We want to get a second one of these.
Have never used our 8 in. Frypan nor the 10in. We use a the 12 in all the time and have a Kitchenaid 12 in. non-stick (from Marshall's) that gets used almost every meal. I wouldn't spend the money on a non-stick all-clad pan.
We also got the Chef's Choice Knife Sharpener. But I think I'll probably send the knives out when the time comes.
So, look at the All-clads. There are many pieces that are unnecessary. Do you need two similar pieces.
I know the feeling, you want the best. And you want the right tool for any job. Out biggest problem is that it all doesn't fit in our kitchen.
Congratulations and enjoy your gifts.
Chris
All Clad
I have just about every piece All-clad makes except that Pasta Pentola that they want $400 for. I also have not bought a non-stick.
I have the Stainless Steel. Love them.
I bought a Cuisinart Non-stick 12" frying pan at Marshall's (Winner's in Canada). It has had almost daily use for the better part of 2 years. It seems to cook evenly and the non-stick finish is fine. Cook's Illustrated didn't like it because when they whacked it down on its edge on a counter it came apart. Well, I have not whacked mine on the counter so it is still doing fine. It was about $30. Winner's/Marshall's seems like a good place to pick up decent items at really good prices.
Help finding Anton Kozlik's mustard
Um...he has said that he has tried. Read Up
We currently have the Triple Crunch and the Fig. They are worth every cent.
Spoon & Fork (Mississauga Location)!!!
Probably the best Thai I have ever had!
It's been about a year since I was last there.
WINGS!
Wingporium is a joke to my wife and I.
We had such bad wings there a couple times that we had to add it to the no-go list.
Everytime we drive by one of us will joke and say "Wingporium for some Wings?"
Road trip through Ontario and Quebec
Hello,
Just a note about Le P'tit Riv or Larry's Chip Stands in Sturgeon Falls. They are not on the main drag (The Highway). They are on a side street (easily missed if don't know what to look for. Easy way to find them is look for the Tim Horton's Sign and turn the opposite way. onto the side street.
Driving the 401 - Toronto to Montreal
My wife and I stopped at the Flying J one time for dinner at about 9pm. We both got the buffet. I am absolutely not a finicky (sp?) eater, nor is my wife. She started with a salad. I went off to try a number of things on offer.
I came back with potato salad... couldn't find anything else that looked half appetizing.
My wife took a bite of her salad, looked at me and asked "have you ever had lettece that is dry?"
We didn't eat anything and felt rather dumb actually.
The waitress came over and asked if we needed anything. "Just the bill, please"
She said, "You didn't eat anything." Turned and walked away. She came back and gave us a bill for 2 Diet Cokes smiled and said "have a nice trip".
We hadn't complained or anything, so she must have been aware of how bad it was. That was about 2 years ago.
So, bad food but really good, friendly staff.
We tipped her very well.
Peterborough to Kawarthas: Food Finds?
Had the Won-Ton soup at the Havelock Garden Restaurant..."Home of the Chinese Smorgasbord" today. It was fantastic.
Thanks for the suggestion Mila
Good eats on the way to the cottage
Stopped at Havelock Cheese House. They did have a nice selection of cheeses. Commented to the woman working there that I had read about them on Chowhound.com......(got a smile and a far off look in her eyes)..."on the internet", I said. Although wearing a friendly smile she couldn't seem to talk. Other than, "have a nice day", when I left.
The Empire 4 year old Supreme was unbelievably good.
----------------------------------------
Went to Ralph's to check out this great Butcher Shop I keep reading about on here. Closed. Nothing in the store but the empty meat coolers. Sign says they closed Feb. 1. It says they will reopen on April 1, 2009.
Peterborough to Kawarthas: Food Finds?
Just a little update:
I tried to go to Ralph's today but it was closed. Closed at the beginning of February. Sign says they will be back open April 1st. 2009.
P.S. Tried a slice of pizza next door. Probably one of the worst I have ever had. Oh, and for those looking for Stirling Creamery butter...it's in the grocery store across the street.
Butter
On the other hand, I LOVE the Whey butter and find their regular churned butter much better than the average butter.
Chowhound worthy stops Hwy 62 (Belleville to Alongquin Park)
Stirling Creamery is a must. But you can get their products at most grocery stores in the area.
Meat, fish and chicken at St. Lawrence Market
Yes, you have to get Stirling Creamery WHEY Butter
Best / favourite commercial butter
Stirling's Whey Butter is fantastic. It is my favourite. Please take note: On the package this is called "HASTINGS" Whey Butter by Stirling Creamery
What' the most aromatic butter u can get in Toronto
My wife and I did a little tasting experiment tonight for dinner.
I was driving around out in the Hastings area and I picked up some local products. A pound of Stirling Creamery Salted Butter and a pound of Stirling Creamery "Hastings" Whey Butter. I also picked up a pound of Mapledale Extra Old Cheddar Cheese and Empire Cheese 4 year Supreme Cheddar as well as a baggie of Mapledale Cheese Curd.
We tried them all with two types of bread. 1st was a Winnipeg Rye that I picked up at the Marmora Valu-mart and a cook at home baguette from Ace Bakery (available at Costco).
I also served some Neilson butter just to see the difference.
Results:
Neilson Butter hasn't any taste at all
Stirling Creamery Salted Butter was very creamy and a nice level of salt, but pretty mild.
Hastings Whey Butter was the absolute winner by far. So much taste and so creamy.
Mapledale curd probably could use more salt but was pretty dull. Maybe it was not very fresh. But curd has been a personal favourite since I was a child and my family would buy huge bags for next to nothing from the Harold Cheese Factory outside Stirling. I get it so rarely that I am just happy to have it. But....it just doesn't seem as good as it used to be.
The Mapledale Extra Old would have been great it it wasn't served next to the Empire 4 yr Old Supreme. The Empire was SO good you couldn't even compare the Mapledale in flavour. I don't know how long Mapledale ages their Extra Old so I can't say it was a straight up challenge. But the Empire was the winner by a mile. Try it.
Chris
Hudson Valley diners
My wife and I were driving southbound heading to Woodbury Commons two years ago. We had been driving all day from Toronto and finally I hit the wall, it was night and I couldn't stay awake any longer so we pulled into a Scottish Inn. It was right out of the fifties, but it was very clean and inexpensive. In the morning we woke up to find 6 inches of snow had fallen and the roads were not plowed yet.
Just out of the parking lot was an old stainless steel diner. We had breakfast (which was pretty good) and then hit the road. 5 minutes later we went by a sign saying Welcome to Orange County New York. (Or something to that effect). Does anyone know where that would be. We got engaged on that trip and we are coming down at the end of November. But I have no idea where we were. I can't find the Scottish Inn on the net. Appreciate any help.
Unique restaurant/unlimited budget/300+ guests
And the food at the Old Mill is fantastic.
I am getting married there in August.
Toronto's Best Chicken Wings
I think that is where I used to get Pizza. Is it between a xXx store and a Halal butcher?
Good places to eat in Sudbury
I ate at Verdicchio's about 11 years ago and it was so good. Quite a surprise for a place like Sudbury.
I was expecting someone to suggest Deluxe Burgers
Spoon & Fork (Mississauga Location)!!!
6 of us went there a few weeks ago and all I can say is...
WOW
Weber's Burgers
I don't get why people like Weber's....
I think it is a nostalgic place to stop on the way to the Muskokas
Not all that good and very expensive.
Bier Market
Go to drink...the food while tasting just fine is very pricey and mostly appetizers.
I'd go back to the Bier Market any day for the beer, but I'd eat before arriving.
