Yeah, I hate the masterclass episodes, but I like knowing that they get lessons.

It's my understanding that they don't get recipes for mystery box challenges or anything of the type, but they do when they need to make a specific dish.

Worth a shot!

Sigh. You're probably right - it's just something my family makes and it feels like summer to me. Maybe I'll just make it at home.

I love negroni, but in the summer I like to switch to the Americano because it's lighter. Any idea which bars -- if any -- serve it?

Unless it's moved, the northern one is actually south of Dupont, near Hallam.

How could it not be? That sounds delicious (and I'm not even a dessert fiend).

I think we're all on the same page: everything in moderation, yadda yadda yadda. :)

That's a bit of a specious argument, though -- an excessive serving of anything is unhealthy but that doesn't mean the dish itself is. The problem is that people insist on eating risotto as a main, when it should be a side (or a component of the meal, preferably with a green salad or something of the like). Also, adding a small amount of fat (in the form of oil/butter and cheese) slows down the glycemic response.

Not saying it should be on the daily menu but it can definitely be a healthy meal. The key is to not it eat it "all by itself."

I also don't get why Caity would choose to cook something she dislikes and doesn't eat. I understand that might happen in a restaurant, where the chef doesn't necessarily love everything on the menu but has to make it for customers who do. But that's not the case here -- she had no obligation to make liver.

It was totally wrong of her to ask Danny for help in the cooking. Plating, sure, but the actual execution of her dish should be all her own.

Still, I was hoping Geoff would go. He's been pretty meh the whole time.

Good news and bad. The good: Walked in last night around 7:30 with two other people and got seated right away. The bad: I didn't think it was possible, but this place is getting louder and louder. We could barely hear anything, including our server.

Depending on my mood and the season, I go for split pea soup, soft polenta or grits with greens, or a bastardized version of Korean tofu stew. Or sometimes just avocado toast.

There's a place in Vancouver that sells all TJ's products that they buy across the border. It's called Pirate Joe's and it's on W. 4th in Kits. But they don't have much of the perishable stuff, mostly just pantry items and snacks. Still, it's a start!

I tried this place yesterday. The space is absolutely gorgeous and everyone I dealt with was friendly and chipper. More importantly, the coffee was really good -- lovely crema on the americano, dense foam on the cappuccino. A little pricey ($3.50 for a small capp, about 50 cents more than my local place) but I'm sure the rent/mortgage and maintenance on that location warrant it.

I like the two serving sizes. I wish more places did that.

Has anyone tried Porzia for brunch or weekend lunch? I just heard that they were opening dayside but there's no sample menu on their website.

Eh, I rarely eat at bars or pubs so I can't compare. But I agree about Aroma -- their breakfast is really good.

I have relatives who really love Earl's and Milestones and not much else, so I've had to eat there a few times over the years. I'm vegetarian, so I usually just stick to salads and dessert (the bread isn't worth it). I remember that the Keg used to have a decent veggie burger, but that was a long time ago so I'm not sure it's still true.

I like all tomato-based soups cold. Some brothy soups can be good too, especially if there's lime juice and chilis involved.

I do the same but with poached eggs instead of the shrimp. I add a few olives or some parmesan shavings if I'm feeling fancy.

Yeah, I noticed the bun too. For a while I wondered if they forgot to tell us it was a sandwich challenge. At least a couple people made their own bread.

I'm under 30, at least for a few more weeks, and I don't get the hate-on for the new restaurants. Not all are my scene -- I don't like to wait in line -- but a lot are churning out good food. Dismissing a place as "hipster" just because there's offal on the menu and the servers have tattoos is lazy and condescending.

Roast! Or grill, if you're in one of the areas where spring is actually here already.

Side note: I'd like to nominate "cretin sweets" as one of the best typos ever.

Yeah, this was one of the best Chopped episodes yet. A little disappointed by the outcome, though.

Toronto - the Freshco at Dundas West and Bloor.

The Nutcracker was by far the easiest one, too! The Christmas connection, the fact that they basically go to candy land and that nuts are in the freaking name of the ballet -- all really good angles they could've used. And the most creative thing they could come up with was shortbread?

I bought some there last year too and had the opposite experience -- a lot were too ripe, almost to the point of rotting. But the good ones were delicious.

Good point. But now I'm extra curious about what's missing!

Oh, I see. Not particularly flattering, but based on the comments here I was expecting a total meltdown. :)

I must have missed this episode - what happened?