sumdumgoy's Profile
The Chickery - Spadina South of Richmond (David Adjey's new casual spot)
The Chickery is using a gas rotisserie, providing tables, cutlery etc..
The Loblaws chicken is a loss leader. It is used to induce you to spend more money in the store. I don't think you can buy a Beretta chicken for $10 raw. Besides, in my experience, Loblaws likes to cook them 'til they are dry.
The Chickery - Spadina South of Richmond (David Adjey's new casual spot)
Today is day 12 and while they are still not where they want to be the signs are encouraging.
The chicken was good quality and tender but just barely cooked and the skin was not crisp. IMHO the first duty of the skin is to be mahogany coloured and rendered crisp. Admittedly this is not easy to do without overcooking the bird. It should also rest for a few minutes so that you don't get a large puddle of jus on the plate.
The gravy was a bit bland, disappointingly under seasoned and not quite "chickeny" enough for me. With all that rendered fat they should be able to improve it.
With a little tweaking they should be able to nail it and I hope they do.
Summerhill Market - spring sale now on
There are different specials every day. Yesterday their excellent chickens were $2.49/lb and the 1 litre chili was $4.99.
The half pound burgers are now $6, bacon, cheese, mushroons and caramelized onions at no extra cost. Available Monday to Friday 11 am to 1:45 pm.
Your favorite fresch-cut french-fries?
Penrose does the ultimate artery clogger English style chips.
Slightly thicker than standard frites and fried in beef tallow.
Didier does first class frites.
Folia Grill: pork gyros is not your typical gyros...its ridiculously amazing
Another good thing about Easter weekend, Folia will be open regular hours so only closed on Sunday.
Folia Grill: pork gyros is not your typical gyros...its ridiculously amazing
I would simply ask.
I tried it once and thought it was a bit salty and much overshadowed by the chicken gyro and more recently the pork.
Restaurants are often fairly clever at figuring out what sells and what doesn't.
I think they still had biftekia on the menu a week or so ago and I know they have all the other ingredients.
Can anyone recommend bistros near Park Hyatt on Rue de la paix for Saturday?
Must be Drouant.
Folia Grill: pork gyros is not your typical gyros...its ridiculously amazing
They will happily put the half dozen fries on the side or leave them out altogether. Just ask.
I get my gyro open faced, i.e. on a plate unrolled, and eat it with a knife and fork. That way I get a little pita, pork, veg. and tzatziki with every bite and a better chance of retaining my dignity by avoiding tzatziki on face, hands and lap because my next stop is inevitably the Danish bakery 4 doors south for the incredible almond pastry.
Supi Cucu hot sauce: where is it available?
Thanks for the tip atomeyes.
Both the Hot and the Sweet and Hot are excellent with great complexity. The difference between the 2 is the addition (low on the ingredient list) of pineapple and honey. The sweetness is very restrained.
Got them at Culinarium an hour ago and now have beads of perspiration betraying my indulgence.
They are obviously hand made and in the same quality range as the Frontera sauces which is about as good as it gets.
I also bought the Smokey El Paso red pepper jelly by Perth Pepper and Pestle which I think is outstanding too. It is fairly mild and smokey with roasted garlic.
Goody’s Diner – Finally an Ontario candidate for Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives… and it’s in Scarborough
Now open Saturday 'til 7:00.
I don't have to worry about nodding off at my desk!
Hope everybody doesn't show up at once.
NEW CONSOLIDATED Thread: Best Chicken Wings in GTA
Great idea!
Dumpling places normally have vinegar on the table congee places don't, but you only have to ask. Then try a chili oil vinegar mix.
I am hoping some 'hounds will take one for the team and critique the wings at Congee Queen.
NEW CONSOLIDATED Thread: Best Chicken Wings in GTA
I am hooked on Star as well but mainly because I like the wait staff. For purely a food experience the Queen wins. The cooking is somewhat more refined and it becomes quite obvious since the menus have about a 90% overlap.
But please try the Queen"s wings (in deference to this thread). Get them plain and use the truly exceptional chili oil, the chili sauce or take a little bottle of Franks, Tabasco or whatever!
NEW CONSOLIDATED Thread: Best Chicken Wings in GTA
Atomeyes, do you mean Congee Queen on Lawrence just west of Don Mills?
I have had the wings at both Congee Star and Congee Queen and the Queen wins by a mile, in fact they could be the best wings I have ever had in a restaurant with the caveat that the only sauces are chili sauce and chili oil and of course no raw veg or dip.
Jacob and Co - what to order?
That is a bit less reasonable than it once was!
Nevertheless, a $100 bottle at the LCBO would list at roughly $250 + $75 T&T = $325 in the restaurant which makes the corkage look like a bargain to me.
Jacob and Co - what to order?
Presuming they still have the reasonable BYO policy it is also a great place to take the killer bottle of wine you have been saving for a great piece of beef.
grocery store soups
I eat Wicked Thai Chicken Soup at least twice a week particularly when I have leftover roast chicken which I dice and throw in while reheating gently. It could do without the rice which I consider filler.
I hope someone will knock it off which I don't think would be difficult. A variation of Tom Yam Gai I think.
What calories? LOL
Folia Grill: pork gyros is not your typical gyros...its ridiculously amazing
That is indeed the mint to which I was referring!
Folia Grill: pork gyros is not your typical gyros...its ridiculously amazing
Yes, Steve is still there, I didn't ask about the longer term.
High quality, elegant chinese restaurant for second date, pls help!
Thank you all for your help. We went to Yang's, partly because I have been there for quite good Dim Sum 6-7 times though not in the last year or so.
The entrance to the place is starting to look a bit worn and sloppy around the edges. It was about half full at 7:30 and we were seated at a table for 6 closest to the door and cold draught.
We ordered Stir fried Green Beans with Shrimp and Pork, Cubed Beef Tenderloin with King Mushrooms and Nuts and Sweet and Sour Tiger Shrimp.
The Beans and Beef arrived at the same time, both barely warmer than room temperature. The green beans were over cooked and very limp, the beef and mushrooms with some cold cashews strewn about might have been more interesting served hot. In both cases any wok hay disappeared out the kitchen exhaust 10 minutes earlier. We chatted away amiably and picked at the food finishing about half.
About 30 minutes later the waiter walked by and said "Shrimp coming soon, sorry". They did arrive a good bit warmer than the previous dishes. The 4 shrimp were huge and the sweet and sour pretty competent but not exciting in any way (this one was not my choice!).
So, we had a great time chatting about everything, generally ignoring the food and proving once again that good company and conversation can transcend poor food and indifferent service.
Yang's appears to have stopped caring, the above 3 dishes and 2 steamed rice were $72 inc. tax. We were the last to leave at 9:30.
High quality, elegant chinese restaurant for second date, pls help!
Your advice is invaluable as always Wahooty. Thanks
High quality, elegant chinese restaurant for second date, pls help!
Thanks Charles, but if I had a 41 year old bottle of Riesling I could probably just order in!
Casa Imperial isn't really out of the area, but LWH won't work this time and could be touchy about BYO.
Thank you Charles and Caitlink very much.
I think Casa Victoria and Yang's might have a little less hustle and bustle than Emperor and less distraction might be better this time.
High quality, elegant chinese restaurant for second date, pls help!
I am thinking Yang's or Emperor but would appreciate input from any of our respected Chinese experts.
Hwy 7 - Bayview - Vic. Park area and I want to bring a bottle of Riesling or Gewurtz..
I am not looking for the degustation of all time, just good food in nice surroundings that will make her think I am brilliant, sophisticated, cultured, suave and the catch of a lifetime.
SDG
Millwood Melt
The hours are Tuesday to Friday 11:30 - 6:30, Sat. 12 - 4 (or 32 hours a week) which is a bit less than industry average!
Just remember that this place marches to the beat of a different drummer but gives a pretty good soup and grilled cheese for around $10 all in.
Millwood Melt
Happy to "take one for the team" Davwud, and glad I did. This was a lot more fun than my recent visits (3) to "Big Mouth Bad Luck Dumplings"
This 10 seater has been open for a week. The young couple running it seem very friendly, conscientious and open to suggestion.
They use St. John's Sourdough, real cheese and real butter and do a good, homemade tomato soup ($3). They make 3 specialty melts at $7 and plain for $5 and various toppings for $0.50 - $1.00.
The red onion slice at $0.50 isn't so bad when the avocado or peameal is only a buck. It sort of evens out. They use cheddar, jack and swiss and i would be happy to see one or two more bread varieties - maybe a pumpernickle or rye and perhaps a few more toppings but having just opened an willing to be patient.
They hope to be a local community feature and may have staying power as the building has been in the family for generations.
I thought it was a very pleasant lunch for about $10 and will certainly go back.
Get thee to Big Mouth Luck Dumpling House in Delisle Court (Yonge St. and Heath St.)
The best thing I can say about this place is that the dumplings/potstickers are as good as you can get at St Clair and Yonge. They are made fresh but are a bit bland and underfilled IMHO. The har gow wrappers are much too thick and there does not appear to be any sesame oil or bamboo shoot in them. The siu mai are light but bland. The Ma Po tofu is tasteless. The stir fried noodles with veg. are bland and undercooked. The stir fried pepper beef is not bad but stingy on the beef. The wings are battered (which I don't like) and too greasy. Lastly the "crumbed" shrimp are much more breading than shrimp. I will not be returning often but might, strictly out of convenience, go back from time to time for dumplings and chile oil if the owner has deep enough pockets to keep the doors open
Get thee to Big Mouth Luck Dumpling House in Delisle Court (Yonge St. and Heath St.)
The one I am refering to is in the Metro Square Mall on the north-west corner of Steeles and Ferrier, 2 blocks west or Warden, roughly 3636 Steeles East.
It is on the north side of the first building and next to the Szechuan restaurant. the official name is "Chinese Dumpling House".
It is tiny, about 40 seats crammed. 2 women inside the front door roll out dough and fill dumplings. I have seen closets bigger than the kitchen which turns out a limited variety of interesting and eclectic items (stir fried lamb with middle east spices).
The specialty is steamed dumplings served 15 to a bamboo steamer. Pot stickers, spring onion pancakes, soups, braises etc..
Expect to wait for a seat.
Get thee to Big Mouth Luck Dumpling House in Delisle Court (Yonge St. and Heath St.)
Hours are indeed 11 am - 9:30 pm everyday.
Had the pan fried pork and cabbage dumplings and siu mai, all made in house.
Dumpling wrappers were good but he filling to wrapper ratio is too low.
Siu mai was decent but a bit pedestrian, I wanted the Har gow but not available today.
Chili oil was a highlight.
I would like to try some of the other non dumpling dishes before passing judgement.
The owner also ran Gill and apparently switched over about 2 weeks ago. I hope he can get it working but my optimism is guarded.
My favourite dumpling place is called "Chineses" (sic) at Steeles and Ferrier (the mall with the HSBC) but I hate the 40 km round trip!
Get thee to Big Mouth Luck Dumpling House in Delisle Court (Yonge St. and Heath St.)
Good point sweetpea and typically this type of resto is open for lunch and dinner 7 days a week.
I am not far away and will head over shortly in search of enlightenment.
Get thee to Big Mouth Luck Dumpling House in Delisle Court (Yonge St. and Heath St.)
According to answering machine it is closed Mondays, dinner only on weekends and 11:30 to 11:00 pm the rest of the time.
