chef223's Profile
25th Wedding Anniversary - restaurant suggestions, please?
Avoid Globe the food is mediocre at best and the service I had was horrible. If you are going for local and Canadian cuisine you have to go for Gilead and the chef who is the father of the movement .
ZUCCA PRE FIX MENU
I noticed that Zucca has a 25 dollar three course pre fix menu on certain days, and I was wondering if anyone has been. Any suggestions on certain dishes, and what was your overall feeling on the food?
Thanks in advance
Is fine dining at lunch in Toronto a dying experience?
I have to disagree as bad as it is right now , even in this economy the high end restaurants that we're always packed for lunch before are still turning their tables. I went to Canoe for lunch a few days ago and it was a packed house, all the suits were their and since I made a reservation we managed to snag the last available table. Personally I feel that location a lot of time in relation to restaurants far outweighs the food on the menu. Having the downtown core and being surrounded by suits , no matter how hard the times are , you will always be busy for lunch. As far as JK Winebar I feel if they do sell the restaurant and it turned into another mediocre bistro with no heart, it will be a big loss to Toronto and Canadian food in general. I have eaten at JK for lunch previously and have found that although it was not busy , the food was good and consistent. The prices are by no means high for a fine dine lunch and and the portion sizes were more then enough to share. It would be a real loss in Toronto to lose a great chef In Kennedy who not only has a great amount of talent but is a great ambassador of Canadian food and Canada in general.
The Truth On Colborne Lane
lol Splendido is by no stretch the kitchen that cook's " dream" to cook in. Seeing as I've cooked at Eignesinn , Rain with Didier and at the Fifth, I can tell you that Splendido is by no means the pinnacle in the city. When Susur was at Susur's it was the best in the city, and people seem to forget about Canoe when people mention food in Toronto. Fine dine is slowly dieing in the city and that kitchen with Mr Lee is by no stretch of the imagination a "pleasant " working environment for any inspiring Chef. There is a reason why Grant Achantz left Trotters and considered quitting cooking all together, there is a huge difference between good food, and working for a good kitchen.
Biffs ?
Menu is Mabye?? similiar it is the exact menu, BIstro classics done right. As far as the food I haven't eaten at Biffs but Balthazar was quite good.
Biffs ?
I was wondering what anyone could tell me about dining at Biff's on Front St. I have heard many good things about the food, and after looking at the menu it is very similiar to Balthazar in NY. What kind of experiences have people had their food and experience wise/??
Thanks in advance
Toronto Life's Best Restaurants 2009 list - Thoughts?
I'm surprised there hasn't been much talk about Simple Bistro for the top ten best new restaurants for Toronto Life. The Chef Masayuki Tamaru is one of the better French trained Chefs in Toronto ,and his food is perfect for what it is.
Globe Bistro - quick review
I guess that explains my poor meal and terrible service I had when I dined their a little while back. I should have waited for January and had a burger and fries. Is the burger cooked to order?, and how is the bun??
Best bets on the Danforth
Avoid Globe Bistro I had a horrible experience their a little while back. The service clumsy and almost rude. The food was nothing at all , no originality at all , a bite off of the " local" theme that has invaded the Toronto restaurant scene. If you want real Canadian food then go to JK's or Canoe, Globe is not worth the effort.
Worst in Toronto
Not sure what restaurant you dined at but the Italian restaurant Coppi is not only overrated , but the food itself was either too salty or tasted of brine. My wife and I decided to give Coppi a chance after we heard some positive reviews from friends and others. We are a younger couple so right away , we were look at as being almost a nuisance to the service staff, I guess they felt that no large tip was forthcoming. We ordered the antipasto to start and every single item on the incrediably mundane , boring dish was either overly salty or not season at all. Having myself been a professional cook for a number of years and a graduate of a culinary school, I was wondering to myself has the level of food drop so much in Toronto that this 1970's Italian Wedding version of antipasto is passed off as not only acceptable but adored. Next we opted to try the saffron risotto for two, and let's just say it tasted like it was made with a Campbell soup stock base, and was not close to being al dente or cooked to order. Having giving up now on having a good meal , our next course was the Fruit De Mare platter that cost's 60 and promises to deliver an abundance of lobster, squid, clams and shrimp. This dish was the most dissapointing plate of the entire evening, the lobster tasted of brine and was overcooked, the shrimp was tasteless and since this dish was the most expensive item on the menu it was almost insulting to the diner. We had coffees and split a tirmaisu that could have been bought at any Loblaws . Our meal cost get ready for this everyone, without wine 160 dollars. The funniest part of the entire evening was a gentelmen who we believed to be the owner was moving from table to table asking the couples how their dinners we're going, and I guess since we were a younger couple not only did he not come over to ask us how are dinner was , but he completely ignored us all together.
If your looking for Italian in toronto that won't hurt your wallet too badly and is actually autenthic look more for places like Zucca, not a restaurant that serves below average Italian wedding hall food.
Worst in Toronto
Some of the worst meals I've had in the city in no particular order
Globe BIstro
Coppi ( had better food at an Italian Wedding)
Numerous Chinese Take out Restaurants, way too many too count and unfortunately not one memorable enough to remember
Worst in Toronto
Globe Bistro the food was horrible and the service astounding. I've heard nothing but bad things as well from people who I know , who have worked there.
Locavore on Avenue?
I heard about this new restaurant being on Restaurant Makeover and I am kinda iffy ,if I should check it out or not. I know the food is local, Canadian and I heard the menu was interesting. Has anyone been ? , and if so how was the food, service, atmosphere?
Thanks
Need a Pho Fix
I go to Golden Turtle on Ossington and have the rare Beef and Tendon it's fantastic.
Globe Bistro??
I had a night out at Globe Bistro and found the service to be appaling and the food to be even worse. I know that there is a new movement in menus that the food be local and everyone is getting behind the slow food movement ,but is there no originality left in the city anymore? All the menus have the exact same food items , Caribou Hind, Beet and Goat Cheese Salad, Plough Man Plate, this place is nothing more than a rip off of an actual high-end Canadian restaurant in Canoe. Honestly this new movement is as bad , if not worse then the Tapa's craze of 2000. Please people don't waste your money on a pretentious nothing place like Globe, if your going to go and spend top end prices then please look for the places who do Canadian food well.
Celestin Brunch?
I was looking at the Celestin website and noticed that Celestin has brunch/lunch in the mornings. I also noticed that they have an extensive lunch/brunch menu and an extensive dinner menu as well. My question is where do they serve brunch/lunch at Celestin restaurant itlself or at Thobors Boulangerie Pâtisserie and Café next door? I noticed the hours were the same for the lunch menu as Thorbor's hours. Any help appreciated.
Perigee Lately??
I know that Perigee has changed it's Chef and it's look , as far as the open kitchen concept is gone. I was wondering has anyone been lately and how is the food now?? I know before Perigee always had rave reviews. Thanks
Spoke Club New Chef?
I read online that Michael Potters is the new executive chef at the Spoke Club. I was wondering if anyone knows anything at all about the place ., worked there?, eaten there?.. anything. Thanks.
Wait Staff and Kitchen Staff [Moved from Ontario board]
I got into an arguement today with a person regarding money in regards to who should make more the front of the house and the back of the house. He argued that the service job is harder then working in the kitchen and I disagreed. I know that servers work hard ,and unlike many chefs I have worked for, I have respect for the waitstaff. The discussion started with a disagreement about how the servers make tips and I felt that the back of hoouse should get tipped considering the work that is being done. I have worked in fine dine kitchens and I know that as kitchen staff money isn't great , but in most kitchens there is a chain of command and the servers are at the bottom of the chain. So what do you guys think what's a harder job? , who should get paid more ? , what's your take on this.
Oro or Opus
Does anyone know anything about the restaurant Oro, food, service , anything???
Via Allegro Stars?
In the new Toronto Life Via Allegro is now a 2 and a half star restaurant. Now I've never been , so by no means am I commenting on the food or service, I'm more curious what all the people who have dined at Via feel about this huge drop in stars. The review itself really bad mouths the wine service, and still feels the food is quite good. What are you the thoughts around here regarding Via Allegro.
Oro or Opus
Where would everyone suggest I eat out at this upcoming weekend? I know one is french and one is Italian but , i'm cuirous about the food itself, and mabye some experiences some of you guys have had.
Chef Autobios and Bios, Other...
Read the Seasoning of a Chef, a little known book about a chef who goes from working at his families diner to working along side Alain Ducasse. Also read Julia Child's Autobiography , Daniel Bouloud's Letters to a Young Chef is meant to be a guide . almost a how to for up-coming cooks, but it tells stories of Daniel's life anfd working career. By the way I bought Marco Pierre's book White Slave when it first came out , (which I quite enjoyed by the way), and was looking forward to reading his "new" book Devil in the Kitchen, but was disappointed to see it was the exact same book. I hate when people just change the names and re-publish the book.
Michelin Stars and Ontario [moved from Ontario board]
Wine Access and the Michelin Guide are two completely different things. Wine Access guide is dedicated to the best resto's with wine lists . hence why there is no EF. Before someone had said that EF wasn't in the Zagat but it actually is the food was given the highest rating at 29. So if the MIchelin guide is really about food, then there should be at least A star in store for good ole Stadtlander.
Michelin Stars and Ontario [moved from Ontario board]
The is a ridiculous statement saying "does any Candadian restaurant deserve to be in the top 50 in the world", I'm tired of people constantly bad mouthing Canadian restaurants , I know we don;t have the same restos as Paris , Spain , New York ( no arguement there), but I'm tired of people constantly downgrading our resto's here. Susur, Stadtlander, Thuet, Lee, Didier are world class chef's , trust me I have cooked a few of these people and Canada as a country is not given the respect we deserve. EF's food is way above the level of food served at Chez Panisse , and stating that Susur tied Bobby Flay in Iron Chef is by no means a decent discussion point. Also, to keep with tha logic Rob Feenie won on Iron Chef , so he's resto should be a 2 Michelin star restaurant. The List that you don't trust is a very reputable , and if you noticed when Susur was on Top Chef the list itself was mentioned. If you look at the Fat Duck website or any resto's website that has been on the list , you will see they proudly state the list in there reviews and accomplishments.
Michelin Stars and Ontario [moved from Ontario board]
I was reviewing the New York and San Fransisco Michelin star guides and I don't see Toronto having any 3 star resto's. Also Chez Panisse got one star , and the only reason it wasn't 2 was because of the atmosphere. So in humble opinon EF would be a one to two star restaurant, considering Peter Lugers is a one star in New York. Splendido and mabye Susur also 2 stars. I think that we could have a decent number of one stars also.
Michelin Stars and Ontario [moved from Ontario board]
Your trying to tell me that a restaurant ranked 9th in the world wouldn't get a Michelin star. Interesting opinion , I would have to disagee seeing as Stadlander is the only Canadian Chef to grace the world's greatest restaurant list twice, and is known as one of the best chefs in Country. Oh and by the way 1 MIchelin star is granted to a restaurant that keeps the food seasonal , local and fresh , so I would assume that EF fits the bill. Also ,are you telling me that Chez Panisse is awarded one MIchelin and EF wouldn't be , that's absurd. I'm tired of people always downgrading our Canadian resto's , I think we have some of the best restaurants in the world and only people who haven't actually cooked professionally would really disagree.
Doner Point Schwarmas
Today the Doner Point Schwarma place is having a half off wraps sale , due to their one year anniversary. The store is located on Caledonia and Eglinton and only the wraps are half off. The people are friendly and the wraps are big and tasty. Plus there
is cake for everyone waiting in line.
Michelin Stars and Ontario [moved from Ontario board]
thanks but my question remains , where would EF rate I think that if some people rate Splendido as a possible 2 star, then I would say that EF would be ranked at least as the same. I agree that Splendido has a more complete dining experience as far as the service, but I wonder what the name Stadtlander would rank amonf other chefs.
Michelin Stars and Ontario [moved from Ontario board]
[NOTE: We've moved this thread digression from the discussion at http://www.chowhound.com/topics/444485#2985738 - THE CHOWHOUND TEAM ]
since you've eaten at three and two michelin star restos, I'm curious where would rate Eigensinn Farm on a Michelin level?
