Am I missing something here...seems many butchers at the big and small chains sell filets that have string or gawd forbid glad wrap around the filet. I don't get the "bacon" thing..other than it tastes better than string or glad wrap. if it is a good filet, no need to "add flavour imho.

Now it appears the string guys are basically trying to put the turnedo ends of the filet towards the centre of the whole loin piece so it all looks uniform and supposedly cooks evenly. I have asked several different butchers for a centre cut..i.e. bring the whole loin out and cut 2 filets. 4 out 5 didn't do it because they didn't have full loins around and that all the ones in the display case were centre cut namely Loblaws Queens Quay, Longo's ACC, Bruno's Delisle and Sobey's St Clair. Oliffe did but under MUCH duress. I asked the Oliffe butcher to take the string off and the meat fell apart. Another "senior" guy came along and did the right thing :-)

I hate being charged serious coin for crap, hence my rant...Sorry but just had to vent..maybe it's the heat..LOL

Y'all have a great day!!!

SB

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St Clair Restaurant
69 St Clair St, Chatham, ON N7L3H8, CA

Oban Inn..Queens Landing..haven't been for a while but these are standards...don't expect "haute cuisine" but is still good..imho..google the above and check out the menus. Prince of Wales comes to mind but it's pretty dumpy that last time I saw it.:-..still it is an NOTL staple.

Bon appetit
SB

Email or phone Ed's real scoop...they may not have it but maybe would make it :-)
www.edsrealscoop.com

They have 2 locations on Queen St E..best in show !!!

Bon appetit

SB

Pastis...TO's best according to Joanne Kates....was there Sat night (April 9)...usually do once a month. Always on point and tres delicieux...great overall selection.
Le Select is good but they are SOOOO in your face Francaise..the 'tude rubs me.

Bon appetit

SB

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Le Select
432 Wellington St W, Toronto, ON M5V1E3, CA

Did you complain to the chef..you should..Was there last week and had the beef ribs. Ok but agree there are better in town....They took the ostrich off the menu which was to die for..too bad :-(

I still will patronize the place..the staff are funky !!

Oh well...chacun a son gout ~!

SB

OOOOOOHHH YAAAAAAAAAAAA..loooooove the creme brule!

Scaramouche as one writer has suggested. I agree with many on Nota Bene. Pastis is still a fave !
But for some special, ya can't beat Scaramouche...and get window seating..you can enjoy some martinis at the Pasta bar area if you get there early!

Happy Birthday!! Is he an Aries or Pisces?
SB

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Nota Bene
180 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON M5V 2A1, CA

Check this out
http://www.suite101.com/content/ontar...
It's worth tapping only if you live on a property that has the trees..and have the time.
It takes 40-50 litres of sap to make 1 litre of syrup...so unless you have a huge truck, the necessary equipment and time to bring it back to the big smoke to boil down, then I'd suggest going to one of the sites noted above and sample/buy the product there.

Including tax and tips ?? McDonald's.. I would suggest the Keg ..seems to fit except the Italian part.
But don't expect an app and dessert..well maybe one. You can split them ya know..Keg has big servings!

Enjoy

SB

take the parents! It's sensual, like the food. It is definitely not porn as someone posted.

SB

Have been there 3 times in the last 2 years. It was excellent but the last time sucked. The service was down 100%. They were busy but they always are. I think the owners have passed the ops down to the kids or were absent...whatever, I would not go back given the service levels.

Having said that, do go. Joso's has been around for at least 30 years. The food is very good (obviously) or they wouldn"t be here. Go for something off their "Fish selection of the day". They have about 10 different varieties to chose from..get whatever you chose grilled ! MMMM

Ambience...dull roar and as trane implied, hopefully you will have fond mammaries of the place.

Bon appetit

SB

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Joso's
202 Davenport Rd, Toronto, ON M5R1J2, CA

Les Canadiens sont la!....Dunn's for lunch...Rodney's by Bay for dinz..for one day's outing!
Grew up in TMR...Unfortunately, there is no Orange Julip or Maudits (Ruby) Foos here in the Big Smoke...by the by poutine has finally arrivee..sorry can't do the accent on the vowel..un tete carree
hostie!! can you bring some May Wests down..LOL!

Enjoy

SB

Bruno's !

Bruno's !!

Your duck fat is fine..you can keep it in the fridge for that time period! It is the creme de la creme of
fats imho.

I do roast potatoes as follows:
Peel and cut potatoes as you like them. I usually quarter a medium potato. Boil in water for 10 minutes, drain and return to pot to "dry"
Melt duck fat in a cast iron pan/skillet and add potatoes when fat has melted.

Roast in a 400F preheated oven for 30-40 minutes. Take out every 10 minutes to turn.

If you don't have a cast iron pan, use a rimmed baking sheet and add the melted duck fat along with the potatoes....having said that get a cast iron pan/skillet (Lodge), they are a cook's best friend and very easy to keep clean and seasoned.

Bon appetit et a bientot

SB

Egg Beaters are the whites but they have preservatives in them. I know the function of the whites but not crazy about throwing the yolks out or freezing them..maybe I should do a mousse :-))

Thanks very much and happy New Year ...doing this dish for NYE dinz!

SB

Hi
I want to do a whole Branzino roasted in salt. It calls to mix 3 lbs of kosher salt with 5 egg whites. Anyone know whether i could substitute egg whites with Egg Beaters...not sure why not but don't want to destroy the fish either.

Thanks,

SB

Scrambled eggs..yogurt w/ flax seeds (crushed in your coffee/spice grinder)..
Good luck with the operation...a glass of wine or two comes to mind having been there
before!

SB

The price seems in line...you are getting 1.5 kg box(approx).. Sea salt is way more expensive. I have Maldon salt and it was $8 for maybe 250 g...worth the price though..normal table salt..good for baking and that's it ...imho

SB

Late to the table but look at Cuisinox..they are made in Quebec and as good as A/C..they are about 1/3 less...can be bought at a kitchen store just opposite the entrance to Whole Foods on Avenue Road..can't remember the name of the store tho.

SB

Thanks!!!!

Thanks everyone who replied! On a hunch, I called St Andrew's again and lo and behold they still carry it ! Some times ya just gotta go to the top of the org!

The price is $16.00 for the 4L jug by the by.

Thanks again all

SB

My source for same (St Andrew's Poultry) does not carry this product anymore. Anyone know where
I can buy it in the GTA?

Thanks SB

"Go south young person...." Pastis ($$$$) but worth it....need reserves tho

For meats Cumbrae Farms on Church or European Quality meats on Baldwin (Kensington Mkt)
Not sure about "European veggies" but Harvest Wagon at Summerhill and Yonge has every veggie imaginable..all are pricey but worth the trip..While in that hood, (Yonge and Summerhill)
Oliffe butchers has great beef/pork too. Google all of the above for more info.

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Cumbrae's
481 Church St, Toronto, ON M4Y, CA

Harvest Wagon
1103 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4W, CA

Scaramouche..the dining room

Anyone know where to buy pine nuts not imported from China. There was a shortage and am not sure if there still is. . Saw some at Costco but they were as noted.

Thanks
SB

Try Beer Bistro....King and Victoria....great pulled pork sandwiches and Belgian fries...fires are great but Jamie Kennedy's are THE best.. imho

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Jamie Kennedy
9 Church St, Toronto, ON M5E1M2, CA