PHO without MSG

By personal 'best choice' list:
1- Hanoi 3 Seasons
2- Golden Turtle

Unfortunately, options are quite limited. There is a belief among most proprietors that MSG is a necessity, has ALWAYS been used, that there is nothing wrong with it, and that omitting it will give them a competitive disadvantage as the soup won't taste as good as their competitors... As you can tell, I've tried to champion MSG elimination... :)

Enjoy
Bon Appetite

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Hanoi 3 Seasons
588 Gerrard St E, Toronto, ON M4M1Y3, CA

koko in Ontario (including Toronto)

What does Toronto do best?

Rhino, yes yes for beer bar... almost 300 beers is it? MUST TRY ZLATOROG from Slovenia

The bar is not Frat-boy-ish like others, has great service, huge patio (its too cold out now tho) and the vibe/atmosphere/service kicks a$$... full of hipsters but doesn't carry the attitude...

Then walk down the street and grab one of Parkdale's glorious rotis, or a shawarma at Ali Baba's for streetfood... you'll have the MOST pleasant burpy dreams ever...

koko in Ontario (including Toronto)

What does Toronto do best?

"get a peamealeggncheezonaroll @ Paddington's pump"

The name of this glorious, smile inducing, shirt staining (I get it with L, T, Must, Mayo), heartburn inducing wonder breakfast is:
Breakfast on a Bun

koko in Ontario (including Toronto)

Fune

Is this place open anymore? I'm going to the Glenn Gould studio Thursday and and want to grab some Japanese (usually Ema Tei in that hood) before the performance... domo...

koko in Ontario (including Toronto)

Are there any NYC style wine bars in Toronto?

Eight Wine Bar is what you're looking for... in the Cosmopolitan Hotel 8 Colborne Street at Yonge and just north of Wellington, south of King... its kinda hidden by they provide exclusive wines by the glass and bottle, have a great charcuterie plate and other tapas type dishes, a funky bar and seating area in the front and (you might not like this) a restaurant in the back... party in the front, business in the back ;)

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Eight Wine Bar
8 Colborne Street, Toronto, ON M5E 1E1, CA

Colborne Street Cafe
174 Lakeshore Rd E, Oakville, ON L6J1H6, CA

koko in Ontario (including Toronto)

Does anyone have a Breville toaster oven?

Any details on that bamboo cutting board? I'm in the midst of buying the oven... grazie!

koko in Cookware

What foods would you buy organic?

Most beneficial:
Coffee: Most heavily sprayed food crop in the world
Berries: Highly permeable skins and thus absorb the most toxins
Dairy/Meat: What they feed animals to produce more is horrific
http://www.healthcoalition.ca/hormones.html

Maple Syrup: Some maple syrup producers add formaldehyde to the trees, which produces longer "sap" periods i.e. more sap, more syrup http://www.sustainabletable.org/features/articles/maplesyrup/

Having said that, I find the USDA organics label not 100% reliable, their certification is too lax, but the BEST way to buy organic is local farmer's markets in Toronto, so you actually KNOW WHOM you're buying from.

I also suggest that people making claims please back them with real data... saying "I read it somewhere in a Macleans article" is the equivalent of making up and leads to confusion amongst readers

koko in General Chowhounding Topics

Culinary lavender

Apple is correct: The health food store called "Vital Planet" has a great stock of some wonderful lavender flowers (as well as TONS of other herbs, some medicinal, some aromatherapy, etc.) that I have purchased and used. The quality they get is exceptional!!

http://www.vitalplanet.com/

Small quaint store but tremendous selection for its size and extremely knowledgeable staff who ARE NOT snobs but friendly and pretty cool people in fact

koko in Ontario (including Toronto)

best hole-in-the-wall takeout in TO

I've pretty much had all the ones listed, and by far the best quality, flavour, price, is hands down.... Ghazale

koko in Ontario (including Toronto)

New Whole Foods Location??

Wicked!
Just moved to Parkdale, makes great shopping easier for me than going to the snobby (clientèle) Hazelton Lanes store or the too distant Oakville store...

koko in Ontario (including Toronto)