berbere's Recent Activity
Chowhound Post
soba noodles
yes, they are somen, and no different than boiling your own skinny somen noodles with some dashi broth
Chowhound Post
soba noodles
unless there is another 'soba' version of the Hoo Roo Rook, to my knowledge this instant noodle only comes in one version with the skinny ultra thin white noodles which is not made with buckwheat at all but made with flour. the only korean noodle that comes close to soba insofar as it is made with buckwheat flour would be the naengmyun noodles also called 'maemil' (=buckwheat in korean) - in any case, noodles made with buckwheat would be a little brownish in colour and Hoo Roo Rook is starkly white (at least the one I have tried).
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Korean Ox Tail Soup Recipe
in my experience, soup made from the gori/tail of the beef will not turn milky white, and certainly not after the first boil. if you want the milky white soup, it works better with the cow foot: similar to the above recipe but before the boil, cover the bones a few hours in hot tap water, drain; repeat this 2-3 times; then cover with cold water and boil 4-5 hours, adding in the last hour or so the sliced daikon/radish. after finishing the soup, don't throw away the bones, cover with fresh water and repeat; the second batch will be whiter.
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Sushi restaurant around Yonge and Lawrence
Glad to hear your approval (at least of the rolls). I tried the yaki udon once and it was just ok, tho it was a huge portion with lots of chicken. Seeing the lunch specials (around $8) and the empty space most days, i worry that it may not last - I do hope the owner perseveres as it is the only decent japanese in the area.
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For Anyone Looking for a Pumpkin Pie Recipe
have you ever substituted butternut squash for the pumpkin in this or any other pumpkin pie recipes? I have tons of butternut squash at home right now and want to try to use it up...
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Weekday lunch recs in Yonge/Lawrence area
I tried Gourmet Shawarma and overall I liked their offerings but found their food to be on the salty side; their service was also a bit lacking (counter staff were gruff and forgetful with the details of our orders - maybe caught them on a bad day)
Chowhound Post
Weekday lunch recs in Yonge/Lawrence area
Actually, i found the BreadBar menu to be more than adequate and their portions (not that you asked but) while initially looked small was very very filling. Their naan bread is the best i've had in T.O. As for Joy Thai, yes, they do have vegetarian dishes.
Chowhound Post
Weekday lunch recs in Yonge/Lawrence area
There is very good Indian at Amaya/Bread Bar, Joy Thai at Ranleigh/Yonge, Sushi Bar. I wasn't impressed with Cravings when I went the few times - I had some sweet-sour-Gen-Tso type dish which was rubbery and greasy.
Chowhound Post
Making kimchi - who has a great recipe?
i am not a kimchi expert but do make it quite regularly, and have learned from my mom so very little precision of ingredients are involved. here are some things i have learned over the years:
for me, the size of the cabbage varies depending how long I want to store the kimchi: if I am doing a long term kimchi, jars that will keep for few months with slower fermentation time, I cut the cabbage in half or quarters, salt, drain then pickle with chili paste-garlic-fish sauce. if I am doing a kimchi that i want to eat within days, i cut the cabbage into bite size or tear them into strips before salting to wilt, then pickling, as i find these ferment faster (also helped by keeping it outside the fridge for a day or two)
if I am doing the larger cabbage halves or quarters, i have found it is enough to soak them in a warm-water-salt brine for a few hours without the need to salt them overnight (as that was traditionally done, by my mom anyways); i make this by taking boiled hot water, adding salt, then adding more water to make enough to cover the pail/bowl of prepared (washed/cut) cabbage; it should be as warm but not hot (smthg like the heated milk bottle you would give to your baby)
as to the amount of salt in the brine, i have found that it is enough if the tastes just right to your tongue ie. not as salty as dill pickles, say, but like a nicely salted chicken soup broth - that usually signals enough salt for my kimchi.
for more precise recipes, i recommend www.maangchi.com whose instructions are very easy to follow and usually accompanied by a video
i usually use the same kimchi seasoning recipe to make the following kimchis:
cucumber, radish, rapini, perilla leaves, green onion
have fun!
Chowhound Post
Buk Chang Dong Soon Tofu - A Great Way to Spend $7
agreed with aser about the depth of flavour in the broth - the difference between TK and BCDST is like homemade chicken soup vs the powdered instant cuppa soup, no comparison! besides, TK serves more side dishes and everything (to my knowledge) is homemade. plus, ifyou like the crusty rice on the bottom of your stone bowl, and can't finish it at the resto, TK packs it for you to take home (on request) whereas BCDST doesnt
if you like walnut cakes the best in my opinion are to be found at the walnut cake place on the little side street west off Yonge, just south of ManDoo Hyang (at 6068 Yonge) - cant recall the name but the shop is hardly noticeable, faces north and leads you into a clothing store. their cakes are fresh and packed full of filling (red bean, custard)! their shaved ice with red bean topping is very refreshing on a hot day...
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Gourmet Cupcakes?
stopped by mcewan's at the don mills centre today - they were providing free cupcakes made by Sweet Definition: the baker was there herself explaining the different flavours and answering questions - they were beautiful and very yummy - she said that she does custom orders including vegan, gluten-free and diabetic ordeers - althou mcewan's will carry her cupcakes orders can be placed directly with her - www.sweetdefinition.com (looks like a work in progress, too bad cuz the cupcakes were really beautiful with handmade roses)
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Toronto help for family of 6
I'd say all the above mentioned are worth going to. CN Tower, Hockey Hall of Fame, ROM, AGO are all downtown and probably worth your while to do by public transit (i believe there are day/family passes)
If doing HHF, I'd recommend sauntering east on Front to the St Lawrence Market where there would be lots of choice for everyone in the family; you will see from searching this board the usual recs: peameal bacon, eggplant sandwich (mustachios) but one that's often not mentioned is the portugese churrasco chicken place (on main floor, by front entrance) - very yum!
You are better off driving to the zoo & science centre: science centre is midtown (Don Mills/Eglinton) and other than the recommendations already mentioned there is a Bamiyan Kabob on Overlea Blvd. The zoo is way out there on the edge of town and i'd recommend packing a picnic for a break in the day and going to eat a full meal after the zoo at one of the chinese places mentioned above
apart from the places mentioned, i'd say you get a better taste of toronto (literally) by just walking through its many 'neighbourhoods' ie. annex (bloor west), little italy (college st), chinatown, kensington...
oh, for french that is very affordable, can't beat le paradis on bedford/dupont (north edge of university/annex neighbourhood)
have fun!
Chowhound Post
Clear corn syrup
have you tried the Korean grocery stores east of Christie along Bloor? ie. P.A.T., etc., believe it or not, they often carry the clear corn syrup bc it is used in making Korean desserts and chili paste
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Sushi restaurant around Yonge and Lawrence
I would suggest The Sushi Bar - have tried it twice now and is definitely superior to the Shichimi Sushi (which I have also tried and was not impressed by). I think these days the Sushi bar is offering 10% discounts as an opening special. Otherwise, I have ordered from Issmi on Avenue/401 (hit &miss), Ichiban on Spring Garden, Ichiban on Ellesmere/Vic Park, Sushi Bong (Yonge/Church - which I grow more disenchanted by with each visit bc our orders have not been ready on time and there's just too much rice packed into the rolls )
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Is there a Toronto (or surrounding area) specialty?
agreed, the variety and overall relatively high quality of ethnic offerings makes t.o. stand out - ie. greek may be done better in montreal but montreal doesnt have great korean....that said, to me a unique offering in t.o. is the roasted marshmallow ice cream from greg's - don't know where else in the world i'd find it!
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Caterer for parents' anniversary party in east Toronto; Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, or Balkan-type cuisines
I have been to several events catered by the Afghan Womens Organization's catering service - http://www.awcg.org/ - food was great always. i would guess that if the food is served buffet style $800 should be sufficient to serve 40people, i guess it would depend on the selections included ie. more expensive meat/fish dishes as opp to mostly vegetarina dishes
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Sushi restaurant around Yonge and Lawrence
sorry to hear about your experience at Shinobu.
yesterday, I had a chance to try the new place "The Sushi Bar" (thesushibar.ca) just steps below the Makisushi/Shinobu location and was very pleased with the experience. I have not had positive experiences with the several sushi places in & around this area, however, I do believe the Sushi Bar is a sign of much better things to come. I only tried the rolls but they were about the best rolls i've had in a long time: the rice is so important, and this rice was just perfectly vinegared, not over cooked and not packed in there like a ball of ricecake like at some places. mostly takeout, it appears as there is very little seating - I noticed organic salmon on the menu and vegetarian options too. would heartily recommend this place if you have the urge for sushi in this neighbourhood.
Chowhound Post
Sushi restaurant around Yonge and Lawrence
I would guess it's Shinobu, which operates in the evenings out of Makisushi Restaurant at 3403 Yonge St., just north of Yonge and south of Old Yonge. Shinobu was highly recommended to me by a Japanese friend also.
There is a new "sushi bar" type place on Yonge just south of the Makisushi location - I haven't tried it but looks very nice, and appears to be more of an upscale takeout sushi place. I believe the owners/workers are japanese, or so I've been told by a snooping neighbour who went by during the renovations.
Chowhound Post
korean ribs from Alex Quality Meat Market?
I don't believe Alex sells marinated meat (at least not korean style marinades) - I have always bought the fresh cuts and not the frozen (tho I think frozen is available). I always buy the fresh and marinate the meat myself as I can better control the flavours (salty, sweet, etc). The premarinated meats I have had from Galleria have not been to my taste and I have had to add ingredients to add more flavour, but it certainly is more convenient if you're having a large party - I think they offer a picnic deal where if you buy some 50lbs of marinated beef, they throw in kimchi and smthg else for free. With korean kalbi/bulgogi, I don't find the length of time in the marinade improves the flavour at all; at home, I have marinated for 15 minutes, as well for several days (to weeks in the freezer) and the flavours are the same, soy sauce is pretty strong and permeates quickly imho. the marinade is very easy to make and i would always make at home rather than buy bottled ones - you can find lots of recipes on the home cooking board and elsewhere (maangchi.com). enjoy!
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korean ribs from Alex Quality Meat Market?
our family and friends have been going there for decades - quality is very good, they have all kinds of cuts that koreans eat and the proprietors are very friendly, knowledgeable, and eager to please, definitely worth the drive up (when we go it's usually for large purchases). Galleria is good but I think it's a bit pricier than Alex. In the eastern burbs, there is a P.A.T. on Lawrence East, just east of Warden, across from Nasr that has very good korean ribs as well, tho a bit pricey.
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Favorite one-pot meals using rice cooker?
i have made spaghetti in a rice cooker ie. the sauce and then boiled the pasta in same pot. I have also done ramen/noodles, curry rice and these days, when i am bored with plain white rice, i throw in layers of various ingredients (chickpeas, green peas, romano/lima beans, chopped carrots, potato, sometimes chopped meats) and sprinkle some curry/turmeric powder for a pelau type rice...a very versatile appliance!
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Recipes for Purslane
they are great in salads but also great in pickles - i throw them in any type of pickle, also in korean mulkimchi and they are awesome
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Korean food for a newbie
Il Bun Ji on Bloor St West has very good Jjamppong/Cham pong - huge portion, lots of seafood, right amount of spice/heat ie. not so overly hot that your throat is blistering after the first gulp....I think it may have the best jjampong in t.o. in my memory .... Il Bun Ji may not be in the casual noodle bar category that you seek but is informal enough with zero snob factor to allow you to slip in and slip out after a soothing bowl of jjamppong....I believe Wonjo on Yonge/Steeles also has jjampong but it's been a while since I've had it there - they are pretty reliable
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So, what are you foraging and eating? - moved from Ontario board
love purslane: i throw them in salads and in any kind of pickle i make - the snappy crunch and subtle flavour are great in both! i also found some interesting Turkish dishes/recipes using purslane: http://www.turkishcookbook.com/
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Athens Bakery: great way to start Saturday - other one-dish niche spots ?
oooh, can you share the address of the Akropolis warehouse? looove their spanakopitas...
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pick your own strawberries near GTA? where and are they ready yet?
has anyone gone strawberry picking yet this year? looking for not-too-commercialized pick your own farms in niagara-toronto area...tia
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Korean on Yonge between Sheppard and Finch...
so pleased to see others try this restaurant which is one of the very few places in t.o. that serves homemade banchans/sides - the many (older) Korean patrons testify to their authenticity!
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Good Eats on Oakwood
it's been a few years since I've been but there used to be a place on the east side of oakwood (north of st clair, south of eglinton) called Oakwood Cafe - owned by Ethiopians or Eritreans that served some of the best injera, tibs and steak sandwiches in toronto, imho. I don't there there was a menu to speak of and it looks more like a bar/pub serving drinks only but lo and behold, you will see a taxi driver or two saunter in and order an injera platter or steak sandwich. I ordered both taking cue from the other patrons and wow, they were good. In fact, I think that was all they served. Very fresh salads served with the injera, freshly cooked tibs and the steak sandwich was always served on fresh crusty Italian rolls. The place looks hardly inviting, like it's barely in business but once inside, the servers are quite friendly. I have not tried Uhuru Sports Bar, also just a few steps north of Oakwood Cafe on the west side but given its popularity among Ethiopian/Eritreans, i would guess that it probably has pretty good food to offer.
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Help with tofu
wow, cooking for 200 and trying to appeal to the 'average' Canadian can be a bit tricky - tho must say that I think Cdns are a pretty open-minded bunch gastronomically speaking. as much as I love spice, I'd stay with tamer dishes for broader appeal, and to make it less labour-intensive for yourself dispense with dishes that require a lot of advance prep ie. pre frying the tofu which can be very time-consuming (i do this every two weeks when my tofu is about to go bad and I can't stand how long it takes to fry up).
I'd recommend Ma Po Tofu, which is very easy and has always been a hit when I've made it for a crowd - good by itself or over rice, you can adjust the heat and play with the flavours: make it sweet, sour, hot, more-or-less-soy-ish - here are several takes on the dish:
http://bitten.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/...
photo: http://rasamalaysia.com/recipe-ma-po-...
photo: http://www.chow.com/photos/156761
you can also find recipes elsewhere on chowhound:
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looking for Ontario Fiddleheads
also saw fiddleheads at highland farms on ellesmere/kennedy
