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Laduree: Parisian Macarons touch down in NYC (reviews + pics)
Thanks for reading. Do enjoy the treats when you visit next time.
Laduree: Parisian Macarons touch down in NYC (reviews + pics)
It's been almost two years since my last post. I have very much missed the Chowhound community. My recent trip to NYC has reinvigorated my love for food and desire to document all that I have eaten. Especially of note was my recent trip to Laduree. Below, I have briefly outlined my wonderful experience. I hope to also post about my experiences at Takashi & Kajitsu later next week.
Please enjoy.
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I arrived 15 minutes before the scheduled opening of the store. The drapes were still pulled and employees were still trickling in. Strangely, there were already a half dozen or so die-hard-foodies already in line ahead of me. I was thinking of dispatching of them quickly, but I figured that they couldn’t possibly snap up every macaron in the store. I could wait.
On the very minute the store was scheduled to open, the drapes were raised to reveal a bevy of brightly coloured coins; all laid out in intricate arrangements and pretty jewel-worthy boxes. I started to salivate. My body already knew that the golden hour was upon us. The door was then suddenly thrown open and a gentleman with a thick French accent ushered us through the door with the ever chipper (and slightly snarky) “Charge!! Go go go !!!”. Yes – I am a crazy fool standing outside a bake shop at 9AM in the morning in the falling rain to get some cookies for $3 a piece, but I am not cattle. From the looks of the assembly-line-like set-up inside the store, I may have had to reassess my position in society – I was indeed just some cattle being corralled through the waiting pen, past the feed pen and to … the pay pen? Anyway, my analogy got lost somewhere along the way.
We were presented with a succinct menu listing the day’s available flavours. There were about 13 in total. When it came to my turn, I requested a box of 24 pieces (the maximum number of pieces in the standard box), with an assortment including everything but the chocolate. Yes, I am ‘one of those’ that don’t particularly fancy chocolate. I find it a bit overpowering, especially for something as delicate as the macaron.
20 minutes later, I stood proudly with my first box of NYC Laduree macarons. I quickly tore apart the delicate wrapping and indulged in a few treats. E favoured green, so we tasted a green apple and a pistachio flavour. They were followed up by a mutely flavoured I-Have-No-Idea-What-It-Was-But-It-Was-Good-And-Pale-In-Colour macaron. I was once again transported back toParisso many years ago.
E is a jaded person. E claims that Laduree in Paris is so much better than Laduree in NYC. I agree with E that the texture is indeed a bit off, probably due to the freezing or unfreezing of the delicate pastries due to the high altitudes and low flight temperatures. I did notice that some of the boxes containing the macarons had a bit of condensation dripping off them. But they were pretty darned good! And yes, you read that right: high altitudes. These babies were flown in daily from the other side of the Atlantic for our noshing pleasures.
I quickly got back into line and bought another jewel-box full. This one was going to survive intact as it was a gift for some very special foodie friends that were having a wedding later that week. I had intended to surprise them with a box of fresh-from-Paris cookies that very evening when I drove to Toronto. These cookies were indeed pricey, but considering I don’t like huge desserts, get bored easily, and that they were flown in fromParis, I quickly rationalized the cost.
So now I’ll focus on the cookies. They were beautifully shaped. They had the perfect little ‘foot’ under each cookie. The filling looked like it had been done by hand. Each one was slightly differently filled from the next. None of them were over-filled and hence soggy, nor overpowering. The colours were bright, but not neon like I had grown accustomed to inNorth America. In short; they were just as I had remembered. Dainty. Colourful. Perfect.
What made me realize how much I missed them was their delicate flavour. They didn’t taste of sugar like so many of their American counterparts. They tasted like essential oils and genuine flavour extractions. The rose was beautifully perfumed. It was actually one of my favourites. It tasted better when it warmed to room temperature as the aromas were able to diffuse a bit when I bit into them. At room temperature the creams were a bit airier and lighter as well. They were truly just unveiled from their storage places before being placed in my greedy little hands. Another favourite was definitely the espresso. It tasted like a morning mug of my favourite latte. Just the right touch of cream/milk and sugar in the cookie. It was very concentrated and not overly sweet, nor bitter. E particularly enjoyed the lemon with lemongrass. It was brightly flavoured, with the citrusy punch coming to the forefront, but not cloyingly so. The green apple was a bit sour for my tastes (and yes, my own fault since I don’t particularly enjoy the original either), and the salted caramel was a touch disappointing. The voices around me when I was in line were singing rhapsodies and praises of the salted caramel. And yes, I know that flavour is de rigueur right now. But in a macaron, I feel the caramel is a bit too sweet and the runny texture of the caramel doesn’t do any favours to the delicate cookie, nor the superb wrapping job of the staff. My caramel macaron melted all over my box and tasted, well, like caramel. Wth salt.
My only slight complaint was that each box was not packed with a colour chart explaining each flavour. Since I was blessed with the inability to retain information for more than 10 seconds at a time, some of the flavours escaped me when I was devouring them. They had them on the menu at the store, but unlike everyone’s favourite box of chocolates growing up inToronto(which I state in full tongue-in-cheek manner), my Pot of Gold didn’t come with a menu.
All in all, I was in awe at the care and dedication involved in bringing us these delicate treats. I was not surprised that Laduree would not be offering their full line-up of baked treats, as the quality control they would like to exert would be a logistical nightmare with anything more delicate than these tiny confections. Right now,Americawants their $3 tiny angelic macarons and Laduree is delivering them via the skies. And thank heavens for that.
I know I will be returning to Laduree on my next trip out, even though I spent nearly $200 on cookies on my first trip there. I would highly recommend that you seek them out, especially if you’ve been disappointed time after time like me with lesser impostors.
Laduree
864 Madison Ave
(between 71st St & 70th St)
New York, NY 10021
Neighborhood: Upper East Side
Open every day except Sunday and Monday (except exceptionally – which apparently means by special circumstance. And yes, I did have to call them to find out what that meant)
Thank you for your time.
For integrated photos, please see my post on my blog: http://havesporkwilltravel.wordpress.com/2011/09/15/manhattan-day-4-laduree-heaven/
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Laduree
864 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10021
KO Prime - Restaurant Week + $20 gift card (Review + Pics)
Thanks for the information, MC Slim JB. I can't wait to try Coppa - all the things you mentioned sound right up my alley. I'm happy this stuff has made it into mainstream dining arenas.
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Coppa
253 Shawmut Ave, Boston, MA 02118
Silver Carriage HK style restaurant/cafe - Gem of a find!
Hi Charles,
I got around to trying Silver Carriage last time I was in town and was pretty excited after reading the reviews. I would have to say that I unfortunately really disappointed with the quality of the offerings there. I'm not sure if maybe they were having a bad day...
Starting things off, we got our borscht soup (which reminded me of condensed tomato soup from a can - it was that thick) http://www.flickr.com/photos/bokchoi-snowpea/4387572767 . SO liked it, but I would say there was just too much tomato sauce in it for me to like it. The bread was pretty standard HK Cafe rolls (bland, full of air). DC got the cream soup for variety, but I didn't try it ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/bokchoi-snowpea/4387572861 ). I ordered the congee and was really excited to try it (the price was fantastic!). Unfortunately, I was underwhelmed by it and found it incredibly bland (the soup base they used... it seemed like water almost) : http://www.flickr.com/photos/bokchoi-snowpea/4388334474 . It had all the requisite ingredients you mentioned, however, the overall dish just fell flat for me. However, that was probably the strongest dish of the evening. We also got the ox tongue (SO enjoyed it. I found the cream sauce to be of exceptionally poor quality) with what seemed to be canned gravy. I was also confused as to why there were olives in the dish. Perhaps this is "French-style", but I would highly doubt it. The olives were bland and tasteless either way and didn't add anything to the dish (ox: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bokchoi-snowpea/4388334588 )
The next two dishes were ordered by our DC's, so I didn't try a lot of it. The Portuguese chicken was a mess. It was smothered in this cloyingly sweet sauce. It was very unpleasant. ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/bokchoi-snowpea/4387573239/ ). Finally, the Korean Fried Chicken dish came out. I almost ordered this in addition to my congee, but I wanted to see the quality of their 'fry' before I ordered it. After we saw the "Fried Chicken", I was immensely happy that I decided to wait (that, and after tasting the other dishes). We even asked the waitress/owner if this was the Korean FRIED chicken, and she said that it was indeed the aforementioned dish. I'm not sure if they were trying to pull a fast one on us, but the chicken we received was stir-fried and served on a skillet. Either way, it wasn't fried chicken, and it surely wasn't anything I could have imagined Korean Fried Chicken to taste or even look like.
KFC: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bokchoi-snowpea/4387573153
Anyway, I was happy I only spent $3.50 +tax/tip for my congee and ran out of there, swearing I'd never go back. I am sure that they were 'off' that day, because it surely isn't up to the quality you usually recommend, Charles. I was pretty disappointed that a meal in Toronto was wasted. I'm not sure what was going on with the kitchen that day - maybe the Olympics distracted them in the kitchen? I'll still be trusting you on your future recommendations, Charles. I just thought I'd put in my two-cents on Silver Carriage. Keep them coming! Thanks in advance.
Storefront: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bokchoi-snowpea/4388334806
Menu: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bokchoi-snowpea/4387572643
Set Menu: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bokchoi-snowpea/4387572701
Silver Carriage
around 9019 Bayview Ave
Cheers & Happy Eating!
BokChoi
Hank's "Southern-Ontario" fare (review + pics)
Thanks for the review raebmv. I guess we're in agreement about many of the dishes offered by Hank's. Thanks for the tip on the mac & cheese, I didn't try that one out. And I'm glad you enjoyed the chop! It was my favourite dish of the night as well. I agree with you that they're solid, but not a destination stop.
Cheers & Happy Eating!
BokChoi
KO Prime - Restaurant Week + $20 gift card (Review + Pics)
Thanks MC Slim JB! I appreciate the kind words. I would agree that I too am stalking Jamie Bissonnette (unfortunately, I'll be heading to Toro tomorrow to try it out without him running it - I went there last year and it was amazing). I can't wait to try out Coppa as well. You're right - there's absolutely nothing too interesting about KO Prime's menu, which was surprising for a Ken Oringer franchise, but not as a steakhouse per se. I love offal and look forward to trying Coppa's offerings. Any suggestions?
Agreed as well about the quality of the steaks. Too bad, I was hoping to love it, but only came away happy with the value.
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Toro
1704 Washington St, Boston, MA 02118
KO Prime
90 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02108
Coppa
253 Shawmut Ave, Boston, MA 02118
KO Prime - Restaurant Week + $20 gift card (Review + Pics)
I just got back from a Restaurant Week experience, so I decided to write a review for KO Prime. I've been a huge fan of Ken Oringer's Clio since 2006, and I've slowly been checking out his restaurants (I'm originally from Toronto, so it's taken me a while to try all his new places - I'm now a permanent resident, so I'll be hitting his places a lot more now!). I've been excited to try KO Prime for a while, so when I received notice from the mailing list that they were offering a FREE $20 gift card for dining with them during Restaurant Week, I couldn't pass up the deal! $33 pp + $20 off a future visit? What's there NOT to love?
My SO and I ordered as much as we could to sample what KO had to offer during RW: we had the two apps (one soup, one salad), the fish + steak entrees, and one each of the desserts. The soup was done in a classic way of bringing out the garnishes in the bowl, and the server pours the soup at the table as to keep the flavours as "unmuddled" as possible, and to keep the textures and colours fresh and vibrant. It was a veloute of parsnip, served with roasted beats, goat cheese and surprisingly - what seemed like marcona almonds. I don't think I saw the nuts on the list of ingredients on the menu, but it was surely the highlight of the soup. It really took it up a notch (not sure if people with allergies would appreciate it though). There was no promised brioche to go along with the soup, but I didn't really miss it. The beets helped cut the monotony of the colour of the soup, as well as the flavour and texture. Though I'm not usually a fan of goat cheese, I found it helped round out the flavours of the soup and add a bit of necessary sharpness. Overall, the soup was pretty on par with what I would expect for RW from KO- nothing earth shattering, but it was solid.
Soup: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bokchoi-snowpea/4439150665/
The salad was a wedge of iceberg lettuce, one of the most misused and misunderstood veggies (IMO). They get a bad rep, but if handled well, they could be light and refreshing. KO did a good job, though I felt they were a bit heavy-handed with the Blue Cheese Sauce that was ladled on top of the delicately flavoured greens. The fried onions/shallots were a nice, sweet touch, but the bacon was almost lost under the thick slurry of cheese. The lettuce was fresh, and this is the ONLY way I'll enjoy an iceberg lettuce salad (in a wedge).
Iceberg: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bokchoi-snowpea/4439150913/
Throughout the meal, the bread was topped up regularly (a selection of 3 different breads: a white, what seemed like a rye, and a multigrain with some anise flavour)
Bread: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bokchoi-snowpea/4439927572/
The mains came up next: I had the steak, SO ordered the cod. The steak was pretty disappointing, given they were a steakhouse and I was pretty adamant that I disliked overdone steak and that I wanted rare, rather than medium-rare - and that most restaurants tended to overcook the steak. The waitress assured me that they knew how to handle steaks in this establishment, but when it came it out, it was medium/medium-rare. As a result, the steak was tougher and drier than I would have liked. She didn't check back with me on the steak, so I didn't get a chance to tell her it was a bit overdone. The steak itself was a bit tougher than I was used to for a NY Strip as well, but the flavour was divine. It was well grilled and the sauce was quite good, if not a bit too salty. I must have drunk a few gallons of water when I got back home to compensate. The steak was pretty much the only misstep of the evening. I was impressed with the portion though - 10oz during RW? Wow.
Steak: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bokchoi-snowpea/4439151041/
The cod was amazing. That was the winning dish of the evening. Everything else was good, but this was EXCELLENT. The skin was exceptionally crisp, and the flesh was tender and lightly flaky. It was handled oh-so-well! It wasn't overcooked, like how most restaurants like to serve their fish (if I wanted an overcooked piece of fish, I'd go to a low-end restaurant that uses low-quality fish and charges accordingly). This was a super fresh specimen, and there was nothing marring the delicate flavour (the lemon sauce was left on the side so you could add as much as you desired). SO loved the sauce. I found it a bit overpowering, so I used it in moderation. The lentils du puy were lovely and al dente, and really rounded out the dish well. The onion rings on top were top notch and sweet. I could have eaten a whole pile of these.
Cod: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bokchoi-snowpea/4439151163
Dessert was pretty standard. Nothing really stood out. The espresso ice cream with brownie was probably a bit stronger than the other entry, because I enjoyed the ice cream. It was velvety and tasted of espresso. The financier wasn't in the typical mold shape I was used to, and was instead a standard sliver of sponge cake/curd. The wafer on top made it a bit more satisfying and was actually my favourite part of the lemon dessert. It seemed like they dialed-in the dessert course, and could have done much more with it to showcase what they could do.
Ice Cream & Brownie: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bokchoi-snowpea/4439928112/
Financier: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bokchoi-snowpea/4439928192/
Overall, I had a great experience - service & food was good. Atmosphere was casual and nice. And all at that price? Bravo! I will definitely head back to KO to use up the coupon, though I probably wouldn't have rushed back if they didn't offer this promotion. It was good, but some dishes were hit and miss. I doubt I'll reorder a steak entree next time, as I found it a bit mishandled. There were a number of items on the regular menu that caught my attention, including the short rib macaroni & cheese, and the foie burger (and some sides).
I hope you enjoyed the review and found it helpful. I wanted to post it early on during RW to help fellow Chowhounds in terms of ordering, and notifying them about the giftcard. Call ahead to confirm they're still doing this. I had to ask the waitress at the end, because it didn't come with the cheque. She had to go searching for them. This is only my second review here in Boston, but I hope to catch up on some old ones I haven't posted ASAP.
Cheers & Happy Eating!
BokChoi
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KO Prime
90 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02108
Cabane a sucre Au Pied de Cochon
This is ridiculous. I've never been treated so poorly by a restaurant before. I don't understand why they had to be so incredibly rude and inept. A simple acknowledgment would have been appreciated. I for one will never patronize them and will tell my foodie friends what kind of establishment this is. I lost interest in them weeks ago because of this. I hope they catch a lot of flak over this. This treatment of excited potential patrons is unconscionable. I've been telling my friends for years to go to APDC when they're in Montreal. This has definitely left a sour taste in my mouth and I'd definitely think twice about sending them business from now on. Call me bitter, call me angry - I call this unprofessional.
Hank's "Southern-Ontario" fare (review + pics)
That's too bad. I wonder why they decided to change a good thing! I doubt I'll go back to order the dirty rice again - but that pork chop. mmm...
Hank's "Southern-Ontario" fare (review + pics)
I'll have to try the chicken at the two places you've mentioned. I would agree that the BBQ sampling I had (pulled pork) makes me think their ribs would NOT be a strong point either. Thanks for the feedback Tatai.
Grand Chinese Cuisine – Amongst the finest dim sum restaurants in Toronto (lengthy review + pics)
Agree with Yum2MyTum - we usually don't take longer than 1.5-2 hrs. Good thing is that they also take reservations, unlike most dim sum places. (Usually, a reservation isn't required because they're not all too busy).
Hank's "Southern-Ontario" fare (review + pics)
Love that waiter/bartender as well. He's great. Definitely one of the best in the city. I'd like to know how Weezie's is nowadays as well. I haven't been there in ages.... the last time I wasn't too impressed with their burger. It was dry and overcooked. Too bad! The first time I had it, it was fantastic.
Cabane a sucre Au Pied de Cochon
I'm with you on this one. I don't think it should take 2 months to return a reservation request. El Bulli doesn't even do that to people. It's quite impolite. Even though some people say they didn't run into any problems, I still feel like waiting two months for a response is a problem. Perhaps they are friendly once you get in touch with someone, but that's only IF you can get a hold of someone. I feel like they need to improve their reservation system.
Hank's "Southern-Ontario" fare (review + pics)
Thanks Rabbit. There are individual tables as well. We got a separate (private) 4 top when we dined there. There were a lot of seating options, so you don't have to worry about sharing (especially with their lack of customers). The place really isn't that bad. Maybe it didn't come across well in the review. If you order the chop and the chicken, it was a solid experience. The extras were what pulled it down.
Hope that helps!
Cheers!
Hank's "Southern-Ontario" fare (review + pics)
Sorry, bogie, my bad. I just kept seeing it on all the "Southern-themed" restaurants and assumed. I've heard about Harlem and Stockyards - both were on my list of potentials, but DC's and I settled on Hank's for the ambiance. I'll have to get around trying Stockyard's next time. It sounds fabulous. I'm going to be eating a lot of friend chicken next trip it seems!
Thanks for the suggestion of Queen & Beaver. I walk past it often, but I've never stopped in for anything.
Hank's "Southern-Ontario" fare (review + pics)
I guess overall, my impression was that they were pretty good. I wasn't disappointed with my meal there and it would be something I'd recommend friends if they were in search of that type of food. The ambiance was nice, service good, and the food more than half-decent. There were some good items, so the meal could have been much better if only those items were ordered. But it's probably not something I'd go back to frequently. Not something that I'd go out of my way to avoid if friends suggested it as a get together joint either. (This brings back nightmares about my last visit to Nota Bene.... ugh. But I'll save that for another time. Comments on my flickr if you get a chance.)
The chop at Fusilli sounds great. A great chop is something that I've been on the hunt for for the past couple of months (not sure why. I just had a craving). Thanks for the tip - and for the fries at Cava suggestion, Googs!
Yet another Regal Palace branch in Ruby's location in Scarborough
I walked in the day before they opened, and the day of. I asked an exiting patron how the food was and she responded "Not too bad..." and then I followed up with "So it's not very good?" and she said "....no, it's not very good". I promptly left and decided not to give a try. I would be interested to hear if there's any good opinion of the food here. Before I left I peaked at the tables to see the quality of the food, and most tables had NO food on it (most were waiting for their first dish) - I'd say 80% of the tables were waiting, while the rest had small piles of partially eaten food in the middle of the table that looked piled up and ready to be taken away. This was the first day of opening, so it could just be due to inexperience/ being unprepared.
Grand Chinese Cuisine – Amongst the finest dim sum restaurants in Toronto (lengthy review + pics)
That's great! Too bad she didn't get to try some of my favourite dishes. Seems like she tried most of the newer, and less impressive (IMO) dishes on the menu. Anyway, she liked it, and that's what counts.
Grand Chinese Cuisine – Amongst the finest dim sum restaurants in Toronto (lengthy review + pics)
Great to hear they're getting the praise they deserve! And I'm happy to hear that I was able to help you discover them :) It's just so good there.
Here are some more photos:
Tofu wrapped fish maw + chicken: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bokchoi-snowpea/4382736324/
Beef Noodle Roll: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bokchoi-snowpea/4382736194
I tried a couple of new dishes, but haven't loaded those photos yet. I'll post back later.
Hank's "Southern-Ontario" fare (review + pics)
Taking over the old spot of the now defunct JK Wine Bar (RIP - though I'm still upset about my birthday dinner there a while back), Hank's satisfies the need for a mid-range dining spot with a relaxed feel in the neighbourhood. Joining the movement toward more local fare, Hank's delivers the goods. They've done double duty by also incorporating Southern fare into their menu, which all the 'en vogue' / new restaurants seem to be doing. Countless Southern-themed restaurants have opened up in my neck of the woods as well - each one featuring their take on Southern classics, like Fried Chicken and waffles.
The space is pretty much the same as the old JK spot. There is a false wall that separates the two dining spaces that are now Hank's and The Wine Bar (Don't get confused. One is located at 9 Church St, the other at 91/2 Church St.). I feel like they probably could have gotten better flow between the two restaurants if they left it open, and just separated it by a heavy curtain... but that's just me. Maybe perhaps then people would have known that Hank's was now open for dinner? We were the only ones dining there that evening, whereas The Wine Bar had quite a few patrons.
Room: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bokchoi-snowpea/4385176148/
Fat Tuesday's (week) special was a pancake with pulled pork. I would have to say that Hank's got off to a wobbly false start for me. The pulled pork wasn't very tender, nor was it juicy. It was like the typical, dry BBQ fare that I've found littered around mid- to higher-end dining places around the GTA and Boston. The pancake the mound was atop was pretty solid though. It was fluffy and had a nice thin crust. Overall, the dish was pretty mediocre and forgettable.
Pancake Pulled Pork: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bokchoi-snowpea/4385234818
I've been having a craving for fried chicken, well, ever since I had a mind-blowing experience at JG & Perry St. in NYC, as well as Guu (during my last visit). So of course when I saw fried chicken on the menu, I had to order it. There was no stopping it. The delivered product definitely hit the spot. It was well fried with a mildly spicy batter. The batter wasn't too thick, and crumbled lightly when bit into. There wasn't a hint of oiliness to the batter either. The chicken itself could have used more flavouring (a punchier marinade, perhaps?) IMO, but it was a small glitch. Overall, the chicken was pretty great. It wasn't close to being the best I've had, but it was solid. The waffle on the other hand.... OK, so when it was delivered, I was like...."where is the rest of the waffle? What do they do with the rest of the waffle instead of just putting it on my plate?"... and then I took a bite and realized what I GOT was indeed someone else's "rest of the waffle". It was pretty rubbery, thick and stale tasting. Darn. Maybe it was played with a bit too long, but my stick of waffle was not the satisfying confection I was hoping for.
Chicken Waffle: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bokchoi-snowpea/4384414281
Hank's Shank was next up. I've had my share of this cut of meat, and this one wasn't a standout. It wasn't particularly tender, nor tasty. Nothing really popped for me, so overall, I wouldn't recommend this dish. It wasn't bad by any means, it just wasn't really worth ordering (IMO). Maybe I've just been jaded by ordering too many shanks in my day.
Shank: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bokchoi-snowpea/4384414369
Now the reason why I loved my experience at Hank's so much (besides the great waitress. She was a hoot! I loved her personality) was because of their pork chop. It was absolutely divine! Never have I had such a juicy, tender and sweet piece of chop in my life. Maybe I've just had some bad pork chops in my life, but I just went yesterday to order a Chop at a AAA 4 diamond award-winning restaurant yesterday and theirs didn't even compare (yes, I was missing Hank's Chop). The healthily-portioned chop was dressed minimally with a red-eye gravy. It didn't need much else because it was just that good. It had quite a bit of fat on it, but this time, the fat didn't bother me at all. Most fat I've disliked has always been gristly, or bland. This one blended seamlessly with the meat and was every bit as sweet. Amazing! I'd got back JUST to get this chop (around $14).
Chop: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bokchoi-snowpea/4384414501
The sides came at the same time. We ordered the Dirty Rice and the Grits. I've never been one to like grits. But then again, I'm not a huge fan of polenta either (so take that as you will). It's nothing I would order here again. I'm sure I just haven't had a good version (like how for the longest time I couldn't understand why pulled pork was so huge...and then I discovered pulled pork in Philly....wow). Dirty rice was just okay for me. It was pretty limp and soggy. The livers were chopped in too big a chunk, making them difficult to integrate into each bite, or share. The livers were a bit overcooked and rubbery. Texturally, the dish failed and flavour-wise, it was okay. I wouldn't order it again.
Sides: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bokchoi-snowpea/4384414575
Fries were also ordered. They were okay. Fluffy, more like steak-cut fries, they weren't close to being the best fries I've had. For the price, I would have expected better. Especially since nowadays, everyone's got their version of haute-fries. The condiments were house-made and one was of note. The ketchup was house made, but tasted like Heinz. Nothing was really in it to set it apart. I would have hoped for maybe some extra kick with spicing/smokiness if they took the trouble to house make it. The mayo was pleasantly refreshing with a lemon finish. I really enjoyed the mayo, even though I've been known to hate mayo.
Fries: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bokchoi-snowpea/4385176022
Apple pie was suggested by our waitress/hostess/busgirl/barista/sommelier. She was pretty bang on with some of her other suggestions, and was super enthusiastic, so I had to try her favourite house dessert. Personally, I don't really enjoy apple pies, but SO and DC really did, so it made for a solid choice. The pie reminded me of McD's version (OK, not in a bad way). It was fried with a pretty good crust, and the apples inside were moist, and had some texture (not amorphous and mushy) to it. The shape and texture was much like an empanada. I enjoyed it and the ice cream (which wasn't really noteworthy) that it was paired with. The dulce de leche didn't really do anything for the dish, and was a bit too thick for me to enjoy it. It was almost like a paste/peanut butter, so it was hard to smear onto my pie. It was a strong end to a solid meal.
Pie: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bokchoi-snowpea/4384414711
Overall, I would have to say there were definitely some hits and misses at Hank's. I did have a great experience, and that was due to a combination of a fantastic pork chop, a great hostess, and brilliant company. The dining room was completely empty, so we did have a pretty private evening. I wonder how long it'll take Hank's to realize that they forgot to update their website stating that they're now open for business? Thanks to PSP for bringing it to our attention that they were open for dinner. Otherwise, we probably would have missed the opportunity to try it.
www.9church.com
9 1/2 Church Street
Toronto, ON M5E 1M2, Canada
(416) 504-2657
Cheers and Happy Eating!
BokChoi
Cabane a sucre Au Pied de Cochon
Darn. thanks guys for the updates. I still haven't heard yet. I wonder what's taking them so long just to get back to people (rejection, or acceptance)?
Ciao Bella Gelatos and Sorbets.
wherever you go, don't get your ciao bella at McEwan's grocery place. It's pretty much highway robbery. I saw it there last summer for about $8. But then again, everything there is a rip-off (I think I saw some Haagan Dazs next to it for about $7.40 a tub). Also, if you like passionfruit, or coconut, you should give their versions a try. They're amazing as well. Mango is another winner. The texture is the closest I've come to actual Mango texture in a frozen dessert.
Ciao Bella: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bokchoi-snowpea/4352679026
Ridiculous Prices: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bokchoi-snowpea/4352678916/sizes/l/
Cheers & Happy Eating!
BokChoi
Grand Chinese Cuisine – Amongst the finest dim sum restaurants in Toronto (lengthy review + pics)
Hi Sasgirl,
A couple of additional dish photos for you! I managed to try the pan-fried dried shrimp noodle roll. It was fine with a nice sear. Nothing mind-blowing. it was a shrimp noodle roll: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bokchoi-snowpea/4341482382
Beef with green onion pancake roll was nice. I found that the crispness of the roll was lost because it was sitting too long after being 'jeened'/seared (in order to be turned into a roll). I wouldn't recommend it: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bokchoi-snowpea/4341482496/
Nothing terrible, mind you, but not one of their strongest dishes.
And finally, their shrimp with corn rice roll. One of the best versions I've had in the city (I love how the corn makes this roll sweeter, and adds a crunch that none of the other rice rolls feature): http://www.flickr.com/photos/bokchoi-snowpea/4340739217
Thanks for the kind words! I'm glad you enjoyed Grand. I really hope they make it! They truly deserve your kind words.
Cheers & Happy Eating!
BokChoi
Thank you Philadelphia Chowhounds! I had a great foodie trip
I'm glad you liked the pictures! The weather was great when I went. I'm sure it'll be more beautiful if I return in the Spring/Summer. Sigh... I was reminded of all the good food I had when I was writing the review and posting up the photos.... what I wouldn't give for the chorizo w/ clams + octopus dishes at Amada right now... or Ron's Ribs...
Thank you Philadelphia Chowhounds! I had a great foodie trip
I would have to try Capogiro's drinking chocolate next time. Thanks for that tip as well. Hope you enjoy Ron's - they're right near Rittenhouse Sq, so it's not too far off the beaten path.
1627 South Street
Philadelphia, PA 19146-1541
(215) 732-3561
Thank you Philadelphia Chowhounds! I had a great foodie trip
Thanks for the recommendations on Percy St and bebe's. I'll definitely add that to my list. I couldn't believe Ron's Ribs were THAT good. I have to try some of their other items next time. Hope they live up to the experience that their pulled pork gave me.
yeah, I knew about the Max Brenner's, but wanted to try your local fare :). Thanks for the tip! And I'll definitely post before my next trip out. You guys are so incredibly helpful!
Cabane a sucre Au Pied de Cochon
Thanks for the updated info KSC02. Wow, I'm surprised they handled the situation that way (5 minute delay). But I guess they're that popular.
Cabane a sucre Au Pied de Cochon
Agreed. I'd just really like to know either way. Although, of course, I'd rather it be a positive response, than a negative one!
Cabane a sucre Au Pied de Cochon
Yeah, but are they worth it? I really hope this isn't just a case of bad customer service! It would be nice if I knew they were doing their best to get back to people.
