Which of these three would be the best fit for a 10 Year Anniversary?

I've walked by this place before and always wondered how it was. Do they do any kind of tapas or drink menu? Thanks for noticing hte budget issue JPJ! But maybe for our next special occasion we could go there for drinks and snacks???

bacchus_is_watching in Ontario (including Toronto)

Which of these three would be the best fit for a 10 Year Anniversary?

Thanks once again for all your thoughtful feedback. Usually I do not let 1 negative review phase my decisions but it was such a negative responce it worried me a little.
Thanks so much for the assurance.
I think we will try to get a resevation in the upper mezzanine of The Globe and if we can't then we will call the Rosebud. There are both excellent locations for us to get to.

Thanks again and I will post back after the dinner to add my own review!

bacchus_is_watching in Ontario (including Toronto)

Which of these three would be the best fit for a 10 Year Anniversary?

Thanks for all the recs.

When I looked at the Globe's profile on Chow it had a horrible review from last month. I just want to confirm that we will have a good night if we go there because I really like the look of the menu and wine list. Plus the location is great!

bacchus_is_watching in Ontario (including Toronto)

Which of these three would be the best fit for a 10 Year Anniversary?

Sure Rabbit!

We haven’t been to a lot of fine dining places in Toronto. We usually enjoy our decent local restaurants but want to do something a little more special. I think our last big dinner was at 360 at the CN Tower for our 5 year anniversary (we had an amazing time and the entire place to ourselves!) We love fine food and wine - but to keep the price down I usually cook the meals myself (I’m no chef but I love to cook). We enjoy most types of food and are pretty easy going people. I would like somewhere with a decent wine list that isn't marked up outrageously as I love a good bottle!

I would like to go somewhere that we will have a guaranteed good experience. Good service is a must. We are under 30 so something not too pretentious or stuffy. It doesn't have to be overly romantic but somewhere that you can have a nice quiet conversation with a little mood music.
Being close to our home and transit is a big bonus!
I know that is still vague but I hope it helps a bit!

-Michelle

bacchus_is_watching in Ontario (including Toronto)

Which of these three would be the best fit for a 10 Year Anniversary?

My fiancé is taking me out to dinner for our 10 year anniversary on Saturday night. He and I are having a hard time choosing where to go!
We live in the Bloor/Ossington area. We do not have a car so we would be taking transit. Something with a light romantic atmosphere. I would be nice to keep the bill under $150 (approx). We typically share an appetizer and dessert and will buy a bottle of wine.

We have been recommended the following 3 restaurants:
La Maquette
Nota Bene
Sidecar

Which would you recommended?

Other suggestions are also welcome!

Thanks!
-Michelle

bacchus_is_watching in Ontario (including Toronto)

Gourmet Food & Wine Expo

I must admit to having a great time at this show. Last year I went to a tutored tasting and really enjoyed it. We also spent approx $40 on tickets each and went early on Saturday and it was not too crowded. I agree that some things are over priced, but it gives you a great opportunity to try new wines. I don't purchase expensive bottles without trying them first, so this gave me the opportunity to do so - even if it did cost a few bucks. We took the time to chat with the vendors and lots offered free samples after our first purchased one. We had the opportunity to try some good food as well. I will admit that it got very crowded by late afternoon on Saturday but that was when we were leaving anyways. I would not go during the evenings they would be too crowded for me.
If you are going to enjoy this show understand that it will cost you a bit of money but we had an absolute blast.
This year we are attending another tutored tasting and are looking forward to bringing some new people with us. I have already put my $50 aside for tickets and am looking forward to the weekend!
I think a lot of it is what attitude you go into the place with. Yes, it will be a bit busy and chances are you won't have your mind blown away by anything but I think it is a nice way to spend a Saturday in November with friends.

bacchus_is_watching in Ontario (including Toronto)

Spruce beer in Toronto - where to find!

This is one of my favorites and it's available in regular grocery store in Montreal but I haven't found it here.

Can anybody tell me where I can find some?

Thanks!
-Michelle

bacchus_is_watching in Ontario (including Toronto)

Best Ethiopian?

I don`t know if this has been posted yet but Nazareth is back open! I havn`t had time to go yet but apparently it is as good as ever!

bacchus_is_watching in Ontario (including Toronto)

fresh butter?

I grew up in Stirling and love their butter! Although it is still factory made it is a very small factory and only 2 hours away from Toronto. So you can consider it almost local!

bacchus_is_watching in Ontario (including Toronto)

Best fruit/veg delivery in Toronto?

Thanks for this post! I used to organize my university residents 'Good Food Box' and loved getting a random assortment of goodies each week and have been thinking of doing it again for a while!

bacchus_is_watching in Ontario (including Toronto)

Best Ethiopian?

I am a meat lover but nothing beats Nazareth's veg dish! I can't wait for them to reopen!

bacchus_is_watching in Ontario (including Toronto)

Big Mamma's Boy - anyone been?

Here is a copy of a post I made about this restuurant last year in the fall:

I went there a few weeks ago with friends for the first time. Being GF I was very excited about the menu!
I had a pizza, as did another friend and the 2 guys had meals (chicken and ribs)
The only problem we had was that my friend's pizza came out with meat on it (it was supposed to be cheese)
They first tried to tell us the odd looking bits were browned cheese bits - a taste test confirmed it was meat and they gladly took the pizza back and apologized.
My only issue (and my friend was very nice about this) was that they served all of our meals and her pizza did not arrive until we all had finished. (This was a Tuesday night) They did not comp her pizza despite it being their mistake and our friend having to wait for 25 min. and watch us all eat.
We had a lovely evening, enjoyed the atmosphere and the food was excellent but I was very put off by this. I feel a restaurant should stand by their service and if they make a mistake not make the customer pay for it.
...If it hadn't been for that it would have been perfect evening!

bacchus_is_watching Nov 13, 2008 03:12PM

bacchus_is_watching in Ontario (including Toronto)

Gluten free restaurant options

We have also been discussing this topic here:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/566077

The problem is that many seasoning contain gluten - things like oyster sauce and worchestershire. It create a very big challenge for us who can't eat gluten. Looking for places that make things from scratch still involves making sure the chef doesn't use these types of igredients that they may never have considered containing wheat.

bacchus_is_watching in Ontario (including Toronto)

Awesome Blossom

This is starting to sound hopeless...I know you can by the device that cuts the onion properly so maybe I'll have to make my own.

bacchus_is_watching in Ontario (including Toronto)

Awesome Blossom

That would be part of the reason we picked that name!

bacchus_is_watching in Ontario (including Toronto)

Fish Markets in Toronto

Is he always there? I went there a lot last summer and never knew about him. This is great news!

bacchus_is_watching in Ontario (including Toronto)

gluten-free in Niagara Falls

Sorry I can't offer any suggestions but this website should help you out!
http://www.glutenfreeontario.ca/niagaraarea.htm

bacchus_is_watching in Ontario (including Toronto)

Gluten Free Toronto

I checked the takeout menu I have and they didn't even have it. Sorry I should have mentioned from the begining that this is not 'real' chinese food. But if you've got a craving for chow mein it will do...
If nothing else it's new place to go. That's one of the things that drives me crazy - there are very little low budget places to eat around the city that are easy to get to for me so I eat at the same places over and over...

bacchus_is_watching in Ontario (including Toronto)

Awesome Blossom

I've gathered a group of friends to take part in Relay for Life in Toronto and for various silly reasons we have named out team the Awesome Blossoms.
Some of our team members have never eaten on of these deep fryed goodies so I thought it would be appropriate to get one for our first team meeting. Anyone know where I can pick one of these up for takeout? I travel on the bloor/danforth subway line to work so anywhere close to a subway stop on this route would be perfect. But I'll take suggestions for anywhere in the downtown core.

Thanks!
-Michelle

bacchus_is_watching in Ontario (including Toronto)

Gluten Free Toronto

I had gluten free Chicken Chow Mein. We had it delivered and it was hot and yummy when it arrived. I know this isn't a very challenging dish (to make with or without gluten) but I thought I would start simple. My fiance had lemon chicken and general tao chicken - He said they were both good but nothing mind blowing. If I remember correctly the whole meal cost $28 - not bad for 3 dishes.

bacchus_is_watching in Ontario (including Toronto)

Gluten Free Ottawa

Sorry I can't help you much either. The closest thing I know of is Sue's in Kingston. She makes excellent gluten free breads, pizzas, cookies, etc, and I think they are a pretty good price too. She may sell her products somewhere in Ottawa.
http://www.suesglutenfreeproducts.com/

bacchus_is_watching in Ontario (including Toronto)

Gluten Free Toronto

Just got a brochure in my mailbox today from Regal Garden Chinese Restaurant (815 Bloor W) I was about to toss it out when a noticed a "Gluten Free Optional" sign on the front. I called the resto to quiz them and asked what items were gluten free. They said a lot of the menu item could be made gluten free. I asked how they did this and the guy on the phone informed me that if you specify gluten free they will make your dish with a gluten free tamari instead of soy sauce! There is also more fine print in the brochure about talking with the chef about food allergies and them accomodating them. I havn't had chinese food in 2 years and don't have anywhere to be this weekend so I may be brave enough to try it tomorrow night, (After more talking to the staff of course) I'll let you know how it goes.

bacchus_is_watching in Ontario (including Toronto)

Gluten Free Toronto

As always thanks for the info! Where is LPK's?

bacchus_is_watching in Ontario (including Toronto)

Buffalo Mozzarella

I can't remember the name but if you come out of Ossington station and walk west on the North side of the street is is a few windows down from the CIBC. It's a long narrow store...I'll try to grab the name tomorrow!

bacchus_is_watching in Ontario (including Toronto)

Gluten Free Toronto

Hi Googs,
Despite all that I would go back - the food was good. It's just not a place I would take guests. If the service picked up it would be an amazing gluten free place!

bacchus_is_watching in Ontario (including Toronto)

Buffalo Mozzarella

A butcher near me (Bloor and Ossington) sells the individual containers for $5 which is a steal compared to other places I've been. It's delish!

bacchus_is_watching in Ontario (including Toronto)

Buffalo Mozzarella

If this is the herd I'm thinking of it's out near my parents. My mom called me excited when she drove by and noticed the cows were gone and a local paper explained they were buffalos and that they will be mazing mozza!

bacchus_is_watching in Ontario (including Toronto)

Gluten Free Toronto

I havn't tried this yet - have you? What is the flavour of the flour?

bacchus_is_watching in Ontario (including Toronto)

Gluten Free Toronto

I realized that I never put one of my favorite "go to " places on here. It's the Thai Green Mango. It's nothing fabulous and not crazy authentic but you get a lot of fresh, yummy food for the price. We go there and get take out every few weeks and have never been disapointed (and I have never been sick). We usually order green curry, cashew chicken and spicy been noodles.
http://www.thaigreenmango.ca/menu.html

I have also had mixed success at the pizza pizza at dovercourt and bloor - sometimes it's ok and sometimes it's not. Definatly do not order at the counter. I had one horrible experiance when I was asking for a gluten free crust and the woman behind the counter kept telling me that she is sorry and they are out of peanuts to go on my pizza (the pizza never had peanuts what she should have said was spinach) This is a celiac's nightmare and I havn't eaten there since.

I've also eaten at Laibella (sp?) an Ethiapian place on Bloor and Ossington once and had no problems there as long as you stay away from the injera. The manager there was excellent and was able to instantly tell me about the ingredients.

I can not remember the name of the butcher I am currently visiting. (Walk west on bloor from ossington on the north side of the street and you will find it only a few steps away.) It is small but they are wonderful. I told the butcher once about my intollerance when I asked about sausages. Not only are their sausages gluten free (and yummy) he always remembers me and warns me before buying any product that may contain gluten (I came in about genoa once and he stopped the other guy from serving me so we could inspect the label) I think he mentioned that he has a family member who can't eat wheat so he is very aware of hidden ingredients.

That's all I cna think of for now. Please continue to share everyone!

bacchus_is_watching in Ontario (including Toronto)