Mississauga Matt's Profile
Jersey Boys - quick before show bite?
My wife and I took the Mezza Notte recco in another Jersey Boys thread and enjoyed it immensely.
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Mezza Notte
5304 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M2N5P9, CA
Ancaster Old Mill review.
Thanks for the review. My wife and I were married there years ago.
Baby Beef - unique to Toronto!! (New York Deli)...
I've had both the pastrami and the smoked meat at the New York Deli - I can't recommend either, the meat being far too dry and lacking in flavour.
Johnny's: Single Burger, Double Yuck
I always found it best in the wee hours of the morning after the bars closed.
KevinB, eco987: Do either of you remember Mama Bear's or (added bonus on this one) Howard's at Sheppard & Pharmacy?
Authentic Napoli Style Pizza in T.O ?
"The pie must be baked at a high temperature (more than 800 degrees F.) in a wood-burning oven."
That is the basic problem with most chain outlets in T.O. - the over door is opened so often the temperature is not maintained and the end result is a doughy undercooked pie.
Mexican beer
IMO Mexican beers are for the most part bland and unexciting. Negra Modelo stands out above the crowd. Noche Buena is also better than average, and only available around Christmas. The Casta beers are by far the best, but I've had trouble finding them when in Mexico.
Beer geeks rate Mexican beers from best to worst here
http://www.ratebeer.com/Ratings/TopBeersByCountry.asp?CountryID=133
Looking for the best smoked meat in Toronto
Boy, I have to agree with pretty much everything you wrote, embee, except I would call Mel's smoked meat rubber rather than plastic.
I used to go into Reuben's King Street location on a regular basis, and for the most part enjoyed the sandwiches. I got to know the owner and his sidekick Jerry fairly well; they were happy to take me on a tour of the operations when I asked. They showed me how the meat was dry brined with spices, and I got a look at the smoker in action.
About the Reuben Schwartz name: the owner told me that as a kid he lived on the same street as old man Schwartz and I think he said that the widow gave him or sold him the original Schwartz recipe. That was the claim, anyway.
The one thing I always found a little off-putting was their New York/New Jersey in-your-face style of hospitality; it was really out of place for Toronto. They kind of barked at the customer immediately upon entering, and I'm sure they scared off more than a few.
But they were always quick to hold out a plate of freshly sliced meat for anyone to try.
I've had Schwartz's on a few occasions, The Main twice, Centre Street a few times, and I don't think any of them are spectacular. In fact I think Schwartz's and The Main are not that much different, with the former being a bit better with the spices and the latter more tender. But neither spectacular (I had an uncle and aunt with their own deli in Detroit, and it remains the deli highlight for me at this point).
I've had sandwiches from the Corned Beef House, The New York Deli, Pancers, etc, and while some of them make a sandwich that'll do, no one makes a great one. I can't fathom why Toronto is such a wasteland in that regard.
Chimichanga
I decided to give Chimichanga another try, and I’m glad I did. This time I had the chipotle chicken burrito loaded with everything, and I found it to be much superior to the steak. They threw all the hot stuff they had on it and while it was perfect to my taste, uber heat geeks may find it a tad restrained.
I still prefer Burrito Boyz, but this was pretty good.
Chimichanga
Hmmmm. I've been once and was completely underwhelmed. I asked what was best on the menu and was served some sort of burro with finely shredded beef, the texture of which was similar to the ropa vieja at Julie's Cuban restaurant.
I really didn't care for it, but I will return to try something else, with the hope that something can come close to matching the the halibut burro at Burrito Boyz.
Best Fajitas in Toronto
I'll second that: The Texas Longhorn, about 10-15 years ago, was THE place for fajitas, miles better than anything else then or since.
Now it's nothing at all like it used to be.
Chippy's on Bloor Street
Queen St. edgy culture? With Trinity-Bellwoods across the street? Wrong part of Queen for edginess, I'd say.
Chippy's chips are terrible, btw.
desperately seeking....amaretti
Britannia Italian Bakery in Mississauga.
I know it's not Toronto, in fact it's not even close. But they make several different varieties of amaretti: crescent shaped ones with almond or other nuts, as well as these pinched ones that have lots of almond paste with a hint of lemon. I pick some of these babies up most weekends. They are devine.
ISO Stella glass
6.4 is related to 6.3:
When you want to order for a destination outside the USA, * Canada * and Western Europe, for example Australia or New Zealand, this is possible by sending us an e-mail ...
I have been on the phone with Global Beer about this and have discussed this issue with Bartowelers who have also had their cards rejected ... there seems to be an issue when the system attempts to confirm the credit card to the 3 digit security number on the reverse.
As for the LCBO, all the beer gift packs are out - Queen's Quay is always good, Atrium on Bay isn't bad, Manulife Centre absolutely sucks - and most are repeats from previous years. The Stella is available as part of an InBev pack, along with the IMHO more interesting Leffe glass.
Personally, I'd pick up the Erdinger weisse beer glass, if I didn't already have too many of them.
ISO Stella glass
Report back if you can actually purchase a glass from Global Beer. My credit card always gets rejected, and I've heard the same from other Canadians.
Fruit Beers in Toronto
In December the LCBO will be bringing in Greene King Strong Suffolk, which winey-oaky slightly sour beer made in a similar manner by its cousins from Flanders.
Fruit Beers in Toronto
Duchesse De Bourgogne is a Flemish sour beer, and you’re right, it’s not available in Ontario, but others of the style are: Petrus Old Bruin, Liefman’s Goudenband, and there may be a bottle or two of the über-sour Rodenbach Grand Cru kicking around at the LCBO.
Burrito Boyz
1) Yes, this is not authentic Mexican food.
2) On the other hand, it is quite tasty.
3) It's true - the chicken burrito is very good, but once you try the halibut, you'll never go back.
Shawarma
Try Eat-A-Pita on Cumberland just west of Yonge. Despite its corny name, the shawarma is good. They have a lunchtime special of chicken shawarma and pop for $5. The shawarma dinner costs a bit more ($6.50?) but is massive, delicious, and cheap. Hot sauce is a must.
I’ve eaten shawarma pretty regularly from Mediterranean 2 Go, Naz’s, the place on the east side of Yonge just south of Bloor (I’m forgetting its name), the place in the food building across from CITY TV (forgetting its name too) and I think I like Eat-A-Pita the best.
Weber's Burgers
A few years back we’re heading up north and as we pass the crowds at Weber’s I get a hunger for a burger, but I’m damned if I’m going to stop and line up in that mob scene.
But wouldn’t you know it, less than a mile down the road there’s this little shack of a place that has a big sign saying The Toronto Star rated their burgers the best.
So what the heck, we stop and get out at this “mom & pop” place. They have the article from The Star pinned on the wall, and it’s from ... 1972!
But we’re there, so we order, and the burgers are of the same quality as Weber’s, maybe slightly better, but again, nothing to get excited about.
I tip my hat to the owners for the sheer chutzpah of displaying that sign.
THE EX - food and memories...
Lolas.
They were revived a few years' ago, but now I don't see them around - gone again?
Anyway, that's what I always went for in the Food Building, that's what I always gnawed on all summer long. I especially liked when the cold would freeze your brain and you'd temporarily see nothing but painful bright light. Good times.
Want really bad food? Go to Baton Rouge - Eaton Centre
I’ve been to the Baton Rouge in Mississauga once. Nice décor. The staff was very attentive, but in an odd way: we never had the same person visit our table twice, and instead we had about 7 different people attend to us over the course of the meal.
The food was bland beyond all belief.
Instead of freshly-grated parmesan cheese, the Caesar salad came covered with something that resembled dust. Tasted like it too. The steak, a sub-Keg affair, looked nice but was amazingly flavourless, as were the mashed potatoes.
All in all a hugely disappointing meal and a waste of money. I would never go back.
