mrbozo's Profile
Pickled/preserved Herring in Toronto (NOT sweet)
Mendel's in Kensington Market has both matjes and pickled herring fillets in trays on the counter under glass. Very nice. Don't know who their supplier is, though.
Indian Kitchen on Bloor (was Nataraj)
I was away but I was never gone. Thanks for the review - not far from the ROM, but I'm hoping he didn't mean Mt Everest, which is a fine establishment in its own right—I know how wandering uncles can be, being one myself.
-----
Mt Everest Restaurant
469 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M5S1X9, CA
Indian Kitchen on Bloor (was Nataraj)
Nataraj closed a couple of months ago. It was a buffet standby for me since I live in the 'hood. Just recently the location re-opened as Indian Kitchen. The menu (without prices) seems the same yet different, i.e. Goan influenced. Has anyone been to this incarnation? Any reviews would be appreciated.
Best Housewares Store and Best Grocer in Chinatown
Lucky Moose at Dundas and Beverly, or Hua Sheng Supermarket at Dundas and Spadina, for groceries.
A Great First (& Second) Impresssion at L.A.B.
Holy frijole ! How and/or why did this place slide under the general radar? And how long have they been in business?
Stockyards Brunch so good and efficient!
Want to try Stockyards. But what are deep-fried poached eggs? Sounds like an oxymoron to me: poached eggs have a nice runny yolk, but deep-frying them would certainly negate that, resulting in greasy hard-boiled eggs,
Need help to deal with a surfeit of green bell peppers
Any and all recipe suggestions are welcome. TIA.
Baguette
So far I've had baguettes from three purveyors in Toronto that have excellent mie (crumb or dough) and crust: Chabichou (affiliated with Tati Bistro). Première Moisson (available at Metro stores in the GTA but probably shipped frozen and unbaked from Montreal), and Baguette Co. (picked up today from Fiesta Farms). Ace Bakery did make a creditable baguette a while back but quality has slipped over the past couple of years. Any other baguettes that compare to the three I like?
-----
Fiesta Farms
200 Christie St, Toronto, ON M6G, CA
Current 'Top 3' best Bistros?!
Wow. Thanks to everyone for the reviews and suggestions—keep them coming if possible. This certainly makes it fun to choose a place that's in keeping with the true bistro spirit as outlined by the link I posted.
Current 'Top 3' best Bistros?!
What local restaurants are covered by the following definition of bistro? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bistro
Born and bred in Montreal the above definition has always described a bistro for me. Where indeed are the establishments that serve "moderately priced simple meals in a modest setting"?
Quiet Coffee Shop -- College & Bathurst / College & Spadina area?
The Second Cup aka The Grad Room on the NE corner of the Spadina/Harbord intersection. It's where I go to write and read—and have a nicely brewed Continental Dark.
Polenta!
Sarah Moulton has a simple, no fuss no muss recipe that works like a charm: http://tinyurl.com/3926g93
ISO Wiri Wiri Peppers in downtown TO
If you're making garlic pork out of season I've found Thai bird chillies work well. Haven't come across Wiri Wiris.
Help me identify this mystery meat
Looks like fatback to me. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatback
Chinese chives
Thanks to all for the ideas. Right now I'm making the pancakes. Going to use them later as wrappers for leftover cooked chicken—soy sauce and Sriracha on the side.
Secret to spaghetti with garlic and oil?
Veering off-track: I use this recipe but add a few anchovy fillets to the sauce. And sometimes capers as well. Guess I'm in puttanesca territory.
Chinese chives
Bought a bunch for the first time today and would like some recipes to use up what is a considerable amount.
Monkey head mushrooms
Just bought some dried. I'm looking for recipe ideas and a flavour profile.
Inexpensive wedding venue - Help
Don't know if http://www.estatesofsunnybrook.com/ fits the bill as it were, but I've been to a couple of outdoor weddings there—and will be attending another in a few months—and the grounds and catering were most enjoyable.
Cheesemongers in TO . . . any hidden gems?
Thanks for the heads-up. Think I'll check out Whole Foods on Avenue and Fiesta Farms.
-----
Fiesta Farms
200 Christie St, Toronto, ON M6G, CA
Cheesemongers in TO . . . any hidden gems?
Heh. I remember how Oka cheese tasted a few decades ago, before it was marketed outside Quebec and before Anco got involved, and for almost the past 20 years have found it to be almost tasteless. Go figure, eh. Heck, I even remember when Havarti had a distinct and pleasant flavour. Oh well, that's progress I guess.
What's good around Bloor & Spadina for lunch spots?
Had the buffet lunch a month or so ago and it was decent. I think the relatively recent appearance of competition for the Indian restaurant food dollar in the general vicinity, i.e. Banjara, Madras Masala, Maroli and even the humble Everest across the street, may have woken them from their slumber.
-----
Banjara
796 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M6G1L7, CA
Maroli
630 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M6G1K7, CA
Madras Masala
Toronto ON, Toronto, ON , CA
Prop on St. Clair West
Based on your review I would say fuhgeddabout dis place. No self-respecting Italian would eat warmed over pasta at home if he could help it, neither would he delude himself into thinking that a slice of untoasted bread is a crostini. To take money for such trickery might even be a minor sin.
It shouldn't hard to find decent cooked-to-order pasta and actual crostini 15 minutes by foot west of this establishment.
Honest food at honest prices is my rule.
