crawfish's Profile
Food-related volunteering [Toronto]
I volunteered for Not Far from the Tree just working a table at the Ward 19 environment day. They picked my grape vine last year but I've never been able to volunteer for a picking because - at least in my neighbourhood - they book up incredibly fast. So at this Environment Day I worked with some great people, talked to more great people from the neighbourhood, met my councillor, it was a fun time! I think they are participating in some community canning sessions coming up so there is quite a variety of volunteer opportunities.
http://www.notfarfromthetree.org/
kid friendly liberty village?
That's great! I used to work in the area and it seemed like that stadium was never used outside of Caribana.
I was at School today and noticed they will be showing the Europe Cup games if you are a big soccer fan. School was the main meeting place for Nederlands fans during the World Cup.
kid friendly liberty village?
Brazenhead
School
Could be busy though with after work crowd on patios.
What's going on at the stadium?
BEST lobster shacks from Portland to Bar Harbor??
There are many great lobster rolls in Maine, one needn't stoop to McD's or wait in line for Red's.
Vacation recommendations for Toronto, please
Terroni is my son's favorite restaurant. We go to the one on Queen St. W.
We had a great time at Guu Izokaya. An izokaya is like a Korean tavern, they serve small appetiser-size dishes and drinks. It's packed but we went right at 5 when it opened and were seated right away. The staff are very friendly and everybody is yelling in Korean - it's a real circus and we had a lot of fun. Food's great, too!
Little India is also a lot of fun, it's not Toronto's best Indian food anymore but it's a great neighbourhood to stroll. My son isn't a huge fan of Indian but he loves the bread. Udupi Palace has good dhosas.
Kensington Market and the surrounding Chinatown is fun to explore with lots of great takeout food options for every taste. Burritos, falafels, doubles, empanadas, bahn mi. Eat and wander.
Caplansky's is another favorite. I'm not a smoked meat fan but their scrambled eggs are the best and very good fried chicken.
St. Lawrence Market is great on Saturdays when the farmer's market is going. Peameal bacon (aka Canadian bacon) on a bun is a local specialty. There are good fish sandwiches on the south wall of the south market. And the veal and/or grilled eggplant sandwiches in the basement are popular.
When are you coming? There are great music and food festivals around the city all summer.
Reco for seafood DT TO - group of 12
This Friday for 12 people? That could be tough. Try Chiado, too.
Roadtrip up East Coast
Glidden Point Oysters has a road side stand selling fresh oysters on the honor system, worth a stop if you're headed down the Boothbay peninsula. And please DO get off Route1 and explore the villages (Pemaquid, Round Pound, Friendship, Port Clyde, Sprucehead, Tenant's Harbor) of Mid-Coast Maine!
http://www.oysterfarm.com/
VEGETARIAN CRISPY DUCK IN TORONTO
Further west on Dundas is Cafe 668. I see "veggie duck" on their menu but it does not mention pancakes and spring onions. Again call ahead and inquire.
http://www.cafe668.com/index.htm
first visit to Hong Kong with family (including toddler)
Wow, I am really impressed, trueblu! We just got back from HK May 4th and we didn't come close to your accomplishments. It was so hot (mid 30s) I completely lost my appetite! I was well prepared with a list of restaurants thanks to Charles Yu and others on this board but after a big buffet breakfast at the hotel and a long day of walking we literally collapsed at the end of the day having eaten nothing but ice cream. We managed dinner at Temple St. Night Market and at a cha chaan teng near our hotel and dim sum at Maxim's on our last day - all wonderful but not so much for the food as the experience. We had a GREAT time but now I'm home with a craving for Chinese food! :)
2012 alphonso mango sightings
OK, I tried an Alphonso this morning (thanks, fickle!). It IS a very special thing. It tastes like mango nectar, very flowery and aromatic. I will still enjoy Ataulfos but I will make a point of getting a case of Alphonso's next year.
Theee best crispy beef in the GTA
I was first introduced to this dish at Chung King on Spadina south of College. They called it Szechuan shredded beef. It's narrow strips of beef that have been coated in some kind of sesame coating and fried. It's tossed with julienne carrots and hot pepper flakes. It was absolutely delicious and highly addictive. At Chung King, you would see this dish literally on every table. I'm intrigued by the OP's comments on the film industry's attachment to this dish. I used to work with a photo studio and I overheard them talking about getting The Beef for lunch. I asked cautiously, "Are you talking about Chung King?" We bonded immediately and I was welcomed into The Brother/Sisterhood of The Beef.
Pop-up garden centres in Toronto
Yes, I saw them in Kensington on Sunday. $1.29 for 3-4" pot herbs!
2012 alphonso mango sightings
But I agree with Corey if all you have ever eaten is a Tommy Atkins mango then an Ataulfo is pretty mind blowing. I'm almost scared to try an Alphonso, what if I can't go back? :)
Pop-up garden centres in Toronto
The produce store in Kensington Market at St. Andrew's and Kensington has had a very good selection of herb plants the last few years and the prices were great. She didn't have them yet the last time I walked by but keep her in mind.
Best way to buy meat directly from farmers?
West Side Beef's boxes work out to $7.50 a pound for 20 lbs. of ground beef, steaks, sausages, roasts, etc.
http://www.westsidebeef.com/index.html
Suggestions for a weekend near Toronto
Kingston would fit the bill. Historic inns/spas downtown and great restaurants within walking distance.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/806057
2012 alphonso mango sightings
I really enjoy Ataulfo mangos at this time of year. Are Alphonso that much better?
With warm weather are fiddleheads/wild leeks early?
I checked on the weekend north of Kingston and the fiddleheads were not up.
St. Lawrence Market - "World's Best Food Market" in National Geographic List -
Union Square green market is outdoor and temporary so to me it's not in the same league as SLM or the Borough Market. It's more like Dufferin Grove market: mostly organic, limited meat and fish, a few too many soaps/candles/giftie stuff. Union Square Market is bigger but still the same types of offerings.
NEW CONSOLIDATED Thread: Best Chicken Wings in GTA
Comparing Chinese wings to Buffalo wings = apples to oranges
NEW CONSOLIDATED Thread: Best Chicken Wings in GTA
My recent wings at Duff's were quite buttery and delicious. I was surprised because I have been unimpressed with Duff's in the past.
Wanting Really Good Baked Wings / Anywhere ?? Place To Sit In - Not Takeout
The Gem on Davenport west of Ossington, usually 2 craft beers on tap, great neighbourhood bar.
Two couple traveling 1st week of April - want Lobster
Take a look on line at Rockland, Damariscotta or Waldoboro and see which appeals to you. These are mid-size towns that will be open for business in April. Rockland Cafe right on Main street in Rockland does a great breakfast (fish cakes!) and they have the full lobster/seafood menu as well. Make sure you get off route 1 and drive down the peninsulas to see the little fishing ports - that is real coastal Maine.
Cinnamon powdered Tim Hortons in TO...
This is my favourite donut flavour, not necessarily Tim Horton's, but just a good old fashioned cinnamon donut. Why oh why has this flavour fallen from favour? It's even hard to find a plain old fashioned and what happened to powdered sugar donuts? Remember the donuts in the basement of Simpson's? I'd kill for one of those. Tiny Tims at the Ex is as close as I've found but they aren't as good as they used to be, kind of soggy.
eating Hong Kong
Do some homework. This question has been asked and answered on this board many times.
Chinese Red Tea?
I have been served Pu Erh tea in China and it was considered very special. I am surprised that this restaurant would refer to it as regular Chinese tea if it was Pu Erh. Might be worth another round of questioning.
Hoagies/Heros/Cold Sandwiches in Toronto?
I am not an expert on subs/hoagies but when I worked in Scarborough we used to walk to Colangelo Brothers, an Italian grocery on Midland north of Progress, for sandwiches. You picked out a bun in the bakery section, tomato from the produce section and took them to the ladies at the deli counter and they loaded it up with whatever meat and cheese you wanted. They had condiments but I'm sorry I don't remember exactly what. Anyway, I'm not sure they were up to your standard but I am sure there must be other Italian grocers that do something similar so you might want to look there. I'm actually craving one of those sandwiches now and I really don't like subs :)
