Matt416's Profile
Boulud in Toronto?
Word on the street is that Daniel will be coming, but not to open a high end resto. Just a Bakery and casual spot.
Matt
Looking for fine dining near M & T Bank Stadium
Hello Ravens fans!
I'm a sommelier coming down from Toronto to watch the Jets(Dad's team) vs. Ravens(My team) on Sunday Oct. 2nd. We are staying within walking distance of the stadium but would easily venture a little ways to get a great dinner before the game. A great wine list would be a big plus. Well prepared, high quality ingredients, local food, etc. as well. Cost isn't really relevent as this is a once a year thing for us.
Matt
Trying to send someone a bottle of champagne
Thanks for all the help everyone. Beacon wines worked out great!
Matt
Trying to send someone a bottle of champagne
Hello New Yorkers.
I want to have a bottle of champagne delivered to a friend of mine for her birthday. She lives on the Upper West side. Does anyone know of a service or store I could use (I tried '67' but they only take AMEX)
Matt
Toronto Sommelier/Foodie in town for one night
Hello Atlantans!
My Dad and I are taking a quick 24hr. trip down to Atlanta from Toronto to watch the Ravens/Falcons NFL game on Nov. 11 (I know, it sounds rediculous). I wanted to ask for some advise as to where to go out to eat some authentic Atlanta/Georgia regional food somewhere close to the Georgia Dome. We are very much into Barbeque and all things pork related as well.
Any suggestions would be very helpful.
Matt
Ontario 2007 Vintages
The Tawse Carly's Block Riesling '07(I don't think you can get it anymore) has destroyed my feeling's about Ontario riesling. It utterly outclassed some very serious offerings of late from top growers in Alsace (Weinbach and Zindt) for slight residual wines. These guys are VERY serious.
Matt
Does Grace allow BYOB?
I'm going to Grace tonight and I've heard they have a relatively small wine list. Can I bring a bottle from my cellar?
Matt
Under Pressure...
New Keller cookbook, awesome, considering they can't do it in NY...
discuss....
Matt
Wagyu/Kobe beef
I'm not sure when it will be released in their retail stores.
As for the labelling, well, I agree that a protected product (like the products protected by the French AOC laws) should be entiltled to its name of origin, and nobody should be using Kobe to describe beef comming from anywhere else than Kobe - Japan. Unfortuneately, this is currently being trumped by a market that is mostly unaware what the term "Wagyu" refers to, and using "Kobe" or "Kobe style" is the best way to describe what differentiates the product from Cumbrae's other beef and gives an indication of why it is in a different price category. It's not perfect by any stretch of the imagination.
I believe also, that Kobe beef comes in many grades, not just the prized 'almost white' top grades.
Matt
Wagyu/Kobe beef
Steve Alexander, the proprieter of Cumbrae's has only been working with a Wagyu (100% Wagyu, Australian origin) steer they bought approx. 8-12 months ago. They have been experimenting with different raising techniques which will take some time to figure out. You probably bought his third generation trial which would've been on the market a month or so ago (maybe longer). The fourth generation has about twice the marbling of the third, so look for the Cumbrae Wagyu to get better, but understand that it is taking a considerable amount of time and care on their part. Steve is very passionate about this particular product.
Matt
Toronto for one night only
I went with 4 friends on a saturday night maybe six weeks ago. We pretty much had everything on the menu. Standouts included a perfectly cooked squash risotto with a heaping leg of duck confit on top (soooo good on a cold winter night) and a plate of "overnight" beef cheek papardelle (sourdough crutons scattered in the pasta made for the most wonderfull texture). Though I can't remember everything we had, there was no dish that lacked flavour, acid, or texture. I would not consider myself to be an easy to please diner and I was very impressed with their elevated bistro offerings. Wine list is small but very well chosen.
Matt
Toronto for one night only
I will second the Harbord Room. Excellent staff. The food is waaaaaay better than one would expect from a neighbourhood bistro. The Chef, Cory Vitello (sp?) trained under Keith Froggett for four years before doing a stint as Sous at the Drake. It's also turning into quite the industry hangout post 10pm.
Matt
Good seafood restaurant in downtown toronto?
I will Third the recomendation for Starfish. My favorite downtown for Seafood.
Matt
Toronto Life's Restaurants 2008 - worst trend list
Great post. The best of local plus the best from elsewhere usually results in the best experience in my book.
Matt
LCBO New Releases
If anyone is after the 2004 Dominus, they still have a couple of Magnums at the Manulife centre and a bunch of bottles at Dupont/Davenport (just ask a consultant - they're in the back). Summerhill sold out immediately this morning.
Winterlicious - Chef Series?
Surprised there's no reviews. I wanted to go to the Colbourne Lane/Alinea one but scheduling just didn't work out. Anyone??
Matt
Oliver Bonacini recommendation needed
Here's another vote for Canoe. Auberge may be good, but there's a reason why Canoe is their flagship resto, and Chef Walsh is almost always there, leading his kitchen.
Matt
Barolo at LCBO - under $40
A decent Barolo is hard to come by at that price range. Nebbiolo is very hard and expensive to grow, and really only a handful of areas do justice to the grape. For cheaper options, you could look for a Veltellina, which is a Nebbiolo based wine from Lombardy. They're usually not as massive as a Barolo or Barbaresco, but would fit into your price range. You can also look to southern italy for wines based on the Aglianico grape which is both acidic and massively tannic like Nebbiolo. Aglianico del Vulture or Taurasi (called the Barolo of the south) are wine categories that might fit your price range as well.
Matt
Underwhelmed and Overpriced at Harbour Sixty Steakhouse (long)
I have had the oppourtunity to chat with Harbour 60 management at wine tastings and industry functions. They use a flat markup of 500% of every bottle of wine they sell, period. As a wine lover and sommelier, I refuse to set foot in the restaurant for that reason alone.
An '82 Le Pin would go for about $10,000, but not much else. Petrus half that.
No other Pommerol's command that kind of price.
Matt
Lucien on Wellington
That's a great comment. There seams to be a trend in Toronto dining of intrusive service. If I am out having dinner, the last thing I want is to be interrupted 10 times over the course of a meal to see if everything is ok. Look at my plates when they go back! Do I look happy? Ask me when taking the dessert order. My thinking is that someone who keeps asking me how things are, shows no confidence in what they are doing.
Matt
Lucien on Wellington
I find $200 a head for Lucien to be a bit much. I like the atmosphere, and some of the cooking is well executed but not all. Wine list is short and pricey. I must disagree with some of the posters on this board about their "deconstructed sushi pizza" (shudder). That dish was by far the worst I had there. Overthought, to many things going on on the plate, all of which overwhelm the delicate raw fish. If I'm paying sashimi tuna prices, I should be able to taste more than salt, aioli, and roe.
Matt
Canoe .. Is it worth it
It was not prearranged. We asked for the longest tasting menu they could give us. also note that I do work in the industry and they were well aware of that.
Matt
Canoe .. Is it worth it
I had a fantastic 10 course tasting menu in October. Chef Walsh brought several of our courses to the table himself. Their sommelier Joanne was spot on with wine pairings. The highlight for me was the loin/belly/compression terrine of St. Canut pork combination with a Miguel Merino Gran Riserva 1998 Rioja. At the end of the day, for an expensive restaurant, Canoe has always been spot on for me. The team there seems to be constantly improving as well.
Matt
colbourne lane....
I have been to all three in the last little while and would say Colbourne is well ahead of both Lucien and Globe in terms of the food they are presenting.
Matt
Iberico Ham from Spain
there was a rumor going around last year that they got heavily fined by the city for serving it. Just a rumor though.
Matt
