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March 31 Rebozos "The Only Way To Eat Mexican Food"126 Rogers Road,
west of Dufferin
Toronto, Ontario
416-658-5001
Regardless of the cultural origin, good old fashioned
traditional home cooking is always our favorite. Rebozos is the Mexican answer. It's as informal as it gets with red and white checkered plastic table cloths and utensils to match. The homey setting is complete with a wide screen TV. This is south of the border (US) soul food that we adored.
Pozole is a rich soup with a base of hominy corn simmered with pork, chilies, garlic and Mexican oregano. It's served with lettuce, extra oregano and lemon to be added as desired. Carnitas, pork simmered for a long time, then braised in the
oven, is served with warm tortillas, two salsas (secret recipes), chopped cebolla (onions) and cilantro. Pile the carnitas on the soft tortillas, garnish, and enjoy. Sold by the kilo, we ordered a quarter of a kilo, just enough for the included six tortillas. We also had a crispy vegetarian tortilla topped with beans,
lettuce and sour cream and a quesadilla filled with Mexican chorizo (sausage). All the makings were fresh and tasty. Tere Medina and Indalecio Marroquin, from Mexico City, have
been at it for a few years now. Personable Izza Mojica, from Monterrey, provided friendly, attentive service. Our regret is that it has taken us so long to find Rebozos. November 11 Dos Amigos - Authentic Mexican Foodhttp://www.dos-amigos.ca/
1201 Bathurst Street Toronto, ON
Tel: 416-534-2528
Fax: 416-535-6096
Dinner 5-9:30 pm
Sunday Brunch 11:30-5:00 pm
Closed Mondays
We long ago gave up any hope of finding authentic Mexican
cooking with a bit of creative flair in Toronto. That is why we never considered Dos Amigos in spite of the fact we constantly walk or drive by its Bathurst St. location. Saturday we were walking south on Bathurst street to another restaurant and took the big step of stopping to look at the menu, very inviting. We are flexible, a fast change of plans. Once inside the ochre walls, Mexican artifacts, photos,
plants and bright smiling staff brought the menu to life, a slice of Mexico right here on Bathurst Street. We were welcomed by the floor manager, the vivacious Lizbeth, who was born to the job. In the course of the evening we met the "Dos Amigos" (two friends) Enrique of the cucina and Mauricio who rules the front. Two fun loving fellows who bring their spirit to the staff and clientle. The wide cozy bar and stools toward the rear are a cheerful
spot to share a drink and appetizer while waiting to be seated. The menu ranges from classic to updated fare based on the best of fresh market availability. Everything offered is made in house including the crunchiest, tastiest tortilla chips that were served with sublime guacamole (crushed avocado with chunks of onion and tomato, topped with queso fresco) that was a marriage of velvety smooth and chunky texture bursting with subtle fresh flavor. Pozole is a chicken and hominiy (a type of corn) soup topped
with lettuce and laced with chopped onion, oregano and hot pepper. Extras of these 3 garnishes are served on the side and added to taste. This soup and the guacamole made us believers. Linda had the salad of the day, Ensalada de Manzana (apples,
baby spinach, tomato, carrots, avocado and peanuts with a tamarind dressing) which she adored. I made the superb choice of Carne Asada (grilled sirloin accommpanied with a stuffed chicken mole enchilada, cheese quesadilla, black beans, rice and guacamole). The quality steak was grilled my way, perfectly medium rare, the accompaniments exceptional. We finished with a delectable chocolate flan, pecan cake topped with a layer of chocolate cream caramel lightly covered with a spread of cajeta. We're regulars! Of special note is the degree of cleanliness that is
maintained which carries down the attractive staircase to the spotless mexicana washrooms. Dos Amigos is a place for all Amigos to meet, have fun and
enjoy fine Mexican cuisine and drink. There is complimentary parking at the end of the laneway that runs along the south side the restaurant. October 03 Mt. Everest Restaurant469 Bloor Street West
Toronto
Tel: 416-964-8849
Lunch Buffet:
Mon-Fri: 11:30 am - 3:00 pm
Sat-Sun: 12 noon - 3:00 pm Dinner (a-la-carte):
Sun-Thur: 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm Fri and Sat: 5:00 pm - 10:30 pm When we heard that out-of-town members of TheTravelzine
travel discussion group would be visiting Toronto, we planned a get-together to coincide with their visit. When one of our group moderators suggested Mt. Everest Restaurant as the venue, we decided to "audition" the restaurant on our own. The fragrant aromas of spices and herbs that greeted us at
the entrance made a favorable impression. The muted lighting, simple decor and welcoming staff made us feel right at home - it's that kind of place. As soon as we were comfortably seated our waiter brought a
complimentary basket of papadam, crispy lentil crackers toasted in the tandoori oven, accompanied by three dips. The menu is quite extensive with offerings of traditional
Indian and Nepalese recipes. We chose the Nepali village style Khasi Ko Masu (goat meat stewed with local spices and herbs), bhindi masala (fresh okra sauteed with onions, tomatoes and north Indian spices) and, of course, naan (flatbread). You can specify the desired degree of heat; mild, medium or spicy - we choose the latter. Delighted with the quality, preparation, presentation and
service, we worked with Dibesh Regmi, one of the owners, to plan the menu for the gathering of "Ziners". On the get-together evening, we couldn't help but notice the
appropriateness of the family-style presentation of the delicious food. Although we were a large group, the staff anticipated all our needs to ensure that we were able to enjoy the get-together as guests, rather than organizers. We chatted about our travel experiences over plates of
assorted chef special appetizers (vegetable fritters, tandoori seekh kabab, boti kebab, samosa), palungo Ko Saag (Nepalese spinach), Jhaneko dal (Nepalese lentils), chicken tikka masala, and lamb curry, served with white rice and spectacular assorted breads. Mt. Everest was a great choice for our event and we highly recommend you choose this venue when you're planning your party. Our get-together was a smashing success thanks to our great members, their stimulating conversation, the excellent food and caring service; it was a perfect evening. October 02 Olivias at Fifty Three53 Clinton, just north of College St.
Toronto
Telephone: 416-533-3989
Dinner from 5:30pm: Tuesday-Sunday
Brunch from 10:30am: Sundays
Closed Mondays
We have been purchasing our wine at Portofino, 305 Milvan
Drive, in Toronto, Tel. 416-740-4411, for years. The charming owner, Alejandro de Miguel had told us that his daughter, Alejandra, along with Julian Pinser, had purchased Olivia's at Fifty Three restaurant at 53 Clinton St., Tel. 416-533-3989. We decided if Olivia's prepares food as well as Portofino makes wine, it would make sense to find our way there. We were in the neighborhood this past Saturday and stopped
in to have coffee and do a little research. It was a glorious day and the patio of the lovely small Victorian home was bathed in sunlight. As we walked up the few steps to the shaded porch we were warmly greeted by the gorgeous and vivacious Alejandra. She happily took us on a tour. The main dining room is small and designed for pure comfort and relaxation. The co-owners are big jazz fans so there are regularly scheduled performances at the front of the room. The cucina is just behind the dining room and beyond is the rear porch and patio retreat (cherry tree and all), a perfect spot to linger over a glass of wine or enjoy a fine meal. An added bonus is that you pass through the cucina on the way and have the good fortune to watch chef Keith Kowalzski and his team making their magic. With the family wine making history, it was not surprising
to find Toronto's first microwinery in the wine cellar. Here they produce their own vintages that can only be consumed on the premises. The room is surrounded by wine racks, oak kegs and steel vats for fermenting. A table in the center can accommodate up to 12 people for tastings or special parties. Alejandra invited us to come the next afternoon for the
"grape crushing" event they were hosting. It was a blast. The exclusive wines and jazz got everyone in a party mood. Chef Keith produced amazing goodies, such as; quesadillas with goat cheese and sun dried tomatoes, meat empanades, boneless short ribs, large grilled cajun shrimp, scallop ceviche, ricotta and chocolate chili tarts, and smoked trout, goat cheese and pesto tortillas. Now it was show time - the crushing of grapes. Two wooden
barrels were filled with purple beauties. Enthusiastic volunteers stripped off their shoes, rolled up their trousers, lifted their skirts, jumped into the barrels and stomped away to the beat of the music. Now we know that Olivia's is stylish, laid back, and fun.
The wine is divine, the jazz cool and chef Keith has talent. His current dinner menu is inticing and when we've had a chance to sample it, we will keep you informed. September 29 La Paloma1357 St. Clair Ave. W, at Landsdowne
Toronto, ON
Telephone: 416-656-9900
Fax: 416-656-8602 Hours:
Winter - Mon.-Thur. 7:30am-11:00pm Fri.& Sat. 7:30am-12:00am Sundays 7:30am-11:00pm Summer: Every Day 7:00am-11:00pm
We have traveled through Italy for at least 30 years and
enjoyed gelato throughout the country. At home in Toronto, we feed our gelato addiction at La Paloma on Corso Italia. http://www.lapaloma.ca Sal Giannone has been lovingly cultivating his craft for 30
years and, with his son Mel, produces gelato from flavor bases imported from Italy enhanced by premium natural ingredients. Sal has developed recipes that make his creations rich in flavor and a pasteurization process that adds a unique smoothness and creaminess to the texture. Linda loves Mandorlinda, luscious chocolate with toasted
almonds, named after her because she suggested the combination to Sal some years ago. It's a best-seller now. I normally enjoy Pistacchio Siciliano and Bacio but when I'm in the mood for fruit flavors, as today, a cone topped with fragiola (strawberry), frutti di bosco (wild berries) and limone - is amazing! The fragiola and frutti di bosco contained luscious preserved strawberries and wild berries and Sal pointed out that the limone tastes like lemon because he uses freshly squeezed lemon juice, not concentrate. This reminded me of the "old days" when Sal had one machine at the front of the shop and we used to see him peeling bananas, feeding them in at the top and scooping the smooth, pureed product from the bottom. Nothing has changed, it has just gotten better. During the summer season you will find about 70 flavors from
which to choose, slightly reduced to about 60 during the winter. One should indulge year round. when you can choose from the likes of; moncherie (chocolate cherry), bacio truffle (hazelnut and chocolate), caffe, cannolo siciliano, cassata, mandorla tostata (toasted almond), stracciatella (chocolate chip), fiesta (chocolate orange), tiramisu, mango, watermelon, and the list of pleasures goes on and on. La Paloma is a welcoming place from early morning until late
in the evening. It's a bright and cheerful authentic gelateria and caffe. The espresso and cappucino are reason enough to go, the real thing. Enjoy it with pastry or panini and of course finish with gelato. For those who may not know, gelato is not ice cream. Gelato is lower in fat, La Paloma's contains only 3% to 5%. Fruit flavors have almost no fat (.25%). Gelato is less firmly frozen, softer than ice cream (gelato stored at +8F, ice cream at -10F). Gelato uses lower amounts of sugar than ice cream, is easier to digest. For those who haven't already, it's time to switch. September 13 Foxley BistroFoxley Bistro
207 Ossington
Toronto
Tel: 416-534-8520
Mondays-Saturdays:
Dinner only: 6pm-11pm
The junction of Dundas St. W and Ossington Ave. is a bastion
of the Portuguese community, a neighborhood rich in the cultural growth of Toronto. As in most of the original downtown neighborhoods change is happening. A younger and diverse population is renovating, remodeling and replacing existing residences. A restaurant such as Foxley at 207 Ossington, just south of Dundas, would have been unthinkable in the past. Today it is a welcome new entry. The name comes from an adjacent street and its unpretentious
storefront and interior have the charm and comfort of a traditional "neighborhood restaurant". However, the menu is not one you would associate with an eatery of that ilk. The daily list of market fresh ingredients prepared by Tom Thai exemplfy his roots in creating dishes influenced by the cuisine of Asia, Latin and South America. This is the new "neighborhood restaurant", just as welcoming, cozy, and warm. This evening's list had about 26 offerings, each of which
sounded irresistible. If you have trouble deciding the helpful staff can offer knowledgeable guidance. The idea is to choose a number of dishes and share. This was our second visit so we knew the portions were fairly substantial for this type of dining and that four selections would be sufficient (just the two of us celebrating 45 years of marriage). Linda was looking forward to a repeat of the grilled meaty side ribs with caramelized shallot glaze. Fortunately they were still being offered and she was in ecstasy again, as was I. There were two types of fresh spring rolls. Last time we had the rice paper wrapped version with grilled spice rubbed skirt steak and rice vermicelli, tonight we opted for the one filled with grilled portobello mushroom, chipotle, vine leaf and herb salad. Both are rich in tantalyzing flavor and texture. These two delights were quickly followed by the grilled rib eye steak with chimichurri and baby arugula and a grilled japanese pike mackerel with yuzu-ponzu sauce. Beef rib steak is the most flavorful (love that fat) and when topped with Tom's rendition of chimichurri sauce it is over the top. I do love mackerel, this type was a first. It is long and slender and when grilled properly, as this was, the flesh is moist and tender. If you like mackerel this version married with the delicate yuzu-ponzu sauce is a wise choice. The atmosphere inspires leisurely use of the offered
chopsticks and time for quiet conversation. In our case the opportunity to relive 45 years of our enduring partnership. Foxley is open only for dinner Monday - Saturday, 6pm - 11pm. No reservations. The prices are quite reasonable for this style of dining. If there's a wait, it's worth it. July 19 Chinese Lantern Festival 2007The 2007 Rogers Chinese Lantern Festival at Ontario Place
is the largest event of its type ever produced and Toronto, which is the only place in the world that it is staged. We started at the entertainment stage where the beating of
drums introduced the first act featuring a masterful performance by Chinese acrobats - truly amazing. There will be many acts from China and Canada performing over the course of the festival. Just behind the stage is the brand new Marketplace where we
found cuisine and food demonstrations from the four regions of China represented at the festival. The nearby Craft Market offers lessons in paper cutting,
palm leaf weaving, candy making and many other Chinese art forms, many of which are available for sale. Forty new Chinese Lantern are on display during the 2007
festival. While they are stunning during the day and early evening, they are amazing after dark. Come early, stay late, you will have memorable evening. The festival is on from July 19 to October 7, 2007.
Dates and hours: - July 19 to September 3 - Every Day: 7:00pm to 11:00pm - September-October 4,5 - Thurs & Fri: 6:00pm to 10:00pm - September and October 6,7 - Sat & Sun: 5:00pm to 10:00pm Starfish Oyster Bed & GrillStarfish Oyster Bed & Grill,
100 Adelaide Street East, Lunch: Monday-Friday Noon-3:00 Supper: Monday-Saturday 5:00-10:00ish Oyster Bar: All Day (Noon-11:00ish) During "Summerlicious" in Toronto, participating restaurants
offer special 3 course menus for $15.00-$20.00 at lunch and $25.00-$35.00 at dinner. A friend recommended that we try Starfish Oyster Bed &
Grill, owned by Patrick McMurray, a World Champion Shucker and world class authority on oysters (has even written a book on the subject). "Cape Cod ambiance" with photos of plump succulent oysters
greeted us as we entered the warm, welcoming rooms. The oyster bar sets the mood which carries over to the glossy wood tables, with comfy banquettes lining the walls. No compromising here, Starfish has committed itself to
serving only the Summerlicious menus during the event. All the 3 course meals consist of selections from the regular menus. The goal here, as it should be, is to introduce Starfish to potentially new customers and to reward old ones for their loyalty. To start, Linda chose the tomato gazpacho with poached
matane shrimp, diced vegetables and creme fraiche - "ecstasy". I labored between the Shucker Paddy shellfish plate (4 oysters and two scallops) or grilled whole Atlantic sardines with black olive tapenade and preserved lemon. Luckily I am a sardine devotee and did not miss out on these beautifully prepared beauties. Fish and chips is to Linda what sardines are to me, so her
main course choice was easy. But this was not your ordinary wrap in newsprint to soak up the grease variety, this was heavenly. Fresh halibut crusted in panko and horseradish and baked crisp outside while maintaining the moist freshness of the fish. Three large pieces were served with nappa cabbage slaw, house made potato chips and an oyster stout aioli. Hers came a few second before mine which caused me to have an instant jealousy attack. Not to fear, a thick seared filet of Nova Scotia char with roasted beets and wild rice served with a carrot and orange beurre blanc put me at ease. Oh yes, we were in the mood for beer but were not familiar
with any of the draft beers on the list. After checking our taste preferences our waiter suggested "Sergeant Major" which is light brown in color and awesome in flavor. Draft beer is $2.95 for 10 ounces and $5.65 for 20 ounces, very reasonable. The two desserts were a superb finish to a marvelous meal.
Chocolate brownie with chantilly cream and rhubarb jam for the lady and a lemon square with Ontario strawberry salad for me. Starfish is a must for seafood lovers and we understand the meat preparations are equally exciting. This is a kitchen that cares - imagination, freshness, thoughtful preparation and presentation. May 11 Churrasqueira AveirenseBloor Village Grill House
1184/86 Bloor Street West
Toronto
Phone: 416-538-3197
Hours: 11:00 am-11:00 pm daily
We are so lucky to live in city of such cultural diversity
that at any given time we can dine in any country of our choosing. Tonight we were joined by friends who like us are seasoned Portugal travelers and have come to love the cuisine. Fortunately we have a substantial Portuguese community in Toronto which has resulted in a plethora of restaurants and churrasqueiras from which to choose. The Bloor Village Grill, Churrasqueira Aveirense (the owner is from Aviero) is as authentic a Portuguese dining experience as you can find on this side of the Atlantic. The large space is comfortably designed reflecting its
country of origin including large TVs for football coverage. The staff are welcoming and helpful. The patrons are mostly Portuguese so it's a good place to learn the language. It's a slice of Portuguese life. There is a basic menu of typical appetizer, meat, fish and seafood offerings. We like to choose from the long list of daily specials. Oh my, chanfana de cabrito (goat stew), chunks of tender goat stewed gently with herbs, garlic and a bit of wine and served with boiled potatoes, broccoli and carrots - the choice for two of us. Leitao a bairrada (roast suckling pig), is a house specialty and is served with french fries, rice, mixed salad - an order for one please. And finally a slice of grilled grouper, sliced fried potatoes and mixed salad for one. Our waiter suggested a red wine from Alentejo (a region well known for excellent reds) that was ruby red, well balanced, with a lovely berry flavor and went very well with our varied dishes. Quality home cooking, ample portions, and very reasonable prices (including the wine) equals outstanding value! May 07 Castle Dragon Restaurant308 Dupont Street, W. of Spadina
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Café Nervosa
75 Yorkville Av.
Toronto, ON
416-961-4642
Summers Hours:
Sunday-Saturday
11:30 am - 11:00 pm
Winter Hours:
Sunday-Saturday
11:30 am - 10:00 pm
Friday and Saturday
11:30 am - 11:00 pm
Café Nervosa is a perfect fit, whether you want to drop-by for a
light bite or spend the evening tête-à-tête with your s/o. Great
Martini list and wine selection to compliment the fantastic menu.
Demetrio or Ricardo will greet and seat you and from then on one
of the friendly, professional waiters (Reagen) will ensure that
your visit meets your expectations in every way.
We couldn't have picked a better place for our anniversary
celebration! Sharing each course, we were able to sample a
wonderful variety without over-indulging: bocconcini salad, pizza
Margherita, daily special pasta (fresh tuna, scallops, jumbo
shrimps and smoked salmon), lemon sorbet & tart and biscotti.
The place is heavenly but the prices are down-to-earth! The
secret is out so make reservations - you won't be disappointed.