www.gourmetrecipedia.blogspot.com
That's the link to my new website, Gourmet Recipedia. Pls Check Out The Layout as I will be adding new recipes often. Pls leave comments and suggest recipes you'd like to see.
Thanks,
Your Resident Chef
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Monday, May 26, 2008
Volare: Windy City Done Right
Never judge a book by its cover, or a restaurant by its website.
Volare Restaurant- Chicago http://www.volarerestaurant.com/
So it was a recent weekend road trip that found us in The Windy City, one of the few food capitals of the U.S., and the world even, so I am told.
The problem with dining with a large group of people is that everyone has their own ideas, opinions and notions about certain things, and it makes for a frustrating experience when everyone can't decide on the right place.
We had some suggestions from a globetrotting friend, who dines with the elite...although the majority of those selections were shot down by our local expert, we were adventurous and took the advice of our trusty concierge, who recommended this place according to our specific needs- affordable, good Italian food.
Queue VOLARE- an almost hole-in-the-wall-ish type place, was quite close to our hotel located in the downtown district, that we didn't even need a cab.
Volare Restaurant- Chicago http://www.volarerestaurant.com/
So it was a recent weekend road trip that found us in The Windy City, one of the few food capitals of the U.S., and the world even, so I am told.
The problem with dining with a large group of people is that everyone has their own ideas, opinions and notions about certain things, and it makes for a frustrating experience when everyone can't decide on the right place.
We had some suggestions from a globetrotting friend, who dines with the elite...although the majority of those selections were shot down by our local expert, we were adventurous and took the advice of our trusty concierge, who recommended this place according to our specific needs- affordable, good Italian food.
Queue VOLARE- an almost hole-in-the-wall-ish type place, was quite close to our hotel located in the downtown district, that we didn't even need a cab.
I always try to go into each restaurant with NO expectations whatsoever, so that I can be wowed thoroughly. If I have even the slightest inkling of hope for something to expect- I always get let down. So I don't even bother to listen to any one's recommendations, I just go in hoping for the best. And for the most part- I still get let down. Apparently- I'm a very picky eater, according to my girlfriend.
For the record, I'm not a picky eater at all- I just hate when restaurants cut corners and think we don't know. Oh, we know.
Okay back to Volare. So we were all apprehensive about this place since we weren't confidant in the selector's choice, but hey, always have an open mind. Most of us, I think, wanted it to be a flop just so that we could prove our instincts right. But we were waaaaay off. This place really surprised us.
Upon entrance we already had a reservation for 9pm. We arrived at about 10 past 9 and this place was rammed. Good sign number 1. We didn't have to wait long at all as it seemed we were supposed to be seated outside, or on Volare's make-shift patio. This was an interesting concept. So we traveled to a nice, quaint- and by quaint I mean minner, patio. But since it was May and still cold (Windy City cold), their patio was enclosed by a plastic shower curtain type thing. Odd, but still, with the outdoor patio heaters, it gave us an intimate, almost cruise-like atmosphere.
So we're not off to a great start, our table of 7 was not the biggest, and we were bumping elbows with each other in an already crowded indoor/outdoor area.
Our waitress was nice and knowledgeable, but when asked what the specials were, she responded "there are none". Okay. What does that mean- you're out of the specials or you don't have any? Either way, this was not looking good. After up selling us on a softball-team size order of Calamari, that apparently only feeds 3-4...We were also up sold on 2 bottles of wine. Yes, we ordered two of the same bottles of wine for some reason...
To the menu...This thing was huge. This was your classic pasta house, so the standard one page-full dedicated to pastas, a meat and seafood section, and of course pizza.
We all carefully selected our meals and crossed our fingers. The calamari arrived and was good, lightly battered, seasoned well, and cooked to perfection. Not rubbery like you would expect, that you get you know- anywhere. This was good sign number two. So far we're tied 2-2. The meal would be the winning tally.
Let's just say, the food was amazing. I ordered the Risotto with chicken, peas, and asparagus...this was cooked to perfection. Not mushy, not raw...just right. The flavour exhumed Italy in my mouth, and I was very excite. The balance of seasoning, fresh parsley and chicken stock told me the guys in the back knew what they were doing. Not to mention the four cheeses, really made my tongue tingle.
I think every one's meal was superb. I didn't hear one complaint. In fact I didn't really hear one word from anyone as we all devoured our huge portioned meals. Not one of use even dented our plates, as the portions were definitely Italian style. Other meals consumed included:
Penne Arrabiatta: Spicy Vodka sauce- I should have got that it was damn good
Fettucine with Pesto: Also very good.
We all finished our meals (partially) with big grins on our faces. This had been one of the best meal's I'd had in a really, really long time. I will definitely recommend this place to anyone heading to Chi-town.
Every plate was decently priced, and all meals came home with us. Now, meal sizes in the US are fairly larger than those here north of the border, but still, value was great here.
I paid $50, including my main, split app, and 1 and bit glass of wine, and tip. And we tipped well. To me, that's a good deal. For food that good, I would have paid more, and been happy about it.
Overall, the decor was bush, the service was decent, the price was fair, but the food was amazing. And in all honesty, even though I always critique based on the overall experience, this time around the food made up for anything lacking, which wasn't much, mind you.
For a tourist, expectations are usually not that high as you already are spending a lot while in travel status. And that's what made Volare such a good experience, as it was cheap, but great. And I always say, good food does not have to be pricey. The best food should be found in the dumps, hole-in-the-walls, and back alleys.
So let this be a lesson to all of you, never judge a restaurant by their website, their ghetto patio, or their weird server. Give them a chance. The worst that can happen- It'll be bush and show up on this website.
Ciao.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Tips: Drive Thru Edition
After starting the battle of Drive thru's recently, I thought I would take the time to give my loyal readers some tips to get the most out of their drive thru experience. Since I have been on the inside, I feel as though I've been holding out on everyone. Seau.
Okay, so first things first...
If you're like me, you need to have fresh fries. Not only fresh, but froosh. McDonald's is notorious for having the best fries, yet also notorious for have the worst fries if they're not fresh.
Best thing to do to ensure the freshest fries is:
a) if you go when it's not busy and you're the only car/person ordering, ask for fries without salt. This will ensure that they will make you a fresh batch, then you can just salt them yourself. This works best when you go inside, but also can work in drive thru.
b) if its busy, you're in luck. The busiest times are the best to ensure the frooshest fries, cuz they have to replenish amply. Don't be scurred of that intimidating line...it's worth the wait.
c) just straight up ask for fresh fries, and tell them you don't mind waiting. This way they are not impartial to spitting in your food (just kidding, this never happens). As long as you're honest, the sont working there can't hate- they can only appreciate.
These days it seems as though sauce is a frigging commodity. Long gone are the days of getting a 20- piece nugget with 20 sauces, yes one for each nugget. For 12 cents there's no way I'm paying to have BBQ with my fries. How do I get free sauce you ask? Easy:
Order sauce with your meal at the end, like when they ask you for any ketchups, politely mention what sauce you'd like. This way EVEN if you didn't order nuggets, they should hook up a sauce. Now in the event that they are being toite- ask to see a manager. I know, everyone hates to be a bitch, but it's your right to have sauce. Just tell them in the nicest way "WTF?" 12 cents per sauce equals almost 0.3 cents per dip...this is ridiculous!
Note- if you're a woman, you shouldn't have any problems getting free sauce, but guys- you probably will. Seau boys, that's just the way of the world.
Ever get that drink that just doesn't stop leaking? I know we've all got the "dribbler", that seems like one innocent drop until you hit the brakes and you've got coke-age all over your dash. Keep an eye on the cup when they pass it to you....any leakage signals desperately for a new lid. You must ask for a new lid otherwise you're in trouble.
We all have a 'friend' (this may even be you) who is never satisfied with the way Fast Food places make their burgers...sometimes they just don't recognize the proper needs of the customer. If you're one of those ppl who always make special requests on the burger- (I once had a friend who always got his Big Mac with no onions), power to you! By making that special request, you are secretly enabling yourself to a fresh burger. When I used to work at Mc'D's oh so long ago...we utilized the "BIN" system. What is? you ask... The bin was simply a buffer of burgers for when it got super busy...We would have a float of a few of the most popular burgers so that we could just pump them out without having to wait for each individual order. Those days are long gone, thank God...As I'm sure we've all received that age-old McChicken that was made many, many hours ago.
So now Mc'D's always makes their burgers to order...or so they say. If someone changes their order, they do not throw away the extra burger- heaven forbid. They just leave it and assume someone will order it soon enough.
What I'm getting at is simple...Make your burger a special order and it will guarantee that it will actually be made right at that moment. Now this doesn't ensure that your chicken was fried right at that moment, but now we're just pushing it. In a perfect world, or say an A&W world, everything, and I mean everything is made to order.
Lastly, always check your bag before you pulle away from the window. There's nothing worse than getting home and realizing your fries are missing or you have no blood-clot straw. Even if there's a line, COTL of your bag and perform a contents check:
1- straw, napkin, sauce
2- correct burger/sammich
3- unspilled fries- 'fry check'- have one fry before you drive away...if its even smei-cold, send it back
Remember- no one likes working at any fast-food drive thru, and for the most part the people who do are young, high, and just don't give a fuck. So always try and make a joke or two, cuz even if they are krusty, and you make them smile, they'll think twice about giving you that burger that's been sitting in the bin for ages, or waiting that extra 3 seconds for the fresh one on it's way.
I hope these tips will enable you a better Drive-thru experience next time you find yourself meandering into the realm of fast food.
One last thing:
If you feel the service you received was bushy or the fries you got were cold- don't be afraid to voice your opinion. "The customer is always right" mentality really does come into effect in the Fast Food World. Don't be shy, speak to a manager, and I guarantee you'll be hooked up...
Tell them Alz sent you.
Monday, April 28, 2008
The Ultimate Food Battle: DRIVE-THRU: Part 1
I've decided to switch it up a bit here, since we're always punking these fancy restaurants, it's time to switch focus, and discuss something a little more important: that oh-so staple in everyone's week: the drive-thru.
As an ex-employee of the one and only Golden Arches, I must admit that I've become passionate about drive-thrus, and not only as a customer, but as a human being. Coming from the other-side, and being on the inside looking-out, I've been able to catch a glimpse at what really goes on back there, and most importantly, what shouldn't. As a Mcemployee, I became passionate about delivering top-notch service and great quality food (it's a stretch, I know) at the same time. Maybe I was just drilled by my managers at the time, but I have to give it to McD's, they really brainwash you to give customers the best experience possible. And now I think this is why I'm never satisfied by my eating experiences, cuz I'm always looking to improve something or the other. Anyhoo, in the end I know what it takes to work the drive-thru, and I will offer some tips for all you readers to make the most of your late nite pick-up.
So I've decided to switch my focus from dine-ins to drive thrus, mainly because we are constantly visting McD's, Wendy's, Burger Kings and the like moreso than going out to eat properly. So finding the right place for that quick snack is essentially more important.
We'll do a little competition to find the best drive thru in the GTA, mainly in the Markham/Scarborough area, and give you some insight as to whether its worth the drive to Acton (or A&W, in my opinion).
Burger King (aka- B-Kguy): Kennedy/Denison
Time: 3:15 am, Saturday night. This is peak traffic time for BK, as nothing else is really open 24 hours these days, except McDonald's that is a little north, and Wendy's that closes at 3am. So BK is always the place of choice, not just for us, but anyone coming back thullied from the clubs and in dire need of grubbage.
As we pulled up, I saw the line was about 4 cars deep, and thought "great, we'll be here forever", however I was pleasantly surprised that it only took us about 6 minutes from the time we ordered to the time we received our food, which is amazing considering we usually wait at McD's @ Bamburgh for anywhere from 10-20 minutes for a bloody Junior Chickra. But we'll leave that for another blog.
The sont on the mic was truely a sont. He kept asking me "Is That All?", every time I ordered something. It was brutal. I wanted to punch him in the speaker.
We ordered:
1 Spicy Chicken Combo, with KING size fries, reg diet coke
1 Jr. Whopper
1 6-Pc Chicken Fries
1 Reg Chocolate Shake
We didn't wait in line for very long, which was great. I don't think I've ever gone through drive thru at this late an hour that quickly before. I guess they had more than the usual one person working that night, big tings.
Our total came to about $12, which is decent for 2 people...
When I asked for sauce, the guy had assumed that I wanted Buffalo Sauce, which was fine, but I would like an option to choose one for myself. I understand that speed is key in drive-thru, but service should always come first. He should have asked me what sauce I wanted instead of holding me up at the window.
As an ex-employee of the one and only Golden Arches, I must admit that I've become passionate about drive-thrus, and not only as a customer, but as a human being. Coming from the other-side, and being on the inside looking-out, I've been able to catch a glimpse at what really goes on back there, and most importantly, what shouldn't. As a Mcemployee, I became passionate about delivering top-notch service and great quality food (it's a stretch, I know) at the same time. Maybe I was just drilled by my managers at the time, but I have to give it to McD's, they really brainwash you to give customers the best experience possible. And now I think this is why I'm never satisfied by my eating experiences, cuz I'm always looking to improve something or the other. Anyhoo, in the end I know what it takes to work the drive-thru, and I will offer some tips for all you readers to make the most of your late nite pick-up.
So I've decided to switch my focus from dine-ins to drive thrus, mainly because we are constantly visting McD's, Wendy's, Burger Kings and the like moreso than going out to eat properly. So finding the right place for that quick snack is essentially more important.
We'll do a little competition to find the best drive thru in the GTA, mainly in the Markham/Scarborough area, and give you some insight as to whether its worth the drive to Acton (or A&W, in my opinion).
Burger King (aka- B-Kguy): Kennedy/Denison
Time: 3:15 am, Saturday night. This is peak traffic time for BK, as nothing else is really open 24 hours these days, except McDonald's that is a little north, and Wendy's that closes at 3am. So BK is always the place of choice, not just for us, but anyone coming back thullied from the clubs and in dire need of grubbage.
As we pulled up, I saw the line was about 4 cars deep, and thought "great, we'll be here forever", however I was pleasantly surprised that it only took us about 6 minutes from the time we ordered to the time we received our food, which is amazing considering we usually wait at McD's @ Bamburgh for anywhere from 10-20 minutes for a bloody Junior Chickra. But we'll leave that for another blog.
The sont on the mic was truely a sont. He kept asking me "Is That All?", every time I ordered something. It was brutal. I wanted to punch him in the speaker.
We ordered:
1 Spicy Chicken Combo, with KING size fries, reg diet coke
1 Jr. Whopper
1 6-Pc Chicken Fries
1 Reg Chocolate Shake
We didn't wait in line for very long, which was great. I don't think I've ever gone through drive thru at this late an hour that quickly before. I guess they had more than the usual one person working that night, big tings.
Our total came to about $12, which is decent for 2 people...
When I asked for sauce, the guy had assumed that I wanted Buffalo Sauce, which was fine, but I would like an option to choose one for myself. I understand that speed is key in drive-thru, but service should always come first. He should have asked me what sauce I wanted instead of holding me up at the window.
We got home and ate our food about 10 minutes later. Let's just say, the food would have tasted great if we were thullied, but we weren't. Meaning the food was bushy. Now I'm not gonna be the biggest critic here (yeah right), cuz we weren't going to some gourmet place. But still.
Firstly, BK's Mayonnaise sucks. It tastes like a thicket of oil. They're chicken fries were definitely overcooked, or moreso their frying oil needed to be changed desperately. Their fries were okay, semi-fresh. The spicy chicken sandwich was pretty crappy, not spicy at all. One would think they would put their Buffalo sauce IN the spicy sandwich, but NO NO, they didn't. Making for a pretty bland-o sammich. Their Whopper Jr. was well, a Jr. Whopper. I don't know why I ordered it. One thing I hate, and this happens at Wendy's also, is the slip-sliding of the damn condiments in my burger. Why do these joints continue to dress their burgers with a hunk of tomato and a huge leaf of lettuce. Not to mention those rings of onions-baby (you will be missed, swirsk) they love to use, making for the slipperiest of burgers. One bite and you're eating half the burger only. Quite annoying. Lastly- the chocolate shake was horrible. It tasted like frozen mush-syrup mixed with plasticine.
At least the Diet Coke was good.
All in all, I'll rate our experience at about 2.5/5.
Service was not good at all. Quick, but that's about it. And speed is only HALF the battle.
Price was decent, can't really do much on the price as this is usually a standard.
Food was bush. How much can one really expect from a Drvie-Thru? Not a whole lot apparently.
Decor was Great...Love the view of the garbage can whilst turning the bend to get to the pickup window. Classy.
Overall: 1.5 STARS out of 5
BK- You are definately not the King of the Burger. Unless if you are royally thullied, I don't think you can enjoy a meal at 3am. Especially one a DT one. Don't worry readers, we'll find the best place, this I promise you.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Thuet? Ferme La Bush
Thuet- 609 King St. W (http://www.thuet.ca/)
Picture it: France, 1968...Psychedelic notions of Acid binges meets Ontario Cottage Country meets artsy sculpture-esque fine-dining, napkin-for-the-corner-of-your-mouth-type setting. Yeah, I know. Huh? you ask...Exactly. Meet Thuet, one of Toronto's up-and-coming high end popular French Restaurants in the downtown core, with chef/artist/juxstaposer Marc Thuet leading the way. This place is not for the weak at heart, or stomach for that matter...Be warned.
After reading Now Magazine's restaurant issue, Thuet was plastered on the cover with their signature Steak Frites...Coming in at the top of Toronto's newest eateries, I was sold... The article recommended the dish, basically steak and fries, along with a few other notable signature dishes such as the onion soup. I knew what I was getting. I've heard good things about this place and thought we needed a change from our usual Italian Bistro or Trattoria. So let's French it up.
It was raining like hell, and cold as usual, making finding this place even funner (word?). Finally, after parking miles away (should have cabbed it), we finally found Thuet, located near the likes of Susur, Lee and Tangerine Lounge, in the trendy King West district.
Thuet is a very posh place, once you walk up the stairs you are welcomed into a dim-lit, almost spooky type of atmosphere, with low lights, candle-lit tables very interesting decor. They offered to take my jacket, and I refused for some reason, maybe I'm just not used to that kind of service. Once I reached my table I thought "shit, is this the type of place that frowns upon jackets-on-the-back-of-chairs?" After a quick glance at surrounding tables I realized it was okay to drape them over the back of the chair, and I felt relieved. The decor in Thuet is quite a spectacle. I don't really understand the theme or concept, and maybe that's the point. There were some nice touches, including a fireplace lit by really large candles. That was cool. Some other pieces, not quite. Like for instance, large chandeliers and sconces made out of twigs and branches, or gold plated buddah heads housed in the corners of the dining room. Not to mention very detailed and kind of scary abstract paintings-done by Mr. Thuet himself, housed on the walls in the background.
I do like the setup of the dining room, with a couple of couches in front of the fake fireplace is a warm touch, a small bar towards the front entrance, and a long-angled bench/couch along one corner-very colourfully striped, mind you.
I'm not really understanding where all these nuggets fit in- in fact they don't fit in. But why? I dunno. Let's leave it at that. If you go to Thuet, you'll know what I mean. I did like the kitchen cut-out, that lets you get a sneak peak at what's going on on the otherside.
The menu's were neatly leather bound, but one problem- every thing's in FRENCH! Well, not completely- the description is in English, but the actual item is in French, which really doesn't help us. For example:
Line caught loup de mer studded with a duxelle soubise, quail egg agnolotti, ragoût of spring leek, Ox-eye Daisy caper + white berry froth
Yeah.
So what's that exactly? is what we asked our server, repeatedly. I mean sure, everything sounds better en Francais, but come on, really we should be able to read the damn thing instead of liking the way it sounds, ordering it, and then finding out its baby pig- or Porcelet, as the French call it.
Don't get me wrong, French cuisine is very fine-tuned, using nuggets of things I've never even heard of, but it can come off a little pretentious if you ask me.
Our server was very friendly and informative, in fact he was convincing enough to go ahead and order a salad for one of us who didn't even want an appetizer. He probably didn't want her to feel left out, I guess.
To start, I ordered a classic, Onion Soup. This soup was so dark and rich, it tasted as though it had been simmering for days...I like the touch of a thick slice of bread stuffed into the top with melted cheese...but it was way to much for me to handle....I only got through half of it before I had to stop myself- I needed to save room for my steak frites. Other apps order were:
Mennonite spring lamb tartare, chef’s raw sheep milk cheese, preserved black truffle vinaigrette, egg yolk drizzle 13$- Never seen Lamb tartar before, not something I would order, but it was still composed very well, and had many different elements that all were tasty.
Hand cut organic parpadelle, ragoût of Perth County rabbit, whelk, tarragon shoot emulsion 14$- Can never go wrong with fresh pasta, not too keen on the rabbit, but still I think this was one of the best dishes we sampled.
Very interesting combinations, which were tasty to say the least. Definite care and precision was taken in preparation for these meals, maybe a little over the top for us personally, but still good nonetheless.
For the mains, we ordered:
Medallion of Deer Valley Farm organic red deer, almond crust, fig confit, Northern Quebec dog rose + cloudberry coulis 25$- Deer, you ask? I know...I was shocked too...when this arrived it looked like a very tiny nugget, but I think that's all the deer one can really eat. Still, this dish was not bad. The name did scare me a bit, but it was presented nicely and had some interesting flavours. Not too sure about the chocolate sauce...
Milk fed Perth County porcelet, potato and fennel coulis, parsley purée, artichoke ragoût, molet crisp, star anise & pineapple essence 26$- Porcelet, or baby pig, is quite the thing in French cuisine, apparently. I didn't try this one but heard it was alright, nothing crazy.
Just a little wind of charcoal cooked B.C. organic salmon house made kefir, organic shoots, warm pickled vegetables, pine needles 28$
Okay, so for this meal, presentation was at a 10, for about 1 minute...
They brought out the salmon on this little kiln with heated charcoal underneath, definitely a "WOW" statement was made as the servers brought it out to our table. But then they put it down, and took the salmon off the minner grill and placed it on the diner's plate. Unfortunately, the salmon was looking a bit on the Tartare-side. I lie, it was a lot on the tartare side. So much so that we wished they would have just kept the grill on the table, so that it would have cooked fully and properly. We had to send this one back, mainly because we weren't in the mood for shashimi. When they brought it back it was decent, no complaints...The pickled vegetables were different, to say the least.
I ordered exactly what I came for, the only thing that was normal and not too extravagantly listed on the menu, Steak and Frites, was great. This was a flank steak, so not an extremely expensive or high-end cut of meat, but it was perfect. The frites were cut thin, skin-on, and fried to perfection. No sauce needed at all. For once I have nothing bad to say about my own dish- go figure! A sigh of relief from the blog critics, as I usually have an earful to say about my meal.
So let's score this badboy up:
Decor: 3/5- Very obtuse, odd, interesting at times, but still almost fancily scary. Too many different tings a gwan, in my opinion. I liked some of the subtle touches, but there weren't many...mainly the candle-lit fireplace. Artwork was scary, and most things just didn't match with each other. But then again that may be the theme- who knows.
Service: 4/5- Very knowledgeable server, although everything we inquired about was either "fabulous" or "highly recommended"...Still nothing to complain about here, we were served in a very respectable manner, which made us feel like "high-class" diners, which is always good once in a while.
Food: 3.5/5- Very good and Very not good. There were the good and the bads with this meal, unfortunately both extremes at the same time. My meal was great, but the others, not so much... The salmon fiasco was unnecessary, and I still beg to differ than Frenchies eat their salmon THAT pink...but who knows with the French, they do everything backwards. If you like interesting eats, and are a brave and adventurous soul, then you will love Thuet. That being said, don't come here if you're the type that feels Kelsey's is out of the ordinary for you.
Price: 3/5- We paid $285, including 4 apps, 4 mains, and 2 bottles of wine. Not bad at $70 a POP, but I don't feel as though we got great value for our money...In the sense that we were only 'wowed' to a certain extent. Thuet's food seemed to be a bit 'out-there', meaning most dishes involved serious concoctions that we were lucky if we knew more than one ingredient in it. Still, it's good to get some insight into what others are eating around the world, and even to explore things you would never eat otherwise.
So, as an experience, Thuet definitely was an 4/5, but as a restaurant I would have to give it a 3-3.5/5. Was I full after the meal, yes. Was I wanting more, yes. Maybe not more to eat, but more to chew, mentally. I felt like I was stuck in a bad Stephen King novel, or worse, a Stephen King movie...I guess I just like simple things in life, simple food, simple themes and simple combinations...As much as I like to explore new things, I felt bombarded at Thuet...just too much going on at once. That may have something to do with our pre-meal shenanigans, but I digress.
Yet again, still searching for the Ultimate Eat, I leave you, stomach still grumbling...
Picture it: France, 1968...Psychedelic notions of Acid binges meets Ontario Cottage Country meets artsy sculpture-esque fine-dining, napkin-for-the-corner-of-your-mouth-type setting. Yeah, I know. Huh? you ask...Exactly. Meet Thuet, one of Toronto's up-and-coming high end popular French Restaurants in the downtown core, with chef/artist/juxstaposer Marc Thuet leading the way. This place is not for the weak at heart, or stomach for that matter...Be warned.
After reading Now Magazine's restaurant issue, Thuet was plastered on the cover with their signature Steak Frites...Coming in at the top of Toronto's newest eateries, I was sold... The article recommended the dish, basically steak and fries, along with a few other notable signature dishes such as the onion soup. I knew what I was getting. I've heard good things about this place and thought we needed a change from our usual Italian Bistro or Trattoria. So let's French it up.
It was raining like hell, and cold as usual, making finding this place even funner (word?). Finally, after parking miles away (should have cabbed it), we finally found Thuet, located near the likes of Susur, Lee and Tangerine Lounge, in the trendy King West district.
Thuet is a very posh place, once you walk up the stairs you are welcomed into a dim-lit, almost spooky type of atmosphere, with low lights, candle-lit tables very interesting decor. They offered to take my jacket, and I refused for some reason, maybe I'm just not used to that kind of service. Once I reached my table I thought "shit, is this the type of place that frowns upon jackets-on-the-back-of-chairs?" After a quick glance at surrounding tables I realized it was okay to drape them over the back of the chair, and I felt relieved. The decor in Thuet is quite a spectacle. I don't really understand the theme or concept, and maybe that's the point. There were some nice touches, including a fireplace lit by really large candles. That was cool. Some other pieces, not quite. Like for instance, large chandeliers and sconces made out of twigs and branches, or gold plated buddah heads housed in the corners of the dining room. Not to mention very detailed and kind of scary abstract paintings-done by Mr. Thuet himself, housed on the walls in the background.
I do like the setup of the dining room, with a couple of couches in front of the fake fireplace is a warm touch, a small bar towards the front entrance, and a long-angled bench/couch along one corner-very colourfully striped, mind you.
I'm not really understanding where all these nuggets fit in- in fact they don't fit in. But why? I dunno. Let's leave it at that. If you go to Thuet, you'll know what I mean. I did like the kitchen cut-out, that lets you get a sneak peak at what's going on on the otherside.
The menu's were neatly leather bound, but one problem- every thing's in FRENCH! Well, not completely- the description is in English, but the actual item is in French, which really doesn't help us. For example:
Line caught loup de mer studded with a duxelle soubise, quail egg agnolotti, ragoût of spring leek, Ox-eye Daisy caper + white berry froth
Yeah.
So what's that exactly? is what we asked our server, repeatedly. I mean sure, everything sounds better en Francais, but come on, really we should be able to read the damn thing instead of liking the way it sounds, ordering it, and then finding out its baby pig- or Porcelet, as the French call it.
Don't get me wrong, French cuisine is very fine-tuned, using nuggets of things I've never even heard of, but it can come off a little pretentious if you ask me.
Our server was very friendly and informative, in fact he was convincing enough to go ahead and order a salad for one of us who didn't even want an appetizer. He probably didn't want her to feel left out, I guess.
To start, I ordered a classic, Onion Soup. This soup was so dark and rich, it tasted as though it had been simmering for days...I like the touch of a thick slice of bread stuffed into the top with melted cheese...but it was way to much for me to handle....I only got through half of it before I had to stop myself- I needed to save room for my steak frites. Other apps order were:
Mennonite spring lamb tartare, chef’s raw sheep milk cheese, preserved black truffle vinaigrette, egg yolk drizzle 13$- Never seen Lamb tartar before, not something I would order, but it was still composed very well, and had many different elements that all were tasty.
Hand cut organic parpadelle, ragoût of Perth County rabbit, whelk, tarragon shoot emulsion 14$- Can never go wrong with fresh pasta, not too keen on the rabbit, but still I think this was one of the best dishes we sampled.
Very interesting combinations, which were tasty to say the least. Definite care and precision was taken in preparation for these meals, maybe a little over the top for us personally, but still good nonetheless.
For the mains, we ordered:
Medallion of Deer Valley Farm organic red deer, almond crust, fig confit, Northern Quebec dog rose + cloudberry coulis 25$- Deer, you ask? I know...I was shocked too...when this arrived it looked like a very tiny nugget, but I think that's all the deer one can really eat. Still, this dish was not bad. The name did scare me a bit, but it was presented nicely and had some interesting flavours. Not too sure about the chocolate sauce...
Milk fed Perth County porcelet, potato and fennel coulis, parsley purée, artichoke ragoût, molet crisp, star anise & pineapple essence 26$- Porcelet, or baby pig, is quite the thing in French cuisine, apparently. I didn't try this one but heard it was alright, nothing crazy.
Just a little wind of charcoal cooked B.C. organic salmon house made kefir, organic shoots, warm pickled vegetables, pine needles 28$
Okay, so for this meal, presentation was at a 10, for about 1 minute...
They brought out the salmon on this little kiln with heated charcoal underneath, definitely a "WOW" statement was made as the servers brought it out to our table. But then they put it down, and took the salmon off the minner grill and placed it on the diner's plate. Unfortunately, the salmon was looking a bit on the Tartare-side. I lie, it was a lot on the tartare side. So much so that we wished they would have just kept the grill on the table, so that it would have cooked fully and properly. We had to send this one back, mainly because we weren't in the mood for shashimi. When they brought it back it was decent, no complaints...The pickled vegetables were different, to say the least.
I ordered exactly what I came for, the only thing that was normal and not too extravagantly listed on the menu, Steak and Frites, was great. This was a flank steak, so not an extremely expensive or high-end cut of meat, but it was perfect. The frites were cut thin, skin-on, and fried to perfection. No sauce needed at all. For once I have nothing bad to say about my own dish- go figure! A sigh of relief from the blog critics, as I usually have an earful to say about my meal.
So let's score this badboy up:
Decor: 3/5- Very obtuse, odd, interesting at times, but still almost fancily scary. Too many different tings a gwan, in my opinion. I liked some of the subtle touches, but there weren't many...mainly the candle-lit fireplace. Artwork was scary, and most things just didn't match with each other. But then again that may be the theme- who knows.
Service: 4/5- Very knowledgeable server, although everything we inquired about was either "fabulous" or "highly recommended"...Still nothing to complain about here, we were served in a very respectable manner, which made us feel like "high-class" diners, which is always good once in a while.
Food: 3.5/5- Very good and Very not good. There were the good and the bads with this meal, unfortunately both extremes at the same time. My meal was great, but the others, not so much... The salmon fiasco was unnecessary, and I still beg to differ than Frenchies eat their salmon THAT pink...but who knows with the French, they do everything backwards. If you like interesting eats, and are a brave and adventurous soul, then you will love Thuet. That being said, don't come here if you're the type that feels Kelsey's is out of the ordinary for you.
Price: 3/5- We paid $285, including 4 apps, 4 mains, and 2 bottles of wine. Not bad at $70 a POP, but I don't feel as though we got great value for our money...In the sense that we were only 'wowed' to a certain extent. Thuet's food seemed to be a bit 'out-there', meaning most dishes involved serious concoctions that we were lucky if we knew more than one ingredient in it. Still, it's good to get some insight into what others are eating around the world, and even to explore things you would never eat otherwise.
So, as an experience, Thuet definitely was an 4/5, but as a restaurant I would have to give it a 3-3.5/5. Was I full after the meal, yes. Was I wanting more, yes. Maybe not more to eat, but more to chew, mentally. I felt like I was stuck in a bad Stephen King novel, or worse, a Stephen King movie...I guess I just like simple things in life, simple food, simple themes and simple combinations...As much as I like to explore new things, I felt bombarded at Thuet...just too much going on at once. That may have something to do with our pre-meal shenanigans, but I digress.
Yet again, still searching for the Ultimate Eat, I leave you, stomach still grumbling...
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Moxie's Schmoxie's
Moxra's (East Beaver Creek)
Have you ever been to a really nice place, I mean, chic decor, packed with people, good music, and just a good all around vibe? These places are rare and have a certain charm, to go along with that atmosphere that we all seek every weekend.
Then you get your food. You take a bite and realize what you're really paying for- and it's not the food, that's for sure. How does such an establishment pack their seats nightly and yet serve sub-par tastings with mismatched themes, juxtaposed flavours with unprecedented pairings, and not to mention the bushiest of all the bushy cut(h)s of meat, that I wouldn't even feed my dogs?
Venturing into Markham/Richmond Hill's commercial culinary haven, not to mention the only local place to really dine...(please Markham we can't always go downtown to get a decent meal) brought us to the one and only East Beaver Creek. This epicentre of mainstream eats is a place that is always changing, with household names such as Alice Fazooli's, Marlowe (no headgear allowed), NAVA (formerly Rocky Mountain High), Honest Lawyer, Fox & The Fiddle, just to name a few...The rest change so frequently we can't keep up. Others include Carnival Brazilian Grill (don't eat there), Destiny, Spices, and other no-name establishments I'm very hesitant to venture into.
The name Moxie's is one that is known by everyone and loved by some. Definitely great for drinks or cocktails after work, or birthdays and special occasions...to drink. I really can't advise you to go there to eat. Mind you, they do have some decent apps, but when it comes to meals, 1/6 ain't that good.
You're paying for atmosphere, and nothing else.
I love the way this Moxie's is decorated...with high ceilings, circularly-enclosed booths and nice wooden tables. The light fixtures and chandeliers boast an upper-class, downtown-ish feel, and a huge open-concept bar stocked with the one and only Appleton's Rum definitely is a plus for us. Their patio is contained and their waiting area boasts comfy leather couches. The attention to detail in Moxies is first class, and the ambiance is surely one that anyone would love. It can get a little dark, but that's part of the atmosphere I presume. Although, our table area was very congested, and many servers/busboys created a high traffic area by our table.
To start, we ordered a Sizzling Shrimp Skillet, and a Goat Cheese dip with toasted bread (naan?). The dip was great, however there were not enough dipables. As for the Shrimp, they floated to us in a pool of butter, which made for a bit of an oily dip. Nothing spectacular.
The speed was there for delivery of our apps, about 10 minutes after we ordered. Next, the mains...
Moxie's menu is quite vast, although I'm still scratching my head wondering which direction their menu theme is going...Anything from salads to sandwiches to steaks to various curries, stir-frys and traditional pastas made it difficult to decide. Nothing really stood out to me, and everything seemed so generic that I was left wanting more from this global menu.
We ordered:
2 10oz Striploins- worst cut of meat I have ever had. Although the server was very careful to verify they way we wanted our steaks done, gave a slight impression that they may know what they were doing. But just because the steak was cooked right doesn't help the fact that it was a shitty cut of meat. AAA prime should not taste like that. One medium rare was so chewy we couldn't even cut through it. The other steak ordered Medium well was so tough with no pinkage in the middle. But then again, you can't expect to get a good steak anywhere but a steakhouse. They were warned. Imagine if they got the sirloin?
1 Cannelloni- by far the worst Cannelloni I have ever tasted. I hate to bash food and restaurants because it makes me seem like a picky SOB, but honestly the filling, which was supposed to be ricotta, tasted like old, mashed up sock. Dry as hell, flavourless and just outright crappy.
Should have gone with the tenders & fries, I think the server was trying to hint it.
1 Beef Vindaloo Curry- Meh. Why am I served a curry, on rice (sticky at that, not basmati, and 1 clump) and then also given naan pieces? How much carbs can one person eat. The curry was flavourful, with green and red peppers, and drizzled with yogurt. Some of the strips of beef were tender, and some were tough. Probably from some one's leftover striploin. I wasn't really satisfied, but am I ever? Shouldn't have trusted the recommendation!
1 Gourmet Pizza- this looked pretty good, although I did not sample it, I didn't hear any complaints...which means it must have been decent.
1 Atlantic Salmon with wild rice- no complaints about this one either, the salmon was seasoned well, I was informed. However this diner rarely dislikes his food, so this may sway his decision, as always.
The service here was quick, we got our food in a very timely fashion, and our waiter was quite friendly. Nothing to complain about here, although it did take him a while to take our order. It was busy though so we'll give him the benefit of the doubt.
Price wise, everything on the menu was reasonable, the steaks being the most expensive, at 28.95 each. They should have cost 10.95.
All in all, our experience was fair at best:
Decor- 5/5: Definitely a nicely structured restaurant, everything fits perfectly and there is a nice divide between bar-area and dining area. Attention to detail was key to Moxie's success, classy and trendy.
Food- 1/5: Not good. 1.5/6 meals we ordered were bushy, 1/2 apps were good. This is not good. Maybe Moxie's should try and stick with one theme instead of venturing into cross-country dishes. In order to be successful as a restaurant, one must focus on one thing and do it proper. From there you can dabble a bit in this and that. You can't offer the world and do each one shittily (word?). It's nice to have a variety of menu items, but not if each one doesn't fit. They should stick to salads, sandwiches and simple apps. I'm sure they can't mess that up...I hope.
Service- 3.5/5: Nothing to really complain about, taking our order took longer than it did to get our food, which is odd, and doesn't say much about how they are preparing our food. Where's the love? I'm almost positive that Moxie's utilizes frozen, pre-packaged goodness supplied from that of SYSCO or some other second-tier supplier. Come on Moxies, at least use fresh produce, trust me, people can tell.
Price- 2.5/5: Our total came to $240, I know, including 3 drinks, 1 bottle of wine and tip. I know we're paying for their high rent and for the high-class decor, but still...when it comes down to it, I'd rather pay for good food in a shithole than vice versa. But that's just me.
OVERALL: 2.5 STARS out of 5
Not much more I can say about Moxie's, but if they ever see me again, it'll definitely be just for drinks, and maybe, just maybe, an appy. Good Day. I said good day.
Have you ever been to a really nice place, I mean, chic decor, packed with people, good music, and just a good all around vibe? These places are rare and have a certain charm, to go along with that atmosphere that we all seek every weekend.
Then you get your food. You take a bite and realize what you're really paying for- and it's not the food, that's for sure. How does such an establishment pack their seats nightly and yet serve sub-par tastings with mismatched themes, juxtaposed flavours with unprecedented pairings, and not to mention the bushiest of all the bushy cut(h)s of meat, that I wouldn't even feed my dogs?
Venturing into Markham/Richmond Hill's commercial culinary haven, not to mention the only local place to really dine...(please Markham we can't always go downtown to get a decent meal) brought us to the one and only East Beaver Creek. This epicentre of mainstream eats is a place that is always changing, with household names such as Alice Fazooli's, Marlowe (no headgear allowed), NAVA (formerly Rocky Mountain High), Honest Lawyer, Fox & The Fiddle, just to name a few...The rest change so frequently we can't keep up. Others include Carnival Brazilian Grill (don't eat there), Destiny, Spices, and other no-name establishments I'm very hesitant to venture into.
The name Moxie's is one that is known by everyone and loved by some. Definitely great for drinks or cocktails after work, or birthdays and special occasions...to drink. I really can't advise you to go there to eat. Mind you, they do have some decent apps, but when it comes to meals, 1/6 ain't that good.
You're paying for atmosphere, and nothing else.
I love the way this Moxie's is decorated...with high ceilings, circularly-enclosed booths and nice wooden tables. The light fixtures and chandeliers boast an upper-class, downtown-ish feel, and a huge open-concept bar stocked with the one and only Appleton's Rum definitely is a plus for us. Their patio is contained and their waiting area boasts comfy leather couches. The attention to detail in Moxies is first class, and the ambiance is surely one that anyone would love. It can get a little dark, but that's part of the atmosphere I presume. Although, our table area was very congested, and many servers/busboys created a high traffic area by our table.
To start, we ordered a Sizzling Shrimp Skillet, and a Goat Cheese dip with toasted bread (naan?). The dip was great, however there were not enough dipables. As for the Shrimp, they floated to us in a pool of butter, which made for a bit of an oily dip. Nothing spectacular.
The speed was there for delivery of our apps, about 10 minutes after we ordered. Next, the mains...
Moxie's menu is quite vast, although I'm still scratching my head wondering which direction their menu theme is going...Anything from salads to sandwiches to steaks to various curries, stir-frys and traditional pastas made it difficult to decide. Nothing really stood out to me, and everything seemed so generic that I was left wanting more from this global menu.
We ordered:
2 10oz Striploins- worst cut of meat I have ever had. Although the server was very careful to verify they way we wanted our steaks done, gave a slight impression that they may know what they were doing. But just because the steak was cooked right doesn't help the fact that it was a shitty cut of meat. AAA prime should not taste like that. One medium rare was so chewy we couldn't even cut through it. The other steak ordered Medium well was so tough with no pinkage in the middle. But then again, you can't expect to get a good steak anywhere but a steakhouse. They were warned. Imagine if they got the sirloin?
1 Cannelloni- by far the worst Cannelloni I have ever tasted. I hate to bash food and restaurants because it makes me seem like a picky SOB, but honestly the filling, which was supposed to be ricotta, tasted like old, mashed up sock. Dry as hell, flavourless and just outright crappy.
Should have gone with the tenders & fries, I think the server was trying to hint it.
1 Beef Vindaloo Curry- Meh. Why am I served a curry, on rice (sticky at that, not basmati, and 1 clump) and then also given naan pieces? How much carbs can one person eat. The curry was flavourful, with green and red peppers, and drizzled with yogurt. Some of the strips of beef were tender, and some were tough. Probably from some one's leftover striploin. I wasn't really satisfied, but am I ever? Shouldn't have trusted the recommendation!
1 Gourmet Pizza- this looked pretty good, although I did not sample it, I didn't hear any complaints...which means it must have been decent.
1 Atlantic Salmon with wild rice- no complaints about this one either, the salmon was seasoned well, I was informed. However this diner rarely dislikes his food, so this may sway his decision, as always.
The service here was quick, we got our food in a very timely fashion, and our waiter was quite friendly. Nothing to complain about here, although it did take him a while to take our order. It was busy though so we'll give him the benefit of the doubt.
Price wise, everything on the menu was reasonable, the steaks being the most expensive, at 28.95 each. They should have cost 10.95.
All in all, our experience was fair at best:
Decor- 5/5: Definitely a nicely structured restaurant, everything fits perfectly and there is a nice divide between bar-area and dining area. Attention to detail was key to Moxie's success, classy and trendy.
Food- 1/5: Not good. 1.5/6 meals we ordered were bushy, 1/2 apps were good. This is not good. Maybe Moxie's should try and stick with one theme instead of venturing into cross-country dishes. In order to be successful as a restaurant, one must focus on one thing and do it proper. From there you can dabble a bit in this and that. You can't offer the world and do each one shittily (word?). It's nice to have a variety of menu items, but not if each one doesn't fit. They should stick to salads, sandwiches and simple apps. I'm sure they can't mess that up...I hope.
Service- 3.5/5: Nothing to really complain about, taking our order took longer than it did to get our food, which is odd, and doesn't say much about how they are preparing our food. Where's the love? I'm almost positive that Moxie's utilizes frozen, pre-packaged goodness supplied from that of SYSCO or some other second-tier supplier. Come on Moxies, at least use fresh produce, trust me, people can tell.
Price- 2.5/5: Our total came to $240, I know, including 3 drinks, 1 bottle of wine and tip. I know we're paying for their high rent and for the high-class decor, but still...when it comes down to it, I'd rather pay for good food in a shithole than vice versa. But that's just me.
OVERALL: 2.5 STARS out of 5
Not much more I can say about Moxie's, but if they ever see me again, it'll definitely be just for drinks, and maybe, just maybe, an appy. Good Day. I said good day.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Burrito Boys- Operation: RamRod
The Original Burrito Boyz- 120 Peter St. (http://www.burritoboyz.com/)
So, pumped and thullied after an amazing Jay's home opener, we set out for nourishment a la Mexicana, as our usual Spadina Garden/Jays Opener had to be switched up this year, as Spadina closes at 10:30 (boo). No worries, we actually were anticipating Burrito Boyz, as we have been there many a time before, but at most times too inebriated to recap anything in blog format the next day.
We usually frequent the one located on 218 Adelaide St. W, as it has some space for us to sit and actually eat properly. But as directed by fellow Epicurean and long-time Burrito Boy himself, Bunsy (soon to be Bean-sity, keep reading), we were informed that "we gotta go to the original Burrito Boyz". So we did, as it really is just a stones' throw away from our usual spot (why, I dunno).
Big (ch)tunes coming from above-neighbouring 'The Jerk Spot', located directly above BB, welcomed us (and our cession) as we rolled up. As we walked down the steps, we realized this place was ramrod. We couldn't even get in. So we went back outside to discuss whether we should stay or walk over to the next one. Then we realized the back-log was just people waiting to get their food, and not to order. So we re-entered, single file of course, only to be packed in like a bunch of sardines.
Let's just say, the system they have going on here is shit. You need to literally play some Ludacris' "Move Bitch, Get Out The Way", and drop a few 'bo's just to get to the front. Not to mention 5 people working there behind the glass yelling out numbers, taking orders, and asking who's next. Who is next? I dunno. A little organization can go a long way. The Menu is placed nicely on the wall, old school style chalkboard with little caricatures, I like. But you can't really see it when you want to order because there's too many people blocking it. This sign may be better off being outside, so you know what you want once you get in.
Once you've ordered, little tiny flags with numbers get stuck into your burrito, they top it up however you like, and then you have to 'don't puuuush' your way to the cashier. Then you must tell him your order again, and he'll give you (if you're lucky) a little card with a number on it. Now you're in business. Hopefully you get the right numbers, as we didn't (16,17 = 18,19?).
After 5 minutes of straight number dropping due to some confusion with- yes you guessed it, this number system, we waited patiently for our food.
Once our number's were called, and after feeling like Jerry waiting for the last Cinnamon Bobka (another Bobka?), we were ready to consume our burrito. I entrusted my choice in my boy Winson, who usually never fails when it comes to food choices, as he is well-seasoned (except for Mighty Taco- see blog to come). He said go for the Halibut, and I complied. Good job, Winse.
The selection at BB is perfect, not too much that you can't decide, and not too little that you need more options. I love how BB has a chalkboard as their menu, with colourful options and a listing of their toppings. They offer the basics: Steak, Chicken, Halibut, Shrimp, Bean & Cheese, Veggie. A vast amount of toppings can be added for no extra charge, including peppers, onions, cheese, jalapenos, beans, rice, salsa, guacamole, sour cream and of course hot sauce. Load it up. The jalapenos' are deadly...I love it.
Caution: when ordering the bean and cheese, please be advised that the beans do contain a soy product, that makes it resemble ground beef. The difference is negligible, especially to Beansity, who had a slight kerfuffle with the server, proclaiming the beans were beef. She toooold him.
BB serves its' burritos in two sizes, small and large, which is perfect as I was able to share a large one with my girlfriend. Definately recommend the Halibut, but you have to eat it right away, don't take this one to go.
Overall, for the price, BB is amazing. Their most expensive burrito is $8.85 for the Halibut, which is damn good if you ask me. That bad boy was quite filling. I don't think anyone paid more than 10 bucks, and that includes a drink. On a side note, BB has some great juices called JUMEX. Not sure if you know about them, but if you don't know, now you know. Tropical flavours such as Mango, Pineapple, and Kiwi are just to name a few of the vast tongue-tingling beverages. These hard to find drinks are sometimes found in East/West Indian supermarkets or local patty shops. Try one out.
And so,
Service: 2/5- Not expecting much here for a takeout joint, especially on a Friday night. Most places downtown have to deal with serious thullards, so I don't really blame them. Ordering is a little confusing, and definate re-tooling is needed for their ordering process. You may want to watch Seinfeld's famous Soup Nazi episode for proper review of ordering before you go.
Decor: 2/5- This place doesn't need to have any nice decor, however this place is waaaay to small to have any type of decorations in it. No need for the mini-eating area of 3 stools, as even our minnerest minner couldn't even eat there. Get rid of that corner nugget and organize a line/waiting area. One thing I did appreciate was the wall of fame, filled with articles and awards given to BB by various magazines and newspapers. It's good to boast a little when you can, plus theres something for us to do while we wait.
Food: 4.5/5 - Great. For a hole-in-the-wall, and a place that has no Hispanic workers, they pump out a mean Burrito. Props goes to the extensive topping area, sick drinks, and all around great burritos.
Price: 4.5/5- Very decent prices for "good food quickly". You can't beat anything decent under $10 these days. Especially downtown. You can go to subway for a bushy footlong, and still pay over $12 for a combo. But Burrito Boyz is like Subway with a Mexican twist...I'd opt for BB anyday...
OVERALL: 4.5 STARS out of 5
When it comes to late night grubbage with an after-club stumblage, 'D' Nasir's Falafel (they don't have washroom access, blog to follow), and take a nice stroll down a few steps to a Burrito Boyz. Not only are they open till 4am on weekends, it's definately worth the calamity- and the cramm-ity, for a tasty treat.
So, pumped and thullied after an amazing Jay's home opener, we set out for nourishment a la Mexicana, as our usual Spadina Garden/Jays Opener had to be switched up this year, as Spadina closes at 10:30 (boo). No worries, we actually were anticipating Burrito Boyz, as we have been there many a time before, but at most times too inebriated to recap anything in blog format the next day.
We usually frequent the one located on 218 Adelaide St. W, as it has some space for us to sit and actually eat properly. But as directed by fellow Epicurean and long-time Burrito Boy himself, Bunsy (soon to be Bean-sity, keep reading), we were informed that "we gotta go to the original Burrito Boyz". So we did, as it really is just a stones' throw away from our usual spot (why, I dunno).
Big (ch)tunes coming from above-neighbouring 'The Jerk Spot', located directly above BB, welcomed us (and our cession) as we rolled up. As we walked down the steps, we realized this place was ramrod. We couldn't even get in. So we went back outside to discuss whether we should stay or walk over to the next one. Then we realized the back-log was just people waiting to get their food, and not to order. So we re-entered, single file of course, only to be packed in like a bunch of sardines.
Let's just say, the system they have going on here is shit. You need to literally play some Ludacris' "Move Bitch, Get Out The Way", and drop a few 'bo's just to get to the front. Not to mention 5 people working there behind the glass yelling out numbers, taking orders, and asking who's next. Who is next? I dunno. A little organization can go a long way. The Menu is placed nicely on the wall, old school style chalkboard with little caricatures, I like. But you can't really see it when you want to order because there's too many people blocking it. This sign may be better off being outside, so you know what you want once you get in.
Once you've ordered, little tiny flags with numbers get stuck into your burrito, they top it up however you like, and then you have to 'don't puuuush' your way to the cashier. Then you must tell him your order again, and he'll give you (if you're lucky) a little card with a number on it. Now you're in business. Hopefully you get the right numbers, as we didn't (16,17 = 18,19?).
After 5 minutes of straight number dropping due to some confusion with- yes you guessed it, this number system, we waited patiently for our food.
Once our number's were called, and after feeling like Jerry waiting for the last Cinnamon Bobka (another Bobka?), we were ready to consume our burrito. I entrusted my choice in my boy Winson, who usually never fails when it comes to food choices, as he is well-seasoned (except for Mighty Taco- see blog to come). He said go for the Halibut, and I complied. Good job, Winse.
The selection at BB is perfect, not too much that you can't decide, and not too little that you need more options. I love how BB has a chalkboard as their menu, with colourful options and a listing of their toppings. They offer the basics: Steak, Chicken, Halibut, Shrimp, Bean & Cheese, Veggie. A vast amount of toppings can be added for no extra charge, including peppers, onions, cheese, jalapenos, beans, rice, salsa, guacamole, sour cream and of course hot sauce. Load it up. The jalapenos' are deadly...I love it.
Caution: when ordering the bean and cheese, please be advised that the beans do contain a soy product, that makes it resemble ground beef. The difference is negligible, especially to Beansity, who had a slight kerfuffle with the server, proclaiming the beans were beef. She toooold him.
BB serves its' burritos in two sizes, small and large, which is perfect as I was able to share a large one with my girlfriend. Definately recommend the Halibut, but you have to eat it right away, don't take this one to go.
Overall, for the price, BB is amazing. Their most expensive burrito is $8.85 for the Halibut, which is damn good if you ask me. That bad boy was quite filling. I don't think anyone paid more than 10 bucks, and that includes a drink. On a side note, BB has some great juices called JUMEX. Not sure if you know about them, but if you don't know, now you know. Tropical flavours such as Mango, Pineapple, and Kiwi are just to name a few of the vast tongue-tingling beverages. These hard to find drinks are sometimes found in East/West Indian supermarkets or local patty shops. Try one out.
And so,
Service: 2/5- Not expecting much here for a takeout joint, especially on a Friday night. Most places downtown have to deal with serious thullards, so I don't really blame them. Ordering is a little confusing, and definate re-tooling is needed for their ordering process. You may want to watch Seinfeld's famous Soup Nazi episode for proper review of ordering before you go.
Decor: 2/5- This place doesn't need to have any nice decor, however this place is waaaay to small to have any type of decorations in it. No need for the mini-eating area of 3 stools, as even our minnerest minner couldn't even eat there. Get rid of that corner nugget and organize a line/waiting area. One thing I did appreciate was the wall of fame, filled with articles and awards given to BB by various magazines and newspapers. It's good to boast a little when you can, plus theres something for us to do while we wait.
Food: 4.5/5 - Great. For a hole-in-the-wall, and a place that has no Hispanic workers, they pump out a mean Burrito. Props goes to the extensive topping area, sick drinks, and all around great burritos.
Price: 4.5/5- Very decent prices for "good food quickly". You can't beat anything decent under $10 these days. Especially downtown. You can go to subway for a bushy footlong, and still pay over $12 for a combo. But Burrito Boyz is like Subway with a Mexican twist...I'd opt for BB anyday...
OVERALL: 4.5 STARS out of 5
When it comes to late night grubbage with an after-club stumblage, 'D' Nasir's Falafel (they don't have washroom access, blog to follow), and take a nice stroll down a few steps to a Burrito Boyz. Not only are they open till 4am on weekends, it's definately worth the calamity- and the cramm-ity, for a tasty treat.
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