Foodie Blog: Hopper Hut

Hopper Hut
880 Ellesmere Rd
Toronto, Ontario
Cuisine(s): Sri Lankan, Indian
Date visited: February 2011

So after much nagging to try some of his soul food, I convinced the bf to go to Hopper Hut for dinner. We thought it was take out only but turns out there's a dining area tucked in the back!

Food: 3.5/5
Staring at the menu was a challenge. Everything was new to me and all I could do was point to the pictures and ask "what's that? Is it good?" I wanted to try something I've never had, so no biryani. We started off with mango lassi, ulunthu vadai (a mini donut flour-y thing), cutlet (a veggie blob that tastes kind of fried?), patties (mini meat dumpling things) and a milk hopper. The hopper was quite good, and I really enjoyed the cutlet. We ordered one pittu with mutton curry and another with shrimp curry. The mutton curry was good (spicy!!!) but the shrimp not so much (the shrimp was barely warm). The pittu was an interesting new concept to me. Good but it was kind of hard to eat! Wasn't very soft. I ate with my hands the entire time! Me so proud .. :). Overall I thought the food was ok .. wasn't great (but the appetizers were yummy!). The bf on the other hand, thought the food was sub-par and did not want to return.

Service: 2.75/5
Although the people who came by our table were nice enough, their visits were infrequent and we always had to flag them down. Bf ordered in Tamil so I have no idea what was said lol.

Atmosphere: 3.5/5
The dining area was hidden away but it's actually bigger than I thought. There were maybe 10 tables, some big and some small. Our table was quite luxurious that could seat 4. Didn't use the washroom but there's a small sink area where you could just wash your hands. I thought the cutlery was quite nice.

Price/Value: 4/5
You get a pretty good bang for your buck here I guess. With all the appetizers, mango lassi's (they only charged us one but gave us two), and the 2 main pittu dishes, we paid $30. I was beyond stuffed and the 2nd pittu dish was really pushing us to the edge. If we ordered more appetizers then just the one pittu would have sufficed.

Overall dining experience: 3.25/5
So I have to give bf the upper hand here. He did not enjoy the food here. I, meanwhile, thought it was ok and wouldn't mind trying it again but I don't think that will be happening. The only problem is that we can't find other Sri Lankan restaurants that have dine in and not just take out. I guess we'll have to keep looking or else I'll just have to come get my appetizers to go.

Foodie Blog: Jean's Vegetarian Kitchen

Jean's Vegetarian Kitchen
1262 Danforth Ave
Toronto, Ontario
Cuisine(s): Vegetarian Chinese, Thai
Date visited: February 2011

I read a review about this restaurant in the Toronto Star a few months back and wanted to try it. It's not exactly in our usual spots of splat in the middle of downtown or in the east end so it had better be well worth the drive. Fortunately the bf was willing to try it .. yay!

Food: 3.75/5
We started off with a pumpkin soup because I heard a good review about it. And wow, was it ever good! Distinct taste of coconut (so I knew this wasn't going to be good for my health). I ordered a red curry with vegetables (mock meat options available) and the bf ordered some kind of noodle dish. The food came lightning fast .. my first thought was that the portions were TINY. I mean, the bowls they came in were small. My curry was a little more watery than I enjoy it but there was lots of veggies and tofu to go with it. Bf's dish came with an abundance of veggies but looking at it at first glance I didn't even know there were noodles hiding underneath. In fact there wasn't a lot of noodle. But at the end we were actually quite full. I guess you could say these were "normal" sized portions, compared with the insanely large portions you're usually used to. Also ordered tapioca pudding for dessert. I think it's the first time I've EVER ordered this and it was reeeeally good!

Service: 4/5
Service here was quite decent. There were 3 different people who tended to us. The first guy I think is the owner and while nice, didn't give us the super friendly vibe as the waitress who took our plates. The other guy was quite polite too. They were quick to bring us our food, drinks and the bill.

Atmosphere: 3.75/5
This place is nice and quaint. Very small, maybe a dozen small tables, if even that. I wasn't too fond of the steep staircase to go to the washroom but I have to admit that the washroom was decent (although one of the unisex stalls spewed out freezing cold water, the bf reported). Decor was nice - we sat right by the cashier and they had some cool statues. The restaurant had a clean, quaint feeling. But I found that with all the "stuff" on our table made it very cluttered - individual (oversized) plates, our dishes, water, teapot, tea cups, cutlery.

Price/Value: 3.75/5
The food was decently priced, and even tho I was full after the meal, the portion size did not settle too well. It just seemed small! We ended up paying around .. $35 for 2 people for a soup, 2 mains and dessert, which is quite reasonable.

Overall dining experience: 3.75/5
The food here was good despite the small portions. I really feel that the noodle dish could have used more noodles! I was really impressed with the soup and the tapioca pudding. We found that parking was a BIIITCH here. The closest green P (public) parking is a good 5-10 minute walk to the restaurant. The day we went was bitterly cold and we managed to squeak onto street parking. I think I'd like to give this place another chance (but, maybe when it's warmer and we can walk from the public lot!)

Foodie Blog: Queen Mother Cafe

Queen Mother Cafe
208 Queen Street West
Toronto, Ontario
Cuisine(s): Laos, Thai
Date visited: January 2011
www.queenmothercafe.ca

So after our India Palace stint, we saw some restaurants along Queen that looked good to try out. I chowhound-ed what places were good to eat and there were some recommendations on Queen Mother Cafe. I have to admit I was a bit skeptical after looking at their menu as it contains many different ethnic foods (including pasta, roti and meat loaf??) but we gave it a shot anyways.

Food: 4.5/5
I read that the Ping Gai was fantastic. And boy I have to vouch for it. I really think it's THE best chicken I've ever had. It is unbelievably tender and it came with a really nice spinach salad. The pyramid of rice was less than appetizing and the rice pyramid of Giza remained on my plate mostly untouched. The bf got Bah Me Hang and wow were these noodles really good! The flavour of the entire dish was really good and it had a nice kick to it too. The desserts in the dessert window looked mouthwatering but we passed up on it (the portions are also HUGE. The couple beside us got a slice of cake and it was a monstrosity).

Service: 3/5
We got seated near the door .. which means that you get forgotten a lot. I had to remind the waiter for hot water 3 times. To his credit he seemed genuinely busy and was really apologetic about not getting it the time before. But it kind of sucks when you're sitting right beside a window on the coldest day of the year without hot water. He didn't come by very often but when he did he was really enthusiastic.

Atmosphere: 3.75/5
This place does have a cafe feel to it (if you're sitting more "inside"). But it was a bit dark and it was bloody cold by the window (the bf was sitting over a heating vent so his butt was nice and toasty, as I was told). I think if we had gotten a booth or somewhere further in I would have rated it a bit better.

Price/Value: 3.5/5
The food here is a touch pricier than I had hoped. My Ping Gai chicken was $17 and bf's noodle dish was $14. Granted the food was delicious but it does border on the expensive side for us. The portions were quite decent and we were pretty stuffed after our meals (no appetizers).

Overall dining experience: 3.75/5
The food was really good but it was the service and the fact that I was freezing the entire time that I had to ding points off. Unfortunately we got seated by the giant window which will obviously be colder. Waiter could have been more frequent in tending to us and remembering our drinks. However I'd like to give this place another chance. Also unfortunately, India Palace sits right across from here so when I'm eating at one of these 2 places I'll be staring out the window looking at the other place :)

Foodie Blog: India Palace

India Palace
257 Queen Street West
Toronto, Ontario
Cuisine(s): Indian
Date visited: January 2011

So I was craving Indian food and thought we might deviate from our usual spot of Little India. There's a small cluster of Indian restaurants around the area so we decided to check out the menus of a few of them. This one caught our eye with the $2 salad lol.

Food: 4.5/5
The food was YUM. We started off with 2 salads (way too much in addition to the mains). Quite a decent sized plate of salad for $2! I don't remember what I ordered for my main but it was kind of a buttery paneer dish. By jove was it delicious! I like eating something in between butter chicken and vindaloo and this really hit the spot. The bf ended up getting a really nice spicy chicken curry and it was really good as well. The naan was hot and fresh (if you plan to order 2, order 1 at first and when you're near finishing, ask for another. Nothing beats eating piping hot naan). I had to order rice of course and you get a pretty generous portion. I ended up doggie bagging the rest of mine. The second time we went I think he got something he didn't quite like (it was too "sweet"). I ordered a masala chai and was not a fan. But my paneer did not disappoint.

Service: 4.5/5
I find that the service here is a tad better than at Little India. The waiters are a bit friendlier and are quite quick to tend to your needs.

Atmosphere: 4.5/5
India Palace has a nice Indian feel to it (I should hope so). The place is rather small (expected), but everything from the chairs to the table cloths to the colours to the dishware are very Indian like. The tables can get rather crowded with all the food you order! A table for 2 can baaaarely fit your water/beer, a plate of rice, two plates, two curries, and a basket of naan. But I guess that's just the nature of the food .. prob the same thing happens at a Chinese restaurant too where you might share dishes or have separate plates for this and that. I don't remember using the washroom but I think it is downstairs.

Price/Value: 4/5
The food here is reasonably priced (at least, compared with the other Indian places on King st). It's about $10 for a dish of curry and then another $2-3 for naan or rice. . Throw in a beer and it's about $40 for two people, which is quite reasonable. The portions look small but after you get through half of it you realize that the small little bowl of curry is more than enough.

Overall dining experience: 4/5
I really enjoyed my paneer dish (it's the only thing I get at Indian restaurants). The second time we went back I had to get it. The decor is nice and the staff are friendly. They're good at topping your water and quick to notice if something needs to be taken away from your table. We've already returned and I think we'll be returning again!

Linkin Park

WHOOOOO LINKIN PARK ROCKSSSSSS.

Went to the concert at ACC last night and it was fucking amazing! Saw them with my closest friends .. wouldn't trade it for anything :)

Setlist:
01. The Requiem
02. Papercut (Savio Intro)
03. Lying From You
04. Given Up
05. What I’ve Done
06. Empty Spaces
07. When They Come For Me
08. No More Sorrow
09. Jornada Del Muerto
10. Waiting For The End
11. Burning In The Skies
12. Numb
13. The Radiance (Live Version)
14. Breaking The Habit
15. Fallout
16. The Catalyst
17. Crawling
18. Faint
19. One Step Closer
—————————
20. Wisdom, Justice & Love
21. Iridescent
22. Shadow Of The Day (Happy Bday Phx afterward)
23. New Divide
24. In The End
25. Bleed It Out (APFMH over bridge)


I SWEAR they played Figure 09 in there somewhere .. it was fuckin awesome, I love that song!!!

Got flowers sent to the office .. I was at someone's desk and K wanders over and and points to my desk. I'm confused because I can't see and when I look over, there's a small gaggle of people around my desk and I realize there's a HUGE vase of flowers inside!! They're absolutely gorgeous and I went bright red.

He's the sweetest guy ever .. Happy anniversary hunnie!! Love you :)

I heart you :)

Foodie Blog: Graceful Vegetarian Restaurant

Graceful Vegetarian Restaurant
7131 Kennedy Rd, Unit #8
Markham, Ontario
Cuisine(s): Dim Sum, Vegetarian
Date visited: September 2010

We weren't in a particular veggie mood and the name DOES sound a lil weird but I saw good reviews on it on restaurantica so we decided to check it out one evening.

Food: 4.5/5
The food was mmmm so good. We ordered pancake with curry sauce (appetizer), egg noodle with white and king mushrooms, and deep fried tofu with vegetables. The pancake arrived hot and crispy and the curry sauce was delicious. A bit thicker than I liked but very good nonetheless. The egg noodle dish came next and it was fried to a great consistency. The mushrooms were good and after you mix the sauce with the noodle it ends up being a nice softer crispy taste. Wasn't out of this world but it was good. For the tofu dish I was expecting just small deep fried blocks of tofu sitting on a bed of veggies. Probably wasn't a great English translation because it turned out to be something completely different! When these things came out, I was like wow, not what I was expecting! They looked like these lightly fried tofu turds lol. But, they were amazing!! There were I think 8 of them (waaaay too many to finish in addition to our other dishes) .. ended up taking 4 home (and loving them re-heated/toasted!).

Service: 5/5
Service here was impeccable. When we came in we were seated immediately and the head waiter was extremely courteous. All the other wait staff were also very attentive and polite, catering to all our requests, even checking to see if our teapot was full without asking. Fantastic service, that's all I have to say.

Atmosphere: 5/5
The place sits outside of Market Village and I mistakenly thought it was inside. The sign is in neon pink with some green. When we walked in, it looked like a mini banquet hall. I was taken aback at how immaculate the decor was. It looked like Ginger and Onion (next door) but a lot smaller but so much nicer. Everything from the carpet to the table cloths to the chairs were very nice.

Price/Value: 4/5
The dishes here are a bit more expensive than I thought - about $10 a plate, depending on what you order. The appetizer was $4, noodle dish was $13.50 and the deep fried tofu was almost $10. But, despite the higher price tag, the service and food more than make up for it.

Overall dining experience: 4.5/5
I was very pleased with our experience here. I actually wanted to try the mock meat (which is different in Chinese cuisine than Western mock meat .. and I know what it tastes like), but the bf was a bit skeptical after having the mock meat at a Western place (yuck!). He's ok with tofu and strictly vegetables so that's what we ordered. He was very impressed with the service and the food as well. I think it's a mutual decision that we'd like to return!

Foodie Blog: Hot Mama Noi Thai on the Fly

Hot Mama Noi Thai on the Fly
1410 Bayly St, Unit #6A
Pickering, Ontario
Cuisine(s): Thai
Date visited: September 2010

I wanted to try something different than our usual pickings on a Saturday night. I wasn't particularly craving asian food but the name caught me completely off guard and had good reviews on Restaurantica so we decided to check it out.

Food: 4.5/5
The food was fantastic! We ordered pad thai, red curry, cashews with chicken and mango chicken. The pad thai was really good (the sauce tasted a tad thick but that's ok, at least it didn't taste like ketchup like the other place). Chicken dishes were good with a healthy serving of peppers (it was a bit saucy). My favourite was the curry. It was delicious .. I think I had most of that dish haha. Everything but the pad thai came with a large lump of rice (it was put on one plate so we could share). Chef also gave us some home made chili sauce - whooo that stuff is hotttt.

Service: 4.5/5
There was next to no one there at 8pm (I guess all their business comes from lunch/take out) so we were seated immediately and our drinks were gotten promptly. The food came out quite quickly and the "waitress" came to check on us frequently. At the end, the chef (Mama Noi, I presume) came out to talk to us, and we complimented her on the great food. Talked for about 10 minutes and got to know her a bit. She was so grateful for our support, and it seems like she gets to know her customers on a personal level, which is pretty nice (and rare).

Atmosphere: 3.75/5
When we tried to find the restaurant, we actually passed by it without knowing. The place is actually sitting in what looks like a business plaza so it didn't really stick out. It's quite a small place but the chef has said that on a weekday basis it's packed at lunch. There are a handful of tables, with a buddhist shrine and a small cashier on the side. However the tables and the area are quite clean. Didn't get a chance to hit up the bathroom.

Price/Value: 4/5
Price was expected for thai dishes - around $8-10 for each dish. Some dishes don't look like a lot but at the end we were quite full. Service was great and the food was good.

Overall dining experience: 4.5/5
I don't think I've ever been at an establishment where the cook comes out to talk to the customers! It was nice that she came to talk to us, and we could sense the tremendous effort she puts into the food, as it's a small family run business. You know there's lots of love going in. Really liked this place (esp the name, hahha), we'll definitely return another time.

France banned burqa's today. I don't agree with it ..

http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/860669--french-senate-votes-to-outlaw-islamic-veils

Proof that the world is getting worse ..

This idiot and his "followers" need to be smacked a few times and then some

http://www.thestar.com/article/858519--cancellation-of-qur-an-burning-a-possibility-pastor-says

Foodie Blog: Pho 88 Vietnamese

Pho 88 Vietnamese
325 Bamburgh Circle
Scarborough, Ontario
Cuisine(s): Pho, Vietnamese
Date visited: September 2010

We wanted to try some place different than our usual pho place.

Food: 4.5/5
For the four of us, we ordered a large bowl of pho, two grilled meat plates and a plate of veggies. The pho was decent, and the other dishes were pretty good (not overly salty like the other Pho place). The pork was very tender, as was the chicken. The beef was mediocre. Plate of veggies looked kind of small. Oh yea and we had a deep fried tofu appetizer - very yummy!!

Service: 4/5
Service here is snap snap. You wave your hand and once someone catches wind they're at your table before you can slurp up the last of your noodles. May not be greatest but I wasn't expecting much and they delivered decent service.

Atmosphere: 3.75/5
The arrangement of seats is for maximum capacity. When you see it packed, it looks like a cafeteria. Not pretty, but there was enough space between "aisles" to get thru. Tables were clean and it was a bit loud but there were a lot of people. Didn't get a chance to use the bathroom.

Price/Value: 4.5/5
Great deal on the food. For what we got, we ended up paying like $8/person and ended up quite satisfied (and not over salted)

Overall dining experience: 4/5
Quite satisfied with the experience. At these kinds of places I expect prompt (but not necessarily great) service, good and fast food, and Pho 88 delivered. Will come back.

Foodie Blog: Akashia

Akashia
607 Kingston Rd West
Ajax, Ontario
Cuisine(s): Japanese, sushi
Date visited: August 2010

Wanted to try something new while we were in town for the afternoon.

Food: 4/5
We ordered spicy salmon roll, some other specialty rolls (spider/dragon? I don't remember), and a teriyaki beef bento box. We don't usually order bento boxes, but it was quite a steal for the amount of food you get for the price. Our meal came with soup, salad (for both of us, even tho we only ordered 1 box), I think there was a noodle appetizer too! The specialty rolls were ok, but the spicy salmon roll was quite something. Wasn't very spicy, but I could taste the freshness of it. I think it's one of best tasting and freshest salmon rolls I've ever had. I think also got green tea ice cream at the end too .. bf was ecstatic.

Service: 4/5
It's a husband/wife run shop ..I saw the husband making the sushi while the wife was tending everything else. That's when you know they put the love in it. Could have come around to refill tea more often but both were very nice.

Atmosphere: 3.75/5
It sits opposite to a busy plaza, right beside a car auto shop with parking a bit sketchy. Inside is small and quaint, with about half a dozen tables. Didn't get a chance to use the washroom but didn't even see if there was space for one!

Price/Value: 4/5
I think we walked out paying about $32, and were absolutely STUFFED. The bento box does numbers on any sized stomach and wow it was a lot of food. Probably ordered too much for lunch but can't beat the value.

Overall dining experience: 4/5
Overall, we quite liked Akashia. The food was very good, as was the service. As we were leaving, they gave us 2 coffee mugs and even a frequent eater card! (you know, buy 10 spicy salmon roll, get 1 free) Not sure how good it'll work out for them but hopefully it does. It's a bit far from us but if we're in the area again then I wouldn't mind returning.

I was bitchy and selfish today.

I wanted to go out with him in the evening
But I couldn't
I wanted to have my own place where I could just be by myself or be with him
But I couldn't

So I got quiet. My selfishness overtook me. I silently reeled about how badly I wish we could be like every other couple I know where both parents know and are cool about our relationship. I want to be able to sit in his kitchen and chat with his family like it's an everyday occurrence. I want to be able to hold his hand while walking in Walmart even if his relatives see. I just want us to be known in each other's family without feeling like we have to hide each other from them.

And as I sit here crying silent tears, my selfishness will not leave me tonight. All I can think of is this, instead of thinking about the wonderful person who loves me. Maybe this is the cause of my recent sleepness nights ...

Food

Saag paneer roti @ Gandhi's on Queen is one of my favourite things to eat. It's incredibly delicious, but incredibly deadly, in terms of nutrition .. here's the damage:

http://www.healthzone.ca/health/dietfitness/diet/article/855899--the-dish-vegetarian-roti-outrageously-high-in-calories-fat-and-sodium

Proof that the world is getting worse ...

Shame on the guy running this scam
Even MORE shame on the people stupid enough to bring $200K+ CASH in a BAG. IDIOTS.

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/crime/article/847812--man-wanted-for-currency-exchange-scam

British told how to treat visitors – including Canadians – to the 2012 Olympics

This is scarily true ... at least for moi

http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/846560--british-told-how-to-treat-visitors-including-canadians-to-the-2012-olympics?bn=1

EXCERPT FROM VISIT BRITAIN BROCHURE

Section on Canadian tourists from Visit Britain brochure “Delivering a first class welcome”

CANADA

Social practices – not laws – govern many types of behaviour in Canada. Some traditions are well established and are politely but firmly enforced.

For example:

• Lining up, or queuing: People normally line up or queue according to the principle of ‘first-come, first-served.’ They will be angry if you push ahead in a line-up instead of waiting your turn.

• Not smoking in private homes: Most Canadians do not smoke.

• When you are in people’s homes, you should always ask their permission to smoke. However this may be different in Quebec.

• Being on time: You should always arrive on time. People who are often late may be fired from their jobs or suspended from school. Many Canadians will not wait more than 10-15 minutes for someone at a business meeting. For social events, it is expected that you will arrive within half an hour of the stated time.

• Respect for the environment: Canadians respect the natural environment and expect people to avoid littering.

• Bargaining: Bargaining for a better price is not common in Canada, but there are some exceptions. People who sell things privately may also bargain.

• Smart shopping: Stores compete on price with one another to attract customers. Note: the price marked on goods in stores does not include taxes, which add from 7-15% to the cost of an item, depending on the province.

• Shaking hands: It is customary that you always shake hands at a first-time meeting and always in business situations.

• First names: Canadians are always on a first name basis; especially in social situations and informal business environments.

• Not Americans: The Canadian visitor to Britain is not an American.

• Many in Britain treat Canadians as Americans even though they are quite different from their American neighbours. Canadian may take offence if labeled as American. Canadians often identify themselves as Canadians by wearing a maple leaf pin, or a maple leaf on clothing, etc.

Foodie Blog: Vietnam Noodle Star

Vietnam Noodle Star
4188 Finch Ave E
Scarborough, Ontario
Cuisine(s): Pho, Vietnamese
Date visited: Monthly since 2008

This place is a staple in our (me/bf, me/family) food life. Monthly, I'd say I come here at least twice.

Food: 3.75/5
I come here for the pho. You get a piping hot, decent sized portion of noodles and meat for about $6 (although, I've noticed the portion size has decreased in recent days). Sometimes when me and my groupies come here, we order non-pho dishes, like the fried rice and noodles. This is where the deductions start to kick in. Went here yesterday with bf and another couple after a movie and we weren't really feeling for pho. Our staple dish, spicy clams, was not available at 10:15pm (dang it). But you have to try it - sauce is fantastic (albeit a bit salty and the portion on it has shrunk a bit). Ordered some fried rice, beef noodle dish, chinese lettuce and sweet and sour pork. Everything was overly salty. Even the vegetables! We've done this a few times now and it's not the first time we've noticed the extra-saltiness. I guess we don't learn. Most of the other stuff isn't that bad .. the pork was good and we've tried some of the "main course" dishes before - the "steak" is actually pretty tender.

Service: 3.75/5
Although this is a sit down restaurant, food FLIES around quickly. And what that means is snappy service. You won't see the waitresses check on you. But once your arm hits the air to beckon them, they're on you like flies, ready to get what you need. Service may not the friendliest, but it's snappy and efficient (there's always one waitress who always smiles and always asks how we are - we make sure we tip well).

Atmosphere: 3.5/5
This place is pretty simple - lots of tables and a few "palm" trees spread along an aisle. Floor is a bit slippery so watch out. There are 2 doors to get in/out, but in the winter times, sit away from the door as the coldness comes in! Bathrooms are mediocre but usually clean.

Price/Value: 4/5
If you're ordering just pho, this is the only place I would ever eat at. Like I mentioned before, you get a decent sized portion of noodles and meat for $5-6 + tax/tips. Order anything else and things can get a bit pricey.

Overall dining experience: 4/5
The main reason I give it 4/5 is because we primarily come here for a quick pho meal. The pho is hot and the noodles and meat are always consistently good. Service is quick and you can probably have a quick meal in 10 min (assuming you can get a seat at the busy hours!). I think we'll always be regulars at this place .. they know us too well.

I thought this was cute ...

http://www.thestar.com/living/article/843740--my-big-fat-geek-wedding

Proof that the world is getting worse

It's sad how manipulative people can be .. and how compassionate (read:victims) can be ...

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/844614--woman-faked-cancer-to-raise-money?bn=1