I'm not a gourmet chef, by any means, but I am a solid home cook. I mastered staples like roast chicken and pastas when I was still a teenager and have built up a decent repertoire of asian, french, italian and classic american dishes. I make my own soups, sauces and broths.
Well, most of the time.
We all take short cuts now and then, and the truth is, store-bought bullion is my most common cheat. In my defense, we have a tiny apartment and a wee freezer above our fridge. I just don't have the space (or the initiative) to make a lot of broth for future use. I use cubes, cans and boxes. What can I say? I'm lazy.
But that doesn't mean I don't care about taste. And one packaged broth tastes WAY BETTER than any other I've tried, ever:
Swanson clear chicken broth.
It's just the best. Unlike cubes, it's not too salty. It's cheaper than (and tastes more authentic than) Campbell's.
It's made properly, so it's clear and light, but has a strong, natural flavour. Whitish beads of fat tend to be visible when you open the can, but in my opinion, they just contribute to the "this seems homemade" quality.
I use this broth in EVERYTHING from risotto to gravy to soup. It's the handiest, most useful thing I have in my pantry. No other broth compares.
 So Nate and I ventured out to a new(ish) place in the neighbourhood for burgers last night: Chuck and Co. We'd been meaning to go for awhile, but only just got around to it. The menu and website promised "globally inspired" fare, but frankly, the burgers were really just burgers. Sure, some of them had some interesting spices (like marsala) worked into the mix, but they're still just burgers. Still, they're good burgers.Nate had the much-lauded Montreal Burger $7.50 (apparently called one of the "best burgers in the city" by Toronto Life). I tasted it, and while I'd say it was good, I wouldn't go that far. The smoked meat is ground right into the chuck and it was a little dry for my tastes. I had the cheapest burger on the menu: the Chuck Burger ($6) and was certainly satisfied. The meat tasted like real meat (as opposed to those horrible patties you get at fast-food joints) and the ciabatta bun was hearty and satisfying. My only complaints would be that there was a little too much mayo on it, and it didn't come with a pickle. (I love my toppings and like it best when there are lots of options. You get your usual lettuce, tomato, onion, here, and ketchup, etc., but nothing fancy, really.) I NEED MY PICKLES! We also tried the fries. I had the 50/fifty fries -- a half-sweet potato, half-regular combo, which was a nice option, but not cheap at $4.50. The sweet potatoes were pretty mushy, but good nonetheless. The regular fries were better. Nate had "twice-fried" fries, $4. They tasted the same as mine...exactly. Maybe twice-fried fries are their standard? I'm not sure. Regardless, they were crispy, chunky and good. We had to ask for salt for the table, however. As a lover of the white and artery-hardening stuff, I hate to have to ask for it. Vaguely embarrasing. It's like, "I know it's unhealthy and I know I'm a horrible person who's sure to bloat later, but could I have some salt please?" MOAR SALT. Sigh. Anyway. We enjoyed ourselves and will definitely go back. I'd even say that the Chuck and Co. burgers were better than those from the much-talked-about Stockyards across the street. (Ya. I said it.) *Update: after posting this, I received a tweet from @chuckandco that mentioned that they DO have pickles and that I should ask for them next time. Word toChuck and Co.672 Saint Clair Ave. W. Toronto, ON M6C 1B1 (416) 533-3500 * image from the Chuck and Co. website.
 A couple of weeks ago, my sister and I finally got around to going to Tea at the Windsor Arms (a posh hotel in Toronto). It was... okay. Fun. Sort of silly. Like playing dress up.The hotel has been serving "Tea" since 1927 and there's definitely a retro vibe about the whole affair. You show up, sit in the French-style tea room, choose your tea (from a wide selection which includes fair trade and organic varieties) and then you eat tiny sandwiches. Each person is served a full pot of tea, and the food arrives on a tiered cake stand. Our tea was a "full tea" featuring a menu of four large scones, a selection of the aforementioned teeny sandwiches - smoked salmon, cucumber, etc. - and an array of sweet desserts (petit fours - mini cakes, tarts and the like). Plus (of course), clotted cream and fancy jams. Though there didn't seem to be a lot of food at the table, both of us were too full to finish. Here's a peek at a bit of the room we were in, complete with a display of silly hates. The room we were in is actually adjacent to the main tea room. I feel like they sat us away from the fancier guests. Maybe we didn't look right. Or maybe it's because we paid as part of a Groupon on Living Social deal. I don't know. My sis set it up. Snobs. ;)
All in all, the experience was nice. I would recommend it as a holiday treat for a mother-daughter duo or a pair of friends. But beware, it's not cheap. Full Tea is $30 per person (not incl. tax/tip) on weekdays and $38 per person on weekends. And around the holidays, the price goes up again to about $43. That's a lot for a couple of scones and a few baby sanwiches. But I guess you're paying for the experience as much as for the food. Oh... one more thing. I really liked the upholstery the Windsor Arms had on the banquette seating - brown and cream. Any idea where it's from or what it's called? Here's a close up:
 Ferro Bar and Cafe (which isn't a bar/cafe at all but a full bar/restaurant) has been in my life for a long time.I grew up in the St. Clair West neighbourhood and the little Italian restaurant opened when I was about 12 years old. In the mid-1990s, my then-boyfriend even did a co-op placement at the place, which serves fairly classic Italian fare. (He - the boyfriend - wanted to be a chef. I think he learned something. At the very least, how to chop a lot of garlic.... but I digress.) Ferro is a nice place, but it's never top of mind when I find myself trying to think of where to go for dinner. I've had good experiences there... and less good experiences. I've popped in for wine with the girls, tried their much-lauded lobster dishes, and been overwhelmed by their antipasto platter (which is enourmous and way too full of veggies). It's always been... okay. Just okay. I haven't had any particularly bad experiences, but I never really loved it, either. And then, out of the blue, I had a GREAT experience there that completely turned me around.
After casting our votes in the election this past Monday, Nate and I were flying high, riding the orange wave. (We didn't know the Conservatives were going to take a majority, so we weren't yet bummed.) We were feeling great. And we decided to pop into Ferro for a celebratory sort of supper. Just a spur-of-the-moment sort of thing.
It was delicious!
Nate had a linguini with a garlic cream sauce and parma ham. I had a mushroom risotto. Both were fantasic. (Okay, mine was just good. His was fantastic. The rice in my risotto was a tad undercooked, and while rich and dark, I found the mushrooms weren't as satisfing as meat, but all in all, I was very happy.) We both drank house white. which is the cheapest wine on the menu at about $6 or $7 a glass. The bill came to around $50, pre-tip.
Being in the space was nice too. What was current in the early days of the restaurant now feels dinstinctively vintage. Very 1993. It's like stepping into an old episode of Friends. The name - Ferro - means something like "iron" or maybe even "wrought iron" and that plays out in the dated decor. But there's something warm and charming about it.
Anyway. I recommend you go. That linguine was truly tasty. I've been dreaming about it ever since. Yum.
Ferro Bar and Cafe
769 St. Clair Ave.
Toronto, ON, M6B 1B4
(416) 654-9199
* All images from the Ferro website.
 I'm no food blogger, but every once in awhile I try a new recipe and review it. The last one was Nigella Lawson's super fast ceviche. It's great and so are... Kale chips. Actually, so is kale in general. Kale is seriously good in so many things. Raw in salad, cooked in soup, steamed with pasta. Kale... mmm. Love it. You should definitely try it. You'll feel great and you'll be pooping green in no time. (Did I just say that? Yikes.) Anyway. This recipe has been ALL OVER the blogs in the last couple of years and finally, finally I know why. I am in love. Addicted. Completely into kale chips. Try them and you will be too. There are tonnes of different recipes out there, but this is how I've been making mine. It works like a charm. DID YOU SAY KALE CHIPS?Ingredients: Kale (1 bunch, any kind) Salt 2 tbsp Olive Oil 1 Lemon Preparation: Wash the kale and remove the ribs. Toss them or reserve them for another recipe. Tear the kale leaves into small pieces. No need to be pretty. Just make the pieces relatively bite-sized. Dry the kale in a salad spinner or with paper or tea towels. Put the pieces in a bowl and toss them with a couple of table spoons of olive oil. Spray cooking spray on a large baking sheet (or two). Lay the kale out on the sheet in a single layer. Sprinkle lightly with salt Bake at 350 for 10 to 12 minutes. Eat!
cc. licensed kale chips (or kale crisps) photo by Claire Sutton from Flickr. Squirt on a little lemon juice if you like. I find it tasty. Others use vinegar. Try out some different flavours to see what you like best.
Next, I think I might try putting kale in an Italian Wedding Soup. What do you think? Got any other good kale recipes? Quick! Before I become obsessed with something else.
* Raw kale picture by James Wilsher from Stock Xchng.
There are a lot of things I don't understand. Like string theory. I don't understand string theory. And homophobia. What's up with that?
Cheerleaders and personal trainers? Confounding.
Other things that make no sense? The title of this post, sure. But more importantly, the fact that, before last night, ceviche wasn't even on my radar.
Cheviche, my friends, is fricken AMAZING.
What the heck is it, you ask?
It's raw white fish "cooked" (or pickled, sort of) in the acidic juices of lemons or limes. I made this recipe from Nigella Lawson last night and it's damn good. I stand behind it 100%. Though I don't star my reviews, if I did, I would give this recipe four stars.
Ceviche is, in my opinion, like heroin. (Except healthy.) I'm addiced to it now. I want to make it again immediately. That's how good it is.
SUPER EASY CEVICHE (basically by Nigella Lawson, with minor variations) Ingredients:2 (or more) fillets of white fish (red snapper, black cod, white snapper, whatever) Lemon juice (bottled is fine)Limes (2)Cilantro (1 fresh bunch - use 1/2) Green onions (1 fresh bunch - use 1/2) Oregano (1 tbsp dried) 1 medium jalapeno pepper Preparation:Dice the fish and lay the pieces out in a shallow dish.Douse the fish in lemon juice and the juice of the two limes (until barely covered).Stir in the orgegano, salt and pepper.Leave standing for approximately 10 minutes. You will see the pinky fish-flesh turn white. It's cooking! (Once the fish looks reasonably white, take it out of the milky lemon mixture and set the fish aside. You can discard the lemon juice mixture or use a little of it to make a dressing if you want.)Chop onions and cilantro. No need to be perfect about it, but make relatively small pieces. Seed and chop the jalapeno.Add all the green stuff to the fish mixture and mix it around. Add salt to taste if you must.You're done.You can eat the chopped ceviche on chips, sort of like a fish salsa. That's what Nigella did. We did it too. It was pretty good, but having tried it, I think it would actually be better (and healthier) in a salad. Maybe mixed into a baby spinach salad. So yummy. So fast. So easy.Go ceviche, go!
Caveats: Okay, okay. So I know raw fish isn't for everybody. If you're a vegetarian or vegan, obviously, this isn't going to work for you. And if you hate lemon juice... no go. And if you can't get fresh fish, it's probably not the best idea. And it's better in summer than winter because it's god a really fresh, bright taste. But besides all that, it's good. I swear it is.* Raw Snapper image taken from Maureen Makes It.
 I hate Rocco's Plum Tomato, but I have a couple of friends who love it and that, combined with my inability to voice an opinion in person or to deny a friend their desire, means I have been to this disappointing establishment several times.
It's NEVER good. Open up a can of Ragu, tip out some canned shellfish, overcook some white pasta and get your spouse irritated with you (in order to mimic the vibe from Rocco's slightly-surly wait staff) and you've basically got yourself a Rocco's Plum Tomato experience.
For $20 to $35 a person, per complete meal, you'll get goof that's the kind of bland that gives all Italian a bad name. At the same time, the blandness is what I think must appeal to Rocco's many fans.
You know who they are. They're the types of people who grew up on Spaghetti-Os and refused to eat most non-white foods for most of their youth. They grew up in small towns and have flooded into Toronto for work. Lucky for them, we have Rocco's. It's a comfort to know that even in the big city, one can savour the taste of home.
Sigh.
Rocco's Plum Tomato in the Annex (on Bloor West) is currently closed for reservations, which makes me hopeful. (FYI: it's the beginning of September 2010 as I'm writing this.) My hope is that along with a new interior, Rocco's get some a personality to match. Maybe a new chef? One that's been to Italy? Or at least one who knows that sauce in a jar/can is sacrilegious.
Rocco's Plum Tomato
585 Bloor St W
Toronto, ON M6G 1K5
(416) 539-9009
 I've been going to Fresh for years, but having moved out of downtown, I hadn't been in awhile. I was there last week with a friend and frankly, the hiatus just confirmed one thing: Fresh was and is fabulous. A vegan/veggie paradise, Fresh offers food that is hearty and healthy, with options for those who love organics to those seek the wheat-free. I'm a card-carrying carnivore, so at first, I was skeptical that Fresh had anything to offer me, but I love it. It's always filling and even without meat, when I eat there, I never feel dissatisfied. My favourite thing to order is the small middle eastern plate. (It's $8, or $11 if you'd rather have a large). I've had it the last FIVE times I've been to Fresh. I know I should branch out, but I'm addicted. The middle eastern plate comes with golden falafel balls, hummus, tahini & toasted organic whole wheat pita. It's garnished with parsley, spiced green olives, tomato & cucumber. The pita is incredibly soft and tasty. Mmmm. I want some right now. Anyway. Another of Fresh's stregnth is blended juice and smoothies. I don't like anything thick so I tend to mix my own by asking for a combination of what I like. (Apple juice, cranberry juice and strawberries, for example.) The results are unbelivably delicious, but they don't come cheap. My 3-blend juice will run you $6 for 16 oz. Protein shakes are even more. As a result, I often skip the drink in favour of water with my meal, but if I had a little more coin, I'd indulge more often. Fresh downsides include the fact that it's crowded and at peak times, you'll almost always find yourself waiting for a table. It also tends to be filled with... if not hipsters, then hippish types. The decor is certainly hip. With lots of colour and pattern, it can feel a bit frenetic. And the seating is tight, so you may be mashed almost right next to someone. If you're not a bearded new-veg-head, you may feel out of place. (In fact, my partner Nate hates Fresh because he feels it's pretentious, but I think he's being silly.) What you might not know, even if you're already a fan: you can take out. Call in advance and pick up to save time. Fresh uses biodegradable take out containers, which is nice. They also sell refridgerated sandwhiches and stuff like that if you're in a hurry. It's not a five star restaurant or anything, but it's good and it's healthy and I like it. Fresh (Juice for Life) 326 Bloor St. W Toronto, ON M5S 1W5 (416) 531-2635 * Image from the Fresh website.
 In Toronto, the hippest things never hold their lustre long, but maybe The Black Hoof will be the exception to the rule.
The restaurant is all about charcuterie (cured meat being smokin' hot with foodies at the moment). Though, admittedly, in the last year, interest in the trend has already fizzled a bit.
And that's what the Black Hoof really is: a place that capitalizes on cool. The tiny restaurant is nothing special, the wood-encased back patio is cramped, the sweaty servers are young and a bit bored and snooty. The food is... well, it's delicious. But it's also not for everyone.
What can I say? I like meat. I LOVE meat. And I love charcuterie. I'm not afraid of it. Pork-belly pastrami with a side of crispy pig's ears? Bring it on.
The place, despite humble looks, isn't cheap. Two people who really want to eat can expect to spend $100 (including wine). Nonetheless, I would recommend it for a special treat if you're a carnivore like I am.
Be aware, however, that the place turns into a bit of a bar late at night. It seems to be where all the city's coolest servers go to hang out once their shifts end. So if you're going to go and aren't interested in interrupting hipster revelry, go a bit early.
The Black Hoof
928 Dundas St W
Toronto, ON M6J 1W3
(416) 551-8854
* Salami photo by Gabriella Fabbri from Stock Xchng.
 I've been living in Toronto (for the second time) for more than three years now and I have yet to find REALLY GOOD Chinese takeout. I don't know if it's because my tastes have changed in recent years of it because take out just sucks everywhere, but it's frustrating either way.
Ginger Blossom Asian Kitchen is the latest place Nate and I have tried and they're... okay. They deliver to our neighbourhood (unlike our favourite brick and mortar places) and their food is palatable. We haven't tried everything on a menu, of course, but here's my experience so far: Their Hot & Sour Soup is okay, as is their Won Ton Soup. A single serving is $3.50, which is normal. Ginger Blossom's Deep Fried Shrimp Dumplings are delicious because they're deep fried (and most deep fried things taste good). They come with a side of a very thick and addictive mayonnaise. (Or maybe the addictive thing is just me.) Their Wonton in Spicy Peanut Sauce is awful. Gooey and drowned. Their Szechuan Chicken is way too sweet (imo), but their Beef with Oyster Sauce is decent and their Tofy with Minced Pork is surprisingly tasty. (The Minced Pork seems gross at first, like grade B ground beef or mystery meat, but it's actually really yummy. On rice, this dish is a favourite.) What you should know: within their delivery area, drop off is free as long as you order more than $25 worth of food. Otherwise, it's $2. If you order more than $28 worth of food before taxes, you get a free item from a predetermined list. I recommend the Deep Fried Chicken Wings. (See note above about how all things deep fried taste good.) If you order more than $48 worth of food and you pick up and pay cash, you get 10% off and a free item. Don't forget to ask for these perks or you won't get them. Ginger Blossom Asian Kitchen is nothing special. It's not authentic or impressive. But if you're looking for take out that isn't awful, it's a decent choice. Ginger Blossom Asian Kitchen 256 Christie St. Toronto, ON (416) 537-3388
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