On a flight to the US I learned that The Mad Radish was created by the founder of David's Tea. Coincidentally enough, I had eaten a salad there the week before. I was working on an event downtown and realized I hadn't eaten breakfast and needed to have something and fast. It was busy every where and I don't have the patience to stand in line. I guess at that point since I'd been working since 6:30 am, I was a bit hangry. As I turned the corner, I saw a sign I hadn't noticed before. The blue colour was appealing. Amazing the things that catch my eye, but whatever. It looked quiet so I figured why not? The restaurant is quite nice, clean, very modern and simply decorated. Reminded me of Europe. The menu was different, not your average salad bar.
The options were diverse and it was hard to decide which one to have. The staff greeted me right away and offered to answer any questions about the menu. I finally decided on the Falafel Salad. It includes baked falafel patties nestle in a bed of greens with pickled radishes, fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, garlicky chickpeas and herby quinoa tabouli, tossed in a sherry vinaigrette, then topped with a creamy tahini dressing. For those that like spice, you can get a side of their Mad Hot Sauce. This was not your average salad. The bowl was misleading, there was a lot more food in there than I expected. I could barely finish it. You get 4 falafel patties, which pretty much filled me up. Falafel can be hit and miss. At times I find it too dry and salty, but these ones were different. They had a bit of a bite to them and were very tasty. The thick and creamy tahini dressing helped to tone down the spice a bit and enhanced the flavour of the salad. I loved the pickled radishes, never had these before, and the quinoa tabouli was delicious.
It was just what I needed and given how hearty and filling it was, it would get me through the rest of the day and well into the evening since I probably wouldn't have time for dinner. No doubt I'll be going back. Working downtown it's easy to get to and allows me to stay close to the events I work on at Parliament Hill. Next time I'll probably ask them to only put on 2 falafel patties as I hate to waste food and I could barely finish my salad. As they say waste not, want not!
Price is average, but I'll tell you the ingredients are fresh and very diverse so I expected to pay more. The salad combinations are very unique and loaded with protein so you will most definitely feel full and satisfied. Portions are very generous. For me my salads have to be cold and crispy and that's exactly what I got. The falafel patties were warm, but they didn't heat up or whilt my greens. It's great to have this healthy fast food option. I'd pick this over a sandwich or burger any day. By the way, they don't just have salads, check out their warm bowls too. With winter just around the corner, that's what I'll be trying next!
Enjoy!
Carm the Foodie
Tuesday, 14 November 2017
Wednesday, 13 September 2017
Pure Kitchen - Westboro, Ottawa
It was a girlfriend's birthday and she said she wanted to "try something different" so I told her to meet me at Pure Kitchen. I knew she'd never been. This is a vegetarian and vegan paradise. Being a carnivore, she was taken off guard and not quite sure she'd like it. I told her to keep an open mind and give it a shot. As they say, "If you always do what you've always done, you'll always have what you've always got." Here was an opportunity for her to step outside the box and explore something new.
She was impressed by the menu. They have a great selection. I love meat too, but I'll try just about anything and I love vegetables. Fruit I can live without, but veggies are a staple in our house.
It was late and we weren't starving, so we decided not to have appetizers and stick to the mains.
My girlfriend couldn't decide. She definitely didn't want a soup or salad. I suggested a burger. You have the choice of the "Royale with Cheese" which is a mushroom and walnut patty or the "Summer Fun Time" made with a sweet potato patty. After what seemed like an eternity, she went with the "Summer Fun Time" with a side of fries. The burger is trimmed with a chipotle lime sauce, coconut bacon, tomato and sunflower sprouts. If this wasn't different and adventurous for her, I don't know what is. I really hoped she'd like it.
Interestingly enough I've never been crazy about falafel. Tried it many times, but didn't enjoy it. Not sure why, but on this menu it sounded so much more appealing. It is served on a flour tortilla with tomato, cucumber, mixed greens, pickled turnips, pickles, garlic sauce and a lemon tahini sauce.
Perhaps it was the name "Peaceful." Being a Mom of 4, I don't get many moments of peace so maybe this would help? Can't hurt to try! Lol With my "Peaceful" I ordered the kale caesar for the side. Their sandwiches and burgers come with a side. You have the option of fries, salad, half and half, soup or you can upgrade to a poutine.
I'll draw your attention to the coconut bacon. OMG, it's amazing. Who would have know that you can make coconut look and taste like bacon. I'm always very amused at how vegetarians have to make things look similar to meat products. I don't think I'll ever understand it, but these guys are magicians and everything tastes amazing.
I added cheese to my "Peaceful" and I'll tell you this is the best falafel sandwich I have ever had. Even with not one, but two sauces the bread wasn't all soggy. I think that's usually what turns me off. Texture is huge for me and there's nothing worse than eating wet bread. The vegetables were crunchy and the sauces were the perfect consistency. When I'm in the mood for falafel, this is where I'll be going. The kale caesar was delicious. I love the crunch of the kale and again the coconut bacon is awesome. For croutons they use crispy corn tortillas. I liked that the salad was lightly dressed, I hate soggy lettuce too!
My girlfriend loved her burger. It was so much more than she had expected. She enjoys a bit of spice so the chipotle lime sauce gave it a slight punch and really complimented all the flavors. The fries were amazing too. They are shoestring style and really crispy.
Our dinners were delicious. We thoroughly enjoyed everything. I had mentioned to the waitress when I arrived that we were celebrating a birthday so shortly after she'd taken away our clean plates, she reappeared with a huge slice of cake. It was a vanilla frosted chocolate cake. OMG, it was huge! Good thing we were sharing. There were layers of moist decadent chocolate cake with this beautiful fluffy mint green vanilla frosting. It wasn't too sweet nor was the cake overly rich. Perfect way to end such a great meal. We had to force ourselves to finish it because there was no way we were going to waste a single bite!
All of their desserts are vegan and gluten free so don't worry if you have allergies. My sister is gluten intolerant and most of the baking I had tried previously was kind of blah and dry. Not this cake. It's incredible how far we've come and improved ingredients so everyone can indulge.
The service was great. It was a busy night so we had to wait a bit for a table, but the food came out reasonably quickly and everything was delicious. Our waitress was extremely pleasant and attentive. Bringing the cake was a nice touch to celebrate the birthday. It's little things like this that stand out and make you want to go back.
The price was very reasonable. For both of us with drinks, the mains and coffee the total came to around $60.00 with taxes and tip. The ingredients are fresh and most items are prepared in house. Very unique items with interesting combinations that work really well. I look forward to going back and trying other items.
In the warmer months, ask to sit on the roof top patio. It's nice to be able to enjoy the beautiful weather and you can people watch as you look over the main strip in Westboro.
Even if you're a meat lover, you'll like the food here. We all need veggies and this restaurant certainly knows how to make them look and taste incredible. Give it a try, you'll love it too!
Carm the Foodie
She was impressed by the menu. They have a great selection. I love meat too, but I'll try just about anything and I love vegetables. Fruit I can live without, but veggies are a staple in our house.
It was late and we weren't starving, so we decided not to have appetizers and stick to the mains.
My girlfriend couldn't decide. She definitely didn't want a soup or salad. I suggested a burger. You have the choice of the "Royale with Cheese" which is a mushroom and walnut patty or the "Summer Fun Time" made with a sweet potato patty. After what seemed like an eternity, she went with the "Summer Fun Time" with a side of fries. The burger is trimmed with a chipotle lime sauce, coconut bacon, tomato and sunflower sprouts. If this wasn't different and adventurous for her, I don't know what is. I really hoped she'd like it.
Interestingly enough I've never been crazy about falafel. Tried it many times, but didn't enjoy it. Not sure why, but on this menu it sounded so much more appealing. It is served on a flour tortilla with tomato, cucumber, mixed greens, pickled turnips, pickles, garlic sauce and a lemon tahini sauce.
Perhaps it was the name "Peaceful." Being a Mom of 4, I don't get many moments of peace so maybe this would help? Can't hurt to try! Lol With my "Peaceful" I ordered the kale caesar for the side. Their sandwiches and burgers come with a side. You have the option of fries, salad, half and half, soup or you can upgrade to a poutine.
I'll draw your attention to the coconut bacon. OMG, it's amazing. Who would have know that you can make coconut look and taste like bacon. I'm always very amused at how vegetarians have to make things look similar to meat products. I don't think I'll ever understand it, but these guys are magicians and everything tastes amazing.
I added cheese to my "Peaceful" and I'll tell you this is the best falafel sandwich I have ever had. Even with not one, but two sauces the bread wasn't all soggy. I think that's usually what turns me off. Texture is huge for me and there's nothing worse than eating wet bread. The vegetables were crunchy and the sauces were the perfect consistency. When I'm in the mood for falafel, this is where I'll be going. The kale caesar was delicious. I love the crunch of the kale and again the coconut bacon is awesome. For croutons they use crispy corn tortillas. I liked that the salad was lightly dressed, I hate soggy lettuce too!
My girlfriend loved her burger. It was so much more than she had expected. She enjoys a bit of spice so the chipotle lime sauce gave it a slight punch and really complimented all the flavors. The fries were amazing too. They are shoestring style and really crispy.
Our dinners were delicious. We thoroughly enjoyed everything. I had mentioned to the waitress when I arrived that we were celebrating a birthday so shortly after she'd taken away our clean plates, she reappeared with a huge slice of cake. It was a vanilla frosted chocolate cake. OMG, it was huge! Good thing we were sharing. There were layers of moist decadent chocolate cake with this beautiful fluffy mint green vanilla frosting. It wasn't too sweet nor was the cake overly rich. Perfect way to end such a great meal. We had to force ourselves to finish it because there was no way we were going to waste a single bite!
All of their desserts are vegan and gluten free so don't worry if you have allergies. My sister is gluten intolerant and most of the baking I had tried previously was kind of blah and dry. Not this cake. It's incredible how far we've come and improved ingredients so everyone can indulge.
The service was great. It was a busy night so we had to wait a bit for a table, but the food came out reasonably quickly and everything was delicious. Our waitress was extremely pleasant and attentive. Bringing the cake was a nice touch to celebrate the birthday. It's little things like this that stand out and make you want to go back.
The price was very reasonable. For both of us with drinks, the mains and coffee the total came to around $60.00 with taxes and tip. The ingredients are fresh and most items are prepared in house. Very unique items with interesting combinations that work really well. I look forward to going back and trying other items.
In the warmer months, ask to sit on the roof top patio. It's nice to be able to enjoy the beautiful weather and you can people watch as you look over the main strip in Westboro.
Even if you're a meat lover, you'll like the food here. We all need veggies and this restaurant certainly knows how to make them look and taste incredible. Give it a try, you'll love it too!
Carm the Foodie
Tuesday, 5 September 2017
Mike's - Hull, Quebec
Breakfast is my favourite meal. Week days I usually don't have lunch so breakfast is a must. The same applies on the weekends, so scoping out new places for great food is our mission when out and about running errands. My kids share in my love of breakfast. Typically on weekends we try to sleep in then indulge in brunch which holds us over until dinner.
Mike's has an extensive breakfast menu with some really great options. They also have a kids menu and activity pages which my youngest loves.
On this visit I went with my son and youngest daughter. We were starving. My youngest ordered the kids waffle. It comes with chocolate sauce, fruit, syrup, strawberry coulis and a hazelnut chocolate spread. She loves sausage, so we ordered an extra side. The plate is decorated like a happy face which makes it all the more appealing for a young child. My son and I opted for the countryside dishes. It was hard to choose from the 8 different choices. They come served in an individual sized cast iron skillet. An impressive presentation. One or two eggs prepared any way you like are served on a delicious au gratin base prepared with seasoned potatoes. I chose the "Signature" which comes with onions, garlic spread, broccoli, zucchini, tomato, Saint-Raymond cheese, mozzarella and bacon with poached eggs. My son decided to try the "All Dressed" which comes loaded with green onions, garlic, mushrooms, green peppers, pepperoni and mozzarella with his eggs over easy. All countryside dishes are served with toast and a side of their delicious baked beans. Your coffee cup is topped up regularly and the servers are attentive, even when it's busy.
They have a great menu with morning pizzas, eggs benedict, waffles, omelettes, pancakes in addition to the usual breakfast specials for those who like to keep it simple. You can't go wrong, everything is good and the service is great. The prices are average, with generous portions and coffee is included with breakfast. For the 3 of us the total came to $40.00 including taxes and tip.
If you're looking for variety, Mike's is an excellent choice.
Carm the Foodie
Mike's has an extensive breakfast menu with some really great options. They also have a kids menu and activity pages which my youngest loves.
On this visit I went with my son and youngest daughter. We were starving. My youngest ordered the kids waffle. It comes with chocolate sauce, fruit, syrup, strawberry coulis and a hazelnut chocolate spread. She loves sausage, so we ordered an extra side. The plate is decorated like a happy face which makes it all the more appealing for a young child. My son and I opted for the countryside dishes. It was hard to choose from the 8 different choices. They come served in an individual sized cast iron skillet. An impressive presentation. One or two eggs prepared any way you like are served on a delicious au gratin base prepared with seasoned potatoes. I chose the "Signature" which comes with onions, garlic spread, broccoli, zucchini, tomato, Saint-Raymond cheese, mozzarella and bacon with poached eggs. My son decided to try the "All Dressed" which comes loaded with green onions, garlic, mushrooms, green peppers, pepperoni and mozzarella with his eggs over easy. All countryside dishes are served with toast and a side of their delicious baked beans. Your coffee cup is topped up regularly and the servers are attentive, even when it's busy.
They have a great menu with morning pizzas, eggs benedict, waffles, omelettes, pancakes in addition to the usual breakfast specials for those who like to keep it simple. You can't go wrong, everything is good and the service is great. The prices are average, with generous portions and coffee is included with breakfast. For the 3 of us the total came to $40.00 including taxes and tip.
If you're looking for variety, Mike's is an excellent choice.
Carm the Foodie
7 Eleven Plus - Japan
Who would've thought you'd go to your local 7 Eleven convenience store to pick-up breakfast, lunch, dinner. If you just want a snack like we do back home, you can get them here too. Many locals frequent these convenience stores not only to pick-up day-to-day staples, but complete meals. They have a huge selection of prepared meals. The walls are lined with refridgerator displaying sushi, sandwiches, salads, full meals with rice and pickled vegetables, noodle or rice bowls, soups and the list goes on and on. Selections vary by location. They have snacks, a vast selection of drinks, ice-cream and a dessert section that would have you believe you were in a pastry shop. Can you believe they have ready to go soft serve cones in the ice-cream section?
These are nothing like the North American 7 Eleven stores, probably why they call them 7 Eleven Plus.
For the hot meal selections, they even heat them up for you and provide chop sticks and a wet napkin when you get up to the cash. This is convenient, inexpensive and healthier than fast food. Whether you're vegetarian or otherwise, the vast selection caters to all needs and likes. The cost ranges just under $10.00 Cdn per person with a drink and dessert.
I've fallen in love with the mille crepe with cream cake. Their desserts are pieces of art you feel guilty cutting into. The Japanese are huge on presentation. Even the smallest of gifts are very elaborately wrapped. I'm not a dessert person, but I think this trip will convert me. The desserts look decadent, but they are not overly sweet and the portions are much smaller than ours back home. This affords you a little less guilt! Lol
These are nothing like the North American 7 Eleven stores, probably why they call them 7 Eleven Plus.
For the hot meal selections, they even heat them up for you and provide chop sticks and a wet napkin when you get up to the cash. This is convenient, inexpensive and healthier than fast food. Whether you're vegetarian or otherwise, the vast selection caters to all needs and likes. The cost ranges just under $10.00 Cdn per person with a drink and dessert.
I've fallen in love with the mille crepe with cream cake. Their desserts are pieces of art you feel guilty cutting into. The Japanese are huge on presentation. Even the smallest of gifts are very elaborately wrapped. I'm not a dessert person, but I think this trip will convert me. The desserts look decadent, but they are not overly sweet and the portions are much smaller than ours back home. This affords you a little less guilt! Lol
Incredible how different stores and restaurants we have at home vary around the world. When in Japan, check out the 7 Eleven stores. Great for quick and inexpensive meals while site seeing or when staying at an AirBnB and you don't want to cook. Convenient, healthy and very affordable!
Enjoy!
Carm the Foodie
Monday, 4 September 2017
Archibald Microbrasserie - Montreal, Quebec
I was headed to Japan with my son for the Nawatobi championships. He had just returned from Edmonton and now we were driving to Montreal to meet up with Team Canada.
We hadn't slept in two days. It was 4:00 am when we arrived at the airport. By the time we met up with everyone and checked I'm, we needed food.
While walking to our gate we came across Archibald. It has a very rustic cabin like look. They had a seating area in the corridor and another inside. There were logs and red and black flannel fabric on the benches with various cushions decorated with faux fur, deer, moose and bears. It made for a very relaxed cabin like atmosphere and the seats were very comfortable.
We sat out in the corridor so we could people watch.
The picture on the menu caught our attention. The omelette looked amazing. It was a chorizo and mushroom omelette with sweet potato puree, old cheddar and arugula. Funny that we both gravitated to that one. My son decided to order the eggs Benedict with brie and chippie ham instead so we could try different plates.
The food came out fairly quickly. Both plates looked very artistically arranged. We should've taken pictures!
The plates came with home fries and the omelette had a side of toasted artisan bread. The omelette was delicious. The chorizo was surprisingly spicy, but the sweet potato puree and the melted cheddar helped tone down the heat. The mushrooms were sautéed and slightly crispy and the arugula added an element of freshness with a nutty flavour.
The eggs Benedict were rich and creamy. I never would have thought to use brie. The eggs were poached soft. The runny yolk, hollandaise sauce and melted cheese married perfectly creating a rich creamy note further enhanced by the ham which had a pulled texture and was well seasoned.
We'll have to plan another trip out of Montreal so we can go back and try other items from the menu. All the dishes coming out looked good.
Price was a bit high at $50.00 for two, but keep in mind prices are higher at the airports and coffee is not included with breakfast. I have no issues paying more for high quality food, especially when it's out of the ordinary. The ingredients were fresh and the combinations were unique. Our meals were amazing and the service was good.
You have to check it out!
Carm the Foodie
We hadn't slept in two days. It was 4:00 am when we arrived at the airport. By the time we met up with everyone and checked I'm, we needed food.
While walking to our gate we came across Archibald. It has a very rustic cabin like look. They had a seating area in the corridor and another inside. There were logs and red and black flannel fabric on the benches with various cushions decorated with faux fur, deer, moose and bears. It made for a very relaxed cabin like atmosphere and the seats were very comfortable.
We sat out in the corridor so we could people watch.
The picture on the menu caught our attention. The omelette looked amazing. It was a chorizo and mushroom omelette with sweet potato puree, old cheddar and arugula. Funny that we both gravitated to that one. My son decided to order the eggs Benedict with brie and chippie ham instead so we could try different plates.
The food came out fairly quickly. Both plates looked very artistically arranged. We should've taken pictures!
The plates came with home fries and the omelette had a side of toasted artisan bread. The omelette was delicious. The chorizo was surprisingly spicy, but the sweet potato puree and the melted cheddar helped tone down the heat. The mushrooms were sautéed and slightly crispy and the arugula added an element of freshness with a nutty flavour.
The eggs Benedict were rich and creamy. I never would have thought to use brie. The eggs were poached soft. The runny yolk, hollandaise sauce and melted cheese married perfectly creating a rich creamy note further enhanced by the ham which had a pulled texture and was well seasoned.
We'll have to plan another trip out of Montreal so we can go back and try other items from the menu. All the dishes coming out looked good.
Price was a bit high at $50.00 for two, but keep in mind prices are higher at the airports and coffee is not included with breakfast. I have no issues paying more for high quality food, especially when it's out of the ordinary. The ingredients were fresh and the combinations were unique. Our meals were amazing and the service was good.
You have to check it out!
Carm the Foodie
Lift Bar, Grill and View - Vancouver, BC
While on our journey to Japan, Vancouver was the next stop. We decided to grab something to eat since we had almost three hours to kill. It was lunch time anyways, but we didn't want fast food. After walking around for a bit , we came across Lift. It was empty and looked like it was closed. The menu was posted and they had a sharing menu with a cheese and charcuterie board. That would be perfect.
A hostess came over and welcomed us. The restaurant was open. She confirmed we could order from the brunch, sharing or lunch menus. Perfect! We knew what we wanted.
It was a very nice place with modern decor. There was a large salt water aquarium built into the wall. It was beautiful with brightly coloured corals and tropical fish. I find watching the fish swim around very calming and soothing.
The waitress came over after delivering food to another table. Most were ordering from the brunch menu. We ordered our drinks and the sharing plate. Slowly the restaurant started to fill up. I joked with my son that we're trend setters! Lol
The cheese and charcuterie platter arrived. The waitress described the various items. There was some prosciutto, chorizo sausage, brie, goat's cheese with pine nuts and pumpkin seeds, a smoked cheese, fig and raspberry compote, truffle honey, a generous mixed greens salad with a lemony vinaigrette and some baby garlic gerkins. The plate was garnished with garlic crisps.
My son had to take a picture. It looked very appetizing so it didn't require too much convincing for us to dive in. We thoroughly enjoyed it. The prosciutto was thinly sliced. The chorizo was the Portuguese style with a slight bite to it, but not overly spicy.
It was a perfect sized portion for two people. If you were going for dinner you might want to order a couple more sharing plates or a main. We were satisfied and it would hold us until dinner.
I found the price beyond reasonable. It was less than I expected given the restaurant was more higher end. The total bill with everything included was under $30.00. Always a nice surprise when you enjoy a high end meal at a low cost.
If you're at the Vancouver airport, check out Lift. They have a great menu with numerous options including sushi and sharing plates.
Enjoy!
Carm the Foodie
A hostess came over and welcomed us. The restaurant was open. She confirmed we could order from the brunch, sharing or lunch menus. Perfect! We knew what we wanted.
It was a very nice place with modern decor. There was a large salt water aquarium built into the wall. It was beautiful with brightly coloured corals and tropical fish. I find watching the fish swim around very calming and soothing.
The waitress came over after delivering food to another table. Most were ordering from the brunch menu. We ordered our drinks and the sharing plate. Slowly the restaurant started to fill up. I joked with my son that we're trend setters! Lol
The cheese and charcuterie platter arrived. The waitress described the various items. There was some prosciutto, chorizo sausage, brie, goat's cheese with pine nuts and pumpkin seeds, a smoked cheese, fig and raspberry compote, truffle honey, a generous mixed greens salad with a lemony vinaigrette and some baby garlic gerkins. The plate was garnished with garlic crisps.
My son had to take a picture. It looked very appetizing so it didn't require too much convincing for us to dive in. We thoroughly enjoyed it. The prosciutto was thinly sliced. The chorizo was the Portuguese style with a slight bite to it, but not overly spicy.
It was a perfect sized portion for two people. If you were going for dinner you might want to order a couple more sharing plates or a main. We were satisfied and it would hold us until dinner.
I found the price beyond reasonable. It was less than I expected given the restaurant was more higher end. The total bill with everything included was under $30.00. Always a nice surprise when you enjoy a high end meal at a low cost.
If you're at the Vancouver airport, check out Lift. They have a great menu with numerous options including sushi and sharing plates.
Enjoy!
Carm the Foodie
Thursday, 24 August 2017
Pho Bo Ga 77 - Hull, Quebec
When you're in the mood for soup, check this place out. It's very simple, nothing fancy. One of those little holes in the wall you probably wouldn't notice or think to look for. A friend had talked about it a while back and suggested it for lunch.
This is now our go to choice for a quick and healthy lunch.
I ordered the medium #39. It comes with egg and rice noodles, pork and shrimp. My girlfriend ordered #36 rice noodles with mixed meats and seafood.
Within minutes our bowls arrived. As usual, they were bigger than expected. Unless you're starving or planning on sharing, don't order the large. Portions are big. Our eyes had a much larger appetite than our stomachs! On the side comes a plate with all the garnishes; sprouts, a variety of sauces, a spoon and chop sticks.
The broth is well seasoned, piping hot and loaded with ingredients. They certainly don't skimp on the meats or the seafood.
Price is very reasonable at around $12.00 per person including the tip. No need to order drinks, the soups are very filling. Service is fast so perfect for those short on time or you can take it to go. For those that don't want soup, they have an extensive menu with various options including daily specials and stir fries.
Give it a try, worth the trip!
Carm the Foodie
This is now our go to choice for a quick and healthy lunch.
I ordered the medium #39. It comes with egg and rice noodles, pork and shrimp. My girlfriend ordered #36 rice noodles with mixed meats and seafood.
Within minutes our bowls arrived. As usual, they were bigger than expected. Unless you're starving or planning on sharing, don't order the large. Portions are big. Our eyes had a much larger appetite than our stomachs! On the side comes a plate with all the garnishes; sprouts, a variety of sauces, a spoon and chop sticks.
The broth is well seasoned, piping hot and loaded with ingredients. They certainly don't skimp on the meats or the seafood.
Price is very reasonable at around $12.00 per person including the tip. No need to order drinks, the soups are very filling. Service is fast so perfect for those short on time or you can take it to go. For those that don't want soup, they have an extensive menu with various options including daily specials and stir fries.
Give it a try, worth the trip!
Carm the Foodie
Friday, 21 July 2017
Malone's Lakeside Bar & Grill - Ottawa
It was one of those days hot smoldering days and I didn't feel like cooking, so I picked up my girls and decided we were going out for dinner. Where to go? On a beautiful sunny day, definitely near the water. Malone's popped into my mind and off we went.
When we arrived it wasn't very busy. We were seated on the patio with a great view of Dow's Lake. Thank goodness for shade, it was really hot out.
My girls ordered a burger and spaghetti while I had a Greek salad. Given the heat, I had to order a slushy margarita. It was perfect!
Our waiter was amazing. He had a great sense of humour and was very attentive. He was really good with my girls, we really enjoyed our dinner. The food came out very quickly. Their portions are huge. There was enough food for all three of us to try everything.
The breeze from the water felt wonderful. In the full sun you were melting. Good thing we arrived when we did because it filled up quickly and there weren't many seats available in the shade.
We relaxed and took our time. When we finished our dinner, the girls had to have dessert. The waiter completed agreed and suggested ice-cream sundaes. What kid in their right mind would say no? Their eyes lit up and immediately they asked, "Mom can we please have ice-cream?" Mom was still enjoying her margarita so how could I object?
One had a chocolate sundae with chocolate ice-cream, the other with vanilla ice-cream. They were so big, Mom was able to try some too!
If you're looking for somewhere simple with a great view of the water and really good food, you have to check out Malone's. You can also choose to sit inside if you prefer the comfort of air conditioning. They have a very extensive menu. Whether you just want drinks and appetizers or a full meal, there's something to please everyone. All the plates look amazing and are piled high with food. You won't be disappointed. Prices are reasonable and about mid range. We were one adult and two kids and the total bill with tax and tip was $60.00.
Summer is too short. Treat yourself to a nice lakeside dinner at Malone's!
Carm the Foodie
When we arrived it wasn't very busy. We were seated on the patio with a great view of Dow's Lake. Thank goodness for shade, it was really hot out.
My girls ordered a burger and spaghetti while I had a Greek salad. Given the heat, I had to order a slushy margarita. It was perfect!
Our waiter was amazing. He had a great sense of humour and was very attentive. He was really good with my girls, we really enjoyed our dinner. The food came out very quickly. Their portions are huge. There was enough food for all three of us to try everything.
The breeze from the water felt wonderful. In the full sun you were melting. Good thing we arrived when we did because it filled up quickly and there weren't many seats available in the shade.
We relaxed and took our time. When we finished our dinner, the girls had to have dessert. The waiter completed agreed and suggested ice-cream sundaes. What kid in their right mind would say no? Their eyes lit up and immediately they asked, "Mom can we please have ice-cream?" Mom was still enjoying her margarita so how could I object?
One had a chocolate sundae with chocolate ice-cream, the other with vanilla ice-cream. They were so big, Mom was able to try some too!
If you're looking for somewhere simple with a great view of the water and really good food, you have to check out Malone's. You can also choose to sit inside if you prefer the comfort of air conditioning. They have a very extensive menu. Whether you just want drinks and appetizers or a full meal, there's something to please everyone. All the plates look amazing and are piled high with food. You won't be disappointed. Prices are reasonable and about mid range. We were one adult and two kids and the total bill with tax and tip was $60.00.
Summer is too short. Treat yourself to a nice lakeside dinner at Malone's!
Carm the Foodie
Saturday, 8 July 2017
Tomasso's Italian Grille - Trenton, Ontario
After 3 long weeks riddled with overtime, few meals and living out of suitcases, my colleagues and I decided we were going downtown for a nice dinner. It was beautiful out and the day before chaos would hit, so a nice patio by the water and a few drinks were in order!
Our colleague suggested Tomasso's Italian Grille. She'd been there before and loved the food. Our driver concurred. He said everything on the menu was good and we couldn't go wrong.
We finished working and headed out for a late dinner. It was around 8:00 pm. The restaurant was busy. The hostess asked if we wanted a table inside or on the patio. When you have the option of eating by the water, outside is the correct answer! What a beautiful night. There was a slight breeze and the water was calm. All of a sudden it started to drizzle, but it ended as suddenly as it started so we stayed on the patio.
Our dinner was interrupted by a work conference call, but it was all good. We had already ordered our drinks and had all the information needed to put the bosses at ease. The waiter was spunky and had a great sense of humour. For dinner I wanted something different so couldn't decide what I wanted. An appetizer would be too much, I had to pick one dish. The ladies were starving, sharing was not an option! Lol Watching the dished for the other tables go by made it all the more difficult and everything on the menu sounded good. As I looked over the menu again I spotted the "Trio Milanese." This dish had "Milk fed veal, chicken breast, shrimp, lemon-butter, white wine, garlic mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables" for me this was perfect. I'd get a taste of the sea with some chicken and veal. As they say, variety is the spice of life. It sounded so good my colleagues went along with my choice. The waiter laughed, we made it very easy for him.
When the plates arrived, the waiter received a unanimous, "Wow." The food looked amazing. Generous portions of chicken and veal artfully resting on the bed of mashed potatoes with the shrimp decorating the edges of the plates and the seasonal vegetables including carrots and broccoli adding a punch of colour to the plate. Our only regret is that we forgot to take a picture of the plates! No doubt we were starving so we dug in.
I don't usually order shrimp at restaurants because they tend to be over cooked and rubbery. These were amazing. The texture was perfect and the sauce was delicious. Both the chicken and the veal were tender and succulent, you could cut them with your fork. We all agreed it was an excellent choice.
The waiter was very impressed that we all cleaned our plates. He commented that obviously we all had a very good up bringing with parents that wouldn't allow us to leave the table until our plates were finished. We laughed because it was so true. Throwing out food was sacrilege in our house, especially when it came to meat and seafood.
Even though we were stuffed, one of my colleagues insisted that we had to indulge. We couldn't leave without having dessert and coffee. Tomorrow would be insane and chances were we wouldn't have time to eat, so best to take advantage and stock up with some extra calories. Who could say no to that justification? Can you tell we're all government workers?
The waiter returned and we asked what was on the dessert menu. He rhymed off several options, but one stood out for all of us. The Chocolate Eruption. We asked him to describe it, "Chocolate cheesecake, white chocolate chunks, pecans, almonds, chocolate syrup and caramel sauce." Ok, three women as if we were going to say no to that. However, we did agree that we'd share one. Watching the desserts arriving at the other tables confirmed we were way too full to polish off three desserts and coffee.
We were not disappointed. I think the waiter cut us a much larger piece and artfully decorated the plate to make it all the more appealing, not that chocolate needs much help, but we didn't complain. It was delicious. The cake was rich and decadent. A perfect way to end the night. We stuck around well beyond closing time, but no one seemed to mind. We were the last ones to leave!
I'd say prices are moderate, less than I expected. The portions are generous, food was excellent and most of it is made in house. I think what impressed us the most was the service. The restaurant was packed and extremely busy, but the level of service was outstanding. We never felt neglected, the waiter was very attentive and checked on us regularly. The food came out rather quickly considering how busy it was. The waiter's personality and sense of humour definitely added to the experience.
I strongly recommend this restaurant. If you have the opportunity, visit Trenton and go on a wine tour then stop at Tomasso's for a nice dinner. You'll love it!
Carm the Foodie
Our colleague suggested Tomasso's Italian Grille. She'd been there before and loved the food. Our driver concurred. He said everything on the menu was good and we couldn't go wrong.
We finished working and headed out for a late dinner. It was around 8:00 pm. The restaurant was busy. The hostess asked if we wanted a table inside or on the patio. When you have the option of eating by the water, outside is the correct answer! What a beautiful night. There was a slight breeze and the water was calm. All of a sudden it started to drizzle, but it ended as suddenly as it started so we stayed on the patio.
Our dinner was interrupted by a work conference call, but it was all good. We had already ordered our drinks and had all the information needed to put the bosses at ease. The waiter was spunky and had a great sense of humour. For dinner I wanted something different so couldn't decide what I wanted. An appetizer would be too much, I had to pick one dish. The ladies were starving, sharing was not an option! Lol Watching the dished for the other tables go by made it all the more difficult and everything on the menu sounded good. As I looked over the menu again I spotted the "Trio Milanese." This dish had "Milk fed veal, chicken breast, shrimp, lemon-butter, white wine, garlic mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables" for me this was perfect. I'd get a taste of the sea with some chicken and veal. As they say, variety is the spice of life. It sounded so good my colleagues went along with my choice. The waiter laughed, we made it very easy for him.
When the plates arrived, the waiter received a unanimous, "Wow." The food looked amazing. Generous portions of chicken and veal artfully resting on the bed of mashed potatoes with the shrimp decorating the edges of the plates and the seasonal vegetables including carrots and broccoli adding a punch of colour to the plate. Our only regret is that we forgot to take a picture of the plates! No doubt we were starving so we dug in.
I don't usually order shrimp at restaurants because they tend to be over cooked and rubbery. These were amazing. The texture was perfect and the sauce was delicious. Both the chicken and the veal were tender and succulent, you could cut them with your fork. We all agreed it was an excellent choice.
The waiter was very impressed that we all cleaned our plates. He commented that obviously we all had a very good up bringing with parents that wouldn't allow us to leave the table until our plates were finished. We laughed because it was so true. Throwing out food was sacrilege in our house, especially when it came to meat and seafood.
Even though we were stuffed, one of my colleagues insisted that we had to indulge. We couldn't leave without having dessert and coffee. Tomorrow would be insane and chances were we wouldn't have time to eat, so best to take advantage and stock up with some extra calories. Who could say no to that justification? Can you tell we're all government workers?
The waiter returned and we asked what was on the dessert menu. He rhymed off several options, but one stood out for all of us. The Chocolate Eruption. We asked him to describe it, "Chocolate cheesecake, white chocolate chunks, pecans, almonds, chocolate syrup and caramel sauce." Ok, three women as if we were going to say no to that. However, we did agree that we'd share one. Watching the desserts arriving at the other tables confirmed we were way too full to polish off three desserts and coffee.
We were not disappointed. I think the waiter cut us a much larger piece and artfully decorated the plate to make it all the more appealing, not that chocolate needs much help, but we didn't complain. It was delicious. The cake was rich and decadent. A perfect way to end the night. We stuck around well beyond closing time, but no one seemed to mind. We were the last ones to leave!
I'd say prices are moderate, less than I expected. The portions are generous, food was excellent and most of it is made in house. I think what impressed us the most was the service. The restaurant was packed and extremely busy, but the level of service was outstanding. We never felt neglected, the waiter was very attentive and checked on us regularly. The food came out rather quickly considering how busy it was. The waiter's personality and sense of humour definitely added to the experience.
I strongly recommend this restaurant. If you have the opportunity, visit Trenton and go on a wine tour then stop at Tomasso's for a nice dinner. You'll love it!
Carm the Foodie
Sunday, 2 July 2017
The Granite Room - Iqaluit, Nunavut
I've always wanted to visit Nunavut and I finally got the opportunity to go through work. This was my first time in Iqaluit. We stayed at the Discovery Lodge Hotel, a beautiful boutique hotel just a quick walk from the airport. I happened to arrive on Victoria Day so to my disappointment, most businesses were closed. After taking a long walk through town, it was time to eat. With limited options, I decided to eat at The Granite Room in the hotel. This is a newly renovated hotel. It is quite modern with very tasteful décor. The Granite Room has Aboriginal artwork and carvings, it is ultra modern. The light fixture above the dining room resembles pieces of ice or icebergs floating in the sea and the lighting can be adjusted with different colours to set the mood.
When I first opened the menu, I was a little taken aback by the prices. You have to keep in mind that everything has to be transported in by air or by sea when the water isn't frozen over so prices are far higher than what we are accustomed to in Ottawa.
I decided to splurge and ordered the rib steak. There was only one other table that night. The entire town was quite, the bulk of business people would be arriving on the Tuesday so I enjoyed the very peaceful atmosphere and personalized service. The server was very attentive and welcoming. He immediately brought water to the table and shortly after I ordered, a basket of warm home baked rolls arrived at the table. After what seemed to be mere minutes, my dinner arrived. The waiter said it was very quiet so easy for the kitchen to get the food out quickly.
The plate looked stunning. There was a huge steak, and I mean huge. I've never ordered a steak and received one this size. The Granite Room uses very large plates and the steak took up the bulk of the real estate. It was served with a colourful medley of vegetables including rainbow coloured peppers, broccoli and carrots with a generous side of mashed potatoes. The rich bordelaise sauce was artfully decorating the plate while overlapping the steak. I had to take a picture and send it to my son. He wrote back immediately - "OMG, Mom that looks amazing! No fair, where's mine?" I can't think of any meat loving man that would look at this plate and not fall head over heels in love. Had I not already been hungry, seeing this piece of art would have quickly openned my appetite.
My steak was cooked to a perfect medium rare. It was so tender I didn't need to use the knife to cut it. It melted in my mouth. The rich sauce was thick and overflowing with flavours that further enhanced the meat. I loved that my vegetables still had a bit of a crunch and the potatoes were really hot. For me when my food is supposed to be hot, I want it really hot. My meal was the perfect temperature and stayed that way through to the last bite.
The waiter checked in regularly and made sure my water glass was always full. I had to pace myself cause there was no way I was going to waste a single bite of this feast. A few more customers came in adding to the ambiance as I slowly worked my way through the plate. It was incredible. The waiter couldn't believe I managed to finish it all.
The dessert menu looked amazing, but there was absolutely no room left. I settled for a coffee before heading out for another long walk to help me digest my dinner.
The price is high, but you get your money's worth. The portion was huge and it was a quality cut of beef. Perfect marbling, tender, juicy and cooked just the way I like it. The total cost for the steak, a soft drink and coffee was around $100.00 including taxes and tip for one person. Add to this the beautiful modern décor and excellent service and you'll agree it's well worth it.
The restaurant and hotel are clean and well maintained. Staff are very welcoming and pleasant, eager to please and make sure you have everything you need. This is the quality and service you would get at a 5+ star hotel/restaurant. I'd rate The Granite Room right up there with the Nobu in Manila.
In fact, it was so good we arranged to have all of my colleagues have dinner there the following night and they were all blown away. We all ordered the Surf and Tundra which was outstanding. The dish came with Arctic Char and Caribou steak showcasing the specialties of the north. Once again I was beyond impressed. The Caribou was better than any meat I've ever had.
Go ahead and splurge, you deserve it. I promise you won't be disappointed. I can't wait to go back!
Carm the Foodie
When I first opened the menu, I was a little taken aback by the prices. You have to keep in mind that everything has to be transported in by air or by sea when the water isn't frozen over so prices are far higher than what we are accustomed to in Ottawa.
I decided to splurge and ordered the rib steak. There was only one other table that night. The entire town was quite, the bulk of business people would be arriving on the Tuesday so I enjoyed the very peaceful atmosphere and personalized service. The server was very attentive and welcoming. He immediately brought water to the table and shortly after I ordered, a basket of warm home baked rolls arrived at the table. After what seemed to be mere minutes, my dinner arrived. The waiter said it was very quiet so easy for the kitchen to get the food out quickly.
The plate looked stunning. There was a huge steak, and I mean huge. I've never ordered a steak and received one this size. The Granite Room uses very large plates and the steak took up the bulk of the real estate. It was served with a colourful medley of vegetables including rainbow coloured peppers, broccoli and carrots with a generous side of mashed potatoes. The rich bordelaise sauce was artfully decorating the plate while overlapping the steak. I had to take a picture and send it to my son. He wrote back immediately - "OMG, Mom that looks amazing! No fair, where's mine?" I can't think of any meat loving man that would look at this plate and not fall head over heels in love. Had I not already been hungry, seeing this piece of art would have quickly openned my appetite.
My steak was cooked to a perfect medium rare. It was so tender I didn't need to use the knife to cut it. It melted in my mouth. The rich sauce was thick and overflowing with flavours that further enhanced the meat. I loved that my vegetables still had a bit of a crunch and the potatoes were really hot. For me when my food is supposed to be hot, I want it really hot. My meal was the perfect temperature and stayed that way through to the last bite.
The waiter checked in regularly and made sure my water glass was always full. I had to pace myself cause there was no way I was going to waste a single bite of this feast. A few more customers came in adding to the ambiance as I slowly worked my way through the plate. It was incredible. The waiter couldn't believe I managed to finish it all.
The dessert menu looked amazing, but there was absolutely no room left. I settled for a coffee before heading out for another long walk to help me digest my dinner.
The price is high, but you get your money's worth. The portion was huge and it was a quality cut of beef. Perfect marbling, tender, juicy and cooked just the way I like it. The total cost for the steak, a soft drink and coffee was around $100.00 including taxes and tip for one person. Add to this the beautiful modern décor and excellent service and you'll agree it's well worth it.
The restaurant and hotel are clean and well maintained. Staff are very welcoming and pleasant, eager to please and make sure you have everything you need. This is the quality and service you would get at a 5+ star hotel/restaurant. I'd rate The Granite Room right up there with the Nobu in Manila.
In fact, it was so good we arranged to have all of my colleagues have dinner there the following night and they were all blown away. We all ordered the Surf and Tundra which was outstanding. The dish came with Arctic Char and Caribou steak showcasing the specialties of the north. Once again I was beyond impressed. The Caribou was better than any meat I've ever had.
Go ahead and splurge, you deserve it. I promise you won't be disappointed. I can't wait to go back!
Carm the Foodie
Sunday, 25 June 2017
Proper Etiquette at Cocktail Receptions
Recently I was out at a museum event with a friend. Members and supporters of the Canadian Museum of Nature were invited to attend. It was a great event showcasing Canada's north. The museum opened a new gallery and we were amoung the first to see it.
The event included a cocktail reception and cash bar. Everything was beautifully set-up with food and flavours highlighting aboriginal culture and delicacies. Having recently visited Nunavut, I was thrilled to be a part of something so special while celebrating National Aboriginal Day.
We tasted wonderful appetizers including caribou sliders and arctic hare served on bannock. There were different dips and tables artistically set-up with glass blocks which reminded me of ice and the arctic landscape.
One thing that was surprising, was how many people lack etiquette when eating in a social setting. Although many of the appetizers and hors d'oeuvres were served, there were tables with various bowls of dip including beet, hummous and I believe a spinach dip surrounded by bannock triangles to eat them with. There were small appetizer plates and napkins. Each dip had a serving soon and there were several pairs of tongs intended to be used for the bannock. I was grateful for being amoung the first to arrive because not long afterwards, people were dipping their fingers into the dips and licking them, taking bites out of their bread and double dipping, grabbing bread with their hands and not the pieces on top actually digging through the lot to pick certain pieces! So much for using plates, napkins and serving utensils. It was shocking, many of us stood and just watched in disgust. Others loaded their tiny plates like they needed to stock pile in the event of a shortage.
Are people truly that clueless and inconsiderate? My appetite quickly dissipated. My kids demonstrate way more etiquette than grown adults accustomed to attending these types of receptions. How sad. I so wanted to say something, it was hard not to. My friend stopped eating and went out to the lobby. How rude!
My Mother would have had a heart attack and definitely would have scolded people. Having grown up attending all kinds of receptions thanks to my Mom being a caterer to most of the embassies in town, I found it shocking.
Note to all who attend events where there are food stations, be considerate of others. Do you want to taste other people's dirty fingers or share their saliva? I think not. When it comes to serving yourself, it isn't a contest to see how much food you can get onto your plate. You'd think some these people hadn't eaten in a year! For me the worse is people who overload their plates with food then leave it on a chair or table and walk away because they don't like it. My goodness, try a bit first. You can always go back for more after everyone else has had a chance to try it. Contrary to popular belief, a cocktail reception is not intended to be a full meal. You're not there to gorge. Think of it as an appetizer or snack before or after you have dinner or between meals. You have a few drinks and some bites while you socialize and listen to speeches. It's an opportunity to try new things and be adventurous, but it doesn't mean you should be wasteful and ruin the experience for others.
Note, the same etiquette applies at buffets and anywhere food is served as far as I'm concerned.
Ok, I vented. If even only one person reads this and thinks twice when they attend their next cocktail reception or buffet, then my post was well worth it. Swapping saliva is fine with your significant other, in an arena with hundreds of others....not so much.
My conclusion: Think before you double dip and please use the utensils!
Carm the Foodie
The event included a cocktail reception and cash bar. Everything was beautifully set-up with food and flavours highlighting aboriginal culture and delicacies. Having recently visited Nunavut, I was thrilled to be a part of something so special while celebrating National Aboriginal Day.
We tasted wonderful appetizers including caribou sliders and arctic hare served on bannock. There were different dips and tables artistically set-up with glass blocks which reminded me of ice and the arctic landscape.
One thing that was surprising, was how many people lack etiquette when eating in a social setting. Although many of the appetizers and hors d'oeuvres were served, there were tables with various bowls of dip including beet, hummous and I believe a spinach dip surrounded by bannock triangles to eat them with. There were small appetizer plates and napkins. Each dip had a serving soon and there were several pairs of tongs intended to be used for the bannock. I was grateful for being amoung the first to arrive because not long afterwards, people were dipping their fingers into the dips and licking them, taking bites out of their bread and double dipping, grabbing bread with their hands and not the pieces on top actually digging through the lot to pick certain pieces! So much for using plates, napkins and serving utensils. It was shocking, many of us stood and just watched in disgust. Others loaded their tiny plates like they needed to stock pile in the event of a shortage.
Are people truly that clueless and inconsiderate? My appetite quickly dissipated. My kids demonstrate way more etiquette than grown adults accustomed to attending these types of receptions. How sad. I so wanted to say something, it was hard not to. My friend stopped eating and went out to the lobby. How rude!
My Mother would have had a heart attack and definitely would have scolded people. Having grown up attending all kinds of receptions thanks to my Mom being a caterer to most of the embassies in town, I found it shocking.
Note to all who attend events where there are food stations, be considerate of others. Do you want to taste other people's dirty fingers or share their saliva? I think not. When it comes to serving yourself, it isn't a contest to see how much food you can get onto your plate. You'd think some these people hadn't eaten in a year! For me the worse is people who overload their plates with food then leave it on a chair or table and walk away because they don't like it. My goodness, try a bit first. You can always go back for more after everyone else has had a chance to try it. Contrary to popular belief, a cocktail reception is not intended to be a full meal. You're not there to gorge. Think of it as an appetizer or snack before or after you have dinner or between meals. You have a few drinks and some bites while you socialize and listen to speeches. It's an opportunity to try new things and be adventurous, but it doesn't mean you should be wasteful and ruin the experience for others.
Note, the same etiquette applies at buffets and anywhere food is served as far as I'm concerned.
Ok, I vented. If even only one person reads this and thinks twice when they attend their next cocktail reception or buffet, then my post was well worth it. Swapping saliva is fine with your significant other, in an arena with hundreds of others....not so much.
My conclusion: Think before you double dip and please use the utensils!
Carm the Foodie
Saturday, 27 May 2017
Farm Team Cookhouse - Ottawa. Ontario
My kids wanted to take me out for Mother's Day Brunch. We waited a week to avoid to insane crowds and feeling like you're being rushed because the next seating is waiting for your table. Not to mention menus and prices are higher and not necessarily justified.
It started badly. The traffic was ridiculous due to a cycling event going on downtown. We spent over an hour and half trying to get to Landsdowne. We didn't make it. While stuck on Bank Street we looked over and noticed the Farm Team Cookhouse and a sign outside advertising brunch. Perfect, we were starved and sick of being stuck in traffic. Thankfully there was a parking spot right out front, they have a parking lot, but I wouldn't have to turn around.
The building is very rustic. I love the weathered wood, it makes you feel like your away at a lodge or a cabin far away from the craziness of the city. Décor is simple, but goes perfectly with that rustic country look. It was very quiet, only one other large table. We were greeted and seated right away.
We ordered our drinks. They come served in mason jars. My youngest was perplexed, she asked me if they had run out of glasses cause you don't serve drinks in jars. We all laughed. The kids thought they were cool.
It was time to order. My two oldest take after me. We ordered the eggs benedict. Two with ham, one with spinach. What makes these eggs benedict different from everyone else's is that your order comes with a side of meat. You can choose bacon or sausage Being carnivores, we were thrilled and won't ever say no to extra meat!
The two younger ones aren't into anything fancy so they ordered 2 eggs with sausage and bacon. All orders came with home fries which were really good. I was shocked that my youngest ate them all. Usually she complains she doesn't like potatoes, yet she eats fries and mashed all the time. I told her the home fries are like little square French fries. She gave me a confused looked like, "Whatever Mom." Never in a million years did I think she'd try them, but low and behold she did and loved them.
The eggs benedict were delicious. What makes me hesitate ordering them is the hollandaise sauce. Every place makes it differently and you'll either like it or hate it. This one was perfect. We were all pleasantly surprised. I'd have to say one of the best in the city based on all the others we've tried. The consistency was perfect. Not too thick, not too runny and no starchy or grainy like texture. It coated the eggs and didn't run all over the plate. The English muffins were crispy and stayed that way to the last bite. If I had to point out one thing that could be improved, it would be the spinach. A hint more seasoning or sautéing it with a bit of garlic or onion would elevate the flavour a tad more. Other than that, we were very happy with them and completely stuffed after eating the extra meat that came with them.
The girls enjoyed their eggs. One likes them sunny side up, the other scrambled. There was nothing left on their plates. That is one thing I love about my kids, they don't waste anything and they'll eat just about anything. I don't hesitate taking them out to restaurants or friend's houses for dinner. Growing up we couldn't leave the table until our plates were cleaned. To my parents, wasting food was sacrilege. If you weren't sick, you didn't dare leave the table until you finished everything on your plate. They both knew what it meant to starve having survived the after math of the first world war. I'm not quite that strict, but certainly don't condone wasting food. If they put it on their plate or they order something at a restaurant, they have to eat it all. I have no issue getting a doggy bag if they can't finish when we're out. Great to pack for lunch!
I'd say the prices were very reasonable and comparable to most breakfast places. The portions are generous and as previously mentioned, the eggs benedict come with a side of meat. At $14.00 an order, I think this is great.
We thoroughly enjoyed it and had a great Mother's Day celebration. That said, we'll definitely go back. It was great that it wasn't busy. The food was delicious and we didn't wait long, very important when out with a small child. I'm really happy we accidently ended up there.
Definitely a hidden gem you should check out!
Carm the Foodie
It started badly. The traffic was ridiculous due to a cycling event going on downtown. We spent over an hour and half trying to get to Landsdowne. We didn't make it. While stuck on Bank Street we looked over and noticed the Farm Team Cookhouse and a sign outside advertising brunch. Perfect, we were starved and sick of being stuck in traffic. Thankfully there was a parking spot right out front, they have a parking lot, but I wouldn't have to turn around.
The building is very rustic. I love the weathered wood, it makes you feel like your away at a lodge or a cabin far away from the craziness of the city. Décor is simple, but goes perfectly with that rustic country look. It was very quiet, only one other large table. We were greeted and seated right away.
We ordered our drinks. They come served in mason jars. My youngest was perplexed, she asked me if they had run out of glasses cause you don't serve drinks in jars. We all laughed. The kids thought they were cool.
It was time to order. My two oldest take after me. We ordered the eggs benedict. Two with ham, one with spinach. What makes these eggs benedict different from everyone else's is that your order comes with a side of meat. You can choose bacon or sausage Being carnivores, we were thrilled and won't ever say no to extra meat!
The two younger ones aren't into anything fancy so they ordered 2 eggs with sausage and bacon. All orders came with home fries which were really good. I was shocked that my youngest ate them all. Usually she complains she doesn't like potatoes, yet she eats fries and mashed all the time. I told her the home fries are like little square French fries. She gave me a confused looked like, "Whatever Mom." Never in a million years did I think she'd try them, but low and behold she did and loved them.
The eggs benedict were delicious. What makes me hesitate ordering them is the hollandaise sauce. Every place makes it differently and you'll either like it or hate it. This one was perfect. We were all pleasantly surprised. I'd have to say one of the best in the city based on all the others we've tried. The consistency was perfect. Not too thick, not too runny and no starchy or grainy like texture. It coated the eggs and didn't run all over the plate. The English muffins were crispy and stayed that way to the last bite. If I had to point out one thing that could be improved, it would be the spinach. A hint more seasoning or sautéing it with a bit of garlic or onion would elevate the flavour a tad more. Other than that, we were very happy with them and completely stuffed after eating the extra meat that came with them.
The girls enjoyed their eggs. One likes them sunny side up, the other scrambled. There was nothing left on their plates. That is one thing I love about my kids, they don't waste anything and they'll eat just about anything. I don't hesitate taking them out to restaurants or friend's houses for dinner. Growing up we couldn't leave the table until our plates were cleaned. To my parents, wasting food was sacrilege. If you weren't sick, you didn't dare leave the table until you finished everything on your plate. They both knew what it meant to starve having survived the after math of the first world war. I'm not quite that strict, but certainly don't condone wasting food. If they put it on their plate or they order something at a restaurant, they have to eat it all. I have no issue getting a doggy bag if they can't finish when we're out. Great to pack for lunch!
I'd say the prices were very reasonable and comparable to most breakfast places. The portions are generous and as previously mentioned, the eggs benedict come with a side of meat. At $14.00 an order, I think this is great.
We thoroughly enjoyed it and had a great Mother's Day celebration. That said, we'll definitely go back. It was great that it wasn't busy. The food was delicious and we didn't wait long, very important when out with a small child. I'm really happy we accidently ended up there.
Definitely a hidden gem you should check out!
Carm the Foodie
Wednesday, 17 May 2017
Topkapi - Ottawa
It was Saturday night, I worked, didn't feel like cooking or doing laundry so I called a fellow foodie and suggested dinner. I needed a partner in crime and someone I could vent to after a long week.
I had a couple of Groupons, but sadly one place was closed for a private party and the other seemed to have shut down.
Where do we go? We wanted some where that had parking and wouldn't be too busy, so downtown was out. Wait, there's Turkish food in Bells Corners! Off to Topkapi we went!
Neither one of us had eaten all day so we were famished. When we arrived the restaurant was full. There were only 2 tables of 2 left. Perfect timing because shortly afterwards it was packed and they were turning people away asking them to come back in an hour.
To start we ordered the Topkapi Mezeleri or mixed appetizer platter. It comes with warm pita bread. The platter consists of a spicy dip, a stuffed vine leaf, feta cheese, olives, tomatoes, cucumbers and pickled cabbage for garnish, hummous, a vegetable dip, a pressed yogurt and dill dip, a stuffed pepper and some hot peppers. It's a fairly large sharing plate which we managed to polish off fairly quickly leaving little room for the main course! This plate would be more than generous enough as an appetizer to feed 4! I guess we were hungry. Lol
For the main course we ordered the Karisik Izgara or dinner for 2. It was a large platter very elegantly served in a covered caserole dish. The platter comes piled high with lamb chops, a chicken kabob, a lamb kabob and 2 ground beef koftas. Along with the meat is a generous portion of rice, potatoes and mixed vegetables. We both have very healthy appetites, but couldn't finish everything. It was a mistake to order another basket of pita bread, but it was so good! There was more than enough left for another full plate. My children ate it as a midnight snack.
Interestingly enough, they had live entertainment that night. On weekends they have a belly dancer. My date was quite pleased. At one point his mind was somewhere else and he didn't hear a thing I said. I was happy he was enjoying himself.
As stuffed as we were, we had to order their signature dessert. You have to be patient as it takes 20 minutes to prepare. It is made fresh to order and served warm with a delicious rose water syrup. The kunefe is made with cheese and shredded pastry, then topped with a bit of syrup and chopped pistacchios. Waiting for it gave a chance to digest and make some room in our stomachs. My date insisted he wasn't going to have any dessert, but after one taste he was hooked. He'd never had a dessert like this and absolutely loved it. Good thing cause I was full and wouldn't have been able to eat it all myself. Besides, if I was going to burst at the seams, so was he!
If you want a different dining experience, Topkapi is for you. The servers are attentive and the food didn't take too long. Keep in mind most of the items on the menu are made to order. I love how the food is served. The tables are set with charger plates and each course comes out on its own plate which is set onto the charger plate. It limits the realestate on the table, especially the tables for 2, but it adds to the dining experience. When the main courses come out, they usually come in an intricately carved silver serving casserole with a lid and the servers wear gloves.
Given the size of the portions, the price is well worth it. For 2 the cost is around $100.00 for dinner not including drinks. Definitely on the higher side, but most items are made in house with items you won't find anywhere else. The free entertainment on the weekend is a bonus. I'll definitely keep going back. This is one of my top 10 favourite restaurants in Ottawa.
Give it a try!
Carm the Foodie
I had a couple of Groupons, but sadly one place was closed for a private party and the other seemed to have shut down.
Where do we go? We wanted some where that had parking and wouldn't be too busy, so downtown was out. Wait, there's Turkish food in Bells Corners! Off to Topkapi we went!
Neither one of us had eaten all day so we were famished. When we arrived the restaurant was full. There were only 2 tables of 2 left. Perfect timing because shortly afterwards it was packed and they were turning people away asking them to come back in an hour.
To start we ordered the Topkapi Mezeleri or mixed appetizer platter. It comes with warm pita bread. The platter consists of a spicy dip, a stuffed vine leaf, feta cheese, olives, tomatoes, cucumbers and pickled cabbage for garnish, hummous, a vegetable dip, a pressed yogurt and dill dip, a stuffed pepper and some hot peppers. It's a fairly large sharing plate which we managed to polish off fairly quickly leaving little room for the main course! This plate would be more than generous enough as an appetizer to feed 4! I guess we were hungry. Lol
For the main course we ordered the Karisik Izgara or dinner for 2. It was a large platter very elegantly served in a covered caserole dish. The platter comes piled high with lamb chops, a chicken kabob, a lamb kabob and 2 ground beef koftas. Along with the meat is a generous portion of rice, potatoes and mixed vegetables. We both have very healthy appetites, but couldn't finish everything. It was a mistake to order another basket of pita bread, but it was so good! There was more than enough left for another full plate. My children ate it as a midnight snack.
Interestingly enough, they had live entertainment that night. On weekends they have a belly dancer. My date was quite pleased. At one point his mind was somewhere else and he didn't hear a thing I said. I was happy he was enjoying himself.
As stuffed as we were, we had to order their signature dessert. You have to be patient as it takes 20 minutes to prepare. It is made fresh to order and served warm with a delicious rose water syrup. The kunefe is made with cheese and shredded pastry, then topped with a bit of syrup and chopped pistacchios. Waiting for it gave a chance to digest and make some room in our stomachs. My date insisted he wasn't going to have any dessert, but after one taste he was hooked. He'd never had a dessert like this and absolutely loved it. Good thing cause I was full and wouldn't have been able to eat it all myself. Besides, if I was going to burst at the seams, so was he!
If you want a different dining experience, Topkapi is for you. The servers are attentive and the food didn't take too long. Keep in mind most of the items on the menu are made to order. I love how the food is served. The tables are set with charger plates and each course comes out on its own plate which is set onto the charger plate. It limits the realestate on the table, especially the tables for 2, but it adds to the dining experience. When the main courses come out, they usually come in an intricately carved silver serving casserole with a lid and the servers wear gloves.
Given the size of the portions, the price is well worth it. For 2 the cost is around $100.00 for dinner not including drinks. Definitely on the higher side, but most items are made in house with items you won't find anywhere else. The free entertainment on the weekend is a bonus. I'll definitely keep going back. This is one of my top 10 favourite restaurants in Ottawa.
Give it a try!
Carm the Foodie
Saturday, 29 April 2017
Tutti Frutti - Hull, Quebec
This restaurant has been around for a while and is close to home, so a great go to place when I don't feel like cooking breakfast. I decided to treat my daughter so we could hang out and catch up since it's not often that I can spend one-on-one time with all 4 of my kids.
It was quieter than we expected for a Saturday morning. Finally we had sunshine and didn't need a jacket so I think most people were out and about soaking in the rays. We were seated right away and noticed the menus were different. This was exciting, we hadn't been in a while so we could try something new.
My daughter takes after me and loves eggs benedict. Well, they had added several new combinations to the menu. There was a pulled pork and baked beans version, the standard ham, asparagus with swiss cheese or the camembert and mushrooms to name a few. The one that stood out to me was the Italian sausage with arugula. My daughter loves baked beans, but decided to stick to her usual ham benny as she wasn't sure she'd like poached eggs with pulled pork.
Given how quiet it was, the food took a bit longer than expected. I'm guessing maybe because my Italian sausage was so new, it might have needed a bit more time to cook. Well, it was worth the wait. Another change was that they served the eggs benedict with hashbrowns. I much prefer these over the usual breakfast potatoes or homefries. The eggs benedict were delicious. My sausage patties were nicely cooked with a bit of a crust which added texture. The English muffins were well toasted and stayed crispy until the last bite! Nothing worse than mushy bread, it reminds me of oatmeal which I don't care for. It's a texture thing. The sausage was a bit more spicy than I anticipated, but combined with the sautéed peppers, onions and rich hollandaise sauce it was perfectly balanced. The arugula added a fresh element to the dish and a bit of a peppery note that enhanced the seasoning.
I was excited about the hashbrowns, but I found they were a tad undercooked and the mound of sautéed onions they put on top were not needed. My daughter agreed, they were ok and next time we'll pass on the onions.
The traditional eggs benedict were delicious. My daughter polished off her plate in no time flat! We were extremely happy with our choices. Both dishes came with fresh fruit on the side. I did notice that the amount of fruit was less generous than what they used to serve. The fruit added some sweetness and helped to cleans our palates, kind of like dessert after a main dish.
In terms of price, I'd say it's average to moderate. Cost for 2 with drinks was $35.00. Note that coffee is included with your breakfast, but juices and other options are extra. The restaurant is very clean and bright. They have TV screens throughout so you can watch the news, weather or cartoons. The staff is friendly and attentive. At the entrance they offer newspapers if you want to sit and catch up on current events. They have a great menu with options to suit all tastes and preferences as well as budgets. They also offer lunch items and specials for those who don't want to have breakfast. During the week they have early bird breakfast specials too.
This restaurant is definitely family friendly with a kids menu and colouring activity to keep the little ones busy. Great place for group celebrations too as they have plenty of room. I strongly recommend this restaurant.
Get cracking!
Carm the Foodie
It was quieter than we expected for a Saturday morning. Finally we had sunshine and didn't need a jacket so I think most people were out and about soaking in the rays. We were seated right away and noticed the menus were different. This was exciting, we hadn't been in a while so we could try something new.
My daughter takes after me and loves eggs benedict. Well, they had added several new combinations to the menu. There was a pulled pork and baked beans version, the standard ham, asparagus with swiss cheese or the camembert and mushrooms to name a few. The one that stood out to me was the Italian sausage with arugula. My daughter loves baked beans, but decided to stick to her usual ham benny as she wasn't sure she'd like poached eggs with pulled pork.
Given how quiet it was, the food took a bit longer than expected. I'm guessing maybe because my Italian sausage was so new, it might have needed a bit more time to cook. Well, it was worth the wait. Another change was that they served the eggs benedict with hashbrowns. I much prefer these over the usual breakfast potatoes or homefries. The eggs benedict were delicious. My sausage patties were nicely cooked with a bit of a crust which added texture. The English muffins were well toasted and stayed crispy until the last bite! Nothing worse than mushy bread, it reminds me of oatmeal which I don't care for. It's a texture thing. The sausage was a bit more spicy than I anticipated, but combined with the sautéed peppers, onions and rich hollandaise sauce it was perfectly balanced. The arugula added a fresh element to the dish and a bit of a peppery note that enhanced the seasoning.
I was excited about the hashbrowns, but I found they were a tad undercooked and the mound of sautéed onions they put on top were not needed. My daughter agreed, they were ok and next time we'll pass on the onions.
The traditional eggs benedict were delicious. My daughter polished off her plate in no time flat! We were extremely happy with our choices. Both dishes came with fresh fruit on the side. I did notice that the amount of fruit was less generous than what they used to serve. The fruit added some sweetness and helped to cleans our palates, kind of like dessert after a main dish.
In terms of price, I'd say it's average to moderate. Cost for 2 with drinks was $35.00. Note that coffee is included with your breakfast, but juices and other options are extra. The restaurant is very clean and bright. They have TV screens throughout so you can watch the news, weather or cartoons. The staff is friendly and attentive. At the entrance they offer newspapers if you want to sit and catch up on current events. They have a great menu with options to suit all tastes and preferences as well as budgets. They also offer lunch items and specials for those who don't want to have breakfast. During the week they have early bird breakfast specials too.
This restaurant is definitely family friendly with a kids menu and colouring activity to keep the little ones busy. Great place for group celebrations too as they have plenty of room. I strongly recommend this restaurant.
Get cracking!
Carm the Foodie
Sunday, 16 April 2017
Tennessy Willems - Ottawa, Ontario
Don't let the unusual name throw you. Friends suggested we meet up for lunch and this was the place that won the toss up. I grew up in Hintonburg and I'll tell you, I'm very impressed with how far the restaurant selections have come in my old neighbourhood.
I arrived first and it was packed. The waitress greeted us as soon as we arrived and said it would be about a 20 minute wait for a table. My girlfriends decided to go shopping at Breads by Us another great find!
We were given a table by the window. It was really hard to decide what to order. Everything on the menu sounded good and then when the waitress pointed out the specials, we were right back at square one. Ultimately we decided to start with a couple of salads to share and watched as various dishes came by. We asked our neighbours what they had ordered and if they liked it.
The caesar salad is served very differently. It comes dressed with a lemon garlic dressing and sour dough bread croutons. Two of us had to have the warm beet salad with goat cheese, tarragon, fennel and apple vinaigrette. Personally I prefer my beet salad cold, but it was very good.
For the mains we decided to go with pizzas. They are made in a wood burning oven. You can smell the pizza from blocks away. Our style is to order a bunch of different plates and try a bit of everything.
I ordered their special of the day which was the lamb sausage pizza with gorgonzola cheese, arugula, toasted pine nuts and parmesan. When it comes to pizza, I prefer a thin crust with a white sauce whether it comes with just cheese, pesto or béchamel sauce over the traditional tomato sauce. It was incredible! I must say it's the best pizza I have ever had. The crust was thin and crispy, it had just the perfect amount of cheese and the sausage was delicious. Initially I almost changed my mind because I'm not a fan of Dijon mustard, but it balanced the favour of the lamb and give it a subtle punch. It was perfectly seasoned and the arugula gave it an element of freshness. When the pizza first arrived it looked like something was missing. Sure enough, there were no pine nuts. Not to worry, the waitress ran back and brought out a small bowl that had been freshly toasted. These added a nice crunch and nutty flavour making it the best pizza ever.
The others ordered The Capricciosa, The Elmdale and The Margherita. They were all good in their own right. I love artichokes and olives so The Capricciosa was my second favourite. Everything was fresh and made to order so give yourself time to sit back and relax, you won't be disappointed.
The servers were attentive and made sure you had everything you needed. The décor is more rustic making me feel like I'm away from the craziness of the city.
Prices are moderate to high, but don't forget they support local farmers and use organic ingredients. The food is fresh and made to order. They offer a unique variety and daily specials to suit all tastes. One of our party had an allergy and they happily accommodated.
A must have at our table was the lemon tart, but all the desserts looked good. Sadly most of us were stuffed so there was no room for dessert! We'll make sure we leave room next time.
This restaurant is on my top 10 restaurants in Ottawa list. I highly recommend it. If you like thin crust pizza and want something a bit different, this is the place for you.
Eat up and enjoy!
Carm the Foodie
I arrived first and it was packed. The waitress greeted us as soon as we arrived and said it would be about a 20 minute wait for a table. My girlfriends decided to go shopping at Breads by Us another great find!
We were given a table by the window. It was really hard to decide what to order. Everything on the menu sounded good and then when the waitress pointed out the specials, we were right back at square one. Ultimately we decided to start with a couple of salads to share and watched as various dishes came by. We asked our neighbours what they had ordered and if they liked it.
The caesar salad is served very differently. It comes dressed with a lemon garlic dressing and sour dough bread croutons. Two of us had to have the warm beet salad with goat cheese, tarragon, fennel and apple vinaigrette. Personally I prefer my beet salad cold, but it was very good.
For the mains we decided to go with pizzas. They are made in a wood burning oven. You can smell the pizza from blocks away. Our style is to order a bunch of different plates and try a bit of everything.
I ordered their special of the day which was the lamb sausage pizza with gorgonzola cheese, arugula, toasted pine nuts and parmesan. When it comes to pizza, I prefer a thin crust with a white sauce whether it comes with just cheese, pesto or béchamel sauce over the traditional tomato sauce. It was incredible! I must say it's the best pizza I have ever had. The crust was thin and crispy, it had just the perfect amount of cheese and the sausage was delicious. Initially I almost changed my mind because I'm not a fan of Dijon mustard, but it balanced the favour of the lamb and give it a subtle punch. It was perfectly seasoned and the arugula gave it an element of freshness. When the pizza first arrived it looked like something was missing. Sure enough, there were no pine nuts. Not to worry, the waitress ran back and brought out a small bowl that had been freshly toasted. These added a nice crunch and nutty flavour making it the best pizza ever.
The others ordered The Capricciosa, The Elmdale and The Margherita. They were all good in their own right. I love artichokes and olives so The Capricciosa was my second favourite. Everything was fresh and made to order so give yourself time to sit back and relax, you won't be disappointed.
The servers were attentive and made sure you had everything you needed. The décor is more rustic making me feel like I'm away from the craziness of the city.
Prices are moderate to high, but don't forget they support local farmers and use organic ingredients. The food is fresh and made to order. They offer a unique variety and daily specials to suit all tastes. One of our party had an allergy and they happily accommodated.
A must have at our table was the lemon tart, but all the desserts looked good. Sadly most of us were stuffed so there was no room for dessert! We'll make sure we leave room next time.
This restaurant is on my top 10 restaurants in Ottawa list. I highly recommend it. If you like thin crust pizza and want something a bit different, this is the place for you.
Eat up and enjoy!
Carm the Foodie
Sunday, 26 March 2017
Wellington Diner - Ottawa, Ontario
This was an excellent choice. I hadn't seen my girl friends in a while so we decided to meet up for brunch. They had been to the Wellington Diner a few times, but for me it was new. Surprisingly it was in my old neighbourhood and I'd never thought to check it out. When I think of a diner the first things that come to mind are milkshakes and burgers and this isn't what I typically crave. I'm so glad they suggested it.
Their brunch menu is very unique. They have a huge selection in addition to new items and daily specials. It was hard to decide what to order, the waitress had to come back 3 times! Even my girl friends were stumped. They hadn't been there in over a year and the menu was completely different. I love their menu. It has pictures of most of the items. Personally my eyes have a bigger appetite than my stomach. The same goes for cook books, if there's no pictures I won't buy it.
When it comes to brunch, eggs benedict are usually my go to favourite. Well, I've never seen such a large selection. They have 10 different options! If you like spice, they even have a spicy chipotle hollandaise sauce. If you like omelettes you have 8 to choose from. No wonder it took us so long to decide, but when the waitress came back to take our orders she filled us in on the new items and the specials and we had to start all over again.
We were a group of 5 and the place was packed, but the food arrived within minutes. I was thoroughly impressed at how quickly orders were coming out of the kitchen. The place isn't huge, but the service was impeccable. Your coffee cup was kept full as were the water glasses and the waitress was very attentive. Empty plates were whisked away.
I ordered the vegetarian scramble and added ham. Don't forget I'm the carnivore, but I ordered this because it had all of my favourite veggies (peppers, broccoli, etc.) and feta cheese. It was delicious and came with homefries and toast or a bagel. The portion was quite generous, enough for the others to try. Ultimately I couldn't finish it, this rarely happens as I hate wasting food. The eggs were perfectly cooked and moist with the vegetables and ham tucked neatly inside. It was perfectly seasoned. I find with eggs it's extremely easy to over cook them and often times an omelette can be bland. It's also important that they stay warm because there's nothing worse for me than eating cold eggs. The homefries were crispy and very tasty. My bagel was great, much better option than toast.
Other items ordered by our table included:
- The Spanish Omelette jam packed with chorizo, salsa, cheese and black olives.
- The Mish Mash which is perfect for a meat lover with bacon, ham, sausage, cheese and veggies.
- French Toast made with fresh egg bread, I had to try these and they were delicious.
- The Belgian Waffle with strawberries and bananas.
Everything was delicious. The portions are very generous, so make sure you go on an empty stomach or take the rest home for later. All of us were very happy with our choices and can't wait to go back to order some of the other stuff on the menu. They have quite the selection including breakfast poutine, burritos and hashes. With such unique options you can go numerous times without ever ordering the same thing twice! Great place for those of us that get bored quickly or always crave something original. Don't let the name fool you, there's way more than milkshakes and burgers served here and even they have very interesting combinations of ingredients you don't see anywhere else. Check out their lunch and dinner options, there's something for everyone and it's family friendly.
I loved the décor, it felt like I was walking into a 1950's diner. It's bright, colourful and very clean. The staff is welcoming and outgoing. You are greeted the moment you walk in and thanked as you leave. It was a great experience and reasonably priced. The best part is their breakfast menu is available all day!!!
You've got to eat here!
Carm the Foodie
Their brunch menu is very unique. They have a huge selection in addition to new items and daily specials. It was hard to decide what to order, the waitress had to come back 3 times! Even my girl friends were stumped. They hadn't been there in over a year and the menu was completely different. I love their menu. It has pictures of most of the items. Personally my eyes have a bigger appetite than my stomach. The same goes for cook books, if there's no pictures I won't buy it.
When it comes to brunch, eggs benedict are usually my go to favourite. Well, I've never seen such a large selection. They have 10 different options! If you like spice, they even have a spicy chipotle hollandaise sauce. If you like omelettes you have 8 to choose from. No wonder it took us so long to decide, but when the waitress came back to take our orders she filled us in on the new items and the specials and we had to start all over again.
We were a group of 5 and the place was packed, but the food arrived within minutes. I was thoroughly impressed at how quickly orders were coming out of the kitchen. The place isn't huge, but the service was impeccable. Your coffee cup was kept full as were the water glasses and the waitress was very attentive. Empty plates were whisked away.
I ordered the vegetarian scramble and added ham. Don't forget I'm the carnivore, but I ordered this because it had all of my favourite veggies (peppers, broccoli, etc.) and feta cheese. It was delicious and came with homefries and toast or a bagel. The portion was quite generous, enough for the others to try. Ultimately I couldn't finish it, this rarely happens as I hate wasting food. The eggs were perfectly cooked and moist with the vegetables and ham tucked neatly inside. It was perfectly seasoned. I find with eggs it's extremely easy to over cook them and often times an omelette can be bland. It's also important that they stay warm because there's nothing worse for me than eating cold eggs. The homefries were crispy and very tasty. My bagel was great, much better option than toast.
Other items ordered by our table included:
- The Spanish Omelette jam packed with chorizo, salsa, cheese and black olives.
- The Mish Mash which is perfect for a meat lover with bacon, ham, sausage, cheese and veggies.
- French Toast made with fresh egg bread, I had to try these and they were delicious.
- The Belgian Waffle with strawberries and bananas.
Everything was delicious. The portions are very generous, so make sure you go on an empty stomach or take the rest home for later. All of us were very happy with our choices and can't wait to go back to order some of the other stuff on the menu. They have quite the selection including breakfast poutine, burritos and hashes. With such unique options you can go numerous times without ever ordering the same thing twice! Great place for those of us that get bored quickly or always crave something original. Don't let the name fool you, there's way more than milkshakes and burgers served here and even they have very interesting combinations of ingredients you don't see anywhere else. Check out their lunch and dinner options, there's something for everyone and it's family friendly.
I loved the décor, it felt like I was walking into a 1950's diner. It's bright, colourful and very clean. The staff is welcoming and outgoing. You are greeted the moment you walk in and thanked as you leave. It was a great experience and reasonably priced. The best part is their breakfast menu is available all day!!!
You've got to eat here!
Carm the Foodie
Thursday, 23 March 2017
Hambar Restaurant Bar - Montreal, Quebec
Friends of mine that had visited Old Montreal posted pictures on Facebook and raved about the food at this restaurant. I had told my son about it and he said we totally had to try it out. As luck would have it, my daughter had a dance competition in Old Montreal so guess where we went?
It was nice walking the streets of Old Montreal. In my younger years we'd go up at least once a month to the dance bars or to meet up with friends for breakfast at Cora's. Walking along the port was relaxing and a great way to kill a Sunday afternoon before heading back to Ottawa.
The restaurant opened at 11:00 am, but it was only 10:30. What a disappointment! We were so anxious to check it out, not to mention the fact that we hadn't eaten breakfast and the drive took far longer than expected due to construction and detours. I was able to play the role of tour guide and took my son for a walk through Old Montreal telling him stories of our adventures.
Ok it was cold and 10:49 so we headed back to the restaurant. The door was open! There was already one couple seated and placing their order. A waiter came over right away and brought us to a table by the window. The restaurant is attached to a hotel so on the weekends they offer a brunch menu. I loved the décor which is simple, yet modern. It reminded us of Spain.
Before we even got there, we knew what we were going to have. We ordered our drinks then debated whether or not we should go with our original game plan or opt for the brunch menu. It was tempting, but nope we were sticking to the plan. We ordered the small Charcuterie Maison platter and the small Fromages du Québec platter which the waiter said would be plenty for two people.
Soon after the waiter arrived with a small wooden box with slices of baguette and then a large wooden platter with an assortment of charcuteries and cheeses. It all looked so artistically placed, we didn't want to disturb anything. We had to take a picture. They had artfully smeared a grainy mustard and an apricot jam along the board. In addition there were some baby pickles, onions pickled with beets and fresh greens. Between the layers of cerrano ham and prosciutto, there were thin slices of toasted baguette which were perfect for enjoying with the soft cheese and the pate. To further add to our dinning experience, the hams, chorizo and salami were accompanied by 4 different patés and 4 kinds of cheese ranging from a very soft uncured one to a hard firm one.
There was a paté with pistachios, another that was smooth and silky like a liver sausage, a country style one that was more firm and that last one was like pulled pork in a creamy base.
To drink I had ordered an Americano and I must say it was the best coffee I've had in ages. It came with a miniature pitcher of frothed milk. Adding cold milk or cream to a coffee ruins it, this was brilliant! I'll further add this is the first time I order a second Americano and they treated it as a refill without charging me. Anywhere else I've always been charged as it's treated as a "specialty coffee". You have to celebrate the small victories!
The food was amazing. This is how we love to eat. We had to order more bread, there was no way we were going to leave anything on that platter. Waste not, want not! It was delicious. The textures and different combinations you could create by using the pickled vegetables and the condiments just elevated the flavours. Our taste buds were dancing with joy.
The staff was very attentive and pleasant. They explained what each of the items was in detail and regularly popped by to make sure we had everything we needed without imposing or making us feel rushed. Our water glasses were always full. The restaurant is very bright and clean with soft music playing in the background. We felt relaxed and very comfortable, too bad we had to head back to the dance competition! Lol
No doubt we'll be going back. The atmosphere, level of service, quality and selection was perfect and the prices are reasonable. I strongly recommend this restaurant. Their menus vary offering you a great selection whether you're visiting for brunch, lunch or dinner. Check out their site and menus then plan your date!
Bon appétit!
Carm the Foodie
It was nice walking the streets of Old Montreal. In my younger years we'd go up at least once a month to the dance bars or to meet up with friends for breakfast at Cora's. Walking along the port was relaxing and a great way to kill a Sunday afternoon before heading back to Ottawa.
The restaurant opened at 11:00 am, but it was only 10:30. What a disappointment! We were so anxious to check it out, not to mention the fact that we hadn't eaten breakfast and the drive took far longer than expected due to construction and detours. I was able to play the role of tour guide and took my son for a walk through Old Montreal telling him stories of our adventures.
Ok it was cold and 10:49 so we headed back to the restaurant. The door was open! There was already one couple seated and placing their order. A waiter came over right away and brought us to a table by the window. The restaurant is attached to a hotel so on the weekends they offer a brunch menu. I loved the décor which is simple, yet modern. It reminded us of Spain.
Before we even got there, we knew what we were going to have. We ordered our drinks then debated whether or not we should go with our original game plan or opt for the brunch menu. It was tempting, but nope we were sticking to the plan. We ordered the small Charcuterie Maison platter and the small Fromages du Québec platter which the waiter said would be plenty for two people.
Soon after the waiter arrived with a small wooden box with slices of baguette and then a large wooden platter with an assortment of charcuteries and cheeses. It all looked so artistically placed, we didn't want to disturb anything. We had to take a picture. They had artfully smeared a grainy mustard and an apricot jam along the board. In addition there were some baby pickles, onions pickled with beets and fresh greens. Between the layers of cerrano ham and prosciutto, there were thin slices of toasted baguette which were perfect for enjoying with the soft cheese and the pate. To further add to our dinning experience, the hams, chorizo and salami were accompanied by 4 different patés and 4 kinds of cheese ranging from a very soft uncured one to a hard firm one.
There was a paté with pistachios, another that was smooth and silky like a liver sausage, a country style one that was more firm and that last one was like pulled pork in a creamy base.
To drink I had ordered an Americano and I must say it was the best coffee I've had in ages. It came with a miniature pitcher of frothed milk. Adding cold milk or cream to a coffee ruins it, this was brilliant! I'll further add this is the first time I order a second Americano and they treated it as a refill without charging me. Anywhere else I've always been charged as it's treated as a "specialty coffee". You have to celebrate the small victories!
The food was amazing. This is how we love to eat. We had to order more bread, there was no way we were going to leave anything on that platter. Waste not, want not! It was delicious. The textures and different combinations you could create by using the pickled vegetables and the condiments just elevated the flavours. Our taste buds were dancing with joy.
The staff was very attentive and pleasant. They explained what each of the items was in detail and regularly popped by to make sure we had everything we needed without imposing or making us feel rushed. Our water glasses were always full. The restaurant is very bright and clean with soft music playing in the background. We felt relaxed and very comfortable, too bad we had to head back to the dance competition! Lol
No doubt we'll be going back. The atmosphere, level of service, quality and selection was perfect and the prices are reasonable. I strongly recommend this restaurant. Their menus vary offering you a great selection whether you're visiting for brunch, lunch or dinner. Check out their site and menus then plan your date!
Bon appétit!
Carm the Foodie
Restaurante Los Ángeles – Madrid, Spain
Spain is extremely diverse with an endless variety of foods and flavours. There's something for everyone and if you're looking for cocina gallega, this is the place for you!
We had spent the day sight seeing and needed to find a restaurant that would accommodate all 9 of us! Many of the restaurants in the area are small and quaint, but when coming around a corner we spotted this gem. It was obvious they catered to large groups so it was perfect. We were 3 adults with 5 kids and a baby. They were very accommodating, but looked a bit surprised as we slowly trailed in. I'd say most of the customers in the restaurant worked close by and were having lunch.
We were taken to a large table in an area at the back with plenty of room for all of us. There were many tables and people just sit wherever and eat. When it's very busy you sit with strangers, eat and off you go when you're finished. Food is more enjoyable when shared with others.
In Spain it's common to have a lunch table d'hote. The same is offered at dinner with a different selection of starters and mains and usually comes with a glass of wine. Here you could choose a starter, main and then coffee or dessert. Usually they offer 4 starters and 4 main courses in addition to their regular menu. It also includes bread and a drink. The dessert selection varies or you could have a coffee if there's no room left in your stomach! They had a great selection. If you don't want a full meal, they also have over 15 different tapas or sharing plates to choose from. We watched as the servers went by with orders for other clients and had a very hard time deciding what to have.
I finally went with a salad to start, then paella. For the children they had roasted chicken with potatoes. The portions were huge. When my salad arrived I thought, "Oh my I won't have room for much else!" At home this would have been enough for 4 of us to share. My sister and I decided to share the salad and cancelled hers. Not long after my paella arrived. Another huge plate. It had a bit of everything; chicken, shrimp, vegetables, seafood and the traditional saffron rice. The seasoning was perfect and my rice was cooked just right. Much like pasta, I prefer my rice al dente or on the firmer side. Mushy rice reminds me of oatmeal and my grandmother trying to force feed me. It didn't end well! Lol Thankfully I didn't order anything for the baby, she ate from my plate and loved the shrimp. There was so much food the older kids dug in as well.
The chicken was tender and juicy served with roasted potatoes. You could tell the chicken had been marinaded and slow roasted. The skin was nice and crispy with a wonderful flavour which seeped into the meat. We didn't hear one complaint from the kids as they were too busy eating everything on their plates and stealing from ours. My sister is a picky eater so she also had the chicken. My brother-in-law is adventurous so he had the merluza a la gallega. Merluza or hake as we call it here, is a staple in Spain much like salmon is to us. It belongs to the cod family and has a very mild taste. The white meat is firm and sweet. It was served with potatoes and a light sauce made of fish stock, garlic, tomato and pimenton - a very popular spice in Spanish cuisine. The flesh of the fish was moist and tender, it melted in your mouth. The sauce gave it a slight kick while the potatoes added texture. Everything was delicious. Had we stayed in Madrid longer we would've eaten there more often.
After all that food, there was no room for dessert. All of the desserts looked amazing and are made in house. We opted for coffee instead then headed back to the apartment for a nap! I don't know how Spaniards can eat so much food for lunch then eat again at night and stay thin. The food was delicious and very reasonably priced. For the table d'hote the price is under 10 Euros. You couldn't make all of that food at home for that price. Never mind all the preparation and cooking time then having to do the dishes!
I long to go back so that I can try some of the other dishes on the menu or simply sit with friends enjoying a glass of wine and nibbling on a variety of tapas. Why choose one dish when you can try a bunch of different things?
Do I love food? Absolutely, one of the simplest pleasures of life. I'm extremely fortunate to have passed this love onto my children. It's great that I can take them anywhere and they'll eat whatever is put in front of them. Spain was a gastronomic wonderland that we enjoyed thoroughly along with all the major attractions, beaches and time with family.
Hasta pronto!
Carm the Foodie
We had spent the day sight seeing and needed to find a restaurant that would accommodate all 9 of us! Many of the restaurants in the area are small and quaint, but when coming around a corner we spotted this gem. It was obvious they catered to large groups so it was perfect. We were 3 adults with 5 kids and a baby. They were very accommodating, but looked a bit surprised as we slowly trailed in. I'd say most of the customers in the restaurant worked close by and were having lunch.
We were taken to a large table in an area at the back with plenty of room for all of us. There were many tables and people just sit wherever and eat. When it's very busy you sit with strangers, eat and off you go when you're finished. Food is more enjoyable when shared with others.
In Spain it's common to have a lunch table d'hote. The same is offered at dinner with a different selection of starters and mains and usually comes with a glass of wine. Here you could choose a starter, main and then coffee or dessert. Usually they offer 4 starters and 4 main courses in addition to their regular menu. It also includes bread and a drink. The dessert selection varies or you could have a coffee if there's no room left in your stomach! They had a great selection. If you don't want a full meal, they also have over 15 different tapas or sharing plates to choose from. We watched as the servers went by with orders for other clients and had a very hard time deciding what to have.
I finally went with a salad to start, then paella. For the children they had roasted chicken with potatoes. The portions were huge. When my salad arrived I thought, "Oh my I won't have room for much else!" At home this would have been enough for 4 of us to share. My sister and I decided to share the salad and cancelled hers. Not long after my paella arrived. Another huge plate. It had a bit of everything; chicken, shrimp, vegetables, seafood and the traditional saffron rice. The seasoning was perfect and my rice was cooked just right. Much like pasta, I prefer my rice al dente or on the firmer side. Mushy rice reminds me of oatmeal and my grandmother trying to force feed me. It didn't end well! Lol Thankfully I didn't order anything for the baby, she ate from my plate and loved the shrimp. There was so much food the older kids dug in as well.
The chicken was tender and juicy served with roasted potatoes. You could tell the chicken had been marinaded and slow roasted. The skin was nice and crispy with a wonderful flavour which seeped into the meat. We didn't hear one complaint from the kids as they were too busy eating everything on their plates and stealing from ours. My sister is a picky eater so she also had the chicken. My brother-in-law is adventurous so he had the merluza a la gallega. Merluza or hake as we call it here, is a staple in Spain much like salmon is to us. It belongs to the cod family and has a very mild taste. The white meat is firm and sweet. It was served with potatoes and a light sauce made of fish stock, garlic, tomato and pimenton - a very popular spice in Spanish cuisine. The flesh of the fish was moist and tender, it melted in your mouth. The sauce gave it a slight kick while the potatoes added texture. Everything was delicious. Had we stayed in Madrid longer we would've eaten there more often.
After all that food, there was no room for dessert. All of the desserts looked amazing and are made in house. We opted for coffee instead then headed back to the apartment for a nap! I don't know how Spaniards can eat so much food for lunch then eat again at night and stay thin. The food was delicious and very reasonably priced. For the table d'hote the price is under 10 Euros. You couldn't make all of that food at home for that price. Never mind all the preparation and cooking time then having to do the dishes!
I long to go back so that I can try some of the other dishes on the menu or simply sit with friends enjoying a glass of wine and nibbling on a variety of tapas. Why choose one dish when you can try a bunch of different things?
Do I love food? Absolutely, one of the simplest pleasures of life. I'm extremely fortunate to have passed this love onto my children. It's great that I can take them anywhere and they'll eat whatever is put in front of them. Spain was a gastronomic wonderland that we enjoyed thoroughly along with all the major attractions, beaches and time with family.
Hasta pronto!
Carm the Foodie
Saturday, 4 March 2017
Baker’s Street Café – Ottawa, Ontario
What to do on a cool Saturday morning when you can’t
sleep? Call a friend and convince them
to join you for breakfast. Many of my
friends enjoy good food, so it’s not hard to find a willing accomplice to join
me for a bite. My friend Paul is
adventurous so we try to find places we’ve never been to. He's a fellow foodie and always a willing companion.
Baker’s Street Café had good reviews so we
figured we’d check it out. According to
some write ups, best to get there early to avoid the line-ups. We arrived around 9:00 am and it was already busy. The place is small and quaint. All the tables were taken and there were 6
people waiting ahead of us. We were
greeted and told it wouldn’t be too long, several tables were just finishing
up. After a bit the owner came out with a
tray of freshly baked mini muffins. A
very nice touch. It makes you feel
acknowledged and thanked for your patience.
After he treated those of us waiting in line, he made his way around the
restaurant handing out the little treats to children. For me this really stood out. This place is definitely family friendly. As a parent what better way to distract a
child than with a mini chocolate chip muffin? Little things can make a huge impact.
All the plates we saw being served looked great and were
piled high with food. My friend
especially loved the larger coffee mugs.
He's big guy towering above 6 feet with a healthy appetite. Nothing he finds more annoying than getting a tiny dainty little cup
that needs to be refilled constantly cause 2 sips and his cup is empty!
Being a creature of habit has its perks, but in this case it
failed me. I couldn’t decide what to
order. It was a toss-up between the Eggs
Benedict with peameal bacon or the Greek omelette. The Unique Breakfast also sounded really good. I went with the Eggs Benedict one of my
favourites. Unfortunately, I was
disappointed. The English muffins were
soft and the hollandaise sauce made them soggy.
The hollandaise sauce could have used a bit more seasoning. The portion itself was generous and the eggs
were well cooked, but I prefer a crunchier base that stays that way until the
last bite. I should’ve been more
adventurous!
Another plus to this restaurant is that they make their own
white and whole wheat bread. You can
purchase loaves to take home. I stole my
date’s toast as I enjoyed them more than my English muffins.
He had the Campfire eggs.
This dish had pan fried eggs on a bed of sautéed peppers, onions and
tomatoes with home fries, baked beans, fresh fruit, toast and choice of
meat. Bacon was his meat of choice. The plate was quite big, but he wasn’t
complaining nor did it take him long to inhale it! He liked the variety of ingredients and the
different textures. Their home fries are
very different. They have onions and
peppers added and are well seasoned. A
tad greasy for me, but they were very good.
The staff was friendly and given how busy it was, our food
didn’t take long once we were seated.
Our coffee cups were never empty and as soon as we were done, the dishes
were wisked away.
I’d say the overall cost was mid-high range for breakfast at
$45.00 for two. Keep in mind the much
larger portions, this is not your run of the mill breakfast special and with so
much food you won’t need to worry about lunch.
I’d definitely go back and try something different. My date really enjoyed his meal and would
order it again in a heartbeat.
If you’re out and about in Westboro, check it out!
Carm the Foodie
Sunday, 26 February 2017
More Reviews to Come!
Hi there,
Work has been crazy, but I have drafted a few more posts. Stay tuned for:
Wellington Diner
Big Rig Brew
Tennessy Willems
Baton Rouge - Hull
..... and many more!
If there's a particular restaurant you'd like me to try out or some suggestions on great places to dine out, please feel free to send me your lists.
Until soon. Eat, drink and be merry!
Carm the Foodie
Work has been crazy, but I have drafted a few more posts. Stay tuned for:
Wellington Diner
Big Rig Brew
Tennessy Willems
Baton Rouge - Hull
..... and many more!
If there's a particular restaurant you'd like me to try out or some suggestions on great places to dine out, please feel free to send me your lists.
Until soon. Eat, drink and be merry!
Carm the Foodie
Sunday, 29 January 2017
Factors to Consider When Rating a Restaurant
Good evening All,
I felt it was important to mention that no one is perfect. Just like we have bad days, a restaurant can have a bad day too.
When I'm visiting a restaurant and have a bad experience, I'll write my review, but hold off on posting it. If ever you're in a situation where something is going wrong, whether you received the wrong dish, the server was rude, your food was not cooked properly, whatever....The best thing to do is to bring it to the server's attention. If that fails, you may need to escalate it to the manager or owner. Sometimes it's an easy fix. Mistakes are made because again no human being is perfect. When a restaurant is extremely busy or they are short staffed, the likelihood of a mistake greatly increases. When learning a new job no matter where we work, it takes time and there's no doubt we will make mistakes. Keep that in mind. Be honest and try to be reasonable. Any owner or manager wants to ensure all issues are resolved so that you'll come back. The way the complaint is handled makes all the difference in the world. Also keep in mind that the way the complaint is voiced is equally important.
If your concern is not addressed and you are not appropriately compensated, then I say go ahead and post your unfavourable review. Speaking from the restaurant's perspective, I'd argue that the customer is not always right, but I feel it is extremely important to manage expectations and be fair. After all, the customer is paying and you want them to come back. It is also important to avoid causing a scene that could paint the establishment in a negative light. I've seen owners and chefs with highly inflated egos go off on a customer in a crowded restaurant. In the long run this will hurt their business. For every person that likes a dish, you'll have another that doesn't. Is one right and the other wrong? Which one? Think about the expression "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder". You might think you're God's gift to the world, but your opinion is irrelevant. Ultimately it is others that will decide whether or not they like your food. Just because the chef or owner think their food is the best, doesn't mean it is. Confidence is sexy, arrogance is a major turn off. At the end of the day, the majority opinion wins. If you can't handle criticism, the restaurant business is not for you.
My Mom was a caterer for many years and I can tell you it's a tough business. When the owner isn't there, it is not unusual for things to be different. No one could make bread like Mom, so clients could always tell the difference when she didn't make it. She worked extremely long hours and always tried to forecast what clients would need when she was going to be away, but she couldn't read minds or be there 24/7. For her fresh was always key so making things in advance was difficult if not impossible. As previously mentioned, consistency is extremely important when building a clientelle.
Not long ago I was out with a girl friend. We ordered our dinner and 45 minutes later, it still hadn't arrived. It was busy and we were in no rush, so we decided we'd give it another few minutes before reminding the waitress. Suddenly the manager came over apologizing profusely for the delay. There was a problem in the kitchen which should not have affected us. He told us he was picking up our cheque. When we finished eating he insisted on bringing us coffee and dessert on him. This was not typical and he assured us the next time we wouldn't have to wait so long for our food. A perfect example of how an issue, which we hadn't even raised, was addressed leaving you feeling appreciated. We did go back and continue to go back. It's also nice that they recognize us now and go out of their way to make sure we're comfortable and our food comes out quickly. This is how you keep your clients happy. Being able to admit when you've made a mistake or inconvenienced a client speaks very highly of the organization and the importance of customer service. To be honest, we didn't expect him to pick up our bill, a simple apology and explanation for the delay would have sufficed. We left there thoroughly impressed and grateful. To further add, I commend this guy for being attentive and paying attention to what was going on in the restaurant. On a busy night keeping an eye on the bar, tables and the kitchen is a challenge. Before a complaint could be made, he nipped it in the butt and made sure the customer was happy. I'll review this restaurant in another post.
Having been a waitress, there are times where no matter what you say or do, the customer will not be happy. Just do what you can to diffuse the situation and remain as professional as possible. Very hard to do at times, but very necessary in this line of business.
That said, when I have a bad experience chances are I'll go back in and give them another shot. If there's no improvement I'll post the unfavorable review in the hopes that they will read it and work on the problem(s). Reviews are not intended to bash a place, but simply provide constructive criticism to help them improve their business.
Good luck!
Carm the Foodie
I felt it was important to mention that no one is perfect. Just like we have bad days, a restaurant can have a bad day too.
When I'm visiting a restaurant and have a bad experience, I'll write my review, but hold off on posting it. If ever you're in a situation where something is going wrong, whether you received the wrong dish, the server was rude, your food was not cooked properly, whatever....The best thing to do is to bring it to the server's attention. If that fails, you may need to escalate it to the manager or owner. Sometimes it's an easy fix. Mistakes are made because again no human being is perfect. When a restaurant is extremely busy or they are short staffed, the likelihood of a mistake greatly increases. When learning a new job no matter where we work, it takes time and there's no doubt we will make mistakes. Keep that in mind. Be honest and try to be reasonable. Any owner or manager wants to ensure all issues are resolved so that you'll come back. The way the complaint is handled makes all the difference in the world. Also keep in mind that the way the complaint is voiced is equally important.
If your concern is not addressed and you are not appropriately compensated, then I say go ahead and post your unfavourable review. Speaking from the restaurant's perspective, I'd argue that the customer is not always right, but I feel it is extremely important to manage expectations and be fair. After all, the customer is paying and you want them to come back. It is also important to avoid causing a scene that could paint the establishment in a negative light. I've seen owners and chefs with highly inflated egos go off on a customer in a crowded restaurant. In the long run this will hurt their business. For every person that likes a dish, you'll have another that doesn't. Is one right and the other wrong? Which one? Think about the expression "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder". You might think you're God's gift to the world, but your opinion is irrelevant. Ultimately it is others that will decide whether or not they like your food. Just because the chef or owner think their food is the best, doesn't mean it is. Confidence is sexy, arrogance is a major turn off. At the end of the day, the majority opinion wins. If you can't handle criticism, the restaurant business is not for you.
My Mom was a caterer for many years and I can tell you it's a tough business. When the owner isn't there, it is not unusual for things to be different. No one could make bread like Mom, so clients could always tell the difference when she didn't make it. She worked extremely long hours and always tried to forecast what clients would need when she was going to be away, but she couldn't read minds or be there 24/7. For her fresh was always key so making things in advance was difficult if not impossible. As previously mentioned, consistency is extremely important when building a clientelle.
Not long ago I was out with a girl friend. We ordered our dinner and 45 minutes later, it still hadn't arrived. It was busy and we were in no rush, so we decided we'd give it another few minutes before reminding the waitress. Suddenly the manager came over apologizing profusely for the delay. There was a problem in the kitchen which should not have affected us. He told us he was picking up our cheque. When we finished eating he insisted on bringing us coffee and dessert on him. This was not typical and he assured us the next time we wouldn't have to wait so long for our food. A perfect example of how an issue, which we hadn't even raised, was addressed leaving you feeling appreciated. We did go back and continue to go back. It's also nice that they recognize us now and go out of their way to make sure we're comfortable and our food comes out quickly. This is how you keep your clients happy. Being able to admit when you've made a mistake or inconvenienced a client speaks very highly of the organization and the importance of customer service. To be honest, we didn't expect him to pick up our bill, a simple apology and explanation for the delay would have sufficed. We left there thoroughly impressed and grateful. To further add, I commend this guy for being attentive and paying attention to what was going on in the restaurant. On a busy night keeping an eye on the bar, tables and the kitchen is a challenge. Before a complaint could be made, he nipped it in the butt and made sure the customer was happy. I'll review this restaurant in another post.
Having been a waitress, there are times where no matter what you say or do, the customer will not be happy. Just do what you can to diffuse the situation and remain as professional as possible. Very hard to do at times, but very necessary in this line of business.
That said, when I have a bad experience chances are I'll go back in and give them another shot. If there's no improvement I'll post the unfavorable review in the hopes that they will read it and work on the problem(s). Reviews are not intended to bash a place, but simply provide constructive criticism to help them improve their business.
Good luck!
Carm the Foodie
Tuesday, 17 January 2017
Ristorante Fratello – San Jose, California
We
met the owner while having lunch shortly after arriving. Two gentlemen were speaking in Italian at the
next table so my significant other, who’s Italian, went over to their table to
introduce himself and ask what places we should visit while in San Jose. The gentlemen were overjoyed to meet a fellow
Italian. Turns out his Mom is from the same
village, what a small world! The older
gentleman was visiting from Italy, the other owned a restaurant and told us we
should drop by for dinner one night.
The
day before returning home we decided to partake in some Italian cuisine. Ristorante Fratello is a large restaurant able
to accommodate large groups. The menu is
quite diverse and they use fresh ingredients based on what is in season. The cooking style is more traditional. Having grown up with Italians, many of the
dishes reminded me of dinners at friends’ place and their Nonna’s cooking.
Everyone was warm and welcoming. As
soon as we walked in the owner recognized us and came over. They showed us to a nice large booth. Water arrived then shortly afterwards some “Polenta con Salsiccia”. As a child
I wasn’t crazy about polenta because of the texture so it’s not something I would
order, but this one was by far the best one I’ve ever had. It was soft and silky with a fragrant and
flavourful tomato sauce with fresh basil and mild Italian sausage crumbled over
it. The meat was tender and the
combination of the creamy polenta and the tomato sauce was perfectly balance
with the well seasoned sausage. It opened
up our appetites. I’ve never had polenta
like this, it’s better than mashed potatoes.
I would make this at home for the kids.
We
had some drinks and poured over the menu.
Everything sounded so good we couldn’t decide. The waitress made some suggestions and told
us the specials of the day which made it all the more difficult to choose.
Appetizers
are a great way to start. We ordered the “Calamari Fritti” and the “Caprese”
salad. The calamari were lightly
battered and fried accompanied by a mild sauce.
They were crispy on the outside but tender on the inside. The caprese salad was completely different
from what you get when you order it in Ottawa.
It was also substantially larger.
They make it with burrata which I love.
It’s an Italian
cheese made from mozzarella and cream. The outer shell is solid mozzarella,
while the inside contains stracciatella and cream, giving it an unusual, soft
texture. Add some fresh basil, vine-ripened
tomatoes, a generous drench of extra virgin olive oil with a splash of aged
balsamic and it was to die for. Can you
believe my Italian significant other had never had burrata? I asked him if he was sure he was
Italian. Lol
We needed to take another break,
I was stuffed. For the mains he ordered his
favourite, “Spaghetti alla Carbonara” made with smoked cured pork cheek,
freshly cracked black pepper, garlic, egg and pecorino cheese. Me being the carnivore, I had to
have the “Pappardelle Vitello” or pasta with veal ragu, sage, asparagus,
porcini mushrooms, caciocavallo cheese (can you tell I also love
cheese???) and a drizzle of black truffle
oil. Sadly I don’t think our main
courses got the attention they deserved.
Due to limit real estate in our bellies, we weren’t able to fully appreciate
them. Both dishes were delicious. I think four of
us could have easily shared the two plates and been perfectly contented. Again the ingredients they use are not
typical. The pork cheek was
delicious. The meat melted in your
mouth. My veal ragu was rich and thick
with just the right amount of spice. Not often that I say there was too much
meat on my plate. I couldn’t finish it!
I wasn't sure how we were going to roll out of the booth. Not
surprisingly, the owner insisted on bringing over some after dinner drinks and
we couldn’t leave without trying dessert.
I felt like I was going to explode, but when the waitress mentioned fresh
pistachio gelato….I surrendered. It was great and the perfect way to cleanse the palate. Ok, now it was time to go.
The food was amazing and
beautifully placed on the plates.
Everything was fresh and prepared with care. Portions were very generous. I would consider this a fine dining
establishment. Prices are moderate to
high, but very reasonable when you factor in the quality, uniqueness of
ingredients and level of service. If
ever in San Jose, make an effort to visit Ristorante Fratello. But go an empty stomach!
Ciao!
Carm the Foodie
Saturday, 14 January 2017
Things I Look for when Dining Out
Everyone has different likes and dislikes, wants and needs. What stands out for me when I'm dining out? For me to have a positive experience I need a combination of, if not most of the following elements:
1. The place should be clean and inviting
If I walk into a place and it's dirty, chances are I'll walk out. This could include dirty table cloths, floors, cutlery, clothing on the staff, glasswear, washrooms (At times clients can be the culprits for this one. Women's washrooms can be scary, can't speak for the guys. Keep in mind your Mom doesn't work there so please be considerate of others and clean up after yourself! No need to pee on the seat or inappropriately dispose of your personal items.) Enough said. If there's dust on fixtures and plants, the bar, dirty windows, etc. they obviously don't care about their customers or their image. I don't expect to be able to eat off the floors or walls, but when storing and preparing foods you have to be careful. The last thing you want is to make clients sick. Salmonella poisoning from bad chicken landed me in hospital for a week so I don't take chances. The same applies when I entertain at home. Be mindful and considerate of cross contamination and allergies which seem to be running rampant these days.
2. Polite and welcoming staff
When calling for reservations or arriving at the restaurant, feeling welcome and hearing a cheery voice at the other end of the phone adds to a positive experience. Even when something does go wrong, if it is well handled, you feel understood and are appropriately accommodated the experience remains positive. You don't want to feel like you're a burden or annoyance. Yes those of us that have worked in the hospitality business or retail have seen it all. There are times when no matter how hard you try, you can't please everyone. At the end of the day making the effort and maintaining a smile is what counts.
3. Consistency
I tend to be a creature of habit, so if I have a favourite dish it should always taste the same. This is a tough one to maintain. I'd say many restaurants that fail can probably attribute it to this. It's really disappointing when you're all excited and craving a particular dish only to be let down because it tastes nothing like it did the last 3 times. We all have bad days, but when you're paying you expect the same quality and flavours, especially if the menu hasn't changed. Loyal customers might be forgiving and give you another shot or two. Eventually if the consistency isn't there, chances are you'll lose them. Beyond frustrating when you notice they are cutting corners sacrificing quality for the bottom line while raising their prices. Yes a restaurant is a business trying to make money, but there are ways to maintain quality without negatively impacting your product, your reputation and most importantly your customers. Personally I have no issue paying for quality. After all, you get what you pay for.
4. Variety and originality
When it comes to food I'm adventurous and always game for trying something new. It's exciting when you read a menu with exotic sounding ingredients, spices or preparations you've never tried. The way dishes are described further fuels my curiosity and the urge to try it. It's like they can create a craving where one didn't exist!
5. Ambiance
Like most, I choose the restaurant based on the reason for the outing. If it's a girls night out to celebrate a birthday or bachelorette, I want somewhere more festive with music, fancy cocktails and more of an appetizer or sharing plates menu. For family celebrations definitely somewhere more kid friendly. Some where fun and where I'm not going to worry about my youngest escaping from the table if she suddenly can't sit while the rest of us are finishing up. Bonus if they have activities or a play area kids can enjoy. If I have more of a romantic dinner in mind, I want somewhere cozy where the lights are dim, music plays softly in the background, candles, perhaps a place that has more private booths or sections and a more unique and eclectic menu. For business or lunch with colleagues I need quick service with a certain level of privacy depending on what is being discussed. This could also translate into a food truck or take out, depending on the circumstances Coffee and dessert can be exciting too when you don't have much time or don't want to have an entire meal. Different venues suit or accommodate your mood or needs, you just have to know where to go.
In any case I don't want to feel rushed, one of the primary reasons why I refuse to go out for dinner on Valentine's Day, Mother's Day or Father's Day. Usually I'm not one to linger for hours after I've finished my meal, but if I want to stay a while longer to chit chat or have another coffee, I don't want to be shown the door.
6. Price
Price usually encompasses all of the above elements. I have no issue paying for quality and good service. Again price can also be dependent on the reason for the outing. For a romantic celebration you want something more upscale and fancy where you feel pampered and spoiled so chances are prices will be higher. Exotic menus and ingredients will also fetch a higher price. Surprisingly some little "holes in the wall" have the best food at the most reasonable prices. When visiting other cities, just ask the locals for their recommendations. As long as I feel like I'm getting my money's worth, I'm content with pretty much anything.
Another reason for avoiding outings on the dates I mentioned above. The whole double or triple the price for a set menu and you have a maximum of 2 hours to finish and leave because they have 1 or 2 more sittings to accommodate that night. Valentine's Day and New Years are notorious for this. The menus are way overpriced, you may not like all of the choices (usually they don't allow substitutions on these special nights) and the quality and service are usually not the greatest. In short, I'm not going to pay for fast food service where I'm going to be shoved out the door at a so called upscale restaurant. I'll go another night where we can sit and stare into each other's eyes all night after we finish our dinner! :)
7. Mood
My mood will also affect my choices. Don't we all have those "I need to overload on sugar days" or others where you feel guilty for over indulging all week and you need to "eat light" to compensate? When it's cold out or I'm sad, I want comfort food. Happy memories are often connected to food, at least in our home they were. Nothing reminds me more of home than a thick rich soup or stew like Mom used to make. That bacalao in Barcelona almost brought me to tears. Food can invoke emotions and fuel passion.
All of the above and probably other factors play a huge role in my food and/or restaurant choices, but at times experimenting in the kitchen at home and eating in or attending a dinner party at a friend's can be just as fun and even more delicious!
Food is one of life's simple pleasures, enjoy it!
Carm the Foodie
1. The place should be clean and inviting
If I walk into a place and it's dirty, chances are I'll walk out. This could include dirty table cloths, floors, cutlery, clothing on the staff, glasswear, washrooms (At times clients can be the culprits for this one. Women's washrooms can be scary, can't speak for the guys. Keep in mind your Mom doesn't work there so please be considerate of others and clean up after yourself! No need to pee on the seat or inappropriately dispose of your personal items.) Enough said. If there's dust on fixtures and plants, the bar, dirty windows, etc. they obviously don't care about their customers or their image. I don't expect to be able to eat off the floors or walls, but when storing and preparing foods you have to be careful. The last thing you want is to make clients sick. Salmonella poisoning from bad chicken landed me in hospital for a week so I don't take chances. The same applies when I entertain at home. Be mindful and considerate of cross contamination and allergies which seem to be running rampant these days.
2. Polite and welcoming staff
When calling for reservations or arriving at the restaurant, feeling welcome and hearing a cheery voice at the other end of the phone adds to a positive experience. Even when something does go wrong, if it is well handled, you feel understood and are appropriately accommodated the experience remains positive. You don't want to feel like you're a burden or annoyance. Yes those of us that have worked in the hospitality business or retail have seen it all. There are times when no matter how hard you try, you can't please everyone. At the end of the day making the effort and maintaining a smile is what counts.
3. Consistency
I tend to be a creature of habit, so if I have a favourite dish it should always taste the same. This is a tough one to maintain. I'd say many restaurants that fail can probably attribute it to this. It's really disappointing when you're all excited and craving a particular dish only to be let down because it tastes nothing like it did the last 3 times. We all have bad days, but when you're paying you expect the same quality and flavours, especially if the menu hasn't changed. Loyal customers might be forgiving and give you another shot or two. Eventually if the consistency isn't there, chances are you'll lose them. Beyond frustrating when you notice they are cutting corners sacrificing quality for the bottom line while raising their prices. Yes a restaurant is a business trying to make money, but there are ways to maintain quality without negatively impacting your product, your reputation and most importantly your customers. Personally I have no issue paying for quality. After all, you get what you pay for.
4. Variety and originality
When it comes to food I'm adventurous and always game for trying something new. It's exciting when you read a menu with exotic sounding ingredients, spices or preparations you've never tried. The way dishes are described further fuels my curiosity and the urge to try it. It's like they can create a craving where one didn't exist!
5. Ambiance
Like most, I choose the restaurant based on the reason for the outing. If it's a girls night out to celebrate a birthday or bachelorette, I want somewhere more festive with music, fancy cocktails and more of an appetizer or sharing plates menu. For family celebrations definitely somewhere more kid friendly. Some where fun and where I'm not going to worry about my youngest escaping from the table if she suddenly can't sit while the rest of us are finishing up. Bonus if they have activities or a play area kids can enjoy. If I have more of a romantic dinner in mind, I want somewhere cozy where the lights are dim, music plays softly in the background, candles, perhaps a place that has more private booths or sections and a more unique and eclectic menu. For business or lunch with colleagues I need quick service with a certain level of privacy depending on what is being discussed. This could also translate into a food truck or take out, depending on the circumstances Coffee and dessert can be exciting too when you don't have much time or don't want to have an entire meal. Different venues suit or accommodate your mood or needs, you just have to know where to go.
In any case I don't want to feel rushed, one of the primary reasons why I refuse to go out for dinner on Valentine's Day, Mother's Day or Father's Day. Usually I'm not one to linger for hours after I've finished my meal, but if I want to stay a while longer to chit chat or have another coffee, I don't want to be shown the door.
6. Price
Price usually encompasses all of the above elements. I have no issue paying for quality and good service. Again price can also be dependent on the reason for the outing. For a romantic celebration you want something more upscale and fancy where you feel pampered and spoiled so chances are prices will be higher. Exotic menus and ingredients will also fetch a higher price. Surprisingly some little "holes in the wall" have the best food at the most reasonable prices. When visiting other cities, just ask the locals for their recommendations. As long as I feel like I'm getting my money's worth, I'm content with pretty much anything.
Another reason for avoiding outings on the dates I mentioned above. The whole double or triple the price for a set menu and you have a maximum of 2 hours to finish and leave because they have 1 or 2 more sittings to accommodate that night. Valentine's Day and New Years are notorious for this. The menus are way overpriced, you may not like all of the choices (usually they don't allow substitutions on these special nights) and the quality and service are usually not the greatest. In short, I'm not going to pay for fast food service where I'm going to be shoved out the door at a so called upscale restaurant. I'll go another night where we can sit and stare into each other's eyes all night after we finish our dinner! :)
7. Mood
My mood will also affect my choices. Don't we all have those "I need to overload on sugar days" or others where you feel guilty for over indulging all week and you need to "eat light" to compensate? When it's cold out or I'm sad, I want comfort food. Happy memories are often connected to food, at least in our home they were. Nothing reminds me more of home than a thick rich soup or stew like Mom used to make. That bacalao in Barcelona almost brought me to tears. Food can invoke emotions and fuel passion.
All of the above and probably other factors play a huge role in my food and/or restaurant choices, but at times experimenting in the kitchen at home and eating in or attending a dinner party at a friend's can be just as fun and even more delicious!
Food is one of life's simple pleasures, enjoy it!
Carm the Foodie
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