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
Friday, 21 July 2017
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
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