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 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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