Infuse Cafe - A Brewing Revolution?

Hmmm, reverse atmospheric infusion?  Vacuums?  I really need to brush up on my sciences!  Infuse Cafe has been open for about 8 weeks and they are trying to get the word out that their tea brewing technique (R.A.I.N.) produces a more flavourful tea. 

 

I had walked by before but only when my friend sent me an event by Toronto Commons did I decide to make an effort to visit this cafe. (Here is the next event in Oct.) Infuse serves organic teas (specifically Rishi teas) and a few coffee beverages.  They are not in the business of adding ingredients such as tapioca to their drinks so don't mistake this for a bubbletea place.  Hot, cold, and milk teas are available as well as some shakes like the matcha one that I was really tempted to get.  But, selection is limited.

 

First impression is that it was pretty good.  I ordered an iced Jasmine Green Tea with half sugar.  They suggested full as it could be bitter due to the strength of the tea but I usually drink my teas straight (at home) or with half sugar (when I'm out), so insisted on the half.  It wasn't bitter and half worked for me.  Liked that they are willing to make recommendations though. 

My second visit I got a hot tea, the Jade Cloud.  The aroma is like dragonwell tea but the flavour is not as "grassy".  It's quite flavourful though.  There was a small amount of bitterness to it but not a bad type of bitter.  Overall, okay, but I liked the Jasmine Green better.

The Bkon Brewing Machine that is used, brews tea and also works for coffee.  I'm not sure if the taste is that much better with this brewing technique, but I'd be interested in seeing a side by side comparison of regular brewing and brewing by R.A.I.N. However, if it tastes good, does it matter? Maybe the question I'd like to ask is, do you get more antioxidants out of the leaf? Since they mention the "deeper layer of soluble material is extracted" in phase 2 of the technique, they are referring to the flavour but does this mean antioxidants too? That would be really something!  Or actually, as my mind starts going off on a tangent...if the tea is more flavourful, offering single estate ceylon teas (from differing tea gardens) for example could be interesting.   Maybe you can really taste the nuances of each? Anyway, tea geek, I know. 
 

In terms of atmosphere, there is a good amount of seating, but it doesn't have that cafe feel yet.  This might change over time.  I did notice some artwork on the walk and if you go to their website, they do mention that they are trying to work with local artists and kinda act like a "gallery" where you can purchase the pieces and proceeds go all to the artist.  This concept is not new, but I find it great that they do this!  It'll be nice to see it more apparent when you're in the shop.

Service is super nice and they really seem customer service oriented.  They offer a discount for students and if you work in the area, which is nice. Not sure if that‘s just an opening special but their prices are average compared to other tea shops.  And, they are on vicinity rewards which also is a plus!  Would recommend trying them out if you're in the area.
 

 

Infuse Cafe

354 Yonge Street (Yonge & Elm)
Toronto, ON, M5B 1S5

http://www.infusecafe.ca/

(Soon to open at Yonge and Shepherd) 

Kaka All-You-Can-Eat Sushi

 

I haven't been to an all-you-can-eat sushi place in while, but have heard good things about Kaka so we decided to head there for lunch on a whim last weekend.

When you first walk in, the decor is quite upscale that you wouldn't think they are an AYCE sushi place. Not sure if it was the manager that greeted us at the door but she was great, explained what they offered and made sure we were comfortable. We were also lucky that we got a table because there were a lot of reserved tables! Our seats were cushioned which was nice, definitely adds to the experience and something you don't see often.

 

Almost all the tables were reserved

Service seemed quite seamless in that you order off a touch screen tablet with the number of pieces you want.  Every order is ONE piece except the sushi rolls which are 3 pieces per order, so keep that in mind.  There was no mix up of orders and they came out relatively quickly.

Now, onto the food.  They have quite a bit of unique items and the sashimi that we ordered were fresh and decent sized slices.  Usually I would order mainly sashimi and a few rolls but we also ordered a number of cooked dishes; some were ok while others were done pretty well.  The cumin lamb skewers were good and is not something you see at Japanese AYCE, probably offered due to the huge Chinese population here.  Loved the grilled eggplant, topped with a sesame paste/butter sauce - I think this is probably why it was so good.  Only recommendation was that it was a whole eggplant and sliced opened lengthwise so a bit hard to eat when you just have chopsticks and no knife and fork.



Desserts were okay with a number of unique ones too.  Had a lavendar chocolate pudding which does have a lavendar taste (nice) and a green tea creme brulee which was average.  Actually, as I write this I realized we didn't get the earl grey tea ganache square that I ordered!  I think we had decided to leave and called for the bill before it arrived.

At lunch on weekends they offer the same all-you-can-eat menu as their dinner for $26.99 which is quite standard for AYCE with sashimi these days.  Lunch on weekdays they serve an a la carte menu with bento boxes.  (And just a side note: their fb page has an offer requesting you share your "photos on Instagram using the hashtag ‪#‎kakaallyoucaneat‬ for a chance to win a free dinner for 2 at the end of the month.")

Recommend! 

Kaka All You Can Eat
3235 Highway 7 E., Unit 18A
Markham, ON L3R 3R3
T: (905) 604-5023
https://www.facebook.com/kakaayce

I-migoo Tea Shop - From Zhuhai China

 Another weekend, another milk tea shop.

Whenever a tea shop opens, I'm always very eager to try it out and i-migoo caught my eye because it had a cartoon character situated outside the storefront and were advertising a BOGO offer.  They opened a couple of weeks ago and last weekend we went in on a rainy evening.  It's bright and cheery inside, not very busy though.  This franchise is actually from Zhuhai, China and according to their posted map, they have many outlets in China, even in the northwestern part of China.  My first thought...hmmm, China?  Are they going to make it in this area, an area known to have so many bubble tea places (I can think of 10) in the span of a 10 min walk? 

The more bubbletea places, the better as that means more choice and less line ups.  Unfortunately, based on the drink I tried, they are going to have to work a little harder to cut it in this area. I had an imigoo style milk tea and my partner the classic.  The imigoo is just the classic with tapioca.  The milk tea somewhat tastes like there is a bit of coffee in it which I guess if you are a fan of the Hong Kong drink "ying yang coffee" which is half tea and half coffee, you might like this.  But for me, I like my milk tea to have more of a tea flavour.  The tapioca pearls were also a bit irregular and were somewhat chewy, but more "sticky" than chewy.  Tapioca pearls normally have a good soft chew to it but it doesn't really stick to your teeth as much as these ones did. 

If I were to give them another try, I'd try the food and one of their more weird drinks...like Cheese Teas. Yes, they list a cheese creama green tea and a few others that just seem very odd!!  I wonder if it's like the salted cream teas available at places like Share Tea?  There are also a few drinks that would look good when presented like the potted milk tea which is a tea drink that is topped with oreo crumbs (to look like soil) and a mint leaf.  But, I suspect their milk tea is the standard.  Mango and cocoa are also featured throughout their menu so if you're a fan of these flavours, you'll have more options here.

They have snacks like fries and chicken wings as well, most priced at $3.99.  So if I find myself coming back, I'd try some of the food items.

I-migoo  

5418 Yonge street, Unit 5

North York, Ontario

http://i-migoo.com/ (simplified Chinese)

 

Sichuan Ren - Numbing Spiciness

Sichuan Ren

5195 Yonge Street

Toronto, ON M2N 5P7

Omgoodness!  Numbing spiciness...a quick way to feel very, very warm during these cool nights.  Sichuan Ren is the new spicy restaurant to hit the Yonge and Sheppard/Finch area.  We went on opening day (which was actually over a week ago) and the service was quick and pretty decent.  Sichuan peppercorns are used in abundance and almost all the dishes contain them so if you don't like spicy or you're not a fan of the numbing spiciness that come with eating Sichuan peppercorns, you're only left with a few options.  So, in other words, don't go if you don't like spicy!

We ordered a cucumber cold appetizer and 2 noodle soup bowls, one beef and one pork.  The wood ears cold dish we also selected was sold out so they are still probably gauging how much to prepare.  The cucumbers were really good, spicy yet cooling.

The noodles were okay.  The beef was tender but I wish there was more beef, for the $11 price tag, I was expecting more.  Noodles are okay too, nothing to complain about.  I've never been to Sichuan China so I'm not sure if it's authentic or not but I couldn't drink the soup.  Lots of oil and just too spicy.  Maybe it's only there to flavour the noodles?





The pork was less tender and again portions of meat were small.

They also have these sharing hot pots that others got but we thought it would be something we'd try if we come back.  Overall, I'd give them another go if I was in the mood for Sichuan food and wanted to stay close to home.

Bake Code - New Taiwanese Bakery (& Chatime!)

The Yonge/Sheppard area is definitely getting a little more exciting! Bake Code is a new bakery/cafe that opened nearby and it features Taiwanese breads/pastries made by a mix of European and Asian bread making techniques.  A week ago they had a soft opening but I figured I'd wait till their grand opening week (Sept 17-23) to try their products.  Products (except beverages) are buy 3 get 1 free (lowest priced item) during this period, so go now! 

There are Chinese buns but also European like buns that have some Asian flavours to it (like taro or matcha).  Most if not all the breads I saw were the soft fluffy kind you'd find in Asian bakeries.  Their website lists baguettes but they didn't have them in the morning yet.  There are also flaky croissant items and a selection of desserts that you won't find at your typical Chinese bakery (like a Mille Crepe cake).  Samples of the breads are available and I pretty much tried all that were on offer this morning and wanted to buy a lot more loaves than I did. 

Here are the items I tried I my first visit:



Clockwise from Top L: Matcha red bean bun, Swiss Chocolate Boule, Japanese Cheesecake, Chocolate Croissant

Matcha red bean bun - filled with beans but it's not a paste, actual whole beans (that were also differing colours) which give it a different texture; nice against the soft fluffy bread.  The top, surprisingly is topped with a very thin layer of pastry crust or something of that nature that is buttery and sweet.  It's a very thin layer but does it's job, quite impressed actually.  The only thing about this bread is that the matcha flavour is not really there.  Despite this, I still really liked this bun.

Swiss Chocolate Boule - looks like a hearty and dense dark rye bread buts it's actually very soft and chewy. A hint of chocolate in the dough, little bits of walnuts (be sure to check out their website for the ingredients which is really helpful!), and little nibs of chocolate so you get an extra kick of chocolate.  It's a big bread and I could have eaten it all sitting at my desk!

Japanese Cheesecake - was just average.  It was light but too light for me, would have liked a little more cream cheese flavour so my least favourite of the day.

The chocolate croissant I have to say has pretty good dark chocolate filling inside and a good amount.  The croissant itself has a very flaky top but is not as rich in butter as I'd like.  However, I devoured it at breakfast because of the chocolate filling!

One thing to note: I believe they are baking their buns throughout the day so when I went, there were certain breads that I had read about but did not see, like the earl grey tea bread. 

On my second visit late in the afternoon, I got the red wine longan bread which I actually first heard about (this combination) from a post on the blog TravellingFoodies, where they detailed a visit to one of the Taiwanese "master boulanger Wu Pao Chun's" bakeries in Taiwan.  In 2010, Wu Pao Chun won the master baker title for bread at the Coupe du Monde de la Boulangerie, an international invitational artisan baking competition in France. The recipe is published for this bread in his book so I wonder if they are using it or have made their own version?

For the red wine longan bread, it's a nice bread and I think the longan is soaked in the red wine before baking.  Stronger longan taste than red wine but definitely good.  Not sure how often I'd buy this one as it's one of the pricier breads, but it is quite big.  When I had the sample, it seemed like the crust was crisper but when I got home and let it sit for a bit, it was soft.  I can see myself eating it as is or slicing thin slices, toasting lightly, and topping with a little cheese.

Red Wine Longan Bread

I picked up 3 other items as well.

Lemon Boule - has chocolate and cranberry in it which was a bit of a surprise.  Didn't taste much lemon though...so was slightly disappointed.  It was light and chewy and a good amount of the cranberry and chocolate, so I can definitely eat a lot of it.  Just would have been better if there was more lemon flavour since it is called lemon boule.

Cream Puff - Mmmm, delicious!  Pastry cream was yummy and the cream puff was crispy.  Slightly different from French ones in that the top is cut off and it is topped with the pastry cream (which means less in the puff) rather than filled from the bottom.

Mr. Chocolate Bean - Got the bag of 5 which is cheaper than buying individually.  This is essentially the Swiss Chocolate Boule but in mini bun form and the mini chocolate chips are added like a filling rather than dispersed throughout the bread.



Small seating area but modern, warm, and very comfortable feeling.  Even the trays that you put your bread on are very nice. 

Chatime beverages are featured but currently they offer a fraction of the usual menu: coffees, teapressos and a choice selection of milk teas and other teas. You gotta love that you can get Chatime at 8 in the morning!  (But, 10am on weekends.)

Overall, I like this bakery.  It may be a little pricier than some other places, but I think there are some unique breads and it's very convenient for me.  Definitely looking forward to trying more and I gotta find out the baking schedule because there are some on the website that I'd love to try!

Bake Code

4910 Yonge St

Toronto, ON M2N 5N5 

http://bakecode.com/

 

Week 36 Baking: Fresh Ginger Molasses Cookies

First batch...too sugary, oily and soft.

Other people look for the best chocolate chip cookie, me...I'm looking for the best ginger molasses cookies.  Not that I don't like chocolate chip cookies (there are still recipes I have to try), but for some reason my cravings have shifted.

I think it all started at Dineen Coffee Company (which I've been meaning to post about them).  I saw their ginger molasses cookies and was tempted, but bought a lemon square instead.  Then at Neo Coffee Bar, I saw a ginger molasses cookie but opted for their roll cakes (so yummy).  Then I tried to make them and the recipe failed...or I failed...as you can see above.

Tried to satisfy my craving at Fahrenheit Coffee but they ran out...So, I ended up at Second Cup and finally, I had a ginger molasses cookie! Do people remember Second Cup?  Unfortunately, I think this Canadian coffee house has really become more of a second thought to most people I know.  I hate to say it but I'll go to Second Cup only when it‘s convenient and not really as a destination. (If anyone has a differing opinion I'd love to here it.)  Their website looks more modern now compared to a couple of years ago and I noticed that they mention that their baked goods are made locally (at Grodzinski's Bakery) to entice people however, I wonder if that has made any difference?



Anyway, the cookie was not bad, slightly chewy and the flavour was okay.  But, I think I was looking for an even more gingery cookie.  Ginger snaps are gingery but they don't have the chewiness that I'm looking for so onto my second batch of cookies...

Second batch (different recipe): much better than the first.

I followed this recipe from the Crosby Molasses website for my second batch of cookies but made some modifications: used fresh grated ginger and reduced the batch to only make 6 cookies.  These were chewy and had more ginger flavour than the first batch.  Still not perfect, requiring a little more tweaking and I think I would also need to try a larger batch.  But, great with my tea, I've been eating one each day!

Bobbette & Belle - North York

Bobbette & Belle
3347 Yonge St
Toronto, ON M4N 2M6
T: 416-466-8800

http://www.bobbetteandbelle.com/shop_main.html

I've been meaning to check out Bobbette & Belle for some time now and had tasted a birthday cake from them last year which I thought was pretty good.  The birthday cake was a 4 layer chocolate cake (really tall) with I think it was raspberry buttercream frosting.  It was very pretty, quite opulent actually.  The chocolate cake was nice and light, not too sweet.  I guess my only comment was there was so much buttercream!

This past weekend, I decided to go into the shop myself and select a few things.  Hazelnut chocolate cake instantly caught my eye and I ordered a slice.  For under $6, it was a very decent sized piece, I think 2-3 people sharing a slice would be satisfied.  Unfortunately, we couldn't stay and sit with a cup of coffee or tea so took it to go. 



The cake was moist and not too sweet which we liked but I was a little disappointed that the only hazelnut flavouring was in the buttercream on the side of the cake.  I thought there would be hazelnut chocolate flavour inside but it was just chocolate.  I was also a little disappointed on the taste of the chocolate.  It's quite a dark chocolate cake but didn't really have much cocoa taste to it...expecting a little bit more substantial in terms of flavour but sadly, no.

We also got a shortbread cookie and the cookie, although plain, was buttery and light.  Sometimes you just want something simple and this was it.  The price for the cookie was a little on the pricey side though, so I'm not sure if I'd get it again.



They had croissants, scones, butter tarts, a handful of other cakes, macarons, and some cupcakes available but I just wasn't feeling it at the moment.



Space is pretty and service was nice. 

Seating at the front

Seating at the back
(tables to the right and left but there were patrons that I didn't want to capture in the picture)

Overall, okay for the basic cakes or cookies, and I think it would be a nice spot to have a tea and dessert, but nothing available that day really excited me.  (I think I get a little more excited for French style pastries and desserts.)  However, you can still find some really beautiful and decorative cupcakes and cakes at Bobbette and Belle, you just have to order it in advance.  Looking at their website, you can definitely see some great work being done in their special order cupcakes and cakes section.

September: I'm Dreaming of...

 

Gosh, how is it September already?! I really don't want to let go of summer...not just yet. 

It just seems so hard to think about September when I don't even know where August went.  I've had to mull on this for a few days as you can see, this post did not come out till many days after Labour Day.  The city is also abuzz with TIFF so September is definitely upon us.  Would love to say I'd be going to see a film, but just can't devote time at this point.

So onto things I can devote time to.  I recently have enjoyed a breakfast of smoked salmon on a baguette and cream cheese.  Add a cup of tea (green tea went well), and it's the start to a great day! Love the fact that it's such a simple breakfast but at the same time feels like such a treat.  These types of breakfasts just make the start of the day so great!  Check out this blog and this blog for breakfast ideas.  Each has a different feel to them but they are both mainly devoted to breakfast. 



I'm definitely thinking of cooking and baking things with produce from the farmers market.  I picked up some pea sprouts, white peaches and strawberries from the farmers market.  White peaches are not as common as the yellow kind but are really nice and sweet.  Hmmm, white peach mousse cake?  My little one loves to pick off the baby leaves of the pea shoots. The first time she did it she put it in her mouth but was not accustomed to eating raw greens. Like lettuce leaves, she'll chew and then spit it out.  But, she wanted to do it again and again. Maybe she can somehow taste the flavour but just can't chew through the raw leaves/stems just yet.  Would love to see her in a strawberry field!

I'm also thinking of cheese...like the etorki cheese I had a friends place some time ago...or the smoked gouda at a bbq, or gruyere!  Maybe it's this book I'm reading, Picnic in Provence, that I'm thinking about cheese.  If you know anything about France, you know that cheese is loved very much and is an integral part of French cuisine and culture...so a book based in Provence most certainly refers to cheese numerous times.

 

So, September...I'm dreaming of simple yet indulgent breakfasts, eating some of my favourite cheeses and maybe trying new ones, and definitely enjoying the fruits of the season!

 

Fahrenheit Coffee - For Tea and Baked Goods?

Fahrenheit Coffee
120 Lombard Avenue
Toronto, ON M5A 4J6

Who goes to a popular coffee house and orders tea?!

Me...(I say quietly)
Well, I was actually looking to have a ginger molasses cookie.

Huh?!  (Would be the response of most people.)

Yes, I've been seeing ginger molasses cookies at a lot of cafes and started to have a craving.  I tried to bake some in the morning, but I'm either a truly bad baker or the recipe I found online was not quite right...

Anyway, I wanted a cookie and of course going to a coffee house, it seems a little weird to just buy a cookie so I ordered a drink.  I wasn't in the mood for something strong like coffee so got a Sencha Tea Latte.  The milk was nice and foamy and I really enjoyed it (the tea was okay too). But, don't expect any latte art, cause well, I don't think it can be done in tea.  Overall, a nice beverage.

This makes me want to buy my own milk frother, the expensive over a hundred dollar kind.  It's actually been on my wish list for some time, but it is another gadget I just don't have the space for...and let's face it...I'd probably only use it a few times a month.

So, aside from the tea latte, I got a scone.

What?!  Thought you were looking for a ginger molasses cookie?

Yes, well, they ran out when I went (I hear laughter somewhere)...so since I was in the mood for a baked good, I got a white chocolate cranberry scone.  Not much white chocolate but very buttery!  It's quite different from other scones I've had in that the texture is different and it seems double baked.  Before they served it to me they also heated it up in their oven which was nice.

Space is small so this is not a place to linger/chat/work.  Maybe during off peak hours you can stay a bit to chat especially since there are a few items that are only served in-house, but this is more of a to-go kind of place.  Baristas are nice and you do feel like they want to be there.

Although I didn't get the coffee, looking at other people's drinks, they look well made.  If you like tea lattes, this is also a good place to go.  Ginger molasses cookies...I'll have to let you know another day.

  

 

Week 35 Baking: Buckwheat Strawberry Shortcakes

I needed something fast to bake and instantly thought of these buckwheat shortcakes from the book Pure Desserts. Combining a few simple ingredients, flour, buckwheat flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, and cream; baking in a 425 degree oven yields 9 lovely little shortcakes...great on their own when right out of the oven or of course, with strawberries and cream.

I picked up these strawberries from the farmers market.  (Gosh, I really need to take a course in food plating or food styling...the strawberries look so awkward!) Quite surprised to see strawberries still around and the seller at the Thames Farm Stand told me that they are a varietal that they can harvest well into the fall.  After doing a bit of research I found that these strawberries are likely an "everbearing" varietal.  They were small but sweet, soooo good!  Too bad, there are bound to be several that are overripe and bruised.  Here is a short video by the Ontario Berry Growers Association on how the "everbearing" or "day-neutral" strawberries are grown here in Ontario.  Hmmm, I just might have to make a fall strawberry picking trip!

Book Review: The Food of Taiwan by Cathy Erway

Pork Meat Sauce over Rice (Lu Rou Fan) 滷肉飯

If you know me, you know I love Taiwanese food and of course, when I first heard that this book was going to be published, I knew I had to get it! This is Cathy Erway's second published book, but first cookbook (although I think her first book had some recipes).   I miss the food in Taiwan and this gave me the motivation to make some of the dishes that I crave. 

The book contains 100 recipes, many are simple traditional dishes that you'd find at many local restaurants in Taiwan and some staple night market dishes as well. Some dishes have origins from China (as many people in Taiwan have ancestry from China), but have become more of a local dish over the years.  Erway does note in the book that she had to keep asking herself" what makes the dish distinctly Taiwanese?  Meaning, not something that's merely a riff or extension of something you'd find in some part of mainland China, nor an attempt at something from an even more far-flung locale".  I like this about her book as she really does attempt to showcase many dishes that would be considered Taiwanese.  She briefly looks at how social factors have led to the formation of Taiwanese cuisine as well as overseas influences.

It's not an indepth look at Taiwanese culture and cuisine, but does touch on many significant areas that gives some good background info about Taiwan.

The recipes I tried:

Pan-Fried Rice Noodles with Pork and Vegetables (Chao Mi Fen) 炒米粉
Noodles with Minced Pork and Fermented Bean Sauce (Zha Jiang Mian) 炸醬麵
Pork Meat Sauce over Rice (Lu Rou Fan) 滷肉飯
Three Cup Chicken (San Bei Ji) 三杯雞
Mochi (Ma Ji) 麻糬 - this was actually filled with peanut but I didn't use peanut (for this recipe, I have made a comment about it here)

There are still so many recipes that I'm interested in making (like one for Pepper Pork Buns (Hu Jiao Bing 胡椒餅) but just haven't had the time.


What I liked...

- Lots of interesting recipes
- Recipes aren't altered to cater to western palates but does try to present recipes where ingredients could be easily purchased in North America. 
- Each recipe is introduced with a little info or personal story
- A range of recipes from very easy recipes to more challenging ones
- Summarizes the food in Taiwan and the people very well


What could be improved...

- I wanted to love the book and find nothing that I could constructively critique, but there was something that I was unfortunately surprised to find...a number of the dishes I tried seemed too salty.  Maybe it is the brand of soy sauce I used but I had to reduce the quantity of soy sauce (by a quarter)for almost all the recipes I tried except one, the fried rice noodles "chao mi fen".  I used a Lee Kum Kee Soy Sauce but I think in Taiwan, a popular brand is Kimlan which I've used in the past.  This might be a less salty soy sauce.  Aside from this, the recipes were great in terms of method and other ingredients.

- There other thing I want to comment on is the small section on tea.  Taiwan is famous for tea, particularly oolong tea and the term "fermented"is used in the book instead of oxidized.  I don't believe this is Erway's error as I've seen the use of the word "fermented" in text from Taiwan.  Fermenting is a different process and this term was erroneously used in the past to describe the oxidation process that occurs when oolong (and red/black) tea is made.  So, some people will still use fermenting to describe the processing of tea.

Noodles with Minced Pork and Fermented Bean Sauce (Zha Jiang Mian) 炸醬麵

Three Cup Chicken (San Bei Ji) 三杯雞 (I forgot to take a picture right after cooking so you'll have to settle for this one)

Pan-Fried Rice Noodles with Pork and Vegetables (Chao Mi Fen) 炒米粉

Overall, I think this book is well written and does deliver on pretty authentic recipes.  Except for the quantity of soy sauce, all the other measurements were pretty good and the instructions were great.  I know that there are some foods that just can't be replicated exactly, especially when it comes to freshness of ingredients, but I think most people will find at least a few recipes that will become standard dishes in their home.

Rose City Kitchen - Middle Eastern Lunch

Rose City Kitchen (RCK)
36 Toronto Street
Toronto, Canada M5C 2C5
T: 416-306-0440
This location is only open M-F (11am - 6pm)
http://www.rosecitykitchen.com/

Yum!!  Saw some pics of this place on Zomato (the Queen St. location) and knew there was one near work so I tried it out last week and it's a pretty good lunch box!  I originally wanted the steak but they ran out, so I tried halloumi cheese instead.

I got the Egyptian box which consists of a bed of brown rice, topped with red cabbage, eggplant/chickpea/date puree, corn, tomatoes, and your choice of protein.  The eggplant puree was slightly sweet and went well with the other items in the box.  It was a quite a balanced box in terms of nutrition as well.  The portion might seem small, but it actullay turned out to be filling enough.  (But I'm thinking of some men I know that would need an extra sandwich or side.)  I've mentioned before that I don't usually buy lunch on weekdays, but there are days when you just don't have the time or energy to make a healthy lunch and RCK does a good job at filling the need.



Note: price of the box meal I got $10, includes the tax.

This was my first time trying halloumi but I've heard good things about it, especially that it has a unique texture and it can be grilled so it can be an easy vegetarian substitute.  Personally, I thought it was okay...I'm all for different textures but I guess I prefer hard cheeses like gruyere, soft ones like unripened goat cheese, cheddar anything, and of course a melty baked brie is devine.  The halloumi was salty which balanced out the slightly sweet eggplant puree and initally feels like you might be biting into something like meat but I guess it ends there.  There wasn't a creamy mouthfeel afterwards like other cheeses and doesn't have the texture of meat, so to me I'd eat it but it wouldn't be something I'd crave.

Rose petal hot sauce and harissa ketchup are available if you need a bit more kick to your meal. And I'd definitely recommend the harissa ketchup on halloumi.  Several long communal tables are available for you to eat at which is nice.

I'd definitely go back to try their falafel and other boxes, but just have to go earlier to get that steak!

  

 



ZenQ - Grass Jelly Dessert to Cool You Down

ZenQ

1076-8333 Kennedy Rd (The Square at Langham Mall)

Markham, ON L3R 4P8

1-855-999-ZENQ (9367)

It‘s been quite a hot and humid weekend in Toronto so I was craving some cold dessert.  Initially, I was thinking shaved ice and ZenQ had a pretty good selection of flavours that I'd be interested in (i.e. black sesame, milk tea, and matcha flavoured).  I‘ve only had the milk teas at ZenQ in North York so was interested in trying their desserts.  Instead of shaved ice, I ended up getting a grass jelly dessert plate with red bean, tapioca pearls, mochi, and grass jelly ice.  (Also, a side of ice cream was an additional dollar.)

The grass jelly was smooth and cooling as expected and was a very good portion size.  Quite enjoyed it; just what I needed. This dessert is not that sweet and they don't give you a side of sugar syrup like some other places so be aware of this, it's not going to statisfy a sweet tooth.  I think the only disappointing part was I was hoping the 3 flavoured mochi would be a little more distinct in their flavours.  I know taro and sweet potato are harder to taste, but matcha should have been easier.  Despite this, still would recommend the grass jelly here.

Decor is bright and modern with a mix of seating that includes a couple of booths.  (Noticed one high chair for parents with toddlers.)

Haven‘t tried the meals here yet but their special combos look pretty good, $9 for food and a drink between 12pm - 9pm.  Next time!