Universal grill

Interior of universal grill. taken from their website

As a firm advocate of breakfast, nothing excites me more than Sunday brunch with good friends. Yesterday I had the delight of trying a new spot - Universal Grill, at 1071 Shaw Street in Toronto.  Even though it only seats about 35-40, the wait was less than 30 minutes - which is huge for anyone that knows the typical toronto brunch scene.  It's not your 'less than $10 greasy spoon', BUT the food is, well...not greasy, and your tummy leaves (very) happily satisfied. I had the house cured salmon and eggs on toast and it was PERFECT. Sometimes smoked salmon leaves a real fishy taste in your mouth, but these lox were succulently sweet and not overpowering.

Cappuccino to start

Special - Scrambled Eggies: house cured salmon on an omlette, with spuds and toast ($13) (Mine!)

Omelette of the day ($11)

Huevos Rancheros ($12)

Be sure to check out the "Specials" Chalkboard behind the counter, that's where I found my heavenly entree. Or, if you're a huge nerd like me, you can look up the Specials on their website which they update daily (extra points).  Oh, also! Do you like mussels and Tuesdays? Every Tuesday the price you pay for mussels is the same as the time you order (5:00 PM = $5, etc.). 

Soo.. if you're bored of the same old sunday grub and want a new hidden gem to try, head to Universal Grill. If you aren't looking for it, you'll probably miss it.  Right on the corner of Shaw and Dupont, keep your eyes open for the bright blue building (or the awesome patio if it's summer).

Happy Monday!

A.C

Eden on the Lakeshore

As you can clearly see, the view from outside Eden Trattoria on the Lakeshore definitely makes the visit worthwhile, especially on a clear night. I'm not one to give "bad" reviews of restaurants, and Eden was by no means bad, but I think it's fair to say I was not overly impressed with the meal. I had no complaints with the calamari and chicken parmigiana - they were great. But even though you can decorate your pizza with a whole whack of different toppings, I didn't really enjoy the final product. I found the crust too thick, and the sauce too wet, so most of the toppings would fall off when you picked up a slice. That being said, I'm a pretty picky pizza-eater as my family creates a masterpiece that could rival any pizzeria in the city.  I think the ambiance is Eden's real selling point - it has a spectacular view and a great patio so I would come back for drinks and appetizers.  I also got a $100 parking ticket (yes, ONE HUNDRED dollars) which may have left a sour taste in my mouth in addition to the meal, so watch for that if you're parking on the Lakeshore.

Freshly Battered Calamari and Shrimp - $13.99

Large personal pizza with extra toppings - $17.50

Only half with hot peppers

Chicken Breast Parmigiana -$15.99

Happy Thursday!

A.C

London - An indian diner

For those that don't know, London is surprisingly famous for its indian cuisine. After browsing the web and scouring magazine ads for numerous overpriced and "touristy" dining spots, we took the advice of our hotel bellhop and headed to a small spot close by called "The Indian Diner" (good luck trying to find that). Although we were slightly hesitant to stay as we entered THE tiniest little restaurant filled to the brim with customers (mainly business men still suited up), we had no regrets after this authentic indian meal. Unfortunately, I can't remember what each dish was called, and since we were served about 8 times, you'll have to bear with my choppy food descriptions.

Indian beer - it's very smooth

Poppadoms! (aka giant rice cake)

Awesome stuff you put on the poppadoms

Beef and salad and a fried potato thing

Vegetables and meat and lentils

Noms and naan 

Stuffed..

Despite feeling full to the brim with different meat and vegetable mishmashes and sauces, it was one of my most memorable nights in London. Now on to finding something just as good in Toronto......any suggestions?

Happy Tuesday everyone!

A.C

Hadley's

Second only to those in the Junction, College/Ossington eateries are among my favourite in Toronto. There's something about finding that hole-in-the-wall diner that makes the best grilled cheese you've ever had, or a tiny storefront selling only specialty cheeses. A while ago, my sister and I and stopped in at Hadley's for a pre-concert bite. Hadley's, located at 940 College St. is likely best known as a smokehouse, delivering comfort food favourites all made on-site with fresh, local ingredients. You won't find any foie gras or beef bourguingnon here but tender ribs, hearty sandwiches, and flavourful salads are all over this menu. We decided to share our entire order, but looking back I think we could have handled an entree each pretty easily.  

I opted for a Smokin' Caesar, but their martini menu
was surprisngly impressive

Pulled pork sandwich and side of fries ($10)

Tender pulled pork shoulder with coleslaw on a Portugese bun

Green Goddess Salad ($9)

Romaine lettuce, tomatoes, bacon, and parmesan cheese with a  dressing
of avocado, basil and olive oil

We did alright.

As a rule of thumb, food bloggers rarely visit the same place twice but I can safely say that Hadley's will be a repeat offender for me (gasp). And next time, no splitting.

Happy Tuesday!
A.C

Miami restaurant numéro très - Carpaccio

On our last night out in Miami we ventured up to beautiful Bal Harbour Shops, just a 20 minute cab ride from South Beach. I had heard great things about Carpaccio, so we decided to give it a whirl. They don't take reservations and the line was fairly long, but luckily it moved quickly.  What a perfect way to spend our last night! The server was so accommodating and the menu was extremely flexible - don't want a cream sauce? They can change it to a red. Don't want linguine? Try penne instead. Carpaccio was truly a dining experience worth the drive and the line- you can't beat fresh, homemade food paired with a vibrant, social atmosphere.

  

Quattro Stagioni pizza - eggplant, spinach, mozzareella cheese,

red peppers, and mushrooms

   

Beef carpaccio with shaved parmesan and arugula

Pennette a la Harry's Bar - Penne with garlic, oil, fresh spinach,

sundried tomatoes, pine nuts, with tomato sauce and parmigiano cheese

Pasta Selvaggio - Linguine in garlic and oil, topped with 3 types of 
mushrooms, spinach, sundried tomatoes, and mozzarella

Tortellini Aurora - Rounded pasta filled with veal in a cream sauce

Grilled prawns with a side of spaghetti in a tomato basil sauce

Back in Toronto now, just in time for a snow/slush storm and 0 degrees weather. *sighhh..

Happy Tuesday!

A.C

Miami restaurant numéro due - Maya Tapas and Grill

On our second night out in Miami we went looking for something different and, preferably, non-italian (had a slight pasta overload from the night before). Cue Maya Tapas and Grill, offering an international cuisine with some Spanish/Argentinian fusion in their menu. Tapas are a Spanish style dish, usually consisting of hot or cold appetizer-esque plates that can be shared amongst the table.  They're great if you  aren't sure what to order and want to try a little bit of everything. Personally, I think tapas is better for two people (read: date night) as each order is usually fairly small and it can get complicated with bigger crowds, but I think we did just fine.....

Chorizo Argentino, grilled with homemade chimchurri
(Incredible taste made up for poor presentation)

Avocado salad with prosciutto and cilantro

Fish special - Grouper on a bed of mashed potatoes

Spaghettini with tomato, garlic, and basil sauce

Baked brie with honey and walnuts

Smoked salmon and arugula salad

All that and a pitcher of their home made sangria...perfecto!

Happy Sunday!

A.C

Miami restaurant numero uno - Quattro

Okay, I know I've been M.I.A for a while, but I swear there is a legitimate reason for my abscence. It's just...I've been extremely distracted by the glorious weather, fantastic shopping, and indescribable dining experiences down in South Beach, Miami. I spent the past week at the oceanfront Shelborne Hotel, right on Collins Ave. in the heart of the Art Deco district. Not only did we have amazing weather (I have the tan lines to prove it) but I ate myself silly at some truly awesome restaurants (I have the belly to prove it). One of these was Quattro Gastronomia Italiana -  authentic Northern Italian cuisine, right on South Beach's stylish Lincoln Road. For those that haven't had an opportunity to visit South Beach yet, Lincoln Road is the go-to spot for quick and tasty dining. Restaurants literally line the entire street, which is pretty overwhelming when deciding where to eat for the night. Quattro is a perfect choice if you're looking for a delectable Italian meal with a relaxed, but sophisticated ambiance.  Identical twin chef's Nicola and Fabrizio make sure that everything on the menu is made fresh daily (with ingredients especially imported from Italy) and, as you can see from what we ordered, they specialize in their unique and flavourful pasta dishes. Following a prosciutto and mozzarella charcuterie board, here's what my family decided on for their mains:

Tri-coloured mushroom ravioli with a porcini truffle sauce

Home-made fontina (a soft Italian cheese made from cow's milk) 

ravioli with white truffle oil

Beef ravioli with a braised beef sauce

Strozzapreti (a thick, elongated pasta) with tomatos, 

spinach and pine nuts

Each of these pasta's tasted completely different, but were all delicious in their own way. The fontina cheese ravioli was my favourite - I'm not usually a big fan of cream, but it was really light and didn't have that "rich" taste you can get from most cream sauces.  Surprisingly, the beef ravioli was also very well done. I thought it would be hard to combine beef into a pasta without making it taste too "meaty", but they do a really great job of making their dishes savoury, without over-doing it. If you're heading down south, I would definitely recommend Quattro for some authentic Italian!

More photos to come from the rest of the trip!

A.C

The beet organic cafe

Welcome to The Beet Organic Cafe! Offering a taste of local, organic, and healthy eating to Toronto's Junction neighbourhood since 2008. Located at 2945 Dundas Street West, this corner street shop is a great find if you're looking for something fresh and wholesome to satisfy your tastebuds.  I ventured out to the Beet a few weeks ago with some friends, and was so impressed with both the service and quality of the food. Our server made too much of a smoothie I ordered, so our table got an extra glass. Their specials are posted online daily, and feature whatever locally grown and/or organic ingredients they can get their hands on. Next time I want to stay for dessert...I mean when else am I going to make Vegan Kamut Ginger Cookies??

12 oz "True Blue" smooth, blueberry, fair trade bananna - comes in soy,

almond, skim or whole milk

"Farm Fresh Eggs"  - 2 local organic eggs, cheddar cheese and 

spinach on a whole wheat english muffin, side of fresh fruit

Buenos Dios Wrap (avocado, spicy black bean, pico de gallo, and raw 

Quebec cheddar) and Soup du Jour

To be honest, can't quite remember what this was, but I'm almost positive

it's the "Huevos Rancheros" - 2 baked eggs with raw Quebec cheddar, sweet 

potato mash, topped with sour cream and avocado

If that doesn't win you over, owners Michelle Vella and Heather Osler have really gone over the top by creating this cafe in the most eco-friendly way possible - the Beet was constructed using recyclable materials, from flooring to cabinetry, and all of their packaging is 100% biodegradable. So if you're ever in the area (or even if you're not), drop in to the Beet and enjoy one of their many delightful dishes. (They have an organic wine and beer menu too..) 

Happy Monday!

A.C