saving grace cafe

Nestled in the heart of Little Portugal you will find the cutest, quaintest, and tastiest brunch spot you ever did see. Saving Grace cafe is easy to miss, so keep your eyes peeled for the faded sign on the window. Important note: if you're thinking of dragging yourself, and all the friends you went out with last night to SG on a Sunday between the hours of, oh, 12-2pm....just don't. Because you literally won't fit and probably won't be in the mood to wait, and thus your whole Saving Grace experience will be ruined. And no one wants that!

INSTEAD, I recommend coming here during the week (maybe you have the day off?!) or on a weekend where you can eat breakfast at a breakfast-y time (9-10 is fairly reasonable). Start off with a  very generously portioned $4 smoothie. Also, check out the 'Specials' listed clearly on the chalkboard. Even though the french toast with caramelized bananas is ranted and raved about on every blog/website I've seen, we all opted for a more egg- oriented dishes. 

there's something oddly comforting about mismatched coffee cups

Chorizo frittata with mushrooms and peas

Spinach and goat cheese omelette

Corn cakes, poached eggs, tomato chutney, side greens (Special!)

Brunch at Saving Grace is like going to visit your cool, hipster friend's apartment that's had all its furniture replaced with tables and chairs.  Absolutely no more than 25 people fit in here at one time, making the whole experience comforting, cozy, and casual. The food is delicious, the people are happy, and the times are good. 

Come soon. (but not too late in the day).

Happy Wednesday!

A.C

Stuffed cremini mushrooms

The holidays are a special time of togetherness, celebrations, and of course, happy tummy's. Quick and tasty appetizers are perfect for sharing a drink (or four) around the fire...and if you're as into Christmas as I am, perhaps a giant tree elaborately decorated with red and gold ornaments will also be in this picture. This recipe for stuffed cremini mushrooms, found here, is courtesy of a Williams and Sonoma cookbook circa 2008. These little cups of mouthwatering happiness are seriously addicting...and the fact that they look über fancy is just an added bonus.

What you need:

• Fresh cremini or white button mushrooms, brushed clean
• 2 tbsp fresh bread crumbs
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh flat leaf parsley
• 1 tsp minced fresh sage
• 1 large garlic clove, finely chopped
• 3 oz serrano ham or prosciutto, finely chopped
• 3 tbsp creme fraiche or sour cream
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper
• 2 tbsp dry white wine or vermouth
• 2 tbsp grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese (or more...)

What you do:

1. Preheat an oven to 400°F.  Lightly oil 1 heavy baking dish, or 2 large enough to accommodate the mushrooms snugly in a single layer.

3. Trim off the rough base of each mushroom stem, then remove the stems and chop finely. 

4. In a large bowl, combine the chopped stems, the bread crumbs, parsley, sage, garlic, ham, 3 tablespoons crème fraîche, and the salt and pepper. Mix together thoroughly. The mixture should hold together in clumps. If it seems dry, mix in another 1 to 2 teaspoon of crème fraîche.

5. Put the mushroom caps, stem sides up, in a steamer basket set over simmering water. Cover and steam until tender and glossy, about 3 minutes. Lift out the basket, allowing any moisture to drain, and let cool.

6. Spoon 1 generous teaspoon of the ham mixture onto the stem side of each mushroom cap and smooth it into an even, rounded mound. Place the mushrooms, stuffing side up, in the prepared baking dish.

7. Drizzle the wine around the edges of the dish and sprinkle each cap with about 1/8 teaspoon of the cheese. Bake, uncovered, until golden, about 30 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes, garnish with cheese and serve warm or at room temperature.

Feel free to experiment with the spices, herbs, and just the ingredient quantities in general. I missed out on the sage and possssibly overloaded on the cheese...but as if that's ever a problem.

Anyone else wishing for a White Christmas?

Happy Tuesday!

A.C

Spaghetti alla carbonara

Pasta is my comfort food.  It makes me happy when I'm feeling sad, calm when I'm feeling stressed, and always hits the spot when I'm meandering through the fridge searching for that late night snack. Hot, cold, or 2 days old - the stuff never tastes bad!  One of my all-time favourites since I was little has been 'spaghetti all carbonara'. Eggs and bacon, in pasta. It's like breakfast pasta (if something exists that's more exciting than this, absolutely let me know). I've been trying to find the perfect recipe and I think Nigella Lawson has really brought out a winner.  She manages a perfect balance between English and Italian cuisine - parmesan cheese and pancetta paired with whole eggs and a little bit of cream. You can find the full recipe here, its from her cookbook "Feast". (Which, by the way, is pretty damn amazing if you are struggling with an upcoming dinner event). 

What you need

• 500 g spaghetti
• 275 g pancetta
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 60 ml white wine (dry)
• 4 medium eggs
• 50 g freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 60 ml double cream (I used half and half)
• 1 sprinkle of nutmeg

Fresh pancetta, with the rind off.

Dice the pancetta into small cubes.

Using a pan that will fit the pasta later, cook the pancetta on low heat with a bit of minced garlic.

Cook until the pancetta is crispy, not crunchy.

Add the wine, let it bubble away the alcohol for a few minutes, then take the pan off the heat.

Mix eggs, cream, cheese, and pepper in a bowl. don't overbeat the eggs - just lightly stir them.

Cook the pasta al dente. Remove about 1 cup of pasta water. Put the other pan, the one with the pancetta, on the heat and add the drained pasta, tossing well to coat with the syrupy bacon mixture. Add some of the pasta water to lubricate if needed.

Take the pan off the heat (again), and ad the eggs and cheese mixture, tossing everything to mix. Grind over some pepper, grate over some nutmeg, and dig in.

What's your favourite pasta? If you don't have one....eat more pasta.

Happy Thursday!

A.C

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