Posted by Sheryl Kirby in news and media, rag round-up on April 12, 2007 at 5:18 pm
I've been sick as a dog this week, and have found myself sitting in front of the TV more than normal, tuned mostly to HGTV or W (it was stomach flu, so The Food Network wasn't sitting so well) and mostly watching home renovation or real estate shows (because they don't rot my brain quite as much as Springer). It's enough to cement my decision to remain a life-long renter, I'll tell ya. One show that continues to fascinate is Restaurant Makeover and it seems I'm not the only one tuning in to see the abuse heaped on poor Igor the foreman. Over at NOW this week they've got three reviews of restaurants featured on the show.
Steven Davey starts us off with Phil's BBQ where updates to the menu are ignored and changes made by the designer are reversed upon her departure. Graham Duncan visits recently-renoed Reliable Fish and Chips where the owners have also not added most of the updates to the menu:
Four Seasons executive chef Lynn Crawford was brought in to revamp his fishy lineup, but declared his wares above reproach. However, she didn't like Hung's retro diner coleslaw, thinking it needed sour cream and paprika for extra kick, and proposed he add lobster roll and Manhattan chowder to the deep-fried menu. Did he take her culinary advice?
"Er, no," shrugs Hung. "At the price points I'd have to sell them at, no one would order them."
Duncan also visits Silk Road where, yet again, suggested changes were not followed, in this case, perhaps to the detriment of the business. And in his Drink Up column, Duncan offers up his favourite breakfast beer, to have while watching Corrie on Sunday mornings.
At Metro, Billy Munnelly gives his choice of best Alsac wine, while the wines of New Zealand and Australia as well as some of New Zealand's wine trends are featured in articles by Chris Atchison. Aonghus Kealy reviews some of the beers from Steelback Brewery after the fuss-up at the Ontario Brewing Awards and finds that they're not half bad.
At Eye, Alan A. Vernon and Denise Balkissoon (wait, where's Douloff??) enjoy outstanding Middle Eastern food at Tabule, a small pretty eatery at Yonge & Eglinton with a fine C.V. of experience that serves it well.
