Comments for Taste T.O. - Food & Drink In Toronto

Comment on Sunday Brunch – Fire on the East Side by Dean Tudor

Dean Tudor — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:00:37 +0000

Have you ever looked into doing an article or series on Sunday Brunch Buffets?

Comment on Tasting T.O. with John Gundy by adam

adam — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:25:22 +0000

ever had the fried chicken dumplings from the dumpling house in chinatown? now thats great inexpensive good eats
What about mexican? i know the standard burrito (burrito boys, etc.) places in the city but want to find some authentic mexican?
I know Hernando hideaway and Chimichongas at yonge and eg but other than that im sort of at a loss.
thoughts?

Comment on What’s Cooking – Tuesday, March 16th by Dana McCauley

Dana McCauley — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 02:17:35 +0000

Sheryl, so all of my blog readers want to come to your house to have a beer and chocolate tasting. What time should we arrive.

Comment on Beer of the Week – Alexander Keith’s Light Ale by Teena in Toronto

Teena in Toronto — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 01:28:25 +0000

As a Maritimer, I'm glad it's made it's way to Toronto :)

Comment on Sunday Brunch – Fire on the East Side by Japhet

Japhet — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 09:38:26 +0000

That poutine looks amazing!

Comment on Sunday Brunch – Fire on the East Side by Andrea

Andrea — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:27:59 +0000

For four years, last summer, I lived next door. I didn't visit nearly as often as intended.

Of course I liked its proximity to my apartment. It worked for my tendency to be late and, in theory, appropriate for stumbling home from cheap martini nights - though the stumbling more often started at Bar Volo.

The food was usually quite good. I appreciated the creativity of the menu and although I appreciate that the menu changes regularly, was sad when one such change removed my beloved baked brie.

I like the atmosphere and the charming and efficient wait staff who bring water without asking (I wonder if the guy who looks like Simon Cowell still works there). The patio is good for people watching and has heaters.

Fire on the East Side was one of the places I liked to suggest to dates. It seemed like a good first date place because I was comfortable there and if the date didn't work out I could get home quickly and without the need to get into his car or onto public transit. A few years ago I celebrated a birthday there. Two of my guests were friends that I'd previously dated. I realized during dinner that my first dates with both of them happened at that restaurant when I turned to one, said “Our first date was here!” and then, realizing it, turned to the other friend and said, “And ours!”

It's also worth warning people against wearing high heels on the metal stairs going down to the bathroom. I was always afraid that someone would get a heel caught and take a tumble.

Looking at the menu, I see it's changed. I think I need to visit again.

Comment on T.O. Tidbits – Sunday, March 14th by citypainter

citypainter — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:44:40 +0000

Very sad about Little Tibet. It was always a reliable quiet spot for a good lunch, and I loved those momos. Simple but they always hit the spot.

Comment on What’s Cooking – Friday, March 12th by Senoj Idnas

Senoj Idnas — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 22:04:06 +0000

I can only eat a half sandwich there ,anyway. They're huge. And the cheese doesn't really add to the sandwich so you can skip it and skip its calories and sodium. Not to mention the coke. Plain old water washes these babies down best, without the bloating.

Comment on A Pinot Noir Primer by Moon over Martinborough

Moon over Martinborough — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 19:03:57 +0000

Great article. Thanks. I've only recently fallen in love with Pinot Noir. I'm an American based in Martinborough, NZ, which is a region that put NZ Pinot Noir on the global wine map. Recently I had a tour of Larry McKenna's Escarpment Vineyard and got a sneak peak at tasting their yet-to-be-released 2010 Pinot Noirs. Fantastic stuff.

Comment on What’s Cooking – Friday, March 12th by Dean Tudor

Dean Tudor — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:32:15 +0000

Well, the veal sandwich article DID say that two people could split the sandwich, and that you COULD ask for double veggies (how much more does it cost?) --

and I guess that you could also only eat on odd-numbered days...;-)

The secret word today is: apple

Comment on Sobering Up at the CRFA Show by Sheryl Kirby

Sheryl Kirby — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:19:44 +0000

Hey Chris, that's very true. You guys need to come up with a local, sustainable, battered and fried sample of some sort to lure people in.

I really don't get where there isn't more representation from farmers and primary producers at this show - it all starts with produce initially, you would think. Even a section of CSA farmers for restaurants interested in that business model. Chefs complain so much about how hard it is to find the producers, you would think a show like this would be a perfect place for chefs and farmers to network and connect. Instead, it takes smaller organizations like yours to help pair people up.

Comment on Marchtoberfest Hits the Spaten at Bier Markt by Greg Clow

Greg Clow — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:40:56 +0000

Sorry to hear about your experience at Bier Markt, Janice. Upselling is of course a common practice with waiters, sommeliers, etc., but there's a way to do it without making the customer feel uncomfortable. It's obviously too late to do anything about this particular case, but if you feel the same way at any meal out in the future, I'd suggest speaking to the manager, or contacting the restaurant afterward to raise concerns. Any restaurant that takes the experience of their customers seriously will want to know about this sort of thing.

Comment on Sobering Up at the CRFA Show by Chris Alward

Chris Alward — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:34:07 +0000

Good take on this show, Sheryl. Having participated twice now, the most disheartening thing is that even though they claim that local food and sustainability are the two top trends in foodservice, these dedicated areas (local food pavillion and centre for sustainability) get buried in the lowest traffic areas of the room.

Chris Alward
Local Food Plus

Comment on Lady Marmalade by Sheryl Kirby

Sheryl Kirby — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:21:04 +0000

Thanks Sarah. Your recap of last year (2008) inspired me to attend. And I had a wonderful time. Congratulations again on your win!

Comment on Marchtoberfest Hits the Spaten at Bier Markt by janice

janice — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:37:04 +0000

it's great to hear that restaurants are trying to cater to the beer drinkers and have an interesting menu. i went to bier markt (esplanade location) during their game menu last winter and i had the worst waiter imaginable. he was doing his job of pushing the special menu but would push the most expensive entree. when each person placed their order, the waiter would automatically suggest another more expensive entree. he was not helpful at all and simply undermined every choice we made. i would think twice about going to bier markt after this.