playdate

wine not

One of my favorite places to eat in Niagara-on-the-lake is Hillebrand.
I've been going for years, and every visit, with the exception of one time last summer was an excellent dining experience.
We had the misfortune of being served by a waitress who would be better suited to be working in a burger joint or a truck stop than at one of Canada's nicest wineries. I won't go into too much negative detail, other than what should have been a great meal wasn't and only because of the poor service. But the food has always been excellent.
But it's a new summer and the place has been freshly renovated.
Chef frank Dodd originally hailing from the U.K. is now running the show.
There's an enviable wine cellar in a glass display right as you walk in the front door. They bring diners inside to sample specific bottles, which I thought was a nice touch.

sinking ships

Calling all restaurateurs in need of finding the absolute perfect money making location for a new venture!
thousands and thousands of locals and tourists alike visit and lots of foot traffic annually!
beautiful views!
Tons of new condo developments underway to ensure a whole new roster of potential customers who are cut off from the rest of the city by the unsightly gardiner expressway!
Loads of summer time festivals to draw even more potential hungry & thirsty customers!

Love-Lee

One of my favorite places to go for a hip, yet informal dinner out is Lee.
Nothing against Susur next door, which is Susur Lee's original restaurant, but I must say, I really enjoy the more lively yet casual approach to dining at Lee. The menu is sort of a tapas style and each dish is meant for sharing.
But after you try the Spicy Crisp Tofu with a wildflower honey & chili soy glaze and mushroom & pepper compote or the Caramelized Black Cod with Cantonese preserves and miso mustard you might not want to share.
Both dishes are amazing.
The Broccoli Salad with crispy bacon, puffed rice & Kung Pao Dressing is also really good, but is a great dish to share as it's a lot of broccoli for one person.
If you've never been before, one of the most popular dishes is the Singaporean Slaw which is really fun and really tasty.

have a cava

If I could, I would go out for lunch far more often than I do. It's such a treat, and a great way to catch up with a girlfriend and relax in the middle of the afternoon. Lucky for me, I had that opportunity yesterday and decided to take my gal pal jb for a little birthday lunch. We ended up at Cava on 1560 Yonge st. I had been before, but only for dinner, and I was impressed. But never for lunch.

early bird catches a table

One of the great things about having a child who wakes up somewhere between 5 and 6 a.m. on the weekends, is that you can actually get stuff accomplished and maybe even get up and out the door in time for brunch without having to wait in line for a table.
(at least this is how I am trying to make myself feel better for my sorry ass being prematurely ripped from bed every morning)
Before we had Lulu we used to eat out for brunch quite a bit. But I have to admit, it did get to a point where I was so hungry by the time we got a table, and finally got served, that I actually got tired of going out for brunch all together.
Instead I felt it was much easier (and cheaper) to poach a couple of my own free-range eggs at home, with some Cobb's bread lightly toasted, a side of cumbrea's breakfast sausage and some greave's chili chutney on the side.
Then again, there is something to be said about letting someone else whip up a bit of breakie for you on  a Sunday morning.

congee wong is oh so right

Everyone usually has a favourite take-out chinese restaurant.
For me it's Congee Wong. Or Congee Star.
Both are worth the drive up north.
I remember the first time I saw congee.
It was at dim sum down town and it was in some large gloopy very unappetizing mess of a wooden soup container pushed around on a cart that no one was paying any attention to, as most people were waiting for the really good stuff to come around.

Tony de Luca

Chef Tony de Luca is a respected cookbook author as well as founding chef at Hillebrand Restaurant.
His new restaurant is located in the old town of Niagara-on-the-Lake in the Oban Inn.

So when Santa left me a $200 gift certificate in my stocking this past Christmas for dinner there, I was really looking forward to it.

Not only would I get the chance to dine somewhere new, but even better, it wouldn't cost a penny.

I spend a fair bit of time in Niagara On The Lake, and over the years  I've enjoyed many a pint at the old Oban Inn before it was redone and turned into what it is today.

the nose knows

If you are looking for a casual Italian styled a la carte restaurant, Gio Rana's really really nice restaurant is the place for you.
Otherwise known as Gio's, it's located in an old bank on the corner of Queen and Leslie st in the ever evolving East end.
There's no sign, just a large paper mache nose out front.
It's been around for a few years now (at this location) and has a pretty loyal following.
Us included.
The service is always entertaining and good & the atmosphere is upbeat and eclectic.
They actually just took over the space next door because of how busy it gets on the weekends.

Tried And True

I'm really happy to be a part of such a great group of fantastic writers.
Though I'm not technically a food writer,
I eat out a fair bit, and food is a real passion of mine.
I'm also quite picky.
At least when it comes to what & where I eat it.