TABULE

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2901 Bayview Avenue
North York, ON
Tabülè is a Middle Eastern chain restaurant in Toronto located on Queen Street East and Yonge Street, with their newest addition inside Bayview Village Shopping Centre. I had the pleasure a few weeks ago to preview the stunning new restaurant and enjoy a delightful meal of classic Tabülè dishes alongside co-owners as well as husband and wife, Chef Rony Goraichy and Diana Sideris. 
Palate-cleansing pickles, an assortment of olives, hot peppers, turnips and dill pickles, $2.
Sample Platter, $14.00, served with warm pita bread. 
Which consisted of Hümmus (chickpea purée, lebanese tahini sauce, fresh lemon juice & a touch of garlic), Babaganüj (puréed BBQ eggplant mixed with lebanese tahini, garlic and fresh lemon juice), and Labni homemade (Lebanese yogurt cheese mixed with garlic & topped off with za’atar). I was pleasantly surprised that my favourite dip would be the Labhi.

Tabülè (hand chopped parsley salad with whole wheat bulgur, tomatoes, onions and a hint of mint tossed in a light lemon & olive oil dressing).


Falafel gluten free vegetarian patties consisting of crushed chick peas, split fava, parsley, garlic, onions and spices served with tahini, $6.25.


Hallüm Salad with baby arugula, onions & seared hallüm cheese tossed together in a pomegranate dressing, $9.95. I absolutely love halloumi cheese so it was a no-brainer that I would love this salad. 

Fried cauliflower drizzled with tahini, $7.75. 

The Fried eggplant topped with a lemon garlic dressing, $6.50, was one of my favourite hot appetizers of the day. 
We got to sample a platter of grilled meats consisting of Tawük (grilled marinated chicken breast that is hormone and antibiotic free), Lahmeh (Ontario veal tenderloin), and Grilled Lamb Chops. Everything was served with rice and house salad, the rice was nicely flavoured and fluffy, I could be buckets of 

The star of the entrees were the lamb chops, Ontario lamb dry aged in-house grilled and seasoned to perfection. It was hard resisting thirds. 
Garlic Shrimp Entrée sautéed shrimp in a tomato garlic sauce, a little spicy, $19.95
We ended off the meal with some Middle Eastern tea and sweets.  Baklavas are bite-sized sweets made with phyllo pastry, honey, pistachio and cashews, $5.75. It was my first time trying Künafa Ashta (phyllo pastry layered with custard and topped off with rose water syrup), $6.95, at it was absolutely delicious. I am 900% sure I polished off the plate by myself and I would definitely revisit Tabülè just for this dessert alone.

The space is gorgeous and inviting with touches modern elegance and splashes of colour and gold all over, a super Instagramable room! The front of the restaurant has table seating as well, giving you the feeling of sitting on the patio without all the elements of the weather. The atmosphere, service, hospitality, food and drinks were amazing – I can’t wait to be back for a fancy relaxed meal.

Disclaimer: All food and drinks reviewed were provided complimentary. All opinions expressed below are wholly mine.

FRANK’S KITCHEN

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588 College Street, Toronto
When people ask me what my favourite restaurant in Toronto is and without flinching I tell them Frank’s Kitchen. I didn’t know casual fine dining actually existed, the atmosphere of the restaurant is relaxed but still classy. I’ve seen customers dine in shorts, suits, sandals, etc.
The service is outstanding, the servers are very knowledgeable, friendly and a tentative.
 
We started off with the daily complimentary amuse bouche, tomato bisque with a side of housemade focaccia & dip. The bread was lightly toasted, I enjoyed the small portion of starters so you don’t actually fill up on bread before your meal.
The daily appetizer special was the Deep Fried Squash Blossoms stuffed with Homemade Goat Cheese & Spinach. It was my first time having squash blossoms and they were delicious! Light and crispy with a creamy sweet and savoury filling. I would definitely order this again but it’s hard to find squash blossoms on menus because it’s such a seasonal item.
 
I also got the Kobe Beef Tartare with Fried Egg, Shaved Black truffles, Pickles and Guiness Mustard, $21. Look how beautiful the plating is. The truffles paired very well with the beef giving it an earthy element to the dish.  The pickled vegetables cut through the fattiness of the beef, I could eat this over and over again. The dish was also served with truffle brioche
The main courses were outstanding.
 
Catch of the Day: Salmon with lobster sauce, $26 & 12 oz Aged Beef Striploin with Shaved Truffles in a Shallot Jus with a side of Parmesan Frites, $40
The steak was perfectly cooked, the jus was flavourful without being too salty. It was everything anyone could want when ordering steak frites.

DIY RAMEN BURGER KIT

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It’s been a minute since I’ve posted here but I thought it would be fitting to start off my new found motivation with a post about a DIY Ramen Burger Kit created by Anothoni Chan, a self proclaimed ramen enthusiast.

Anthoni started blogging about ramen in 2012 and his ramen filled instagram feed in 2015, he’s had over 215 bowls! During that time he started experimenting with different ramen recipes and would post his results on his blog.  A few years ago the famous ramen burger took the world by storm but never quite made it to Toronto so Anthoni decided he would make his own. His ramen-loving followers loved the idea and kept asking how they could get their own, that’s how Anothoni’s DIY ramen burger kit came to be.

I’ve had the pleasure of getting my own DIY kit, Anothoni customized it to the flavours I enjoy most, I told him was that I liked Japanese & spicy food and this is what my kit consisted of:
2 ramen burger “buns”, shrimp tempera, cheese, over easy egg, spicy mayo and tempura sauce.

Everything in the kit is individually wrapped and Anothoni gives you instructions on how to reheat everything accordingly. The ramen “buns” had a new crunchy exterior while the middle of it stayed soft and chewy, I was surprised that the ramen stayed so crispy through packaging and travel time. The flavours went well together, I wish the spicy mayo was spicier but there’s nothing a little more sriracha can’t fix. The tempura sauce really kept the burger moist and flavourful.

I would love to see Anthoni come up with maybe 5 set ramen burger kits that people could order, maybe pull ideas from actual ramen combinations but I do love the idea that people can customize their kit.
As of right now Anonthi will do ramen giveaways through his Instagram account (so go follow him!) but he wants to start selling limited kits per month. He has no plans to open his own ramen burger shop anytime soon but is open to the idea of having a workshop so people can make their own at home. If you really want a burger you can place your order with him via anthoni.foodlab@gmail.com.

Thank you again Anthoni for letting me try the ramen burger!

KINKA IZAKAYA

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4775 Yonge Street, Unit 114
North York, ON


As of November 1st, 2015, the franchise agreement between Kinka Family Inc. and Kitanoya Marketing Corp ended which resulted in the Toronto Guu Izakaya locations being renamed to Kinka Izakaya. Formly known as Guu Izakaya, Kinka has been one of my favourite restaurants in Toronto. Last summer the they opened their third location in North York which makes all the uptown kids much happier.

Kinka North York is probably my favourite Kinka to visit, large floor to ceiling windows (which open out to the patio) gives the restaurant a nice airy atmosphere perfect for summer and winter alike.

Salmon Oshizushi (blowtorched Atlantic salmon pressed sushi) & The daily special of Deep Fried Okra. The Salmon Oshizushi is one of my favourite dishes to order at Kink North York (I think it’s exclusive only to this location). The smokiness from the blowtorch & the ginger and green onion garnish gives a nice contrast to the fatty salmon and soft lightly sweet rice.
It was my first time ordering the deep fried okra with matcha salt and I thought it was a bust, the batter was too thick and not crispy. I also couldn’t get the right ratio of matcha salt to okra, it would either be too bland or way too salty.

The Kinka Scotch Egg was also another daily special which I thought was fantastic, the sweet creamy sauce complimented the scotch egg perfectly.
Other favourites that are must tries are Scallop Sashimi Salmon Oshizushi and Takoyaki.

I love the Takowasabi (marinated octopus with wasabi stem) from Kinka.
There’s plenty of other favourites, I highly recommend visiting with a party of 3 – 4 people so you can order a variety of different dishes without having too much of one item.


The name “KINKA” means “Golden Flower” which symbolizes “Happiness” in Japanese. At KINKA IZAKAYA our mission is to serve each and everyone of our guests “happiness” with both our mouth-watering dishes and our highest quality service. This is why our friendly and energetic staff is an integral part of what makes KINKA IZAKAYA extraordinary and a cut above the rest.

GIACOMO’S

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355 Hanover Street Boston, MA

One of the most famous Italian restaurants in Boston. Past reviews have appointed Giacomo’s as one of Boston’s must visit tourist restaurant with horrible and rushed service but I firmly disagree. Giacomo’s doesn’t take reservations and people start lining up at 4:30pm for the restaurant to open at 5pm. The restaurant is tiny with tables extremely close together but I didn’t mind, I love seeing what other people are eating.




We started off with the small Calamari, $7. I loved the light batter that coated the rings and tentacles, the marinara sauce had a nice spice and tang to it. Even for a small I thought the portions were quite generous.


The Butternut Squash Ravioli (Diced Asparagus in a Prosciutto Mascarpone Cream sauce), $16. I can honestly say Giacomo’s has the best ravioli I’ve ever had. Even though it was in a cream sauce, the dish wasn’t heavy and it was a the perfect balance between sweet and savoury.

Shrimp & Scallop Spaghetti with Pesto Sauce, $16. What can I say? Everything about this dish was perfect, so simple but so well made.

I can’t wait to visit Boston again and visit one of my favourite restaurants!
I highly recommend going early before 5pm to get a seat!

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BELLE ISLE LOBSTER AND SEAFOOD

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1 South Main Street 
Winthrop, MA

Belle Isle is one of my favourite restaurants in Boston to get my lobster roll fix. The lobster roll is a little on the pricier side but it’s worth every penny. The seafood is always fresh and perfectly cooked. Belle Isle is located a few stops outside downtown Boston which is somewhat of a trek but easily accessible but the train.

Haddock with onion rings and chips, $14.99,  had a nice light batter without being too heavy or greasy. I really love Belle Isle’s coleslaw too.

The lobster roll is $23.99 and it comes with your choice of fries, onion rings, coleslaw or rice pilaf. The bun is nicely toasted and packed with fresh lobster meat both tail and claw. The lobster has a minimal coating of mayo and a squeeze of lemon juice, there are some lettuce for a crisp refreshing texture.

The crab cakes (not pictured), $13.99, were a little too salty for me. The plate comes with 3 large crab cakes, onion rings, fries and coleslaw.


Belle Isle renovated a few years ago from a dingy shack to a clean airy spacious restaurant with a beautiful view of Boston. Not only does Belle Isle sell cooked foods, they sell fresh seafood to take home.



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THE CHASE FISH & OYSTER

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10 Temperance Street, 5th Floor
Toronto, ON

The Chase was the only Winterlicious restaurant I attended this year and I was ecstatic, I’ve heard great things about the chase so at a $35 price point I thought it was a steal considering an entree can range from $25-60 a plate.

We started off with around of oyster shooters for the table, it was fresh and light without an overly alcholic-y aftertaste. It was a perfect way to start off a great meal.

I started off with the Salmon Tartar (Horseradish Crème Fraiche, Beet Relish, Crispy Capers). I loved everything about this dish, from the delicate salmon to the sweet beets and the salty capers. Everything was perfectly balanced and the lightly toasted bread was a great vessel without being overly crunchy.

The Lobster & Tomato Bisque (Brandy & Green Peppercorn Cream) was the other appetizer that was one of the other choices. The soup was creamy and full of flavour but I felt like it was more like a tomato bisque with chunks of lobster.


The Pan Seared Arctic Char (Potato Rosti, Braised Red Cabbage, Caramelized Apple, Chestnut) was hands down the favourite of the night. The star of the dish was the char skin, it was incredibly crispy and was cooked to perfection & light.
The Braised Beef Short Rib (Stone Ground Grits, Wild Mushroom & Charred Scallion Relish, Crispy Onions) was a great choice for meat eaters, super hearty and fulling. The dish as a whole was a little too heavy for me from the creamy grits to the meaty short rib all topped off with fried onions but nothing to cut the richness.

I’m always on the fence about ordering donuts from restaurants because I’m not a fan of cake donuts, so when our server mentioned it was a yeast donut I had nothing else on my mind, donut for dessert it was! Donuts (Cinnamon Apple Compote, Caramel, Calvados Cream).
My favourite dessert was the Caramelized Banana Sundae (Peanut butter Ice Cream and Warm Date Toffee) something about the deliciously sweet toffee & caramelized banana with the contrast of the salty peanut butter ice cream was heavenly. Sweet, salty, hot and cold, everything in one dessert.

I’ll definitely be back for their regular menu and will be a must for all ‘licious events. The chase was one of my favourite restaurants I’ve been to at the $35 price point.

CIBO WINE BAR

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133 Yorkville Avenue, Toronto
I recently had the pleasure in dining at the new Cibo Wine Bar in Yorkville, they had a private tasting for media, friends and family.
The space is divided into three levels. The lower level has more of a cellar feel, great for large parties and more intimate. The mid level is more casual with the bar area and the top floor is the dining area with an open concept kitchen. Both the bottom and top floor have fire pizza ovens where the pizzas can be made in about 5 minutes.

Organic mixed greens, balsamic vinegar, extra-virgin olive oil $10.
Prosciutto & Formaggio (Prosciutto, hot salami, Italian cheeses, caponata + olives), $18.
Polenta Fries with gorgonzola dip and spicy tomato sauce $9.
Gnocchi with fresh tomato sauce + ricotta cheese, $19
Veal Milanese, Butterflied breaded veal chop, seasonal vegetables, roasted potatoes, $35
Panna cotta
Tiramisu.
Everything was absolutely delicious, the flavours were clean and not heavy. The polenta fries with the gorgonzola sauce was my favourite dish of the evening, extremely crispy with a soft interior. I’m not usually a fan of gnocchi but I couldn’t stop myself from picking at it even though I was incredibly full. The veal was tender and had a nice breading,  I wish there was some sort of sauce though but it was still good.  Cibo Wine Bar had probably the best tiramisu I’ve ever had in Toronto and the panna cotta was creamy and smooth.
I can’t wait to be back and try the rest of their menu.

ALO RESTUARANT

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Spadina Ave. 3rd Floor
Toronto, ON
Alo opened during the summer and it’s been the talk of the town, this little restaurant is right at the corner of Spadina & Queen on the third floor. The restaurant is mainly a multi course tasting menu. The menu consists of 5 courses with two options to pick from, $89. You can also have a seat at the chef’s rail where you can watch the chefs prepare each course, this menu consists of about 20 tasting bites all chosen by the chef, $100.

Ontario Corn 
Foie Gras Torchon
Tomato
Peau de Lait 
Egg
Chawanmushi 
Carolina Gold Rice
Duclair Duck Breast 
Yorkshire Rack of Pork 
Cheese Course, +$15
Yellow Plum
Milk Chocolate 
Cherry
Cannele & Choux
I had the pleasure in grabbing in a seat at the chef’s rail. I was blown away with every single bite they presented in front of me. My favourites were the Hamachi, Corn with corn sobet, Peau de Lait, Egg with corn, and the Pork.
The hamachi was sandwiched in between two thin pieces of bread which was reminiscent of incredibly crisp skin. The corn dishes were packed with so much corn flavour, and since corn is my one of my favourite vegetables I was in corn heaven. The Peau de Lait had the core flavours of lasagna, so rich and creamy but the tomato cut through the fattiness of the milk. 
I’ve never had such perfectly cooked pork. 
After every dish I was left wanting more and more, I could’ve eaten 5 plates of each dish. Everything was beautifully presented, so much detail and care was put into each plate.
The service at Alo was very attentive, they had shawls for chilly guests, purse hooks, and everyone tried to create the best experience for each guest. 

HOME BAKING CO.

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1242 Bloor Street West
Toronto, ON
Co-owner of Baker Bots, Christopher Stopa, opened up this cute little shop last year serving up comforting baked goods. They are also making amazing cookie ice cream sandwiches, cupcakes, incredibly chocolatey cake, and so much more.
The space is small with 3-4 tables, the long counter space has a large variety of baked goods that change daily.
Cinnamon bun with cream cheese icing, red velvet cupcake, mint chocolate ice cream, peanut butter cookie, chocolate cookie with dairy free chocolate ice cream, and chocolate cake.
The chocolate cake is the most decedent, fudgey cake I’ve ever had but my favourite was the peanut butter cookie, I ate it the next day and it was still super soft and chewy with crushed pieces of peanuts and white chocolate.