Tag: Winterlicious

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.

CANOE RESTAURANT & BAR

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66 Wellington Street West | Toronto, ON
http://www.oliverbonacini.com/canoe

Canoe is one of my favourite restaurant in Toronto but sadly my wallet doesn’t always agree with my dining habits. Licious a great way to try higher end restaurants in the city without breaking the bank. Canoe is located on the 54th floor of the TD bank tower and offers amazing views, prefect for when you’re trying to impress someone with great city views and amazing food. The windows wrap around the whole restaurant and the open kitchen makes the whole restaurant larger in size.


We started off with a Sundried Tomato Chickpea Spread with warm bread.


For appetizers Desi and I got the Cured Rainbow Trout with pickled turnips, marinated radish & crème fraîche.


Manal got Butternut Squash & Ginger Soup with Peekytoe crab, tarragon yoghurt & rye croutons.


Everyone else got the Pressed Maple Braised Willowgrove Pork with heirloom beans, wild mustard & puffed wild rice.

For our entrees Zoe and I got the Torched Heritage Salmon with dinosaur kale, pickled peppers & ancient Algonquin grits.


Jo and Desi both got the Ontario Strip Loin Short Rib with gherkin sour cream & cheesy alliston spuds.


I decided on the Wild Rice Pudding with poached apricot, rose vanilla sauce & pistachio for dessert.


Everyone else got the Three Milk Cake with vanilla mousseline, caramel cream & kernal peanuts.

Overall the meal was fantastic, everything was well cooked and seasoned. My favourite appetizer was the Pressed Maple Pork, it was flavourful and hearty. My cured trout was beautifully presented but lacking in some seasoning. My salmon entree was one of the best Licious entrees I’ve never had, the salmon sweet and savoury but I wish I got more of the “grits”. The Strip loin, in my opinion, was the best entree of the night, tender and the short rib was super rich. I loved my rice pudding dessert.
Canoe is one of my favourite restaurants and I had another fantastic OB meal experience.

Canoe Restaurant & Bar on Urbanspoon
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LUMA

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350 King St W | Toronto, ON
http://www.oliverbonacini.com

This was my first time at LUMA and I was surprised by how nice and elegant the space was. I’m not sure what I was expecting but the interior cozy, warm, and classy. LUMA is located at the TIFF lightbox right above their sister restaurant, the Canteen.

We got to nibble on some warm bread with white bean and hummus dip while looking through the menu. The hummus was addictive, I finished all of it.

For my appetizer I got the 100km Celery Root Soup with maytag blue cheese, apple and bacon compote. The soup was creamy and velvety, it had a nice flavour without having too much of a off-putting celery flavour. I love the sweetness of the apple compote with the savouriness of the soup.

Philip got the Fregola & Mixed Bean Salad with a 62.5° celsius hen’s egg, charred treviso, onion, chilies and anchovy lemon dressing. He really enjoyed the dish, no complaints from him.

I got the Roasted Trout with glazed roots, puffed wild rice and brown butter bay scallops for entree. This was hands down my favourite dish of the night, everything was perfect. My trout was perfectly cooked with an incredibly crispy skin. The puffed rice gave the dish a nice crunchy texture with every bite and the beets were light and refreshing contrast to the butter scallops.

Philip got the Braised Willowgrave Pork Shoulder with shiitake mushroom pilaf, green mango pickle, rice paper crunch and honey truffle sauce. The pork was tender and delicious.

I got the Steamed Banana Pudding with burnt marshmallow ice cream for dessert. I was somewhat disappointed with the dessert, I wasn’t expecting a banana muffin let alone a dry banana muffin. The ice-cream made up for the dryness of the cake but wasn’t anything special.

Philip got the Chocolate Espresso Budino with an almond biscotti. Incredibly rich and intense with chocolate flavour, a coffee is a must with this dessert to cut the richness.

Overall I had a great experience at LUMA, great food and good service. I loved the atmosphere and a perfect location for date night without breaking the bank. I would definitely try to come back for their regular menu.

Luma on Urbanspoon

Sassafraz

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100 Cumberland Street
Toronto, ON
http://www.sassafraz.ca/

These past few years I haven’t really been as crazy I as I used to be with my Licious reverations. The first restaurant I went to was Sassafraz, I’ve been dying to go here for the longest time but never had time or it was always fully booked but this year Jess called in early.

I really love Yorkville, everything about the area is so quaint. The restaurant is divided into two sections, the lounge and dining room. The front of the restaurant is  separated by glass doors as the lounge with floor to ceiling windows. We got seated at the back of the restaurant where they have their own waterfall feature, big skylights and white walls make the restaurant feel open and airy.
I must apologize in advance for the dimly light orangey pictures, it’s hard to take pictures with a steady head without flash in a dimly lit restaurant.

The Winterlicious menu on the website and at the restaurant are a little different but for dinner is $45.

Appetizers:

Jess got the Roasted Tomato Soup, she said it was way too salty. I didn’t try any since she was sick and the fact that she said it was too salty.


Philip seemed to really enjoy his Orange and endive salad with shaved radish, balsamic jelly, pecan vinaigrette. I thought it was average in taste but the presentation was beautiful.



Cherry and I got the Red Wine braised octopus served with tomato, caper and olive ragout, toasted couscous. I really liked my appetizer, the octopus was incredibly tender and I loved that the couscous still had a little crunch.

Entrees:

I decided on the Honey and chili glazed Prawns with saffron Risotto with red pepper emulsion and coriander cress. My plate came with two giant prawns that we’re perfectly cooked.


Jess got the Confit Ontario duck leg with pommery mustard braised cabbage, double smoked bacon pinto bean cassolet. I tried some and I thought the duck was superb, tender and flavourful, probably the best entree of the night.


Black garlic glazed halibut with red rice, baby bok choy, diakon, heirloom carrots and red miso broth is  Philip’s choice in entree. I thought the dish was blend and the fish was overcooked but Philip had no complains.


Seared 10 oz striploin with horseradish pommes puree, collard greens, sauce Bordelaise

Dessert:


Warm apple compote with oat crumble, maple walnut and caramel cream

I was pretty stuffed by the time dessert got around but both Philip and I got the Gotham city cheese plate. Served with flatbread and assorted dried fruits but as you can see we didn’t get dried fruits or flatbread. Philip had to ask for some and even then only he got a basket of flatbread and I didn’t but I was stuffed anyway so I didn’t really mind.

Overall it was a great meal with good service, probably will be back to try their regular menu.

Sassafraz on Urbanspoon