Rico's Pizzeria

Yesterday we snuck in a lunchtime pizza date at Rico's Pizzeria. It was somewhere we had never tried, and it was close to where we needed to be, so we tried it. I ordered the Balsamic Marinated Mushroom Pizza with some added prosciutto. It was huge! The crust was thin and crispy (maybe a little too crispy on one side). The mushrooms were delicious, and the prosciutto was definitely the right choice.

Balsamic Marinated Mushroom Pizza - thin, crispy crust smeared with roasted garlic and organic olive oil, covered with seasonal balsamic marinated mushrooms, onions and goat cheese, topped with fresh rosemary and prosciutto

Scott ordered the Farmer's Sausage 'Za, and we can safely say I was the winner this round. His pizza was good, but a little boring. It was so cheesy, with the right amount of pull. The house made tomato sauce was really tasty. Mine was so good though, I couldn't stop eating it.

Farmer's Sausage 'Za - thin crust topped with house made tomato sauce, fresh Fieldgate Farm sausage, locally sourced bacon, and mozzarella

Overall we were pretty satisfied with this little pick, and while they seemed a little overwhelmed with customers heading into the holidays, they managed to keep everyone happy and well fed. Their attention to locally sourced ingredients (including beers) and options for everyone, including vegan and gluten-free fare, makes it really worth recommending. From the outside you can't tell they care as much as they do about the experience - it looks like it could be any 2-4-1 location.

Likes: The crust was very thin and crispy, the toppings were delicious!
Dislikes: The sausage pizza was boring.
Food: 4/5
Service: 4.5/5
Would I go again?: Maybe. It was great, but for $17 and $16 they weren't outstanding.

Shrimp Scampi

This is one of my favourite dishes to make - so easy & fresh, and it seems pretty healthy, too. I first found a recipe similar to this called Dawn's Shrimp Scampi, which is no longer easy to find on the internet (there is a Dawn's Scampi, it is not the same). Anyways, its a light pasta and shrimp dish where the freshness of the lemon makes all the difference!

To make this, you will need:

• 6 oz fettuccine
• 1/4 cup panko
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• zest of 1 lemon
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 large shallots, chopped
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• 3/4 lb shrimp (I cook from frozen)
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 1/4 cup dry white wine
• juice of 1 lemon
• 2 tbsp black olives, sliced

1. Cook the pasta.
2. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add shallots, garlic, and red pepper flakes. Cook until shallots are soft (about 5 minutes).
3. In the meantime, combine panko, lemon zest, and parsley in a small bowl.
4. In a separate bowl, combine wine, stock, lemon juice, and olives.
5. Add the shrimp to the skillet and cook on each side until opaque.
6. Stir in the wine & broth mixture, bring to a boil for 1 minute, then reduce heat.
7. Stir in the noodles and the panko mixture. Enjoy topped with fresh grated Parmesan!

A note about the shrimp: it doesn't really matter what kind or how big - I usually just get whatever is on sale. I like to make sure they aren't precooked, and it definitely easier if you get them already deveined and shelled.

Chili

Okay, here we are. I am finally ready to share my Chili recipe with you. It is important to note this is the first time I actually measured things in an attempt to properly inform you, but typically just add as much as feels right and taste as I go - so that is my real recommendation. My chili game was changed after reading The Food Lab, by J. Kenji López-Alt (more info here).

There are couple of keys to the improved chili:

1. Real chili peppers and chili paste instead of just chili powder
2. Umami bombs are essential - soy sauce, marmite, anchovies, cocoa
3. Time. It just can't be rushed. Some people swear by a slow cooker, I do this by stove top - but it still takes 3 hours.

To get a rich meaty chili that isn't just wet meat & beans, let me show you the way! You will need:

• 1 lb ground meat (I used pork)
• 1/4 white onion, chopped
• 3 red chili peppers, diced
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1/4 cup chili paste
• 1/2 tsp anchovy paste
• 1 tsp marmite
• 1 tsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• 1/2 tbsp cumin
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp cocoa
• 1 can black beans (540 ml)
• 1 can bean medley (540 ml)
• 1 can diced tomatoes (796 ml)
• 1 can corn (341 ml)
• 1 tbsp cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp bourbon
• 1/2 tbsp molasses
• salt & pepper to taste

1. Cook the meat in a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking up as it cooks.
2. Add onion, chili peppers, garlic and oregano. Cook until onions are translucent.
3. Add chili paste, stir to coat and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
4. Add anchovy paste, marmite, soy sauce, tomato paste, cumin, paprika, chili powder, cocoa, beans, tomatoes, corn and cider vinegar. Mix thoroughly and simmer uncovered on medium heat for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for an additional 30 minutes.
6. Add bourbon and molasses, simmer uncovered on low for 30 minutes.
7. Cover and simmer until beans are desired tenderness (1 hour for me), finish seasoning with salt & pepper. Enjoy with some thick, crusty bread!

Creamy Kale & Sausage Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Here is a delightful use of kale that disguises how terrible it is! Okay, so maybe it isn't terrible, but I definitely bought too much of it and had to find a way to make it a little less offensive. I originally found the recipe here, but made some changes - including the olive oil bechamel I found here. This dish was tasty the first time around, and made fabulous lunch leftovers. We just picked up a couple of sausages from the deli, but really any sausage would do.

To make this, you will need:

• 12 oz fusilli
• 2 savoury cured sausages, sliced
• 10 sun-dried tomatoes, sliced (about 1/2 cup)
• 4 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup vegetable stock
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup flour
• 2 cups milk
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, shredded
• salt and pepper to taste
• 3 cups of kale, ribbed and chopped (packed)

1. Cook the pasta, keep 1 cup of pasta water for sauce.
2. Cook the sausage in a large skillet on medium-high heat until fat is no longer white (about 10 minutes).
3. Add sun-dried tomatoes and garlic, cook until fragrant (about 5 minutes).
4. Add vegetable stock, stir to combine & let simmer for 15 minutes - prepare the bechamel in the meantime.
5. For the bechamel, heat the olive oil over medium heat in a small pot.
6. Add flour while whisking constantly until flour is blonde (about 5 minutes).
7. Add milk while whisking. When boiling, whisk constantly to avoid burning until thickened
8. Remove from heat, stir in parmesan cheese, and add salt and pepper to taste.
9. Add kale to the large skillet and mix to cook until kale is tender (about 5 minutes).
10. Add pasta and sauce to the skillet and stir to coat evenly. Add pasta water to desired consistency (I added the whole cup of reserved pasta water for a creamier mix). Enjoy!

The Early Bird (Round 2)

We always recommend The Early Bird, and always take people there when they visit. My brother was in town this weekend, so naturally we took him for breakfast Saturday morning. I ordered the Fat Elvis, and ended up taking a large part of it home. I love the panko fried bananas and thick bacon in between the monstrous slices of french toast. My only complaint with toasts this large is that the bread in the center is pretty dry, and there's no additional syrup provided. If I had dreams of eating the whole thing, I would have asked for more, but as it turns out I wouldn't be needing extra.

The Fat Elvis - House smoked bacon, panko fried bananas, smooth peanut butter and honey, served in a French toast sandwich, topped with maple syrup and powdered sugar

Scott went for the Chicken N' Waffles, which houses his most prized restaurant item - the bacon jam. He was excited the first time he tried it, that it got replicated at home almost immediately. It is so savoury and delicious, that we each couldn't stop stealing some off his plate. The chicken and waffles themselves are also really good, but that bacon jam is the real winner.

Chicken N' Waffles - Sweet tea brined crispy fried chicken, stacked and layered between house made waffles, topped with bacon jam, duck gravy and crispy onions

My brother decided on the weekly special eggs Benedict. Never had we been disappointed before, but he cut into a poached egg expecting the oozy goodness that usually results, and found nothing but pasty overcooked yolk. I was embarrassed, Scott was embarrassed. We have obviously talked up this place way too much, and easily had our hearts broken by a single overcooked egg. We will live to eat again, but not without a little more reserve towards this restaurant. The search for flawlessness continues. Otherwise, it looked and tasted pretty good.

Benny Special -  cornbread crusted chicken, topped with balsamic spinach and poached eggs, with a side of potato and onion hash with tomatoes and feta (and probably more details I can't remember)

So here we are, no longer passing out perfect reviews for The Early Bird to everyone crossing our paths. It is obviously still a beloved breakfast place that we will definitely revisit. The service was also a little slower than I remember, but it was very busy. I still love the decor, which I lovingly refer to as Queens of the Stone Age / Day of the Dead Breakfast - skulls, concert posters, records and pop art cover bright pink walls. Bright paper flowers pack the ceiling over the taco bar, and the bathrooms are light with black light.

Likes: The portions are enormous, and the food is delicious. Dishes seem to be well-balanced.

Dislikes: That overcooked poached egg! Ruining their perfection...

Food: 4.5/5

Service: 4/5

Would I go again?: Yes, I have hope. My food was great, Scott's food was great. My brother loved everything else about his food.

Butter Chicken

It has been a while! I have still been eating (obviously), but have clearly been slacking on sharing it with the world. Last night I made one of our favourites - Butter Chicken (originally found here). It is spicy, creamy, and delicious. I like to serve it with basmati rice and naan, with the rice stirred in for easy leftovers.

To make this, you will need:

• 6 tbsp butter
• 4 chicken breasts
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tbsp garam masala
• 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 1/2 cups tomato sauce
• 2 cups cream
• salt & pepper
• naan and basmati rice

1. Heat 2 tbsp butter in a large pan. Cook the chicken over medium heat, allowing it to brown. Remove chicken, cut into 1 inch pieces.
2. Melt another 2 tbsp of butter in the pan. Cook onion until soft and translucent.
3. Add garlic, garam masala, ginger, chili powder, cumin, and cayenne pepper. Stir to combine and cook for about 5 minutes.
4. Add tomato sauce, stir, and bring to a simmer for 5 minutes.
5. Add cream, stir, and return to a simmer.
6. Return cooked chicken pieces to the pan and simmer for 20 minutes.
7. Stir in the last 2 tbsp of butter, taste and season with salt & pepper.

I use half and half cream, and have been warned that subbing in milk or a lower fat substitute may curdle, so the more fat, the creamier! I also don't often use full butter, sometimes cooking the chicken in olive oil at first. You need to build up that salty, creamy, buttery taste, so don't sub out too much. The garam masala spice blend I use is President's Choice Black Label, but I am sure you can find nicer blends if you are willing to look in the right places. For naan, you could try to craft your own, but most grocery stores offer pretty decent choices, as long as you eat them fresh. I cook a half cup of basmati rice to go alongside this meal, and it is enough for us both to have pretty hearty dinners and lunch leftovers the next day. Enjoy!

The Red Wagon Restaurant

This past week Scott and I traveled to Vancouver, British Columbia so I could attend the American Society for Human Genetics Annual Meeting, or ASHG 2016. We ate amazing food around every corner, but I will share just a few with you. Our first morning, I took up the recommendation from an old high school acquaintance to visit Red Wagon. It was very much out of the way, but we had a rental car and were very hungry. I ordered Crispy Pork Belly, in an attempt to make up for the sub-par pork belly we had eaten the night before in Whistler. This was delicious! Each of us at the table ordered pork belly, and we were all very satisfied with the crispy exterior and mouthwatering interior. The potatoes were tossed in some sort of cilantro situation that I don't love and would have preferred to be warned about (remember, cilantro is dish-soap).The coffee was spot on and flowing, the rye was delightful, the hollandaise was creamy, and the eggs were perfectly poached.

Crispy Pork Belly - 2 poached eggs, confit pork belly, grilled tomato, salsa verde, hollandaise, homefries and rye toast

Scott went more down his usual route, ordering the Supertrucker. This was an enormous plate of food that he was excited to finish. The pancakes were light and fluffy (although Mildred's are still the ones to beat). The non-traditional breakfast meats were excellent - pulled pork on pancakes, who knew?

Supertrucker - 2 eggs, 2 buttermilk pancakes, pulled pork, crisp pork belly, homefries, and sourdough toast

This restaurant is far out of the downtown core, so it doesn't feel like a tourist spot at all. It had been there forever, and feels like a really authentic diner experience. The service was great and friendly. We lucked out when we got there with no line, but when we left there were no open tables. The coffee and water were constantly full, which is always nice.

Likes: The tone of the place was great, the pork belly was perfection.
Dislikes: How far we drove to find it, and cilantro.
Food: 4.5/5
Service: 5/5
Would I go again?: Yes! If I am ever back in Vancouver I would insist on going back. Everyone else should, too!

Mildred's Temple Kitchen

On Monday morning, Canadian Thanksgiving, we had to travel back to London from having visited my parents. Of course, that means we could stop for brunch in Toronto! I had seen Mildred's Temple Kitchen on Instagram many times, so I was pretty pleased to see it was open on the holiday. I ordered the Big Brunch Skillet, and as you can see, we shared a side of chorizo sausage. First, I must say that the coffee was the absolute best coffee I've had in a restaurant, so shout out to Reunion Island Coffee. The skillet was very satisfying, but not mind blowing. Lots of spicy, tasty bites that went well with the eggs. I think I would have preferred poached eggs, since I really just don't like the jelly uncooked top of sunny-side up eggs, something I should have remembered. A nice rye toast would have been welcome too, it felt like it needed a toast.

Big Brunch Skillet - spicy pulled pork, roasted onions, black bean and potato hash with sunny eggs and piri piri salsa

Scott went his usual route - pancakes! These pancakes should be winning all the awards, they were so thick, light and fluffy. The Buttermilk was really doing good work, and that blueberry compote was delicious. I am a little jealous I didn't have a plate for myself. In the menu, it mentions that they are cooked low and slow, so I imagine the batter must be crazy thick to get them as high as they are.

Mrs. Biederhof's Legendary Light & Fluffy Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes - served with Lanark County maple syrup & whipped cream.

Many things about this place were absolute wins. Like everywhere else in Toronto for brunch, it was really busy, and they don't take reservations. They do take your phone number, and text you when your table is ready, which is genius. There are so many little shops and things around Liberty Village to look at to entertain yourselves for 45 minutes, that the wait really didn't seem like an inconvenience at all. We actually bought a nice cast iron lasagna pan at a store nearby that we hope to use this week (this one). The dining area is so spacious and light, with enough charm to make it cozy. The kitchen line is completely exposed, so I could see every skillet and stack of pancakes prepared before ours. The music was great, kitchen staff clearly agreed - one chef stirred both a pot of something and his hips to Salt-N-Pepa's Push It. Unfortunately, our actual service wasn't impressive. Our server seemed completely exhausted. We quickly ran out of water and coffee, and were left for way too long with nothing to drink. All of our interactions with him felt really awkward, I didn't like it.

Likes: The atmosphere and pancakes were great!
Dislikes: I loved the coffee, and would have loved more of it - service was not ideal.
Food: 4/5
Service: 3/5
Would I go again?: Maybe. I do want those pancakes, but there's plenty more to try in the area. After such a long wait, I want to be more impressed.

Nacho Soup

Fall is in full effect, and that means it's Soup Season! This is a soup I tried for the first time, and I am completely in love. At first I was afraid it would be too similar to chili, but it is distinct enough to be completely different, and definitely a hearty soup. I first spotted this recipe over here. It is creamy, and spicy, and full of flavour. There are also enough veggies to make it feel like it might not be completely terrible for you (it probably still is). We ate it with some fresh sourdough, but it was also great with smoked Gouda Triscuits, or no crackers at all.

To make it, you will need:

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 yellow onion, chopped
• 1/2 green bell pepper, chopped
• 3 jalapeno peppers, seeded and diced
• 1 can of corn, drained
• 1 can black beans, drained
• 1/2 can of diced tomatoes, drained
• 1 1/2 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper
• 3 1/2 cups beef broth
• 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar
• 1 cup cream
• 4 tbs flour
• green onions for topping

1. Cook & drain the beef.
2. Combine beef, veggies, beans, spices, and broth in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer covered until beans are cooked (about 2.5 hours).
3. Stir in the cheese,
4. Whisk together flour and cream (make sure there are no lumps).
5. Add cream mixture to the pan, stir to combine. Cover and simmer at medium low for 30 minutes. Enjoy!

Homemade Pesto, Chicken, & Sun-Dried Tomatoes with Pasta

Last night we had a really quick, easy and delicious dinner. First, I made a spinach & basil pesto (originally found here), served with chicken, pasta, and sun-dried tomatoes (recipe from here). The trick is lots of Parmesan! I cannot understate how much we love Parm - we regularly buy the big club size blocks.

To make the pesto, you will need:

• 4 cups of spinach
• 2 cups of basil
• 3 tbsp minced garlic
• 1 1/2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• 1/3 cup olive oil

To make the rest, you will need:

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 lb fusilli
• 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes chopped
• salt & pepper

1. In a food processor or blender, combine spinach, basil, garlic, lemon juice, and Parmesan while streaming in the olive oil.
2. Bring a large pot of water to boil & cook the pasta.
3. Meanwhile, heat 2 tbsp of olive oil in a large pan over medium heat and cook the chicken breasts. Season with salt & pepper. When the chicken is cooked, remove it from the pan and slice.
4. Add cooked pasta, chicken, pesto & sun-dried tomatoes to the pan, mix to fully combine & coat in pesto.
5. Season with salt, pepper & Parmesan to taste. Enjoy!

We like to keep frozen, boneless, skinless chicken breasts from Costco in the freezer at all times, and I really recommend it. They each come individually wrapped and are huge, hearty breasts. They cook really nicely from frozen, unlike a lot of other grocery store options. Of course, fresh would be ideal, but frozen is just way easier to maintain. This is the same way I feel about lemon juice - anytime I need lemon zest I will use a real lemon and its juice, but for juice alone, the bottle will work just fine. Real, fresh herbs and Parmesan is where I don't see the compromise worth while, stick to fresh.

The Church Key Bistro-Pub... Again

Sunday Brunch! Back in London for a quiet weekend between the chaos, we headed to our favourite restaurant in the city. I know I have shared about The Church Key before, but honestly it is amazing, you need to go now. Every Sunday is a fabulous list of options accompanied by a basket of tasty pastries. We have never had the same thing twice, and never been disappointed. Today brought with it some serious choices. I settled on the Blanquette of Salmon, always a sucker for salmon at breakfast with poached eggs. Everything about it was delicious, but that béarnaise sauce was incredible. I would buy it by the jar if that were an option. My brunch niche is clearly in the rich and creamy area of any menu. I made so many mistakes trying to eat this whole thing that has left me full for the entire day, but it was so, so good!

Blanquette of Salmon - toasted olive oil brioche and Italian style sliced salmon ceviche of brandy, lime, mustard and dill.  Surrounded with white wine veloute, fennel & black olive soffrito, poached eggs and béarnaise sauce

Scott went for the BBQ'd Pork Buns, and was also in heaven. The bun was soft and moist, while the pork belly just melted in your mouth. The miso squash puree was the real surprise for us here. It was so nutty and rich, an interesting combination that I would love to try again. At this point we were both in awe at how lovely the eggs were. Mine were poached, his was soft boiled, and both were perfect.

BBQ'd Pork Buns - traditional steamed Mantou Bun with soft boiled egg, pickled mushrooms, miso squash puree and Wuxi barbecue sauce.

Finally, the pastry basket! What an exciting time to be alive. Some of the favourites were back. Scott describes the Coco-Nutty Bar as legendary, and his all-time favourite. I love the jalapeno cheddar cornbread and the sticky cinnamon roll is so sweet and satisfying. This basket is clearly the reason I have been full all day. The pumpkin muesli wasn't sweet or spiced enough for me, but followed by the completely decadent chocolate bouchon it was forgotten. We are excited every time about what a great idea having the pastry basket at the start of the meal is, and we spend the whole time raving and savouring each bite.

Pastry basket - Blueberry muffin, Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread, Poppy Seed Lemon Loaf, Butter Croissant, Sticky Cinnamon Roll, Muesli Pumpkin Loaf, , Chocolate Bouchon, Coco-Nutty Bar, & Maple Pecan Financier

Likes: Service is great, presentation is fabulous, and the food was always impressive
Dislikes: The butter croissant was a little under baked this time around
Food: 4.5/5
Service: 5/5
Would I go again?: I will resist going next Sunday, but the one after that? No guarantees! Okay maybe we will take a few weeks off...Go here!

Homemade Hamburger Helper (with Pork)

I eased my way into cooking when I first moved out of my parents' house with a lot of boxes and cans. Hamburger Helper was always one of those guilty pleasures. As I have raised my homemade meal standards, I have been forced to forgo shopping in most of those middle aisles at the grocery store (except for baking needs & spices!). I found this lovely recipe for homemade Hamburger Helper (here), and made the switch to ground pork. It is creamy, cheesy, and so satisfying, although probably still terrible for you.

To make this, you will need:

• 1 lb ground pork
• 2 cups of dry fusilli
• 2 1/2 cups of milk
• 1 1/2 cups of hot water
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 tbsp chili powder
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• 2 cups shredded cheddar

1. In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the pork through and break up as cooking.
2. Add pasta, milk, water, and spices (everything except the cheese).
3. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat & simmer. Cook until pasta is cooked (about 15 minutes).
4. Add cheese, stir to combine and melt cheese. Enjoy!

Asian Pork Burgers

Ground pork was on sale, and so began the lengthy attempts to try to create different meals from the score. This recipe for Asian Pork Burgers is taken from Food & Wine, and then altered as I needed. The burgers ended up really tasty with lots of onion and sesame flavour.

To make these, you will need:

• 1 lb ground pork
• 2 green onions, chopped
• 2 tbsp fresh ginger, minced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper

To make the red cabbage slaw, you will need:

• 2 cups of red cabbage, chopped
• 1/2 tsp sesame oil
• 1 tsp soy sauce
• 2 tsp white wine vinegar

Of course, you will also need buns, and any fixings, like greens and sriracha.

1. Mix together all the burger ingredients with your hands and form into three 3/4 inch thick patties.

2. Grill the burgers on each side until cooked through. Meanwhile, prepare the cabbage by tossing the ingredients together.

3. Assemble the burger, and enjoy!

I served these burgers topped with sriracha for an extra bit of heat. I also made a salad that I need to recommend. We mix together:

• 4 cups of spring mix greens
• 1/3 cup of crumbled feta
• 1/4 cup of dried cranberries
• 1/4 cup walnut pieces
• 1/4 cup crispy chow mein noodles

Lately, I have been loving the Ginger Sesame dressing by Marzetti for this salad, but we have also tried and loved Renee's Asian Sesame dressing. Happy eating!

Gilt Restaurant

Another weekend, another wedding. This time, my friend and roommate from Carleton University got to marry her wonderful new husband. As they are off on Honeymoon touring Europe, I can tell you about the fabulous breakfast we had at Gilt Restaurant in Kitchener, Ontario. I ordered the Lobster & Dill Eggs Benedict. Each toast had a whole lobster claw, that was of course just buttery goodness. The melted brie under the lettuce added to the creaminess of each bite. We need to talk about these potato puffs. We were loving them, so creamy and rich with a nice crispy exterior.

Lobster & Dill Eggs Benedict - brie, double smoked bacon, bibb lettuce, poached egg, lobster, dill hollondaise on toast with potato puffs

Scott ordered the Pumpkin Spice Banana Bread French Toast. This was actual banana bread made into french toast with classic fall spices. The banana bread was dense and rich, with all the cinnamon and nutmeg flavouring you would expect. The whipped cream, coulis, and caramel made it moist ad easy to eat.

Pumpkin Spice Banana Bread French Toast - with Chai whipped cream, dulce de leche caramel sauce, and berry coulis topped with walnuts

We also couldn't restrain ourselves and ordered some bacon wrapped dates. My only concern is that there were only 5 for us to fight over. These were sweet and spicy in all the right ways. The bed of arugula I am assuming was just to stop them from jumping off the plate.

Bacon wrapped dates stuffed with chorizo and habanero with a Frank's Red Hot sauce

The restaurant itself was nice with a lot of black and hints of gold. We went right at opening, unsure if it would be busy or we would need a reservation. In some towns, Sunday Brunch is a big deal, not in Kitchener. We were the only ones there until we were leaving and one other table had just arrived. It is a shame, they deserve to be packed based on the quality of food and service we received.

Likes: Food was so good! I wish we would go back to see what they come up with next.
Dislikes: They had some music and payment issues due to the internet service, but that's a minor problem.
Food: 5/5
Service: 5/5
Would I go again?: Probably, if I were back in Kitchener - there didn't seem to be much competition. Maybe I am not seeing the true Brunch scene?

Sunny Morning Breakfast & Lunch

I can't believe how busy it has been this week! I almost forgot to tell you about my delightful Sunday breakfast, the morning after watching two amazing people get married the night before. For a small moment we considered the complimentary hotel breakfast in the morning, but it looked so sad. Instead, we went to Sunny Morning Breakfast & Lunch in Etobicoke. I ordered the Smoked Salmon Omelette. This was perfect, I had cream cheese to spread on my marble rye toast for each bite of smokey salmon and egg. I opted for the side of fruit instead of home fries, since I just felt like I needed some fruit in my life. Three of us enjoyed the fruits, it was huge! The capers and red onion made for just the right flavour combination that is always a success.

Smoked Salmon Omelette - Smoked salmon, capers, red onion, with fruit, marble rye & cream cheese.

Scott ordered a sweet pile of tasty goodness, called Freddy's Caramel Waffle. It was delightful, with sweet caramel in every hole of the waffle. It was amazing to see, he didn't even use syrup. He loves syrup! I would call this a dessert long before accepting it as a breakfast, but there you have it.

Freddy's Caramel Waffle - golden waffle topped with pecans, banana slices, sweet milk caramel and whipped cream.

This place was really busy when we got there, and really busy when we left. We waited about 15 minutes, and service was quick. They were really on top of keeping our coffees full and the food came much sooner than we expected. It didn't seem like the quality suffered at all from the pace, I assume they are used to being busy on a Sunday morning.

Likes: The service was great, food was delicious
Dislikes: Tables were a little small
Food: 5/5
Service: 5/5
Would I go again?: I would if I happened to be right in the area. I maintain that there are so many places to try in Toronto that I can't waste valuable stomach space on a second visit anywhere. I would recommend it though if you are looking for a great breakfast spot.

Flourless Oatmeal Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Scott wanted a sweet treat, but we had no flour. The solution: Flourless Oatmeal Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies (here)! These cookies had such a surprisingly good chewy texture that I cannot explain. They also only required one egg, which happened to be all we had. As delicious as they were, I must share them with you. They were quick, easy, and perfectly tasty.

To make them, you will only need 7 things:

• 2/3 cup oats
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 egg
• 1 cup peanut butter
• 6 tbsp brown sugar
• 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips (okay, 3/4 cups... it was heaping)

1. Toss oats, cinnamon, and baking soda together in a small bowl
2. In a medium bowl, beat the egg. Mix in peanut butter and brown sugar until combined. Add oat mix and combine. Fold in the chocolate chips.
3. Chill the mix in the fridge for 30 minutes.
4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Make balls from the dough (~1.5 tbsp in size) and spread evenly across the baking sheet. Press balls down to make cookie shapes.
5. Bake for 10 minutes. They will seem under baked... but take them out! After cooling on the sheet for 10 minutes, they will be perfect. Eat them all!

The Church Key Bistro-Pub

Yesterday for brunch we could not resist heading to our favourite spot in London. Maybe I've said that before? Well, Church Key is our favourite brunch restaurant. With weddings coming up and lots of travel plans, it made sense to stay in and save money... then we read the menu for this week. Every week, Church Key offers up usually about 5 different and often very unique brunch items. We have probably been about ten times and never ordered the same thing, yet been super satisfied every time. The $4 mimosas are a brunch staple. This week was really hard to decide what to get, but I went with the Pad Thai Pancake. This was an amazing meal, just look at all that pork belly! The tamarind gravy was so rich and delicious, I could not get enough. The prawns reminded me more of lobster than shrimp, they were so buttery and meaty. Every single bite was an explosion of flavour, so clearly I finished the plate and left feeling extremely full.

Pad Thai Pancake - Rice noodle rosti stuffed with shredded carrot, cabbage, beansprouts and pork belly, topped with fried prawns, green onion, crushed peanuts, fried egg & tamarind gravy

Scott was very torn between the Octopus Pepperoni Cheese Pizza and the Venison Mortadella, ultimately being unable to resist the Venison. The meat itself actually tasted like an elevated mortadella (one of the best deli meats, in my esteemed opinion as a former Deli Expert). The pistachios had us guessing to remember what these little green things were in the meat, but ultimately flavour gave them away. The foie gras was rich and delicious, but how could it not be? Scott was raving about the blackberry gastrique with the pancakes, only offering up one bite. The mushrooms were the surprise. I am not sure what they were roasted in, but they were so meaty tasting that it was hard to believe it was just mushrooms. This was our first exposure to purslane, and it wasn't a great one. It is a sour weed that didn't make its way into our hearts, being the only thing left on the plate when all was finished.

Venison Mortadella - Italian venison sausage with Sicilian pistachios and foie gras served on sweet corn pancakes with roasted wild oyster mushrooms, wild purslane, and blackberry gastrique

One of the things we look forward to at Church Key is the pastry basket at the start of the meal. Each Sunday morning, the Chef bakes off a collection of pastries that are almost always creative and impressive. When we came for our first brunch here, we were in the middle of binge watching The Great British Bake Off (if you haven't gotten into it, now is the time - the 7th season has just started!). What this really meant was I came into the pastries with a heightened appreciation for lamination of dough layers in a croissant. I was so impressed! So many defined layers, so rich and buttery. This basket, while very different in composition, still gives me to opportunity to pretend I know what I am talking about when it comes to pastries. They have really figured out croissants here, There have been several different flavours, and this cheese one was perfection. The cheese was salty and delicious, present in every bite. While served with butter, none of the pastries needed it since they were each perfectly seasoned. The Chocolate Bouchon was so rich and full of chocolate that a little bite is all we needed. The Lemon Loaf is one we have had and loved before - so much lemon flavour with sugar crystals on top. We saved it for last since we knew it would be delicious. Scott really liked the Coco-Nutty Bar, while I preferred the Maple Pecan Financier.

Pastry basket - Butter Cheese Croissant, Raspberry Olive Oil Muffin, Maple Pecan Financier, Coco-Nutty Bar, Chocolate Bouchon, Lemon Loaf, & Date Square

Service is always great, with two servers that seem to be the ones holding it down each visit. The owner is always present and visible, either behind the bar, serving tables or helping to clear plates. With brunch set as $25 per person, and ever-changing menu items, we have to restrain ourselves from going every week. Brunch is only served from 11-2:30 on Sundays, and you are competing with the church crowds, so reservations are definitely recommended.

Likes: The creativity and attention to detail
Dislikes: ... I got nothing
Food: 5/5
Service: 5/5
Would I go again?: Definitely, honestly at the next chance I get. I love looking at the brunch menu on Saturday and getting excited for Sunday morning. I love taking people here to try out what is on offer.

Mexican Quinoa

Here is a super easy vegetarian dish that makes for an easy dinner and heats up well as a tasty lunch! This recipe (found here) is really simple, with everything cooking together in one pan. I finished the last of it for lunch today, and it was even better than it was last night.

To make it, you will need:

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 4 cloves of garlic, minced
• 6 jalapenos, diced
• 1 cup of quinoa
• 1 cup vegetable broth
• 1 cup black beans (from can, drained)
• 1 can stewed tomatoes, chopped
• 1 cup corn kernels (from can, drained)
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1/2 tsp cumin
• salt & pepper to taste
• 1/2 avocado, chopped
• 2 tbsp lime juice
• sour cream for garnish

1. Heat olive oil in a large sauce pan over medium high. Add garlic and jalapeno, cook until softening.
2. Add quinoa, vegetable broth, black beans, tomatoes, corn, chili powder and cumin. Stir to combine, add salt & pepper to taste. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover and let simmer until quinoa is cooked through (~30 minutes).
3. Stir in avocado and lime juice. Serve with a dollop of sour cream and enjoy!

See? Super simple. If you aren't used to working with jalapenos, be careful. Cut off the tops, then slice in half lengthwise. Scoop out the seeds and ribs using a spoon. Once you are finished seeding all the jalapenos, slice and dice them up. When all the jalapenos are in the pan, wash you hands thoroughly with lots of soap. The juice will burn any open cuts or your eyes, so some people prefer to use gloves. If you like it a little spicier, feel free to leave some seeds in the mix or add some more aggressive hot peppers. I found 6 peppers was pretty strong, and the sour cream at the end was necessary for cooling. When it comes to avocado, leave it in the lime juice until it is ready to add to the pan to keep it from oxidizing (turning brown).

Spinach & Mushroom Lasagna

Saturday night I decided to make a Spinach & Mushroom Lasagna (originally found here). It worked out really well, and as of Monday after lunch, it is all gone. I actually ended up making two, since there was so much involved. You start by making a cream of mushroom soup, then assembling the lasagna, followed by baking. In the end, you get a cheesy, creamy baked pasta that is super satisfying.

To make it, you will need:

• 1/4 cup unsalted butter
• 375 g box of oven-ready lasagna noodles
• 454 g ricotta (small container)
• 600 g frozen chopped spinach (2 x 300 g packages), thawed & drained
• 400 g shredded mozzarella (about 3 packed cups)
• 1 cup grated Parmesan
• 3 tbsp fresh basil, chopped
• 4 cloves of garlic, minced
• 454 g cremini mushrooms, chopped
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1/4 cup flour
• 3 cups milk, at room temperature
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• pinch of nutmeg
• salt & pepper, to taste

The real pain was prepping everything, from chopping a whole pound of mushrooms, to thawing and draining the spinach, and shredding all that cheese. I also cut my noodles dry by scoring with a knife then snapping along the score line to fit in an 8 x 8 square baking dish.

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F.
2. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic, mushrooms, and onion. Cook until tender, stirring occasionally.
3. Whisk in flour with a fork until lightly browned (an actual whisk will just get filled with veggie bits, trust me).
4. Gradually stir in milk while fork-whisking constantly until slightly thickened. Just when you think it may never thicken and this is your life now, it will.
5. Stir in 1 tbsp of basil (a third of what you chopped), nutmeg, and oregano. Stir in salt & pepper to taste, remove from heat.
6. In one 9 x 13 baking dish (or split across two 8 x 8 dishes like I have done), spread 1 cup of the mushroom soup. Cover with lasagna noodles in a single layer, half the ricotta, half the spinach, 1/3 of the mozzarella, and 1/3 of the Parmesan. Repeat with a second layer of soup, noodles, ricotta, spinach, and cheeses. Cover with a layer of lasagna noodles, and the remaining soup, topped with cheeses and remaining basil.
7. Bake for 40 minutes, soup will be bubbling. Broil for 3 minutes to brown the cheeses on top.
8. Let sit for 15 minutes, and enjoy!

We ended up with two decently large lasagnas, and like I said, they are all gone now. The mushroom soup was really hearty on its own, and I would be interested in it alone on a crisp fall day. This was a really tasty and satisfying vegetarian dish where I didn't miss the meat.

The Good Fork

On Sunday, we eat brunch. On Sunday in Toronto it is really hard to decide where to go since brunch has become so hot. A good guide is to stay local since there are so many great neighborhood spots. Airbnb means I am no longer restricted to the downtown core, and now get to explore and eat more like a local when I visit (yes, that's another Airbnb recommendation - you should really try it). We decided to try out The Good Fork, a really busy place that had a huge wait. Luckily, they offer to text when your table is ready, so we were able to go a couple doors down to a Timothy's for tea and coffee while we waited for our table. If you are in a rush, this is not the place for you, but then again, maybe Sunday Brunch isn't for you. I ordered the Fork Scram, which was perfect. I was in love with every single bite with the creamy creme fraiche and dill, and of course smoked salmon! The puff pastry was cooked to perfection, and the scrambled eggs made it feel like a great start to the day. The home fries were a huge disappointment. two of us ordered them as sides and were not thrilled. There was very little seasoning or character involved. Covered in ketchup, they were fine, but better home fries would have made this breakfast exceptional.

Fork Scram - puff pastry, two scrambled eggs, smoked salmon, whipped chive creme fraiche, fresh dill, and home fries

Once we had a table, service was pretty good. I just can't believe it was over an hour for a table. We definitely went at peak brunch time. If you are in the area, I really do recommend this dish. It was so refreshing and tasty. The pastry wasn't too heavy, and the dill was just right.

Likes: Every bite was heavenly.
Dislikes: Except the home fries - so boring.
Food: 4/5
Service: 4.5/5
Would I go again?: Probably not. It was good, but not wait-for-over-an-hour good. There are plenty more brunches to try.

The Pie Commission

On Saturday I headed to Toronto to celebrate the upcoming wedding of one of my best friends. But first - meat pie! I am so glad savory pies are making a comeback, they are so satisfying.After noticing The Pie Commission on Instagram, I had been meaning to visit at some point and Saturday lunch I made it happen. The pies come in a little box, and I was somehow convinced I would need a side, so I also ordered fries. I ordered the Braised Beef Rib Pie, which comes with beef braised in veal stock, sweet potato, and mushrooms. The pie filling was so good, I would love to eat this pie on a cold day, but it was just as good on one of the hottest days of the year. The pastry was flaky and delicious, and the pie was so filling. I should have really tried to eat the pie by hand, like it was meant to be, but instead I tried with the little plastic fork and knife. It was a bit of a mess, and real cutlery might have been an improvement. Really though, it is a hand pie, what was I thinking? I didn't have much room for fries, and proceeded to forget them in the car.

Likes: Flaky pastry, savory goodness inside.
Dislikes: The fries reminded me of Swiss Chalet, maybe that's a good thing for you.
Food: 4.5/5
Service: 5/5
Would I go again?: Yes, I really want to try some of their other pie flavours.

Campus Hi-Fi

Sundays are made for breakfast, or brunch, or a big dinner... okay, food in general. We decided Sunday morning to head out to one of our newly re-opened favourite spots, Campus Hi-Fi. They had suffered a pretty big and expensive kitchen fire back in March, and I have been scoping out the location for the entire duration of renovations waiting for a sign they were back in business. Yesterday was our second time back since the fire, and it was everything we were hoping it would be. I ordered The Godfather Eggs Benny, and changed out the home-fries for poutine. I had no chance of finishing this, it was an enormous portion. I love the Hollandaise sauce, and the goat cheese made each bite so creamy. Nothing was out of place and I would order this every Sunday for the rest of my life if I could.

Godfather Eggs Benny - Goat cheese and crumbled sausage in tomato & spinach sauce, with poached eggs covered in Hollandaise sauce served with fruit and poutine

Scott ordered what used to be my staple - Shawn's Breakfast Poutine. While his came with toast that he loves to smother in jam, mine came with the fruit and had all the makings of amazing eggs Benedict. I am pretty sure this means I won this round of breakfast. You also can't really tell how deep this bowl of poutine goes. Don't worry, he was full!

Shawn's Breakfast Poutine - Fries topped with mozza cheese curds, bacon, gravy, 2 poached eggs, and Hollandaise sauce

While we may not be back next weekend, we will definitely be back - hopefully before all the students get back and make it busy again! There was no line at all, maybe people haven't realized they have re-opened yet. On weekends in the school year, people are regularly lined up out the door. The service was typical, and pleasant. We got our breakfast a lot faster than I thought we would. My biggest complaint is that they only accept cash or debit, since I typically don't carry cash and love using my MasterCard.

Likes: Poutine is amazing for breakfast. Eggs Benedict are perfection. I love the addition of goat cheese.
Dislikes: I need to use my credit card at every opportunity, and am sad this wasn't an option.
Food: 5/5
Service: 5/5
Would I go again?: Definitely. as soon as the guilt of poutine breakfast wears off.