Albatros pub

It's no secret I heart food, but I would say by far, some of my favourite foods are ones made to comfort.

When I first started working, I remember going across the street to a small Polish cafe where a teeny, tiny Polish grandma would prepare the most amazing culinary delights. This was when, as a 23 year old girl, I discovered pierogies and schnitzel. It was here that I learned to take breaks from work and take some time for myself - even if it was only for a few minutes.

It's been nearly a decade, I'm no longer 23 (actually, I can reverse the digits), at a different company and well, the Polish cafe is now a Chinese sandwich place. The only thing that remains? My love for pierogies and schnitzel.

This past weekend, I got to relive some of my culinary memories at Albatros Pub on 3057 Lakeshore Blvd West, in Etobicoke. My good friend brought me here for a couple of beers (Czechvar) and a LOT of delicious, delicious food. We had a platter for 2, and on it were 3 different types of boiled pierogies (though my friend insists pan-fried would be MUCH better), filled with cheese/potatoes, meat and mushrooms. Sour cream is a must (go big or go home, right?)

We also had schnitzel (drool) which wasn't oily at all, potato pancakes (mmm...), coleslaw, beet + horseradish slaw and boiled potatoes (which were okay). The platter was sprinkled with dill throughout, and rather than being over-powering, actually pulled the different elements of the platter together. 

Warning: I loved the decor because it's very eclectic. My friend thought it was cheesy. Apparently it looks like Santa exploded around the holidays. Mental note: must go back around the holidays.

Restaurant rating: Definitely worth an extra hour or two at the gym.

(Apologies for the lack of pictures, but it was too dark.)

Applebee's

We've all been tempted by the allure of cross-border shopping. With the strong Canadian dollar, and well, the thrill of saving just a little bit of money in taxes, a friend and I decided to cross the border this weekend into OUTLET SHOPPING TERRITORY (a.k.a. Fashion Outlets, Niagara Falls, USA)

After a fairly uneventful drive, we decided to fill our bellies with a quick lunch before beginning our shopping mission. There was an Applebee's conveniently located at the edge of the outlet mall, so we decided to eat there.

The menu boasts a fairly robust salad menu. Encouraged, I settled on a steak and potato salad on spinach, while my friend had some kind of appetizer trio (sliders, boneless wings and I think quesadilla).

I have to be fair and say the service was excellent - in fact our server was extremely attentive. We really did have amazing service.

The food on the other hand was well...less than stellar. The salad was drenched in dijon dressing. I actually couldn't find any spinach without dressing. The potatoes were overbuttered...injected with butter...and since they weren't hot enough, were greasy and oily. The steak was also tough and overdone. I love salads, but this one, I really couldn't go through more than a quarter. I was actually quite queasy from the dressing.

My friend fared no better with his appetizer trio. The buns for the sliders were stale...and well...stale. Sliders are mini burgers, and something I hold near and dear. The best burgers have the best buns. This is a sacred rule. Chose the wrong bun and the entire burger experience goes out the window. And when the bun is stale? It's just plain wrong. The cheese wasn't quite melted all the way...and the quesadilla...well...soggy seems to be an understatement...

It was a mixed experience for us...good service usually accompanies good food, so for the food to be so bad...it just wastes the friendly atmosphere the great staff at Applebee's tries to create.

Restaurant rating: Run fast and run far / may cause stomach ulcers. (My friend could probably attest to this. His stomach was pretty angry).

P.S. The best deals of the day? $5 Nike t-shirt and $10 Gap cargo pants!

Duff's Famous Wings

Mmmm...wings...

I heart chicken wings.  Truly I do.  Spicy and sour. Crispy and crunchy.  Mmmm...and while everybody knows this already, I still have to say it: Duff's Famous Wings has the best chicken wings in Toronto.

I went to Duff's back in December with my Big Brother and had a blast. Over fun conversation, we shared wings, beers and the obligatory veggie sticks.

The atmosphere is friendly and was crowded for a Tuesday night. The staff was great and well...it was a wing place. Enough said.

Restaurant rating: Definitely worth an extra hour or two at the gym.

Karoon Resturant

I'm a huge fan of trying new things, so a friend and I decided to try Iranian food for the first time (well, for me it was). We went to Karoon Restaurant in Richmond Hill, Ontario.

The experience was...interesting...

We arrived shortly before 7:00 p.m. on a long weekend.  It occurred to us that we were really early, as the restaurant was nearly empty (an Iranian friend later confirmed dinners don't usually get started until later in the evening). We were quickly seated at a table for 2. Unfortunately, there was a dirty spoon in my place setting.  We pointed this out to the server, who very quickly replaced all the plates and utensils on the entire table (I'm not sure if this is a good or bad thing).

The server arrived with the equivalent of fresh bread to get us started while we looked over the menu. Warm pita bread was served in a basket alongside a plate of onions, radish, cucumber, parsley and goat's cheese. Who knew something so simple could be so delicious? My friend and I quickly constructed mini pita sandwiches and devoured them. 

Encouraged by this, we looked at the menu, anxiously trying to decide on our mains. We asked the server what was most popular, and he recommended the combination platter for 2.  We ordered the platter with two skewers of kabob koobideh (skewered ground beef), 1 skewer of lamb chop kabob, and 1 skewer of chicken thigh kabob. Two plates of saffron rice would accompany the platter.

After a 20 minute wait, our server returned with an iceberg lettuce salad with cucumber, tomatoes, and some sort of store-bought dressing. Perhaps because our main course was running late? Two bites of this room temperature salad was more than enough. 

Our main course finally arrived around the 35 minute mark.  The arrangement on the plate was a pleasure to look at - it looked like dinner was going to be worth the wait, and the salad was just a blip on the screen. 

The portions were EXTREMELY generous. The taste?  It depended on what you ate.  The chicken and lamb, though nicely seasoned were burnt and dry. The koobideh however, was amazing. Well-seasoned and moist, it went deliciously well with a mouthful of saffron rice. The platter was also accompanied by two grilled tomatoes...which turned out to be even better then the koobideh - ripe and juicy, and charred just enough to give a deliciously smoky flavour.

Overall dinner wasn't bad.  But it wasn't great either. (Oh...and for your convenience, a 15% gratuity is automatically added to your tab. Which is funny because it was a challenge to even find our server.)

Restaurant rating: Meh. Would go back if everything else was closed.

Butter tarts are good for the soul

I love butter tarts.  What's not to love? Oooey-gooey, sticky goodness, with a flaky buttery shell and crunchy maple pecans (apologies to all the butter tart purists reading this). To me, butter tarts are perfect.  But I'll only indulge on certain occasions.  Like when it's been a particularly stressful day (rarely do I crave a butter tart on a good day).

There's something about a butter tart that demands my full attention. Maybe it's because the flaky crust will break apart and leave a long trail of crumbs, or the sticky filling will drip onto my shirt as I take that first bite.  A butter tart is so rich, so complex to make and so difficult to eat, that it needs time and respect to properly enjoy.

By focusing solely on the butter tart in front of me, any worries or stress are temporarily shelved.  It gives me a few minutes to re-focus and re-group and hopefully, gain a different perspective on whatever is bothering me.  Butter tarts are sweet, calming and comforting.  Butter tarts help soothe the soul, or at the very least, this blogger's soul.

Did I have a butter tart today?  Yes.  Do I plan to have a butter tart tomorrow?  Absolutely not.

Crema Coffee Co. at Yonge/Bloor serves a mean butter tart.

Butter tart rating: satisfaction level, 10; guilt level, 7.  Okay...maybe the guilt level is closer to a 4.

High Tea at the Windsor Arms

A girlfriend and I recently had high tea at the Tea Room inside the Windsor Arms Hotel.  There's something so refined and ladylike about high tea.  While we didn't discuss what to wear, we both showed up in teatime outfits - summer dresses for a sunny afternoon of tea.

The Tea Room is beautifully decorated, the atmosphere was just the perfect amount of "stuffy" (and I'm the first to admit that "stuffy" once in awhile can actually be fun).  The tea room has something for everyone - strong teas for tea aficionados and lighter ones for the part-time tea drinker.  I'm a tea lover and went with a strong tea selection: Russian Caravan.  A blend of China black tea, Lapsang Souchong and bergamot tea leaves, the tea was a treat before it even reached the tongue.  The smell was similar to a smoldering camp fire in the summer - strong, calm and comforting.  The taste was even better - I actually swirled the tea in my mouth like wine before I swallowed it.  It was slightly bitter, but also smoky, reminding me of cassis.  It was perfect.

While tea is a main part of the experience, so are the sweet and savoury treats.  From warm scones with fresh devon cream and strawberry preserves, to the beautifully made finger sandwiches, there was something to suit every palate.  For me, it was the summer berries with fresh whipped cream.

Oh, and let's not forget about the wide array of old-fashioned tea-time hats, which can be worn with a $5 donation. Don't forget to bring your camera!

But the best part of it all?  The conversation.  Unlike other meals (which I tend to eat on the run), high tea is meant to be a slow and leisurely experience.  Which is absolutely perfect for catching up with a good friend.

Restaurant rating: Definitely worth an extra hour or two at the gym.

Brunching with little ones

I live in the suburbs, so finding a decent place for brunch can be a bit difficult.  Enter Chez Cora. Totally geared towards family, Chez Cora is great for taking the little ones.  I took my two little cousins recently (and again this morning), and they love the experience.  The food is fairly good, and the service isn't bad - the most important thing for me (in this case) was for my cousins to enjoy the experience.

Chez Cora has a good kids menu and lots of (relatively) healthy options. From bacon and eggs, to fruit platters to crepes and waffles (even oatmeal for those of us watching our waist lines), there are lots of options.  Plus, the kids get to leave with balloons.  What's not to like when you're looking for an easy weekend family brunch?

Restaurant rating: Definitely worth an extra hour or two at the gym.

Restaurant review rating system

Since I love eating as much as I love cooking, I thought it might make sense to start providing feedback and (dare I say) reviews of restaurants I eat at.

What makes me qualified to provide restaurant reviews? I haven't received professional training, but I do recognize good food when I eat it.

For the most part, the places I'll try will range between $25-$100 for two people, though I will specify if the restaurant goes beyond that price range.

Restaurant / Food Rating System:
- Definitely worth an extra hour or two at the gym.
- Would go back occasionally.
- Meh. Would go back if everything else was closed.
- Run fast and run far / may cause stomach ulcers.