Yuzu No Hana

Many of the restaurants we have been to were based on C picking them out or mutual interest. This time, I decided to surprise C with a restaurant hand-picked by myself. We both love Japanese cuisine - especially sushi. We have ventured to many All-You-Can-Eat (AYCE) sushi restaurants around GTA, but I thought it would be interesting if we focus more on the quality rather than quantity for a sushi restaurant. With promising reviews and ratings by other bloggers on Urbanspoon and Yelp, C and I ended up dining at Yuzu no hana; an upscale modern Japanese cuisine.

Yuzu No Hana
Where: 236 Adelaide St W,
Toronto, ON,
M5H 1W7
Price: $$$$ ($150 for 2 people, no wine, tip/tax included

Pizzeria Libretto

Pizzeria Libretto
Where: 550 Danforth Ave
Price: $$$ ($165 for 6 people, tax and tip included) but their lunches are cheap!

Origin Liberty

Chef Claudio Aprile, known for his limitless and culinary experimentaion, opened Origin Liberty after his Origin and the acclaimed Colborne Lane (now closed, sadly). E and I were in Liberty Village and stumbled upon Origin. Great atmosphere and everything was beautifully presented but the menu items weren't particularly innovative (definitely no Colborne Lane).

ORIGIN 

Where: 107 King Street E (Liberty Village)

Toronto ON

M5C 1G6

Price: $$

Bestellen

I don't know which was more exciting: the prospect of going to a meat-centered restaurant owned by Rob Rossi, or the chance to meet Rob Rossi himself! Bestellen, which means "made to order" in German was opened by Top Chef Canada finalist, Rob Rossi (who was the former head chef of Mercatto!) and features food influences from Italy, France and of course Germany.

BESTELLEN
Where: 972 College Street
Toronto, ON
M6J 3H8
Price: $$

12 Cold Soups

I'm a little late with posting this article (ok.. really late), but I recently stumbled upon this great article on the New York Times that has 12 completely adaptable recipes for cold soups. In this hot, hot weather that Toronto has been getting lately, this article is a godsend! Click the picture for a direct link!

Sweet & Spicy Edible Spoons -- Add an extra oomph to a boring meal!

Now if you know me, I am a huuuuuuge fan of interesting, albeit mostly useless, food inventions. I recently stumbled upon something awesome that I thought I'd share -- the Edible Spoon by Triangle Tree

SLURP! Noodlefest

In the Kitchen: PB & Banana French Toast

An easy and delicious way to give you a boost of energy at the start of your day!

In the Kitchen: Creamy Avocado Pasta

The local supermarket is going experience an avocado shortage pretty soon. First thing you have to know is that I LOVE avocados. I can eat them plain, with salt and pepper, or just with sriracha, they're delicious any way. Needless to say, when I stumbled upon this recipe for an Avocado cream sauce, I was ecstatic!

This is actually the easiest sauce I have ever attempted... the pasta boiling took longer than this sauce! And - bonus - it's healthy!

Adapted from Chocolate and Chillies

Creamy Avocado Pasta

Windsor Arms Hotel: High Tea

Windsor Arms

Where: 18 Saint Thomas Street

Toronto, ON

M5S 3E7

Price: $25 per person

[Kingston]: The Brass (for Brunch!)

If you live in Kingston, you know that The Brass is the popular student pub. It also makes a mean (and ridiculously affordable) post-drinking breakfast! Restaurant by day and a busy, busy student-favourite pub by night.


The Brass Pub
Where: 403 Princess Street
Kingston, ON
K7L 1B9
Price: $6 - $15 (For breakfast)

In the Kitchen: Praline Cookies

STACK Smokehouse Restaurant

With the Burger's Priest just next door, STACK brings Toronto some truly flavourful smoked meat to hopefully cure this area's meaty cravings.

Exterior (via. The Grid)

STACK Smmmokehouse

WHERE: 3265 Yonge Street

Toronto, ON

M4N 2L4

Price: $$ ($40 for two people)