Duo Patisserie & Cafe

Recently opened in Richmond Hill is Duo Patisserie and Cafe. The story behind the name of the patisserie is heart warming: the two owners, Rocky & Eric have been best friends since they were 6 years old and this cafe is a celebration of the duo. 

Duo Patisserie & Cafe
Where: 230 Commerce Valley Dr E (Unit 4) Markham, ON 
Price: $

CJ PLAYS: LockQuest (Media Preview)

We would like to thank the hosts from LockQuest for inviting us out for a media preview. Please note that this is not a paid promotion and all opinions are our own. LockQuest is the newest escape location and we were quite impressed! They take the word 'theme' and immerse you into the story of the room and as always, we promise - no spoilers!

CJ Plays: Escape Games Part 1

CJ Plays: Escape Games Part 2

CJ PLAYS: Escape Places! Part 2

We're back at it again! Hitting up some escape places in Toronto :) If you haven't seen our first post, check it out here. It dives into more detail on the different escape games around Toronto.

There have a been a few new escape games opening so we decided to take a crack at the puzzles and revisiting old favorites. Here's part two into our journey through escape games. (We promise - no spoilers!)

CJ Plays: Escape Places Part 1

CJ Plays: LockQuest (Media preview)

Han Ba Tang - traditional Korean food with a modern twist!

Great music? Check. Innovative drinks? Check. Unique food? Check.

If you're looking for a new place to drink or just to hang out with friends and catch up over good food then head to Han Ba Tang (HBT) - a newly opened Korean restaurant and bar. They feature traditional ingredients with a modern twist and very innovative drinks!  Han Ba Tang actually means "one full round" in Korean. Whether it's a full found of eating, drinking, laughing, playing.. HBT promises a good time. We were invited for a blogger preview of the food and man, I can't say enough good things about this place!

Han Ba Tang
Where: 4862 Yonge Street
Price: $ (You can easily spend just $15 per person and be full!)

In the Kitchen: MINDBLOWING Potato Chips

Yes, I realize that is a bold claim but I am honestly freaking out about these potato chips! In my naive mind, I always believed that potato chips needed to be deep fried in lots of oil but man I didn't realize it was this simple. One of the main reasons why I like to cook my own food is because I like seeing exactly what goes into my food. Being able to control how much salt goes into these potato chips and seeing that all it took was some oil and potato to make some addictingly crispy chips has sold me . I am such a believer in these microwave chips now!!

Honestly, the possibilities are endless. Imagine arranging the potatoes into a spiral shape and them microwaving them to create one large spiral potato chip. You can serve steak on top of that! Or a light salad! Or I'm getting so excited just typing this recipe. 

CJ PLAYS: Tree Top Trekking @ Eco Adventure Park

Located in Oshawa, Ontario, Eco-Adventure Park was just under an hour's drive away.

Tips for first timers:

• Would definitely recommend work out gloves though it is not required. Halfway through the course, my hands were starting to hurt !
• Bug spray and sunscreen! More emphasis on the bug spray because we got eaten alive up there!

the sanctuary

My friend, Josh, recently decided to start pop-up dinners in the comfort of his own home in Waterloo. I had the pleasure of attending his first dinner and was pleasantly surprised! His theme for the night was "Market Creations" where he created the menu based on what's in season. Sometimes it'll be a menu will be entirely based on a day at the farmer's market. For our meal specifically, he drew his inspiration from fresh produce available at the farmer's market on Thursday for our meal on Saturday.

the sanctuary
Price: Suggested donation of $24
Location: Provided upon reservation
Notes: First come first serve for events; Depending on what event he chooses to do, the minimum party reservation will change. (For our event, it was 4 people minimum)

Food Issues That Truly Divide Us All

Okay but does anyone ACTUALLY put ketchup straight on to their fries like that? THEY GET SOGGY!

via Reddit

Kingyo

J is done university which is totally to be expected but worth celebrating anyways!
Kingyo
Where: 51 Winchester Street, Toronto, ON
Price: $$$ (Our bill was $72 for 2 people, tax and tip included)
Note: Reserve ahead of time because it can get VERY busy, especially on weekends

Cho Sun Ok

Craving Korean food but it's a hot, sweltering day? Have no fear, Cho Sun Ok's cold noodles are here! This restaurant specializes in cold noodles but seriously, all its dishes are pretty darn good

Cho Sun Ok
Where: 7353 Yonge St, Toronto, ON
Price: $

CJ PLAYS: The Hub Climbing - A Great Bouldering Experience!

The Hub Climbing
Where: 165 Macintosh Dr, Markham, ON
Price: $$ ($17 for a day pass, 15% off for FT students, teachers, police, fire, ambulance and active military personnel)
Note: Climbing shoes are MANDATORY ($5.50 unless you have your own)

Oh Geul Boh Geul

Bul Nak Jeon Gol ($29.95)

One of my favourite places to enjoy Korean hotpot .. fantastic food, reasonable prices and HUGE portions.

Oh Geul Boh Geul
Where: 5320 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON
Price: $$ ($36 for two people, tax & tip included)

The One That Got Away

Left: COD & FRIES ($9.49)
Right: FISH BASKET - shrimp, scallops, calamari, haddock, fries, coleslaw ($15.99)

Great place for seafood but not so much their fish!

The One That Got Away
Where: 581 King Street W, Toronto, ON
Price: $ 
Note: There is very limited seating! This is more of a take-away place but if you go on off times you'll be able to snag a seat :)

Food Adventure from Finch to Union!

This summer, my sister and  I decided to finally check this item off our bucket list

                  ✔Walk from Finch Station to Union Station

But why stop there? We both love to eat so why not make this into a foodie adventure? So we laced up our trainers and decided to embark on our biggest food adventure and hit restaurants, cafes, diners and from Finch to Union Station. We were completely confident that we could walk from Finch to Union in about 2.5 hour - 3 hours since we both go hiking but this trip took 5.5 hours with the multiple food stops we made. 

Originally, we had a list of 17 restaurants we wanted to hit up but unfortunately, it was taking too long as we had to finish by the early afternoon. So, 3 hours and 3 restaurants in, with a heavy heart we cut out almost 12 restaurants :( Oh well, more incentive to do this trip again!

On to all the places we went that day!! 

Mama Bear Taiwanese Cuisine

I always crave Taiwanese food and now I can finally satisfy that craving! 

Mama Bear Taiwanese Cuisine
Where: 324 Highway 7 East, Richmond Hill, ON
Price: $

Night It Up! 2014

Night It Up!

Where: Markham Civic Centre

When: Friday, July 11, 7PM-12AM
            Saturday, July 12, 3PM-12AM
            Sunday, July 13, 3PM-10PM

Admission: Free!

CJ PLAYS: Escape Places!

So if you know us in real life, then you know that we are obsessed with this new interactive game that has been taking Toronto by storm. The basic premise behind these games is that they lock you in a room and you try to escape using clues from a variety of puzzles and obstacles. You know the iPhone/iPad games where you have to tap around to find clues to answer puzzles? Imagine that in a real life setting. It's SO much fun and definitely a new interactive experience!

We've been to quite a few of these games under different companies and decided why not give a brief review on each one? Here's quick run down on the escape games we've been to (We promise - no spoilers!)

CJ Plays: Escape Places Part 2

CJ Plays: LockQuest (Media preview)

In the Kitchen: Carrot Cake

This is an extremely old recipe that I've had logged away for a long time. I made this during Easter so yikes, this is definitely a late post. Easter is never complete without a carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. And a delicious cream cheese frosting is the absolutely necessary finishing touch on this classic carrot cake. 

In the Kitchen: Yakisoba

Yakisoba translates to grilled (yaki) noodles (soba) and was originally derived Chinese chow mein. In its most basic form, yakisoba is a classic Japanese street food made by stir frying boiled ramen noodles with a sweet and savoury sauce. Since then, there have been tons of variations but this one is the easiest for my always ravenous family. 

Sugar Marmalade Inc.

via Blog TO

J & I came in here full and not expecting to order much but one look at the menu and I immediately grew a second stomach for desserts.

Sugar Marmalade
Where: 5322 Yonge Street
Price: $ (~$6 per dish)

Kekou Gelato House

Soursop & Durian Gelato
Medium $4.25

Kekou Gelato House
Where: 13 Baldwin Street
Price: $
Small $3.75, Medium $4.25, Large $4.75

Bar Isabel

via Where to Eat Out

Bar Isabel
Where: 797 College Street
Toronto, ON
M6G 1C7
Price: $$$$ (We ordered the $65 tasting menu amongst 11 people + 2 bottles of wine..~$1000 meal)
Note: Reservations are highly recommended..They start booking for weekends at least 2 months in advance and weekdays at least 3 weeks in advance!!

In the Kitchen: Japanese Curry

Yakitori Kintori

Yakitori Kintori is a compact restaurant that recently opened up on top of its sister restaurant, Kinton. Yes, that's right, this restaurant is the newest member of the Guu/Kinton/JaBistro family. While it holds the same ambiance as its sister restaurants, its main focus is not on fresh fish but on Japanese charcoal grilled Yakitori (skewers).

Yakitori Kintori
Where: 668 Bloor St W
Price: $$, For 5 people, bill was $160 (not including tips)
Notes: Reservations are highly recommended; MUST get the dekitate tofu, sake cheese fondue and kitsune udon.

Outrageously Cheesy Treats That Want To Be Inside You

via

We love cheese on anything and everything. I came across this cheesy article on BuzzFeed showing a variety of different dishes packed with cheesy goodness. If you ever get to meet C, you have to try her pull apart bread that is completely filled with cheese. The only problem with the pull apart bread is once you try a piece, it's really hard to stop.

Here are my top 3 favorites!

In the Kitchen: One Pot Pasta - Thai Style!

Last week, I posted a recipe for an incredibly easy dinner using only one pot. This week, I decided do a Thai spin on the recipe.

In the Kitchen: Zucchini Lasagna

I LOVE lasagna but always found it fairly heavy in the carbohydrate department. In this recipe, zucchini replaces the lasagna sheets but the same delicious flavour is still there. You won't even miss the noodle! This lasagna is perfect for winter or summer because the vegetables are very easy to substitute.

Baked Kit Kats Exist.. and They Look DELICIOUS!

via

In Japan, the latest flavours for Kit Kat are "Yaki Cream Cheese". In Japanese, "yaki" means baked, toasted, grilled, roasted, etc. (BTW, yes, this is the same "yaki" in takoyaki..which in direct translation means octopus that is baked). Unfortunately, these are ONLY available in the Kit Kat boutique located in Tokyo.

Thermos: 16-Oz Leak Proof Drink Bottle with Tea Infuser Review

I was on the hunt for a reliable tea travel mug for the longest time. I was being too picky with each one - either they were too small, not spill-proof or not very ergonomic for work. J ended up finding this 16 ounce Leak Proof Drink Bottle with Tea Infuser from Thermos on Amazon and it has honestly been a dream to use.

Would You Still Eat These Foods If They Were Called By Their Honest Names?

Have you ever thought that yogurt is literally just cream that has been injected with bacteria? Or that tripe is actually the stomach lining of a cow?

via

These foods are way more appetizing with the names we know them by. Would you still eat these foods if they were called by their real, honest names?

Cereal Box Mascots are Designed to Catch Your Eye

Marketing companies are more sneaky and clever than I give them credit! Researchers at Cornell University Food and Brand Lab recently discovered that cereal mascot's eyes are placed depending on who they are targeting.

These Forks Will Add 21 Flavours in a Single Bite!

via

Want to taste a steak with a hint of strawberry? But would you really sacrifice a full steak and a basket of strawberries just to find out ? Molecule-R (basically the Betty Crocker of the molecular gastronomy world) has come up with the Aromafork and it is breaking the convention rules that certain foods can't mix.

In the Kitchen: Rainbow Smoothie

I LOVE drinking shakes as a morning meal. It gives you a natural burst of energy and tastes delicious but is all natural and healthy. The best part about smoothies is that they are completely versatile so this recipe can be switched around a million different ways until you find a fruit and veggie combo you love

TERRA Sweet Potato Chips Review

I am always looking for a healthy snack to add to my arsenal of snacks. Being the frugal university student, the sales are what determines what my next snack is. At Costco TERRA Sweet Potato Chips were on sale for $3.99 so I decided to give it a shot.

In the Kitchen: Coconut Curry Shrimp

This is a quick and easy shrimp dish with the sweetness of coconut milk which compliments the spiciness of the curry seasoning. Serve this over rice or spaghetti noodles.

Why the Chinese Tap Two Fingers When Poured Tea

Cinemagraph via

If you've ever eaten a traditional Chinese meal, have you ever observed that people tapping the table each time their cup is refilled? No, it's not a superstitious gesture - there is, in fact, a story behind it.

In the Kitchen: One Pot Pasta

Once in a while, a dish comes along that completely stuns you and causes you rethink all those long hours spent cooking. This is one of them. I mean, it's a one-pot pasta dish. Even when you cook the simplest pasta, you have to use 2 pots (one for spaghetti, one for sauce) but this is extremely minimal clean up and preparation. 

This Ad has the MOST Gorgeous Food Shots Ever

If you enjoy watching Food Network or YouTube recipe videos or if you just like to eat and look at pretty things, then you will enjoy this amazingly hypnotic piece of food porn from the French coffee brand, Carte Noire.

ROSE by Carte Noire from ))) datafone on Vimeo.

The two minute video titled, ROSE, is about baking delicious quaint little pastries filled with coffee-flavoured cream to pair with your coffee. Sounds simple enough but using a creative way of shooting it, a basic baking recipe turns into an artistic and mesmerizing work of art. Oh mon dieu!

Carte Noire also has various other videos shot with the same delicious and tantalizing views. You can view the videos HERE

Google's Nutrition Tool

I thought I'd switch it up and feature a service rather than a product today. Leave it to the folks on Reddit to stumble upon this tool. Now this is not a new tool, Google quietly launched it back in 2013, but I hadn't heard of it until now.

By typing "compare ____ and ____" or "____ vs ____"in Google will give you a nutrition comparison tool. Using the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Nutrient Database and Google's own algorithms, you will be hit with nutritional information as well as a bunch of tempting-looking recipes. As always, Google tries to give you "what might be useful to you when you ask it a question. Thanks, Google!

JaBistro for our 4th Anniversary :)!

We love going to upscale Japanese restaurants, but as university students... visiting them frequently is not financially practical. Thus, we like to save them for special days so we can hit two birds with one stone. Since it was our four year anniversary, we finally got the chance to hit up JaBistro, a restaurant we have been yearning to visit. Before you scroll down, get nice and comfortable and enjoy the tour of our favorite Japanese restaurant to date.

Opened by James Hyunsoo Kim, who brought the popular Guu chain from Vancouver to Toronto, it offers traditional sushi and sashimi as well as aburi (blow-torched sushi) and oshizushi (box-press sushi) which are hard to come by in Toronto. It truly lives up to all the hype and James can add another notch into his belt of successful restaurants. Heading up the kitchen is Koji Tashiro (you can spot him in the kitchen wearing his signature golf-like hat) who has had 12 years of sushi experience in the famous Tsukiji Fish Market (where Jiro gets his fish!) and Vancouver's Miku restaurant. He also worked briefly at Guu Sakabar to gain insight and experience with the Toronto clientele.

JaBistro
Where: 222 Richmond Street W, Toronto, ON
Price: $$$$ (Our meal was $225, including tax and tip)

In the Kitchen: Oven Baked Fries

All blogs have their own rendition of oven baked fries so I thought I would jump in too. Read further for tips on how to make the crispiest fries.. without frying them!

Tips from the Kitchen: How to Choose Fresh Fish!

Photo via Cravedfw

As a university student who has to do a lot of grocery shopping, I often find myself at a loss when it comes to the seafood aisle. Am I getting ripped off because they know I'm a student? Is the sale worth it? 

I stumbled upon this great article on Food52 on how to choose the freshest fish and thought it'd be great to share it with all of you!

Not Hydrated Enough? Try Eating More Water

 As a student and a young professional (YP), I understand when people say they don't get enough water in their day. Simply put, it is a daunting task! A busy lifestyle makes it hard for us to keep our body properly hydrated - and all those after work drinks and coffee to keep you awake through the day doesn't help either! Did you know that for every cup of coffee you drink, you need 2 cups of water in order to prevent dehydration. But you don't necessarily have to drink all your water (Tevlin, Adele). Roughly 20% of your natural intake of water is actually through solid foods - especially fruits and vegetables

Skotidakis Greek Yogurt Review

I absolutely love Greek Yogurt.. it's such a thick and decadent alternative to the regular watery yogurt. Before Greek yogurt, yogurt was either runny and very sweet or contained 20 calories. So when Greek yogurt blew up in Toronto, I searched high and low to find my favourite - which I can now confidently say is Skotidakis Yogurt.