Sauteed Salmon Recipe

Salmon, Lemon, olive oil, and Garlic are some of my favourite ingredients. Lightly sizzled on a hot skillet and oven baked to perfection will fill your kitchen with some of the utmost brilliant aromas. I’ve tried this one myself. However, I couldn’t take a picture because the presentation was not up to par.

I try my dearest to eat healthy. The above recipe with a side spinach salad plus a loaf of cheesy whole wheat bread will create a wonderful meal for yourself and your loved ones.

Give it a try, you’ll love it.

Brunch at Brassaii

Another rainy Sunday morning (ok early afternoon) when my friend called me up to go for brunch. The dilemma… where to go downtown Toronto without having to wait forever before even getting a seat?

The usual brunch spot for those who live in the Entertainment district is a little well known Montreal chain (rhymes with Bora’s) that has an hour long line-up that starts like clock work at 9:30am every weekend. I personally prefer to make the extra 5 minute walk down King St. West to Brassaii.

Those who are familiar with this trendy hot spot for dinner are already familiar with the great atmosphere and service. But did you know that their brunch is just as good?

The fresh doughnuts with chocolate espresso dip ($5) are a favourite with regulars and are not to be missed. My personal choice is the eggs norwegian: poached eggs with smoked salmon & hollandaise on an english muffin ($13).

They also have a great brunch drink selection worth checking out, perfect for celebrating any occasion (even if it’s just getting out of bed on a Sunday).

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FREE Buffet for Canada Day at Mandarin!

On July 1, 2009 join what’s sure to be a very LONG line-up of Chinese buffet lovers at Mandarin for a FREE All-You-Can-Eat-Buffet. Lines are sure to last for a few hours but if you grab a few friends and get there before meal time it might be worth the possible 4 hour wait.

To celebrate Canada Day at Mandarin, we’re making fireworks of our own by offering our All-You-Can-Eat Buffet for FREE to Canadian citizens! We want to say THANK YOU CANADA, for welcoming us into this great country. Visit any of our 21 locations on July 1, 2009 and enjoy tasty Chinese cuisine alongside tried and true Canadian dishes, all for FREE. The celebration begins at 12:00pm and ends with our last seating at 8:30pm. Reservations will not be taken on Canada Day – guests will be seated on a first come first serve basis. Come join in on the festivities!

We ask for your co-operation in respecting the following:
o Buffet meals (including soft drinks, tea, and coffee) are free for all Canadians* with one of the following proofs of citizenship: Canadian birth certificate, Canadian passport, Canadian citizenship card
o No reservations will be taken – guests will be seated on a first come first serve basis
o Our first seating is at 12:00pm and our last seating is at 8:30pm
o All guests in your party must be present in the line. If a member of your party needs a break, please inform the people behind you
o Dress code is in effect
o This offer does not apply to: other beverages, take-out or delivery meals
o Tips are not included and are appreciated by the staff
o À-la-carte will not be served on July 1, but we will continue serving take-out & delivery at regular prices

To find a Mandarin near you, visit: http://www.mandarinbuffet.com/locations.html

Oliver & Bonacini Café Grill

A fixed commodity on the Toronto restaurant scene, O&B offers a unique blend of fusion and modern twist to their ambitious style of cuisine that never fails to satisfy. A very inviting dining atmosphere that is wrapped in warm lighting with a clean and crisp décor. The service standard for any O&B restaurant is excellent and this café grill is no exception with friendly courteous staff. With much attention to detail O&B does not disappoint with their dinner menu which is savvy and ambitious to keeps you wanting more. As for the deserts, O&B serves up a great variety of cheese cakes and pies, but we strongly recommend you try the Chef’s Platter where you can indulge in an assortment of items. O&B prices are reasonable and not on the same level as fine dinning where dinner entrees ranging from $15-$30. O&B is a great place to visit for casual lunches and dinners but is also doubles as a fantastic place for a business luncheon.

Recommendations:
Starters: Fresh fruit salads, Classic Caprese Bruschetta with buffalo mozzarella, made to order fresh Caesar or Garden salad
Lunch: Smoked Atlantic Salmon on a toasted bagel, Alla Marco, barbecued duck with pineapple and caramelized onions and tomato sauce
Dinner: Fire Roasted Baby Back Ribs, O&B Signature Thai Red Curry, Beer Battered Atlantic Haddock
Desert: Chef’s Platter, Classic Vanilla Bean Crème Brule

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Richmond Court

A popular eatery that has always commanded a strong presence in the town of Richmond Hill. This Hong Kong style café has evolved into a one stop shop for Chinese cuisine that even houses a BBQ and bakery area.

One of the main appeals of this restaurant is the long menu, which includes:  noodles, soup/fried, rice, fried rice, baked dishes, dumplingsm dim sum, and etc.

Richmond Court has great prices and is open ridiculously late (3am) which makes it a popular hot spot for the late night snacker. The food is very consistent and usually is prepared promptly but the waiting staff can be a bit moody at times which makes it the Hong Kong style dining even more authentic! Parking can be horrendous during lunch time but the turn around on the meal will be worth the effort.

Recommendations: Baked Garoupa Corn Rice, Tomato Ox Tongue Rice

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Ming’s Noodle Café

Seems like a typical Hong Kong style eatery but stands out for two very distinct reasons, huge portions and bargain low prices!

Ming’s Noodle Café serves up the most generous servings we’ve ever seen and mixed with their extreme economically friendly prices (dishes from $5.95) we give Ming’s Noodle Café the thumbs up!

If you don’t feel like dining in, Ming’s portions are just as generous for their take out dishes as well.

Recommendations: Baked Curry Chicken Rice, Baked Portuguese Chicken Rice, Baked Spaghetti Bolognaise.

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Buk Chang Dong Soon Tofu

Three words for you “Korean comfort food”. Buk Chang Dong Soon Tofu (BCDST) by all means is a mouth full to say but their 9 item specialty menu says something totally different.

You start off with complimentary tea and traditional Korean appetizers:  been sprouts, bamboo chutes, kim-chee lettuce, seaweed, and fish flavored beans

For once we can honestly say that everything on this menu is delicious, with many great choices that are served up consistently sizzling and piping hot every time! The quality of the food is very evident and the preparation efforts are clearly shown by the cooking staff. The various Soon Tofu dishes (beef, shrimp, mussel, kimchi, oyster) on the menu are the in-house signature dishes and are usual orders among the patrons that pack the restaurant daily for dinner.

In addition of the Tofu there are 3 more hearty beef dishes that are essential to your dining experience, the Stone Pot Bibimbab, Dukbegi Bulgogi, Broiled Beef that should not be ignored. Now with prices likes these (everything under $10) there’s no wonder you’ll find many repeat customers flocking back till fill their bellies.

The dining room is clearly lit but the eating area is a bit on the tight side and you may find some difficulty finding parking but it’ll be well worth it.

Address:  691 Bloor Street West, Toronto M6G 1L3
Phone: 416-537-0972
Recommendations: Everything on the menu (items #1 – #9)

Title Photo by:  ronnie.yip

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YummyLocal flikr Group Reviews:

Photo by jon_lin: The combination tofu, "1" on the menu. Tastes as delicious as it looks.

Photo Review by jon_lin: Back to the Korean Tofu on Bloor and Clinton St! As good as ever, and only $10 incl. tip!

Photo Review by ardenstreet: Though I've had much better banchan/side dishes at other Koreatown restaurants, the tofu stew here was pretty darn amazing. I had the beef/pork/kimchi stew (the cracked eggshell is the only evidence here). For $8 flat, this meal is a pretty good deal.

Photo Review by -:conartiste:- : @ Buk Chang Dong Soon Tofu

Photo Review by ronnie.yip: bi bim bap, bitches!

Photo Review by kaeko: at Buk Chang Dong Soon To Fu, Toronto

Photo Review by Jim_U: Dumpling Soon Tofu

Photo Review by Jim_U: Buk Chang Dong Soon To Fu - Dolsot Bibimbop

Photo review by HOLLEROTRON: damn tasty

Photo review by kaeko: Buk Chang Dong Soon To Fu, Toronto

Ten Ren’s Tea House

Taiwanese tea house is famous for their large variety of beverages with or without tapioca, jelly, or fruit bits. Bubble tea dessert venues have come a long way since the regular mall stands that we see today.

This “tea house” is wrapped in an eye catching, romantic lighting with generously high and decorative ceilings to add to the grandeur effect. Ten Ren’s offers a great selection of cooked food which includes rice and noodle dishes and great appetizers to go along with your beverages.

Freshly made fruit smoothies and shakes are great during season and the tea selection is more than you can ask for but don’t forget the bubble tea! Prices for the drinks and snacks are reasonable and the waiting staff is courteous and kind but there tends to be a line up on weekends.

Recommendations: Strawberry Ten Lu Slush, Deep Fried Popcorn Chicken

The World of Cafeteria Lunches

Artichoke on your left

I’m a very observant person espcially when it comes to things that are new events that occur on the web but   this one has to top my list as odd but awesomely cool.   The picture on your left is a set lunch offered in France. You can find more fabulous set lunches here.

Looking at the lunches offered in different territories around the world makes me recall Jamie Oliver’s ‘Return to School Dinners‘. In which Jamie has made his love for food in to a passion to provide better food for the schools.

As you may notice while scouring through the list of photos, lunches from America is usually in a grainy yellow (“FRIED”). This explains so much about the growing obeseity rate attacking American youth.

Thoughts?

The Toronto P.A.T.H

Finally Torontonians are able to break out from the  the complex underground maze  known as the P.A.T.H.  As summer attacks the downtown core many urban adventurers will be reaching for their sunglasses and flock outside towards the many outdoor patios for lunch and drinks.   The Toronto Path features 1200 small to large businesses in which a good majority of them are restaurants and fast food joints. If you are ever in town, please give the P.A.T.H a quick walk. You’d be amazed how far you can reach walking undergrounded.