Excellent Seasonal Cusine in... Ottawa?!

John Taylor At domus cafe
87 Murray Street, Byward Market Ottawa, Ontario (613) 241-6007

Previous attempts at finding a decent restaurant in the Ottawa market area (not including bagels) have been a complete failure, and the last time I was in town, I just gave up and just went to the Keg.

However, on a recent visit weekend visit to our nation's capital city, this sad losing streak was broken when we visited the small and trendy At domus cafe, which specializes in the use of fresh regional ingredients. I liked that we could watch the chef and his assistant working in the small and open kitchen at the back of the restaurant, and the service was efficient and professional - but not snobby (we showed up dressed in jeans).

For appetizers, we had two orders of the "Chaud Froid" of Quebec Foie Gras ($20). In terms of both quality and quantity, this dish scored top marks. The hot portion of this duck liver dish was seared perfectly, and served with a fried quails egg. The cold piece was served with house chutneys and reductions, and Melba toast. The contrast and variance within this dish was very original. My sister ordered the Canadian "Taste" Plate ($18), which consisted of a seared Atlantic sea scallop, warm smoked trout, and spicy crab maki roll. It was good, but the scallop was on the small side. The trout was most flavourful, almost melting in my mouth, and the roll was above average.

For the main course, I had the Black Pepper and Smoked Paprika Black Angus Beef Tenderloin. ($38), served with Yukon Mash, and Roasted Portobella Mushroom. Overall, the dish was simple, and fulfilling. It was served as requested, medium rare, and was nicely presented in five, 1/2 inch pieces. The potatoes were creamy, and vegtables were not over cooked, which is a good thing. I ate it all, and would order it again. My sister had the "Crispy" skin slow roasted mariposa farm duck breast ($36) - she was happy, and I had a taste... very tender, and satisfying.

Wine list was extensive, but not over priced... my only regret is that we didn't leave any room for dessert!

Since the ingredients used by the restaurant change regularly, the menu changes as well. At the end of our meal, I asked for a copy of our dinner menu, and our waitress was kind enough to provide one! At domus cafe is worth a visit if you are in Ottawa and looking for a good meal.

A Little Taste of Peru

Boulevard Cafe
161 Harbord St.
Toronto, Ontario
(416) 961-7676

On a cold Thursday evening, Isabella and I made our way to The Boulevard Café , a local family run Peruvian restaurant that we have visited more than a few times.

Brightly decorated in bright and bold colours, the cozy Café offers daily specials that are presented on hand written on board, in addition to the regular menu offerings.

This time, we skipped appetizers (to save room for dessert), and ordered our favorite Aticuchos - Sea Bass on a skewer, served with perfectly deep fried potatoes and a salad. This simple fish dish is deliciously warm and light. Highly recommended if you like fish. We also tried one of the daily specials - a rack of lamb served that was served with baby red potatoes and steamed vegetables. Cooked medium rare, it was full of flavor – as a result of the meat being slightly fatty – a good thing!

The bread served with every meal comes from a local bakery down the street. While it is slightly on the heavy side (we found out it is 80% corn meal) - you can’t just have one piece when it is served warm.

Unfortunately, our highly anticipated homemade pecan pie was on the burnt side. We didn’t eat it, but they didn’t add it to our bill either. Our previous experiences with desserts here have been very positive. The wait staff are always very friendly and attentive.

While they don’t offer guinea pig on their menu (yet), the Café is a great place to go for an affordable and casual dining experience that is not corporate in any way - you walk by the open kitchen if you sit upstairs. It can especially busy in the summer when the large patio is always filled with regulars. Cost of dinner with tip was $60. Make a visit!

East End Bistro - Oh Joy!

Joy Bistro
884 Queen St. East Toronto, Ontario
(416) 465-8855

Dinner at Joy Bistro, a local east end neighborhood restaurant provided a rewarding and satisfying dining experience. This was my second visit in the past 6 months, and we were not disappointed. However, was too cold to sit on the large patio that is set up during the summer months (minus 9 tonight).

Alex and I ordered the prix fixe menu ($35), which consisted of a sweet potato soup, braised berkshire pork with grilled wild scallops, mixed mushrooms, spetzle and wilted spinach, and crème brule for dessert. The soup was served hot, and had a nice consistency with little pieces of sweet potato, but was not too creamy, heavy, or sweet. The presentation of the main course was balanced – as were the different tastes… the pork was sweet, and was balanced by the more neutral spetzle and spinach. The warm grilled scallops were a reasonable size, but were not overly memorable. The crème brule was creamy – once the caramelized sugar top was broken, you could see the specks of fresh vanilla bean without looking too hard.

Isabella ordered the grilled stripped bass. The portion was a little on the small size, and it was accompanied lots of vegetables, which were soft and sweet – not over cooked. Vera had the braised lamb shank, which literally fell off the bone. If you like lamb, this dish is worth trying. Accompanied by a hearty serving of mashed potato, it wasn’t a light meal, but satisfying. She also had the soup of the day - the creamy potato and leek. We shared an order of lightly fried calamari, that were dipped in a garlic aioli.

The décor of this cozy restaurant borders on the romantic; with candles, dimmed lighting, heavy white cloth napkins, and a dominating dark wood bar. The wine list is quite extensive, and the service was very attentive and efficient. We didn’t feel rushed, even though we closed the place down (last table to leave) at 11 pm. Joy Bistro was a pleasure to visit, and we’ll definitely be back for another visit in the near future.

Northern Chinese Fare

Asian Legend is one of the restaurants I frequent most often in Toronto these days. Affordable and very tasty Northern Chinese cusine is served in a clean and modern dining area. The downtown location on Dundas St. has private room for party functions.

Make sure to order the xiaolongbao - steamed dumplings filled with pork and crab - don’t break the skin and lose the soup!, deep fried tofu, wontons in a peanut sauce, pan fried pork dumplings, green onion pancakes, spare ribs with vegetables, shanghai fried noodles, and szechuan string beans. If you have a larger group, try the Peking Duck – it is usually quite good, but order extra wraps – there aren’t usually enough to go around in a regular order. The warm red bean and black sesame seed desserts are also very good.

Service is usually efficient, fast, and not especially rude (by Chinese restaurant standards), and the three locations I’ve visited have line ups during the dinner and lunch hour. It is great Value For Money (VFM) – it is hard to spend more than $20 per person for dinner, not including drinks.

If you plan on making Asian Legend one of your regular restaurant stops, purchase a $10 frequent eating card – this gets you a 10% discount every visit, and is valid for a year.

If you are in the Highway 7 and Woodbine Avenue area, Ding Tai Fung is a good alternative, offering high quality xiaolongbao and similar Northern fare. I would even think the dumplings are a little better in terms of size and taste compared with Asian Legend. However, finding a parking spot remotely near the restaurant is a challenge at the best of times. Also, be prepared to wait for a table - line ups are often out the door.

NYC: Take A Bite Out of the Big Apple

Before making a trip to New York City (NYC) make sure to plan your meals well in advance – restaurant reservations are often necessary, and you don’t want to waste any ‘lunches’ or ‘dinners’ while you are there. The street food will be tempting – pizza, hot dogs, and beef brisket – but rely on these options for afternoon or late night snacks.

Our last NYC trip in September included attending Andre Agassi's last U.S. Open, seeing a Broadway show, exploring the Metropolitan Museum of Art (a must see!), and taking advantage of the city’s expansive culinary experience. With so many food options, NYC can be overwhelming at times, with a number of restaurants on every block. We’ve successfully managed to navigate our way to some great places thanks to many of our foodie friends who make annual food & shopping pilgrimages.

My favorite restaurant in NYC is the Union Square Café. Offering classical American fare, both our lunch and dinner experiences have not disappointed. Freshly shucked oysters, pan seared salmon, scallops, steak, garlic potato chips, and the blueberry pie were fantastic. I also loved the great service provided by the wait staff who were extremely professional, not overbearing, and just really nice. The restaurant is casual, comfortable, and classy. Rated as the number two restaurant in the Zagat survey in NYC, it is number one in my book.

Last year, we tried the restaurant rated number one by Zagat– a few blocks away – Gramercy Tavern. We had a late sitting dinner – around 9:30 pm – and there was quite a crowd that was more upscale and dressy. We tried the tasting menu, and while it was creative, and pleasant dining experience, I wasn’t really overly impressed.

For brunch, try the popular NYU student hangout, the Coffee Shop - Union Square. The waitresses look like aspiring models, and its open 23 hours a day. Billed as a classic American diner with a Brazilian twist, breakfast is OK. We also enjoyed lunch/brunch at Balthazar, which looks like a classical French bistro. The steak and fries were great, and the massive cold seafood platter the next table ordered looked worth trying next time.

For lunch, after shopping in the SOHO district, stop off at Honmura An. This place is peaceful, and serves fresh soba noodles (hot and cold) – you can watch them make it. We also liked the huge tempura shrimp. The homemade green tea ice cream was a nice way to end the meal. Serenity and peace comes at a cost in NYC, but it was worth it.

On the Japanese theme, try the famous Nobu sushi restaurant, a New York City institution. We dined on the omakase lunch menu for $50 each… It was SO worth it. If you love Japanese, this is must visit. The marinated black cod was to die for. The sushi, sashimi, and noodles were also top notch. We had planned on going to Nobu Next Door (located next door to Nobu), but they weren’t open for lunch. Both restaurants have the same menu, with Nobu Next Door having a more casual, hipper crowd. The advantage with Nobu Next Door is they don’t take reservations, for those of you that don’t plan your meals like I do!

In little Italy, make sure to drop into Ferrara for a coffee and dessert. Considered a landmark, it is a nice place to rest your feet, eat pastries, and think about scenes from the Godfather that were/could have been filmed just outside the door.

For one of your dinners in NYC try the upscale Asia De Cuba, whose menu combines Asian and Latino fare. Tip: order a bunch of appetizers to share. We never did order a main course. The tuna tartare, dumplings, warm calamari salad, and duck, were all very original and filling. On the ground floor, a massive common table is available to dine with strangers if you choose – and we chose not to. We ate on the balcony; great for people watching. Parts of the restaurant are set up like a lounge, and if you’re not up for a meal, they have excellent cocktail menu; we both enjoyed the lychee and apple mojitos.

A more economical Latino alternative is the Xunta Tapas Bar, where the music is loud and vibrant, and whose menu offers an extensive assortment of tapas, and pitchers of sangria. If you are looking for a very casual (jeans) dining experience, and like different kinds of fried cheese and pork - this good stop.

Le Colonial is a restaurant that is perfect if you are in the mood for Vietnamese, with a little twist. The French influence on the décor and food is unmistakable. We enjoyed the lemon grass ribs, spring rolls wrapped in lettuce & dipped in fish sauce, fried rice, shrimp barbequed on sugar cane, and fish. Make sure to go for the bottomless ice tea, ignore the rushed service, and finish the meal off with a good coffee.

For a true Sex in the City dining/& drinks experience, try Tao. While the pan Asian fare is a tad over priced, the atmosphere makes up for it. The massive gold Buddha statue is impressive and breathtaking. Saturday night, the place was absolutely packed, and this may have explained why it was difficult to order drinks. Still, it was a fun time – sharing the dumplings (so so), miso glazed sea bass (the best thing we tried), filet mignon served on a hot iron plate, mushrooms, egg plant, and dragon tail spare ribs.

Food Before the Game

Richtree - BCE Place
42 Yonge St.
Toronto, Ontario
(416)366-8986

Formerly known as the Movenpick Marche, the renamed Richtree, has maintained the same standards of unremarkable food. A few years ago, my Mom referred to it as a high priced cafeteria. While this criticism could be viewed as a little harsh, there is some truth to her observation. Upon entry, patrons are given a internal credit card to purchase meals and drinks at different food stations (pasta, salad, sushi, bbq, dessert etc) in a Market atmosphere. This place has been around forever - I use to come here when I was in high school.

The best thing about Richtree is its location. It is a good place to go when you are downtown and need to grab a quick bite before the Leafs/Raptors/Jays game or ballet at the Hummingbird Centre. Located in the BCE Place, its themed rooms and decor hasn't changed since I can remember - sit in the atrium if there is space.

This is a nice place to meet with a large group of friends for two reasons. Firstly, since everyones individual bill is already divided up, this ensures you won't get stuck paying for someone else's Martinis or expensive steak when it comes to dividing up the bill (we all have experienced this). Secondly, there is never any rush from the staff to vacate your table/space - so if friends are just 'dropping by', it is ideal place to meet.

While most of the main course offerings are standard and not memorable, try the pan friend Swiss rosti potatoes with smoked salmon - its not something you find on menus at other restaurants, and it’s a lot of work to make at home. Breads are usually fresh too. The dessert offerings are quite good - there is always a wide variety of pastries, cakes and pies. My favorites are the waffles/crepes that are loaded with fruit (strawberries and bananas), topped with ice cream, and covered in warm chocolate sauce or maple syrup. Unfortunately, they don't serve the Movenpick brand ice cream any more, but the portions are larger, and the prices are significantly cheaper now (about $3) from a few years ago.

There is always seems to be a large number of tourists around, and it remains a good place to people watch. However, at times, the market atmosphere tends to get a little crowded, and it is annoying to have to protect your food while trying to get back to your table in one piece. Also, when you go and pay for your bill, they tack on an additional 15% service gratuity fee (does this really go to the workers?), which always leaves me wondering... what service? If I remember correctly, I picked up my own food...

Reasons to eat here: if you are meeting a large group, want good dessert, happen to need food late at night, or don't want a sit down meal but need to avoid fast food before a downtown event.

Great Tasting Lobster

The Lobster Trap
1962 Avenue Road
(416)-787-3211

The Lobster Trap has the best lobster bisque I've had anywhere, ever. Creamy and rich, it is loaded with chunks of lobster, and is to be savored. Don't pass this up! I’ve had serious cravings for this soup.

While the menu has an array of other seafood, stick with what this place is famous for - its lobster. Whole lobsters (ranging from 1 lb. to 4 lbs), can be ordered either broiled or steamed. Go with the broiled - the bodies are cut in half and served with slightly toasted buttered bread crumbs. Usually a 1 lb. lobster is a large enough size. For an extra $7, you get a cup of soup, and soft drink. Toasted buns smothered with butter and garlic are provided with the meal, and are hard to resist when warm.

Don't be put off by the tacky, fisherman's Wharf-like decor, or photos on the web-site - trust me, the food is totally worth it. Service is usually pretty swift and efficient - and lobster diners are provided with a linen bib to protect against potential spray. Avoid this meal if you are on a first date, or with someone who doesn't like seafood.

Sushi In Toronto

Sushi restaurants in Toronto are in ample supply, but I've discovered there more bad than good. Almost at all costs - I avoid places that are Value For Money (VFM) establishments, which are notorious for serving large volumes of food, tend to be run by non-Japanese (Chinese) owners, and have varying degrees of quality control.

The following are some of my favorite sushi places in the downtown core. One of the first good sushi restaurants I discovered was Ichiriki Sushi, whose move from Yorkville more than 5 years ago hasn't resulted in a decline in either the lunch or dinner business. The owner/sushi chef is an avid fan of Jazz music, and the maki and sashimi have always been fresh. I also have a soft spot for the deep friend seafood croquet, and green tea ice cream.

Tokyo Sushi is a hole in a wall sushi gem that was recently recommended by my colleague Clara. Easy to miss, it is located on St. Joseph and Bay Streets (& not listed on the internet), autographed photos of celebraties who have either dined in/or taken out are hung around the restaurant. Our favorite rolls are the sunshine, spicy tuna, unagi california, and friday. Very affordable and tasty, and we have made Tokyo a place we frequent - dinner for two costs around $40. Apparently, they provide the room service sushi for the nearby Sutton Place hotel, but at much higher price.

Just a few blocks north, in the heart of Yorkville, Sushi Inn provides a good sushi fix. However, it is sometime very busy (which is a good sign I guess), but I don't think its worth waiting more than 15 minutes. If it is too crowded upstairs where the sushi bar is located, there is a downstairs dining area, but it somehow feels likes a basement - with zero atmosphere or buzz. I enjoyed the pan seared scallops, marinated black cod, and the rolls were pretty good - albeit on the small side.

Mochizuki Sushi is only steps from our apartment, and has an amazingly large and beautiful dragon roll we seem to order every time. It has a neat rotating sushi bar that allows patrons to pick sushi from a conveyor belt, but we've stuck to ordering from the menu. The black cod with lemon is always sweet, and a bowl of hot steaming udon noodles always hits the spot on a cold day. Dinner for two, usually costs $60. On numerous occasions, I've witnessed the delivery of large fresh salmon, and watched the chef clean and cut the beautiful fish,

When we are up north in the Yonge and Sheppard, we always find ourselves at Ichiban Sushi. On Sunday, we had the tempura, deep fried cutlet covered with curry, udon noodles, in addition to the California, Dynamite, Spicy Tuna, and Unakyu rolls. A nice touch are the freebies - tofu, a bowl of edamame, and fruit. Dinner for four came to $80 including tax and tip. I like the fact that the Ichiban sushi chefs always say good bye on the way out. With 20 locations around Toronto, its hard not to find one around the corner.

The best sushi I have ever had in Toronto was in Etobicoke, in a small non-descript place called Sushi Kaji. What an experience. I've only had it once - due to its prohibitive cost... It was $130 per person for the omakase menu, but worth every penny. Japanese friends have said that they fly in the fish from Japan. One of the reasons why I like sushi/Japanese food is that I never feel like I need to take a nap afterward, but not in this case. The tuna sashimi melted in our mouth, huge crab legs, fresh noodles, and the massive tempura shrimp were done just right. A piece of advice - choose to eat at the sushi bar so you can talk and have a drink with chef Kaji!

In the next couple of weeks I look forward to trying Hiro Sushi, and Nami - many people have told me these are worth checking out.

Montreal Smoked Meat!!!

Centre Street Deli

1136 Centre St. (at Vaughan Blvd.)
Thornhill
(905) 731-8037

Yesterday, I had the craving for a hot, Montreal smoked meat sandwich. On the recommendation from my colleague Arthur, I headed to Thornhill (very close to my in-laws) to the Centre Street Deli.

Located in a non-descript strip mall, my craving was satisfied - a regular sized medium, with fries and slaw (with pickle and pepper) did the job ($10). My brother-in-law Victor also shared a good sized beef Knish – a hot, slightly sweet pastry filled with beef, covered in gravy. Not a healthy choice, but good Jewish comfort food. Isabella thought her her chicken noodle soup was nothing to write home about.

Other establishments in Toronto that serve decent Montreal smoked meat is Katz's Corned Beef Emporium Delicatessen (very close to Yorkdale Mall) and the Pickle Barrel restaurant. I like Katz’s generous portions of meat, fries with gravy, and is one of the few places you can find Vernor’s ginger ale – a distinct taste usually only found in the Detroit/Windsor area. In recent years, the Pickle Barrel is a chain that has expanded and gone more mainstream – I’d say it is less focused on its traditional fare and clientele - but still provides an outlet for adequate (but not excellent) smoked meat sandwich if you are in a pinch. Both yhe Dunn's and Shopsy's restaurant franchises are also options, and Dunn's apparently sells their meat at Costco (Price Club).

Of course, true aficionados of Montreal smoked meat swear there is no substitute for the original sandwiches found in Montreal, and I would have to agree with this statement. Places I always visit (usually multiple times if I can get away with it) are Schwartz's and Ben’s. Similar to Centre Street, décor is not a consideration…. But why look for something else when the smoked meat is oh so good?

Regardless of what time of the day it is, you will probably have to wait for a table at Schwartz’s, and usually end up sharing it with people you don’t know. Try the fries, pickles, with a grape soda. I almost had a cow when a friend of mine told me he ordered a roast beef sandwich last time he was there... I didn’t even know they served roast beef. Stick with the medium smoked meat. Loaded on rye bread, with mustard – it is smoked meat sandwich perfection.

A "10" Food Experience

Perigee
55 Mill Street, Distillery District
Toronto, Ontario
416-364-1397

If planning on going out for dinner to celebrate a very special occasion, Perigee is the restaurant I would think of first. This is, the place after all where I proposed to Isabella!

Located in the trendy Distillery District, this 30-40 seat loft like venue has an open concept, where patrons who sit at tables around the sunken kitchen. I compare it to a front row seat in the Iron Chef's kitchen stadium.

Once seated, you have a choice of 5, 6, or 7 course meals. The menu is Omakasi - you tell the waiter what you don't like (I.E. cheese, in Isabella's case), and Chef Pat & his team put together a tasting menu that is varied and makes use of high end ingredients– I loved the pan-seared Fois Gras, lobster, and Bison. I have found this restaurant unparalleled in presentation, taste, quality, and creativity.

Last time we were there, Chef Pat said they have about 60 individual dishes on the menu, and 1/3 of the menu changes every couple of weeks. The first two times we visited, four of us dining never had the same dish... which was great because we enjoyed sharing small bites/tastes. Advice: make sure to keep track of what course you are on so that you save room for dessert - very worth it - beautifully presented, and equally tasty.

Service is has been quite good and friendly - the wait staff explain what is being served, how the food was cooked, and they are not snobby. There is nothing I hate more than being given any kind of attitude by wait staff.

I really like Perigee because you never feel rushed, and the meal is an event, which can last upwards of 3 hours. It has a clean and nice atmosphere, is interesting to watch the chefs in action, and is a place to enjoy an entire evening out with friends and significant others.

Cost is about $120 per person not including tax, tip, or wine. Saving $$$ and looking forward to our next special occasion so we can celebrate at Perigee!

Gourmet Fast Food

In-N-Out Burger is NOT something you can find in Toronto (TOO BAD) but I had a serious craving for it tonight. I miss ordering from the "secret menu", the fries, and shakes... ummmm. I first discovered this restaurant in Las Vegas and then later in San Francisco. My friend Fred and I use to talk about the burgers when we were in China, where the closest thing to a burger was a dead cow on the road... well maybe it wasn't that bad. I think the key to the In-N-Out burger are the soft buns, and great price... Gourmet fast food. If you ever on the U.S. West coast... have a burger for me.

Dim Sum in Toronto

Pearl Harbourfront Restaurant

207 Queens Quay W, Toronto, Ontario
(416) 203-1233

Dim Sum at Pearl Harbourfront restaurant was pretty good on Sunday. One of the few places left in the city that still has ladies pushing carts around delivering steamed dumplings, and deep fried treats. These days, most Chinese restaurants in Toronto make you order on a form. While this ensures that the food is 'fresh' and hot, it has stolen two fond childhood memories... firstly, hoping to get a table close to the kitchen so that our family could snag the food when it came out. Secondly, having my parents implore me to find and chase the push cart lady, who always seemed to be at the other end of the restaurant to procure the ever valuable siu mei.

Located in the beautiful Queen Quay, with a great view of the Toronto Harbour, this is where I usually go with my parents (who don't like crowds). There always seems to be an abundant and vibrant non-Chinese (white) crowd - which doesn't mean the food is not up to snuff - its just more expensive than what you would pay for in Chinatown. Talking about expensive, the parking isn't cheap here either - $6 across the road. Specialties that I enjoyed especially were the sticky rice stuffed with dried peanuts and sugar, and the over sized beef balls.

Jade Village Chinese Cuisine
900 Don Mills Road, North York
(416) 385-1333

Located in suburban Toronto, this is one of my favorite places to dim sum. I always managed to make it here when I came back to Toronto... In addition to easy to find parking, they take reservations, the food is always hot and fresh, and has not shrunk in size over time. What is a little annoying are the waitresses who seem to be constantly trying to sell you 'specialties of the house' at your table. When I go for dim sum, I'm not looking to order the anything exotic, just the staples... yummy!!!! Mostly a Chinese crowd, it can get pretty noisy... crying babies are often drowned out.

Other Place to Dim Sum....

The fancy Lai Wah Heen is centrally located downtown in the Metropolitan Hotel... This place has a really nice and clean atmosphere with good service (which is absent in alot of Chinese restaurants). However, this comes at a very steep price. Expensive price doesn't translate into better food, and this is certainly the case here. If you want to see the Adrienne Clarkson types - this is probably the place is for you. If you like good dim sum (and value your wallet), I usually pass on this place unless someone else is buying...

Rol San Restaurant is in the heart of Chinatown on Spadina Avenue, and is what I consider down and dirty dim sum. The place isn’t the cleanest, but there is a buzz abound (its very loud), decent & hot food, generous portions, really bad service, and the lowest price. You can also where whatever you want, and are advised to arrive early (before 11 am) to avoid line ups, and are not encouraged to sit and chat.

Avoid Bright Pearl which is across the street from Rol San. While it has been around a long time (it shows) and has the much vaunted push carts – the food is not remarkable and very greasy. Most importantly, it is said to be built above a cemetery. Bad luck!!!!

The Perfect Veal Sandwich

California Sandwiches

244 Claremont Street
Toronto, Ontario
416-603- 3317

California Sandwiches is one of my favorite places to have lunch - home of the best veal sandwich I have ever consumed. The long line ups during the lunch hour for take out (its all take out BTW) are a testament to the high quality, and legions of believers. I still go to the original location - a hole in the wall located in a residential area in little Portugal.

My all time favorite is the sweet veal with cheese and mushrooms. All sandwiches are simply massive. I have noticed that many burger places are downsizing portions - but not California. The buns remain large and fresh, and provide an excellent base for the perfectly fried veal, tomato sauce, and extra toppings. Cost is approximately $8 each, and worth every penny. They also have hot chicken and meat ball sandwiches, but I've never tried them...

Three helpful hints. Firstly, take care when consuming the sandwich - many a shirt and tie have been stained with the overflowing toppings and sauce (Do not eat while driving - I'm speaking from experience here). Secondly, there is the distinct possibility that you will suffer from a food coma - this is not a light meal. Thirdly, call ahead to place your order, otherwise you may not be stuck waiting in line for what may seem like eternity - you can smell the sandwiches but it'll be awhile before you get one... this experience can be described as pure torture.

If you are a vegetarian, I'd avoid California... although they do have olives. It is also difficult to walk to this location - I've never done it before... Happy eating!

Fantastic Curry Crab

Saigon Star
330 Highway 7 East
Richmond Hill, Ontario
(905) 731-7221

I don't usually like the drive from Toronto to the suburbs of Richmond Hill (Highway 7 & Bayview), but the allure of crab in a creamy curry sauce made it impossible to resist (translation: will travel for food). I was a little nervous about making this trek because it had been a couple of years since I had been there. It really stinks when you remember a restaurant being really good, but then being disappointed the next time you go. In this case, our family was not let down.

We started out with the appetizer plate, which consisted of deep fried spring rolls, white vermicelli, pork satay, some kind of meat (spam like), beef rolled in a thin rice noodle, and shrimp cooked on a stick of sugar cane. We wrapped the contents in lettuce leave provided, and dipped it in fish sauce... it was so good! Our second starter was fried clams in a black bean sauce. While the clams were small, they were sweet - but this dish had a spicy kick at the end. We all liked it.

Our main courses were black cod, which was nicely done - very tasty and light. We also shared 3 large shrimp ($10 each) which were really large.. they looked like mini-lobsters! I thought they were a little over cooked. In this case, size did not matter. If given the opportunity, I'd pass on this dish next time.

My wife ordered her favorite Chinese broccoli - with pieces of salty fish. My Mom also loved it - I can't say - because I didn't try it... I generally don't like vegetables or salty fish. We also had lemon grass short ribs, which were nice, but not memorable. The pineapple fried rice was quite refreshing and light - they used real pineapple.

The 'main attraction' of the meal was the crab in the curry sauce. When we walked in the restaurant, almost every table had ordered the crab dish. This is definitely the house specialty. We ordered one crab, for the five of us, and it was more than enough ($30). The yellow curry sauce was creamy, but not too spicy, and the large crab was cooked just right. We also loved the small loaves of french bread that were served warm, which were dipped into the sauce. We ended ordering 3 loaves (we started with two, but ordered a third later... which was a great idea because they are served warm).

While Saigon Star advertises itself as a "Vietnamese" restaurant - it is run by Chinese owners. The decor is nothing to write home about but it is a good place to come for a group - lots of large tables. We came for dinner at 8 pm on a Sunday, and while we didn't need reservations - I think it would be busy on Saturday night. Beware of bad Chinese drivers - located in a Chinese strip mall, its parking lot is usually busy - don't let your kids run around the parking lot if you like them.

The restaurant is clean (remember everything is relative when we are talking Chinese restaurants), with good service (also refer to above bracket), but the most important thing is that the crab is as good as I remember. We are going to be back here sooner than later.