I have a major love affair with the entire state of California. The relaxed, beachy atmosphere just gives me that warm fuzzy feeling inside. I am not exactly a winter person and I dream of the day I can move to LA. That being said, it has been quite a number of years since my recent visit to the West Coast. Also, Jonty had never been, so we decided to take a little vacay. I counted down the days until we left and savoured every moment. With every vacation comes my excitement for food. This trip was no different, as we did plenty of eating.
Right after booking our flight, we knew the first stop would be In N’ Out Burger. I have had it years ago but Jonty had never been so lucky. I was salivating the entire flight just thinking about what was to come in a number of hours. As planned, right from the airport we made our first of many stops at this famous burger joint. I ordered a cheeseburger, while Jonty got a double, with a side of animal fries (topped with their special “spread”, cheese, and fried onions). OH MAN was it delicious!! We inhaled it so quickly and realized that nothing quite compares to an In N’ Out Burger. It just doesn’t.
21st May 2013
Notes: 1
While up at my cottage in Collingwood, I always wish there were some better restaurants to choose from. Don’t get me wrong, there are a few hidden gems, but it was just needing something more. I am thrilled to annouce that a new smokehouse called, The Smoke has recently opened up. When my boyfriend and I heard this great news, we immediately made a reservation.
The modern, large, open space was quite refreshing to see in this small town. As we walked in, the smoky, BBQ smell filled the air and I was ready to dig in. Each table is set with 4 bottles of homemade BBQ sauces; Carolina Mustard Sauce, Smokey Sweet BBQ Sauce, Sweet Tangy BBQ Sauce, and Hot Vinegar Sauce.
The special of the night was Smoked Beef Short Rib, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Au Jus, Cornbread & 1 Side (we chose fries). Seriously, these ribs were insane. Like out of this world. Jonty and I could not believe how juicy, tasty and literally fall off the bone they were. It’s safe to say these were the best beef ribs we have ever eaten. Crazy, I know. Little old Collingwood has some of the best BBQ food. I love cornbread, and this one did not dissapoint, along with the mashed potatoes and fries. Everything was just utterly amazing.
The only catch slash dissapointing thing about this place is that beef ribs are not a staple on their menu. They only have them every so often and not too many portions.
We also ordered a pound of smoked BBQ chicken wings that are smoked for two hours and tossed in their homemade BBQ sauce. They were sweet, smokey and juicy, just as they should be.
This restaurant is worth some serious mention and praise. It is also worth the trip to Collingwood. Jonty and I are going up to the cottage this weekend and already have reservations!
This week was Jonty’s birthday and I really wanted to take him somewhere special for dinner. While he isn’t such a fan of surprises, I made sure to keep the restaurant a secret until the very last second. I thought long and hard about where to go, and ultimately decided on Jacobs & Co steakhouse. It is a classic, well-known dining experience and I figured since neither of us had been, it was time we check it off our list.
The grand, and might I add heated outdoor entrance was an amazing, welcoming touch. As soon as we entered, we were greeted by the friendly hostesses and an older gentleman, the maitre d kindly directed us to our seats in the classy, polished upstairs dining room. He pointed out the dry-aged showcase, filled with each type of meat, encased in glass, all labeled perfectly.
Our attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable waiter approached us for some drinks, where I chose a glass of white wine, and Jonty opted for a glass of Johnny Walker black. He then proceeded to go into very much detail about the meat, the cuts, the aging process, and just about everything you could know about the steaks.
First our waiter brought over freshly baked popovers. Crispy on the outside, and fluffy yet hollow on the outside. I couldn’t wait to slather it with the garlic butter, even if it meant burning my mouth a couple times. It was totally worth it.
I don’t know what took my hungry little butt so long to get to Barque Smokehouse, but oooohhh man am I happy that I finally did! Ever since this goldmine on Roncenvalles opened its doors, I have been jonesing to try it. This past weekend Jonty and I along with a couple friends finally hit it up. Oh and might I mention I had to make this reservations 3 weeks in advance!! I think that says enough..this place is seriously amazing.
On this cold winter night we walked into a cozy, wooden mixed with concrete and brick walls, buzzing atmosphere that instantly warmed me up. As we were seated, a spiced bucket of popcorn was brought to our table, along with two barbecue sauces,a Kansas City (tomato based) and a Carolina (mustard and vinegar based). I immediately noticed the brush sitting next to my cutlery and loved that extra touch of being able to slather your own sauces onto everything.
A couple weeks ago was my 22 birthday and boy did I get spoiled!! Besides the gifts, and a wonderfully relaxing day, the food was the real treat. On my actual birthday, I went to Morton’s Steakhouse with my family, Jonty, and my brother’s girlfriend, and the next night Jonty surprised me and took me to Harbour Sixty! Check it all out below…
New York, Sidney, and now Toronto have been graced with the Momofuku goodness. This Asian style restaurant recently opened a noodle bar in the Shangri La Hotel in downtown Toronto. I have been eager to try Momofuku in New York, and was super excited for the opening in my hometown. The open concept, floor to ceiling windows, and communal seating really add to the simple yet sleek atmosphere of this unique restaurant. My friend Cassi and I decided to go on a Momofuku lunch date.
Upon arrival, the manager was extremely friendly and outgoing and recognized my friend from a previous visit. As soon as we were seated, he brought over a mini size of the Seven Spice Sour Slushie which was a blended mixture of yuzu (Japanese citrus fruit), togarashi (chili pepper), lime and sake. The spiciness from the togarashi and zing from the other ingredients took my taste buds on an interesting journey with a kick.
I think I found a piece of heaven at Wish nestled on Charles Street just East of Yonge. By the looks of it, one could easily have mistaken it for a house. Once I opened the doors to the heated patio, I instantly fell in love. White, wooden panelled walls surrounded comfy white couches, pillows, country chairs, fur blankets and candles. It was an extremely chic, yet cottagey atmosphere, where I could just plop myself down with a few cocktails and never get up! Jonty and I then entered the actual restaurant, where again I was blown away, as it was equally comfy, with a little more glam. The all white, country-like interior was the perfect setting for a romantic dinner. It was extremely warm and inviting. We were seated at a corner booth on a couch, adorned with comfy pillows.
Year after year I have heard advertisements for the Food and Wine Expo, yet never attempted buying tickets. My curiosity and eagerness to attend was at its peak this year, so I decided it was time. Jonty and myself ventured down to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre this past weekend to sample some incredible wine, and of course, food.
