Review: Living waters wayside chapel, world's smallest chapel, Niagara-on-the-lake

The Bottom Line

The world's smallest chapel is really is very small! Cute pit stop along your Niagara winery tour.

Overall Rating

• Overall Rating: 8/10
• Experience: good
• Value: excellent (free!)

Time to Spend

• Time to spend: ~30 mins

The Chapel

On a warm September weekend, we rented a tandem bike  and came across this chapel on our way to other wineries. It was my first time riding a bike, and my behind was feeling the effort 5 minutes after I started biking. I was grateful for any excuse to stop for a few minutes, and the chapel appeared to provide me with the perfect excuse for a quick pit stop!

From the outside, there is nothing special about the chapel. It really just appears to be a large shed. It wasn't until I stepped inside that my mind is befuddled by what my eyes are telling me. Why is the place so tiny? Is this for real or is it a replica? It was actually pretty fun, the chapel can really only sit 6 individuals, and had the feeling of a small aircraft.

After visiting the chapel, which really would only take 10 minutes, I head over to the fruit market next door, where I enjoyed a fresh blubbery pi with "pi" on it. How clever! The only thing that would make this more clever is if they put the "pi" mathematical symbol. Ha!

A cute pit stop during my winery tour. It's worth a stop by for the photo op and for a quick break.

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Review: The Indian Kitchen lunch buffet, Thornhill, Vaughan

(update: the restaurant has since moved to the East side of Yonge.  This review was for the old location).

The Bottom Line

Good food, but hindered by inattentive service and worn down restaurant. I heard they may be moving soon, will possibly try again once they have the new location.

Overall rating

• Overall rating: 3/5
• Food: flavourful curry and fresh roti
• Value: good!
• Seating environment: old and worn out (restaurant has since moved to a MUCH nicer location)

Recommended Dishes

• Mutton (goat) curry
• Baingan Patiala (eggplant)

The Restaurant

It was a crisp spring Friday afternoon when I visited The Indian Kitchen to sample their reasonably priced $10 lunch buffet. Today is a no school day for kids (Parent-Teacher day), and also the Friday before a week long March Break holiday for kids, so the whole city seemed to have packed up and left town for warmer destinations. It has also been a brutally cold February, so families are eagerly seeking out whatever warmth they can get from the south.

The Indian Kitchen is one of my co-worker’s favourite Indian restaurant, so I had a high expectations going in. Unfortunately that expectation was not entirely met. From the moment we walked into the somewhat empty restaurant, I was greeted by old carpet and a gawky 80s style floral printed pink curtains with matching pink tablecloths. We were seated by the window, and eagerly I dashed towards the food station to fill my tummy with some yummy curry. There were about 10 different varieties of warm food, plus a side cold dish table. I took a bit of each from the warm stations and went back to my table, where a basket of warm naans were waiting for me.

The Food

The food itself was not bad, I particularly enjoyed the goat curry and the roasted eggplants. They were flavorful and quite delicious. I did not sample any of the cold dishes as I wasn’t entirely sure if the kitchen was clean and did not want to end up with an upset stomach. In my eagerness to sample all the curry, I went to get a second plate (normally I would be full with 1 plate). When I came back, I was slightly annoyed that my old dirty dish has not been taken away and was still sitting on my table. Considering there were only 5 guests in the restaurant at the time, I was expecting the server to pay more attention to her customers.

In summary, I give this restaurant an average rating. Food is decent for a good value, but the décor and the service brought down the overall experience. There is a sign at the door that says they are moving soon, so maybe I will give them another shot once they have the new location.

The Indian Kitchen

9330 Yonge Street
Thornhill, Ontario.
http://www.theindiankitchen.ca

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Review: Reif Estate Winery, Niagara-on-the-Lake

The Bottom Line

This German winery is a good stop in your Niagara-on-the-Lake tour. 

• Overall rating: 7.5/10

Recommended

• Ice wine peach gelato

Overview

• Address: 15608 Niagara Parkway, RR#1, Niagara-on-the-Lake
• Time to spend: 1-2 hours

The Winery

One warm September afternoon, I was feeling adventurous and tried tandem biking for the first time. I didn't know how to bike (weird, right?), so tandem was still a bit intimidating for me.

We were late for our reservation, so the only time we had was to visit Reif Estate Winery. With its distinct German themed decor and a German name, it is different from the other wineries in the area. I was greeted at the entrance by what seemed to me like Snow White's wishing well.

When we arrived at the entrance, there was another bike tour, so we parked our bike at the busy bike rack and headed towards the winery. It was a hot day, so we got an ice wine peach gelato to share, it was delicious and creamy, and good refreshment after a hard (it was for me) ride.

I wish we stayed at the winery and explored the area more, but time was running out and we had to return our bike. This German winery has intrigued me, and I will sure be back!

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Review: Bruce Trail Webster's Fall and Dundas Peak Hike, Hamilton

The Bottom Line

A good trail in Hamilton, great for a quick weekend day trip from Toronto. I went in the fall, and the changing leafs along with the crisp fall air made it an enjoyable and relaxing experience.

• Overall rating: 9/10
• Experience: excellent
• Value: very good (just pay for parking)

Overview

• Website:http://brucetrail.org/explore/23-featured-hike-webster-s-falls-iroquoia-club
• Time to spend: budget 2-3 hours

The Trail

We went to Hamilton on a fall Sunday to pick up our wedding photos from our photographers. Since we did not have anything else planned for the day, we decided to go on the Bruce Trail and check out Dundas Peak and Webster Falls. 

The drive to the to Ancaster from Hamilton was a short 15 minutes, and after parking our little blue car next to a very expensive looking Jaguar, we proceeded to pay. It struck me as odd to have to pay for parking in a non-downtown area, but I suppose it's the Conservation Authorities' way of subsidizing the maintenance of the trails.

There is a time period for when the trail closes, you're not supposed to go on the trail after dark. As you're hiking precariously close to a cliff, I can understand why it wouldn't be the wisest choice to go on the trail after sunset. We arrived fairly late in the afternoon, so we rushed up the trail, and was huffing and puffing in no time. 

Once we reached the top of Dundas Peak, we were rewarded by the most beautiful view. I did not realize that Hamilton was this pretty, seeing how I used to travel to the town for work, and frequently visited the more "ghetto" parts of the town. I was surprised to see such natural beauties here. I would even venture to say that I had a more enjoyable experience here than in Niagara Falls, where it was packed with tourists and built with many man-made structures. Dundas Peak has a kind of quiet serenity that makes me want to just sit there for hours and enjoy the sunset.

After the Peak, we walked along the trail towards Webster Falls. It was a bit of disappointment, it's just a small waterfall. Nothing fancy here. The highlight of the hike was most definitely Dundas Peak and viewing the town from the top of the Hamilton Escarpment.

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Review: Archery District, Toronto

The Bottom Line

A great novelty idea that is pretty fun if you can get together a group for a private session.  Price point is slightly high for what you get, and some details needs to be hammered out by the organizers for a more enjoyable experience. 

• Overall Rating: 6/10
• Experience: above average 
• Value for money: below average
• Duration: ~1 hour

As a Hunger Games fan, I was instantly drawn to the idea of combining dodgeball + hunger games. When my friend told me about Archery District, I fell immediately in love with the idea and quickly put down the deposit to secure a spot.

The Venue

We showed up early morning in an industrial area - the place is located in a warehouse.

The venue is a long rectangle, with the front being registration, washroom, and an orientation area. Here is also where you can hang your personal belonging and coats. There are no lockers available, so if you have valuables, leave them in the car.

The larger back end of the warehouse is the "arena". It is basically an open turfed area with some air filled columns.

The Training

We were immediately greeted by the staff upon arrival, and asked to sign a waiver form.

Once all 20 participants arrived, there was a brief introduction, and we each got to practice shooting 2 arrows. Then into the "cage" we go, and got our bows and helmets.

The Game

Contrary to what I had initially thought, you play several different games during the 1 hour session. I like this, as it allows you more variety. There is a game where you are divided into 2 teams and you try and take down as much of the opposite team players, one where you are divided into quadrants and you're trying to take over the entire field, and one where it is last man standing, which reminds me of  the TV show Walking Dead.

All the games are facilitated, and are usually fairly short. You can win by shooting at stationary targets or by hitting other players. Personally, I enjoy hitting other players more, it's much more satisfying.  :)

FAQ

1) Does it hurt?

No, it doesn't. I am a petite female with not much muscle strength or "padding" to speak of, but when the foam tipped arrows hit me (they are like marshmallow arrows), it felt more like being hit by a pillow. We are also required to wear face masks that prevents our face from being hit.

2) Is the bow heavy?

Not really. They are made of plastic, and I can draw the bow fairly easily. I only use 5 lbs dumbbells when I exercise, so I am by no means strong. They have 2 types of bows - one with an easier draw weight - if you're a petite female like me, go for the lighter bows.

3) Should I leave my cell phone in my pocket?

NO. My friend left his phone in his pocket, and it end up getting hit and screwed up his phone. Leave your phone in the car. After the session, you will have the opportunity to retrieve it and take some cool pictures with your group in the "arena".

4) When is the best time to go?

FIRST session of the day. The reason I say this is because the helmets got pretty sweaty during the hour, and I feel sorry for the next group of people using it. I'm sure they sanitize the helmets and spray them down, but if you have the option, first session of the day is the way to go. Not to mention one of the players in my session was sick and coughing the entire time - I'm sure the next person wearing her mask would be exposed to a lot of sick germs. Do you want to risk it? 

5) Is it worth the price?

We paid about $28-ish for the hour, which is slightly on the high side. I would place this more as an $18 activity. However, perhaps it is because they are new and the novelty is there, they are quite fully booked on the weekends, so I guess it's a matter of supply and demand. It's like MBA school, if people are willing to pay for it, why won't you maximize your profit. A business is a business after all, and the price is not so outrageous that would dissuade me from going.

6) Will I go back again?

Only if I can secure a private group and if the price is lower. The problem is, because there is only 1 facilitator/ referee and you are playing with strangers, LOTS of cheating happens, and it gets somewhat frustrating. There is one group of individuals that we played with who refused to be "out" when they got hit. It kinda defeats the point of the game. If I can make one suggestion to the organizers, it would be to get numbered vests so the facilitator can easily tell that individual to sit down "NUMBER 3, sit down. NUMBER 3! You've been hit". Otherwise, the ref can only say "guy in black shirt, you're out". And of course, guy in black shirt will pretend that he never got hit and keep playing.

Review: Niagara Falls day trip, Niagara region

The Bottom Line

Anticipate large crowds, but a great day trip from Toronto. If time permits, visit the quaint wineries in Niagara-on-the-Lake on the way.

• Overall rating: 8.5/10

Overview

Website: http://www.niagarafalls.ca/visitors/directions.aspx

Recommended duration: Day trip from Toronto

The Falls

Located between the border of US and Canada, Niagara Falls actually consists of THREE waterfalls - Horseshoe Falls, American Falls, and the Bridal Viel Falls. If you're visiting from the Canadian side, you'll be able to see the larger Horseshoe Falls and the smaller American Falls. I have actually never seen the Birdal Viel Falls, maybe I should make a trip and see it from the US side next time. That being said, the thought of waiting in line at the border is a definite deterrent.

American Falls

I love the Falls itself, if you get close to the falls, close your eyes and listen carefully, you'll feel like you're in the scene of Pocahontas when she is canoeing and singing "just around the riverbend" - yes, I'm a Disney fan so I find relations with Disney characters and scenes whenever I can. But recently I have found my experience to be tainted by the over exploitation of the tourism industry. The area is flooded with tourists, and that has somewhat taken away the authenticity of the falls. I suppose you can see it as a juxtaposition or a statement regarding man vs nature, but if I had a choice, I wouldn't have built all these hotels and casinos and man-made structures around the falls.

View from Fallsview Casino in the winter

There is really no "bad" time to visit the falls, you get a different experience whether it's in the summer or during winter. In the summer, you get the opportunity to walk around in the sun, but in the winter, if it's cold enough, you get to see icicles on the falls, which is gorgeous, and on certain evenings the falls are lighted in different colours, and it's beautiful in its own way.

The Falls is beautiful in the winter, with icicles surrounding the falls area

Where to Park

We have always parked at the Casino parking in Fallsview Casino. The casino hotel has a large 10 storey parking complex. Price varies between $5 - $20+ for the day (depending on if there are events occurring on the day of your visit), but I have always found it to be better than parking near the falls, where traffic is congested and parking is limited. Park at the casino, then walk your way down to the Falls (about a 30 mins - 45 mins walk). It is a bit of an incline, and a bit of a workout, so take your time. If you have seniors or infants in your group, ignore this advice and pay the extra cost to park closer to the Falls. 

Fallsview Casino

If you're extra lazy, and getting up and close to the Falls isn't on your priority list, you can also see the Falls from the balcony of the Casino, your view will be obstructed partially by trees, so if you've never been to Niagara Falls, I'd say take the trouble and go all the down to the Falls walkway. You can see the walkway from the casino, look closely at the picture below and you'll see the crowds.

View from Fallsview Casino in the winter

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Review: Lunch at Schwartz's, Montreal

The Bottom Line

Deli Schwartz's is still one of the best places in Canada to get a smoked meat sandwich. 

• Overall rating: 10/10
• Ambiance: average
• Food Quality: excellent
• Value: excellent
• Time to spend: budget 1 hour, plus wait time

Recommended Dishes

• There is only one thing you should order - a smoked meat sandwich with a side of pickles and cherry coke.  :)
• After you're done your meal, ask for a pound of smoked meat to go so you can enjoy this again at home!

The Restaurant

It was a very cold January afternoon, and after wandering  around town in the freezing cold for 45 minutes, we ended up at Schwartz's, ready for a warm delightful smoked meat sandwich. You would expect the place to be empty, given that it was between lunch and dinner time and the bitter cold encourages lazing around at home by the fireplace. That was not true as to my dismay, there was a line-up outside the deli. After shuffling for another 20 minutes trying to keep my extremities from getting frostbitten, the door welcomingly opened and we were allowed inside a packed deli.

I gathered this old styled Jewish deli hasn't changed much through the years. It's still one of my favourite places to eat in Montreal, and I don't expect that to change in the near future either! Schwartz's is a deli, so don't expect fancy tablecloths, or even that you will get your own table. Chances are, unless you're a group of 6, you will have to share your table with other diners. But this just adds on to the coziness of the deli and the sighs of satisfaction of your neighbouring diners are contagious.

Once comfortably seated, I was greeted by a very friendly server. The table behind us was in town to watch the World  Junior Hockey Championship, and they were all wearing team Canada jerseys and excited about the game that coming evening. Their unconfined excitement was surely contagious, and we contemplated buying the tickets to the game, until we realized that it was $200 Cdn a ticket, and we would be wiser to spend that money on good food.

The Food

In a nutshell - mouth-watering excellent! The smoked meat sandwich is one of the juiciest and delicious cuts of meat I've tasted. I'm normally not much of a sandwich fan, I don't like bread, and I've found most sandwiches to be dry. Not at Schwartz's. For the meat, you have the option of lean, half fat, or fatty meat. Make sure you add in a side of pickles, and complete your satisfying meal with a cherry soda.

After a satisfying meal, I left the restaurant a very happy customer indeed.

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Review: Dinner @ Kingyo, Toronto

The Bottom Line

A vibrant Japanese izakaya with quality food for a great price. Reservation is a must. One of the best izakayas in Toronto, not to be missed!

Overall Rating: 5/5

Time to Spend

• Budget 2-3 hours

Recommended Dishes

• Stonebowl Mushroom Tofu
• Garlic Tuna Tataki
• Beef tataki salad
• Kara-age (fried chicken)
• Grilled Jumbo Yellow tail cheek
• Ebi Mayo (shrimp)
• Stonebowl seafood sea urchin don
• Almond Tofu dessert
• Punch cocktail 

The Restaurant

The restaurant is classier and less noisy than the famous Guu. I like Guu, but to be honest (maybe it's a sign that I'm getting old), I can't get used to the noise. Guu is also a younger college crowd, so I prefer Kingyo for a better dining experience.

The place is clean, and like all izakayas, when you enter the restaurant all the servers loudly great you. I love how the walls have pinball machines, although for the life of me I couldn't figure out how to play with them.

The Food

Because we were a large group, we had a pre-arranged menu. For an unbelievably reasonable price of $40, our menu consisted of:

• 3 Kinds Kingyo Appetizer Set (Renkon Kimpira, Tomato Kimchi, Tako-wasabi)
• Stonebowl Mushroom Tofu
• Garlic Tuna Tataki
• Beef-tataki Salad
• Red Tuna and Black Tiger Prawn Avocado Tar Tar
• Kara-age
• Ebi Mayo
• Stone Grilled Beef tongue
• Grilled Jumbo Yellow tail cheek
• Stonebowl Seafood Sea Urchin Don
• Flame-seared Makerel Battera Sushi

The Stonebowl Mushroom Tofu came in a stonebowl (well, no surprise there), and it was hot, sizzling, and delicious.

Next, we had the beef tataki salad, which was refreshing with a nice thin slice of beef, it is a very well balanced dish.

The kara-age (fried chicken), is probably one of my favourite. But then again, who doesn't love fried chicken? I would say that the meat is juicy, while the exterior holds its crunchiness. Another great dish.

To be honest, at this point in time, I was pretty full already, so maybe that affected my affinity for the avocado red tuna/ tiger prawn dish. I didn't like the creamy texture of avocado, I thought it was a tad too heavy, especially at this point in our meal.

Last time I came down to cabbage town, I ate at the Stonegrill (which is adjacent to Kingyo), so I find it funny that they have the same dish here! The Hot Stone Beef Tongue is very similar to Stonegrill, you cook a piece of meat on top of a very hot stone. I wasn't a fan of this dish, maybe because it's beef tongue and I wasn't used to the chewier texture.

The grilled Jumbo Yellow tail cheek actually tastes better than it looks. The meat is very juicy, and it was cooked nicely. We all know how over cooked fish can end up dry, so I'm glad they got this right. If I'm a fish fan, I would be in love with this dish.

The stonebowl seafood sea urchin don is another one of my favourite. Mixed together, it was a very flavourful rice bowl. I loved this and now as I'm writing this and looking at the picture, I'm drooling.

If that wasn't enough food, next came the Ebi Mayo (shrimp mayo). I was sooo full at this point, but it looked so good I couldn't resisting trying one, and then another...

Our final dish was a flame-seared Makerel Battera Sushi. I could only take one bite and ate half of one at this point, but I remembered it being good, and that you can really taste that it's been "flame seared" (I can't really describe it, but it's got that smokiness to the fish that made it a step above an average sushi).

When the dessert menu came, I simply had to order a dessert. I mean, my dessert stomach never gets full, right? I chose a lighter almond tofu dessert, and it was simply delightful. It's a light dessert, with just the right amount of sweetness to it.

The restaurant also gave us complimentary skewered frozen grapes to cleanse our palates. And they served it to us in a nice flower bowl. So cute and so thoughtful. Delicious way to end a meal.

I really can't really any fault with my dining experience. There are some dishes that I liked more than others (e.g., I wasn't a big fan of the stone grilled beef tongue), but in general, excellent pretty much sums it up. I will sure be back to Kingyo!

Kingyo Toronto

51B Wincester Street,
Toronto.
http://kingyotoronto.ca/

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Review: Caroline Cellars Winery, Niagara-on-the-Lake

The Bottom Line

Petite family owned winery that offers free wine tasting. Skip the reds and whites, try the rose wines instead. If this is your first time in the Niagara region, visit the larger wineries (such as Peller Estates) first. (6.5/10)

Recommended wines

• 2013 The Farmer's Rose

Overview

Address: 1010 Line 2 Rd, Niagara-on-the-lake, ON. L0S 1T0
Website: http://www.carolinecellars.com/ 
Recommended duration: budget ~30 mins

Caroline Cellars winery entrance

The Winery

We visited the winery in the winter, on a very very cold February weekend, so we did not have the chance to see the winery and the grapes. Basically, we parked, and ran inside (you would too if it's -30C with windchill outside!).  :)

Store and wine tasting area

The one thing I love about this winery is the free wine tasting. Yes, you heard right, free! But only for the regular reds, whites, and rose. There is still a charge for the ice wines.

I'm not sure if I'm a big fan of their weds and whites, but I do enjoy the rose. On our way out, there is a cute banner with an advertisement for pork roast on Sept 20 & 27, 2015. I know it's a bit far away, but something to keep in mind if you're visiting the region late September.

Pork roast event late September

If you've only got a half day at the Niagara region, or if it is your first time visiting the area, skip Caroline Cellars and go for the more famous wineries such as Peller Estates. However, if you're like me and have been to NOTL many times, why not go off the beaten path and support some of the smaller wineries? You may find something new.

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Review: Peller Estate Winery, Niagara-on-the-Lake

The Bottom Line

One of the better known wineries in the NOTL. Visit in the spring/summer/fall if possible. Skip the restaurant. 

Rating: 8/10

Overview

Address: 290 John Street East, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. L0S 1J0

Website: http://www.peller.com/

Recommended duration: Varies depending on if you opt for the wine tour, or if you dine at the restaurant. Budget half day.

Peller Estates Entrance

The Winery

I have been to Peller several times already, usually at least once a year (Niagara-on-the-late, or NOTL, is a no brainer place for a day getaway for us Torontonians). Peller is one of the grandeur and better known wineries along with Niagara region. The winery offers multiple wine tours in a day, and have a large wine store. The winery is a family owned business, which was started by a Hungarian immigrant named Andrew Peller, but has since grown in fame and reputation. Peller Estate wines are now featured in many Ontario liquor stores (LCBO).

Peller Estate Winery in the summer

If you are new to the NOTL region, definitely make this one of the stops. I would recommend making this trek in the summer, as there is definitely more to see before the snow hits.

Peller Estate Winery in the summer

Peller Estate Winery in the winter

Grapes!

Vineyard

Beautifully maintained yard at the winery

When it comes to wine, I love their Ice Curvee Rose. It is one of the few wines that I actually enjoy drinking (I'm a picking wine drinker). Overall, I would say that Peller is one of the more expensive winery in the region, but they are also the best known, so some of the premium is based on brand. The Winery includes a large wine store with a bar in the middle, where wine tasting is available.

Store with wine tasting available

The Winery also includes an elegantly decorated Zagat rated restaurant, click here to view my review.

Peller Estate Restaurant

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