Review: Breakfast at Sebastian Cafe, Toronto

The Bottom Line

Fantastic little French bakery. Perfect for a lazy Sunday morning. Order the warm croissant + coffee and enjoy!

What to Order

• Croissant with ham and cheese
• Coffee

The Restaurant

I first heard about this bakery during my MBA days, when we  had weekly Sunday morning group meetings. One of my fellow students showed up to one such session and declared that he's brought with him fresh croissants from the best bakery in town. Since that day, I was sold to Sebastian Cafe.

Fast forward a year, and I was driving along Yonge street one fine weekend morning and came across the actual store. I just had to go in. I saw someone at the cafe ordering a croissant with ham and cheese (I'm sure there is a real "french" name for this, but I don't know), and since it looked pretty amazing, I ordered one too.

It was divine. Warm gooey deliciousness. It went well with my croissant as well. In 5 happy delicious minutes, my whole meal was devoured. Compared to other (more) expensive brunch places, Sebastian Cafe satisfies my cravings without thinning my wallet!

Overall rating

• Overall rating: 9/10
• Ambiance: decent open space bakery 
• Food: fantastic breakfast croissants! 
• Value: slightly pricey for a bakery, but considering the quality of food, it's worth it. 

Time to Spend

• Budget 0.5 - 1 hour

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Review: Dinner @ Emperor Fine Chinese Cuisine banquet dinner, Richmond Hill

The Bottom Line

Decent restaurant for a family dinner, try the deep fried shrimp balls.

Overall rating

• Overall rating: 3.5/5

Time to Spend

• Budget 2 - 2.5 hours

Emperor Fine Chinese Cuisine

Located on Bayview and 16th, Emperor Fine is in the midst of the Chinese population in Richmond Hill. I came here one night for a dinner event. It's a decent enough place for dinner, and the value is good, so if you're in the neighbourhood and is looking for a place to grab a bite, why not give Emperor a try.

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Review: Dinner @ Skyview Fusion Cuisine (乙龍天), Markham

The Bottom Line

With a large Asian population, GTA has an abundance of great Chinese food choices. Skyview Fusion Restaurant remains one of the better places for a satisfying Asian feast.

Overall rating

• Overall rating: 4.5/5

Time to Spend

• Budget 2 - 2.5 hours

Recommended Dishes

• Honey BBQ pork
• Roasted suckling pig & jelly fish
• Diced seafood in pumpkin soup
• Pan-fried fillet of steak in sweet & sour sauce
• Garlic lobster stir fry

Skyview Fusion Restaurant

For my mom's birthday, after an elegant classic afternoon tea affair at the Ritz Carlton, we zoomed from one food appointment to another. We headed straight to Skyview Fusion Restaurant for an evening of delightful Chinese food.

Skyview has also been one of my parents' favourite restaurants. After closing down for a little bit to renovate, we were eager to go back and see what the renovated space looks like. 

With the renovation, it was much spacious than before, making for a better venue for weddings and events. 

We skimmed our fingers up and down the menu and ended up with a "family set dinner", with a few modifications and an addition of their famous honey BBQ pork, in which my 5-year old nephew can devour a whole plate by himself.

Our menu consist of:

• BBQ pork with beans
• Roasted suckling pig & jelly fish
• Diced seafood in pumpkin soup
• Pan-fried fillet of steak in sweet & sour sauce
• Braised vegetable with fish maw
• Steamed chicken 
• Steamed scallop on silken tofu in black bean & garlic sauce
• Steamed fish in soy sauce
• Lobster stir fry
• Dessert

The roasted suckling pig was crunchy, and albeit a tad salty, delicious. I've had plenty of suckling pig in the past, and I've always judged them by their crunchiness, and the fat to meat ratio.

Next, came the seafood pumpkin soup, which I've never tried before. I'm not even sure if it's traditional Chinese food, but it doesn't matter because it was creamy deliciousness with the perfect balance of flavour.

Next, came a flurry of dishes - chicken, scallops, beef, etc. The kitchen was so efficient, too efficient really, that we had all our 10 courses within 30 mins. Our tables were overflowing, and we had to send back the chicken for later. It was a bit annoying, and I wish they would pace the courses better.

That being said, I couldn't find fault with the food. It was all in all, a very satisfying meal.

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Review: Afternoon Tea @ DEQ Terrace Ritz Carlton, Toronto

The Bottom Line

Great for celebrating a special event with your favourite person. A very elegant affair with plenty of food to satisfy all ages.

Overall rating

• Overall rating: 5/5

Time to Spend

• Budget: 2 - 2.5 hours

Recommended Set

• The regular tea set is sufficient in my opinion.  I'm not sure if paying the extra money for a glass of champaign is worth it (unless it's for a special occasion of course!)

DEQ Terrace

We headed downtown to the Ritz Carlton for high tea one windy Sunday afternoon. Never one for valet parking (or valet anything really, never liked the idea of people serving me other than bringing me food at restaurants), I opted to park at self-park lot across the street at Metro Center. It was Sunday, so the flat $10 flat was pretty good for downtown indoor parking.

DEQ Terrace is located at the back end of the hotel, past the reception area. Our reservation was for 3:15pm, and when we arrived, the place was somewhat full. As this was a special occasion, for my mom's birthday, we had a special table away from the rest of the guests. Guests celebrating an event also have a pair of balloons tied to their chairs, which was a nice touch.

We were presented with the tea set menu, which was really just for choosing the option of bubblies. $40 for the regular tea set, $50 with a glass of sparking wine, $56 for blush sparking wine, and I presume $69 is for an even more expensive glass of bubblies. I wanted to treat my parents, so we opted for the $56 menu for my mom, and the $50 menu for my dad. I had the regular tea set.

After taking our orders, we settled in and had a chance to look around. The tea area is clean and well structured, with a bar in the middle.

Our very elegantly dressed server came, dressed in a black dress and a string of pearls, just like in Breakfast at Tiffany's, and presented us with a tea box with 12 different kinds of tea leaves, and proceeded to explain to us the selection as well as her recommendation.

After spending some time playing around with the various tea boxes and opening them up and sniffing each  of the samplers, we decided on Oolong and a fruity Celebration medley for me.

Our first dish was a warm bacon and cheese soufflé. It was warm, fluffy, and oh so delicious. I probably devoured it in two large un-ladylike bites. The fact that I woke up late and skipped breakfast might have something to do with my hunger. 

Next we were presented with a beautiful oriental-style round rack with various savoury pastries on them. There was a curry mini burger, an egg salad sandwich, tomato bruschetta, cucumber slice open top sandwich, and a salmon croissant. 

I found most of the bread to be a bit on the dry side, but loved the salmon croissant. They were pretty to look at, and I suppose decent enough in taste.

Next we were presented with a dessert tray, again with all sorts of petite goodies on them. Red velvet cupcake, lemon meringue tart, profiteroles, tiramisu, raspberry macarons, and raisin scones.

I had so eagerly devoured my savoury treats that by this time, I was getting full, and I could tell the same with my family. We all just sat there and stared at these beautiful treats in front of us, each silently wondering if we could possibly finish them all.

Tried as we might, we just couldn't touch them. Not wanting them to go to waste, we had more than half of them doggy-bagged, and the result was that I could thoroughly enjoy them at the comfort of my home, when I was actually hungry and could enjoy them. I must say, those raison scones were delicious.

Our total bill with tax and tip came to about $250 for 4. It's a bit on the steep end, but considering the elegant environment and the exquisite care that had obviously gone into making these treats, it was money well spent. Most precious of all, seeing my mom from ear to ear the entire time.  

Tips

• Make a reservation in advance. You will need to complete a form (with your credit card information) to confirm. Cancellations within 72 hours will be subjected to a penalty.
• If you're there to celebrate an event, let them know in advance and there will be balloons waiting for you when you arrive.  :)
• Don't be embarrassed to ask for your treats to-go if you can't finish them. They will pack it up for you, no problem.

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Review: Playdium Arcade, Mississauga

The Bottom Line

Fun play area for teenagers and adults alike. 

Overall rating

• Overall rating: 4/5

Time to Spend

• Budget 2 hours

Recommended Activities

• Batting cage (>16 years old)
• Redemption games - ski ball, down the clown
• Arcade games - driving games

Playdium Mississauga

At dinner on a Saturday evening, as I sat watching two 10 year old boys on the adjacent table playing Mario Kart on their Nintendo DS. It made me realize how much I miss arcades and video games. After dinner, I headed to Playdium in Mississauga to satisfy my arcade craving. 

We arrived late, at 10:30pm, and weaved our way in the parking lot amongst anxious parents waiting to pick up their kids, ready for bed time. There is a March Break promotion, so we opted for the $31+tax for 225 credits over the unlimited play.

Once inside, I felt as if I've stepped into a teenage happy land. The arcade is relatively low lit, except for flashing video game signs, casino-like lighting. I particularly appreciated the high open ceiling, it made an otherwise cramped place seem much more spacious. 

Playdium is divided into three sections. The arcade, redemption ticket generating games, and a sports zone with bumper cars and a batting cage. 

Playdium offers unlimited 2 or 3 hour arcade game cards, but I don't generally recommend going for it as they are limited to arcade games, and there are many fun redemption games. Plus, unlike you're an avid gamer, 2 hours is long.

I knew that being in my early 30s also means a gradual slowing of reflexes. I did not realize it was that apparent until I was playing Down the Clown, and could only get half the clowns before the timer runs out. Then a couple of teenage boys took their turn, and their movement was so fast I realized I'm really not in my 20s anymore!  It was a bit of a sad revelation, but I suppose one can only accept that and try to "age with grace", right? 

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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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