[North York] Han Ba Tang

Location Review
4862 Yonge St
Toronto, Ontario
(416) 5 46-8218

Just when you thought the Yonge and Sheppard area in North York already had enough Korean restaurants, along comes Han Ba Tang (@han_ba_tang), the newest addition to the block. With a name that translates from its native language as "one full round", Han Ban Tang's restaurant owner aims to combine her decade long experience in authentic Korean cuisine, with modern culinary ideas. She refers to her cuisine as "young fusion Korean" and maintains a menu which she constantly revises in hopes to inspire appreciation of the Korean cuisine from a younger population. Young or old, Han Ba Tang's deep background story, warm hospitality, innovative dishes, and original drink menu will easily win over many a crowd.

Han Ba Tang

[Toronto] Smith

Location Review
533 Church Street
Toronto, Ontario
(416)926-2501
Website

Unassuming from the outside, this Church Street establishment is well known by locals for its brunch. When you enter Smith (@SmithToronto), you almost forget that this is Toronto. It is quaint and cozy, and felt like an elusive secret spot for only those in the know. But judging by the number of people who were already seated when we arrived, as well as the abundant 3 floors of seating, this most likely was not the case.

Everything about this restaurant feels intimate. The warm oak fixtures, candle lit ambience, freshly cut flowers, porcelain plates, and elegantly aged silverware; almost makes you feel like missed putting up some sort of white picket fence outside. Despite this, Smiths was unintimidating, relaxed, and perfect for the cordial catch-up brunch I was about to have.

Smith

[Toronto] Smoque N' Bones

Location Review
869 Queen St W
Toronto, Ontario
(647) 341-5730
Website

A little while back, I stopped by Smoque N' Bones (@SmoqueNBones) for dinner. At the time it was the new kid on Toronto's Queen West block, and was owner Alex Rad's initiating establishment. Prior to picking up the kitchen knife, Rad was a corporate finance professional. But make no mistake, this is no amateur spot. Smoque N' Bones set out to be an authentic Southern smokehouse, and it definitely delivers it well.

Smoque N' Bones

[Giveaway] 2014 Roundhouse Craft Beer Festival

The annual Steam Whistle (@SteamWhistle) Roundhouse Craft Beer Festival is back! One of my favourite boozy events each year, the 2-day event gathers an allstar list of Ontario microbreweries allowing festival-goes to sample a variety of independent beers. Did I mention there will also be food trucks on site?

[Toronto] Little Sister Indonesian Food Bar

Location Review
2031 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario
(416) 488-2031
Website

For such a multicultural city like Toronto, there is much to be desired when it comes to Indonesian food. Enter Little Sister Indonesian Food Bar (@LittleSisterTO). This newly opened eatery located in Midtown is a modern eatery serving up a menu created by Dutch-native chef Michael van den Winkel. Having cooked Dutch-Indo cuisine his entire life, you can be sure he's included all his favourite authentic dishes on the list.

Little Sister

[Event] Ontario Oyster Festival 2014

You know we're deep in the heart of summer when there are too many festivals happening and not enough time to attend them all. Hopefully not to get lost among all the summer buzz is the upcoming Oyster Festival. Aside from combining pretty much the two best things on the planet (Come on, oysters and beer!!), all proceeds of the festival's ticket sales goes to Environmental Defense - a charity with a worthy cause. Notably, their Blue Flag Canada initiative is an international program striving for safer, cleaner, and more environmentally friendly beaches and marinas.

The 2014 Oyster Festival, hosted by Rodney's Oyster House.

THE DETAILS
What: The 26th Oyster Festival
When: July 20th, 2014, 2-10pm
Where: Rodney's Oyster House (469 King St W, Toronto)
How: Admission is $32, or $40 at the door (Purchase tickets HERE.)

[Toronto] The Forth

Location Review
629 Danforth Avenue
Toronto, Ontario
(416) 465-2629
Website

Aptly named after it's location in Greektown Danforth, The Forth (@TheForthTO) is a new comer on the block, opening April earlier this year. Unlike its peers of close proximity, it is anything but a Greek restaurant, headed up by Brassaii's former executive chef Chris Kalisperas (@ChrisKalisperas). With a contemporary Canadian menu, inventative cocktail list, and a beautiful 8,000 square feet, multi-level dining area (yes there's an elevator!), The Forth is one that will impress all the senses.

The Bar

[Toronto] Ichiriki Japanese Restaurant

Location Review
120 Bloor St East
Toronto, Ontario
(416) 923-2997
Website

Situated between Yonge and Church on Bloor, Ichiriki is a inconspicuous little Japanese-run restaurant. Like most other eateries in this area, they draw a big lunch crowd from all the nearby offices. However, after-hours Ichiriki is just as lively. Aside from a seasonal omakase menu and a monthly live jazz band night, every Tuesday evening they welcome Soba Canada to take over the kitchen and serve fresh handmade authentic soba.

Ichiriki

[Giveaway] Win a Dinner at 7 Numbers!

If you happen to stumble your way here yesterday, you may have seen my enthusiastic recount of one memorable night of Italian cooking at 7 Numbers. The post was heavily focused on the cooking class, but rest-assured 7 Numbers is first and foremost a worthy restaurant to dine on a regular occasion. Serving up home-style comfort Italian eats, this restaurant feels like having dinner at Grandma's house!

If my post didn't convince you to try out 7 Numbers yet, hopefully this giveaway will!


GIVEAWAY

Win a dinner at 7 Numbers! I am giving away a $50 gift certificate to spend at either the Eglinton or Danforth location of 7 Numbers . Just follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter box, and enter before 11:59PM Wednesday April 16, 2014.

GOOD LUCK!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

[Event] #CookingWithRosa @ 7 Numbers Restaurant

Location Review
516 Eglinton Avenue West
Toronto, Ontario
(416) 322-5183
Website

A few Mondays ago, I was invited to attend a monthly cooking class at 7 Numbers Restaurant (@7_Numbers), hosted by chef and owner, Rosa Marinuzzi. How often do you get to cook with the chef of one of the city's favourite restaurants? Well, apparently you can do it once a month at 7 Numbers. Offered on the last Monday of every month, the $85 tuition fee includes an entire night of cooking, a massive family-style Italian feast, bottomless wine, and fine company. And if you have the luck that I did, you might get a free Italian-language lesson out of it too!

Cooking Class Menu

[Toronto] Sfizio Pizzeria & Wine Bar (Soft Opening)

Location Review
401 Bloor Street East
Toronto, Ontario
(416)925-9500
Website

Occupying a unit in the strip plaza near Sherbourne and Bloor, is a new Italian restaurant and winebar. This area being my neighbourhood, I was excited to try it out - I could use a good Italian eatery close to home! So one Sunday afternoon, I ventured into Sfizio Pizzeria & Wine Bar for a quick lunch. The owner cautioned that they weren't officially opened yet, only accepting customers as part of a soft-opening. Although a large part of their menu wasn't offered (mainly alcohol and their Neapolitian style pizzas), the warm and welcoming owner was convincing enough for me to stay.

Sfizio Pizzeria & Wine Bar

[Giveaway] Carlsberg St. Party's Day

Besides recovering from the apocalyptic snow storm Toronto is experiencing, guess what else will be happening this weekend? Oh yes. It's that time of year again. Your annually opportunity to enrobe yourself in green and get in touch with your Irish roots is here. Happy early St. Patrick's Day everyone!

Since 2011, Carlsberg has been hosting Canada's largest St. Patty's Day party, aptly named as St. Party's Day! (Twitter: @StPartysDay, Facebook page here)

THE DETAILS
Who/What: 4th annual St. Party's Day festival hosted by Carlsberg
When: March 14th-16, 2014
Where: Andrew Richard Designs (571 Adelaide Street East, Toronto)

[Toronto] The Happy Hooker

Location Review
887 Dundas Street W
Toronto, Ontario
(416)603-4665
Website


If you did an internet search for "The Happy Hooker", you might get some pretty risqué search returns. Don't worry, today's restaurant review is more than suitable for work. Some time ago in February, I was invited to a media tasting at The Happy Hooker (@happyhookertdot). Captained by Attilio Pugliese (@attilio25), this affordable seafood haven opened just under a year ago, celebrating its one-year anniversary this Wednesday March 5. In celebration, the establishment has been offering many promotions this week, including FREE fish and chips on anniversary day. Definitely check out their Twitter and Facebook pages for more details!

Okay, now back to the food.

The Happy Hooker

[Toronto] Tabule Middle Eastern Cuisine

Location Review
810 Queen Street East
Toronto, Ontario
(416)465-2500
Website

Following much success of the first Tabule Middle Eastern Cuisine restaurant (@TabuleToronto) in Midtown, Riverside welcomed the second location of this Middle Eastern eatery with open arms mid last year. Admittedly, I am not a regular in this neighbourhood of the city. Being in the area a couple weeks ago with my friend Meghan (@Meghancheung), we scoured the internet and polled social media for the best spots to eat in Riverside. Because this was unanimously recommended, we dropped by for a quick meal.

Tabule

[Toronto] The Queen and Beaver Public House

Location Review
35 Elm Street
Toronto, Ontario
(647)347-2712
Website


Team Burger Eaters started off as a group of people hoping to try all the best burgers of the city. But as time moved on, we've clearly diversified to just trying out good food, period. That's right, a self-proclaimed group of foodies who get together periodically to eat. Life doesn't really get much simpler than that sometimes. Anyways, following the meals of The Harbord Room and Bestellen's suckling pig dinner, Team Burger Eaters strikes again with a trip to The Queen and Beaver Public House (@QueenBeaverPub).

The Queen and Beaver Public House is a British themed gastropub, serving up traditional English classics in a cozy British decor to match the part. While they certainly have an a la carte dinner menu, they also have a special feasting menu, which allows everyone at the table to share a family-style meal. The cost is based on the number of people you have, and the price includes the roast of your choice, potatoes, and seasonal vegetables (drinks excluded).

Thornbury($7) and Innis & Gunn ($7.25)

[Toronto] Azure Restaurant and Bar

Location Review
225 Front Street West
Toronto, Ontario
(416)597-8142
Website

Continuing with the Winterlicious expeditions after a fantastic meal at King Street Social, I had the pleasure of dining at Azure Restaurant and Bar at The Intercontinental Hotel (@ICTorontoCentre) last week. This would not be my first time dining here; it was only a few months ago that I was sitting under their wall-to-ceiling glass canopy dining room, enjoying noteworthy cocktails and an inspired Summerlicious menu. With an empty stomach and a huge appetite, I had nothing but high hopes of once a gain being wow'd by their Winterlicious offerings.

Bread Basket

Azure Margarita ($12) -tequila, blue curaçao, fresh lime, blueberry purée

[Toronto] Miss Korea

Location Review
687 Yonge Street
Toronto, ON M4Y 2B2
(647)748-9100
Website

Opening in December of last year, Miss Korea (@MISSKOREA_BAR) is a trendy Korean bar eatery, and the newest addition to the Yonge and Bloor area. Not too long after it opened, Justine (@foodigatorJ), Vickie (@Kiki_bff) and I, came here one night for what we like to call our "Korean Drinking Catch-up Nights" (original, I know!). Like all the other eateries in this area, Miss Korea has an inconspicuous doorway leading to an expectedly narrow space. The venue is well suited as a catch up spot though, and extremely space-efficient: re-arrangeable low-rise tables, relatively high ceilings, and open-top stools which double as jacket storage space.

Miss Korea

[Toronto] King Street Social Kitchen & Bar

Location Review
370 King Street West
Toronto, Ontario
(416)343-1234
Website

Winterlicious is upon us again! The Toronto cullinary celebration runs every year year in the months of February (Winterlicious) and July (Summerlicious) offering diners an opportunity to dine at select participating restaurants at a set price (See listing of participating restaurants and menus HERE) Each year many people partake in the Prix-Fixe menu promotion, as it allows diners to try out different restaurants they otherwise wouldn't. Winterlicious this year will run from January 31 - February 13, so make sure you get those reservations in!

To kick off my Winterlicious visits this year, I had the pleasure of sampling both the Lunch ($20) and Dinner ($35) menu at King Street Social, located at the Hyatt Regency Hotel on King (@HyattonKing). While there are few hotel restaurants that have defined themselves as distinguished dining destinations, the menu at King Street Social may very well put the Hyatt Regency as a visit-worthy dining location.

King Street Social

[Toronto] Ja Bistro

Location Review
222 Richmond Street West
Toronto, Ontario
647-748-0222
Website



After hearing so much rave for this modern Japanese eatery, I finally took a visit to Ja Bistro (@JaBistro222) in the financial district of Toronto. Boasting a menu of ingredients shipped from all over the world and delicately crafted sushi by Chef Koji, the place has racked up a list of loyal customers as well as red carpet celebrities including Scarlett Johansson during TIFF!

Ja Bistro

[Santa Barbara] La Super-Rica Taqueria

Location Review
622 North Milpas Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
(805) 963-4940

For anyone thinking of doing the Pacific Coast Highway drive in California, Santa Barbara is a must see destination. Aside from the historic Santa Barbara County Courthouse being a beautiful landmark of architecture with an amazing view a top the tower, it also has some of the best Mexican food! A quick search on Google returned top Mexican restaurants and eateries, and so one afternoon Rob and I picked out La Super-Rica to try out. I mean when Julia Child proclaims this to be her favourite Santa Barbara spot, there's really no reason not to.

La Super-Rica Taqueria

[Los Angeles] The Griddle Cafe

Location Review
7916 Sunset Blvd
Hollywood, CA 90046
(323) 874-0377
Website

Located in West Hollywood, The Griddle Cafe (@thegriddlecafe) is sure to be something special if you're looking to have a memorable meal. While they have an attractive lunch menu of sandwiches, salads, and burgers, my four friends and I came here for one thing, and one thing only: the all-day breakfast menu. Notorious for their one-of-a-kind pancake creations, one can satisfy both breakfast AND dessert cravings with flapjacks and/or french toast covered in chocolate chips, butterscotch, Nutella, Oreos, or even punpkin pie filling.

The Griddle Cafe

[GIVEAWAY] Steamwhistle's Winter Craft Beer Festival

It seems like mother nature is not letting us forget how cold it can be this winter. Seriuosly, power outages, frozen tree branches, the mythical frost quakes?! Brutal. But as Canadians, we probably take pride in that. If there's two things Canadians know a thing or two about, it's how to do winter and beer right.

And so it would seem only fitting that Steamwhistle's (@SteamWhistle)first ever outdoor Winter Craft Beer Festival is taking place during one of Canada's coldest winter in the past decade. Are you Canadian enough to brave the cold? If so, free up your calendar, because this festival you don't want to miss.

[Los Angeles] Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles

Location Review
1514 N Gower St
Los Angeles, CA 90028
(323)466-7453
Website

I didn't know what I was in for when I stepped foot into this dimly lit establishment of Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles (@roscoesofficial). With no windows, and barely any light coming in from the cracks of the doors, this almost felt like a secret underground society for fried chicken of some sort. Perhaps it was just this location of Roscoe's chain of restaurants, but at some point I couldn't help but ponder: why did most people recommend this as a "must eat" for a visit to Los Angeles?

Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles