April: Art To Inspiration

This month's Art to Inspiration comes from an artist named Pakayla Rae Biehn whose work is entitled:

2 Year, 264 Days and This Morning.

Is it bad to have immediately thought of food when I saw this image? Perhaps I was hungry or perhaps it's because I ate too much Mexican food in San Diego where I just returned from, for this is what it brought to mind.  In texture, in colour and with the use of negative and positive space.

To join Art to Inspiration, click here. February and March's Art To Inspiration posts!

TRAVEL: Quebec City, Carlo's Pizza

Location:

117, Rte Principale E RR 2, Sainte-Cécile-de-Masham, QC J0X 2W0, 819-456-4545

Not only does Carlo do pizza, and amazingly well (the veggie one we got was chock-full of tasty veggies and not very greasy), he does the best poutine I've ever tasted in Quebec!  Mighty squishy curds and a not-too-salty gravy that's just the right consistency.  The pan fried tilapia was amazing with the poutine!  They don't skimp out on quantity either, check out the amount of cheese on this caesar salad!  Now, if only Carlo's was closer....



 

Axia Restaurant & Bar

Location:

A-5045 Plantation Pl., Mississauga

If it weren't for the "Restaurant & Bar" in the name...you'd think Axia were a club. 

You did, didn't you?

Well, it's not.  I don't know why they named it that, 'cause the inside of it looks like some sort of vacation package hotel....cane chairs upholstered in tropical fabric, hanging plants, palm trees, hanging lanterns and Christmas lights.  

Then again, the outside looks like some sort of Iron Chef set. 

Listen, don't try to figure it out...just enjoy the eats.










You'd be hard pressed to walk in there without a reservation...it's consistantly packed with plenty of wait time...yep, just like a club.

The Magic Oven

Location:

6 Wellesley

When green chillies underly an innocent tandoori chicken pizza, you KNOW the chef knows his biniss.

As he should at THESE pizza prices!!

Smelt flour or no smelt flour...I hope these pizzas have some magic in 'em 'cause they're expensive!

Not a fan of the Liberty Village location as I got sick twice as a result of their lunch time slices, but the Wellesley location made for a wonderful dinner with friends. Very cosy atmosphere, we had almost the whole (tiny) restaurant to ourselves. And those hidden green chillies? We were in tears 'cause the menu made no mention of them. Don't get me wrong, I'm always happy to see green chillies in anything, so they were tears of joy.

We've also had MO pizzas ordered into work, and as delish as they are, the four pizzas we ordered came to something outrageous as $100 and there still wasn't enough to go around. Sometimes, you just need a bunch o' $9.99 pepperoni pizzas.

Fresh

Location:

147 Spadina Avenue, Toronto

www.freshrestaurants.ca

As is the case with a lot of food-related businesses these days, the word "fresh" embodies all that is "organic" and "new" in our age of health-consciousness.  If it contains the word FRESH chances are people will gravitate towards it.

And Fresh, the restaurant chain, is vegetarian, another kick in the meat-balls of society.  But remember people!  Vegetarian doesn't necessarily mean healthy!

Of course, vegetarians and/or vegans love Fresh, and rightly so.  Why?  'Cause Fresh doesn't use butter, dairy, eggs, honey or other animal by-products,  so those with food allergies or dietary concerns can be assured they're eating....none of those things.

I can't speak for the nutritional part of it, since oddly Fresh doesn't provide a nutritional breakdown of their food on their website.  See for yourself and decide for yourself.

I can only speak for the flavour of Fresh and what I'm saying is:  it doesn't do much for me.

I do like their sweet potato fries and peanut sauce, but find both very greasy.





The Buddha Bowls are bland and tasteless and as my fellow blogger, Lurgs likes to joke, "It just needs CHICKEN!"

The veggie burger is dry and full of grains.  It's certainly hearty, but definitely does not satisfy my tastebuds.



I'd definitely eat at Fresh if I had to, but it's not somewhere I'd seek out for lunch or dinner.

TRAVEL: London, ON: Raja

Location:

428 Clarence Street, London

www.rajafinedining.ca

Had a family anniversary celebration here.  The space is up-scale and elegant and nicely done up for large groups, such as us.

The service on the other hand, could use some tweaking.  Although it wasn't busy, our server took a while to come over.  Then he failed to correctly explain the lunch specials to us so that when we ended up ordering the lunch specials, thinking they were smaller dinner portions, we were surprised to find they really couldn't be shared at all as there was barely enough for one!

Only then were we told  that the lunch specials were "individual" portions not to be shared and that each special came with a side of rice, chick pea curry and salad.  Something we wouldn't have ordered had we understood the server.  They were also overly intrusive with the "How are you enjoying your meal?", "Can I take this away?" stuff.

As it is, I'm sure you'll agree it's the most annoying thing EVER, to have a server ask how your meal is WHILST your mouth is full of your very FIRST bite, forcing you to respond..."ITSFSFIIEN".

The papad chutneys were beautifully arranged.



The onion bhajis were lovely.



The side of rice, chick pea curry and salad.



I disliked that all the meat dishes were served with side salads, as well.  I find it so unappealing when Indian restaurants do that.  Pickled carrots and onions are much more appropriate and flavourful when eaten together.




Variety of naans and breads.


The other curries (not part of the lunch special)









Altogether, the flavours were good, but the portions were far too small for the cost of them ($15-20) and the service could be better.

Wayne Gretzy's

Location:
99 Blue Jays Way, Toronto 

www.gretzky.com 

Poutine$6.99 

Salmon Burger $14.99 

....and the BEST apple pie I've ever had!  With pecan ice-cream, what a change from vanilla, and so delish!!

(Not the greatest pics here, but I was more interested in digging in!) 

Salmon burger and poutine!

Apple Pie with Pecan ice-cream

 

The food is really great at Gretzy's and the service is wonderful.  They have a super happening (always packed) tropical-esque roof-top patio which is great for those warm summer nights.

Happy Hoggerversary!

It's Foodhogger's 4th Birthday!!

Yes, it's been 4 years since Foodhogger started (well, here on Wordpress, before Wordpress I was on Blogger and then before that on Xanga)!

Anyhow, thank you to all you loyal readers who've stuck by my little food blog through the years.  You've seen me transition from the flashy (literally) food snaps to what I hope is better food photography.

Foodhogger started in May 2006 and has grown over the years to be one of the top food blogs in Toronto with international recognition! It's featured on Urbanspoon and Ziplocal and is one of the TOP 50 blogs in Toronto. Recently, Canada's online search directory, the Yellowpages, contacted us to advertise for Calgary restaurants.

Lola's Commissary (Toronto), Miss Cora's Kitchen (Toronto) and Il Fornaio (in the States) are a few of the restaurants who have recognized my reviews and have featured them on their sites!

Here's to more years of happy dining!

Thanks for eating along with me.

Birthday Bacon

Sukhothai

Location:

274 Parliament Street, Toronto

www.sukhothaifood.com

So it's in a shady location, what does it matter when you can get real, authentic Thai food?

Sukhothai, which sounds wonderful when chanted (su-kho-THAI! su-kho-THAI!) as my friend did in anticipation of our visit, is a tiny Thai resto in Corktown.

We got there at a decent hour when most of the tables were free and we could have our pick (so we picked a table for four for two of us), but soon it filled up and there was a massive line-up.

It must be pointed out, that we weren't ever rushed to leave because of the large line.  It brought to mind the awful Mildred Pierce in Liberty Village where filling seats was more important than food and service.

It should be pointed out also, that we ordered enough food for six and needed that table for all the dishes!

Since I am pointing things out, I could also point out that I don't like soup, and you would already know this if you're a regular reader of this blog, but if not, I'm telling you that I only partake in soup when a) I am sick b) it's home-made FOR me c) it's the dead of Winter and everyone else is going for soup and I don't have a lunch.

That said, the coconut, chicken soup at Sukothai is to die for.  I hate when reviews use words like 'bursting with flavour' but I am at a loss of words to describe it in any other way!

(dish descriptions from Sukhothai website menu)

Tom Kha Gai :
a creamy coconut, chicken soup, overflowing with fresh cut herbs. Galangal, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, coriander, onions and tomatoes.  Served with rice (starter portion also available)

Coconut soup

We had the starter portion and shared it. Even after trying all the other dishes, we still came back to this one, in awe. It's eye-googling good. I'm coining this the word for when you taste something so good that you look at another person with such incredulity on your face with eyes open wide. Eye-googling. That's how good it is.  Something Derek Zoolander would say.  Eye-gog-a-ling.

Spring rolls:
Crispy vegetarian rolls with glass noodles, mushrooms, carrots and beansprouts.  Served with our home-made, sweet and sour, garlic sauce.

Spring Rolls

We pounced on our rolls right away and they were steaming hot.  S o much so that we couldn't really taste much after oohing the hot air out of our mouths.

Spring Rolls

So the last of the three rolls we left to cool down completely before trying again and then realized it tasted a bit funny.  Spoiled or perhaps just a distinct flavour of sourness?  Couldn't tell so we left it at that.  It didn't ruin the rest of the meal for us that's for bloody sure.

Sukhothai Pad Thai: Our “Sukh’ed up”, Northern Thai version of the Pad Thai is a must to try.  You will find a slightly different take on Pad Thai depending on where you are in Thailand.  This is a taste of our Chef’s hometown goodness.  Extras:  made with peanuts, more herbs and a small-town, northern-style, authentic-Thai twist.

Sukhothai Pad Thai

Sukhothai Pad Thai

Nyum nyum....didn't blow us out of the water upon first try.  At home, as leftovers though, incredible!!

Khao Soi:
Yellow noodles in curry gravy with green onions, coriander and a light, crispy noodle topping.  Choice of chicken or beef.  A specialty from Northern Thailand, it’s got a lot of texture and even more flavour.

They suggested this would be better with beef, but I don't do beef too much, so chicken it was.  We both agreed it was good, but the overpowering curry taste did us in.  The crispy noodles on top were perfect with the soft noodles below.  I don't like anything to be too gravy-ied so the gravy was  a bit much for me.   Good with rice as a curry dish, and definitely quite heavy.  Great for sharing and as left-overs!

Khao Soi

Crispy noodles, Khao Soi

Gaeng Panang:
Panang curry with kaffir lime leaves, basil leaves, red and green pepers and coconut milk. Choice of chicken, beef or tofu and served with rice.  Richer than the others and more about the meat.

Gaeng Panang: All about the meat, indeed

Gaeng Panang

This was a lovely dish, really fresh ingredients.  The kaffir lime leaves - goodness!! Absolutely delightful with rice.  I can see this one being a hit with my Moms.

They gave us our dessert on the house.  <3!!!

Tapioca with coconut milk:
Tapioca doused in sweet coconut milk.


Tapioca with coconut milk

Neither of us are fans of tapioca....especially when it's in bubble tea, but this...was insanely good!

Exceptional service and the dishes are just outstanding!!!  If I were to flip a coin between  Sukhothai and Flip, Toss and Thai...well, it would have to be a toss-up between these two.  Sukhothai might have a bit of a lead because of the actual dining space and ambiance which FTT lacks.

But yes, Sukhothai also has a chili scale..just let 'em know how hot you like it.

Can't wait to go back and take everyone I know with me.  Who's in?

Gandhi's Roti

Location:

554 Queen ST W, Toronto

Cost: $6.95 - 12.95

www.gandhicuisine.ca

* A huge thanks to Lurgee from My Little Sweatshop for lending me the use of her Canon to capture these shots. 

There's no reason to really review a place as well known and loved in the city as Gandhi's.

'Cause if you're willing to wait 1.5 hours for your roti, then you must like it. 

All I can say is that when we finally brought our  14 (!) pre-ordered rotis back to work, there was absolute SILENCIO in the kitchen while we ate. 

Oh yeah, and we got a free juice-box for ordering 14 rotis!  For $150 worth of roti business (not counting all the other business we've given them) they could have at least thrown in another juice-box, come on!

Frooti

Chicken roti $8.95 + tax = $10.50, a great alternative to the creaminess of the butter chicken.  I like the medium hotness.

Chicken roti, medium


Butter chicken roti - very creamy and rich.

Butter chicken, mild

Malai Kofta roti - veggie/cheese balls in a creamy curry in a roti

Take-out container

Malai Kofta

Needless to say, it was ZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz around the office after that!

Raq n Waq

Location:

739 Queen St. W. 2nd Floor, Toronto

www.theraq.ca

The Raq is a great place for summer after work drinks.

They have a really nice partly-sunny patio, pool tables (hence the name) and fireplaces indoors.  The service is semi-attentive and the food, although nothing to write e-mail  home about, is fine for drink snacks, but don't expect much.

Basically, if you're looking for a place to raq it up (or possibly shack it up on a Friday night club night), this venue is for thou.

chunky fries

finger foods

Sloan's, Florida

Location:
112 Clematis St West Palm Beach FL

www.sloansonline.com
One of the prettiest candy stores I've ever been to has got to be Sloan's in West Palm Beach, Florida.

It's PINK!   And has fancy lamps and a painted ceiling and they have chocolates and delicious ice-creams!!







We had a caramel-and-nut-filled chocolate which got wrapped up all prettily!


I'm sad to say I missed out on the bathroom which is apparently incredible!! Check out the review on Crappers Quarterly (yep, I'm just as surprised as you that this site exists!)

Fascinating!

Worth going there for that, alone!