the old spaghetti factory

the very first time i went to the Old Spaghetti Factory was my first date with cc. then, this placed looked so magical. with its ornate decorations, it's as if you are in an amusement park. a great choice for casual dining and birthday parties for kids! what kid wouldn't like to have a party in a restaurant that has a merry-go-round and a train???



the menu is printed on folded recycled paper. it's all included! for a low price you can get (almost) a three course meal. entrées come with choice of salad or soup, ice cream and tea or coffee. the menu isn't overly exciting but variety of pasta dishes offer some choices. view menu here.



as many family restaurants are, the old spaghetti factory offers endless supply of freshly baked bread with garlic or plain butter (they are whipped so spreading is no problem). the bread is very soft and warm, i can just eat this all day.



for $1.49 you can substitute a clam chowder in a place of minestrone. the clam chowder is full of flavour, thick and creamy. lots of chunky potatoes and clams too. i especially enjoy this soup dipped with the bread. (i ate half of the soup before i took the picture, sorry).



i had the Manager's Favourite ($14.25) with tomato and clam sauce. they don't have rosé sauce and this is the alternative i came up with. the portions is big but this depends on the day. some days i will get enormous amount of noodles and little sauce, others i will get little noodles and little sauce. the sauces are well seasoned and tasty. the clam sauce is very similar to the clam chowder but creamier and richer. tomato sauce is tomato sauce. nothing special.



my sister had the Lasagna ($16.50). it's made with "Mama Pulosi’s secret homemade recipe" according to the menu. i am not quite sure if there is really a "secret" recipe. it just taste like ordinary lasagna to me. as a matter of a fact, most of the dishes (of ones i have tried in the past) taste like regular italian dishes (well, not authentic italian but something i'd make it at home).



we were seated inside the train which is cozy but difficult to get the wait staff's attention. i came in a bigger group here before and had one of the chefs come up to our table and show us magic tricks. the other time i was here, the wait staff named Tim was super friendly and offered us extra scoops of spumoni ice cream.

this is a casual restaurant to enjoy a simple italian meal at a vibrant and exciting atmosphere. they are not pretentious and get you worked up with menu written in italian with ridiculous prices. i see many kids having birthdays here too. it's a great place for kids. despite the huge dining area, the place fills up very quickly and expect line ups on weekends.

old spagetti factory
54 The Esplanade
Toronto
416.864.9761
oldspaghettifactory.ca

please excuse the terrible photos, i was without my camera and iphone was trying its best to capture hdr.
posted by rin

orange caramel tea café

Orange Caramel Tea Café is a little café specializes in loose-leaf tea. it is a little hidden away on the second floor of a hair salon near finch station. this place is adorable! the place is decorated with cheesy/corny decals, as typical korean cafés do sometimes, but has laid back atmosphere.



the rather elaborate menu consists of anything from tea to desserts, even some light meals. the loose-leaf teas start from $3.65 and has variety of teas as you'd see from david's tea or tealish. they have sweet potato latté which i am willing to try next time when i am not too full from the previous meal. one thing i find strange is that their americano costs $4.50. seriously? what's in it?



the sample loose-leaf teas are for sniffing. yes. they smell delicious.





the loose-leaf tea comes in a small pot that releases the water with a press of a button. pretty cool. the perfect tea timer also helps you to steep the tea just right for the ultimate tea experience. you can ask for more hot water once you have sipped away a cup of joy. i had the passion fruit jasmine tea and enjoyed it very much. i can definitely see myself staying here for hours, chatting, drinking tea and just relaxing.




Orange Caramel Tea Café
5647 Yonge Street
2nd Floor
Toronto
416.224.1443


posted by rin

apkujung restaurant

sharing is caring. if you are in a mood for hot pot sharing, you have come to the right place. one of my favourite korean dishes is samgyetang, whole chicken soup with ginseng and herbs. many koreans enjoy this hot soup during the hot summer to replace the nutrients lost through excessive sweating. Apkujung Restaurant located across from the centerpoint mall serves the best three course ginseng chicken soup toronto has to offer.



in average size dining hall, they have semi-private booths for a party of 4. it is little tacky to have soju ads plastered all over the place but it is neat and clean. there was no music playing when we went which some may find it a little odd.



as usual, side dishes welcomed us before our meal. korean restaurants serve complimentary side dishes to accompany your meal. apkujung offered stir-fried zuccini, stir-fried fish cake, seaweed salad, potato in soy sauce, kimchi and pan-fried tofu in soy sauce. they were yummy, the kimchi was fresh and crisp! a little disappointment to the lack of radish kimchi though.



the three purples and two special guests, ordered the chicken + noodle and congee for 3 people ($35). trust me. even though it was for three, we were quite full by the end of the meal. the portions are very very generous here.



first, the chicken. it is cooked for you on the table by a friendly wait staff. it came in a huge metal pot filled with whole chicken, ginseng, dates, green onions and yummy chicken broth made with variety of herbs. though it is not medicinal, it is believed to help you regain your stamina.



second, the noodles. the green noodle is made with mugwort. the broth is seasoned to give much deeper flavour at this stage. you can hardly taste the bitterness of the mugwort. i think they make their noodles fresh onsite. the noodles are chewy as freshly made noodles should be.





the last course is the congee. the chicken broth has gotten thicker and deeper in flavour by now and adding rice only makes it better. the wait staff came by the table occasionally to check on the dish to cook and distribute. hot pot makes dining experience more enjoyable, in my opinion. this tasteful dish filled my tummy with happiness and makes you feel good as any healthy meal would.



they have a special spicy sauce that goes very well with the chicken. at first i didn't like the taste but now i am addicted to it (want to steal the recipe!). i believe it is made with hot pepper and mustard but i am sure there are many other ingredients to it than that. looking at streetview, i realized they do not have english title on their front sign (or it is incredibly small). i would definitely come here again and try other dishes. it has become one of my favourite korean restaurants in town!


압구정 닭한마리 + 칼국수
Apkujung Restaurant
6309 Yonge St
North York
416.229.6248

posted by rin

red wine sangria

1 bottle of red wine preferably cabernet sauvignon
1 lemon (sliced)
1 orange (sliced)
2 cups sprite or club soda
2 tablespoon of sugar
1 cup juice cranberry works really well or lime juice
berries (blue, straw, rasp) and chopped fruits (peach, pineapple, apple, kiwi, etc)

mix wine, juice, berries and sugar in the pitcher. add sprite or club soda before serving.

*tip: make the mix night before (without the carbonated stuff) and keep it in the fridge.
add shot (or two) of gin or vodka if you can hold your alcohol.


a perfect summer drink.
it already feels like summer in toronto.
22'C in march. crazy!

posted by rin

Butternut Squash Lasagna with Sage and Lemon butter

Butternut Squash Lasagna

Ingredients
1 or 2  Large Butternut squash – Peeled, cored and sliced thin 1/4  inch
10 to 14  Pasta Sheets – Cooked
1 handful  Spinach
6 cloves  Garlic
1 bunch  Italian Parsley
1 stick Butter (114g)
¼ Cup  Flour
3 ½ Cups Whole Milk
3 Cups  Shredded Mozzarella
½ Cup  Parmesan
10 each  Sage Leaves – Sliced Thin
1 each Lemon – Zest
Salt and Pepper and Olive Oil



Make the Lasagna

Pre-heat oven to 375F
You will need a 13x9x2 baking dish (a regular glass one or any type of casserole will do)
Drizzle the sheet tray with olive oil and place the slices of butternut squash on it, season with salt and pepper, repeat another layer until all the butternut is layered.  Cover with foil and bake for about 8 to 10 minutes until the squash is cooked yet still firm enough to break apart.

While that is working start on your roux: ½ stick of butter in the pot and melt until almost browned, whisk in the flour and continue to cook for about 30 seconds, slowly whisk in the milk and bring to a boil, Add the garlic and continue to cook at a medium heat until mixture thickens. Transfer the mixture to the blender and blend in the Spinach/parsley. Season with salt and Pepper.

Rub the Baking dish with a little butter and begin the layers: Cream Sauce, pasta, Mozza, Parma, butternut – Repeat. Make sure the top layer has cheese on top. Cover with Foil and Bake for 40 minutes, remove foil and bake for another 15 or until the top is crispy golden brown. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving

Serve with Sage/Lemon Brown Butter: In small sauté pan bring the remaining butter to a light brown color – Very hot and bubbling add Sage, Zest, salt and Pepper. Spoon over a little on each piece.

post from design sponge

big sushi

located near bloor and spadina, Big Sushi is a cheap but not cheap (as in quality) sushi joint near uoft campus. while in school, i used to come here often with friends for the convenience and the large portions. it brings back memories from time to time. i personally find it better than sushi on bloor or new generation sushi where the cheap price comes with cheap quality sushi. when it comes to raw food, freshness is the most important thing and some cheap japanese restaurants seem to fail at that. not to say big sushi has top notch quality sushi, but they are decent for the price they offer.



Agedashi Tofu ($3.95) is served with sweet teriyaki sauce which i love. outside is crispy and inside is tender as it should be.



the Shrimp Tempura ($5.95) comes with three pieces of shrimp, two sweet potatoes (or yams), a sheet of laver, mushroom, onion and a broccoli. the deep fried goodness is sometimes too crispy for my liking because they hurt inside of my mouth when i bite. i think it is bit of a hit-and-miss because the batter's thickness or crispiness is inconsistent.



my sister and i love ordering the Spicy Maki Combo A ($10.50) and share. big sushi offers 8 pieces of rolls instead of 6 pieces which is standard in toronto. spicy maki combo comes with 8 pieces of spicy salmon roll and 8 pieces of white/red tuna roll. we got the red tuna because i heard in some places they use escolar instead of albacore which is not really a tuna but oily fatty white fish. who knows when it is mixed in with spicy sauce if the tuna is real or fake. anyways, all the combos include green salad and miso soup which is a great deal.



the interiors is little awkwardly shaped; few tables by the main entrance where sushi bar is located and few tables along the narrow hallway that leads to a dining area in the back. the decor is mundane but then again you don't go to cheap sushi joints because of their interior designs. the wait staff are prompt and generally nice, though they seem to go through lot of staff changes. also i find big sushi's food generally bit on the saltier side. i always find myself drinking water cup after cup. sushi pieces are big and not necessarily all covered in rice which means you get more of the good stuff. i like big sushi for what they can offer at lower prices.


thanks streetview!

Big Sushi
388 Bloor St W
416.921.1468
bigsushi.ca

posted by rin

bubble tea shop

this is my favourite bubble tea shop in chinatown. i can never remember the name. but i love their bubble tea. until last year, it was only 2.50 for a small milk tea with tapioca. now it cost 2.75 cold or hot. some places (eh hem, teashop 168) charge 0.50 extra for hot bubble teas.

i find their original milk black tea is the best here. very rich in tea flavour and just the right amount of sweet. the owner lady is super kind and sweet too :D

it's a takeout place, there's a bar and few stools but not really a place you want to sit and chat. it's located at the corner of dundas w and huron.

mmm i want some bubble tea!


posted by rin

Vietnamese Spring Rolls with Hoisin Peanut Sauce

Vietnamese Spring Rolls with Hoisin Peanut Sauce
For the vegetarians/vegans out there, feel free to substitute the shrimp with grilled tofu. And for all you carnivores, simply add grilled pork, beef or chicken. In addition, mix and match any of your favorite vegetables.

Ingredients
For the rolls:
** 1 lb. fresh shrimp
** 1 cucumber, cut into thin, long strips
** 1 red pepper, cut into thin long strips
** 1 head of green lettuce, any kind
** 1 bunch cilantro
** 1 bunch mint
** Rice paper
** Rice vermicelli noodles

For the dipping sauce:
** 1 large clove garlic, minced
** 1 tsp olive oil
** 1/4 cup organic peanut butter
** 2 tsp. hoison sauce
** 1/4 cup water (more if needed)
** Sriracha chili sauce (optional)




Method

Bring a saucepan to a boil on medium heat. Add shrimp and poach for 3-4 minutes until bright pink. Allow to cool to room temperature. Remove skins, devein and slice in half crosswise. Set aside. Bring a medium saucepan filled halfway with water to a boil. Once a rapid boil is reached, add rice vermicelli noodles, cover and immediately remove from heat. Set timer for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, drain noodles in a colander and rinse with cold water to stop cooking. Allow to dry at room temperature or in the refrigerator.

Meanwhile, begin to prepare the dipping sauce. Heat a small small saucepan with olive oil on medium-low heat. Add garlic and saute quickly, about 20 seconds. Do not let garlic burn. Add peanut butter and hoisin sauce and continue to stir. When sauce begins to incorporate and thickens up, add water. Adjust to taste and continue to add water, 1 tbsp. at a time, if it becomes too thick. Remove from heat and set aside.

To assemble rolls, dip single sheets of rice paper into hot water. Allow excess water to drain and quickly place on a plate. Once rice paper becomes pliable and soft, add shrimp, softened noodles, cucumbers, red peppers, cilantro and mint. Carefully roll closed and slice in half. Serve with hoisin peanut dipping sauce.

post from design sponge

Chinese Chicken Salad with Spicy Ginger Dressing

Chinese Chicken Salad with Spicy Ginger Dressing
Serves 2
Feel free to substitute the chicken with grilled tofu, shrimp or any protein of your liking.

Ingredients

• 1 boneless chicken breast, skin removed
• 1 medium-sized Napa (or Savoy) cabbage, thinly sliced
• 2 carrots, shredded
• 1 small tomato, thinly sliced
• 1 mango, thinly sliced
• 4 scallions, thinly sliced on the diagonal
• 2 tbsp. roasted sesame seeds
• handful of fresh mint, chopped
• handful of cilantro, chopped
• handful of roasted peanuts

Spicy Ginger Dressing

• 2 teaspoons fresh grated ginger
• 1 tablespoon Sriracha chili sauce
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1/8 teaspoon sesame oil
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil

Preparation

1. To poach chicken, place the breast in a small saucepan and add water, about 1 inch above the chicken. Cover and bring to a boil. Once boiled, immediately lower heat to a very slow simmer and partly cover for 10 minutes. Turn off the heat and leave the chicken to cook in hot water for another 15 minutes. Once cooled, shred chicken and set aside.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together all the ingredients for the spicy ginger dressing.

3. Add the cabbage, chicken, carrots, tomato, mint and cilantro to the large bowl and toss gently. Top with mango slices and roasted peanuts. Garnish with scallions and roasted sesame seeds, and serve immediately.


post from design sponge

the works burger

The Works Burger in london is to die for. their burgers are juicy and thick. no no, mr. mcdonald, you may satisfy my hunger at 2am (because you are just too conveniently located 5 minutes from my apartment) but you are no match for these gourmet burgers. cc and i ordered a large strawberry milkshake ($9.28), NOT knowing how large was large. at whopping 4L, it was enough to keep us full even before the burgers were served.



the burgers are live fire grilled and cooked like a steak. they are HUGE! i had the Fajita Burger ($12.13). it comes with caramelized onions & green bell peppers, salsa loco & jack cheese. cc had the original best seller, Smokey Mountain ($12.80) made with smokey bbq sauce, jack cheese & bacon strips. all the burgers' patties can be customized: beef, chicken breast, turkey, veggie, portobello mushroom cap and even domestic elk. the burgers come with a side from a choice of: fries, sweet potato fries, spicy die-cut chips (these are REALLY good), mashed potato, salad or coleslaw.

i have a small mouth and eating this big burger was bit of a challenge but thankfully they provide a knife. 


image borrowed from here

another time we went to the works, we ordered the Tower-O-Rings ($9.69). it was just amazing. the breaded onion rings come in a stack, crispy and delicious, plus fun to eat. they are not too greasy either.

the server said it will take about 15-20 minutes for the burgers to be crafted. good thing we had some appetizers. i was starrrrving. i was surprised to see Windsor Spitfires Burger on the menu. there's no works burger in windsor!!! anyways, the works burger will be opening in toronto soon. i can't wait!


The Works Burger
145 King Street
London, Ontario
519.601.5464
worksburger.com

posted by rin