Budding Chef

In an effort to keep Indio busy this summer we signed up for *Little Chefs*, a free cooking class organized by Ontario Early Years Centres. I was hesitant at first because the class is timed perfectly with Indio's nap and I didn't want to risk a cranky toddler every week, but he's been a trooper and has sacrificed his midday snooze for a little culinary education.

We have only attended 2 classes so far, but both have been loads of fun! We start the class with a circle of songs and stories and then get right into cooking. The instructors are great about teaching routines such washing your hands before cooking, waiting your turn [some seem to struggle with this one!], learning about the different food groups and actually measuring and mixing the ingredients. It's quite amazing to watch a room full of toddlers so engaged in creating their own snack!

During our first class we baked blueberry muffins and made watermelon juice. Indio loved pouring ingredients into bowls to prepare the muffin batter. However, he had a hard time grasping the fact that he couldn't just eat the watermelon off the plate instead of actually cutting it to put it in the blender.

pouring flour

mmmmuffin!

The end result was delicious, and I'm not just saying that as a proud mama. I think even pastry-chef-in-the-making, Summer, would be impressed! We ate the muffin hot out of the oven and Indio drank his juice so quickly that I'm not sure he even tasted it!

"mom, may i have a real knife?"

so refreshing!

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Well Fed Cinco de Mayo: Rebozos

My love of Mexican food has not been fulfilled since we moved to Toronto.

In NYC, I was spoiled with the plenitude of restaurants serving delicious, authentic, affordable Mexican cuisine, but up north, my luck hasn't been as great. Sure, there are Mexican restaurants here, but definitely not as many as in NY. And authenticity is hard to come by because apparently just adding avocado to a dish seems to make it "Latin American."

E grew up eating authentic Mexican food made by his Mexican-American mother, so he is an even bigger critic than I am!

In honour of Cinco de Mayo, we set out to finally try Rebozos, a local restaurant that began in the owners' living room. Apparently not much has changed as the owners still live in the house the eatery is in, except that now Rebozos has expanded further into their living space.
We ordered chicken enchiladas verde [E], a chicken quesadilla [Indio], and a chorizo burrito [me]. The chef made a mistake and made a chicken burrito, so he threw in a chorizo taco alongside it.
Everything was delicious! Indy ate the insides of his quesadilla with gusto and asked for more. E said this was the closest we've come to finding food like we had in Mexico on our 2004 trip. And I was very happy and very full after my hearty burrito! The only thing missing was a margarita!

Rebozos is a must try for anyone looking for authentic Mexican cuisine in Toronto. We'll definitely be going back!

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Well Fed: Brooklyn

I know I've been MIA for a bit, but I finally found a moment to sit and catch you all up on our most recent trip to NYC.

Whenever I return to New York my trip seems to centre around food . . . delicious food. This trip was certainly no different!

My first stop wasn't actually in Brooklyn. After an overnight drive through torrential downpour I met up with my cousins who were stopping in Manhattan for the night for a piece of Crack Pie from Momofuku. And yes, it is every bit deserving of its moniker because it's that good. Bonus: it was served alongside a cup of Stumptown java.
Back in Brooklyn later in the week, we enjoyed dinner at Bocca Lupo in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. The evening began with an aperitif of Tequila with fresh strawberry, basil and balsamic vinegar. YUM!

My final night in Brooklyn I met up with Sophia for a delicious meal at Iron Chef in Brooklyn Heights.

new york, crazy couple and hardrock rolls

We walked through DUMBO before heading back to the 'Heights for some Crumbs cupcakes: Raspberry Swirl and Baba Booey, aka heaven in the form of peanut butter and chocolate!

bklyn bffs

love

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Well [Over!] Fed: Birthday

Five straight days of indulging in delectably rich food and I've finally thrown in the towel!

My birthday *weekend* began last Wednesday with a scrumptious meal of braised short ribs followed by a dessert plate piled high with banana bread pudding, chocolate molten lava cake, gelato and fruit at Ferrovia.

a rare moment when Indy was actually sitting still at Ferrovia

Thursday, was a wonderful evening with fellow bibliophile, Faiza. We filled ourselves up with General Tao's chicken and Malaysian noodles at the cute and quaint, Indochine, and still had enough for leftovers!

Friday was filled with more noodles and chicken at Satay on the Road with Lis and P.

mmm . . . vino

E and I enjoyed a much-needed date night Saturday. After hours of deliberating on which restaurant to choose and finding out that most of our choices were already booked up, we finally ended up at The Keg, a faithful fallback. With perfectly seared steak and delicious twice-baked potatoes paired with a *Keg-size* glass of wine what more could a girl ask for? A Dairy Queen Blizzard, that's what! Of course, I stuck to my usual: Cappuccino Skor. More than the food though, I relished the time we had to just *catch up* after what felt like weeks of crazy-ness.

delish!

The weekend ended with a great brunch at Hothouse Cafe with Jen and Bill and homemade cupcakes from Jen.

I've probably gained 5 lbs since I began celebrating my birthday, but I have the rest of the year to work it off, right? For a birthday that was seeming a little anticlimactic, it ended up being just perfect. Spending time with my family and friends and filling my face with all my favourite foods was more than I could ask for.

I think I'm over dessert for awhile though. Did I just say that?

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Well Fed: Kraft Sizzling Salad

A couple of months ago I had the opportunity to review Kraft's Chicken Caesar Sizzling Salad kit, but haven't had a chance to post my thoughts until now.

Some of you may already have guessed that I'm not that adept in the kitchen, so anything that makes preparing dinner easier is always welcome! The kits each come with a cooking sauce to use with your protein and salad dressing for your greens. All you have to do is add the meat and salad fixings.

E sautéed some boneless, skinless chicken breasts while I prepared the salad. In just a few minutes, we had dinner on the table!

The simplicity of the meal was appreciated on a busy weeknight and it tasted pretty good too! The cracked black peppercorn cooking sauce smelled great, but I found it a bit too *peppery* for me. I loved the flavour of the salad dressing [who doesn't love a rich Caesar dressing?], I only wish it came in a low-fat version.

Overall, we were definitely satiated. Paired with a glass of vino, I'd definitely make another Sizzling Salad soon, maybe this time with beef instead of chicken.

caesar salad is never complete without croutons and parmesan!

If you have any foolproof, quick and easy dinners for me to try, please pass the recipes my way!

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Well Fed: Columbia, MO

After a week filled with Midwest hospitality and deliciously over-sized meals, I'm shocked I haven't gained 10 lbs! We had a great trip visiting E's mom and baby sis, Addie, in Columbia, Missouri, and eating to our hearts' content! Our meals consisted of some great home cooking and these worthy takeout meals:
First stop: Smokin' Chick's BBQ, Original Missouri BBQ. Now, growing up in Canada, I didn't fully realized there was a cuisine called "BBQ" until I met my Midwestern husband. He has taken me out a few times in search of authentic BBQ in NYC [didn't happen] and in Kansas on previous trips to visit his family. But it was only on this trip that I fully understood why people salivate at the mere mention of baby back ribs. Chick's baby backs were tender, fall-off-the-bone tasty. I did find the St. Louis ribs a bit fatty, but the baked beans and potato salad didn't disappoint. I'm officially a BBQ convert...

...and so is he!

Since first meeting E's familia, Dairy Queen has became a staple during our get-togethers, but this time we skipped the DQ and headed to Culver's for frozen custard. Addie tried to convince me that custard was just thicker ice cream, but after sampling the Concrete Mixer [a Blizzard in disguise], I'm pretty sure they're the same consistency and equally tasty! I had the banana/Reese peanut butter cup combo...Heaven! [Just a bit of warning: do not look up the nutritional info at Culver's if you want to enjoy your custard!]

[right before I devoured my 'Mixer]

Being in a *college town* [Columbia is home to the Mizzou Tigers] it's almost a necessity to have good pizza to keep the students well-nourished and Columbia didn't disappoint. Addie took us to Shakespeare's Pizza in the downtown district for some mouth-watering, whole wheat crust deliciousness [you didn't think "mouth-watering" and "whole wheat" could be in the same sentence, now did you?] Voted "Favorite College Hangout" by Good Morning America, Shakespeare's was packed to the rafters and had an hour long wait! Luckily, we called in our order and it was ready to go when we got there. Our pie was piled high with toppings that it was a balancing act trying to get a piece to my mouth without it falling apart in my lap! Paired with a yummy red wine, this pizza dinner was just about perfect.

^via

Definitely check out these spots if you're ever in Columbia. I'm still salivating reminiscing about our trip!

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Well Fed: Mi Casa

It's a well known fact that I don't love cooking because I can't just *whip* stuff up like most of the *chefs* in my family, and am a bit self-conscious of this. I'm becoming more comfortable in the kitchen and have recently broadened my scope beyond eggs and pancakes. E is my usual guinea pig, but Saturday night we had my parents and brother over to test out my emerging skills.

A lot easier to make than it looks or tastes!

I love me some potatoes, in almost any form!

I have to say, I was really proud of how everything turned out. I made soy sauce-molasses glazed pork tenderloin encrusted with pecans, Caesar mashed potatoes, and steamed veggies. For dessert, I made a scrumptious banana cake with cream cheese frosting. Everyone said they enjoyed dinner and Indy ate a whole lot, which always makes me happy. It definitely makes me want to cook more often!

Indy's piece was the one at the back, sans frosting, but he still enjoyed every crumb!

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Well Fed: Steel Cut Oatmeal

For someone who doesn't always eat breakfast, I'm a huge fan of oatmeal, usually the instant variety, because of its ease, taste and that it's good for me! I still miss the daily breakfast ritual of preparing 1-minute oats with raisins and bananas for myself and my old co-teacher.

Lately, I've grown to appreciate slow-cooked, steel cut oats. Their nutty, creamy flavour surpasses instant oatmeal every time. If you're in a hurry, make them ahead of time and refrigerate individual portions in airtight containers until you're ready to heat and eat. [I add a bit of milk before reheating in the microwave.]

Tonight, E and I weren't that hungry so we had *breakfast for dinner.* I found this recipe from Alton Brown via the Food Network and decided to give it a try since I just happened to have buttermilk in the fridge. I added raisins, though you could add almost any fruit.

It was a deliciously satisfying meal and I can't wait to eat the leftovers in the morning!

Ingredients

1 tablespoon butter

1 cup steel cut oats

3 cups boiling water

1/2 cup whole milk

1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon low-fat buttermilk

1 tablespoon brown sugar [I used honey because I didn't have brown sugar.]

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

rains [as many as you'd like...or none at all...totally optional!]

Directions
In a large saucepot, melt the butter and add the oats. Stir for 2 minutes to toast. Add the boiling water and reduce heat to a simmer. Keep at a low simmer for 25 minutes, without stirring.

Combine the milk and half of the buttermilk with the oatmeal. Stir gently to combine and cook for an additional 10 minutes. Add the cinnamon, sugar and raisins. Spoon into a serving bowl and top with remaining buttermilk. Enjoy!

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Well Fed: Iron Chef House

I've been meaning to write this post for awhile, but couldn't stand to look at the photos without feeling ill.

When asked what my favourite food is, I always reply, "Ice cream, guacamole and sushi, in no particular order." [But not all at the same time!] I have never reached the point where I had had enough of any one of those delectable dishes..until now.

I posted a photo of ridiculous amounts of sushi I had with some friends in week 34's Snapshot Sunday, but it doesn't compare to the meal I had in Brooklyn at Iron Chef House the last weekend in August with E, Monty and 3 of my cousins. After a smorgasbord of appetizers where we all claimed we were *full*, the main course arrived. And what a course it was! A gorgeous bevy of maki and sashimi was placed before us...
Every single bite was delicious and we ate to our hearts' content and the limit of the stretch factor in our pants. And then we ordered dessert!

I can't believe I'm going to type this, but as much as I love sushi, I don't know when I'll be able to eat another morsel again. It's been almost 2 weeks and I can still feel the rice in my belly!

If you're ever in Brooklyn Heights/DUMBO, definitely stop by this cute little restaurant on Clark St...and make sure you go hungry!

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Well Fed: Hakka No. 1

[gargantuan-sized portion of Hakka noodles. pop can inserted to show scale of mountain of noodles!]

Since meeting E I've often reminisced about eating Hakka Chinese food in India and Canada, professing that it is even tastier than *regular* Chinese food [which I also love!]. To me, Hakka just means *Indian-Chinese food* because my first introduction to its deliciousness was on a visit to New Delhi. We traveled by scooter to pick up little baggies of Chicken Corn Soup, Hakka Noodles and Manchurian Chicken. [no cute takeout boxes here!] I remember licking my lips in anticipation as I wondered how these thin little baggies, kept closed with only a feeble knot, were going to make it all the way home without splitting open on my lap. Since that trip I have come across Hakka cuisine in Toronto and, though nothing quite compares to the food I had in India, many come close!

While running errands today, E and I both stated *we were hungry* as we often do when we leave the house at about the exact time we should be eating lunch. Today was definitely our lucky day as we stumbled across Hakka No. 1. Hakka No. 1's website defines Hakka cuisine as "a Chinese and Indian fusion." We decided to pop in for their $5.50 lunch specials, which included a vegetable spring roll and a can of pop. [soda, what a rare indulgence!] How can you beat that price?

E had the Chilli Chicken with rice and I had the Chicken Hakka Noodles. To say the portions were large is a bit of an understatement. I packed up more than half my noodles to take home. E and I loved our dishes, but we still needed the real critic to weigh-in: Indio approved of both dishes, though the Chili Chicken was a bit spicy for him. [He loved the play-ability of the noodles and being fed with chopsticks.]

If you're in the Finch Ave & Weston Rd area, definitely do give Hakka No. 1 a try!

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Secrets from the Chef

Emil has been gracious enough to share his recipe of the scrumptious chicken we had last week. The only thing he forgot to mention is that it's even better with some wine. :) Check out the Fit 4 Life NYC website and blog for more recipes and fitness tips to live a healthier, happier life.

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Well Fed: Chez Casa

Another delectable dinner made by my one and only: grilled chicken breast marinated in E's own recipe, pesto pasta [I made that!] and sauteed green beans with onions...YUM!
Accompanying the scrumptious meal was this refreshing prickly pear cactus Gewürztraminer from Pelee Island. Perfect for the warm weather that was finally bestowed on us.

A great ending to a long day...

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Well Fed: Udupi Palace

On Mother's Day my parents, Indio and I ventured to Little India on Gerrard Street in Toronto. Since I didn't have the stroller with me, I strapped Indy on in the Ergo, which was great for maneuvering through the crowds and the small spaces in the stores. I hadn't used it in awhile and was quickly reminded why I loved it so much: at 26 lbs, Indio felt like a feather!

After a bit of sari shopping for me, we decided to stop to grab a bite at Udupi Palace, a South Indian restaurant whose specialty is dosa. Dosa is a crispy crepe made of rice and lentil flour and traditionally filled with masala potatoes. You can also have them filled with paneer [Indian cheese], onions, or nothing at all. Dosa is served with a vegetable soup called sambar, which is a bit sour for my liking, and a delicious coconut chutney, which I savour so that it will last until the very last bite!

^via

We ordered a plain dosa, masala dosa and a paneer dosa. Surprisingly, all three arrived at the same time, which is sometimes not possible at a South Indian restaurant because there is only one griddle so dosas are made one at a time. They were all cooked to perfection: crispy and hot! And the coconut chutney was probably the best I've had. My only *complaint* would be the lack of attention from the 5 or so waiters standing around while our water glasses remained unfilled.

Lately, Indio has been insistent on feeding himself, which is great, except when the food in question is curry- or tomato-based, because I hate trying to get those stains out! I will admit that I hinder his independence if it means he might get to wear that shirt one more time, stain-free! However, at Udupi, I just let him be! [Ok, ok, I changed him into a shirt that I didn't mind if it got stained, but still...]

[waiting to order.]

[dipping pieces of dosa in sambar wearing the *stainable* shirt...notice 3 waiters in the background.]

Though I was sad not to spend Mother's Day with E [he's working in NYC this week.], it was great to spend it with my mom [and dad and Indio!].

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Well Fed: Coquine

^screen shot from Coquine website

It's been awhile since I ventured to the trendy Yonge and Eglinton area, but last night Nooreen and I decided to break out of our usual routine and have dinner at Coquine. Being one of Nooreen's favourite restaurants, I figured it must be good because she seems to have tried every restaurant in Toronto!

We both started with a glass of Cesari Mara Valpolicella Ripasso, which lived up to the belief that you can't really go wrong with a Valpolicella. It must have been copycat night because we both also ordered steak frites. The steak was cooked to a perfect medium-rare and the frites were dusted with parmesan...delish! I loved that there was also a side of garlic mayo and ketchup for dipping because who doesn't love mayo with their fries? I don't know what got into us, but we ordered dessert too! We shared the warm flourless chocolate torte with a decaf coffee each. [again with the copying!]

Every morsel I put into my mouth was scrumptious! Coquine is definitely a great place to go for a casual meal. The prices were reasonable [$12 wine, $18 steak frites, $9 torte], the atmosphere was lively, the service was good, and the company was fun!

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Well Fed: Hey Lucy!

[image via here.]

Last night, a friend and I made impromptu plans for dinner since both of us were *husband-less* for the night [well, E's been gone since Tues...]. She decided on Hey Lucy's new location on Bloor St West. Before NYC, Hey Lucy on King Street West was a regular pre-theatre spot for me. I loved their brick oven pizzas and yummy pastas.

Well, I wasn't disappointed yesterday. First of all, it was $5 wine Thursday. Who doesn't love $5 wine? I had a delicious Valpolicella, though according to my good friend, Gerry, all Val's are good. [Wednesdays are $3.99 Martini night.]

For dinner, I ordered the mushroom agnolotti, which was flavourful and filling. The portion size was just right that I didn't feel gross afterwards. [I still belong to the clean plate club so it's hard for me to leave *just one piece* or not enough for leftovers.]

The Thursday evening traffic and neverending quest for a *good parking spot* were quickly forgotten as we got lost in conversation over great food. Hey Lucy is definitely a spot I'll be returning to.

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Well Fed: The Odeon

I'm finally getting around to posting some thoughts from our recent family trip to NYC. I had these written up long ago, but hadn't been able to upload the photos from the camera until now.

A good friend of mine has mentioned The Odeon on almost every trip to NYC and since we were staying at the very apartment she usually stays at, I had to give it a try. We went for an early Sunday brunch on the most perfect-October-weather day. Indy was in good spirits, which made it even more perfect.

Though our waitstaff seemed to have partied a little too hard the night before and therefore were Zombie-like during our meal, they were polite and made sure my decaf coffee stayed full.

E ordered the croque monsieur, which was very good, but really small. Definitely not sizable enough for any full-grown human, especially at $16. I had the lemon ricotta and poppy seed pancakes, which were delicious! Even Indy approved. The citrus maple syrup and accompanying berries completed the tasty 'cakes, though I did think there would be a bit more than just 3 pancakes on the plate...Maybe a side or something? I think they were around $14.

Over all, I liked The Odeon, but wasn't blown away. I guess I've been spoiled with the prix fixe brunches in Brooklyn that are always so big, so scrumptious and include an *adult* beverage of our choice.

Where's your favorite brunch spot? What dish do you usually order?

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Well Fed: Pho Rang Dong

In an effort to explore our neighbourhood more and to avoid the kitchen on the few hot days of summer we've had so far, E and I decided to try Pho Rang Dong on St Clair Ave W last week. We were crunched for time and it never seems to take long to whip up some pho [noodle soup] or bun [rice vermicelli noodles] whenever we've gone out to a Vietnamese restaurant in the past so this seemed like the perfect solution for our hunger pangs.

I was right! The lone waitress brought us our food shortly after we ordered. I had my usual pho tai and E had grilled pork over vermicelli. Both dishes were quite large and very tasty, albeit not anything special from any other pho place we've tried. [In my experience, Vietnamese cuisine seems to be one that is rarely *bad*.]

Of course, Indio wanted to touch everything but his toys, so in an effort to distract him, I gave him a few strands of vermicelli from E's dish and a piece of beef from my pho. He wasn't so into the vermicelli, finding it too sticky for his liking. He spent more time trying to get the noodles off his fingers than eating them, but he seemed to like the soft, tasty beef.

I would definitely go back to Pho Rang Dong when my next pho craving strikes. The food was good, the service was great, and the restaurant was baby-friendly too, even if the the highchair could've used a good scrubbing.

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Well Fed: Casa Victoria

Since E and I love trying new restaurants, I've added a new component to the blog today: Well Fed. This will be my take on my faves and not-so-fave eateries. Feel free to add your own reviews to mine!

A couple of years ago I introduced E to dim sum, one of my favourite dining experiences. Dim sum is essentially an old Chinese tradition of eating a light meal with tea. I first started enjoying this Chinese midday meal when I was about 8 or 9 years old. My cousin used to take me to Pink Pearl, which is now Pearl Harbourfront, in Toronto. When I was a bit older my good friend, Jenn used to invite me to her family gatherings at the now defunct New World restaurant. I learned most of the dim sum words I know through Jenn.

Once I moved to New York I yearned for dim sum and searched for the best in the city. The closest I came to finding *Toronto-tasty* dim sum was at Golden Unicorn in Manhattan's Chinatown, which quickly became a regular Sunday treat for me and E. We would walk to Chinatown across the Manhattan Bridge, have lunch at Golden Unicorn, and then head over to Tai Pan Bakery to get some bubble tea for our walk back home. We shared our love for dim sum with our friends and all our out of town guests. We haven't had a complaint yet!

Today, Jenn and Bill introduced us to a new dim sum restaurant: Casa Victoria [website is in Chinese, but this link will take you to their address and map]. In their words, this was *fancy, upscale* dim sum. Well, fancy it was! The waitresses were wearing black and white French maid outfits, the tables were immpecably set, the waiters attended to our every need, sometimes before we even called them over!

Jenn teaching Indio the finer points of dim sum

But the best part was the food! Everything was delicious! We had pork ribs in some sort of orgasmic honey-sesame marinade, haam sui gok [I just learned the word for my favourite football-shaped deep-fried meat dumplings], paai gwat [spareribs in black bean sauce], vegetable dumplings, sticky rice, spicy scallop cheong fun, sticky rice, and fried donut-rice noodle rolls. I can't believe how much I ate. I'm still feeling painfully full from lunch...it was worth it!

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