Stalder

The name of the restaurant is la casa.

This past weekend we met up with my parents in Stratford to see a play and go out for dinner. My mom is on a very low fat, low salt diet, so eating out was going to be a challenge. After doing research my best bet seemed to be the sunroom restaurant, as they specialized in stir fries with lots of veggies, and had a chef who was a graduate of Stratford chef school. As well I had read some foodie reviews from folks who loved the place. When I called to make a reservation I was told that we would have to be out by 7 PM, so we arrived right on time for our 5 PM reservation. Unfortunately our table was not prepared even tohugh the restaurant opened ot 4:30 for dinner. From this point onward there was just one mishap after another until it almost became a comedy. My mom's wine came promptly, but my wife's never arrived. I pointed this out to the waitress who then left . . . and still didnt bring back her wine!!!! When we ordered I asked the waitress if the rice noodles were like pad Thai noodles but she had no idea, and didn't offer to go check. Maybe I should have known, but i thought she could have offered to check. We all ordered stir fries of one type or another and they arrived although were all given to the wrong people (we just sorted that out ourselves). I mentioned that it was odd that they had bread plates and knives . . . yet no bread. The bread came as we were finishing supper The stir fries were very good. Very bland but with fresh ingredients, low in fat and salt. Perfect for my parents, the least adventurous diners in the world. My wife's wine did finally arrive after her dinner was 1/2 done. The coup de grace came with dessert. My wife ordered the chilled chocolate mango mousse, and it arrived FROZEN SOLID. You can check their online menu to see at http://www.sunroomstratford.com/index.php to see a description of the dessert. I called our waitress over and mentioned that the mousse was frozen solid and she said " it is supposed to be" I mentioned that I had not seen the word frozen, to which she replied "it does so" . . at this point I just shut up. She said she would bring another dessert if we would rather, but i was so embarrassed/frustrated I just said not to worry about it. Anyhow, it was probably the worst service I have ever had. The food quality was average, except for the fact that the chilled mousse was FROZEN .

Dufflet's has a petit fours collection (scroll down to near the bottom). Way back in the '80s, I loved their stuff, but it has been many years since I was last able to try some, so I don't know if they're still any good. (Is toronto considered Southern Ontario?) ← Eitelbach also makes them. I have bought them at Pusateri's and whole foods.

My wife and I will be in Regina for 5 days in May. I am looking for suggestions as to what the best places to eat are for all meals of the day. The choices need not be pretentious, just looking for good food. Though if there are any gems in Regina we don't mind paying for great food. Any help will be much appreciated.

I am going to be in Ottawa for a few days for work next month and was looking for some tips on good places for lunch and dinner. We will be staying at the Sheraton downtown, and our food interests are Japanese, Thai, and small plates dining, though if the food is good we REALLY just like to eat ) E Gullet has been an awesome source for finding the best food other times when I travelled, so I figured I would see what ideas we come up with from here.

Thanks for the post and welcome aboard. I do think however you may not be giving e-gulletteers quite enough credit, as the vast majority of us are well aware of all the things you mentioned. Toronto Life does an AMAZING job with dining and food options in Toronto. Your restaurant guide and your food guide are my two favourite publications each year. As I said I think most of us are aware that a professional kitchen can't really turn on a dime when they see a reviewer in house, even if they want to.

I think the whole point of the article was to show that at good restaurants everyone gets first rate food and service. Chatto knows that people know who he is, but he observes how others are treated while he is dining and he feels the same as I do . . . that generally in most decent Canadian Restaurants people are all treated well. I have eaten in a lot of Canadian restaurants and I have always felt that I was treated as well as those around me. I have had great service and horrible service, but i have never felt that I was being singled out in either case, it seemed those around me were treated the same. I think Chatto's point was simply that the treatment he recieves is always about equal to those dining around him only becauce most Canadian restaurants treat everyone well.

No - it wasn't their own brand. Sorry for the confusion. But still a great product. ←

JS Bonbons chocolates are notable for her use of herbs in them. She uses thyme, Tarragon, and black pepper as well as other herbs to make some very interesting truffles and bonbons. The one WOW moment with her chocolates for me was her sea salt and caramel chocolate . . . since then I have experienced this combination elsewhere . . . but . . .well . .. nothing compares to your first time . . . .)))

They make their own truffle honey???? I bought a small jar of truffle honey there, but it was not a CB brand.

I haven't been but toronto.com "To Dine For" gave it a fabulous review. I have no idea how much stock can be put in this reviewer, but the food sounds might good . Here is the link http://www.toronto.com/restaurants/article/000-381-535

Thanks for the info. Work has been very busy lately and we have a few days off, so we are really looking forward to our little foodie vacation at home

Just one more small section . . .does cheese boutique have prepared foods at all? As much as I love to cook . . one of the treats of going to pusateri's is picking up some side dishes so I can just cook some great meat or fish but still have a feast. I love some of the vegetable salads and pasta salads pusateri's does. We are planning on driving to toronto tomorrow and are definitely going to visit cheese boutique. The question now, is should we go to pusateri's first for some salads etc., then head to CB, or will cheese boutique have everything we like at pusateris.

I was referring to the cheese boutique off south kingsway. I go to either pusateri's but much prefer the downtown one for prepared foods, and the bakery. The managers always bring anything i want from the main store down as long as I call ahead. I find the uptown Pusateri's full of rude people, and a very stressful place to shop. From what I am reading cheese boutique is definitely worth a visit though they may not have as many prepared foods as Pusateri's.

I am wondering how cheese boutique stacks up against Pusateri's in terms of provisions (oils vinegar olives etc . . . .and also in terms of prepared food. Any opinions

but rain is nowhere near Yorkville. ← Hehe . . I bet he means Flow . . .

A quick Globe/Stratford story for you food/theatre fans. To get good seats for the Stratford Festival you usually buy your tickets 6 months or more before the performances. Colm Feore is acting at Stratford this summer for the first time in 5+ years. He is fabulous on stage but has recently made the jump to the big screen and developed quite a reputation as one of Hollywoods best character actors. Anyways we really wanted to see him at Stratford this year so we bought our tickets in February I think. Turns out that one set of tickets was for Thursday October 5th and we have a major family function to attend a full day away. The performance was a matinee and we thought that there was probably someone who works at our favourite restaurant who might enjoy seeing it since we couldn't. Anyways we arrive at the restaurant and Todd who runs the front of house is there but not in an official mode since it is his day off. the Restaurant is nearly empty since it is only 5:15. My wife takes out the tickets and starts explaining our situation and starts going on about what an AMAZING actor Colm Feore is . .. . and how AWESOME he was in past plays. Todd's eyes start to sparkle as he looks over our shoulders and he interrupts my wife to tell her "I know he is amazing . . . He is also sitting right behind you:)" What a great moment. We ALL had a great laugh. I am sure Mr. Feore was very flattered as the praise was given with no knowledge he was there. And my wife who is a VERY shy person (unlike me) was just bubbling as she explained how awesome he really is, speaking of past performances etc. totally unaware he was right behind her. Globe is obviously the hip spot to hang in Stratford now. Both William Hutt and Colm Feore have been there on nights we have, but no wonder, hehe, the food is so good and reasonably priced.

Ditto to all above also. ← I might add if you want a quick lunch or the best munchies ever for your room, head up to pusateri's on Bay and yorkville for the ultimate gourmet grocery experience.

LOL . . you guys had it waay to good for waaay to long, on the exchange rate. BTW sorry for the horrible spelling, it was early this morning and I was not quite awake

More on Globe after many visits . . . first off Alex unfortunately I can't comment much on wines at Globe, further than to say that each time we go my wife askes for a glass of wine after we order, that will complement some food and she always enjoys it. She told me that the wine always matches at least one dish we order and she endy up drinking 3/4 of the glass with that dish. I can't drink wine due to an allergy which is too bad becasue i truly love the interplay between the right wine and the right food. We have had so many great dishes at Globe in the past few months. High on the list would be a couple of sahimi dishes offset with lovely mild sauces which didn't overpower the seafood. Beef Tenderloin has figured prominenetly on the blackboard in many ways but my favourite was in a soy reduction with oyster mushrooms and two chinese greens. . . very exotic. another highlight was a black cod with porcini crust, it was just soooo good. The earthy mushroom flavour almost permeating the fish, but not quite . . still letting you taste the fish. But the best of this restaurant are the dishes which aren't meant to stun you . . but just to be enjoyed . . . For example, who else has the courage to serve sticky rice with peanut sauce as a dish. . . BUT MAN we hoover that stuff up so fast . . that we laugh at ouraselves every time it is on the menu. Another example was fresh pickerel with cole slaw and garlic chips. . . so simple . . . fresh fish . . a little coleslaw that was impeccable and some crispy fried slices of garlic .. so whimsical and so much fun to eat all the while thinking . . man this is not your typical fish and chips You know the are at least 6 new specials on the board each day . . . and I SWEAR most of them come once and are NEVER seen again . . . this is not a chef cooking from a book . . it is sooo obvious that he literally looks for what is BEST . . . and cooks it each day. This sometimes leads to dishes which are not totally balanced in terms of taste . . . but I can tell you . . EVERY dish has FLAVOUR!!!!! So Alex here for your pleasure is a review of the dishes my wife and I had last night at globe . . . we went specifically for you . . . thank you very much. 1. Venison carpaccio, with soy cured foie gras, peanuts and crispy shallots. I bet you had this one when you were there as it is on the menu . . but it really does define the restaurant. Fabulous gamey venison, a honking stack of shaved foie gras, peanuts and shallots for texture. Every time we have it we eat it and sigh . . . . it is that good. We also joke every time about how easy it would be to order 6 of that dish 2. Black Cod with beetroot puree, saffron potatoes and leek mussel vinagrette Beetroot puree with cod!!!!!!!! hmmmmmmmmmmm This was one of those only at globe dishes . . . did the beetroot puree really add to the cod . . not really . . .but oh my GOD the flavor of the beets just exploded in your mouth. The cod was cooked perfectly (as always btw, I have never had a piece of fish that was overc ooked here). I think if you were a food snob then this was a dish you may have turned your nose up at . . but for my wife and I it was awesome. You just know the beets were still in the ground that morning, and the larger than life depth of flavor was just awesome!!! 3. Heirloom Tomato and Green Bean salad with cherry tomato sorbet and balsamic reduction AWESOME!!! Simple enough to make at home but each ingredient at the peak of freshness with the cherry tomato sorbet adding some sweetness set off by the balsmic. 4. Seared Scallop and lobster Chowder with Coriander. WOW . . .this one was expensive at $15 (expensive for globe that is ))))) I huge perfectly seared scallop and a ton of lobster meat, in a wonderful creamy sauce wirth the tiniest potato balls I have ever seen some fresh sweet corn and a couple of grape tomatoes. The depth of the flavor in the sauce was UNBELIEVABLE!! Probably the closest I have been in my life to wanting to lick a dish clean. This dish could stand on it's own at any restaurant anywhere!!! 5. A Tasting of Potatoes Yes . . you read that right!!!! The same chef who just proved that he can cook any 3 star chef anywhere, is willing to bring you a dish of potatoes. Basically 4 diferent kinds of heirloom potatoes cooked to perfection with notihng but omse butter and maldon sea salt. I am pretty sure most food snobs would have been disspointed but for us, the chance to try four different varieties of potato was VERY COOL. I can tell you that you could really appreciate the differences in taste and texture between the varieties which is exactly what he wanted to happen I am sure. 6 Desert for desert we both had Coffee brulee with 3 different cookies. . . We are addicted to this desert lately it is just YUMMY . .. . nothing special . . just good a nice small portion of Creme Brulee so not to heavy Earlier in the summer though there was rhubarb crisp with balsmic Ice Cream and ooooooh . . was that yummy. The bill for that yummy goodness was under $100 with tax and a tip. Globe . . . .it really is a restaurant that defies simple description . . .but one thing is for sure . . . This is a restaurant for people who LOVE food!!

Edo is very near to Eglington and Avenue Road . . . . one street west of avenue on Eglinton. The fish is ALWATS fresh there and they serve a large variety of imaginitive maki.

Hehe if i was lucky enough to live around avenue road and lawrence I'd never order in . .. . I'd just walk over to pusateri's!!!!!!!!!!!! Heck I drive for 2 hours just to go to that store . . . . I am really glad to know that is where in TO you are though since i have wanted to try one of your cakes . . . .. Next trip to Pussateri's I'll definitely order one and will be able to pick it up. OMG . . you are so LUCKY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you MUST order takout . . EDO is just down the road!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I absolutely love the sushi there!!!! One of the other places in Toronto I will drive 2 hours just to go to!!! _____________________________

We were just in Stratford the other night for yet another meal at globe and walked by the schnitzel house as it is very close. It looked like typical Tourist type food rather than anything very interesting . . .the specials seemd to be a pork chop dish . . .. . prime rib roast beef . . etc. Overall it didn't look to promising. On the flip side the staff at globe loves food so much that Todd was telling us about how good the new Indian Resto in Stratford is. He did not claim to be an expert . . but said he had great tandoori chicken, and a decent vindaloo. He said they had put lots of work into the decor and that it was a decent find. He also mentioned that there is a new chinese resto that is serving dim sum . . . .he hadn't tried it yet but thought as I did that it might bear a visit sometime. hehe . . but . . . AH . . Globe. We have eaten there at least 10 times since spring and still can't wait for our next visit. Hope you enjoy your trip to Stratford . . and can't wait for your report on the hits and misses.

I am no expert but I truly love all of the different types of sausage at pusateri's. For sure there sweet and hot italian sausage is good, but there calabrese fennel sausage is just plain awesome. They also do a ton of specialty sausages. I have enjoyed asome very good chorizo, as well as a couple of other very nice sauasages from there.