KevV

Tough luck. But who knows what the future holds? My wife used to be veg - even vegan at some point, apparently - but she eventually succumbed to my gentle influence. For several years now she's eaten in the 'zone' (based on some book and, I think, resembling the Atkins Diet ... or is that 'Aikens'? whatever).

So the food isn't quite as good as you'd hope around then? Oh well... But when do the dishwashers all head off themselves? To me, that would probably be a worse time to dine.

I haven't been to any of the places mentioned above, but I have been to Toshi Sushi - 565 KingW. Anyone else? How does it compare to the others? Warning: I've got good standards for these things. The front dining area is the more Canadianised bit, with tables and the local condo crowd. Act like a salary-man and sit at the bar in the back, which is more reminiscent of typical neighbourhood sushi-yas around Tokyo. Lots of banter between the older chef, his assistant and the waitstaff, in Japanese of course, so pretty casual. Good quality. (Yuck! Just please don't order anything with mayonnaise in it; these are the faddish dishes probably intended to appeal to the younger 7-11 'conbini' generation and, of course, to N.American tastes as well.)

Or why not - if they want to go that far - up along Bloor, past Bathurst to the Korean area? Lots of places there. Kimchi tchigae, pibimbap, suntobu tchigae and all that, with lots of free side dishes (if you know how to spot the more traditional places, as proper Korean restaurants are duty-bound to serve them) all for around $7 or $8 or less.

If you go along College about 2 blocks past Spadina and turn down Augusta into the Kensington area, there is a Mexican place - its name mentions tacos - on the lefthand side. Easy to find, pretty good and affordable, and a fun place if you're all dining in a group. Pretty authentic, from what I can tell. Try the homemade drinks, like the horchata or their coffee with cinnamon. Same side a few metres farther there's Jumbo Empanadas which makes empanadas in the Chilean style with meats, the odd raisin, boiled egg and olive inside. Ask for salsa. Under $5 and enough for most people for lunch, and if not then order some of the other dishes as sides or a 2nd empanada. It's small, though, and not good if there are more than 3 or 4 of you. Very casual. The same strip also has a few South and Central american hispanic food shops. Look inside and at the back and you'll find that they make papusas and you can sit and eat 1 or 2 in the store, served with a kind of cole slaw and a salsa.

Whoops - make that QueenW, as we said above. I was in there today for the first time in a while. (Onigiri for $1.50!) Someone wrote that it was a 'paper store', however, it's not that at all. Lots of foodstuffs on sale, catering to homesick Japanese I'm sure, and lots of Japanese ceramics. It might be the best place around to buy a nabe pot or various other dishes you can use to serve Japanese food. Some tea sets too. Little paper. Japanese videos, also for the homesick. The staff I saw were Japanese. An authentic automated electronic genki female voice greets you 'irashaimasei' (or however it's spelt) as you enter. Maybe the best Japanese food shop in Toronto. Website: http://www.toronto-sanko.com/ And as they say in Japanese at this time of year - 'Meri Kurisumasu.'

More like Ossington, I think. It's on the north side of QueenW, more or less on the corner of a sidestreet. Been in there once or twice - they're more than a paper shop. They've got food products you won't see around much, too. The P.A.T. shop on BloorW, mentioned by jayt90, also caries quite a few Japanese products. And if you know your way around (and you might, but I'll say it anyway) there are many Korean products that are similar to or equivalent to Japanese. For eg, Korean miso (dwaen-jang) is a bit rougher than Japanese, but their nori (kim) is considered superior, including by Japanese. Good luck. There's probably more out there, but that's what I know.

I like his 'Wine Atlas' - partly because I love maps, and that book is full of them. Great detail too. You could probably take that book and use it to plot treks through various growing areas if you wanted.Of course, as one of my teachers said, geography and wine are closely connected.

Oh-oh. Isn't that 'Shoeless Joe's'?

Interesting. People blow money on all sorts of things. Boy-oh-boy - don't get me started. But a lot of work and craft can go into the finest wines, which is part of what can make them worth it. Me, I'd rather 'invest' $100 on a wine that I'll remember for years (it is possible) than, for eg, have a mundane restaurant meal for the same price (far more easily done). Of course, price probably doesn't guarantee quality, and so it's a good idea that our topic-starter here is doing some research. Hey, here's another idea: sign your husband up for a tasting somewhere in Toronto, if he hasn't done one before. Check other posts here and the internet. Tastings are generally less than $100 from what I've seen. Then, based on the tasting experience, he might buy you a special bottle next xmas!

I'm afraid you'll have to dress him up, glue on a moustache, or do something so that he appears just a year older. He'd be legal in Quebec, though. Sorry. No suggestions on where to pick up false ID.

Just to add - the Brazilian place mentioned is called 'Caju' (as in 'Cashew').

Absolutely! Anyone up for holding a blind tasting?

Until recently I thought of Madeira as mainly a cooking wine. Marsala also came to mind in a similar light. Anyway, what do I know?... But what an interesting history. I'm no expert and so won't go on, except to quote this: "Estufa (meaning "stove") is the name of the unique method which Madeira producers use to reproduce the gentle heating and cooling effects of an equatorial voyage." More info from http://www.winepros.com.au/jsp/cda/countri...pic.jsp?ID=1362

Thanks for explaining all this, Estufarian. Sounds great.

I'm surprised, as I thought Wine Tasters and this event were better known then they seem to be. I only moved to TO this year, but heard the WT xmas party was highly recommended through the Indep Wine Educ Guild where I've recently done a course.Estufarian - I think you posted before that you are involved with WTs. (And isn't there some connection between 'Estufarian' and Madeira? Please explain.) Good heavens! That is almost too much to take in in one go - and that's just reading, not even tasting. In a way I wonder if being able to sample such wines all in a few hour period might be too much. Doesn't it all soon become a blur? (Especially if you don't spit out.) I think the brochure or site explains - $70 to get in (and 20 wine tickets?) + $20 extra for the Madeira (a tasting that is, not the entire bottle).Can't complain about that. You could pay around $70 for one retail $25 or $30 bottle in a restaurant. Jeez, I wouldn't even have made an issue about the alledged lack of bread. I also think it's interesting that WTs has rules for its events like 'please don't wear perfume or cologne', or words to that effect.

I recently heard of this event but, alas, couldn't go this past Wed. Sounds like it would have been great. http://www.winetasters.on.ca/Tastings/2005-06/CasaLoma05.pdf So, how was it? Did anyone pay the extra $20 and taste the 'Verdelho Reserva Madeira 1905'? (Boy, I've not even come close to trying something like that.)

Sounds like a nice meal, Jake. Did you have wine with it?

That would be the place right next to City Fish, ¿verdad? (I haven't been in, but noticed it while visiting CF - based on the recommendations on this site, of course. Thanks all.) As for South American, there should be lots of suggestions on this, as there are lots of places around. One question, though, is what is 'South American'? We're taught in school - or at least I was - that SA runs from Colombia on down. But I was wondering if someone might soon contribute their ideas on Central American places. From my experience, the world outside of North America sees SA as being any country from Mexico on down. Anyway, here's a couple things... Peruvian - El Bodegon on CollegeW, which someone referred to earlier, seemed great to me when I was a student over 10 years ago. I don't know how it is now, or if I'd like it the same, but it's shown some longevity and looks like how I remember. Argentinian and Uruguay - I know they're both big into their meat, and the Argentinians for one lay claim to having the best beef in the world. I've read meats are served differently in the two countries - similarly, but still with some differences. I imagine a real Argentinian place would have its meat imported. Brazilian - There are mid-range Brazilian places around the Portuguese area. There's one, I believe, under a 'Sleep Country' shop south side of DundasW between Dufferin and Ossington (if not under Sleep Country, then very close by). There's also a new (I think) place on the north side of QueenW east of Ossington. I haven't been to either, but wouldn't mind one day. North side of DundasW around Dovercourt, there is a cafe called the 'Brasileiro' which, while not gourmet, certainly has tasty and economic food. There's no set price from what I can tell. There's just some food behind the counter, you tell them what looks good, how much, and then they charge you a few bucks. Usually there's rice and beans, pork, beef, and so on. I go there to watch soccer games, myself. Great fun. (Although I'd be happy watching soccer most anywhere.) Anyone who enters is assumed to speak Portuguese, though some staff speak English.

Not an area of the world we hear much of over here, and so easily confused. However, as said, they're neighbours and so the cuisine could be similar. Kev

I can't provide a recommendation for this, other than to say that I've heard there are some good Armenian dishes out there. The food could be like that of neighbouring Azerbaijan, I suppose. (Just to the north, Georgia, of course, is well-regarded for its peaches and pecans.) Whoa - this is a fairly geographical topic for me. So many 'stans'. I'd be really impressed if anyone knew of a Kyrgyzstani place you could take a date to.

Another vote for Clafouti. I'm not a 'pastry man' myself, but my wife thinks they're good. Only problem with Clafouti, with the large condo crowd nearby, they seem to sell out of things fast.

They may peel more easily if thay are blanched for a few seconds, then rolled under hand pressure over a board. ← Also (though I haven't tried...) I think if you snip the tops off the p.onions, then boil them for 2 or 3 mins rather than a few seconds, once cooled you should be able to squeeze the outer skin so the interior just pops out.

Aren't they similar in quality and, normally, in price to Le Creuset? ... And, yes, the 2 Staubs for $140 sounds like a great deal.

I have searched and searched for these with no success so I will be watching to see if anyone else has found them in the GTA. ← I've never seen frozen ones... And I wasn't sure if I caught what you were saying, Madge, but are the frozen ones pre-peeled and therefore more convenient? Me, I don't mind the peeling too much. If it helps, I bought some fresh ones a few weeks back - from a Dominion I think. (Alternate suggestion: buy some fresh ones, then peel them - if that's what they first do with the frozen ones - then stick them in the freezer. Voila! )