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I'm witih Cleo on the One Bowl Brownies! I just find they work out consistantly well, and they're fast and easy enough to fix up. I sometimes dump the dried cherries in them with pecans. I've been wanting to try with salted caramel - gfron1 beat me to it in the thread though! mmm.. maybe some baking tonight... I'll take a look-see if there's another recipe to try. I have some scharffenberger that I should use...

From their site: "...Explore the deep flavours of Carenero Superior heirloom cacao." I'm not sure what "heirloom cacao beans" mean, but this is a Venezualen. I don't know if I snagged this particular one on my run, but the Occumare I did try was pretty good. Really nice bite to it and a strong distinct flavour. I'd get that again. However, with the infused squares I tried, they were moderately successful, (but I wouldn't run out to buy them again). The green tangerine was pretty interesting. I also got a cup of their Mayan hot chocolate, which was also only "okay." I'm about to check out chocosphere to do an order I think. Friends are going to visit the states in two weeks...!

Okay, I'm late on this thread, but I'm only just starting to get into chocolate more. I love Scharffenberger, the dark 70%. I haven't had extra dark yet. I got a couple of their specialty bars, the Kumasi Sambirano, a Venezualen, and Las Islas Caribbean. I didn't like the Kumasi when I tried it after the tour, (they had just put them on the shelves), the Venezualen I think was okay, but it was before I started really getting into chocolate and paying attention to things. The Las Islas, I have yet to taste. Oh, and their chocolate covered nibs - like crack. Very dangerous to have around. While in SF I also picked up a kschocolat bar of orange and cardamom, which was rather nice. The flavours worked well, but I think the chocolate was a little ho-hum to me. I just got my shipment from DeVries a couple weeks back and I've been working my way through. I got the Costa Rican Trinitario, 80% and 77% and the Dominican. By far, my favorite was the Dominican. Then the 80% and 77%. All good, but the Dominican was just so tasty. I have a photo and mini review here. I also really like the Lindtt Ecuador for the cheap fix. There's a local shop, Soma here in Toronto that is doing some interesting things, but I find their chocolate grainy, as if they didn't conch enough. Their nibs aren't as fruity and tasty as Scharffenberger's, but I did like their Occumare and their Tangerine. Soma's site and my photos from my visit. Ugh. Edited for the nth time: PS... ship to Toronto please!! ;;_;;

Mmm.. Golden Thai. I like that place too. There's also Chimichunga's around the corner from Salad King (but it's a standup mexican place). I went to Okonomi about a year ago? So not really recently, but it was the first time I had gone there. I'd been eyeing since my trip to Osaka though, and found it pretty good! I'm no expert though. I'd go back, however. But don't wear clothes you love. You end up smelling like the oil in the air...

There's also Salad King up at Gould and Yonge, which is semi quick and decent and not too expensive. I like Terroni's, but it's by far, not quick. If you like jerk chicken, there's Crystal Planet at Dundas and Church. It's very casual though. Very. There's also Baton Rouge nearby, but it's a less reccommendation and more just a "it's there." At Shuter and Yonge. And if you're desperate, there's Fran's across the street. You could always grab a sushi bite on the way at Omi's though, and that's always yummy. It's over at Church and Wellesley.

The light on Globe (obligatory logo/candle shot) For fun, three friends and I went to the newly opened Globe Bistro on the Danforth. edit: woo! topic 100,000! The Space The restaurant itself is really well appointed. The renovation from the previous resto shows well. It is quite large with a second level of seating. Got quite full as the evening progressed. We were seated near the back of the resto for the 6:30 seating.room shot and decoration. Thought the deco near to us was a rather nice effect. The Menu Globe's menu. We had the daily soup, Dungeness crab Empanada, Charcuterie Board for two, Ove roasted black cod, Butter poached yarmouth lobster, Cheese boutique aged ribeye and the Caribou Leg. Appetizers Bread was warm to the table, but you know, I can't remember what the other dip was, but it was good. The raw oysters we had were okay. Good taste, but again, nothing overly exciting. The crab empanadas were flaky and tasty fillings, but I felt it could be spicier. That's more to my taste than anything else. My dinner companions enjoyed this alot, but I found that other than the strong taste of crab (good), the rest was unexciting. (Am I turning into too much of a food snob here!?). I also found the plantains bland. Needed to be fried more or something for tastiness. The charcuterie plate. Nice, but not worth the money - since you can put together a plate like this quite easily and from the same sources, if I recall correctly. Still, yummy. I did like the foie gras - citrusy taste coming through there. My sister suggested that it would have been better to just order the foie gras torchon(? tranche?), opposed to the starter plate had we known. The figs were a nice play off the saltiness of the meat. Parsnip purée was by far the BEST dish of the evening. The heavenly smell of truffle wafting off this dish was divine, the taste of the soup superb. The frothy texture was smooth and delicious. Appetizer WIN! Mains To me, the Caribou meat was a little mushy, but the soufflee was good. A decent mix, but not to my taste. The cod was light and flaky, but still a little overdone. Not too many comments on this one? My notes are sparse here. I recall the green bean things on the bottom not working for me. The lobster is Globe's signature dish and I was a little dissapointed. The vanilla kale (substitute for the asparagus that night) was a bit too sweet for the lobster and the lobster itself was a bit too overdone. The foam was very yummy, (they're really good at the foams, it seems...). You know, it was steak, but man was it ever good! The blue cheese foam pairs excellently with the beef. Really nicely prepared and a great cut. Would order this again. I think the fries detract from this dish, but I suppose that mash wouldn't plate as well with the foam. Dessert We had actually gotten the menu earlier, so we were quick on the draw for dessert. The Maple sugar tart, I was fearing the overdose of Maple, but happily, the maple taste was subtle. The pastry a little hard, but still flaky enough. Not too sweet. I found the black tea cream to be absolutely fantastic. The staple creme brulee had a smooth texture, but the top wasn't crunchy/crispy. Tasted like it came from the fridge vs getting freshly torched. Vanilla and lemon shines through. Quite good. This dessert came with "sides." The baby biscotti that it came with was quite tasty, (I didn't think it was anything terribly exciting mind you), and the Citrus salad on the side was very refreshing. I quite enjoyed it. The Hot chocolate demi-tasse was strong, but not the liquid chocolate our waiter had described, (try Angelina's african hot chocolate in Paris sometime...). The marshmallow was nicely done, with that yummy cripsy and slightly burnt taste. One comment about the brownie was that the mint is a bit artificial tasting. I thought perhaps some fresh crushed mint would have been nice. If you get this, drop the marshmallow into the hot chocolate. I missed out on this ;;_;; I hear it was super tasty. For the Shoofly cake, Ev commented that the molasses was too heavy, but I rather liked the dense cake. The orange peel is a nice taste to the not-too sweet dessert. Sis mentioned she'd like more of the caramel sauce. The trio of tootsie balls were more fudgy that tootsie, in my opinion. Overall, a decent dessert, and I quite liked it, but maybe not the first thing I'd reorder. Overall For fun, three friends and I went to the newly opened Globe Bistro on the Danforth. Overall, the food was good and there were a couple very high points over the course of the evening. General concensus was that we'd return sooner than later. Service notes: we were well attended to, but oddly not offered tea/coffee at the end of the evening. We're not sure if our prompt order of dessert, (we'd already perused the menu mid way through dinner), or the fact that we had to be out for the 8:30 seating had anything to do with it. Same review, but broken down by dish and photo on flickr.

I liked Omi on Church better than Hiro. I have only been to Hiro once and to Omi on several occasions, however. Omi is closer to fusion, though still strong on the traditional preparation of foods. You may want to try Sakura Kaiseki, though I've been twice and had both good and less than stellar (for the money). If you go, make sure you get the sake pairing for the kaiseki menu. Without the pairings, my second group of dinner companions found the meal to be too heavy on the miso. It is expensive though, and after they had raised their prices, I didn't find this to be as good an opportunity to sample Kaiseki style cuisine. Would reccommend Hashimoto instead, since the price isn't too far off at this point.

mmm... pinapple buns. when I think of chinese donuts though, I think of those fried sticks that go with congee. Though, I'm perfectly happy NOT eating the congee too. Sticks are yummy all on their greasy selves.

name name! Must get. Keep meaning to drive by but haven't yet...

don't know your location, but the Richmond Culinary School has a once-a-month evening where everyone can pitch in to cook, (somewhat Iron Chef, in that they will provide the ingredients), but it's optional to participate, (so those only interested in eating can do so). there's a one-time joining fee and then it's $10 for each evening you participate in. I had given a membership to a friend as a gift and he enjoys it. He was/is a total noob in the kitchen.

As an aside, has anyone tried Goats do Roam (in villages)? A friend picked this up thinking it was a Cotes bottle... Wasn't terrible wine either! From S. Africa. I'm sure it's been mentioned, but it was the first I'd heard of it. We had a good chuckle that evening and the joke persists to this day...

I had a great Brunch at Domus in Ottawa. Photos here. Really yummy.

Hooo! I went finally!!! Quite a nite night, and for the price, (given that the only other option for Kaiseki is Hashimoto's), it was great. Especially considering the youthful group I went with. Wait staff was quite helpful and generous with their time and patience letting us know what each dish was, how to eat it, and yes, how to spell it. Start the photologue here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jlunar/325627...57594245231237/ pretty detailed comments on the dishes. I have yet to put notes on some of the photos to highlight things on the shots, but I'll do that soon. In a nutshell, I really enjoyed my meal there. We were quite full when we were done. The sake pairings were tasty and lots of fun. I would go back (soon, even!), again.

HEEE. Thank you!

Saigon Star! I haven't been in a few years, but they had the BEST curry crab with that awesome french bread... *drool* ... must go back...

Hmn... Terra doesn't seem to be O&B... I always thought it was! oops. My bad. OH! and at Steeles and Don Mills (or is it Leslie there?), Is the newly opened Congee Queen too. Haven't been myself, but the other location at Don Mills and Lawrence is great.

lots of great chinese food up there, as well as an Indian place. Markham Plaza/Square has a Conge Wong, (cheap, decent), and an Asian Legend I think for XLB. well, a place for XLB for sure. There's an all you can eat Sushi place at John and Woodbine which is ok, (quantity/variety there...), and uh... lots of chinese food places and BBT shops. I don't think you can walk without tripping over a resto in that area, really. Terra is up around thataway too. Part of the oliver bonacini set of restos, which fare rather well for business dinners, etc.

address?

INDEED!!! Sorry you can't join us, (lmk if you can)! My friends are in basically for the weekend, so their schedule is less flexible. Will let you know what I think. Also, I have to get that name of that Korean place up at Yonge and Shep. Maybe we'll do a group outing there! I meant to set up something for dim sum, but I haven't gotten to arranging it. I do like the rise in K-food though - or maybe it's my noticing it more - but it's nice to get the different cuisines besides Japanese and Chinese! Hmm.. I had a good night maybe? The sushi was great, but maybe it wasn't as fun as sitting at the bar ;;_;;

I juuust went to Hiro, enjoyed it, but I do like the vibe at Omi much more. Of the two, I would opt to go back to Omi first. I did, however, really enjoy Hiro's kitchen foods in the sense that they seemed a little more traditional than fusion. My perception only, I'm sure.

Sadly, no. But I can find out sooner or later. I'm around there all the time. It's the resto after the closed down "lol lol" shop. I know those should be korean characters, but... heheheh... I'll find out. I really want to go back and try their pork bone.

say no to the Purple Pig! and yes to Yang Sing. oldest chinese bakery in Toronto, according to my parents.

very sad indeed. Most late-night dessert locations invovle Bubble Tea or something for me and going far up north. Downtown dessert locations are few and far between, IMO, unless you hit up a hotel, and even then, they shut down at 11 or so... and if others have late night sugar sources, share!!!

Seems pretty enough, but I just ate at one of the random places around Yonge and Finch, (well, closer to Shepperd, actually), and it was really really good. Ten (!) intro dishes and a really good cold soba. We couldn't try the pork bone soup, as we were there at 11pm and they closed for the night shortly thereafter. I'd certainly go back. Don't recall enjoying a Korean meal more.

They're very picky about what goes up. But I think this sounded (to the mods there), less a discussion, more a self-promoting thing, (though I don't think this at all). Just speculating, but they do snip and trim at the slightest hint of self-service I find.