Ling

Damn exams and papers...I haven't eaten out in so long! (unless take-out desserts count ) Phnomh Pehn with a few other Egulleters. This is the first time I've had that legendary crispy garlic squid--so delicious! Other stand-outs for me were the green papaya and shrimp salad, the butter beef (nice and rare...I like my meat just past moo-ing), and the deep-fried chicken wings. All Indian Sweets: I tried all their savoury fried offerings. My favourite was the lentil one, and my second favourite, the samosas. I didn't really like the "homemade cream cheese" one--it tasted like paneer. The Pear Tree: This was our five-year anniversary dinner! My bf had the lobster cappuccino (frothy, with lucious chunks of lobster and dashi custard! ) He also had the poached chicken breast with porcini foam and potato gnocchi. I had a slightly less figure-friendly meal. I started with the foie gras terrine with frisee, white truffle essence, and 12 year old balsamico. It came with slices of warm, buttery brioche...I almost died smelling that bread while waiting for my bf to take pictures of the food! I also had the red wine braised lamb shank topped with seared scallops (interesting combination) with the roasted pear risotto. The risotto was the highlight for me--more savoury than sweet (not what I expected, but then again, I've never had fruit in risotto before!) with the creamy stock hugging each kernel of rice. I ordered a bottle of the Cline Syrah with our meal, which went better with my lamb than his chicken (selfish me... ) We both had coffee and the Callebaut pate for dessert (3 triangles arranged prettily on the plate, with a stick of dark chocolate). ETA pictures of our meal: Lobster cappucino with dashi custard: Foie gras terrine and brioche: Poached chicken with porcini foam and gnocchi: Braised lamb shank with scallops and roasted pear risotto: Callebaut pate: And a bonus pic of me (you can see you open kitchen reflected in the mirror behind me! I can't believe the quality of the food that comes out of this tiny kitchen....amazing.)

OooOohhh....wish I could've been there! How do the items served at the afternoon tea at Bacchus compare to other places?

I found that the pain au chocolat I had at La Petite France was more bread-like (as opposed to croissant-like, do you know what I mean?) It wasn't very flaky...but I had it at 3pm and it could be that they were baked in the morning and the quality was suffering by mid-afternoon. The one I had at St. Moritz was before noon, and it was very flaky and buttery. They also have great looking almond paste-filled croissants in their pastry case, too! I like seeing layers as opposed to holes...what about you, butter?

The tender meat from a slow-braised shank is good, but it's really the marrow I look forward! Last weekend, I went to a nice restaurant in Burnaby (suburb of Vancouver) called The Pear Tree and I sat there trying to discreetly suck the marrow even though I was wearing my nicest white silk dress.

Pane from Heaven is on W. 1st, around the corner from The Smoking Dog.

I think that St. Moritz on W. 10th (right by Mix the Bakery) does a better pain au chocolat than La Petit France. I haven't had the pain au chocolat at Sen5es yet, but I love their flaky croissants! And Mooshmouse likes the pain au chocolat at Pane from Heaven.

Yesterday: a double-cut pork chop and a quarter of a blueberry pie I baked just because I had a craving. 2 cups of coffee. Also, double cream brie and strawberries (while I was waiting for the pie to bake). I was really hungry yesterday morning. Today: apricot hamantaschen, homemade by a fellow Egulleter! And also a bowl of granola cereal and leftover noodles and vegetables...2 cups of coffee and 1 cup of tea.

Well Lee, I'm interested in the chocolate buttermilk cake that PaoPao keeps recommending, so I'll probably be down at LilyKate in the week following the 15th (my last exam) if you want to come with me.

maybe Samurai?

There's an article in CityFood.

One of my favourites as well! The spicy garlic squid at Phnom Penh, the Caramel-Chocolat at Ganache Patisserie, the gingerbread pudding (mmm...pumpkin ice-cream!) at Hamilton Street Grill, the yam fries at Yuji's, and the Americanos at the Elysian Room are some of the other highlights I've discovered this year, thanks to Egullet.

^Sorry for the confusion--the Jaime Oliver recipe is not a chocolate beet cake recipe, just a beet cake recipe (similar in flavour to a carrot cake, judging by the spices). It's in the Jaime's Kitchen book; PM me for the recipe if you'd like!

port-glazed pork loin studded with garlic, braised cabbage with a bit of apple cider vinegar, and I'm turning last night's lucious mashed potatoes into potato croquettes

Japanese food, cute kids, AND Pocky....this is turning out to be one of my favourite blogs. My favourite Pocky flavour is "Milk".

I did a quick search, and Schmoo torte appears to be a sponge cake with pecans, layered with whipped cream and caramel sauce.

^I had a paper due today. So sorry I missed it!

I just inhaled one. We (that cake and my mouth) have been separated for far too long. And I might as well chime in about the stilton cheesecake I made--it was much denser and richer than the one they have at Sen5es, and the blue cheese flavour was much, much, stronger. It actually smells like blue cheese when you take the cheesecake out of the fridge. I much preferred the toasted pecan crust I did. Quite different from the one at Sen5es. I really like the Epicurious recipe (with a few modifications.) ETA: I also had a very nice Callebaut (dark chocolate) terrine at The Pear Tree last night. Pictures to come shortly!

Are the croissants flaky?

Yesterday: prawns in a fenugreek cream sauce, and cinnamon-braised short ribs

^That picture is killing me. It's been too long since I've had high tea!

CanadianBakin'--I'm so happy that you enjoyed our recommendations! I really like the Caramel-Chocolat...now I'm thinking about the one I ate 2 days ago...

You don't have to apologize, silly! I had the Caramel-Chocolat at Ganache Patisserie again yesterday! Hmmm...so many desserts, so little time! The goat cheese cheesecake there sounds so tempting.... I made the Stilton cheesecake last night using the proportions from the Epicurious recipe (because I have a larger ring pan), and the procedure from the Vancouver Sun recipe that lemoncurd gave me (slower oven). It turned out well--no cracks coming out of the oven, but a tiny crack appeared as it cooled....however, the crack seems to have closed up after the cheesecake spent the night in the fridge. Rhubarb is out of season, and I can't find frozen rhubarb anywhere! I'm just going to wing it today with a pear/port/pink peppercorn compote....hope it turns out.

I had okonomiyaki for the first time quite a few years ago at the Clubhouse. I love Japanese comfort food, and I can't wait to go back! I've also had the okonomiyaki at Sakae downtown.

a dense and delicious chocolate hazelnut cake

I'm getting the impression that he doesn't sell pastries at Sugar Arts then....?