Ling

You can't. We have Burger Club next.

The HSG is a really comfortable restaurant, and I don't feel intimated dining in there, ever. They have nice, big, wooden booths for you to hide behind if you still need convincing!

^Just tell them that Ian's been posting under your name. Or arm yourself with your deathly rolling pin.

browniebaker, I can only imagine the feeling if someone dumped Cool Whip over something I lovingly baked! If the host said that to me, I would probably look stunned and nod weakly, just like you did, but the suggestions about serving it on the side is much better. I'm sure almost everyone would try the brownies without the Cool Whip (seriously, who does that?) and enjoy them for what they are.

I had a day filled with deliciousness, but if I had to narrow it down to one, I would choose the gingerbread pudding (paired with ginger ice cream and pumpkin ice cream!) at the Hamilton Street Grill.

I have lots of favourites, but some of them are: halibut spanish mackeral toro unagi scallop oops...how could I forget uni?

^You will be having the gingerbread pudding. And loving it. I'm taking a friend there for the gingerbread pudding very soon.

Just got back from the DOV at Hamilton Street Grill. Let me preface this review by saying that I had a 9pm reservation and thus stopped eating at 3pm (I was working from 3:30-8:30pm). If you know me, this is an astronomical feat. I was starving by the time I reached the restaurant. My stomach had been growling (rather embarrassing, my students kept laughing at me) all afternoon. And I am stuffed after my meal. Truly, HSG serves Ling-sized portions. And the food was delicious! I started with the pecan, pear and stilton salad, on Neil's suggestion, and the salad did not disappoint. My bf had the salmon chowder, which was both hearty and tasty. Appetizers were served with some sort of quickbread topped with garlic, and a salmon butter (if I'm not mistaken.) Then my bf had the lamb shanks with polenta, a huge plate of food that held two shanks (one which he so generously offered to me ) along with roasted vegetables. The lamb was amazingly tender and flavorful; I wouldn't change a thing. I had the hangar steak with mashed potatoes, which also came with the same roasted vegetables (my favourite were the crunchy, sweet parsnips). The sauce was that thick, rich, dark stuff that I just can't do at home--every bit was mopped up with bread. With our meal, we both had a cocktail (I had the Girl Talk, made with strawberry liqueur!) and some Sandhill Two (a cab franc blend, I believe). Enough has been said about the gingerbread pudding so it would be suffice to say I enjoyed it every bit as much as I ever did, and the pumpkin ice-cream has a dear place in my heart (and stomach). Neil was, as always, a consummate host and made the evening all the more enjoyable.

I just wanted to include that I did post in another thread about a meal we ate at the Irish Heather after the cheese tasting that was quite good. My bf and I really enjoyed the mushroom studel, and almost ordered another one during the DOV night had we not seen the curry fries (which were also good, but as I noted, I prefer crispy fries.) As I stated earlier, the DOV menu was a pretty good deal, but I think the food is at its best perhaps outside of the DOV weeks. I'll be back to try the other items on the menu, and my bf is a big fan of both the Guiness and Ribena and the Black and Tan.

You have to render the fat.

Corn Pops were my favourite until I found the Harvest Crunch granola, but it's still a close second. I've never had peanut butter-flavoured cereal. Sounds good!

Is this place new?

I just spat out some coffee. Or rather, I started laughing and the coffee started dribbling down my chin. Deborah, I've never had kidney (that I know of) in my life--not even in steak and kidney pie. So really, I don't know if I like them or not, I just thought that it would be fun to try them.

Neil, I thought about PMing Sean, but I assumed that he would be reading this thread anyway. And I was a bit hesitant because I didn't want to come across as being rude in my suggestions. Ack....I'll PM him now.

Mmm...those scallops look lucious! Tonight I had an avocado with lemon, and a steak (sirloin, seared blue) topped with anchovy butter.

I'm currently self-employed, but when I had an office job, I usually ate lunch with my co-workers. Around 11pm, someone would start emailing about potential places for lunch, but we always seemed to end up at either a nearby Japanese restaurant or a small vegetarian restaurant, since one of my co-workers was vegetarian. I didn't enjoy the food so much, but went along for the company.

I remember you saying that, Coop, so I checked the Cafe de Paris menu first. Have you ever prepared them at home?

I've spent some time checking the menus of various French bistros/restaurants (Cafe de Paris, Bistro Pastis, Le Crocodile, etc.) but I've yet to see kidneys on the menu. Does anyone know where I can get them--whether at a restaurant, or should I order them from a butcher's shop?

^The Bourdain is definitely easier. I'm interested to know how it compares to Keller's recipe! Thanks for the pictures. I don't think I'm ambitious enough to attempt the Keller recipe though, and applaud your efforts! Your dish looks great.

Oh my, those are absolutely gorgeous! Your husband is a lucky, lucky guy! edit: I especially like the white ones with the 2 red hearts in the corner...so cute!

I'm defrosting steaks right now, and they will be smothered in anchovy butter shortly.

^I eat my Adam's peanut butter (the huge Costco-size one) with a big spoon. And I've gained more than 5 pounds!

My mom is the same way! I think butter is best with hot, fresh, crusty bread and sweet corn. Right now, I'm eating some buttered pannetone and that's delicious too!

My dining experience was about 4 years ago...so I was 18 at the time. We were appropriately dressed, etc. and I didn't find the appetizer or the main course particularly great. My creme brulee was actually horrible--completely burned black on top! The service was the real kicker though.

I don't have a problem with any of your suggestions, and I think having DOV for a full month (on the weekdays) would be a great idea, if the restaurant also offered their regular menu on those nights (would that be difficult to execute?) I don't know about #4 though...I know how frustrating it must be to see a table drag out their welcome when another table's waiting, but there are people out there who can inhale a dessert pretty quickly, and who feel a meal wouldn't be as special (or even complete) if dessert wasn't offered. edit: I didn't read your post carefully. I think dessert should be offered, but it should be made clear that the table would be needed after 2 hours. The Irish Heather had that policy when I called for a reservation and I didn't have a problem with that.