mkjr

I recently drank some of the 95, 96 and 97 Quail's Gate Family Reserve Pinot Noirs. My advice is drink these wines early as they do not seem to age very well. I have rated them OK to good in my book. I have also drank a few Pinot Noirs from Blue Mountain from 97 and 98 recently (within the last year) and I have the same views although the 98 is a little better and I think the 98 is actually not too bad (I have a bottle of the 98 Oculus (sic) that is just sitting in my drink as these wines are close to dead box...not sure if this is true for this one since the weather was great this year). If anyone is interested I can flip you a few of these older QG Family Reserve Pinot's to try...for a price of course (I am sure most did not know they were making these wines this old...and fewer will remember they came in wood and wrapped in tissue...ooooohhhhh). PM me if you are interested. I really have no desire to drink these wines and may just end up using them to cook with. I agree, CT does not have much CDN wine but the probably just reflects the fact that even with the many many bottles I have there are probably less than 2 cases of Canadian wines. The QG wines were held specifically to see how they would age. In their youth they were good.

little late on the request. i have been in and out of Barberians in less than 30. i would have walked down Church a few blocks down from Massey and gone to Golden Thai. they too could get you in and out in less than 30.

Also, the brunch buffee special on Sunday at Babur on Queen Street is a good deal for all you can eat Indian Food (I think its 12 bucks). I usually get there around 11:45, just after they open - I think. There are also a few other similar Indian places that are good near there but I have only been to Babur.

Looks like the 2002 Willows Shiraz is the wine to get in the March 17th release. Just picked up 4 bottles of the same. Outstanding price! For point chasers....not that I am one parker gave it 93 points.

I would pass on RL since it is not cheap. I would suggest you try The One on Yonge north of Dundas on Yonge or Salade King just off Yonge north of Dundas both Thai and cheap and not too bad (lots of students there). There is also a great cheap Vietnamese noodle place on Spadina closer to College for some very good Pho. Others can help me out on this one's name. Its on the west side of Spadina. A very good dumpling place called Mothers Dumplings is also cheap and good slightly north of Dundas and East of Spadina.

Thanks. I am glad you posted that link since the place is just not want I am into right now. This may change. Pehaps I will have a drink at the bar and see the inside as I loved Kultura's space and this sounds similar.

Just wondering who is Joanne Kates? Not tried it yet although walk by it every day. I have this thing about not being able to see the menu before I walk in and I hate having to ask for one at the enterance and then turning around and walking out.

Before you start getting your knickers in a twist, they are talking about the RESERVE Old Vine Foch, not the regular stuff. Neil ← The OLD VINES RESERVE was the regular stuff in 1997 and they did the old switcherooo - ala rebranding!!. You can do a little research and find out what they did which was take the stuff that was the regular bottling and split the same. Just give DL at Marquis a call. He will explain it to you.

Sounds good. I think that I may just go back this weekend.

When did QG's Foch get so expensive. Yikes!! Gone are the days when it was under $20. Still have a few bottles of the 97 kicking around.

I think that is it.

Speaking of new places I walked home and it would appear that after some time Spinnello has been re done on Colborne street. Anyone been? I wonder if they kept the Pizza's that were always good. The bar looks pretty cool. Also, as I got further up the street there appeared to be another new place. I checked this new place's website and there is no menu and when I walked by, no menu outside that I could see. This really annoys me about Toronto (places with no menu's outside). Gotta love the laws in France that require this!!

Yup fried and damn good.....drooling......make sure to get a good squeeze of lemon and some soy in a small dish. Sometimes they have some grilled Kobe beef. The Nabeyaki Udon has nice big fresh wheat noodles tempura shrimp, fish cake, scallops, egg with some vegetables cooked in a nabe, or metal pot. A big bottle of Kirin goes perfect.

Ematei has a great menu of hot Japanese food that I really like. The Chicken Karaage and Nabeyaki Udon are things I have often and the Soba noodles are very good also. You can make a reservation also and it does get busy on weekend nights. For what it is worth, Ami Pataki who usually rips pretty hard into restaurants in this city, gave it a great review in the Toronto Star a few years back which was the basis for our original visit. With respect to Sashimi, gotta love Wiki. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sashimi I am keen on going to a few of the places others have listed also.

To Endy's point, I used the term sashimi as a japanese person would use such term and as my wife and I use the term. I think that Ematei has great sashimi. Very fresh IMO for this city. I do not each much sushi. As for Omakase (お任せ), you are on your own for that especially in this city. I have not tried to seek out any such places as of yet and would probably only try Kaji based on my friends who are really into this style in any event.

I very much like EmaTei at 30 Saint Patrick Street. Great authentic Japanese pub style (and great sashimi, especially for Toronto). People may advise you to try Kaji although it's not near downtown. I have never been so I can not advise. I also hear people enjoy Hiro on King.

Canoe yesterday night was outstanding! Not a single corner cut. It was very busy and we all had a great time.

Not aware of any issues with it being a cattle call here. Perhaps the only one close that advises you of a time window of 2 hours is Canoe but that is more than enough time (and given the good deal there and the fact that the place is outstanding I am not too fussed, they even now have BYOW). Even when Bymark was part of the show there was no issue with timing or feeling as though you are rushed. I think that Toronto has been doing this for a few more years than Vancouver (both based on NYC restaurant week) but I could be wrong. Toronto has many more restaurants than do participate, although from what I can gather, all of the top places in Vancouver participate which may make them busier. Some places at 20 bucks for dinner is even a better steal than those at 35. Restaurants are on average a little more than those in Vancouver (the PST on the food here kills you also). I go to about 3 or 4 places each year (the two times of the year they have it Summer and Winter) and add a few newbies each time. I also get to dine out lots in any event so it's nice to go back to places I am very fond of....like Canoe at a more reasonable price. I plan to attend Vertical, Canoe, Biff's and Epic this year (I live in the centre and really do not take the subway or cabs too much as my feet are the power to get around that I like).... perhaps Beer Bistro on the day the leafs are playing next week.

I agree with you on all points but I do think that people are very defensive about Canadian wine but that is just my opinion. About the whole Canadian thing....has Futureshop stopped using the maple leaf on their doors to make people think it's still Canadian? I suspect wine companies in BC/Ont are not rushing out to advise people the wine is made from bulk second rate juice that was not good enough from where it came to put into bottles or if so it would comand a much lower price, again just my opinion.

Confirmed that Canoe is now BYOW. $35 dollar corkage which I think is reasonable. Not sure if there are any restrictions etc. I suspect the other Bonacini places are BYOW. Look forward to corking some goodies from the cellar.

Going to Vertical tomorrow and Canoe on Saturday night. A few others next week. Will let you know how things go. Any idea why North 44 and Bymark opted out. Pretty weak if you ask me.

I have not seen the JR interview as of yet, nor will I seek it out, although I do not think JR's views come as a surprise given the year after year wine award comments made with respect to Canadian wines in Decanter by several of her colleques although JR's comments are more possitive than her collegues.

Not tried any yet and probably won't unless it's poured for me but I do get a kick out of the tongue and cheek nature. I heard that LCBO will not be having the big Classics quarterly etc. and will be moving to more e-mail offers (that keep lining up in my inbox). There is a big discussion on eBob about the same and a reminder that some agents in this city are getting great stuff that likely makes its way to the LCBO on occasion since most gets gobbled up through agents (although the LCBO always gets their cut).

Tis threads like these that make me remember that food in Vancouver and Toronto is soo delayed. Never been to Katz as 2nd Ave was my fav but since it closed (sic and forced) I may need to check it out on my next Canali and Rotenier run with the wife. Looking for some shark links. Way to avoid jet lag from the west is to not go to sleep. Looks like I am sure you had no jet lag.

Hi Tech at Front and Jarvis had them a few months back.