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Friday, December 28, 2012

Ramen series: Noodle soup at the mall: a review of Su&Shi at Dine on 3 Yorkdale


House Tom Yum Ramen

One of the braver things I have done was to go to the mall close to Christmas. I do not say “bravest” as that is reserved for actually going to the mall on Christmas eve or on Boxing day—which I have not yet done. Attempting to go to Eaton Centre or Yorkdale mall at a time when these places are just bursting at the seams with people is not for the faint of heart.
Anyway, we recently went to Yorkdale to check out the new Microsoft store and the newly-relocated, store-square-footage-multiplied Apple store. But Hubby has a rule--never shop on an empty stomach. So we decided to first have lunch at Su&Shi.
This noodle bar was a good choice for that cold, December day. I ordered the House Tom Yum Ramen and hubby got House Chili Ramen. The kids, meanwhile, shared a Chicken Ramen. I was warned by our server that the Tom Yum was really spicy, but I wanted to give it a try. He was right, though I had no regrets whatsoever. The ramen was well-cooked, with just the perfect bite. The Tom Yum soup did lead to some sniffling, but it was good! DD#1 gave it a try, and proudly said that she could handle it. The first spoonful went down well and she said it was delicious. The succeeding ones, however, were promptly followed by a gulp of water. She stuck to her Chicken Ramen after the fifth gulp of water or so. My dish also had ample servings of meat—pork, chicken and tempura shrimp. It seemed like such a big bowl that I thought I wouldn’t be able to finish it. But I figured I had to be well-nourished for the shopping up ahead. So, finish it, I did! The Chicken Ramen and House Chili Ramen were also okay. The broth was tasty and the noodles were great.

Chicken Ramen

House Chili Ramen
Su&Shi has other dishes you can try out like sushi (of course!) as well rice dishes. Their House fried rice is tasty and filling. Each dish costs about $10-11, which is not exactly the cheapest of noodle soups. But you are paying for presentation, some ambience, and an alternative to burgers at the food court.

House Fried Rice
There are still other places to try at Dine on 3 at Yorkdale, but it is good to know that when we feel like having some ramen (or try out other dishes), Su&Shi is there. Service is also fast so you can get down to shopping as soon as you’ve fueled up!

Saturday, December 22, 2012

A taste of Germany in Toronto: Christmas market at the Distillery


Nothing will get you in the Christmas mood more than crisp, cold air, the smell of pine trees and firewood burning, and a visit to the Toronto Christmas market at the Distillery District. It brought back wonderful memories of my visit to actual Christmas markets at Heidelberg and Frankfurt in Germany. Yes, the Toronto Christmas market came with goods from the Black Forest, Glühwein (mulled wine, warmed and spiced), sausages, schnitzels and pretzels! The only thing missing was a cuckoo clock kiosk!

The first thing we did when we arrived at the Christmas market was ogle at the 45-ft Christmas tree. It was beautiful! I don’t think I’ve ever seen one so large! And it was real!


After some photos, we went to visit Santa. This would now be our second visit with Santa so the girls were quite optimistic they would indeed get what they had asked for! After posing with Santa, the girls played for a bit in the Forest Maze and the Gingerbread house.  While both were cute, these were on the smallish side and the girls got tired of them quickly. Next, we went to warm ourselves up at the Santa’s Elves’ workshop where they did some crafts.



 The girls also participated in Story time at the main stage while the adults took turns checking out the booths. I got some chocolate-covered bacon (talk about best of both worlds!) to go and Grandma got some very yummy Apple Fritters!
Bacon covered in Belgian chocolate



The apple fritters were freshly cooked and were a delight to eat! They were light and the apple was warm. The sugar cinnamon dusting was perfect for this snack. DD#1 even asked to eat half of mine!
Yummy Apple Fritter
Lunch was a schnitzel (but of course!) sandwich. The Vienna-style veal schnitzel was a bit on the bland side. But it was crunchy, tender and moist. The sautéed peppers and mayo brought out the taste a notch. I loved the warm pretzel bun, though! It was soft, chewy and absolutely delicious!
Vienna-style schintzel in warm pretzel bun
I liked it so much, we got more pretzels for dessert!
More pretzel!
We strolled for as long as we could without freezing. It was a really cold day! Good thing there were fire pits and tower heaters everywhere. The many interesting stores were great for checking out as well as warming ourselves. I have already made a mental list of things I want to get in the future!


Kiddie rides at the South Pole
Reviewing my mental “to-do” list to get into the holiday spirit, I realized that Christmas is really just around the corner! Let’s see what I’ve got covered: Christmas market—check. Lights, carols, Christmas  trees—check, check, check. Shopping—check. Eating—check and check. Well, what do you know? I am ready for Christmas! Have a happy one!



Saturday, December 15, 2012

My wish: a safe Christmas for our children

I ask myself why the Connecticut elementary school shooting hits me more than the mall shooting and other recent tragedies. Is it because I am a parent? And of young children? Every time I tune into the news channel, my heart breaks for the children and the families of the victims. This tragedy hits me more than any other because to me, children embody hope. I know this is cliché, but they are indeed our future. This atrocity is like wiping out hope and erasing the innocence of those who survived. Where does that, as a society, leave us?
My children trust me to keep them safe. It is my obligation, my responsibility to keep them safe. When I take them to school, I am saying, “Go, it is safe. It is good for you.” After all, we go through pains to ensure that they are safe. We make sure they have proper winter wear, with hats, gloves, scarves because we don’t want to risk them getting sick. We make sure they hold our hands when crossing the street. We make sure the car seat is properly installed. But how can I protect them in school, when I am not there? When what could hurt my child is no longer just a bully? When places and things we once thought were safe for our children are no longer so, what is our recourse? Where do we find hope in that?
A sense of dread and fear fills me every now and then. I haven’t stopped hugging and kissing my kids since they came home from school yesterday. It is sad to think that something terrible has to happen for parents to realize how lucky they are to have their kids. This tragedy has made me look at things from a different perspective—that there are greater things beyond those that may annoy, irritate or disappoint us from time to time. I thank God for my kids (even if they do get on my nerves sometimes!). Christmas songs are more meaningful. Gifts, more precious. The severity and intensity of the events will definitely make it harder for New Year’s resolutions to fade.  And that hope might seem tiny, seemingly insignificant compared to the deep sorrow many families are facing right now. But it has to start somewhere. I have to take comfort in that.

Saturday, December 8, 2012

A tribute to the home

Having wanderlust does not mean I do not like being at home. I love my home. In fact, I took up basic interior design a while back because I love decorating. I want to share with you this article I wrote a couple of years ago with some tips on how to deal with toys taking over the house. Happy decorating!

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Before kids, you probably had vases, lamps and candles, plants, an assortment of coffee table books, some nice throw pillows on a stain-free fabric couch. Once your bundle of joy arrives, baby stuff start taking over your household. It starts out all nice and cute in the nursery. Then, you bring the bouncer into the living room, maybe even the play yard. A toy or two or twelve find themselves into your bedroom to entertain the baby while you try to brush your hair or dress up. With the transition from milk to solids comes the high chair in the dining room and more toys to entertain the baby with while you try to get that last bite into him and not the floor. And with crawling comes all the safety gadgets. Gates are put up by the stairs and near the kitchen, corner guards get affixed on your entertainment unit, and doorknob guards come on. You do not want to be saying “No!” fifty times a day and scrambling to get that vase out of baby’s reach. And surely you do not want to restrict your child’s exploring nature, so you put most, if not all, your decor away. Picture a bouncer stationed on the corner of your living room, blocks and tea sets found under the armchair, remote controls hidden in the sides of the couch—do these sound familiar to you? You may have resigned yourself to accepting that you will not see a toy-free house for many, many years. Not that we take this against our children, nor do we pine away for our lives before kids. It just is. The presence of toys, chaos and clutter comes with the territory. Others may just actually love this happy chaos that children bring into the home. To a certain extent, we must accept that these toys will be around for quite a while. And more often than not, we just get used to the new landscape of our home.  Some items may be outgrown after a few months and are put away, but they will be replaced by something else. Guaranteed. In place of an activity gym or entertainment center, you may find a playhouse or a tent.  In place of a bouncer, you may find a tricycle or some other ride-on toy. 

But there are days when you just find yourself wanting a change from the routine. You find yourself wanting a makeover either for yourself or your home. Some days, you just need an adult space as you try to remember that you are not just a mother, a caretaker, or your children’s playmate. There is hope. You can still reclaim a space for yourself (or for you and your partner). Somehow. This new life with the kids doesn’t mean the house has to revolve around them alone. It is still possible to have a personal space, even for just a few hours. And not necessarily only when you are expecting guests.

I have some tips coming up in the next few posts. Until then...

Friday, November 30, 2012

A+ for School: our romantic dinner at The School fine dining restaurant

Tucked in the heart of Markham is The School restaurant. This restaurant is a converted school house, built in the mid 1800’s. In the past, we had driven by this heritage building and decided we would check it out one day. That day came on a cold Monday night, an actual school night.
Hubby took me to The School for a special date night. The dinner crowd was sparse and for a while we thought we would have the place all to ourselves. The host led us to cozy nook that was right beside the fireplace. The lovely warmth and flickering light set the mood for a romantic evening. The tables were spread apart, giving diners a chance at private conversations. The linen was crisp and the glassware and tableware were elegant. It would be the perfect setting for a proposal and definitely fitting for celebrations.
Our waiter served us garlic bread shortly after taking our order. The bread was warm with a crisp top and chewy bottom. It was generously buttered and topped with fresh garlic. The only thing I didn’t like was that it was served with foil underneath, which somehow took away from its elegance.
Yummy garlic bread
We had Tuna Sashimi for our appetizers. Of course, the serving is what you would expect from any fine dining restaurant--as each order cost about the same as a Japanese All-You-Can-Eat lunch. It was fresh and buttery.  You actually do not need the wasabi and soy sauce.
Tuna Sashimi
Next, we ordered some Caesar salad which was prepared by our table. It was the best Caesar salad we have ever had in Canada so far (and this includes our Winterlicious and Summerlicious restaurants!). The whipping of the dressing began with a freshly broken egg and ended with the iceberg lettuce tossed with bacon bits, croutons and Parmigiano-Reggiano. After whipping the dressing, our server took out a folded linen napkin with the greens inside. He then let these fall into the wooden bowl with flourish. The salad was creamy and garlicky, and the Tabasco and Worcestershire sauce gave it the right kick.  
Caesar salad being prepared by our table
Hubby even got extra bacon bits on request. Did I mention how fantastic this salad was? Anyway, the serving was generous and I was getting full. We had wanted to try some Lobster bisque, but we needed some space for our main course.

Best Caesar Salad I've had in Canada!
While I debated over scallops and swordfish, Hubby decided on a NY striploin. As I imagined his wonderful steak, I gave in to the carnivore in me and ended up ordering a Filet Mignon. Ok, ok, next time I will have the seafood! I did get a glass of Merlot to complement my steak. When our steaks arrived, our server also brought some butter, sour cream and horseradish for us to choose for the baked potato. Hubby and I both got sour cream. The Filet Mignon was wonderfully tender and perfectly broiled. The vegetable side dishes came in reasonable portions, but I was too full to even finish these.

Filet Mignon
I no longer had any space for either a Cherry Jubilee or some Crepes Suzette for dessert. We will save trying those for next time. And, as it was a school night, we also skipped having some tea after our meal. We sated romantics headed home still gushing over the Caesar salad! We craved it promptly the next day.
The School will definitely be in our list for celebrations. I highly recommend this restaurant. And, I can’t believe I’m actually saying this, but, I cannot wait to go back to the School.

Saturday, November 24, 2012

My Thai favourites


 Mango Salad
Whenever I get asked what my favourite Asian country is, my answer would be Thailand. I have travelled to Bangkok several times and I absolutely loved each and every trip. I love the shopping, the culture and the food! I’ve tried eating at hotel restaurants and I’ve also ventured into buying food from street vendors. Once, I was accompanied to a hole-in-the-wall food stall by a local who, I guess, was morbidly curious to see how I would react to eating authentic Thai cuisine. I’m glad he did not have a camera handy as my expressions had surely been priceless. I’m positive he got a kick from watching this tourist eat, though. Every bite I took of the green curry was followed by a gulp of Pepsi! It was so spicy (it practically burned my tongue!) that I can’t even describe what the dish tasted like. Good thing there was Jasmine rice, which I had to take big spoonfuls of, to neutralize the heat.

Luckily, my taste buds were not permanently damaged, and I still love Thai food. I remember when I was pregnant with DD#1, I would crave Pad Thai. I would drag hubby downtown for my fix--Salad King and Green Mango satisfied my Thai cravings!
Now that I’m in the ‘burbs, I have to get my Thai fix every so often without heading downtown. When I feel like having some Thai but there is simply no time to sit down to enjoy a meal, I settle for Thai Express. My girls love their mild Pad Thai while I often order the medium. I wouldn’t recommend the curry or even their soup, though, as it is too bland.


Tom Yum soup
For some authentic Tom Yum soup, mango salad and fantastic fish cakes, I would go to Thai Bamboo in Concord. The Tom Yum soup is really spicy-sour and the lemon grass balances the flavor. The thickly-cut mangoes in the salad has a nice dressing tasting predominantly of fish sauce. As for the fish cakes, well, DD#1 can eat a whole order of this fluffy and tasty starter.
Fish cakes
The main dishes that we have tried at Thai Bamboo are just so-so. The curry is a bit watered down for me. As well, there is too much veggie-filler in proportion to the meat.
Pad Thai and Spicy Basil Beef


Chicken Panang
For Pad Thai, my family and I prefer Our Thai in Vaughan. Their Pad Thai noodles are perfectly cooked, well-garnished and have a wonderful sweet-sour tamarind sauce. It is not too greasy, either. We also order our other favourite noodle dish there—Thai Panang noodles, a dish that is essentially Pad Thai mixed with Panang (a milder version of other Thai curries) sauce. Yum! Their red curry is a great blend of spices, thick with creamy coconut milk. The servings are generous and the ambience is casual—definitely more upscale than Thai Bamboo.
Chicken Pad Thai
I still have a number of Thai restaurants to try out. Not sure when we will get to all of them but I will make sure to post our discoveries. In the meantime, we have our tried and tested favourites to enjoy. 
Beef Red Curry

Panang noodles

Friday, November 16, 2012

SzeChuan SzeChuan: Chinese dining at Vaughan Mills

While the main objective for going to Vaughan Mills is to shop, you do not have to be limited to fast food when you stop for meals. Of course, a quick refill to the tummy boosts the energy to keep shopping without dropping, but there are alternatives to the food court.  There are actually a number of restaurants in the mall. To date, there is a Johnny Rockets diner, a Pickle Barrel, and SzeChuan SzeChuan if you prefer restaurant dining and can afford to spare some sit-down time.


SzeChuan SzeChuan also has a fast food section, but we usually go to the main dining area. This Pan-Asian bistro’s sleek Oriental décor provides a perfect setting for a wonderful meal. They have quite a selection of sushi and wine, but we tend to order our tried and tested Chinese dishes.
We love their General Tao chicken and Mongolian beef.  The General Tao has a spicy sweet sauce coating the crispy chicken cutlets. Its sauce, flavorful and dark, starts off as sweet when you take a bite then kicks in some heat.  The heat is the bearable kind, not enough to burn your tongue but just enough to have you sniffling after a few bites.  A slight tang rounds out the dish quite well.
General Tao
The Mongolian beef is a dish of thinly sliced beef with scallions and garlic covered in a sweet sauce (Do pardon my pictures. We already started eating when I remembered to take a shot :P).  The kids preferred the sweeter Mongolian beef.  DD#1, however, was trying out her taste buds with spicier stuff so she took bites from the General Tao.  
Mongolian beef
We usually have some Seafood Chow Mein or vegetable fried rice for our carbs and to neturalize the rich flavors of our proteins.  Most of the dishes cost between $10-15 and each dish is good for 2. A clump of veggies underneath the meat makes the serving seem bigger than it actually is, but it’s nevertheless sufficient.  We order family style and share everything.  So for our group of five, we order about 4 dishes and end up with a decent portion to take home, too! Yes, it is pricier than what you can get at the food court, but you’ve got ambience and service.
SzeChuan SzeChuan is one of the better Pan-Asian restaurants we have tried. When we have a full day blocked out for some Vaughan Mills shopping and prefer a break from fast food, this is definitely our go-to place. Hey, if you have to say the name twice, it ought to be good.

Friday, November 9, 2012

Halloween at Unionville

The main square
We have been going to Unionville for many years now to participate in the community’s annual Halloween event. We all enjoy going from store to store for trick-or-treating.  Establishments with pumpkins outside their shops gave out treats to the kids.  The shops are quaint, and this lovely neighborhood is warm and inviting. We noticed, though, that each passing year brought more and more people; and less and less treats from the participating merchants.

This year the community came up with a Bingo Trick or Treat. I assume this is to avoid running out of treats for the kids early on in the event. The kids each got a Bingo card which they had stamped at various sponsored booths that lined Main Street. Once you have 4 stamps on your Bingo card, you can then exchange it for a loot bag.  Unfortunately, the loot bag was not impressive at all, and has surely left many kids disappointed with the amount of candy they got. It was a good thing, though, that the Flash Mob Thriller dance, the Zombie walk and the busker all provided good entertainment on this year’s rainy Halloween weekend.

Zombie Walk
My kids were amazed at the busker who juggled fire pins while riding a unicycle. His main trick was to balance on one leg at the climax of his performance. Kids and adults alike were sufficiently entertained. We capped our afternoon with some hot chocolate at the local Timothy’s. This event didn’t give the kids the best haul this Halloween. However, walking the streets in costume together with other trick-or-treaters made up for it. I hope next year’s activities will be better. Hopefully, it won’t rain!
Street performances

Friday, November 2, 2012

The Many Attractions at Bowmanville Zoo

 My girls love animals. That is why we make it a point to go to a zoo or petting farms yearly. This year, to add to their wonderful memories of Panaca in Colombia, we went to Bowmanville Zoo which is just outside of Toronto.

We got some animal food at the gate so the girls could interact with the llamas, goats and sheep. The zoo had a decent collection of animals, considering that the grounds were not very expansive. We started off at the enclosure of the ring-tailed lemurs.  The zoo keeper gave some interesting facts about these playful creatures, and at the end, she picked a child from the crowd to enter the pen and feed the lemurs.  

The girls had a grand time feeding the animals while hubby and I were more interested in the big cats such as the panther and the Siberian tiger. For an additional fee, the zoo offered elephant and camel rides as well.  I marveled at the camels which grazed on wide open spaces on the way to the Animal show. (Make sure to check the show times in the brochure handed out at the gate to ensure you get to the show on time). While we waited outside the Animatheatre to catch a show, DD#2 got a chance to bottle-feed a baby goat. That was one of the highlights of the day for her!
The Animal show ran for about 30 minutes and featured several animals. The show started with some horses which ran a bit too long for me and with music so boring I feared the kids would want to go back outside. Good thing they brought out more animals. The baboons, pony, and elephant showcased nice tricks that the girls enjoyed. They especially liked the zoo keeper walking up the theatre steps with the lemur on her head.
After the show, we went on the Expedition Predator ride. It was like a mini-safari where we boarded a trolley—which looked like a vintage streetcar with nice wooden interiors and big glass windows— to get closer to the predators.
The African Lion which really sleeps most hours of the day was lazily lounging.

The wolves were being trained for a TV show and were on cue to approach as the trolley drew near. The zoo keeper got down and interacted with these predators at every stop. The tour ended with the prey—the bison. The ride was a nice albeit short attraction which allowed the visitors to experience just a little bit more in the zoo apart from observing or feeding. If you miss this safari, you can also walk the elevated catwalk and see the lion and wolves from among the tree tops.
As it was already off-season, we were not able to witness carnivore feedings. So instead, we headed to the splash pad. Good thing the kids were easy to please as any water play is a definite hit with them. The splash pad was in need of a major updating, though. Our community centre’s splash pad is way better! Good thing is that this came with admission and was just a nice bonus to the excursion. With only about 10 minutes into the girls’ water play, the water machines conked out and the kids had to leave.

Another attraction included with the admission was the Fun Land, which was where we headed next. There were 3 rides in operation at the time, and the kids could go on these any number of times. Only one ride was operated at a time, though, so the kids ran from one ride to the next until they got tired. Again, this area was in need of an update, but the simple joys the kids had with these rides made them another good bonus.

The zoo also had a small gift shop and a concession stand. As well, there were many picnic tables all about. With food, activities, and a tiny bit of shopping, families can definitely spend a whole day in the Bowmanville zoo.

Friday, October 26, 2012

Making our Halloween traditions



Hubby and I were raised in a place where Halloween was an activity limited to exclusive villages and clubs. Growing up, there were times when we participated in trick-or-treating, but those were more of the exception. It was no biggie if the day just passed without any fanfare. I guess we should be glad that the event was not too commercialized back then.

When we had kids, we put in more effort into making family traditions around fun occasions. Luckily enough, we are raising them in a place where we have a lot of opportunity to do this.

Our Halloween celebrations have evolved as the years passed. I’d like to share with you some steps we took to ensure the kids looked forward to having fun activities together-- and more than just getting candy.

1. Select costumes—For the past 3 years, we have been donning family costumes. We would decide on a theme and have each member of the family wear a costume in keeping with that theme. We would do a mix of DIY and store-bought (and hand me down!) costumes. I try to make sure that the costumes are either warm or big enough to accommodate layers of thermals. After all, we want to get bone-chillin’ action, but not literally!

2. Find the perfect pumpkin—This is our chance to check out local and not so local farms (and here is where wanderlust comes in, haha!). There are a lot of places which offer more than pumpkin picking. Fall harvest and other fun activities are available at some locations for a fee. Check out your region listings for farms. The patches can be muddy, but we always have fun searching for the perfect pumpkin. We pick pumpkins with a flattish side since this makes it easier to draw the design.


3. Decorate pumpkins—Some years we carve our pumpkin, while some years we just draw on them.  What do we do to non-carved pumpkins after Halloween is over? We cook them! There are a lot of Pumpkin recipes out there! Other times, when hubby wants to flex his creative muscles, we carve our pumpkin (or rather, HE carves them—I have to give credit where credit is due, after all). Of course, the pumpkin design we choose has to be in theme.

4. Go trick-or-treating—This is my kids’ favorite activity. No surprise there. We usually go to a couple of places for trick-or-treating. After all, we have to make the most of our costumes! The girls know that they cannot have any of their loot until after I had sorted the candies. I established that rule early on.  And while the candies with damaged packaging go straight to the trash, there are usually still enough sweets left for the kids and mommy (hey, I did a lot of work, too, so I deserve a treat!)
5. Repeat next year—I’m sure that as the years go by, these Halloween celebrations will still change. They can only get better! Happy Halloween!

Friday, October 19, 2012

Brunch and Fries at Stratford


We drove to Stratford for our family’s first Stratford Festival and arrived just in time for brunch. Hubby was in charge of planning the outing, a rare and most delightful feat! And while only 1 out of the 4 activities he had planned (the rest being spontaneous) came to fruition, the day turned out to be quite nice, full of discovery and adventure.
Hubby had learned early on that the women in his household could not function when hungry.  Because Stratford was over a hundred km from our house, by the time we managed to find parking on Erie St., we were ready to eat just about anything! Actually, if there had been a McDonald’s right where we had parked, I think I would have thrown away my sense of adventure for a Big Breakfast. Good thing York Street Kitchen was just right across the parking lot! And right beside our targeted snack destination, Boomers!
York Street Kitchen was a quaint joint with about 4 tables and a bar. While they have a popular sandwich take-out window, I really did not have the energy to take our food out to the park for a picnic. I was STARVING! So, I hungrily ordered H.M.S. Pinaforte--smoked Atlantic salmon with local goat cheese and veggies on a bagel. Hubby, on the other hand, went for one of their specials—the Breakfast Burrito. Though I was close to passing out from the lack of food, I managed to first set up the girls with their French toast, before I dug into my own dish. I had to compose myself so as not to wolf everything down.
The Pinaforte hit the spot. The buttery salmon with its bold saltiness was accentuated by the creamy goat cheese. The lettuce and tomatoes provided the crunchy tang while the bagel wrapped all the flavors up.

I took a bite from Hubby’s Breakfast Burrito, which was equally good and definitely heartier.  Meanwhile, the girls drowned their French toast in Mennonite maple syrup and finished their meal in record time.  Everything was quite good, except for the coffee, which needed more umph.  In a breakfast/brunch joint, a good, strong coffee is an absolute must.  How I wish I had gotten a freshly brewed iced tea instead. Maybe that would’ve been tastier. But all in all, service was fast, and the staff friendly. The waitress even brought out some story books for the girls to read while we waited for our meal. 
After watching a play and strolling along the Main St., we popped over to Boomer’s to try out their famous fries.  Boomer’s was featured in “You Gotta Eat Here” and true enough, various pictures and articles about the episode were plastered all over the walls.
We ordered some Chili Fries as well as their specialty, the Poutini Martini. The Chili Fries were just okay. Maybe this was because they were overshadowed by the ultra-yummy Poutini Martini, which featured crunchy onion rings on top of fries.   DD#1 staked her claim on the olive garnish. (With her love for olives, I wouldn’t be surprised if martinis eventually turn out to be her favorite cocktail.)

Anyway, the fries were crispy and not oily. The cheese curds and gravy that were generously layered on top were both salty and creamy.  It was delicious—a wonderful twist to the usual poutine!  Boomer’s has many more delightful fries concoctions. I will definitely try the Goat Cheese Poutine next time! And for those who choose not to make fries their main meal, the menu offered many other treats such as gourmet burgers and hotdogs—a variety that will have you coming back.