If you’ve got all the time in the world…part 2: The Fry

We had been having a string of bad luck with our choice of restos lately—or at least their inefficient kitchens. We wanted to try yet another KFC (Korean Fried Chicken) so we checked out The Fry in Markham. The appetizers came out soon enough after our order with the server being very friendly. 

Slaw, radish and corn appetizers @The Fry

But then, we had to wait an hour for our chicken to arrive. Hubby was all too ready to leave by the 45^th minute. However, I figured by the time we found another place, ordered and got our meals, that would set us back another 45minutes. Our server was becoming stressed by the minute with the number of tables becoming annoyed with the wait. A big group already left and another table abandoned their order. The take-out folks walked back and forth and everyone was growing hangrier.  The excuse: the kitchen did batch processing of orders. Hmmnn…I half-thought they were still catching, defeathering and butchering chickens per order. Wouldn’t these chickens have been marinated, battered and just ready to fry?

Anyway, after an hour, our orders arrived--along with complimentary fries for our wait. The chicken was piping hot so we really couldn’t dig in right away without burning ourselves!

We got an order of Original and another order of the chicken with Sauce. They were both good. The Original was delicious--the girls and I really liked the batter. Hubby would argue, though, that the cuts of chicken were bad. 

Original Fried Chicken @The Fry

We also prefer the Sauce/Spicy Chicken of MyMy Chicken (with better cuts, too!)

Chicken with Sauce @The Fry

So, yes, the chicken was good but not that great that we would wait an hour for it. Hoping it was a fluke--though I doubt I can get the fam to go back to this place. But hey, if you have all the time in the world, the chicken is great (and surely with beer, too!).

If you’ve got all the time in the world…part 1: Milestones

These days, who has any time to spare, really? You can set aside some time for lunch or dinner out but really that shouldn’t take you a full two hours unless you are having a full course meal and chatting with friends you haven’t seen in years. Recently, we had the misfortune of dining in two places where the food was good but where you wouldn’t be surprised if you grew roots waiting for your meal to arrive.

We had lunch at Milestones in Richmond Hill. The server was polite and friendly but waiting one hour for our order did not really put us in the best of moods to enjoy. Their classic Spinach and Artichoke dip got us all excited of yummy things to come. The creamy and cheesy dip served with crispy tortilla chips had every right to call itself a classic. But after that appetizer, the wait for the rest of the dishes took almost another hour. The excuse: they had several parties going on at that same time and there were not enough staff in the kitchen. Could have been better planned, no? The parties would have been booked in advance.

Spinach and Artichoke dip @Milestones

They did give us some soup some 45 minutes into the wait. It really helped curb some of the hunger. Finally, the dishes came. Grandma had the Miso Glazed Cod—pan seared and served with rice. The glaze was lovely and the fish was nicely cooked.

Miso Glazed Cod @Milestones

DD#1 had the Cajun Shrimp Creole, which had a substantial serving and a very tasty spicy Cajun garlic cream sauce.

Cajun Shrimp Creole @Milestones

Hubby had the Prime Rib (another signature dish) 

Prime Rib @Milestones

while I had the Steak Frites. Both steaks were done nicely and seasoned well. I loved the onion rings—the thin and spiraled crunchiness was a delight to eat! I also had the Parmesan fries with my 7oz steak and they were delicious.

Steak Frites @Milestones

They also gave complimentary dessert and we got the Decadent Duo of the Belgian Chocolate Ganache Torte 

Belgian Chocolate Ganache Torte @Milestones

and the White Chocolate Cheesecake. Yum! 

White Chocolate Cheesecake @Milestones

Ok so by this time we were less “hangry” and dessert usually puts us all in a better mood. They have apologized and tried to appease with soup AND dessert. But it took another 15 minutes for the bill…

Cooking soup: lunch at Little Sheep Mongolian Hot Pot

Spicy broth @ Little Sheep Mongolian Hot Pot

At first we were a bit hesitant to visit Little Sheep Mongolian Hot Pot at Warden and Finch. The name doesn’t seem apt and the girls had a few giggles upon hearing where we might go for lunch. However, I checked out their website and it seems like this chain, which has branches in the US, China and Japan, may be worth trying.

It was our first time to try all you can eat hot pot so the server/host gave us a bit of a rundown. We selected individual pots (vs a communal pot) which turned out to be great as we all were able to cook our own meals. The girls were pretty excited that they got their own bowls! I liked that they get to do the cooking for themselves! I’ll take any practice they can get!

Original broth @ Little Sheep Mongolian Hot Pot

We first had to select the broth—original, spicy or half and half. As can be predicted, Hubby got the spicy and DD#2 got the original. Grandma, DD#1 and I got the half and half—to get the best of both worlds. This came in a bowl which was actually separated in two! I want one at home! Anyway, I liked the half and half since as the broth kept cooking, the spicy one just got too spicy. The original broth cooked really well. Over in the front, you will also see all the spices that they include in the broth—including cardamom, chili, goji berries, and others I can’t say or spell.

Half and half broth @ Little Sheep Mongolian Hot Pot

They bring in the broth and marbled lamb and beef slices. Once the broth started boiling, we added the other items we got from the chillers. They had other meat such as pork and chicken, as well as various seafood (shrimp, mussels, squid, fish), balls, veggies, dumplings, noodles, and more. They had cooked spring rolls, shrimp crackers and many sauces should you wish to use for dipping.

I just loved the original broth. It hit the spot, kept my tummy warm and filled my senses with full flavours. It was quite satisfying. Servers would come once in a while to refill the broth. They had a vending machine for pop and a dispenser for water, soy milk and tea. I wouldn’t recommend the pastries for dessert though. Good thing there were orange slices which was great to cap the meal.

Well, we had a lot of fun and we were stuffed. Service and food was good so we were happy. I do have to warn you, though--the smell of the broth and all the cooking will stick to your clothes and it was not nice. So, bring a bottle of perfume (or fabric refresher) for when you are done and enjoy!

Different kinds of Trails at PEC

We found and did short rounds of the trails they had at Prince Edward County. These were not your usual trails, though. What they had were fun Art Trails, Taste Trails, and my favourite, Wine Trails!

Going around Picton, Bloomfield and Wellington, we checked out stores, places to eat and drink!

some of the stores in Bloomfield, PEC

We had a lot of fun walking around in Bloomfield. We looked at antiques at Dead People’s Stuff—not creepy at all!

Dead People's Stuff @PEC

There were many quaint stores to explore! The girls had such a great time playing I Spy with Tammy at Hand Works that they didn’t want to leave! They wanted to find all 30 items in the store filled with eclectic items! They have original art, pottery, antiques, and many more.

Hand Works Fine Art @PEC

Of course, after all that walking, we had to get some ice cream! We all enjoyed our flavour picks: Toffee Coffee, Campfire and Key Lime! Deliciously creamy and apparently hand-made in small batches daily! Yum!

Slickers Ice Cream @PEC

Now, I couldn’t go home without doing a bit of the Wine Trail. We went to Sandbanks Estate Winery where the service was just awesome. They had some nice Canada 150 souvenir bottles and I totally loved their dessert wines. I did a white flight in the tasting room and I enjoyed the Love Cassis Aperitivo mixed with a bit of Sauvignon Blanc. Needless to say, I had to bring home a couple of bottles!

We also went to Norman Hardie as we had wanted to try some of the wood-fired pizza (with wine, of course). But the place was packed and we didn’t want to wait about an hour so I just got a bottle to bring home.

Norman Hardie Winery @ PEC

So many more places to explore! We will definitely be back to discover more of these trails. 

Perch galore at Pelee

When we went to Point Pelee area, we decided to have Lake Erie perch any chance we can get. After all, where else can we get it as fresh?

1. At Leamington, we first tried out the Perch Platter at SeaCliffe Inn. It was nicely fried, crunchy on the outside and clean-tasting. It did lack a bit of flavour but at least we really got to taste the fish. 16 fillets for $25.

perch platter @SeaCliffe Inn restaurant, Leamington

2. Located right across the marina on Pelee Island, we tried the Sampler Platter at Scudder’s Beach Bar and Grill. The perch was better than the one at SeaCliffe Inn but the girls liked the smelt more. We also enjoyed the curly fries. Service was fast and friendly!

 

Sampler Platter @Scudders, Pelee Island

3. On the way to Point Pelee National Park, Birdie’s Perch beat them all! The red double decker bus was hard to miss so while there were other perch places that we haven’t tried, we decided to check this one out. And it did not disappoint. It was by far the best among those we had in the area. The Perch cone of 3 pieces is a bit pricey at $13.50. It came with a ton of fries so it certainly filled us up.

Perch cone @Birdie's Perch

On the next trip back, we will be sure to try the other perch places we saw along the way! Would be perfect along the wine trail for sure!

Lake Erie Perch at Port Dover

Port Dover, ON

Before the crowds got thick at Port Dover for summer, we popped by to try some Lake Erie perch by the beach.

@Port Dover, ON

There were a lot of joints selling burgers, fries, fish n chips but we decided on the one by the beach—Knechtel's on the Beach. The weather was a bit fickle that day so it was a good thing that they had an indoor seating area.

Knechtel's on the Beach @Port Dover

We got a platter of perch—so deliciously deep fried and tasty!

Perch Platter @Knechtel's on the Beach, Port Dover

Shrimp basket

Shrimp Basket @Knechtel's on the Beach, Port Dover

Clam strips

Clam Strips sans buns @Knechtel's on the Beach, Port Dover

And their winning chili!

Chili with cheese on top! @Knechtel's on the Beach, Port Dover

Service was friendly and fast but it was pretty much like having your take-out food indoors. We all ate from the paper baskets with plastic cutlery, except for the chilli.  We absolutely loved the battered perch that we ordered another round :)

After lunch, we went around Port Dover and checked out their quaint stores (and surf shops, too!) and got some ice cream at Willies. 

Erie Beach Hotel @Port Dover

shops @Port Dover

the lighthouse @Port Dover, ON

It was a nice area and surely more vibrant at the height of summer. 

Must try eats in Czech Republic

Roasted Pork Knee,  Prague, Czech Republic

It was a trip full of eating. Mostly meat but delicious, nonetheless. Here are my must-try eats in Czech Republic:

• In New Town, we discovered an ultra-delish Strawberry-Banana soft-serve ice cream in Ovocný Světozor. Super great value and super yummy!

Strawberry-Banana ice cream @Ovocný Světozor, Prague, Czech Republic

• Roasted Pork Knee—pretty much anywhere, but we had the one in Old Prague Restaurant. Delicious with gravy!

• Potato dumplings—usually a side dish for pork dishes

Roasted pork with Pork Dumplings,  Prague, Czech Republic

• Beef Tartare (tatarák)—we tried the one in Lokál Dlouhááá and it was great! Hubby says it was probably his best meal in our trip. We rubbed fresh garlic onto some toast and spread the fresh, minced raw beef mixed with onions and spices. Melts in your mouth and best with beer! Note that raw beef should not be taken without considering there is a risk of bacterial contamination so be wary. We were fine, though, and we ate at a trusted establishment.

Beef Tartare (Tartarak),  Prague, Czech Republic

Of course, no trip to the Czech Republic is complete without beer. After all, Czech Republic has the highest beer consumption per capita in the world. We tried the Pilsner Urquell (brewed in Plzeň, Czech Republic and is the world’s first blond or pale lager), Staropramen (brewed in the Smíchov district), Kozel (produced since 1874), and the Sv. Norbert from the Monastery Pivovar.

Pilsner Urquell, from Plzeň, Czech Republic

Cesky Krumlov: a fairy tale land

Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic

We wanted to see another UNESCO World Heritage site so we took a day trip from Prague to Cesky Krumlov. It was a 3-hour bus ride (you can also take the train) in the south of the Bohemia region. It was so picturesque and seemingly still unspoiled. It was not crowded and very, very charming. It was like being in a fairy tale land. We were so glad we chose to visit this place! Other day trip options from Prague were Kutna Hora (with the Bone Chapel) or Terezin (concentration camp).

We had lunch at the cozy Travellers’ Restaurace restaurant. It was good value for money compared to the pricey restos in Prague! I had Pork roast in dark beer, cabbage, and potato dumplings. Hubby had Grilled Pork Neck with mustard. Of course, when in the Czech Republic, we had to have beer. We had the 11 degrees Kozel, dark beer, which I really liked.

Pork roast and potato dumplings @Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic

We walked around the old town by the very charming Main Square. 

streets of Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic

Main Square, Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic

Near the castle, in the bear pit which used to be a moat, we saw Maria Theresa, their 24 yr old-resident bear. 

Maria Theresa, the bear @Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic

We also saw folks river rafting/canoeing on the Vlatava river, which wraps around the town center. 

canoeing/rafting by Vlatava river, Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic

Mostly we walked along the cobbled paths checking out quaint stores. 

streets of Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic

We didn’t have time to tour the inside of the castle (as we only had 6 hours there) but we did a walking tour with a great local guide (Wiseman Free tours) and learned a lot about the history of Cesky Krumlov. We also saw a less grand version of the St. Vitus cathedral.

part of the Cesky Krumlov castle, Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic

We walked outside the castle, along the frescoed walls of the courtyards. While we did have a bit of time to see the castle interiors (before the walking tour), the English tours were limited and we couldn’t manage the next available schedule. At the end of the walking tour that we did take, we explored the castle gardens with its fountains and maze and, of course, we checked out the Open-Air Theatre with the revolving auditorium.

inside the courtyard of the Cesky Krumlov Castle, Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic

Castle Gardens, Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic

Revolving theatre, Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic

We got a couple of iced coffees before heading for the bus stop. The old town was within walking distance to the bus station. While it was a full day, the crowds were not so overwhelming and it was a pleasant excursion. After all, how can being in a storybook be tiring?

Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic

Prague: Old and New Town

night scene of Prague Castle and Charles Bridge, Prague, Czech Republic

Using our day pass, we explored both the New Town and Old Town. This time we used a self-guided walking tour which we had printed out. We pretty much followed the route and started off with the National Museum by the Duke Wenceslas (from the “Good King” Christmas carol) statue. 

National Museum and Duke Wenceslas statue,  Prague, Czech Republic

Nearby, we also saw the Communist Era building and State Opera. We walked along Wenceslas square. 

Communist Era building,  Prague, Czech Republic

Unlike the historic Old Town, nearly all the buildings were from the past two centuries. Here are some buildings to note:

• We saw some beautiful Art Nouveau buildings such as the yellow Grand Hotel Evropa.
• We also saw the Marks and Spencer building with the balcony from the historic November 1989 revolution.
• The Art Deco Lucerna Arcade displays the sculpture called Wenceslas Riding an Upside-Down Horse hanging from a glass dome in the middle of the mall. 

Černý's Wenceslas Riding an Upside-down Horse

• Another 1930’s souvenir is the stained-glass window advertising Tesla, the radio manufacturer.

1930's stained glass window advertisement,  Prague, Czech Republic

• Through the Franciscan Garden, we went to the St. Mary of Snows Church. We took a peek (as it was closed) into its elegant interiors.
• Past Jungmann Square, we browsed through the multiple floors of the Bata shoe store (founded over 120 years ago in the Czech Republic). They had the good quality Bata shoes as well as other brands for sale. I have to say that it did take quite a bit of discipline not to go shopping. We had very little space left in our luggage!

By this time, we had already hit the end of the square by Mustek and the Old City Wall.

We walked to the Old City and explored areas we have not yet seen:

• Church of St. James—the church interiors were very beautiful and it housed the wooden Pieta from the 15^th century. What I will not forget from this church, though, was seeing the shriveled-up hand hanging by a chain from above, by the door. According to legend, a thief tried to rob the Madonna from the altar but his hand was frozen when he touched the statue. The monks had to cut off his hand to get it to let go of the statue. It now hangs in the church as a warning.

Church of St. James, Prague, Czech Republic

• House of the Black Madonna—this Cubist building is remarkable in the way that it stands out and yet mixes with its surroundings. It has a café and a gallery to showcase this movement. Of course, on the side of the building, you will see the Black Madonna.

House of the Black Madonna, Prague, Czech Republic

• Havelská market—offering various crafts and produce, but mostly souvenirs. The goods are not limited to Czech products and has its share of rude sellers.
• Estates Theatre (featured in the film, Amadeus) which premiered (and still currently runs) Mozart’s Don Giovanni

Estates Theater, Prague, Czech Republic

• Carolinium—heart of the Charles University

Other buildings to note:

• Powder Tower—connected to the Old Town Square via Celetná street (one of the oldest streets in Prague filled with many buildings with striking facades). This was the main gate of the Old Town wall and used to house the city’s gunpowder.

Powder Tower, Prague, Czech Republic

• Municipal House—dubbed the “pearl of Czech Art Nouveau,” this elaborate building has a restaurant and a hall for concerts. At the time we were there, they also exhibited Mucha’s Slav Epic (a series of large canvasses depicting the history of the Czechs and other Slavic peoples).

So many beautiful buildings to take in one day. Prague definitely goes down as one of my favourite cities.