Oyster special at Diana's Oyster Bar and Grill

East Coast oysters @Diana Oyster Bar and Grill

The girls got a taste of their first shucked oyster at St. Lawrence market. They liked it so much that I think I have created monsters! As Hubby and I told them of Oyster happy hours or even our Oysterlicious, they had been wanting to get more oysters.

So, we went to Diana’s for their weeknight Oyster special. Priced for just a little more than a “Buck a shuck,” we got a few dozen oysters from the East Coast.

The oysters came in a bed of ice with lemon, horseradish and various sauces on the side (hotsauce, cocktail and vinegar). It was heaven. They were fresh and while we tried to savour each bite, it felt like we devoured them! They were on the salty/briney side and chewy. We agreed it was perfect with the cocktail sauce.

We also got Mushroom Linguini which we all loved. The pasta had a nice bite and the mushrooms and sundried tomatoes were perfectly seasoned.

Service was attentive and fast.

Delicious Mushroom Linguine @Diana's Oyster Bar and Grill

I love that we can share our love for food with the girls and that their tastes are ever-expanding! On to the next food adventure! 

Glorious Grocery: at Eataly Toronto

@Eataly, Toronto

A week after Eataly opened, we trekked to Yorkville for some Italian dining and shopping.  The 50,000 sqft location did not only feature quality Italian products along with goodies from local producers, it also has 3 full service restaurants (with a Trattoria coming in 2020), café, brewery, cooking school, and food counters (meals to go, pizza, cannoli and gelato stations, pastries and coffee).

La Pescheria restaurant  @Eataly, Toronto

wine bar @Eataly, Toronto

cooking school @Eataly, Toronto

Caffe Vergnano@Eataly, Toronto

We arrived to line up (as they don’t take reservations yet) at La Pizza & La Pasta for an early lunch. They served some delicious bread with olive oil while we waited for our order.

at La Pizza & La Pasta, @Eataly, Toronto

We had a family style sharing. We started with Gran Tagliere which is the Chef’s Selection of Italian cured meats and cheese. Delicious!

Gran Tagliere @Eataly, Toronto

Then we got some Pizza Napolitana (Neapolitan). We ordered the Capricciosa which had San Marzano tomato sauce, Buffalo Mozzarella, mushroom, Gaeta black olive, Rovagnati Gran biscotto ham, and artichoke. It had a wonderful thin crust at the base and the dough airily puffed up around the sides.

Capricciosa pizza napolitana @Eataly, Toronto

We tried both types of pasta--secca (dried) and fresca (fresh). We got a Spaghetto al Pomodoro for the dried, which was cooked al dente. The hand-made Afeltra Spaghetti was tossed with Così Com’è Datterino Tomatoes, EVOO, and basil. We added Mozzarella di Bufala, of course.

Pomodoro e Bolognese @Eataly, Toronto

For the fresh pasta, we got the Tagliatelle alla Bolognese, which is a thin, ribbon-shaped, housemade pasta with beef and pork ragù, Mutti tomato and Parmigiano Reggiano DOP (certified origin).

The portions were not big enough for sharing, and while our server recommended family-style, the serving per dish was just right for one person. The family agreed that while the dishes were good, we have had better pizza and pasta. Service was polite and surprisingly not slow despite the full house.

We did save space as we were eyeing the cakes and pastries outside. After lunch, we went to get coffee and Tiramisu Classico at Caffé Vergnano. It was one of the best Tiramisu we have had in a long time, and in Canada. It was divine. The coffee was also superb. 

Tiramisu Classico @Eataly, Toronto

Unfortunately, we were all too full to try the gelato and cannoli.

Gelato @Eataly, Toronto

Cannoli station @Eataly, Toronto

We walked around to check out the wonderful products being freshly prepared. They had a mozzarella lab where you can see them make fresh mozzarella. You can also watch them prepare fresh pasta, bread and even gelato! The hazelnut spread fountain was not working so we just got some bottled Venchi to enjoy at home.

fresh pasta @Eataly, Toronto

Mozzarella bar @Eataly, Toronto

bakery for freshly baked bread @Eataly, Toronto

pizza counter @Eataly, Toronto

seafood @Eataly, Toronto

all sorts of cheese @Eataly, Toronto

deli @Eataly, Toronto

glorious cheese @Eataly, Toronto

@Eataly, Toronto

fresh produce @Eataly, Toronto

butcher @Eataly, Toronto

panettone of course @Eataly, Toronto

 While we spent over 3 hours there and were quite delighted with all the goodies they had to offer, it was just too crowded. There was pretty much a line up for everything, not just the checkout counters. It was a slow walk around the store and was tricky to navigate with a cart. By the last hour, we were all no longer in awe of the variety of items. We just needed to breathe. We did get deli, cheese, bread, drinks and pastries to enjoy at home. The stuff we got were excellent quality, but it may take us a while to go back--maybe when we will no longer feel like Italian sardines. Until then...

Indian Dining at The Host

Lamb Roganjosh @Host Fine Indian Cuisine

Hubby and I love different kinds of food and we always want to make sure that the girls get to try different cuisines. So, we took them to try Indian food at The Host. We debated over which restaurant to try or whether we should do the buffet. In the end, we chose The Host, which we have already tried in Downtown TO before and we knew to be good.

We were served a papad roll while waiting for our order to arrive. Service was excellent. After our appetizer plates were taken away, a couple of servers came to provide us with warm plates which they placed on the table using linen napkins instead of bare hands. Then, the dishes were served, again, by a couple of servers so that it all came at once.

papad roll @Host Fine Indian Cuisine

We figured we would stick to more well-known, traditional dishes. We got the Tandoori Chicken which was a half chicken, bone-in, marinated in yogurt and tandoori sauce and roasted in a clay oven. It was flavourful but was a bit on the dry side.

Tandoori Chicken @Host Fine Indian Cuisine

We also ordered the Lamb Roganjosh which was boneless and slow cooked with yogurt and traitional warm spices.

While the Roganjosh was good, the hands-down winner for the fam was their special Butter Chicken. It was less creamy and spicy compared to the regular Butter Chicken we are familiar with. It was hearty, with the right balance of sweet and spicy and curry.

Butter Chicken @Host Fine Indian Cuisine

We didn’t get basmati rice but we did get an order each of Roti (Tandoori baked wheat bread) which was perfect for picking up the meat and wiping out the sauce from our plates.

Roti @Host Fine Indian Cuisine

Our mango lassi was also perfect, cutting through the strong flavours of the Roganjosh and Butter Chicken. A couple of sips in between the dishes got our tongues ready to take some more of the spice. What a delightful counterplay.

Mango Lassi @Host Fine Indian Cuisine

For dessert, we had the traditional Gulab Jamun which are spongy milky balls soaked in rose scented syrup. It was soft and just had the right amount of sweetness.

Gulab Jamun@Host Fine Indian Cuisine

We also had Kheer which is a rice pudding topped with pistachios. It was very refreshing and a perfect palate cleanser.

Kheer @Host Fine Indian Cuisine

Happy to say that the girls thoroughly enjoyed this Indian meal. DD#2 has ranked it high up there along with her favourite--Korean. We will venture out on buffet next time to try more of this amazing cuisine.

Autumn Fun--Bala Cranberry Festival

Cranberry Festival @Johnston's Cranberry Marsh

When the leaves start to turn red-orange-yellow and apples and pumpkins abound, we know that it is Autumn. But what other treat do we enjoy about this season? Cranberries!

We went to Bala’s Cranberry Festival after Thanksgiving and what a fun festival it was!

At Johnston’s, we got to see how they harvested the cranberries from the bog, get them all cleaned up and sorted and packed!

Harvesting cranberries @Johnston's Cranberry Marsh

@Johnston's Cranberry Marsh

@Johnston's Cranberry Marsh

@Johnston's Cranberry Marsh

There were a variety of vendors, and of course, wine and cider tasting!

Cranberry Festival @Johnston's Cranberry Marsh

We got a few goodies like cranberry cookies and candied cranberries

Candied Cranberries @Johnston's Cranberry Marsh

From the store, we got some Blueberry/Cranberry wine as well as some jam and snacks.

Muskoka Lakes Farm &Winery store

The McArthur house was converted into a Café for the season.

McArthur House @Johnston's Cranberry Marsh

There were many other activities at the festival—there were trails

trails @Johnston's Cranberry Marsh

and wagon rides

wagon ride @Johnston's Cranberry Marsh

And they also had the “Plunge” where one can dress up in the waterproof gear to plunge in the bog among the beautiful, bright red cranberries! Definitely an IG-op!

@Johnston's Cranberry Marsh

We have visited Muskoka Lakes Farm and Winery many times over the years (as they are open year-round with many other activities) but this was the first time we went to the festival. Definitely worth checking out!

Pizza Bar for Pizza monsters—dining at Pi Co

Our DD#2 absolutely loves pizza so we decided to try Pi Co pizza bar at the Shops at Don Mills. We had an early dinner so we managed to get a table. The process for the “Craft Yours” pizza was to pick the dough (mainly regular/Neapolitan dough or gluten free), pick the sauce and cheese then pick your toppings—unlimited. Imagine our pizza monster’s delight at this!

We got 3 “Craft Yours” pizzas (personal-sized) and went crazy with toppings. DD#1 and I shared the creation of one pizza and we put all types of cheese—yes, including Bleu Cheese! Among the unlimited toppings, there were the usual pepperoni, bacon, sausage, but there was also grilled chicken, roasted garlic, sundried tomatoes and many more. After assembly, the server would bring it to the wood fire oven for about 2 minutes. Then we got it sliced and placed in a pan, ready to devour!

We really enjoyed our custom-crafted Neapolitan pizzas! I like both thin and deep-dish pizzas. These ones had a thin crust which you fold up and savour! So delicious—kudos to the chefs 😊 We also ordered the already pre-determined Margherita pizza which was also good. But we did like our creations better!

They also have a craft your own salad or dessert! We should try those next time! Service was pretty fast and friendly. It actually took longer to assemble the pizza based on the toppings (and of course, the line up) but it is nothing more than the wait you would have at Subway to select your sandwich filling. And as I said, wood-firing the pizza was pretty fast, too, so you can enjoy your pizza right away! Would highly recommend Pi Co!

Brunchin’ at Joe Bird

Takeout "truck" of Joe Bird, Harbourfront Terminal

We went over to Joe Bird for brunch at the Harbourfront Terminal one Saturday.

The girls, hubby and I didn’t take long to decide that we were going to have the Bird and malted waffles. The fried chicken had a crispy, flavourful breading and it was tender inside. They served one dark and one white meat chicken with the waffles. It also came with slaw which did not really complement the dish as it had an overpoweringly bitter aftertaste. The winner, though, was the maple bourbon co­ffee sauce which was perfect for the waffles (not the chicken for me). It was sooo good! It was a great twist on the usual maple syrup—just with a hint of bourbon and coffee.

Bird and Malted Waffles at Joe Bird

Grandma had a fried Bird Sandwich which was she got with fries. I had a bite and it was a pretty good chicken sandwich!

Bird Sandwich at Joe Bird

The serving portion was just right for me and hubby but the girls passed on their leftovers. At the end of the meal we were stuffed! However, not too stuffed to try some ice cream. The Fix ice cream bar is inside Joe Bird and they served a variety of very interesting concoctions.

I got one of their Signature Softserve—"Churro Up,” which was a chocolate soft sever with mini cinnamon sugar churros and dulce de leche. Y.U.M.

Churro Up, The Fix Ice Cream Bar @ JoeBird

The girls tried the “Toucan,” which was a raspberry and lemon sherbet with toasted coconut, freeze dried mango chunks and mint. They have declared it a winner!

Toucan, The Fix Ice Cream Bar @JoeBird

Service was good and next time, we will ask for their Lunch/Dinner menu so we can try their other chicken dishes.