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!