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Great Eats
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Toronto
Marché Movenpick
Located near the Hockey Hall of Fame in the heart of downtown Toronto, the Marché
Movenpick offers quite the unique dining experience. Once seated and your drinks have been ordered,
it is essentially up to you to walk about the Marché to the different stations and select your fare. The
menu is broad and the selection outstanding. The restaurant is comprised of many different and unique
dining rooms; my favourite being the room that emulates an outdoor park atmosphere located near the entrance.
Word of caution, arrive early for the best seating and to avoid a long queue! Being close to the theatre district,
the Marché can be quite busy from 6-8pm. I have found when ordering steak it is best to ask for at to be slightly
overdone to your liking, as the chefs can be quite pressed at times and can have a tendency to rush your selection. 8/10
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Boulevard Café
What a treat to have one of the best restaurants in Toronto to be located virtually on your doorstep! The Boulevard Café is located one
block east of Harbord and Bathurst, right in the ol' neighbourhood. The menu is comprised of South American specialities,
Peruvian to be exact. For a starter I would highly recommend the Tostadas al Chipotle; Garlic Toast with a mildly spicy chipotle
spread. For a main one can't go wrong with the Aticuchos, skewers of flavoured meat grilled to your specifications, mine being medium
beef tenderloin. The wine list is long, and having visited the Concha y Toro vineyard in Chile last fall, I can safely say that the Terrunyo
'97 Cabernet, for those of us who are red aficionados, would be wise selection. The Casillero del Diablo '98 Chardonnay would be great for those
of you who prefer white. I really do like this establishment and try to fit in a visit when I am in Toronto. 9/10
Il Fornello
This small chain of quaint Italian eateries is pretty well known
in Toronto. I have found that it is probably the best place to find
the thin crust European-style pizza in the city. One could compare
it to Pizza Express in the UK, however since the quality of the
Pizza Express fare has waned in recent years, a direct comparison
would be taking something away from Il Fornello. The starter salads
are quite good and the pizza, well it simply can't be beat. If you
choose to visit the King St location be advised that it is right
beside the Royal Alex, and one should arrive early to avoid
disappointment. 8/10
London, UK
El Gaucho
If you're a steak lover then there is simply no other place in city
of London that I would recommend to you! The owners are from Chile
and Argentina, and they have brought the great cuisine from those
two countries with them. The portions are quite big by London standards
and it is advisable to arrive on an empty stomach. My favourite
is "El Chorizo de Bife", a sirloin steak. At £11, you're not going
to get better value for your money in the city. You can order the
Chorizo with eggs on it as well, something that I have not attempted
to do as of yet. Unless you have a large appetite I would not recommend
the half chicken, as the bird is quite big, best to stick to the
quarter. The staff is great and quite friendly and I can guarantee
you a fine evening of dining. 9/10
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La Campagnola
I would have never guessed what a lovely Italian restaurant La Campagnola
is after the way that I was introduced to it. Being out with some
friends late on a Friday night many years ago, we found ourselves
famished and in great need of a meal. A friend of mine who knew
the Victoria area had this place at the top of his list, and seeing
how I was "Fresh off the Plane" who was I to argue. We were treated
like kings and basically cleared out the joint (of food) as we arrived
just before closing. Only after our arrival did I realise that they
were on a first name basis with the owner! The food was exceptional
and we had fare from across the menu, I knew that I had been introduced
to a gem. The place has quite an intimate dining experience and
I have had the fortune to dine there "À Deux" on one occasion. Someday
soon I hope to have the pleasure of introducing someone else to
this fabulous place. I refuse to dine there solo! 9/10
Cafe Pacifico
Cafe Pacifico, a Mexican Cantina in the heart of London's Covent
Garden, boasts some of the finest Mexican food in the Capital. For
those with a hearty appetite, the Quesadillas are highly recommended.
The Burritos, Enchiladas and Chimichangas are all favourites as
well. The wine list is not a long one, however there are plenty
of Mexican beers to aid in the digestion of their spicy selections.
You generally cannot reserve a table in advance on the weekends
and be warned that you'll not be added to the waiting list until
all of your party arrives. Best to tell them that the rest of your
party is already at the bar as I did the other week! Great food
at a reasonable price for Central London. Regular visitors have
noticed that the portions have gone down in size over the last couple
of years hence - 7/10.
Vancouver
Tojos
I entered Tojos in the autumn of 2001 with great trepidation. I
had never eaten Sushi before and the thought of eating raw fish,
although not totally disgusting, was quite alien to me. I had heard
many rave reviews about Tojos so I pressed on. What a delight that
I did, not only were the staff cheerful and a pleasure to speak
to, but it is the first time that I can recall someone asking up
front if I had any allergies seeing how this cuisine was totally
new to me. Once reassured that my dishes weren't a threat I went
along with what the other seasoned sushi diners ordered and had
an excellent meal! I revisited Tojos on many occasions whilst living
in Vancouver and must say that it is tops for me there! 9/10
Hotel
Pan-Pacific Cascades Lounge
Quite simply the best Sunday brunch in the lower mainland! I have
yet to taste a better omelette, which are made to order in front
of your by the award winning Pan-Pacific Chefs. 9/10
Montreal
Schwartz's Delicatessen
Although I have never had the pleasure to call Montreal home, this
restaurant stands out as a favourite in this city famous for its
smoked meat. I am told that the smoked meat, which is cured in-house,
is the city's best, and from what I have tasted on my two visits
there I am in full agreement! They have a real operation in place
and the waiters whisk you through your meal. There is almost always
a line-up, even I am told in the middle of a snowy winter's day
(note the cold and famished people in the pic). It has been a close
friend's tradition to have Swartz's before a Montreal
Canadiens game. The last time we went there on a road trip from
Toronto, my first visit to the Molson Centre, not only did we have
a great eat at Swartz's before the game, but who should walk in
and sit down next to us but Ken
Dryden, a famous player for the Canadiens and currently President
of The Toronto Maple Leafs.
Top that! Great food - with attitude! 10/10
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