Takumi Sushi

Takumi Sushi is a usual joint for the business folks that work around the yonge and wellesley area. It's a small place on yonge street, but a great find.

Lunch here is super cheap. Around $7 for a meal with rolls, salad and soup.
However, if you want any thin gmore substantial like sashami, or teriyaki, it's much more $$.

The rolls we got were good, spider roll and unagi roll. But I'm not a huge fan of just rolls. I get bored easily, and would rather have new things. But surprisingly it was quite filling. For this price, i might just have to learn to like it!

Insomnia (Brunch)

Went to Insomnia for dinner and happened on the fact that they also serve brunch!

Bloor and Bathrust

Menu here: http://insomniacafe.com/brunchmenu.pdf

to note:

Heaven on Earth $10.5

Wild berries, cream cheese and honey sandwiched between lightly tanned french toast, dusted with powdered sugar, served with a side of pure canadian maple syrup

PANCAKES $10

Our signature pancakes are oven baked and take a minimum of 30 minutes,
therefore consider an item from “On the lighter side” as an appetizer while you
wait or may we suggest them as a fabulous dessert!

Berry Pancakes
Fluffy pancakes with mixed berries served with a side of pure canadian maple syrup

Chocolate Banana Pancakes
Fluffy pancakes with chocolate chunks and bananas served with a side of pure canadian maple syrup

Apple Cinnamon Pancakes
Fluffy pancakes with green apple slices and cinnamon served with a side of pure canadian maple syrup

They also have  really good selection of eggs benedicts, including:

Eggs Isabelle $10
Two poached eggs with house made hollandaise, fresh tomatoes and avocado spread, served with homefries and baby greens

Who wants to come with me and share a french toast and panackes?!!!

Sandstone Grillhouse & Lounge (Niagara Falls, ON)

After much searching online for a good, decently priced, quality, but not pretentious restaurant. I had wanted to go to the Wolfgang Puck Restaurant but it was closed. Copacabana Brazilian Grill is also an option, but not really the best choice for a vegetarian. The last option was Epicure in Niagara on the Lake, but it's closed in March. Everything else seemed like fast food, or extremely ghetto.

I found this place tho, Sandstone Grillhouse. The website looked appealing, menu well priced, and quality looking food with vegtarian dishes.

Everything on that street looked ghetto and run down. I don't understand that about Niagara. But when we got there, it was a small cozy little house that fit many many people.
It's very homey with a fire place and super friendly people. I'm glad we made a reservation because the tables are full.

After ordering, we got a really big garlic bread. I must have eaten half of it. It was awesomely buttery and flavourful.

We got appetizers. Bruchetta with cheese. Yum. and a baked brie with mushroom.

Delish. I don't know how I ate so much that day.

Alexey got a steak.

I really liked the look of Alvin's pasta. Yum. Creamy and seafoody.

Both Jothi and I got the Spinach gnocchi in a rose sauce. It was SO good. The gnocchi was plush and pillowy. There was a tangy taste, but it was good. Gave it some kick.

 
We didn't get dessert, and instead when to the fudge place on Lundy's Lane.

i'd definately come back here esp when I feel there's not that much choice in Niagara. This place has so much range and quality. depends when you get it's a $$ or $$$.
Don't know anything that can top this place for the price in Niagara.

Crepes a Go Go

No pictures because it won't be as appetizing, and really doesn't do the place justice.

A small little Parisian cafe, at the corner of Yorkville and Yonge Street. It's a sign it may be authentic when the owner and everyone who works there speaks French. Even some can't speak very good English.

http://www.crepesagogo.com/

They serve breakfast from 7:30am-10am on weekdays, and open from 10:30am on weekends. This small place has few seating, but their crepes are easy to take with you.

They have a great variety of crepes. The Parisien has egg, smoked salmon, dill, mayo and red onion. Today I had the Big Ben Extra. (extra =" scarmbled egg") Raseberry Jam, Brie and Egg. It was AMAZING. I wouldn't think it would all go together.

They also serve some pastries in the morning. Fresh from a French Bakery. I found out where, and now I must visit. I just had the half of danish I saved from breakfast and it was crisp, flaky and flavourful. I don't think I've had any better.

Their crepes are cooked fresh, with the perfect thickness, and never under/over cooked.

I could totally inculdge here. I love everything about the place.
You can also call in and order ahead and pick up, rather than attempting to find parking.
I don't know a better Crepe Place in Toronto. I think it beats out the Crepe place on Queen st (but still good)

Epic at Royal York Hotel

 

So we went to Epic only because I had Fairmont $25 coupons (x4) for food at a hotel.  We have been before to their brunch, but unfortunately they have discontinued it, and we were left with dinner only. 

Epic wouldn't have been the first place I would eat at. Even looking at the menu, food seems over priced, potentially small plates, and lack selection. 

After ordering, we got a big bread

 

I ordered a squash soup with goat cheese to start.

I ordered the Scallop Pasta. It was actually very good, and I've never had such good scallop ever! It was tender and soft, and didn't even taste like scallop.  The pasta was creamy and yumy.

Alexey got a tuna. We weren't too sure about the suggestable shape to the right.

For dessert was a creme brulee that was covered by fruit and a biscotti. It was good, but with some maple syrup in it and it was weird. 

 

Overall it cost with 2 glasses of wine around $110. We only had to pay $10. It was okay... but still wouldn't go there on my own.

Pizza Express (Hong Kong)

This is my last of the 2009 Hong Kong trip food.

This was a great place, as we were looking for some comfort western food. Walking up along Soho we wanted to find something that was cheap, quality and quick.
With big glass windows we could see a two person table inside, and we quickly pointed at it and grabbed it.

It was small tho. Maybe only about 10 tables and fit about 30 people. I think they had another location somewhere in Lan Kwai, as they were always answering calls about wine orders and kept sending someone.
Seems like a good place for groups (if you can get a seat) with big round marble tables.

I was looking for somehting cheesy and creamy for the last dinner our last night in Hkg.

 

Started with a mushroom soup. Very fresh. Totally mushroom puree

 

The mushroom caps were so yummy. 

Unfortunately this was so long ago, i can't remember what we had. but with all that food it was more than enough. 

yummm i miss hong kong

Cowbell

http://www.tasteto.com/2010/02/28/sunday-brunch-cowbell/

1564 Queen Street West (between Landsdowne and Roscavelles)
416-849-1095
Brunch for two with all taxes, tip and coffee: $50

"Instead, it's a fun, quirky brunch spot with some seriously awesome food and just enough cuteness to not feel stuffy."

As a big fan of eggs Benedict, I'm always up for new variations of the dish and Cowbell's version with smoked trout ($12) was especially nice. House-smoked trout was light and sweet – neither too fishy or overwhelmingly smoky - atop homemade English muffins. There was apparently some debate as to whether this should come with a side salad of local greens (it was the first brunch service and the kitchen was still working out some details), so I ordered a side of nicely cooked home fries as well ($2).