Thai Basil

When I think about the Thai cuisine, the two tastes that occupy my thoughts are that of the spicy coconut sauce and the basil. I had had a Thai food drought for too long and when we got to the parking lot, the wife was gracious enough to yield to my cravings instead of revisiting Bayview Court right next door, like she apparently had planned on the way. I had a feeling, though, that she wouldn't be disappointed, and she really wasn't.

Thai Red Curry Duck

At Thai Basil, the interior is clad with traditional Thai decorations, contributing to a positive vibe and a comfortable dining environment. Being duck enthusiasts - we cook it at home often and like to taste different preparations when we're eating out - we knew we wanted the Thai Red Curry Duck as soon as we saw it on the menu. Colorful, spicy, flavorful and mixed with cooked fruits and vegetables, these pieces of duck more than satisfied my coconut sauce cravings. But of course, that was only half the battle won.

Crispy Basil Stir Fried Mixed Seafood

For my basil needs, we ordered the Crispy Basil Stir Fried Mixed Seafood, which, as the name suggests, was an assortment of seafood items, fried but not too deep and glazed in an oyster sauce with chilli, garlic and lime juice. The Thai Basil Chilli Fried Rice, on the other hand, was good, but nothing extraordinary.

Thai Basil Chilli Fried Rice

Dessert had to involve sticky rice and mangoes (wife's orders), so we got the Mango Sticky Rice, which came with both white and black rice. Dare I say, it was better than the dessert we had at Restoran Malaysia.

Mango Sticky Rice

http://thaibasil.ca
1070 Major MacKenzie Dr. E., #F103
Richmond Hill, Ontario L4S 1P3
905.780.8788

Sushi Sushi

Because mentioning it just once in the name doesn't do justice to how good their sushi is.

Having spent a lot of time around very good all you can eat Japanese food, I was eager to try out sushi buffets in Toronto. Unfortunately, our move to the GTA was greeted with disappointments, one after another, until we decided to tread familiar territory. We had noticed Sushi Sushi Japanese Restaurant on our trips to Eddies Wok n Roll, but for one reason or the other, never ended up paying a visit.

Grilled Octopus

The sushi was amazing and so were the appetizers and entrees on both occasions, leading us to beat ourselves up for poisoning ourselves over and over at restaurants in the heart of Toronto when we knew about this place all along. Among my favorite kitchen items are the Grilled Octopus, the Garlic Beef (stir-fried with mushrooms - tasty sauce) and the BBQ Beef Ribs. It's amazing how many places get the beef ribs ridiculously wrong, but not Sushi Sushi, where their ribs, while nothing extraordinary, still exude excellence and represent exactly what you would expect when promised Japanese beef ribs.

Garlic Beef

If you're ordering the Chicken or Beef Skewers, beware that they are quite large in size. The Sesame Chicken wasn't anything out of the ordinary and I'll probably substitute it for something else next time. For instance, I had my eyes on the Grilled Saury Pacific - half a baked fish - both times I went there, but opted out at the last minute to reserve stomach space for sushi.

Before moving on to the sushi, the Hot Sour Soup is another highly desirable item on the menu that deserves an honorary mention. They really know how to make hot & sour soup, another very basic item that many places commonly make a complete mess of. At Sushi Sushi, one bowl just isn't enough.

Sashimi

I must admit I'm not a fan of their Spicy Salmon Roll, due mostly to its lack of zest and spice as well as the texture of the salmon - I prefer big, solid chunks. Neither did I like the Roast Beef Wasabi Roll - I had hoped the presence of wasabi would be more prominent, the only reason I had ordered a roll of sushi with meat in it. I don't know about you, but I like my sushi with seafood, not meats and certainly not heavily cooked meats.

Otherwise, the sushi menu completely catered to our cravings. All of the Special Rolls are good and I personally favor the Green Dragon (cucumber, avocado, shrimp tempura, crab meat, fish eggs topped with more avocado) and the Golden Dragon (green dragon topped with mango slices).

Spicy Crab Meat

 The sashimi selection is also quite delectable. I love BBQ Eel, and Sushi Sushi makes some pretty good ones. The Spicy Crab Meat Sushi gets a special mention as it makes up for what the spicy salmon lacks in terms of spiciness and texture.

While it is pitiful that every time we crave all you can eat sushi we have to travel all the way to Mississauga, a foodist has got to do what a foodist has got to do. I don't mean to completely dismiss the efforts of the sushi chefs in regions of the GTA that are closer to the heart of Toronto, but when you have a restaurant as good as Sushi Sushi, you know that competition is stiff and hard to match.

http://sushisushionline.ca
6400 Millcreek Dr
Mississauga ON
L5N 3E7
905 567 7688

Mariachi's

The wife and I had been talking a lot about Mexican food and seeing that her birthday was just around the corner, I decided to seek the advice of every (wo)man's best friend, google.com, to discover a decent Mexican restaurant in Toronto. I found a few, narrowed the list down to two and then finally, one. That is not to say that I'd die a happy man if I didn't pay a visit to some of the other ones on the list (I'll blog about them when I do), but Mariachi's seemed to fit the bill at the time for various reasons.

Mariachi's is a family business. The owners are very committed to providing a homely, friendly, comfy atmosphere as you dine. The interior is nice and cozy, the walls clad with traditional decorations and, surprise surprise, innumerable Mexican flags. As it was late (the sun had set and it was chilly outside), we decided not to go out on the patio.

Seeking variety, we went for a couple of items that would give us some diversity. We started of with the Plato de Tapas, an assortment of finger foods that changes daily. In our case, we got a bunch of potato flautas, quesadilla del dia and mini burritos. The plate came with guacamole and a hot Mexican sauce, which was my favorite.

Plato de Tapas

Our taste buds ignited  like spark plugs, we couldn't - and weren't made to - wait for the main course. Again, with variety in mind, we ordered the Parillada para dos, a ranch platter with a chimichanga, a quesadilla, flautas and - the main attraction - a variety of grilled meats, including chorizo, chicken and steak. They came with guacamole, hot sauce and sides of Mexican rice and beans. This dish feeds two and not only will I recommend it, I will go back for it, over and over.

Parillada para dos

Parillada para dos sides

Although we were planning on dessert, we were full to the brim and unfortunately had to pass. Too bad, because I had my eyes on the lava cake. But maybe next time we'll remember to reserve some space for it.

http://www.mariachis.ca
2084 Yonge Street 
Toronto, ON
M4S 2A3
(416) 481-7111

Lahore Tikka House

Located at the heart of Little India and Little Pakistan on Gerrard street, Lahore Tikka House, with all its traditional decor, will make you feel like you're in Pakistan. On one hand you have the restaurant and on the other, you have a take out booth with your typical South Asian street food.

Chicken Biryani

Your entrance to the restaurant is braced with flags of various South Asian nations including Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, plus the Canadian and - oddly enough - US flags. I would have asked the staff about the US flag, but it was way too busy (as it usually is) and I was way too hungry.

I'm not a huge fan of their Haleem as I've had better in other parts of the city (and the world). It was good, but I've had better. That, however, doesn't take anything away from what a tremendous job the chefs do with the rest of the menu.


Biryani: Comes with a choice of chicken, lamb, beef, veggies, fish, or chicken tikka. Very delectable.

Karahi Gosht: One of my favorites. The spices and thick gravy make it very flavorful.

Dal Gosht: Meat cooked with daal. Beef is my preferred meat for this dish.

Karahi Beef

Brain Masala: Cow brain, offered only on weekends. If you haven't had brain before, this might be a good place to start. I'd go as far as saying this is the best item on the menu. The masala will literally cause a thousand sparks to go off in your mouth as it makes passionate love with your taste buds, converting your tongue into the firework-ridden Toronto night sky of New Year's eve.

Street Food: Fuchkas, Dohi Boras, Samosas and many more. Good for a quick snack, although I have a feeling these are only offered seasonally. They are usually in a stand right by the patio.

PS: They don't take reservations and wait times can be long.

http://lahoretikkahouse.com

1365 Gerrard St East

Toronto ON

M4L 1Z3

It's Congee Time!

If you're craving authentic Chinese food and not to mention some good congee, swing by Congee Time in North York, a couple of blocks from Yonge and Finch. Aptly named, the restaurant offers a variety of congee options to pick from. My personal favorite is the Shredded Chicken & Duck with Egg Super Bowl. The super bowls are large enough to feed two, and feed well. A dash of hot sauce and soy sauce (if that's your thing) and you're in heaven.

BBQ Combination of 3 Kinds

Moving on to the non-congee portions of the menu, the BBQ Combination of 3 Kinds is a wonderful compilation of meat, namely chicken, duck and pork, on the same plate. However, if plain boiled chicken with skin and very little flavor isn't your cup of tea, this (or at least the chicken part) may not be for you. An alternative may be the BBQ combination of 2 kinds (ask what's in it, I haven't tried it) or the individual BBQ dishes.

Pan Fried Beef Tenderloin

The Pan Fried Beef Tenderloin is another item on the menu that we found quite delectable. The wife will vouch for the large pieces of beef fried with onions in a sweetish sauce, so much so that it may be another food item that she leaves me for down the line.

I will definitely continue to frequent Congee time and blog about it as I come across a few more of all the interesting stuff on their menu.

http://www.congeetime.com/
5817 Yonge Street
North York, ON
416 225 6688

Eddies Wok n Roll

In today's world, it is common practice, across cultures, to modify foreign cuisines to suit the tastes of the local foodists. In South Asian countries, for example, Chinese restaurants often serve a spiced up version of the cuisine to the zest-loving masses. This type of hybridization, more commonly known as Hakka Chinese in North America, has spread its roots throughout the continent over the last couple of decades, leading to many a fine dining experience in many a big city in the USA and Canada.

Enough of the introductory rant. The point is, Eddies Wok n Roll, located off the 401 in Mississauga, serves ridiculously delicious Hakka. This is easily one of my favorite Hakka restaurants and I frequent it often enough to bet $5 that you won't be disappointed if you ever pay a visit.

For one, Eddies has the best Chicken Pakoras I have had. Let's just say that I wasn't much of a pakora fan, until Eddies turned me into a believer. Her Wifeness made her pakora debut here and I suspect she might leave me for them one day. Battered, spicy balls of chicken, these taste bud stimulators can get very hot on the inside (temperature-wise), so please do exercise caution when biting into them.

While we're still talking about starters, the thin, spicy Tom Yum soup is probably the best it can get. Portions are huge, so make sure to order the right size.

Chilli Beef

Karachi Chicken

Moving on to entrees, the super spicy (surprise surprise) Karachi Chicken, the milder yet high on the spice Chilli Beef and the Mongolian Chicken are to die for. If you don't try the Chicken Tandoori Fried Rice, you're missing out on one of the finest things in life, no matter how colorful your life is otherwise. We also loved the Beef Hakka Chow Mien from the Noodles section of the menu.

Beef Hakka Chow Mien

Frankly, there's very little wrong with this restaurant, other than the huge line ups, but that's just an indication of its popularity. I have usually strayed away from the vegetarian and salad menus (nothing against vegetables, just that a lot of their meat dishes give me my required dose of veggies), but everything else that I've had (and I've had a LOT of it) has been excellent.


If you're craving spice, hotness, flavor and even sizzle, Eddies is the place to be.

www.eddieswoknroll.com
6400 Mill Creek Drive, Unit # 6       
Mississauga, Ontario                      
L5N 3E7 
(905)542-8613 

Bayview Court

Steamed Shredded Chicken w/Spinach Dumplings

Bayview Court Chinese Restaurant offers a wide range of items in its diverse menu. We wanted to try everything, but owing to limitations on stomach space, settled for some fried rice, a couple of entrees and a bunch of items from the Dim Sum menu. I highly recommend the Dim Sum here, which is reportedly very popular in general, for its quality and variety. I found the Steamed Shredded Chicken w/Spinach Dumplings particularly interesting, featuring four greenish dumplings, the spinach content defining their unique color. The Beef Shumai topped with shrimps, while more traditional, wasn't bad either.

Stir Fried Beef & Fresh Mushroom w/ Green Onion

The Stir Fried Beef & Fresh Mushroom w/Green Onion, served on a hot platter was, at the same time, a delight to the taste buds, with a brilliant blend of spices and sweetness. The hot yet sweet sauce brought about an unusual (in a positive sense) and unique taste.

Our second entree, the Salted Fish & Diced Chicken w/Eggplant in Hot Pot was a perfect example of a book that you wouldn't want to judge by its cover. I was skeptical at first, owing to the bland look, but as I dug deeper and the coconut sauce began to surface, I actually started to enjoy the flavor. Note that this being a Chinese dish, the coconut content obviously wasn't as prominent as what you would find in a South East Asian (read Thai) cuisine, but, while not mind blowing, it actually turned out to be a pretty good pick.

Salted Fish & Diced Chicken w/Eggplant in Hot Pot

Last but not the least, the Fu-Kien Fried Rice deserves a special mention. The rice comes with an assortment of seafood pieces drowned (yes, literally, as you can see in the picture) in a very good ginger sauce.

Fu-Kien Fried Rice

Not to tell a cautionary tale, but another thing that I feel should be mentioned is the service at Bayview Court. It isn't necessarily the staff's fault, as the restaurant is almost always packed at peak hours (an indication of how good the food is), but service can at times be rushed. We had barely sat down and were looking at the menu when we were approached by two different people asking us if we were ready to order. Near the end of our meal, while I was helping myself to the last bits of food, a waitress literally snatched the dish out of my hand in an attempt, perhaps, to wrap things up fast.

Overall, I would say the food at Bayview Court is pretty different from what I am used to as far as Chinese food is concerned. The tastes are quite unique and I will definitely go back, albeit the small glitches in service. 

www.bayviewcourt.ca
1070 Major Mackenzie Drive East
Richmond Hill, ON
905-770-8663, 905-770-8623

Restoran Malaysia

Located just north of Toronto, Restoran Malaysia serves artistic food in an artistic setting. I spotted this restaurant one day when the wife and I were in the plaza across the street. Craving flavor, we decided to give it a shot, and flavor we got. We had a Malay Kari, an order of Penang Gulai Nonya and an Indonesian Fried Rice, topping it off with some Mango Rice Pudding for dessert, all excellent choices.

The Malay Kari consisted of chicken pieces and potatoes cooked in a thick coconut sauce, while the Penang Gulai Nonya was a beef dish in a very spicy tomato sauce. As with most entrees on the menu, you can pick what kind of meat (or seafood) you want with your dish.

The highlight of the meal was the fried rice (shown in the picture), containing shrimp, shreds of chicken, mixed vegetables and topped with fried eggs and shrimp crisps. The wife, though, would argue that the Mango Rice Pudding trumped all, indicating that this place caters to the needs of those with a sweet tooth as well.

www.restoranmalaysia.com
815 Major Mackenzie Drive East
Richmond Hill, Ontario
905-508-1432