Whenever you search for the best restaurants in Toronto, Scaramouche is always on the top three of the list. So I wonder why I never see this restaurant whenever I’m driving by the Forest Hill area. I was surprised to find out that the restaurant is located in the basement of an old condominium building. If you plan on driving to the restaurant, be prepared to be greeted by a valet as there’s a very limited parking spot. The condominium is beside a ravine, providing an amazing view of downtown Toronto! Check out their menu: With Scaramouche’s steep price points - filet mignon for $49 and venison for $44 - it would be best to reserve this place for special occasions and corporate events. But the food, service and breathtaking view make for an excellent dining experience!
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So what’s the big deal about Uncle Tetsu’s Cheesecake? I heard the small Japanese bakeshop always has a huge lineup of people waiting to taste their pastries and macha tea. When I had the opportunity to go downtown, I made sure to stop by Bay and Dundas to taste Uncle Tetsu’s cheesecake for myself! True enough, there was a lineup at 2:00 pm. People should still be either at work or school by that time, but there were more than a couple of college kids in the queue. Inside the tiny bakeshop, the management posted a few signs notifying customers of their one cheesecake per person policy! Not sure if this is the best way to operate their business. But to ensure that everyone in line gets to taste their cheesecake, I guess it’s only fair. It might even be an effective word-of-mouth strategy by ensuring that more people get to enjoy their product and consequently spread the word. They always make their cheesecakes fresh. Thus, the wait and the ridiculous lineup that ensues. I got myself one cheesecake for $10 and four madeleines for $7. Was it worth it? I wasn’t able to taste it right away. I took the subway and didn’t taste it until I got home 40 minutes later. When I opened the tiny box, I got a butter knife and sliced myself and my father a piece. It was unbelievably soft and fluffy! Half sponge cake and half soufflé with the undeniable taste of cheesecake. Unlike traditional cheesecakes, Uncle Tetsu's is not overwhelmingly sweet nor cream heavy. And since I’m Filipino, the closest thing that I can compare it to is Goldilocks custard mamon! As for the madeleines — meh! They were good, but they’re really just buttery cupcakes. Besides, nobody goes to Uncle Tetsu’s for their madeleines. It’s all about the cheesecake!
I would certainly be back at Uncle Tetsu’s. But I don’t think it’s totally worth the hype. After our delightful brunch at Buca, my friend and I decided to have coffee elsewhere but still within the Yorkville area. To keep with the theme of trying out new places, I remembered I've always wanted to go inside the Nespresso Boutique Bar on Cumberland Street! And it was an excellent choice! Nespresso Boutique Bar provides a unique customer service experience by turning a coffee shop into a one-stop locale for people to check out their sleek coffee machines, stock up on their wide array of coffee flavors and relax and unwind in their ultra-luxe lounge. The 14,000-square foot café and retail space stands out from the already-saturated coffee shop market in Toronto. When every corner downtown is littered with Starbucks, Tim Horton's or Second Cup, Nespresso pulls out all the stops with its stylish décor and personalized service. Finally, no more self-serve! Once seated, we were offered a glass of water with a slice of lemon. After a quick perusal of their menu, I found that aside from pastries, coffee and desserts, they also offer sandwiches. We ordered hazelnut cappuccinos and half-dozen assorted macarons. The café also operates at a reasonable price range for their food and beverage. Compared to Starbucks and their overpriced lattés, Nespresso Boutique Bar is still a bit pricier. However, I can say the cost is totally worth it as I was totally amazed with the quality of the interior design, service and food. If only there are more Nespressos across Toronto, I would never want to set foot at any Starbucks again! On the last day of 2015, I took my best friend to Yorkville for brunch. Right in the heart of downtown Toronto, Yorkville is home to designer boutiques, high-end hotel chains and chic restaurants. My best friend's birthday is on New Year's and I thought it will be nice if we can spend some time together before the city shuts down the next day. I made reservations for brunch at Buca, an Italian restaurant annexed by the glamorous Four Seasons Hotel. I heard great things about the restaurant and how it is arguably the best Italian in Toronto. Getting to the restaurant might be a challenge for first-timers as the address is on Scollard Street. The best way is to go through Four Seasons Hotel at Yorkville Avenue and spot their iconic burgundy fountain. Behind the fountain to the right is the famed restaurant. The interior did not impress me as they opted for a simple and casual ambiance. I did like the dark brown leather place mats and thought it would be a great idea to incorporate at my future home's dining table - functional and refined. Our waiter came with the menu and offered a brief explanation of the dishes as well as the perennial favorites! Here's a quick peek of their sample brunch and dinner menu. What Buca lack in their Spartan decor they definitely made up for with their food! And the best part was it didn't take them forever to serve our order. First, we ordered a little something to whet our appetites. We had olive ascolane or olives stuffed with pork sausage. I didn't really taste nor felt the sausage, but the breaded and crispy exterior of the olives provided an interesting texture. Next, I chose the funghi pizze bianche. We thoroughly enjoyed the thin-crust pizza and savored the contrasting flavors of the mascarpone and gorgonzola cheeses. My friend even exclaimed it's the best pizza he's ever had! As an adamant carnivore, I found myself pleasantly surprised that I can actually enjoy a vegetarian pizza. For our main dishes, we ordered two of the most popular pasta - the Pomodoro and Bigoli. I was very interested with the latter as I've never had duck egg pasta. Since my friend ordered it, I chose the safer and more boring option. But both dishes were exquisite! Amazingly al dente pasta coupled with fresh ingredients. My friend shared his Bigoli and the flavors and textures meshed perfectly with just the perfect creaminess from the mascarpone. The tomatoes used in the Pomodoro were also imported from Calabria, giving it a distinct saltiness. Overall, the gastronomic experience and staff service at Buca is spectacular! However, we refrained from ordering alcohol or desserts as the bill already rang us at $96.00 for just three small dishes, appetizer, soda and orange juice! |
AuthorThe Toronto Traipser aims to explore the vibrant city by indulging in its many sights, sounds and flavours. Archives
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