The Weekly Roundup

Last week was a long one for both the Chef and I. We are always very busy working on our business, The Culinary Adventure Company. But Chef also cooked for over a 1,000 people and I was swamped with my ‘day job’…one of the corporate kind that is draining enough on its own. I decided to pick him up last night after work, he was still at the culinary school doing last minute stuff. I followed him into the walk in cooler regaling him with stories of my day. Eyeing some mini quiche on a tray and being starving, I popped one into my mouth. “These are pretty good” I said. “Of course” said Chef as he looked at me quizzically and wrinkled his nose, “I made them”. We head downtown towards home, both of us hungry and weary. “What do you feel like for dinner?” Chef asked. “Dunno” was the reply. “Pho?” “Nah” said Chef, “not in the mood for pho”. “Sushi?” he countered. “Nah, not in the mood for sushi” I said. “You know what the problem is?” Chef asked, “too many choices”. We continued to rhyme off a list of potential places, tossing each choice aside because being tired and hungry is the worst time to have to make a decision. We ended up checking out a little pub around Dundas and McCaul called Sin & Redemption, lured in partly because of the name, and partly because it had a big crowd inside, which is always a good sign. Once inside, it was obvious this was a serious beer and scotch joint. I had a Belgium Honey Dew blonde ale, which had a nice sweet, smooth taste and was their only organic beer. Chef ordered a Carlsberg and we snacked on some Flemish meatballs with sour cherry sauce while we waited for our fish and chips. The meal was really just sustenance, not memorable, but the place was buzzing and if you are a beer fan, definitely one to visit.

Next weekend, however, we have some friends joining us downtown and we are taking them to Buca which is my very favourite Italian restaurant www.buca.ca. You won’t find much on the web, because the menu changes quite frequently, they never bother to post it. I was so delighted to be introduced to this restaurant a couple of years ago. I was going through some “Italian fatigue” in restaurants because every time I read a menu, it was always the same stuff…pizza, pasta, veal, antipasto plate. I suppose Buca serves much of their food along the same lines, but the difference is Buca adds such a layer of authenticity to the food (for example they have their own aging room for cured meats), I feel like I could be eating in Italy. Crispy pigs ears with fennel salt is an amazing delight. My favourite appetizer is asparagus steamed with a mascarpone cheese and shaved truffle. It’s served with a duck egg wrapped in crispy pancetta bacon and when you cut the egg open, the yolk is perfectly runny and oozes out over the asparagus. It is so incredibly rich, I would dare to call it a “sensual” eating experience. This wasn’t on the menu last time Chef and I were there and I hope it’s back now. Other amazing things I have tried include lamb meatballs on a bed of creamy polenta, all smothered in tomato sauce. They’ve made the same dish with beef shortribs and it was equally as tasty. The spaghetti carbonara is a very decadent treat, it arrives with a fresh egg yolk sitting proudly on top and is tossed tableside, giving the whole dish a beautiful, rich, yellow colour. I really could go on and on, but if you are looking for an authentic Italian meal, you must visit Buca. I will let you know what our friends think next weekend, considering one of them is an authentic Italian himself.

It’s Chef’s birthday today and I am taking him north for the weekend. He’s not native to Toronto (he is a transplant from New Brunswick via Montreal and many international locations) and he hasn’t spent much time north of the GTA. I can’t reveal where yet, because he doesn’t know and will likely read this before we leave, but I will fill you in on our adventure when we get back. Let’s just say it involves a luxurious hotel, heated outdoor pool and hottub, a little shopping, some good food (I hope) and a little one on one time that we both deserve.
Have a great weekend!
The Princess