Bites and Nibbles @ Harp and Wylie's

Where we live, there is only one convenient store, one general store {where we can buy a limited selection of wine and beer, rent movies and mail our letters and packages}, and one pizza joint. With just a little over 300 total population, this is what we get. Fortunately, just 8 kilometres west from us is historic down town of Port Perry where there are nice restaurants, boutiques, bake shops and speciality stores. A few nights ago hubby and I had dinner in one of the restaurants in Port Perry called Harp and Wylie's.

It was a Friday night so the place was full (our dinner date was just a spur of the moment decision but I will definitely make a reservation next time around) but the gracious host managed to find a table for us in the bar area. The dinning area is much bigger and cozy ("next time we'll sit there", my hubby said). While we were browsing the menu, we were treated with warm and crusty pieces of bread (my kind of welcome treat!).

The crispy calamari which hubby and I shared with Canadian beer is delicious. It was served with grilled lemon to drizzle on the calamari. For dips, the calamari came with roasted tomato ragu and citrus aioli that truly compliment the squid.

The seafood appetizer made me clamouring for more seafood so I tried their Seafood Angelina pasta for my main course. A trio of P.E.I. mussels, scallops and shrimps tossed in angel hair pasta with roasted grape tomatoes and white wine cream sauce. I enjoyed it but it wouldn't hurt to add more seafood pieces into the pasta. Jayvee likewise was pleased with his choice of grilled baby back ribs. The meat was tender surrendering to the tasty BBQ sauce.

We plan to visit  the other restaurants in Port Perry before going back to Harp and Wylie's. However, the call of their crab cakes and the "hoof and sow" burger {stack of burger patties with braised pork belly and spicy pineapple salsa} is too loud to ignore so we might take a short cut and come back sooner than later.

HARP & WYLIE'S

150 Water Street

Port Perry, Ontario

Bites and Nibbles @ Max's Restaurant

Like most Filipino families, Max's (a popular chain of restaurant in the Philippines) was frequented by my family when we were still in Manila. A favorite place to celebrate family milestones or a place to have a relaxing Sunday lunch with grandma and grandpa. So, I was a excited when I was invited by a group of friends to have lunch at Max's here in Toronto. The place is nicely decorated and can accommodate big groups. I felt the Filipino hospitality from some of the waiters too.  

The menu is familiar since it has all the famous dishes that made Max's popular back home. I was expecting the same taste {or at least closer} to its original counterpart. Not exactly. The fried chicken, the claim to fame of this restaurant was just OK.The "sarap to the bones" goodness is missing. So is the Fresh Lumpiang Ubod {fresh vegetable roll}. The  vegetables and the brown sweet sauce were good but the crepe was a bit too thick for our liking, On the other hand the Mikibihon {noodles} and the Lumpiang Shanghai were both delicious. And oh, the sisig! It was very tasty that we had to order another serving with matching rice.

The Halo-Halo for dessert was a treat. Its been a while since I had this treat complete with leche flan and ube ice cream. 

Will I travel to Vaughan to eat here again? Maybe. But not soon. There are other Filipino restaurants around town that may not be on the same level  but definitely serve delicious Filipino foods at a more affordable price.

Max's Restaurant
121 - 1520 Steeles Ave West 
Vaughan Ontario 

Bites & Nibbles @ Tin Mill Restaurant

Victoria Day weekend is the "unofficial" start of Summer here in Canada - BBQing in the backyard, driving to cottage country, sprucing the garden and weather permitting, opening of restaurant patios. Hubby and I are looking forward to revisiting the patio at the Tin Mill Restaurant in Uxbridge.

The patio is overlooking a very lush garden and decorated with apple green cushions and large red and black umbrella - offering a very relax ambiance.  Just the place we are looking to spend a lazy Sunday brunch. The last time we were there, we feasted on something "healthy" - the mushroom tart is delicious - a perfect combination of saltiness of the goat cheese and tangy reduced balsamic vinegar. The poached eggs with spinach and tomato salsa was just OK - hubby liked it but not not for me.

I just browsed their 2014 brunch menu and the Samosa Galette Benedict garnished with chives might be worth the drive to Uxbridge!

Tin Mill Restaurant
53 Toronto St North
Uxbridge

Bites and Nibbles @ El Catrin Destileria

I had an assignment in downtown Toronto a couple Saturdays ago. Since we live in the suburb {bordering some farm lands, we always take advantage of the trip downtown by mixing work with pleasure. Hubby picked me up after work and had a late lunch date in El Catrin at the Distillery District.

The design of this Mexican restaurant is awesome - from the murals on the wall {created by Mexican artists} to the design of the bar! 

For late lunch, we sampled the Ensalada Destileria (papaya, mango, cilantro, pecans and grilled shrimps with tajin sour vinaigrette} Torta el Santo {braised beef short rib with queso and guacamole on Mexican bun}and Tacos el Pastor {shaved pork with pineapple and cilantro}. The papaya salad was delicious and refreshing. The rest was just OK.

For the price of the food, I expected a complimentary serving of fresh tortilla chips with salsa or guacamole like other authentic Mexican restaurants we have been. But there was none. For another 10 dollars you can have the Guacamole En La Mesa {they will make it on your table!} with chips.

By and large, it was a nice dinning experience. And oh, the drinks were great. Cheers!

El Catrin Destileria
Distillery District
18 Tank House Lane
Toronto, ON

 

Bites and Nibbles @ {the newly renovated} Kelsey's

Three Fridays ago, my colleagues in the marketing department threw a "thank-you-and-don't-think-you-can-get-away-from-us" lunch for me before I move on to my new role in sales.  For this impromptu festivity, we went to the newly renovated Kelsey's along Queensway. I passed by this restaurant several times already but I never thought the place was Kelsy's because of the artsy design of the building. Inside was even more different from the "regular"  neighborhood bar and grill Kelsey's that I know. The vibe was more upbeat, hip and modern catering to young adults and working class looking for a place to unwind after work.

By and large, the food was OK - I enjoyed the crispy wanton nachos and the Asian inspired lettuce-chicken wrap. The guys gave thumbs up to the Holy Blank 7-layer-burger {what is it with guys and burgers?}.

If you are looking for the "old" Kelsey's atmosphere for a weekend family lunch or dinner, mom and dad may have some adjusting to do. I wouldn't mind going back though.

Kelsey's Queensway
1011 The Queensway
Toronto

Bites and Nibbles @ Taste Ramen + Fusion

When we were in Ottawa some weeks ago, it was cloudy and bone-chilling cold. I wanted to stay inside the hotel and swim but when hubby said we can walk outside then have some hot soup for lunch. Who can argue with that?

Bundled like a pair of Eskimos, we walked along Bank Street and found this restaurant with Ramen on its name so we gave it a try.

 

The place was not big {just comfy} and was still empty when we arrive but  was full after 20 minutes with clientele from office buildings on Bank Street. 

Between the takoyaki (octopus balls) and gyoza that we shared for  appetizers, I enjoyed the latter (gyoza was crispy and the filling was delicious}.  I have been eating takoyaki since I was in my teens. I even know how to make them. Normally, takoyaki  are grilled in a special cast iron molded pan. But here, it has too much oil and it tasted like they were deep fried than grilled.

Now for the ramen - we decided to order 2 different kinds - seafood spicy ramen  for  my hubby and BBQ pork for me. Servings were generous and the soup on both bowls were hot {perfect for a cold day!}.  As for the taste, let's just say that I will not order the BBQ pork again. It was bland and oily. The redeeming factor was the spicy seafood ramen - both hubby and I loved it - very tasty and just enough spiciness to crave for more.

  Taste Ramen + Fusion
197 Bank Street Ottawa Ontario

   

Bites and Nibbles @ MUST Kitchen and Bar

Lately (well, since I started  cutting down on my caloric intake), the foodie side of me gravitates toward restaurants that serve small plates or tapas. While in Ottawa two weeks ago, I found MUST Kitchen and Wine Bar that serves this kind of small treats .

I arrived at the quaint restaurant shortly after 5 PM on a weekday so I had the whole place to myself for at least an hour to take pictures and admire the ambiance - exposed stone walls, dark wood beams and panel, off white comfy cushions, pickled vegetables and jams in mason jars - this is my kind of place!

 

 

There are a lot of interesting items from their small plate menu, in the end I settled for Truffle Brulee and Crostini's paired with a glass of Pinot Grigio. Both choices were excellent but if I a have the opportunity to be back here, I will have the crostini's  again. The seared duck breast was tender soaking up the flavours  of orange curry demi and jalapeno jelly. They are called "small plates" for a reason - but the flavors and presentation of the food here (at least the ones I tried) truly satisfy.

 

 

 MUST Kitchen & Wine Bar
41 William St. Ottawa, ON
(Byward Market)