the house that chan built

The House of Chan

I sat across the table from my father at dinner last night and calculated that I had eaten more then 100 meals at this time honored establishment....not having been in weeks I was ecstatic when The House of Chan was suggested for dinner and was looking forward to the stone crabs and key lime pie that have been recently added to their menu. Flown in from the infamously famous Joe's Stone Crab restaurant in Florida, these tasty treats have caused quite the stir around town. I have had them on numerous occasions and am pleased to report that not only do they travel well but, they are just as delicious as when "Joe" serves them himself. Like it was when I was just a little girl, my father ordered our usual smorgasbord: ribs, steak, vegetables, fried rice, wonton soup, cantonese noodle stir-fry, lobster and now the newly added stone crabs. As the food arrived we helped ourselves to little bits of this and little bites of that….more food then two could ever consume in one sitting, the great thing about Chan is that leftovers are king and some may even say better the next day. As we finished up our meal, and cracked open our fortune cookies, I looked around…..tables buzzing with families of all sizes, laughter and smiles as people visit with those they came with and those they have unexpectedly run into. One part Chinese restaurant and one part Steak house, Chan reminds us all of how good food really does bring great people together. I smiled as I unrolled the tiny strip of paper that had since fallen onto the table “Decide what you want and go for it” it reads….and so I picked of my fork and scooped the last bite of key lime pie….simply splendid....after all the cookie told me to

The House of Chan
876 Eglinton Ave W,
Toronto, ON

always worth waiting for…

Xacutti ( sha-koo-tee)

walk into Xacutti on any given Sunday and be prepared to wait your turn. Populated with brand name denim, designer aviators, and blinding bling, this College Street’s Indian inspired brunch is worth getting dressed up for. Always packed and buzzing, I have on occasion waited up to half an hour for the trendy brunch but let me tell you it is worth every second in line. I woke up this morning and had french toast on the brain….and I am not talking about your traditional French toast but the oh so sinfully and deliciously cheesy version that only Xacutti has made famous. I jumped into my jbrands , grabbed my glasses and headed down to this little lavish breakfast palace. With a surprisingly short wait we were seated and served the banana breakfast smoothie, which cleansed my palate and got my tummy grumbling for more. The cheesy french toast arrived and I was immediately satisfied. Even before taking the first bite I knew that squeezing into my jeans was worth it. Sweet and savory, this dish is the perfect combination of all that is scrumptious and I can’t help but smile as I pour the thick maple syrup all over my plate. Crisp tandoori spiced home fries are the perfectly paired side dish and I am equally as excited for this tasty tater treat. Admittedly I have been for breakfast here more times then I can count and have never ordered anything different. Always a pleasure as I walk out after another delicious breakie, I smile and think to myslef Xacutti is proof that carbs are still king, sometimes jeans win out over sweats and that good meals are always worth waiting for!

Xacutti
503 College Steet
Toronto, ON

this ain't no ugly duckling

The Swan

Craving the “ultimate” club sandwich we got in my car, put on our big black Jackie O shades and drove non-stop to the home of my favorite version of this classic sammy in the city. Probably one of my very first foodie adventures, I remember a time when queen west west was starbucks free, the vampire club still lived on the corner and my mother would remind me to make sure my car doors were locked when I headed down to this “taboo” ‘hood. Now packed with trendy stores, home to hip loft dwellers and littered with happening art galleries……this area has become quite the see and be seen hot spot for locals and tourist alike…..i am pleased to report though, that this area’s “hipifacation” and popularity has not spoiled the ego of The Swan restaurant. It remains as humble and delicious of a diner as it was the first time I went oh so many years ago…..this far from ugly duckling continues to woo me time and time again. Always busy, the swan was alive with laughter and filled with the sounds cheerful chatter when we walked through the doors. Lucky for us an old fashioned diner booth was sitting empty calling out our names so we plopped down and ordered immediately. I was counting down the minutes to the arrival of my club sandwich and let me tell you….was not disappointed when I took that first oh so tasty bite. Fresh and jam packed with goodness it was a treat for the taste buds and so scrumptious right down to the very last crumb. Worth every minute of the trek, this beautiful bird's inviting atmosphere and mouthwatering menu (stocked full of classics prepared "a la swan") keeps me comming back time and time again!

The Swan
892 Queen Street West
Toronto, ON

sushi in the city

Sado Sushi

like the old saying goes…. you cant judge a book by its cover and these wise words of wisdom echo through my head as I park my car in front of the big bold backlit sign. Making its home on Eglinton just east of the Allen express way, Sado Sushi although off the beaten path has been generating quite the buzz and for good reason.. ..With a successful sister restaurant in Montreal, the Nguyen family has been so kind as to bless Toronto sushi lovers with this Japanese delight. Boasting a menu filled with unique sushi rolls, oh so scrumptious chef specialties and stocked full of traditional dishes we were overwhelmed with choices …..thankfully our knowledgeable server was there to show us the Sado way or we may have been lost forever. Our dinner arrived, beautiful dish upon dish, a treat for our eyes and our taste buds…we were delighted. The unique combination of ingredients was refreshing and our sight, smell and stomachs were oh so satisfied…special mention goes out to the tataki, volcano and geisha dishes.. they were daring, different and most delicious. It was such a pleasure to have innovative and interesting Japanese food at affordable prices. Sado sushi..where have you been all my life…..the answer…hiding on Eglinton west behind a big red that is just begging to be judged.....for those willing to look beyond the cover...you are in for a tasty treat!

Sado Sushi
1116 Eglinton Ave. W.
Toronto, ON