Origin………

July 28, 2010 at 12:07 am · Filed under Restaurant Reviews

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       107-109 king Street East Toronto, Ontario, M5C 1G6

416 603 8009

Chef Stefan

I really should have posted this right away…especially in light of how dam good the food is!

Diana surprised me the other night with an early birthday present out and the theatre to see Rock of Ages!

I was thrilled when we arrived at Origins as i really wanted to eat there.  I don’t get out much in the city i live in as after spending so many days on the road and eating in the best restaurants in the world im tired of eating out and just want to chill at home and/or cook for friends.

Well im glad we went out this night.  We arrived very early and the place was empty, the cooks still jamming away on their mis en place.  i quickly evaluated they would be busy just by glancing at the mis.  Large bowls of freshly chopped shallots etc……….

we were promptly seated and drinks taken care of immediately.  i asked for a non alcohol type of fruit cocktail which often results in a pitiful mix of stale pineapple juice and orange juice……..not here….a freshly muddled drink of Mint and pomegranate with lime and pineapple…freaking delicious.

Our server was excellent.  No pretentious BS but still professional and on top of his game.  he was excellent at assisting us with the menu and guiding us on portion size.

The menu is a bit of a play on Street Foods of the world which works for me.  It’s not Encyclopedic in size but covers all bases.  I found myself wanting most dishes which is a great sign for me.

Although Diana and i had decided to go more Asian in style we still had to try the cod croquettes with Saffron Aioli…….i have a confession to make here…i am not a huge Saffron fan.  it has its place but is often used with too heavy a hand.  This was nicely balanced.  The croquettes were the perfect size to balance crunchy exterior with the soft interior with each bite ( 2 bites)…..i love them.  in fact i could go back and just eat these at the bar for a while….i spend a lot of time in spain and these brought me back to some little cafes in Madrid where i munched at midnight on more than one occasion.

We then switched over to A hand-roll with Spicy tuna…..A tuna in a ponzu sauce with chilis and scallions, a seared beef salad with peanuts and cashews,…………all excellent.  Not overwhelmingly creative in style but all focused in deep flavor of what they should taste like.    You want creative go to their sister restaurant Colborne Lane where Chef Claudio hangs his toque.

I had to do it…i couldnt help myself.  ive been thinking about a burger for several days and due to my disciplined training regime i have not succumbed to the temptation…..well it is my birthday…….i opted for the burger with chorizo fires and a cream soda shake…………..Diana stayed Asian and had the Miso marinated sable fish…good choice Diana.  The best rendition of this Nobu classic ive had on this side of the border.

So i had the burger.  it was an excellent burger with top quality meat sourced locally.  Perfectly cooked and juicy.  The only comment i can make which may sound a bit negative is i think burgers need an acid to round out the fat….ie KETCHUP………..i love catsup in all its forms…homemade heavy on the TAMERIND, red onion and vinegar and plum reductions, grainy mustards with cider vinegars…you know SOUR.

I have experianced this with the ultimate gourmet burgers served in many a great kitchen including ONE and Daniel……….usually Brie or Foie or Shortribs involved somewhere…all exceptional, but with a bit of acid to cut all that UMAMI taste they would be over the top!

But the burger was excellent and had i asked i bet one of the boys would have whipped something up in their more than capable kitchen.

I didn’t do the Banana Cream Pie for dessert, although i still live with that regret, as i had the amazing Cream Soda float………a great restaurant.  I will be a loyal customer and plan on having the kids there for burgers, sushi, floats, and pie VERY soon!

So Colborne lane is one of my favorite restaurants and now also the sister, ORIGIN.

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Blowfish

July 12, 2010 at 6:23 pm · Filed under Restaurant Reviews

This photo  is not from Blowfish!!!!! 

Blowfish

668 king West, Toronto, M5V 1M7, 416-860-0606

I enjoy Sushi very much and have been privileged to have eaten it in some of the best places in the world.  sometimes i am surprised where i can find good sushi.  I don’t eat it just anywhere!  I’m cautious about where i will eat RAW food.

I used to frequent Dharma in Halifax NS, years ago……i ve had excellent Sushi with Rod MacDonald of Browne Trading Co. just next door to his place (with his fish) in Portland Maine, of course Nobu, in NY, Florida, London, Paris (now closed)…………..i really enjoy Sushi Samba in Miami…its alot of fun. 

I absolutely LOVE Katana on sunset boulevard, across from the Mondrian.  Both of which i will be visiting in a couple of weeks in LA!

I’ve had sushi in japan, Australia, all of Europe and the USA.  So im fairly up on my sushi.

I went in a little place on Bloor, near Royal York last week and had some sushi.  It was terrible.  I promised i wouldn’t do BAD reviews in my blog and only write about the places i like but man!!!!!  Pre cut fish.  Rolls made ahead.  no flavor.  low-end fish!…………if i wanted pre-made rolls id just go to Superstore!

my normal sushi place in Toronto is Hero Sushi on King.  ive always trusted Hero for top quality fish.  Hes a sushi master and has been doing it for years.  His place isnt fancy but his rice is perfectly cooked and seasoned and his fish the best you can buy.

Last weekend i was invited by a buddy to dine at Blowfish.  its a Toronto hotspot that’s been on my list for ages and i havent gotten there yet.

its a cool space although a bit small.  I wasnt thrilled with the entrance way or the attitude at the door but settled in at the bar with my wife to wait for the rest of our table.  The bartender made me a great drink of Lychee and passion fruit without alcohol.

Our server was very pleasant and patient with our dysfunctional group and kept our orders straight.

the space looked alot cooler and chic after the sun went down and the ambient lighting could do its job

The group had the Shooter to start ( not me i cannot eat Shrimp)….not sure why the name as it was a hand-roll with a shrimp in it.   It was in a shooter glass just to hold it up right.  Wrapped in the pink soy sheet it was beautiful and the group all agreed delicious.

I had Spicy tuna as per usual and it was very good.  i prefer a lot more spicy mayo but appreciated the freshly cut chunk of tuna as opposed to the puree of tuna scraps you often get served………….we had amazing Electric eel, and a few other rolls.

Our group all raved about the miso marinated Black Cod ( sable fish) but i found it mediocre at best  and perhaps even a bit “off”………………..i have had Miso glazed Sable fish at the best of the best and directly from the man who first presented it in NA and this one was way off the mark!

All in all i liked the place and want to go back as it was decent food and a chic cool vibe.

What i didn’t like though was when we got our bill and didn’t see the server for some time nor have our water glasses refilled……………..then the owner/manager came to the table to tell us he needed our table as ‘WE” had kept another group waiting for some time!    Now im not going to get into this big discussion ( right now at least) as i owned restaurants and understand the importance of turning tables in order to make any money…………but………….after he told us ( i didnt like the way he told us) he proceeded to stand about 6 feet away and star at us!  I mean really star directly and un wavering at me!    well im not keen on that so after a bit i called him over and told him i understood about him needing the table and we were going to leave shortly but to “Stop,f&*&*&&^%&ing staring at me!”    crap!  wierd or what.  i know we only dropped $600.00 for 6 of us and we didn’t order a big wine…………still it was our night out.

Anyway  all in all, i like the place.  i will go back.  I will eat at the bar with my wife or friends but i will not bring clients there as sometimes we keep a table for the night and discuss business and i would be embarrassed if we were asked to leave!

Bon Appetite

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