Not Fabulous: Being Alone on a Dreary Evening in a Large City.

Now, I have no reason to complain fully since I will be joined shortly (about 3.5 hrs from now). Usually I enjoy having a brisk day to yourself in a big city where one can just be free to explore, but as I drove my car into the inner city of Toronto, I couldn't help but be a little weary of the horrendous cloud that seemed to envelope the city. It is funny since I so desperately want to live here, but I just felt so frustrated when I set foot into my hotel. All I seem to hear is the sound of sirens, and the beautiful scenery of an office building greeted me when pulling back the curtains of my fabulous pink coloured room :P.

Eh, I guess it can't all be bad. Dreariness and bad architecture aside, it is nice to finally be here looking for an apartment - as if that isn't bad enough. Now is the perfect time to hop across the street and grab a nice salad accompanied with a nice fillet of salmon. Hopefully the hostess won't think me too crazy to be alone in this great big city without a book to read. Hmmmmffff...

How Miserable.

Why does Queen's University have a Cameo for Coke?

Check out my latest article in Transmedia Tv:

http://transmediatv.blogspot.com/2010/02/video-curation-coke-commercial-lends.html

Fabulous in London Ontario? Rob Taylor answers with Braise Restaurant

When on my way home to London Ontario, my father suggested that we go out instead of staying in to celebrate my birthday. I could not help but to be a bit hesitant. London Ontario has very little that one can call a truly enjoyable dining experience. For one who is more inclined towards the familiar meat and potato fare you can certainly get your way with such chains as The Keg never disappointing, but what of a fancier/chic affair? The answer to that has finally arrived. Yes, my dear readers, London Ontario finally has a restaurant worthy of pomp and circumstance.

"Braise" restaurant is the ultimate definition of fabulous. Between an amazing selection of wines (accompanied by a revolutionary oxidizing system keeping the wine always fresh), amazing servers who are extremely friendly and outgoing, and a menu that blows away any competition, it is by far worth the experience, and dare I say it - a heavy bill at the end of it.

Definitely not an everyday experience, but if you are looking to impress, there are several high points one may consider. Like I noted above - the wine selection is to die for. Napa Valley grape or Opus One anyone? Apart from the food and the service, the restaurant itself offers up an intimate, comfortable, yet bright and awakening experience. Mixing tones of dark maple wood and bright orange, along with fabulous chandeliers made out of glass spirals in a three tier shape, the atmosphere is to die for. One could easily assume that they are in Toronto, Montreal, or New York for that matter.

And now, due to a request from a friend, a comment on the menu (why didn't I think of it before?)
I have to say one thing first before we move on here - I was very well supplied by Napa Valley wine, and we ate a bit off the menu, so by the end of the night I was very happy and my mind was a bit blurred with all the fancy dishes we had, but here is what I remember:

Appetizer:
Oysters with an Apple and Onion dip on the side - not only could you taste the salty ocean water in the oysters but the apple and onion were a fantastic take on an old favourite

Salad:
Simple mixed greens with a sweet vinagrette dressing. Served beside sweet pickled walnuts - yum yum! The biggest surprise that night. Delicious.

Amuse Bouche:
Apple Horseradish Sorbet on top of a bed of shredded green apple - mmmm mmmm

Pre-dinner snack? (what's the fancy term?)
Pork Cheek with Wheatgrass in a gravy sauce - the meat was perfect, but I have to say, not being much of a beef fan, I think the gravy was beef based and it was a tad too heavy for me. If you are into heavy meals you would like it.

Dinner:
Soy Bean Curd with toasted quinoa, shaved crudite, carrots in a late harvest vinagrette and truffle oil. Very good, with the curd having the same consistency of Tofu - delicious!

And Now, Desert:

The BEST part! May I say, they knew it was my birthday - Rob is a friend - and we were presented with a trio of desserts ranging from their peanut butter bomb covered in dark chocolate with a peanut butter sorbet, beside three of their doughnuts made in house (never had better doughnuts), and french toast briol covered in caramel. AMAZING! And, to top it all off the plate had "Happy Birthday" written in Caramel on the side. Simply Beautiful.

You are VERY WELL treated at Braise, and I would highly recommend the experience.

Final word on "Braise" Restaurant? Looks like we're not in London Ontario any more Toto...

You can see the Restaurant's website along with their menu and location at: http://braise.ca/

For more information on the naissance of "Braise" please check out this review.

Photo Credit:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/yyelsel_ann/

A first post

Well, if this is to truly be a blog where I review all things that are important to me, I must start by analyzing the blog layout - truly an "ew" moment. (actually, I don't mind it now) I am working on it and this blog is far from going public, but it is perhaps a little more complicated than one would think. I decided to go full steam into this project when I noticed that a lot of things I truly loved and hated were not being reviewed as well as I had hoped. Maybe I will change this by starting up a reviewing blog of things I find truly interesting and important in live in Ontario.

Coming up - a review of "Braise" restaurant in London Ontario Canada.

Photo by:
B℮n