FOOD: Winterlicious 2015 at America in the Trump Tower

There's nothing like being waited on from the 31st floor of the Trump Tower. That's what it's like at America, a contemporary restaurant located at the highest point of Bay and Adelaide. I celebrated my first pay check by taking my parents out for a meal. The great thing is that more is merrier. More people means you can try ALL THE THINGS. The three of us covered off a majority of the menu for a more well-rounded dining experience. 

The ambiance was different for me. We sat window-side table on a couch (which was a little low for the table) overlooking the city. It was oddly comfy and after eating, I wanted to nap in it. The music was cool and upbeat..and metropolitan?  

As for the service, the wait staff were kind. They filled the water often, made jokes with us, and asked us how we were doing during each course. What was a little off-putting was the wait time. Between ordering and getting the appetizer it was a fair 7-10 minutes. But after my palette was piqued and I felt like going in for more, it took an entire HALF AN HOUR before we got hour entrees. It was anti-climatic. I could literally go to a grocery store, come back and make a sandwich in half an hour. Perhaps because the food had to be brought up a set of stairs into the area of the restaurant we were seated in, it took so long... 

Luckily, the food was satisfying enough to make up for the waiting time. 

Pressed BBQ Pork Belly - chow chow apple preserve, sourdough, tasso ham crackling

Thoughts:Yum, yum, yum. The BBQ pork paired so, so well with the tartness of the mustard seed and chow chow apple preserve. My dad and I love ham crackling (AKA deep fried pork skins) dusted with spices, a great addition to the plate. 

Heritage Salmon Poke Cocktail - pineapple, macadamia nut, coffee, coconut

Thoughts: The salmon was fresh, perhaps a little on the cold side for such a cold day. This is literally a cocktail - salmon sitting in pineapple juice. The pineapple juice was too sweet and not acidic enough to complement the salmon, rather they clashed. A discombobulated plate... lacked flavour. 

Yukon Gold Potato Gnocchi (vegetarian) - broccoli, smokey blue, mornay sauce, onion rings

Thoughts: I love meat dishes but made the jump to try something vegetarian, as I'm a huge fan of pan fried gnocchi. They were so pillowy and well-seasoned. Plus, broccoli and cheese is always a good combination - the smokey blue cheese worked really well to liven up the broccoli puree. 

Billy Bob's Blackened Catfish - warm spinach salad, nameko mushrooms, sunchoke, sunflower

Thoughts: Cooked to perfection, yet the delicate catfish lacked flavour. The bed of spinach salad, on the other hand, was a really good salad. 

 Wellington County Flat Iron Steak (local) - rancho gordo white bean chili, rutabaga, compressed cucumber

Thoughts: Not the highest quality cut of beef but the meat was medium-rare as requested by my daddio. Well-seasoned and the sweetness of the white bean chili gave the otherwise basic steak a nice twist. 

Granny Apple Sticky Pudding (vegetarian/local) - sourdough & maker's mark burbon pudding, pecan toffee sauce, pretzel ice cream

Thoughts: OMG OMG OMG. Highlight of the entire meal. I still dream about this sticky toffee pudding. It's sweet, rich, and sticky (as the name suggests). there's crunch and richness and creaminess and a little tartness from the apple. I need to learn how to make this myself... 

Cheese (vegetarian) - big ed's gouda, simple accompaniments

Thoughts: Oddly enough, I prefer the "simple accompaniments" over the cheese itself. Rosemary honey and the preserves were yummy in my tummy. 

 Peanut Butter Panna Cotta - toasted marshmallow, allspice peanut brittle 

Thoughts: Not particularly a fan of this panna cotta. Perhaps it was the strange peanut butter texture that altered what might be a panna cotta that I'm used to may have put me off a little. The brittle and toasted marshmallow parts were a little more satisfying.

 Complimentary chocolate covered marshmallow 

Thoughts: The complimentary chocolate covered marshmallows the waiter brought with the bill seemed like an afterthought. The marshmallows were good but became overly sweet with the chocolate covering. 

Overall, a pretty decent meal. I'd give it higher than a 55% (per urbanspoon) but there were some definite highs and lows. If you plan on attending the Winterlicious festivities at America at Trump Hotel this year, I'd definitely recommend the BBQ Pork, Gnocchi, the Sticky Toffee Pudding, as well as a window seat from which you can see Lake Ontario. 

Food PURCHASED BY ME! :) 

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FOOD: Makkal Chon Korean BBQ

Long time no food review.

Seemingly, all of the best ethnic restaurants in Toronto are tucked away in some of Scarborough's sketchiest strip malls. Such is the case with Makkal Chon, tiny Korean restaurant known for its deliciously authentic food. Unknowingly, my parents and I had walked into the second Best Korean Restaurant in Toronto according to blogTO. 

Stonebowl Bi Bim Bap (hodgepodge of rice, eggs, carrots, beansprouts, cucumber, mushrooms and beef) 

Bulgogi on a hot plate (marinated beef served with rice)  

Makkal Chon is tiny and slightly divey (given the location and minimalist decor). My parents and I went for a late lunch (around 1pm) on a weekday. About half of the seating was filled, so I could imagine that dinner on a weekend could be disastrous. Service was minimal but fast and attentive when necessary. The food came out within less than 15 minutes. 

For the three of us, we ordered two dishes with prices ranging from $9.95 to $10.95. The complimentary banchan (appetizers) were very generous. There were 8 offerings including eggplant, jap chae (glass noodles), kim chi, sugar-coated potatoes, and some other pickled veggies I couldn't quite figure out. Surprisingly, I actually liked the kim chi at Makkal Chon. It was more mild than what I'd had previously, rather than being overly sour or pungent. 

The Bi Bim Bap met my expectations to a tee. That being said it was pretty darn tasty, especially the pieces of crunch rice that stick to the sides of the bowl. Everything came piping hot inside a stone bowl and tasted a little plain until I doused it all in spicy sauce (as I typically find with Bi Bim Bap). 

As for the Bulgogi (served with purple and white rice), it was flavourful and not dry but slightly too sweet for my tastes. Bulgogi is a grilled, thinly-sliced beef, marinated with soy sauce, sugar, seasame oil, and garlic. By those standards, it was pretty on point. 

Overall, Makkal Chon was really good. Good flavours, tasty kim chi, and a ton of banchan. I'm slightly obsessed with Korean food and Makkal Chon is a quick 15 minute drive from my house, one of the only Korean restaurants in close proximity. I'll definitely be back again to try more!

Food purchased by my mommy and daddy :) 

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FOOD EVENT: Tap to Table with Muskoka Brewery

Five dishes paired with five unique beers, for my food baby's pleasure. FINALLY. An event in Waterloo (my university town). I'm not huge on the beer drinking but and anything that goes good with food is good for me. From the Tap-to-Table event with Muskoka Brewery I've learned that "beer is food", beer can have diverse flavour profiles, and beer is certainly not limited to Molson and Labatt. 

Muskoka Brewery is one of Canada's most recognized breweries known for their innovation in the craft beer industry. Founded in 1996 by Gary McMullen and Kirk Evans, Muskoka Brewery's beers are unfiltered (to preserve flavour) in addition to "all natural, premium and pure). 

The beer and food pairing with Muskoka Brewery was held at Ethel's Lounge (114 King Street North, Waterloo), a convenient 15 minute bus ride from my apartment. 

As previously stated, I tried 5 beers accompanied with 5 dishes... here's the lowdown: 

< one > Muskoka Brewery Summer Weiss (seasonal - 5% Alcohol, 13 industry bitterness units)

paired with flat bread with goat cheese, roasted red peppers and mushrooms

"Naturally hazy by design, the perfect balance of wheat, barley and subtle hopping makes this an intriguingly aromatic, flavorful and sessionable summer wheat beer."

< two > Muskoka Brewery Detour India Pale Ale (4.3% alcohol, 30 industry bitterness units)

paired with shrimp, mango and avocado soft tacos 

"We took a left tern from a normal IPA, dry-hopping it to create a truly sessionable brew with a rewarding aroma, big hop flavours and a clean finish." 

< three > Muskoka Brewery Cream Ale (5% alcohol, 20 industry bitterness units)

paired with smoked ribs

"Unmistakeable with its rich amber colour and inviting floral tones, this laid-back English pub-style ale is smooth and easy-going. With a cascade hoppiness and fuller body of flavour, this gold-medal winning Cream Ale is the quintessential taste of cottage country."

< four > Muskoka Brewery Mad Tom India Pale Ale (6.4% alcohol, 64 industry bitterness units)

paired with beef sliders

"Dry-hopped with Chinook and Centennial hops, this IPA has a vibrant aroma, depth of flavour and crisp citrusy undertow like no other."

< five > Muskoka Brewery Twice as Mad Tom India Pale Ale (8.4% alcohol, 71 industry bitterness units)

paired with pulled pork sliders

"Twice as Mad Tom is an aggressively twice dry-hopped Imperial India Pale Ale that delivers a definitive hop aroma and unabashedly big bold flavour."

Your palette is different from mine, so your taste in beer is 100% not the same. All of the food, yum. Beer is an acquired taste and I've grown to appreciate it as I try new things. Out of the 5 I tried, my favorites were the Summer Weiss and the Cream Ale. So many sighs during this event - eating good food and drinking beer makes me wish I was sitting by a lake instead of crying over final exams. 

Are you a beer lover? What's your go-to drink for the summer? 

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