Refreshingly Fennel...

La Casa Gelato (Venables Street, Vancouver) houses a multitude of flavours, 200 some to be exact... which hit the spot for Hot Tamale as Fennel ice cream calmed her tummy down after a raucous romp at Dim Sum overload earlier this afternoon.  Home to such flavours as roasted garlic, cabernet sauvignon, fennel, jasmine, kulfi and blue cheese.. this is an experience not to be missed.  At $4.50 for a single and $6.50 for a double, join the owner and helpful staff for a free for-all of sample flavours.  On a hot, sunny Vancouver day nothing beats a gelato.

Hundreds to choose from......

Roasted Garlic, need I say more?

Hot Tamale is excited... I believe this was after tasting Spicy Mango...

Pre-buy the chip first!

Single scoop

Here is the casa full of its royal subjects.

Jack Shmack....

Cookie Sundae.. Sugary, sliding goodness.. yum, period.

So I sold out tonight and ate at Jack Astor's in my old 'hood (Progress Ave. in front of Scarborough Town Centre's The Bay) and expected to be bamboozled by extroardinarily orbitant prices of the usually uninspired offerings of pizza, a burger and every other deep-fried meat imaginable.... however, I was wrong (insert shame here). Amongst the backdrop of a lovely birthday (insert teenage-esque shout-outs to Ge Diza here) I was greeted with a perky server who came with my caesar pronto... yes, I drink caesars, lots of them... and was refreshed by a spiced pickle/bean/pepper/onion spear and the stalk of celery, lobster cheese dip with warm pita triangles and homemade tortilla chips (12.95). Upon first glance at my buffalo tenders saturated in medium, buttery goodness (12.95) I thought they had forgotten the rest of my tenders, however upon searching underneath the golden carb fry-fest were the rest of these "fingers". However, that wasn't the only the only surprise, Hot Tamale had the Seafood Papardelle (17.95) and I must say, was well worth every penny. And of course, let's hear it for the dessert, a white chocolate chip macadamia nut (Hawaii's nut export business should be untouched by this recession) cookie sundae that oddly resembles a beige cow patty... with 5 berries bizarrely pressed into the vanilla ice cream. At 5.95, compared to the dessert bonanzas at Cafe Mirage (another Scarborough offering), the price can't be beat. Just focus on breaking up that cookie and not missing your mouth.

Relaxing at the Cafe Mirage

Why not? Since the Cucina Manila's in-house desserts weren't available... we drove to Cafe Mirage (Kennedy Road and Hwy 401) for some dessert. One of three establishments in the franchise (the others out west and midtown on Yonge), the menu boasts offerings for breakfast, lunch, dinner, selected coffees, teas and... drumroll please... DESSERT. We settled for the East vs. West ($10), a waffle (could be served on a crepe) covered with ice cream, seasonal fresh fruit, whipped cream and chocolate and strawberry drizzle... but wait, we're still hungry... why not have a Jamocha Almond Fudge Cake? Imagine the famous Baskin Robbins ice cream flavour in cake form, mocha meringue layered with mocha-chocolate cookie topped with oozing fudge and chocolate shavings ($6). Open late until 1am (or later at times)... enjoy the savoury or the sweet at this Scarborough hot spot.  Be warned, service here is spotty at best.

Bride talk at Brass Taps Pizza Pub...

Thursday evening saw a reunion of sorts; my girlfriend Bride-to-be has arrived from London, UK with a ring on her finger! After a second round of bridal dress shopping, B2B, myself and Ginger caught up over cheap pints, nachos and a tandoori chicken wrap ($7.95) Check it out at Brass Taps Pub at Danforth and Logan. The evening was topped off with some wine and pastries from Europa Fine Pastries and Bakery at Danforth and Pape, the best Portuguese flaky parcels of goodness in the city.

(Blueberry) JAM packed dimanche....

Oh la la! Quelle surprise yesterday was... It started off with an impromptu brunch at Barrio (Queen St. E and Carlaw) with new fellow diners, in this order, wait for it... The Black Man, Perrogie (aka the Polish Sausage) and Hot Tamale rounding out the jolly quartet. I had a delectable Neptune Benedict crab cake ensemble, heaven disguised as brunch drenched with hollandaise sauce over two perfectly poached eggs served with white balsamically dressed arugula ($13). The ambience was simple and comfortable with navy blue banquettes lining the cream coloured walls decorated with avant-garde photographs. The well-kept fashonista in green, an ode to St. Patrick's Day I'm sure, The Black Man bemoaned of a lack of toast to his meal; the omelette special with steak and cheese ($12), only to be filled by a shmancy baguette and loaf of cornbread complete with homemade blueberry jam on the side, parfait! Honourable mentions are the Canadiana ($12) Sausage and Cheddar Eggs Benedict and the veggie and tomato omelette ($11) for Monsieur Perrogie. A well balanced meal which includes various allusions to bedroom shenanigans, permanently placed t-shirts and promises of Louis Vuitton chaussures is always a treat on a Sunday morn!
For dessert, the foursome strolled down to Ed's Real Scoop (Queen St. E. and Carlaw)served by the lovely Camille. Shoutouts to Mark, the chef, the creator of such mouth-watering creations as Burnt Marshmallow ice cream and the newest addition; STOUT flavoured ice cream! Fun and fabulous.

Off on the streetcar I went to visit with Cheeky Monkey at Future's Bakery and Cafe (Bloor St. W and Brunswick Ave), an old favourite from my undergrad haunts. Great vibe, sometimes too full, and teeming with idealistic minds discussing theories. Stuffed from the morning, I passed on the eye-drool fest of cakes and settled for a peppermint tea as Ms. Monkey and I laughed about the meaning of life and all its weird complexities....