Gandhi goodness.,...




Inside the Butter Chicken Roti

"BUTTER CHICKEN IN A ROTI?!"  These were the words that escaped my lips as Bella Regazza and Hot Tamale explained Gandhi's concept.  We passed it along the way to Bella's house along Queen West between Bathurst and Portland.  A small diner-should-be take-out place that can house 15 people at its maximum, Gandhi is reminiscent of the many ethnic gems in Scarborough with a twist.  The hipster crowd is in full force and its owner should install a revolving door into the simple fluorescent-lit dining space warmed by a portable heater with the consistent flow of people trickling in and out.  Don't let the surroundings fool you: the roti's are a nod to naan brimming full of familiar Indian vegetarian and flavourful and familiar Indian meat dishes  Butter Chicken, Chicken Tikka, etc...   This is as authentic as it comes, these are no "blue menu"-sauced dishes, with your choice of medium or hot flavour with accompanying desserts: gulab jamun being my favourite.  We feasted on the Buter Chicken (11.95) and the Saag Paneer (9.95) with gulab jamun (2.95) ordered at the counter and then served to our table.  Wash it down with some Frooty Mango drink ($5.00 for a container that drinks 2) in styrofoam cups and you can't go wrong!  We couldn't finish and had enough to last for lunch the next day.  One roti is enough to share between two, although if you're hungry and craving Indian food... eat it up!  Just like a friend said, "The food is just as good when heated in the microwave the next day..." Gandhi, I'm a believer!



Our Gandhian Feast





Inside the Saag Paneer Roti





In the Gandhi realm





Thirst-Quenching Frooti Mango Drink



The Main Man

Nao Obrigado Cajú!

Translation: No thank you Caju restaurant.  Okay, so this will be crass.  No restaurant should ever impose a 17% gratuity that is ALREADY included in your bill.  This leads to mishaps, irresponsibility and a pretentious attitude from servers that frankly should all dress the same in a uniform with bow ties and wrist-length white gloves with this gratuity.  Instead we are greeted by hipster black clothed servers who look as if Edward Scissorhands was their coiffeuse.  Attempting the Summerlicious menu for  $25, chef Mario Cassini promises a "contemporary offering of Brazilian culture and gourmet food" at Cajú (922 Queen St. W at Shaw).  If what this means is adding cassava in all its shapes and forms whether ground, deep-fried or coarsely chopped to generalized South American food, then he has succeeded.  The restaurant is open and inviting in its Jatoba cherry wood decor from Brazil, but don't be fooled... we were with the fresh and fantastic appetizers: Coconut-milk and curry soup, gazpacho and greens with passion fruit dressing and pumpkin seeds were sure to announce the fantastic.  Nope.  Nada.  The cassava gnocchi with heart palms, tomatoes and greens was bland and too dense that not even fresh ground pepper could not unite the mismatched flavours.  The paella was served dry leaving the diner parched and heavily relying on our bottle of Italian Frulili Pinot Grigio to tickle the tastebuds.  The chorizo and pork tenderloin dish was successful as its saltiness was supported by the deep-fried cassava bed on which it was served.  The desserts managed to salvage any hope in Summerlicious dining with its rich chocoloate mousse, passion fruit and mango mousse and lemon tart.  Mysteriously the coulis that was used in each of the dish manages to resemble and taste exactly the same.....  Enjoyable minus the atrocious service.  Did I mention the service was bad?  No really, it was bad.  You get the picture...
Website: http://www.caju.ca/

Bread plate to start off.  The three morsels of heaven are Cheese cassava buns.  Dangerously addictive.

Sweet pepper, tomato, ginger with coconut milk soup.  Super starter.

Cold gazpacho soup.  So fresh there was an imagined hint of watermelon...

Organic Greens with mango and pumpkin in a passion fruit dressing.. fantabulously frothing at the mouth.

House-made cassava gnocchi (dense and bland), rapini (really absent), heart and palm (bizarrely sour), cherry tomatoes, parmesan (lacking)...bleh

Beautifully presented but dry, dry, dry: Fish and shrimp saffron rice (Paella style... liars...)

Too bad the photo does not do it justice: Grilled pork tenderloin and choriço, tomato salsa, cassava chips and balsalmic drizzle... mwah!  Fantastic.

A trio of saving grace: (left to right) dark chocolate fondant, passion fruit mousse, lemon tart square with mixed berry coulis (that just so happens to be on EVERY dessert... just like how balsamic vinegar was on two of the main dishes... variety people!)

All in all, due to the company, a fun and fancy dinner out.  Enjoy the cassava-induced coma on your way home diners!

One of a Kind kind of night....

Holy yumminess.... after a blah kind of day, Hot Tamale and her motley crew: The Black Man and Perogie swept me up and plunked me down to One of a Kind Pasta (746 Queen Street W, and Niagara) and its many gorgeously delicious pasta dishes. In its latest reincarnation, Chef Raymond To has been churning out his take on Asian-inspired pasta dishes as well as his tribute to true Italian homemade pasta. Scouring the menu, go to the back page for not ten, not twenty, but THIRTY unique pasta dishes as well as a discounted dinner menu from Mondays to Thursdays, full-price on the weekend, complete with surf and turf, pork loin medallions and porterhouse steak..... oh drool, drool on the keyboard... oh where's a bounty paper towel when you need it?

Back to the pasta: this is the main event folks. Look out Pacqiao, One of a Kind's going to knock you out and overwhelm you with choices that'll keep Cotto hiding. Hot Tamale, ever the exotic diner, chose the Indigo: Squid Ink linguine with calamari, ham, shitake mushrooms and snow peas in a white wine cream sauce ($11.95) while Perogie shared his Funghi: creamy mushroom sauce and cheese tortellini but dutifully reminded us that the LAST time, the Ravioli was smashing. The Black Man feasted on one of the night's specials: Zebra Linguine with mussels in a rose wine sauce and salad ($18.95), and I selectively salivated on the King Cod Duck; Rigatoni with smoked duck breast, mushrooms, spinach, tomatoes and leek in a red wine sauce ($14.95). The meal's final K.O. came with two desserts to share: a white chocolate cake AND a carrot cake (our ode at being "healthy" despite their devilish richness),each at approx.$6.

The restaurant offers delivery to a limited area as well as take-out (10% discount on cash payment) in addition to the cozy ambiance of polished wood, charming garden deco on the walls ?! and that ever-burning candle in the window. Reservations are recommended for the weekend as the restaurant seats only 30. Check it out at: http://www.oneofakindpasta.com/default.asp

I have never laughed so hard, eaten so richly and still had the time to visit Bella Regazza down the street and regale her with stories of the food, the company and of course, the gossip....this is the life!

Dreaming of the island at The Ackee Tree...

Saturday night, after a long choir practice, fellow choristers; Hot Tamale and Mahna Mahna and dining enthusiasts: Cindy and Ira met up at The Ackee Tree 170 Spadina Ave. (Spadina and Queen St. W) Thoroughly funked up with local art work and relaxed with the musical vibe of the islands, we feasted on ox tail stew, succulent jerk chicken, stew chicken, curry chicken and bbq chicken (hehe, that's a heck of a lot of chicken) medium plates go for about $9-10 and the larger plates $11-12. Our meal, complete with cola champagne (of course!), sides of plantain and dumplings were finished off with rum cake and coconut tarts. Fanshmastic! Check out their link at: http://www.ackeetree.com/home.asp

The ox stew to the left, medium size served with rice and peas and coleslaw. On the bottom, jerk chicken and the same sides... oh yesssss... so good!