Strada 241 on Spadina Ave

Strada 241. Otherwise known as that Italian restaurant in Chinatown.

Strada 241 is a coffee shop at the front, restaurant at the back. Check. Exposed brick walls. Check. Warm wooden beams. Check.  Pizza oven smack down in the middle. Check. The focus is rustic Southern Italian cuisine. Check, check, and check. All that said, it’s a pity that the food did not live up to expectations.

The Margherita pizza and the bucatini (with tomatoes, parmesan, and shredded basil) were unremarkable. The fried calamari was a dud; oily and speared on what looked like a torture implement, more confusing than appetizing. Their salumi selection, however, won me over. Most notable was the wild boar sausage.

But Strada does have desserts, and their cafe front, we were told, serves coffee until they close. As someone who usually craves a latte or ice-cream after a bowl of pho, I’m more than happy there’s finally a place in Chinatown to fulfill that need. (Leo would claim that it’s a want, not a need to have sweets after dinner. I ignore him every time.)

Canon AE-1 | Kodak Portra 400 & 160

Strada 241
241 Spadina Avanue | Website | Yelp

Happy Friday!

Canon AE-1 | Kodak Portra 400……Keriwa Cafe from way back.

What are you looking forward to this weekend? Leo is heading off to Los Angeles and Las Vegas on Saturday morning – *womp* *womp*. It won’t be too lonely of a week for me though. Baking sessions have been planned as well as a much needed scheduled brunch with new friends! I might even squeeze in some exercise. Who knows.

Have a happy Friday and stay warm!

Winter Transitioning: Recipe round up #2

Winter Transitioning at BHH Blog: A list of cozy recipes to get you excited about the colder months ahead. We had breakfast, now on to lunch & brunch. 

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At the moment, my idea of a perfect winter lunch is the crispy and supremely moist fried chicken thigh sandwich from The County General. I’ve yet to get Leo to go back with me because – let’s be honest for a second – the portion and the price ($14)  make it hard to justify these small indulgences. (It’s so good though!) But, I recently had a decent Squash and Harvarti Omelette at Aunties and Uncles that hit the spot quite well.

From what I understand, people also really like soups?  Thankfully, Soupstock already happened and there’s enough inspiration to last you until spring.

I made Toad in the Hole with Onion Gravy during the summer for a London Olympics dinner. It’s light enough to have on its own for lunch.

A Fried Egg Sandwich is quick and easy, no fuss.

My grandmother loves, loves my braised quinoa and I’m thinking of trying the One Pot Kale and Quinoa Pilaf posted on Food52.

Citrus season is coming up! Why not a Blood Orange, Beet and Fennel Salad?

My summer self will hate me for this, but carbo-loading with Baked Chili Cheese Fries from Joy the Baker is prime on my list.

Experience la belle vie with Seven Spoons’s  Tomato, Greens and Gruyère Panade, a classic French Provençal casserole that has everything you want: soup, bread and cheese.

Coddled Eggs with Potatoes and Spinach will most definitely fill you up after you’re done.

The Food Network’s Jamie Oliver Christmas marathons introduced me to this Simple As That Celeriac dish.

And for the perfect winter salad, there’s Gordon Ramsay’s Salmon Salad Niçoise with a Tarragon Mayonnaise : Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3. (I’m not quite sure it’s a salad niçoise at all, but he’s the chef, not me.) The salad is plated so elegantly too, it’d be nice for a gathering.

What are you looking forward to eating this winter?

Happy {Bourbon} Friday!

Have you been to Grand Electric yet? We finally tried it a couple of weeks ago (here). There are a few things I’d like to say about it, but I think I’m gonna save them for a future Toronto Tacos post. However, their bourbon list…amazing!

Stay warm and have a lovely weekend!

Soupstock in Woodbine Park

There was  a chill in the air last Sunday when we got to Woodbine Park for the best culinary fundraiser of the year. Using donated ingredients from Ontario farmers, over 200 chefs (most of them local, some across the provinces, and a few from the states) as well as restaurateurs and grocers gathered on October 21 to serve a creative range of soups for Soupstock. (Pumpkin miso anyone?) The fundraiser was held to protest a proposed Mega-Quarry in the Township of Melancthon that would destroy a great deal of farmland and headwaters. And what better way to show us what we’d be missing if the proposal goes through by inviting the city to an all out farm to table experience?

We forked out – spooned out! – $20 for six ticketed servings.  An extra seventh ticket came our way from a lovely couple leaving early. The event was the best fun I’ve had in a while – I don’t know if this is sad or not – and I got a chance to geek out at celebrity chef sightings. (Hey, Susur!)

Soup #1: Ursa Restaurant‘s Astronaut Soup used dehydrated vegetables. Pour some hot water over the stock and voila!

Soup #2: Farmhouse Tavern‘s Bison Stew with goat cheese yoghurt and cranberries.

Soup #3: The Garbandine made a Caldo Verde (a Portuguese soup) loaded with collard greens. Couldn’t get enough of the croutons.

Soup #4:  Lynn Crawford‘s head chef Lora Kirk from Ruby Watchco made a Red Beet Bisque with Kale Chips and Apple Chutney.

Soup #5: Raw Bar’s and Hooked‘s Asian Carp soup.

Soup #6: Susur Lee’s hot and sour soup was the best thing we had.

Top Chef Canada Season 1 contestant Dustin Gallagher, from Riverside Public House, was also there. Next to him was Nick Liu, who plans to open an asian brasserie very sooon.

Soup #7: Taboo Resort‘s chefs made a Yellow Split Pea soup with maple chili oil and yummy bits of smoked Armstrong pork!

Since it’s Toronto, no major outdoor events are ever complete without a few dogs.

Canon AE-1 | Kodak Portra 400