Why Osteria La Buca Rules!

Great Italian is hard to come by...hell, good Italian is hard to come by. I have several restaurants that come close in Los Angeles, Angelini Osteria comes to mind, but none come close to the brilliance of Osteria La Buca. (episode here)

Why do I say brilliant? Because they do nothing fancy at this small (about to become larger) Osteria owned and run by Italians. They concentrate on great, homemade pasta that kicks ass. Some of my favorites are the Trenette al Pesto and the Trenette Carbonara (the best Carbonara I have ever had). The sauces are light and simple in order to highlight the homemade pasta that melts in your mouth. La Buca also have great appetizers, including their fried calamari done Venice style that is to die for. Their ice tea is just delicious and although they have no liquor license, they allow you to bring your own and have no corkage fee. The desserts also rock...ohhhh, pana cotta. My one and only complaint is that their pizza is standard issue, which does not matter much to me since it seems silly not to order pasta in a place that has made homeade pasta an artform.

The restaurant is decorated with pictures from classic Italian movies and has great service. At lunch, there often is an Italian soccer game on the TV in the background. You really get the feeling that you are in Italy while dining at Osteria La Buca. And the prices are quite resonable (I have never understood the Italian restaurants that break the bank). If you live in Los Angeles and love Italian, you have to go to this place. Who knows, you may be going there often...I know I will. Four Smacks!

- JB


Osteria La Buca - 5210 1/2 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, CA 90038 (323) 462-1900

Love that Cat (and the fiddle)

It may sound like an easy dish, but good fish and chips are hard to come by in Los Angeles. The best can be had at Cat and the Fiddle. You can choose from two types of fish, the cod and the more expensive sole (go with the cod).

My friend Jernard and I went there last night and had a blast. In fact, I don't think I have ever had a bad time at Cat and the Fiddle. Yet again I had the fish and chips - fried perfectly and not too greasy. Besides the chips, the fish comes with the traditional green peas, which is also cooked perfectly. The other dish I like there is their homemade bangers and mash, but your stomach has to be in the right mood for this dish (rich, but tasty).

But more importantly, Cat and the Fiddle has one of Los Angeles' few outdoor courtyards...and what an amazing courtyard it is. Perfect for lunches, and at night it becomes quite the party (they have live Jazz on Sunday nights). This fun setting makes it perfect for going out with friends. Jernard and I had a great time last night talking, checking out the scene and throwing back a few pints. Three and a Half Smacks!

- JB

Cat and the Fiddle - 6530 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles 90028; (323)468-3800

When In Oahu

Oahu is the island that many tourists say, "I'll look around, but I'd rather stay at (add name of other Hawaiian Island here). Now, I am a bit biased (I lived in Honolulu from 6 months to 7 years old), but Oahu is actually is a great place to visit and live. You have the beautiful ocean and countyside, plus you have something that the other islands do not have...a large, fun city. Many would agree that the other Hawaiian Islands do not have the best restaurants (save for the Big Island). But Honolulu has some real gems, and lots of them.

On my most recent trip while visiting my best friend Marvin, his wife and my friend Masako and their new little baby, Dylan Cho and his mother Barbara, I had some of the best meals that I have eaten in a long time. Here are some of the highlights.

Sorabol - A fantastic Korean Restaurant. The menu is huge, with so many dishes that you could go for a couple of weeks and have something new each day. We had quite a feast there...instead of bread they brought out Kim Chee (the best I have ever had) and other salad novelties (more places should replace boring bread with something more special to their cuisine); a Korean version of poke with mixed greens, ahi and a chili paste; Chicken with vegetables (the only non-spicy thing we had which made it a refreshing alternative); an excellent Bee-bim Bop; stir-fried Octopus in a kind of smoky and spicy sauce; and a Clay Pot soup with tofu and other delights that knocked all of us out of our socks (literally, it was that spicy). Obviously, if you are not into spicy food, this is not the place for you. But if you are adventurous like me, this is a must try. Note: They ended the meal with a sweet rice drink that tasted like it came from the Gods. Four Smacks.

Hakone - Within the Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki lives Hakone, a wonderful Japanese restaurant that serves an all-you-can-eat buffet on Friday and Saturday nights that boggles the mind (and quickly fills the stomach). They have a sushi bar; delicious sashimi; Japanese pickles; Oden (a Japanese stew that is to die for); tempura soft shell crab and other delights; oysters; salads; and much much more. And if you can save the room, I didn't, they have desserts as well. It is expensive, but well worth it. Just exercise before you go to bed to work off all that food you ate. Three and a Half Smacks.

Nuuanu Open Market - Literally a small open shed like restaurant that has some great Thai food. It has one of the best renditions of pad Thai I have had in a long time and it's green curry is full of flavor. It also has the best thai ice tea...ever! This is an inexpensive restaurant that has some excellent food. A real find. Three and a half Smacks.

So when in Oahu, remember that there are some good eats to have as well as some great adventures (Shark's Cove...excellent snorkeling. Sunset Beach...great surfing).

- JB


Sorabol - 805 Keeaumoku St., Honolulu, HI 96814; (808) 947-3113

Hakone - Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki, 100 Holomoana St., Honolulu, HI 96815; (808) 956-1111

Nuuanu Open Market - 1627 Nuuanu Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96817; (808) 585-8839

The Best of Toronto

Sorry for the delay in my postings, but I was busy moving back to Los Angeles. So here is my Best of Toronto issue. Enjoy!


Favorite Restaurant – Breakfast

Without a doubt, the honors go to breakfast at Bar Mercurio. It is a hip looking restaurant that seems straight out of Italy. Dinners are very good and reliable here (loved the Rib-Eye special and the Duck Pasta), but it was breakfast where Bar Mercurio shined. The reason (besides the great coffee)? Because Chef (Johnny) Giancarlo Manza runs the ship during the day. His creations are outstanding…Smoked Salmon Benedict, French Toast with Brie Cheese…all excellent. And because the kitchen is open to the dinning room, you can watch Chef Manza at work making breakfast, preparing for lunch and baking fresh bread.

But more important is that he is a great guy. I have never felt more welcome than at this restaurant. Let me give you an example. I went to Bar Mercurio for my last four Saturdays in Toronto. After the first time, Chef Manza would greet me with a warm smile. On my last Saturday, he told the waitress to forget handing me a menu because he was going to make me “something special.” He started to ask if there were certain ingredients that I did not care for, not realizing that I’ll eat most things. I told him to create away. What came to me was a mold of scrambled eggs with sautéed pieces of prosciutto, spinach, mushrooms, asparagus and roasted red peppers over mixed greens. It was then topped with a slice of Brie cheese and thinly, sliced prosciutto as a garnish. After marveling at this piece of art, I took my first bite. I was in heaven. It reminded me of some of the dishes I had at the Italian Villa I stayed at (more on that in a future flashback). When I asked him what this dish was called, he asked for my name. I said that my name was Justin. He then replied, “I call it Justin’s Special.” I was taken aback. I’ve never had something named after me. I felt so honored. In fact, waitresses started telling patrons that the special of the day was “Justin’s Special.”

If you live in Toronto, start making this place part of your Saturday morning routine. And if you’re visiting, you have to put Bar Mercurio on your list of restaurants to try. You will not be disappointed. And if you see Chef Giancarlo Manza, tell him that Justin says “hi.” Who knows, maybe he’ll make you my special.


Favorite Restaurant – Dinner

One word…Grano. I know, I know, another Italian place…but it’s such a great spot. When you walk into Grano, you cannot but help to think you have just walked into someone’s home. The warm smiles from the staff, the pictures on the wall, the hardwood and the wonderful home cooked smells wafting in from the kitchen. On our first visit, the manager gave us a free loaf of fresh baked bread to take home…classy!

You really cannot go wrong with the food here. In my never ending search for the perfect fried calamari, Grano’s version definitely ranks up there…perfectly fried, fresh tasting and nothing but fresh lemons to squeeze over it which brought me back to some of the calamari I had in Venice. They have a Rib-Eye steak that is grilled and sprinkled with fresh arugula that is fantastic. The addition of arugula is a Tuscan specialty, and this was the first time I have seen it done somewhere besides in Italy. But the real star here is their pasta! Delicious, understated and delicately prepared pastas. I had a special pasta with smoked chicken that knocked my socks off. And their desserts kick ass as well (oh, tiramisu).

BC, BF and I took our Canadian crew to Grano for our farewell dinner. And what a special night it was (flashback status). Dawn, Russell, Sonja and Dave made that evening (and our stay in general) so much fun…and we ate and drank like there was no tomorrow. Dawn even convinced our waiter that film editing was the career for him (and he was a great waiter). Russell made cock jokes (there was a big rooster statue on our table) that also added to the fun (and laughter). So Grano is not only special to me because it is damn good, but it is where I got to thank some great friends that I miss dearly. Which brings me to…


Favorite Restaurants – Lunch

Yes, I said restaurants. This is because Dawn, Russell and Sonja picked out some great places to order from and go to while we worked that made lunch time in Toronto something special. It was so nice not having to think of where to go for lunch. They took care of that for us. Here is a list of some of my favorites:

Magic Oven – Healthy and delicious do not always go hand at hand. But at this pizza/pasta joint, you can get your spelt or wheat carbs and have them be damn tasty as well. My favorite…Thai basil pesto, tomato sauce and chicken pizza on spelt crust. So good that I had to have it once a week.

Golden Thai – This has some of the best Thai food that I have had in the states (uh, I mean North America). Great green curry, pad thai, sautéed eggplant and coconut rice. I could go here every day, but then I am a Thai freak. A must try while in Toronto.

St. Lawrence Market – Not only will you find some good food here, but also St. Lawrence Market is worth a trip just to check out the scene. A gigantic indoor market, you can shop for food items on the top floor, and then get some lunch in one of the many stalls downstairs. My favorite was a Russian deli that had great sides that you could pick from to make a great combo plate. They have this chicken breast with wine and sweet onions that is to die for. When you visit here, give yourself some time to wander down the many corridors of this fantastic spot. You will not be disappointed.


Best Splurge

For a special (expensive) night out with your significant other, you have to go to Chiado, a Portuguese Seafood restaurant on College Street in Toronto’s Little Italy. Let me put it this way…it was so good that I wanted to book a flight to Portugal. My advice - do not order off the menu but rather pick your catch off of their special platter that they bring to each table. This contains their picks for freshest fish. The fish comes to you grilled with a bit of lemon juice on top. Fantastic!


So there it is. I had many great meals in Toronto, but these were my favorites. I’ll continue on with reviews of Los Angeles restaurants. So long, Toronto. I will miss you.

-JB


Bar Mercurio - 270 Bloor W, Toronto (416) 960-3877

Grano - 2035 Young St., Toronto (416) 440-1986

Magic Oven - 788 Broadview, Toronto (416) 466-0111

Golden Thai - 105 Church, Toronto (416) 868-6668

St. Lawrence Market - At King St. and Jarvis

Chiado - 864 College, Toronto (416) 538-1910

Dim Sum and Then Sum

My brother and I were awful eaters as children. Is it green? Hate it! Is there sauce on that? Don’t want it! It’s not pizza? Forget about it! The exception to the rule was when we would go to Dim Sum in San Francisco. Chicken Feet? Yes, please! Sui Mai? Give us more! Is it green? No, it’s dim sum!

Needless to say, we both got over our bad eating habits and are now both excellent foodies. But dim sum will always have a special place in our hearts.

Which brings me to Lai Wah Heen. When I got to Toronto, I heard from fellow LA film biz folk and dining guides that this Chinese restaurant in the Metropolitan Hotel was the best dim sum…ever! When you walk in, you realize you are in a swanky place – it is quite beautiful inside. And the dim sum is has fresh ingredients with interesting twists on the ol’favorites…that is only the start of my problems with this restaurant. I am a dim sum purist. To bring in California cuisine to dim sum is just plain wrong. When I get sesame seed balls, I do not want them filled with chocolate, it has to be black bean paste. Another problem is that you order off the menu…no carts! The carts are what make dim sum such an experience. When you pick off a cart, you get much more variety than choosing from a menu. Then came the check. Dining at Lai Wah Heen is almost twice as much as you would pay at a normal dim sum joint. I was not impressed. Two and a Half Smacks.

Our Canadian Crew, Dawn, Russell and Sonja, told us about a dim sum restaurant near our apartment. I was so happy when I entered Pink Pearl for the first time…lots and lots of carts. Pink Pearl is a small little restaurant that is quite homey (perfect for families). The dim sum was very good, almost on par with some of my favorite San Francisco spots. They have a lot of different varieties (carts help, folks) that you can choose from. And yes, the sesame balls had bean paste in them. My wife Renee and I also went there once for dinner. Their dinner plates are very light compared to most Chinese fare. We had a plate of walnut shrimp which were sautéed instead of deep-fried…a welcomed treat. Three and a Half Smacks.

Finally, BC and I ventured to Toronto’s Chinatown to try the dim sum at Bright Pearl Seafood. It is a large dim sum palace on the 2nd floor of a shopping center and was packed with people (this place looked the most like what you are used too when going to dim sum). My one complaint with this restaurant is that they took a long time to get the carts to us (BC had a hard time getting his Sui Mai fix. There was one funny moment when we heard a cart lady shout out “Sui Mai” and then turn away from us…I thought BC was going to run off and stop her). The dim sum is good, not great, but good. They also have a fry station where you can get custom orders of pot stickers and the like. Three Smacks.

-JB


Lai Wah Heen - Metropolitan Hotel, 108 Chestnut St., Toronto (416) 977-9899

Pink Pearl - 120 Avenue Rd., Toronto (416) 966-3631

Bright Pearl Seafood - 346-348 Spandina Ave., 2nd Floor, Toronto (416) 979-3988

Susur - Almost Perfect...Almost

I was a little worried going to Susur - Susur Lee has been ranked one of the ten best chefs in the world and everyone who had gone there was telling us that it would be an experience to remember. Well, it definitely was a memorable meal. The food was excellently prepared and presented, while the service was attentive and quite professional. Was it a home run? No, but Susur still is so good that you will understand why it is so expensive (it is great to spend a nice sum of money on dinner and have it actually be worth it all).

I went with BC and BF and we all had the 5 course-tasting menu (during the week they have as seven course as well). Basically, this is a place where you want the chef to serve you up omakase style...you can order a la carte, but I highly recommend sticking with the tasting menu. They had several different items for each course, which allowed them to mix it up on the table so that we each had something different (Well, different from BF as I always seemed to get the same thing as BC).

I started out with grapes stuffed with black olives (not a big black olive fan, but it made a great combination of flavors). Next came the meat course – BC and I had the lamb over a peanut sauce. The lamb was probably the best I have had (did not have that strong after flavor that lamb can often have). It was perfectly cook and quite tender. BF had tenderloin that he also enjoyed…although he was eyeing our lamb. Third course brought out the first of the fish. BC and I had a seared ahi with a wasabi-cream sauce. The wasabi had just enough zing without destroying our nasal passages. I liked, but did not love the ahi. Our fourth course was a mixture of shrimp and scallops fried in a ball…I really liked this dish. It was perfectly fried and had a great deal of flavor. (You are all probably wondering what BF was having…I lost track after the tenderloin…sorry).

Then came the dessert course…this is where I should have had a pad and paper. I have totally forgotten what we all had! But this goes to more why Susur was a near miss for flashback status. I remember the dessert being good, but not great.

Susur also has an extensive wine list from all over the world. We decided on a Tuscan variety that fit the meal. All in all, Susur was a wonderful experience. Was it perfect? No, but not many restaurants are. Four Smacks!

-JB


Susur - 601 King St. West, Toronto (416) 603-2205

Bar Mercurio - My Kind of Place

Since I have been in Toronto, I've been wanting to find a restaurant near me that can be my spot. I believe I have found that in an Italian restaurant called Bar Mercurio. BC and I went there for dinner on Wednesday night while we waited for the production we are working on to screen dailies...late, late at night (don't ask). It is a lovely little place that seems quite popular and has the kitchen in the dining room so you can watch the chefs at work. It has modern decor that screams big city.

BC had them make a pasta arrabiata that was not on the menu (they do custom orders if you are in the mood for something specific) that he thought was quite tasty. I started out with their cajun grilled calamari that was perfectly cooked. For my main course, I had their pappardelle with truffled duck ragout...delicious. The truffle oil with the ground duck was a great combination that made me wanting more as I finished the dish. There was also a special that night of a grilled, bone-in tuscan steak that some people at the table next to us had that looked so good, I almost considered having that for another course...but that would have been absurd (or would it have?).

Before we left, I saw that it was open for breakfast as well. So I went back on Saturday morning to try their brunch. It was not nearly as crowded, but just as good. I had their special smoked benedict (eggs benedict with grilled tomatoes, roasted red peppers and house-smoked salmon). The hollandaise sauce was creamy with a hint of lemon, just as it should be. I have had a hard time finding a good breakfast joint in this city, but Bar Mercurio finally gave me the breakfast I was yearning. And it was the best coffee I have had since arriving in Toronto. As I ate, I watched the chef as he prepped for the day. He spoke Italian to an older woman who kept bringing out freshly, baked bread. If I closed my eyes, it was almost like being a small osteria in Italy.

I will be venturing out again to Bar Mercurio...many times! Three and Half Smacks.

-JB


Bar Mercurio - 270 Bloor Street West, Toronto (416) 960-3877

Joso's - Sexy Fish

The moment you walk into Joso's, you feel right at home. It is designed like a mid-century bordello (complete with the velvet chairs and sexy paintings/pictures...they really like breasts there). The waitstaff are friendly and the surroundings are quite relaxing.

Although Joso's has some meat dishes, fish is the big deal here. And man, do they know how to cook the fish. I went with BC, and we both liked our dishes. I started out with the grilled sardines appetizer (like Chiado, they bright out the fresh fish on a platter for you to pick from). The sardines were very good, not as good as Chiado, but Chiado is in a class of its own so it is unfair of me to compare. For my main dish, I had grilled octopus. This was without a doubt, the best octopus I have ever had. So moist and delicate, it melted in your mouth. BC had a whole fish (the name escapes us...we had a lot of wine). His fish was well prepared and fell off the bone.

For desert, I had a creme brule that was excellent - it was the prefect amount of creaminess. Both BC and I had a very strong fig grappa (I am not a huge grappa fan, but this was quite good...and did I mention strong). Luckily, the drive back to our apartment was not to far. I'll definitely make another trip back to Joso's. Four Smacks!

-JB

Joso's - 202 Davenport Rd., Toronto (416) 925-1903

Drink of the Gods

If it was not for Renée, I would never have had the pleasure of tasting the Drink of the Gods. She happened upon this awesome drink while touring Toronto's historic distillery district - an old distillery that has been converted into cool shops and restaurants. She happened upon a chocolate maker shop called Soma (a place right of Willy Wonka) where she was introduced to the Drink of the Gods.

Basically, the Drink of the Gods is a mayan hot chocolate blend of chocolate elixir, chilli peppers, ginger, orange peel, madagascar vanilla and a "unique blend of spices." This mixture is then blended in with a little hot water...that's it...a shot of pure, thick and spicy chocolate. It tastes like...well, a drink from the Gods. You can also have this mixed in with steamed milk and/or expresso. Although both of these options are tasty, you really have not experienced chocolate until you try the intense shot.

Soma also makes excellent chocolates and cookies. My favorite is Caramel Chocolates dusted with Fleur de Sel (there is something about combining salt and caramel that is pure heaven). I wish we had a Soma in the states, but for now you will have to settle on making this place a must visit while in Toronto (or order online). Five Smacks!!!

-JB


Soma - 55 Mill Street Building 47 Suite 102, Toronto m5a 3c4 (416) 816-Soma

Blowfish Far From Blows

On Thursday night, BC and I joined a director we had worked with before named JC at a restaurant called Blowfish. Although I was at first disappointed that they did not actually serve blowfish, it turned out to be a lovely evening. The restaurant is very hip and modern looking, and is quite popular (the place was so packed, it was impossible to get a seat at the sushi bar).

After standing at the bar for a little while sipping some japenese sake (smooth and dry, it was perfect) and eating edamame (their alternative to bread), we got a table an ordered some more sake and food. JC ordered a flask of unfiltered sake that looked like milk, but had a sweet taste to it that was just delicious. Then came the food...lots and lots of food. We started with the Blowfish Giant Ebi Shooter - a superb concoction of a tiger prawn, mango, avocado, tempura bits, kewpie and tobikko wrapped in soy paper and served in a shot glass. Our waiter (really nice and funny guy) suggested that we eat it from top to bottom so we can experience all the different flavors involved. He was right - at the top you tasted the excellent shrimp and tempura bits, while at the bottom you got the sweetness of the mango. Let's just say that this dish alone sold me on Blowfish.

Then came out the rest of our order - Crispy Chicken Kara-Age with a light curry and spicy miso dip, Mashed Wasabi Sweet Potatoes (holly crap this was good), Battered Tuna Roll (very light with a sweet korean chili drizzle), Red Hot Curry Salmon Roll (hot smoked salmon with a japanese chili, curry drizzle that knocked my socks off), Blue Snow Roll (basically a glorified rainbow roll...this one was my least favorite) and a Brown-Eyed Pea Roll (great roll for vegetarians and meaties alike...brown rice, snow peas, asparagus and spicy kewpie).

Well, we were stuffed after all these items...but our waiter really wanted us to try some dessert. He brought us out a sampling of banana tempura rolls (oh...my...god...) and flourless chocolate cake. If you are picking between these two, go with the banana...you'll be glad you did.

And all this good food was even made better by the company. Both BC and JC are great guys to eat with...we talked about food, places we should eat next, politics, poker... And Blowfish is definitely a place to go with friends you like to hang and eat with. They also have their own DJ, which plays way cool tunage. There is something about eating sushi and listening to White Lines play in the background that is quite perfect. Four Smacks!

- JB

Blowfish - 668 King St. W, Toronto, ON (416) 860-0606 Closed Sunday

What the heck is kewpie?

Culinary Flashback - Miami, Fall 2002

Sometimes, memories of other's reactions to food can be as strong as your own. In the Fall of 2002, BC and I were on location on a movie set in Miami. We started a trend of going to Nobu Miami Beach (of famed Chef Nobu Matsuhisa) every other Saturday night.

My flashback is of the first time we went to Nobu. Remember, this is per diem money we are talking about, so BC and I decided to go all out...ordering the best fish and best quality sake. The waiter let us know that they had a special - white truffles sliced on an order of their new style salmon (new style is a traditional Nobu dish of thinly sliced fish, covered in yuzu juice/soy sauce combination and lightly seared by hot olive and sesame seed oil). The waiter said that the truffles would be a great addition to this dish. BC told me that he had never tried truffles before (and if any of you have not, go out and try them...a very sensual and earthy flavor...tastes like sex).

I immediately told the waiter to order us up a plate. It came out to us a little bit later after we had a couple glasses of sake in frozen bamboo cups. I looked down at these delicate slices of salmon topped with thin, white slices of truffle. This amazing, pungent smell of the truffles filled the air, begging us to take a bite. I looked up at BC and said, "Go ahead, you first." BC picked up a piece of the fish/truffle combination, stared at it for a moment and then placed it in his mouth. Immediately, a look of euphoria came across his face. It looked like he had just tasted food directly from heaven. BC then gave a slight smile...he did not need to say anything, I knew what he was thinking. I'll never forget that look on BC's face. It made me wish that it was my first tasting the truffles...although, by watching BC, it was almost like I was experiencing it again.

- JB


Nobu - 1901 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139 (305) 695-3232

Nobu Matsuhisa's New Style Sashimi

Oysters and Tuna

On Saturday, February 12th, Renée was getting ready to go back to the States. She wanted to try Rodney's Oyster House before she left, so we went there for lunch on our way to the airport. Rodney's is definitely your traditional seafood restaurant...lots of wood and the smell of clam chowder in the air. We had several different varieties of oysters, three from the east coast and three from the west coast. The east coast oysters were milder than the west coast ones, but all were very good. I also had a saffron and shrimp chowder, while Renée tried the bowl of clams. Both these dishes were also good, not great, but good. And then there were the bathrooms...let's just say that if you have a thirteen year old boy or girl, you may want them to hold off from entering these....uh, adult bathrooms. And for those of you seventeen and above, knock yourselves out. All in all, Rodney's is a fun place to try, although I still strongly feel that Water Grill in Los Angeles serves up the best oysters. I give Rodney's Oyster House Three Smacks.

After sending Renée off to Los Angeles (sniff, sniff), BC and I decided to grab some dinner at Boba Restaurant around the corner from our apartment. We had gone there a couple of weeks earlier and had a very good meal, and we were interested to see if would live up to our previous experience...I am happy to say that it did indeed. We both got the same dish as we did last time - Rare grilled tuna filet with coconut noodles, avocado/mango salsa and black bean sauce. Now I know that it probably would have been good to try something new, but this item is so good, we had to get it again. Grilled Tuna is a hard thing for restaurants to prepare...it is easy to be just an OK dish. But Boba bats this dish out of the park. If you wind up coming here, you will not be disappointed by Boba's take on Grilled Tuna. BC and I are already wondering when our next visit will be (even though we should be going to other places first). Four Smacks.

-JB


Rodney's Oyster House - 469 King St. West, Toronto (416) 363-8105

Boba's Restaurant - 90 Avenue Road, Toronto (416) 961-2622

Water Grill - 544 South Grand, Los Angeles, CA (213) 891-0900

Expensive Italian

So on Thursday we decided to go and try out the Little Italy section of Toronto. We went to a restaurant recommended on Zagat's called Trattoria Giancarlo. I went with my wife, Renée, and my co-workers BC and BF (BC is an editor I have worked with for many years. He has become a great friend and food companion).

Now, the food was not too bad...but unfortunately it was not that great either. The best thing I had was the appetizer, a mixed sauteé of wild mushrooms over grilled polenta...a nice combination that left me wanting more. Next came my main dish, ribbon pasta with shrimp in a basil, cream sauce. It was good...but not $20 good.

BC also thought his pasta (with shrimp in an olive oil, white wine sauce) was only OK. BF liked his main dish, the special grilled rib-eye, but said it was too salty (Steak often disappoints in a restaurant setting. Most times, the best steak is to be had at home. I have to say that I make a mean grilled t-bone, Tuscan style. More on that in the summertime). Renée was a lot more down on Trattoria Giancarlo - she though her quail appetizer was too heavy and the grilled sardines did not do much for her.

And then the check came...Wow! Very expensive, this place. One of my pet peeves is paying a lot of money for only OK food. If I am spending some bank, I want to be blown away. Ah well, what are you going to do. I have to say that some of Zagat's top picks of Toronto is letting me down.

This place gets Two and a Half Smacks from me. Renée gives it Two.

-JB


Trattoria Giancarlo - 41-43 Clinton St., Toronto (416) 533-9619

Note: Zagat is a cool website for getting ideas of places to go out and eat. I do not always agree with the Zagat reviews, but it is still a fun website.

Culinary Flashback - December 29th 1999

Since this is the first flashback, let me explain the concept first since Culinary Flashback will be a regular feature for My Next Meal. Food is one of my favorite things in life. One of the reasons is because it is tied so much to memory - memory of family, friends, good times, places. Dining is often when people get together to talk and have fun with one another, and a great dining experience can only accentuate these meetings.

One of my top memories happened in Napa Valley on December 29, 1999. My wife and I were at my parents’ house getting ready for a big Millennium Party we were throwing. The 29th is my birthday, and I decided that I wanted to go to Tra Vigne in St. Helena for my birthday dinner (This is when Tra Vigne was good. It has unfortunately become a so-so restaurant...sorry).

My dining companions were my wife, my brother, my grandmother, my best friend and a good friend of ours from Los Angeles. Now, this was just a random gathering of people...there was no thought put into this grouping. My brother was in for the party, my grandmother lived nearby and our two friends were in for a surprise visit, but were not staying for New Year's. Somehow, this became the perfect group for this dining experience. We were all in sync...laughing, telling wonderful stories and eating great food. I don't remember what everyone had (we had the standard issue appetizers that one has at Tra Vigne - Rosemary Flatbread with Roasted Garlic, Calamari, etc.). I do remember my main course (our friend from LA had the same)...Angry Sand Dabs. But they were out of Sand Dabs, so they substituted Sole (thus, it became Angry Sole). This was an amazing dish - a chili and oil sauce with deep fried basil leaves on delicate, lightly fried fish. Heaven!

My friend from LA and I often talk about that Angry Sole...but this only leads us to talk about how perfect that night was. Yes, the food was very good, but it was the company along with the food that makes this memory so special. And for me, it gives me a very special memory of my grandmother, who is unfortunately no longer with us, but still lives in our hearts. She made that evening that much more special. This night was part of an amazing week of friends visiting us, waiting for the millennium to come (the other two nights are two whole other flashbacks to be visited later).

December 29, 1999 reminds me of a time when Tra Vigne was a great restaurant, of laughing over good food, of my wife, brother, friends and an amazing woman who fit in perfectly with us "young folks."

-JB


If you must: Tra Vigne - http://www.travignerestaurant.com/

Culinary Adventures in Canada Begins

I am out in Toronto for a couple of months working on a movie. The down side is that I am away from my family and friends. The plus side is that I get to use my per diem to try as many restaurants as possible while I am in Canada.

I went with my wife to Niagara this weekend...love the falls, but man the place is tacky. We went to a restaurant on Friday night (February 4th) called Mama Mia's. Great surprise, especially since we were not expecting much. The pasta was fresh and quite tasty. I had the Spaghetti a la Carbonara - just like Mom used to make. My wife had the Manicotti, which had great tomato sauce. I definitely recommend this place - Three out of four smacks.

On Saturday night, we went to Hillebrand's Estate Winery Restaurant. This place ROCKS! Good service and excellent food. I started out with the Mussels that had a cream sauce with fennel and chorizo. Some of the best mussels I have ever had. My entrée was called Taste Of Niagara - it had Salmon, Roasted Pork and Lamb Chops. The Salmon was OK, the Roasted Park was quite good and the Lamb Chops...oh, the Lamb Chops. My desert was a variety of Crème Brule (Chocolate Hazelnut, Pumpkin, Coconut, Vanilla) that was just OK. My wife, though, had Pear Napoleon that she said was one of the best deserts she has had in a while. I highly recommend Hillebrand's Estate - Three and a half out of four smacks.

Portuguese Seafood...yum!

On Sunday we were back in Toronto and went to Chiado for dinner. What can I say except that Chiado is one of those places that will stick in my memory (definitely a candidate for a Culinary Flashback). First off, the service is amazing. Very European in that the waiter knew all about the food and wine and was quite helpful. Chiado is a Portuguese Seafood restaurant, and after eating there, I definitely will be putting Portugal on my list of places to visit. I started out with Grilled Calamari...perfectly prepared. My wife had Sardines (grilled and raw)...Wow!! If you have never had Sardines, this is the place to try them. Our friend the waiter brought out a tray of their fresh fish (if you come here, order off the tray...wonderful). I decided on the Grilled Whole Dorade. What a delicious fish. Nothing much to it except lemon juice and some pepper, but it just melted in my mouth. And our waiter even de-boned it for me (what a pal)! My wife had Grilled Skate Wing over a Coriander Risotto. She was in heaven. We ended with this dessert...sorry, I forgot the name of it, but it was basically like tiramisu with a light egg custard on top - it was so good it should be outlawed. An amazing experience - Five out of four smacks (yes, I said five out of four).

-JB


Mama Mia's - 5719 Victoria Avenue, Niagara Falls, ON
http://www.infoniagara.com/dining/Niagara-Falls/mamamias/

Hillebrand's Estate Winery Restaurant - 1249 Niagara Stone Rd. (Rural Rte. 2) Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON, (905) 468-3201

Chiado - 864 College St., Toronto, ON
http://torontolifestyle.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=2