Lucky Season Hot Pot

I guess the hardest part of writing a food blog is how to really evaluate a hot pot place like the one I went to the other night.  For those who don't know, hot pot is where one ends up cooking their own food in a couple of pots of boiling soup or water.  This way one can control the variety of foods being cooked and the degree of how far one should cook their meals. 

Raw Lobster

We went into this place on a weeknight and this place was half full.  From what I know, this place also serves dim sum in the morning.  They have television screens everywhere so that one can eat and watch their favorite TV programs while hot potting. They gave us a checklist menu where where we can check off all the foods that we want.  We wanted the more deluxe menu which included 2 raw lobsters, a seafood platter and of course the food from the basic menus.  The basic menu still had plenty of raw meats, fishballs and vegetables including tofu to choose from..

Seafood Platter on the left

The food appeared to be quite fresh.  We ordered two different types of soups, miso and satay.  The lobster was still moving even though it was already split in half for us. Personally this and the wine chicken were 2 of my favorite dishes.  The raw chicken was marinated well as it was rich in wine.  The lobsters were fresh and tender.  The salmon and the squid were also quite good.  For the rest of the foods, there were no issues at all as it was the standard raw beef, chicken, lamb and vegetables.  Also provided were 9 different types of sauces including chili, hot sauce and soya sauces.

The sauces

Overall, I actually enjoyed the atmosphere.  The TV, the food and the staff and of course our friends all made it a wonderful night.  We were there for over three hours yet we all had a good time. The establishment was clean and freshly squeezed orange juice was only one dollar!!  I would recommended this place to anyone looking for some hot pot.  Overall I give this place a 4.25 out of 5. 

Lucky Season Hot Pot

550 Highway 7 East
Richmond Hill, ON L4B 1B9

(905) 709-8983

Watami

I decided to spend my anniversary over at Watami Sushi and Grill at Market Village.  I personally have been here many times but this is the first time I decided to blog this place.  The restaurant has been here for quite some time and hopefully it will be here for many more years to come. 

We got there on a weekend evening and the place was half full.  It was however later in the evening and well past the usual dinner time.  We were given a table right away and several menus to choose our food from.  If one knows Chinese, one can also look at their special menu up on a chalkboard that usually serves special dishes including toro fish and kobe beef. 

Tonight we decided to go with a dinner for two menu known as the Watami Dinner in the menu and toro fish.  The Watami Dinner Menu is designed for two people and comes with miso soup, salad, 12 pieces of sashimi, 10 pieces of sushi, 12 pieces of maki, shrimp and vegetable tempura, beef or chicken or salmon teriyaki, spider hand rolls and a chef's special. 

Toro Fish

Sushi, Sashimi and Maki Platter

Shrimp Tempura

 The miso soup and salad arrived first and it was a good appetizer.  The food was tasty however it was really not any different than any of the other places we have been to.  The sushi, sashimi and maki plate came next and it looked pretty good.  With one quick glance, one can see that there was a lot of tuna, salmon and either salmon skin sushi or avacodo vegetable sushi.  Again nothing spectacular.  The fish were all fresh as was all the sushi. 

Seafood Avacado

The chef's special of the day was the seafood avacado and beef on a skewer.  The seafood avacado was a little thick as it contained cheese, butter, garlic, shrimp and mini scallops.  For those who are blood pressure and cholesterol conscious, you may only want to eat a small sample of this dish.  This dish is quite heavy and you may not want to try consuming the entire bowl.  Otherwise it is something one definitely should try.  The top of the seafood avacado has fish roe on it to give it slight tangy taste to it as well.

The tempura was descent.  There was nothing out of the ordinary.  The shrimp and the vegetables tempura were fresh.  They were all served hot and with sweet soya sauce.  No complaints here. 

The beef teriyaki arrived however we had to pack it in and take it home with us.  There was just way too much food on the table for the two of us.  Not letting it go to waste, even the manager of the restaurant noticed that we were reaching our limit so what he did was that he asked the chef to cook it only to 40% cooked so that when we recooked it at home, it would not go completely dry. That was mighty nice of teh manager.

The spider hand roll was next and it was delicious.  There was no way that we could pack this home.  Truthfully one should always try to eat as much of the sushi and raw food as quickly as possible to maintain that freshness.  I will say this, the spider roll was amazing.  The soft shell fried crab, the avacado and cucumber were all very fresh.  One can taste the sweetness of the crab.  It was quite delicious and depsite being quite full, there was no way I was going to pass this one up. 

We saved the best for last.  For twenty dollars we order 3 pieces of toro.  Yes it is not for the faint of heart when it comes to money however to eat quality fish, one needs to pay the heavier price.  The fish literally melted in your mouth however the only problem was that the "cut" of the fish was not the best so while the fish melted, the spines and tendons of the fish remained.  Still the fish was very fresh, served slightly cool and had every bit of sweetness in it. 

Overall, it was a great night with great food.  The total was over a hundred dollars however it was worth it.  The taro could have been better or they could have given us a better cut but that was really the only blemish all night.  One should give it a try at this place.  I am sure you would not disappoint.  If one does not read Chinese make sure you get the waitress or manager to read you the specials on the chalkboard.  You would not be disappointed.  In closing, I give this place a 4 out of 5.

Watami Sushi and Grill
4372 Steeles Avenue East  Toronto, ON M1V 4S5

905 477-4567

New Congee Queen

There is a new Congee Queen in town and it's literally across the street from where I live.  Having said that, even though this is my first blog about this place, we have actually been there on 4 separate occasions alreadyand this place has only been opened for 2 weeks.

We went there with a couple of our friends and decided to order a few dishes to share.  We went with the Chicken, the Snow Pea Leaves in Goji Berry with Congee, the Shrimp with Egg Sauce Rice dish, Rice Noodle Roll and Fried Vermicelli with Shrimp and Chicken in Home Style. .

Rice Noodle Roll

Chicken

The first thing to arrive was the Rice Noodle Roll and unfortunately this was one of the worse dishes ever. I get the fact that the place was packed and lined up all the way outdoors however there was no excuse really on  why such an easy dish to make was so hard to stomach.  It came with some soya and peanut sauce however no amount of sauce could save this dish.  It was mushy, "diluted" as if starch was missing and just had bad texture all around.  Very disappointed with this dish.

The chicken was next to arrive next and this was more satisfying.  There was plenty of meat on the chicken unlike some of the other places where we have eaten before where there was no meat at all on the chicken.  It was well cooked and quite tasty and the ginger and onion sauce was satisfactory.

Shrimp with Scrambled Egg Sauce Rice

Fried Vermicelli with Shrimp and Chicken in Home Style

Next to arrive was the Shrimp with Scrambled Egg Sauce Rice.  Now, I am not a huge egg fan of any sort so it was difficult for me to really judge the quality of this dish.  There was definitely a very strong egg taste to it.  It almost seemed like there was like 2 or 3 yokes  used to make this dish.  I  personally thought it was too strong of a taste of egg as it even overwhelmed the shrimp taste however my fellow peers thought that this was definitely one of the best dishes all night. 

The shrimp and chicken fried vermicelli was next to arrive and to me this was one of my favorite dishes.  The vermicelli was not over fried and there was enough peppers, shrimp, chicken and egg that blended well with the rest if the vermicelli.  It was not oily and not overly salty either.  Just a nice simple dish to serve with the rest of the food.

The last to arrive was the Snow Pea Leaves in Goji Berry with Congee.  Congee alone is boring and bland but added with snow peas and suddenly this is a congee that is a must have.  For those who love congee but can't stand the blandness in it, this is one dish that one can try.  Although it is one of the more expensive items on the menu, it certainly warrants a go.  

Snow Pea Leaves in Goji Berry with Congee

Dessert

After we finished our meals, we were given dessert by the waiters.  Now I haven't been to a Congee Queen in quite some time but this is the first time dessert was served and it was good!!!  It was a mixture of beans and grass jelly and it was not overly sweet but just sweet enough that it left a lasting impression.  The dish was lukewarm and it was not thick and gooey like a red bean dessert soup.  I loved this dessert and I hope that this not just a grand opening promotation.

Overall, my first visit inside this new Congee Queen was descent.  Subsequent meals were satisfactory.  I suggest that if you were to order take out that you place your order by phone and then pick it up as this would save you a ton of time and if one is coming during peak hours that you get there early or be prepared to wait.  I enjoyed my stay at Congee Queen.  It certainly is comparable to the other Congee Queens in the GTA.  Overall I give it a 3.75 out of 5.

Congee Queen
3850 Sheppard Ave East
Scarborough Ontario

416-321-8288

Pete's Fine Dining

Pending on which site you surf on or which website you've seen, Pete's Fine Dining restaurant is ranked the second best restaurant in Markham.  Having said that we decided to make reservations and give this place a try.  Talking on the gentleman on the phone, he was hesitant at first to book us in because we had a little one with us.  We promised him that she would be quiet throughout the dinner and that if she was going to be a dsitrubance then we would remove ourselves from the restaurant. 

We got there 15 minutes early however they had our table all ready to go.  While we were reading the menu, they brought over to us freshly baked garlic bread.  The restaurant was fully packed but the waiters made sure we were served right away. 

After looking at the menu, the four decided to split and share some of the food.  We ordered the Stuffed Filet of Sole, the 24 oz T-Bone Steak and the 24-oz Bone in Rib Steak. 

All of the food arrived at the same time and it looked pretty good.  The Tender Bone in Rib Steak was quite juicy and soft.  We asked for medium rare and we got medium rare.  The steak was sprinkled with black pepper and marinated with a touch of barbeque sauce.  It was quite delicious and definitely a must have for any meat lover.  The meat they served us looked a lot bigger than 24 oz but no one was complaining at the table.

24 oz T-Bone Steak

Stuffed Filet of Sole

24-oz Bone in Rib Steak

The Stuffed Filet of Sole was amazing to say the least.  There are two types of filet of sole.  There is one that is just the fish and there is one that is stuffed with crab meat, baby shrimp and scallops and for a couple bucks more, I am so glad I took this one over the plain one.  The seafood mixed inside the fish was absolutely delicious.  With a nice sauce added to the seafood, their stuffed filet is a definite must have for any seafood lover.  This dish also comes with rice, baked potato or french fries as a side. 

The 24 oz T-Bone Steak was just as good.  Not as soft of course as the rib steak but just as good.  With a touch of New York sauce, this too was a very nice done piece of meat.  Again we asked for medium rare and we got it to perfection.  Vegetables and a baked potato were the sides used for this dish.

Overall, this was a wonderful experience to have.  The waiters were not pushy despite being such a busy place.  THe interior is elegant and the restaurant set inside an old house gives it that old fashion effect.  These guys have been in business for about 50 years and it shows.  A great place for a romantic night or for a small party.  They also have a party room I believe in the basement of this place.  The price, although a little pricey is well worth it.  Overall I give it a 5 out of 5.

Pete's Fine Dining
5701 Regional Road 7  Markham, ON L3P 1A9
(905) 294-9039

Izakaya Ju

Izakaya Ju is a a Japanese restaurant located inside J-Town located on Steeles Avenue just east of Woodbine Avenue.  At night they tend to serve dinner menu and alcohol while during the day they have some set lunches in a menu and on a board.  When we got in they had a long table for my family and our fellow friends.  Since it was my first time there, we decided to go with a split menu in that we would share all the food that was there.  We went with four different dishes which included: Takitori Don, Takisakana Black Cod Lunch, Gyu Dan, Deep Fried Chicken Knuckle Bones and Osaka Fried Rice with Octopus. 

Osaka Fried Rice with Octopus

All the meals all arrived at once.  A couple of the dishes also came with miso soup and salads which we divided amongst ourselves.  The first thing we tried was the Deep Fried Chicken Knuckle Bones.  This dish was only $5.00 and it came with about 12 pieces.  It was basically the ends of the chicken drumstick breaded and battered in oil.  The pieces were soft and not overly greasy.  It was pretty tasty, with the outer portion crunchy and the inner part soft.  Interesting appetizer to start off the lunch. 

Gyu Dan

Next we tried the Takisakana Black Cod.  There wasn't anything too impressive with this fish.  Basically it was a cod then was cooked in a butter like sauce and serve with white rice.  This was of the meals that came with a miso soup and salad.  The fish was de-boned and was mixed well with the white rice. 

My favorite of the afternoon was the Gyu Dan.  This rice mixed with shredded ginger and marinated raw tuna was very  very good.  The tuna was freshed and tasted very good.  Despite the marination, the true taste of tuna remained throughout each bite.  There was a gingerly sauce mixed with the rice which gave the rice "life".  It was definitely something worth trying if you are planning to go into this restaurant. 

Takitori Don

The next best dish I thought was the Osaka Fried Rice with Octopus.  The octopus was shredded into small pieces but one can still make it out in the rice.  The only difference between this rice and the last one was that it was just a tad drier.  Otherwise this one would have earned equal marks compared to the Gyu Dan.  It also had some shredded vegetables in it.  The dish was not greasy and was something also worth trying for if you are planning to go to this restaurant. 

The last one was the Takitori Don which basically was chicken teriyaki mixed with its rice.  Some of the pieces of the chicken was slightly burnt.  Personally looking at the five pieces of the chicken, I would have to say if the chicken was not as dry as it was, it would have been better.  I understand that it is a teriyaki however, the meat was a tad too dry and chewy as a result of the searing and cooking of it.  Even my daughter with all her might had a difficult time chewing on it. 

Overall it was a pretty good experience.  The two rices I would highly recommend and try again.  The staff was pretty courteous and with all the food, it was approximately 15 dollars per person tax and tip included.  With plenty of free parking on the outside, it is definitely a restaurant worth trying.  I would give this place a 3.75 out of 5. 

Izakaya Ju
3160 Steeles Avenue East  Markham, ON L3R

(905) 474-1058

Golden Court Abalone Restaurant

Last night we were invited to a 10-course meal at Golden Court Abalone Restaurant located on the northwest corner of Highway 7 and West Beaver Creek Road in Richmond Hill for a wedding.  Normally I don't do weddings but a few people said that it was a pretty good experience and that I should put my two cents worth towards the food. 

The traditional ten-course meal usually covers has the same foods from one event to the next however wedding parties and event organizers can certainly customize their own personal choices by removing or adding to the existing menu. 

The first thing to arrive was the roasted pork.  The pork itself was nicely glazed however our pork had very little to no meat on it.  Surprisingly there was quite a bit of bone on some of the meat considering they usually just serve the top layer and rarely get to the bottom layers. The skin was crispy and it was served with traditional gelatin.  If there was not as much bone to it, I would have it given it full marks. 

Next to arrive was the crab claw.  The crab claws lately have become more complex.  In the past, where most places would just serve meat and crab, many places are starting to add small pieces of shrimp to them to give it that extra flavor.  With a bit of vinegar added on the side, it made it a nice crab claw to have. 

Pork

Crab Claw

Scallops and Mushroom

The scallops and mushroom were next to arrive and to me this was the best dish of the night.  The scallops were slightly overcooked or seared on the outside but the inside was very juicy and tender. Only a simple garlic and onion sauce was used.  The mushrooms were also sauteed quite nice and although this whole dish might have been just a tad heavy on its MSG and flavor, the dish alone is something I will order the next time I am at the restaurant. 

Next was the shark fin soup.  Since many places in Toronto are about to ban this delicacy, Richmond Hill residents can still enjoy this wonderful Chinese delicacy.  It came in a huge bowl and as far as I can see, each bowl served had plenty of shark fins in it.  The stock was beautifully done as well. The chefs certainly took good care in making this dish. 

The snow peas and abalone were next to arrive.  The wedding party's family however had relatives who brought in their own abalone so we had fresh abalone to eat.  It would be have been great to eat the abalone here just to see if there stuff is as good as their name but none the less it was prepared very well and the abalone's rubber texture was perfect. 

Shark Fin Soup

Abalone and Snow Peas

Roasted Garlic Chicken

The lobster arrived next and it was baked in garlic and onion sauce.  The pieces unfortunately were pretty chewy and the meat was stuck inside the shells pretty good.  The chewiness suggests either we had quite an older lobster or the meal was overcooked.  The taste however was fine. Certainly no complains there. 

 The chicken was okay.  Nothing remarkable here.  Sprinkle with some roasted garlic, the meat was both dry and juicy pending on which area you got.  The only question I had was what ever happened to the shrimp crackers.  It seems many of the restaurants are doing away with that lately.  

Each table got two fish and it appeared to be tilapia fish.  Easy steamed with onions, this fish or bass is commonly used at weddings.  Although the fish was tasty, I believe it was tilapia simply because of the amount of bones that came out of it.  Most weddings normally use bass because there are less bones and scales but this would be the choice of the wedding party.

Lobster

Dumpling Noodles

Fish

The final dishes to arrive are the noodles and rice.  The rice looked dry and for whatever reason did not look as appealing as the noodles.  The noodles were different in that the wedding party chose to have noodles with dumplings which was actually very good and with its soup base made it a nice way to end the evening's meals.  I personally think that it was an excellent choice of change and that all restaurants should consider doing this. 

Overall it was a good night.  The food came pretty much on schedule and there were no major delays.  The food was tasty and with the exception of the lobster, all the other foods were very good.  I have also had the dim sum here as well during the day before and I have to say this place does meet standards.  We had a good night and the staff was very courteous.  Overall I give this place a 4.25 out of 5. 

Golden Court Abalone Restaurant

270 W Beaver Creek Rd
Richmond Hill, ON L4B 3Y9

(905) 707-6628

Dickens (Brand New)

I had previously posted about a Dickens that I had gone to in Richmond Hill and of a Rural Chinese Restaurant in Scarborough.  Well we found out very recently that Dickens had taken over the Rural Chinese Restaurant over at the Scarborough location so we decided to go pay them a visit.  Funny but most of the staff was held over from the previous restaurant.  As well, the place was renovated and cut almost in half.  Regardless we went in there with high expectations.

When we looked at the new menu, it was almost a hybrid of the previous restaurant's menu and the Dickens menu.  I decided to go with their 12 ounce T-Bone steak while my wife went with the meat sauce cheese pasta.  The steak was priced about $14 dollars.  For an extra $2.50, we got a salad, a vegetable soup, a cold drink and ice cream dessert.

Meat Sauce Pasta

12 ounce steak

Our meals arrived rather quickly.  Bread and butter was served which was a nice starter to have.  The vegetable soup was a tiny bit spicy but nothing that one could not handle.  It was mostly a tomato and celery soup.  It was tasty and delightful.  They also had a cream of broccoli that day for those not interested in the vegetable soup.

Next came the salad and it too was very good.  The salad was a normal garden salad with french dressing.  The salad was certainly acceptable and quite refreshing as well.

Finally came the steak.  I had asked for a medium rare steak and it was made to perfection.  The interior was pinkish-red and with a bit of onion sauce on top and some side vegetables, the steak was certainly very tasty and a must have tonight.  The meat was soft and juicy and certainly lived up to its billing.  Of importance, one could actually change the side vegetables to a rice or fries instead at no extra charge.

I also had a bit of my wife's pasta and it too was quite good.  There was a simple tomato sauce mixed with ground beef mixed into the spaghetti and truthfully it was quite good.  Absolutely no complaints with the taste, the texture or the overall appearance.  The portions were definitely quite filling. 

We were all very pleasantly pleased with the results.  Although we will miss the old restaurant, the new restaurant with its new menu and old staff was a definite hit.  We will definitely be coming back again in the very near future.  Overall I give it a 4.5 out of 5.

Dickens

8 Glen Watford Drive
Scarborough Ontario

416 321 3354