A carnivore's dream at The Lane

After a very long work week, my housemate and I headed over to Sydney's swanky bar Establishment for some post-work drinks.  This is a beautiful space,  decked out with a creamy marble bar and matching colonial-type columns.   The drink menu is surprisingly affordable - I would even venture to say that I was disappointed by the quality of their wine list.  That being said, I was happy to indulge in a couple glasses of $8 Merivale-branded house bubbly, while my pal had (our) usual; a gin & tonic.  Merivale is the parent company of a slew of bars/restos in Sydney, including Establishment's adjacent fine dining resto; Est.

After a few glasses, my housemate and I headed over to The Lane in the CBD for a quick snack before heading out for...some more drinks.  Since we were both pretty new to the city's dining scene - and ravenous at this point - we ended up just walking around the corner and took a seat at the first spot whose menu was appetizing and still had a bit of life to it. Some spots in the CBD empty out at 7-8ish...

The Lane

Once seated at The Lane, we got a couple glasses of vino and put in an order for some snacks.  I'm not a huge meat eater anymore, tending to usually go for seafood option, but K and I compromised and ordered the Meat Plate - a selection of four cured meats, and the QLD King Prawns.

Meat Plate ($19.50)

The meat plate was pretty self explanatory; a plate of meat.  The selections were tasty though; San Daniele Prosciutto, Sopressata, Capacolla and Genoa Salami.  Don't get me wrong, I love a nice slice of salty, spicy Sopressata, but it was an enormous amount of salt, and I was guzzleling water for days afterward.  Well, to be honest, I guzzled a couple beers immediately afterward to quench my thirst.  The bread was super-nice though; uber soft, with a slight char on the outside.

QLD King Prawns ($16.9)

 BBQ-grilled w/ lemon and garlic butter, served w/ aioli

 

The King Prawns (I've been criticized by Aussies for calling them shrimp) were fantastic; a little messy, but well worth it.  The tender meat paired nicely with the garlicky aioli, and was further enhanced by the spicy dressed rocket garnish.  Also, they grilled their lemon wedge -  I love that.  Brooklyn Warehouse in Halifax does that.

Anywho, filled to the brim, my protein cup overflowed as we left The Lane and headed back down into the CBD towards our hood.  I'm happy that I spied this place, it's a nice spot to go for a pre-drink snack, and was still pretty hoppin' when we left at 10 pm.

Satisfying standard fare at Trapeze

I love a good burger, like love.  The unfortunate thing is that: though you often expect this standard fare to be good, sometimes it's unpalatable; you have a dry patty or a bun that tastes like sawdust.  And then, there's the burger at Trapeze restaurant at the Casino, which is none of these things.  

I went with a large group a couple months back, eight of us in fact, and the food and the service was great.  We started the night with a bunch of appetizers: bruschetta, nachos and calamari that were all pretty good, though I only had a bite of each because I was saving room for the burger.  The apps were gone in an instant.

For my meal, I ordered the Mozzarella and mushroom burger with a side spinach salad.  I love the spinach salad at Trapeze, and I've had a large one several times since.  With a generous helping of spinach, it's dressed with marinated butternut squash, carrot ribbons, red pepper strips and a tangy goat cheese - I usually get the cilantro ginger vinaigrette on the side.

                              

Anyway, on to the burger.  As I said above, it was delicious; the juicy patty was topped with a generous portion of melty cheese and succulent fried mushrooms.  Add to that, the usual fare of lettuce, tomato, onion and a pickle spear, the burger was filling and satisfying.  

                             

This was a tasty meal indeed.  We finished the night off by sharing some awesome desserts: chocolate cake and a yummy blueberry-based one too. I only had a couple bites of those as well; I was full, but I had to try them...for research purposes, of course! ;)

Incredible eats at the Wooden Monkey

I've been to the Wooden Monkey a few times, but it's just been for lunch or an early supper - I've never been for dinner.  A few weeks ago I met some friends for a late dinner where I was wowed by my meal.  Since we were going out later, I didn't want to eat too big of a meal.

If I only knew what I was getting into!  Since 'eating light' was the name of the game, I decided to go with the Nova Scotian seafood chowder.  Of course, that plan was foiled when my friend suggested that we split some nachos as an appetizer.  Well, we were really hungry, so I quickly obliged.  

Our nachos arrived and they were huge - not to mention delicious. And I hoped they would be, since at $17, they're likely the most expensive in the city.  The organic blue corn chips were topped with a mix of jalapenos, black olives, red and green peppers, white cheddar, Mozzarella cheese and served with salsa and sour cream.  Unfortunately, we didn't look at the price tag prior to ordering or else we may not have enjoyed them quite as much!  At this point though, they're my favorite ones in the city.

I can't stop myself from eating these things; they're delicious.  Gooey cheese, salty blue corn tortilla chips with an earthy note from the blue cheese and a fantastic (and likely organic) tomato salsa - we polished the plate in no time flat.  And then, my chowder arrived and I thought to myself, "how the hell am I gonna finish THIS."  But... you know me, I found a way!  The chowder was tomato-based (my favourite kind) and was chock full of fish:  chowder with 5 oz. of haddock, scallops, lobster, mussels, and potatoes.  Served with wedges of spelt baguette, this could easily have been enough to fill me up.

This was a great night filled with great food and good company.  I'm a pretty big fan of the Wooden Monkey for vegetarian fare or otherwise.  It often gets pegged as the vegetarian resto of choice in this town, but this spot has great stuff for meatatarians too!

Sun's out at the Foggy Goggle

And...it's fall.  How quickly did that happen?  I went from frolicking in my flip flops and denim cut-offs to having to resort to my space heater at work to take away the chill.  Yes, autumn is upon us, and that means comfort food; thick soups, hearty stews, red wine and no more patios. :( 

But last week, when my friend and I ate on the patio at the Foggy Goggle, there was nothin' but sunshine-y skies and a warm summer breeze.  It was one of those evenings where beer was $2 off and we had nothin but time.  My friend ordered the Man Salad - and that's exactly what it was: a 6 oz. steak cooked med-rare, served on a bed of organic greens with toasted almonds, sun dried cranberries, crumbled blue cheese and red onion drizzled in a Balsamic vinaigrette.  


It's not often that we share the same food cravings, and I've never, ever seen him order a salad in a resto, but this one turned the tables on the 'usual' salad.  The flavour combos were excellent and the textures intriguing.  The steak was juicy and had tons of flavour; the almonds and red onion provided crunch, while the sweet chewy cranberries and creamy, blue cheese were 'besties' in this dish with the tart flavour playing off the pungent one.

While he dove into his vibrant plate, I had the Marinara mussels; a pound of mussels in a spicy marinara with tomatoes, onion and jalapeno.  They were OK - not the best mussels I've had in this city, but certainly not the worst either.  i think that I was hoping for a thicker sauce; which it wasn't.  Still, I ate the whole dish as the shellfish themselves were plump and moist.

I'm sad to see the summer end and to have to head back indoors to dine; one of my favourite summer activities - like half of the people in this town- is to drink an icy cold beer on a patio.  I suppose that's life though, the seasons come and go, and so too must our eating and drinking habits.  I guess I should look on the bright side: now I can sit at the bar and drink red wine/hot buttered rum/Dark n' Stormys/Bailey's/etc. to my heart's content!

P,p,p, patio at Pipa!

One of my favorite restos in Halifax at the moment is Pipa on Argyle St. Actually, since Pipa opened in 2008, it's been a favourite.   It's a husband and wife-run resto that specializes in Brazilian and Portuguese food. One of the things that I find appealing about this spot is the fact that most of the dishes are unfamiliar, and each one is a new adventure! 

As luck would have it, the very day that we decided to head out to dinner and not get into the drink, pitchers of sangria are $5 off.  Obviously we ordered one; white sangria with peaches and strawberries. It was an incredibly hot evening and this delicately sweet bevy was just the thing to quench my thirst.  Since we planned on taking our time, I asked that they put ice only in the glasses so as to not water down our 'punch' .

As is often the way at a spot like this, my eyes were bigger than my belly and I ordered three apps; my friend ordered one plus an entree.  Loving a good game of chance, he often leaves his choice up to our server -  in this case, the owner, who suggested the pork and clams.  He prefaced this meal with more crustaceans, an order of Black Point oysters, while I ordered lobster soup, hearts of palm salad and lamb meatballs.

The soup was broth based with chunks of potatoes and other veg. I checked it out before ordering  as I'm not particularly fond of a creamy chowda on a hot day like this.    It was O.K. There were nice pieces of lobster, but it was lacking in flavour. My friend's oysters were super tasty and sea-salty fresh.  Served with some of Pipa's uber-spicy green salsa they set my mouth to waterin'. 

And then came the entrees; my two small plates and my friend's lovely stew-like pork, clam and potato mix.  The hearts of palm salad was original and refreshing.  Reminiscent of artichokes, the palm hearts were quite tangy after marinating for several hours in a lime-cilantro dressing.  On a bed of mesculn mix with chunks of corn, avocado and tomatoes, this salad was full of flavour and a nice change from other resto's typical salad options. 

The show-stopper was the meatballs.  Admittedly an odd dish; meatballs in a delicious tomato sauce sans pasta, they were served with crispy grilled baguette.  It was a decidedly simple, rustic preparation and it was delicious.  Ground veal was mixed with the usual suspects: garlic, basil and oregano, but the intriguing edition of a baking spice - nutmeg, made them all the more mysterious.  

My pal's pork and clam dish was awesome - and I don't even  like clams!  Pieces of pork and clams in the shell were cooked in a flavourful sauce,  sprinkled with verdant cilantro and served with grilled bread -  which he used to mop up the sauce.  These are some of my favorite meals; where bread is a utensil!

If you are - or even if you aren't adventurous, try heading down to Pipa to sit on the patio this summer, or in the atrium in the winter.  Though there are options for the curious palate, there are also plenty items on the menu for those with a more vanilla palate.  Of the 25+ menu options, only 6 are NOT gluten free, so it's a great spot to take friends and family who are trying to avoid gluten.

I'll say "yes" to Sushi Nami anytime!

One of the only meals that I'll never turn down is sushi.  I have to be in the mood for pub food, pizza, Mexican or fine dining, but it's a rarity when I say "no" to some delicious raw fish. Of late, our favorite spot to go is Sushi Nami Royale.  The quality of sashimi is great - important since we eat so much of it; there is a pretty good variety; and between 3-5 pm and 9:30-11:30 pm, they have a Tsu-Nami menu, where food AND booze is 20% off!  Ding, ding, ding! It's a no-brainer.

We make a serious effort to try different things when we eat at Sushi Nami, but one thing stays the same: the Sashimi Appetizer - a great deal at the regular price of $9.95, and even better when it's 20% off. The pieces of tuna are like candy and the salmon is plump and supple on your tongue.  I'm not a huge fan of the Surf Clam, but do love the little parcels of snapper wrapped around pieces of cucumber.

Sashimi Appetizer $9.95

2 Salmon, 2 Tuna, 2 Snapper & 2 Surf Clam

We also generally try to have a salad (or two!).  On this occasion, we order both the Kani and Sunomono  salads.  SN also does a good size portion of the Hiyashi Wakame (Japanese Seaweed Salad) for $6.95.  The Kani salad is delicious and creamy.  With shredded crab meat, and long strands of carrot and cucumber, I like to twirl it around my fork like spaghetti.  The good amount of avocado adds another creamy layer while also playing the role of the 'cherry on top'. 

Kani Salad $7.95
Crab Meat, Cucumber & Flying Fish Roe

The Sunomono salad is pretty delicious too - but definitely not for the faint of heart as serious octopus tentacles are involved.  Again, the texture of the shredded seafood is what I really love, paired with the slight crunch of roe.  The sauce here is based on soy and is quite mysterious.

Sunomono $9.95

Shrimp, Cucumber, Crab Meat, Octopus & Seaweed

And because a good roll is always nice, we opt for the Spicy Scallop roll which is pretty tasty with the spicy sauce and tempura bits.  A spicy salmon/tuna is a good 'go-to' as well, but the Fusion rolls are really special.   I'll have to make another trip to Sushi Nami soon to illustrate what they are all about!

Spicy Scallop (6pcs) $ 5.95

Chopped Scallop, Green Onion, Tempura Bits & Spicy Sauce

But you can't have sushi without a bit of deep fried...so we try the Karakuchi Shrimp Fry - three large shrimp stretched on skewers and deep fried in tempura batter, then coated with a spicy sauce. What a crunch!

Karakuchi Shrimp Fry 7.95

Lightly fried Shrimp and coated with the house Spicy Sauce

 

This is such a great deal and is really one to take advantage of.  How can you go wrong with a guaranteed 20% off almost everything in your order?  I say "almost" as there is a specific Tsu-Nami menu with limited items, but I'm sure your palate will be more than satisfied with those available.  

Nacho Action at Gatsby's

A couple weeks ago in late June, I filmed a commercial for Nova Scotia Tourism as part of the 'My Nova Scotia' campaign.   On June 17th,  I stood on the corner of Argyle Street across from Durty Nelly's,  in the same position for three hours...on 2 ft. high apple crates.  Yup, that's 180 minutes without moving my lower body - which by the end was wrapped in a tarp to keep the wind off of my tender tootsies.

When all was said and done and we wrapped shooting at 11 pm, all I could think about was a) a calf massage and b) nachos.  By the time I dragged my tired carcass to Gatsby's, I was ravenous and ready to storm the kitchen.  Thankfully, my pal took matters into his own hands and ordered a platter of nachos and a bowl of meaty chili.

That was a pretty good move if you ask me.  Two of my favorite (edible) things are melted cheese and a good bowl of chili.  In the state I was in, a pile of chili topping a cheese-coated, salty corn chip was pure heaven.  A bottle of beer made it all the more blissful.

I feel as though I'd be doing With Bite readers a disservice if I didn't say that the nachos were alright - I remember them being much better.  They have all the good stuff: loads of cheddar and mozza cheese, red and green peppers, tomatoes, red onions, jalapenos and the addition of sweet pineapple if your palate so desires.  I think I was just a tad underwhelmed because the cheese wasn't thoroughly melted.

                                            

The chili was a pretty standard ground beef chili with the usual additions. The server was thoughtful enough to divide the portion into two smaller bowls - she knew where our heads were at. :)

                                            

If this review sounds somewhat negative, it's not my intention.  Gatsby's has consistently good pub fare, but it's just that: Good.  It's not mind blowing, and it certainly isn't gourmet, but it's inexpensive, tasty fare that hits the spot just when you need it to. 

When I'm in the mood for pub food and beer, Gatsby's is pretty go-to, especially on Tuesdays when the apps are 1/2 priced.  In addition to the 'chos and chili, I've also had a tasty quesadilla and a nice bowl of mussels in a white wine-based broth.

Quick fix at Il Mercato

A few weeks ago, well....maybe months, we dropped in to Il Mercato pre-movie for a quick meal.  This was pre-reno, so I'd love to stop in again to check out the new digs! 

Since movie-theatre popcorn was in my imminent future, I decided to go for a lighter meal, in the form of a tomato-based herb-y soup filled with mussels, shrimp and scallops.  The soup - at a mere $9 - ccombined with a piece of toasted baguette and a glass of white wine, ended up to be the perfect snack and a nice alternative to a heavier pasta/pizza.

  

Italian Seafood Zuppa

My friend had the fettuccine dish below; a rich, cheesy sauce and nice salty prosciutto with a pile of perfectly cooked pasta.  Though he really enjoyed the dish, it was a touch too salty for me, what with the Parm and prosciutto being salty already.



Fettuccine, Prosciutto di San Daniele, sweet peas

cream & Parmesean

I'd love to say that we had a good time here, but we left less than enthused.  Though several waitstaff begrudgingly made contact with our table, our server's attitude was less that hospitable.  It's unfortunate that we went out for a nice meal, and felt as though our server resented us for sitting in her section, or...god forbid, asking a question about the menu!

Light lunch at Il Mercato

A couple weeks ago, a friend and I stopped in at Il Mercato to enjoy a light lunch.  Not really in the mood for the traditional Italian Caesar, I chose a grilled vegetable salad instead.   I'm definitely a meat-eater, but when I make up my mind about what I want to eat - in this case, lighter fare - I can't easily be swayed.  I was pumped for this meal when it arrived in front of me; the portion was plenty, and it was only $10. 

A plate of tender veg with those yummy, smokey char grilled marks were drizzled with a sweet Balsamic vinaigrette.  The 'cherry on top', or in this case, the cheese, was a healthy portion of goat cheese.  The simple flavours and varied textures combined together to create lots of interest in this plate of greens;  smokey, sweet and tangy, combined with fresh, soft and crunchy - these were the elements that kept my palate entertained until the very last bite.  

Sometimes the salad doesn't have to be the starter, if you're lucky, you can find a good one that has all the action as the main event.  

Girls Night out at the Five Fishermen Grill

If you're anything like me, you would have been wondering what had become of Little Fish, the Five Fisherman Restaurant's little sister resto on Argyle Street. A few months ago, the former Little Fish opened its doors as the Five Fishermen Grill, with a delicious new menu and an even more tantalizing restaurant space. Gone are the bright orange walls, to be replaced by a slick and sleek slate blue overview, dark wood tables and a uber sexy glass-walled wine cellar.

I managed to coordinate a dinner with some of my favorite wino-foodie gal pals, and we got together to sample some of this amazing-looking resto's cuisine in the hopes that the food looked as amazing as the new space.

Not at all to my surprise, it surpassed our expectations. In an effort to go slow, and not let our eyes overpower our stomachs, we started out with three apps - and ended up sticking to those as they were so filling! We started with a bottle of bubbly from Five Fisherman's award-winning wine list, then proceeded to order the calamari, a trio of seafood sliders and the lobster fritters.

Bathed in a mysteriously spicy Hoisin glaze, the calimari was slick and tender. A five-spice aioli further enhanced the dish with a luxurious earthy taste. I do love my calamari in this city, and I was super excited to find a version that wasn't tossed in tomato sauce...NOT that it's a bad thing - I just love the unexpected!

Calamari

Flash fried, hoisin glaze and five-spice aioli

Next, we had the plump and tender lobster claws in a crispy sweet cornmeal crust. This was a lovely juxtaposition, as the lobster meat was succulent and sweet, while the crust provided a delicate crunch. The sweetness of the crust contrasted beautifully with the fresh, verdant and piquant salsa.

Cornmeal Crusted Lobster Claws with Salsa Verde

The trio of sliders gave us all a couple bites of each burger to in order to sample the flavour combinations. The little buns, though fairly standard, white bread, were soft and sweet; slathered with mayo, they were the perfect scene upon which to set the three little patties! All three patties were drastically different, yet the seafood within was moist, and flavourful.

Five Fishermen Gill Sliders

Lobster & Corn, Salmon & Dill, Scallop & Saffron

What you may not know about the Five Fishermen Grill is its Oyster Happy Hour! Everyday from 4:30-7:30, the 5FG has oysters available for half price!

Succulent and fresh with clean, salty seawater, the oysters were light, but just enough to tip us over the edge....Though we tried to tempt ourselves with dessert, we decided to quit while we were ahead!

Oysters

Me and mah ladies!

This was a really great night, and I hope to have dinner at the Five Fishermen Grill again soon. There are several other menu items that have caught my eye, and who could say no to an oyster happy hour?!?

Just like a 'home cooked meal' at Henry House

Last weekend, a friend and I were sharing some wine at my place when our tummies started to rumble. Since it's now officially winter in Halifax, we were not enthused to leave the apartment, let alone go very far. So we decided on Henry House, which is practically in my backyard.

Upon arriving in this warm, chatter-filled squaty resto, we found a minuscule piece of real estate on which to park ourselves - practically on top of our neighbouring male diners, but they didn't seem to mind.

As is often the case during the winter months, I was craving a warm bowl of soup, and my friend was in the mood for something spicy to heat things up. Cheese ended up running the show, and we both got exactly what we were looking for.

My friend ordered the tasty (and inexpensive at about $8+HST) chicken quesadilla. The tortilla came filled with cheese, chicken, tomatoes and onions and was served with some thick sour cream and a piquant salsa. On the side, a mixed greens salad with a zesty balsamic-based vinaigrette freshened things up.

Chicken Quesadilla

Mmmmmm, melty cheese, juicy chicken and crispy tortilla!

I ended up with a bowl of Henry House's French Onion Soup. I think melted, ooey gooey cheese just might be one of my favorite foods. The soup was warm and savoury; it filled the void that had taken up residence in my belly since lunchtime. Between the earthy broth, the melt-in-your mouth, soup soaked bread chunks and the lightly-broiled cheese cap, I was glad to have ventured out of my little nest, into the frigid cold and into this inviting home away from home.

Day of Excess at aMano & Red Stag

What began as an innocent trip to grab some brunch, suddenly became a day of excess. While a friend and I decided to go to brunch and visit another friend and server at Ristorante aMano, we arrived just as said server was finishing her shift. Instead of dining without her, we decided to wait around and go somewhere where the three of us could eat instead. So...what does one do to kill time while hanging out at aMano on a blisteringly hot day? Have a gelato breakfast! Since I was having an enormous amount of trouble making up my mind (story of my life), I decided on two distinctly different flavours; a cool, refreshing mint and a rich, almost chewy-like peanut butter-chocolate. As we licked our spoons clean, we agreed that it was one of my more genius ideas lately! :)

Gelato

When we finally moved on for some "real food", it was around the corner for a quick burger at the Red Stag Tavern, located in the Keith's Brewery Market. We managed to get a seat on the patio and proceeded to laze in the sun as we awaited our meals. Still feeling like I could devour a full cow myself, I ordered a huge (for me) Admiral's Burger; a charbroiled sirloin patty topped with bacon, cheddar and a garlic-horseradish aioli. God, I love a good burger! The patty was think and juicy, and the salty bacon and greasy cheese did it even more justice. The potato wedges on the side were pretty good too - I always prefer a wedge to fries. Though they were unseasoned, I did enjoy them dipped in my side of chipotle mayo.

Admiral's Burger

On a side note, I didn't grab a photo of this one, but I recently had a lunch meeting at the Rd Stag and was pleasantly surprised with the tasty dish set before me. I ordered a bowl of the Steak & Pale Ale Chili and was shocked at how quickly it filled me up. With a tomato and Keith's IPA base, this chili was created with chunks of steak as opposed to the usual ground beef...real meat...mmm!

Wednesday Night at ONYX-The best deal in town!

I've been noticing a pattern about the places that I go for dinner...I LOVE to try new restos, don't get me wrong, but there are certain ones here in Halifax that have that...something. Though I've eaten there countless times before, I have dinner plans on Tuesday at the Brooklyn Warehouse, a place I've been often, but keep coming back to for great food, service and atmosphere. Another spot, and this Wednesday's dinner plans, is ONYX on Spring Garden Road; another resto where service is fantastic and the food is impeccable, it's a 'go-to' spot where I know I won't be disappointed.

The obvious allure of Wednesday at ONYX is the 1/2 price Bar Bites menu, and the lack of corkage fee. That's right, BYOB, and no charge for the service. A deal that is, hands down, the best one in Halifax. A couple weeks ago, some friends (in wine sales) and I had a lovely evening with a nice variety of wines at ONYX, supplemented with some tasty treats.

The boys had steaks, and some oysters were shared, but I went for my absolute fave- the duck Spring Rolls; crispy wrapper enveloping rich, tender meat, accompanied by a tangy dipping sauce. I also went for one of my favorite deep-fired treats, onion rings. I don't know what kind of magnetism onion rings have that always draws me to order them in a fine dining resto, but I simply can't resist them. Case end point: Bish, Ryan Duffy's and my upcoming post on CUT Steakhouse. However, I'm pretty sure that ONYX wins for my fave O-rings in Hali!

Duck Spring Rolls

one of my Top 10 Memorable Morsels of 2009

Onion Rings

Light dinner at The Wooden Monkey

A couple weeks ago, I went to The Wooden Monkey for my friend's birthday. I'm a big fan of small plates because it allows me to try more stuff. So as my friends were going for entrees, I opted for the Japanese Dumplings. Once I heard the soup of the day, I was sold on that as well! Soup is my comfort food, and when it's a hearty, earthy-flavoured soup, I just can't pass it up!

The soup was a blend of tomato, fennel and Parmesan cheese, pureed just to a medium thickness that ate almost like a chili. Warm, rich and with a slight bite from the licorice-flavoured anise, it was the perfect choice to fill my belly without being too heavy.

Tomato, Fennel & Parmesan Soup

Japanese Dumplings

Marinated tofu, vegetables and roasted seeds, wrapped, pan seared, oven finished,

with a hot chili sauce and garnish salad

With a crispy outer shell, the dumplings had plenty of crunch and the dipping sauce was slightly smokey with a tangy finish. The stuffing, a tasty mix of veg and tofu was flavourful, though a bit on the skimpy side. A garnish salad tied it all together - a nice addition as it provided a fresh element.

Crispy...

Chabaa Thai warms up a 'chili' night!

A couple Saturdays ago, a friend and I waited in line at Chabaa Thai for 30 minutes! I know- crazy! However, by the time we got to the resto we were so cold that venturing back out, unfed, was not an option. The other reason, was the fact that a jam-packed resto is normally a sign of good things!

We took advantage of our time in line and decided on our order. We shared Deep Fried Spring Rolls as an appy and moved on to an order of both Green and Masaman Curries.

And as the saying goes... "when in Thailand..." so we played the part and ordered two Singhas, a Thai beer that paired nicely with the spicy cuisine. How can you go wrong with Thai Spring Rolls? They were crispy and light and the sauce had a touch of spice.

Spring Rolls

Glass noodles, shredded cabbage, carrots and mushrooms, wrapped in a spring roll skin,

deep fried and served w/ sweet n' sour sauce.

We made some good choices with the curries too. The Masaman was rich and earthy; the mild red curry sauce was slightly sweet from the addition of sweet potato and peanuts. The green curry on the other hand, was spiiiicy! I went with the vegetarian option, adding tofu for a little more body along with the crunchy bamboo and tender eggplant. Fresh basil leaves added a vibrant lemony flavour. I make an effort to try the green curry in every Thai resto that I go to in order to find my fave. This one was certainly worth the wait!

Masaman Curry

Red curry paste in coconut milk w/

sweet potatoes, onions, peanut sauce, chicken and tofu.

Green Curry

Green curry paste in coconut milk w/

mini eggplant, basil, bamboo shoots, red chilies & tofu