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Noodles or rice? What a tough call - to me at least. And being quite indecisive when it comes to choosing where & what to eat, it's not an easy decision for me. Luckily, Cristina & Jon (@CJ.noms) and Jeff (@jeffahlei) made it easy for me when they invited me over to try out the newly opened MeNaMi in North York. It has received some buzz since it's opening as a popular Japanese Udon & Sake bar in that neighbourhood. The restaurant is a sister restaurant to Han Ba Tang (read review here ), just a few blocks down on Yonge Street. You will notice the similar hip and welcoming atmosphere but don't expect the same type of food. MeNaMi is all about authentic Japanese udon and marrying it with western taste for some of the dishes. As for cocktails, the team got pretty creative with the names: Matcha Drunken Tea & Sailor Moon Gone Wild, anyone? My favourite was the Thai Iced Tea Cocktail.     Thai Iced Tea Cocktail | Beef Tataki Seaweed Salad Smoked Salmon with Par...

'Never drink on an empty stomach' is a lesson I learned during my time in university and an important one at that. Before a dance-filled night out with girlfriends, what better way to start the night than with good food and cocktails? A few weeks ago, we headed over to Ufficio on Ossington Ave. and Dundas St. W., a new spot that's been getting great reviews by many.     Cosmonaut | Eristoff Vodka, luxardo maraschino, buckthorn shrub, fresh lime Picante Pasini | Cazadores Tequila, aperol, chili, grapefruit, fresh lime Selvaggio | Flor de cana 7 year, amaro montenegro, fresh lime, ginger beer My friend made reservations for 9 P.M. Side note: you should always make Friday reso's at this time. It gives us girls some time to relax after work, freshen up, change into something less work appropriate, and have a glass of wine (or two). Dinner & drinks at 9 P.M. means we'll be done around 11 P.M., the perfect time to head out for a night on the town. Ufficio isn't...

The night Toronto got 20cm of snow was the night I was at dinner for some sushi and sake - so dedicated, right? Located on Gristmill Lane in the Distillery District, Boku serves a variety of Japanese specialties including blow torched sushi, sashimi and omakase. Inside the restaurant, Boku mixes industrial elements like exposed brick walls and traditional Japanese decor to create a unique atmosphere. It seems like a good spot for dates or a sake tastingsat the bar with a friend or two.     Soba Salad  Buckwheat noodle, spring mix, enoki, bonito flakes, balsamic dressing Agedashi Tofu Flash fried tofu, shiitake, oyster mushroom, negi, tentsuyu sauce Salmon Tataki Slow Roasted Duck  Boku Maki Scallop, avocado, umé, albacore tuna & Unagi sauce  Distillery Roll Shrimp, salmon, avocado, masago, topped with cheese, lemon & unagi sauce Tai Aburi Haki Sushi Pickled cherry blossom, yuzu pepper & sesame soy  Beef Aburi Hako Sushi Asparagus, chilli daikon...

Last week felt like real Canadian winter in Toronto: snowy, slushy and dreadful. Thankfully I had a memorable dinner in the Private Wine Cellar at Gusto 101 - one of my favourite Italian restaurants in the city. The Prosecco, wines and of course the food left me and my tastebuds so satisfied that the cold was the last thing on my mind for the rest of the week. What was the occasion, you ask? Gusto 54 restaurant group recently partnered with chef Evan Funke to open up their newest addition,  Felix LA  in L.A. this summer and we were getting a sneak peak at his pasta skills. I'm personally a big fan of the restaurants under the Gusto 54 umbrella: Gusto 101, Trattoria Nervosa, and Pai, so I'm really excited for their numerous new openings this year in Toronto. - Gusto 501 will open its doors in the East side - Chubby's , a Jamaican kitchen will open across the street from Gusto 101 In the meantime, check out the feast prepared by Chef Evan Funke below: Photo Credit: Nick Lee...

Ah, the power of social media, or maybe it's just my #FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) but I've noticed many visits to the Aga Khan Museum lately on instagram. I was obviously intrigued and curious about what this museum exhibits, so when I was invited for a lunch at the Diwan Restaurant located inside the museum, I didn't hesitate.   Prior to my visit, I've mostly seen people taking photos outside the museum, which I attempted above (haha) and not so much of the food. I didn't know what to expect really, other than the fact that Chef Mark McEwan's has recently joined as the manager of food & beverage services. The cuisine is an infusion of India, North America and the Middle East, offering lunch service everyday except Mondays from 11:30 A.M. through 2:30 P.M. In the evenings, Diwan caters to themed dinners and private events. There's actually an upcoming event on March 12 - details are at the end of this post! Lamb Kibbeh Toasted pine nuts, golden raisins,...