NYC -- Foodie's Town!

I know I know, it's Canada Day and we should be home watching the fireworks. But, this year I was given the opportunity to travel to NYC; now, who can say no to that?! So, 1.5h flight, 2h train ride later -- voila! NYC, here I am~

We got here sweaty, hungry, and no room to check into (since it's high season, and most nights hotels are fully booked, they couldn't give us a room at noon). But, the service at Cassa hotel was very nice. They offered to take our luggage and take them to our room when there's a room ready. So, off we went, in search of our first meal here in the big apple.

I of course did research on where to eat. You kidding me?  I just wish I have more time! I took P to Ippudo for lunch. It's a Japanese Ramen restaurant. Some people may think why I'm going Japanese in NYC, but let me tell you, NYC is the centre of all cultures; therefore, you can find great food from all over the world here. Ippudo did not disappoint. From the decor to the food, I enjoyed every sight and every bite. We had their steamed pork buns to start. I know, why all of a sudden Chinese? Don't worry, it's not an identity crisis. These buns are better than Chinese ones. The meat is not all lean, the fat gives great flavour, the sauce is sweet and tangy with a kick, and the mayo balances everything out. Finger-licking good.

Now, for the main star at Ippudo -- Ramen. If you think you had the best ramen in Toronto from Kenzo or Kinton, you haven't tried this ramen yet. The two major players in these bowls of ramen -- soup and noodles were just amazing. The soup was very flavourful, but not from the MSG, salt, or unnecessary seasoning; it was the taste of the essence from pork bones that leached into the soup through hours and hours of stewing. When I say you can taste it all, I mean you can taste the flavour of the bone marrow because it was not masked by the salt. As for the noodles, they were thin yet firm leaving you great textural feel. P's ramen (white) was the classic flavour and my ramen (red) had spiciness and cabbage added. I thought those flavours would mask the original freshness, but not only did they added another dimension, but they brought out the flavours of the soup even more. The spiciness was not hot, but just a little bit of peppery kick and the cabbage, sautéed in garlic oil, added a richness that was not there before. Man, I could eat this all the time if they had one in Toronto...

Now, you are probably thinking we do nothing else but eating. Of course not! I had it all figured out. We got tickets to Chicago from Travelzoo deals and we enjoyed the show from second row orchestral seats. I have never been this close to the casting members before. It was an awesome show of dance, singing, and music depicting a story of women and their struggles to become something more than just married housewives during those times. It was comical yet deep.

The show ended around 10:30. Most people may think 10:30 is too late to find a decent meal and the best bet is probably a pub. Well, let me tell you, in NYC, there are still great places to go after a show. For a late night dinner/snack, we went to Hagi Sake Bar. They are tapas style Japanese bar. The place was below street level, but don't be fooled by the small and dingy entrance. Their food will blow your mind. The seating area was small, but people were gathered at the bar and tables enjoy a pint of sake for $4 or a pitcher for $6. The variety of small bites in the menu gave us a hard time choosing them. Finally we decided on 6 dishes -- all amazing. These dishes were unique, tasty, large portions, and affordable. The fried oysters are a must try. I thought by frying, they would be over-cooked, but they were crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. One bite of them with their special mayo and cabbage will leave you drooling for more. The soft-shell crab was crispy and meaty. With the sweet yuzu sauce, it brought out the sweetness of the crab even more. The chicken gizzards were bites of firm meaty popcorns. The slightly seared tuna sashimi served with crispy garlic chips, wilted onions, fresh green onions, and sweet soy sauce was party in my mouth. The combination of textures from the toppings, tangy-saltiness from the sauce, and the creaminess of the fish just composed a perfect little bite. The Tako-yaki had large chunks of tako inside the soft dough pillows topped with bonito flakes. These bites just melts in your mouth. Last but not least, the burdock root chips were heavenly. They are crispy taro tasting chips that came with a special mayo sauce filled with fish roe. I have never seen such fancy mayo. Enough with the description, I will let the pictures speak for themselves.

Though NYC is busy and crowded, it has definitely stimulated me; leaving me wanting more. So, tomorrow is another day~

Wedding Anniversary -- Cavalia's Odysseo

A year has gone by in a blink of an eye. I thought marriage life would be the same as before when we were just dating, but truth is, it's better than that. In this past year I have experienced ups and downs with him.  He has walked through the good times and bad times with me. When you are dating, you do fight, but for the most part, you try to present your best side; not because you want to hide anything, but you care too much. In married life, you show him everything; not because you want him to see all the flaws in you, but because you know he's always there no matter what happens.

We're still working on our differences, but differences are what make us so compatible. Thank you P for my awesome wedding anniversary gift. You remembered I said I would like to see Odysseo! Love ya~

Montreal Trip -- in search of good times and great food (part 1)

Montreal is one of those places where you never get tired of. Even though it's so close to Toronto, I still love to visit Montreal because of it great shopping, rich history, and most importantly -- awesome food! The first day we got there it was rainy, but we didn't let that stop us. We had lunch at Schwartz, the legendary smoke meat restaurant. The place was packed (every time we go). People were lining up on the street to get in despite the weather. The sandwich was two very thin layer of bread separated by a huge stack of smoke meat. Even though it looks big, we could not stop at one. You absolutely do NOT need to add anything to this sandwich except for the house muster they provide. While you are working on that large sandwich, you should also try their pickle side dish. This was a simple, yet very mouth-watering meal.

We left the place with bulging stomachs and we headed for a stroll along Rue St. Catherine. There are great shops along that street and one place you cannot miss is Simons. Even though the store is big with tons of things to look through, but let me tell ya, it's all worth it. There are some hidden gems in that store -- cheap great finds.

For dinner, we decided to venture to the Burger Bar on Crescent St. I was skeptical at first about this place because it looked like a "common" bar from the outside, but man was I surprised. We ordered spicy chicken wings and their BABA Burger. Let me tell you, those wings were crispy on the outside, juicy and meaty on the inside, and most importantly, the sauce was spicy but not burning. It was all the right combination that made it probably the best wings I've ever had so far. As for the burger, beside having a top notch juicy patty, the toppings made it over the top. The slightly charred red pepper, red onion, zucchini, and portabella added not only freshness, but also juiciness. The garlic mayo and balsamic reduction added a hint of sweetness and tang. All the right flavours in between gourmet buns. Give it a shot next time you are there. You won't be disappointed.

Before I had to buckle down to work (attending conference), we had one more day to spend in Montreal. So I decided to take him to the Biodome. I've been there before in the winter time so I wasn't able to visit the garden. This time we did it all -- the Biodome, insectarium, Olympic Tower, and the botanical garden.

Though the trip was short, I enjoyed every part of it.  Until next time Montreal -- see ya!