Sassafraz

Sassafraz 100 Cumberland St 416 964 2222

I was so excited that my grandson Brad and his beautiful Hillary were coming to Toronto. They left Chicago at 3:30 a.m. to be here in Toronto in time for lunch. I was so honored that they took the time for lunch before heading to a wedding in Montreal. It was Brad’s birthday. I wanted it to be a memorable meal. After driving for 8 hours I thought a short walk would be in order. What could be better than a stroll through Yorkville? We tried to get a table on the patio. Of course it was completely filled on such a great summer day. We were invited to dine in the main dining room. That was absolutely the right place. We had a perfect table at the back in the solarium. A pleasant waterfall and the sleek modern design made for a perfect ambiance.

The service was outstanding and we settled in for a birthday celebration. Sangria with fresh fruit was a delightful beginning.

Brad ordered the Scallops.($21.00) They were large and looked so tempting. The seared scallops were served with warm asparagus, parsnip and truffle salad with a chanterelle foam. It was a work of art. I could tell they were tender because a fork was all that was needed to cut the meaty portions.

Hillary enjoyed her Ravioli.($18.00) Buffalo mozzarella ravioli were served with fresh tomato and basil. The presentation in the large white bowl was very tantalizing.

I had been told beforehand that the Salad Nicoise was delicious.($18.00) I love tuna and will travel anywhere for a good piece of that delightful fish. This was the best. The tuna pieces were perfectly cooked. The fish melted in my mouth. This was not a traditional nicoise salad. There was a mound of fresh frisee on the tuna. The artichoke vinaigrette was scrumptious.

I was tempted with the Salmon served with parsley root and potato puree, asparagus and salsify with a red pepper beurre blanc.($24.00)

This was a birthday so we had to order a dessert. The Chocolate Dessert was a wondrous experience. A chocolate banana flourless cake was decorated with pineapple carpaccio, rum and coconut mousse. The Lemon Dessert was also tempting. A Limoncello Olive Oil cake, lemon ricotta cannoli and lemon curd are served with lemongrass ice cram. I also wanted to try the Raspberry and Rhubarb Tart with vanilla custard, lemon poppy seed gelee and toasted meringue. All desserts are $12.00. My sister joined us for a cappuccino. I noticed the biscotti on the side. I mentioned to the server that I love biscotti. A nanosecond later a little plate of biscotti was placed on the table. They were devoured immediately. So delicious! As if all that wasn’t enough a plate with three chocolates placed on little butter cookies was presented to us. Of course we couldn’t leave anything.

I thought the menu was thoughtful and creative. The presentation was so appealing and the service impeccable.

I hope Brad had a great birthday. I certainly had fun celebrating with my grandson and his lady love. How lucky I am

Lisbon by Night

Lisbon by Night 802Dundas St. 416 603 6522

Elaine and I had just seen a very depressing film. We needed to be uplifted. This was the final night of Summerlicious and we intended to gorge on fine food and have a fun time.

Lisbon By Night is an experience. It is party time and we loved every minute. Part of our delight was due to our outstanding server, Susanne. She was funny, irreverent, generous and highly efficient. She wanted to please and went out of her way to make our evening very special. When Elaine commented that the white wine was not exactly pleasing the glass was immediately taken away and a different wine appeared. At the end of the meal I joked that only thing missing was a piece of dark chocolate. It actually happened. We were both presented with a wrapped piece of dark delicious chocolate.

I commented that I loved tuna and I was rewarded with a lot of my favorite fish.

Be prepared to eat an enormous amount. The food is amazing and it never stops coming.

The first course offered several choices. Elaine opted for the Grilled Sardines. They were so large. She claims they were the best she has ever had. Fish Soup or Green Collard Soup was also listed on the menu. I opted for the Grilled Vegetables. The platter was enormous and each bite was ecstasy. Egg plant, zucchini, Portobello mushroom and peppers were grilled and topped with an oregano extra virgin oil sauce. Each bite was a gourmet delight. I was so filled with just the first course.

For a main entrée you could order the Carne de Parco A Alentejana. Marinated pork is sautéed with clams and served with potatoes wine and cilantro. Vegetarians can enjoy the Penne with olive oil, red and green pepper, zucchini and mushrooms.

We both decided to enjoy the Fish Rodozio. I don’t even have words to describe our delicious fish fest. Platters of fish kept coming around and you helped yourself to as much as you desired. Would you believe that on this occasion platters of tuna, bream, shrimp, calamari, grouper and sardines was offered to us. The platters came more than once. Each table was presented with a bowl of small roasted potatoes and fantastically flavored rice.

A regular menu had so many choices of good Portuguese food. I intend to come back for more Fish Rodizio. For $20.00 you are offered all the grilled fish you can eat. Bread, potatoes and salad are included. The fish is perfectly seasoned and it is wonderful to feast on such a variety at one sitting. The servers offer the food with such pizzazz.

We were bursting at the seams but managed to eat most of our dessert. Elaine’s choice was the Rice Pudding and I shamelessly ordered the Crème Caramel. I really loved the burnt sugar topping.

We both agreed that this was a wonderful dining feast and we had so much fun. Susanne was one of the best servers we have ever encountered and we want to come back just to see her. It is nice to know that such great Portuguese food is offered and presented in a festive manner.

Alize

Alize 2459 Yonge St. (at Erskine Ave.)

416 487 2771

Once again I took advantage of the Summerlicious program to have a great dining experience for $25.00. Not only did I enjoy some fine cuisine I also had the great company of my grandson, Alex and my daughter-in-law Kathy. I am always delighted when my family gets together. It was a beautiful summer evening so I took the subway and walked a few blocks north of Eglinton. I had great pleasure in looking at all the restaurants in the area. There are many. At the end of our pleasant experience we agreed that we had made the right choice.

Alex enjoyed the Gazpacho Soup served with fresh coriander. He was delighted with the flavor and the ample size of the portion. Kathy and I enjoyed the Baby Spinach Salad served with cherry tomatoes in a toasted sesame seed with a ginger and honey vinaigrette. The spinach was so fresh and crisp we felt as if it had just been picked. The vinaigrette was subtle and tasty. Our third choice was the Phyllo Pastry Stuffed With Spinach, caramelized onions, ricotta and served with harissa.

Alex and Kathy chose the Malbec-Braised Beef Short Ribs prepared in a chocolate chipotle BBQ sauce. It was served with Yukon gold pommes frites. I consider Kathy to be the expert on pommes frites and she declared these as a winner. The meat was flavorful and very tender.

I was thrilled with the Angel Hair Pasta. It was served with roasted garlic, grilled portobello, roasted peppers, tomato concasse and charred onions. The basil pesto and crumbled goat cheese was absolutely delightful on the palate.

Alize Special Seafood Paella with tiger shrimps, mussels and chorizo sausage was a favorite this evening. It is served with tomato provencal saffron rice.

It is amazing how we always have room for dessert when it is part of the package. Alex and Kathy enjoyed the Crepe Stuffed With Banana & Caramel. It was topped with a chocolate balsamic glaze. They enjoyed it but agreed that a topping of whipping cream or ice cream would have added to the overall pleasure.

I opted for the Strawberry & Apple Crumb Tart with whipping cream. It was a delightful conclusion to a lovely evening.

The restaurant was filled both on the patio and inside. The service was very warm. We enjoyed our food very much.

The regular menu offers an amazing variety of dishes. There are numerous entrée dishes offered. Pasta and Pizza suggestions are plentiful. I was pleased to see that delivery and catering is also offered.

The restaurant is centrally located and totally satisfying.

Bistro Tournesol

Bistro Tournesol 406 Dupont St 416 921 7766

One week ago I ate a perfect meal here. I have been savoring this unbelievable meal in my mind and had to go back to see if another try would be as magnificent. Hard to believe! It was even better. Perfect. Outstanding. Marvelous!

I am quickly working my way through the Summerlicious restaurants but had to go back once more to this small perfect restaurant. As usual Philip greeted us at the door as if we were his best friends. The restaurant was booming. My dinner companion and I agreed that this was an amazing excellent restaurant. We reminisced when this establishment was called the Cow and featured healthy type food back in the ‘hippy days.’ I later enjoyed the food at Jakes and then it became Bistro Tournesol. I have been loyal for many years but the present establishment is the best. Philip is so ‘delicious’ himself. He works the front of the restaurant and treats his clients with such care and respect. I must meet Chef Craig one day. He is a master in creating delectable food. His sauces are tasty and smooth. The food is cooked to perfection. The plating is creative. Every bite is noteworthy. I love this place.

My dinner companion began her meal with the Summer Gazpacho. It was so flavorful and had a fresh taste of the pureed vegetables. We were off to a good start. On my last visit I savored the Fish Cakes and was tempted to re-visit this tasty dish. I opted to enjoy the Tournesol Mixed Greens with sunflower seeds and cherry tomatoes. The salad was crisp and tasty. The shalotte vinaigrette was subtle and perfectly enhanced the flavor of the greens.

My dinner companion opted for the Vegetarian Special. Pasta. It was cooked al dente and the red onion, zucchini, and tomato added so much flavor. The pasta was topped with goat’s cheese. I was craving my favorite Grilled Fresh Atlantic Salmon. Salmon needs to be cooked only to a certain point so it is not overcooked. My portion was moist inside and melted in my mouth. The citrus aioli drizzled on top was a gourmet perfection. I never eat enough vegetables so was delighted with the variety of perfectly cooked vegetables. Cauliflower, spinach, beans and broccoli made me a healthy satisfied diner. I think I could have eaten another full plate because it all tasted so good.

When I arrived at the restaurant I told Phillip that the Lemon Curd Tart was calling out to me. For one week I had been secretly salivating over the thought of this gourmet wonder. It is the best dessert I have ever had. Even now as I think about the creamy, tart taste of that lemon tart I salivate. The crust is flaky and the drizzled wild blueberry preserves make this a ‘wow’ dessert.

I was happy that the other choice at the table was the Bittersweet Belgian Chocolate Mousse. The white chocolate curls added a zing to the creamy chocolate base. A little almond biscotti was on the side.

Perhaps I have indulged in superlatives but I sincerely declare this restaurant the best of the best.

Bistro Tournesol is taking a well deserved holiday the first week of August. Do call ahead to make a reservation either before or after that date. The regular menu promises to allow you to indulge in a wondrous dining experience.

Restrepo

Restrepo

It was 29 degrees outside and the last thing I wanted to see was a film about soldiers fighting in Afghanistan dressed in all their gear. In the summer it must have been terrible carrying all the weight of their equipment. In the winter they appeared to be underdressed as they trudged through the snow in the mountains. There was nothing else playing so I walked to Dundas and Yonge to see this documentary about a battalion stationed in the Korengal Valley of Afghanistan. Their mission was to kill the Taliban and try to work with the civilians living there.

This was considered one of the most dangerous postings. One soldier states,” What are we doing here in this hell hole?” Another sobs uncontrollably after his friend is killed.

The film opens showing us a truck driving along the dirty dusty roads. A bomb hits and there is death.

The area is named Restrepo after one of the leading soldiers who died there. We get to see how they lived and how they fought. We meet several of the soldiers and they tell the camera how they are feeling.

How could I not be touched? I winced when I saw the food they ate that they seemed to think was okay. A sticky fly trap was hanging from the ceiling directly over the non descript food. I might add it was covered with dead flies. The men joked as they stoked the fire. It was a big vat that was burning their feces.

The quarters were sparse and I wondered how they washed and kept their clothes clean. I noticed that many of their arms and hands were bruised and dirty Water must have been a scarcity.

The men joke with one another and play games to pass the time. One soldier even had his guitar and played for the men. How would he ever have been able to carry the musical instrument with all his baggage? When asked they do admit to their fear.

We follow them on their maneuvers into the high hills and through the brush. With every step my heart was racing wondering if someone would be shot. Several of the men do lose their lives.

I was horrified when one soldier took great satisfaction in killing a Taliban. He also stated that he would probably have trouble adjusting when he went home. I wonder that any of those soldiers could lead a ‘normal’ life after the rigors of fighting in Afghanistan.

I was intrigued with the leader. He kept giving them pep talks to encourage them in their mission. I sensed that he was fair and was a good leader. It appeared as if the men respected him. That would be the only way they could succeed in such trying circumstances.

The land in Afghanistan is brutal. It is beautiful but was so challenging and brutal for the soldiers. They held weekly meetings with the elders to try and negotiate how to make their lives better. Translations were necessary and sometimes I felt the translations were not accurate and could lead to misunderstandings.

This was an amazing documentary. I will never go to Afghanistan. I will never be part of a fighting army. Through this film I was able to see directly the challenge faced by this troop.

It must have been a great challenge to produce this film. The camera men went along on all the missions and were able to talk directly to the men to learn how they were responding to the situation. This film deserves an award.

Gasland

Gasland

Thank you Josh Fox for daring to make this unbelievable documentary about the gas drilling in the United States. It must be seen by everyone. The film was powerful and upsetting. My friend and I discussed how it was a Michael Moore type of investigation but much more powerful.

I was simply unaware of the problems faced by ‘ordinary folk’ who happen to live close to the gas drilling in the United States. I was totally unaware of how much land is involved with this major problem. 34 states are involved in drilling.

In 1972 Richard Nixon signed a Clean Air Act. Dick Cheney managed to write exemptions for the oil and gas industry. I have never been a fan of this man but after this film I want him tried in court and sent to jail.

The Halliburton hydraulic fracturing system beaks into the earth to find the gas. It also pollutes the water as a result. I witnessed in the film many communities suffering with undrinkable water. Can you imagine holding a match to your tap and watching a fire burst forth? This happened countless times. The residents in many communities were told by authorities that their water was safe. Later when it was analyzed it showed a combination of carcinogenic chemicals. Many of the people suffered from horrible illnesses. I watched the children play in the fields and was saddened to think that the situation was hopeless. Their land was polluted. Nobody was helping and the children were going to face terrible health problems. Nobody would help these residents and authorities kept lying to them. Their property was being destroyed by the gas lines. Their health was totally being destroyed. They were unable to drink the water or even bathe in it.

Josh tried to find people within Halliburton to interview. Of course nobody was available.

In one town water well actually exploded due to the gas build up under the surface. Many animals were sick and their hair was falling out. It was pathetic. One woman stored dead animals in her freezer so that one day she could use them as proof that they died from the carcinogenic material on the land and in the water.

Dick Cheney played a large part in the development of the gas lines and certainly didn’t do anything to help the poor folk who suffered as a result.

Oil and gas emissions from the drilling are much worse for the environment than cars. The ozone layer is in serious shape as a result of the emissions in the air. Many of the toxins dumped into the water returned to the land after some of the past hurricanes struck.

This is the number 1 environmental problem. I was happy to see that a state Government investigation was looking into the matter.

I left feeling that the situation is close to hopeless. The big gas drilling corporations have too much power. They are lying to the people and the end result is serious and disturbing.

The film could do with some editing but it was dynamite to watch. I would think that Josh would have been at some risk in attempting to make all his interviews. Let’s hope that the finished documentary will be seen by enough people to start pushing for change.

The film is playing at the Royal Cinema. Unfortunately the film only shows once a day. The theatre is used for film editing during the day. The Royal continues to get the most outstanding films. This particular film is a must.

Mr Nobody

Mr Nobody

I have never been a fan of science fiction or fantasy. I was prepared to be disappointed. If a film is too confusing I get frustrated and do not like the feeling of being stupid. Mr. Nobody played at last year’s Toronto Film Festival.

In many ways I found the film extremely creative and quite brilliant. It was entertaining and well produced.

We meet Mr. Nobody (called Nemo) as an aged man living in the year 2092. He is on some place in outer space. He is the last living mortal. A psychiatrist tries to interview Mr. Nobody to learn his life story. The psychiatrist has black geometric designs on his face and is a bizarre looking person. A journalist also tries to get the story.

The film goes back and forth from earlier times and we learn a lot about Mr. Nobody.(Nemo)

One of the most dramatic scenes takes us back to when Nemo was 9 years old. His parents were divorcing. Both parents were standing at a train station. They were asking Nemo to decide if he will leave on the train with his mother or stay with his father. It was very moving and that scene seems to have been a profound moment in his life.

At times the film shows him with his mother and how that develops as he gets older. We also see him staying with his father and the person he becomes with him. Confusing yes but it is a film technique that works. It was never frustrated because you realize what is happening and go along wherever the story takes you.

We meet three women who played an important parting his life.

One of the women he meets is his great love. Her name is Anna. He meets her when his mother brings home a new man. Anna is his daughter. The mother and lover move in together and Anna and Nemo have a sexual relationship and are fast friends. When the couple separate Anna moves with her father to New York. The two try to meet on occasion but it doesn’t really work out.

I particularly enjoyed the sequence with his third lady. Sarah Polley plays the part of his wife. She is having a nervous break down and feels like a loser. Her acting is fantastic and very dramatic. Nemo stays with her and is comforting and kind.

The film goes from outer space back to his past life and then back to the so called present. (Which is really the future)

All the performers were excellent. The storyline is so creative and thought provoking. I marvel at the imagination of the writer and director.