Sunday Easter Brunch @ Globe Bistro, Toronto

This year, my friends and I celebrated our Sunday Easter Brunch at Globe Bistro which featured a 4-Course Price Fixed Brunch Menu at CAD $30 per person. Booking a week in advanced, we were given a nice private table on the Mezzanine Floor that overlooked their main dining area.




There were a few choices for Appetizers, Mains and Desserts but for some strange reason the 6 of us chose pretty much the same courses.


Scones

I loved the Scones. It was more of a Hybrid between Biscuit and Scone. The Exterior was like Biscuit where it was crispy and crusty. It was really good!


Smoked Steel Head Trout

The Crepes were dense which went quite well with the Smoked Steel Head Salmon. The texture of the Salmon is a little thicker than your usual smoked salmon with a little less fat.


Slow Roasted Perth County Heritage Bone-In Ham

The Ham was quite good although it was a little bit salty. But eaten with the Rutabaga Mash it was very good.


Apple Crumble

This was really good. The Oatmeal had a very nice buttery flavor and was super crunchy. It went really well with the Vanilla Ice Cream.


Of all the courses I had the Scones and Apple Crumble were my favorites. Service was excellent and the courses came out at a decent pace. I would like to visit Globe again for their Dinner Menu.

Food: 4/5
Service: 4.5/5
Ambiance: 4.3/5
Price: $$$$ (Approximately USD $40 per person)


Contact Information
Address: 124 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4K 1N1
Tel: +1 (416) 466-2000 ‎
Web: www.globebistro.com
Map:

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Journal by Plan B @ Publika, Solaris Dutamas

A sister restaurant to the popular Ben's, Journal by Plan B offers a mix of Asian and Western Comfort Food. From Soups, Salads, Sandwiches, Pastas and a number of Entrees there's definitely something for everyone.

Cream of Mushroom Soup

I really enjoyed their earthy mushroom soup. It had a nice semi-chunky texture.


Spaghetti Carbonara

The Carbonara sauce was really rich and creamy. The Spaghetti was cooked just right Al Dente.


Smoked Salmon Caesar Salad

We wanted our dressing on the side but they tossed it in. The Caesar Salad was crisp and the dressing tasted similar to Delicious.


Roast Beef Sandwich

My sandwich was served with Ciabatta Bread. The Beef itself wasn't as tender as I'd hoped but it was still very good. I did wish however they added a little more beef.

Food: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Ambiance: 4.5/5
Price: $$ (Approximately USD $20 per person)


Contact Information
Address: 65, Level G2, Publika Solaris Dutamas, Jalan Dutamas 1, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel: +60 3-6205 5318
Map:

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Lunch @ B.I.G, Solaris Dutamas

We recently visited Ben's Independent Grocer to purchase some Wagyu Beef and decided to visit their cafe which was packed with locals and expats.


Chicken Pie

The Puff Pastry was quite flaky and the Bechamel Sauce was quite good with the chicken. The potatoes however were very dry.


Beef Pie

The Beef was very tender but lacked Gravy from being over cooked in the oven as evident by the burnt top of the Pie.


Quiche

This was Eric's order. The Quiche did not have a strong eggy flavor which I usually love when eating Quiche.


Roast Chicken

The Chicken was quite good. The skin was crisp but the meat was a little dry. The gravy that came with it was a little under salted.


Pizza Margarita

I asked for extra Basil but it they only gave me several leaves. The Pizza had a nice thin crust that had some nice air pockets giving it a nice crunch. But it definitely lacked the flavor of Basil.


Sticky Date Pudding

The Pudding was moist and was good with the Ice Cream and melted Caramel with Walnuts.


Rocky Mountain Cake

I was hoping this would be good but it turned out to be very dry. The Marshmallow was very tough and chewy and the sponge layers were too dense and dry.


Peach Crumble

The Pie Crust was good but the Peaches did not have a strong peach flavor.


The food at BIG looked very good but tasted pretty bad from our mains to the desserts. We were all disappointed especially having been Ben's and Estate (restaurants owned by BIG owners) which were excellent.


Food: 2.5/5
Service: 3/5
Ambiance: 4/5
Price: $$ (Approximately USD $20 per person)


Contact Information:
Address: LOT 1A 83 - 95, Level UG,, Jalan Dutamas 1, 50480 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: +603-2248 8790 ‎
Map:

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Refined Bistro Classics @ Estate, Intermark

A family friend took us to one of his favorite Restaurants called Estate at the Intermark. Owned by the group behind Plan B, Ben's, Tate and T-Forty Two, Estate serves up a myriad of Bistro Classics with a more refined twist than their main stream chain Ben's and Plan B.

Mushroom Truffle Pizza

An unbeatable combination. Truffles, Mushrooms and whole Mozzarella slices on a crusty Pizza Dough. What more can one say?


Crispy Confit Chicken Wings and Pan Seared Scallops

Who would have thought of serving Scallops with Chicken Wings? Eaten together it was a little weird but separately it was good. The Maple Dressing gave the crispy Chicken Wings a nice caramel flavor. And the perfectly cooked Scallops went well with the Cauliflower Mousse.


Parmigiano Reggiano-Egg Croquette

My first ever Egg Croquette. The Egg was fried to a nice Golden Brown Color. I liked the interplay between the Crispy Egg Texture, Tender Egg White and Crumbly Yolk.


Pan Seared Foie Gras

I'm a sucker for Foie Gras. The Pan-Seared Foie Gras was soft, creamy and rich in flavor.


Mussels in Provencal Sauce

The only disappointing dish we had. The Mussels were plump and cooked right but they were way over-salted.


Guiness Braised Beef Stew

The Beef was really tender and was surprisingly much better both in flavor and texture than what I had at Lee's in Toronto.


Cote de Boeuf


Our Cote de Boeuf's cut looked like a Sirloin. It was seared and baked to a perfect Medium and was well seasoned. Like any good Sirloin it had a nice meaty texture that is full of flavor. The Bone Marrow was equally just as good.


Traditional Beer Battered Cod Fish and Chips

The Cod Fish had a light and crispy batte although it could have been salted a little more. I particularly liked their Mushy Peas.


Handcut Wagyu Five Striploin Cheese Burger

One of my favorites of the night. The Wagyu Striploin was very tender without being too mushy. It had a nice combination of Fat and Meat making a really good Beef Patty that went well with the soft Sesame Bun.


Beer Roasted Whole Chicken

Nice presentation but it was impossible to carve. Our waited had to take it back to the Kitchen to carve it for us. The Chicken was quite flavorful but a little dry on the Breast Side.


Snickers Bar

We were stuffed by the time our Desserts came but this didn't stop us from finishing our deconstructed Snickers Bar which really tasted like the Chocolate Bar but with a softer texture.


Lemon Tart

This was our last dessert. The Lemon Tart had a nice Tangy flavor and the Crust was crusty.


The food was excellent and the live band that night was amazing. It was my first time at Estate but definitely won't be my last. Anyone looking for a night out with good food, ambiance and music should give this place a try.


Food: 4.5
Service: 4.5/5
Ambiance: 4.5/5
Price: $$$$$ (Approximately USD $50 per person)


Contact Information
Address: G01, Ground Floor, The Intermark, 182 Jalan Tun Razak, KL
Tel: +603-2163-5732
Map:

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The best Fine Dining I've had so far @ Nota Bene, Toronto

It was my final week in Toronto before I head back to Asia for a month. I wanted to sample another fine dining establishment and decided on Nota Bene after reading a lot of positive reviews on the Internet.

The cuisine as described by Open Table is Contemporary American and featured a Hog Summer Night Special every Tuesday in July and August. Fortunately for us we dined there on a Tuesday night and had a chance to order their Hog Special.


Bread

Our meal started off with some Rye Bread which was served cold. I'm not a fan of Cold Breads in fine dining establishments as it tends to be a little too chewy.


SUCKLING PIG TACO

This was the first course of the Hog Summer Night Special. The shredded pork was tossed in a rather bland spice mix and is served with some Pork Crackling, Tomatillo, Sour Cream and Butterhead Lettuce


RICOTTA-STUFFED ZUCCHINI FLOWERS

The Zucchini Flowers had a nice textural contrast between the crispy batter and soft ricotta cheese. It was seasoned just right and the Ricotta Cheese was really good


HAMACHI CEVICHE

Absolutely delicious. The Hamachi literally melts in your mouth. The Acidity was perfectly balanced with the use of Buttermilk which toned down the sourness. Eaten together with the Cilantro and Avocado it was a really refreshing appetizer.


NOVA SCOTIA LOBSTER SALAD

Crisp Romaine Lettuce, Perfectly Cooked Lobster Meat, Crispy Croutons and Bacon Bits tossed with a Butter Milk Dressing that did not overpower the salad. This was another solid appetizer.


SUCKLING PIG PORCHETTA

The main course of the Hog Summer Special was simply divine. The natural flavor of the Pork Loin and Stuffing is accentuated so well in this dish. The Pork was moist and the Skin and Crackling was crisp. Easily one of the best Pork Dishes I've had.


12/OZ GRASS-FED NEW YORK STRIP

The Striploin was cooked perfect Medium Rare. It was had a nice flavor but it did not had a crispy crust like what I had in Giby's. It was definitely a very good Striploin but Giby's still has my vote for the best Steaks.


RABBIT SOFFRITO, PAPPARDELLE PASTA

This was Katrin'a entree and I had a little bit of it. The Pasta was cooked Al Dente with the Rabbit Meat really tender.


MEDITERRANEAN SEABASS

This was Lily's main course and we found it to be a little disappointing because it tasted similar to Chinese Steam Fish. Given we were in Nota Bene we expected something different.


SHAVED ONION RINGS

We ordered a side dish of Onion Rings. It was seasoned nicely with Sea Salt, had a light crunchy texture and the Onion Rings was sweet.


STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING

A sweet but sinful dessert. The Caramel had a nice deep flavor and was really good the Sticky Toffee which contained some Pecan Praline adding a nice crunchy texture to the soft Pudding.


LEMON CURD, BUCKTHORN BERRY SORBET

My favorite dessert of the night. This dessert was an interplay of Texture and Flavors. The Lemon Curd's sourness complemented the Buckthorn Berry Sorbet and Raspberries. The Raspberries were served frozen giving it a crispy texture to contrast the soft texture of the Sorbet and Lemon Curd.


PISTACHIO ICE CREAM

The Ice Cream was decent. The Pistachio Flavor was strong but it wasn't as creamy as we liked. We did however enjoy the Sugar Biscuit.


Overall Note Bene is the best Fine Dining Restaurant I've had so far in Toronto. There were a number of dishes I really enjoyed such as their Hamachi Ceviche, Lobster Salad, Suckling Pig Porchetta and Lemon Curd with Buckthorn Berry Sobert.

People looking to visit Nota Bene should definitely go on a Tuesday to try out their Suckling Pig Porchetta!


Food: 4.5/5
Service: 4/5
Ambiance: 4/5
Price: $$$$$ (Approximately USD $65 per person)


Contact Information
Address: 180 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON M5V 3X3, Canada
Tel: +1 (416) 977-6400
Web: www.notabenerestaurant.com/welcome/
Map:

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English Food @ Mayfair English Kitchen and Bar

I haven’t had any English Food in KL and had my first at Mayfair on PJ Trade Center. Owned by the people behind Jarrod and Rawlins, Mayfair is tucked in a corner of Menara and spots a décor that resembles a posh Night Club.

Tucked in a quiet corner of Menara Taiko, the restaurant was busy on a Wednesday night and offers a menu that’s not really Traditional English Food but rather a mix of popular Western Dishes like Roast Pork Knuckle, Pizzas and Pastas.

Our waiter made several food recommendations and for beverages "insisted" we have bottled water despite us asking for regular Hot Water.


Roasted Tomato and Bell Pepper Soup

This was quite good. The Bell Pepper gave the soup a smoky flavor and went well with the Tomatoes.


Cream of Mushroom Soup:

The Mushroom Soup was decent. One could taste some Mushroom bits but the flavor was a little bit mild.


Caesar Salad

The Caesar Salad was quite good with the dressing not being too tangy. The Deep Fried Butter Croutons was a little too oily for my liking.


BBQ Ribs

This was recommended by our Waiter since the Pork Knuckle wasn't available. The Pork Ribs had virtually no meat and was very tough probably from being over charred. Taste wise it was very oriental.


Chicken Escalope

The Chicken was very tender and the Crust was crispy. It was served with some Yogurt which help cut the oiliness from the breaded Chicken.

Beer Chicken

The Beer Chicken was terrible. It came with a knife stabbed right into it’s thigh and was over-salted and over-cooked.


Duck Basil Pesto Spaghetti

The Pasta was cooked just a little over Al Dente. The Basil Pesto was a little mild but was compensated with the flavor from the Duck.


Spaghetti Carbonara

The best dish of the night. The Carbonara Sauce was very creamy and clung on to the Pasta. The Bacon Bits gave it a nice smoky flavor.


Chocolate Cheese Brownie

This did not taste like a Brownie. It had a texture of a Butter Pound Cake with Dark Chocolate Sauce poured all over it. It was ok.


Bread and Butter Pudding

This was good. The texture was just right, not too fluffy nor stiff. The Pudding had a nice buttery flavor and the raisins were good. The only thing I wished for was for some Custard sauce to be poured over it.


Overall I felt the food at Mayfair needs improvement. Prices of their food are a little steep but the food quality pales in comparison with chain restaurants like Delicious, TGI Fridays and Chilies who serves up similar food.


Food: 2.5/5
Service: 3.5/5
Ambiance: 4.5/5
Price: $$ (Approximately USD $20 per person)


Contact Information
Address: DG-03, Menara Taiko, PJ Trade Centre, Jalan PJU 8/8, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, 47820
Phone 603-77264131
Fax 603-77264131
Web:
Map:

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