Parts and Labour (Toronto, ON)

It was another gorgeous but chilly day in Toronto when I headed to Parkdale and met with a group of five girls for Brunch. This time around we had a reservation for one of my favourite spots in Parkdale, Parts and Labour. Even though it was not my first, second, nor third time at Parts and Labour, I was excited because I am always hunting for the perfect brunch spot in Toronto. I usually go for Parts and Labour for dinner and drinks, or just to visit "The Shop", a place that reminds of a high-school-basement-party with cool DJs, kitschy decor, and a hipster crowd. Anyway, today was my first brunch at the restaurant and I am happy that I went there. The layout of the space is great! Communal tables, long bar, and I just noticed today (there are two tables by the kitchen - four guests per table). The decor is modern, industrial. The bar has a gazillion light fixtures of different colours and heights, all with their wiring exposed.

If someone asks me why do I like Parts and Labour so much I will probably say..."because of the drinks". The food snob in me does not like to admit it but that's the truth. We were the first guests to arrive and as soon as we sat, I was eager to get the drink menu and order my favourite cocktail, the Western Hinny. Trouble is that they don't serve their dinner cocktails during Brunch, only Mimosas, but I am happy to report that our bartender was gracious enough to fulfill not only my wish but the wish of three other girls from our table. It is very nice when we find people who are willing to bend the rules here and there. We were all very grateful! Quality of service should be always stated in a restaurant review.

I had a steak and eggs with béarnaise sauce and home fries. It is needles to say that I barely ate the potatoes but I was very happy with my steak. It was tender and juicy. Just perfect! The other girls had the halibut with white beans, the french toast with poached pear, and the fried chicken (that one I tasted and it was very good).

I definitely I will keep coming back for more at Parts and Labour. It is not in my top five list of brunch places in Toronto but where else will I get a Western Hinny?

Electric Mud BBQ (Toronto, ON)

Good BBQ food, hipster decor, loud music, and friendly service. That's the Electric Mud BBQ in a nutshell. Parkdale keeps getting better and better.

I was very happy with my choices. The shrimp & grits dish was delicious! I loved the truffled BBQ sauce, and the potato and cheddar grits. The collard greens were good as well but very different than what I was expecting. I also had the porch crawler cocktail and it was very refreshing. Perfect for summer time!

Just beware that they are a cash only establishment and they don't take reservations. They open on Sundays at 5:00PM and they were full at 5:45PM.

I would be happy to come back when it gets warmer.

The Day After

I spent my day in bed after Birthday Party Part 1...

Breakfast: Spinach salad with orange slices, bulgarian feta, and candied pecans, half of an omelet, birthday cake, and coffee with milk.

Lunch: Spinach salad with cucumber, tomato, and feta cheese, and Karkowka with potatoes.

Dinner: Baja fish taco, pork taco, beef cheeks taco, and a spicy ceasar from Grand Electric (http://www.grandelectricbar.com/).

Porzia

Yucca, plantain, a fried egg, a brazil nut, and coffee with milk. That's what I had for breakfast today. Tomorrow I will be back to my low carb reality.



I was too lazy around lunch time, so I had a cereal bar to delay any cooking or travelling to the grocery store.

After lots of cuddling with my pillows, I was finally able to make to the local Wholefoods store. I did do my grocery shopping including but not limited to red and black quinoa, organic black beluga lentils, halibut, sockeye salmon, organic fruits and vegetables. When I got home I have a spinach salad with quinoa/zucchini/chickpea, and chicken salad. Worth the wait :)

My dinner experience at Porzia (http://porzia.ca/menu//) was very good. Amazing music, great ambiance, friendly service, nice desserts, and good food. I cannot say it was perfect but it was pretty good! The drinks were perfect, I have to admit.



I had an Eggplant Involtini. Think about a cannelloni, but instead of pasta, you have a very thin layer of eggplant around the ricotta and herbs. All on a light tomato sauce and some melting cheese. Yuuuuumy! They have a four seat chef's "breakfast bar" that I would definitely book for my next visit. The dessert was a very tiny but delicious rectangle of hazelnut chocolate mousse with crushed hazelnut on the top...... very delicious!


I did do some serious cooking today. Chicken Tikka Marsala, Cream of Asparagus, Daal, and Brussels Sprouts with bacon, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar... I cannot wait to eat it.

Long Weekend (Drake Hotel & Empanada Company)

I took Friday off to relax and pamper myself. I was at the spa at 9AM to get a massage, a pedicure, and a manicure. I started off by having a light breakfast. Raspberries, omelet, a brazil nut with coffee and milk.

After I came back from the spa, I stopped by the Empanada Company (www.empanada.ca/) to get a few empanadas to go. I truly love this place and I recommend to anyone. They have fried and baked empanadas, however, my favourite ones only come fried. That's my only complain to the owner. In addition to the Chilean empanadas, they have gourmet empanadas. My favourite one is the beef braised rib with a merlot reduction. Soooo yummy!

My strategy in this meal was to finish the entire salad before eating the empanadas. The result? I had a hard time finishing the lobster empanada with corn and black beans, so I ended up eating the second one as a snack before I headed to the movie theatre.









Here is my Friday dinner. Fennel salad with orange, parmesan cheese, and balsamic vinegar with citrus. A light braised oxtail soup. I am glad that the chef did do a good job! I cannot wait to try the Campagnolo version of the salad.




Saturday:

I was planning to prepare a Brazilian style brunch on saturday morning but I ended up having a Brazilian style breakfast .... It is life. Boiled yucca, friend egg, cheese bread, raspberries, a brazil nut, and coffee with milk.

Lunch was very similar to Friday's lunch. I was too lazy to think about what to cook so I had a spinach salad with feta, candied pecans, tomato, and cucumber... and an empanada. I will have to give a break to the empanadas for at least 2 weeks. It cannot become a habit!










My afternon snack was a little bowl of DanActive with strawberries and all bran buds.

White BC tuna sashimi, half of the spicy red tuna maki roll, half of the black forrest cake with dark chocolate mousse, and a very large mojito. That's all that I had for dinner.

The food was not bad, and the drink was ok, but I don't think that I would ever have a full meal at the Drake Hotel (www.thedrakehotel.ca/). The ambiance on the other hand was pretty good. The place was filled with well dressed young professionals. Thank you God I did not wear my usual Parkdale outfit (jeans and plaid shirt)!