LUXOMME

So this Summer, I've been feeling very unmotivated to blog as of late, mainly because I haven't done anything really blog-worthy that I haven't already posted about before. Or rather, I've been feeling very unmotivated to drag my large camera around everywhere I go and risk everyone complaining about me "paparazzi-ing" them all meal. 

Since I've been spending my entire Summer in Toronto, my routine has been a little different than what it's like during the academic year. It's a welcome change of pace, and also an opportunity to get together with friends whom I haven't had that much of a chance to see since I've left Queen's.

People are often confused at why I spend so much time in Toronto, and it's difficult to explain my situation because it's not very typical. This Summer however, I had a focused project. 

For the last three months, I've been working on renovating a condo here, which has been an endless wheel of learning, coupled with the biggest headache ever. 

Thankfully, it's coming to an end.

To celebrate (and also to escape the fumes of sawdust), I texted these lovely girls and basically begged them to have dinner with me. (Mainly because I missed them and because they handle my paparazzi-ing really well)

Let me distract you with this picture of this deep fried ika [7] while you try to figure out who these two lovely ladies are. This dish which was the perfect start to our evening. Juicy tender pieces of squid which are coated in a very delicate batter. 

MeNami is a Japanese restaurant that specializes in udon, but also serves a variety of tapas. Located in a very convenient location (Finch and Yonge), it's extremely accessible, but difficult to snag a table simply because it's so popular. 

One thing that I love about the menu at MeNami is how simple but thoughtful each item is. They're also not trying to do ten different things at once like some other restaurants, but have decided to focus on udon and tapas - not udon, tapas, sushi, and korean food etc. 

Udon and tapas are also the perfect complement to each other.

When the udon finally arrives (we all got the same thing), the girls were lovely enough to entertain my blogging needs. Not only were they patient enough to let me take a million pictures of the food even though they were famished, they even re-arranged everything so that it was instaworthy.

If that's not true friendship, I don't know what is.

10 minutes later, I was done and it was time to eat!

Except.... 

We weren't really quite sure what to do or where to begin.

The Original Kama Udon [7.95] comes chilled on a bamboo mat accompanied with a side of green onions, wasabi, grated daikon and a bowl of udon sauce.

Let's do a quick udon quiz.

Do we

A) Dump all the noodles in the sauce

B) Dump all the sauce onto the noodles

C) Just eat the noodles and forget about the sauce?!

Thankfully, our waiter, seeing our confused faces, so graciously explained the proper way which was neither A, B, nor C.

Oops.

For those of you who have never had cold tanuki udon before, the appropriate way is to first take the green onions, grated daikon and wasabi and add it to the udon sauce, to taste. 

Then you're supposed to use your chopsticks to pick up a bite of udon. 

Dip it into the sauce. 

Gently lift it out and wait a moment to allow the excess sauce to drain away.

And then consume!

Why didn't we think of that.

As for these mystery girls who were such a good sport for me and my camera, they're my lovely housemates from way way back.  You'll see them pop up in many of my posts over the years, because they're very photographable and also because they don't sit and complain about my camera the entire meal. 

Very important quality when choosing dinner-mates. 

  

EL CATRIN

Okay. Before we begin, can I just say hello! I'm back!

I feel like all of my posts have started like this lately....but, I promise I have a good excuse.

I've had a lovely start to the Summer so far, and I'm finally back home for a week before I'm heading off again. It's been nice to have some time away from the norm. The only downside is that I don't get to see some lovely people as often to as I would like!

But that's nothing a dinner can't fix.

There were a few people I wanted to see while I was in town, and lucky for me, my wish was granted! Jin and Anna suggested we head over to El Catrin, which seems to be the new hot spot in town. Delighted at the chance to try something new, I quickly called to make reservations, but was told that due to their popularity, I would have to go stand in line and cross my fingers that they would grant me a table.

So stand in the line I did, with fingers tightly crossed.

Actually, I lied. I made Tiffany stand in line.

Thankfully, the wait wasn't too bad (30 mins), and we even arrived at 6pm on a Friday! Thumbs up to El Catrin for speedy service. We were seated on their patio, which is gorgeous most likely thanks to their interior designer. Everything from the lights down to the chairs was perfectly themed.

Famished, we ordered a large guacamole [15.50] to share (a must) and some individual tacos for ourselves. They come in groups of three, and I opted for a vegetarian one called Cazador [13.95] - in an attempt to try veganism which absolutely will not last. Others went for the more appealing Gobernado [16.95], which is stuffed to the brim with lobster and shrimp and Cochinita Pabil [15.95], a delightful mixture of pulled pork and black bean puree. Kaien got the Costilla Corta [16.95], a braised beef, which he reports as being delicious, but the portion was tiny and definitely more tapas sized than entree. Either that, or their regular clientele normally has the appetite of an ant.

Highlights of the dinner was seeing everyone and also trying out El Catrin's special hot sauce - which is about as spicy as it gets. I like spice, I LOVE spice, but even watching Jin scoop that stuff onto her tacos made me sweat a little.

In a good way though.

I'm a sucker for routine and definitely a little resistant to change, but El Catrin was a pleasant surprise. Tucked into the Distillery district in Toronto, there are no direct subway stations - but it's a brisk 30 minute walk from Dundas. Alternatively, there are also streetcars which I've heard are very efficient! Not that I would know because I'm completely streetcar illiterate.

It's been odd not seeing everyone every single day of the week, so any time that we are able to sit together, laugh over a meal, and share in an evening is something that I always look forward to.

Can't wait to share more Summer nights with you.

_____________

This week also happens to be Spring Break for me, so basically this is when I stop hermitting and emerge to greet the world outside my room. 

Thankfully for me, my lovely friend was more than willing to accompany me for a delightful morning.

Or should I say, tea-lightful. 

;)

This gorgeous place is called Cafe Promenade, which is a brisk walk away from the Forks - a major attraction here in Winnipeg!

I usually come here for lunch (a must for those of you who adore moules frites), but their brunch menu is also absolutely divine. You've got the typical breakfast staples, and then a bit more.

Jade ordered a hot tea, 'my first one of the day!' she exclaims. 

It comes in the cutest little brewing contraption, which releases the steaming fragrant liquid upon placement on top of the cup. Very handy for you tea lovers out there. A similar one can be purchased from David's tea or Teavana.

Jade expertly handles her tea, and then proceeds to add the perfect amount of milk and sugar into her morning dose of caffeine. As I went snap happy, I may have caused her to add a few teaspoons extra. 

'Hold the sugar jar there! Perfect! Don't move!'

Thankfully, a few extra shots of sugar never hurt anyone.

Right?

After a while, our waitress slides over to our table, while perfectly balancing our food. 

Jade opted for the Croissant et Prosciutto, Poire et Brie - which is basically fancy talk for the most delicious croissant you've ever tasted. 

aka. Prosciutto Croissant with Pear and Brie. 

I on the other hand went for the Florentin Omelette, which is much less fancy, but just as delicious. 

Served with lightly seared potatoes, and the richest Saskatoon berry jam, the omelette which was the size of my head, was definitely the star of my morning. 

Sweet conversations, soft croissants and warm mornings.

The perfect way to start Spring break.

naomi

___

For more information on Promenade Cafe and Wine, please visit the following link