Final Brunch @ Hoof Cafe

I'm baaaack but sadly it will be my very last brunch at Hoof Cafe:(

Even though I was just here yesterday I couldn't resist returning again since my friend wanted to try the french toast with foie gras.

We arrived close to 2pm and lo and behold no lineup. Woohoo!

Once again I began ordering right away the minute our waitress came to pour us a glass of water.

We had the french toast and beignets and also some new dishes I haven't tried yet.

Here is the scrapple which included a fried egg and some greens. I didn't know what a scrapple was but it's suppose to be scraps of pork mixed with cornmeal. Albeit the name doesn't sound appetizing it was a hit.

Here is the side of pork belly pastrami. Tasted like bacon but much more meatier. Delicious.

Here is the Hoof crepe with a huge slab of ham encircled in some sort of syrup with a smear of creme fraiche topped with bits and pieces of fried brussels sprouts. It was delectable.

Now out of everything I tried so far the best dish is the scrapple. Once again I left the cafe with a sad look. The food is simply extraordinary. I hope the new restaurant won't disappoint and will blow us away just like Hoof otherwise if not there will be some very unhappy Hoof fans.

TOTAL BILL $64...EAT HERE NEXT!!! (or actually try the Black Hoof)

Hoof Cafe

ATTENTION ALL MEAT LOVERS AND BRUNCH LOVERS! HOOF CAFE WILL BE CLOSING FOR GOOD ON FEB. 28!!!

After discovering that in 2 days the restaurant will be closing its doors I had to push my boyfriend to take me there. Lucky I was browsing around otherwise I would have missed a chance to dine at one of the top most rated brunch spot in the city. I have been wanting to try this place since last year. It's insane that they are closing when they are doing so well. Hoof Cafe will be transforming into BHCO (Black Hoof and Company). Click here to read more about it. One highlight of the new place will be that it will now accept reservations. Thank god!!!

We arrived 10 minutes prior to opening time . At first we saw only a few people waiting so we figured we made good timing. Unfortunately the lineup was for the restaurant Saving Grace. At Hoof Cafe the lineup was 10 times longer. I think there were at least 50+ people ahead of us. Guess we weren't the only ones who heard about the bad news. Once the doors opened we gave our name and number and off we went to kill some time. We stumbled upon The Communal Mule and stayed there for at least an hour which wasn't too bad. Finally an hour and a half later we received the long awaited phone call we've been yearning for. Our table was ready. YES!!!

Once we were seated I didn't waste any time and immediately began ordering. I ordered all the items that everyone kept raving about. Since they were closing I had to splurge and order everything I had my eye on which luckily wasn't the entire menu. (Ok maybe almost half of the menu lol)

Since we waited so long for a table I decided to order a drink. I rarely have a drink so early in the morning but since I'm going all out might as well go all the way. I ordered the Hoof Caesar since I saw practically everyone holding the red drink in their hand. It consisted of pink peppercorn, vodka, Marmite syrup, Clamato, house hot sauce and worcestershire. The glass was rimmed with rock salt, pepper, and dehydrated horseradish. It gave a great punch with the bold spicy and salty flavor.

We were fortunate to get a seat by the window so it wasn't as crowded compared to sitting at the counter. People's arms were literally right up against one another where there was no gap between them at all.

I had to order the beignets since I read that these were sold out by afternoon so it was on my list to try. These were baked fresh and were stuffed with sour cherry jam and bone marrow. I'm not quite sure how bone marrow taste but these sugary donuts were delightful.

Here is the infamous suckling pig benny. It consisted of buttery homemade dough biscuits with tender pulled pork under poached eggs topped with Hollandaise sauce and served with a side of arugula salad and a few pieces of pork rind. I thought this dish was magnificent however, my boyfriend did not agree. He prefers the benny at Steve's Restaurant over this. Let's just say we agreed to disagree on this one.

The tongue grilled cheese was exceptionally astounding. I don't think I've tried tongue before but I did not expect it to taste that good either. Absolutely mouthwatering.

The brioche french toast with foie gras was pretty pricey ($27 with foie gras and $13 without). But without a doubt a major sugar rush. Who would've thought foie gras and french toast would be a match made in heaven. The foie gras was extremely buttery that it just melted in your mouth. It was so rich with all the sweetness and the delicateness of the foie gras it was impeccable. I loved the added crunch from the bits and pieces of hazelnuts. You do not need to order dessert after this dish. It was overly sweet that I could only eat half of it. My boyfriend only had 2 bites and that was enough for him.

Although the pictures made the dishes looked bigger but in actuality I thought the portions were small. But since everything was so rich and heavy the portions were perfect after all. I was stuffed to the max. In the end was it worth all the hype. ABSO-FREAKIN-LUTELY!!!

This is the second restaurant I have ever waited in line for. Guu being the first. At least with Hoof I was able to stroll around even though there wasn't much in the area to look at. Regardless, they were both well worth the wait.

It's so sad that Hoof is closing but at least I got to experience it before they shut their doors for good.

TOTAL BILL $78...EAT HERE NEXT!!!

The Communal Mule

While waiting for a table at the bustling Hoof Cafe, me and my boyfriend wondered off and decided to kill time at an expresso bar just a few stores down the street. Upon entering The Communal Mule it felt like I had entered into a completely different time zone or better yet some strange cafe built in the late 1900s or something.

There were vintage movie posters and some weird light contraptions that look like those huge dryers at hair salons hanging over the tables.

We had ordered a mochaccino and a latte. I was eying the baked goodies but was trying to save my stomach for brunch. I was told that some of the treats came from Wanda's Pie in the Sky. The most popular item were the scones which I did see a lot of people buying while I was sipping on my drink.

They also sold loose tea leaves and coffee blends. There was a wide variety of flavors ranging from blood orange to lavendar to chocolate.

TOTAL BILL $9...EAT HERE NEXT!!! (or better yet DRINK HERE NEXT!!!)

Tsuki Izakaya

Raw octopus and raw beef?

Who knew I would love it so much.

I wanted to try some place new and I remembered seeing Tsuki Izakaya one day while walking along Yonge. It is located seconds away from North York Centre Station about 2 stores down from Asian Legend.

I got my boyfriend to come with me to try out the resto.

It used to be a Chinese restaurant before it changed to a Korean restaurant called Ehwa and now it is Tsuki.

I hope Tsuki is here to stay because it is absolutely phenomenal.

Here is the complimentary tofu dish. It was pretty tasty. Not sure what kind of sauce was in the bowl but it was yummy.

At the very top is the sashimi salad with vegetables, seafood, sashimi and sesame dressing. It was refreshingly delicious. I loved the dressing. It went perfectly well with the fish and greens.

Next is the Tako wasabi which is raw octopus with chopped wasabi stem and sliced onion served in a martini glass. It was like the Asian version of ceviche. It was scrumptious with a nice kick from the wasabi stem. I never tasted raw octopus before and now it will not be my last.

Here is the magnificent 21 piece sashimi. It was one of the freshest fish I have ever had in a long time.

Here is the spider roll. It was tasty just like any other spider roll so not much to comment here.

Last, but definitely not least, is the Korean style beef sashimi with soya dressing, shaved green onion and raw egg yolk. Do not be intimidated by the color nor the rawness of the meat. It is sublimely the best way to eat raw meat. I ate the delicious food in a kind of shell-shocked state hardly believing it was actually raw beef. It was exquisitely well prepared and seasoned to perfection. Also it didn't even feel like meat. It had a buttery texture which just melted in your mouth.

Every dish was outstanding except for the mediocre spider roll. Not one dish I would complain about. I can't wait to return and try the remaining dishes. Great spot to hang out with friends and have a beer. Although I don't really drink beer however, these dishes are meant to be eaten as an accompaniment to alcohol. In Japan, an izakaya is a spot people head to for a drink and the food is just an added bonus. Here at Tsuki I say, "Hold the sake! Give me the food!".

TOTAL BILL $65...EAT HERE NEXT!!!

Tsuki Izakaya

5182 Yonge Street

(close to Sheppard)

416-229-6719

Willy's Jerk

I have never tried sweet potato pie before but can't seem to find it either.

My boyfriend said that it was available at Willy's Jerk so off we went to get my pie.

Unfortunately, they no longer serve it:(

My boyfriend got his usual stewed oxtail with cole slaw and rice and beans

It was delicious and extremely filling.

But I'm still searching for my sweet potato pie. If anybody knows where I can get one please please PLEASE let me know!!!

TOTAL BILL $10...EAT HERE NEXT!!!

Pastel

After lunch I was craving for some sweet so I decided to check out this dessert place just a few stores down from Buk Chang Dong. Pastel Creperie & Dessert House was perfect. It definitely satisfied my sweet tooth.

I ordered the crepe with pecans, almonds, walnuts, cereal and cappuccino almond ice cream. It was crazy nutty to the nth degree. Here they do not skimp out on the nuts at all. Every bite was full of crunch.

They also serve cakes from Rahier Patisserie which is actually on my list to try. I was sweetened out and so full that I didn't have any room left to sample the desserts.

Great place to sit and hangout or just enjoy a crepe. The server was very friendly. Think he was the owner I'm not quite sure. Nevertheless, on my next round I would like to try either the savory crepe or a cake from Rahier Patisserie.

TOTAL BILL $10...EAT HERE NEXT!!!

Pastel Creperie & Dessert House

5417 Yonge Street

(south of Finch)

647-352-5588

Buk Chang Dong Soon Tofu

With less than 10 items on the menu, Buk Chang Dong Soon Tofu is one of the top picks for best tofu soup in the city.

Their hearty soups is their specialty and is what keeps drawing fans back for more.

For less than $10 you can get a soup, 4 side dishes and a bowl of rice. A meal that will stuff you to the max.

Me and my cousin ordered the soybean soup with beef and mussel and the kimchi soup. Both were soup-a-licious.

Cheap, filling and satisfying who can complain.

TOTAL BILL $16...EAT HERE NEXT!!!

Buk Chang Dong Soon Tofu

5445 Yonge Street

(south of Finch)

416-537-0972

Cake Balls

OH-MY-GOD!!!

For the Love of Cake now sells cake balls. It is un-freakin-believable.

They are pieces of cake covered in chocolate. At first glance I thought it was truffles but after discovering it was filled with cake in the centre I simply had to try one out. I sampled the grasshopper flavor and it was fantastic. A burst of chocolatey mint flavor with a moist creamy chocolate cake in the middle. It was so smooth and creamy that I couldn't even tell it was cake.

My friend tried the red velvet cake ball and she loved it as well.

Of course we couldn't help ourselves we split a cupcake as well. We got the cupcake flavor of the month which was chocolate cake with banana and peanut butter. Utterly delicious:)

TOTAL BILL $8...EAT HERE NEXT!!!

Petite Thuet

After lunch me and my friend decided to stop by Petite Thuet for a little treat. We went to the location right in front of King station.

They had a nice display of pastries, tarts, sandwiches and other prepared food.

Of course I had my eye on the macarons.

Here is the hazelnut and expresso. Both were delicious.

Here is the pomegranate. I almost didn't want to ruin the packaging since it was so small and cute. I thought the color for the pomegranate flavor would be a deep red or some sort of rich color but instead it was this off white color which was kind of a disappointment. Think it would have made the packaging looked nicer if it was another color. The macaron was tasty with the fruit filling. It tasted like jam stuck in between 2 almond wafers.

My friend got an almond croissant which I had forgotten to take a picture of since I was too busy scarfing down on my macarons. I tried a piece of it and though it did have the almond flavor but I found it to be a bit dry. Maybe it was sitting out too long I don't know.

They also have this whole wall of homemade products such as jams, sauces and pickled food.

I wouldn't mind trying out the sandwiches or prepared foods next time.

TOTAL BILL $11...MAY EAT AGAIN?!

Petite Thuet

1 King St. West

(close to Yonge)

416-867-7977

Lunch at Mildred's

Mildred's Temple Kitchen does it again.

My last trip at Mildred's I had a very good brunch experience. This time I went to try out their lunch menu.

Both me and my friend had our eyes on the gnocchi poutine.

It was spectacular. Picture flaky tender pieces of oxtail with some tasty gnocchi in a rich meaty gravy topped with cheesy curds. Unbelievably mind blowing. It is definitely a must have at this kitchen.

Here is grilled calamari marinated in Thai yellow curry with scallion, garlic chips and lime. It was mediocre to me.

The shrimp crab cakes was my least favorite mainly because the curry flavor was too strong for me. Funny that the previous dish had curry but it wasn't as overpowering as this dish.

In conclusion, the poutine is a MUST TRY. Despite my views on the remaining dishes it was undoubtedly worth the trip.

TOTAL BILL $40...EAT HERE NEXT!!!

Mildred's Temple Kitchen

85 Hanna Ave.

(close to King St. West)

416-588-5695

La Bamboche

Although there was a beautiful array of cakes on display I came specifically for the macarons today.

Hidden on a side street off of Yonge, La Bamboche Patisserie is another hidden gem in midtown Toronto.

They also have another location on Avenue Road as well.

La Bamboche offers a wide range of items from their home made jams to fresh quality made quiches to high-grade organic coffees.

There was this variety pack for $37. It seemed quite a bit to dish out at the moment especially since I should be saving money rather than splurging on these sugary confections so I decided to get a few flavors that were appealing to me.

There are a total of 12 flavors to choose from. I chose pretty much half the flavors available.

Amaretto, caramel sea salt, pistachio, creme de cassis which is black currant, ume & sake and mango green tea.

The ume & sake macaron is suppose to be pickled Japanese plum, sake and buttercream. It was delish.

My favorite out of the bunch is the pistachio. It was yummy in my tummy:)

For my next trip I want to try their ham & cheese croissant with smoked Virginia ham, Swiss cheese and bechamel sauce. Writing this is already making me itch to head back down there.

TOTAL BILL $15...EAT HERE NEXT!!!

La Vecchia

La Vecchia Ristorante, what a romantic restaurant. Even the name sounds enchanting as well. Sadly I was there eating alone since my cousin ditched me:(

I have never ate by myself at a restaurant before or let alone at a fast food joint so the experience was definitely new territory for me.

The waiter was very friendly. He always had a smile whenever he was refilling my glass with water. Or maybe he just pitied me since I was alone lol.

I didn't want to leave without at least trying one dish so I ordered the florentine uova. It consisted of 2 poached eggs on an English muffin with smoked salmon and spinach topped with Hollaindaise sauce and served with a side of home fries.

It was mediocre but I definitely give it two thumbs up for the attentive service and the charming ambience. I would like to return and try the risotto next time since I did hear some wonderful reviews on it. But next time I'll be sure to bring someone who will show up.

TOTAL BILL $14...EAT HERE NEXT!!!

La Boheme

La Boheme serves some of the best French pastries in the city.

Since they don't have a kitchen at the cafe all their items are brought over from Jules Cafe located along Mount Pleasant. There it is baked fresh on a daily basis.

This little cafe patisserie has one of the yummiest apricot tart I have ever tasted. It is not overly sweet. Just perfect. The two other flavors for this tart were apple and pear.

I want to try their quiche and croissants next time.

TOTAL BILL $5...EAT HERE NEXT!!!