vickichowder

GRAND CRU DELI: TORONTO

I rarely leave my home for drinks and food when I'm in Toronto, but when I do it's got to be an outstanding place, so I come to Grand Cru Deli.

Other than racks and racks of an amazing wine selection (you'll see that France dominates, being the first thing you see on the tables when you walk in), its cozy, intimate and they have napkins that matched my pants!

All their food changes seasonally so you are sure to get fresh ingredients and for me, that means I get to try a new menu every time (although I used to always still order the boquerones when I was Spain-sick)

Shareable dishes mean you can taste a bit of every thing with your friends! This was the duck and it was AMAZING. I would say it rivals with Botanist's duck when you take price and portion into consideration.

Carbonara because we could not resist.

They've got one of Canada's few master somm's in the house so you're sure to pick a good wine because all of them are well selected!

, by vickichowder

KUSAKABE: SF

We aim to have one "fancy" dinner every time I visit SF. This time it was Kusakabe:

Before walking in, we were offered a cool (in temperature and taste) welcome sake in the cutest frosted cups. They hadn't gotten our seats at the time we requested and due to the small sized restaurant, we waited at the entrance for the former party to leave.

The menu seems to go on forever

Junsai Ichiban Dashi - junsai is harvested from the waterlily plant and has a pleasant slimy texture. The meyer lemon zest is refreshing, and we slurped this down too fast.

I love how the plates come with at least two bites of sushi - the pace of the dishes feel less rushed.

*Interesting* presentation of the sushi on the seaweed just like that.

Nothing remarkable except that the beef was LIKE BUTTER

My goodness this soup was glorious. The taste of corn was just sweet enough with the miso. Could have two bowls of this.

I love uni + ikura combos. A good creamy and poppy texture all in one.

I don't remember which sake we ordered, but I remember the need to take a photo of this glass because its paper thin, yet feels sturdy and won't crumble in my hands. The glass puckers at just the right places for your fingers to fit in perfectly.

, by vickichowder

THE BUTCHER'S DAUGHTER: ABBOT KINNEY

I used to be pretty skeptical about vegan/vegetarian food - how can there be something that is more satisfying than biting into a juicy buttery piece of red meat?

You cannot brunch without a (ginger lavender) alcoholic sippy

But summer season beckons for consumption of flora - just look outdoors!

Yellow was tumeric, and don't remember the rest

Shakshuka - very ripe tomatoes were used. It was so yummy I had to go home and recreate it, complete with poached egg

What I think was on this, bottom right counter clockwise: cashew "ricotta", a sweet maybe fig jam, mushroom pate (SO GOOD WAO), bread, olives, mustard schmear, a really good cheese

Lots of mushroom pizza with arugula. I usually don't eat pizza but the table beside ordered one, and I started drooling. Crispy thin crust, and option to add burrata, which we did.

Pizza with some vegan meat (bacon?) The egg yolk was golden

LOOK AT THAT SEXY YOLK

No one can resist a crispy hash and some generation Z beckoning avocado eggs benny

What beautiful colors

Scream LA inside

, by vickichowder

GET BBUL: LA KTOWN

This has got to be the best deal of a korean dinner I've had in LA. We got a seafood bbq set for $60 USD and couldn't even comprehend the amount of food that came with this set.