Earlier this month I found myself in Toronto for a wedding, so I took the opportunity to explore the Greater Toronto Area. No matter where I'm vacationing my trips are always (I'm dead serious) planned around food, so this was no exception.

Born & Raised - 224 James St. N - Hamilton ON

A large part of my boyfriend's family lives just outside of Hamilton so we were excited to explore the area (yes, I'm a converted Ti-Cats fan!). As Hamilton is known for steel production I was not sure of what I would expect, but after some research I found that the food scene is growing and there are a number of restaurants worth visiting. James Street has great character with it's collection of boutiques and galleries, and seems to be the main street where new and trendy restaurants are opening. Nestled within the Art Crawl district is where we found Born & Raised.

Born & Raised is the second restaurant opened by Chef Vittorio Colacitti, who you may recognize from Top Chef Canada. If the name is any indication this restaurant is a reflection of Chef Vittorio's pride for Hamilton, the city which he calls home. Many quality ingredients are sourced directly from producers in the area, which connects the restaurant with the surrounding community.


Bartlett Mule
On our visit the restaurant was just over 2 months old and very busy on a Friday evening. The 60 seat restaurant features a raw bar showcasing beautiful seafood from both the East and West Coast, and is home to a beautiful wood-fired oven imported from Italy. The decor is a mix of modern and rustic, with touches of reclaimed wood and antique collectibles throughout. The menu at Born & Raised puts a globally-inspired twist on classic dishes. The offerings are a reflection of what Chef Vittorio has learned through his upbringing in Ontario and culinary training abroad in Europe and Asia. The menu is split into four sections (raw bar, small plates, pizza, and classics) and sharing is highly encouraged.

We started our dinner with the Steak Tartare "Le Roy" ($19), which is a Parisian style hand-cut beef tenderloin tartare served with fries. The beef comes from a farm just 20 minutes away in Haldimand County, and this dish was inspired by Chef Vittorio's time as a sous chef for Chef Didier Leroy in France. The beef was well seasoned and tender, while the fries were crisp and golden, just the way they should be. Fries don't do the greatest job of scooping up the beef, making it more difficult to eat than anticipated, but tartare and frites is still a classic.

Next came the Crispy Shrimps (3/$15 or 4/$19), served on a bed of green mango salad and topped with crushed roasted peanuts. This dish was a mix of salty, sweet, and crispy goodness with the meticulously wrapped shrimp on a bed of Thai-style mango salad.

I'm not the type of person to order soup at a restaurant, but the Ontario Corn Soup ($14) was calling my name. With chunks of Nova Scotia Lobster in a curried roasted corn soup base, this hearty bowl was absolutely incredible, no word of a lie. Perhaps mind-blowing is a better descriptor. The heat was finely balanced with the coconut milk, while the cream was cut with a hint of acidity. It was a complex combination of flavours and umami that I could not stop eating. We regretted not having enough room for a second bowl!

Burrata is popular on menus out in Toronto. We honestly had it once a day throughout our trip, but I'm not complaining as it is a rare find here in Edmonton. The Burrata with Summer Pears ($14) at Born & Raised brings ultra creamy burrata together with radicchio, aged balsamic vinegar, walnuts, and basil. All the components are plated beautifully and finished with a drizzle of 'Olio Vittorio,' a cold pressed extra virgin olive oil produced for the restaurant by the Colacitti family in Central Italy. Come this Fall, Chef Vittorio will be bringing housemade burrata to the menu, so don't miss out!

Aside from bringing some Latin and Spanish influence to the menu, Chef de Cuisine Sebastien Sanchez is typically found making artisan breads and pizzas with the wood-fired oven. The five signature pizzas on the menu range from classic to adventurous, and we chose to try the Monte Pollino ($16) as part of our meal. With roasted and smoked confit pork cheek, compressed pineapple, pickled habaneros and basil, this pizza is a unique twist on your classic ham and pineapple. The toppings are generous and the habanero has a serious kick (read: some parts were borderline too spicy for this Asian)!

I've mentioned it before and I'll say it again: floppy, soggy pizza crust is a serious pet peeve of mine, and I'm sure I'm not alone. The housemade pizza dough at Born & Raised cooked evenly and rose beautifully in the oven. It retained it's structure when lifted, had a crispy, blistered cornicone, and met my criteria for an excellent crust. When paired with the right ingredients you get a perfect pie.

Just as our meal was coming to an end the kitchen sent a gorgeous off-menu dish to the table for us to taste. The dish consisted of charred wood-fire roasted cauliflower paired with cashew butter, maple soy dressing, scallions, and lobster. The cauliflower had amazing depth of flavour and the lobster was so fresh. All the components were throwing flavour bombs left, right, and center, making this another phenomenal dish. (Psst, the dish without the lobster is on the menu!)

After the savoury dishes we chose to try Susan's Torte ($7) for a sweet finish to the evening. Who is Susan? She's Chef Vittorio's mother and the one who gave up her secret recipe for this beautiful dark chocolate meringue with Grand Marnier chantilly cream. The meringue is light, melt-in-your-mouth, and balanced with a bit of candied orange zest.


The Lancaster
With the opening of Born & Raised on James St. North, Chef Vittorio and his team are bringing local, seasonal ingredients and their passion for global flavours to the community. They're in a great location for the post-work crowd, and the warm, vibrant setting is great for get-togethers with friends or casual date nights. Service is friendly although a bit spotty during our visit, given the atmosphere of the busy restaurant on a Friday evening. We had a fantastic meal and will definitely return on our next visit to the area.

Like the rooster, which is a symbol of strength and determination, Chef Vittorio leads his team with pride and focus, inspired by the city in which he was born and raised.


*Disclosure: I was invited to try Born & Raised and expected to feature a review on my blog. Views expressed in this post are solely mine. This post is 100% my opinion, and as always, my priority is to you, the reader, to present an unbiased, thorough review.

Cream, eggs, sugar, fire. Put them together and you have your basic creamy custard-based dessert. While the base to all custards are composed of the same ingredients, the ratio in which they are combined can result in drastically different desserts.

Burnt To Order - 1235 26 Ave SE (Crossroads Market) - Calgary AB

Creme Brulee is one of my favourite classic custard desserts. I prefer mine where the custard is creamy but not overly sweet and the caramelized sugar cracks away beautifully when broken. This past summer I was introduced to the specialty creme brulees crafted by Chef Jesse at Burnt To Order, and I haven't been able to eat any other creme brulee since.

Burnt To Order can be found on weekends at the Crossroads Market in Calgary. The menu serves up granola and breakfast brulees, but I'm mostly interested in the specialty creme brulees. Burnt to Order offers 4 core flavours on their creme brulee menu that change every season, and each weekend there is a special feature as well. The creme brulees are gluten free and there's even a vegan option available, meaning there's a dessert here for everyone.

Although the flavours of each brulee are different, the custard base is just about the same. The creme brulees are smooth, creamy, and it is literally impossible to have just one bite. At $8.50 each, or 3 for $24, the prices are incredibly reasonable for the quality of dessert that you receive.

During the summer time the Bean & Basil was, unexpectedly, the flavour combination I fell in love with. A vanilla bean creme is bruleed and topped with fresh strawberries, microbasil, and a drizzle of 10 year aged balsamic vinegar. The strawberry and basil combine well, and the balsamic adds a tart component that cuts through the rich custard base.

Another favourite from the summer was the Cracker Jacked (also on the fall menu!), which featured a popcorn infused vanilla custard topped with salted caramel sauce and kettle corn from Sugar Creek. I'm a huge sucker for freshly made kettle corn, and the sweet and salty balance in this creme was delightful.

Burnt To Order utilizes local and exotic ingredients and is environmentally conscious by serving the creme brulees in reusable Mason jars. The flavour combinations range from classic to contemporary. and many are innovative flavours I would never think to pair with a classic creme brulee. I've loved all the flavours I've tried so far, and every trip to Calgary now includes a stop at Crossroads Market to pick up a couple creme brulees to enjoy when we are back home in Edmonton. As long as you let the "char-ista" know that you're bringing the brulees elsewhere, the toppings are packaged separately and everything transports incredibly well for later enjoyment.

The fall menu is now featuring an apple pie creme that is totally calling my name. With fall spiced Golden Delicious apples paired with salted caramel custard, it sounds like I need to make a trip down to Calgary. Stop by the market Friday-Sunday each week and get yourself some creme!

I don't know about you, but I find it difficult to find good, authentic Malaysian food in Alberta. Very few restaurants in Edmonton serve Malaysian food, and for those that do, I find that the food isn't overly impressive or consistent. Instead of being frustrated by the local options, I took my search to Calgary and found a great spot thanks to a recommendation from a friend.

Banana Leaf Tropical Cuisine - 3330 32 Street NE - Calgary AB

Milk Tea with Grass Jelly
Tucked away near the industrial area of Northeast Calgary, Banana Leaf is in an obscure location but is well worth the effort to find. I stopped by with my parents for an early lunch on a weekday and snagged the last table in the busy restaurant. The restaurant is brightly lit and has a fair amount of seating, but given the small space it fills up quick during the lunch service.

To start our lunch we ordered the Deep Fried Crispy Chicken Nuggets with Garlic and Onion ($8.95). These aren't your McDonald's chicken nuggets, they're a cut above. Chunks of chicken thigh meat are battered and deep fried, then tossed in a mixture of garlic, onion, and green onion. The result is a mountain of crispy chicken nuggets full of flavour that you can't stop eating.

We ordered the Roti Canai with Curry Beef ($13.95) which came with some peanuts, sliced cucumber and egg. For those of you unfamiliar with this version of roti, the dough is made with copious amounts of clarified butter in flour and water. The dough is stretched into an extremely thin sheet before being folded and fried, and the result is a crispy, puffy, layered roti. The roti canai at Banana Leaf was golden in colour, and crispy with just the right amount of layers. The curry beef was rich and fragrant, delivering a good amount of heat with each bite. The beef cubes were tender and flavourful, making this a solid dish overall.

The dish I was most looking forward to ended up being the star of our meal: Seafood Curry Laksa with Vermicelli ($11.50). A generous portion of fish, fishballs, egg, and puffed tofu swam in the fragrant curry and coconut milk broth, and the layer of red chili oil gave a punch of heat with each bite of noodles. The laksa was authentic and is the best I've had in Alberta. This noodle soup alone is worth the visit to Banana Leaf.

It's great to know that Calgary has a restaurant serving up delicious, authentic Malaysian dishes. Banana Leaf is definitely a hidden gem, the prices are affordable, and I can't wait to be back to try out some more dishes on the menu. If you're in the general area, it warrants a visit! If you don't want to wait for a table, make sure to arrive early and get a big bowl of laksa!

Japanese is one of my favourite cuisines. There are plenty of Japanese restaurants around that serve sushi, but the one thing Alberta needs more of is Japanese izakayas. Edmonton is lucky to have Izakaya Tomo, but I wish there were more casual options for post-work drinks and tapas. This is why I was really excited when I heard Hapa Izakaya was opening its first Alberta location in Calgary.

Hapa Izakaya - 816 11th Avenue SW - Calgary AB

On one of my recent trips to Calgary I finally had the chance to visit Hapa. I had my first taste on a visit to Vancouver years back and couldn't wait to see what menu items they brought over to Alberta. Hapa Izakaya is located downtown on busy 11th Avenue, where parking can be a challenge to find depending on the time of your visit. The space is large with an open concept design and the large windows in the front of the restaurant allow plenty of natural light into the restaurant. Come sundown, the dark decor and dimmed lighting give a more intimate feel.

As with many izakayas, there is a regular menu and a fresh sheet outlining daily features. I noticed that the menu seemed to be smaller than that in Vancouver (the menu has expanded since my visit!), but there was still a fair amount of options to choose from. In addition to ordering a la carte off the menu, Hapa offers a 12 course prix fixe menu at $35 per person and has a 'Hapa Hour' menu from 5:30-6:30 pm with certain plates offered at 50% off.

Our meal started off with the Bintoro ($12), which is a seared Albacore tuna sashimi in ponzu sauce. The thick cut slices of the lightly seared tuna were so fresh, and I loved the slightly tangy ponzu sauce. The greens, seaweed, and garlic chips were a great accompaniment to the fish. I could eat this tuna all the time.

Hapa Izakaya also has a decent selection of sushi rolls, so we went with the Kin Roll ($15) and Umi Roll ($15). The Kin Roll is made with asparagus tempura, onion, miso mayo, yuzu rind, and topped with yellowtail that is torched tableside. The fish is fresh, asparagus still slightly crunchy, and the sweet miso brings all the flavours together. The Umi Roll on the other hand is made with chopped scallops and avocado then topped with Ahi tuna and pickled onion vinaigrette. The Ahi tuna carries flavours similar to that of their ponzu sauce. The rest of the roll is less flavourful, but that allows you to taste just how fresh and sweet the raw scallops are.

When I visit izakayas, Takoyaki is always at the top of my list of things to order. The Takoyaki ($7.50) at Hapa Izakaya is on the fresh sheet, so unfortunately it isn't always available. However, if you get the chance definitely order it! These crispy balls of octopus in smooth batter are something you don't want to miss.

Finishing off our orders was the Spicy Pork Ishi-yaki ($12). Served in a hot stone bowl, rice is topped with minced pork, garlic sprouts, tomato, lettuce, spicy miso, and a raw egg. Similar to Korean bibimbap, this rice bowl is mixed up table side and allowed to sizzle in the pot. There was plenty of sauce to coat all the ingredients and the crispy rice. I loved the punch of spicy miso and garlic flavours, and it's a bowl of rice that will definitely warm you up on a cold night.

Offering something different compared to the traditional Spanish tapas, I'm sure Hapa Izakaya has been happily embraced by those who enjoy going for post-work drinks and small plates. Our server was knowledgeable and attentive, and it was a great upbeat environment to dine in. I'm a little sad that Hapa Izakaya hasn't expanded up to Edmonton, but there's always hope!

On my most recent trip to Vancouver I booked my flights in such a way that I could maximize the length of my trip, and therefore maximize the amount of food I could eat. Arriving at 7:30 AM on a Friday and leaving 8:00 PM the following Tuesday gave me plenty of opportunities to indulge! The first order of business was to meet up with Jo, a local blogger that I have met and grown close to over my years of blogging.

Cafe Medina - 780 Richards Street - Vancouver BC

Arriving in Vancouver at 7:30 AM meant that I had been awake for 4 hours prior to landing without having any real food. I admit it: first world problems. Jo had suggested we meet for brunch at 10:00 at Cafe Medina, and I was determined to save my stomach capacity for the many meals ahead. My boyfriend and I wandered around downtown before arriving at Cafe Medina at 9:30 AM to find the place packed, so we quickly put our names down on the list and were quoted a 20 minute wait time. Unfortunately they don't take any reservations, and your entire group must be present before being seated. Fair enough!


Milk Chocolate Lavender Hot Chocolate
This location on Richards Street is actually their second location, which opened earlier this summer. Their first location closed so that they could grow into this larger, gorgeous space with high ceilings and plenty of natural light coming in from the large, street-facing windows. The dining room is able to accommodate 65 patrons, while the bar can seat 10 and the coffee bar seats 8. The space is buzzing with conversation and the large open-kitchen is bustling with activity. It's such a energizing environment to be in for brunch and the space smells amazing.

To start off my day I had to try the Milk Chocolate Lavender Hot Chocolate ($4). The massive mug of hot chocolate was frothy and felt quite light, with just the right hint of chocolate and lavender. I was a little hesitant when ordering because some hot chocolates (especially made with milk chocolate) can be overly sweet and very rich, but Cafe Medina does this one well. On my return, I'll be trying out the white chocolate pistachio rosewater hot chocolate!

As we all enjoyed our morning punch of caffeine, it was difficult to choose what we wanted to eat. All the items on the menu were enticing, and upon scanning the dining room, all the other patrons' food looked delicious. Jo picked out the Fricassee ($17) which has two fried eggs over braised short ribs, roasted potatoes, caramelized onions, applewood smoked cheddar and seasonal greens. Finished off with some matchstick apples and a side of grilled focaccia, the ribs were tender with bold flavour, making this a very hearty brunch dish.

My boyfriend went with the Paella ($14), featuring a fried egg over an orzo based paella with spicy chorizo, seasonal vegetables, Grana Padano, avocado and charred tomato salsa. I really wish pictures could give off smells, because this dish may not look like much, but it smelled amazing. The paella base had a lovely colour and punches of flavour and heat throughout. The creamy avocado added an extra textural element and the broken yolk bound every ingredient in the dish together.

I found it difficult to settle on just one dish, but Les Boulettes ($17) eventually won me over. Spicy Moroccan lamb meatballs are cooked in a roasted red pepper and tomato stew with black olives and raita, served with two poached eggs and a side of grilled focaccia. Holy moly flavour explosion. The lamb meatballs were moist and tender, seasoned well and free of any gamey flavour. The herbs (especially coriander) were fragrant and the acidity from the tomatoes packed a great tangy punch. The eggs were poached perfect with soft whites and an bright orange, runny yolk. You bet I took that focaccia and lapped up all the sauce.

No meal is complete without dessert, and brunch is no exception. Cafe Medina is well known for their Liege-style Waffles ($3.15), so we ordered one with a side of their raspberry caramel, and one with a side of white chocolate pistachio rosewater ($1 per topping). The made to order waffles were warm and fluffy, but missing that crunch and caramelization that liege waffles are known to have. I really enjoyed the strong raspberry flavour in the sauce, but found the white chocolate too strong and covering the delicate tones of pistachio and rosewater.

At Cafe Medina you wait to be seated, and the food is definitely worth waiting for. The Mediterranean inspired menu offers tons of choices that are sure to make your mouth water. The space is inviting, the staff are friendly, and I would definitely return again on a future trip. Now if only I could convince them to come to Edmonton too...

Ever since I had brunch at Cucina in Calgary I needed to go back for more. And while I haven't had the chance to return, something different has come on my radar. Recently two of the chefs who worked at Cucina, John Michael MacNeil and Alison Bieber, co-opened a brand new restaurant (and got married!). For me that meant saying "bye bye" to Cucina and heading to Black Pig Bistro on my next trip to Calgary.

Black Pig Bistro - 825 1st Avenue NE - Calgary AB

Black Pig Bistro gets its name from the Black Iberian Pig, native to Spain and Portugal. The restaurant opened earlier this year in the Bridgeland area of Calgary and has even been nominated to win the title of Enroute Magazine's 2014 People's Choice Award for Best New Restaurant. With the opportunity to drop by on the way to Banff, you bet I convinced my boyfriend to stop for lunch!

We arrived late on a Saturday afternoon to a quiet restaurant and were seated right away. As we walked to our table I eyed the Jamon Iberico behind the bar and immediately fell in love with the decor. The light teal, white, and black contrasted against one another is one of my favourite colour combinations, and happens to be the colour scheme in my room. Bonus points!

With so many great options on the menu, my boyfriend eventually decided on the Serrano Ham & Cheese Sandwich ($15): smoked pepper aioli, manchego and fresh tomato on a baguette. The sandwich came out to the table with a side of housemade pickles that were a mix of sweet and sour, a little spicy, and deliciously crunchy. Black Pig Bistro has taken the classic ham and cheese sandwich and elevated it with the use of quality ingredients. The serrano ham combined with the manchego are delicate but give the sandwich an almost creamy consistency. Add in the tomato for texture, slap it inside a soft baguette with a crunchy crust, and you've got a pretty stellar sandwich. The sandwich was so easy to eat and was a great portion size for lunch.

As the self-proclaimed glutton in our relationship, I chose to go with the three course lunch for $25. First up was a Tomato Tartar with a sherry vinaigrette over garlic croutons. I loved the presentation on this one since the top of the tomato acted as a lid to lift and reveal the tartar below. Inside the tomato was a bruschetta salad of sorts, well flavoured with salt and basil. The crunchy croutons were a great accompaniment as they were extra garlicky, and the vinaigrette added a tangy punch.

My main course was a Sous Vide Alberta Beef Sirloin with roasted shallots, pine nuts, kale and piquillo pepper sauce. When the dish was presented before me, all I could think was "wow!" Look at the colours on that plate and how beautiful our Alberta beef is. The sirloin was a perfect medium rare and lightly seasoned to allow the true flavour of the meat come through. I loved the mild kick of heat from the pepper sauce, and the lightly sauteed kale was tasty on its own or combined with the dish. The flavours were incredibly well balanced, and it wasn't long before a fork from the opposite end of the table came to help me out.

The last course to my lunch was a Honey Yogurt Mousse with raspberries and pomegranate pearls. The mousse had the consistency of a thickened panna cotta, and it was nice and tart on its own. In combination with the honey and other accompaniments it was a perfect light finish to the meal.

Black Pig Bistro surely didn't disappoint, and I was already thinking I needed to return for dinner on a subsequent trip. Lunch service was quick and our server was very attentive to our needs. If you're in Calgary for lunch you should definitely consider stopping by for the $25 three course meal! You get delicious food and great bang for your buck!

Every trip I make to Calgary is an "eat-cation." It just seems like there's a bounty of restaurants that get rave reviews, so I try to fit in as many meals as possible every time I'm down there. A while back I was in town with some family and we decided to check out Carino as I had heard some good things about their ramen!

Carino Japanese Bistro & Wine - 709 Edmonton Trail NE - Calgary AB

Located within close proximity to other popular eateries, Carino is a little different from the rest. The small space is decorated with mirrors and black chandeliers, giving it an upscale, modern feel. On the menu there's French and Italian twists on traditional Japanese dishes so it was hard for us to decide what we wanted to try.

We ended up starting with the Ahi Poki Rice Bowl ($14) with marinated ahi tuna, shallots, sesame oil, green onion and avocado. The fish was fresh and the aroma of the sesame oil was the predominant flavour of this dish. The avocado gave it a creamy texture, and I like that the rice had been mixed with some rice vinegar to give the dish some tangy notes. I just wish there was a greater portion of tuna!

Next up was the FSM Hash ($11.95): 2 poached eggs, yuzu hollandaise, corn, onions, peppers, chorizo sausage, pork belly, beef, and garlic potato hash with grilled focaccia. It was your typical Sunday morning brunch with a little twist. The eggs were poached perfectly and the hollandaise the right consistency. The potatoes were well seasoned making the hash very tasty, but aside from the different hollandaise I didn't find this dish to be too special.

Our next dish was the Loco Moco ($14) which featured a wagyu beef patty over rice, teriyaki sauce, mushrooms and a sunny side up egg. The wagyu patty was cooked to have some pink on the inside, but it was tender and juicy. We broke it up and mixed it with the sauce, egg and rice to make a delicious mish mash of sorts. The yolk kept everything together and it was a pretty filling dish.

The Mentaiko Pasta ($14.95) was surprisingly one of my favourite dishes at the table. Spaghetti was mixed together with pollack roe, baby scallops, prawns, shiso leaf & seaweed. I love tobiko (flying fish roe) but had never tried pollack roe and quite enjoyed it. This pink roe is miniscule and adds an unexpected crunch and briny flavour to the al dente pasta. There was a nice portion of seafood in the dish but the roe is what made me love this dish the most.

Last but not least was the ramen I had been waiting for. We chose to go with the Miso Ramen ($13.50) which consisted of a miso broth with BBQ pork, bean sprouts, cabbage, corn, bamboo shoots, a boiled egg & wakame. The pork was flavourful and tender and the noodles were al dente. The miso flavour was prominent and the broth had a nice depth of flavour. Not the most amazing ramen I've ever had, but pretty good for Alberta standards.

Who would have thought that Japanese and Italian cuisine could mix together? I definitely didn't, but Carino is here to show that it can be done and executed well. It is a little pricier, but the intimate atmosphere is perfect for a dinner date or celebratory dinner.