Gourmet Vegetarian Restaurant

Located in a busy Chinese Plaza, tucked away in
the far left corner, Gourmet Vegetarian Restaurant can easily be missed, so keep an eye out, but first keep an eye out for a parking spot
as there aren't many.

Other than eating Dimsum in Scarborough and Markham most of the time, my grandma brought up a place she used to go all the time. With limited seating, suitable for about 50 people, this place did get really busy both times we were here. You can order straight from their Dim Sum menu or their menu which offers a variety of noodles, fried rice, soups and vegetarian dishes.




We started off with the Deep Fried Taro 
Patties  (4/5), which were wrapped in
beancurd. If you love Taro, you will absolutely LOVE this dish. As a Taro fan myself, these were fried to a  perfect crisp and were loaded with Taro that was piping hot. There was
definitely no absence of Taro here. These were even better dipped in the Sweet & Sour Sauce that came with the dish.

We saw a few other fellow diners ordering the Vegetable Fried Rice Noodle (4/5) and we immediately knew why. Although it may look fairly simple to make, it was delicious. Loaded with tons of crunchy bean sprouts, chinese mushrooms, parsley, carrots and green onions, the colours and taste of this dish were vibrant. The sweetness of the veggies were a perfect
compliment to the soft rice noodles.


The Fried Dough Fritter Stuffed Rice Noodle (1/5), was just sad. I was disappointed at the
fact that they would even serve such a poorly executed dish to anyone like that. The whole thing was more like a deconstructed rice noodle than a supposedly stuffed one. The rice noodle
was very thick and slimy for some reason, possibly the reason why it was falling apart. Such a shame, as the dough fritter was crispy.







Somewhat of a disappointment as well,
the Pan Fried Bean Curd Roll Stuffed with
Vegetables (3/5) were lacking veggies on the inside. There were a few strands
of carrots, chinese mushrooms and pieces
of celery, but overall it was too thin in my
opinion, resulting in a very chewy and
slightly crispy exterior.








 We enjoyed the Pan Fried Vegetable Stuffed
Bun (3/5), but felt like it should've
been called a Mushroom stuffed Bun, as
it was stuffed with a plethora of Mushrooms
ranging from Shiitake and WoodEar resulting
in a satisfying crunchy interior. The Bun itself
was a tad too greasy, but nonetheless it
was definitely tasty!

The Vegetable Spring Rolls (4/5) were
definitely one of the best ones I've ever
had. Stuffed with mushroom, carrots and
cabbage, these were super crispy without
the wrapper being too thick.

I did enjoy my visit and I will come
back to try their other vegetarian dishes.

Tropicana on the Norwegian Getaway

The beautiful Norwegian Getaway in St. Maarten.

I recently came back from a wonderful week long cruise vacation on the beautiful Norwegian Getaway! Of course going on vacation wouldn't stop me from taking pictures of the good eats I had along the way! I have already starting posting pics of the food I greatly indulged on my instagram (tiffanyeats_) if you haven't checked that out already!




The Norwegian Getaway is one of the newest and largest ships from Norwegian Cruise Line,
launched in early 2014. Having cruised with NCL twice prior to this trip, on the Spirit in 2008 and the Jewel in 2012, we knew that we were not going to be disappointed as the past trips were full of fun. The Getaway offers a bunch of specialty restaurants on board, such as Food Network Star Geoffrey Zakarian's Ocean Blue, and the famous Carlo's Bakery.  Tropicana, is one of the main dining rooms that can be found aboard the Getaway. My family and I dined here, as well as at Taste, and Savor, the other two complimentary main dining rooms. The overall decor here at Tropicana is beautiful, with a small
stage in the middle for dancers while the band
played throughout the night. The waiters and
staff were incredibly friendly and the
service was great as our food was never rushed or was too slow.



The menu features a variety of starters,
entrees and desserts, as well as a chef's suggestion and some featured dishes
that would be seen on the menu throughout the week.  My sister loved the Caesar Salad (4/5), which featured some crisp and garlicky croutons and anchovies. It was nicely dressed without being too salty.

Another dish that she loved, and ordered almost every night was the Norwegian Smoked Salmon Tartare (3/5). In her favour, this was on the menu everyday, and no surprise she had it every single night. I didn't enjoy this as much as I like to eat it without the Smokiness from the salmon. However the avocado provided a nice creamy texture while the diced cucumber
added some crunch. You can taste hints of the Lemon Mustard Dressing but it was too overpowering. The toast was a bit too hard for my liking.

The Shrimp Ceviche (2.5/5) was pretty bland even with the ample amount citrus juice. I usually eat it raw, but the shrimps were nice and plump. Some more red onions would've added a bit more impact to the dish, but coming out of a large kitchen that caters to 4 main restaurants and almost more than 2000 people, it was decent. The Wild Lump Cakes (3/5) on the other hand, surprised us as it was loaded with so much crab meat, we were wondering if they used any filler at all. This was not imitation crab meat either which ensured that the crab meat inside was fluffy and sweet. Unfortunately, the outside wasn't as crispy as we would've liked it to be, but this was a well executed dish in my opinion. I really enjoyed the slaw as it was a perfect compliment to the crab cake and it helped add some moisture and tanginess, as the crab cake alone would've been too dry.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Oh the Vegetable & Pork Spring Roll. How I've missed you since those days we were sailing together on the Atlantic Ocean. How we've met and couldn't be torn apart. The way you made me feel when I laid my eyes on your existence on the menu. The joys you've brought to me when I found out you were making an appearance again! I honestly cannot express my love for the Vegetable & Pork Spring Roll (4.5/5) in any other way. This was on the menu every night  back in 2012, and for just one night this featured. The peppery filling, made with cabbage, julienned carrots and small niblets of pork, is such a perfect combination. The sweet chili sauce adds a kick of spice that compliments it so well. The papaya salad helps cool things off. Back then I would've given it 5/5, but unfortunately the wrapper wasn't that crispy this time around and was somewhat doughy. Sigh...maybe next time It'll still be here...

Wow the steak. Just wow. This was incredible.
Never did I expect I would enjoy this so much. It was honestly that good. Who needs to pay extra to dine at the steakhouse when you can have steaks just as good here? Nah, I'm just joking, but this was really good. Luckily the Striploin Steak (4.5/5) was on the menu each night, so of course I had to order it 5/7 nights we were on the cruise. I think this was almost 10oz and was prepared beautifully. I always got it medium-rare which I prefer and it was the most tender and juiciest steak I've ever had! The Cajun butter to go with it, melted perfectly on top and the Black Pepper Fingerling Potatoes were addictive. Something about the season on them was
 just so good. The Onion Rings were like ones
you could find in the grocery aisle at your
local supermarket. I would highly recommend
ordering the steak at the Main Dining Rooms
even just for one night.

The Vegetarian Lasagna Roll (2/5) was a huge disappointment, as the noodles were undercooked to the point that it still tasted very doughy. The spinach and portabello mushroom filling was undercooked as well, resulting in chewy and bland taste. The Pomodoro sauce however was nice and zesty which I loved. The Mozzarella cheese sure was melted, but it added on to the unpleasant texture of the noodles. I would have to say this was the most disappointing dish I have had throughout this cruise.

Onto the Bahamian Fish & Crab Cake (3/5). This made me think prior to ordering whether it would be just like the Crab Cake I had a few nights ago. Well, ding ding ding, I was right. This tasted exactly like that with the heavy amount of crab meat except flattened out a little. The salsa, however was a tad spicy and sweet and it made all the flavours come together. The sweet potato fries were cold.

The Thai Chicken Green Curry (3.5/5) was surprisingly tasty. There were alot of big and tender pieces of chicken and the jasmine rice was cooked perfectly without being too chewy. The curry was executed well, as there were hints of coconut milk and a slight kick from the spice.
Unfortunately it was a bit cold when it arrived to our table, and this often is the case for mass-prepared food items. It was also a tad bit too salty. 

On the first night, we ordered the Pappardelle Duck Ragu (3.5/5) which again was a bit too heavy on the salt. However, the noodles were dense, and the duck was tender. The mushrooms added a nice crunch which we enjoyed, but the sauce was a bit runny for our liking. The portions are on the bigger side, which is I guess an upgrade for those who love to eat, but then again we all love to try a bit of everything!

Speaking of trying a bit of everything, my brother, was the only member of my family who ordered a different starter, entree and dessert everyday. He is I guess, quite adventurous when it comes to food. On first night, he opted for the Grilled Mahi Mahi (3/5). I had to ask him early for a bite before he devoured it all to himself because he was so hungry. The fish was flaky, and cooked perfectly. The fried plantains were nice and crisp, and the pineapple salsa had the right amount of sweet and sour flavours. The beans and rice were chewy which he did not enjoy.

Onto the best part of the meal, in my opinion,  DESSERT! One of the items appearing on the everyday dessert menu, was the Warm Chocolate Volcano (5/5) with Stracciatella Gelato and Strawberry Compote. This was simply amazing! The volcano, which was essentially a lava cake, erupted with a warm chocolate filling with the touch of a spoon. The Stracciatella Gelato complimented this perfectly as the cake would've been too sweet without it. It was creamy but started to melt really fast. The addition of the Strawberry Compote was nice as it added some tartness. Like the steak, I had this I believe 5/7 nights of the cruise. As I am writing this, I just wish I could've brought some back!

 
Another well executed dessert, was the
Tiramisu (4/5). The coffee taste was strong,
but not too overpowering, while the cake was nice and dense. We did not enjoy the Mexican Chocolate Brownie (2/5) as it was really dry, and it wasn't that sweet which was okay. The flavour was a bit different from brownies you would find at the grocery stores such as two-bite brownies. We happened to notice this when tasting any dessert that had brownies throughout the cruise.

Overall our dinners at Tropicana were great. The  atmosphere was wonderful, without being too loud even with the band playing. Never did we feel rushed to order or to leave and the service was just amazing. One of our servers, Froilan, was super friendly and was our favourite at Tropicana. The food really amazed me, especially coming from a large kitchen catering to many other dining rooms and patrons on board. What I love about NCL, is that there are no arranged seating times for when you eat, therefore you could walk into any restaurant, make reservations and get seating right away or soon. This allows you to eat whenever you want, wherever you want!

Dinner at Congee Queen (Hwy 7 and Leslie Location)

Congee Queen is one of my go-to spots for lunch. With locations scattered around the GTA, they offer an affordable variety of Chinese, as well as Thai and Vietnamese options. My family and I decided that we head over to Congee Queen one night for dinner. This time, we decided to visit their fairly new (Hwy 7 and Leslie) Location, right by the 404 in Richmond Hill.

While browsing the 'Hot Picks' menu, the Tiger Shrimp tossed in Custard Sauce (2/5) caught our eye. The Shrimp wasn't 'tossed' in the Custard Sauce as advertised which made us quite disappointed as some pieces were lacking in sauce. The shrimp was nice and crispy which we enjoyed. The custard sauce drizzled on top was really just mayo.

We decided on the Two Assorted BBQ Combo (3/5) , which included Roasted Duck and BBQ Pork. The Roasted Duck was beautifully prepared in my opinion where there was little to almost no fat and the skin was not soggy at all. The meat was moist and not dry. The BBQ pork was great as well, as it wasn't too fatty or chewy. The soy sauce on the bottom made the meat taste overly salty which I didn't enjoy, as I would've preferred to have it on the side. Maybe next time I'll ask for that.

I'm a sucker for anything in a Hot Pot. Even rice in a clay hot pot. With 9 varieties to choose from, and more than 10 long minutes of deciding, I decided to go with the Chicken and Chinese Mushroom with Rice in Hot Pot (3.5/5). The large pieces of chicken were moist, but had very big pieces of bone still attached. Most restaurants I've been to, tend to use boneless chicken which would've made it easier to eat. Nonetheless it was tasty, especially the Chinese mushrooms which added a nice smokiness to the dish. The rice was aromatic from the chicken and Chinese mushrooms.

The Beef with Mushroom On a Sizzling Plate (3/5) arrived piping hot and sizzling as advertised. The large pieces of beef were tender and not chewy at all. The caramelized onions were sweet and flavourful, while the mushrooms exhibited a nice texture and weren't too soft. Oh man pair this dish with a bowl of rice...

Also on their special menu, was the Golden Milk Pudding (4.5/5). My goodness these were delicious! Creamy, Smooth and full of milk flavour, these are definitely a must try! These weren't too soft which I enjoyed. Something about the rich milk flavour makes this dish so tasty, I couldn't stop eating them. Yes Yes, I know these can be easily made at home, but something about these make them a must try.












Something that can be easily made at home that I
wouldn't have again here is the Fresh Mango Pudding (1.5/5). Texturally, it was nice and smooth, but really it was the average mango pudding you find at a dim sum spot. The taste was pretty generic and I expected some pieces of Mango as it was called Fresh Mango Pudding. For $3.99, I'd rather add an extra dollar for another order of the Golden Milk Pudding.




The food at Congee Queen can be consistent at most times which is great. It can also get quite busy during lunch and dinner hours, so be prepared for a short wait (Depending on the Location). The staff at the locations I've visited are nice which is a plus.


The Good:

• Not a long wait for Food
• Everything was at the right temperature
• Spacious

The Bad:

• Food can be inconsistent at times

Dim Sum at OMEI Restaurant!

Growing up in a Chinese family, going out for Dim Sum on the weekends were the usual. Aside from frequenting places such as Ginger & Onion Restaurant ( Beside Market Village), one place we would often visit would be OMEI Seafood Restaurant. Is it just me or are push-cart dimsum spots becoming a rare sight? 

Tucked inside a small Chinese Plaza in Richmond Hill, OMEI is known for it's quality 5-course lobster dinner and it's seafood. This time around we were here for their Dim Sum, another specialty of theirs.
OMEI does not use the push-carts to serve their dimsum, instead you get their dimsum menu and check off what you want to order, which ensures that it's fresh and not roaming on the push-carts for a certain amount of time.
PICTURES WERE TAKEN FROM TWO VISITS


Up first were the Deep Fried Squid Tentacles (5/5). Arriving Piping hot and fresh, these were a delight. Unlike the battered fried ones you find at other dim sum spots, these were tender and bouncy and the squid had a nice snap and was well seasoned. These were quite addicting as well, couldn't stop eating them!



Up next were the Shrimp Sui Mai. (5/5) These were enormous.Looking around, we could see that almost every table had an order, so we knew these were a must. Topped with Masago (Fish Eggs) and Dried Scallop Shavings, these were a hit. One bit into one of these goodies, we immediately realized why these were so popular here at OMEI. Filled with Shrimp Mousse, dried mushroom and large pieces of shrimp, these offered a nice crunchy snap and were very well seasoned. It was like eating a giant wonton from all the shrimp it had! The Masago added a hint of saltiness while the Dried Mushroom and Dried Scallop shavings added a smoky flavour. These are an absolute must when you come to OMEI!







Add a little Soy Sauce and Chili Oil.....Oh man.

Enough of the drooling from the Sui Mai. Arriving piping hot next was the Stuffed Eggplant with Black Bean Sauce. (3.5/5). This was a generous portion once again.
The eggplant was fried up nicely, not being too mushy and retaining it's flavour. The fish paste offered a nice meaty texture to the eggplant but was rather salty and with the addition of the black bean sauce the whole dish sort of fell apart. Have you ever eaten something so salty, it made your tongue itch? This was how salty it was. Maybe the chef added a tad too much salt? Usually when I come to OMEI and order this, it's normally not as salty as it was this recent visit! The black bean sauce was relatively thick but did not lack it's black bean flavour. Overall maybe if this dish wasn't this salty, it would've been pretty decent in my books. Maybe it was an unlucky visit? Ha.

Coming steaming hot to the table was the Beef Rice Noodle Roll aka Cheung-Fun. (4.5/5). I'm a huge fan
of Cheung-Fun and it's a staple at every dim sum spot I go to. OMEI I would say has one of the best Cheung-Fun because of the soft texture of the Rice Noodle Roll. The Rice noodle roll at many dim sum places I've been to, are often very thick and unpleasantly chewy and hard. Overall any type of Cheung-Fun is not good served cold, and the one at OMEI is always served piping Hot. Drenched in a lightly sweet soy sauce, the texture of the rice noodle roll had a slight chew but was relatively soft and toothsome.Unlike some dimsum spots where the beef tastes soft and mushy, the beef had a nice meaty texture and complimented the rice noodle roll very well. Along with Green Onion the  beef also had hints of Orange Peel, which added a nice flavour to the overall dish.




Another dimsum favourite of ours is the Deep Fried Stuffed Bean Curd Roll. (4.5/5). I prefer the fried version over the steamed, because the bean curd offers a nice crispy texture and keeps in the flavours of the filling inside. The version at OMEI has Wood Ear Mushrooms, Carrots, Dried Mushroom and baby corn in it's filling, which I find tasty because all of them add a nice crunch. The flavours in this dish were on point and all the ingredients were fresh. With a splash of Worchestershire Sauce and Hot Sauce ... Mmmmm!






Have you ever had a craving for something out of blue? Like just randomly, thinking and the thought of that food just entered your mind? Well recently I've been craving 
Turnip Cake. Steamed or Pan-Fried....It didn't matter.      

 I couldn't get my mind off them! I finally got a chance to get an order of Pan-Fried Turnip Cake.(3.5/5) What makes a good turnip cake? Well fresh turnips and a nice balance of ingredients of course! Loaded with an ample amount of Chinese sausage and Dried Mushroom and Dried Shrimp these were okay. The turnip cake was kind of dry, so the ingredients didn't mesh as well together. I would've like to see more turnip, which would've brought more moisture to the dish. Well at least it was good enough to fulfill my craving!

Lastly we got an order of Deep Fried Glutinous Dumplings aka Ham Sui Gok (3.5/4) These were fried up nicely and arrived piping hot. The filling consisted of the average being , Ground Pork, Onions, Chives and Dried mushroom. I would've liked if they had a little more filling as the flour on the outside was a bit thick. Overall this was an average dish, nothing special. Don't forget your complimentary dessert of Red Bean Soup!

OMEI offers a variety of Dimsum as well as some specialty dishes such as their Braised Beef and Turnip, and Braised Tripe and Tendon. Although quite pricey, the generous portions make up for that. The service here is also great as well, and the wait for food isn't that long.

The Good: 

• Generous Portions
• Fresh Ingredients
• Food is always served HOT
• Good Service

The Bad:

• Quite Pricey
• Food is a tad too salty

Costco

If you've been to Costco and tried their French Fries, you'll understand my addiction to them! To those who haven't been, I suggest you go try them ASAP! These are not the normal Straight Cut Fries you get at your local grocery store or burger joint. I'm talking EXTRA CRISPY, COSTCO FRIES! I've tried Cavendish fries and I think that's the closest you can get to these delicious fries. It was a gloomy Sunday afternoon, and I have been craving Costco fries for more than a week. Why not stop by Costco? and I did just that!

We each got a Hot Dog Meal (1.50) 4/5 which comes with a regular fountain drink. You can choose from either the Polish Sausage or the All Beef. I mean seriously, where can you find a deal like that? Not even the hot dog stands on the streets of downtown Toronto offer such a deal! Personally I would recommend the Polish Sausage as it isn't as salty as the All Beef and has a milder, peppery taste to it. The warm sesame bun helps cut down the saltiness a little bit, but is served warm and fresh. I've been to 3 Costco locations in Toronto and I realized that one of them does not serve condiments such as Onions, Peppers and Sauerkraut anymore. That location being on the Costco on Woodbine/Hwy 7. If you are hungry and looking for a quick and cheap bite, I totally recommend the Hot Dog Meal at Costco. Don't Forget about their fries!

Next up, the Famous Costco Fries. For only $2.29, (5/5)  

If you love extra crispy fries, these are for you. Hot, crispy and crunchy on the outside, fluffy on the inside.....Generous portions, these are to die for! Dip them in Ketchup, Vinegar or Gravy and you're good to go! I've been to many burger joints in and out of town before, and I've never encountered fries like these! Just simply amazing. For 0.50 more you can add gravy or try the their poutine for $4.99. They also serve other goodies such as their freshly baked pizza, which I find a tad too salty, Ice-Cream, and Salads.