EPIC at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel

We decided to mix things up a bit in the spirit of the holiday. Chela mentioned going for tea and I was all for it! We went to EPIC at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel right downtown Toronto.



They have 2 tea sittings on Sundays where you are presented with a menu for tea. The snacks you will be served are listed, but you don't choose them, you get them all!




The only thing you do order is the tea, of which they have a few dozen choices. Your tea comes piping hot, with loose leaves strained in a clear pot so you can see how much it steeps. The biscuits and pastries are served on a 3-tier platter for the table to enjoy. It's a very social way to snack and it was nice to chat with my aunt without trying to consume a whole meal at the same time!

Ravi's and Alice's

This month, we went to my absolute favourite lunch spot for dinner: Ravi Soups! This little hole in the wall is a true diamond in the rough, never has food had so much flavour!



I simply had to take my aunt there to experience the Indian inspired food. I had my favourite curried apricot and lentil soup, and Chela had the roasted red pepper with curried shrimp and shallots bisque.



Ravi also makes daily soups like butternut squash and pear, chilled potato and leek soup, and smoked trout and artichoke. He also makes fantastic toasted wraps, like curried beef and mango with homemade salsa, fresh cilantro and edamame. I really could go on about how fabulous every item on his menu is, but suffice it to know there is nothing he's concocted that I, nor anyone I've brought along hasn't thoroughly enjoyed! Ravi also has a bright, quaint patio out back, nicely concealed from the bustle of Adelaide st.





For dessert, we went next door to Alice Fazooli's. We each had a glass of my Aunt's favourite sparkling wine, Prosecco. Chela had a chocolate cake special, and I had the Mascarpone cheesecake, which was heavenly.



We sipped on decaf espressos to sum up the evening of indulgence! I'm a fan of this chain; the service and food are consistent and never a disappointment. Can't make this a habit though, because you can taste the ample amounts of oil that's used in most of their dishes.

N'awlins

For our first outing, we decide to check out the Entertainment District along King st. We settled on N'awlins that specializes in New Orleans and Southern inspired cuisine. It was still just warm enough for us to sit outside on their sidewalk patio. We enjoyed martinis as it was Martini Tuesday and they had a nice martini menu for a feature price that day. For dinner, Chela chose the French Quarter Fusilli Grilled shrimp with roasted red peppers tossed in olive oil with garlic, shallots & white wine, and I enjoyed the Seafood Dream Linguini with tiger shrimp, calamari, scallops, mussels & baby clams in a fresh basil white wine tomato sauce.

To be quite honest, I was expecting more flavour than what I got (especially for the generous price), and the service was horrendous. But the venue was nice enough, and though we weren't there late enough in the evening, the live music they offer nightly would probably be worth catching.

History

When my aunt Chela and I found we were both working in downtown Toronto this Autumn, we decided we should try to get together often and go for dinners after work. We've since found ourselves checking out a new restaurant each month and thought it would be a good idea to document them for our own memories, and to share them with you! We truly welcome any recommendations!

Cheers