Dining Out: Mango Bingsu at Snowday Bingsu Cafe

My friend Iris and I decided to take advantage of the total BTS takeover of Toronto this week to go down to the Royal Ontario Museum to take part in their ROM Quest: BTS this afternoon. It's a BTS-themed scavenger hunt that takes you all over the museum to answer questions through Scavify. It's fun and interactive and you get to feel a bit like a kid again going through the museum and all its galleries. Everyone gets a participation prize, too — ours was a ROM pencil that changes colour with heat. In case you're interested and in Toronto, the BTS one is running every weekend through the rest of August!

Mango bingsu

After we left the ROM, we went over to the Eaton Centre to check out the BTS Comeback Fan Zone event (honestly, it was just a big photo op and writing notes to tack up to a wall, kind of disappointing) and the BTS Nike by You event at the Nike store (unfortunately, the line-up was way too long and we didn't love the designs enough to merit waiting), and then took the subway back uptown. On the drive back home, we decided we deserved some bingsu for all the steps we got in today (10,864!), so we dropped by Snowday and shared the mango binsgu. I maintain that the watermelon bingsu is the ultimate summer dessert... but c'mon, I'll never say no to mango. I was my first bingsu love, after all.

Snowday Bingsu Cafe

5 Glen Cameron Rd.

Thornhill, ON L3T 5W2

(905) 597-8838

Dining Out: Chirashi Don at Mi-Ne Sushi

After two back-to-back disappointing dinners this week, I really needed a win. So I went with my mom to Mi-Ne Sushi.

Chirashi don

I got the chirashi don and it was PERFECT. I've always said this, but Mi-Ne consistently serves incredible quality sushi with beautiful presentation and amazing service, and this time was no different. Totally made up for the food disappointments this week. Plus, I said I'd make Mi-Ne my regular sushi spot, and I am making good on my word!

Mi-Ne Sushi

8865 Woodbine Ave.

Markham, ON L3R 5G1

(905) 470-1688

Dining Out: Esquites; Al Pastor, Birria, Sirloin, and Baja Fish Tacos; and Guacamole at La Cantina del Pueblo

For Minji's birthday (and first real outing since she gave birth to her son a month ago), she suggested going for lunch along with Daniel and the kiddos at a new Mexican restaurant in Newmarket that she found on TikTok called La Cantina del Pueblo.

Esquites

We decided to share the esquites and guacamole and then we all got our own tacos. The esquites — sautéed corn kernels with mayo, Cotija cheese, and chili powder — arrived first and was delicious and satisfying as expected. And then it was taco time! We all got two to start; I picked the al pastor (marinated pork with onion and pineapple) and the birria (marinated beef with onion). They give you a tray of extra sauces and toppings (like radish slices, pickled onions, cucumber slices, and lime wedges) to customize your tacos with. And they were also good about putting the cilantro on the side for me and Minji. I was expecting the birria taco to come with broth for dipping, but they don't provide that here for some reason. Overall, the birria taco was decent, but the al pastor taco was better with more flavourful and tender meat.

Al pastor and birria tacos

The tacos here in general are pretty small, so Daniel and I decided to order two more. And that's when we realized that the guacamole hadn't arrived yet. Turns out, our original server didn't input it into their system even though it was the first thing we ordered. Our original server, however, seemed to be busy socializing with his girlfriend/wife/special lady friend (?), so he told the busboy (who was literally still holding a tray and dish rag) to take our order. Thus, we ordered the guacamole again and then our second serving of tacos. He asked if it was for take out, and I said no, it's to eat inside the restaurant. He looked unsure, so between Daniel and I, we confirmed with him THREE TIMES that all of the food was "for here" and even made a hand gesture indicating the table.

Approximately 10 minutes later, all the food we ordered with the busboy? Arrived in takeout containers. I looked at him and said, "No, we didn't want take out. We wanted the food FOR HERE." And he said, "Ohhhhh, I thought it was for take out!" So he apologized and came back with our food on plates. Well, at least he was nice.

Sirloin and Baja fish tacos

After that whole mishap, we finally got to our second serving of tacos. I went with the sirloin and the Baja fish. The sirloin was good and pretty tender, maybe even more so than the meat in the birria taco. But the winner for me was definitely the Baja fish. The piece of fish was huge (almost couldn't wrap the tortilla around it); super soft and plush on the inside, perfectly crunchy on the outside, and paired with pickled onion for a most delightful bite. 

Guacamole with chips

Then we got to the guacamole and WOW, if this wasn't single-handedly the most disappointing guacamole I've ever had in a Mexican restaurant, ever. It was basically smashed avocado with a sprinkling of cubed tomatoes. No salt, no seasoning, no lime, no red onion. Literally nothing but the avocado and the tomato. I don't say this often, truly, but I could've made better guacamole at home. We had to get a salt shaker from another table and the extra lime slice that came with our initial tacos to SEASON OUR OWN GUACAMOLE. At least the chips were crispy, I guess?

Between the miscommunications with the staff (and let it be noted that it was NOT BUSY — there were, at most, two other tables) and the general disappointment we had with the missing item and then the mistaken take out order and the completely unseasoned smashed avocado acting as guacamole, I can't say I would ever come back to La Cantina del Pueblo when there are significantly better Mexican restaurants around. (For example, La Mexicanada is literally down the street.) I just can't believe this place has such a high rating. 

La Cantina del Pueblo

446 Davis Dr.

Newmarket, ON L3Y 2P2

(905) 898-8484

Dining Out: Sigara Boregi, Adana Kebab, Etli Pide, and Trilece Cake at Turkish Flames

When my friend Ronsee and I were deciding on where to go for dinner, he mentioned that he had been randomly craving pide for weeks, so I thought this was the perfect opportunity to try out the newly-opened Turkish Flames.

Sigara boregi

We decided to share the sigara boregi (Turkish-style fried spring rolls stuffed with feta cheese), the adana kebab (a mixture of ground veal and lamb with Turkish spices), and the etli pide (thin bread topped with a ground meat and vegetable mixture). Though I don't think you can really go wrong with deep-fried cheese in any culture, the Turkish spring rolls were incredible. Super crispy, perfectly golden shells filled with delightfully creamy feta cheese. You can't go wrong. I could've honestly eaten, like, three orders of these. And in hindsight, I probably should've.

Adana kebab
The adana kebab was decent in flavour, though it was both drier and tougher than I expected. I've eaten similar kebabs from other Middle Eastern cultures (Afghani, Lebanese, Persian, etc.) so maybe I was expecting it to be more like those — juicy, tender, almost soft enough to cut with a spoon. Maybe the chef was having an off day, or maybe these were sitting around for a while, but I wasn't particularly impressed. I would try one of the other kebab or doner options over this one.

Etli pide
What was truly disappointing, though, was the pide — the very reason we even went to Turkish Flames to begin with. I'm not sure if it's specifically the ground meat variation (etli) that we ordered or if it's the same for all the different ones they offer, but ours was severely lacking in flavour. It was my first time trying pide and I was genuinely shocked at how bland it was — I asked Ronsee, "Is it just my tastebuds or does this have no flavour?" — because Middle Eastern food in general usually utlilizes a plethora of spices. But Ronsee agreed and said that this pide was definitely under-seasoned (if seasoned at all?), and we ended up having to add quite a bit of salt on our own to it to give it even a modicum of flavour. Again, not sure if this was a one-off, but I definitely can't recommend the ground meat pide here. 

Trilece cake
To try to make up for the general disappointment of the dinner, we thought we would get one of the desserts, so we asked the server for a recommendation and she whole-heartedly suggested the trilece — the Turkish version of tres leches — and thankfully, it was excellent. To be quite honest, I don't know how it differs from the Latin American version because they taste identical to me, but whatever, good cake is good cake. And at least we had a good ending to an unfortunately mediocre meal. But I'm actually surprised at how disappointed I am with this meal because Turkish Flames has quite a high rating on Google. Not sure if it's because we went when it wasn't busy or if the chef was having an off day (and I'm definitely not an expert on Turkish food), so I'm not going to write this place off yet, but I think I need to try another Turkish restaurant to do a little compare and contrast.

Turkish Flames

7677 Markham Rd.

Markham, ON L3S 3J9

(905) 471-6111

Dining Out: Sashimi Platter and Hoe-Deopbap at Mi-Ne Sushi

Ever just crave a shit ton of raw fish?

Sashimi platter
Hoe-deobap

Well, I do, so I went with Chelsea and Braden to Mi-Ne Sushi, where we shared the sashimi platter and then I proceeded to get the hoe-deopbap because I hadn't had it in nearly four years and OH MY GOD, IT WAS SO FUCKING GOOD. Firstly, I don't know why I hadn't gotten it in so long. Probably because most sushi restaurants don't offer it unless they're Korean-owned... Which leads me to a second point: I don't know why I haven't gone to Mi-Ne Sushi in so long. They've been open for over a decade in the same location, which is very close to where I live now, and I keep forgoing it to try out newer sushi places. But if this dinner is any indication, their quality is incredible and, most importantly, CONSISTENT. I have never had anything less than an excellent experience here. Their fish is fresh and abundant, portions are fair given the price, the presentation is always beautiful, and their service goes above and beyond. I need to make Mi-Ne my regular sushi spot.

Mi-Ne Sushi

8865 Woodbine Ave.

Markham, ON L3R 5G1

(905) 470-1688

Dining Out: California Spring Salad, Spinach & Artichoke Dip, Fried Basa Fish Tacos, and Blackened Chicken Alfredo at Milestones

Milestones has been around for years — it was one of my go-to restaurants in high school — but I hadn't gone there in over a decade, until my boss took me there for a few employee lunches over the past year. (My office is really close to one, so my company does of a lot of business lunches there.) I was randomly craving their California Spring Salad (yes, I know, I have CHANGED), so when my mom asked where I wanted to go for dinner this afternoon, I told her to meet me at Milestones.

California Spring Salad with goat cheese, strawberries, avocado, red onion, candied pecans, and honey mustard vinaigrette
Spinach & Artichoke Dip with fresh cut salsa, Italian cheeses, and tortilla chips
Fried Basa Fish Tacos with cabbage slaw, fresh cut salsa, avocado, and chili avocado aioli
Blackened Chicken Alfredo with mushrooms, spinach, brie, feta, roasted garlic, fettuccine, and garlic focaccia

And we discovered that they have a HAPPY HOUR MENU! Obviously, there are many drink specials but, more importantly, there's a number of food items that are cheaper from the hours of 3:00PM to 6:00PM everyday! So aside from the salad I was craving (which is unfortunately not on the Happy Hour menu but is totally worth paying full price for), we got the spinach and artichoke dip ($16 instead of $19!), the fried basa fish tacos ($6 each instead of $24 for 2!!!), and the blackened chicken alfredo ($23 instead of $27!). I don't go to chain restaurants often, but I will obviously be coming back for happy hour again.

Milestones

169 Enterprise Blvd. Unit I109

Markham, ON L6G 1B3

(437) 525-4596

Dining Out: Fresh Watermelon Bingsu at Snowday Bingsu Cafe

So we came back from NYC to an insane heatwave this week (like, over 40℃ each day on the humidex). And I met up with Minji and Daniel today for lunch at Red Lobster (Minji is 9 months pregnant and was craving seafood and Cheddar Bay biscuits, so how could we deny her?) all the way in Thornhill. So we obviously had to go Snowday Bingsu for dessert. You know, to avoid heatstroke. And it was there that I inadvertently found the ultimate summer dessert:

Fresh watermelon bingsu

Unlike the other bingsu options there, this one uses fresh watermelon rather than frozen fruit and is topped with freshly made watermelon sorbet. (It's also supposed to come with chocolate chips to mimic watermelon seeds but I asked for mine without them because, frankly, it already has enough sugar.) It's light and refreshing, sweet and milky, thirst-quenching and happiness-inducing PERFECTION. (Also, maybe it's because I haven't had bingsu in a long time, but I didn't realize they made these smaller cup sizes. It's perfect for one person.) Basically, I'll be back for more.

Snowday Bingsu Cafe

5 Glen Cameron Rd.

Thornhill, ON L3T 5W2

(905) 597-8838

New York City Summer 2026 Travel Log: Day 3 — Country Sausage Benedict at EJ's Luncheonette

For our final meal in NYC, we went for brunch at the iconic diner, EJ's Luncheonette:

Country Sausage Benedict: Poached eggs and breakfast sausage on buttermilk biscuits, topped with sausage gravy and served with home fries

I went for the Country Sausage Benedict — a Southern twist on a New York classic. I've never actually been to the Southern US or, like, Cracker Barrel, so this is pretty much as close as I'm gonna get to Southern food. (Actually, this Benedict originally comes with grits on the side, but I didn't feel like I was ready for that step yet...) This is one of those dishes that tastes like it'll clog your arteries, so basically, it's tasty AF and I'm now sort of obsessed with sausage gravy. A truly delightful ending to this year's decadently delicious NYC trip.

EJ's Luncheonette

1271 3rd Ave. 

New York, NY 10021

(212) 472-0600

New York City Summer 2026 Travel Log: Day 2 — A Feast of "Bites" at NR

We went for an early dinner (like, really early, as in happy hour early, because our schedule revolves around the babies' nap times) to a gorgeous Japanese fusion eatery called NR, where we had a feast of appetizers (or "bites," as they call them):

Spicy Tuna: Tuna, anchovies, truffle, shallot, porcini mushroom, spicy mayo, and lime zest in filo cups

Deviled Egg + Egg + Egg: Sea urchin, caviar, tosa vinegar jelly, dashi, wasabi, Japanese mustard, mayo, and shiso on quail eggs

Seafood Tower (Bottom): Fresh oysters

Seafood Tower (Middle): Uni + salmon red caviar jelly, hamachi sashimi, tuna with cucumber foam

Seafood Tower (Top): Fried shrimp and fries

Pork Buns: Pork belly with lettuce, scallion, teriyaki, and tartar 

Miso Glazed Eggplant: Deep fried eggplant, miso, pomegranate, mint, and dill

Incredible flavours and ingredient combinations — this was honestly one of the most interesting meals I've had in a long time, and there is no shortage of Asian fusion restaurants back home. We were unfortunately too full after the apps, but I'm really hoping we get to come back for the ramen, which is actually what NR is known for. I mean, there is a $42 USD wagyu and bone marrow ramen on the menu that is just too indulgent to not try once in my lifetime...

(Oh, and in case you're wondering, we managed to do just over 11,000 steps today. So, yes, we feasted, but at least we felt slightly less guilty about it!)

NR

339 E 75th St.

New York, NY 10021

(646) 226-4874

New York City Summer 2026 Travel Log: Day 2 — Matcha Latte and Assorted Italian Cookies at Sant Ambroeus

What to do when it's raining outside but the kids are napping so you have just over an hour to entertain your family visiting you from Canada?

Matcha latte with pistachio milk

Assorted Italian cookies

Well, my brother takes us to fancy Italian cafes for lattes, cookies, and family gossip. Indeed, a great way to spend an afternoon!

Sant Ambroeus Coffee Bar

1334 York Ave.

New York, NY 10021

(212) 606-7070

New York City Summer 2026 Travel Log: Day 2 — Prime Steak Tartare, Poulpe Grillé, Moules Frites Marinières, and Croque Madame at Match 65 Brasserie

Met up with my brother and his family at Match 65 Brasserie this morning for a most délicieux brunch:

Prime steak tartare: Black Angus sirloin, quail egg, cornichons, and toasted baguette

Poulpe grillé: Grilled octopus, olive oil, lemon, herbs, and capers

Moules frites marinières: Mussels, white wine, shallots, roasted garlic, fresh herbs, and toasted baguette served with fries

Croque madame with fries

Yep, that's a lot of calories and fat grams to consume before noon... And that's not even including the leftover piece of brioche French toast from my nephew's plate that I shared with my mom for "dessert"... So we'll have to walk a lot today, rain be damned. (Good thing I wore my new Hokas.) But it was TOTALLY WORTH IT. 

Match 65 Brasserie

29 E 65th St.

New York, NY 10065

(212) 737-4400

New York City Summer 2026 Travel Log: Day 1 — Market Vegetables and the Steak Sandwich at Westville

Greetings from NYC! We're back for our annual trip to visit my brother and his family — and finally meeting my 8-month-old niece, Amelia, for the first time! (She is, objectively, the most adorable baby I've ever seen with the smiliest face, squishiest rolls, and most perfect milky skin. No bias, of course.) We arrived late afternoon so, to see the kids before their bedtime, my brother suggested an early dinner at their favourite NYC chain, Westville. They're known for their fresh produce, with a menu featuring over 20 different vegetable sides. Outside of vegetarian/vegan restaurants, I don't think I've ever actually heard of any restaurant that specializes in vegetable dishes, but here are. So we ordered 6 veggie plates to share:

Beets with goat cheese and walnuts

Brussels sprouts with honey dijon

Yuca fries with chipotle mayo

Roasted mushrooms with fresh herbs

Esquite (Mexican roasted corn kernels with chipotle mayo and cojita cheese)

Roasted carrots with fresh herbs

Steak sandwich with caramelized onions and horseradish mayo on a club roll and a side of sweet potato fries

And I got the steak sandwich as my main because, you know, balance. All the vegetable sides were delicious — my favourites were the beets and yuca fries — but I'm happy to report that Westville does their other dishes equally well because my steak sandwich was excellent. The steak was tender and cooked perfectly medium rare, the bun had a good chew but didn't hurt the roof of my mouth, and the horseradish was just spicy enough to feel a clearing in the nasal passages but not enough to overwhelm. It was the perfect accompaniment to a vegetable feast.

I can see why Westville opened up so many locations in NYC. Honestly, it's a great concept — delicious but (mostly) healthy dishes that also promotes fresh produce and local farmers — and the prices are reasonable. I wish they would open one closer to home. I can see this doing really well in the Toronto area. Then again, it took Shake Shack two decades to come to Canada, so I'm not holding my breath. 

Westville

1359 1st Ave.

New York, NY 10021

(212) 257-2133

Dining Out: Truffle Fries, Beef Bourguignon Eggs Benedict, Confit de Canard Eggs Benedict, and 15th's French Toast at 15th Avenue

After months of construction, 15th Avenue is finally open for business! It's a brunch restaurant that specializes in "bistro modern dining." (Note that their menu is still changing because they're in soft opening right now.) They're only open until 4:00PM, but since I ended work at 3:00PM today for the long weekend, Minji, Daniel, and I managed to get in there by 3:15PM for a super-late brunch (frankly, it was almost a linner at this point, but potato, potahto). 

Truffle fries

We started with the truffle fries to share since Minji was craving them, and who am I to say no to truffle fries? They were honestly pretty perfect — the fries themselves are super crispy and perfectly golden on the outside, but delightfully fluffy on the inside without being overly starchy. (They do suspiciously remind me of Costco fries, actually. Which might be my favourite fast food fry out there.) The truffle and parmesan flavours are prominent, and the truffle aioli is delicious. However, the portion size definitely does not merit a $12 price tag. So, unless you're with a pregnant friend who begs you to share truffle fries with her, I would say the truffle fries aren't worth it, as delicious as they are. 

Beef Bourguignon and Confit de Canard Eggs Benedict

Minji and I decided to split the beef bourguignon and confit de canard eggs Benedict because we couldn't decide on which one we wanted to try more. After tasting both, though, we agreed that the beef was significantly better than the duck. They're both served with poached eggs and hollandaise on English muffins, but the beef bourguignon, which has red wine jus and horseradish aioli, was perfectly tender and flavourful. The duck confit's texture was moist and juicy, but was noticeably under-seasoned — to the point where neither of us could taste any duck flavour at all. It was the first time in a long time that I really wanted to add salt to my dish. It's served with Bosc pears, but I only found two small pieces on mine and they lacked any sweetness so the whole thing ended up being extremely bland. I thought it was just me, but Minji said the same thing. (To be fair, our server did ask if we needed salt, pepper, or ketchup. I declined because I believe a dish at a restaurant like this should be served exactly as the chef intends it to be tasted.) Not sure how the other Benedicts fare, but I'd say go for the beef bourguignon — it's delicious and the most unique option on the menu. Oh, it's also worth noting that the Benedicts are currently served with their regular fries — not home fries, as it says on the menu. 

15th's French toast

No meal would be complete without dessert. So, obviously, we had to get the French toast. 15th Avenue's version is a HK-style brick toast with Biscoff spread and maple beurre monté, and then deep-fried, topped with icing sugar and fresh berries, and served with a side of maple syrup. For $18, we definitely thought it was going to be bigger, but it was very, very, very delicious. I'm not sure how much fat and sugar it has in it, but it's definitely guilt-inducing — and I shared it with two other people. (Still, it's not as much of a monster as the French toast at Pears which even is thicker, contains custard, and comes served sizzling in oil. Had to take a 45-minute walk right after that one.) Overall, brunch at 15th Avenue was delightful and our server was excellent — super nice, attentive, efficient, and patient (we had a 15-month-old with us, and we ended up staying 30 minutes after their official closing time and they never once rushed us out) — but it is definitely pricey for what it is. For three mains and two shareables with no drinks, we each ended up paying $45 after tax and tip. As with most restaurants in Downtown Markham, I would come back for a special occasion, but it's a bit too expensive for regular outings. 

15th Avenue

169 Enterprise Blvd., Unit 103

Markham, ON L6G 1B3

(905) 305-1885

Dining Out: Spicy Tteokbokki and Garlic Crunch Boneless Chicken at Bb.q Chicken

Minji and I wanted to watch The Devil Wears Prada 2 so we decided to have a girls' night (our first one in nearly 2 years!) and went for dinner beforehand at Bb.q Chicken.

Spicy tteokbokki

Garlic Crunch boneless chicken

Got the classic spicy tteokbokki, of course, and decided to try their new Garlic Crunch chicken (we got boneless because Bb.q actually serves dark meat for their boneless option), which we both loved — there's actually no dry rub garlic option on their regular menu (both Soy Garlic and Honey Garlic are sauced), so this was a really welcome flavour. It's definitely more garlicky than the sauced options, but there is a hint of sweetness in it that keeps it from being too overwhelming. (Be warned, the dragon breath is unreal.)

As for the movie — the first one I've watched in theatres in nearly a decade — it was good, but not great. It's still fun and funny, but it definitely lacks the sassiness and charm and witty one-liners of the first one. Andy Sachs, sadly, is still annoying (albeit slightly less naive), though Miranda and Emily are still queens, and Nigel finally gets the credit he deserves. I also found the premise of prestigious print publications having to modernize to clickbait-y, short-form digital content very realistic. However, Andy's romantic relationship was completely unnecessary and, honestly, a little befuddling, and I also hated how utterly unrealistic it was for Andy to be able to afford what looks like a 1,500-sq. ft. luxury apartment in the middle of Manhattan on a salary that is presumably less than $1 million. But, I digress. 

Bb.q Chicken

8110 Birchmount Rd., Unit 1 and 2

Markham, ON L6G 0E3

(905) 305-8110

Dining Out: Mother's Day Brunch at Pears Restaurant

Sometime in late February, Pears Restaurant announced that they would be collaborating with sister restaurant, Glass Kitchen, to create a "new brunch experience." I'm actually not really sure how they've collaborated since they're both restaurants by Chef Keith Pears and they both feature Asian fusion cuisine, but the marketing e-mail says it brings together "the refined elegance of Pears with the vibrant creativity of Glass Kitchen." Suffice it to say, I was curious. But I wanted to wait a bit — for the hype to die down, of course, but also so the chefs could get more comfortable with the menu and tweak dishes as necessary. So I finally took the opportunity to try Pears' "First Light" Brunch with my mom for Mother's Day.

Char siu short rib eggs Benedict with kimchi pancakes, pickled cucumbers, poached eggs, and hollandaise
The char siu short rib eggs Benedict was excellent. The meat was flavourful and melt-in-your-mouth tender; the spicy-sour flavour of the kimchi pancakes and tartness of the pickled cucumbers was offset beautifully by creamy poached eggs and rich hollandaise sauce. The home fries also deserve a huge shout-out — these are extra crunchy like they're double-fried (maybe even triple-fried), and perfectly seasoned. I usually think home fries are boring and bland, but these were incredible. Totally worth ordering as a side on their own (which they offer for $7).

Shakshouka with gochujang tomato eggplant stew, lamb merguez sausage, and crispy mantou bao
The shakshouka was good — the flavours were bright and flavourful, kind of like a spicy tomato-based pasta sauce. Mixed with the poached eggs, it became a richer, creamier, more decadent stew. (My mom thought it was good, but "nothing special." So take that as you will.) The mantou buns were great for dipping; I'm glad they went with fried mantou instead of the regular steamed ones just for some texture contrast. Surprisingly, I actually wasn't a huge fan of the lamb sausage. I was expecting some gaminess, which I typically like, but this sausage was so gamey it almost veered on metallic, as if I was eating blood sausage. I ate it, anyway, but those who can't stand that iron/metallic aftertaste of blood will probably not be able to stomach the sausage.

Wagyu beef siu mai with black garlic nori sauce
The wagyu beef siu mai were… disappointing. Both my mom and I liked the texture of them, but hated the flavour. There's a kind of earthy pungent aftertaste that we didn't like — whether it was from the beef or the black garlic nori sauce or both. Weirdly enough, my mom and I usually have differing opinions on food, but we both agreed on this one. Also, you can't tell whether it's wagyu beef or some much cheaper cut of beef, anyway, because it's ground. So while these dumplings look amazing and the presentation is lovely, I just can't recommend them.

Thai tea French toast stuffed with coconut custard and topped with Thai tea anglaise and strawberries

The French toast is insane. In the best way possible. It is a giant brick toast, stuffed with coconut custard, and then deep-fried, and topped with some sort of Thai tea glaze and then torched. And then served on a sizzling hot plate. With a side of Thai tea to make it even sweeter. (We added a dash of the Thai tea, but it really wasn't necessary.) To be quite honest, this French toast didn't really taste like Thai tea to me. It actually tasted exactly like crème brûlée, and it was… absolutely dreamy. It's crunchy on the outside and soft and plush and creamy on the inside, and it was almost a transcendent experience. It's the kind of dessert I will think about for years to come. Save stomach space, because the French toast is an absolute must-order here. 

The food did take quite a long time to get to our table — just over 35 minutes for the first dish to arrive — though all of our dishes arrived within a span of five minutes after the first. It wasn't a dealbreaker to us, but it is worth noting, especially if you're on a schedule or are extremely hungry. (If you weren't hungry going in, you definitely will be by the time the food arrives.) I am also really glad to report that service has vastly improved from the first and only time I came here (which was during their soft opening last February). Actually, the server from that initial visit was the sole reason I didn't want to go back again. But our server this time was lovely. Pleasant, welcoming, attentive but not cloying, and most importantly, didn't try to push us to order anything we didn't want. Overall, a delightful experience that both my mom and I enjoyed. There are a bunch of other dishes I want to try from the brunch menu (mini lobster crab rolls, smoked salmon donut sliders, rice cake Bolognese?!), but frankly, I would come back just for that French toast if nothing else.

Pears Restaurant

170 Enterprise Blvd., Unit J105

Markham, ON L6A 0A2

(365) 608-0939

Take Out: Classic Banh Mi and Iced Vietnamese Coffee at Banh Mi Queen

Classic banh mi
Okay, I am apparently not a good sandwich ripper but do not let that take away from the fact that the classic banh mi at the newly-opened Banh Mi Queen is truly excellent. I'd been wanting to try this place since it opened, honestly (it's inside the food court at New Kennedy Square, where my mom's go-to Chinese restaurant is, so we pass by it all the time), and the chance finally came today when I had some time to kill while I got my winter tires changed. Minji and Daniel picked me up for lunch, so I asked if they wanted to try this new banh mi place and they replied with an immediate yes. 

We all got the classic banh mi — no cilantro and no spice for me, no cilantro but with spice for Minji, and lots of cilantro and no spice for Daniel — with iced Vietnamese coffees for $10 a person. I don't even need to tell you what a fucking steal that is in this economy. I was actually surprised at the size of the sandwich because I'm used to places serving banh mi at half this size for the same price. Each sandwich was absolutely stuffed with pork sausage, ham, pork belly, pickled veggies, and, most importantly, pâté. The bread had a good amount of crunch on the outside but was still soft on the inside so it didn't hurt my mouth like most baguettes. All three of us were genuinely impressed with our respective sandwiches. The coffee was intense and strong, but sweet and creamy as one would expect. Would absolutely not hesitate to get the same combo again.

Oh, and the service was phenomenal. Everyone that worked there was just so damn personable. While the lady at the front was making our sandwiches, the chef at the back asked if we liked pho, and we were like, "Duh, of course we do." So he came back with little paper cups of his house-made pho broth for us to try and it was truly delicious — rich and flavourful and super beefy — so we will have to come back for the pho next time. But just the fact that he offered it to us was so genuinely welcoming and wholly unnecessary and it's these gestures that really make me want to visit again and again. And so I will.

Banh Mi Queen

New Kennedy Square

8360 Kennedy Rd.

Markham, ON L3R 9W4

(416) 456-0298

Dining Out: Dad's Birthday Dinner at The Big Brother 大師兄新派順德菜

I asked my dad what he wanted to eat for his 74th birthday dinner, and he just requested Chinese food (as usual) so my mom and I decided to take him to The Big Brother since we enjoyed it so much last time.

Deep-fried shrimp tossed in Thousand Island dressing with seasonal fruit
Special made puffy fish tofu with clams, sponge gourd, and mixed mushrooms in broth
Salt and pepper crispy fried silver fish
Traditional salt-baked crispy skin chicken

Again, the food was excellent. I never thought I'd need blueberries and honeydew with my deep-fried shrimp, but here we are, and it's freaking DELICIOUS. Honestly, that would be my must-order of the night. The fried silverfish (also known as icefish or noodlefish, NOT the insect) were also perfectly golden and crispy and an absolute DELIGHT. The broth for the fish tofu puffs and clams was milky and mellow — great for accompanying the deep-fried foods. The traditional salted chicken, which we also ordered last time, did take quite a long time to get to the table (they did say it would take 20 minutes to prepare, but it definitely took longer than that because but we were nearly done the rest of the other dishes by the time the chicken came out), but was still as tasty as I remember it being — perfectly crispy, salty skin, and juicy, tender meat. And again, service was great — welcoming, accommodating, and efficient. I think we might have found a new go-to special occasion Chinese restaurant.

The Big Brother 大師兄新派順德菜

328 Highway 7

Richmond Hill, ON L4B 3P7

(905) 881-3333