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Toronto restaurant recommendation

freshcutgrass

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I love living in Parkdale. But for some reason, I have not yet visited Cowbell, even though it's only a couple of blocks from where I live. I'm waiting for a cold night in the dead of winter, when I'm famished after shoveling snow, and I'm going to try their pot pie (large, filling and tasty so I've heard).

When entertaining out-of-towners, I would never take them to the usual touristy spots (except perhaps Yorkville), but instead, take them to "nabes"...this is the real Toronto (and they all usually have several great eating spots). Parkdale is one of those places. Cowbell does "farmer's meals" in a small 30-seat joint (reserv's + 2 hour limits unfortunately). Mark Cutrara is ex-Globe Bistro and apprenticed under Jamie Kennedy. Sounds like a great meal, without much pretension.

And as for whether Mark does slow food, he says, "You can't get much slower than farm to table." He sous vides a lot of food - a technique borrowed from molecular gastronomy - to preserve and slow cook meat. He is especially pleased with how people are enjoying his slow-cooked elk.

Full carcasses of beef, elk, deer, etc arrive weekly and Mark is adamant about not "sticking the farmers with the legs. " He cooks jowls for up to 36 hours, dry age's meat and brines certain cuts in salt water. Downstairs beneath the restaurant he cures meats in house like brigole and prosciuttos.

"I really love to do chacouterie," he says. And his pot pie over all others dish is very important to his using of the whole animal philosophy.

And com'on...he's a handsome feller too...I feel better already knowing he will be handling my meat.
stirpot.gif


 

freshcutgrass

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edit again (I wish someone would invent a forum that can just run maintenance-free for more than 5 fuking minutes).
 

doink

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i've eaten at cowbell, it is in my 'hood too. The meal I had there was relatively good. I did find it a bit pretentious and forced. I have also read reviews that have not been so kind due to server surliness, small portions, poor wine list, premium prices on less than premium cuts of meat. While I like the idea and am happy it is in my area, I doubt I'll go back.

Friend went to nota bene, and despite all the great reviews, she said it was just OK.
 

Spatlese

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Originally Posted by audiophilia
Walked by it 15 minutes ago. My brother commented that he took two clients (at their request) last week. It was $500 and ****. YMMV.

Good to know. I'm interested in what they found objectionable about it, before I blow my (my company's) money. I've been to some of the places others have noted, and I want to give some newer ones a try.
 

freshcutgrass

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I have also read reviews that have not been so kind
As has every restaurant...one of life's little contradictions...the better the chef/restaurant, the worse the bad reviews get. Perhaps it is an off meal...perhaps expectations are not met...or perhaps it's a case of people who just get off on it. Which is why I tend to take bad reviews of obviously talented kitchens with a grain of salt, more than good reviews.
 

eg1

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Originally Posted by freshcutgrass
I love living in Parkdale. But for some reason, I have not yet visited Cowbell, even though it's only a couple of blocks from where I live. I'm waiting for a cold night in the dead of winter, when I'm famished after shoveling snow, and I'm going to try their pot pie (large, filling and tasty so I've heard).

When entertaining out-of-towners, I would never take them to the usual touristy spots (except perhaps Yorkville), but instead, take them to "nabes"...this is the real Toronto (and they all usually have several great eating spots). Parkdale is one of those places. Cowbell does "farmer's meals" in a small 30-seat joint (reserv's + 2 hour limits unfortunately). Mark Cutrara is ex-Globe Bistro and apprenticed under Jamie Kennedy. Sounds like a great meal, without much pretension.




And com'on...he's a handsome feller too...I feel better already knowing he will be handling my meat.
stirpot.gif




the real Toronto ...
rolleyes.gif
crackup[1].gif


As opposed to what, Cherry Beach?
plain.gif
 

SField

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Originally Posted by eg1
the real Toronto ...
rolleyes.gif
crackup[1].gif


As opposed to what, Cherry Beach?
plain.gif


Ya that made me laugh. Toronto has no soul.
 

freshcutgrass

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As opposed to what, Cherry Beach?
Ya that made me laugh. Toronto has no soul.
No smartass...I meant as in you don't come to Toronto, visit the CN Tower and the Eaton Centre...and think you did Toronto. Toronto is a city of diverse villages...there isn't supposed to be a Toronto soul, but it does have flavour.

Why does a site that purports to be about style, seem to be full of so many who lack it?
 

SField

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Originally Posted by freshcutgrass
No smartass...I meant as in you don't come to Toronto, visit the CN Tower and the Eaton Centre...and think you did Toronto. Toronto is a city of diverse villages...there isn't supposed to be a Toronto soul, but it does have flavour.

Why does a site that purports to be about style, seem to be full of so many who lack it?


You live in toronto? Chances are absolutely spectacular that you are not so stylish yourself.

As for flavour, it doesn't have anything distinct. There is nothing distinctly toronto aside from Front St. and all its stupid tourist traps. There is nothing quintessentially toronto except for douchey jewish kids who try to talk like surfers, embarassing leaf fans, and the ******* CN tower.

Being there this week has reminded me of all this, and has reinforced why I never come through here.
 

West24

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Originally Posted by SField
You live in toronto? Chances are absolutely spectacular that you are not so stylish yourself.

As for flavour, it doesn't have anything distinct. There is nothing distinctly toronto aside from Front St. and all its stupid tourist traps. There is nothing quintessentially toronto except for douchey jewish kids who try to talk like surfers, embarassing leaf fans, and the ******* CN tower.

Being there this week has reminded me of all this, and has reinforced why I never come through here.


yeah im sure thats all we have. being one of the most multicultural cities in the world etc. sounds like someone used to live here and had absolutely no life/friends and is now bitter. so sad.
 

SField

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Originally Posted by West24
yeah im sure thats all we have. being one of the most multicultural cities in the world etc. sounds like someone used to live here and had absolutely no life/friends and is now bitter. so sad.

um, I have lived in Boston, New York and many different cities for shorter periods of time around the world. Multiculturalism has nothing to do with anything. It's a boring city with a fairly uptight conservative culture. Actually, there is no real culture. The bar scene is lame and within Canada everyone hates Toronto. Montreal is much, much better.
 

freshcutgrass

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As for flavour, it doesn't have anything distinct. There is nothing distinctly toronto aside from Front St. and all its stupid tourist traps. There is nothing quintessentially toronto except for douchey jewish kids who try to talk like surfers, embarassing leaf fans, and the ******* CN tower.

Being there this week has reminded me of all this, and has reinforced why I never come through here.

It's a boring city with a fairly uptight conservative culture. Actually, there is no real culture. The bar scene is lame and within Canada everyone hates Toronto. Montreal is much, much better.

ha ha ha

Really...we are just throwing a few dining options at someone. Why on earth you feel the need to use the thread to spew your mystifying wrong-headed views on the city is beyond me. Who are you trying to convince anyway?

It's people like you who ensure this site will never be taken very seriously.
 

SField

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Originally Posted by freshcutgrass
ha ha ha

Really...we are just throwing a few dining options at someone. Why on earth you feel the need to use the thread to spew your mystifying wrong-headed views on the city is beyond me. Who are you trying to convince anyway?

It's people like you who ensure this site will never be taken very seriously.


Read back, I didn't start that. Sorry but when someone says the "real toronto"
sarcasm.gif
, you just have to laugh. The only people who'd be offended by that live in Toronto. Guess I'm much more of a Montreal guy, and you should be aware for the TO/Montreal hate.

Toronto is absolutely fine if for some reason I was being forced to go shopping in Canada or I have to find an accountant.
 

Spatlese

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^ Back to topic, where did you wind up going?
 

SField

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Originally Posted by Spatlese
^ Back to topic, where did you wind up going?

I went to Canoe.

People do complain about Toronto not being a real landmark food city, but I liked it. I have, by the way, been to two of Mark Mcwehan's places. Canoe was exactly what I was looking for and the view was great. There was a lot of foie gras, and I had some Alberta beef which was nice. Everything was a hit. There wasn't anything daring or too adventurous, and in general I've found that not many chefs in that city have much of a point of view, but it was well executed food that tasted great, which is what I asked for, so thank you.
 

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