Showing posts with label sandwich. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sandwich. Show all posts

Grandma Loves You (Toronto)

Posted on Saturday, October 08, 2022 by

Grandma Loves You started in 2015, in Germany, as a family business with Sarah and Artin Davoodi, Sarah’s grandmother, and a bun in the oven. When the Davoodis immigrated to Canada, they opened a second location in Toronto to continue the tradition.

Sarah notes Grandma Loves You (GLY) pride themselves on treating customers with care; they want everyone who walks in to feel like they’re being cared for and nourishes while outside of their home. You’ll find that in their overstuffed sandwiches (don’t all grandmothers just want you to eat copious amounts of food?) and the little hand drawn hearts on the packaging.

From the number of customers who visited during my Friday lunch trip, I can see the community is reciprocating the love and has made GLY one of Yelp’s top 100 places to eat in Canada for 2022. There were couples, friends, families, and construction workers abound tucking into handheld creations. One client even acting as an ambassador as someone was trying to decide between GLY and the pizza place next door - sandwiches all the way!

GLY offers an extensive menu of submarines, sandwiches, hotdogs, and croissants. It can be difficult zeroing in on a choice, so I asked Sarah about her favourite items, which includes the gourmet French dog, chef’s choice sub, meatball sub, and the new BLT sub.

Since Sarah loves the subs, I opted for the Chef’s choice ($12.99 for the pictured 6 inch) that’s wrapped in a crunchy soft roll reminiscent of banh mi bread. It’s stuffed to the gills with toppings… I had to press and really stretch out the jaw to get the first bites in. The grilled chicken is neutrally seasoned allowing the house made sauces to shine through, blending into the fried onions to give the sandwich a real savouriness.

Not normally a fan of black olives, they work in the creation, becoming lost in the other ingredients so that it just adds a bit of saltiness. Pickled hot peppers provide interest to the sandwich without too much heat, and the creamy avocado holds everything together. It’s a sub with a lot of different textures and flavours. In other words, my kind of sub.

Same with the gourmet French dog ($9.49), which I was worried would be too sweet. Luckily, the blueberry preserve is more fruit than sugar helping to blend the other ingredients together without becoming the prominent flavour. If anything, the freshly grilled salty wiener comes through the most, GLY uses the long frankfurter that is surprisingly juicy for being a thinner dog. It becomes a “French” dog from the addition of brie, which when warm melts into the ultra soft croissant.

Having a sandwich for lunch seems so normal and overdone, but somehow GLY creates ones that are delicious and sought after. And to Sarah’s benefit, I could sense their care. Of course, I was invited in to try their food, so she made sure to take a few moments out of the crazy rush to answer my questions. But I also saw her invite people to take a seat at a table outside and bring orders out – walking around and calling out names to find the food’s rightful owner. She could have made people wait around for their order, but then that wouldn’t be the loving grandmother way. 

Overall mark - 8 out of 10
Disclaimer: The above meal was complimentary. Rest assured, as noted in the mission statement, I will always provide my honest opinion. 

How To Find Them
 Location: Toronto, Canada
 Address: 1084 Yonge Street
 


 Follow me on twitter to chat, be notified about new posts and more - https://twitter.com/GastroWorldBlog
____________________________
Gastro World's Grading System
  • Anything under 5 - I really disliked and will never go back
  • 6 - decent restaurant but I likely won't return
  • 7 - decent restaurant and I will likely return
  • 8 - great restaurant that I'd be happy to recommend
  • 9 - fantastic restaurant that I would love to visit regularly and highly recommend
  • 10 - absolute perfection!

Is That It? I Want More!

Other Gastro World posts similar to this:


FAMO Sandwich Creations (Toronto)

Posted on Sunday, December 04, 2016 by

When Chef Babak Fami told his wife Shabnam Moier he wanted his own restaurant, she listened and supported him. What type of restaurant? Even though he worked at Terroni, Chef Fami had no desire to cook Italian. Instead, he wanted an inclusive menu where numerous cultures were represented and to share the diversity through a sandwich. Eighteen months later, FAMO (a combination of Fami and Moier’s surnames) finally greets Queen East.

I know what you’re thinking … sandwiches? What’s special about that? FAMO stays away from the overdone BLT and cold cuts. Instead, you’ll find ingredients like beef cheeks, lamb and tongue. Moreover, each incorporates spices, herbs or ingredients from different cultures so they’re global sandwiches. Oh my!

In tribute to our city, the Six ($13) takes beef tongue and braises it in red wine for hours until it becomes a flavourful piece of meat. For those who haven’t tried this part of the cow before, when prepared correctly, it’s like eating beef tenderloin.

After thinly slicing the tongue, it’s topped with truffle mayo, arugula slaw and red onions. Overall, a delicious combination of flavours – the truffle essence is evident but not the first thing you taste. However, the tongue does get lost between all the ingredients and thick bread. Perhaps a different bun or more meat would help.

The Cheek and Bun ($13) consists of slow braised beef cheek and caramelized onion – already a good start in my books – then adds arugula slaw for a bit of crunch and freshness. Of course, the beef is succulent and tender and this one of the more flavourful sandwiches I tried.


Since the East Ender ($12) uses chicken breast for the base, the meat is drier than what you’d expect from pulled chicken, but is lighter tasting and seems healthy. I love the spicy mango slaw that tops the creation, which adds a tropical twist and interest to this safer sandwich. If their vinegary hot sauce is available that day, be sure to grab plenty as it goes great with the chicken.


Although they’re all good, my favourite is the Famous Lamb ($13), which pays homage to the owners’ Persian heritage. In between the crusty toasted baguette are thick slices of slow roasted lamb leg rubbed in earthy spices such as cloves. Topped with a fragrant turmeric onion slaw this is a tasty sandwich. It goes even better with some of FAMO’s house made green chili hot sauce, just use it sparingly … it’s powerful.


Chef Fami tries to keep the sides that come with their sandwiches healthy with a variety of slaws (beet, fennel or green apple). Even the FAMO fries won’t leave you feeling guilty since they’re blanched and only fried once, instead of the multiple dips that competitors often rely on. Despite only one kiss with the hot oil, the wedges are crispy. Made with huge wedges of fingerling potatoes, these fries are hearty and will leave you full.


Drinks are affordable with $5 red or white wine that’s chosen to complement their sandwiches. For a non-alcoholic alternative, try the Station cold brew coffee ($4.50), which steeps the ground coffee in water for 18 hours so there’s no risk of scalding the beans. The coffee is so mellow, but still flavourful, I drank it black. 


Even though sandwiches are made-to-order, they’re finished quickly so it makes for a quick lunch. Additionally, FAMO’s dining area has long communal tables so you can sit and eat if you’re not taking out. Plus, you'll get to check out the heritage fireplace that the owners preserved when restoring the building. 

Shabnam is pleased with the great feedback they’re receiving from the neighbourhood. She notes they’re sticking with the seven sandwiches and burger for now. But, every week there’s also a special creation and depending on its popularity, may become part of the permanent fixture. Moreover, office lunches may soon get tastier as FAMO expects to start catering later in December. Goodbye cold cuts, hello tongue and cheeks!

Overall mark - 7.5 out of 10
Disclaimer: The above meal was complimentary. Rest assured, as noted in my mission statement, I will always provide an honest opinion.
How To Find Them
 Location: Toronto, Canada
 Address: 122 Sherbourne Street
 Website: www.famo.ca

 Follow me on twitter to chat, be notified about new posts and more - https://twitter.com/GastroWorldBlog
____________________________
Gastro World's Grading System
  • Anything under 5 - I really disliked and will never go back
  • 6 - decent restaurant but I likely won't return
  • 7 - decent restaurant and I will likely return
  • 8 - great restaurant that I'd be happy to recommend
  • 9 - fantastic restaurant that I would love to visit regularly and highly recommend
  • 10 - absolute perfection!

Is That It? I Want More!

Other Gastro World posts similar to this:
FAMO Sandwiches Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

CLOSED: Teara Lab (Toronto)

Posted on Tuesday, July 12, 2016 by


Aside from the stark modern white interior and the employees donned in lab coats, Teara Lab has little in common with science. Rather the technical nature of the restaurant’s name was inspired by their desire to keep inventing new unique menu items; their lead scientist … er head chef … Frank Liu set out to create a menu of sandwiches, which combines hearty ingredients with a Japanese twist.

The Japanese influence was entirely evident in the yuzu teriyaki fish burger ($8.49), a baked basa filet glazed in a citrusy savoury sauce that’s surprisingly tart, in a good way. Such a refreshing sandwich despite having havarti cheese and crispy onions on top. The Ace Bakery black bun makes it stand out, but still tastes like any other bread – how amazing would it be to colour the bun with cuttlefish ink instead?

On the other hand, the red wine braised short rib sandwich ($13.99) didn’t remind me of the East at all, considering it was made up of beef, caramelized onions, and cheese. Really, at first glance it could be a Philly cheesesteak without the peppers. But, as you taste it carefully, the sautéed enoki mushrooms come through … subtle, but the “twist” is there.


In the end, does it matter? The short rib was delicious and flavourful, an unexpectedly thick chunk of it accompanying the sandwich. The soft hot dog bun doesn’t stand a chance holding up against the sheer amount of other ingredients (lettuce, tomatoes and crispy onions), it’s messy but worth every juicy sticky drop.


If the sheer number of toppings isn’t enough, you can really Canadianize any sandwich by adding extra cheese ($1) or candied bacon ($1.50). Plus, for an additional $2, they’ll include hot crispy seaweed dusted fries and a pop.

With all of Teara Lab’s interesting sounding drinks, it’s hard to settle for a Coke Zero. So, my friend and I upgraded to a slush, served in a take-out cup, which made it perfect for walking around with on a hot summer’s day. A drink upgrade, with a combo, is calculated as the drink’s menu price less $1.50.

The mango slush ($4.50 for the large) is fruity and refreshing, not unlike what’s commonly found in bubble tea cafes. I particularly enjoyed the matcha red bean slush ($4.70 for the medium): the cool ice having a rich green tea flavour and sweetness originating from the thick red bean mixture.


Teara Lab’s sitting area is surprisingly elegant for a quick-service restaurant: a clean palette of white marble and simple non-purse friendly black chairs. As you enter the restaurant, place an order than grab a seat, when the sandwich is ready it’ll be brought over.


The establishment’s website predicts it’s going to be the next Japanese trend, attracting throngs of hungry customers. I don’t know if it’s going to elicit ridiculous lines, but a large sandwich stuffed with premium ingredients, surely the crowds will leave at least satisfied.

Overall mark - 7 out of 10
Disclaimer: The above meal was complimentary. Rest assured, as noted in my mission statement, I will always provide an honest opinion.
How To Find Them
 Location: Toronto, Canada
 Address: 181 College Street

 Follow me on twitter to chat, be notified about new posts and more - https://twitter.com/GastroWorldBlog
____________________________
Gastro World's Grading System
  • Anything under 5 - I really disliked and will never go back
  • 6 - decent restaurant but I likely won't return
  • 7 - decent restaurant and I will likely return
  • 8 - great restaurant that I'd be happy to recommend
  • 9 - fantastic restaurant that I would love to visit regularly and highly recommend
  • 10 - absolute perfection!

Is That It? I Want More!

Other Gastro World posts similar to this:



Scoma's (Sausalito)

Posted on Wednesday, December 30, 2015 by
Scomas
Scoma’s has been an institution at Fishermen’s Wharf, but they also have a quieter location, on the pier, in Sausalito. The main street it’s located on is tranquil compared with the tourist packed Wharf and there are numerous boutique shops to walk around in after dining.

Visiting the restaurant in hopes of having amazing crab, I wasn’t disappointed. I had planned on having a half order of dungeness crab … sadly, their lunch menu didn’t offer it. Nevertheless, my crustacean craving was satisfied with their crab cake ($13.50) and crab sandwich ($22.50).

Arriving two to an order, the crab cakes ($13.50) had a great seared crust and contained a fair amount of meat. However, the flavours relied heavily on remoulade topping it, while the cake itself was rather plain.


The crab sandwich ($22.50) was huge and packed with so much shredded meat mixed with a celery seed spike mayonnaise. Sandwiched in between a soft toasted ciabatta roll with lettuce and tomato, it was delicious, highlighting the crab’s natural sweetness so nicely.


Another starter we shared, the coconut curry mussels ($18), certainly didn’t lack flavour. The coconut thai curry broth had enough heat without being overpowering. There was a garlicky essence to it that melded nicely with the coconut milk. Meanwhile, the mussels were plump, meaty and delicate tasting. We couldn’t get enough of the sauce and even needed an extra order of bread to soak it up.


A large slab of beautifully seared fish was in the Ahi tuna sandwich ($19.95). Since it was very moist, the sandwich was rather hard to eat … the bun could hardly contain it! However, I couldn’t help but think the sandwich was missing something as the flavours were somewhat muted. A stronger glaze or crunchy vinaigrette based slaw would have been nice instead of the regular spring mix.


If a table in the light filled dining room overlooking the bay or patio is almost available, it’s worth the wait. It’s a wonderful experience to enjoy fresh seafood while taking in the picturesque view of the San Francisco Bay.

Overall mark - 8 out of 10


How To Find Them
 Location: Sausalito, USA
 Address: 588 Bridgeway

 Follow me on twitter to chat, be notified about new posts and more - https://twitter.com/GastroWorldBlog
____________________________
Gastro World's Grading System
  • Anything under 5 - I really disliked and will never go back
  • 6 - decent restaurant but I likely won't return
  • 7 - decent restaurant and I will likely return
  • 8 - great restaurant that I'd be happy to recommend
  • 9 - fantastic restaurant that I would love to visit regularly and highly recommend
  • 10 - absolute perfection!

Is That It? I Want More!

Other Gastro World posts similar to this:

Scoma's Sausalito Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato



Amadeus (Copenhagen)

Posted on Tuesday, December 29, 2015 by
I was determined not to leave Denmark without trying a smørrebrød, essentially an open faced sandwich made with dense dark rye bread and a variety of toppings. The restaurant I had planned on trying it at was filled by 1:30pm and wouldn’t be able to fit us in due to further reservations. So, we wandered down the street until Amadeus came into view.

Their menu offered 14 types of smørrebrød, which all sounded like traditional offerings. However, Amadeus serves its purpose - if I was going to try the famed sandwich, it would be with herring and not fried chicken or braised beef anyways. All the smørrebrød were 69 DKK each, with successive discounts for additional pieces (without sharing amongst the table).

The apple in my husband’s curry (karry) herring added a strange sweetness to the sauce that wasn’t particularly appetizing, but I did enjoy the slices of hard-boiled egg mixed with dill.


Personally, I preferred the plain white herring (krydret) instead. At first scared it would taste fishier, the dill vinaigrette the fish was marinated in gave it a tart pickled taste to whisk away any seafood essence. Moreover, there was plenty of dill, red onion and thick sour cream adorning the fish to add other flavours and textures. The crunch from the cucumber slices was rather nice against the softness of the fish, alas, there was only one piece of it.



Overall, they were beautifully presented sandwiches, filled with colours and artistic structures. But, shamefully I’ll admit … I really would have liked a slice of juicy braised meat on it instead.

 Overall mark - 6.5 out of 10


How To Find Them
 Location: Copenhagen, Danmark
 Address: St. Kongensgade 62

 Follow me on twitter to chat, be notified about new posts and more - https://twitter.com/GastroWorldBlog
____________________________
Gastro World's Grading System
  • Anything under 5 - I really disliked and will never go back
  • 6 - decent restaurant but I likely won't return
  • 7 - decent restaurant and I will likely return
  • 8 - great restaurant that I'd be happy to recommend
  • 9 - fantastic restaurant that I would love to visit regularly and highly recommend
  • 10 - absolute perfection!

Is That It? I Want More!

Other Gastro World posts similar to this:

Aroma Espresso Cafe (Toronto)

Posted on Saturday, November 21, 2015 by

Aroma Espresso Bar
Aroma Espresso Bar is a franchise that’s been quickly taking over the quick service food market. Their sandwiches may seem a tad pricy ($5.95 for a half or $9.95 for a whole), but for $4 a relatively large salad can be added to any of them; with a full sandwich it becomes sufficient for sharing.

The Aroma A.C.E. (avocado, chicken and egg) is a heartier version of a B.L.T. with the cool creamy avocado and fresh arugula warmed with a thin chicken breast and cooked through egg. 


If you want something meatier, the steak sandwich is the better choice. A hot satisfying sandwich packed with sliced beef, sautéed peppers and onions and gooey mozzarella cheese, it’s delicious and full of flavour. When the steak’s juices soak into the bread’s crust, there’s even a beef dip quality to the sandwich.  


There are plenty of vegetarian options as well. My husband tried the fig and goat cheese croissant ($5.95), which he found was a tasty combination of sweet fig jam, creamy goat cheese, red onion and peppery arugula and balanced with balsamic vinegar.


Any meat or cheese filling can also be replaced with grilled tofu. I substituted this firm protein in the grilled chicken sandwich and it went rather nicely with the red pepper, arugula and creamy aroma sauce. I only wish they didn’t turn the sandwich vegan as some mozzarella on the tofu would have helped provide more flavour and interest.


Aroma’s quinoa salad (part of combo or $6.95 a la carte) is packed with diced tomato and cucumbers (it easily fills a third of the container). Additionally, it contains fluffy quinoa, thinly sliced roasted eggplant and crunchy raw onions. It’d be ideal if the herb dressing was saltier, given all the other ingredients are rather neutral.


The freekah ($7.95), an Arabic wheat recently added to Aroma’s menu, is a filling salad to have solo. The blend of grains, including black quinoa and sprouted brown rice, is nutty and has a satisfying chewiness to it. Paired with baby kale, tomato, cucumber, carrot, pickle, red onion and parsley there is tons of flavours and textures. There’s even a hefty dollop of thick labneh cheese, which is closer to yoghurt, adding a tangy creaminess to the salad.


In the winter, a bowl of their hot comforting soup may be in order. Their chicken chipotle (part of combo or $5.25 a la carte) had plenty of chicken, corn, pepper, celery and wild rice, ending with a kick of heat that’s rather tasty. The soup is thick and filling; for the lactose intolerant it should be described as chowder given its creamy base. 


Have visited during dinner service, I’ve stuck to their food options. But, Aroma does have an extensive drinks menu with options such as Turkish coffee, London Fog tea and hot apple cider rarely found at other cafes. The sole drink I’ve tried is the kale and mango smoothie ($4.95) and it’s absolutely delicious – the juicy mango most prominent and a great thick consistency.


Although it’s a self-serve restaurant, Aroma uses real cutlery if you’re eating in their dining room. Additionally, locations tend to have a decent amount of tables so most diners tend to stay and eat. The chain has become a great inexpensive way to catch-up with companions over quick healthy meals.

Overall mark - 7 out of 10
Disclaimer: The above meals were complimentary, but rest assured as noted in Gastro World's mission statement, I will be honest.
How To Find Them
 Location: Toronto, Canada
 Address: 797 College Street
                 8 Park Home Avenue
 Website: http://aroma.ca/

 Follow me on twitter to chat, be notified about new posts and more - https://twitter.com/GastroWorldBlog
____________________________
Gastro World's Grading System
  • Anything under 5 - I really disliked and will never go back
  • 6 - decent restaurant but I likely won't return
  • 7 - decent restaurant and I will likely return
  • 8 - great restaurant that I'd be happy to recommend
  • 9 - fantastic restaurant that I would love to visit regularly and highly recommend
  • 10 - absolute perfection!

Is That It? I Want More!
Other Gastro World posts similar to this:

Aroma Espresso Bar Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Spirit Tree Estate Cidery (Caledon)

Posted on Saturday, October 10, 2015 by

Spirit Tree Estate Cidery

If you’re in the mood for a picturesque winery scene and an adult beverage, but don’t want to traverse all the way to Niagara, Caledon may satisfy your desires. The Spirit Tree Estate Cidery’s stone building and manicured orchards is just as scenic; they have plenty of ciders to satisfy adults and children; and you can easily spend an afternoon there through having lunch, doing a tour and buying groceries in their quaint store.


Purchased by Tom and Nicole in 2005, the estate wasn’t opened until 2009, with their first batch of cider served a year later. The building was constructed with straw bales grown down the road with lime stucco surrounding it. The dense straw acts as a great insulation and the lime has natural anti-microbial properties, both great environmentally friendly alternatives.  

Attending the restaurant as part of a Culinary Historians of Canada event, we were treated to a special family style menu. Renditions of these dishes are available on their regular menu: a sandwich and soup combo costs $14.

To start, the butternut squash was thick and vibrant, with a hint of curry to add interest. The thick wedges of the stone ground country bread accompanying it was a perfect pairing for dipping.


With a combination of baby greens and cranberries, I expected the salad to be sweet. But, the dressing was actually a tangy mustard vinaigrette with a horseradish kick, which was more up my alley.


Of course, we had to try Spirit Tree’s star product … the cider! A lovely amber hue and intensely flavoured, it’s made on site with the apples grown using a combination of targeted pesticides and natural remedies to ensure there’s as little chemicals as possible. Additionally, they use UV light to pasteurize the product to retain the nutrients present in cider.
Cider

To go, I also picked up a 6-pack of their alcoholic canned ciders that have a bright apple taste without being overly sweet. Deciding on what to buy may be hard with their various varieties (sparkling, ice and also pear) so attending a tasting or indulging in their tasting flight may be a good way to start.

Before the guided tour and tasting, we set a base with sandwiches. The apple brie and squash with ricotta versions were too neutral and couldn’t stand up against the inch-thick yeasty bread. The chicken and lettuce version was better, adding heartiness and much needed moisture to the sandwich.


Personally, I think one of their fresh oven-baked pizzas would be a tastier choice. Sadly, we weren’t served any, but they seemed to be a popular choice.


The platter of baked goods was a great way to end the meal (normally about $1.75 each). Being pretty full from all the carbs, I still tried half a butter tart and it was heavenly … generously filled with the buttery sweet syrup embraced in a crunchy crust.  

What a journey it’s been for the North American cider, that’s as old as the Stone Ages and recently has made a come-back in popularity. Plus, it’s a great way to support Ontario fruit farmers and a gluten-free alternative for those who want a lager. If you’re in the mood for a quick drive just north of Toronto, Spirit Tree is a great getaway this fall.


Overall mark - 7 out of 10


How To Find Them
 Location: Caledon, Canada
 Address: 1137 Boston Mills Road

 Follow me on twitter to chat, be notified about new posts and more - https://twitter.com/GastroWorldBlog
____________________________
Gastro World's Grading System
  • Anything under 5 - I really disliked and will never go back
  • 6 - decent restaurant but I likely won't return
  • 7 - decent restaurant and I will likely return
  • 8 - great restaurant that I'd be happy to recommend
  • 9 - fantastic restaurant that I would love to visit regularly and highly recommend
  • 10 - absolute perfection!



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