[Giveaway] Win a Pair of Tickets to the Food Truck Festival Ontario

So I got an awesome giveaway for you guys! I am giving one of my followers the chance to win a pair of tickets to the Food Truck Festival Ontario! This event is brought to you by the folks at CraveTO. You can find out about some of the food trucks that will be attending at the festival here! 

This contest is open for exactly one week and to anyone who can physically attend the festival on the day of. I will be double checking entries as well. You must claim your prize in 24 hours after I message you or I will be drawing a new winner. Best of luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Camellia Sinesis

Cafe: Camellia Sinensis
Address: 351 Rue Emery
Phone: 514-286-4002
Store Hours: Sun-Thurs 12 PM - 10 PM, Fri-Sat 12 PM - 11 PM
Website: www.camellia-sinesis.com/en/

Wi-Fi?: No
Study Appropriate?: No
Stamp Cards?: No

Interior

Menu

Review

My Order: Zhenghe Hong Gong Fu, $6

When I went to Montreal, I got the chance to visit a lovely tea shop called Camellia Sinesis (named after a plant that is used to produce tea). This particular tea shop does not allow you to use your cellphone or laptop. I've been to other cafes where the owners prefer electronics not to be used, but this tea cafe enforces the rule. They want you to enjoy your tea in a zen atmosphere and if you are with other people, you have to keep your voice at a low level. If it gets too loud, you will hear a gong go off to remind you to keep your voice down.

There were many tea options, all ranged from $5-$10 a pot if I remembered correctly. A friend and I shared the Zhenghe Hong Gong Fu ($6), which is a type of black tea. I wasn't crazy about the drink at first. My friend who I shared it with thought it was really light. However, I felt that the taste changed the second time around and it tasted better. My cousin and her boyfriend got the Rou Gui ($6), a Wuloong tea. I liked the scent of their tea and it had a softer taste.

After you pay for your drinks, you can receive 10% off a bag of the tea that you just drank in the cafe. The coupon is on the receipt which you can use then or later. I thought this was a great idea to get people purchasing! There are a total of three locations in Quebec. Overall, it is a cool place to be if you would like some peace and quiet to yourself or have a place to get your creative juices flowing with a pen and paper. I definitely recommend stopping by as a tourist if you get the chance.

El Furniture Warehouse

Restaurant: El Furniture Warehouse
Address: 410 Bloor St. West
Phone: 647-350-7326
Store Hours: Mon-Sun 11 AM - 2 AM
Website: N/A

Interior

Menu

Review

My Order: Warehouse Crispy Mac N' Cheese, $4.95

My obsession other than food is scoring a great deal. When you combine food and an awesome deal together, I cannot resist (hence why I always end up back at The Old Spaghetti Factory). So when I saw the buzz about El Furniture Warehouse, a restaurant with a very odd name, I wanted to check it out. The restaurant serves everything on the menu for $4.95 (excluding alcohol). I took three of my girlfriends to El Furniture Warehouse to see what the hype was all about.

We arrived to the semi-busy pub around 3 PM on a Wednesday. We were told that no outside drinks were allowed since my friend brought in her water bottle. It was a rule in case people planned on bringing their own alcohol. The waitress allowed my friend to keep it out and said that it was just something to keep in mind for the future. When we were looking at the menus, my friend pointed out how the alcohol were overpriced. I wasn't surprised because everything on their food menu was only $4.95. They had to make more money elsewhere.

For my order, I chose the Warehouse Crispy Mac N' Cheese. I liked the crispy layer on the top because it was a nice twist. I enjoyed it in the beginning. However halfway through the meal, I felt that they added too much seasoning and the taste became overwhelming. Nonetheless, I finished my plate because I still liked Mac N' Cheese. My friend who ordered the Beer Batter Onion Rings and Soft Beef Tacos liked the food she got. We all collectively agreed (aside from the one friend who hates onions) that the onion rings were the best. My friend who ordered the Quinoa and Green Apple Salad liked it at first but was disappointed that all the soy sauce seeped to the bottom of her bowl. Lastly, my friend who ordered the Braised Beef Spaghetti was not happy with her order. She didn't like it overall and thought it was something that could easily be whipped up at home. I ended up finishing her plate.

There was a 50/50 split with everyone's opinions. Two of my friends said they would not come back, because they didn't like the quality of the food. My other friend said she wouldn't mind, though it would not be on top of her list when choosing a restaurant. I, on the other hand, am a sucker for cheap food. I like that it is a nice open pub and all the food have good portions. I hear from other bloggers that other items on the menu are really tasty. Since El Furniture Warehouse offers an array of food, I would like to check out what else they have.
 

Aroma Espresso Bar (Yonge and Eglinton)

Cafe: Aroma Espresso Bar
Address: 2300 Yonge St.
Phone: 416 - 987-7288
Store Hours: Mon-Fri 7:30 AM - 10 PM, Sat-Sun 9 AM - 10 PM
Website: www.aroma.ca

Wi-Fi?: Yes
Study Appropriate?: Yes
Stamp Cards?: No

Interior

Menu

Drinks - Soy/Almond/Lactose-Free Options?: Yes to all

Food - Vegan/Vegetarian/Gluten-Free Options?: Yes to all

See full menu at: www.aroma.ca/menu/beverages/

Turkey BLT, $5.30

Review

Soup of Choice: Red Lentil, $5.05

I had an interview with a company by Yonge and Eglinton. As expected of Aroma Espresso Bar, they had a location right there. I decided to stop by for lunch after my interview.

At 11 AM, there was a crowd of people waiting to buy their lunch to go so they could make it back to their offices. Someone even ordered a platter of sandwiches! I decided to order another DoubleUp Combo ($8.85) which I chose a Turkey BLT sandwich and Red Lentil soup. I like trying something new every time I'm at Aroma to see if I can discover new favourites! After I ordered, I asked about the outlets since I needed a place to charge my phone. I thought it was neat that they had outlets under the long wooden tables by the windows.

I received my order in a brown bag, even though I didn't ask for my meal to go. However, it provided itself useful when I decided to take my sandwich to eat later in the day (so excuse the poor appearance of the Turkey BLT!). Red Lentil was the second soup I ever ordered from Aroma. I wanted to see if it matched up to the Butternut Squash, my favourite Aroma soup. After trying the Red Lentil, the Butternut Squash was indeed still my favourite. I didn't eat my Turkey BLT until a couple or so hours later, so it wasn't fresh by the time I ate it. I definitely recommend eating their sandwiches right away or at least re-heat it if you can.

This Aroma is right by the Yonge-Eglinton Centre so it's a great place to stop by after the movies or if you need a break from shopping!

Thank you Aroma Espresso Bar for the coupons provided for this review!

Cafe Neon

Cafe: Cafe Neon
Address: 241 Wallace Ave.
Phone: 647-352-8366
Store Hours: Mon-Fri 7:30 AM - 5 PM, Sat-Sun 10 AM - 3:30 PM
Website: www.cafeneon.ca

Wi-Fi?: Yes
Stamp Cards?: No
Study Appropriate?: Yes

Interior

Menu

Drinks - Soy/Almond/Lactose-Free Options?: Yes to all
- Offers Devil's Nectar
- Coffee beans from Kitimai

Food - Vegan/Vegetarian/Gluten-Free Options?: Yes to all
- Offers baked goods, such as chocolate chip cookies
- Offers made in-house vegan sandwiches

Review

Drink of Choice: Latte, $4

Cafe Neon is a cafe in Wallace Emerson that has a fun and urban vibe. I am a complete sucker for pretty interiors and something about Cafe Neon captures my attention. They provide breakfast during the weekdays and brunch on the weekends. Their sandwiches are made in-house with vegan options available. One of their specialty drinks is the Devil's Nectar, which contains two espresso shots and Coca-Cola! Not exactly sure how that would taste but it sounds pretty crazy!

The employees told me that they have a great work culture at Cafe Neon. They are always asked for their input when the cafe wants to launch new food items or what sort of changes should be made. One of their barista is an artist who draws out all the menu boards. Another barista is a wedding photographer! Honestly, he has some of the most gorgeous wedding photography in Toronto I have seen. You can check his site out at: www.nivshon.com. Trust me, you want to click it. I wished I am getting married so I can get some photos done!

Cafe Neon is simply a cute place that I recommend checking out if you are in the area for coffee or brunch.

G for Gelato

Cafe: G for Gelato
Address: 75 Jarvis St.
Phone: 416-792-1761
Store Hours: Mon-Thurs 8 AM - 10 PM, Fri 8 AM - 11 PM, Sat 9 AM - 11 PM, Sun 10 AM - 10 PM
Website: www.gforgelato.com

Wi-Fi?: Yes
Stamp Cards?: Yes
Study Appropriate?: No

Interior

Menu

Drinks - Soy/Almond/Lactose-Free Options?: Yes to all
- Coconut milk available
- Roasted coffee beans from Rufino Espresso

Food - Vegan/Vegetarian/Gluten-Free Options?: Yes to all
- Vegetarian only for regular food
- Vegan and gluten-free snacks available
- Offers snacks from Nutri-Health, such as brownies

View the full menu here: www.gforgelato.com/menu/

Review

Food of Choice: Funghi Pizza, $17

Gelato of Choice: Large Blueberry Lavender and Rufino Almond Fudge Gelato, $6.75

I first heard about G for Gelato when I was talking to an acquaintance awhile back. He raved on and on about the customer service and how awesome the gelato was. After that, I always remembered this particular gelato bar because of that positive review. I finally got the chance to try G for Gelato for the first time this week when they invited me out to their pizza party.

First thing I was able to do when I arrived was received a complimentary massage from Hand & Stone. I wished at the time there weren't so many people so I could've fully enjoyed it! Nonetheless, it was a great start off.

Shortly after, guests were presented with appetizers and their drink of choice as more people started to settle in. I enjoyed the variety of cheese and meat offered, though they weren't on the regular menu. Out of the two salads offered, I went for the Caprese Salad which had Fior Di Latte (a type of cheese). I learned on this very day that I did not like Fior Di Latte, or at least in full form compared to it being shredded on pizza (which I liked). Sadly, I couldn't finish the salad although it looked lovely on the plate. The Fior Di Latte cheese in my opinion was very bland and had that rubbery texture I did not enjoy. I preferred the cheese in the appetizer earlier. My friend actually liked the Caprese Salad and finished his plate. He said he had it at other restaurants and this was one of the better ones. So it's all about your preference!

All the pizzas made at G for Gelato are medium-sized and perfect for two people (or one if you are really hungry!). I tried out the funghi pizza, which consisted mainly of mushrooms and arugula. This was an awesome combination. The pizza had a great consistency and the combination of toppings were done just right. They also had spicy oil, which I added to my pizza and liked! Since I was full from eating a hearty lunch prior, I packed the rest to go.

The most anticipated part of the entire event for me was the gelato. I sampled at least half of their flavours so I could pick out the ones I wanted in the end. In the summertime, they serve 36 whopping flavours! 36! They have unique flavours such as Coconut Basil, Blueberry Basil, and Redbull (yes, Redbull). In the winter however, there's only 18 flavours available and usually the popular ones would be offered during the colder months. They have three cup sizes, small (1 flavour), medium (2 flavours), and large (3 flavours). I took about ten or more minutes to decide on my order so I ended up getting two flavours instead of three for the large cup. I got Blueberry Lavender and Rufino Almond Fudge (inspired by one of Baskins Robins' flavours). Out of the two, my favourite was Blueberry Lavender. I never heard of this combination before but it tasted amazing. I loved the lavender in the flavour. G for Gelato is indeed the place to be for gelato.

Towards the end of the event, I decided to jump in with Davindra from Goat Roti Chronicles to make some pizza! We tossed in a bunch of different toppings, like mushrooms, sausages, and olives. The pizzas made here only need about four minutes to be fully cooked! So you can guarantee your pizza will come out super quick. I ended up only taking a slice of the pizza we made home since I already had the Funghi. Nonetheless, I was proud of our creation. Not only did I went home with pizza but G for Gelato gave the guests some pretty awesome swag, including: a shirt from 1 <3 T.O. (I received the original!), gift card to Hand & Stone, and a pizza cutter!

Overall, I highly recommend G for Gelato if you wish to try a great assortment of gelatos. Do it now so you can enjoy it with whatever is left of Toronto's summer!

Thank you to G for Gelato for the media invite!

The Feisty Jack (Food Truck)

Food Truck: The Feisty Jack

Address: Keep an eye out on their Twitter or Toronto Food Trucks for location

Phone: N/A

Store Hours: N/A

Website: www.thefeistyjack.com

Review

Food of Choice: Bolly'wich $9

I got to join in with the crowd for the filming of Food Truck Face Off back in June. Those that signed up to be in the background of the show were able to order any complimentary meal from the food trucks that were participating. Some people were aired for their opinions of the food they got (which I didn't do).

After humming and hawing for a good 15 minutes between the food trucks that were opened, I settled for The Feisty Jack. I waited in line for at least half hour because Simcoe Park was jammed pack with people! I was excited for my food nonetheless. The Bolly'wich was naan bread stuffed with chicken, masala, basmati rice, and other various delicious toppings. I was very content with my pick though I have to warn you, that it is a bit messy. I had to eventually grab a fork to eat the whole thing. I love naan but I rarely get to eat them because for some reason, I don't go out for Indian food. This is a good alternative and perfect if you love naan like I do.

Amani Earls Coffee & Tea Bar

Cafe: Amani Earls Coffee & Tea Bar
Address: 3178 Dundas St. West
Phone: 647-655-3275
Store Hours: Mon CLOSED, Tues-Thurs 8 AM - 5 PM, Fri-Sat 8 AM - 6 PM, Sun 9:30 AM - 5 PM
Website: www.amaniearls.com

Wi-Fi?: Yes
Study Appropriate?: Yes
Stamp Cards?: Yes

Interior

Menu

Drinks - Soy/Almond/Lactose-Free Options?: Yes to soy and almond
- Offers Honey Black
- Offers Rosewater Milk
- Roasted coffee beans from Pilot Coffee Roasters

Food - Vegan/Vegetarian/Gluten-Free?: Yes to all
- Offers homemade chocolate chip cookies
- Offers smoothies during the summer
- Offers made in-house breakfast sandwiches
- Offers baked goods

Review

Drink of Choice: Te Aro, $4.50 - $5

When I went to Amani Earls Coffee & Tea Bar, I realized I haven't been to The Junction for awhile. I absolutely loved the vibe of this neighbourhood and they had a lot of cool spots. When I arrived to the cafe, I realized that it was about to close. I really wanted to sit and do some homework but instead, I had to grab my drink and go, having only enough time to talk to the owner about his cafe.

Amani Earls is in a sweet little spot on The Junction strip that offers a variety of items, such as homemade chocolate chip cookies, breakfast sandwiches and smoothies during the summer. Their focus is on the quality of the coffee and use a great grinder to make their drinks. One of their specialty drinks is the Honey Black, which is a cortado with honey at the bottom of the cup. They also have Rosewater Milk. However, their novelty drinks change often and you may not see these the next time you pop by.

I asked about their drinks and the owner talked about the Te Aro. Curious, I was able to try this drink despite it not being on the menu. A Te Aro is steeped coffee mixed with almond milk, cacao, English Breakfast tea, and a dash of vanilla. It was indeed a tasty drink. In fact, English Breakfast is my favourite basic tea since it is one of the few I know that tastes good with milk and sugar.

If you are into cafe art, they display and sell from a different artist every three months. Amani Earls is simply a cute cafe in The Junction that you should drop by the next time you are in the area.

Banh Mi Boys

Restaurant: Banh Mi Boys
Address: 399 Yonge St. & 392 Queen St. West
Phone: 416-977-0303 & 416-363-0588
Store Hours: Mon-Fri 11 AM - 10 PM, Sat 11 AM - 9 PM, Sun 12 PM - 7 PM
Website: www.banhmiboys.com

Menu

View the rest of the menu here: www.banhmiboys.com/menu.htm

Squid Taco, $3.99

Review

Food of Choice: Kimchi Fries, $5.99

Banh Mi Boys is a popular Vietnamese Asian fusion quick-serve restaurant with two locations. They have one on Yonge besides Ryerson and another on Queen West. I have been to both locations and they look exactly the same (which made me doubt if I ever went to the Queen West location for a second).

If you haven't been already, Banh Mi Boys sell cheap Vietnamese subs with a fusion twist. For example, they have Lemon Grass Tofu and Five Spice Pork Belly banh mis. They also sell tacos and steamed baos, which I have tried both and enjoyed. However, my absolute favourite are the Kimchi Fries! It's like poutine but perfect for any Kimchi lovers out there. It's the same size as a regular poutine from Smoke's Poutinerie, in case you were wondering.

Banh Mi Boys is the perfect place to grab a snack when hungry, especially if you are a broke Ryerson (or any university) student. It's laid-back and a good place to relax with a friend for lunch or for grabbing take-out.

Patati Patata

Restaurant: Patati Patata

Address: 4177 Boulevard Saint-Laurent

Phone: 514-844-0216

Store Hours: Mon-Sun 8 AM - 2 AM

Website: N/A

Interior

Menu

Review

Food of Choice: Frites-sauce, $3.75

Food of Choice: Hamburger $2.50

If you know me, you would know that I love Montreal. If I knew French, I would move there instantly (and I have tried searching for job opportunities!). I went back last month to visit my cousin with a friend. This time, I was prepared to review some of the places I went to (more Montreal restaurant reviews to come, yay!).

My cousin and her boyfriend took the friend and I to this tiny diner on Saint Laurent for lunch. The phrase "Patati Patata" is similar to "Hakuna Matata" from what I was told. The diner is this really cute and small place with an outgoing staff. They sell basic fast food items at super cheap prices! I opted for one hamburger and some fries with sauce. The burger was slider-size, which was why it was only $2.50. One of the employees told me that people usually order two to have their fill. If you decide to order a burger, you get a slip of paper to check off the toppings and sauces that you want on it. I liked their fries because they were done fresh. My friend, who got the fries without the sauce, told me the sauce made them taste saltier (I personally couldn't tell).

Patati Patata is a very casual place and great for a quick meal for any time of the day. You wouldn't go out of your way to visit it but if you want something fast and cheap, this is the place to be! Definitely drop by if you are ever on Saint Laurent and looking for some light to eat.

Cafe Olya

Cafe: Cafe Olya
Address: 540 Parliament St.
Phone: 416-833-4248
Store Hours: Mon CLOSED, Tues-Sun 8 AM - 3 PM
Website: www.cafeolya.com

Wi-Fi?: No
Study Appropriate?: No
Stamp Cards?: No

Interior

Menu

Drinks - Soy/Almond/Lactose-Free Options?: Almond only
- Offers whole milk and 1%
- No syrups

Food - Vegan/Vegetarian/Gluten-Free Options?: None
- Offers in-house baked goods fresh daily
- Offers savoury scones
- Offers croissants
- Offers coffee delivery, see website for details

Review

Drink of Choice: 10 oz. Latte, $3.50

Cafe Olya is a take-out cafe in Cabbagetown that provides your basic coffee drinks. There are no syrups/flavourings, no novelty drinks, and definitely no decaf coffee (sorry decaf fans!). They get their coffee beans from different roasters in Canada and the USA, which changes monthly.

The cafe is run by a nice couple that make their pastries in-house fresh everyday. Usually the baked goods run out by the end of the day. Cafe Olya is not meant to be a place for you to sit down and get your work done. I was there to get the information for this review and I was out pretty quickly.

This is a good spot for those who live in the neighbourhood and wants to pick up some fresh roasted coffee on the way to work or home. If you really love the coffee they are selling, they also deliver coffee beans right to your doorstep! Their coffee roaster is always changing so check out their website for which roaster they are selling for the month and details on the coffee delivery.

Grand Electric

Restaurant: Grand Electric
Address: 1330 Queen St. West
Phone: 416-627-3459
Store Hours: Sun-Tues 12 PM - 12 AM, Wed-Sat 12 PM - 1 AM
Website: www.grandelectricbar.com

Review

Food of Choice: Baja Fish and Pork Belly Tacos, $3.60 per taco

I was job shadowing in Parkdale when I came across Grand Electric. Having heard many favourable reviews, I decided to pop in for lunch. The bar had a very relaxed vibe. There was loud hip hop music playing and the staff were in casual clothes. The space wasn't very big but luckily I came at a less busy time because apparently the wait time to be seated takes forever during certain hours.

There were no hand-out menus and their entire menu was on a chalkboard. Therefore, the choices were pretty limited. When I saw that the tacos were $3.60 each, I cringed a little. I hummed and hawed for a bit before deciding on one Baja Fish taco and one Belly Pork taco.

When I received the tacos, I understood immediately why people warned me about how pricey Grand Electric was. The size of the tacos were so small! Someone who enjoyed having more substance in her meal, I wasn't too please with the portions. There was no way I was going to order another round to get a satisfying lunch because I knew it was going to cost me a hefty penny.

I definitely love the Baja Fish taco. It was extremely tasty and unique. The pork belly was also good, but being Asian and having to eat a lot of pork belly already, it was nothing new. If you come to Grand Electric, you would definitely appreciate the gourmet tacos.

Aroma Espresso Bar (Eaton Centre)

Cafe: Aroma Espresso Bar
Address: 220 Yonge St.
Phone: 647-341-3883
Store Hours: Mon-Fri 8 AM - 9:30 PM, Sat 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM, Sun 10 AM - 7 PM
Website: www.aroma.ca

Wi-Fi?: Yes
Study Appropriate?: No
Stamp Cards?: No

Interior

Menu

Drinks - Soy/Almond/Lactose-Free Options?: Yes to all

Food - Vegan/Vegetarian/Gluten-Free Options?: Yes to all

See full menu at: www.aroma.ca/menu/beverages/

Personal Philly Chicken Sandwich, $5.30 

Protein Rich Combo (Personal Chicken Sandwich & Mixed Green Salad), $8.85

Small Chai Latte, $3.95

Personal Breakfast Sandwich, $4.95

Review

Soup of Choice: Butternut Squash Soup, $5.05

I've always preferred going to a stand-alone restaurant over a food court. It is the same when it comes to Aroma Espresso Bar. I have avoided going to the one in the Urban Eatery at the Eaton Centre because I'd rather go to one of the cafes. However, with no Metropass and the lack of time to walk to other Aromas, I buckled down and went to the one at Urban Eatery.

Prior to this trip, I always got a personal sandwich and a drink from Aroma. I decided that I wanted more food and remembered the barista telling me that if I get the DoubleUp Combo, it would be $10 including tax. I thought that was a pretty good deal so I decided to go for the combo this time around. The DoubleUp Combo ($8.85) includes two choices of: soup or any personal sandwich or mixed greens/caesar salad/chopped salad/quinoa salad. I got the Philly Chicken sandwich and the Butternut Squash soup. They forgot my bread and butter for the soup when I received my meal. Since it was busy, I simply waited and told them they forgot my bread and it was resolved immediately.

Can I say, hands down, Aroma's Butternut Squash soup is my favourite soup ever. I've never had a favourite soup up until now. It was thick and creamy with the right amount of sweetness. The sandwich was tasty but soup totally overshadowed it in this meal.

Aroma Espresso Bar is popular with the working crowd during lunch time (as always). Being located in the Eaton Centre, it is accessible to those who work in the mall and anyone who has access to the Path. It has its own fenced off section in the food court, exclusive to those who order from Aroma. Overall, it is a good alternative if you are unable to run to the Bay and Dundas location (go to that one if you can!).

Thank you to my Aroma Fairy for providing me with the coupons so I could purchase the food for this review!