[Event] Toronto's Ocean Wise Chowder Chowdown 2017

Event: Ocean Wise Chowder Chowdown
Location: The Fermenting Cellar
Date: November 14, 2017
Website: https://www.vanaqua.org/experience/events/annual-and-upcoming-events/ocean-wise-seafood-chowder-chowdown/toronto

On November 14th, 2017, the annual Ocean Wise Seafood Chowder Chowdown was held in the Distillery District. 14 Toronto chefs brought out their best chowders for judging. Chefs Joey Gray and Chris Torgis from Bruce Wine Bar were selected as 2017 Ocean Wise Seafood Chowder Chowdown Champions. Which was exciting because I voted for them out of the 14 chowders I've tried. The actual winner of the People's Choice Award instead went to Charlotte Langley from Scout Canning. 

If you love chowder, then this is the event for you! You get an unlimited number of chowders and alcoholic beverages from companies including Walter's, Georgian Bay Spirit Co., and more. You will be full before you hit your 14th chowder because I sure did. I actually ended up discovering Georgian Bay's Vodka Smash and Gin Smash at this event. I quite enjoyed both drinks! If you don't like the strong alcoholic taste in your drinks but prefer fruity cocktails or mixed drinks, then I highly recommend checking out Georgian Bay Spirit Co. It's a refreshing drink that you can have during the summer or after a long day of work.

Definitely come out and check the event next year if you haven't been to one already! I forgot how great it was when I first went two years ago but this year totally killed it!

Chez's Restaurant

Restaurant: Chez's Restaurant
Address: 588 College St.
Phone: 416-792-1550
Operating Hours: Mon-Thurs 5-11 PM, Fri-Sat 5 PM - 1 AM, Sun CLOSED
Website: www.chezsrestaurant.com

Interior

Menu

Scallops, $19.50

Cauliflower Salad, $16

Rum and Eggnog, $14

Review

Chez's Restaurant is created by Mike Bradshaw that was inspired by his experience as a chef in Europe for a decade. He worked at two Michelin-starred restaurants and decided to bring a French bistro with European influence to Toronto.

I had the pleasure of trying two of the appetizers, which were the Scallops and Cauliflower Salad. My favourite out of the two was definitely the Scallops. The tarragon jus added a sweet and tangy flavour to the scallops. The Cauliflower Salad was okay, but it didn't stand out and I would not order it again. The Rum and Eggnog is a delightful drink for anyone who's feeling festive this winter. I found the 1 oz. rum portion to be a lot stronger in taste than I expected. However, it's perfect for anyone who is a fan of rum and eggnog!

Ingredients are always made fresh and kept no longer than two days. Mike tries to keep waste to a minimum by only buying required ingredients for the day and if he runs out, the menu item would not be available for order. On top of that, Chez's Restaurant gives back to local communities by donating to non-profit organizations, including Covenant House. Mike provides full meals for those in need or donate leftover ingredients.

Chez's Restaurant has a higher-end pricing but the menu is not permanent and changes out seasonally. There will be a Christmas menu released during the first week of December. You can either choose between an a la carte menu or a prix fixe menu for the upcoming holidays.

Ricarda's - Summerlicious 2017 Edition

Restaurant: Ricarda's

Address: 134 Peter St. 

Phone: 416-304-9134

Operating Hours: Mon-Wed 7 AM - 10 PM, Thurs-Fri 7 AM - 10:30 PM, Sat 9 AM - 10:30 PM, Sun 11 AM - 3 PM

Website: www.ricardas.com

Interior

Summerlicious 2017 Menu

Ricarda's Quiche

Pan-Seared Red Snapper

Tiramisu

Review

This past summer, I tried Ricarda's for the first time for Summerlicious. The lunch menu was $23 plus taxes for their three-course meal. I had the Ricarda's Quiche, Pan-Seared Red Snapper, and Tiramisu. I enjoyed my Summerlicious meal thoroughly, and after looking at Ricarda's regular menu, this was quite a steal! The three course meal was not overly filling and hit that sweet spot of contentment. The restaurant's atmosphere is lovely, perfect for a weekend brunch or an evening dinner date. I definitely recommend checking out Ricarda's if you are looking for a slightly higher-end restaurant downtown for a date or other special occasion. If you find that it's out of your budget, definitely try it for Winterlicious or Summerlicious!