Yunshang Rice Noodle (North York)

Restaurant: Yunshang Rice Noodle
Address: Unit 5, 5285 Yonge St.
Phone: 416-233-6662
Operating Hours: Mon-Sun 11:30 - 12 AM
Website: www.yunshang.ca

Interior

Menu

Temporary Soft Opening Menu

Yunshang Bridge Rice Noodle, $19.99

Yunshang Rice Noodle with Mixed Mushrooms ($11.99) plus extra Seafood ($2.99) and extra Beef ($2.99)

Top left clockwise: Deep Fried Cuttlefish Balls, $6.99; Sliced Beef, Tripe and Ox Tongue in Chili Sauce, $8.99; The Salty Popcorn Chicken, $6.95; Cold Glass Noodle in Chili Sauce, $5.99; and Deep Fried Squid Tentacle, $6.99 

Review

Yunshang Rice Noodle is the largest Canadian-owned rice noodle chain that is opening their 9th location in North York. Under 3 years old, they are rapidly expanding with 5 more locations opening up across North America. Their base broth is made fresh from pork bones that is cooked for 12 hours daily. There is no MSG in their food and they cook with only the freshest ingredients.

I tried a few of their dishes, including their limited edition Yunshang Bridge Rice Noodle ($19.99)! This is set of rice noodles with assorted premium seafood presented beautifully on a wooden bridge. You get to choose between 5 different noodle soups. I chose the Coconut Curry Rice Noodle, which has a hint of spiciness. You first place all of your raw meat into the boiling soup. After you let it cook, you can place your rice noodles in to eat. This is definitely a creative way to display and eat Chinese rice noodle. I enjoyed the variety of toppings available.

My friend and I devoured the Deep Fried Cuttlefish Balls ($6.99), which we definitely recommend. The Salty Popcorn Chicken ($6.95) and Deep Fried Squid Tentacle ($6.99) were decent, but not much different from other Chinese restaurants. The one dish I advised everyone to stay away from is the Cold Glass Noodle in Chili Sauce ($5.99). I am not a picky eater but this was one of the few dishes I was unable to finish, and I always finish my plate.

For their grand opening celebration, Yunshang Rice Noodle will be giving away FREE Yunshang Bridge Rice Noodle to the first 100 people on March 15th and March 16th. It starts at 6 PM and only at their new North York location. No purchases are necessary and first come, first served (no reservations). After that for a limited time only, 50 Yunshang Bridge Rice Noodle sets are available daily.

Four Four South Village

Restaurant: Four Four South Village

Address: 474 Yonge St.

Phone: 416-413-9802

Operating Hours: [Soft Opening Hours] Mon-Sun 11 AM - 11 PM

Website: www.facebook.com/FourFourSouthVillage

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Menu

Milk Tea Slushie with Tapioca, $5.99; Jade Cucumber, $4.99

Counterclockwise from top: Spiced Edamame, $4.99; Black Fungus in Vinegar Sauce, $4.99; Jade Cucumber, $4.99; and Braised Beef Shank 

Braised Beef, Tendon, & Tripe Noodles Soup, $15.99

Szechuan Dan Dan Noodles, $11.99

Braised Beef, Tendon & Tripe Rice, $15.99

Snow Cake with Red Bean & Coconut, $2.99

I had the pleasure of attending Four Four South Village's soft launch last week! It's a newly opened Taiwanese restaurant located near Wellesley Station and named after a residential district in Taipei. It's a spacious restaurant decorated with a simple but Asian-influenced design. When you are seated, there are menu sheets for you to fill out, similar to what you would get at an AYCE sushi restaurant.

My friends and I ordered one dish from each section. The cold dishes were like appetizers but none really stood out to me to order next time (I admit, I am spoiled with Korean restaurants that serve these side dishes for free). My favourite dishes were the Braised Beef, Tendon, & Tripe Noodles Soup, $15.99, and the Szechuan Dan Dan Noodles, $11.99. I found the prices for certain menu items to be a bit pricier than other Asian restaurants I normally go to. I personally would come here for the Noodles with Sauce options because they're more in my price range. The Milk Tea Slushie with Tapioca is also quite fun to drink. Unfortunately at the moment they have a very selected number of drinks available. 

If you are a fan of Taiwanese food and don't have the time to trek to areas such as Markham to get your fix, Four Four South Village would be a great place to check out!

[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!

[Event] Eat to the Beat 2017

Event: Eat to the Beat
Location: Roy Thomson Hall
Date: October 17, 2017
Website: www.eattothebeat.ca

This past Tuesday, Eat to the Beat returns in support of the Canadian Breast Cancer Society. 60 female chefs came together to serve delicious bite-size pieces from their restaurants and businesses. Hundreds of people got to try dishes from restaurants including: Hooked, Mildred's Temple Kitchen, and Tutti Matti. Popular bakeries such as Dufflet Pastries and Roselle Desserts were also present with an array of baked goods and sweets.

As always, I was unable to try it all because I was stuffed by the end of the night. Eat to the Beat was an absolute delight and I look forward to it again next year! Check out the slideshow below to see what was offered at the event and hopefully that will convince you to go in the future!

[Event] Taste of Toronto 2017

Event: Taste of Toronto
Date(s): Garrison Common at Fort York
Location: June 15-18, 2017
Website: toronto.tastefestivals.com

I had the pleasure of going to the Taste of Toronto last month. Filled with vendors, food events, and delicious eats, Taste of Toronto is a great event for all foodies alike! There were plenty of samples to try and you get exposed to new and familiar brands. I got to cook in one of the Metro Master Classes with Ted Corrado from The Drake. These cooking classes are free to sign up and I suggest everyone to try one if they go. You should definitely check out Taste of Toronto next year if you missed this year!

[Event] The Stop's Night Market 2017

Event: The Stop's Night Market
Location: 181 Sterling Rd.
Dates: June 13-14, 2017
Website: www.nightmarket.thestop.org

The Stop's Night Market is one of the most anticipated charity events that happens annually. For $100 a ticket, you get unlimited drinks and food from restaurants such as Momofuku, Kanpai Snack Bar, Oyster Boy, and much more. This is a fundraiser for a variety of The Stop's community services, such as the food bank and community kitchen. For a few hours of delicious food and amazing music, this is a fantastic event to try out if you are a huge foodie.

[Event] Eat to the Beat 2016

Event: Eat to the Beat
Date: November 1, 2016
Location: Roy Thomson Hall
Website: www.eattothebeat.ca

I had the pleasure of attending Eat to the Beat this past Tuesday, marking the beginning of November. As expected, the charity event was completely packed with those supporting the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation with exceptional food made by 60 female chefs.

The DJ and violinist kept the music going on for this splendid evening. There was also a photobooth for attendees to take fun photos at. Along with all that, there were many things up for auction, including gift baskets that were perfect for the upcoming holidays.

It was a lovely event and for those who missed out, there will be another one for next year! If you would like to contribute to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, please visit www.cbcf.org to learn more.

[Event] The Stop's What's on the Table

Event: What's on the Table
Date: November 4, 2015
Location: Daniels Spectrum
Website: wott.thestop.org

What's on the Table (WOTT) was an annual event hosted in November by The Stop Community Food Centre to raise funds for critical food access and community building programs. This year they raised over $328,000 for their cause!

I got the pleasure to cover this event last month. WOTT was hosted at the Daniels Spectrum and the turnout was a huge success. Attendees got to try delicious bite-sized items and drinks from 36 different restaurants, bakeries, and wineries. I don't even think I had the chance to try everything because there was so much food!

This was the second event I have attended hosted by The Stop (see my post for their Night Market here) and I am continually impressed with execution. I highly recommend checking out any of their future fundraising events because I can guarantee the food, the vibe and the cause are amazing.

[Event] Toronto's Ocean Wise Chowder Chowdown 2015

Event: Toronto's Ocean Wise Chowder Chowdown
Date: November 3, 2015
Location: Fermenting Cellar, Distillery District
Website: www.vanaqua.org/experience/events/annual-and-upcoming-events/ocean-wise-seafood-chowder-chowdown/toronto

I got to attend Toronto's Ocean Wise Chowder Chowdown for the first time at the beginning of November. The event was in support of Ocean Wise, a Vancouver Aquarium conservation program that educates consumers about sustainable seafood. Attendees got to try unlimited craft beers and delicious chowder! Top chefs from 14 restaurants competed to be crowned the winner of 2015 Ocean Wise Chowder Chowdown: Toronto, voted by the attendees.

I definitely enjoyed my experience and loved trying the chowders because I don't get to eat them very often. I recommend checking out Great Lakes Pompous Ass Pale Ale if you are looking for a new craft beer to try (not only because it has an awesome name!). I ended up voting for Chef Joshua Dyer's (from EPIC at Fairmont Royal York) Ontario Corn and Crab Chowder. However, the winner for 2015 was Chef Patrick McMurray (from The Ceili Cottage) with The Ceili Cottage Chowder. 

I recommend checking out Chowder Chowdown for next year, especially if you believe in seafood sustainability!

[Event] Eat to the Beat 2015

Event: Eat to the Beat
Date: October 27, 2015
Location: Roy Thomson Hall
Website: www.eattothebeat.ca

Yesterday the 20th annual Eat to the Beat event was held at Roy Thomson Hall in benefit of the Willow Breast & Hereditary Cancer Support. For $175 (or $150 if you got the early bird tickets), attendees had access to unlimited drinks and amazing bites made by 60 female chefs in support of the cause. The turnout was an incredible success. In fact, it was so successful that it was difficult to navigate to the vendors because of the crowd!

I definitely enjoyed my time there (I think I'm getting used to red wine as well!). It was lively and had a huge array of bite sized desserts and savoury items. I felt though that there were probably a lot more desserts than there were hot food items.

Eat to the Beat is a worthy charity event to attend in the future, especially if you are a huge food lover.

The Red Tomato

Restaurant: The Red Tomato
Address: 321 King St. W
Phone: 416-971-6626
Operating Hours: Mon-Sun 5-10 PM
Website: www.redtomato.ca

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Menu

Review

Pizza of Choice: Peking Duck Pizza, $18

I attended a media event for The Red Tomato, a pizza and pasta wine bar underneath Fred's Not Here (both owned by the same owner). I rarely eat on King Street West so I always assumed that prices at the restaurants would be super expensive. However, when I saw The Red Tomato's menu, I was pleasantly surprised that the prices were quite fair (ranged from $13-$18 for a full size pizza).

My friend and I got to try a nice array of pizzas that were offered at the restaurant. My absolute favourite out of the bunch was the Peking Duck Pizza ($18), which was one of their Asian fusion items. If you love Asian food, I do recommend the Peking Duck Pizza! My friend however thought it wasn't that great and preferred "The Hangover Cure" ($16) without the egg. I enjoyed every single pizza at The Red Tomato that I got to try (which is rare!). Each pizza is savoury and you can taste how fresh they are!

I highly recommend The Red Tomato if you want to get some delicious and uniquely flavoured pizzas at an inexpensive price!

[Event] Canada's Baking and Sweets Show

Event: Canada's Baking and Sweets Show
Date: September 25-27, 2015
Location: The Toronto Congress Centre
Website: www.canadasbakingandsweetsshow.com

 

I got to attend the Canada's Baking and Sweets Show for the first time last month. I love sweets and to have an entire show dedicated to sweets was definitely appealing.

One of the highlights for the show were submissions for the Professional Baking Competition. One of the categories was Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which had some pretty amazing cakes. Since I'm not a baker myself, I admire the amount of effort and detail that goes into these cakes! Asides from the submission displays, there were live demonstrations and vendors for baking supplies and goods. It wasn't a big event as I expected. I was hoping for more vendors that sold baked goods versus baking supplies (since I am not a baker). There were little samples and the price of the items being sold at the show weren't so great either. It definitely needed more interactive activities for attendees.

It was an overall decent event, though for the entrance price to get in at $20 wouldn't be worth it if you had to pay.

[Event] OKTOBERFEAST

Event: OKTOBERFEAST
Date: October 8, 2015
Venue: Berkeley Church
Website: http://convio.cancer.ca/site/PageNavigator/UFE_ON_of__Oktoberfeast_2015_Toronto.html

OKTOBERFEAST is a charity food event that was hosted in collaboration with the Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario craft breweries/wineries and gourmet food vendors. All proceeds from the tickets and food purchases went towards raising funds to combat cancer! The event was held at the Berkeley Church on Queen East.

Decked out with lighting decor and purple ambiance, OKTOBERFEAST was lined up with different food and drink vendors throughout the church. A few of my favourite vendors were: Kanpai Snack Bar (I loved the Og Bao), Pizzeria Defina (a variety of pizzeria available), and Cheesewerks (for the cheese lover in me!). I also got the chance to try a drink from Walter Caesar (quite spicy because of the pepper!) and Lake Wilcox Brewing Company. There was a great balance of breweries and food vendors alike that were enough to cater to everyone's taste. I do wish there were a bit more food vendors, but that's just me being picky!

The event was a success and overall there were good times for a good cause!

[Event] Diner en Blanc (Niagara)

Event: Diner en Blanc
Date: August 30, 2015
Location: The Oakes Garden Theatre
Website: niagara.dinerenblanc.info

Diner en Blanc is a popular and exclusive all-white event that happens annually. Every year there is a new secret location on where the event will be held. Attendees have to wear all white and bring their own all-white tables, chairs, and decor to the picnic. I got the pleasure to attend Niagara's Diner en Blanc at the end of August this year. There was a pre-party at the White Oaks Resort and Spa where attendees could mingle and drink some cocktails. Attendees had the option of boarding on a bus at the resort that would take them directly to the secret location or they could wait for an email stating where it was at and they could transport themselves there.

The secret location was at the Oakes Garden Theatre, which was right by the Niagara Falls. I couldn't think of a more perfect location! I personally haven't visited Niagara Falls in years and it was nice to take a look at the Falls again.

I recommend Diner en Blanc if you wish to experience a unique foodie event with friends!