This past weekend was a blast of what we all miss the most at this time of year. Sun, and warmth. Spring, if you will. So when an email dropped into my inbox a few days ago, I decided I’d top my Saturday. Whats a better way to spend the day than [...]]]> Umami Sushi
3459 Bathurst St

This past weekend was a blast of what we all miss the most at this time of year. Sun, and warmth. Spring, if you will. So when an email dropped into my inbox a few days ago, I decided I’d top my Saturday. Whats a better way to spend the day than having Sushi and a nice long walk in the sun? Tossing Ikea into the mix as well. So before I headed out to buy new stuff for the home I stopped at a place about a 20 minute walk up the street from my Apartment.

Now it’s not exactly a secret that my neighborhood is predominantly Jewish, so it’s not a surprise that there are a fair number of sushi restaurants in the area. For the most part, sushi is kosher. There’s no dairy, so the meat/dairy rule can’t be broken, and Umami Sushi doesn’t have any crab, unagi, or shrimp on the menu. While it’s pretty safe, Umami has been vetted by the Kashruth Council of Canada, so if keeping kosher is a must for you, this place is safe.

However, for someone who doesn’t even remotely keep kosher, the menu is a little bland. But they do try. There is a fair bit of substitution and creativity there. Unfortunately, the newest rolls contain white asparagus, something I’m not that incredibly keen on. Still, if you pop a menu in front of me there will always be plenty I do like. Lately I’ve been on a bit of a Temaki (hand roll) kick. I decided to go as basic as I could with a California hand roll for $4.25. It was quite tasty, but the preparation left a little to be desired. Properly rolled, the avocado should not be slipping out the bottom. A very generous portion of rice though. Next up was one of my favorites, Spicy Tuna for $6.99. This was prepared in the slab of tuna with spicy goodness method as opposed to the chopped with tempura method of the day before. A prime example of how you can have the same thing at a couple of different places and have two different meals. This roll didn’t disappoint in the least, and there was just enough tempura to be crunchy. One thing that struck me was that the rice was fresh, still warm from the pot.

The restaurant itself was tiny though. Just two stools to sit on. So I wouldn’t be dropping by for dinner. Looks primarily to be for take out clientele, the website doesn’t mention anything about delivery.

What I had was good, but not really geared toward goyim like myself. But if you’re looking fro kosher, look no farther.

Today was a beautiful day. So beautiful that there was no way I was going to stay indoors a second longer than I had to. Luckily a few weeks ago a friend of mine suggested that I try Momiji Sushi out in the west and, and it seemed like a good [...]]]> Momiji Sushi
2955 Bloor St. West

Today was a beautiful day. So beautiful that there was no way I was going to stay indoors a second longer than I had to. Luckily a few weeks ago a friend of mine suggested that I try Momiji Sushi out in the west and, and it seemed like a good thing to do. Grab some lunch and have a nice long walk along Bloor West. So I grabbed my camera and off I went.

Now I did sort of go blind. Their website unfortunately lists no business hours. So I tried calling before noon. No answer, but not even an answering machine with the business hours. So I was prepared that if I got there and it was closed I’d see if there was somewhere else. Co-incidentally there is a Sushi2Go location nearly right across the street.

Any worries were in vain, as it was open and there were actually a fair number of people in having lunch. It’s nice and spacious, centered around the sushi conveyor in the middle of the restaurant. It would appear to be a dinner thing though as it was shut down for lunch. Drat. Now I’ll have to re-visit. :)

The few reviews I glanced at online (to try and determine the business hours) noted that it was more expensive than you’d expect, but that the quantities were generous. I’d actually have to agree there. First up was my standard Spicy Tuna at $6.25. I’ve eaten a lot of spicy tuna, and this is my second favorite type, chopped up and mixed with spice and tempura. A little spicier than usual, but nothing over powering. You could taste the tuna easily instead of an overwhelming mouthful of hot. Next up was the Momiji Dragon at $13.95. I generally try and grab a roll if it appears to be a house specialty. I figure that if they put their name to it, they’ll put real effort to it. This was no exception. What I got was a roll with Shrimp Tempura, Crab Stick, Avocado, and Cucumber, topped with more Avocado, Unagi, and Masago. They nailed the thickness of the unagi just absolutely perfectly. As far as wacky non-traditional rolls go, this was one of the best that I’ve had. With 7 or so ingredients the quantities were balanced very well. You could taste each one. Like I said, effort has been put into this instead of just throwing everything at the wall and seeing what sticks.

The service was speedy and pleasant, and the menu was very descriptive. Bonus points for noting rolls that would take extra time to prepare. I did notice however that the table next to me needed an extra wipe. There was fish eggs of one sort or another on it. Plus their business cards have a very interesting spelling of  “Blorro” St. W. But these small things aside, the food was excellent and I’m sure to be back for conveyor time!

It’s interesting how I can update my Facebook status to say that I’m going to have sushi today, and half a dozen people pipe up with suggestions. My friend Missuh suggested Sushi Gen, and considering that it isn’t 80 miles from my apartment, I decided to give it a whirl.

Now normally I [...]]]> Sushi Gen
1502-04 Yonge St

It’s interesting how I can update my Facebook status to say that I’m going to have sushi today, and half a dozen people pipe up with suggestions. My friend Missuh suggested Sushi Gen, and considering that it isn’t 80 miles from my apartment, I decided to give it a whirl.

Now normally I don’t do All You Can Eat. Generally it’s not economical for me. I don’t sit down and stuff my face until I need to be rolled away from the table. Plus the fare is usually pretty pedestrian, and sometimes they cheat by putting so much rice in that you fill yourself up quick. Not here. AYCE rang in at $12.99 (and this price is the same week in and week out, no extra for the weekend) and the selection was quite good. Everything that was on the regular menu, and a lot of stuff like udon and teryaki that usually isn’t included.

To start off with I went for Salmon Pizza (Yes, a huge shock I know), a Cucumber and Avocado Roll, and a Spicy Crunchy Crab handroll. A hand roll is Temakizushi for us Gaikokujin (foreigners). Basically, if you haven’t had it before, it’s the usual contents of a Maki roll in the form of an ice cream cone. Very “handy” to eat and they make a nice to-go snack. It’s also a good way to sample a number of rolls without filling yourself right up.

However, Sushi Gen let me down a bit. Even though you tick boxes on a form to choose what you want, they managed to mess up my order. The cucumber avocado roll came without the avocado. Unfortunately, I have no photographic proof of this as I inhaled it anyhow. Also, the Temaki was simply a crab hand roll. No trace of spicy or crunchy. I asked to see the paper I filled out in case I made a mistake, but it would appear that it wasn’t me. However, you’ll note that I inhaled them anyhow. Hey, it’s all you can eat and it was really good. Plus I was hungry. I pointed out the error and continued chowing down. The Salmon pizza came just right, and I was curious to see how they would prepare it.

There doesn’t seem to be any set standard for Sushi Pizza. This is actually a good thing as each chef can try something different. In this case the rice patty was bound together with egg, and while you could taste it was there, it complemented as opposed to over powered. A good addition. Just spicy mayo on this one and a touch of oyster sauce. Could have used a bit more mayo and sauce, but thats just my junk food craving kicking in.

Finally, to give them a chance to try again I ordered another Spicy Crunchy Crab handroll. This time there was success as gone were the cucumber strips and in was tempura bits and spicy mayo. Both hand rolls were excellent. Just enough stuffing that you got a good taste of what you paid for. Neither too much or too little. Thumbs up.

Since my order was messed up I can’t in good conscience fire both thumbs in the air, but everything that came was really quite well prepared and tasty. Missuh says that the Volcano roll is to die for, but I couldn’t find a description on the menu and you can’t assume that one wacky roll is going to be the same as another at another restaurant. Thumbs in the middle, but only for the ordering issues.

OK, there’s a nice long back story on this one. This past summer I realized that if I had bought an expensive DSLR, I should learn how to use it. Sitting there going “Whats this mean?” just doesn’t cut it for someone whose background is IT. So I signed up for a [...]]]> Sushi Bong
5 Northtown Way

OK, there’s a nice long back story on this one. This past summer I realized that if I had bought an expensive DSLR, I should learn how to use it. Sitting there going “Whats this mean?” just doesn’t cut it for someone whose background is IT. So I signed up for a course at http://gtaphotographyclasses.com/. On the first day of the course, the instructor, Ana Belic, asked what everyone was taking the class for. I somewhat sheepishly said “I take pictures of sushi.” Well everyone had a place I just had to check out. So since last August, I’ve had her suggestion, Sushi Bong, in my to-do list. Finally, it has been done.

The address is a little misleading as it won’t really show up on google maps. It’s in a little mall slightly off of yonge, tucked between 4 condo buildings. It’s actually a really neat little area with a couple dozen shops and restaurants. I noted quite a number of sushi places that must be checked out at a future date. One thing that Ana didn’t mention was that there basically wasn’t any seating. I showed up with a couple of friends and there was room for individuals to sit and eat, or most likely wait for their order, but not for all of us to sit down. Bad photography instructor! Just for that I’m not going to use proper rules of composition on my photos!

They were, however, cool with me taking pictures of the sushi being prepared. While I was waiting, I was standing with an awesome (and mesmerizing) view, so why not take pictures of blurry hands making sushi at light speed? To sit there and watch it done with a perfect view really shows just how much skill is involved. Especially when it’s made so well so quickly.

Apparently, Sushi Bong is famous for their Spider Rolls, these being of enormous size. So the order was made of a Spider Roll, Dynamite Roll, Salmon Skin Roll, Pickled Radish Roll, Cucumber Roll, Gyoza, and Edmame. All, naturally, to go. Like a fool I forgot to write down what each item cost individually, but all of that food was $36. When we got home and saw the portions given, the unanimous consensus was that this place was an immense bargain. I had my hands full getting photos of it all.

When it was said that the rolls are enormous, there was no exaggeration. Heck, I even took pictures of the individual pieces with a tape measure underneath so that  you could see just how massive they were. Surprisingly, they also held together perfectly, and there was no “pick it up and it falls apart” nonsense. It was also really quite good as well. The only criticism that was leveled was by both myself and my friend Marissa. Each of our rolls contained sweet egg, and there was just too much in there. Sometimes less is more, and while you can stuff a roll with as much cucumber as you like, too much of some items, like egg, tend to take over the taste and texture of the roll. Still, they were very good and inhaled rapidly.

Morgan made me take a picture of the Gyoza, because it was different, as it was rolled in tempura before being fried. Gave it a little bit of a kick and was quite good! At the end of the meal it was discovered that about a third was left over. We really over ordered, and from 3 people who are regular sushi consumers, this is evidence that you get a lot of food for your money. So as far as value is concerned, 3 thumbs up. The speed was also very impressive. The two chefs were sushi making machines. Just banging out these perfect rolls one after another.

All in all, we’d all go back again, but next time order less and share more. Usually if you put your hand near my sushi you’ll lose a finger, but with Sushi Bong, I’m confidant that there will be plenty to go around.

Don’t call it a comeback, I been here for years! Yep, much like the immortal words of LL Cool J, I’m back with a vengeance. I was unfortunately forced to take a couple of months off due to my usual stomach issues flaring up worse than usual. While I’d have good [...]]]> Izmi Sushi
714 Queen St W

Don’t call it a comeback, I been here for years! Yep, much like the immortal words of LL Cool J, I’m back with a vengeance. I was unfortunately forced to take a couple of months off due to my usual stomach issues flaring up worse than usual. While I’d have good days where I’d crave sushi, I didn’t think it was fair to post my opinion of new places with a delicate stomach. You may disagree with my opinion, but I’ve never gone back and though “I was unfair to this place.”

This time around, I had to be down on Queen West to feed my sisters cats while she’s away gallivanting, so I met up with my friend Christine for Sushi, Sanko, and Starbucks. In that order too! I noted the existence of Izmi about 6 months ago when I was out wandering around taking pictures for a photography class. Never quite got around to it, and the location was just right.

Inside is a nicely decorated place. A fair bit of “Japanese kitsch” on the walls and ceiling, but tastefully done. The waitress wearing a “working” Kimono was a nice touch. Since the restaurant wasn’t crowded (it was 2pm) I was able to snap a picture of the interior as well as the food.

But on to the food. I decided to take it a little easy this time, get back into things gradually. I went with a Green Dragon ($9.95), which is a Dynamite Roll topped with Avocado. You can never really have too much avocado in your diet! Mmm. Essential fats. My only real complaint was that it was a little bland. The Tempura shrimp really didn’t have much flavour, nor did the crab stick. It also shared a flaw with my second roll, a Crispy Crunch roll ($5.95). These are usually nice and simply and quite tasty. A bit of crab stick, and some nice crunchy tempura bits. Japanese junk food. Unfortunately they went overboard with the mayo. Mayo wasn’t needed, but too much was there and it overpowered the taste of everything else. Plus it made the crispy roll definitely un-crispy.

Despite the somewhat disappointing maki, it was “usually” priced, and the menu sports a wide variety of other Japanese and Korean fare. There’s a little bit of everything here as opposed to the “1,000 varieties of krazy maki” sort of sushi place. I’d go back again, but maybe to try the udon.

Thumbs in the middle.

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/11/tunadna/

(New Toronto review coming very soon!)

First off, an apology for not updating in something like 2 weeks. Unfortunately, I’ve been laid up in bed for nearly all of this time with a case of the dreadful nasties. However, all things pass and this has as well. So whats one of the first things I do when [...]]]> Big Sushi
388 Bloor St. W

First off, an apology for not updating in something like 2 weeks. Unfortunately, I’ve been laid up in bed for nearly all of this time with a case of the dreadful nasties. However, all things pass and this has as well. So whats one of the first things I do when I feel better? Well, my appetite is back, so it’s time to get me some Sushi!

My friend Jackie had recommended Big Sushi to me a few months ago, but like I’ve mentioned a few times, I’m trying to keep the Bloor West strip free for when the Canadian winter hits. Since I’m still not quite up to marathon walks, I decided to break my own rule and go some place easy to get to. Oh, and within a close proximity to a Starbucks for a post lunch Mocha. I’d make a joke about ubiquitous Starbucks locations, but I think Toronto has more Sushi.

Since I was a tiny bit concerned about how my stomach would react to raw food, I decided to play it safe and go with a few favorites. First up was the Crunch Roll (Salmon, Cucumber, Avocado, Masago, Tempura) for $6. I ordered this because I knew it would be just a tad on the bland side, and I was actually somewhat surprised. While there could have been a bit more salmon in there, everything else (especially the tempura flake!) was quite generous and actually quite tasty. A single strip of (Oyster? Teryaki?) sauce along the top was a nice touch and it passed the soy sauce test. Just the tiniest amount was needed.

I get a bit of flak from the Sushi purists (read: snobs) that I eat a lot of Sushi Pizza. There’s a reason for this. It’s good. I really like the stuff! But the Big Sushi take on it was a little different, so I had the perfect excuse to give it a whirl! For $7.50 you actually got a little more than the usual. A fried rice patty with salmon, mayo, oyster sauce, and tobiko, but toss Avocado slices and imitation crab meat on top as well. As with most places, they went waaay overboard with the tobiko, but the avocado slices made a really nice touch. A bit of added creaminess to the salty goodness. I couldn’t really tell the crab meat was there, but I stuffed myself silly on it. Did I mention that the rice patty was much thinner and had a much larger diameter than usual? It filled me right up and felt like a bargoon.

While I was warned that Big Sushi was a little more expensive than others in the area, I didn’t really see it. There were some good lunch specials as well. Thumbs up!

What a wonderfully deceptive fall day. A look out the window promises a cold, wet adventure. Actually going outside reveals that it’s actually quite warm for late October and not a drop of rain from the heavens. Sounds like the perfect afternoon to grab my camera, go for a walk, and hit [...]]]> Sushi World
281 College St.

What a wonderfully deceptive fall day. A look out the window promises a cold, wet adventure. Actually going outside reveals that it’s actually quite warm for late October and not a drop of rain from the heavens. Sounds like the perfect afternoon to grab my camera, go for a walk, and hit a sushi restaurant.

This week we venture into a neighborhood that is very dangerous to my wallet. The College and Spadina “tech alley” where all of the good downtown computers stores are. Near the corner, close to a sign that promises deli food straight from the late 60s or early 70s is a fairly new sushi joint. It must be a year old or so, as there used to be a computer store or somesuch in it’s location. Plus the interior is brand spanking new, simple, and comfortable.

I’ve walked past Sushi World a couple of times on recce walks with friends, and as it appeared to be a simple, inexpensive place I dubbed it in the category of “a place to visit when by oneself.” This afternoon qualified as such, so off I went. At 1:30 in the afternoon I was nearly the only customer, so unsurprisingly the service was quick and attentive.

Now sushi, generally speaking, is a pretty healthy food. But I’ve demonstrated in the past that if there is a way to make a salad a cholesterol and calorie filled fiesta, I’ll find it. So with that in mind I tried to make at least one healthy selection. First up was the deliberately green Avocado and Cucumber roll at $4.25. I know what you’re thinking. “Todd, isn’t that encroaching into your Sisters territory?” Well, she was off Zombie Walking (Graaaains! Graaaains!) or something, so I had to fill the roll. Or eat the roll. How droll. There’s something to be said for the thinly sliced “stalks” of cucumber. It brings out the flavour just that much more. An excellent roll that kept even the most demanding omnivore interested. Could have used a touch more avocado, but thats just my own addiction shining through.

Now, I was reading a few other reviews of other restaurants before heading out, and I noted one woman raving about how much she enjoyed Salmon skin maki. You know, I’ve never tried that. So no time like the present! For $4.55 I was treated to what must be the equivalent to a potato chip roll. I can bet there was next to no nutritional value here whatsoever. Yes, we’re firmly back in my comfort zone. The Spicy Salmon Skin combined salmon skin with avocado, tempura, and just a touch of spicy mayo. This had a fishiness quotient slightly higher than, well, fish, but less than Unagi. Plus it brought out the taste of the nori. A bit more crunch would have been in order, but the spicy level was just about perfect for “junk food” as opposed to the wasabi infused heat of “real” nigiri sushi.

With prices on par with Junjun down the street, but with a nicer atmosphere how can I give this anything but a thumbs up? There were even plenty of lunch specials and a 10% discount if you showed your U of T student ID.

In my mind I had reserved the Bloor St. sushi strip for the dead of winter. However, I met up with a friend today, and this was the area that was easiest for both of us to get to, so I broke my own rule by a couple of months. Next [...]]]> New Generation
486 Bloor St. W

In my mind I had reserved the Bloor St. sushi strip for the dead of winter. However, I met up with a friend today, and this was the area that was easiest for both of us to get to, so I broke my own rule by a couple of months. Next week I’ll have to head to College St. or something to “make amends” to my own schedule.

I’ve heard many things, both good and bad about the more popular places like New Generation. What I’ve discovered is that what is one mans nirvana is anothers hell. The reviews by folk on such places as BlogTO are so all over the place that it was easy to go in with no preconceptions.

One thing that has always struck me is why the heck is there two locations close enough together that you can see one from the other? Well, it’s pretty simple. One is devoted mostly to Sushi, the other focuses more on the Korean BBQ. This location was the Korean BBQ one. I honestly didn’t care for the tables, I’m not a big fan of the gas stove tables necessary for the BBQ. It’s overlooked when I’m grilling my own, but it gets in the way otherwise.

I perused the menu and decided I’d go with a couple of completely new things. First up was the Scarlet O’Hara Roll at $6.95. OK, this was a mistake. Why? Well, what did they put in it? Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn. The menu states mixed fish with onion, and boy did they put everything but the kitchen sink in there. Salmon, Tuna, Crab, possibly a bit of whitefish and some squid. Damn. If the squid had been spelled out on the menu I would have passed. Raw squid has such a strong flavour, that you just have such a hard time tasting anything else. While an interesting idea, I think they would have been better served to pare down a couple of ingredients so it wouldn’t be such a flavour clash.

But next up was something that always gets my attention. Lobster. Apparently a Canadian Roll ($7.95) contains Lobster Claw, cucumber, asparagus, mayo, and is topped with salmon. I’m not exactly sure what part of Canada screams “asparagus”. This was another roll where keeping it simple and “less is more” would have been a good idea. Too many things can lead to some interesting combinations, or just a mish mash of flavours. This was the latter. A bit heavy on the mayo, this could have been much improved by removing the asparagus and tossing in a bit more cucumber. It wasn’t bad by any means, but I found tastes fighting for my attention instead of co-existing peacefully.

Since I had a sushi neophyte with me (and who ordered Korean stir fry) I decided to try out the Salmon Pizza ($7.95) and see if the “gateway drug” could hook someone else who was really unsure about the whole “raw fish” thing. Unfortunately, the pizza didn’t pass the new comers taste test. But thats OK. No-one has to like everything. But I’m not complaining one little bit. That meant that 5/6th of a salmon pizza was all for me! Compared to most places, this pizza was rather light on the salmon, and the patty was somewhat thick. But with one arm twisted behind my back, I struggled it down!

Overall I’d give a minor thumbs up. In the coming months I’m going to hit the “sushi” location across the street and see the difference. But there were a number of people enjoying the BBQ, and I’m going to have to come back and give that a try!

Hello world. It’s been over a week. Have you missed me? Well, you may not have missed me, but I certainly missed having sushi. But what screams a Canadian thanksgiving weekend louder than sushi? I know, traditionalists are going to give us noise about turkey, but I didn’t see any turkey [...]]]> Sushi Garden
30 Eglinton Ave W

Hello world. It’s been over a week. Have you missed me? Well, you may not have missed me, but I certainly missed having sushi. But what screams a Canadian thanksgiving weekend louder than sushi? I know, traditionalists are going to give us noise about turkey, but I didn’t see any turkey teriyaki rolls, so I’ll just leave that to Jon at Sushipalooza.

With a little bit of forethought, I went out into the bright sunshine this afternoon with my camera. I didn’t specifically go out with sushi in mind, but it was a gorgeous day, just about lunch time, and I certainly wasn’t going to spend it all indoors. I needed to pick up a few things from Future Shop over at Yonge and Eglinton, so I figured if I found a place I’d hit it. If not, so be it.

By such a strange co-incidence I managed to run into a place before I even got my shopping started. You never really notice just how many sushi places there are in this city until you start actively looking. I’m beginning to wonder how so many can survive. We must be a city of ravenous crab stick eaters. With even more luck there was a seat available right in the window so I was able to take advantage of the natural sunlight for optimal photography goodness. A quick perusal of the menu tells me that this is more of a general Japanese restaurant with plenty of Teriyaki, Udon, etc to go along with both Nigiri and Maki sushi. There were plenty of combos and specials to choose from, but I went with my tried and true method of random maki selection.

By an even stranger coincidence, someone I met recently was extolling the virtues of a Spicy Avocado roll, describing the japanese mayo and tempura flakes and generally making me hungry over the phone. While desperately trying to choose between a couple of dozen rolls, this one jumped right out at me. A whopping $5.99 for a huge hunk of avocado with spicy mayo and tempura. It was excellent, a little bit too mushy in texture, but that might be easily remedied by more tempura. Still, it was delicious with an interesting teardrop shape and presentation. It was also a nice treat to have the nori on the outside.

After having the Spider roll at Hosu last week, I decided to see what this place made of it. To a certain extent, deep fried soft shelled crab is deep fried soft shelled crab. But Sushi Garden brought back my faith by delivering a generous helping of the crab. At $9.95 it was the same price, but I’d have to say a better value. The one thing that struck me about both rolls was the absolutely perfect amount of rice. Not too much, not too little. It’s nice to fill up on sushi and not be hungry again a few hours later because most of it was white rice.

This is proof, however, that you can have a perfectly good sushi lunch and avoid any notion of it being healthy. Avocado and Mayo loaded with fatty goodness, and deep fried crab with lots of tobiko, which must be nearly pure salt. Still, I imagine it must be better for me than a cheeseburger, but I’m not in a huge rush to find out precisely.

The restaurant itself was nice enough, clean without being fancy. The service was quick and unobtrusive. The overall atmosphere was humble, friendly, and un rushed. It still surprises me that no-one ever raises an eyebrow when I bring out the camera and start snapping away. Nothing jumps out that screams “You must come back here!” but I definitely had a good lunch at a pretty affordable price!