Brunch: Czehoski & La Palette

I’ve always aspired to be a regular bruncher. There’s something about a combined breakfast and lunch that draws me– a sort of implied easy elegance, a promise of a gigantic meal with no guilt whatsoever (it’s TWO meals combined into one!)

But where to go in Toronto? Reviews are always hard to gauge, since even the most highly recommended place will still have a daunting pack of naysayers floating behind it. I have a few friends that I trust implicitly with food (including GB, but he’s a vegetarian so his word is limited), but brunch seemed to be uncharted territory.

So, after a night out, my friend SM and I were determined to have a lovely Sunday brunch.

Honestly? It was everything I had hoped for. Maybe it was because I was used to spending Sunday mornings hungover in bed, wishing that Starbucks delivered, flashing with irritation every time my phone would ring. But being forced to get out of the house in a nice outfit, actually getting that cappuccino I so often wished for, and walking downtown to a cute brunch spot was exactly what I pictured a breezy Sunday morning to be like.

Hibiscus + Other Healthy Things

It has been over a month since I’ve blogged. I think every blogger goes through this– the whole “Ahh I’m so bad, etc etc.” Except can I really call myself a blogger? I don’t exactly have a vast body of work behind me.

I thought if I was going to blog, I might as well write about the restaurant I’ve been practically living at for the past month. I was vaguely aware of this, but then my friend MK pointed out that I had tweeted about eating there 3 times in the last week…

Hibiscus is located in Kensington market. Just take the westbound streetcar outside College Station, and get off one stop past College & Spadina. Walk down Augusta Ave. and you’ll find it tucked away.

Lee Garden

Lee Garden is one of my favorite Chinese restaurants. I’ve been going there since I was a little kid, and it looks mostly the same except the waiters wear black now instead of blue button up shirts. Even most of the waiters are the same, although they don’t look like they’ve aged much.

It’s not your typical Chinese restaurant. For one, it’s small without being decrepit. They also don’t use MSG, so shazam, there goes that stereotype. The crowd’s also usually at a nice, low murmuring level, so you’re not in a shouting match with the table next to you. Another nice touch is that they offer nice bottled organic Black River juices (though they use to go with Sarah’s), which is a really nice change from your standard Coke and Sprite. They get bonus points because this was one of their features way before the organic boom.

Their deep fried squid with spicy peppers is my favorite, and their soups are always so amazing too. There’s no reservations though, so either go early or late unless you’re willing to wait in line. I remember I used to bump into my old private school French teacher here all the time when I was young. She went there every week, I think. Good memories.

Lee Garden
(416) 593-9524
331 Spadina Ave.
Toronto, ON M5T 2E9

http://www.leegardenrestaurant.ca/

Japango

After a day of shopping with SK, we decided to catch dinner at Japango near the Toronto Eaton Center. She’s always raving about plum wine, and since they served it chilled here, I decided to give it a try. It’s pretty awesome. I always prefer my drinks super sweet, but even my traditional amaretto sour becomes cloying very quickly. This plum wine had an actual fresh plum flavor and a sharp finish.

I’ve read reviews about Japango, and there are a lot of complaints about the cramped size etc… I prefer it that way though, even if it means I might have to wait longer for a table. There’s just something about a tiny restaurant that brings me back. It makes me feel like there’s a private space I can escape to.

I like that they play jazz music there, it’s an interesting compliment to the Japanese food. It reminds me of some of the sake bar/restaurants I visited in the Harajuku district in Tokyo.

Although Le Cafe Michi is still my favorite Japanese restaurant in Toronto, this is a lovely, accessible place to go with friends. I really suggest taking advantage of their authentic appetizers, instead of only getting a sushi platter which you could get anywhere. Check out their yaki nasu (grilled eggplant) or their sweet shrimp karage.

Japango
(416) 599-5557
122 Elizabeth Street
Toronto, ON M5G 1P5