#Chinese Dumpling House Markham

[stenoodie]

Chinese Dumpling House at Metro Square

Chinese Dumpling House at Metro Square. #dumplingsgalore #beefshankpancake

Chinese Dumpling House located at 3636 Steeles Ave E, Markham Chinese Dumpling House has been at this Metro Square for a while but I believe it is the first time that I ever visited.  My friend G and I were meeting up in this area and since she had dined here before, we picked this spot for our dinner and to catch up.  Many restaurants and stores have come and go at this plaza, but Continue…

[oselatra]

Natives Guide: West Little Rock

Chains, yes, but parks and puppies, too.

While it's tempting for the Hillcrest/Stifft Station/Heights crowd to see West Little Rock — which we're defining as anything west of Interstate 430, from the Arkansas River in the north to Interstate 30 in the south — as a white-flight wasteland of rich folks, ritzy burbs, big box stores and bland strip malls, there's actually a lot going on in terms of what you can see, eat and do. Like a lot of Little Rock neighborhoods, West Little Rock has seen exponential growth in recent years, and not just the amoeba-like blob of gated communities that seems intent on stretching ever-westward toward the horizon until it finally pinches off and forms an uppity new city called Chenal. There's plenty to eat, see, drink, buy and do out there, so don't let your fear of appearing bougie keep you from exploring.

While I'm loathe to recommend too many chains, they're a lot of what West Little Rock is about, so I'll make my one genuflection to our corporate overlords first thing in the morning, with a plug for breakfast at La Madeleine (12210 W. Markham), the Little Rock outlet of the country-French restaurant chain. One can only imagine the shade an actual, Gauloises-smoking Parisian would throw at La Madeline, with its precious decor and employees who give a Southern-fried "Bonjour!" to folks when they walk in the door, but that doesn't change the fact that it's an underappreciated breakfast spot with a big menu featuring quiches, pillowy croissants, crepes, omelets, egg dishes and some of the best coffee around, all of it reasonably priced. Definitely recommended if you're not in the mood for IHOP.

Once you've gotten breakfast out of the way, there's plenty of shopping to do in West Little Rock. If you're at all geeky, be sure to check out Game Goblins (1121 S. Bowman Road). It's the area's largest retailer of card games, role-playing games and board games, with over 6,000 square feet of nerd heaven, plus a constantly updated slate of tournaments and tabletop gaming get-togethers to help gamers break out of their Xbox-driven isolation and be among the living again. Hit its website, gamegoblins.com, for more information about selection and events. If you've spent too much on Dungeons and Dragons by then but still need some stuff, head on out to Goodwill (16924 Cantrell Road). While there are other Goodwill stores in Little Rock, this is clearly the goodest Goodwill, featuring higher-end donations from the surrounding neighborhoods to create a constantly circulating selection of sturdy furniture, cute clothes and shoes, kitchen items and accessories. (There's another good 'un at 9700 N. Rodney Parham.)

By then, you might be ready for lunch. If you want to try to eat your weight in sushi without having to take out a second mortgage, Tokyo House (11 Shackleford Drive) is a good place to try. Featuring a big, fresh sushi buffet and a separate hot bar of Asian-inspired dishes like dumplings, baked fish, fried rice, tempura shrimp and more, it's quite a few clicks in quality above your standard strip- mall Chinese buffet, but at a similar price point, which makes it twice as nice. If you'd rather go Latin (and have a designated driver so you can enjoy a few margaritas) try the ever-popular Local Lime (17809 Chenal Parkway), a Yellow Rocket Concepts eatery. Fresh, chic and friendly, Local Lime features upscale takes on tacos, fajitas and salads. Co-starring at Local Lime are the drinks, including several different styles of margaritas. If you've got room after all that, head on over to celebrated pie shop Honey Pies (315. N. Bowman Road). Featuring lovingly baked pies in a seasonally rotating variety of flavors, it's the perfect place to quiet a sweet tooth.

If there's some wiggle room on your credit card by then, go spend a few hours strolling The Promenade at Chenal (17711 Chenal Parkway), the high-end shopping extravaganza featuring stores such as footwear haven DSW, the technology money pit that is the area's only Apple Store and quirky, locally owned shops such as Saggio Olive Oils and Vinegars (which sells, yep, you guessed it, high-end olive oils and vinegars by the pint or gallon). It's a great place to lose a few hours and some of your disposable income.

If all that shameless indulgence in capitalism leaves you feeling a bit empty and lonely, seek some unconditional love at the Humane Society of Pulaski County animal shelter (14600 Colonel Glenn Road), where dozens of cats, kittens, dogs and puppies are up for adoption to the right owners. After that, unless a trip to the pet store for toys and kibble is in order, try one of the several excellent parks out west, including Two Rivers Park or Pinnacle Mountain State Park. With plenty of great views and beautiful paved and unpaved walking trails, either is perfect for burning off the excess calories or spending a moment pondering life's mysteries.

The meaning of life then discerned, head for a meal at The Pantry (11401 N. Rodney Parham), chef Tomas Bohm's phenomenal Czech and German restaurant. It's open from 11 a.m. to midnight Monday through Saturday. Featuring a stunning (and stunningly delicious) variety of scratch-made soups, sausages, cheese plates, sandwiches, burgers, flatbreads and more, it's definitely one of the better dining experiences in all of Little Rock. If good ol' home cookin' is more your speed, try Franke's Cafeteria (11121 N. Rodney Parham) just up the street. Opened as a bakery in 1919, Franke's transformed in 1924 into a downtown cafeteria and it's been dishing up simple favorites ever since, including roast beef, fried chicken, liver and onions, candied sweet potatoes, eggplant casserole, fried okra and more. If a steak is more to your liking, another fairly old-line Little Rock joint in West Little Rock is The Butcher Shop (10825 Hermitage Road). Opened in 1982, the temple to carnivorousness has built a well-deserved following around a simple formula of serving up great appetizers, hand-cut steaks grilled over hickory charcoal and slow-roasted prime rib.

West Little Rock happens to have several stellar places for nightlife. If you're looking for a cozy joint to have a beer and a friendly chat in a place where everybody will soon know your name, head to Khalil's Pub and Grill (110 S. Shackleford Road). Be sure to talk a friend into riding the mustache-shaped teeter-totter with you while you're there. For something a bit more upscale with maybe a little food on the side, head to the sleek Petit and Keet (1620 Market St.). Featuring a menu chock-full of goodies like artisanal cheeses, shrimp and cheese grits, succotash and burgers, plus a drink menu of innovative cocktails, Petit and Keet has deservedly landed at the top of a lot of local "Best Bars" lists. Another great West Little Rock option for blowing off some late-night steam is Thirst N' Howl Bar and Grill (1710 Cantrell), the popular watering hole named for the snooty rich guy on "Gilligan's Island." It features live music Wednesday through Saturday nights.

Or if you're eager to take the party home, a West Little Rock shopping trip is incomplete without a visit to booze mecca Colonial Wines & Spirits (11200 W. Markham St.), Central Arkansas's most well-stocked liquor store.

Natives Guide: West Little Rock

[buryman1]

After a longer than normal (and probably not noticeable) absence, I figure it’s time to jump on the blogging band wagon again.  Part of my absence can be explained by the unbelievable amount of time it takes to move and the post-relocation stress disorder (PRSD) that lingers for months after. Although this resulted in many days with a spoiled appetite, I have managed to work my way out to a few places during this period.

It seems I’ve been eating in Toronto’s burbs a little more often.  In general, Toronto’s 905 could best be described as Suburgatory.  Yes, this was the name of  a short lived series documenting the trails and tribulations of a urban daughter who moves to the burbs to live with her dad but the name could also apply to the beef-centric menus of the chain restaurants that fill the space between strip malls and box stores along highway 7.  Despite this, I have noticed that there are a few advantages to eating outside of the city.

1. Hipsters are few and far between. Sure, there are suburban hipsters (substers) which pop up here and there but for the most part they are an easier breed to deal with.  Substers usually possess less angst and are more likely to have mom tattooed on their upper arms as opposed to roman numerals or  a recreation of Joseph’s Amazing Technicolour dreamcoat all over them.

2. Parking is a much easier and cheaper. This may be an issue, however, if the main reason for the night out is to get sloppy drunk. Uber may be a little scattered and transit is a lot less predictable so and expensive cab ride home may be in the works. That said, the price of a cocktail seems to drop by about $5 once you are north of the 401 so it may justify the extra $15 you’ll need to spend to get home.

3. There are amazing pockets of ethnic food in many of Toronto’s suburbs which luckily offset the numerous chains which populate the major streets and commercial areas within the 905.

All of this said, I apologize in advance if there is any disappointment over the fact that there won’t be a Jack Astor’s review as part of this post although I do hear their chicken fingers made in-house are divine and pair beautifully with a barefoot chardonnay.  In particular, I have recently spend some time in the Markham area and hit a quadruple eateries, none of which are owned by Cara foods and/or could not be defined as Suburgatory:

1. Tapagria

While the industrial themed small plate movement was taking over the 416, Tapagria quietly opened in the 905 focusing on Spanish tapas with a Markham twist (ie. located in a strip mall).  The menu was surprisingly authentic, complete with traditional favorites such as paella, pintxo and Iberian ham. We stuck with an array of bites including pan con tomate, smoked eggplant pintxo, mushroom croquettes, skirt steak, grilled calamari and a cheese board (including a bit of manchego) which we washed down with a decent Tempranillo. Generally speaking, the dishes were acceptably true to form, attempting to focus on quality ingredients whenever possible. Sure, it’s not la rambla, but despite a bit of suburban modification, I’m not sure it’s much less authentic than some of the other tapas joints that have popped up all over downtown. Plus, it would save a trip if you are in the area anyway and don’t want to venture down the always crowded highways.

Eggplant Pintxo

Calamari

Croquettes

Skirt Steak

Pan Con Tomate

Cheese Tray

2. Congee Queen

Congee queen is well-established Chinese eatery with half a dozen locations scattered across the north of the GTA. Unlike Tapagria, the authenticity does not lie in the food alone, but in the overall experience especially given the fact I was the token white guy in the whole place. Trolleys busily trek back and forth carrying piles of food from the extensive menu. I’ve been a couple of times. The first time I went for an early lunch so one of the 40 plus options of the namesake dish made sense. I opted for the abalone clam and chicken which I  paired with some rice rolls; a combination would could easily replace an oral glucose tolerance test for the diagnosis of diabetes. That said, there is something about a simple bowl of rice porridge that was more mystical than it should be. The second time I went for dinner and sampled an array of dishes including the shrimp wonton soup, tiger shrimp with mango salad and snowpea leaf with king mushroom. The food is good, the portions are huge and the prices are reasonable.

Abalone and Chicken Congee

Rice Rolls

King Mushroom and Snow Pea Leaves

Shrimp Wonton Soup

Tiger Shrimp and Mango Salad

3. Ding Tai Fung

Dim sum and dumplings are music to my ears and another assault on my beta cell capacity. If you’re not on the Spadina strip in urban Toronto, then Ding Tai Fung is super suburban surrogate. It’s located in the First Markham place, which is the epitome of Toronto’s 905 experience. Where else can you can circle for 20 minutes looking for a parking spot, pop into the Home Outfitters for some bed sheets and finish the experience with a bubble tea or some stinky tofu from the Mei Nung Beef Noodle House. Back to Ding Tai Fung: the food was above average highlighted by the incredible Shanghai wontons with spicy sauce and soup dumplings. The only minor disappointment were the gyoza dumplings which were enormous but a little too doughy as opposed to crispy.  All in all, it’s a great dim sum experience with dumplings the same square footage as the lots in the surrounding subdivisions.

Gyoza

Soup Dumplings

Spicy Shanghai Dumplings

Shrimp Dumplings

Steamed Pork Buns

4. Shanghai Shikumen Fine Cuisine

Also located in the First Markham place complex, I was invited by a group of friends and colleague which meany  I luckily had some help trying to decipher the hundreds of available items on the menu. I ended up with a variety of dishes which represented a true Shanghai experience which pushed the envelope just a little. Menu items included braised wheat gluten (which was somewhat satisfying for reasons which  included taste and my wheat belly) ,xiaolongbao (dumplings), jellyfish (which I’ve concluded I’m not fond of), ribs and a few soups. In particular, the spicy soup (similar to mapo doufu) was an interesting experience. It’s characterized by tongue numbing peppercorns which I perceived to be a bit of an initiation but my Asian table mates (little did they know I own not one but two buffalo wild wings champions shirts for eating 10 blazin’ wings in less than 5 minutes so I killed it…insert evil laugh). I must admit it was a bit euphoric to have one of your senses temporarily removed. The other soup was Jiu Niang (or maybe a variation) which is a fermented rice soup with a level of booze that probably falls just short of inducing red faces in those with alcohol dehydrogenase deficiencies (which  thankfully and phenotypically does not include me).

Xiaolongbao (dumplings)

Hot and Sour Soup

Mmmm. Gluten and not mmm..jellyfish

Soup and Ribs

More Soup

Spicy soup (similar to mapo doufu)

Jiu Niang (or maybe a variation)

My Take

Ok, I really didn’t move to the burbs but I can still draw parallels between busy street chaos/calm crescent living and urban vs suburban dining. Yes, the latter can be a little slow and boring but there are a few elements of excitement  here and there. It’s true enough that many of the aforementioned Asian eateries are nothing new but in some cases there is an overall shift towards having restaurants in the 905 reflecting a multitude of cultures in ways more than shrimp tacos at Kelsey’s. Perhaps one advantage is these places don’t have to pretend or feel pressure to adhering to authenticity dictated by foodie culture. One can enjoy an authentic dumpling without being draped in silk tapestries or having to listen to some spiel about the chef’s inspiration while on a pilgrimage along the Great Wall. Instead, you just get decent food and big portions unapologetically thrown down like on the table in a fashion similar to a soccer mom (or Jeremy Sisto I suppose) running late for practice or a piano class but in this case it’s not something from suburgatory like an M&M meat shop special or a patty from a Weber’s box.

The Ethnic Flare of the 905: Taking the Burger out of Suburgatory After a longer than normal (and probably not noticeable) absence, I figure it's time to jump on the blogging band wagon again. 

[arreiseanaj-blog1]

TOP asian restaurants in Toronto in 2017

The very best Chinese restaurants in Toronto represent just a portion of the diverse variety of regional offerings available here. And though many would argue you have to attend Richmond and Markham Hill to get the real deal, Scarborough, our downtown Chinatowns and areas in between still have their share of victor.

Rol San

This late night Chinatown favourite is definitely jam packed with those who can not get enough of their classics like ho buff noodles and spicy ginger beef. And of course, it's an incredibly popular all-day dim sum.

Congee Wong (Finch and Leslie)

For my money my favourite one is the North York location, although there are a lot of Congee Wongs near that it can make your head spin. Certainly it could get crowded during mealtimes, but at least it late, as well as their Cantonese Chow Mein Fried Chili Turnip Patties never fails to make me grin.

Taste of China

The incredibly clumsy name doesn’t detract in the fact that Taste of China is, for many, a taste of superiority. Popular among the late night crowd for sizzling seafood on skillets and its outstanding General Tao Chicken, it’s one of these places that when you’re in downtown Chinatown, you just need to go.

Luckee

This upscale eatery from Susur Lee inside the Soho Met features all-day dim sum, sweet-delectable Wuxi spare ribs and fancy cocktails, all served under the glow of some garish quasi- lightings and stereotypical Chinese ornamentation.

Sam Woo BBQ

This Scarborough mainstay continues to be meeting old-school Cantonese BBQ pork enthusiasts for over twenty years. Tender and absolutely crispy roast pork skin BBQ pork meat blended with old school unfussy décor makes for an awesome meal.

Azerbaijan restaurant

Qin Tang Taste

Home to the chewy that is awesomely biang biang noodles as well as other Shanxi specialties, this little Scarborough restaurant is truly the first Toronto place of a sizeable Beijing-based chain. My personal favourite? The Shanxi Sliced Noodle with Stir-Fried Pork Pieces. Delightful dish, long name.

House of Gourmet

This restaurant near Dundas and Spadina seems lowly from the exterior but is a constant hub of activity, with superior dishes like claypot tofus and satay beef noodles. It even has a BBQ joint that is devoted takeout, perfect for those nights when you merely want to feast on pork or duck on your sofa.

Asian Legend

By far the greatest mainstay Chinese restaurant chain in Toronto, this restaurant is the spot to really go when you’re searching for a wide number of genuine Chinese offerings. I’m a huge fan of their Peking duck, along with the soup dumplings here are always on my order list.

Hong Shing Chinese Restaurant

The longstanding association near City Hall could be somewhat oily however they make an oh-so-pleasing Sizzling Chili Chicken and General Tao Chicken. Wash it all down with cocktails with names just like the Stormy Night in Hong Kong.