Welcome to Bears Without Borders!

*~ Not sure what to do this weekend? No worries! This is a site to share my beloved passion and experience of dining, playing, and exploring. If you love to explore, then this site is for you! If not, well, it's time to get out there! Life is too short to just sit there and rot :P Hope you enjoy your stay here! ~*

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Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Trying new things

Two activities that I have participated recently:

Urba
n Scavenger Hunt: Given a list of items, each team needs to photograph as many as possible using knowledge of the city, strategy, creativity, and teamwork skills. A lot of walking but a lot of fun! Great team building activity.














Light Painting
: Using glowsticks and other lighting devices, trying to create images and capture them on camera i
n a pitch dark environment (that's why we go to the Center Island to do this). Really cool effects! Will like to try again in a warmer time or maybe during Earth Hour! LOL


Friday, February 24, 2012

Weekend of Feb 25-26


Icefest 2012


Featuring “Winter Wilderness Exhibit” that will include a magical “Ice Log Cabin” centerpiece display celebrating Canada’s wild parklands. Visitors can enjoy ice carving demonstrations and an on-street skating performance. Children will get complimentary “Ice Kiddie Cubes” with a toy inside! Neighbourhood’s fine restaurants will serve hot drinks, soups, crepes, mac n’cheese etc. (prices may vary).

Date: Feb 25-26, noon-5pm

Location: Bloor and Yorkville

Website: http://www.bloor-yorkville.com/icefest/default.html


Gravenhurst Winter Carnival


Featuring “Glow in Dark Skating” at the Wharf, “Donut Eating on a String,” “Bed Races,” “Ice Biking” at the Wharf, the “Demolition Derby”, children’s entertainment, the polar bear dip, and the “Ribs Warming Station”. You can make snow sculpture and go toboganning as well.

Date: Feb 24-25

Location: Gravenhurst (2 hours north of Toronto)

Website: http://www.gravenhurstwintercarnival.com/


Dwight Winter Carnival


Featuring unique activities such as BodyZorbs with 75ft Racetrack and Minnow Racing.

Date: Feb 25-26

Location: Dwight (3 hours north of Toronto)

Website: http://dwightwintercarnival.com/events/index.php


Pig Roast at Marben


On the last Sunday of every month, Marben offers a $25 Pig Roast deal, which includes a plate of slow-roasted pork and two side dishes (choice of coleslaw, fries, roast squash and apples, braised collard and baked beans). Reservations and arriving early are highly recommended.

Date: Feb 26, starting at 6pm

Location: 488 Wellington St W (t. 416 979 1990)

Website: http://www.toronto.com/blog/post/681935--marben-s-monthly-pig-roast-moves-to-sundays

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Winterlicious 2012 Review

Winterlicious
Jan 27-Feb 9, 2012

Lunch & Dinner Specials @ Toronto's top restaurants
Vary from
$15-$45 for 3-course prix fixe meal
Reservatio
ns highly recommended!

See menu & participating restaurants at: http://wx.toronto.ca/inter/se/restaurants.nsf/Winterlicious?Openform

If you miss this year's winterlicious, not to worry, they will have it again in the summer: Summerlicious 2012 (July 6-22, 2012)


Here is my review of 5 winterlicious experience:


Pure Spir
its Oyster House & Gril l
Distillery District

55 Mill St, Building 62A
416-361-5859

http://purespirits.ca/

$20 Lunch plus taxes and gratuity

new england clam chowder with baby clams, back bacon and corn
or

mussels from prince edward island

malaysian laksa broth, wild lime leaves and coconut cream
or

mixed garden leaves (vegetarian)
oven dried cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, hothouse tomato vinaig
rete

**********


slow roast prime rib baguette
shaved angus beef, au jus, freshly grated horseradish aioli

or

grilled chinook salmon with yukon

gold potato and garlic mash, grilled asparagus, yellow pepper and saffron veloute

or


whole wheat penne

rigate (vegetarian)
sundried

tomato, walnut pesto


**********

Chai tea creme brulee
spiced almond biscotti

or

bread and butter pudding
butterscotch caramel and whipped espresso cream
or

chef selection of sorbet and ice cream
fresh fruit

Food: 3.5/5 (Food is good, but has room for improvement)

Service: 3/5 (Friendly but slow, takes 2.5 hours to finish lunch!)

Decor: 4/5 (Distillery view outside, has both bar tables and dining tables options, not too noisy because of the high ceiling)

Comments: An overall positive experience. I may go again to try their oysters. The crab cake (ordered a-la-carte) is good but expensive. The clam chowder is too watery disappointing but the mussels and broth are tasty. Salmon is average but the prime rib baguette is below average because the bread is soggy and the beef is under seasoned. The chai tea creme brulee is tasty though, and the sorbet trio is a refreshing finish.


Linda Modern Thai

11 Karl Fraser Rd

416-642-3866

http://www.lindarestaurant.com/

$25 Dinner plus taxes and gratuity

Ho Mok Talay (Steamed Seafood

Custard)

Thai seafood custard made with egg, red curry, fish and shrimp

or

Grilled Chicken Lemongrass Skewers

Minced chicken with lemongrass and Thai

herbs grilled on lemongrass skewers, Sweet chili dipping sauce

or

Mieng Kum (for 2 persons)

A classic Thai street food. Make your own appetizer from peanut, dried shrimp, shredded coconut, lime, chili, shallot, wrapped in betel leaves, Sweet chili sauce or

Mango Salad (vegetarian)

Fresh mango, peanut, dry shrimp, lettuce, carrot, tomato, shallot, basil, Fish sauce, fresh lime juice, palm sugar

AND

Choice of Soup:

Tom Yum Goong (Hot & Sour Shrimp Soup)

Shrimp, mushroom, lemongrass, lemon leaf, galangal, home-made chili paste with our own home-made chicken, shrimp and Thai herb stock

or

Thin “Laksa” Soup
Linda’s interpretation of the curry Laksa soup made from shrimp stock, coconut milk and curry spices, with cuttlefish, shrimp, egg noodle, vermicelli

or
Lobster Bisque

Lobster, butter, home-made lobster broth
or

Vegetarian Tom Yum (vegetarian)
A vegetarian version of our classic Tom Yum soup. Mushroom, lemongrass, lemon leaf, galangal, home-made chili paste

**********

Crispy Beef in Panang Curry
A rich, creamy curry made from peanut, coconut milk, and our own Panang curry paste, Crispy beef brisket, bell pepper, peanut, Asian basil, lime leaf
or

Slow Poached Duck with Hawthorn and Cranberry Sauce
Duck breast cooked at a low temperature to preserve the texture and taste, Bok choy, Sweet and sour hawthorn and cranberry sauce
or

Salmon in Mango Ginger Sauce
Pan-seared pacific salmon, quinoa, fresh fruit, Tangy mango-ginger sauce
or

Vegetarian Curry Yuba Hot Pot (vegetarian)

Thai sour curry with coconut milk, Yuba (bean curd sheet), green pea, grape tomato, oyster mushroom, tofu


**********

Mango Sticky Rice (vegetarian)
Fresh mango, white glutinous rice, sesame seed, sweet coconut milk
or

Deep Fried Banana with Honey (vegetarian)
Battered, deep fried golden banana topped with honey and roasted sesame seed
or

Homemade Gelato (vegetarian)

Your choice from our selection of homemade gelato

Food: 4.5/5 (Food is really good and of great value!)

Service: 4/5 (Friendly, efficient, and the owner comes to chat with you about their cuisine)

Decor: 3.5/5

Comments: A great meal and great deal! Mieng Kum, the Thai street food is fun to eat (you put topppings inside a leaf wrap)! The lemongrass chicken skewer is delicious. The soups all have a wonderful aroma. Crispy beef brisket is original, the fruity salmon is refreshing, the duck is juicy, and the veggie paper hot pot is fun. All desserts are great, especially the black sesame gelato! This hand grind version probably is the best tasting black sesame gelato/ice-cream that I have ever tasted!


Bymark

66 Wellington St W, TD Tower Concourse Level

416-777-1144 ext 1

http://www.bymark.ca/

$25 Lunch plus taxes and gratuity

Romaine Hearts

honey smoked bacon, oven cured tomatoes, reggiano, caesar vinaigrette
or

Roasted Root Vegetable Salad

grapefruit segments & white balsamic dressing
or

Crisp Crab Cakes

celery root & apple remoulade


**********


Bymark 8oz U.S.D.A. Prime Burger
brie de meaux, grilled king mushrooms

or

Pappardelle & Braised Rabbit

winter vegetables, grainy mustard sauce

or
Pan Roasted Salmon
roasted root vegetables, dried cranberries, toasted pumpkin seed & arugula

**********


Gingerbread cake

sweet potato mousse, maple walnut fudge
or
Apple Crostata
caramel crunch ice cream

or
Orange Nanaimo Brownie

toasted meringue


Food: 4.3/5 (All dishes are tasty, though a bit pricy)

Service: 3.5/5 (Business-like friendliness)

Decor: 3.5/5

Comments: All three courses (crab cakes, rabbit pasta, gingerbread cake with yam mousse) are delicious! Chef Mark McEwan (owner of an organic supermarket) really makes good use of fresh ingredients!


JAMCafé

195 Carlton St

416-921-1255

http://www.jamcafe.net/

$25 Dinner plus taxes and gratuity

Daily Soup

(vegetarian)
or

JAM Salad Green Leaf, Radicchio and Baby Arugula, Pea Shoots, Wild Blueberry and Organic Cider Vinaigrette

(vegetarian)


or
Caesar Cardini

Croutons and Oaxaca Cheese
or

Popcorn Escargots
Tempura Fried, Spicy Curry Coconut Milk Sauce, Enoki Mushroom
or

Orr Lake Elk Sausage Slider on Pain au Lait, Maple

Syrup Caramelized Onion, Curry Salt Matchstick Frites
(local)

**********


Grilled Flat Iron Steak and Frites,

Grainy Dijon Mustard Sauce
or

Orr Lake Elk Bourguignon
Braised Ontario Elk With Mushrooms,

Pearl Onions, House Smoked Bacon, Winter Root Vegetable Mash, Elk Marrow Butter Toasts
(local)
or
Ricotta, Butternut Squash and Goat Cheese Crêpes
Light Cream Sauce With Wine and Sage, Fresh Herb Salad
(vegetarian)
or
Risotto With Alaskan Ling Cod, Leeks and Tomato Filet, Fennel Pollen

**********

Warm Apple Cinammon Cobbler
(local)
or
Brioche Bread Pudding, Brandy Caramel Sauce
or
Flourless Dark Chocolate Torte

Food: 3.5/5 (Love the appetizers but disappointed about the mains)

Service: 2.8/5 (Average, not especially attentive, doesn't have bread/butter to start)

Decor: 3.9/5 (Quite a romantically-lit small resto)

Comments: A bit disappointed with this meal. Both appetizers (popcorn escargot and elk slider) are really tasty, but the mains are not up to par. The steak is not too bad, but the fish is really undercooked in an unappetizing way (not like those melt in your mouth sashimi). The desserts are not particularly outstan

ding, but ok... the cobbler is like an interesting twist to french toast. The service is fast but not attentive. Not sure if I will come again.


The Wine Bar

9 Church St
416-504-9463

http://www.9church.com/

$15 Lunch plus taxes and gratuity

Cheddar & Apple Salad (vegetarian)


Grapes, spiced cashews, greens & mustard vinaigrette
or
Sweet Potato & Chipotle Soup (vegetarian)
Pepper Croutons & Parsley

or

Braised Beef & Wild Mushroom Poutine
Ontario Cheese Curds & Green Onions

**********


Wild Fish Ragout
Stewed Tomatoes, Fennel, Leeks & Fingerling Potatoes
or

Grilled Peameal Sandwich
Toasted Ancient Grain, Mustard Mayo, Fried Sunny side Egg & Baby Arugula
or
Warm Mediterranean Salad (vegetarian)
Chickpeas, Olives, Roasted red Peppers, Grilled Vegetables & Baby Spinach

**********


Maple Crème Brulée (vegetarian)


Walnut Biscotti
or
Egg Nog (vegetarian)
Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies
or
Bread & Butter Pudding (vege

tarian)
Crème Anglaise & Raspberry Compote


Food: 4/5 (portions are small but all dishes are tasty)

Service: 3.8/5 (friendly and efficient)

Decor: 3.5/5 (an interesting divide of area between the bar and the dining tables)

Comments: The poutine is really delicious and the peameal sandwich is an interesting choice. The egg nog & cookies is a cool variation on milk & cookies.

Overall, I'd rate my experience of the restaurants:
Linda > Bymark > Wine Bar > Pure Spirits > JAM

Some people ask me how do I pick which restaurants I want to try as the list is huge! My personal method is by browsing through their menus to see if they interest me, then look up their reviews.

Please feel free to recommend any restaurants that I should try next time. Thanks!