Wildberry Pancakes
Where? Wildberry Pancakes (New Eastside, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America) Map Menu
When? Friday June 14, 2019
Who? Me
Food Style? American Breakfast
I'm in Chicago for Pokémon Go Fest 2019 and right near Millennium Park is a massive crowd of nerds (myself included) waiting to get into this highly popular restaurant. Thanks to Yelp, I'll get a text message when there's a seat available and I can also see how many parties are ahead of me in the queue. We live in the future!
As I'm seated, I take a glance around the tables (OBLOT strategy: order by looking at other tables). Holy Mac the portions are massive. Welcome to America, I guess. I'm up for the challenge. I'll need sustenance for a long day of walking aimlessly around Grant Park catching virtual monsters on my phone.
Mains
Butchers Block with Key Lime Pancakes: hash browns, cheddar and jack cheese, two eggs, ham, sausage, turkey sausage, chicken sausage and bacon
Good heavens. This is a hearty meal, full of delicious meats and two perfect runny eggs on top. The hash on the bottom mellows out the saltiness of the sausage and cheese. A few shakes of hot sauce and I'm ready to go.
I can feel myself slowing down. I'm about 80% the way through the hash but I need to save room for the pancakes. I'm thinking of cutting my losses and going straight to the sweets. I decide to do that Asian thing where I eat all the meat and leave the carbs in the plate. I start on the pancakes. Light and fluffy, with a beautiful rich key lime cream to give that delightful tart flavour. The fresh blackberries help cut through the richness and the biscuit crumb and white chocolate pieces add some nice texture. I'm impressed and well and truly stuffed.
I ended up skipping lunch and having dinner at 9pm - deep dish pizza!
Posted by Jeremy at 4:31pm on Thursday January 2, 2020 :: 0 comments :: 
Little Sister
Where? Little Sister (Midtown, Toronto, Ontario, Canada) Map Menu
When? Friday May 24, 2019
Who? Me
Food Style? Indonesian Tapas
I'm a sucker for food that is anywhere in the vicinity of Malaysia, so Indonesian fare is on the menu for tonight. I'm at Little Sister, just south of Yonge and Eglinton, and it's a warm but wet day in May. The restaurant doubles as a bar with exotic cocktails and the bartender explains that the dishes are more tapas style. My heart sinks. These places are usually a waste of time and money but I'm hungry and can't be bothered finding somewhere else, so I've decided to duke it out.
Mains
Ayam Panggang: sweet chili grilled chicken, bean sprouts, green onion, cilantro
Well, it's succulent and fragrant - hints of chili, lemon grass and ginger, and probably some kecap manis. It's tasty, but for $14, it's small and unsatisfying. I'm debating getting more food but it really isn't worth it. However, a torrential downpour has started and the entire outdoor patio has evacuated indoors, and I might just wait out the rain for a bit...
Posted by Jeremy at 4:26pm on Thursday January 2, 2020 :: 0 comments ::
Mamak
Where? Mamak (Doraville, Georgia, United States of America) Map Menu
When? Friday April 19, 2019
Who? Me
Food Style? Malaysian
I've picked up my rental car and I'm off to explore the fringe of Atlanta. In the appropriately named Asian Square, there's a Malaysian restaurant called Mamak, and I absolutely can't resist trying it out. Mamak refers to the open-air restaurants commonly found in Malaysia serving Indian food like roti, murtabak and briyani. The menu here is full of wonderful dishes from home, like rendang, char kuay teow and nasi lemak, but also specialities that I don't often find outside of Malaysia, like bak kut teh and yong tao foo.
I want to try everything but I can't. This is a sad recurring theme in my food life. I've gone for the curry laksa, which should be a delicious creamy soup with a great chicken broth and a bit of spice to top it off.
Mains
Curry laksa: classic coconut milk curry noodles with yong tau foo
I dig in. It's so good. I pause to catch my breath and write my thoughts down. It's rich and tasty, full of flavour. The yong tau foo has soaked up all that delicious laksa and bursts with flavour as I bite into it. I ask for a bit of sambal on the side and that magnificent, intense fish flavour lifts the laksa. This tastes of home.
Posted by Jeremy at 4:35am on Thursday January 2, 2020 :: 0 comments ::
Ponce City Market
Where? Ponce City Market (Old Fourth Ward, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America) Map Menu
When? Thursday April 18, 2019
Who? Me
Food Style? International
A massive indoor food hall, the Ponce City Market has attracted a large crowd on this rainy Atlantan day. I'm taking in the smells of the different kinds of ethnic foods available - Japanese, Chinese, Mexican, South African, Indian, Mediterranean and more. I want to try everything, but I can't. 
I've started off with a honey and lavender gelato from Honeysuckle and it's delightful, but as I'm wandering around, a loud ventilation sound fills the hall and the police and security order people to evacuate.
Thankfully the evacuation is short lived and I'm back at WH Stiles Fish Camp to try some catfish, a southern favourite. The temptation to get some oysters is great, but I will reserve my stomach for more food.
Mains
Pan-seared Vietnamese catfish salad with cabbage, cucumbers, peanuts, cilantro, scallions and jalapenos
The catfish is delicious. It's flavourful and cooked perfectly, glistening on the inside and flaking away, with a slight crispiness to the skin. The vegetables are well seasoned and have that delightful sourness from the fish sauce, an ingredient integral to Vietnamese cuisine. What would I change? A bit of freshly sliced chili on the side would have elevated this dish.
I got a cashew fudge donut from for Saturday's breakfast and a key lime tart from Saint Germain Bakery for now. Mmmm...that hits the spot. Bursting with that magnificent citrus flavour, not sickly sweet, just the right dessert to top off an enjoyable visit to this part of Atlanta.
Posted by Jeremy at 3:59am on Thursday January 2, 2020 :: 0 comments ::
Sweet Georgia's Juke Joint
Where? Sweet Georgia's Juke Joint (Downtown, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America) Map Menu
When? Wednesday April 17, 2019
Who? Me
Food Style? Southern
I've left the chilly spring weather of Toronto for the green and warmth of Atlanta, Georgia. I'm here to experience some of that great southern food - though I'm not that far south, I'm sure I'll be able to get something close enough anyway.
Appetiser
Southern Starter: fried green tomatoes, crispy vidalia onions, fried okra, topped with herb goat cheese and red pepper aioli
With a name like Southern Starter, I can't resist. It comes out pretty quickly and, kinda true to the south, it's all deep fried. It's not very crispy and it could use a bit of salt, but the goat cheese and aioli adds the flavour and richness in this dish.
Mains
Juke Joint Fried Chicken: signature juke joint seasoning blend, southern mac & cheese, smoked turkey collard greens
Winner winner chicken dinner. Mac and cheese has never really been a favourite of mine, and this one is okay. Nothing outstanding. Same with the collard greens. They're a bit soggy, and they taste okay, but again, nothing to rave about. The chicken though is better. It's not as crispy as it should be and it needs a bit of salt, but there's a nice sweetness to it, it's juicy and it's satisfying enough.
Also I have forgotten that American portions are massive. I will not be needing dessert after this.
As 7pm rolls around, the entertainment starts - this is a juke joint after all. I'm staring at my leftover Mac and cheese and collard greens with disdain, but I'll chill and listen to these smooth soul tunes for a bit before leaving. I might not have had a great time with the food, but the music is pretty amazing.
Posted by Jeremy at 3:41am on Thursday January 2, 2020 :: 0 comments ::