Niagara Falls and Toronto

Yes, I'm doing it again. A recent trip to Niagara Falls and Toronto tingled the taste-buds more than expected. I share the following just in case any readers travel north of the border. First off, there is a good deal of ethnic diversity in Canada, which is reflected in their restaurant options. Second, there are a LOT of Indian restaurants and Italian restaurants (in this part of Canada, anyway). Top of the mark was Moksha Indian, a quiet place off the tourist trail in Niagara. Truly the best Indian I have had while travelling. Traditional dishes mixed with highly innovative offerings. The Garlic Naan comes with honey and the Papadums arrive formed into tents. Both of these seemed to be Canadian twists which showed up in other restaurants, but the "peanut shooters" (sauteed peanuts with zingy veggies) appeared in shot glasses, which just tickled me pink. As a second runner-up we have Aanch, a "modernistic" upscale Indian restaurant in Toronto (with prices to match) which also had innovative dishes, including a Jack Fruit Curry. For a quick bite, try Fat Boy's Burrito Co, a chain, which offers hugely stuffed burritos (with some different fillings like cole slaw or fried pickles) which hit the perfect note after a long day of travel. DO stick to the smallest size, which was a full meal, rather than the larger versions! Canada is on the forefront of Beyond Meat distribution so you will see it at a growing number of establishments. My initial taste test says that I like Impossible Burger more than Beyond Meat, but to be honest I would need a side-by-side comparison to truly judge it. Last and most certainly not least is Sweet Jesus, a hole-in-the-wall soft ice cream shop which had a line out the door. Not only is the ice cream incredibly rich but what they do to it with toppings is unheard of and mouth-watering. Somehow, they have figured out how to roll it in toppings, and they have unique toppings! Don't miss it.

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Afghan Bistro

With family members moving to Springfield, it has been a struggle to find good places to eat so far afield. After flirting with some chain restaurants near the mall, we tried a Pakistani restaurant (there are many, many Pakistani restaurants there), but it fell flat. Finally, someone suggested this amazing place. It's a little hole-in-the-wall in a strip mall. With oilcloth table coverings, the vibe seems questionable. For about a minute. Then you are warmly greeted and given menus with a plethora of choices. My party ordered a great number of items and every dish rose above expectations. The staff are eager to please and checked in to make sure everything was okay, from food to drink needs. When a member of my party dropped a piece of silverware on the floor one of the waiters swooped in with a replacement before we could even ask. But onto the food. We ordered the Potato and Leek turnovers, the Aushak (leek and sc...

First Watch

Meant to invite some family members here but a friend beat me to the punch. We compromised and went together. Unfortunately, this is a place where it looks better than it is. Across the board. The funky design scheme makes it an echo chamber and, with the pumping music, very loud. Conversation was difficult. The menu is covered in glossy photos and descriptions of the food but ... I started with the Morning Meditation Fresh Juice, a pretty blend of citrus and beet. Or I tried to. Took three reminders to the waiter and when it finally arrived, halfway into the meal, it was 90% ice and 10% juice. My companions opted for coffee. It was ice cold. Another long wait (about 20 minutes) to get new coffee -- and included a reminder to staff that they wanted fresh cups as well. I ordered the Vegetarian Quinoa Bowl, which was described as having up to 12 ingredients. It had three. The quinoa, an egg, maybe two teen...

RASA

The popular grain bowl trend gets a twist with this Indian-inspired takeout bowl place. Same concept -- a base, greens, toppings, etc., but the options are mostly Indian inspired and the majority of offerings are vegetarian (although not vegan, given the heavy use of Ghee in cooking). My take is mixed. Some of the items were outstanding, some less so. I got the Lemon Tumeric Rice, which was delightful. Fresh and tangy, with a little bite, it was one of the best rice dishes I've ever tried. On top of this I got the Tofu/Cauliflower protein. It was half and half. The cauliflower was perfectly roasted, the roasted onions delightful, and the nuts were a beautiful added crunch. The tofu, however, was watery, and the green and red peppers well past prime. Next, I added sauteed spinach, which was incredibly bland, and the peanut sesame sauce, which was "okay" but forgettable. I didn't do additional toppings, although there were ...

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