Although Stephen BBQs all year round, he only starts smoking things once warmer weather arrives. Last year, we made smoked Turkey Legs regularly. This year, we started thinking, what else can we smoke? Stephen came up with this recipe for Smoked Turkey Cherry Burgers that was phenomenal, and we had all the ingredients handy in our freezer. The chunks of frozen cherries added sweetness to the turkey patty as well as texture and a slight tartness. We used a hickory wood to smoke the burgers and the ground turkey took on the smoke flavour wonderfully.

Ground turkey has become a grocery staple and we always have a pack fresh or frozen in our kitchen. The natural mild flavour of turkey takes on seasoning so well and makes it an incredibly versatile ingredient. I also like how lean ground turkey is, making it an easy and healthy choice for meals. Alivia loved these turkey burgers and extra patties are a great quick lunch option for her during the week to reheat.

For more inspiration and recipes featuring turkey, visit www.ThinkTurkey.ca

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post in collaboration with Turkey Farmers of Canada. All ideas and opinions expressed are wholly mine.

Yum

Smoked Turkey Cherry Burgers

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Yield: 4

Ingredients

• 1lb of ground turkey
• 2 tsp brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp onion flake
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
• 1 clove of garlic, grated
• 10 cherries, chopped
• 1 tbsp mayonnaise (optional)
• 1/2 tbsp ketchup (optional)
• 1/2 tbsp sweet relish (optional)
• 4 burger buns
• 4 romaine lettuce leaves
• 1 tomato, sliced

Instructions

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine ground turkey, spices, garlic and cherries, then mix until fully incorporated.
2. Cut 4 parchment paper squares and place 1/4 of the burger mixture onto each sheet. Form into burger patties.
3. Place patties (on the parchment paper) on a sheet pan and chill for 15 minutes in the freezer to firm up.
4. While the patties are chilling, start the smoker/bbq and set to a temperature of 275°F. Soak a handful of wood chips and place either in a smoke box or directly on the charcoal.
5. When the smoker has hit the desired temperature and the patties are sufficiently chilled, place the patties in the smoker and smoke until the burgers reach an internal temperature of 165°F (~30mins). Continue to add wood chips every 10-15 minutes or if the smoke stops.
6. Optional, combine mayonnaise, ketchup and sweet relish to make a burger sauce
7. Assemble burger on buns with smoked turkey patty, lettuce leaves, slices of tomato and burger sauce (optional).

0.1

Atmosphere: Peter Luger has been in existence for over a century and has been rated as one of the top steakhouses in New York for the past 3 decades. The steakhouse has been awarded one Michelin star and is a Brooklyn institution drawing regulars and tourists alike. Our reservation was for the first seating of the day at lunch. We took the train to Brooklyn and recognized a few couples later in the dining room. The restaurant simply oozed charm from bowtied waiters to tudor style dining rooms lit with gold chandeliers. I loved the bare wood tables, which soaked up grease like a sponge and the menus with handwritten prices. Dress code ranged from casual to Sunday brunch.

Service: When we visited, reservations were only taken via phone and organized by hand on a giant schedule. Today, reservations can be made through their website up to 6 weeks in advance. Taking a look, there was plenty of availability for parties of 2 at lunch, even the day of but very limited dinner spots within the 6 week window. A portion of the dining room is still held for phone reservations and walk-ins.

Our server was friendly and happy to let us snap a few photos before he served the steak on to our plates. He chatted with us briefly and checked in on us throughout the meal. There was always a server present in the dining room keeping an eye on diners without being obtrusive.

Note that Peter Luger does not accept credit cards or Canadian debit cards. Cash would be the way to go.

Food: As Stephen and I read through the menu, our server brought over a bread basket with soft buns, two pats of butter and a gravy boat of steak sauce. One of the main reasons I wanted to secure a lunch reservation was to try the Luger Burger. We debated between ordering the Steak for Two or Rib Steak and settled on the smaller option. I’m glad we chose the single steak as it was still more than enough to share.

Cooked to a beautiful medium rare, the rib steak was simply mouth watering. I loved the heavy char and the fat cap was exquisite. The taste of the aged beef was meaty and complemented by the house steak sauce. My burger was hefty, served on a sesame seed bun with thick cut fries. Following orders from the Eater article praising the Luger burger, I skipped the bacon and cheese options and stuck to the basics. It was a good burger, meaty, so juicy, well seasoned and perfectly charred. This was the kind of burger that I want to sink my teeth into when I’m craving a burger.

Overall, lunch at Peter Luger was delicious and incredibly satisfying. We don’t go out for steak much anymore as Stephen’s technique gets better and better, but this meal was well worth the trip.

Last year for our anniversary Stephen made reservations at Alo months in advance, as required, for their Kitchen Counter tasting menu. Then we found out I was expecting. I called the restaurant to ask about the menu and sadly over half the courses had raw ingredients that I couldn’t eat. Cry. This year we decided to forgo the ordeal trying to get a reservation and celebrated at their sister restaurant, Aloette. Being on maternity leave, I had the luxury of meeting Stephen for an early dinner, 4pm, without any worry of missing Alivia’s bedtime.

Atmosphere: Arriving at 4pm, we had no trouble getting a table. It was also still Aloette hour (3:00pm – 4:30pm), which meant $10 cocktails and wines by the glass. Sun streamed into the long narrow restaurant adding to the cozy fell of the space. Padded wood booths lined one wall and a classic diner bar ran along the opposite. While the afternoon light made the restaurant feel comfortable and relaxed, I could easily imagine the transformation to bustling bar and place to be by the evening.

Service: I really liked our server, who was friendly and seemed genuinely happy. She explained why their famous uni toast wasn’t on the menu that day (supply issues) and recommended her favourite dishes to try. She separated our order into two courses for us, which I always appreciate when there aren’t clear appetizer/entree delineations. All of the dishes arrived promptly and with a brief introduction. This was our first outing since Alivia’s birth and at one point we were checking on her via her nursery camera. Our server noticed and asked a few questions about her then let us know how baby friendly they were. In fact the other occupied table that afternoon had a stroller pulled up beside it.

Food: It’s been 6 months since our meal at Aloette and I still think about their cheesy brioche toast. The slices of thick, cheesy, sweet bread topped with a healthy slab of butter were heavenly and dinner hadn’t even started yet. This was just the complimentary bread.

For our actual dinner, we ordered the Roasted Squid with pork belly and kimchi, the Parisienne Gnocchi with snails and the Aloette Burger and Fries. Both the squid and gnocchi were spectacular and wonderfully balanced in terms of flavour and texture. The squid was tender and the pork belly crispy. The kimchi added acidity and heat while cubes of compressed melon and slices of watermelon radish made each bite unique and varied. The gnocchi were pillowy and chewy, perfect really and the beans fresh and sweet. I only wish potions were bigger because I could’ve eaten so much more.

The Aloette burger was actually the weakest dish of the meal. This was still an excellent burger. Delicious with a meaty patty and wonderfully melted cheesy layer, but compared to our other two plates not as interesting or quite as special.

I had the pleasure of tasting Aloette’s Iceberg Wedge Salad at the Best New Restaurants 2018 unveiling in October and was surprised by how much I could like a salad. Each bite had layers of texture and flavour from the crunchy lettuce to the creamy avocado and topped with curls of parmesan and puffed wild rice. Needless to say I went back for several bites.

Golden Star Burgers on Yonge, north of Steeles has been attracting The Hubby’s attention for years. Each time we drive why, he scopes out the number of cars in the parking lot and we debate on whether or not to try it out. The Hubby loves a good charcoal grilled burger and the craving hits me as well occasionally. We finally stopped by Golden Star this summer, hoping to find a new burger spot close to home.

Atmosphere: At first glance, the restaurant reminded me a lot of T Bones in Scarborough. With classic red diner booths, and dated tiles, Golden Star seemed a little bit stuck in time. The quick service restaurant was fairly busy with a steady stream of dinner customers. Orders were placed and paid for at the counter, then you shuffled along to watch the burgers cook and be assembled.

Service: The dining area was self serve with a station for napkins and other condiments. While cooking the burger, there were some options to customize toppings like onions or pickles. The restaurant was cash only, and did have an ATM inside.

Food: Between the two of us, we ordered an All-Star Burger, Steak on a Kaiser, Onion Rings and Poutine. Hands down, the Burger and Poutine were the best choices. The patty was juicy, tender, meaty with a nice char flavour from the grill. I did find the mayo a bit heavy handed. Everything else was solid from the fluffy ben to the melted slice of cheese. The same could not be said for the sad Steak on a Kaiser. I’m not sure what we were expecting for $8 but the thin steak was easily overpowered by the large bun. It was tender, but under seasoned for our taste buds and overall disappointing.

As for the sides, I had a very good time with the poutine, which was a huge portion. A smaller size menu option would be nice, not for but for other people. I personally inhaled the thick gravy and melted curds. There were fewer onion rings in that basket, but was also a few dollars cheaper than the poutine. The onion rings were crispy, not oily and a good thickness. I’ve never been a fan of super thick ones, so these were solid.

Overall, Golden Star Burgers served up a solid burger and sides at a reasonable price. Their full dining room and longevity attests to both their quality and value.

With over 40 locations in Western Canada, Ontario’s sole Fatburger opened this summer in Thornhill. The Hubby saw a Groupon for the burger chain that enticed us to make the trek north (a whole 15 minute drive).

Atmosphere: Fatburger had the decor of an old school diner, red leather chairs included. Each table was stocked with condiments and a napkin dispenser. Top 40 music played on the speakers and many of the diners were families.

Service: For a fast casual restaurant, I was impressed by the service and efficiency. After placing our order at the counter, we grabbed a seat and our tray was delivered to us. While we ate, I noticed the manager was constantly cleaning tables, tucking in chairs, and putting things away.

Food: The Groupon we had was for two original Fatburgers, which have a 6 oz patty. To mine, I added the optional toppings of caramelized onions, pickles and banana peppers. The Hubby chose the onion ring, which made his burger true to the name. I liked how they served the burger stacked, ready to be squished.

Overall, I found the burger to be pretty good. The toasted bun was soft and light and the patty, while thin was juicy. The selection of complimentary toppings was wide and had a good variety. My only criticism was that pieces of my iceberg was bitter. Some leaves close to the root were included. Also, the small portion of fries was disappointing.

Fatburger has specialty burgers on their menu like Hawaiian and California, which differentiates them from similar burger joints.

I am guilty of eating out a lot, especially during the week. While I love to cook big meals with The Hubby on weekends, during the week I am lazy. Add in the fact that The Hubby often travels for work during the week, means I’m usually eating noodles straight from a pot or take-out container. Chefs Plate makes weekday dinners easy by delivering 99% of the ingredients for a delicious meal, all measured out, ready to cook, right to your door (or condo security guy). Chef’s Plate would be a great meal solution for busy professionals, people learning to cook, or if you’re hoping to impress a date.

Disclaimer: Products reviewed below were provided complimentary by Chefs Plate. All opinions expressed below are wholly mine and not indicative of the opinions or positions held by Chefs Plate.

The Basics:
Chef’s Plate is a weekly meal subscription delivery service based on downtown Toronto. Each week, subscribers choose from an array of meals designed by their executive chef. Meals include gluten free, dairy free and vegetarian options. There are currently 2 plans available priced at ~$11/plate, one for 2 people with the option of 2 or 3 meals per week (an additional shipping fee is charged for 2 meals) or 4 people with 2 meals per week. Deliveries are made on Mondays of each week for the GTA and Tuesday for the rest of Ontario. There is no minimum week commitment, however the subscription will auto-renew if not paused or cancelled.

My Experience:
My box from Chef’s Plate arrived before 5pm on Monday and it was a bit like Christmas. The package was well insulated and had 2 large ice packs to keep all the meat and produce fresh. I had ordered the Moroccan Lamb Burger and Flank Steak meals for the week. Fresh ingredients for each were separated in large plastic bags and colourful recipe sheets on thick cardstock were provided.

What I Liked:

• Most important, the finished product! I really enjoyed my burger, the lamb was amazing with lots of flavour, fatty and juicy.
• All of the produce were fresh and the bun moist.
• Seriously, another callout to the lamb.
• I liked the packaging, the contents were layered thoughtfully to protect each ingredient (buns on top!)
• It was quick, in total making this meal did take less than 30 minutes.
• Chef’s Plate has an extensive FAQ on their website that answers pretty much every questions I had.
• When you’re choosing a recipe, the amount of time required, skill level and calorie estimate was all listed. This information was repeated on the recipe cards. Great for those with dietary restrictions or counting calories.
• Being able to skip weeks or pause your subscription at any time.
• Introduced new repertoire of flavours. When I cook, I skew towards Asian flavours, aka soy sauce, so it was nice to try a different profile in such an easy to cook format.
• The convenience, it can be hard to get the right amount of groceries to cook for just one or two people. Chef’s plate eliminates the worry about leftover ingredients like half a carrot, by providing exactly what’s needed.

What could use work:

• While I liked the packaging, with each ingredient being individually packaged, there was a lot of plastic bags. I’m not sure if there’s a way to improve this, but it did feel very wasteful.
• Too much onion, I had enough to top at least 6 burgers. Again this would be a hard point to improve on. Half an onion would not be the way to go and it may be difficult to provide only small red onions.
• Price. If I compare to buying groceries ourselves, Chef’s Plate is more expensive. However the service was well executed, delivered great ingredients and is worth it, paying for the convenience. This would make a great gift to busy professionals or people just learning to cook.

TL;DR: Plenty of choices to fit all tastebuds, easy to follow recipe instructions, fresh quality ingredients, more expensive than buying groceries but the convenience is worth the cost.

If you’re interested in checking out Chef’s Plate, use this link to receive 2 free plate (or 1 meal kit) with your first order.

Club 120 is a nondescript nightclub occupying the second floor of a small building on Church St. The owners have been running the club for almost 9 years and recently took over the restaurant space on the main floor as well. Their aim was to create a relaxed, modern diner that features live comedy or music each night. I was invited by Todd, one of the owners, to stop by and sample their menu.

Disclaimer: All drinks and dishes were provided free of charge by the restaurant. All opinions expressed below are wholly mine.

Atmosphere: The space used to be a Spring Rolls and the decor still features many of their signature red elements, however not knowing ahead of time, it would be hard to tell. A full bar was situated at the back of the restaurant, a stage was set up along one wall and comfy booths lined the wall opposite. Several tables and chairs were set up to face the stage, allowing diners to enjoy their meal and the show. Although the kitchen opened at 5pm, the space was pretty empty until the show started at 8pm. On the night I stopped by, there was a comedy podcast live recording and most of the comics were pretty funny. The content was PG-13, but nothing super scandalous.

Service: Service was great, friendly and efficient. Todd was there to answer any questions I had and came to check on me while I waited for my late friend. All of our food arrived from the kitchen piping hot and empty dishes were cleared away promptly. As the crowd grew louder with the show, Todd and the server continued to check-in and take care of each table.

Food: While I browsed the menu at 120 Diner, I was impressed with the wide selection. There were wraps, burgers, salads, sandwiches and other entrees. I also appreciated the many vegetarian (veggie burger, wrap or rice bowl) and healthy options. Basically for any of the mains, the protein could be substituted for haddock or salmon.

For both the appetizer and entree, I decided to try a classic bar item, and something unique. With the appetizer, I was immediately drawn to the “Build Your Own Nachos or Poutine” section of the menu. Starting with a base of fries or chips, there was plenty of add-on options including meatballs, double smoked bacon or garlic shrimp. I chose the Mexican Spiced Ground Beef. To offset the comfort dish, I ordered the Grilled Calamari with Puttanesca Sauce as our second, healthy, appetizer.

Both dishes were great. The puttanesca sauce had lots of flavour and was heavy on olives and garlic. I did find the squid a bit on the raw side, but better than overcooked and tasty. I loved the nachos; crispy chips, melted cheese, generous toppings, spicy jalapeno and the Mexican spiced ground beef added even more heat. The portion was also more than enough for two people.

With entrees, my friend went with the 120 Grilled Cheese Burger and sweet potato fries while I went healthy with a Rice and Grilled Vegetable Bowl, topped with homemade meatballs. Hands down, the cheeseburger won this round. The burger was really more grilled cheese than burger and there was so much delicious melted cheese. The rosemary focaccia “bun” was toasted perfectly and spicy mayo added just a touch of heat. Her side of sweet potato fries were also crispy, sweet with a dash of salt. Compared to this decadent burger, my rice bowl didn’t really hold up. The rice was a little wet and I couldn’t taste the cilantro or coconut. I was expecting the rice to be more like Chipotle rice. There was a lot of grilled vegetables, but the meatballs were underwhelming.

Overall, 120 Diner does good comfort food. While there’s plenty of healthy options, the kitchen shined with  classic bar dishes. That Grilled Cheese Burger was worth every calorie

Two weeks ago, The Fiance and I were near Ossington and Queen, taking a workshop to make our own wedding bands. The workshop ended at 8pm, but we had made reservations at a restaurant nearby for 9pm, just in case. I tried moving our reservation up earlier with no luck. Since we were both starving but still wanted to keep our reservation, we decided to pop into Frankie’s for a pre-dinner beer. We ended up being tempted by their burgers.

Atmosphere: Frankie’s is well known for being featured on the reality TV show, Restaurant Makeover. I’m not acquainted with their previous digs, but the current set up is like a diner. The majority of customers sat at the bar, in front of the TV and few booths/tables were occupied. Most of the diners also seemed like regulars stopping by for a few pints. While the restaurant’s name includes the “cafe”, Frankie’s felt closer to a bar.

Service: Walking into the restaurant, we were welcomed by one of two bartenders and told to grab a seat anywhere. We chose to sit at the bar along with everyone else. Service was friendly and almost too efficient. Our plate was cleared as I was chewing my last bite. There were no settings on the bar and cutlery was brought over along with our burger, adding to the more bar than cafe feel.

Food: Since we still had dinner to come, the Fiance and I shared one of Frankie’s speciality burgers, which was still a lot of food. We chose the burger that was their play on a Big Mac. The burger was double stacked and topped with cheese, lettuce, pickle and a special sauce. I thought the burger was good, the buns were soft and fresh and the sauce was reminiscent of Big Mac sauce. Where Frankie’s fell short was the patty. The beef was packed tight and the meat was lean. Each bite was kind of chewy and I prefer my patties less dense.

We loved the hand cut fries. These were cooked perfectly, crispy outside with lots of potato skin. Overall Frankie’s served up a decent burger, but there’s a lot of burger competition in Toronto these days and the bar has been raised.

A couple of week of weeks back, the Fiance and I made an impromptu stop at Five Guys for lunch. I had never been before and we were driving by. The location in Markham is located in one of the newer shopping plazas. In an attempt to stay healthy (hah), I ordered the Little Hamburger and we split one order of cajun fries.

The restaurant wasn’t overly busy with only a handful of tables filled. While we waited for our burgers, we enjoyed the complimentary peanuts. A large self-serve box was set by the pick-up counter with small cardboard shells. My little burger came with a single patty and a normal sized bun. I really liked the unlimited free toppings and chose my fair share. The sesame bun was soft and lightly toasted. As a whole, I thought the burger was only ok. All of the ingredients were fresh, the patty was cooked to well done but still juicy. It was a good burger but not amazing.

Their fries were great. Each fry was generously coated with seasoning and the bag is filled with them. The cook puts in a cup of fries per order, and then dumps in an extra cup. After awhile, The Fiance grew pretty tired of the cajun seasoning and started looking for more naked fries. I liked the salt, but it did overwhelm the natural potato flavour.

Overall, the burger I had at Five Guys was ok, but not really one I’d crave for.

1.0 Sansotei Ramen

Rating/Price: 5.0 $
Why? Great ramen, well priced, downtown location, lots of repeat visits
Must Order: Tonkotsu Ramen
Good For? Quick meals, small groups

 

2.0 Farmhouse Tavern

Rating/Price: 5.0 $$
Why? Complex menu, comfort food, savoury rich and delicious
Must Order: Mother and Child Reunion, Hangover Poutine
Good For? Brunch, relaxed meal, any sized group

 

3.0 Sukho Thai

Rating/Price: 5.0 $$
Why? Started my love for Chef Nuit's Thai cooking
Must Order: Pad Thai, Penang Curry
Good For? Big groups, casual dinner, pre-going out dinner, special celebration

 

4.0 The Burger's Priest

Rating/Price: 5.0 $
Why? Made me appreciate a good burger
Must Order: The Priest (always order The Option)
Good For? Burgers, quick lunch, grab and go

 

Honorable Mentions:

• The Whippoorwill Restaurant – 4.5 $
• Shanghai Dim Sum – 4.5 $$
• Fin Izakaya – 4.5 $$
• JaBistro 5.0 $$$$

Did I miss your favourite restaurant? Let me know in the comments.

Last Updated: 11/27/2014