After a wonderful dinner experience at Toca, I was very excited to be invited to the launch of their new Italian Saturday Brunch buffet. Even more so after seeing the menu, which included Canadian lobster tails, oysters, crab legs, cheeses from their cheese cave and smoked salmon. Also, bottomless mimosas and bellinis. Yes yes and so much yes.

Disclaimer: All food and drinks reviewed below were provided complimentary. All opinions expressed below are wholly mine.

Priced at $64 per adult Saturday brunch was served from 12pm-2pm at Toca, the main restaurant inside the Ritz-Carlton Toronto hotel. Buffet stations were set up in the centre of the dining area and around the entrance. There were tables of charcuterie, cheese and crackers, desserts, a salad bar, cooked breakfast fare (i.e. eggs benedict and ricotta pancakes) and pasta but the main attraction was definitely the East Coast Seafood Bar.

Sitting on a bed of crushed ice were freshly shucked east coast oysters, lobster tail halves, plump shrimp, crab legs and an assortment of accoutrements. Needless to say, Stephen knew where to find me for the rest of the morning. Oysters were the first to disappear and the kitchen had a hard time keeping them stocked. There was no short supply of lobster tails or crab legs, which were fresh, tender and flavourful.

Of the cooked offerings, my favourites were the pasta and ricotta pancakes. The eggs benedict had a perfect poached egg but the english muffin was a touch hardened, difficult to keep warm in a buffet situation. Both the charcuterie and cheese platters had nice opposing selections (a soft cheese, a hard cheese) and I finished my meal with a decadent creme brulee.

Overall, the Saturday Brunch buffet at Toca was an indulgent treat. The seafood bar was one of the best I’ve seen in the city in terms of quality and selection and there was a wide assortment of other stations to make the entire meal a worthwhile outing.

Our last meal in Italy was one of the highlights of the two week trip. Dinner at Alla Vecchia Bettola was the perfect mix of homey comfort, delicious food and unlimited house wine. Looking back, I wish I had cut a few days in Rome in favour of more time in Florence and Tuscany. We likely won’t be visiting Italy again soon but hopefully the next trip will include a reservation at Osteria Francescana.

Atmosphere: We headed to the restaurant as doors opened and had no issues being seated without a reservation. This was not the case for many well-reviewed restaurants in Rome, a happy difference. The restaurant was cozy with well worn wooden stools and marble table tops. I loved how warm the bustling space felt with a wall lined with wine bottles and brass sconces lighting each table. This was the kind of restaurant where dinner could easily stretch late into the night with good company and good food.

Service: While the menu was in Italian, it wasn’t too difficult to decipher with some Google Translating. Our server took our order in English and it was a just a short wait before our pasta dish arrived. The Florentine Steak was ready quickly after and we were left to enjoy our meal. I liked that the bread charge was clearly stated on the menu in large font.

Food: Dinner was good. Really really good. After placing our order Stephen and I started chatting with the older couple next to us. They told us how they came to Italy for their honeymoon years ago and loved the Penne alla Bettola (penne in vodka sauce) so much that they come back to Alla Vecchia Bettola almost annually for the dish. After just the first bite, I could see why. The pasta was an excellent texture and the sauce addictive. I liked how it was sweet and cheesy without being heavy and too creamy. Stephen and I both agreed we should have each ordered our own plate instead of one to share.

Then there was the steak, 40oz of beautifully cooked perfectly rare beef. We didn’t ask for a certain doneness while ordering and opted to embrace however the dish should be served. The steak was quite rare with a nice crust, lightly seasoned and extremely tender. We devoured the platter, but even for carnivores like us it was a feat. The bottle of house Chianti, which was unlimited, helped.

Overall, our meal at Alla Vecchia Bettola was superb, from the classic feel of the restaurant to the simply well cooked food. With a few missteps in Rome, I had been unsure if Italy was for me. The second part of our trip changed my mind with authentic flavours and stunning views.

Back in May one of my good friends visited from out of town and stayed in the Yonge/Lawrence area. Alivia was three months old and still happy to sleep through my lunch dates. I was excited to find out that Maker Pizza had opened their midtown location, which was a perfect strolling distance from my friend’s accommodations. The new pizza shop had dine-in seats and offered take-out, perfect in case I needed to make a speedy exit.

We visited during lunch time and the restaurant was busy. There were high school students, other moms, and a steady traffic of pizzas going out for delivery. This meant that while it was quick to place our order, the wait to receive our pizzas took some time. Tables were bar height and self serve. My friend and I were able to find seats facing each other and Alivia’s stroller fit next to us in between two tables. Now that Alivia eats with us, I would not bring her to eat-in at Maker with the high tables, backless bar stools and lack of high chairs. Toddlers and older children would have no issues.

For three people, we split two full size pizzas, the Tropic Thunder and Napoli Dynamite. Unfortunately I forgot to ask for their special sesame crust when ordering, next time! Both our pizzas had red sauce and an abundance of toppings. In hindsight, picking one pizza with fewer toppings (like Dr Pepperoni) would have been a safer choice.

Both pizzas had an amazing crust, crispy and thin but held up the sauce and toppings. I didn’t leave any behind. Between the two, both of my friends prefered the Napoli Dynamite with Italian sausage, olives, roasted red peppers and pickled jalapenos. Cheese, sauce and toppings were plentiful and the savoury sausage paired with salty olives was a delicious combination. The pickled jalapenos added a hint of spice and acidity.

Pineapple on pizza is a controversial topic, either loved or much hated. I for one have always been on the love side and a good Hawaiian pizza takes me to my happy place. Pineapple and all the pickled goodness (red onions and jalapenos) was how Tropic Thunder caught my eye. I somehow missed that there was no meat. I enjoyed the unique combination of toppings, which was sweeter that I expected but I did miss a savoury component. Next time, also read through the full list of ingredients.

Overall my first bite of Maker Pizza was pretty good. Splitting two large pizzas between three people was a good portion size for us. The bill was obviously more expensive than our usual pizza chain order, but worth the occasional splurge,

Another choice I made while planning our Italy trip was deciding between Cinque Terre and Amalfi Coast. Between the two coastlines, what ultimately swung my decision was reading about the hiking at Cinque Terre. In all of my research, the Amalfi Coast had a more relaxed and resort feel while Cinque Terre seemed more active and rustic. After weeks in big cities, both Stephen and I enjoyed our two day mountain stay with fresh air, ocean views and more hiking than I was prepared for.

Where we stayed

We chose to stay in Monterosso al Mare, the northernmost and largest village of the 5. Sticking to Airbnb, we booked a private cottage in the mountains that was surrounded by lemon trees and had a stunning view of the ocean. Our host picked us up at the train station and drove us back, which was wonderful because the steep trek would’ve been very difficult with our luggage and then the entrance would’ve impossible to find without help.

The cottage was a brisk 10 minute walk to old town and the start of the hiking trail to Vernazza. From there, it was a just a few more minutes to the water. I really enjoyed the tranquility and peacefulness of being in the mountains, especially once the sun set. From the patio, the lights of the other 4 fishing villages sparkled in the dark. If you’re travelling with a lot of luggage or are less mobile I would recommend staying in town, which is a lot more accessible. The 15 minute trek down the mountain turned into 30 (maybe 45?) minutes on the way back.

Where we ate

Our first night in Monterosso, we had dinner at a lovely restaurant in the heart of old town. We walked by many seafood restaurants while exploring the beach and settled on Da Eraldo Piazza Agostino Poggi, because it felt cozy and relaxed. Service was friendly and there were no language barriers. We started with a Caprese Salad that was simple and refreshing. I chose the Frutti di Mare Pappardelle for my main while Stephen opted for the Pesto Lasagna. Both dishes were really good. I enjoyed the fresh seafood in mine and while Stephen’s lasagna wasn’t photogenic, it was incredibly flavourful. For dessert we split a molten chocolate cake, fuel for the the hike home.

On our second afternoon in town, we stopped by the grocery store to pick up ingredients for breakfast. At this point in our trip we had been travelling for nearly two weeks and both Stephen and I were missing home cooked meals. Having access to a kitchen is one advantage of booking with Airbnb that I love.

Unfortunately after dinner our second night, I fell ill. I’m not sure if it was food poisoning, but all the symptoms lined up. This made our trek down the mountain from our Airbnb to the train station extra difficult. Stephen had to manage both our carry ons while I tried my best to stay alive. Our original plan had been to stop for a few hours at Pisa on our way to Florence. However, I was passed out in my seat for the first half of the train ride and nearing Pisa, I was still in no shape to move.

With Alivia quickly approaching her half year birthday, I feel like I have a bit more room to breath. With a more predictable routine and less time attached to me (literally), I’ve been slowly coming out of my motherhood hibernation in search of delicious meals. A few weeks ago, Stephen and I enjoyed the summer menu at Toca, an intimate Italian restaurant located inside The Ritz Carlton. The restaurant featured a menu created in collaboration with Michelin star Chef Oliver Glowig, hand painted plates and it’s own Cheese Cave.

Disclaimer: All food and drinks reviewed below were provided complimentary. All opinions expressed below are wholly mine.

Atmosphere: The main dining area of Toca was dimly lit with plush cushioned seats and cozy booths. At each place setting there was a stunning hand painted charger plate, featuring dishes from the restaurant’s menu, celebrities and even puppies. Each plate was custom created by The Crazy Plate Lady, one of my favourite Toronto artisans. While Toca felt elegant with a subtle grandeur, the restaurant was still very family friendly and accomodating. Several tables that night had children dining with them while others were occupied with couples and a few solo diners.

Service: I truly enjoyed the service that night. Our server was efficient and professional. Dishes were served together and cleared quickly. As we were invited to come by for dinner, the manager checked in on us during the evening. While chatting about Toca I mentioned my interest in their Cheese Cave and he offered to take us in for a quick tour before dessert. The tour was fun and informative. We learned about the varieties of cheeses that were housed there, their history and how they were aged. I’d highly recommend the experience if you’re dining at Toca or staying at the Ritz Carlton. We were then surprised with a cheese platter, which was above and beyond the level of service even compared to other restaurants we’ve visited for tastings. Also, wow what a seriously delicious platter. More on that next.

Food: Stephen and I ordered from Toca’s Summer menu, which was a 3 course set menu (same as their Summerlicious menu) available until the end of August. To start, we both chose the Foie Gras and Chicken Liver Mousse served with a raspberry and maple syrup marmalade. The mousse was creamy and rich, wonderfully complimented by the sweet and tart marmalade to create a decadent bite. Before the first course, an amuse bouche was served that was a similar mousse, which confused us a bit. However, more foie gras and chicken liver mousse only makes me happier.

For mains, I opted for the grilled Branzino while Stephen gas the seared Bistecca (strip loin steak). His steak was cooked a perfect medium rare, tender, juicy and with a great crust. I also enjoyed my seabass, which had a perfect crispy skin. Dessert was a slice of Ricotta Cheesecake for Stephen and Tiramisu for me. Both options were delicious and felt indulgent without being overly sweet. My tiramisu was creamy and a had a strong coffee flavour and dark chocolate pearls.

We finished our meal with a 3 cheese platter that was one of the best I’ve ever had. There was an excellent variety of textures (soft, semi, hard) and flavours (cow’s milk, sheep’s milk) that was thoughtfully put together. I absolutely loved the Testun Di Barolo that we had just learned about during our cheese cave tour. The sheep’s milk cheese from Italy was covered in grape-must from the making of Barolo wine and aged for 18 months. Each bite was like having wine and cheese at the same time, magical and so delicious.

Overall, dinner at Toca was a lovely break from diapers and nursery rhymes. The summer dinner menu is available for a few more days ($53 for 3 courses until the end of August), and a special set menu for TIFF will be available during the festival. I’d highly recommend trying out their cheese selection.

Stephen and I attempted to have dinner at Ai Tre Scalini our first night in Rome, but seeing a queue outside paired with our growling stomachs we ended up across the street at Le Tavernelle instead that night. Being prepared for a wait, we tried again for our last meal in the city. This time, I was happy to wait outside the popular wine bar with a glass of wine munching on toasted bread until a table was available.

Atmosphere: Ai Tre Scalini had two sections, a casual bar area that was self seating and a slightly more formal dining area with tables. We opted to wait for a table, which took about 40 minutes. Diners were able to order from the wine menu while waiting and served a bowl of complimentary croutons. There were lots of signs posted by neighbours that sitting on their front steps was not allowed. Once seated, I really liked how lively and cozy the restaurant was. The restaurant doors were open to the street letting in the night air.

Service: Our server was friendly and knowledgeable when recommending a drinks for us based on our order and preferences. We had no issues ordering in English and understanding the menu. Each plate arrived quickly and we were checked on throughout our meal.

Food: To start, we ordered small bites of smoked olives home cured sausage. Both bowls came with a couple of chopsticks and were delicious snacks to go enjoy with my wine and Stephen’s beer. For more substantial fare, we tried the Pesto Gnocchi, Lasagna and a side of grilled artichoke, really my weakness while in Italy. Both pasta dishes were amazing, the gnocchi were pillowy soft with a great chew while the lasagna was meaty and cheesy. There was a generous topping of parm on both plates. I do wish the portions were a tad bigger, but they were appropriate for a tapas style meal. The one benefit of smaller pasta plates was that I actually had room for dessert, and the slice of lemon pie was sweet, tart, and the perfect way to end our meal.

After dinner, Stephen and I took one more stroll to The Colosseum to take in the night view. Next stop, Venice.

While planning our schedule for Rome, Stephen and I wanted to include a cooking class after our great experience in Bali. After a bit of research, I booked spots for us with Cooking Classes in Rome located in Trastevere. The entire experience was a lot of fun, hands on and informative. We learned about ingredients and cooking techniques that Stephen uses in our kitchen fairly often! I also loved the very detailed instructions that Chef Andrea emailed out after the class.

The Basics

Class was about 5 hours, starting at 10am, from start of cooking to end of enjoying our cooked meal. When we took the class, it was €65.00 per person. The cost has increased now to €75.00. We prepared 4 courses including dessert and were able to make requests when confirming our booking. Chef Andrea did a great job accommodating everyone’s requests and having all the components still prepared during the class. Wine pairings were available during the meal for an additional charge.

Getting to class was easy from our AirBnB via public transit and we found the address with no issues. While we waited for everyone to arrive (our class had the max of 12 people), Chef Andrea offered us cups of fresh coffee to start the day.

The Chef

Chef Andrea was super personable, fun and a great host and instructor. He led the class, made jokes, gave thorough directions and taught us about the ingredients we used in addition to the cooking techniques. The day of our class was actually his wife’s due date for their second child. He mentioned it to apologize for checking his phone throughout the class. We all understood.

The Cooking

During our class, we made 4 dishes including fresh made pasta, dessert and pizza. Chef Andrea gave an introduction to each dish before we started cooking and divided up the tasks. Everyone had the chance to chop, stir and knead as much or as little as they wanted to. The class was 100% hands on but there was also no pressure to take on anything you weren’t comfortable with (ie. depp frying pizza dough). I loved using the chitarra pasta maker and wish we had room in our luggage to bring one home.

The 4 hours passed quickly and each course came together from prep to cook. Once each dish was at about 90% completion, Chef Andrea took over to finish up and plate each dish, while the guests settled down at the table ready to enjoy.

The Meal

Our meal that day started with a mini deep fried pizza appetizer, meatballs in a tomato sauce, spaghetti carbonara and tiramisu. I loved the tiramisu (and grabbed the biggest slice), which was the best slice I had in Italy. The pasta was creamy and flavouful, also one of the best pastas we had on our trip. With all the different cooks in the kitchen, the thickness of the spaghetti was inconsistent leading to some strands being more cooked than others, but overall still delicious.

After a morning in the kitchen, sitting down to eat was incredibly satisfying and every bite was truly delicious.

Trattoria Vecchia Roma was our first big miss in Rome. Despite thousands of 4 star reviews from multiple sources online and a queue outside before doors opened, I found our meal incredibly disappointing. There wasn’t any dish that I truly enjoyed and none redeemed the meal. Stephen and I walked out of the restaurant confused and wondering what went wrong.

Atmosphere: The restaurant was located in the basement of a building with traditional decor, wooden tables and some exposed stone details. There were lots of tables and large parties could be easily accommodated. The majority of diners were tourists and the menu was written in Italian and English.

Service: We had no issues with service, which was professional and quick. Drinks, including water, was 2-4 Euros per bottle, but clearly priced on the menu. There was also a bread charge, again clearly marked.

Food: Perhaps I just didn’t enjoy what we ordered, but out of 5 dishes, I didn’t enjoy any of them. They couldn’t have all been duds or translation misunderstandings. To start, we ordered an appetizer of fried vegetables, verdure fritte that was served on a plate with a piece of parchment. The assorted vegetables were all shapes and sizes, which turned out to be mostly mushrooms. All of the pieces were pretty oily without much flavour.

Looking at reviews online, pretty much all I saw were plates of Cacio e Pepe. Since we had that the night before, we wanted to try something new. The pasta dish we ended up choosing was the Spaghetti with Guanciale, Zucchini and Truffle. This was the best dish of the night but not even close to the best pasta of our trip. The spaghetti was a good texture, but I felt the plate was under seasoned again. Maybe we should’ve stuck to a classic. For our protein, Stephen and I decided to try the Lamb Skewers and signature Oxtail dish. Continuing the theme of the night, I felt both dishes were bland and the oxtail quite oily. Our last plate was an attempt at getting another serving of vegetables, grilled vegetables, which included eggplant, peppers and zucchini. A pretty underwhelming side and again, underseasoned. Maybe my taste buds weren’t working that night.

Overall, Trattoria Vecchia Roma was fine. The restaurant was cozy and the service excellent. I’m not sure the food warranted lining up for a table or any of the rave reviews.

Roscioli was a restaurant that Stephen and I stumbled on by chance. After an afternoon of exploring Rome, we were ready for dinner but also ready for home. So we ducked into a cafe to rest our feet and wi-fi access to look for a restaurant on the way back to our Airbnb. Roscioli was just a few blocks away and well rated, but reviews warned about how hard it might be to get a table. We decided to take a chance and luckily managed to get a table (right by the door).

Atmosphere: Roscioli was half deli half restaurant with one wall lined with wine bottles. The counter displayed gorgeous legs of ham at all different price points and shelves behind the counter was lined with a large variety of other meats. The restaurant was bustling and filled to capacity the entire night. We saw many people turned away at the door.

Service: Our server was very friendly and especially helpful with suggesting a bottle of wine to pair with what we had ordered. We didn’t have any issues with a language barrier and she answered all of our questions about the menu. When we ordered the artichoke, she made sure that we knew how to eat the dish dish and walked us through how much to peel off. I appreciated that the price for a basket of bread was clearly listed on their menu.

Food: Since Stephen and I spent the entire afternoon snacking, we weren’t super hungry. To start though, we opted to try an order each of Italian and Spanish ham. I liked the Spanish ham we choose more, as it was slightly more fatty, but both were flavorful and delicious. With a glass of wine, the plate of ham with fresh toasted bread was the perfect meal.

For mains, we ordered grilled Lamb Chops and a bowl of Cacio e Pepe. The lamb chops were so tender and just fell off the bone. I loved how cheesy the pasta was, which was cooked perfectly al dente. To round out our dinner, we had a side of artichoke hearts in olive oil as our vegetable. I would’ve loved to also try Roscioli’s carbonara and some more salumi, but we were stuffed with our few dishes (and a second bread basket).

After a morning of exploring The Colosseum, Stephen and I were ready for lunch. I’m usually weary of eating near tourist attractions as the restaurants tend to be overpriced and mediocre in quality but my stomach growls were growing louder. We walked by Angelino ai Fori, located right across the street from The Forum and stopped to glance at their menu. The dishes were priced fairly and the large outdoor patio convinced us to give Angelino ai Fori a shot.

Atmosphere: Stephen and I settled in at a table on the covered patio, which spanned the entire street corner. White tables cloths covered the tables and the cover was a combination of umbrellas and foliage. The majority of diners were seated outside enjoying the warm weather and summer breeze. They were also mainly tourists.

Service: Menus were available in English and we had no issues ordering. The servers didn’t check in on us but were attentive when we needed anything. Our dishes arrived at a good pace and I felt like we could linger for us long as we wanted.

Food: To start, we ordered a classic tomato bruschetta with olive oil and garlic. The toasted bread was crunchy, the tomato sweet and ripe, and the olive oil fragrant. For mains, we opted to share a Smoked Salmon Salad and Spaghetti Carbonara. At this point we were a week into our vacation and I was sorely missing vegetables in my diet. The big bowl of fresh greens were lightly dressed with a good variety of textures and flavours. There were pine nuts, raisins, sesame seeds and fennel.

Our plate of pasta was creamy with a generous amount of bacon and parmesan cheese. The pasta itself was cooked al dente with a great chew. Stephen and I were both actually surprised with how much we liked the pasta. Lunch ended with a serving of Tiramisu that was creamy, full of coffee flavour and topped with cocoa powder. I enjoyed every bite and the sweet treat was just what I needed to fuel for the afternoon (plus another gelato stop of course).

Overall, lunch at Angelino was a pleasant surprise. Nothing was extraordinary but definitely exceeded our expectations. For a quick bite near The Colosseum and Forum, it was a pretty good meal.