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.

Being on vacation for all of June meant I could only squeeze in one Summerlicious meal this year. After looking through all the menus, Bestellen’s spoke to me the loudest. Charcuterie appetizer and steak entree, it was really an easy choice.

Atmosphere: Compared to the storefront, Bestellen had a surprisingly large dining area that was narrow and long. As we were shown to our table, we walked by the steak aging room that showed off beautiful hunks of meat, my kind of eye candy. The lighting was dim, while not ideal for photos, it was romantic and intimate. Decor was a masculine with dark walls, exposed pipes, natural wood planks and a giant mural of meat.

Service: Our server was friendly and accommodating. He checked up on us frequently, asked about beer refills and was generously a great experience. Our food arrived without any delays and I felt looked after.

Food: The Hubby and I usually try to order different menu items so we can share and try more dishes. At Bestellen, we maintained this strategy for the appetizer and dessert, but we both wanted the steak. I started with the Grilled Squid appetizer while he had the Charcuterie.

The squid was cooked to just done, making it very tender and easy to chew. It was lightly seasoned and really carried the flavour of the Romesco sauce and fennel. The charred scallions added an edge of umami to the dish, a light refresh start. Considering this was a set menu for $35, I was impressed with the size of the charcuterie plate, there was 2-3 slices of each meat, plenty to share. While not a full offering, I found the plate to be a good sample of what Bestellen’s full menu has to offer.

All three of us ended up ordering the Dry Aged Striploin entree with crispy fingerling potatoes, salsa verde and charred rapini. Again the portion was generous for the price and the aged steak cooked to a perfect medium. The meat was an excellent cut, tender and juicy. Of all the summerlicious meals I’ve had, this was hands down the best beef dish. In fact, even compared to a popular steakhouse I visited later that month, Bestellen had them beat.

For dessert we split the Chocolate Budino and Lemon and Pistachio cake. The square of cake was served hot warm with candied lemon strings and sherry cream, a rich but not overly sweet plate. The budino on the other hand was thick, chocolatey, topped with fresh whipped cream and decadent. Any chocolate lover would have been satisfied.

For me, Summerlicious has always been an opportunity to try new restaurants or re-visit establishments that has delivered in the past. Some restaurants can be overwhelmed by the volume of diners and there’s a notable drop in service or food. Bestellen was excellent, which makes me eager to visit again and taste their full menu.

When The Fiance and I graduated from university, a group of mutual friends planned to celebrated with dinner at Harbour Sixty. Then we looked at the menu and realized that as new grads, the steak was a little out of our budget. Now, being employed, one of the best perks is being able to splurge on a meal. Since steak is one The Fiance’s favourite foods, I made reservations at Harbour Sixty for his birthday this year.

Atmosphere: Harbour Sixty’s decor was classy and traditional. There was a lot of big armchairs, heavy tables, wall sconces, brocade and leather. It’s the kind of restaurant that makes me worry I’ve used the wrong fork. Luckily, their friendly service offsets the intimidation. Our dinner was before a leafs game so diners were more relaxed and there were as many people in Leaf’s Jerseys as suits. Many of the diners were regulars and greeted with familiarity. Overall, Harbour Sixty felt fancy, but comfortable. One day, I’ll be a regular, one day.

Service: First off, valet parking was default. That night, we were driving my 10 year old Honda Civic that has a few dents, a perpetual engine light and likes to hum when the headlights are off. Needless to say, next to the Benzs, Lamborghinis and Jaguars, I felt a little out of place. However, service was impeccable and the valet attendants were efficient and professional.

Once seated, our server was friendly and checked in on us throughout the meal. I had a hard time choosing a wine and our server offered lots of suggestions and picked one to my preferences. When our sides and steaks arrived, the mashed potatoes were served onto the plate for us. At the end of our meal, the busboys were efficient, quickly cleared dishes and packed away our food in a heavy paper shopping bag.

Food: As usual, we ordered too much food. This time though, I learned and took half my steak home rather than stuff myself. The meal started with bread, a whipped herb butter and three side dishes. There were olives, pickled peppers with feta and a parmesan couscous. Of the three, I liked the couscous best followed by the olives, the peppers were too sour for me.

For our sides, we chose the lobster mashed potatoes and truffle oil fries. The thin fries were good, garnished with a sprig of fresh rosemary, two slices of parmesan cheese and a light touch of truffle oil. My heart was won over by the mashed potatoes. That little tin of heaven was buttery, creamy with lots of lobster and topped with baked brie. Who needs roasted vegetables? If you’re ordering a side, get the mashed potatoes.

The Fiance ordered the bone in rib steak while I stuck with the traditional ribeye. We both chose medium and between the two steaks, mine was the fattier cut. I really enjoyed the spice rub, which we’re guessing contained paprika and the fat was rendered beautifully. The steak of juicy, well spiced and expertly prepared.

While The Fiance does make a great steak at home, I do still enjoy eating out at steakhouses for special occasions. Harbour Sixty was an intimate restaurant with excellent service whose spice rub inspired our next home-cooked steak. I would stick to ribeye and one steak with two sides would be plenty to feed two people.

My first summerlicious stop this year was dinner at Ganzi Osteria. I had heard great reviews on twitterverse about the restaurant and liked the options of their set menu. I do temper my expectations during summerlicious to account for a set menu, rushed service and sometimes pre-prepared plates, but I still believe the meal to be reflective of how the restaurant operates normally.

Atmosphere: Ganzi Osteria is situated inside a beautiful, red brick, mansion with a spacious paved patio surrounded by hedges. There is more space on the patio than inside the house itself. It was a warm day so we started out on the patio but had to move inside when it started to rain. The interior of the mansion was well preserved, doors had been removed to create a more open concept and marble tables were spread out. Dark woodwork and elaborate chandeliers mixed with bright contemporary artwork in each room.

Service: For the most part service was professional and efficient. When the skies began to darken outside, our server asked if we’d like to move inside. When we agreed, he went off to find us a table but we didn’t see him again before it started to rain. This left us scrambling to move our plates, wine and cutlery inside ourselves. It was a bit of a mad dash to not have a sopping wet steak. Had there been umbrellas outside or any kind of cover, I would’ve happily waited out the droplets, but as is, my dinner was getting wet. We were quickly settled at a table inside and once our server found us again, service returned to normal. The space is versatile and would be lovely for a private event, large group or romantic dinner.

Food: In general, while I liked all of my dishes, nothing stood out or wowed. For appetizers, I ordered the Grilled Scallops while my friend had the Leek and Potato soup. We were both expecting a creamy soup rather than broth based. The flavours were savoury and rich but I wasn’t sure if I liked the chunks of goat cheese, which overpowered the rest of the dish. My scallops were good, buttery and served with a splash of balsamic reduction.

I was trying to avoid carbs that day (needed to fit into a dress that weekend) so I went with the Steak Tagliata, cooked medium rare, for my main. The steak itself was cooked to my order and the portion size was very generous. I wasn’t a huge fan of the gravy and could’ve done without it. The roasted local vegetables were delicious, fresh and naturally sweet. My friend had the Tilapia Marinara and was also content with her dish. Both of us chose the tiramisu for dessert. The cake was just the right amount of coffee, chocolate and cream, topped with a fresh raspberry.

For the $25 price tag, dinner at Ganzi was a great deal. Looking at tables around us, if I hadn’t been avoiding carbs I would’ve ordered the pizza or penne dishes, both of which looked amazing. Clearly, I need to re-visit Ganzi when I can enjoy a big bowl of pasta.

s

All my vacations are planned around food foremost. I love researching restaurants, local eats and street food. Every trip, I like to include at least one splurge dinner. Lahaina Grill met all of my research criteria of being local, exclusive to Maui and had amazing reviews.

Atmosphere: The first thing I noticed walking into the restaurant were all the beautiful paintings. Every wall featured stunning pieces with bright colours and created an elegant backdrop for dinner. White linen tablecloths dressed each table and the room was lit with warm pendant lights. The dining space felt like a private dining room, intimate, comfortable and refined. Amongst the diners, dress code varied across the spectrum from suit jackets to t-shirts. I only wish the tables were more spaced out.

Service: Service at Lahaina Grill was superb, professional and efficient. Bread crumbs were swept away before appetizers were served, servingware was refreshed with each course and our server checked in on us throughout the meal. My water glass was never empty and we felt well taken care of.

Food: To start, the bread and butter was divine. The dinner rolls were pre-cut, warm and were a perfect canvas for the soft garlic chive butter. For appetizers, we split an order of The Cake Walk, a trio of fried seafood cakes, and a Bowl of Maui Onion Soup. I loved the presentation for The Cake Walk and they all tasted amazing. There was a shrimp cake with hoisin, a medallion of seared ahi tuna served on rice and a lobster, crab and scallop cake. I would be hard pressed to pick a favourite of the three. The bowl of Maui Onion soup was piping hot, gooey and had a beautiful toasted topping. Onions grown on the island were used and the flavour was so rich.

For our entrees, both The Fiance and I were swept away with the daily specials. I had the seafood special of panko crusted fresh Opakapaka while The Fiance had the land special of bone in, centre cut ribeye steak. The filet was cooked perfectly, flakey with just a light crust. The risotto was creamy and buttery. I had a great time with my dish and the portion was filling. It was hard not to compare this ribeye with the one The Fiance ordered at Jacobs & Co. Although there was a significant price difference between the two steaks, Lahaina Grill’s held its own. The outside of the ribeye was a bit on the charred side but the inside was a perfect pink.

Overall Lahaina Grill would be a great choice for a nice sit down meal; be it a special occasion, date night or a reason to switch up flip flops for heels while on vacation (although it doesn’t seem to be a requirement).

For Valentine’s Day this year the BF and I decided to forgo gifts and instead splurge on a meal. He still got me macarons and I found him ravioli pans, but we kept ourselves in check. This was good because dinner at Jacobs & Co Steakhouse more than fit the definition of a splurge meal, or two. Located on Brant St, Jacobs & Co serves up various cuts of steak from all over the world ranging from farms across North America to authentic Japanese Wagyu. There are reasonably priced options, we chose to go for broke.

Atmosphere: While dinner wasn’t a black tie event the dress code in the restaurant did include a jacket and dress for most diners. We were seated in a secluded room with tables only for two so the noise level was hushed and the lighting dim, perfect for an intimate dinner. The outside dining area was more lively with larger groups and more open space. I appreciate that Jacobs offers both settings to chose from. The decor was elegant, featuring contemporary lines with traditional textures like rich leathers and dark woods. Dinner at Jacobs is a perfect excuse to get dressed up and try out a new dress or pair of shoes.

Service: Complimentary coat check is offered before the friendly hostess guides you to your table. Our server was friendly and stuck up a conversation with the BF with regards to his camera. After a small bit of dialogue he apologized for interrupting our dinner, which was sweet and unnecessary. The wine book at Jacobs was a little overwhelming for us so we asked our server to recommend something based on our price range and taste preferences. He took it away and returned with a bottle of Malbec from Argentina that the BF and I both liked. I felt well taken care of the entire dinner, without the servers feeling overbearing and loved the table side preparation of the caesar salad (I never knew so many ingredients went into the dressing).

Food: I need to preface this with the disclaimer that our eyes were far larger than our stomachs and my dress was uncomfortably tight as we left. It was a great meal, the best steaks I’ve had in Toronto but I’m still on the fence about whether or not the price tag was justified. I do believe it’s worth the cost by the excellent service and whole dining experience, but based on the food alone, I’m unsure.

Once we had placed our order with the helpful guidance of our knowledgeable server, he dropped off two popovers with a garlic chive butter. The bread was perfectly hollow and had buttery, flakey layers. I had to keep reminding myself about the ounces of steak to come so as not to fill up on carbs, a difficult task.

For sides we ordered the Jacobs Caesar Salad and the daily special of hash browns fried in duck fat topped with a soft boiled egg. It was fun to watch the preparation and care that went into the dish on top of it tasting great. I liked that the dressing was tangy and not too creamy. We ordered one portion size and it was a good amount split for two people. Before the hot dishes arrived, our server delivered a plate of salts and sauces to accompany the steak. Of these, my favourite was the chimichurri. We didn’t get through much of the hash browns, they were good. I would’ve liked the egg to be a bit more runny.

The BF had his heart set on the 36 oz bone-in ribeye, 26 oz without the bone, also named the “Swinging Steak” on the menu. So I ordered something smaller, the 10 oz Californian Cut Striploin from Snake River Farms Wagyu. Between the two US Wagyu farms we were told the Snake River had a gamier taste, while the Oakleigh was more buttery. Since the BF was getting a super marbled, fatty ribeye, I chose the Snake River in contrast. His ribeye was ordered medium and my striploin was medium rare. Both steaks came out at the right shade of pink and I added 2 oz of foie gras to mine. As I’ve mentioned before, this was the best steak I’ve had in Toronto. The steaks were well cooked with a beautiful caramelized crust and tender, flavourful middle. My personal preference leans towards fattier steaks so I liked the ribeye more but both were mouth watering. The BF likened the meal to steakhouse he had visited in Houston.

I was enticed by other tables and ordered the 12 layer chocolate cake for dessert. We didn’t need it and it was a dense cake. Beautiful presentation but I was hoping for a more airy texture. There was a mix up in the kitchen and the hash browns we had asked to be packed up were sent home with another table. Our server was so apologetic and he offered to have the dish re-made for us. He also sent us home with extra complimentary muffins.

Overall, Jacobs delivered an excellent experience with welcoming service in a polished environment and great food. It wasn’t the best meal I’ve ever had, in the top 10, but it was the one with the highest price tag.

One of my best friends moved to Houston in 2012 for work. There was only one thing a good friend could do, make sure to visit and gain at least 5lbs.

These were my top 5 eats from this trip:

1. Seafood Gumbo @ Goode Company Seafood: 10211 Katy Freeway
   • With all the options, we ate here twice in 5 days
   • Rich, warming, full of crab, shrimp and oyster!
2. Chicken and Waffles @ The Breakfast Klub: 3711 Travis St
   • Best fried chicken I’ve ever had with a crispy waffle
   • There will be a line, it’s worth the wait
3. Armadillo Eggs @ T-Bone Toms: 707 Texas 146, Kemah Texas
   • Featured on Diners, Drive-in’s and Dives; pickled jalapeno stuffed with BBQ brisket and deep fried, served with ranch dressing
4. Steak Night @ Under the Volcano: 2349 Bissonnet St
   • Can’t visit Texas without steak, many places have steak nights thoughout the week that are great deals
   • Monday night, $17 for 16 oz ribeye, salad, mashed potatoes and flan for dessert, from 6pm-9pm
5. BBQ @ Goode Company BBQ: 8911 Katy Freeway
   • The jalapeno cheese bread, buttery slices of amazing
   • There’s brisket, ham, sausage, ribs, turkey, chicken, order by the pound, make your own plate or get a combo