A couple of weeks ago, a few selected foodies, and I were invited to visit Country Apple Orchard in King City to join SUBWAY Canada for a 3-course lunch. We were joined by Subway Canada's Executive Chef, Chris Martone, and other executives from the company. 

100% Canadian Turkey Kofta - with cranberry mustard sauce

1st Course: Goat Cheese and Candied Pecan Salad - cranberry mustard dressing

 

 2nd Course: SUBWAY Craved Turkey - spinach & tomato

As of October 11, 2016, the new Carved Turkey sandwich is available nationwide at participating locations as part of the new limited-time fall menu. The Carved Turkey sandwich is made with thick-cut slices of 100 per cent Canadian turkey (from Turkey Farmers of Canada) and topped with cranberry mustard sauce. It should be noted that SUBWAY Canada® restaurants is sourcing the turkey exclusively from Canadian farmers, and the products are free of artificial colours, flavours and preservatives.

We were also given the opportunity to go apple picking on the Country Apple Orchard for 30 minutes after our meal. It was my first time picking apples, and it was pretty fun!

Location (address) is 3105 16th Sideroad, King City, ON L7B 1A3, Canada

 

Thank you SUBWAY Canada & Veritas for having and hosting us.

There has been an influx of west coast imports as of late to Toronto, and another added to the list is Ebisu on Queen (Toronto). They have been open for a couple of weeks, and are still in the mist of their soft launch stage. Ebisu Japanese Restaurant originated from Vancouver, as its first location opened in December of 2006. There are two locations in Vancouver and one in Richmond, along with two restaurants under the Kamei names. The brand itself is very well-known in Vancouver, and they hope to expand it in Toronto with this new outpost.

So, what is Ebisu? Ebisu translates as "Yebisu" - meaning the fisherman's god of fortune and good luck. Ebisu is the only one out of the Seven Gods of Fortune to originate from Japan.


I was invited about a week ago to attend a media tasting to try a few of their signature dishes (some from their Vancouver menu). Prior to their grand opening, I was here to give Muse Salon (upstairs of Ebisu) a try, where I had an enjoyable hair salon experience. Ebisu on Queen (Toronto) took over the former Sushi Queen space located at 204 Queen St. West, and had a complete renovation of the space. The newly opened Ebisu on Queen embraces the concept of izakayas with its paneled wood, and minimal decor giving it a contemporary tranquil feel.

The contemporary space is perfect for lunch or dinner with friends, but is also fitting for any occasions including watching sport games, birthday parties, large parties, and even romantic dates. Similarly to their popular Vancouver outposts, they offer an extensive menu of tapas dishes and drinks set in a lively sushi bar lounge. The extensive menu offers traditional Japanese fare with a mix of international flavours along with a huge selection of drinks.




The evening started off splendidly with an array of drinks from the Ebisu Drink Menu. We opted for the Maccha (Green Tea) Cocktail ($8.95), which was surprisingly light and refreshing.





The menu at Ebisu on Queen (Toronto) centered on contemporary and fusion Japanese food. In regards to fusion dishes, there were several dishes that were made of a combination of different culinary elements. An example of such dish was the Cajun Tuna Tacos ($7.50) - seared fresh tuna & shredded mixed salad dressed with our tantalizing house ginger sauce, which consisted of lightly seared tuna mixed with tomato, fresh avocados, and dressed with a house sauce. One of the issues that I found was the consistency, as one of the tacos was not evenly coated while the other was drenched. 



In addition to signature rolls, Ebisu offers three different kinds of seared box sushi (battera sushi) on the menu. Battera sushi was made by pressing sushi rice and fillet of a fish into a mould to create a rectangular shape, and then lightly seared with a blowtorch. Additionally, the battera sushi are topped off with different toppings to give each one a distinctive taste. It should be noted that the searing is done at the table by the server, so you can watch it being done.



Saba (Mackerel) Miso Battera Sushi ($11.50)





Salmon Motoyaki Battera Sushi ($12.50)


Out of the three options, my favorite was the Hamachi (Yellowtail) Jalepeno Battera Sushi ($13.50).



The Chowder Pot Pie ($8.95) was a dish filled with comforting flavors, and perfect for the cold winter. Flaky puff pastry tops a rich mixture of vegetables and clams.


In recent years, I have come to love Takoyaki ($6.95) - deep fried octopus balls topped with bonito flakes and house sauce. Whenever I am out at a Japanese restaurant, I would always order a side of octopus balls (just for myself). The ones from Ebisu on Queen (Toronto) were cooked perfectly that I ate 10 takoyaki without realizing it! They were nice and doughy on the inside with a good portion of octopus pieces, and generously topped with mayo and bonito flakes.


For those who love sake, the well-priced, Izumi Toronto Sake Sampler ($9) may be an option. Several izakayas don't have samplers available (prefer diners to buy full bottles), so the management at Ebisu decided to offer this option on their drink menu. This allows diners to sample a flight of three different Izumi branded sake; Sake Sangria, Nama Nama, and Teion Sakura for a set price.



The Oyster Motoyaki ($9.50) - fresh beach oysters, spinach, white mushrooms baked in a Japanese Motoyaki sauce, was pretty huge, and contained a good chunk of oysters baked into a half shell. It was pretty good - creamy and flavorful.


I have always enjoyed DIY aspects of some dishes, and the BBQ Beef Short Ribs ($10.95) - slices of thick & juicy Angus beef short ribs marinated in Korean influenced homemade BBQ sauce served with a mini BBQ grill on the side, was no different. It came out on a portable tiny grill, and diners have the option to grill them to their liking. The BBQ ribs were tender and well-marinated in a sweet soy sauce.


Real Crab Vancouver Roll (4 pcs is $6.50 and 8 pcs is $11.50) - crab & avocado wrapped in BC smoked sockeye salmon, is one of their signature rolls that is very popular in Vancouver.


Spicy Sashimi ($8.95)


Pork Cutlet Curry ($12.95) - with organic green salad


If you want to try the ramen, then I would suggest dropping by for the lunch deals as they have a good selection of lunch sets. The lunch sets come with ramen, mini don, and a dish of today's appetizer for typically the same price as a ramen priced around dinner time.

Miso Ramen ($13.95)


Ramune (Japanese Soda) High Ball ($8.95)

Nordstrom Eaton Centre held an impressive gala prior to their grand opening on September 14, 2016. The 213,000 square feet flagship store is Nordstrom‘s first Toronto store, and they celebrated it with 2,000 guests. The gala opening epitomizes what Nordstrom is all about - great customer service and consistency of the brand. Hence why they partnered with Daniel et Daniel to be the official caterer of the Nordstrom Opening Gala, as both companies share the same ideals and business ethics. 

The team at Foodaholic! were graciously invited by Daniel et Daniel to attend the event earlier this month. We were given a behind-the-scenes tour from the event planning team of the kitchen area. This opportunity included a chance to chat with the people behind Daniel et Daniel, including their Executive Chef about the company, and menu development for the evening. 

Mini Pizzas

Daniel et Daniel started planning for the Nordstrom Eaton Centre Opening Gala back in February 2016, as they were tasked to create a customized menu for 2,000 guests. The menu development team has always taken a collaborative approach to catering, so they worked closely with Nordstrom to create a unique and innovative menu. A lot of strategic planning was done ahead of time into curating this large-scale event. Management went through great lengths to make sure that their brand standards were met. They did so by attending other launch parties that Nordstrom held prior to the Eaton’s Centre official gala to get an idea of what to offer guests.

Steak Frites Choc-Orange Truffles 

Mango Carrot Thai Spring Roll - mint, coriander, rice noodle, hoisin dip

Daniel et Daniel was founded over 35 years ago when the owners (Daniel Clairet and Daniel Megly) discovered an opportunity within the catering industry. Unlike today, there was a lack of options available for corporations, and private parties to select from back then. Since their humbled beginnings, they have grown to provide top of the line catering throughout the city, and became one of Toronto’s premier caterers today. 

It’s clear that decades later, Daniel et Daniel have established themselves as one of the leaders in the catering industry with their ever-expanding list of high-profile clients. The company's secret to success is the level of consistency with their food, staff, and branding.

Not only has the catering scene become more saturated, but Toronto has become one of those cities that has defined food to be an art form that demands constant innovation. Daniel et Daniel does not slack from this, as their top chefs are routinely sent to restaurants to seek culinary art that can be brought back into the world of catering. Future prospective clients are presented with a palatable delight of Daniel et Daniel’s ever changing selection. With 100% of the proceeds being donated to six charities, there was a lot at stake to ensure Nordstrom looked the best they possibly could.

Loaded Mini Hasselback Potato (Gluten Free) - bacon, white cheddar, sour cream, chives

Tomato Gazpacho - basil, cucumber, radish, bell pepper, chili pepper, basil sprouts 

Spiced Watermelon & Feta Salad (Gluten Free) - chili lime-spiced watermelon, feta salad, blackberry gelee, mint, basil & lime dressing

Classic Deviled Egg Double - smoked bacon

Brie & Strawberry Tapas

Chinese Chicken Salad Wrap - carrot, cabbage, sesame, coriander, Manderin orange, sweet & spicy vinaigrette 

Melon Prociutto Tapas 

Nordstrom-Branded Sangria

Without a doubt, Daniel et Daniel leverages their competitors by having the edge to bake in-house. This gives them better control over the preparation time, and quality of their baked goods. For the duration of the evening; drinks, foods, and dessert were readily available on all three floors of the party. Nordstrom made it clear that they did not want line ups, and food had to be available with quick service at all times. From what was witnessed at the event, I would say that Daniel et Daniel went above and beyond with Nordstrom's requests. 

Mini Popsicles - Blood Orange Panna Cotta 

Chocolate Coconut Orange Truffles with Candied Orange Peel

Mini Strawberry Eclairs Fresh - strawberries, choux pastry, whipped cream, strawberry glaze

Blueberry Cheesecake

Mini Key Lime Pie

Thank you to Daniel et Daniel for the fantastic evening, and allowing us to see the collaboration of two great companies who set their mission to focus on the customer’s needs first. The Opening Gala was definitely not short on the diverse selection of plated dishes and desserts. The meticulous planning and attention to details from Daniel et Daniel was well executed. They definitely delivered on creating a menu of exceptional cuisine that was well fitted for the strong Nordstrom brand. 

 Daniel et Daniel will also be catering the upcoming Nordstrom Yorkdale Opening Gala on October 19th from 7 pm to 10 pm. Tickets for the gala can be purchased here. 

Join Daniel et Daniel at the upcoming Toronto Catering Showcase 2016 on Sunday, October 16, 2016, as they will be one of several caterers there as well.

Note: Upon writing this blog entry, Nordstrom has launched in the Eaton Centre as of Sept 16th, and will launch in Yorkdale on Oct 19, 2016.

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Disclaimer: The event provided in this post was complimentary. However, all of the opinions expressed in this review are of my own.