The Week in Yum - Lesliveville Farmer's Market, Udon Kitanoya and Mimi


Leslieville Farmer's Market


Last Sunday was not only Mother's Day, which I can take or leave to be quite honest, but it was the opening day of my favourite farmer's market, the Leslieville Market. It was a cold, blustery day, marred with rain and wind but I was determined to visit and pick up a few things for dinner.

There were quite a few diehard shoppers, happily chatting with vendors who looked cold but enthusiastic and I managed to grab some new plants for my garden to go with the tasty Cider, bread and greens that I threw in my bag before the weather got the best of me. I was too cold to have my customary fish taco from Hooked and those oysters will be mine  another time but this Sunday but I wimped out. Alas, I have become a fair weather shopper.

even terrible weather couldn't put a total damper on the first day of the Leslieville Farmer's Market

Mimi's

Mimi is one of my favourite places for Vietnamese in the city

Because it was also Mother's Day I took advantage of that and we all went to Mimi's for pho and the best spring rolls in the city. Shack is slowly coming around to Vietnamese, but it's been a long, hard battle to get him to love this cuisine as much as The Kid and I do so when I can use something like Mother's Day as an excuse to make him eat there, I do. He really loved the spicy beef soup that he ordered and admitted that their BBQ pork is basically heaven on a plate so I think that I see more Mimi's in our future. I eat here all the time, by the way, just not with Shack.



The weather is kind of warming up and that means more of The Wren in my life, thank's God.
If The Wren was just a smidge closer, we would probably eat here at least once a week but it's a $7ish Uber ride both ways and most nights we are all just too tired to do anything more than drag our asses down to the pub around the corner. Now that Spring is threatening to arrive, we will soon be able to either bike there or Uber there and then walk home. Oh Happy Day.

Udon Kitayona


sukiyaki beef on cold udon in dashi with a soft poached egg (onsen tomago) was our favourite
I love ramen as much as the next Torontonian but I have to admit that I might be having a touch of ramen fatigue. Imagine my excitement when I was invited to come try out a new noodle house that is slinging Kansai style Japanese Udon. MMMM, thick, chewy, noodles, sometimes served cold, sometimes served hot, usually with a delicate dashi broth although there is a promise of Japanese Curry, Butter Garlic Clam, Crab Chili Tomato. Unfortunately, none of those were on offer on the day I popped in with The Kid but we were not disappointed with the two dishes we did try.

I was not expecting the noodles to be served cold with my #1 Kitanoya Gyu Suki Udon even though it clearly states that the noodles are served chilled but it was delightful. Warm, slightly sweet beef, crispy tempura bits, scallions and my beloved onsen tomago (sous vide poached egg with a rich, creamy yolk  ) sit on a bed of those chilled noodles with just a nap of dashi soy broth.


The Kariage Ebi Tempura Udon (#5) was also delicious - more of a soup with udon and lots of crisp tempura and more broth than the #1 which had a higher noodle to broth ratio. They are offering any of the noodle dishes with tea for $12. I look forward to going back to try some different dishes, especially the Japanese Curry and the Garlic Clam and I do predict that the #1 will become Shack's new obsession.


The Grand opening in this Saturday, May 18 and to celebrate, they are giving out 200 bowls of free udon between noon and 2pm.

Udon Kitanoya
513 Bloor West
Monday to Sunday 12pm to 10pm
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