The Week in Yum - Xola, Master Chef 14 TPS and Finger Savers

Lamb Barbacoa from Xola

Xola

The Kid and I wanted to go out for dinner and we really wanted to eat somewhere kind of new. Xola, in the Beaches, is not new but we haven't eaten there in well over a year, it was a nice night and so we set out for a nice walk down to Queen St East for some tasty Mexican.

This is not cheap, down and dirty tacos so don't go expecting that but the food in this tiny little, family run spot is great. I had Lamb Barbacoa - Ontario lamb braised in a rich, dark sauce of beer, lots of spices, and a trio of Mexican chiles. It comes with refried beans and a basket of warm corn tortillas.

The Kid had Duck Confit Tacos which were good but left him still hungry and for the price (both entrees are approx $21), we agreed that the lamb is tastier and a better value.

Haddock ceviche with a tomatillo/ash marinade was a fresh, delicious bowl of summer.
Because we also ordered a mescal, our bill was higher than expected so it puts it in the "a bit too expensive for my regular, weekly haunt but delicious enough to try to go more often" category. Flanked by the original Ed's Real Scoop and Kyoka Ramen, this is the best eating block in the Beaches, by far.

Master Chef 14 TPS

watching these young ladies wipe the plate while plating for judging warmed the cockles of my cold, dark heart

There is an awesome local project called Cops and Kids Cooking, run by officers from 14 Division, here in Toronto. Hosted by the Gucci Loblaws on Carlton and funded by Cops and Kids , a group that believes in trying to establish stronger relationships between the Police and at risk kids by funding programs like this that bring the two groups together. They are hoping that building an environment of mutual respect and trust, they are building stronger communities and brighter futures.

Last week I was invited to participate as a judge for a Chopped style cook off where four groups of kids from four different schools had to come up with a pasta creation, without using a recipe, using ingredients provided by the store. Each group is paired with a police officer who acts as a mentor and guide but the actual dishes are left to the kids. I was impressed and inspired, all four dishes were tasty, packed full of vegetables and herbs with lots of personal flourishes and NONE of the actual pasta was over or undercooked, which we all know is hard enough for the most adults in the kitchen. I hope I am invited back to work with this group again in the future.

You can follow the fun via Twitter: @TPS14Div

Honourable Mentions

spicy beef soup from Kimchi Korea House

Honourable mentions go to Pinkertons Snack Bar, on Gerrard St East and to Kimchi Korea House on Dundas Street, just west of the Eaton Centre. It has taken me a couple years to make it to Pinkertons but it was worth the wait. The crazy, loud music is the only thing I didn't love because the food was great, the cocktails were lovely, they have a great beer list and our waiter was ADORKABLE. They serve small plates so it's not the place to go when you are looking for a big meal but it's perfect for late night Asian inspired snacks. Our two favourite dishes were the Tuna Tostadas and Korean Meatballs that came with butter lettuce and condiments for making wraps. It was way too dark to get any decent photos so you have to just take my word for it. 

Kimchi Korea House has a fabulous Hot Stone Bi Bim Bap and a nice Soju list and we actually eat here quite often. I always order the spicy beef soup and if I am really hungry, soft shelled crab. We went for a late night dinner before our 9:30 pm viewing of Endgame. It didn't really occur to me, at the time, that Endgame is 3 hours long so we were eating dinner at 8:30pm and getting out of the movie at 12:30 AM on a weeknight but it was all worth it. Okay, maybe not when the alarm went off the next morning and I had gotten to bed at 1:30am with a belly full of spicy beef soup, plum soji and absolutely, unneeded buttered movie popcorn, but now, days later, it was all worth it.

NoCry Cut Resistant Gloves

Let's make one thing clear: I am a bit cut prone. I have gotten better in the last couple of years, working as a professional cook, but I am still a bit clumsy. Then I saw these.

I ordered these gloves on my trusty Amazon this week and I have been slicing on the mandoline non stop ever since. These are designed for wearing when using sharp blades etc when preparing food or even in a workshop - they give four times the protection of leather, they are lightweight and easy to wear. I bought a small and I am thinking of getting either an xsmall or even a kids size as they should fit quite snugly and it seems that my fingers a bit too short and stumpy for the small.

I am now a mandoline maniac, slicing without fear!