Here is the review.
~ * ~
A post about Windmills to come!
Monday, September 21, 2009
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Snacks, Soup, and Korean BBQ at Korea Garden – June 1, 2009
A couple of months ago, all five of us (four siblings plus Jimmy) drove out to Korea Garden for dinner.
We had a large selection of banchan. From the foreground to the back: seasoned wintermelon, kimchi, and seasoned bean sprouts. I don’t remember much about them, except that the kimchi wasn’t my ideal kimchi (stinky, spicy, and with a hint of ginger). It was still plenty awesome, though!
The shredded daikon wasn’t as spicy as it looked, but it still packed quite the pungent flavour. The seaweed salad tasted refreshingly like the sea. I enjoy food when its innate flavours and characteristics are the main focus.
The banchan were free and refillable, of course. We probably ordered four or five refills of kimchi that night.
I can’t remember if the fried tofu and kimchi pajeon were free. I assume we ordered them, since we didn’t ask for refills. I don’t remember what they tasted like, so no descriptions, sorry.
We ordered one plate of chapchae to share. It was mediocre. Too oily, too peppery, and not enough flavour. If there was less sesame oil, I’m sure the seasonings would have tasted much stronger. The noodles were too firm, so I wasn’t able to slurp down the entire plate.
Everyone had their own bowl of salad, also free. It’s the standard iceberg lettuce salad with a light, citrus dressing.
I didn’t enjoy the sweet and spicy chicken. It was covered in a thick layer of batter, which ended up soggy in all of that cloyingly sweet sauce. I had bites that were chokingly spicy, but most of the others were mild. I definitely avoided those jalapenos! It’s not something I’d order again.
Jimmy ordered the beef bone soup. He found it too bland. I read up about the soup afterwards, and I found out that the soup is usually seasoned at the table by the diner. Oops! I liked the blandness; it felt like I was cleansing my body of the fatty foods we were eating that night. I ate most of this myself, since no one else wanted to drink hot beef water.
The main dish of the night was the samgyupsal (BBQ pork belly). Normally, we would be grilling strips of pork belly ourselves, but that night, the waiter brought out a sizzling plate with the pork belly already cooked. I was disappointed, but at least I didn’t walk out of the restaurant smelling like barbecue.
It was a nice, low-key dinner on a quiet, rainy night. We don’t get to go out like this very often because we live in three different cities.
The bill came to around $70 for five people, which wasn’t bad. Their weekend all-you-can-eat barbecue special is a far better deal, but I would definitely revisit this restaurant for snacks and drinks during the week.
~ * ~
We had a large selection of banchan. From the foreground to the back: seasoned wintermelon, kimchi, and seasoned bean sprouts. I don’t remember much about them, except that the kimchi wasn’t my ideal kimchi (stinky, spicy, and with a hint of ginger). It was still plenty awesome, though!
The shredded daikon wasn’t as spicy as it looked, but it still packed quite the pungent flavour. The seaweed salad tasted refreshingly like the sea. I enjoy food when its innate flavours and characteristics are the main focus.
The banchan were free and refillable, of course. We probably ordered four or five refills of kimchi that night.
I can’t remember if the fried tofu and kimchi pajeon were free. I assume we ordered them, since we didn’t ask for refills. I don’t remember what they tasted like, so no descriptions, sorry.
We ordered one plate of chapchae to share. It was mediocre. Too oily, too peppery, and not enough flavour. If there was less sesame oil, I’m sure the seasonings would have tasted much stronger. The noodles were too firm, so I wasn’t able to slurp down the entire plate.
Everyone had their own bowl of salad, also free. It’s the standard iceberg lettuce salad with a light, citrus dressing.
I didn’t enjoy the sweet and spicy chicken. It was covered in a thick layer of batter, which ended up soggy in all of that cloyingly sweet sauce. I had bites that were chokingly spicy, but most of the others were mild. I definitely avoided those jalapenos! It’s not something I’d order again.
Jimmy ordered the beef bone soup. He found it too bland. I read up about the soup afterwards, and I found out that the soup is usually seasoned at the table by the diner. Oops! I liked the blandness; it felt like I was cleansing my body of the fatty foods we were eating that night. I ate most of this myself, since no one else wanted to drink hot beef water.
The main dish of the night was the samgyupsal (BBQ pork belly). Normally, we would be grilling strips of pork belly ourselves, but that night, the waiter brought out a sizzling plate with the pork belly already cooked. I was disappointed, but at least I didn’t walk out of the restaurant smelling like barbecue.
It was a nice, low-key dinner on a quiet, rainy night. We don’t get to go out like this very often because we live in three different cities.
The bill came to around $70 for five people, which wasn’t bad. Their weekend all-you-can-eat barbecue special is a far better deal, but I would definitely revisit this restaurant for snacks and drinks during the week.
~ * ~
Thursday, September 17, 2009
The Comfort of a Warm Drink Before Bed
A London Fog before bedtime helps ease me into bedtime. I've been feeling a little off for the past few weeks (adjusting to life back in Kingston, no doubt), so falling asleep at a decent time has become an issue. A warm cup of tea is the drinkable (potable?) equivalent of a security blanket for me.
A spoonful of sugar, an Earl Grey tea bag, a splash of vanilla, a dribble of milk, and some hot water is the cure for my restlessness.
Once the warm aromas of bergamot and vanilla seep into my pores, I begin slipping into a calmer state. This summer, I would make two cups, but would only be able to get through one and a half before I curl up in bed and fall into the elusive arms of sleep.
London Fogs are perfect for starting and ending the day.
Zzzzz....
A spoonful of sugar, an Earl Grey tea bag, a splash of vanilla, a dribble of milk, and some hot water is the cure for my restlessness.
Once the warm aromas of bergamot and vanilla seep into my pores, I begin slipping into a calmer state. This summer, I would make two cups, but would only be able to get through one and a half before I curl up in bed and fall into the elusive arms of sleep.
London Fogs are perfect for starting and ending the day.
Zzzzz....
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Lunches with Lucy: Panini and Subs – June 8 to 10, 2009
Unfortunately, I left my notebook containing my lunch notes at home in Ottawa. I won’t have any prices for the rest of the Lunches with Lucy series, and my commentary is going to be pretty vague. If you don’t mind suffering through the poor quality pictures and terrible descriptions, read on.
You have been warned.
~ * ~
Cream of Broccoli Soup and Ham & Brie Panini from Muffin Plus – June 8, 2009
I can’t say I remember much about this cream of broccoli soup. I know that crackers made everything taste better. Not within The Diet, but the other choices sucked. I don’t remember what they were, but if I picked cream of broccoli, they must not have looked or sounded very good.
The ham and brie panini was disappointing. The smoked ham flavour drowned out any other flavours, so I could barely taste the brie. A less salty, less smoked ham would have done better with the mellow brie. Also, everything in the sandwich (mustard, brie, ham, tomato, lettuce) was still cold, even after its little trip to the panini press. If a sandwich is going to get grilled, the insides should at least be warm. Otherwise, it’s just not worth the wait.
While I was disappointed with the panini, I gave it another chance at a later date. Muffin Plus was okay.
~ * ~
Spicy Italian on Honey Oat from Subway – June 9, 2009
At Subway, and only at Subway, I am very predictable in my order. It has to be a Spicy Italian on whole wheat with Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, green olives, extra black olives, and mayo. Every now and again, I deviate from my regular order and change one of the ingredients. Lately, I’ve been forgoing the tomatoes for cucumbers (if I wanted I watery, virtually tasteless vegetable, I’d rather get cucumbers), and I think that’s a change I’m going to keep. However, on June 9th, I got my usual order but changed the bread for honey oat.
I have to say, it didn’t make much of a difference. I can’t see any olives in the picture, which leads me to believe that there wasn’t actually any “extra” olives at all. Also, the layer of deli meat (salami and pepperoni) looks rather thin. That’s unfortunate.
I washed it all down with a large chocolate milk. I normally get a small, so I may have been thirsty that day. Who knows?
~ * ~
Mesquite Chicken Sub from Quiznos – June 10, 2009
I started walking further for my lunches (as noted in The Diet’s rules), and I actually wandered all the way down to Bank and Slater to get a sandwich from Quiznos.
This mesquite chicken sandwich was disappointing, to say the least. All of the ingredients (chicken, bacon, cheddar, lettuce, tomato, red onion, and ranch dressing) should have been quite flavourful. After I placed my order, I was actually concerned that it would be too much flavour at once. I was so wrong.
It was so bland. Normally, a sandwich with bacon, cheddar, and ranch dressing would pack quite a salty punch, but this time, I was unmoved. I kept chewing and chewing, expecting something to hit me, but it never did.
I would not recommend this sandwich.
While this sandwich wasn’t Diet-friendly, I’ll include it for the 10-minute walk.
~ * ~
Le Muffin Plus
45 O’Connor Street, 100 Queen Street, and 111 Albert Street
(World Exchange Plaza food court)
Ottawa, ON
(613) 232-0416
Subway
45 O’Connor Street, 100 Queen Street, and 111 Albert Street
(World Exchange Plaza food court)
Ottawa, ON
(613) 231-7015
Quiznos
139 Bank Street
(Bank and Slater)
Ottawa, ON
(613) 231-7770
You have been warned.
~ * ~
Cream of Broccoli Soup and Ham & Brie Panini from Muffin Plus – June 8, 2009
I can’t say I remember much about this cream of broccoli soup. I know that crackers made everything taste better. Not within The Diet, but the other choices sucked. I don’t remember what they were, but if I picked cream of broccoli, they must not have looked or sounded very good.
The ham and brie panini was disappointing. The smoked ham flavour drowned out any other flavours, so I could barely taste the brie. A less salty, less smoked ham would have done better with the mellow brie. Also, everything in the sandwich (mustard, brie, ham, tomato, lettuce) was still cold, even after its little trip to the panini press. If a sandwich is going to get grilled, the insides should at least be warm. Otherwise, it’s just not worth the wait.
While I was disappointed with the panini, I gave it another chance at a later date. Muffin Plus was okay.
~ * ~
Spicy Italian on Honey Oat from Subway – June 9, 2009
At Subway, and only at Subway, I am very predictable in my order. It has to be a Spicy Italian on whole wheat with Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, green olives, extra black olives, and mayo. Every now and again, I deviate from my regular order and change one of the ingredients. Lately, I’ve been forgoing the tomatoes for cucumbers (if I wanted I watery, virtually tasteless vegetable, I’d rather get cucumbers), and I think that’s a change I’m going to keep. However, on June 9th, I got my usual order but changed the bread for honey oat.
I have to say, it didn’t make much of a difference. I can’t see any olives in the picture, which leads me to believe that there wasn’t actually any “extra” olives at all. Also, the layer of deli meat (salami and pepperoni) looks rather thin. That’s unfortunate.
I washed it all down with a large chocolate milk. I normally get a small, so I may have been thirsty that day. Who knows?
~ * ~
Mesquite Chicken Sub from Quiznos – June 10, 2009
I started walking further for my lunches (as noted in The Diet’s rules), and I actually wandered all the way down to Bank and Slater to get a sandwich from Quiznos.
This mesquite chicken sandwich was disappointing, to say the least. All of the ingredients (chicken, bacon, cheddar, lettuce, tomato, red onion, and ranch dressing) should have been quite flavourful. After I placed my order, I was actually concerned that it would be too much flavour at once. I was so wrong.
It was so bland. Normally, a sandwich with bacon, cheddar, and ranch dressing would pack quite a salty punch, but this time, I was unmoved. I kept chewing and chewing, expecting something to hit me, but it never did.
I would not recommend this sandwich.
While this sandwich wasn’t Diet-friendly, I’ll include it for the 10-minute walk.
~ * ~
Le Muffin Plus
45 O’Connor Street, 100 Queen Street, and 111 Albert Street
(World Exchange Plaza food court)
Ottawa, ON
(613) 232-0416
Subway
45 O’Connor Street, 100 Queen Street, and 111 Albert Street
(World Exchange Plaza food court)
Ottawa, ON
(613) 231-7015
Quiznos
139 Bank Street
(Bank and Slater)
Ottawa, ON
(613) 231-7770
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