Viennetta

So, usually I post things that I eat. Here's what I'm NOT eating:

That's right. I'm not eating Viennetta because it isn't produced in Canada anymore. I've been craving this product for years, possibly over a decade now. I remember the smooth vanilla ice cream and the crisp, thin layers of chocolate. It was like ice cream lasagne. It was so pretty, and it had a fancy name to go with it. Oh, how I long for the days of Viennetta. Why did they take it away from me? WHY?

I heard they still sell it in the UK.

Waterloo beer

Waterloo Amber Seasonal Collection

Jo says I'm pro-Canadian beers. Maybe... or maybe that's just what's cheaper in Canada. :P

Anyways, saw this on the shelf, and decided to go for it, being my Canadian self.

I like that colour. So pretty. Tastes very flavourful. It's a bit bitter, but I like it. Smells... malt-y. It's marked as "strong beer" and at 6.8%, I guess it is. It's not exactly smooth, but I find it drinkable. That's the best description I can come up with right now... not everyone's going to like it, but I don't hate it.

Would I get it again? Sure, why not. I support Canadian products and this beer is okay by me. It would go well with spicy wings. Though in general, I remember liking their dark beer more. 

Total damage: $2-something + tax at your local LCBO. 

Muskoka Cream Ale

Muskoka Cream Ale

Smooth. So smooth. 

It's a little heavy, so I can't drink too much of it, but it's definitely smooth. Slightly sweet, goes down easy. It feels like a meal on its own though.

Would I get it again? I might. I feel that it tasted better from the bottle I had the first time around though.

Total damage: $2-something at the LCBO.

Kinton Ramen

Kinton Ramen (51 Baldwin Street, Toronto)

Hours: Mon - Sun: 11:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.

647-748-8900

This place is pretty tiny and I've heard that it's always packed. We got there around 1 p.m. on a weekday, and the wait for our party of four was about 20 minutes. They don't take reservations. We ended up at a table in the back, sharing it with other customers.

Spicy garlic ramen with pork belly ($9.80)

There's a choice of pork belly or pork shoulder with each of their noodles. The slab of meat I got seemed dry at first bite, but it seemed okay afterwards... possibly because it soaked up the broth? I'm not sure. There was also the option of light, regular, or rich broth. I got the rich one because I enjoy intense flavour. The broth was good. It wasn't very spicy, but that small mound of garlic certainly delivered. The noodles were good consistency, and they had that bit of bounce that I like.

Bianca and Amanda each got a cheese ramen ($10.80).

It seemed very cheesy, but they noted that the cheese melted into large clumps that were a bit difficult to eat. 

Would I return? Yeah... when I have a lot of time... and don't want to talk to the people I'm with. There's all sorts of noise coming from the staff, similar to what you'd hear in Guu - you know, cheering, greeting, and the like. The environment makes it hard to hear anything else. The wait makes it hard for it to be a quick lunch. I liked what I ate, though. It should also be noted that they don't have air conditioning, but there are fans all over the restaurant. Oh, and their sawaa drinks are priced similarly to the bottled beers. Fair enough.

Chingu

Chingu (280 West Beaver Creek Road, Richmond Hill)

905-763-0620

Hours:

Mon - Thurs 11:30 a.m - 3 p.m., 5:30 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.

Fri - Sun 11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m., 5:30 p.m. - 1 a.m.

Josie had Korean barbecue cravings, so I suggested Chingu, remembering that their all-you-can-eat business included pork bone soup. 

Korean appetizers

Yay to glass noodles and the fish cake thingies. 

I like their pork bone soup, but Jo noted that she remembered it having more peppercorns and stuff last time. I still liked it. 

I spared the pictures of the raw meat, but on the regular AYCE option we got, there was fish, pork belly, pork in red sauce, beef, short ribs, squid, and I can't remember what else. It comes with lettuce, and chopped up lettuce with spicy seasoning. You're meant to wrap meat in the lettuce and shove the seasoned lettuce in that as well. Lettuce in lettuce still seems kind of weird to me. 

The deluxe AYCE menu that we didn't get included things like tofu soup, handmade dumplings, salmon, and I can't remember what else.

There's also ice cream at the end.

There's still at 15% automatic gratuity charge, but it's well deserved. Staff nonchalantly eyed us as we cooked, making sure that if the grill got too crusted up with black stuff, they would change it. 

Would I return? Yes. Their marinated beef is pretty awesome and I appreciate that it comes with lettuce.  I also like that they're actually Korean. I'm a fan of the pork bone soup as well. Also, chingu means friend. :D

Total damage: approximately $25. (It's cheaper than that by a few bucks on weekdays.)