Review - Mark's Chinese Food

Once in a while, I like to order in chinese food. Mark's has a great deal, where you can get a dinner for 5 for $24.95...this is a great deal, and includes chicken fried rice, beef and vegetables, chicken chow mein, sweet and sour pork, chicken balls, and 5 egg rolls. When I order it, it does me for 5 meals, so its definitely worth the price. I can't buy all the stuff I need to make it for that, especially living on my own.

Review - Mexicali Rosa's

It was that time again this last week for Bob and I to head out for dinner, in our monthly get together. This time, he picked Mexicali Rosa's. We started off with the tortilla chips and salsa at the bar, with a couple of big Coronas, to get the evening started. We ordered the Sampler platter appetizer to start, to share with our beers, and it included chicken quesidillas and these deep fried wraps. Not good for the waist line, but tasty none the less.
After the appetizer, Bob suggested the Clyde's Beef Burrito, which was a huge plate when we got it. We just decided to eat at the bar, and washed the meal down with a bucket of Coronitas, 5 for $16. The meal was good, spicy hot, but we were stuffed when it was done. It looked like it had been sitting under a warming light a little too long, but that happens when you go to these kind of places. Anyways, it wasn't bad. The total bill for the night, including tip, was $125. Not bad, considering some of our previous dinners...

Just a followup on the Stoneboats review from January -- the place burned down, which is too bad, because it was a classy place in Bronte to go for dinner. We will miss the place, and more importantly, I can't pick to go there and stick Bob with the $200 tab!!

Recipe - Easy Chicken with Mushrooms

Like I had said in a previous post, I am no fancy chef, by any means. I like to dabble with food, and create easy meals for myself, when I have to work all week. This gives me a chance to make a few meals up for those days when its been hectic at work, and I just want to heat something up for leftovers. Usually, I cook a big meal on Sundays, with the leftovers carrying me through the week. Here is something I whipped up, that was easy and tastes good;

Easy Chicken with Mushrooms

6 chicken pieces (I used chicken breasts - bone in, skin on)
can of condensed cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup of milk
can of mushroom pieces
some olive oil
salt and pepper
grated parmesan cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Brown chicken in pan with the olive oil.
2. Place browned chicken in baking dish.
3. Whisk together the soup and milk, and pour over the chicken.
4. Pour drained mushrooms over chicken.
5. Sprinkle parmesan cheese over everything (depends how much cheese you like...)
6. Salt and pepper to taste.
7. Bake in oven for about 45-60 mins.
8. Enjoy!

The sauce was a little runny, but it would be good with mashed potates to sop up.

Review - Chubby's Fish & Chips

I few weeks ago, I did a write up about the burgers at Chubby's...and I had mentioned that I was going to have the fish and chips the next time I went. Well, that was last night! My buddy Dave and I have an agreement, that if either of us wins at the track (from feeding the ponies), then dinner is on them...share the wealth, so to speak.

From the last visit, it was my obligation to treat him for dinner -- again, we weren't disappointed. We had the halibut and chips, which, were perfect. They were a little pricey (cost me $28 for both of us - no beer), but well worth it. The fish is deep fried, and wasn't greasy at all. The fries were perfect, the way that all fries should be cooked! Only thing I would have liked, is if the fish was a little hotter. The lineups at this place are unreal for a Friday night around dinner time. Might be worth looking into for a late dinner during the week, when they might not be so busy. Somehow though, I doubt that they even get a rest mid-week, if the food is as good as it is. If you want to have an order of the old style fish and chips, check out Chubby's in Toronto (Islington and Rexdale).

Review - Niagara Fallsview Casino Birthday Dinner 21 Feb 06

Yes, yes, yet another birthday dinner, courtesy of another casino. Niagara Fallsview Casino has regular birthday dinners too, similar to Casino Windsor. Same setup, like you are at a distant relative's wedding. Bob and I made it there for our regular monthly dinner night, instead of hitting a local restaurant.

Good choice! They had a buffet set up in their ballrooom, but this time, the focus was on Italian. They had a good choice of pastas and meats, with the main item being roast beef. The salads were good, but all in all, they could have done a better job at getting people up to eat. Although it was all you can eat, they closed it down after the first run at the tables. Food was tasty, with a really good cannelloni for all to enjoy.

Hard to do a good write up on what Fallsview had to offer, since I had been at Casino Windsor the week before. Fallsview had a cash bar, and you felt rushed during dinner. A little more rigid in the service and trying to herd 1500+ people through the buffet was their downfall.

If I had a choice, I would prefer the Casino Windsor buffet over the Fallsview. Now, just because the birthday dinner buffet wasn't the best it could be, the Grand Buffet at the Fallsview is excellent. So, if you want a freebie, be sure to head down to Fallsview if you get invited. Otherwise, take the time to stand in line at the Grand Buffet at the Falls...its one of Bob's favourites!

I recently purchased a digital camera, so postings from now on will most likely have pictures of where and what we have, in addition to anything I have made at home. Stay tuned, things are just getting started with this blog!

Review - Casino Windsor "Puttin on the Ritz" Birthday Dinner

It's been a while since I have posted anything here! There have been a few dinners out that I will be reviewing and letting you know how they went.

Casino Windsor had a birthday party for Prestige Club members on 15th Feb, which I understand, they hold a few times a year (maybe quarterly). If you have any doubts about what they offer for a night like this, don't worry!! The ballroom was set up like a big wedding, and had to have round tables of 10, totalling 1000+ people. What was great about the night, was that it was free (well, cost some money in the casino, if you know what I mean...), including an open bar with beer and wine.

Dinner consisted of buffet-style pork loin, chicken breast (tender and good!), roast potatoes, green beans, and various salads. The potatoe salad was fantastic, along with all the other accessories you would expect from a buffet. An excellent meal, for free, washed down with some house red, a piece of birthday cake, and I couldn't move afterwards. What can I say? It was a great spread, and a great night out. There was a band for dinner, some mingling, and it reminded me of a great wedding meal. Not too often you get those.

So, all in all, a great evening. If you have doubts of what they provide in the way of a dinner, you won't be disappointed. Go, and enjoy what the casino has to offer!