Tag Archives: beef short ribs

Beer & beef @ Avling Brewery!

Now, waaaaay back in the day, I used to live on Pape and walk to work at Queen and Carlaw. In those days, I probably passed by five or six dive bars in that stretch alone. But now the area’s a lot nicer — instead of actual dives (and not the funky kind, either) they’ve got places like Avling Brewery, almost right at the corner of Queen and Pape, combining Nordic-style beers with Asian-infused flavours. Man, if I had this place along my route back then, I never wouldda made it into work, bro!!!!

Avling’s beer list is twice as long as the food menu, so you KNOW it’s my kinda place! We’re starting off the evening with a dark Czech lager named after my second-favourite Candlemass album. Nightfall has a nice, wintery vibe with hints of cocoa and hazelnut. You are soooooo bewitched, bro!!!!

We’re pairing that with an actual smörgåsbord — that’s what it says on the menu! This Scandinavian charcuterie plate combines meat, cheese, bread and some fruits and veggies for a real-deal German breakfast in Flavourtown!

Speaking of German breakfast, it’s time for another beer. Sangfroid is not just the name of an obscure Ukranian black metal band, it’s also a barrel-aged farmhouse sour aged with cabernet sauvignon grape skins, giving it a blood-red colour. This might be the closest I ever come to drinking wine on Triple B, bro!!!!!

Now, they say you should drink red wine with red meat, so I almost got that right. Their braised short rib is sliced, not pulled, but the meat is still super melt-in-your-mouth tender. It comes with a whole garden of vegetables like roasted sunchokes, poached winter radishes and seared winter choy. Dude, I’m getting a whole winter’s worth of veggies in this dish!!!!!

Unfortunately, this place only has one dessert on the menu… and I’m not really down with date cake, so instead I went for some liquid dessert in the form of Pale Fire, a barrel-aged sour with peaches. Now, they musta used millions of peaches to make this beer, so I’m sure this bottle has at least two servings of fruit. But it’s not overpowering, with a nice aftertaste. I wouldn’t have known it was 6.7% if it didn’t say so on the label, bro…

Can we have short ribs for breakfast, mommy dear, mommy dear?

October 8, 2022
greedocatucci
0 comments
beef short ribs, brain tonic, breakfast, brunch, dessert, Kost

Now, it’s been a while since we’ve been to brunch on Triple B. But now we’re hanging out at Kost, this funky joint up on the 44th floor of the Bisha Hotel, where they’re serving up brunch on the weekends alongside a really nice view of the city, going all the way out to Mississauga. And when it comes to the brunch menu, we ain’t ordering avocado toast or a smoothie bowl — nah, we’re talkin’ Kost Eggs on Rib Hash, with beef short ribs, potatoes, peppers and home fries. Oh, and I paid 8 bucks for a side of bacon, which I added overtop of this dish. First rule of Flavourtown is always add bacon, bro!!!!!!!!!!

Now, the portion was quite petite for such a manly meal, but this dish was still nice ‘n meaty, with a good runny egg and some nicely cooked potatoes. Plus, that pepper bacon kicks it up about three notches. I would wear that as a flip-flop, bro!!!!!!!!

But since that was a pretty small portion, we’ve still got room for dessert — that’s right, we’re having dessert at brunch, bro! They call this one Super Rocher, and it’s pretty fantabulous. You’ve got dark chocolate mousse with a chocolate crust, hazelnut icing, chocolate crumbles and hazelnuts. I would eat this three meals a day, bro!!!!!!!!!!!

And while it may be 5 o’clock somewhere, Alan Jack-son, we’re actually not drinking something cold and strong just yet. They call this Brain Tonic, and it’s not even a cocktail — it’s a juice blend of apple, lemon, maple syrup, ginseng, filtered water and “blue majik”… whatever that is. I dunno guy, but it just tastes like lemonade to me.

Going to town on that assado, bro!!!!

Now, Yonge Street might be the longest street in Canada… but when you go downtown, south of College or so, it’s like a restaurant desert, bro! That doesn’t mean there aren’t any restaurants — but they’re mostly fast food, chains like Milestones and/or tourist traps. Your best bet is to hang a right onto Elm Street for some righteous eats, son…

Or you could head on over to Leña, this funky joint inside The Bay at Yonge and Richmond, for some real-deal, south of the border, Argentinian-style cooking! We first came here for brunch a few years back, and the flavours were on point, so now it’s time to see what they’re serving up for dinner…

You KNOW we’re starting off with some empanadas, bro! I just had an empanada last weekend at Smorgasburg, but it’s not like we’ve got a weekly limit on empanadas here… Susana’s Gaucho Empanadas have a nice, tender crust, stuffed with beef, egg and olives, with a side of chiminasty sauce (yes, that’s what they call it) that really kicks it up a notch! Gonna need a couple cold beers to wash that down, bro…

They’ve got a pretty decent beer selection here, too, with seven brews on tap — none of which are Molson or Coors. But instead, I went with an Octopus Wants to Fight from the local IPA meisters at Great Lakes. It’s not quite as hop-heavy as their signature Canuck IPA, but there’s no question you’re still drinking an India pale ale…

But now it’s time for el evento principal! Man, I haven’t had assado de tira since 2018, so when I saw these Spanish-style short ribs on the menu, you KNOW I’m all over that Maradona, bro! The beef is very charred, but nice and medium-rare in the middle, with a side of potatoes and snow peas. It comes with chimichurri, but I think I could go for more of that chiminasty sauce instead… You could put it on a flip-flop, and it would still be nasty, Ms. Jackson!!!!

But even after all that beef back there, we’ve still got room for dessert. I already knew their churros were legit, so I thought I would try their milk chocolate tres leches cake this time. We’re no strangers to tres leches on Triple B, but I’ve never seen a chocolate version before. Let’s just say I was a bit disappointed when it came out in a mason jar…but the four or five bites you get here ain’t bad, Meat Bro-af!

A totally different take on lamb shank…

Now, you KNOW I love lamb — and probably my favourite kind of lamb is lamb shank. There’s just something amazing about that super-tender meat that falls right off the bone… So, we’re hanging out at Silk Road, this funky Middle Eastern joint on Queen West, and I’m all in on the Shank Osmani, braised lamb slow cooked for 14 hours. This is not quite what I was expecting though:

Now, even though this lamb isn’t baa-baa-baa-baa-bad to the bone, it’s still pretty tender, and pretty tasty, on a bed of labneh yogurt with some crispy onion strings on top. I do not regret ordering it — even if it was not what I thought it would be.

Speaking of the unexpected, I was not expecting to see kalbi-style beef short ribs at a Middle Eastern joint, bro! They’re actually called Mongolian (not Korean) ribs, but they are quite tasty — nicely grilled and more tender than some Korean places. I just kinda wish they had put that green chili sauce on the side, cuz it was a little too spicy for me.

But the surprises don’t stop there, son… While the menu mentions a Skyward Ontario IPA from Avling Brewery, this is in fact a Calm Sea Ontario Pale Ale. Which is the same brewery, and same style, but not quite the same beer. Didn’t stop me from chugging a few of these, though, bro!!!!!

This Korean BBQ joint actually cooks the meat for you…

Now, I don’t always do Korean BBQ, cuz I’m like, why go to a restaurant that makes you cook your own food, dude? But we’re hanging out at Mapo Korean BBQ, right in the heart of Koreatown, where the servers actually slice and cook the meat for you — I can go for that! Man, this place has got autographs on the wall from all the big Korean baseball stars like Hyun Jin Ryu, Ji-Man Choi and Alek Manoah…who might not be Korean, but I’m sure he can destroy a whole buncha grilled meat, boi!!!

We went for Combo D, which combines beef brisket, ribeye, pork neck, mushrooms and two kinds of pork belly — this here’s the skinny kind. You also get complimentary cheesy corn, egg, and a whole lotta banchan (side dishes) like kimchi and macaroni salad.

While you can’t go wrong with pork three ways — Pork Three Ways was the name of my Primus cover band, bro! — the ribeye steak is what makes it. They blowtorch this baby with propane and propane accessories, then cut it into pieces so you can serve yourself. Mine was still a nice medium-rare…

But there wasn’t quite enough beef to go around, so we also ordered some short ribs a la carte. Unfortunately, the place got really busy, so we were left to grill them ourselves, and they came out extra crispy. But I would still put that on a flip-flop…because even burned beef ribs taste better than a sandal, son!!!!!

TORONTO’S TOP TAKEOUT: Beef short rib wellington with duck fat fries!

So, lockdown’s been extended in Toronto for (at least) a couple more weeks, which eats donkey dick. But the delivery apps have helped to make things a little less painful. Last week, DoorDash gave me two codes for 25% off, which I used at Hungary Thai and Torteria San Cosme. And Uber offered me $20 off a $30 “essentials” order, which happened to include Blood Brothers Brewing, one of my favourite local breweries. Hey, craft beer is essential to me, bro! Now, Uber is giving me three codes for 40% off, which is the biggest discount I’ve ever seen…

But there is a bit of a catch, though. The most money you can save is $30, a rule they put in place after Uber paid $50 of my $200 steak dinner from Jacob’s (RIP) last summer. So, if my math’s correct, I can’t spend more than $70 this time. Good thing I’ve found three meals that cost right at or just under that price, starting with this decadent dinner from BlueBlood Steakhouse!

Now, I had definitely seen the beef short rib wellington on the menu before, but I wasn’t prepared to pay 55 bucks for some puff pastry. That’s why it’s the perfect 40% dinner, though! Dude, this thing practically takes up a whole takeout container, and it’s only meat beneath that crust — no veggies or nothing. The crust is nice ‘n flaky, but a bit crusty on the bottom, and the meat is super-tender. Throw in some of that au jus on the side, which was still warm when it arrived, and I would soooo order this again, even at full price, son!!!

Now, there was only two sides that would keep this order under $70 — garlic whipped potatoes or these hand-cut, duck fat fries. I already had these fries two years ago when I slaughtered their Wagyu cheeseburger, so I knew they were some of the thickest in the business. Some of ’em were even four-biters, bro! And for 14 bucks, they give you enough for at least two people…if one of those people ain’t me. 😉

Of course, if there’s one beer that goes great with this upscale take on a British pub classic, It’s a Stout. Yeah, that’s actually the name of the beer! This blackened brew from Kensington Brewing Co. has all the rich, chocolately flavour you’re looking for — and at 5.8%, it punches harder than a Guinness. So maybe don’t drink it for breakfast, bro?

TORONTO’S TOP TAKEOUT: Short rib grilled cheese? Yes please!

If grilled cheese isn’t the ultimate comfort food, then it’s definitely right up there. So when I found out that Bar Reyna, this funky Spanish joint, was serving up a short rib grilled cheese — but only at their King St location — you KNOW I had to check it out, bro!

OK, now let’s break it down. You ain’t got no Kraft singles here — we’re talkin’ Gruyere, with braised beef, caramelized onions and a grainy mustard on crispy, toasted bread, with your choice of fries or salad. Let’s just say I didn’t choose salad… But the fries were thin, and already pretty soggy on arrival. So maybe salad would travel better, bro?

PATIO LIT EATS: Slammin’ some short ribs on the sidewalk, son!

So, we’re hanging out at Sorrel, this funky French/Italian joint across the street from the train station LCBO at Yonge and Summerhill. Now, some places might have a backyard patio, and a few others have set up seating on the street, but this is the first restaurant I’ve been to that had outdoor seating on the sidewalk. And hey, it was pretty, pretty nice.

Now, when it comes to food, they’re pairing French classics like duck confit and bouillabaise with pasta dishes like seafood linguine and lobster ravioli. And with all sorts of seafood on the menu, I couldn’t just eat beef…so we’re starting off with some clams, fam!

These ocean pearls were nice ‘n tender, with a white wine and garlic sauce, and some cherry tomatoes and parsley. They even gave you crusty toasts on the side to soak up the sauce, son!!!

But now it’s time for the main event. These ribs were meaty, beaty, nice ‘n chewy, with a side of potato gratin that I didn’t hafta order separately, and no veggies whatsoever, except for a few stray carrots. It’s all about the meat ‘n potatoes here, which is totally how I roll, bro!

Now, it would probably be fine to order wine at this place…but this isn’t Burgers, Bacon & Pinot Grigio, bro! Instead, we’re chugging down a coupla Loirettes, this funky farmhouse ale that’s imported from France!!!

Of course, you KNOW we still had room for dessert! This French/Italian joint was serving up both creme brulee and tiramisu, but instead, I went with the flourless chocolate torte…and it was torte-ally worth it! It was more moist like a mousse than your typical cake, but super-rich, with a little scoop of ice cream on the side. This might be one of the top five desserts I’ve had all year, and I definitely don’t back down from ordering dessert!!!!

Baby beef short rib @ El Catrin

You know me, this is body by Mexican food, bro! And my motto’s always been, if it’s ribs, make it beef ribs, so when I heard that El Catrin Destileria, this funky Mexican joint in the Distillery District, was serving up El Jefe, a braised beef short rib, you KNOW I had to check it out, bro!!!

Now, when they brought this dish out, I was thinking it was only an appetizer. I mean, this plate’s not even all that big, and it still makes the food looks small! Mind you, the meat was still pretty tasty, smothered in mole, with some nice wild mushrooms and corn…I just wish that there was more of it, though!

The silver lining to this meat cloud was that I definitely still had room for dessert. And they’re giving you not one, not two, not three, but four churros to an order, with three kinds of dipping sauces — caramel, chocolate AND strawberry, son! And these were actually some of the best churros I’ve ever had; nice and flaky, not too crunchy…and that dark chocolate sauce, dude — I would eat that off a flip-flop!

So maybe next time I’ll just skip dinner and head straight to dessert?

Riding these Cowboy Beef Short Ribs @ Smoque N’ Bones

Dude, this is body by beef ribs! I once ate beef ribs at Beach Hill Smokehouse AND Adamson Barbecue in the same weekend, and even polished one off with a side of Kitchen Sink Fries. But when I heard that Smoque N’ Bones, this funky little BBQ joint on Queen St, was serving up two Cowboy Beef Short Ribs for 48 bucks, you KNOW I was gonna ride that bucking bronco, bro!!!!!

OK, now let’s break it down. These big, beefy beauties were pull-apart tender, slathered in a tangy sauce — but not too much sauce, hoss! They did give you more sauce on the side, though… Oh, and speaking of sides, their potato salad was so outta bounds, you gotta shut the back door AND buy a ticket!!!!

Now, that’s not a spiky, bleach-blond hairdo on top of those taters — those are Hickory Sticks, the best chips ever!!! This secret ingredient adds a little crunch to this double-barrelled potato attack…and they’ve even got some pulled pork in there, too!

Because you KNOW I’m not gonna walk into a funky joint like Smoque N’ Bones and order a Budweiser…this here’s some Truth Serum, a nice, hoppy IPA from Rorschach Brewing. Not too bitter, with a hit of sweetness, and not one, not two, but three kinds of hops, this brew will have you pass a lie detector with flying colours, son!!!!!!

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