Tag Archives: wild boar

Now that’s a tasty meatball!!!!

Now, if you’ve been to Little Italy lately, you might be going “Dude, where’s all the Italian food?” Other than a few places right around College and Clinton, it’s pretty hard to find some real-deal Italian in the neighbourhood. So when I heard about Quadro Ristorante, this funky joint that opened on College, just east of Clinton, a couple years back, you KNOW we had to check it out, bro! And since this place is serving up five meatballs for $16.50, I think I know what I’m gonna order…

Dude, these balls are magically delicious, bro! You’ve got a nice mix of beef and veal, served in tomato sauce with some basil and grated cheese — yes please! The meatballs are tender, juicy, and really soak up the sauce… but you KNOW that’s just a light snack in Flavourtown!!!!

Now, this place might be more of a pizza place, with their real-deal, wood-fired oven in the kitchen. But me, I’m going gnocchi. I’ve got three words for you: wild boar bolognese, bro!!!! I gotta say though, this seemed like a pretty small portion, and not just because it came in a giant bowl. I’m definitely still gonna have room for dessert…

Now, we’ve had our share of tiramisu on Triple B, but I don’t think I’ve had one before where you get the ladyfingers on top. But this was still pretty, pretty good, tasting just like tiramisu should — so I really can’t complain…

Also, I got the chance to check another Italian beer off the bucket list. Sure, you can get a Peroni or a Moretti here (and I think they even have Stella), but instead I’m gonna go with a Semedorato. I had never even heard of this beer before, bro — but to be honest, it pretty much tastes like Peroni (not that there’s anything wrong with that).

Wild boar two ways on a pizza? Whoa…

Now, I don’t always eat wild boar… but when I do, I don’t mind if I do. So when I heard that Local 1794, this cozy gastropub on the Danforth, was serving up a pizza with wild boar two ways — ground meat AND sausage — you KNOW I had to try it, bro!

Dude, this pizza is outta bounds! Nice chewy crust, with a crispy edge. The ground boar has more flavour than the sausage, and goes nicely with the caramelized onions. But the double-smoked bacon really kicks it up a notch. It may not be boar bacon, but it’s still a triple-pork three-way in Flavourtown!!!!!

Of course, beer and pizza go together like peanut butter and bananas (and bananas is good!), so I’m washing this big boy down with a Juicy Ass IPA from Flying Monkeys. We’re no stranger to this beer on Triple B, but it’s not very often that we see it on tap, served in its own pint glass. It even has a re-order line!!!

Wild boar pizza + sea urchin spaghetti @ Dova

Now, we’ve eaten a whole lotta Italian food here on Triple B — but every once in a while, I still come across something I’ve never seen before. So we’re hanging out at DOVA, this funky little joint in Cabbagetown, where they’re putting sea urchin on spaghetti, wild boar and black truffle on pizza, and orange mascarpone in their tiramisu. Shut the front, back and side doors, son!!!!!

They call this dish Ricci, and it’s got a helmet like former San Jose goon Mike Ricci. Underneath is some fresh Newfoundland sea urchin, on top of spaghetti, all covered in garlic and parsley. Now, I don’t think I’ve ever had sea urchin before — especially not from Newfoundland — but it added a nice creamy touch to the spaghetti.

But now they’re about to kick things up another notch with their Fughese pizza — and you don’t even hafta be straight edge to eat it, Bro-an MacKaye! Dude, this pizza’s packing wild boar sausage, black truffles, oyster mushrooms and arugula, plus it’s extra cheesy with fior di latte AND stracciatella! Dude, this has gotta be the best pizza I’ve had all year, and let’s just say I eat a lotta pizza…

And since we’re not straight edge here on Triple B, we’re washing this all down with a funkalicious brewski. This here’s a Raspberry Lavender Gelato Sour from Fine Balance Brewing straight outta Kingston. Now, i dunno what lavender tastes like, but you definitely get a lotta raspberry in here — it’s like a tropical fruit punch in Flavourtown!!!

Of course we’ve still got room for dessert — and it’s probably safe to say at a place like this, they don’t do tiramisu just like Nonna makes it. Instead, you’ve got orange mascarpone, Cointreau liqueur, candied oranges and pistachios. It wasn’t bad, but I mostly just tasted the orange, bro…

HEATED PATIO EATS: Fancy land, sea & air trio @ George

Since the province has ordered all indoor seating at restaurants in Toronto to stay closed until November, a lot of places have started popping up with heated patios. I wasn’t sure if I even wanted to be out on a patio when it was only, like, 10 degrees outside, but last night, I was sitting outside in a t-shirt, right next to a heater, chowing down on three tasty courses at George, this really nice restaurant on a not-so-nice stretch of Queen Street East…

So, we’re starting off with lobster, a dish served cold with lentils, lemongrass and a random piece of lavash bread for some reason. I don’t always eat cold lobster, but the nice, meaty chunks went well with the lentils…and hey, if you give me bread, it’s not like I’m not gonna eat it.

From there we’ve moving on to what was probably the best dish of the night, roasted duck breast with chanterelle mushrooms and a Danish-style pastry stuffed with mushrooms and herbs — it’s like Yorkshire pudding gone hygge, bro! The duck was nicely roasted, and you got a pretty decent amount of food for a “second course,” which was enough to tide me over until the main event.

Now, this is something you definitely don’t see every day. We’re talking wild boar, medium rare, with some cheese-stuffed pasta, beans ‘n greens. And also a tostada, for some reason. I am not sure what’s up with the random breads at this place…but again, I’m not really complaining.

Of course, you KNOW we’ve still got room for dessert, bro! I wasn’t really feeling the desserts on the menu, so I asked if they had anything chocolate, and they were like, “Why yes, we do!” This here’s a flourless chocolate cake, which they call a “bergote,” and it’s topped with strawberry ganache and caramel butter cream. It might not be my favourite flourless chocolate cake in the city…but with all the crazy flavours going on here, I think it’s my second-favourite.

I’m about to go all Asterix and Obelix on this wild boar, bro!!!!

Man, the last time I had wild boar, I think I got it on sale at Loblaws. And while that sanglier was super-legit, I knew I could probably do better if I didn’t have to cook it. So when I heard that Reign, this new funky joint in the Royal York Hotel, had a wild boar chop on the menu, I was all over that like Getafix on a pot of magic potion, son!!!!

Man, this was probably the best pork chop I’ve had since that one at Hogtown Smoke that’s not even on the menu anymore! This lil’ piggy is cooked to a perfect medium, and it’s going wee wee wee all the way straight down my piehole! You’ve also got some fingerling potaters and green onions, nothing too fancy. There are not enough veggies here to steal the show from the meat, which is just the way it should be!

Washed it all down with a Royal York Apiary Ale, this beer brewed with honey from the roof of the hotel — it don’t get more locavore than that, bro!!!

Of course, you KNOW we still had room for dessert! This chocolate coffee tart was like Pies Gone Wild — you’ve got all kinds of chocolately goodness, with espresso, a white chocolate ganache and some crunchy toffee — I would put that on a flip-flop!!!!

Five-course fried chicken feast @ Beast

Now, you know I’m all about Beastmode, bro! So when I found out there’s this funky little joint serving up righteous wild game dishes, just offa King West…and their logo looks like a deathcore band??? Man, I didn’t care if I was gonna hafta run 67 yards to get to Beast!

And when it comes to this place, you wanna get there early. Right up until 7 pm, they’ve got a couple local craft beers for five bucks, along with get-em-till-they’re-gone tasting menu options, like this chorizo tostada. You’ve got a super-crunchy tortilla, crisp lettuce, Mexican sausage and cheese sauce…served up on a Sesame Street plate:

Now, if you think that last dish was pretty funky, well you ain’t seen n-n-nothing yet, Brody Broman! Say hello to some crispy pig ears done up all Japaneezy:

They call this dish okonomiyaki, and I’m about to go all Mr. Miyagi on it… Banzai, Daniel-san!

Now, after crushing a couple Ace Hill Pilsners before Happy Hour ends, it’s time to get to the good stuff, like these garlic parmigiano rolls. These soft, chewy, buttery flavour nuggets come topped with fresh shaved parma, and a side of marinara. Mamma mia!!!

Now, since I didn’t get enough of the pig before, now I’m pigging out on some wild boar belly, bro! This unctuous oinker comes with a side of apple butter, topped with bacon bits, for some hardcore pig-on-pig action!!!

But now it’s time for the main event. Weighing in at 300 pounds of deep-fried goodness, it’s the Beastwich. This southern-style sammy is smothered in sausage gravy, with a layer of pimento cheese, between a badass buttermilk biscuit. There are so many good things going on here that I don’t know where to start… but you can poooour that gravy on me, Bro Elliott!

Now, once Happy Hour was over, I had to make like my backroad buddy Tim Hicks and switch to a stronger beer. This Moroccan Brown Ale from Spearhead, straight outta Kingston, is made with dates, figs, raisins and a dash of cinnamon, and it’s as freaky as Guy Fieri’s face made outta fondant, bro!!!

(You cannot unsee this…)

Antler’s wild game burger is a vegan’s worst nightmare!

So, we’re hanging out at Antler Kitchen & Bar, this cozy, locally sourced wild game joint that got hit with a bunch of vegan protesters a couple weeks back. Now it’s pretty hard to get a table, but there were no angry vegans when we stopped by to feast on their meaty delicacies last night.

So, we’re starting off with some wild boar spring rolls, son! These deep-fried orbs of deliciousness were super hot and crispy, with a whole buncha seasoned boar meat. I could probably slam eight or nine of these, but I wanted to save room for the main course:

This wild game burger is a mixture of wild boar, bison and deer–and it’s even got a duck-egg aioli on top. So many living creatures gave their lives for this dish…and dude, it’s magically delicious! It’s like a really good thick, juicy burger, straight from the forest, with all the magic. This is actually the best burger I’ve had in a little while, bro!!!

And because I haven’t consumed enough creatures already, I wished it all down with a tallboy of Big Rock Grasshopper, my go-to craft beer from Calgary. Maybe a pint of Warthog Ale mighta been more appropriate?

Scarfing down on sausage at Taste of Toronto 2017!

So last year at Taste of Toronto, I kinda pigged out a bit. And speaking of pigging, it seemed like every place had some sorta hot dog at this year’s festival. But it wasn’t just pig we’re talking ’bout here–they’ve got duck, lamb and even wild boar, bro! And every time you put a tube of meat between two buns, you know I’m down with that, son!!!

This grilled duck dog from my main man Mark McEwan is pretty outta bounds, bro! You’ve actually got duck three ways here–there’s the sausage itself, topped with foie gras mousse, and these crispy little bits of duck bacon. Dude, this is body by duck bacon! And then you’ve got a spicy Russian mustard, onion jam and some crisp spring onion, all on a poppy seed bun. Shut the back door!

Now, I wasn’t really ready to go right back into the ring with sausage after that delicious duck dish, but then I saw ’em cooking up the green chorizo on the grill at Bar Raval, and I was all over that like chili on cheese fries! Probably one of the most tasty, flavourful sausages I’ve even eaten–and it comes with piri piri chicken, to boot! That’s like a two-for-one after-school special in Flavourtown!!!!

Of course, it’s always French Fry Time in Flavourtown. And Nota Bene was serving these spuds up okonomiyaki style! You’ve got the kewpie mayo, the tempura bits and the nori flakes…but the fries kinda tasted like McDonald’s, though!!!

But that ain’t even the only okonomiyaki game in town, bro! This char siu bao from my homies at Kanpai Snack Bar was completely off the hook! You’ve got all kindsa crunchiness from the purple slaw, spring onions, bacon bits and bonito flakes, and beneath all that, there’s some nice ‘n tender porky goodness. It’s like a Secret Garden of Funk in Flavourtown!!!

Now, you might be getting full at this point, but if there’s one thing I know, it’s that there’s always room for beef brisket. Barque Smokehouse is one of my top three BBQ joints in the city, and they’re taking brisket south of the border with this pulled brisket tostada! You’ve got brisket, salsa and avocado crema all on a crispy tortilla chip–pretty sure I could slam seven more of these!!!!

Now, you know I’ve had wild boar before, bro. I’ve even put it on poutine. But deep-fried wild boar on a stick!? Shut the back, front and side doors, son! Antler Kitchen and Bar won the Taste the World challenge in 2016, and it’s not hard to see why with flavours this baller!

Now, when it comes to world flavours, I have had fried chicken from Korea, Taiwan and Kentucky, but this Indonesian-style ayam goreng was new to me. It’s kinda like chicken karaage, except with this spicy sauce on top, and they serve it with a side of war fries, which are kinda like a Tony Iommi guitar solo in Flavourtown! You’ve got some thick, crunchy spuds topped with pickled chilies, green onions, mayo and peanut sauce. These fries are TheBomb.id, bro!!!

This boar poutine totally tides me over!

So, we’re hanging out in Moncton, New Brunswick, where they’ve got this thing called a tidal bore. So twice a day, when the tide comes in, the river runs the other way, and you can get some pretty sweet waves for surfing, son! And just a couple blocks from where the magic happens, you’ve got the Tide & Boar, this funky local gastropub serving up local craft brews and real-deal dishes like this totally tubular wild boar poutine:

This dish is outta bounds, bro! You’ve got a nice bite from the beer-braised boar, some real-deal cheese curds, a bit of crispness from the caramelized onions, and a zingy house ketchup. For some reason, they put the gravy on the side, but I think it looks a lot better on top of the fries:

It’s like Boars Gone Wild, bro!

So, yesterday I went to Maple Leaf Loblaws, which was the only grocery store open on Easter Sunday. (I guess they don’t like Easter eggs, or something.) I don’t go there very often, but when I do, I find all kinds of funky frozen food—Chili’s chicken fajita rice bowls, Greek chicken souvlaki pizza, and some of the best frozen burritos I’ve ever tasted. Oh, and then there’s this:

Man, the last time I had sanglier, I was getting drunk on a plane with Gérard Depardieu! (Too bad I made it to the bathroom before he did…) I wouldn’t normally buy wild boar, but it was on sale for $6.99, so I figured it was worth a shot. Wasn’t sure how to cook it, but I figured since it was steak, I could probably just throw it in a frying pan with some semi-sauteed onions, et voila:

Wild boar steak frites, bro! You got a nice crispness from the fries, a little crunch from the onions (which were a little undercooked) and a nice medium-rare boar. Y’know, it does kinda taste like steak, but it’s kinda got a bit of a livery texture to it. Not that I’ve had liver and onions lately—it’s never on sale at Longo’s, bro!

So, I know what you’re thinking: what could I possibly be drinking to wash this down? I got two words for ya… Molson Dry!

If Molson Canadian is the national beer of Canada, then Molson Dry is the national beer of Quebec. Cuz when you wanna get Montreal wasted, buvez Molson Dry!^TM

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