Jack Astor's

Chicken BLT Poutine (J) Very good, but I found all the extra toppings unnecessary. (S) I liked all the extra toppings! All the flavours went nicely together, and the cheese curds were so delightfully squeaky.


Topless Steak Sandwich: with side Garden salad and Sassafrazz drink (fruit juices mixed with Sprite). (J) Side salad was big. I really liked the onion strings. Drink wasn't as fizzy as I thought it would be. (S) Yes, salad was big for a SIDE salad, but I'm not complaining. Steak and mushrooms go really well together and the onion rings topped it off with a crunch.

Señor Jack's Jalapeño Burger: with side of vegetables and Diet Coke. (J) Opted for a healthy veggie side. Burger was not very spicy, but satisfying. (S) I only had a tiny bit of this burger. It was spicy but not the spiciest I've tasted.

Location:1060 Don Mills Road, Toronto ON M3C 0H8
Phone:(416) 331-9238
Website: http://www.jackastors.com


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5th Elementt

Roasted Cauliflower Soup: with naan crouton and pineapple juice. (J) Nice spice flavours. (S) I was surprised to see naan floating in the soup. Nice touch.

Sirloin Steak: with curried spinach puree. (J) One piece was rare while the other was more well done. (S) I had a craving for steak. This was definitely satisfying.

Mushroom Biryani: with onion raita and lentil stew. (J) Some mushrooms were salty, but it balanced when raita was poured on the rice. (S) The yogurt was really good. It made the dish less spicy.

Chocolate Souffle: (J) Warm, soft and sweet. (S) I thought soufflé was supposed to sink. This one didn't, it was nice (minus the fruit sauce on the cake).

Location: 506 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON M5V 2B3
Phone: (416) 504-3213
Website: http://www.5thelementt.com


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Tastes of the Hill

(J) Like last year, local Richmond Hill restaurants gave out samples after we paid an entrance fee for charity. There weren't long lines this year and I got full pretty fast. I really enjoyed the shepherd's pie, steak, cookie and butter tart. Unfortunately Nando's and Turtle Jack's didn't give out chicken and wings respectively.

(S) I was disappointed that Nando's didn't have the chicken from last year. I always enjoy Moxie's steak, mushroom and blondie dessert. Unfortunately, we had too much sweets and cake the night before, so we passed on most cakes from Costco and other stands.

Location: Richmond Green Sports Centre
Website: Tastes of the Hill


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5th Elementt

3 Course Prix Fixe Dinner - 2 for 1 Deal

Appetizers

Salmon Wrapped Scallops: tomato salsa, soy glaze. (J) I ate the salmon and scallop together in one bite and it was nice and meaty. (S) The salmon and scallop combo was so soft, it melted in my mouth.

Mango & Clementine: salad with feta cheese and masala dressing. (J) I liked the mango. (S) I liked this salad, it was refreshing.

Main Course

Pan Grilled Atlantic Salmon: bengali curry sauce. (J) I was enjoying the salmon and sauce so much that I forgot to eat the rice until the end. (S) The sauce was nice, it went well with the salmon and rice. I really liked the rice, but the fish was really good too.

Baseball Steak: 8 oz, vindaloo sauce and fries. (J) Fries were nice and crispy. According to our friends they're from Costco. Steak was soft and the sauce had a nice little spice. (S) Crispy fries were good! Couldn't stop eating it. The steak was so nice, not even the spice from the sauce could take away from it.

Dessert

Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake: (J) Sweet, soft and peanut buttery. I need to find this in stores. (S) So tasty!

Blueberry Cheese Tart: (J) I liked the crust at the bottom. (S) The tart wasn't bad...the blueberry was a bit sour.

Location: 506 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON M5V 2B3
Phone: (416) 504-3213
Website: http://www.5thelementt.com

Tastes of the Hill

Crab (lobster?) tart from Jack Astor's; cheesecake from Costco; chowder in a bread bowl; pasta with veal.







Fried calamari and spring roll; chicken and corn from Nando's; honey garlic wings from Wild Wing; kettle corn.







Pasta with rose sauce & corn and cranberry salad; butter tart from LaRocca; California rolls from Tomo; white brownie & honey steak from Moxie's.







Mushrooms from Moxie's; assorted Thai food; wing in butter sauce & corn and cheese on flat bread from Turtle Jack's; nachos from Lonestar.







Middle Eastern foods; fish & rice from Longos; strawberry and cookies & cream gelato; cheese & tomato kabob, salami & cheese, and smoked salmon & spinach dip on bread.







Persian spinach on rice from Friend's Restaurant.

(J) You pay $15 and get a card with many restaurant names on it. You then go around to each booth and get your card checked off and receive food! Some portions were bigger than others. I enjoyed the variety. My favourites were Nando's chicken and the strawberry gelato. They also had coupons for free appetizers and discounts!
(S) $15 is so worth the variety of food you get. I really liked the white brownie from Moxie's, the chowder in bread bowl, and Nando's...wow, the chicken portion was big! And so juicy!

Location: Richmond Green Sports Centre
Website: Tastes of the Hill