Midi Bistro

We visited Midi Bistro for the first time this past Saturday, and I must say that I was left with quite the impression. Here's why.

Midi Bistro is a small establishment located on McCaul and Elm St. Its exterior doesn't look like much, as I've walked by the restaurant hundreds of times over the past 6 years that I've lived around the area and had only dared to venture in for the first time this past weekend.

A few things to know about the bistro: they serve French cuisine, they specialize in mussels, and they have a pretty solid wine selection. (I am not exactly a wine connoisseur, but the way that the waitress who introduced it had me convinced!). And as a side note, Midi Bistro participates in Winterlicious/Summerlicious events in Toronto every year.

http://www.yelp.ca/user_local_photos?select=HluFgWBSIr3tYmiptZMo0w&userid=DNlzbI54zCOa4to-vTWBJQ

Their interior is pretty cozy with some nice and simple decor. It's just like what the reviews online had entailed regarding their atmosphere and ambiance. I'd say that the restaurant is a pretty good for romantic get-togethers and casual socializing.

We got here around 6:30 PM and had apparently beat the "rush hour" since they got pretty busy at 7 and 8 PM. I'd recommend coming here at 6 PM or do brunch or it'll get really noisy and busy in the restaurant.

Ann likes their star-light decor by the window. It adds a nice touch to the ambiance. 

This is their menu.

And their drinks menu.

They provided complimentary bread and butter, we wished it was toasted though!

Since Ann and I are still on a pescatarian diet, we stuck to their seafood options. We ordered:

Appetizer: One pound of "pistou"-flavored steamed mussels with fries.

According to their menu, pistou seasoning is made from white wine, pesto and parsley.

Drink 1: Glass of white wine - 2010 Pinot Griglo La Delizia "Delle Venezie" Friulvini (Italy)

Drink 2: Glass of red wine - 2008 Minervois Domaine Pujol Izard (Languedoc - Fr.)

Main: Plat du jour (Chef's Daily Special) - which was Pan Seared Steelhead Trout some sort of sauce and steamed veggies. I forgot what the waitress said.

Main 2: Saumon a La Cannelle - Pan Seared Cinnamon Crust Salmon Fillet, Light Saffron Sauce

Bon Appetit!

Here's what I thought of the food:

The mussels were alright. They were a little smaller than usual, but the taste was subtle and made for a good appetizer. I had really wanted to try what the waitress said was the chef's favorite, which was mussels with the Catalane seasoning. It consisted of chorizo (sausage), shallots, paprika, and cream. Sounded delicious!

We ordered the wine because I heard that French cuisine goes well with wine. As we were amateurs to wine, we ordered one white and one red. The waitress said that the white wine we got was a bit dry, which I wasn't sure what she meant by, but she also said it was a bit sweet (that sold me for sure).

As for the fish, I can't really comment since I am not a big fan of seafood. All I know is that it was cooked well with subtle flavors. Though, without their sauce/veggie sides, the trout and the salmon kinda tasted the same. Might be because they were both pan seared.

Overall, we had a pretty good experience at Midi Bistro. The waitress was always around just when we needed her and she was more than helpful with recommendations and suggestions. Granted that their menu is a bit expensive but they do offer a pri-fixe brunch on weekends for $15. I haven't tried that yet myself, but I'd highly recommend it. When you're there, do give their mussels a try, since it is their specialty afterall!

Costco Hot Dog

Not a restaurant, but I vowed to write about all things food when Johnny and I created this blog, and Costco definitely falls under that category.

Costco is just one of those magical warehouses that entices you to buy EVERYTHING since things in bulk just appeal to that little voice in our head that says, "More is better!" Too bad Costco doesn't allow photographs to be taken though, otherwise I would have gone camera crazy and taken pictures of all the happy things my greedy self wants (but not need). And the free samples they offer are enough to keep you full until your next meal.

One of the things I love about Costco is their cheap hot dogs. My friend whom I went to Costco with said, "It's funny that it's only when I'm in Costco that I ever think of buying a hot dog." This is probably because it's only 1.50 with a drink and free refills; rumor has it that the price hasn't changed since 1984. That's one hefty rumor to have to live by.

With a warm bun, a thick and juicy hotdog, bell peppers, mustard, relish - is there anything that isn't wrong with this hot dog?

My friend opted for the sausage option (same price) and haphazardly decorated his with ketchup, mustard, and onions.

We got a side of fries and gravy (about $2 something).

Costco will definitely always be my go to for a quick hot dog fix (that and the various hot dog stands on campus - more on this later!)