3.4.13

The Chickery


http://www.thechickery.com/

Ahhh...the aroma. I think we first noticed this small place on Camden by the aroma - this unforgettable aroma of roasted chicken. Also, the memorable rooster graphics were hard to miss. Chickery was an instant candidate for lunch sometime soon. Especially since we both work nearby. We only hoped that this is not an overpriced KFC going through a rebranding effort.

APPEARANCE
bright yellow, very light
Lots of glass and somewhat of a rustic look overall. The details of this modern loft seem to be paying homage to a small, southern town eatery. We first noticed some vintage cola containers near the door. We loved the theming from the custom barn-style incandescent lamps hanging from the ceiling - these lights looked like they might have been reincarnated from their past life as hen warmers. There are two styles of wood - not very well blended though-out. One type is covering some of the walls – it is artificially aged wood, dyed in light violet. The second, authentic type, we noticed under the counter - with barn nails holding some of the boards together. Another, not-to-miss element was the type. Some on the walls had guiding principles about Chickery – generic content, but cute style of writing.

SWIRL
no long legs, chilled wine leaves some moisture on the glass walls
We walked up and ordered their quarter chicken (white) and chicken fingers sandwich. The price seemed relatively high at first, but we realized that it all included one side which was not such a bad deal after all. The cashier was pleasant, but definitely in no mood to chat – understandable, considering the stampede of people around us. According to her, the most popular menu item was their pulled chicken sandwich, but we set our mind of something else already. We came there at 13:10, but it was likely packed at around noon. It was still busy at this later lunch hour. We grabbed the number and sat ourselves on the side, the bar stool area was all busy. Next to us were two ladies from an ad agency, hoping the ambiance to spark some creativity in them.

NOSE
light citrusy smell breaking through, crisp    
The wait was looong. We sat for about 10 minutes before our food appeared. It looked like quite a few folks were waiting anxiously for their orders to arrive. At some point, the waitress activated and served all the tables almost at once. My quarter chicken was served on waxed paper on a metal tray with a side of bbq sauce. Looked great, a bit small though. Ma Cherie's sandwich had a bit more presentation to it – the sandwich halves were pierces with thin slices of radish and carrot on a toothpick. A definitely loaded meal!

PALATE
tong biting, crispy taste; earth tones, but very light overall
I found my chicken not overly dry, but Ma Cherie disagreed. It was still very tasty with an original rub and with their excellent bbq sauce. A simple, but genius meal. Well cooked throughout and not burned at all. The sandwich on the other hand, was not simple at all. It had pickles, cut greens and a piece of buttermilk breaded crispy chicken inside. Cajun mayo inside and a bbq sauce on the side had it work Maybe a tad difficult to eat due to all the goodness packed in and the chicken sticking out of everywhere. Nonetheless, I had a few bites and enjoyed it quite a lot.

FINISH
Could use some more maturing. Well rounded overall. 
Nice...despite the wait, we left satisfied. The place has great atmosphere and good food. We both thought we should’ve tried their fries, but shortly realized that they don't offer any. Oh well...still worth visiting again, especially to try those bleachers at the front.

Overall - a young unoaked Chardonnay
The Chickery on Urbanspoon

1.4.13

Effes Mediterranean Grill

http://effesgrill.ca/

This place was chosen to celebrate Grandfather’s 75th birthday, so it was primarily his call. To be honest, we would not have visited here otherwise – Effes is located on Keele and Highway 7 in a somewhat obscure plaza. Based on the area, people most come in for lunch - those working in the area. Furniture stores, small manufacturers, warehouses for the nearby rail juncture… Not a typical environment for a culinary adventure. But then again, who knows. Maybe it is a true “hidden gem”.

APPEARANCE
clear, pale yellow, inconspicuous and not very promising bottle
No cars parked at the front, really minimal lighting, a brick arched entrance made us feel like we are in Greece, despite the large parking lot. Their brand is nothing too memorable or heavily invested in. We shyly walked in to be warmly greeted by, presumably by the owner. From what we understood, they did not really plan to be open today. Better for us! All attention will be to our party of seven. The place looked decidedly better inside. The furnishings were somewhat simple, but very functionally set up. Not much decoration besides that - red spot lights, white walls, blue tiled ceiling putting you in the mood for some authentically cooked hearty meal. The entrants are greeted by a display of baklava in a nicely lid glassed cabinet. Grandpa ceremonially announced that these would be our dessert when the time comes.

NOSE
citrusy, interesting flower hints and rose tones
A typical family gathering for a birthday party involving all the pleasantries and the giving of presents takes a bit of time. Being in a center of attention has its drawbacks, the ratio of employees to guests was pretty close to 1:1. By the time we were actually ready to order, the waitress was already very eager to start. We did get a loaded bruschetta as an appetizer on the house in the meantime and asked for some beer and wine. That bruschetta was finger-licking good, indeed. The menu was rich with options, but could be a bit more elegant in its appearance. At the same time, it left a cozy feeling as something that was put together lovingly. The waitress herself was very nice and accommodating. She seemed to understand the needs of a big Eastern European family. No surprise, she herself was not too culturally remote from this - being from Kalmykia, Russia.

SWIRL
not very long legs hints of honey and bee wax
I ordered a lamb soulvaki and Ma Cherie went for yogurt chicken with tomato basil sauce. The lamb was served with a side of bulgur and a salad while the chicken was complimented by baked potatoes, both our choices. We also asked for their house wines- red and white to match our meals. The portion size is the main concern in Mediterranean places. We already anticipated that we will be eating what we order for at least next day for lunch. In addition, we got some platters to share with standard fare – humus, tubule, pickled mushrooms, etc. That was already filling on its own so we were afraid to face the main course.

PALATE
floral, fruity taste, some evidence of developing character
And the food arrived…lots of it. My lamb was truly delicious, with bulgur side a bit drier than I would have preferred it to be. I normally do not mind the lamb smell (occasionally enjoy it even) and this meat was really well balanced. It had just a hint of smell, enough to give it definition, but did not overwhelm. Even Ma Cherie was able to enjoy a few pieces. Bulgur could use a bit more sauce, but I should have probably addressed this issue myself. The yogurt chicken was covered in thick tomato-peppers base, and could have used a stronger character when it came to herbs and salt. The side of baked potatoes had hint of paprika, and plenty of fresh parsley. Got us talking about cooking something similar soon - a good sign. Overall the whole experience left a very pleasant feeling. It truly felt like a home-made meal.
We all took food to go, but had to go for those baklavas, as we promised. We had all the different ones with a side of their home black tea - served in the traditional Turkish tulip cups.

FINISH
light and fresh
The owner personally thanked us as we were walking out. We would definitely recommend this venue for an authentic Mediterranean fare. The place worth checking in the summer, looks like they have a decent patio.

Overall, a surprisingly under-appreciated Chenin Blanc
Effes Mediterranean Grill on Urbanspoon