Grapefruit Moon

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Lo Zingaro Ristorante Pizzeria

http://www.lo-zingaro.com/

What a crazy, muddy, wet week this was… We were looking for a small evening snack to enjoy after our weekly volleyball game and passed by Lo Zingaro Ristorante Pizzeria.

APPEARANCE
dark ruby, in an old style bottle
We noticed the old fashioned pizzeria sign first. It had yellow blinking light bulbs all around and looked like an anachronism here. It is however, not difficult to pass unfortunately. Few flower baskets outside add some country charm to the appearance. A narrow and long space with few tables wide open to Queen Street – doing their best to capture some of the summer weather while being bound to a tight downtown location.
We were lucky to grab a seat right next to the window. Ma Cherie ventured inside to survey the premises while taking a few photos.

NOSE
dark cherry, red fruit, needing more attention and aeration
The impressive bar corner had preserve jars and bottles on the wall. There was also an open kitchen with a very active chef visible at the end of the long corridor, at the back. Beautiful incandescent light bulbs hanging from the ceiling, a flower basket by our window and…lounge music?(not the ultimate fit) A great atmosphere other than that! Some muttered chattering at the table nearby, noisy Queen St and a warm July evening. We had a candle on our table in a branded Remy Martin glass (not sure why). What else to wish for? Maybe a bit more attention from our host. He seemed very preoccupied with making espressos and lattes for other guests. We did have to call him a couple of times.

SWIRL
light spices, vanilla
After exploring the simple and well organized menu, we decided to go with their Quattro Stagioni to share - ma Cherie was enthusiastic as it is not a popular one outside of Italy. We wanted to get Italian beers, so asked for Peroni and Lozi. It turned out Lozi isn’t, so we instead wanted to ask the 666 Devil’s Pale Ale.
As we waited, we settle in and enjoyed the small and stylish interior. The light bulbs were lightly dancing in the air. It made us reflect and talk, while feeling awfully romantic.
Our beers didn’t take long to make it to our table. The Peroni is light, yeasty and malty with light bitterness near the end - nothing out of the ordinary. On the other hand, the Ontarian 666 Devil’s Pale Ale is dark, very hoppy and a bit sweet - on the intense side.

PALATE
full bodied, ripe-tasting
It took maybe 10-15 minutes to get our food. Chef himself brought our order in, a very nice touch (although he could have spend few more minutes with us to make it perfect).
Our pizza was sizzling hot and fresh from the oven. The crust was thin and the dish was not overloaded with ingredients. It was lightly cut, so we had to repeat the lines. It was a perfect meal to share - slightly burned Italian ham, olives and mushrooms accented the simple crust dough just enough not to overshadow the cheese and artichokes. The ingredients were separated into four areas (hence the name) and we had a chance to experience the difference. Overall it was mouth-watering.
Ma Cherie couldn't help but share the main mushroom slice, even though I am no fan of them. We had to clarify what kind of mushroom was used, as we liked it so much. Turned out to be cremini. Jumping ahead, we made a cremini rizzotto the day after.
To top the meal off, we got panna cotta. Quite interesting although not as exciting as the pizza (which is good, it is a pizzeria after all). A traditionally made desert with some fresh berries on top. Hopefully made in-house, but it was hard to tell on the spot. Should have gotten an espresso as well in retrospect...

FINISH
spicy, tobacco addition
If you are looking for an authentic pizza place - Lo Zingaro should at least be on your list. It is reasonably priced and very accessible. Being tucked in a bit, it is easy to miss. We hope more people will have a chance to enjoy its flower decorated tables by the window and artisan pizzas.


Overall, a close-to-heart Valpolicella.

Midi Bistro

http://www.midibistro.ca/

We were talking with Ma Cherie about the benefits of Groupon (and clones alike). Maybe it boils down to simply being an instrument of inconspicuous spending induction? Our conclusion was that these sites can be used as a catalyst for exploring new and interesting places in the city. As an example, a small French bistro Midi advertised a 3 course dinner with wine for 2 people for only around $40... Too good to pass :). No pun intended, but we did pass by the place quite a few times before. Ma Cherie's alma mater is OCAD so this area has some sentimental meaning to us.

APPEARANCE
dark amber, rare
Baldwin is busy (and hot) like hell on this hazy July evening. Midi is a bit off the crowded stretch - right on McCaul instead. Schools are out, so patios of local eateries are filled with chilling youth. Midi is a more upscale bistro with some class to it. When we walked in, it was actually empty except two older ladies chatting catching up on their social lives in the corner.

NOSE
sweet floral, dried fruit, hint of a nut
We were warmly greeted by a young lady. It looked like she was a hostess and a waiter at the same time - very down-to-earth and not pretending to be french. A window seat was chosen and we made ourselves comfortable in simple, but functional chairs. The menu is very busy with well described options and a separate wine map. Few things were missing (e.g. lamb) as announced by our waitress, but the choices were fairly comprehensive and fitting with what any self-respecting French bistro should offer. Although our host was fighting what appeared to be an allergy cough attack, she was able to walk us through the menu and make recommendations.

SWIRL
a lonely warm oak sent
We ended up ordering a Midi Salad, Pate de Champagne, a Faux-Filet Grille and a chef’s special - Duck Confit. This was to be paired with a Californian Chardonnay and a Languedoc Syrah. Now we had time to look around... The place was tastefully but minimalistic decoration with some vintage posters and bottles along the walls. Odd star lights, suspended by the windows, were perhaps left over from Christmas. So we sat and chatted away occasionally glancing at still empty dining room around us. (everyone was probably out on patios)

PALATE
smooth texture and elegance on the palate, well balanced
The Midi Salad and Pate arrived very fast - I would say within 10 minutes or so. The presentation and arrangement on the plate was impeccable and we jumped right in. I would definitely recommend the salad as something interesting to try. It was loaded with prosciutto and greens along with some Asiago cheese on top. Walnuts and cherry tomatoes accented the green mass and the hints of pesto added interesting notes to it. One of the tastier salads I tried recently. Pate was less exciting, but also definitely worthwhile to try. Ma Cherie was able to pick up the hints of champagne in it. I definitely failed to do so. The grain-rich toast was covered in parsley and the dish came with a side of greens in accompaniment with that promised Gherkin pickle to add acidity accent to that smooth, creamy dish.
The main course didn't take too long to arrive. However, by that time we ran out of wine and asked for refills - salad and pate got us carried away a bit with wine. Ma Cherie was very delighted by her steak, I do not think I ever saw her being so happy about grilled beef before. Hits of smoky aroma and perfectly captured juices made the dish highly enjoyable. The strip-loin had some fatty parts to it, but they added that special smell she loved. I would recommend Midi over some places specializing in steak (in the same price range anyway) - tried some inferior meat in those, Midi definitely sets the bar high for us again. The steak had a light paprika-tomatoe base sauce and fresh garlic on top to bring this dish to its full potential (plus greens on the side). Finally I had a Duck Confit with salad. Yes, a salad again. Ma Cherie was happy to see a place which really pushes refreshing veggies as a side to any dish, even if perhaps compromising for the dish presentation. I though it was too many salads - should have had something else on the side by that point. The dark and juicy meat was cooked to perfection and was falling off the bone. I normally do not like duck as it tends to be too greasy for me, but this iteration was very well made. An excellent match for the Syrah!
We concluded our dinner by reading off the small chalk-board our choice of desserts: Warm Walnut Chocolate Cake and Tarte Tatin served with ice cream. While the cake appeared to be very fresh and appropriately moist, we did not find the tart of any interest. But then again...maybe it was because we had so many well-made dishes just prior to and it was difficult to compare.

FINISH
a strong presence, signature drink
I would have called this a hidden gem, but it is really not that concealed being right next to super-busy Baldwin stretch. It is small, but intimate. Not a particularly spectacular view and a bit on a darker side inside, but I would still call it romantic. Definitely a very down-to-earth French Bistro which I think more people should give a chance to.

Overall.. a smooth French cognac. 
(wanting to breathe - some fresh warm air will help it stand out more)