GINGER

So my hubby and I were doing business downtown Toronto and wanted to have some lunch. So he suggested we go to Ginger. Being the adventurer I am, I gladly agreed and we strolled over to Bloor St. and Yonge St.

At first when I got there, I must admit I was a little skeptical on the appearance of the restaurant. First, the restaurant wasnt a great big space, it had a check-out/take-out counter, behind which appeared to be the kitchen or grill area. Secondly, there was a wall covered in glass or which appeared to be a large mirror. Lastly, the seating arrangements seemed to take the form of an L-shape.

So we lined up to place our order and we were given a number and  we took our seats. Oh my gosh! The food was so fresh and tasty. This was my first time at Vietnamese dishes and it is was such a great choice for lunch that day.

Price wise, you're looking at $7-$10 if you buy drinks and a roll. This is a hit spot to grab lunch with your friends or co-workers on any day of the week.

GINGER

KOREA HOUSE

When my friend suggested we go to Korea House for Reading Week, I was all excited because I'm an adventurer when it comes to trying new foods. I was looking for something tasty and different from the usual Western foods that I'm used to eating most of the times.  We all eagerly waited at the Christie subway station for a friend to get off work. When our friend arrived, we strolled to Korea House to see what it had to offer.


When we found it we were pleased that it was indeed a spot with character rather than a exquisite restaurant chain or modern establishment. Korea House is a small, cozy, spot for Korean food lovers. There isn’t a lot of room to get around, so it is perfect for a party of five or a little more. There are limited seating and on a busy day you might not even be able to make your way through.

We were seated near the kitchen along the side wall and we went straight for our menus, this was a late lunch for everyone, therefore, we all were anticipating eating a feast of a meal. My friend and I decided to go with a favourite choice of Kimchi Stew- a dish highly recommended by my friend. Kimchi Stew is made with pork or beef, Korean cabbage, Kimchi paste, tofu and green onions. My other friends weren't so adventurous and went for the Chicken Bogogi- sizzling chicken on hotplate with rice and eggs and additional seasonings to taste.

While you eat, small servings of mini dishes or appetizers are brought to you to enjoy while you savour your main course. The bill came up to $11-$15/person including tips. If you are in the mood for some Korean food, this is the place to go. After grabbing lunch or dinner, hop across the street to have some fun singing karaoke with your friends while you digest.

Korea House

666 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON, M6G 1L2

416-536-8666 

For those not feeling Korean or Asian food, see what Toronto has to offer at Taste T.O. Events happening now in the month of May until Summer's end. Visit their website at http://www.tasteto.com/events/ 

India's Taste

Hey Foodies! If you have a taste for the South East Asian palate then this is the place to eat! Located right at the corner of Ray Lawson and Mavis Rd. in Brampton, this little hideway is a must eat. As you enter, on the right is a wall full of Indian sweets and treats.

On the menu is a wide range of Indian dishes such as, Butter Chicken, Goat Curry, Shahi Paneer,Chicken Curry, Tandoori Chicken, Chat Papari, but my personal favourites are the Butter Chicken and the Saag Paneer. For those of you who are not that adventurous, the Tandoori Chicken might be a great choice to start.

The buffet area consists of a hot grill where a chef makes fresh Naan and a choice dish for that day.

This is located at the rear of the restaurant. The restaurant is well-lit with low hanging lights. It is kind of difficult to move around as the restaurant is not a very big space.

The servers are dressed neatly in what I assumed to be the restaurant's uniform. They were quick and polite and always ready to bring fresh Naan to the table.

The bill was  about $10-$15/person, plus tip. That includes buffet price and drinks. So, if you're tired from a day's work and simply looking for a different and nice meal to eat, I strongly recommed India's Taste.

You can get a peek at what the restaurant offers at http://www.indiastaste.ca/. Some other recommendations for great South Asian food is the Harbourfront Zaika: South Asian Food Festival. Visit the Harbourfront's website for more details: http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/worldroutes/festivals.cfm?festival_id=36.