TO: Eight Wine Bar

I’ve taken a long, relaxing hiatus from my blog but I’m finally back with 1) an undergraduate degree (yay!), 2) a belly full of delicious home-cooked holiday food and 3) a peaceful state of mind after a month at my parents’ new home in Calgary.

In the past month, I made an important new transition relocating from Chicago to Toronto. I’ll still be blogging about my favorite Chi-city’s restaurant & nightlife scene, but first up is a review on Eight Wine Bar – a snazzy little Italian joint in Toronto’s financial district.

Though Eight Wine Bar is participating in Toronto’s Winterlicious 2010 festival (Jan 29-Feb 11), we arrived a few days too early for the special menu. The regular menu was simplistic, but we found enough interesting dishes to go around our five-person table.

We skipped the wine (sadly) and started off the meal with a stunning cheese platter accompanied with walnut bread, grapes and a heavenly chutney that made this platter an sure shot winner. The creamy goat cheese also deserves an honorary mention and was paired marvelously with the crunchy walnut bread.

My entree disappointed me, but it’s my own fault for being too adventurous with the Pan Seared Arctic Char. The fish, otherwise rather bland, had an off-putting citrus flavor and didn’t pair well with parmesan polenta. The Grilled Lime and Ginger Marinated Chicken Breast and Fried Eggplant Lasagna, on the other hand, were delicious and flavorful.

Despite full stomachs, we went ahead and sampled the desserts as well. How can you say no to Vanilla Creme Brulee with raspberries and gooseberries? For me, Eight Wine Bar was all about the cheese platter and dessert. And on a cold winter day, the plush red decor certainly helps lift spirits.

DEETS: 8 Colborne Street, lobby of Cosmopolitan Hotel, Eight Wine Bar

CHI: Forno Diablo

It’s hard for me not to write about Pan-Asian restaurants all the time since it’s my favorite cuisine, but I’m consciously trying to be a little diverse here!

I haven’t been back to Forno since last spring, but I’m thinking it’s time I frequent this little Italian joint again famous for its wood-fired oven pizzas! Located in Lincoln Park, the hotspot of inexpensive yet stylish restaurants, Forno is especially delightful in the spring when its outdoor patio is open.

Last time I was here, I had the Diablo Crab Cakes, which were not as “jumbo” as the menu described. They were, however, absolutely delicious and accompanied with a tasty celery and apple salad. The portions were tiny, but in retrospect, this was a good thing given the scrumptious nature of the entrees!

For the main course, I sidestepped the Butternut Pizza (a restaurant specialty) and chose the homemade Gnocchi in tomato vodka sauce. Luckily, I did not regret this decision one bit. The generous dollops of potato dumplings were cooked in a light cream-based sauce that didn’t feel as heavy or overwhelming as most Italian cream sauces. I managed to polish off the entire plate, so I’d stay the portions were just right.

Finally, the creme brulee is to die for. I’ve actually re-visited Forno immediately after my first trip just for this decadent dessert. Creme brulee’s always been a favorite of mine, but Forno’s recipe really ups the bar for me. Perfectly creamy and sweet, this one is oh-so guilt-inducing!

Anyone wanna take a trip to LP with me?

Deets: 433 W. Diversey Pkwy