The School Fine Dining

The School Fine Dining
4121 14th Avenue
(905) 477-1161
www.theschoolfinedining.com

I took my boyfriend here for his birthday and we both enjoyed it. We weren't incredibly happy about the shrimp cocktail. The shrimp did not taste fresh at all and was a little chewy.. I'm guessing it might have been over cooked? I don't know.. I definately wouldn't order it again.. For that price I'd much rather buy a frozen shrimp cocktail ring from Costco.. (they have shrimp rings with larger shrimps there fyi!)

Our favourite part is no doubt the Irish Coffee. I expected the drink to arrive at the table already put together. To our suprise, instead, the waiter showed up with a side table with an open flame and several cups of liquid. I am not 100% sure but I believe he first coated the rim of the glass in sugar and caramelized it over the flame. He then warmed up the coffee and layered it into the glass. The concoction was then topped with a mound of fresh cream and then warm whisky. Absolutely delicious and it made for quite a show! Definately order this! It is worth the $12.

You will also be suprised at how big the portions of the mains are. If you look below, the prime rib we ordered was the $38 dish for ONE person. It was about 3 inches thick and 10 inches wide! We did not expect that and could not finish it at all.

A must try is also the sea bass! It was very enjoyable! The sauce compliments it so well and the baked/fried cheese risotto was delicious (at least.. that's what I thought it was?)

Shrimp cocktail & oysters on half shell

Sea Bass!

Prime rib

Irish Coffee

The Hunt for the Perfect Eggs Benedict

I am absolutely in loveeeee with eggs benedict since my first exposure to it about two years ago! It is such an addictive dish seeing as I am a huge fan of english muffins and eggs! I would have to say that so far my favourite place for breakfast and eggs benedict is at Eggspectations downtown! Cora's is okay.. simply because I enjoy the fruit on the side but really.. NOTHING compares to Eggspectations! Go try it out!

Below are some photos from my recent breakfast experiences... Eggsmart? So many of these opened up recently and it just blew up! I think within the last 6 months 4 opened up within 15minutes distance from my house... it took me awhile before I decided to try it out! I first tried the one at Bayview and Elgin Mills! My friend and I had the omelete and the peameal bacon & eggs. The eggs were delicious, perfectly done sunny side up (my favourite way to have eggs). The potatoes were mediocre but at least it isn't greasy/burnt at some other places... One thing was that I actually ordered the Eggs benedict but they got my order wrong and I got peameal bacon & eggs...The service was great though, they apologized and even happily offered to switch my order for me but it looked pretty good so I just tried it!

So I decided to try out the Eggsmart at Highway 7 & Kennedy.... TOTALLY different experience... and I mean that in the worst way possible......I guess you have to be careful WHICH Eggsmart you go to... just LOOK at the eggs benedict below... I'm sure you can pick out what's wrong with this photo without even being there! The Hollandaise sauce was cold and chunky... the eggs were hard poached when I asked for soft/medium... my English muffin was burnt... same with the potatoes (which were not only burnt but uncooked in the middle)... I wanted to skip the main course and move onto the fruits until I realized the orange looked so dry it seems it had sat there on that plate all day! Needless to say.... I will not be back...

A great place for you to get breakfast food at any time of the day is Pickle Barrel! Yea my potatoes were a little burnt and the fruit kabob was just normal but the eggs benedict was pretty good! I have to try the other version with smoked salmon and spinach next time! Sounds delicious. I had this at dinner time which is always great! Let me know if you know of any locations in Markham (other than Golden Griddle) where I can have breakfast during dinner time!

Blacksmith's Bistro

Please check out a previous post for the contact information of Blacksmith's! I am just sitting here flipping channels and I came across TLC.... I think I have found my new favourite show... FOOD BUDDHA! This show is about an asian chef from Sunda Restaurant in Chicago... he likes to travel around and find inspiration for dishes at his restaurant by ordering ONE OF EVERYTHING on the menu.. everywhere he goes... HOW does anyone eat like this? I am much more amazed than I am disgusted... at least I think so? If only I could do that... even one bite of each dish will be too much for me... and you think I loved food? Wait 'til you watch the Food Buddha in action! I have to admit... the dishes he tries all look amazing! He always asks the chef to teach him how to make his favourite dish out of the ones he's tried! I want to try to make some of these things...

I haven't blogged in awhile but after watching the Food Buddha, all I could think about WAS food! Here are some pictures from my second trip to Blacksmith's Bistro on Main Street. This time we sat on the patio as it was a beautiful day! They have a more secluded patio in the back of the restaurant if you are looking for a more intimate setting but it does start to fill up after awhile! I guess Blacksmith's delicious food is a well known fact! We were actually headed to Il Postino and Unionville Pizza Co. but they were both closed on Sundays... : ( O well! I won't complain.. just check out the amazing dishes we tried and you'll know why! Definately my new favourite patio destination.


Seafood linguine in pesto sauce ( I LOVE PESTO !)

Funghi thin crust wood oven pizza! The only thing is that I hate blue cheese... aside from that.... the pizza was amazing! I just picked the cheese out...

mMmMMmmmm oysters... beside the Tobasco is some home made sauce of peppers? I have no idea what is in it but it had a very distinct taste

caesar salad

black olive bread with balsamic vinegar & olive oil! yummm