Moxie's Classic Grill

Name: Moxie's Classic Grill (franchise restaurant)
Address: Various Location
Contact: Visit Website
Parking: Usually Available
Price: $20-$40

One thing about franchise restaurant is that the quality is usually consistence. Moxie is one of the top franchise restaurant. I rank it along side with THE KEG.The reason why I post Moxie is that not a lot of people notice their dessert menu. Usually people visit for their dinner, but I mainly go for its dessert, and one dessert ONLY.

White Chocolate Brownies (around $6)
Too many times I have been doubted by non white chocolate lovers and I can assure you, even if you HATE white chocolate such as myself, you will fall in love the moment you bite into one of these. And for all the white chocolate lovers out there, prepare to be blown away.

This dish is serve with a square fresh warm white chocolate brownies. Crispy and hot outside, but soft, moist and dense when you bite into it. One top of all these greatness, they are served with two tiny scoops of vanilla ice-cream. Not too much that it will soak the cake.

With the Hot and Cold battling inside your mouth and the flavor of the cake attacking your tongue it is impossible not to fall in love with this one.

Ahora

Name: Ahora Mexican Cuisine
Address: 307 Dalhousie Street, Ottawa
Hours: Mon-Thu 12pm-9pm; Fri 12pm-10pm; Sat 12:30pm-10pm; Sun 12:30pm-9pm
Contact: 613.562.2081 (reservation provide)
Parking: Not Available Downtown Parking
Price:$10-$20

Mexican Food is always strong in flavor salt, sugar, and cheese. You will love it if you can handle it.


Jarrito Drinks $2.55
They have various favorite includes Pineapple, Lime, Mango, Mandarin, Tangerine etc. My fellow eater said it's too sweet. I find it alright.
Virgin Pina Colada

Plato Ahora $13.50
This plate come with two sides. A choice of rice, salad or black bean.
Burrito stuffed with chicken and black beans and dressed with guacamole sauce. The black bean is slightly on the salty side. The salad is great with avocado and the rice is very tasty with a slight chicken broth taste to it.

Overall: It is not a healthy meal with such a high level of sodium, but it is very good and very authentic. It is my second time here, but it will not be my last. Just cannot have it everyday!

After that we went to watch the Mosaika light show at 9:30Pm. Image are projected on the Parliament Hill. It is quite lovely.

JP`s Crispy Chips Wagon

Name: JP's Chrispy Chips Wagon
Address: Merivale and Hunt Club (located at the back of Canadian Tire)
Parking: Parking at Plaza
Price: $4-$15


This is only a Kids size poutine $4.00
It is so filling, but one of the best I have ever had. People keep saying Montreal`s Poutine is the best, but I think this is no less tastier. They have a perfect balance of gravy, cheese, and chips. The gravy is rich, and even with cheese it is still not over salty at all.
Crispy Chips is no doubt chrispy enough to make you gaga for the next crunch. They also serve a variety of hot dog, hamburger, and sausage. They even have chilli dog which is hot dog with a regular white bun topped with chili and more cheddar cheese.

Restoran Malaysia

Name: Restoran Malaysia
Address: 815 Major Mackenzie Drive East, Richmond Hill (GTA)
Hours:
Contact: 905.508.1432
Parking: Mall Parking Available
Price: $20-$40 ppl

Asian food is big in GTA, but never a place of just Malaysian food. Usually they are own by Chinese. Chinese Malaysian food is nice, but wouldn't you want to have some authenticity? This restaurant is own by Malaysian. My friends from Malaysia ask for this restaurant every time they visit the country. I'm a sucker for authentic food, so this restaurant is one of the top choice for me.

The Atmosphere: Intimate yet warm and welcoming. The mural on the walls help ties the whole ethnic/tropical theme together. The entire place is very clean and new, "Whoever says authentic means dirty is dead wrong."

Setting: It is a fairly large restaurant with seating in both left and right side. There is a huge bar at the entrance which is the center of the restaurant. The bar created an exotic feeling of Malaysia. Plus, you can help yourself to a drink while waiting for a table, because this place is always busy.
Malaysia Cooler $4 (Pineapple juice, Orange juice and Coconut Milk)
It taste like Pina Colada but more refreshing with the orange juice. It is alcohol free, perfect for a non drinker like me.

The Malaysia Trade Marke Tarik Milk Tea or Coffee is a must have.
Tarik is a method in which drinks are pore (pull) between two pots. The two pots are separated arm length wide, one above your head the other down by your knees. This process is repeated until the milk and sugar are well mixed. It is very nice to watch, although they do not preform it in front of you at this restaurant. You will have to go to Malaysia to experience this amazing scene.
I would prefer Coffee, "Kopi" in Malaysian. It is much stronger in taste and smoother in texture.

Appetizer Plater: Spring Rolls, Satay Chicken and Beef, Fish Cake $29
The fish cake is one of the best I have ever tasted in a long time, rich with all kind of spices.
The Satay are delicious, and the peanut sauce is well blend. In Malaysia Street Market there are hundreds of Satay Grill venders, the difference between them are their home make peanut sauce.(allergy alert)

Roti with curry sauce
It is a different kind of roti. This roti is flip and tossed with coconut oil. It is baked to a very fluffy form. Paired with a coconut milk curry sauce is quite a good starter.
Indonesian Beef
The waitress warn us that we might not like it, but being an adventurist we try our luck. It is very herbal spice driven, basil and all. The texture of the beef is MOSH. The spice cover most of the beef flavor. The beef itself is not very juicy. Nice try but I will not order again.

Malaysian Friend Chicken garnish with Lobster Chips
The chicken does not taste like it has been pre-marinated. The beater is just regular grocery store beater. Nothing special, and the chicken is a bit dry and over fried.

Assam Fish
Assam meaning Tamarind. It gives a sourly taste the dish, commonly use in Malaysian Food. Very strong and awaking. The Assam mixed with Tomato gives the dish its original flavor. Sour indeed, but I love it.

Nyonya Curry Chicken
Nyonya meaning pass down recipe from grand-parents, therefore there can be different variation. This chicken dish is not bad, but would not be my person favorite.

Malaysian Kway Teow Noodle (around$10)
Taste delicious and the noodle is tender and springy.
This is often the dish to observe the chef's skill level. It is not easy to cook GOOD stir fried rice noodle. You need enough oil to cook it, but at the same time you need to fried it right so it will not turn out soggy and greasy. A lot of arm work and precise timing and skills.

Overall: This is a really good restaurant with a good atmosphere. The noise level is not too high, definitely a good place to have gatherings. Some dishes are disappointing, but there are also some outstanding ones.
We went to this restaurant two nights in a roll, that is how much I like it. I cannot wait to try my personal favorite, Assam Laksa.

Pelican Fishery & Grill

Name: Pelican Fishery & Grill
Address: 1500 Bank Street, Ottawa
Contact: 613-526-0995
Hours: Mon thru Thur 11am to 8:30pm, Fri thru Sat 11:00am to 9:00pm, Sun 11:30am to 8:00pm
Parking: Mall Parking
Price: $26 - $40 pp
They Starts us off with a multi-grain bread with the cutest butter on the side. The bread is cold, but it's tasty none the less.

Clam Chowder. $5 for a cup and $8 for a bowl.
This is their all time favorite. I must say it is one of the best. It is very creamy and flavorful. It is just the right thickest.

Lobster Bisque.
I usually don't order this soup, because I feet like the lobster is being wasted in liquid form. However, I must say this is the best that I have every had. Rich and definitely stays in you mouth. The highlight is they put in little croutons to give that extra texture. It is a bit on the salty side, but very very yummy salty.

Ceder Roasted Salmon Topped with Maple Sauce. $19
I eat salmon all the time, but this one is very oily and fresh. I cannot think of a better way to describe it. The sugary maple sauce is a great combination, it brings out all the settle freshness in the fish.
You might think you can cook salmon at home, but salmon this fresh, I bet you would not find it in a lot of places.Seared Scallops. $25
A disappointment! I have seen reveals and they all says this is one is the best and biggest jumbo scallops they have very had. Well, not in my case, five tiny scallops just lies there right in front of us. Although seared nicely and not at all over cooked, the price is just too steep to sallow. The sauce is just regular which make the dish that much planner.
PEI Mussels $14
It is very fresh once again. Usually one third of the dish is bad or empty shells, but this really gives you everything. The wine is over powering against the mussels. The garlic flavor left over soup seem such a wast without rice or bread though. Wish I have not eaten the bread at the beginning of the meal.

Overall, it is a fascinating experience. You enter the small restaurant through their small fish market. The fresh smell of fish just brings you into the atmosphere of the night. This give an illusion that your meal will be sever right, and it does deliver. Except the scallops, I would definitely come back and try the Seafood Broth (forgot what it is call) with a lobster tail.

A note to remember, they also have a take out menu. It is a bit cheaper than dine in. It includes their all time famous Fish & Chips and Clam Chowder serve.

The Whalebone Oyster House

Name: The Whalebone Oyster House-The Sustainable Oyster & Fish Supply
Address: 504 A Kent Street
Hours: Thur thru Fri 10 - 6, Saturday 10 - 2
Contact: 613.231.3474
Parking: Available at the back of the store
Price: Lunch from $6-$9

How crazy is it to travel a far distance just to get a lunch sandwich? Well, not too crazy if you are going for a Whalebone experience.
This is 100% a fish market, just happens to also make sandwiches. They provide a brown bag lunch special Thursday thru Saturday from 11am to 2pm. These sandwiches all serve with a square Ciabatta bread, dressed with ranch (i think) mayonnaise mix spread, lettuces and sauteed onion. Gumbo is also available now a day instead of clam chowder. There menu changes depending on the season of the produce.

Today I completely bail on my fitness plan. I had an Oyster-P-Boy Sandwich. For a person who loves to eat, I am ashamed to say, "I have never heard of P-Boy Sandwich".

Po-Boy Sandwich - basically it's a submarine sandwich serve with Louisiana French Bread which has an extremely crispy exterior but with soft and airy center, and is dressed with lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise.
It has a couple picnic table outside with some simple deco. Those are Oyster Shells holding the napkins down.
My illegal Filipino maid holding my sandwich.
They write your order down along with your name. A detail little thing that make you feel so personal.Oyster P-Boy $9
My huge Oyster sandwich just two of them, but man are they fresh and good. The only complain is one of them has bits of shell in it. Almost chip my teeth, but it will still be worth it for some good food.
Smoke Salmon Sandwich $7.50
I was told it is no competition to the P-Boy, but who can blame them, I am sure it is still very good. Whalebone smoke the salmon themselves.

Overall: Oh I have been craving for a second one every since, that is how good this is. Everything works for me the seafood, the brown bag, the none busy line up, the personal touch, and the price. I will definitely try out all the food.

Isobel & Co.

Name: Isobel & Co. Fine Baked Goods
Address: 117 Beechwood Ave. Ottawa
Hours: Closed on Monday or when sold out, Tuesday thru Saturday 10am to 6pm, Sunday 10am to 5pm
Contact: Phone: 613.742.0777 / info@isobelandco.com
Parking: Not Available, Street Parking or nearby mall
Price: 2.50+tax per cupcake (no tax when you purchase a dozen)

Let me tell you something about Isobel's cupcake, it is one of the best. The cake is moist and fluffy with a crispy top (either it is on purpose or it has been there for a long time, but I loved it). It is not too dry, so when you bite in it hardly any thing crumbles down. The icing is perfectly balanced with the cake. On top of all that, they look almost too lovely to be bitten by me!
My very first Isobel Experience. From the decor of the store to the design box, it is screaming "Eat Me" the whole time, so I eventually caved in, I cannot wait till I get home. These pictures are taken in my car. I parked outside a Tim Horton's but eating Isobel's.
Espresso
I believe it is Double Devil's Chocolate or something similar. But you get the idea, it is very chocolaty. They also comes with individual round holders, how cute is that.

Lemon Curt with a very refreshing sourly filling. Loved it all the way. Usually cupcakes are very heavy due to the butter cream, but with the lemon filling I feel like I could continue biting on more.
Cream Cheese Butter Cream (forgot the name) This is very very interesting. Because the icing is not butter cream, you can felt the texture of the entire cake. The butter and the egginess of the vanilla cake burst out right at you. Then the cream cheese flavor kicks in. The slight salty flavor gives that whole extra boost. It is heavenly! Like Japanese cheese cake, but cupcake style.