Palak Paneer at Naanolicious

I had lunch at Naanolicious with a co-worker last week, and was thrilled to discover Palak Paneer on the menu of specials. The spinach curry with pressed cheese is one of my favourite East Indian dishes, and I had yet to find it on their menu. The curry was creamy, smooth, and not overpowering, while the cheese was delicate in flavour and had a good, firm texture. One of the best I have had in a long time.

Salad Drink and Tamales at Mamenche's

I had a working lunch at Mamenche's this week and tried a beverage called a salad drink. As soon as it was served to me I knew why it was called that. It was an actual fruit salad floating atop a sea of fresh fruit juice. The fruit was also adorned with cilantro. It was refreshing and felt like summer in a glass.

I have never before had a tamale. I ordered two chicken tamales and was absolutely impressed. Loads of marinated chicken, potatoes, and chickpeas were encased in corn. They were steamed in banana leaves, and fork tender. A couple of these were literally enough for a light lunch on their own.

Breakfast for Lunch: Diner Hash at Urban Diner

Last month I was out early on a Sunday morning on a filming assignment, and followed it up with brunch at the south side location of Urban Diner. I had been longing to try the Diner Hash, and finally got my wish. The bits of corned beef was generously dispersed amongst hash browns, accented with chopped leeks. Adorning the top were two perfectly medium poached eggs, and a large slab of multi grain toast finished it off. The portion kept me going for the rest of the day on to my next assignment. It was a busy day.

Lunch at Tony's Pizza Palace

A business lunch brought me to Tony's Pizza Palace last week. I had not had their bruschetta in ages, so I decided to start off with a half order. I soon realized I could have made this my lunch. The portion is quite generous, and delicious: crispy baked dough with a topping of tomatoes and seasonings.

I did not know that ton'y had a special lunch menu. I ordered a chicken and salad dish, which featured one large, juicy breast infused with flavour, breaded and baked in the oven. On the side was a garden salad tossed in Italian dressing (what else?) and a warm bun. At around $10 it was a very good value. I don't normally like salad on the side, but the addition of black olives kept the flavour interesting, as well as the fact that it was tossed entirely in the dressing.