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.

The Pho Files: Chicken Pho at Phobulous

I had lunch at Phobulous this week before Passover began, and just as I was coming down with a cold that required some hot soup. But first, I had a craving for some vegetarian spring rolls. Phobulous has a flavourful take on them, with cellophane noodles and taro adding layers of texture.

What is a meal at a Vietnamese restaurant without green onion cakes? This was the veggie version (as opposed to the one with minced chicken in it). Crispy and chewy, it satisfied.

Pho ga (chicken pho) was my soup of choice because of the link between chicken soup and being sick. Tender, fresh pieces of chicken were plentiful in the broth - which was beef based. However, the flavours were complementary. It was hot and delicious, and had lots of noodles. I was very happy after, although still sick.

Breakfast for Lunch: Smoked Salmon Benny at Blue Chair Cafe

Around three years have passed since last I had brunch at Blue Chair Cafe. I had the opportunity to return this past weekend and enjoyed a smoked salmon eggs benedict. The eggs were like heaven: perfectly poached like two small clouds on the plate. The amount of smoked salmon was reasonble and of good quality. I found the Russian rye bread a little strong. The fruit was fresh, and added colour to the plate. I loved the hash browns and wish there were more of them. I counted maybe eight little cubes. At a price of close to $15, and with potatoes being so inexpensive, I thought this was way too small of a serving. That being said, I love the atmosphere of the place and hope to return soon.

Fiesta Chicken Soup at Zocalo

I tried one of the homemade soups offered at Zocalo last week. It was chicken fiesta, which consisted of a thick tomato sauce, corn, and shredded chicken. There was a spicy kick, it was piping hot, and the portion was deceptively filling. I missed having some crackers or a piece of bread, but otherwise this was a perfect mid-afternoon pick-me-up.