E11even Spring Menu Tasting

I recently was invited to the E11even restaurant to try a NEW Spring Menu Tasting that is not yet released on their menu. It was a great opportunity to sample some of the dishes and cocktails served and created by Chef Graham Pelley @E11evenChef. The New Spring menu will be available at E11even in the near future. A highlight for me was that some of the ingredients used in the dishes are local from the Mennonites and are Ontario hometown grown. It's always nice to see chefs and restaurants supporting local community.

I've always frequented Real Sports which is located next door to E11even and are owned by the same parent company MLSE which owns the Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors. E11even is more sophisticated and refined than it's counterpart of Real Sports but don't let that fool you. It's quite affordable and fair in it's pricing. For example, the 2 hotdog sliders for $5(NEW Menu item) is a great game day appetizer to enjoy before a Leafs or Raptors game.


Shareable hot dog sliders from E11even.

I'm not going to bore you with more reading and just get straight to the food porn. Check them out next time you head to the ACC or want to find a spot to enjoy the patio in the heart of Toronto.


This is my favourite offering of the tasting: Tuna Tartare

It's tuna tartare with fried shallots, a touch of sirracha, chives, chiles, cilantro and ailoi. This reminds me of Hawaiian Poke or sashimi. It's plated like a small mini cake. All tuna goodness in there.


Wedge salad with oven dried tomatoes, blue cheese and country bacon. The cheese is from a Mennonite farm.


Sweet Peas. Simple and very addictive. Great healthy snacking.


Ling cod organic fish with wild mushroom and sweet pea purée squeezed with lemon citrus.


The dishes featured here will be on the Spring Menu at E11even. I still had the opportunity to try 3 different desserts. All 3 are great, my favourite is the Oreo ice cream cookie sandwich with Tahitian vanilla. All the dessert portions are shareable. Order the Oreo ice cream cake if you don't like to share your desserts. It's good enough for one person.


Oreo ice cream cookie.


Broken banana pie: Graham crust, bananas, banana cream and whip cream.


This Pavlova Meringue was amazing. It's got a "Macaron" chewy texture to it. Very nice and light dessert.

Please give E11even a visit and enjoy the downtown patio. It's a great opportunity to try many of the menu offerings. This is a shortlist of the Spring menu offerings. They've got a gnochhi dish and Caprese salad which are amazing too! Thanks again to the E11even staff for the hospitality and great food and drinks.
 

Toronto Maple Leafs are in the Playoffs.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are in the playoffs for the first time in 9 years. If you live in Toronto this is a very big deal. Why ? Toronto is a hockey city and the city has been waiting to WIN a Stanley Cup since 1967. From the streets of Toronto to the rural roads of Sudbury the city bleeds "White and Blue."

In celebration of the accomplishments of the Leafs this season I want to giveaway some Gelaskins for Toronto Maple Leafs fans. I'll be giving away Samsung Galaxy 3s and Iphone 5 covers with the Maple Leafs logo. All you have to do is tweet me and I'll randomly select a few WINNERS this week. Good luck and GO LEAFS GO!!!



Just tweet me and send me any pictures relating to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Add #BeLEAF I will randomly select a winner for each Gelaskin cover each night they play in the first round.

Win a tour of the Rogers Centre. Home of the Toronto Blue Jays

I attended a Toronto Maple Leafs game yesterday and noticed that during a blowout game that Toronto fans began to chant "Let's GO Blue Jays!" in unison. This post is not about loyalty to either team but more about the hunger that Toronto wants to see something positive happen with our professional sports teams. I think Toronto is due for some excitement that other cities around the world will envy us. We've got a multicultural city, restaurants and exciting attractions so we should deserve it. Heck, we've been living in a cold slumber of a winter. Torontonians just want to get out and enjoy and celebrate something in my opinion. The Home Opener of the Toronto Blue Jays is more than the 1st game of the season in baseball. It's usually a party of over 40,000 fans but more like an energy release for Torontonians. It's a symbolic game that summer and warm weather is coming or finally here. In that respect since the game will be held at the Rogers Centre in less than 2 weeks I thought I'd giveaway a pair of passes to the Rogers Centre to get you excited about the season to come. It's not Home Opener tickets but at least it's something. Most Toronto folks don't enjoy their own attractions in the city. I encourage you to step out of your routine and do something in Toronto. You'll be surprised at the things you can learn and experience. On that note, send me a tweet if you want to win a pair of passes for the "Rogers Centre Tour". I'll pick a winner on Monday April 2, 2012.
For more info on tours, check here: Rogers Centre Tours

TWEET: " @clickflickca I want a tour of the Rogers Centre in Toronto #ILoveToronto "

Good luck and go out and enjoy Toronto!