Campo Viejo Winery [Longrono - Spain]

I actually won part of my Spain Trip from Campo Viejo (@campoviejowines) #LiveUncorked picture contest on Instagram and one of the highlight was getting a personal tour of the winery.

As we drove up to the winery, we can't help but be amaze at how big the vineyard is but guess what, that's only part of it since Campo Viejo have vineyards all over the area and they also buy from small local growers. No wonder they are one of the biggest wine exporter in the world.

Love how they are promoting through art and it's so colorful which make you feel happy just looking at them, here's something quoted from their website :

Campo Viejo inspires a life that’s more colourful and invites everyone to Live Uncorked. This is why we enjoy working with Okuda & Remed, two acknowledged urban artists with a distinctive style, to capture the expressiveness of Campo Viejo wines through urban art.

Winemaking and art have a lot in common. Just like urban artists who use city streets and spray paints to express their vision of a ‘life more colourful’, our winemakers use Rioja as their canvas and the Tempranillo grape as their brush to create wines which are full of character and authenticity.

Campo Viejo winemakers and Remed & Okuda are bringing ‘Live Uncorked’ to the streets of major cities around the world with a series of #StreetsOfColour events, which invite people to enjoy the artistry of our wines and the live creation of urban artwork.

Restaurante Kokotxa [San Sebastian - Spain]

Restaurante Kokotxa is a 1-Michelin star helm by chef Dani Lopez and Estela Velasco where they incorporate Chinese and Japanese elements to Spanish dishes. The name Kokotxa or Cococha in Spanish is a typical dish made from the bottom of the chin of hake in Basque Country.

They offer a 7 courses Market Menu €62pp for a 9 courses Tasting Menu €82pp and a small A-la-Carte menu. That's probably one of the best deal for a Michelin star restaurant, I was fortunate to read about it after being unsuccessful in making reservation for Mugaritz and Arzak for our San Sebastian 2 day stay. When we went, we had the tasting menu and an additional dish that I wanted to try. 

(price changes depending on the seasonal menu) 

We didn't take photo of the space but it's really very basic/contemporary with not much of a decor.

Amphora de Cobija del Pobre, Bierzo Mencia 2012

We are frankly not familiar with Spanish wine since there's barely any selection available here in Toronto, so again we asked our waiter to recommend a bottle that would go well with our Tasting Menu. This was amazing and goes well with both the red meat and the seafood, totally easy drinking

Right off the bad you can see the Japanese influence her with the plating, love the one bite snack.

Scalops Ceviche

~ baked sweet potato

Love all the bright colors, perfect for Spring time (we were there in May)

Scaddabush [Scarborough - Italian]

Scaddabush (@scaddabush) recently open it's 4th location at Scarborough and I was invited for a Media dinner, I was very curious about the food of this new chain restaurant. It was located just outside of Scarborough Town Center which is very convenient both by car or transit.

It was a family style meal prepared by Executive Chef Steve Silvestro and we were joined by volunteers from the Bluff Food Bank, the charity that's supported by sales of Scaddabush's house made "Charity Bread".

Charity Bread (Original $4.25 / Spicy $4.75 / 3-Cheese $5.25)

Did you know the sales of their "Charity Bread" at each location support a local charity of the area and their net proceeds all go to the charity. Delicious and for a great cause, no excuse needed to order all 3 flavors (^_<) 

They also have a Mozzarella Bar where they make fresh mozzarella to order.

Naked $12.98

~ w/ extra virgin olive oil, focaccia crostini, San Marzano tomato jam, sea salt

Love the tomato jam with the mozzeralla

Bomba Burrata $15.98

~ infused w/ cream, served w/ spicy roasted tomato and chili ragu, fresh basil, double-smoked bacon, extra virgin olive oil, shili flakes, focaccia crostini

This was my favorite since the heat of the skillet kept the cheese soft for longer and love the flavorful spicy sauce with the half melted cheese.

Platito Filipino Soul Food [Brunch - Filipino]

As soon as I saw an Instagram picture of Platito Filipino Soul Food (@platitotoronto) purple waffle, I want to come try.

Bok Bok Chicken & Ube Waffle $16

~ Fried Chicken + Purple Yam Waffles

Love the super soft moist texture of the ube waffle although kinda wish it was a tad more crispy on the outside... It was really delicious with the crispy fried chicken and even yummier with the Maple Butter, just try to get a bit of everything in each bite.

Tosilog $13

~ Sweet Pork + Garlic Fried Rice + Two Fried Eggs

Love the garlic rice but thought the pork was just plain sweet and somewhat lack some other flavor... maybe serve with a spicy fish sauce for dipping on the side?!?

Calamansi Shandy Cocktails $7

Rather plain both in presentation and taste.

Verdict:

Love the waffle and chicken and will definetly be back for it.

And would need to come back to try the Ube icecream w/ Ube Waffle

Maybe come back for dinner to try other items from the menu, especially the tapas style dishes.

Zuberoa Restaurant [Spain - Gipuzkoa/San Sebastian]

Zuberoa Restaurant has a one Michelin Star located in Gipuzkpa just 15 mins away from San Sebastian inside a 15th century Basque Farmhouse. Love the rustic feel of the place, very "old-school" and the amazing Tasting menu is only €130pp with a totally affordable wine list.

Amuse Bouche

Sea Urchin royal w/ fennel flavor
This was perfect way to start off, the sea urchin and roe in the bubbly foam/broth had such intense flavor that it instantly wake up my palette.

Spider crab & prawns ravioli in it's broth

Azure [Summerlicious 2016]

Thanks Azure Restaurant & Bar which is inside the InterContinental Toronto Centre (@ICTorontoCentre) for inviting us back to taste their Summerlicious menu and once again it was delicious with same amazing service. Their Summerlicious prix-fixe menu are for $28 Lunch and $48 Dinner with Vegetarian option.

Truffle Honey Fig & Prosciutto Tartine

~ focaccia + mascarpone + balssamic + baby watercress (vegetarian)

Love figs, so I just had to order this and it tasted as good as it looks. Love the yummy figs with the salty prosciutto with the sweet & tart balsamic; also love the use of a soft yummy focaccia.

Crab & Sweet Corn Fritters

~ pea shoots + shaved fennel + remoulade

These look a little bit burnt to be frank and couldn't really taste any crab but the sweet corn flavors really came through... maybe time to change the oil?

Dillon's Rye BBQ Glazed Duck Breast

~ peach & cucumber salsa + wheat berry salad + cilantro yogurt

Could never resit duck on a menu and this was perfectly cook and love the summery peach & cucumber salsa that I totally want to replicate at home. This is a perfect summer dish with the light flavors and components like the wheat berry salad with the refreshing yogurt.

Beerfest 2016 [TFOB - Toronto's Festival of Beer - Event]

As our annual tradition, we are back to the annual Toronto's Festival of Beer (@tobeerfestival) , it was so much fun as usual and so much so more this year since Ben (Instagram: @beeru_san) started to write about beer.

There was some good and some bad, some old and new faves.

Boxer Watermelon 

Let's start with the worst, this was the worst of the day, so very sweet and artificial

Red Racer

Super cute bike contest

Les 3 Brasseurs (@3brasseursCA)

Sierra Nevada (@SierraNevada)

Where all the craft beer craze started as per Ben and so glad to shear they will be launching more selection at the LCBO.

Moosehead (@MooseheadLager)

Probably one of the best and funnest booth at TFOB every year with live music and dj at all time plus a dance floor. And you can't be at beerfest without grabbing all the free sunnies; yes collect them all!

Sample Sweden

After last year's Irish Pavilion, it's Sweden this time and we couldn't be happier. Famous for their sour beer, it was a great change of pace from all the IPAs and Lagers around. And 2 of our favorites was the Tropical Thunder and Black Currant from Dugges Swedish Craft Beer.