MoRoCo Chocolat: Valentine's Day Menu Preview

MoRoCo Chocolat is a beautifully appointed restaurant and chocolate boutique that is inspired by the whimsical patisseries of Paris. I was invited to preview a tasting of the Valentine's Day menu and was most impressed by the delicious variety of dishes that I sampled. 

As you enter the boutique, chocolate of every type imaginable is displayed along the walls, while a colourful melange of macarons is set up at the front. I was greeted by a friendly server who offered me a tiramisu martini. This sinful libation is like dessert in a glass and with the shot of espresso, it will keep you wired all night long! 

The amuse bouche of smoked eggplant resting on a crisp beet chip was a prelude of great things yet to come. The appetizer consisting of fried pork belly with Asian peanut slaw was tangy, crunchy and bursting with sweet and savoury flavours all at once. Seafood lovers will adore the beautifully plated pan seared scallops served with almond pea puree and pickled with watermelon radish and beet foam.

For the main course, I enjoyed the hearty and filling pork braised short ribs accompanied with root vegetable caponata. Moist and tender, the short ribs were enhanced with horseradish snow, a spicy and creamy counterpoint. 

Another option is the maple glazed black cod with Jerusalem artichokes, charred fennel and mushroom salad. Garnering high praise among my fellow diners was the beet ravioli served with creme fraiche and fennel. The filling of sweet beets are complemented nicely with the taste of fragrant and bold fennel. 

No meal is complete without dessert and we were spoiled with not one, but two different desserts! The dulce de leche mousse is rich and with strawberry ice cream and vanilla and pistachio trifle. It is saccharinely sweet and creamy. The simply titled chocolate bar does not do justice to the fancy, inventive dessert that has been concocted for your pleasure. Milk chocolate snow, raspberry fluff and black crowberries meld perfectly to create the most decadently satisfying 'chocolate bar' dessert.   

Prior to dining, I had the chance to prepare some macarons with some help from the restaurant's pastry chef. I loved the hands-on experience of piping ganache onto the meringue shells. My pistachio-raspberry creations were delicate and divine and I even got to take them home to share and enjoy. 

While you may not be taking your sweetheart to the city of lights this Valentine's Day, bring the romance and culinary inspirations of Paris to your love by dining at MoRoCo Chocolat!

To book a reservation, visit morocochocolat.com.

One Night Only: The Greatest Musical Never Written - Theatre Review

By: Saema Nasir

Improvised musical: two words that, when put together, can lead to disaster one would imagine. Or at least one very uncomfortable evening at the theatre.

Not so in the case of One Night Only: The Greatest Musical Never Written. The concept behind this production is fresh and the talent exceptional. The audience drives the musical, as the actors get their cues from them and make up the storyline and songs throughout the duration of the show.

Random audience members are asked three questions that will be the basis for the custom-designed musical. Three simple questions and the cast of impressive actors, comedians and singers (triple threats – watch out J-Lo!) spin and weave a storyline that makes sense and works well as a musical. Even song lyrics and music coming from a live five-piece band are all spontaneously created. The band’s amazing musical talent at times guides the song-and-dance numbers and at other times, the cast’s quick-witted dialogue influences how the music is shaped. In short, the actors and band were in-sync, perfectly working together to create a top quality musical. 

On the night I attended, audience members suggested ‘Calgary’, ‘infidelity’, and ‘the deep blue sea’ as ideas for the cast to play with. The resulting musical took place in the oil sands of Alberta and at the Calgary stampede with various characters scheming while shimmying to escape marriage, find love and even sell some pork rinds. I took a moment to observe the audience and judging by the hoots, hollers, guffaws and generous applause, they agreed with me; this show is rip-roaring fun!

It’s also a show that relies heavily on the talent of its cast – no elaborate set or well-crafted script to rely on, but it works. Free from the constraints of a predetermined plot, the cast shines; adeptly dancing, swerving, gyrating and singing into the audiences’ hearts. Ashley Botting stands out as the wronged, pork rind-selling wife of a mime. Her singing voice and dancing are superb, only to be beaten by the razing one-liners she spews out on the spot. Jan Caruana's ability to improvise is quite impressive. As a Calgary stampede organizer, she made the simple act of smoking ham hilarious and breathed life into the droll and cynical characters she created in each scene. 

Leaving out the cheesy jokes and avoiding boring archetypal characters, the actors keep it fresh with risqué jokes and edgy song lyrics. It's a mystery as to what your night at this musical comedy will entail and that's the point. In an era when even supposed reality shows are scripted and politicians deliver rote speeches, it is invigorating to witness live theatre that is neither pre-planned nor predictable. 

One Night Only: The Greatest Musical Never Written can best be summed up with the following three words: entertaining, vibrant, hilarious. Another three words? A must-see!

One Night Only: The Greatest Musical Never Written plays at the Factory Theatre (125 Bathurst Street) until February 14, 2016. 
Ticket prices range from $45-$55 + HST|students and seniors $30 + HST|Tickets can be purchased online: www.factorytheatre.ca/what-s-on/one-night-only

Photography: Robyn Bacon

NAO Steakhouse

Steakhouses have long been a place of pomp and circumstance where businessmen make deals while they enjoy steak and potatoes with a glass or two of 35-year-old whisky. The doyen of Toronto restaurateurs, Hanif Harji and Charles Khabouth's NAO is not your typical, stuffy steakhouse. NAO stands for new and old and the duo has modernized the traditional steakhouse by giving the restaurant a feminine and sleek aesthetic. 

As the culinary master behind some of the city's most celebrated restaurants including Byblos andPatria, executive Chef Stuart Cameron's reputation precedes him. With NAO, he has turned the traditional steakhouse on its head with his inventiveness and by drawing upon inspiration from Japanese cuisine. While NAO caters to the most discriminating of steak lovers, it also offers lighter fare for those wishing to enjoy a smaller meal. 

I recently visited NAO for its one year anniversary to see firsthand just how it differentiates itself from the established steakhouses in Toronto. The focal point of the elegant restaurant is an impressive and unique chandelier, which is made from clear sporadic acrylic tubing. Yorkville is still the place to see and be seen and the swiveling Italian made chairs ensure that you have a 360-degree view of the action around you. As I took in my surroundings, I was greeted by the manager and led upstairs where I was ready to enjoy an evening out after a long day at the office. 

Dinner commenced with our pleasant server preparing the table side tuna tartar ($22) before our eyes. He gingerly mixed avocado, wasabi and puffed rice with the tuna as we eagerly watched him. 

I adored the Miami short ribs ($15) which were presented on a dainty, floral patterned plate. Moist with XO sauce, the delicious combinations of burnt honey and spicy sesame gave the short ribs bursts of sweet and savoury flavours. Never in my relatively short life, have I ever had a craving for kale salad, but there's a first for everything.

My mouth still waters at the memory of tasting the most extraordinary shredded kale salad ($13) with pickled shiitake mushrooms, fried shallots and spicy sesame dressing.

The main event is most certainly the steak and NAO offers the finest dry aged cuts of meat from around the world, as well as locally sourced meat. I shared the tender and flavourful swinging rib Canadian prime ($145) and the generous, fatty bone in Canadian Angus ($130). I thoroughly enjoyed the perfectly cooked and seasoned porterhouse steak, which did not require any of the melange of sauces or salts that accompanied it. Brussels sprouts ($14) plus bacon cured with miso equals a winning side dish to complement and balance the steak. 

The Japanese influence extends into the culinary offerings available, such as Kobe strip loin ($85 per 4 oz) chicken kaarage ($12) and even creamed spinach with yuzukosho ($13). 

Those with more traditional palates need not fear, for mashed potatoes are indeed offered on the menu. For something different, try the dense rosti ($15) with crème fraiche. Crispy and golden on the outside and tender and chewy on in inside, it is a filling and satisfying dish. The creamy mac and cheese ($14)made with Gruyere and smoked bacon can serve as a main or can be shared to accompany a meal. What's more is that the pasta is hand-rolled for freshness. 

As if we could eat another morsel, our server rolls out a pie trolley ($12) and presents it with a flourish. Rarely is banana banoffee pie offered on a dessert menu in Toronto. I was in for a real treat when I tasted the heavenly dessert. The crunchy pastry is flaky and tastes like shortbread. This alone was enough for me, but I just could not resist a bite of the filling. Milk chocolate shavings strewn upon fresh whipped cream garnishes the pie, while the inside is layered with moist, flambéed bananas and delectable banana cream. It was the most novel and decadent ending to a meal that I have had in long time.  

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Photos: Joel Levy Photography, Jesse Milns hotography and Paula Wilson.

Bigmouth - Theatre Review

By: Paul Lewkowicz

Bigmouth is a unique and entertaining show, starring Belgian actor, Valentijn Dhaenens. The one man show has reached worldwide audiences everywhere from Edinburgh to Mumbai and it is currently playing here in Toronto for a three-week run. 

Dhaenens appears on a stage set with six different microphones and a blackboard suspended above him noting 20 names of key historical figures. He takes us on a journey of history by reenacting famous speeches of a variety of political leaders and villains. The diverse range of figures include Socrates from the times before Christ to more contemporary figures such as Osama Bin Laden and George W. Bush. 

The show starts with a strong speech from the Grand Inquisitor, amplified to emphasize its delivery to a large crowd. Throughout the show, Dhaenens moves seamlessly from character to character, even doing back-and-forth speeches between Joseph Goebbels and George Patton. The contrast between the Goebbels/Patton speeches is quite remarkable. As Goebbels, Dhaenens is authoritative, calm and intense. As Patton, he is fervent and overzealous, both vocally and physically. It is impressive how Dhaenens is able to perform such a wide range of speeches in such a short time, which are full of a historical significance and emotion. He is able to embrace each unique character and move very quickly between different speeches. Dhaenens understands that words have the ability to mobilize and manipulate the masses and shows us just how excellent communicators were able to achieve this. 

Dhaenens is at his best when portraying speeches from the Belgian King Baudouin and Congolese independence fighter Lumumba. Ironically, Dhaenens reveals after the show that Lumumba was emotionally the most difficult speech for him, due to knowing that the historical figure would be killed shortly after the delivery of his famous speech. 

Dhaenens seemed to struggle with portraying some of the American leaders, whose speeches were clustered in the latter half of his show. Although he gave a great deal of time to reenact powerful speeches from the Grand Inquisitor, Goebbels/Patton and Lumumba, Dhaenens only gave a minute or less to famous figures such as Martin Luther King, John F. Kennedy and Muhammad Ali. This left me wanting for more and wishing that Dhaenens had taken more time to capture some of the most famous and memorable speeches such as “I have a dream”, “Ask not what your country can do” and “How great I am”. He could have also better captured the humour and demeanour of George W. Bush and his father. 

Dhaenens reminds us that the power of speech is never to be underestimated, as they can and do alter the course of history forever. Bigmouth is definitely a show worth seeing and Dhaenens should be commended for his unique and powerful performances, as he delivers them with great emotion, intonation and conviction. 

Bigmouth plays at the Panasonic Theatre until February 7, 2016.

Photo: Maya Wilsens

Merry Christmas!

Here's wishing you a very Merry Christmas and all the best this holiday season! I hope your holidays are filled with good cheer, great food and fantastic memories with family and friends.

I thank you for taking the time out of your schedule to read content that I hope has been useful to you. I am looking forward to bringing you more exciting adventures in 2016!

Cheers!