The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
Madison Square Garden can seat 20,000 people for a concert. This blog was viewed about 65,000 times in 2011. If it were a concert at Madison Square Garden, it would take about 3 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.
I’ve been back in Kingston for about 2 weeks for my final rotation here as a resident. I had the unique opportunity to eat dinner with Clark Day of Aqua Terra by Clark as my mentor happened to know him and one of the managers. I thought it would be a simple meet and greet, some shaking of hands, maybe a complimentary appetizer but what we received (myself, Dr. D and her husband M) was out of this WORLD!
Clark was a bit late for our 630pm dinner as he had some family things to attend to. The manager knew of our reservation, seated us at a beautiful table by the window, told us Clark would be a bit late, then asked if our reservation was for 3 people + Clark or 2 people + Clark.
We were shocked. Clark would… have a setting at our table?? My heart began to race.
While waiting, we selected a Rosehall Run Chardonnay and talked about life, fellowship (of the ring), fishing, and food. We were treated to a beautiful appetizer platter in a dish so long we had to move our cutlery and waters over to allow for more room. Unfortunately, I didn’t take photos (since Clark himself would be sitting with us and I didn’t want to disrespect him) but this platter was outstanding. My mind is foggy because of the food coma that occurred as I ate it… but I will do by best to describe it all. It was the best food I’ve ever eaten at Aqua Terra… and I eat there a lot.
On my right was a duck pate foam/mousse. It was served on some bread chips. Livery, salty, smooth, rich, and fragrant. Really delicious. It was perhaps a bit rich as Dr. D and her husband didn’t quite finish it. I, however, ate it like it was ice cream.
There was a home-made relish in between this section and the next. It was nice, light, crunchy and refreshing.
In the middle was seared foie gras with some sea salt sprinkled on top of a bruschette. This dish was the best of the night. Wonderfully crispy, caramelized edges with some little bursts of saltiness in the sea salt. Each bite was creamy, warm and satisfying. I don’t really like liver… but this… I LOVED.
This was separated from the dish on the left by some pickled leeks. Again, it was a nice way to move from one dish to the next without letting the flavours get too heavy in your mouth.
On the left was bone marrow (unsure if it was beef) and duck prosciutto. It was the first time Dr. D had had bone marrow so I applaud her for being so brave! Really fatty, rich, and salty, I have to say that I love bone marrow.
After this appetizer, Clark arrived. He was about as bold and “in-your-face” as I would’ve imagined, as a chef and as an entrepreneur. He told us about his career arc and gave me some advice to pass on to J as she is now an aspiring chef. He talked about way the professional cooking schools teach you the basics but limit your imagination. Told us some stories regarding the lineage of various wines (which he auditioned to us) and some amazing tastings that he had been to recently. Talked about the sources of the food he serves as well as the problems attributed with running some of his businesses. We talked and talked, all over a beautiful cheese plate (a sheep/goat blend, a blue, and… a cheddar I think?). It was fantastic.
He told me about his bar, Fanatics, and this “suicide wing” that they serve that utilizes a pepper that is 1,000,000 on the Scoville scale. To give you some context, a Jalapeno is around 2,000 on the Scoville scale. Of course, being a lover of chicken wings and things that burn holes in my gut, I had to try it out. More on this later.
In the end, I decided on the Beef Shortrib (that I’ve probably eaten 5x in the last 3 years). This photo was from a previous time I ate at Aqua Terra. The beef was sweet, tender, fatty, and fall-off-the-bone. The demi-glace was rich and caramelized. It continues to be my favourite pick off the Prix Fixe menu. It was a little disconcerting to have Clark watch you eat food at his restaurant but it was a great opportunity to learn more about the dishes that I love so much. We left the night full, a little tipsy (me anyway), and happy because we had eaten for 4.5 hours (630pm-11pm).
A few days later, I would visit Fanatics to try this suicide wing. I went with a friend who similarly destroys his food with Sriracha. We ordered 8 suicide wings and to be honest, were quite disappointed in the amount heat. The wings themselves were breaded beautifully, juicy, large, and delicious but I was very disappointed in this 1,000,000 pepper. I told the server. Dropped a name (ahem Clark…) and then they served us the Challenge Wing. You have to special request it as it is not on the menu. With a name like that, how could we NOT eat it??? Supposedly, if you eat a plate of these wings followed by a plate of fries, you get it for free. We were kind of full so we decided to just get 1 wing each. She wanted us to sign a waver. We said we would, thinking that there is no way we could die from this wing.
She served it to us and decided to watch us eat it. The bouncer/manager also watched us. I was a bit apprehensive but I had my beer ready, some napkins ready, and a ton of cockiness. My first mistake was to use my hands to eat it. When I tried to remove my contacts that night (after 10x repeated handwashes), it burned and burned and burned. My second mistake was to try to chew the wing, popping open the seeds and making it even hotter. I had an immediate sympathetic reaction (eyes watered profusely to the point that my shirt was wet with tears, my face felt numb, and my V1/V2 distribution started to sweat profusely). After it was down, I tried some water followed then by milk to stop the pain. But each and every section of my GI tract felt pain as it moved through my body. Lower esophageal sphincter. Terminal ileum. Shudder. I was cramping for 24 hours. But I was glad I did it. I felt closer to my friend R that day who challenged the wing with me.
What I liked most about my meal with Clark was not just the stories or even really the food (though it was fantastic). It was seeing someone who loves what he does, loves the food that makes, and seeing him work a room (through our entire meal, he directed traffic and asked the servers about different tables). It is truly inspiring to see someone care that much about what he does. Clark Day is the man. Hell, we even fist bumped!
Aqua Terra, 1 Johnson St., Kingston, ON, 613-549-6243, www.aquaterrabyclark.com
The idea for this post had its genesis in the show “The Best Thing I Ever Ate” on the Food Network that J watches way too much of. I love hearing people talk about food that they truly enjoy and keep going back to again and again and again. What I appreciate most is that each item isn’t necessarily hoity toity food: it can be as simple as pancakes or a hamburger. I decided that for my final post about Kingston I would talk about the 10 best things I ever ate in Kingston. The following list is not in any particular order. It is merely a reflection on the food that I love, the places that I’ve enjoyed, and the people that I will miss.
1) Sima Sushi – Chirashi Sushi and Firecracker Roll
Check out my original post here.
I first visited Sima in Fall 2009 when they had just opened. At the time, I loved the fish, loved the service, but wished that they had a better sign. The sign has never changed and now that I look back on it, I am glad it never did. It adds charm to that downtown corner. I have been so lucky to enjoy fresh seafood so close to where I live. We’ve been to Sima upwards of 20 times and I’ve never had a bad meal. Never.
This is the Chirashi Sushi (various raw fish and seafood on a bed of seasoned rice) for $15.95. This dish is incredible. The fish always changes and reflects what they have in stock. The fish is cut cleanly, the variety is amazing, and the seasoned rice just really grounds your mouth in this savoury delicious flavour. I particularly enjoy the octopus salad you see in the back. Bouncy, chewy, and gingery, it is really quite refreshing. The Chirashi Sushi for the low price of $15.95 can’t be beat in terms of quality and value. I’ve tried a lot of food at Sima but I keep going back to this dish.
Here you can see the Firecracker Roll in the middle (spicy tuna and cucumber roll wrapped in tuna and crab meat) for $11.95. J always gets this as a starter or as her main assuming that she will get some of my Chirashi. It is a perfect maki. Tightly rolled without being dense, lots and lots of fish, and nicely balanced spicy tuna and regular tuna flavours. The pollock adds some nice sweetness to this roll.
Sima Sushi is my favourite place for sushi in Kingston. It has served consistently high quality food and the service has been outstanding. J and I have gotten to know the owners (Daniel and June) and they really are lovely people. More than the food and the service, I think it is the people that we are going to miss the most.
Sima Sushi,6 Princess Street, Kingston, ON, (613) 542-8040, www.simasushikingston.com
2) Woodenheads Gourmet Pizza – Nonna Mela Pizza
Check out my original post here.
Woodenheads was the first good meal that I had in Kingston and it will forever have a place in my heart for that reason. I’ve met so many different people sitting on the patio in the summer from different specialties and from different years that I will always think of it has a great place to meet people.
This is the Nonna Mela (apple butter, roast garlic, cheddar, sweet onions, blackened chicken) for $14.80 which I truly adore. Each element is so wonderful that each bite you take makes you even more hungry. It sounds weird… but I find that as I eat this pizza, I accelerate my eating pace. And why not? Who could resist apple butter that adds richness and sweetness to the pizza combined with sharp cheddar and spicy blackened chicken. It is this perfect blend of flavours that is so very satisfying. The crust is nicely chewy without being too thick. Really a perfect pizza. I could eat an entire one on my own in one sitting.
Do not forget to order this if you go to Woodenheads. When L came into town to visit J and myself, we started our night at Woodenheads for drinks and pizza (we of course got the Nonna Mela), danced at Alehouse and Stages, and ended the night with fireworks. Ahhh what a great night.
Woodenheads Gourmet Pizza, 192 Ontario St., Kingston, 613-549-1812, www.woodenheads.com
3) Royal Angkor – Golden Chicken
See my original post here.
Plain and simple, the guy is a bit of a jerk. He has a right to be. He is the chef, the storefront, the waiter, and the busboy for Royal Angkor. He also answers the phone for delivery orders. He is overworked and never has enough staff. One time I needed my Cambo fix but was too lazy to leave home. I called. Again. And again. 3 times I called and it was busy each time. Finally I got through. “SORRY WE ARE VERY BUSY. CALL BACK LATER *CLICK*”. Wow. Good thing the food is good.
This is the Golden Chicken (spicy hot and sour chicken, peanut, lemon grass with rice) for $7.95. The verbal abuse on the phone is worth it. This dish is amazing. The rice is really a delivery mechanism for this delicious sauce. Nutty, spicy, sour, and fragrant. Each bite just makes your tongue jump for joy and makes your bowels cringe for what is to come afterwards. Add the fresh spicy green peppers and you have a culinary masterpiece but a GI disaster. The chicken is tender, juicy, and well marinated. Just thinking of this dish is making me salivate right now. Do NOT get this dish if you are anticipating talking with someone in close quarters. You’ll be burping it all night. When you are on your own, this is great, a nice reminder to a lovely meal. When you are interviewing patients, it is the worst smell in the world.
Royal Angkor is the kind of place that you might call a “hole in the wall”. It really is. The fluorescent lighting inside is unappealing, its location isn’t great, and the service, well… it isn’t great either. But the Golden Chicken really makes it worth it. Don’t be intimidated by an angry Cambodian man. Get the Golden Chicken, eat it, and get the hell out!
Royal Angkor, 523 Princess St. Kingston, ON, 613-544-9268, www.royalangkor.ca
4) Sleepless Goat – Various Desserts
I like my post-dinner desserts. When I moved from Calgary, the absence of a post-dinner dessert place in Kingston made me really miss Cowtown. Then I discovered the Sleepless Goat. While they aren’t open that late (I believe they close at 11), they really have a plethora of delicious desserts available. The coffee is only okay so I probably would get something basic if you get coffee at all.
As an example of their delicious desserts, this is the Hazelnut Dacquoise filled with chocolate cream. The cream was so smooth, rich, and not too sweet. Each bite was filled with delicious cocoa flavour. The dacquoise itself was unique. A little crunchy, a little crispy, very nutty, and light. It was nice in combination with the cream.
This was the cherry chocolate coffee cake (J informs me that a coffee cake does not mean it has coffee in it, it just is meant to be eaten with coffee). Light, crumbly, and tart with the cherries. A nice non-coffee flavoured coffee cake.
While the Sleepless Goat is the only place that I know of that offers late night desserts, these desserts are delicious. The staff are friendly and allow you to stay for hours and hours studying, reading, or playing boardgames (which they provide).
Sleepless Goat, 91 Princess Street, Kingston, ON K7L 1A6, (613) 545-9646, no website.
5) Slickers Ice Cream (Picton) – Apple Pie Ice Cream
See my original post on the Prince Edward County Taste Trail here.
Going to Slickers for Ice Cream has sort of become a tradition in our program. We go and visit Sandbanks in the late summer, we do a jumping in the air photograph, then we go to Slickers for Ice Cream. It is always packed there and for good reason. This ice cream knocks the socks off of White Mountain in Kingston.
This is the Apple Pie Ice Cream. Rich and satisfying with nuggets of real pie that makes it chewy and delicious. It gets rounded out with tart pieces of apple balanced with creamy ice cream. Each bite is cool and refreshing on a hot day but is also reminiscent of warm apple pie. Quite a contrast, but a delicious one at that.
Don’t let the line up intimidate you. Slickers Ice Cream is the real deal and I highly recommend getting the Apple Pie ice cream.
Slickers Ice Cream, 271 Main St, Prince Edward, ON, (613) 393-5433, www.slickersicecream.com
6) Coffeeco – Cappuccino
See my original post on coffee in Kingston here.
I’ve written a lot about the successes and disappointments I’ve had in the Kingston Coffee scene. Probably the biggest disappointment is learning that Coffeeco is not opening up a downtown shop as was optioned earlier this year. This is a real hit to the area. While many enjoy their cup of joe from Mug and Truffle, Coffee and Company, Starbucks, Sleepless Goat, and Sipps, I always go to Coffeeco when I want a nicely pulled espresso and wonderfully steamed milk. I guess downtown Kingstonites will have to continue to walk to Johnson and Division or Kingston Centre as I have done for the past 3 years.
This is the Cappuccino. Look how silky and smooth the steamed milk is. While the barista did not do any latte art (which in my opinion is only a reflection of the quality of the steamed milk), you can see the beautiful lines drawn with the espresso. The espresso itself is pulled nicely and I’ve never had one burnt. It is strong and gives you that kick you need. This coffee is easily the best in Kingston and compares favourably to Toronto and Calgary coffee houses.
Coffeeco, 1046 Princess Street, Kingston, ON, (613) 542-7994, www.coffeeco.ca
7) Arisu – Gamjatang (Pork Bone Soup)
Check out my original post here.
When I first arrived in Kingston, I really enjoyed the food at Mr. Dumpling, especially their dumpling soups. In early 2009, Mr. Dumpling closed and the owner moved across the street and opened Arisu that specialized in other Korean fare. What a blessing it has been to the Kingston Korean food scene. There are many many many options available if you are interested in Korean food (Take, Sapporo, Jina, Niji to name a few) but Arisu is consistently great with clean and strong flavours.
This is my favourite dish, the gamjatang (cabbage and pork bones in a slightly spicy broth, served with rice) for $10. This is a perfect dish in a lot of ways. The broth is warm and spicy filling your stomach and soul with a satisfying fire. There isn’t too much pork flavour if that is how you like your gamjatang but the spice balance is just perfect. It is hot in your mouth and warm in your belly. The pork bones are also nicely cut too. Just enough meat to make you satisfied and enough to add a delicious flavour to the soup. The cabbage adds some nice crunch. When I am feeling sick or hungover, this is my first choice dish. In fact, in Korea, it is often called Hang Over Soup!
Arisu serves the best Korean food in Kingston. Their bibimbap, kalbi, and je yuk bok eum are also great choices. But if you want to be satisfied, check out the gamjatang. You won’t be sorry.
Arisu Sushi and Korean Restaurant, 185 Division Street, Kingston, ON, (613) 531-9265, no website.
8 ) Darbar – Lamb Vindaloo
On my first night of call in July 2008, my senior decided to treat us to dinner. We decided on Darbar. I ordered the Lamb Vindaloo. It was so intensely spiced that the entire ward reeked of vindaloo spices when we ate it in the back room. My tummy didn’t feel great afterwards and my post-call day was ruined with memories from the night before. But this started what was to be my love affair with Darbar’s Lamb Vindaloo.
It seems simple enough. An extremely hot curry from Goa cooked with extra red chilies, lemon juice and potato all for $11.95. At that price, an incredibly good deal compared to the rip offs I have encountered at other Indian joints around town. It comes with a lot of meat for that price. The lamb itself is tender and flavourful. Importantly, it is not dry or powdery like many of the other vindaloos I have tried. But it is the spices that keeps me coming back. It has so much heat that it makes my eyes water and my temples sweat. I need to pat myself down as I eat it. I have to wash it down with a glass of milk now and then or my tongue can barely stand the sensation of my breath blown over it. It is that hot. It is also wonderfully sour and acidic making your saliva just flow. I have never had such a delicious vindaloo. It is the vindaloo that I will forever compare all vindaloos. I should remark that I do not have a sophisticated palate when it comes to Indian food. Some may not find it subtle enough. In fact… it isn’t subtle at all. But that is what I love about it.
Darbar, 479 Princess Street, Kingston, ON, (613) 548-7053, www.darbarkingston.com
9) Aqua Terra – Prix Fixe Meal
See my original post here.
People at work often ask me about my blog once they hear that I have one. And the obvious question is always asked: Where is your favourite place to eat? It is a hard question. It all depends on what you feel like. The stomach context at the time determines just how great something is. I love chicken wings but if I am craving a sundae, chicken wings just don’t cut it. But I can honestly say that if I had to choose one place to go, if I was to come back to Kingston for 1 night and eat just 1 meal, it would be at Aqua Terra.
Aqua Terra is located at the bottom of the Radisson but don’t be afraid. This is different from all your usual hotel food. Aqua Terra is run by Clark who formerly ran Clark’s on King which I am told was fantastic. Aqua Terra has a very diverse a la carte menu as well as a lovely Sunday brunch buffet with a lot of seafood offerings. But where I fall in love with Aqua Terra is the Prix Fixe dinner for $28.
This is a beautiful set of seared scallops as course 1 of the Prix Fixe. Really fresh seafood cooked perfectly.
This is a braised beef short rib that was the main for the Prix Fixe. As you can see, there is a lot of meat. Even thought this is a set meal, they really don’t skimp on the fixins or the protein. And it was so flavourful and tender. After this, I swore I wouldn’t be able to eat anymore.
But then I saw these Lady Fingers to finish the Prix Fixe and I found room in my gullet. Nothing fancy, just some crispy lady fingers finished with a nice orange syrup.
Overall, the Prix Fixe is an incredible deal and what makes it even better is that the food is top notch. It is prepared skillfully, served beautifully, and the servers really love their food. I find so much joy when you can tell people really care about their product. Also the atmosphere is stunning. A great place for a date, right on the waterfront. The Prix Fixe is hard to beat in Kingston. If you are feeling a little more extravagant, you can get the Table d’Hote which costs a bit more but comes with a few more dishes.
Aqua Terra, 1 Johnson St., Kingston, ON, 613-549-6243, www.aquaterrabyclark.com
10) Harper’s Burger Bar – The Bull’s Eye burger
See my original post here.
Harper’s Burger Bar is the member of this group of 10 that is the newest. It fits a great niche in the city of Kingston: the elevated decadent burger. Sometimes, you feel like getting fat but you want to do it in style. I don’t love all of their burgers but the ones I do like are outstanding. The Bull’s Eye Burger is one of these outstanding burgers. What I like the most about it is how it almost transcends the simple label of “hamburger”.
This is the Bull’s Eye burger (Monterey jack, fried farm egg, local bacon, grilled jalapenos, South Carolina BBQ sauce) for $11.5. Just a perfect combination of textures and flavours. First you have a nicely seasoned beef patty on a toasted bun. Nothing fancy but clean solid flavours. Then imagine a perfectly cooked egg sitting on top with the yolk still runny. It cracks when you squeeze the burger creating an oozy yellow explosion of deliciousness. It is almost like an eggs benny. Then add some heat with the fried jalapenos. Throw in some sharp jack cheese and wonderfully zingy barbecue sauce and you’ve got yourself a party. While it is called the Bull’s Eye Burger, it is really a burger only in name.
Harper’s is an interesting place. You can get alcoholic milk shakes and beer floats (two things I have never seen anywhere else). You can watch the game on one of their awkwardly placed LCD screens. You can even use your computer with the wifi that they have inside. To me, it is a place for a truly decadent burger. Don’t miss out on this taste of heaven.
Harper’s Burger Bar, 93 Princess St., Kingston, ON, 613-507-3663,www.harpersburgerbar.com
I am finishing up the last posts I have on Kingston and I have been finding myself getting more emotional. I’ve been to Harper’s numerous times over the last few months but I’ve never remembered to bring my camera. And that final night I did. Harper’s will forever be in my heart as my last meal in Kingston.
Named after the owner’s daughter Harper (who I also believe is the cutesy face that is blown up in big proportions at the back of the restaurant), it shares its lineage with Le Chien Noir and Atomica, both of which I like. It burst onto the Kingston burger scene a bit late, in October. I was there within the first week. My initial thoughts were: great burger but expensive sides! In the real world, 14 bucks for a burger and fries is reasonable. But somehow, knowing that the basic burger was 10 bucks and the fries were 3 bucks made me pissed off at the fries. All of a sudden, I was assigning value to the fries and being way more discriminating. I guess I have a right to be… I did pay $3 for them.
Things have changed over the last several months. Food has been added to the menu (hot dogs notably) and other food removed (fried chicken, steak, and fish). I’ve had 3 incarnations of their poutine and each one has been different. I love how Harper’s adapts itself and is constantly changing. Other restaurants should take a hint and try to improve as continually as Harper’s does.
Here are two unique creations from Harper’s. On the left is a Belgian Lambic Framboise and chocolate ice cream beer float for $9. The raspberry beer and the chocolate ice cream really played well off of one another. This was really refreshing and delicious. My only complaint was the foam. All floats will have a degree of foam but beer tends to be pretty fizzy and when mixed with ice cream, I found it quite foamy. It is texturally challenging but tasty nonetheless. On the right was the Berry-Boozy (raspberry infused vodka, cassis, strawberry ice cream) for $9.75. This was fantastic. I was so drunk after it. It was sweet, satisfying, cool, refreshing, and soooo intoxicating. It might be a bit on the sweet side for some.
This is the Bull’s Eye (Monterey jack, fried farm egg, local bacon, grilled jalapenos, South Carolina BBQ sauce ) for $11.5. The poutine was extra for $4. I don’t have a lot of great things to say about the poutine except that it is an improvement. The curds are mildly more squeeky than before and the fries are wayyyyyy better. They are finally crispy, thin, and soft, all at once. My issue is the amount of gravy. Each fry was swimming in this bowl. You lose all of that beautiful texture, the gooey cheese with the smooth gravy with crispy bits of potato. I wouldn’t get the poutine again.
But this burger is outstanding. Really outstanding. I am going to include it in my top 10 list of things to eat in Kingston. Let me give you the play by play. The bun was crispy but soft. It didn’t add nor did it detract from the burger. The meat was seasoned, soft, and juicy. But where this burger is elevated is the combination of soft oozy egg yolk that gushes when squeezed all over the beautifully spicy grilled jalapenos. If you think it is too much flavour or too spicy, the cheese just balances it out and sharpens everything. Then, end your big fat bite with a sweet and sour BBQ sauce. Each bite is perfect. Absolutely perfect.
This is The Main (beef burger with Montreal smoked meat, gouda, coleslaw, house 1000 Islands dressing) for $10.5. The beef burger is again delicious and well seasoned. But I found this flavour profile a little strange. You get the saltiness of the smoked meat then the sourness of the salad dressing. I barely tasted the gouda. It is almost like a salad on a burger? A confusing burger for my poor (and stupid) tongue. J enjoyed it however. She liked the sweet tang of the coleslaw mixed with the saltiness of the smoked meat on the burger.
All in all, I like Harper’s Burger Bar in a lot of ways. They continue to evolve their menu and they seem to really respond to their customers. Their beef is top notch and their other ingredients are fresh and local (if locavoring is your thing). But what blows me away is the innovation and interest the chef has in his/her food. Each burger is unique and while the burger/bun is exactly the same, they are each worlds apart. Each burger is an adventure.
Harper’s Burger Bar, 93 Princess St., Kingston, ON, 613-507-3663, www.harpersburgerbar.com
Darbar was closed for a week when I was having a wicked Indian craving. Rahim’s wouldn’t answer my calls. Curry Original was too expensive. I was stuck. I checked out the Kingstonist’s poll and decided to try out Taj Curry House given its third place ranking. I typically order delivery when I get Indian as I am always irritated by how much they charge for naan and rice. Also, when I inevitably sweat, I can change my shirt at home.
This is the Chicken Tikka Masala (medium spicy curry cooked with extra yogurt, fenugreek leaves and other spices) for $12.95. As you can see, there are a total of maybe 7-8 small pieces of chicken. The chicken was texturally quite tough, almost artificially so. However, it did have quite a bit of smokey flavour.
Whether or not this is a good thing… I use Darbar’s Vindaloo as the baseline for all vindaloo. I just really really like their balance of heat, tartness, sweetness, and saltiness. I also love wiping my face down after I eat it. This is the Lamb Vindaloo from Taj (Very, very spicy curry cooked with lemon juice, potato, extra-a-a-a-a red chilies and spices) for $13.95. Again, there is no meat! I count 6 small pieces. The price was pretty steep for such little lamb… There was also a lonely potato. The heat was there but it just didn’t satisfy the way that Darbar’s vindaloo does. The flavours didn’t pop as much as I would have liked.
This is the Beef Ragan Josh (A medium spicy curry cooked with many spices, garnished with sliced tomato sautéed in clarified butter) for $11.95. This was a nicely balanced dish. There was enough meat, some tomatoes but what I loved was how buttery it was. I like my curry really hot but for a milder curry, this was really satisfying.
A close-up of the Tikka Masala on rice.
Disclaimer: I am not a connoisseur of Indian food so my palate may be a little “Western” but when I like something, I really like it. Overall, I wouldn’t order Taj Curry again. Maybe their in-house portions are more generous but for the price, I found the paucity of meat a little much. I found the flavours a little muted and at the end of the night… my curry craving was not satisfied.
Taj Curry House, 125 Princess st, Kingston, ON, (613) 531-0825, www.tajcurryhouse.ca
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