Now, these ice creams are very fun and look great but I just can’t get into soft serve ice cream AND I always feel like you need at least one friend if not more to help you finish it because there is so much sugar. BUT, the good news is, they make more than just the soft serve.
They also make these lovely hot beverages for the cold months of the year. They come up with new ones often but these are some that I’ve seen: salted dark hot chocolate, butter pecan hot chocolate, peanut butter pretzel & Nutella hot chocolate. They are all topped high with delightful sweet things. I recently saw a cake batter hot chocolate which has cake batter, milk, vanilla whipped cream, cream cheese icing, red velvet crumble with a condensed milk and red velvet rim. It sounded wildly sweet but interesting at the same time.
My personal favourite and the one I find to be not too wildly sweet is the S’mores Latte. I think the fact that is has espresso in it really brings down the sweetness quotient. I believe it is a shot of espresso, milk with roasted marshmallow flavour, hot chocolate then topped with freshly roasted marshmallows (they do it right in front of you, it’s pretty fun to watch. I love fire). They also rim the cup in chocolate sauce and then dip it in graham cracker crumbs. Mmmmmm, yes, it is good. Like a campfire in a latte. Just look at that beauty:
As you can see, they have a very instagramable menu. Pro tip, go in the winter, there is never a line. In the summer there are often lines around the block. Another pro tip, if there is a line and it’s summer, Home of the Brave (the bar/restaurant on King W near Portland) also carries a couple options on the menu. Let me know which one if your favourite or what your favourite ice cream place is. I need to know. Bang Bang Ice Cream is likely my favourite place but Sweet Olenka's also holds a piece of my heart. They both have such unique flavours. Bang Bang does have the upper hand on what they put the ice cream in (cone, cup, cookie, egg waffle, profiterole) BUT Sweet Olenka’s doesn’t have the insane line. Clearly, I should just write an ice cream post…it’s coming.
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Are you not usually into dessert because it’s just too much sugar? Do you like waffles but find sometimes they are underwhelming depending on where you go? Then I have the place for you!
I love visiting this part of the city. There is always so much to see. These photos above are just a taste if you have never been there. So many great places to eat and wild items to try. Just inside the doors of Dragon City Mall on the South West corner at Spadina and Dundas St W is this magical little stand. I don’t even think the Stan has a name, there is no sign anyways. The stand is on the side of the lobby facing Spadina and it looks like a larger version of a hot dog stand. Full disclosure, they have odd hours sometimes and they have been known to run out later on in the day. It’s never a guarantee that you will get one but it is a guarantee that they will be delightful! It's not fancy like the places in this Blog TO article. It feels authentic because it really looks like quick street food. Sadly, there is no ice cream added. You may have seen them at places like Bang Bang Ice Cream instead of a traditional cup or cone. They are a popular street food Hong Kong and go by many names. They are an egg base waffles (I think eggier than your average begum waffle). They are almost lacy on the sides where they are crisp from the waffle iron and have this half hallowed out spherical partner across the surface that is soft and chewy. They are mildly sweet, which is my favourite part. When you get one off the grill fresh they are warm as you pull off the waffle spheres and pop them in your mouth. They have this vanilla flavour that is just so tender that you don’t get sick of it. I like to just rip the spheres off out of the bag as I’m walking around the area seeing all the sights that Little China has to offer. They go down a little too easy though. I could eat one or two myself no problem. I usually get a bag of three and share them with a friend. I suggest eating them right away so they don’t sweat in the paper bag they give them to you in. They would also be great with ice cream but they never make it more than a few blocks when I’m holding them. It’s a problem. Enjoy!
Are you a fan of ramen? Do you like garlic? Then I have the perfect place and bowl of it for you to try!
Sansotei Ramen has two locations downtown. I first went to the one on Yonge by Gloucester and recently tried the one on Dundas by Bay. Both were wonderful! They both look like your traditional ramen place. They are tight with as many seats fit in as possible. The menu is short. I think there are four options for soups and then thin or thick noodles with a handful of options for appetizers. Appetizer-wise, I’d skip it. If you love gyoza, go to Kinton. They have the best ones with an amazing sauce and all their ramen soups are lovely. However, main-wise, I have never had such a flavourful ramen dish. My friend convinced me to get the Tonkotsu Black (I also always get thick noodles, even though it’s not traditional, I think they are delicious!). They have a creamy, rich pork bone broth with all their ramen but this one is topped off with a roasted garlic oil that angels must have made. It’s topped up with two pieces of braised pork belly. Normally I’m not a fan of pork belly. I hate really fatty meat but in this case, it melts in your mouth and is wildly flavourful. They have a soft boiled egg split in half, black fungus and green onion. Such a great combination of textures and flavours.
Normally when I get ramen it’s just an excuse to get the noodles in me with a tasty broth coating. This is the first place I ever finished the broth too. I know, it’s a lot of salt, but at this place, it doesn’t seem like it is. The broth is just so rich and has a deep garlicky flavour that you keep wanting to have big spoons of. I find myself torn with every bite I’m about to take, do I get some of that soft egg? Do I have a bite of that perfect pork? Should I gulp down more of that amazing broth? And then suddenly there is nothing in your bowl and you are perfectly full (and possibly ready for a nap)
So far, this is the most flavourful ramen I have ever have. If you know other places, please do share! I’d love to try them. Enjoy! |
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