NYS Steak Co.

Date: September and October 2010
Location: 5892 Main Street Stouffville Ontario L4A 2S8
Website:  http://www.nyssteakco.com/

My C.C. and I recently visit Markham and the Stouffville area for a day trip. It was a fun day and we visited so many places. We visited a restaurant called NYS Steak Co. for dinner. I have seen the advertisement on a local magazine before and finally I have a chance to visit. 


Originally I though NYS = New York Steak, but later on I found out NYS = "Not Your Standard" which is the principle of this restaurant. After we sat down the owner of the steak house came and greet us. He offered an off menu $40 Prix  Fixe Dinner with selections of their specialties. 

Appetizers/Starter

Lobster Bisque

My mouth was fulled with rich lobster favor and the soup contained lobster meat

House Salads

Red and green leaf lettuce, tomato, red onion and fennel with a balsamic and citrus vinaigrette

A typical salad but the dressing is just right for me not too sour

Gnocchi

The owner of the restaurant called it N'YO-kee

It was freshly made on the day of our visit and it tasted excellent

Chewy but soft and it just tasted perfect in the rose sauce. 

Entrée

Half Lobster

This is not just a hard boiled Lobster where you can see water dripping down

The chef spice up the lobster with garlic and "baked" it, so the meat was not soggy

Kansas City Steak 34 ounce

This was one of my favorite cut of the night. 

The steak were very tender and juicy though not as tender as tenderloin

**All their steaks are aged for at least 35-42 days **

Top Sirloin 23 ounce

This was still an excellent cut. A bit more chewy compared with the Kansas

Vegetable Side

Risotto Side

Mushroom Side

Dessert

**All their dessert are made in-house FRESH**

Crème brûlée

My favorite and it was a huge one

Very creamy. Love it!!!

Biscotti

Most of the biscotti I got the the supermarket were way too dry

This one has the right moisture yet very crunchy

Blue Berry Cheese Cake

I was so full already, I couldn't describe it anymore but it tasted excellent

Apple Flutte

Fin Izakaya

Date: April and June 2010

Location: 55 Eglinton Ave E, Toronto, ON M4P
Website: http://www.finizakaya.com/

It has been awhile since I decide to update the blog. The main reason is I am being lazy. However I didn't stop searching around the cities and found out delicious food.

I went to Fin Izakaya earlier this year and this restaurant didn't disappoint me at all. A lot of people had been talking about Guu Izakaya. However, I just can't find the motivation to go there. Anyway, let's go back to Fin Izakaya. I tried different dishes in Fin and their food are おいし (delicious). I also had the chance to try out Japanese sake which really opens up my eyes. My C.C. and I fell in love with 玉乃光純米大吟釀 right away as it has a very distinct aroma. Alright, it is dull to just look at words so here comes the pictures. 

Beef Tataki Salad

A very refreshing starters. The dressing was just right not too sour.

The beef tataki is briefly marinated in vinegar with a hint of ginger.

Ika Sugatayaki

The Ikayaki tasted great but nothing too special about it.

Mentaiko
Mentaiko is salty and I don't taste anything. No wonder Japanese always have mentaiko on rice.

Sukiyaki
The soup base was excellent although I have no idea what it was made of.
The beef was marinated just right, very tender.
This is one of my favorite dishes.

Fin's Special Dinner Bento
We were still hungry after all the dishes we ordered, so we ordered a bento box.
This is a great choice for people who never try Fin before.
It has three different layers including 6 starters, sushi, and sashimi.

First Layers

Seaweed Salad
Nothing special but tasted better than T&T

Takowasa
Fresh raw octopus marinated with wasabi and lemon juice. Love this!

Gobou no Wasabi Ae
Julienne strips of cooked burdock root dressed with wasabi mayonnaise.
A very traditional Japanese started. burdock tasted just like a raw potato without the starch taste

Second Layer

Vegetable & Shrimp Tempura
The coating was just right, not too oily

Duck meat with spicy powder on top
I can't find this on the menu but I am pretty sure it is duck.

Tebasaki koshou
Crispy fried chicken wings. OMG this is a dish to die for.
The chick wings were not oily at all yet juicy. A very good dish with beer.

Third Layer

Sushi and Sashimi
I didn't come to Fin for sushi and sashimi so not much a surprise to me.
However it filled my stomach ^0^

Drinks
We ordered "Sake Flight" - a choice of 3 samples of sake (1oz each).

Tamanohikari 純米大吟釀 玉乃光 備前雄町
This is the best zake. Aromatic and rich.
Takara Plum Wine 梅酒
Good for girls as it has a very sweet taste.
Hakkaisan 八海山
This one has a hint of spicy taste after I swallow it into my thoat


Lychee and Tropical Calpis Jucie Vodka Cocktail
I didn't taste any alcohol in my drink.

Menu