The Burger's Priest

Ronsee had been dying to try The Burger's Priest after hearing so many raves about it, and I hadn't been there since my first time with Mary, so we'd been meaning to go there for months. But every time we thought of eating there, it was always a Sunday, and it's a well-known fact that The Burger's Priest is closed on Sundays. So on this chilliest of Fridays, we found ourselves both free and hungry, and we finally got to go there this evening.

The Priest

Fries

Riggs & Murtaugh

Ronsee opted for The Pope (from their secret menu), while I decided on The Priest. The Priest consists of their cheeseburger with The "Option," which is essentially a deep-fried portobello mushroom stuffed with cheese, plus all the toppings they offer: lettuce, tomato, ketchup, mustard, mayo, and pickles (no onions for me). This is Toronto's answer to Shake Shack's Shack Stack, which is my favourite burger of all time. The only reason I marginally prefer the Shack Stack to The Priest is because the Shake Shack has bigger, meatier, and cheesier deep-fried portobello mushrooms. I would say everything else (including the beef patty itself) is just as good. The Priest is a seriously good contender, and a very close second for me. As Ronsee said while eating his burger: "It's like I just made out with god."

The fries are better than I remember them, and might actually be my favourite fries available in the city right now. Crispy and golden on the outside, and perfectly salted; these fries are so good, adding condiments would be blasphemy. Finally, we shared the Riggs & Murtaugh (also from the secret menu), which is their black and white shake (vanilla ice cream blended into creamy chocolate milk). The consistency was absolutely perfect — thick and creamy enough to be satisfying as a milkshake, but still fluid enough to sip easily through a straw. It was sweet, but not sickly sweet, and it somehow complimented the burger and fries beautifully, almost like a palate cleanser. It was pretty much the most perfect burger joint dinner. Whether you're religious or not, it is a seriously transcendent experience. Our goal is to try every item from the secret menu, so next up for me is The Vatican City.


The Burger's Priest
3397 Yonge Street
Toronto, ON M4N 2M7
(416) 488-3510

Friday Five: Tired Car Metaphors

This week's Friday Five:

1. What area of your life has lately (and pleasantly) been on cruise control? Probably my social life. 
2. Where in your life should you probably hit the brakes? Spending. It's getting ridiculous.
3. Where do you go when you just need a little tune-up? Home! I never spend enough time at home, to have a full day of just relaxing and doing absolutely nothing. I love going out, but sometimes I just want to stay at home, do my laundry, make breakfast food for dinner, catch up on some TV shows, and read a book.
4. How much junk have you got in the trunk? If we're talking metaphorically, then more than I want. If we're talking literally, then... surprisingly, not a lot. I actually think the only things I have in there are my spare tire and some windshield wiper fluid.
5. Where is the needle on your fuel gauge pointing today? It's definitely on the lower half. I didn't get as much sleep as I wanted to, and the weather is exceptionally gloomy today.

Paramount Fine Foods

Jack, Ronsee, and I went downtown this evening to do a little shopping at the Eaton Centre (even though I did warn myself to avoid it... alas, I received a $20 off coupon from Sephora and decided that I had to take advantage of it), and decided to grab a bite to eat across the street at Paramount 'cause we were in the mood for some shawarma.

Fresh pita bread

It was busy but we managed to grab a table when we got in; I imagine it's much more packed on weekends because I've heard the wait times for a table can get pretty long. As soon as we ordered, we were given a basket of pita bread, baked fresh and still puffy, straight from the oven. It was soft and pillowy and piping hot with steam billowing out the moment we tore into it. However, this pita bread was clearly made for dipping (and dips like hummus or moutabel cost about $5) because it was terribly bland. I can't complain because the pita is complimentary, but I did learn that you can ask for a side of tahini, which is super garlicky and delicious, and is ideal for dipping the pita bread (and pretty much everything else) into. You will have severe dragon breath, but it's so worth it.

Beef shawarma sandwich (innards)

Beef shawarma sandwich (more innards)

I wasn't too hungry as I had eaten a few hours prior, so I opted for a beef shawarma sandwich instead of a full shawarma platter. Each sandwich (or pita, really) is packed with grilled beef shawarma, parsley, onion, turnips, pickles, tomatoes, and tahini sauce. Since I have a love affair with tahini, I added some more to mine, but my sandwich was quite divine on its own; everything was super-fresh and flavourful, and I thought the meat was perfectly soft and tender (though I have read in some of the reviews that some of the shawarma can be dry). I also liked that the parsley didn't overwhelm the other ingredients as it often does. I will say, however, that the portion is somewhere in between a large snack and a meal, so if you're looking to grab a full meal, I would definitely do a platter or two sandwiches if you have a large appetite.

The service, on the other hand, leaves something to be desired. There are no designated servers, and all of them seemed to be impatient, hurried, and curt. The lady taking our order cut me off with a, "Yeah, yeah, okay," when I asked for a glass of water with my food. And it just so happens that all of the rude servers are female. The only server that seemed genuinely nice was the guy that brought our food, though it is possible that he is a manager because he seemed to have more authority than the others. Moreover, the interior is very bright with minimal decor, and is generally no frills — this is a place to order, eat, and pay as fast as possible, not to linger around and enjoy the atmosphere. All in all, I would come here again, but only if I'm in the downtown core and craving Middle Eastern food. As good as the food is, I wouldn't go out of the way for it.


Paramount Fine Foods
253 Yonge Street
Toronto, ON M5B 1N8
(416) 366-3600

Julep Maven Box: November 2012

For November, Julep released a slew of matte suede nail polishes. I wasn't too keen on any of the other styles, so I received my usual "It Girl" style box, which included two of the new matte suede shades as well as their Matte Top Coat. I added a bottle of their Fast Dry Top Coat for $4.99, as well, 'cause you can never have too much top coat, you know? As for the nail polish shades, I received:

Hailee and Nora

Hailee is a green-tinged gunmetal grey with silver micro-shimmer in a Matte Suede finish. It has a fluid consistency without being too thick or too runny. It goes on smoothly and evenly, without any pulling, bubbling, or streaking. It has high pigmentation and will reach opacity in two thin-medium coats. Due to the matte finish, it does try fairly quickly, but there is sufficient application time. It is less multi-faceted and more green than Chanel's Graphite.

Nora is a plum-tinged gunmetal grey with silver micro-shimmer in a Matte Suede finish. It has a fluid consistency without being too thick or too runny. It goes on smoothly and evenly, without any pulling, bubbling, or streaking. It has high pigmentation and will reach opacity in one medium coat. Due to the matte finish, it does try fairly quickly, but there is sufficient application time. It is less multi-faceted and more purple than Chanel's Graphite.

Overall, the formulas on both shades were beautiful — fluid, pigmented, and self-levelling. The difference between a straight-up matte finish and Julep's Matte Suede finish is just in the inclusion of micro-shimmer in the shades, which offers a more textured look rather than a completely flat one. That having been said, I have never been, and am still not, a fan of matte finish nail polishes, suede or otherwise. When I had these shades on, I kept thinking, "They'd look so much better with a shiny finish." It really ends up looking like nail polish that has a film of dirt on top. The Matte Top Coat is nice if you like matte finishes, as they can turn any nail polish into an almost "frosted glass" look. But again, I'm not keen on anything less than ultra-shiny on my nails. I will probably keep the two shades here, but wear them with a shiny top coat instead; they are actually really beautiful, lovely, dimensional shades when worn glossy.

Survey Says...

This week's Survey Says... from Temptalia:

1. Your skintone/colouring? Medium with yellow/olive undertones (NC35), dark brown hair and eyes.
2. Most glittery eyeshadow you own? Any of MAC's Crushed Metallic Pigments.
3. Most glittery lipstick you own? Any of MAC's Dazzle Lipsticks.
4. Most glittery blush you own? NARS Super Orgasm.

Birthday Hauls, Part II

As if I wasn't spoiled enough with gifts (and my own purchases — what, can't I spoil myself?), I got even more goodies this past week after meeting up with Liz and Mary at dinner on Friday. It's like I had two birthdays this month!

My purchases: Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Dazzled and Charisma, Illamasqua Nail Varnish in Noble and Cameo, and Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Excess Mascara from Sephora

Lush Happy Happy Joy Joy Hair Conditioner and Dream Cream Body Lotion from my other Lush friend, Lexi

Tarina Tarantino Dollskin Cheek Palette, OPI "The Man with the Golden Gun" Real 18K Gold Top Coat, and Deborah Lippmann Nail Lacquer in Cleopatra in New York from Liz

Voluspa Burmese Rosewood 3-Wick Candle from Liz

Lollia Grenadine & Tonic Bee Balm Conditioner, Lancôme Artliner Precision Point Eyeliner in Noir, Consonant Organic Body Soap, Paddywax Twilight Travel Tin Candle, and Joe Fresh Cross-Body Bag (not pictured) from Mary

Thank you so much, girls, you are truly the best beauty blogger friends a girl could have (except for when y'all enable me to spend way too much money on more make-up)! Another exciting note: Sephora at Eaton Centre now carries Illamasqua and Armani make-up! (Note to self: Avoid Eaton Centre even more than you currently do.)

Metric: Live at Air Canada Centre — Gimme Sympathy

This is the video I took of Metric at Air Canada Centre on November 24, performing an acoustic version of "Gimme Sympathy," which was the first single from their album, Fantasies. This was their last song of the night. I only managed to capture the last bit of the song because I had already put my camera in my bag prior to it and didn't know they were going to perform one more song. It was a beautiful ending to a fantastic concert, and it really showed what a long way Metric has come. Who would've thought they'd one day get to see an arena full of their fans singing along to every word of their songs?

Metric: Live at Air Canada Centre — Black Sheep

This is the video I took of Metric at Air Canada Centre on November 24, performing "Black Sheep" during their encore. I never thought I'd be able to hear this song played live because it was never released on any of their albums. I fell in love with this song after watching Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, during which the fictional band, The Clash at Demonhead, plays this song during their show (but let's be honest, Brie Larson is no Emily Haines). "Black Sheep" is only available on the soundtrack to the movie, and it is one of my top five favourite Metric songs to date, so you can imagine how ecstatic I was to see them performing this live!

Metric: Live at Air Canada Centre — Empty

This is the video I took of Metric at Air Canada Centre on November 24, performing "Empty," which is my favourite song from their album, Live It Out. Obviously, the best part of seeing this performance live is Emily Haines rocking out with the tambourine. Who else could make playing the tambourine look so hot?

Metric: Live at Air Canada Centre — Satellite Mind

This is the video I took of Metric at Air Canada Centre on November 24, performing "Satellite Mind," which is one of my favourite songs from their album, Fantasies. And now we also know how Emily Haines got those fabulously toned legs of hers.

Metric: Live at Air Canada Centre — Youth Without Youth

This is the video I took of Metric at Air Canada Centre on November 24, performing "Youth Without Youth," which was their first single off their latest album, Synthetica. You may have heard this song once or twice or 86 times before (it was played a lot on the radio and television and stores over the past several months). I've actually recorded a video of them playing this song before when they just launched Synthetica, but this version is much more polished. And my hands aren't nearly as shaky. And the audio is better.

Mariachi's

Wynnie took me out for a belated birthday dinner tonight. We were both interested in trying out an authentic Mexican restaurant, and were originally going to go to El Trompo, but they're closed on Sunday evenings, so we opted for Mariachi's instead.

Guacamole!

Served with tortilla chips and pico de gallo

Chicken enchilada with mild ranchera sauce

Beef enchilada with creamy poblano chile sauce

Taquiza (chicken, beef, and chorizo) served with guacamole, pico de gallo, jalepeños, rice, and salad

Chorizo taquiza (innards)

The guacamole is undoubtedly the most popular appetizer here, as we saw nearly every table with an order of it. Fresh, equal parts creamy and chunky, perfectly seasoned with a hint of lime juice, and topped with a flurry of tomatoes. Super addictive with their crispy homemade tortilla chips and a side of pico de gallo. However, for $8, I was seriously expecting a bigger portion. There is a big pestle sitting in the middle of the mortar that it's served in, so it appears like you're getting a lot more than you really are. The guacamole is good, but not $8 good. For our mains, we decided to share the enchiladas and the taquiza. There are two enchiladas in a single order, and you can choose from chicken, beef, chorizo, or vegetarian. They're topped with your sauce of choice, sprinkled with cheese, and then baked. We decided to get the chicken with mild ranchera sauce and the beef with creamy poblano chile sauce. The chicken was on the bland side, and I think a spicier sauce would've been better with it to give it some kick. The beef enchilada was much better; the meat was well-seasoned and the creamy poblano chile sauce complemented it well.

The taquiza — you get one each of chicken, beef, and chorizo — were good, but I think they could have been served with more toppings, like black beans, sour cream, salsa, and cheese (though whether or not these are authentic is another story, and Mariachi's prides itself on its authenticity). The chicken in this dish was much better, as they used full strips of well-seasoned and marinated chicken breast so it was both tender and flavourful. Wynnie chose the beef one and I chose the chorizo, so while I can't comment on the beef version, the chorizo was fantastic, flavourful with just enough spice. The salad and rice that were served with both dishes were pretty standard, nothing to write home about. Though the salad didn't seem to come with any dressing (at least to my tastebuds), so I ended up mixing it with the rice so it wasn't like I was just eating plain lettuce. Again, the portions were quite small, and for the prices they charge ($13 for the enchiladas, $15 for the taquiza), they weren't quite as filling as we thought they would be. The servers were polite and efficient enough, though on a busier night, I can see them being a little too understaffed. I might try this place again, but there are lots of other Mexican restaurants that I'd go to first before re-visiting Mariachi's.


Mariachi's
2084 Yonge Street
Toronto, ON M4S 2A3
(416) 481-7111

Metric: Live at Air Canada Centre

I went with my friend, Steph, to see Metric tonight at the Air Canada Centre.


I love them and their music, but I hate the Air Canada Centre. Metric, to me, is just not a band that is suited to playing arenas. We had really awesome seats (second row), but I don't think there should have been seats to begin with. People around us were sitting for most of the show, so we didn't want to be the assholes that were blocking their view by standing up, but Metric is a band that plays music best enjoyed in a crowd, singing loudly and obnoxiously to their songs, and dancing around like no one's watching. I'm just sayin'. That having been said, it was a great show overall, and Metric really has grown up a lot since the first time I saw them (nearly eight years ago!). They put on a much more dynamic show and really know how to work a crowd. It's great to see them so successful, really. I know Toronto is their hometown and they want more hoopla for their hometown show, but I just wish they'd book more shows at a smaller venue than one really big arena show that screams, "Sell out!" Is that so much to ask?

My Place Fish & Chips

Steph and I decided to grab some dinner before heading downtown for the Metric show at the Air Canada Centre this evening, and she suggested going to My Place Fish & Chips. For some reason, I rarely have fish and chips at a proper fish and chips restaurant, so I was pretty excited to try this place.

Halibut & Chips

Halibut innards

My Place Fish & Chips is a small, diner-style, family-run restaurant. It has a really unassuming exterior in a rather rundown plaza, and I would never have thought to stop by this place, let alone eat in it (especially with Johnny's right next door!). The decor leaves something to be desired as well, with tacky cloth posters hanging all over the walls, orange pleather bench seats, and almost jarring fluorescent lighting. But if the completely packed tables are any indication, the food is fantastic and people (especially Irish pensioners) can't seem to get enough of it. The menu itself is rather limited being a fish and chips restaurant, so ordering is simple and easy; both Steph and I got the halibut and chips.

The fish is battered and deep-fried until airy, crispy, and golden. The batter is light, almost panko-like, which explains why it remains crispy and doesn't seem as greasy as many other deep-fried foods (you can also tell they use clean oil because there isn't that nasty aftertaste). The fish itself is soft, tender, flaky, and meaty but not tough or chewy. The fries are thick-cut and perfectly golden with soft, starchy innards; substantial enough for you to load on as much vinegar or ketchup as you so please. My only complaint is the tartar sauce. A restaurant that specializes in fish and chips should really make a good, creamy, flavourful, homemade tartar sauce to serve with their dishes, not the crappy packet stuff. Other than that, it's a great place to go when the craving hits.


My Place Fish & Chips
2577 Victoria Park Avenue
Scarborough, ON M1T 1A4
(416) 495-0195

Mercatto

Mary, Liz, and I finally managed to find some time to get together for dinner tonight. We were originally going to go to Terroni, but we couldn't get a reservation at any of their locations because they were too busy, so Liz got us a table at Mercatto instead. Which turned out for the better, anyway, 'cause it's been on my to-try list longer.

Assaggi: Fritto Misto

Pizze: Agnello

Pizze: Anatra

Liz and I shared the Fritto Misto to start, a deep-fried food lover's dream. Plump white shrimp and tender calamari, lightly battered and deep-fried to golden, crispy perfection, served with smoked ketchup and a most addictive creamy cucumber salad on the side. Not the most unique appetizer, but it was incredibly satisfying. For our mains, Liz opted for the goat's cheese ravioli, while Mary and I shared two pizzas. Mary picked the Agnello, which has mozzarella, tomato sauce, spicy homemade lamb sausage, roasted peppers, and basil. And I picked the Anatra, which has mozzarella, besciamella or béchamel sauce, duck confit, and foraged mushrooms (we all know how important the foraging process is with mushrooms). Both of them were divine, with perfect crusts — just crispy enough on the outside but still foldable New York-style, and with a proper chew on the inside. It was also substantial enough to hold all the toppings with nothing falling off, but still thin enough to be considered a thin-crust pizza.

I think I liked the Agnello marginally more, only because I felt the flavours worked really well together — the spicy, slightly gamey flavour of the lamb sausage was tempered by the sweetness of the peppers and the basil added a refreshing kick. The Anatra was decadent, but ultimately very rich, and I thought there could've been more of a flavour contrast (though I love that it's a white pizza!). Our server was efficient and extremely polite, sweet and attentive. The atmosphere is casual chic with a fairly open space and cute little chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, and the dimmed lighting makes for a very cozy ambiance, perfect for group gatherings and dates alike. Definitely no regrets on our restaurant choice, and I would definitely go there again. The pappardelle with lamb bolognese is calling out to me. Thanks for a wonderful dinner, ladies!


Mercatto
330 Bay Street
Toronto, ON M5H 2S8
(416) 306-0467

Friday Five: Black

This week's Friday Five:

1. What's your favourite black article of clothing? A tough question, as 99% of my wardrobe is black. Ultimately, I'd have to say my black satin crepe Wilfred Chevalier blazer from Aritzia and black Leggings Pants from Uniqlo.
2. What's the best black food? In recent memory, probably the caviar I had at Per Se.
3. How did you pass the time during your most recent extended blackout (power outage)? The last time I experienced a blackout was a few weeks ago, and I was just about to leave the house to go out and my garage door couldn't open. But the power went back on within a minute, so I don't think it really counts. The last time I really experienced a prolonged power outage was probably the Blackout of 2003, and I had been shopping at the Eaton Centre with Janetta. I think we just walked around Queen Street and took advantage of vendors giving out free food before it went bad. We were downtown for hours and finally found a cab that was willing to drive us all the way back uptown. When I got home, we just ate the rest of the ice cream in the freezer by candlelight. And then I read a book by flashlight until the power went back on around 3:00 in the morning.
4. When did you last play blackjack? About a month ago, when I went to the casino with Jack and Ronsee. 
5. What are some songs in your iTunes (or other media player) whose titles contain the word 'black'? I have a total of 27 songs with the word 'black' in the title. My top ten songs from those: 

• Thursday — Jet Black New Year
• Codeseven — Smell of Yellow and Black
• The Black Keys — Little Black Submarines
• Metric — Black Sheep
• Taking Back Sunday — Up Against (Blackout)
• Yeah Yeah Yeahs — Black Tongue
• AFI — Bleed Black
• Radiohead — Black Star
• Sneaker Pimps — Black Sheep
• The Cardigans — Little Black Cloud

A-England Nail Varnish in Holy Grail

A-England recently released two new nail polishes, both of which I bought (obviously). One of them is a new shade for a new line-up called Heavenly Quotes, and the other one, which is the one featured here, is the newly re-vamped Holy Grail, which is a shade that was originally released with A-England's The Mythicals collection. I assume the reason for the re-vamp was because the original Holy Grail shade, a brighter yellow gold, wasn't popular enough to keep it as it was, but they didn't want to retire it completely.

Holy Grail (natural lighting)

Holy Grail (under flash)

Holy Grail is a medium-dark antique gold with gold, bronze, copper, and tarnished olive micro-shimmer. It's a complex shade that can look more gold or amber in certain angles, more brassy or tarnished green in others, so it can look both cool and warm. It has a fluid consistency without being too thick or too runny. It goes on smoothly and evenly, without any pulling, bubbling, or streaking. It has high pigmentation, and will go opaque in two thin-medium coats. I can't think of any close dupes for this; Butter London's Wallis is darker and has more predominantly dirty gold shimmer. I received a ton of compliments when I wore this shade, which really looks like richer, classier, more luxurious version of the original Holy Grail — and is much more suited to its namesake as a result.

Survey Says...

This week's Survey Says... from Temptalia:

1. Your skintone/colouring? Medium with yellow/olive undertones (NC35), dark brown hair and eyes.
2. Last skin care product you finished? A travel-size tube of Philosophy's Purity Made Simple Cleansing Gel.
3. Last hair care product you finished? A full-size bottle of Lush's Rehab Shampoo.
4. Last make-up product you finished? MAC's Eyebrows in Brunette.

Birthday Hauls

I got a lot of stuff over the past week, including my purchases from my trip to Buffalo (which basically means Sephora and Target) and IMATS (my friend went to get stuff for me because I was in the States), and birthday gifts received:

Disney Cinderella by Sephora Storylook Eyeshadow Palette

Disney Cinderella by Sephora Storylook Eyeshadow Palette (inside)

Urban Decay The Vice Palette

Urban Decay The Vice Palette (inside)

Tarte Fantastic Foursome Set

Tarte Fantastic Foursome Set (clockwise from left): Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Angelic, Stellar, Magic, and Fantastic

NARS Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base and Fresh Sugar Kisses Mini Lip Duo Birthday Bonus (Fresh Mini Sugar and Sugar Rosé Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15)

Philosophy Purity Made Simple Facial Cleansing Gel and Eye Makeup Remover

Lancôme Pure Focus Anti-Ageing Matifying Cream-Gel and Hydra Zen Extreme Soothing Moisturising Cream-Gel from Duty Free

Butter London Holiday 2012 Nail Lacquer in Fairy Cake, Shambolic, Fiddlesticks, Scuppered, and Jack the Lad

Essie Winter 2012 Nail Polish in Snap Happy and Where's My Chauffeur?, and China Glaze Bohemian Luster Chrome Nail Lacquer in Deviantly Daring and Unpredictable

Crown Brushes (IB120, IB103, IB101, IB102, C400, and C108) from IMATS

OCC Lip Tars in Yaoi, Psycho, Lydia, and Demure from IMATS

Lush Karma Kream Body Lotion, Calacas Shower Jelly, Whoosh Shower Jelly, Slammer Shower Gel, Twilight Shower Gel, Twilight Bath Bomb, and Fizzbanger Bath Bomb from my Lush friend, Fran

2 Broke Girls: The Complete First Season, The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Fifth Season, Grey's Anatomy: The Complete Eighth Season, and Pretty Little Liars: The Complete Second Season from Ben

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern and Brave on Blu-ray and DVD on sale from Target

Method Hand Wash in Pear Ginger (bottle designed by Orla Kiely), Fresh Currant, and Waterfall from Target

Many delicious Oreos (Peanut Butter Fudge Cremes, Double Stuf Heads or Tails, and Triple Double Neapolitan) from Target

Suffice it to say, I had a very, very good birthday, and I am also now very, very broke.