Nota Bene’s soft-shell crab
David Lee’s perfect tempura soft-shell crab, served on a slaw of green mango, coriander, scallions, chili, mint and lime—accompanied by cheekily cheapo wooden chopsticks—is classic South Asian street food executed by an all-star chef. $16. 180 Queen St. W., 416-977-6400.
Chiado’s quail with piri piri
Frango piri piri, the chili-and-vinegar-kicked rotisserie staple, was begging for a makeover. Here chef Manny Vilela uses quail—moist, brooding and just a little pink—set over meaty shiitake risotto and drizzled with sour, spicy, smoky house-made sauce. $15. 864 College St., 416-538-1910.
Langdon Hall’s fennel cappuccino
Chef Jonathan Gushue surrounds a quenelle of confited summer tomatoes in a chilled pool of earthy, anise-edged roasted fennel broth. There are cherry tomatoes, too, orange and red and ripened to near-bursting, and a dusting of crunchy, licorice-y powder made from sumac pollen and foraged autumn olive berries (they’re from a wild local plant; nothing to do with olives). The best soup of the year by a country mile. $14. 1 Langdon Dr., Cambridge, 800-268-1898.
Buca’s fried zucchini flowers
Zucchini flowers are among the most ephemeral ingredients: mid-summer sun salutations that are alive with flavour, but delicate as tissue and challenging to cook. Rob Gentile washes the blooms in sparkling water and stuffs them with delicate buffalo milk ricotta, mint and just enough lemon zest, before battering and frying them ultra-light. They’re finished with crunchy sea salt. Summer can’t come soon enough. $7. 604 King St. W., 416-865-1600.
The tuna handroll has gone up to $9 on Origins website..
April 22, 2011 at 5:29 pm | by cupcakezClassic Aprile …. When something sells well at Origin/CL it goes up in price
June 10, 2011 at 8:52 am | by TOcookssmall portions at Origins with price increase = boycott
July 12, 2011 at 1:41 pm | by anonI’ll second the Octopus and Fava at Enoteca and Noce’s Parpadelle! Both superb.
July 20, 2011 at 3:20 pm | by Scott