The Worst and Best of Air Transat

I just came back from my extended vacation in Europe, and even though there were too many tours and not enough beach days, I still had a good time. My trip was book-ended by two flights from Air Transat. The flight going to Rome was the worst flight I have ever experienced, while the flight coming home from Athens was the best flight I ever experienced. I will talk about both experiences in the first of my many blog posts from the Europe trip.

Restaurant Review: Eggstatic Artisian Breakfast and Brunch

Eggstatic (1568 Bayview Avenue, Toronto) is a restaurant that serves breakfast and brunch with a Middle-Eastern twist at reasonable prices.

I ordered the Spinach and Mushroom Benedict, and it had guacamole on it, which was an interesting choice. This was something I have not seen before. My meal also came with home fries, salad, and some fruit. I have to say that Eggstatic served an excellent breakfast. My only gripe with the meal was that there was too much balsamic vinegar in the salad, which made the inside of my mouth feel oily. The home fries had a satisfying crunch and had a thorough cooking. For the Spinach and Mushroom Benedict, the guacamole and the Hollandaise sauce made each bite incredibly creamy, with the right amount of substance from the English muffin.

This restaurant is an easy recommend. Great food with solid service.

Review: 17 Steakhouse and Bar

I went to 17 Steakhouse and bar, which is a fine dining restaurant in Mississauga, for a friend's birthday. I try not to go to these kinds of restaurants because they are incredibly expensive, but I have made an exception to this rule and decided to check this steakhouse out. If you have the funds, it does not hurt to go to a fine dining restaurant once in a while. Here are my thoughts.

Review: The Cheesecake Factory in Yorkdale Shopping Centre

Almost a full two years after their Toronto location opened inside Yorkdale Shopping Centre, I was finally able to go to The Cheesecake Factory for dinner. Now, I have been to The Cheesecake Factory in the USA, and I was impressed with the decor of the restaurant, the large portions of food, and the dessert (Of course!). If the Canadian location can replicate what the American Cheesecake Factory restaurants can do, then the restaurant in Yorkdale can be a big success. In a way, The Cheesecake Factory's opening in Toronto reminds me of the department store chain Target's expansion into Canada. However, Target did not attempt to satisfy Canadians' expectations and that was a reason (among others) why Target had to pull out of the Canadian retail market.

Review: The Brownie Hot Fudge From Dutch Dreams

On my wanderings around Toronto with a couple of friends, we went to a popular dessert spot that sold all kinds of Dutch desserts and candies. 'Dutch Dreams' was the name of the place, and based on the line that stretched outside; it seemed like a dessert spot that could not possibly disappoint. To put it bluntly, Dutch Dreams did not disappoint at all.

Review: WestJet's In-Flight Pizza

On my 4-hour flight to Montego Bay, I was feeling famished. Normally, I would try to eat something before I board my flight, so I do not have the pay the overpriced amount for in-flight meals. However, the feeling of hunger came over me like a tidal wave while on my flight. I had no choice but to order a meal, and after scouring Westjet's on-board menu, I settled on the pizza (which is described to have authentic tomato sauce), which came at a price of $9.49.