Jaq

A small (maybe 12 tables) place with a nice selection of mezze. Full of old musical instruments.

The caprese sandwich is tasty. Ask to have it warmed up/toasted.

...was for a quick, early dinner on a Wednesday night. Clarence Acox was setting up to provide the night’s entertainment. A woman approached him, all chummy and “aren’t we best ever friends”, and gushed “Someone told me you were playing here tonight and I just had to come!!!” Acox looked at her and said “I have been playing here every Wednesday night since 1986.” Cracked me right up.

The food’s okay, the venue is too loud for conversation when there’s music. Go on Wednesday night and listen to Clarence Acox play jazz.

Take your lunch around the corner to Waterfall Park and enjoy it there. Try not to have your heart set on a particular type of salami; they might have run out and seriously it’s all good.

They do takeout! Phone it in, get there in 15 minutes just as it is coming out of the oven, drive it home and enjoy. Split a salad and still have enough to take for lunch the next day. The gelato probably wouldn’t travel well, but the lemon flavor is so intense and perfect on a summer day.

We tried, with friend Mackro, on Monday (Labor Day), but were thwarted – the Dish is always closed on Mondays! The following day, we were to have breakfast with friends at Señor Moose in Ballard. Except, Señor Moose is always closed on Tuesdays!

So, breakfast at the Dish Cafe on Tuesday was great – busy but not so much we couldn’t get a table for 4 right away. Fast service and tasty food. I had the Roma scramble: italian sausage, tomato, basil, mozzarella, served with a side of breakfast redskin potatoes.

...was early in the morning the Monday following the final weekend of the Tulip festival. A few of the fields had already been cut, but most were still standing, and there were no crowds. My favorite memory was wandering deep up a tractor path, acres of shimmery red to my right, acres of briliant yellow to my left, the delicate fresh scent subtle over the earthy smell of the wet loam. Then, turning around to face the east and Mt. Baker snowcapped before me.

So while I flew into the Toronto airport (Pearson), I was actually in Mississauga the entire time and never in Toronto proper. I still want to go! I’ve heard nothing but good things about the city.

Last year, we started seeing tiny ads in our local paper for sushi at Subs ‘n Jean. Actual sushi is a rarity here, so we checked it out. Sure enough, an actual sushi chef, ensconced in the midst of the sandwich shop. They offer a huge variety of rolls, some nigiri and sashimi. And because they are pretty much the only game in town for sushi, their turnover is good.

And this year, they have added a second sushi chef at lunchtime. Today, I had 3 different rolls: California Gold, tuna, and eel with a soft drink for just under $20. Each roll is 8 pieces (so 2 rolls would have been plenty for me).

I’m going for work for the last week of July! Yay!