Some time ago Pauline suggested to me the idea of having a "big batch night". This meant, essentially, that we'd cook a stew or soup, eat, and then freeze or refrigerate the remainder. I somehow heard "chili" in my brain when she said "big batch" and I immediately agreed that it was a good idea. We decided on Monday nights. This quickly evolved into a sort of date night which we took full advantage of. On a good night we'd turn Monday evening into a Friday nite. That was rare, but it did happen. ¶ As people moved apartments and constants turned into legacies, our date night somehow became redundant, unecessary. But this was just an illusion. Tonight it was revived, and it was a treat to be grateful for! ¶ The odds were against us. Herself was still suffering from heat stroke (see yesterday's post), and the restaurant we finally decided on was completely unknown to us. But the gamble seemed to be self-guaranteeing, and I left the house with some optimism. It wasn't a complete leap: Toronto Life gave it a rave review, and the language surrounding the review made the place out to be an institution so I had history by my side. The cab ride itself was uneventful, but our driver turned out to be a philosopher. He didn't say much, but he did wonder about the root of evil in man, and he asked us about it in plain language. Strangely, I ignored him. ¶ Joso's (202 Davenport Rd., 416-925-1903) is in fact a famous Toronto seafood and fish restaurant, but neither Pauline nor I had ever heard of it. It was, naturally, the best fish I've had in the city. But it was much more than that. Our waitress was a complete pro, the restaurant itself was charmingly decorated with erotic art, surrealism, and fish paintings, and the atmosphere was ideal. We ordered the octopus, a mixed green salad, and the Arctic char. The octopus was an order of heavenly grilled protein, the salad was a tasty delight, and the char was a feast. I devoured much of the fish, but it was a big fish. Pauline had her fair share as well, but this char could have easily fed a family of four. The Gavi washed it all down and we were out of there just as the dinner rush was in full swing. We walked all the way to the Cloak for an after-dinner pint. It was a great night, and even though Pauline was not totally herself, I think she felt better than she had all day. ¶ We're moving our big batch night to Sundays in the fall. I had the idea of doing a roast every fourth Sunday (as a monthly alternative to stews or soup). Keen on the roast idea.

Labels: Cooking, Restaurants, Toronto, Wine

¶ 10:59 PM
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