FOOD: GUU IZAKAYA (PART TWO)

Toronto's Foodies definitely have Guu fever and it doesn't look like it's stopping anytime soon.  The Hotspot located the south tip of Toronto's Village (Church x Carlton) just keeps getting hotter and hotter.  Case in point, my BFF Fran and I visited at 9:30 last night at the absolutely no-reservations establishment and finally got a table at 10:45 despite our Hostess' assurance our wait would be about half an hour.  And this was a Wednesday night. 

In what was my fifth visit, I tried a few different items on the Japanese Tapas Menu.  We tried the Pork Belly with a Boiled Egg in a Miso Broth and Wasabi. It may sound terrifying to those watching their waistlines, but it was braised to perfection.  Juicy and tender, cradled in  sweet Miso Broth. More, please.

One thing Fran and I almost always order is Kakki Fry - more simply Deep-Fried Breaded Oysters - with Homemade Pink Tartar Sauce.  Nothing particularly remarkable about the dish which some of the Sushi Hot Spots in town don't already offer.  Sushi Inn in Yorkville has mastered the art of Kakki Fri, serving generously-sized Oysters compared to these.  But I do love visuals and the pink is easy on the eyes.

FOOD: GUU IZAKAYA

Often when we think of Japanese food, we might automatically assume Sushi or Chicken Teriyaki.  Both are fine and dandy (I would never turn away a platter of good sushi!), but the Japanese have always been very creative with their culinary vision, using modes of preparation and flavour combinations which are still very unfamiliar to the Western palette. 

Izakaya (pronounced is-a-kai-a)  is style of dining popular with Japanese 9 to 5ers.  After a day at work, one can head to an Izakaya with friends for a beer or a cocktail alongside some intricately created Tapas creations, which can be shared.  After a wildly successful run in various parts of Vancouver, the owners of Guu Izakaya have brought their act to Toronto, setting up shop in a very unlikely location on the southside of the Church x Wellesley Village, Boys' Town.  After having been open just over a week, the line-ups have been out the door literally.  The Japanese community in Toronto has hungered far too long for authentic cuisine versus the many Korean or Chinese-owned Sushi establishments that we often see.  And it was actually my always cutting-edge BFF Fran's idea to give Guu Izakaya a try on Boxing Day.

Upon entering the restaurant, the mood was festive.  Friendly servers and kitchen staff were shouting greetings and well wishes to customers as they entered and left.  The decor was contemporary yet very traditionally Japanese with gray hues, stone walls, dim lights and unadorned wood tables and chairs.  We had to get a picture and one of our servers, Masaru from Vancouver, wanted in on it too!

I myself ordered a Calpico Sawa to start.  The refreshing beverage consists of Vodka and a sweet and slightly tart yogurt beverage, Calpico.  No, it's not thick and goopy. It's hard to come by in these parts as I haven't had this in at least five years.