Cheers

 Linking up with Marg at The Intrepid Reader

Weekend Coffee Share
Sunday Salon

December 2024 - Toronto ON

Union Station Toronto

Saturday passed in a blur.

Sunday I got the turkey soup going, as I will use some of it for gluten-free gravy to take to my cousin's for Christmas Day.

I also cooked the tourtiere fillings (one for us and one for my cousin). It needs to be cold before it is put into the pastry.

Monday I ran out for a couple of items including disposable pie plates for the tourtieres. John had plenty of football recorded.

I have never frozen cooked turkey before. I took the suggestions online and cut some meat up, poured a little turkey stock over it and froze. We will see!

Tuesday CHRISTMAS EVE 

Walking through Union Station, looks like another new restaurant. 

BINGZ /biNGz/ noun.

Burger style Chinese street-food. Crispy outside with various freshly made ingredients inside. Inspired by the “world’s oldest burger” invented 2,000 years ago in the Qin dynasty.

adjective. A taste causing great surprise or sudden wonder; crispy; marvellous

Menu at the newly opened Shake Shack Bar in Union.

Scotia Plaza

We walked underground from Union, this was the only time we were outside as we headed to Joey King. What a delight! We were blown away by the service from the time we walked in the door and were greeted with complimentary sparkling wine. Our server, Chelsea was such a professional and very knowledgeable about the menu. 

Local Ontario wine. Half price on Tuesdays!

I had a hard time deciding! 

Steak & Sushi  - tataki-style steak, ponzu sauce, seared salmon sushi or tuna & avocado crunch roll. I chose the salmon. DELICIOUS! 

JOEY Classic Steak - 6 oz CAB® sirloin featuring our famous fully loaded crispy mashed potatoes, seasonal vegetables. He added a side of lemon garlic prawns, but they were cold so our server comped them.

You can't see it but the fully loaded potato is inside a spring roll wrap.

We both loved everything and have other items on the menu that we would like to try!

We walked outside back to the bus. We picked up Starbucks Caramel Brûlé Lattes but they were too sweet for our liking.

CHRISTMAS DAY I prepared the potatoes and vegetables to take to my cousin's. I put them in the crockpot to keep them warm and free up kitchen space. I made a tourtiere and also made the gravy (stock from my turkey) and put in an insulated coffee pot for serving.

We headed out around 4:30. 

We had the traditional turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes, carrots and turnips, Brussels sprouts with bacon and maple syrup.

Thursday BOXING DAY three of us were up at 8:30 and John arose at 10! After breakfast we sat around chatting until we left around 2.

Once home, we got comfy, John made popcorn and watched a movie.

Friday I was deciding whether I wanted to treat today as our Boxing Day or run out for that last minute items. John decided he would do the grocery trip instead. 

I have been lamenting all month that I could not find crab legs for new year's eve. Oh, Costco did have a 10 lb bag for $800!!! 

Yes, there is a shortage of king crab legs due to a number of factors, including:

Russian seafood import ban

The US has banned the import of Russian seafood due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. 

Norwegian king crab quota reduction

The Norwegian king crab quota is expected to decrease by 60% in 2024. 

Smaller quota for Bristol Bay red king crab

The quota for Alaska's Bristol Bay commercial red king crab season is smaller than usual. 

Crab population decline

In 2022, Alaskan officials canceled the king crab fishing season due to a 90% drop in the crab population. 

Climate change

Warming ocean temperatures have likely contributed to the decline in the crab population. 

Red King Crab legs size 4/7 : r/Seafood

The shortage is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. 

John decided to have a quick look at Metro and found the last three bags (454 g) for $15 each!!!!!

COOKING

Saturday turkey, mashed potatoes, carrots and turnips, stuffing and gravy

Sunday turkey leftovers

Monday hot turkey sandwiches and Brussels sprouts

Tuesday Xmas Eve lunch out. Cheeses and pate

Wednesday Christmas Day

Thursday Boxing Day big late breakfast, afternoon popcorn and maybe a few chocolates, cheeses and pate.

Friday steak and sauteed peppers, onions and mushrooms

WATCHING

Juror #2 2024 American legal thriller film. While serving as a juror in a high-profile murder trial, a family man finds himself struggling with a serious moral dilemma, one he could use to sway the jury verdict and potentially convict or free the wrong killer.

Kin  2021 Irish mini-series tells the story of a fictional Dublin family embroiled in gangland war and speaks to the enduring unbreakable bonds of blood and family. Looking forward to season 2.

Love, Actually 2003 Christmas classic - Follows the lives of eight very different couples in dealing with their love lives in various loosely interrelated tales all set during a frantic month before Christmas in London, England. Lots of laughs, tears and a huge cast of well-known actors. 

The Miracle Club (again) 2023.

Risky Business

Basic Instinct 

READING

The Last Flight I always enjoy reading about how to disappear! To disappear, you must have a lot of cash, first and foremost. I was annoyed at her first mistake (no spoilers), I would have done that differently.

I really enjoyed the twists and turns even though some are a little far-fetched. 

Has Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter? I am normally a big Nicci French fan, but I found the first part dragged a little. However, once you are through that part the story picks up rapidly.

Coffee with Santa

 

St. Augustine FL

This had to be the greyest, foggiest Christmas week ever!

We had decided on Chinese on Christmas Eve and I had the bright idea to go to Riz, a completely gluten free Chinese restaurant so John could have spring rolls and dumplings with is meal. It is a 45 minute drive from here, so I had ordered ahead of time.

Driving up Yonge, probably wasn't the smartest idea on Christmas Eve afternoon.

Yonge and Dundas

The never ending Yonge and Eglinton construction continues on the Eglinton Crosstown LRTA midtown connection between east and west Toronto with 25 stations along a dedicated route.

The line was supposed to open in 2020, but it has been repeatedly pushed back due to various legal and construction issues along with COVID-19-related delays. In May, Verster said the Eglinton Crosstown wouldn't open until sometime in 2024.

Riz restaurant.

Lunch Atop A Toronto Billboard
.... A Toronto take on the iconic 1932 New York City photograph 'Lunch Atop A Skyscraper' .... Mounted atop a billboard, above an old bank building at 3442 Yonge Street, created by Italian sculptor Sergio Funari.

See the little guy sitting on the roof?

Sadly, other than the spring rolls and dumplings, the rest of the meal was mediocre, it all tasted the same. We had crispy beef and General Tao's chicken. Definitely not worth the drive.

But note to self - We took Wilson west and then took Keele/Parkside home.

We invented our drink, eggnog with coffee vodka, delicious, we even finished a container of eggnog which has never happened before.

I didn't take any photos on Christmas Day but we enjoyed ourselves.

How we always spend Boxing Day!!!

Wednesday ended up the same! It was so dark and foggy when we got up we decided to forego going out and had a popcorn movie afternoon.

Thursday more rain and fog.

I updated my 2023 reading list.

Friday we ran out to pick up some weekend items.

COOKING

Saturday lunch hot Italian sausage (Longo's).

Roast pork, roast potatoes and carrots.

Sunday breakfast was bacon and tomato sandwiches.

I prepped Christmas dinner.

Peeled the potatoes, prepared and cooked the carrots and turnips, prepped the gravy and stuffing.

Dinner Chinese food 

Monday turkey and all the trimmings

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday leftovers!!

Friday steak frites

WATCHING

Oppenheimer 2023 The story of American scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer and his role in the development of the atomic bomb.

The Bank of Dave 2023 Based on the true-life experiences of Dave Fishwick; 'Bank of Dave' tells the story of how a working class Burnley man and self-made millionaire fought to set up a community bank. Fun, good.

Maestro 2023 - we gave up on it.

Somewhere in Queens 2022 Leo and Angela Russo live a simple life in Queens, surrounded by their overbearing Italian-American family. When their son 'Sticks' finds success on his high-school basketball team, Leo tears the family apart trying to make it happen.

Late Night 2019 A late night talk show host suspects that she may soon lose her long-running show.

OLDIES PVRed - you can click on the link if you want to know more.

Grumpy Old Men 1993

Shakedown 1988 our kind of movie!

Klute 1971

Love Actually 2003

Love Pain and The Whole Damn Thing 1973

Home Alone and Home Alone 2

The Four Seasons 1981

National Lampoon European Vacation 1985

Vegas Vacation 1997

READING

I read 114 books this year.

Truth Be Told is my fourth (in a row) Kia Abdullah book, I am loving her! She writes about a range of subjects, from drug abuse and gender inequality to dealing with culture and identity as a British-Asian woman. 

Throwback Thursday

December 2013 - Las Vegas Nevada

Decorations at Bellagio. Click here for last year's display.

The centerpiece of the display is Las Vegas' largest indoor holiday tree standing at 45-feet tall and weighing 8,000 pounds, hand-picked in Mt. Shasta, Calif. and flown in for the display.

A holiday favorite returns with a family of topiary polar bears adorned with 18,000 snow white carnations. Momma bear will watch over her two cubs as they frolic through the poinsettias and float on an icy pond. In an effort to build awareness about protecting the polar bear’s home, Bellagio will partner with Coca-Cola to promote the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) during this year’s exhibit. Coca-Cola’s goal, in partnership with WWF, is to raise awareness and funds to help create places where polar bears and people can thrive in the Arctic.