A fresh look at The City Market in Windsor Ontario

Yesterday, we took our first trip to The City Market on Walker Rd, here in Windsor, Ontario.

Overall it was a pleasant experience and the vendors were extremely friendly! It will be interesting to see what happens over the next few months and whether this market will be sustainable, especially with a lot of heavy competition heading its way.

We didn't find a ton of edible produce this time around, but managed to still get some good deals. It's a nice switch from frozen veggies, especially when the warmer months are upon us!

Gorgeous bell peppers
Photo by Melissa Arditti

Romaine lettuce, bell peppers and English cucumbers
Photo by Melissa Arditti

We are looking forward to another trip back soon and i'll definitely take more photos. :)

Windsor Restaurant Review: Il Cavallino: A Good Formula

 Il Cavallino
All photos by: Melissa Arditti

It’s been too long of a winter so, at the first real sign of Spring, it was time to head out to a restaurant here in Windsor. Il Cavallino, run by General Manager, Frank Gobbato, is a great little bistro located at 9420 Tecumseh Road East, inside the well-known Formula 1 Collision Centre.

The waiting area at Il Cavallino is fitted with sleek, modern furniture that was a comfortable to sit in as it was pleasant to look at. Photo by Melissa Arditti.

Stepping inside we were greeted by the day-time chef, Suzette. She was very bubbly with a huge smile on her face and ready to answer any questions we had about the menu. It was also nice that she told us in detail about the specials of the day. That is the start of good service.

We  also briefly met the Marketing Manager, Cristina Melnik, who was excited to have us in for lunch.

The decor is very modern, with sleek industrial-metallic and red accents. You could also have your choice to sit at a regular dining table, or get a bit higher with bistro tables and, surprisingly, very comfortable swivel chairs.

The restaurant is small but cozy, relying on ambient light from the windows during the daylight hours. Also, the kitchen has a classic diner feel and the chefs are always visible, so you can actually see what is being made and even smell the delicious aromas.

A modern decor with sleek industrial-metallic and red accents. Photo by Melissa Arditti

As well, there is a fair bit of car nostalgia, so while your meal is being prepared, you can take a stroll around and see some of the displays, including an adorably cute Jetta.

Diners at Il Cavallino can look at the Jetta on display. Photo by Melissa Arditti

Now onto our meals.

We both started out with a tall glass of fresh orange juice, while perusing the large and assorted menu.

Delicious O.J and Il Cavallino's plentiful menu. Photo by Melissa Arditti

I decided to go with a chicken Caesar wrap and a side of non-dairy broccoli soup. Huh? Non-dairy? Did I hear that correctly? I was kind of taken aback when I was told this.

The non-dairy broccoli soup was a surprise to find on the menu at Il Cavillino. Photo by Melissa Arditti

I will start off by saying that I have never had broccoli soup without dairy or cream. It hasn't been on a menu from any restaurant that I've gone to before, and I've been to plenty. So this was a new experience entirely and I knew I’d either love it or regret ordering soup.

Hurray. I was very pleased with the consistency and flavour. I found out that it was so simple to make by pureeing broccoli, adding chicken stock, onions, garlic, and fresh herbs. So goodbye heavy cream soups, hello deliciously light broccoli soup.

Next, my chicken Caesar wrap.

The restaurant offered a perfect chicken Caesar and even had the option of a whole wheat wrap.
Photo by Melissa Arditti.

The tortilla was fabulous and probably one of the best I've had in a long time. It wasn't overly starchy and another bonus is that I could substitute for whole-grain. This is one option that I was truly happy to see, as many other restaurants still haven’t caught on to offering customers the option of white vs whole wheat/whole grain. I realize it does come at a cost but I wish more places offered it.

The grilled chicken was cooked well and was very moist. There was enough of it to really satisfy my hunger. The romaine lettuce was crisp, not wilted, and the Caesar dressing was well balanced, so the tortilla wasn't drowning in a sea of sauce. On the side, you can expect an array of fresh, vibrant fruit which really brightened up the dish.

Bill had one of the specials, spaghetti marinara with garlic bread. The portion-size was great and the noodles were cooked well. The marinara sauce was mild in flavour, not overpowering, and the garlic bread really added a nice touch.

Healthy portions were on the menu at Il Cavallino, and entrees were accompanied
by a melange of fresh fruit.  Photo by Melissa Arditti.

One feature that Il Cavallino is known for is their use of fresh, organically-grown produce that is directly from their on-site garden. If you are searching the city for places that are organic-friendly, this should definitely be your next stop.

Once we were done our main course, Suzette came around with cannoli’s that were purchased on Erie Street; oh my.

Any room left for dessert? Photo by Melissa Arditti

They were absolutely phenomenal. Il Cavallino takes the time to pick out the freshest and most delicious varieties of baked goods on a regular basis.

Another cool thing is if you have an electric vehicle, you can plug your car in, grab a bite to eat, and be on your way. I have not seen this very often, so it’s a great addition for customers who do not use gasoline-based vehicles.

Parking for electric vehicles. Photo by Melissa Arditti

Overall, the combination of service, great food and décor is certainly the right formula to keep customers coming back for more.

Visit their website and like them on Facebook

Windsor Ontario Restaurant Review: Bubi's Saucy Success

With over 24 years in business, there is a reason why Windsorites have been gravitating to Bubi’s Awesome Eats for all these years. It’s a simple fact that they have great food and incredible service. It’s rare to come into the restaurant located on 620 University Ave West and not see a swarm of people dining inside or on their relaxing patio.

My favourite channel is definitely The Food Network and so a little interesting tid-bit, in case you didn’t know, before I get to the review, Bubi’s was featured on Food Network’s hit show “You Gotta Eat Here.”

All of Bubi’s staff are enthusiastic and aim to please the customer. If you’re unhappy with your meal, they’ll do whatever it takes to make it right. The one complaint was on our last visit though, where the server actually asked if I wanted dessert, even though I was only half way done my meal. It was a little odd, but I’ll chalk it up to the fact that this server was new or just made a mistake. Usually, service is top-notch on all levels. Quick service, great presentation, huge portions (there is rarely a time that I don’t take home a doggie bag unless I am famished!) and quality food.

With over 100 items on their menu, it’s hard to really narrow down the options because everything sounds so tasty. You can choose from their famous “Bubi” burgers to wraps, sandwiches, salads, fajitas, and more. Keeping up with the changing needs of their customer base, they even offer vegetarian chilli and the TVP veggie burger. Oh and if you’re feeling really adventurous, try your luck at “Bunda’s Big V8” challenge, which involves a waiver-signing to indulge into their 8 lb burger!

With any chicken Caesar salad, I always ask for the dressing “on the side,” because that way I can add as much or as little as I prefer. I love the fact that they’ve upgraded this entrée and now offer the 2x the chicken. The lettuce is crisp and even though it’s not a spring mix or anything fancy, it’s still delicious. They top the salad with real bacon pieces and crunchy croutons. I will say that one area that I could see improvement is offering whole-wheat options for the pita bread.

Bubi's chicken Caesar salad

Next, the tender “Bubi’s Basic” burger.” Tangy pickles, fresh tomatoes, ketchup, mustard, relish, and a heap of onions, all on a bun (again, I’d like to see the option of whole-wheat buns). Not to be missed, the famous Bubi’s sauce; a garlic lover’s haven in a small plastic dipping cup! Accompanied is the must-have, crispy wedge-cut fries that are sometimes even served up in a cute colander, instead of on the plate.

"Bubi's Basic" Burger

Another plus is the free Wi-Fi service, so you can freely tweet, update your Facebook status, or even Instagram your meal, letting everyone know about the garlicky goodness that you’re experiencing right now at Bubi’s.

Check out Bubi’s menu online, including great specials and their new hours.