Swanky!...and yet, so-so

Taking a break from my usual Value Village-shopping, Ramen Noodle-eating, Free Internet-streaming (sorry Mom) penny-pinching ways, I recently lunched at Petit Bill's Bistro in fashionable Westboro with Herb. Upon ordering the Caesar, the affable waiter enquired as to our preferred spice level and if we would enjoy the addition of crushed cucumber. Intrigued, we opted yes. What arrived were a couple of vibrant red, cold (too cold - our request for no ice went unheeded) glasses of, well, ok-ness.

Spice Level: 2/5 - not acceptable considering I asked for "really really really spicy" (my verbosity sometimes astounds me).
Garnishes: 3/5 - crushed cucumber in the bottom and a single floating gerkin on top. (I have to rue the obvious lack of celery stalk adornment with my recent Caeser samplings, even though, according to my roomate Sara, I am the only one who actually eats it).
Originality: 3/5 - Never before had smushed up cucumbers in a beverage.
Yum Factor: 3/5 - Tasted remarkably like a liquid salad. Very gazpacho-esque. Refreshing and tasty but lacking a certain something.

Recommended: Yes, especially on a hot summer day, but I wouldn't go out of my way for it.

Meat Galore! Oh, and a Caesar

Mother's Day Brunch at the Brookstreet Hotel in Kanata. I counted 10 different kinds of meat. This isn't a meat blog so I will stop there, but if you get the chance to go, please do. 'Twas awesome. Herb and I both ordered the Caesar. Here's how it rated:

Spice Level: 2.5/5 - Subtle but enough to keep it from being boring.
Garnishes: 2.5/5 - There were 3 green olives on a skewer and a lime wedge. Tasty, but not much variety.
Originality: 1/5 - I guess the fact that there were 3 olives instead of one merits a point.
Yum Factor: 4/5 - To be honest, it tasted remarkably like the one from Busters'. Just goes to show you that a quality Caeaser can be found anywhere, from a humble neighborhood bar & grill to an award winning restaurant in an ultra-fancy hotel.

Recommended: Yes

Blood on the mat...

Ah UFC. Nothing like witnessing the subtle pas de deux of two guys beating the crap out of each other using fighting techniques that span several disciplines. And yes, I do realize that dropping unnecessary French phrases into an otherwise English sentence is pretentious. Anyway, UFC nights are pretty entertaining, once you can get past the borderline homoeroticism of it all. Getting to the point, the BF and I went to Busters Bar and Grill (in the Lincoln Heights Mall) Saturday night to watch the fight so I obviously got a Caesar. It should be pointed out that, henceforth, I will be rating the Caesars based on four factors: Spice Level, Garnishes, Originality and overall Yum Factor. Busters' Caesar earned, in my opinion:

Spice Level: 3/5 - A very pleasant kick but far from overwhelming.
Garnishes: 0/5 - There were none. Not even a lone celery stalk. There was rimmer on the glass of course but no points for that because I consider it compulsory.
Originality: 0/5 - Um, unless you count the lack of garnishes an original twist, there was nothing different about it.
Yum Factor: 4/5 - The last couple points sounded a bit negative, but it was delicious! Seasoned very well. I ordered 2, and would have gotten a 3rd if I wasn't so cheap.

Recommended: Yes, but I wouldn't travel across the city for it.

It May Get Spicy...

My first glass of Clamato was at a young age. Though it may sound repulsive (Mmmm! A refreshing blend of Tomato and Clam Juice!), it was love at first sip. Mixed with seasonings and garnished, Clamato morphs into something...glorious. The Bloody Caesar is much more than my drink of choice, it is like a friend that has always been there for me over the years, acting as a tasty pick me up, a hangover cure, and, more times than I'm willing to admit, a complete meal. It's time to take my love affair with the Caesar to a new level as I begin my search for the perfect one, starting in Ottawa and going....anywhere!!! It will be a journey of self-discovery and growth (not really, but it will be delicious!!!).