Since we all know that brunch is always a good idea, I want to share an underrated brunch that you probably have not tried before. It's something you definitely want to add to your to-try list!

When I think of brunch, I usually think of the American style with Eggs Benedict, waffles and pancakes on the menu. This has changed after I tried Maha's Egyptian Brunch on my birthday.

Maha's Egyptian Brunch

That day was -10 degrees when Will and I lined up for brunch at Maha's. The line up was unbearable in weather like that but it didn't stop people and us from waiting outside in the cold. The entire time in line, I was wondering if this was worth it. Why would people be willing to freeze their butts off and line up for brunch anyway? When we finally got a table and stepped inside the restaurant, I felt like home. An Egyptian home. Space was small but inviting. I love all the knick-knacks and artwork on the walls. I felt warm and cozy already.

The staff greeted us with a plate of spiced bread chips to start. They were delightful to get our appetites started. We ordered a glass of hazelnut latte and the Egyptian black mint tea. The hazelnut latte was huge with a spread of my beloved Nutella around the rim. Tea arrived in a cute blue pot with fresh mint dangling from inside.

I had no idea what to eat and their text-only menu certainly didn't help either. So, I did a quick search on Yelp and looked at people's photos. I landed on the Cairo Classic and Will ordered the Mind Blowing Chicken with a side order of hummus.

5,000-Year-Old Egyptian Food Made Today

The food arrived. And boy, they were huge. In the Cairo Classic, it came with seasoned fava beans mixed with tomatoes and onions. sliced boiled egg, creamy tomato feta and charred flatbread with a falafel patty in the middle. I'm usually not a big fan of beans, especially when they were cooked to a mushy paste. But I found myself scooping up the fava beans more than I thought. It goes well with the flatbread and I enjoyed them a lot. In case you didn't know, bread is a common item in Egyptian meals and it also served as an edible utensil. And their Egyptian flatbread is called the Eish Baladi.

Now, for the Mind-Blowing Chicken, it does live up to its catchy name! The dish was delicious and burst with wonderful spices and flavours. The chicken pieces were sandwiched between a toasty egg bun with their homemade mayo, Tomoya and tehina. This was a handful to eat. We didn't even bother to eat it like a sandwich because the meat kept falling out. Ha-ha.

Hazelnut latte at Maha's Egyptian Brunch

Best Brunch - Cairo Classic

Best Brunch - Mind Blowing Chicken

This Egyptian brunch food blew us away. They were so filling and kept us full the entire day. We've never been this satisfied for brunch before. And that's a great thing.

Next time, when you're looking for brunch ideas, I strongly recommend you to try out Egyptian food like Maha's. It gives you more than the typical brunch food that you're used to.

Maha's Egyptian Brunch
226 Greenwood Ave. Toronto

Check out the best brunch spots in Toronto!

Check out my posts on other unique dining experiences!

A Hand-to-Mouth Filipino Kamayan Feast

Down and Dirty with Seafood in a Bag

A Dining Experience Without Any Human Interaction

14-Course Feast Room Service at Japanese Hot Springs

It's been a while since I last shared my food excursions. Recently, I tried Kamayan feast for the first time at Tinuno Filipino restaurant and just have to share with you what that experience was like! Because if I don't blog about it, it didn't happen, right?

What is the Kamayan Feast?

For those of you who have never heard of Kamayan feast, it is a traditional Filipino family style meal eaten with your hands. The food is also served over banana leaves. That's right. No, plates, no cutlery. The simplest way to appreciate food!

Source

Tinuno Filipino Restaurant in Downtown Toronto

Living in a multicultural city like Toronto gives me lots of opportunities to try out cuisines from different parts of the world without travelling overseas. Although I'd love to visit the Philippines one day and experience what's there, I'm happy to settle with what's offered to me in my city for the time being.

The restaurant is packed on a Saturday night with lots of groups and couples filling the space. The feast seems to be a popular choice for birthday parties as well. Because at a cost of only $15 per person, you'd get a decent portion to have you feeling full at the end of the meal. And not to mention, it's also a great feast to share and bond with friends. Although the Kamayan feast is the only item available on their menu you could also add extra items such as milkfish, roasted pork, drinks, desserts at an additional cost. And of course, I tried them all out. Because that's how I roll.

Like the name, Tinuno suggests, everything here is cooked off from a grill. Banana leaves are spread across the table in front of you. Staffs would then add a bed of garlic rice over the leaves and layer a variety of grilled seafood and meat skewers on top. There's a selection of everything including squid, tilapia, pork, mussels, eggplant, okra, pork skewers, shrimps and mango salad. So imagine having this with a large group, it would be one huge and impressive spread to look at! At first, I expected this to be gimmicky, but the food was actually pretty tasty especially when they were fresh off the grill. I'd recommend adding sriracha sauce and vinegar to enhance the flavour even more.

Kamayan feast Toronto

Source

2-person's portion Kamayan feast with seafood and meat skewers over a bed of garlic rice

Roasted pork

A Hand-to-Mouth Experience

I remember when I was growing up, eating food with my hands was a big no-no. I was taught to be lady-like and how to use chopsticks properly at the dining table. So the fact that I get to break free from all those rules in public as an adult gives me joy. I didn't have to care about being proper. And I quite enjoyed the primitive state of eating food with my hands. It was a down to earth and authentic experience.

If you haven’t had a chance to try Kamayan feast, I would encourage you to give this unique dining experience a try! It's a great feast to share and to bond with friends and family.

Fun eat-with-your-hands Filipino food experience

Tinuno
31 Howard Street, Toronto, M4X 1J6


Check out 5 Restaurants for a Filipino Kamayan Feast in Toronto.

Check out my posts on other unique dining experiences!

Down and Dirty with Seafood in a Bag

A Dining Experience Without Any Human Interaction

14-Course Feast Room Service at Japanese Hot Springs

I didn't know what to expect from my first girl's trip to Seoul. But I knew that I could rely on my friend to help me take pictures for the gram and that I'd also be able to do my fair share of shopping overseas. But at the end of our trip, I felt that Seoul was underrated and is a great location for girl's trips. If you're planning to travel overseas with your girls, Seoul might blow your mind. Here're some of the things that stood out for me.

You Can Shop 'til You Drop

Attention fashionistas! Besides k-pop, Seoul is well-known for its fashion and beauty. The city is a shopping paradise and where merchandisers source the latest trends. Myeong-Dong, Dongdaemun, Hongdae are some of the popular districts for shoppers. You could find countless stylish boutiques and beauty shops with affordable pricing. Even if you're not a big shopper, it's hard to resist from all the pretty displays, promotions and free samples. There're even underground shopping malls inside the subway stations!

Check out these popular shopping districts and underground shopping malls in Seoul:

Myeong-Dong Shopping District

Shopping fanatics who travel to Seoul know Myeong-Dong is a terrific spot for discount Korean skincare and cosmetics. In this area, you can also find popular apparel brands and souvenirs to bring home.

Address: Myeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul

How to get there: Myeong-Dong Station (Seoul Subway Line 4), Exits 6.

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Ewha Woman's University Shopping Street 

Believe it or not, Ewha Woman's University is actually a tourist attraction. Besides being a famous Korean landmark, most people come here to shop as well. And that's because there're plenty of affordable and trendy boutiques in the area. You can find pieces for as low as 5000 won ($6 CDN)! Start with a visit at the campus complex and walk your way to the surrounding streets of Ewha Woman's University Station.

Address: 03766 10, Ewhayeodae 1-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul
How to get there: Seoul Subway Line 2, exit at Ehwa Woman's University Station, Exit 2

Ewha Woman's University Campus

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Hongdae Shopping District

If shopping is your forte, then you cannot miss the Hongdae Shopping District. Hongdae is near Hongik University and is known for its youthful and artistic vibe. Shopping in Hongdae appeals to those who are fashion-forward but don't want to break the bank. Mural art, galleries, markets, quirky cafes, nightclubs and bars make this a great spot to hang out with your girls.

Address: Hongik-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul

How to get there: Hongik University Station (Subway Line 2, Gyeongui-Jungang, AREX), Exit 9.

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Dongdaemun Market

Dongdaemun is one of South Korea's famous markets. This is the place where you can find wholesale suppliers and get bargains on everything from apparel to fabrics and toys. It's opened all day long until late at night. While you're browsing your way through, be sure to try out local delicacies in street stalls nearby.

Address: 266, Jong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

How to get there: Dongdaemun Station (Seoul Subway Line 1,4) Exit 8 or 9

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You Can Glam Up With the Hottest Make Up Trends

Korean skincare and beauty brands are taking up the world by storm. They not only do wonders to the skin but they also don't cost a lot. If you want flawless looking complexion, you wouldn't want to miss out! Top Korean brands like Etude House, Innisfree, VDL, Missha, Tony Moly, Holika Holika, Skin Food and many more can be found in popular shopping district like Myeong-Dong. Plan ahead and splurge on items at the same shop with your friends to enjoy tax saving benefits!

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You Eat, Drink, Dance Repeat

Besides fashion and cosmetics, you cannot go home without trying Korean cuisine. From stone grill barbecues to spicy stews, not to mention their fried chickens, there's a lot to love about the Korean food scene. Drinks are also affordable. A bottle of Soju in Seoul costs $2 CDN! Whether you want a night out at a club or eating out, restaurants, bars and clubs are usually within footsteps in popular districts like Hongdae. Fun night outs can't get as convenient as this!

Check out some of my favourite places to eat in Seoul:

Piggy Bank Stone Grill Barbecue

When in Seoul, it's common to see people barbecuing and chatting away with a bottle of soju while indulging delicious grilled meats. And Piggy Bank is popular for its unique stone grill barbecues. That means you cook the meat over natural stones! What's good about cooking over natural stones is that the stones would absorb all the oil from the meats. In other words, meats are less greasy and less likely to get burnt. Each order of meat comes with lettuce leaves, cloves of garlic and sauces. Just wrap the meat inside a leaf and eat them like a burrito! It's a fun and authentic way of experiencing Korean cuisine.

Address: 146-1 Eoulmadang-ro, Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
How to get there: Subway Line 2, Hongik University Station Exit 8, Walk 3 minutes

Piggy Bank Natural Stone Grill Barbecue

Piggy Bank Natural Stone Grill Barbecue

Jinokhwa Halmae Wonjo Dakhanmari

Jinokhwa is known for its chicken and the restaurant has a long history for its famous chicken stew. And this is the only thing they served as well. You know when a restaurant only serves one thing on their menu, it usually means it's specialized. An entire chicken is served inside a pot with a clear broth with ginseng, onions, garlic and potatoes. Compared to other Korean dishes like GamJa Tang (pork bone soup) and Soon Tofu (spicy tofu stew), this chicken stew is blander in taste. But, the meat, to my surprise was super moist and juicy. You can also choose to add in rice cakes, green onions, noodles or rice to go with your chicken stew. And of course, kimchis are great with it.

Address: 18 Jong-ro 40ga-gil, Jongno 5(o).6(yuk)ga-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Jinokhwa Halmae Wonjo Dakhanmari Original Chicken Stew

Kyochon Fried Chicken

This is by far the best fried chicken I've had! Our Airbnb host recommended Kyochon to us during our stay in Hongdae area. Kyochon fills up with locals quickly in the evening. And for a good reason. There're many flavours and options to choose from and the price ranged between 15,000 to 18,000 won ($17-21 CDN). The portion is reasonable and good for sharing. Please do yourself a favour and try them yourself.

Address: 362-15, Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea

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Daege Jaldoneneun Jib (All You Can Eat Crabs)

Seafood is good in Seoul, especially crabs! In Daege Jaldoneneun Jib, you get unlimited orders of full-sized steamed crabs for around $40 CDN! And these crabs are fresh, meaty and larger than the size of my palm.

Address: 203 Mullae-ro, Yeongdeungpo-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Daege Jaldoneneun Jib (All You Can Eat Crabs)

Daege Jaldoneneun Jib (All You Can Eat Crabs)

You Can Rent an Oppa For a Tour

Oppa is a Korean term that girls use to call someone who's like an older brother. Here in Seoul, you can rent an Oppa to take you out on a tour! If you're into Korean dramas like my friend,  this will definitely be attractive. Each Oppa has his own tours and destinations to bring you. Tours are approximately 2 and a half hour long starting from $70 USD and up. You can also customize your own itinerary with the Oppa starting at $100 USD. This also makes a great bachelorette activity all while experiencing the city's culture.

Check out ohmyoppa.com

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You Can Have a Photoshoot Wearing Traditional Hanbok Dress

In a city that is also so rich in culture, taking pictures of historic palaces and temples is inevitable. Girls also like to take advantage of these surroundings and rent Hanbok dresses to wear. Hanbok rentals can be found in most tourist attractions, like Bukchon Hanok Village and Gyeongbokgung Palace. Rental costs about 20,000 won for 4 hours or 28,000 won for a full day. We knew we had to rent Hanbok dresses while we were there. The scenery and palaces were perfect backdrops. And I think we looked pretty cute in them. Don't you agree?

Check out 7 Best Hanbok Rentals in Seoul Near Gyeongbokgung Palace

You Can Enjoy Tea in Cute Cafes

Cafes may be common. But cafes in Seoul are the cutest and Insta-worthy. A lot of thoughts and details went into the decors and menus.  Take a break from the hustle and bustle and enjoy an afternoon tea with friends. You also have tons of Instagrammable shots with lovely backgrounds and pretty pastries.

Check out some of the cutest cafes in Seoul:

943 King's Cross Harry Potter Cafe

Harry Potter fans, board the Hogwarts Express from Platform 9 3/4! It's a 4-storey Harry Potter themed cafe with Hogwarts Express replica, wooden staircase, a wall filled with wands, suspended owl cages and robes to rent for a magical experience. 

Address: Mapo-Gu Seogyo-Dong 417, Hongdae, Seoul
How to get there: Hongik University, Exit 9, Located near Trick Eye Museum

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Radio M 라디오엠

Radio M is not a typical cafe. The basement of the cafe is actually the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of Seoul. And in Korean drama, What's Wrong With Secretary Kim, stars, Park Seo-Joon and Park Min-Young had a romantic scene in front of this cafe. You can enjoy a cup of joe beneath the whimsical cherry blossom tree on comfy nooks and retro chairs.

Address: 37-2 Samcheong-ro 2-gil, Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
How to get there: Subway Line 3, Anguk station, Exit 1 or Subway Line 3, Gyeongbokgung station, Exit 2.

Cha-teul

Cha-teul is a "tea-drinking garden" located on a hilltop in Samcheong-dong. Pastries and teas are served in traditional ceramic tableware. Imagine enjoying fine teas with your girls overlooking a spectacular view of the neighbourhood amongst a garden of flowers. Life is as good as it gets.

Address: 26, Bukchon-ro 11na-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
How to get there: Subway Line 3, Anguk Station, exit 1

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Get Pampered Together in Jjimjilbang (Korean Bathhouse & Sauna)

Visiting a Korean bathhouse, Jjimjilbang is one of the must-dos when travelling to Korea. And locals treat it like an R&R getaway. A typical Korean bathhouse comes with a lot of amenities. Besides having a communal bathing area and sauna rooms, it is also equipped with therapeutic tubs, fitness room, lounging area, sleeping rooms, entertainment room and a cafeteria. A visit to the Jjimjilbang is a fun and unique way of experiencing Korean culture first-hand while getting pampered at the same time. It's more comfortable going with your girls and trying it out for the first time together.

Check out my guide to the Jjimjilbang experience here.

Let me know what's your favourite girl's trip destination?

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Check out my other travel guide for Seoul!

A Guide to Korean Bath and Sauna (Jimjilbang) Experience 

The past weekend, Will and I did a road trip getaway to Montreal to celebrate his birthday. The 5-and-a-half-hour one-way drive from Toronto might sound exhausting for a short trip. But, since this wasn’t our first visit to Montreal, a 2-day visit was enough for us. We had a fabulous time eating around the city and engaging in some fun outdoor activities together in mere 2 days.

Here is a quick review of some of the great places we ate at and what we did!

Where For Brunch?

Indecisive Brunch that comes with a fruit kebob at L'avenue

L’avenue is one of the most popular brunch spots in Montreal. Line ups form quickly as soon as they’re opened. We were lucky that we arrived early just before 11 am so the wait for us was only about 10-15 minutes. The brunch spot is not your average European bistro/cafe style, instead, it’s a hip and trendy diner with giant graffiti wall mural, motorcycle hanging in mid-air, servers wearing suspenders and glow-in-the-dark bathrooms.

What to get: Duck bennys. Their duck was flavourful and saucy and their hollandaise sauce was to die for! If you have trouble deciding from their extensive brunch menus like myself, opt for their Indecisive Brunch. As the name suggests, it comes with a bit of everything. You even have the option to try the famous St-Viateur bagel to save you a trip to the shop! Go for the beer-braised ham and homemade sausage. Their brunch sets are also a great value, and include a fresh fruit kebab and watermelon infused water to start.

Be sure to check out their bathrooms while you're there as well!

Egg bennys with duck confit with grained mustard hollandaise sauce

Where For Poutine?

They say, "Montreal has the best poutine in Canada". I never believed this statement until I actually got to La Banquise and tried myself. And boy, were they delicious! The diner was packed when we arrived at 4 in the afternoon.

What to get: From classic poutine to ones loaded with meat, their menu would definitely tickle your fancy. We tried their La Royale poutine that came with pulled pork, apple and bacon. I love the crunchiness of the sweet apple slices, and the savoury pulled pork. Their fries were still crispy even though they were drowned in their house-made gravy and topped with generous amount of cheese curds!

We also ordered their La Shoot-Out just to get some smoked meat into this trip. Besides smoked meat, the poutine also came with spicy sausage, pepperoni and bacon for a maximum sodium count. So you could expect it to be a lot heavier and saltier. The portion was definitely enough to fill a person up. Besides poutine, their hamburger was also surprisingly tasty! Will kept saying it was one of the best burgers he had for a long time and he's still thinking about it now.

La Shoot-Out and La Royale Poutine at La Banquise

Where For Ice Creams?

Kem Coba is a cute ice cream joint in Mile End, an artsy, laid-back neighbourhood just west of Downtown core.

What to get: What’s special about this place is that they offer an exciting list of freshly made ice creams, soft serves and sorbets with some very rare flavours such as Pandan (La Dua) and Soursop! I got out of hand and ordered their strawberry and coconut soft serve on top of their sorbets (lol!). If our trip home was shorter, I’d probably bring home a tub of their Vietnamese coffee ice cream as well.

Strawberry and coconut soft serve at Kem Coba

Pandan (La Dua) and Soursop Sorbet at Kem Coba

Where For Bagels?

Besides poutine, Montreal is also known for their bagels. Having tried St-Viateur bagel from our brunch at L'avenue, we stopped by another renowned bagel shop, Fairmount Bagels, which coincidentally was few shops away from Kem Coba. We were surrounded by walls of bagels as soon as we walked into this little shop. I was never a huge fan for bagels but their bagels were crispy on the outside and soft and spongey on the inside with a slight hint of sweetness. Apparently, Montreal bagels were boiled in water sweetened with honey.

Where For French Food?

Modavie, located in Old Montreal is a great sit down dinner spot to wine down. This bistro is dressed up with beautiful woodwork, stone walls and a ceiling-to-wall wine cellar. What's even better is that they have local live bands performing every night. If you go, make sure to call ahead of time to make reservation as they can get really packed and busy.

What to get: Their 3-course set menu. We chose escargots as a starter, duck breast as the main and raspberry pie for dessert. Their duck breast was topped with foie gras butter and it was heavenly! The meat soaked in all the foie gras flavours into one piece of gourmet. If you prefer a la carte, their lamb rack would be another excellent choice. It had a pleasant lamby taste to it and crusted with some sesame seeds. Oh, do try their French onion soup and thank me later :)

Where For Outdoor Fun?

Water Adventures Along the Lachine Canal

After indulging in Montreal's food scene, we strolled around Old Port leisurely. We love exploring all of Montreal's cute cafes, outdoor patios and historic architecture. But, as much as I love those laid back leisure walks, I decided to join H2O Adventures for some outdoor fun along the Lachine Canal the next afternoon before we end our trip. I spent a lot of time deciding on my rental but ended up booking an electric boat that could sit as much as 5 people for $60 an hour. We love the shade and the space on the electric boat. And you don't need any license or experience to control the boat. But the boat we had was way to slow. I swore that even the swan pedal boats were faster than our boat. When we brought this issue back to the manager, he gladly offered a rental exchange for us. We went with a tandem kayak this time. And even though I wasn't prepared for this ( considering I still had my platforms on!), the tandem kayak was nonetheless a very fun outdoor activity to do as a group or as a couple. Just be aware that you might get a little bit wet.

Near the dock of H2O adventures is also Atwater Market. A farmers market with stalls of vendors, local produce, patisseries and specialities. They open all year round and offer innovative and tasty fast food during summer time. We did not spend enough time here but would definitely visit again if we come back to Montreal.

We also spent sometime at the Mount Royal Park, exploring the mountain and nature. You could follow the trail to their Chateau where you could see Montreal's city landscape.



We had a very short stay this time and focused on exploring mainly Old Port and Old Montreal within the city. While we managed to fit majority of the attractions and restaurants on our list into 2 days, there were a few that we ended up skipping. For example, Orange Julep, Schwartz's Deli and a tour inside Notre Dame of Basilica Church (they were closed for a wedding when we visited).

If you have  any recommendations, I'd love to hear about them so I could include them to our next visit!