TINY MANGO PIES! But first, some other things.

It's been awhile, no? A lot's been going on. I went back home to visit, and had a final dinner at Susur. And while I am sad his Toronto location is closing (Lee isn't the same, kids), I am excited to see what he opens in NYC.

The Toronto weekend was incredibly fun. I heart being happy like that.

What else? Oh, I'm riding a lot. On my bike. AND ON A HORSE. That's right, Jen, Allison and I started horseback riding lessons yesterday. We all spent hours on horseback as children, but - well, we're children no more. Loving it. LOVE.

And on to the pies.

Because we can't help but fall in love with awesome, tiny food, Jen and I decided to steal this idea from NotMartha and make tiny pies in 4oz jars this afternoon. Jen took the first 3 pictures, and I took the rest.

I give you: Wee Mango Pies

Angry New Wave Ponies

A couple of friends travelled up to visit me this weekend. I did not like that they had to leave to go back to their own homes. It made me irate. Like a pirate. Fun times should not have to end.

The lovely hilarity began on Friday evening, when, driving back to my home on the highway, a strange blue car began to keep suspicious pace beside us, on my left hand side, as we approached the exit before my own. Seeing this happening out of the corner of my eye, I pretended to not notice the driver's attempt to capture my attention, because what if that driver was BATSHIT CRAZY? And what if he had A GUN? Southern Ontario, it's a crazy place for drive-by highway shootings. Except not. But I digress.

So I pretended not to notice and chattered away to my friends, until I could see that there driver waving (or were those OBSCENE GESTURES?) at us, and my front seat passenger friend starting to wave back. So I peered out the window, expecting the worst.

And I saw...my brother. And almost collapsed on the floor laughing. Randomly seeing a relative driving beside you on the highway is like being in first grade and seeing your teacher at the mall. Or going to a restaurant and seeing a co-worker who lives no where near the city you live in sitting at the table right beside the entrance.

Which happened as well, that night.

It made me wonder if Canada really was as small as all those people on TV try to make you believe it is.

The next day, we walked a bargazillion kilometres around Toronto. And saw angry ponies. And a travel agency for time travellers from the 80s.

I also retained my title of Shopping Enabler. I warn you - go shopping with me, and you will end up buying something.

Later on, we filled our bellies at Susur. And though I was remiss in photographing the plates, I think I have enough cred to be believed when I say that it was one of the better meals that I have ever had there. This time around, the vegetarian tasting menu consisted of:

• Amouse Bouche: Three Asian-style spoons, the first holding a thin strip of jicama rolled around tightly diced summer vegetables, the second a vegetable based jelly, and the third displaying two heirloom grape tomatoes in a basil sauce.
• 1st Course: Summer vegetable curry with foam over dal
• 2nd Course: Pan fried potato gnocchi with an heirloom tomato reduction
• 3rd Course: White asparagus and orange segments bathed in an orange cream sauce
• 4th Course: Spinach noodles with summer vegetables, tomato water and spicy peanut sauce
• 5th Course: The now familiar tiered dessert tray plus a plate of four more wee desserts for the table to share

The gnocchi melted in my mouth, the orange cream sauce made me wish that I just had a mug of it to drink straight, and the noodle course was the most amazing, fresh and lovely palate cleanser ever.

And now the weekend is over. And my head feels better for it.

Travelling in September is Always Hit or Miss

Today, as I wait for my friends' plane to arrive, I ponder how more miss then hit it is. Especially when their arrival time kepts being pushed back. And back. And back again.

I will say this, however - expect another Susur-based food porn post after this weekend is over!

Sometimes I feel like I need to branch out and try new fancypants places, but, erm, if it ain't broke?

Read about previous gastronomical events:
. Dinner with Kate (July 2006)
. Dinner with Brad (Feb 2006)
. Lunch with Lorne and pre-blog Susur-love history (Jan 2006)