Masala Cuisine of India

Masala Cuisine of India
1855 South Reynolds Road
Toledo, OH 43614
419-724-0525
Mon – Sat 11:00am to 3:00pm, 5:00pm – 10:00pm
Sun – 11:30am to 3:00pm, 5:00pm – 9:30pm


Masala is the word used to describe a mix of spices used in Indian cooking either dried or as a paste. True to the essence of its name, Masala delivers a broad mix of Northern Indian specialties. Located in a strip mall near the corner of Reynolds and Glendale, the restaurant is inconspicuous and the interior is completely forgettable. This is in sharp contrast to the food, which explodes with scent, texture and flavor.

I started out with the assorted appetizers ($6.99). A plate of traditional Indian fried savories arrived at the table within moments. It included samosa, pakora, meat samosa and chicken pakora and was served with a spicy and sweet tamarind dipping sauce as well as a tart coriander (cilantro) sauce. If you’ve never had Indian food, this is a great way to sample the wonders of the North.

The menu includes Tandoori Chicken (4pc $8.99, full $15.99) as well as lamb kababs ($9.99) and other meat dishes prepared in a clay oven.

My table shared the lamb korma ($9.99) and the chicken tikka masala ($9.99). Both dishes were served with basmati rice. The lamb was cooked in a creamy curry blended with a mix of Indian herbs and spices. The combination of flavors was both elegant and delicious. The chicken tikka masala was also a creamy tomato based sauce but was spicier than the lamb. In spite of the similar appearances of the two dishes, the tastes and textures were distinctly different. We also ordered a side of raitha ($2.99) to cool our palates. For the uninitiated, raitha is yogurt mixed with a combination of chopped vegetables such as tomatoes, onion and/or cucumber.

To make the most of every dish, we ordered a basket of naan (soft, Indian bread $1.99) to soak up the remaining curry and the piquant tikka masala sauce. I’m not entirely convinced that this isn’t a really ugly habit I’ve carried from the universal sauce mopping Italians to the more culturally diverse subcontinent…but it’s impossible to savor every drop of sauce without sliding a piece of naan across your plate a few times. We also ordered palak paneer kulcha, an Indian bread stuffed with cheese and spinach ($3.99). It had a cooling effect in our Midwestern mouths.

No Indian meal in America is complete without a lassi ($2.99). I ordered a mango lassi, which is typically cold, blended yogurt and mango pulp served over ice and with a straw. There aren’t as many varieties of lassi as there are versions of masala, and I’m pretty sure you have to eat in the home of Indian-Americans if you want to try other flavors. And yes, this is a not so subtle hint to any of my Indian American friends looking for an appreciative diner at their next home cooked meal.

The waiters at Masala are particularly friendly and willing to explain the menu to anyone who has never had Indian food before. I noticed our waiter taking his time to describe the various dishes to other customers who were struggling with what to order and very apprehensive of the spice intensity. I couldn’t help but ease drop to hear that these adventurous neophytes enjoyed their meal.

Masala is a welcome addition to the group of Indian restaurants in Toledo.

If you’ve never had Indian food before, I encourage you to grab a group of friends and go discover the sensual delights of Indian cuisine. It is just another way to support the local economy with a moderately priced meal, while possibly trying something new.

“Glass City Gourmet” is a chronicle of one woman's attempt to cook, eat, diet and entertain with both flair and whimsy while based in Toledo, Ohio. I encourage you to read on as the "Glass City Gourmet" attempts grand recipes, samples locally owned restaurants, visits indigenous markets and humbly pursues her quest to be formally recognized as the official "Glass City Gourmet".

Petit Fours - Chic. Simple. Delicious.

Petit Fours Patisserie and The Cafe
The Oliver House
27 Broadway Street
Toledo, OH 43604
ph: 419-724-4477
fax: 419-724-4478

Monday through Saturday
Breakfast 7am-10:30am
Lunch 11am-3:00pm

In March of 2006, Karen Lucas opened Petit Fours Patisserie and cafe in Downtown Perrysburg. Karen's culinary background includes time with LadyFingers, a high end catering business that thrived a few decades ago and was eventually acquired by Gladieux. She has also had the opportunity to travel extensively to major cities in both the US and Europe where she gained exposure and familiarity with specialized products and techniques.

Recently, Karen sold the business to the Oliver House. While Karen still maintains an advisory role with her esteemed attention to every detail, the day to day operations are handled by pastry chef, Liz Grosjean.

The breakfast menu features "savories", "signature organic granolas" and "pastries". While the pastries can vary, European standards are the norm. The Croissant and Pain au Chocolat are the perfect consistency of flaky, buttery heaven and come in regular ($2.50) and petit ($1.50) sizes. Scones ($.85), cheese strudel($2.50), Almond Kringler ($2.00) and Almond Cherry Jalousie ($2.00) are nothing less than melt in your mouth perfection.

For those seeking a heartier breakfast, there is frequently a Quiche of the Day
($5.50). If the last time you ate a quiche was in 1975, and you swore them off after the publication of "Real Men Don't Eat Quiche" - make a trip to Petit Fours just to try one again. Real men DO eat quiche, especially when they are prepared in the traditional French method with a combination of eggs, egg yolks, milk and heavy cream. The texture is more like custard and the result is magnifique! If you learn to love quiche, you can take home a 6" round ($10.95) or a 10" round ($24.95) and feed your family.

The house made signature granola is crunchy and delicious. Flavors include maple cherry walnut, honey peanut, and lemon ginger. The Signature Organic Granolas are served with yogurt ($4.25 petit/$5.50 regular) or cold milk ($4.00).

The lunch menu at Petit Fours is concise and well portioned. The signature tomato basil soup is thick and chunky with a chiffonade of basil sprinkled over the top. The soup du jour when I visited was a sherried mushroom soup that was divine. Both soups are available in a cup ($3.25) or a bowl ($4.25). I sampled the Croque Monsieur ($7.50), cold Curried Chicken salad sandwich ($7.25) and a "Parma Pasta" salad (side $5.25, regular $7.25).

The Croque Monsieur is made with brown sugar ham and smoked mozzarella on a Parmesan crusted bread. The combination of flavors is subtle and elegant. The cold curried chicken salad sandwich was a savory blend of roasted chicken, bamboo shoots, white raisins and a creamy lemon curry sauce served with sliced cucumber and alfalfa sprouts on a whole wheat bun. All sandwiches are served with thin and crispy, lightly seasoned, homemade potato chips. Ooh, la, la! They are so naughty.

The "Parma Pasta" salad contains walnut and basil pesto, fresh tomato slices and black olives. This is the only true pesto available in any restaurant in Toledo. If you've never tried pesto, or you've only tried that dreadful watered down version available in most Toledo Italian restaurants you MUST sample the Parma Pasta and find out why the Glass City Gourmet gets so grumpy when she doesn't get the real thing! Pesto is an unmistakable earthy blend of fresh basil, Parmesan cheese, pine nuts and olive oil. The Petit Fours version contains walnuts which is a worthy enhancement to the perfection of pesto.


After all of these wonderful options, it is impossible to resist the Patisserie that is the headliner at Petit Fours. The sweets range from cakes, cupcakes, pies, tarts, cookies, brownies, bar cookies, cream pastries and tea breads to puddings and cobblers. The selection is vast and changes daily. When I visited, I tried the peach cobbler ($3.25) and was pleased with the topping and not too sweet peaches. There is a Belgian Chocolate Brownie ($1.50) available. What else do you really need to know about that? I couldn't resist the caramel, almond and cherry bar ($1.50) or another round of Karen Lucas' signature Bourbon Balls (5 for $2.50).

Keep in mind that Petit Fours is a bakery and specializes in extraordinary wedding and special occasion cakes. Chef Grosjean has an album of her work to spark ideas and can work with almost any budget and theme to create a memorable and savory confection for any occasion. Call to set up an appointment.

If you want to have a cosmopolitan gourmet breakfast or lunch, while supporting the local economy, take time to find Petit Fours at the back of the Oliver House. If you crave the specialty pastries you ate the last time you were traveling, this is the best place in the area to fulfill your need.

“Glass City Gourmet” is a chronicle of one woman's attempt to cook, eat, diet and entertain with both flair and whimsy while based in Toledo, Ohio. I encourage you to read on as the "Glass City Gourmet" attempts grand recipes, samples locally owned restaurants, visits indigenous markets and humbly pursues her quest to be formally recognized as the official "Glass City Gourmet".


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Old Time Toledo Dining

Ask anyone in Toledo what the longest running locally owned and operated restaurant is and you will get a myriad of answers. Ask someone what the oldest full service restaurant in Toledo is that is 1) still open for business 2)still owned by the same family and 3) in the same location as where it started - and the list dwindles down to three.

"The Toledo Trio", as I like to call them:

Mancy's Steakhouse - 1921
953 Phillips Avenue
Toledo, OH
(419) 476-4154‎


Inky's Italian - 1957
3945 North Detroit Avenue
Toledo, Ohio 43612
(419) 476-0500


The Seafood - circa 1958
5504 Alexis Road
Sylvania, Ohio
419-882-9920

When I decided to check out these Toledo landmarks, I found out very quickly that the only thing these restaurants have in common is longevity. Mancy's is rated by Esquire magazine as "one of the top 40 steakhouses in America." Inky's is an old fashioned neighborhood Italian restaurant and The Seafood specializes in deep fried Lake Erie yellow perch, pickerel (a.k.a walleye) and battered and deep fried onion rings.

If you are looking for a place to impress out-of-town guests, a date, your parents, a client or anyone else for that matter - go to Mancy's. It's the kind of place where men can be men and women are treated like ladies. The service is always impeccable.

The steaks are "premium grade corn feed Midwestern beef that is aged and hand butchered on premise and charbroiled at temperatures exceeding 1200 degrees." You simply can't do anything this good at home.

It's easy to pair a Mancy's steak with a glass, carafe or bottle of wine from one of the most comprehensive wine lists in the city. Mancy's Steaks and seafood entrees are all served with a house salad that is presented on a chilled pewter plate. It's a nice touch from a more genteel time. Although, I wish they'd bring back "Green Goddess" dressing. Seriously. I double-dog-dare you to ask Mike Mancy when they plan to "go green" and put Green Goddess dressing back on the menu...That's right. Ask him. And when he doesn't laugh at that lame joke, you can tell him you're just part of a Glass City Gourmet caper to bring back the Green Goddess!

All dinners at Mancy's come with home made bread and a choice of a 1 lb. baked potato, hand cut fries, hash browns (I typically order them well done with onions), wild rice pilaf, boiled redskins or vegetables. You can also order classic steak house favorites such as an iceberg wedge salad, steamed asparagus or broccoli served with Hollandaise sauce, and sautéed spinach with wild mushrooms. If you grew up in Toledo and haven't been to Mancy's since your grandparent's 50th wedding anniversary or a company holiday party...go back. It's worth the splurge and so are you.

Mancy's is a tough act to follow.

It took thirty plus years for another restaurant to open with staying power. Enter Inky's. There is something charming about the original neon sign above the door, the white trellises, the leather booths, and the old straw wrapped Chianti bottles that decorate the restaurant. There is something quaint about the waitresses who've worked there for years and will steer you to the house favorites. There is something very 1950's about an Italian menu that features: pizza, lasagna, eggplant Parmesan, spaghetti and meat balls, house made ravioli, etc. With the exception of the pizza, everything is covered in ladles of Inky's famous homemade tomato sauce. If your kids won't eat here, they don't deserve to go out to eat! The prices are family friendly and the dining room is brightly lit so you won't miss anything. This is not a place for romance, but it sure is fun. Grab a crowd and order enough for the table to eat "family style". You won't have to worry about getting enough food for the whole soccer team or cleaning all those dirty dishes.

The third restaurant in this "triad of timelessness" is The Seafood. It is located in an old house that was converted to a full service restaurant in Sylvania. If fried food is comfort food for you, this is your home away from home. The restaurant is moderately priced and a great place to take your parents if they like a stiff drink and a plate of locally caught and fried fish. The onion rings are a house special and come in a high stack. All meals are served with bread and house salads. The ambiance is pleasant, but not memorable. The Seafood is a safe place to take family members who use "different" as an adjective to describe anything that wasn't a part of their early childhood.

As Toledo continues to suffer the pains of a downward economy please find the time and a little bit of cash to support locally owned restaurants. We owe it to our community to keep them around for the next generation.


“Glass City Gourmet” is a chronicle of one woman's attempt to cook, eat, diet and entertain with both flair and whimsy while based in Toledo, Ohio. I encourage you to read on as the "Glass City Gourmet" attempts grand recipes, samples locally owned restaurants, visits indigenous markets and humbly pursues her quest to be formally recognized as the official "Glass City Gourmet".

Kyoto Ka

Kyoto Ka
6801 West Central Avenue
Toledo, OH 43615
419-841-2070

Monday thru Thursday
11:30 A.M. to 2:30 P.M
4:30 P.M. to 9:30 P.M.

Friday
11:30 A.M. to 2:30 P.M
4:30 P.M. to 10:30 P.M.

Saturday
Noon to 10:30 P.M.

Sunday
3 P.M. to 9 P.M.

Visa, Mastercard, American Express


As Toledo suffers the blows of the economic downturn, it's hard to even contemplate dinner on the town. My completely biased and unsubstantiated theory is that people will go out to eat a meal they can't possibly cook at home. For this reason, sushi restaurants seem to be staying busy.

Kyoto Ka opened in November of 2007 on Central Avenue near Meijer's. It is a pleasant space with red walls and bamboo accents. Chef Joe spent seven years perfecting his ability to please the American palate at Cleveland's number one sushi spot "Sushi Rock". Most recently, Chef Joe brought on Chef Chun who helped open YOKO and also worked at Kotobuki before coming to Kyoto Ka. The two chefs have created an extensive menu featuring traditional sushi, cooked entrees, and Americanized maki rolls to suit the public. The menu also includes a few Korean favorites such as Dol Sot Bi Bim Bop ($13.95) and Korean Chirashi ($16.95).

On my first visit, I ordered the seaweed salad ($4.25). It was delicious and a nice sized portion. I also sampled the rainbow roll ($10.95). The fish was fresh and the texture and color were perfect.

Last weekend, I dined with a friend and we ordered more of the house specialties. We started with the Kani Su Maki ($3.95). This is a maki roll that consists of a cucumber rolled around crab, a chunk of avocado, and served with a tasty sesame sauce. It was delicious. We also tried the gyoza ($5.95). These are Japanese fried dumplings that arrived at the table crazy hot. In my haste to sample these little treats, I scorched the roof of my mouth. I'd better get on my game before I start looking for Toledo's best Pizza or I will be unfit for the job. Needless to say, once they cooled to a more reasonable warmth the gyoza were delicious.

We split the black dragon roll ($13.95). The roll contained shrimp tempura,
cucumber, crab, avocado with toasted eel and a sweet sauce on top. The eel had a mild flavor and was more like a flaky white fish, which we thought was a plus. We also shared the caterpillar roll ($12.95) This roll also contained eel, crab, cucumber with
avocado on top. For those who are fans of Japanese mayo and cream cheese in their rolls, there is a full assortment of that style of rolls. The cooked entrees include, salmon steak ($21.95), tuna steak ($21.95), and spicy seafood pasta ($14.95).

For dessert, Kyoto Ka offers mochi ice cream. Mochi is a soft dough like outer shell with a golf ball sized piece of ice cream on the inside ($2.50 each). We sampled the green tea, red bean, strawberry and mango flavors. If you've never tried green tea or red bean flavors, order at least one. You will not be disappointed. These are more common tastes for Asian sweets and they are wonderful.

Kyoto Ka has something for everyone: the sushi connoisseur, the sushi novice, the cooked fish and cream cheese lover, and the steak fan. Bring a group of friends or your family and enjoy this special place.

“Glass City Gourmet” is a chronicle of one woman's attempt to cook, eat, diet and entertain with both flair and whimsy while based in Toledo, Ohio. I encourage you to read on as the "Glass City Gourmet" attempts grand recipes, samples locally owned restaurants, visits indigenous markets and humbly pursues her quest to be formally recognized as the official "Glass City Gourmet".

Toledo's Best Guacamole

The search for "Toledo's Best Guacamole" sent me all over the city to find locally owned Mexican restaurants.

It was a "challenge" that became a "quest" and ended up as a full scale "caper". I spent two lunches and one whirlwind afternoon hunting for Mexican restaurants around the Toledo area. Nothing could stop me: not my poor sense of geography, not the fear of consuming over 5,000 calories of guacamole in 24 hours, not the strength of the margaritas, nor the redundancy of eating nine plates of guacamole. Nothing and no one could keep me from my irrational search for the perfect guacamole.

For the uninitiated, guacamole has its roots in the Aztec culture of Mexico which flourished from about 1428-1521 A.D. At that time, the avocados were mashed with a mortal and pestle called "molcajete". The earliest known recipes contained chopped tomatoes and salt. The word “guacamole” comes from a native dialect from Central Mexico. The literal translation is "avocado sauce". Over time, recipes evolved and changed so that guacamole recipes are as unique as the chef or home cook who prepares them.

With this in mind, I began my tasting experience by comparing ingredients, texture, and flavor. Every restaurant was gracious enough to give me a list of ingredients. Frank Villa of El Tipico went so far as to give me an enchanting lesson in purchasing a perfect avocado and demonstrate the proper technique for making authentic guacamole.

The ten finalists and three winners represent the full geography of our community and the diverse backgrounds of the owners of each establishment. Prices for guacamole appetizers are all priced between $1.95 and $4.95 depending on if it is served as a 2oz condiment or a full appetizer.

The Glass City Gourmet Guacamole Champions:
1. El Tipico (1444 S. Avenue - S. Toledo) - Winner of the most authentic and traditional guacamole
2. Mi Hacienda (Glanzman - S. Toledo) - Winner of the best "homestyle chunky" guac and best presentation.
3. Pepe's (Sylvania Avenue - W. Toledo) - Winner of the gourmet "Guacamole Nuevo"

Other finalists (in alphabetical order):

Casa Baron (209 Louisiana Avenue - Perrysburg)
Carmel's (2947 Tremainsville - W. Toledo)
Dos Hermanos (1705 S. Wheeling - Oregon)
El Camino Real (2500 W. Sylvania Avenue - W. Toledo)
El Nuevo Vallarta (3330 W. Central Avenue - Toledo)
Loma Linda's (10400 Airport Highway - Swanton)
Ventura's (7742 W.Bancroft - Toledo)


If you like a mild, smooth and creamy guacamole head to Casa Baron, Dos Hermanos, El Camino, El Nuevo Vallarta, or El Tipico. These recipes all contain avocado, chopped tomato and salt. Dos Hermanos and El Nuevo Vallarta also add a little cilantro for extra flavor while Casa Baron's version has a black pepper kick.

If you like a chunky guacamole with small pieces of avocado still in the mix, Carmel's, Loma Linda, Mi Hacienda, Pepe's, and Ventura's will give you what you're after. Pepe's wins special honors for it's unique recipe that includes avocado, chopped tomato and onion, a bit of garlic, cilantro, lime juice, and both salt & pepper. The addition of garlic is a European twist I suspect came from Becky and John Skiadas, the Greek original owners of the restaurant. James Foster is running Pepe's now. I'll admit I had not been to Pepe's in years and was delighted with this rediscovery. I hope the patio with the strings of white lights over head and the running fountain is still intact this summer.

Mi Hacienda distinguished itself by serving the guacamole in a small taco chip bowl. It was a nice touch and I enjoyed finishing the last bits of guacamole as I cracked the bowl into bite sized pieces.

Toledo retains it's reputation for great Mexican restaurants and there is a guacamole dip or guacamole salad for every preference.

Until next month, Viva Guacamole!

“Glass City Gourmet” is a chronicle of one woman's attempt to cook, eat, diet and entertain with both flair and whimsy while based in Toledo, Ohio. I encourage you to read on as the "Glass City Gourmet" attempts grand recipes, samples locally owned restaurants, visits indigenous markets and humbly pursues her quest to be formally recognized as the official "Glass City Gourmet".

Executive Diner

Executive Diner
2516 Sylvania Avenue
Toledo, OH 43613
419-472-EGGS

Monday-Saturday 6:00AM - 2:00PM (Winter Hours 7am - 2pm)
Sunday 7:00AM - 2:00PM (Winter Hours 7am - 3pm)

Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover


Building upon the great success of El Camino Real, El Camino Sky, and El Camino Ann Arbor local restaurateur Jesus Angel brought together a team of professionals to create "Executive Diner". House manager Jennifer Hurst and executive chef, Jared DeBlaere worked with Jesus to develop a standard diner menu accented with Mexican specialties. They also have a liquor license that allows them to serve beer, mimosas, Bailey's and coffee and Bloody Mary's.

The restaurant features an open air kitchen that is elegantly appointed with hand laid mosaic tiles, a stained glass drop ceiling, and a polished copper partition. The dining room is comfortable with both tables and booths dressed with copper salt shakers and pepper grinders. Decorated with custom built wood paneled walls and a library in the entry, Executive Diner has a welcoming home-like atmosphere. The decor, combined with a wait staff dressed tastefully in black shirts and pants, makes Executive Diner a family and business friendly alternative to the "eggs and legs" diners of Toledo.

The food at Executive Diner is as good as it reads on the menu. The "Firecracker Shrimp" ($9.50) includes ten shrimp coated in a special blend of tortilla crumbs, cheese and chipotle peppers and deep fried to crispy perfection. It is served with El Camino's homemade salsa and tastes delicious with a Bloody Mary ($4.00) featuring a dash of Chohula hot sauce and a fresh celery stalk. Order "Firecracker Shrimp" for the table the minute you are seated.

Mexican breakfast specials include Yucatan Eggs/Huevos Motulenos ($5.50), Submarine Eggs/Huevos Submarines ($5.50), Divorced Eggs/Huevos Divorciados ($5.50), and a choice of a Mexican Burrito ($5.50) or a Tex-Mex Burrito ($5.50). All are served with home fries and contain traditional house made Mexican ingredients such as red and green salsa, chorizo (spicy Mexican sausage) and fresh Mexican cheeses all provided by the kitchen staff at El Camino.

One of my guests tried the waffle ($5.50). It was cooked perfectly and served with tasty syrup. Another friend tried the traditional Eggs Benedict ($6.50) The hollandaise was a sunny yellow color, smooth and had just the right amount of lemon juice. However, it seems that the chef that morning was still working on his timing for the poached eggs. The Mexican omelet ($6.50) is fluffy and features El Camino's home made chorizo and Mexican style cheese. It is also served with home fries and toast.

Executive Diner is popular with neighborhood regulars, breakfast fans, and even clergy from local parishes. As Jennifer Hurst explained, "Executive Diner is a gift to the neighborhood that has been so supportive to El Camino." She added, "We wanted to price the menu so someone can have breakfast and a drink for $10, tip included." At these prices, you can afford to leave a bigger tip.

I look forward to heading back and sampling the Executive Diner lunch menu soon.

“Glass City Gourmet” is a chronicle of one woman's attempt to cook, eat, diet and entertain with both flair and whimsy while based in Toledo, Ohio. I encourage you to read on as the "Glass City Gourmet" attempts grand recipes, samples locally owned restaurants, visits indigenous markets and humbly pursues her quest to be formally recognized as the official "Glass City Gourmet".

Koreana Brings Fine Korean Cuisine to Toledo

Koreana
"Fine Korean Cuisine"
536 S. Reynolds Road
Toledo, OH 43615
Tuesday-Friday 11am to 2:30pm, 4:30pm-9:30pm
Sat/Sun 12pm-10pm
Closed Monday
Visa, Mastercard

Koreana is a new addition to the culinary options in Toledo. It is the only authentic Korean restaurant in our area offering a pleasant dining room as well as a full carry out menu.

Owned and operated by Ivie and Don Kline, Koreana is the fulfillment of a dream by Ivie's sister, Young, to own a small family style Korean restaurant. Young is trained in classic Korean cuisine and worked in Manhattan as chef for a hotel featuring Korean dining. When Dan retired after a forty-one year career with General Motors, he agreed to help the sisters start their own restaurant with both financing and sweat equity.

The sisters and other family members successfully provide the uninitiated with an understanding of Korean flavors and food preparation. While Young prepares the meals, Ivie circulates the dining room to answer questions and offer menu suggestions.

Our group sampled some traditional dishes including Tuk Bok Ki ($6.95) rice cakes and vegetables in a spicy red sauce, Bul Go Ki ($13.95) sliced tender prime beef marinated in a ginger sauce, Seafood Pa Jun (11.95) Korean style potato pancakes with mixed seafood and green onions, along with Chap Chae ($9.95) clear vermicelli noodles served with shredded beef and vegetables in a flavorful sauce.

Every meal is served with complimentary Ban Chen. This consists of assorted small side dishes that may include pickled radishes, spicy kim chee, fish cakes, sweet cuttlefish, as well as individual portions of cooked and chilled watercress, bean sprouts, and broccoli. Ban chen is served with meals and is a fun way to get a sense of the unique colors, flavors, and textures of Korean food.

I returned the following week to sample the Good Mandu ($4.95) which is Korean fried dumplings stuffed with meat, mushrooms, stir fried zucchini and bean sprouts. These delicious appetizers were served with a spicy soy based dipping sauce. For dinner, we ordered the Gob Dol Bi Bim Bab ($9.95). This is a one dish meal that consists of marinated cooked beef and assorted vegetables over rice with a fried egg on top. It is served with a spicy red sauce that can be added according to diner preference before mixing all of the contents of the bowl together. Gob Dol is served in a heated stone bowl that cooks the rice on the interior surface of the bowl while you are eating the mixture so that you have a crispy rice treat at the end of the meal. For those who have never tried Korean food before, this is a great place to start.

Koreana is a welcome addition to the Toledo dining scene. If you've never experienced this type of cuisine, let Ivie know and she will graciously lead you through the menu. Fans of Korean food will be pleased that Koreana offers both international Korean favorites and authentic specialties for the more adventurous diner.

“Glass City Gourmet” is a chronicle of one woman's attempt to cook, eat, diet and entertain with both flair and whimsy while based in Toledo, Ohio. I encourage you to read on as the "Glass City Gourmet" attempts grand recipes, samples locally owned restaurants, visits indigenous markets and humbly pursues her quest to be formally recognized as the official "Glass City Gourmet".

Mad Brothers Spices

Mad Brothers Spices...because if we were rich and had a lot of money, we'd be called "eccentric". So begins the adventure of Mad Brothers Spices a story of three brothers whose love of travel, adventure, and people influenced their unique spice blends.

Bill Eggleston serves as the front man for Mad Brothers. Last Saturday afternoon I had the chance to see Bill in action. He provided a cooking demonstration and product demo for about fifteen people in a private home. The demo featured steaks seasoned with "Really Righteous Rub for Flesh", Sazon and lime grilled chicken along with a "Carefully Crafted Consortium of Curry" used to season roasted kielbasa with vegetables. While preparing these dishes, Bill charms his audience with his encyclopedic knowledge of spices and incomparable story telling. Weaving fact and fiction into stories of pride and heroism among the brothers, his style only adds to the charm of the products. Bill's brother, Dan, attended the demonstration and enthusiastically answered questions about the products and the partnership.


As Bill educates and entertains, guests learn of his love for cooking that gained momentum when he would spice up the celebration barbeques at the completion of the construction of a new Home Depot store. Faced with a grill and a stack of frozen hamburger patties, Bill used his spice blends to make the meals special. With ongoing encouragement and interest from building contractors working on these projects, he decided to start packaging his spice blends for sale.

He partnered with his brothers, Dan and Ed to move forward with Mad Brothers Spices. The Mad Brothers are currently using an industrial kitchen to manufacture and package the blends. Their labeling states, "ingredients: Yup!". While humorous, I asked Bill about this and he explained that they need to reach $65K in sales for a product to be required to provide a full listing of ingredients. For now, their products have gone for laboratory testing to be able to incorporate nutritional information into the packaging as well.

In the meantime, the products are terrific. Each spice blend sells for $8 and comes with serving suggestions. However, Bill encourages friends of Mad Brothers to experiment and be creative.


Spice blends include:

Bodacious Blackening Bouquet: A traditional blackening seasoning made without salt.

Really Righteous Rub for Flesh: An unusual sweet rub designed to create a crust of flavor around grilled meats.

Potent Pulverized Pepper Dust: Hot and spicy flavor that can be used to enhance other seasonings with adjustable heat!

Sazon: (Spanish for Seasoning) is a common spice found in Spanish markets that combines dried coriander, garlic, salt and other flavors.

Carefully Crafted Consortium of Curry: A light and mild curry flavor for the Western palate.

For more information, to schedule a product demo party, or to order these locally developed seasonings for your own kitchen, contact Bill at: 419-450-2162.


“Glass City Gourmet” is a chronicle of one woman's attempt to cook, eat, diet and entertain with both flair and whimsy while based in Toledo, Ohio. I encourage you to read on as the "Glass City Gourmet" attempts grand recipes, samples locally owned restaurants, visits indigenous markets and humbly pursues her quest to be formally recognized as the official "Glass City Gourmet".

Long Over Due

Sorry for the big break in entries. I started the year with the best intentions to write a weekly post and fell behind with the obligations of full time employment...stay tuned. I will be back in mid to late March with more.

Also, coming soon, you will be able to find restaurant reviews and other Toledo-specific food writing from "Glass City Gourmet" on Toledo.Com.

I am honored and grateful for this opportunity. Thanks for your continued interest and encouragement.

Cheers!
Glass City Gourmet

Iron Chef Artichoke, Salmon Pasta

Remember the Iron Chef? The chefs are assigned a group of fresh ingredients and expected to develop a new creation with just the items at hand.

While I may not have the academic credentials or the restaurant experience of a true Iron Chef, every American housewife and wannabe gourmet chef eventually learns to "make do" with whatever is available.

Last night I had leftover salmon fillets as the main ingredient. Upon searching my cabinets and fridge, I came up with a jar of artichoke hearts, a head of garlic, white wine, fresh basil, fresh parmesan cheese and a box of pasta bow ties.

In about 20 minutes I dropped artichoke, salmon, basil pasta on the table. Light, flavorful, easy to make and well received.

Serves 4

2 salmon fillets (grilled or broiled)
2 cups dry pasta
8 oz chopped artichoke hearts (marinated or just in water)
3-5 leaves of basil (washed, chopped or made into a chiffonade)
1-3 cloves of garlic (chopped)
3 tbs. olive oil
3/4 c. white wine
salt and pepper to taste

Bring a large sauce pan filled with water to a rolling boil. Add kosher salt. Add pasta. While pasta is cooking, saute garlic in olive oil until it becomes fragrant. Add white wine and stir. Add chopped artichoke hearts and stir gently until warmed. Add salmon in bite sized chunks. Toss carefully so the salmon chunks stay intact. Add salt and pepper to taste. Cover and reduce heat to low to heat through. When pasta is finished, throw basil in with salmon saute and put cover back on top of saute pan. Drain pasta. Put pasta in bowls, sprinkle with cheese and carefully spoon salmon saute and accumulated broth over each bowl. Serve immediately.

“Glass City Gourmet” is a chronicle of one woman's attempt to cook, eat, diet and entertain with both flair and whimsy while based in Toledo, Ohio. I encourage you to read on as the "Glass City Gourmet" attempts grand recipes, samples locally owned restaurants, visits indigenous markets and humbly pursues her quest to be formally recognized as the official "Glass City Gourmet".