VEDA INDIAN TAKEOUT

In search of an exotic, healthy meal without breaking the bank, I decided to head over to one of my favourite haunts for Indian Cuisine, Veda Indian Takeout.

Veda, in Sanskrit language, means knowledge in English.  In turn, this indian takeout strives to provide healthy living through knowledge of the body, mind and spirit through healthy, hearty preparation of such fine Indian cuisine.    In terms of health, they have vegan options, meat is 100% Halal, 100% is free of nuts and all of the curries are gluten free.

To get a full spectrum of what to expect at Veda, for $10 (tax included), I got the Tiffin Talli deal, which consisted of a choice of rice, a choice of vegetable, and a choice of meat served with naan bread, salad and a drink.   For $10 you can’t go wrong getting healthy Indian food cooked in the highest order.

For my Tiffin Talli treat, I had Vegetable Basmati Rice, Butter Chicken, and Vegetable Curry along with whole wheat naan and salad.   The rice was full bodied and was not mushy at all (which I appreciate), and it was colourful to look at with all of the vegetables and unique yellow colour that accents the rice.    The Butter Chicken had a very spicy kick and maintained its juiciness and flavour through the meal.   The Vegetable Curry was also well seasoned, spicy, and had great accents throughout the dish.

If you are craving Indian Food but does not want to break the bank or your waist, Veda Indian Takeout is your surefire bet for excellent cuisine at prices that don’t hurt your wallet.  

VEDA INDIAN TAKEOUT

416-961-9797

www.vedatakeout.com

BRIAN CHAHLEY QUARTET @ CHALKER'S PUB

On a cool fall Saturday evening, I decided to go to Chalkers to catch a good friend and trumpet player by the name of Brian Chahley.   A fellow graduate of both the Brubeck Institute and the New School of Music, Brian showed effectively through his performance how all that hard work is starting to pay off in great ways.

Brian Chahley fronts a quartet that consists of the great Nancy Walker on piano, and two fellow young lions Dan Fortin on the bass and Fabio Ragnelli on the drums.    Through the performance it was a mixture of tried, tested and true standards and original compositions played with such ease, poise and aplomb.

            Brian Chahley is a very creative, real trumpet player that doesn’t run out of ideas and conceptions.   He keeps building on his ideas while interacting with a rhythm section that is following and complimenting his every move and attack on the music.

            Not only he is a great trumpet player in the likes of Woody Shaw, Freddie Hubbard and Miles Davis, but the main showstopper for me was his vocal and scat take on “I Fall in Love Too Easily”.    It was a very creative, classy, and a smooth vocal reminiscent of Chet Baker and not to mention very sensual and sexy at the same time.     Enclosed at the end of this article is a video clip of what I witnessed during that showstopper performance.

            Again, it was a fine night of music from one of the big up and coming young talents on the trumpet and vocal scene. 

BRIAN CHAHLEY OFFICIAL WEB SITE

www.brianchahley.com

THE FAMED FAMOSO

            On a nice fall afternoon I decided to have an early dinner at a new Italian pizzeria located right in the heart of the Annex.   The restaurant:  Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria.

            This nice little spot is known for its wood oven pizzas, zesty salads, and hearty gelatos to cleanse the palate after a great meal.  For myself, I decided to use my gift certificate from an earlier visit and go the whole nine yards to explore such fine Italian Cuisine.

            I started out with a small Caesar Salad ($4) topped with shaved Parmesan cheese, bacon and served with a garlic wedge.   The salad was well dressed, tasted very fresh, crispy and zesty, and was a great starter to wet my appetite for a nice light meal.

            Then I ordered the Margherita Pizzetta ($7), a serving suggestion for a single person, which is a cheese pizza with garnishes of basil.   I love the wood oven effect on the pizza crust, the pizza tasted fresh and the serving portion was nice, light and reasonable on the belly.   To wash this all down I had a nice glass of San Pellegrino Limonata soda ($2.50), which complemented the meal nicely without the need of alcohol.

            Finally I cleansed my palate with a single scoop of Madagascar Vanilla Bean Gelato ($3.50).   From the get go I can taste the accents of the vanilla throughout the desert, as well as the rich creamy texture that just calls for another helping if one so desires.

            What’s so amazing about this meal is that all three courses came under $20, so if you want a nice three-course meal without breaking the bank, Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria may be your best bet yet for some quality food at great prices.    Overall, the food was great, service was impeccable, and the atmosphere was very inviting.   

FAMOSO NEAPOLITAN PIZZERIA @ THE ANNEX

386 Bloor Street West

Toronto, Ontario

M5S 1X4

647-748-2333

annex@famoso.ca

Phil Dwyer and Don Thompson at Chalker's Pub

On the evening of Rosh Hashanah, I decided to attend an intimate concert put on by two giants of Canadian Jazz.   The names: Don Thompson and Phil Dwyer.  

These two men have won Junos, performed with some of the biggest names in the jazz world (Jim Hall, Paul Desmond, George Shearing, etc.) and they are still going strong performing jazz at its highest level.

Earlier I reviewed Phil Dwyer in a trio setting with Pat Collins and Terry Clarke.   In a stripped down duo setting, it felt like magic channeling the great saxophonists of the 20^th century and laying down the mantle for jazz in the 21^st century.    For Don Thompson, Canada’s elder statesmen in jazz, he shows brilliant musicianship to the highest order being well adept in playing the bass, piano, and vibraphone with such clarity and precision, not even mentioning the fact that he is a great composer and arranger.

Instead of obscure jazz tunes, it was a dialogue of two friends playing standards that they loved and cherished all over the years.    I managed to shoot a video of Phil and Don playing Rogers and Hart’s “Lover”, and instead of spending more time writing about the music, I feel that these seven minutes that I have captured speak for the great musicianship and camaraderie that these musicians have developed over the years.

PHIL DWYER OFFICIAL WEBSITE

http://www.phildwyer.com

PHIL DWYER TRIO @ THE REX HOTEL

PHIL DWYER TRIO @ The Rex Hotel

At the 2012 TD Toronto Jazz Festival, one of my personal highlights was seeing saxophonist, pianist, composer and arranger Phil Dwyer perform the Canadian Songbook along with great jazz musicians such as Laila Biali and Rob Piltch.   This time around, I get to see one of Canada’s great jazz musicians in an up close and intimate concert setting at a cozy little jazz joint known as the Rex Hotel.   For his opening set, he sure did not disappoint the audience or myself.

In a trio setting, Phil opens the set by putting on the pianist’s hat for a rousing take on Harry Warren’s “Summer Night”, as arranged by fellow Canadian pianist and composer Renee Rosnes.   Following was an introspective take on Joe Zawinul’s composition “Midnight Mood”, showing off the beauty and poise of the piece and taking it into new heights.

For the next two numbers, Phil puts on the tenor sax hat and does his John Coltrane/Sonny Rollins thing on “Darn that Dream” and “Mr. Jones”.   His sax playing is full of raw emotion and full of great ideas that jump right at you and into your gut.

Phil puts on the piano hat again for a contemplative reading of Willie Nelson’s classic song “Crazy”, made famous by Patsy Cline.   It was a straight reading with great solos throughout the number.

To end, Phil puts on the tenor sax cap and plays his own composition, a calypso piece called “Narcolypso”.   It echoed Sonny Rollins’ St.  Thomas and the great feel of being at a Caribbean carnival parade.

A word about the rhythm section.  Pat Collins is one of the best and most reliable timekeepers and bass players residing in the city.    He has a great flair for the music and he is really gets the drive going when it is called for in a tune.  Terry Clarke undoubtedly is one of the great legends of Canadian jazz.   He has performed with jazz greats such as Jim Hall, Paul Desmond, John Handy and even recorded an album with Oscar Peterson.   He is one of the most rhythmically creative and stimulating drummers to play on the scene and we are fortunate to have him as a Canadian treasure.

All in all, a great night of jazz from a great icon in Canadian jazz.

PHIL DWYER OFFICIAL WEB SITE:

http://www.phildwyer.com/

 (Phil Dwyer and Me)