Suzie The Foodie

Food Writer, Photographer and Product Reviewer

Follow Suzie the Foodie

Facebooktwitterpinterestinstagramby feather
  • Home
  • Contact
  • Recipes
  • Product Reviews
  • Older Posts
  • Instant Pot
You are here: Home / Chinese / Mandarin at Yonge & Eglinton for Mom’s Birthday

Mandarin at Yonge & Eglinton for Mom’s Birthday

February 20, 2018 by Suzie the Foodie 7 Comments

The Inspiration

Lunch at Mandarin at Yonge & Eglinton

Life got much colder one week after my birthday when January 30th rolled around, Mom’s birthday. Jamie could not come but Shannon came with me to Mom’s favourite foodie place on the planet…

The Restaurant

Lunch at Mandarin at Yonge & Eglinton

Mandarin!!! Not only did Mom love the food…

Lunch at Mandarin at Yonge & Eglinton

Her birthday is always around Chinese New Year.

Lunch at Mandarin at Yonge & Eglinton

The best part of this new year is it is the year of the dog! That is me. It is my year. I hope that means good luck is coming my way!

The Location

Lunch at Mandarin at Yonge & Eglinton

Mandarin at Yonge & Eglinton was totally decked out in Chinese lanterns. It is always so beautiful and colourful and the food. OMG, the food!

The Food

Lunch at Mandarin at Yonge & Eglinton

We of course started off with soup and I snuck some shrimp on my plate too. Love their hot and sour soup. Just at the height of how much spiciness I can handle and I could spend all day eating their shrimp. Hot or cold.

Something New

Lunch at Mandarin at Yonge & Eglinton

This year they were celebrating the new year with they Thousand Year Old Egg Salad called Pidan Sha La.

Lunch at Mandarin at Yonge & Eglinton

Which we of course tried and it was quite wild! Creamy yes but with other unique textures and flavours. I have never had anything quite like it. The cold appetizers continued with yet more shrimp, marinated mushrooms, drenched muscles in cocktail sauce, seaweed salad, macaroni salad and yes, a pickle. I will never say no to pickles, the are my weakness.

Lunch at Mandarin at Yonge & Eglinton

Moving on to hot food I shocked myself with how much chicken I picked up. Noodles too, always noodles, and some broccoli so I did not feel guilty for eating so few vegetables.

The photos is a tad grainy but keep reading to hear exciting news about my future foodie adventures and gear!

Lunch at Mandarin at Yonge & Eglinton

I began to slow down a little with barbecued pork, tempura shrimp, dumplings and sushi.

Did Someone Say Dessert?

Lunch at Mandarin at Yonge & Eglinton

There are literally dozens of desserts to try but I went for a medley of ice creams because they did not have chocolate-covered strawberries. I got chocolate, coffee and salted caramel.

Lunch at Mandarin at Yonge & Eglinton

Complete with a Chinese sesame cookie! Delicious. Everything was wonderful, as always. High quality delicious food. I always wish I could have eaten more. Which we did!

Lunch at Mandarin at Yonge & Eglinton

Shannon made sure to also pick up Nanaimo bars, Mom’s favourite. We thought of her the entire time we were there, wishing her a happy birthday.

Lunch at Mandarin at Yonge & Eglinton

Funny that we went to celebrate Mom’s birthday on such a cold day in Toronto when the last time we had gone together it was a super hot Mother’s Day.

Mandarin is so special. I have so many happy memories of family trips there together and it always brought so much joy to Mom’s life. I can always feel she is with us when we are there.

Big Tech News & Potential Opportunity

Lunch at Mandarin at Yonge & Eglinton

I have come to the future foodies. My future, your present. It is so cold here sometimes I just can not take out my fancy camera so thanks to my aunt and uncle I have joined all of you when it comes to tech.

Lunch at Mandarin at Yonge & Eglinton

I bought a cell phone! Not only that I got an iPhone and even took my old laptop down with me to make sure they were compatible and so far, so good. Now I can actually report LIVE from foodie events and take great stealthy photos at restaurants. I will never abandon my Canon Rebel but it was time to join the collective and get my own damn phone.

Also, I am applying to be a Mandarin spring menu taste tester so wish me luck! I hope I can do them justice. I do not think I could love their restaurant more than I already do and would love to share my opinions on their potential new dishes.

As Mom would say, “All good stuff!”

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Share

Filed Under: Chinese, eating out, restaurant review, Toronto Tagged With: eating out, Mandarin, Suzie the Foodie, Toronto, Yonge & Eglinton

Comments

  1. Debra She Who Seeks says

    February 20, 2018 at 2:54 pm

    I only knew your Mom through your blog, of course, but she always struck me as being a wonderful person. I’m glad you and your sister honoured her on her birthday. Congrats on the cellphone and I hope you do become a Mandarin spring menu taste tester!

    Reply
    • Suzie the Foodie says

      February 21, 2018 at 3:36 am

      She really was a special woman Debra, I am glad we could honour her too! Thank you, having a cell phone has been incredibly liberating. I can always connect with my sisters now which is reassuring, especially being back in a big city that is kind of new to me again. Oh I hope so too! I put the application in the mail this afternoon. Fingers crossed!!!!

      Reply
  2. Janet Miles says

    February 20, 2018 at 3:51 pm

    What a wonderful day and congrats on the new phone. You’ll love it. Next is an “upgrade” to a MacBook Pro – LOL Glad things are looking up a little for you, Suzie. You deserve it.

    Reply
    • Suzie the Foodie says

      February 21, 2018 at 3:37 am

      Thank you Janet! It has been so liberating, I do love it so much. Right now it is keeping me company as I write this playing lovely piano music. One day I’ll have a new computer too but I am very happy for now. Cell phones really are the new computers. Thank you Janet! So very much.

      Reply
  3. Jackie says

    February 20, 2018 at 5:39 pm

    I love my Canon Rebel too but have to admit I have mostly used my phone on this trip. Partly because we have been here many times.

    Reply
    • Suzie the Foodie says

      February 21, 2018 at 3:40 am

      Jackie, it is cumbersome and a little nerve wracking to travel with the Rebel, I always worry about breaking it. Sometimes the phone can do a good job. I prefer to use my Rebel in my kitchen and get the best photos I can, like it’s my studio.

      Reply
  4. Mello says

    February 5, 2019 at 12:02 am

    Hubby, mom and I also tried the Pidan Sha La at the (Orleans) Ottawa Mandarin. I have to agree with you the taste was something else. It was soooo good!

    I found your site while trying to look for a recipe to make them. :). I don’t want to wait until next year to have them again.

    Good luck in your new venture.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Product Review: President’s Choice Ascolana Fried Olives Stuffed with Cheese

Product Review: President’s Choice Ascolana Fried Olives Stuffed with Cheese

Sweet! First 2022 Holiday President's Choice Insider's Report product review is up! Olives and cheese? Yes please!

Search Suzie the Foodie

I Am Alive!

I Am Alive!

It has been over a decade and my time as Suzie The Foodie is over! Thanks for all the love and support and remember, do not NOT feed the trolls. ~ Suzie The Foodie

Save $25 On A Magical Butter Kit!

Save $25 On A Magical Butter Kit!

Not only can you save $25 on a Magical Butter Kit with this coupon you help support me and my site when you purchase one!

Want a big discount on your purchase? Use the coupon code "SUZIE” when you check out!

Instant Pot Spicy Peanut Soup with Sweet Potato And Kale

Instant Pot Spicy Peanut Soup with Sweet Potato And Kale

Super fast and delicious soup made in the Instant Pot and saved my bacon!

My WordPress Guru

Special thanks to my WordPress Guru and long-time friend Mike D. Without your help, this website would not have been possible.

Copyright © 2023 · Metro Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in