kimchi pizza

The first time I made this pizza, everyone went crazy for it. The other kind I prepared for that day was simple marinara sauce with mushroom and veggie. In the end, no one actually touched the veggie pizza.

I learned my lesson. This time I only made one kind, kimchi pizza. It was so easy to make. How I came up with this dish? I like kimchi a lot. It's such a versatile pickle, or not. It can be stir-fried with meat and veggie, cooked in soup or stew with tofu and bean sprout, made into Korean pancake or just eaten alone as side dish. 

1/4 lb pork, sliced
1 tablespoon soy sauce, depends on the saltiness of the sauce or personal taste
3 cloves of garlic, crushed
1 slice of pineapple, chopped (or use 1 -2 tablespoons crushed pineapple)
1 tablespoon cooking wine
a dash of sugar (optional)

Marinade pork with all the seasonings few hours in advance, best for overnight. The pineapple will tenderize the meat. The meat portion can be made for 2 8-inch pizzas, at least for me. It depends how meaty you want your pizza to be.

Now, let the fun begin!

Spread the pork (together with the pineapple and garlic) on top of the pizza dough. I also sprinkle extra 1/4 cup pineapple. Then about 1/4 cup kimchi. Drip off the excess kimchi juice, but no need to squeeze dry. The kimchi juice kind served like tomato sauce in this case. Sprinkle about 1/4 cup of cheese on top. I use mozzarella and cheddar mix. Bake in 450F oven for 15 minutes. Voila. Very tasty and yummy.

There are people claiming that pizza is unhealthy food. In this case, I don't see the unhealthy part. I can see it's not Atkins approved.

Where's the view? Toronto Fairmont Hotel

Fairmont Royal York hotel



interior of Fairmont



interior of Fairmont



Christmas tree, Fairmont Hotel



gingerhouse

Let's take a visual tour of my room where I was staying.

A look at the bathroom.

When I checked-in, the lady promised to give me a window-view room. She did a pretty good job I have to say. Let's take a look of the view.

Can you see the lakeshore line?

Still not quite from another angle.

That's Union Station for commuter rail and VIA. 

Rogers center for the baseball.

Night view. Besides skyscrapers, nothing else. Most of them are condo buildings.

View at dawn. A lot of obstruction. It doesn't feel much difference from blocked view room. Yes, more constructions are coming on these empty lots. Few years later, the shore line will be all blocked with buildings. Seeing sun coming up probably has to wait until noon time.

I am sure all the cosmopolitan cities are pretty much the same filled with high-rise buildings. But Toronto downtown area is like a condo jungle. Particularly the lake shore area, it is so congested with buildings. The view is nice, but not the buildings. Sometimes I wonder how can people live in the area breathe. It is a shame that the city seems doesn't care that much about it.

Skating rink, Philips Square city hall

Philips Square city hall

Christmas tree, Philips square city hall
(a little cheesy!)

good color match with CN tower

My royal treatment in Emirates Palace Hotel

After third attempt, we finally got in the Palace hotel. Hallelujah!!! Finally. I started to think if I will ever get in before I leave. This luxury hotel itself is open to public but not when sheik is entertaining his guests there.

 

I didn't see the highly critized Christmas tree from last year, but I did see the one from the year before. 

 Even so, it was still amazing. All these decorations. I know this one definitely will not be able to fit in my place.

The hotel serves multi-purposes. It has a concert hall and conferences rooms. There are plenty high-end boutiques. I saw the most beautiful carpet ever, the only thing I wanted to do was put in my place. It was in beautiful pink weaving with other pretty colors. I was never into pink, but that piece was lovely. I had the urge to take pictures. But I also felt maybe I was invading someone's wisdom prperty.

small concert hall inside the hotel

displays from galleries

 The back of the hotel has a long stretched beach line.

I love this fountain

huge mural on the wall

 

Since we didn't have $500 to spend for a night (still don't have it by now), for us poor people's royal treatment were coffee and cake. BTW, the hotel was all booked for the day. Plus, the desserts just looked so appetizing behind the glass. A book and a cup of coffee could be well sepdn even without the desserts we ordered. The small bites came with the tea or coffee. What a surprise! With the live music and yummy dessert, I was in heaven. 

 After sipping the gold into my stomach, I did fell like Donald Trump.

Desserts had arrived. They tasted as good as they looked. We purposely ordered these desserts with gold on top. Just wanted to feel like we are welthy people.

 

Live performers next to the cafe. The live music selection does change hoursly. A lovely pianist performed after these handsome men.

 Of course there's one thing that everyone has to do after meals -- bathroom.

    I didn't know why there's always water faucet in each bathroom. For washing hands after business?? If so, it's not that user friendly. Then somone told me that's for hygiene purposes. On the other hand, I know the swan is for decoration, anyone ever wipes hands from one of these towels?

 After meals and bathroom time, it was time for us to say good-bye. But there was one last thing to do -- take pictures.

 



Hotel website: Emirates Palace Hotel