A New Semester, A New Menu

It’s that time of the year again! It’s the first day of the new semester and I hope everyone had a very enjoyable winter break. The first day of school may seem kind of slow and you have to go through the trouble of falling back into a routine but I think it’s nice to get back into a routine after the holidays. While navigating the chaos of a new semester I did notice something that caught my eye. I noticed that Rex’s Den has a new menu and seeing as it was lunch time I figured why not go see the new menu for myself then write about it here!

Upon opening the new menu the first thing I noticed was that it looks MUCH better than it did before – though kind of reminiscent of Jack Astor’s menu layout. But who cares, it’s about the food! Upon browsing the menu, I was slightly disappointed in the fact that there have been some minor price increases. However, I’m not certain that the price increases are actually warranted. For example a serving of chicken wings before was $6.99 now it’s upwards of $9 and change for 1LB of wings. I have a feeling that when it was $6.99 you didn’t get 1LB of wings. There were a number of price changes to different things but the wings are what stood out.

What I really liked about the new menu was that many of the specials from last semester are now permanent menu items. For example the delicious bacon mushroom melt burger is now an official menu item. Though I kind wished to see the Fried Chicken on the menu as it was unbelievably good. Another aspect of the new menu that pleased me was to see that the best sellers off the old menu such as the angry rex burger had comparatively cheaper prices than the new menu items. Lastly Rex’s Den’s new menu features some suped up poutines such the Angry Rex Poutine, a poutine version of the angry rex burger and a chicken shawarma poutine! I’m sure these items will be popular as they make great take out items for class.

Have you had a chance to check out the new Rex’s Den menu? If so what do you think? How does the price increase feel to you? Let me know in the comment section below! Remember to follow me on Twitter for my latest thoughts and rants! @malcolmwong1 and subscribe to this blog!

I think I need Sugar Addicts Annonymous...

Just around this time of year I get the hankering for some post-Halloween candy. Ever since I outgrew my trick-or-treating years (is there such a thing?) I’ve been sad and alone holding my own day of sweet celebration that I call “Cavity-Inducing Day of Awesome” - CIDA for short. Not to be confused with the other important, government-y thing, CIDA is the one day of the year I let my glucose-coloured glasses colour my world awesome.

Every year, I used to gorge on fright-night loots (back in the glory years of candy bags and generous neighbours), but more recently I satiate my sweet tooth with CIDA! It’s been a few years now that I’ve been gone from the childish land of trick-or-treating, so this year I decided to grow up the right way. I wanted to branch out a little bit - away from the fun pack of chocolate and the dollar-store candy, into the land of refined pastries and top-tier baked goods.

I wanted to use terms like: “baked to perfection”, “heaven for my tastebuds”, “bite your way to bliss”…  and CIDA gave me just the excuse. But, being a creature of comforts, I didn’t want to travel very far. So I did my research and  here I am sharing with you all, the amazing bakeries and cafes we have in our own neighbourhood!

Sugarbuds –

Major Intersection: Military Trail and Meadowvale Rd.

Right down the street from campus, this cute part-bakery/part café/part awesome cake shoppe offers a variety of specialty cakes, cookies and pastries for all occasion (along with the cursory sandwiches and snack type thingamabobs!) A view of the blissful Highland Creek Village, let's you forget about the concrete walls of UTSC. This Katy Perry-esque dreamland of delectable delights is run by a husband-and-wife duo, so you know you'll always get the personal touch. This is a perfect spot for some catch-up over a plate of your favourite flavour of bite-sized baked goods and the food is as good as it looks.

Lamanna’s Bakery –

Major Intersection: Kingston Rd. and Sheppard Ave.

With music straight from the streets of Italy and a head chef that bakes like the Cake Boss, this place is a go-to for anyone craving tiramisu, cannelloni or any other authentic Italian cuisine. With the added bonus of being a café, a bakery and a mini-restaurant, the convenient location (right next to a Rogers!) also makes Bakery L just a stop on the road to a very good night. Impress your significant other with a signature personalized mini-cake. You won’t be disappointed - the bakers are more like artists here! Check out their Facebook page for albums of the delicious and decadent cakes!

Mr. Beans Coffee Co. –

Major Intersection: Lawrence Ave. East and Port Union Rd.

This favourite of former Mowat Collegiate students (and some proud UTSCers) is the best place for a quick bite during all seasons. In the winter, “Beans”, as it’s known, specializes in hot chocolate and mocha lattes of all kinds and combination. This is your mom-and-pop version of Starbucks. And if the servers (some of them high school students with promising careers as coffee baristas) feel good, they’ll even do a bit of latte art for you! Delight in the freshly baked, croissants, cream puff pastries and cozy up with your favourite brand of authentic Italian coffee. Ask any kid from "the Island" (Rouge Hill), even in the summer Beans is the top spot for anything that will please you palate.

Coffee Culture –

Major Intersection: Ellesmere Rd. and Markham Rd.

 Nothing goes better with your slice of triple chocolate hazelnut crusted brownie than a sip of your favourite blend of coffee. Or as the German and the super-stylish say: koffee. This café is a favourite hangout of Woburn Collegiate kids, but many a UTSCer has been known to frequent this haven of delicious coffees and cakes for a bite of some amazing baked goods topped with a generous dollop of nostalgia.Also, check out their other locations all over Canada! Tip: That entire plaza is a goldmine for food options off-campus (check out Tangerine!)

So if you have a craving for sugar, need your daily dosage of delicious baked goods, or just a post-exam pick-me-up don’t be shy to take a trip down the street. You’d be surprised to see all it has to offer!What other sweet spots do you know around campus? 

Where is your favourite place to hang out and take a break? Let me know in the comments below and as always, tweet me anything and everything :) Until next time, om nom nom!

Rex's Den: Past, Present & Future

Hi! My name is Malcolm Wong and I am currently in my fifth year at UTSC. Instead of telling you a long-winded albeit true story of how I became what I am today and why. I'm going to keep my mini-autobiography short and sweet. Basically all you need to know is that I am a huge proponent of Campus Life and seeking the ultimate university experience. I’ve been termed a social butterfly and loved being engaged in people and the community. If you want to know more about me or have the latest updates follow me @malcolmwong1 on twitter! Each week you can expect a post about my own personal experience and insights to the university experience and campus life.

The Bluffs. Most of you are thinking "what?" - I assure you I'm a professional and I know what I'm doing. It was the name of our campus restaurant before it closed and reopened as Rex's Den. The Bluffs is a name that only a few students even remember and fewer remember actually eating there. There were 3 things that stood out about the Bluffs - The emptiness, the not-so-student-friendly prices and the food. Getting a table at the bluffs was never a difficult task as the restaurant was usually empty and sitting there was free - although eating there was another story. If you were willing to spend the money you got a very good meal. When I say "a very good meal" I really mean the food was divine. Despite the great food, it failed to attract students which led to its demise.

When the restaurant was reopened under the name Rex's Den it only did slightly better than the Bluffs because of the lower prices despite the drop in food quality, poor customer service and the lack of alcohol. Needless to say Rex's Den was a work in progress and it very much still is. I can still remember a time when Rex's Den was just another food option on campus if you were tired of eating Subway.

I give a lot of credit to the Rex's Den managers, the past Vice-President Campus Life Matthew Zajch and other student leaders for really working hard on promoting and changing students’ impressions and attitudes towards the restaurant. I really believe if it wasn't for their hard work Rex's Den wouldn't be what it is today. With the addition of pool tables, beer on tap, cheaper prices and better food quality Rex's Den has come a long way from the dismal years as the Bluffs.

Now, I wouldn’t go ahead and say that Rex’s Den is not a bona fide student hangout or a hub of student activity nor would I say that it’s “just another food option”. I’d say it’s in transition from the latter. There are many problems that plague Rex’s Den from completing the transition. For instance, the service in a word-- sucks. The kitchen is slow and the wait staff is inattentive at best. I’ve seen students leaving the restaurant in frustration after 40-60 minutes because their food hasn’t arrived or contemplating dining and dashing because they’ve been waiting 30 minutes for their bills (I’ve personally experienced this).  

Please note: I’m not a hater – I’m just calling as I see it. I do give credit to the Rex’s Den for recognizing this problem and working hard to remedy the situation through hiring more staff for the back of house and the front. Despite their hard work, it's true what they say: You only get one chance to make a first impression. But don’t despair Rex – people love a rise to glory more than a first impression! 

Let me end of this post by saying that Rex’s Den has come a long way but still has a ways to go. With its redeeming qualities such as free pool, fresh delicious food in a generous quantity and an average bill of $7, Rex’s Den is well on its way to becoming the place to be on campus and not just another food option. Not to mention the variety of daily specials and special events by students that take place at Rex’s Den. It is because of these qualities that I find myself at Rex’s Den everyday – literally, just ask the staff.  Don’t be surprised if you find yourself there more and more as the school year progresses.

In the comment section below let me know your thoughts, experience at Rex’s Den or things you would like to see at YOUR campus pub. Also, don’t forget to subscribe and follow @malcolmwong1 on twitter!