Except when it’s not.

It took me three days to realize that ordering a pint in Canada results in receiving an imperial pint. Not the paltry sixteen fluid ounces one might receive in the States. Nay, this is a man’s pint.

I think the fact that bars around here serve beer in their proper glassware threw me off for a while. All the different shapes (and tasty contents) distracted me.

We weren’t feeling up to being adventurous tonight. So we ate at a restaurant across the street from our hotel, Milestone’s Grill and Bar (incidentally, the domain listed on the back of their business card doesn’t work, I had to Google for the correct address). They emphasize “inspired” eating. If our waiter had said “inspired chicken” or “inspired fish” one more time, I may have gotten violent. He was also enthusiastic in his presentation of the healthy options on the menu. I hope it wasn’t because he pegged us for visiting Americans. Still, the choices on the menu all looked very good; even the Kobe beef meatloaf that Mike was quick to disparage (as being a waste of good beef).

Milestone’s featured summer menu apparently drew inspiration from southern beaches. Florida would be my guess, but none of the food struck me as being specific to any specific ethnic cuisine. I ended up ordering grilled coconut shrimp, which came on three skewers resting atop a mound of sticky rice with chunks of pineapple. It was quite good. I tend to prefer grilled shrimp over deep fried, which is good, because that tends to be healthier.

After two nights of giving in to the lure of Hoegaarden, I returned to my usual behaviours. It was time again to drink the local nectars. I paired tonight’s dinner with a honey red lager from Palomino Craft Beer. I enjoyed it very much. It was smooth, refreshing, and had just a touch of sweetness. A little Googling leads me to believe that this is a private-label beer brewed locally. I heartily recommend it.

Apparently every bar in Toronto has Hoegaarden on tap. It’s made me very happy. I may even move here.