Restaurant Review: Nando's Flame Grilled Chicken House

For my first review, I have chosen to review Nando's Flame Grilled Chicken House, a fast food joint located at 9625 Yonge St, in Richmond Hill (Yonge and 16th). The specialty of this restaurant is spices that the Portuguese discovered called peri-peri. All the dishes require you to choose the amount of spice just like when you order wings.



There are many items to choose from and the portions are well portioned. I got the half chicken with 1 side order of fries with a coke, and it came to around $13.



Other friends of mine got quarter chicken and double legged chicken. Its more like swiss chalet but with the chicken grilled over a bbq, and less the chalet sauce. On the side they have other hot, and garlic sauces. The flavor of your meal is labeled by the flag on your chicken.





Overall the restaurant dining area was well kept and clean. Nothing very spectacular and tried to keep a feel of a cozy home. Didn't goto the washroom but was told one of the stalls for the female washroom wasn't working properly.



My overall impression of the food was just slightly okay. Something I could of done without. I can see why it can be appealing because of the spiciness in the food. I personally can't eat anything spicy and there did not try the hot stuff. I've heard people come to this place on a weekly basis and go crazy with the spices. Selection and normal service was acceptable. Overall I would give this 1.5/5. Seems kinda low? Well I was going to give them 2 just for being an avg restaurant, then the washroom wasn't working so that was another 0.5 mark off.

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Determination with Numbers

Everything you buy has numbers involved. It can represent the price, the size, the screen, how fast. I guess with most items the more expensive it is, the better quality the product is. But do people look past what is actually offered and only judge by the numbers. Lets examine a few examples.

Example one - Purchasing a car
Well, when people buy cars, they always ask about how many horsepower a car is, and the price they can get the car at. These are 2 of the very common numbers that comes up when entering the showroom. But on a street with a speed limit of 60 on average, and electric car can probably out run most cars. The new electric motor has 2 times more torque than a gasoline engine, but not everyone sees that with a smaller price tag. Also you are saving more money at the pumps, and last and not least, your cutting down on emissions. Another approach is the design of a luxury car to a competing brand. I believe that is how the car industry is created, where cars within a similar range competes with each other. More expensive and horsepower doesn't really mean alot.

Example two - Buying a TV
maybe the first example wasn't a strong example. But I'm sure I can sell you that higher numbers doesn't mean anything. So recently I walked into futureshop, when I watched a movie on a blueray on a HD TV it looked kinda weird. The image is sharp, but the movement was different. So trying to figure out what is wrong, I then came to the conclusion that it had to do with 120Hz. Every company is trying to push new technology and bigger the number trying to make the consumer feel like they are getting something better because a higher number is better. but in this case, when you look at a movie that is played on a normal tv, the movement of the people is natural, but in 120hz it seems like the motion of the people is moving slightly faster. So if you enjoy movies at the theatre or normally at home, this would be a big thing either to get use to, or you just get annoyed. On top, 120hz tvs cost more than the normal ones, but I think they make all new TVs with 120hz.

Example three - Sporting good
This is more of a personal thing and sporting goods equipment manufacturers design stuff for different types of players. Like for tennis rackets, the most expensive racket might not be suitable for your game, or more strings. Baseball glove which has different webbings or leather softness.

I think in most cases, the more expensive products have additional features. If you take advantage of them thats a different thing. You do get more for the money. Sometimes it becomes you trying to match your gear, instead of the gear satisfying your needs. Getting use to something might be more difficult, but I guess thats a choice you will you have to make, either a good or bad change.

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Speak up and be heard

I think everyone runs into days where people are unclear about what they want others to do. Especially at work, or on the road. We are always anticipating what is going to happen next and maybe sometimes we guess wrong and the results aren't so great. Then I can think of times people have an opinion and should voice it, sorta like voting for you MP. Are people afraid when they speak up it will be considered stupid? Sure sometimes it might be stupid, reminds me of how professors say, ask questions and when you do ask, they think you are asking a dumb question and you should of learn that in high school, or read it in your text.

We should be clear in alot of instance to take out the guess work in life. Sure, it won't hurt to use your brain at times to figure things out. Patience I guess is involved in the case where the professor has to explain everything and not get frustrated. At work it will be much easier to get along with everyone when your duties is made out straight forward. I think its a fundamental of team building to have good communications. In a team sport situation, everyone should communicate to each other, and have a clear understand what play to execute, so no one has to guess except the other team, and also important for the play to be successful.

There are always exceptions to everything and this matter is no different. But I think its critical to express yourself, and make your thoughts clear of what you want to accomplish with others if any matter involves more than yourself. Make things easy and smooth.

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Ignorance and acceptance

Have you been stereotype because you look a certain way, or just because you are you? I just had a run into some type of racial situation which does not sound as bad as it seems. First I look at Toronto as a multi cultural city where you can run into any type of race. Children being brought up in our education systems interact with people from different background and taught about equality and looking past the color of people's skin.

Now, onto the incident. Basketball. Its a global game, where everyone to anyone can play this game. Location: York University gym. Its a university and people should be educated and open to new ideas and be at least to a certain of social level. Percentage wise, I would say blacks are the dominate race in the worlds top league (NBA) But there are many great players that are not blacks and everyone respects their playing level if they made it to this league. There was this one student and my guess its first year, had little to no respect for players of other races except his own, or who carried themselves as someone who can play at some level above his. Him and this other person wanted to play a game against me and my friend (whom we are both chinese and does not look like basketball superstars) but they retracted their offer because the black student didn't want to play against us cause of our looks/race. So 30 mins later, they challenged us again, but again this black student didn't look too interested and was very arrogant about his skills on the court. But once the game started it ended very quickly for them, as he was proven wrong by our looks and we won our game 11-4 and my team missed a total of 2 shots. He was very displeased and then gave up and showed no interest while his partner wanted a rematch because of the lopsided lost.

This kid shows no respect and had alot of growing up to do in my opinion. Majority of the players in that gym are usually opened minded and up for any challenge and I have never ran into this scenario before. I was very shocked that this actually happened. I really just think deep down he has no respect for players of other skin colors and uses a very general stereo type. Chinese people is not known for great basketball skills. Every country accelerates at their national sport and I have to say basketball is no one of them. This is very upsetting the attitude that this kid has showed. I hope no one gets into a situation where someone can be hurt or abused in any way because of their race.

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Nuit Blanche 2009

Heard about this event last year and didn't find it too attractive to attend, and maybe at that point I wasn't too much into giving up my sleep. This year, with my new photography hobby, things seem to change. I wanted to capture some of the moments and crafts of people giving to this event. Prior from attending I read a few blogs and articles about the event and had some expectation that it was some kind of art festival that is spread out around Toronto. The event starts from 6:55pm to 6:00am and weather all week hasn't been looking too promising. If it was to rain, for sure I wouldn't be attending this event. But the weather was cooperating and Toronto got its Nuit Blanche with a great turn out.

The first place I attended was going to be the best place I visited all night. They had lots of wonderful art work displayed and the concept was crafts on a wall of a loft. Range from paper clippings glued to walls, and murals painted. My girl friend really loved this painting and I agree that was the best thing I saw all night.


As the night progressed from this gallery on, there wasn't really much more paintings or sculptures involved. Most exhibits was using everyday items such as cardboard boxes, cans, pylons, bikes and turned into something called an exhibit. There was long line ups for some exhibits and wasn't worth it because we had other places to explore. A friend of mine was questioning why they wouldn't make this into a multiple day event. The area and items to see is just too great. Some of the food chain and business were open, the ones that were was rewarded with lots of customers and super long line ups. My girlfriend also pointed out that it smelt like New York, and I didn't know why, till I saw all the street vendors and their food on their bbqs going up in the air.
I think aside from the exhibits there should be more participation from the local downtown businesses.

My overall impression is that this is a great event for people to come out just to experience parts of the city which they might not be too familiar. I never seen this many people downtown in my life and especially it was like 3am. For me it got boring as the night was winding down, the temp was dipping, me and my girlfriend was getting tired, and there wasn't too many great items that really interested me to capture as a photographer. I wasn't expecting modern art, where something like a pool of vodka would be something interesting, it caught my attention, but once seeing this pool, there wasn't much and my interest level dropped instantly.

I think I had just too much expectations and including all the other factors the night didn't turn out as great as I planned. I am glad I went out to see what this is all about, and it would be something I wouldn't do unless there was going to be drastic change or some really cool exhibits. It was a good learning experience is all I can say about myself.

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