Now that the holidays are over, I am looking forward to my diet returning to a somewhat normal schedule, also known as trying to find a balance of healthy eating and indulging myself. The holiday season comes with numerous activities to attend – work parties, dinners, festive events and more. I didn’t mind it this season, since it gave me the opportunity to visit some spots I haven’t been in a while, one of them being a local favourite, the Turning Point Restaurant!
This is another local spot that has weaved it’s way into my life, and it started very early on. One of my earliest memories that I can remember, when I was probably around 4 or 5 years old, is from when it was actually in its first location on the corner. I don’t have many details from this memory, all I can remember is being there with my mom and my Auntie Cheryl for dinner and the french fries, big shocker there. A couple of years later, we had started a tradition of going there, in their new location, for lunch following the Remembrance Day parade. Us kids always looked forward to it!
Moving on to my high school years, I remember they used to occasionally bring pizzas for hot lunch where you could buy it by the slice. They had a Chicken Caesar pizza that we all went CRAZY for. We would race to the foods room to get a slice before it sold out. I’m sure there were days we looked like a stampede of wild animals! It was also the spot for reunions with high school friends to catch up post graduation over some drinks and cheesecake.
While the Turning Point is well known for its pizza and pasta, they also offer a wide variety of choices. My personal favourite at the moment is their Thai Green Curry Rice Bowl – spinach and sauteed vegetables in a coconut thai green curry sauce served on coconut rice. I’ve also been known to order the chicken caesar wrap or the chicken souvlaki wrap. This is partly so that I can order french fries on the side.
Now, we aren’t talking regular french fries, we’re talking parmesan truffle fries. I fell in love with these fries from the first time I tasted them. They’re the shoestring style, coated in parmesan and truffle oil, which is perfectly paired with their roasted garlic aioli dip. While these two elements would be good by themselves, they really go well together! Whenever I go there for a meal, I try to make sure somebody I’m dining with orders the truffle fries so I can have some bites. Thank goodness I come from a family that likes to share!
I know most people don’t have room for dessert after eating a full meal, but you’ll want to leave some room when eating here. Their real piece de resistance is their strawberry cheesecake. I think everyone that has ever tasted it has been impressed by it! It’s made in-house and it has a no bake, light and fluffy cheesecake filling with a classic graham cracker crust, which is then topped with a strawberry sauce and whipped cream. It’s sweet, but not too sweet, and can easily be shared or eaten by yourself (I get it, we’ve all been there).
Rumour has it that this is an old family recipe, passed down through generations. I hope it never changes, I like it just as it is!
Fun fact – you can take it to go! On a couple of different occasions, whether it was a sudden craving or we had company visiting and we were talking up this famous cheesecake, I would call it in. I remember feeling sheepish at first, calling them up for 5+ slices of cheesecake to go, just cheesecake. So if you’re ever craving cheesecake one night, know you can order it and take it to go to enjoy at home!
Be sure to check out their daily specials, for both take out and dine-in, like their takeout two pastas and garlic bread on Tuesday’s or their Thursday for their dine-in steak sandwich! Stay up to date by following their social accounts to know what specials they’re offering.
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