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Jamila-Khanom Allidina | Last Updated: December 01,2008 8:07:08 pm
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I wasn’t around when Mildred Pierce, Donna Dooher and Kevin Gallagher’s former spot, closed in the summer of 2007. I heard about it, though, mostly in the form of despair – and mostly about those pancakes.
So it’s a relief to find that Chef Dooher has no intention of taking the blueberry pancakes off the menu of her new joint, Mildred's Temple Kitchen. “We would never, never stop serving blueberry pancakes,” she assures me, as we sit chatting at the communal table at the back of the new restaurant in Liberty Village. (Be warned, pancake enthusiasts: Mildred's Temple Kitchen does not take reservations for Sunday brunch.)
 The original restaurant was named after the titular character in the 1945 film starring Joan Crawford (for which she won an Oscar.) Mildred’s Temple Kitchen, however, is different in feel from the original, and (despite the pancakes) the menu looks a little different too. Chef Dooher refers to it as “farmhouse chic.”
Some old favourites remain. A handmade ricotta gnudi with Berkshire bacon, fried sage, and caramelized onion used to be a special at Mildred Pierce, but has been upgraded to the set menu here. Other oldies include the classic Mildred burger with Irish cloth brown cheddar, onion relish and fries; the roast chicken breast biryani in braised onion sauce and basmati pilau; and a roast vegetable puff pastry tart with Stracchino. New dishes include wild Georgian Bay smoked whitefish fritters with pickled spruce tip rémoulade and celery salad; poached squid salad, with cucumber, apple, and yogourt dressing; and a salad of golden beets with saffron, olive oil, Belle sheep's milk cheese and rocket. Entreés include a pan seared Ontario rainbow trout with celery root and butter bean fricassée with sorrel, and house smoked mussels; barbecue eggplant with silken tofu and black bean sauce with wild mushrooms and scallions; and a braised lamb and root vegetables potted pie, with endive and frisée salad, and Banyuls dressing.
Chef Dooher and Mr. Gallagher had been at the original Mildred Pierce for almost 20 years; their lease was up, and they had the option to renew it, but the infrastructure of the building was crumbling, and, Chef Dooher says, “we thought to ourselves: do we stay for another five years and reinvest, or is it time? There’s a time for everything – and it was time for change.” They stayed in the neighborhood, of course, moving not very far from where they started at 99 Sudbury Street. “We could never leave this neighborhood; It’s very special to us. I love the flavour of it; I hope it doesn’t change too much.”
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 AT A GLANCE
Mildred's Temple Kitchen
85 Hanna Avenue, Toronto, ON
416-588-5695
Contemporary
Liberty Village
Venue:
Restaurant
Hours:
Mon. to Thu.: 11:30 - 4:00 5:00 - 10:00 Fri. to Sat.: 11:30 - 4:00 5:00 - 11:00 Sun.: 10:00 - 3:00
Price Range:
$$$ (Within Reach)
Payment:
Visa, MasterCard, Amex
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THE BUZZ
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IN THE AREA
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41 Reader Reviews | A couple weeks ago, I visited Temple Kitchen for a family dinner outing. I have to say I'm a bit shocked to see other commenters saying the prices were too high, as our meal even with 2 bottles of wine was very reasonable for fine dining. I had the trout, which was impeccable and I would also recommend the chicken biryani, always delicious and the rice pilaf is sweet and savoury, the best I've ever had. For dessert, we had the bread pudding, which everyone raved about. The host was welcoming and genuinely interested in how our meal was, and the server was attentive and friendly. The only bad thing I can say is that we were all stuffed by the end, but I took home the rest of my dish and enjoyed it just as much for lunch the next day. Temple Kitchen is an awesome restaurant, and a great place to show off to visitors for sure.
1. Diane Livingston's Review :: January 14, 2010 Diane Livingston's Rating: Stars |
We went here for Summerlicious and food and service was great. It has a nice lounge area as well to have drinks before or after your meal. Would come back again.
2. Pete Quinn's Review :: November 06, 2009 Pete Quinn's Rating: 4 Stars |
Even though we were there for Summerlicious, the staff treated us very nicely. The food was outstanding & it was a great. We have been there for dinner, which was outstanding too, except that it is way too expensive. We will not go there unless someone has an expense account.
3. Frank Krawna's Review :: October 28, 2009 Frank Krawna's Rating: 4 Stars |
ALWAYS A DELIGHT TO DINE AT THE RESTAURANT VERY BRIGHT ROOM STAFF VERY ATTENTIVE FOOD ALWAYS EXCELLENT BRUNCH WAS A DELIGHT IHAD THE BLUEBERRY PANCAKES I WILL GO BACK ANYTIME AND AS A MATTER OF FACT I WILL BE CELEBRATING MY BDAY THERE ON NOV 13
4. GENIE CHAPMAN's Review :: October 19, 2009 GENIE CHAPMAN's Rating: 4 Stars |
Sat fairly quickly, but food took an unusually long time. Food was quite good, and I would say worth the wait.
Overall: as my girlfriend put it: "I would come back, just not when I am starving."
5. Dan Browne's Review :: September 05, 2009 Dan Browne's Rating: 2 Stars |
My husband and I decided to try out this place and had trouble locating the main entrance. Upon waiting for the hostess a server passed by us with a scowl on her face and immediatly the vibe we got was soured. The hostess had us sit down and wait for about 20 minutes for our table even though it looked as though plenty of spaces were available. Upon sitting down at our table it took a really long time for menus to be brought and drink orders to be established. Our server was taking care of another table with a large group of people and we seemd to have been neglected. Finally we got our orders squared away and a single slice of bread was served. When the main course arrived it was already an hour and 45 minutes that we had been there. Although the food was unique and tasty the service was not very good. The staff need to be better trained in customer service and attention to details. When we were leaving the hostess was eating at the desk but still managed a moutfull of food goodbye. Sadly my husband has been up all night with food poisening. We will sadly not be returning to Mildred's Temple Kitchen.
6. Kirkus's Review :: August 20, 2009 Kirkus's Rating: 2 Stars |
I've been in for brunch a few times and it was always a truly lovely experience. The servers are attentive and the food was beyond delicious! The prices are reasonable for this high-end dining experience and I will definitely be back again soon. Certainly my favourite brunch spot in Toronto and an exceptional restaurant on the whole!
7. Carol B's Review :: August 10, 2009 Carol B's Rating: Stars |
Back in mid-June my wife, two friends and I dined at Mildred's Temple Kitchen. During the meal,when clearing the appetizer plates, a server tipped my wife's glass of wine into her lap. Well, accidents do happen, although the evening out was pretty much spoilt, with my wife spending the rest of the meal in a soaking wet, stained (and expensive) dress. The wine was of course replaced, but under the circumstances one might have expected a small token of regret - a personal "Sorry your evening was spoilt" from the manager or maitre d', and possibly some concession on a far-from-modest bill to defray at least the cost of cleaning the dress? No such thing was forthcoming, nor was any attempt made to mitigate a totally ruined dining experience in any way.
In retrospect, not surprisingly, I've no clear recollection of whether the food was good, bad, or indifferent.....but that's not the point here.
I expressed my thoughts later on this incident in an email to the management to apprise them of a customer's not unreasonable expectations in a future situation of that kind, but - in common, apparently, with others who've commented above - received no reply. The impression this conveys is one of, 'too bad - frankly, we don't give a damn!'. Business may be currently sooo good at Mildred's that they can well afford to p#%& people off with their arrogance. But word does eventually get around and we may indeed see a faltering Mildred's Temple Kitchen featured on 'Kitchen Nightmares' with Gordon Ramsay giving the management there a few well-earned home-truths about themselves and their establishment.
8. Martin's Review :: August 09, 2009 Martin's Rating: 2 Stars |
Terrible service , mediocre food, terrible terrible terrible service x10. Old spot much better...will NOT go back .
9. Sid's Review :: July 26, 2009 Sid's Rating: 1 Stars |
Lousy service, food was so-so.
As per Anna's review #8, I too won't be returning because when I wrote them an email outlining the substandard service they did not bother to reply. It is one thing for staff to have a bad day, it is another thing entirely when they just do not care.
If you want a great Brunch head over to the east side at Globe Bistro.
10. O's Review's Review :: July 10, 2009 O's Review's Rating: 1 Stars |
It was our wedding day. We decided to go to this restaurant for a small family and friends reception. We ordered 2 bottles of sparkling wine. There were 10 of us. We ordered 2 more bottles. The waiter informed us that the wine wasn't cold. Fine, We waited and then were served warm wine. My partner and I have been in the industry for a long time. Now this was a major fux pa. You do not serve sparkling wine warm. The waiter was inexperienced and obviously there wasn't a manager to make a decesion for Him. That set the tone for the rest of the night. We were totally unimpressed since booked two weeks in advance. The water and wine were not pour to the guest. At some point I got off the table and started pouring beverages. Even though there were about five or six server on the other side of the room just chatting away at their stations. The restaurant was not busy for a Friday night, maybe a sign of things to come. The food was very average at best. Adding insult to injury the waiter made a sarcastic comment when we were leaving. "Hope the service was up to your standards." which I found offensive. My standards are good service for my money. I bit my tongue knowing I would be writing about this. To the mangement stop hiring people on their looks. There are plenty of experienced, seasoned servers out there. Great room though. The memories are bad I will never recommend this restaurant to anyone.
11. Israel Sanchez's Review :: June 18, 2009 Israel Sanchez's Rating: 1 Stars |
These blueberry pancakes are the best I've ever ever had. They make me crazy.
12. Tina T's Review :: June 15, 2009 Tina T's Rating: 4 Stars |
Extremely expensive!
13. Gary Hean's Review :: May 26, 2009 Gary Hean's Rating: 2 Stars |
Fantastic!! I am from Paris and loved this place. Toronto has finally a gem. I went back for brunch and it was perfect! Ta Chatte
14. Artno's Review :: May 06, 2009 Artno's Rating: 4 Stars |
Went there for lunch on Saturday last week. Ordered their lunch specials. My girlfriend's meal was heavily buttered chicken and cheese sandwich which comes with popcorn salad with liquefied butter dressing. My meal consists of heavily buttered slice of breads, excessively buttered scrambled eggs mushroom and regular salad with liquefied butter dressing. It seems they really like to use A LOT of BUTTER on everything, even salad dressing (gross us out!). Each meals is $14. Service is okay. Oh, other tables with the same orders got breads, but we didn't. Not big deal. However, $14 for overly buttered meal is just ridiculous. Not going back there for sure.
15. Kevin's Review :: April 10, 2009 Kevin's Rating: 1 Stars |
Still miss the original restaurant! Second time visiting Temple Kitchen. The service can't be compared with the Mildred Pierce. I did have a lovely warm mushroom salad appetizer. The braised lamb vegetable pie was fair. The rocket salad that accompanied it was too salty. Sid brussel sprouts were lovely. My partner ordered sparkling water, I tried to tell him about how the water (flat/sparkling) is all in house now and he commented that it's the worst carbonated water to go with a meal. To end the evening, the profiteroles did it's job. We also requested a scoop of roasted banana ice cream in lieue of the chocolate which was fantastic. The service was rather slow and not as attentive as it used to be.
16. Daphne's Review :: April 03, 2009 Daphne's Rating: 2 Stars |
Food: good. Service: bad. There is no excuse for apathetic service. Especially when you have to wait.
17. Michael's Review :: March 31, 2009 Michael's Rating: 1 Stars |
I was reading my new Canadian House and Home magazine, (April 2009) while waiting for my sister to finish up at West Elm. What do I spy with my little eye a story about Mildred's Temple Kitchen, located in Liberty Village, which was where we were.
Where is it located? my sister asked the girl who worked there. RIGHT there she pointed, and off we dashed.
The timing was perfect, past the dinner hour, but to early to call it a night. The hostess was very nice and accomodating. We chose to sit at the bar right in the corner looking down into the vastness of the other patrons, where we could see all the goings on. It was like a classy dinner theatre experience. Diners such as us were the stars of the show.
Apart from the waitress taking our appetizers to the wrong 'table', in this case, stools, the food was very good. The kitchen worked like a well-oiled machine, and the chef even came over to speak to us for a moment or two.
I especially loved when the night came the lights overhead twinkled and sparkled like little stars.
My sister and I left MTK a wee bit poorer, but our spirits were high and our bellies were full and content!
Can't wait to go back.
18. Anna's Review :: March 31, 2009 Anna's Rating: 3 Stars |
Well, it is official. I will never go back to Mildred Temple Kitchen.
And it is not because the waitress forgot my coffee. It is not because the food came entirely too fast and had the taste and consistency of food that was kept under a heating lamp. It also is not because the waitress gave my friend a wry look when he asked her to take back the lukewarm brunch and heat it up. I admit the forgotten scones were irritating, especially since the waitress brought the bill before we had a chance to remind her about the scones. No worries though, she quickly brought the scones and made sure to add it all to our bill. All this did happen two weeks ago at brunch, however the extraordinarily bad service is not the reason I will never go back.
I will never return the Mildred Temple Kitchen because when I wrote them an email outlining the substandard service they did not bother to reply. It is one thing for staff to have a bad day, it is another thing entirely when they just do not care.
19. Linda's Review :: March 20, 2009 Linda's Rating: 1 Stars |
Well, it’s official. I will never go back to Mildred Temple Kitchen.
And it’s not because the waitress forgot my coffee. It’s not because the food came entirely too fast and had the taste and consistency of food that was kept under a heating lamp. It also isn’t because the waitress gave my friend a wry look when he asked her to take back the lukewarm brunch and heat it up. I admit the forgotten scones were irritating, especially since the waitress brought the bill before we had a chance to remind her about the scones. No worries though, she quickly brought the scones and made sure to add it all to our bill. All this did happen at brunch, however the extraordinarily bad service is not the reason I will never go back.
I will never return the Mildred Temple Kitchen because when I wrote them an email outlining the substandard service they did not bother to reply. It is one thing for staff to have a bad day, it is another thing entirely when they just don’t care.
Keep your blueberry pancakes Mildred. I will take my business to one of the many brunch establishments in the area. Perhaps somewhere else I can ensure my coffee will be refilled.
20. Linda's Review :: March 20, 2009 Linda's Rating: 1 Stars |
Hands down the best blueberry pancakes I've ever had.
21. Tracey Morgan's Review :: March 10, 2009 Tracey Morgan's Rating: 4 Stars |
I wish there was a 0 or a negative Star rating in the drop-down because that is exactly what Mildred's would get from me.
Maybe the restaurant is doing unbelievably well even in these economic times that they don't need or want the business from everyone. I cannot even comment on their food because I never tasted it and even if I did then no matter how good the food would be, it wouldn't make up for the negative first impression the restaurant staff makes on you.
A group of us from different parts of GTA (some of us drove for over an hour) got together for a Sunday Brunch recently. We had heard so much about the place and were super-excited but the excitement died off very fast. The place was extremely cold not just temperature wise but service wise as well.
They have a ridiculous seating policy and extremely snooty/bitchy hostesses one of which was the manager. We were apalled at the lack of respect, politeness, customer service at this place inspite of our patience. They apparently don't seat you unless all of your party is present.....fine, that must be there policy but they neither state that on their website nor inform you about it on the phone i.e. if they even bother to pick up their phone and if by chance they do answer then god forbid if they even answer your queries with patience. Its easy to imagine what expression the person on the other end of the phone line has while they impatiently answer your call. In person, their impatience echoes with their phone demeanor.
They are like a factory conveyor belt that has to keep going. They are in such a rush to just keep filling the seats in their restaurant that they don't really care about the people who will fill those seats. Even if you are missing 2 people from your group of 7, they will not seat you. They cannot add two chairs to your table even though you have now been waiting for 2hrs. Nor will they give you a table with 2 extra chairs despite the fact that your 2 people are on their way trying hard to find the place since it is hard to find. They won't seat the 5 people present because they want the business of all the 7 people at the same time.....unbelievable. It's not like we are lying to get a table, afterall, what would we accomplish by hogging two empty chairs.
Then they have the nerve to give you a ridiculous argument that does not make sense at all. If your 2 people arrived late and you are done eating earlier, then you will be taking up those valuable 5 seats that other guests can use while you chat with your 2 friends who were late and are still dining. So we ask.....What if all 7 were there but ate slowly and just sat in those 7 seats chatting for 3hrs...then what? Well, the answer is "that is different"....how the heck is that different? What a ridiculous explanation/justification to support a crazy seating policy.
Finally, all 7 of us are there and we tell them that we are leaving and in return the manager just snobbishly says "Ok, I will cancel your table then".....excuse me, did we even have a damn table in the first place? If we did, then how come 5 out of the 7 of us were not seated.
A restaurant's product is it's food but it's basic purpose and duty is to provide good customer service because that is how it will attract business but then again like I said before maybe Mildred's does not need the business from everyone. I am a customer and I demand respect and good customer service and I don't think it is too much to ask for afterall isn't that the duty of a restaurant....why else would a person go to a restaurant on a freezing cold day after either being on the subway or driving for over an hour when they can cook or order in? I don't care how good the food is claimed to be, if the service is horrible then that place is not worth my time.
Maybe my friends and I do not fall in the clientele category that Mildred is catering to but I say Mildred's Temple is NOT a temple worth my worship....!!!!!
22. MilDREAD's Review :: March 03, 2009 MilDREAD's Rating: 1 Stars |
If I could give a zero star rating, I would!
Mildred's Temple Kitchen is one restaurant I will not dine at no matter how good people claim the food to be.
They have a very stringent seating policy (they won't seat you unless all of the party has arrived) and won't take reservations. We ended up waiting for 2 hours and then headed to Butler's Pantry.
If interested, visit my blog for the full review.
http://foodhogger.wordpress.com/2009/02/25/mildreds-temple-kitchen/
23. Foodhogger's Review :: February 27, 2009 Foodhogger's Rating: 1 Stars |
I guarantee that in Toronto, there's no fine-dining spot with the kind of cuisine they serve at this high-end eatery, whose distinctive menu revolves around indigenous local ingredients done up with traditional techniques — a sort of haute Native American, if you will.
24. Christie Pierson's Review :: February 20, 2009 Christie Pierson's Rating: 4 Stars |
Our server was fabulous. He was very attentive and did everything just right. The food was good, but not wow. There was a decent wine list, but it's really about the gorgeous room.
25. Tracey Horjeinson's Review :: February 12, 2009 Tracey Horjeinson's Rating: 3 Stars |
Good but expensive. Rich, melt-on-your-tongue pan seared Ontario rainbow trout it a costly dinner, but it'll also blow your mind.
26. Jamie Burak's Review :: February 02, 2009 Jamie Burak's Rating: 4 Stars |
If you want to impress a date with good service and good food this is the place to take him or her!! Trust me on this one.
27. Caroline Torem Craig's Review :: January 19, 2009 Caroline Torem Craig's Rating: 4 Stars |
Been here for brunch several times now, food is great. Service is GOOD not outstanding. I do however, have one grievance: if you want to book the big table up top for parties of 12 or more at brunch you are forced to to have a prix fixe. Fine right? Except that they overcharge you for the privilege of a bigger table. When I asked for the rationale for this the response was: "well it has to be worth our while". What? Anyway, I just found it to be tacky, not to mention gouge-y. Why should you pay more for the exact same menu item just because you are sitting at a bigger table with more guests? Call me crazy but I think that's just plain bulls*#*. I'll take my large parties elsewhere.
28. Louise's Review :: January 12, 2009 Louise's Rating: 3 Stars |
I've been twice now that most of the finishing touches are in the space looks much more tied together and inviting. The food is on par if not better than Sudbury Street. Service is great and the chef really makes an effort meet the customers. It feels good to have Donna, Kevin, Jane and Mildred back. Glad to see Rory and Mave as well.
Nothing more urban chick than watching the Go blast by with a whirling dervish of snow while enjoying a glass of Pinot.
29. Mike's Review :: January 09, 2009 Mike's Rating: 4 Stars |
Mmm...good stuff. Don't go there too hungry on Sunday - expect a REALLY long wait for lunch. Good strong, coffee. Good light lunches and decadent sweet dishes.
30. Geri Hannockson's Review :: January 05, 2009 Geri Hannockson's Rating: 3 Stars |
Atmosphere was cold, staff were attentive, food was OK. I missed the old place.
31. RON's Review :: January 01, 2009 RON's Rating: 2 Stars |
Mildred's Temple Kitchen did not disappoint. The ambiance was nice though I would have preferred a better table that wasn't right in the middle of the restaurant (I'm a corner person myself). Walking in, it doesn't scream "chain" nor does it even remotely resemble an Outback (thank God) which is in the same corporate family. We had the Mildred tasting menu! Very nice... Staff helped with the pick, and the service was great. I would definitely go back.
32. Gail Somerset's Review :: December 29, 2008 Gail Somerset's Rating: 4 Stars |
Mildred's Temple Kitchen provides an absolutely perfect dinning experience. Thank God for MasterCard.
33. Keri Hutcheson's Review :: December 26, 2008 Keri Hutcheson's Rating: 3 Stars |
Sure it's pricey, but I've never been to a place that treats its customers as well. The chef comes out and introduces you to the food you're about to eat, providing a much appreciated context that only enhances the fantastic flavors.
If you're looking for a night-to-remember style dinner, I don't think you could do much better.
34. Jake Cluney's Review :: December 24, 2008 Jake Cluney's Rating: 4 Stars |
A simply amazing meal. The menu is simplified, and the wine pairings were fairly international, and varied from very good to spectacular for my taste. The food was consistently spectacular. This is an experience, not just a meal. Extremely attentive service, relaxed and elegant atmosphere and above all the food and wine is unreal. Highly recommended if you can swing the $.
35. Katherine Evans's Review :: December 22, 2008 Katherine Evans's Rating: 4 Stars |
Servers were friendly but some of them need to get more trainning.
Food was good except for my breadpudding, the dish was warm so does sauce but not the breadpudding...... it was cold ! I love Chef Dooher and going back this weekend for brunch!
36. Olivia's Review :: December 10, 2008 Olivia's Rating: 3 Stars |
Already been back since the opening...can't get enough of this place. The space is gorgeous...open concept and v.cool looking but with all of the warmth and character of Mildred's former spot. Lots of unexpected touches that make you smile. The service and food exceeded all of my expectations...especially the local beet salad and the lentil stew with pakoras. I am a worshipper of this Temple!
37. Susan's Review :: December 09, 2008 Susan's Rating: 4 Stars |
As a huge fan of Donna Dooher this place is my mecca. The staffers are incredibly friendly and helpful, there's always tons of hipster type people around, and the cocktail selection is out of this world!
38. Dwayne Teth's Review :: December 09, 2008 Dwayne Teth's Rating: 4 Stars |
Quite possibly the best meal I've ever had. Mind you it was a media lunch. It was an experience. The staff did more than I could have imagined. They thought of EVERYTHING. Yes, it was a long dinner, but it was exquisite.
39. Erin T.'s Review :: December 02, 2008 Erin T.'s Rating: 4 Stars |
Very impressive dining experience. You can not possibly think of any way to improve this restaurant. Food, wine, ambiance all A+.
The legend is true - Donna Dooher is a true trooper.
40. Gregg Meyster's Review :: December 02, 2008 Gregg Meyster's Rating: 4 Stars |
First of all, it was difficult to find the new location, no joke. When we finally did, we walked into a cavernous cafeteria-like atmosphere - nothing of the warm, funky decor found in the original “Mildred Pierce” could be seen. “Temple Kitchen” is just another ultra-modern styled space, easily found all over Toronto. What set “Mildred Pierce” apart was great food in an intimate and inviting environment. Throughout lunch, we were subjected to distracting thumping noises from the fitness centre above us. The menu features an unappetizing winter lunch selection, the only ‘comfort food’ being the Mildred Hamburger. The bill for two hamburgers, two glasses of Ontario wine, and some sparkling water was a whopping $70 with tip, far too pricey for the average office worker! Perhaps Donna is going after a different client base... The brunch menu has been carried forward from the original restaurant, however, the atmosphere will have to improve significantly for us to return to sample it. The one and only highlight was the reverse osmosis water filtration system, which provides unlimited still or sparkling water at $2.00 per person. With some of the profits going to the David Suzuki Foundation, this is a good marketing tool that should have appeared on the menu. As big fans of the former restaurant, we’d like to request that she incorporate some of the charm found in the original restaurant, and add more comfort food to the menu!”
41. Ros And Carol's Review :: December 02, 2008 Ros And Carol's Rating: 1 Stars |
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