A lovely way to spend an evening... Fraser Cafe (Ottawa)

I love food. Yes my culinary adventurers you have heard it many times throughout my blog posts how much my heart sores when kitchen aroma's are unleashed, my appreciation for simple yet flavourful food, the glee I feel when I see colourful plates presented and of course my love affair with the idea of eating, buying and supporting local.

This weekend I had a treat. A wonderful friend introduced me to Frasercafe in Ottawa. As we stepped through the front doors into the simplistic, warm, open-kitchened restaurant I felt at ease and very much at home. I knew right away that this restaurant was built with love.  Now laugh as you may because I know I use this word "love" quite a bit. Please understand that when I say built with love I mean: Attention to detail, Passion for Food, Understanding of their Clientel, Fantastic service, Wine/beverage/spirit appreciation, and overall the atmosphere screamed "We love what we do"

About Fraser Cafe"Our simple menu allows for flexibility as well as inspiration, while using an appropriate technique for the preparation of each ingredient. It is our aim to source our products locally and to use them in their respective season.We are hoping our open kitchen provides an opportunity for you to engage the chefs in your experience and to ask any questions on our products."

Ross and Simon Fraser (Yes! Opened by two brothers.. Now can you feel the love?)

So here's the deal. . I am going start at the ending because tonight I sat dreaming of their dessert for a good half hour before I started writing this blog. Frasercafe makes their own ice cream. Yup that is correct. Not just one or two flavours... they had at least five different choices of in house ice creams when I was there. I choose Rocky Road being a childhood favorite and almost wish I hadn't. As tonight I say tearfully looking at my own sub par RockyRoad. It just didn't compare. Now I will have to fly back for another scoop.

For both our main courses we went with the Chef's Creation or Choice. This I actually hadn't seen before on a menu. As explained by our lovely server this meant that we would be presented with a dish created off hand by the chef in the kitchen. If we both choose this option we would be given two completely different meals that would also completely vary from any of the options described on the menu. Now for any of you who are indecisive,  how perfect does this sound? Or for an adventurer, and simply in my case someone who loves to read menu's and recipes but in my dinning experiences would much rather be surprised.  

Perfection. That is all I can say about that as I feel if I tried to truly describe the intricate flavours on the plate that I would not get them right, and the last thing I want to do is wrongly describe the artistic creation and presentation of the food.

First Course: Daily soup with a lovely take on your traditional butternut squash. This soup was luxurious to eat. Smooth with the perfect balance of natural sweetness from the root vegetable. I stole the soup from my dinning partner and did not give it back.

 

 To start: Oysters - PEI Malpeque with horseradish, lemon and hot sauce. 

Fresh Bread and Butter

Simple, Delicious, Beautiful

Last but not least I have to say that one aspect of their table decorum really stuck out to me. On each table there is a petit pepper grinder and a lovely present of crushed sea salt. This truly impressed as I am a big believe of to each their own. Do I re-salt at restaurants? No, but some do and I feel as though this was a really nice unpretentious way of saying hey, our food is fantastic, beautifully seasoned,  but... if you feel the need to add a bit, do so. A thoughtful offering.

Next time you are in or even close to Ottawa treat yourself to a memorable meal and evening. Go directly to Frasercafe. Say hi to the owners, sit at the welcoming bar, talk with the cheerful attentive servers and fall in love with it all. I did.

Eat, drink and enjoy!

Jumpin at the Woodside.....Morris East

There are few mornings that I wake up and truly need to be inspired to get into the kitchen and create. Yesterday just happen to be a morning where I was looking for some good food to cure the rumble in my belly and add that culinary zest back into my life. So for Brunch to Morris East I went.

Morris East describes themselves as a "creative neighborhood restaurant in downtown Halifax" They pride themselves on sourcing artisanel, seasonal products and support local farmers. I was actually inspired to eat at Morris East after having a conversation with a local organic farmer about just how awesome they are! Farmers promoting restaurants promoting farmers... Too cool.

Morris East  makes traditional thin crust pizza, with an accompaniment of daily wood fire mains;having imported a beautiful wood-fire oven from Italy (Just like Nonna used). This menu transcends into brunch and we are offered a selection of 9 pizza's to choose from and 9 brunch plates.

 From the moment my friend and I step in to the restaurant my spirit was lifted and inspiration for food began to ignite once more. The restaurant is a beauty. Clean simple lines, high ceilings, comfortable tables and warm friendly servers who greeted us with a smile and a laugh.  We jumped right in starting off with a couple of cocktails to ease us further into our morning of glee. 

    Bee’s Knees

rittenhouse rye (1oz), evan williams
honey reserve bourbon (0.5oz),
ns wildflower honey, strawberry purée

A fresh pick-me up! I love the inhouse strawberry puree. A perfect calmer for the bourbon. Had it not of been Saturday morning I would have enjoyed a few more of these. My friend had a Tideview Raspberry Cider. Our server gladly explained that these ciders are made from all local Nova Scotian grown fruits.

First Course: was the scrumptious Breakfast Wrap stuffed with chantrelle mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, arugula and dijon aioli. 

Now don't let my picture fool you (my camera and I don't always get along) This wrap was the best breakfast wrap I have ever had. The eggs were cooked perfectly still light and fluffy, the wrap itself made in house served warm and fresh. The chantrelle's are still dancing on my tongue. Such flavour, and believe you me they packed it full.

Their breakfast wrap changes weekly, and I'm hoping the next time this special comes on they will call me so I can run down and experience the flavour combination for a second time.

Second Course:  Big Breakfast wood-fired pizza - If you have ever questioned having a fried egg on your pizza, head down to Morris East and let them shed some light onto any doubts you may have. The crust was light and crisp (definitely reminded me of thin crust napolitana pizza dough) I tried to poke my head into their kitchen on the way to the bathroom secretly hoping to see some old italians throwing dough. The toppings were plentiful and consisted of : Fresh tomato sauce, mozzarella, spinach, portobello mushroom, housemade bacon, greens and a perfectly cooked still runny sunnyside up fried egg. Bellisima.  This can also be accompanied by in house made chilli oil which was offered to us very politely before the pizza hit the table.

Last but not least the dessert portion of our meal.

Homemade French Toast. Our server recommended this right off the bat so we knew it was right to save it for last.  Picture this.... Light as air brioche french toast. A traditional French bread who's high egg and butter content give it a very tender texture and beautiful colour. This bread is perfect for french toast, and in turn the french toast was palate pleasing and oh so satisfying. Served with a trio of whip cream, maple syrup and blackberry coulis twas the perfect ending to a very satisfying brunch experience.

Yesterday Morris East set the tune for a great day. Fresh ingredients fly off the plates and create flavours I'm already craving again.The owner Jennie is lovely and came to our table with a huge smile and personal introduction. In any City I live in I seek to find a spot like this. Creative food, servers that appreciate the restaurants just as much as the patrons, easy atmosphere, appreciation for local, and an emphasis on drink pairing.

Yesterday I was insipired.

Eat, Drink and Enjoy!

On a wonderful day like today.... Estia

Brunch brunch brunch brunch brunch. Just saying the word has a smile creeping onto my face. I love brunch. A time to be with friends, catch up on gossip from the previous evening, talk through weekly news, debate, enjoy the hair of the dog and eat yummy egg based foods. 

This morning I had the company of 2 girl friends for brunch. We met and trekked downtown Halifax to Estia.  This restaurant brings the flavours of Greece to life in their high ceiling, darkwood inspired dining room. The space is comfortable, not pretentious and each table offers clientele enough space to enjoy their meal while not feeling on top of the people next to them. (I also have a thing for high ceilings and dark wood bars)

The menu, above is the perfect size. Something for everyone. We started off with a Mimosa and Bellini.  Sure to bring a hop, skip and jump into our mornings. The Bellini was lovely and definitely alcoholic. Made with fresh peaches, peach schnapps, Jost Prost, and cranberry juice.  The mimosa straight up sparkling Jost Prost and orange juice (can't go wrong with an ol' fav) I also appreciate that they are using Nova Scotian wines =) High five to supporting local producers.

While the server gave us time to catch up and slowly pick our choice meals he answered questions, offered idea's of his favorite indulgences and was overall pleasant. After overhearing us talk about a few different restaurants he even offered tips on where else to eat in Halifax. Supper nice and cross-promoting which I always like to see in the industry. (Why can't we all be friends?)

The choices were made: 

I had... Vegetarian Breakfast:

2 Eggs over easy (any style)

Fried Haloumi Cheese

Fruit Salad

Grilled Tomatoes

Whole Wheat Toast

As far as traditional breakfast go I was very pleased... Love the fried cheese and grilled tomatoes. Yum yum yum.

Then there was the Grecian Eggs Florentine with Feta Cheese Sauce. Sooo good and the eggs were perfectly cooked.

This came with Home Fries, and Fruit Salad. I would definitely go back for this. I was eating off my friends plate the entire time. I am lucky that she likes to share.

Last but not least at all the Loukaniko Omelette

Greek Sausage (mild with a bit of heat) 

Feta Cheese

Grilled Tomatoes

Fruit Salad

The server was very patient and let us substitute homefries for fruit and toast. Understanding that some people were staying away from gluten at the table. He also checked up on us more than once just to make sure we were smiling and enjoying the many flavours on the table.

A wonderful way to head into a sunny afternoon. I'll be back to Estia to try their lunch and dinner. This has left a taste in my mouth craving more Grecian delights.

Eat, drink and enjoy...

I love coffee...Two If By Sea

There is something I love more than most things in the world. It is part of my daily routine and is my pick me up when I'm feeling a little sluggish.

Coffee. My big warm hug every morning!

I am a coffee snob. I will admit this (part 1 of the 10 step process right?) I usually drink a coffee first thing in the morning, and then sometimes treat myself to another later in the day.

Double Americano, Americano Misto, Cappucino, Latte, Espresso, Macchiato, or just plain ol' cup of Joe are a few fav's that i've been stuck to for years.  Being a coffee snob is great. I am always on the hunt for a new place to sip, smell and savor coffee. The other day I did just that and hallelujah did I ever find one. 

Two If By See Cafe in Dartmouth Nova Scotia.

 A few days ago I had a wonderful morning adventure.  I crossed a bridge, met my cousin, was taken to her lovely neighborhood haunt and drank the best double Americano I have had since moving back to Nova Scotia.

Two If By Sea Cafe, doesn't just produce great coffee. They have pride in their product. The barista's take care in ordering specialty fair trade and organic beans from around the world and buy from 49th Parrallel in B.C. 49th Parrallel isn't just another roaster; they source the worlds finest coffee beans, roast them fresh and are committed to selling the highest quality of bean. 

I like that Two If By Sea Cafe, also has variety in drinks. For all you tea lovers a selection of fine loose leaf tea's and cold drinks await you so don't dismay.

Up to now I've told you half the story of why Two If By Sea Cafe stole my heart. This is the other half:

 They make the most < YUMMY < Crunchy on the outside buttery on the inside croissants I have ever tasted. I literally traveled back to the country side of Lyon for a moment while biting into my delicious home made Pain au Chocolat. As you can see from the photo, the size of the croissant is almost equal to my cousins head (and that is after I scarfed half of it) 

I also purchased and took home a plain croissant, which was one of the smartest decisions I have ever made. Later when I was hungry it came in handy...

Homemade pastrami (Thank you Chef Thomas), avocado, grainy Dijon, tomato, arugula on a Two If By Sea Cafe croissant. Sooooo satisfying.

Two If By Sea is welcoming, bustling and contagious. I say that because I woke up the next day with a hankering to run the 20 km to the cafe in order to score another fine cup of love and almond croissant which i have yet to try but seriously dream about. (I didn't...=( 20km at 6am is a bit of an oversight) 

The owners of the cafe are fun loving, innovative and friendly. I had the opportunity to meet them earlier in the week. It is refreshing to meet young, energetic people who love what they do, and in turn have their employees smiling and their customers treated like family.

Eat, drink and enjoy,

Sunshine, lollipops and rainbows.... DeeDee's

Here is a nice tale and restaurant profile to go with your delicious Saturday evening.

Yesterday, I was sitting writing recipes and prepping a bit of food for a catering job. It was a beautiful day out and I was being a bit of a grump. In order to turn my unnecessary frown upside down I decided to cheer myself up and go get an ice cream. I am incredibly fortunate because I have wonderful neighborhood ice cream shop just down the street...so my smile wasn't far away. 

Dee Dee's is a local small business with three locations and they make ice cream. They boast that "The ice cream is made with fresh milk, cream, raw organic sugar and only the highest quality extract"  The same with their spirit lifting sorbets that are dairy free and open for business to anyone lactose free.

This ice cream is melt in your mouth, creamy, and delicious.  Picture a basket filled with anything that makes you smile. Then turn that basket into an ice cream and you have Dee Dee's. Not to mention the whole shop comes in this beautifully made package that just reminds you of carefree days in the sun. 

Dee Dee's also sells homemade burrito's that are the size of half a leg and cost very little (between $6-9). They have a few different options ranging from vegetarian to chicken or beef. Again they use all locally sourced ingredients to fill the burrito as well as Nova Scotian home grown organic lettuce (Whoot  Whoot to them..) Lettuce that tastes like lettuce is hard to find these days. They look awesome. I have yet to try one but will be sure to the next time I am looking for a meal and dessert. I can say that I did see a few hungry customers walk out beaming holding their large burrito which is a good indication that it's worth the try. 

The staff were friendly, fast and enthusiastic about the ice cream and their favorites. They even asked the customers while we were in line if we had any song requests from their ipod. So cute. I snagged a photo of them to share with you!! 

I left Dee Dee's with a hop in my step and in my hand a homemade waffle cone with a scoop of coffee icecream. Fully rejuvenated for the rest of the day. Hurrah. 

Eat, drink and enjoy!!

The Magical Mystery Tour...

Tis the middle of the week my friends.  I hope you are well fed and happy this evening.

Having recently moved home I have been checking in with ol' chef friends.  It is always fun to sit and reminisce about  glutness meals, failed menu's, food idea's, playful memories and catching up on lost time in the kitchen with each other.

A good friend of mine here in Halifax Chef Thomas surprised me the other night with a marvelous 6 course meal offer. This meal offer came from the guilt of missing my business launch because of getting a little too "happy" aka plastered the night before at his friends bachelor party.  Now I'm not one to ever turn down the offer of a tasting menu especially when I know it comes from the heart and a place of wanting to strike a deal. I  fully appreciated the fact that this was his peace offering and so in tow my lovely mother and I headed down to a meal made by a food loving, respected chef.

I would now like to share the glory of this meal with you. I call this the Magical Mystery Tour because walking into a tasting menu, you never know what could be thrown at you!!!  I walked out with my mom saying she had been taken to the heavens, the moon and back. If that doesn't describe magic in a meal I don't know what does. 

 Homemade Biscuits to start. This was a happy reminder that we are in the east coast.

Amuse Bouche (This is a small 2-3 bite starter that is supposed to awaken your palate before the meal, in english amuse your mouth... tickle your tastebuds...) And after this mine had practically jumped out of my mouth.

Sesame, pickled red cabbage slaw with due of mussels

 - Crisp, Elegant,Balanced

 First Course: Let me preface this with, if I had to write a menu for my last meal by golly would this ever be on it, for at least 3 different courses. SO GOOD!.

Truffle, Potato Soup with Salt Cod Fritter and Seared Fois Gras (Chervil Garnish) - Rich, Simple, Love in a bowl

2nd Course:

 Saffron Lobster Ravioli and Dragons Breath Cheese (made here in N.S.) Sauteed Asparagus, Shaved Fennel, Lemon, Tarragon and whole butter - Pungent, Flavourful, Filling

Thinking about this course I may or may not be drooling right now. 

Palate Cleanser: This is to clear the palate and get it ready for the next course. If you read again the above dishes you can see that they were fatty, a little heavier and did have a merriment of flavours between the 1st and 2nd course. Now came the time to clear away the old tastes and bring in the new. 

Mango and Raspberry Sorbet. Simply delightful in every way.

Now drum role please..... The Main:

Dried Garlic Crusted Pork Tenderloin with Fig Spread and Veal Reduction, Roast Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts - Aromatic, Tender, To Die For!

I wish I could share with you the amazing smell that wafted through the dining room as this plate was brought to our table. If I could I would bottle it and then wear it as perfume. (I would smell like the loveliest roasted garlic in the world)

Last but not in the very bit least..... Dessert:

Deepfried Apple Pie, Salted Caramel, Peanut Brittle and Cream Cheese Ice cream

Deepfried Blueberry Pie, Salted Caramel, Peanut Brittle and Banana Ice Cream

This was around the point where my mom proclaimed that she had indeed been to the heavens, the moon and back! 

Thank you Chef Thomas my friend, for an amazing meal, for taking my mom and I into your world of flavour creation and food magic. 

Eat, drink and enjoy!

Hey Hey We're The Monkeys... The Wooden Monkey

 I love cooking, and serving wack loads of people food and drink. However, on the flip side I love eating other peoples kitchen creations.  In fact one of my favorite pastimes is enjoying food and drink in the company of good friends.

Saturday night presented such an evening. Two of my fun loving girlfriends called me up and offered to take me to dinner. This offer was ridiculously sweet for two reasons:

a) I just moved back to my home province Halifax N.S., and am starting my own catering/culinary class business. This endeavor is eating up most of my current funds at the moment.(Who knew they didn't print business cards for free.... or that you can't barter your way into kitchen space by offering the landlord cookies... silly really)

b) This blog is supposed take readers on an adventure of not just my culinary endeavors but the eateries around town.

So, I jumped at the occasion with a promise to return the favor and to cook dinner for them on a day of their choosing.

- The Wooden Monkey -  Nestled in the heart of downtown Halifax The Wooden Monkey is a two story restaurant that strikes the perfect balance between country cottage inn and Dublin pub. The lower level of the restaurant has large inviting windows that offer a beautiful l view of downtown Halifax. I enjoy natural light and couldn't help but notice how before dusk they provided a perfect pairing to the funky and inviting hand crafted wood tables (how fitting)  

 We were seated right away. In a split second our server was beside us with a charmed greeting, a warm smile and the questions of libation (much appreciated) I had a dirty gin martini, and they vodka. The martini's were chilled, and shaken to perfection. The bartender even asked the server to check on us a second time making sure we were satisfied with the level of dirt (olive juice) Such care. 

The meal started off with Nacho's to share. Sometimes I loath the idea of nachos to start a nice meal because they can be greasy, with sad cheese that has no taste and out of the jar salsa. Not at The Wooden Monkey The nachos were flavourful, light and colourful. Picture this: Organic blue tortilla chip base, sprinkled  mozzarella and white cheddar garnished by jalenpenos, red peppers,red onions and homemade salsa with locally sourced ingredients. ohhhh my.

 

*demolished* Enough for three and then some

After my pleasant nacho surprise I started seriously considering my choice of mains. The menu is full of many tempting options. Not to mention gluten free offerings for all you celiacs! The server was patient, attentive, and when I asked her for her favorite options she became flustered at the thought of choosing just one and spoke highly of all dishes on the menu. A good sign.

We finally decided on:

Roast Chicken and Pesto Sandwich
Free-range chicken, spinach walnut pesto, raisin aioli, fresh cut apple and cucumber served in a porridge pita
... $15

Tomato
sun-dried & fresh tomato, mushrooms, red onion & feta
9"... $15
12"... $19

* Scallop and Sun dried Tomato Pasta
Digby scallops, roasted garlic, sun dried tomatoes, mushrooms, onions and basil pesto, with organic brown rice noodles, finished with a dash of cream and parmesan cheese
... $24

The food superb, and I ate each bite grinning ear to ear.  

The service was the best service I have had at a restaurant in a long time. Patient, attentive, sweet and knowledgeable about the restaurants food and beverage options. 

The Menu, charming with plenty of flavour and variety. The restaurant uses only locally sourced products and emphasizes the importance of supporting the community. You can taste the difference! Hurrah for Farm to table cuisine The company!! Fabulous, and entertaining honestly two of my favorite people to dine with. The drinks, well received and continuously flowing The atmosphere comfortable, easy going with a hint of elegance.

Check out their website: http://www.thewoodenmonkey.ca/index.shtml
 I would go back in a heartbeat (and will) 

Eat, drink and enjoy!