If there has been one theme in my cooking this CSA season, it has been beets and, specifically, roasted beets. I’d be lying if I said there was “something” about roasted beets that is magically comforting — no, there is something very specific about roasted beets I love, how their flavour is transformed, how the…
Roasted Red-Kuri and Beet Salad with Maple Vinaigrette
When the red kuri squash turned up at the CSA pick up a few weeks ago I thought only for a few minutes about what I was going to do with it — then turned back the clock a couple of years to the first red kuri squash I received and decided to reprise what…
Fish Tacos: Grilled Halibut, Kohlrabi in Coriander Cream, and Grilled-Pineapple Salsa
I think anyone who has had a great fish taco, and the decadent Baja fish taco in particular, has fallen in love with the complex interchange of simple flavours, crunchy textures, the dialogue of sweet and tangy, and the pure comfort of food that pleases the soul. Recreating it home without pulling out the deep-fryer, though, is a…
Tropical Banana-Pineapple Burgers
What gave you the idea to put bananas in your burgers? That’s what Anne asked after she figured out the mystery to what was in her mouth. The truth is I don’t really know what deviant brain cell in my head concocted the idea. I know I was looking at a half-eaten banana in the fridge…
Salmon with Whisky Cherry Glaze
One of my very favourite ways to create recipes is while I’m shopping and as I take inspiration from the fresh, seasonal ingredients around me. Last weekend, I had already picked up four beautiful salmon steaks but I was stuck with what create. This time last year I was in a similar place and opted…
Karlo Estates – Frontenac Gris Rosé (2011)
Nothing quite says summer heat like a good rosé. It’s the wine I reach for when I’m hot and parched but still want wine. While I’d almost always prefer a good red, in the heat of the summer, when the ambient outdoor temperature will warm a glass of red before you get through a few…
Poutine with Maple-Cranberry Sauce * Fillet Mignon * St-Albert Cheese Curds
Poutine: greasy truck-stop food ending in heartburn or a gastronomic adventure that ends in foodgasm? Ever since I scarfed back the most amazing plate of poutine 13 months ago, I’ve been committed to recreating that dish prepared by the servers of Le St-Estèphe. There seemed no better time than now, especially with the advent of…
Indian Butter Chicken
Leftovers never looked so good…. This is my take on the classic Indian butter chicken, a dish that certainly gives other classics like Alfredo a serious run for their money in terms of how to tantalize the mouth with the full-fat richness of butter … and cream. Similar to, but different from, tikka masala or…
Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Banana-Date Glaze
Winter is certainly a time to dig into our dried fruits, especially with our dwindling produce this time of year. It’s a time to celebrate stronger flavours and sweetness. It’s a time for concentrated tastes that warm the body, inside out…. … but it is not a time to give up the barbecue. Yes, I’m…
Beef Sliders with Barbecued Bacon and Cheddar
What’s better than burgers and beer? Well, little burgers … and beer. Enter the beef slider, the little burger that could …. I know they’ve been all the trend for awhile, but there is good reason for it. Firstly, in an ethical and more conscious world, we don’t need to be eating 16 ounces of…