“In the Spring a young man’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love” … and, for me, chives. The new spring brings the promise of much new food, a promise of much love for a foodie … but it brings very little in the way of actual food. However, it does bring chives. So when…
Herbs — A Gateway to Freedom and Abundance
As a child, I hated the family garden. It represented work. It represented indentured servitude. It represented poverty. There isn’t more evidence in my life of the difference perspective can make. Growing into a man, my perspective changed when my attitude changed — when I stopped working a garden for others and started working it…
Maple-Teriyaki Pacific Salmon
If there has been one unifying ingredient as part of the Canadian Food Experience Project, it has been maple. This is not surprising given the prominence of this ingredient in our airport gift shops and the fact the leaf is emblazoned on our flag. It’s also not surprising, then, that it has shown up in…
Keint-he Winery – Chardonnay (2009)
Moving to another burgeoning wine region of the country, Prince Edward County. This hidden peninsula is quietly tucked away between where Lake Ontario gives its final gasp and becomes the head waters of the St Lawrence, this is a relatively young wine producing region with some delicious secrets that I’ve quite grown to love…
All Things Home ~ All Things Ottawa
We are so much defined by place that we define the place we live by naming it … home. And if “home” is only where you’re born, then I guess I offer this observation as person who has been homeless more years than at home. The irony is that in having lived so many places,…
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…
Red Rooster – Gewürztraminer (2012)
One sip, and you’re caught in a flavourful and syrupy bouquet of white fruit: pear and lychee. And, if fruit-forward isn’t enough, well, it ends with a splash of citrus: yes, as the label reads, you will certainly taste a fully-ripe and sweet grapefruit at the end. Produced on the southern tip of Okanagan Lake…
My Canadian Love Affair
Food is an extension of my heart. It is not only a part of my physical being, it is how I celebrate and express love. I’ve been in love with food for a very long time. And, for almost as long, I’ve been an incurable romantic. It seems fitting, then, that my personal passion for…
Malivoire Gamay (2012)
Food and wine … a splendid marriage for the ages. Starting in 2014, I’ll be adding a few wine reviews to my blog. I make no pretensions of being a wine critic or sommelier. I have no credentials other than my palette which loves to explore and taste. And while I have no pretensions, I…
Inspired by Tradition but Proudly Ourself: A Canadian Resolution
I love problems … love finding solutions to impossible predicaments. Challenges beget curiosity and creativity and they fill me with resolve…. Each New Year doesn’t in-and-of-itself present a problems to me: it provides a 365¼ day tableau on which to create life. And, other than when I’m actually writing, there is nothing I love doing…