Yes, I know it's Nordic shrimp and snow crab season here in Quebec. Yes, we're getting lobster from the Îles-de-la-Madeleine. And yes, I can even get fresh (farmed) BC sockeye or other Pacific salmon. So why am I buying tubes of sustainable Humboldt squid from the freezer section … [Read more...] about Humboldt Squid Slow Cooker Ragout: Sustainable Seafood alla Italiana
Côte Nord Crab Mushroom Risotto with Chickpeas
Back in February I did a television segment for Global Montreal and was given a bag of dried crab mushrooms from the North Shore (the Côte Nord) of Quebec to present on the show. They're very similar to lobster mushrooms in look, so I figured they'd be good in risotto. To … [Read more...] about Côte Nord Crab Mushroom Risotto with Chickpeas
Brined Barbecued or Roasted Turkey Leg with Ground Provisions
Okay, this is not a gorgeous shot. All that flaccid skin reminding you of the geriatric wing (I meant of the hospital, but I suppose your grandfather's elbow also applies). But all those wrinkles just mean that when this beast of a turkey thigh and neck are roasted, that skin … [Read more...] about Brined Barbecued or Roasted Turkey Leg with Ground Provisions
Provisions Restaurant: An Outremont Restaurant Actually Worth the Price
The problem with living in an up-and-coming neighbourhood is that, eventually, it will up-and-come. Might as well move into one of the most expensive up-and-came ones at the get-go. That's probably what the four owners of Provisions Restaurant thought when they moved into their … [Read more...] about Provisions Restaurant: An Outremont Restaurant Actually Worth the Price
Cocktail Invasion 2019, May 20-31 in Montreal
Cocktail Invasion is back starting Monday, with as many zombies as the Invasion of the Body Snatchers, but more delicious. I've been covering this festival since 2015 and I'm happy to see that's it's still growing. Montrealers download the cocktail passport for free from the … [Read more...] about Cocktail Invasion 2019, May 20-31 in Montreal
The Best Gluten Free Pizza: Don’t Make the Crust Yourself
"But... you can't eat pizza?" That's the standard incredulous sentence I hear when I tell people I'm gluten intolerant. Well, that or something sad about baguette. Quebeckers really love their breads. I know. I've eaten them (pre-gluten intolerance). I even essentially wrote a … [Read more...] about The Best Gluten Free Pizza: Don’t Make the Crust Yourself
The Montreal Food Truck Industry Six Years In, Changes for 2019, and a Taste Test
Food trucks are back (despite the cold weather) in Montreal and doing things a little differently this year in the hopes of making a bit more money. I recently did a segment on Global Mornings Montreal talking about the changes you can expect this season after a lot of … [Read more...] about The Montreal Food Truck Industry Six Years In, Changes for 2019, and a Taste Test
Southwest Chicken Enchiladas with Farmer’s Market Pink Oyster Mushrooms and Dry Bandol Rosé
How could I not buy these pink oyster mushrooms from Laura's Locals at the Rillito Farmer's Market in Tucson, Arizona? I've never eaten pink ones before, and though I was promised (presumably by Laura) that they taste the same as white...well, they're pink! Now, I've never … [Read more...] about Southwest Chicken Enchiladas with Farmer’s Market Pink Oyster Mushrooms and Dry Bandol Rosé
Desert (Not Dessert) Wines: Interview with Award-Winning Arizona Winemaker Sarah Hammelman of Sand-Reckoner Vineyards
You might not think Arizona could make great wines – it's a desert, after all – but that's what people used to say about California wines, Canadian wines and hordes of other winemaking areas. And they were wrong. Sarah Hammelman and her husband Rob were certainly believers in … [Read more...] about Desert (Not Dessert) Wines: Interview with Award-Winning Arizona Winemaker Sarah Hammelman of Sand-Reckoner Vineyards
Rum and Sun: Resto Palme Sparkles with Caribbean Fusion in The Village
Resto Palme is a bit like I’d want heaven to be: a palm-filled, airy space a few steps off a dirty street/Earth...with a good supply of agricole rum. Even better, the new Caribbean fusion restaurant on Ste-Catherine East between Beaudry and Papineau has soft linens to dab at … [Read more...] about Rum and Sun: Resto Palme Sparkles with Caribbean Fusion in The Village