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
Lambrusco: Hunting for Quality Among Italian Sparkling Red Wines
Have you ever had a sparkling red Italian? A wine, I mean, but some of the same criteria fall to men I've dated, too: questionable ethics, a lack of concern for the environment, excessive sweetness or bitterness, and the tendency to try to present themselves as the kind of … [Read more...] about Lambrusco: Hunting for Quality Among Italian Sparkling Red Wines
Southwestern Tequila Shrimp Skewers and Spicy Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Here are another two recipes from Savvy Southwest Cooking. The Gulf of Mexico has some sustainable shrimp options, but make sure you source yours carefully to avoid food colorants, antibiotics, sea lice and other parasites and chemicals. Not to mention the destruction to … [Read more...] about Southwestern Tequila Shrimp Skewers and Spicy Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Experimenting with an Instant Pot: Soup Stock and Risotto
Why should you buy an Instant Pot? Don't you already have a slow cooker, pressure cooker, rice maker, Dutch oven, skillet and yogurt maker? I do, in fact. But normal people don't. I'm not about to chuck all those things and replace them with this device, but if someone gifted … [Read more...] about Experimenting with an Instant Pot: Soup Stock and Risotto
Monarque: The Old Port Bistro, Restaurant and Bar with a Touch of Léméac
When you're a French restaurant, you don't call your tom yum soup a "tom yum soup." You say "black cod in tom yum broth." That's much better marketing when you're charging $21 for perfectly tender fish, sustainable shrimp, earthy mushrooms, al dente carrots and blanched spinach … [Read more...] about Monarque: The Old Port Bistro, Restaurant and Bar with a Touch of Léméac
So You Want to Buy Private Import Wine?
Have you ever had a bottle of wine at a restaurant that blew your mind? Did you later go to your local liquor store to try to find it, only to be met with blank stares? Or maybe you asked your server where you could get it and received a look of pity? "It's only available in … [Read more...] about So You Want to Buy Private Import Wine?
Duck Fat Oatmeal Cookies (Without the Oatmeal)
I'm a big believer in not wasting things, like the 4 cups of duck fat I ended up with when I roasted two whole ducks recently. I'm also a big believer in not putting junk in my body, which is why I don't stock dairy-free or vegan margarines on a regular basis (I'm lactose … [Read more...] about Duck Fat Oatmeal Cookies (Without the Oatmeal)