This might seem weird, but yes, I cooked seal meatballs. The upsides: It's lean protein, high iron and totally sustainable (they're eating all the cod and these are not the cute baby ones). There are no antibiotics or grain in the feed since it's a wild meat. And it tastes … [Read more...] about Cooking With Seal, Part 1: Meatballs
Slow-Braised Arctic Char Fillets with Gremolata (Dairy-Free)
The inspiration for this dish came from a dinner at Lili.Co in Montreal. From our table a few steps from the bar/open kitchen, we watched a chef spend more than five minutes slowly basting a fillet of fish in hot, seasoned oil, essentially poaching it in oil. He then topped it … [Read more...] about Slow-Braised Arctic Char Fillets with Gremolata (Dairy-Free)
Vegan Dinner Party: Balsamic-Braised Oyster Mushrooms on Pressure Caramelized Parsnip Purée with Bok Choy and Flame-Toasted Sunflower Seeds
Do you have that one vegan friend that you never invite to a dinner party? That's me. And I'm not even vegan! (Gluten and lactose intolerant, no pork, no beef, no tofu and the list goes on, generally FODMAPs at the moment.) It's a little annoying to not get invited to a lot of … [Read more...] about Vegan Dinner Party: Balsamic-Braised Oyster Mushrooms on Pressure Caramelized Parsnip Purée with Bok Choy and Flame-Toasted Sunflower Seeds
Top Montreal Restaurants for Valentines Day on Global TV
While host Kim Sullivan of Global Mornings Montreal sampled a mango sherbet-filled dark chocolate from local company L'Essence Glacier (here's where you can find them) I recommended a handful of restaurants for Valentines Day. Here they are, with justifications: Nora … [Read more...] about Top Montreal Restaurants for Valentines Day on Global TV
Champagne and Caviar
When your wine importer friend whose company motto is "No shit in my wine" says "Let's have a Champagne and caviar night!" and offers to bring both the natural Champagne and the caviar, you don't say no. Only an idiot would say no. I'm occasionally not an idiot. And only a … [Read more...] about Champagne and Caviar
Slow-Cooker Chicken with Fennel, White Wine and Black Olives for Breakfast Television (Plus Malaysian cooking classes and Montreal-made salads from Ma Vitrine Bio)
If you missed my segment on BT Montreal this morning, I was talking about ways to eat healthier, which has nothing to do with endless kale and everything to do with slow-cooker chicken, Malaysian cooking classes and pop-up dinners and shake-and-eat organic grocery store salads … [Read more...] about Slow-Cooker Chicken with Fennel, White Wine and Black Olives for Breakfast Television (Plus Malaysian cooking classes and Montreal-made salads from Ma Vitrine Bio)
Homemade Sriracha Chili Sauce (aka “Rooster Sauce, aka “the big bottle of red hot sauce in Vietnamese restaurants”)
This is a great homemade hot sauce that resembles Asian rooster sauce. No preservatives. Fermented for 4 days. Made with green cayennes instead of long red chili peppers, and rice vinegar instead of harsh regular vinegar. Thus, better, I feel. I started with 3 lbs of green … [Read more...] about Homemade Sriracha Chili Sauce (aka “Rooster Sauce, aka “the big bottle of red hot sauce in Vietnamese restaurants”)
Le Diplomate: Small Plates and Natural Wines in Park Ex
This Park Ex restaurants helmed by chef Aaron Langille has been open for a couple years now. It's far from my place and there are always newer places opening, but those aren't excuses for having never gone, especially when the changing, seasonal menu is this exquisite. It's also … [Read more...] about Le Diplomate: Small Plates and Natural Wines in Park Ex
Perfect Grated Mashed Potatoes
I hate mashed potatoes. There, I said it. They're full of everything I can't eat - butter and cream and milk. But even years ago when I was eating those things and my mother put the extra effort into mashing potatoes (once a year or less. Probably less), I thought it was a … [Read more...] about Perfect Grated Mashed Potatoes
Vacuum-Infused Maple-Brandy Peaches and Champagne-Tarragon Chanterelles
Here's an article I wrote for for Fine Dining Lovers on vacuum-infusing quick pickles. Kosher dills these ain't. I tell the story of a farmers market in Seattle and write about not spilling vinegar all over a giant chamber infuser. Boy, that would have been embarrassing. … [Read more...] about Vacuum-Infused Maple-Brandy Peaches and Champagne-Tarragon Chanterelles