In a story idea I emailed recently to an editor I said Toqué is the best restaurant in Montreal. My proof-reading friend gave me a bit of a quizzical look and said, "Really? You think Toqué is the best?" To the readers of that particular publication it really would be. Those … [Read more...] about Toqué: The best in local, seasonal cuisine and fine dining
Everything Else
Strawberry Fields Forever…
They got it right, those musicians. Sure, they may have been tripping on acid at the time, but that's no reason not to get out of the city and take advantage of Quebec's Pick-Your-Own fruit farms. So that's what I did last Saturday, minus the acid, plus a few friends and their … [Read more...] about Strawberry Fields Forever…
Nux Wellness Centre: Yoga, Salads, Smoothies and Raw Desserts
Clearly I care more about three of those things than the other, but every now and then I feel like twisting my body into a pretzel. Follow it up with something light and delicious and I'm happy as a clam and docile as a lamb. The new place to do all this is Nux Wellness Centre, … [Read more...] about Nux Wellness Centre: Yoga, Salads, Smoothies and Raw Desserts
The Complete Tassajara Cookbook
I've been putting this cookbook review off... So I'm going to use an analogy to make it easier to understand why this is so difficult for me. You know when you're in a relationship and everything should be hunky dory, but it just isn't? You look at your partner and you see this … [Read more...] about The Complete Tassajara Cookbook
Atelier et Saveurs: Cooking and Cocktail School in Montreal
Chef Rodolpho and the entire staff at the old Montreal cooking school, Atelier et Saveurs, have enthusiasm in spades. The night I went my cooking class tried to make five-spiced beef tataki with gremolata and Parmesan; fois gras torchon on caramelized onions on choux pastry; … [Read more...] about Atelier et Saveurs: Cooking and Cocktail School in Montreal
My Article in the Montreal Gazette: Molecular Cuisine, Sous Vide, and Montreal Restaurants with Delicious Green Spheres
A few months back I interviewed Maxime Bilet and Dr. Hervé This, one chef/inventor and one chemist on molecular gastronomy and modernist cuisine. While the conversation drifted to terminology, we found out way back to talking about the basics of the modernist cooking techniques … [Read more...] about My Article in the Montreal Gazette: Molecular Cuisine, Sous Vide, and Montreal Restaurants with Delicious Green Spheres
Recipe Suggestions for a Sous Vide Review
In the next few weeks I'll be reviewing the SousVide Supreme - an at-home sous vide machine. I need to know what you're most interested in reading about. I know eggs are supposed to be...special...when done sous vide. And I'll do fish and probably a chicken breast and a leg … [Read more...] about Recipe Suggestions for a Sous Vide Review
Pop it Up and Throw it Down: From Supper Parties for Chili Pepper-Lovers to Montreal’s Best Peruvian Restaurants
2 questions: Why aren't pop-up supper clubs the thing to do in Montreal? And why aren't there more upscale Peruvian and Mexican places in Montreal? Yes, ceviche is everywhere, but most of the cooks dicing up tuna tartar can't even pronounce "aji amarillo" ("ah-HEE … [Read more...] about Pop it Up and Throw it Down: From Supper Parties for Chili Pepper-Lovers to Montreal’s Best Peruvian Restaurants
On Reunions and Croissants
Have you ever been hit by a memory so hard it hurts? Like a wave washing from the top of your head to the bottom of your heart. There's a split second of disorientation as you're thrown off balance with a deep throb of beautiful pain. In that tiny amount of time you get to live … [Read more...] about On Reunions and Croissants
Last chance to win 2 tickets to a molecular gastronomy presentation with Hervé This and Maxime Bilet
CONTEST NOW CLOSED Today's the last day to get your free tickets ($20 value) to hear and see Hervé This, Maxime Bilet and Joe Schwarcz talk up molecular gastronomy at McGill's Food Science 25th Anniversary Symposium at the MacDonald campus. Sound dry? It's not. We're talking … [Read more...] about Last chance to win 2 tickets to a molecular gastronomy presentation with Hervé This and Maxime Bilet