Aix Cuisine du Terroir 711, Côte de la Place d'Armes Montreal, QC ●●●●●●●●●☺○ 9 1/2 out of 10 Regional Some nights are just wonderful. The whole meal is an experience. The atmosphere is good, the service is flawless, and even if it weren't so, this would be forgiven by the … [Read more...] about Aix Cuisine du Terroir
Wild Mushroom Risotto (Balls) with Black Truffle Oil
This is pure comfort food. I admit I shy away from (or cheat at) risotto because of the time of stirring involved. I also more often have basmati or brown rice sitting around, neither of which are the perfect arborio rice required for traditional risotto, but it's Christmas, and … [Read more...] about Wild Mushroom Risotto (Balls) with Black Truffle Oil
Disgusting Smoked Trout Spread on Baguette
I should have left the poor baguette alone. I love smoked trout (and smoked salmon, the recipe's substitute if no trout is available), I love dill, I like yogurt, lemon, chives and pepper, but this was gross. 50% of the testers of this spread disliked it violently. I don't … [Read more...] about Disgusting Smoked Trout Spread on Baguette
Wild Mushroom Bruschetta on Polenta Diamonds, variation on a recipe from Bonnie Stern’s Heartsmart Cooking
I realized in the last post I gave pictures, but did not actually give the cooking process for the wild mushroom bruschetta with goat cheese (and the variation with lactose-free feta). olive oil shallots garlic portobello (or other wild) … [Read more...] about Wild Mushroom Bruschetta on Polenta Diamonds, variation on a recipe from Bonnie Stern’s Heartsmart Cooking
Party Prep: Pastry, Peppers and Imperfect Polenta
With all the preparations for the 2nd annual family house party in full swing, I tackled the ''P's". Fresh off my mousse mistakes, I decided to separate the great Mocha Buche de Noel into sections. This is first of all necessary, as the mousse needs to be frozen, the soufflé … [Read more...] about Party Prep: Pastry, Peppers and Imperfect Polenta
The Sky fell back up (I destroyed a milk chocolate mocha mousse)
Back to Alice Medrich's "Chocolate and the Art of Low-Fat Desserts". Oh Alice, I'm not happy with you right now. I'm not happy with me, sure, but I'm not happy with you. Your bittersweet chocolate truffle mousse recipe is sublime - manageable and delicious. but your white … [Read more...] about The Sky fell back up (I destroyed a milk chocolate mocha mousse)
Satisfaction and Christmas Eve Indian: Madhur Jaffrey’s Kashmiri Lamb Rogan Josh, cabbage with peas (bund gobi aur matar), basmati rice and yes, naan
There are two recipes for Rogan Josh in Madhur Jaffrey's Indian Cooking. I've made the first and was disappointed. the flavour was off, and it wasn't as full-bodied and epiphanal as it should have been, despite all the fresh spices. but I love this book and I decided it was worth … [Read more...] about Satisfaction and Christmas Eve Indian: Madhur Jaffrey’s Kashmiri Lamb Rogan Josh, cabbage with peas (bund gobi aur matar), basmati rice and yes, naan
Great Expectations-Christmas Challange 2010
Perhaps I'm being a bit overly ambitious. I am catering my family's Christmas party. This is not chips and dip. This is not even fruitcake and pigs in a blanket. To give you an understanding of what I have to live up to, last year my buffet and hors d'oeuvres menu was grouped … [Read more...] about Great Expectations-Christmas Challange 2010
Osaka
Bistro Japonais Fuirusato (formerly Osaka) 2137 rue de Bleury Montreal, QC ●●●●●●●☺○○○ 7 1/2 out of 10 Japanese Note: This restaurant has been renamed, and has not been reviewed since re-opening. The chef and staff have remained the same, and apparently so has the menu. After … [Read more...] about Osaka
Zembaba: The Emperor’s New Food
Montrealers can't seem to grasp that Torontonians could have it better than them. Heck, we've got a mountain. Earth to Montreal, it's a hill... Geographical limitations aside, Toronto wins hands down in terms of Ethiopian food. Sure, there are a couple decent places in Montreal … [Read more...] about Zembaba: The Emperor’s New Food