Yesterday my article came out on FineDiningLovers.com about the coolest things to eat and drink in Tucson, Arizona. I spent a month in the city this year, exploring farmer's markets, restaurants, Mezcal and wine bars, sustainable farms, gardens and heritage seed shops. I scaled … [Read more...] about An Insider’s Foodie Guide to Tucson, Arizona: Unesco City of Gastronomy
Cocktail Invasion is Back from May 14-20, 2018 (and a Recipe for a Bee Sting from 132 Bar Vintage)
Montreal's Cocktail Invasion is back for the fifth year. This May 14-20, you can try more than 250 specialty cocktails from more than 30 bars in Montreal and Quebec City (please don't try them all in one week, as that would be very dangerous for your liver). How it Works Get … [Read more...] about Cocktail Invasion is Back from May 14-20, 2018 (and a Recipe for a Bee Sting from 132 Bar Vintage)
Wine Tasting at the DézIPpé Private Import Salon in Montreal
If you're interested in the cool wines you find in restaurants, but can't find at the SAQ or your local liquor store, then it's time to look into private import wine agencies. No, you don't have to be a big spender or a wine snob to buy these wines. And no, you don't need to … [Read more...] about Wine Tasting at the DézIPpé Private Import Salon in Montreal
Roasted Orange and Hazelnut Lentil Salad
Picnic fare? Gourmet vegan fare? Sunday soulfood? Call it what you want, but this recipe for tiny-bit-sweet braised lentils with savoury hazelnut oil is pure deliciousness. No, it's not just for vegans. And the best part is that it's ridiculously easy. No, I lied. The best … [Read more...] about Roasted Orange and Hazelnut Lentil Salad
Spring! A Conversation with the Weather and a Recipe for Orange-Braised Fish Fillets from La Mer
This is the internal conversation I've been having with the weather lately: Me: "Why is it still so cold here in Montreal? I just got back from Tucson and you weren't cold there. It feels very unfair." Weather: "You chose to live in Montreal." Me: "Are you telling me I … [Read more...] about Spring! A Conversation with the Weather and a Recipe for Orange-Braised Fish Fillets from La Mer
Vegan Appetizers: Crunchy Spiced Tofu, Cucumber and Olives Canapés
I know, this sounds weird, but by baking the spiced tofu, it ends up crunchy – kind of like a thick chip – and it offsets the juicy cucumber and salty olive pieces. The best part is that non-vegans won't easily be able to tell that it's tofu, because it doesn't … [Read more...] about Vegan Appetizers: Crunchy Spiced Tofu, Cucumber and Olives Canapés
An Award-Winning Program Brings Urban Gardening, Ecology Education and Food Sovereignty to Escuela Manzo in Tucson, Arizona
“Miss Blue! What are we going to do in the garden this afternoon?” asks a student at Escuela Manzo, an elementary school in Tucson’s largest school district. “I don’t know. What should we do?” replies Blue Baldwin, the school’s Ecology Coordinator – the sole position of its … [Read more...] about An Award-Winning Program Brings Urban Gardening, Ecology Education and Food Sovereignty to Escuela Manzo in Tucson, Arizona
Dutch Oven Versus Slow-cooker Braised Chicken, White Wine and Fennel (Le Creuset Recipe)
This is the same recipe I made in a slow-cooker for a "Healthy New Year's Eating" segment on Breakfast Television this January. When I splurged on a second-hand Le Creuset Dutch oven, though, I had to remake the recipe for the comparison. I figured the Le Creuset baked version … [Read more...] about Dutch Oven Versus Slow-cooker Braised Chicken, White Wine and Fennel (Le Creuset Recipe)
Homemade Soba Noodles: 100% Buckwheat Gluten Free Pasta with Dashi Soba Broth
I am not a soba making noodle master. This is a soba making master: Unfortunately, I watched this after making my own noodles. Fortunately, I had a pasta maker. What that meant was that the noodles looked awesome but were horribly over-mixed and dense. The process was … [Read more...] about Homemade Soba Noodles: 100% Buckwheat Gluten Free Pasta with Dashi Soba Broth
Hunting Kumquats (And More Tucson Food Stories to Come)
I'm here in Tucson, Arizona for the first time to hunt kumquats. Well, no. I'm also here to visit family, rock climb and explore the restaurant, farmer's market, wine and cocktail scenes. And perhaps most importantly to become the temporary grapefruit picker for the apartment … [Read more...] about Hunting Kumquats (And More Tucson Food Stories to Come)