The first time I came to Sala Rosa was on New Year's Eve about five years ago. I didn't even know it was a restaurant then. I thought it was just a live music venue, which is still a lot of peoples' reactions when I tell them it's the city's best kept Spanish secret. My friend … [Read more...] about La Sala Rosa’s New Menu: Quality Spanish Classics at an Unbeatable Price
Teriyaki BBQ Unagi (aka How to Cook an Eel)
Did you know that unagi on a sushi menu means eel? There sure ain't no Caterpillar in your Caterpillar roll. Instead, that's generally eel that's been grilled, slathered in teriyaki sauce, vacuum-packed sous vide in plastic, frozen, shipped half way around the world, defrosted … [Read more...] about Teriyaki BBQ Unagi (aka How to Cook an Eel)
Kimchi 2016 (Plus fried rice and kimchi jigae recipes, aka “what to do with the rest of last year’s batch”)
There's no better way to warm up on a cold day than with spicy-hot kimchi! Good thing I have an annual tradition of making approximately 18 litres of the Korean red pepper cabbage ferment with my friend Joel. But in preparation for the day-long event, I had to eat the rest of … [Read more...] about Kimchi 2016 (Plus fried rice and kimchi jigae recipes, aka “what to do with the rest of last year’s batch”)
Ho-Ho-Holiday Drinking: Draft Saké and 4 Award-Winning Cocktails
Eggnog is all well and good, but this year it's time to branch out with your holiday libations. In Japan, when it's cold, people drink saké to stay warm. In fact, I spent a day at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre of Montreal washing bucket after bucket or rice and then … [Read more...] about Ho-Ho-Holiday Drinking: Draft Saké and 4 Award-Winning Cocktails
Amie Watson on Breakfast Television: Talking Wine in Montreal
In case you missed me drinking at 8 a.m. a little while ago, here's my segment from Breakfast Television Montreal on CityTV talking about three Montreal wine events and tasting some organic and natural wine with show co-host Derick Fage: You have no idea how relieved I was … [Read more...] about Amie Watson on Breakfast Television: Talking Wine in Montreal
Thanksgiving 2016: Spatchcocked and BBQ-ed Turkey
What a glorious Thanksgiving it was! Sure, these are photos from Canadian Thanksgiving and I'm just getting around to posting them now, but maybe I can inspire our southern cousins with spatchcocked BBQ-ed turkey, Ottolenghi's roasted potatoes and Josée di Stasio's … [Read more...] about Thanksgiving 2016: Spatchcocked and BBQ-ed Turkey
Gluten-Free Fine Dining at Three of Montreal’s Newest Restaurants: Hvor, Le Fantôme and Candide
Eating out is hard when you're gluten free. Even with a recent resurgence of heritage grains and healthy rice bowls, it's really nice to not always be stuck eating at home. Sure, it'd be nice to go to Patisserie Patrice and buy something gorgeous and flaky and creamy (life's … [Read more...] about Gluten-Free Fine Dining at Three of Montreal’s Newest Restaurants: Hvor, Le Fantôme and Candide
$150 White Truffles That Make a $50 Steak Seem Like a Bargain
Let me preface this post by saying that I believe in spending a little more money on higher quality food. When the average American family and individual only spends 9.7% of their annual disposal income on food (down from 20% in the 50's), I get scared. That's an average. That … [Read more...] about $150 White Truffles That Make a $50 Steak Seem Like a Bargain
Negroamaro del Prete Anne Review
Have you ever opened a bottle of wine that made you stop in your tracks? As in one of the best wines of your life? One that you could drink again and again? No special occasion necessary, except for the fact that you assume it's very expensive because it's so good? And then you … [Read more...] about Negroamaro del Prete Anne Review
The Best of MTL à Table 2016
With MTL à Table in full swing, it's restaurant time again in Montreal! That means special prix fixe $21, $31 and $41 dinners (and late-night specials and $15 brunches) with a couple of choices each for appetizers, mains and desserts (or in the occasional case of tapas, … [Read more...] about The Best of MTL à Table 2016