Last week I went on Breakfast Television Montreal to talk about the new maple syrup classifications. If you're used to buying your No. 1 Extra Light, you're going to need to see this: … [Read more...] about Maple Syrup Classifications on Breakfast Television
Homemade Persimmon Honey Wine
This is not wine from a kit. There are no commercial yeasts involved. No artificial flavours or chemical preservatives. I never thought I'd make wine, but once you make ginger beer and start exploring Sandor Katz's fermentation bible, Wild Fermentation: The Flavor, Nutrition and … [Read more...] about Homemade Persimmon Honey Wine
Gluten Free and Dairy Free (And Some Vegan) Japanese-Inspired Desserts: Uncle Tetsu’s Cheesecake, Tiramisu, Bananas Foster Pudding Cake, Strawberry Mousse Cake and Chestnut Layer Cake
For the 9th Annual Volk/Watson Christmas Extravaganza, I kept with the Japanese theme (mostly sushi) and created light-as-air pastries and cakes. That's not easy when you're gluten free and dairy free. I can't remember the last time I ate cheesecake or tiramisu, two of my … [Read more...] about Gluten Free and Dairy Free (And Some Vegan) Japanese-Inspired Desserts: Uncle Tetsu’s Cheesecake, Tiramisu, Bananas Foster Pudding Cake, Strawberry Mousse Cake and Chestnut Layer Cake
The 9th Annual Volk/Watson Christmas Extravaganza: Sushi (and a Surprise!)
If you've been reading my blog for awhile, you'll know that every year my family has a massive Christmas party in Newfoundland called an at-home, where friends and friends-of-friends drop by for a few hours in the afternoon on their way to other Christmas parties, most likely. … [Read more...] about The 9th Annual Volk/Watson Christmas Extravaganza: Sushi (and a Surprise!)
Top 10 End-of-2016 Restaurants in Montreal
This is a 100% subjective list of the restaurants in Montreal that earned top marks for me this year, or held strong from previous years. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. But for something new...well, go to: 1. Le Fantôme This fine dining place in Griffintown is tasting menu … [Read more...] about Top 10 End-of-2016 Restaurants in Montreal
Fermented Probiotics and the Best Brand for Gut Health
Probioitics are about survival of the fittest. You can down as many pills with billions of bacteria or as many strains as you want, but if those weaklings all die in your gut, you've just wasted a ton of money. The best probiotics at my local health food stores sell for $30-$60 … [Read more...] about Fermented Probiotics and the Best Brand for Gut Health
La Sala Rosa’s New Menu: Quality Spanish Classics at an Unbeatable Price
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