There are a lot of complicated recipes in Chinese cuisine — this is not one of them. This is dirt simple. It's also healthy. And crunchy. And salty. And spicy. It's the perfect side dish in five minutes. For goodness sake, stop thinking so hard. Stir-Fried Asian … [Read more...] about Stir-Fried Asian Greens with Chilies and Soy
Le Bon Vivant: Little Burgundy’s Newest Neighbourhood Darling
The upside of gentrification is good restaurants. Case in point: Le Bon Vivant, which I believe started as a lunch spot with a small wine list and some local beers and has now grown into one of the nicest street-side dining destinations in the area. It's a notch down in price … [Read more...] about Le Bon Vivant: Little Burgundy’s Newest Neighbourhood Darling
From Pig Trotter to Scrapple: Fine dining meets sustainability at Lawrence restaurant’s popular brunch
"The place has been packed the whole time we've been here," notes my aunt's astounded cousin as we're finishing our brunch at Lawrence. From our corner table, we've seen the steady stream of diners coming, waiting and grazing at the Mile End's longest standing gastronomic … [Read more...] about From Pig Trotter to Scrapple: Fine dining meets sustainability at Lawrence restaurant’s popular brunch
Ceviches Restaurant on Rue Napolean
I'm a ceviche snob. I think Peruvian is the ultimate version of the lime juice- and salt-cured fish creation. I like the sugar of the sweet potato balanced with the acidity of the citrus. I'm also a purist. No strawberry purée or mixed seafood. It's all about corvina or sea bass … [Read more...] about Ceviches Restaurant on Rue Napolean
$6.99 a Pound Lobster with Sage Butter
Sound fancy? It's not. Insects of the sea, these. I wouldn't eat them until age 19. Me, a girl from Newfoundland. And then I got over the whole antennae and eyes phobia and got on with the eating. First, I treaded carefully (or, rather, biked). Then I went on a killing … [Read more...] about $6.99 a Pound Lobster with Sage Butter
Strawberry-Blueberry Dessert and Wrecking Family Tradition
Growing up, my family had a repertoire of two special occasion desserts. There was my mom's blueberry pie and then there was the ambiguously named "strawberry dessert." I waffled between preferring one or the other from year to year. Whether for Christmas, Thanksgiving or a … [Read more...] about Strawberry-Blueberry Dessert and Wrecking Family Tradition
When the Rains Come
It starts with sunshine and spring dresses. And it builds. Your toes come to room temperature. Your skin slurps up the Vitamin D from above as though it's spent its life drinking salt. You plant seeds and watch them bloom. There's a bounce in your step as clenched muscles relax … [Read more...] about When the Rains Come
Easy Lavender-Chai and Sweet-Spiced Vanilla-Pear Ice Creams
When I got an ice cream maker, my world changed. Not just because now I could make dairy-free versions of frozen deliciousness. But because I could make any flavour of frozen deliciousness I wanted. I could also play with the sweetness and the texture and control the quality of … [Read more...] about Easy Lavender-Chai and Sweet-Spiced Vanilla-Pear Ice Creams
Maple Spring Salad with Roasted Chicken and Lemon Potatoes
The name of this salad is maybe only a double entendre to Quebeckers who made it through last year's student protests, aka maple spring. But this is a salad for all — student or not, protester or not. Because food, after all, is a great unifier. And if anything can unify, then … [Read more...] about Maple Spring Salad with Roasted Chicken and Lemon Potatoes
Maple and Wine Poached Fish
Simple. Fresh. Light. This maple-poached fish recipe is perfect for spring. It takes a grand total of 15 minutes to make and it's completely addictive. It also feels very indulgent to poach fish in maple syrup. Serve this at a dinner party and everyone will think you're … [Read more...] about Maple and Wine Poached Fish