Don't get me wrong, I actually think the outdoor food counters that were set up for a few weeks at the Place des Festivals in Montreal during the Just for Laughs comedy festival were ground-breaking and of very high quality in general. This was not processed pig parts and pink … [Read more...] about Post-Mortem on the “Souk” at Just for Laughs and the Problems with Street Food
Blueberry Sorbet and the Return of Il Gelataio 1600
I'm a little obsessed with blueberries. I'm also a little obsessed with sorbet. And I'm definitely obsessed with frozen blueberries in any form; I could eat them by the sugar-concentrated handful or blended with a simple syrup and processed in this wonder of a loaned machine. … [Read more...] about Blueberry Sorbet and the Return of Il Gelataio 1600
More Salad for the Lemon-Anchovy Vinaigrette
When you're one person you end up with leftover salad dressing often. You can't toss the whole salad with the dressing like you want, but you also don't have to make a new dressing every day. The lemon-anchovy vinaigrette lasts about 3 days in the fridge, so on day two I chopped … [Read more...] about More Salad for the Lemon-Anchovy Vinaigrette
A Summer Salad: Sugar Snap Pea and Red Peppers with Lemon-Anchovy Vinaigrette
First, a note: Don't get scared off by anchovies. The fish flavour isn't strong. Mostly it's just there to add salt and...depth? Try it and you'll understand. It's the "umami" of the dish. The lemon zest completely overwhelms it. Imagine that it was called "Lemon Vinaigrette with … [Read more...] about A Summer Salad: Sugar Snap Pea and Red Peppers with Lemon-Anchovy Vinaigrette
When it Gets So Hot That All You Want is Cucumber Juice
That actually happened. I never thought it would, but it was 35 Celcius for about a week and I didn't have air conditioning. I do have systems in place, like reading at the Chapters on Ste-Catherine Street in the slightly air-conditioned basement, and spending time in the McGill … [Read more...] about When it Gets So Hot That All You Want is Cucumber Juice
The Santropol Roulant Pocket Market and Stellar Black Bean Chili
When they say pocket, they mean it's small. At first I thought it was just a poor translation or something, but no, it's just tiny. 3 vendors were there the day I went, plus Santropol Roulant's fresh vegetables. But three phenomenal vendors: 1 sold vinaigrettes, red coconut … [Read more...] about The Santropol Roulant Pocket Market and Stellar Black Bean Chili
Nordic Shrimp Creole adapted from the New York Times Cookbook
Nordic as in the shrimp, not as in the flavours of the recipe. There's no sour cream or dill involved, thank goodness. Just lots of tomatoes, peppers, celery and onions with salty capers, bright lemon peel, warming cloves and calming thyme. There's also eggplant to give it a lot … [Read more...] about Nordic Shrimp Creole adapted from the New York Times Cookbook
Lemon Risotto with Zucchini and Parsley
How did spring pass into summer without me making a single risotto? It's the ultimate spring comfort food and so perfect with seasonal asparagus and mushrooms. Every magazine and blog worth its salt seems to have featured it, except me. I use Hawaiian pink salt for goodness sake. … [Read more...] about Lemon Risotto with Zucchini and Parsley
Sweet Cherry Jam and Pitting 12 lbs of Cherries
12 lbs is a lot. It makes a lot of jam, but it also makes for black fingers. For 4 days I looked like a hardcore gardener. No one would have believed I can't even keep basil alive, or that parsely wilts at my gaze, and my poor, poor strawberry plant never stood a chance. But I'm … [Read more...] about Sweet Cherry Jam and Pitting 12 lbs of Cherries
Augusto Al Gusto: Rotisserie Chicken or Peruvian Pollo alla Brasa in Verdun
I only ate one thing at Augusto al Gusto and I'm ashamed of it and how good it was and how much I don't regret it. I've lived in Montreal for 4 years and this was the first time I ordered takeout to eat at home. Sure, I've ordered takeout to eat on the go when I'm out and didn't … [Read more...] about Augusto Al Gusto: Rotisserie Chicken or Peruvian Pollo alla Brasa in Verdun