In a story idea I emailed recently to an editor I said Toqué is the best restaurant in Montreal. My proof-reading friend gave me a bit of a quizzical look and said, "Really? You think Toqué is the best?" To the readers of that particular publication it really would be. Those … [Read more...] about Toqué: The best in local, seasonal cuisine and fine dining
Yellow Pea Sauté with Zucchini, Thyme and Lemon
If you somehow got through all your whole yellow peas in your Lufa Farms Fresh Basket, then you'll need to buy some chickpeas. They work the same way. This is a quick, simple meal that's perfect for a summer evening when you don't feel like spending an hour above the stove. You … [Read more...] about Yellow Pea Sauté with Zucchini, Thyme and Lemon
Strawberry Fields Forever…
They got it right, those musicians. Sure, they may have been tripping on acid at the time, but that's no reason not to get out of the city and take advantage of Quebec's Pick-Your-Own fruit farms. So that's what I did last Saturday, minus the acid, plus a few friends and their … [Read more...] about Strawberry Fields Forever…
Strawberry-Vanilla Jam
I was gifted some organic vanilla beans from the Kingdom of Tonga. Don't know where the Kingdom of Tonga is? Neither did I. Don't feel bad. Didn't know the Kingdom of Tonga produced vanilla beans? Again, join the club. My, hasn't this been an educational day for us all … [Read more...] about Strawberry-Vanilla Jam
Best Indian in Montreal at the Brand New Masala Cuisine?
When I see a menu a mile long at a Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, or an Indian restaurant, I get nervous. How can the kitchen possibly prepare all those dishes fresh to order? It's one thing if all the vegetable are chopped (hours ago) and all they need to do is toss them in a wok … [Read more...] about Best Indian in Montreal at the Brand New Masala Cuisine?
Strawberry-Rhubarb Jam for Beginners
Did you know rhubarb is a vegetable? So this is a fruit and vegetable jam. Tell that to your kids...or not. Rhubarb has a stringy outer layer that makes chopping annoying (all those slices stick together), so scrape it off with a knife before chopping, or cut off just the edges … [Read more...] about Strawberry-Rhubarb Jam for Beginners
Strawberry Jam for the Common Man/Person/Jam-Lover Who’s Scared of Canning
Strawberry Jam 4 cups chopped strawberries 1 cup sugar zest and juice of 1 lemon All you do is hull and slice the berries and combine them with the sugar in a medium saucepan. Then bring them to a boil over high heat for about 8 minutes, stirring after 5 minutes occasionally so … [Read more...] about Strawberry Jam for the Common Man/Person/Jam-Lover Who’s Scared of Canning
Nux Wellness Centre: Yoga, Salads, Smoothies and Raw Desserts
Clearly I care more about three of those things than the other, but every now and then I feel like twisting my body into a pretzel. Follow it up with something light and delicious and I'm happy as a clam and docile as a lamb. The new place to do all this is Nux Wellness Centre, … [Read more...] about Nux Wellness Centre: Yoga, Salads, Smoothies and Raw Desserts
The Complete Tassajara Cookbook
I've been putting this cookbook review off... So I'm going to use an analogy to make it easier to understand why this is so difficult for me. You know when you're in a relationship and everything should be hunky dory, but it just isn't? You look at your partner and you see this … [Read more...] about The Complete Tassajara Cookbook
The Best Strawberry Rhubarb Pie
I do not take a pie challenge lightly. My friend had a BBQ and announced that her boyfriend would be making pie from scratch. I would normally think this laughable, but the last time I questioned his baking abilities he ended up making a painted, shingled, and stained-glass … [Read more...] about The Best Strawberry Rhubarb Pie