Seems as though Spadina Avenue, what most people think of as the home of cheap Chinese food in Toronto, is a hotbed of stellar eating. First there was Alo, the fine dining tasting menu place perched above the Avenue that has a months-long waiting list. Now there's Jackpot Chicken … [Read more...] about Jackpot Chicken Rice and Eating Hainanese Fancy in Toronto’s Chinatown
gluten free
Upcoming Sustainable Sushi Class: Saturday July 15 from 6-9pm
Yes, I ate that. I even made that. And so can you – make that and eat that, I mean – at the sushi-making workshop I'm giving this Saturday night. I don't give these frequently anymore, so it's a great chance to eat some better-than-most-restaurants sushi (at least in … [Read more...] about Upcoming Sustainable Sushi Class: Saturday July 15 from 6-9pm
Dairy Free Gluten Free Cod Brandade
I knew I could never eat cod brandade. For one, the salt cod was unsustainable. I come from Newfoundland, a Canadian province that knows all about the overfished cod. So I would never buy the giant sheets of the salted stuff from Portuguese markets in Toronto. I also knew that … [Read more...] about Dairy Free Gluten Free Cod Brandade
Damas: Gorgeous Syrian in Outremont
Upscale Middle Eastern is still riding high in Montreal – especially with Damas Restaurant at the reins. Inspired by Yotam Ottolenghi and a slew of popular cookbooks from across the pond, Su is dragging well-dressed Westmounters to Verdun, LOV is doing it vegetarian in the Old … [Read more...] about Damas: Gorgeous Syrian in Outremont
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
Yonaka Modern Japanese: Best of Vegas Off-the-Strip
Years ago I created a research document on the best, coolest, newest restaurants and chefs in Las Vegas off the strip for a travel spinoff of Bitchin Kitchen on Food Network US. It aired one season and I didn't get to travel with the production team, so while I knew everything … [Read more...] about Yonaka Modern Japanese: Best of Vegas Off-the-Strip
Baby it’s Cold Outside: The Best Soups, Stews and Slow Cooker Recipes
This should be illegal, this cold weather. My nose thought it was done almost freezing off for the year. But it got a nasty surprise the other day when the cold snap came. Now my nose hates me. And all it wants is soup. Fortunately, that's something I can get into. Homemade … [Read more...] about Baby it’s Cold Outside: The Best Soups, Stews and Slow Cooker Recipes