Here’s a quick summary of The Stop’s Night Market:

What is The Stop Community Food Centre? Located in the west end, The Stop works to increase access to food in a manner that maintains dignity, builds health and community and challenges inequality. The Stop  does it  all; Some of their initiatives include community kitchens, gardens, cooking classes, drop in meals, outdoor bake ovens, food markets and community advocacy.

What is the The Stops’s Night Market?  The Stop Community Food Centre’s Night Market is a teeming feast for the eyes, belly and heart. It’s also a fundraiser with great sponsors and a dedicated group of volunteers, chefs, performers and designers. Fact: 800 tickets were sold to the public,  each night (June 19 &20). They were sold out within the first two hours when tickets went on sale on May 22!

Who is there? 60 chefs, 82 food and drink vendors, 35 one-0f-a-kind food carts created by local designers.

What did I eat? (what didn’t I eat?…LOL)

From Rose and Sons: Smoked Ham and Cheese Sandwich. This sandwich rocked. 

From Ese – Aprege eggs. Isn’t this presentation gorgeous?

From The Chase: Something delicious that I failed to write down!!

What did I drink? Believe it or not I didn’t drink ANYTHING. Sad but true. I was just too busy eating and shmoozing!! #nextyear

Who is this woman? I met this woman at several Chowhound events over the last 5 years. She is such a foodie that she bought tickets for BOTH NIGHTS. #smartmove

Where does your the $50 entry fee, go to? Your $50 ticket, supports innovative anti-hunger programs. Infact each tickets helps secure 50 free drop in meals , a 3 day emergency food hamper for a family or 500 lbs of tomatoes grown in the Stop’s  3000 square foot greenhouse.

Would I go again? UM…next year I am going to go on BOTH nights. That’s how great this event is.

For more information:

Please visit: www.thestop.org

Twitter: @thestopCC

 

 

Had another quick visit to Ottawa so I could celebrate Father’s Day with my amazing Dad. I arrived on Friday at 6:30 pm and left on Sunday at noon. However this still gave me enough time to devour these goodies!

a) CHOCO FRITO Doughnuts from SuzyQ Doughnuts (991 Wellington St. W). There are no words to describe these doughnuts. They are THAT good. Just imagine the salty, crunchy, pieces of Frito Lay with just the right amount of chocolate, on top of a yeasty delicious doughnut.  It’s a FREAKIN’ AWESOME combo. PERIOD.

b) Golden Palace Eggrolls (2195 Carling Aveune). These eggrolls are unique to Ottawa – they have burnt ends and full of pork and cabbage (not bean sprouts). I love dipping them into the hot mustard and the plum sauce. The restaurant itself is totally out of a time warp but the eggrolls are simply epic.  PS many people I know take these eggrolls back to Toronto and freeze them.

c) Candied Ginger from Michaels Dolce; (Ottawa Farmers Market). This ginger was so good that I noshed on half the packet on my way back to Toronto. I can’t stop thinking how I would like to make an apple crisp and cut these strips into smaller pieces so I could incorporate it into the recipe. I will bringing back 3 of these packets next time. One packet is NOT enough.  P.S. his jams rock as well. I encourage you to check out his website to learn more about Michaels Dolce products and where you can buy them.

d) Maple Syrup Cones (Byward Market). I did not buy one of these .75 cones on this particular trip..but I really did want to!! I have such fond memories of these cones from my childhood. Have you ever had one? On this particular occasion my tummy was not happy but my eyes were!!

e) Deep Fried Pickles and Beer from the Big Rig Brewery and Restaurant (2750 Inis St.). I’ve always wanted to try this restaurant and finally I got there!! YAY. The beer scene in Ottawa has really exploded so   I was all too happy to check out these deep friend pickles and a flight of beer, on a gorgeous Saturday evening.

   

When I returned from Toronto, I made a huge Kale Salad. I try to lead a balanced life. Can you tell?

When I saw a tweet that the Loose Moose had the largest draught beer selection in Downtown Toronto – then I knew I had to go! I’m not sure I had ever been to the Loose Moose before, but having a large beer selection was a sure way to get me to visit. (#lovebeer)

My friend and I sat at the bar so we could watch a hockey game  (ok two hockey games). The Loose Moose is certainly a great place to go to watch a sports event!

Our friendly bartender was the type of bartender that every bar should have: friendly, professional and helpful. He guided us thru both the beer and food menu so we could make the right choice. Please say hi to @_ScottWilson.

Based on his recommendation, we each ordered the Woody which is described as a hamburger with American cheese, really special sauce, caramelized onion, and bacon,on foccacia. I had mine with a really tasty Caesar salad and was a happy camper. Due to the fact that I’m on a no-carb diet, I took off the bun. (sad but true)

My Caesar Salad was equally as good. It was so delicious that I wasn’t even thinking about french fries!

I paired my burger with a handful of 2 oz samples. (sadly I don’t have any photos but trust me – I had a few beers!!)

The Loose Moose has it all: the friendliest professional bartenders, great food, lots of TV’s and a well designed space…not to mention the largest draught beer selection in downtown Toronto.

For more information:

The Loose Moose  146 Front St. W. Toronto (416) 977-8840

Disclosure: I was given a $50 gift card to compensate for my meal, however all opinions are my own.

 

 

I was invited to a Kitchen Aid event a few weeks ago called #Attached2KitchenAid. I love my Kitchen Aid but actually had no idea about these “attachments’ till this event! I discovered that my Kitchen Aid was capable of SO much more.

There’s a pasta attachment.

An attachment so you could make your own sausage.

Also there’s a citrus attachment.

Plus an attachment to make ice cream.

I swear I had no idea that my beloved Kitchen Aid could do all of the above.

The event included Chef Lynn Crawford…who is not just a talented Chef but also a hoot!

At the end of the event, we got to select whatever Kitchen Aid attachment we wanted. What a hard decision to make! But in the end I selected the pasta attachment.

Stay tuned for another blog post. However don’t hold your breath as I have NEVER made fresh pasta before so I know I’m going to be nervous and procrastinate about this. Hopefully one of my foodie friends will come over to help me. That’s about the only way it’s going to happen!! #honest.

 

I have a friend, Michael (Toronto Real Estate Agent, Extra-Ordinaire) who drinks Appleton Estate Rum and Coke Zero with ice on a regular basis. It’s the only alcoholic drink he consumes and the only beverage he has at his place. In fact, when the LCBO was going on strike, my dear friend stocked up!

Every time I visit Michael, he always offers me a drink and I always decline. Always!!

But when I was invited to the Thompson Hotel to meet the only female Master Blender in the industry for a RUM tasting….I SAID YES!! Here was my chance to get educated about Appleton Estate RUM. See, how opened minded I am?

I immediately asked the Master Blender (Joy), what makes Appleton Estate so unique. ie. why is Appleton Estate the ONLY brand my friend  buys? Here’s her reply.

• the climate
• the topography
• the variety of sugar cane (Appleton Estate Rum uses over 10 varieties that produce buttery and fruity notes)
• the water comes from a natural spring
• the yeast is cultured
• they use a copper pot distillation process
• unique aging and blending

There is no question, that when I tried the Appleton Estate Rum that was aged for 21 years that I became an instant fan. I swirled my glass just like i t was wine so that the orange aroma could be released. Other flavors involved were: nutmeg, chocolate, vanilla and coffee. This RUM rocked!

PS Did you know RUM is being featured this month at the LCBO. #justsayin’

 

 

Remember Undercover Boss Canada? Well the same team has created Be The Boss Canada!! This new show gives employees at leading national franchises a once-in-a-lifetime chance to take control of their future, rise thru the ranks and BECOME THE BOSS! Canadian companies that are involved with this new show include Pizza Pizza, Anytime Fitness and Pita Pit

Here’s how it works:

Two equally deserving employees from a Canadian company take part in a week long job interview. They are told they’re being considered for a big promotion. Guess who had a chance to meet the two Pizza Pizza employees that are featured in the show?  That’s right – me!!

BUT bosses are hiding a closely guarded secret. While the employees battle to be the BEST and out-perform-each other, if one truly excels then they will be handed the keys to run thier very own franchise. Now how cool is that?

This new series offers an emotional and entertaining insider’s views into a once in a life time career opportunity.

Be The Boss Canada premieres on Thursday June 6th on W Network at 9 pm ET/PT.

I will be watching it. Hope you will be watching too.

Two words come to mind on a Sunday morning. Coffee and More Coffee!

For some reason, I associate Sundays as a great day to discover a new coffee shop. So off I went to Kensington Market to check out Fika.  This new coffee shop which opened up recently is named for a Swedish verb which means “To go out for coffee”. I also learned (from their beautiful website) that it’s also a noun, as in “coffee break”.  Therefore the whole vibe is kinda “Swedish” without looking like IKEA at all. Infact, I loved the interior which has soothing paint colours and natural blonde trim plus lots of natural light and exposed brick walls.

Here’s what the outside looked like:

I ordered a delicious cappuccino and was a happy camper.

 

My friend also ordered a cappuccino, as well as this avocado sandwich which was beyond good. Nothing about this sandwich was ordinary! Clearly someone knows what they are doing in the kitchen.

See this small detail? Made me smile.

Fika has Wifi which means that I will be returning so I can work there one day as a “coffice”. For more information about the world of cofficers please check my friends’ (@sackman66)  blog who wrote about this subject recently!

For more information:

Fika 28 Kensington Ave, Toronto ON

Twitter: @FikaKensington

Facebook: www.facebook.com/fikakensington

Hope

I’ve just returned from a fun filled day (but educational too) on the Farm and Food Care Ontario Spring Media Tour. Our day went like this:

8:30 am bus departs

9:30 am  arrival at  Beverly Greenhouses Ltd. in Flambourough. These greenhouses are ENORMOUS  – think “six football fields. That type of enormous.

This family farm produces 22 acres of seedless English cucumbers and we had the chance to get up close and personal with these cucumbers. Everyone loves cucumbers non? This visit had me thinking about chilled cucumber soup, cucumber and tomato salads and more!!

11:00 am bus departrs

11:30 am Arrival at Halton Region Museum.

11:45 am Dr. Joe Schwarcz from Montreals’ Office of Science  & Society, gave the most entertaining presentation about demystifying science for the public. We all chuckled more than a few times!!

12:15 am We had the most fresh and flavourful meal. Seriously….we were spoiled rotten. (thanks CropLife Canada)

2:00 pm  bus departs

2:45 pm Arrival at Escarpment’s Edge Dairy Goats in Caledon. Another family run farm that specializes in Saanen and Alpine cross goats. (um,..like 300 of them). Everyone was busy snapping photos of these cuties. Not to mention, we sampled some amazing varieties of goat cheese.

4:15 pm bus departs

4:45 pm arrival back in Oakville.

To be honest, this date was marked in my calendar months and months ago. Visiting farms is not something I get to do everyday and it’s always a great reminder to continue to support Ontario Farmers and to continue to visit local farmers markets.

Many thanks to Kelly and Jennifer  from Farm and Food Care Ontario, who run a very efficient and educational tour!!

For further info:

Twitter: @farmfoodcare

Facebook: www.facebook.com/FarmFoodCare

For consumers: www.farmissues.com

Blog: www.letstalkfarmanimals.ca

 

 

If I tell a friend that “I’m having company over “…. this is code for “I’m going to try some new recipes”.

Here’s three new recipes that I will be trying.

-Oriental Edamame Salad courtesy of AllRecipes

-Green Goddess Kale Salad courtesy of Daily Bites Blog 

-The Ultimate Filet O Fish Sammie courtesy of Food Network.

The meal will also include fresh salsa, tortilla cheese, a cheese platter and a rhubarb strawberry crisp!

Can you tell that I spent some time on -line researching some recipes. I love it though!!

Todays blog will feature two salads that I’m going to be serving, K?

First Salad: Oriental Edamame Salad 

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup sliced almonds
• 2 tablespoons sesame oil
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 2 (16 ounce) packages shelled edamame (green soybeans)
• 1 (15 ounce) can baby corn, drained and cut into bite-size pieces
• 1 (8 ounce) can water chestnuts, drained and sliced into thin strips
• 1 bunch radishes, halved and thinly sliced
• 3 green onions, cut thinly on a diagonal
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro

Directions

1. Heat a small skillet over medium-low heat; cook almonds until lightly toasted and fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes.
2. Whisk sesame oil, soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, garlic, and ginger together in a bowl for the dressing; season with salt and black pepper.
3. Combine edamame, baby corn, water chestnuts, radishes, green onions, cilantro, and toasted almonds in a large bowl; toss with dressing until coated. Serve cold or at room temperature.

 FINISHED SALAD

 

Second Salad: Green Goddess Kale Salad 

5 cups chopped kale

2 cups finely chopped broccoli florets (I steamed them slightly)

3/4 cup thinly sliced scallions

1 medium carrot (I used multi colour baby carrots)

Handful of sprouts

Handful of pumpkin seeds

1/2 medium ripe avocado, pitted

1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk or regular milk

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

Sea salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

In a large bowl, combine the kale, broccoli, scallions, and carrot. Reserve the sprouts and pumpkin seeds for garnish.

Scoop the avocado flesh into a blender or food processor. Add the milk, lemon juice, maple syrup, vinegar, and mustard. Puree until smooth. The dressing will be thick, with the consistency of mayonnaise. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to coat everything thoroughly. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Garnish plates of the salad with the sprouts and pumpkin seeds.

FINISHED SALAD

 Happy Cooking!

 

I can finally scratch Bar Volo off my bucket list for 2013!! Hooray for me. I seriously don’t know what took me so long seeing as this family owned bar has been around since 1985!!

I went on Thursday night at 630 pm and the place was slammed. Was not expecting to see so many beer fans but clearly craft beer is popular these days. Since December 2012, they now have 26 beers on tap (one for each letter of the alphabet). Plus they are well known for serving cask ales!

I explained to my waiter that even though I love (love) beer – beer doesn’t love me. So he poured me 5 – 2 oz samples. Total cost $2.83. I felt bad – so I ordered another

5 samples and to my amazement, I finished all of them. I feel so grown up!!

Big spender eh?

My new twitter friend (@cfilion) ordered a charcuterie board that was MOST impressive. Sadly I couldn’t share it with her as I was too full from the beer (sniff). However I did manage to sample a few things and it was dee-lish.

I will need to return in the summer to enjoy their beautiful patio and another 10 – 2 oz samples of beer!!

For further information:

Bar Volo 587 Yonge St, Toronto (416) 928-0008 Open Monday to Sunday from 4 pm to 2 am. Kitchen Open from Monday to Saturday from 5 pm to 12 pm. Cash and Visa only.

ps sign up for their newsletter so you can find out about special events, new beers, etc.