A few years ago, I had a doughnut at the Doughnut Plant in New York City. I then came to the realization that not all doughnuts are created equal!!

i.e there’s a HUGE difference between a commercially made doughnut and one that is made in house in small batches.

I also have been lucky enough to have discovered Suzi Q Doughnuts in Ottawa as well as doughnuts from Fraser Cafe.Therefore my quest for “really good doughnuts” continues.

Thanks to twitter I discovered  Thor Espresso Bar was serving  Glory Hole Doughnuts…..which means, I HAD TO GO. (like a good foodie)

Here was the Doughnut Menu:

I decided to order the lemon meringue doughnut and I wasn’t disappointed at all. The curd and the meringue were perfect which resulted in an awesome doughnut experience.

Clearly the donughnut required a coffee so here’s a picture of a perfect cup of coffee:

The owner of Glory Hole Doughnuts took time out of her busy schedule to chat with me one day. I found out more about her background (she’s a trained pastry chef) and why she opened up this business. (she simply loves doughnuts). I also found out that there’s a rotation of 11 flavours. I really think I should organize a Doughnut Tweet Up so we can try all the flavors!!

Who’s in?

These doughnuts are really really popular so go early!! It was worth the drive downtown on a Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m.!

Glory Hole Doughnuts can be found at the following locations on an ALMOST daily basis (best to call first)

Thor Espresso Bar: 35 Bathurst St, Toronto, ON (416) 451 8736

The Burger  Bar 319 Augusta Avenue, Toronto ON (416) 922 7423…SATURDAYS ONLY

 

I visit my parents every 6-8 weeks in Ottawa and every time I visit I continue to discover great food. Sometimes I even divert from food and stumble across something else. (keep reading).

Last weekend my visit was really really quick i.e I arrived on Friday at 4 p.m. and left on Sunday at 11. No time for a tweet up – however I did have a bit of time to have a coffee with two food bloggers…@AMWATERS in the morning and @FoodiePrints in the afternoon. There is no question that every minute I am in Ottawa  – is a productive minute. LOL

@AMWATERS (who has a great blog – If Music is The Food of Love, Play On) suggested we meet at Le Michel-Ange, Coffee-Warehouse-Roasting. Thankfully I had GPS to find it – as it’s tucked away in the middle of nowhere. But oh-what-a-gem of a spot. I really really liked the atmosphere…cool art, bean bag chairs, interesting nooks and crannys, comfy couches etc. As for the coffee – I am always too busy chatting to notice if my latte was good or not. I even ordered a pumpkin truffle  (made by Clove Chocolatiers) as I’m sure I never had this flavor before. It was a perfect breakfast – coffee and a truffle combined with a discussion about FOOD.

In the afternoon I met @FoodiePrints (who also has a great blog called FoodiePrints) at Planet Coffee in the  Byward Market. I have been there once before and I’m always impressed how busy this place is and the size of their baked goods in their display.

On Sunday, I ran to Rideau Bakery to get fresh rye bread. (3 loaves – thank you very much). On my last visit I only bought one and when I got back to Toronto and had a slice, I said “what was I thinking only to get one loaf?”. Here’s some history on Rideau Bakery. It’s a 80 year old, family run – kosher bakery and their rye bread is the BEST. Really – the best. When I got home, I popped it into the freezer so I can enjoy a slice (or two) every week for weeks!!

Then I ran to the Landsdowne Farmers Market. I had never been when the market is indoors and I was thrilled that I went. The building is BEAUTIFUL and the market has some new winter vendors that’s not there in the summer.

I stumbled across Egyptian Onions. Never seen this before, have you?

In between running to visit my dad, having coffee, visiting relatives…I also took a minute to visit a new Art Gallery that recently opened in Westboro called Michael Gennis Gallery.

I am so glad I dropped by. The art is stunning, the space is stunning and to be honest,…there isn’t much not to like. Michael Gennis (who own the Gallery) was a neighbor that I havent seen in decades so it was a real treat to see beautiful art as well as catch up with an old neighbor.

I ended off the trip with a taste of Saskatoon Berry Pie from Farm Boy. Not a bad way to end a great weekend in Ottawa.

I bake Challah every week. Well kinda – I cheat. At least, I’m honest, right?

I should take a minute and explain what is Challah!! Challah is a braided bread that is served on the Sabbath(Friday Nite to Saturday Nite) in Jewish homes. I grew up with Egg Challah from Rideau Bakery in Ottawa but when I moved to Toronto I discovered that there was a variety of different challahs. ie raisin, whole wheat, with a sugary coating on top etc.

I also found out that you could make it!! I tried – I really did but it was never as good as all my friends who make it on a regular basis. (you know who you are)

Then I discovered: FROZEN challah and never looked back. There are two competing brands out there – Montreal Kosher and Lenchner’s. Im not loyal – I just grab whatever I see.  I really think they are both amazing but some of my friends say that one rises better than the other. Perhaps one day I will try and test out both challah’s side by side.

Step 1: I usually buy it frozen from No Frills (at Bathurst/Wilson) or Metro (Bathurst/Lawrence). However you could find it at any major grocery store from Bathurst/Lawrence to Bathurst/Rutherford.

Step 2: I unwrap it, lay it on parchment paper and cover with saran wrap. Then I wait 6 hours. (not 4, not 5).

Step 3: I take the wrapping off, and put an egg wash on it (my fav. step)

Step 4: I put the challah in the over at 325 degrees F and bake for 35 minutes. (not 30, not 40).

Step 5: see above photo for the finished product

I serve it on Friday nite and its generally GONE by Sat. Nite. However if you have leftovers – challah can be used to make a wicked french toast!!

I kinda like the whole wheat challah these days but truthfully they are all fanatastic.

All I know – is that this challah rocks and I look forward to making it every week. Baking challah makes my apartment smell great, and you can’t beat the convenience. Sure, it’s not the same as taking the time to make it from scatch – but I can’t get over the fact that IT ALWAYS COMES OUT amazing.

Hope you get a chance to try challah one day soon!!

I like to try new recipes and my mom likes to shop for new furniture and redecorate.

Yet we get along!!

She is an amazing woman in many ways. She is on top of every trend-beauty, fashion or decorating (not food trends though..she leaves that to me).

I am always in awe when I visit Ottawa as she has been in the process of redecorating the condo for the last year (for the 3rd time in 30 years).

Here’s what the condo now looks like. Isn’t it awesome. I could never accomplish what she does – she really does think of every detail. I have to say that my mom has great taste but she has used the same decorator (Donna Corey from Kiss Interiors) for the last 30 years (she was her first client). Donna helps with sources and confirms what my mom selects is “right” and guides her with the details. Clearly they have a good working relationship between decorator and client.

PS did I mention my mom was 72 years old? Pretty neat eh?

Each time I visit Ottawa there is a new restaurant for me to try and new people for me to meet (yay tweet ups!!).

Here’s a review of three places I went to this past weekend:

a) Stella Luna Gelato Cafe (1103 Bank St)

I had read rave reviews about this new gelato place that opened up just  FOUR weeks ago and put it on the top of my list to visit. I introduced myself  to the owner Tammy and her husband and she graciously took a few minutes out of her busy schedule to chat with me.  She also encouraged me to sample a variety of gelatos (think – blood orange, salty pistachio, marscapone and rum).  While I was sampling the gelato, a customer approached Tammy and said “are you the woman responsible for my ever growing waistline”. It was too funny.

Clearly Stella Luna Gelato Cafe  is a hit and has been welcomed by the Ottawa community. Not only are they serving fabulous gelato but the space is gorgeous too with little nooks, beautiful chairs and lamps and stunning photographs from Italy on the walls.

b) Tweet up at The Manx for Brunch (370 Elgin St)

This wasnt a formal tweet up but a few foodies gathered to have brunch at a very popular pub in Ottawa called The Manx. We arrived 15 minutes before the doors opened and  trust me, we werent the only ones in line. We had a a fabulous table for our party of 6 and I really couldn’t complain about the service. However no one was raving about their food. …which was kinda disappointing seeing as we ALL had heard that the food was outstanding. After the meal, I heard that there was a new chef in the kitchen, which means I should go back one more time before really blogging about it. Fair is fair, right?

c) Lansdowne Farmers Market.

I’ve blogged abou this Farmers Market before and I’m not shy to blog about it again. It is FABULOUS – the space, the variety of the vendors, the location – it’s ALL GOOD.

I discovered a new variety of vegetable this particular visit, from one of my favorite vendors, Jambican Studio Gardens – it’s a LEMON CUCUMBER.

Never had it before but I was all too happy to buy it. Stay tuned for another blog entry soon on what I make with it K?

Hope you get a chance to visit Ottawa soon.

It was a hot humid day in Ottawa on Sunday and the line ups at Taras Lemonade Stand at Landsdowne Park indicated that everyone was thirstier than normal.

Eventually I knew I had to stand in line too!! I ordered a cucumber lemonande drink but was so thirsty that I didnt have time to take a picture of my drink !

This motivated me to google a recipe and to try it at home!! I found a recipe on the All Recipes website, then I adjusted it (naturally).

Basically you need to have just two ingredients – a cucumber and some lemons

Ingredients:

1 english cucumber, sliced thinly

3 lemons, juiced (you need about 1/4 cup of lemon juice)

1 cup water

1/2 cup white sugar

Method:

Boil the water and the sugar to make a simple syrup

Mix the sliced cucumber in a blender and then strain the pulp from the liquid

Mix the simple syrup, the lemon juice and the cucumber juice – I used 1 cup of cucumber juice, to 1 cup of simple syrup and 1/2 cup of lemon juice but I found it too tart and added quite a bit more water till I found the right balance. Next time, Im going to try and use only 1/4 cup of lemon juice.

END RESULT

It is indeed an interesting mix of flavors and a GORGEOUS summer drink – I totally love this shade of green.

I wonder how it will taste with vodka? hmmmmm.

I have just returned from a family reunion in Ottawa. Naturally I made sure to include a visit to the Byward Market and to Landsdowne Farmers Market as part of the schedule. What’s interesting is that no matter how many times I visit the Byward market or the farmers market – there is always something new to discover!!

On this particular trip, I discovered the newly opened Murrays Market. (261 Dalhousie St). The space is just gorgeous and totally suitable for a tweet up – so I made sure to talk to Emma and Chef Steve about this possibility. Beautiful cheeses, meats, local honey and MichaelsDolce jams were on display, but I zeroed in on my favorite food: a grilled cheese sandwich!!  Murrays Market makes it with Glengary’s Lankaster gouda cheese, red pepper jelly on egg bread.  I was a happy camper. I especially liked the addition of the red pepper jelly to the sandwich. Kinda kicked it up a notch. The side of homemade ketchup was welcome too!!

At the Landsdowne Farmers Market this year, I stumbled upon a new vendor called Suzy Q Doughuts. The Doughnut was yeasty and fresh. (in other words – perfect) I really hope this vendor will be around for a long time, cause there is nothing like a FRESH donut.  @FoodiePrints shared one and I shared mine with @michaelscolce. I asked the vendors, if they had a retail location and they said “no – they are just at Landsdowne Farmers Market each Sunday”. Turns out – she is a postal worker and he is a woodworker during the week, but on the weekends they clearly have a passion for making donuts!! To top it off – my cuzin knows this couple well. (small world).

Now the next discovery – isnt really a discovery. I’ve been eating at Aladdin Bakery (1801 Carling Avenue) for the past several years, even though they have been around for 14 years. I was told they can easily serve 800 Fatayers’ in one day. Fatayer is what everybody orders here – It’s  a slab of thick chewy bread, with a topping of your choice and then warmed in a tradtional brick oven. You cant go wrong here for $2.25!!

It was so much fun to see my cousins and be in Ottawa during Canada Day. In the event you are wondering if I saw the Royal Couple. The answer is No. I was too busy eating and shmoozing with 26 fabulous cousins!! Must sign off now and head to the gym….

In April, I attended the Green Living Show for my first time. I had never been and had really no idea what to expect. What I didn’t expect was to stumble upon a booth called Island Spirits that featured three unique Eco Cabins on Rice Lake. I stopped to chat with the owner and her son and listened to them tell me more about this unique holiday experience.

A few weeks later, I received an email from TJ (the owner) asking me if I would like to come up for a night. I gladly accepted as I knew it was on my way to Ottawa and I was visiting soon.

Here’s a brief description of our adventure.

4:00 p.m  Left Toronto

5:00 p.m. Exited at Cobourg and then drove another 30 minutes exactly.

5:30 Greeted by TJ and loaded our belongings on the ferry.

5:50 p.m Arrive at Grasshopper Island and we are beaming. We unload and have a quick dinner of party sandwiches. Then we  immediately start to explore the island. We have 25 acres of an island to explore and we can’t wait. This is what we see.

Our ECO CABIN looks like this and we are SO impressed:

8:45 p.m. Sunset time..(more or less)

9:00 pm We are tucked inside our sleeping bags. The kids are making shadows on the walls while I tried to read on my kobo but fell asleep within minutes.

10:00 p.m The kids fall asleep (so they told me).

NEXT DAY

9:00 a.m. Kids enjoyed chocolate cheerios for breakfast. We then pack up and take one last tour of the island.

11:45 a.m. TJ helps us unload our stuff back on the ferry and by noon we are back on land and we head to Ottawa.

We are sad but we know we will be back.

Please visit the Island Spirits website and please book early so you aren’t disappointed!!

It’s no big secret. My eyes (or is it my tummy?) are always looking for delicious new products/restaurants/fruit/kitchen gadgets etc.

Here’s five good reasons to visit this great store called About Cheese that can be found at 483 Church St. in Toronto:

1. THE BLUE CHIP COOKIE

I’m in heaven. I found a cookie that combines my love for chocolate chips with my love for blue cheese. It’s the perfect combination of sweet, salty, tangy etc. I’m generally not interested in sweets as I prefer savoury, but this cookie ROCKS. My taste buds are flipping out when I have a bite of this cookie.

2. Truffles with liquid caramel and maledon fleur de sel.

Another awesome discovery. There are no words.

3. Bumpercrop Products

I bought the pickled celery a few weeks ago and brought it to my dad in Ottawa who is the ultimate pickle maven. He loved them. So I now have a small collection for my next trip:  pickled onions in beer, pickled cherries, pickled beans and pickled asparagus. I am thrilled to have discovered a new company that uses local produce and makes a superior product.

4. Grilled Cheese Sandwiches and Cheese

No photo but I can assure you that they make the cheesiest sandwiches in the city. It was the only time I couldn’t eat  a whole sandwich.

5. Cows Creamery Butter

This butter is from Prince Edward Island and it’s perfectly salted, and perfectly creamy. I tasted it at Grocery Showcase in the fall and was immediately in love with this butter. Pricey but worth it.

Can’t wait to find out what other goodies I will discover this week.!!