I’ve organized a few tweet ups in Ottawa over the year so that I could enjoy new restaurants with other foodies. We have enjoyed tweet ups at Ceylonta, at Coconut Lagoon, and at Blue Nile too.  I was kinda having a hard time finding the right restaurant for  the next tweet up but FoodiePrints came to the rescue. While reading their blog entry on Serious Cheese, I said to myself  “aha – a cheese tweet up”.

I immediately picked up the phone to speak to the owner of Serious Cheese and asked him if he would be interested in doing this. He agreed over the phone. I then set up the twtvite and tweeted out the invitation a few times on twitter.

Here’s how it worked: On Sat Night, over 20 people came to the store to enjoy CHEESE – talk about cheese, mingle, eat cheese and eat some more cheese.

It was a perfect tweet up. Lots of mingling and lots of eating.

Many of us enjoyed grilled cheese sandwiches:

Many of us also enjoyed their asweome goo-ey macaroni and cheese.

Cheese-y Goodness...

Jamie put out some lovely samples of cheese along with Dolces’ Gourmet Jam – and everyone was clearly happy.

Tweet Ups are a great way to meet other people with similar interests. Infact the group on Saturday nite, included a foodie from Boston (@GeekBoston).

I can’t wait to organize the next tweet up for my next visit. I’m thinking about a Jam tweet up. What do you think?

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Another trip to Ottawa means another opportunity to eat!!  I ate my way thru the following restaurants and my stomach couldn’t be happier.

I started off at Town. It was listed as one of top ten restaurants for 2010 in Ottawa magazine and I can see why. The restaurant was packed but I was lucky and found a spot at the bar. When presented with the menu, it was tough to make a decision what to order.  But I was super happy with my decision.  I inhaled the ricotta gnudi that was served with a walnut pesto and browned sage butter.

Ricotta Gnudi

The next restaurant to make my stomach happy was Chez Edgar. I asked the waiter what was popular and he replied “a lot of people order the heuvos rancheros”. I replied “ok – that’s what I will have”. I was not disappointed. It was perfect. The restaurant is situated in a house – so there’s a few tables and an open kitchen.  This means that I got to watch the chef make my meal. Total entertainment.

On the way out I grabbed some photos of some baked goods. OMG.!!

Next: The Scone Witch. This restaurant has been around for over 20 years and clearly has a following. It’s a clever concept as you don’t find too many places serving sweet or savory scones along with devon cream and jam. Again, my stomach was happy.

Here’s the details about the restaurants:

Chez Edgar: 60 Rue Begin, Gatineau, QC

Town: 296 Elgin St. Ottawa

The Scone Witch: 388 Albert St. or 35 Beechwood Avenue, Ottawa

The highlight of the weekend, was the Cheese Tweet Up but that will be a separate posting on Tuesday. Stay Tuned.

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I grew up in the east end of Ottawa and have many childhood memories of walking to Westgate Mall to get candy.

I remember pixie stixs, sponge toffee, black balls and more.

Naturally a store like Sugar Mountain is right up my alley. It’s so much fun to take the kids and show them what “mommy use to eat”.

Here’s a few photos of candy that I remember eating when I was a kid.

remember these?

love these!!

But the best part of my last trip to Sugar Mountain was to discover that COCONUT M&M’s are in Toronto. I no longer have to find them in the States. HOORAY.

From 2011...not 1975

I tweeted this picture immediately(cause I was so happy) and there was a flood of replies from other coconut m&m fans.

So tell me…whats your favorite candy from your childhood? was it a chocolate bar? or was it candy?

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Thought I might jot down some “reflections” regarding 2010. I’m a pretty positive person so naturally I only think of the “GOOD TIMES’.

I even have a napkin that reflects this positive outlook:

Here’s my list of some “good times” that occurred in 2010.

-completed the Niagara Sprint Triathlon and ran the Sporting Life 10K too.

-worked as a food sales rep for DSM Foods and opened up many  new accounts (double digits).

-enjoyed a variety of tweets ups in Toronto and in Ottawa as well.

-travelled to New York to attend the Speciality Fine Food Show in June.

-went skating on the canal in Ottawa for the first time in decades and had a blast.

-discovered new coffee shops and restaurants like a good foodie. (ha)

-2010 could be called “the year of twitter”. I’m addicted. It’s official

-bought an Ipad and a Macbook in 2010 and loving both. (i hope my iphone isnt jealous).

-read some great books (Repairing Rainbows by Lynda Fishman) and saw some great movies too (Black Swan).

-blogged for Urbanmoms for almost a year and then created momwhoruns in October. Blogging, for sure was a huge part of 2010.

-was introduced to Zumba at GoodLife Fitness and now I’m hooked.

-tried hard to eat breakfast. (think egg whites or quinoa flakes)

-enjoyed the summer by travelling to Kingston, Cobourg, Elora, Stratford and Niagara on the Lake. We live in a great province. Really.

-Continued to be surrounded by awesome family and friends!!

Looks like 2010 was a good year. I’m certainly looking forward to 2011.

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year.

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A few weeks ago, I was reading the Toronto Star and came across an article about a new skating trail that opened up in Etobicoke. I immediately cut out the article and pinned it on the fridge.

Source: City of Toronto, Jim Melvin, PMA Architects

I was kinda spoiled growing up, skating on the Rideau Canal in Ottawa.  However, an outdoor 250 metre figure eight loop, certainly piqued my interest.

So I told my daughter that on Saturday nite, we would be checking it out. She was thrilled!!

It took 20 minutes and 3 major roads (Hwy 401, Hwy 427, and the Gardiner)..but like I said, it was only 20 minutes and CERTAINLY WORTH IT. The skating trail is located at Colonel Sam Smith Park and can be found  south of Lakeshore Blvd, off of Kipling and is open daily from 9 a.m to 10 p.m

We loved the new skating trail.  The ice was perfect, the trail was well designed and it was great to be outside enjoying a winter activity. I kept asking the kids “is it time to leave?” and I kept hearing “no we are having fun”. So..we skated more.

Having a great time!!

There is lighting throughout the park and it’s got a state of the art sound system too. Plus there is  an indoor washroom and changing facilities.

We gave it a thumbs up and will be returning on another Saturday nite soon. The kids had a blast and even I was smiling as can be seen in the next photo.

Smiling on Skates...It can be done!!

Hope you get a chance to visit this new skating trail soon.

Happy Skating.

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Yes, my addiction to food continues. This time …in Ottawa.

I went with my foodie friend @pronosher, who was all to happy to join me on this adventure. (which is why we are friends).

This is the condensed version:

a) Kettleman’s Bagel Co.- to buy Cochrane’s Dairy Milk in a glass bottle. Naturally I did a taste test and naturally Cochrane’s milk won. Creamy and delicious. Also, we stopped by to buy bagels cause that’s what they are famous for.

When was the last time you had milk out a glass bottle?

b) Shiraz (608 Somerset Ave W) – to buy lemon salted pistachios.

c) Coconut Lagoon – for an Ottawa Foodie Tweet Up. Ottawa foodies that attended: @cestboncooking @michaelsdolce @ryan_short  @sforzley @pronosher @OttawaCake @ceoteenjobz.

The food and the company was perfect!!

d) Fraser Cafe – for homemade donuts and an excellent coffee. Loved this restaurant and hope to return for a proper brunch one day soon. There is a reason why they won a bronze at the Gold Medal Plates Competition.

e) The Sustainable Oyster & Fish Supply – for a haddock fish sandwich that was incredibly tasty. Here’s more info about the sandwich…it came with carmelized onion, caper garlic aioli and a mango spice sauce. One word: YUM

I love Ottawa. I grew up there and every time I visit I discover great food, meet great people and have an awesome time.

Looking forward to my next trip already!!

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I have been using the same pancake recipe for a long long time and everyone has been happy.

But last weekend, I was in Ottawa at the Landsdowne Farmers Market and came across a vendor (Castor River Farms) selling oats, oat flour, and other grains. I stopped and noticed a recipe for oatmeal pancakes. I was intrigued so I purchased oats and the oat flour that I needed for the recipe.

Oats and Oat Flour

I returned home and made the oatmeal pancakes for dinner. Actually I made two batches. One batch was made with the FRESH oats from the vendor at the farmers market and one batch was made with the Quaker Oats bag from my pantry.

I asked three people to tell me which one was the one with the FRESH OATS…two out of three got it right.The texture was chewier, the pancake was denser and all in all it was better tasting pancake.

Oatmeal Pancakes

I love taste tests…we have compared real oreos vs. fake oreos, organic milk vs. non organic milk and now the oatmeal pancakes. The kids think I’m nuts. (but in a good way).

Here’s the recipe for Oatmeal Pancakes:

1 1/2 cups of freshly rolled oats

2 cups of milk (dairy, soy or almond)

1 cup oat flour

1 tbsp maple syrup or honey

1/2 tsp sea salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tbsp baking powder

1 egg, beaten

1/4 oil

Let oats and milk sit for at least 10 minutes. Mix ingredients 3-7 together, then add to oatmeal mixture. Add egg and oil and mix well. Makes 10-12 pancakes. Note: They are very filling

This recipe is from Castor River Farms, 2696 9th Line road, Metcalfe.

They are a regular vendor at the Ottawa Landsdowne Farmers Market where I will be returning, to buy more oats!!

Happy Pancakes!!

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I grew up in Ottawa and visit regularly, but for some reason, I have not visited Gatineau Park for years.

I remember skiing at Camp Fortune as a kid and visiting Mackenzie King Estates but it’s been decades since I have returned.

Not anymore.

Last weekend, my mom and I took advantage of a beautiful fall day and went across the bridge. It only took 15 minutes before we were on Old Chelsea Road enjoying a coffee at Les Saisons Cafe Coffee House. After we had some much needed coffee and apple cider, we headed to Mackenzie King Estates to walk around.

Having Fun...

We ventured over to Lake Windermere and naturally I had to take a photo. I was a bit snap happy that day..for obvious reasons.

The weather was perfect for taking pictures!!

Then we drove some more and we stopped at a few beautiful lakes, but for the life of me, I can’t remember what lake this is. But I’m inserting the photo in the event that someone recognizes it. To be honest, both photos are going to be nameless unless someone helps me out (hint).

I have no clue what lake this is..Anyone?

Then we went on a chair lift ride for $5. My mom had not been on a chair lift for forty eight years, so that was kind of a cool experience for her. Infact the last time she had been on a chairlift was with my Dad on a DATE.

Here’s a few photos of what we saw.

Not a bad view at all!!

Our Shadow from the Chairlift - Im on the right!!

and finally I will insert one more photo cause it’s my favorite.

Fall Rhapsody at it's best.

To end of the day, we stopped again on Old Chelsea Road at www.soupherbe.com for a perfect bowl of soup.

For further info about Fall Rhapsody, visit www.ottawafestivals.ca or www.canadascapital.gc.ca.

Happy Autumn!!

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