Spotted - [No Name], Ottawa

This man is the most active man I know. If he is not running a race, he is biking, kayaking, or golfing. He even convinced me to run a half marathon with him last year. Note that it was my first, and LAST half marathon. People are crazy to wear out their bodies like that. This month's Spotted location will remain unnamed. I had such a bad experience here that I have chosen not to endorse the restaurant in any way. All I will say is that this month's...

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Healthy Banana Bread

This is a super healthy banana bread recipe that my mom-in-law shared with me. As mentioned, she is the Queen of making healthy desserts that taste amazing. This is no exception. Every time I make this, my banana bread doesn't even last a day. It smells awesome when it first comes out of the oven, and tastes great when served warm. I love peeling off and eating the crunchy top of the loaf when it is still hot. This recipe yields 1 loaf. Healthy...

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A Taste For Life 2009

If you haven't already done so, book a dinner on April 29th to help out your local HIV/AIDS charity through A Taste For Life.The concept is very simple. Go out to dinner on April 29th at a participating restaurant, and 25% of your bill will be donated to the local charity recipient. To find out if your city is participating, please visit this link.In Ottawa, here are the restaurants that are participating:Westboro AreaAbsinthe - 1208 Wellington Street,...

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What to do with Indian Bitter Melon?

My mom heard that bitter melon helps lower one's blood sugar level, and because she tries to control her blood sugar levels naturally, she has been juicing bitter melon every morning...yuck! Actually, she goes one step further than that, she throws the entire melon in the blender, and drinks the puree...double yuck! This is a vegetable that tastes just like the name implies, bitter! It is a crunchy vegetable, and admittedly, there happens to...

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Chiu Chow Boy, Toronto

One of Wals' favorite Chinese restaurants in Toronto is Chiu Chow Boy. He always talks about how good the food is there, so Beebs and I took my grandmother there last week when I was in Tdot. We ordered a few Chiu Chow style lunch dishes to share. The first was the loh bak goh, or the pan fried radish cake. It was stir fried with chillies, bean sprouts and scallions, which was different from the normal dim sum style I'm used to. It was a great...

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Sunday Brunch at The Buzz Restaurant, Ottawa

I recently had a great Sunday brunch at The Buzz Restaurant with Beebs. The food was surprisingly amazing, and I can honestly say that this place has one of the best brunches in town. This is a funky little bistro with a regular local crowd. The brick walls are covered with artwork by artists from the Basement Artists, an artist run group that brings local emerging and established artists together through regular events. I ordered a cappuccino...

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Good Taste Shanghai Cuisine, Toronto

My mom, Beebs, and I recently took a quick one day trip to Toronto for a family reunion. We have a pretty big family, so it was great (and rare) to see everyone all under one roof. We ate so much Chinese food on our trip that I don't want to see or eat Chinese food for a while. Our first stop was at Good Taste Shanghai Cuisine. This is a fairly new Shanghai restaurant that opened less than a year ago. They offer many dim sum dishes, and over...

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Awesome Persian Lunch at the In-Laws

I had an awesome Persian lunch at my in-laws that I've been dying to share with you. They recently had friends visiting from Vancouver, and prepared a lovely lunch for their guests. I either will be learning or have learned the dishes that were served, and will post up the recipes as soon as I get a chance. In the meantime, here are some photos of what we had: A Persian meal is never complete without rice. My mom-in-law decided to make baghali...

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Ginger Scallion Beef Tripe

Ginger scallion beef tripe is one of my favorite dim sum dishes. It usually comes in a small dish, and I find it is never enough. I love making tripe at home because I can make and eat as much as I want. I buy beef tripe from a Chinese butcher, and it is important to find tripe that is cleaned well by the butcher. I usually judge it by its color: the whiter the better. In Ottawa, I get my beef tripe from 168 Market. Beef tripe is the stomach...

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Lunch at Allium, Ottawa

My friend Wals and I ventured over to Westboro for lunch to check out Allium. I've been meaning to come here for a while, but never got the chance until now. This little bistro has a very upbeat vibe to it. The restaurant is in an old house where the floors echo as you walk across them. While we were there, loud music was playing, not overly loud, but not quiet either. I thought the place had a nice charm to it.My appy was the salmon tartare...

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Simple Spicy Mac 'n Cheese

My sister-in-law, Halls, keeps me humble by occasionally reminding me that great food can be simple. She does so by buying me books such as the one below with a card saying "Where [Nooschi] learns that food is not always glamorous": Halls, this dish is for you ;-)Here in Ottawa, winter just does not want to go away. Today, for example, the bright sun was beaming through the windows, but as soon as I set foot outside to go take a walk, it felt...

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Cous Cous Alla Panzanella

One of my favorite Canadian Food Network Shows is David Rocco's Dolce Vita. It is a great show that shows snippets of David's life and adventures in Italy. I'm pumped everytime I hear the upbeat theme music of his show, and of course, I love his food. In each show, David shows you how to make very simple Italian dishes that are effortless.One of my favorite recipes is his Cous Cous Alla Panzanella. It is a no-cook cous cous recipe that is easy...

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Sukhothai, Ottawa

Sukhothai in Bells Corners is great place for a quick and flavorful lunch. Their dishes come out fast if you order from their lunch menu, and while the menu may be short, it has a good variety of dishes to satisfy most people. Without fail, I always order the Tod Gra-Tiam Prik Thai Ta-Lay, or to keep things simple, selection E. This is sauteed shrimp, scallop and squid with a garlic and pepper sauce on rice. Their portions don't look like much...

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