Cool Little Coffee Shop on Elgin. The Ministry of Coffee, Ottawa

The Ministry of Coffee is a great little place to hang out, chill and enjoy good coffee. The staff is incredibly friendly and they've got a decent menu of coffee, drinks and food. This is a great place to get comfy and slow down, while the quick paced traffic on Elgin buzzes by. The Ministry of Coffee specializes in coffee but they also offer other drinks, baked goods and sandwiches. On the day I was there, they had a pork tenderloin sandwich...

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Awesome Spring Rolls at Pho'licious, Ottawa

I find it is hard to write about pho houses - they are either good, average or bad. Every place pretty much offers the same dishes and unless you spend the time to analyze the most minute details, it's really hard to comment on how good a pho dish is without repeating yourself. Yes, there are times when a restaurant does something phenomenally or offers something that others don't, but that doesn't happen often. B20 - Grilled Homemade Pork Meatball...

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Recipe: Green Tropical Smoothie

This recipe is posted for my darling sis who has been bugging me non-stop for my Green Tropical Smoothie recipe. When she came to visit recently, I made this for us every morning since this smoothie is now part of my daily morning routine. When I want less sugar, I will omit the mango and only use 1/2 a lime instead of a whole one. I've listed coconut as optional because I sometimes buy a muesli with coconut in it. When that's the case, I don't...

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Recipe: Vietnamese Sour Tamarind Soup (Canh Chua)

It's amazing how, as a kid, you never question what you are eating. At least I didn't. I either liked it or didn't. It was that simple. I didn't realize how little I knew about the dishes I grew up with until I started asking my mom or my aunt (who was like a mom to me) for the recipe, and then not knowing what half of the ingredients are. "What is that called in English?" I would ask. The answer back would always be,...

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Recipe: Mango Pineapple Smoothie

This mango pineapple smoothie was inspired by 2 things: the mango lassi drink and my recent interest in salsa dancing. You combine the two together and you get this! I absolutely encourage you to use fresh mangoes. I find frozen ones lack flavor and have only a faint mango taste when you compare it to the fresh stuff. As for the cinnamon, I recommend using Vietnamese cinnamon. It is regarded as the best cinnamon in the world and you will...

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Recipe: Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts

Every once in a while, I get this desperate craving for brussel sprouts. I don't care what anyone says, if you make brussel sprouts properly, they are GOOD! They don't have to be boiled, mushy and tasteless. Brussel sprouts should be slightly crunchy, with a sauce that balances out the bitterness. A balsamic vinegar glaze is a great way to bring some pizazz to your brussel sprouts. The prep time on this dish takes only...

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Recipe: Tangy Raspberry Pineapple Smoothie

Two words that describe what this smoothie tastes like: Tangy SweeTARTS. I've been making this smoothie almost everyday because it tastes just like candy! However, instead of loading up on refined sugars, you are getting 4 full servings of fruit in this one smoothie. If it is too sour on its own, add in a natural sweetner. Honey or agave are the best choices. Tangy Raspberry Pineapple Smoothie - 1 cup of frozen raspberries - 1 banana - 1/2 cup...

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Ever So Posh Lobster Cocktail Potato Crisps

I recently received some goodies from the UK and was ecstatic when I saw these Marks & Spencer Ever So Posh lobster cocktail potato crisps. I loved the flavor idea, I loved the packaging and mostly, I loved the name "Ever So Posh"! When I first opened the bag, there was a deadly scent of seafood. I thought for sure the chips would have a strong taste of lobster, but surprisingly, they were mild and did not have a strong...

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Recipe: Watermelon Feta Mint Salad

The North American food industry has worked hard to remove bitter and sour tastes from the mass produced foods available in grocery stores, steering people to favor salty and sweet tastes. However, removing bitter and sour tastes may also be removing certain nutrients that are helping our bodies stay healthy and to fight diseases. A well balanced diet is the best policy, which also includes balancing salty, sweet, bitter and sour tastes....

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Recipe: Zingy Pineapple and Papaya Chia Shake

I know I keep posting shake recipes but I can't get enough of them! It is such a convenient way to get your fruits and nutrients that I've made it part of my daily routine. Having a shake/smoothie each morning knocks out at least 2 servings of your daily fruit intake, plus a bunch of other good stuff like essential fatty acids, anti-oxidants and protein. Chia seeds aren't just good as pets (remember ch-ch-ch-chia?), they are an extremely...

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Sloppy Sandwiches You Can't Refuse at Black Camel, Toronto

Pulled Pork Sandwich with BBQ Sauce, Horseradish and Caramelized Onions Black Camel is one of Toronto's most popular sandwich shops. Serving only 5 basic sandwiches, Black Camel keeps it simple and focuses on food quality. Their beef brisket and pulled pork involves a 5-day prep process, and their sauces are fresh with layers and layers of serious flavor. The five basic sandwiches include: slow roasted beef brisket, pulled...

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Recipe: Dairy Free Parsley Pesto

Not everyone loves Basil. For those who don't, why deprive them of pesto? It's such a fresh and easy way to enjoy noodles and it requires absolutely no cooking! I decided to try a parsley pesto to shake things up. Cheese seemed to be too heavy with parsley, so I cut that out entirely and added lemon juice. We've been substituting regular pasta for buckwheat noodles lately, and this pesto goes great with buckwheat. Give it a try if you're looking...

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Sunday Brunch at Canvas Resto-Bar-Etc, Ottawa

I hadn't heard anything about Canvas Resto-Bar-Etc for a longggg time, so we decided to go check it out for Sunday brunch. A good mid-priced place for brunch, Canvas serves food that you would prepare in your own kitchen. The food is not overly greasy and they don't try to overdo it with extra bacon, cheese or sugar. It is just good wholesome food. In the summertime, the windows are all open in fresco style, which gives the place...

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Recipe: The Elvis Shake (Rattle and Roll)

When a friend told me about combining peanut butter with banana in a shake, my body grew weak with excitement. Sweet ripe banana combined with a spoonful of thick creamy peanut butter is a killer combination. I was so excited about the shake idea that I stayed up all night trying to think of the best combination for a breakfast shake. And, here you have it! I present you with the Elvis Shake. The dash of cayenne pepper in this recipe...

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One of the Best Burgers in Ottawa West - Vera's Burger Shack, Ottawa

Without fail, summer always brings on the urge for burgers. I'm not a burger expert but CK certainly is. He is always looking out for the best burger, and has pretty much tried every burger joint in Ottawa. Vera's Burger Shack has been a consistent favorite, and is our first choice in the West end. The flavorful and juicy burgers are made fresh to order, and slightly pink. They are especially fresh because they come straight from...

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Recipe: Spinach and Feta Turkish Gozleme

One of the things I miss most about living in Sydney is easy access to Turkish Gozlemes! Like Thai food, Turkish food is hard to miss in Sydney. There are Turkish pide and kebab stalls scattered throughout the city, and while gozlemes are not served in every kebab stall, you can almost guarantee to find them at the weekend markets or annual festivals. I tried my first Turkish gozleme at the Birkenhead outlet mall. CK and I had...

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Blackie Brings Upscale Downtown Dining to Ottawa West with NEXT

Labneh Cream Cheese with Baguette, Pickled Okra, Olives and Roasted Pepper Blackie has ventured out to Ottawa West to bring some oomph into the Stittsville area. A rapidly developing part of the city, Stittsville is short of an upscale restaurant that isn't Italian. Situated in the same building as the former Isaac's restaurant, NEXT is pretty far West...even for the Kanata peeps. Blackie, with partner Tim Snelling, is doing more than just...

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