spanish tomato toast (pan con tomate)
Last week we were in Madrid and are totally smitten. Mr. S and I have never been before. He’s half Spanish so whenever we are in a Spanish country, he feels a connection even though he grew up in England. We’ve been to Barcelona before but Spain’s capital tugged at our hearts! It’s a beautiful,…
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fish wellington – a dinner party hit!
We have Julia Child to thank for making beef Wellington popular. The dish was aired in 1965 on a New Year’s day broadcast. I have eaten it maybe two or three times during my adult life; I enjoyed it but sometimes the meat was overcooked and when buying in a restauarnt, it isn’t cheap. It…
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black garlic – a labour of love
Last year I saw a post on Instagram talking about black garlic. My initial thought was EWW. How could this be a good thing and how could chefs rave about it? Surely this was some sort of crazy food fad. For me, if veggies look dark, then they’re most probably rotten. But a quick glance…
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roasted radishes – so pretty!
If you follow me on Instagram, you’ve most probably seen a few photos I’ve taken Saturday mornings at our local farmers’ market. It’s a perfect way to connect with vendors who earn their living off the land and it’s inspiration for me deciding what to make for dinner that night. I always find something new.
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how to cook a lobster – it’s easier than you think!
Lobster season is now open and the shop near us, Wayne’s World Lobster, opened its doors last Thursday. Heading there to pick out our lobster was a fond reminder of my childhood. Twice a year (possibly 3) my parents would drive to a lobster pound and choose the ones they would take home. Sometimes my…
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fresh mozzarella, sweet cherry peppers and arugula pie
Flatbreads have been consumed by the ancient Egyptians, Romans and Greeks. The humble pizza/pie (an expanded version of a flatbread), became popular in the USA in the mid-1900s when the Neapolitans came over for factory jobs. According to history.com, the first documented pizzeria was Lombardi’s in Manhattan, licensed to sell pizza in 1905 and is…
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double chocolate chip parfait – how to use a failed recipe
It happens. Cooks of all levels have experienced a failed recipe at least once, maybe more. The thing is, a failed recipe has room for improvement and making it into something better the next time around. That’s how we discover things, through trial and error.
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hummus (with a surprising ingredient)
Most of us have, at some point, enjoyed hummus either as a dip with pita bread and veggies or as a condiment slathered over a falafel. The recipe is simple; grab a can of chickpeas (aka garbanzo beans), garlic, tahini, lemon or lime juice, coriander and process in a blender. Hummus is a healthy substitute…
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cioppino and a San Francisco mini trip
During the first week in March, Mr. S and I were in San Francisco; he was attending GDC while I was a tourist for 5 days. I had never been before and was eager to explore as much as possible and I did! Each day was packed with something new. We stayed in the Mission…
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Portland Street Crêperie – a taste of France
Who doesn’t enjoy a delicious crêpe? Even better when a father and son duo decided to open a crêperie 18 months ago in downtown Dartmouth. Over the past 24 months the downtown core has seen a resurgence in the retail and food industry; mostly started by young, enthusiastic entrepreneurs. Mr. S and I are always…
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homemade anchovy butter (umami-rich)
Making flavoured butter isn’t a new invention but when anchovies are added, you get a whole lotta umami-rich going on. Say what? Umami is a trendy foodie word for a pleasant savoury taste. In a nutshell, something to pump up the flavour like adding a splash of fish sauce or lime juice. I read that…
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avocado and shrimp wonton baskets
When entertaining, I like to make appetisers that err on the side of healthy. I also make sure there’s a mix of food while being cognizant of the dietary restrictions our guests might have. Last month I made wonton noodle soup but only used half the wonton wrappers; the rest I froze. There’s always a…
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homemade grainy mustard
There’s an immense satisfaction when something homemade turns out well and puts a smile on your face. It gives that boost in confidence and lets you know you can tackle the next project on a high note. We love grainy mustard almost as much as we do Dijon. In the past 20 years, I have…
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