poutine at home

Vern brought me back some squeaky cheese curds from Fromagerie Lemaire. Check out her post from Quebec City here. I decided to make my own homemade poutine. I used shoestring fries, chicken gravy and those squeaky curds. I kept it simple and classic, the curds alone were delicious. Try this out at home for a quick hearty Quebec-style poutine.

gourmet burger company

* smokey bacon burger

* the crispiest sweet potato fries ever

Gourmet Burger Company opened their uptown location recently and I had the chance to stop in for lunch while I was in the area. I've been going to their Cabbagetown location since they opened and I have to say that their consistent burgers and sides are perfect for when I have a burger craving. Be sure to swing by their uptown location complete with patio, spacious seating and open windows this summer. Here are some pictures from my visit. Their Smokey Bacon Burger and Onion Rings are a must.

quebec city pt.2

Too much indulging went on during my trip to Quebec City. Lets just say that I'm only eating vegetables this week.

pretty packaging from Erico Choco-Musee (part chocolate shop, part chocolate museum)

* from top to bottom: valrhona ganache, butter pecan, fleur de sel caramel

* Erico Choco-Musee

634 rue Saint-Jean

Fromagerie Lemaire off the Trans-Canada Highway near Drummondville, Quebec. Known for their poutine and cheese curds, I had to stop here on our way home. The poutine was delicious (mainly due to the freshest cheese curds ever!) and they offer varieties such as smoked meat poutine and roast beef poutine. They do use frozen french fries, however, they were crispy, not overly greasy and I didn't care because the cheese curds were blowing my mind. This place knows their poutine.

* original poutine (they even layer in the cheese curds so there's cheesy goodness all the way through, not just on top)

* saucisse poutine (my bro found out that "saucisse" doesn't mean sausage in this case, it means hot dogs. He still ate all of it)

* italian poutine (no gravy, just meat sauce. this was mine and it was real good)

these cheese curds were freshly scooped and bagged for me. They were still warm when they were placed into my greedy hands. So squeaky!

they also sell a large variety of Quebec cheeses, but i was too busy admiring my bags of cheese curds

* Fromagerie Lemaire

2095, route 122

St-Cyrille, Quebec

candied almonds

Salty and sweet, these candied almonds are easy to make and are perfect for topping salads or just to snack on. They also take no time to whip up and are a cheaper alternative to the candied nuts in the grocery store.



1 C raw almonds
1/3 C sugar
4 tbsp water
a few pinches of coarse salt (I used fleur de sel)

1. Place almonds, sugar and water in a skillet and cook over medium heat, stirring often. After a few minutes the water and sugar will seize up and crystalize.

2. Lower the heat and continue to stir the almonds. Some of the crystallized sugar will begin to melt and turn a golden colour.

3. Continue coating and cooking the almonds in the syrup/sugar mixture until they reach a deep amber colour. Then sprinkle the almonds with a generous pinch or two of the coarse salt.

4. Tip the almonds onto a parchment lined cookie sheet or plate to cool. Once cool to the touch, separate the almonds so that they don't all clump together. These will keep in an airtight container for about two weeks.

quebec city pt.1

Last week I snuck away on a short, but much-needed getaway to Quebec City with my fam and Joe. Because our hotel was a two bedroom suite (with a full kitchen!) we didn't eat any of our main meals out, but that didn't stop us from treating ourselves to some tasty bites while walking the cobblestone streets.

First stop, Paillard

* so much bread

* pastries & sweets

* millefeuille

* macarons

* Paillard

1097 rue Saint-Jean

North America's oldest grocery store, Epicerie J.A Moisan

* Epicerie J.A Moisan

699 rue Saint-Jean

* mint chocolate + field berry gelato

* Tutto Gelato

710 rue Saint-Jean

A plate of maple fudge to wash down the gelato?

* La Fudgerie

16 rue du Cul-de-Sac

Stay tuned for part two: poutine, cheese and chocolate...

handicraft hash house

I finally ordered some of Ted's handmade pies. Handicraft Hash House is where you can order all of his delicious pies, breads and preserves. Located in London Ontario, Ted has been baking and cooking up a storm for several years working as a chef. Vern and I baked up some specially requested mini patties. I find things in smaller packages more fun to eat. The flaky crust was just right and the spicy beef filling set the tone for this mini patty with a kick. Check out his interactive site and put in your orders for your next dinner.

top 3 coffee shops

It's no secret that I love coffee. There seems to be a new coffee shop opening up on every major street in Toronto. I'm glad to see independent coffee shops opening up and I love trying out new places to drink coffee. Here are my top 3 coffee places in Toronto that you must visit. I've been known to go across the city and I think these are worth the extra travel time.

The Communal Mule - One of my favourite spots to grab an americano and a cheese & apple scone. It has a very friendly vibe which I love, and you'll probably have Peter greet you when you walk up to the counter and order. Look for new issues of Monocle, fashion and design magazines on the tables to flip through, plus great tunes playing while hanging out.

Dark Horse Espresso Bar - I've been a long time fan of Dark Horse and I've been known to travel to their east end location in the early mornings. Their communal table works so well, especially if you need to check your email or read the morning paper. The blueberry muffins are a must. If you're in the downtown area be sure to visit their Spadina location with their modern mix of furniture and enough space to house groups of people with their laptops during lunch hours.

Jet Fuel Cafe - This Cabbagetown fixture has been a favourite of mine since high school. Their simple shop is busy and bustling with artists, locals and is a favourite amongst cyclists. Be sure to grab their classic frothy large latte when you're there. Rotating art exhibits and a sense of community make it a great landmark coffee shop in Toronto.

* The Communal Mule

984 Dundas Street West

* Jet Fuel Cafe

519 Parliament Street

* Dark Horse Espresso Bar

682 Queen Street East

215 Spadina Ave

momofuku's blueberry and cream cookies

When I was in New York this past February I made sure to stop by Momofuku's Milk Bar for some late-night cookies. I fell in love with their compost cookie and the marshmallow, cornflake, chocolate chip cookie, but unfortunately their blueberry and cream cookie was sold out that night. So when I got home I decided to make them instead. Though a bit time consuming, these cookies were worth it. They're not overly sweet and have a unique flavour that I presume comes from the "milk crumbs". I found the recipe here.

hoof cafe

We'd heard so many good things about Hoof Cafe and our curiosity got us craving the much-touted suckling pig benny. This brunch spot is located at 923 Dundas St. W just in walking distance of Vern's place. We knew about the lineups and waiting times and didn't want go when it was busy, so we got there at exactly 10 a.m. when they opened. Here are some pics of our memorable brunch. Check it out when you get the chance and be there bright and early.

* Hoof Cafe, 923 Dundas Street West.

* cherry jam marrow doughnuts

* suckling pig benny

* baked beans and links

* pork ribs, before

* pork ribs, after

* pork belly pastrami

cheese please

Over the weekend Davis and I had an impromptu cheese party at my house. We ventured out to our fav cheese shop (read Davis’s post on The Cheese Boutique here) and proceeded to indulge in some amazing cheeses and cured meats.

I’m not a cheese expert by any means, but this is how I’d describe our selections for the night:

Roaring forties: a favourite blue cheese for both Davis and I, it’s sharp tasting, pleasantly pungent, slightly creamy and not too overpowering.

Old Amsterdam: an aged Gouda that is dry and slightly gritty, it has caramel-y sweet undertones, but is also quite sharp tasting too.

Prima Donna: has the same texture as a semi-old Gouda, but is nuttier and a bit more piquant. It’s milder than the Old Amsterdam, but more flavourful than your average Gouda.

Niagara Gold: a semi-soft cheese that tastes amazingly buttery, sweet and tangy all at the same time.

Comfort Cream: a super creamy camembert-style cheese that is decadently rich, salty and oh so good on it’s own or with a dollop of red pepper jelly.

We also made bacon wrapped dates stuffed with Parmigiano Reggiano, retro-inspired deviled eggs and bought some amazing Grand Marnier chicken liver mousse made in Quebec. Along with some good baguette and crostini thrown in for good measure, we had a delicious evening.

Clockwise from top left: Roaring Forties (Australia); Old Amsterdam (Netherlands); Prima Donna (Netherlands); Niagara Gold (Ontario); Comfort Cream (Ontario); Homemade red pepper jelly; Iberico Chorizo (Spain); Rosette de Lyon salami (France); Spicy Casalingo salami (Italy)