chuck's burger bar

We went to Chuck's Burger Bar for dinner while we were in Hamilton over the weekend. I feel like the layout could have been better since it's a small space (our party of four were seated at an awkward long, high table), but the food was good (and that's what counts, right?) Cooked to medium (exactly how I like mine) and housed within a properly soft bun, the burgers were great. We also shared two of their poutines: the traditional Quebecois and the pulled pork. Both were good, but I've had better.

* pulled pork poutine

* Quebecois poutine

* slider trio (bacon + Blue Haze cheese/Chuck's triple cheese/pulled pork + slaw)

* angus burger

* Chuck's Burger Bar

194 Locke Street South

Hamilton, ON.

sparkle northern chinese cuisine

While in Hamilton on Saturday, Seema and Steve took us to this northern Chinese restaurant. It was awesome. Plump dumplings, lamb skewers and eggplant in a savoury pork-laden sauce were happily consumed. Finding a hidden gem like this in a city that's not Toronto is always a welcome surprise.

* eggplant with pork

* dumplings

* dumpling with pork and fennel filling

* dumpling with beef and onion filling

* lamb skewers with fennel, cumin and chili

* Sparkle

165 King Street E

Hamilton, ON.

malaysia eats

One of my best friends, Heather, was on vacation in Malaysia and sent me these great food pics. I don't know much about Malaysian cuisine so I found them intriguing. Thanks for these Heath!

* corn stand (She said this was in a mall. Corn seems to be a common snack in Asia) 

* cup of corn (tossed in salt and butter)

* Bamakoise Fish (Bamakoise is a local fish. Here it's pan-fried and served with burned butter, banana, saffron rice)

*Dory fish (pan-fried and served with yellow curry sauce, rice and vegetables)

* Black rice pudding w/ coconut and brown sugar sauce

* 
Champor Champor Restaurant & Bar

Langkawi, Malaysia

a night of nabe

While in Hamilton my friend Seema made us Nabe for dinner. This Japanese hot pot was perfect rainy day comfort food. The flavour of the broth was infused by everything in the pot. And there was a lot in that pot: shrimp, clams, cod, scallops, crab legs, tofu, shirataki noodles, braised daikon, mushrooms, cabbage, mizuna greens and leeks. Every bite was a different flavour and texture—so satisfying to eat! For dessert: Vienna cheesecake and blueberry crumble cake from Denninger's. Thanks Seema and Steve for showing us around the city and for the delicious dinner!

* broiled mackerel

* raw nabe

* nabe cooking

* cooked nabe

* tozai sake

this was a new find at the lcbo—it has a nice fruity taste.

* blueberry crumble cake

* Vienna cheesecake

i need to learn how to make this, it was unlike any other cheesecake I have ever had.

a day in hamilton

Over the weekend Joe and I went on a little day trip to Hamilton. I wanted to check out the newly renovated farmers market and also visit our friends Seema and Steve. The market was bustling and larger than I thought it would be. I feel like it has a lot of potential and am definitely looking forward to seeing it when it's overflowing with seasonal produce this summer. Another highlight of our trip: Denninger's. Cured meats, cheese and pretty much any European ingredient you would need is here. I went a bit crazy for the cheap Ritter Sport bars and Haribo candies while Joe pounced on the selection of salami.

* the market is two floors and has everything from meat and cheese to produce and ethnic ingredients.

* should have bought some

* fish!

* so many homemade baked goods

* easter chocolate display at Denninger's

* i love Milka bars. it's a weakness.

* i also love Haribo candies.

* this is a lone pickle in a sealed can (i'll post the contents when i open it)

* ritter sport bars (another weakness).

* sweet and horseradish mustard

* joe's meat haul (from left to right): hot cacciatore, venison and beef salami, german style salami, smoked link sausage

* whisky cheddar

After having a taste of this cheese Seema and I both bought some. It's sharp, but slightly creamy and even a touch sweet. Just a bit more complex than an average aged cheddar.

* Denninger's

284 King St. E

Hamilton, ON.

* Hamilton Farmers Market

35 York Blvd.

Hamilton, ON.

an upcoming trip!

It's official—Joe and I booked a week-long trip to London and Paris in May. It's still many months away, but I've already started compiling my list of markets to see, restaurants to check out and patisseries to visit. We were last in Paris in 2008 and have both never been to London. Here are some pics of eats from our last Paris trip.

food souvenirs from italy

When I left Italy my luggage was about 10 pounds heavier than when I left Canada. And of course Alitalia made me pay (not going to disclose the INSANE amount of Euros!) to bring all my precious Italian food souvenirs back home. I knew that I was going to have pay, but it still hurt (my wallet). Anyways, here are some of the things that I brought back with me. Not pictured are the olives, anchovies, peperoncini, aged balsamic vinegar, more chocolate and more olive oil that contributed to my overweight bag.

* honey from Tuscany

* two types of mostarda

* close-up of mostarda (you can kinda see the whole fruit in there)

* three types of hazelnut spread (one from a grocery store, one from Vestri—an amazing chocolate shop in Florence, and of course, Nutella—bought solely for the Barbapapa jar)

* two types of olive oil purchased at the Mercato Centrale in Florence. November is when the new olive oil is pressed and I was lucky enough to pick up two cans that were pressed just days before.

* snacks: fonzies and Nutella & Go (brilliant idea! wish they had these here.)

* fonzies (i.e inferior Cheetos that have the same texture, but taste like the smell of burnt Kraft Singles. In other words: gross.)

* milk chocolate & pistachio bar from Vestri

* bar close-up: this was really good. I also picked up a white chocolate & almond bar that has already been devoured.