It's a long bus ride up St-Laurent to Pastaga Restaurant in Little Italy on a Monday night. The neighbourhood's southern tip has none of its weekend charm—no Italian shouted from doorways, no shoppers buying canned tomatoes and imported olives at Milano's, no Fifa World Cup fans … [Read more...] about Pastaga: Little Italy’s Restaurant Renaissance
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Laloux: My New Favourite Montreal Bistro
In a city that does bistro well, Laloux is a whole lot more than duck confit. Bistro: well-priced, quickly-plated French food in a small neighbourhood establishment. Things are usually slow-cooked or quick seared: tender lamb shank, duck confit, steak-frites, probably some kind … [Read more...] about Laloux: My New Favourite Montreal Bistro
Pasta-Maker Gluten-Free Fusilli with Tomato Sauce
It's too beautiful a day to write a sad story about great gluten-free fusilli. So I'm going to leave the sad parts out about the context of this meal, and concentrate on the swirls of pasta that extruded from my pasta maker a couple weeks ago. I do love my pasta maker. It was a … [Read more...] about Pasta-Maker Gluten-Free Fusilli with Tomato Sauce
The Adventure Time Board Game and a DIY 5 à 7
There's an Adventure Time Board Game? Did you know this? I didn't. Not until my friend sent it to me to test, anyway. I didn't even know what Adventure Time was, since I'm neither a stoner or a 4-year-old kid. Basically it's a cartoon that was made for grown-ups but then kids … [Read more...] about The Adventure Time Board Game and a DIY 5 à 7
Swiss Wines in Montreal: Chasselas, Petite Arvine, and Pinot Noir Invade
...But the Swiss don't invade, you say. They're neutral. True. So I figured they wouldn't have much to say about wine. But under the cover of strict time-keeping and debate moderating, they like to drink as much as the rest of us. Maybe they even argue a little when they're … [Read more...] about Swiss Wines in Montreal: Chasselas, Petite Arvine, and Pinot Noir Invade
Going Full Circle
I have a very nice feeling of closure at the moment. I just built a trellis with a gardening friend, planted heirloom carrots, traded seeds, and both of us felt as though we got the better end of the deal. And putting these plants into the ground and wondering what miracles of … [Read more...] about Going Full Circle
Vietnamese Chau: Rice Porridge and a Scared Stomach
I spent two months in Asia generally feeling sick. Whether my digestion was up in arms over gluten or bacteria, I had to spend a lot of time with my knees tucked into my chest, lying on my back, hoping the pain and bloating would go away so I could sleep. Or get up. By the time I … [Read more...] about Vietnamese Chau: Rice Porridge and a Scared Stomach
Stewed Alpaca and Peruvian Fine Dining at Mochica Restaurant in Montreal
It's actually a homestyle Peruvian dish, believe it or not. The alpaca adobo stew above, I mean. Go into the mountains of Northern Peru and you won't find any platings of the dish with edible flowers, balsamic gels and foie gras foams. The people of Piura would give you blank … [Read more...] about Stewed Alpaca and Peruvian Fine Dining at Mochica Restaurant in Montreal
Exquisite La Porte Restaurant in Montreal
"Can we go to that place you sent me last time?" Designing food itineraries for friends and family travelling to Montreal is like giving a kid a firecracker—dangerous and fun. Last time my mom was in town I dropped her off at La Porte for a solo dinner I couldn't stay for, sad … [Read more...] about Exquisite La Porte Restaurant in Montreal
Salt-Grilled Fish, a Night Market and Living Near BTS On Nut in Bangkok, Thailand
The second the woman said "It's near a night market," I was sold. I was sitting in a bamboo shaded rooftop cafe ("on" a rooftop cafe?) in Ton Sai, Thailand, trying to figure out where to stay when I got to Bangkok. A lot of the hostels seemed that they were downtown and a lot … [Read more...] about Salt-Grilled Fish, a Night Market and Living Near BTS On Nut in Bangkok, Thailand