This isn't the first year that Marc Cohen, chef of Lawrence, has spearheaded Mission Possible, a fundraiser for the Mile End Community Mission. But it was the first time I went. The goal isn't to sing the praises of the amazing restaurants, cafés and wine agencies that donate … [Read more...] about Mission Possible 2016: An Annual Food Fundraiser for the Mile-End Community Mission
The Wine Whisperers, Part 2: Coturri Winery, Sonoma Valley, California
I was on a mission. I was spending a week in Sonoma and Napa in search on natural, biodynamic and organic wines. There were to be no trolley tours, no limo tours, and, as one of my favourite Montreal wine import companies proclaims: "No shit in my wine." My next stop? Coturri. … [Read more...] about The Wine Whisperers, Part 2: Coturri Winery, Sonoma Valley, California
Chasing Matthew: Montreal to Aruba and back again
Most people go to tropical islands for vacation. I go for work, which admittedly makes me one of the luckiest people in the world. It's not all glamour, though; I often end up spending a lot of time in my room on my computer while real vacationers take advantage of the water and … [Read more...] about Chasing Matthew: Montreal to Aruba and back again
Don’t Have a Market, Have a Baby: Marche St-Jacques
Wait! That's not the series name! Haven't I spent the summer and fall extolling the value of markets over babies? Well, the world got a little turned upside down when I walked into the muzak-playing, sterilized air-pumping, Marche St-Jacques, and suddenly babies, by comparison, … [Read more...] about Don’t Have a Market, Have a Baby: Marche St-Jacques
The Great Pumpkin (Don’t Have A Baby, Have A Market, Part 2): Buttered Mashed Squash, Butternut Soup, and Home-Made Pumpkin Pie
If you missed part 1 of this series, you'll want to check out the picture of the baby-less, but squash-filled carriage. Summer markets may be over, Hallowe'en long gone, but squash are still abundant. And my point about having a market and not a baby is that if you only had one … [Read more...] about The Great Pumpkin (Don’t Have A Baby, Have A Market, Part 2): Buttered Mashed Squash, Butternut Soup, and Home-Made Pumpkin Pie
The Wine Whisperers, Part 1: Budweiser Wine, Foot Yeast and Carbonated Sparkling at The Scholium Project
The Scholium Project isn’t your average Napa winery. Instead of a posh tasting room, the unheated rental of a barn is filled with bladder presses and stacked barrels with names like Polupous (Octopus in Greek), Sally Field and “lees poop.” Only the first of those is for … [Read more...] about The Wine Whisperers, Part 1: Budweiser Wine, Foot Yeast and Carbonated Sparkling at The Scholium Project
Everyday Chinese Stir-Fried Chicken with Bok Choy and Snow Peas
Look at those peas. Aren't they gorgeous? Those peas and bok choy were not bought in a grocery store. I picked those myself, and felt almost bad stir-frying them until I saw how bright green and delicious this recipe made them. The recipe is incredibly simple, and it's not … [Read more...] about Everyday Chinese Stir-Fried Chicken with Bok Choy and Snow Peas
Greek Dolmades: Vegan, Healthy and Local (if you Forage the Vine Leaves)
I'd walked past the vine leaves outside my community garden hundreds of times, but I'd never put them to use in my kitchen until now. I know they're good for two things: pickling cucumbers (they supposedly keep the pickles firmer without adding any chemicals) and dolmades (Greek … [Read more...] about Greek Dolmades: Vegan, Healthy and Local (if you Forage the Vine Leaves)
Living for Charcuterie, Chicken and Chenin at La Buvette Chez Simone
How do you define Montreal as a food city? We have a little of everything, but we specialize in a very open interpretation of French-inspired cuisine. We're grazers – a little of this and a little of that, all accompanied by a glass of wine or a beer. And we enjoy a place for … [Read more...] about Living for Charcuterie, Chicken and Chenin at La Buvette Chez Simone
Omnivore Grill and the Story of the Plateau Work Lunch
Has Yotam Ottolenghi taken over the world? Perhaps not, but he's certainly a big reason that Middle Eastern cuisine is big right now. And with a strong Syrian community in Montreal (and proud reps from the rest of the Middle East), the city isn't lacking hummus. Damas, Sumac, … [Read more...] about Omnivore Grill and the Story of the Plateau Work Lunch