My Favourite Things November 10, 2009

I was thinking today about my favourite food items that, if I could never have again would be really unfortunate. Here are my top 5-

1. Moss Jams – Moss Jams out of Stratford Ontario. I was first introduced to these jams by Lisa Dixon at Black Honey in Peterborough. My favourite is the Rhubarb/Ginger.

2. Cocoa Camino Chocolate by La Siembra Co-Operative – the chocolate I love-my favourite Dark, Chili Spice, a mix of dark chocolate, chilis, cinnamon and ginger reminds me of Mexico. **I was lucky enough to be part of the group that tested their new flavours

3. Harmony Organic Milk 2% in the old fashioned glass bottle

4. Artichokes (nuff said)

5. Cumin (what in the world would I ever do?)

Now I know I could live without these things, but the world is just a much better place with them in it.

If you care to share your top five food items in the comment section and you are one of the first ten to respond-I will send you a Cocoa Camino Milk Chocolate Bar

Paradise on Preston November 8, 2009

The only question I have for myself after all of this time is, what took me so long? Why after close to two years in Ottawa has it taken me forever to get to Preston St.?

In the past month I have been lucky enough to have 2 great experiences there and today being able to spend some time with Joe Calabro at Pasticceria Gelateria Italiana Ltd was a complete pleasure.

We wandered in searching for breakfast. My daughter told me about this place, raved about their chocolate creme brulee. I had forgotten, but not for long, when I walked through that front door I was like a kid in a candy store, in fact the first two people I thought about were my nieces and how I couldn’t wait to bring them here, to see the looks on their faces. A beautiful display case full of gorgeous cakes, macaroons, biscotti, truffles, meringues, you name it. Next to that a hot counter full of the days special pastas, sandwiches, and a beautiful coffee counter where amazing creations were being lovingly concocted.

Even after seeing all of this, I still wanted breakfast and they serve it until early afternoon. I ordered a toasted western on whole wheat that arrived with home fries and an assortment of fresh fruit, I opted for a 12 oz regular coffee (my first in weeks). The western was perfect and much to my delight had red peppers in it. Adrian could not pass up one of the pasta specials, he ordered the meat cannelloni with a tomato cream sauce. The two large cannelloni were perfection, the pasta cooked perfectly, the meat filling generous and the tomato cream sauce balanced everything with its delicate flavours. Cait had the gnocchi, tender and delicious which also came with tomato cream sauce. The staff here were fun, knowledgeable, considerate.

There are two seating areas, one as you come in and a more private space in front of the counter where they make the coffee. On the walls, pictures of Joe Calabro, the places he has been, competitions he was part of, the awards he has won.

I couldn’t really resist asking to take a few pictures to blog about, so the staff needed to ask the boss and few minutes later there he was, this humble, kind, award-winning chef, 30 years with this wonderful business. Joe is a member of the Canadian Federation of Chefs, a member of the European World Master Chefs Society and member of Les Toques Blanches International. Not only did he oblige with the picture-taking but offered to take me upstairs to view the beautiful cakes he creates, for weddings, birthdays, baptisms, and anniversaries. My family in tow we headed upstairs and honestly I felt like I walked into heaven, rooms filled with beautiful cakes, I could only imagine how a bride would feel in this space. I asked Joe what the average wedding cake costs, his start at about $400 and go up, the average being about $850. I thought this extremely reasonable, these cakes were like art.

The sugar and marzipan creations were skillfully done, every detail carefully crafted. Cookies and other party favours can be personalized. They do both corporate work and contribute to the community through endless amounts of non-profit support.

We couldn’t leave without something sweet. I felt it important to have something Italian, so we ordered 2 large cannoli and 1 pink macaroon (I have wanted a macaroon since seeing some on David Lebovitz’s web page). The cannoli are filled right there, with sweet ricotta cream each end being topped with candied fruit. There was a secret hidden in these cannoli’s, a flavour barely there, but it’s softness elevated the experience that much more, fruity, nutty, both perhaps? I decided I didn’t want to know, I wanted something magic.

Later, heading home, the scent of baking chocolate lingered on our clothes and I realized how fortunate I had been this day, me the one who loves to write about food and experiment with new recipes, stumbling in to Paradise on Preston Street.

Pasticceria Gelateria Italiana Ltd., 200 Preston St. Ottawa, ON

613-233-2104

Wrapped November 6, 2009

It had been awhile since I visited Shafali Indian Foods Bazaar in the Byward Market, and now I am wondering why I stayed away so long.

I love the chicken tikka wrap, perfectly cooked chicken on a bed of lettuce with spicy mayo wrapped in delicious, blistery, naan. It’s like comfort food, only the kind my grandmother didn’t make. The naan is baked fresh and continuously throughout the day and I was lucky enough to arrive when a new batch came out of the oven. The chicken is perfectly spiced and grilled, with a side of fragrant rice, this is the best lunch in town.

The family that owns it is friendly, and always willing to accomodate (their butter chicken is great too!).

Shafali Indian Foods Bazaar, 55 Byward Market (in the market building)

Potage Parmentier (My Version) October 24, 2009

I feel like I have committed a crime. This past weekend I took a favourite Julia Child recipe and put my own spin on it (I can see the purists cringing now, give me a break I am off caffeine and having some issues…).

I love leeks, I love the smell of them cooking in butter on top of the stove. I love potato and leek together, but the addition of chicken stock, a couple of cloves of garlic, crumbled bacon and cheese make them fabulous!

Julia’s Recipe:

Ingredients
3-4 cups of diced peeled potatoes (1 lb.)
3 cups thinly sliced leeks, including the tender greens
2 quarts water
1 Tablespoon salt
6 tablespoons heavy cream or 3 tablespoons softened butter
3 tablespoons minced chives or parsley

Directions
Simmer vegetables, salt, and water together, partially covered for 40 minutes in a 3-4 quart saucepan. Mash the vegetables into the soup with a fork or pass through a food mill. Julia Child did not like the texture of soup pureed in a blender, I use one of those hand mixers and leave a few bits. Adjust salt and pepper. You can stop at this point. When ready to serve, bring soup back to simmering. Then off the heat, stir in the cream or butter (I use cream) and top with chopped chives or parsley. Delish! Makes 6-8 servings.

So, I replaced the water with chicken stock and added two garlic cubes to the simmering vegetables, and at the end threw in some crumbled bacon and topped it off with some good cheddar. I served it with a French stick from Richtree and my family loved it!

****Do not forget the salt.

Lemon Up October 19, 2009

Working on some changes with the blog. The name change to the lemon kitchen is reflective of one of my favourite things, lemon and is also the colour of the kitchen in my home. With some assistance I will be working on the whole look of it and it will be a work in progress.

I will also be focussing more on recipes (the good, the bad and the ugly), just the occasional restaurant visit and perhaps promoting a few products I love and trust.

****Word out on one of my favourite blogs-David Lebovitz. If you haven’t read his blog yet, you should, he is a refreshing escape from the everyday. David’s experiences in Paris and his recipes are a pure delight. You can find him at www.davidlebovitz.com

End of an Era October 18, 2009

I am a little late in acknowledging this, but I am going to miss Gay Cook with the Citizen……

http://www2.canada.com/ottawacitizen/columnists/story.html?id=06027c88-9ea7-48b3-8269-b2827329322f

http://www.gaycook.com/

Cafe Au Lait, My Good Friend October 18, 2009

Although I love tea, nothing truly does it for me like a great cup of coffee. Mornings never seem complete, even if I have to delay the first cup until 10am I will still make sure to get it in. I even put up with the brew at work (sorry co-workers, unless a certain person makes it, it’s just not as good).

I am laying off my favourite beverage for a while for a few reasons, mainly to give myself a break from the caffeine (please don’t advise me to try decaf, because we all know it is just not the same thing). So I am in a bit of mourning, my Globe and yesterday morning just wasn’t the same even with a really good Earl Grey, plus I have had a mid-morning headache for 4 full days now. I even saw the look of disappointment in the face of my local barista when I opted for leaves instead of beans (they think they know me so well, and I go and do this). I must admit however, I did it once before and for a whole year I felt pretty fabulous off the stuff.

So if you have time I wouldn’t mind hearing stories of trying to break the habit, or giving it a break just to see how others made out.

My new French Press looks so lonely on the counter…….

Not Just Another Pretty Jar October 18, 2009

I have been meaning to try Bonne Maman Jam from France for a while now and finally picked some up in Quebec this past weekend. I can certainly get it here but when I saw that the price was $2.00 less than buying it here I couldn’t pass it up.

I have to admit, part of the appeal for me has been the pretty jar with its red and white gingham lid and the great label but I was pleased to discover that the jam is delicious (I purchased mandarin, for very selfish reasons, I knew no one else would use it). It truly does taste homemade, with thick pieces of mandarin the citrus/sweet balance is perfect.

We used it over brie served with some lovely crackers and the next day spread over multi-grain toast. I still have lots left and save it for the weekends with my Globe. I can’t wait to try the strawberry, and I am certainly willing to pay the extra to purchase it here! I fear I am addicted.

I know it can be purchased at local grocery stores and in the Byward Market-if anyone finds fig please let me know….

Goodbye Gourmet October 6, 2009

Sad news today. Conde Nast has decided to stop publishing Gourmet magazine. The oldest food magazine in United States (1941), will be saying goodbye along with Modern Bride and a few others. They blame a serious decline in ad pages.

Time to make sure I rescue and cherish every copy I have……

Giving Thanks October 6, 2009

As I prepare my Thanksgiving weekend menu, I always tend to reflect back on Thanksgiving past. It is my favourite holiday of the year, and I think the most beautiful of all the long weekends. The best and most anticipated Thanksgiving weekends were the ones my Mother’s brother organized on Rice Lake, just outside of Peterborough, ON.

We rented well worn cottages, with a big fire pit outside and the best part was actually pulling up to the site and seeing Uncle Bill, dressed in his cottage garb, a cold Labatt’s in his hand waiting for us. As soon as we unpacked the car, and dispensed with the necessary greetings the eating and drinking would commence and the festivities would last for three long splendid days. Between my aunts cheesecake, my cousin’s shrimp dip and my mom’s famous macaroni salad it was a decadent foodfest and each night we would roll into our beds in a food and fresh air induced coma. I loved every minute I spent with my cousins, aunts and uncles. The best thing about the whole weekend was the turkey, while it cooked away on Sunday it’s intoxicating aroma drifted throughout the campsite.  It had everyone (especially Uncle Bill) anticipating their first bites, not an hour would pass when there weren’t comments made about its arrival to the table and like true food addicts we were all waiting for our fix.

Its been a lot of years since we have all been together like this, these weekends softly went to sleep when we lost that lovable man 16 years ago, but thats okay, because thats what good memories are made of and I am so thankful for that.

Below please find the recipe for a very retro pasta salad, that has endured the test of time…..

Mom’s Macaroni Salad

I large bag of small pasta shells

2 cups of diced celery

1 1/2 cups of diced red onion

2 cans of crabmeat (or 1 can of crabmeat, 1 can of salad shrimp)

3 cups of good mayo (or your desired creaminess)

Prepare the pasta according to package directions and drain really well. When cooled mix all ingredients together and refrigerate. Prepare the night before (trust me on this).