It's How You Get to ‘Mmmmm...’
It began innocently enough. Leith asked me the other day if we could have a picnic.
“A picnic?”
“Yes, mama. On a blanket. With food we can eat with our fingers.”
It made sense. We’d done it in the summer a few times on the university grounds across the street. We packed sandwiches and juice and took the wagon and a few books and a Frisbee. It had been a lot of fun and obviously something he remembered enjoying.
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Okay, I admit it: I hate going grocery shopping. Don’t get me wrong, given the right circumstances and absolutely no company, I can be compelled to wander aisles and read labels and get lost in shelves of various types of hot sauce or roasted red peppers. I can spend eons comparing breads and trying to decide just what kind of cheese to purchase. But I don’t like to grocery shop.
Then I was treated to a sneak peek of the new Longo’s at Maple Leaf Square and suddenly I am a convert. There, I could learn to love to buy groceries. It’s like a foodie’s dream come true; a mecca for food shopping. You see, Longo’s isn’t like other grocery retailers. They’ve done their research and they certainly do love them some food.
A few of the things I noted on my personal tour of the sprawling, 48,000 square foot store:
- a "Cheese Master Island" with over 300 varieties of cheese
- a deli section with an in-house smoker where they sell all natural deli smoked meats with no preservatives or additives (I requested they try to carry a thick-cut veal bacon)
- an on-site butcher that will feature Kobe-style beef and 28-day dry-aged Angus beef as well as locally-raised meats
- chocolatiers creating the sweetest of treats (I saw some really gorgeous, chocolate dipped brownies and almost climbed over the counter to get one)
- a mouth-watering selection of freshly baked artisanal breads and pastries
- a huge produce section (Longo’s has always topped other stores with their produce) with over 100 organic varieties, and rare items such as the sierra honey cherum (a cross between a cherry and a plum) and those gorgeous and tasty pink-fleshed Hidden Rose apples
- a large selection of store-made ready-to-cook or ready-to-heat items
- the �try before you buy� program: the customer’s option to sample products such as vegetables, fruits, cheese, deli meats before purchasing
- in the Loft area, off to one side of the store there is a Beer and Wine bar that serves only local wine and beer (wine from Niagara and Prince Edward County, and beer from Ottawa, Toronto, Bracebridge, Barrie, Guelph and Nobleton)
So..uh..yeah. I could easily be convinced to drive over late one Saturday morning (they have free underground parking if you spend $30), get my groceries (not forgetting the Ice Wine Syrup and a Himalayan Salt Slab, of course) and then sit and have a glass of wine before I return to the land of the living above ground. I�d say Longo�s hit the nail on the head with this store…it was as though they created it just for me.
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It was like meeting an old friend. Not old in the "aged" sense mind you,…"old" in the I-feel-like-I-have-known-her-forever sense. I recognized her immediately, though now I’m not exactly sure how. I guess I’ve seen photos of her before, but I don’t think I ever really committed her features to memory. She recognized me right away too – though I don’t know if it was the red bag I was carrying (I had emailed her letting her know what I was wearing) that gave me away.
We hugged, exchanged hellos and got down to the business of ordering coffees. Turned out we both favoured the same afternoon cold-coffee fix on warm summer days, which again made me wonder if somehow, somewhere we had met before. Out to a patio we sauntered, both of us eyeing shoes and bags as we passed a few high end retailers inside of the huge corporate building wherein the Starbucks was housed.
Oh, and a note – Jasmine is not a Starbuckker. Apparently that is one thing on which we differ.
We sat in the shade and sipped our coffees, talking about this and that, commenting on food (of course) and the meal she had just indulged in (Terroni – check her blog for a full report – with pictures! – which I am sure is coming soon) before meeting up with me. Every once in a while we had to stop talking or yell loudly at each other as the U.S. Navy Blue Angels flew over, practicing for the CNE Airshow this weekend.
We talked about our lives, our families, our friends. We compared recent trips to Ottawa and talked about living in Toronto (I do, she doesn’t). The conversation meandered back and forth and before I knew it an hour was up and unfortunately I had to head back to the office.
I could have sat there all afternoon. Just the two of us – oh, and a "companion" who insisted on taste-testing Jasmine’s coffee himself. It was nice to finally meet her in person and hope we’ll have the opportunity to do it again sometime soon.
As for her invitation to head up to the St. Jacobs market…I am decidedly interested. Let’s go!
Images of Bee and of Me (Jennifer) taken by Jasmine of Confessions of a Cardamom Addict (c).
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I ask myself that every day. I ask my husband that almost every day. I ask my three year-old son that on a disturbingly regular basis. I constantly query friends, co-workers, people I run into in the elevator, on the street, on the streetcar, at the grocery store.
I am flustered and tired and uninspired and not in the mood to cook. It’s too hot, work has been too difficult, we have no food, we have too much food, there is no mood music, the lighting is all wrong in the kitchen (and so are the floors and the walls and the cupboards and the counters). I have lists of excuses on my Ipod that I use as reasons to order take-away or cook painless dinners for my boys on a regular basis. I talk myself into meals that require very few ingredients and very little effort; I have mastered the art of toasted cheese sandwiches and my sister even presented my son with a dinosaur sandwich cutter so at least he has "fun" shaped sandwiches in the midst of my recent culinary crisis.
So why do I bring this up? I guess I just wanted to lift this weight off my shoulders and let you know that even the Domestic Goddess struggles in the kitchen. I think everyone has days when they don’t want to cook, can’t bring themselves to cook or can’t think of a thing to cook for dinner. And when you have a husband and child staring at you like they could eat your arm, while you stare into the cupboard feeling much the same way, you also can’t bring yourself to order another pizza, call in another Chinese take-away order or throw money at McDonald’s one more time.
On those days I have opened up my options. We have a breakfast-for-dinner night (eggs, pancakes, waffles, cereal), a left-overs/clean-out-the-fridge night (anything from full dinner left-overs to various incarnations of meals containing whatever might be left in the fridge), a fend-for-yourself (other than Leith of course) night (tea, cookies, popcorn, toast) and one night a week (and sometimes more) S. makes dinner (he cooks up a mean barbeque chicken, makes delicious shawerma, and can even produce a pretty convincing butter chicken). Of course that still leaves me with three nights–most of which tend to be weeknights when we are all tired, hungry and craving something truly delicious and hopefully at least slightly delicious.
Recently I found an excellent alternative to grilled cheese or take-away, in the last place in the world I would have thought. Longo�s just opened a brand new "mini" location at Dundas and Elizabeth streets in Toronto, which is conveniently only about a 10-minute walk from my office. And yes, I know that the St. Lawrence Market is just 10 minutes in the other direction, but sometimes I get completely overwhelmed by the choices at the St. Lawrence. I want to browse breads and meats and cheeses and look at chocolate truffles and 80 different kinds of rice. At the new Longo’s store I can get in, get what I want and get out, quickly and leave with a meal that I know is fresh and healthy.
This new Market by Longo’s location has a full service bakery, a meat and seafood counter, a gourmet cheese and deli section and of course Longo’s signature produce department with fresh, premium quality fruits and vegetables (including a large locally-grown component). There is also a broad selection of hot, healthy, ready-made meal solutions at their take-home counter and a 40-item salad bar. And for those of us who still bow down to the Starbucks conglomerate, they happily cater to your afternoon coffee fix while you shop.
Attending the sneak-preview recently was interesting and made me appreciate the effort that this chain puts into their stores. Longo’s is still a family-owned business with a small green-grocers’ attitude towards freshness and selection, just trying to compete with the Mark McEwans of the world…and though I love Mark, I think they are managing to do pretty good job of it.
You can find out for yourself if you can tell me when the first-ever Longo’s market opened at Yonge and Castlefield. Longo’s has generously donated a $50 gift certificate to one lucky reader. The tenth person to email me gets it!
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This past Saturday S. and I re-celebrated Valentine’s Day together. Well, not exactly “re-celebrated”, since we didn’t quite celebrate V-Day the first time around, a month ago. V-Day is a dirty word in our house as neither of us really enjoys the idea of “commemorating” our relationship on one singular day each year when everything is over-booked, over-priced and over-done. We decided to have a fight on February 14th and sleep in separate quarters instead. So when S. told me we had better re-celebrate it to ensure we were still married in a year I agreed. And I am so very glad I did.
Nota Bene was his resto of choice for our festivities and I doubt if I could have made a better selection myself. The day had gotten off to a bit of a strange start; I went to get a haircut in the morning and he dropped Leith off at his sister’s house for his very own day of revelry. We were supposed to go to the Art Gallery together but as usual, there were scheduling difficulties (my jeans were not washed and the coffee wasn’t kicking in fast enough) and we didn’t make it. Instead we hit a comedy club and I swear, I laughed so hard I had to stop myself because my face hurt tremendously. Afterward we stopped in at one of the many Firkin pubs to see my brothers band “Big Fog” do a pre-St. Patrick’s Day set (it was amazing by the way). By the time we got back in the car and on our way to our 10:30 pm reservation I was really quite drained and doubted I would be able to finish dinner with my eyes open. We drove through the crowded Saturday-night streets and arrived at the restaurant we’d never even noticed was there (it opened a year ago) at Queen and Bay.
Our table was ready (I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised, it was 10:40 pm) and waiting for us in the unexpectedly airy, 110-seat dining room and it was as though they knew where to seat me precisely. I think that is the way the room is set-up – all the seats are probably just as good. The decor is minimalist – dark wood with beige and black as the main tones – but doesn’t feel impersonal or austere. It was noisy but in that nice way where you feel comfortable talking to your dinner companion, knowing that no one will overhear what you’re saying to them, but not so noisy that you can’t hear yourself speak. The art was modern and eye-catching (abstract urban landscapes by Canadian Alex D’Arcy) but didn’t interfere with the room or the ambiance and I immediately felt “at home” there.
The bread was brought to the table, along with a dish of truly delicious olive oil. Fruity, but not so much so that it lacked character and with a finishing note that made me smile. We relaxed a little and munched in comfortable silence, absorbing the moment. I leaned back against the soft leather banquette and smiled at S. He had chosen a good one, once again. Our waitress arrived, brought us water, took our orders and left us alone. A few moments later a glass of perfectly chilled Prosecco arrived for me and the evening took on a cozy but festive feel.
We decided to start with the Mozzarella di Bufala Salad (with sundried tomato, grilled radicchio, shaved parmesan and olive oil). The mozzarella was delicious – supple and moist with a fresh and discreetly sweet flavour. It was was nicely balanced by the peppery, still slightly crunchy grilled radicchio and the toothsome sundried tomato. The salty shards of parmesan and delicious olive oil finished the salad off perfectly.
For my main course I decided on the Braised Beef Short Rib (served with a cucumber, cornichon and pickled horseradish salad) and the meat (served next a clean bone for a perfect presentation) was so tender it was like cutting through warm brie; I could have used a spoon. The salad was a natural pairing with the beef and such a welcome change from frites or mashed. It was served with a small swirl of cauliflower puree that was so utterly delicious I actually wanted to lick the plate (I didn’t, don’t worry!). S. chose the Grilled “Rare” Hangar Steak (with guajillo spice, tomatillo, lime and avocado chutney) and thoroughly enjoyed this perfectly rare hunk of beef. We went a little crazy and ordered a heaping platter of the light-as-paper onion rings “for the table” and though we both found them slightly greasy, we did indulge – licking our fingers as we went – quite a bit.
Our tummies full and mood satiated, we just had to take a peek at the dessert menu. Of course once we did we were hooked. I briefly considered the cheese plate (selections chosen by the infamous Cole Snell of About Cheese) but settled instead on the Niagara Apple Crumble (with mulled apple cider jus and vanilla ice cream) and S. ordered the Creme Caramel (with salted hazelnut praline and candied orange peel). I half expected dessert to be a bland disaster as has been my experience with high-end restaurants; if they do a dinner that knocks your socks off, dessert will undoubtedly suffer. Such was hardly the case at Nota Bene – dessert was an experience in deliciousness. The crumble was sweet and tart at the same time and the apple cider jus did not for a second overpower the taste or dampen the texture. The crust was crisp and supple at once and it all went perfectly together with the vanilla bean-studded ice cream. S’s creme caramel was, in his words, the creamiest he’d ever had – I watched him out of the corner of my eye at one point, his eyes closed, pure rapture on his face. My desserts never make him smile like that…I was almost jealous.
We both enjoyed dinner at Nota Bene and intend to get back there again sometime – hopefully soon. The newest restaurant by the internationally acclaimed chef David Lee has great food in the perfect atmosphere at not such an expensive price that we couldn’t plan on returning. I highly recommend it…especially if you’re willing to take me with you!
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When the sleet starts to fall and the wind begins to howl around every corner all I can think of is the trip I took, seemingly in another lifetime, to the Dominican Republic. It was about ten years ago (definitely another lifetime), before S., before Leith and before I stopped wearing bikinis in public. I spent most of the week lounging on a beach chaise with a drink in one hand and a book in the other, slathered from head to toe with 40 SPF and most of my skin covered by a beach umbrella. It was hot, the drinks were cold and the food was amazing.
In particular I remember two dishes: one breakfast and one dinner. My favourite breakfast that week (and remains one of my favourites to this day) was the cream of wheat at the buffet. It was a huge pot of unctuous porridge, chock-full of aromatic vanilla pods. I would eat bowls upon bowls of the stuff; it was comfort food and the perfect way to start my day. Now that it’s chilly outside I try to recreate that smell of warm milk, cooked wheat and vanilla some mornings and it makes me smile. It’s amazing.
The dinner I remember best was the one I ate the night before we left. We ate at the minuscule restaurant situated directly on the beach. Under the warm starry sky we ate and talked and looked out at the ocean…it was perfect. The food was, of course, incredible; the Caribbean flavours melding with the Spanish ones in the multitude of dishes we tried.
Following the plantain chips and spicy fruit salsa but prior to the lobster served in the shell, there was a grilled chicken dish that tickled my taste buds and satisfied my life-long craving for dishes that include all four S’s: sweet, salty, sour and spicy.
The chicken was grilled to perfection with the perfect sticky, salty, crackling skin and delicious meat. It was still on the bone and we were encouraged to pick it up with our fingers and enjoy the flavour experience completely. I picked up my piece and took a tentative bite (I had never had chicken cooked in fruit before) and smiled in response. It was all there: the sweet pineapple, the sour lime juice, the salty mustard seed and the spice…oh the spice. I have thought about that chicken every cold, frigid evening since 1997 and somehow managed to recreate it recently.
As the freezing rain pelted our windows we sat down to a delicious dinner and my brain escorted me back to the beach, the sun and the warm breezes. It was spectacular.
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After reading about everyone’s home-grown Canadian goodness this past week I was inspired to plant my own tiny version in my backyard. I have been longing for a backyard garden of my very own for a long time and this year I was finally granted both a yard and some dirt in order to make this Domestic Goddess’s dream come true.
I had decided to wait until S. and my brother had had a chance to get the fence built. This fence may have taken a while but it sure is a thing of beauty, even without the gates on. S. and I are both very proud of our wee house with its teeny backyard and this gorgeous fence.
So yesterday all of a sudden I found myself standing in the middle of a garden centre, Leith loading up the bottom "shelf" of the garden cart, and me loading up the top. I managed to convince him in the end that we only needed one purple basil plant and no Geraniums, but it was a positive outcome over all. He can be very helpful in garden centres it turns out – I never would have found the tomatoes if it weren’t for him pointing at all the little yellow, red and green fruits (vegetables?) saying "ball! ball!".
So we brought home a small flat of plantables and S. told me it was up to me to do the dirty work. So this morning while he and Leith were out running errands and visiting Aunties I dug my fingers into some seriously black earth and planted my little heart out.
Just think of all the amazing dishes that will be enhanced by my fresh thyme, basil, chives, tomatoes and hot peppers. I searched and searched for rosemary but there was none to be found. We might have to head out again today so I can get some at another nursery.
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While in Amman, S’s uncle took us to an incredible restaurant, Reem Al-Bawadi. A traditional Jordanian restaurant, known for its tasty food and great atmosphere, we had a fantastic time and some even more fantastic food.
First of all it’s a huge restaurant, about the size of a Toronto city block. You walk in to this cavernous hallway where there are men playing drums, a woman serving Turkish coffee and another making the traditional, large, thin flat pancake-like bread/pita which is served with dinner. Leith had a wonderful time looking at everything and everyone, including his first sight of a sheep (real but stuffed and mounted) and a cow (head only). He literally stood there pointing at them saying “Moo” and “Maa” and would have happily done that for hours if we had let him.
Leaving the enormous entry-way and entering the restaurant was akin to stepping back in time and into culture at the same time. Sitting in the restaurant is like sitting in one gigantic luxurious Bedouin tent. You sit at a huge, very low to the ground table that has a big tray set into the middle of it. S’s uncle ordered and that tray was soon filled with delicious appetizers…Hommos, Labaneh, Tabbouleh, Baba Ghnooj, Stuffed Grape Leaves, Kebbeh and some Cheese Samosas. Of course, I was full after the appetizers, which always happens to me, I can’t help it.
Then dinner arrived, again ordered by S’s uncle. There were plates and plates of Kabab and as well (I think ordered specifically for me since I mentioned that I like fish) grilled fish. The fish was probably the best I have had in my life (maybe even better than when I used to catch fish up at my cottage and grill it fresh from the lake). The waiter brought the whole, grilled fish to the table, de-boned it in front of us (I think there were actually 4 plates of fish), squeezed some lemon on it and presented it to those of us who wanted it. Once I had had S. dispose of the head for me, I quickly dug in, forgetting how full I was moments ago. I ate the whole plate myself and could have eaten more if there had been any. I later asked my mother-in-law how they cook it, if they put anything in particular on it…she told me it’s just salt and pepper and lemon juice and a bit of oil. You can bet I’ll be buying whole fish at the market sometime soon and making it for S. and I.
After dinner, coffee is served by a man in a strangely familiar uniform (I’m sure I’ve seen it in a movie at some point). I love the tradition and culture the place is steeped in, from the atmosphere to the music (they put on a “show” mid-dinner with a traditional wedding drum dance) to the food. Some people might find this sort of experience hokey but I just sat back, watched the smile on my husband’s face and enjoyed one of the best meals I’ve had in a long time.
Shukran Khalo Sulayman.
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I guess you deserve an explanation as to why I have been absent for two weeks…I have received more than a few frantic emails asking where I am and if I am okay. I am fine and my absence was not health-related this time, thank goodness.
We (S., Leith and I) just returned (yesterday) from a trip to
Kuwait City and Amman, Jordan. Recovering slowly from the jet-lag and the awful head cold I managed to catch on the way there has kept me busy since arriving home. I promise to be back in the kitchen cooking and baking up a storm in the next few days.
The trip was fantastic; one I will never forget. Kuwait City was much nicer than I had been expecting and also much bigger than you’d think, considering how tiny the country looks next to Saudi Arabia and Iraq. We did a lot of shopping, some sight-seeing and entirely too much eating (if that is indeed possible). Of course the food was fabulous – from a bag of steaming Falafel from a street vendor to gourmet Iranian and Indian food in the roof-top Sheraton restaurants, I couldn’t ask for a better foodie experience. Leith fell in love with freshly-made strawberry juice while we were there, and also the concept of "more" was learned quite quickly by him…as the waiters spoiled him non-stop.
We spent one night in a chalet on the shore, about an hour outside downtown Kuwait City. There Leith got to stick his feet in the Persian Gulf, ride a horse, take a trip on a train and eat hot, freshly made gooey cheese-filled and Zatar-covered Fatayer in a tent made of Camel Hair.
On to Amman, Jordan, where S’s parents have a flat in which we stayed for an all-too-short four days. The Kunafah (phyllo spread with soft cheese, topped with more shredded phyllo and a thick sugar syrup poured on top), which they are known for, was scrumptious…I could have eaten a whole sheet-pan. We brought home some really delicious Baklava for my sister and sustained ourselves through the very (very, very) long flight home with Fatayer and other scrumptious pastries from a bakery near the airport, aptly named "Paradise".
My favourite food experience during this trip would have to have been the grilled fish from an amazing restaurant that S’s uncle took us to in Jordan…details to come very soon, I promise!
Unfortunately I forgot my camera’s memory card at home so we have only a few pictures of the trip, taken mostly by my brother-in-law. The picture above is of Leith, happily chasing pigeons outside the Scientific Center in Kuwait – he had an absolutely amazing time.
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Calling all Torontonians!
This weekend is Toronto’s own Taste of the Danforth and you should definitely be going.
In case you are unaware, The "Taste" is a yearly festival held in Toronto – largely celebrating Greek food and culture. The 14th annual festival takes place Friday August 10th at 6pm (today!) through to Sunday August 12th (12pm – 8pm) between Broadview Avenue and Jones Avenue, right on the Danforth.
Delectable Greek cuisine such as Calamari, Souvlaki, Spanakopita and Moussaka from amazing restaurants like Asteria, Zorba’s, Ouzeri, Athens Restaurant, Omonia and Mr. Greek (and the list goes on!) are on the menu. But don’t forget to stop by all the other participating restaurants and businesses – this festival really has become a multicultural affair! Last year’s menu will make your mouth water.
For a full list and map for this year see: Taste of the Danforth.
Maybe Leith, S. and I will see you there!
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Living vicariously through my sister, once again…A restaurant review of CRUSH WINE BAR – 455 KING STREET WEST, TORONTO by Elizabeth Hamilton.
Last night Summerlicious provided another excellent opportunity for GTR (my boyfriend) and I to take a night on the town and try not only a great restaurant, but some excellent wines as well. For anyone who is not aware, Summerlicious (and Winterlicious) are annual Toronto events that started after SARS affected the tourism in our city. It promotes Toronto’s restaurant industry and offers an opportunity to lure local restaurant lovers with some of the best cuisine Toronto has to offer.
It’s been a bit of a stressful summer for both GTR and myself and, to be honest, when I woke up yesterday I came within a thought of calling to cancel our reservation. There was a big part of me that just wanted to pull on my comfy house clothes after work, order us a pizza and curl up on the sofa with a bottle of wine. My only client of the day had also been in a funk, so I decided to take the advice I gave him – get out for a night with a friendly face and try to let the world pick your spirits up.
We made our way to our reservation at CRUSH Wine Bar, a beautiful restaurant in one of the refurbished warehouse buildings at King and Spadina. The setting was beautiful, the service impeccable and the dinner great. While the menu was full of tempting possibilities, we decided to stick with the Summerlicious prix fix menu and to complement it with a flight* of wines each.
GTR settled on the following:
The red wine feature, from Austria, a flight of 3 wines including a 2003 Zweigelt Titan, a 2004 St. Laurent (similar to a Pinot Noir), and a 2003 Pannobile (a blend of Zweigelt, Blaufrankisch and Cabernet Sauvignon). From the menu he chose the Summer Salad with Pommery Vinaigrette, The Port Steak with Marinated Mushrooms, Asparagus, Roast Potatoes & Red Wine Jus, and for dessert, The Chocolate Mousse with Mixed Berries, Whipped Cream and Lemon Shortbread. While his salad looked a little plain, his steak was tender and cooked to rare perfection and he claims the chocolate mousse was “very, very, very good”. (I didn’t get even a spoonful of it – so I can only believe what he says!)
I chose:
The white wine feature, from Austria, a flight of 3 wines including a 2005 Pinot Gris, a 2005 Gelber Muskateller (a classic Muskat) and a 2004 Gruner Veltliner (“This is what top quality Austrian white is all about. Intensely concentrated peach and apricot aromas leap out of the glass, followed by lovely minerality and pronounced acidity.”) For my meal, I had The Vichyssoise with Chive Oil, The Pan Roasted Tilapia with Cous Cous, Tomato, Cucumber & Tomato Coulis, and for dessert, The Fresh Fruit Shortcake with Orange Creme Fraiche. My Vichyssoise was cool and smooth – frankly, the way potato soup was meant to be… at least in the summer months. The Tilapia was tender and moist with a delicate flavor, fully complemented by the tomato coulis on the plate. The dessert (you must by now know the Hamilton affinity for dessert!) was great. I’ve only had better berries when picked fresh, fighting back the bees and mosquitoes at the cottage. My dad would have been in heaven with this yummy and simple choice.
I believe GTR and I are now hooked on the Toronto-licious events. What better way to get us out of the house to celebrate us and nothing else in particular? I look forward to many more with you GTR.
A friend of mine took his first date with his now-girlfriend at CRUSH a few months ago. He sent me an email yesterday afternoon saying “Have a great dinner at crush… love is made there.” If I hadn’t already been in love with GTR, I would most definitely be now.
*A wine “flight”, which is a tasting pour (2.5 oz.) of three or four different wines served next to each other, is the perfect way to compare a selection of wines without over-indulging.
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This was written by my sister, Elizabeth about a recent trip to Niagra Wine Country…
When you go from pothole to Pino Noir in under 2 hours, you know you have a story to tell.
Last weekend, GTR picked me up and I was (of course) running late because of a stressful workweek. He waited for me without too much grumbling and we got on the road by 2:30. The drive was good and we managed to get to the hotel just after 4. We stayed at the White Oaks Resort in Niagara-On-The-Lake. The room was gorgeous – and huge – with a GIANT jacuzzi bath and a fire place: all the comforts we could never afford at home. We uncorked a bottle of 2001 Chateauneuf-du-Pape that we brought with us (amazing, mellow, sweet and with no tannins – drink it if you can find it!) and enjoyed it while reading the hotel menus. With plans to go out for dinner slowly escaping us (as the bottle of wine neared empty) we made our way to the hotel bar for a bite.
I love eating while I watch people exercise — they have a sports bar overlooking the indoor tennis courts. The food was standard pub fare – definitely good, but nothing I’d write home about – it did the job. The wine (Jackson Triggs Proprietors’ Reserve 2004 Cabernet Franc/Cabernet Sauvignon) was better than expected. As someone who prefers Old-World wines, I wasn’t expecting much; it was however, a nice, mellow, full flavored wine. With a sip or two left in our glasses, we decided to peruse the dessert menu and found Chocolate Fondue for Two. All I can say is: “yum”. There is nothing wrong with warm chocolate, fresh berries and homemade marshmallows. Double Yum.
Saturday we woke up refreshed (after a Venti coffee and a bubble bath of course!) and looking forward to the Icewine Festival (the reason we were there). We drove into town and found a local restaurant for lunch. Quick, hospitable service and a turkey and bacon sandwich each and we were off – in search of the Icewine we were hearing so much about. We wandered down the main strip to the tent where the event was being held. Jazz music filled the air while people meandered in and out of the tent housing the Ice Bar. A number of wineries were there, pouring samples and talking about their craft. At the end of 4 samples, we looked at each other and said “Icewine is just not for us.” (We both had upset tummies from the sugar!) “Let’s go to the wineries for the real stuff!”
First stop: Lailey. A tiny tasting room, an uninspiring, uninterested rep and 4 tastings later, we left – disappointed. We found their wines young, aggressive and lacking in flavor or body. Stratus was next. Stratus has a large, beautiful showroom and offered us a “flight” – 3 wine tastings and a sample of Icewine with a cheese plate to finish. We chose a white and two reds. (Do I remember what they were?? Nope.) The white was drinkable, but uninspiring. The reds were – like Lailey – young and aggressive, but did feel a little better on the palette. The Icewine was paired with a creamy blue cheese, poached pear and a slice of orange. They matched well, and the food definitely helped the dinkability of the wine – but not enough for us to really like it. We left, once again disappointed.
We got back in the car and GTR said – “we’ve got all the time in the world! Let’s go to one more!” We were on our way to Coyote’s Run. Enter the pothole from stage right. Okay – we didn’t read the directions the winery supplied. Okay, it was an unpaved road. Okay, there was a giant yellow sign that said “use at own risk” or some such nonsense. I heard GTR say “babe – hold on!” and a minute later we were in what the tow truck guy subsequently called a “lake”. Two hours later we were significantly lighter in our wallets, relatively clean after having been put through the car wash – twice – and heading back to the hotel. We were running late for dinner. We did not, in fact, have all the time in the world.
GTR had booked us for the Winemaker’s Dinner at the Oban Inn: Konzelmann Estate Winery at Restaurant Tony deLuca. We arrived (fashionably) late, and were seated next to Bruno Reis, the Director of Sales and Marketing for Konzelmann and our host for the evening. He is a character; with a thick German accent and child-like energy. He is deeply passionate about wine and food and aside from his tendency to grab GTR’s arm whenever making a point, he was a joy to dine with. His European charm (or the vast quantities of wine) even made me smile when he – repeatedly – winked at me from across the table throughout dinner.
The menu: My comments are in italics
A Lime Carbonated Injected Kusshi Oyster on Sea Salt, paired with a Sparkling Riesling
Perfect pairing. A beautiful, refreshing way to start a meal. In the way an intermezzo cleans the palette, the oyster prepped our palette for what was coming next.
Silky Potato Sip ‘a la Ratte’ with a White Truffle Foam, paired with Pinot Blanc
Yum. The soup (a sip of, served in an espresso cup) was gorgeous. Smooth, rich, and heavy on the tongue. It made me smile. I would have wondered what wine could complement the subtle complexities of potato and white truffle – the Pinot Blanc was perfect.
Terrine of Elk, Pistachios, Moutarde Violette and Baguette, paired with Pinot Noir
The elk was from a small, free range, all organic farm in Ontario and was rich and gamy, but not heavy or oily. The French moutard and mini gherkins balanced the flavors on the plate and were all complemented well by a beautiful, oaky Pinot Noir. The room decided they would like the same wine with less oak, but I liked it just the way it was. I was the silent minority – sorry Bruno.
Passion Fruit and Melon Sorbet – to cleanse the palette, don’t you know.
Berkshire Pork Belly, Lentils, Turnips, Sauce Foyot, paired with Zweighelt
Oh My God. GTR and I are still dreaming of this plate and will be for many years I’m sure. The pork belly had been braised for hours and while fatty, it was delicate and soft and so comforting. The richness of the pork matched perfectly – is there better than perfect? – with the lentils and the sauce was to die for. Zweighelt – it seems to be everywhere right now. It is a cold climate red varietal that is a crossing of Blaufrankisch and St. Laurent. While it matched well with the food, it was not my favorite wine, it was a bit young and aggressive for my palette.
Cumbrae Farms Dry Aged Beef Ribeye, Butternut Squash and Sweet Onions, paired with Merlot
Perfect. I love steak and this was no exception. Wow. It was an incredible cut that Tony deLuca’s kitchen aged on the premises. It was rich and surprisingly gamy, but super lean. The Merlot was beautiful. Mellow, sweet, rich – it did everything for me that a Merlot never does. It impressed.
A Tasting of deLuca’s Cheesemarket Cheeses with Konzelmann Icewine
If you are in the Niagara area, go to deLuca’s Cheesemarket. I missed the chance – but you can bet I’ll be there at my earliest opportunity. His selection and quality of cheeses are incredible. The cheese plate matched beautifully with the Icewine and made me realize that if paired correctly, Icewine was something I could enjoy. Occasionally. (GTR left his Icewine for me…he couldn’t be convinced.)
Honey Scented Pain d’Epice, Cranberry Relish and Vanilla Snow with coffee
I’m a girl, and sister to The Domestic Goddess, therefore I love dessert. This was the least impressive plate of the evening. The ‘cake’ was dry and lacked flavor. The snow (sorbet) was good, but uninspired. To be honest, after such a great meal, I would have been happy to skip this course all together. I am still disappointed looking back and wonder what I would have done instead. Maybe my next guest posting topic for The Domestic Goddess is at hand?
After a cold night huggle (standing cuddle) on the front stoop of the Oban Inn and a British Taxi ride back to the White Oaks we fell asleep quickly with tummies FULL of food; trying not to think about going home the next day. But no matter how much we will it, time cannot stand still. Morning coffee and packing up our things came along. Before we knew it (12 is too early to be kicked out of your hotel room!) we were in the car – again – and looking for a bite before coming home. Beware: outside the tourist strip of Niagara-On-The-Lake people look at you cock-eyed if you want breakfast after 11am…We ended up at the Pillar and Post Inn for their Sunday Buffet. It was a bit of a silly move as we were both still full from two days of gluttony, but we did our best. The food was good, but I fear it was wasted on us. We should have had a coffee and a fruit plate and left well enough alone. We will try to know better next time.
After a stop at Konzelmann Estate Winery to pick up some of our favorites from the night before, we were back on the road and headed home. Sweet home. I spent the evening on my sofa watching Alias – I assume GTR’s evening was as low-key. 24-hours of personal time and digestion was definitely in order.
Even if Icewine isn’t exactly your thing – I recommend the Festival and Niagara-On-The-Lake. I’d happily go back and try it all and more again. The town is beautiful and the people are great. The food was incredible and the Jacuzzi bath…well I’d go back just for that.
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