Waking to deceptively warm sunshine these past few mornings, many Ottawa natives asked if it is “shorts” or “mittens” weather. Indeed, I found myself keeping three jackets at the ready, my down-filled winter coat, my flannel lined leather jacket, and my windbreaker. Some days I wore all three, alternating as the mercury rose and fell from morning until night. Today, I woke to snow and the forecast calls for possible flurries throughout the week. It is no wonder Canadians discuss weather foremost. We see it all, hot and humid highs and frozen and frostbitten lows.... | Continue reading article

Index: 3 Sisters Bakery | Sushi Umi | Canvas Resto-Bar There was a time when cellular phones were just that, phones. If you were a “road warrior” who wanted mobile computing power, there were personal digital assistants (PDA) and laptops (sometimes with swivel touch screens). Cameras stood alone or were excessively expensive and proprietary add-ons for PDAs. Today, everything has converged with the smartphone, amazing multipurpose devices that sometimes irk those of us who remember when tasks required more specialized gadgetry. After a year’s use, I find myself addicted to my Android smartphone. And this... | Continue reading article

With less than two weeks until Christmas, the fall term is quickly coming to an end at school. Earlier this week, one of my grade 1 students approached me after class with a lovely bag of home made cookies from his mom: vanilla dipped gingersnaps. For me, there’s nothing more thoughtful than receiving a home made gift, whether it is food-related or not. As soon as I got home from school, Don and I nearly devoured the entire bag of cookies. I managed to save just a couple of cookies for a picture. Vanilla Dipped... | Continue reading article

Mid-month last July, Thimble Cakes threw a grand opening event to celebrate its first 6th months in business. A celebrated cupcakery for it being completely nut-free, Thimble Cakes offers “gluten free, egg [and] dairy free cupcakes & cakes, and sugar free cakes & cupcakes.” This is besides offering traditional butter-based cupcakes & cakes. For their 6 month anniversary, Baker/Owner Wendy Velthoven organized face painting, a professional hula “hoop-er”, and balloon draws for prizes. Lisa [from Couch Assassin] Balloons Outside Balloons Inside Balloons with Prizes Velthoven filled her bakery with even more whimsy, the oasis of... | Continue reading article

When the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s (William and Katherine) visit to Canada was announced, a flurry of discussion erupted about what foods to serve them. Sandwiches? BeaverTail pastries? (A cardboard cut out of the royal couple, belonging to Ottawa Tourism, would later make a pilgrimage to a BeaverTails shack in the ByWard Market) It’s probably the wrong weather to serve maple sugar taffy…Perhaps something savoury? Duck? Moose? Elk? Venison? In Ottawa, gelato purveyor Piccolo Grande (55 Murray Street), created a flavour just for the occasion. A number of bakeries in the downtown core specially... | Continue reading article

Ottawa saw the opening of yet another brick and mortar cupcakery this past weekend, family-owned and operated The Cupcake Lounge (6 ByWard Market Square). It is the second dedicated cupcakery in the ByWard market. The first, Glitz Cupcakes and Company (11 Murray Street). The Cupcake Lounge Cupcakes Those of you who frequent Westboro’s The Candy Store (350 Richmond Road) will likely recognize The Cupcake Lounge. The Cupcake Lounge supplies the Candy Store its Saturday contingent of cupcakes. Cupcakes sold out of The Cupcake Lounge’s new storefront quickly. When Jenn and I happened by after visiting... | Continue reading article

Pasticceria Gelateria What is your daily ritual on a Saturday morning? If you were raised with central or southern Italian food traditions, it may well be coffee (likely cappuccino), newspaper and a cornetto, either filled with cream or empty (cornetto vuotto). Cornetti are pastries akin to French croissants that vary somewhat by recipe, but often involve a biga starter. And, where would you go to partake of such a morning ritual? How about Pasticceria Gelateria Italiana in Ottawa’s Little Italy (200 Preston Street)? Established May 5, 1979, Pasticceria Gelateria Italiana has become an institution. It... | Continue reading article

Index: Serious Cheese | Art-Is-In Ever wonder about the word gastronomy? It is the art and science of “good” eating and drinking. Synonymous with fine-food, it concerns flavours and textures. One of my favourite textures is freshly melted cheese. I recently enjoyed a take on the cheeseburger at our favourite fine dining restaurant in Ottawa, Allium (87 Holland Avenue). The defining element of the wonderful experience for me was the melted La Sauvagine cheese that literally draped itself over my fingers as I ate. Softer than a brie, the texture of the melted cheese embodied... | Continue reading article