Every spring, I like to get away to Toronto to re-charge my batteries. For me, it’s a mini-vacation away from the daily routine and from work. It’s a chance for me to catch up with my girlfriends, do some shopping and, of course, eat! There’s nothing like coming home relaxed with a suitcase full of new clothes and a satisfied stomach. Although my piggy bank might not necessarily agree… Because I travel during spring break, my friends are usually at work during the day, so I am left to my own devices. During this year’s... | Continue reading article

I went to Paris. It was lovely. Although Parisians can be as stereotypically rude as advertised, they are not all and I managed to have a wonderful time. One of the things that makes Paris so fun to visit is their system of municipally subsidized bicycles. Known as “Vélib”, these bikes are found all over the city and are free for trips under 30 minutes, 2 euros per half hour over 30 minutes. Unlike Ottawa’s Bixi bikes, which are aimed at tourists, the Vélib system is very much used by Parisians and visitors alike. The... | Continue reading article

Did you know that there are more wineries per area in Prince Edward County than in Niagara? No?  And did you know that Prince Edward County is closer to Ottawa than Niagara? No? Well, there are and it is. This year’s IndulgePEC saw the usual suspects troop through PEC again, enjoying what this area has to offer. While I’ll be writing more, I wanted to take the time to tell you about PEC’s oldest winery. Waupoos,  an Ojibway word for rabbit, was created by Ed Neuser and Riata Kaimins in 1983 when they bought an old apple orchard and... | Continue reading article

Nearly two years ago, highly-acclaimed and Michelin Star-decorated New York City Chef David Chang announced he was bringing expanding Momofuku empire to Toronto. Like many excited food-lovers, I thought, “Steamed pork buns and Ramen…” “Bring it on!” Never mind the four hour drive from Ottawa. I’m completely obsessed with ramen noodles. And, I knew my noodle-loving Toronto friends would be eager to join me. But, when you’re David Chang, expectations heighten. How does one export Momofuku’s reputation from New York City? The Momofuku empire isn’t just one restaurant, but rather a group of restaurants, each... | Continue reading article

This, my “I’m thankful for…” post, may be a tad tardy; especially given Canadian Thanksgiving passed weeks ago. And, my “mid-thirtieth” birthday is even longer past. But, it has taken this long to gather 35 shots as we at foodiePrints have been a tad busy. [It also may or may not be my second or third mid-thirtieth birthday...] Still, I am thankful for my friends, my family, my wife, and being gainfully employed. I am also thankful for being utterly and completely exhausted. Jenn and I embarked on quite the ride after the editor of... | Continue reading article

Yes, hiking up the side of an active volcano is cool (well, not really cool as it was 42 degrees that day). And even more cool is the fact that I managed to enjoy a glass of cold white wine on the rim after a mad scramble into the crater! Vesuvius has attracted human inhabitants for millennia. The rich fertile soils, the Bay of Naples, fishing grounds, and the temperate climate make for ideal living. The proximity to a still active volcano, while concerning, has not stopped over one million people from making the area... | Continue reading article

Lil’foodiePrints Eats – Nana Gill’s sugo I just came back from two weeks visiting my cousins in Rome. It was very hot and so we went to the beach a lot. We also climbed Mount Vesuvius, an active volcano, and saw the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, destroyed when it exploded in Roman times.   What did you eat while you were in Italy? A lot of pasta! My Mum really likes pasta and she got upset one day because her Aunt (I call her Nana Gill) made a rice salad and no pasta! Because... | Continue reading article

Meet Abby. She’s smart, funny, and charming. She loves food and is a fantastic baker. A city girl, she lives just a few stops (by subway) outside of downtown Toronto. With endless restaurants, fine food shops, one cookbook store, kitchen supply stores, and markets literally outside her door, inspiration is everywhere. Oh, and did I mention Abby is my best friend? Abby has been a silent part of foodiePrints for a number of years. Not only do I consider her to be my baking guru, she’s been with us ever since Don started the blog... | Continue reading article