A Happy Hour Feast at Morris East

A friend of mine was in town a little while ago and we managed to consume quite a bit of food! We went to Trader's Bar for their $5 unlimited mussel deal, Ryan Duffy's for an incredible steak dinner, and ended the weekend at Morris East.

Morris East is what I would consider a traditional 'neighbourhood' resto. It's small and lively, has amazing food and is often packed - a great sign! My friend and I stopped in at 5 to take advantage of the 5-6 Happy Hour when wine is just $4. Though ME is famous for their wood-fire grilled pizzas, we were both in the mood for lighter fare. We decided to split an appy and go for one of the restos intriguing salads.

We split the Beef short rib to start; a hunk of supple meat atop a pillowy potato cannelloni and tender greens.

Beef Short Rib with Potato Cannelloni and Microgreens

My friend ordered the Roast Chicken and Pastina salad for her main - an unusual combo, but one that had both a delightful flavor and texture contrast. The pastina grains were light, almost rice-like, and rolled around on your tongue. Along with the smokey chicken and earthy portobello mushrooms, the mild 1608 cheese added yet another meaty element.

Roast Chicken & Pastina Salad w/ Portobello Mushroom, Leek

and Prosciutto-wrapped '1608' Cheese

Though I'm not normally one to order a Cesar salad, I had a feeling that Morris East would do it justice. My gut didn't disappoint. With a vinaigrette dressing as opposed to the traditional cloying cream-based one, this salad had lots going on while still maintaining its freshness. Sweet preserved lemon and thick-cut smoked bacon accented the crisp Romaine and salty Parm.

Vinaigrette Caesar Salad w/ Smoked Bacon, Croutons & Preserved Lemon

Though both of us were decidedly full, we couldn't resist the S'more. Toasted in the wood-fired oven, ME's house made marshmallow had a crisp crust and a gooey interior-mmm. A graham cracker was sandwiched between this and a pool of thick chocolate ganache. MMM! I do love me a good S'more!

Wood-fired S'more

House made marshmallow toasted in the wood-fired oven

w/ chocolate ganache and graham cracker

Another great meal at BW

For my good friend's birthday, we celebrated at the Brooklyn Warehouse- a spot that seems to be synonimous with birthdays in my life! To be honest, it seems like the best place to celebrate a bday; it's a relaxed, comfortable spot, the servers are not only knowledgeable, but fun to boot- and then there's the food....After settling down to a glass of L'Acadie Vineyard's Brut, we placed our orders.

Though I normally go after one of BW's tantalizing appys and incredible mains, I decided to change it up a little. After hearing about the soup of the day and did a light dinner comprised of soup & salad. Or at least I tried for a light dinner!

The roasted tomato soup & chickpea soup was thick and rich with a touch of spice. Served with a grilled, chewy sourdhough baguette, it was a meal in itself.

Soup of the Day

Roasted tomato & chickpea w/ sourdough

When my salad came, I was already pretty full, but made room for a couple bites. Lots of fresh veg was topped with meaty chickpeas and crispy pita with tons of crunch. Though I could only finish half, it was a delightful meal, and one that I'd definitely get again!

Fattouche

marinated cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion & chickpeas

tossed w/ fresh oregano, mint & parsley and topped with pita crisps

Chabaa Thai warms up a 'chili' night!

A couple Saturdays ago, a friend and I waited in line at Chabaa Thai for 30 minutes! I know- crazy! However, by the time we got to the resto we were so cold that venturing back out, unfed, was not an option. The other reason, was the fact that a jam-packed resto is normally a sign of good things!

We took advantage of our time in line and decided on our order. We shared Deep Fried Spring Rolls as an appy and moved on to an order of both Green and Masaman Curries.

And as the saying goes... "when in Thailand..." so we played the part and ordered two Singhas, a Thai beer that paired nicely with the spicy cuisine. How can you go wrong with Thai Spring Rolls? They were crispy and light and the sauce had a touch of spice.

Spring Rolls

Glass noodles, shredded cabbage, carrots and mushrooms, wrapped in a spring roll skin,

deep fried and served w/ sweet n' sour sauce.

We made some good choices with the curries too. The Masaman was rich and earthy; the mild red curry sauce was slightly sweet from the addition of sweet potato and peanuts. The green curry on the other hand, was spiiiicy! I went with the vegetarian option, adding tofu for a little more body along with the crunchy bamboo and tender eggplant. Fresh basil leaves added a vibrant lemony flavour. I make an effort to try the green curry in every Thai resto that I go to in order to find my fave. This one was certainly worth the wait!

Masaman Curry

Red curry paste in coconut milk w/

sweet potatoes, onions, peanut sauce, chicken and tofu.

Green Curry

Green curry paste in coconut milk w/

mini eggplant, basil, bamboo shoots, red chilies & tofu

Celebratory night out at Ryan Duffy's

A couple of weeks ago, a good friend visited me for the weekend. On Thursday night, we stoped in at Trader's Bar for a beer and their Unlimited Mussels special, planning our "Big Night Out!" for Friday night.

My friend gave me free reign of our party night, saying: "You choose. Food is what you do!" After tirelessly debating all day long about where to go, I finally decided on Ryan Duffy's. I knew that I wanted to celebrate with steak and after comparing a couple restos, decided that this place seemed to have the best value.

We arrived at about 8:30ish and set to work picking out an appy to share. We considered several options; crab cakes, steak tartare, ect., until I saw the side option of onion rings on the accompaniments menu....SOLD! I dunno what it is about these things - when I see them on a fine dining resto menu, I just gotta have 'em! After putting in our order, the server brought over bread and a nice little treat; house-made dilled pickles and carrots, which provided a great snack as we waited for our appy.

Onion Rings

Oddly enough, we both ordered the exact same entree; a 6 oz. filet with sweet potato gratin. The steak was luscious. Grilled rare, the meat was supple, juicy and topped with a tantalizing garlic butter that upped the ante for sheer indulgence!

The sweet potato gratin was decadent as well with the tender vegetable enveloped in rich cream and butter with a delicious crust of Parmesan cheese. On the side we chose caramelized onions sauteed with earthy rosemary and tender wild mushrooms paired with woodsy thyme.

6 oz. Filet Mingon w/ Sweet Potato Gratin

Sauteed Wild Mushrooms & Sauteed Onions

To finish off the night, we had cupcakes from Susie's Shortbreads back at my apt. My AMAZING pal had picked up some cupcakes during the day to surprise me when I got home! A sinfully delicious chocolate cupcake topped with chocolate buttercream and Skor bites, this cupcake was the perfect ending to our perfect night!

Chocolate Toffee Crunch

chocolate cake swirled w/ Skor pieces

topped w/ chocolate buttercream & Skor pieces

Comforting Cod at Chives Canadian Bistro

A couple of weeks ago, I met a friend in the cheese section at Pete's. We spent a while chatting and checking out the fare: a delightful cheese with Mexican spices and another with a hint of beer! When I mentioned that we should meet up for dinner soon, she provided me the ultimate answer: "Let's do dinner now!" It's sometimes frustrating that I plan to make plans with people, but often get sidetracked. This was the perfect opportunity to prevent such an occurrence, so I said "YES!"

As we mulled over spots to eat, my friend mentioned her desire to go to Chives. Chives had always been a spot that I wanted to 'save' for a special occasion. Then I realized that an impromptu dinner with a friend is a special occasion, so we trotted down the hill, through the crisp night, to settle into Chive's warm, comforting ambiance.

Chives' super-cool camera outside of the resto that shows the kitchen within. Not gonna lie, sometimes when I walk down Barrington St. I cross to the other side just to see what's going on in there! :)

Instead of the usual bread basket, Chives sets a precedent for the coming meal with a brown paper bag filled with warm, buttery biscuits. Served with dark, rich molasses and a lightly whipped butter, these biscuits are the perfect start for the gourmet comfort food for which Chives is famous.

My friend and I both ordered the nightly special: Prosciutto-wrapped cod. Though normally, I'd never order the same dish as my company, neither of us could be swayed- we wanted that cod! And so, to avoid food envy, we submitted our orders for two nightly specials- much to our server's amusement. As I prepared to choose the wine, I was also thrilled to see that Chives' wine cellar still holds some of Grand Pre's Ortega- a special treat as it's now sold out at the winery.

Cod holds a certain sentimental value for me. Growing up in Newfoundland, I used to make fun of my father who always, to no end, ordered pan-fried cod in restaurants. It wasn't until I reached my late teens and actually started liking fish that I realized what a wise man my poppa is- cod is delicious! It's also a great vehicle upon which to impart other flavours.

The fish itself was meaty and tender. Enveloped by the cured pork, the fish took on extra flavouring from the pork fat which melted right into the fillet. This star player sat atop an equally brilliant supporting cast; a risotto of chewy sun dried tomato; tender spinach; and gooey chunks of fresh Mozzarella. A handful of fresh, spicy arugula rounded out the rich flavours and textures of the dish.

Prosciutto- wrapped Cod

served on a bed of sun dried tomato and spinach risotto

w/ mozzarella and arugula

And...even though I was pleasantly stuffed after my entree, my friend managed to twist my rubber arm into splitting a dessert. Chives actually has a lengthy dessert menu, as well as a lovely selection of after dinner libations. We decided on the chocolate mousse cake. A rich dessert, though not too heavy, the creamy filling was contrasted by the crunchy cookie crust and crisp praline nuts.

Chocolate Mousse Cake

White chocolate mousse on a crisp chocolate cookie crust,

served w/ dark chocolate syrup, caramel sauce and candied pecans

Fishcakes & Chow

I always LOVE finding new spots to do breakfast on a weekday. I often work with the Delta Halifax staff in my position as an event planner, but I have never made it to the Crown Bistrot. That all changed last week when I met my contact for breakfast. I'm so used to reserving a good, hearty breakfast for brunch on the wknds, that I was slightly shocked to be able to experience it on a weekday!

We met at 9 am and quickly placed our orders. Now, I'm a sucker for a good fried egg. I've actually settled into a weekday morning routine (one I'd call a rut if I didn't enjoy it so much) of eating 3 hard boiled eggs, smashed with a few dollops of butter and lots of freshly cracked black pepper. However, when I'm provided with the opportunity of fried eggs on a weekday, I am eager to accept it - especially when the hot runny eggs are paired with savory fishcakes, sweet grilled tomato and tart homemade chow. This was the offering on the CB's menu and I was instantly sold!

The plate was gargantuan with 2 eggs, 2 fishcakes, 2 pieces of toast, a grilled tomato, roasted potatoes and a healthy dose of chow. The fishcakes were slightly crisp on the outside, but tender within. The traditional Nova Scotian chow was tart and sweet all at once. I loved making little bites of buttery toast, egg and grilled tomato.

Nova Scotian Fish Cakes

My dining companion ordered my second choice on the menu- and one that I'll happily go back for, the Portobello Stack; scrambled eggs with hearty portobello mushrooms, spinach, tomato and cheese on brioche toast, served with fruit and roasted potatoes.

Portobello Stack

The Gingerbread Hause

This past Saturday, I was geared to go for brunch at Henry House. I was super excited for a plate of steak n' eggs, perhaps an omelet or even french toast. I arrived at 10:30 to meet my brunch dates....and it was closed! Turns out that we had made our brunch plans an hour before HH opened at 11:30!!

Not having a stomach willing to be deterred from an amazing bfast, we decided to truck up the hill to The Gingerbread Hause for a piping hot coffee and some incredible baked goods. The GH is one of my neighbourhood bakeries and I was thrilled to finally get a chance to try some of their amazing treats (and really excited to designate it as MY local bakery)!

Seeing how I have a penchant to try all versions of pain au chocolat available in the HRM, this was an easy decision. I paired said sweet treat with a frothy cappuccino. A small plate arrived, overtaken by the huge, domed pastry, drizzled with dark chocolate. With a slightly crisp, buttery crust that flaked under my knife, the pain au chocolat yielded a lovely dark chocolate filling underneath layers of soft pastry. My cappuccino was the perfect match; a little more luxurious than an ordinary cuppa joe and with an espresso bite to match.

Pain au Chocolat

Cappuccino

Best of Show at the Savour food & wine Show!

It's finally here, the moment that the Savour food & wine Show exhibitors and guests have been waiting for; the Best of Show Awards! These awards are the people's choice. Every attendee at the event is given a ballot and gets to vote their opinion on a variety of categories. Here are this year's Winners and Runners Up:

Best of Hot Food

First: Tempest

Runner Up: Season's Bistro

Best of Cold Food

First: Hamachi Group

Runner Up: NSCC

Best Dessert

First: Season's Bistro

Runner Up: Scanway/Saege

Best White Wine

First: Innovative Beverages

Runner Up: Wine Visions

Best Red Wine

Winner: Blomidon Estate Winery

Runner Up: Bishop's Cellar

Best Drink

Winner: Mosaic

Runner Up: 44 North

Best Booth

Winner: Hamachi Group

Runner Up: Scanway

Unlimited Mussels at Trader's Bar

I have often heard about the Thursday night mussel deal at Trader's Bar & Grill, but never seemed to make it there. Recently, however, my friend was in town, and we saw Trader's as a great venue to fill up on food and catch up on conversation.

Trader's unlimited mussel deal runs from 5:00-8:00 pm, and the deal is this: Purchase a pint of Garrison beer ($5) and receive unlimited mussels for $5. This deal was already great, and then our server brought over some fantastic freshly made bread and garlic butter for dipping! Less than $15 for a filling meal of seafood and beer? You can't beat this deal!

2010 Savour food & wine Show

Last Thursday night I attended the 7th annual Savour food & wine Show at the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront. This event makes the top of my list as the best of the year- trumping even Christmas and New Years, seriously!

This year's show was even more special to me as I was invited to sit on the Savour food & wine festival planning committee as the Media Relations Representative. Talk about a thrill. Working with Nova Scotia Tourism and Destination Halifax to bring in world-class food writers, being involved in the planning of new events such as Decadence; a feast of chocolate, wine and cheese, and having the inside track of exhibitor offerings for the Savour Show were just a few of the perks of being involved.

So without further ado, I present to you a few snapshots of some of the bites I got to experience at this year's Savour Show. Don't forget to get your tix to the 2011 Savour Show and follow SavourNS on Twitter for updates all year-long!

44 North

Duck Poutine, with duck fries, duck confit,

local curds

*YUM!*

The Press Gang

Sticky Bison Short Rib

Blue Cheese Bread Pudding

Celery Root Puree

*MY FAVORITE!*

FID

Warm crumpet, smoked salmon, egg emulsion

Tempest Restaurant

Emperor's Duck;

Chinese bbq braised Oulton's duck on

Scallion pancake with crispy shallots

White Point Beach Resort

Smoked Salmon French Toast w/ Triple Smoked Bacon

and Grain Mustard Maple Glaze

Des Barres Manor Inn

Smoked Salmon Bread Pudding with Plum Salsa

Seasons Bistro

Caramelized Sea Scallop, Mushroom Risotto & Apple relish &

Coffee Cheesecake Truffle

Scanway

Taste of Victory

Bronze Spice Cookie, Silver Meringues,

Goldschlager Ice cream

Bras d’Or Lakes Inn

Cape Breton Crab Appetizer