On one of the 'hotter' days in September, I arrived home to my housemate's news that: "We're going to The Flying Fajita Sistersfor dinner. You have 20 minutes to get ready." Having trekked around the 'hood in the heat all day, I felt less than stellar, but with the thought of an icy cold, salty Margarita in my future, I pulled myself together...quickly.
We met three of our pals for dinner at 7:30 and were seated at a little table in the garden. The bonus about restos on GPR is the fact that many of them have an outdoor dining area hidden away in the back. Most of us ordered a Margarita to start - mine being the classic; lime flavoured with a nice, salty rim. I ordered it frozen as it goes down slightly less quickly that way.
The Classic Frozen Margaritas ($13)
And..."when in Mexico"...we also ordered some shots of tequila. Giving our sever a relative budget and saying "No way(!) to Jose", we asked that she excite our palate with something a little more exotic that the typical shots you'd get at a bar. What she brought out was heavenly and we ended up with another round later in the night. The tequila itself was sweet and luscious. With a honeyed texture and beautiful orange blossom notes, the shots were topped with a slice of orange dusted in a layer of cinnamon which brought out the liquid's sweet and slightly spicy notes.
Tequila ($8/shot)
My housemate ordered one of the daily specials: fish tacos. Though the tacos featured grilled sea bass, the resto had run out and offered red snapper as an alternative. Served with a wedge of lime, citrus served to elevate the fish's flavour and add a nice zing to the dish. Tender, flaky fish; chunky salsa; creamy guacamole; rich crema, and robust corn salsa were all on offer to be packaged up within the warm, soft flour tortillas.
Fish Tacos ($18ish)
w/ guacamole, crema, green salad and corn salsa
I wasn't ravenous when we arrived so I ordered something small. I'm always a sucker for specials because I know that they'll only be available for a limited time. I decided on one of the other options listed that evening; taquitos filled with potato and chorizo sausage, topped with salsa verde, queso freso and served with a marinated tomato salad. It was a great little meal: the crispy shell was wrapped around soft potato and spicy sausage; the salsa verde and crumbed cheese added a richness to the dish while the marinated tomato salad provided a touch of sweetness - and a great textural contrast as well.
Taquitos ($12)
w/ potato, chorizo, salsa verde and queso fresco
I will definitely be a repeat customer here. The quality of the food was fantastic, the margaritas were 'just right' and the presentation was really nice for Mexican food - which can admittedly be a little sloppy. Great service topped off the night. Once we were all sorted, we headed down the street to The Little Guy - also on GPR, one of Sydney's 'small bars', and a laid-back spot that's perfect for a weeknight drink or a Sunday session.
I’m super excited to write this post as a first-time TeamGal! I’ve been recruited to write and do reviews of various restos, cafes, etc. in Halifax and then report the experience as the TeamBuy deal goes live.
The Hart & Thistle on Halifax’s waterfront is a favorite spot of mine during the summer, when I can sip one of their micro beers on the sun-drenched patio. I’ve even done some writing there from time to time – with beer in hand, of course.
This time, it’s 4:00 pm on a Saturday and there are only a few people inside. It’s really nice though; a bright, comfortable spot to get some work done as I wait for my company. The piano player seems to have a fondness for Elton John – which is fine by me.
I ask to order a micro-brew and the server describes the two current brews; Mad Man – at 7% alcohol, an IPA and Rocket Man – at 8%, a double IPA. Appropriate, given the tunes! I taste them both and decide I’m partial to the Mad Man; it’s a bit more zippy than the other, and with nothing yet in my stomach, I’m wise not to start on a 8% brew!
When my bf arrives, he orders a Muddled Cucumber ($6.09) and the Calamari immediately; panko crusted, it's served with tomato jam and sweet chili mayo. Served on a slate tile, the pile of squid is tender and the batter, crisp. We gobble them up quickly, piling each bite with the sweet mayo and yummy tomato jam.
As the server clears our plates, I order a pint of Stella Artois, while Mitch gets a Keith's. We put in our orders for the 2-piece Maritime Fish n' Chips ($12) and an 8 oz. NY Striploin ($18).
The lightly battered haddock is tasty; it's crisp and not too greasy. Served with PEI russet fries and a house-made tartar sauce, I managed to eat one whole piece and then pick the batter off the other. The quality of fish is excellent and the tartar sauce is delish.
Mitch's steak is served with frizzled onions, vegetables of the day and horseradish potatoes. The steak is great - full of flavour. The vegetables are the highlight of this dish for me though; they're al dente, so the carrots, cauliflower, asparagus and green beans still have a slight crunch. The horseradish potatoes are OK - we think that they're not that fresh.
Believe it or not, after all that, we're still able to consume, so we decide on the dessert sampler platter ($15). Another tile appears with a selection of the Hart & Thistle's desserts; a piece of bread pudding, a chocolate brownie in a pool of caramel sauce and a lovely oval-shaped disk of chocolate pate. In the center, there's a small bowl of vanilla bean ice cream and a dollop of whipped cream with fruit. This is a bad idea...but oh, so good! I normally go for salty over sweet, but having had my fare share of salt tonight, this is a lovely change. The brownie is dense and chewy, the bread pudding has a subtle caramel flavour and the chocolate pate tastes like the centre of a Lindt truffle.
We practically roll out of the restaurant, but it was a great way to spend a Saturday evening. I love the Hart & Thistle on a hot summer's day, but now I love it on a cold winter's night as well!
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And...it's fall. How quickly did that happen? I went from frolicking in my flip flops and denim cut-offs to having to resort to my space heater at work to take away the chill. Yes, autumn is upon us, and that means comfort food; thick soups, hearty stews, red wine and no more patios. :(
But last week, when my friend and I ate on the patio at the Foggy Goggle, there was nothin' but sunshine-y skies and a warm summer breeze. It was one of those evenings where beer was $2 off and we had nothin but time. My friend ordered the Man Salad - and that's exactly what it was: a 6 oz. steak cooked med-rare, served on a bed of organic greens with toasted almonds, sun dried cranberries, crumbled blue cheese and red onion drizzled in a Balsamic vinaigrette.
It's not often that we share the same food cravings, and I've never, ever seen him order a salad in a resto, but this one turned the tables on the 'usual' salad. The flavour combos were excellent and the textures intriguing. The steak was juicy and had tons of flavour; the almonds and red onion provided crunch, while the sweet chewy cranberries and creamy, blue cheese were 'besties' in this dish with the tart flavour playing off the pungent one.
While he dove into his vibrant plate, I had the Marinara mussels; a pound of mussels in a spicy marinara with tomatoes, onion and jalapeno. They were OK - not the best mussels I've had in this city, but certainly not the worst either. i think that I was hoping for a thicker sauce; which it wasn't. Still, I ate the whole dish as the shellfish themselves were plump and moist.
I'm sad to see the summer end and to have to head back indoors to dine; one of my favourite summer activities - like half of the people in this town- is to drink an icy cold beer on a patio. I suppose that's life though, the seasons come and go, and so too must our eating and drinking habits. I guess I should look on the bright side: now I can sit at the bar and drink red wine/hot buttered rum/Dark n' Stormys/Bailey's/etc. to my heart's content!
Last weekend I was on vacation; this week, I am not. :-( However, while the timing was right, I took advantage and loved every minute of it. After a long Friday of trotting around in dt Hali, we decided that the time was right for oyster Happy Hour. The Five Fishermen Grillhosts a HH everyday from 4:30 - 6:30 featuring a variety of delicious oysters and generously-priced drinks. We settled in at a table on the patio and waited for our meal: an order of grilled fish tacos, a dozen oysters with all the accouterments and two oyster shooters.
The shooters arrived first. A mini-Cesar in a glass, they were (a touch too) spicy for me and left me reaching for the bread basket - a delicious selection from Julien's Bakery. The oyster inside though, was delicious and went down just as easily as those in their shells. While I enjoyed my bubbly and Stutz Hard Cider, my friend chose a draft beer, remarking on how good the HH prices were.
The tacos were lovely. The rustic tortilla was house-made and made me realize how fabricated store-bought corn tortillas really taste. The fish was flaky, lightly grilled and served with guacamole and a tangy salsa. When our oysters arrived we were delighted at the selection of big 'uns and little guys. I was more partial to the smaller Malpeques, so my friend and I swapped plates. On the side, 5Fish serves a mix of wasabi mayo, horseradish sauce and a mignonette-type sauce plus the cutest mini bottles of Tabasco you've ever seen!
With a taste for sea-salty goodness, I was on a role with seafood. I wanted mussels for dinner, so we packed up and headed further dt to Brussels Restaurant and Brasserie on Grafton St. I ordered a pot of the Provencal, tossed in a mix of tomato, garlic and basil ($8.95), while my friend ordered the Brussels burger; a AAA burger with aioli, smoked Gouda and caramelized onions ($10.95). Since he ordered a side garden with his burger, s I clearly had to get an order of fries and mayo ($3.95) to go along with the meal.
My dish was pretty good; the mussels were a nice size and the tomato sauce was just thick enough to actually stick to the little suckers. The fries were awesome with a good mix of big, tender fries and the little crispy bits that I've come to love. My friend's burger good too; juicy and flavourfu, and with tasty toppings.
Mussels, fries and beer are one of my all-time favorite meals, so you can imagine how I felt when Brussels opened a few years ago. You can also imagine how I felt when I couldn't eat at least seven mussels because they were damaged or hadn't opened. I've been noticing a trend on that front in Halifax restos lately; I often have to chuck 7-10 mussels out of a 1-pound order. If chefs/cooks, etc. would simply throw in an extra 3-4, it might cost them a bit more, yes, but they would have a satisfied customer...as opposed to one that's pissed off about throwing half her meal in the trash...
A couple weeks ago in late June, I filmed a commercial for Nova Scotia Tourism as part of the 'My Nova Scotia' campaign. On June 17th, I stood on the corner of Argyle Street across from Durty Nelly's, in the same position for three hours...on 2 ft. high apple crates. Yup, that's 180 minutes without moving my lower body - which by the end was wrapped in a tarp to keep the wind off of my tender tootsies.
When all was said and done and we wrapped shooting at 11 pm, all I could think about was a) a calf massage and b) nachos. By the time I dragged my tired carcass to Gatsby's, I was ravenous and ready to storm the kitchen. Thankfully, my pal took matters into his own hands and ordered a platter of nachos and a bowl of meaty chili.
That was a pretty good move if you ask me. Two of my favorite (edible) things are melted cheese and a good bowl of chili. In the state I was in, a pile of chili topping a cheese-coated, salty corn chip was pure heaven. A bottle of beer made it all the more blissful.
I feel as though I'd be doing With Bite readers a disservice if I didn't say that the nachos were alright - I remember them being much better. They have all the good stuff: loads of cheddar and mozza cheese, red and green peppers, tomatoes, red onions, jalapenos and the addition of sweet pineapple if your palate so desires. I think I was just a tad underwhelmed because the cheese wasn't thoroughly melted.
The chili was a pretty standard ground beef chili with the usual additions. The server was thoughtful enough to divide the portion into two smaller bowls - she knew where our heads were at. :)
If this review sounds somewhat negative, it's not my intention. Gatsby's has consistently good pub fare, but it's just that: Good. It's not mind blowing, and it certainly isn't gourmet, but it's inexpensive, tasty fare that hits the spot just when you need it to.
When I'm in the mood for pub food and beer, Gatsby's is pretty go-to, especially on Tuesdays when the apps are 1/2 priced. In addition to the 'chos and chili, I've also had a tasty quesadilla and a nice bowl of mussels in a white wine-based broth.
Up until a couple of weeks ago, I had never had a Reuben sandwich. Several people were shocked about this fact, but I didn't really see it as a big deal. I'm actually not all that much of a sandwich gal. I like the occasional Bahn Mi or a little hot turkey action over the holidays, but most of the time, I could take it or leave it.
And then...I went to the Henry House. I've been a few times before and on this particular occasion, for some random reason, my psyche was jonesin' for some the smoked meat. As far as my research goes, the HH has a pretty standard edition: (marbled) rye bread topped with sweet Thousand Island dressing, tangy sauerkraut, nutty Swiss cheese and a pile - I mean pile, of smoked meat.
Well...I'll have that again. I tried to do the noble thing and save half for later, but failed miserably. The slight heat from the meat's seasoning mixed with the subtle flavor of the Swiss cheese is a flavour combo that I'm sure to crave again. Not to mention the yummy, crispy, skin-on fries that filled out the plate.
Reuben Sammy
My pal's lobster roll was huge! With big 'ol chunks of lobster, including a full claw, the mayo-based dressing was light and didn't overpower the lobster's delicate flavour. Paired with a tasty Caesar, she was a pretty happy gal.
Lobster Roll w/ Caesar Salad
With our bellies full, we finished off our pints on the patio. If you're in the South end of Halifax, the Henry House has a great patio on which to spend a sunny afternoon. And it's not bad in the winter either!
A few weeks ago, on one of those random days where we actually saw the sun, we went to the Hart & Thistle Gastropub & Brewery on the Halifax waterfront for a quick bite. Well known for Brewmaster Greg Nash's fun, hoppy beers, the H&T also has good pub food and was the perfect spot to stop on out way over to Dartmouth. We saw several tables heading inside, having been beaten down by the crazy winds, so we settled at a table by the window and ordered some heartwarming comfort foods.
My friend ordered the Thistle's Bigger Burger, topped with Sweet William's sausage, spicy Havarti cheese and the standard burger fixin's. This was a huge burger, like a: "I gotta cut this in half" kind of burger, and with flavour to rival Darrell's. The addition of sausage added another rich layer, and bumped it up to a 'hearty appetite' dish in my books. The fries on the side were crispy and clean, just the way I like them, not grease-laden.
Thistle’s Bigger Burger
topped w/ Sweet William’s Italian sausage,
peppered Havarti, lettuce, tomato,
red onion & dill pickle
I wasn't feeling uber hungry so I opted for the Kettley's Kettle, a soup of the day. On this occasion, the soup was described as a corn chowder with pulled pork. Unfortunately, it wasn't really what I had in mind; being moreso a BBQ'd pork soup than a yellow corn chowder as I had envisioned, it was just a bit too sweet for my taste.
I did leave satisfied, however, as we ended up swapping plates so that my friend gobbled up the rest of my soup and I chowed down on his yummy fries...!
So, I know that it's evident that one of my favorite restos is The Brooklyn Warehouse, and this meal further adds to my love affair. I recently went to dinner with a friend of longtime family friend of mine who has been away from Hali for about 4 years; long enough to miss the opening and rise to fame of Brooklyn Warehouse as one of Halifax's best restaurants (in my opinion).
On this visit, I knew what I wanted to order from the moment I sat down. It didn't take long to convince my friend that she wanted the same. We decided on the Steak Frites; an 8 oz. NS Striploin, oven roasted potato wedges, olive oil poached tomato with chevre and Pommery mustard dip.
Holy mother! Look at that piece of meat! Not only was the steak incredible and perfectly cooked for my taste, but the fries were just right as well - fat chips with a crispy shell.
The Pommery mustard was a great addition to the plate - the savoury, spicy sauce added a nice kick to the steak. On the side, an unexpected, luscious bite was provided in the form of a sweet, supple, olive oil-poached tomato. Topped with creamy, melted goat cheese and drizzled with tangy balsamic, it was a wonderful accompaniment! This was definitely one of the most lovely, well-balanced plates I've ever eaten in Hali...yet another reason why Brooklyn is one of my fave spots for a quick bite, or an meal of all-out, local-product awesomeness!
Last weekend, a friend and I were sharing some wine at my place when our tummies started to rumble. Since it's now officially winter in Halifax, we were not enthused to leave the apartment, let alone go very far. So we decided on Henry House, which is practically in my backyard.
Upon arriving in this warm, chatter-filled squatyresto, we found a minuscule piece of real estate on which to park ourselves - practically on top of our neighbouring male diners, but they didn't seem to mind.
As is often the case during the winter months, I was craving a warm bowl of soup, and my friend was in themood for something spicy to heat things up. Cheese ended up running the show, and we both got exactly what we were looking for.
My friend ordered the tasty (and inexpensive at about $8+HST) chicken quesadilla. The tortilla came filled with cheese, chicken, tomatoes and onions and was served with some thick sour cream and a piquant salsa. On the side, a mixed greens salad with a zesty balsamic-based vinaigrette freshened things up.
Chicken Quesadilla
Mmmmmm, melty cheese, juicy chicken and crispy tortilla!
I ended up with a bowl of Henry House's French Onion Soup. I think melted, ooey gooey cheese just might be one of my favorite foods. The soup was warm and savoury; it filled the void that had taken up residence in my belly since lunchtime. Between the earthy broth, the melt-in-your mouth, soup soaked bread chunks and the lightly-broiled cheese cap, I was glad to have ventured out of my little nest, into the frigid cold and into this inviting home away from home.
What began as an innocent trip to grab some brunch, suddenly became a day of excess. While a friend and I decided to go to brunch and visit another friend and server at Ristorante aMano, we arrived just as said server was finishing her shift. Instead of dining without her, we decided to wait around and go somewhere where the three of us could eat instead. So...what does one do to kill time while hanging out at aMano on a blisteringly hot day? Have a gelato breakfast! Since I was having an enormous amount of trouble making up my mind (story of my life), I decided on two distinctly different flavours; a cool, refreshing mint and a rich, almost chewy-like peanut butter-chocolate. As we licked our spoons clean, we agreed that it was one of my more genius ideas lately! :)
Gelato
When we finally moved on for some "real food", it was around the corner for a quick burger at the Red Stag Tavern, located in the Keith's Brewery Market. We managed to get a seat on the patio and proceeded to laze in the sun as we awaited our meals. Still feeling like I could devour a full cow myself, I ordered a huge (for me) Admiral's Burger; a charbroiled sirloin patty topped with bacon, cheddar and a garlic-horseradish aioli. God, I love a good burger! The patty was think and juicy, and the salty bacon and greasy cheese did it even more justice. The potato wedges on the side were pretty good too - I always prefer a wedge to fries. Though they were unseasoned, I did enjoy them dipped in my side of chipotle mayo.
Admiral's Burger
On a side note, I didn't grab a photo of this one, but I recently had a lunch meeting at the Rd Stag and was pleasantly surprised with the tasty dish set before me. I ordered a bowl of the Steak & Pale Ale Chili and was shocked at how quickly it filled me up. With a tomato and Keith's IPA base, this chili was created with chunks of steak as opposed to the usual ground beef...real meat...mmm!
I recently received a lovely email inviting me to participate in a cool new marketing campaign for the Downtown Halifax Business Commission. As opposed to going the route of conventional advertising, the DHBC asked 30 Halifax bloggers to participate in a Big Day Downtown. The rules were simple; each participant was given $100 to spend any way we chose as long as the spots were within the designated downtown boundaries. What a treat! And treat myself, I did. Read on for details as to how I spent my $100, and then watch it all unfold in the video of my Big Day Downtown!
My first stop on my Big Day Downtown was the Hart & Thistle Gastropub & Breweryon Halifax's waterfront to sample some of their handcrafted beer. At my server's suggestion, I decided to go with The Hammer, a Hefeweizen-style beer. An unfiltered beer, it was slightly sweet, and took on a fruity, yet creamy character. After drinking that delectable beer on the patio, I went inside to perch at the bar for a bit of Kryptolight IPA- a lighter version of the Kryptonite beer that Greg Nash had brewed the week prior.
Though The Hammer was a fantastic way to start my Big Day Downtown, I was happy to follow it up with the delicious IPA. I often find myself gravitating to this type of beer as it has the constant unmistakable hint of grapefruit. Since we arrived at Happy Hour, I managed to get both pints at $3 each! How can you go wrong on a Tuesday night when Happy Hour starts at
5 pm, and beers are so inexpensive?
After some liquid courage, I was ready to conquer my fear that was, the oyster. Yes, I'll admit it, before my Big Day Downtown, I hated those slippery suckers - they gave me the heebee jeebees. However, I've never really given them a fair shot. So I thought to myself, "what better way to spend my free money downtown, than to park myself at an oyster bar and have at it?"
Five Fishermen GrillManager Shane Robilliard showed me the wine cellar before setting me up at the Oyster bar to sample some of their offerings. As I said, I've never been an oyster fan - and I have to admit that they're still not my fave - but after having the opportunity to sit down and sample 5 different kinds from three Atlantic Canadian provinces, I've developed a warm friendship with the bivalves.
In the photo below, Shane describes the 'Enomatic' - an Italian machine, "where they really know how to treat wine," that keeps the wine fresh for about 28 days. Once a bottle of wine is inserted into the machine, it removes the oxygen and injects an inert gas into the bottle, thus preserving the freshness of the wine.
I poured over all of the new restaurant's menus. The tough choice is obviously going to be deciding what to order - but that's after I make the difficult decision of choosing dinner or brunch. If you're a Benny Eggs fan, you should check out 5FG's 5 different kinds! I'm thinking chorizo and chipotle Hollandaise!
As the 'hit' of the new Five Fishermen Grill menu, the 'Create' portion allows you to build your perfect plate, choosing a seafood, sauce and side.
Armed with a glass of Grand Pre'sL'AcadieBlanc, I was ready to try out some of these bivalves.
There were a couple of different sauces to go with, my fave being the classic mignonette sauce made from red wine vinegar and minced onion.
I tried several different kinds of oysters; Black Point and Phat Bastards from New Brunswick, Sinners in Heaven from PEI and Nova Scotians from Digby. My faves were the Nova Scotian and, funny enough, the Phat Bastards! If you're an oyster lover, this is definitely the spot to stop. With a $1 Oyster Happy Hour from 4:30 -6:30, 7 days a week, why would you want to be anywhere else?
And then it was on to the main event - the cherry on top for me - we headed to Q Smokehouse & BBQ to check out some sweet, tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs! As I debated over pork or beef, Q's Manager Peter suggested that I try both. Thanks Pete- good call!
It was hot as Hades up in the smokehouse, so I saw no reason why we shouldn't sample the libations whilst waiting in line. We tried two of Q's signature drinks; the Sweet Tea, a lovely blend of tea, simple syrup and lemon, and the Lynchburg Lemonade, a combo of homemade lemonade and Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whisky. Sidebar- I once wrote a paper on Jack Daniels and got a 96. 96!! What happened to the other 4 marks?? Still not over it.
Now, please don't think I ate this ALL by myself, I did have some assistance! The final tally included: 2 beef ribs and 1/2 rack of pork ribs served with two sides; Mac n' Cheese and Sweet Potato fries. All of the entrees items at Q are served with a rich and sweet, crumbly cornbread. Sigh...
And you can't have BBQ without the sauce! Q offers several selections, and I went for the Memphis - a tomato/vinegar mix. I think the sauce was meant for the ribs, but I couldn't imagine messing with their existing power-house of flavour. Nope, my sauce was better served as a dipper for my crispy sweet potato fries. The Mac n' Cheese was tasty too - I'm not a huge pasta person - I really just prefer to go for the meat, but I'd recommend trying it.
AS IF I could eat anymore after that feed! Just watch me...
I couldn't possibly finish up my Big Day Downtownwithout some dessert. A 'lil something sweet was just the thing to end the day. We headed down to Sugah! on the waterfront to try some of their hand-paddled ice cream. With about 4 ice cream bases, Sugah! offers a selection of about 15 ingredients to mix in. One staff member described it best when she referred to Sugah!'s product as "a homemade Blizzard".
Clearly I went for peanut butter fudge, and clearly, I paired that with chocolate ice cream.
And so ended my Big Day Downtown. Happy Hour on a patio for delicious, locally-brewed beer; Nova Scotian wine paired with a selection of succulent oysters; down-home, rustic yet spectacular BBQ; a rich and creamy ice cream studded with chunks of fudge, and I did it all for $100! I think the moral of the story here kids, is that there are plenty of spots to eat in downtown Halifax on the cheap. Whether you crave salt and crunch, or sweet and creamy, there's no shortage of restos, bars, coffee shops, etc. that can satisfy it!
I'd like to thank the folks at the Downtown Halifax Business Commission for involving me in this project. They have taken on the initiative to empower local bloggers to promote the core businesses of Halifax's downtown area. This idea speaks volumes as it allows readers to get an authentic perspective of life in downtown Halifax as experienced by local resident. Kudos, DHBC!
The Old Triangle "does what right?" you may ask? Sweet potato fries. I met up with a friend of mine for um...several drinks and got a craving for something to snack on. Crispy, crunchy, and served with a tasty curry mayonaise, this is the perfect pairing to fill your belly up when you're about to get into trouble with few men named Jack Daniels...and Jose Cuervo....and Alexander Keiths...
