Awesome afternoon at Opera Bar

On the heels of an incredible Bday dinner, M & and I planned to spend the arvo at The Morrison for happy hour wine and oysters.  Being from the east coast of Canada, we both have a weakness for bivalves...We had already purchased our tix to Les Miserables, and were looking for a way to pass the time in advance of the film.  We caught a bus up to Circular Quay with the intention of meandering down to The Morrison.   However, when M suggested that we spend some leisurely time on the waterfront - and have a drink at Opera Bar, I was all too happy to oblige!  I  ended up that we quit trying to "rush a good thing", and so The Morrison was forgotten, and we quickly ordered another tasty bevy and snacks at Opera Bar.

Our drinks were further enhanced by a plate of Yam crisps and prawn popcorn. 

The Yam crisps were OK.  Certainly not life-changing.  They provided a good bit of crunch to go along with our wines, but they were pretty greasy.  I wouldn't likely order them again. 

Yam Crisps ($8)

The prawn popcorn, on the other hand, were delicious - I'm hungry just thinking about them now.   The plum, juicy prawns were coated in a light, crispy batter and served with a luscious, mayo-based spicy jalapeno dipping sauce.  YUM.

Prawn Popcorn ($13)

w/ spicy jalapeño sauce 

Opera Bar, I've determined,  is one of those spots that cater to both tourists and locals alike; tourists because it's the Sydney opera-based bar, but locals, because it's simply a damn-good spot to spend a sunny wknd afternoon.

Food flying high at the Flying Fajita Sisters

On one of the 'hotter' days in September, I arrived home to my housemate's news that: "We're going to The Flying Fajita Sisters for 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.

Fid's Pad Thai: eat-in or take-out!

Since I deprived Mitch of his Fid Resto Pad Thai earlier in the month, I planned a Saturday brunch later in the month to make up for it.  After a good run in the am, we got ready for a day of good food, booze and sunshine - you know, those days when you just wanna get 'day drunk'!

When we got to Fid, we ordered two muddy gin Caesars and reviewed the menu.  Obviously, he had PT on the brain, but I - like I always do - wanted eggs, so I chose the Fisherman's Breakfast w/ smoked salmon and potato rosti.  I forgot my phone so the image quality of these pics isn't fantastic, but you'll get the 'picture'.

The bean soup was fantastic.  Who knew lima beans could be so tasty?  The broth was creamy and rich with a velvety mouthfeel. Served with the soup was one of Fid's crumpets; a little morsel that's just perfect for dipping.

Lima Bean Soup ($6)

The soup was served with Dennis' delicious crumpets

Fisherman's Breakfast ($14) 

I had the Fishermen's Breakfast, which was one of my favourites in Halifax.  With an uber-crispy, savoury potato cake topped with luscious smoked salmon and a poached egg cooked to a medium, all the textural elements were there to please my palate.  I asked for the Hollandaise sauce on the side, into which , I dunked every other bite.  In order to add a bit of greedy to the meal, we also ordered the Simple Salad, which is simple to be are, but with a playful element of popcorn to garnish.  

A Simple Salad ($6)

D's Pad Thai ($14)

Mitch had the Pad Thai, which was perfect.  With tender noodles, crunchy toasted peanuts, crisp bean spouts, egg, scallions and cilantro, this dish is a good balance of hearty comfort food and fresh food.

But the best part of this blog is the great news that I have to share!  Fid Resto is now doing 'back-door take-out!  They're offering just the one dish - the Pad Thai - but at just $10 a pop for the full serving (as compared to $14 in-house), it's a great deal!

We picked up some drinks and settled in on a sunny park bench in the Public Gardens and muched happily away for the better part of an hour.  With that food, the entertainment of a motorized toy boat show, and the background music of a brass band playing in the bandstand, it was a pretty sweet (and cheap) afternoon! 

My Birthday Dinner at Morris East

I love birthdays.  I enjoy buying presents for people and wrapping them up into beautiful parcels to present to them on their special day.  I (obviously) also relish the dining aspect of birthdays; whether it's a simple cake or an elaborate 5-course meal, I love the celebration that's involved and making the Bday boy/girl feel special.

And I love it when it's MY birthday!  I'm one of those people whose birthday falls right on the cusp of the Christmas season.  That's right - my bday falls within the 12 days of Christmas, on January 5th.  When I was younger, I always guilt-tripped my parents into a really good birthday present.  Of course, I did offer the obligatory, "thanks mom for your 9 months of incubation, labour and putting up with me during my teens", but I also got away with making my birthday last a whole week instead of just one day.

I've since met a little bird who makes her Bday last a whole month - but that's another story all together!  This broad did help me celebrate one of my birthday days, as did my colleagues, and then my boyfriend's colleagues... 4 birthday cakes/desserts in all!  Needless to say, I was birthday'd out by mid-January, so I think a week's worth of celebrating is still fine enough for me.

The best part about this Bday though, was my dinner at Morris East.  I agonized over this decision for several days prior - pouring over menus at Gio, Da Maurizio, The Bicycle Thief, CUT, etc... But when I sat back and thought about what I wanted, it was something simple; something that I don't eat very often: CARBS! I wanted to unabashedly eat them with no care for the aftermath.  So where to go in this city for a good feed of carbs?  Morris East- for some wood-fire grilled pizzas.

When we arrived at 8:30 pm on the Saturday night following my Bday, we started off with some tasty cocktails.  I had the Patsy ($11) with citadelle gin, St. Germain elderflower, rosemary syrup, lemon and sparkling wine, while Mitch had the Winter Mojito ($10.50) with amber rum, muddled limes, fresh mint, drunken cranberries and soda.  I think my drink was so delicious because it combined some of my favorite bevys all-in-one; gin, St. Germain and sparkling wine.

As we sipped, we put in some orders for appetizers to share; the Vinaigrette Caesar ($9) and the Stuffed Portobello Cap ($9).  I'd had the Caesar before and it's my favorite one in Halifax.  Made with a light, lemony vinaigrette as opposed to a heavy creamy dressing, the simple flavours really stand out here.  The portobello mushroom  cap was delicious - I had a hard time passing the plate over.  The tender mushroom was topped with creamy melted bocconcini cheese, a smokey roasted tomato and an inventive pesto.

Vinaigrette Caesar   

Caesar w/ smoked bacon, sourdough croutons & preserved lemon

Stuffed Portobello Cap

w/ wood-fired Portobello mushroom, bocconcini cheese, 

artichoke cashew pesto, slow cooked tomato & herbs

With the appetizers cleared away, there was just a minute's wait before our pizzas arrived.  They were huge - divvied up into 6 slices each.  I knew what I wanted days before; the mushroom pizza ($16) with 3 different mushrooms and truffle oil.  Mitch ordered the Off The Bone ($18) with 3 kinds of meat and house smoked cheddar.  The pizza crusts were soft and irresistible.  Once the toppings were gone, I drizzled the crust in Morris East's chili oil and enjoyed every last crumb.  We swapped several slices before packing up a couple to go.  

Off The Bone

braised pork, Oulton's Farm sausage, sopressata, 
house smoked cheddar, Propeller Bitter Tomato Sauce

Mushroom

portobello, button & oyster mushroom, garlic, 

Parmesean, microgreens & truffle oil

I would have been happy finishing the meal with coffee, but Mitch likes to go all out on special occasions, so we ordered two specialty coffees with a macadamia nut liqueur and asked them to surprise us for dessert.  They chose the rich chocolate torte, and it certainly was rich.  The plate was drizzled in freshly sqeezed OJ and dusted with cocoa, then topped with a slice of chocolate-dipped cake.  That was the best part - the hard chocolate shell on the outside that cracked beneath my fork.

Rich Chocolate Torte

citrus caramel, canilla bean chantilly

And then I made a wish - but that's a secret!

We had a great night out at Morris East and the food was fantastic.  And while we did feel that some items were a little steeply priced, the meal was a good value overall.  We also brought our own wine - a pinot noir to go with my mushroom pizza - and the corkage fee was just $15. 

P,p,p, patio at Pipa!

One of my favorite restos in Halifax at the moment is Pipa on Argyle St. Actually, since Pipa opened in 2008, it's been a favourite.   It's a husband and wife-run resto that specializes in Brazilian and Portuguese food. One of the things that I find appealing about this spot is the fact that most of the dishes are unfamiliar, and each one is a new adventure! 

As luck would have it, the very day that we decided to head out to dinner and not get into the drink, pitchers of sangria are $5 off.  Obviously we ordered one; white sangria with peaches and strawberries. It was an incredibly hot evening and this delicately sweet bevy was just the thing to quench my thirst.  Since we planned on taking our time, I asked that they put ice only in the glasses so as to not water down our 'punch' .

As is often the way at a spot like this, my eyes were bigger than my belly and I ordered three apps; my friend ordered one plus an entree.  Loving a good game of chance, he often leaves his choice up to our server -  in this case, the owner, who suggested the pork and clams.  He prefaced this meal with more crustaceans, an order of Black Point oysters, while I ordered lobster soup, hearts of palm salad and lamb meatballs.

The soup was broth based with chunks of potatoes and other veg. I checked it out before ordering  as I'm not particularly fond of a creamy chowda on a hot day like this.    It was O.K. There were nice pieces of lobster, but it was lacking in flavour. My friend's oysters were super tasty and sea-salty fresh.  Served with some of Pipa's uber-spicy green salsa they set my mouth to waterin'. 

And then came the entrees; my two small plates and my friend's lovely stew-like pork, clam and potato mix.  The hearts of palm salad was original and refreshing.  Reminiscent of artichokes, the palm hearts were quite tangy after marinating for several hours in a lime-cilantro dressing.  On a bed of mesculn mix with chunks of corn, avocado and tomatoes, this salad was full of flavour and a nice change from other resto's typical salad options. 

The show-stopper was the meatballs.  Admittedly an odd dish; meatballs in a delicious tomato sauce sans pasta, they were served with crispy grilled baguette.  It was a decidedly simple, rustic preparation and it was delicious.  Ground veal was mixed with the usual suspects: garlic, basil and oregano, but the intriguing edition of a baking spice - nutmeg, made them all the more mysterious.  

My pal's pork and clam dish was awesome - and I don't even  like clams!  Pieces of pork and clams in the shell were cooked in a flavourful sauce,  sprinkled with verdant cilantro and served with grilled bread -  which he used to mop up the sauce.  These are some of my favorite meals; where bread is a utensil!

If you are - or even if you aren't adventurous, try heading down to Pipa to sit on the patio this summer, or in the atrium in the winter.  Though there are options for the curious palate, there are also plenty items on the menu for those with a more vanilla palate.  Of the 25+ menu options, only 6 are NOT gluten free, so it's a great spot to take friends and family who are trying to avoid gluten.

Steak Frites at Brooklyn Warehouse

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!

Bday Bites at The Bitter End

On the eve of my sister's  ?  th birthday, as she was visiting from Manhattan, we went for celebratory snacks and drinks at the Bitter End Martini Bar. We wanted to eat a busy place, and were mostly interested in the booze, so I quickly found a spot for two at the bar and we set to work on our vodka martinis with a side of jelly worms. 


As we were heading out for a night on the town, we wanted to some smaller plates to take the edge off of our noisy stomachs. We settled on two snacks from both end of the taste spectrum; a light salad, and an obscene amount of ooey-gooey baked cheese.  The Pear salad was served with mixed greens, red onion, walnuts, Bartlett pear and smoked Applewood cheddar with honey dijon vinagrette.  I'm not normally a fan of dressings, and usually get them on the side, so I was bummed when the salad arrive - dressing on - ad I realized that I had forgotten to make the request.  No matter though, as the dressing was sweet and tangy and complimented the other items in the dish nicely.  I'm always a fan of Applewood Cheddar, and it's nutty bit was a lovely contrast to the fresh, juicy pear.

Pear Salad

How can you go wrong with Saganaki really?  Kasseri cheese sauteed in olive oil and black pepper and flambeed with Sambuca and Brandy is my idea of a good time.  Though certainly not for someone watching their waistlines/blood pressure/cholesterol and all that, it's a tasty, salty bite that pairs particularly well with a bit of bubbly, which the bartender had just popped open once the cheese arrived.

Saganaki 

This was a nice little snack for two, and with all that cheese, we filled up quickly!  From there, a couple of our cousins joined us, we had a few more drinks and then made our way to Obladee for some more wine to finish off the night. Though given the option, I'd likely pick Manhattan to celebrate my bday, I think we did a pretty good job to show that New York City gal some fun on her Bday in Halifax!

Martinis with a Purpose!

I recently went for drinks with a member of the Autism Golf Ball Planning Committee at Onyx. We were there to try one of the three delicious martinis being featured as part of the Drink, Vote & Win! contest. RCR Hospitality, who is a great supporter of the Autism Society and one of the sponsors of the Autism Golf Ball taking place on October 16th at the Cunard Center, has put together a menu of three different martinis at three of their properties and customers can vote for their favourite!

The last day to vote is September 19th, and the winning drink will be announced during the Martini Contest Taste-Off event at Onyx on September 28th. At just $40 a ticket, the evening's festivities will include samples of all three martinis along with yummy appetizers and entertainment. Tickets for the Taste-Off can be purchased at the door and all proceeds retained will benefit the Autism Society.

The three featured martinis are the Thrill Ride, Ring My Bell and Hole in One. I had the opportunity to try all three; the Hole in One goes down dangerously quickly, while the Thrill Ride was a delicious sipper!

Thrill Ride

Onyx's Thrill Ride

A sophisticated cocktail composed of Citrus Vodka topped off w/

Prosecco and a floating shot of Chambord

The Victory Arms' Ring My Bell

A refreshing mix of Vanilla Vodka, Pineapple juice and lime

CUT's Hole in One

A flavourful smorgasbord in a glass with Vanilla Vodka, Coconut Rum, Super Cassis & Pineapple and Cranberry Juices.

Ring My Bell (r) & Hole in One (l)

For more information on the Autism Society's Annual Golf Ball or for the Martini Taste-Off, contact Renee Fournier at fournier@eastlink.ca, or visit the website: www.autismgolfball.com

Wednesday Night at ONYX-The best deal in town!

I've been noticing a pattern about the places that I go for dinner...I LOVE to try new restos, don't get me wrong, but there are certain ones here in Halifax that have that...something. Though I've eaten there countless times before, I have dinner plans on Tuesday at the Brooklyn Warehouse, a place I've been often, but keep coming back to for great food, service and atmosphere. Another spot, and this Wednesday's dinner plans, is ONYX on Spring Garden Road; another resto where service is fantastic and the food is impeccable, it's a 'go-to' spot where I know I won't be disappointed.

The obvious allure of Wednesday at ONYX is the 1/2 price Bar Bites menu, and the lack of corkage fee. That's right, BYOB, and no charge for the service. A deal that is, hands down, the best one in Halifax. A couple weeks ago, some friends (in wine sales) and I had a lovely evening with a nice variety of wines at ONYX, supplemented with some tasty treats.

The boys had steaks, and some oysters were shared, but I went for my absolute fave- the duck Spring Rolls; crispy wrapper enveloping rich, tender meat, accompanied by a tangy dipping sauce. I also went for one of my favorite deep-fired treats, onion rings. I don't know what kind of magnetism onion rings have that always draws me to order them in a fine dining resto, but I simply can't resist them. Case end point: Bish, Ryan Duffy's and my upcoming post on CUT Steakhouse. However, I'm pretty sure that ONYX wins for my fave O-rings in Hali!

Duck Spring Rolls

one of my Top 10 Memorable Morsels of 2009

Onion Rings

Nice Niche

What's better than bacon-wrapped scallops? Nothing- that's what. Actually, while I can think of a few things that might bring me slightly more enjoyment, the contrast of the lush, translucent seafood against crisp, salty bacon is pretty high up there. The scallops at Niche, however are enclosed within an even crispier pork product; a strip of thinly sliced prosciutto that crackles in your mouth while your teeth cut through the smooth scallop.

I had heard mixed reviews about Niche; some friends make it a ritual place to end their week, while others say that it's the worst restaurant food they've had in the city. With such conflicting reports, I felt the need to check this place out and form my own opinion. Truth? I liked it- a lot. The food was great, as was the atmosphere as my friend and I perched on our bar stools sipping on wine and taking in the scene. Happy Hour at Niche is from 4:30-7, and Friday also features 1/2 priced appetizers, meaning you can get a filling meal for cheap - at least it filled us up!

We decided to go for two appys; the aforementioned Prosciutto-Wrapped Scallops drizzled in butter, and a hearty BBQ Chicken Quesadilla. I swept my foodie fears aside when our server brought us two large plates of tasty delights.

This was a pretty great flavor combo. The mouthwatering scallops, dripping with golden butter were indulgent, to be sure, and a nice pairing to the smokey, cheese filled quesadilla. It's bright, rustic flavors of cumin and piquant Cayenne pepper played off of the black bean's earthy base, while the cheeses - sharp cheddar, buttery Asiago (an odd choice here, but whatev...) and creamy mozza melded together to create a irresistible backdrop for the juicy chunks of chicken.

BBQ Chicken Quesadillas

Cheddar, Asiago & Mozza, onions & peppers
w/ black bean BBQ sauce

Prosciutto wrapped Scallops, baked in garlic butter,
topped w/ Parmesan Cheese

So, I guess I've made up my own mind about Niche. I like it, and I'll go again...and bring friends. I'm also looking forward to their patio being open this summer. Combined with HH drinks and Friday's inexpensive 1/2 priced appy deal, there is also the entertainment factor of a smooth jazz ensemble to pleasure your other senses.

Waiting it out the at The Argyle

My sister and I were walking up Blower's street this afternoon when we got caught in a downpour. My logical response to this predicament was that we stop in on Argyle Street, grab a beer and wait it out.

We popped in to The Argyle on Argyle and got two pints of Rickard's Red. After one sip, we were craving a salty munch to go along with our libations, so we ordered some nachos with chicken and guacamole.

It was a great little snack in the middle of the afternoon and exactly what we wanted; salt and spice and everything nice. Not bad for a plate of good grub under 10 bucks, and, mission accomplished, it satisfied our craving and kept us dry!

FYI- The Argyle also has a GREAT Blue cheeseburger!

The Argyle
1575 Argyle Street

902.492.8844
http://www.theargyle.ca/

Onyx: Halifax' best Wednesday night deal!

We decided to do it up at Onyx tonight. The initial thrill was the fact that on Wednesday night, Onyx has, in my opinion, the best 'bang for your buck' in Halifax, with 1/2 priced appetizers. Tonight, though they showcased the food aspect, I have to say that I received some of the best service Halifax has to offer. Not only did our server Jessica recommend some delicious dishes, but she actually presented each dish in detail; how often does that happen?

We were quite ambitious with the menu. We started off with fois gras, the Burgundy sampler, Ceasar salad and the Kobe Beef. Next, we had the Venetian sampler, and calamari. Though I normally love describing everything in detail, there was just too much to describe...So here we go, jot-note form:

-Ceasar Salad; phenomenal- crunchy romaine, lightly seasoned, salty double-smoked
pork belly and crispy Parmesan tuille.

-Burgundy sampler; rich escargot, sweet artichokes and a stunningly prepared Gougere
w/smoked salmon and boursin cheese.

-Fois gras; picture this, the BEST pate you've ever had; sweet and salty, with
pickled yellow plums that explode in your mouth.

-Venetian sampler; spicy sausages, luxurious, creamy asparagus with white truffle
risotto and jumbo seared shrimp.

-Calamari two ways; cooked with a mild salsa verde, and deep-fried with a sweet
apricot sauce.

-Tender Kobe Beef: 'nuff said.

Believe me, I've had delectable treats at Onyx before. But I say with as much enthusiasm as I can: GO, you'll have an evening of great food and great service. Unfortunately, there are not many places in Hali where I can assure you both of these fine things. Fortunately, at Onyx, I can.

Onyx
5680 Spring Garden Road

http://www.onyxdining.com/

Fizz- A bit of bubbly never went astray

Friends of mine were in town recently for a quick stopover from Thailand to Newfoundland. They had just gotten back from a 2 1/2 month tour of China, India and Egypt, ect... Leaving it up to them to pick the place for drinks and munchies, I figured that they'd choose a spot with cuisine to which they'd become accustomed; Mediterranean, Asian, again-ect.... Instead, they chose a place that I'd mentioned as having piqued my curiosity. So after work on Wednesday, we didn't just go for drinks, we went for fizz- Fizz Champagne Bar, that is.

I started with a glass of Processo, Italy's signature sparkling wine, then move on to a champagne cocktail; a Kir Royale. This was a treat as the crisp champagne bubbled on my tongue, while the sweet Cassis, a blackberry liqueur added a touch of sweetness to balance the acidity.

For a snack, we shared the Cheese fondue for 4, a bargain at $24.99, consisting of the traditional Gruyere and Emmenthal cheese mix, with some interesting dippers such as brioche, red grapes, purple carrots and golden beets.

Housed in the former location of the short-lived Bondi on the corner of Argyle and Blowers streets, Fizz is Halifax's first champagne bar. I have to admit, that it is quite an indulgence to sip champagne so freely, but I think that therein lies Fizz' appeal.

The evening's festivities were a touch bittersweet, however, as I looked around the table and realized that, realistically, we may never be the same foursome again. Yet, even with a minor tear in my eye and a definite buzz on, sharing champagne and good food helped to take the bitter out of the sweet.

Fizz
Argyle Street

VERY limited contact info here people...I'll have to investigate further...