Shellfish at Bar Reggio & I'm Angus Steakhouse

I was pretty excited to see my bestie when she visited me in Sydney last week.  She was in town on a conference, and we ended up having some great meals (and drinks) together.  Once such night was the one we went to Bar Reggio, a little Italian BYO in my work hood.  The boys in the office are quite familiar with the restos in this area, and when I asked if there was a good spot for BYO, they said that this was one of their favourites.   There would be quite the line up on a Friday night however, and they only take resos for large groups, so I headed over right after work to put my name down for a table for two.  The gyuy at the door said it would be 9pm for a table for two...it was 7:15.

Once M joined me, we set off to the bottleshop and picked up a couple bottles of wine. Of course, having already scanned the menu we knew that we would be having mussels and picked up a nice Riesling counteract the chili in the tomato sauce. In the meantime, while we waited for 9pm, we headed over to   Pocket Bar; a super cool little bar in Darlinghurst. PB was a great discovery, and I've been back to it several times since; with a funky interior and some serious cocktails, it's a great spot to catch up with friends.

My tab card...

When we got back to Bar Reggio there was still a serious wait, but it was well worth it.  The aromas wafting from the resto were intoxicating and quintessential for an Italian resto: sweet tomato sauce; yeasty bread dough and greasy cheese.  While we stood in the doorway, we watched one of the kitchen guys top a beautiful flatbread with a vibrant blend of fresh tomato and herbs - the bruschetta - which we ended up ordering as well.  

Mussels w/ chili & Napoli sauce

We were really pleased with the mussels.  Both M and I grew up in the Atlantic provinces in Canada, so seafood is very important to us, and we're pretty particular.  These suckers were fresh, plump and flavourful - and a generous serving too.  The sauce was certainly more-ish.  I found myself enjoying that to the same extent as I did the shellfish.  Unfortunately, by the time we got our bruschetta, the tomato topping wasn't quite as generous, but it was still delicious.  In fact, we ended up saving the broth from our muscles and spooning the bits of red pepper, tomato and onion onto the bruschetta base.  That was my idea.  I'm a genius.

Later in the week, we headed over to Cockle Bay in search of some oysters.  We ended up at I'm Angus Steakhouse at a table overlooking the boardwalk.  In that heat, a refreshing bevy was needed, and what better than a gin and tonic. As a side note - my favourite bevvy to beat the heat at home in Sydney is a tall glass of tonic water with a good squeeze of lemon and a generous handful of mint from the garden.  

Oysters Killpatrick ($20)

We ordered some oysters as a little snack before heading to the grocery store to get some ingredients for dinner.  We got 1/2 a dozen, and after debating over Natural and Killpatrick for a good while, we chose the Killpatrick; a topping of bacon and Worcestershire sauce.  The price wasn't too bad for oysters - especially in such a 'touristy' location.  They were Sydney Rock Oysters and the quality of the shellfish was top notch.  Beautiful oysters topped mysterious Worsh. sauce and salty bacon - we were some pretty happy gals.

The following am, I took a stroll over to the Botanical Gardens as my friend had mentioned that the rose garden was in full bloom.  My iPhone was full of flower shots afterward, but these are some of my faves.

2 courses are better than one at The Bicycle Thief

A few weeks ago, I met a couple friends on Friday night at one of the Bishop's Cellar  wine tastings.  From there,  we met another (new to me) friend, and spent the evening at The Bicycle Thief. It was great to spend an evening talking almost exclusively about wine with my girlfriends...but the food was also a perk to the evening!

Two-Minute Flash Friend Calamari w/ 

garlic & sundried tomato aioli ($9)

I decided on one of my favourite 'bites' as I call them; calamari.  I love these little bite-sized treats; they serve as a great start to a meal, or as the perfect snack when out for a drink.  They are also an exceptional pairing with a bit of bubbly!  The bites were (not surprisingly) delicious; very light and crisp and with the squid being cooked well.  The aioli on the side was creamy and slightly sweet; a lovely compliment.  

Tuna Tartare w/ avocado, sesame cucumber spaghetti & 

pickled ginger wasabi cream ($14)

My friend opted for the tuna tartare, which I've had before.  She asked for very little sesame oil, which was a good idea, since they tend to over-indulge in that dish and it overpowers the tuna.  

Radicchio & Savoy cabbage salad w/ warm garlic pancetta dressing, 

toasted pine nuts and shaved Parmesean ($10)

As I often do when I go out to dinner, I pair a protein-based app with a salad.  This way, I have two plates of lighter fare as opposed to a heavier main course.  And let's face it: two plates are better than one!

This was the radicchio salad.  It should be called the 'radicculous' salad because it is just that good!  Earthy, bitter greens in a warm panchetta vinaigrette with crunchy pine nuts and salty Parmesean cheese?  I was in love; I finished every last bite.  My friend also had the Rucola, hazlenut-crusted goat cheese and papaya salad with a wildflower honey vinaigrette ($10), but I wasn't quick enough to grab a shot.  

I was pretty full by the time we left the BT - on treats that I would definitely order again. I had 2 completely different, filling plates at under $10 each, with the salad being one of the more inventive ones I have tried in Halifax. 

A few bites at The Bycicle Thief

My first visit to The Bycicle Theif was within the first two weeks of it being open.  We were so excited.  I met my good friend at about 8 pm and the place was blocked.  We had a reservation, but the table wasn't quite ready so we sat at the bar and sipped our cocktails while we waited for our spot to open up.

And what better thing to do while you wait than to sip a cocktail?  My first bevy was a Rosemary Pink Diamond Fizz; a combo of some of my favorite ingredients.  I love a good herb-y drink and this one had flavour in spades. With Hendrick's Gin, grapefruit juice and rosemary as a base, the drink was topped off with Prosecco for a bit of bite and fizz.

There was a bit of a trend with our dinners; we both ordered two first plates:  a seafood appetizer and a salad.  My friend ordered the tuna tartare to start.  A mix of tuna, avocado, cucumber spaghetti and wasabi cream.  It was a lovely dish and the flavours came together nicely; soft, succulent tuna, piquant wasabi, cool and crunchy cucumber and creamy avocado provided great texture contrast.

I went with the crab salad; delicate crab meat with a decadent cream sauce served with dressed greens, two shrimp and a lobster claw.  It was a bit of an odd experience as it took the kitchen a couple tries to produce a good shrimp - the first two were tough and leathery, but once they served them warm and freshly poached, they were delicious.

My friend is one of those odd peopl who love bitter greens and who can never resist a radicchio salad.  This one was radicchio and rucola greens, dressed in a warm garlic pancetta dressing, and tossed with toasted pinenuts and shards of salty, nutty parmigiano. It certainly changed my opinion of a radicchio salad, and might enourage me to try one in the future!

My salad though, was absolutely incredible - and it wasn't even as though the ingredients were gourmet.  They were simple and fresh, but each flavour complimented one another perfectly: peppery Arugula, rich, toasted hazlenut, tangy goat cheese and sweet, tender fig.

Although I was a little miffed about having to send my shrimp dish back, twice, I did really enjoy my meal.  There are some incredible cocktails on The BT's list, and an enomatic machine which offers fresh wines by the glass.  I'm looking forward to another night out at the BT soon, so that I can try an entree...and maybe a little dessert! :0

Early dinner at The Bicycle Thief

A few days ago I got one of those texts that brings a smile to my face.  A good friend of mine who used to live in Halifax was back in town for one night only. She always seems to come on a Wednesday too; generally Onyx is our stop of choice.  This time, however, she was interested in trying something new, something “mad tasty”. Since like me, she was a big fan of Bish, I suggested that I introduce her to the Bicycle Thief.

We met at 5:30; she had a flight to catch at 8.  The early bird gets the worm, so we got a nice spot on the patio.  We chatted for 20 minutes or so before even opening our menus, but once the server came by for the 3^rd time we decided to stop being so annoying and placed an order: Propeller Bitter for her, and a Montes Alpha Chardonnay since I was planning on the corn and lobster chowder.  My friend went for the Lobster ravioli.

Her ravioli were lovely – two big pieces, stuffed full of lobster in a rich sauce.  There was also a huge lobster claw on the plate.  And, in the grand theme of lobster, my chowder was also delicious.  With a good amount of lobster meat, there were sweet corn kernels, smoked bacon and chunks of potato that absorbed the flavour of the broth.

Handmade Ravioloni stuffed w/ Lobster, mascarpone, chives, 

Parmigiano & crispy breadcrumbs

Lobster and Sweet Corn chowder w/ double smoked bacon 

I was too full for dessert, but my friend has a weakness for lemon, so she chose a slice of the lemon-meringue pie.   I can't quite remember all the details, but I'm pretty sure the crust was made with brown sugar, giving it a deeper flavour that contrasted well with the tart lemon. Ever since a piece about tea came out in a local weekly newspaper, I’ve been a bit of a coffee snob – only going for the best.  Since I was feeling coffee deprived, I ordered a cup of the Bicycle Thief’s Illy coffee and it was just what the doctor ordered, perking me up for a long night of studying French wines.

Quick fix at Il Mercato

A few weeks ago, well....maybe months, we dropped in to Il Mercato pre-movie for a quick meal.  This was pre-reno, so I'd love to stop in again to check out the new digs! 

Since movie-theatre popcorn was in my imminent future, I decided to go for a lighter meal, in the form of a tomato-based herb-y soup filled with mussels, shrimp and scallops.  The soup - at a mere $9 - ccombined with a piece of toasted baguette and a glass of white wine, ended up to be the perfect snack and a nice alternative to a heavier pasta/pizza.

  

Italian Seafood Zuppa

My friend had the fettuccine dish below; a rich, cheesy sauce and nice salty prosciutto with a pile of perfectly cooked pasta.  Though he really enjoyed the dish, it was a touch too salty for me, what with the Parm and prosciutto being salty already.



Fettuccine, Prosciutto di San Daniele, sweet peas

cream & Parmesean

I'd love to say that we had a good time here, but we left less than enthused.  Though several waitstaff begrudgingly made contact with our table, our server's attitude was less that hospitable.  It's unfortunate that we went out for a nice meal, and felt as though our server resented us for sitting in her section, or...god forbid, asking a question about the menu!

Light lunch at Il Mercato

A couple weeks ago, a friend and I stopped in at Il Mercato to enjoy a light lunch.  Not really in the mood for the traditional Italian Caesar, I chose a grilled vegetable salad instead.   I'm definitely a meat-eater, but when I make up my mind about what I want to eat - in this case, lighter fare - I can't easily be swayed.  I was pumped for this meal when it arrived in front of me; the portion was plenty, and it was only $10. 

A plate of tender veg with those yummy, smokey char grilled marks were drizzled with a sweet Balsamic vinaigrette.  The 'cherry on top', or in this case, the cheese, was a healthy portion of goat cheese.  The simple flavours and varied textures combined together to create lots of interest in this plate of greens;  smokey, sweet and tangy, combined with fresh, soft and crunchy - these were the elements that kept my palate entertained until the very last bite.  

Sometimes the salad doesn't have to be the starter, if you're lucky, you can find a good one that has all the action as the main event.  

Mamma Mano! Decadent dishes at Ristorante A Mano!

A couple weeks ago, some friends and I went for a much anticipated meal at Restaurante A Mano. I had been to this spot during its first year, and had made many attempts to go since, but it never quite worked out.

On my first experience, I had rich risotto balls in a smokey tomato sauce and an equally indulgent pizza of tomato, brie and pecans. These sinful toppings, served on a crispy homemade crust, were my idea of heaven…That was until I tried A Mano’s fluffy, cloud-like pillows of gnocchi.

My friends and I started the evening by sharing an order of calamari. Tossed in a light, crisp batter, these were devoured just as quickly as a bowl of popcorn. The garlic aioli on the side was just slightly sweet and so good that we asked for another helping.

One of my friends decided on a pizza after my own heart. A fellow olive-lover, she created her own pizza with kalamata olives, spicy pepperoni and mushrooms. In one bite, there was an explosion of flavor: salty, spicy, earthy, and ooey-gooey - that's the cheese! These flavours came together to create the perfect pizza bite. I filed that order in the back of my brain for the next visit – then, it’s ‘zaa' all the way.

Meanwhile, my other friend ordered the lamb pasta. A simple but rich dish of lamb-filled pasta, topped with a sage-brown butter sauce. This dish was fantastic, as I knew it would be. The tender meat enclosed within the al dente pasta was lovely. My only complaint here was that the entrée portion, though rich, looked and filled like an appy moreso than a main. Now, I’m all about not over-indulging in pasta, and I do believe in “less is more”, however, I did think the serving was a bit stingy... Just sayin’!

I on the other hand, went with the gnocchi. Our group had the very good fortune of counting our server among the best of friends who counselled me several weeks before, that "You have to try the gnocchi”. Armed with that passion in mind, I decided on the basic peparation of the dish, trusting the resto to provide the best in simplicity. My gnocchi was served in a light tomato sauce, with a generous dollop of creamy ricotta cheese and a mound of spicy arugula.

Oddly enough, for a group of people who don’t tend to go the way of the sweet tooth after a filling savory meal, we decided to split dessert between the three of us. Again, on the urging of our server, we decided on the Nutella crepes topped with vanilla gelato, chocolate sauce and chocolate covered nuts. A great sharing dessert, there was plenty for three people. And to top it all off, a foamy cappuccino was the perfect ending to our Italian outing.

A homemade valentine's day supper

As Valentine's Day approaches, people are doing their usual scramble of trying to get reservations to their favorite restaurants. While this is a lovely opportunity to show your special someone how much you care, I can't think of a better way to express it than to make food together!

Just think, what could be more romantic than turning on some good music, opening a bottle of wine and making food together - it's so much fun! So...in order to assist, I thought I might share with you a lovely meal - made simple!

I've always been a sucker for ravioli, and the opportunity to put my favorite ingredients inside, but I didn't quite know how to get around the pasta part. So one night, while feeling gutsy, we decided to make our own pasta using wonton wrappers. This was pretty much a 'throw it in' type of meal, so unfortunately, I don't have any measurements for you. However, think of it this wya - that makes the meal more of an adventure, right?!?

We sauteed chopped onions, mushrooms and garlic, then added some (thawed) frozen spinach, ricotta, grated Parmesan cheese and seasonings. We also fried up some thick cut bacon to add a meaty richness.

Simply put the filling in a corner of a won-ton wrapper and moisten the edges. Then fold over and press the edges together and voila!

Though the prep might take awhile, the cooking time is minimal. Cook the ravioli in boiling water until they float to the top - around 3 minutes, and you're done! Over the Christmas holidays, I also made this with a filling of butternut squash, smoked chicken and cream cheese, topped with a brown butter-saege sauce and toasted walnuts. Holy canolli, those were good!

Aaaaaannnyway, back to the matter at hand, a nice garlic cream sauce and a dusting of freshly grated Parmesean make this a rich, decaent, tailor-made pasta for two!

Treasure at Tempest

At the end of a full day of Icewine tasting (see the summary here), we stopped in at Tempest restaurant in Wolfville for a spectacular Italian feast. This restaurant has often generated my curiosity, as I've met Chef and Proprietor Michael Howell on several occasions, but have never ventured to Wolfville late enough for dinner!

I started with a delightful plate of calamari, lightly coated and served with a lemony mayonnaise for dipping. The tender squid was enclosed within a feather-light batter that contrasted nicely with the rich dipping sauce. A squeeze of the lemon wedge served on the side added zing to the dish.

Calamari w/ Lemon Aioli

For the entree, I chose Risotto di Mare, a creamy dish with bit of bite. The grains of risotto enveloped precious jewels of seafood; shrimp, scallops, mussels and lobster were buried within the buttery rice. Oddly enough, the characteristic that I really enjoyed about this dish was that the portion size was just right, enough to satisfy, but so mouth-watering to leave you wanting more...

Risotto di Mari

Shrimp, Scallops, Mussels & Lobster

Though I don't normally allow my little belly a three-course meal, everyone at the table was indulging in dessert. Since the current theme of Tempest's menu is Italian, I couldn't help but think "When in Rome...", so I ordered a Tiramisu. This dessert was exquisite with a luscious Marscapone contrasting the earthy bite of coffee. A touch of cocoa gave it another, almost deeper layer of sweetness.

Tiramisu di Toscana

Marscapone and coffee cake

And finally, my curiosity has been satisfied, my palate sated. The fact that Tempest is a little bit of a journey, made the visit that more precious. When you anticipate an experience for so long, and find nothing wanting, it's well worth the drive!

Late night apps at Il Mercato

Last Friday, some friends and I ended up at Il Mercato on Spring Garden for some late-night munchies. We had all been out at various Christmas parties and events, and planned to meet up later for a couple drinks to kick-off the Christmas season.

After tossing around a couple ideas on the freezing cold street, we realized that we were right in front of Il Mercato which would well serve our jonze for a good bottle of red. I've eaten at Il Mercato a couple of times and have quite enjoyed myself, but this time was definitely the best. Perhaps it was the company, maybe it was the spontaneous decision to meet up in a bustling restaurant full of chatter as opposed to simply sipping martinis at the bar...it could have been the wine...

Since -oddly enough-I hadn't been thinking about food, I was having a bit of difficulty making a decision, so I went entirely on our server's recommendation and went with the mussels. Though the mussels themselves were a little smaller than I would have liked, the broth itself was delicious. Soaked up with some of the resto's yummy foccacia, this appy made for a great meal.

Mussels sauteed in white wine, tomato,

onion, garlic & basil

While I went for seafood, one of my friends ordered the risotto croquettes, another of the server's recos. These were a tasty dish that had all the requirements of comfort food- creamy risotto, a crunch of batter and a warm, sweettomato sauce. Again, an appy, but served with bread made up a nice little meal.

Risotto croquettes w/ wild mushroom & proscuitto
served w/tomato basil sauce

At Pizzeria a mano, they deliver!

On the heels of my trip to Lunenburg, a friend of mine called to see if I wanted to hook up for dinner. The answer to that question is, obviously, "duh!" As I was slowly going through the pages of The Coast's Food & Drink guide, I chose a resto that had intrigued me for a while: Pizzeria a Mano.

I got a sweet two-seater on the patio and proceeded to drool over the menu while simultaneously trying to curb my appetite. We had intended to split two pizzas, but our plans were de-railed when we saw the size of one; a fantastic value and huge portions for the price, but a little more than we bargained for. Instead we went for a pleasing alternative and split an appetizer and a pizza.

The appy was typical Italian fare; Mozzarella Fritta. They were soft balls of buffalo mozzarella, stuffed with salty anchovies, breaded and fried and served with tomato sauce. The perfect starter for the main event.

We went for the Francese or French pizza. A mix of mushrooms and tomato, brie, pecans and fennel seed. Pecans on pizza-Why not? The elements that make a fantastic pizza in my book were all present; thin, crispy crust, gooey cheese and a tomato sauce, jam-packed with flavor. The key here was the addition of fennel seed, adding a sweet hint of licorice that complemented the rich cheese and spicy tomato. The pecans added another level of crunch to the pie.

This restaurant is another gem of the Bish/Da Maurizo empire. I have to say that the night started off at a fairly slow pace. I waited at least 10 minutes before any of the servers acknowledged my presence. This annoyance was soon forgotten, however, by fantastic flavors and the sighs of contentment crossing my lips. The staff redeemed themselves as well with friendly, attentive service. In the end, it was a great night; a patio perfect for people watching, and a meal that was simply delizioso.

Pizzeria a Mano
1477 Lower Water Street
902.423.6266
www.pizzeriaamano.ca

Hours: Mon-Sat 10:30am-11pm

Rogi Orazio: A New World Spin on Old World Charm

Walking into Rogi Orazio, I felt as if I was in a bustling Italian trattoria. Located in the Hydrostone Market, the restaurant offers Halifax’s patrons an authentic Mediterranean dining experience. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, enhanced by the pleasant chatter of dinners.

I decided on two appetizers both within the $9 price range. I chose to start with Portobello Risotto Balls ($ 8.95) followed by the Pear and Gorgonzola salad with toasted Walnuts ($8.95). To begin the meal, a friend and I shared a bottle of Goats do Roam, a South African white at the affordable price of $32.00, while we munched on the house bread; a light, buttery herbed focaccia and a classic Mediterranean dip of olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

The risotto balls were prepared just as I’d hoped; cutting through the deep fried, crispy coating revealed warm, creamy rice and Bocconcini cheese paired and with the woodsy, musky taste of the mushrooms. I was pleasantly surprised by the unexpected addition of jalapenos. An odd combination, but they worked quite well together as the heat and acidity of the peppers cut through the richness of the rice. These were served atop a bed of tomato-basil rose sauce.

Next came the Pear and Gorgonzola salad with toasted Walnuts. On a base of Mesculin greens were slices of crisp Bartlett pears, fresh, buttery walnuts and creamy, pungent Gorgonzola cheese. Red onions added a nice crunch, and a little bit of spice to round out the sweet flavor of the pear. The salad was perfectly balanced, with no one ingredient upstaging another. The dressing was a light, Dijon vinaigrette, and worked quite well with the other flavors of the salad.

My one complaint for the evening would be the service. The restaurant had a steady turnover, and the servers were visibly busy. However, though we were forewarned that the kitchen was backed-up, a little more attentiveness would have been appreciated.

Service aside, the meal was fantastic, and I would certainly go back for more. Altogether, the total including tip came to less than $50.00. Not bad for an evening of savory Italian comfort food, good wine and great friends!

Rogi Orazio

5517 Young St.
Sun-Thurs: 11:30 am-11pm

Fri-Sat: 11:30 am-2am

(902) 454-9991
Email address rogi@ns.aliantzinc.ca