A Birthday Feast at 5 Fishermen Grill

Last month, my friend celebrated his Bday so we took advantage of the specials at the Five Fishermen Grill.  For the whole month, the Grill offered a 'no corkage' option as well as a $5 lobster tail!! Who wouldn't want to make this a dinner destination with these offers on board?

I dropped off our wine earlier in the day to keep it chilled, and we arrived for dinner at 7:30 with another bottle in tow.  The staff was super-friendly and sat us in a mammoth booth for about 6 people, but we still took up the whole table with our orders.  Along with a glass of white and the irresistible bread basket, we took in a plate of the Calamari.  I've had these suckers before (and loved every lick of them - see here), but it was my friend's first time here, so it was nice to watch him discover this new, mysterious flavouring from both the Hoisin and the 5-spice on one of his favourite dishes. 

Calamari

 Flash fried, Hoisin-glazed w/ 5-spice aioli

Once our entrees came, I was already feeling almost satisfied, so the fact that I finished my entree and still had room for dessert still baffles me to this day.  My friend ordered the 10 oz. Black Angus strip steak; a huge piece of meat, and a great value at just $24.  It was beautifully cooked - better than I've tried in some steakhouses.  Grilled to a medium rare, it was served with richly seasoned mashed Yukon Gold potatoes, steamed spring vegetables and a hearty peppercorn sauce.  I don't normally go for a big steak in a resto - especially a seafood-based one, but I would certainly come back specifically for this dish, and I've recommended it to several people.

My salad was unbelievable; talk about a protein plate!! The Seafood Cobb Salad consisted of grilled shrimps and scallops a piece of hot maple smoked salmon, crumbled bacon, egg, 1/2 an avocado, corn salsa & tomatoes and a generous portion of Stilton cheese.  Believe it or not, there was lettuce at the bottom of the bowl as well.  

And if that wasn't enough of a treat, the 5Fish featured a $5 lobster tail w/ drawn butter as a special as well.  Needless to say, I got more 'Surf', while my friend had a bargain "Surf n' Turf"!  The lobster meat was succulent and tender and we finished every bite.

Since a pal of mine was the manager of 5Fish at the time, and caught wind of our Bday celebration, dessert was on the house, and we couldn't say 'no'.  A 'Field of Carrots' cake was his dessert of choice, and it was decadence to sum it up.  5 layers of moist and spicy cake was topped with a rich, but light w/ cream cheese icing and sprinkled with walnuts.  A lovely creme anglaise and caramel sauce kicked the indulgence up a notch.  It was a bit much for me, but the Bday boy sure was happy.

Two bottles of wine, some cocktails, sweet and savoury later, we closed down the resto and stepped out in to the crisp March night.  Though normally I would have called for a cab, I needed some serious movement to walk off my food baby.  The 5Fish Grill could easily be one of my favourite restos in Halifax.  Though some may think of it as a tourist trap, I think it's precisely the opposite.  Sure, tourists flock to this destination, but it offers quality like no other seafood resto on the waterfront does.  The quality is consistent, and there is a focus on local product, wine in particular.  

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!

Cheese & Asparagus Tart

Since blogging about my Easter dinner asparagus tart, I've had several people ask me for the recipe. Truth is, it's sort of a mis-mash of recipes' from Martha Stewart and Jamie Oliver, with my own little twist. This tart is fantastic for lunch with soup or salad, alongside eggs for breakfast or as a side dish with a steak dinner.

Cheese and Asparagus Tart

2 c. Mozzarella Cheese

1 c. Gruyere Cheese

¼ c. melted butter

2 bunches asparagus, trimmed

Salt and Pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 375 F.

Method:

Blanch asparagus in boiling water for a minute and transfer to an ice bath to maintain their colour.

Line a large sheet pan with a layer of parchment paper and brush with butter. Layer 10-12 sheets of filo pastry brushing each sheet with butter until desired thickness is achieved.

Remove asparagus from water and dry thoroughly. Sprinkle pastry with cheeses, and season with salt and pepper. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until filo is golden brown.

Best Bday cake EVER!!

This is a recipe to keep on your 'speed dial' file! For my cousin's 22 BDay, my aunt made her "famous" Drumstick Cake. You know the one I'm talking about - an amazing combo of frozen chocolate & peanut butter. And if you don't, I'm gonna school you!

Ingredients:

2 c. crushed vanilla or chocolate wafers ( or cookie crumbs)

1/2 finely chopped peanuts

1/2 c. melted butter

2 tbs. crunchy peanut butter

1 pkg. cream cheese

1/2 c. sugar

1/2 c. crunchy peanut butter

4 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

1 tub Cool Whip

Dark chocolate for drizzling.

Method:

Combine first 3 ingredients, 2 tbsp. peanut butter and press into the bottom of a springform pan to make a crust. Reserve 1/c. cup for a topping.

Cream together the next 5 ingredients, fold in the Cool Whip and pour over base.

Drizzle melted chocolate over the top, top with crumbs and freeze overnight.

An Easter Feast w/ the Fam

Yes, I know- this one's a little late, but I've been busy! This post will lead into the incredible Easter dinner that my fam and I had this past April. More amazing than the dinner though, was the fact that said meal was consumed at MY apartment. If you've seen my apartment, you might be likely to channel the villain said in one of my favorite childhood films, The Princess Bride: "Inconceivable!"

But it was, in fact, conceivable. Now, the reason that this is such a big deal for me is the fact that every holiday dinner; Easter and Thanksgiving (I'm usually home in NL for Christmas) is held at my Aunt's house in Dartmouth. She, like most people, has more than 4 plates, forks, knives...chairs, ect, while I don't even have a matching place setting! Nor have I ever even thought of making an effort to cook anything in a roasting pan in my teensy apartment-style oven, let alone a ham for 6 plus the trimmings!

But that was what made this meal so special. We were squeezed around my table, used the sofa for seating, and I even managed to get a spot at the table that would let me swivel in my chair to reach into the fridge! I finally got my family to come to me, and all it took was the promise that I would cook everything - which in my world = playtime!

Bone-in ham, glazed with grainy horseradish-dijon mustard and maple syrup. The bone and stock is still awaiting it's fate in my freezer; either a red lentil or green pea soup I think!

Just blanched asparagus cooling off in an ice water bath to maintain their vibrant colour.

I made a cheese an asparagus tart by mashing up two recipes; one from Jaime Oliver, and the other from Martha Stewart. I had a brain freeze and got phyllo instead of puff pastry by accident, but it lead to a lighter, crisper crust which we really enjoyed. To add a bit more chewiness to the creamy Gruyere, I added Mozzarella as well. These two cheese paired well together as they both have a similar texture. I'd love to try a tart like this with tomato and goat cheese as well!

Some assembly required...

Just out of the oven...

Best Leftover Ever!

Boiled red potatoes, tossed with melted butter, S&P, lemon zest and fresh dill

For dessert, I made these Lemon Custard Cakes from Martha Stewart's website. I don't know what it is about lemon, maybe it's their bright skins like baby yellow chick fluff, or elegant daffodils, but when I think of spring cooking - desserts especially- I automatically think lemon!

I wasn't a huge fan of these cakes. They were fairly simple to make, but to me, the end result didn't really justify the means. I added a few fresh strawberries to top them off, though I would have preferred raspberries here.

Mother's Day Brunch

What is more traditional on Mother's Day, but to take your momma out for brunch? well, you can do just that this year, or you can make it a dinner out at her favorite restaurant. On the other hand, Mom might also appreciate breakfast in bed, knowing that you made an effort to take on the kitchen!

Whatever you choose to do tomorrow, check out some of these's special Mother's Day menus from restaurants in Halifax, as well as my favorite web-sites for great Mother's Day recipes!

• Chez Tess for sweet and savory crepes
• Saege's Special Mother's Day Brunch & Dinner Buffet
• Delta Hotel's Mother's Day Brunch
• Two if By Sea cafe for delicious Chocolate croissants, and quite possibly, Halifax's best cookies!
• jane's on the common Brunch
• Brooklyn Warehouse's Brunch
• Season's Bistro at the Atlantica's Breakfast
• Martha Stewart's Mother's Day recipes
• Epicurious's Mother's Day recipes

Here's wishing Happy Mother's Day to all the hard-workin', fun-lovin',
shoulder-to-cry-on mommas out there.

And to one certain momma in particular: I wish I could be there to
make you bfast in bed! Long distance xo's!!

Yuppie Supper Club #5

Last weekend, some friends of mine were in town from NL. I'd told them about our Yuppie Supper Club, and wanted to organize one so that they could participate. Since it was a gorgeous sunny day, I figured that a BBQ was in order. I told everyone to bring their booze and goodies for the grill, and I'd provide the sides...or as my friend referred to them, the "accessories".

One of the things that I love about supper club is that we always have some sort of snack to munch on while the gals prepare dinner. I was flying solo this time, however, as my pal Mel had to work- although that didn't stop her from sending over a homemade apple pie!

Here is my "menu", which came together in no time flat...

Tzatziki: Grate a large cucumber onto a tea towel. Wring out all the moisture- the drier you can get the cucumber, the better. Toss in a cup of good quality, thick Greek yogurt, a clove of minced garlic, and a good squeeze of lemon juice. Season to taste with S&P. For dipping, I cut whole wheat pita into triangles, left half soft, and toasted the other half at 350 for 15 minutes, turning halfway.

Spicy Shrimp: This is the simplest side ever! You can turn a regular BBQ into Surf 'n' Turf in no time with these babies. Simply defrost a shrimp ring, or bulk shrimp, and toss in a hot pan with olive oil, garlic, fresh ginger and hot chili flakes.

Yellow Wax Beans w/ Basil: Trim beans and steam. Toss with a good tbsp. of butter, S&P, and serve sprinkled with fresh basil. The aroma here is intense as the hot beans bring out the lovely scent of the basil.

Spicy Roasted Potatoes: Clean and prick baking potatoes and microwave on high heat for 12 minutes, turning at the halfway mark. Chop the potatoes into small chunks and toss with a mix of olive oil, S&P, smoked paprika and Cayenne pepper. Roast at 450 for about 15-20 minutes, or until crispy.

For dessert, I wanted to serve something easy and fun. Since my recent encounter with The Sweet Spot Chocolate Shop's s'more, I had them on the brain! To create this simple treat without the camping trip aesthetic, we removed the grill from my BBQ and toasted the marshmallows over the flame! 70% dark chocolate made these puppies a far cry from the campfire variety!

As mentioned, Mel's BF, and one of the founding members of YSC brought over the homemade apple pie that she had made the previous day. This girl is seriously adventurous in the kitchen, and created the pie from scratch with a whole wheat and almond flour crust, raisins and tons of spices.

So there it is- the next time you decide to host an impromptu dinner party, these are a couple quick and simple recipes that won't break the bank, but will leave your guests feeling full and satisfied!

Red Hot Cupcakes

Well, the day has come. It's V-Day, and everyone has a different feeling about it. Couples love to celebrate with extravagant showings of love, romantic dinners and snuggling. Singles curse the occasion as they wallow in their pints of chocolate chip cookie dough- brownie ice cream while downing a few bottles of wine...Me? I love V-Day- it gives me another excuse to bake something!

On the menu this year- Red Hot Cupcakes. This is an incredible combination of sweet and spice and everything nice- everything Valentine's Day should be. It's interesting when you think about Valentine's Day and the presence food has within it. Yes, there are the aforementioned romantic dinners and the over-commercialized boxes of chocolate, but the food itself plays an integral role.

Here is not the post to get into the highly questioned theory of aphrodisiacs - there are just too many forces at play for that debate. But the fact of the matter is that food make you feel good; it satiates your palate, fills your body, brings you comfort, and yes, even arouses you.

These little puppies are just the trick for the end to a V-Day meal. Or, you could play my game and make them the meal...The combination here is seductive; rich, luscious chocolate with a touch of heat to spice things up.

Red Hot Cupcakes
Dark Chocolate Cakes w/ Hot Chili Chocolate Ganache

Ingredients:

1 box Devil's Food Chocolate Cake Mix
1 bar (100 g) Lindt Chili Chocolate Bar, chopped
3/4 c. heavy cream
Hot chili flakes for garnish

Method:

Prepare cake mix as directed and fill cupcake tins. I used my mini tins for these babies, as you don't need alot-pretty much one bite will do it. Bake as directed. Remove from oven and cool completely before frosting, otherwise the ganache will melt right off.

Heat cream on low heat until it just starts to bubble. Pour over chocolate and whisk briskly. Refrigerate ganache 10-15 minutes to thicken. Remove from fridge and whisk until smooth. Frost cupcakes and garnish with hot chili flakes.

Shudder with pleasure as the smooth chocolate melts on your tongue and the spice hits your taste buds.

Happy Valentine's Day!

On another note, since I often spend time perusing restaurant websites to see what's new, I thought I'd make a quick list of promising Valentine's Day menus. These are warm, cozy little spots with great service and even better food. Ah, decisions, decisions!

Brooklyn Warehouse @Almon & Windsor
http://www.brooklynwarehouse.ca/
http://www.brooklynwarehouse.ca/Site.Feb.04p.09/Events.html/

Morris East @ Morris & Barrrington
http://www.morriseast.com/
http://www.morriseast.com/menu_valentine.pdf/


Chives on Barrington St.
http://www.chives.ca/
http://http//www.chives.ca/valentine.html/


Fid on Dresden Row
http://www.fidcuisine.ca/