The Coastal Cafe

I've wanted to go to the Coastal Cafe for a long time. This place is the brainchild of Chef Mark Giffin, most recently of Bish World Cuisine. The spot piqued my curiosity when it's little yellow awning appeared on my morning bus commute to MSVU. I'd always wish that I was on my way to brunch as opposed to class. Then, of course, the food daydreams would begin!

The Coastal claims that it is "all about good food and coffee, served with no pretensions or attitude, and a laid back, contemporary atmosphere." I couldn't agree more. I took my sis for this preliminary visit as I knew that it would be right up her alley as well. We're big B-fast peeps, my sis and I. Baked goods are key and bacon reigns supreme!

Once inside this unobstusive exterior, we were met by a lovely aroma of good, strong coffee. We ordered at the counter and found ourselves a two seater between an elderly couple and a couple of university students. Hmm...a resto that appeals to all ages- Not bad.

I ordered the Coastal's signature dish Los Huevos Rancheros, or "Ranch eggs", a classic Mexican breakfast with tortilla, eggs and salsa. This particular item is one that remains on the Coastal's menu, which changes on a regular basis. What could be better than crispy tortilla, runny egg yoke and salsa? Well, while I can think of a few things, this dish was pretty damn good, and lived up to my aforementioned B-fast daydreams.

Los Huevos Rancheros

3 fried eggs on Corn Tortillas w/ Sauce Ranchero, Jack and Cheddar, and topped with Guacamole and Salsa

My sis had the Eggs Fra Diablo- again, another mix of eggs, tortilla and spicy sauce. Hers came scrambled with flavorful Chorizo and guac.

Eggs Fra Diablo

Scrambled Eggs w/ Chorizo Sausage, Jack Cheese and Veg, topped w/ Guacamole

We also shared a cheddar cheese scone....Alas, it was quickly devoured before a photo op!

My fave meals of the day being breakfast/brunch, it was a pretty thrilling occurrence to find another resto to supplement my staple faves. The Coastal also serves an intriguing mix of lunch fare. Make sure that you go early, as part of this place's appeal is that it's a limited time offer-The Coastal Cafe closes at 3 pm.

Onyx

I once took my sis to Onyx for Wednesday night, 1/2 priced apps...Now, it seems that every time she comes to visit, her flight always arrives on a Wednesday evening. Coincidence? I think not. As per usual when she arrives and I ask about dinner, her face lights up, and we're going to Onyx. On this particular outing, we had my 20-year-old, rugby playing cousin in tow, which meant that we needed to order alot of food. And so we did-nearly everything on the menu in fact!

Angie and I went for a couple glasses of wine, while Robbie had a luscious cucumber mojito...I know what I'm having the next time I hit up Onyx's Mojito Monday. This drink is cool and refreshing with a bit of bite from the rum.

Cucumber Mojito

We all shared the many appys that were to come. We had meat and veg, seafood and deep fried, and all were equally delicious and satisfying. We started with the Pork Belly, Chicken Chops andCalamari, as well as Onyx's amazing breadbasket containing bread (obviously) and crispy poppadom-type crisps, and maybe sesame coated won-tons? I dunno, but they were served with a rich, salty black olive tapenade.

Pork Belly
southern style marinated, slow braised, valley apple slaw

Chicken Chops
kung pao style semi boneless ginger & mirin soaked chicken wings

Calimari
curry dusted w/ ginger lime marmalade

Then we ventured into the "fast food" portion of the menu with fries, poutine and burgers gourmet-style. I use his term incredibly loosely as these dishes were a far cry from the golden arches...A super value meal is no match for Onyx's hand cut fries, truffle mayo and fois gras with gourmet burgers!

Hand cut Fries w/ Truffle mayo

Petite Burgers
trio of burgers; beef, quail and shrimp

Fois Gras Poutine

Cheese Plate
sheep, cow, goat & blue w/ seasonal fruit compote & crisps

Onyx always has an incredible cheese plate, and this evening was no different. This portion of the meal was one of indulgences- we had smooth, creamy goat cheese, a rich Gouda, a pungent blue and nutty Manchego. These were accompanied by fruited toast points and a compote. The compote, OMG-the compote. This was, sinful to say the least; warm and sweet with a touch of earthy spice that warmed your throat on the way down. Hands down a perfect ending to a perfect meal.

I've talked about this deal before, and again, I gotta give it praise...all of this food; 7 dishes in total plus our drinks came to less than 100 bucks. Not only is price a selling point here, but you can pretty much bank on a meal of fantastic quality whenever you hit up Onyx- whether it's a Wednesday, or any other night.

Happy Easter!

Tee Hee! When it comes to Easter jokes, this one is my favorite!

Happy Easter Everyone!

I hope all you little bunnies get some great treats this year...
Just don't eat it all at once!

Easter Favorites!

There are just certain things that I cannot do without at Easter time. Most of these things involve chocolate...unless you count the one treat that's made entirely of sugar and marshmallow, but I'll get to that...

The first is the most obvious. Who doesn't get excited when, in late March, the displays of these little purple packets of delight start to make their appearance? I associate somewhat of a soothing factor with Cadbury Mini Eggs too- Easter and Finals fall at the same time of year and these candy-coated bites with their crunchy exterior and creamy centers are the perfect stress reducer for a frazzled student! Not gonna lie- I've contemplated buying the "family-size" bag for myself!

Cadbury Mini Eggs

Ah- The Lindt Gold Bunny! I'm a dark chocolate bunny myself, and these little guys are the perfect Easter treat for the gourmet chocoiste. It's a well known fact that Lindt makes some of the world's finest chocolate and I love their original dark chocolate bar, but there is just something about biting off a chocolate bunny's ear that gives me an odd sense of contentment...hmmm- moving on.

Lindt Gold Bunny

What's not to love about the Reese's PB eggs?
Chocolate- good, PB- good. 'Nuff said.

Reese's Peanut Butter Egg

I love Peeps! I've come across many people who thin that my love of these sugary little chickadees is quite odd, especially since I have quite the "gourmet" taste buds- their words, not mine. But I just can't help feeling like a little kid when these adorable little treats arrive in stores. Plus, it's just fun to say "I gotta have my Peeps!"

Peeps!

And there you have it folks, my fave Easter treats that I look forward to all year long. So if you ever feel like playing Peter Cottontail, hop on down my way...hop, hop!

Meaty Marvels!

My sister lives in Manhattan, and being unable to go myself, I often make her go to specific restos and live vicariously through her. She, in turn, checks out interesting stuff in NY Mag that I would be interested in...Ah, sisterly love!

Anyhow, I recieved this link from NY Mag today, about one of my favorite meals; cheeseburgers. This group, however, are doubles. And, in my opinion the more meat, the better!

Ah, double deckers!

Here's the article http://nymag.com/restaurants/features/55484/

Comfy-Cozy at Cabin Coffee

When she was in town for the weekend, I took my sis to my new favorite coffee shop; Cabin Coffee. This is a sweet little spot with comfy chairs, casual service and a laid-back atmosphere. Cabin Coffee combines all that is great about a coffee shop; java and sweets but with the added touch of breakfast sammies, soups and salads.

I also love the way they present their treats; in ages-old baking trays that you would imagine in Little House on the Prairie. From these trays emerge sweet and savory, crunchy and chewy baked goods...and you know I've never met a baked good I didn't like!

Chocolate Chip & Bran Muffin

Cheese Scone

Brooklyn Warehouse tops MY Coast "Best of Food" picks

By now, it's fairly obvious that I have somewhat of a love-affair with the Brooklyn Warehouse. I could say the same old things; food's great, atmosphere rocks, service is fantastic, yada, yada, yada...but the thing that keeps me coming back is the fact that everytime I think about Brooklyn, I remember how much fun I had. This is a great place; it's a neighborhood resto, run by a father and son duo, who really care about the products that go into their meals, quality service and customer satisfaction.

Since I go there somewhat frequently, I've gotten to know George Christakos, and his philosophy on how to run a successful restaurant. It's evident, in watching his interactions with clientele, that lots are repeat customers - and repeats for a reason. Quality and consideration are two ingredients that go into every dish and drink, and for this, Brooklyn Warehouse is truly a winner.

As I write this post, I've just finished the Coast "Best of Food" Survey. Brooklyn Warehouse took top honors in several categories, but most importantly for me - Best Restaurant. After my most recent visit, in which I introduced my sister, visiting from Manhattan, to my favorite resto, Brooklyn took top honors in Best Burger as well. Had Best Caesar Salad been an category, I think it's obvious who would win.

For this meal, my sis and I chose two items that are signatures on Brooklyn Warehouse's menu. My sis also chose the refreshing Green Curry for her entree; a tasty green curry with fantastically fresh veg, but alas, my photog skills failed me for that one. Here, however, are the pics of what I would refer to as the quintessential Brooklyn Warehouse meal:

Caesar Salad
Halved Romaine heart, pancetta, foccacia croutons,
caper berry "That Dutchman's Dragon's Breath" blue cheese dressing

The Brooklyn Burger
7 oz. of grilled, organic N.S beef, Applewood cheddar, double smoked back bacon, served with tomato, onion & pickle,
house-made crispy taters and red pepper mayo

And what a meal this is. The Caesar salad dressing is rich and creamy, slightly pungent with the blue cheese, but with a touch of sweetness to balance. The addition of grilled lemon adds a freshness that lightens up the dressing while adding a smokey zing. The use of pancetta as opposed to bacon is genius, as the thin, salty slices are just the thing to contrast the crisp lettuce.

The burger...oh, the burger. I ate the whole thing - and it ain't small. The patty itself was flawless, but the addition of sweet, smokey Cheddar and salty back bacon raises the bar. The fries were just how I like- crispy on the outside and soft within, while the red pepper mayo was a great alternative to the usual cup of Heinz.

I'm a big supporter of this resto, and not just because I've grown to know and respect both the owners and staff - but because they do it right, providing a wonderful dining experience at affordable prices in the heart of Halifax.

Take a trip to the Brooklyn Warehouse and see for yourself. Then, cast your vote for Best Restaurant and Best Burger. Early bird voting is open now!

http://posting.thecoast.ca/halifax/BestofFood2009/Page/

http://www.brooklynwarehouse.ca/