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. 

Friday night feast at Morris East

This past Friday, I went to Morris East for dinner. With the restaurant's sparkling reputation, I don't know why I figured we could get a table for two at 8:30, but that's beside the point. When we arrived, the line-up was curling out the door and spilling onto the street. It's a good thing they still have their patio furniture because that's where we perched for the 10 minute wait.

Pleasantly enough, some foolish souls abandoned their place in line, and we were bumped to the front. Once inside, the smell of garlic, tomatoes and cheese hit me like a heat wave in August. We were seated at a nice two seater in the middle of the resto and proceeded to review the menu. I use the term "review" in a literal sense as I have frequently studied the menu! I had decided on the pork, peach and goat's cheese pizza, while my friend went for the spicy pepperoni.

The service at Morris East is spot on. Less than 10 minutes after we ordered, we were served two steaming pies. My pizza was phenomenal; sweet grilled peaches with salty prosciutto and creamy goat's cheese. I chose the whole wheat crust, which I dipped in the resto's signature chili oil.

I do wish that they had been a little more generous with the toppings however. After all, the combo of flavors were so delicious, I could eat that pizza for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Actually...no, I take that back, as I'm excitedly anticipating what my friend ordered, the spicy pepperoni and banana peppers, for my next visit.

Morris East
5212 Morris Street

902.444.7663
http://www.morriseast.com/

A Happy Hour Feast at Morris East

A friend of mine was in town a little while ago and we managed to consume quite a bit of food! We went to Trader's Bar for their $5 unlimited mussel deal, Ryan Duffy's for an incredible steak dinner, and ended the weekend at Morris East.

Morris East is what I would consider a traditional 'neighbourhood' resto. It's small and lively, has amazing food and is often packed - a great sign! My friend and I stopped in at 5 to take advantage of the 5-6 Happy Hour when wine is just $4. Though ME is famous for their wood-fire grilled pizzas, we were both in the mood for lighter fare. We decided to split an appy and go for one of the restos intriguing salads.

We split the Beef short rib to start; a hunk of supple meat atop a pillowy potato cannelloni and tender greens.

Beef Short Rib with Potato Cannelloni and Microgreens

My friend ordered the Roast Chicken and Pastina salad for her main - an unusual combo, but one that had both a delightful flavor and texture contrast. The pastina grains were light, almost rice-like, and rolled around on your tongue. Along with the smokey chicken and earthy portobello mushrooms, the mild 1608 cheese added yet another meaty element.

Roast Chicken & Pastina Salad w/ Portobello Mushroom, Leek

and Prosciutto-wrapped '1608' Cheese

Though I'm not normally one to order a Cesar salad, I had a feeling that Morris East would do it justice. My gut didn't disappoint. With a vinaigrette dressing as opposed to the traditional cloying cream-based one, this salad had lots going on while still maintaining its freshness. Sweet preserved lemon and thick-cut smoked bacon accented the crisp Romaine and salty Parm.

Vinaigrette Caesar Salad w/ Smoked Bacon, Croutons & Preserved Lemon

Though both of us were decidedly full, we couldn't resist the S'more. Toasted in the wood-fired oven, ME's house made marshmallow had a crisp crust and a gooey interior-mmm. A graham cracker was sandwiched between this and a pool of thick chocolate ganache. MMM! I do love me a good S'more!

Wood-fired S'more

House made marshmallow toasted in the wood-fired oven

w/ chocolate ganache and graham cracker

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/

Big Day Downtown: The Series

Two summers ago, I was invited by the Downtown Halifax Business Commission to participate in their newest initiative, 'Big Day Downtown', which served to highlight business in Halifax's downtown core.  The premise of the campain was to give 30 bloggers in Halifax $100 to spend in downtown Halifax.  We filmed my BDDT and here is how I spent it:

Then, in the summer of 2011, I was asked again to participate - this time, the tag line of the BDDT campaign was 'Try Something New', and so I did.  You can check that experience out here.

Find out what's happening in Downtown Halifax. Discover hidden gems or rediscover old favourites. This series explores food, music, events, fashion, art, culture, entertainment, issues, good causes and cool products and services.

The inagural episode, of course, is all about food!   In  this episode, we travel to Morris St. to visit Morris East, a wood-fire grilled pizza place with tons of personality an great food!  I chat with owner Jenni Dobbs and Head Chef, Lauren Marshall, AND, I get to try one of their incredible pizzas!  Next, I travel to Bistro Le Coq, on Argyle St. so sample some french fare.  This is a lovely resto, full of charm, and cream...and butter!  I'll with Chef de Cuisine, Ashley Davis  and get to try Le Coq's incredible Poulet Roti.  Bon appetit!

Get your city fix with Big Day Downtown: The Series on EastLink TV. EastLink Magazipremieres on EastLink TV Sundays at 7:00 pm and is also available in HD on EastLink OnDemand.

Check the full schedule:

http://www.eastlink.ca/EastlinkTV/Programs/EastLinkMagazine.aspx 

Also, check out Big Day Downtown: The Series on the Facebook page, LinkedIn and on Twitter!

We’ve also linked the episode to Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/DowntownHalifax

LinkedIn:

http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Downtown-Halifax-Business-Commission-3950156?trk=myg_ugrp_ovr  

For Tweeting:

http://tinyurl.com/8ycclv7

The Skinny on Savour 2011

Well, another year's Savour food & wine Show has come and gone, and a great time was had by all. Last Wednesday night, Savourites gathered at the Westin Nova Scotian to celebrate the 8th annual event. With over 60 booths of food and wine, there was a bite to tempt every tastebud and a wine to please every palate.

The quantity of product at this show is amazing - there is so much to try that one person would never get to do it all...and there have been many to try! After 4 Savour shows, I never go in without a game plan. I check out the exhibitors and decide where I'll be stopping before venturing into the fray. As a sommelier-in-training, I checked out a lot more wine booths this year and tried to pair them with the most appropriate bite. In case you're wondering...I'm well aware of my uber-geekiness.

If you didn't get to attend this year, I would highly suggest giving Savour a shot next year. It's the perfect opportunity to try some of the best food and wine in Halifax all under one roof. There was even a Local Food Award (which went to 5Fish). And as the tagline reveals, Savour is 'Mingle-licious'!

Don't forget to check in next week to find out the winners of the 'Best of Show'!

How a foodie 'does' Savour...Mapping it out!

The Five Fishermen

Lobster Stuffed Scallops w/ a Chardonnay Beurre Blanc

Mini Lobster and Goat Cheese Cakes with Basil Aioli

Tempest

Crispy Fish Tacos

w/ Smoked Line Caught Haddock and Guacamole Coulis

Stories at the Haliburton

Tahitian Vanilla Panna Cotta w/ Drunk and Sober
Berries and Lacey Almond Tuille

Taj Mahal

Lamb Hyderabadi Biryani

Mango Juice and Chocolate Fountain

Saege

Getaway Farms Cider Braised Pork Belly, Balsamic & Red Onion Agrodolce

Sweet Potato & Thyme Blini and Caramelized Gala Apple

Chives

Nova Scotia Pulled Pork

Brioche w/ Winter Slaw and Bourbon BBQ sauce

Chez Tess

The Euro ~ Sweet Vanilla Crepe stuffed w/ Banana,

drizzled with Nutella, Caramel, Chantilly & Toasted Almonds

Chocolate Mousse ~ Chocolate Mousse in a bite size crepe cup

topped w/ Chantilly and Almond Brittle

The Press Gang

Seven Hour Bison Ravioli

tossed in a Truffled Caramelized Garlic & Bourbon Reduction

w/ Celery Toot Puree and Pistachio Wilted Chard

White Point

Flourless Chocolate Cake

Maple Creme & Pecan Brittle

Mix Fresh Kitchen

Lamb Kebabs

The Westin Nova Scotian

Mini Burgers on Brioche; Philly Steak & Crab Cake

Durty Nelly's

Fresh Shucked Oysters and Guinness

Delta Barrington & Halifax

Meadow Brook house-smoked Pork Belly topped w/ Dragon's Breath Blue Cheese

served w/ Celeriac Puree and Van Dykes Blueberry Drizzle

The Port Pub

Pan Seared Digby Scallop on Local Dulse Seasoned Cracker

w/ Apple & Fennel Slaw and Wild Blueberry-Maple Vinaigrette

The Spread at Hamachi

Morris East

Potato Ravioli

Root Vegetable Crackers

Nova Scotia Raspberry Daiquiris

Le Caveau

L'Acadie vine Smoked Salmon w/ chilled Fox Hill Quark Souffle and Leek Coulis

Wild Nova Scotia Porcini Risotto finished w/
Old Growler Gouda and Martock Glen Duck Confit

Fid Resto

The Black Pearl Shooter
Soy Tapioca Pearls & Fresh Carrot Juice

Seasoned w/ Apple Cider Vinegar, Chive Oil and a Sweet Potato Crisp

Pipa

Bacalhau a Bras

Saute of Cod, Onion, Potato & Egg

Seasons

Liquid Nitrogen Candy Pop Corn

White Chocolate Soup w/ Espresso & Cocoa Nibs

Blueberry Cocktail

My friend Stephanie and I - post event. I realized that I forgot to mention one of the other key rules to planning and making the most out of your Savour food & wine Show experience - Bring a friend!

'Eat Your Heart Out' Halifax!

I want to write about a great event coming up, here in Halifax on Tuesday, April 24th.  Save room for dinner that night, because over ten restos in Halifax will be participating in 'Eat Your Heart Out', a fundraiser in support of the Maritime Heart Centre. 

The inaugural ‘Eat Your Heart Out, Halifax’ event is a unique approach to fundraising that celebrates the HRM food scene while raising critical funds for heart disease care and prevention in the Maritimes.

‘Eat Your Heart Out’ is a novel concept; on Tuesday April 24th 2012, participating restaurants will donate 15% of their food sales for the evening to the Maritime Heart Center. This gives diners an opportunity to support the Maritime Heart Center simply by enjoying a meal at one of a number of local restaurants.

“This is a unique fundraising model that holds great benefit for everyone involved” says John Britton, Executive Director for the Maritime Heart Center. “We hope to make this an annual fundraising event that removes the need for expensive tickets and dressing up. We want Haligonians to go out en-masse on this one night and have dinner with friends and family at one of our numerous participating establishments. This means raising money for heart disease is as easy as raising your fork”.

In addition to raising money, the event also celebrates HRM’s incredible restaurant industry. “Halifax has such a vibrant food scene” says Nancy Tissington of the Spring Garden Area Business Association. “This initiative showcases both our city’s innovative cuisine and social conscience. The restaurants get health-centred exposure and promotion and the Maritime Heart Center receives the proceeds, which stay right here in the Maritimes supporting heart disease care and prevention. It’s a win-win all round”.

The fundraising model is based on other wildly successful dine-out events that take place across North America, and as HRM doesn’t have a city-wide charitable dine-out fundraiser the Maritime Heart Centre is hoping to grow this event year-on-year to include more and more restaurants and, eventually, more communities across the Maritimes.

“Heart disease is Canada’s biggest killer” says Britton, “and nowhere is this more obvious than right here in the Maritimes, where 1 in 3 people will die of a heart-related condition. This is a fantastic opportunity for people to contribute to our charity simply by doing what they would normally do – enjoy a great meal at a great restaurant. When you choose to eat at any of our participating establishments on April 24th you are automatically supporting heart disease care and prevention in your community”. Early reservations are highly recommended.

‘Eat Your Heart Out’ takes place on April 24th 2012. For a full list of participating restaurants visit the Maritime Heart Centre or call 902 446 3669.

Currently, participating restos include: 
Onyx, Saege, Moda, Estia, Fid, Chives Bistro, Economy Shoe Shop, Mexico Lindo, Vinnie’s Pasta Bar, Rockbottom Brewpub & Morris East. 

Restos coming together for Eat Your Heart Out Halifax

As I mentioned Wednesday's post last week, there are plenty of restaurants on board for the Eat Your Heart Out Halifax event happening on Tuesday, April 24th.  And I just might have eaten at a few of them, ok, a lot of them!


Check out the participating restos below, as well as the links to my past posts on some of the participating restos and decide for yourself where you'll dine on the 24th! Be sure to visit on Monday to see my post on one of the first participants of EYHO;  MODA!


Onyx, Saege Bistro, Estia, Fid Resto, Chives Canadian Bistro, Morris East Restaurant, Pipa Restaurant & Bar, Cafe Chianti, Durty Nelly's


Harbour City Bar & Grill, Economy Shoe Shop, Mexico Lindo, Vinnie’s Pasta Bar,  Rock Bottom BrewPub and Baton Rouge.