The Granite Room - Iqaluit, Nunavut

I've always wanted to visit Nunavut and I finally got the opportunity to go through work.  This was my first time in Iqaluit.  We stayed at the Discovery Lodge Hotel, a beautiful boutique hotel just a quick walk from the airport.  I happened to arrive on Victoria Day so to my disappointment, most businesses were closed.  After taking a long walk through town, it was time to eat.  With limited options, I decided to eat at The Granite Room in the hotel.  This is a newly renovated hotel.  It is quite modern with very tasteful décor.  The Granite Room has Aboriginal artwork and carvings, it is ultra modern.  The light fixture above the dining room resembles pieces of ice or icebergs floating in the sea and the lighting can be adjusted with different colours to set the mood. 

When I first opened the menu, I was a little taken aback by the prices.  You have to keep in mind that everything has to be transported in by air or by sea when the water isn't frozen over so prices are far higher than what we are accustomed to in Ottawa. 

I decided to splurge and ordered the rib steak.  There was only one other table that night.  The entire town was quite, the bulk of business people would be arriving on the Tuesday so I enjoyed the very peaceful atmosphere and personalized service.  The server was very attentive and welcoming.  He immediately brought water to the table and shortly after I ordered, a basket of warm home baked rolls arrived at the table.  After what seemed to be mere minutes, my dinner arrived.  The waiter said it was very quiet so easy for the kitchen to get the food out quickly. 

The plate looked stunning.  There was a huge steak, and I mean huge.  I've never ordered a steak and received one this size.  The Granite Room uses very large plates and the steak took up the bulk of the real estate.  It was served with a colourful medley of vegetables including rainbow coloured peppers, broccoli and carrots with a generous side of mashed potatoes.  The rich bordelaise sauce was artfully decorating the plate while overlapping the steak.  I had to take a picture and send it to my son.  He wrote back immediately - "OMG, Mom that looks amazing!  No fair, where's mine?" I can't think of any meat loving man that would look at this plate and not fall head over heels in love.  Had I not already been hungry, seeing this piece of art would have quickly openned my appetite. 

My steak was cooked to a perfect medium rare.  It was so tender I didn't need to use the knife to cut it.  It melted in my mouth.  The rich sauce was thick and overflowing with flavours that further enhanced the meat.  I loved that my vegetables still had a bit of a crunch and the potatoes were really hot.  For me when my food is supposed to be hot, I want it really hot.  My meal was the perfect temperature and stayed that way through to the last bite. 

The waiter checked in regularly and made sure my water glass was always full.  I had to pace myself cause there was no way I was going to waste a single bite of this feast.  A few more customers came in adding to the ambiance as I slowly worked my way through the plate.  It was incredible.  The waiter couldn't believe I managed to finish it all.

The dessert menu looked amazing, but there was absolutely no room left.  I settled for a coffee before heading out for another long walk to help me digest my dinner. 

The price is high, but you get your money's worth.  The portion was huge and it was a quality cut of beef.  Perfect marbling, tender, juicy and cooked just the way I like it.   The total cost for the steak, a soft drink and coffee was around $100.00 including taxes and tip for one person.  Add to this the beautiful modern décor and excellent service and you'll agree it's well worth it. 

The restaurant and hotel are clean and well maintained.  Staff are very welcoming and pleasant, eager to please and make sure you have everything you need.  This is the quality and service you would get at a 5+ star hotel/restaurant.  I'd rate The Granite Room right up there with the Nobu in Manila. 

In fact, it was so good we arranged to have all of my colleagues have dinner there the following night and they were all blown away.  We all ordered the Surf and Tundra which was outstanding.  The dish came with Arctic Char and Caribou steak showcasing the specialties of the north.  Once again I was beyond impressed.  The Caribou was better than any meat I've ever had. 

Go ahead and splurge, you deserve it.  I promise you won't be disappointed.  I can't wait to go back!
Carm the Foodie

Proper Etiquette at Cocktail Receptions

Recently I was out at a museum event with a friend.  Members and supporters of the Canadian Museum of Nature were invited to attend.  It was a great event showcasing Canada's north.  The museum opened a new gallery and we were amoung the first to see it. 

The event included a cocktail reception and cash bar.  Everything was beautifully set-up with food and flavours highlighting aboriginal culture and delicacies.  Having recently visited Nunavut, I was thrilled to be a part of something so special while celebrating National Aboriginal Day. 

We tasted wonderful appetizers including caribou sliders and arctic hare served on bannock.  There were different dips and tables artistically set-up with glass blocks which reminded me of ice and the arctic landscape.

One thing that was surprising, was how many people lack etiquette when eating in a social setting.  Although many of the appetizers and hors d'oeuvres were served, there were tables with various bowls of dip including beet, hummous and I believe a spinach dip surrounded by bannock triangles to eat them with.  There were small appetizer plates and napkins.  Each dip had a serving soon and there were several pairs of tongs intended to be used for the bannock.  I was grateful for being amoung the first to arrive because not long afterwards, people were dipping their fingers into the dips and licking them, taking bites out of their bread and double dipping, grabbing bread with their hands and not the pieces on top actually digging through the lot to pick certain pieces!  So much for using plates,  napkins and serving utensils.  It was shocking, many of us stood and just watched in disgust.  Others loaded their tiny plates like they needed to stock pile in the event of a shortage. 

Are people truly that clueless and inconsiderate?  My appetite quickly dissipated.  My kids demonstrate way more etiquette than grown adults accustomed to attending these types of receptions.  How sad.  I so wanted to say something, it was hard not to.  My friend stopped eating and went out to the lobby.  How rude! 

My Mother would have had a heart attack and definitely would have scolded people.  Having grown up attending all kinds of receptions thanks to my Mom being a caterer to most of the embassies in town, I found it shocking.

Note to all who attend events where there are food stations, be considerate of others.  Do you want to taste other people's dirty fingers or share their saliva?  I think not.  When it comes to serving yourself, it isn't a contest to see how much food you can get onto your plate. You'd think some these people hadn't eaten in a year!  For me the worse is people who overload their plates with food then leave it on a chair or table and walk away because they don't like it.  My goodness, try a bit first.  You can always go back for more after everyone else has had a chance to try it.  Contrary to popular belief, a cocktail reception is not intended to be a full meal.  You're not there to gorge.  Think of it as an appetizer or snack before or after you have dinner or between meals.  You have a few drinks and some bites while you socialize and listen to speeches.  It's an opportunity to try new things and be adventurous, but it doesn't mean you should be wasteful and ruin the experience for others.

Note, the same etiquette applies at buffets and anywhere food is served as far as I'm concerned.

Ok, I vented.  If even only one person reads this and thinks twice when they attend their next cocktail reception or buffet, then my post was well worth it.  Swapping saliva is fine with your significant other, in an arena with hundreds of others....not so much.

My conclusion: Think before you double dip and please use the utensils! 
Carm the Foodie

Farm Team Cookhouse - Ottawa. Ontario

My kids wanted to take me out for Mother's Day Brunch.  We waited a week to avoid to insane crowds and feeling like you're being rushed because the next seating is waiting for your table.  Not to mention menus and prices are higher and not necessarily justified. 

It started badly.  The traffic was ridiculous due to a cycling event going on downtown.  We spent over an hour and half trying to get to Landsdowne.  We didn't make it.  While stuck on Bank Street we looked over and noticed the Farm Team Cookhouse and a sign outside advertising brunch.  Perfect, we were starved and sick of being stuck in traffic.  Thankfully there was a parking spot right out front, they have a parking lot, but I wouldn't have to turn around. 

The building is very rustic.  I love the weathered wood, it makes you feel like your away at a lodge or a cabin far away from the craziness of the city.  Décor is simple, but goes perfectly with that rustic country look.  It was very quiet, only one other large table.  We were greeted and seated right away. 

We ordered our drinks.  They come served in mason jars.  My youngest was perplexed, she asked me if they had run out of glasses cause you don't serve drinks in jars.  We all laughed.  The kids thought they were cool.

It was time to order.  My two oldest take after me.  We ordered the eggs benedict.  Two with ham, one with spinach.  What makes these eggs benedict different from everyone else's is that your order comes with a side of meat.  You can choose bacon or sausage  Being carnivores, we were thrilled and won't ever say no to extra meat!

The two younger ones aren't into anything fancy so they ordered 2 eggs with sausage and bacon.  All orders came with home fries which were really good.  I was shocked that my youngest ate them all.  Usually she complains she doesn't like potatoes, yet she eats fries and mashed all the time.  I told her the home fries are like little square French fries.  She gave me a confused looked like, "Whatever Mom." Never in a million years did I think she'd try them, but low and behold she did and loved them.

The eggs benedict were delicious.  What makes me hesitate ordering them is the hollandaise sauce.  Every place makes it differently and you'll either like it or hate it.  This one was perfect.  We were all pleasantly surprised.  I'd have to say one of the best in the city based on all the others we've tried.  The consistency was perfect.  Not too thick, not too runny and no starchy or grainy like texture.  It coated the eggs and didn't run all over the plate.  The English muffins were crispy and stayed that way to the last bite.  If I had to point out one thing that could be improved, it would be the spinach.  A hint more seasoning or sautéing it with a bit of garlic or onion would elevate the flavour a tad more.  Other than that, we were very happy with them and completely stuffed after eating the extra meat that came with them. 

The girls enjoyed their eggs.  One likes them sunny side up, the other scrambled.  There was nothing left on their plates.  That is one thing I love about my kids, they don't waste anything and they'll eat just about anything.  I don't hesitate taking them out to restaurants or friend's houses for dinner.  Growing up we couldn't leave the table until our plates were cleaned.  To my parents, wasting food was sacrilege.  If you weren't sick, you didn't dare leave the table until you finished everything on your plate.  They both knew what it meant to starve having survived the after math of the first world war. I'm not quite that strict, but certainly don't condone wasting food.  If they put it on their plate or they order something at a restaurant, they have to eat it all.  I have no issue getting a doggy bag if they can't finish when we're out. Great to pack for lunch!

I'd say the prices were very reasonable and comparable to most breakfast places.  The portions are generous and as previously mentioned, the eggs benedict come with a side of meat.  At $14.00 an order, I think this is great.

We thoroughly enjoyed it and had a great Mother's Day celebration.  That said, we'll definitely go back.  It was great that it wasn't busy.  The food was delicious and we didn't wait long, very important when out with a small child.  I'm really happy we accidently ended up there. 

Definitely a hidden gem you should check out!
Carm the Foodie

Topkapi - Ottawa

It was Saturday night, I worked, didn't feel like cooking or doing laundry so I called a fellow foodie and suggested dinner. I needed a partner in crime and someone I could vent to after a long week.

I had a couple of Groupons, but sadly one place was closed for a private party and the other seemed to have shut down.



Where do we go? We wanted some where that had parking and wouldn't be too busy, so downtown was out. Wait, there's Turkish food in Bells Corners!  Off to Topkapi we went!



Neither one of us had eaten all day so we were famished. When we arrived the restaurant was full. There were only 2 tables of 2 left. Perfect timing because shortly afterwards it was packed and they were turning people away asking them to come back in an hour.



To start we ordered the Topkapi Mezeleri or mixed appetizer platter. It comes with warm pita bread. The platter consists of a spicy dip, a stuffed vine leaf, feta cheese, olives, tomatoes, cucumbers and pickled cabbage for garnish, hummous, a vegetable dip, a pressed yogurt and dill dip, a stuffed pepper and some hot peppers. It's a fairly large sharing plate which we managed to polish off fairly quickly leaving little room for the main course!  This plate would be more than generous enough as an appetizer to feed 4! I guess we were hungry. Lol



For the main course we ordered the Karisik Izgara or dinner for 2. It was a large platter very elegantly served in a covered caserole dish. The platter comes piled high with lamb chops, a chicken kabob, a lamb kabob and 2 ground beef koftas. Along with the meat is a generous portion of rice, potatoes and mixed vegetables.  We both have very healthy appetites, but couldn't finish everything. It was a mistake to order another basket of pita bread, but it was so good!  There was more than enough left for another full plate. My children ate it as a midnight snack.



Interestingly enough, they had live entertainment that night. On weekends they have a belly dancer. My date was quite pleased.  At one point his mind was somewhere else and he didn't hear a thing I said.  I was happy he was enjoying himself.



As stuffed as we were, we had to order their signature dessert. You have to be patient as it takes 20 minutes to prepare. It is made fresh to order and served warm with a delicious rose water syrup.   The kunefe is made with cheese and shredded pastry, then topped with a bit of syrup and chopped pistacchios. Waiting for it gave a chance to digest and make some room in our stomachs.  My date insisted he wasn't going to have any dessert, but after one taste he was hooked.  He'd never had a dessert like this and absolutely loved it.  Good thing cause I was full and wouldn't have been able to eat it all myself.  Besides, if I was going to burst at the seams, so was he!



If you want a different dining experience, Topkapi is for you. The servers are attentive and the food didn't take too long.  Keep in mind most of the items on the menu are made to order. I love how the food is served. The tables are set with charger plates and each course comes out on its own plate which is set onto the charger plate. It limits the realestate on the table, especially the tables for 2, but it adds to the dining experience.  When the main courses come out, they usually come in an intricately carved silver serving casserole with a lid and the servers wear gloves.



Given the size of the portions, the price is well worth it. For 2 the cost is around $100.00 for dinner not including drinks.  Definitely on the higher side, but most items are made in house with items you won't find anywhere else.  The free entertainment on the weekend is a bonus.  I'll definitely keep going back. This is one of my top 10 favourite restaurants in Ottawa.



Give it a try!
Carm the Foodie

Tutti Frutti - Hull, Quebec

This restaurant has been around for a while and is close to home, so a great go to place when I don't feel like cooking breakfast.  I decided to treat my daughter so we could hang out and catch up since it's not often that I can spend one-on-one time with all 4 of my kids. 

It was quieter than we expected for a Saturday morning.  Finally we had sunshine and didn't need a jacket so I think most people were out and about soaking in the rays.  We were seated right away and noticed the menus were different.  This was exciting, we hadn't been in a while so we could try something new.

My daughter takes after me and loves eggs benedict.  Well, they had added several new combinations to the menu.  There was a pulled pork and baked beans version, the standard ham, asparagus with  swiss cheese or the camembert and mushrooms to name a few.  The one that stood out to me was the Italian sausage with arugula.  My daughter loves baked beans, but decided to stick to her usual ham benny as she wasn't sure she'd like poached eggs with pulled pork.

Given how quiet it was, the food took a bit longer than expected.  I'm guessing maybe because my Italian sausage was so new, it might have needed a bit more time to cook.  Well, it was worth the wait.  Another change was that they served the eggs benedict with hashbrowns.  I much prefer these over the usual breakfast potatoes or homefries.  The eggs benedict were delicious.  My sausage patties were nicely cooked with a bit of a crust which added texture.  The English muffins were well toasted and stayed crispy until the last bite!  Nothing worse than mushy bread, it reminds me of oatmeal which I don't care for.  It's a texture thing.  The sausage was a bit more spicy than I anticipated, but combined with the sautéed peppers, onions and rich hollandaise sauce it was perfectly balanced.  The arugula added a fresh element to the dish and a bit of a peppery note that enhanced the seasoning.

I was excited about the hashbrowns, but I found they were a tad undercooked and the mound of sautéed onions they put on top were not needed.  My daughter agreed, they were ok and next time we'll pass on the onions.

The traditional eggs benedict were delicious.  My daughter polished off her plate in no time flat!  We were extremely happy with our choices.  Both dishes came with fresh fruit on the side.  I did notice that the amount of fruit was less generous than what they used to serve. The fruit added some sweetness and helped to cleans our palates, kind of like dessert after a main dish. 

In terms of price, I'd say it's average to moderate.  Cost for 2 with drinks was $35.00.  Note that coffee is included with your breakfast, but juices and other options are extra.  The restaurant is very clean and bright.  They have TV screens throughout so you can watch the news, weather or cartoons.  The staff is friendly and attentive.  At the entrance they offer newspapers if you want to sit and catch up on current events.  They have a great menu with options to suit all tastes and preferences as well as budgets.  They also offer lunch items and specials for those who don't want to have breakfast.  During the week they have early bird breakfast specials too.

This restaurant is definitely family friendly with a kids menu and colouring activity to keep the little ones busy.  Great place for group celebrations too as they have plenty of room.  I strongly recommend this restaurant.

Get cracking!
Carm the Foodie 

Tennessy Willems - Ottawa, Ontario

Don't let the unusual name throw you.  Friends suggested we meet up for lunch and this was the place that won the toss up.  I grew up in Hintonburg and I'll tell you, I'm very impressed with how far the restaurant selections have come in my old neighbourhood. 

I arrived first and it was packed.  The waitress greeted us as soon as we arrived and said it would be about a 20 minute wait for a table.  My girlfriends decided to go shopping at Breads by Us another great find!

We were given a table by the window.  It was really hard to decide what to order.  Everything on the menu sounded good and then when the waitress pointed out the specials, we were right back at square one.  Ultimately we decided to start with a couple of salads to share and watched as various dishes came by.  We asked our neighbours what they had ordered and if they liked it. 

The caesar salad is served very differently.  It comes dressed with a lemon garlic dressing and sour dough bread croutons.  Two of us had to have the warm beet salad with goat cheese, tarragon, fennel and apple vinaigrette.  Personally I prefer my beet salad cold, but it was very good.

For the mains we decided to go with pizzas. They are made in a wood burning oven.  You can smell the pizza from blocks away.  Our style is to order a bunch of different plates and try a bit of everything. 

I ordered their special of the day which was the lamb sausage pizza with gorgonzola cheese, arugula, toasted pine nuts and parmesan.  When it comes to pizza, I prefer a thin crust with a white sauce  whether it comes with just cheese, pesto or béchamel sauce over the traditional tomato sauce.  It was incredible!  I must say it's the best pizza I have ever had.  The crust was thin and crispy, it had just the perfect amount of cheese and the sausage was delicious.  Initially I almost changed my mind because I'm not a fan of Dijon mustard, but it balanced the favour of the lamb and give it a subtle punch.  It was perfectly seasoned and the arugula gave it an element of freshness.  When the pizza first arrived it looked like something was missing.  Sure enough, there were no pine nuts.  Not to worry, the waitress ran back and brought out a small bowl that had been freshly toasted.  These added a nice crunch and nutty flavour making it the best pizza ever.  

The others ordered The Capricciosa, The Elmdale and The Margherita.  They were all good in their own right.  I love artichokes and olives so The Capricciosa was my second favourite.  Everything was fresh and made to order so give yourself time to sit back and relax, you won't be disappointed. 

The servers were attentive and made sure you had everything you needed.  The décor is more rustic making me feel like I'm away from the craziness of the city.

Prices are moderate to high, but don't forget they support local farmers and use organic ingredients.  The food is fresh and made to order.  They offer a unique variety and daily specials to suit all tastes.  One of our party had an allergy and they happily accommodated. 

A must have at our table was the lemon tart, but all the desserts looked good.  Sadly most of us were stuffed so there was no room for dessert!  We'll make sure we leave room next time.

This restaurant is on my top 10 restaurants in Ottawa list.  I highly recommend it.  If you like thin crust pizza and want something a bit different, this is the place for you.

Eat up and enjoy!
Carm the Foodie

Wellington Diner - Ottawa, Ontario

This was an excellent choice.  I hadn't seen my girl friends in a while so we decided to meet up for brunch.  They had been to the Wellington Diner a few times, but for me it was new.  Surprisingly it was in my old neighbourhood and I'd never thought to check it out.  When I think of a diner the first things that come to mind are milkshakes and burgers and this isn't what I typically crave.  I'm so glad they suggested it. 

Their brunch menu is very unique.  They have a huge selection in addition to new items and daily specials.  It was hard to decide what to order, the waitress had to come back 3 times!  Even my girl friends were stumped.  They hadn't been there in over a year and the menu was completely different. I love their menu.  It has pictures of most of the items.  Personally my eyes have a bigger appetite than my stomach.  The same goes for cook books, if there's no pictures I won't buy it. 

When it comes to brunch, eggs benedict are usually my go to favourite.  Well, I've never seen such a large selection.  They have 10 different options!  If you like spice, they even have a spicy chipotle hollandaise sauce.   If you like omelettes you have 8 to choose from.  No wonder it took us so long to decide, but when the waitress came back to take our orders she filled us in on the new items and the specials and we had to start all over again. 

We were a group of 5 and the place was packed, but the food arrived within minutes.  I was thoroughly impressed at how quickly orders were coming out of the kitchen.  The place isn't huge, but the service was impeccable.  Your coffee cup was kept full as were the water glasses and the waitress was very attentive.  Empty plates were whisked away. 

I ordered the vegetarian scramble and added ham. Don't forget I'm the carnivore, but I ordered this because it had all of my favourite veggies (peppers, broccoli, etc.) and feta cheese.  It was delicious and came with homefries and toast or a bagel.  The portion was quite generous, enough for the others to try.  Ultimately I couldn't finish it, this rarely happens as I hate wasting food.  The eggs were perfectly cooked and moist with the vegetables and ham tucked neatly inside.  It was perfectly  seasoned.  I find with eggs it's extremely easy to over cook them and often times an omelette can be bland.  It's also important that they stay warm because there's nothing worse for me than eating cold eggs.  The homefries were crispy and very tasty.  My bagel was great, much better option than toast.

Other items ordered by our table included:
- The Spanish Omelette jam packed with chorizo, salsa, cheese and black olives. 
- The Mish Mash which is perfect for a meat lover with bacon, ham, sausage, cheese and veggies.
- French Toast made with fresh egg bread, I had to try these and they were delicious.
- The Belgian Waffle with strawberries and bananas. 

Everything was delicious.  The portions are very generous, so make sure you go on an empty stomach or take the rest home for later.  All of us were very happy with our choices and can't wait to go back to order some of the other stuff on the menu.  They have quite the selection including breakfast poutine, burritos and hashes.  With such unique options you can go numerous times without ever ordering the same thing twice!  Great place for those of us that get bored quickly or always crave something original.  Don't let the name fool you, there's way more than milkshakes and burgers served here and even they have very interesting combinations of ingredients you don't see anywhere else.  Check out their lunch and dinner options, there's something for everyone and it's family friendly.

I loved the décor, it felt like I was walking into a 1950's diner.  It's bright, colourful and very clean. The staff is welcoming and outgoing.  You are greeted the moment you walk in and thanked as you leave.  It was a great experience and reasonably priced.  The best part is their breakfast menu is available all day!!! 

You've got to eat here!
Carm the Foodie

Hambar Restaurant Bar - Montreal, Quebec

Friends of mine that had visited Old Montreal posted pictures on Facebook and raved about the food at this restaurant.  I had told my son about it and he said we totally had to try it out.  As luck would have it, my daughter had a dance competition in Old Montreal so guess where we went?

It was nice walking the streets of Old Montreal.  In my younger years we'd go up at least once a month to the dance bars or to meet up with friends for breakfast at Cora's.  Walking along the port was relaxing and a great way to kill a Sunday afternoon before heading back to Ottawa.

The restaurant opened at 11:00 am, but it was only 10:30.  What a disappointment!  We were so anxious to check it out, not to mention the fact that we hadn't eaten breakfast and the drive took far longer than expected due to construction and detours.  I was able to play the role of tour guide and took my son for a walk through Old Montreal telling him stories of our adventures. 

Ok it was cold and 10:49 so we headed back to the restaurant.  The door was open!  There was already one couple seated and placing their order.  A waiter came over right away and brought us to a table by the window.  The restaurant is attached to a hotel so on the weekends they offer a brunch menu.  I loved the décor which is simple, yet modern.  It reminded us of Spain. 

Before we even got there, we knew what we were going to have.  We ordered our drinks then debated whether or not we should go with our original game plan or opt for the brunch menu.   It was tempting, but nope we were sticking to the plan.  We ordered the small Charcuterie Maison platter and the small Fromages du Québec platter which the waiter said would be plenty for two people. 

Soon after the waiter arrived with a small wooden box with slices of baguette and then a large wooden platter with an assortment of charcuteries and cheeses.  It all looked so artistically placed, we didn't want to disturb anything.  We had to take a picture.  They had artfully smeared a grainy mustard and an apricot jam along the board.  In addition there were some baby pickles, onions pickled with beets and fresh greens.  Between the layers of cerrano ham and prosciutto, there were thin slices of toasted baguette which were perfect for enjoying with the soft cheese and the pate. To further add to our dinning experience, the hams, chorizo and salami were accompanied by 4 different patés and 4 kinds of cheese ranging from a very soft uncured one to a hard firm one. 

There was a paté with pistachios, another that was smooth and silky like a liver sausage, a country style one that was more firm and that last one was like pulled pork in a creamy base. 

To drink I had ordered an Americano and I must say it was the best coffee I've had in ages.  It came with a miniature pitcher of frothed milk.  Adding cold milk or cream to a coffee ruins it, this was brilliant!  I'll further add this is the first time I order a second Americano and they treated it as a refill without charging me. Anywhere else I've always been charged as it's treated as a "specialty coffee".  You have to celebrate the small victories! 

The food was amazing.  This is how we love to eat.  We had to order more bread, there was no way we were going to leave anything on that platter.  Waste not, want not!  It was delicious.  The textures and different combinations you could create by using the pickled vegetables and the condiments just elevated the flavours.  Our taste buds were dancing with joy. 

The staff was very attentive and pleasant.  They explained what each of the items was in detail and regularly popped by to make sure we had everything we needed without imposing or making us feel rushed.  Our water glasses were always full.  The restaurant is very bright and clean with soft music playing in the background.  We felt relaxed and very comfortable, too bad we had to head back to the dance competition!  Lol

No doubt we'll be going back.  The atmosphere, level of service, quality and selection was perfect and the prices are reasonable.  I strongly recommend this restaurant.  Their menus vary offering you a great selection whether you're visiting for brunch, lunch or dinner.  Check out their site and menus then plan your date!

Bon appétit!
Carm the Foodie

Restaurante Los Ángeles – Madrid, Spain

Spain is extremely diverse with an endless variety of foods and flavours.  There's something for everyone and if you're looking for cocina gallega, this is the place for you!

We had spent the day sight seeing and needed to find a restaurant that would accommodate all 9 of us!  Many of the restaurants in the area are small and quaint, but when coming around a corner we spotted this gem.  It was obvious they catered to large groups so it was perfect.  We were 3 adults with 5 kids and a baby.  They were very accommodating, but looked a bit surprised as we slowly trailed in.  I'd say most of the customers in the restaurant worked close by and were having lunch. 

We were taken to a large table in an area at the back with plenty of room for all of us.  There were many tables and people just sit wherever and eat.  When it's very busy you sit with strangers, eat and off you go when you're finished.  Food is more enjoyable when shared with others.

In Spain it's common to have a lunch table d'hote.  The same is offered at dinner with a different selection of starters and mains and usually comes with a glass of wine.  Here you could choose a starter, main and then coffee or dessert.  Usually they offer 4 starters and 4 main courses in addition to their regular menu.  It also includes bread and a drink.  The dessert selection varies or you could have a coffee if there's no room left in your stomach!  They had a great selection.  If you don't want a full meal, they also have over 15 different tapas or sharing plates to choose from.  We watched as the servers went by with orders for other clients and had a very hard time deciding what to have.  

I finally went with a salad to start, then paella.  For the children they had roasted chicken with potatoes.  The portions were huge.  When my salad arrived I thought, "Oh my I won't have room for much else!"  At home this would have been enough for 4 of us to share.  My sister and I decided to share the salad and cancelled hers.  Not long after my paella arrived.  Another huge plate.  It had a bit of everything; chicken, shrimp, vegetables, seafood and the traditional saffron rice.  The seasoning was perfect and my rice was cooked just right.  Much like pasta, I prefer my rice al dente or on the firmer side.  Mushy rice reminds me of oatmeal and my grandmother trying to force feed me.  It didn't end well!  Lol  Thankfully I didn't order anything for the baby, she ate from my plate and loved the shrimp.  There was so much food the older kids dug in as well. 

The chicken was tender and juicy served with roasted potatoes.  You could tell the chicken had been marinaded and slow roasted.  The skin was nice and crispy with a wonderful flavour which seeped into the meat.  We didn't hear one complaint from the kids as they were too busy eating everything on their plates and stealing from ours.  My sister is a picky eater so she also had the chicken.  My brother-in-law is adventurous so he had the merluza a la gallega.  Merluza or hake as we call it here, is a staple in Spain much like salmon is to us.  It belongs to the cod family and has a very mild taste.  The white meat is firm and sweet.  It was served with potatoes and a light sauce made of fish stock, garlic, tomato and pimenton - a very popular spice in Spanish cuisine.  The flesh of the fish was moist and tender, it melted in your mouth.  The sauce gave it a slight kick while the potatoes added texture.  Everything was delicious.  Had we stayed in Madrid longer we would've eaten there more often.

After all that food, there was no room for dessert.  All of the desserts looked amazing and are made in house.  We opted for coffee instead then headed back to the apartment for a nap!  I don't know how Spaniards can eat so much food for lunch then eat again at night and stay thin.  The food was delicious and very reasonably priced.  For the table d'hote the price is under 10 Euros.  You couldn't make all of that food at home for that price.  Never mind all the preparation and cooking time then having to do the dishes! 

I long to go back so that I can try some of the other dishes on the menu or simply sit with friends enjoying a glass of wine and nibbling on a variety of tapas.  Why choose one dish when you can try a bunch of different things?

Do I love food?  Absolutely, one of the simplest pleasures of life.  I'm extremely fortunate to have passed this love onto my children.  It's great that I can take them anywhere and they'll eat whatever is put in front of them.  Spain was a gastronomic wonderland that we enjoyed thoroughly along with all the major attractions, beaches and time with family.

Hasta pronto!
Carm the Foodie

Baker’s Street Café – Ottawa, Ontario

What to do on a cool Saturday morning when you can’t sleep?  Call a friend and convince them to join you for breakfast.  Many of my friends enjoy good food, so it’s not hard to find a willing accomplice to join me for a bite.  My friend Paul is adventurous so we try to find places we’ve never been to.  He's a fellow foodie and always a willing companion. 

Baker’s Street Café had good reviews so we figured we’d check it out.  According to some write ups, best to get there early to avoid the line-ups.  We arrived around 9:00 am and it was already busy.  The place is small and quaint.  All the tables were taken and there were 6 people waiting ahead of us.  We were greeted and told it wouldn’t be too long, several tables were just finishing up.  After a bit the owner came out with a tray of freshly baked mini muffins.  A very nice touch.  It makes you feel acknowledged and thanked for your patience.  After he treated those of us waiting in line, he made his way around the restaurant handing out the little treats to children.  For me this really stood out.  This place is definitely family friendly.  As a parent what better way to distract a child than with a mini chocolate chip muffin?  Little things can make a huge impact.

All the plates we saw being served looked great and were piled high with food.  My friend especially loved the larger coffee mugs.  He's big guy towering above 6 feet with a healthy appetite.  Nothing he finds more annoying than getting a tiny dainty little cup that needs to be refilled constantly cause 2 sips and his cup is empty! 

Being a creature of habit has its perks, but in this case it failed me.  I couldn’t decide what to order.  It was a toss-up between the Eggs Benedict with peameal bacon or the Greek omelette.  The Unique Breakfast also sounded really good.  I went with the Eggs Benedict one of my favourites.  Unfortunately, I was disappointed.  The English muffins were soft and the hollandaise sauce made them soggy.  The hollandaise sauce could have used a bit more seasoning.  The portion itself was generous and the eggs were well cooked, but I prefer a crunchier base that stays that way until the last bite.  I should’ve been more adventurous!

Another plus to this restaurant is that they make their own white and whole wheat bread.  You can purchase loaves to take home.  I stole my date’s toast as I enjoyed them more than my English muffins.

He had the Campfire eggs.  This dish had pan fried eggs on a bed of sautéed peppers, onions and tomatoes with home fries, baked beans, fresh fruit, toast and choice of meat.  Bacon was his meat of choice.  The plate was quite big, but he wasn’t complaining nor did it take him long to inhale it!  He liked the variety of ingredients and the different textures.  Their home fries are very different.  They have onions and peppers added and are well seasoned.  A tad greasy for me, but they were very good. 

The staff was friendly and given how busy it was, our food didn’t take long once we were seated.  Our coffee cups were never empty and as soon as we were done, the dishes were wisked away. 

I’d say the overall cost was mid-high range for breakfast at $45.00 for two.   Keep in mind the much larger portions, this is not your run of the mill breakfast special and with so much food you won’t need to worry about lunch.  I’d definitely go back and try something different.  My date really enjoyed his meal and would order it again in a heartbeat. 

If you’re out and about in Westboro, check it out!

Carm the Foodie