KATHY EATS

Street Food Ottawa

2013-05-11T12:26:00.002-07:00

Hey street food lovers!! This summer is big for my hometown of Ottawa as the municipal government has issued 18 new street vendor permits. Look for a wide variety of food to start hitting our streets in the coming weeks as their trucks and carts roll out of the shops!

To stay up-to-date on all Ottawa information, news and events, please check out my Street Food Ottawa website. We're also found on Twitter @StreetFoodOTT.

I'll update the Kathy Eats blog when I travel, or if I just have random things to share (re. more tacos). And as always, will continue to be a contributor to the Eat St blog for Food Network Canada.

Have a great summer of eating, I'll see you on the streets!!

Tijuana Street Food

2013-02-26T18:21:00.001-08:00

Mexican food is my passion. The fresh ingredients and simple recipes combine to create true comfort food. So when I was in southern California back in November, I couldn't resist a day trip over the border to Tijuana.

Tijuana is really starting to see true growth in the food industry. Although most of the best street stands and restaurants have been there for many years, there appears to be an increase in the exposure these vendors are getting. Whether it's through social media or a resurgence of tourism, TJ's streets are starting to attract young entrepreneurs and visitors. More than ever, we are seeing food lovers explore what this city has to offer. Food bloggers and life/culture reporters in southern California are now regularly writing about Tijuana. A touring dinner club "Club Tengo Hambre" that has begun hosting groups of hungry gringos for a day of eating and drinking at TJ's hottest spots.

I had three street carts on my list to check out and they did not disppoint...

TORTAS WASH MOBILE

Check out "el gato" waiting on the bottom left side of the cart.

TWM has been in operation since 1964 and was originally located outside of a car wash, thus the name. Although the car wash is no longer there, they have continued the tradition of offering unbelievable tortas to the working class of Tijuana. TWM was my first destination after walking across the San Ysidro border. After a short cab ride dropped me off at a nearby gas station, I followed the smokey cloud to a cart that serves one item only; Carne Asada tortas (sandwiches). I joined the small group of older men, who all appeared to be friends, in line for my breakfast. Steak was sizzling away over charcoal and friendly local cat lingered along side of the stand waiting for bits of meat to drop. The large messy steak sandwich on a freshly baked bun was the perfect start to my day.

Location:

Jalisco, just south of Blvd Agua Caliente. (map)
Open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., or whenever they run out of food.

TACOS KOKOPELLI

I was admittedly very excited about Tacos Kokopelli. This large food trailer has gained a reputation for some of the best tacos in town, and definitely a "must do" on any street food tour. It's not often you see chef coats on street food carts, but you will at Tacos Kokopelli. Here they seem to perfectly combine traditional ingredients with the the hipster taco vibe. I ordered both the Kraken (octopus) and Gringo en vacaciones (shrimp and queso) tacos. The Kraken taco was to this day, one of, if not the best taco I have ever eaten. They cook everything over a proper mesquite fire and offer homemade salsas. The guys working the cart were friendly, helpful and at least one of them spoke English, which helped with my broken Spanish issues...

The Kraken Taco (pulpo/octopus)

2 locations;

Calle Ocampo, between 11th and Blvd. Agua Caliente.
Paseo Ensenada 2098. Playas de Tijuana.

MARISCOS RUBEN

I learned about this truck from one of my SoCal blogger colleagues, "Street Gourmet LA's" Bill Esparza. For the last 20 years, they have offered extremely fresh seafood items such as crab and grilled clam. I was hoping to get an order of the Cocteles de Jaiba (crab cocktail) but they did not have any fresh crab that day. So I opted for the seafood cocktail instead. It was served in a giant glass goblet, and unlike most American and Canadian food trucks, I just pulled up a stool to the side of the truck and was served right there. I couldn't help but to giggle to myself when noticing that the ladies working that day had a TV and satellite hooked up and were watching Telenovelas right there on the truck. They did their best to speak to me in their limited English, while I did the same with my Spanish. In the end, it all worked out. The cocktail was so big, I had to get it in a take out container and struggled to finish it later that day along my walk back to the border.

Location;

Corner of 8th & Quintana Roo. Tijuana, B.C., Mexico

After spending the day eating at these carts and shopping at the Mercado Hidalgo (link), I wound my way through the streets and back to the border. Hoping to grab a quick snack of chicken necks at Kentucky Fried Buches, I was disappointed to find them closed at that time. Thankfully there is no shortage of street vendors to keep you well fed and hydrated along the path back to San Diego. I grabbed a bag full of fresh churros for $1 (USD) and an ice cold horchata for the same price.

Fresh churros being fried to order

I was sad to see the day end and already planning what to eat my next time around. Definitely looking to hook up with the Club Tengo Hambre crew sometimes next year as well as getting to know some of the beach side vendors in Ensenada and some local craft beers.

Gracias Tijuana, la comida era muy rica!

Tijuana Day Trip: Mercado Hidalgo

2013-01-12T19:43:00.002-08:00

Mercado Hidalgo

As mentioned in my previous post; Tijuana Day Trip: The Basics, I spent a majority of my time in TJ at the Mercado Hidalgo. This market is located at the corner of Boulevard General Rodolfo Sanchez Toboada and Juan Sarabia in the ZonaEste neighborhood. I took a taxi from the border and paid about $10 (including tip), or it's about a 25 minute walk. I would suggest at least walking one way so you get to see some of the city, and eat at a few street carts/trucks along the way!

I was seriously the only gringo at the mercado, it was awesome, and exactly what I was hoping for. Everybody addressed me in Spanish and I did my best to speak back to them in their language. I not once felt unsafe or unwelcome. The colours of the produce, spices and decorations for Dia de Los Muertos were unbelievable. I wish I could have stayed longer...and eaten more.

I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

Dozens of handmade quesos, many unpasturized..which basically just means they're better than any of our cheeses.

Sugar skulls for sale for all your Dia de Los Muertos altar needs.

Dried peppers

Gorgeous Habaneros

Dulces (sweets)...which I somehow forgot to buy.

Huitalacoche, or "corn smut", is a fungus that mutates corn kernels. It creates a great earthy mushroom type kernel that is great in pretty much everything.

Cleaning nopales (cactus paddles). These are great pickled or grilled. And put in tacos...like everything else.


Giant chicharrons. One of my favorite snacks.

Inside the mercado, Kiko's Carnitas often serves tacos de sesos (brain tacos), but sadly today I had to "settle" for a regular carnita taco.

Kiko's giant pile of carnitas.

Salsas at one of the taco stands

Beautiful squash flowers ready to be stuffed and fried.

Charcoal warming up for carne asada. If the taco shop you're buying from does not cook their carne asada on open coals, go elsewhere, it's not real asada!!

So cheap, yet so delicious. Better than any $5 taco you've ever eaten.

Huge Dia de los Muertos altar in the middle of the Mercado Hidalgo.

I bought several items at the market and had no problem bringing anything back across both the US and Canadian borders. Obviously, I only bought small amounts for "personal consumption" and claimed everything when questioned by guards. Be honest, don't buy too much and you'll likely get to come home with all your foodie souveniers!

Next post...TJ street food carts!!

Tijuana Day Trip: The Basics

2013-01-12T10:11:00.003-08:00

Most people thought I was crazy when I told them the part of my trip I was most exited about was going to Tijuana. "WHY?!?!?" is the answer I got from almost everybody when I told them of my planned adventure. But, after chatting with several people in San Diego and Tijuana, including a fellow Parole Officer, I was reassured that the chances me coming home in one piece were very high.

So why you ask? Well, the food of course. But I'm guessing you already know that. How can a Mexican food obsessed kid go to Southern California and NOT talk a walk across the border to TJ? That just wouldn't be right. So, after spending the night in a $22/night motel just by the San Ysidro border (it was just a very old Travelodge...right beside an outlet mall with Starbucks, Old Navy etc...not a total crack house) I parked my car at a lot right on the border and started walking.


The parking lot is literally on the border.

1. WALK, don't drive.

All it takes is walk through a turnstile (top pic) to arrive in Tijuana. Make sure to check that you have your passport before that gate! You don't need it to get in to Mexico, but you will definitely want it to get out. You'll probably walk by a couple heavily armed guards at some point too, but the chances are actually getting questioned by them are slim to none. One of the first things you will see after crossing the border is the line up of people heading into the US for work. Some days the wait can be about 2 hours for them to get through the line. It's for this reason that you want to make sure you time your time accordingly. Go into TJ first thing in the morning and head back in the afternoon to avoid the crowds. Thankfully if you do get stuck in line on the way back there's lots of street vendors to keep you hydrated and well fed! If you drive you can expect even longer wait times, and there's no point since cabs are cheap and many places are within walking distance.

2. If you're not there looking for trouble, you have nothing to be afraid of.

The last time I made this walk was almost 20 years ago with my family. We of course did the touristy thing and stayed on Av Revolucion. I remember annoying store owners and 3 year old kids selling Chicklets by themselves on the streets. And the Zonkeys...but we'll get to that later. Since that time it seems that there has been nothing travel warnings and negative media attention as a result of ongoing drug wars. But let's get one thing straight...if you go to TJ looking for drugs and/or trouble, you will find it. And you're an idiot. The only indication of any criminal activity I saw was a bunch of guys getting arrested and thrown in the back of a pickup truck. Not really anything too scary considering I'd probably see more walking through the market in Ottawa on any given day. So if you look past all that and all the tourist trap garbage, you find a fun and quiet little border town with great people, food, and culture.

Avenida Revolucion - See...nice and clean! But prepare to be heckled.

3. Taxis

But let's get back to the basics.. Cross the border and (easily) navigate a little maze of bridges and walkways. There are signs to Av Revolucion, but you can also just follow the giant archway. Even if you are not going to the tourist area, this is the way to go. It takes about 5 minutes come to a street that hosts all the taxis. There are a few different types of taxis in TJ. The yellow cabs won't have a meter and you need to negotiate price before you go anywhere or you'll probably get screwed. These guys are also brutal for hassling you to use their service. When you see their taxi stand (just to the left when you cross the border), keep walking and cross the street. The white and orange "Taxi Libre" cabs have a meter, so there's no screwing around with price. If you're not in a metered cab it's common to pay $5 US to Av Revolucion. I paid $10 US to go to the Mercado Hidalgo (which my next post will be about).

4. Money

As far as money goes, I didn't buy my pesos until I was in TJ. Mainly because I got lazy and knew that worst case scenario, everybody would accept my American money. As you navigate the town there are hundreds of shops that will exchange your American money. I honestly couldn't be bothered to deal with exchange rates and all that crap, so I just went to the bank machine (cajera automatico). Since I was spending the majority of my time in the local markets and at street vendors, I wanted to use pesos.

5. Learn a little Spanish

If you are straying from Av Revolucion, although it's not necessary, I really do recommend learning some basic Spanish. Although most people will understand English, not all will, and I defintiely found it helpful to have a few weeks of Spanish lessons under my belt. Downloading a translation app for your smart phone is helpful too, but beware of roaming charges! I found the most helpful was knowing numbers for counting money and paying for stuff. While you are less likely to get scammed in the local markets and street vendors (and many prices are posted), it's still nice to understand a little...basically out of respect for their culture. Of course, the basics like "where's the bathroom" - Donde esta la bano?...is also seriously important.

While we're on the topic of bathrooms, be prepared to pay a couple pesos to use the facilities. At the Mercado Hidalgo there's literally a gate to get in that you need to insert coins into. Don't forget to grab some of the (neatly folded) toilet paper before entering as there will be none in the stalls. There is usually a helpful and friendly bathroom attendant that keeps everything sparkly clean too!

Lunchtime at a taco stand with entertainment from a random guy playing guitar. I love this culture!

6. Don't be afraid to try new foods!!

I cannot stress this enough. Seriously, eat different cheeses and grab a pile of greasy carnitas from a street stand. The chances of you getting sick are must better in a local McDonald's than at these vendors. These families care about the product and customers more than most in Canada and the US. This is the heart of street food for me. So sit down at a taco stand, listen to some guitar music, eat some amazing food and experience the true culture of this awesome little border town.

One of the streets parallel to Av Revolucion all decked out with bandarillas (little flags) for Dia de los Muertos.

7. If you're a tourist, be a tourist. And shop at the liquor store...

Although I am stressing that you should visit the local markets, if you have never walked down Revolucion it's something that should probably be experienced. If anything, it will give you a laugh and prove that you never need to waste your time there ever again. I walked back to the border through this area as I figured I should see what it was like compared to my childhood memories. Also, it's a great opportunity to grab some Tequila and vanilla before heading home. Research the different types of tequila to decide what you want and try samples from the liquor store vendors. For a quick decision, just look for anything that is made from 100% blue agave from the state of Jalisco.

As for the vanilla...just buy it. At $5 for a small bottle, there's no excuse not to if you enjoy cooking. Mexico is where vanilla originated and it really is a completely different flavour and aroma. Our supermarket vanilla extract smells like chemicals compared to this stuff.

8. Check out the Zonkeys

What is a Zonkey you say?? Well, quite simply it's a donkey with black stripes painted on it. There's usually a few along Revolucion where they are hooked up to a cart and tourists can get their picture taken on them. I can't recall how this started, but it's been going on since the 1940's apparently. I only saw one on my trip this time, and although I hope it wasn't, it appeared to be eating a pile of crushed up Doritos....


The TJ pro basketball team is also named the "Zonkey's". A true cultural phenomenon!

And yes, back in 1995 my family took a Zonkey picture. Probably one of the most embarrassing experiences ever to climb onto the poor animal. I remember my dad asking the photographer if we could get the picture in colour. The guy responded; "Yes, two colour...black and white". Ah, classic TJ memories...

Of course I had to choose the "Tequila" hat!

So, that was my little day trip. If you're thinking of taking the walk over the border, do your homework and learn a few words en espanol. Be safe and enjoy some of the local culture away from Revolucion!!

Stay tuned for the next post with details on my visit to the Mercado Hidalgo. One of the best food experiences of my life!

The Race to 100

2012-11-06T18:20:00.002-08:00

It was around this time last year that I started to realize I had visited an extraordinary number of food trucks. So I decided to make it my mission to get to 100 by the end of 2013.

For the purpose of this tally, I have included not only "gourmet food trucks", but also trailers, carts and a few traditional Mexican/Latin American trucks. These traditional trucks are just a small sample of the many I have visited and I felt that they were worthy of being included in the list due to the quality of product being produced.

The inaugural truck back in 2009 was Kogi BBQ in Los Angeles and the 100th truck was Jogasaki Burrito, also in LA.

So here it is...the master "Street Eater" list!!!

Los Angeles
Kogi
Auntie's Fry Bread
MOEggrolls and Deli
Gravy Train Poutinerie
Jogasaki Burrito - 100th TRUCK!!!
The Burnt Truck
Lomo Arigato
Lobsta Truck
Tainamite Truck
My Delight Cupcakery
Big Gay Ice Cream - LA Pop Up Truck
Cheer Burger
Mandoline Grill
Tamales Elena
Mariscos Jalisco

Tijuana
Tortas Wash Mobile
Tacos Kokopelli
Mariscos Ruben

Seattle
Maximus Minimus

New York City
Korilla
Comme Ci Comme Ca
La Bella Torte
Cupcake Crew
Wooly's Ice
Newyorkina
Solber Pupusas
Sam's Falafel
Tamales Guadalupe
Calexico
Schnitzel & Things
Wafels & Dinges
Carrillo Antojitos Chapines
Sunrise Grill
Mud Truck
Gorilla Cheese NYC
Biriyani Cart
The Cinnamon Snail
Big Gay Ice Cream
Okadaman
Nuchas
Bian Dang
Country Boys

Boston
Sunbird (Cape Cod)
Staff Meal
Roxy's Grilled Cheese
Lobsta Love
Frozen Hoagies
Momogoose
Go Fish
Clover

Vermont
The Skinny Pancake

Ottawa
Stone Soup Foodworks
Bite This!
Hot Potato Truck
Flatbread Pizza Co.
Chef on Wheels
The Merry Dairy
Wanna Wafel
B. Goods Bakery
Pizza and Panini
Trailer Pork Boys
Crispy Spring Roll
Relish
Strata Pizza
The Town Fryer

Rural Ontario
Seed to Sausage (Sharbot Lake)
Bren's Country Kitchen (Carleton Place) - Now Closed
Fatty Bo Batty (Stirling)

Toronto
Blue Donkey Streatery
El Gastromono Vagabundo
Gorilla Cheese
Wingmee's
Toasted Tangerine
Cupcake Diner
Caplansky
Food Cabbie
Busters Sea Cove
Dobro Jesti
Shriners Creek Kettle Corn
Rome'n Chariot
Manual Labour Coffee
Curbside Bliss
Per Se Mobile
Fidel Gastro
Hank Daddy's BBQ
Stuft Truck
Sweetness Bakery
Tide and Vine
Gourmet Gringos
Urban Smoke Truck
The Feisty Jack

Montreal
Grumman78
Pas de Cochon Dans Ma Salon
Lucky's
Crepe-moi
La Mangeoire
Route 27
Winneburger
Lucille's
Gaufrabec

BC
Tacofino
Wildside Grill
Roaming Dragon
Re-Up BBQ
Coma Food Truck - Now Closed
The Kaboom Box
Dim Sum Express
Feastro the Rolling Bistro
The Juice Kaboose
The Campfire Grill
Chili Tank

As of today...November 6, 2012, I have visited a total of 111 trucks. Can't wait to get back out on the streets in 2013!

Food Truck Road Trip - SoCal/TJ

2012-10-23T15:35:00.000-07:00

Awww...my first food truck back in 2009. Kogi BBQ in LA.

Well, I just set off for my next food truck adventure this morning. I'm finally making a return trip to the city that introduced me to gourmet food trucks and authentic Mexican taquerias...Los Angeles! Some of you will know that for various reasons I had to cancel this trip twice already this year. But, with an abbreviated schedule and some well deserved time off work, I think I have finally managed to make it happen!

I'll be in Southern California for a total of 8 days stating today. I'm excited to meet some food truck friends I have gotten to know over the past year through various blogs and Twitter, and I may have even brought a couple of the Canadian inspired trucks a few treats from home! With only 8 to go before hitting my 100^th truck, I am curious to see where I will end up for this milestone food truck meal. Of course, I will at some point need to track down the Kogi BBQ truck. As they were the ones that popped my food truck cherry back in 2009, it just feels right to go back for another round of Korean tacos.

But aside from the ever popular and fun “gourmet trucks”, I am mostly excited for the chance to immerse myself in the Mexican culture. With only 6 weeks of Spanish lessons under my belt, I'm hoping that I will have adequate confidence and ability to converse with the street vendors and (maybe) learn a little from Latin American community members along the way.

I have purposely scheduled this trip to coincide with La Dio de los Muertos, the “Day of the Dead” festival at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in LA. On this day, the Mexican community (as well as several other Latin American countries) celebrate the lives of the loved ones they have lost. Most families construct large and elaborately decorated altars with photos, sugar skulls, flowers and food, among other items. The festival itself can best be described as “Halloween meets Carnivale”. Participants often dress up or paint themselves to resemble skeletons, and enjoy dancing and eating authentic Mexican foods during the celebration. Definitely looking forward to this experience.

With ample time allowed in my itinerary for exploring East LA and the Boyle Heights neighbourhood, along with a day trip to Tijuana, I will no doubt return home with an even greater appreciation for Latino culture...and of course, the food!!

As always, you are welcome to follow along on Twitter @Street_Eater with my adventures. And if you have any specific trucks or street vendors in The LA area that you'd like to see me visit/profile, please let know know and I'll do my best to get to them!

THE ULTIMATE OTTAWA FOOD TRUCK LIST

2012-06-16T17:40:00.000-07:00

Name: Bite This
Location: Corner of Scott St and McRae St. (across from Trailhead)
Hours: Monday to Saturday 11-3pm
Menu: Asian influenced

Name: Stone Soup Foodworks
Location: Ottawa U campus during school year. Festivals in the summer.
Menu: Soups, tacos, other local and sustainable treats.
Website: http://www.stonesoupfoodworks.ca
Twitter: @StoneSoupTruck

Name: The Merry Dairy
Location: Roaming (often west end communities)
Menu: Frozen custard
Website: http://www.themerrydairy.com/
Twitter: @TheMerryDairy

Name: Relish the Flavour
Location: Ottawa U campus during school year. Festivals in the summer.
Menu: Rotating
Website: http://www.relishtheflavour.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @relishtruck

Name: Wanna Wafel
Location: Bank St/5th Ave. As well as some festivals.
Hours: Weekdays 3-8pm. Weekends 10-5pm
Menu: Liege and Brussels style waffles
Website (franchise): www.wannawafel.com
Twitter: @wannawafel_ott

Name: B. Goods Bakery
Location: Saturday Main St Market. Festivals/events
Menu: Fresh baked cookies, coffee, espresso
Website: http://www.bgoods.ca/
Twitter: @Bgoodbakery

Name: Flatbread Pizza Company
Location: Ottawa Farmers Market Sundays 8-3pm. Various festivals/events
Menu: Wood-Fired Pizza made with local and seasonal ingredients
Website: www.flatbreadco.ca
Twitter: @FlatbreadPizzaC

Name: The Hot Potato Company
Location: Ottawa Farmers Market Sundays 8-3pm. Various festivals/events
Menu: Baked potatoes/wedges (bother regular and sweet), lemonade, other random treats.
Website: http://hotpotatoco.com/
Twitter: @hotpotatotruck

Name: Chef on Wheels
Location: Weekdays (lunch) Lisgar St at Elgin St.
Menu: Viet-Thai, and "chip truck" favorites

Name: Strata Pizza
Location: Fesivals/events
Menu: Wood-fired pizza
Website: www.stratapizza.ca
Twitter: @STRATAPIZZA

Name: Pascale's All Natural Ice Cream
Location: Ottawa Farmers Market Sundays 8-3pm. Various festivals/events
Menu: Homemade Ice Cream, Popsicles
Website: http://www.pascalesicecream.com/
Twitter: @PascalesAllNat

Name: Trailer Pork Boys
Location: Corner of Carling and Merivale at the Macies Best Western Hotel
Hours: Weekdays 11-7pm. Saturday 11-6pm
Menu: BBQ/Smoked Pork
Website: www.trailerporkboys.ca/
Twitter: @trailerporkboys

Name: Crispy Spring Roll
Location: Main St. Stittsville beside the TD bank
Menu: Viet-Thai, and "chip truck" favorites

Name: Pizza & Panini
Location: Various Events/Festivals
Menu: Wood-fired Pizza and Panini

Rural Trucks/Trailers (Off the beaten path, but still in the 613)

Name: Seed to Sausage
Location: 12821 Highway 38. Sharbot Lake
Hours: Check Twitter for updates on if it's open.
Menu: Rotating depending on the guest chef.
Website: http://seedtosausage.ca/
Twitter: @Seed_to_Sausage

Name: Fatty Bo Battys
Location: 260 West Front St. Stirling.
Hours: 11-8pm daily
Menu: Chef described as "upscale carnival food" (pulled pork sandwiches, deep fried oreos, etc.)

Coming Soon!!

Town Fryer - Preston St.

Montreal Street Food

2012-05-18T16:29:00.003-07:00

Street Food is illegal in Montreal. Yes, you read that right. In what is likely one of the strictest of all municipal food vendor laws, it is illegal to sell food anywhere that cars can pass on the same roadway. Therefore you will only find mobile vendors in Montreal at festivals or anywhere a street is shut down for an event. Even absent from the roads are the typical "chip truck" that so commonly hold all the street permits in many other major Canadian cities. It is strange to think that not even poutine is acceptable street fare in this town.

But, among all the political and legal bullshit exists a small group of vendors and community members that are fighting to show that it's about time that the by-laws were changed. With an inaugural street food lunch planned at Place Emilie-Gamelin this past week, I hit the road and met my little brother and his girlfriend for a day of food truck gluttony.

First stop had to be Grumman78. This bright green taco truck has been a fixture at events around Montreal and has developed a loyal following. When not out in the truck, they have been known to host popular "Taco Parties" at their headquarters (also were food prep is done) and have recently opened a food court location at Faubourg Ste-Catherine.


Grumman78's Pork Banh Mi Taco

Joining Grumman78 was Lucky's, Crepe-Moi and Pas d'cochon dans ma salon. Lucky's colourful truck (pictured below) featured a menu of sandwiches and poutine made with many local ingredients.

Lucky's duck confit poutine (via @LuckysTruck MTL)


Lucky's lobster roll and Chicken with apricot chutney sandwich.

Pas d'cochon's set up is simple, yet practical. They offer a menu highlighted by pulled pork, as well as other treats such as fresh oysters and salads. Looking closely, you can see the large homemade smoker in the back on the truck.

Pas d'cochon's lobster roll. Lots of filler, but the crunch of fresh asparagus was a welcome flavour and texture.

Crepe-moi's adorable yellow dessert truck offers both sweet and savory crepes, along with ice cream. The nutella/banana and dulce de leche crepes were devoured before pics could be taken!

While in town, I had to check out Grumman's Faubourg Ste-Catherine counter. My brother explained that it's located in a food court "mall" that was intended to highlight global cuisines several years ago. Some of the original vendors still exist in the food court, however it continues to be in transition at this time. Don't let that lead you away from visiting Grumman's though, this location offers a larger selection of tacos and drinks compared to the truck. Drinks are served as they would by many street vendors...in a bag with a straw.

Horchata and Jugo Verde.

Overall, Montreal has a long way to go compared to many other North American cities. But they are well on their way to showing off the potential this city has for street food. And I for one, am thankful that it's only a 2 hour drive from Ottawa.


Grumman78's taco logo is awesome.

Malaysian Street Food Bazaar

2012-05-13T19:53:00.005-07:00

Thanks to some very observant friends, I found out about a Malaysian Street Food Bazaar being held at the Malaysian High Commission this past Saturday. How could I resist?! As boring as this government town can be, having all the Embassies in Ottawa does have it's perks sometimes. So, with a couple hungry friends, I set out to explore the flavours of Malaysia.

Right off the hop, we were treated to the most amazing (and huge) dish of Rendang beef, rice and noodles. I learned that Rendang is a dish traditional served at ceremonies or festivals to honour guests. The beef is slow cooked in coconut milk and a myriad of spices. As the coconut milk evaporates and the spices absorb, the beef begins to caramelize. The result is a sweet and spicy "pulled" beef dish that was absolutely unbelievable. I'm looking forward to trying this recipe out on my own.


Rendang: The best $5 we've ever spent.

Fanning the charcoal fire for the satays.

After polishing off some chicken satays, shrimp and a bowl of laksa, we needed a bit of a break and palate cleanser. The Malaysian "ABC Shaved Ice" seemed to be the perfect answer. ACB is short for Air Batu Campur - literally meaning "mixed ice". A man was hand shaving large blocks of ice which was then packed into cups. But not before an assortement of sweet corn, red beans and grass jelly (cincau) was spooned into the bottom of the dish. The ice is then flavoured with colourful syrups and topped with condensed milk and peanuts. A seemly random combination of flavour, yes, however quite enjoyable and refreshing.

ABC Ice

A very random spoonful of flavour and textures.

The Indian influence on Malaysian food was highlighted by two types of roti that were offered at the bazaar. Roti Jala is formed when a thin batter is drizzled onto a hot griddle through a container with small holes in the bottom. The result is a crepe-like roti that takes on the appearance of a thin funnel cake. It's then rolled into a cylinder and served along side soups and stews.


Roti Jala being prepared.

Roti Canai is a stretched dough type of flatbread that is folded over vegetables or egg (called Roti Telur) and grilled in ghee until golden brown. I unfortunately did not leave any room to try this dish, and the line was the longest of the festival. Hoping I can track this roti down at one of the local restaurants!

Stretching the roti dough.

Shrimp and vermicelli topped w/hot peppers in a tamarind soy mixture. Sweet rice and coconut "tamale".

After my friends left to get their hair done (I know..hair over street food, really??), I powered on through a couple more snacks. Thankfully all vendors were offering their food in take out containers, so I was able to grab some to eat later. I also picked up a load of deserts/pastries to bring to my hockey party potluck later that day. Curiously, many of the desserts were coloured green. With the flavours consistently banana and/or coconut, I could not determine the source or reason behind the colouration. I would later learn that a traditional ingredient in Malay cooking is Pandan leaves, which leaves a green colour. Pandan paste can be bought in many Asian specialty stores.


Sweet potato donuts and sweet rice/coconut balls infused with Pandan paste.

Overall, the best dish by far was the Rendang Beef. Thankfully, it was made by the wonderful people at the Chahaya Malaysia Restaurant, so I look forward to visiting them for dinner in the future. If you'd like to check out some traditional Malaysian cuisine, they are located at1690 Montreal Rd in Gloucester.

Rise of the Pop-Up

2012-04-10T19:18:00.000-07:00

After not being able to make it out to the Underground Market this past Saturday, I decided to end my long weekend with a Monday trip down the 401 for a trio of pop-up mastery at the Steam Whistle Brewery. In celebration of the Toronto Blue Jays Home Opener, Fidel Gastro, Comida del Pueblo and The Rock Lobster Co. came together to feed the masses their delicious sandwich creations.

Pop-up restaurants and retail stores are becoming increasingly popular in today's culture. An ingenious way to start a business at minimal cost, many young entrepreneurs are taking to the streets in search of the next venue to showcase their products. With the street food scene growing in popularity across North America, the city of Toronto is starting to stand out as a hotbed for food trucks and pop-up restaurants.

La Carnita was the first to hit the local pop-up market last summer. Combining street food with street art, creator Andrew Richmond and his team are serving some of the best tacos and tostadas this taco enthusiast has ever had. La Carnita's overwhelming success has been pivotal in growth to the street food industry and has inspired several other local chefs to take on their own pop-up businesses.

La Carnita: Buy limited edition art...receive tacos!

Fidel Gastro

Over the past several months, El Presidente himself, Matt Basile has not only showcased his awesome culinary skills, but he has also perfectly demonstrated the way to market a new business. Ingenious product branding coupled with a strong social media presence and fresh local ingredients have proven to be a huge success. Fidel's Extremo Cuban Sandwich menu is ever evolving and Basile recently took a trip down to Miami where he found inspiration through in the flavours and culture of the immigrant Cuban community. His prep work is done at a local butcher whom conveniently enough also provides the meat, and he sources the buns from bakery in Kensington Market. No matter which one of his popular sandwiches you order, be ready to yell OLE! when your order arrives.

"Sgt. Slather" and the "El Paisano"

Comida del Pueblo

Comida del Peublo is literally translated to "Food of the People". This triple threat of young Toronto chefs came together to create some of the best street food the city has to offer. Using traditional Latin American ingredients, their menu is highlighted by a Jalapeno Cornbread Grilled Cheese Sandwich that is sure to sell out at every event. Water Buffalo Empenadas are a recent addition to their menu which has garnered significant publicity from hungry customers ready to snap pics of their meal and post online.

Jalapeno cornbread grilled cheese and water buffalo empanada

Rock Lobster Food Co.

Rock Lobster is the newest kid on the Toronto Pop-Up Block. After trips to Atlantic Canada and NYC, a decision was made to bring the ever popular lobster roll to the streets of Toronto. Rock Lobster just participated in their first Underground Market and proved to be a fan favorite, as evidenced by having one of the longest lines at the event all evening long. Rock Lobster is also offering a wholesale line of sustainable seafood from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. For more information on how to order, check out their website!

Lobster rolls and lobster ceviche

All pop-ups are available for private catering, but don't wait too long to book them for your event, as their summer schedules are filling up fast! Fidel Gastro, Comida del Peublo and Rock Lobster will all be showcased in the upcoming The Next Food Truck hosted by the wildly popular Food Truck Eats events. In a one day showdown on April 23rd, they will compete along with other budding food truck owners to see who would be best suited to take to the streets of Toronto in their own mobile kitchen.

And be sure check out the Toronto Street Food Project to see how a group of local street food activists have come together to promote a change in municipal regulations throughout their city.

The Tacos are Coming

2012-03-27T18:15:00.018-07:00

Anyone who knows me at all knows that I have a small infatuation with tacos. OK...maybe not so much an infatuation, but rather an outright obsession. I can't help it. And I'm not talking Old El Paso or Taco Bell here...I'm taking handmade soft corn tortillas, fresh ingredients and traditional flavours.

My problem started years ago with travel through California and Mexico. I was introduced to what tacos REALLY should taste like, and since then I've been ruined. Whether it's LA style carnitas, Baja fish tacos or even the pork brain tacos of the Mercado Hidalgo in Tijuana...it's all beautiful and delicious. After my last trip to Southern California I came home and immediately bought a tortilla press. It's taken several failed attempts and endless nights slaving over a hot stove, but I think I've finally gotten the hang of the tortilla. Since then I've been putting basically anything I can into a tortilla and subjecting close friends to "taco parties" against their free will.

Taco time @ home

Up until recently, there were few worthwhile taco options in Ottawa. But that all seems to be changing now. We've got a long way to go to catch up to other large cities, but that's typical for our local food scene. So, for now let's just enjoy what we have and support our local "Taquerias"!

Here's where you can find some of Ottawa's best tacos;

The Piggy Market is a craft butcher and gourmet food store in Ottawa's Westboro neighborhood. They have a daily lunch counter which offers tacos every Thursday. The handmade tortillas and succulent local meats make for one of my favorite stops through town.

Piggy Market's Cochinita Pibil Taco

Stone Soup Foodworks, Ottawa's lone gourmet food truck does Taco Tuesday every week. Situated on Marie Curie Dr on the University of Ottawa Campus Monday through Friday lunch, this truck has become a hotspot for streetfood loving students and professionals seeking fresh and healthy alternatives to fast food.

Stone Soup's Beef Tacos

The Whalesbone offers fish tacos during their famous "Brown Bag Lunch" every Tuesday to Saturday 11-2pm at their Kent St retail location. This local institution in sustainable fish supply is the place to go if you love seafood in your tortillas!

Whalesbone's Octopus Tacos

TacoLot is the newest kid on the scene and on their first day last week they were already sold out by 1:30pm. Although they have yet to set up a website or social media accounts, they can be found in on Wellington St in Hintonburg, right beside Suzy Q Doughnuts (which makes for a very tasty combination). Hours are12-9pm, however since they are just getting started it is likely that for the time being those hours are no guarantee.

TacoLot's pork tacos

Los Tacos de Mauro is a hidden gem at 349 Dalhousie St. in the Byward Market. Sharing space with a Latin Discoteka, they are open 11-9pm Tuesday to Friday. Here Mauro Rosario's tacos are served along side other traditional favorites like chile rellenos, tamales and tortas.

Lamb, Chicharrón, and Chicken tacos.

Mercado Latino on Montreal Rd in Vanier is a specialty grocery store that cooks up tacos every Saturday from 12-2pm. Don't be shy to ask about the tacos, they aren't advertized anywhere. There is likely only one meat option available, so just tell the store clerk how many you want and she will head to the back to whip them up. There is a small table located in the front where you can sit and enjoy lunch, or they will pack it up for take out as well. It's deliciously messy and the most authentic street tacos you can get in Ottawa.

Mercado's Tacos de Pollo

So there you have it. There are a couple other restaurants with tacos on their menu, but in my humble opinion these are the most worth your while. It's a pretty good start for our to city really embrace the taco, and I'm glad I am no longer alone in my obsession.

And as the back of my card says;

The Streets of New York - Part 2: Red Hook Ball Fields

2012-02-26T11:11:00.003-08:00

Every weekend in the summer (since 1974) in the small community of Red Hook, Brooklyn, the local soccer fields have played host to a gathering of the Latin-American community. It began with a few families setting up food stalls to serve their friends between games and has turned into a well known hot spot to find authentic street food. What was refreshing to me was that there appeared to be only a few other tourists there, which helps maintain that feeling that you have stepped onto a street in Central America.

Previously food stalls, all vendors are now running out of trucks that line the streets around the soccer field.

After seeing the ball fields on an episode of Bizarre Foods, my first stop was to try the shrimp ceviche. This simple dish served in a plastic cup turned out to be the freshest, most unbelievable ceviche I have eaten to this day.

I dream about this magical cup.

At Antojitos Chapines, a Guatemalan cart, I had the "rellenitos". It consists of plantain filled with sweet black beans, deep fried and sprinkled with sugar.

Solber Pupusas, the winner of the top Vendy Award is also Red Hook vendor and was proudly showing off his trophy from the day before.

I'm a happy food truck geek.

I later enjoyed some pupusas from one of the other Colombian trucks. While sitting down to eat I met a couple of people whom had also attended the Vendy's that weekend. The local New Yorkers were stunned to hear of the struggles our street food/food truck scene in Canada is experiencing.


My favorite accompaniments, chicarrones and lots of hot sauce.

After filling my belly with more treats, including horchata and roasted corn, I eventually made my way to the airport and home from another street food adventure. Looking forward to heading back to New York this summer for some more food truck fare...and another date with that ceviche cup.

Looking back across the park at the vendors.

The Streets of New York - Part 1: Manhattan

2012-01-20T18:17:00.000-08:00

Back in September I spent a food truck filled weekend in NYC, highlighted by the Vendy Awards. With the long cold Ottawa winter taking it's toll on me, I figured what better time to indulge myself (and anyone who cares to read) on some of my other New York City street food memories.

Let's start off with a late evening stroll through the East Village...

People's Pops is a seasonal street vendor with 3 fixed locations throughout the city as well as several mobile units which attend various flea markets and festivals.

Being that I am literally a "big gay food blogger", I was very excited for my next stop. Unfortunately the Big Gay Ice Cream Truck wasn't on the road that night, so I had to "settle" for a visit to their brand new brick and mortar location. Pictured above is a traditional vanilla cone, topped with the very nontraditional topping of crushed wasabi pea dust.

The next morning I ventured out in the rain and hit up Chelsea Market. (Home of the Food Network!!). Although it is entirely indoor and some wouldn't necessarily consider it street food, I like to mention local markets as well because there are undoubtedly some amazing vendors to be found. My highlights included beautiful fresh seafood at The Lobster Place, cookies and espresso at Jacques Torres Chocolates, and bacon salt AND beer "growler" refills at The Filling Station.

My next adventure took me out on the soggy streets in search of the Schnitzel and Things truck were I enjoyed the veal platter. The guys at the truck were exceptionally friendly and felt very bad that I was waiting in the pouring rain, so they hooked me up with their entire selection of condiments and a couple extra sides.

Following a brief nap back at the hotel and much needed change into dry clothes, I set out to find the Madison Square Eats street food festival. I enjoyed a few different dinner bites, including an awesome clam chowder and some local craft beer from the Red Hook Lobster Pound, but being the taco fiend that I am, Calexico was my favorite...

Awesome staff pic!!


The biggest taco....ever.

At some point during the weekend I also stumbled upon a couple traditional taco trucks, enjoying some chorizo and oreja tacos. Loved the menu at this truck...their wide variety of meats reminded me of the trucks in Southern California.

There was one last truck in Manhattan that left it's mark on me. Wafels and Dinges. The evening after the Vendy Awards, I somehow found room in my stomach for more food truck fare, and I was not disappointed. I located this Belgian truck on a street corner in the trendy West Village. As per usual with the street vendors I have met, they were super fun and excited to share and talk about their food.

Liege wafel, spekuloos, whipped cream

I had to order the "Throwdown Wafel" because it was on Bobby Flay's show Throwdown that I first learned about this truck. It was simple and decadent. I also couldn't help but buy a jar of the spekuloos spread that they use on many of their items. Sadly, I later forgot this item was in my carry-on at the airport and it did not make the trip home to Canada.

...Stay tuned for Part 2 of my NYC adventure...the Red Hook Ball Fields!

Best of 2011: Food Trucks, Craft Beer and Other Random Bites

2012-01-03T19:57:00.000-08:00

The past 7 months for me have been a whirlwind of travel, food trucks and the occasional pint of beer. Beginning with a chance meeting with a member of the "Eat St" web team in Vancouver in June, I was encouraged to share my street food adventures with more than just my poor overburdened Facebook friends. So, as the year has come to an end I have decided to sum up my calorie filled 2011 with a few "best of" lists.

BEST FOOD TRUCKS/STREET FOOD
1. Maximus Minimus - Seattle
2. Tacofino - Tofino
3. El Gastronomo Vagabundo - Niagara/Toronto
4. Wafels and Dinges - NYC
5. Stone Soup Foodworks - Ottawa

Special mention goes to taco pop-up La Carnita in Toronto. Finding others so close to home that share my love for street tacos has been both heartwarming and inspirational!! (...and their art is pretty cool too)

Buy art...receive tacos.

2011 also brought the beginning of the Food Truck Eats events as well as the Toronto Underground Market, a monthly food event featuring dishes from both home cooks and professional chefs. I'm excited to see what 2012 will bring for both of these fantastic organizations.

BEST CANADIAN CRAFT BEER
1. King Heffy - Howe Sound Brewery (Squamish)
2. Rosee d'Hibiscus - Brasserie Dieu du Ciel! (Montreal)
3. Long Shot White - Broadhead Brewing Co. (Ottawa)
4. Nickel Brook Ale - Better Bitters Brewing Co. (Burlington)
5. Smoked Oatmeal Stout - Trafalgar Ales & Meads (Oakville)

My picks for favourite seasonal brews are; Muskoka Brewery's Summer Wiesse and my hometown favorite, The Clocktower Brewpub's Pumpkin Ale.


3 of the many pumpkin ales I got my hands on this fall.

RESTAURANT/MEAL OF THE YEAR - The Black Hoof (Toronto)

Just prior to eating at The Black Hoof, my friend asked me about my most memorable restaurant meals of all time. I genuinely couldn't come up with a legitimate answer. A couple minutes later we got a call that our table was ready. Well, wonder no more... After consuming a selection of charcuterie, beef tongue on brioche, fried sweetbreads and a blood custard for dessert, I can honestly say that no other meal has ever had the same impact on me than this experience.

So as 2012 revs up, I'm looking forward to the warmer months and the continuation of my street food adventures. I'll be heading down to California in May for another west coast tour which will bring me back to the origins of my love for Latin American cuisine and gourmet food trucks. Also, I'm hoping to work with friends to expand the food truck world here in Ottawa, where there is currently a very sad state of street food.

Halloween 2011

Eat St. Blog - Meet the Blue Donkey Streatery

2011-11-19T15:35:00.000-08:00

Check out Mississauga's first food truck!

http://eatst.foodnetwork.ca/blog/eat-st-silver-spoon-report-blue-donkey-streetery.html

BlogTO Article: Where to Get Arepas in Toronto

2011-11-09T12:32:00.000-08:00

My article published by BlogTO can be read here. However I thought I would share the original version....with more pics, without all the additions (that I wasn't too impressed with) and including a couple paragraphs that were cut. Specifically, one unfortunate areperia that I included in my report.

As noted in the published post, the "Arepa Market" in Kensington appears to have shut down operation, however fresh stuffed arepas are still available at the same location, under the El Gordo name.

Cheers!

--------------------------------

My love affair with South American cuisine started many years ago while travelling throughout southern California. Taco trucks abound, I was inspired by fresh ingredients and the joyful spirit of the working class Latinos. Upon my return home I began experimenting with different forms of corn flour and soon became obsessed with making the perfect corn tortilla. Throughout my research I stumbled upon a recipe for arepas, and it was not long until I left the tortilla press behind for these handmade corn cakes.

The best arepas in Toronto are as diverse a group as the many cultural populations that make up this beautiful city. The arepa, a national dish of both Venezuela and Colombia is commonly sold in restaurants called areperías. They can be eaten as a side dish, used as a base for other ingredients or as it is more typically recognized; the “arepa rellena” is opened (like a pita) and can be stuffed with everything from chicken and avocado to cheese, pork, egg and vegetables. There is even a sweeter dessert-type arepa sold at a couple spots around town!

Here are Toronto's arepa options;

El Arriero

This quaint Colombian restaurant at the south end of Jane St. was a very pleasant surprise. The walls are adorned with traditional artwork and crafts, and the picnic table style seating is cozy and inviting. Here the arepas are listed as “appetizers” and range from $4 - $10, however one could argue that items such as the larger meat stuffed Arepa con Carne is a meal in itself. I enjoyed an order of Chicharon Con Arepa and a bottle of Colombiana soda. Looking forward to return for a full meal in the near future

Rica Arepa

Rica Arepa located on Eglinton West (at Dufferin) offers take out and catering, along with dining in. Their atmosphere is akin to a fast food joint, as opposed to a traditional dining room. The Arepa Rellenas go for $5, while the Arepa Zuiliana are $8. I tried an arepa stuffed with chorizo, chicken and avocado and was not disappointed. This family run business appears to be relatively unknown and there is little to no information available online. However, I think with a little boost in advertizing they have the potential to be a well recognized (and appreciated) lunch stop.

Colombus Bakery

Colombus Bakery is quickly becoming known as a great spot to grab fresh baked traditional pastries, as well as other South American delicacies. When I visited at mid-afternoon, their seating area was full with dining customers, while several others waited in line at the counter. Arepas here are mainly offered as a side dish to their prepared foods, but what I really came for was the dessert like“arepa de chocolo” for $2 that is made with sweet corn and farmers white cheese. If you order this golden fried arepa ,you can expect intense corn flavour, with whole smashed kernels making up this sweet treat.

Arepa Café

Possibly the most well known areperia in Toronto, Arepa Cafe has been thriving in the ever trendy area of Queen West since 2009. As it was for myself, Arepa Cafe is often a Torontonian's first introduction to this versatile little corncake. Their arepa menu is comprised solely of the stuffed version of this dish and there is an impressive 21 options! Expect prices to be a little higher than other arepas in town, however they all remain under $10.

Arepiando

Located almost across the street from the Colombus Bakery on Dufferin, Arepiando offers a several original variations (such as “Hawaiian'...ham and pineapple) along side the traditional arepas. Their logo is bright and noticeable and the motto of “Colombia is our passion” is fitting for this popular fast food restaurant. In addition to their menu, Arepiando conveniently sells frozen Arepas made on site for you to enjoy at home. Prices vary from $2 for the Arepa Con Queso (cheese only) to $7 for the “Arepiando Arepa” which is stuffed with virtually everything on their menu and topped off with a hard boiled quail egg.

Arepa Market
Kensington's only arepa stop, the Arepa Market is tucked away in the back area of El Gordo Fine Foods. Their menu is simple and the prices are reasonable; $3 for plain cheese and $5 for the stuffed version. Nothing fancy here, just good old fashioned arepas and relatively small selection of fillings. With prepared take-away food options continuing to grow in Kensington, the Arepa Market is one of several traditional Latin American spots that cannot be skipped.

Mi Tierra

Mi Tierra is likely the largest authentic Colombian restaurant in the GTA. Located on St, Clair West, this traditional dining room offers a lengthy Latin American menu and with regular nightly entertainment. Here there are 2 arepa options; a $4 arepa served with your choice of topping (egg, avocado, bacon or Colombian sausage) or the $9 Arepa Con Carne or Con Pollo, which consisted of a large arepa topped with with a striploin steak or chicken, along with tomatoes and onions. Although the steak on my Con Carne came a little overdone, the meal and surroundings were second to none.

Sazon del Pacifico

I stumbled across this Colombian restaurant on my way to Arepiando on Dufferin. Inside, a television was blasting and the whole place overwhelmingly smelled of fish. Unfortunately the staff did little to acknowledge my presence, let alone offer me a seat, so I did not stay for a meal. Although I left unimpressed, I grabbed a menu on my way out and will likely to return in the future to sample their food. Everyone deserves a second chance.

The Great NY Pumpkin Race

2011-10-04T18:00:00.000-07:00

I was in New York City a couple weeks ago for the Vendy's, but that wasn't the only foodie event in town at the time...It was also Craft Beer Week!! My timing couldn't have been more perfect. Prior to my trip I did a little research on local beers, Micro Breweries and Brew Pubs in and around Manhattan, which quickly made me realize that I was going to be completely overwhelmed by the variety. So, I made a decision...I would have to focus on one type of beer. And, well...'tis the season for PUMPKIN!!

Over a 4 day trip I managed to try 9 different pumpkin beers. And there were at least 5 others I couldn't track down. A far cry from the 2 or 3 that are (maybe) available up here in Ontario. Now, I'm not going to go into every detail about the flavour and food pairings for each pumpkin beer...I'm not an expert. But I do know that I love beer and I love pumpkin...and for the most part these beers all rocked!

Basically they can be broken down into 2 types... Let's start with the your basic pumpkin ale. These beers generally have 5% alc and have a smooth, subtle pumpkin spice flavour.

Blue Moon is based in Denver, CO and and Saranac in New York State.

Although I wish I could have brought all 9 pumpkin beers home, my travel arrangements didn't allow for any hoarding, so I was happy to grab a couple six packs to take home. They were dispensed of shortly after my arrival back in Canada...

For those cross border shoppers, it appears these are two of the most common pumpkin beers available in stores in upstate New York.

Others I tried include, River Horse Hipp 'O Lantern Imperial Pumpkin Ale. Lambertville, NJ. And Brooklyn Brewery Post Road Pumpkin Ale. Brooklyn, NY

Next stop was New York City's own Heartland Brewery. I spent an evening at one of their local brew pubs in Manhattan, and not only did this place comfort me with it's similarities to my local favourite, the Mill St. Brew Pub, it also had a selection of 3 options for pumpkin beer!

The Smiling Pumpkin Ale not only has a hilarious logo, but tastes great too.

They also offer a beer called "Stumpkin"...a mix of the Smiling Pumpkin Ale and their Farmer John's Oatmeal Stout. Unfortuntely I did not get a chance to try out this medley. I did however, try their stronger Imperial Pumpkin Ale, which was very similar to the others I will describe below. But don't order a pint of this beer, because they only serve it in goblets...how fancy!?

So that brings us to the list strong ales...general 7-9% alc with a very pronounced, sweet pumpkin aroma. I would compare the flavour of these strong pumpkin ales to a Hefeweizen, with it's distinctive banana and clove notes derived from the specific hefe yeast.

Southern Tier's label offers a great (and hilarious) description of their potent ale. Their brewery is located in Lakewood, NY.

And the final 2...

Hoppin' Frog Frog's Hollow Double Pumpkin Ale. Akron, OH.

Heavy Seas (Mutiny Fleet) The Great Pumpkin, Imperial Pumpkin Ale. Halethorpe, MD

So, that's it. I drank more pumpkin beer in one long weekend than is probably recommended, however it was totally worth it. Now I'm left to scavenge the local LCBO's for our embarrassing selection of pumpkin ales.

The Vendy Awards!

2011-09-28T19:00:00.000-07:00

Check out my latest posting on Food Network Canada's "Eat St"... NYC's 7th Annual Vendy Awards!!


Showing my Ontario Food Trucks love at the Vendy's

Birthday Bacon Jam

2011-09-11T07:54:00.000-07:00

I had been meaning to make bacon jam for a long while now, but unfortunately sometimes life gets in the way of consuming random pork products. With some down time at home planned for this weekend, I figured it would be a perfect opportunity to play in the kitchen. And it's not like I needed another excuse, but since Saturday was my birthday I figured a few extra calories didn't count!

For me, cooking is not so much a routine of following a recipe. I generally look up several variations of whatever it is I want to make, then just go for it in the kitchen. So, I'm sorry if anybody wants an exact recipe, but I rarely write down exactly how much of everything I put into my dishes.

I started off by caramalizing a couple medium sized onions and frying off about a pound of double smoked bacon....

2 onions, butter, salt and sugar. Low-med heat for about 45 mins.

When the onions were done (a little darker than the pic above), I added the bacon to the pan and began mixing in the following ingredients; Brown sugar, maple syrup, pepper, cider vinegar and coffee.

(I'm loving my Neat Pitch Black coffee these days. A stop at this Ottawa Valley coffee shop in Burnstown is a must if you are heading down highway 508 towards Calabogie.)

So, everything gets mixed in a large saucepan and briefly cooked down to intensify the flavours.

Let cool for a bit, then fire it all into a food processor and let 'er rip!

Et Voilà...BACON JAM!!

Earlier in the morning I hit up Art-Is-In Bakery at the Kanata Farmer's Market and grabbed a Multigrain and Roasted Fennel baguette. Toasted in in the oven for a couple minutes, then slammed on some of the bacon love.

I grabbed my growler of Kichesippi Natural Blonde and hit the couch with the bacon jam to enjoy the rest of my relaxing birthday weekend...

CNE Greasy Madness

2011-08-29T10:54:00.000-07:00

At age 32 I finally made it out to the Central Canada Exhibition in Toronto for the first time in my life. Since I was used to the much smaller Ottawa Super Ex, the CNE proved to be a complete sensory overload....but one I am glad to have finally experienced.

Of course, my main focus of this trip would be the ridiculous food pavilion. So here's a few pics of the madness...

My burger choices...


What I came to the CNE for! Bacon cheeseburger w/fried egg on 2 Krispy Kreme donuts.

As horrifying as that burger sounds, it was actually pretty damn good. Messy, but good. And yes, I would totally eat one again...but not before a a lengthy period of dieting! The "Behemoth" burger advertized above was sandwiched between two grilled cheeses. Unfortunately there was not enough room in my stomach to try that one.

Dessert choices...

Deep fried slushy!

For those wondering how deep frying drinks is possible, there's a simple answer. They take your beverage of choice and mix it will batter...than dump it in balls into the fryer. So no, it isn't full of slush or coke that explodes in your mouth, but simply flavoured dough, It was honestly a lot less offensive that it looks and sounds. And definitely not too sweet.

After dinner, I wandered the fair grounds. As to be expected, there were tonnes of games, rides and vendors selling everything from bootleg DVD's to incense and ball caps.

In the vendors area I grabbed a few kangaroo pepperettes. There was also camel summer sausage available, and I regret not buying any, however I was already starting to run low on my frivolous CNE money. The pepperettes were nothing too exciting and for all I know they could have been beef and or pork.

Thankfully I did have a couple extra bucks to grab a pickle on a stick!

Let's be honest...everything tastes better on a stick.

Next stop was to see the cute little animals. The "Pig Mobile" greeted me at the farm building and for a minute I thought that the Food Truck Eats event had started a day early!


Bacon in training.

With the evening winding down, my day wouldn't have been complete without one final greasy snack...

The Deep Fried Mac n' Cheese Curds was by far my favorite food at the CNE.

At almost 10pm, the line ups for food were just as big as ever.

Overall I had a great time. The food did not disappoint and the crowds were not so crazy that I wanted to leave immediately after getting there. Definitely something that I think everyone should check out at some point.

And foodies...don't be afraid let yourself enjoy some wild, crazy, and unhealthy food every once and a while!!!

Food Truck Eats

2011-08-25T19:09:00.000-07:00

My latest blog post of the Food Network Canada site for the show Eat St.

http://eatst.foodnetwork.ca/blog/kathys-food-truck-eats-review.html

Po' Nuts (Beast Restaurant) Maple Bacon Donut

I Heart Lamb

2011-08-07T18:08:00.000-07:00

With my collection of random meats accumulating in the freezer, I figured it was time I got down to cooking...and experimenting with new ingredients and recipes! I'm lucky enough to have a small farmers market set up every Saturday only a couple blocks away from my home, so I try to take advantage of this any chance I can get. This week I picked up some "Red Russian" kale, yellow cantaloupe, and a chocolate croissant from Art-is-in Bakery. (Mmmm...buttery goodness..)

However, the item I was most excited about was the small lamb heart I purchased from the Canreg Station Farm and Pasture.

No bigger than the size of my fist, I was excited to prepare this little gem.

I learned about butchering hearts from the king of offal, Chris Costentino.

So, I cleaned up my little heart and prepped the rest of the ingredients for a tartare.

I decided on a side of brussel sprouts sauteed in butter and bacon.

Probably not the best choice, because those flavours are very strong and could overpower the delicate lamb, but the sprouts looked amazing in the store, and well...bacon makes everything better.

I minced the lamb heart and mixed it with olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon zest, salt, hot peppers (from my garden...yay!) and parsley. It turned out being a little spicier than I planned, but still good none the less. I toasted some multigrain baguette to eat the tartare with, and tried to plate it up all pretty and such.

Here is the finished product....

So, I think it turned out pretty good...but then again, I'll eat anything. Next time I would lay off the peppers a little and I would try to remember ALL the ingredients I bought. (I had some capers I planned on using as well...) I'll be back at the market next Saturday to buy another little heart, and will probably try a grilled preparation next.

For now...I need to figure out what to do with the other random meats in my freezer....

T&T Waterfront Night Market

2011-07-31T20:23:00.000-07:00

Just 3 weeks after experiencing my first night market in Richmond BC, I was excited to learn of the second annual T&T Waterfront Night Market in Toronto, Ontario. I quickly altered my weekend plans and arranged to make quick trip down the 401 with a couple friends.

Night Markets are popular all over Asia were vendors sell everything from prepared food items to cell phone cases. They have a more laid back and casual atmosphere than they daytime counterparts and are a popular evening hangout for all ages. Many of these markets have sprung up in North American cities over the past few years in areas with a high Asian population. In Ontario, there is also an annual night market in Markham every July called Night It Up!

We arrived in Toronto and met up with a small group of family and friends and headed down to the parking lot of the T&T Supermarket on Cherry St. for the market. Just as we arrived, the skies opened up and a torrential downpour began. Already soaked to the bone, we huddled under a vendors tent until the storm could pass. So, what better time to start eating!!

A very soggy start to the evening

We started off with some BBQ pork jerky type item, and I grabbed a mango lemonade...figured I might as well buy from the vendors that were allowing us to hide under their tents!

Next we had a little help from our friends wife who braved the storm to run out and get us some more snacks. We all shared a big basket of popcorn chicken and eggs in tea.

I am generally not a big fan of hard boiled eggs, but never one to shy away from trying a new item, I dug right in. It is prepared by gently cracking the shell all over as to allow the tea to permeate the egg. The result was a sweet and earthy flavour and officially the only type of hard boiled egg I really like!

When the rain finally stopped, we pounded back a pile of goat skewers before I decided to wander around on my own. The market was quite large, taking up the entire T&T parking lot. I figured there was probably the same amount of vendors as the Richmond Night Market, however they were more spread out. Probably a good thing because the crowds really started to pour in once the rain stopped. There was a stage at the north end, but due to the rain the shows were cancelled for the evening.

Next I grabbed a pulled pork taco, which was less than exciting. I love making Mexican/BBQ fusion food at home, so I was looking forward to the taco, but I really shouldn't have wasted my time. It was just dried out pulled pork on a dried out corn tortilla with a couple picked onions on top. There appeared to be no cilantro, pico, or anything else available as condiments. Thankfully I only spent $2 on it.

I checked out the oyster omelettes being made. They used these giant circular frying pans to make a bunch of omelettes at a time. This is one item you should share with friends as it is absolutely huge!!

One big difference I quickly noticed between Toronto and Richmond's night markets was the amount of stinky tofu in Toronto. The smell was at times overwhelming as there were at least 6 vendors selling this aromatic dish. In Richmond there was only one vendor selling it and there were frying in somewhere in the back corner of their stand so the smell was not evident at all. I tasted it at that time and it had quite a mild and enjoyable flavour. I was looking forward to it in Toronto, but after smelling it for a couple hours I decided to pass this time. I later learned that the smell of rotting organic matter is something that can stay with you for hours, if not days later. I still recommend trying it, as you will honestly be pleasantly surprised....however, just eat it quick before the smell hits you!!

Next was my favorite of all the dishes I tried that evening....I giant steamed bun with beef bulgogi. The bun was fresh and the meat perfectly cooked. Cilantro, cucumber, and lots of fresh jalapenos topped it off perfectly!

Just as they had at the previous night market I attended, the BBQ squid was a very popular item. It did not disappoint. I could have eaten the squid and steamed bulgogi buns all night long...

Mmmm...legs.

Met back up with my friends about an hour later and they shared some of their takoyaki. I was pretty full, and the lines were getting huge, so I decided that I had eaten enough for now. We grabbed a some huge pineapple drinks and gathered the rest of our crew. With another storm looming over the CN tower only a couple miles away, we quickly grabbed a couple cabs and headed out to the comforts of a friends condo to warm up and (finally) dry off.

Overall, the market was well worth the trip from Ottawa. I enjoyed some new dishes and spent the evening with family and friends who are as passionate about food as I am. Can't wait for next year!!

Vendy Awards Here I come!!

2011-07-25T18:05:00.000-07:00

I'm very excited to have just booked my trip to the Vendy's in NYC on September 24th, 2011!

The Vendy's is a competition for the best street food and is held in support of the Street Food Vendor Project.

For more information, you can check out the website...
http://streetvendor.org/vendy

Looking forward to sampling from all the nominated vendors who will be gathered for this event on Governors Island for the day. In addition, I hope to make a trip to the Red Hook Ball Fields in Brooklyn for some Latino street food fun!

I couldn't eat street food the entire time...

2011-07-20T15:02:00.000-07:00

It's true, there were times in my trip out west that I had to give in and eat food that did not come from a cart or mobile truck. Luckily, I was still able to find some pretty unbelievable dishes, so I thought I might as well add them to the blog as well.

Oh, and there was some awesome local beers....so I'll mention them too. Enjoy!

Coombs Country Market

Coombs was my last stop before I started the long drive across the island to Tofino. I was mostly excited about seeing the goats on the roof (yes, you read that correctly), however figured I might as well stop in at the market to pick up some snacks for the drive.

I was excited to find a large display of candied salmon, and knew I had to pick some up. Now, I know this isn't the most exciting thing to anybody living on the coast, but to a seafood loving Ontario girl like me, it was like I won the lottery! I grabbed some of the regular candied salmon, along with some maple candied. Also snacked on an amazing fresh flatbread. Also, I think there was chocolate croissant purchased, but I must have inhaled it before I even got a chance to realize what I bought.

When I arrived in Tofino, my first stop was to the Tofino Brewing Company to pick up a "growler" of beer. A tiny brewery located in a warehouse in the south end of town, they fill the growlers up right from the tap in front of you. The best part...they are open until 11pm daily for refills!

A sunset snack of maple candied salmon with my growler!

Gary's Kitchen - Tofino

The only Chinese Restaurant in town, I heard about this place from various food bloggers and possibly something on the Food Network...I can't remember. Anyway, the most important part is that I remembered about the "secret" Ginger Crab dish!

It is not on the menu and must be ordered one day in advance as they go out and buy the crab fresh the day of your meal. Also, they usually insist that a minimum of 2 crabs is ordered, however if you travel alone and make sad puppy-dog eyes, they may do it for one!

That night I also tried a couple more BC craft beers. I have always loved brews with fruity notes, so I jumped on the Whistler Grapefruit as soon as I saw it in the store. Also grabbed a Phillips Ginger Beer (from Victroia). Both were very good and the grapefruit definitely did not disappoint!

Next stop Vancouver...sushi, sushi and more sushi! Besides the food trucks, this was basically the only thing I ate. I was blown away by the prices, almost 1/3 of the cost in Ottawa. Not to mention the portion sizes are absolutely gigantic and everything is a lot fresher than in my hometown!

While in Vancouver, I got a chance to meet up with my old college friend Lisa for lunch one day. We hadn't seen each other for about 8 years, so it was going to be nice to catch up. We grabbed a bite to eat at the Red Car Sports Bar. It was recommended by one of Lisa's colleagues and it did not disappoint. Check it out one day if you are looking for a sports bar vibe with a contemporary atmosphere and food. While there I enjoyed some polenta fries and a salad, along with a Red Racer IPA from Red Racer Beer in Surrey.

Other brews I tried while in Vancouver include the Okanagan Springs 1516 Bavarian Lager and Granville Island False Creek Raspberry Ale.

Took a day trip to Seattle with friends Jess and Matt who happened to be in town at the same time as me. We had 3 stops to make while in town, two of them, Maximus Minimus and the Pike Place Market can be read about in my earlier post "West Coast Street Food" from July 16th.

The last stop was for dinner at The Crab Pot. Another friends recommendation, I was won over when I heard that they came to your table with a bucket of seafood and dumped it all in front of you!!

Jess and Matt are all ready with their mallets!

Let the carnage begin...

A few days later, I left for the mountains. With a stop in Squamish for a couple days of hiking, I stayed at the Howe Sound Brewery and Inn. A beer lovers dream, my room at the Inn was located about 10 feet from the pub. While there I sampled a variety of their beers, but by far my favorite was their summer seasonal, the King Heffy. Upon tasting, I was immediately hit with a surprise of banana! The bartender explained that it was the type of hops and yeast they use that gives it this distinct flavour.

The first night I was there, I was lucky enough to meet up with Paul, one of the brewmasters for Howe Sound. We had been speaking via Twitter earlier that week, so it was nice to meet and share a couple drinks. Paul also took me on a private midnight tour of the brewery! Later on we broke into his secret stash of a grapefruit beer. All in all an amazing couple nights at a great location. The Howe Sound Brewery quickly became one of my favorite microbreweries, second only to the Mill Street Brewery in Toronto. Hoping that they will soon get some of their beers into the LCBO, so we can enjoy it on a regular basis in Ontario!

Next, I landed about 45 minutes north in Whistler. I was able to get there for the Farmer's Market on Sunday, which was a great introduction to the resort town, as I wandered through the market at the base of Blackcomb.

The next day I planned to do usual touristy things including the Peak to Peak. But, first things first....dinner!! And well...it couldn't all be glamorous. One of the joys of hosteling is having access to a kitchen when you really feel like being cheap. So, I chose to indulge in my guilty pleasure...ramen noodles. Classy...I know!

As you can see, I also enjoyed a Longboat Chocolate Porter from Phillips Brewery. They really do produce great beers! Next one the craft beer list for the night was a Raspberry Porter from The Brewing Company in Kelowna.

After my trip to the top of the mountains, I hit up Roland's Creekside Pub for some BBQ ribs from Bob's BBQ. I think I ate those too fast and forgot to take a pic.

Next stop was Crepe Montagne for dessert. I had the "Belle Lili"...a crepe filled with banana, chocolate sauce, vanilla ice cream and whipped cream. It was the perfect ending to a great west coast trip!

My last night, I spent winding down after dinner with a "Wee Angry Scotch Ale" from Russell Beer in Surrey. I have to be honest, I just bought this beer for the name...but it was pretty good drinking as well! Finally, I had a White Bark Ale from Driftwood Brewery in Victoria. This was one of my favorites as I really enjoy wheat ales.

Almost forgot my breakfast the day I left! The previous week I had been trying to get to Muira Waffle and Milk for one of their waffle "sando's", but I never got around to it. Luckily they were open in time for me to grab a bite to eat on my way back through Vancouver en route to the airport. I was hoping that they would have their full menu available first thing in the morning, because I really wanted to try to the Korean bulgogi waffle sandwich, but only breakfast items are served first thing in the morning. So, I had to "settle" for a bacon, egg and cheese sando. The bacon was baked right into the fresh waffle which was thick and fluffy. It was honestly the best breakfast sandwich I have ever eaten in my life. Please do no hesitate to check this place out for if you are in town. The only suggestion I have is that they drizzle a little maple syrup on the breakfast items. They also offer flavoured milks, which I definitely had to try. I am not usually a big milk drinker, but the mango milk I had was excellent!

So, that was my trip. I ate some amazing food and enjoyed a beautiful part of this country that I had never visited before. I will definitely be coming back...hopefully sooner rather than later!