Second Ferment

Glebe and Gatineau Goodies

2012-01-23T22:06:00.000-05:00

This last week has been super-busy, and it doesn't look like it's going to slow down any until mid-February. Not that I'm complaining. "Oh no, I have to have another night out where I have to drink wine and eat amazing food and hang with really cool people. Such hardship." (Yes, I can hear a whole orchestra of teeny-tiny violins playing a dirge for me.)

Thursday was the annual Taste in the Glebe, smack-dab in the middle of Ottawa's chic hub of coffee bars, quaint shops and old houses refurbished for modern living. Imagine a smaller (not nearly as packed and much more laid-back) Wine and Food Show. All for one price. Now we're talkin'.

Wines, beers and bites of all kinds were served up by local and local-ish purveyors. Dish of the night was from SideDoor Restaurant: braised and pulled lamb shoulder with radish, green tomato relish, cilantro and picked red onion all rolled up in a Boston lettuce leaf. Texture-wise, the crunchy veg vs tender lamb gave the taste buds a thorough workout. Just spicy enough to warrant a good quaff of off-dry Riesling from Huff Estates.

Wine of the night was Sandbanks 2010 Shoreline, a blend of Riesling, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Blanc. I had a chance to chat with SB's John Squair, who poured us a little bit of everything to try. When asked about the gorgeous salmon colour of the rosé, he said the staff "stood in the kitchen with the wine on the counter and just kept pouring in cab franc until we all yelled, 'THAT'S IT!'"

See, that's what I love about these intimate gatherings. Getting a chance to hear the inside jokes and back stories, cautionary tales and 'holy shit!' moments from the people working on the front lines, from bud break to bottling. Can't be beat.

Switch 180 degrees to Saturday, when we did a cross-border jump into Aylmer, Quebec, for Winter'Ales 2012, at the Chateau Cartier. 'Less formal' is an understatement, when the attire was mostly toques, Canada Goose jackets and fur-topped boots. Necessary for a midwinter beer tasting in - 20⁰C with the windchill.

Inside, the party was in full swing. Eardrum-busting bass from the techno music competed with the din of eager beer-swillers. On tap was everything and anything, from microbreweries throughout the Outaouais and beyond. I cursed myself for not taking the Algonquin beer course before this, as words like 'stout', 'IPA' and 'scotch ale' left me clueless as to what to order. Not disappointed, though: a Czech-style pilsener from Brasserie Tchequebec, a creamy caramel Boréale Cuvrée, and a citrus-streaked blonde from D'Atchoume were all tasty examples of what craft beer should be.

Food offerings were few, but they made up in quality what they lacked in quantity. Foie gras poutine? Yes, please. Smoked gouda risotto? Don't mind if I do. Bacon-wrapped scallops? If I must.

Outside, the crystal-clear night sky was dotted with orange cinders drifting up from the massive bonfire. Revellers huddled around it, with cups of warmed Brasseurs du Temps Messe de Minuit, a brown ale reminiscent of gingerbread/Christmas-cake/apple cider. Interesting, to say the least. Don't think I'm much for warm beer, no matter how cold it is outside. But the setting was spectacular, rather other-wordly in its deep indigo glow, and the camaraderie around the fire warmed the soul, even if one's fingers were blanched from frostbite.

By that point, the crush of human flesh inside got to suffocating proportions; apparently, the food and beer were running out, too. Time to call it a night. But not before grabbing nachos and French onion soup at the Brasseur's Montcalm street location just down the road. That may just become my new favourite pub.

To read related tweets from my thread, @2ndferment, search for #tasteintheglebe and #winterales2012.

Weathering winter with wine and food

2012-01-13T16:10:00.000-05:00

So Ottawa's getting an entire season's worth of snow dumped on it as we speak. At some point I really should go out and shovel, but being all cozied up inside with a cup of tea and Lost on Blu-Ray is much more enjoyable.

Continuing on from my previous post, there's even MORE to enjoy about winter (and get your mind off of how cold it is outside).

OTTAWA Magazine's WinterBites, which runs from January 12 to 28, features table d'hôte lunch and dinner menus at some of Ottawa's best restaurants: Absinthe, Divino, Big Daddy's, Santé, Burnt Butter and many more. Great opportunity to try out a new place without breaking the bank.

The Red and White (January 18, 7 pm, St. Brigid's Centre for the Arts and Humanities, $60) is a swanky soirée in support of Harmony House, a transitional home for women and children who are victims of violence. Le Cafe's Chef Michael Blackie (dude gets around, doesn't he? Busy guy!) and Ruby Watchco's Lora Kirk will showcase their culinary talents, while Domaine Perrault joins wineries from Prince Edward County to serve up the libations.

The winter edition of the Gatineau Festibière (January 20-21, 4 pm-1 am, Chateau Cartier in Aylmer) looks a-ma-zing. Microbreweries from across la belle province and Ontario will be on hand to pour their lagers, IPAs, stouts and ales: Boreale, Brasseurs du Temps, McAuslan, Unibroue ... just to name a few. Delicious local fare, music, family fun and winter activities round out the two-day festival. Admission is free; tickets for sampling can be purchased on-site.

Lago Bar and Grill, overlooking Dow's Lake, will be the home of the Festival of Chocolate (February 9, 7 pm, $50). Pasticceria Gellateria Italiana, Koko Chocolates, and other local purveyors of this sinful delight, will serve up chocolate in myriad ways for your tasting pleasure. The event is being held in support of the Distress Centre (a cause near and dear to my heart). Eat chocolate for charity? Yeah, you really have to twist my arm for that one ...

I Wanna GOOOOOOOOOOO!!

2012-01-10T10:22:00.000-05:00

Judging by the full roster of events, 2012 is starting off on a foodie-tastic high. All I need is a sponsor to cover the cost of tickets and I'd be all set ...

Taste in the Glebe (January 19, Glebe Community Centre, 5:30-8 pm, $45) 24 restaurants from this tony neighbourhood, along with 11 vintners, all assembled in the venerable Scotton Hall for your perusal.

Grand opening of Mill Street Brew Pub Ottawa (January 27, open to the public at 8 pm) Nestled in the refurbished mill between Lebreton Flats and Portage Bridge, the pub will feature its freshly brewed Portage Ale, made especially for us Ottawa folks.

Taste of Winterlude, starting January 27 and running throughout Ottawa's famous winter festival, at various locations throughout the city. Culinary walkabouts, snowshoeing through the Gatineaus with Chez Edgar, a Murray Street 5-course dinner in the Vanier Museopark sugar shack ... there's plenty to choose from. Better hurry - some of the events are already sold out.

Savvy Company has a bunch of exciting classes and events coming up, but I'm especially keen on the Winemakers' Brunch (February 5, National Arts Centre, $85). Chef Michael Blackie is dishing out some scrumptious vittles to go with wines from Niagara and Prince Edward County. Expect to see the usual suspects there with their latest releases, along with newcomers to the wine scene.

Taste Ontario! (February 6, National Art Gallery, 6:30-9 pm, $55) Thirty-four winemakers pouring over 100 different wines. If this is as good as last year's tasting event, you'll definitely want to be there!

There's also Celebrity Chefs to look forward to (March 25, National Arts Centre, $85 - $135), featuring Toronto's Susur Lee. Live cooking demos from 12 to 5 pm, followed by a tasting reception and private after-party with the chefs.

Look for more calendar highlights to come ...

Wine Wednesday: Holiday Imbibery

2012-01-04T10:20:00.001-05:00

Recovering from the holidays is always such a drag. Bleary-eyed, we woke up Tuesday morning to the obnoxious noise of the alarm clock, heralding the first day back at work. The kids desperately clung to the last vestiges of Christmas, mewing plaintively for one more story, one more ride on the rocking horse, one more look at the tree. The blast of sub-zero windchill didn't help matters, either. What happened to a mild winter?

So to cheer myself up, I'm dedicating the first Wine Wednesday of 2012 to a review of the last two weeks' most memorable quaffs.

Pre-Christmas celebrations started early at work, as my boss brought out a bottle of Chateau de Montgueret Crémant de Loire (France), eliciting a squeal of delight from me and much laughter from my colleagues. Yeast, flint and a hint of flowery perfume on the nose; tight, plentiful bubbles and a mineral finish in a parched-dry mouthful. We also opened up a Villa Sandi Prosecco (Italy) that would have been better suited for dessert rather than a mid-afternoon quaff: heavy on the candied fruit and juicy watermelon up front; the follow-up was somewhat unbalanced and altogether too sweet for my tastes.

Our year-ender luncheon was held at the Brasseurs du Temps, a restored timber-and-stone building straddling the Ottawa River and housing its own brewery facilities. I sat back and enjoyed La Framboyante, their raspberry wheat beer (tart fruit, noticeable hops and a sweet pepper finish) and a slice of traditional French-Canadian game pie topped with a chunky house-made ketchup. Loved the atmosphere of the place; this will require a return visit, for sure.

The Fool reappeared for Christmas dinner (more tourtière) and again on Boxing Day, as the whole family squished in around my mother-in-law's dining room table for the requisite turkey / stuffing / taters / peas feast. (That turkey lasted all week, reincarnated into croissanwiches with cranberry sauce and brie, in pot pie and just warmed up on a plate with lots of gravy.)

Trius Brut (Niagara) on New Year's Eve was sweeter and milder than I expected, and quite enjoyable. My favourite chianti, Nipozzano, was poured on lasagna night at my mother-in-law's place, along with a Deen de Bortoli Vat 4 Petit Verdot (Australia) brought by my bro-in-law. The former has a gob of juicy fruit right up front, with the dusty mouthfeel and finish typical to chianti. The latter also started out with elegant fruit characteristics that segued into mild notes of green pepper, with a well-balanced tannin-to-acid ratio and a dry, tight finish.

Now I'll spend the next week coming down off the sugar rush of too many cookies, brownies, frozen cheesecake bites and homemade pie. At least wine is (relatively) low-cal.

December Thirty-First, Two Thousand Eleven

2011-12-31T23:30:00.000-05:00

Score's 3-2 for Canada, 4.4 seconds on the clock of the third period. There's a bottle of Trius Brut (Niagara) in the fridge and I'm comfortably ensconced in my pyjamas. Who needs a big party? (I won't lie, I've got a live cam feed from Times Square on the go as I write ...)

These last few hours of 2011 have been perfect for reflecting on a year replete with great wine, fantastic experiences, delicious mouthfuls and wonderful people.

There were new Ontario wineries to discover, like Domaine Perrault, Pondview, Lighthall and Greenlane. Gatineau's Clos Baillie and several other Quebec vignerons opened my eyes to their impressive and continuously improving line-up of well-crafted hybrids; Nova Scotia's Benjamin Bridge sent their delightful bubbly, Nova 7, to Ontario, where it sold out in no time flat and left me wanting more.

Speaking of other provinces' success in wine, the Second Ferment Wineaux of the Year Award (totally NOT a real prize) goes to Dan Albas, MP for Okanagan-Coquihalla, who introduced Bill C-311, An Act to Amend the Importation of Intoxicating Liquors Act. If Dan gets his way, winemakers across Canada will be able to ship their wares inter-provincially. The bill is at the committee review stage; you can follow its progress here. Just imagine: ordering a case of wine from the likes of Blasted Church or Wild Goose and having it delivered right to your door.

Food-wise, the culinary experiences of 2011 were plentiful. Outstanding meals at Absinthe, the Stone Soup Truck and the brief but marvy Murray's Market, right here in Ottawa; on the road, I found myself in foodie heaven at Blumen Garden Bistro in Prince Edward County, at L'Échaudé in the Ville de Québec, and all the way down in Florida at VINES Wine Bar. My sweet tooth (not my waistline) would like to thank Geek Sweets, Koko Chocolates, the Cupcake Lounge and Stella Luna Café for unforgettable noms. But the hands-down winner of the Second Ferment Good Eats Award (again, a wholly imaginary accolade) goes to The Brigadoon, in Oxford Mills.

All of this was broadcast in rapid-fire, 140-character bursts from Twitter, my new favourite addiction and totally awesome networking hub for foodies and wineaux. I've 'met' some fab folks here, tweeting from such handles as @foodieprints, @projectpricelss and @brianofPP, @delrollo, @mariepayton, @thegoudalife, @gagdetgirl_ca, @mbosc, @themagicfridge, @ellegentsia ... just to name a few. And my own feed, @2ndferment, just cracked 200 followers! wOOt!!!

In between those moments of nibbling, writing, sipping and sampling, life carried on the way it does. One child started grade school, the other had a first birthday. Hubby and I both hit the 10-year mark at our respective places of work. We travelled some, most notably to the Happiest Place on Earth, which made for the Happiest Kid on Earth, without a doubt. We said goodbye to some of our nearest and dearest, celebrated beginnings and milestones, and laughed so much we did a spit-take.

It was a good vintage.

Almost midnight. The brut has been poured. I raise my glass in a friendly toast: all the best to you and yours in 2012.

Wine Wednesday: I don't normally like this, but ...

2011-12-20T12:09:00.000-05:00

I'll give you the moral of the story up front: even if you think you're not going to like it, try it anyway.

Hubby's birthday was last week, so off to Beckta we went for the five-course tasting feast. The catch phrase of the night was "I don't normally like this, but ..." as we were presented with various surprise dishes of items Hubby wouldn't think of ordering à la carte. But hey, these guys are pros. And (thanks to me) Hubby has become the adventurous type when it comes to food. Bring it on.

First: Hamachi sashimi sprinkled with pomegranate arils and dusted with shaved foie gras torchon on a long multigrain crisp. Hubby doesn't normally like sushi, but this went over well. The soft pieces of white fish were mild, with the sharp tang of the poms bursting through. I enjoyed the Charles Baker 2010 Riesling (Niagara) that went with it, the first CB I've ever tried. Well-crafted, balanced and classic Riesling.

Second: Seared scallops with maple-glazed carrots, lardons and tempura bits. Tinpot Hut 2010 Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough, New Zealand). We both thought the wine was just a smidge too acidic for this dish, but we relished the "surf and turf" elements of the delicate shellfish and chunky, salty pork (even though Hubby doesn't normally like scallops.)

Third: Truffled risotto with slices of parsnip. OMG, this was WICKED good. A thick, creamy dish infused with truffle oil, rice cooked just enough to straddle that fine line between crunchy and squishy. Its earthiness was reflected in the Cave Spring 2009 Dolomite Pinot Noir (Niagara), which had a plush, velvety texture and subtle red fruit notes.

Fourth: Magret duck breast, thinly sliced and cooked to purpley-rare doneness (something else Hubby doesn't normally like.) Bit of a miss with the wine this time around, though: Casa Marguery La Familia 2005 Malbec (Mendoza, Argentina) was too alcoholic, fat and flabby.

The big discovery of the night was the Gai'a 2003 Anatolikos (Nemea, Greece) a late-harvest wine made from sun-dried agiorgitiko grapes. Here's where I became dubious. The aromas coming off of it gave me the impression of a harsh, vapo-rub liquor, something strong enough to remove bandage adhesive. Maybe even a hint of Varathane. But underneath its potency lay raisins, plums and cherry cordial. A sip later, my mind was blown: well-balanced sweetness mulled with spice, coffee and smoke. This was magnificent.

The Anatolikos held its own alongside a platter of festive nibbles: a dark chocolate gingerbread house; eggnog gelato on top of a giant macaroon (and Hubby doesn't even like coconut); and a homemade candy cane.

Remember the moral to this story, and eat well. There's something to be said for broadening one's horizons.

Wine Wednesday: Random Quaffing

2011-12-14T10:55:00.000-05:00

"Oh the weather outside is ... balmy?" Doesn't quite have the same ring to it.
"Frosty the Snowman ... melt."

It's hard to get into the Christmas spirit when it's still warm out, with nary a snowbank in sight. I don't miss the shovelling, but it seems odd to be walking around in sneakers in mid-December. And it makes it difficult to explain to a six-year-old that she still has to wear snow pants. ("But MOooooo-ooooom, there's no SNOW!")

While we wait for a chance of flurries, here are a few random notes on wines I've had lately:

Korbel NV Brut (Sonoma, California) - Not entirely sure how they get away with calling their products 'Champagne', but Korbel has made a name for itself, becoming the best-selling sparkling wine in the United States. This one was all green apple up front, with a fine, tingling mousse, fresh-bread flavours and a faintly sweet finish.

Angel's Gate 2008 Archangel Sauvignon Blanc (Niagara) - Tons of bubbles, wisps of spring blossoms and citrus from the glass; on the palate, a subtle yeastiness with a firm finish.

Luckystone 2010 White (Finger Lakes, NY) - Linen, floral nose; firm acidity with an abundance of tropical fruit and a long, honeyed finish. New Year's Resolution: visit wine country in New York State.

Hinterbrook 2010 Sauvignon Blanc (Niagara) - Not your average s.blanc, this one has a thicker, more glycerin texture to it, with lots of tropical fruit / orange blossom on nose and palate.

Telmo Rodriguez Basa (Spain) - Verdejo/sauvignon blanc blend. Served too cold, but once it warmed up, it showed zesty, invigorating streaks of lemon and minerality. Had this during a pre-course stop at the Lord Elgin hotel, paired with a tasting plate of duck spring rolls, seared scallops n' shrimp on Israeli couscous, and caprese salad. Light, spritzy whites are the way to go with tapas-style munchies.

L'Orpailleur 2010 Vin Blanc (Dunham, Quebec) - I tried this on my first trip to Québec, but this one seemed to be far superior, with the kinks conveniently worked out. Nose of fresh peach and pear, followed by a mouthful of tart apple and citrus, and finishing with a mellow, creamy texture.

Fielding 2008 Red Conception (Niagara) - Blend of cabernet sauvignon, syrah and merlot. This was smooth, slightly tannic, with bold fruit and cedar showing through. Word has it this will be in Vintages in the new year - woot!

Review: The Brigadoon

2011-12-04T15:45:00.001-05:00

I can't recall the last time I had a dinner out with six (or more) people around the table who all enjoyed every dish, every morsel, and every bit of the culinary experience set before them.

I did last night. At the Brigadoon, in Oxford Mills.

Slightly further off the beaten track than most places, the Brigadoon belies its pirate-esque moniker with a humble, old-stone exterior that once housed the general store and post office of this tiny corner of Eastern Ontario. Inside, history comes at you full-force, from the ancient safe in the cloakroom to the grand dining room, where the original store counter has now become the bar. This close to Christmas, the foyer was gilded in festive boughs and ribbons, with a small army of Santas lining the sweeping, hardwood staircase.

Knick-knacks from the four corners of the globe, brought in by Brigadoon regulars, line the shelves. As do several tributes to the monarchy: queens Victoria and Elizabeth grace the walls, and there's even a commemorative dish bearing the smiling faces of Princess Di, Charles and their royal offspring. Not one inch of space is wasted, lending an eclectic, antique-shop feel to the space.

That night, the place was packed. There was a party up on the second level (there are three), and two more large groups in the dining room. The noise level was quite high, but more in the style of a jovial family gathering rather than an overbearing acoustic assault. We managed without too much trouble and ordered the house wine selection (a bottle each of Trapiche sauvignon blanc/semillon and merlot/malbec, from Argentina, both well-received by the whole table.) We caught up on family gossip, snacking on hot, fresh bread done up in a swirl of white, multi grain and pumpernickel, all in the same loaf.

The tempo of the service was just right: we were never left with empty glasses, nor did we have to strain our necks to spot our server somewhere across the room. She instinctively knew when to approach, and the kitchen followed her lead with appetizers and entrees spaced in punctual, but unhurried, procession.

This is where the conversation paused, as we each, in turn, tucked into plates of hearty, soul-warming fare presented with contemporary flair. My escargots were nestled into meaty mushroom caps, swimming in garlic and buried in cheese. The fall-off-the-bone duck leg came with a crisp, candied skin on a pool of merlot reduction, with a creamy purée of white and sweet potatoes.

I think we each said "Oh my gaawwwwwwd, this is SO good!" about three dozen times.

The chocolate crème brulée from their table d'hôte menu had an unexpected texture; I wasn't quite prepared for its thick, almost cake-like consistency beneath the usual blow-torched top. But the intensely gratifying flavours of the dark chocolate more than made up for it.

We wrapped things up with espressos and the requisite Dram, still in awe of how great the night had been: exceptional food, wonderful hospitality and a memorable location - all well worth the drive.

La bouffe, le vin et l'amieté

2011-11-20T22:35:00.000-05:00

November brings with it grey skies, tons of rain and droopy trees looking naked and bleak. Add to that the end of Daylight Savings, and I'm ready to dig a hole and hibernate.

Or go shopping. For wine.

'Life is too short to drink bad wine.' So true.

Back in Québec City for another long weekend of eating, drinking, sleeping and shopping. Nothing quite lifts one's spirits than getting together with an old friend, uncorking something yummy and then spending the day strolling from one boutique to the next.

One of those stops included an SAQ Signature shop of mind-blowing proportions. I've never been to Beverly Hills, but this was the Rodeo Drive of liquor stores. I think the cheapest bottle I saw was tagged at $60. But it was still fun to roam from one section to another, gawking at the mostly French, mostly old, and mostly impossible to afford in this lifetime or the next. Nebuchadnezzars were lined up like toy soldiers guarding a sacred shrine of Sauternes. A gleaming Enomatic at the back housed at least a dozen bottles of Amarone, top-tier Burgundies and award-winning Bordeaux.

But I wanted to get my hands on some true Quebecois wines. I didn't even bother asking the snooty clerk at the front if they had a "Terroirs d'Ici" section, just took the stairs down to the proletariat level and started poking around. Even then, the local/Canadian wines were stuck in a small corner, a half-dozen pitiful shelves vastly outnumbered by European selections.

Time to go to the Chateau.

You may recall reading my article for Brix Magazine, when I had the delightful opportunity to chat and taste with the director of the Terroirs d'ici store in the lower level of the Chateau Frontenac. I was thrilled to see it was still open, despite the misinformation circulating online and elsewhere that it had closed down. Nope, it was there, and the shelves were still filled with local reds and whites, ciders and hydromiels. Youpi!

I ended up with a Clos du Maréchal and a Vent d'Ouest from Vignoble Domaine du Ridge (Eastern Townships) and two Williams. They also had a Mission Hill Pinot Blanc that I couldn't pass up; now I wish I'd bought more than one bottle.

We dined at Échaudé in La Basse-Ville (Lower Town), a cozy but chic bistro famous for its tartares. A trio of appetizers runs you $39, but it's more than enough food to satisfy. I had the beef tartare, a foie gras millefeuille and tempura shrimp, all of which went gloriously well with the Orpailleur Brut I was offered in the place of another bubbly that was sold out. This one was way better anyway, with a full mousse, subtle yeast notes and delicate fruit-based sweetness. Wish I'd found one of THOSE at the SAQ.

Of course, in buying all this wine, I failed to remember I had to lug it all home on the train. For future reference, I don't recommend carrying half a case of wine in a canvas bag on your shoulder while killing time on a two-hour layover in Montreal. Ouch.

BoJo Nouveau!

2011-11-17T00:21:00.000-05:00

#NouveauDay is here! The Beaujolais is ready!

Cities the world over rejoiced today with the arrival of cases filled with the bubblegum of the wine world: Beaujolais Nouveau. I watched some of the footage streaming from New York City. It was as crazy as the opening night of a new Harry Potter movie (minus the geeky costumes). When 12:01 AM hit, the booze stores threw open their doors and a tidal wave of humanity coursed through the aisles, sweeping up every last bottle of BoJo, leaving nothing in its wake. (Ok, maybe it wasn't quite like that, but you get the picture.)

On Twitter, WineTwits joined with the Beaujolais bajillionaire producer Georges Duboeuf to host #NouveauDay. Premise couldn't have been easier: pick up a bottle of BoJo, drink, comment, slap a hashtag on it and share it with the world. I had plans to get together with Holly, Eva and Nita, but you know how life gets in the way. (Pity. It would have been fun!)

Still, I managed to pull off a Pepsi Challenge of sorts: old-school France takes on relative "newcomers" Italy and Canada:

Duboeuf Gamay Nouveau (France) $8.95 - First off, yes, I'm well aware this doesn't actually say "Beaujolais" anywhere on the label; it was made from fruit grown in Ardèche. Whatev. It's still in the nouveau style, still full of that gushing, banana-candy-fruit loop characteristics BoJo is famous for. Simple, nothing too fancy. I liked it.

Novello Rosso Terre di Chieti (Italy) $8.95 - We opened this one up to try with my first attempt at "cheater ravioli" (a blend of three cheeses, Italian sausage and seasoning inside a wonton wrapper. Not to shabby in the end.) Doodle asked to have a sniff; "smells like grapes," she said. It suuuuuuuuuuure does. No kidding - the colour, weight and bright fruit reminded me of a big ol' glass of Welch's.

Reif Estate The Fool Gamay Nouveau (Niagara) $10.95 - Ahhhh. Just as fantastic as last year. A bit more earthiness this time around, but still overflowing with fresh, vibrant red berry aromas and flavours. If you manage to find some in your local LCBO, I do recommend picking some up for Christmas dinner.

OWFF Part 2

2011-11-15T12:50:00.000-05:00

On to part two of the Wine and Food Fest, with a bit more emphasis on the food.

Something to be said for classic pairings, like a glass of New Zealand sauvignon blanc with fresh oysters from Big Daddy's Crab Shack. The crisp, lemony wine brings out the ocean-wave tang of those freshly shucked bivalves.

The server at the booth was all set to pour on any number of their dozen-or-so signature sauce options, but I can never bring myself to sully the aphrodisiacal cocktail of an oyster with anything. SLURP.

I fell in love with Heart and Crown's Angus beef sliders (served with samples of Labatt 50 - Dad would have been impressed.) Drippy, oozing cheesy-greasy goodness, squished between a pair of soft pretzel buns, the tender, well-seasoned beef patty called forth a deep, eye-rolling sigh from the very depths of my being. Heaven. And hey! Someone finally brought back the wine holder plates! (Although once everyone found them, Hubby and I weren't the coolest kids in the class anymore. Ah well ...)

I'm still raving about the best dish of the night (for me, anyway): STEaK's gnocchi pulled pork poutine. Big fan of those little Italian tater knots, so why not try it in poutine? And not just drowned in ho-hum gravy. They scooped on a generous stack of stringy BBQ'd pork in a rich, smoky-sweet sauce. If I had a better track record with gnocchi, I'd so make this at home. Even better idea: get myself over to STEaK for more ...

Some "meh" moments cropped up here and there. Savour Ottawa's locavore tasting plate (yak tartare, goat cheese with popcorn, bite-sized "ham dinner") was served lukewarm and lacked seasoning, making for a pricey ($10/plate) disappointment. In a tribute to Homer, I tried the D'Oh Dolcetto di Dogliani DOC (Piedmont, Italy), but found it fairly one-dimensional and boring. And where, oh where, were my Santé Bali spring rolls?

Those few hiccups, however, were bookended by a stellar line-up of producers to match the impressive new digs. The first run of this new "festival" format has drawn to a close, but I'm sure the organizers have already launched themselves into planning mode, where they will spend the next 12 months ironing out the kinks and making things even better, bigger, more lavish and more delicious.

Ontario represents at OWFF

2011-11-11T22:05:00.001-05:00

After a brief transplantation to Lansdowne Park, the Wine and Food Show (er, Festival, if you please) was finally back home. Mind you, that "home" had a massive renovation over the last few years, transforming itself into the classy Ottawa Convention Centre, complete with its curvaceous, Gehry-esque glassed façade overlooking the Rideau Canal. But it was home nonetheless. And I was ready to get my wine on.

I was immediately impressed by the number of Ontario wineries taking part. I don't think I've seen that many at the show before; the "locals" totally dominated the main hall. A sure sign that people are finally giving our own winemakers and growers a chance to prove just how good Ontario wine can be. Here's a review of some of my favourites:

2011 seems to have been the year for new wineries, some of them mere weeks old. My first glass was a dry-style rosé from Lighthall Vineyards. It opened up in May, just around the corner from Long Dog in the southern reaches of Prince Edward County. The label bears the stylized image of a luna moth that serendipitously landed on the winery's front door in its early days. A good omen? The wine itself was tart and crisp, with subtle cherry notes and a flinty finish.

Between the Lines is, as the name suggests, smack dab between line roads 5 and 6 in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Both the gewurz and pinot noir were well-crafted; the pinot had a distinctive nose of mushroomy soil and blackberries followed by moderate tannins and an earthy sweetness.

I've been following the tweets pouring forth from Good Earth Food and Wine Co, but haven't yet had a chance to try their products. A foodie haven first and foremost, Good Earth has evolved to offer full-on food and wine experiences to visitors. Can't wait to go next summer.Their 2009 chardonnay spent about 10 months on new French oak, giving it just the slightest creamy/buttery feel without going overboard. Had a solid seam of acidity, wonderful spice and gushing pineapple on the finish.

Stoney Ridge had both of their "Simply" wines at the show; I opted for the red blend to go with the bison tartare (Wakefield Mill) I was noshing on. Heavy on the cabernet franc, which almost turned me off the wine altogether, but it came through with good structure and balanced tannins.

Bumped into the fine folks from Colaneri again, having met them at last year's Tasting Alley and the Savvy NOTL event in June. This time around, I sampled the Cavallone 2010 Pinot Grigio, done in an appassimento style. Definitely meant for food pairing rather than sipping, this was a hefty version of the usual light-and-casual 'grigio. Smokey, rich, honeyed, with a slippery mouth feel and a long, spicy pear-lychee finish.

Kacaba's 2008 Barrel-Fermented Chardonnay won gold at the show, and after some hesitation, I found out why. This was a stellar example of perfect balance: a hint of oak and nuances of butter stood in the background, allowing the full range of the varietal's characteristics to shine through. Must get some of this for the cellar.

And oh, the food. But more on that later ...

Ode to Ottawa's Wine and Food Festival

2011-11-10T22:30:00.000-05:00

T'is the night before the show now known as OWFF
And my tastebuds are giddily dancing in my mouth
In sweet anticipation of what is in store:

Wines, beer and spirits, nibblies and more.

The tickets are bought and stuffed safe in my purse
With the bottle of water from which I will nurse
In between tipples of red, white and rosé
And mouthfuls of tartare, foie gras and flambé

I can barely sleep in this eager state
In my mind, I'm already there. I can't wait
To cavort, with abandon, throughout crowded halls
And try one of everything at each of the stalls

O Riesling! Cabernet! Icewine! Syrah!
Plentiful refills to be had - huzzah!
Mayhaps I will find a rare, ancient Sauternes
And hand over sampling tickets by the tens

I'll nosh and I'll quaff, I'll swirl and I'll sniff
I'll get purple-stained teeth and crumbs on my lips
Copious note-taking I'll do with great haste
So I can get my hands on another great taste

With jovial winemakers and chefs I will mingle
Try out some caviar or some premium single
Malt scotch. Maybe even a bubbly or two?
And when the day's done, and when I am through

Out the door my very stuffed self I will roll
To walk off the calories with a quick stroll
Look forward to the 2012 OWFF next November
And save all my blogging until I am sober.

See you tomorrow! Follow my tweets from the Show @2ndferment, with the hashtag #owff2011

Wordless Wine Wednesday: Bottle Wall

2011-11-09T10:15:00.000-05:00

Intriguing décor at Play Food and Wine
(I need to get my hands on a bottle of that anarchy wine, top right)

Local 'Selebration' with Ontario wines

2011-11-08T22:04:00.000-05:00

This Thursday marks Savvy Company's fourth year in the biz, and they're hosting an all-Ontario bash at the NAC that night to celebrate. Regrettably, between mummy duties and other commitments, I won't be able to go. But that doesn't stop me from perusing the list of wineries in attendance and reminiscing.

Creekside was one of the very first places Hubby and I stopped at on our inaugural wine tour in 2002 (back when we just drove along, Wine Route map firmly in hand but completely ignored, as we periodically cried out, "OOOOO! THAT one looks cool! Let's go see it.") The '01 Sauvignon Blanc was my first lesson in vintages. I fell in love with the citrusy zing immediately, and was absolutely heartbroken when we returned the next year to find it wasn't quite the same. (I still think their s.blanc is one of the best outside of New Zealand; there's a bottle of the most recent vintage in my cellar right now.)

Not only did we find the best riesling in Ontario at Cave Spring Cellars, but also one of the best getaway spots in Wine Country: Inn on the Twenty. We still consider the butter-yellow alcoved room our 'honeymoon suite', and have savoured many a decadent meal across the street since then. Their late-harvest Indian Summer Riesling is on my list of top go-to wines; it has the perfect balance of sweetness and edge.

We took an escorted tour aboard a swanky Rolls Royce once (again, on our honeymoon - what a great trip!) that started and ended at Chateau des Charmes. We'd been to three or four other places already that day and were rolling into the parking lot right around closing time, but they managed to squeeze us in. As luck would have it, none other than Paul Bosc Sr. joined us in the tasting room for what ended up being a long, fabulous talk about wine and travel and the years of hard work it took to establish the Chateau and its vineyards. Hubby and I are big fans of the Gamay 'Droit' (thusly named for the arrow-straight stance of its vines) and the Equuleus I tried earlier this year at (yet another) Savvy event was heaven in a glass.

Angels Gate was sparkling in its newness when we first crossed its threshold. The long walk past the Snapping Turtle Pond and up the steps of the gleaming white "mission-style" church at the top of the hill built up a healthy thirst. You could still smell the fresh paint. I loved the smell of their rosé the most. (And it was their suggestion that we go back up 81 to that non-descript house on the right; that's where Daniel Lenko lived. We just *HAD* to try his wine. I'm so glad we took their advice.)

And that's just Niagara. Prince Edward County's Bergeron Wines, Karlo Estates, Sandbanks and The Grange will also be pouring at this Savvy soirée. Sigh ... now I REALLY wish I could go. Hope some of them stick around for the Wine and Food Show Friday afternoon ... crossing my fingers!

Savvy Company Sip, Swirl, Savour and Selebrate: Thursday, November 10, 7 pm, Panorama Room, National Arts Centre, Ottawa

Wine Wednesday: Five MORE worth the drive

2011-11-02T10:45:00.000-04:00

I have to say, I was a little disappointed to read Joanne Chiarello's Five Worth the Drive for Wine Tasting in a recent issue of the Ottawa Citizen. While her choices sound marvy -- the puddle of drool on my chin can attest to that -- "wine tasting" for me brings to mind guided or independent quaffing at a winery (or its satellite facilities).

The drive needn't be so far when we have so many hidden gems right here in the Valley. Domaine Perrault, which I visited this summer, produces sophisticated, elegant wines from blends of hardy hybrids and Niagara fruit. Located in Navan, it's merely a short jaunt outside of city limits to get to Perrault's stunning, picturesque estate. I have every intention of making another trip to stock up on their high-quality shiraz, cabernet sauvignon and as-yet-to-be-released red blend before winter.

Jabulani Vineyards, a newcomer to the Ottawa wine scene, received positive reviews from Nita (Imbibery) and Holly (Wine Out Loud) earlier this year. At Domaine du Cervin, just outside of Chesterville, venison and antler velvet share shelf space with the red, white, rosé and sweet wines the winemakers produce.

Out in Oxford Mills, Blue Gypsy just opened their doors this October. Offering sulphite- and pesticide-free fruit wines, the winery hopes to evolve into a completely off-grid operation to reduce their carbon footprint. Blue Gypsy will be on hand at Savvy Company's Sip, Swirl, Savour and Selebrate (November 10) to share samples.

On the Gatineau side of the river, Clos Baillie does rustic, soul-satisfying reds and offers visitors a warm spot by the hearth to sample their cider. It's the perfect place for a Winterlude wine tasting.
If the folks at the Citizen are interested, I would be more than happy to write a follow-up article with reviews for each of these places.

Wine Wednesday: Crafted in Quebec

2011-10-27T23:30:00.000-04:00

One of my birthday gifts from Hubby this year: a Vandal Cliche from Vignoble Rivière du Chêne, a winery on the Chemin du Terroir in the Laurentides, north of Montréal. This is exactly the kind of wine that puts Quebec on the list of contenders in Canada: well crafted, good value, undiscovered local treasure. Definitely picking up some more next time I'm at the SAQ. (Or maybe I'll cash in on their current sale - a case of William blanc for $120. Pretty good deal.)

William 2010 Vin Blanc - Linen and floral notes on the nose, followed by a zesty citrus flavour and vigorous acidity. A bit oily on the finish, but not offensive, with a lingering sweetness that lasts beyond the final sip.

Unquenchable makes its debut

2011-10-25T22:42:00.000-04:00

When Natalie Maclean came out with Red, White and Drunk all over, I was still a naive noob in the world of wine. I read it, and then read it again, loving her picturesque descriptions of vineyards and interviews with the eccentric and lively folks behind some of the most iconic wines in the world.

I promptly put her up on a pedestal and aimed to be a "real wine writer" like her some day.

While the awkward "gawrsh-you're-SO-cool" idolization has since cooled off, my respect for and admiration of Natalie and her writing remains the same. So I was pretty stoked to attend the launch of her second book, Unquenchable.

Play Food and Wine was packed wall-to-wall with Natalie's dedicated followers: sommelier students, wine critics, us blogger types, and people who just really like to drink. Four selections were available to try, in addition to a glass of cava on arrival. My fave of the night was the Catena Tilia 2009 Torrontes (Argentina): A fragrant, floral nose with a twist of lemon peel, its medium weight and silky texture were reminiscent of lanolin. Lingering, fruity finish with fresh acidity. It seemed to be the love/hate wine of the night; quaffers were either from one camp or the other.

The Malivoire 2010 Gamay (Niagara) was all juicy black cherry, with a seam of dusty earthiness running underneath, enough to keep the flavours from bubble-gumming into a sugary syrup. I'm always amazed at the versatility of gamay, how winemakers can craft something serious and structured, or purely simple and fun.

Natalie tells a great story, there's no doubt about it. When she stood up to the mic for a reading, the eclectic crowd buzzed in around her, lapping up each brief snippit from the book like thirsty pilgrims desperate for a drink. Her uproarious retelling of a meeting with Wolf Blass had us all in stitches: "This one I call the 'Leg Opener'. Naw, don't bloody well write that ..." she recites in an attempt to capture Blass' Aussie drawl. Then she did an informal show-of-hands poll on favourite Niagara wines and chatted up guests about wine and food travel.

Pausing for breath, she seemed slightly overwhelmed for someone who's no stranger to celebrity status. "Wow, I still have your attention?" she asked, halfway through the reading. "The other group was already getting chatty by now. This is freaking me out a bit."

It was a night of good laughs and great wine. And now I have my own personal, signed copy of Unquenchable waiting for me on my bedside table. I'm already a few pages in; gotta get back and find out what ELSE Wolf Blass has to say about women and wine ...

Bloggers are writers, too.

2011-10-20T23:39:00.001-04:00

Twitter tells me it's National Day on Writing. I don't recall getting the memo, nor do I think it's necessarily a national thing (Canadian Heritage doesn't have it listed on their "important days" list as of yet) but I like the idea of a day being set aside to encourage writers - published or not - to write.

I've been hard up for material as of late, and struggling with the "whys" of blogging. Who am I writing to? Who is in my audience? Where is this project of mine going? I've been to a few events lately where I've passed out business cards only to get that smarmy look and a condescending "oh, that's nice" when I tell them I'm a wine blogger. The craft still isn't being taken too seriously out there in the real world, despite the incredible influence blogger opinion can have on consumer choice. Doesn't exactly boost my confidence to get that kind of response.

One of my colleagues is also a writer. A very good one, at that. But his creative energies are stretched to the limit at work, to the point that, once home, the last thing he wants to do is write some more. I can relate to that. There have been many nights where it seems like sitting in front of the mac and coming up with a blog post is more chore than pleasure.

Those are just two examples of when you should write. Write whatever. Post it for the world to read, or keep it in your private journal. It doesn't have to be long, it doesn't have to go into vivid detail. It just needs to come out: on paper, online, on your laptop. It's an exercise in vocabulary, in perseverance, in creativity.

Why do I write? To tell a story, to make people laugh, to educate those who want to know, to connect with someone, somewhere, who's sitting there going, "Thank GAWD I'm not the only one who thinks that way."

So, on this National Day of Writing, I call upon my fellow bloggers to create a post just to celebrate the divine art of stringing words together into sentences. Write your heart out - your readers will love you for it.

One tangent at a time

2011-10-15T22:41:00.000-04:00

I had every intention of flaking out in front of a movie or two tonight (still being sick and all), but I decided to explore some of the links on Twitter. A Choose-Your-Own-Adventure in social media. Actually, I think it's more a case of just how my brain's wired. You know how it is, get up to get a drink, notice the laundry. Take laundry to basement, notice toys on floor. Pick up toys, remember kid's birthday party, dig out wrapping paper for present. Scotch tape has run out, so back upstairs to add to grocery list. On the way ...

See? There I go again. FOCUS, DAMMIT!

Back to my online wanderings along the Twitter trail.

I started off by signing up for Food Bloggers of Canada (even though I'm not, technically, a food blogger per se, but I figured I mention it enough in passing that I might be able to hang with the cool kids.) Began browsing through the list of Ontario blogs, and stumbled across one called Nostrovia! The title immediately snagged my attention: it's an eastern European toast to good health, prosperity and family. My grandfather used to say it all the time, usually while hoisting a glass of that good ol' home brew from the Rubbermaid bin in the back shed.

Eastern European cooking is stuff that puts hair on your chest, stuff that warms the soul from the depths of your bone marrow on up. This was the food made by my granddad's Ukrainian, Romanian, Slovak and Russian neighbours and friends. Potatoes played a big part, as did stews with huge chunks of meat. Simple, made with the intention of filling you up, not to dazzle. Followed the "food-is-fuel" motto. Looking forward to reading more of this blog.

Back to Twitter. Why is Justin Bieber trending AGAIN??? Is Twitter run by 10-year-old girls and that's it? Sigh ... Getting hungry reading about what Hilary Duff (foodie, not pop star) is eating at The Hoof in Toronto. Feeling a bit jealous that I didn't go to Harvest Noir, even if it did rain. Laughing my ass off at Sh!tMySomm(elier)Says.

Ever heard of MommyJuice Wines? Came across the site a while back; now following its creator, Cheryl Durzy, and keeping my fingers crossed that the LCBO grants her some shelf space. It seems fitting that I should slurp on some wine that bears the same tag as many of my posts here. Wish I had some right now.

Nuts. Twitter crashed. TOO MUCH BIEBER AGAIN. Yawn. Just as well, I should get some sleep.

Goodnight, wine-o-sphere. Sleep well, Twitterverse.

The days are just PACKED

2011-10-14T23:13:00.000-04:00

Harvest time in the vineyards seems to coincide with party time in the city. The wine, food and social scene in Ottawa has exploded in September and October, with plenty for hungry foodies and wineaux to do.

Got plans for this weekend? How about a chic pop-up picnic at a mystery locale? Harvest Noir invites guests to get all spiffied-up in their best black threads, pack a gourmet picnic and come celebrate the harvest at a not-yet-known venue that is expected to pretty much blow everyone's mind. Spots in "free-form seating" are still available.

Saturday's Vintages release highlights Piedmont and Tuscany, but some tasty picks from Ontario are also now available: Reif's kiln-dried shiraz blend, The Magician, and Foreign Affair's The Conspiracy. Two wines I think I'll buy just based on cool names alone.

Later on this month, rare back vintages from Cave Spring will be the highlight of an exclusive tasting event at Terrence Robert Gallery, on Monday, October 24. Reps from the Robert Groh agency and key players from top winemakers like McManis and Clos du Val will also be on hand to share a tipple or two with you.

Natalie Maclean will be launching her new book, Unquenchable, at Play Food and Wine on Tuesday, October 25. Tickets are $50 and include a copy of the book (which, if you ask really nicely, I'm sure Natalie will sign), wines to quaff, nibblies to nosh and a fun night among groovy folks.

Savvy Company has some spectacular evenings lined up this month, including craft beer classes; an international taste-n-buy with wines only restaurants have access to; and their fourth annual glammed-up soirée featuring top-shelf Ontario wines not found at the LCBO. (Great place to get some ideas for Christmas.)

And one cannot forget the gastronomic event of the year, the Ottawa Wine and Food Festival, now back home at the newly revamped Ottawa Convention Centre. Five days of events (November 9 - 13) go beyond the main showcase floor, which will be bursting at the seams with local and international purveyors of wine, fine food and cool stuff. (But will the super-cool, everybody-wants-one glass-holding plates be available for purchase? We shall see ...) You KNOW I'm going to be there ...

Thanks for reading

2011-10-11T11:36:00.000-04:00

This Canadian Thanksgiving, I propose a toast to my dedicated readers, Twitter followers, Facebook friends and fans who have kept up with my blog since its inception in 2007 - five years come November! That calls for a big ol' wine wOOt!

I also toasted my dear family, especially the Doodle, who shares her birthday with this national holiday. (We keep telling her about how she was our own little Thanksgiving turkey when she was born. She finds hilarious now, but I doubt that same sense of humour will be around when she's 13 and desperately trying to avoid every embarrassing thing we do.)

The selections for our feast were plentiful and delicious:

Santa Margherita Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore (Italy) from last Christmas, plentiful on bubbles, with just the slightest hint of off-dryness, a smidge of yeast and lots of tropical fruit.

Rief's The Fool 2010 Gamay Nouveau (Niagara), which is now almost a year old and still tasting like it just got pressed. Beautiful violets, lush red berries and a bit of a candied streak running through it. Best with the dark meat.

Ironstone Obsession Symphony 2009 (California), showing slight differences from the previous vintage in terms of flavour: a bit more minerality and sharper acidity this time around. But it still goes great with ... well, pretty much everything.

I even had a back-up bottle on hand: Inniskillin East-West Series 2010 Chardonnay, bought totally on impulse from the Wine Rack at the grocery store. Because it's made from fruit grown in both Ontario and British Columbia, it doesn't qualify for VQA status (something I actually had to explain to one of the cute - but rather clueless - young sellers at the store. Don't they teach these kids anything?) Kept a bit too cold, it still made for an easy-going, pleasant quaff, not too super-buttery, with a healthy dose of tart apple acidity and a clean finish, likely very good with turkey.

By the time we got through the other bottles, though, the tryptophan coma had set in (yeah, THAT'S what it was ...) so we opted to save this one for another day.

Joyous Gobbling, my dear friends!

Wordless Wine Wednesday

2011-10-05T10:12:00.001-04:00

Taken from the winery restaurant at Hillebrand.

Ageing: me, my kids, my wine

2011-10-03T23:25:00.000-04:00

Pearl Jam's Ten turned 20 this year. I went and saw them in concert recently; they put on a tremendous show, but the whole time I was thinking, "what's with all these old people?" I mentioned this to Hubby, who laughed. "Hate to tell ya, hun, but WE'RE one of those 'old people'."

Ok, so maybe they weren't *that* old. Not even 'old' at all, really ...

I've come to a shocking and sobering realization: I am ageing. The Pearl Jam epiphany struck a deep chord in me (as did the 20th anniversary of both Metallica's black album and Nirvana's Nevermind. I also just decommissioned the stereo I've had since Grade 9. Dual cassette player and everything. Now that's old school.)

There exists a distinct and profound gap between my generation and the next. I've been flummoxed by technology, said "huh?" more than once at the text-speak of younger people glued to their smartphones, and watched as everything awful I wore in grade school re-appear in the "cool" stores (stores which I can no longer frequent, because - alas - I am too old.)

Shoud've seen it coming, what with my daughters hitting 6 years and 15 months, respectively. Doodle bops along to Justin Bieber in the car now and I'm chuckling to myself in the driver's seat, remembering Milli Vanilli, Paula Abdul, Janet Jackson and ... yikes ... Michael Bolton. (What was I thinking?) The Smurf is building up both her vocabulary and leg muscles, well on her way to conquering a couple of firsts sooner than we think.

So I'm getting older, my kids are getting older ... and my wine is getting older. At least that last bit doesn't incite panic or send me into a melancholic funk. Some wines just taste better after a few years' hibernation in the cellar.

We had a cousin of mine visit a couple of weeks ago, so to toast the unbreakable blood-is-thicker-than-water ties, we opened up a Maleta 2003 Meritage (Niagara). It slowly unfurled its graceful elegance in the decanter, expressing a redolent perfume of muted blackberries, coffee and cocoa. Each sip slowly caressed my tongue with soft, round tannins. More than a drink, this was an experience.

On another night, with no real reason to celebrate other than the wine itself, Hubby and I shared a Bodegas Cannau 2004 Ysern Tannat (Uruguay). Loads of chocolate-covered blueberries, Welch's grape jam and cassis, with smooth, subtle tannins, balanced acid and this moody, smoky charcoal barbeque finish.

Both wines clearly benefited from ageing; any earlier, and the tannins would have left the palate parched, the fruit would have been all over the place, overwhelming and alcoholic. Time was good to them. It doesn't always happen that way, but with these two, we lucked out.

I felt a slight pang of loss when they were gone. Guess that's life in a nutshell; the moments we cherish are altogether too brief, but delicious and sweet. We age, we get a bit softer and rounder, we mature in many different ways. Sometimes the results aren't that great, but most of the time we have enough sense to enjoy what's in our glass, in our hand, right now.

Women of SPOON dish it out right

2011-10-01T23:09:00.001-04:00

"Food yer mama fed ya." I wish my mama had fed me seared albacore tuna in phyllo cups, braised beef charcuter-cone, or black olive tapenade and goat cheese on homemade pita points.

This was SPOON. A gathering of some of the most talented women in the Ottawa food biz: restauranteurs, caterers, bakers and farmers, all together for an energized Tuesday night out at Side Door Restaurant. (Those delicious tidbits above were done by Kate Klenavic from Whalesbone Catering, Gabrielle Sexton from L'Ardoise,and the 3GreekSisters, respectively.)

It was a one-of-a-kind opportunity to bend the ears of those working behind the culinary scenes, to hear about how so many of them left life as they knew it to follow a dream, or who were blessed from day one with a destiny to cook. As upscale as the event was, the women themselves were down-to-earth and eager to tell their stories.

There was Julie Broczkowski, proprietor of The Magic Fridge, who turned getting laid off into a launching pad for a brilliant idea: a personal chef service even the kids will love. Julie goes to her clients' homes, whips up two weeks' worth of meals, and tucks everything into the fridge and freezer. Cleans up after herself, too. Speaking as a working mom burnt out from the madness of the Evening Routine, I think I need to seriously consider this ...

Across the room was Barbara Schaefer. For years, she worked for various environmental causes, but at the policy-and-research level, where the intangible fruits of her labour didn't quite fill the need for something more hands-on. Now, she's elbow-deep in farming, with her 300-strong herd of heritage black pigs at Upper Canada Heritage Meat in high demand by local restaurants. These rare breeds cavort outdoors, eat like kings and don't have an ounce of hormones, steroids or antibiotics in them. No wonder they're so tasty ...

Natasha Kyssa was once an international model, living on bad coffee, worse food and patchy stretches of sleep. At the tipping point, she went vegan, turned her entire sense of being on its head and started the SimplyRaw movement. I was intrigued by the concept, and amazed at the samples she had on hand, like the "cheese" that was made from cashews. Utterly reDONKulous, it was so good!

The food was fabulous, across the board. No shortage of sweets, either: salted caramel doughnuts from SuzyQ; macarons of every imaginable flavour courtesy of Geek Sweets; Koko Chocolates (indeed, they are truly "what happiness tastes like"), The Cake Whisperer, Fultons Maple Products ... oh my. (Insert Twitter hashtag here: theregoesmydiet)

The one downside to this fab evening was the wine: Contarini Valsecco (Veneto, Italy) at the door, Cono Sur (Chile) viognier and pinot noir at the bar. A pretty good quaff, but where's the local stuff? I heard Roselyn Dyck of Cattail Creek Estate Wines had signed up to do the honours, but backed out at the last minute due to a scheduling conflict.

Pity they couldn't find a replacement. I think it would have been great to have the likes of Sue Anne Staff, Deborah Paskus or Lydia Tomek join in the fun (even if they aren't Ottawa-based.) Still, thumbs up to Catherine Landry for SPOON's successful launch; looking forward to next year's all-grrrl "garden to glamour" gathering.