Category: Food talk

Across the street, oh my!

Every year an organic farmers’ market opens up across the street from my house. How lucky is that? And in just three days, The Withrow Farmers’ Market is poised to start up again Saturday at 9 a.m.

Not only will there be fresh, locally grown produce (like rhubarb, garlic scapes and baby lettuce for sale) free compost will be there for the taking at opening day, only. I plan to load up on pails of the stuff and scatter this fine brew of garden nutrients created by our city’s composting program across my hungry front yard.

And there will be seedlings for traders! Continue reading “Across the street, oh my!” →

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R.I.P.

Tonight a workhorse died in my kitchen.  She served me more than 20 years and has spent the past seven housed in my appliance garage, patiently awaiting the task of her trade: Food processing. Each time I hauled her out, I smiled at the Sunbeam logo on her white plastic frame and sighed with relief that she worked so simply. Continue reading “R.I.P.” →

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Three cups of coffee

It is a tough job writing this blog but someone has to do it… This week’s mission is to introduce three fabulous coffee shops all within walking distance of my home.  With true dedication and selfless determination, I ordered a latte from all three.  Here’s what happened:

I’m a regular at Broadview Espresso (817 Broadview Ave; 416-553-3833) two blocks north of the Danforth. It’s right around the corner from Energia Althletics and there’s nothing like a latte after sivasana or a long morning run with Lea. Moreover, the staff at BE are very close to my heart.

Why do I love their latte?  It doesn’t hurt that their takeout cup for a double latte is larger than all the rest.  But it’s what’s inside that counts, right?  Barista Laura happily pulls an “extra hot” latte for me and the artist in her makes the prettiest decoration on top.  Magically, their low-fat (1 %) latte doesn’t taste low-fat at all. Continue reading “Three cups of coffee” →

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Wondrous larb gai

A few moons ago, the book club chicks were at my place and I wanted to make something fast, fresh and knock-your-socks-off.  I chose larb gai.

Larb (pronounced lob) refers to a salady-kind of preparation in which chicken (gai) duck, beef, pork or even offal is minced, stir-fried plain and simple, then pumped up with flavour using fresh herbs, salty fish sauce and the sour pucker of lime juice.  It’s a really easy dish to make and tastes best served at room temperature. Continue reading “Wondrous larb gai” →

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Life changing gizmo

My friend Rocca recently said, “I’m not a gadget girl, but I do love that blue vegetable peeler Madeleine gave me!”

It changed her life!

Now Rocca can peel a mango, an apple and a piece of fresh ginger like nobody else.

She can zoom through a chayote in a second.  She can spin out zucchini ribbons faster than it takes her to find a mandolin and use it. With a Y-peeler in Rocca’s hand, no veggie or fruit is insurmountable. Continue reading “Life changing gizmo” →

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Doghouse eats

Here’s what a sleeping, happy, fully satiated dog looks like. But just an hour earlier, my mutt Kobe did the unthinkable. He poked his snout into a gift bag, pulled out a loaf of banana bread wrapped in aluminum foil and started a major scarf-down.

Dog mistake number one: leaking evidence. He’s not the smartest Lab in town and blew it making all that strange noise.  I was in my bedroom dressing after a shower when I detected loud, rustling paper nearby, interspersed with snorting and chomping.

I called him… but nada. Continue reading “Doghouse eats” →

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