Aperitivo The tradition of aperitivo in Italy is definitely one of our favourite rituals. Late dining, no earlier than 8, is the custom in Italy so to bridge the gap of never ending hunger, aperitivo before dinner in the early evening is exactly what’s needed. Usually, your preferred café will also have a well-stocked bar […]
Breakfast in Bedface
Vancouver blues It’s October and in Vancouver the weather has changed like a light switch from glorious sunny summer to low thick clouds and dark rainy mornings. It’s cold and wet and with the rain come the blues and the need to nest and be cosy seems as natural as the geese flying South for […]
Seasonal treat – Pappardelle with roasted corn and peppers
Seasonal treat One of my favourite times of the year is when I see those huge bins of freshly harvested ears of corn at the market. Corn on the cob, a great Canadian (and American) tradition that thankfully remains a seasonal treat that we can look forward to every year. It means fall is on […]
Fermented foods at every meal : a book review
Which fermented foods are in your pantry? Just about every serious cook or foodie has one or more fermented foods in their pantry. Whether it be kombucha, sourdough bread or a mason jar filled with sauerkraut burbling on top of the fridge. Fermented foods could not be more in the spotlight, inspiring today’s cooks to […]
Sustainable Living: A Year of Practiculture
Food manipulated for your convenience Having worked in many kitchens, I’ve heard tons of infuriating stories of cheap food being transformed with an overwhelming degree of manipulation and over-packaging. To a point that when you finally do get the product unwrapped it often has the nutritional value of a newspaper. Masked with a label written by a magician, […]
The Complete Wild Game Cookbook
In Quebec I have been fortunate to work in two kitchens in Quebec during my career and know first hand their respect for and love affair with wild game. In fact one of the restaurants had an all game menu in the fall and it is where I cut my teeth as a Saucier and […]
TROFIE WITH PESTO, GREEN BEANS AND POTATOES
This dish comes from Liguria, home of pesto. Having potatoes and pasta in the same dish might sound strange but once you taste it you will see that they go well together in this recipe. We’ve also made this with the addition of crispy pancetta, it goes against tradition but is delicious nonetheless.
SLOW BRAISED CHICKEN IN A PORCINI SAUCE
Chicken and porcini On our whirlwind day trip up to Florence we took in the Mercato Centrale with tons of tasty treats to choose from, beautifully displayed to attract customers. One thing that was plentiful were dried porcini mushrooms. A tip for anyone looking to buy top quality dried porcinis is to make sure they […]