One of the adopted traditions of my family is to have egg nog offered during the Christmas holidays to family and friends. Egg nog is a milk-based drink that’s offered at supermarkets just before and during Christmas. It also has eggs, nutmeg and may contain other spices. Often it gets spiked with rum, whiskey or [...]
A couple of weeks ago I did a cooking demo at Toronto’s Harbourfront. No stranger to crowds, cooking in front of strangers didn’t present a problem and besides..I was doing what I love – sharing good, comforting food. When I was asked to conduct some cooking demos the prerequisite was that I showcase comforting dishes [...]
For those familiar with Toronto, you might remember the Whistling Oyster. Although I’m not a fan of basement establishments, this once used to be innovative, had an open kitchen, one could sit at a table or eat casually at the bar. I’ve been told it has since closed but I hold dear memories of eating [...]
Those of you who are from Slavic countries may be familiar with Pierogies – crescent-shaped dumplings usually filled with potato and cheese and varying to meat, saurkraut fillings and even dessert varieties. Here in Canada, I was introduced to Pierogies through the two very large Ukrainian and Polish communities here in Canada. The Polish community [...]
This recipe combines some of my favourite flavours: earthy mushrooms and nutty, smoky wild rice which really isn’t a rice! Wild rice is the seed of an aquatic rice that’s been consumed by Native Indians. Here in Canada, wild rice is grown in shallow lakes in rivers in the provinces of Saskatchewan, Manitoba and north-western [...]
A short while ago I wrote about having lunch at one of Toronto’s great new places to eat seafood – Diana’s in Scarborough. As sexy as it was having a Lobster Club House sandwich, the real star of that lunch were the steamed mussels in a white wine and fennel sauce. Tremendous. I asked our [...]
The hamburger renaissance is large here in the Toronto area and from what I’ve been gleaning in the media, the same holds true throughout Canada and the US. Hamburger franchises are closing and new independent shops are opening up. Some of the new shops are merely new, glitzy shops offering the same ole’ processed [...]
Shortly after returning to Canada (from Greece) I had to go and re-stock my fridge (and pantry) after being absent for almost 7 weeks. A shopping we went and I found myself on Lawrence Avenue East and near Diana’s Seafood. Diana’s Seafood has been selling the freshest seafood in the east end of Toronto and [...]
Yesterday I cooked Thanksgiving for a small gathering of family and friends. Thanksgiving in Canada is held on the second Monday of October. Thanksgiving in Canada celebrates the harvest and being thankful for the bounty and to have a seat with family and friends – say farewell to Summer simply enjoy a dinner with family [...]
Just in case you thought I may still be in Greece, allow me to ensure you I am back on the American side of the Atlantic, here in Toronto, Canada…feels good to be back! I left for Greece on August 2nd and spent 48 days there and traveled using planes, trains, automobiles, vespas, on foot, [...]
