Well Happy New Year everyone! May this year bring all of us much joy and happiness! It was a wonderful 2 weeks off - but time to get back into it. Having a blog means you really don't take time off as everything you make has a blog-ability factor to it - some much higher [...]
The first time I made duck, I made Duck a l'Orange. It must have been about 30 years ago and quite honestly, although I'd only ever tasted it once before, in a restaurant I could barely afford at the time, it turned out delicious. I'd seen it made on TV a dozen or so times [...]
Beautifully imperfect! That’s what I learned from my friend Chef Maria. The beauty of handmade pasta is in the imperfections. Oh don’t get me wrong, the rhythm and discipline of all those wonderful nonnas that use homemade gadgets to give us that perfect looking gnocchi, tortellini etc., is truly an art, a skill and something [...]
You know I love salmon. Combine it with something hot, spicy/sweet and tasty, and well, let’s just say you had me at hello! It’s a great time to pick up some salmon fillets. Atlantic, Pacific or farmed, they all have their wonderful merits. But think outside of the traditional lemon and capers, or salt, pepper [...]
I think one of the nicest gifts I get from the LCBO every couple of months is the Food and Drink magazine. I wait for it and sometimes – to the annoyance of the staff, am constantly asking "is it in yet". The editions come 6 times a year and it’s free. I have tried [...]
Once again, my wonderful wife surprised me with a lesson with an Italian Chef. Senora Adler Bonavera is the Chef, Patronne and Sommelier of Il Duca di Orvieto. She provides cooking lessons to professional Chef's and also to serious foodie tourists. The techniques she teaches (and stories she tells), you can’t learn in school. Only [...]
Got a special occasion coming up? Here's a complete meal for you to enjoy. To me a special occasion is any time you get together with good friends (yes this can be just you and your spouse/partner/significant other etc) to share a meal. Even better if it is a special meal with things you wouldn't eat [...]
Well it was a great week last week - weather wise, work wise, life wise! Then it happened, I woke up Easter morning - the reason for the season, thought I overslept as it was brighter in the room, threw open the curtains and was horrified to find snow on the ground!!! Okay let me [...]
In honor of the day that is coming up, you know the one, I made this themed cake. Okay, truth is I'm very thankful that my wife doesn't believe in it. I always thought I wanted her to. I'd send flowers to her office, buy chocolates and things. But her response was always the same [...]
Breakfast crepes, as decadent and delicious and you want them to be. And the recipe for the crepes: 2 large eggs 1 cup milk 1/4 cup water 1 cup flour 3 tablespoons melted butter 1/2 cup vegetable oil in a separate container Using a whisk, stir all the ingredients together until there are no lumps Let [...]
