Category Archive

Last weekend I was invited to an event hosted by Dishcrawl Ottawa. Typically, these events hop from restaurant to restaurant eating a different course of the meal at a different location. This time however, we were treated to a large family style meal at Pressed – Urban Gourmet Sandwich Bar. It was so good, I came back the next night with my mother and husband so they could try it too!

 

That alone should tell you all you need to know about Pressed. It’s so good, I went back the very next night… and to be honest I considered buying several sandwiches for the road. During the dishcrawl I was able to sample the pulled pork and brisket sandwiches. Each were smoky, tender and absolutely rave-worthy. The next night I was able to try the black bean, roasted vegetable and boar sandwiches. All were amazing. So much so that I’m pressed (ha ha pun intended) to pick a favorite. It’s not just the intense and layered flavours of these sandwiches that I adore, but also the fantastical textures. Pressing the sandwiches creates a delightful crunch on the bread while heating the fillings through making them tender and creamy.

 

Don’t lick your computer screen… I know… it’s hard not to.

 

You would think that a pressed sandwich shop would be all about the meat, and trust me – it does it right! But I was delighted to find the multiple vegetarian and vegan options on the menu. All of which are done with just as much love and care as the meat dishes.

So how does pressed achieve such amazing flavour… well their giant kick arse smoker doesn’t hurt!

Beyond amazing flavours of the sandwiches themselves, they also have an array of side dishes to choose from including a stellar mac and cheese, soups, chili and collard greens. They also have a sweet potato chip that makes me smile.

There isn’t much around Pressed, but the venue itself is a very hip and casual hang out spot – especially after they get their liquor license this March. The decor is a comfortable homage to the neighbourhood it comes from, with pews from a local church and beams reclaimed from a home a couple blocks over that was doing a renovation. With local art on the walls and a stage area that features local artists for weekly Sunday afternoon open mic sessions – this will become a go to spot for anyone in the neighbour hood looking for good food at a good price.

 

The Mac and Cheese is really something special

 

Speaking of price all sandwiches range between $8-$11. Incredibly reasonable for one of the best sandwiches you will ever have.

If you haven’t been yet, I strongly recommend you hit up Pressed. You can thank me later with some of those wicked sweet potato chips.

5 out of 5 stars. I’m impressed with Pressed. Sorry. I had to.

I think it has been well established that I’m “action impaired” … ok a touch lazy. So you know if I’m willing to venture to the opposite end of the city, in an ice storm no less, I’m going for a good reason. And that reason is always amazing, or the possibility of amazing, food. Perspectives at Brookstreet did not disappoint.

I knew I was in for a treat. I’ve sampled Chef Clifford Lyness’ award-winning culinary creations on numerous occasions so it was the reason we didn’t want to cancel our much anticipated reservation even when the weather didn’t co-operate. Luckily the roads were well cared for thanks to our snow plows and salt trucks, so the only obstacle (as always) was myself, and getting from the car to the restaurant in one piece. What can I say… I’m accident prone.

Sometimes it’s nice to put on your fancy pants.

Against all odds, I arrived in one piece for one of the best meals of the year. This was actually a Christmas gift with hubby to each other. Let’s start with the restaurant itself – gorgeous. Simply gorgeous. It’s so classy and elegant. Definitely the kind of place you want to dress sharply for. Of course this doesn’t mean ball gown and sequins, but nice.

The service was attentive, knowledgable and kind. It helps that because of the weather they weren’t overly busy, but I could tell that the servers were pros and that no matter the circumstances of your visit, you are going to get amazing service. My favorite discovery upon arriving – the wine list is on a tablet! It lets you search by price, region and type of beverage. So cool.

I’m a bit behind on my tech… it takes very little to amaze me. Wow – is that a phone without a cord?!?!

Another great thing about Perspectives Restaurant – great value. Build your own 3 course price fixe menu for $45. 4 courses for $50! Some of the pricier entrees have additional cost, but that is the base price. Honestly I didn’t need 3 courses. After my first course, the charcuterie platter – I was on the verge of saying I was full. But I’m greedy… and I had come all that way… and I had to get ready for the holiday eating (so I had to train my stomach to hold more)… and other excuses… so I pressed on.

This would have been enough… if I were a person who ate normal sized portions

Next came my amazing Arctic Black Cod. For some reason it’s been a while since I’ve made seafood for myself so this was a real treat. So tasty and perfectly cooked. It came with fried cod fritters that were awesome! Having the cod two ways allowed me to go from one to the other and appreciate the flavours that the different cooking methods brought to the ingredients.

Ok… I REALLY should stop here. Oh is that the dessert menu?

Though I should have stopped one whole plate of food ago, I kept eating. But really, who could say no to the temptation of Maple Creme Brule?? Seriously. You would have to be made of stone. And though I was stuffed, the dessert was the perfect ending to a wonderful meal.

Yes… it was as tasty as it looks.

This is a 5 out of 5 star meal and totally worth the drive! I can’t wait to go again.

As some of you know, Hubs is a movie guy. Not just a watchin’ movies kind of guy… but a makin’ movies kind of guy. Because of that I have met several actors in my day… many of whom are waiters. Surprised? Didn’t think so.

This is actually a great advantage as a foodie because you get to hear about new restaurants from an industry perspective, including Fatboys Southern Smokehouse  on 34 Murray Street – where my friend Dan happens to be working part time.

Ottawa seems to be drawing in smoke houses these days, this being the second one in the Market. Though I have never been to Smoque Shack Restaurant – I hear these two are different as night and earlier that night.

I feel like I could make a real mess here and it would be ok… which is good, there is BBQ sauce involved a mess is sure to happen.

The first thing you notice when you visit Fatboys is their flare for fun. They love their motorcycles and it shows in all the decor. Country music plays, sports games on the television and huge blue (gents) and blue light (ladies) cans mark the bathrooms.

The servers are beyond friendly. I had to leave mine a note thanking her for her lovely service at the end of the meal… she had really made our night. They are enjoying themselves, they want to be there and they want you to be doing the same.

The food took me by surprise. I know… it is a smokehouse, how surprised could I be. A little. The sauce is actually on the table, letting you add your own and selecting between 3 varieties. A sweet, a mustard base and a spicy sauce are all waiting for you to try them. What can you try them on? Your standard pulled pork, brisket, ribs and chicken but also turkey breast! Nice. The turkey, by the way, comes with a gravy so good it makes Swiss Chalet cry in the corner while St. Hubert gives it the stink eye.

So saucy…

Then come the sides – plenty to choose from here including a bacon mac and cheese, which I found a touch dry – but it had bacon so it was pretty good, collard greens which Hubs loved and baked beans that were darn tasty.

This may not be the best place for vegetarians, but it is fun. It is to Southern Smokehouse fare what Lonestar is to Tex Mex.If BBQ, smoke and meat is your thing… you are going to LOVE IT! Give it a try – let me know what your favorite sauce was. And make sure you say hi to Dan!

3.5 out of 5 stars.

For the third time in as many days I have visited Sconewitch just off of Lyon for what I am now calling ‘my fix’. A mouth watering, flavourful, just the right combination of crispy outer and soft flaky inner … scone. Sk-on or Sk-cone however you want to pronounce it, I call them heaven.

Look at this bad boy… all delicious and whatnot.

Now I have reviewed Sconewitch scones before, and since then have had many wonderful brunches at their Beechwood location (I actually have random cravings for their scrambled eggs with mushroom ragu). So why bring it up again? To gloat that I have such a tasty scone and you, perhaps, do not. Nope – because mine was gone faster than you could read this post.

Poor little guy didn’t stand an Anti-Gun Policy’s chance in Texas.

I bring it up to let you know about the wonderful new holiday flavour… gingerbread scone! Available now and as amazing as you are imagining it. I have to say that I love spicy flavoured sweets like ginger and cinnamon, sometimes even more than chocolate. So this holiday flavour is right up my ally – but trust me you super sweet lovers, you will not be disappointed. So wonderful. So festive. And even though today I had a herb and onion (trying to break up my newly forming routine), you can bet that tomorrow I will most likely be back to gingerbread. A flavour I once thought only for men and houses now happily in scone form.

Happy eating!

Located on Dalhousie and Bruyere is what is fast becoming my new favourite coffee shop. Comfortable as your favorite pair of jeans, with the nicest staff around, Ideal Coffee may not be chic but it is busting with character.

Coffee, which is roasted on site, hot chocolate made from local Cochrane’s milk and their tea all come in one size and for a very reasonable price. Hubby, ‘the kid’ and I had one of everything I just listed and the price was right around $6.

With free wi-fi and a pac man video arcade in the corner this place has it all and with more charm than you find at any Starbucks or Timmies. Though if you are looking for a flavoured coffee, you are out of luck here. But it isn’t always a bad thing to stick to the basics. Especially when you rock the basics the way Ideal Coffee does.

4.5 out of 5 stars

 

Wowzers. Do the kids still say that? What? It was only Inspector Gadget that said that? Well… it’s a fitting word to describe Atelier. I had the pleasure of attending a lunch event for Ford at Atelier. This wasn’t your typical run of the meal lunch (and so my review will stray a bit away from my usual as well). Basically Ford has come up with a new breed of Eco car made from items which, in their natural form are edible. For example: Soy is used in the foam padding of the car seats. Dandelion is used in the creation of the tires. You get the idea. The car has corn, dandelions, soy, wheat and coconut in it… and so did the meal.

We started with a tiny shrimp with gelled soy, apples and garden sorrel.

Moved on to a giant scallop with warm coconut foam, bacon, fennel, celery, radish and cilantro.

Followed by sous-vide bison tenderloin with truffle mayo, gouda panisse, corn, farro and watercrest.

And topped it off with dandelion honey cake with toasted hay ice cream and cranberry meringue.

This was one of the best lunches I have ever eaten. Chef Marc Lepine is an artist – painting with flavour. But more than that he reinvents the textures of food using techniques and methods that allow that flavour to really shine through, transforming ingredients into more than they were before he came along. Kind of like when Rob Zombie covered Brick House. Awesome.

Overall Atelier is one of Ottawa’s most unique and amazing restaurants. 5 out of 5 stars.

I got the best birthday gift this year… a gift certificate to Le Cordon Bleu Bistro at Signatures. I know… it’s ok to be jealous. I have been wanting to go here for ages. I actually used to live just up the street, but at the time was a student and a meal here would have been out of the question. Actually, until recently it still would have been out of the question. However, in recent years the prices at Signatures have come down substantially. It’s now comparable with other high end Ottawa restaurants, and on some days it’s even a bigger bargain… but more on that later.

Price – And by later I mean now. Wednesdays Signatures offers amazing deals. Hubby and I had set 4 course menu with a bottle of wine to share for just under $90. Not a piece -  total. Amazed? I know I was. That is part of their summer Bistro promotion which has been extended. Can’t make it on a Wednesday? Thursday, Friday and Saturday they also offer a 4 course tasting menu for $80 per person with wine pairings. If you would like to forgo the wine, it’s only $59. And of course you always have the option to dine ala cart.

Ambiance – I think the best word to describe it would be traditional. It is a bit formal and you will feel a touch out of place if you aren’t dressed at least business casual. But I think that can be said of most any fine dining restaurant. No need for a tux or ball gown, but getting a little dressed up just makes the whole evening that much more special. This is definitely the place for a special dinner, or an intimate gathering of friends.

Menu Options – As I had mentioned Hubs and I had a set menu, so we didn’t have any options. That suited me just fine. Sometimes I love just having food put in front of me, it can be adventurous and I often am surprised how much I like something that I might have passed on if given the chance to pick for myself. The menu changes regularly , so there is always something new to try.

Food – Amazing French Bistro food. Really high quality and just superb. I couldn’t tell you which part of the meal was even my favorite, the steak cooked so perfectly, the amazing soup with truffle oil… not to say anything about the appetizer or the dessert. To me this style of food is comforting and familiar. It was truly a wonderful meal.

Overall – I enjoyed my visit to Signatures very much. The wait staff was attentive and professional, the food was incredible and you cannot beat that price. I wish it was known if they use any local food products, I didn’t see any Savour Ottawa information, though perhaps I wasn’t looking hard enough. Though they are part of Ocean Wise which is great. I look forward to my next visit. 4.5 out of 5 stars