taste

Cupcake Killer No. 1: Le Macaron

Written

on Friday, February 3, 2012

Photo courtesy of photokast on Flickr

In their new series, Ashley & Jessica looks beyond the reigning indulgence to see what’s next in line for the throne. Cupcakes are dead; long live trendy pastries!

Like them or not, cupcakes are trendy. We know, we know, you’d been making them for your kids long before Sex and the City was even an idea. It’s undeniable though: dedicated shops, vodka, vineyards, wars…the list goes on. What’s an icing disliker to do?! Fret not friend, the sugar revolution is coming. Let us present to you: the cupcake killer. Like a cupcake, it’s cute, yummy, and perfect with tea. It’s just not a cupcake. We’ve noticed them popping up all over town, and soon these up and comers are going to make cupcakes so early 21^st century.

Cupcake Killer No. 1: Le macaron

Brought to us by the masters of pastry (the French, of course), macarons are a fancy sandwich cookie. The cookie is meringue-esque, and connoisseurs will tell you the texture is of utmost importance. It should have a smooth, slightly crisp top, with ruffled edges and a barely moist, chewy interior. There is no room for compromise! Without the afore-mentioned cookie your macaron is an imposter at best. However, the filling that comes sandwiched between can be anything your heart desires. Buttercream, ganache and jam tend to be the most common.

Ottawa doesn’t have any shops dedicated solely to macarons (yet), but we aren’t want for options. Here we’ve summarized some places to get your hands on these little jewels. A couple of tips before you head to macaron heaven: 3 is most certainly enough for a serving; keep them in the fridge, but allow them to come to room temperature before engulfing (they can also be frozen to extend their lifespan); because they freeze well, some bakeries may not be selling you fresh macarons, but frequently changing flavours or made-to-order options will help you avoid macaron disappointment.

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Weekend roundup: What to do in Ottawa

Written

Karen

on Thursday, February 2, 2012

Photo of Gatineau Park courtesy photoexpo on Flickr.

Even those of you who are only mildly interested in federal politics probably know that the House came back this week. It’s not the only crazy political antics to have recently returned, though: Question Period The Musical! is back in town for one day only, after a successful Fringe run last summer.

What else have we got going on? Well, Jeremy Fisher and Chris Velan are not just playing two shows at The Black Sheep, they’re heading out on a cross-country ski trip and want you to come. The Ottawa Winter JazzFest kicks off tonight, with Oliver Jones and Megan Jerome just two of the headliners appearing over the weekend. Tonight’s also the first ever show of Ottawa’s Burlesque Collective, down at Maxwells. Yamantaka // Sonic Titan will bring some psychedelic fusion to Babylon Friday night, while across the canal Static Revolt and The Bankrobbers will take to the stage at Avant Garde bar. The Johnnies are throwing a release party on Saturday for their latest 7″, and will be joined at the Dominion by the garage rock/pop sounds of The Polymorphines and The Shakey Aches. Sheezer is also playing that night, so if you’re needing to revisit your love of Buddy Holly, head on over to Zaphod’s. For those of you looking to hear a bit of vinyl, you can find it at Raw Sugar Saturday with the Reggae Dancehall Edition of Stars on 45. Also that night? A little bit of goth country and some heart beats.

We’ve got a bit of a love-theme happening in the art world this weekend: I LOVE YOU opens at Patrick John Mills tonight, with the artists stopping by, while Karen Jordan’s Slow Dance opening reception happens down at Karsh-Masson. If the way to your heart is through your stomach, this community dinner is right up your alley – plus, it’s a night to hear Three Little Birds and Poetic Speed perform.

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From the Belly to the Heart ~Du Ventre, Au Coeur (a free community dinner)!

Written

Katie

on Wednesday, February 1, 2012

A FREE community dinner and night of bilingual story sharing from the forefront of some of Ottawa’s current worker struggles.
ALL ARE WELCOME but space is limited!

5:30pm ~ Feb. 5
Jack Purcell
Community Centre
Near Elgin and Lewis

_______________________________________________
With artistic performances by:

Three Little Birds & Poetic Speed

http://www.myspace.com/threelittlebirdstheband

http://komiolaf.com/

_______________________________________________

With Stories from the workers of the:

Museums of Science & Technology, Aviation and Agriculture

Novotel Hotel

Salvation Army

Organized and sponsored by:
Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) National Capital Region: PSAC Local 73100 – Salvation Army Booth Centre: PSAC Local 70401- Canadian Museum of Science and Technology Corporation: Occupy Ottawa Labour Outreach Committee: The Socialist Project: SEIU Local 2: CUPE 2204
____________________________________________________________________

Du ventre, au coeur

Un souper communautaire GRATUIT et un partage d’histoire de luttes ouvrières actuelles d’Ottawa ensoirée.

TOUS SONT BIENVENUS mais les places sont limitées!

17h30 ~ le 5 février
Centre Communautaire Jack Purcell
Proche de Elgin et Lewis

_______________________________________________
Avec des prestations artistiques de:

Three Little Birds & Poetic Speed

http://www.myspace.com/threelittlebirdstheband

http://komiolaf.com/

_______________________________________________

Et des histoires racontées par des employés:

des Musées des Sciences et de la
Technologie, de l’Aviation et de l’Agriculture

de l’Hôtel Novotel

l’Armée Du Salut

Organisé par:

Alliance de la Fonction Publique du Canada: Section Locale AFPC 73100; L’Armée Du Salut Centre Booth: Section locale AFPC 70401; Corporation de la Musée des Sciences et de la Technologie; Occupons Ottawa; Le Projet Socialiste; Section Locale 2 SEIU; SCFP 2204.

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Apartment613 Exclusive: Pressed does waffles!

Written

apartment613

on Saturday, January 28, 2012

Waffles, Pressed-style.

For anyone who has spent a morning waiting outside Jak’s Kitchen for brunch, it will come as welcome news that there is now another brunch option in the neighbourhood. Pressed, the upstart sandwich joint at 750 Gladstone, will start serving a waffle brunch tomorrow from 10-2. Pressed gave us a chance to sample their fare this afternoon.

“I wanted to keep it really simple, just like the sandwich concept for the restaurant in general,” says Jeff Stewart, owner and in-house visionary.

For $12, brunchers can choose from five delicious options, satisfying everyone from hungover meat-a-tarians to those looking for a fix for their sweet tooth. See what we had after the jump.

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Ask the Interweb: Where are the best waffles in Ottawa?

Written

Katie

on Thursday, January 26, 2012

Photo courtesy of TheCulinaryGeek on flickr

The interweb is a series of magical strings invented by Al Gore in the 1990s. Through our ‘Dear Interweb’ column, Apt613 will use its awesome powers to poll its readers on questions of import. If you have a query to make to the interweb, screw Google – ask Apt613 readers by emailing apartment613 [at] gmail [dot] com. Post by Alex and Katie.

One of the drawbacks of running a blog on stuff to do in Ottawa is that people are always us asking about stuff to do in Ottawa. Unfortunately, omniscience does not come included with a WordPress account, so more often then we like to admit, we are stumped by what should be a no-brainer. For example, this text message, which was sent to a few of the editors last weekend by a mutual friend:

“Where are the best waffles in town? Go!”

I’m sad to report a complete and total fail by the Apartment613 editorial team. In our defense, this does not seem to have been a widely broached question on the usual food forums. Ottawa Foodie’s list is unusually pitiable, while Google is having a difficulty focusing and keeps telling me about Ottawa’s best overall breakfast (the poor thing’s probably not over the SOPA scare).

Luckily, the Ottawa twitterverse is already ready to lend an opinion. We sent out our feelers and got a few replies.

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Apartment613 Live for January 19th

Written

apartment613

on Friday, January 20, 2012

Photo courtesy sickmouthy on Flickr

Wish you could sit back and just listen to what Apartment613 has to say? You can. This week, Ryan Saxby and Karen Diepeveen host Apartment613 Live. Ryan interviews Malorie Bertrand from Ef Magazine and Karen chats with fellow Apartment 613 editor Katrina Marsh about beer and sex. If you noticed Apartment613′s recent blackout, Ryan explains the web’s response to SOPA and why Apartment613 joined in the black out.

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Gatineau Winter Beer Festival!

Written

apartment613

on Thursday, January 19, 2012

For the first time ever the Gatineau Beer Festival is happening in Jan.!

Quebec artisanal and craft beer, beer and food pairings, food and beer conferences, more beer, music, bonfires, an ice bar, DJs, beer stein balancing contests, Mexican tapas, and dog sleigh rides.

At the Chateau Cartier in Gatineau beginning at 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Fri., Jan., 20. and Sat. Jan. 21.

See: http://www.festibieredegatineau.ca/winter-beerfest/

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The second annual Big Sexy O-Town Survey: Sex in the Capital City

Written

Katie

on Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Photo courtesy of TaniaSaiz on Flickr.

Trudeau once famously quipped that “there’s no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation”. Of course, he never said anything about bloggers. Once again Apartment613 and Venus Envy are sticking our noses in where they don’t belong. The second annual Big Sexy O-Town Survey will get the intimate details of what really goes on in Ottawa’s bedrooms, bars and bordellos. Our goal: ~~to satisfy our own voyeuristic streak~~ to provide a safe and serious place to discuss sexual issues of great import, such as what’s your favourite Ottawa burlesque troupe and whether you’ve ever made out on Parliament Hill.

Last year, over 700 people completed the survey (you can see the results here and here). This year’s survey, authored once again by our Dirty Laundry columnist, the incomparable Nadine Thornhill, will focus on the sexy places of the NCC: the bars, parties, restaurants and landmarks that put that little extra swing in your step. The survey’s 22 questions cover four key areas: Pleasurable Places (where you go to get jiggy in the city), Getting to Know You (places to meet up or make out); Sexy Shopping (where to you go for that special butt plug) and Provoking Personalities (crush-worthy city councillors and more).

The survey will remain open until Tuesday, January 31 and the results will be released on Apartment613 on February 14 (aka Valentine’s Day). No one will know who you are (not even us!), so be as honest as you like.

Fill out the entire survey for a chance to win an excellent prize courtesy of Venus Envy – a top notch Lelo sex toy worth over $100.

Disclaimer: Apartment613’s Big Sexy O-Town survey is intended for kicks and giggles. No fancy statistical techniques were harmed in the creation of this survey.

(Click here to take the survey if you have trouble with the embedded version).

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world’s leading questionnaire tool.

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Resilient Kitchen Sourdough Workshop

Written

Katie

on Wednesday, January 11, 2012

January 17, 2012 – 7pm – 9pm
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with Pamela Scaiff
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Learn about the health benefits of sourdoughs, examine the stages of the sourdough starter and taste the differences through a variety of bread types.
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Whether you are a bread baker or not you will find this workshop of interest. Starter mix will be available for sale so bring your own jar.
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Please RSVP to: resilientkitchen@gmail.com.
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Cost: Free. Donations are appreciated, not mandatory and go to the Workshop Leader to cover supplies and to Resilient Kitchen to cover printing costs. CCOC members are exempt from any admission fees. For those who would like to purchase the sourdough starter mix, it is for sale for $1.
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Location: CCOC Beaver Barracks. 464 Metcalfe Street, Ottawa, Ontario. Entry details upon registration.
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For more Information on Resilient Kitchen: http://resilientkitchen.wordpress.com/workshops/

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Fancy Sushi: Hands-on Sushi class

Written

diane

on Wednesday, January 11, 2012

A hands-on Sushi class will take place at Ottawa Chinese Cooking Studio on Monday, January 16, 2012. It will start at 6:00 pm, $85.00 per person. This is also a dinner consisting of dishes being made in class and complimentaries as listed below:
(1) Volcano roll (crab, cream cheese, masago, Japanese mayonnaise…)
(2) Dynamite roll (tempura shrimp, masago, Japanese mayonnaise…)
(3) Mango shrimp tempura hand roll
(4) Crunchy roll
(5) Tempura sweet potato roll
(6) Orange (masago) California roll
(7) Gunkan
(8) Tempura broccoli roll
(9) California hand roll
(10) Vegetarian hand roll
(11) Mussel miso soup
Plus Japanese green tea, wasabi, pickled ginger, soy sauce, chili sauce, fortune cookies, and soft drinks