cooking

Live at the Library! This week: Gluten-free living

Photo courtesy of elanas pantry on Flickr.

Photo courtesy of elana's pantry on Flickr.

Did you know that loads of public events happen at the library? Most of them for free! If you are looking for an after work activity that is stimulating for your brain rather then detrimental to your liver,  attending a talk or a lecture at the library is the way to go (you can always get to the liver later). Our new correspondent, Stephen Johnson, has worked at the Ottawa Public Library for the past nine years. His periodic column will showcase the upcoming events, courses and seminars that will be taking place at the Main Library. Stay tuned for more of Live at the Library in upcoming weeks.

Who knew visiting the Ottawa Public Library could be so good for your health? Toronto-based author Victoria Yeh will be discussing her new book, Where Do I Start? Your Essential Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, and Sugar-Free Food Allergy Cookbook on Wednesday, February 24 at 7:00 pm. The event will be taking place at the Main Library Auditorium (120 Metcalfe Street) and admission is free.

For some, the traditional Western diet is full of hidden dangers. The proteins found in gluten and milk products can wreak havoc on the digestive tract, while the refined sugar sneakily added to nearly everything can play a role in obesity, diabetes and hyperactive children. As a result, many health conscious people are taking steps to remove these substances from their diet, whether they’ve been diagnosed with allergies or not.

Victoria Yeh writes from personal experience about making this transition. Eight years ago, on the advice of her doctor, Yeh eliminated gluten, dairy and sugar from her diet. Yeh’s book talks about the results of these changes including practical recipes and food substitutions.

True to the title, Where do I Start also provides people thinking about eliminating wheat, milk and sugar from their diet with some useful advice. “To be successful with a new diet, you first have to be absolutely committed to making the change in your lifestyle,” says Yeh. “People think that it’s hard to stick to these diets, but it’s not. It’s just a matter of learning a few rules of thumb so that you can adapt to your needs and still enjoy the foods you love.” For example, some of the tips she recommends include:

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The Best Pancakes in Ottawa - the Twitter-poll edition

Photo courtesy of stevensnodgrass on Flickr

Photo courtesy of stevensnodgrass on Flickr

I love pancakes. Their light and fluffy texture topped with a drizzle of intensely sweet maple syrup makes them a perfect dish for a relaxing weekend brunch. Imagine my surprise to learn that I get to eat them for dinner tonight! It’s pancake Tuesday… which I know has lots of significance and meaning for many as a religious marker leading into lent. For me… it’s more about an excuse to have breakfast for dinner.

To help those of you looking to satisfy your pancake craving this evening - I asked our twitter community for some recommendations.

Click to continue reading “The Best Pancakes in Ottawa - the Twitter-poll edition”

Chef Wars for Charity: Juniper takes on Ottawa!

sirwiseowl on flickr

sirwiseowl on flickr

Ever since the Food Network imported Iron Chef from Japan, cooking is becoming more and more like a competitive sport. Just like their non-edible counterparts, culinary sports come in a wide variety of flavours. At the WWF end of the spectrum is the hot dog eating contests, in which ‘reversals’ does not mean a string unexpected of goals. Perhaps more to the taste of the tennis and golf set are events like Juniper Restaurant’s Dueling Chef’s Food and Wine Pairing Event

Like a heavyweight on steroids, Juniper is challenging every other restaurant in its class to duke (or more accurately dice) it out for the title of cooking champion of Ottawa. Every Monday until March 15, the restaurant will invite a competing kitchen to come by to prepare a three course tasting menu. Each team will present their menu, along with wine pairing, to the dinners, whose vote will then determine the winner.

While the $135 plus tax and tip price tag makes this tournament a bit more expensive than watching the Super Bowl at home, all the proceeds for the night go to charity. So far, the home team lost to Whalesbone (proceeds go to Ottawa Humane Society) on the 7th and won against Allium Restaurant (The Snowsuit Fund) on the 18. Tonight Juniper will be taking on The Courtyard Restaurant (Quickstart).

See below for a list of the remaining matches/charities.

Click to continue reading “Chef Wars for Charity: Juniper takes on Ottawa!”

Ottawa Food and Wine Show

200+ exhibitors featuring food and wine from Ottawa and around the world. Entry is $17 in advance and $22 at the door. 50¢ tasting tickets let you sample from over 1400 wines, spirits and beers, taste a vast diversity of foods – and find out more about your favorite from the people who make them. Included in the price of entry are cooking demonstrations and wine tasting classes. Learn more here. The show runs from November 6 to 8, 12 to 9 on Friday and Saturday and 12 to 5:30 on Sunday.

Zombie Strippers at Babylon

Coutesy of Jonathan L'Orange-Millette

Coutesy of Jonathan L'Orange-Millette

Post by Brigitte Aubé-Harrison

‘Zombie’ and ‘Strippers’ are two words that are rarely heard in the same sentence (unless you’re into some kinky stuff I haven’t heard of before) but that’s about to change on October 30th with the not-to-miss event, Zombie Strippers! This undead-themed prom/burlesque/bake sale will be hitting Babylon night club the night before HalloweenCheck out Zombie Strippers at Babylon from 8pm onwards. Tickets $10 advance, $12 at the door.

I had a quick Q & A session with Veronica Michelle, event organizer and co-founder of Rockalily Burlesque.

Tell me a little bit about the event. What is Zombie Strippers exactly?

Zombie Strippers is being promoted as a Halloween Horrorshow. It’s going to be a night of fright, fun and burlesque. As always, we promise to stimulate as many of your senses as possible with live music, burlesque, cupcakes and all sorts of surprises. One of the Rockalily girls was bitten by a zombie not too long ago and she’s starting to infect the rest of us. We want to put on one show before the whole troupe has become mindless zombies.

Who will be performing at the event?

Ladymilk is a great local band that was booked to perform with Rockalily for the 2nd annual No Pants Dance Party (NPDP2) but had to back out of the bill due to a personal scheduling conflict. We are ecstatic that they’re available this time around! Ladymilk is going to warm everybody up and get them dancing… or at least shaking in their shoes.

Daiquiri is an Ottawa band that’s been around for longer than I care to remember (a loooong time!) They’ve toured North America and have played with numerous bands and acts whose names I promise you’ll have heard of, but I’ll leave the name-dropping to them. They have not played as Daiquiri in over two years so how could we turn down the opportunity to bring a local legend out of retirement? They’re going to blow everyone away with what promises to be an amazing and energetic return to the Ottawa stage.

Rockalily Burlesque will get everyone hot and bothered before we scare the pants off them with dancing and stripping zombies. You will never be more confused about your sexuality, not even in college!

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Mad City Chickens Film Screening & Policy Dialogue

Courtesy of Lovro67 on Flickr

Courtesy of Lovro67 on Flickr

Do chickens have what it takes to make it in the big city? While these rural avians are best known for their cowardice, they also  have an imperious self-importance that makes them slightly intimidating. Also, unlike gluttonous pigeons or frat-boy seagulls, they have a way of staring that seems intended to remind one of their decent from mammal-eating dinosaurs. That kind of attitude could do well on the mean city streets.

Aside from the chance to indulge in anthropomorphic character studies, keeping chickens in the city can offer more practical benefits like fresh eggs, organic meat or natural control of garden pests like slugs and grubs. This is why even in the age of avian flue and other menaces, several cities have started movements to give the chicken a big city make over. Tonight the Reel Food Film Festival will be tackling the issue of chicks in the city with a screening of Mad City Chickens.

Mad City Chickens is a sometimes whimsical, sometimes serious look at the people who keep urban chickens in their backyards. From chicken experts and authors to a rescued landfill hen or an inexperienced family that decides to take the poultry plunge—and even a mad scientist and giant hen taking to the streets—it’s a humorous and heartfelt trip through the world of backyard chickendom.  Film is 80 minutes long.

The talk will be followed by a discussion on urban poultry farming. The event is taking place at Saint Paul’s University Auditorium (223 Main Street). Doors open at 6:30pm, film starts at 7pm. Admission is free, with a suggested donation of $5.

If you want more info on this issue but can’t make it tonight, councilor Clive Doucet has started a facebook group on chickens in Ottawa.

FestivAsia 2009 this Weekend

October 2-4 2009
In Ottawa Chinatown - a multicultural village with an Asian flavour

The FestivAsia is a diverse cultural celebration organized by the Ottawa Chinatown Business Improvement Area (BIA) and its partnering organizations. It is an event contributing to the local and regional economies through increased tourism and its vibrant merchants activities.

It also acts as a platform for residents to showcase, to share and to enjoy the creativity, the energy and the hope of this unique neighbourhood.

Thanks to the Ontario Community Builder’s Fund, Celebrate Ontario and Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Program as well as our sponsors and partners, the 4th FestivAsia is able to grow into a larger scale event that contributes to the economic growth of Ottawa and add another attraction to the Ottawa tourism landscape while sharing the wealth of cultural experiences and expressions in our neighborhood, in our community.

red friday ralley
Friday, October 2nd 2009 from noon to 1PM
Location: Dundonald Park (On Somerset between Lyon and Bay Street)
Come and support our troops!

labyrinth walking meditation
Friday, October 2nd at 7PM
Location: St. Luke’s Anglican Church
Free Admission!

Classical Guitar Concert by Andrew Mah and CD Release
Friday, October 2nd at 7:30PM
Location: St. Luke’s Anglican Church
$20

umi cafe open mic + open jam sessions
Friday, October 2nd at 9PM
Location: Umi Cafe, 610 Somerset St. W
Info: (613) 656-1638
Free Admission!

slow dance
Friday, October 2nd from 9:30PM to 2AM
Location: Shanghai Restaurant,
651 Somerset St. W
Info: (613) 233-4001
$8 Admission includes your dance card!

quiet refreshment, pottery and art show
Saturday, October 3rd from 10AM to 4PM
Location: St. Luke’s Anglican Church
Free Admission!

chinatown performance parade
Saturday, October 3rd from 2PM to 4PM
Route: On Somerset Street (From Bay Street to Preston Street)
Free Admission!

make a fortune cookie at raw sugar
Saturday, October 3rd from 1PM to 4PM
Location: Raw Sugar, 692 Somerset St. W.
Info: (613) 216-2850
Materials provided - $2 donation please.

shanghai karaoke with chinadoll
Saturday, October 3rd from 9PM to 2AM
Location: Shanghai Restaurant
651 Somerset St. W.
Info: (613) 233-4001
Free Admission!

orthodox iconography
Saturday, October 3rd from 4PM to 5PM
721 Somerset Street West, Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church.
Guided tours of our beautifully renovated church that features traditional Orthodox iconography and frescoes.
Free Admission!

multicultural stage
Saturday, October 3rd and Sunday October 4th from 10:30AM to 6PM
Location: City Parking Lot
(Cambridge Street N. and Somerset Street W.)
Free Admission!

outdoor market
Saturday, October 3rd and Sunday October 4th from 10:30AM to 6PM
Location: City Parking Lot
(Cambridge Street N. and Somerset Street W.)
Free Admission!

the door youth art story of asia
Saturday, October 3rd and Sunday October 4th from 10:30AM to 6PM
Location: City Parking Lot
(Cambridge Street N. and Somerset Street W.)
Free Admission!

mekong celebrity chef food and wine tent
Saturday, October 3rd and Sunday October 4th from 10:30AM to 6PM
Location: City Parking Lot
(Cambridge Street N. and Somerset Street W.)
Free Admission!

Somerset West CHC  Family & Kids Fun
Saturday, October 3rd and Sunday October 4th from 10:30AM to 6PM
Location: 755 Somerset Street, Dalhousie Community Centre
Free Admission!

vendors / crafters
Saturday, October 3rd and Sunday October 4th from 10:30AM to 6PM
Location: 755 Somerset Street, Dalhousie Community Centre
Free Admission!

heart and stroke foundation - healthy kids booth
Saturday, October 3rd and Sunday October 4th from 10:30AM to 6PM
Location: 755 Somerset Street, Dalhousie Community Centre
Free Admission!

hybrid racing motorcycle show
Saturday, October 3rd and Sunday October 4th from 10:30AM to 6PM
Location: 755 Somerset Street, Dalhousie Community Centre
Free Admission!

japanese garden
Saturday, October 3rd and Sunday October 4th from 11AM to 5:30PM
Location: 755 Somerset Street, Dalhousie Community Centre
Free Admission!

live art by local artist daniel martelok representing chinatown’s spring art festival chinatown remixed
Saturday, October 3rd and Sunday October 4th from 11AM to 5PM
Location: 755 Somerset Street, Dalhousie Community Centre
Free Admission!

a liturgy in church
Sunday October 4th at 10AM
Location: St. Luke’s Anglican Church
All are welcome!

outdoor blessing of animals
Sunday October 4th at 2PM
Location: St. Luke’s Anglican Church
An outdoor “Blessing of Animals” for the Feast of Saint Francis followed by treats for people and pets in Lindsay Hall. All are welcome!

TASTE! A Celebration of Regional Cuisine

Courtesy of fieldtripp on flickr

Courtesy of fieldtripp on flickr

Post by Apt613 food critic extraordinaire, Arran Arbiter

Ottawa is overflowing with a cornucopia of artists, musical venues, delectable places to dine and plenty of political intrigue to keep one entertained on a daily basis. Yet, all this excitement can over stimulate the senses and you may start confusing the O-train with a hot new downtown restaurant or Lansdowne Live with a new video game platform. When you reach this point a weekend getaway is sorely required.

Thankfully, Ottawa is also perfectly situated to take advantage of its neighbouring regions. A quick drive east will put you in reach of a quaint village and locally brewed beer (read: Vankleek Hill and Beau’s Brewery), while a quick drive south-west will put you in Perth and all that it has to offer. However, when you plan for a weekend getaway, you really want to get away. So, my advice, and the focus of this post, is to introduce you to Prince Edward County (PEC) and the plethora of wine, food and recreation this region has aplenty.

This happens to be a timely post, as on Saturday, September 26th, from 11am to 5pm, against the backdrop of Picton’s historic Crystal Palace, you will get a chance to dive right into the richness of the county’s bounty. TASTE! is a celebration of regional cuisine, highlighting local food and wine producers, with all proceeds being donated to the local Food Bank. TASTE! will be offering  over 50 booths, with 18 local wineries and breweries pouring over 50 wines and a selection of beers and ciders from the PEC DVA (Designated Viticultural Area), Ontario’s newest, 16 restaurants and 7 specialty food providers.

This is the 8th annual epicurean experience, and I can safely say, from experience, that it truly is a smorgasbord of extravagant, scrumptious and refined expression of what can be achieved when regional farmers, winemakers, chefs and community work together.

To assist your adventures in the County, I’ve compiled a list of must-go places to explore. For those who can’t bear to leave Ottawa I’ve included purveyors in the city that stock some of this regions fine product.

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Apartment613 Oktoberfest Contest - Win tickets to the Beau’s Oktoberfest Party - Oh Yeah!!

Courtesty of Fieldtrip from the Apartment613 Flickr Pool

Courtesy of fieldtripp from the Apartment613 Flickr Pool

I’m not big on Halloween and I could take or leave a big Thanksgiving dinner, so October has always been a bit of bust for me holiday-wise. Until now that is. Beau’s Brewery - everyone’s favourite reason to go to Vankleek Hill - is hosting an Oktoberfest Party on October 3rd. Oktoberfest, the famous Munich festival, is renowned for volumes of food, volumes of beer and (according to Wikipedia) the 1800 toilets and urinals available on site.

Beau’s version of Oktoberfest will feature $4.00 pints of their fresh and famous beer and food from some of Ottawa’s finest eateries. Which sounds just fine to me!

From Ottawa, you’ll be able to get treats from Allium, Domus, Murray Street Kitchen Wine & Charcuterie, Pascale’s All Natural Ice Cream, The Piggy Market, Urban Pear and Whalesbone. They have also lined-up some folks from the surrounding area who might be lesser known to Ottawans: Ballygiblins from Carleton Place, The Branch Organic Restaurant from Kemptville, Knox Fine Dining from Moose Creek and Mary’s Country Kitchen from Vankleek Hill. Rumour has it that even the guy who played Norm from Cheers will be in attendance.

The $12 tickets ($15 at the door) get you in the door and eight hours of live Oompah music, games and (of course) brewery tours. You can get your tickets from the brewery, any Bridgehead location or the Piggy Market in Westoro. Two lucky Apartment613 readers will, however, be attending free courtesy of the fine folks at Beau’s!

Click to continue reading “Apartment613 Oktoberfest Contest - Win tickets to the Beau’s Oktoberfest Party - Oh Yeah!!”

SuperEX at Lansdowne

Courtesy of Ottawa Information Guide

The Central Canada Exhibition otherwise known as the Ottawa Superex (or “The Ex”) has been in Ottawa for over 100 years. The SuperEx offers a variety of entertainment that the entire family can enjoy.
The 2009 Ottawa SuperEx will be held from August 20th to 30th. The gates will be open daily from 11:30am to 10:30pm and the midway will be open from 12noon to 12midnight everyday. There will be plenty of time to enjoy all that it has to offer.

There has been talk in the past couple of years that the Superex will be moving to a different location. However, for the 2009 Superex it will remain at its regular location – Lansdowne Park (on Bank Street, near the Rideau Canal).

PARKING
Parking on the grounds is limited and will cost $25.00. You are much better off driving through the subdivisions in the Glebe as some local residents will charge you a much better rate to park in their driveway. If you prefer to take public transportation then you can take the #1 or #7 to the Superex.

ADMISSION PRICES
Admission to the Ottawa SuperEx is a very good value considering a lot of the entertainment is free. This year the Ex has rolled back prices. Here are the admission fees:
•    General admission is only $10
•    Children under 12 is $5
•    Pick up a Dr. Pepper Advance Pass at any Quickie store between July 27th and Aug. 20 at noon and save up to $18

ATTRACTIONS
Some of the attractions at the 2009 Ottawa Superex include:
•    Xtreme Wild predator & prey show;
•    Top Cops Academy high-dive show;
•    Endangered Ontario featuring a rattlesnakes show;
•    the Birds of Prey show;
•    agricultural competitions;
•    displays in the Rona Pure Country Pavilion;
•    both Fridays during SuperEX are Pizza Pizza 2-for-1 Date Night. Pick up a coupon at Pizza Pizza after July 27th;
•    Aug. 25th is Giant Tiger/Gifford Associates Kids Free Day. Pick up a coupon at Giant Tiger starting July 20th;
•    Aug. 26th is OLG Slots Free Seniors Day; and
•    there is plenty more to keep you busy at the Ex

CONCERTS
There have been hundreds of popular musical guests over the years at the Superex. This year will be no exception. Here are a few of the artists that will be performing this year for FREE:
•    Aaron Pritchett
•    Prism
•    The Blushing Brides
•    Bedouin Soundclash
•    April Wine
•    and more.
For more up to date information, please check out their website at: www.ottawasuperex.com
Bring the whole family and come out to enjoy one of the great shows or try a few rides at the Ottawa Superex! See you there.