frugal feast

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

Written
by
Katie
on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
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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

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With artistic performances by:

Three Little Birds & Poetic Speed

http://www.myspace.com/threelittlebirdstheband

http://komiolaf.com/

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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
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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

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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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Free Christmas Dinners!

Written
by
Samantha
on Saturday, December 24, 2011
.

Photo courtesy of Justinvl on Flickr.

Even with all the pretty lights and good cheer, Christmas can be a very difficult time for many of us.  Just sitting down to a holiday dinner, or being able to share it with well-wishers, may not be an option.  No one deserves to spend Christmas alone when there are so many kind volunteering Ottawans working to make it a little brighter.

This list is meant to make Christmas a bit easier for those struggling this season and enjoy a delicious meal. All the options listed below are open to everyone regardless of religious denomination, social or marital status.  No registration is required.  Children are welcome at each event.

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Thank you from Byward Eats!

Written
by
Francois
on Saturday, November 12, 2011
.

Bywardeats.com

Post by Sonia and Ashima, from OAK Computing. Apt613 has partnered with OAK to create a new website that is set to come out in a few months. Throughout the year, folks from OAK will be guest blogging on Apt613.

We have had an overwhelming response from our lovely community !! Ottawa – You Rock !! A big thank you to everyone who showed interest in our initiative, and a special thank you to the team at Apt613 for giving us access to such a wonderful platform to share our insights and experiences. Now that this project has made us all at OAK food addicts (literally), lets start by sharing our Top 10 with you (in order):

1. La Bottega  (Cheap, quick sandwiches with delicious illy coffee)

2. Ahora  (Best mexican food in the city)

3. Shawarma Palace (a.k.a a garlic paradise)

4. Peace-Garden  (Where the food touches your soul)

5. Chez Lucien  (King of gourmet burgers)

6. Memories (The best kept secret)

7. Smoque Shack (A carnivore haven)

8. Murray’s Market (You got to be pork-ed out here. Note:  Sadly it has just closed down)

9. A Culinary Conspiracy (A unique experience)

10. Wontonmama (A good attempt on asian-fusion food)

We were also flattered to see that some of you want us to expand this project to other areas in Ottawa. Well you never know, your support might have inspired us to start thinking of how we can come back with more! Byward Eats was our humble attempt at doing something creative and interesting, and this will certainly not be our last effort at increasing the digital (social) footprint of Ottawa. We are actively looking for the next idea and our next partners. So, if you sense our excitement, and want to share our commitment to put more of Ottawa in the social layer, then please reach out and send us an email … the coffee (as we love to say here at OAK) is always on us. We can be reached at team@oakcomputing.com

With the winter setting in, eating has got to increase! So try away our top picks and don’t forget to share your favorites with us! And yes, if you do end up visiting any of the above amazing restaurants, do mention to the owner that you read our review on BywardEats.com.

 

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Review of Cafe My House, where veggies are the star

Written
by
Jessica Sims
on Wednesday, November 2, 2011
.

Photo by Jessica Sims

Post by Jessica Sims

When you first walk into Café My House, you do a double take. The bright modern space is not something you’re prepared to encounter in a small plaza along Bank Street near Alta Vista, with neighbours such as “The Cash Store” and a discount rental car company.

Sit down and you’re quickly put in the right mindset by colourful photos of fresh fruit and vegetables on the wall. Café My House describes itself as “vegan-friendly,” but with local Bekings eggs and smoked salmon on the menu, it doesn’t turn its nose up at non-vegans (which I appreciate, as a non-vegan). The restaurant has been around for two years and sustains itself as a haven for health conscious eaters. It has some really neat quirks, like a daily vegan ‘grab-and-go’ lunch including a tempeh cheeseburger with vegan miso gravy. The organic loose leaf tea list reads more like a wine list, giving the country of origin for each tea and its health benefits. As a bonus, brunch is served all day.

My lunch companion and I start with two raw vegan shakes. My companion – much braver than I – goes for the “daily detox” of red grapefruit, orange juice, orange flax seed, banana, and organic raw agave. It’s got a bite to it but not an unpleasant one. I opt for a shake combining cilantro and mango with apple juice, cucumber, pineapple and raw agave. It’s very refreshing and tastes like what I wish my kitchen smelled like. However the “regular” size I receive for $5.95 is only slightly bigger than a small coffee at Tim Hortons. At that price, I would have liked to slurp the luxury for longer.

Click to continue reading “Review of Cafe My House, where veggies are the star”

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The Reveal has Started on Byward Eats

Written
by
Francois
on Tuesday, November 1, 2011
.

Post by Sonia and Ashima, from OAK Computing. Apt613 has partnered with OAK to create a new website that is set to come out in a few months. Throughout the year, folks from OAK will be guest blogging on Apt613.

We’ve stopped eating. Ok we’re still eating, but we’ve stopped taste testing for Byward Eats (forgot about the Byward Eats project?  - click here).  We’ve tasted, reviewed, ranked and now we’re revealing our top 10 places to eat for lunch for under $15 in the market.  Each day at  9am we reveal to you another favorite eatery, so do check the website everyday and feel free to leave notes for us -we’d love it!

 What have we learned so far from this experience (other than eating out every day has a direct correlation to heavier breathing when climbing stairs)?

 Some surprises:

  • Good restaurants are not interested in new technology based marketing strategies – they are interested in providing great experiences so that word of mouth works in their favour – their ability to wow with their food is their marketing.
  • Several of our local restaurants have been branded as dessert places when their savoury food is also quite delicious.
  • Photos yes, videos no.  Not all locations are comfortable with someone taking video footage (albeit on their phone) at their establishment.  Surprisingly though, no one had an issue with us taking photos.

Some facts:

  • All restaurants on Murray Street are delicious.  This is why it’s called Gastro Alley.
  • Vlogging is quite time consuming – I assume this is why most foodies blog.
  • Going in to a restaurant and taking lots of pictures does not look natural.  We tried to make ‘touristy comments’ to try make it comfortable, but the weird looks kept coming our way.
  •  Eating out is bad on the wallet – as mint.com is only too happy to keep reminding me.

When you eat out a lot, you start to realize which cravings can’t be fed in the Byward.

Missing in the Byward area:

  • Chinese takeout
  • A real Samosa stop
  • Maneesh (Lebanese pies) bakery

And watch out for coupons on Byward Eats, we have some good discounts for our readers!

 Finally, we’d love to hear from you – do you agree/disagree with our picks, what did we miss, are top 10 best of lists even useful?  Let the party eating begin!

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EPIC MEAL TIME Live @ RITUAL Nightclub

Written
by
Katie
on Sunday, October 9, 2011
.

Bacon Strips! Bacon Strips!
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Have you ever imagine how it would be if you were in an Epic Meal Time’s Video?
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This is your chance!
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TICKET INFO:
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$25.00 in advance/ more at the door
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Available at Local stores:
- Reap & Sew (613) 562-4545
- Fall Down Gallery (613) 421-3269
- Top of the World (613) 237-4797
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Ritual – 137 Besserer St – Ottawa, ON – (613) 680-7661
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Doors: 9pm – ALL AGES event (id required)
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Hosted by the Students’ Association for the Faculty of Arts

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The Will Work for Food Project Workers Lunch

Written
by
Katie
on Sunday, October 9, 2011
.

The Will Work for Food Project is a community art collaboration that explores small scale urban agriculture. Initiated to acknowledge the complexities surrounding food production, access to food, and its cultural significance, the project specifically focuses on the issues concerning the community surrounding the Ottawa Art Gallery (OAG). This project continues into the fall with a series of community work bees open to the public, where artist Jennifer Cook will be on site. Anyone and everybody is welcome to participate in this project!

http://www.ottawaartgallery.ca/news/2011/willwork/index-en.php

http://willworkforfood-oag.tumblr.com/

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Bid the garden farewell with a final feast. The fun starts at noon and continues until the pot is empty.
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This is an al fresco event in SAW Courtyard. If the weather is blustery look for us inside at ArtsCourt – the front desk can tell you where to find us.
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Don’t forget to RSVP so we can save you a bowl!

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=276339702390324

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It’s all Greek to me! The Greek Souvlaki Shack fills a need for cheap and authentic Greek food in Ottawa

Written
by
apartment613
on Tuesday, August 9, 2011
.

Post and photos by Yasmin Nissim

Since I moved to Ottawa, I’ve made a hobby out of trying to find culinary equivalents for some of my favourite haunts back home. Now, after nine years, I’ve finally found a Greek restaurant that lives up to my expectations. I was taking a walk down Bank Street a few months back and noticed that a new restaurant, The Greek Souvlaki Shack, had opened up right near the corner of Bank and Cooper. The thing that made me stop dead in my tracks, however, was a single item on the menu…bougatsa! No, it’s not a bastardization of eureka, but it may as well have been in my case.

Bougatsa is a fabulous Greek dessert consisting of flaky phyllo pastry, filled with heavy custard and topped with powdered sugar and cinnamon. This was a special treat my Dad used to take me for on Saturdays down on the Danforth, the Greek neighbourhood in Toronto. I spent a lot of time there as a kid, learning about all the tasty things my Greek heritage had to offer.

I had pretty much given up on tracking down this lovely, little delicacy in Ottawa, but when I found it along with another favourite of mine, Loukoumades (think golden Timbits soaked in honey and sprinkled with cinnamon), I was beyond excited! A quick perusal of the menu posted in the window showed me that all of the usual standbys were available as well, at quite reasonable prices. Needless to say, further inspection was required. My fiancé Chris and I headed over for dinner a few nights later. We were not disappointed!

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Ice Cream Festival

Written
by
Katie
on Sunday, July 31, 2011
.

Do you like ice cream? Visit the Canada Agriculture Museum on Sunday, August 7, and learn about the journey from cow to cone. Practise your milking technique on the Museum’s wooden cow and get the scoop on how dairying technology now includes milking machines, and even robotic milkers.
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Try your hand at an old-fashioned manual ice cream maker, and taste your own yummy creation. Local beekeepers will be at the Museum to explain the buzz about honeybees and the essential role that pollinators play in ice cream production. To add to the festivities, join in on family yoga or speak with members of the Ottawa Fire Services who will be showcasing their community programming.

Read more about the Ice Cream Festival

Ice Cream Festival Activities

Ice Cream Making

10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m.

Help make ice cream with an old-fashioned manual ice cream maker. Various flavours will be made throughout the day, with lots of taste testing opportunities!

Gelato and Frozen Yogurt Making

10 a.m.– 4 p.m. (ongoing)

Join Museum staff as they make gelato — an Italian frozen dessert – and frozen yogurt! Discover the ingredients and methods used to make these frozen treats.

From Cow to Cone

10 a.m.– 4 p.m. (ongoing)

Find out how much milk a cow produces each day, and how much of that milk is cream. How many ice cream cones does that make? The quantities are truly amazing!

World of Mammals

10 a.m.– 4 p.m. (ongoing)

From bats to cows, and goats to humans, all mammals share key characteristics that set them apart from other animals. Discover what these characteristics are while learning about the mammals that live on farms. You will even have the chance to taste ice cream made from the milk of one of these mammals!

Milking Demonstration

4 p.m.

Visit our dairy barn and watch as we milk our very own cows!

A World Without Pollinators is a World Without Ice Cream

10 a.m.– 4 p.m. (ongoing)

Pollinators are the insects that pollinate flowers. You know about bees and butterflies, but did you know that there are over 1,000 species of pollinating insects in Canada? Discover the essential role that pollinators play in the production of many forage crops fed to dairy cows, as well as in the production of cherries, strawberries, vanilla, etc…

Meet Local Beekeepers

10 a.m.– 4 p.m. (ongoing)

Local beekeepers will be on site to give visitors the buzz about honeybees (honey and other products will be available to buy – cash only).

Yoga

10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m.

Join us for some family fun yoga time! Children will be introduced to the many benefits of yoga as we set sail on a yoga adventure. We will explore several yoga poses and simple breathing techniques. Yoga for children can help develop body awareness, increase flexibility, balance and confidence.

Ottawa Fire Services — Fire Safety House

10 a.m.– 4 p.m.

This mobile unit highlights electrical hazards, cooking hazards, and the dangerous use of fireplaces and candles, and reinforces the importance of fire safety planning.

Also…

Food Services ($)

The Hot Potato Company will be on site this weekend to offer food services ($). The menu includes baked potatoes and potato wedges available with a wide variety of delicious toppings, as well as hot dogs, ice cream and cold and hot drinks including juice, soft drinks, freshly squeezed lemonade, coffee and tea.

General information

The Canada Agriculture Museum is located on the Central Experimental Farm, Prince of Wales Drive, between the traffic circle and Baseline Road.
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Free parking.

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Ottawa World Fest

Written
by
Francois
on Wednesday, July 6, 2011
.

We are a group of volunteer initiatives from grassroots communities in the National Capital Region. Our main objectives are to promote cross-cultural awareness and nurture a culture of peace throughout artistic events in hope to bring together people of different backgrounds within our community. we are in partnership with Ottawa International Drumming Festival.
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Enjoy music and dances from Latin America, Africa, South America, & Asia, relax, picnic next to the beautiful Ottawa river. Join us in a calm, friendly, family oriented atmosphere.
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Event is FREE, but organizers are encouraging the public to offer a voluntary contribution to cover the event cost.
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BRING FRIENDS, FAMILY AND KIDS… !!!!!
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Andrew Haydon Park – Carling Ave, at Holly Acres Rd. Ottawa, Ont. OC transport bus route # 166 from Bayshore mall.

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