lunch

Poutine crawl this weekend! Reserve your place fast!

Photo courtesy of Alisha Hill on flickr

Photo courtesy of Alisha Hill on flickr

I’m actually not kidding and this has nothing to do with university frosh. Paola St-Georges of C’est Bon cooking classes is organizing a poutine crawl this Saturday, July 17, from 1:20 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The group’s poutine outing is a fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society. (It supports a local athlete, Isabelle Rivard’s effort to raise $10,000 to bike from Vancouver to Austin for the Livestrong challenge.)  The $25 entrance fee not only comes with a tax receipt, a chance to win a trip to Toronto or a short haul flight within Canada and the U.S., BUT also a poutine tasting at seven restaurants in the ByWard Market.

“The restaurants are very generously donating the poutine,” organizer Paola St-Georges told Apt613.

“Poutine is something that catches young people’s eye. It is something that people can afford no matter what their income level,” she said. “(We thought) it is something that is fun and light… well, not the food!”

St-Georges will be leading the walking tour where participants will get to try “creative takes on the classic poutine.” Stops will include Murray Street’s spatzle poutine with shredded mariposa duck confit and roast duck gravy; as well as the Courtyard Restaurant for another duck gravy poutine; Zak’s dinner and Garlic Corner for a traditional take on the classic; Dunn’s smoke meat poutine, Island Flava for a jerk chicken poutine and D’Arcy McGees for a Guinness gravy poutine.

You can reserve your spot for the afternoon outing here. The group will meet in front of Cafe 55 at the ByWard Market Square and the entrance fee is payable at the door.

There is only room for 30 people so reserve fast!

THE 2010 INTERNATIONAL CHICKEN-RIB COOK-OFF

June 23-27 on Sparks St.

Teams from Canada and the United States will compete for the top rank of best rib choice, best rib sauce, best chicken choice and best chicken sauce.

If you miss this, you will be missing some of the best BBQ chicken and ribs you’ll ever taste. This is truly an international Chicken and Rib Cook-off.

Cook-Off Hours:

Wednesday, June 23 to Saturday June 26
11 am to 8:30 pm

Sunday, June 27
10:30 am to 6:00 pm

Savour the flavour of Wellington West this weekend

Courtesy of Fieldtripp on Flickr

Courtesy of Fieldtripp on Flickr

For anyone looking to add something to their weekend other the Fringe Festival, you might like to take a stroll down Wellington Street on Saturday when the neighborhood’s eclectic mix of food and retail vendors will be out for Taste of Wellington West. If you haven’t yet fallen in love with this neighborhood, Saturday will be your chance to taste some of Ottawa’s best caterers, bakeries, and restaurants, while browsing great shops like Victoire, Collected Works and the Cube Gallery. The Wellington West BIA has done a great deal to put this neighborhood on the map and now that the construction is (I think mostly) done you have no excuse but to wander over.

Food samples are out from 1-3pm and there will be a sidewalk sale from 1-5pm. Admission is free, but donation boxes for the Causeway Work Centre will be out. Read on for a full list of participating vendors.

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Yum! MSMF Indian Food Festival

MSMF is an Ottawa-based Canadian charity involved in promoting rural community development in India through education, health care and disaster relief programs. To collect funds for the charity, an INDIAN FOOD FESTIVAL is being held on June 19, 2010 (Saturday) at Andrew Haydon Park.

The Vegetarian delicacies prepared and served on-site will be: Masala Dosa, Idli, Masala Vada, Chutney, Sambar, Upma Pav Phaji, Almond Burfi, Payasam, Kala Jamun. Time: 11AM - 2PM.

Other festive activities include karaoke and internaitonal variety show. Time 2PM - 5PM. Tickets: Reg $15, Seniors $12, Kids (6-12) $6, Kids (under 6) free

Advance Tickets: Lakshmi Vishnubhatla (613)523-5413 or Geeta Chowdhury (613)833-7429 or info@msmf.ca.

Ottawa’s own Chipotle — but better

Burrito Borracho's Alex and Mario

Burrito Borracho's Alex and Mario

The best part of travelling to an American university campus is  Chipotle Mexican Grill, the fast food joint that for years has had New Yorkers lining up outside for a lunch time bite is cheap, delicious and filling. So when Toronto got its own location a few years ago, we thought the expansion up North might include Ottawa. Seems it wasn’t meant to be. Instead, what Ottawa finally has is Burrito Borracho, our own healthier, more authentic version of Chipotle.

picture-9 Alex and Mario, two guys from Mexico, opened Burrito Borracho almost a month ago. Their Clarence Street joint is frequented by the chefs nearby, including Navarra’s René Rodriguez, who also grew up in Mexico. The menu features burritos, quesadillas, tacos and tortas (a type of Mexican sandwich). Mario’s mother taught Alex to cook but with her work nearly done, she’s heading back to Mexico soon.

The food is fresh, the hot salsa verde won’t set your mouth on fire (so don’t be afraid to load it on) and the guacamole, while a little too smooth for my taste, is still quite yummy.

Burrito Borracho prices range from $3.25 to $10.00. Located at 105A Clarence St, they’re open late, Monday to Wednesday until 11 p.m. and Thursday through Saturday till 4 a.m.

MAPLEFEST 2010

MAPLEFEST 2010

What: The CUMBERLAND LIONS CLUB is celebrating the 41st anniversary of MapleFest. Pancakes, Sausages, Maple Syrup, Orange Juice, Tea, Coffee, and all the Pancakes you can eat! Maple Syrup products on sale by the Cumberland Scouts A Bake sale by the three village churches is being held across the street from Maple Hall at the United Church on Saturday from 8 AM to 2 PM

When: Saturday and Sunday, April 10th and 11th , 8 AM to 3 PM.

Where: Cumberland Lions Maple Hall 2552 Old Montreal Road, Village of Cumberland (8 minutes east of Place d’Orléans)

Cost: Adults $6.00 Children (12 & under) $4.00 Seniors $5.00

Nom Nom (Some of) Ottawa’s Foodie Bloggers!

Courtesy of Jo Stockton from apat613 Flickr Pool

Courtesy of Jo Stockton from apat613 Flickr Pool

Ottawa might not be known as a foodie capital, but there is no doubt that there is something of a food culture living below the surface of our city. A world-class culinary school and top-notch restaurants certainly help, but the lifeblood of any foodie community (and we hope any community really) is its bloggers - an area where Ottawa is excelling!

The institution of Food Blogging has really taken off - I’ve followed about ten new ones since watching Julie and Julia alone. In my Google Reader list there are a couple of local Ottawa folks who I keep going back to. This list is in no way comprehensive! I’ll add your suggestions to my feed reader and do another post on this ASAP.

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Frugal Feast: Danni Panini

danni-panini-1

If you find the dark tower, you're near Danni Panini.

By new contributor Phil Castro

You would think that a guy with two sons at home knows a thing or two about tossing together a sandwich, right? Well, let me tell you Danni Panini at 42 Beech Street in Ottawa’s Little Italy knows what he’s doing. Located in the shadow of the Federal Government Booth Street complex and a stone’s throw from Preston Square, the place is busy at lunch time with about a five minute wait for a freshly prepared sandwich.

Danni provides 11 cleverly named pre-determined sandwiches (two of  which, Mathias’ and Nic’s Sandwiches, are named after the owner’s sons) 11 toppings, 9 condiments, 6 cheeses and 5 different kinds of bread, revealing a whopping amount of permutations. You can also go custom. My usual lunch companion opts for a pork free combo of turkey and roast beef (not on the menu). Not for me though, I likes me some pig and religiously go for the Cosa Nostra.

What we do agree on is the Lepine bread,  which Danni tells me is actually Yugoslavian. It is light, fluffy and delicious, taking nothing away from the sandwich itself. We also agree on a slice of spicy havarti perfectly melted by a conveyor toaster. (This is where Panini purists may cringe, but all things considered it does the job without squishing the bread and cooking the ‘cool’ ingredients.) The toppings come next and are always fresh. The spicy eggplant is the kicker in the deal and, with family within a stones throw of the factory back in the old country, Danni knows what he’s offering.

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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.

Frugal Feast: Herb & Spice dishes out the healthy food

Courtesy of S.L.M. from the Apartment613 Flickr pool

Courtesy of S.L.M. from the Apartment613 Flickr pool

In our effort to highlight some of the better value options for downtown lunches and dinners I would be remiss not to highlight one of my favourite spots for lunch food. The Herb & Spice has certainly become a regular stop for bulk, vegetables and many of my grocery staples - but it’s also a great place for a cheap, quick lunch. They always have a couple of great offerings of soup, including a Dhal that I really like priced at $3.99 for a big bowl.

You can easily round out a lunch with the selection of samosas (many under a dollar), dips, breads, plus baked goods (including addictive vegan cupcakes).  You might think that the fruits and veggies are expensive at H&S, but I’ve often found that some produce items are about the same price as Hartman’s, so you can easily add some nutrition to your lunch with an apple, banana or other fruit.

Cheap, healthy, fast… it’s gotta be a Frugal Feast!

There are two Herb & Spice shops in the city:

375 Bank Street in Centretown

1310 Wellington Street West in West Wellington Village