the week that was and is - october 7th, 2009

It's official. All my vegetables are out of the ground and/or dead. Just like that, after months of work it's all over. It seems like just the other day I was planting my seeds. The good - carrots, lettuce, red peppers. The bad - radishes, beets, red onions, red peppers. I've discovered there really is a trick to good spacing. My beets, carrots, and radishes started their lives too close and I never knew when to stop the thinning. So unfortunately, combined with our crappy growing season this year, many vegetables didn't make it. Oh well. To next year! I can't wait. I think I may actually start planning my areas and ordering seeds.

• Bakery, bakery, bakery. From Chowhound to the Edmonton Journal, fellow blogger's have seemingly dropped what they were doing and headed over to the new Dutchess Bake Shop. Of all people, I gotta spread the love to Only Here for the Food and The Brulee Blog. I suppose I'll have to make my way over before I fall out of the local loop ;)

• Speaking of bakeries, if you are looking for gluten free products our neighbours to the south have a great resource, the GF Patisserire. Offering a pretty big selection of items, H.Peter from The Celiac Husband, does make mention of Ben's Meats, here in Edmonton offering a selection of products.

• Liane Faulder made mention that Stawnichy's is celebrating 50 years in the sausage business. Our family has a soft spot for the sausage; we used to buy it buy the case. I don't think I've tried any other offerings in the product line though.

• As a fan of good haggis, I loved seeing Haggis-in-a-can over at are you gonna eat that. All in the name of high quality blogging! Now if only I could track down the hamburger in a can.

• A lot of talk lately about Gourmet magazine coming to a close. As someone who wasn't a subscriber or regular buyer, it doesn't affect me too deeply. I can, however, respect and acknowledge the loss of such a giant icon. Media is changing so much these days..what happens next.

• Speaking of icons, it looks like the King is doing some renovations. "I'd call it more contemporary, edgy, futuristic," Chairman and CEO John Chidsey said. "It feels so much more like an upscale restaurant."

• 'For several years, a small group of poultry enthusiasts has been pushing to save an authentic Canadian chicken from extinction. The Chantecler chicken, a bird once believed to be extinct, remains alive, but only around 2,000 of them are thought to be in existence and the majority of them are in Quebec'. Good on them!!

• So what is the worst Halloween candy you've ever eaten? While it wasn't for Halloween, I can safely say that a my brother and I were the recipients of hard durian candies about 10 years ago, and I can still remember the taste. Awful!!
  

• Is anyone attempting their first Thanksgiving? Are you venturing out..maybe cooking a turducken? And family recipes you care to share? I would love to hear about anything!

• I picked some buffalo earlier in the week for tacos and used a homemade taco seasoning I found online. They turned out delicious, but the hardest part was trying to make my corn tortillas at the same time. I need more arms/hands.
  

• Besides the smell of fresh bread, I love the snap, crackle, and pop from a cooling loaf. I covered this loaf with cornmeal and was amazing to see the corn meal popping off like popcorn as the bread cracked. I wish I had a mini video to show you.

To another week! Enjoy.

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garden treats!

My first ever cucumber! Just pulled off this little (5 inch) cucumber, along with a bowl full of tumbler tomatoes. I know it's late in the year, the cucumber should have been producing quite a while back, but I can't hide the excitement. I sliced the cucumber for a roasted chicken sandwich, and it was heavenly.

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holy carrots batman!

Every time I pull one of my carrots from the ground, my inner child can't help but do the happy dance. As a first time gardener, I hope I never lose this feeling.

This long line of carrots is growing so beautifully, that I can't help but snack once in a while; and for a guy who eats 5-6lbs of carrots a week, I'm surprised I can hold myself back.

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the week that was and is - july 8th, 2009

July 8th already; where is the year going everyone...that is the question this week.

• Our local food columnist mentioned Fork Fest is back. I wasn't in the city last time around, but it looks like fun (see here, here, here and here). Hopefully I can dine at one or two spots. Any recommendations are welcome.

• One of our morning news programs was doing a live spot from the new T & T Supermarket in town. They mentioned selling 4000 pounds of crab opening day, and flew in another 4000 for the second day. Holy Crab Man!

• Speaking of T & T. Liane Faulder commented on Sharon's site, that a south side T & T is not in the works. Too bad, as I think it would be a great location, and I've been dreaming of this all year.

• Isabelle, from The Little Red Kitchen, is doing a summer cookbook piece for CBC. Why not make it a part of your Monday morning - 7:40AM on CBC Radio One.
  

• Interesting story about a Wisconsin man; I've always wondered what would happen if you picked a dead animal off the highway and brought it home to eat.

• No surprise I suppose. A bakery that is owned by police officers in Michigan is called 'Cops & Doughnuts". They also sell t-shirts; "You Have the Right to Remain Glazed" and "Handcuffs and Cream Puffs."

• Nutritional labeling is an odd beast. "Kellogg's Frosted Flakes cereal, for example, would not qualify for a nutrition iQ symbol. NuVal gives it a measly 22 out of 100. But it would qualify as a "Smart Choice" under a system the American Dietetic Association says will be unveiled this summer." Yes, I have time and like to cook, but I like to buy real food and go from there.

• Stinky kitchen, why not simmer a pot of water with lemon and orange peels.

• Have a quick look at this Cul De Sac cartoon. Oh Fontanel.
  

• I had to thin my carrots a bit more this past week. It's something that makes me sad as a first time gardener; I'm throwing away potential vegetables right! I know it has to be done and I've been going a slow pace, but finally went all out. They are starting to develop enough to eat so I made a mini carrot plate. I can't wait for the colours to develop...and how cute are the little ball ones going to be!

• Stopped in at Bee Bell Bakery for my father's birthday cake. Growing up, he would ask every day if black forest cake was for dessert, which it never was. Normally I would bake for friends and such, but I don't know my way around a BF cake. This one was ok, better than a Safeway/Sobey's (quality wise), with no real difference in taste and in no way 'more' authentic. Anyone know a great place to find one, please let me know.

Stay classy everyone!

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the week that was and is - may 20th, 2009

Snow Snow Snow. Where the heck did this come from. I have a feeling my first garden is quickly committing suicide........

• Check out todays Edmonton Journal Bistro section for a break down of our very own Little Lebanon.

• The back page of the May/June City Palate is all about Slow Food Edmonton's presentation of Indulgence. I remember hearing and/or reading about this before...but any local peeps want to fill me in with any details. Is this something to partake in?

• I also just recently discovered chomparoundalberta. What a great idea to discover out of the ways locations, eateries, fresh produce and more They even have itineraries for you to follow with lodgings and everything!

• Our local Technical Institute, NAIT, has started advertising for their epicurean boot camps. I would love be 'sponsored' for a class like this, as the price point ($2,295 for 5 days) will hold back many home cooks. I mean really; that's almost a semester of University. If you do have that kind of change hiding out in your couch, NAIT is offering 3 camps - Culinary Boot Camp Level 1, Level 2, and Pastry Boot Camp.

• I've always wondered why we can't get great street food in Canada and I think the government has some crazy legislation to do with it. Even with all the hoops they had to in Toronto, the first day doesn't sound promising.

• The Evolution of TV Cooking via Time.

• Eat the Head! Pretty funny T-Mobile commercial with shrimp.

• KFC is running a halal trial in a limited number of UK stores - "We have worked with the Halal Food Authority to understand the requirements involved in supplying and producing halal approved products. We are delighted that the HFA have certified KFC's products in these stores, and the store environments, as halal."

• Bacon, bacon everywhere. I've heard of bacon ice cream, but never bacon and egg ice cream or bacon and beer happy hour! I smell road trip!

• Cheerios, the new drug in town. I wonder if the hipsters are hiding boxes and creating a black market. ^-^!

• Another reminder, Harvey's Free Hamburger Dayis fast approaching. Sunday May 24th, from 10:30 AM to 3:00 PM, you can stop by and eat lunch for nothing. And, if that isn't enough, why not try the new Tim Hortons iced coffee for free on May 21st between 12 PM and 5 PM; apparently it's "a creamy, sweet blend of Tim Hortons coffee on ice."

• Right before this silly cold weather I picked my first tomato. I didn't realize what I bought was a cherry tomato plant..you know the whole being new to gardening thing. It doesn't matter however, because the tomato was delicious and I'm looking forward to more!

• I was the recipient of a few samples of Starbucks Via instant coffee. I haven't cracked one yet, but I enjoy the last checked box (Anywhere). Anyone sample yet?

Lets all collectively cross our fingers for warmer weather!

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the week that was and is - may 13th, 2009

So where did the snow come from, and are we finally done with the white stuff....

• With our 'newest' cupcake shop opening last week, Sharon at Only Here for the Food stopped in to sample and snap some pictures..

• I read a fair amount about Eat Local First this week; A brilliant idea and I hope other retailers jump on the wagon. An informed consumer is always a good thing.

• This is crazy - a spice embedded book. Like scratch and sniff for adults.

• A baby that needs to eat more than me. Phew - 20,000 calories a week!

• Shrink your fridge to be better citizen and a healthier person.

• Ever wonder what you might eat if you were hospitalized in another country. Have a gander and see what goodies are out there.
  

My first ever attempt at herbs (chives don't count, they grow everywhere). I picked up some Moroccan Mint, Genovese Basil, and Hot and Spicy Oregano.


What says a young baker man like 50lb bags of flour. Yes, I use that much and more. Costco sized flour FTW!

And finally some non-food topics;

• The geek in me absolutely loves Geek Advancement! It makes me smile so big.

• About time the Novitec boys worked on something this sexy.

• Mr. Mayer posted a picture on twitter of his new guitar prototype...I'm already saving.

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