Showing posts with label Mmmm. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mmmm. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

How To Brunch


You've set the time aside. You've chosen the resto. You've even booked the table. You're about to brunch. Welcome, dear friend, to the single most fabulous meal there is or will ever be.


When setting out on this big adventure, there are a few things to keep in mind.
1- Your budget
2- Your culinary tastes
3- Your outfit

Other than that, however, all one must worry about is having a wonderful time dining with friends. Nothing goes together so well as a good meal and good company. So, whether you're meeting for this mid-morning meal to dish the details on a certain someone, to catch up with a good friend, or simply to revel in your own glamour, tuck in and enjoy, while keeping some of these tips in mind.


1- Money
A touchy subject as usual, but always worth addressing so that you can a) have some for later and b) feel good about the way you're spending it. Choose a brunch spot that fits your wallet - you don't want to be seated only to have that awful feeling of being in over your head wash over you as soon as you crack open the menu. Google brunch spots in your neighbourhood, and their sites will usually include a menu link.
If the menu says "Sunday Brunch," you can usually expect it to be a little pricier, just because of the lovely tradition that goes along with the specifically Sunday brunch.



2- Your culinary tastes
As with before, you can always rustle up a menu on Google to check out your options before you go. But if you're an anything-goes kinda gal, head off to your chosen destination without fear. When the menu comes around, however, there are still a couple tips to be had. Depending on when you choose to dine, you will have varying levels of hunger pangs. Typically, one does not eat before brunch, but if you've left it quite late and happened to have munched on a small something to appease your stomach, you might not require an inordinate amount of food. To keep it classic, always order a mimosa. This is the brunch cocktail - three parts champagne, two parts chilled OJ - mmmmmm. Eggs benny are always a good call (That's Eggs Benedict - poached eggs on english muffins and a slice of ham or bacon, or sometimes even smoked salmon, topped with hollandaise sauce) and of course there's French Toast for all you sweet tooths. Of course, it's your meal, it's your money - order what you like. But unless you're allergic to citrus, a mimosa is just polite.


3- Your Outfit
Dictated as always by inumerable factors, this is up for debate. You're going to look good, of course, but you have to think about your company, your venue, whether or not it's a special occasion, etc, etc, etc. Blair Waldof-esque outfits are purrrrfect for society bashes, next-morning wedding party brunches, Christmas or Easter throwdowns, etc. Think bows, lace, cream-coloured garments and nicely pressed anything. If it's a more casual event - like brunch with pals, a roll-outta-bed-get-me-some-food-type ordeal - throw a neat blazer over a flouncy shirt or sweater with a slim-fitting pair of trousers and boots. Because it's morning, it's nice to remind people of the sweetness of said time of day, so mimick those rays of sunshine with light colours and lovely little touches of silk or ribbon. Parfait.

Happy Brunching!

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Cleanup In Aisle Five...


Saturday morning.  
Known to keeners for its 7am trips to the market.  
Known to normal people as 3pm trips to the grocery store.

But this time all of us slackers are coming out on top because
EVERYTHING IS ON SALE
If you're a Toronto gal and you've got a metro nearby, slip into a pair of loafers and high-tail on over.  Strawberries are flying off the shelves at two boxes for a fiver, Oatmeal Crisp (God's gift to cereal lovers) is down to three bucks a pop, and you can now drink your body weight in Tropicana for a measly four dollars.

Oh, and how could anyone forget?
There are samples on Saturday.
We're talkin' ShaSha's best cookies and all-natural loafs, Lipton teas and Hershey's chocolate (who doesn't know what Hershey's tastes like...?)

In other words, if you're on a budget but would like to remain in the land of the living (i.e. a nourished, sustained individual) rustle up the gang and hit up that supermarket.

Oh.
Don't forget your reusable bag.


Queen of Hearts

When you're making the long trek home from a night on Queen West, more often than not (being the cheerful bunch that you all are) it's your tummy doing most of the grumbling.  So when hunger pangs hit, sink into a comfy-womfy chair or banquette at the ever-so-lovely Queen Mother Café.  Not quite hidden gem status since it's a fairly well-known eatery, but my-oh-my is this place delicious.
Props for... friendly service and cream-of-the-crop ambiance (think candlelight and union jacks, chuchotte-ing customers and tall, tall ceilings)
A little miffed because... no debit!

Yum!  Bumble Berry Crumble Flan (heated up with ice cream)
Café au lait (in a bowl)
Uhh... nahhh: Have yet to try anything not delicious

Sunday, March 15, 2009

The Art of the Dinner Party

With weather this blissful and friends this lovely, there's nothing like a dinner party to celebrate life.  So set the table, crack the window open, and plug in the iPod- it's time to eat.

The Eats

-Strawberry and Zucchini Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette-

-Blue corn Nachos with Green and White Onions, Cherry Tomatoes, Green Pepper, Cheddar Cheese and Coriander-

-Chocolate Cupcakes with Icing Sugar and Strawberries-

-Maple Walnut Ice Cream-

-Evening Jazz Herbal Tea-



The "Sundays-are-for-lounging-but-let's-amp-it-up-anyhow" Playlist
  1. Rueben deGroot June Carter
  2. Ratatat Mirando
  3. Kiss Strutter
  4. Belle and Sebastian The Boys Are Back In Town
  5. The Virgins One Week of Danger

and to drink?
Pinky and the Brain
1/2 teacup white wine 
(Frisky Zebra Sauvignon Blanc)
1/2 teacup pink lemonade
garnish with lemon



The Rules
Be polite.
Don't wash the dishes until tomorrow morning.
Spray the cupcake tins if you're not using liners.
Vacuum before your guests arrive.
Have a ball!

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Sodalicious are soooo delicious

Bryan Webber models spring's fashions.

We're springing forward today, and if that lost hour you're feeling a little less than ambitious in the kitchen, know you're not alone.  Whether you're pinched for time or taking the day off, here's a throwback menu to get yer motor runnin'

The Meal of Childhood Goodness
 for a Lazy Sunday

-Ginger ale and dill pickle chips-

-Campbell's tomato soup and a million Premium Plus crackers-

-Pizza Pops if you're still peckish-

-Chocolate Snack Pack-

Sure, it isn't dinner at the Ritz, but hey, when you're filled to the brim with organic-this and whole-food-that and all you want is something you can throw in the microwave, what's a girl to do?

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Smushin' Our Sorrows Away


You've all heard of the Naked Chef.  You're all aware that he is not, in fact, a naked man cooking food, but rather the most scrumptious of brits stripping dishes of pesky gourmet frills and bringing cooking down to the realm of mere mortals.  But have you seen what the man does with ice cream?
A recipe (though some would argue it's more of a fluff piece for the cookbook) born of a childhood love affair with those bowls of frozen paradise, Smush-Ins are a do-it-yourself version of flavoured ice cream.

Click here for the original recipe, or pay close attention to the steps listed below.


The Smushing
  1. Start with a bowl of plain ice cream.  Vanilla is a very very good idea, but if you're jonesin' for an extra kick of cocoa goodness, you can use chocolate ice cream, too.  Or strawberry...
  2. "Smush" the bejesus out of the ice cream by any means possible.  Some people melt their ice cream in the microwave a little, but that's pretty gross.  Just go at it with a spoon for about a minute and you'll get a nice consistency.
  3. Choose your base flavour.  Berries are nice if you want to keep it light, peanut butter is great for a full-bodied flavour (just beware of friends [particularly boyfriends!] with anaphylaxis.  That would be bad).  Mix it in well.
  4. Add your first 'chunk' flavour- chocolate chips, bananas, caramel chips- but don't stop there.  These little bowls of heaven are certainly not limited to the dessert sphere.  Why not dabble with other food groups?  Sourdough-bread-and-jam ice cream sounds legit...
  5. Keep adding and adding until you can add no more, and get creative!  (The creativity factor, however, depends on what you've got in your kitchen...)
  6. When you think you're done, through a sauce in there.  Popular choices include fudge or butterscotch, but some of the best are some of the least expected.  Red pepper jelly, anyone?  (This could be a little out there, but jams do go nicely with ice cream.  Nutella, too, obviously).
  7. Presto!  You've got yourself your very own ice cream flavour, known by no-one else on this globe, and tasted only by the lucky few you select to share with.  Congratulations.

The Most Important Step:  Drink. Water. You will otherwise perish.

Monday, February 16, 2009

Hot Mamas

It's family day.  Now, more than ever, it's time to sit around playing Yahtzee while sluggin' back mugs of hot chocolate.  Here are a few takes on the classic feel-good cuppa, from three different breeds of Mama.


Mama Webber's Own
1 tablespoon each of sugar and cocoa powder for every mug you're making
A little salt if you remember
A little cayenne if you remember
A little hot water to make your base with the cocoa and sugar
Stir, stir, stir!
Add milk and get it good and hot.
Serve with a few marshmallows... if you remember.

Our "Den Mother's" Blend
When you're living in res, this is as good as it gets sometimes
An ode to our mom-away-from-mom, Chloe Shantz-Hilkes

Boil up some water.
Add some hot chocolate mix.
Stir.
Drink from pot if you can't find a clean cup.
Add a marshmallow if you can afford it.


A la Juliette Binoche
Sinfully delicious
Sift 1/2 cup of good quality cocoa powder with a teaspoon of unbleached flour.
Add a bit of milk and stir the cocoa/flour mix until it turns to paste.
Slowly add four cups of pre-heated milk, stirring continually (don't add the milk too quickly, or you're clumpy-cocoa-bound, but this can be sorted out later with a blender).
Add 1/4 cup of brown sugar, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, three crushed cloves, 1/4 teaspoon chili peppers (crush the cloves and peppers like you would garlic, with the flat edge of your knife) and a cinnamon stick.

Scoop the cloves and cinnamon off the top and add two teaspoons of powdered sugar with 1 and 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla.

If you want a thicker hot chocolate, add corn starch.  
If you want a sweeter hot chocolate, add more sugar.
If you want a sexier hot chocolate, add a dash of Depp.

Note: Thank-you to Andreas.com for this recipe.

Friday, February 13, 2009

How To Dine Solo


Elbows off the table, earbuds in your pocket and books safely stowed in your bag, take twenty minutes (or more!) to yourself for a small something- on your own.


Whether you're snacking on the curb between classes or stopping for a spot of tea mid-gallery-prowl, dining alone is a skill held by few. Last-minute hunger pangs or a planned affair, grabbing a bite to eat sans company is a luxury to be experienced if not regularly, at least once in your life. Sad? Most definitely not. Undeniably posh and mature? That's more like it.

Keep these ideas in mind and you'll hit the café toute seule more frequently.
  1. Don't fidget. You've already decided to go at it alone, so now is not the time to "appear" preoccupied - put the books away, wrap those t9-happy fingers around a fork instead, and enjoy your meal!
  2. Order well! You're not splitting the bill, you don't have anyone to impress or trick into thinking you eat like a bird, so choose a dish you're going to love.
  3. Have an idea of what you'd like to start with before you are seated. You'll look/sound like you've got your act together when you coolly say, "I'll take an Early Grey while I decide" or "I'd just love a glass of your house wine, please". Side-note: As always, keep your ID close at hand so you don't look like a fool rummaging in your purse or pockets.
  4. Don't go nuts with the breadbasket. This in fact applies to all dining experiences, but is always worthy of note. You're at a restaurant to eat a meal, and that meal is not a breadbasket. Stay. Cool. Please.
  5. A few quick somethings to do between bites: dab your mouth with your napkin (which is undoubtedly in your lap at this point), sip on your water, sit back and enjoy, glance about the space and take in the ambiance.

What To Wear When Out To Eat
  • For the café: Be cliché, wear a beret! Button-down shirts and cigarette pants are lovely, too, with a neat pair of flat boots and a scarf tossed non-chalantly about your neck.
  • For the sandwich shoppe: Trousers and a nice sweater, market bag and cloche hat.
  • For High Tea: A print skirt and tights, a lacy camisole with a sturdy cardigan, a pair of flats and a smartly-placed bow.
  • For curb-side noshing: Leather bomber, fluffy sweater, straight leg jeans tucked into salt-stained boots of perhaps a pair of high-top kicks. Throw a dash of flannel in there and NYLON will snap a picture faster than you can say "I swear I'm not a hipster..."

Have a lovely meal, ladies. You deserve it!

Sunday, January 25, 2009

The Best Way To Spend A Saturday Morning?





Friends, waffles and the Globe and Mail.

Sunday, January 4, 2009

The Art of Chopsticks

Using chopsticks in a ladylike manner is easier than one might think.  Start off with a cleared dining space and a few rolls of sushi/whatever it is you might be eating.
Refrain from making faces or creating tusks with your chopsticks, especially once they've been used.  If, however, you do choose to entertain your fellow diners with impressions, remember to keep them tasteful.
The little troughs they give you at a sushi restaurant are to be used for soya sauce- fill them up and dip your individual sushi pieces in them.  The little pink flakes are ginger and are to be eaten to cleanse the palate or to kick the flavour up a notch.  The smudge of green stuff is wasabi- also for flavour.  Be careful of this stuff, it's very very spicy.
Eat sushi rolls whole, don't try to bite the pieces.  Chew confidently (especially before speaking!) and you won't look piggish.  If you have trouble grabbing things with chopsticks, experiment with different techniques.  And don't be afraid to ask for help!!  It is by far more polite to demurely ask for a quick lesson than to pretend to know everything.
And as always, try new things!  Green tea ice cream is quite an adventure, and even if it's not your cup of tea, you can say you at least tried.

A Few Extras
  1. Ask your server for a glass of hot tea at the end of your meal (assuming you're at an Asian eatery, you'll get either green, jasmine or oolong tea) to cleanse the palate and aid with digestion.
  2. Drink plenty of water as usual
  3. If all else fails, ask for a set of conventional cutlery

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Tuesday Morning Market

Jayne Siwik at the Hamilton Farmers' Market
Fresh blooms- justifiably extravagant: give them to your mother, the hostess of the next big bash on your calendar, or just drop them into a vase and enjoy!  [When placing flowers in water, cut the stems at an angle, under a running tap, and plunge into a vase of water immediately].


Choose foods you'll eat straight away, like a lovely loaf of bread- perfect for antipasto and dipping in bread and oil at lunchtime!  When buying produce, try to buy for a few days at a time- you'll get out in the fresh market air more often and you won't waste food or money.
Try everything!  Markets are wonderful places to sample a new food.  Always a worthwhile adventure- samosas.  If you ask nicely, you can even get yours heated up to eat straight away.
Always carry a roomy bag to stow away your purchases and cut back on those plastic bags.

What to Wear
  • Flats for sure- be sure you're ready for a long meandering stroll!
  • Jeans or casual attire are more than acceptable in the marketplace- one should not ever avoid dressing up, but pearls and lace might be more fitting in a different environment
  • Scarves
  • Skirt and thick tights
  • A comfy button-down shirt
  • Chunky knits
  • Relaxed makeup and hair- it's the market, not prom!  Pull your hair back into a ponytail, or let it hang down your back in soft pretty waves.   Open up your eyes with a little mascara, carry a little lip balm and encourage a healthy glow with a dusting of blush, and you're good to go!

Monday, December 29, 2008

How to Fondue











Tips for a Flawless Fondue Experience
  1. Don't eat too much cheese, it expands in your stomach and makes for a very unpleasant tummy-ache.
  2. Sit back and get comfortable, (with one leg tucked behind the other and proper posture, of course!) fondue takes a while.
  3. Experiment with different combinations and offer to make something for the person seated next to you.  It's the culinary version of being the life of the party!
  4. Just because you're roasting, grilling, dipping and boiling your own food, don't forget your manners!  Say please and thank-you and don't forget to pass nicely.
  5. Never eat off the fondue fork, and be wary of other diners' dietary restrictions/preferences.
  6. Drink plenty of water and eat slowly.  Since the servings are so small anyhow, savour every bite!
  7. As at any dinner party, be sure to contribute your share of conversation, but don't be too stuffy- enjoy yourself, enjoy the food, enjoy the company!  And of course, offer your services to the host/ess by way of preparation, serving and/or set-up.
After the fondue is put away, make sure to take part (and do your very best to win) any board or card games offered.  And most importantly, even if you spill cheese on your lap, pour wine down your neighbour's back, or knock the fondue pot off its stand (try not to....) always thank your host/ess at the end of the evening.

Happy Fonduing!