Chez Eric...for Pulled Pork.

In Wakefield, Quebec there is a restaurant called Chez Eric. I recently went there to celebrate a friend's birthday and was pleasantly surprised. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich. It was really good! Other than my travels in the U.S, I have rarely seen this southern dish on menus. If you are ever in Wakefield, try this little place out. Others at my table had the Quiche and the Strata, which also looked fantastic!  

Where can I have Korean BBQ ?

    
   The Korea Garden Restaurant.... Nestled right in the centre of your table, a BBQ cooking surface emerges from beneath a hidden opening. You may spend an hour or two cooking at your own pace. You have choices of cooking beef, chicken and vegetables right before your eyes. There are several restaurants where you can cook in a Hot pot,  however a BBQ at your table is a unique, rare experience in Ottawa, Canada.  While you are there you may also want to try their spicy Kimchi and fish soup. Can't wait for my next visit!  

Poutine Revisited...

This summer a friend of mine introduced me to this Bistro on Wellington Street. I had an original spin off of a classic Quebecois dish...poutine. Petit Bill's Bistro serves Crab and Mascarpone cheese poutine!!! Very tasty and worth a try :) 

Can you recommend a good pub?

A pub with great grub is hard to find. The Manx on Elgin street between Gladstone and Frank is an exception to that rule. It has excellent food,  and Iwill say, probably one of the best food joints that Elgin street has to offer. If you are downtown, make sure to walk down the steps into the pub and give it a try.  Breakfast, lunch or dinner....even for a pint or two or three...

Roller Derby in the City?

Yes, it does exist! Where? Barbara Ann Scott Arena. I have never been, but a friend of mine recently started this sport. Interested in diversity and entertainment...go check it out!

Where can I buy an open-faced pie?

Apple pie with grenobles(walnuts) and maple.

This bakery sells many great pastries, breads, chocolates and some chacuteries... 

For a special ocassion, I always make a special trip to buy this amazing apple, walnut and maple pie. The pastry is sweet and flaky and it is presented with a wooden frame around the bottom of the pie. In France, it is common to buy a pie with that accessory. It is beautifully presented and has very good flavour. 

    

  Head to Pâtisserie Fine Fidélice
262, boulevard Saint-Joseph,  Gatineau, QC   J8Y 3X8   (819)776-0000

Mussels and Frites

     Chez Lucien is the cutest location nestled just off of Dalhousie at Murray Street. A French style bistro that sells delicious mussels with frites(fries). If you are in no rush and would like a pint and some mussels, then you have found your place. 
          Other locations to check out mussels is The Twist on Montcalm street in Hull and Stone Face Dolly's on Preston street. 
Happy 'mussels' eating!

Sneakers

Where can I find sneakers?

There is nothing NORML about this place!! It is one of the coolest places to buy hype-hip sneakers. Are you looking for style, originality and colour? The basic sneaker has evolved in soooo many ways. A sneaker has become more marketable and versatile to be used everyday. People dress them up on an evening out on the town and wear them casually. This picture is the men's section upon entrance....you can also head upstairs to see the women styles. 

    

NORML  @  184 Rideau Street    Tel: 613-562-2043

Shawarma

Where can I buy a Shawarma wrap in the city?

Shawarma is a sandwhich wrap made either with beef or chicken. It comes with your choice of fixins:  turnips, garlic sauce, tomatoes, seasoned onions and roasted potatoes(a must try). This locale is a personal favourite because their platters are good enough for sharing.  It tends to get busy on weekends...so get ready to stand in line. It is a pretty popular place for good reason. Everyone has their own personal preferance....the Rideau Street location just happens to be mine!  Ottawa,Canada.  

Happy 'Shawarma' eating!    

Little India Cafe

Where can I have authentic East Indian food ?
The Little India Cafe was recommended to me about 7 years ago by an East Indian friend. He told me he knew the chef and that I should try it.  I have been going there ever since, and highly recommend it to all my friends. In speaking with the owner, it was evident that he works hard to maintain a high standard in his product by using freshly ground spices that he grinds, and by making everything from scratch.
     My favourite dish is the Butter Chicken and the Naan garlic bread. I have tried a lot of the items on the menu and they are all very good! Try an eggplant dish.. Wow....just thinking about it makes me hungry!
     It has been open for 11 years and it is found on Carling Ave close to Bayshore. Located at 66 Wylie Ave.(across from the Coliseum theatre) in a small strip mall . There is a sit-in restaurant and you can also have take-out. It is a small locale....so go early...this place is always busy. They also have a luncheon buffet Mon. to Fri. from 11:30 to 2:00 for the lunch crowd.
http://www.littleindiancafe.com/   613-828-2696   Ottawa, Canada.

Butter Chicken, Garlic Naan and Rice

Butter Chicken

Happy Curry eating!

Poutine?

What is poutine and where can I try it ? This is a question that is asked constantly. Tourist and locals alike are drawn to this cheese curd, thick-cut potato fries, and gravy oozing treat. Head to Quebec, its origin, to try it.  A short distance from downtown, you can find a local hot spot for poutine called La Pataterie Hulloise in Hull/Gatineau, Quebec. It has great poutine and was recommended by friends from Quebec.

Happy Poutine eating!

Where can I buy dumplings?

Ottawa,Canada has a specialty dumpling shoppe in the heart of Chinatown on Somerset street. Yen Fung Ding Dumpling Shoppe is one-of-a-kind. You cannot find another store in the city that only sells this product. 
You may have already had one of their dumplings in a local restaurant and didn't even know it.



Happy 'dumpling' eating!

High Tea

Where could I have English style High Tea? Head to Zoe's at the Chateau Laurier Hotel on Wellington street, Ottawa, Canada. The actual lounge/restaurant is nestled beside the front lobby. High Tea is served  only on the weekends and reservations are a must. It is definetly a special ocassion locale. They offer three courses to choose from and many specialty teas.  A 'Tea Cart' comes around with various loose leaf teas. 

The pictures above were taken at Zoe's. Check out the pastry chef's creations!!!

Another location that offers High Tea is the Billings Estate off of Riverside drive. This historical building is found in a residential neighbourhood between Bank st. and Pleasant Park. I am not sure if it is only available during the summer months, so give them a call. You can have a casual lunch in the garden. The grounds are lovely and very serene.

Doc Martens

Where can I buy Doc Martens?

    There are several stores around the city that carry them, and as you know, the quality of the shoe sells itself ! Where can you find the most styles and availability? Head downtown to 151 Rideau Street. The store is called Rock Junction and it has been an Ottawa establishment for over 25 years or so. This store also has great t-shirts.
      Go check it out...

Happy 'Doc' shopping!

Pizza-thick crust

Where to find good pizza?  Hmm.....that would depend on what kind?
Are you talking thin crust, foccacia style or North American style? 
     Unfortunately, I have yet to find my favourite pizza in this city unless it was made at home by me. My favourite is a foccaccia style/ baker pan pizza with thinly sliced potatoes, rosemary with no sauce. Simply...delicious! It can be found in some take-out deli locations in Italy. If you ever travel to Italy...look for it and you will be happy you tried it.
    Don't get me wrong though, I do have a place in the city that I crave on occasion. If you are looking for that North American thick style crust with all the fixins then try....The Louie's Special at Louie's pizza in Vanier. It is located at the corner of McArthur and the Vanier Parkway. Doesn't the picture look great!!!
They don't deliver...so make the trek! You'll be backkkkkkkkkkkkkk and will travel across the city to get a slice!!!!!

Continued...Any cool non-commercial Cafes?

     If you are an Ottawa local, you would recall of a quaint Cafe called Cafe Whim. It was located where The Social is currently on Susssex drive. It was a Scandanavian-run family buisness, if I recall correctly. Any Ottawa University student in the early nineties probably studied or hung out there. You could sit there and play cards, chess and read the day away into your own adventure. If Hemmingway ever visited Ottawa, this would have probably been on his list of local hangouts...
     Well, today I headed to Raw Sugar Cafe...and the nostalgia of Cafe Whim all came back. This locale is artsy and hip. The decor was eclectic: seventies & eighties furniture. On one side of Cafe is mini-library where one can read and place a name card in their book as a page keeper....for their next visit.
 I ordered a coffee and sat down.The place was packed on a Sunday afternoon. What a great vibe...

     Apparently the evening before was one of the busiest evenings they have ever had. They have special performances and events there on some evenings. On the door I saw some advertisements for Folkfestival auditions. Sounds like this place will be part of some evening venues as well.... 

Right away...... I knew that I would definetly be returning.

Looking for a non-commercial coffee shop?

Well...you have definetly asked the right person. I am by no means an expert in coffee,however I do like my espresso coffee. Coffee at home was always made in an Espresso"cafetiera' pot and drip coffee was never a choice. A daily dose of espresso coffee to get my veins pumping in the morning and as an after dinner retreat of sorts to calm me at night. To find that outside the household is indeed a task.
Depending where you are craving your java in the city....

1. Morala Specialty Coffee ( 734 Bank st. in the Glebe)

2. Planet Coffee (24A York st. situated in the walkway beside Eighteen restaurant in The Market)

 Both of these locations make their own desserts: cookies and squares. They make everything fresh on the premises....need I say more...The artwork on display in Planet Coffee is also impressive.

     I have noticed a new place that opened on 692 Somerset st. in Chinatown called RAW SUGAR CAFE...  I have driven past it several times and it has a cool 70's vibe with retro chairs. My next adventure will be to check it out...

Bread

Where can you buy great bread in the city?
Growing up in a European family, bread from the local grocery store was never an option. Nowadays, most grocery stores all have their own bakery department, however finding a local family-run bakery is a much harder task. Here are some of my choices to buy bread:

1.Art-is-in Bakery: 1321 Wellington st (back of building)
Products can be bought in The Ottawa Bagel Shop.

2.Ichiban Bakery: 1500 Bank st (Blue Heron Mall)

3.The French Baker/Le Boulanger Francais:
119 Murray st Market) or 801 Bank st.(Glebe)

4.Lisbon Bakery:
2663 Baseline(at Greenbank)

Happy "Bread" tasting!