LeXXy

We dropped in a few weeks ago on a whim – no reservations or anything and were seated right away. As a bonus we also got a parking spot literally right in front of the  front doors, I guess it was our lucky night!

I’ve been wanting to go to this place for a while; every time I’ve driven passed, the large windows exposing this cozy narrow spot had me yearning to try it!

This spot has a modern Italian feel with a cozy yet elegant demeanor.

We were offered two specials: 3 course meal for $30 or $40 with different choices in each. We opted for the $40 special. All in all we chose the arugula salad and chipotle calamari as the apps, filet mignon & osso buco* style beef for the mains, as well as burnt butter pecan pie for dessert.

Everything was delicious (although my steak was more cooked than I would have liked) but still very well made.

The service was excellent and attentive. I saw some reviews that complained about the wait for the food…And I think it comes down to this: if you want fast food, go to a fast food spot. This restaurant only brings out high quality ingredients made with love and care.

My recommendations are DEFINITELY to try the osso buco*…this was the most tender and flavorful cut of meat I have had in a LONG time. AMAZING! And the pecan pie was just incredible!

Bon Appetit!

XoXoX

*Ossobuco or osso buco is Italian for “bone with a hole” (osso bone, buco hole), a reference to the marrow hole at the center of the cross-cut veal shank. It is a Milanese specialty of cross-cut veal shanks braised with vegetables, white wine and broth.

If you’re up for a romantic dinner in Paris, (who wouldn’t be) you need to check out this little place in the Hintonburg sector called “Back Lane Cafe”. Its fairy-tale-like interior really surprises you because of the  quaint demeanor on the outside.

I’m not sure how to explain it, but I felt like I was dining in a Parisian story-book…I will go even further to say that it almost felt like we were dining at the residence of the “Old-Lady-Who-Lived-In-A-Shoe” character.

The whole place is a bit whimsical, rustic and very warm;

The food carries the same character: very rustic and hardy. The plate sizes are perfect and each bite you take fills you with rich flavors.

They make their own fresh bread in-house, offer wood-fired pizza’s, lots of interesting salads, as well as rich fish and meat dishes.

I should say that they have a fairly small menu with lots of interesting choices…This is a great place to go if you’re a vegetarian too! ***Try the vegetarian mushroom/nut pate, its amazing!!!***

I absolutely recommend it.

Bon Appetit!

XoXoX

Located At:
1087 Wellington Street, West
For Reservations: (613) 695-2999

Get your Blackberry’s, your iPhone and your GoogleCal’s out, because there are two dates you need to remember!

The Weeknd is coming to Ottawa on Friday Janaury 20th and will be performing at Barrymores (323 Bank Street  Ottawa, ON K2P 1X9)

My favorite track featuring him, is of course “Crew Love”

Listen to it Here: Crew Love

The Weeknd first came out with the House of  Balloon mixtape which has people scratching their heads…There was an intentional mystery around this artist…And still is full of intrigue.

The 21 year old Toronto artist really made a great first, second and third impression…Let’s see what he’ll come out with next.

The second date is Saturday January 28th… ASAP ROCKY will be performing at Ottawa’s number #1 underground spot “Ritual Nightclub” (137 Besserer St  Ottawa, Ontario K1N 9J9 )

ASAP came on the scene not too long ago, but his incorporation of chop and screw as well as his smooth New York flow reminds me of a “new” version of old school rappers. Call me crazy but I hear a bit of  Tupac, a bit of Biggie and even a bit of Bone Thugs N Harmony at times. This kid really stands out to me because he is unlike many of today’s young rappers.
Check out my favorite tracks from ASAP: Purple Swag, Peso, Trilla

Today’s post goes out with a huge shout out to Zoo Legacy: a local band that will make you think twice about the hidden talents of a conservative town like Ottawa.

They’re a smooth transitional mix between rock and hip hop. Their music is original, as they proudly write  and produce all of their own sounds. Live instruments include guitar, bass and piano chords. Nick, their lead singer rounds up all the sounds with his soft, raspy voice hopping between rhymes and song.

It’s really a great  marriage of beats and rhymes with appropriately smooth supporting melodies. These guys have found just the right ” ingredient list”  for good music – something that many local bands really struggle to get a grip on.

Listen to some of their music HERE

Photo credit: http://julielalonde.ca/

I can’t believe that I have never been to this fantastic little spot before. It’s amazing how small Ottawa is, and how many little hole in the wall restaurants there are. When people say there’s nothing to do here, I always think – “Use your imagination, dude.”

Mezzanote is a beautiful, upper scale spot where you will find the city’s taste makers and trend setters dine. The decor is absolutely stunning – especially the gorgeous textured back-lit walls (this incredible makeover was done by my good friends at FinalTouchCarpentry), the seating makes you feel so comfortable that you’ll stay for hours (I sure did!) and the music is tasteful and appropriate. I especially liked the respectful volume levels. I really hate it when you’re trying to have a deep conversation over dinner while trying to compete with the volume of the music.

Photo Credit: http://julielalonde.ca/

I really liked their glassed in table towards the back of the restaurant as well – where you would be able to host a private dinner for any occasion.

The menu is a contemporary Italian cuisine with lots of choices ranging from lamb, veal and especially pleasing for seafood lovers such as myself.

I would absolutely recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a really nice way to spend an evening enjoying great food or drinks. Thanks for introducing me to this place Genny! <3 *** I especially invite you to try the “Antipasto alla Melanzana” – Eggplant stuffed with ham, tomatoes, roasted red peppers, and ricotta cheese, topped by mushroom white wine sauce. AMAZING!

BON APPETIT!
XoXoX

Menu ranges from: About $10 – $25

Hours:

Sunday to Tuesday
11:30am – 10:00pm

Wednesday to Saturday
11:30 – 11:00pm

Address

50 Murray Street
Byward Market
Ottawa, Ontario
K1N 9K1

613-562-3978

Steer clear of these killer apps, and NO I’m not referring to the iPhone kind…

We all love going out to eat – whether we’re going for a girls night or going on a couples date. It seems to always be the same story – we arrive to the restaurant with a grumble in our tummy and order an appetizer without putting in much thought. But have you ever stopped and wondered how much fat, salt and calories we’re quickly adding to our meal? See below for the WORST apps on the menu to steer clear of:

Cheese Fries

637 calories
42 g fat (19 g saturated)
2,047 mg sodium

Fried cheese is never a good idea, but as a sandwich sidekick, it spells certain disaster.

Cobb Salad

708 calories
55 g fat
1,328 mg sodium

(Order the cobb salad as a MAIN, not a starter)

Buffalo Chicken Strips

730 calories
32 g fat (0 g saturated)
2,940 mg sodium

Another example of how 2 seemingly similar items can be worlds apart in terms of nutrition. We’ve seen worse strips, to be sure, but when you can have a basket of wings for fewer than half the calories, why would you choose these?

Cheddar Potato Wedges

760 calories
52 g fat (16 g saturated, 13 g trans fat)
960 mg sodium

It’s no surprise this side dish is bursting with fat and calories—it’s a plate of fried potatoes topped with bacon and melted cheese.

Chili Cheese Fries

1,240 calories
71 g fat (28 g saturated, 0.5 g trans fat)
2,550 mg sodium

You can almost feel your blood pressure rise just looking at this catastrophe. Too bad it’s listed as a side, gobbling up an entire day’s worth of sodium and half a day of calories before you move on to your burger. This one’s a no-brainer: chili, cheese, fried potatoes. But even a savvy eater couldn’t possibly anticipate how bad these 3 ingredients could be when combined by one heavy-handed fast-food company.

Stuffed Jalapenos (Jalapeno Poppers)

1,950 calories
134 g fat (36 g saturated)
6,540 mg sodium

Tex-Mex cooks are never shy with the salt, but this dish breaks even their reckless boundaries. Each little cheese-stuffed popper contains more than 1,000 milligrams of sodium.

Hot Spinach & Artichoke Dip with Chips

930 calories
77 g fat (34 g saturated)
3,130 mg sodium

Sure, there are artichokes and spinach in this dip, but they are drowned in cheese and mayo.

Cheers to making better eating decisions!

Bon Appetit!

XoXoX

Found these in an online article that made my mouth water and my ambition as a foodie go up a level! Below is a gorgeous list of the world’s most fancy little bites!

Passion fruit bon-bons - Bubbie’s Homemade Passion Fruit Mochi Ice Cream fuse Hawaiian and Japanese dessert traditions.

Here’s a better description: wrapped in a scrim of chewy, slightly powdered rice coating, the ice cream inside is practically smoking with chill (like those gum commercials) on first bite and bursts with a creamy citrusy flavor that proceeds to melt on your tongue in a milky coating. Like most of the items sold at the fancy food show, they’re more expensive than cornflakes. 16 of these dessert dumplings will run you $55 plus the cost of shipping from Hawaii where they’re made. Look at it this way: It’s cheaper than a plane ticket to Maui. (Photo by: Miri Rotkovitz)

Lime Caviar – ABC News’ Sara Moulton directed us to this jewel of the Fancy Food Show.

Described as a mico-citrus, it’s got the tingle of a lime but the irresistible pop-ability of packing bubble wrap. Cracking one of these “finger limes”, grown from California’s Shanley Farms, reveals a coral reef bursting with juicy caviar-textured citrus that pair perfectly with seafood, cocktails or salad. I couldn’t find a price for these but I’ll use a credit card if I have to. You can’t put something poppable in my face and then not let me pop it. That’s just cruel. (Photo by: Shanley Farms)

Ricotta with dates poached in Marsala wine and then gelato-fied
- Gianluigi Dellaccio, quit his day job as a water polo champ (too hum-drum), to turn his efforts to the fanciest gelato offerings on the market. He’s touting a few of his newer flavors (he’s got 200 to choose from) at the Fancy Food Show, but nothing says I speak five languages and raise my pinky when I drink tea, than this ricotta, wine and dates trio. It runs about $6 a pint: totally worth it after a break-up. (Photo by: BrianTropianPhotography/DolciGelati)

Instant Souffle

- At restaurants you have to decide if you want the souffle for desert pretty much when you’re making the reservation. It takes a while. But science has finally remedied the mildly annoying restaurant dilemma. Showing at the Fancy Food fair is “My Cup of Cake” a microwave-ready version of the delicacy complete with presentation cup. Three seconds after you mix the souffle powder with oil and stick it in the nuker you’ve got yourself dessert (for about $21.95) That costs more than at most restaurants but as they say in the ’80s: “time is money”. (Photo by: asprinkleandadash.com)

Key Lime Pears dipped in chocolate

- For $23, 12 pieces of paper thin slices of pear are rubbed with tartly sweet key lime flavor and dredged through dark chocolate and then packaged and sold and shoved in my mouthhole. (Photo by: recchiuti)

Bubbly water with lavender and other ingredients for fancy soaps – How do you take your water? Tap, sparkling or with lemongrass and orange peel? Ayala’s Herbal Water is introducing single-serve sparkling h2O, infused with the kind of things you’d expect to find in an apothecary. Lemongrass Mint Vanilla, Cinnamon Orange Peel, Ginger Lemon Peel and Lavender Mint, make a more elegant choice for spicing up your water than say, Mio. But be warned: A case of 12 single serving bottles of flavored bubbly water is $24. (Photo by: Ayala’s Herbal Water)

Hancock Gourmet Lobster Pot Pie

- Here’s why it’s in the running: chunks of Maine lobster meat soaked in a sherry cream sauce and exploding with a crustacian-shaped, crumbly puffed pastry. You can go to their website and spend about $70 for four pies, primed in an oven-proof ramekin, for baking. Or you can just stare at this photo until you’re brain starts to look like one of them. (Photo by: Hancock Gourmet Lobster)

Hopefully I can get my hands on some of these goodies!

Bonne Appetie!

XoXoX

Pictures: Whisk Blog

I just saw this randomly on Twitter and it really peaked my interest. It’s the ByWard Market Food Tour…Why haven’t I heard of this before? Not sure, but now that I have…I’m interested!

What an awesome way to spend an afternoon! I read on the WHISK blog that the 2.5 hour tour costs $45.00 per person, and is done on Thursdays and Saturdays beginning at 10:30am. Check out the blog – it features really great photos of the tour and a few tour facts that are pretty neat.

I need some feedback – who’s been on this tour? Is it a good time? Does each resto give you taste of their best dish?

Let me know & Bon Appetit!

XoXoX

Drop It Like It's Hot

Who said Thursdays were dead? Hump day aint the only day you can get it on and poppin!

Ottawa has a wicked Thursday night party at RITUAL Nightclub that has really taken off in the last year.

Finally – a casually-dope  hip hop/dubstep/oldschool night is BACK in the capital!

I really like this spot because you can come dressed up, you can come dressed down and you can come dressed in a garbage bag and rain boots. There’s nothing pretentious about this place. It’s a place where ALL are welcome…fear not dress code rejects and bearded leprechauns!  (For the record, I’d still come dressed up either way, cuz that’s how I do).

Stay Fly XoXoX

I’ve been at this spot enough times now that I can confidently say that they {more than} deserve an honorable mention. Trella has apparently been in little Italy for quite some time, but it took them moving to a relatively new building for me to notice. I’ll be honest – I’m really weary of Italian spots…I’ll tell you why: in my experience many of these Italian restaurants can be outdated, the food quality can be poor and the price you pay sometimes just aint worth it. HOWEVER…Trella Bar & Grill is none of the above.

This is such a modern, chic, affordable place, that I just CANNOT stand by and not say anything. I LOVE this spot and I can’t get enough. The food there is FANTASTIC and the prices are surprising! Their menu is quite eclectic – with an Italian spin of course, they combine modern cuisine and traditional elements. The selection is quite rich as well:

They feature classically delicious appetizers like crab cakes, bruschetta, anti pasto, mussels etc

And have a huge range of main dishes: from meal sized hearty salads, grilled meats, fresh fish,  pastas, pizzas, sandwiches etc.

Their dessert menu changes daily as they receive their cakes and pastries fresh daily.

I really like this place also because of their conscious use of local ingredients.

Trella also has a full bar as well, as it turns into a “supper club” on Friday and Saturday nights (10pm -2:30am) – hosted by my good friends at Ebony&Ivory. You can expect really great music all night – hip hop, R&B, Dancehall, Reggae, old school and last time I was there, there was an amazing African drum group drumming to the beat of the dj’s music. The atmosphere was great!

Check out their website for all the details!

Meet me at Trella!

Stay Fly and Bon Appetite!

XoXoX