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Online
News September 25, 2006
Table of Contents
Events
 Vikram Vij
Vij's Indian Cuisine
Thursday September 28th
Noon to 1 pm.
Vij will bring a variety of spices and talk about their uses in cooking and answer
any questions you might have. Softcover, 205 pp. $40.00.
 Anna Olson
Another Cup of Sugar
Saturday November 25th, 2 to 3 pm.
 Gurth Pretty
Gurth Pretty's Definitive Guide to Canadian Artisanal and Fine Cheeses
Saturday December 2nd, 2 to 4.pm.
Lucy Waverman
Lucy's Kitchen
Saturday December 9th, 2 to 3 pm.
Cusine Canada Book Awards Short List
English-Language Culinary Books
The awards were presented Saturday September 16th at the Cuisine
Canada Conference in Winnipeg. There is a separate category
for French language books which you can see at Cuisine Canada's
web site, http://www.cuisinecanada.ca.
Canadian
Food Culture Category
(for books that best illustrate Canadas
rich
culinary heritage and food culture)
- Gold: Janice Wong, Chow: From China to Canada:
Memories of food + family
- Silver: Habeeb Salloum, Arab cooking on
a Saskatchewan Homestead: Recipes and recollections
Cookbook Category:
- Gold: Michael and Anna Olson, Anna and Michael
Olson Cook at Home: Recipes for every day and every occasion
- Silver:
Jurgen Gothe, DiscCookery
Special Interest Food and Beverage Book
(for books about food; non-cookbooks)
- Gold: Pam Freir, Laughing with
my mouth full: Tales from a Gulf Islands kitchen
Silver: Nazneen Sheikh, Tea and pomegranates: a memoir
of food, family and Kashmir
Dublin
On a recent trip to Dublin, I am delighted to report the cuisine
and hospitality was excellent. Although rather expensive well worth
saving the euros for a
visit. Housing prices are astronomical in a land where locals readily admit
to an aversion to renting, and talking about housing prices is a national,
bordering on obsessive, pastime!
This summer Gary Rhodes opened his first
restaurant outside the UK in Dublin: Rhodes D7(Chef
Paul Hargreaves). A boisterous bistro that hums along in a slightly
off the beaten track area north of the Liffey (the river that runs through
Dublin) which is currently on the upswing.
Potted mackerel pate with gooseberry
relish
salad and warm toasts, followed by roast cod with lobster champ, spinach
and lobster bisque sauce, and then dessert! If I'd known the pastry
chef was the
hidden treasure I would have ordered more! Meringue - Marshmallow meringue
with summer fruits and vanilla ice cream was to die for! Lunch was about
70euros with
a glass of wine.
Every where the fish was fresh, flavourful and plentiful.
Burdock's is the long established favourite fish and chip shop in Dublin,
and rightly so,
I picked up a generous portion of cod and chips, walked over to St. Patrick's
Cathedral and ate in the lovely gardens surrounding the church.
L'Ecrivain,
was recently voted best restaurant in Ireland, a gorgeous room,
where definitely the business deals happen. Avoca Cafe, this is
an offshoot
of the
weaving company, beautiful scarfs, blankets in gorgeous colours, that
cry out to be touched and cuddled! The cafe on the third floor of their
Dublin
shop
is great to people watch, as in the locals, from the ladies who lunch
to the young
women out with the girlfriends. A breakfast of scones, (which are everywhere
in Ireland) delicious jams and of course bread and tasty butter, (although
salty) at the cafe is a great way to start the day.
I should point out
that all the breads in Ireland were fabulous as well as the savoury
pastries. The variety of apples was delicious.
There was
a great
booth
at the Temple Bar Famers Market called Llewellyn's
Apple Farm which
sold the most refreshing apple juice (a mixture of Bramleys, Coxs
and Discovery
apples)
as well as an unusual apple cider balsamic vinegar, that I just couldn't
figure out how to bring home through security!
The Irish are friendly
and truly want you to have a good time, they work hard and play
hard! I must go back and do the rest of the country.
New Books
Biba's Italy
Biba Caggiano
It's been a while since Biba's last book so we are delighted to see
this latest offering, highlighting the best food from Biba's favourite
Italian cities. Also
included are travel tips on the best restaurants, wine bars, and markets. $39.95.
Canadians
at Table: A culinary history of Canada
Dorothy Duncan
Dorothy Duncan has once again brought our food heritage alive from
the times of First Nations to current food histories from coast
to coast. However, we were
disappointed in the index which is a crucial part of reference books. $35.00.
Caramel
Trish Deseine
Ah, the sweet, seductive, sensual texture of caramel. not just for
kids! Try
the caramel butter cream and maple syrup layer cake. $24.95.
Red, White and Drunk All
Over
Natalie MacLean
If you don't already receive Nat Decants, Natalie's free online newsletter,
you are missing out. Engaging, curious,witty, as well as educational,
a refreshing
writer in a world of wine which as we know can take itself too seriously sometimes.
This collection of essays leaves no stone unturned. $29.95.
Vij's Indian Cusine
Vikram
Vij
Vancouver's popular and innovative Indian restaurant. Whether you
are a veteran of Indian cooking or just starting out this will lead
they way. $40.00.
Wine, Food & Friends
Karen MacNeil
Author of the hugely popular Wine Bible ($29.95), Karen now takes
the reader to the next place - the table. Recipes, in menu format,
combined with Karen's
pairing principles makes the marriage of food and wine easier than you every
imagined. $32.95.
Edna Stabler
1906-2006
As many of you may already know Edna passed away September
12th, 2006 of a stroke. I was lucky enough to attend her 100
birthday party earlier this year and what
a party it was. You couldn't help but feel honoured to be in the room with
someone so vibrant and full of life, at 100 years young! Quite
an inspiration. We are
delighted to let you know that Wilfred Laurier University Press are re-issuing
Edna's most beloved cookbook Food That Really Schmecks, ($32.95) in October.Back to top |
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