Local Food Finds

Sampling exotic dishes from faraway lands can be exciting, but sometimes, what lies within our own backyards could be just as amazing. We just have to open our eyes and notice what our own town or city has to offer.

In this day and age of restricted travel, why not enjoy the pleasures of locally-grown food and hometown culinary treats? Weekend farmers' markets, local food trucks, family-owned restaurants, and homebased food businesses could be our doorway to some delectable discoveries. And nowadays, even regular supermarkets and grocery stores can surprise us.

International Day Treats - celebrated International Day at work by having an international buffet sale; our donation came with a "passport" that got stamped everytime you purchased a dish from the tables representing different countries; all dishes were made with love by my international co-workers; got Chinese dumplings, French beef bourguignon, a chicken and bean dish with rice from the Caribbean, a beef and tomato stew with rice pilaf from Ghana, and a spicy curry dish from Nigeria; had a tiny cookie for dessert	Starbucks Witch's Brew Frappuccino - offered by our local Starbucks cafe during the Halloween season; I bought one just because it looked pretty and intriguing; it was described as "a purple blend of toad's breath with a swirl of bat warts, topped with vanilla whipped cream and a dusting of green lizard scale powder;" tasted like their orange crème frappuccino and like SB's other concoctions, this is purely "dessert" and not coffee!!!	Ube Latte - if looking for a colourful and fun beverage, try Tamis Cafe's (Filipino fusion restaurant on Bank Street) ube latte, which is an absolute delight. (For foodies out there, you will notice that ube, a type of purple yam indigenous to the Philippines, is the latest culinary craze nowadays.)
Beemster Pumpkin Spice Cheese - available only in the autumn season, this savoury Gouda cheese brings you an irresistible blend of pumpkin spices, including cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and ginger	BLT Breakfast Panini & Locally-Roasted Coffee - discovered a cozy neighbourhood cafe (3 Sisters Bakeshop) right across from our son's German school (pre-pandemic); I would spend my Saturday mornings waiting for him to finish his class in my favourite corner, munching on their signature BLT breakfast panini and very good coffee (from award-winning local roasters)...and of course, a good book	Pig's Heaven Pizza - Tomaso's tomato sauce, pepperoni, bacon, homemade sausage, and mozzarella cheese on their signature crust made from specialty flour, fresh herbs, and EVOO...then grilled in their wood-fired pizza oven
Koichi Signature Ramen - went to Koichi Ramen House on Somerset for work lunch one wintry day; tried their signature bowl with bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, egg, green onion, and kikurage; the broth, made in-house, is inspired by the soups from Japan's best three ramen shops, where the chef-owner learned the art of making ramen	Chicken Fajita Crêpe - Luna Crêpes and Café's savoury chicken fajita crêpe served with Caesar salad; made as you order; this one comes with chicken strips,onion, green peppers, tomato, and cheese; perfect for brunch	Nutella Strawberry-Banana Crêpe - also from Luna Crêpes and Café; always a hit with the kids and kids-at-heart
Fall Harvests - from local farms available at supermarkets	Fall Harvests - from local farms available at supermarkets	Apples - But you can also pick your own apples at local orchards; this one is at Pinewood Orchards.
Apples - They had three varieties available on the weekend that we were there: MacIntosh, Cortland, and Lobo. We picked the Lobos, the sweetest of the three.	Apples - can't be fresher than this	Apples - more apples at their produce store
Apples - plus other local produce: fruits, veggies, herbs	Apple Cider - and of course, homemade apple cider	Pumpkin Patch - Pumpkin Patch excursions are always a fun way of enjoying the fall season and getting fresh produce and fall products fresh from the farms. We checked out Miller's Farm in Manotick.
Pumpkin Patch - wagon rides, pumpkin-picking, cornfield maze, outdoor produce and local crafts market, home-baked goods, preserved foods, and many more...	Pumpkin Patch - pumpkin shed for your picture-perfect fall shot	Pumpkin Patch - so much produce to choose from
Pumpkin Patch - all fresh and organic	Pumpkin Patch - fudge galore	Pumpkin Patch - took home a pumpkin pie and an apple pie...made with all-natural ingredients
Pumpkin Patch - and some corn relish and raspberry-rhubard jam, made from the farm's own produce	Halloween Cake - baked by a co-worker for an office fundraiser; I bid on it but didn't win (unfortunately, baking is just a hobby and she doesn't do this for business...otherwise, I would have ordered)	Vanillekipferl - homemade and up for bids at the German school auction at Christmas time; won this a couple of times!
Vanillekipferl - Swiss, Austrian, German, Czech, Slovak, Polish and Hungarian small, crescent-shaped biscuits; originally made with walnuts, but also with almonds or hazelnuts; they get their typical flavour from a heavy dusting of vanilla sugar.	Vanillekipferl - all-natural ingredients!!!	German Glühwein & MAOAM Candies - German spiced fruit punch/mulled wine/spiced wine popular at Christmas time; made from red wine with various mulling spices and raisins; won this as the German school auction as well - MAOAM fruity and chewy German candies that are so hard to find, but available at the German auction
Pretzels - freshly-baked and available every Saturday at the German school	Filipino Homemade Goodies - homecooked Filipino food from Divisoria Market Ottawa: puto (rice cake) with cheese, kare-kare (beef stew with thick peanut sauce and fresh veggies, sisig (a texture-rich dish made with chopped pig's snout and ears, chicken liver, onions, and chillies), and the pancit bihon (thin vermicelli noodles sauteed in soy sauce, garlic, onion, meat and veggies)	Julia Florista Wine - an incredible find at LCBO; named after the famed flower girl of the (Portuguese) Fado, the wines are cheap but good; the red has hints of vanilla, red plum, and blood orange; the white is herbal and citrusy
Fruit Cake from Abbaye Val Notre-Dame - from an abbey in nearby province of Quebec, but available for sale every December at our parish church; moist, silky-soft, and having the perfect amount of sweetness, the recipe is from the cookbook of one of the monk's mothers	Filipino-Style Fiesta Ham - a staple in every Filipino dinner table at Christmas and/or New Year's Eve, this pineapple-glazed ham makes the family gathering truly festive; glad this is available (bought this from Divisoria Market Ottawa but the product is made from Toronto) and already pre-cooked, which made my life so much easier	Filipino-Style Fiesta Ham - this is a pork-shoulder cut smoked ham with the glaze already pre-made; all you have to do is spread the glaze on the meat and stick it in the oven; the result was amazing
Vienna Torte - from Stubbe Chocolates - Ottawa; chocolate sponge soaked in rum syrup, with three layers of chocolate-orange ganache and hazelnut chocolate crunch covered with dark chocolate glaze and hazelnut chocolate crunch	German Chocolate Cake - Hubby won this at a fundraising silent auction at work; it's baked from scratch by a co-worker: layered chocolate cake with coconut-pecan filling and frosting; contrary to popular belief, this did not originate from Germany; the recipe was developed by an American baker named Samuel German; the cake's name evolved from "German's Chocolate Cake" to "German Chocolate Cake."	Pizza Americana - from Montreal's Pizzaiolle (and yes, since Montreal is our second home here in the East Coast, I classify Montreal food as "local"); with tomato sauce, pepperoni, mushrooms, green peppers, mozzarella (the pepperoni can be changed to capicollo or Italian sausage, depending on preference)
Pepperoni Pizza - always the kids' favourite; simple and basic - tomato sauce, pepperoni, mozzarella	Four Cheese Pizza - the kids' second favourite with four kinds of cheeses: mozzarella, fontina, parmesan, and brick	Charcutiere Pizza - hubby's favourite; tomato sauce, capicollo, pancetta, pepperoni, Italian sausage, mozzarella (but he skips the tomato sauce)
Eggplant Pizza - the day's special, so we tried it.	Lobster Pizza - it was a seasonal offer, so we tried it as well	Calamari Antipasto - also from Pizzaiolle; calamari, chorizo, and zucchini antipasto
Polpetta Tomato Sauce Antipasto - also from Pizzaiolle; meatballs and confit of tomatoes antipasto	Filipino Kamayan Feast - my very first one; got invited by a friend; Filipino tradition of eating communally with your hands; a variety of food is laid on on a table covered with banana leaves; on this table - rice, fried fish, beef tapa, chicken adobo, grilled shrimps, grilled eggplant, grilled water spinach, grilled dried squid	Bellini - at Broadway Bar and Grill; their version is similar to the one from Milestone's
South Indian Fare - from Flavours of Kerala; unlike most places in the city that offer northern Indian fare, this one specializes in southern cuisine, specifically that from the coastal state of Kerala, known as the spice capital of the world; the food, infused with the flavours of coconut, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, curry leaves, and other spices, were very distinct from the more familiar northern flavours that are characterized by creamier sauces (usually from a blend of yogurt, tomatoes, onions, and garlic)	Travancore Fish - boneless pieces of kingfish in a chili and tamarind blend; came with basmati rice, porotta, and a mildy-flavoured chickpea and cilantro salad that balanced out the spicy zing of the dish; I downed everything with a refreshing glass of mango lassi	Kaanthaari Kozhi - the chef's special creation: boneless pieces of chicken cooked in green chilies and coriander gravy; ideal for those who prefer curries with less of a kick (southern dishes are way spicier than northern ones)
Beef Vindaloo - cooked in a paste of roasted whole chilies soaked in vinegar and Kerala masala	Valentine Donuts - from Suzy Q; got four of their classics for us (Maple Bacon, a couple of Dirty Chocolate, and the Blue Vanilla Froot Loop/Bloop); shaped like hearts for Valentine's	Valentine Donuts - got half a dozen for friends (Maple Bacon, Cookies and Cream, Blue Vanilla Frootloop/Bloop, Sweetheart, Dirty Chocolate, and Pistachio Almond)
Fresh Strawberries - at Dekok Farms; they also have raspberries, blueberries, and seasonal veggies for picking	Veestar Strawberries - The "Veestar" variety....small but dangerously sweet...couldn't keep from eating them straight out of this basket.	Poutine - World of Poutine Fest (Ottawa's top food trucks battled it out to take home the "Poutine Champion" title.) - Poutine is a dish of French fries and cheese curds topped with a brown gravy. It emerged in Quebec, Canada in the late 1950s in the Centre-du-Québec region, though its origins are uncertain and there are several competing claims of having invented the dish. Nowadays, there are many fancy variations of poutine.
Poutine - There were more than 100 choices of delicious poutine with all kinds of toppings and sauces available for sampling, plus other fun things like the Kids' Fun Zone, face painting, a beer garden, live music, and foodie features; the poutine competition was held on the last day.	Poutine - I chatted with the friendly couple from "The Almighty Cheese" truck; I was their first customer for the night, so they allowed me to buy just half a serving since I couldn't eat the whole plate, and they even gave me a generous amount of toppings! This is the "Loaded Potato" poutine with sour cream, green onions, cheddar cheese, smoked bacon, and their secret sauce.	Nacho Platter - wonderful nacho platter with salsa, guacamole, and sour cream from Morning Owl's night menu that kept me going as I studied for my French exams
Rose Latte - nice cup of rose latte at Morning Owl; strong coffee with a hint of floral	Classic Eggs Benedict - classic ham Eggs Benedict with Swiss cheese, served with roasted potatoes and fresh fruits...plus unlimited coffee at Eggstyle; fueled me up for a full morning of studying	Chirashi Bowl - 12 pieces of sashimi on a bed of Japanese rice and unlimited green tea for late lunch/early dinner as I continued my French cramming
Bellini - Milestone's signature peach blend and sangria; love this frozen version, which I personally think it s notch higher than the Venetian original	Fig Crème Brûlée - seasonal offering from Milestone's; I love crème brûlée and fresh figs, so I decided to try this; too sweet for my taste, but it's good; I prefer having my crème brûlée plain and my figs, fresh though.	Cantina Fish Taco & Prime Rib Slider - from Milestone's; light lunch shared with a friend; Cantina fish taco and a portion of their signature prime rib slider
Coconut Calamari - from Milestone's; with mango chili sauce and toasted coconut	Brunch Mimosa - ruby red and elder flower mimosa	White Chocolate Cheesecake - white chocolate, espresso crème anglaise, whipped cream, shaved milk chocolate, fresh strawberry
Suzy Q Donuts - Dirty Chocolate, Vegan Mangoconut, and Vegan Pink Lemonade	Russian Pelmeni - Russian-style perogies filled with chicken, beef, and fresh herbs and spices; served with a sour cream and dill sauce; from Duna Bistro	Das Schnitzel Duna's specialty - the humongous schnitzel; hubby had it with spaetzle, while our son had the mashed potatoes; they skipped the Jaeger sauce (which would have enhanced the flavour, but not necessary because really, this dish stands alone; very tender, juicy, and yummy!)
Beef Rouladen - bacon, onion, carrot and dill pickle wrapped in a thin sheet of beef served with a Dijon and red wine sauce	Braised Sauerkraut - with double smoked bacon and fresh herbs; the perfect side dish	Esterhazy Torte - Hungarian layered hazelnut cake
Pandan, Ube, and Chocolate Chip Cookies - from Tamis Cafe; so colourful and so yummy (Pandan is a fragrant leaf used for flavouring in Asian cooking. Ube is a type of sweet purple yam.)	Pandan and Ube Cookies - the colours are making these yummy cookies even more appetizing!	Pandan and Ube Cakes - also from Tamis Cafe; very distinct colours and flavours; the best part is the dulce de leche filling
Pandan and Ube Cakes - don't green and purple go well together...especially in food?	Tuna Tartare - yellowfin tuna with French shallots, parsley, chives, and lime dressing topped with guacamole and fresh sprouts and served with crostini from 3 Brewers	Loose Leaf Tea - premium loose leaf tea from Cha-Yi Teahouse; got a supply of Hibiscus (recommended by the teashop owner for my health), and my favourite Genmaicha (Japanese green tea with roasted rice and two kinds of rooibos ("red" tea or vermillion liquor from the needle-like red leaves of the South African honeybush has a slightly sweet taste with woody and honeyed accents) - Safari and Raspberry Vanilla; got a free sample pack of the lime tea as well
Japanese Sweet Potatoes - also called "Satsunaimo," they have a distinct purplish or reddish skin and creamy white flesh that turns yellow after cooking; very hearty and extremely healthy; popular as a breakfast or snack food in the Philippines on its own or paired with congee; I like it boiled and plain.	Ube Fries - found some fresh ube at the Asian supermarket; not sure what to do with it (I do not know how to make the Filipino ube dessert treats), so I cooked them like regular fries - sliced with a dash of EVOO, salt and pepper, and grilled in the oven until crispy; but so much better than regular fries!	Japanese KitKats - Japanese treats are never boring; just take a look at their myriad of KitKat flavours; found some at the Asian supermarket - roasted tea, Mandarin orange, and matcha
Japanese KitKats - Halloween special apple pie flavour, matcha, and chestnut	Japanese Instant Ramen - perfect for that ramen fix when you cannot go out; found the Marutai brand from the Asian supermarket; each pack contains two servings; assorted varieties are available based on broth base and versions from different Japanese cities - tonkotsu (pork bone broth), shoyu (soy sauce), miso (fermented soy paste), and shio (salt)	Japanese Instant Ramen - the Nissin brand is also comparable in quality; for an instant ramen, these ones are pretty good and taste authentic
Japanese Instant Ramen - definitely handy at this time of pandemic when we are not able to enjoy freshly-made ramen from the restaurant	Pokemon Sodas - also from the Asian supermarket; from the Taiwanese brand, Ocean Bomb; comes in a variety of flavours; in this picture - apple, peaches, and cider	Pokemon Sodas - and here: muscat grape, orange, apple, and pear; was a big hit with my son and his friends...but I honestly think they were more interested in the cans than the actual drink.
Japanese Chocolates - Salon de Look Strawberry Pistachio chocolates from Fijuya, a popular candy brand throughout Japan; made to taste like the real cake; milk chocolate is filled with pistachio cream that is mixed with freeze-dried sweet and sour strawberries - Salon de Look Tiramisu, a bitter-sweet coffee ganache and cream with mascarpone cheese layered in a tiramisu style, is more my preference	Japanese Sponge Cakes - three-bite snacks that will not make you feel too guilty for indulging; got the green tea-raspberry-chocolate one and the more classic choco-chip	Sweet Potato Vermicelli - ready for my japchae!!!
Taiwanese Candies - assorted candies from Taiwan available at T&T Supermarket during Chinese New Year	Taiwanese Candies - lots of options in terms of flavour and texture (not usually found in North America); my favourite is the purple yam-milk soft candy	Japanese Boat Tarts - in assorted flavours
Japanese Boat Tarts - two to three bites of sugary goodness	Rice Cakes - also in a variety of flavours; but my favourite is the plain, classic one	Rice Cakes - They sell sliced pieces for those who'd like only a little bit to try.
Rice Cakes - this is how it looks when cooked (sliced thinly, dipped in beaten egg, fried until the outside is crisp and golden brown)	Vietnamese Salad Roll - freshly-made at T&T Supermarket; love alternating my dips because I can't decide which one I like better - the peanut-based one or the sweet-salty fish sauce-based one; very refreshing snack, especially in the summer	After-Asian Shopping Treats - I usually treat myself to a snack after every T&T Supermarket trip; my go-tos are the pork buns, the samurai sushi combo, and chrysanthemum tea...all freshly-made at their snack bar
Suzy Q Donuts - Since my former office was really close to the original Suzy Q outlet, we'd usually have these as treats for special meeting or occasions. In the photo - Dirty Chocolate, Maple Bacon, Blue Vanilla Frootloops/Bloop, Cookies and Cream, Salty Caramel	Suzy Q Donuts - more donut flavours: London Fog, Sugar Munkki, Wundercrunch, Chocolate Glazed	Asian Fest/Winter Night Market - at the Hilton du Lac-Leamy in Gatineau in celebration of Chinese New Year (It's an indoor event, since it is winter; in the summer, they hold the outdoor night market at Landsdowne and in Chinatown on the Ottawa side.)
Asian Fest/Winter Night Market - I was there for the street food!	Asian Fest/Winter Night Market - There were stalls representing different Asian cuisine that shows the cultural diversity in this small city.	Asian Fest/Winter Night Market - Korean stall selling kimchi fried rice with barbecued pork
Asian Fest/Winter Night Market - Korean stall selling kimchi fried rice with barbecued pork	Asian Fest/Winter Night Market - Korean stall selling kimchi fried rice with barbecued pork	Asian Fest/Winter Night Market - They also had assorted nibbles on stick - shrimp balls, squid balls, deep fried whole shrimp, spicy tofu, mushrooms, etc.
Asian Fest/Winter Night Market - three sticks for $5, which is fairly reasonable	Asian Fest/Winter Night Market - Malaysian laksa noodle soup	Asian Fest/Winter Night Market - Vietnamese fare - pho, rice cakes, spring rolls, etc.
Asian Fest/Winter Night Market - Vietnamese iced coffee	Asian Fest/Winter Night Market - Vietnamese hot drip coffee	Asian Fest/Winter Night Market - Vietnamese coffee: hot or cold, both so good
Asian Fest/Winter Night Market - Stinky tofu and deep-fried chicken, HK-style	Asian Fest/Winter Night Market - Bubble waffles with Asian ice cream and toppings	Asian Fest/Winter Night Market - Bubble waffles with Asian ice cream and toppings
Asian Fest/Winter Night Market - Bubble waffles with Asian ice cream and toppings	Asian Fest/Winter Night Market - Bubble waffles with Asian ice cream and toppings	Asian Fest/Winter Night Market - Asian fruit buns
Asian Fest/Winter Night Market - Japanese takoyaki	Asian Fest/Winter Night Market - wheat flour balls filled with diced octopus, tempura scraps, pickled ginger, and green onion inside; brushed with takoyaki sauce and mayo, and sprinkled with bonito shavings and tobiko	Asian Fest/Winter Night Market - Yum! One of my favourite Japanese street snacks!
Asian Fest/Winter Night Market - Pad Thai noodles, stir-fry dishes, and curries, and other goodies from Thailand	Asian Fest/Winter Night Market - Bubble Tea	Asian Fest/Winter Night Market - tried the grass-jelly roasted milk tea
Asian Fest/Winter Night Market - Despite the cold, this guy's barbecued squid and lamb were selling like hotcakes outside.	Asian Fest/Winter Night Market - I got the squid one.	Nachos Casa Mexico - Casa Mexico's nachos delight; a wonderful heap of tortilla chips, refried beans, pico de gallo, sour cream, jalapeno, cheese, and guacamole
Horchata - Casa Mexico's horchata (a sweet drink made by blending white rice and cinnamon sticks in water and letting them soak overnight; after the rice and cinnamon are discarded, the remaining liquid is then flavored with vanilla, sugar, and ground cinnamon)	Sushi Bake - the latest craze in town; ordered a tray from a friend	Sushi Bake - a delicious bite of Japanese rice, tuna, imitation crab, cucumber, tamago and mayo on a bed of seaweed
Moon Cake - in celebration of the Mid-Autumn/Moon Festival, got some moon cakes; my favourite is the one with lotus paste and double-yolk.	Exotic Mushrooms - not that exotic, but not usually found in local supermarkets either; got these from the Asian store: baby king oyster mushrooms grown in Burlington (and they do have that oyster flavour) and dried basswood black fungus (also called "mice ears") perfect with japchae noodles	Crayfish - never tried this before, but found frozen ones at the Asian supermarket; chose the garlic flavour variety
Crayfish - followed the package instructions and voila! (I still prefer lobster; this was a little bit harder to eat because they are smaller and the shells are tougher)	Japanese Snacks - each little bag comes with an assortment of rice crackers, dried fish, and seaweed; I always get the spicy version	Baked Donuts (Autumn Collection) - yes, baked and dense and rich that they are almost like mini-cakes; ordered the Autumn flavours from Doughbaby Doughnuts, a homebased business; in the photo - Apple Maple Bourbon, Raspberry Cheesecake, Biscoff Cookie Butter, Caramel Brownie Crunch, and Pumpkin Pie
Blue and Purple Wine - from Naked Grape, a small winery in Ontario; pretty to look at and fun to drink (Wine connoisseurs may be turned off because they are more of a wine beverage than real wine, but they are definitely worth a try...and they look good in photos!)	Naked Grape Unoaked Blue Wine - made from a blend of many varietals of white wine, with added natural flavours and colouring to give it a bright blue colour, this was Ontario's way of following the blue wine trend (you may have heard of Gïk, a blue wine from Spain that was the first of its kind)	Naked Grape Unoaked Purple Wine - and the purple version
Früli Strawberry Beer - was hard to find before (served only in two pubs in Ottawa), but now available at LCBO (yes!); Belgian fruit beer produced at a craft brewery near Ghent by blending Belgian wheat beer (70%) and pure strawberries (30%)	Früli Strawberry Beer - highly recommended, even for non-beer lovers	Chicken Skin Chicharon - not exactly local, but was sent by my brother from LA; reminds me of those bowling outings in the Philippines; this was a typical bowling snack; definitely not healthy...but it doesn't hurt to have a little bit at a time (i.e., five pieces per day)
British Pasty - at the weekly Kanata Farmers' Market; this local producer makes pasties from scratch with no artificial flavours or preservatives; they are baked in small batches, then fast frozen for customer convenience; you can buy fresh and frozen ones from their stall at the farmers' market	Maple Products - also at the Kanata Farmers' Market; from syrup to salt to butter to candies...it's a maple haven!	Maple Wine - the vendor even has homemade maple wine, which I tried; it's sweet and lovely...akin to ice wine and a perfect companion to light desserts
Homemade BBQ Sauces - If you like spice, this is the place to go. With names like "Ring of Fire," "Hounds of Hell," "50 Shades of Pain, and "Devil's Brew," you will surely find the one that's right for you. The bottles are arranged according to heat and spice level...and yes, there is free taste-testing...so get your tongues ready!	Organic Game Meat - also at the Kanata Farmers' Market (and they make the rounds of all local Farmers' Markets)	Organic Game Meat - lots of meats to choose from...and all from locally-raised animals, free from hormone and chemical feeds
Organic Sausages - I tried two of their sausages (duck with apple, orange, and cranberry and the classic smoked bratwurst); both were awesome and all ingredients are listed on the packaging...like I said...all natural!	Fresh Oysters - at Central Bierhaus; the perfect appetizer	Bavarian Dinner - at Central Bierhaus: assorted German sausages, schnitzels, sauerkraut, Bavarian potato salad, and local mustard
Truffle Torte - from Stubbes Chocolates for our son's First Communion; made of chocolate sponge cake with layers of white and dark chocolate ganache, covered with dark chocolate glaze	Moroccan Buffet - at Chez Fatima in Gatineau, near my office; all-you-can-eat buffet at lunch, consisting of Moroccan and North African cuisine	Moroccan Buffet - the price is reasonable...especially when their daily spread is huge
Moroccan Buffet - good array of meats, carbs, veggies, and side dishes; my favourite is the braised lamb shank; I have yet to try their tangine dishes at dinnertime	Moroccan Desserts - my favourite among all their sweet offerings; reminded me of the Indian kheer, but it, of course, has a different set of spices	Moroccan Desserts - the perfect sweet ending to a hearty meat-heavy and richly- flavoured lunch
Suzy Q Donuts - available every Wednesday at our office cafeteria; I'd usually get one with a co-worker and we'd split our donuts so we'd get to try both flavours; in this photo - Maple Bacon (my all-time favourite) and Lime Margarita	Poke Bowl - another new trend that the Japanese eateries here have picked up on; this was from the small sushi stall on the ground floor of my office building	Calamansi (Philippine Lime) - used extensively in Filipino cuisine; getting fresh ones here is a challenge, so I usually just buy this from the Filipino store; you can mix this with water and drink hot or cold; the taste is so much better than lemon or lime...promise!
Trio of Tacos - at Café Merkén in Hull, Gatineau; it was Taco Tuesday, so I got a trio of tacos - Sonora (steak with onion, peppers, pico de gallo, chipotle and cheese), Acapulco (chicken, onion, sour cream, chipotle, cilantro, and cheese), and Chihuahua (pork, onion, and cilantro); so good and so fresh; downed them with a glass of ice-cold tea	Escargot Forestiers Pizza - from Piz'za-za in Gatineau; with pesto, snails, mushrooms, roasted garlic, mozzarella and parmesan cheeses	Korean Platter - from a Korean stall at the Les Galeries de Hull food court; very reasonably priced and everything is cooked fresh (beef bulgogi, kimchi rice, japchae, gyoza)
Poke Bowl - Honolulu Poke Bowl from Ke Ola Poke Bar in Gatineau; their bestseller and made as you order - sushi rice, spicy salmon, corn, kernels, diced mango, edamame, sliced radish, fried onions, and spicy mayo)	Polpo a la Griglia - from La Squadra in Hull, Gatineau; octopus marinated in garlic, herbs, and lemon and served with white bean and cherry tomato salad	Sashimi Plate - a light lunch of assorted fresh sashimi with a side of rice
The Bloop - one of the signature donuts of Suzy Q; short for Blueberry Vanilla Frootloops; had to take a photo of this one because of the generous amount of froot loops; fun and colourful!	Autumn Pies - apple crisp and pumpkin pie from Farm Boy	Pumpkin Spice Cheese - Wensleydale's fall special: creamy English cheese expertly blended with cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger...and of course, shaped like a pumpkin and covered with orange wax
Pumpkin Spice Cheese and Pumpkin Spice Crackers - too much pumpkin spice? nah...I don't think so...not if you are in love with fall flavours!	Fall Harvest - crisp apples, corn, sweet potato delicata, rainbow carrots, kale, corn, sweet peppers, cranberry sauce, gooseberries, physalis, pumpkin spice cheese = autumn heaven!	Autumn Fruits - seldom available but seen at Farm Boy that week: gooseberries and physalis that will definitely upgrade your boring salad
Roasted Rainbow Carrots - all you need is EVOO, salt, pepper, fresh thyme	Halloween-Themed Wines and Spirits - and yes, I bought them because of the Halloween design...but they actually taste good as well	Halloween-Themed Local Craft Beers - again, yes...I bought them because of the attractive cans
The Best Cheesecake - the best cheesecake ever...from Boulangerie Première Moisson (there's one in Gatineau now)	The Best Cheesecake - graham cracker crust, cream cheese and sour cream filling, raspberry glaze and fresh fruit...the perfect firmness and sweetness...these are what cheesecakes are made of!	Country-Style Paté - country-style paté with La Violette gin jelly and lavender mustard at La Rustiek in Hull, Gatineau
Bison Roulade - followed by a bison roulade stuffed with red wine and fennel sausage, served with sautéed bok choy, juniper-scented parsnip purée, and poivrade sauce (I really enjoyed the parsnip purée...I can eat this anytime even without meat.)	Suzy Q Donuts - Dragon Fruit Piña Colada and Raspberry Cassis	Suzy Q Donut - Dos Leches
Suzy Q Donut - Homer Simpson-inspired donut: The D'OH-nut	Suzy Q Donut - Piña Colada	Suzy Q Donuts - Peanut Butter and Jam, Cherry Bomb, and Vegan Matcha
Suzy Q Donut - Peaches and Cream	Suzy Q Donuts - Old-Fashioned Sour Cream Cake donuts: Vanilla & Chocolate, and Lemon-Poppyseed	Fish Tacos - the signature fish tacos at Le Pub Du Bon Vivant; served with pico, chipotle mayo sauce and fries (I opted to get sweet potato fries.)
Ajvar - found "ajvar" at a local supermarket; I've developed a liking for "ajvar" toast since I had this for breakfast everyday when I was in the Balkans; this one's from Macedonia, a spicier version of what I brought home from Bulgaria	Interesting Wines from LCBO - I bought them because of the pretty bottles.	Interesting Wine from LCBO - This one as well.
Vietnamese Pho - When winter season hits, I always crave a good bowl of pho.	Vietnamese Pho - slathered with a good amount of hot sauce for that kick	Taiwanese-Style Beef Soup - made fresh at T&T; perfect after a grocery run on a rainy day
Watermelon Salad - eclectic eight-course blind sharing menu at Chef Blackie's NEXT restaurant (plus vin rouge, of course!); 1st Course: compressed watermelon salad with roquettes, hickory smoked feta, and citric balm (a refreshing start)	Olive Oil Baguette - 2nd Course: toasty olive oil baguette with green pea labneh spin, crisp sage, roast garlic confit, and chive bomb (so simple, yet so complex)	Tom Kha Gai Soup - 3rd Course: tom kha gai soup with cilantro, straw mushrooms, and spicy red coconut curry broth (this was my favourite course...the chef hit the salty-spicy-sour balance)
Sausages with Mozzarella - 4th Course: sausages with fresh buffalo mozzarella cheese and heirloom tomatoes with shaved fennel, torn basil, and crostini thins (very filling)	Tuna Sashimi Pizza - 5th Course: wasabi pea-crusted tuna sashimi pizza with crisp sushi rice fritter, togarashi mayo, and daikon pickle (my 2nd favourite)	BC Ling Cod 6th Course: combo plate of pan-roasted BC ling cod with pineapple and lime caper butter
Lamb Shank - 7th Course: lamb shank with applewood cheddar mash and blackberry-ginger gastrique	Assorted Sweets Board - 8th Course: the sweet board (milk chocolate mousse, Belgian waffle, and mini blueberry cheesecakes)	Sliced Beef in Chili Oil - at La Noodle; this is served cold and is the perfect appetizer for a dry noodle dish
Deep Fried Squid in Pepper and Salt - another standard appetizer in Chinese restaurants (for me, that is)	Dandan Noodles - one of La Noodle's signature dishes; a classic Sichuan noodle dish with ground pork, chili oil, dried preserved veggies, sesame paste, and peanut sauce	Dandan Noodles - if you like peanut butter, you will love this!
Suzy Q Donuts - Carrot Cake	Suzy Q Donuts - Hazelnut Praline	Suzy Q Donuts - Candy Cane
Suzy Q Donuts - Cinnamon Toast	Suzy Q Donuts - Gingerbread Donuts on the right side	Fried Squid Skewers - from Kuiadore, an izakaya discovery in Little Italy; they have ramen and sushi, and of course, Japanese pub food, plus a good selection of Japanese beer and sake.
Agedashi Tofu - fried tofu, dashi broth, bonito flakes, green onion, daikon	Takoyaki - or octopus balls; a popular Japanese street food and one of my favourites (ball-shaped Japanese snack made of a wheat flour-based batter and cooked in a special molded pan; typically filled with minced or diced octopus, tempura scraps, pickled ginger, and green onion)	Tonkotsu Black Garlic Ramen - pork belly ramen with thin ramen, pork belly, egg, kikurage, nori, green onion, and black garlic oil
Tuna Tataki - flame seared tuna, sesame seed, ponzu, garlic chili	Rose Latte & Japanese Cream Cheese Bun - from Z3 Specialty Coffee in Kanata (a funky coffee shop decorated with Japanese anime and Pokemon stuff, while also serving good coffee and a variety of Japanese drinks); they carry Uncle Tetsu's Japanese cheesecake but they ran out, so I ordered the other best-selling item: the Japanese cream cheese bun (egg bun with homemade cheese cream).	Dirty Coffee - espresso with cold cream and chocolate at Z3 Specialty Coffee
Pumpkin Latte - pumpkin latte with cinnamon and turmeric (the week's special) at Z3 Specialty Coffee	Pumpkin Latte - better than Starbuck's pumpkin spice latte (which is too sweet for me); this one is just right	Mochi - bite-sized mochis: taro, matcha, red bean, milk
Taiwanese Braised Beef Soup - freshly-made from from T&T Supermarket	Tim Horton's Dulce de Leche Donut SuzyQ was on vacation (i.e., no deliveries at our building's cafeteria); tried one of the three donut specials at Timmy's: Dulce de Leche (a colleague was disappointed because the filling was just a dollop, but I didn't mind; the less sugar, the better for me)	Veal Hanger Steak - again from Le Rustiek; grilled veal hanger steak with sarladaise potatoes, button mushrooms, broccoli and hazelnut puree, and black garlic dijonnaise sauce
Pork Schnitzel Burger - pork schnitzel burger with fries and a side salad of baby spinach and fermented cabbage from Le Rustiek	Salmon Plate - seared salmon with beet trilogy, grapefruit, lamb lettuce, horseradish cream sauce, and caraway crumble	Squash and Sage Risotto - squash and sage risotto with roasted fennel and pepperonata; drizzled with basil oil and topped with ricotta that was whipped with honey and pecans
Tonkotsu Black Ramen - from Sansotei Ramen; with chashu, black fungus, egg, green onion, and black garlic oil	Zangi - Hokkaido-style fried chicken from Sansotei Ramen	Das Schnitzel - took some friends to Duna and introduced them to German/Eastern European food; started with their schnitzel, said to be tenderized with love and a giant mallet...hahaha! (served with spaetzle and sauerkraut with caramelized onions)
Potato and Cheddar Cheese Perogies - Wayne Gretzky's favourite: potato and cheddar cheese pierogies, fried in duck fat to a golden colour, sprinkled with double-smoked bacon (this recipe came from the hockey legend's Toronto restaurant menu)	Russian Perogies - pelmeni, said to be Alexander Ovechkin's favourite; pelmenis are the Russian version of the pierogies; filled with minced chicken and beef with creamy dill sauce; served with a side of Hungarian cole slaw	Hungarian Mocha Chiffon Cake - with lots of layers (most Hungarian cakes are like this...must be a lot of work to bake these multi- layered cakes)
Schnitzel to go - so huge that one piece fills a big pizza box	Pelmeni to go - and of course, pelmeni for me with sides of spaetzle and sauerkraut	Natural Peanut Butter and Ajvar - going all natural; found this peanut butter at Walmart (with only one ingredient: dry roasted peanuts and nothing else); also found this jar of spicy ajvar at the local supermarket (a Balkan staple which I ate everyday while I was there); ingredients are: fire-roasted red peppers, eggplant purée, sunflower oil, salt, and hot red pepper; no chemicals and no artificial flavours
Chicken Tenders - with fries at Kelsey's Roadhouse	Fried Calamari - calamari appies for light dinner	Caesar Salad - paired with a small portion of Caesar salad
Salmon Tartare - Tartare cravings satisfied at Le Cellier; had their salmon tartare with granny smith apple, cilantro, lime mayo, and green onions; had the half-half sides (fries and house salad); I shall return for their tuna tartare.	Salmon Stuffed with Shrimp Mousse - also from Le Cellier; salmon stuffed with shrimp mousse, herb oil, grilled lemon, roasted garlic rice, and veggies	Smoked Pine Pizza - from Naples Pizza in Gatineau; with smoked meat and pineapple (I know some people do not like pineapples on their pizza...but I do...and the pineapple's sweetness goes well with the saltiness of the smoked meat on this.)
La Québécoise Pizza - from Naples Pizza; with pepperoni, bacon, and mushrooms	All-Dressed Pizza - from Naples Pizza; with pepperoni, mushrooms, and green pepper	Vegetarian Pizza - from Naples Pizza; with mushrooms, onions, green peppers, and olives
Suzy Q Donuts - Old-Fashioned Sour Cream Cake donuts: Vanilla & Chocolate and Lemon-Poppy Seed	Seafood Platter - some Creole fare at the Juke Joint Soul Kitchen in Carp; platter includes Creole calamari, crab cake, shrimp remoulade, mussels, roasted garlic and Andouille sausage in white wine Creole tomato sauce, and toasted garlic loaf slices	Jambalaya - The Juke Joint Soul Kitchen's Jambalaya with chicken, shrimp, and Andouille sausage...and a small salad on the side
Sushi Combo Platter - my go-to lunch when I am too lazy to bring lunch to work; from a small kiosk on the ground floor of our office building	La Brûlerie Coffee - coffee is roasted on the premises everyday; and of course they sell coffee beans, ground coffee, tea, coffee and tea supplies	La Brûlerie Cheeses - they also carry local artisanal cheese and a selection of international varieties
La Brûlerie Cheeses - they also carry local artisanal cheese and a selection of international varieties	La Brûlerie Beer - they sell local craft beer from Quebec	La Brûlerie Beer - they sell local craft beer from Quebec
La Brûlerie Beer - and organic ice cream	La Brûlerie Coffee - I bought blueberry roiboos tea and of course, coffee to go and a pastry; I'll be back for the cheese and the other goodies.	Pintxo Plate - my pintxo plate from Les Vilains Garçons in Gatineau; includes grilled veal flank steak with house mayo, wild shrimps with grilled pepper and coriander sauce, and shisito and corn taco with grilled jerk-flavoured jalapeno pepper...yum! (the menu changes every week and at lunch, you can mix-and-match your pintxo plate)
Pintxo Plate 2 - my mate's plate; first two items were the same as mine, but she chose baked brie in phyllo pastry with cranberry confit for her third	Suzy Q Donuts - Strawberry Cheesecake and Minty Chocolate	Cancha - roasted corn with crisp sweet potato appetizer; the "cancha" is a special type of large-kernelled corn tossed with oil and toasted (it's soooo good!); available at Petit Peru in Gatineau
Chicken Empanada - from Petit Peru; with aji amarillo sauce (really enjoyed this sauce...tangy and spicy!)	Beef Empanada - the beef version is equally good; it's just a matter of personal preference, I guess	Chicken Tamal - corn masa dough with a chicken filling, steamed and wrapped in banana leaves
Ceviche Mixto - fresh tilapia, shrimps, and calamari rings served with sweet potato and plantain chips	Seafood Causa - mashed potatoes seasoned with spices and lime juice, and layered with crab meat, shrimps, and avocado slices	Tuna Causa - this one's layered with Peruvian style tuna salad and avocado slices
Pollo a la Brasa Juicy Peruvian-style marinated chicken, roasted, and served with fries, mayo, and aji huacatay	Chicha Morada - an Andean beverage made from corn culli (purple corn), boiled with pineapple peel, quince, cinnamon, cloves, and lemon	Shrimp Curry and Beef Vindaloo - from Malabar; both are so good, that is, if you like spices; South Indian spices have A LOT more zing than Northern Indian dishes..and this is coming from me, who likes a lot of kick!
Brazo de Mercedes - Goldilock's brand; can be purchased frozen from Divisoria Market Ottawa; this is a traditional Filipino meringue roll with a custard filling typically dusted with powdered sugar	Sushi Bake - sample given by a friend, who was trying the recipe for the first time; she made it with imitation crab meat	IMG_E2176
Sushi Bake - yum in every bite	Inipit - homemade "inipit" ordered from a friend; this is a Filipino flat pastry made of flour, milk, lard, and sugar that have various filling sandwiched in between two sheets of the pastry; the name "inipit" means "pressed in between" or "sandwiched" in Tagalog	Chicken Buns - homemade "siopao" ordered from a friend; this is the Philippine indigenized version of the Cantonese steamed bun called "cha siu bao" and can have different meat fillings
Empanadas - beef and chicken empanadas from Oven Blessing	Cutchinta - "cutchinta" from Oven Blessing; these are rice cakes made from a mixture of tapioca or rice flour, brown sugar and lye, enhanced with yellow food coloring or annatto extract, and steamed in small ramekins	Fresh Lumpia - from Oven Blessing; also known as "lumpiang sariwa" or "lumpiang ubod," this is a Filipino appetizer consisting of julienned palm heart with various meat and vegetables in a thin egg crêpe; usually dipped in a peanut-based sauce
Mango Bravo Cake - from Oven Blessing; this is a sponge cake with meringue and cashew, just like the "sans rival" cake, but also has chocolates and fresh mangoes	Mango Bravo Cake - the original one is from Contis in the Philippines, but this version from Oven Blessing in Ottawa is really good	Dark Roast Peanut Butter - and it's all natural!
Starbucks Autumn K-Cups - Fall is just around the corner....already saw these autumn coffee flavours.	Pastéis de Nata - or Portuguese tarts; found some at Farm Boy and they are quite good; they sell both the classic and the hazelnut flavours, but I prefer the classic one	Colourful Puto - Filipino steamed rice cake, traditionally made from slightly fermented rice dough and eaten as is or as an accompaniment to a number of savoury dishes; these ones are from Divisoria Market Ottawa
Pancit Palabok - also from Divisoria Market Ottawa; this noodle dish is flavoured with shrimp sauce and topped with several ingredients, such as cooked shrimp, boiled pork, crushed "chicharon," "tinapa" flakes, fried tofu, scallions, and fried garlic	Filipino Dishes - Filipino food cravings satisfied: sisig, bopis, and kare-kare from Divisoria Market Ottawa	Salted Duck Egg Salad - got some salted duck eggs from Divisoria Market Ottawa and made this classic salted duck egg salad to accompany my fried fish
Annatto Seeds - described as an orange-red condiment and food colouring derived from the seeds of the achiote tree that is native to tropical regions, it is often used to impart a yellow or orange color to foods, but sometimes also for its flavour and aroma; this would be good for my congee and java rice	Filipino Goodies - Calamansi concentrate and bottled "tuyo" (salted dried herring) * Calamansi is similar to lemon or lime, but with a distinct flavour; used extensively in Filipino cooking and is also taken as juice.	Filipino Goodies - snacks from my childhood
Filipino Goodies - this one is a snack made from dried thick egg noodles locally known as "pancit miki" that is deep-fried and dusted with garlic, chili, and beef powder; can also be eaten as is with a vinegar-based dip, or dusted in sugar	Baked Donuts (Spring Collection) - from Doughbaby Doughnuts; pretty and yummy baked donuts that I ordered for a friend's birthday: Slutty Brownie, Cookies and Cream, Chocolate Raspberry, Red Velvet, Strawberry Milkshake, and Strawberries and Cream	Indian Cuisine - from Amaya Buffet: butter chicken, daal makhni, and beef vindaloo with garlic naan and basmati rice
German/Eastern European Goodies - two kinds of ajvar, Bavarian-style mustard, and dolmas for me; chocolates, Maoam candies, strawberry syrup (that you mix with fizzy water to make kracherl soda), and German breakfast cake	German/Eastern European Goodies - an assortment of sausages, salami, and bacon	Spätzle - assorted spätzle to eat with our schnitzels and sausages
Turkey Sausages - farmer's turkey sausages with garlic and parsley; bought from the turkey farmer himself	Polish Potato Dumplings - first time to try this	Polish Potato Dumplings - ate it with homemade mushroom sauce
Ube and Cheese Pandesal - "pandesal" is a common bread roll in the Philippines made of flour, yeast, sugar, oil, and salt; this one is made fancier with ube flavour and cheese filling; from Carinderia Panaderia Ottawa	Filipino-Style Barbecue - also from Carinderia Panaderia Ottawa; Filipino barbecue refers to thinly sliced pork pieces in bamboo skewers that are marinated in a special mixture of seasonings and spices; in the Philippines, it is normally grilled over wood charcoal and dipped in a tall jar of spicy vinegar	Sisig - a popular Filipino dish that can be considered as a main dish or an appetizer; composed mainly of pig’s parts such as minced pork meat, ears, snout, and face; could also have chicken liver, onions, and chili peppers; it is normally served on a sizzling plate and topped with cracked egg; best eaten with garlic rice and ice-cold beer
Koobideh with Saffron Rice - from Parsital (Persian and Italian restaurant) in Carp: charbroiled koobideh with Persian rice infused with saffron and sprinkled with wild berries	Calamari - from Parsital; fresh rings of squid, lightly floured and deep fried, then served with seafood cocktail sauce	Smelts - also from Parsital; fresh smelts, lightly floured and served with seafood cocktail sauce
Halloween Chocolates - from Rochef Chocolatier in Hull, Gatineau	Halloween Chocolates - from Rochef Chocolatier in Hull, Gatineau	Halloween Chocolates - from Rochef Chocolatier in Hull, Gatineau
Moon Cakes Ready for the Mid-Autumn/Moon Festival again this year!	Harry Potter Cake - by La Filipina Baker; aside from being so pretty, this cake is so yummy (chocolate inside); moist and flavourful, with just the right amount of sweetness	Harry Potter Cake - from La Filipina Baker; the star of our HP birthday table
Fall Flavours - cashew and cranberry crackers, cranberry and pepper gournay cheese, and the Yorkshire cheese that I always look forward to every fall (with cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg)	Fall Flavours - my mini-charcuterie board snack with autumn cheeses	Torta de Aceite - or Spanish olive oil torta, is a light, crisp, and flaky sweet biscuit in the shape of a torta; main ingredients are wheat flour, olive oil, almonds, sugar, sesame seeds, anise seeds and anise flavor.
Baked Bone Marrows - they had this available at the local supermarket, so I thought I'd try...my first time to make bone marrows like this (canoe cut and baked in the oven)...turned out well...made the sauce too (citrus-based with fresh herbs, to counteract the richness of the marrow), and spread both on toasted French baguette; truly the "butter of the gods"...so they say	Burek - from Skela Foods; baked, filled pastry made of thin flaky dough; got the ones with spinach and cheese; a staple in every Balkan country, and usually eaten for breakfast with a yogurt drink	Ćevapi - freshly-made at Skela Foods; grilled sausages served with Balkan-style pita bread, onions, ajvar, and kajmak
Ćevapi - available at Skela's deli section (cooked fresh) or you can buy the frozen version and cook it at home; got the veal-beef-pork cevapis, but also bought frozen ones	Ajvar - roasted eggplant and red bell pepper sauce/spread/side dish; this will go well with my cevaps and my breakfast toast	Kajmak and Feta Cheese - also got kajmak and Balkan feta; kajmak is a creamy, dairy side dish/spread, which is sort of a cross between cream cheese and yogurt; Balkan feta is different from the Greek version that North Americans are more familiar with; it is used as topping for the shopska salad (see the Bon Appetit section of this website for my Balkan food posts)
Esterhazy Cake - one of the most famous cakes in the lands of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy; consists of buttercream spiced with cognac or vanilla, sandwiched between four or five layers of almond meringue (macaron) dough	Chocolate Cake Rum Ball - the other dessert I tried; the rum ball is the star of this cake; you can also by the rum balls separately from their bakery section	Westzaner Cheese and Cured Pork Loin - this smoked cheese is soft and creamy with a hint of black pepper; was the perfect pairing for the smoked cured pork loin, which was firm and a little salty
Eastern European Soups - stash of hearty soup and salmon pâté that would be so comforting at night, now that it is getting colder	Fruit Tea - a blend of hibiscus flower, apple, chokeberry, raspberry, orange peel, and blackcurrant; sweet and tart...and healthy	Das Schnitzel - took out huge schnitzels from Duna Bistro again for a hearty dinner
Spätzle - with caramelized onions and fresh herbs	Meat Pierogies - with caramelized onions, fresh herbs, and sour cream	Beef Rouladen - thin sheet of beef with bacon, onion, carrot, and dill pickle inside, served with Dijon mustard and red wine sauce; also got sauerkraut on the side
Dobos Cake - Hungarian sponge cake with chocolate buttercream topped with caramel	Dobos Cake - similar to the Esterhazy Cake with many layers	Chung Chun Rice Dog - an outlet recently opened in the neighbourhood, so thought I'd check what the hype was about; they offer Korean-style hotdogs that use sticky-rice dough batter
Chung Chun Rice Dog - the Volcano Hotdog (spicy) on the left and the Mozzarella Cheese Hotdog; wanted to try the Squid Ink-Cheese, the Ramen-Cheese, and the Chicken Topping ones, but they ran out...next time!	Thai Staples - my favourite dishes from Sabai Thai: tofu pad thai (thin rice noodles stir fried with eggs, bean sprouts, green onions, and peanuts); chicken in yellow curry (mixed with potatoes topped with crispy onions), and beef in green curry (with bamboo shoots, baby corn, bell peppers, green beans, eggplant, and sweet basil)	Kouign-Amann - This is the signature product of La Maison du Kouign-Amann. It is a sweet Breton cake, containing layers of butter and incorporated sugar, and is crispy and melt-in-your-mouth at the same time. It can be eaten as is or topped with four different flavours - salted caramel, lemon, raspberry, or Nutella.
Pain au Chocolat and Almond Croissant - But my all-time favourites from La Maison du Kouign-Amann are their pain au chocolat (also called chocolatine) and almond croissants. I love the flaky pastries with the smooth buttery taste.	Ramzes Cheese - Found this at Zakuska Market and Deli (Russian, Ukrainian, Polish). It's described as a mature Dutch Swiss -style smoked cheese with a mild, slightly nutty taste and unique aroma obtained during the natural smoking process. This is the first smoked cheese in Poland with holes and is excellent for sandwiches, snacks and salads. I ate mine with Spanish olive oil torta and cranberry and hazelnut crackers.	Blood Sausage - Also got this from Zakuska. I might not have followed the deli staff's instruction though, but I tried. I simmered it. peeled off the skin, and sauteed with red onions and turkey bacon. I would have sprinkled some parsley on it, but I ran out of greens.
Russian Cheesecake - Also from Zakuska. It's has a different texture and flavour compared to the American version. It is also lighter and not as sweet because it is made from low-fat Farmer's Cheese.	Lamb, Sauerkraut, and Vermicelli Casserole - This is a Northeastern Chinese dish from Harbin Restaurant; I never thought they'd have sauerkraut in China (made from pickled cabbage). The soup was light, buttery, and has a subtle lamb flavour from the thin slices of meat.	Lamb, Sauerkraut, and Vermicelli Casserole - If you are looking for something different, this is good comfort food during this wintry weather.
Stewed Pork Belly - The casserole came with a side order of stewed pork belly. It was tender and flavourful.	Shanghai-Style Sliced Fish - I tried one the dishes in the "Chef's Recommendation" menu and loved it. I forgot to ask what fish it is, but it was tender and juicy. The sauce has a subtle flavour and the texture is enhanced by the wood-ear mushrooms.	Mapo Tofu - This is a Sichuan dish made with ground pork and tofu with lots of chilies.
Lechon Belly - Ordered the "bellychon" from Carinderia Panaderia Ottawa. It comes with homemade liver sauce.	Lechon Belly - But I also made my own sauce - vinegar, soy sauce, crushed garlic, and Thai chilies. The acidity of the vinegar and the kick from the garlic and chilies were the perfect balance to the melt-in-your mouth fatty layer. The skin was crispy and the meat, tender with a hint of lemongrass.	Raspberry Cake - from Skela Foods; it was light and has layers of raspberry mousse, cream cheese, and chiffon. Yum!
French Custard Cake - also from Skela; the shop owner made this, so I got a small portion to try and I'm glad I did; it is light and just has the right amount of sweetness; the chocolate topping was the star.	Russian Sponge Cake - another one from Skela; made with flour, eggs, sugar, vanilla, and condensed milk filling	Pelmeni - Russian beef and pork pelmeni with mushroom soup and buttered garlic toast
Pljeskavica - Balkan spiced beef patty (like a Balkan burger patty); ate it with shredded Balkan feta, ajvar, and toasted bread	Veal Scaloppini - from Parsital, a local Persian and Italian restaurant; served with portobello mushroom sauce, sauteed veggies, and roasted potatoes	Pepperoni Persian Pizza - also from Parsital; the crust is Persian bread with sesame and poppy seeds
Pancit and Filipino-style pork barbecue - from Grab N' Eat (recently discovered this new Filipino restaurant and grocery store); they offer other Filipino homestyle dishes	Pan de Ube - soft bread...	Pan de Ube ...with gooey ube filling; not too sweet...just perfect!
Chung Chun Rice Dog - finally got to try their squid ink and cheese beef sausage	Tortas de Aceite - found another variant of our favourite Spanish tortas; we usually buy the rosemary and thyme savoury kind...but just saw this sweet one in Spanish orange! This company has been making tortas since 1910, based on an old family recipe that was recovered. They are also known for several other Andalucian specialties, but they are not readily available in Canada.	Hungarian Cabbage Rolls - from Duna Bistro; large cabbage leaves stuffed with minced pork, rice, caramelized onions and gentle spices cooked in a light tomato sauce; one order comes with two huge rolls...and trust me, one is enough for a satisfying meal; I usually save the other one for the next day.
Smoked Salmon Benedict - brunch at Perspectives Restaurant at Brookstreet Hotel on one stormy, no-power weekend; cold smoked salmon, two poached eggs, guacamole, chive hollandaise, breakfast potato, English muffin, fresh fruits	Caesar my go-to drink; spent the whole day at the Perspectives Jazz Bar Lounge so our son can participate in an online chess tournament during the power outage weekend; had coffee and cocktails while reading a book and keeping our little chess master company	Lamb Saddle - dinner at Perspectives (told you...we occupied a corner from brunch to dinner so our son could play chess); Beverly Creek Farm lamb saddle, spinach, olive oil mash, acorn creek farm ratatouille, micro basil, lamb jus; paired with a robust Spanish tempranillo
Milestone's Coconut Calamari - with toasted coconut and mango chili sauce	Milestone's Seafood Spaghettini - with shrimp, crab meat, lobster meat, red onion, tomatoes, spinach, and lobster bisque	Milestone's Original Bellini - the restaurant's signature peach blend topped with sangria
Hazelnut Torte from the German bakery, Anna Stubbe; hazelnut sponge cake with three layers of dark chocolate ganache...and instead of the milk chocolate frosting, we requested dark chocolate; perfect for a milestone birthday!	Hazelnut Torte Yum....but truly rich!	Konzelmann's Canada Red ...because it's Canada Day!
Tuna Tartare from Baton Rouge; diced tuna served on a bed of sliced avocado, enhanced with sesame oil and ginger. Served with crostini	Seared Ahi Tuna Salad from Baton Rouge; sesame seared-rare yellowfin tuna on mixed greens, topped with roasted edamame, diced tomatoes, onions & ginger-lime dressing	Polish Paczki traditional Polish donuts); this one is glazed and has homemade prune jam as filling
Polish Paczki They have a small amount of alcohol added before frying to make the dough as light and as fluffy as can be.	Polish Paczki The plum filling definitely sets it apart from other kinds of donuts that we are used to.	Hal or Challa bread from the oldest Polish bakery in Montreal; available at Zakuska Market and Deli
Hal or Challa bread Had it for dinner with some debreziner sausages (mild, pork sausages seasoned with paprika), Bavarian-style mustard, and queso Iberico (blend of cow’s, goat’s, and sheep’s milk cheese, similar in style to the Manchego)	Zapekanka Russian cheesecake; made with a rich batter of farmer’s cheese, sour cream, and cream of wheat; not too sweet like the American cheesecake, and has a consistency closer to pudding; usually eaten for breakfast or dessert; got the plain version and the one with the baked apples…next time, I will try the one with the cherries.	Filipino Pancit Palabok an afternoon snack that brought a smile to my face
Sisig composed of minced pork, chopped onion, and chicken liver; this one is Grab N' Eat's version	Raisin Bun from La Maison du Kouign-Amann	Chocolate Chip Pancakes brunch with my son…it’s his first time to get an adult plate from Zak’s Diner and was surprised at how large the choco chip pancakes were compared to the kid’s meal he used to order (We he was younger, we would avail of their “free kid’s meal” promo but alas, he is no longer 10.)
Eggs Benny my usual brunch order from Zak's Diner	Chorizo de Cebu available in Filipino stores; a staple Filipino breakfast item	Chicken Tocino also available in Filipino stores and another Filipino breakfast staple item
Fall Coffee!!! seasonal fall flavours in cute packaging; found them at Home Sense; my coffee machine is all set for autumn!	Moon Cakes I wouldn’t let a Mid-Autumn Festival pass by without getting some moon cakes.	Moon Cakes My favourite kind – white lotus paste with double yolk…also got a baby pack of the low-sugar taro mooncakes.
Moon Cakes My favourite kind – white lotus paste with double yolk…also got a baby pack of the low-sugar taro mooncakes.	Gua Bao I used to get this from the restaurant on the second floor of my aunt’s office building every time I’d visit her there. Eating this brings back childhood memories.	Asian Produce Japanese sweet potatoes, donut peaches, and baby king oyster mushrooms (not usually found in regular supermarkets)
Pumpkin Spice Dream Donut Tim Horton's new fall donut; new in Canada this year; dipped in orange fondant, topped with candied praline pumpkin seeds and drizzled with white fondant	Coronation Grapes seasonal grapes available in the late summer and early fall; I love the vibrant purple-blue colour and the sweet-sour musky taste!	Timmy's Pumpkin Spice Dream Donut The fondant is extra orange today (probably to commemorate the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation).
Timmy's Creamy Maple Pecan Dream Donut Another autumn offering - donut dipped in maple fondant, topped with praline pecans and delicately drizzled with chocolate	Salsiccia - roasted Calabrese sausage with olives and hot peppers from Cabotto's	Pasta Trio - a trio of cannelloni, lasagna, and pollo parmigiana from Cabotto's
Veal Mignonette - stuffed with prosciutto cotto and provolone cheese and with peppercorn and mushroom veal jus, potatoes, carrots, and green beans from Cabotto's	Osso Bucco - with saffron risotto from Cabotto's	Tiramisu - from Cabotto's; hubby says his homemade one is still the winner…hahaha!
Special Pho - with well done beef, beef brisket, beef tendon, beef balls, chicken, and quail egg from Kanata Noodle House	Local Ontario Blended Wine - hubby bought the wine because of the name…hahaha – Conspiracy wine from Foreign Affair winery…and the bottle has autumn colours…	Mapo Tofu - from Harbin Restaurant; my favourite Sichuan dish; consists of tofu set in a spicy sauce, typically a thin, oily, and bright red suspension, based on douban, and douchi, along with minced meat
Shanghai-Style Sliced Fish - chef's recommendation at Harbin Restaurant	Lamb, Spinach, and Vermicelli Casserole - a hearty Northeast Chinese dish from Harbin Restaurant	Breakfast Special - my usual breakfast special at 3 Sisters' Cafe while waiting for my son to finish German classes; grilled panini with fresh omelette plus bacon, tomatoes, cheddar cheese and Boston lettuce....paired with fresh roasted local coffee
Treats from Maverick's Donuts - Oreo Nirvana and Lemon Ricotta	Treats from Maverick's Donuts - Chocolate Glazed and Maple Bacon	Korean Dog Chung Chun's original beef sausage
Korean Dog Chung Chun's squid ink cheese dog	Treats from Suzy Q Donuts - Dirty Chocolate, Raspberry Cassis, Cookies & Cream, and Black Forest	Russian-style Desserts - cakes from the Ukrainian deli: blueberry mousse and Russian cherry cheesecake
Apple Turnover - one of the best sellers at La Maison du Kouign-Amann	Salmon Benedict - my usual brunch order at Perspective's, Brookstreet Hotel	Almond Cream & Pear Tart and Pistachio Passion Fruit Tart - desserts shared with good friends at La Maison du Kouign-Amann
Milestone's Original Bellini - their signature peach blend, topped with sangria	Lobster Bisque and Fish Tacos - to go with the bellini	Maverick's Donuts - Maple Bacon, Peanut Butter & Jam, Chocolate Glazed, Double Chocolate, Hot Chocolate, Gingerbread Crumb
German Pretzels at the Ottawa Christmas Market; to go with other Christmas treats - apple strudel and mulled cider	Rosemary and Thyme Lamb Shank - one of Brew Table's specialties	Schnitzel Dinner - had to take our niece to our favourite Eastern European restaurant for some homemade schnitzels – served with spätzle, cucumber salad, creamy coleslaw, and braised sauerkraut….paired with black currant fizzy drink
Chocolate-Cranberry Bread a Christmas staple for us from Premiere Moison	Danish Bread mixed berry and apricot Danishes from Premiere Moison	Citrus Signature Yule Log - sampled Premiere Moison's yule log for December 2022; was good but too citrusy for me
Lac-Saint-Jean Pie and Dry Beef Sausage - also from Premiere Moison	Lac-Saint-Jean Pie This shortcrust pastry is filled with a delicious mixture of meats - turkey, rabbit, venison, beef, goose and pork – with diced potatoes and spices, all simmered in the meat juices. I understand why this simple-looking pie is perfect for the festive holidays!	Lac-Saint-Jean Pie This shortcrust pastry is filled with a delicious mixture of meats - turkey, rabbit, venison, beef, goose and pork – with diced potatoes and spices, all simmered in the meat juices. I understand why this simple-looking pie is perfect for the festive holidays!
Goodies from the Polish deli - stopped by the Polish deli and got these – Polish-style sardines, raspberry syrup for our son’s fizzy drink, and spiced fruit punch	Lemon Cheese Cake - from the Farm Boy bakery; this was perfect...not too sweet, not too citrusy	Suzy Q Take Along - promised our nieces in Montreal that we'd take some Suzy Q's along for them to try (some of our go-to flavours)
Cipaille - also from Premier Moison; similar to the Lac-Saint-Jean pie but still different; this one has a mixture of venison, goose, duck, rabbit, and beef meat, along with diced potatoes, onion, celery, whole eggs, and spices	Moet & Chandon Champagne - sis-in-law's favourite bubbly...Happy New Year!	Turmeric Quinoa - holiday festivities are over...time to eat healthy again - turmeric quinoa to replace white rice
Tikoy or Nián Gāo - Happy Lunar New Year! CNY is not complete without "tikoy" (though I miss the classic plain version from the Philippines; this one is the brown sugar kind...the closest to the plain one available here).	Tikoy or Nián Gāo - Tikoy or Nián Gāo is a type of rice cake made from glutinous rice flour and considered as a centerpiece during Chinese New Year.	Asian Pears - found Asian pears at the local grocery store!
Asian Pears - my favourite pear variety; crispier and sweeter than the local ones	Watermelon Cosmo - to toast the Chinese New Year away (and I confess that we had a Western celebration dinner at The Keg Steakhouse).	Maverick's Donuts - again! bought four donuts, and got two for free! how wonderful is that?
Seafood Dinner at Lapointe's - started off with some New England clam chowder	Seafood Dinner at Lapointe's - fresh sashimi appetizer (salmon, tuna, snapper)	Seafood Dinner at Lapointe's - East Coast freshly-shucked oysters (Norther Belle and Avonlea Petites, both from PEI)
Seafood Dinner at Lapointe's - halibut fish and chips	Seafood Dinner at Lapointe's - grilled barramundi with roast veggies and potatoes	Seafood Dinner at Lapointe's - deep-fried smelts
Seafood Dinner at Lapointe's - seared sea scallops	Seafood Dinner at Lapointe's - blueberry lavender margarita	Seafood Dinner at Lapointe's - warm sake - perfect for this super frozen weekend!
Seafood Dinner at Lapointe's - rich brownie dessert with vanilla ice cream	Greek Baklavas - found these at Home Sense!	Meat Pie - from La Maison du Kouign-Amann
Asssorted Desserts from three different bakeries (3 Sisters, La Maison du Kouign-Amann, and the Zakuska)	Polish Donuts Loblaw's now sells my favourite Polish donuts - in boxes of four!!!	Polish Donuts I usually get the classic plum flavour from the Ukrainian deli...but Loblaw's has the raspberry, blueberry, lemon, apple, and Boston Creme flavours.
Polish Donuts Got the raspberry ones! Yum!	Takoyaki Kowloon finds (it's the Asian grocery store that recently opened around our neighbourhood): frozen takoyaki (not bad...came with the sauce, shaved bonito flakes, and dried aonori or Japanese sea cabbage)	Ube Ube!!! There are lots of recipes one can do with ube, but I just boiled and ate them like this.
Mangosteens All-time favourite fruit: mangosteen	Bubble Tea Treats Another new neighbourhood goodie: Gong Cha Bubble Tea (got the Oreo Chocolate smoothie for my son and the Strawberry Green Tea for me)	Bubble Tea Treats Original Bubble Waffle from Gong Cha
Bubble Tea Treats Mango Smoothie with pearls and Chocolate Bubble Waffle from Gong Cha	Suzy Q Donuts Bittersweet Symphony, Raspberry Oasis, Grasshopper, Dirty Chocolate, Sugar Munki, and Maple Bacon	Beef Rouladen - beef roulades filled with bacon, onions, mustard and pickles, then browned and simmered in the richest gravy imaginable
Assorted German Sausages - knackwurst, bratwurst, Frankfurter Würstchen	Suzy Q Donuts Dirty Chocolate, Bumbleberry, Maple Bacon, MangoConut, Cookies and Cream Cheese, Salted Caranel, Raspberry Cassis	Hazelnut Torte - from Anna Stubbe; hazelnut sponge cake with three layers of dark chocolate ganache, covered with milk chocolate
Hazelnut Torte - from Anna Stubbe; hazelnut sponge cake with three layers of dark chocolate ganache, covered with milk chocolate	Maverick's Donuts - Hot Chocolate, Chocolate Glazed, Oreo Nirvana, and Maple Bacon	Pizza Luca - from Fratelli's; with just pepperoni and mozzarella...but so divine!
Linguini Pescatore - mussels, shrimps, scallops, roasted garlic, white wine, and cream sauce	Limoncello Cocktail - perfect with the seafood pasta	White and Dark Chocolate Terrine dark chocolate terrine, white chocolate ganache, and raspberry coulis
Classic Tiramisu - espresso-soaked lady fingers, mascarpone cream, and fresh cocoa	Mothers' Day Wine - Cabernet Sauvignon and Rose with packaging perfect for Mother's Day	Beet Salad with Roasted Salmon - salad has mixed greens, olives, cherry tomatoes, sliced beets, goat cheese, crispy prosciuttu, and balsamic vinaigrette
Special Pho - from Kanata Noodle House; I always order the one with all the goodies: rare beef, beef brisket, beef tendon, beef balls, chicken, and quail eggs...and of course, flavoured with Sriracha, oyster sauce	Ube Pandesal Happy to know that Loblaw's now carries Filipino-inspired products. This ube pandesal (traditional buns flavoured with ube) is good. I have to try the adobo lumpia, ube pie, mango and calamansi grilling shrimps, calamansi lemonade, and calamansi and strawberry sparkling water. Can't wait!	Customized Pizza from Red Swan Pizza Swan - tried the new local pizza place....verdict: very good (This veggie pizza was customized by my son and his friend: mushrooms, red bell pepper, pineapple, and roasted potatoes.)
Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pizza - from Red Swan; Sesame Seeds, Shrimp Marinated with Lemon, Garlic, Red Onion, Green Pepper, Red Pepper, Pizza Sauce, Parmesan & Mozzarella Cheese	RibFest and Poutine Palooza - got our ribs and chicken from this stall, based on the number of trophies displayed outside, the long line up, and the yummy house barbecue sauce that we sampled	Ribs and Chicken - from Dinosaur Smokehouse
Appetizers at Turkish Kebab Place - bread with ezme (tomatoes, onions, green pepper, parsley, and mixed spices, drizzled with olive oil) and cacik (yogurt, cucumber, garlic, and mixed herbs with olive oil)	Adana Kebab - seasoned hand-minced beef grilled in charcoal served on a bread bed with bulgur, onion salad, and grilled tomato	Iskender Kebab - doner served on a bread bed dressed with yogurt, tomato sauce, and butter
Ayran - sour-salty yogurt drink; I had something similar in Bulgaria; glad we have this here; my new favourite beverage with kebabs!	Honey Garlic Pizza - from Red Swan; Sesame Seeds, Honey Garlic Chicken, Green Pepper, Pineapple, Honey Garlic Sauce & Mozzarella Cheese	Hawaiian Pizza - from Red Swan; our son's favourite; Sesame Seeds, Ham, Pineapple, Pizza Sauce & Mozzarella Cheese
All Meat Pizza - from Red Swan; Sesame Seeds, Ham, Pepperoni, Salami, Italian Sausage, Beef, Bacon, Pizza Sauce & Mozzarella Cheese	Grilled Octopus - from the Asian Night Market	Grilled Octopus - from the Asian Night Market; came with a sweet sauce
Uncle Tetsu's Japanese Cheesecake - soft & fluffy, not too sweet, easy to eat, and great!	Uncle Tetsu's Japanese Cheesecake - soft & fluffy, not too sweet, easy to eat, and great!	Korean Hotdogs - from Chungchun; Half Mozzarella (half cheese, half beef sausage) for my son...
Korean Hotdogs ...and Ramen Chip (beef sausage with deep-fried ramen noodles) for me	Bratwurst and Pretzel - picnic celebration at the German Language School end of year program	Spicy Tuna Roll - from Tomo at the Byward Market in Ottawa; this has generous chunks of fish!
Tomo Fried Chicken - crispy chicken bites served with house-made sauce	Yaki Ika - grilled squid brushed with house-made sauce	Steak Teriyaki - grilled AAA striploin drizzled with house-made teriyaki sauce
Tomo Granate Mojito - rum, pomegranate sake, lemongrass simple syrup, muddled with fresh mint and lime	Italian Desserts - had our desserts at home (from Fratelli's) - classic tiramisu for hubby, white & dark chocolate terrine for our son, cheesecake with raspberry coulis pour moi	Japanese Sake - presents for birthday boy, hubby (in keeping with the Japanese theme)
	Prince Regente Torte - from Anna Stubbe; marzipan sponge cake with layers of chocolate vanilla cream, covered with dark chocolate	Eggs Pacific - breakfast date at Zak's Diner with our son while hubby stayed home with the vent cleaning guys (hubby thoughtfully sent us away while the work was being done); English muffin, smoked salmon, and hollandaise sauce
Assorted Asian Barbecue - squid, lamb, octopus, and potato spirals	Japanese Take-Out - from newly-opened Windbell Sushi; got the sashimi combo, torched tuna sushi, the barbecue eel don, and their house special roll	Relax Wine I usually buy the Riesling in the cobalt blue bottle, but saw their Pinot Grigio in this shade of blue (my favourite)...so I got one (yes, because of the bottle).
Maverick's Donuts - Lemon Ricotta, Oreo Nirvana, Strawberry Shortcake, Blueberry Pecan Crumble, Keylime Pie, Maple Bacon	Suzy Q Donuts - Maple Bacon and Smores	Calamari Appetizer - Tried the schnitzel At Schnitzel Works, but first the calamari appetizer (please excuse the red tint; we ate at the patio under a huge red umbrella)
Pork Schnitzel - pork schnitzel with spaetzle, gravy, and cabbage salad (Verdict: schnitzel is thicker here but passable; still prefer the Duna schnitzel; spaetzle is very cheesy...good, but still prefer Duna's version; but I loved the cabbage salad!)	Stiegl and Fruli - Austrian beer and Belgian strawberry beer; Cheers!	Japanese Take-Out Part 2 another one from Windbell Sushi; sashimi combo and spicy tuna volcano roll
Adobo Lumpia Tried this for the first time; not bad, but wondering why President's Choice opted for the adobo version; would have wanted to have just the classic version - the way our moms, lolas, and titas make them	Rhubarb Pie - from Hall's Apple Market; hubby's new discovery from the Farmer's Market (and he can eat this!); a bit sour for me, but if you eat this with ice cream, it's good!	Rainier Cherries My favourite cherry variety - Rainier cherries, named after Mt. Rainier in Washington, where they are mostly grown (I grab them when I see them because they are so rare; produced in limited quantities each season, unlike the more common Dark Sweet variety)
Rainier Cherries I love its light red (almost like a pink blush) and yellow colour and its delicate and floral sweet flavour (almost like little peaches).	Instant Wuhan Noodles - also known as "Hot Dry Noodles;" found these at the Asian grocery store and thought I'd try; the white pack is the original flavour and the yellow one is the beef flavour	Instant Wuhan Noodles Wuhan noodles have the distinct flavour of sesame paste, and apparently, it's a common breakfast item in Hubei Province.
Locally-Made Fresh Pies Hubby's regular Saturday treat from the Farmers' Market (Now, they have strawberry-rhubarb.)	Peri-Peri Chicken A Portuguese boulangerie just opened across from my office building; they also offer sandwiches, salads, and peri2 chicken...yay!	Portuguese Treats - pineapple tart, Chou a la Creme, almond tart, Feijao, Berlim Bola, peach tart
Thousand Islands Dressing - of course, from the Thousand Islands region of Ontario	Veal Schnitzel We drove all the way to Gananoque to have schnitzels. The boys wanted to get schnitzels from the local Czech family restaurant. This one is our son's veal schnitzel with spaetzle (their version comes with a lot of paprika).	Chicken Schnitzel - hubby's chicken schnitzel with spaetzle
Roast Beef Sauerbraten - a popular Czech dish; slow marinated beef in rich cream sauce, served with fluffy Czech dumplings and cranberry sauce	Borscht - classic Polish vegetable soup made from red beets and cabbage, topped with sour cream	Czech-Style Leg of Duck - served with roast potatoes and red cabbage
Bratwursts - with boiled potatoes and sauerkraut to go