Back to the market

Don’t say I didn’t warn you that I’d suck at keeping this thing up and running. But I’m in Toronto now, and making another go at it. Things will still be the same, just different location, food and opportunities!

So on with the show… I decided to go check out Toronto’s main market, the St. Lawrence market. This post isn’t meant to be about the market (I will do a more in depth piece in the future, I promise), I just wanted to get back to basics…food and cooking. Like most meals I make, I usually wing it, which works out or, in some cases, doesn’t.

This meal was originally going to be with fish, but I’m not a huge fan, and the sausage just looked too good to pass up. I went with Italian (hot), and fried them up with tons of garlic. The salad was traditional Italian insalata caprese, which is basically fresh tomatoes, mozzarella and basil, topped with olive oil and salt and pepper. It’s a great summer meal, light and fresh with a great spicy sausage.

Now that things are starting to get started in Toronto I promise to try to upkeep this site with lots of great things to eat, drink and cook! Until next time.

Cheers!

Simon

 

Why Dublin?

After a weekend in Dublin, I have to say it’s expensive! Now, I knew this prior to leaving, but I had little idea as to how expensive it really was. Granted we spent all our time in the “touristy” sections of the city, but blimey! I mean for an entire city trying to lean towards being fairtrade, it would be nice to actually be able to sample some of the fine food.

We did manage to find a little hole in the wall (and I’m sure there are many)  oddly named Busyfeet and Coco Cafe, which offered a reasonably priced breakfast and tea. Afterward we wandered the shops, again astonished by the prices. One poor tourist went to the till to purchase a cashmere scarf only to find out it cost 65 euros! Ouch.

Anyway, I don’t mean to sound like I didn’t enjoy my time in Dublin, because I did. But really, in times like these it’s hard to justify such prices. I mean 12 euro for a kebab? OK, OK I’ll stop, but maybe if you’re planning a trip to Ireland, you should either spend lots of time outside the capital, or have a fat wallet.

Cheers!

Simon

 

Soup and a sandwich…sometimes all you need

Like most comfort foods, soup and a sandwich can be eaten anytime, and I’ve really come to enjoy making my own soups. However, as with smoothies, I haven’t done so lately because of a lack of blender, though a lot of soups don’t need to be blended.

 

A world of meat at The Store

Meat has never been a huge priority for me, at least not compared to some people. That’s not to say I don’t enjoy a BBQ in the summer, or roast turkey at Christmas or Thanksgiving, but I don’t exactly crave it. I’m definitely more of a chicken guy, and if I do eat red meat it’s usually minced for tacos, spaghetti sauce, hamburgers etc.

 

Tea of the Month: Yogi Tea’s Chai Green

I hope to keep this feature updated every month – but we’ll see. I love tea, and will drink it pretty much any time of day, and as many cups as I can. So I thought it would be appropriate to make a monthly selection for others to try.

 

Artisan Roast…best cappuccino in town

Good cafes make you feel like you’re home, but better – with warm corners, calming décor, and comfortable furniture. Plus there are the delicious coffees. Personally, I prefer cafes that are independent and local. By this I mean, they get their pastries from a local bakery (or even better, bake themselves). They should be owned and managed by people from the area and are familiar with the atmosphere of the community. These cafes then become the meeting places of the neighbourhood.

 

Falafel…from a box

Falafel has recently become one of my favourite foods, and definitely ranks in my top 5. They are amazingly cheap, and depending on the amount of effort you put into making them, easy to cook.

I used to get falafel at least once week from the “Mad Greek” when I worked at Timothy’s in Halifax, probably not the best way to save to come to Edinburgh. I’ve tried a few different “box” mixes and they can either be very bad, just OK, or rarely very good. I’m happy to announce that Just Wholefoods makes a very good one. I find most box falafel mixes are too dry, and when you go to fry them they fall apart. However, this lovely brand stays moist in the middle and, when pan-fried, nice and crispy on the outside.

 

Innocent Smoothies

I’ve always had a fondness for smoothies – they’re a great pick-me-up, either on the go or making your own at home. I used to make my own all the time but lately (since being in Edinburgh) have been too lazy, plus we don’t have a blender in our new flat.