5 Great places to have Christmas Dinner in Ottawa

 In households across Ottawa, the holiday season will be marked with tree decorating, present wrapping, and of course, plenty of good eating. For those of you who love a good Christmas dinner, but aren’t in the mood to cook, we’ve compiled a list of some great restaurants serving up festive

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

 Looking for a fun summer appetizer? Try Nanny Hudson's sweet and sour meatball recipe! Prep Time: 20 minutes Makes: 6 to 8 servings Cook Time: 50 minutes Ingredients Meatballs: 1 lb (500 g) lean ground beef 1/4 cup (60 mL) gluten-free breadcrumbs 1/4 cup (60 mL) grated onion 1 egg, beaten 1 clove

A Delicious Weekend in Barbados

 The sky is clear and the sun is shining. Is there a better way to start off the weekend in beautiful Barbados? The answer is yes—and it happens when I am handed a rum punch upon entering the Radisson Aquatica Beach Resort. Get ready to unwind by lounging poolside or

Crimea Uncensored: A Look from Inside the Peninsula

 Photo courtesy: Igor Mazurov, Flickr In 2014, on a sunny August day, my spouse and I were on our way to Crimea. We were driving along the shorelines of the Black Sea, curving green hills of the Caucasian Mountains. I have been following the Crimean crisis from home in Ottawa, watching

Fashion Goes Green

 Photo credit: MIV Photography Bayshore Shopping Centre and H&M collaborate for eco-fashion initiatives through “Conscious Exclusive” line We wake up every morning, head to our closet and skim through racks of clothing. Some pieces are our favourites, some are fashion staples and some have never made the cut. Inevitably, the story

Hop on the Savvy Bus to Terroir Festival & Prince Edward County

 Join our Savvy Sommeliers for a day discovering Prince Edward County on Saturday May 8.  The Savvy Bus is back by popular demand & we’re making it easy for you to enjoy a day out in The County with a Sommelier as your tour guide. It’s a Road-trip! Sit back &

Grill the Perfect Steak

 Steaks are great for any season but you don’t have to go out to a restaurant to enjoy a mouth-watering cut. Weber has tips for grilling the perfect steak no matter how you like it cooked and for any kind of cut. To start, there are certain things you should

Get Outdoors: Mont Tremblant

 As kids skiing in Québec, my friends and I heard tales of the legendary Jackrabbit Johannsen, who was instrumental in cutting trails in the Laurentians. Even though he was quite elderly, we had hoped to sneak a peek of him gliding through the forest. We never saw him, but his

Health Canada Fails to Enforce its own Rules on Pharmaceutical Advertising

 A handsome man struts over to the office water cooler with a smirk on his face. When his colleagues ask about his weekend, he replies enthusiastically, with audio muted. A large blue pill appears with the tagline, “Viagra, Ask Your Doctor.” Vibrant, energetic older people are shown swimming, bowling and

Pass the Wine and Cheese, Please!

 Perusing over a showcase of signature wines from Ontario wineries unavailable at the LCBO sounds like a great night. Join Savvy Company for A Wine and Cheese with a Twist! This taste and buy event will allow you to stock up on your new favourite Ontario wines from Casa Dea

Eat, Drink and Be Sustainable

 Ecology Ottawa has done it again. For the eighth consecutive year, the local environmental organization completely sold out the annual Eco Gala on Oct. 9. Just over 565 attendees gathered at the St. Elias Banquet Centre to celebrate the bountiful autumn harvest and the city’s active environmental community. It featured

Take a bite at Café Urban

 One year after the opening of Café Urban at Saint Paul University, the kitchen is busier than ever. Handmade sandwiches, granola and soups are flying onto the trays of hungry students and faculty. Café Urban aims to supply the university and public with locally sourced food for breakfast, lunch and

Udi’s Kid Friendly Turkey Quinoa Meatball Hoagie

 Recipe courtesy of Udi's Gluten Free. This kid-approved meal is a hit with people of all ages. Kids love the meatballs with tomato sauce and cheese – healthy items, like quinoa and mushrooms, get parents’ nutritional stamp of approval. Serves 6 Ingredients: 6 Udi’s Classic Hot Dog Buns      

The Cosmopolitan Hotel Toronto: A Fantastic Escape in the Heart of Toronto

 Toronto is a great city and there is no doubt that it has some fine hotels. The key to a stay in the Big Smoke is location and you definitely want to stay central for easy access to the subway to head to great areas like Bloor West, Danforth or

Burger of the Week: Spicy Jalapeño and Bacon Cheeseburger

 Happy Burger Day! That's right, today is a day to celebrate the existence of a juicy, delicious patty, topped any way you please. What are your favourite burger toppings? Here at OLM, we prefer a burger with a kick. So to celebrate Burger Day, we are adding toppings that will

Lazypants: What’s Your After?

 Whether it is when you first roll out of bed in the morning or when you get home from a long day at work, nothing sounds better than throwing on a comfy pair of sweatpants. Right? I’ll admit it. I consider myself a somewhat-fashionista by day and a sweatpants addict

Kale, Brown Rice and Butternut Salad

 Recipe courtesy of USA Rice Federation. Kale and brown rice are a match made in nutritional heaven. Toss in crunchy slivers of butternut squash and drizzle with this refreshing dressing for a delicious, impressive salad that is ideal for the summer or fall, lunch or dinner, any day of the

Healthy Bibimbap Rice Bowl

 Bibimbap is a traditional Korean dish that means mixed rice. Its rise in popularity might be its simplicity and flavourful kick in every mouthful. What could be easier, or more fun, than tossing vegetables, protein and rice in a bowl, crowning with an egg and then stirring together all the

Strawberry and Goat Cheese Grilled Sandwich with a Balsamic Glaze

 Recipe courtesy of Udi’s Gluten Free. Makes 1 serving Enjoy a summertime twist on a gluten free grilled cheese sandwich by adding fresh local strawberries, local goat cheese and zesty balsamic vinegar. Food Styling Suggestions Grilled Cheese cut on a diagonal with the contrast of greens against the strawberries Served on

Burger of the Week: Weber’s Extreme Burger

 Spice up this week with something extreme. No more boring, mundane, mustard-and-ketchup-only kind of burgers. We're talking bacon, garlic mayo, guac and all your favourite toppings. Push your taste buds to the limit! WEBER'S EXTREME BURGER SERVES: 4 PREP TIME: 25 minutes GRILLING TIME: 6-8 minutes INGREDIENTS MAYO: ?  cup

Cedar-Planked Salmon Stuffed with Brown Rice

 Recipe courtesy of USA Rice Federation. Planking is easy, good for the body and deliciously rewarding in this salmon with brown rice recipe. Whether cooked on the BBQ or in the oven, the cedar infuses the salmon with a light smoky flavour and keeps it moist and tender. Consider cooking

A Guide to Understanding Sausages

 Walk through the grocery deli counter or through a meat market and you will be blown away with the number of choices for choosing the perfect sausage. Or perhaps you already have seen the endless options. Feel a little overwhelmed? There are fresh, cured, smoked and more! Luckily OLM and

Slate Grilled Chicken with Lemon Olive Rice

 Recipe courtesy of USA Rice Federation. Slate cooking, a rustic method popularized in France, makes outdoor grilling more versatile and entertaining. Using a sizzling hot slate tile is a great way to grill chicken alongside a delicious side of brown rice, which is not often prepared on the BBQ. Using

Pass the Cheese, Please!

 That ooey-gooey, smelly stuff--we just can’t get enough! Throw it on a salad or in between your favourite slices of bread; melt it, fry it or just take a bite. Cheese is our favourite five-letter word this summer. Let cheese melt your hearts by turning backyard barbeques into flavoursome feasts.

Dinner at Your Door Courtesy of Chefx

 What do you get when you pair up top-notch Ottawa chefs, seasonally-inspired recipes and local ingredients? You get a delicious meal. Now imagine you could create this masterpiece in the convenience of your own kitchen, without having to stop at the grocery store on the way home from work. It