Top cities for foodies in the world

 Regardless of our cultures, backgrounds, age, genders, and whatever other factors of life you can think of, we all share something in common — we love good food! After all, life is too short to fill up your belly with mediocre grub. While this is obviously a fact of life,

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with chocolate and wine

 Valentine's day is right around the corner, that means chocolate, flowers and wine, a time where you can show your significant other just how much you love them. What better way to do that then with Green and Blacks gourmet, ethically sourced chocolate. They are committed to using only the

DIY – Infused olive oils at a fraction of the price of gourmet shops

 Herb-infused olive oil is a simple and tasty way to add flavour to any dish. Extremely versatile, it can be used for cooking, salad dressings and marinades as well as a condiment to coat your food with delicious notes of herbs, citrus, garlic or spices. Since these fancy bottles can

Everyday Protein Pancakes that Taste Like Dessert

 Listen up breakfast skippers! Although a cup of coffee might be all you can stomach when your day starts at 6am, our bodies actually need protein in order begin feeling alert. Protein kick starts the amino acids in your brain that helps it to function, focus and produce neurotransmitters. Studies

Make the most out of your summer with these patios

 The long long dreaded winter is finally over – with the unexpected snowfalls, frigid temperatures, and gloomy wardrobe choices – and that means summer is officially here. Summer with its bright coloured clothing as opposed to the black and greys which take over the city, sundresses, shorts, walks by the

Master the Art of Grilling Salmon

 Nothing is better than being outside and grilling on a beautiful summer day. Choose salmon for a light, summertime dinner! First, you need to decide if you want to buy farm raised or wild salmon. The first noticeable difference is the appearance. Wild salmon offers a better taste, texture, and

Five Ways to Shake Up Your Morning Mimosa

 Mimosas are the perfect way to celebrate the spring season, to toast an event, or to simply enjoy with your weekend brunch. They’re light, refreshing, and, best of all, easy to make at home. Traditional mimosa recipes call for equal parts sparkling wine and orange juice. When choosing a wine,

Indulge with an acai no-bake cheesecake

 As the weather starts to warm up, so does entertaining season, and any occasion wouldn't be complete without bringing baked goods. But a recent survey by Becel shows one third of Canadians find baking stressful because they aren't confident bakers. New Becel Sticks come in premeasured sticks to help make

An appetizer for any occasion

 These easy-to-make and delicious zucchini boats are a perfect side, appetizer or snack for any event. Blend mushrooms with meat to cut down on cost, lighten the meal and add an extra serving of veggies. If you aren't a big spice fan, then reduce the heat by removing the chipotle

6 Tasty Treats You Must Try When at Disneyland

 We all know that fun rides, stunning shows, and early arrivals are the keys to having fun at Disneyland. However, there is much more the Disneyland than meets the eye. In fact, many people buy Disneyland tickets for one sole reason – to enjoy the yummy food! Okay, maybe that’s

Vegans of Ottawa – Aly Lepkey

 Photos: Aly Lepkey In this series, we chat with vegans from around the region to find out what it’s like to be plant-based in Ottawa, discovering tips and tricks for living a like a local - vegan style. “Just a small-town girl”, Aly Lepkey (soon to be Muldoon) is originally from

Six Ways to Top Your Morning Oatmeal

 Rolled, steel-cut, or instant - however you like to eat them, oats are an easy, versatile, and nutritious way to kick off your morning. Oatmeal is made from whole oat grains that have been broken down and processed to varying degrees. A serving size, which is typically around half a

Are you pregnant? Follow these four food safety steps!

 When you're pregnant, food safety is more important than ever because you and your unborn baby are at an increased risk of foodborne illness or food poisoning. Your immune system is weakened, making it harder to fight off infections and leaving you vulnerable to serious health problems. Your unborn baby's

Chef Ana Martorell wants to bring the flavours of Mexico to the world

 Photos by Alison Larabie Chase When I meet Chef Ana Martorell, she is standing at the stove in the kitchen of the Mexican Ambassador’s residence in Ottawa, lightly charring thin slices of avocado on a cast-iron grill in preparation for a dinner to be held that evening. Grilling avocado? “It changes

New twist on a classic taste

 This take on a juicy burger uses melted mozzarella, fresh mushrooms and caramelized onions for a delicious result. Using the blend-and-extend technique of combining mushrooms with ground beef provides an extra serving of vegetables, boosts flavour and adds a serving of vitamin D. Recipe Courtesy of: James to Jamie Mushroom

Healthy Food, Why Is There So Much Confusion?

 Are you are feeling overwhelmed regarding what is healthy food? There is a tonne of conflicting commentary in the media around food, and consequently, you may know who to trust or what to believe. For many years there was confusion over whether eggs were good or bad. People even made

Breakfast, snack and dessert, granola treats you can feel good about

 If you and your family love granola bars but are suspicious about the ingredients they contain – namely high-fructose corn syrups, unnecessary additives, preservatives and bad for you hydrogenated oils – you'll be happy to know that making your own is easy. Granola bars make an epic on-the-go breakfast, snack

5 ways to support your local food bank

 Spring is an important time for food banks. While donations typically peak around the winter holiday, they are often lowest during the late spring and summer. Chris Hatch, CEO of Food Banks Canada, shares his tips for collecting donations so your local food bank can stay stocked for months to

Return to Oz for More Delicious Adventures

 Photos by Alison Larabie Chase If you’re going to name your restaurant after a place you have to catch a tornado to get to, it’s on point to have a location that’s a little hard to find. Oz Kafe is now two for two on that count. It began humbly in

Heating Up the Capital with These Ottawa Sauces

 Photos by Sean Sisk / Feature image Pixabay Ottawa can get cold. Really cold! You know it and I know it. Us Ottawans toss on enough layers come January to resemble a city of Stay Puft Marshmallow People. While cranking up the thermostat and throwing on the sweater/long johns combo

A Taste of Georgia!

 Earlier this month, the staff of Ottawa Life Magazine received an invitation from his Excellency, the Hon. Konstantine Kavtaradze, Georgian Ambassador to Canada. Georgia, known Sakartvelo to its inhabitants, is a small country on the Black Sea that is flanked by Russia to the north and Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan

FoodSharing Ottawa’s Addressing Canada’s Food Waste Problem

 By Olga Tkachuk As the debate continues to rage in regards to the Ontario government’s consideration of a disposal ban on organic waste as part of its Strategy for a Waste-Free Ontario, one message is getting less emphasis than it should. At the very root of the problem is the fact

Study reveals Canadian parents would give up social media, chocolate or wine for their kids to eat healthier

 Catelli recently commissioned a survey to delve further into real parenting moments, uncovering revealing truths about today’s modern family, and the daily challenges Canadian parents face, many of which involve mealtime. According to the survey1, due to mounting pressures surrounding their children’s diets, almost two-thirds of Canadian parents (61%) would

Carben Matches Elegant Food with a Relaxed Atmosphere

 The plates were utterly gorgeous. Not simply the food but the plates themselves. Round with a high edge, almost like a very shallow bowl, each was unique, with colours ranging from brown-speckled white to deep green with shimmering black spots. As each arrived at the table, my dining companions and

DIY Valentine’s Day Indulgences

 Valentine’s Day is all about expressing love, so why not indulge a bit? While a fancy takeout dinner or an expensive gift is nice, there’s something extra special about a surprise you’ve made yourself. Whether you’ll be spending Valentine’s Day with a lover or by yourself, these DIYs will have you feeling