Healthy Food Choices This Holiday Season

 The holiday season is upon us. Special gatherings with family, friends, and plenty of food are in order. But if you are trying to watch your waistline, or simply want to make healthier choices this holiday season, here are 6 tips to make sure you have a great time without

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

The Five Downtown Hot Chocolates You Have to Try Before Christmas

 The Ministry of Coffee's nutty Nutella hot chocolate. Photo by Samantha Lapierre. We've all said it, there's nothing better than a hot chocolate on a cold day. A good cup warms you from your fingers to your toes and can provide a head-spinning sugar rush or a stomach settling heartiness.

Living Large at the Ritz-Carlton Montreal

 A view of the Palm Court, leading into the opulent Oval Room. Photo by Moetreal. When my girlfriend Kathleen and I stepped into the fantastically elegant lobby in the Ritz-Carlton Montreal last Saturday, I immediately thought of the book buried in my backpack: The Remains of the Day by Kazuo

A Glimpse Into ARC the Hotel’s New Winter Menu

 Photo by Eric Vance. Earlier this month ARC the Hotel celebrated their freshly-launched winter menu by treating a selection of local foodies to lunch. OLM was there and we have the low-down on what’s changed and what you have to try. What’s New The ARC Lounge menu hasn’t just changed under

Four Fantastic Ways to Cook with Persimon this Holiday Season

 A brilliant orange fruit that looks like a cross between a tomato and a pepper and tastes like nothing you’ve had before, Persimon is a treat you’ll want to keep an eye out for this holiday season. Persimon (with one ‘m’) identifies the Rojo Brillante variety of persimon grown in Ribera

Experience Trinidad and Tobago at the OWFF

 All photos courtesy of Allison Ferguson The Ottawa Wine and Food Festival is here! This year, The Tourism Development Company Limited of Trinidad and Tobago is teaming up with The High Commission for the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to bring two Trinidadian-born Chefs, Marida and Narida Mohammed, to the

Are you Getting Enough Vitamin D?

 As our Canadian cold weather trickles in and the days become shorter, getting your daily dose of sunlight can become a challenge. While curling up at home with your favourite blanket all winter might sound like a great idea, it can also hurt your vitamin D intake. Many Canadians are

A Night of Glam and Gourmet at 5IVE5IFTEEN

 All photos by Eric Vance. Many hold to the thought that Ottawa is a tame and quiet town, and on Oct. 15 the organizers of the recent 5IVE5IFTEEN did their best to bring some flair back to the capital. Blackbook Lifestyle, an Ottawa marketing and communications agency, and Arc the Hotel,

Do Canadians Spend Too Much on Taxes?

 Here’s why that’s the wrong question “There are lies, damned lies and statistics” is the well-worn phrase, but nothing better sums up the recent Fraser Institute scare mongering about taxes being the single largest budget item of Canadian households.  “Your family’s largest expense may surprise you,” the ideological-driven think tank

New Hampshire

 There is no better way to begin a tour of New Hampshire than in Portsmouth, an historic and quaint seaport. Portsmouth is a must-see destination for those who wish to explore the area’s history. Visit the numerous museums, art centres, stroll through Market Square, take in an outdoor concert at Prescott Park, follow the Peace Treaty Trail or savour

The Best Brine and Gravy For Your Next Turkey

 Just in time for Thanksgiving, Weber serves up another great recipe. Didn’t think a turkey could be cooked on the grill? Think again! Why not try something new this Thanksgiving and treat your loved ones to a brined and barbecued turkey? Once you taste a turkey that’s been grilled, you’ll never

CityFolk Impressions

 ABOVE: Ewan Currie from The Sheepdogs plays at CityFolk. (Photo by Michael Wing)  This year’s CityFolk festival swept into the new venue at Lansdowne Park on the perfect weekend. It was warm and sunny most days, with as little rain as anyone could have hoped for. The festival line up

The new Industria at Lansdowne strikes a brilliant balance

 Stepping into Industria Italian Brasserie for the new Lansdowne restaurant’s grand opening Wednesday night, I probably should have gone up to one of the hosts and asked about seating. Instead I spent a good few seconds staring at the building’s impressively looming ceiling, made up of painted-black pipes. The pipe-covered

Kayla Pongrac: Bringing Local Flavour to Life with Art and Design

 Photo credit: Blair Pongrac  When you head to one of Ottawa’s top restaurants, like Ace Mercado on Clarence Street, you go for the experience. It’s not just about the great food, but also the atmosphere, smells and sounds. A lot of thought, planning and passion go into creating that atmosphere

Let Chef’s Plate Pamper your Palate

 When it comes to eating, life has gotten complicated. Let’s be honest and say that finding healthy food with correct portions that’s delicious and easy to prepare can be tricky business. What if you could just choose gourmet meals online, order all the ingredients to show up on your doorstep,

Logan Guleff Wants to Get Kids Cooking!

 All images courtesy of Uncle Ben's and CNW group. Now carrying the prestigious title of MasterChef Junior, 13-year-old Logan Guleff has humble culinary roots. His introduction to the kitchen came at age two, when Guleff started spooning grounds into his mother’s coffee maker each morning. “I would take two scoops

Politics, Perogies and Celebrating Ukrainian Heritage

 Photo courtesy of Lemon Bucket Orkestra. This weekend, the first ever Capital Ukrainian Festival is bringing a handful of amazing bands and about 16,800 perogies to Ottawa. Aside from celebrating Ukrainian arts and heritage, the events will shine a light on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and the country’s long struggle

What Exactly is a Mustard Sommelier?

 OLM chats with Maille mustard sommelier, Harry Lalousis “Sommelier comes from the ancient Gaelic word for ‘someone who knows’ or ‘someone who has knowledge of,’” explains Harry Lalousis, Maille’s mustard sommelier. Although we usually associate the word with wine, Lalousis explains that the term can apply to a variety of

History, Religion, Geography and Great Food: Majestic Israel Has It All

 To even attempt to adequately describe Israel is, to put it mildly, a daunting task. While well-known images of the country abound, absolutely nothing can prepare you for the complete amazement or the unexpected emotions you may feel as you explore this magnificent country. Whether you are religious or not,

Meet Your New Favourite Burger

 Combining the salty zing of bacon, the intensity of blue cheese and a hefty dose of ground chicken, all wrapped in a smoky blanket from perfect grilling, these burgers are a hit. Whether you’re serving them at your next dinner party or on a quiet Sunday night, smoked chicken burgers

Celebrate Canada Day early at Nature Nocturne!

 Photo credit: Martin Lipman © Canadian Museum of Nature Canada Day in the Capital is one of the most iconic events of the year! People come from all over to celebrate our nation’s birthday. But what about the night before? The Canadian Museum of Nature is throwing a Canada Day

Nine Steps to a Healthier You!

 Martine, 44, works for Statistics Canada. She is married with two children, Samantha, 13, and Gordon, 11. Both play high-level soccer, which means that both she and her husband Graham are kept extremely busy ferrying them both to practice sessions and games. This combined with a demanding job and shouldering

Don’t Miss Craig Cardiff this Summer

 Craig Cardiff is coming back to Ottawa this summer! The Canadian, Juno nominated, singer-songwriter from Arnprior, Ont., known for his steady and smooth folk rhythms, is hitting the Ottawa festival circuit with performances on June 13 at Westfest and June 28 at the Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival. Don’t

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