Best of Ottawa 2020: Social Media Influencers

 After over 20-years writing about life in Ottawa, we think we have a pretty good idea of the best of what this city has to offer. In this weekly series, we share our picks with you — our top hotels, live music venues, local brews, bands and more. Check, share and discuss

The Best Hidden Food Gems in Ottawa

 Ottawa has not been historically known for its food scene as fellow Canadian cities like Montreal and Toronto but, if you do some exploring, there are some really amazing hidden gems. Over the last few years, tons of cute independently owned cafes and family-owned restaurants have popped up offering up

Beechwood Gastropub’s Kitchen is Transparent—and Really, Really Talented

 Photos by Chris Chase It was the smoked beet that made me fall madly in love. Until that moment, I was extremely impressed with the food at Beechwood Gastropub. But once I tasted the slice of golden beet that had been treated to some quality time in close proximity to smouldering

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

Calling All Hockey Fanatics and Foodies!

 The first-ever Barn Burner Chef vs. Chef hockey game will be held on February 4, in Wellington’s Essroc Arena (located 10 minutes from Picton, Ontario).  This event is a nod to the classic Montreal – Toronto hockey rivalry, featuring special guests and former NHL'ers Ken Dryden and Mike Krushelnyski.  This

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

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

How to Give Yourself a Much Greener Christmas

 Even though we love to shower our friends and family with gifts and special treats at this time of year, many of those holiday traditions aren’t very loving to our planet. Canadians exchange more than two billion holiday cards each year.  It’s estimated that we spend about $4 billion on

Food Frenzy in the Capital

 When the average Canadian thinks of Ottawa, they think of the national hub of power and politics. However, our great city is more than just that. Don Chow and Jennifer Lim’s new book Ottawa Food: A Hungry Capital is a feast for your eyes. In it, they explore all things

A Northern Feast

 Now that the weather is cooling down, it is time for our kitchens to heat up! Is it possible to create a delicious meal using ingredients found in our own backyard? The Boreal Gourmet’s Michele Genest knows it is. Follow Genest as she brings you The Boreal Feast — a

Want the Best Pizza in Ottawa? Head West to Stittsville & Kanata

 Horace Greeley, the nineteenth-century politician, author and proprietor of the then extremely influential New York Tribune newspaper, famously offered this sage advice: “Go west, young man.” One could argue that Greeley’s reasoning could also apply to the quest for gourmet pizza. Why you may ask? Summer is upon us and