Amadaeus's Profile
Where to eat in Ottawa?
Seconding DiRienzo's. Make sure you go to the real deal at 111 Beech St. That location is the original. The others aren't related. They serve probably the best deli sandwich in town. They have a large variety of Italian meats that they would slice when you order the sandwich... which pretty much guarantees freshness. A warning: There is usually a giant lineup during the lunch hours (11AM~1:30AM or so), so expect to wait 10-15 minutes to get to the front of the line. Get yourself a sandwich (my favourite is the Paradise de Paolo), a cannoli, and head to the park across the street and enjoy an outdoor picnic.
I'd also recommend a place called Les Grillades on Wellington West (85 Holland Avenue). Lebanese food cooked over real charcoal. They also serve the traditional raw meat kebbe if you call at least one day ahead. If you're going on a Friday, call ahead since there is usually a line of cars with diplomatic plates enjoying a post service meal.
While Wellington Gastropub is a great restaurant for a fancy meal, getting a last minute reservation may be difficult. I think The Courtyard is a decent alternative. It's located in the middle of Byward Market (21 George Street). They have a nice tasting menu, and its sous chef is currently on Top Chef Canada...
One particular stop I would not miss is The Works. It's an Ottawa burger institution. One look at the menu and you'll be hooked.
Do you tip a chef for preparing a special not from that day?
I was in the same situation a few months ago. A friend of mine whipped up an awesome tasting prix fix that was off the menu. I brought him and his staff a nice bottle of scotch.
I heard they enjoyed it at the end of the night.
2009 closings
They're only open on the weekends. Owner's selling because of health issues, but you wouldn't know it from the food. Freshly battered fish with fresh Belgian frites. The frites are awesome.
Where can I find Beefsteak Tomatoes?
I would try St. Jacob's market north of Waterloo. Tons of tomato stands there, at least one specializing in only beefsteak
URGENT: spicy, fried crab needed for a party tomorrow
I'd try T&T Supermarket in Downtown Toronto. They have a hot food section that routinely pumps out sir fried crab. I think they're cantonese style so it's just ginger, pepper, and onions. If it's an emergency, I'd head there because they have it. It's not the most ideal of places, but the crab is real.
http://tnt-supermarket.com/en/store_locator.php
You want the Toronto Downtown location.
"Happy Hour" Cocktails Downtown Toronto?
If you're looking for a place for good atmosphere conductive to discussions, Duke of Gloucester is a great choice. Another good choice is the 3 Brewers Brewpub on Yonge Street just south of Dundas.
If you're looking for south downtown (Front Street), I recommend C'est What. They have a fantastic line of Ontario microbrews on tap, including my personal favourite the Denison Weissbier (probably the best Ontario white on the market). They have a pretty good menu too... I find their sweet potato fries go great with beer.
Some might say Beerbistro is a good place for drinks followed by dinner, but I find the place to be too crowded and loud during post-work hours. There are simply too many loud, boisterous... bankers... letting off steam from the workday.
Summer 09 in Prince Edward C
I found Buddha dog to be... unsatisfying... but that's because of my appetite. Don't get me wrong, the dogs are good, but they're tiny. I like the fact that they use local cheeses and produce, and the meat tube itself is very flavourful... but the dogs are tiny.....
We tried to get into Chesterfield's, but they were packed at 3PM... which speaks for itself. Good luck with getting in. Instead of Chesterfield's, we went to Currah's a few weeks ago, and it was fantastic. They have daily lunch specials. Don't let the stuffy decor deter you... the food is fantastic.
Kingston is on the way, so I'd recommend taking a slight detour into downtown kingston to visit the Kingston Brewery Company (http://www.kingstonbrewing.ca/). They have a brewpub that serves an amazing plate of fish and chips. The beer is also very good, but due to their popularity their two best selling beers (the Dragon's Breath Ale eand Whitetail Cream Ale) are both contracted out (with Dragon's Breath being brewed by McCauslan's of Montreal and Whitetail by Brick in Waterloo).
Kennedy/Steele's Lunch?
Kennedy and Steeles? Go to Pacific Mall.
On the 2nd floor of Pacific Mall is the "Chinese Ethnic Village". Walk all the way to the end and you'll see a food court. There's a noodle shop (sorry.. forgot the name) that sells FRESH northern Chinese style ramen. You can't miss it. The noodle chef is usually at the outside counter beating fresh dough into ramen.
I recommend the one with the meat sauce (Jia Jang Mein), but if you're in the mood for a soupy type of noodle get the one with the braised beef. I also recommend their pan fried dumplings.
Belgian Fries?
Agree ++
They serve their fries with a housemade garlic aioli (delicious) and smokey ketchup (also delicious).
Waterloo farmers' market
Early afternoon = food shopping... which I neglected to provide commentary.
There's a fairly popular poultry vendor in the inside market. You can't miss it... it's the only one with a sea of crowds in the front (I believe the colour scheme of their uniforms/logos is blue and white, and they're located next to an entrance). There, you can purchase fresh eggs (popular amount is a flat of 24) and fresh chickens and turkeys. Throughout university when I was doing a roasted turkey, I would get it from there. They also sell poultry innards which are awesome for stir frys and.. other culinary experiments.
In terms of other meats, the vendors inside are all pretty good. One particular memory is a vendor that has farmers sausage on display... but it is one ginormous link coiled high. The sausages are bought by the pound and they'll pinch the sausages to the length of your choice when you order. They're ridiculously fresh and contains no preservatives, so you'll have to consume them post-haste. I've tried grilling them, and broiling them in an oven, but the best result came about in a merlot simmer with the prerequisite stewing vegetables and a bay leaf.
Enjoy!
Waterloo farmers' market
I went to UW and lived in Waterloo for close to 9 years. St. Jacob's is certainly a popular destination for locals... and.. *shudder*... bus tourists.
St. Jacobs... I would recommend:
- Eating: There's a food court/eating area at one end of the market. There are two places I recommend without reservation: The pancake and farmer's sausage place (sorry.. don't remember the name), and the apple fritter place. At both eateries the goods are made to order. Your children might also be interested in seeing how the fritters are made, from peeling and coring using old style equipment to frying and packing.
There's also a fresh fish fry truck outside. Again, all fish is made to order and the style is Scandavanian in nature. Delicious.
- Grocery shopping: In terms of veggies and fruits, head outside. The selection is definitely better, and prices tend to get lower the further you're away from the central barn.
- Baked goods: There's a vendor outside the rear (facing the outdoor vendors rather than the parking lot) that sells a *large* selection of bread in large cardboard boxes. They range from normal loaves to more obscure Portuguese sweet pastries. I highly recommend the variety of fruit-filled Portuguese breads.
In terms of when to go, I'd head there early morning (< 0900hrs) for an unrushed experience, or early afternoon for the good deals when the vendors are anxious to relieve themselves of their produce. If you head there after 0900hrs, the main indoor building is usually PACKED, and I"m not kidding about how packed it usually gets. There's barely any walking room from vendor to vendor and it's not really conducive to a good educational experience. Make sure you have a good grasp on your children's hands if you do decide to venture indoors during peak hours. On the other hand, the peak hours are the best time to walk the outdoor portion when the vendors have all their goods out.
Kitchener Market... The Croatian Cuisine offers a pig roast every Saturday! I've been there a few times and I can honestly say it certainly does not disappoint.
