Ottawa Dining Experience

Unfortunate that the Chow boards contain very little good, reliable info about Ottawa restos. OttawaFoodies.com is a more accurate representation, for sure, as others have mentioned. Next time you're in Ottawa consider Beckta, Murray Street, and any number of others, which will offer you a much better experience than Mezzanotte I hope.

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Beckta
226 Nepean St, Ottawa, ON K2P0B8, CA

Murray Street
110 Murray St, Ottawa, ON K1N5M6, CA

cat7 in Ontario (including Toronto)

Help Us With Three memorable dinners please!

Hmmmm, the impression that I got from your original post was that you were looking for something typically Paris, which is, after all, about tourism and history. If what you're looking for is a really good restaurant that is also affordable and would appeal to a foodie, then check out La Gare, 19 Chaussée de la Muette, in the 16ème arrondissement.

The beauty of going to the 16ème is that it offers some of the most beautiful views, streetfronts, and people. It is one of Paris' wealthiest neighbourhoods, but there are many very reasonably priced restaurants. I have spent many visits staying at small bed and breakfast-type hotels in the area and the metro service from Passy-La Muette makes it very accessible.

As for lunches, skip the restaurants. Instead head into a local boulangerie or grocery chain. They offer baguette sandwiches among other things. You can grab a jambon-fromage (ham and cheese) and munch on it so that you don't miss any of the sightseeing.

PS. It's Saint Germain (no e).

cat7 in France

Help Us With Three memorable dinners please!

Why not try le Procope at 13 rue de l'Ancienne Comédie - 75006 PARIS? It is the oldest restaurant in Paris and full of charm. Not too expensive and the onion soup is a treat. It's open from 11:30 a.m. until midnight.

Enjoy

cat7 in France

Time for an Ottawa and region board?

I am really disappointed that this board includes so little information about Ottawa and eastern Ontario. I was really hoping to find and exchange information about Ottawa restaurants, fine food purveyors, wine bars, etc. but this board is so Toronto-centric. I love Toronto - don't get me wrong - but this board was supposed to be Ontario including Toronto, but perhaps it should be renamed as Toronto, including a little bit about the rest of Ontario!

I think maybe it's time for an Ottawa and region board. Am I alone in this?

ECK

cat7 in Site Talk

Best brownie mixes? Duncan HInes?

A new thread might not be a bad idea. While I'm here, however, try adding 2 teaspoons of instant coffee to whatever liquid you add to your browne mix. Then add some of your favorite coffee liqueur to a chocolate ganache and voilà! You have heavenly mocha brownies.

PS. I'm trying to diet. Reading and writing about brownies is my guilty treat, instead of eating them! :)

cat7 in General Chowhounding Topics

Arab fried potatoes?

I'm not sure of the name, but I posted a recipe for Lebanese potatoes today and they sound very much like what you're asking about. E.

cat7 in Middle East, Southwest Asia & Africa

Special Dinner in Ottawa

Le Café at the National Arts Centre is a great place to go for dinner. You can easily dress up and your daughters will certainly find something on the menu to enjoy. My daughter, who is now 22, has been joining us there for special occasion meals for years. And the prix fixe makes it doubly attractive. Admittedly, it's a kind of unusual location, but if the weather is nice, sitting on the patio by the canal is charming. And it's certainly the best value for money both in terms of cost and portions.

Allium is very good - Monday nite is Tapas - but maybe not "dressed-up" enough for the occasion.

I personally enjoy Beckta's and the little Greek restaurant across the street, whose name escapes me, is very nice.

Les Fougères is consistently good but it depends how far you want to drive. I typically go there for brunch, which is especially lovely at this time of year with the gardens.

Finally, whatever the rotating restaurant on top of the hotel on Queen Street is called these days, is a nice night out. Once the sun begins to set the experience is something else.

Enjoy and congratulations. E

cat7 in Ontario (including Toronto)

Best brownie mixes? Duncan HInes?

I don't know if they exist in the States, but I live in Canada and buy them at the local grocery store. I can only find Ghirardelli occassionally and only at COSTCO, which I don't get too very often.

If you like the York "recipe", another good one - so long as you like coconut - is to do the same thing with Bounty bars. If you can't find Bounty, I suspect that any other dark chocolate covered coconut candy bar would work too.

My personal fave is dried cherries or cranberries and chopped pecans mixed into the batter. It's like a Black Forest variation on brownies.

Cheers, E.

cat7 in General Chowhounding Topics