Brewnoser's Profile
Fresh Fine Dining
Rossmount is indeed the best to eat in NB, maybe all of Atlantic Canada.
Old post above is stale on Tempest. New place is very nice, Slow Food theme working, innovative move for winter months to change menu to Italian Trattoria based on recipes learned while chef toured Piedmont.
Brunch suggestions for Halifax?
Try the Brooklyn Warehouse, The Armview (less fancy, still good), and, shockingly, maybe for many, Tom's Little Havana. I love the Eggs Benny on Roesti there.
Pubs in Halifax: laurels and brickbats
Henry House is a great space, run by people who don't like their customers. The beer is often sour, bringing me to wonder if they ever clean their lines more than annually. If you are served a bad beer, I guarantee you that if you try to take it back, you will be told that is the way it is supposed to taste. And they will continue to serve sour beer to their other customers. If there is something wrong with your meal, they will take it to the kitchen, and then bring it back saying "the cook says that is how it is supposed to be", and they WILL charge you for it, even if you then order something else. This has happened too many times now for it to be a one-off. Yes, it is a classic cosy pub space, up and down stairs, and the food is usually very good. Many people swear by it, but I suspect they cannot tell sour beer from good, they are there drinking off beer so often. Or else they are not drinking the Granite beers. You just better like what they serve, because here, the customer is always wrong. Going here is like driving a nice car with no warranty.
If you want Granite Brewery beer as it should be; fresh; buy it in growlers from their new Stairs Street location, or grab a pint at The Lions Head. Not real ale, no, but not stale ale.
Right now, and these things change, the best pub in Halifax for beer and food is the Hart and Thistle, in the old Harbourfront Market space at the end of Historic Properties.
It opened in summer with great beer, but not so great food. That has changed, as with the closure of O'Carroll's restaurant and Pub, this has now become the new home of O'Carroll's kitchen staff, including Chef Collin Stone.
Sporting beers from Propeller, Garrison and Pumphouse, and the obligatory Keith's, plus two specials made on premise (the former John Shippey's brewhouse has been resurrected by former Shippeys/Garrison/Pumphouse brewmaster Greg Nash) that are designed for beer geeks and those who love extreme brews, this is THE beer place in town. Yes, Maxwell's has more taps, but 80% of those are Molbatt's products or the like, and many micros are not served fresh. (exception is Friday afternoon's 4:30 pm tapping of a fresh firkin of Garrison beer, made as a one-off every week).
The next best place for beer is Rogues Roost, with what is normally a very good selection of their brewpub beers, although the food has seemingly gone downhill a bit, or others have simply surpassed it.
And I agree with the above assessment of Durty Nellys. When you cry forever and ever about being an "authentic" Irish Pub in Halifax, Canada, just because you had the wood shipped in pre-made like Ikea furniture from Ireland, that does not give you the right to serve Molsons/Rickards as your house beer and maintain your supposed "authenticity".
Though I will admit that a recent meal there was very good. It just is not real, while pretending to be. And there is something about that that leaves a bad taste. But the place is full, so don't listen to me, go see for yourself. Maybe you'll love it.
Where to eat in Halifax
Taj Mahal recently was burned out in a fire. It will be a while before it re-opens.
Restaurant Shake Up in Halifax
1241 is gone gone gone.
New spots in town or places that have moved up a notch, include Brooklyn Warehouse, Nectar, Elements (in the Westin was horrid now so much better), Pipa, Boneheads Barbecue, Morris East (was always good, seems to be missing on Chowhound), Trinity (have not been), Estia, Cafe Brussels, and I am sure I am missing a couple.
As some places go, so do new ones come to take their place. Next up will be "Q" a new BBQ place in the former Merchants/Piccolo Mundo space, fun by RCR (Onyx/Cut/Waterfront Warehouse etc.)
It is 2010. Time marches on.
Fid in Halifax
Interesting. FID used to have great servers. But they have lost staff in the past year to other places. The person who does the wine pairing there is a fully trained Sommelier, but not a full time employee, so she would not be there to help with wine questions, or witness that type of service.
Food and wine media in Nova Scotia [moved from Canada board[
Not hard for anything to be better than the DN nowadays. I no longer consider it a newspaper.
It was very good for a while there.
Food and wine writing in town is spotty. Sean W still has his moments, but I wish he'd be a little more controversial at times. I wish Liz Feltham knew something about wine because her food reviews are reliable. Spurr is an embarassment. The Don Cherry of food writing. Problem is, he'd like that moniker. And the monthlies actually get out of Region writers, or NSLC shills to write for them on drink, which is a disgrace.
Trattoria della Nonna in Lunenburg
I also enjoyed my meal there very much. Terry and Simone are a great place team. The place is beautiful as well (as Simone ).
And the wine list really covers all the bases and has a lot of great finds, wines that provide great QPR, even if only in comparison the the rest of the wines in NS.
BTW, another smart wine list down the south shore is at Lane's Privateers in Liverpool, where the third generation Lane, Susan, has revamped the place. She also is a Certified Sommelier, having studied the year before Simone under soon-to-be-famous wine personality, Adam Dial, who is also based in Lunenburg, like smsc. Adam is a founder and editor of AppellationAmerica.com . (now the net's biggest online wine resource).
Re: the wine prices. We get truly shafted by our liquor corporation. This is the most expensive place to buy wine in Canada now, even more than Newfoundland, PEI or the NW Territories now.
As I see it, restaurants too often mark up by percentages, which is a self defeating stratgey if they want their customers to enjoy themselves more. A flat markup is wise ($/bottle), and will make the bettter wines more affordable, thus providing a better overall dining experience while making the same profit for the same labour.
The latest proposals for change to the Liquor Control Act (I may have name wrong) would allow a restauant to have BYO, along with their list, while changing corkage. I hope that happens. There was info on the Environment and Labour website.....
Saege Bistro in Halifax has a very good wine mrakup policy. The lower cost wines are marked up by a flat percentage (I think 100%) and everyting about a certain level is marked up by a flat corkage. You could get Beuacastel CNdP for $130 there, and it cost them $100.
Not that I'm buying that wine necessarily, but you get the idea. They WANT people to try better wine with their dinner. Pricing strategy that discourages that makes no sense. But here in NS, we live by the mantra of "that's the way we've always done it", much to our detriment most of the time.
Nova Scotia for 1
Fancy schmancy for seafood.... that is what was asked for. Have you been lately? $38 entrees..... Great service, among the best in the city, and the new chef comes with a very good reputation. The menu is all new.
Obviously there are lots of other places that are not seafood focussed. Halifax is rich in fine dining right now. Of course that will result in losses of places - I heard Jon Allan's is shutting down and Da Maurizio is being sold.
Lower Deck is OK for fun and food, but very very poor beer selection. A tied house, really.
There is a thread here somewhere about the best in Hfx. Mine would be FID, I suppose. Da Maurizio and Gio close. Others liked Fiasco. janes on the common for value and quality.
Recommendations? Maritimes in July
July 6 to 9 is the Pictou Lobster Carnival. There will almost certainly be lobster dinners going on every night.
www.townofpictou.com
The best fish and chips, and also a lot of other good seafod in Halifax is Phil's Seafood on Quinpool and Armdale. There are other good places (Fries and Co., Willman's, John's Lunch (for clams) some of the pubs) but this one is my fave.
Jim Leff (Chowhound founder) visited here last fall. Check the blog pages for the Chowtour and look at his notes on the Maritimes. He had fun in Newfoundland.
Pubs in Halifax with above good food include The Henry House, The Lower Deck, The Olde Triangle, Rogues Roost, O'Carrol's (the restaurant is good too), The Split Crow, and, somewhat to my surprise, Pogue Fado. Fish and Chips is good at most pubs, and also at the Midtown Tavern. I am told the newly redone Thirsty Duck makes a duck dish that is quite something. These will all be about $10 pp for the food and most have good beer on tap. (warning, if you happen to be a beer drinker, Alexander Keiths IPA is not an IPA, it is basically the same thing as any other Canadian "ale", like Labatt 50). Try local brewpubs, or micros (Propeller and Garrison are the micros). And Nova Scotia wine, particularly the NY Muscat, vinted dry, and L'Acadie Blanc, from three or fur different producers, go amazingly well with the local seafood. You have to ask for the NS Wine, not stuff made in Chile and bottled here.
For a list of fine dining places that will have great wine lists, and know their stuff, look here:
http://www.atlanticsommeliers.ca/content/5277
I think there are a couple of threads on this board that will help you too.
Nova Scotia for 1
I have never found anywhere here that makes me feel at all odd dining alone, so don't let that concern you.
Fancy schmancy, the Five Fishermen in Halifax has a new chef and her new menu looks pretty interesting.
http://www.fivefishermen.com/menu.html#sea
Probably the best for simple lobster, if you know how to do the chopping yourself, is to buy it from the pounds, most sell it cooked as well as live. Shatfords, outside Hubbards in Fox Point is on a very beautiful coastal drive (do the entire loop around the Aspotogan Peninsula), and they have a new sit down place tthat will probably be perfect for you.
I think there is a similar place right along the 104 at Mulgrave, just before you cross the causeway to Cape Breton. You won't miss the signs.
If you are doing the Cabot Trail, there are a bunch of places in the Grand Etang/Cheticamp area that sell crab legs fresh cooked. And in the right season, some people just sell them along the roadside.
One idea is to check the tourism website(s) and find out where "Lobster Festivals" are being held, and time a visit when they are on. Usually a one day thing, but some places go all out. Some local organizations get their annual events posted. You eat at a church hall, or Masonic Hall, lobster, potato salad, and fresh bread. If in August, you might also get strawberries and cream. In June, you may be a bit early for a lot of this, though.
I just googled "lobster festival" nova scotia and got lots of info.
Here is one, for example:
http://www.novanewsnow.com/article-98772-Lobster-festival-organizers-aim-for-expansion.html
Now I've said all this, but I don't eat the stuff! Allergic.
I hope you eat well and have fun.
Hamachi Steak House Review - Halifax, NS
Jim's ongoing records of Chowhounding North America is in the Blogs section of the site - here is where you can find the Midtown adventure www.chow.com/tour/1902 The different episodes prior to this one, and after t, describe some of his eatings on in Atlantic Canada.
I see he may be in Mexico by now?
Turkey Burger now open!
The Turkey Burger, near New Germany on the way from Bridgewater via Exit 12 off the 103 (9 kms up the road form the interchange) has re-opened!!! Apparently the former owner is consulting to the new people for a while. The plan is not to change anything.
Chowhounding Halifax
Interesting. Thanks for the memories. I have to tell you, I LOVE those lemon squares. And what they told me was that they make things the way they were when they bought the place, so the original owners may have changed things in between the era you were frequenting the place and when they sold it.
I think I have to walk over there now. I live 4 minutes walk away.....
Johnny's Snack Bar, Halifax
Went for supper there tonight. Johnny's looks like any other old diner in the city. Sagging booths, round mushroom stools along a bar, and some tables with what I seem to recall were actually red and white chequered tablecloths, but don't take that as gospel, I may have hallucinated it.
The Menu was on the table. One per table. Specials handwritten on a small piece of paper proclaimed chopped beef and pan fried haddock as the specials. There were some older people, Greek, I think that is the language they were using, sitting chatting with the cook, who was standing over them.
The waitress, who is closing in on 60, was at our seat pretty quickly to see what we wanted to drink. Alas, the milkshake machine is broken, so my first choice is relegated to a later visit. But will there be another visit?
I decide to order what is, for me, THE TEST, when in a place like this. They have Fried Chicken on the menu. Normally, this ends up being a deep fried frozen very salty breaded product. One of those that looks like the batter was applied by an automobile undercoater. I figure that if I get real fried chicken, I have found a place to rely on. L ordered the sausage dinner.
In a fairly short time, I have my answer. Three big pieces of fried chicken are lined up side by side on my plate separating my fries (unfortunately, these are of frozen origin) from what looks to be homemade coleslaw and some cranberry sauce. And they are real. Some of the chicken is missing bits of the very simple batter. It is not too salty. It is crunchy in some places and not in others. Gee whiz, Granny, that's fried chicken! Now before you get too excited, I think it had been perhaps baked or precooked a bit and then fried up for me, because some of it was a bit dry, but it was not some industrial food product.
The fries had probably seen the inside of the Florenceville Factory, but they were cooked about as good as frozen gets. The waitress casually tossed some Heinz Ketchup packs at my plate on her way by. I ate all the chicken, half the fries, most of the cranberry and all the coleslaw.
L's sausages were very brown on the outside, but she said they were not overcooked, and were tasty (I never got to steal any...). Her mashed potato was very good, creamy and light.
Things had happened so fast (you haven't seen me around fried chicken before) that we had time for a dessert. Not wanting to completely ruin things, I had to ask what the "Cream Pie" on the menu meant. Seems it meant, at least for today, Coconut Cream. That falls into my list of 50 greatest weaknesses. So I order a piece. It was homemade, the crust being a bit like my Mom's, the filling not as rich as I am used to, but very coconutty, and the topping was a whipped cream, but I think from a can or container. I don't think it was synthetic, it did seem to have come from a cow in its past..... and there was toasted coconut scattered on top. The pie was very good. I could have had more, as I let L eat along, which is a sure sign you're not going to get as much as you thought you were.
So, yes, it's a diner. No pretensions whatsoever (unlike the place around the corner that I have given up on). I just can't believe I had never noticed it before. It is almost like one of those twilight zone things - read about it on the net, sure you never saw it before, but there it is, a 5 minute walk from your house.
Oh, and the cost of the meal that included a Coke, water, fried chicken platter, sausage dinner, and coconut cream pie, was $19.50 tax included, plus grat.
I plan to return, probably for breakfast. They do a cheap B&E, and they have cinnamon toast!
Halifax: Fiasco
Well, it looks like my list of places to eat in Halifax has just had Fiasco move up to near the top. We ate there a couple of years ago, but it sounds like it is time again. Need to try Mezza (new med/Lebanese on Quinpool) but hard to imagine it being better than Kababji....(if you have not been, go). Oddd no-one mentions Bish or Press Gang... people keep raving to me about them, and my experiences at both have left me lighter in pocket, bored in palate.
If you had a choice: Gio, Fiasco's, Fid or Saege?
I would go to FID. Nothing against the others, though Saege does not belong in the group, as others have said. Da Maurizio is a close second for me Gio seems to be losing it a bit... smaller portions, changing menu (that fave thing you told people about is not there when they go), Chives improving, Fiasco very good (need to go back soon).
When I know the person is interested in great food and service, but not a big wine geek, and concerned about what they pay, "janes on the common" is a pretty sure bet not to lose friends over. The specials have gotten a bit more adventuresome of late - new chef. The desserts are still probably the best overall selection and quality in town.
The wine list is simple, but not aiming for any Speculator awards (I know, I help with it - disclaimer inherent in this statement)
Halifax: Gio
New Year's Day? You went out to a fine dining restaurant on New Year's Day? You never worked as a waitress, did you......
Name of restaurant in Lunenburg
Fleur de Sel? Sounds like it. Not sure about the sushi, though. They are on Montague.
www.fleurdesel.net
Chef is Martin Ruiz Salvador
"Upon graduating from the two year Le Cordon Bleu program at the Scottsdale Culinary Institute in Arizona, Martin has worked in various establishments in both Nova Scotia and Europe, including a Michelin One Star in Dublin, Ireland, Leon de Lyon, a Michelin Two Star under chef Jean Paul Lacombe, and for Chef Frederic Cote at Caro de Lyon, both in Lyon, France. "
Nova Scotia dining summer 2007
OK, here are my suggestions for the South Shore.
Shelburne - Charlotte's Lane (Open May to Dec)
Liverpool - Lane's Privateers Inn (owner is a sommelier, also great pub out back).
- White Point Beach Lodge - nice beach, you can stay almost on it, not bad food, good wine list
Lunenburg - Fleur de Sel
- Il Trattoria - New Italian/Med place, great chef, opens tomorrow
- The Knot Pub
In Lunenburg there are lots of good B&B's if money not main object stay at
www.boatbuilderscottage.com
Jim's Halifax Report
OK, I found it. A few things - Jim did eat the boiled dinner at the Midtown. And tried the cheeseburger - it was a bit dry in the middle when we were there. But as you can read, he figured the place out real quick. I don't know how he does it - eat like that for so long. Two days with him nearly put me off food for a month.
Tom's is still alive - I was there on Friday and it was packed. I see from some advertising that Tom has focussed on the food. It is weird being in there with no smoke. I went the evening of the final night of smoking and had a cigar. It was a who's who of Halifax passing through to sign off on public smoking. (And I don't smoke, except for maybe 2 cigars a year.).
We went to janes on the common, but it closes earlier on Thursday than Friday.... so we missed it. And his entire time here was about not getting out to the Chickenburger..... Next time, someone has to take him there.
Jim's Halifax Report
I can't seem to find his report. Has it been removed? Jim went to Tareks.... Not with me though - I usually have the beef taco Pita, though since the reno, it has not been the same. Mushy, not crisp and toasted - they stopped using the sandwich press!
Halifax: Saege
Wow, Greg, 90 mintutes is way too long for anywhere, let alone a lunch place. It sounds like there may be a disconnect between the kitchen and the front house - I posted earlier on this - at lunch they have so many menu items it makes a turnaround time long. This is a chef owned place, and the problems may very well lie in that person's desire to show all of their food items, and not admit to actually having made a mistake in trying to do too much at lunch.
When the boss is the chef, the age old competition between front house and kitchen staff can become unbalanced in favour of the kitchen - this can result in a perceived lack of care to the actual customer. Meanwhile a server has to face the customer.
And unless a kitchen can adjust to the needs of the customers, as intrepreted by the servers, and change the menu to be able to provide good food in a timely manner, ultimately they will lose customers.
Though I hear they are still swamped - they may get into that Yogi Berra thing of being so popular, nobody goes there anymore.
And as for the wines - I pretty well know them all. Familiarity is a relative thing, and that list is designed to force you to relax any label based reliance you might have and enjoy good wine. It is one way to discover new wines, chosen by someone with a pretty good palate and experience in what people like.
Chowhounding Halifax
Agree on the meatloaf. Will try the Thai Chicken soup this week. Have not yet been to Rogi Oratio when it was open yet (was there late late one night partying with owner).
I keep meaning to lunch at Windows. Is it good?
I went to Tom's Little Havana on Thursday, I am not a smoker, but it was an historic night of sorts. Jim Meek eulogized it in today's Herald.
The food at Tom's is amazing. I love the Havana Rolls. Now with no smoke, one can eat it there. I dropped in yesterday (Friday) and it was half full. Wonder where all the smokers are? Home with their kids, smoking in front of them?
Chowhounding Halifax
Went there this morning for some baked goods. Sold by the Smith's 2.5 years ago to the family of one of their employees. Same recipes. Had a lemon square - you were so right. The pound cake is still there, not sure about the layered part. The people running it now will know of what you speak. The cake apparently is a unique recipe, with LOTS of eggs. That is why it is so yellow.
I bought a couple of Nanaimo bars, and "Presidents Bars" plus some lemon squares, and a loaf of fresh baked multi grain bread, just out of the oven. My car still smells great!
And I was half wrong - the husband of the woman who used to work there, now the co-owner, is British, or at least from the UK!
What are your favourite treats from the Halifax Farmer's Market?
Yes, Mary's "might" be the first of the bakers that signalled the rebirth of good bread in Halifax. Life was pretty well Ben's Holsum with the small family bakers going under. I still buy her Multi Grain, as it has no salt added (check the ingredient list, if salt is not listed, that's the one).
Speaking of family bakers, I visited Smith's on Agricola today. Got a fresh loaf of multi grain just out of the oven, practically. They couldn'y bag it, and I kept it open in the car. Popped into the nearby NSLC for a bottle of wine, and when I came back to the car and opened the door...... nirvana......
favorite accompaniment for foie gras?
If you have the real stuff - a lobe or part of one, a chef friend recommends a marinée/curing method, and eating it without the loss of weight that cooking creates. Had it that way, made by him, recently, and it was great. He called it Torchon of Foie Gras. Accompanied by Micro Greens, Seared Plumbs and Pan Jus, plus 2-3 oz. tasters of the following champagnes....
Tarlant Cuvée Louis ~ 1996 & 1997
Krug Grande Cuvée Brut ~ N.V.
Perrier Jouet Cuvée La Belle Epoque ~ 1998
Henriot 1996 Vintage ~ 1996
Henriot 1990 Vintage ~ 1990
Bollinger Special Cuvée ~ N.V.
Chowhounding Halifax
I like the Bulgagi (sp?) a spicey garlic pork. Very high strength garlic - great for those afternoon meetings with people you don't like. The chicken may be the hottest "fast food" I have ever had. I like it, but it does tend to bring a tear to my eyes, as I continue to eat it.
Chowhounding Halifax
You know, Greg, I don't know if it is still in the same family, but I can tell you this:
The baked goods are good.
They are made there.
It seems to still be "local people" and not a recent immigrant family (nothing wrong with that, mind you, but it suggests the original family of Smiths might still be involved).
It has a bit of a retro thing going.
I was hoping to start a series of responses to add to the list. I still have a few other places and dishes I can recommend....
Ardmore Tea Room for Corn Beef Hash, an almost primitive throwback breakfast;
John's Lunch in Dartmouth for a mountain of clams and chips (disclaimer - I'm allergic, but I have seen them eaten in front of me a LOT);
The Chickenburger for the shakes, and cheesburgers as well as the unique chickenburger;
Rogues Roost pub for soup (almost every soup of the day there rocks) and for the Quesadillas;
Certainly Cinnamon for the Spicey Thai Pork Sandwich (and usually soup of the day);
Sticks (lunch today) for the Rosemary Lamb Skewer;
Tarek's Cafe for the Beef Taco Pita (under reno, opening soon);
janes on the common for lunchtime's Grilled Cheese Sandwich (and all the desserts);
Epicurious Morsels for the Bierock meat bun;
Willmans (Kane and Isleville) for extra greasy, batter driven Fish and Chips (I am sure they used to sell batter balls with no fish in them....);
Venus Pizza on the corner of Barrington and Blowers for the Chicken Shwarma plate;
The coconut soup at Baan Thai;
Fish with Potato Salad (instead of chips) at the Midtown Tavern;
Fish Cakes at Bob and Lori's Food Emporium;
Fish Cakes (quite different from the above) at The Cheapside Cafe in the AGNS;
Salvatore's Pizza - the Quattro Frommagi Pizza - is it a quiche or a 'za?
The Seitan Sandwich at The Wooden Monkey;
Bud the Spud.
You know I could go on.....
But suddenly, I am hungry......
Again......
