The very first time I tasted Foie Gras. Forced (by my boss, no less) to try it, even though I thought I'd hate it. Simple wild blueberry gastrique, seared off perfectly. What made it so awe inspiring was the surprise at how much I loved it. It was a true "where have you been all my life?" moment.
Any variation of Nicoise for picnics; anything in flaky pastry (filo, puff, etc), risotto, or a nice, simple roast for dinner parties. When the sports nuts come over to watch the game, it's always perogies.
My favorite comfort food:
Freshly baked bread, especially my Mum's
My top 5 favorite restaurants:
Opus on Prince Arthur, Grappa, Mashu Mashu, Dhaba, Eden
My most tattered cookbooks:
My great-grandmother's North Bay Hotel Cookbook, ca 1917 (plus lots of clippings). Includes recipes for squirrel and Canada goose! Also an old Government publication called "Economical meals with meat" The only "celebrity" books I pull out and actually use are The Two Fat Ladies and Jamie Oliver's first book