We’re coming up on the busiest brunch day of the year this Sunday, when guilty families across the country try to make up for a year of talking back, dirtying up the floors, and other assorted misdemeanours that drive Moms crazy. At the Toronto Sun Rita DeMontis says Moms just want “a simple thanks”, but barring that (or perhaps in addition to), try making her a cranberry brunch parfait. More ambitious children and hubbies (those not making brunch reservations) might want to offer Mom a healthy breakfast. DeMontis also has a piece on some microwaveable Thai noodle dishes (hint - take Mom out for Thai instead), and Elizabeth Baird roasts some local asparagus.

Continue reading What’s Cooking - Wednesday, May 7th »

Well, the big news this week was the Hogtown visit by potty-mouthed chef Gordon Ramsay. Here doing a book tour (and checking locations for a possible new restaurant) Ramsay had a busy schedule of interviews with pretty much every major media outlet. Except us. Oh, we asked. Didn’t quite lower ourselves to begging and pleading, though, and scored a consolation prize of a review copy of his latest book instead of some face time, but we did ask. I’ll keep my ranting to a minimum about how blogs and online news sites (on any topic) ARE TOO real media, but I can’t help but be a little put out that a devoted fan like myself (who has actually seen every episode of the UK series The F Word) didn’t get to burn toast with Gordo.

At the Toronto Star, food editor Kim Honey cooks a recipe from Ramsay’s book and bungs up the toast. The accompanying video seems a little sketchily edited, and at one point Ramsay asks if he’s been punked. Honey’s a great writer, but if you can make toast and actually set fire to it in a toaster oven (is that even possible? Don’t they have smoke alarms in the Star test kitchen??? Were they spoofing the highly-scripted shenanigans of Ramsay’s shows?), maybe food writing is not so much your forte. Rita DeMontis of the Toronto Sun chose not to cook for Ramsay but instead presented him with a spread of locally made delectables. Thankfully Beppi Crosariol of the Globe and Mail spares us the coquettishness and offers a straight-up interview with info about the potential new restaurant (corner of Yonge & Bloor if he doesn’t choose Vancouver instead), and fans who are so devoted they have the Hell’s Kitchen logo tattooed on their back. Yowza.

Continue reading What’s Cooking - Wednesday, April 30th »

Must be a slow news day. The National Post is running a piece based on a “study” published yesterday (note the use of quotation marks) indicating that what pregnant women eat around the time of conception can affect the sex of the baby. Did you know it can actually hurt to roll your eyes way far back in their sockets like that? Despite all that silly ol’ science stuff that has pretty much concluded that the Y chromosome in the male’s sperm determines sex, this “study” apparently shows that munching on bananas and cereal will score expectant mothers a son. And if bananas don’t work, you can find out what you’re having by peeing in some Drano. Ow, my rolling eyes!!

In real food news at the Post, Amy Rosen has a recipe for flourless chocolate cake, Ben Kaplan writes on the social significance of Harold and Kumar, and their love of White Castle (hey - next time you down one of those fancy mini hamburgers at some chichi resto, remember, White Castle did it first). The Appetizer blog has herbs, butter and knives.

Continue reading What’s Cooking - Wednesday, April 23rd »

Back in September, while cruising the aisles of the Health Food Expo, I said to Greg, “You just watch - this is going to be the year when the whole gluten-free thing really explodes!” Proving me right is Barbara Turnbull with her article in the Toronto Star on gluten-free food and dining options. When even Pizza Pizza starts offering a gluten-free crust, it’s definitely reached the mainstream. Not so gluten-free is the chip butty at BMO field where the fancy bread has been replaced with Wonderbread at fans’ request. Some of the more multicultural dishes like chicken roti and risotto balls have also been ixnayed in favour of the ubiquitous hot dog.

Also in the Star are reports of an Earth Day farmer’s market this Saturday at Eglinton-St. George’s Church. Organizers are bringing in vendors from the Brickworks market for the day and hope to make it a regular event in the north end of the city, which is still sadly lacking in farmer’s market options. Also, Kim Honey looks at instant Thai noodles, and Gordon Stimmel preview the California wine fair.

Continue reading What’s Cooking - Wednesday, April 16th »

In the local food movement, the one thing people always seem to have trouble finding is wheat and grains. Look no more! Kim Honey of the Toronto Star interviews Sean McGivern, a farmer from Owen Sound who grows organic grain, as well as meat and eggs. And speaking of organic, the Star also has a piece on the new organic guidelines that will come into effect at the end of the year as well as a glossary of other labelling terms.

Also in the Star, Tamsyn Burgmann visits Burbs Bistro and Bar, Kim Honey reports that Ace Bakery has been sold to an investment company based in Chicago, and Josh Rubin discovers the delight of being a chocoholic beer drinker.

Continue reading What’s Cooking - Wednesday, April 9th »

Oh noes! Susur is leaving Toronto! The foodie community is all abuzz this week as news of Chef Susur Lee setting up shop in the Big ol’ Apple has been confirmed. Shinan Govani of the National Post indicates that Lee will be shutting down Susur completely, while Sinclair Stewart of the Globe and Mail and Amy Pataki of the Toronto Star are indicating that Susur will close May 31st for a remodel by Lee’s designer wife, Brenda Bent. Pataki also reports that Susur “will relaunched in late summer as a casual shared-plates concept grounded in Europe”. Oh, goody… more tapas. *sigh* Am I the only one who misses dear ol’ Mama Cicconi whose restaurant used to occupy that space?

Continue reading What’s Cooking - Wednesday, April 2nd »

They’re going bananas at the Toronto Star. Cynthia David interviews banana-man Joe Meschino about his family’s banana business. David also investigates the rising price of North America’s favourite fruit, including plans to market them as healthy treats at checkouts. There’s also a recipe for banana pancakes.

Also in the Star, ethical coffee from Thailand, a comparison of what and how the different sexes eat (which would be far more useful/interesting if it also explored gender stereotypes and the influence of advertising and mainstream media), and a piece about corn pudding by Amy Pataki. Tamsyn Burgmann reviews Parsi restaurant Copper Chimney, and a piece from the New York Times wire service confirms what we already knew - eat your breakfast.

Continue reading What’s Cooking - Wednesday, March 26th »

Garnish? We don’ want no steenkin’ garnish! Amy Rosen of the National Post explains why classic dishes are best left plain. Also in the Post, Anna Olsen has the story of a school lunch program in Niagara Falls, and the Appetizer blog has chocolate bunnies, lunch bags and microplane graters - not necessarily meant to go together, in case you were wondering.

At the Toronto Star, Kim Honey is feeling nostalgic with an article about milk delivery. I’ll show my age and admit to remembering milk delivered in glass bottles. And that pear we all tried and loved at the Royal Winter Fair has a name - the Harovin Sundown should be available in 2009. Also in the Star, Josh Rubin gets monastic with a bottle of Weltenburger Kloster Asam Bock.

Continue reading What’s Cooking - Wednesday, March 19th »

A brisket in a basket… er, a pot, is the lead story at the Toronto Star this week as Kim Honey tracks down the traditional boiled meat dinner for St. Patrick’s Day. Corned beef is normally considered a Jewish delicacy, but it’s much loved in Ireland as well, and becomes popular again every March 17th. Also a traditional Irish food, Honey’s got Mark McEwan’s recipe for mashed potatoes.

Also in the Star, Gord Stimmell’s got a few of the winners from the upcoming Toronto Wine and Cheese Festival.

Continue reading What’s Cooking - Wednesday. March 12th »

I shake my fist in the general direction of the Toronto Star’s Jennifer Bain. Not because I don’t like her or her writing, but because her piece today on chaat, the plethora of savoury Indian snacks such as iddly or bhel puri, has got me craving the stuff bad. Baaaaad!! And between the snow and the stupid flu my husband passed on to me, I’m not even up for dragging myself out to the grocery store for a bag of the mixes from Surati Sweet Mart or India House. Bain’s also got info on a hot chocolate product from Green & Blacks in which an accompanying chocolate bar is grated and added in. I really, really need this.

Also in the Star, Amy Pataki explore the world of Parisian gnocchi,  Gordon Stimmell checks out some great New Zealand reds, and there’s a piece on foodie playdates for kids. What ever happened to just giving kids kitchen chores?

In recipes, Kim Honey has a Mac & Cheese recipe from chef Jamie Oliver, there’s a recipe from Gordon Ramsay for peas and cheese on toast, and in more appetizing fare, lamb burgers, and caramel-walnut upside down banana cake.

Continue reading What’s Cooking - Wednesday, March 5th »

It used to be that the area around the Science Centre was a no-man’s land in terms of food. But Jennifer Bain of the Toronto Star reports that Thorncliffe Village now boasts a multi-cultural selection of food shops and restaurants to accommodate the very multi-cultural community. Bain also tries some chia cereal (not just for pets), and to keep with the grain theme, reviews The Complete Whole Grains Cookbook: 150 Recipes for Healthy Living by Judith Finlayson.

Also at the Star, Tamsyn Burgmann reviews Agora, a new cafe in the Junction that focuses on organic, local and fair trade products, while In Store features bread with a lot of stuff added to it (Omega 3 this time around) and a Canadian soy butter. Josh Rubin sips some engine oil, Harviestoun Old Engine Oil, that is; a tasty stout.

The Star is also reporting that City of Toronto board of health wants to ban food advertising to kids. As predicted, the Association of Canadian Advertisers think this is a really bad idea. But since “The Association of Canadian Advertisers Incorporated (ACA) is a national, not-for-profit association exclusively dedicated to serving the interests of companies that market and advertise their products and services in Canada,” they might be just the teensiest bit biased.

Continue reading What’s Cooking - Wednesday, February 27th »

I’m stepping outside of the Life/Food section to start off this week’s round-up with a link to Joe Fiorito’s column in the Toronto Star in which he looks at the slated closure of the CanGro factory in the Niagara Penninsula. The factory is owned by a US company and operations will move to China at the end of March, putting 147 full-time workers and 400 part-timers out of a job. Not to mention making it officially impossible to find canned or frozen fruit from the Niagara region. Don’t believe me? Have a look at those bags of frozen fruit in the freezer aisle of the supermarket - ain’t no Niagara peaches or Sudbury berries in those bags.

Continue reading What’s Cooking - Wednesday, February 20th »

24 hours. That’s how long you’ve got to get out there and spend way too much money on dinner, roses and candy if you subscribe to the traditional Valentine’s day gift-giving scenario. However if your interest in chocolate extends away from the be-ribboned heart-shaped box, Kim Honey of the Toronto Star has interviews with Colleen Wong-Sala of Kakayo Chocolate Co, as well as David Castellan of SOMA Chocolatiers, and Michael Sacco of ChocoSol.

Also in the Star, Jennifer Bain offers some recipes for a home-cooked V-day dinner, and the culinary calendar shows that St. Louis Bar and Grill is giving out free chocolate body paint with all take-out orders over $15 until the end of the month. Tamsyn Burgmann enjoys tasty Persian food at Tanoor; Scaramouche is looking for a new location; and Gordon Stimmell thinks perfume maker Loris Azzaro should stick to perfume and not try to make wine.

Continue reading What’s Cooking - Wednesday, February 13th »

I’ve been whining about missing out on the Dragon’s Beard candy this Lunar New Year, and even have a couple of Chinese acquaintances who had never heard of it, so I was delighted to see Jennifer Bain’s piece on the handmade treat in today’s Toronto Star. Looks like I’ve got to brave the weekend crowds at Pacific Mall to get some, though. And Kim Honey has a really fabulous piece on Chinese New Year delicacies, divided by province, as well as where to find them in the GTA.

Also in the Star, Amy Pataki goes in search of cornish hen, while readers help Susan Sampson track down a pumpkin chiffon pie recipe. Susan also reworks a lemon bar recipe and Jennifer Bain tries some flax in shaker form. In Store gears up for Valentine’s Day with chocolate products both alternative and mainstream, and Gordon Stimmell picks some great wines for blustery winter days - like today!

They’re celebrating Chinese New Year at the Toronto Sun as well, where Rita DeMontis looks at holiday traditions, particularly the ones involving food. Elizabeth Baird visits the Stratford Chefs School, plus has info on new products including the tart cherries and juice that I wrote about yesterday.

The Globe and Mail has a picture gallery of Chinese New Year treats and how-tos, including some cool won-ton spoons.  Also in the Globe, Chef Rob Feenie shares a recipe for decadent French toast.

There’s no better way to start a cold winter day than with a hearty bowl of oatmeal, and Jennifer Bain of the Toronto Star explores the many oatmeal options. Bain also reviews a vegetarian cookbook called Tassajaja Cookbook: Lunches, Picnics and Appetizers. Meanwhile, Susan Sampson tries some fancy oils like pistachio and pecan from a company called La Tourangelle.

Also in the Star, Tamsyn Burgmann reviews Dosa City where they offer a “5-foot City Family Dosa”, and Josh Rubin tries a Royal Oak Traditional Bitter.

At the Globe and Mail, they’re getting ready for the Superbowl with recipes and party tips. Also, Keith Froggett makes rhubarb custard, and Cinda Chavich explores the world of high-end coffee.

Rita DeMontis of the Toronto Sun celebrates the many Academy Awards nominations the film Ratatouille received recently with info about the dish and the movie. Elizabeth Baird looks at the many products of StoneMill Bakery, and shares a recipe for a sunny morning egg bake.