Chopped Canada, Season 3, Episode 13: Braised Sweet and Sour Hare and Bok Choy Rice

The ingredients for the main course last week were as follows:  hare, sage, watermelon lollipops and bok choy.   There was, as usual, a time limit, but this post isn’t about that, so I will will take my time and braise the meat in the oven.  It’s a fantasy meal, anyway – something that I will […]

Chopped Canada Season 3, Episode 12: Peppermint Patty Goat Meatball Mole

The main course ingredients for the twelfth episode of the third season were as follows:  mint peppermint patties, capers, ground goat meat and black bean flour.  As soon as I heard there were peppermint patties and meat, the first thing I thought of was something with a mole sauce.  Can’t be that hard, can it?  […]

So I read Town & Country…

I don’t usually get too personal on this site, but there have been things I’ve asked myself about.  Most readers know I’m a child of immigrants.  Most readers know, or at least, have guessed that I grew up fairly comfortable, economically speaking.  But despite that, and despite being very comfortable about who I am, my […]

Chopped Canada Season 3, Episode 11: Spicy Maple Creme Halibut and Fennel Salad

The mandatory ingredients for episode 11 weren’t all that difficult – especially the main course.  Halibut, maple sandwich cookies, baby fennel and aji pepper paste.  I like halibut and I like maple, so why not create a sauce out of cookie filling and paste?  One doesn’t even need a food processor – just a bit […]

Highlights and Favourites from the One of a Kind Show Spring 2016

I was at the opening day event on March 23 and saw many old favourites as well as new additions.  Delicious goat cheese from Crosswind Farms (Booth B31 and they also have a separate booth focusing on their skincare products at I34) to fashion (Melissa Népton (Booth P40) is back with her super-comfortable pieces.  Her […]

Chopped Canada, Season 3, Episode 10: Mountain Tea and Salmon Sausage Pizza?

So the contestants only had 20 minutes to complete the appetizer round on episode 10.  I say screw that.  I’m going to take my time if I were given the following ingredients:  mountain tea, graffiti eggplant, salmon sausage and barbecue sauce.  I’m going to make pizza.  Because I said so.  And because this is a […]

Contemporary and Elegant at LaMarque’s Toronto Fashion Week Debut

LaMarque made its Toronto Fashion Week debut on Tuesday with a gorgeous, wearable collection of looks which have a bit of classical, elegant inspiration, yet still very contemporary.  These classic looks are versatile and wearable, unlike many designers who seem to aspire to shock (but at the same time are showing pieces which are not […]

Chopped Canada Season 3, Episode 9: Deviled Eggs and Sprinkles?

Yes, the appetizer round called for the following ingredients:  already-prepped deviled eggs, Canadian smoked cheddar, venison sausages and…get ready for it…rainbow cake decorations.  In other words, rainbow sprinkles.  Why are ingredients this season so…odd?  Anyway… Can you SERIOUSLY incorporate this into a non-dessert? So what can you make with this?  Let’s think OUTSIDE of the […]

Fashion Week….Burn Out?

Fashion Week, Toronto Fashion Week

Toronto Fashion Week starts next Monday.  Yes, it’s now “officially” called Toronto Fashion Week.   I’m looking forward to the Fall/Winter 2016 shows.  Kind of.  I don’t know.  Many of my favourites are back (though Pink Tartan is NOT showing for some reason), including Hillary MacMillian and Triarchy and Greta Constantine will be closing the week […]

‘Mean Girl’ Genes, Men’s Involvement and International Women’s Day

Today is International Women’s Day.  I’m not going to go on ranting about how we make less than men (true, but not exactly true at the same time, according to this Globe and Mail article.  It sometimes has to do with the choices WE MAKE in the type of jobs WE TAKE.  The so-called “mommy […]