Some of my clearest memories surround food. Others are connected to the warm display of affection. D might remember the date and year that we were in a certain country but I will remember the same circumstances differently-with tastes and aromas and specific ingredients or that love was present in the room or emanating from the kitchen.

Case in point, when D and I traveled to the Amalfi coast in Italy to celebrate our 25^th wedding anniversary, one meal sticks out more clearly than any other. It was a lunch that we shared at a place called Cumpa Cosimo, way up high on the mountainside in Ravello. The restaurant had been run by the same family for decades. All the dishes served were Netta Bottone’s family recipes and she still supervised the cooking, greeted all of the guests herself and then collected everyone’s Euros before they departed.

More recently I have had the opportunity to dine at Restaurant Da Emma in Old Montreal. Emma Risa is a Montreal restaurateur that I was equally fascinated in meeting and knew that my memories of the evening would similarly stay with me for years. We were hosted by Ocean Properties associated with the Marriott Chateau Champlain which had been our home base for the weekend and the evening was the piece de résistance of our remarkable Montreal itinerary.

Housed in Montreal’s first prison for women, the walls were impossibly thick but contrary to what you might first expect,

the ambiance was warm and inviting.

But to the food…we started with bruschetta where I confirmed anew how much I love fresh garlic and tomatoes and crunchy baguette.

Next up was eggplant which featured thin layers of my favourite vegetable and a delicate tomato sauce.

For my main, I chose “Piglet” even though I felt awkward about ordering something with such a cute name. The skin was crunchy, the silky fat melted away and the meat was perfectly seasoned and prepared.

The highlight of the evening though was the invite to meet Ella.

Perhaps you can see why I remembered my meeting with Netta in Ravello, now?

Netta had hosted the likes of Jacqueline Onassis, Humphrey Bogart and Mariah Carey.

Ella had hosted George Clooney, Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonny Depp.

In both cases, I was in good company.

Kath’s quote: Everything you see I owe to spaghetti.” – Sophia Loren

Live simply, laugh often, love deeply.

This fabulous location on the Provencher St. Bridge has remained empty as the city searched for a suitable tenant. WOW! Hospitality Concepts knew that the summer was the perfect time to stroll across the bridge in either and drop in for a bite with a view of the famous junction of the Red and Assiniboine River, but making that same trek during one of Winnipeg’s winters was not quite so pleasant. As a result, the restaurant will be open during summer months and the space will be a special event venue during fall, winter and spring.  I understand that businesses have already begun booking their Christmas parties in the space even though the venue opens today!

Chef Luc Jean pictured above is bilinqual, as is Irene the assistant manager at the new restaurant. Providing additional service for persons strolling the Provencher Bridge will be this “to go” window, where the team will serve up poutine,

burgers made with hand-formed patties and premise-made barbeque sauce,

and ice cream sandwiches concocted when frozen chocolate mousse is slatered between two home-made cookies.

At the media preview event last evening, we also sampled brie and walnut croustinis, pictured above. As well as an amazing one of gravlax (smoked salmon), horseradish enhanced creme fraiche and a sprig of dill.

As mentioned, poutine will be available at the take out window. I am also hoping that these scrumptious French fries-one variety with a chipolte aioli and a second with parmesan shards and truffle oil, will be available as well.

There were two flatbread tart flambees that you must try. The crust was impossibly thin and crispy and the generous fillings overflowed with each bite. The one pictured above contained chicken and artichokes.

We particularily loved the fig jam, proscuitto and arugula flatbread. We encouraged friends who sat with us to try the fresh figs when they venture to Italy in the upcoming weeks ahead. D and I often recount our memories of picking fresh figs for breakfasts in Sicily!

Desserts were lovingly deconstructed and reconstructed, like this redo of a lemon merigue pie. The delectable shortbread cookie, meant that it could be picked up and consumed in a couple of bites.

The wine and beer lists were simple but well-thought out. We looked over the more extensive dining menu and spied some offerings that we look forward to returning for.

Kath’s quote: “Anybody can make you enjoy the first bite of a dish, but only a real chef can make you enjoy the last.”–Francois Minot

Live simply, laugh often, love deeply.

On a recent visit to Montreal, I had the very good fortune of being hosted by the Marriott Chateau Champlain and Tourisme Montreal. I was in perfect company to compile this top 10 list.

1. Poutine, any kind of poutine but if you can get your hands on duck poutine as pictured here, even better!

Upon arrival, I was invited to a welcome to the Mariott cocktail reception. We were high up in the Presidential Suite with a gorgeous view of the cityscape with Mount-Royal on the horizon. What a wonderful way to start the weekend.

That evening we headed out to the Montreal International Jazz Festival and took in a Jesse Cook concert. He and his musicians were amazing, the audience was lively and the entire evening so much fun.

The next morning I indulged in the sumptuous offerings of the Marriott Chateau Champlain’s breakfast buffet in the Restaurant Samuel de Champlain. The made to order omelet was so terrific that the next morning I had another!

 2. Thirst quenching kombucha at raw food sensation Crudessence.

We were off on a scooter tour of the Montreal neighbourhoods of Plateau Mount-Royal, Mile End and Little Italy. After winding our way through the beautiful trails on Mount-Royal we had worked up a thirst. Kombucha made from fermented green tea, rose and schizandra berries was just the ticket.

3. Foraged wild mustard greens at Fou du Chef in Marche Jean Talon

We only had time for a quick stop at one of the largest fresh markets in North America: Marche Jean Talon. I could have stayed for hours meeting the multigenerational stall keepers and perusing their succulent offerings.

4. Sesame bagel from the Fairmount Bakery in Little Italy.

With another stop at this 65 year old bagel stop I learned that a Montreal bagel is distinguished by three characteristics: they are hand-rolled, they are put into a bath of honeyed water and then baked in a wood-fired oven. This resulted in a texture that was crispy and chewy. Sesame seeds have adorned the bagel since a regular customer complained that the original poppy seeds got stuck in his teeth.

5. Chocolate dipped strawberries at the Marriott Chateau Champlain.

After the scooter tour we had the opportunity to stretch out back in our beautifully appointed rooms at the Marriott Chateau Champlain. I had just closed my eyes when there was a knock on the door. When I opened it I grumpily told room service that they must have the wrong room because I hadn’t ordered anything. He politely responded “No Madame, these are courtesy of the hotel”!

6. Pasteis de nata at Cantinho de Lisboa

The next morning we were off on a walking/tasting tour of Old Montreal stopping first at this gorgeous Portuguese “Canteen” where we tasted a version of cappuccino using Brazilian coffee beans and these traditional tarts that tasted to me like a luxurious crème brulee.

7. Macaroons (or any of the exquisite pastries) from Maison Christian Faure.

The highest compliment that I can pay to Chef Faure, who was visiting with friends at a nearby table in the Maison was that his macaroons surpassed my memories of those eaten at the legendary Laduree on the Champs-Elysees in Paris!

8. Award winning Quebec artisan cheese at Bourlingueur Bistro.

I am well aware that Quebec cheese makers are amongst the greatest in North America and certainly the best in Canada. I understand that it is because their ancestors brought their cheese-making skills with them from Europe. The Bourlingueur presented them perfectly with a simple torn  baguette so as not to camouflage any of the taste.

9. Maple syrup from Haut Bois Normand.

This is the maple syrup brand that friends from Quebec bring me as gifts. I love the vintage look of the cans. The purity and clarity of their product is unsurpassed, in my humble opinion. We visited with one of the handsome family members at his shop in Marche Bonsecours.

10. Montreal Imperial Cookies!

Our family loves the Imperial cookies (we also call them dream cookies) that are made by Manitoba bakeries, but (dare I say it?), I liked these even better. They follow the protocol of raspberry jam between two sugar cookies but they are dusted with icing sugar instead of being covered with a white glaze and the former is my preference. I saw them often from downtown coffee shops to the airport. Of course the heart shaped cut out, captured mine. This sighting at the airport made me feel loved by Montreal. I love you too and cannot wait to return in a couple of months.

Kath’s quote: “Montreal, however diminished, is still to my mind the most agreeable city in Canada. And this is because the two cultures not only confront but also continue to enrich each other. Looking beyond to-day’s quarrels, it remains a life-enhancing mix”.-Mordecai Richler

Live simply, laugh often, love deeply.

The morning of my long planned birthday party, the weather forecast was picture perfect. I wanted all of our guests to be comfortable but especially my 88 year old Mom. She has troubles with heat and intense sun but I was equally concerned that she might be chilly in our shady yard. In the end everyone was perfectly comfortable with the exception of some stragglers who required a pashmina for their shoulders once the sun had sunk lower than the house.

My sistas and Boo arrived bright and early and went to work getting the back yard into a festive mode. Boo had sprayed beer bottles and mason jars my favourite colour. The bottles contained paper heart cut outs which overflowed into the front yard and directed the party goers into the back yard.

The mason jars were strategically placed and hung from hooks around the garden, filled with spring blooms and particularly white lilies which I absolutely adore. Both their alluring shape and their intoxicating fragrance appeal to me.

Lanterns in my favourite colour hung from our fruit trees.

D ensured that a copious amount of wine was available, in fact, we are still enjoying the quantity that he ordered. But, how many people have a beer lovingly brewed and named after them for a monumentous birthday? Our son J1 the artisan craft beer brewer, concocted this himself and it was such an enormous hit, that the entire keg was gone before the celebration was over.

This was the “card” that all the guests signed. The Frenchman is going to varnish it for me so that it can adorn my garden fence.

Beep had been assigned with curating multi-decades of music and the lovely sounds of many of my favourites wafted over us that beautiful afternoon. I am thinking now that I should have requested “Sugar in the Morning”, a song that my Dad used to sing to me while I watched him shaving in the morning.

D, Sisters Two and Three and anyone who offered to help, contributed the food. Oohh, aahh the food!

The food table as you can see was laden with a variety of delectable items. The favourites were Sister #3’s Bacon Wrapped Figs, Sister #2’s Hoisin Meatballs and D’s Greek Chicken Skewers.

There was my favourite cake-Jeanne’s Banana Cake, two of them in fact (you’ll see the other one at the PS of the post)!

I got too busy to manage the picture taking soon after this one was captured at the beginning of the festivities.

Was it a perfect day? Yes, for a variety of reasons! Many of the people that I love were assembled in one place to do exactly what I love to do: eating, sipping wine and chatting with each other. All this while out in the brilliant sunshine and the promise of a glorious summer. I didn’t even think about gifts until every guest had departed and saw the designated table that was full of tokens of love and friendship. Thank you so much for all the beautiful gifts. But thank you most for the gift of your presence in my life and the cards that you wrote that I reread often to remind myself of our connections.

Thank you D for finding the perfect way to celebrate the life that we have made together. You make all my dreams come true. Forever and Always (All Ways). K

Kath’s quote: “The older the fiddle, the sweeter the tune.”-English Proverb

Live simple, laugh often, love deeply. Love, that is all.

Recently, I had the opportunity to assemble a number of my social media friends on the patio of the Southside Keg here in Winnipeg. The occasion was the opportunity to get a detailed look at the Lobster Summer menu features.

We sipped upon a lovely and refreshing cocktail that had been specially concocted for our evening as we awaited the last of the group.

First up was the Szechwan Lobster which also contained crispy shrimp and asparagus spears. The latter tasted even better than asparagus tempura which I happen to love. The sweetness of the accompanying sauce offset the spiciness. The crisp white wine that had made its way around the table, didn’t hurt either.

These crispy lobster tacos were a hit too.

Already a fan of The Keg’s Shrimp Gratinee, this special version with these huge chunks of lobster was utterly decadent. The sweet lobster was baked in butter, garlic and herbs and would have been scrumptious enough without the inclusion of a goey cheese blend. This dish in particular was so good that we all broke off pieces of bread to dunk into the escargot dish divets to soak up every last drop.

The colourful Surf + Turf arrived next. The mini filets were perfectly cooked to medium rare.

Haven eaten lobster rolls on Cape Cod, I was not prepared to be so impressed by The Keg’s version. The sparkling taste of the chilled seafood could shine as the mayo was added with a light touch and the grilled brioche added that crispy buttery taste that I crave.

As if all these amazing tastes had not been enough, it was time for dinner. As we donned our lobster bibs we posed for this group shot. I thought that we all looked like patients ready to see our dentists!

This was what a one pound lobster tail looked like. Can you imagine how huge the whole crustacean must have been? The meat was dense with sweetness and flavour and I thought I might have died and gone to shellfish heaven.

For another perspective, this is how big the shell of that baby was.

The star of the show was still to come- a two pound whole live lobster. These were flown in the morning of our meet up from Nova Scotia. One of the guests who hails from Newfoundland demonstrated how to take apart the gorgeous creature with her bare hands.

Look at all that beautiful lobster meat and that was from a single claw.

The remains of our eating adventure may have best demonstrated what a lovely time was had by all.

Of course no meal is perfect unless it is shared with good friends. It is hard for me to imagine that I had never met anything of these good folks (with one exception) before I ventured into the blogisphere. Missing was our friend Shel Zolkewicz.

Katie Nicholson of CBC fame, also writes for Pepper + Vine. In the foreground is Robin Summerfield who has a fabulous cookbook on Winnipeg Chefs that will be coming out this fall. You may also know her from her years with Peg City Grub.

Natalie Bell also uses the Peg City Moniker. She is Peg City Lovely.

Photographer Ian McAusland is the only person in this group that I had crossed paths with in my previous career.

This is sparkplug Susie Parker of Sparker Strategy Group.

Rebecca Hadfield writes Relish when she isn’t making gourmet granola bars or teaching a spin class.

Ron Cantiveros co-publishes the Filipino Journal. He has written 74,000 tweets from his account.

Kath’s quote: Perfectly prepared lobster are “not unlike hot curds, juicy and tender, and sweet as scorched honey from ocean depths.”-Kenneth Robert

Live simply, laugh often, love deeply.