Food Musings

A Winnipeg blog about the joy of preparing food for loved ones and the shared joy that travel & dining brings to life.

2013 Isla Mujeres-Dinner at Hortencia’s

May14

I wrote this in my travel journal the morning after we had spent a very special evening:

As you know I have been traveling every year to Isla Mujeres since 2005 and I can honestly say that last evening was the most precious of a string of pearls that I call my Isla Memories.  I have seen the saying “Mi Cusa Es Su Casa” on many ceramic plaques.  I have purchased one for a friend and another one sits at my own front door.  But I have never truly understood the meaning until last evening.

I have written in the space about our dressmaker friend Hortencia: how she will allow you to select a pareo and when you return the next day, have a sun dress whipped up and waiting for you, matching shawl and all.  I have also made reference to her children and her adorable grandchildren.  We know Hortencia well enough by now, to know that she and her husband have worked hard to raise their family and to provide in a manner that all parents hope for. 

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I have imagined Hortencia in her kitchen, as I have caught glimpses of the lunches that she has packed for her family, so that they can have a nutritious meal right at the store and not interrupt the flow of shoppers or disappoint anybody if she is not on site.  Last night I got to see Hortencia’s kitchen. 

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It is truly a perfectly planned room, set away from the rest of the house with only a doorway in and out of the outdoor space that sits at the back of the house.  This way when Hortencia is cooking for her family (who all still reside with she and Papi), she will not heat up the rest of the house. 

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She took the day off from the market stall yesterday, to do what we understand is a rare thing indeed.  She stayed home to watch over a pot of love-her own mole recipe.  The chicken must have simmered for hours as it was so tender, not in a stewed way but a moist, baked one. She served the casserole with a beautifully flavoured rice, her own guacamole, homemade tortilla chips, pickled peppers and huge stacks of tortillas.

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The meal was absolutely delicious by any standards, but in truth, it had nothing to do with the taste of the ingredients because you could literally taste the love-the love of us, her Canadian friends, the love of her family (standing at a separate table so that we her guests could sit around her big dining table), the love of her Island and her country.  

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The evening passed with jokes and stories animated with huge gestures to get the point across.  Simple English was spoken by Hortencia and her family.   Simple Spanish was streamed through Sister #3, Miguel, Dona and Paula all having worked hard to immerse themselves in the romantic language.  And thank heavens they had, because their contribution to the enjoyment of the evening for us all, was immense. 

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We are a pack of travelling pet lovers and are all missing our babies back home.  Hortencia’s household is shared by two adorable Chihuahuas and a muscular and handsome pit bull.  So many of us got our canine snuggles in with the Chihuahuas nestling their noses under elbows and the pit bull guiding Sister #2’s hand back to the spot on his chest where he loved to be nuzzled.

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At some point in the evening Hortencia’s son got out their huge family album to walk us through the faces and history of his family.  We too, went back through our archived photos on our digital cameras to provide images of our huge family assembled for a recent wedding.

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We were reluctant to leave, but the kids needed to get to bed and all the adults obviously put in very long days.  We thought Hortencia might be tired but she laughingly admitted that she was “frio” (chilly).  Not surprisingly, we Canadians thought that the weather was pretty much perfect. Brother K gallantly offered his Winnipeg Jets jackets which she graciously accepted. 

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We hadn’t known what to bring that would be a gesture of gratitude for the hospitality.  We didn’t want to insult the family by brining food, so we amassed a huge bouquet of flowers and toys for the grandkids.  How do you adequately thank someone who wants you to truly feel as if their home is your home?

Kath’s quote:“The home should be the treasure chest of living.”Le Corbusier

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Love-that is all.

Hung’s Garden

May13

D had the opportunity to visit Hung’s Garden (1565 Regent Ave. W.) a multi generation owned restaurant over a decade ago, at its former location.  Even though the physical location of the restaurant has changed, he remembered that the food was delectable and that had not altered.  The place was bustling with hungry fans after an afternoon Jets game.  We were fortunate to get one of the last empty tables.  There was a large group assembling in the corner for a birthday party.  The restaurant is beautifully appointed and would be fitting for a casual dinner or a celebration of this kind.

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The menu includes an extensive offering of Szechwan dishes and we saw a number of sizzling platters being delivered to surrounding tables. We opted to share a huge bowl of deluxe wonton soup.  We thought that the broth needed to be punched up by a couple of shakes of soya sauce but the vegetables were al dente and delicious.  The shrimp were plump and the barbeque pork was tender, but the best part was the won ton dumplings-plentiful and bursting with flavour.  The soup would make a perfectly satisfying lunch all on its own.

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One of our old favourites was next up-moo shi pork.  We love moo shi so much that I adapted the recipe for home and it was a favourite as the kids were growing up.  To increase the nutritional value, I would use broccoli slaw instead of bean sprouts.  I have never found a store that sells the “pancakes” in Winnipeg so I would substitute these with tortillas.  When all was said and done though, it was the hoisin sauce that made it all taste so good.  There was way too much filling for the four pancakes that were provided but I was happy to have the surplus with our final dish-Singapore style vermicelli noodles.  Dotted with more shrimp and bits of pork and peppers, the dish was appropriately spiced with a savoury amount of curry.

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Our server was very efficient and attentive.  When we spotted an older couple behind the front desk get their coats on to depart for the evening, the server informed us that they were the owners of the restaurant.  We asked if they were his grandparents and he shared that even though they were not, he and other staff members referred to them as grandparents. What a testament to creating a family/team atmosphere for your staff!

Hung's Garden Chinese Food Restaurant on Urbanspoon 

Kath’s quote: “The benevolence of wrapping the partridge in a vine leaf brings out its quality, just as the barrel of Diogenes brought forth the qualities of the great thinker.”-Des Essarts 

PS

I didn’t know when I would ever be able to use this quotation and now seemed like as good a time as ever.

 

Love-that is all.

Elements Revisited

May10

Ever wondered what the conversation centres around when three bloggers get together for lunch? Emma is a blogging friend that I have known in cyberspace since I first created this place in January 2010.  At that time, she was an old-pro having ventured into the blogisphere a year prior.  I was immediately drawn and inspired by Emma’s beautifully crafted Winnipegomyheart and not just because of the obvious unifying heart theme. I knew that J2 (Daughter #3) who is the Lady behind Baby Lady of the Prairies and Emma would hit it off immediately and I was correct.  Both are expecting babies and J2 grew up in the same neighbourhood where Emma now resides.  Conversation centred around the gorgeous elm-lined neighbourhoods of Winnipeg, how difficult it is to find a mid-wife here, the balancing act of family & work & money and not surprisingly -food!

I picked a spot that would be central for all of us and would not mind if we lingered in conversation for the afternoon. Elements-The Restaurant (599  Portage Ave.) is operated by Diversity Foods which was created by The University of Winnipeg Community Renewal Corporation and SEED Winnipeg.  Chef Ben Kramer is one of their senior employees but in my mind the he runs the novel restaurant with the care and attitude as if he was the sole proprietor.

My daughters tell me wonderful tales of meals that they regularly enjoy at U of W.  In fact, my youngest is so impressed by the quality and value, she finds that it is hard to justify packing a lunch to lug to school.  I have enjoyed a number of school day lunches and a couple of private evening events at Elements.  In every case, the food has been innovative and well-prepared.

On this weekend day, I mistakenly assumed that the restaurant would not be busy.  But when we arrived there was a wonderful vibrant community feel, even though University classes were not in session.  Our server was very busy and the kitchen must have been too, for she would keep us posted on the progress of our meals.  We were so busy becoming acquainted with a new friend that we hardly noticed.

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Our new friend started with a spicy tomato soup and then tucked into the Mushroom Almond Burger (without the bun) as she is eating gluten-free.  She said that she should have asked whether or not the patties are made with bread crumbs.  As I have known her for years in cyber-space but had never met her until this lunch date, I did feel comfortable to ask her for a taste.  But, the almond patty sure looked delicious!

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My daughter-in-law enjoyed Huevos from the weekend brunch menu.  She is hooked on the Mexican Eggs from Stella’s and was hoping that this choice would satisfy her craving.  She was well-pleased, but added that she would have loved a slice of avocado or guacamole with the dish.

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I had been craving a burger too and opted to add the house-made back bacon as a topping.  My lunch came with a soup as well.  The savoury mixture was a combination of Creole pork and shrimp, with rice and a red wined enhanced stock.  Our server had to check the exact ingredients with the chef when I inquired for details.  She said that their daily soups change according to surplus ingredients in the kitchen.  I make what I call refrigerator soup at home doing exactly the same thing and I appreciate a resourceful cook.

Elements on Urbanspoon

Kath’s quote: “The primary requisite for writing well about food is a good appetite.”-A. J. Liebling

Love-that is all.

Dim Sum at Kum Koon Garden

May9

Hello readers.  Do you happen to work close to City Hall?  Although I love so many things about working from my home, I must confess that I miss the days of having an office in the Old Market Square area of Winnipeg, where we had our pick of excellent dim sum restaurants.  The literal meaning of dim sum is “touch the heart” as it was never intended as a main meal but as a snack, to satisfy a yearning (appease the heart).  Dim Sum is also unique because of the manner in which the food is served: towers of steamed baskets all containing wrappers or dumplings of savoury food are wheeled around the restaurant on carts for the customers to choose their selections while seated at their tables. Since you can dictate your own pace, this proves to be handy if you are in a hurry, as we happened to be on this day, with only a designated half hour for lunch.

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We started our lunch at Kum Koon Garden (257 King St.) with sticky rice-a compact little package of rice that is stuck together with a meaty shiitake mushroom and ground meat which has all been steamed inside a lotus leaf.  Some versions at other Winnipeg restaurants include a piece of Chinese sausage.  I prefer Kum Koon’s version.

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We also tucked into two varieties of shrimp dumplings: one was full of plump shrimp and lots of chopped ginger and the other blended the shrimp with chopped spinach.

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Each was different enough tasting, so as not to be redundant.  I enjoy my dim sum dumplings with just a dribble or two of soy sauce but Chinese hot sauce is also on the table and I know more adventurous eaters that love it dolloped on.

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Although my lunch date was content to let me do the selecting, I saw his eyes light up when little pieces of gingered beef were being paraded around.

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We offset the sweetness of the dish with another: Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli) which was perfectly prepared and literally bursting with flavour.  Without the inclusion of a dish like this one, dim sum can be a bit off-balanced as far as all the food groups are concerned.  Loose Chinese tea had been poured to warm us up.

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The birthday boy that I was treating to lunch that day, enjoyed the novelty of dim sum.  In my opinion, Kum Koon Garden has the most appealing décor.  Winnipeg has a bevy of Asian restaurants to choose from, but for some reason the locations that serve dim sum are congregated downtown.  If you have a favourite dim sum spot in the suburbs I would love to hear from you, so that I can visit.  Leave me a message in the comment section.

Kum Koon Garden on Urbanspoon

Kath’s quote: “You cannot prevent the birds of sadness from passing over your head, but you can prevent their making a nest in your hair. “ -Chinese Proverb

Love-that is all.

Clever Fund-Raising Idea- A Cook Off

May8

Hello readers?  Would you consider yourself a competitive person?  I do not.  I know that one of my sister-in laws would disagree because she witnessed me in a match of some kind with her sister.  I will admit there are some people that I would like to “beat” because they seem so determined to do the same to me.  So does this mean that I AM competitive?  I would prefer to deal out a game of solitaire than play a round of cribbage, any day of the week.  Recently though, I entered a culinary challenge and when I got Daughter #1 and D involved in the tasting process and they commented: “yeah, that is very good” I probed further: “what would I need to do to take the taste from “very good” to prize winning?”  So I suppose I do like competition, but only when I am competing with strangers.  I would be uncomfortable putting my skills up against those persons whom I love and cherish because I would want them to win and that may influence the way I approach the competition itself, perhaps with a goal to d-rail my own success.  I sound pretty mixed up, don’t I?

The Frenchman

The Frenchman let me post this photo of him to illustrate to Daughter #2 (currently in Nicaragua) that I do not just post unflattering pictures of her in the midst of eating. 

This past weekend, instead of assembly around our dining room table at home for mandatory Sunday supper, we did so in the fellowship hall of our church.  D, J1 and J2 were entered into a Sweet or Savoury cook off but it was also a potluck, so while the official entries were being judged, we could get our meal started.  I personally wish that I had left that table unvisited because once an official dish was assessed, it was put out for the rest of us to share and the entries were magnificent! My personal favourites were almost entirely in the Savoury category which is typical of my palette.

Here were to entries, in the order that they were registered:

Jambalaya

Southern Cajun Gumbo and Rice

Cranberry Cake with Butter Sauce

Swedish Cream

Biriani Lamb

Indian Butter Chicken

Beef Bourguignon

White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake

Pecan Pie

Japanese Chicken

Classy Chicken

Fruit Crisp

Sriracha Balsamic Glazed Ribs

Mustard Rubbed Pork Roast with Blackberry Sauce

Ginger Molasses Cookies

Pork Tenderloin Stuffed with Apricots and Walnuts

There were three esteemed judges: one a cook from a popular Italian restaurant, one a foodie blogger known to me and then I am not quite sure what the claim to fame was of the third judge, but he may have been selected for his neutrality, because he had interned at our church, but had returned to his home church.  The task of “neutrality” was a difficult one, because in addition to three members of my immediate family, Sister #3 had entered two dishes as well, one each in both categories.

I decided to cast my “People’s Choice” vote outside of my family.

Mustard Rubbed Pork Roast with Raspberry Sauce

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Had I not, I would have had a difficult time voting between D’s dish and the Frenchman’s.  The latter was a combination of sweet and salty tastes in the Savoury category and as my readers know-this is absolutely my cuppa tea!

When all was said and done, my foodie family came away with the most prize ribbons:

Beef Bourgignon

Sister #3 took 3rd place in the Savoury category with her Beef Bourguignon

Sriracha Balsamic Glazed Pork Ribs

and J1 took 1st place with the Sriracha Balsamic Glazed Pork Ribs.

Whit Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake

Sister # placed again in the Sweet category having made her luscious white chocolate raspberry cheesecake,

J2 1st Place in Sweet

whereas J2 took top prize with her Fruit Crisp.

Cook Off Winnres w. Judges

A second family collected a couple of ribbons as well: Bob Blanchard for the Biriani Lamb and his wife Madelaine for her Cranberry Cake with Butter Sauce.  People’s choice went to our Musical Director Julian for his rendition of Indian Butter Chicken and J1 was called up a second time for the “Best of Show” award.

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This was a delightful way to spend a Sunday evening.  The cost to enter a dish for competition was only $3 and the money raised will go to youth mission work this summer.  Around our dinner table we agreed that in addition to this price, the cost to attend could easily be $20 per person (and not simply providing a potluck dish, as it was in this the first year).  We were stuffed with some of the finest tastes we had enjoyed in a very long time.  When I saw Sister #3 the next evening, she was still full!

Kath’s quote: “Competition is easier to accept if you realize it is not an act of oppression or abrasion – I’ve worked with my best friends in direct competition”. –Diane Sawyer

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Love-that is all.

 

 

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