Friday, July 24, 2009

Late night eats

I have been extremely lax in posting lately. I'll blame summer and all it's nice weather, outdoor activities (ie. non-computer activities) and just a general non-committal attitude that goes along with vacations.

While off, I've been able to take some jaunts downtown and have found myself needing some grub at odd hours of the night (or morning, depending on how you look at it). In downtown St. John's there isn't a lot of choice for late night eats but there's enough to fill you up and send you home happy. Here are some of my picks for late night culinary adventure:

Folly on Bates Hill is a chill spot for excellent coffee and gourmet pizza. They're open noon-6am and offer great desserts, veggie options and potato wedges to die for.

Celtic Hearth (300 Water St.) is not far from George St. bars but offers a relaxed sit-down pub-style atmosphere that's open 24 hrs. Staff have been nothing but friendly to me even if I just ordered a huge glass of water and some fries. Their late night pub menu is limited but offers enough to satisfy most. Try the BLT or moose burger for a satisfying meal no matter the time.

Subway on the corner of Water St. and Bishops Cove (next to George) is also open 24hrs. It's not the most glamorous place to get grub at any point of the day and in the wee hours of a night out it can be downright sketchy. But the staff are usually pretty good about all the shenanigans they have to put up with from drunken customers. And it's an easy get for a little something to fill your belly before getting a cab home at the end of the night.

In the same light as the above, there's Sal's Pizza off George and several chip wagons on the street which offer quick and often satisfying bite late night. There's also several hot dog/sausage vendors which pop up on George St., and while I won't go as far as endorse them I know plenty of people who thoroughly enjoy a 3am stop for a dog.

If you happen to be in the East end of St. John's and need some food late night, Rustler's Bar and Grill is also open 24hrs Friday night to Sunday. Their menu is quite full and offers a lot of different options from really decent wings to hot turkey dinner.

And finally if you're already home and looking for a late night greasy grub fest, call up Ches's Fish and Chips. It's cliche and it's dirty but it's so good. And they will answer the phone and deliver right to your door until at the wee hours of the morning.

So that's my list of favorite places to grab grub in St. John's for those late-nights when you just need a snack.

Friday, July 10, 2009

Picnic Places

I know the blog has taken a sojourn from discussing restaurants and the like but the weather's making me think: go outside! And a great way to enjoy out side is to do some eating! So here are my top places to have a picnic in St. John's:

Bannerman Park
on Military Rd. is a great spot for a picnic. Lots of green space for a blanket a small playground and pool near by if you want some after-lunch entertainment. The front of the park is tree-covered but the closer you get to Circular Rd. the more open the space becomes. It's a hang-out for young folk and skateboarders often use the nearby Colonial Building for practice so that will either appeal to you or send you in the opposite direction...you decide.

Bowering Park
is huge park in the middle of the West end of the city. The places to picnic are endless here so just take a stoll around until you find either a grassy knoll or a table. The duck pond is a favorite, walking tails, tennis courts, swimming pool and the must-see conservatory are all picnic extras.

Harbourside Park
is downtown on the East end of Water St. and it has a lovely view of the narrows. Find a nice bench from which you can catch the scenery, people watch and eat your sandwich all at the same time. Warning: this is near the dreaded bubble in the harbour so the smell might be a bit much for some. The City of St. John's is doing a lunctime concert series at Harbourside Park which I really recommend you make a point of checking out! Also Shakespeare by the Sea productions is doing Romeo and Juliet here this summer so keep that in mind.

Fort Amherst
is a lovely spot on the other side of the St. John's harbour. Take stroll over there and plop yourself down on one of the massive rocks or left-over guns. You'll be so near the city yet feel very far away. The museum out there also has a small tea room.

Quidi Vidi village (east end of downtown and keep going) is a great spot for a picnic. There's the lake and the many spots around it. Joggers and walkers love to go around the lake and the city has just added an outdoor gym (think adult playground) on the Pleasentville side of the lake. A social enterprise project recently started offering picnics in the area so why not save yourself some work, enjoy a wonderful meal and give back at the same time? Go a little farther to the village and you'll find some great views and lovely people. There's Quidi Vidi Battery where you can get a tour, pick berries (unofficially, of course) and take in the views of the ocean. There is also a beautiful but challenging hike from the Battery to Signal Hill and there are lots of picnic options along the way.

So there is my list...but remember there are loads more places to plop yourself down and enjoy some local food or food from home. Just get out there this weekend and start exploring.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

What's in your glass?

The owner of Quidi Vidi Brewery says his beer is being left out of the local restaurant market due to competition with big international products.

An ad cropped up in the Weekend Telegram newspaper accusing big franchises like Boston Pizza and the Keg of selling mostly foreign-owned beer brands.

Quidi Vidi says that they are one of the very few real local brands left in Newfoundland. Older brands, such as Dominion and Blue Star, have been bought by bigger companies, such as Molsen and Lebatt, and money spent on them does not go directly back into the Newfoundland economy.

You can read more about this via CBC.

A response comes on the Signal Blog which hits the nail on the head: the new ad blames others for the situation instead of inciting us to enjoy more local brew.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Do you know what you're eating?

Think St. John's (and Newfoundland in general) is a barren wasteland unable to sustain even the smallest of homegrown produce or food activism? Think again!

There is a local group in St. John's called FEASt (Food Education Action St. John's). From their website, they are "a working collective of individuals and organizations taking action on local, sustainable food issues. Formed in Fall 2007, FEASt is a volunteer-run initiative affiliated to the provincial Food Security Network with almost 300 listserv members currently."

St. John's Safer Soil Project was created by Lori Heath to educate people about the problem of toxins in local soil. A 2003 study showed high lead levels in St. John's soil and this scared a lot of people off backyard gardening. The Safer Soil Project aims to educate about soil testing, growing in raised beds, and using container gardening techniques. More about the project can be found in this Scope article.

Here's more on gardening in lead-laden soil.


The Community Garden Alliance just held their AGM (June 28, 2009) where concerned individuals met to discuss local gardening needs, learn about organic growing, and enjoy some great grub. The Alliance's best-known project is the Rabbittown Community Garden which is an urban garden devoted to community-based organic growing and sharing.

Memorial University's Botanical Gardens has a huge variety of resources regarding local food growing, composting, harvesting, etc. The garden staff offer free lunchtime lectures, composting workshops, and in August there will be an edible plant hike which promises to be very educational and fun.

The Newfoundland Horticultural Society is also a wealth of information for budding gardeners. The group meets every Tuesday evening during the fall, winter and spring months at St. David's Church Hall on Elizabeth Ave. You can learn from other gardeners, take part in workshops, participate in "bring and buy" sales, and receive their newsletter. The Society's annual vegetable sale is coming up in September.

So what are you waiting for? Get involved in a community garden project or start growing your own food! For some extra encouragement, here are some links from the NL Environment Network:
Conservation Corps of Newfoundland
Environmental Conservation Commission
Food Security Network
MUN's Sustainability Centre
Oxfam Canada

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Canada Day traditions

My earlier post on the Canada Day sunrise ceremony got me thinking of another Canada Day tradition: drinks on patios.

If you're not lucky enough to have a patio (or be invited somewhere that has one), here are some spots you can check out on Canada's Birthday to have a drink outside (weather permitting of course):

Sundance (Duckworth/George St.) has a large deck equipped with umbrellas for sunny days and heaters for more-frequent Newfoundland chillier days. They have drinks, food, and an excellent proximity to the downtown area and George Street.

Mexicali Rosa's (George St. West) has a small patio but provides tex-mex food, good 'ol nachos and lots of margarita's for warm sunny days. If you can't get down for Canada Day, try Margarita Mondays!

Greensleeves (George St.) also has a deck and really big, decently priced nachos if you're so inclined. Stop in for a pint and a gawk at those on a George St. stroll.

Jungle Jim's on George has a covered deck and their typical fries-laden food fare. If you want a drink go for a frozen concoction or their Normie beer.

Mustang Sally's is re-opening (yea!) and you can get a made-right-in-front-of-you wrap or stir fry and eat it outside on a table near Mile One. Again, great people-watching!

Of course, you don't have to eat and drink yourself silly to enjoy a good patio. There are a few coffee shops in the downtown area with outdoor seating and unlimited people watching opportunities. Hava Java and Coffee & Co. on Water St. are prime spots. Auntie Crae's also has outdoor seating and if you trek up farther out of the downtown core you're find Coffee Matters (Military Rd.) which has some outdoor seating and a huge following of committed customers (There's also Coffee Matters Two on Water St. and a drive-thru location in Paradise). Finally (and Canada Day sunrise ceremony related) you should try Sweet Relic (Power's Court, Signal Hill Rd.) for its coffee offerings and general lovely setting. Take your coffee to the road for the walk down after seeing the sun rise!

First light

This post isn't so much about food as it is about St. John's and Canada Day celebrations. If you're in town and not busy at 5am you really should make the trek to Signal Hill for the Canada Day sunrise celebration. Everyone should do this at least once in their lives and many make it a annual tradition. You will be amongst the first to see the sun rise in Canada.

Once the sun is up you can take an equally-traditional trek back down Signal Hill and have breakfast. What a way to start the day!

Here are the City of St. John's celebrations schedule for July 1, 2009:

4:00 am
Metrobus shuttle begins from the Bell Aliant Building Parking Lot, Fort William to Signal Hill National Historic Site of Canada

6:00 am
Official Ceremony begins for Happy Birthday Canada!

Here is a food-related item: you can have some birthday cake and Central Dairies products.

10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Cape Spear and Signal Hill National Historic Sites Open House

Celebrate Canada Day all day long at both National Historic Sites of Canada. Admission is free, cake, face-painting, games, scavenger hunts, prizes, guided tours and lots of fun for everyone!

Confederation Building Lobby (begins at 12:30 pm)

Afternoon entertainment featuring:

12:30 pm - Fergus Brown O'Byrne
1:00 pm - Cake Cutting
1:30 pm - Sharing our Cultures
1:45 pm - Celtic Fiddlers
2:15 pm - Sharing our Cultures
2:30 pm - Petty Rogues

*Afternoon events are free with a donation of a non-perishable food product or toonie for Bridges to Hope.

Free cake and Central Dairies milk

Face painting until 4:00 pm; Red Rocket Amusements, St. John's Regional Fire Department's Fire Truck, tattoo parlour, Rovers Search and Rescue Display, flags and seedlings and more!


FAMILY FUN
Confederation Hill

1:00pm 2:00pm & 3:00pm - Tours of the House of Assembly Confederation Building)

Eurest Dining and food stations throughout the day!

Outdoor Stage (Rain Venue: Cafeteria)

Afternoon entertainment featuring special appearance and presentation of Captain Bob Bartlett.

12:15 pm - Host: Fergus O'Byrne
12:30 pm - Celtic Fiddlers
1:00 pm - Sharing our Cultures
1:15 pm - Overview of Capt. Bob Bartlett Celebrations
Jim Payne & Fergus O'Byrne
1:45 pm - Sharing our Cultures
2:00 pm - Mary Barry
2:25 pm - Sharing our Cultures
2:35 pm - Multi-National Choir "New Canadian Voices"
2:55 pm - Sharing our Cultures
3:10 pm - The Square Knot Dancers
3:35 pm - Connemara
4:10 pm - St. John's Multicultural and Folk Arts Council presentation


FIREWORKS
Quidi Vidi Lake
10:00 pm

Scheduled for blast off at 10:00 pm, but within the hour should weather conditions not be ideal.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Take-out weather

With this week's rainy weather it's a good time to order some take-out, hunker down and watch some tv or a movie. My top hibernating take-out choices:

India Gate (Duckworth) is the cure for rainy-day blues. Order a samosa, some nann, rice, and a main (chicken korma is delish). Take it home, open it up, eat half and declare you're too full to eat another bite. Put it in the fridge and enjoy the tastiest midnight snack (or breakfast) when the lure of the leftovers becomes too much to bare.

The Sprout (Duckworth) offers veggie and vegan choices that are palate-pleasing for everyone. Go down, order the pad thai to go, and just try to wait until you get home to enjoy its yumminess. You may find it's gone before you hit your front door. Plus they offer eco-friendly take-out containers so you'll feel better about the whole process!

If you're going to order in, pizza is the sure-fire choice for delivery food in town. Old Town Pizza (Portugal Cove Rd.) has chewy crust and a great sauce. Venice (Military Rd.) is quite accommodating and quick. If you're in the West end of town (or Mount Pearl) try Chilly Willy's (Park Ave.) for pizza or anything else you fancy in the greasy take-out genre (burgers, chicken fingers) as it's been a long-time staple.

Zapata's (Bates Hill) and Quintana's (Churchill Sq.) both do awesome, homemade Mexican food and take out. A bit pricey on both counts but well worth it if you want tasty food but don't want to spend hours simmering sauces or putting together enchiladas. Ask for extra chips and salsa for sure.

Finally, I couldn't have a list of blues-beating take-out food without the old standby: fish and chips. The favorite of most is Ches's and it's convenient since there are so many locations (Highland Dr., Freshwater Rd., Topsail Rd., Commonwealth Avenue). Their best deal is the cod bites special which will give you lots of fish and chips, plus a drink. Add dressing and gravy and you're more then set to completely veg out on the couch. Other excellent fish and chips shops are Leo's (Freshwater Rd.), B&B's Snack Bar (Blackmarsh Rd.), and Big R (Military Rd. and Blackmarsh Rd.).

Thursday, June 18, 2009

June Food Events

Sunday marks the official start of summer, but things are heating up in St. John's and it's already feeling like that time of year.

Join the City of St. John's for cupcakes Friday June 19 9am-4:30pm at the Visitor Information Centre 348 Water St. and celebrate the City's birthday!

The City also has a lunch time music series ever Wednesday. Check out their website for times.

The St. John's farmers' market is ongoing throughout the summer every Saturday morning at the Lion's Club Bonaventure Ave.

Auntie Crae’s Band plays at the cafe on Water St., no purchase necessary, every Tuesday at noon.

Green Drinks: An informal get together for those who work, volunteer or have an interest in environment & conservation related issues, 7pm-9pm, no cover, The Ship (Last Wednesday of month)

The Teddy Bear Picnic is happening Friday June 26 from 11:30am-2pm at the Arts and Culture Centre (lawn).

Have a food event? Let me know!

Friday, June 12, 2009

Coffeeeee

Just found this new blog called Signal and it has a break-down of some local coffee spots. Start percolating!

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Lunch time!

So it's mid-day and you're in the mood for a sandwich. Where do you go? Here are some of my tried and trues:

Breen's Deli has been my long-time favorite for a good fresh turkey sandwich. Why not go whole hog and order it with dressing the cranberry mayo? Whoever thought to mix cranberry sauce with the mayo deserves an award! Breen's also has fabulous homemade soups and other standard sandwiches, such as club and egg salad. Find Breen's at 79 Gower St. downtown, 32 Portugal Cove Rd. and their newest location at 44 Elizabeth Ave. in the old Tim Horton's.

Mana European Bakery and Deli has more than excellent fresh-made bread (must try the rye). Service is a little off some days but the satisfaction of a good sandwich makes up for it: curry chicken, corned beef and pastrami. There's also veggie selections and specialty sandwiches such as the yummy sloppy joe. Try one today at 342 Freshwater Rd. or order online.

Buck Weavers has really good grilled sandwiches, though a little expensive. And you'll have to set foot in a mall to order one (Avalon or Village). There used to be a great Buck Weavers on Elizabeth Ave. but it's now replaced by Wedgewood Cafe. Haven't tried that one yet...

Michelle's Bakery also has great breads and salads. But you can also get a great sandwich made-to-order. They're very generous with their toppings so maybe 1/2 is just enough. 799 Water St.

Colemans may be a grocery store but they've long bee known for their homemade take-away food. And their sandwiches are no exception. Best part is you can also get a bowl of pea soup on the side.

Belbins is another grocery store where you can find great homemade sandwiches. Fresh baked bread and a good selection of deli stuffs. 85 Quidi Vidi Rd.

Auntie Crae's is a spot downtown where you can grab a banana, coffee, or a freshly-made sandwich. They have a good selection of deli meats and lots of cheeses to choose from. Also, great bean salad and hummus. 272 Water St.

The Sprout has a well-known and well-loved avocado sandwich called the bravacado. The chickpea burger is also good and a great alternative for non-meat-eating sandwich lovers. 364 Duckworth St.

Friday, June 5, 2009

Summer drinkin'

A post by a blog I just discovered, A Wicked Scoff, has got me thinking about summer refreshment. Of the beer variety. We don't have a lot of local beer, but for a province and population as small as ours there's enough to go around.

Also a note of interest for anyone not familiar with our province: we can buy locally made beers in corner stores and gas stations as well as at provincially-run liquor stores.

India considers itself an India Pale Ale and is golden, mildly carbonated and has a grainy/straw taste. It's a favorite for young folk and hipsters downtown. Brewed by Molson, it features a portrait of a Newfoundland Dog on the label.

Other Molson beers unique to this province are Black Horse, Molson Extra, and Dominion Ale.

Quidi Vidi brewery in the village of Quidi Vidi in St. John's offers several types of beer and often experiments with limited offerings. There's QV, QV Light which are crisp and mildly hoppy. Eric's Red is the cream ale of the group and is heavier but still tasty. 1892 is a sweet amber ale for those who like a full beer. Honey Brown and Honey Brown Light are sweet and I have found only select customers like this one...but those who do like it are loyal. Quidi Vidi has recently started brewing an excellent Iceberg beer which is fresh, crisp and refreshing made from glacial water from icebergs. The downside is it's only available in a 4-bottle-pack and costs more than your average beer.

Storm also has several varieties: Irish Newfoundland Red Ale, Island Gold Ale, Coffee Porter, Raspberry Wheat Ale, Hemp Ale. These beers are pretty easy to find in St. John's restaurants (especially downtown) and stores.

Yellow Belly on Water St. offers four microbrews which you can order in their pub/restaurant or order in 1 or 2 liter bottles to take home. These are fresh tasting and cover most tastes of beer drinkers. First there's St. John's Stout, Fighting Irish (a red ale), Wexford Wheat (which they often serve with lime), and the signature Yellow Belly Pale Ale.

Labatt makes Blue Star here in the province, a nice fruity, light and hoppy offering. It also makes Jockey Club which is a stronger (though light) American style beer also popular by younger folks and die-hard fans. And though it's not from Newfoundland, you can find Alexender Keiths beer in corner stores in this provinces because it is produced and bottled by Labatt.

For more about local beer, have a look at this article.

Did I miss your favorite local brew? Let me know and I'll add it to the list.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Farm news

The St. John's Farmers' Market will be opening this weekend on Saturday June 6 from 9am-2pm at the Lion’s Club Chalet on Bonaventure Avenue.

Interested citizens in town have been wanting a farmers' market for quite some time. An interest group formed two years ago and had some hiccups with location changes and getting interest from farmers and producers. At this time of year, you'll find more crafts and hand-made goods than actual produce. But that shouldn't stop you from heading down there...you might just pick up a lovely homemade pie or unique local jewelery.

If you're looking for the real-deal farm experience, you should head to Lester's Farm on Brookfield Rd. or the Organic Farm in Portugal Cove-St. Phillip's.

Did I miss a farm spot? Let me know!

Friday, May 29, 2009

I scream for ice cream

It's such a nice day out that I'm thinking about refreshment. Summer means ice cream and here's where you can get great cold stuff in St. John's:

Moo Moo's 88 King's Rd.
At this corner store/dairy shop fresh Newfoundland milk is made into amazing ice cream in all sorts of flavours of hard-packed yumminess. About 400 flavours have been developed in Moo Moo's basement kitchen. The most famous is Turtle Cheesecake which you can buy by the tub if you're so inclined. There's waffle cones and cups, milkshakes, soft serve and a couple new flavours every visit.

Dairy Queen Topsail Rd. and Portugal Cove Rd.
This spot is a long-time standard in ice cream and cold treats. Try the dilly bar or dipped cone. Blizzards are also great.

Auntie Crae's Water St.
This local food shop now has frozen yogurt. Yum.

Berg's Manuals, Long Pond and Mount Pearl
A bit of a drive but if you're out that way Berg's is a real treat. Ice cream, waffle cones, sundaes and probably anything else ice-cream related you'd want.

Know a great ice cream spot I didn't mention? Let me know!

Monday, May 25, 2009

Keep it Local


I visited the 18th annual Manufactured Right Here exhibition this past weekend at the Remax Centre. It's always encouraging to see the growing list of products made here in our province. Ours is a place in the world where it can be difficult to get certain products (such as fresh produce as an example) due to transportation issues and other headaches. It was great to see the number of products and services coming from our own backyards.

I saw lots of locally-made items from clothing to windows; from cabinets to milk and other food items.

Here is an excerpt from an online address given by the Newfoundland and Labrador Vice-President of Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters:
"Buying locally-made goods means investment in our economy, and it means employment for all regions of our province. Every $1 of manufacturing output in Newfoundland & Labrador it generates $2.54 in total economic activity – the largest economic multiplier of any sector! For every $110,000 worth of product made here, we directly create one full-time job, and another one and half spin-off jobs.

But there are many other good reasons to buy locally-made products, in addition to the social and economic benefit to the community. Many are food products – so they are fresher, more flavourful, and reflect local trends in tastes. Large products, like furniture and mattresses often have reduced transportation costs, because they are made here. If you need after sales support, training or service, being close counts. Many of our products are unique – you just won’t find them elsewhere."

Just found: a blog about local NL products!

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Curry delights in a small city

St. John's is diversifying it's portfolio.

A downtown well-known international flavour staple, India Gate restaurant (Duckworth St.), has been said to rival the best Indian and curry joints from near and far. With dishes like tandori chicken, lamb jalfrezi, various pakoras, and about a half dozen types of nann there’s lots to try. If you’re not sure what to get why not try the lunch buffet Mon-Fri 11:30-2:30, but be warned that it will probably be packed and a reservation is recommended. If you want to enjoy their luscious flavours at home you can order take out and it'll be ready when you arrive to pick it up.

I was at India Gate the other day and had a grand feast. The restaurant was about half-full and the food was spot on. The atmosphere is comfortable and sort of formal but you cold easily go dressed in jeans or something casual (especially for lunch). Service is always good and waitstaff attentive. I highly recommend trying the mango lassi which is a cold and refreshing smoothie-type yogurt mango drink. Also if there are two of you dining (or more) consider getting a few dishes to share. Once the food comes you'll definitely want to try your neighbour's and it's easier if this is pre-arranged. Finally I recommend ordering the Gate Snacks appetizer platter if there are two or more in your party. It's a lovely assortment of golden fried starters with pakoras, samosas, and bhajia. And keep in mind whatever you don't eat in one sitting will be delicious for lunch the next day.

On Water St. you can also sample Indian food at Taj Mahal where, if you get a seat near the back, you can watch chefs cook bread in their tandoor oven through an observation window. Taj also has a lunch buffet which features beef Mon-Wed and everyone’s favorite butter chicken Thurs-Fri. Ask anyone who likes Indian food in St. John's and they'll give you their opinion on which one they like better: India Gate or Taj Mahal. It's a matter of personal preference but I say try them both and make your own decision. Both have good eats and offer both meat and veggie options.

There’s also International Flavours on Quidi Vidi Rd. where you can get one of two choices: a plate of veg. curry or meat curry. Sometimes they’ll give you dollop of something new on your plate just to try. This spot always delivers authentic home cooked food.

If you aren’t in the downtown area and really want a samosa, try Taste East on Allandale Rd. (near the University). They have curries, kebabs and samosas for take-out at decent prices ($1.25 veg. samosa). Great for a lunchtime snack. Some people I know go to Tate East now to stock up on fresh spices and other Indian ingredients which can still be hard to find in our grocery stores.

Finally, if you’re in the mood for an authentic, home cooked international food experience and you don’t care about decor try Afghan Restaurant on Duckworth. The food is delish, cheap, and once you get a whiff of what’s on your plate you don’t care about the plastic table clothes or small tables anymore. They offer kebabs, samosas and lots of juicy, marinated meats, tender rice, warm bread...enough said.

Those are the best places that I've tried for Indian (and related) food in this city. If you're hankering for something creamy or spicy or just mouthwatering I highly suggesting making your way to one of these spots for a Indian treat.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Local lobster

It's that time of year again...Lobster time. You can find local fresh live lobster on road sides, seafood markets and even in grocery stores. With a great-weather May 2-4 weekend marking the beginning of summer it's time to start thinking about BBQs and boil-ups. Bidgood's has some great ideas and products for those who love lobster (they even package for shipping if you want to send or bring a treat to the mainland).

There's been talk that low prices for lobster this season have fishermen worried. So it's important to support our local lobster fishermen and buy fresh Newfoundland product. Head out to a market (like in Churchill Sq.) or out to the Overpass by the entrance to Paradise just outside of town (or one of the other many off-highway trucks selling fresh seafood).

So if you're into lobster, 'tis the season. The only way I know to cook lobster is the boil-up way. And if you're also new to this seasonal treat you can find all you need to know at inmammaskitchen.com.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Breakfast Club

With Mother's Day coming up and signs of summer on the rise I thought I'd post about my favorite breakfast places in St. John's.

Breakfast foods in St. John’s can be divided into three categories: 1) quick, fast food, 2) sit down, quality fare, 3) traditional food for us all and a must for a visitor.

In the fast food category:
My favourite fast food breakie has to be A&W. It’s not too expensive and you get a decent coffee with your meal. They have traditional eggs, meat, toast meals and also sandwich combos. Not the healthiest stuff but great for a greasy fast food fix. Four locations: Avalon Mall, Torbay Rd., the Village Mall and Mount Pearl. Of course, in this category there’s also Timmies, Micky D’s, Subway, and Burger King. Another option that’s not often thought of is Irving stores. Don’t laugh too hard...the gas station come general store has a few locations in the city that serve pretty decent coffee, several breakfast sandwiches, muffins, and the best banana bread.

In the sit-down breakfast category:
I was always a big fan of Bagel Cafe (Duckworth St.) and find their menu diverse (everything from bagel sandwiches, to samosas, to smoked salmon) and not badly priced. Their restaurant is usually packed on weekend mornings, though, and it’s not uncommon to wait in a line up that stretches out the door until a table frees up. There’s Smitty’s (Duckworth St. and in Mount Pearl) which always offers satisfying pancakes for cheap. Cora’s is a national franchise which is relatively new to the city and has two locations: Atlantic Place downtown and Kenmount Rd. Both offer large meals with fresh fruit and a colourful atmosphere. Cora’s was voted best breakfast 2008 by Scope fans. Perhaps my favourite sit-down breakfast meal, though, is at Zachary’s (Duckworth St.) where you can get the traditional breakfast (with beans!) & unlimited coffee for under $8. And it has all day breakfast so you can order anytime you feel a hankering.

Finally, in the traditional category:
I had a hard time distinguishing some of my favourite breakfast spots from the “traditional” spots, but I just think these are the ones you’d bring a friend from out of town or a homesick relative who is home for a visit. First up there’s the undeniable Velma’s on Water St. They have cheap eats, no frills atmosphere, you can get fried baloney (if you’re into that kind of thing), and the wait staff will probably call you “honey” or "lover.” If you want a more frilled location (or want breakfast at 2am) try the 24-hr Celtic Hearth on Water St. It’s a bit more expensive but they have black and white pudding (again, if you’re into that), and the best potato pancakes ever. For your basic toast, eggs, meat, coffee try the Big R (Harvey Rd. and Blackmarsh Rd.) where you can get a plate of food for about $6.50. Finally, if you want a nice brunch and don't mind paying a little extra for good quality food, try Bacalo which boasts "Nouvelle Newfoundland cuisine" and delivers with everything from fish and brewis to a dish called green eggs and lamb.

It's the most important meal of the day and well worth a trip out to visit a new place or your tried and true spot.

Monday, May 4, 2009

Ennis' YouTube Adventures

Thank-you to Product of Newfoundland for this information: Ennis (Maureen and Karen) have been posting some nice videos on YouTube of their Newfoundland food adventures. Check out Brunch with Ennis, Newfoundland Homemade Bread, and Cabbage Hash and Jammies.

I can tell you (as someone who has made bread from scratch) that their humorous take on having to be fit an in good shape to kneed the bread is spot on! And man can Karen high-kick!

More dough for your fill

Food costs on the rise

Has your weekly supermarket trip seemed more expensive lately? And I thought it was just me! Statistics Canada has recorded a sharp increase in basic food costs across the country. The Scope recently published an article about how rising food prices are affecting us here in NL.

Friday, May 1, 2009

100 Mile Challenge

The Food Network Canada has begun the 100 mile challenge where they're promoting using food grown, produced and sold within 100 miles of your home. (Why it's not 100 KMs I don't know.) But it's an interesting concept and it piqued my interest as I think this would be difficult to do here in Newfoundland.

Our province doesn't have a wide array of foods locally grown but there are some and the Food Network's website has a list of some qualifying resources for local food. There are 11 on the list from NL (compared to 88 in New Brunswick and a whopping 257 in Ontario) but the site is worth a look to find out more about local growers and producers right here at home. You'll also find recipe ideas, tips and stories shared by those participating in the challenge all over the country.

Healthy Eats

Healthy restaurant eating can be difficult in the best of situations. Here in St. John's, where a typical dining experience used to mean everything fried and at least one type of meat on your plate, alternative options for the non-traditionalist and health-conscience people are finally blossoming all over the place.

The leader of the pack is downtown's The Sprout on Duckworth St. The former Classic Cafe location has been retrofitted with tofu, chickpeas and a chill atmosphere. The focus at The Sprout is on good food, organic products and they even serve fair trade coffee (all at reasonable prices). This restaurant is a favorite of the hipster downtown set and is becoming a regular eating spot for regular folk, too...even meat eaters rave about the famous pad thai with tofu. The chickpea burger is tasty and comes with a salad that was actually made with a colourful variety of veggies (not just a bunch of lettuce and some cherry tomatoes). The chickpea curry is delish with coconut milk and broccoli, and they even have mushroom miso gravy which totally makes their veggie poutine dish quite yummy. Tip: skip the pricey pop or Perrier and order a local beer (it's actually cheaper). And if you're a vegan you'll go ga ga for The Sprout's dairy-free chocolate brownies ... you can even order some for take out and much while you stroll downtown.

Now that I have that raving review out of my system I will admit there are other places to get decent and healthy food around this place. Downtown there is Aunti Crae's where you can get a made-on-the-spot sandwich, fresh-made bread, and a piece of fresh fruit to go. Booster Juice in Atlantic Place (also on Topsail Rd., at MUN's food court, and in Mount Pearl) is extremely pricey (how do students afford this?) but jam-packed with fruit and other good stuff. If you can afford it try the pesto chicken wrap. Hava Java on Water is a staple for downtowners who love their coffee but they also serve a few mean sandwichs at lunch and a variety of fresh-squeezed juices. Pi on King's Rd. has fresh produce and quality ingredients to make up their salads and gourmet pizzas. Finally there's Hungry Heart Cafe on Military Rd. (Rawlins Cross) which serves homemade, nutritious food for a good cause. The Hungry Heart, a project with Stella Burry Community Services, offers employment training and opportunities and all money earned though the cafe goes back into its operations and community services.

Another socially healthy, as well as nutritious, places to eat is The Pantry (Clinch Cres., near Health Sciences Centre) which is operated by the Autism Society of Newfoundland and Labrador. Try the citrus, beet and goat cheese salad, yum.

Finally, one more healthy food choice recommendation out of the downtown core: the Tea Room at the Garden, formerly Bloomin' Teapot. Opened in 1995 and located on Mt. Scio Rd. at Memorial's Botanical Gardens, this cafe serves a variety of teas, sandwiches, salads, soups and homemade desserts in a lovely setting.

And remember, you can always order a salad instead of fries, no-meat options and take a nice long walk after dinner.

Thursday, April 30, 2009

For eats downtown


Devour Downtown Restaurant Week

If you want to start the summer season early, and discover some new hot dining spots downtown, check out the St. John's Downtown Development Commission's Devour Downtown event. During this week (ends May 2), e
ighteen restaurants are offering their foodie delights for cheap and cheerful prices. You can sample a new restaurant, or rediscover a favorite, for $15 for lunch and $30 for dinner.

Diners do not need any coupons or tickets. Just bring your appetites to one of the partnering joints. There are limited menus to choose from, but each spot offers several options if you want to take advantage of this deal.

Check out the website for more info and a list of places to chow for cheap.

As a bonus, customers can enter Devour Downtown gifts and passes to the upcoming Wreckhouse International Jazz & Blues Festival July 15-19.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Big slice out of a small pie

Pizza in St. John's

My first blog entry, I've decided, will be about a food staple: pizza. The simple combination of dough, sauce, meat and/or veggies is satisfying and can be as basic as you want or show up on the fanciest of restaurant menus.

Here in St. John's there are dozens of pizza joints and almost all of them are the same as the next. Typical flour dough, tomato sauce, tonnes of mozzarella cheese, peperoni and the like. And the pizza comes in this jumbo box that will never fit into your fridge. Often it's a case of quantity not quality.

A few spots in town, however, have elevated the lowly pizza joint to something worth taking a bite out of.

Pi Gourmet Eatery on King's Rd. (downtown East, off Duckworth) boats homemade, dairy-free, fairly thin crust with toppings that are anything but ordinary. Pesto, black olive, and curry-infused tomato sauces stand up to toppings such as prosciutto, roasted fennel, grapes, and about six different cheese options, including soy. You can make your own pizza concoction or choose from one of the specials on the menu. Personal favorite: Pascal's Pleasure which features saffron chicken, sweet corn, green peppers, hot peppers, and fresh tomato. All these premium ingredients will cost you, though. Pascal's is $15 for a small pie and $25 for a large. If you're into quality stuff, though, you'll quickly dole out the cash for these handmade and filling treats. Pi's cherry on an otherwise lovely cake is their colourful decor and homemade desserts. And it's they're anniversary so check out specials in the month of April.

Folly on Bate's Hill (formerly Tangled up in Blue) offers much more than pizza. But their pizza names will strike a chord with anyone who grew up in the 90s and watching Saturday morning cartoons. All their pies are named after Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles characters. With prices from $11.50 - $14, you can get the Raphael (featuring butternut squash, pine nuts and feta) or the April O'Neil (tandoori chicken, mushroom, caramelized onion, & raita). In all there's about 10 pizzas and they will make smaller personal sized, and even gluten free dough, if you ask nicely.

Yellow Belly
on Water St. is a micro brewery and their restaurant has a couple pizzas on their menu. Perhaps the most interesting tid-it about them is that the dough is made from leftovers from Yellow Belly's beer brewing process. They have a few interesting combos along with the regulars (e.g. Caesar pizza) but it is a bit privy for high-end pub food.

Of course if you're in the market for just waiting for a pizza to arrive at your door, you could go the old school pizza delivery route. And hey, maybe you like tomato sauce, peperoni and mozzarella.

If so, I have two suggestions:
Venice Pizzeria on Military Rd. is fairly standard and consistent. They are used to special requests (e.g. extra hot peppers and no cheese) and are fairly quick and well priced. My other stand-by pizza joint is Old Town Pizza on Portugal Cove Rd. Their pizza is a little greasy but still yummy when you want a hangover cure or just want to order a normal, jumbo-sized pizza.

Welcome to Townie_Eats

I live in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. A big part of living in St. John's is eating in St. John's. Here I will blog about eating in town and post interesting stories, photos, reviews, etc. Hope you enjoy.