Must Kitchen and Wine Bar (Review)

Tapas bars are definitely the craze as sharing dishes and small plates are increasing in popularity. Social dining adds an extra flare of experience as you can taste and share numerous dishes among your dining companions.   

Must Kitchen and Wine Bar is a small spot we've been to a few times and it never disappoints. The menu is quite extensive with numerous small sharing plates, larger dishes, flatbreads, and cheese and meat boards, as well as a number of delicious desserts. They also have a decent wine and beer list and offer "bring your own wine" on Sundays, for a small corking fee. A few of our favourites have been the Scallops, the Empanadas and the Truffle Mac & Cheese.

Scallops - Squash Puree and Crispy Prosciutto 

Empanadas - Red Yucca, Achiote Oil and Espresso BBQ Pulled Pork

Truffle Mac & Cheese 

Must is a really great place to enjoy good food, drinks and great company. They also have space to host private events or parties. We luckily stumbled upon a small photography show, featuring work from Patterson Imagery. They had some wine and food samples and offered an opportunity to speak to the photographer throughout the evening. Some of his pieces featured landscapes and cityscapes from Ottawa, Iceland, London and Vancouver.

Patterson Imagery

Patterson Imagery

Riley and I definitely recommend Must for a variety of occasions as it is perfectly located in the heart of the Byward Market, with friendly and knowledgeable staff, great food and wine selection, and a casual and inviting atmosphere.

Verdict: Delicious selection of tapas, entrees, desserts, cocktails, wine and beer. Highly recommended for the sharing of food and great company.

Cost: Sharing plates range from $7-$11. Main dishes range from $15-$30

Hours: Sundays 5:00pm-10:00pm, Mondays 4:30-10:00pm, Tuesday-Thursday 4:30pm-11:00pm, Friday-Saturday noon-midnight

Must Wine Bar and Tapas. 41 Williams Street, Ottawa, On. 
www.mustwinebar.ca 

White Chocolate and Coconut Truffles / Magnolia Bakery’s Banana Cream Pudding (Recipe)

No dinner party would be complete without an indulgent dessert. Simple to make, these easy yet delectable dessert recipes will make the perfect end to a meal.

White Chocolate and Coconut Truffles

Paired nicely with coffee or tea, these white chocolate and coconut truffles are sure to be a crowd pleaser. They also add a pretty contrast to a plate of dark chocolate truffles.

Ingredients:

180g white chocolate bits
½ cup cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup coconut flakes
1 cup desiccated coconut

Directions: 

1. In a heavy bottomed saucepan, combine white chocolate and cream.

2. On low heat, stir the mixture constantly until chocolate is melted and blended with the cream. This takes about 2 to 3 minutes.

3. Add the vanilla extract and remove from heat. Cool a bit.

4. Add the coconut and mix well.

5. Chill in the refrigerator for 45 to 60 minutes uncovered, or until the chocolate firms up enough to roll into balls.

6. Take 1 tablespoon full of the mixture and gently roll it into a ball with your palms. If the mixture is too soft to handle, add an extra ½ cup of coconut.

7. Roll the balls in desiccated coconut or coconut flakes. You can also use crushed nuts for a dry and delicious outer crumb.

8. Refrigerate until time to serve.

Yields: 20 truffles

Verdict: heavenly combination of chewy toasted coconut and creamy white chocolate ganache

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Chilling Time: 45-60 minutes

Rating: 9/10

Magnolia Bakery's Banana Cream Pudding 

Comfort foods come in all sizes – and some even come in mason jars! Sweet, creamy banana pudding just like Magnolia Bakery makes. Once you've made a dessert in a jar, all other desserts officially feel overrated!

Ingredients:

1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1½ cups ice cold water
1 (4-ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
3 cups heavy cream
1 (12-ounce) box vanilla wafers
8 mason jars

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, on the medium speed of an electric mixer, beat together the sweetened condensed milk and water until well combined, about 1 minute.

2. Add the pudding mix and beat well, about 2 minutes more.

3. Cover and refrigerate for 3-4 hours or overnight, before continuing. It is very important to allow the proper amount of time for the pudding mixture to set.

4. In a large bowl, on the medium speed of an electric mixer, whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form.

5. Gently fold the pudding mixture into the whipped cream until well blended and no streaks of pudding remain.

6. To assemble the dessert, arrange one-third of the wafers to cover the bottom of the mason jar, overlapping if necessary, then one-third of the bananas and one-third of the pudding.

7. Repeat the layering twice more, garnishing with additional wafers or wafer crumbs on the top layer of the pudding.

8. Cover with lids and allow to chill in the refrigerator for 4 hours before serving.

Yields: 8 servings in a regular size mason jar

Verdict: perfectly portioned, pleasing presentation and downright delicious!

Prep Time: 45 minutes
Chilling Time: 7-8 hours

Rating: 8.5/10

Slice & Co. (Review)

As we mentioned in an earlier post, Slice & Co. is definitely one of Ottawa's top dining spots in 2013! Located on Elgin Street, Slice & Co. is known for its amazing pizza, affordable prices and cozy atmosphere! Chef Warren Sutherland is the genius behind this tasty joint, who you may already know from the acclaimed SmoQue Shack!

Unlike most pizza joints which usually specialize in a certain style of pizza, Slice & Co. offers interesting variations of thick and thin crust pizzas that go way beyond the traditional ingredients. You can choose between an Italian hand-tossed pie, a New York pan style, a California thin crust, or even a Chicago deep dish pizza! The menu really offers something for every taste and preference.

We had a very difficult time deciding on what to order, as everything sounded delish, but in the end, we chose three different types of pizzas to share. First, we tried the Italian hand-tossed Puttanesca, which was topped with tomato sauce, capers, red onions, olives, chilis, mozzarella, oregano and garlic. The combination of toppings was surprisingly delicious, and the chilis gave the pie a nice kick! It was definitely my favourite.

Italian-Hand Tossed Puttanesca

The next one we got was the California thin crust BST. This pie consisted of bacon, spinach, tomato sauce, Buffalo mozzarella and parmesan. This pizza really showcased the high quality, fresh toppings used on their pizzas. Cut into small square slices, this tasty, rich pizza was perfect for sharing!

California Thin Crust BST

The last pizza we tried was the Original Chicago deep dish. This heavenly creation was stuffed with tomato sauce, sausage, onions and mozzarella. This pizza was a true indulgence, but the extra calories were worth every bite. Not only was the crust baked to perfection, but it was also perfectly topped and seasoned. With Lola's hearty appetite, this was by far her favourite.

Although we stuck to the pizza, Slice & Co. is also more than just a pizzeria. It is also known for its unique sandwiches, which I must admit, looked amazing! Options vary between the traditional roast beef, Reuben, Philly cheesesteak, meatball or the more creative Chipotle chicken panini, big club, or the muffeletta, which is an overstuffed sub with layers of meat and marinade. To quench your thirst, Slice & Co. also offers interesting cocktails and local beer.

Original Chicago Deep Dish

Verdict: Phenomenal pizza with several fun and interesting options; personable and engaging staff; budget-friendly

Cost: Pizzas range between $14-$28 and sandwiches range between $10-$12

Hours: Sunday to Wednesday, 4 pm to Midnight, Thursday to Saturday, 4 pm to 4 am

Slice & Co., 399 Elgin Street, Ottawa Ontario
www.sliceottawa.com