Backdrop Food & Drink (Review)

Approaching its first anniversary, I finally had the chance to lunch at Backdrop Food & Drink. Located at 160 Metcalfe Street, Backdrop replaced the Italian restaurant Chianti back in January of this year. It is run by the same owners as Grounded Kitchen and CoffeeHouse (which is one of my favourite lunch spots), so I had high hopes for this restaurant.

While I was intrigued by the outside of this new spot with its eye-catching sign and charming brick, I was less impressed with the inside décor. The tables and chairs were scattered throughout the restaurant with no apparent rhyme or reason, some on different levels and at different heights. My first thought when I walked in was that I mistakenly entered a club. Black and white walls with red curtains framed the room. While some could argue that the restaurant is hip and trendy, I would be more inclined to call it eclectic and somewhat tacky. I was not a fan of the PVC piping that was mounted around the top of the bar. Nor was I fan of the stage in the middle of the room, which was lined with four high steel-topped tables. Of course, that’s just where we happened to be seated, on display for all to see, with red spotlights shining down on us from above.

Although I was somewhat taken aback by the ambience and décor, I was impressed by the lunch menu. Not only did I like the format and design of the menu itself, I also enjoyed the numerous food options, which all sounded delicious and made it quite difficult for me to order. While the options go in many directions, even your pickiest friend would be able to find something appealing here.

After receiving some advice from the waitress, I decided to go with the Noodles for $17 and my dining companion went with the Pork Ribs for $16. The Noodles consisted of 4 large shrimp, egg, peanut satay, an array of vegetables and vermicelli. It was a very healthy serving of noodles, and the flavours were great. It had a little bit of kick to it, but not too much. I was very satisfied with my meal, but I wasn’t able to finish even half of it.
 

Noodles ($17)

The Pork Ribs also looked delicious, which were cooked in a smoked maple tea sauce and served with stout cornbread, fennel slaw, and a choice of fries, soup or salad. (You can tell from the below picture that we couldn’t wait to dig in before snapping a shot!).  

Pork Ribs ($16)

Overall, my experience at Backdrop did not live up to my high expectations. Even though the food was tasty, the service was mediocre and nothing special. The bizarre and misguided décor and stage in the middle of the restaurant also brought down my rating. I am willing, however, to give it another shot, either for brunch or dinner, whose menus look equally appealing.

Verdict: 6/10 – great menu with lots of choice, but unusual club ambience

Hours: Monday from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm; Tuesday to Friday from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm; Saturday from 10:00 am to 11:00 pm; Sunday from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Price: Lunch options range from $12-$24

Backdrop Food and Drink, 160 Metcalfe Street, Ottawa, ON

http://thebackdrop.ca/

Christmas Baking

Every Christmas, I devote an entire day to baking Christmas treats and goodies to share with my friends and family. I slave away in the kitchen, with the assistance of my sous-chef (aka my mother) and whip up some delicious, mouth-watering creations. And this year was no different! For a solid 8 hours, we rolled dough, whipped butter, crushed candy canes, melted chocolate and drizzled icing! In the end, we created 9 scrumptious treats, which I divvied up amongst my favourite people!

Check out the below links for recipes of my creations:

• Candied Pecans: http://www.kevinandamanda.com/recipes/appetizer/candied-pecans.html#EAAIJpGXRJlyGixC.32

• Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles: http://www.popsugar.com/food/Chocolate-Chip-Cookie-Dough-Truffles-32769392?crlt.pid=camp.OiqyEl4R2arl

• Salted Caramel Butter Bars: http://cookiesandcups.com/dont-hate-me-because-im-butter-ful/

• Raspberry Almond Thumbprint Cookies: http://sallysbakingaddiction.com/2013/12/12/raspberry-almond-thumbprint-cookies/

• Christmas Crack: http://www.iheartnaptime.net/christmas-crack/

• English Toffee Bites: http://www.shugarysweets.com/2012/12/almond-toffee-bites

• Peppermint Sugar Cookie Dough Bark: http://www.crazyforcrust.com/2014/11/peppermint-sugar-cookie-dough-bark/

• Oreo Peppermint Crunch Cookies: http://insidebrucrewlife.com/2013/12/oreo-peppermint-crunch-cookies/#_a5y_p=2626523

• Decorated Pretzel Rods: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/robin-miller/chocolate-pretzels-recipe.html

So far, I’ve received resoundingly positive feedback, especially for the Salted Caramel Butter Bars and the English Toffee Bites. What's your favourite??

Well, until next year’s baking extravaganza....

Soca Kitchen & Pub (Review)

Soca Soca Soca.....oh we had such high hopes for you. Westboro's newest eatery opened its door just one month ago on November 28th and its social media hype got Riley and I making reservations for one of their opening nights. Their Spanish inspired menu with sharing plates and raw bar was the fresh and unique taste our palates were craving.

I'll get to the food in a minute, but our overall experience was less than ideal from the moment we walked in. (This is not our usual narrative - but I thought it would be helpful to share). We had booked our reservation online weeks earlier and had received confirmation for our 4 dining guests. The front hostess seemed a little confused and had to ask about our reservation several times. A group walked in after us and was promptly seated, leaving us awkwardly standing in the open doorway, coats in hand. We were then told that we had to sit at the bar because online reservations incorporated bar seating. We were not pleased by this arrangement as we had planned on sharing our plates and catching up with friends, which the bar seats did not accommodate. After starting with a cocktail and a plate of oysters at the bar, we were finally moved to a more comfortable table once we spotted an opening and requested a move. There was obvious confusion at this point as we do not believe that the servers were notified of this change and we waited for about 10 to 15 minutes to have someone take our additional drink and food orders. We also asked for water three times before it was brought to us, and the food service was generally very slow.

Raw Bar Platter (Regularly $36, on special for $18)

Now on to the food, which was a totally different experience. We shared a number of plates on the menu, including the raw Oysters, the Snapper Ceviche, Empanadas, Yellowtail Crudo and the Octopus. Each plate was delicious, with unique flavours and seemingly fresh ingredients. The raw bar was on special so we ordered two portions. The accompanying sauces were different, but surprisingly delicious.

The Octopus was braised and came with a delicious fingerling potato salad. The Octopus was tender and not at all chewy (like squid) and the dressing from the potato salad was a perfect combination of tangy and creamy. The Yellowtail Crudo was marinated in a spicy pepper sauce and served with a fried caper salad. I'm not normally a fan of capers, but they were a pleasant addition to the flavours of the fish.

Ocotopus a la Plancha - with fingerling potato salad ($20)

The highlight of our meal was definitely the Ceviche and the Empanadas. We loved them so much that we ended up ordering two rounds of each dish. The Ceviche was a red snapper marinated in aioli lemon, avocado, red onions and fried plantains. The dish was also a decent portion and could also be ordered as a single meal. The Empanadas were tender, flaky and moist, and paired deliciously with the three different flavours of aioli dipping sauces.

Red Snapper Ceviche ($13)

Empanadas ($11)

Overall we were very pleased with the quality of food, the portion sizes and the price points. We were disappointed with the slow and miscommunicated service, but we understand that as a new restaurant they are still working out some of the kinks. Every staff member was very nice and apologetic for the confusion, so we are not tainted by the experience and will probably venture back to Soca in the future for some more Oysters and Spanish delicacies.

Let us know what you think.

Verdict: 6/10 - poor service, but delicious food. Make reservations by phone to specify seating.

Hours: Lunch served Monday to Friday from 11:30-2:30. Dinner served Monday to Friday from 5:30-10:00

Price: Plates range from $10-$25

Soca Kitchen and Pub. 93 Holland Ave, Ottawa, ON. http://www.socapub.com

EVOO Greek Kitchen (Review)

While Ottawa is hardly bereft of Greek fast food, EVOO is one the first restaurants to offer a Greek 'fine-dining' experience. Located on Preston Street in the heart of Little Italy, EVOO embraces traditional Greek cuisine with a modern flare. EVOO, which is short for Extra Virgin Olive Oil, was brought to life by Elias Theodossiou and his wife April Miller almost a year ago, and it has been going strong ever since.

While the cuisine is authentically Greek, the restaurant itself is anything but. It boasts a modern, contemporary vibe, with trendy light fixtures, plush banquet seating, wood tables and chalkboard menus. The ambience is very warm and inviting and is completely devoid of 'tacky' Greek decor.

Trio Spreads

When it comes to the menu, it brilliantly captures the nostalgia of traditional Greek cooking, but elevates it to another level with its modern flair. This synergy creates a refined and impressive dining experience.

The menu features an assortment of dishes, ranging from spreads, salads, classic Greek appetizers and meats, such as lamb chops, pork souvlaki, pancetta, sausage, among many others. The menu also incorporates various entrees, however, the best way to dine here is to share food family-style. So that's exactly what we did. I highly recommend sharing whenever possible, as it provides the opportunity to sample an array of everyone’s favourite dishes!

To start, we went with the Trio Spreads with olives and warm pita bread for $18. We got to choose 3 spreads out of 6 delicious options. We chose Tzatziki, Melitzanosalata (made of eggplant, garlic, parsley and roasted red peppers) and the Spicy Feta Dip (made of feta, tomatoes, red peppers, chili flakes, and EVOO). All were tasty and packed with flavour!

Cypriot Halloumi

Next, we ordered the Cypriot Halloumi for $11. Grilled halloumi cheese was served with heirloom tomatoes, onions and kalamata olives. For those of you who have never tried Halloumi, you must do so immediately. It is definitely my favourite type of cheese, and it's even better grilled! The strong salty taste and spongy texture is a delight for your tastebuds.

Greek Salad

For our next course, we got the Greek Salad (Horiatiki) for $16, which consisted of tomatoes, feta cheese, cucumbers, onions, kalamata olives and EVOO. This classic dish hit the spot and was large enough to share amongst my dining companions.

Finally, to finish off the evening, we ordered 3 sticks of the Pork Souvlaki for $14 (there is also an option to order 6 sticks for $27). The pork was marinated in a lemon-oil sauce and charbroiled to perfection. It was paired perfectly with a side of Tzatziki.

Pork Souvlaki

By the end, we were quite full, but very satisfied with both the food and the service. Overall, we had a great meal and we are pleased that EVOO has finally put modern Greek cuisine on the culinary map in Ottawa.

Verdict: 9/10....delicious, authentic Greek cuisine...in Ottawa (finally!!)

Hours: Monday to Wednesday 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m. to 1 a.m., Friday 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 1 a.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Closed weekdays from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. (Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner)

Price: $6-$30

EVOO Greek Kitchen, 438 Preston Street, Ottawa, ON, K2P 1Y7
evoogreekkitchen.ca

Fiazza Fresh Fired (Review)

This Thanksgiving, we are thankful for friends, family and the deliciously new Fresh Fired Fiazza. This past Thursday, we decided to indulge on pizza and pop at the newest wood fired pizza restaurant to set up roots in Ottawa's ByWard Market.

The atmosphere is refreshing, casual and cool. The menu is traditional yet unique with pre-made specialty pizzas, create your own pizzas and specialty salads. And the service is....well non-existent. Fiazza is what you would call an upscale cafeteria, but in a good way. Orders are taken at the counter where your pizza is prepared fresh with a variety of topping options and then put into the wood burning oven. Once your pizza is ready, you simply pay at the counter and find a table for you and your guests. The eclectic design of the dining area with wood seating and modern light fixtures adds a touch of elegance to an otherwise casual establishment. Orders are prepared within a flash, so you won't have to wait long to devour the delicious pies with your Harvey and Vern's soda pop or Kichesippi pint.

We decided to order three different specialty pies, including the Carnivore, the BBQ Chicken and the Sicilian (with added mushrooms). They were all delicious in their own unique way.

Carnivore ($9.95)

The Carnivore was covered in premium pepperoni, local spicy Italian sausage, locally smoked bacon, red sauce and Fiazza cheese blend. If you're a meat lover, this pizza would definitely satisfy your taste buds. The BBQ Chicken had a fabulous blend of naturally roasted BBQ chicken breast, a natural BBQ sauce and red sauce blend, roasted onions, locally smoked bacon, and Fiazza cheese blend. The BBQ sauce added a unique twist on the traditional tomato sauce. The Sicilian was topped with local spicy Italian sausage, roasted peppers, blue cheese, red sauce and Fiazza cheese blend. I also added mushrooms as I find they are a staple to any pizza. Additional toppings can be added to all specialty pizzas.

BBQ Chicken ($9.95)

Sicilian ($10.95)

If you're feeling something a little less "carby" and "cheesy", they also offer made to order Caesar Salads and fresh seasonal salads. Don't forget about their fresh bakery that carries daily selections from local bakeries, including vegan, gluten and nut free selections. 

Fiazza also offers gluten free dough and Daya vegan cheese for a small additional cost.

All in all, we were impressed with Fiazza. We questioned the casual counter atmosphere at first, but the quick service, delicious pizza and reasonable price won our votes in the end. Stop by Fiazza for lunch or dinner with friends or on a date with that special someone. 

Verdict: 9/10 - delicious pizza

Hours: Sunday - Wednesday 11:00am-9:00pm. Thursday - Saturday 11:00am-10:00pm 

Price: $ Very reasonably priced. Specialty pizzas ranging from $8-$12 

Fiazza Fresh Fired, 86 Murray St. Ottawa ON 

http://fiazza.ca/

Fauna Food & Bar (Review)

After a two year wait, the much anticipated Fauna restaurant finally opened its doors at the beginning of September. As a result of constant disputes with the landlord, Chef Jon Svazas had to continually postpone the grand opening of his restaurant. In the end, issues were resolved and Svazas was able to turn his culinary dreams into reality.

Lola and I had long awaited the opening of this restaurant and as a result, we went into our dining experience with very high expectations. All of the hype and publicity really set the bar high.

Kimchi Caesar ($10)

When we first entered the space, we were warmly greeted and seated at a table in the far corner, which was one of the few tables that offered some level of privacy between dining parties. All of the other tables were closely packed together. We did enjoy the atmosphere of the restaurant though, which boasted a trendy and contemporary vibe, with bursts of orange throughout.

Having said that, the menu did not please us in the same way. We were disappointed to see the typical menu options that are popping up in so many of Ottawa's newest restaurants. There was of course the typical 'Steak and Frites', the always-present duck breast and the once-original-but-now-overdone pork belly. There was nothing exceedingly original or different that caught our eye, with the exception of the Kimchi Caesar (which we of course had to try). It was an interesting spin on the classic caesar with punches of soy sauce, black pepper and kimchi.

Sweet Potato Soup ($5)

Beet Salad ($12)

For our main courses, we decided to order a bunch of dishes to satisfy our wide-ranging palette. To start, we went with the Sweet Potato Soup with pork belly bits and truffle oil for $5 and the Beet Salad with goat cheese, pearled onions, arugula, almonds and balsamic drizzle for $12. We then ordered four additional dishes: Tempura Skewer ($16), Swordfish ($18), Pork Belly ($15) and Mushroom Inari ($14).

Mushroom Inari ($14)

Tempura Skewer (1-$8 /2-$16)

The Tempura Skewer was probably our favourite dish of the night, which consisted of scallops, chorizo, basil, cilantro and sweet chilli. The mix of flavours worked fabulously. The other three dishes, however, were just satisfactory. Nothing blew us away. The portion sizes were also extremely small for the price of the dishes.

Pork Belly ($15)

Swordfish ($18)

To finish off the evening, we had to try something sweet. We went with the Squash Sticky Toffee made with pistachios, apples, Dulce de leche, creme caramel and ice cream. It was deliciously sweet, but we couldn't figure out how the squash came into play.

Squash Sticky Toffee ($9)

Overall, I think we went into this experience with ridiculously high expectations and as such, we were let down. We were definitely hoping for much more creative menu choices, or at least something out of the ordinary.

Verdict: 6/10...underwhelmed....great atmosphere, but conventional menu.

Hours: Sunday to Wednesday: 5:30pm-10:00pm; Thursday to Saturday: 5:30pm-12:00am

Price: $5-$18

Fauna Food & Bar, 450 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON, K2P 1Y7

www.faunaottawa.ca

Cacao 70 (Review)

Another new establishment to pop up in Ottawa's ByWard Market is the chocolate heaven Cacao 70. Their menu has a variety of chocolate treats including Grilled Marshmallows ('Make your own Smores'), Chocolate Parfaits, Waffles, Cheesecakes, Chocolate Pizzas, Fondues, Shakes, Hot Chocolate and Crepes. Their chocolate menu goes on for pages and pages, but they also have a wide variety of savory brunch treats, including Grilled Sandwiches, Pressed Crepe Sandwiches, Salted Crepes, and Omelets.

This one sunny Sunday afternoon after a few too many Saturday evening cocktails, we ventured to Cacao 70 for a sweet and savoury brunch.

Iced Lattes 

We started off with a delicious iced latte and fruit plate with decadent melted chocolate (which came with our meal order). This was a pleasant and tasty surprise and didn't stay on the plate for too long (luckily we had enough time to take the photo).

We decided we were in the mood for something savory, so we both ordered the Open Face Breakfast Chicken Sandwich, which comes with 2 fried eggs, grilled chicken mixed with mayonnaise, parsley and fresh greens on top of whole-wheat bread and served with potatoes. The sandwich was definitely decadent and satisfied our post-Saturday hungers, but if you're not used to eating dark meat, the taste was definitely different than the chicken sandwiches we are used to.

Side of Fruit and melted Chocolate 

Open Face Breakfast Chicken Sandwich 

Guests around us were ordering plates of crepes, waffles and ice cream, so we will definitely be back to indulge our sweet tooth on another evening occasion.

Next time you're having a girls night and craving chocolate, head to Cacao 70 for a fun-filled evening of Fondue and Smores that will leave your taste buds on a sugar high and your tummies satisfied.

Verdict: 8/10 - Stick to the chocolate items!

Hours: Sunday to Thursday 10:00am-11:00pm. Friday & Saturday 10:00pm - midnight

Cost: $$ more expensive than your local greasy spoon, but affordable

Cacao 70, 51-53 William St, Ottawa, ON 
http://cacao70.ca/en/

Salt Ottawa (Review)

The latest eatery to pop up on Preston street is the elegant and romantic "Salt". Located in Preston Square, this sophisticated and posh space features crystal chandeliers draping the ceiling, dark window coverings and lustrous dining tables and chairs.

They have an extensive drink menu of craft cocktails, beer and wine. Their signature cocktail is the Cool Heat, which has Tequila, lime juice, orange juice, jalapeno, cilantro and sugar. The combination is shocking yet very unique.

We started our meal off with a few shareables, including the Artisanal Bread Board and the Salt Brick Tuna Tataki. The bread board was $5, but the apple gastrique and herb whipped butter was a delicious added touch that was a perfect size for our party of five.

Artisanal Bread Board - Chef's selection of three house baked breads;
apple gastrique; garden herb whipped butter ($5) 

  

Pan Seared Nova Scotia Scallops - roasted potatoes; heirloom carrots;
snap peas; grapefruit ($28)  

For the main course, I decided to order the Scallops, which were paired with a unique combination of potatoes, carrots, snap peas and grapefruit. The portion was a bit small, but the flavours were delicious. Our other satisfied dining guests ordered the Lobster Spaghetti and the Summer Salad.

Overall, we were pretty impressed with Salt, but they still have a few kinks to work out and possibly a few more items to add to their menu.

If you're looking for an elegant night out paired with good service, tasty libations and unique eats, you should definitely check out Salt in Ottawa's Little Italy.

Verdict: 8/10 - good service, good food and drinks - a bit overpriced.

Hours: Open daily from 11am-2pm

Cost: $$$

Salt Ottawa, 345A Preston, Ottawa, ON. 
http://saltottawa.ca/

Ace Mercado (Review)

We may be a long way from the southern border, but the Mexican culinary canon has infiltrated the Ottawa market. Located on the corner of Clarence and Dalhousie, Ace Mercado has recently opened its doors. Top Chef Canada's winner Rene Rodriguez along with Trisha Donaldson have created a Mexican root cuisine inspired menu using local produce, sustainable seafood and prime butchered meats. This new trendy restaurant, with its hip decor, exposed brick, large windows and uber dim lighting is well positioned to become the next hot spot in the Byward Market.

Mexican Bricklayer Dip

When we arrived on a Friday night, the place was packed with foodies alike. The waitstaff were friendly and welcoming and more than pleased to offer up some menu suggestions. Ace Mercado visionary Phil Faubert recommended a sampling of drinks and dishes so as to optimize our culinary experience. We started off the night with a signature Ace Margarita ($11), which was a brilliant blend of Cazadores Reposado, lime juice, Tromba agave and black salt rim. Then came the Mexican Bricklayer Dip ($15) made with tomatillo, queso fresco, avocado, creme, black sesame, coriander, and served with freshly made tortilla chips. The dip was fresh and flavourful, and my only complaint was that there wasn't enough!

Tacos

From there, we decided to jump right into the tacos. The menu features five innovative taco flavours ranging from $5-6 each, including red snapper, braised lamb, pig cheek, charred zucchini and chicken. We tried one of each type (minus the zucchini, since let's be honest, we like our meat). The red snapper taco was served with tomatillo salsa, pickled serrano chiles, and corn relish, while the braised lamb taco rocked queso fresco, lime habanero mojo and avocado. The pig cheek taco was topped with burnt onion relish, pineapple, radish, chicharron and cilantro, and finally the chicken taco was perfectly paired with queso fresco, pickled cabbage and tomatillo salsa. All were mind-bendingly delicious and built with smartly sourced ingredients. We all had different favourites, but mine was definitely the chicken taco! While I have often raved about the tacos at El Camino, I believe the tacos at Ace Mercado are better (which says a lot for those who have tried El Camino)!

Mexican Fries

Seared Tuna Tostada

After the tacos, our appetites were not yet appeased, and so we ordered the Seared Tuna Tostada ($15) and the Mexican Fries ($8). The Tuna was served with onion sofrito, radish, salt cured tomato and serrano chile. The flavour combination was heavenly and it quite literally melted in your mouth. The Mexican Fries were topped with smoked mayo, manchego, pig cheek bits and valentina. These were yummy, but very, very spicy...so be warned! We also couldn't stop thinking about the tacos, and so we ordered another round of our favourites!!

Tromba Verdita

To finish off the evening, we decided to try some tequila. We went with the Tromba Verdita ($10). Tromba premium tequila was served with a chaser made of pineapple juice, lime, cilantro, mint and jalapeño peppers. While I am typically not a fan of tequila, this was definitely the best way to drink it. The chaser-type drink was also surprisingly refreshing.

Overall, our experience at Ace Mercado was extremely positive. This new restaurant delights with its hip food and vibe. The cuisine is a unique combination of modern Mexican that still feels authentic! We highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a delightful evening filled with delicious food, inventive cocktails and friendly service.

Verdict: 10/10....everything exceeded my expectations!

Hours: Monday to Wednesday: 5:00 pm - 12:00 am; Thursday to Saturday: 5:00 pm - 2:00 pm Sunday: 5:00 pm - 12:00 am

Price: $5-$36

Ace Mercado, 121 Clarence Street, Ottawa, ON, K1N 5P5