Town Ottawa (Restaurant Review)

Town is a great spot. It is small, unique, friendly, inviting, delicious....I could go on. Town is inconspicuously located on Elgin street in Ottawa. It's a popular spot, but easily missed if you don't know what you're looking for. There's a very small patio out front that seats about four people on a high top bar and the inside seats about 40 people. Their small size is definitely not a downfall as they make up for it with great service, a warm atmosphere and equally delicious food. I treated my mother to Town last weekend and we managed to polish off a bottle wine and spend a few great hours sipping, eating and chatting.

I'll start with the service. One word - great! The staff was friendly and accommodating from the moment we walked in. They have their own sommelier (a trained wine professional) who helped us with our wine selection and even chatted a bit about the local wine culture in Ottawa. Our server was equally as friendly and knowledgeable and helped us choose a fabulous selection of plates to fill our bellies!

Since we're all about sharing, we decided to try a few small plates. We ordered the mixed marinated olives, the 5 selection cheese plate (which came with tallegio, le noble, blue bénédictin, bellavitano, and grey owl; as well as some candied nuts, honey, an apricot preserve and crostinis), and the ricotta stuffed meatballs. I love when cheese plates have selections I've never heard of. For $20 the cheese plate portion was perfect and slightly more filling than I've had previously. The ricotta stuffed meatballs with polenta and san marzano tomatoes were divine. It was the perfect combination of cheese, meat, sauce and soft polenta. I'm realizing that polenta is becoming quite popular in gourmet dishes, and rightly so. Polenta is basically cornmeal boiled into a porridge, but the way it's prepared can add a balanced flavour and texture. We were definitely satisfied and perfectly full after these great dishes. A few small plates passed us on the way to another table....we both agreed they looked fabulous, which ultimately meant that this would not be our last trip to Town.

5 selection cheese plate ($20)

Ricotta Stuffed Meatballs (2 for $11 or 4 for $21)

After a couple of hours of great wine, food and conversation (without our cell phones), we both agreed on the great experience we had just shared. Town is definitely recommended to anyone looking for a casual meal with friends, a romantic date night, or simply drinks and snacks after a long day's work. You will not be disappointed with the food, service or atmosphere. Until next time Town!

Verdict: 9/10 - everything on par with greatness

Hours: Lunch is served Wednesday-Friday 11:30-2. Dinner is served Monday-Thursday and Sunday 5:00-10:00, and Saturday 5:00-11:00

Price: $$ - Small plates range from $6-$17. Large plates range from $16-28. Lunch sandwiches served for $14

Town. 296 Elgin Street, Ottawa. http://www.townlovesyou.ca/

Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Apple Slaw, Potato Salad and Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookie Pie (Recipe)

This past Sunday, I treated my father to a Southern-style lunch in honour of Father's Day. As frequent travellers to Georgia, my family and I truly appreciate the taste of traditional Southern barbecue. I therefore rose to the challenge to recreate a family favourite...slow-roasted pulled pork sandwiches! And what goes better with this comfort food than potato salad, coleslaw (with an apple twist) and of course, scrumptious pie!

While many tend to shy away from making pulled pork because of the lengthy cooking time required, it is actually very easy when using a crock pot and ridicuously delicious! Follow the below recipes to recreate this Southern meal, and you too can be enjoying melt-in-your-mouth, succulent barbecue...or as I like to call it "heaven on a bun!" Be sure to also check out the 'Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookie Pie' recipe at the bottom, which was the perfect way to end the meal.

Crock Pot Pulled Pork and Mustard B.B.Q Sauce

Ingredients:

Pulled Pork:
3 lbs Pork Tenderloin
3/4 cup Apple Cider Vinegar
1/4 cup Hot Sauce
1/2 tbsp Liquid Smoke
Salt & Pepper to Taste

Mustard BBQ Sauce:
1 cup Yellow Mustard
1/2 cup Molasses
1/4 cup Honey
1/4 cup Apple Cider Vinegar
1 tbsp Chili Powder
1/2 tsp Cayenne
1/2 tsp Onion Powder
1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
Salt & Pepper to Taste (I used 1 tsp each)

Directions:

1. Combine the vinegar, hot sauce and liquid smoke in a slow cooker.
2. Place the pork into the crock pot as well, cover and cook on high for 4-6 hours or low for 6-8 hours. (I cooked it on high for 6 hours)
3. While the pork is cooking, combine the ingredients for the bbq sauce in a medium sauce pan.
4. Bring the mixture to a low boil, stirring occasionally.
5. Remove from the heat and set aside to allow to cool slightly (If you cook this sauce more than an hour or two before serving, you will want to store it in a sealed container in the refrigerator until ready to use).
6. When ready to eat, pour sauce over pulled pork, mix and serve on a bun. (Ciabatta buns are good option).

Apple Slaw

Ingredients:

3 cups of Slaw Mix
1 Lady Alice Apple, Grated
1/2 cup of 0% Greek Yogurt
Juice of Half a Lemon
Pinch of Black Pepper
2 tbsp of Miracle Whip Mayonnaise 

Directions:

1. Add all ingredients to a large bowl and gently mix to combine.
2. Store in a lidded container in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Potato Salad

Ingredients:

4 Potatoes
4 Eggs
1/2 Stalk Celery, Chopped
1/4 cup Sweet Relish
1 clove Garlic, Minced
2 tbsp Mustard
1/2 cup Mayonnaise
Salt and Pepper to Taste
Paprika (for garnish)

Directions:

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add potatoes and cook until tender but still firm, about 15 minutes. (Tip: use chicken broth instead of water to give the potatoes some added flavour).

2. Drain potatoes, and after they have cooled, chop into bite size pieces.

3. Place eggs in a saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring water to a boil; cover, remove from heat, and let eggs stand in hot water for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from hot water; peel and chop.

4. In a large bowl, combine the potatoes, eggs, celery, sweet relish, garlic, mustard, mayonnaise and salt and pepper. Gently mix together and finish it off with a nice dusting of paprika on top!

Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookie Pie

Ingredients:

Pie Crust: (makes 1 9-inch pie crust)
2 1/4 cups All-Purpose Flour
3/4 tsp Salt
1/2 cup Shortening, Cut into Cubes, Chilled
2 tbsp Unsalted Butter, Cut into Cubes, Chilled
4-6 tbsp Cold Water

Pie Filling:
1/2 cup Flour
1 cup Sugar
1 cup + 2 tbsp Semisweet Chocolate Chips
1 cup Pecans, Chopped
1/2 cup Unsalted Butter (1 stick), Melted and Cooled
1 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
2 Eggs, Beaten

Directions:

1. Add flour and salt to the bowl of your food processor. Pulse to mix it. Add cold shortening and butter to the food processor and pulse for 30 to 60 seconds until pea-sized shapes of butter and flour start to form.
2. While pulsing, stream in water 1 tablespoon at a time. Pulse until ingredients are moistened and dough begins to form and pull away from the sides of the food processor. You may not use all of the water. Remove dough from food processor and mold into a circle and flatten. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes.
3. Remove from the refrigerator and place the pie crust between two pieces of parchment paper. Roll to about a 1/8 inch thickness, using a rolling pin. Place pie crust on pie plate and cut off excess. Using your fingers crimp the top edge of your pie crust. Place pie plate in the refrigerator.
4. Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
5. Add flour and sugar to a medium-sized bowl and mix with a rubber spatula. Add chocolate chips and mix until coated in dry mixture. Add pecans and do the same thing. Add melted butter and vanilla extract and mix to combine. Add eggs and mix again just to combine.
6. Pour pie filling into prepared pie crust and bake for about 50 minutes. Allow to cool for at least 20 to 30 minutes. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream and a side of ice cream!

Verdict: This meal was a real crowd pleaser! My family thoroughly enjoyed every last bite. The pulled pork was succulent with just the right amount of punch, the apple slaw was the perfect combination of sweetness and creaminess, the potato salad was tasty and flavourful, and the cookie pie was sinfully delicious!!

Total Prep Time: 2 hours 
Total Cook Time: 7 hours 

Rating: 10/10

Bite Burger House (Review)

As the city's eating and drinking scene continues to evolve, Lola and I continue to take advantage of the tastiest new additions to Ottawa's culinary landscape. Last Friday, we treated ourselves to a gourmet lunch at Murray Street's newest arrival - Bite Burger House. Opened in April, Bite is all about "bringing back basic comfort food with added flavor profiles while offering unique and tasty drinks."

The restaurant rocks a trendy ‘new look', with wooden grey tables and dark walnut chairs, exposed brick, walls pannelled in brown barn board, open stainless steel kitchen and black-board menus. The decor is simple, tasteful and inviting. The front porch and rear patio also feature cozy seating for those preferring an outdoor ambiance.

Although known for their half-pound burgers, the menu features much, much more than just burgers. Other soul-satisfying options include home-cut fries, poutine, pulled pork, mac n cheese, fish and chips, and signature cocktails.

Pulled Pork Nachos

To begin, it was a toss up between the Fresh Made Iced Tea and a traditional Harvey and Vern Soda. But in the end, we went with the Iced Tea, which was sweet and refreshing.

For our main meal, we had quite a hard time deciding what to order, as everything on the menu was making our mouths water. While the burgers sounded delightful, we decided to go against the grain and ordered the Pulled Pork Nachos ($14), which was the special of the day, and the Super Frico sandwich ($12). We also upgraded the side and went with the Truffle Fries for an extra $2.

The Pulled Pork Nachos were sinfully delicious. The nachos were coated in cheese and topped with lettuce, onions and succulent slow roasted pulled pork, and served with a side of pineapple salsa and an unknown, yet tasty, sauce. Our only suggestion would be to spread out the pulled pork evenly across the nachos.

The Super Frico sandwich also rivalled the nachos. Smoked bacon, caramelized onions, brie and cheddar crusted bread was a perfect combination. Fresh cut fries coated with truffle parmesan and sea salt and served with aioli was a heavenly pairing. 

Super Frico with Truffle Fries

Overall, Lola and I really enjoyed our experience at Bite. The atmosphere was trendy, the wait staff were friendly and the food was delicious. We will definitely be returning again, next time to try one of their signature burgers! As Ottawa continues to surge with trendy new gourmet burger joints, we really hope that Bite Burger House stands the test of time.

Verdict: 9/10...we can't give them a perfect score until we try their burgers!

Hours: Sunday to Thursday: 11:30am - Midnight; Friday and Saturday: 11:30am - 2:00am

Price: $6-$18

Bite Burger House, 108 Murray Street, Ottawa, ON
www.biteburgerhouse.com  

Supply and Demand - Foods and Raw Bar (Review)

Riley and I had been anticipating our dining experience at Supply and Demand since our "Top 10 Dining Spots" post in January of 2013. The raving reviews from friends and fellow bloggers made us even more excited so we decided to treat some guests from Australia to Chef Steve Wall's much anticipated seafood and raw bar.

We're not sure whether our hopes were too high or the year of building excitement was too much, but we thought that some of the dishes fell a bit flat... We agreed that the best part of the meal was the fresh baked bread served with whipped butter and bacon fat. We definitely had a few servings of this free starter. We decided to share a couple of dishes in the hopes of tasting all the unique plates they had to offer. The Beets with Parm Crema and the Mushroom Ragout dishes were definitely the best and their unique flavour combinations did not disappoint.

Fresh Baked Bread and Whipped Butter with Bacon Fat

Mushroom Ragout over Peppered Polenta with Parmesan ($8)

Beets with Parm Crema, Radish, Grapefruit, Onion & Pine Nuts ($8)

We weren't sure what to expect with our three remaining dishes, and sure enough they were a bit surprising in look and taste. The Mussels Escabeche were definitely different than any other mussels we had tasted before, but it was also our fault for not inquiring as to the meaning of "Escabeche" (which refers to a dish of either poached or fried fish marinated in an acidic mixture). They definitely had a "pickled" taste to them, which we were not expecting. The Albacore Tuna was tasty, but also a little too citrusy (possibly with a bit too much lemon flavouring). The Grilled Squid lacked punch and its appearance was also a bit questionable to a couple of us.

Mussels Escabeche with Dry Cured Ham and Grilled Bread ($14) 

Albacore Tuna, with Lemon, Truffle Oil 

With that being said, our comments are definitely not all negative. The service is wonderful, the atmosphere is unique, cozy and casual and the food has a non-traditional distinct feel to it. The majority of our dishes were tasty and filling and we will definitely be trying Supply and Demand again as their menu changes frequently and we have the utmost respect for Chef Steve Wall and his creative gastronomic inventions.

Verdict: Unique and creative food. Slightly disappointed in the richness of flavours.

Hours: Sunday & Monday: 5pm-9:30pm. Tuesday to Saturday: 5pm-10pm

Price: $$$

Supply and Demand, 1335 Wellington St West, Ottawa, Ontario

http://www.supplyanddemandfoods.ca/ 

The Best Eats in Ottawa

Looking for a delicious meal in Ottawa? Lola and I have compiled a list of our favourite restaurants in Ottawa for all occasions. Whether you’re looking for a fancy entrée or a tasty sandwich or a sweet treat or even a refreshing beverage on a patio, we have a suggestion for you! Check out our lists below for the best eats in Ottawa!

Best Restaurants

1.    The Albion Rooms ($$, Lower Town - 33 Nicholas Street)

Type of Food: Gastropub

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Elk Burger, Oysters

2.    Allium ($$$$, Wellington West - 87 Holland Street)

Type of Food: Tapas, French

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Flat Iron Steak

3.    Das Lokal ($$$, ByWard Market - 190 Dalhousie Street)

Type of Food: International

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Sweet Potato Pavé

4.    El Camino ($, Centretown - 380 Elgin Street)

Type of Food: Tacos

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Pork Tacos, Ox Tongue Tacos

5.    Fraser Café ($$$$, Beechwood - 7 Springfield Road)

Type of Food: Seasonal and Local

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Roast Chicken & Pork Belly

6.    Navarra ($$$$, ByWard Market - 93 Murray Street)

Type of Food: Spanish and Mexican

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Sashimi Grade Ahi Tuna Tartare, Lamb Shoulder Chilaqulles

7.    Taylor’s Genuine Food & Wine Bar ($$$$, Old Ottawa - 1091 Bank Street)

Type of Food: International

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Charcuterie Board, Mariposa Duck Breast

8.    Town ($$$, Centretown - 296 Elgin Steet)

Type of Food: Italian and Canadian

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Ricotta Meatballs

9.    Two Six {Ate} ($$, Little Italy - 268 Preston Street)

Type of Food: Gastropub, Wine Bar

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Shrimp Pogos, Tuna Tartare

Best Lunch Spots

1.    Ahora ($$, ByWard Market - 307 Dalhousie Street)

Type of Food: Mexican

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Any Quesadilla

2.    Corazon De Maiz ($, ByWard Market - 55 Byward Market Square)

Type of Food: Mexican

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Any Burrito

3.    Grounded Kitchen and Coffeehouse ($$, Centretown - 100 Gloucestor Street)

Type of Food: Breakfast, Diner, Wine Bar

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Caprese Con Carne Panini

4.    La Bottega Nicastro ($, ByWard Market - 64 George Street)

Type of Food: Italian, Sandwiches/Subs

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Club Italiano

5.    Pressed Urban Gourmet Sandwich Bar ($$, Centretown - 750 Gladstone Ave)

Type of Food: Brunch and Lunch

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Tuscan Sandwich

6.    The Red Apron ($, Centretown - 564 Gladstone Ave)

Type of Food: Sandwiches/Soups

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Maple Smoked Pulled Berkshire Pork Sandwich

7.    LUNCH ($, Centretown - 99 Metcalfe Street; 240 Sparks Street; 121 Bank Street)

Type of Food: Fresh and Local

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Vegetarian Chilli

Best Brunch

1.    Art-is-in Bakery ($$, Wellington West - 250 City Center Ave)

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: House Granola, Eggs Benny, Raspberry Scone

2.    Baker Street Café ($$, Westboro - 385 Richmond Road)

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: French Toast, Baker Street Club

3.    Benny’s Bistro ($$$, ByWard Market - 119 Murray Street)

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Benny’s Salmon Gravlax

4.    The Black Thorn Café ($$$, ByWard Market - 15 Clarence Street)

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: French Toast

5.    The Scone Witch ($, Centretown - 150 Elgin Street)

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Ham and Gruyere on Cheddar Cheese Scone

6.    Stone Face Dolly’s ($$$, Little Italy - 416 Preston Street)

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Eggs Natasha

Best Burger Joints

1.    Bite Burger House ($$, ByWard Market - 108 Murray Street)

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Gardener Burger

2.    Burgers and Fries Forever ($$, Centretown - 329 Bank Street)

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: The Melt Burger

3.    Chez Lucien ($$, Byward Market - 137 Murray Street)

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Chez Lucien Burger

4.    Hintonburger ($$, Wellington West - 1096 Wellington Street)

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: The Hintonbuger!

Best Patios

1.    The Black Tomato ($$$$, ByWard Market - 11 George Street)

Type of Food: American

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Prosciutto Glengarry Celtic Blue Cheese Rolls, Duck Confit

2.    Cornerstone Bar and Grill ($$$, ByWard Market - 92 Clarence Street)

Type of Food: American, Pub Food

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Ginger Chicken Spring Rolls

3.    Lieutenant’s Pump Pub ($$, Centretown - 361 Elgin Street)

Type of Food: Pub Food

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Pink Panther Lemonade, Apple Cider Sangria

4.    Mambo Restaurante Nuevo Latino ($$, ByWard Market - 77 Clarence Street)

Type of Food: Latin American

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Guacamole and Chips, Chorizo Tostado

5.    Metropolitan Brasserie ($$$$, ByWard Market - 700 Sussex Drive)

Type of Food: French

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Lobster Mac & Cheese

6.    Murray Street ($$$, ByWard Market - 110 Murray Street)

Type of Food: International

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Pimm’s Cup, Poutine, Kohira Beets

7.    Slice & Co ($$$, Centretown - 399 Elgin Street)

Type of Food: Pizza

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Carne Pizza, BST Pizza

8.    Stella Osteria ($$$, ByWard Market - 81-B Clarence Street)

Type of Food: Italian

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Stella Salad, Short Rib Gnocchi

9.    Trii Outdoor Lounge ($, Wellington West - 1195 Wellington Street)

Type of Food: Desserts, Ice Cream

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Walnut Clove Biscotti

Best Bakeries

1.    Art-is-in Bakery ($$, Wellington West - 250 City Center Ave)

Specialty: Breads, Scones

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Kronut

2.    Wild Oat Bakery Café ($, The Glebe - 817 Bank Street)

Specialty: Vegetarian, Crepes

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Choco-Hazelnut Pear Crepe

3.    Nutty Greek Bake Shop ($, Little Italy - 490 Rochester Street)

Specialty: Greek Baked Goods

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Loukoumades (Greek Honey Balls)

4.    Three Tarts Bakery ($$$, Wellington West - 1320 Wellington Street)

Specialty: Tarts

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: White Chocolate Tart with Pistachios and Cranberries

5.    The French Baker ($, ByWard Market - 119 Murray Street)

Specialty: Breads, Pastries

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Pain au Chocolat

6.    Bread & Sons Bakery ($, Centretown - 195 Bank Street)

Specialty: Bread, Pizza           

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: The Boss Pizza

Best Sweet Treats

1.    The Cupcake Lounge ($, ByWard Market - 6 Byward Market Square)

Specialty: Cupcakes

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: White Chocolate Macademia

2.    Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt ($, ByWard Market - 80 George Street)

Specialty: Frozen Yogurt

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Birthday Cake

3.    Oh So Good! ($, ByWard Market - 25 York Street)

Specialty: Cakes

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: White Chocolate Mousse Cake, Carrot Cake

4.    Simplyraw Express ($, Wellington West - 989 Wellington Street)

Specialty: Vegetarian, Vegan

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Raspberry Chia Pudding, Midnight Brownies

5.    Stella Luna Gelato Café ($, Old Ottawa - 1103 Bank Street)

Specialty: Gelato

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Pistachio Gelato

6.    SuzyQ ($, Wellington West - 991 Wellington Street)

Specialty: Donuts

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Maple Bacon Donut, Salty Caramel Donut

Best Food Trucks

1.    Ad Mare Seafood ($$, Centretown, Slater and O’Connor Street)

Type of Food: Sustainable Fish and Seafood

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Crab Sliders, Fish Tacos

2.    Angry Dragonz ($, Centretown - Gloucestor and Lyon Street)

Type of Food: Asian Fusion

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Pad Thai

3.    Bonita’s Cantina ($, Wellington West - 250 City Center Ave)

Type of Food: Mexican

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Fish Tacos

4.    Flapjack’s Pancake Shack ($, The Glebe - 809 Bank Street)

Type of Food: Canadian, Breakfast/Brunch

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: The Campfire

5.    Ottawa Streat Gourmet ($$, Centretown - Albert and O’Connor Street)

Type of Food: Fresh, Local and Seasonal 

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Tandori Salmon Burger, Duck Confit Brie Grilled Cheese

6.    Urban Cowboy ($, Old Ottawa - 1149 Bank Street)

Type of Food: Texan, Southern Soul

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Belcher Burger

Best Cocktails/Drinks

1.    Brothers Beer Bistro ($$$, ByWard Market - 366 Dalhousie Street)

Type of Food: International

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Fizzy Thyme Bomb, Smoked Caesar

2.    Gezellig ($$$, Westboro - 337 Richmond Road)

Type of Food: Global Cuisine

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Negroni, Pimm’s Pint

3.    Hintonburg Public House ($$$, Wellington West - 1020 Wellington Street)

Type of Food: American

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Dillon's White Rye Honey Lemonade

4.    The Moon Room ($$, Little Italy - 442 Preston Street)

Type of Food: International, Tapas

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Brazzo!

5.    Moscow Tea Room ($$$, ByWard Market - 527 Sussex Street)

Type of Food: Cocktails, Coffee/Tea, Sandwiches

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Rooibos Chocolate Tea, Moscow Never Sleeps

6.    Must Kitchen & Wine Bar ($$$, ByWard Market - 41 William Street)

Type of Food: International, Tapas

Lola and Riley’s Recommendation: Norman Hardie Riesling, 2010

New or Coming Soon

1.    EVOO Greek Kitchen ($$$, Little Italy - 438 Preston Street)

Type of Food: Greek

NEW!

2.    Fauna ($$$, Centretown - 425 Bank Street)

Type of Food: Canadian

COMING SOON!