Not Vanilla Pop-Up Presented By Ottawa Tourism

Canada Day is less than a month away now and our nation's capital just has one thing on its mind. Ottawa is sick and tired of being called vanilla! How are they going to change this view point that so many people seem to have? Well of course the only way possible. To offer some of the most crave worthy and delicious ice cream flavours possible.... for FREE!

This past weekend Ottawa Tourism partnered with an Ottawa artisan ice cream shop to launch "Not Vanilla" - an ice cream brand that shows just how exciting Ottawa can be. With literally no strings attached, anyone in Toronto from June 2nd to June 3rd was able to stop by Queen and Peter to grab a bunch of free ice cream with flavours that were inspired by all of Ottawa's cultural gems.

A simple white cube was all that was needed to capture the city's attention, but the stand out for me were those colourful boxes that the ice cream were served in. Whoever designed them deserves a promotion. Those boxes were certainly #NotVanilla.

The five flavours that were offered was:

• Rideauculous (Peppercorn + Plum)

• Roam Sweet Roam (Vegan Coffee + Date)

• ByWard ByNight (Smoked Caramel + Bitters)

• Urban Splash (Hops + Honey)

• Ottawild (Apple + Elderflower Frozen Yogurt)

These unique flavours were seriously impressive and even gives Toronto a run for its money. If ice cream is this good in Ottawa, you bet I'm packing my bags for a road trip there to see what other hidden foodie gems I can find.

Favourite Summer Menus to Explore in York Region with a Bonus Giveaway!

With summer quickly approaching the time to get out of hibernation mode and into exploration mode is upon us. This is my favourite time of the year to check out new restaurants I’ve never been to or go back to some old favourites, because lets face it, navigating through the cold and snow while wearing the heaviest of winter jackets when you’re hungry is not fun.

There’s just something about those sunny rays that reenergizes you to get out of the house and do something, and personally as a big foodie that something for me of course is to find the best restaurants and dishes that will excite my taste buds.

It can be overwhelming at first because York Region has such a large array of restaurants that you just don’t know where to start. Its diversity is evident through all the different type of cuisines you can find here, with restaurants ranging from low-key casual bars and pubs, family operated and owned, and fine dining if you choose to splurge a little bit more.

If you need a good place to start this season here are three of my favourite and highly-recommended restaurants in York Region you should definitely check out this summer. And yes all three of these restaurants have their own outdoor patio if you prefer to dine outside with Mother Nature. My personal preference!

Hungry Brew Hops

In the heart of downtown Newmarket on its revitalized Main Street, Hungry Brew Hops is York Region’s first gastropub with a mantra of “serving really good, honest food with some really good, craft beer.” Opened in 2014 this is a great place to hang out with friends and grab a beer with some of the best tasting pub food I’ve ever had. They have a draught selection of 37 taps featuring only the finest microbrews and wines (yes, even wines on tap!) from both local and abroad. Their food menu rotates seasonally offering a wide-range of items prepared in-house. This is the perfect place to cheer on your favourite sports team while downing some beers and chowing down on some great food at reasonable prices.

Top food recommendation here: Cauliflower Fritters!

Cauliflower Fritters – beer battered cauliflower, green onions, sweet chili, house dill sauce

Signature HBH Burger – beef patty, philly meat, beer-braised onions, sweet chili aioli, American white cheese, brioche bun

Skor Square – Skor, milk, chocolate, buttered crackers

Smash Kitchen & Bar

A staple in the Unionville community, Smash Kitchen & Bar provides an upscale casual restaurant atmosphere with southern-inspired comfort cuisine. There is something for everyone here as their menu offers a large variety of dishes from tacos, salads, ribs, pastas, pizzas, and steak. On most days of the week here they also have different dine-in promotions going on such as $28 AYCE ribs on Tuesdays, so you might want to check ahead of time before coming here to see if there is dine-in special fit for you. Weekend brunch is also most certainly a thing here! Think Chicken & Waffles, Crab Cakes Benedict, and Fully Loaded Omelets.

Top Food Recommendation: Lobster Mac & Cheese

Baja Fish Tacos – beer battered white fish, 2 homemade flour tortillas, citrus slaw, chipotle aioli, guacamole

Seafood Cakes – blue crab, tiger shrimp, arugula salad, caviar, tartar sauce

Smash Burger – two beef patties, cheddar cheese, smash sauce, lettuce, pickles, onion chips, brioche bun with added caramelized onion, bacon, mac & cheese cake

Lobster Mac & Cheese – tomato cheese sauce, Atlantic lobster, pico de gallo, herb crusted

Chef’s Seasonal Cheesecake – Pandan Cheesecake

Next Door Restaurant

Sister restaurant to Smash Kitchen & Bar, Next Door Restaurant is just a few minutes’ drive away nestled in the prime location of historic Main Street Unionville. Inside you’ll find a spacious dining area encased by natural light seeping through the large windows that surround it. This is a restaurant where the presentation of the dishes will blow you away as their precision and creativity in plating is what keeps me and other guests coming back for more. They also boast one of the largest outdoor patios for a restaurant in York Region, and personally one of my favourites as it sits right beside a small body of water that adds just that extra charm and elegance to the experience. Much like their sister restaurant, NextDoor also offers a killer brunch service where each dish is just as Instagrammable as the next.

Top Food Recommendation: Suckling Pig

Street Corn – crispy polenta, corn salad, goat cheese, chipotle aioli

Duck Wings – Korean ketchup, green onions, sesame seeds

Suckling Pig – braised lentils, sauerkraut puree, chicharron pickled mustard seeds

Torched Salmon – roasted sun chokes, charred leeks, leek puree, puffed wild rice, roasted carrots, ikura

Berries & Cream – pavlova, vanilla custard, lavender blueberry granite, strawberry mousse, seasonal berries

BONUS - To have a chance to try some of these dishes featured here, visit my guest blog post directly on the Experience York Region website HERE to enter in their giveaway!

At Home With The New Vitamix Explorian Series E310 - Chilled Green Pea Soup Recipe

If there's one kitchen appliance that tops the wish list for everyone year after year, most will probably say it's owning a Vitamix. It definitely was for me. The versatility of having a compact machine in your kitchen with a motor and blades powerful enough to make a wide range of recipes such as smoothies, salsas, doughs, frozen desserts, batters, and even hot soups without ever touching a stove top is a dream!

With a new year upon us comes new ideas and innovation from Vitamix. A brand new line of Vitamix blenders were being launched and I was invited to take part in a culinary journey hosted by Vitamix Canada and Chef Craig Wong of Jackpot Chicken in Toronto to see what the new Vitamix Explorian Series E310 was all about! A carefully curated menu was prepared for us where all the key ingredients of each dish was prepared by the new E310 Explorian Series Blender.

From start to finish, check out what we indulged in that night where the Vitamix E310 played an integral role in our dinner.

Flash forward a few weeks after the media launch and my grown-up, kitchen-appliance loving dreams came true! A brand new Vitamix E310 Explorian Series Blender landed on my door step and a flood of recipe possibilities through the simple act of blending came rushing through. What I love about this new series is that it perfectly fits my lifestyle and kitchen space. I don't have a huge kitchen at home, but because the Vitamix E310 is smaller than its predecessor coming in at a 48-ounce (1.4L) container it fits perfectly into my kitchen space without taking too much room on the counter. The smaller container size is also perfect to blend drinks fit for one or two people, nothing goes to waste. The smaller size also comes with a smaller price tag compared to some of the other models with a price point of CAD$400 which is what people have been asking Vitamix to come out with for a very long time. They listened!

If you're finally in the market to upgrade your smoothie game and want to get a great quality blender, but at a manageable price-point, the Vitamix Explorian Series E310 is then perfect fo r you! Here are some great features of the new Vitamix Explorian Series E310 that you'll love!

Variable Speed Control

Ten variable speeds allows you to refine every texture with culinary precision from the chunkiest salsas to the smoothest purees

Pulse Feature

Layer coarse chops over smooth purees for heartier recipes or thick vegetable soups

High-Performance Motor

The powerful 2HP motor can handle the toughest ingredients to create high-quality blends

Easy Cleaning

With just one drop of dish soap and warm water, the Vitamix E310 can clean itself in 30 to 60 seconds -  no disassembly required.

With all these great features I was able to put it all to the test at home by re-creating the exact same recipe that Chef Craig Wong made for us during the series launch at his restaurant. The "Chilled Green Pea Soup" was among one of the favourite dishes of the night and surprisingly so easy to make with the Vitamix E310 at home. You literally just need to throw in all the ingredients in the Vitamix and let it blend! All the work is done by that powerful motor and spinning blades. Before you know it a vibrant and healthy appetizer is ready to be served for a serving of 4 people. Enjoy!

Chilled Green Pea Soup

Ingredients

5 cups frozen peas
4 cups cold chicken or vegetable stock
1/4 cup mint leaves
1/4 cup baby spinach leaves, blanced, shocked in ice, squeezed of excess moisture
1 tbsp salt
1/2 tbsp ground white pepper
1/2 cup heavy cream

Directions

Add frozen peas & stock into Vitamix
Blend on high for 3 to 5 minutes until mixture is very smooth
Add mint, spinach, salt & white pepper. Blend for another 30 seconds
Add heavy cream and blend for 10 seconds
Strain the soup and refrigerate or serve chilled immediately

Chef On The Go - For All Your Catering Needs

Catering in Toronto has recently seen a resurgence in the city over the past few years in an industry that is now as competitive as ever. Catering companies have been around for decades and for many years these companies have often been overshadowed by restaurants when it comes to finding the right venue and food to plan a large or even small social gathering. In the past parties would revolve around guests traveling to a specific brick and mortar restaurant, but now with the ever changing times convenience is everything.

One of the elite catering companies in Toronto right now is Chef On The Go. Just like how the name sounds, convenience is built right into it where their dedicated kitchen staff and Executive Chef will come directly to you to create an unforgettable experience with fresh and innovative menu options for you and your guests in the Greater Toronto Area. Owner and Executive Chef, Roni Prizant started Chef On The Go back in 2011 and it's now become one of Toronto's fastest growing "boutique" catering companies. They have also just been recently awarded "Toronto's Choice Awards" by EventSource which recognizes the top 5% professional catering service providers in the city!

Roni has always had a passion for food and cooking, and from a young age he found great joy in serving his latest culinary creations to his friends and family. His heart was always in the kitchen and now with his own catering company he is able to spread his passion for food to each of his clients, ensuring a personalized hands-on service with a customized menu designed for their event and needs.

With a new year and season upon us, Chef On The Go hosted their very first Open House at their home base in North York to showcase their boutique services and new seasonal items available this year on their catering menu. With four types of catering options (private, corporate, wedding, and drop-off), their array of menu options will make any event a delicious and memorable one. Their one-of-a-kind mobile kitchen was also on site, which are perfect for event spaces that may not have a kitchen available. To get a taste of what type of food to expect from a catered event from them, you'll just have to scroll down and see!

Candy Stripped Beet Lollipops with Walnut Crust

Fully Loaded Cheese & Charcuterie Board

Mini Root Beer Float (2oz white shooter glass) & Wild Boar Sliders with Sundried Tomato Jam, Smoked Ocra & Arugula

Torched Tuna Tartar on top of Pan Fried Sushi Rice Cake w. Pickled Ginger and Chives

Sharp Cheddar Profiteroles filled with a Garlic Shrimp

Mini lobster Taco’s with a Kewpie & Heirloom Carrot Slaw

Scallion Cake with Seared Duck and a Mango Slaw with Ginger Laced Crispy Shallots & Hoisin

Banana Mousse Cake

Chocolate Ganache Tart

If you're in the midst of planning an event, big or small, make sure you reach out to Chef On The Go for all your entertaining needs. They even offer turnkey solutions for every occasion where they will handle every single detail for you from the floral arrangements, music, decor, bar services, dishware and tableware rentals, venue consultation, and staffing. Of course above all else you're going to get the highest quality catered food in the city for all your guests with any of the food options shown here (and that's only a small sample of what they offer!). The last thing you or anyone else for that matter is to be stuck inside a kitchen preparing the food where instead you should be out socializing and entertaining your guests.

Mobile Kitchen Trailer

To inquire about planning your next catered party with Chef On The Go, visit HERE to get in touch with them and get that first conversation flowing! Start visualizing now the event of your dreams and let Chef On The Go turn that dream into a reality.

At Home With Dr. Oetker's Ristorante Cioccolato Pizza

As a guy who grew up eating frozen pizzas all throughout my life, there is finally one where my sweet tooth can now also be satisfied in a mere fifteen minutes! You just can't beat the convenience of popping in a frozen pizza in your oven and then having an entire meal ready at your fingertips in about the same amount of time it takes to just boil a pot of pasta! The industry of frozen pizzas has been pretty much the same over the decades with the slight variations of the frozen pepperoni, vegetarian, and cheese pizzas. Thanks now to Dr. Oetker, they are about to shake up the entire industry and give us something we've all been yearning for in our dreams, in our chocolate dreams! Adding to their lineup of frozen pizzas, Dr. Oetker is introducing the Ristorante Cioccolato Pizza, an indulgent chocolate dessert pizza that will surely make everyone's chocolate dreams come true! It sure did mine.

We as a society have been trained to eat pizzas only as a savoury option for lunch or dinner. But why limit ourselves? With something so incredibly delicious and addictive as pizza, there's no rhyme or reason why we can't have it all the time! Marry pizza with chocolate and Dr. Oetker's Ristorante Cioccolato Pizza becomes truly a unique new SKU in the frozen pizza meal category that has never been done before.

It's made with a Ristorante chocolate crust and topped with chocolate sauce, dark chocolate chips, milk chocolate shavings, and white chocolate chunks. With literally no preparation needed, this chocolate pizza is the perfect dessert to add at the end of your home cooked meal that is pain and stress-free to make for all your family and friends.

Just like how an authentic restaurant in Italy would be like, I'm going to be enjoying my Ristorante Cioccolato Pizza after a plate of homemade pasta for dinner. And of course you can't forget that glass of red wine to go with it! A truly refined and sophisticated dining experience all in the comfort of my own home. Exactly how I like it!

Ristorante Cioccolato Pizzas are now out in store shelves at a grocery store near you! Make sure you stock up on some in your freezer for those lazy yet sophisticated nights you may have when your sweet tooth cravings come calling. You'll thank yourself later one night when you find this pizza at home just waiting to be devoured one decadent chocolate slice at a time.

Disclosure: I was paid by Dr. Oetker to review the product. However opinions are of my own.