While #DonutGate went viral earlier this week when Prime Minister Trudeau bought donuts at a local donut shop in Winnipeg and something something drama, I have been preparing this review of Tim Hortons’ new Dream donuts for more than a week (eating these all in a day would make me
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A BCer in Ottawa: Eating off the Hill: Boneless chicken comes to Nando’s
As I’ve written before, I’m a fan of the Nando’s peri peri chicken. It’s like Swiss Chalet, but spicy. And good. It’s one of the earlier Eating off the Hill reviews I wrote. I found Nando’s-branded Peri Peri sauce at Farm Boy before Christmas, and have been enjoying it. So,
Continue readingA BCer in Ottawa: Eating off the Hill: Pudgyboy’s closes, never really got better
Just over a year ago I reviewed Pudgyboy’s, a new diner in Centretown at Bank and Mcleran that offered small portions at big prices. I found it overpriced and mediocre, but resolved to give it another try down the road. I did indeed return just before Christmas, and unfortunately things
Continue readingA BCer in Ottawa: Eating off the Hill: Taco Tuesday at Toro Taqueria
After four years working on Parliament Hill, I’m always on the lookout for new and different lunching options, having tried most places at least a few times. So I was pleased during recent Google Maps and Yelp trolling to find a new taco option not too far outside my usual
Continue readingA BCer in Ottawa: Eating up the Hill: Pizza 2.0 a marked improvement from the Hill cafeteria
I wrote earlier about some of the changes made at the Parliamentary cafeterias during the summer/election break and the first I spotlighted, the supposed Peri Peri chicken, was a definite miss. Yesterday, I tried their new pizza, and thankfully, it was definite change for the better. The earlier pizza available
Continue readingA BCer in Ottawa: Eating up the Hill: Peri peri makeover for the 43rd Parliament
While the politicians and staffers were off since late June running for re/election, the Parliamentary cateteria staff were busy with lots of little changes here and there. In addition to easier to read menus and a new shelf to sell unhealthy chocolate bars, they’ve tweeked some menu items. And I
Continue readingA BCer in Ottawa: Eating off the Hill: St. Andrews Fish and Chips
As I’ve mentioned before, Scarborough is an ethnic food oasis. One of the few remaining remanants of the Scarborough of yesteday though are assorted fish and chips spots. And the one that was my regular spot during my decade Scarborough residency is St. Andrews Fish & Chops. There’s now a
Continue readingA BCer in Ottawa: Eating off the Hill: Northern Smokes BBQ in Scarborough
I believed I’ve mentioned before my fondness for southern-style BBQ developed during several trips to the Austin, Texas area during my previous career. Obviously nothing can compare, but a lot of BBQ joints in this style have been popping up in Canada and I recently tried one of them —
Continue readingA BCer in Ottawa: Eating up the Hill: The Buffet is back, but no, not really at all, actually
Like most Hill dwellers, I was a big fan of the semi-weekly Friday buffets at the old Parliamentary Dining Room in Centre Block. A long table filled with sumptuous salads, meaty entrees, and sinfully sweet deserts, all for an affordable $20 or so. So I was sad to break the
Continue readingA BCer in Ottawa: Eating up the Hill: Prime Ministerial lamb chops
As the clock winds down on the 42nd Parliament, it’s reception and garden party season in Ottawa. And on Wednesday, Liberal staffers gathered at 24 Sussex for a garden party hosted by Prime Minister Trudeau and Sophie GrĂ©goire Trudeau at his childhood home. Last year the party fell on a
Continue readingA BCer in Ottawa: Eating up the Hill: Lunching at the new West Block Parliamentary Dining Room
It will be a decade or more (definitey more) before the Parliamentary Dining Room reopens in Centre Block with its cosy alcoves and river views…and its delicious buffets. Until then, the Dining Room has moved to a cozier underground location in West Block. They were open last week to work
Continue readingA BCer in Ottawa: Eating OFF the Hill: Farm to table at 10 Acres in Victoria
Back West in the Comox Valley for Christmas, and the other day we drove down to Victoria to spend the night, and pick up my sister and nephew. An opportunity for a nice local dinner, and the farm to table menu at 10 Acres Kitchen ticked all the boxes. Just
Continue readingA BCer in Ottawa: Eating OFF the Hill: Capitol Burger at Queen Street Fare
A little over three years back in Ottawa and I’ve lunched at about pretty much everywhere I want to lunch within walking distance of the Parliamentary precinct. So, when Queen Street re-opened to two-way traffic this week and my bus to work was re-routed (to link up with the Parliament
Continue readingA BCer in Ottawa: Eating OFF the Hill: Everything is small at Pudgyboy’s but the price and the wait
The south-east corner of Bank and Macleran in Ottawa’s Centretown has been somewhat of a deathspot for reasturants. I’ve lost track of the food spots that have come and gone in that spot since I moved back three years ago. There was a BBQ spot I didn’t get a chance
Continue readingA BCer in Ottawa: Eating up the Hill: The days are numbered for the Parliamentary Reasturant buffet
Members and staff got a sneak peek at the newly renovated West Block on Wednesday, which will take over many of the functions of Centre Block in January when the latter shuts down for a decade (smart money bets the over) of renovation. While much of the attention rightly has
Continue readingA BCer in Ottawa: Eating up the Hill: Piri piri chicken with corn on the cob & chips
As part of the Parliamentary Cafeteria’s menu revitalization they’ve been introducing more ethnic dishes, or at least ethnic-inspired dishes. One of the new offerings fits this category: piri piri chicken with corn on the cob and chips. As a fan of Nando’s, the Portugese chicken chain out of South Africa
Continue readingA BCer in Ottawa: Eating up the Hill: Winner winner Chicken Farmers dinner
The annual Chicken Farmers reception is, for those who are fans of chicken, one of the top receptions of the Parliament Hill reception circuit, right up there with the Cattlemen. Last year’s shindig was cancelled because of the gas leak in the downtown area, so they really wanted to bring
Continue readingA BCer in Ottawa: Eating up the Hill: How to get a decent gyro from the Parliamentary cafeteria
You need to have your expectations set realistically when you visit the Parliamentary cafeteria, given the limitations of a mass fast-service cafeteria setting. That said, there are some things they do well, like pastas and stir fries. Gyros would be on the other list, but friends, it can be saved.
Continue readingA BCer in Ottawa: Eating up the Hill: Mixed Grill at Paramount Fine Foods
For those who keep Halal, the opening of a franchise of the popular Toronto-based chain Paramount Fine Foods at the Rideau Centre is a welcome sight. It’s a needed addition to the downtown Ottawa Halal options, which are basically limited to Afghani Kabab Express, Nando‘s, and 100 different shawarma places.
Continue readingA BCer in Ottawa: Eating up the Hill: Anthony’s on Bank
The need to go to the Glebe after work one day last week to stock up on furnace filters (it’s called adulting, people) led me to decide to make an outing of it and try the wood oven pizza from Anthony’s on Bank, a spinoff of the more trendily located
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