Spending a few days in Halifax last weekend for the Liberal biennial convention, I decided to make the most of my limited outside meal opportunities by focusing on the local specialty — the Donair — and the proximity of the ocean to eat as much seafood as possible. The nearer
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A BCer in Ottawa: Eating OFF the Hill: Jollibee comes to Scarborough
The easy shorthand for explaining Jollibee to Canadians is that it’s the Filipino McDonald’s. But it seems to hold a deeper cultural resonance for those from the Philippines than McDonald’s, so perhaps Tim Horton’s would be a better comparative. After opening its first two Canadian locations in Winnipeg — Prime
Continue readingA BCer in Ottawa: Eating up the Hill: Hungarian Goulash and Palacsinta
Ventured outside the downtown to the wilds of Nepean with friends a few weekends ago for a bake sale at the Ottawa Hungarian Community Centre and a traditional Hungarian lunch. Hosted in a typical ageing community hall, emblazoned with memories of the old country and images of stern-looking Hungarian leaders
Continue readingA BCer in Ottawa: Eating up the Hill: Gnocchi with scallops at Metropolitain Brasserie
Left the precinct for lunch with a friend Friday at the Metropolitain Brasserie, a swanky French bistro on the other wide of the Chateau Laurier. Popular with the political set, particularly with Conservatives, I’ve been there a number of times for standing receptions but never for a sit-down meal, so I
Continue readingA BCer in Ottawa: Eating up the Hill: Green Curry Tempeh Bowl, Basmati Rice
Excited by the prospect of the green curry, I overlooked the word tempeh. That was my mistake. Had I taken the time to Google, I would have learned that tempeh “is a traditional soy product originating from Indonesia. It is made by a natural culturing and controlled fermentation process that
Continue readingA BCer in Ottawa: Eating up the Hill: Cheese Ravioli Bruschetta
As the House of Commons cafeterias roll out their new rotating menu of specials, they seem to have adopted meatless Mondays. Yesterday’s meatless special Cheese Ravioli Bruschetta. They began with a base of parma ravioli, containing spinach and ricotta cheese. The pasta is served in oil (I would hope olive, but
Continue readingA BCer in Ottawa: Eating up the Hill: BBQ Chicken with Fries and Coleslaw
Another new menu item in the Hill cafeteria menu rotation that caught me eye this week was the BBQ Chicken with Fries and Coleslaw. It was a dish I had decidedly mixed feelings on, and likely won’t be one of my regulars. I’ll start with the positives. It was a chicken
Continue readingA BCer in Ottawa: Eating up the Hill: Mushroom Arancini with Tomato Sauce
It’s a new year, and the Parliamentary cafeteria system is celebrating with some new additions to its menu. And after two-and-a-half-years of the same menu of specials on a six-week rotation, I for one welcome this real change. The first new menu item I had the opportunity to try the
Continue readingA BCer in Ottawa: Eating up the Hill: Lasagna at Cafe Colonade
It’s my own fault, really. Cafe Colonade is renowned for having some of the best pizza in Ottawa. So when I found myself there for dinner a little while back, I had to go and order the lasagna. You have to be in the mood for pizza. I just wasn’t
Continue readingA BCer in Ottawa: Eating up the Hill: A hike to Hintonburger
I don’t try to be negative when I do these reviews. I’m generally a pretty easy person to please, cuisine wise. But as I catch up on my food blogging, it seems I had a number of underwhelming meals in a row this summer. Today’s entry is an unnecessarily pricey
Continue readingA BCer in Ottawa: Eating up the Hill: Hunter Schnitzel at Bier Markt
Down the block from the office on Sparks Street is a franchise of Bier Markt, which I would probably visit more often if I liked beer. But I don’t. Sometimes, however, duty calls, particularly during patio season, and I visit this Belgian-inspired restaurant. And I’ll just say, there’s a reason
Continue readingA BCer in Ottawa: Eating up the Hill: When we weren’t watching they completely changed how we make tacos
I’m taking a temporary pause from my Hill and Hill-adjacent food blogging to discuss an incredibly important food-related topic: a massive and unannounced under the radar change to the fundamental physics of taco meat preparation. Ever since I began cooking regularly in my later teenage years (a very fair trade
Continue readingA BCer in Ottawa: Eating up the Hill: Pizza Hut Lunch Buffet
Not every Pizza Hut offers the all-you-can-eat lunch buffet. But those that do are magnificent. Luckily, the one in Ottawa on Bank Street, south of Walkley is about a 20-minute bus ride away so I don’t visit too often. Otherwise, it could be dangerous. I did make a mid-week visit
Continue readingA BCer in Ottawa: Eating up the Hill: Chicken Tandoori Kabob at Afghani Kabob Express
I was first introduced to the cuisine of Afghanistan during the last nomination cycle, as an Afghan restaurant in Scarborough became one of our regular post-canvass meal destinations. I enjoyed it and, since I moved to Ottawa, Afghani Kabob Express at Bank and Lisgar has been a regular dinner stop.
Continue readingA BCer in Ottawa: Eating up the Hill: Chimichanga at Pancho Villa
Since we’re in the summer, I’ll venture a little outside a few-block radius of Parliament Hill for my food blogging. Today’s entry took me to Elgin and Frank for a holiday visit to Pancho Villa for some Mexican food. It being a pleasant day, I decided to sit on the
Continue readingA BCer in Ottawa: Eating up the Hill: Sliders with SLOAN in the East Block Courtyard
All of a sudden the weather is nicer in Ottawa, so on Tuesday evening I popped over to the East Block Courtyard for the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN) reception. The attraction for most was the promised musical performances by SLOAN and Charlotte Cardin. Other
Continue readingA BCer in Ottawa: Eating up the Hill: Flavours of Canada (Atlantic) buffet
I’ve missed the last few fancy buffets at the Parliamentary Restaurant, including the buffet meant to welcome the arrival of spring — probably appropriate, as spring has yet to actually arrive in Ottawa. Still, when an Atlantic Canada theme was offered up last Friday as part of the restaurant’s Flavours
Continue readingA BCer in Ottawa: Eating up the Hill: These fish tacos were a mess
Fish tacos have been on the parliamentary cafeteria menu for some time, but it never really occurred to me to order them until, while in line one day at the made to order stir fry station, I noticed one pan was being used to fry to order two fillets of
Continue readingA BCer in Ottawa: Eating up the Hill: Pho Fridays at the Wellington Cafeteria
I’ve written before about the Made to Order Bar at the swanky new Wellington Building cafeteria. It’s omelettes in the morning and alternates between pasta and stir fry at lunch, and is the best thing about the new caf. On Fridays though, the rotation is broken up with made to
Continue readingA BCer in Ottawa: Eating up the Hill: Pho Fridays at the Wellington Cafeteria
I’ve written before about the Made to Order Bar at the swanky new Wellington Building cafeteria. It’s omelettes in the morning and alternates between pasta and stir fry at lunch, and is the best thing about the new caf. On Fridays though, the rotation is broken up with made to
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