Back a year ago, I wrote about the last day of smoking in bars in Nova Scotia.
Smoked Out at Tom's
Now we are a year later, and my concerns about the future of one of my favourite watering holes have been diminished somewhat. The same people are back, though they smoke outside now. The staff are still the best. And the beer and the food are even better. The tap of Garrison IPA is one of the freshest in the city, with a large volume of sales of this, my new favourite beer. And the kitchen has been revamped, and now the food is even better.
In fact, Tom's might be the best place to eat in town that you have not eaten at yet.
I recommend the Havana Roll, or the Green Curry Chicken, or the pizza of the day.
Just don't take my seat. Cause the place is probably standing room only. And smoke free at that!
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Oh Gee! Gio!
After having been to this "Not a Hotel Restaurant" I think four times, none with L, I finally got off my butt and took her out to dinner there this past week.
Gio is the restaurant in the Prince George Hotel in downtown Halifax. The Prince George has a chef whose name is getting too big for the hotel - Ray Bear, and this place was the management's strategy to get him to stay. Or that's how I heard it, anyway. The place was created under the very careful, and detailed eye of Craig Norton, Manager, and Sommelier. Craig has a great sense of design, and detail, and it shows in the place, from the choice of tea bags, to the towels in the washroom. I had emailed him to let him know I'd be at dinner, in case he was around. But he had apparently been dragged off to something in Toronto that day.
I arrived after L, and she was waiting with her tea, reading the menu. The tea was in a little pyramid mesh container with a string coming from the top with a "leaf" on the end. A beautiful product. Detail. The cutlery and china are pretty unique, although familiar from our times at Saege, where the chef is friends with Ray Bear, and shares the same supplier.
I order a glass of 30 Bench Riesling, and we set to the menu in earnest, as the breads arrive (three types, with the butter soft enough to spread - detail). And an amuse bouche consisitng of one tiny quail's leg. (peep peep)
Our appetizers arrive in good time, my ravioli stuffed with kobe beef short rib with oyster mushroom and red wine jus is an ample portion (one past criticism of Gio had been small portions) and L's pork belly with smoked pomegranate molasses, parsnip, potato chip and apple confit set the stage for what will be quite the evening of eating. Both dishes are excellent.
I had discussed my appetizer choice with the server, as I had been torn between the raviloi and the carpaccio. On clearing our plates, two small versions of the carpaccio arrive, out of the blue. Perhaps Craig is around. This was so thinly sliced, I had to almost cut it off the plate. In my mouth with the brioche and a bit of the Lohr Valdiguié red wine I now had in front of me, some magic happened. That wine was a curiosity I wanted to fulfill, but my server wisely suggested that if I was going to order the venison, it would not do the trick. He was right. A glass of Mazzei Poggio alla Badiolo was soon sitting there for that, but he brought me some Valdiguié anyway. It was very Gamay-like, with carbonic maceration evident. With the fluffy brioche and carpaccio it was light and almost serious. On its own, similar to an ordinary Beaujolais Villages.
After a more substantial wait, and regular attention to L's and my water glasses (hers with some infused water - detail) the main courses arrived. As usual, at Gio, the presentation is of high quality, and almost too beautiful to distrub in order to eat. But eat we do.
My venison is simply amazing. I am not a game eater, normally, but this was like great filet mignon with complexity. The server said that it came from a ranch in Alberta. The veggies seemed scarce, but that may have been due to the size of the plate. Green beans slit down the seam with the sectioned seeds inside created a simple but beautiful effect. L's rack of lamb was huge, with a lot of perfectly done meat, and so flavourful I almost, but not quite, swapped plates by force.
Let me be clear. I loved this venison. It was rare. I was having visions of hunting with spears in the deep dark woods.
We took our time, more tea for L, and ordered desserts, L having a "wanna.gotta.havea", a flourless orange almond cake with orange curd, pistachio ice cream, blood orange sauce and frozen nougat. I ordered the assorted cheese plate, and this was a revalation. Five type of cheese, each with a little fruit choice to match, and some of that crispy thin fruit and nut bread/cracker. One cheese, called Rolling Thunder, a hard parmesan like cheese form Thunder Bay (of all places) was amazing with a fig chutney and hazlenuts. Borgonzola bathing in blackberry sauce with one large blackberry to eat with it, some braised brie sat on top of a bit of melon.... you get the idea. I ate every little crumb of everything.
We had had a MEAL. One of the best ever in Halifax. A truly enjoyable evening, with one of the best servers I have experienced in years. All in, including tip (two glasses of wine, though they comped me one) was about $190. But who cares when the food is durn near perfect?
Gio is the restaurant in the Prince George Hotel in downtown Halifax. The Prince George has a chef whose name is getting too big for the hotel - Ray Bear, and this place was the management's strategy to get him to stay. Or that's how I heard it, anyway. The place was created under the very careful, and detailed eye of Craig Norton, Manager, and Sommelier. Craig has a great sense of design, and detail, and it shows in the place, from the choice of tea bags, to the towels in the washroom. I had emailed him to let him know I'd be at dinner, in case he was around. But he had apparently been dragged off to something in Toronto that day.
I arrived after L, and she was waiting with her tea, reading the menu. The tea was in a little pyramid mesh container with a string coming from the top with a "leaf" on the end. A beautiful product. Detail. The cutlery and china are pretty unique, although familiar from our times at Saege, where the chef is friends with Ray Bear, and shares the same supplier.
I order a glass of 30 Bench Riesling, and we set to the menu in earnest, as the breads arrive (three types, with the butter soft enough to spread - detail). And an amuse bouche consisitng of one tiny quail's leg. (peep peep)
Our appetizers arrive in good time, my ravioli stuffed with kobe beef short rib with oyster mushroom and red wine jus is an ample portion (one past criticism of Gio had been small portions) and L's pork belly with smoked pomegranate molasses, parsnip, potato chip and apple confit set the stage for what will be quite the evening of eating. Both dishes are excellent.
I had discussed my appetizer choice with the server, as I had been torn between the raviloi and the carpaccio. On clearing our plates, two small versions of the carpaccio arrive, out of the blue. Perhaps Craig is around. This was so thinly sliced, I had to almost cut it off the plate. In my mouth with the brioche and a bit of the Lohr Valdiguié red wine I now had in front of me, some magic happened. That wine was a curiosity I wanted to fulfill, but my server wisely suggested that if I was going to order the venison, it would not do the trick. He was right. A glass of Mazzei Poggio alla Badiolo was soon sitting there for that, but he brought me some Valdiguié anyway. It was very Gamay-like, with carbonic maceration evident. With the fluffy brioche and carpaccio it was light and almost serious. On its own, similar to an ordinary Beaujolais Villages.
After a more substantial wait, and regular attention to L's and my water glasses (hers with some infused water - detail) the main courses arrived. As usual, at Gio, the presentation is of high quality, and almost too beautiful to distrub in order to eat. But eat we do.
My venison is simply amazing. I am not a game eater, normally, but this was like great filet mignon with complexity. The server said that it came from a ranch in Alberta. The veggies seemed scarce, but that may have been due to the size of the plate. Green beans slit down the seam with the sectioned seeds inside created a simple but beautiful effect. L's rack of lamb was huge, with a lot of perfectly done meat, and so flavourful I almost, but not quite, swapped plates by force.
Let me be clear. I loved this venison. It was rare. I was having visions of hunting with spears in the deep dark woods.
We took our time, more tea for L, and ordered desserts, L having a "wanna.gotta.havea", a flourless orange almond cake with orange curd, pistachio ice cream, blood orange sauce and frozen nougat. I ordered the assorted cheese plate, and this was a revalation. Five type of cheese, each with a little fruit choice to match, and some of that crispy thin fruit and nut bread/cracker. One cheese, called Rolling Thunder, a hard parmesan like cheese form Thunder Bay (of all places) was amazing with a fig chutney and hazlenuts. Borgonzola bathing in blackberry sauce with one large blackberry to eat with it, some braised brie sat on top of a bit of melon.... you get the idea. I ate every little crumb of everything.
We had had a MEAL. One of the best ever in Halifax. A truly enjoyable evening, with one of the best servers I have experienced in years. All in, including tip (two glasses of wine, though they comped me one) was about $190. But who cares when the food is durn near perfect?
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
The Lebanese Invasion
Spring Garden Road is about to be home to the second Khababji, opening in the City Centre Atlantic Building up in behind Pete's Frootique, and next to Premier Wine and Spirits (who suddenly have Lebanese wine on their shelves!). The first Khababji is in Burnside, on Thomas Raddall Drive on the way to the Ramada Burnside (back to back with Pets Unlimited).
They join the second outlet of Tarek's Cafe (also on Robie and Russell in the mini mall) in bringing very tasty Lebanese themed food to SGR.
I am currently full from Tarek's first place, again having chosen the Beef Taco Pita with extra hot sauce. Last night was Thai Chabba, the night before the Hungry Chili.... The night before that was dinner with my parents, so that was tame, but the night before that was Green Curry Chicken at Tom's. I guess I am compensating for winter with the heat in my mouth!
They join the second outlet of Tarek's Cafe (also on Robie and Russell in the mini mall) in bringing very tasty Lebanese themed food to SGR.
I am currently full from Tarek's first place, again having chosen the Beef Taco Pita with extra hot sauce. Last night was Thai Chabba, the night before the Hungry Chili.... The night before that was dinner with my parents, so that was tame, but the night before that was Green Curry Chicken at Tom's. I guess I am compensating for winter with the heat in my mouth!
Hot times in the old town....
Went to a beer drinking contest at Garrison Brewery the other night. Okay, it was a bunch of people sharing about a thousand different beers, most of which were extremely hoppy IPA's shipped in from all over who knows where.
The guru of the grains/headmaster of the hops, Greg Nash oversees these little get-togethers every now and then, masked as quality control sessions. The purpose of this one was, ostensibly, to test out the new beer he is about to release, a dunkelweizenbock, a dark strong wheat beer. (those Germans have a different name for everything!)
The beer was great, bordering on Aventinus for you geeks, but not quite the malt levels of that "standard" from Munich.
This gathering allowed my my first (finally) opportunity to try the food form The Hungry Chili, a little hole in the wall Szechuan place on Blowers Street. This street is so short, I won't bother looking up the address - find the street, you'll find the place.
We ordered in a mess of stuff from there. All of it was great - perhaps because all of it had some heat, but the flavours were real. I had crispy fish with their sauce, cashew chicken, spicy pork, and ginger beef. I want to know where they buy their ginger, because it was simply beautiful. I ate the ginger itself, not just the beef.
The only quibble was the rice - by the time we got it, it was mushy and overcooked.
I NEED to go and eat there in person now.
The guru of the grains/headmaster of the hops, Greg Nash oversees these little get-togethers every now and then, masked as quality control sessions. The purpose of this one was, ostensibly, to test out the new beer he is about to release, a dunkelweizenbock, a dark strong wheat beer. (those Germans have a different name for everything!)
The beer was great, bordering on Aventinus for you geeks, but not quite the malt levels of that "standard" from Munich.
This gathering allowed my my first (finally) opportunity to try the food form The Hungry Chili, a little hole in the wall Szechuan place on Blowers Street. This street is so short, I won't bother looking up the address - find the street, you'll find the place.
We ordered in a mess of stuff from there. All of it was great - perhaps because all of it had some heat, but the flavours were real. I had crispy fish with their sauce, cashew chicken, spicy pork, and ginger beef. I want to know where they buy their ginger, because it was simply beautiful. I ate the ginger itself, not just the beef.
The only quibble was the rice - by the time we got it, it was mushy and overcooked.
I NEED to go and eat there in person now.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Crusin'
So I talked L into going on a cruise with me again. But not just any cruise, this was the first Cayamo - a music cruise. Basically it works like this, as far as I can tell. They then start booking musical acts to play on the ship, which has some very good spaces for live music. A cruise that normally costs $599 a person is sold for $799 a person (cheap room). But that $200 buys you an amazing experience.
On this ship we had, sailing along with us, and playing every day, a cast of famous, semi famous, and soon to be famous singer songwriter musicians and in some cases, their bands.
Lyle Lovett, Emmylou Harris, Shawn Colvin, John Hiatt, Patty Griffin, Brandi Carlile and Buddy Miller were headliners. Shawn Mullins, Beth Wood, The Duhks, Edwin McCain, Holly Williams and Ari Hest were there. And a bunch of young up and comers as well, including my fave, Chris Janson.
I am currently in musical recovery. For an idea of what we got to see, go to YouTube and type in Cayamo. You can then start to understand.
Carnival Cruise line has pretty good beer - I survived on Sam Adams lager, and Pilsner Urquel. Their wine list was very good, and the by the glass selection was something like 15 wines. The food, as on most cruise ships these days, was very good, and omnipresent.
On this ship we had, sailing along with us, and playing every day, a cast of famous, semi famous, and soon to be famous singer songwriter musicians and in some cases, their bands.
Lyle Lovett, Emmylou Harris, Shawn Colvin, John Hiatt, Patty Griffin, Brandi Carlile and Buddy Miller were headliners. Shawn Mullins, Beth Wood, The Duhks, Edwin McCain, Holly Williams and Ari Hest were there. And a bunch of young up and comers as well, including my fave, Chris Janson.
I am currently in musical recovery. For an idea of what we got to see, go to YouTube and type in Cayamo. You can then start to understand.
Carnival Cruise line has pretty good beer - I survived on Sam Adams lager, and Pilsner Urquel. Their wine list was very good, and the by the glass selection was something like 15 wines. The food, as on most cruise ships these days, was very good, and omnipresent.
Wine of the Month - Queen of Hearts Pinot Noir
Pick a card. Any card.
I'll take the Queen of Hearts. The Pinot Noir.
I already did. For the first time in 20 years, I bought a full case of wine form the NSLC.
This wine tastes like a $30 California Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara. It is Lucas and Llewelyn's second label "fun wine". Note the signature strawberry fruit ester, a hallmark of Santa Barbara. Yep, terroir from California for $16!!!
At $15.99, as far as this pinot-phile is concerned, it is a total steal.
Those who think otherwise, thank you. You leave more for me.
I'll take the Queen of Hearts. The Pinot Noir.
I already did. For the first time in 20 years, I bought a full case of wine form the NSLC.
This wine tastes like a $30 California Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara. It is Lucas and Llewelyn's second label "fun wine". Note the signature strawberry fruit ester, a hallmark of Santa Barbara. Yep, terroir from California for $16!!!
At $15.99, as far as this pinot-phile is concerned, it is a total steal.
Those who think otherwise, thank you. You leave more for me.
Back in the Saddle
OK, my apologies to anyone who was actually checking in to read my musings. The reason I started this was not to rant and rave, but to keep up my writing chops and maybe exorcise the odd demon along the way.
So, what have I been up to? Well I got too busy. I work for myself, and like any other round heeled slut, (wait, I'm not a round heeled slut...) I just could not say no.
So here I am, working on the design of 21 seniors homes. And I keep reminding those people also working on them that we are not designing them for the people in them now - we are designing them for OURSELVES!
I have done a bit of partying, seen some great bands, and even taken a cruise around the Caribbean with Lyle Lovett, Emmylou Harris, John Hiatt, Shawn Colvin and Patty Griffin.
And I have been to one opera, almost live, direct from the Metropolitan Opera House, or as we opera-ites say "The Met" (can you tell I am quite the insider already?)
I have consumed a LOT of good booze since I last posted. Why? Because it is there, Thanks God, or Bacchus, or Saint Arnould.
The best meal since I last posted was probably at Saege, the new menu.... Yeah, that gnocchi is calling me.
I'm back. With vigour and rigour. (no mortis)
So, what have I been up to? Well I got too busy. I work for myself, and like any other round heeled slut, (wait, I'm not a round heeled slut...) I just could not say no.
So here I am, working on the design of 21 seniors homes. And I keep reminding those people also working on them that we are not designing them for the people in them now - we are designing them for OURSELVES!
I have done a bit of partying, seen some great bands, and even taken a cruise around the Caribbean with Lyle Lovett, Emmylou Harris, John Hiatt, Shawn Colvin and Patty Griffin.
And I have been to one opera, almost live, direct from the Metropolitan Opera House, or as we opera-ites say "The Met" (can you tell I am quite the insider already?)
I have consumed a LOT of good booze since I last posted. Why? Because it is there, Thanks God, or Bacchus, or Saint Arnould.
The best meal since I last posted was probably at Saege, the new menu.... Yeah, that gnocchi is calling me.
I'm back. With vigour and rigour. (no mortis)
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