Year Two in Food

As I sit here in my new little office/corner of our tiny living room and I look down at my giant stack of shiny business cards and a list of stories about my recent travels just waiting to be told, I can’t help but think about all that’s changed in the past year. I made a food film, I visited four countries, and I have written more posts this year than ever. I have more and more lovely people reading about my culinary adventures everyday, and with the start of my Journalism degree at Kings this week, I can’t help but get nostalgic.

And then I think about all the amazing food I ate this year and I start drooling.

So, without further ado, year two of The Food Girl in Town.

The Best Thing I Cooked: A TURKEY!

This might not seem like such a feat to the average cook, but this past year was the first Thanksgiving I ever hosted on my own and it was tough. But I persevered and made a pretty juicy turkey, thanks to all that bacon grease I basted it with.

The Best Cocktail: ‘Fat Beets’ from L’Entrée Des Artistes, Paris.

This luscious libation blew my mind on our last night in Paris this past June.  L’Entree des Artistes is on the rue de Crussol near Oberkampf metro station in the second Arondissment and this hipster hole-in-the-wall makes amazing cocktails and small plates.

The ‘Fat Beets’ was a beet cocktail, that’s right, a cocktail made of beets, with juicy citrus notes and just the perfect amount of vodka. It was so delicious I had three and probably could have substituted supper for a fourth.

(P.S. a post about the food, and Adam’s tobacco cocktail, is coming very soon)

The Best Dessert: Hot Chocolate at Cafe Tomaselli, Salzburg

This is a must visit in Salzburg’s Alter Markt (Old Town); Mozart is said to have frequented Cafe Tomaselli to drink the hot chocolate, and it was like nothing I have ever tasted. It was as if someone had melted the most decadent chocolate bar in the world, poured it into a cup, and topped it with whipped cream.

Simply divine.

The Best Breakfast: Brunch at Mallard Cottage

When I was home in St. John’s last February I went to brunch at Mallard Cottage. The food was delicious and don’t even get me started on those potatoes! Between the amazing atmosphere and the Brakey Special, there’s a lot to say. You can read all about it in my post ‘Mallard Cottage’.

The Strangest Thing I Ate: Tripe

I ate tripe not once, but twice this year on two different continents. The first time was at Kee Heong Cantonese Bakery in downtown Halifax, and you can read all about my experience in my post about Kee Heong. The tripe was spicy, really tasty, and not scary at all.

The second tripe was in Florence at Osteria Tripperia Il Magazzino where it took on a completely different identity. Immersed in fresh tomato sauce, the offal was just heavenly.

My Favourite Local Adventure: Sugar Moon Farm

From camping to day trips, I spent a lot of weekends exploring all this province has to offer, and while I still have lots to do on my NS bucket list, the best adventure I had this year was visiting the Sugar Moon maple syrup farm! It was so much fun, and I ate enough maple butter to give myself diabetes. Read all about my adventure in Maple Brunch at Sugar Moon Farm.

My Favourite Event: Savour Food & Wine Show

Hands down, the best event I attended all year. I had so much fun trying dishes that restaurants from all over the province had to offer. Combine that with tasting amazing Nova Scotia wines and you’ve got yourself one hell of an evening. Have a look at my post ‘Savour Food & Wine 2014‘ for all the delicious details.

The Worst Thing I Ate: That crappy lasagna in Bologna

On our last night in Bologna, Adam and I went to a restaurant near the hotel, even though all my restaurant spidey senses told me to keep walking. We were tired from our day trip to Modena, and we paid for it. The lasagna was dry, it was cold, and it was just a sad excuse for Italian cuisine. I am still upset about this meal. I can’t even talk about it.

The Best Thing I Ate: A Plate of Cheese at Trattoria del Tribunale, Parma

Believe it or not, the best thing I ate all year was so simple: A plate of fresh parmigiano reggiano accompanied prosciutto di parma at Trattoria del Tribunale on the hottest day ever in Italy. The sweaty frustration of finding this hidden restaurant melted away when the waiter brought over the most gorgeous plate of freshly shaved prosciutto, and a giant plate of parmesan cheese.

Parmesan cheese in Parma is like nothing I’ve ever had. This is nothing like the Kraft shit that people shake onto pasta, nor is it the shredded ‘real’ stuff you get from the deli at Superstore. This is heaven. Sharp and just the right amount of crumbly, I didn’t have a bite of bread with it, there was just no need.

Well there you have it, year two, and what a filling year it was. I’m anxious to see what’s coming up for the next course. Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for what’s next on the menu.Bon Appetit.