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KMPickard

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Everything posted by KMPickard

  1. Marlene, this is your day to bask in praise. I tried the Baked Bean recipe that you posted upthread and they were fantastic. Nothing humble about those babies. Next up will be your Short Ribs with Port, Wine and Honey. Kathy
  2. Fresh curry leaves were available downstairs at the St. Lawrence Market when I was there last week. Kathy
  3. Wendy - now that you've found the apple bread you were seeking would you be so kind to post the recipe. I've yet to find just the apple cake I'm looking for and it may be that what I've actually wanted is apple bread. Thanks, Kathy
  4. My weekend morning routine is this: 1. I grind beans and filter out the fine grounds (this hint comes from an earlier French Press thread, my thanks) 2. I heat the water to boiling - fill the latte cups to heat and then pour the water, just off the boil, into the Bodum. 3. While the coffee is steeping I heat 2% lactose free milk to below boiling in the microwave. 4. When the coffee is ready I pour it into the hot cups, rinse the grounds out of the Bodum and transfer the hot milk into it. About 30 churns produces a nice foam that has a creamy mouthfeel. I don't find that it separates into foam and liquid to any significant degree. 5. We enjoy our lazy start to our day. Churning the milk right in the French Press saves having yet another gadget to store in limited space and has proved to be entirely satisfactory to us. We'll continue this way, I think, until the urge to move up to an espresso maker becomes totally irresistable. Cheers, Kathy
  5. Thanks so much for all the suggestions. Someone suggested to me today that a nut-sensitive person may be allergic to coconut as well. Whether this is accurate or not I'd rather not take any chances.....so gingersnaps it is. I'll report back post-party. Kathy
  6. I've abandoned my usual role as hostess and will be attending a family Easter gathering this weekend. My contribution is to be dessert and I'm planning on making a Lime Curd Cheesecake. I've made it before - the flavour is great and it reminds me of spring. (Spring needs all the help it can get here - another 5 inches of snow tonight ) My problem is this - I don't care for the usual graham cracker crust and I can't substitute nuts as one of the attendees has a severe nut allergy. I consulted with Susan Purdy's "The Perfect Cake" and she likes to dust a generously buttered spring form with cookie crumbs as a crust. To those more experienced than I - will it work if I toast some unsweetened dessicated coconut, mix it with a bit of granulated sugar and coat the pan with that? I thought that the coconut would harmonize with the lime and if I toast it it won't end up a sticky mess. What do you think? Thanks in advance, Kathy PS:Susan Purdy's book was an eGullet recommendation for which I'm most grateful.
  7. The only place that I've ever encountered cranberry pie, actually raisin and cranberry pie, is in Fredricton, New Brunswick (the Canadian Maritime province). My friend's mom, who is in her eighties, traditionally makes it for Christmas. And, yes, it does taste amazingly like cherry pie. Kathy
  8. I think the place you're referring to on Baldwin is the Mata Hari Grill. I was always been under the impression that it is Malaysian rather than Indonesian; but I could be mistaken. We have eaten there off and on when visiting the city since it opened in the later 90's and we've never been disappointed. It's particularly handy if you plan on visiting the AGO.The room is pleasant - far from a greasy spoon- and the food is an interesting change from Thai. The owners take a genuine pride in the food they serve. If it's any indication of authenticity the clientele is not solely Caucasian, so I don't think the food is "dumbed down" -though, admittedly, I have no basis for comparison. Kathy .
  9. We've done a couple of food walking tours in New York - the most recent one only a couple of weeks ago. That tour was in Greenwich Village - 3 hours and about 15 stops - all of whom provided very generous samples. The tour guide was enthusiastic and knowledgable. Printed material with names, addresses and phone numbers was provided and, most thoughtfully, each participant was provided with bottled water. The tour was 36.50 a person and we felt that we had received very good value. It's a great way to familiarize yourself with a neighbourhood. Being computer illiterate I can't post a link but the tour can be found on the web at imar.com. A couple of years ago we did a food/history walking tour of the Lower East Side with Big Onion walking tours. It's billed as a multi-ethnic food tour and , as I recall, we visited Little Italy, Chinatown and the Jewish delis and bakeries. There was less food and more history than the above tour - but, again, it was a very good way to spend an afternoon. Kathy
  10. Yes, that is $15.55 Canadian in Ontario LCBO's Kathy
  11. According to the LCBO Vintages price list SM Pinot Grigio sells for $15.55 in Ontario. Kathy
  12. KMPickard

    South African Wines

    Hi - I can't claim significant expertise in South African Wines, or any wines for that matter, but we do like our Sauvignon Blancs. We, also, have really enjoyed the 2002 Mulderbosch SB. Another SB that 's claimed our affection is Springfield Estate's "Life from Stone" 2002. I was lucky enough to nab a case of it when Vintages (LCBO) had it on offer earlier this year. Cheers, Kathy
  13. Oops! I just realized that I was still logged in under my SO's handle. I'd never want to be accused of putting words in his mouth. Kathy
  14. Thanks so much for the report. It sounds like the evening was that rare and wonderful convergence of a superb dininig experience presented to a group of diners ready to appreciate it to the full. I'm only slightly green with envy. K.
  15. We're just getting into the world of fine teas and enjoying our explorations tremendously. So far favourites (mine) are Koslanda Organic from the Uva area of Sri Lanka and Keemun Hao Ya "A". L leans towards Chinese Kwai Flower Oolong. We have some Darjeeling Whyte (sic) tea and I'm somewhat at a loss as to how to brew it. I've looked up several tea sites on the web and come up with brewing times of anywhere from 2-3 minutes to 7 minutes. chd also mentions in a post on another thread that the ideal way to brew white tea is to steep it overnight at room temp. So... I'm totally confused. Any suggestions for me? Thanks, Kathy
  16. KMPickard

    Amma

    Congratulations on the overwhelmingly positive reception for Amma, Suvir. How gratifying for you and Hemant. And, of course, having experienced the food only at a remove we are anxious to actually taste and smell and savour the real thing. We are planning on being in NY in late March. Please tell me how far ahead I should call in order to book a table for two. Thanks, Kathy
  17. KMPickard

    Wine and Coke

    I still remember my astonishment when a friend's elderly Italian father poured everyone seated at the dinner table half a tumbler of his (rough and ready) homemade red and then made another round of the table topping each glass up with Coke. It was his regular dinnertime quaff. Kathy
  18. One of my favourite wine reads (other than this site, of course) is Willie Gluckstern's " The Wine Avenger". It's opinionated and entertaining and has as its' emphasis food and wine together. If I lived in NYC I'd sign up for his tastings in a flash. K
  19. Explorer - I'm curious about the rest of your meal at the new Senses. I enjoyed former Senses a great deal and we're planning on a dinner there next week. When I called for a table I was told by the very pleasant reservationist that all of the previous kitchen team was still in place. Did you have the feeling that they're finding their way in the new space? Or perhaps a bit rusty after the hiatus? Thanks for your thoughts K.
  20. Oops. I just reread your original post and realized that your trip isn't until October. On the minus side the fruit season will be over. On the plus side I'll do a bit of asking around and see if a few more suggestions surface. K.
  21. I just knew that innocente wouldn't be able to avoid dissing Hamilton restaurants. We have had more than a few BAD meals there. However, two restaurants that aren't overly expensive and have been reliable on several occasions are the Gate of India at 201 James St. N and Spaghett, a pasta house at 970 Upper James ("on the mountain" in Hamilton parlance). Find the Hamilton Market too - there should be lots of wonderful tree-ripened fruit from Niagara available while you're in the city. Cherries! Peaches! Plums! Cheers, Kathy
  22. We enjoyed a charming evening at the Jackson-Triggs amphitheatre near Niagara on the Lake the other day. The concert venue consists of a large stage, covered with a canvas sail-type roof. Tiered seating rises a la Roman Amphitheatre. Patrons can sit on grassy sod, granite blocks or on the abundance of chairs that are provided. There is a tent nearby where glasses of the J-T wines are served, along with light snacks and sandwichs. The wine can be enjoyed during the performances. Pre show catered meals and wine tours can be part of the package if desired. The summer schedule is heavy on silent films with live musical acompanyment. Concert artists with upcoming shows include Peter Karrie and Cynthia Dale. Mary Lou Fallis, the PrimaDonna on a Moose, amused and delighted with her version of Canadian Art Songs, such as "By the Banks of the Saskatchewan" and "Oh What a Differrence Since the Hydro Came". They pass around the free Muskol, but a nice breeze generally keeps the 'skeeters to a tolerable level. Jackson-Triggs makes a very drinkable Gewertz.
  23. I was a KK virgin until just this afternoon. They're selling them by the box as fund raisers in our locale and since it was for charity I temporarily abandoned my low carb regimen. Lovely, light texture but so sweet they (er, I mean" it") made my toes curl. By the way, has anyone else read the list of ingredients on the side of the box? Scary. K.
  24. KMPickard

    JOV Bistro

    Hi GordonC- if you pull up the previous thread on Susur started by Wilfred you'll find my posting of our dinner experience there. (Sorry, I'm too computer illiterate to post the link myself). Our main reservations were regarding service. I suspect that the sense of rush and the lack of wine/culinary information provided had something to do with being at an early seating on a Saturday. However, at a restaurant of that calibre one expects the service to be uniformly excellent whenever one is dining. I was wondering if my expectations were out of line until we ate at Anise in Montreal ( the Daniel Patterson dinner at the Highlights Festival). Not only was the food of comparable quality and imagination but the wine service and the wait staff were head and shoulders above what we had experienced at Susur. Glad to hear that Avalon comes well recommended by you. Is the cheese course as good as I've read it is? K.
  25. We're planning a May weekend in the city and we've been mulling over the dining possibilities. Lai Wah Heen, a perennial favorite, is slotted in. We were both somewhat ambivalent about our last experience at Susur and are not in a hurry to return. Has anyone eaten at either JOV or Avalon of late? Any comments? Cheers, Kathy
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