Shari G. posted an article on Whisk: a food blog - Feb 9, 2012, 11:07 pm
Debbie Trenholm of Savvy Grapes hosted a Winterlude Winemakers' Brunch last weekend at the National Arts Centre. The brunch was catered by the team under Chef Michael Blackie of Le Café and included his famous General Blackie's Chicken. (According to FoodiePrints, "the crispy fried chicken is sa...
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Shari G. posted an article on Whisk: a food blog - Feb 6, 2012, 12:01 am
Taffy on the Snow is nature's best candy. Though I usually associate it as a sugar shack tradition, I was excited to see it offered at Ottawa's Winterlude. As part of our skate on the Rideau Canal Skateway, which is the world's largest skating rink, we stopped to indulge in this sweet treat. &#...
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Shari G. posted an article on Whisk: a food blog - Feb 1, 2012, 7:33 pm
Taste&Travel will be at the Cancun Riviera Maya Wine & Food Festival March 15-18, 2012. Special guest will be Ferran Adrià, famous chef of El Bulli. Taste&Travel is the principal media partner for Canada for this event. The Cancun Riviera Maya Wine & Food Festival 2012 will h...
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Shari G. posted an article on Whisk: a food blog - Jan 23, 2012, 12:01 am
The best part of Ottawa is the Rideau Canal Skateway, which is the world's largest skating rink. When all sections are open, it stretches 7.8 km (4.8 miles). The season seems short as the ice tends to last for four to six weeks, if we're lucky. And a skate on the canal for me always ends with a Beav...
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Shari G. posted an article on Whisk: a food blog - Jan 9, 2012, 6:32 am
Pescado Zarandeado is a signature Mexican dish that varies depending on the chef creating it. It can involve marinating a whole fish in a combination of lemon juice, garlic, soy sauce and lime. The choice of fish is often Pargo, which has sufficient fat content to prevent it from drying out during t...
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Shari G. posted an article on Whisk: a food blog - Dec 22, 2011, 7:17 am
You'd think with all the food that appears on this blog that there would be clouds of flour and aromas of cinnamon wafting throughout my home. But, like everyone, I'm scrambling to find the balance of working, blogging and family life. One year, I made over 500 cookies before...
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Shari G. posted an article on Whisk: a food blog - Dec 7, 2011, 7:06 am
Though it's already December, I'm still trying to catch up on my November to do list! Here are some highlights from last month. November started out with an amazing trip to Mazatlan, Mexico for a Gran Fiesta and Culinary Tour. Here are a couple of the food highligh...
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Shari G. posted an article on Whisk: a food blog - Dec 3, 2011, 9:09 pm
I haven’t touched a palm tree in many years. For me, a palm tree is my centering thought, the one thing I visualize when I’m tense or stressed. It was the image I was going to use during labor, but now it’s one I use during everyday life. It had been too long since I felt the bark of the palm....
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Shari G. posted an article on Whisk: a food blog - Nov 14, 2011, 2:05 pm
  Horchata I love food, and I love travel. Experiencing life in a different place, tasting new flavors, smelling salty or unfamiliar air and trying to capture it in my memory or through the lens of my camera resets my soul, makes me smile and reminds me of what li...
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Shari G. posted an article on Whisk: a food blog - Oct 27, 2011, 10:02 pm
Well, it's almost Halloween, my girls' second favorite holiday after Christmas. We've had our traditional ghost milkshakes (with more whipped cream than milkshake this year!) and the costumes are ready. It's been a busy time, and I wanted to highlight a few things that happen...
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Shari G. posted an article on Whisk: a food blog - Oct 24, 2011, 12:01 am
Not all salads are easy. This one is. Just a simple vinaigrette with fresh ingredients. And if you love cilantro, you'll love this combination. Cilantro is also known as Chinese Parsley and comes from the leaves of the coriander plant. I know there are people who find cilantro...
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Shari G. posted an article on Whisk: a food blog - Oct 23, 2011, 9:51 pm
Not all salads are easy. This one is. Just a simple vinaigrette with fresh ingredients. And if you love cilantro, you'll love this combination. Cilantro is also known as Chinese Parsley and comes from the leaves of the coriander plant. I know there are people who find cilantro...
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Shari G. posted an article on Whisk: a food blog - Oct 17, 2011, 7:10 am
Wondering what to do with puff pastry? Make Caramel Apple Tarts. At this time of year when the apples are falling off the tree, I crave caramel apples. At every fair, it's the one treat I look forward to. This is just caramel apples in a crust. Yum! If y...
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Shari G. posted an article on Whisk: a food blog - Oct 10, 2011, 9:57 pm
Puff pastry is a magical dough that requires sweat and muscle. Through the layering (or laminating) of butter and dough, the butter gets trapped. When the dough is rolled out, shaped and put in the oven, the butter tries to escape by pushing apart the layers of dough. The tri...
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Shari G. posted an article on Whisk: a food blog - Oct 3, 2011, 12:01 am
If you're patient, in a few hours you can make brioche. You just need a teaspoon of yeast, a half dozen eggs and almost half a pound of butter along with the usual breadlike suspects. Brioche is classified as a viennoiserie (Viennese Specialties), which are baked goods made fr...
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Shari G. posted an article on Whisk: a food blog - Sep 26, 2011, 8:11 am
I thought croissants would be more difficult to make. But, if you've made puff pastry, croissants are just "baby" puff pastries with fewer turns and a rest in the refrigerator overnight. Still, I need to practice to get the perfect croissant and attain the flakiness that you get with a Parisien croi...
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Shari G. posted an article on Whisk: a food blog - Sep 5, 2011, 10:53 pm
Though my goal was to make a cake called Concorde (Chocolate Meringue Cake Filled with Chocolate Mousse), I simplified my job by making meringue kisses and filled them with chocolate mousse instead. The real deal consists of layers of chocolate meringue and chocolate pudding ...
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Shari G. posted an article on Whisk: a food blog - Aug 27, 2011, 12:04 am
Recipes are all about sharing. Sharing the method and technique, and ultimately sharing the food across the table with family and friends. I love getting recipe recommendations, and a friend shared this one with me. Pancakes require patience at the griddle. Heat can't be too ...
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Shari G. posted an article on Whisk: a food blog - Aug 26, 2011, 12:01 am
Hollywood is coming to Canada. The Toronto International Film Festival starts September 9 where 300 films will be shown in 11 days. It's a chance to brush by Brad Pitt, George Clooney, U2, Adam Brody, James Franco or even Christopher Plummer. You could win two Gala Screenin...
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Shari G. posted an article on Whisk: a food blog - Aug 15, 2011, 6:09 pm
My latest column on Natalie MacLean's blog is a pairing of Zinfandel and spicy BBQ sauce. Check it out! Whisk: a food blog This is just a summary. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more!
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Shari G. posted an article on Whisk: a food blog - Aug 8, 2011, 12:01 am
Is it a cake or a pie? To me, it seems more pie-like with its crispy crust. The filling is just an almond-flavored pastry cream (crème pâtissière), so if you like pastry cream, this is a winner. It is a signature cake from the Basque region of Spain, which shares borders with France. ...
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Shari G. posted an article on Whisk: a food blog - Aug 7, 2011, 11:33 pm
The Summer issue of Taste & Travel is on store shelves now. Travel to several countries and savour the unusual and delicious recipes between the pages of this gorgeous magazine. This issue covers the Yucatán, Paris, Rome, Adelaide, Merida, Malaysia, and New York. You'll see ...
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Shari G. posted an article on Whisk: a food blog - Aug 5, 2011, 11:29 pm
Unlike last week's simple and delicious recipe (Oeufs à la Neige (Snow Eggs with Caramel and Crème Anglaise), this one has five components, which equals a pile of dishes! The ladyfingers are simple, and this time I followed the directions and sprinkled the confectioner's sug...
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Shari G. posted an article on Whisk: a food blog - Jul 23, 2011, 9:58 am
I'm addicted to Grande Tazo Chai at Starbucks. And putting these flavors into oatmeal was too tempting. Here's a special brunch if you like Chai Latte. Chai Oatmeal Serves 2 1 1/2 cups milk 1/4 teaspoon salt&...
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Shari G. posted an article on Whisk: a food blog - Jul 22, 2011, 8:05 am
I'm always collecting recipes that look great, taste even better but don't involve an all-day session in the kitchen to prepare. And if I can make the meal ahead of time, it's a winner. This recipe meets all those qualifications. Plus, it's versatile. You can substitute different cheese and vegies t...
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Shari G. posted an article on Whisk: a food blog - Jul 19, 2011, 6:12 pm
I have been following Natalie MacLean's wine writing career for many years and was one of the first subscribers to her wine newsletter. Since then, she's gone on to write a book, Red, White, and Drunk All Over: A Wine-Soaked Journey from Grape to Glass, that recently won Best Wine Literature Book ...
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Shari G. posted an article on Whisk: a food blog - Jul 18, 2011, 12:01 am
This is one of my favorite desserts. It's just poached meringue in custard and caramel. It's simple, bistro food. And each component can be made ahead. Plus it's economical and contains ingredients you would normally have on hand. The egg whites are used to make the meringue and the yolks are used f...
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Shari G. posted an article on Whisk: a food blog - Jul 16, 2011, 12:01 am
Weekends are wonderful. Time to work on all your projects, catch up on sleep, spend time with friends and linger over a leisurely brunch. I've always had a weakness for French Toast. And this is the best French Toast. It's sweet from the bananas that are caramelized in butter ...
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Shari G. posted an article on Whisk: a food blog - Jul 14, 2011, 12:01 am
Do you have a favorite fruit? One that brings back memories? For me, it's passion fruit. There is something earthy and reminiscent about this fruit for me. The smell takes me to distant and happy times. I love the crunch of the passion fruit seeds. The tang. The sour. The sweet. And just a teaspoon ...
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Shari G. posted an article on Whisk: a food blog - Jul 11, 2011, 12:01 am
Are crêpes making a comeback? Last year in Seattle, I tasted exceptional Lemon Sugar Crêpes at a food cart called Anita’s Crêpes. After cooking the crêpe on a large griddle, she squeezed fresh lemon juice on top and sprinkled some sugar that was then brûléed with a torch. Finally, a dollop ...
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Shari G. posted an article on Whisk: a food blog - Jul 4, 2011, 12:01 am
Here’s a dessert to celebrate a victory at war when the French captured a Ukrainian town in 1855. The Charlotte Malakoff has a fortress of ladyfingers protecting a kirsch-flavored almond cream decorated with Chantilly cream and berries. Dessert is worth celebrating; not war. Though I know my Charl...
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Shari G. posted an article on Whisk: a food blog - Jun 27, 2011, 12:01 am
Is it a pie? Is it a pudding? Is it a cake? No, it’s clafoutis. Or maybe it should be called a flaugnarde since it doesn’t have cherries in it as a dignified clafoutis would. This baked custard contains apples (preferably from Normandy) with a dash of Calvados (if you have it). Simple but perfec...
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Shari G. posted an article on Whisk: a food blog - Jun 20, 2011, 12:01 am
This is such a simple dessert. Baked pie crust + whipped cream + fresh strawberries. It's strawberry season in Ottawa, so I walked over to the fields by my house to the local "pick your own" farm and pinched off fresh, sun-kissed red strawberries. And I used the leftover pastry from last week's Tar...
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Shari G. posted an article on Whisk: a food blog - Jun 13, 2011, 12:01 am
I've always had trouble with pie crusts (or pâté brisée sucrée if you want to be all French about it). But this crust came together easily for me. I didn't use the traditional method of putting the ingredients on the counter, making a well and "fraisage-ing" the dough. I used my food processor, ...
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Shari G. posted an article on Whisk: a food blog - Jun 6, 2011, 12:01 am
It’s time for sweetness and whisking up a Dacquoise, which sounds all fancy schmancy but not when you spell it like this: DAH-KWAH! And though the ingredient list is simple and short, I know from experience that those recipes are the hardest to pull off. So I did some research and found this video...
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Shari G. posted an article on Whisk: a food blog - May 30, 2011, 12:03 am
This is an easy, comforting stew that can remain vegetarian or poured over chicken. The crunch from the peanuts and the peanut butter give it a distinctive (and addictive) taste. Toast the peanuts for extra flavor, and try cashews instead of peanuts for variety. Recipe for Pea...
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Shari G. posted an article on Whisk: a food blog - May 9, 2011, 7:26 am
A cool new magazine has just hit the market! Taste & Travel International is hot-off-the-press and available at Chapters bookstores across Canada. Credit for launching this new magazine goes to publisher, Janet Boileau, who identifies culinary tourism as one of the fastest gr...
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Shari G. posted an article on Whisk: a food blog - May 8, 2011, 12:15 am
One of my favorite meals is brunch. And this Mother's Day, we're heading to the sugar bush (even though we've missed the prime tree-tapping-maple-syrup time). Wheeler's, which is just outside of Perth, Ontario, serves a delicious breakfast every day except Christmas Day! What draws me to their lodge...
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Shari G. posted an article on Whisk: a food blog - Apr 18, 2011, 12:01 am
Thank you Dorie (@DorieGreenspan) for mentioning my variation on your cake as one of your favorites to the people at O (Oprah!) magazine. What an honor. Dorie is an inspiration who takes the time to respond and encourage people to follow their passion. I have several of Dorie's cookbooks, and many ...
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Shari G. posted an article on Whisk: a food blog - Apr 11, 2011, 12:01 am
When I go out for dinner and dessert, I’m always hoping for a dessert menu that doesn’t include the standard items of crème brûlée, cheesecake, pie and a chocolate option. I prefer the napoleons, bananas foster, or sticky toffee pudding menus. Here's one of my favorites. ...
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Shari G. posted an article on Whisk: a food blog - Mar 28, 2011, 12:01 am
My daughter wrote this poem when she was eight. Things are Perfect the Way They Are Did you know that I don't have any wishes to put in this world because the world is perfect the way it is. Rainbo...
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Shari G. posted an article on Whisk: a food blog - Mar 21, 2011, 12:01 am
The the best fried chicken is one that you dry with a paper towel first. Then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Then dredge in flour. And then soak in the egg and cream mixture. And finally dip in the best almonds you can find that have been ground in a food processor. Season all stages with salt and p...
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Shari G. posted an article on Whisk: a food blog - Mar 14, 2011, 7:18 am
I get approached through my blog to do reviews of all sorts. When Masters of Malt contacted me to review their Drinks by the Dram, I knew I couldn't do this review alone since I'm not a connoisseur or even one who chooses to drink Whiskey. But I have a good friend, Dave Kerr, who enjoys a dram or tw...
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Shari G. posted an article on Whisk: a food blog - Mar 10, 2011, 7:03 pm
It's been awhile. I've been busy. With life. With cancer. With three kids. With work. With moving houses. With separation agreements. With radiation. With loneliness. With emptiness. With happiness. With hope. I've spent a lot of time lately at hospitals. There is a lot of lov...
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Shari G. posted an article on Whisk: a food blog - Feb 9, 2011, 7:22 pm
Are you a chocoholic? Well, you can check out Julie Ross Godar's series on BlogHer leading up to Valentine's Day with "14 Days of Chocolate". Several food bloggers who are part of the BlogHer Publishing Network have been asked to share their favorite chocolate recipes. One of my favorites is this Br...
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Shari G. posted an article on Whisk: a food blog - Jan 26, 2011, 11:00 pm
Here is the recipe from the Canadian Celebrity Chefs Event created by Chefs Marc Lepine of Atelier and Mathieu Cloutier of Kitchen Galerie in Montreal, QC. Many elements went into this small bite. Chef Lepine demonstrated how to start the process of making bacon foam that ...
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Shari G. posted an article on Whisk: a food blog - Jan 25, 2011, 11:08 pm
Yesterday, I spent 12 hours immersed in food. The day included celebrity chefs, demonstrations, tastings, and time to share this experience with other people who are just as passionate about food. The event was the Canadian Celebrity Chefs Event hosted by Chef Michael Blackie at the NAC that was de...
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Shari G. posted an article on Whisk: a food blog - Jan 25, 2011, 2:10 am
Chef Michael Blackie has taken food entertainment in Ottawa to a new level. As Executive Chef at the NAC, he's launched an annual “gala event” that is a treat for all people passionate about food. This year, it started in the Studio theatre for the demos and ended in the foyer for the reception...
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Shari G. posted an article on Whisk: a food blog - Jan 21, 2011, 9:47 pm
The Canadian Celebrity Chefs Event at Ottawa's NAC is being held Monday, January 24. Eight of Ottawa's top chefs will be paired with eight celebrity chefs from across Canada. These chef pairs will be doing live cooking demonstrations followed by a time for Q&A. The day ends with an evening recept...
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Shari G. posted an article on Whisk: a food blog - Jan 16, 2011, 10:10 pm
What are you doing Monday, January 24? I'll be at the Canadian Celebrity Chefs Event at Ottawa's NAC where 8 of Ottawa's top chefs will be paired with 8 celebrity chefs from across Canada. These chef pairs will be doing live cooking demonstrations followed by a time for Q&A. The day ends with an ev...
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