Gastronomy and Life's Other Pleasures

Dinner at The Burbs Pub

I always thought the name of this restaurant was a little bit cheeky, which I am sure it was meant to be.  Truthfully, it put me off a little bit, which is why it took us so long to give it a try.

The term “the burbs” has a bit of a negative connotation to me.  I mean, I live in the suburbs, and I love it.  I just don’t like the connotation of the word, as it negatively describes where I live and where I love living.  

All this to say, when I finally figured out that the restaurant was owned by the same people who own La Cucina, a lovely little restaurant just down the road from the Burbs Pub, I changed my mind.  We have enjoyed many a delicious meal at La Cucina, so I knew I had to give this place a chance.

We decided to go for dinner (we were toying with the idea of breakfast at first) as the husband loves a club sandwich and loves trying them wherever he can.  The restaurant wasn’t busy when we arrived around 6 p.m. or so on a Saturday night.  A few tables were occupied with couples and families.  

After perusing the menu for a bit, I was impressed to note that a lot of what they serve is made in-house, which was true for both the pulled pork sandwich that I ordered and the turkey from the husband’s club sandwich.  The pulled pork was crazy delicious - super sweet (just the way I like it), tender, juicy - everything you could want in a fantastic pulled pork.  The side garden salad left a bit to be desired, but both the lettuce and the vegetables were fresh and crisp.  I also really liked the coleslaw - it had great flavour.  The husband was impressed with his club and the french fries; they didn’t jump to the top of his all-time favourite list or anything, but they didn’t disappoint.

We would definitely return to this little pub.  The food, service and atmosphere were all great! 

Dinner at Must Wine Bar and Aziz Ansari’s Buried Alive Tour

I was so so so excited when I found out that Aziz Ansari and his Buried Alive tour were coming to Ottawa for two shows.  We hardly ever see anyone like this booking gigs in this town, so it was a huge thing for me!  I am a big fan of Aziz and his work, especially his stand up comedy, so to see him live in person was amazing.  His show was fantastic - I highly recommend that you go see him if he’s stopping somewhere near you!  And mad love to his opening act, Chelsea Peretti, for kicking butt with her act; I haven’t laughed that hard in so long.  

But before we went to the show, the boyfriend and I decided to dine for the first time at Must Wine Bar, specifically to share a number of their small plates.  We were not disappointed! 

The first dish we shared was the truffle mac and cheese, which was probably the best I’ve ever had.  It was so rich and creamy, with a very earthy flavour.  Next came the daily special, which was the beef fajitas.  They were also delicious, but nothing special. The boyfriend couldn’t resist sampling one of their flatbreads, which is topped with pulled pork, smoked mozzarella, mushrooms and espresso bbq sauce.  The sauce was so tangy and unique, and the whole thing came together in my mouth like magic.  Last but not least, my favourite dish of the night were the sliders: chicken croquettes served on cheddar and chive tea biscuits with a veloute sauce, all served with house chips (regular and sweet potato).  All I can say is WOW.  These were so delicious!  

We will definitely be back to Must Wine Bar for another round of small plates; the food was fantastic, the atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming, and the service was superb.  What more could you ask for on a nice evening out? :) 

Hot Belly Mama’s

It sounds cheesy, but one of my life’s passions is trying new restaurants.  So I was excited to not only have a visit with some friends of ours while visiting Peterborough during the recent Victoria Day long weekend, but to also get to try a new restaurant in the process.  The restaurant was recommended by our friends, so I was really pumped!

Nestled in the heart of downtown Peterborough, Hot Belly Mama’s boasts a nicely sized menu with options for everyone.  Their specialty, as you may be able to tell from the catchy name, is New Orleans-inspired dishes with a focus on bbq and cajun cuisine.  We scored a table in the front patio area, which sits just next to the sidewalk allowing for ample people watching (and with the hipster student crowd alive and mighty in Peterborough, there’s definitely a lot of interesting people to watch as they roam George Street!)

Originally enticed by the daily specials (one boasted a salad with many delicious veggies), after carefully perusing the lunch menu, I decided to go for a regular menu item, the En Salade San Francisco.  The boyfriend opted for the Kansas City Pulled Pork on a bun, served with choice of sides (yes, you get two sides!), from which there were lots of good options to choose.  The boyfriend settled on the Stout Baked Beans and Cajun Potatoes for his sides.  

The food was fantastic!  The ingredients in my salad, including the deliciously seasoned chicken (lemon and basil) and smoked salmon, were fresh and plentiful, and the boyfriend’s sandwich was loaded with smoky bbq flavour.  I was super impressed by one of his side dishes as well, the baked beans.  I kept stealing bites!

We will definitely make a return visit to Hot Belly Mama’s, perhaps for dinner, and perhaps bring his parents!

A side note:

After lunch, I was having my usual coffee craving, so I went next door to Natas Cafe to find my caffeine jolt.  A total hipster joint, the offerings were abundant and they had the coolest espresso machine!  (I really wish I had taken a photo of it…I’m so used to the staring at the back of the Starbucks espresso monster machine that looking at this one was like admiring a piece of art!)  Since it was a gorgeous hot day outside, I ordered an iced Americano, and it was tasty.  I definitely spent a few minutes oggling the baked goods while waiting for my drink, but will haveto wait until next time to sample!  The cafe offers a wide range of baked items, sandwiches and other treats, all of which looked amazing!

Mill Street Brew Pub, now in Ottawa!

I recently met a friend for lunch at Ottawa’s brand new Mill Street Brew Pub, and what a lovely lunch we had! 

To be truthful, I am not a beer drinker.  Seriously, not ever.  But I was excited to try the food!  I decided on the Carnitas from the appetizer menu as it was what looked the most delicious to me in the moment.  My choice was exactly what I’d hoped for: the portion size was excellent, and the flavours were perfect.  Three soft flour tortillas topped with smoky pulled pork, salsa verde, black bean and corn salsa, cumin-scented creme fraiche and fresh cilantro. 

My friend tucked into the Drunken Crab and Spinach dip, served with a warm pretzel loaf.  She quite enjoyed it and would love to have it again, probably with a group to share. 

The service was fast, friendly and attentive, and the transformed location (the historic old mill building on the Ottawa River) is gorgeous.  All in all, the new Mill Street Brew Pub Ottawa is sure to become a familiar spot for many!