Food + Drink

The dining room at Saege Bistro is crowded, voices rising above the sound of an indoor waterfall. Early-afternoon sun highlights a basket of artisanal bread, a plate of cheese, an arrangement of dried herbs. People are tasting food, trading business cards, listening intently. But this isn’t an ordinary lunch at Saege. In fact, it’s not […]

Ah, Valentine’s Day—seems like such a good idea, a day to celebrate love. But as anyone in a romantic relationship knows, Valentine’s Day can be one of the most stressful days of the year. Hours spent planning the perfect evening, making sure everything is just right for the love of your life—the pressure is really […]

The Brewery Market seems like a natural place for a pub; after all, it’s a brewery and it’s downtown in a tourist city. But there have been a couple of pubs here that have not done well, the worst being Mugsy McCeol’s, which I found guilty of committing heinous crimes against the digestive tracts of […]

I first reviewed Fiasco in September of 2001, not long after it opened. Until I reread the article (“Something of a Fiasco”), I couldn’t really remember much about it, other than I wouldn’t go out of my way to revisit—until now. Since Fiasco is one of a few local chef-owned (chef Martin Keyzlar) restaurants providing […]

Rogi Orazio is the newest darling on Halifax’s restaurant scene, with much buzz and a few good reviews floating around. Nestled along the Hydrostone’s shopping area, the little restaurant is in good company with Epicurious Morsels and Salvatore’s. Trumpeting “Italian and World” cuisine, the interior of Rogi Orazio has a distinct Mediterranean feel. A long, […]

Chinese culinary style can be divided by region or even by city, and with over 80,000 distinct and separate dishes (according to the cultural food guide, You Eat What You Are, by Thelma Barer-Stein) the term “Chinese food” is far too broad a descriptor when referring to the authentic cuisine of the country. What North […]

HRM is a great city for epicureans, culinarians and gourmands—in general, anyone who loves food and loves to eat. Sure, there are things that could and should be fixed (service, anyone?), but in a town that offers everything from the most delightful donairs to the most fabulous foie gras, diners have it made. HRM, sadly, […]

Another year is winding down and with it, the chance to look back and reflect on the culinary calendar. For Metro foodies, 2006 wasn’t the most exciting year: there were no big splashy restaurants opening, no long-awaited exotic cuisines unveiled, no major milestones. But that’s not to say 2006 didn’t have its highlights (and lowlights, […]

In case the name didn’t give it away, the Soup Sergeant jumps right into a military theme as soon as you walk in the door. Posted in the entrance are the “Mess Hall Rules,” explaining how to order and what’s on offer. Soups have names like “Green Beret” and “Commando Corn Chowder.” And the staff […]

Sugar maple logs, hot tubs and ventilation hoods made from old Mustangs—this isn’t your typical cooking show. Food Jammers is a cutting edge, off-the-wall celebration of imagination that pulls in even the most jaded Food Network viewer. And the Food Jammer hosts aren’t your typical celebrity chefs or domestic superstars either—they all hail from arts […]

One of the most extreme food trends to appear on the culinary landscape in the past few years has been that of “rawism,” or raw food: Practitioners eat nothing that has been warmed past 116F and only uncooked, unheated, unprocessed, organic plant-based foods. While there are still hard-core “rawists,” the trend seems to be on […]

I don’t revisit restaurants for review purposes unless something changes after the first critique that warrants another look. When I first popped into Quincy’s around this time last year, it did not fare well. In Quincy’s case, a spruced-up decor, a new head chef and a new menu make a compelling case for another round. […]