Having a short attention span and a wariness of foods prepared for large groups, I’ve never given much thought to dinner theatre as a way to spend an evening. That is, until I found myself attending a function with a group of my coworkers the night before my birthday. After “ribbit, ribbitting” our way around […]
Food + Drink
Restaurant reviews and ratings for Halifax, Nova Scotia, featuring articles about the best new downtown Halifax and Dartmouth NS restaurants, fine dining, pubs, seafood, local bars, chefs, beer, donairs, pizzas, vegetarian and organic food and more.
Posted inFood + Drink
Bud’s spuds
Q: How did you get into the business? A: My wife Nancy and I grew up in the Ottawa/Hull area, and I hated the winter. All through my life, I wondered what I could do that would allow me to work in the summer and then travel somewhere warm in the winter. Ottawa is full […]
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Tasty morsel
Tucked in the Hydrostone Market, the sedate storefront of Epicurious Morsels only hints at the delights to be found inside. A chalkboard outside advertises the daily specials, and if you allow yourself to be lured in from the sidewalk you’ll find yourself in a small, elegant dining room decorated with rich colours, wood trim, plenty […]
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Irish hospitality
If you pick up a newspaper near Christmas time, you’re sure to see an article about Jamieson’s Irish-House and Grill. Owner Chris Smith opens his doors to all on Christmas Day and feeds anyone and everyone who comes in. Reading about his generosity has become as much a holiday ritual at my house as watching […]
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I scream, you scream
Q: What’s involved in making gelato? A: It’s not very complicated—you just follow the formula. You mix milk, cream, the flavour paste and sugar in the proper proportions, heat it to 85C to pasteurize it, then cool it to -13C to freeze it. It’s essential to cool the mixture quickly—our freezer can cool the gelato […]
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It takes a village
It’s a typical early summer rainy day when I hop into the newly renamed and renovated Greek Village (formerly the Greek House). It looks like a diner, with booths, a window through to the kitchen, and the counter displaying desserts, which we later discover are fabulous. The server is quick with an offer of a […]
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Call to Arm
In 1951, the Spring Garden Public Library went into operation; Brothers began smoking meat and prime minister Louis St. Laurent’s government had just increased the “old-age pension.” There was no Tim Hortons, no Macdonald Bridge. But seniors near the Northwest Arm could spend their increase at a modest little eatery called the Armview. For most […]
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Sea spot yum
Of all the places to eat on the South shore between Halifax and Lunenburg, the Seaside Shanty has long been my favourite. A small building tucked between the old highway and a jetty, the Shanty’s unassuming exterior belies the excellence of the food that pours forth from a tiny kitchen. Stepping into the Shanty, your […]
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Vegan FM
Q: Your show “Let’s Get Baked with Mat and Dave” is a popular CKDU feature and is syndicated to radio stations across the Maritimes and in BC. How did it begin? Mat: Originally, all I wanted was a CKDU show. I thought it’d be cool to have one of those shows that just goes on […]
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Five and dine
Five years ago, I had a most amazing opportunity—a chance to combine my love of writing with my passion for food. Five years later, I’m still visiting restaurants and sharing my experiences with Coast readers. One of the questions I’m most commonly asked is “What happens if you run out of restaurants?” Sadly, due to […]
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Snail meal
Q: What is the Slow Food movement? A: Slow Food is all about supporting small scale agriculture and artisan food producers. I really like the way that it combines a sense of mission—acquainting people with an alternative food system, one that is focused on locally grown, organic, small scale agriculture—with lots of fun—taking field trips […]
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Bringing back Yaser
The sandwich board outside the Pyramid Cafe on Windsor Street tells the whole story. Yaser’s back. OK, maybe not the whole story, but diehard fans of Yaser El-Helaly don’t need to know much more than that Yaser is back in Halifax and behind the grill. The 39-year-old classically trained chef made his mark at Cafe […]
