Look for old favourites and a few new faces in the 5th annual Best of Food readers’ survey. Voted by you
Restaurant Reviews
Food for oil
Q: Where is the Galaxy 2? How many people are on the rig? A: We’re located just off Sable Island. There are 160 people out here. We have three cooks working during the day and two at night—the men work 12-hour shifts, so we’re cooking constantly. Q: is it cafeteria-style? A: It’s like what you’d […]
The thin blue lines
In their ongoing battle for our loyalty, supermarkets have been increasingly focused on making their stores destination spots—not just places to buy food, but also services like prescriptions, photo finishing, flowers and clothing. Fortunately, the latest supermarket trend is turning our attention back to their prime products, food. In this case, think blue. Both major […]
Dinner and a show
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]

