Wild Blueberry Harvest Festival August 14-29, central Nova Scotia wildblueberryfest.com Lil MacPherson loves blueberries. “It’s mostly because they’re Nova Scotian,” says the restaurateur. “They are us.” In fact, they are so “us” that there is a Wild Blueberry Harvest Festival taking place from August 14-29. Watch for blueberry socials, breakfasts, suppers and picnics happening all […]
The Wooden Monkey, Halifax
Posted inFood + Drink
Roasted Beet and Pickled Onion Salad
Serves 4 Apple Cider Vinaigrette 2 tbsp of whole grain mustard 2 tbsp of honey ¼ cup of apple cider 3 tbsp of Boates apple cider vinegar 1 cup of olive oil a pinch of fine-ground sea salt and pepper Mix all ingredients in a food processor. Pickled Onions 12 mini-red onions from Hutten […]
Posted inFood + Drink
Lil MacPherson
Owner The Wooden Monkey, 1707 Grafton Street and 40 Alderney Drive “It was an a-ha moment,” Lil MacPherson says. When Hurricane Juan struck Nova Scotia, a storm of concerns about food security hit her hard. “To me the very foundation of business, life, a province, a country is to make sure you have enough food […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
What’s in a name: The Wooden Monkey
Haligonians go ape-shit for the locally focused organic fare at The Wooden Monkey. While satisfied with its free-range, vegan- and gluten-friendly menu, the Curious George in you would probably like to know where this monkey business got its name. Founder Lil MacPherson dreamed up the Wooden Monkey post-Hurricane Juan, when questioning the reliability of imported […]
Posted inBest of Halifax
Best Use Of Local Ingredients
Gold Winner Chives Canadian Bistro Silver Winner The Wooden Monkey, Halifax Bronze Winner 2 Doors Down Food + Wine Chives uses local to “showcase the best of the Maritimes,” says chef and co-owner Craig Flinn. He also believes eating local to be more ethical while offering a higher calibre of quality. The roast lamb from […]
Posted inBest of Halifax
Best Gluten-free Friendly
Gold Winner Schoolhouse Gluten-Free Gourmet Silver Winner The Wooden Monkey, Halifax Bronze Winner enVie – A Vegan Kitchen This bakery is a hit with everyone, celiac or not. For the second year running team Schoolhouse, AKA Jennifer Laughlin and Aidan Brunn, are taking home top honours for their baked goods, which have become a hit […]
Posted inBest of Halifax
Best Restaurant
Gold Winner Brooklyn Warehouse Silver Winner The Bicycle Thief Bronze Winner The Wooden Monkey, Halifax “For us, it’s all tethered to that wholesome meal you’d have at your grandmother’s house,” says Brooklyn’s George Christakos. He’s talking about his grandmother, Georgia, but he’s talking about yours, too. After seven years, and four consecutive Best Restaurant wins, […]
Posted inBest of Halifax
Best Dartmouth Restaurant
Gold Winner Mic Mac Bar & Grill Silver Winner The Wooden Monkey, Dartmouth Bronze Winner Cheese Curds Gourmet Burgers + Poutinerie Dartmouth digs its comfort food. The Mic Mac Bar & Grill has been a Dartmouth staple since 1963, grilling up killer breakfasts and great steaks seasoned with their secret spice. If you love mozza […]
Posted inBest of Halifax
Best Vegetarian-friendly Restaurant
Gold Winner enVie – A Vegan Kitchen Silver Winner The Wooden Monkey, Halifax Bronze Winner Heartwood This chic vegan kitchen serves up meatless and wheatless meals for the herbivore at heart. Not yet a year old, this restaurant snags the gold by keeping their menu “innovative with a modern edge.” enVie steps into the animal […]
Posted inBest of Halifax
Best Gluten-free Friendly
Gold Winner Schoolhouse Gluten-Free Gourmet Silver Winner The Wooden Monkey, Halifax Bronze Winner Heartwood “When you have to eat gluten-free, it can be scary, limiting and a lot of work,” says Jennifer Laughlin, co-owner of Schoolhouse Gluten-Free Gourmet. After her partner, Aidan Brunn, was diagnosed with Celiac disease, the pair were disappointed that many of […]
Posted inBest of Halifax
Best Use Of Local Ingredients
Gold Winner Chives Canadian Bistro Silver Winner The Wooden Monkey, Halifax Bronze Winner Fid Resto Chef Craig Flinn says, in the 12 years Chives has been open, he has “been known to work very closely with local farmers, fishers and food producers in Nova Scotia.” And the interest in local food has only increased over […]
Posted inBest of Halifax
Best Vegetarian-friendly Restaurant
Gold Winner The Wooden Monkey, Halifax Silver Winner Heartwood Bronze Winner Tarek’s Cafe, north end The Wooden Monkey is no stranger to this award, even though it isn’t a strictly vegetarian restaurant. Matthew Gass, co-owner and acting general manager of the restaurant’s Halifax location, says “We’re very proud of the vegetarian food we offer; we […]