Local explorations
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Warm memories of Mexico
It’s been cold this winter. Polar vortex cold. So when I stepped into Nostalgia Latin Market on Kerr street, it was a wee escape to the tropics. Two women were talking in Spanish. Shelves full of Mexican canned good, spices, dried chiles, and other interesting looking products. Fresh made tamales cooling in a basket. I left with some chicken tamales and salsa verde, and knew I would return. On another visit I started talking to the convivial owner. He tells me more about some of the unique Latin and Mexican products he stocks. They offer cooking lessons too. I ask him where he grew up. “Guadalajara, though I spent a lot of…
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Olé! Olé! Olé!
My wife, my daughter, and I went to Montréal the weekend before Christmas. The highlight was Saturday. After a quick shopping spree on Rue Ste. Catherine, we had a late lunch at La Binerie in the Plateau Mt. Royal. This 20-year old restaurant serves traditional Québec food. We had meatloaf with mashed potatoes and baked beans chilli. But the best was smoked meat poutine with enormous cheese curds. We finished with tarte au sucre (a butter tart the size of a pie) and pudding chômeur (a sponge cake doused in caramel sauce). We then made our way down Rue St. Denis and saw a few spots where I used to hang…
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Cassoulet at Thirty Bench
My Mom and I generally have a weekly visit. It revolves around a walk. Her love for walking has rubbed off on me. A day walking in nature is a good day, and over the years she has hiked a large portion of the 900 km Bruce Trail. For over 20 years she organized a weekly hiking group which involved scouting out trails and leading her group of 10-12 ladies on the hike. It seems to be in her DNA to always be looking out for new trail options. In her eyes she has “slowed down” since turning 80 but you wouldn’t know it walking beside her. We have covered…
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Une belle visite à Québec
In early December my husband and I travelled to Québec City to visit my mother-in-law. Temperatures were in the -20 range, snow covered everything, and trees were iced. The frigid weather made hot chocolate breaks all the more delightful. And a roaring fire all the more cozy! The wintery weather adds to the charm, non? Québec City is quite charming. We had a lovely time wandering the historic streets lined with inviting cafés and shops. Snow and ice completely blanketed the Plains of Abraham. Still, we staked out a good vantage point on the famed plateau and pondered how the French did not see the British soldiers advancing from the…
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Stratford in sound, movement and flavours
We are sitting at the small counter at El Cactus Taco Shop in Stratford. The decor is bright and fun like the neon set of wings on the wall. The service is cheerful. It’s a contrast to the grey outside. Pouring rain. I resist the Mezcal Negroni artfully scrawled on the chalkboard menu and order the Agua Fresca instead, a blend of watermelon and blueberry juice. I need to stay sharp for the theatre. This is the reason we are in Stratford of course. Yet the intriguing flavour combinations in this little taco shop hint at another reason to enjoy a visit to Stratford. We are off to a great…
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Chasing waterfalls
I love hikes. It’s tail wagging fun. My family takes me on many. Sometimes I encounter squirrels to chase. Bunnies here and there. I like that a lot. I can be speedy when I have something to chase. Sticks are good too. Here’s something new I learned that are super fun to chase. Waterfalls! We took a short car ride to get to this hike. I am not so crazy about car rides. Except when my whole family is together. If only one person is in the car I am in trouble. We are going somewhere where they poke and prod me or where they cut my hair. Either way,…
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Boulders and big rocks at Niagara Glen
My Spanish teacher is quite interested in Canadian nature. I have been showing him photos, like our cottage scenery or the Niagara escarpment, to discuss in class. It’s helpful to learn vocabulary about nature. It seems there are a variety of coastal related words in Spanish, like la cala (cove), la orila (shore), el litoral and la costa (both meaning coast), cabo (cape) but not so many for rock formations. As I was trying to describe the landscape of Niagara Glen I learned there is no Spanish equivalent for boulder. The best translation for a boulder is una roca grande. A big rock. There are certainly a lot of big…
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Southampton on Lake Huron
Last week my husband and I were on High Street in Southampton. It’s a pretty little street with a few boutiques shops, a bakery and some restaurants. It ends at the clear blue waters of Lake Huron. We were standing outside a historic stone building reading the posted restaurant menu. The door opened and we heard the happy chatter of voices from within. Out came two elderly women wearing red straw hats. One of the women looked as us and declared: “The food is good.” Funny. It was the second time this happened. Earlier in the day, in neighbouring Port Elgin, Ted (a local resident) confirmed “The food is good”…
