Well, another foodiePrint went up on Ottawa Tonite. Its subject: the Hintonburg Supper Club and our outing to the Allium restaurant (87 Holland Avenue).

As an addendum, here are pictures from the most recent outing, a catered event at the Knights of Columbus Hall (1177 Gladstone Avenue). Catering was Helen Saikaly who, with her husband Buddy, operates the Melrose Groceteria (1082 Wellington Street W.). They will be soon retiring, closing the groceteria that doubles as a popular restaurant (Helen's Cuisine) at the beginning of December. Both pillars of the Hintonburg neighbourhood, Helen and Buddy have been serving great food to faithful patrons for 40 years. Even the Mulroney kids frequented Helen's Cuisine when they were children.

This coming weekend, the Hintonburg Community Association (HCA) will be holding a retirement party in their honour.

Retirement Party for Helen and Buddy Saikaly
If you walk down Wellington Street West, it is somewhat difficult not to come across one of these fliers, advertising the party.

We at foodiePrints discovered Helen's Cuisine's home-style Lebanese cuisine recently. It was recommended by Alexandra Clark, author and publisher of Cheap Eats Ottawa (twitter: @ceot) to CTVOttawa last summer as a great place for a low cost lunch.

When Jenn and I first visited it, we quickly learned Helen's Cuisine offers much more than a cheap lunch. This is an eatery that serves its customers with warmth that is becoming increasingly difficult to find. When you eat at Helen's, you feel like family.

When the Supper Club's organizer announced that October's dinner would be catered by Helen, we quickly reserved our seats. It would be one of Helen's last. And, she put out quite the spread:

Aluminium Foil-wrapped Dishes

It is somewhat amazing what Helen can accomplish without commercial cooking equipment. Her kitchen is equipped with a one-piece residential stove. She has no fryolators, banks of ovens, vertical roasters, or even a gas range. She has four electric elements and a single oven underneath.

From left to right: Fattoush Salad, Baba ganoush, Spinach Fatayer, Hummus, Roasted Chicken on White Rice, More Fatayer

Baba ganoush Close-Up

Spinach Fatayer, topped with Cheese

At a mere $20 per person, we ate very well.

My Plate
Between the soft rice, not quite smooth hummus, roasted chicken, creamy baba ganoush, and crunchy fattoush salad, I dug in eagerly with fresh pita bread, using my fingers to clumsily scoop up small mouthfuls.


Three Kinds of Fatayer
Helen's fatayer is a revelation to me, my being used to thicker meat and vegetable pies from gas-powered oven equipped Middle-Eastern bakeries.

It has been a very long time since I attended a church pot luck dinner. This is what that evening's dinner reminded me of. It was a home cooked meal, made with care, just on a much larger scale. It had none of the textures or flavours from typical shawarma houses. There, I expect its food to be cooked with professional equipment necessitating range hoods that a home owner would hazard to install. I expect temperatures that would make home insurance sales-people faint. Now, I have argued that eating out at a restaurant should be a collection of experiences that are difficult if not impossible to have at home. But, how often do you get to eat authentic ethnic food as it would be served if you were invited into someone's home?

Many thanks to Carol Paschal, the Hintonburg Supper Club's organizer, for arranging this dinner.

BTW, here is a picture of the Kitchissipi Times piece she wrote.

Revived Hintonburg Supper Club Celebrates its First Anniversary

The Taste of Wellington has come and gone for the fall of 2009, the inaugural year that it has been held during the Autumnal harvest. The past two, were held during the summer. Those of us who attended saw sites beyond the amazing dishes that demonstrate what Ottawa's "Epicurean Row" has to offer.

Long Lines:

Significant Lineups, some longer, few shorter
This particular one led up to my favourite restaurant in Ottawa, Allium.

Costumed Street Performers:

Seemingly Still Stone Statues

Drinks Anyone?
All three, seemingly frozen, shifted positions when a coin was placed at their feet.

This year, Jenn and I assembled a group of participants, including twitterati @spoonsie and @paolasepicure, for a foodie crawl. We assembled at Canvas (65 Holland Avenue).

Inside, we were warmly greeted by Canvas' owner Charles Beauregard. He presented us with the following:

Top: Shrimp and Mango Salsa Rice Paper Roll, Bottom: Local Tomato Bruschetta
In fact, the bruschetta topping was so fresh and sweet that Jenn could smell the ripe tomatoes from the door of the restaurant. The rice paper rolls were also delectable, pairing shrimp with fruit.

Lobster Mac and Cheese
These panko crumb coated morsels were sinfully good and garnered quite a bit of attention. Charles couldn't re-stock the trays fast enough.

Afterward, we headed to Foolish Chicken (79 Holland Avenue). There, we found our first line up, albeit a short one. It led to owner Natalie Aucoin, serving up bowls of corn and chicken chowder with a corn bread muffin.

Corn and Chicken Chowder with a Corn Bread Muffin
The chowder was watery and uninspired. The corn bread muffin, on the other hand was light and flavorful.

On our way to our next destination, several of us stopped in to Istanbouli Shawarma (81 Holland Avenue). There, they tasted samples of Istanbouli's regular platters and sandwiches.

Top: Chicken shawarma pita wedge, Bottom: Falafel

Next, we headed to Allium (87 Holland Avenue), where we found the long line up pictured above. When we reached the samples, we found fish tacos.

Fish Tacos

My Taco
With an in-house made tortilla, Allium's fish tacos demonstrate that fish tacos need not be made with battered or breaded fish. Instead, these tacos contained flaked pan-seared haddock and a mango, avocado, and chipotle salsa. A wonderful blend of textures and flavours, the tacos easily won the restaurant new converts.

With the restaurants on Holland visited, we turned our attention to Absinthe Cafe Resto-Bar (1208 Wellington Street W.), the restaurant I told everyone was the "go to" for Ottawa's best steak frites. There, we waited for a half hour in another line. Why? Absinthe served near full-size quarter pound burgers, made from the trimmings from its popular steak frites. Absinthe uses "hanger" steak for its steak frites, a notoriously difficult to prepare cut that is singularly flavourful if cooked up perfectly medium rare. These burgers, which according to the waiters are served somewhat larger on the regular lunch menu, are shaped from those trimmings and any steaks too small to be made into steak frites. And yes, they were worth the wait.

Burgers, fixings, and cups of lemongrass and vanilla lemonade

Hanger Steak Burger on an in-house made bun
The fixings were no less spectacular: smoked chili relish, bannonnaise, cheddar sauce, chipotles, pickles, sauteed onions, sauteed mushrooms, and dijon and grainy mustard. The lemongrass and vanilla lemonade, a refreshing take on the classic drink.

Here is what I ended up with:

Burger topped half with lettuce and chili and half with lettuce and bacconnaise
Oh it was a burger to make a foodie cry: savory, juicy, distinctively flavorful, and grilled up perfectly. The next time I'm around the Wellington area for lunch, I will make it a point to head to Absinthe and order a hanger steak burger.

Absinthe is where my group of attendees disbanded. Some headed off to see what was left of the samples along Wellington. Others were stuffed and went about their weekend chores. Jenn and I headed to the Wellington Gastro-Pub (1325 Wellington Street W.) to drop off pictures for Chef/Owner Chris Deraiche of him, his brother, and his father at the Feast of Fields.

Now, let me reassure you, the dishes served were "samples" and they were indeed free. They demonstrate what Wellington Business Improvement Association (WBIA) volunteer and founder Dennis Van Staalduinen calls "Lethal Generosity." Leveraging the strengths of the Epicurian Row, its extremely high density of locally-owned shops and eateries, the Taste of Wellington accomplished two things. Firstly, it allowed residents and non-residents to meet the warm and inviting people who run the shops and eateries in the Wellington West and Hintonburg neighbourhoods. The fact is that each donated their time and products to make this event successful. Money from donation boxes at every table benefited a local food bank. Secondly, it highlighted the quality of food and service that can be had.

For many more images of the event, Van Staalduien (who goes by @denvan on twitter) hosted the 300 pictures he took of the event for the WBIA on Google's Picasa Web. Go take a gander!

Many thanks to Chris Lawson for his publishing a review I wrote on the Wellington Oracle (@wellingtnoracle on Twitter). It reviews Allium's first Tapas Monday after re-opening from its renovations this past summer .

Lost in Enjoyment

Allium is our favourite restaurant in Ottawa here at foodiePrints and we were glad to see it open to a warm welcome. Even weeks later, the restaurant is always brimming at lunchtime, on Tapas Mondays, and during Friday and Saturday evening service. While there are seats from Tuesday to Thursday, the restaurant still gathers a healthy crowd who appear "lost in enjoyment."

Allium also impressed the hundreds of people who gathered in the Hintonburg and Wellington West neighbourhoods for the Taste of Wellington event yesterday, drawing very long lines. Here is what Allium served:

Fish Taco with flaked haddock and a mango, avocado, and chipotle salsa
With an in-house made tortilla, this fish taco demonstrates that fish tacos need not be made with battered or breaded fish. A wonderful blend of textures and flavours, it was definitely a crowd favourite.

More images and a blog on the Taste of Wellington are upcoming...

More after the jump...

I woke up atypically early this morning, so I decided to check the blogs I subscribe to via RSS on Google Reader before breakfast. A new piece from Ottawa Citizen's food writer Rone Eade popped up. When last I e-mailed him, he replied that he was going to this past Wednesday's BC Scene event, hosted by Whistler's Gold Medal Plate recipient Chef Melissa Craig and Ottawa's own Chef Michael Blackie. Given that I couldn't fit tickets to the event at the National Arts Center (NAC) ($120/ticket) into this month's budget, I have been eager to read Eade's determinations.

Between the plates of "Okanagan Pear Mousse, Agassis Hazelnut Ganache Hemp Seed Nougatine, and Ice Wine Elderflower Jelly" and "Duck Confit Sage Dumplings, Wild Mushroom Duck Broth and Fresh Asparagus", my yogurt and granola breakfast didn't quite satisfy. I vaguely remember Fettuccine's on Elgin serving duck confit ravioli years ago, but Chef Craig's looked spectacular.

Afterward, to my surprise and sheer delight, I found a foodiePrint above the BC Scene piece.

Seafood Poutine
Source: Captured from Ottawa Citizen's Omnivore's Ottawa

He even quoted me (Don "the blogger") on why I thought Allium's seafood poutine superior than Le Petit Bill's, which Eade blogged about earlier this week.

To Ron Eade, many thanks for the mention! Cheers!

BTW, for those of us who follow you on Twitter, it is not difficult to guess what restaurant will be hosting your inaugural supper club dinner. I've a feeling that the glass of wine with the 12 course meal is generously contributed by the restaurant you've chosen. Though I'm dying to try what wonders its executive chef or his staff will make with that "well traveled" grill, I look forward to the next dinner.

It is Monday, the day after the North American music industry's gala awards ceremony, the Grammy's, aired on television. Just as the Grammy's have suffered a successive losses of viewership, I have had to take pause to ask a question. I am currently staring at two lists of culinary awards issued to restaurants in the National Capital Region: awards from the 16 annual gala (2009) for the Ottawa Restaurant Hotel Motel Association (ORHMA) and Ottawa's "Epicurean Awards." Both lists include many of the "usual suspect" restaurants. Both lists are long, leading me to wonder, "Are there more awards than there are restaurants in Ottawa?"

From the ORHMA Gala,

• "Bill Joe Restaurateur of the Year" went to Ion Aimers, founder and owner of the chain of The Works Gourmet Burger Bistros
• "MAC Knife Chef of the Year" (Top Chef) went to executive chef Matt Carmichael of Restaurant E18hteen and Social
• "CHEZ 106 Ottawa?s Favourite Restaurant" went to three locations of the Keg
• "Lifetime Achievement" went to Ottawa Citizen Food columnist Gay Cook
• "Ottawa Citizen Service Person of the Year" went to Nawal Roukos of the Newport Restaurant

A giant whisk was awarded to the host, Westin Hotel's, chef, Nelson Borges, whose cinnamon seared Mariposa Farms duck was voted best dish of the event.

Last year's winner of the "Bill Joe Restaurateur of the Year" was Dot Janz of Black Dog Bistro. Top Chef went to Derek Benitz of Benitz Bistro. "Lifetime Achievement" went to chef Kurt Waldel of the National Arts Centre.

Regarding Aimers, according to the Ottawa Citizen, he graciously accepted his award, remarking how lucky he was to be able to attend the event. Last April, he suffered a massive heart attack, spending 5 days in a coma. He celebrated his award with 20 managers and employees he brought with him as his guests at $125/seat.

Proceeds from the gala go to the Algonquin College student bursary fund. On a related note, Chef Carmichael was also celebrated at the gala for working with students enrolled in the Algonquin College Culinary Program.

From the The Epicurean Awards,

• "Linda Thom and Robert Bourassa Café Henry Burger Trophy" (Chef of the Year) went to Serge Rourre from Le Baccara
• "Three Stars Epicurean" Awards went to 3 restaurants: Le Baccara, Beckta Dining & Wine, Restaurant E18hteen, and Perspectives Restaurant
• "Two Stars Epicurean" Awards went to 20 restaurants: Absinthe, A'Roma Meze, Bella's Bistro, Benitz Bistro, Canvas, Chez Eric, Coconut Lagoon, El Meson, Juniper Kitchen and Wine Bar, Murray Street, Napo, Navarra, New Dubrovnik, La Roma, Restaurant Les Fougeres, Trattoria Caffé Italia, Urban Pear, Vineyards Wine Bar Bistro, Wellington Gastropub, Whalesbone Oyster House
• "One Star Epicurean" Awards went to 4 restaurants: Castlegarth Resaurant, Petit Bill's Bistro, Poco Pazzo, Sweet Grass Aboriginal Bistro
• "Best Wine Experience" Award went to Le Baccara's Sommelier Danielle Dupont

Conspicuously absent this year were last year's awards for "Regional/Specialty/Ethnic" and "Best Service." The list from last year was equally as long.

Award winners were chosen by public survey. Entries were submitted between July 25, 2008 and October 15, 2008. Results were announced during this year's Ottawa Wine and Food Show.

While the Epicurean Awards seem to give awards to any restaurant with three submitted entries, the ORHMA are issued by industry peers. Honestly, why would anyone bother to spend 10-30 minutes filling in an Epicurean Award survey entry if the requisite restaurant didn't earn at least a 70% in your books. You would be spending more time rating the restaurant than you did partaking of the meal. Conversely, judging from the proceedings reported by food columnist, Ron Eade, on the Ottawa Citizen's Omnivore Blog, the ORHMA seems to be a must-attend event of the year for Ottawa's culinary industry.

As someone who has limited funds to dine out, I will take the ORHMA results into consideration along with the Ottawa Magazine's Christ Knight's best and brightest when choosing my next fine dining destination.

Speaking of which, here are Ottawa's "Top Picks" according to the Ottawa Magazine for 2008:

Christ Knight's Top 10 for 2008

1. Beckta Dining and Wine (Chef/Owner: Michael Moffatt/Stephen Beckta): 226 Nepean Street - (613)238-7063
2. Domus Café (Chef: John Taylor): 87 Murray Street - (613)241-6007
3. Le Baccara: 1, boulevard du Casino - (819)772-6210
4. Restaurant E18teen (Chef: Matt Carmichael, protegé of Susur Lee): 18 York Street - (613)244-1188
5. The Wellington Gastropub (Chef/Owner: Chris Deraiche): 1325 Wellington Street - (613)729-1315
6. Benit Bistro (Chef/Owner: Derek Benitz): 327 Somerset Street West - (613)567-8100
7. Allium (Chef/Owner: Arup Jana): 87 Holland Avenue - (613)792-1313
8. The Urban Pear(Chef/Owner: Ben Baird): 151 Second Ave., Unit C - (613)569-9305
9. Les Fougerès(Chef/Owner: Charles Part): 782, route 105, Chelsea - (819)827-8942
10. Signatures by Le Cordon Bleu: 453 Laurier Avenue East - (613)236-2460