The Hot Pot
It's the doldrum days of winter. Chilly, grey days have replaced the bright lights of holiday festivities, and the novelty of snow and cold weather fashion has worn out its welcome. For days like these, nothing beats the chill like the warmth of good company around a simple one-pot meal. Today, we're making a hot pot.
Rajasthan: Eat Like a Rajput
Visiting India is a journey into the food and culture of the land of spices. My plane landed in the capital of India, Delhi. From there, my journey took me through the Northern Indian state of Rajasthan, bordering Pakistan. It’s a state known for sandy deserts, traditional multi-coloured fabrics, folk arts and culture, ancient traditions, and, most importantly, its royal historic palaces and forts. Today, these palaces and forts are reminders of the many kingdoms that over time ruled the state and have now become major tourist attractions. I was there to see family, travel to new cities, and announce my sister’s pregnancy. But there was one thing that was constantly on my mind: food.
The Snob Diet
If I were the sum of my Instagram feed, I’d be 300 lb; but I’m nowhere near even half of that. And because there is no justice in the world, neither are the photogenic food bloggers and svelte celebrity chefs who seemingly eat a diet of butter and cake. And why not? Simple. Standards.
Fuck Your Juice Cleanse
With New Year Resolutions fresh in our minds and beach body time just around the corner, it's easy to think of all the tortures we've put our bodies through. It could be that month-long bender. The sweets table at every holiday party. Your prodigious collection of second - and third - helpings. Let's be honest, it wasn't just one month of Bacchanalian indulgence.
The Foodie's Dilemma
Healthy eating. It's a balancing act that is no small feat. Welcome to the New Year.
As a society, we often associate eating well with eating richly. Just look at any food porn posts to find pictures of flaky pastry, gooey melted cheese, bacon, foie gras - not healthy but so, so seductive. In contrast, look at the food posts of athletes, fitness models, and body builders: steamed greens, plain neutral carbs (if any), and sadly cooked pieces of lean meat (Boiled? Boiled?!). Sure, that diet can propel your body to mythological Greek god/dess proportions, but at what cost to your foodie soul?
Season's Eatings
Each year ends in much the same fashion. The early morning frantic searches for missing travel accessories. The march with two-weeks worth of luggage through a foot of snow. Braving the construction maze of Union Station. Finally, watching the snow-covered landscape of Eastern Canada quietly roll by my train window. Now, comfortably speeding at 160 km/hr, I am full of anticipation to see all of the people I’ve missed - and to eat all of the special treats exclusively reserved for holiday consumption. There is nothing like going home for the holidays.
Coffee's (R)evolution
The independent coffee shop - the natural habitat of the hipster. You know the ones: white walls, antique hammered-copper ceiling, dark wood and vintage iron accoutrements. Or, perhaps it's going for a more modern look: clean stainless steel and glass, marble bistro tables, and a simple picture frame proclaiming "keep calm and drink coffee". The baristas sport interchangeable outfits of vintage finds, visible tattoos, and perhaps a spacer or two. Their coffee is single-origin, fair-trade, ethically-sourced, and available for your drinking pleasure prepared from a $20,000, custom-made espresso machine.
Grand Cayman: A Snowbird’s Diet
When someone you know offers to share their timeshare - located in a tropical clime, no less - you say ‘yes’. This was the case for Kim and Nick, who travelled to Grand Cayman with Kim's mother for a week of sun, sand, and - yes - food. Welcome to the Canadian snowbird life. Welcome to Grand Cayman.
Sugar: The Sweet Addiction
This month's issue is an ode to la dolce vita: the sweet life. And what better way to start a dialogue about our relationship with food than to begin with our oldest fling? Sugar.
We love to hate all things sweet. Sugar's always there for the good times - and the bad. But now we're starting to realize that maybe this relationship is more toxic than it once appeared.