The Tea Merchant
The story of the tea merchant is among my favourite.
It’s a tale of alchemy - of a destiny foretold and fulfilled. It’s the worldly legend of an extraordinary globetrotting heroine who travels far and wide to collect enchanting treasures, blending these natural wonders into teas of ethereal beauty for all to share. The story of the tea merchant is among my favourite because it is true.
Afternoon Tea At Home
Bringing a touch of Downton Abbey to the home is easier than you think. Just keep that pinky down.
It's one of the defining features of British culture, along with crooked teeth, fish & chips (or chicken tikka masala), and surrealist humour. We're talking about tea time.
Cooking With Tea
We make a 3-course tasting menu featuring one of the world's favourite beverages: tea.
Step into any pastry shop today and you will likely find a sweet ode to matcha, or perhaps chai or Earl Grey. Tea has broken into the pastry game, and the results are delicious. Cocktail bars have also adopted the brew, incorporating it into their revisions of old classics. Before long, tea will be making its way into savoury dishes in the hottest spots around town. I’m surprised it hasn’t already. What’s taking so long? After all, it’s no novel idea.
Gourd Life - Yerba Mate in Toronto
Yerba mate is the South American counterpart to tea and coffee slowly entering the Western mainstream. It's time to get wired like a gaucho.
My first encounter with yerba mate was during a sustained period of early (6am early!) gym-going before heading into the office. I needed a potent pick-me-up that didn't require me to run the coffee grinder, thus saving me from the wrath of waking up Kim. And, to be honest, a shot of espresso on an empty stomach isn't typically conducive to a couple hours of contact sports. Tea fit the bill, but its relatively lackluster caffeine content just wouldn't cut through the early morning grogginess.
The Toronto Bubble Tea Battle
Bubble tea and I go way back. It was the early 2000’s, not long after bubble tea emerged as a standalone commodity in Montreal. In the streets of our tiny Chinatown - a neighbourhood barely spanning 2 square blocks - my university friends and I spent most of our nights parked at famed bubble tea lounge, L2. There, we studied and played Big 2 into the wee hours of the night, all whilst slowly sipping radioactive-like liquids through giant straws out of colossal mugs that would put German beer halls to shame. Those were the good old days where $3.85 bought you your weight in bubble tea, and no one cared that it was mostly made of sugar and FD&C Yellow #3.
The Chilli Cookoff
Chilli. It's about as crucial to the American identity as apple pie or baseball. While a bowlful of chilli can conjure up images of cowhands on an open range, what we're after is a simple one pot meal to stave of the Canadian cold. But with so many different recipes - some counter to 'tradition' - its hard to pick the right recipe. It's time for a good ol' chilli cookoff.
The Unapologetic Paella
The best paella I’ve ever had is my Uncle Gerard’s. Growing up in the suburbs of Montreal, it’s really the only paella I was exposed to. His special seafood paella was reserved exclusively for our annual New Year’s Eve family dinner; an event that I, sadly, consistently missed for almost a decade. Meanwhile, over the past 10 years, I’ve tried paella wherever I could find it, and found it mostly to be dry and overcooked with little exception. I didn’t miss family dinner this last New Year’s Eve and when I finally bit into my uncle’s paella after all these years, I was finally satiated. It inspired me to try making it for myself … again. I’ve made an attempt once; it’s a dish that is more so intimidating than it is difficult, in part because it requires the confidence to overcome the fact that no matter what you do, your paella is likely to offend a Spaniard.
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?