Thursday, March 21, 2013

Ukrainian Cuisine (Review)

For the past six weeks, I had the good fortune of living in Kiev, Ukraine. During this time, I was able to experience all that Ukrainian cuisine has to offer…and I must say, there is a lot!

Ukrainian dishes have a sophisticated simplicity about them and often combine fresh, pickled and smoked ingredients. Their food is neither heavily spiced nor bland, but rather has the perfect combination of seasoning. Bread is of course the mainstay of the Ukrainian diet, which unfortunately has taken its toll on my waistline!

Ukrainians also do love their sour cream! I was asked "Vy khotily smetanoyu?" at almost every meal, which means "would you like sour cream?" They top everything with it, whether it be breakfast, lunch, dinner, or even dessert.

During my time in Kiev, I was able to try many different dishes, but I will only share with you my favourite ones!

First up is the national dish of Ukraine…borshch. There are many different versions of this beet-based soup, which can contain as many as 20 various ingredients, depending on the season, region, and personal preference of the cook. I’ve learned that it can be meatless or prepared from a rich meat stock and contain either beef or smoked pork. The one that I thoroughly enjoyed had pork, beets, carrots, potatoes, cabbage, onions and of course, sour cream! It was absolutely divine! You definitely cannot come to Ukraine without trying it!

Borshch
Next up are varenyky…or as we Canadians call them, perogies. Varenyky are extremely popular in Ukraine, and you can get them just about everywhere. They are dumplings made from boiled or fried dough, resembling ravioli. They can be filled with meat, potatoes, cabbage or mushrooms and served as an entrée. I tried all of the various options, except the meat ones, and my favourite was definitely the mushrooms!

Varenyky
Little did I know that you can also eat varenyky as a dessert! Unlike the hearty versions, the dough is filled with sour cherries or sweetened cottage cheese and raisins and accompanied by butter or sour cream. I treated myself once to the cherry varenyky, which were surprisingly tasty. Who would have thought…perogies as dessert! My next challenge will be to make these in Canada!

Cherry varenyky
As a huge fan of beets, I really did come to the right country. It seems that Ukrainians also share my love of beets, as they can be found in a good majority of their recipes. One of my favourite side dishes that I tried was vinihret, which is a red beetroot salad with peas, onions, beans and pickles. All of the ingredients are chopped up into little cubes, which I found quite pleasing to eat. 

Vinihret
The traditional Ukrainian stew is also a must-try. Served in an individual-sized clay pot, it consists of stewed beef, carrots, potatoes, turnips and array of spices. There were also a few clumps of fat, but I didn’t go as far as to eat those. The dish was hearty and left my appetite completely satisfied.

Ukrainian stew
Another Ukrainian favourite of mine are deruny, also known as potato pancakes. They are shallow-fried pancakes of grated or ground potato, flour and egg, often flavored with onion or garlic and seasoning. They are topped with a variety of condiments, ranging from the savory (such as sour cream or cottage cheese) to the sweet (such as apple or cherry sauce or sugar), or they can also be served ungarnished. I tried mine with both cherry sauce and sour cream, and they were quite delectable.

Potato pancakes
I have also been known to be quite obsessed with cabbage rolls back in Canada, or as they are known here, holubsti. Lola, who is of Ukrainian descent, often treats me to her family's homemade recipe. So as soon as I got here, I knew that I had to try the real deal. And just as I guessed, they were scrumptious. For those of you who have not had the opportunity to try cabbage rolls, they consist of cabbage leaves rolled up with meat and rice, which are often topped with tomato sauce and sour cream.  For the traditional Ukrainian family, holubsti are an essential part of the Christmas Eve dinner.

Holubsti
Now to quench my thirst, I also enjoyed Ukraine’s time-honored drink, kompot. It’s basically a fruit juice that’s prepared by boiling dried fruit in a large volume of water, such as strawberries, apricots, peaches, apples, rhubarb, or sour cherries. It can be drunk both hot and cold, and it is often served with fruit sediments. I really enjoyed this beverage and found that it was flavoured perfectly.

Kompot
Last but not least, I have to say a little about Ukrainian sweets. I quickly became aware that Ukrainians are obsessed with Roshen candy and chocolate. Roshen is a Ukrainian confectionary, which you can find in just about every central square, mall or underground complex. It sells an array of candy and chocolates that can be bought in bulk, making it quite cheap.


It is also here that you can buy the famous Kyivskiy tort. It is a tasty local specialty comprising of a layered cake made from crumbly raised wafers, hazelnuts, cocoa and cream. As I celebrated my birthday in Ukraine, this cake, which also serves as one of the symbols of Kiev, was a scrumptious addition to my birthday!

Kyivskiy tort
While those are by far my favourite Ukrainian dishes, I also had the opportunity to eat in an authentic Georgian restaurant. My meal was so delicious that I couldn't pass up mentioning it! La pièce de résistance was of course the khachapuri, or cheese pie, which is the national dish of Georgia. It consists of hot flaky layers of buttery bread, which is filled with a mound of mouth-watering cheese. It is so good that it is sinful…and I definitely do not want to know how many calories are in it! But suffice it to say, if you ever have the opportunity to try it, you must, and just leave all of your healthy eating mantras aside!

Khachapuri
Well there you have it folks…the best of Ukrainian cuisine! As one who is very interested in the culinary art, I have to admit that I was extremely pleased with all of the food that I tried in Ukraine and I found their national dishes to be both wholesome and delicious!

Monday, March 11, 2013

Absinthe Restaurant (Review)

I wish I had included Absinthe in our top 10 restaurant picks of 2013 because, after dining here this past Friday night, I have to say it's one of the best culinary experiences I have had in Ottawa in a long time. The atmosphere was casual yet lively, the service was impeccable and of course the food was remarkable from the first bite of home made bread to the last bite of Creme Brulee. Their commitment to serving fresh food and partnering with local farms in the area added an extra community aspect to this already great restaurant.

We celebrated a friend's birthday again this week and the staff (Joey in particular) at Absinthe made our experience very memorable with personalized service, great meal recommendations and unique cocktail choices.

With the name Absinthe we had to try one of their Absinthe infused cocktails. They are a little on the pricey side, but definitely worth the experience. The bread is also freshly made in house with their honey infused butter. Our group ordered a wide variety of appetizers and main dishes and nobody was disappointed. I started with the Escargot Gratin in mushroom caps with duxelle and terragon cream. The flavor was so rich and hearty and the leftover cream sauce was perfect for dipping the fresh bread. Other appetizers receiving the thumbs up were the Korean BBQ Quail and the Sockeye Salmon Trio.

Escargot Gratin
Clockwise from top left: Benevolent Burger, Seared Tuna,
Pork Belly and Scallops,  Mariposa Farm Duck
My appetite was quite hearty, so I decided to try the Benevolent Burger for my main. The burger came topped with Baconnaise, aged cheddar and housemade bacon with a side of BBQ pork poutine and arugula salad. I don't normally choose burgers, but I admit this was probably the best one I have tasted. My friends also raved about their dishes, including the Mariposa Farm Duck Duo, the Seared Tuna and the Pork Belly and Scallops. Each dish was a decent serving size, leaving us just hungry enough for one or two bites of the birthday Creme Brulee that was surprised to our friend.

Taihitian Vanilla Creme  Brulee 
I would recommend Absinthe over and over again for their impeccable service, fresh and local cuisine and comforting atmosphere. 

Verdict: 10+ in all categories 

Price: Appetizers range from $7-$14. Main courses range from $23-$30. Drinks are on the pricier side - Cocktails range from $9-$14. 

Hours: Monday to Friday 11:30am-2:00pm, 5:30pm-10:00pm. Saturdays and Sundays 5:30pm-10:00pm

Absinthe Cafe, 1208 Wellington Street West, Ottawa On. 

Friday, March 8, 2013

Brunch at Benny's Bistro (Review)

Brunch is an amazing concept and a mix of my two favourite things: Champagne and eggs! When drinking bubbly before noon is socially acceptable, count me in. Benny's Bistro is a small breakfast, brunch and lunch spot at the back of the French Baker on Murray Street. It has a relaxed atmosphere, friendly service and an open kitchen to watch the chefs make their masterpieces. 

We obviously started with some mimomas and Kir Royale (Champagne and Creme de Casis), with fresh baked bread from the French Baker. The menu changes regularly but they seem to offer a regular selection of french toast, eggs, pancakes and smoked salmon, among other creative dishes.  

I indulged in the Salmon gravlax paired with a warm lemon, caper and fingerling potato salad, with a side of olive tapenade, and a sunnyside egg on top. The dish looked small when it arrived, but the layers were quite deceiving and I was totally satisfied on my last bite.  

Benny's Salmon Gravlax, $15
My brunch partner (aka my mother) decided for the sweet option of the aged cheddar stuffed french toast with roasted royal gala apple compote, brown butter oat crumble and salted caramel. I'm not normally a huge fan of sweet breakfasts/brunches, but this did not disappoint. The French Baker bread added a fresh and dense flavor to this traditional dish.

Aged Cheddar stuffed French Toast, $14 
Brunch is such a fabulous weekend treat and a great excuse to spend more time with family and friends. Benny's Bistro offers a relaxed environment with fresh, local and unique ingredients at a decent price. Reservations can be made on weekdays, but be prepared to wait a few minutes for a table on weekends.
Don't forget to check out the French Baker for fresh breads and pastries on your way out.

Verdict: Good service, relaxing environment, good quality food.

Price: Not your $4.99 breakfast, but decent prices for weekend brunch. $14-$17 per dish.

Hours: 8:00am - 2:30pm

Benny's Bistro (The French Baker), 119 Murray Street, Ottawa. 
http://www.bennysbistro.ca/bennys/index.aspx

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Gezellig (Review)

We recently celebrated a special friend's birthday and what better place to celebrate than at one of our top picks for 2013. Gezellig, the third restaurant to join the Beckta family, recently opened on Richmond Road offering quality local and sustainable food and world class wine.

The atmosphere is comfortable and friendly and accommodating for large groups and parties. The menu features a unique selection of small plates and mains, each including a suggested wine pairing. After enjoying some wine, local fresh bread and a few appetizers, the phrase "quality over quantity" definitely came to mind. The portions were not overly filling, but the unique mix of flavors and quality ingredients definitely made my taste buds happy.

I started with the winter vegetable soup with orzo, mushroom broth, togarashi (chili spice) and truffle oil as an appetizer and the Crispy Sweetbreads with sautéed apples, swiss chard, parmesan and bacon mustard vinaigrette for my main. I also inhaled the "Butter Finger" for dessert which was a layered mousse style cake with peanut butter, white, milk and dark chocolate, graham cookie and chocolate anglaise. If you've never heard of or tried Sweetbreads before, I definitely recommend it. It's a little daring, but you will not regret it (side note - ask what it is after you try it).

Other praised dishes included the Beef Tartare, the Warm Beet Salad, the Seared Alaskan Scallops, the Shortrib Steak and the Grilled Quail.


Verdict: Overall, I was very impressed with my experience at Gezellig. Small on portion size but big on flavor!

Cost: Appetizers range from $8-$15, main courses from $21-$28. They also offer sharing plates for about $30.

Hours: Monday - Friday from noon-2:00pm and 5:30pm-10:00pm. Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00am-2:00pm and 5:30pm-10:00pm.

Gezellig, 337 Richmond Road, Ottawa
http://www.gezelligdining.ca/