Blog
Canada Day Food on The Mark News | June 30 2010
July 1 is upon us once again, which means not only is it my father-in-law’s birthday, but it’s also Canada Day. So what is quintessential Canada Day fare that celebrates and honours our country?
Canada is a country that’s a unique combination of many cultures from around the world. As Canadians we represent Asia, Europe, the Americas, Africa, and the Caribbean, to name just a few. If you were to ask someone in Quebec what our national dish is, they would say poutine; on the East Coast, undeniably lobster; on the West Coast, undeniably salmon; in Ottawa, beavertails; in Alberta, no doubt beef of all sorts. So who is really waving Canada’s culinary flag?
Let’s face it: the only true Kanadian food would be bannock – a First Nations bread that’s usually fried or baked. It’s a very simple mix of some staple pantry items, and there are heaps of recipes available online with various interpretations, but here’s simple version.
Basic Bannock
3 cups flour 3 tablespoons baking powder 3 tablespoons sugar ¼ cup vegetable oil Pinch of salt
Mix flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar together. Add some vegetable oil (this is a modern adaptation, to replace the traditional rendered animal fat), stirring until well combined. Then add enough water to bring the dough together. Form the dough into a rounded ball and bake it away, preferably over an open flame.
In my house I will be making bannock and curried goat. How about that for quintessentially Canadian?
• Click HERE to see the article on The Mark News
"Obedient Ingredient" | June 26 2010
I just wanted to thank everyone for their support of the show as it continues to launch all over the world and most recently in the U.S. and the Caribbean on Cooking Channel. There seems to be a it of confusion about the term Obedient Ingredient; some people get it for what it is (fun) and others cant seem to grasp it or not want to accept it. First let me explain it for those who dont get it. It was one of those things that came up in a brainstorming session that was just fun and became a bit of an inside joke that we decided to share with everyone. We have alot of fun taping the show mixed with actual hard work and things like this term just start creeping into the creative process and become a part of the landscape of the creation. But for the record let me break it down:
- Firstly, Obedient Ingredient is just a fun way of saying "the main ingredient, the secret ingredient, the theme ingredient." It is intended to be a less formal way of getting that idea point across. I like playing little games on myself to make it fun and this was one of those games that everyone was in on.
- The show Everyday Exotic is about breaking down peoples fear of certain ingredients. By making you the master and the ingredient obedient, it puts you in the drivers seat. Dont walk by that ingredient in the grocery store anymore and feel beaten by it because you dont know what to do with it or are intimidated. You can master it and you will learn how to control the ingredient. Hence its impending obedience.
- Obedient Ingredient rhymes. Im an MC and I like to rhyme things. Its fun and makes me feel like Im 5 years old again.
Its not meant to sound too cool for school or anything like that. The idea is just to get the point across and have fun. Its pretty simple and certainly nothing to get worked up over.
If you still hate it then take this! hehehehehe...
Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...
G20 and Earthquake. | June 24 2010
This picture was taken a couple of days ago but I thought was particularly good given what happened yesterday.
Im sure everyone has heard by now but yesterday afternoon we had a 5.5 earthquake that started near Ottawa and made its way to Toronto, Montreal, New York, etc... The earthquake left quite a lot of people frightened running down stairwells as Toronto is deep in the middle of G20 mania.
Large portions of the downtown core are fenced with about 10' high fencing. The police are everywhere and walking around with riot gear looped around their belt loops, ready to go. On horses, bikes, walking, offroad 4x4's, cars, in groups; I counted 40 on one city block yesterday. The scenario is straight out of a movie as everyone else who has decided to work from work this week (novel idea) are walking amongst the police. It is a bit bizarre of an image but real. Some stores along major routes are starting to board up their glass storefronts in fear of damage from protesters. No one knows what to expect so a lot of folks are just staying away completely and going on vacation. A couple of my friends have rented out their apartments for the week as the hotels are totally gridlocked with media, support staff, security and teams of caretakers.
So when the earthquake hit and buildings started shaking a lot of people were concerned that it was connected to a security breach during the G20. Well it was not the case. For the record, I didnt feel a thing although I did talk to a lot of peeps yesterday who's buildings were shaking pretty good.
This will be blazed into my memory forever. What a day.
Toronto Zoo Recap | June 23 2010
Hey I got to pet a Donkey, a Llama, and a Stingray. Also, everyone who came enjoyed some great goodies using sustainable seafood and wines in support of Seafood For Thought. My faves were the Crab Ravioli and Teddy and Kong's Po Boy - so good. Lots of food bloggers, press and fans came out to take pics, enjoy the food / wines and check out the animals. Not the party animals...the REAL animals. Of course Food Network Canada was in the house as they sponsored the event, big up to them for that. Congrats to everyone who won their silent auction items, it got pretty heated there for a minute. All proceeds went to Toronto Zoo's Conservation Fund which is used to fund conservation programming, go figure.
Thanks to everyone involved for making a great night.
Meet the Kultura Kitchen | June 21 2010
6 years ago we opened this restaurant called Kultura. The restaurant has played host to a lot of great weddings, parties, product launches, wheeling and dealing meetings, birthdays, and good ole fashioned getting together to enjoy a good meal in good company (the best of all).
To say that it is a lot of work to pull this off every night would be an incredible understatement. I would like to introduce you to some of the kitchen staff that knock it out every single night.
In this crew photo we have someone who dyed their hair multiple times so their mom wouldnt find out what color they normally keep their hair, someone who started with us as an intern who now runs the kitchen, someone who is always watching the U.S. / Canadian $$ exchange rate, someone who came up with an amazing idea for a dish the other day with Konbu; but they are all a big part of what makes this place tick. It takes all types to keep it going and that is why I love this game.
Another eventful day as the GM of Kultura, Sean, is having our last day with us and all Im gonna say is look out for Chico's Roti Shop.
Big them all up. Its not easy work and it does not go un noticed around here. Thanks for all your hard work and keep up the great job. Madd love.
Canada is a country that’s a unique combination of many cultures from around the world. As Canadians we represent Asia, Europe, the Americas, Africa, and the Caribbean, to name just a few. If you were to ask someone in Quebec what our national dish is, they would say poutine; on the East Coast, undeniably lobster; on the West Coast, undeniably salmon; in Ottawa, beavertails; in Alberta, no doubt beef of all sorts. So who is really waving Canada’s culinary flag?
Let’s face it: the only true Kanadian food would be bannock – a First Nations bread that’s usually fried or baked. It’s a very simple mix of some staple pantry items, and there are heaps of recipes available online with various interpretations, but here’s simple version.
Basic Bannock
3 cups flour 3 tablespoons baking powder 3 tablespoons sugar ¼ cup vegetable oil Pinch of salt
Mix flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar together. Add some vegetable oil (this is a modern adaptation, to replace the traditional rendered animal fat), stirring until well combined. Then add enough water to bring the dough together. Form the dough into a rounded ball and bake it away, preferably over an open flame.
In my house I will be making bannock and curried goat. How about that for quintessentially Canadian?
• Click HERE to see the article on The Mark News
"Obedient Ingredient" | June 26 2010
- Firstly, Obedient Ingredient is just a fun way of saying "the main ingredient, the secret ingredient, the theme ingredient." It is intended to be a less formal way of getting that idea point across. I like playing little games on myself to make it fun and this was one of those games that everyone was in on.
- The show Everyday Exotic is about breaking down peoples fear of certain ingredients. By making you the master and the ingredient obedient, it puts you in the drivers seat. Dont walk by that ingredient in the grocery store anymore and feel beaten by it because you dont know what to do with it or are intimidated. You can master it and you will learn how to control the ingredient. Hence its impending obedience.
- Obedient Ingredient rhymes. Im an MC and I like to rhyme things. Its fun and makes me feel like Im 5 years old again.
Its not meant to sound too cool for school or anything like that. The idea is just to get the point across and have fun. Its pretty simple and certainly nothing to get worked up over.
If you still hate it then take this! hehehehehe...
Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...Obedient Ingredient...
G20 and Earthquake. | June 24 2010
Im sure everyone has heard by now but yesterday afternoon we had a 5.5 earthquake that started near Ottawa and made its way to Toronto, Montreal, New York, etc... The earthquake left quite a lot of people frightened running down stairwells as Toronto is deep in the middle of G20 mania.
Large portions of the downtown core are fenced with about 10' high fencing. The police are everywhere and walking around with riot gear looped around their belt loops, ready to go. On horses, bikes, walking, offroad 4x4's, cars, in groups; I counted 40 on one city block yesterday. The scenario is straight out of a movie as everyone else who has decided to work from work this week (novel idea) are walking amongst the police. It is a bit bizarre of an image but real. Some stores along major routes are starting to board up their glass storefronts in fear of damage from protesters. No one knows what to expect so a lot of folks are just staying away completely and going on vacation. A couple of my friends have rented out their apartments for the week as the hotels are totally gridlocked with media, support staff, security and teams of caretakers.
So when the earthquake hit and buildings started shaking a lot of people were concerned that it was connected to a security breach during the G20. Well it was not the case. For the record, I didnt feel a thing although I did talk to a lot of peeps yesterday who's buildings were shaking pretty good.
This will be blazed into my memory forever. What a day.
Toronto Zoo Recap | June 23 2010
Thanks to everyone involved for making a great night.
Meet the Kultura Kitchen | June 21 2010
To say that it is a lot of work to pull this off every night would be an incredible understatement. I would like to introduce you to some of the kitchen staff that knock it out every single night.
In this crew photo we have someone who dyed their hair multiple times so their mom wouldnt find out what color they normally keep their hair, someone who started with us as an intern who now runs the kitchen, someone who is always watching the U.S. / Canadian $$ exchange rate, someone who came up with an amazing idea for a dish the other day with Konbu; but they are all a big part of what makes this place tick. It takes all types to keep it going and that is why I love this game.
Another eventful day as the GM of Kultura, Sean, is having our last day with us and all Im gonna say is look out for Chico's Roti Shop.
Big them all up. Its not easy work and it does not go un noticed around here. Thanks for all your hard work and keep up the great job. Madd love.
