Sushi delivered to your door? Don't mind if I do ...(Ottawadeliverysushi, Ottawa)

So my friend and I were having a girls' afternoon, hanging with our bitches ....

Yes, I am referring to our dogs, Maggie and Berta, who were with us. I'm not that hardcore, and I also don't have that many friends (and if I did, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be referring to them as bitches).

As per usual, we were craving SUSHI and were really not in the mood to go out and pick something up. We thought, hey, wouldn't it be great if there was delivery (like pizza or chinese). So of course, we googled this. Low and behold, some place with a website as follows popped up:

 http://www.ottawadeliverysushi.com/

Well, we thought it was too good to be true (and frankly, I was a little concerned about the quality of the food) but that didn't stop us from calling - I'm sure all you sushi lovers out there understand the mix of salivation and desperation. Just. Want. Wasabi.

We were promptly impressed. The person who answered the phone was friendly and eager to please; while I don't think our location fell into their "jurisdiction" they said they would deliver for free and we didn't even have to order that much food! Within 40 minutes we had various rolls including spicy tuna and salmon as well as tender sashimi. AT OUR DOOR. This is in caps because I am yelling -- delivery sushi is very exciting, even now! What could be better? Seriously. The quality was superior to many other sushi joints I've tried in Ottawa. The rolls were not overly rice-y and the ingredients were fresh. We got a large side (small bowl) of spicy mayo which also brought my belly great joy.

Summary: Delivery sushi actually exists ... it is not just a pipe dream of some west coast sushi-obsessed girl. Even the website is easy to find (google: delivery + sushi + ottawa and you've pretty much got the site). I would definitely order this again (although I still think Sushi 88 on Somerset has the best sushi I have eaten in Ottawa - their Salamander roll made with brown nice is amazing -  the thing is, they don't deliver). Longest bracketed sentence ever.

Diamond in the ruff pizza n' stuff (Ricardo's, Ottawa)

So... Ricardo's pizza is this hole-in-the-wall tiny place (I think there actually are holes in the floor, or at least large cracks). It's situated a mere block away from our apartment, yet, we didn't try their food for the first year or so of living in the 'hood. We literally walked by it ALL THE TIME when we headed up to Somerset to get Pho, or when taking Maggie for her multiple daily walks. The thing is, it looks so sketchy and out of place (picture a lone business nestled on a corner, surrounded by houses and apartments). Now, I am not ever one to shy away from questionable looking restaurants (the food is often incredible) it's just that this one looked really odd. It actually only has one table (or maybe not even? Maybe just a plastic chair or two). Well ... little did we know that within those four walls some of the best pizza ever was being crafted! I know a few people who swear by their wraps and have even heard someone say that the pizza is better than that of Colonnade and KS on the Keys. I'll let you decide for yourself, but pictured above is their Ricardo's Special. The crust is not too thick (not as doughy as deep-dish) but not thin either; it's made in house, super tender with the right amount of crispness and seasoning. The toppings are very generous and if you order the garlic sauce you will not be disappointed.... I can't really eat pizza without garlic sauce, so this is a must for me ;)

Their wrap choices are also pretty noteworthy. And I'm not a huge wrap fan as I usually find them mundane and overall, disappointing (i.e. flour tortilla with not enough filling and too much dressing). Here though, they use the same dough as their pizza crust, stuff the wrap full of things like chicken and bacon, and use really flavourful dressing(s). Check out the website as they also make other dishes (e.g. lasagna, burgers, veal). While I can't attest to the quality of those, I'd be interested in trying them based on my experience so far.

Summary: Appearances can be deceiving. This place looks like a front for something not so legit, and the "mascot" is a green pepper with creepy onion eyes; but don't be to quick to judge, the food is pretty damn good. I'm only sad we didn't discover this gem earlier. To top it off, the staff is super friendly and seem downright pleased to be there. If you like pizza, and you live in Ottawa, Ricardo's is a must try. Just don't expect a sit-down meal (pick-up only).

Top notch shawarma in centretown (Shawarma Express, Ottawa)

Shawarma Express in Centretown is right near Ryan's work and he has brought me home a shawarma salad many a times over the past few months. We have tried Shawarma Palace (Rideau St), which is supposedly the best in Ottawa, and I would argue that the portions, freshness of the vegetables, tenderness/seasoning of the chicken, quality of the garlic sauce, and variety of dishes available is JUST AS GOOD (yes, I said it) at Shawarma Express. That being said, we've only tried the chicken dishes (shawarma / salad) and my husband says the falafel is also tasty (he goes for lunch a few days per week).

Also adding to their "points" in my mind, is the fact that they serve a variety of different garlic sauces, including a spicy garlic and a pesto garlic. If you don't already know, I (we) live for garlic sauce. We dip our pizza, chips, veggies, fries into it if there happens to be some leftover.

In terms of portions, the small chicken shawarma salad actually has almost the same amount of chicken as their "large" (there are only two sizes); you just get more veggies with the large. The cost-effective (read: cheap) woman in me orders the small and just adds veggies from home. Ryan really likes their potatoes, which come with a side of cilantro-infused oil (delicious).

Summary: Shawarma Express is a must try for those of you working or living downtown. The food is reasonable and pretty darn delectable.

Chia-Coconut-Cinnamon Porridge

So, I've always enjoyed concocting random things in the kitchen and getting ideas from blogs, cookbooks, the Food Network and more recently - Pinterest! While my husband and I really really really love going out for pub food (calamari and wings being our top two "musts"), AND as much as I love bread and french fries (anything doughy, really), during the work week I feel a lot better when I cut out wheat. I've long struggled with some IBS type symptoms that rear their head every so often, particularly when I'm stressed or not sleeping well, or actually ... whenever they feel like it, now that I reflect.

Yes, so back to the recipe. For breakfast I often like to have an avocado or fruit shake, scrambled egg/frittata or oatmeal. I have, however, noticed that the latter sometimes give me indigestion so I've tried to recreate a comforting "oatmeal/porridge" type breakfast that is gluten-free. And I made the perfect bowl today!! I have to admit, I promptly high-fived myself (my husband, as accustomed to this behaviour as he is, looked at me with quiet judgment). I then burnt my mouth, as I always do, when I am overzealous with my tasting and don't let my food cool down. Or when I have Tim Horton's.

Also, to paint the picture further, as I am engaging in these "cooking" experiments I like to think I look like a mad scientist, scurrying around the kitchen with measuring spoons in hand but no awareness of how many spoonfuls I am actually using (go figure)....  With that said, my measurements may not be completely accurate and I promise next time I will check and modify the recipe below if needed.

Ingredients:

- Half banana
- 2 rounded tbsp chia seeds ground
- 1 rounded tbsp coconut flour
- 1/4 cup almond milk (I use unsweetened)
- 1/2 water
- sweetener to taste (e.g. Stevia, honey, etc.)
- salt to taste
- 1/2 tbsp almond butter
- 1 tsp coconut oil
- 1/2 scoop (i.e. 2-3 tbsp) whey protein powder (optional, could use more milk like coconut milk, regular, etc. I've also used liquid egg-whites for a protein source)

Method:

1. In a cereal-sized bowl, mash the banana and mix with following 6 ingredients then microwave for about a minute (check to ensure it isn't overflowing) and if still liquidy, another 30-60 seconds.
2. Add the whey protein and mix well
3. Microwave another 15 seconds or so to incorporate the whey
4. Add the almond butter and coconut oil
5. Let sit until thickens to porridge consistency
6. Stir & enjoy!

P.S If you add cinnamon, a little coconut milk, or mashed frozen bananas it can also add a nice touch.

P.P.S A simpler less creamy version is just the chia, coconut flour, milk, water, sweetener and salt. It's a good base to work with and you can add pretty much anything into it.

A vegetarian buffet that could make even a meatatarian question his preference (The Green Door, Ottawa)

Since moving to Ottawa, I have been intrigued by the Green Door Vegetarian Restaurant but did not actually eat there until a few weeks ago when a colleague suggested it. I was here once before but didn't eat, as I was joining my clinical director on a treatment session with one of her clients. I didn't eat, as I wasn't sure what the protocol was (hey, as a new OT shadowing someone, you just can't be sure)... but my interest was definitely piqued when I saw people with their plates piled high, boasting a variety of hearty and fresh looking foods.

Well .... I've now had the good fortune of coming here twice in the past few months and have to say it is well worth it! The hot bar is stocked full of delectable and very nicely seasoned dishes (i.e. not bland or tasting of cardboard, as some of our meat-loving significant others might assume). They have everything you can imagine and more; curry, stir-fry, lasagna, hot and cold salads (e.g. mixed kale, greek salad, etc.), lentil and cauliflower dishes, soup, bread, as well as the best side of avocado I have ever tasted. I eat avocado almost every day, no joke, and this bowl of green goodness (probably the equivalent of 30 avocados sliced up with some sort of seasoning/lemon juice) is just ridiculous. I could eat the whole bowl. But I don't, because that wouldn't make me very popular with the patrons in line behind me, hungrily eying that delightful green goodness..

While I've not made it to their desserts quite yet I did have a few bites of my friend's. It was yummy, made with silk tofu ... it wasn't fantastic, though. Having said that, I'm more of a savoury food fan AND I tend to like richer desserts (e.g. nuts, dark chocolate, really creamy or doughy, haha .. not for the faint of heart). I would be keen to try something here if it is made with, say, crushed pecans, coconut, chocolate, nut butter or avocado (which blends very well with chocolate, to make a creamy and delectable treat, in case you weren't aware.). I'll post on the desserts once I venture to that side of the buffet.

Summary: Go to the Green Door on Main Street in Ottawa. As much as I love my meat (having enjoyed ostrich and zebra, I'm about the farthest thing from a vegetarian) ... there is a very large space in my heart for veggies. My husband actually says if I were to be reincarnated I would be a vegetable (and not the morbid, comatose kind). They are bright, fresh, so varied in texture, flavour, and can be used in so many incredible ways ... in my mind the BONUS of eating them is that they are healthy.

I love you, too (Town, Ottawa)

I'd heard of Town over the past year since moving to Ottawa, but along with it's very good reputation came the concept of "reserving weeks ahead" which sort of scared me and enticed me at the same time. Well, having my parents visit from Vancouver got me into "tour-guide" mode and also invigorated me with the deep-seeded love for food and wine that I am sure was passed down to me in my genes.

I reserved about two weeks ahead and was promptly impressed with the friendly person on the phone. They are clearly a popular establishment as they call to ensure you are actually coming for your reservation on the day of, asking for a call back. We went on a wednesday night and it was jam-packed.

Long, narrow restaurant. Patrons looking very relaxed and there's a certain buzz in the air. The servers are wearing a casual black shirt and jeans. Not pretentious. The chalk board menu largely sprawled across one wall is simple, yet presents a variety of options. The mouth watering begins.

Art-is-in breads served fresh. Water refilled as often as needed without the feeling of overbearing service.

Octopus appetizer: best octopus/squid/seafood appetizer I have had in my life. This is coming from a girl that has indulged in ceviche on the coastline of Miraflores (Peru), gobbled down pounds of BC fresh seafood over the course of her years in Vancouver, and has tried calamari dishes in BC, Ontario, New York and Argentina with her cooperative and food-loving hubby. This octopus was so tender it was almost as if cooked sous-vide and then grilled so the outside was slightly blackened and crunchy. Mixed greens, fingerling potatoes, and a pesto-type sauce. Huge portions.

Grilled romaine appetizer: I've always wanted to try BBQ salad but worried it would be wilted and floppy. In other words, gross. Well let me tell you -- best idea ever! Romaine head sliced in half and then grilled. Topped with a creamy blue cheese dressing, pecans and bacon bits. The smokey flavour comes through but doesn't affect the texture because it's the outside leaves that have been in contact with the grill. And they are still crunchy! *When I took my husband, Ryan, and brother Matt here .. they both really liked this. And Ryan isn't really a salad guy. He repeated a few times how good the dish was.

Beef a la griglia: Oh. My. God. I never knew I loved short ribs without the bone that have been marinated for an insane length of time, cooked sous-vide and then grilled so the outside is crunchy. But apparently this is my type of food. Accompanied by delicious sides (a perfectly balanced grain and vegetable), this dish was something I would write home about. But in this day and age, I prefer just to email or take the person physically. So when my brother visited two weeks later I forced him and my husband to also have this dish. There were no complaints or regrets voiced. In fact the only things voices at the table during dinner were incoherent hmmms and mmmmms ... Not a whole lot of conversation unless it was about how tender or flavourful the food was.

Wine: Get the primitivo red. It's a grape that I've not tried, Italian. Really really good (and the cheapest wine on the menu - which works well for me!)

Summary: I will be back. Probably with whomever next decides to visit me in Ottawa. I feel like that's my new thing. Being the tour guide and taking people to restaurants purely out of the goodness of my heart. Totally selfless. TOWN. I LOVE YOU, TOO (check out the website and you will understand what I mean).

Warm, lively, and Irish (D'arcy McGees - Spark street, Ottawa)

Ryan and I went to D'arcy McGees after moving into downtown .. and I am thinking it was because we had a groupon (this is usually what instigates a meal out, not going to lie). In any case, Ryan quickly fell in love with the chicken tikka masala, substituting the rice for home-made delicious fries. The dish comes with a real papadum to separate the pees from the starch, and the curry sauce is very authentic.

We also tried the braised beef poutine (pictured above), which was delicious. It's all about the real fries, with skin, not pre-frozen. It makes such a difference in flavour and texture. Nothing satisfies a craving for baaadddd food like home-made fries. Mmmm.

I also quite enjoy the prime rib and the veggie burger. The latter is really well-textured and "meaty" for a veggie burger, with sauteed mushrooms and fried masala onions on top. The boxties are also aaamazing! I get the tikka masala variety. And  the side salad, for a pub, is pretty phenomenal. The house dressing is actually house made. As in, you can tell they blenderize a bunch of ingredients and it's not store bought. There are also fresh cherry tomatoes, cucumbers and sprouts. SPROUTS! With mixed greens, NOT iceberg lettuce. It's a real salad! This makes me very happy! Often salad can be a travesty at pubs (especially when they give you iceberg lettuce and shredded stale carrots that are becoming white and waxy). I.E. AT THE ROYAL OAK.

Summary: D'arcy's is a really good pub with really good food. It's almost not pub food anymore... but, as outlined above ... in all the right ways. They also occasionally have higher test beer on tap (e.g .7-9%) from Quebec, which goes well with any of the above for a late lunch.