Durty Nelly's

Rebecca: Durty Nelly's is an Irish pub with a great atmosphere and great food. Unfortunately we couldn't nab a spot on their lovely patio, but the bar inside is quite nice.

I saw the most delicious looking burger go by on a server's tray. It had onion rings sitting atop it, and the entire thing was speared with a large steak knife. It was served with hand-cut fries. "That's what I want," I decided.

Yup.

This burger is called The Bigger Better Nelly's Burger ($12.99). From the Nelly's menu: "Hand made patty seasoned to perfection loaded with double smoked bacon, Guinness cheddar cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, red onions, and mayo on a sesame seed bun. Topped off with two onion rings." How can anyone pass that up? The burger was juicy, delicious, and quite intense - definitely something you have to be in the mood for. I thought the pricing of the menu items was reasonable - however, the drinks at Nelly's are very expensive.

Ben: Rebecca VERY strongly recommended the Grilled Chicken and Baked Brie Panini, so I that’s what I ordered, with a garden salad on the side. As usual, her taste buds did not disappoint – this thing was really good. My only complaint was that the cheese wasn’t as melty as I had expected, but Rebecca assured me this was a one-time mistake. Insufficient meltiness aside, Brie is delicious on whatever it is added to, and there was plenty of it on this sandwich. The other ingredients were all really fresh, which is maybe not what you would expect from pub food. The homemade garlic mayonnaise, however, is what really made the panini stand out; I’m a sucker for homemade mayo, and this went really well with the Brie. The side salad, however, was a pretty standard garden salad – I prefer salad to fries though, especially on a hot day. I should also mention, finally, that this meal was somehow flagged as “healthy” on the menu. I’m not sure how that’s possible, given all the cheese; I suspect they may have stretched the definition of healthy, but I can’t know for sure.

Looks healthy enough...

But look at that cheese

Elements on Hollis – Guest Post by Michael Sandoval

            While with family as we visited Canada, we stopped over in Halifax for a meal, among other things. Being tourists, we had no idea which places were good, which were new, etc. So we drove around a little and saw Elements on Hollis, pulled in, and hoped for the best. As for what we got, let me begin with how I see the typical dining place:

            The average restaurant, no matter where you go, tends to be very conservative with their offerings. Sure, some small businesses use locally grown ingredients, but what they make is very normal for the area - for us Americans, a burger, fries, maybe some steak, some grilled pork... Not so with Elements on Hollis - they mix local support with a very diverse menu! Sitting there and reading that menu was both tantalizing and stressful - in an "oh God what'll I choose to get?"- indecisive kind of way.

        Once I had gotten over myself and made a choice, I went with the Apple Cider Pork Chop - not too far from what I'm used to, but it definitely sounded like quite the adventure:

    I was thoroughly impressed with the flavor of the chop, especially considering pork chops are not usually among my personal favorite foods. Moreover, I found it to be very tender, and thus easily chewed.  While the price escapes me as I write this, I was completely satisfied with it and found my decision worth it nonetheless. The only complaint I have is that I don't have an infinite stomach to try the rest of the menu!

Michael Sandoval is a caterer from California.  He is the online community manager for Better Cater (www.bettercater.com)  During his free time he enjoys traveling, discovering new restaurants, and BBQ.    

The Fickle Frog

Like many university students, Rebecca has gone home for the summer months to work and be with family. I, however, am a born and raised Haligonian, and won’t be going anywhere any time soon. I’m stuck here, moping around until Rebecca returns in September…and for me, moping means a whole lot of eating. This is the first edition of Lonely Benjamin Blog.

(Now we do have a few extra posts saved up from the school year, so this won’t be all you get this summer. Wouldn’t want things to get too melancholy)

A few nights ago a couple friends and I wanted to go for a drink. Our first idea was Rockbottom, but they had a band setting up, and sometimes we just want quiet while we get our drank on. We were also lazy, so we decided to just cross the street over to the Fickle Frog, a great place for some laid back conversation, cold beers that aren’t Molson or Coors Light, and surprisingly delicious pizza.

Last summer, Gatsby’s, a Halifax staple, went through a much-needed facelift, renovating and rebranding itself as the Fickle Frog. I remember reviews from that period were mixed – Haligonians don’t always like change, after all, and the frog mascot annoyed more than a few people at first. The daily specials, however, immediately caught my eye; from Toonie Tacos to $7 unlimited spaghetti, each day of the week means a different deal. Rebecca and I used to love going for the $7.50 steiners of Sleeman’s on Fridays after a long week of school.

Look how pleased she is.

This was a Thursday night, so pints of Sleeman’s were $3.75. We opted for the pitcher and pizza deal for $20, however, since we were feeling a little peckish. I had heard from my dad and sister that this pizza was fantastic, so I had to try it myself. And it didn’t disappoint! We got the works, which had everything you would expect – green peppers, mushrooms, ground beef, bacon, onions, etc. The sauce was sloppy and got everywhere, but it was still delicious; not exactly gourmet, but better than Pizza Hut for sure. The cheese didn’t stretch an outrageous amount (one of my pizza pet peeves), and didn’t fall off the slice. It was thick crust, of course, but who really wants a gourmet pizza as they’re sitting over beers after a long day?

Possibly the worst picture I have ever taken

Apparently you also have the option of making the center of your pizza garlic fingers. This intrigues me, but I’ve heard it needs to be done with one of the larger pizzas. Oh well, I’ll just have to go again sometime when I’m hungrier.

Armview

Rebecca: We decided to go get us some Armview after having seen it featured on the Food Network Canada's new series entitled "You Gotta Eat Here". According to the episode, the Armview is under new management, a duo of young Greek entrepreneurs who love fresh and healthy food. Our meals at Armview were indeed fresh and healthy (the "healthy" part excludes the two large milkshakes we drank). Looking around the restaurant, the majority of other diners had opted for items from the Armview's expanding Greek menu. These people (most likely faithful Armview regulars) know what's up. The Greek selections were absolutely delicious, and likely contributed to the Armview winning the prestigious title of "Best Diner" in the Coast's 2012 Best of Food survey.

I got the Souvlaki Wrap ($10.50) with marinated chicken, onion, tomato and tzaziki. The wrap was huge and piping hot. It came conveniently wrapped in tin foil, so there was no mess or fallout. The chicken was moist and flavorful; each piece was brushed with a marinade of various seasonings which brought some serious spice to the chicken. But, not to worry: any heat was offset by the creamy tzaziki. As you can see from the photo, I chose french fries as my side. Why, oh why didn't I choose the Greek Salad? Sometimes I lay awake at night regretting this awful decision. The Greek Salad at Armview is the real deal - no lettuce, just tomato, cucumbers, green peppers, red onions, Kalmata olives, and big chunks of feta all drizzled in olive oil. When I was in Greece, it was safe to say that I became very closely acquainted with Greek Salad. For only $2 extra at Armview, you must upgrade your side to Greek Salad.

Wrap: delicious. French fries: I can't even look at you right now.

Ben: I had a lamburger ($10), something I’m always tempted to order at restaurants just for the pleasure of saying the word. It’s a simple sandwich: marinated free-range local lamb on ciabatta topped with lettuce, tomato, onion and tzatziki. This is obviously a more “virtuous” burger than some of the others we’ve reviewed; lamburgers typically are leaner than beef burgers and don’t often come smothered in ketchup and cheese (not that that’s always a bad thing). Despite the drawback of being reasonably healthy, however, this burger was not at all lacking in flavour. The patty was thick and juicy, an important attribute as ground lamb can often be quite dry. In addition, even though it’s little more than yogurt and cucumber, tzatziki is a more-than-adequate substitute for mayo or whatever other artery-clogging sauce you like on your burger. To add to my healthiness, I chose rice as the side to my burger. The only problem I had with the rice was that there was way, way, way too much of it. I have a huge aversion to wasting food, but I was forced to leave some on the plate.

Ben is healthy sometimes.

In case you were worried I was going soft, we balanced out our “virtuous” meals with thick, high-calorie milkshakes ($3.50). The menu gives you the option to spike your shake with a shot from the bar for $4 more, but we thought it was a little too early in the day for that. This milkshake recently placed third in The Coast’s Best of Food contest, falling behind Darrell’s and the Chickenburger.  While the flavours of the milkshakes weren’t as inventive as at Darrell’s, the quality was similar. What you want in a milkshake is uniform consistency; too often milkshakes are just chunks of ice cream floating in a sea of ice cream soup. Our only issue was that they didn’t bring us the extra in the mixing cup, so you don’t get as much bang for your buck as at Darrell’s or the Ardmore. All in all though, this was a great tasting shake from one of the nicest places we’ve eaten so far.

Eating healthy at Armview was fun while it lasted. Mmm, milkshakes!

Happy Mother's Day

Rebecca: If you are traveling through Cape Breton this summer, or planning to head to Newfoundland via the Marine Atlantic ferry, you must try to squeeze in a stop at the Black Spoon Bistro, located at 320 Commercial Street in North Sydney. I took my mom here yesterday for a late afternoon lunch; our food was fresh, delicious, and fast. We loved the atmosphere of this small restaurant - the staff were so friendly!

I got the Chipotle Chicken Panini ($9.99), which features grilled chicken, bacon, melty cheese, onion and peppers. Served on ciabatta bread, this panini was grilled to crispy perfection. It was dressed with chipotle mayonnaise: flavorful, just a little spicy, and very tasty. The panini was big enough to be served on its own; however, all sandwiches on the Black Spoon menu are served with your choice of soup or garden salad. Whoa! 

Way, way better than your classic tomato soup and grilled cheese.

I opted for the soup of the day: tomato bisque. The soup was incredibly hearty, and there was no shortage of "Eat your soup, it's good for you" comments from my mother. There were full-size broccoli florets, large cubes of potato with the skins still on, carrots, and onions in there. Delicious! 

My mom got the Mango Fish Burger ($8.99) and chose garden salad as her side. She loved the burger, which was a fresh combination of breaded haddock, finely chopped mango, Swiss cheese and lime dressing served on herbed foccacia bread. She commented that she had never tried anything quite like it before! Her salad was a favorite - she loved the homemade croutons and maple vinaigrette. Her only critique? Too many onions!

That dressing was so, so good. We may or may not have eaten spoonfuls of it.

We were extremely full at this point, but figured that we better take a look at the dessert menu - just to be sure. Of course we were intrigued by the feature dessert - a lemon crepe with ricotta and basil filling, whipped cream, and strawberry coulis ($7.99). We decided to split one, which was perfect because the dessert included not one, but TWO crepes! 

We loved the presentation!

This was one of the most unique desserts we had ever eaten. The lemon crepes were tangy and sweet; the flavor of the basil was easily distinguishable within the creamy ricotta filling. Combined with the whipped cream and strawberry, the flavors all came together in the most unusual way. But we're not complaining - we're glad we tried it. Overall, a very enjoyable afternoon - I love my mom and our food was delicious. Happy Mother's Day!

Saege

Ben: If you’re a student in Halifax looking for a cheap place to eat, Saege Bistro on Spring Garden Road might not be the first place that comes to mind. If you’re a Dalhousie student you’ve probably walked by hundreds of times on your way downtown, but its slightly upscale atmosphere may have thrown you off. However, Saege is not nearly as pricey as you might think – items on their regular menu range from $15-$22. Those who frequent Saege recommend it strongly, highlighting the delicious Scanway desserts they serve. Saege advertises a $10 pizza and pasta night every Wednesday, so we decided to check it out. Our server kindly clarified that this deal was available only with the purchase of a beverage or dessert. Since we wanted dessert anyway (as usual), this wasn’t exactly a problem, but it’s nonetheless something you should be aware of if you’re planning to go yourself.

There was a separate menu for the $10 pizza and pasta, which to my knowledge is not currently available online. I chose a pizza topped with pork, mushrooms and (if I remember correctly) a bit of truffle oil. It was the perfect size for one person; you certainly won’t be packing any to take home with you, but you won’t be left hungry either. The ingredients are fresh and local, a point of great pride for the restaurant’s owner.

Haligonian mushrooms

When I eat “good” pizza, the part that always sticks out most for me is the sauce, especially with tomato sauce-based pizzas. You’re going to be tasting tomato sauce in every single bite, so it had better be seasoned properly. In addition, too much or too little of even a good sauce can ruin a pizza; I find that many restaurants, in an attempt to make the other ingredients stand out, opt for far too little sauce. This pizza, however, had the right amount of flavourful sauce that complemented the other toppings perfectly. While Saege’s pizza might not be as phenomenal as, say, that of Morris East (which I really hope we get to review soon), you have to keep in mind that Saege is not centred on pizza in the way that Morris East and other restaurants are. Given that pizza is not the focus of its menu, Saege was extremely impressive, leaving me eager to try the restaurant’s more famous dishes at a later date.

Rebecca: My pizza was a mix of the familiar and the unusual: tomatoes, basil, mozzarella... and cooked ham and snow peas. I've never heard of putting peas on a pizza, but Saege is known for their interesting and uncommon flavour combinations, and I decided to put my faith in their culinary creativity. I'm a pizza lover (aren't we all?), but I have to say that I was not overly impressed. While it was a risk, I did not enjoy the flavour or the texture that the snow peas brought to the dish. For starters, they were served cold, and I was just not a fan. In fact, I found that the temperature of the entire pizza was a little on the cold side. Second, there were far too many peas - just a hint of that summery, earthy taste would have been sufficient. If the pizza lacked the peas, and was served piping hot, it would have been excellent. For $10, there was no harm done to my wallet. And now I can say that I've tried a pizza with peas - weird!   

Looks great and colourful, but just wasn't for me

Now, I am going to change my tune completely. The dessert I had at Saege, the Vanilla Bean Cheesecake ($8), was one of the best I've ever had. Served with blueberry compote, lemon cream, and a large strawberry, this cheesecake dome was unbelievably creamy (but not too heavy), with finely ground vanilla beans sprinkled throughout. On its own, the cake's rich creaminess and raw vanilla flavour was melt-in-your-mouth goodness. However, if you ran a bite of the cake through the compote and cream with your fork, it tasted even better. The dome's crust was ultra-thin and delicious. I savoured this cake. If you come to Saege, make sure to treat yourself to a dessert; they are the shining stars of the Saege menu. 

I love this cake

Ben: I ordered the Gala Apple Cardamom Cake ($8). Cardamom is a spice found in the ginger family that is extremely flavourful in small doses. I had never tried it before, but once I smelled it I knew it would be delicious. It was served with cinnamon gelato and hazelnut caramel, which I almost could have done without, as the cake was delicious enough to stand on its own. Although my dessert was delicious, I wanted Rebecca’s. It was bigger than mine and looked absolutely incredible. If you go to Saege, get her dessert instead of mine.

Yummy, but the cheesecake stole the show

NYC: Top 5

Start spreading the news... New York has delicious food... and we want to eat ALL OF IT! If any of you are planning to visit this wonderful city sometime soon, or just enjoy reading about restaurants from around the world, then this is the post for you. After that, we promise to get back to reviewing restaurants in Halifax.

1. Omai Food of Vietnam
158 9th Avenue, New York, NY
http://omainyc.com/

Rebecca: Omai is one of the New York gems that we wouldn’t have known about otherwise if it wasn’t for our Lonely Planet guidebook. This restaurant is in the Chelsea neighborhood, somewhat off the beaten path from the hustle and bustle of midtown and generally less-frequented by tourists. This small restaurant is modern and sleek with a relaxing vibe. It fills up quite fast, and they do take reservations. We weren’t very hungry the night we went to Omai, so we each decided on a salad. I got the calamari salad (in Vietnamese, Goi muc), which was priced at only nine dollars! This led me to believe that the portions would be artfully-presented, tiny bites - but I was wrong. The salad was heaped onto my plate. Great portions of calamari rings and tentacles sat atop cucumber, tomato, mixed greens and fresh herbs, which were all drizzled in a tangy peanut dressing. The calamari was flash-fried with mint leaves, making for a fresh and delicious flavour combination.

Ben: We checked out Omai after feeling we had eaten far too much greasy, unhealthy food over the past few days. Everything on the menu looked delicious and was quite affordable; I only wish we had been hungrier when we got there. I only ordered the Lobster Roll Salad: lobster and avocado on a bed of mixed greens, doused in house dressing, with a rice paper roll on the side containing the same ingredients. It only cost about $10 and was all I needed that evening.

2. The Carnegie Deli
854 7th Avenue at 55th Street, New York, NY
http://www.carnegiedeli.com/home.php

Ben: The Carnegie Deli loves to show off its well-earned fame. The walls are plastered with pictures of famous diners, including President Obama, and television sets play a looping video of the restaurant’s appearances in popular culture. When you sit down, you immediately receive a bowl of pickles, much to my girlfriend’s delight – I’ll let her tell you more about those. I ordered a pastrami burger, which, like everything at Carnegie, was comically huge. It wasn’t topped with any vegetables or sauces, just a burger and a pile of pastrami in a bun with about an 8-inch diameter. I piled on the ketchup and mustard myself, but it almost didn’t need it – the pastrami provided the seasoning and the burger provided the juiciness. As we looked around we noticed many customers couldn’t even come close to finishing. This only inspired us to plough ahead with our meals.

Rebecca: After sizing up the gigantic ham, pastrami and pulled pork sandwiches of the customers seated around us, I decided that there was absolutely no way that I could eat all of that meat. I decided to change it up a little and order the Western sandwich, $12.95, an omelette-style sandwich with green pepper, onion, and ham sprinkled throughout. According to the menu, the sandwich only contained 3 eggs. This must be a fallacy. Imagine three decks of cards stacked on top of each other. That’s how thick the eggy portion of the sandwich was - not counting the bread. And I ate all of it. Eeek! I had also snacked on those pickles - so crunchy! So salty! So dill-y!

Ben: When we were nearing the finish line of our giant supper, we noticed that many customers were receiving huge pieces of what looked like the best strawberry cheesecake ever. We decided that, nausea be damned, we couldn’t pass up an opportunity like this. We split a piece, which probably weighed about a pound and a half, and enjoyed every last bite. It was dense but creamy, sitting on a pastry crust and topped with fresh strawberries. I have never had cheesecake this good before and I doubt I will again for a very long time. I miss it.

3. Big Gay Ice Cream
125 East 7th Street, New York, NY
http://biggayicecream.com/

Ben: If you watch the Food Network at all, you’re probably already familiar with this now-famous establishment. The truck is what’s really well known, but unfortunately it doesn’t exit the garage until May so we had to visit the shop instead. Rebecca was still stuffed after our cheesecake experience at the Carnegie, so I went solo on this one. I ordered the Salty Pimp ($5), the shop’s most popular dessert. It’s a hefty amount of vanilla soft-serve pumped full of dulce de leche, dipped in chocolate and sprinkled quite liberally with sea salt. They gave it to me quite enthusiastically, yelling “There’s a Salty Pimp coming up…IT’S FOR BEN! Yay Ben!” This type of thing is what Big Gay Ice Cream is known for – in my opinion, ice cream should always be served with exuberance. If you like sweet and salty combinations, you shouldn’t pass up an opportunity to indulge in a Salty Pimp. I adored this thing, even after eating way too much cheesecake. Even with a regular vanilla soft serve base, there’s a lot going on here; each bite delivers a different amount of sea salt and dulce de leche, creating a different balance of sweet and salty every time. Of course, if you’re like me, you’ll probably finish the whole thing in three chomps anyway.

4. Grimaldi’s Pizza
1 Front Street, Brooklyn, NY
http://www.grimaldis.com/

Rebecca: Just off the Brooklyn bridge, Grimaldi’s has been named the best pizza in New York by food critics, travel writers, and locals alike. Grimaldi’s is not flashy despite these intimidating claims. Upon seeing the long line of hungry customers trailing down the sidewalk alongside this average-looking pizzeria, you may wonder, is it really worth it? It is. Some info: Grimaldi’s doesn’t serve by the slice, and for take-out they throw your pizza in a brown bag, not a box. For this reason we decided to wait in the long line to be seated inside. Upon seeing the pizzas, as well as the chefs expertly tossing dough and adding toppings, we became very anxious to order. We went with the small (FYI: it was by no means “small”) original pizza ($12), topped with fresh mozzarella, tomato, and basil. We added Italian sausage for an extra two dollars. I also got a black cherry soda that was brewed in Brooklyn. After eating this pizza, no other pizza compares. The tomato sauce was spread above and below the mozzarella. The freshness was unbeatable. We each ate three large slices. So good!

Ye olde Brooklyn soda.

Cheesy melty goodness.

Ben: This pizza was phenomenal. I cannot emphasize enough how much you need to go to this place. $14 buys you more than enough, and it’s well worth the long wait in line. Walk across the bridge afterwards if you feel like working off your meal – the Brooklyn side is far less packed with tourists than the Manhattan side, and you get a view you won’t soon forget.

And the best for last:
5. The Highliner
210 10th Avenue, New York, NY
http://www.thehighlinernyc.com/

Rebecca: What a little gem this restaurant was! We can’t take the credit for finding it though; this was another great recommendation from our Lonely Planet book. The Highliner is housed in an old steelcar, with a stylish retro vibe, shiny metal interior and romantic atmosphere. We ate here twice during our 5-day stay. For our first visit, I ordered the black bean vegetarian burger ($13) and added avocado for an extra dollar. Most veggie burgers I’ve had in the past were either disappointingly flavourless or dry - this one was no such thing. The patty was flavourful and tender, the beans were left almost intact, and there was a certain spicy, Asian-inspired flavour to it. The bun was fresh and delicious, and the regular toppings (a quarter of a pickle, tomato, and lettuce) were great. There was half an avocado on my burger, and it was sliced and arranged beautifully. The fries were served in a cone of wax paper placed in a tin. They were thin-cut, seasoned with sea-salt and herbs. This American fare had serious gourmet status - with a budget-friendly price!

Ben: The first time we went here I ordered the Seared Rare Tuna Steak Sandwich, served with wasabi mayo and a tin of fries on the side. This was simply amazing tuna, good enough to make you swear off the canned stuff for the rest of your life. It fell apart in my mouth so easily I barely had to chew, that’s how tender it was. The wasabi mayo was not too spicy, and was the perfect topping for this sandwich. And it cost just $11!

Rebecca: For our second visit, I decided on The Highliner ($11), a wrap containing scrambled eggs, bacon, Monterey Jack cheese, avocado and tomato. It was served with a tin of those delicious fries. The contents of the wrap were fresh and high-quality, causing me to wonder if the Highliner actually makes any money. It was a huge wrap, and afterward I was so stuffed I was only able to pick away at my fries. As a french fry lover, this took a great deal of self-restraint. No one likes to be in a food coma while they’re in New York City.

Ben: The second time we went I ordered clams served on a bed of linguini in white wine sauce with grape tomatoes ($14!). This plate was so beautifully presented and so delicious it could have been served at three times the price in a fine dining restaurant. Unfortunately the restaurant was rather dimly lit, so you don’t get a picture. There was a lot of food too – seven large clams and a good amount of pasta. My only complaint was that I didn’t get a side plate for my shells, which made eating it awkward and caused me to make a huge mess.

Some general words of advice from both of us when dining in New York: you are expected to tip more. 18% is usually the minimum. Secondly, most restaurants in the city are quite small, so you will be seated DIRECTLY next to other diners. Finally, for some reason, America only has those annoying glass ketchup bottles. Can’t we get a plastic squeeze bottle up in here?

The Ardmore Tea Room

Rebecca: Not all breakfasts are created equal. Some have newfound flavour combinations of epic proportions. Others are tried-and-true breakfasts with a twist. While the breakfasts at the Ardmore, Quinpool's favourite diner for over 50 years, may not live up to epic breakfast status, they make up for their lack of creativity in taste. The diner is simple, cheap, and the staff is friendly. The placemats tell the story of Tennyson and his wife Norma, the restaurant's founders. The Ardmore is a local, family-run business with an "at-home" feel. Don't let the shabby exterior of the restaurant fool you - sub-par breakfast food is not an option here. Tennyson would never allow it! 

I contemplated the menu at length - everything sounded delicious, and the breakfasts are a steal of a deal. I finally decided on the half Eggs Benedict with smoked salmon, priced at $5.25. My breakfast, orange juice, and tip came to under $10. Whoa! 

The poached egg was so delicate! The hollandaise sauce so creamy! Why am I so dramatic today? Anyway, the salmon added the perfect salty, smoky taste to the dish. The half Eggs Benny was also served with a hefty portion of homemade hash browns, coated in a peppery Cajun seasoning. Yeah!

I want to go to there.

Ben: I've been going to the Ardmore for many years now; in high school I was a regular customer, and have now tried most of the items on the menu. I convinced Rebecca to get the Smoked Salmon Eggs Benny, since that's my favorite – unfortunately that meant I had to miss out for variety's sake. I opted for the Lumberjack's Combo – 2 eggs, toast, sausage, ham, bacon and hash browns for around $7. I got my eggs over easy and soft, just the way I like them. This breakfast was impressively huge and cheap, and everything was cooked perfectly. There wasn't anything particularly original or innovative here, just good, hearty food. Exactly what a lumberjack needs to start his (or her, says Rebecca) day.

Time to cut down some trees

Cheese Curds

Ben: A couple weeks ago we decided to try out Cheese Curds, a brand new gourmet burger/poutine restaurant in Dartmouth (right across from Value Village on Pleasant St.) that has exploded in popularity. We really had no idea what to expect; having no car, we don't exactly venture over to Dartmouth very often. However, this place was so highly recommended that we decided to make the trek over. The first thing we saw when we walked in was people – everywhere. There was barely room to breathe. A large sign proclaimed that if you're not prepared to wait a bit for a top-quality meal, you'd better get out. The second thing we noticed was that the kitchen was right behind the counter, in full view of the customers – a brave move for any restaurant to make.

After standing in line for 25 minutes, we placed our order at the counter. At this point I was starving, but after watching the food being prepared I knew it would be a worthwhile wait; everything is done from scratch, and the cooks put in the time and effort to make sure it's done right. I ordered the CC Porker Combo ($11.25) swapping my fries for onion rings. Looking around the restaurant, it was clear this was a popular burger. It's two patties, topped with bacon, onion rings, lettuce, tomatoes and house sauce. Once I placed my order, I waited at another counter for my meal, where a cook presented me with a list of other gourmet ingredients I could add to my burger. Some were far from conventional (chopped pineapple, for example), but I decided on adding chopped onions – my breath later suffered from the ridiculous number of onions I had consumed.

The astoundingly huge burger

So the first thing you'll notice about the burger (other than the poor quality of the photo, for which I apologize) is its sheer size. This thing was massive; Rebecca commended me at the end of the night for being able to keep the thing together while I ate it. These aren't thin, McDonald's-style patties – these things are thick and juicy. The house sauce added a wonderful touch; I have no idea what's in it, but I would like a bottle ASAP. As well, whoever first thought of putting onion rings on a burger was on to something, even though I'm sure my heart will not thank me in about 40 years for this discovery. Finally, there was the bun; the bun was freshly made, and lightly toasted on the grill. This extra detail really makes the burger special.

I should say something about the side of onion rings as well. These were by far the best onion rings I've ever eaten. They were only very lightly breaded, which allowed me to actually taste onion instead of just deep-fried whatever. The breading itself was not too salty, which is a welcome change as well. There were also so many of these things that (after already having consumed the Porker) I could barely finish. I did, though, and felt very good about myself.

The best onion rings ever

Rebecca: I got the Black Angus burger with Swiss cheese, and upgraded my fries to poutine. It cost about $16 total. I chose mayonnaise, pickles, tomatoes and green olives for my burger toppings. The burger was absolutely delicious. The high quality ingredients really made the difference, causing this burger to stand out from all the other burgers I’ve consumed in my life (except perhaps the Peanut Butter Burger). The patty was juicy and thick; the sourdough bun was so fresh; the pickles were crunchy and tangy (better than the Darrell’s pickles? Maybe...), and the tomato and olives were delicious. The Swiss cheese was melty and wonderful. Even the mayonnaise tasted better - I am curious to know if it was house-made. There were a number of interesting-sounding sauces on the menu - like a creamy lemon dill sauce if I remember correctly - so I presume that they are in fact house-made. Anyway, this burger was huge, and I was pretty full afterward. It was your typical, sauces-running-down-your-arm burger, so make sure you stock up on napkins.

A birds-eye view

The poutine, however, was disappointingly average. There was a hefty portion of it, that’s for sure, but there were several things about it that left me wanting more, especially considering the restaurant’s name. First of all, it seemed as though the gravy was put into the paper box first, then the fries, then the cheese curds. For me, a perfect poutine has gravy on every fry, and this was just not happening here. Secondly, there were very few cheese curds on my poutine, and I would have appreciated more. The fries were fresh, hand-cut, and pretty good, but I was in the mood for poutine so I was disappointed. I forgot to mention that the $16 price tag also included a large drink with free refills, so that was a plus.

So much poutine

Cheese Curds was an upscale burger and poutine experience, but I think I would rather stick to my favourite poutine places in Halifax when I’m in the mood for poutine. The gourmet burgers and the burger bar were great though, and made the trip to Dartmouth more than worthwhile.

Baan Thai

Ben: Every week, Rebecca and I eat dinner with my parents, who live just down the street. My dad usually cooks, and we eat way too much cheese and drink a bunch of wine. The other week, for a number of reasons, cooking was not an option, so we decided to try out takeout from Baan Thai, one of Halifax's most popular Thai restaurants. After way too much deliberation, we decided on Spring Rolls, Cashew Chicken, Beef Basil and Chicken Pad Thai. Altogether this came to $60, tip included - not bad for serving four hungry people! To save money, my stingy Dutch parents decided we would make our own white rice, which really does make sense.

The Spring Roll, topped with Asian Noodles

For me, the highlights were the Spring Rolls and the Cashew Chicken. The Beef Basil was decent, and I found the Pad Thai a little salty (although many people prefer it that way). The Spring Rolls were flaky and not outrageously hot, which is a problem I often have with spring rolls. They weren't at all greasy either - just the perfect way to start a relaxing meal. The Cashew Chicken, however, is officially the best 

Asian takeout dish I have ever eaten. Seriously, this stuff is amazing. It's sweet, sticky, and loaded with cashews, which everyone knows is by far the best nut out there. As was the case with all three dishes, the vegetables weren't the least bit soggy, obviously having been added to the dish at the very last minute. I want more cashew chicken very badly.

I would eat this whole thing

Pad Thai just waiting to be devoured

Dad: "Our table will be famous!"

Rebecca: I pretty much agree with everything Ben had to say - the Cashew Chicken was the most delicious by far. I wasn't the biggest fan of the Pad Thai either. I was actually convinced that there was eggplant in the dish, which I hate. However, upon looking at the Baan Thai menu, there is no eggplant listed as an ingredient. I am assuming that I had mistaken the tofu for eggplant, due to its consistency. While I normally enjoy tofu, I did not really enjoy this tofu. The spring rolls were absolutely delicious though; the Thai pastry was so flaky and crispy. The Beef Basil dish was pretty standard, but good nonetheless. I cannot say enough about the Cashew Chicken though, boy was that tasty. The cashews added crunch and the chili paste added a spicy kick. Over plain rice it was just perfect. I was tasked with the job of picking up the food from the restaurant, and I have to say that the staff there are so friendly and cheerful. If you choose to eat in, the Baan Thai atmosphere is very relaxing. If you choose to get takeout, Baan Thai is a more unique and healthier option to many of Halifax's more well-known takeout spots. Thank you to Ben's Mom and Dad for our weekly meals - they are always delicious! 

Guilty Pleasures: Smoke's and Susie's

Rebecca: When Ben came up with the idea to do a theme post about our guilty food pleasures, I enthusiastically agreed. As I mentioned in our Coastal post, I am unashamed to admit that I am a lover of poutine. I've become a bit of a poutine "snob", as one may say, because mozzarella cheese just doesn't cut it for me (it's gotta be real Quebec cheese curds), hand-cut fries are a must, and the gravy must have that "homemade" taste. I decided to go to Smoke's Poutinerie to satisfy my poutine craving, which was a welcome addition to the downtown Pizza Corner among poutine lovers like me. Smoke's is a Canada-wide restaurant chain that feeds poutine to the masses using all-Canadian ingredients. The seating area is small, and the classic rock that plays inside the restaurant is way too loud sometimes. But the poutine is delicious. For more adventurous eaters, they have an array of unconventional poutine toppings, such as guacamole, mustard, or pulled pork. In my opinion, if it ain't broke don't fix it, so I always order the classic cheese curds/gravy combination. 

Have you ever experienced post-poutine regret? I have.

The portion size is pretty big (pictured is the "regular" size). The fries are delicious, but sometimes a little too salty. The gravy is meaty and the Quebec cheese curds, oh the cheese curds - they are the best part! The poutine is served up really hot. I always eat the entire thing, much to Ben's amazement.

Ben: Unlike Rebecca, my guilty pleasure is of the sweeter variety. Susie's Shortbreads, which has been around since I started university, has long been a go-to place for me. Susie's is all decked out in pink decor, and blasts 1960's pop music over the speakers. I'm not ashamed to say that at one point I went there at least once a week for their signature product. I speak, of course, of the cupcake. 

Trying to look as manly as possible

I got the White Chocolate Raspberry cupcake, one of their more intermittent menu items (they have a few regular cupcake flavours, and then rotate a few dozen others). My cupcake had a vanilla cake base with white chocolate chips, a generous (as always) portion of raspberry buttercream and a white chocolate chunk on top. It was awesome.

Ready to be devoured.

Have you ever experienced post-cupcake regret? I have.

In addition to the cupcake, I tried one of their milkshakes for the first time. This proved to be a bridge to far. The flavour I got (peanut butter) was decent, but didn't really go with the cupcake at all. I plan on stopping in sometime this summer for just a milkshake, so as to judge it at a time when my belly is not full of cupcake.

Too much.

Guest Post by Sarah Hoffman: The Loose Cannon

St. Patrick’s day in Halifax – the most iconic Canadian celebration, craft beer and shenanigans from dawn until way past dusk. In years past, my day would begin at 7am and as my sister pulls into work she receives the first of many drunken texts from me. This year was dramatically different. I would have loved to be one of the lucky ones who got into Split Crow, but seeing as how they were at capacity at 8:30 am and I had to work until 5:30 pm it simply was not meant to be.

After a bit of exploration, we found a bar that was not at capacity (not an easy feat) and had an awesome time! The Loose Cannon was almost full and very lively which, in my opinion, is the perfect mix. Too crowded and the bar can be stressful and too empty it simply does not have the right vibe. The waitress was very attentive. I saw her way more frequently than I needed her! This is a feat for most waitresses on a regular night, but was really amazing on a night as busy as St. P’s. Apparently, she had been working for over 12 hours that day!

We ordered potato skins which were amazing – hot and delicious. And as an added bonus, I learned that my husband hates potatoes in all forms, even ones dipped in cheese! The skins did take a little long to emerge from the kitchen but they were really hot so our waitress did not drop the ball on that one! The local, craft beer on draught could have been larger but we did enjoy Garrison Brown and Propeller Blueberry which were both pretty amazing.

And that’s pretty much all I remember about the Loose Cannon on Saturday night but thankfully due to my late work schedule we were up and about Sunday morning quite early. Actually, it appears we were downtown before everyone had finished their festivities the night before and consequently there was nothing open for breakfast. I was excited when we crossed paths with the open Loose Cannon and with a stellar brunch deal!

There were a couple of versions of eggs benedict on the menu. Mine had dill, asparagus and bacon (which I omitted).  My partner had scrambled eggs and sausages. I also had Propeller Blueberry Ale for breakfast. The portions were on the small side, but the food was delicious and the price was right! On a non-hangover morning the size would have been perfect as I am not a big breakfast eater but for the day after St. P’s order two! The hollandaise sauce was creamy and full of dill flavor and the home fries were lightly salted and made the ideal accompaniment to the eggs. On the way out, I got a glimpse of some awesome smelling curry and will recommend that on smell alone! Also, I tried to make my partner order the Haggis but he was not having any of it! (I am a vegetarian so I could not order it).

 

The place was pretty empty when we arrived and we got a chance to make inane chit chat with the bar staff as we always sit at the bar when available. The bartender claims to pour a good Guinness but we did not risk it as he said he attempts to put the shamrock in the head (which in my books is a sign of a true amateur). We got to have a good look around (in the cold light of day) and they have this awesome thing called a ‘Buddy Board’ in which one regular patron can buy a drink for another even when they are not there. So the board has things like ‘Kev bought Train a blue balls martini’. Also, they have a ton of whiskey and scotches behind the bar and a whiskey tasting night each week. My pocketbook is glad that I do not live in Halifax because I want so badly to be a regular at this bar and drink scotch with Kev and Train!

   

The Loose Cannon

1556 Argyle Street

Halifax

Sarah E. Hoffman is a pamphleteer, blogger, academic and gastronomist. She enjoys picnics, the smell of freshly baked bread, and bobo tea. When stressed she bakes until the flour runs out. Sarah is married to a very understanding non-foodie, whom she is in the process of converting. Find out more at: www.sarahhoffman99.blogspot.com

Harbour City Bar & Grill, Delta Halifax

Rebecca: One of the perks of attending university away from home is that when your parents come to visit, they take you out for delicious food. My dad was in town for the night and because he stays at the Delta Halifax quite frequently, they sent him a $200 gift card to their restaurant in the mail. Luckily, he decided to share it with us. The restaurant is called Harbour City Bar and Grill, and it definitely deserves more than a “hotel restaurant” reputation. The food here was delicious, local, and artfully presented; it was, however, quite pricey. Without the gift card, we wouldn’t have opted for such a luxurious meal. But hey, since our meal was free, there were no holds barred - hopefully making for a great blog post!

Ben: For our appetizers we got two orders of Goat Cheese to share ($8 each). This is much more than crackers and cheese - warm goat cheese on maple-pecan crusted sourdough toast on a bed of greens with rhubarb compote piled on the side. While they may not have been as conducive to sharing as we may have hoped, we were quite happy. The star was actually the rhubarb compote, which I would eat by the spoonful if given the opportunity. In addition to this, I was a pig and ordered French Onion Soup ($7). While not made the traditional way with Gruyere, it was nonetheless rich and satisfying; at this point I was already beginning to fear I had ordered a bit too much.

We had already begun eating it at this point.

Dangerously cheesy.

Rebecca: At this point we had ordered so much food that our server realized we meant business. At fine dining restaurants, servers will often alert the chef of any big spenders or VIPs in the house, and the chef will prepare small, ornately presented bite-size dishes for the table called Amuse Bouche, or in France, Amuse Gueule. In French, this means “to amuse your mouth” or “to amuse your throat”. As you probably guessed, we were falsely assumed to be big spenders (our server didn’t know about our gift card yet) and we received three poached salmon Amuse Bouche. The bite-sized amount of salmon was served cold over a bed of pickled pears and microgreens. There was some type of raspberry coulis on the side as well. Yum!

Our bouches were amused.

For my entree, I chose the Chicken Supreme ($25). I really enjoy chicken stuffed with things, as you may remember from our Bicycle Thief review. The portion of chicken was huge, and it was stuffed with Oka-Pancetta cheese. It was delicious, but I must admit that I still preferred the dish from Bicycle Thief. Anyway, the chicken was free-range, local, and it was very good. Also, it was my first time trying risotto. I would describe risotto as fatter-than-normal rice served in a creamy sauce. This risotto was a mix of creamy and tangy, due to the Dijon mustard in the sauce. There were a few vegetables served on the side that were crispy and flavourful. I was so full after our appetizers and Amuse Bouche that I could barely finish the dish - I wish I could have been more hungry! 

"Who made this risotto? It's cooked puuufectly!" - Chef Gordon Ramsay

Ben: I got the Digby Scallops ($26), served on a bed of vanilla risotto with vegetables on the side. Thankfully this was a smaller portion than Rebecca’s, or I definitely would not have finished. The scallops were wonderfully moist and perfectly seasoned, but what stood out most for me was the risotto. I was suspicious of the idea of vanilla risotto at first, but it’s sweetness made it the ideal companion to the scallops. I want more.

Yup, those are scallops.

Rebecca: Despite being incredibly stuffed, we couldn’t pass up dessert. During a previous visit to Harbour City, a server recommended the Parade of Sail to my dad and told him that it had won first prize in a Halifax-wide dessert competition. We decided to go with three Parade of Sails and they did not disappoint. The best part was the perfectly formed cheesecake dome, with a light and crispy praline crust, dense filling that almost bordered on being mousse, and a thin covering of dark chocolate. There was a thin, sugary cookie that resembled a sail stuck into the dome. On the side, you had a scoop of local-made Dee Dee’s chocolate ice cream and two small peanut brittle squares. The base was so crispy and light, and the actual cheesecake part was melt-in-your-mouth velvety smooth. I’m not even a big chocolate lover, but I loved this dessert. Harbour City Bar and Grill, teach us your dessert making ways! 

So, so good.

At the end of the night, we spent just over our $200 mark. It was a great meal and a very enjoyable night overall. If you’re staying at the Delta Halifax, and want a nice meal, there is definitely no need for you to look elsewhere - Harbour City is great. If you’re not staying there, you may want to stick to your favourite tried-and-true restaurants if you’re heading out for a more expensive meal. We still recommend this place though. And thanks, Dad!

Boneheads

Rebecca: In order to celebrate being accepted to grad school, we decided to head out for some BBQ. Boneheads was featured on the Food Network's show You Gotta Eat Here, and as soon as we learned this information, we knew we had to try it. The restaurant is small, informal, and while the food may not be pretty, it sure is delicious. What you do is place your order at the counter, pick your drinks out of a cooler, then wait for your name to be called when your food is ready. On the tables, you'll find all the sauces you could ever ask for - including three bottles of Boneheads house-made BBQ sauces (one was a BBQ mustard). It's a good idea to get milk or water to offset the spiciness of the food, but they also have pop, juice and beer on hand. 

Our feast

Ben: I ordered the pulled pork BBQ plate (only $13.99). This seriously is more than enough food for two people, but I was hungry and feeling celebratory, so I dove in. The generous portion of pulled pork was laid bare on the tray so the paper underneath absorbed some of the copious amounts of grease. It was sweet and unbelievably tender – they slow cook all of their BBQ meat for up to a day, so when they run out of a menu item, it’s gone for the rest of the night. The plate comes with cornbread, coleslaw, and two other sides of your choice. The cornbread and coleslaw were decent, but not spectacular; the sides I chose were much better. In true starving-student fashion, my first choice was mac and cheese. This was unbelievably creamy in a way that made me fear for my heart, and absolutely huge for a side dish – many kids in the restaurant actually had this for their entire meal, which would have cost their parents only $3.50. My second choice was the sweet potato chips, which came with a creamy dipping sauce. These were clearly made in the restaurant and weren’t overly greasy; my only criticism of them was that about one in every four chips was a little soggy.

An aerial view

In addition to our meals, we ordered two deep-fried, bacon-wrapped meatballs drizzled in a sour cream-based sauce ($4). This was a rather clever fundraiser for testicular cancer research, so we couldn’t say no. They tasted exactly how you would expect – greasy, salty and delicious. If this fundraiser is still going on, we strongly encourage you to spring for the meatballs – it’s a delicious way to contribute to a worthy cause.

Hee hee

Rebecca: I ordered the BBQ chicken plate ($15.99), which came with cornbread, coleslaw, and two sides, as Ben has already mentioned above. The chicken wasn't diced, but shredded - and had a spicy BBQ sauce throughout. There was enough chicken on my plate that one could have made two big sandwiches from it, and the puddle of grease left behind was a testament to how tender, juicy, and unhealthy it really was. I also got the mac and cheese, which was my favorite item on the plate. I also got a potato salad, which was excellent. I like my potatoes still a little crunchy in salads, and these were perfect. There was a hefty amount of chopped onions, celery, and hard boiled egg thrown in there, too. It was a great, crispy, summery salad - something to keep in mind if you're heading to Boneheads on a beautiful sunny day like today!

Mmmmm

Ben: One of the most impressive things about Boneheads was the price; considering all the food you get, it really is amazing how little you spend. But herbivores beware – Boneheads is all about large amounts of slow-cooked meat. As well, if you eat here every night you will probably die in the next few months, so definitely visit in moderation. However, as a treat for celebrating our acceptance to graduate school, Boneheads was ideal. When we’re happy, we want to eat.