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.

Chomp: St. John's Edition

1. Rocket Bakery & Fresh Food
272 Water Street, St. John’s

Rebecca: After reading about it in a magazine on the plane, I knew I had to pay Rocket Bakery a visit during our trip to St. John’s. In the heart of the city’s downtown, Rocket is a colourful and trendy addition to the array of bakery-cafés. In fact, Rocket features a bakery, a lunch counter, a small grocery store, and a café - all equipped with a large seating area, too. The decor inside was retro and upcycled - I believe they used old church pews painted in bright colours as benches. There was also a window seat nook that was filled with pillows - I’m sure that’s a big hit with kids. The items in the grocery were all local to Newfoundland and looked interesting. Speaking of interesting, Ben and I decided to try a can of Crush brand Birch Beer, a flavour that we had never seen before in Nova Scotia. In fact, Newfoundland features a wide variety of interesting Crush flavours, such as pineapple - so make sure to give those a try if you’re visiting. The Birch Beer tasted kind of like cream soda and root beer mixed together, and even though the can was brown, the actual drink was neon pink! 

The whole spread.

Up close and personal with the Birch Beer.

I got a regular tea and a pain au chocolat. Compared to Two if By Sea’s pain au chocolat, this one was much more reminiscent of the ones we had eaten in France. It was much, much smaller, and resembled more of a flat pastry than a croissant. There were two globs of chocolate in the middle. It was flaky, buttery and chocolatey - and very, very delicious.

Ben: I got a Profiterole, which was absolutely massive – almost too massive, but not quite. The first bite caused some pretty major spillage, but after that it was smooth sailing. I’ll just let the pictures speak for themselves with this one.

It was bigger than it looks.

All over my shirt.

2. Piatto Pizzeria & Enoteca
377 Duckworth Street, St. John’s

Rebecca: To those of you who may be visiting St. John’s outside of the summer months, here’s a tip: most of the downtown restaurants are closed on Mondays. This proved to be very frustrating, because we had researched online some places we’d like to try - and they were all closed!

Anyway, as we wandered the streets looking for a place that was open, we stumbled upon Piatto. My aunt had mentioned this place and compared it to Halifax’s Morris East. We’re both big fans of Morris East and Piatto’s outdoor menu looked really good and cheap (there was also a cool Vespa in the window). So we headed inside.

They had a salad and personal sized pizza lunch special going on for $12.99, so we both jumped on that. I got the Noce e Arugula salad, which according to their menu is “arugula, blue cheese, candied walnuts, dried cranberries and our balsamic vinaigrette.” There was a HEFTY serving of blue cheese on the salad, which I loved, but others may find it to be overkill. I also found that the salad was a little over-dressed, as you can see from the picture.

So much cheese.

For my pizza, I went with the Della Terra (“fresh mozzarella, fresh basil, mushrooms, olives, artichoke hearts and grana padano”). This pizza was beautiful - it was so colourful and loaded with toppings (I accidentally deleted the picture I had of it from my phone - I am sorry!). The cool thing about Piatto is that there was a kind of “pizza bar” at the back, where you could watch as the cook tossed dough, added toppings, then loaded the pizzas into the wood-fired oven. 

My view of the back of the restaurant from our table.

Piatto featured a lot of pizzas that were similar to Morris East’s, such as the Stephanie, which includes caramelized pears.

Ben: I ordered the Fenghi Selvaggi ($15). This had a garlic cream sauce, mozzarella, oregano, a whole bunch of mushrooms and truffle oil. I did enjoy it, but honestly, I felt it was a little overdone – the huge amount of cheese and oil made it more than a little greasy. I tasted Rebecca’s pizza and liked it a lot more.

My heart hurts just thinking about it.

3. Yellowbelly Brewery & Public House
288 Water Street & 1 George Street, St. John’s

Ben: Now on to the beer! We each got the sampler, which is four miniature beers, brewed on-site, for around $7.50 – a pretty decent deal since they add up to a little more than a pint. They gave us a stout, an amber ale, a regular ale, and a wheat. To top it off, the bartender threw us a new hoppy ale they were trying out as well. The amber was oddly dark, so dark you wouldn’t know it was technically amber at first glance – Rebecca wasn’t a fan, but I enjoyed it. The hoppy ale was by far the favourite, so we really hope it sticks around. I imagine we’ll be returning to Newfoundland, meaning Yellowbelly’s will surely be getting another visit – you can’t go to St. John’s without hitting the bars, and this is one of the best.

Challenge accepted.