Food log: Sunday, November 22

The days started in style with a brunch at L'Estaminet, surrounded by family.

Orange juice, Diet Coke

Salad

Merguez, ham and bacon casserole

Stepdad Richard treated us to brunch. Thanks Richard!

In the afternoon, I watched a few episodes of Season 3 of Mad Men. So...

Whiskey



Tuna sandwich with pickles

Honey toast and millk


Money spent on food today: $0

Food log: Saturday, November 21

Cheese toast and milk


Wine and spirit at the SAQ - $273.18


Mom and stepdad Richard where in town and I made a family-style japanese meal for us. It was the perfect excuse to use the preserved sakura blooms I brought back from Japan last May. They are preserved in salt and had to take a fews baths to get the saltiness out. It's a pretty process!



Becks beer while cooking



I made onigiri with the sakura. I also made some stuffed with tuna and umeboshi (plum). They are easy, easy, easy and tasty.







I also made my miso-maple salmon and some roasted peppers with sesame seeds






Onigiri, salmon, peppers


Like a good hostess, I took the broken piece.


We had this with a very nice pinot noir from the Okanagan valley, brought by Richard.



In the evening, we went to Monument National to see "L'eau qui danse, la pomme qui chante, l'oiseau qui dit la vérité", a new contemporary opera.



My brother had a small part in it and he was great!





Club soda at Monument National - $3 including tip

Pringles and Pepsi at Monument national - $5 including tip

Frozen treat to cheer the end of a beautiful evening



Oh also my mom brought me a gift!

Fancy-shmancy hazelnut chocolate from mom


Money spent on food today: $281.18

OMG it's a sale!

Yes, there is another sale at the SAQ this weekend. It's pretty simple: you get a gift card worth 15% of your purchase when you spent $100 or more. I went to the one near Place Versailles and there was trouble at the register, so they gave me the discount right away instead of a card. Score! Either way, it's a good deal. I'm ready for the Holidays!

Wine and spirits at the SAQ - $273.18

Click on the picture for product details.

food log: Friday, november 20

Oatmeal from home, eaten at work

Tea from the bistro - free


The bistro lunch was smoked meat, one of the only things I can't eat. So Jessica and I went to Tokyo for some Japanese grub.

Miso soup

Tempura shrimp and veggies

Maki and sashimi lunch

The smallest carrot stick in the History of Ever


Lunch at Tokyo was $34 including tip

On our way back home, Jessica told me that at first, she tought this snow flag was street art. Can you tell she grew up under the Miami sun? Beach nerd!



In the afternoon, the bistro had my favorite snack

Popcorn and gummy bears from the bistro - free


Back home, I was in the mood for a cocktail and was inspired to create one in honour of Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, the neighbourhood I live in. This place has humble oginins and it's the land of "do what you can with what you have". I had clementines, so it was the base of my inspiration.

I called it the HoMartini!



3 parts Absolut Mandrin
2 parts clementine juice
1 part simple syrup
Cherry to garnish

The clementine juice was freshly squeezed.

Shake on ice

Pour in a martini glass

Garnish with a cherry



Dinner was lemon chicken, Brussel sprouts and carrots

I marinated the chicken all day in lemon oil, Herbes de Provence, pepper, balsamic vinegar and garlic.

I also had a nice cold beer from what Martin left behind last week. Thanks Martin!

London Pride beer - free

And here is the perfect pour.



Money spent on food: $34

Food log: Thursday, November 19

Eggs, bacon, toast, milk



Bouddha Bleu tea from Marriage Frères

Served in my favorite cup! I worked from home today and this tea is the perfect pick-me-up for added productivity. Also: tasty.

Crackers, cream cheese, vegetable cocktail



Sweet potato purée, Brussel sprouts and onion sautéed in duck fat with garlic and walnuts

I can't believe I used to hate Brussel sprouts when I was a kid. Cooked like this, it's a meal fit for a queen, both rustic and flavorful. You just cook the sprouts in boiling water for 5 minutes, drain, cut them in half, sautée some onions until caramelized in a pan, then add the sprouts to the pan and cook until golden. You then add chopped garlic and roasted nuts and give it a whirl for a few minutes. For a quicker version, you can do like I did and use homemade onion confit (I make mine with duck fat) instead of cooking the onions from scratch. The same recipe is very good with pecans and bacon.

I had this with a piece of chicken pot pie.


Money spent on food today: 0

Food log: Wednesday, November18

Cheese sandwich, toast


Pistachios from the bistro - free


Boeuf Bourguignon, salad, rice, clafoutis, orange juice - $6



Veggies, dips - free from the bistro


Crackers and goat cheese


Chicken pot pie, corn, yellow beans


Chocolate gaufrettes


Waffles with peanut butter and honey, milk (no pic)

Money spent on food today: $6