There’s quite the buzz going around the foodie’s word of mouth circles about underground restaurants, and it’s becoming a favourite way for many to dine.

So, what is an underground restaurant? According to the always knowledgeable Wikipedia, an underground restaurant or supper club is:

An underground restaurant, also known as a supper club, is an eating establishment operated out of someone’s home, generally (though not invariably) bypassing local zoning and health-code regulations. They are, in effect, paying dinner parties. They are usually advertised by word of mouth or guerilla advertising, often on Facebook, and may require references to make a reservation.

To find the underground restaurant that we were treated to this past week, you need to know someone ‘in the know’.  Chef Steve, of NFA (which stands for No Fixed Address), said in a recent National Post article,

To find NFA, people have to do their research, he says. “It’s word of mouth. If people are interested in coming, they’ll find out how to get here. You have to know the right people but it’s not completely exclusive.”

So what was the NFA experience? In a word, scrumptious. Six courses, meticulously made in a kitchen just behind the dining room’s wall, and some of the best food I’ve tasted in recent memory.

Local spot prawns, scallop and crab cakes, chorizo stuffed milk marinated squid, grapefruit sorbet with candied ginger and campari to cleanse the palate, and more, plus at least two bottles of wine per person rounded out our night.

Photos of the gorgeous meal to come!! If you want to find NFA, I know there’s several people in the local scene who know how to find Chef Steve.

I go through phases with tea. Sometimes, I’m overwhelmed with the desire to sit with my cuddly kitty and a warm cup of tea and a book, listening to the rain pour down outside my windows. When I want that exact scene, there’s nothing else that will do but a good, giant mug of tea.

I discovered Octavia Tea in December, and instantly fell in love. Gourmet loose tea with classic blends and more whimsical flavours like Winter Mint, Paradise and Sweet Berry Dreams, Octavia Tea is a must have for any home.

Their Organic Ginger White Peach Tea won an award at the World Tea Championships in 2008, and with free shipping for overs over $45, this is the perfect gift for your home or your best tea loving friend.

Now when I go through a “tea phase” I reach for Octavia. So far, my favourites have been the Winter Mint and Vanilla Chai. Next I might try to blending a couple of the loose teas together and see what I can come up with.

Looking for a truly sensual food experience to share with your love this Valentine’s Day?

What does your inside voice say when you taste something sublime?

Instead of the rote table-for-two scenario this Valentine’s Day, my dear friend Jennifer is inviting you to my cocktail party in the Penthouse of the Roger Smith Hotel. They’ve planned a sultry evening of tastes to evoke your senses with the kinds of aromas, textures and flavors that will make your mouth water — and prime you for what we hope is a most sensual evening.

Step inside our heads, and see what Sex on a Plate looks like to me.

Pretty please, with a strawberry on top?

*** EVENT DETAILS***

DATE:         February 14, 2010

TIME:          6:30-10:00 PM

VENUE:      Roger Smith Hotel, Penthouse: Solarium, Lexington Avenue & 47th

EVENT TYPE: Cocktail & Tasting Party

MENU:        A series of delectable small plates and adult beverages

TICKETS:
$100 per person through January 31st
$125 per person after January 31st

Space is limited. 21 and over. Order your tickets here.

Note: Due to the nature of this tasting event, we will unfortunately not be able to accommodate food allergy restrictions. Menu may contain shellfish, nuts or other allergens.

HOTEL SPECIAL

The Roger Smith Hotel is offering a special “Take Monday Off” rate on Valentine’s Day for this event. Please contact Brian Simpson for details on Twitter or via e-mail.

Photos: Kelly Cline

I have a confession to make. I am addicted to cookbooks. I drool over them, stroke them, coo over them. When I’m offered a book to review, you can bet I’m all over the opportunity like white on rice. (You know, I have never understood that phrase.)

I was excited to receive Classic Lebanese Cuisine by Kamal Al-Faqih, and it is a good looking book. The media information extols the virtues, featuring a “dazzling collection of 170 recipes”, with dishes “steeped in the authenticity and ethos of the dishes he grew up with.”

And sure, there were a few authentic-seeming dishes, but overall, this book disappointed me across the board. One of my big disappointments was that the Lebanese chef who wanted to introduce folk to the cuisine he “grew up with” actually grew up in Washington DC, which is so totally like Lebanon, I don’t know how I didn’t see it before! Sure, it’s realistic to believe that the time he spent with his mother in the kitchen included traditional dishes, but this is really not what I was expecting when I looked at the book in the first place.

One of the recipes calls for a jar of marshmellow creme; another one is for Jalapeno-Cilantro Salsa, neither of which are classically Lebanese, I don’t think.

Even if we were to gloss over that entire issue, I wouldn’t be able cook from this book. I’ve never been a fan of the “cook this like you did that other meat in that other recipe” and it seems as though every single recipe can be made two days in advance, which makes me sigh deep in my cookbook cockles.

Finally the last thing that bothered me about this book was the constant “helpful little boxes” all over the place explaining how to choose the good vegetables (for example, choose a cauliflower that has white, compact heads with bright green leaves. Avoid heads that have brown spots; and did you know? You should always get the green parsley, not yellow parsley at all.), which I thought was kind of common knowledge, because seriously? Who is going to choose the wilted, icky looking vegetables over the crisp, fresh ones?

Bottom line? Leave this one on the shelf.

There are a few things that evoke feelings of celebration and luxury like champagne, truffles and brie – and with Président Brie log, there is an element of convenience for busy hosts looking to add a touch of elegance to their event without the extra cost.  Wine and Cheese parties are ideal for holidays or for any celebration.

The package comes with a cheese board, the Brie, which is creamy, soft and gorgeous, right out of the package, and a recipe book to make all sorts of yummy things.  Brie and a cheese board make for easy entertaining or as a gift. New Président Brie lets you offer your guests an assortment of delicious options and is convenient for your next party.  The log shape  makes it easy to cut perfect cracker-sized slices of Brie that make a beautiful and versatile presentation and
partners well with crackers or bread, a sweet or savory topping, or simply on its own.

Président Brie offers a few tips to increase the fun, not the fuss this holiday season:

• The home is the heart of activity for friends and family this year. Think informal. You don’t have to rent a hall or hire an event planner to have a great holiday gathering! The unique log shape of New Président Brie makes it the most convenient way to prepare and enjoy Brie for special occasions and indulgent moments.
• Don’t forget the extra touches. Use a variety of trays and serving platters to present your cheeses and appetizers. Display cards with the name of the cheese and a brief description and a wine or fruit pairing, is a nice accent and a valuable help for your party guests.
• Decorations don’t have to be expensive to be beautiful. Check out the party accessories as well. Buy some flowers, candles and the party is on!
  

The time of resolutions is coming up. Even those of us who claim that we don’t set or believe in resolutions, tend to secretly want to change a few things when January rolls around.

Since health experts recommend eating between 5 to 10 servings of fruits and vegetables every day, the “eat cleaner” resolution can seem almost easy. But did you know that more than 40% of the fruits and vegetables in the grocery stores carry residue from more than one pesticide? Gross.

So, this year, why not give your resolution-determined friend a way to ensure that your fruits and veggies are clean and ready to go?

The Eat Cleaner gift pack includes:

*  4 oz. all natural concentrate of Eat Cleaner — a revolutionary wash that rids foods of harmful pesticides, wax and bacteria  — it’s odorless, colorless, tasteless and has the added benefit of keeping fruits and vegetable from browning
* Scrub brush for produce
* Bright Green salad spinner that doubles as a serving or storage bowl.
* One year subscription to Martha Stewart’s Everyday Food magazine

This Wash and Dryer Kit is available at www.eatcleaner.com for only $22.00 (retail value $35.00)– and includes free shipping.

Final hint, hipsters, but quick review first:

• Set on the very edge of hipster-ville in Vancouver, BC
• Features only the top 2% of pure, Canadian talent
• Watch the game; eat good food and good drinks without breaking the bank
• Hottie behind the wood

Let’s take a look at two more pictures

and the vessel to put them in:

Any ideas? I’ll be the only media at attendance at the opening… I can tell you more after that….

Ready to see a little bit more? Want to know what it is that’s coming… this week?

Bar is stocked, taps are ready to go.

Even the door is all polished and shined.

Riddle me this:

What is set on the very edge of hispter-ville in Vancouver; features only the top 2% of pure, Canadian talent, and will offer a place to watch the game and get good, inexpensive drinks with a hottie behind the wood?

You’ve got a few more days to figure it out…

Here’s a hint:

and

Stay tuned. This writer got the whole scoop and got to try the menu… I’ll keep dropping hints over the next few days.

Got a picky foodie on your list this year? Try Naumes Gourmet Fruit Gifts out, and give a gift that gives twice!

This is a gift that is not only green (won’t end up in a landfill) convenient (available online everywhere in the U.S.), healthy (a nutritious alternative to traditional food gifts), quality (each fruit is hand-picked on their family-owned farms) and inexpensive (costs only $29.95, shipping included); but for every gift purchased, the family will match it, pound for pound, with a donation of fresh fruit to food banks that feed hungry families.

Tempt their taste buds with a special blend of Naumes’ finest fruit - creamy Comice pears and ripe ruby Red pears. This gift is perfect for sharing, and a great way to treat friends, family and colleagues to delicious, healthy fruit.

The Mixed Box offers so-sweet gifts Comice and Red pears arranged in a taste-tempting display of ruby and blushed golden fruit.

The Naumes Family has been donating fresh fruit for generations. They have giving more than 10 million pounds of fresh fruit to Feeding America alone.

When you place an order between today (November 23rd) and Tuesday, December 1st, the Naumes family will double the donation, so, what are you waiting for? One gift makes three people happy!