Notes On A Meal

Ma Maison enters a gingerbread competition

Just in time for the holidays, the Ma Maison team decided to enter a fierce but fun gingerbread competition. The rules were simple, make “something” out of gingerbread was basically all we were told. The construction had to be 2x2x2 feet and everything except the base had to be edible. Ma Maison came up with the idea of a bakery and although our results didn’t win the prize, a few great lessons were learned in the process. Here is what was created and some of the competitiors

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Sugar flowers

Since baking in general is not dangerous enough, I’ve taken on a new challenge…. sugar pulling. For those not familiar with this concept, well, it’s pretty much what it sounds like, hot sugar being shaped and pulled into diverse “artistic” shapes. The sugar is warmed, dyed (any colour of the rainbow) and once it’s the right temperature, it is pulled to aerate the surface and add a phenomenal sheen. Afterwards, under a heat lamp in order to keep it hot, the sugar is formed into whatever shape you want and allowed to cool (to set).

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Ma Maison’s Macarons, Toronto

If you’re not familiar with French Macarons, well, you should head out there and definitely try them. Two crispy yet chewy almond cookies sandwiched together with a velvety ganache, or a delightful jam or even better a smooth and subtle buttercream…. what’s not to love?!!? There’s plenty of places around Toronto doing them well but here’s my favourite (I may be a little biased)

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Tasty European Travels – Part 1

I know it sounds very silly to consider a place like the Amsterdam Airport a worthwhile point on our European culinary journey but it was definitely an eye opening experience. It was our first encounter with the food culture present on this continent and how different it is from what we’re used to in Canada.

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The pig cake

I’m very proud to announce that I have completed my very first novelty cake all by my lonesome. Six or so hours later and 2 kg of butter, 18 eggs and a tonne of red food colouring later, I give you the pig!

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Marben

“A little farmhouse revival” in downtown Toronto

Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of being invited to dine at the Chef’s table at Marben, a cozy and cool restaurant specializing in the art of butchery and charcuterie. From what I understand, the imaginative and passionate kitchen staff of Marben are responsible for making nearly every single item that hits the table, right down to the bread and condiments. What makes things even better is the fact that most, if not all, of the produce and meats served are grown and purchased within 100km of Toronto, meaning guests are served the freshest ingredients, and local farmers are supported. Awesome!

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Dinner with friends

We recently had the pleasure of being spoiled by a very dear foodie from far far away… The company was great, the evening full of laughs and to top it all off, the food was outstanding.

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Food in Italy

Here are just a few of the many food pictures we’ve collected in and around Rome/Florence….. Enjoy

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Ma Maison – Toronto

Just thought I would put up some pics of pretty little desserts from Ma Maison in Etobicoke (Dundas and Royal York). Enjoy!

Au Pied de Cochon – Montreal

Having recently visited Montreal, I had the wonderful opportunity to visit Au Pied de Cochon and therefore a review of such a restaurant was inevitably due to appear on our blog. Although the locale’s name won’t sound too familiar, you may know the owner/chef Martin Picard from his Food Network Canada show “The Wild Chef” where he steps outside the boundaries of the kitchen to hunt and cook his meals as one with nature. He’s eccentric, burly, rebellious and sometimes downright strange but his food will definitely force you to overlook these minor details.

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