Raw Lemon Coconut Squares

Last weekend I was in Toronto to celebrate my girlfriend’s bachelorette party and passed by the cutest little cupcake shop named Prairie Girl Bakery on King St. East. They had so many diverse flavors and such a beautiful alluring presentation, that I had to pick up a dozen + 1 mini peanut butter icing and chocolate cupcake for my immediate consumption.  All this to say, that the insatiable treat digested above has led to this wonderfully health conscious dessert/snack that I am willing to share with you today.

For those of you who know her, I recently purchased Ani Phyo’s “Ani’s Raw Cooking book” as well as “Ani’s Raw Food Desserts” book. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love my heavy stews and deep fried chicken wings but, I also appreciate the art of raw cooking, especially when it comes to desserts. These squares have the all the essential elements needed in a light dessert. The sweetness from the dates and coconut, the light crunch from the almonds and cashews, and the light tang from the citron allows for a guilt free, energy boosting morning feat or midnight treat!

Xo Dom Appetit

Raw Lemon Coconut Squares

Adapted from: Ani's Raw Food Kitchen

Prep Time: 15 mins (1-2 hour to chill)

Tools Needed: 9 inch square pan, measuring spoons and cups, food processor, saran wrap

Ingredients:

1/2 cup of almonds
1/2 cup of cashews
1 1/2 cups pitted dates (semi-soft date)
1 vanilla bean (we used 1 teaspoon of vanilla)
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
Zest of 1 lemon
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 cup dried shredded coconut

Directions:

1)      In your food processor, chop almonds into small pieces. Use some of this nut powder to “flour” the bottom of a 9 inch square baking pan.

2)      Add remaining ingredients and process some more until well mixed.

3)      Press into backing pan and cover with saran wrap and chill for a couple hours until firm. Cut into squares and serve. These can last for several days in the fridge.

Shish Taouk- Adonis Style!

All of you who shop at Adonis know how tasty their Shish Taouk chicken is. There is nothing like it. You probably also know how exclusive their recipes are and that this recipe is nearly impossible to find anywhere, even on the World Wide Web. It’s a savory garlic yogurt sauce marinated chicken cult and only those privy to this information are fortunate enough to share this very classified dish at their table. Sadly, even I could not obtain this sacred authentic Mediterranean recipe. I was now determined to find anything that would be remotely equivalent to the famed Adonis Shish-Taouk style chicken. 

After sitting with a few fellow S-T fans, I was proficient enough to put together an adequate recipe attempt that blew me away and fulfilled my appetite. I am convinced that any Adonis S-T fan would approve of this succulent garlicky BBQ’d chicken and gobble it down in 1 or 2 pitas…not forgetting the tomato and cucumber side salad (which is the essential ingredient to completing this trio). Oh, one last thing… make sure you have breathe mints nearby as this marinade calls for 8 garlic cloves! The more the tastier I always say!

Xo Dom Appetit!

Chicken Shish Taouk

Ideas: Shish Taouk Ideas

Prep Time: 15 mins (at least one hour to marinate)

Cook Time: 25 mins

Tools Needed: large mixing bowl, cutting board, knife, measuring spoons and cups, saran wrap, spoon, fork, BBQ thongs

Ingredients:

16 boneless & skinless chicken thighs

½ cup of olive oil

8 garlic cloves mashed (the more the tastier)

350 ml of plain yogurt

2 tablespoons of white vinegar

1 teaspoon of dried oregano

1 teaspoon of dried thyme

1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice

Salt and Pepper

Directions:

1) Prick the chicken with a fork and put it in large mixing bowl. Add all other ingredients and mix. Let marinate in the fridge for at least one hour (tastes best if left in fridge overnight).

2) Add to BBQ over medium heat and cook for 25 mins, turning every 5 mins. Check if cooked by cutting a slice in the middle ensuring that chicken is well done. Serve immediately with a pita and side salad

Dom’s Chopping Block: Chez Suzette, Crepes & Fondues

Last weekend was our last shot to check out Igloofest here in Montreal, so my girls and I jumped on making this an opportunity to eat somewhere fabulous as well. Igloofest is an outdoor dancing festival held in Old Port, Montreal. They have many electro DJs spinning their beats while hundreds of bundled up Montrealers and out-of-towners dance the night away in their winter boots. We made sure to be there early, as the line ups build up around 8pm.  After buying our tickets we made our way to one of our favorite fondue restaurants, Chez Suzette on St.Paul Est. in Vieux Montreal, Quebec. Let me start off by warning you now: Fondue is not for everyone. You have to be willing to spend at least 2 hours of your time blabbing with others and cooking your food in a communal pot. It is expected that you may lose your piece of meat, veggies, or bread once or twice in that boiling pot, but that’s part of the fun! So make sure that you surround yourself with people that you can tolerate and clear your schedule, as there is no rushing with raw foods. Upon entering Chez Suzette you will be a tad thrown off with the size of its interior. From the outside it looks like a small modest Creperie, however once you have entered its warm doors, you will notice that this small and modest resto expands to three floors. It adheres to both large dinner parties and to the romantic couple. After reviewing the menu, the girls and I chose to share the Fondue for 2 plus 1. The Fondue for two includes a traditional cheese fondue, oriental fondue with beef, and chicken with an assortment of veggies. Also included was a wonderful chocolate fondue served with seasonal fruits, crepes and marshmallows. The set price is 74.99 for two and any additional person pays half of this price. We placed our orders right away with only one modification (at a small fee); we ordered the sundried tomato and fine herbs cheese fondue rather than the traditional. Nothing tastes better with melted cheeses than the tang of freshly chopped sundried tomatoes and herbs splashed with wine. This cheesy communal pot was served to us with two baskets of bread and chopped apples with grapes. We were scrapping the bottom before we knew it and my jeans were feeling a little snug. My one complaint would be that the bread was a bit dry; I am not a fan of dry stale tasting bread and would have opted for more fruits for dipping. Our empty cheese crusted pot was quickly removed and replaced by an Oriental Fondue accompanied by one plate each of beef and chicken mixtures with fresh veggies and several dipping sauces. I managed to squeeze their secret “sauces” recipe out of one of waitresses and was surprised at how easy these are to make: 1 - plain sour cream, 2 - sour cream with Italian herbs and garlic, 3 - sour cream with curry powder (yellow), 4 - mayo with ketchup, and 5 - spicy chipotle splashed with Tabasco. I must say…everything does taste better with sour cream (sorry to those who are lactose intolerant, you are really missing out!). After an hour of patient cooking, we were ready to explode and regretting having ordered the Fondue for 2 plus 1….until our greedy little eyes caught a glimpse of the chocolate fondue. This dark decadent melted chocolate delight was presented to us surrounded by mounds of fresh strawberries, pineapples, bananas, rolled crepe chunks and marshmallows. I was holding my belly crying as I dipped one fruit after the next in this bitter-sweet mixture. My girls and I finally paid the bills and rolled our chubby buns out of there for a night of snow pant dancing!!!

PS. This restaurant also serves bottles of wine at SAQ prices plus $5! What a steal!

DOM’S CHOPPING BLOCK RATING:

Presentation: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Quality: 3/5
Atmosphere: 3.5/5

73 % for the love of cheese fondue!

PRICE: $7-$40

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Sundried Tomato and Herb Cheese Fondue 

Oriental Fondue with Chicken, Beef and Veggies



Dom’s Chopping Block: Toronto Edition, Le Rossignol

Last weekend my girlfriend Jenny and I made our way up to visit our friend Shauna. Knowing how much I love food, she suggested we go to a new restaurant in Leslieville. She had heard good reviews about this little French bistro-style resto and made reservations right away.  We all dressed to impress (well, the best we can do considering it was minus 40 out) and stumbled our way into the dimly lit doorway of Le Rossignol. Upon entering, I was a bit shocked at the size of the venue. The entire resto was the size of my living room, which is not necessarily a bad thing as I felt at home and was ready to enjoy a savory French cooked meal. We began the night with a wonderful bottle of Merlot. The full body flavors danced around my mouth with excitement and I was now ready for my appetizer: Escargot. This being a very common appetizer in France, I had to give it a try. After a small wait, a plate bowl of five piping hot juicy garlic infused escargots topped lightly with cheese were presented to my friend and I with a small basket of crostinis on the side. These little delicacies were cooked so tenderly and left my mouth watering for more, but I was sharing so I had to limit myself to two. It was now time for my main and I was overwhelmed by the delicious sounding options! “What do I choose?” The braised wild boar shank with saffron risotto? Or how about the seared wild pacific salmon with rapini, lima beans and saffron jus? I decided to turn to our lovely waitress Veronique (born in France, grew up in Montreal, then moved to Toronto…yes, I got the whole life story) who suggested that I give the Cassoulet a try. When I asked her what it was, she explained it in four  simple words: “You will love it”. When the dish was presented to me I was a bit thrown off, as I was expecting a stew-like meal. To my surprise, there lay a beautifully tender leg of duck, over a bed of white navy beans, nestled in the comfort of a lightly spiced Tuscan sausage. The aroma and steam that were being released from this French traditional meal were mouthwatering. Needless to say, I ate every last bite of this meal. It was only afterwards that I noticed how salty the food really was. I felt parched until early the next morning (no, it was not due to the excessive alcohol intake…)! Oh wait, I almost forgot the best part! The Dessert… Crème Brûlée infused with cardamom. Cardamom is a very aromatic spice with a unique taste that adds zest to any dessert, making this hands-down, the best Crème Brûlée I have ever had.   The sound of my spoon cracking through the glass-like caramel shell, revealing the smooth milky custard, was simply unforgettable. There is something so soothing about a creamy light custard dessert. It may have been the living room like atmosphere, but while scraping the last bite of this warm dessert, I suddenly had the urge to slip into my PJ’s and curl up on the couch to some Motown classics.

DOM’S CHOPPING BLOCK RATING:

Presentation: 4/5

Service: 3.5/5

Quality: 3.5/5

Atmosphere: 4/5

75 % Just made the cut!

PRICE: $10-$30

                                                              Garlic Escargots

                                                              Duck Cassoulet

                                          Crème Brûlée infused with Cardamom        

Dom’s Chopping Block: Marche 27 'A Tar Tar Haven'

Well, finally it’s Friday. This was without a doubt one of my longest, most stressful weeks in memory, but all my headaches were put to rest once I hit my front door and realized what Friday meant: good eats, good drinks and more importantly, great company. I am not going to lie, I have been to Marche 27 (27 Rue Prince-Arthur West, Montreal, 514-287-2725) multiple times (6 to be exact!) and have fallen in love with it over and over again. I am a huge Tar Tar fan and was surprised that I had never noticed this hidden gem right off St.Laurent and Prince Arthur, in the heart of Montreal. It is time that I enlighten you all with this special little cafeteria-style Tar Tar haven. When you walk in to this little joint, it is surprising to see how busy it is as the windows are tinted making it seem like there is no action indoors. Let me tell you this is very deceiving! There are booths lining the left side of the resto and a nice little bar on the right with 4-5 stools, making it a very cozy and intimate environment. The menu is fun because you get the option of choosing your meat/fish and your sauce (mix and match to please your appetite!). My top fave is the Tuna Tar Tar (100 grams) with the Italian dressing which consists of: parmesan, truffle oil, shallots and chives. The earthy taste of the truffle oil and strong flavors of the parmesan cheese compliment the Tuna perfectly, while the shallots allow ones palate to dance with its mild garlic/onion flavor. And, did you know that Truffles are an aphrodisiac? The aroma is sensual enough for anyone to enjoy this meal to the very last bite. I promise you will find yourself wanting to lick the plate clean. This delightful dish is also served with a trusty amount of lightly garlic buttered Crostinis, and if you desire more, the service there is amazing and they are more than willing to provide you with another basket! Don’t worry for you non tar tar eating people; they have options to fill your bellies as well! Top this meal off with a bottle of Chianti and you will be going home with a happy belly and who knows what else ;)

DOM’S CHOPPING BLOCK RATING:

Presentation: 4.5/5

Service: 4/5

Quality: 4/5

Atmosphere: 4.5/5

85 % Hungry Brownie stamp of approval. Seconds? YES PLEASE!

PRICE: $15-$25

              Italian Tuna Tar Tar on Crostini                                Inside View

 

                                             

Dom's Chopping Block: Restaurant Thailande

So, it's been a couple weeks now that my girlfriend Zoe (one of my many fellow foodies) has been begging me to go out for dinner. We had decided to do this cook off thang at my place every two weeks in order to save money and share each other's secrets, but let's be honest...so far we have had one. We had a wonderful Friday full of pumpkin naan bread, asparagus cream steamed muscles, and an amazing sesame spinach salad. The "every second friday" tradition will probably have a better kick off in 2011. In the meantime we rejoiced for Thai at a recommended restaurant from one of my co-workers, Restaurant Thailande (514.271.6733, 88 Bernard Ouest, Mile- End, Montreal).

The Thai experience started off on an extremely snowy day, so the outside of the resto was a blur to us all...but upon entering their warm and welcoming doors, we were overwhelmed by so many smells and flavours. The layout included a section on the left for people who preferred to sit on cushions, and tables with regular chairs on the right side (where we decided to sit for the night). The menu was quite extensive and the options ranged in spices, meats, veggies and sauces. I was excited to try their Kiao Satay (dumplings with peanut sauce) as I'd heard so much about them. Verdict: Yes, they were as delicious as promised. The dumplings were perfect in size, a bit smaller than a walnut shell, soaked in a delightful creamy peanut butter sauce. I was now worked up for my main dish: Kaeng Masman with chicken; which is masman curry with coconut milk, peanuts, potatoes, pineapples and carrots. I also ordered a side of sticky rice. When the waiter arrived with our food, I was overwhelmed with the heavenly smell, but the taste was somewhat dissapointing. I was turned off by the undercooked sticky rice and the abundance of coconut milk in my main dish, which made it too rich. It made the dish too sweet to taste the curry. I ate about half (which is embarassing for me) and packed the rest to go. I chugged back my wine and booted it out of there, Dexter was waiting for me at home!

DOM'S CHOPPING BLOCK RATING: 

Presentation: 3/5
Service: 4/5 (water was consistently filled!! +)
Quality: 3/5

Atmosphere: 3.5/5

OVERALL: 13.5/20

67.5 % CHOPPED! Seconds? NO THANKS!