You are what you eat
By Emily Krolikowski - Head Chef, Phi Bistro & Bar
In the beginning we learned to eat to stay alive, but as society has grown and has become more sophisticated the products we consume have evolved too. People devote their lives to the art of food; the way it is cooked and the way it is grown. We work hard to create what we dream the food industry will be like in the future. To get what we want we must look to someone we can trust and the answer is local food.
With restaurants, fast food and microwave meals in our current society, people no longer have the need to cook for themselves. With all these options it seems fine dining is the most expensive of all, but people will pay the price for a properly cooked meal by a trained professional they can trust. They come to us when they want the perfect meal and a chef never turns down that challenge. We ask ourselves what it is that promises us the perfect dish. Should we fry everything in bacon fat? Or smother it in a rich béchamel sauce? The answer staring right at us: the ingredients. To get the best results we must first demand the best ingredients. We want fresh produce that hasn’t been in contact with chemicals, or has been left to sit in a warehouse miles away until delivery day. We want food to table, garden fresh tomatoes still penetrating a fragrant aroma. Local products from farmers in our neighbourhoods are ready to offer us what we desire, ripe fresh produce that doesn’t require a passport to make it onto our dinner table.
Investing in local business is logical for both the consumer and food businesses. When it comes to the food you and your family are consuming, you want to know you can trust the hand that is feeding you. We want to know our produce is grown with care, and that it is treated naturally. We want to avoid any unnecessary chemicals being sprayed on what we will soon ingest. It’s a basic human instinct to first need to look at someone in plain sight before you invest your trust in them, this can only be done locally. As a chef, I count on the people in my neighborhood to come into our restaurant and support me by trying my daily specials and giving me a reason to keep it unique and fresh every day. It is because of this relationship with our customer base that I feel it is important for restaurants to give that same support to our local farmers. We need to respect our customers that are already giving us the local support we need. All playing a part in getting food to table the way it should be a little faster.
It was just years ago that the terms local, organic and free range were not as loud or as noticed as they have become in the culinary world today. It seems the trend is going back to the basics, demanding food grown closer to the kitchen. Today we are buying local and maybe tomorrow every restaurant will demand their own private garden, where they can ensure quality of food and they can progress in the fight to bring the highest quality ingredients to the table. Will the price for local ingredients rise? Or will we be able to better support our economy with our money invested on local business? Of course the demand for exotic produce and delicacy type cuisine will still be present. The future of our food industry will ultimately depend on demand. There is no way to foresee what may or may not appear in our industry with the ever changing trends and consumer needs.
People devote their lives to the art of food. They thrive on the concept of feeding the masses and offering up masterpiece after masterpiece to successfully feed the body, the mind and the soul. Only the freshest ingredients can be used to construct the most exquisite cuisine. Local food makes it to your table faster, and when it comes to good food the faster it gets to you the better. No one can argue with that.
April Showers bring May Flowers
By Denise Breau
Or so the saying goes. In Ottawa, however, it brings not just any flowers, it brings Tulips. The history of the Tulips began in 1945 when the Dutch Royal family sent 100,000 tulip bulbs to Ottawa in gratitude for sheltering Princess Juliana and her children during the Second World War. In 1953, the first Tulip Festival was held and this city has been celebrating ever since.
This year is no different, celebrating its 60th commemorative edition since 1953. The 2012 Canadian Tulip Festival events will take place in the ByWard Market, Little Italy, Chinatown and other popular, core business areas. From music in the streets, to the Great Canadian Tulip Treasure Hunt, a Mad Hatter Tea Party on Mother’s Day, the International Pavilion, a kick-off party on May 4th and a Commemorative 60th anniversary Garden Party for the international community at “Blue Gables”, a former residence of the Dutch Royals in Canada during the Second World War, this year’s commemorative edition promises something to delight visitors and residents alike!
More information can be found at http://tulipfestival.ca/site/home/en
If you are planning to come to Ottawa during the Tulip Festival, let Hotel Indigo Ottawa sweat the details with our Breakfast and Parking package.
http://www.hotelindigo.com/redirect?path=hd&brandCode=in&localeCode=en®ionCode=1&hotelCode=YOWID&rateCode=IJHDI&_PMID=99585603
Top 5 Best Things To do & See in Ottawa
By Denise Breau
1. During the summer - the Sound & Light Show on Parliament Hill
From the time kids get out of school until they return in September, Mosaika - the Sound & Light Show on Parliament Hill, is a definite “must see” when you travel to Ottawa. This show explores Canada from all aspects - physical, historical and cultural - all done with lasers against the Parliament Buildings. The best part is the show is absolutely free! The show is weather dependent so always check in advance and don’t forget to bring a lawn chair or blanket as seating is not provided.
2. During the holiday season - Christmas Lights Across Canada - lighting up various attractions in Ottawa
If you are traveling to Ottawa during the holiday season, a visit a night is a must as the National Capital Commission lights over 300,000 multi-colored on historical buildings, monuments and parks. See the Parliament Buildings or visit Confederation Park to see the magic these lights bring to the holiday season. The lights are illuminated from the beginning of December until early January from 4pm to 2am.
3. Eat a beavertail - anytime of the year
Every visit to Ottawa simply must include snacking on a Beavertail. A beavertail is a fried dough shaped like a beaver’s tail and originated in Ottawa. This popular pastry can be topped traditionally with cinnamon and sugar (my personal favorite) or can be as fancy as the Triple Trip which includes chocolate, peanut butter and reeces pieces. Any trip to the Byward Market is worth a stop in to the original location of Beavertails, you never know, you might just see President Obama.
http://www.beavertailsinc.com/
4. Paddle or skate down the Rideau Canada - depending on the season
When visiting Canada’s Capital region, it’s pretty hard to avoid the canal as it bisects the city so you are either going over it, beside it or traveling up or down it. The canal was built by Colonel By and was opened in 1832 ideally as a precaution in case of a war against the United States however it was never used for that purpose. Today, most of the structures, including the wooden locks are still intact. During the summer months it attracts many boaters moving from the Rideau River into the Cataraqui River. In the winter months, the canal is drained and once frozen over, it is turned into the longest skating rink in the world. Many people skate during the Winterlude Festival during the month of February. It is the oldest continuously operating canal system in North America and in 2007 was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/on/rideau/index.aspx
http://www.canadascapital.gc.ca/celebrate/winterlude
5. Attend anyone of the fantastic festivals that are held throughout the year
Ottawa always has something going on and festivals are one of the many activities occurring year-round. There are festivals that celebrate the many different cultures entrenched in this city such as the Italian Festival (June) which celebrates all things Italian including some fabulous wine and food. Or come back in March to experience music, poetry and dance during the Irish Festival. There is also the Turkish Festival or the Greek Festival to name a few more. If your preference leans towards music festivals, the sound never stops in this town. The first major music festival to kick off the summer is the TD Ottawa Jazzfestival. summer then rolls along with favorites such as the Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest, Ottawa Chamberfest and the Ottawa Folk Festival. And ofcourse, during the coldest month of the year, there is always Winterlude, our very own outdoor festival.
http://www.ottawafestivals.ca/
ABOUT THE BLOGGER:
Hotel Indigo Ottawa - Situated in Ottawa’s bustling central business district just four blocks from Parliament Hill, Hotel Indigo Ottawa perfectly combines the unique attributes of a small boutique with the consistency of service and amenities you expect from a traditional hotel. The 106 stylish guestrooms appeal to lifestyle-focused guests who desire affordable luxury and genuine service.
Twitter: http://twitter.com/hotelindigoott
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Blog: http://ottawadowntownhotel.blogspot.com/
About the writer:
Denise Breau, is an award winning Director of Sales & Marketing, based in Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Follow Denise on Twitter
On the lookout for our April issue? The wait is over!
Ne cherchez pas plus loin, notre numéro d’avril est arrivé.Photo by / de Lorne Bridgman.
See more from our April 2012 issue.
Découvrez le reste de notre numéro d’avril 2012.
Source: enroutemagazine
The Inspiration behind Phi’s Menu
Guest Blogger: Emily Krolikowski – Head Chef at Hotel Indigo Ottawa
Art is the food of life. Through music, pictures, novels and numerous other mediums we feed our brain and our soul. These stories findings and concepts we would never have discovered without the artists of the world. I have always had a great fondness of words and have held a desire to be able to share my elucidations with others. I had used writing to express my creativity for years and it wasn’t until I found my love for food that I was truly able to express myself completely. The idea of food as art is what inspired me to become a chef.
“What is literature compared with cooking? The one is shadow, the other is substance.” - E.V. Lucas
It is through our five senses that we experience life. We consume food using all of our senses which is why to me the art of food is superior to all other art forms. From the construction of the plate presentation, to the sound of the subtle sizzle still resonating off a caramelised sirloin steak, the sweet aroma parading of a finished dish, right down to the altered texture of every bite and the selected flavor pairings. When given the opportunity to write a completely new menu I thought hard to create a menu that offered a unique and inspired experience with every taste
“Cookery is not chemistry. It is an art. It requires instinct and taste, not exact measurements.” - X. Marcel Boulestin
What makes my food and me as a chef unique is my passion for mixing unusual flavor pairings in a familiar way. I believe comfort food is a genre that people will never stop demanding. It is the sustenance we grew up consuming and craving. As we mature our palates do as well and we begin considering new ingredients and more gourmet options. Yet the allure of comfort food never quite loosens its grip on our hunger. With this sort of logic in mind my goal with this menu was to include everyone’s child hood favorites, but all grown up, with a flair of gourmet as a fresh new rendition. From grill cheese with brie and cranberry compote to nachos made with tomato basil sauce, a breaded fish fillet spiced with paprika and cumin, a seared salmon creaser salad with a creamy yogurt lemon and dill dressing and a Thai chicken flat bread with a peanut soy and apple spread, with all the sauces made in house, including the ketchup, it was my aim to make this comfort food based menu an unexpected gourmet experience.
“There is no love sincerer than the love of food.” - George Bernard Shaw
Take a look at the new menus at Hotel Indigo Ottawa:
Having a meeting?
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Hotel Indigo Ottawa has four meeting rooms that range in size and all have unique and distinctive attributes. The meeting spaces are intimate and will leave you feeling confident in your choice.
Come on by and take a look!
Where to get a treat in our neighbourhood
Marble Slab
Marble Slab offers a variety of frozen yogurt and ice cream flavours and when we say variety, we mean variety. Marble Slab has over 50 types of ice cream and over 20 mixings to create your own ice cream or try one of their signature creations.
Marble slab also offers cartons of ice cream, ice cream cakes and shakes.
The Flour Shoppe
The Flour Shoppe is a cupcake shop where all the cupcakes are baked from scratch with quality ingredients. With a different menu everyday, only the classics are available daily, including vanilla bean, double chocolate, and black&white.
The Candy Store
The Candy Store is a european style candy boutique that offers, sweets, sours, licorice, chocolates, gummies, and so much more. Grab a treat for yourself or grab a gift for a friend with their pre-wrapped presents or choose what you want to give.
- 350 Richmond Road
The Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
In the heart of the Byward Market, the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory offers an assortment of treats for your tastebuds, including chocolate, fudge, candy apples, brittles, ice cream and more.
Do you know where each of these photos are taken?
Our Front Lobby
Where to eat in our Neighbourhood
Zak’s Diner
Zak’s Diner has been open since 1986, serving all day breakfast, lunch and dinner, from bacon and eggs to burgers and fries, you’ll leave completely satisfied with your authentic diner cuisine.
Zak’s famous milkshakes are a real treat, with a variety of flavours including the classic vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry and some alternatives including orange cream, lemon lime, peach, pineapple, mint chocolate, and more!
Blue Cactus
The Blue Cactus is a southwest style restaurant with award winning margaritas. They serve everything from steak to pizza.
The Blue Cactus filters their own water to help reduce their carbon footprint, which is an awesome extra for such an amazing restaurant.
Wontonmama
Wontonmama is a Pan-Asian restaurant with dishes inspired from the cuisine in China, Thailand, Vietnam, and Japan. The restaurant serves an array of dishes including sushi, noodle plates, soups, and more.
Tosca Ristorante
Tosca’s is an Italian restaurant that has a large selection of champagnes and wines to compliment your Italian inspired dish. The wines are from wineries around the world and there is a wine for every dish you’d like.
