1. Food & Trembling by Jonah Campbell was published in 2011 by Invisible Publishing, but it was new to me in 2012. I purchased this gem at the Halifax Pop explosion zine fair in the fall. This is my favourite collection of food writing hands down. Any book that lists "disgust, Dollarama, donuts and Doritos, All Nighter Cheeseburger" one after the other in its index is more than alright by me.
2. I WENT TO HAWAII! What a wild food and coffee trip! Highlights were the Ahi Poke from hole in the wall Ono Seafood (747 Kapahulu Ave. Apt 4. Honolulu, HI) and the Kalua pig from Ono Hawaiian Food (726 Kapahulu Ave, Honolulu, HI) Note: Ono means delicious in Hawaiian, so it is not uncommon to find it in many unrelated restaurant names. Taste testing 4 different varieties of avocado was definitely a welcome first for me as well as visiting a couple of coffee farms, Hula Daddy and Rusty's Hawaiian. I didn't eat any Spam plate lunch or Spam musubi though, however intriguing!
3. Getting dressed up and going out for well prepared cocktails turned out to be my favourite Friday evening activity in 2012. The Drawing Room (Henry House 3rd Fl
1222 Barrington St Halifax, NS) is one of a handful of places in Halifax to treat yourself to a delicious and carefully crafted cocktail and if you're lucky, a history lesson. Every drink and every thing in the room has a story. If you're interested, just ask your server. They are some of the most knowledgeable staff in town. If you want real chops ask for Jess because she knows best. Also, order a scented mist, it's so worth the price.
4. Cousins at Sappyfest. What a show! What a band! What a crowd! Everything about this performance vibrated. I felt so lucky to have been there.
5. Two dishes really got me this year so I will call it a tie and list them together! First, the Sundubu jjigae from Seoul restaurant. (5170 Duke Street, Halifax NS) I had this Korean stew once every two weeks or more in the cold months of 2012. I never grow weary of it. It is the very best Korean in town and the very best dish to warm you up in the wintertime. Second, this year I tried Szechuan cold noodles for the first time at JiXiang Chinese Restaurant (6311 Quinpool Road, Halifax, NS) This. Dish. Blew. My. Mind. I haven't had a moment like this in I can't remember how long. It was unlike anything I had ever tasted and it was even more of a feeling than a flavour. A cold, tingly, sparkly feeling.
6. The General @ Fuller Terrace. We set up for the whole month of February in our friends living room which used to be a butcher shop and general store. This was the pop up that started it all and we have nothing but fond memories. Thanks Lucas Dambergs!
7. Madhur Jaffrey's Quick and Easy Indian Cooking. This book was published in 1996 and purchased in 2004 but I've really only started using it this year. Every dish I have tried from it is a winner. My go to dishes are the spicy carrot and bean mustard pickle and any lamb dish especially the vindaloo. I get my lamb from the lamb man at Wood 'N Heart. Find him at the Historic farmers market.
8. I love black liquorice in all forms but I never knew that Fox Hill Cheese House made a licorice gelato until this year! It is creamy and dreamy and if you are a fan of black liquorice get thee to the market! You won't regret it.
9. The re-creation of the General's long lost mascot, the arrow. Thanks so much to Rod at Free Spirit Farm.
10. Making kombucha. If any of you out there want to try this yourself and need a scoby to start, please let me know. I grow a new one every week.
11. Pickled herring on it's own, pickled herring on rye, pickled herring for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Maybe it's my Dutch blood.
12. My new Clever dripper and Hario hand grinder! I don't know how I made coffee before.
kianamaiart
tangentwithtanner
annaxmalina
gummygunk