Canis: the restaurant I don’t really want to tell you about

.Reading time 5 minutes.
Duck for two at Canis.

I don’t really want to tell you about my meal at Canis. Royce convinced me to do it, but that doesn’t mean that I want to.
But please, allow me to explain. It’s not that I’m hoarding, trying to keep a good restaurant all to myself. The logic isn’t lost on me that the better a restaurant does the longer it will be around. And furthermore, I’m a planner. If something is worth it, I have no qualms making the effort required to reserve a dinner advance.

My resistance to share is driven by a fear that is deeply rooted in a marriage between superstition and paranoia. It’s something that’s developed, nay festered, over the years.
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Noma: A Retrospective

.Reading time 3 minutes.
 
 Reindeer moss and chocolate-covered, fermented cep mushroom at Noma.

 

Since making the trip to Noma last July, one of the questions we have been asked the most has been: Was it worth it?
The short answer: yes, it was amazing!
Here, I wanted to share a few of my notes on the long answer…

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An edible birthday present for a friend

.Reading time less than 1 minute.
Recently, for a friend’s birthday, we opted to celebrate by staying in. I volunteered to provide dinner.
Camomile roasted heirloom carrots, whipped goat cheese ring, seed brittle and herb garnishes

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Tobacco Scented Whiskey Caramel Truffles

.Reading time 1 minute.
Friends of ours have just recently opened a restaurant called Big Tobacco Kitchen & Whiskey Bar in Hamilton, Ontario. The “Big Tobacco Kitchen” gets its name because the menu draws from the childhood experiences of the owner, who grew up on a tobacco farm in Norfolk county. Megan and I thought it would be cool to make them a Christmas gift that was inspired by the story of their new restaurant.

Whiskey Caramel Truffles (makes roughly 22 truffles) Read More

Black Sesame Shortbread

.Reading time 1 minute.
These black sesame shortbread cookies make for an addictive, not-too-sweet afternoon treat. We finished ours by dipping in matcha white chocolate, and topping with a sprinkle of candied black sesame.

Sesame Shortbread (Yields 20 x 11g rounds)
50g candied black sesame (1:1 ratio of sugar to sesame seeds) (extra for topping, if desired)
75g butter (at room temp)
100g all purpose flour Read More