Aji Sai Plus Resto Lounge

Last night, a small group of us got together at Aji Sai Plus Resto Lounge, located at 637 Yonge Street for drinks. Six girls and we were all thirsty. We started off with mojitos - which were VERY good - and then moved onto sake sangrias and spiked lemonade (also good, but alas, my heart has a special place for the mighty mojito). 

Kimchi beef fries

To break up the drinks, we ordered an array of appetizers, ranging from kimchi beef fries (the toppings were yummy, but the fries would have been better if they were fresh cut and not frozen, though to be honest, I picked at it until it was all gone), to baby mushroom beef rolls to bbq squid (SO good) to takoyaki (I think squid balls) to chicken skewers (meh) and crab cakes (intriguing). And of course, you cannot go to a Japanese restaurant without having sushi, edamame beans and vegetable tempura (yum!). 

But the most surprising treat of all? The freshly shucked malpeque oysters. From 3:00 - 7:00 p.m., Monday-Wednesdays, Aji Sai offers $1 oysters, half-price appetizers and $10 pitchers of mixed drinks (see above). It's definitely an affordable choice for a week-night get-together.

What started as after work drinks turned into a two-and-a-half hour dinner filled with laughter and great conversation with very good friends. 

Special thanks to JW for organizing. Looking forward to the next one!

Restaurant rating: Would go back occasionally.

County General

Cinnamon ketchup

Foodie friends are the best because you get to try new things together and break the dishes apart without fear of judgment (yes, this is actually when the words, "these flavours meld perfectly because of the cumin" actually make sense).

Tonight, lil' bro C and I went to County General (a.k.a Splendido's little sibling) on Queen Street West. Small, unassuming, but incredibly busy, Country General serves up some amazing fare. The menu is inspired by Asian and Southwest flavours, but with familiar comfort foods. C's been quite a few times (they knew him by name at the door!), so we ordered what he recommended.  And MAN, OH, MAN was it good.

Roasted bone marrow

We started off with a series of appetizers: roasted bone marrow, fries (because they were out of sausage poutine), jerk coleslaw and trio of steamed pork buns. (To be fair, the portions were REALLY, REALLY, SMALL).

The jerk coleslaw was good - I think I tasted a hint of curry and other familiar spices - but slightly warm. Great texture and flavours though. Must remember to add coriander and carrots to my own coleslaw.

And fries...how could you go wrong with fries? They were fresh cut, amazingly crispy, but the best part of it all? The homemade ketchup - flavoured with - you'll never guess - cinnamon. I NEVER would've thought cinnamon and ketchup would mix, but it does - and beautifully too.

The roasted bone marrow came with some toasted cheese bread - the marrow had strong, comforting beefy flavours, but it definitely needed the bread to cut through the fat.

Pork buns from heaven

But my favourite appetizer of all? The steamed pork buns. When I first saw it on the menu, I assumed it was similar to Chinese pork buns...but not at all. The buns are actually topped with different things: avocado chutney, kim chi and green apple slaw (I got to try the first two). But no matter the topping, the unifying theme was the pork belly that sat on each bun - which, but the way, were amazingly soft...but back to the pork belly. All I can say is: O.M.G. Never have I had such amazing pork belly. Perfect flavour, soft texture and amazing smoky flavour. I could've sat and ate another plate all by myself.

But there were still main dishes to be had. C ordered "The Verga", a sandwich served on pan fried sourdough bread, topped with scamorza affumicata, grilled poached pear, rosemary and house smoked bacon. All I can say is: mmmmmm. The poached pear balanced the cheese, and the salt from the smoked bacon balanced the sweetness of the pear. Had I not had a belly full of appetizers, I would have appreciated this dish more. As things stood, I was already full by the time our mains came.

Buttermilk chicken sandwich

I ordered the fried chicken thigh sandwich, which consists of buttermilk chicken, avocado chutney, coriander and green onion served on a milk bun. The bun was heaven and the avocado chutney brought a freshness to what otherwise would've been a very heavy dish (as things stood, I could only eat half of dinner...C stepped up and finished the rest).

But still...what an incredible dinner of comfort food. And through it all, I had nursed a drink called the "Intemperate Lass": Jim Beam, Martini Bianco, Campari Fielding Sparkling Riesling topped with a slice of orange zest. Very good, if a little on the strong side.

Food is amazing, but I also had good company, both of which when combined, made for good times and a truly remarkable dinner.

Restaurant rating: Definitely worth an extra hour or two at the gym.

The secret is in the pasta water...

I love watching other people cook. Why? Because I ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS learning something new. For example, a while back, J, his boyfriend K, and I had a seafood boil (and yes, I'll get to this in another post). The seafood boil was incredible, but the leftovers - the water that was left behind from the boil was something else entirely. Not only was it flavoured from the herb and seasonings, it was also infused with the seafood we cooked in it (lobster, little neck clams and shrimp).

The flavour was so incredible it seemed a waste to throw the water out. So we froze it. And then we decided to cook pasta in it.

And let's just say that if I have a choice, I will ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, cook pasta in flavoured water. Why? Because as you are cooking the pasta, you are giving it flavour. And the water you cook it in can be anything - water from vegetables (lazy person's vegetable stock), store-bought soup stock, whatever. My point is that I realized the water you cook the pasta in can be just as important as the final sauce you put on it.

In this case, the flavours came from pickling spices (mustard seed, coriander, bay leaves, dill seed, fenugreek, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, red pepper, black pepper, cloves, soy, cottonseed oil,  and ground cayenne pepper).

After cooking the pasta to al dente (after all, what other way is there to cook it?), throw it into the sauce you've prepared.

In our case, it was minced garlic, cooked in olive oil with pancetta, cherry tomatoes, salt, pepper and topped with fresh basil. Mmmmm...

I have to admit, the first time I had this pasta, it was as a student. I observed and managed to recreate something that wasn't too shabby. Except I added shrimp.  Here's exactly what I did:

Ingredients

For cooking the pasta
- Soup stock
- Pasta (preferably something that is shaped to hold onto the water...I chose something with pockets)
- Teaspoon of oil (preferably olive oil)

For topping the pasta
- Olive oil
- Pancetta
- Minced garlic (as much or as little as you like)
- Pinch of salt and pepper (you won't need much since the pasta is already flavoured, and the pancetta is inherently salty)
- Cherry/grape tomatoes (halved)
- Uncooked shrimp (shelled and de-veined)
- Fresh basil leaves (chopped)

Instructions
For cooking the pasta
- Bring your stock to a boil
- Add the pasta and the oil (the oil keeps the pasta from sticking to the bottom of the pot)
- Bring back to a boil
- Let it simmer for about 8 minutes - STIR CONSTANTLY!

While the pasta is cooking...
For the sauce/topping
- In a pan, heat the olive oil until it sizzles
- Toss in the minced garlic (keep it moving so it doesn't burn)
- Turn the heat to medium and cook for 1-2 minutes
- Throw in the pancetta and cook for 2-3 minutes
- Add the shrimp and cook until it just turns pink (about 2-3 minutes)
- Add in the cherry tomatoes
- Cook for another 2 minutes
- Drain pasta and add to pan
- Toss and remove from heat
- Top with fresh basil leaves

Serve and enjoy (trust me, this is amazing).

George's Tastee Foods (mmmm....a meatlover's post...)

Note: apologies to my vegetarian friends.

I love meat. I can’t help it. I blame my Dad (sorry, Faja Man) for this, since Mom doesn’t really eat meat.  Seafood is great, but until recently (say, the last 5 years), neither me nor Dad have been able to get through a meal on seafood and veggies alone. Seafood at home? Add a fried egg. Chicken? A little bit better. Pork? Now we’re starting to talk.  But the ultimate meal for this meatlover and her Dad?  Beef. 

*drool*

Stir-fried beef with broccoli (it makes the broccoli eatable), sloppy Joes, burgers, roast beef…mmmm…there’s just something amazing about that beefy flavour.

Over the years, I’ve learned that different cuts of meat have a different concentration of flavour. Tenderloin is delicate and responds well to sauces. Blade roasts and chuck have a lot of connective tissue - which when you cook slowly, melts and produces a LOT of flavour (as the Food Network chefs say, fat = flavour). Brisket is a tougher cut of meet, but again, also flavourful. Bones are awesome for soups and stocks – especially ox tail. 

Not only do I find the taste of ox tail comforting, it reminds me of when I was a kid. Growing up, my Popo (maternal grandmother) used to make ox tail soup all the time. Sometimes it was tomato-based, but more often than not, there was a healthy handful of Chinese herbs added to the mix.  Either way, I loved it. Why? Because the taste is rich, warm and entirely delicious.

I’ve tried making ox tail at home – in soups, similar to what Popo made – or as a dish on its own. The rich beefy flavour of ox tail holds up to so many herbs and spices. It is a tougher cut of meat, so for home cooks like me, this means braising and breaking out the slow-cooker (which, btw sucks energy like there’s no tomorrow). But the taste is SO worth it.

(You can get ox tail at Chinese supermarkets like T&T – beware the weekend rush though. Actually, if you go on the weekend, it’s entirely at your own peril).

However, there are times where I’m just plain lazy (I have been known to have popcorn mashed into plain yogurt for dinner…a lazy person’s take on cereal and yogurt). And yes, though it is rare (not many places serve ox tail), there are alternatives.

Ox tail on rice (Photo credit: JL)

I recently came across George’s Tastee Foods (I visited the store in Richmond Hill, at 9021 Leslie Street). And yes, they serve ox tail over rice (and other yummy things like beef and vegetable patties, but this post is all about the beef). And yes, it is delicious. The beefy flavour is awesome and the gravy that it’s served with? Mmmmm….perfect with the rice, but also amazing with all kinds of bread. The Faja Man and I are fans.

It’s a simple dish, but oftentimes, simple things are the best.  And yes, it DOES satisfy the meet craving. 

(Note: Oddly enough, I don’t eat lamb.)

Restaurant rating: Definitely worth an extra hour or two at the gym.

Marking: November 1, 2012

...in exactly 9 months, my ban on chips will be lifted. I seriously plan on throwing a potato chip / Cheetos / Ringalos / onion rings party. It shall be glorious.

The problem with people who care...

...is that sometimes they do things to torture you. It's no secret that I've given up potato chips (and by extension, Cheetos, Ringalos and other yummy treats) for a year. It'll be exactly 3 months on February 1.

So far, it's been easy. Why?

Because people - like my colleagues at work - tend to be considerate of the fact that I have given up something amazing for a year. They applaud my willpower and cheer me on. They also sometimes feel guilty about the fact that they are eating chips right in front of me.  Believe me - I appreciate this thoughtfulness.

Enter J (who has been a bit of a tornado in my life), who also loves chips and Cheetos. And who, not too long ago, was torturing me with a FRESH bag of Cheetos. Not only was there savouring, there was also a description of how yummy those sticks of cheesy orangy goodness are. And how they melt in your mouth.

Like a pesky fly buzzing in my ear.

So what did I do in retaliation? I had a hunk of cheese, a plum, spaghetti and a piece of chocolate (okay, 2 pieces of chocolate). Come to think of it, in order to curb my craving for Cheetos (which J offered to share not out of love, but out of pure enjoyment of watching me suffer), I consumed waaaaay more calories than I would've had I actually eaten the damn things.

As I write this, I can hear the crinkling of the packaging, as he consumes yet another piece of buttery goodness.

*Sigh*...T-9 months to go...maybe I should invest in a flyswatter.

Tired...of food???

It happened again. Every New Year, I take a sabbatical from my KitchenAid - and cooking - in general. Why? Because of the holidays. And of all the stress I impose on myself.

Over the holidays, my baking goes into overdrive. I'm not a huge fan of shopping for gifts, and from a personal stand point, I usually enjoy homemade gifts more than store bought ones. Homemade gifts require time and effort. I theorize that most people feel the same way, which is why for Christmas, I gave everyone a box of homemade cookies, each box with 4 different types of cookies. Multiply 16 cookies times 25 boxes (and of course enough for dessert for Christmas Eve dinner), and you're talking about nearly 600 cookies.  And this was before Christmas Eve. (And doesn't include the cookies I do in trial runs!)

My Father was born on Christmas Eve, and tradition dictates a massive party for anywhere between 30-45 people every year. I love cooking, but there's only so much oven space at my place and my parents' place. Using ovens at both places, that still only covers the roast and the turkey, never mind the fixings. Long story longer, I was very tight on time. My condo literally became Kitchen Stadium. And while dinner takes place on the 24th, I start cooking at least 2 days before.

This year, there were cookies, and birthday cakes and about 10 other sides I can't remember. Was I tired? Yes. But did love every minute of it? Hell yeah.

But do I need a break? Definitely.

At least until the end of January.

Giving up potato chips for a year (day 42)

Forbidden yumminess

Yes, I know. WHY ON EARTH WOULD I GIVE UP POTATO CHIPS FOR A YEAR?!  To be honest, I have no idea...well, I do.  I made a secret deal with Gouda (God + Buddha) that if I got a specific something, I would give up chips for a year. And since Gouda held up their/his end of the bargain, I had to hold up mine.

And let me tell you - it's tough. To be plain honest, it sucks. (I'd use other, less, socially acceptable words, but I'm forcing myself to uphold certain standards).

You might be thinking, of all the things in the whole, wide world, why potato chips? Well, the reason is because potato chips are probably my favourite food in the whole, wide world.

I love potato chips.  From the crinkly sound of the bag to the awesome crunch of thick, rippled chips, in sour cream and onion flavour (though right now, I'd settle for a bag of plain old kettle chips), I love everything there is to love about potato chips.

The problem is, potato chips are everywhere. From grocery stores, to meetings, to my parents' OWN kitchen (thanks, Faja Man), I am constantly forced to exercise my teeny, tiny willpower. And when that doesn't work, the bargaining begins.

After all, what constitutes a potato chip? *Technically*, Cheetos, Ringolos and onion rings AREN'T chips. But every time I pick up a bag of these *technically-not-chips* products, I'm wracked with guilt. So I end up not eating them.

And yes, I am aware this pain and suffering is self-inflicted.  But that doesn't mean you can't feel bad for me.

So the next time you eat a potato chip, think of me, and maybe have another one in my honour.  (Though maybe not in front of me).

Holiday season get-togethers

Scallops w/salmon mousse in balsamic reduction

One of my favourite things about the holiday season is getting together with friends and family. It doesn't matter if you don't see each other often - as soon as you get together, the conversation picks up where you last left off.

Mushroom risotto

Last night, I had dinner with my friend M and her husband the Food Fella. I was treated to a number of yummy dishes, including, scallops topped with salmon mousse in a balsamic reduction, mushroom risotto, and chicken with roasted and grilled veggies in a espagnole sauce (see pretty pics!).

Chicken in espagnole sauce

Over wine, dinner, dessert and then more wine, we talked and caught up on each others' lives.

The holidays give all of us the perfect excuse to get back in touch. If you haven't already, reach out :)

Golda's Kitchen

It's no secret I'm a Christmas nut (yes, I'm the girl who has her tree up and most shopping done by December 1) - anything that has to do with Christmas brings me joy. It's especially fun for me when I'm able to combine my love of food with some Yule Tide spirit. Enter holiday baking. Last year, instead of store-bought presents, I decided to give most of the people in my life an assortment of homemade treats. It was such a success that I've decided to do the same thing this year. 

I housed my cookies in holiday-themed tins from the Dollar Store. The tins worked okay, but because there weren't any separate compartments, I found it difficult to keep the cookies apart (in my world, different flavoured cookies cannot touch...cross-flavour contamination merits its own blog post). I did some research and stumbled across Golda's Kitchen, an online store (which recently opened a physical location) that sells anything and everything related to cooking - including cookie boxes with separate compartments.

Golda's Kitchen is like Michael's - but focused entirely on cooking. Prices for many items are also slightly lower at Golda's.

Located at 2885 Argentia Road (unit 6) in Mississauga, Golda's Kitchen is a little bit off the beaten path. But I have to tell you: the drive is worth it.

P.S. I did get my cookie boxes. I'll post pics after I start to bake goodies for them. I'm still working out which 4 cookies to bake. So far: chocolate crackle, chocolate chip, chocolate cinnamon and TBC.

Boylan Diet Cream Soda

I recently had a wisdom tooth removed (yep, 1 tooth since the other one isn't ready yet...which means I'll have to suffer all over again), so eating solid foods has been a literal pain. Therefore it's fitting that while I'm unable unable to eat solids, I stumbled across a drink by Boylan Bottling Company - Diet Creme.

Boylan makes gourmet soda pops. Each serving comes in its own vintage looking glass bottle - which adds to the entire soda pop experience. That's right - soda pop - not just pop.

Diet Creme tastes like cream soda with sugar, which is incredible to me. I favour diet pop since sugar pop messes with my system, so I'm used to the chemically tastes of aspartame, giving it a fake - and sometimes, a not-so-yummy aftertaste. But this...THIS tastes real (and it has 0 calories - another bonus!)

Diet Creme - the taste, the bottle...the entire thing demands that you slow down and savour this drink.

While it's not something I can have often (at $2.02 tax included from Pusateri's it`s nearly double the price of regular pop), this is definitely a once in awhile treat. A deliciously refreshing treat :)

Culinary paradise in the middle of nowhere

I spent the last 4.5 days in Churchill, Manitoba - population: 990, 700, or 550, depending on who you talk to. Located roughly 1,005 KM northeast of Winnipeg, Churchill is by far, one of the most remote places I have ever been. Famously known as the polar bear capital of the world, the town is roughly one city block from end-to-end and can be strolled through in about 8 minutes (faster if you're being chased by a bear...just kidding...if you're ever attacked by a polar bear, it's a fight for your life - you'll never outrun it - they can get upwards of 50 KPH).

I arrived to no cell phone reception (ahem...Rogers), but thanks to the Lazy Bear Lodge (where, btw, Prime Minister Stephen Harper stayed in August 2010...if it's good enough for the PM, it's good enough for me), I had access to WIFI, which meant e-mail, Facebook, Twitter and BBM. I also arrived to the first of many amazing meals - some of the best I'd ever had in my life.

My first meal was at the Lazy Bear, where I had the choice of several local specialties, including muskox and caribou. After much hemming and hawing, I decided on the Arctic char, baked in dill and served in a butter sauce. There were also veggies and sweet potato mash, but the star was definitely the char...though the fries and gravy deserve a special mention.

The char was incredible...the texture is somewhere between salmon and halibut, but the appearance resembles trout. The butter sauce was delicious, though not something I could have everyday.

I was there with a business contact JL - now friend - who was kind enough to share her caribou with me. The caribou had the texture of pot roast and reminded me of a stronger, gamier kind of beef. This is the Lodge's most well-known dish - and for good reason. I'm not one to eat lamb or anything stronger than beef or pork, but this caribou...I could see myself ordering it. It was THAT good.

Beyond the Lodge, there are a few more places to eat, but the most well-known would have to be Gypsy's. A one-stop shop for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert, Gypsy's is a bakery/diner and by far, the most frequented place for food in Churchill. I've been there for every eating event listed above and each time I was blown away.

The owner, Helen is from Portugal and has been running the place for 10 years. Along with her family, the restaurant runs like a well-oiled machine. Not knowing what to eat my first time there, Helen's son recommended I try the spicy pork sandwich, smothered in onions with a side of fries. Let's just say there were no leftovers. In fact, I even ate ALL the bread, which I tend not to do because I worry about carbs.

I also tried (on the next day), the sausage sandwich - but without the fries. Again, I ate everything - it was just too good not to.

And I haven't even talked about the pastries yet. I consider myself a pecan/butter tart snob, but Gypsy's once again, managed to impress. JL tried the apple fritter...but it was made special just for her. Helen's son cut the fritter in half, slathered it in butter and warmed it up. JL described the snack as heavenly.

I myself, had a freshly baked rhubarb pie with not one, but TWO scoops of vanilla ice cream. To be clear, I find rhubarb disgusting, but this...THIS was a party in my mouth.

I have to add that Martha Stewart has also visited Gypsy's and found it to be incredible. In fact, numerous autographed photos from different celebrities and dignitaries adorn the walls of this place.

Then there Tundra. A bar/pub that's part of Tundra Inn across the street, Tundra proved to be the biggest culinary surprise of all. I wasn't sure about the pierogies, but they were the best I'd ever had. Pan-fried and covered with onions and real bacon (none of those artificial bacon bits), I'm willing to bet that even my pierogie connoisseur friend would rave about these things.

But eating in Churchill isn't limited to the indoors - there are plenty of yummy outdoor foods too. Just outside of Churchill proper is a wealth of fresh berries - raspberries, gooseberries, cloudberries and blueberries. The blueberries were by far my favourite. While smaller in size than what we get here in Ontario, these blueberries are also much sweeter. I must've ate 2 cups of fresh-picked ones (no worries about pesticides here). The local berries also get made into jams - all of which I brought back.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I was being sent to Churchill for work, but I definitely wasn't thinking culinary paradise. Would I ever go back to Churchill? Yes: for the whales, for the polar bears and definitely for the food.

Albatros pub

It's no secret I heart food, but I would say by far, some of my favourite foods are ones made to comfort.

When I first started working, I remember going across the street to a small Polish cafe where a teeny, tiny Polish grandma would prepare the most amazing culinary delights. This was when, as a 23 year old girl, I discovered pierogies and schnitzel. It was here that I learned to take breaks from work and take some time for myself - even if it was only for a few minutes.

It's been nearly a decade, I'm no longer 23 (actually, I can reverse the digits), at a different company and well, the Polish cafe is now a Chinese sandwich place. The only thing that remains? My love for pierogies and schnitzel.

This past weekend, I got to relive some of my culinary memories at Albatros Pub on 3057 Lakeshore Blvd West, in Etobicoke. My good friend brought me here for a couple of beers (Czechvar) and a LOT of delicious, delicious food. We had a platter for 2, and on it were 3 different types of boiled pierogies (though my friend insists pan-fried would be MUCH better), filled with cheese/potatoes, meat and mushrooms. Sour cream is a must (go big or go home, right?)

We also had schnitzel (drool) which wasn't oily at all, potato pancakes (mmm...), coleslaw, beet + horseradish slaw and boiled potatoes (which were okay). The platter was sprinkled with dill throughout, and rather than being over-powering, actually pulled the different elements of the platter together. 

Warning: I loved the decor because it's very eclectic. My friend thought it was cheesy. Apparently it looks like Santa exploded around the holidays. Mental note: must go back around the holidays.

Restaurant rating: Definitely worth an extra hour or two at the gym.

(Apologies for the lack of pictures, but it was too dark.)

Freshii Frozen Yogurt

I've been gorging myself on frozen yogurt from Freshii since May. Every week, at least twice (okay, fine...3 times), I, along with some of my colleagues have faithfully made the trek to Freshii at 35 Bloor Street East (trek might be an exaggeration of distance, since it's literally downstairs in my work building).

I have to say, this is THE best frozen yogurt I've ever had in my life. It's creamy and sweet, with a texture that's similar to soft ice cream. The best part of it all? It's literally only 100 calories or so for the small yogurt. My favourite toppings are double strawberry. If you haven't tried this, I strongly recommend you do so.

Restaurant rating: Definitely worth an extra hour or two at the gym. (But it's TOTALLY not necessary).

The heavier side of life...diabetes

A lot of people don’t know this, but a few years ago, I was diagnosed as type 1 diabetic.  What this meant – and will mean until a cure is discovered – is that I’m insulin dependent and have to think about every single thing I eat. It means being hyper-sensitive about food, exercise and taking an active role in my well-being.

Here’s the tough part: I love food and hate exercise.  I also love to cook (and bake) a lot – which means that sampling – even for the sake of making sure what I’m making is edible, is tough.

When I was first diagnosed, I was angry – why? Because I love eating. And also because I had to change my habits – which, was basically the bottom line. Also, it isn’t fair, but that opens up an entirely different can of worms.

Change is tough. In fact, change sucks. Why? Because we are creatures of habit. But I had – and have – no choice. If I want to live until the ripe old age of 90 (that’s right), I needed to learn how to take care of myself.

I had to learn about the Glycemic Index (or GI - a rating system that tells you how quickly foods will break down in your system…the higher the GI, the faster it breaks down in your system, causing a sugar spike and unnecessary stress on your body).

I had to learn about carb counting and sugar measuring (joy to the world), so that I could determine how much insulin I needed to inject into my system (3 needles a day into my stomach – one with each meal – which oddly enough, doesn’t hurt at all. There’s also a fourth needle with a different kind of insulin that I need to take before I sleep).

I had to learn about the effects of alcohol – which can lower sugar levels, causing hypoglycemia. If sugar levels are too low, it can do permanent damage to the body – because ultimately, low sugar levels can lead to seizures. 

But before the seizures set in, there are a bunch of warning signs that I am very aware of: double vision or blurry vision; *fast or pounding heartbeat; *feeling cranky or acting aggressive; *feeling nervous; *headache; *hunger; *shaking or trembling; *sleeping trouble; *sweating; tingling or numbness of the skin; *tiredness or weakness; and *unclear thinking.

(Luckily, I’ve never – touch wood – ever, experienced a seizure. I always carry candy with me to boost my sugar levels up when needed).

And to top this off, insulin causes weight gain. Which means calorie control.

Did I mention that I HATE exercise?  And I do exercise – but this also goes back to hypoglycemia – because physical activity can lower blood sugar levels too much.

What a lovely disease, type 1 diabetes is, eh?

To be fair though, the diagnosis wasn’t a complete surprise. Diabetes (type 1 and 2) runs on both sides of my family, so my doctor has been looking for it since I was 12. I was diagnosed as pre-diabetic when I was in my early 20s, so I was already familiar with testing my blood sugar levels (i.e. finger stabbing) regularly. I was also put on metformin, a pill I had to take whenever I ate.

But being pre-diabetic and having type 1 diabetes is very different. In fact, it’s a completely different ball game – with so many more complications.

For example, if I develop an infection (i.e. ear, nose, throat) and need to go on antibiotics, I need to be careful because antibiotics can affect my body’s ability to absorb the insulin I put into my system, which can increase sugar levels.

If I’m stressed, I need to de-stress (enter baking because it forces me to concentrate completely on something) and be careful because it can increase sugar levels.

If I’m busy and get distracted and just randomly put food into my system, I need to be careful because lots of foods are carb heavy, and it can increase sugar levels.

These are the daily battles.

Long-term, diabetes can lead to kidney failure, increased risk of heart disease, etc., etc., etc.,

But that’s not to say it’s all doom and gloom. What I’ve learned in the last little while is to actively take care of myself. I read all I can about diabetes. I read about new treatments, clinical trials (I even enrolled myself into a trial when I first found out) and about other people’s experiences.

When I was first diagnosed, I was afraid to eat. I didn’t understand diabetes and it was something I ran away from for a little while. But slowly, I began to understand.

Do I ever sit down to a huge piece chocolate cake or a plate full of potatoes? Sometimes. But that’s a BIG treat. Indulgence isn’t bad. Just like being diabetic isn’t all bad. It forces me into a healthier lifestyle. And in the end, it’s all about balance.

I’ve made my peace with being diabetic. Though some days are tougher than others.

If you’re reading this, thanks for taking the time to understand.

*Symptoms I’ve experienced.

2011 Chef's Challenge kick-off

Discussing strategy

There are times when my job intersects with things I'm passionate about, and today was one of those times.

Today marks the official kick-off of the 2011 Chef's Challenge: The Ultimate Battle for a Cure. Presented by World MasterCard to raise funds for Mount Sinai Hospital's fight against breast and ovarian cancers, the event is every food-lover's dream come true.

The coveted trophy

The premise is simple: register by July 21 for the challenge here, and between now and November 26 and raise as much money as you can (a minimum of $2,500). If you're one of the top 60 fundraisers, you'll not only get to attend the official challenge, you'll actually get to cook on one of the teams! This year's line-up of team leaders? Chuck Hughes, David Rocco, Lynn Crawford, Mark McEwan, Massimo Capra and Nadia Giosa. And of course, the event wouldn't be complete without one of the world's most famous celebrity chefs to host - the throwdown king himself, Bobby Flay.

The prize? Bragging rights for the next year and your team name on the trophy.

Here are a few pics from today's launch event.  Oh...and the food was incredible!

Duck pate & fruit compote

Proscuitto, parmesan & watercress

Eggplant parmesan

Mustard seed and pate

My foray into Yoga A.K.A. another way to try and burn calories

A friend gave me a gift certificate to Bikram Yoga, also known as "hot yoga". The premise is simple: you do yoga in a room that is designed to heat up to 42 degrees Celsius. I’ve done yoga before so have a rough idea of how it works. I do cardio 3-4 times a week, eat (reasonably) healthy, so when my friend gave me the gift certificate, I thought, sure, why not?

I packed my gym bag and headed over to the yoga studio after work.The first thing that struck me is how quiet it was. A man behind the counter instructed me to take off my shoes, and fill out some forms. “First time?” he asks.  

“Kinda.” I reply.

“You’ll love it,” he says. “Just watch the other students, remember to breathe properly, and here’s the hardest part: try to stay through the entire session.”

What does he mean by try stay the entire session? Why wouldn’t I?

I ponder this as I head toward the back of the studio and into the women’s change room. I opened the door to the change room and had to take a step back. The smell wasn’t dirty exactly, but a bit rubbery maybe and like gyms, had a faint smell of sweat.  

The room is lined with benches and sitting on one of the benches were two girls waiting to get into the same session I was heading into. Trying to get a beat on things, I say, “It’s my first class here...any words of advice?”  

The taller of the two girls looks at me and replies, “It’s my second class and I didn’t make it through my first one. The session is 90 minutes long - about 30 minutes too long for me. It’s intense.”

I thank the girl for her advice and quickly get changed. I’m a little nervous now. That’s the second time someone has referenced it being difficult to stay the entire class. How tough can 90 minutes of Bikram Yoga be?

I soon find out. The session ahead of us finishes and out comes a group of sticky, smelly, drenched in their own sweat men and women. I take a deep breath and armed with my towel, yoga mat and water bottle, step into the room.

Softly lit, the walls are lined with floor-to-ceiling mirrors. It`s also quiet. I turn to ask another student a question and she quickly puts her fingers to her lips. “We’re not supposed to talk in here,” she whispers. Seeing that I’m new, she takes the yoga mat and towel from my hands and lays them down onto the floor for me. I smile and nod to thank her for helping me. “Good luck,” she mouths.

I look around and see other students lying down on their yoga mats, so I do the same. The room fills quickly and before I know it, there are 23 of us lying on the floor.

I have been on my mat for only a few minutes, but already, I can feel myself sweating. What have I gotten myself into?

I’ve barely formed this thought when the yoga instructor walks in. He greets the class and acknowledges four of us by name - all first timers to the class. “Do whatever it is you need to - lie down, take a sip of water, but please do try to stay in the room for the entire class. And remember: breathe through your nose.”

Oh boy.

Slowly, we get into the exercises. Okay, so far so good. I follow the instructor as he explains each one, being careful to watch myself in the mirror to make sure I am getting the poses right.

I have trouble getting my hands and feet into the positions they’re supposed to be in, so I watch the other students, copying what they do, when I notice it. Their focused yet unfocused expressions: they are all here, but not. They are all lost within their own thoughts, struggling to get into position, or in most cases, stay in position.

I soon become lost in my own thoughts, trying to breathe through my nose. I am bending myself and trying to keep from falling, all the while dripping sweat onto the floor. I look up, trying to find a clock on the wall, but no. Time does not exist here. Only focus and breathing.  

I open my water bottle and take a deep gulp. The water soothes me a little and I keep on going. I have no idea how long has passed, only that my muscles ache and it’s getting more and more difficult to breathe. My mind drifts back to those words I’d heard not so long ago: Try to stay through the entire session. And it occurs to me that I might not be able to.

With my left arm pointing forward and my right leg almost above my head, I’m now in battle with myself.  I will myself to breathe slowly. Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale. I know it’s cheating to breathe through my mouth, but I can’t help it. I take a few big gulps of air through my mouth and force myself to breathe only through my nose again.  

I continue following the instructor, and then I can no longer follow along. I lie down on the yoga mat, palms up. My sweat drips backward into my nose and I breathe too quickly. Like a swimmer breathing water through their nose, I am hit with that cold drowning sensation. I feel my heart rate go up...am I going to even make it through this session lying down?

My brain vaguely registers that two students walk out while the one to my left also lies down.

I try to get up on my right elbow, but I am slick with sweat and slip back onto the ground. I lie down again and continue focusing as hard as I can on breathing.

A few moments later, I feel my heartbeat slow down and my breathing start to steady. I take another gulp of water and force myself to rejoin the class. I will finish.

Awkwardly, I bend myself into the different positions, again, forcing myself to control my breathing, when I hear those magic words: “Last set of exercises.”

The last set fly by and the class ends. “Good work, newbies. Hope to see you again soon.”

I slowly gather my things and leave the room, where cool, normal, proper room temperature air awaits me.  As I mop myself with my towel, I breathe in this air with new-found appreciation.

Something is different though: it’s quiet, but it’s a good quiet. It’s the quiet you get when you just accomplished something great - when you get into battle with yourself and you emerge victorious. I feel victorious. I survived Bikram Yoga!

Holding onto this feeling, I get changed and start making my way towards the door. The instructor sees me and pulls me aside. “Great job for sticking it through to the end.”  

“Thanks,” I say. “It was hard, but I have a new found appreciation.”

“Great,” he replies enthusiastically. “See you again soon?”

I smile and nod politely.  Maybe...definitely maybe.

"Easter" menu

I often use major holidays as an excuse to cook for many. Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving - it's all the same to me. My family invites people over and I take over the kitchen. Tomorrow is no different - there are 16 in total, and in true A-type personality fashion, I'm going to slave in the kitchen for 2 days straight.  This is what I'm attempting - wish me luck:

Appetizers: 
- Smoked salmon eggs
- Fried artichokes w/lemon garlic aioli

Mains:
- Prime rib roast w/glazed carrots & roasted garlic bulbs
- Salmon fillet on a bed of rapini in rose sauce

Sides:
- Roasted beets
- Quinoa salad w/herbs
- Spring peas w/onions & mushrooms
- Mashed potatoes w/grated parmesan

Dessert:
- Blueberry cheesecake
- Coconut cookies
- Chocolate chip cookies

Budyń o smaku (raspberry pudding)

I heart trying new things. And being a food-hearter (apparently the word "foodie" is taboo now), I especially heart trying new foods. It always amazes me when I discover foods that are a simple (and perhaps common?) pleasure from one culture and how that food can be completely unknown to everyone else.

This weekend, I was lucky enough to try budyń o smaku (which I think, roughly translates from Polish to English as raspberry pudding...apologies if I got the translation wrong). The pudding mixture comes prepackaged (the one I tried was made by Nestlé) and starts in powder form.

I watched my friend make this dessert, and from what I gather, the cooking process goes like this: heat up milk, add powder to milk (mixing constantly), stir, wait for the mixture to thicken, pour into bowl, serve hot or cold (the instructions I've found online are in Polish, so I'm strictly pulling this from my memory).

The process reminded me of making Jello - except it was faster and dare I say it? Yummier.

The pudding tasted milky/creamy and the consistency was nice and thick (in many ways, it reminded me of steamed Chinese egg custard). There was a subtle taste of raspberries (though I'm told it comes in many different flavours) and the best part of it? It was just the right amount of sweet.

I ate the bowl of pudding with wonder, savouring every spoonful and marveling at the wonderful consistency. It was warm and soothing - good for when the nights are cold. And the best part of it all?  I got a doggy bag (bowl?), which is now sitting in the fridge. It's supposed to be even yummier when it's cold...I can't wait until tomorrow...is it okay to have dessert immediately after breakfast?

Izba Restaurant

Definitely worth a visit.

Izba Restaurant, located at 648 The Queensway in Toronto/Etobicoke claims to have "the BEST schnitzel in town". And in my humble opinion, it's very possibly true.

I'm a fan of schnitzel and have had many different versions of it. I've also been disappointed many, many times. Too often, schnitzel is oily and flaky - the breadcrumbs falling off and the meat (pork and veal) waaaaaay too tough. But this....THIS was amazing.

Not oily, perfectly crisp, amazingly tender and awesomely spiced (yes, I know I'm using a lot of positive adjectives, but you would too if you'd tried it).  The funny thing? I didn't even order the schnitzel (that's right, I mooched off my friend's plate).

Instead, I ordered the pork tenderloin with pierogi (I've been DYING for pierogi, but that's a story for another day). The pierogi were served with sour cream and boiled (which, I'm told by my pierogi-connoisseur friend would've tasted much better had they been pan-fried), but to my Canadian Chinese palate, tasted great. Potatoes and cheddar wrapped inside a dumpling...mmmm...but I digress...

The pork tenderloin was tender - as in fall-off-the-other-parts-of-the-meat-tender, served with a sprinkle of dried parsley (hey, it works here) and a gravy I couldn't identify. There were also roasted potatoes (which this potato-connoisseur LOVED), braised cabbage (forever ruined because of the cabbage soup diet...thank you parents...) and boiled carrots (which I didn't touch).

It was by far one of the best comfort food meals I've had in a very long time, and definitely a belly-filling one.

The portions are generous, so be sure to go on an empty stomach.

Restaurant rating: Definitely worth an extra hour or two at the gym.

(Apologies for the lack of food pictures, but it was too dark for decent pics).