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.

Strawberry cake

A yummy summer treat!

I'm determined to make the most out of strawberry season! I've already made strawberry cookies and now, I'm onto strawberry cake! Martha has a great seasonal section for recipes and strawberries are a featured ingredient. I didn't tinker too much with the recipe - just reduced the sugar by a bit and stretched out the cooking time by about 10 minutes.

This cake has gotten many compliments! It's easy to make, easy to bake and most importantly, EXTREMELY yummy! Happy Strawberry Season!