Black Swan

we saw it today. What a messed up little film. It was very good, but not something you'd want to see with your parents... there are a couple of scenes that would make both of you uncomfortable :) And my hands were clammy a lot, because I have a serious phobia when it comes to fingernails and sharp objects near them. Getting a manicure or a pedicure is equivalent to a visit to a dentist for me... love the outcome, not the actual process. And this movie has a lot of nail clipping scenes...
Still highly recommended...

Merry Christmas!!!

Monday (20th) at Eaton's center... it was snowing soap bubbles on the Swarovski tree :)

Holiday toes.... not mine :)

burgers for dinner...

I've been craving a burger for a while... did some research on the places in our city... and decided to head to W Burger Bar... We went on Monday, I had my last exam that day, and we finished our Christmas shopping...
To start a couple of beers... a Blanche de Chambly for me (the cloudy one) and a 1516 Lager for Jay...instead of bread basket a little plate of carrot sticks with ranch dip...
What I like about W Burger is that fact that you choose your burger and your bun (whole wheat, white, or lettuce leaves), and then any toppings you like from their complimentary list, which do not cost any extra and there is plenty to choose from... then they also have a few premium toppings which are at an additional cost (check out their website for the menu)
Pictured below my burger... a couple of grilled portobello mushrooms on a whole wheat bun, from the complimentary topping menu I chose: mixed greens, sauteed onions, pickles, beets, and grilled red peppers... yum, with a side of large fries...
Jay had a Bison burger on a whole wheat bun, he chose to top it with mixed greens, sauteed onions, pickles, and Hellman's Dijonaise... with a side of large green salad with house dressing...
we shared our sides... and it was delicious...
Jay finished off his meal with a slice of sweet, moist looking chocolate cake...
this place is definitely worth a second visit... they have an actual veggie patty that I want to try... and Jay wants to try their Kobe burger...

drinking Portugal...

a treat from Sara and Adrian... Jay and I don't drink a lot of world wines because neither one of us has a sophisticated wine tasting palate, and we're both obsessed with Ontario vintages... we support homegrown efforts :)
But it is nice to take a break from what you know... Now on the back of most Ontario wines you'll find a brief description of the wine (basic notes, finish, and such), optimal drinking temperature, and sometimes even a suggested meal pairing... no such information on the back of our Portuguese vintage, when I asked Jay for it.. he looked and replied, "The Portuguese don't believe in such stuff, their wine goes with everything". :)
It was a very nice bottle, the wine tasted a lot better 15 minutes after we opened it... thank you S and A for expanding our wine appreciation...
we enjoyed it with some pasta in a superb tomato mushroom pepper sauce...

kale chips

are addictive... if you've never tried them, you're missing out... these are not store bought by the way... they're super simple to make (but I never have), Jay has the perfect kale chip touch, why mess with it :)

Thank You Magda and Patrick

This post comes a bit late, but exam season is on... and I'm a bit overwhelmed once again....

So I've mentioned that Jay and I are vodka people, but I should mention that rum runs a very, very close second, then amaretto, grand marnier... and a few others.

We received this interesting flavor from Magda and Patrick. A Bacardi Strawberry Rum infused with Dragon Fruit. This rum smells like the most delicious strawberries... I closed my eyes and could almost feel the summer sun on my skin...

I decided that since we had some mint left over from our party we should create strawberry mojitos and celebrate the first cold snap of the season. It was delicious. Can't wait to share it... The little red pieces in my drink are freeze dried strawberry chunks that Jay picked out of our cereal mix :)
tonight (or really early morning, depends on how you perceive it... it's almost 1am) I'm test tasting it with some ginger ale... if you get the balance just right, it's very nice... a bit on the sweet side but still nice to sip... it was a long day... In the background a Holiday card from Kinga (it reminds me I should probably send some out too... because I love receiving them)

her favorite spot to nap

she's a little weirdo... does an excellent job at keeping that shelf dust free... there is a book shelf adjacent to it with books on it, she uses it as a walkway to get to her napping spot...

this is not a deal...

this is highway robbery... getting $15.00 back because you spent $1500.00 is a joke... that doesn't even cover one minimum monthly payment... what a waste of paper...

Thank You Lisa and Rob...

Jay and I do enjoy our vodka... it's just so versatile... while we do like to try other spirits and liqueurs, vodka is a staple in our house (must be the Polish in me). Lisa and Rob gave us a real treat with Dan Aykroyd's Crystal Head Vodka... currently it is banned for sale in Ontario LCBO stores, because of the packaging..

LCBO spokesman Chris Layton: “That’s an image that’s commonly associated with death. It’s especially problematic at a time when there are concerns around binge drinking by younger adults, which in some cases unfortunately has resulted in alcohol poisoning.”

... while I agree with his statement, somehow I don't think this ban is hurting the sales... controversy might actually have the reverse effect... plus it's a smiling skull... it doesn't look menacing or deadly to me... anywho I like it a lot and don't want to open it... but I know I will...

Dec. 4, 2010: Lucy's and Jason's Third Annual Holiday Get Together

For a third time, our little get together was a success. The menu went through several changes, over the month leading to our dinner. Every single time we had a conversation, we made a change... crazy. But eventually, time for changes was over... and we hoped we had a winning combination. Sadly our party for 12 turned into a party for 9... we hope a pair that couldn't make it this year will join us in two years... lol... if we can tempt them :)

So let's move to the important stuff... the food...

This year Jay actually presented us with a little snack for our pre-dinner cocktails, so we're not all stumbling to the table... he can mix a mean martini... we enjoyed an assortment of flat breads with edamame hummus.... it was delicious...
and huge hugs and thanks to KINGA, MAGDA and PATRICK, and ADRIAN and SARA... you guys made my night... I'm sipping a Chambord cosmo as I'm typing this up :)... it is as delicious as described
but I did share, and whipped up the Food and Drink cocktail that prompted a Chambord craving in the first place... we all enjoyed it...
here is our sourced out furniture table... glasses don't match.. but that's our quirky side... for now :) snowman ginger cookies mark the seating arrangement... my spot had no cookie (I can't eat it)..
we drank Ontario vintages... delish... but can't wait to try Sara's presents, I don't believe I've ever given Portugal wines a fair chance... will blog as we enjoy them...
and now appetizers...
eight of the group enjoyed a grilled sweet potato, grilled scallop, and shrimp, topped with truffles and enoki mushrooms in what I heard was an incredible mushroom consomme...
I had my own vegan version... it was more of a mushroom soup... and it was incredible...
Mains:
Six of our party enjoyed a beef tenderloin topped with Jay's own Bearnaise sauce, on top of sauteed kale, on top of a crab cake (the crab cake almost made me wish I wasn't a vegan it was crab with some potato, not potato with some crab, but I persevered) , surrounded by a red wine jus... I heard no complaints ;)
Kinga and Magda enjoyed the same except their beef tenderloin was replaced with halibut...
and for moi Jay created a Yukon and Sweet potato rosti, topped with the same kale, and surrounded by mushrooms that I sauteed myself... as you can see I also plated my meal... so kind of messy, but still delicious...
eventually I baked our dessert...
Eight had white wine and spice poached pears, baked in puff pastry... served with reduced poaching liquid and whipped cream
except for the puff pastry and whipped cream, I enjoyed the same... and it was yummy...
then we wrapped up our night, with more wine, more beer, some port, and a cheese board...
it was a very, very lovely evening... thank you all for joining us... Hope everyone's Holiday Season is supper awesome...

dinner for two

Jay eats vegan at home 99% of the time... but sometimes he craves fish or meat... then we have similar meals with slight adjustments... both plates have roasted squash and potatoes, with green beans... the one on the right is topped with some marinated tofu steaks, and the one on the left with some crusted fish... and we're both happy...

the perfect vegan cupcake...

Jay found it... heavenly, for vegans and chocolate lovers alike... lots of delicious icing that's not too sweet... the cupcake so soft and rich and dense, almost fudgey... those lucky few can look forward to them on 11.11.11... but of course they'll be delivered by a professional not by Jay... sweet fallen soldiers...

Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda

was a good read... except for 3 sentences on page 36

"... By the time she reaches the age of thirty-two, she will no longer have the ability to bear children, the one thing that defines her as a woman. What will I be then? She has spent her whole life competing with the boys, compensating for her femininity, tempting fate it would seem. ..."

...and sentences including words like: pulao, masala dosa, gulab jamun, bengan bhartha, khobi-bhaji, pau-bhaji, sambar, aloo, dal, pakora, puri, rotli, kachori.... have given me a wicked crazy craving for Indian food. Somehow it shall be satisfied this weekend...

too much...

I love the LCBO Food and Drink magazine, especially the Christmas issue. I think my favorite thing about it is, the fact that it's free. I've made a few recipes over the years from it too, and never been disappointed.

This year, I really wanted it for the cocktail ideas. I found one, and it called for Chambord Liqueur. I looked it up (but not on the LCBO website)....

"...Chambord Liqueur is crafted from the world’s finest raspberries and blackberries, authentic Madagascar vanilla, Moroccan citrus peel, honey and cognac to create a delicious all-natural raspberry liqueur. The rich, intense flavor of black raspberries mingled with a hint of honey and creamy vanilla makes Chambord Liqueur Royale one of the world’s most versatile liqueurs and an unparalleled addition to cocktails, deserts and other culinary creations. ..."

WOW.... doesn't it read delicious. I wanted it. Went to the store... saw the price... and left. I was expecting to pay $20.00 maybe $25.00 for it... but at $40.00... ehhh not from my pocket. Next time we're out for dinner at a nice place, I'll ask for a cocktail made with it... see if it's worth the price tag :)

helping...

well not really... more like making an adorable nuisance out of herself... Jay's dad finally finished my fourth bookshelf... it is gorgeous... but it barely fits into my tiny office... as you can see an adjustment had to be made to the back, so that we can reach the light switch... I don't mind it... I am surrounded by books, heaven... with Honey under the desk, Cherry behind my chair, and a bag on the floor, there is no more room left... it makes me happy...

brunch....

Jay discovered a new all vegan restaurant... I do believe it's been around for a while, we just haven't been there until today... this is our Saturday brunch at Fressen...

we started off with two juices of the day.... if I remember correctly, it was apple-carrot... I tasted a bit of lemon juice in it as well... delicious....next we move onto some apps... since this was our first time, we felt compelled to try as many things as possible, so we ordered 3 apps (because on the menu it stated 1 for $6, or 3 for $15)...
we had... Jicima Mango Salad...
Red Lentil Balls... we both thought those were going to be fried, like red lentil fritters... but it was a spread, it was tasty, but needed salt...
and our favorite Fava Bean Smash... yum...
it all came with some round slices of very soft bread...
then for mains I chose the daily omelet, today it was mushroom asparagus... I know you may be thinking what?! a vegan omelet!.... yup made with tofu... it was incredible, the tofu so soft... sided with guacamole, salsa, greens, roasted potatoes, bread, and a crispy corn tortilla... what a meal!... next time no apps for me... I was stuffed...
Jay had Corn Fritters... his sides were the same as mine...
the meal was incredible... we both want to dine there again... maybe possibly for dinner... we also think there are people we know who'd enjoy a Fressen experience as much as we did...

these are no guard dogs

Last night I get home after midnight. Accidentally slam the door. Drop my bag... loudly. Stumble and curse when trying to take off my uggs... none to quiet. Make a bit of noise in the kitchen trying to get myself a glass of water. Turn on all the lights on my way to the bedroom, the door was open. Walk in... no one woke up... I'm referring to my two dogs, and a cat... they are all snoring, including Jay...

everyone is so used to my schedule... that I no longer wake them when I come home late... so I tried to be quiet putting away my stuff... slip off my sock... Honey's eyes pop open... has herself a fabulous super long stretch, flips on her back, legs in the air, and waits for me to rub her belly...

big spender...

Someone complained that I don't update my blog enough. He's the only person who I talk to everyday, and knows what's happening in my life... and the only one bitching about lack of updates. So I'll share a story, which he knows very well....

Our Small-Big Party is in less than a year now. A couple of people informed me that if I'm planning my outfit and know what I want to wear, to shop for it as soon as possible and not to leave it until later. So I've been shopping, well more like looking. I found my dress, but couldn't decide on my accent colors. I decided that the shoes will be colorful, something that I can wear anywhere, if I choose.

I've been keeping my eyes open. About a month ago Jay and I are enjoying a Sunday afternoon, browsing through Yorkville. We stumble into Holts, touch a lot of stuff, buy nothing. We decide to check out their shoe section.

I pass a pair of YSL shoes, love them on the spot, pick them up... whoa!!!! $1500.00, put them down... they are no longer so appealing to me. I just cannot spend more on shoes than my mortgage. I decide there is nothing for me at Holt's shoe department. On our way out Jay pauses, picks up a shoe, and says "what about this one".... and it is gorgeous, simple, no frills, but colorful, I would love to own it, check the price.... ouch!!!! I say I don't know".... Jay says "You don't have to buy it... just try it on... see how they fit." Before I can think about it, he catches the eye of a sales person... next thing I know I'm walking around in a pair of shoes I only dream of... (I notice there is a matching clutch as well... I don't understand how it can be more expensive than the shoes.)

Jay: "What do you think...?"
Me: " I love them... but baby... the price... I don't think I can afford them."
Jay: "I think they're awesome, let me buy them for you."
Me: "What? Really? You'll get these for me?"
Jay: "Yes... come on wrap them up."

There is no visible cash register at Holt's shoe department. You are navigated to a comfy leather couch, the sales person takes away your card, and comes back with your bill in a leather folder, your shoes in a bag with plenty of tissue paper.

As we are making our way to the couch, I'm sure I was floating... Jay reaches into his back pocket for his wallet... takes it out... and...

Jay: "I forgot my card..."
Me: "What?!"
Jay: " I left my card at home..."

Me: crashing very hard to earth... "You bitch..."

So I bought my own shoes... Jay was sorry. We laughed about it. He promised that the next two pairs are on him for sure... I'm going to hold him to that :)

I'm not posting a picture of the shoes, because at this time I don't want anyone to look them up and know how much I spent on them. I'm not ready for the world to know. Let's just say I get a bit of a heart flutter every single time I think about it. And those of you who read this blog and are going to attend our party will see them then. For now each shoe sits in its own dust bag, together with two mini dust baggies each holding a spare pair of heel tips.

fog

I know I've posted about this before, but I love when fog descends on the city. One of the reasons I love living so close to the lake. When the fog comes in, it literally looks like a moving wall (it's not settle at all), so cool to watch. Yesterday it started at around 4:30 pm, it gets kind of chilly, and eerily quiet, even though we're downtown. You can't help but think of all the horror movie scenarios involving fog or mist. This picture was taken at around 11pm last night...
at 8am this morning... it's as if nothing existed past my balcony....
but 3 hours later, the world was just as it should be...

We joined the berry cult...

It was time for an update/upgrade for both of us. We were undecided between iphone and blackberry. Apple made it easy, since their phones weren't available when we made the switch last week or so. I'm not disappointed... I'm kind of liking my berry.

(Berries pictured are not actually ours, but ours look exactly like that; gunmetal for Jay, and violet for moi.)