Top Chef Tuesday Our Daily Dinner

Top Chef Tuesday

chuckieb 10 years ago
Morning Everyone! I'm still groggy and need some more caffeine in my system! But I'm heading downtown for the day so need to go get ready shortly. Am meeting a girlfriend for lunch at a new restaurant we've never tried before.
http://navarrarestaurant.com/
Trip Advisor gave it mixed reviews and it seems very pricey but we heard that the Owner/Chef there is participating in the new season of "Top Chef Canada" that just started last night and we're curious, I put a picture of him below. His name is Rene Rodriguez.
Joce, can't wait to hear how you made out yesterday both with your consultation and your trip to T&T! :)
That's cool you like the sumac Tina. Good luck at the rink this morning. Have fun.
Jim and I are just going to grab something on the way home for dinner. We'd been thinking about trying a Korean BBQ Restaurant but we'll see. Jim has to get up early tomorrow and fly to Toronto for the day again so isn't that keen to be out this evening. May just do take out.
Wishing everyone a great day!
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NPMarie 10 years ago said:

Good morning Janet!

Beautiful avatar picture! Lotsa snow for sure! Have a nice lunch today..can't wait to hear what you ordered:-)

It's in the 30's this morning, should warm up to mid 60's later on. We actually went for a walk this morning:-) That will warm you up in a hurry..

I'm thinking Chicken Spaghetti for dinner with garlic bread and salad.

Have a most wonderful day everyone!

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Good4U 10 years ago said:

Janet, Everything went very well yesterday considering our time limitation. I get my eyelids operated on in July to improve my vision and appearance. I was very impressed with the Doctor and WOW! What an elegant office building he owns! He must really bring in the big bucks? We went to T&T what a FABULOUS PLACE IT IS! LOL Den came in b/c he was curious but had to leave within five minutes as he was going to be sick from the smell! It does smell very fishy in there and he being so sensitive to horseradish he said he could smell the Wasabi as well a mile away! I did get Dim Sum there at the counter and food sections you suggested and brought a bunch of it home. What an awesome layout of FOOD, FOOD, FOOD and very very unusual FOODS too! I probably could have gawked until I dropped!!! I didn't get all the way through it, but I will take a day out just for that soon! I must admit the Seafood/Fish part of it which is huge! Made me gag a little bit with the overpowering fish smell. I really couldn't get over how big that store is! I didn't even get over to the meat department!!! I bought a stove top sort of camping hand grilling thing that I have been trying to find for years and years! I want to use it to toast, toast and things on my gas stove and on the BBQ. I was really delighted with that. I bought a package of mini BBQ pork buns which I am looking forward to having for my lunch today along with some pot stickers. I ate Shrimp Siu Mai and Shrimp Har Gow last night until I was stuffed to the gills! I bought some Pork Spring Rolls I didn't care. It had too much Star Anise and Chinese Five Spices in it, for my liking, but I will know better next time. I also found the bamboo steamer baskets I was looking for and they were really cheap and that also made my day! LOL Now I can't wait to go back:) Enjoy your lunch it does look like a fancy place! Very cool that one of Ottawa's Chefs will be on "Top Chef Canada"! I hope the weather is good for Jim's trip to Toronto tomorrow as Den thinks it might be a snow day tomorrow for him? Enjoy your Korean BBQ Restaurant tonight too:)

Marie, How did your parents like the pineapple pound cake? Wow 60F that would be nice balmy weather for us:) I like your dinner of Chicken Spaghetti YUM!

Michelle, Have fun with the kids during March Break:) Poached eggs are easy to make! I do have an egg poacher but I do it both ways all the time. Maybe it just takes practice? Here is a link showing how to make them 4 different ways. http://www.wikihow.com/Poach-an-Egg it may help you?

Laura, Have a great vacation relax, explore and enjoy:) I hope Dad has settled down by now too:)
I love love your Lighter Smoked Salmon Spread it is right up my alley for sure!

Shona, Aww poor Sophia:( I was hoping she was all well and back to her normal self! You as well! You certainly are having a bad time of it! I saw frozen Dim Sum stuff yesterday but I think b/c of the tremendous Chinese and Asian population in Ottawa they make them fresh in most restaurants there. The T&T Chinese store, I went to yesterday were making them fresh and they just kept them warm on a very large steaming table at the large continuing counter. It was very impressive I must say! Lucky you! I have heard of Chinooks and I always thought they are very neat! LOL You had me craving for ham and scalloped potatoes and that is what we are having for dinner tonight:) I hope that Sophie and you are both feeling significantly better today:)

Tina, I am hoping you are still sleeping and getting some much needed rest:)

I have to go and pick up potatoes today to make the scalloped potatoes to go with the ham. LOL Den forgot them on Saturday! Other than that I am not up to much except maybe working on links etc. in IMI Down Memory Lane.

Wishing everyone a wonderful day!

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NPMarie 10 years ago said:

Joce, I am glad everything went well for you yesterday! Sounds like his office is state of the art beautiful! T&T sounds just wonderful! I sure wish we had something like that here:(
They LOVED Michelle's Pineapple Pound Cake..I knew they would..it's so flavorful & Moist!
Yum on scalloped potatoes..one of my favorites! See you when you get back:)

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Cosmicmother 10 years ago said:

Good morning!
Well today is a much better day. Sophia actually slept through the night without coughing, but she coughed up a lot this morning so I kept her home again. I feel much better, thanks goodness! It's another beautiful day here and the snow is melting like crazy! They put us under an emergency alert for flooding, the rivers are filling up fast from the thaw, I hope it doesn't flood again like last year. We weren't as bad as Calgary, but it flooded all the homes close to the river and washed out roads and parks.
Enjoy your lunch out Janet! :)
Chicken spaghetti sounds great Marie :)
Lol @ the smell from T&T Market! That's why I can't go in either! I use to work right across from one in Vancouver. And my friends always wanted to go there to eat, but I met them next door at the coffee shop instead ;) Enjoy your scalloped potatoes and Ham Joce! I made way too many potatoes so my husband is eating them for lunch today.
Tonight is Montreal seasoned steaks with Caesar salad. I keep craving red meat, it must mean my Iron levels are down. My husband and I use to rarely eat red meat the last 15 years, but when I was pregnant with Sophie I craved steaks and roasts. My doctor said my iron levels were extremely low, so that's probably why I craved it. Now I eat it all the time, lol, ;)
Have a great day everyone!

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mommyluvs2cook 10 years ago said:

Good Morning/afternoon!
Janet, I'll take the Rioja Potatoes please! Have a good lunch :)
Glad the parents gave a thumbs up to the cake, yay!!
Sounds like you had a blast Joce!! Poor Den and his sensitive nose! :)
I don't care for 5 spice either.
I checked out that link and they make it look easy enough. I just ALWAYS overcook mine is my problem. It says 3 to 5 minutes but that a big span of time to have to guess, and I definitely don't want runny whites either! I know I need to give it another try though :)
Your dinner sounds yummy Shona, glad to hear everything is going a bit better around your house.
Well today we are going to the Rodeo!! We probably won't be home until after midnight, so I'm thinking a LONG day is ahead of me!! The kids are most excited about the carnival part, go figure! I just want to see the Cowboys ;)

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chuckieb 10 years ago said:

I'm at the Library to catch up on my email and give me legs a break. :) Had a nice morning. Did a bit of shopping. Lunch was very nice and I'd go back. I had the equivalent of an English Ploughman's lunch but it was Spanish. LOL. Serrano ham drizzled in a lovely peppery olive oil, Manchego cheese, toasted sourdough, apricot mostarda and sliced green apple. I quite enjoyed it. We didn't see the Chef guy. The waitress said he went to Toronto last night for the premiere.
Your walk this morning sounded lovely Marie as does your dinner plans.
So pleased you had a fun time at T&T Joce. It is a big place isn't it! Glad your consultation went well too. I can see how Den's nostrils forced him out of there as there are a lot of foreign smells. The fish section is a hoot as they just scoop the live things out of the tanks and wallop them over the head with a hammer right then and there. No muss no fuss. And you will have fun in the meat section as they carry little pkgs. of duck breasts and some different things. It's a good place to buy short ribs. Good prices. You can even buy a blue chicken if you so wish. The veggie dept. has some cool stuff in it too and again, good prices.
I sure hope you don't get flooding Shona. LOVE your dinner.
It's pretty easy to tell how cooked your poached egg is Michelle just by looking at it. It's just the same as a fried egg really. If you scoop it up out of the water a wee bit with a big slotted spoon then you can just jiggle it and if the yolks jiggles a lot then it needs to cook a bit more and if it just jiggles a bit then you're good to go. :) (How's that for a scientific explanation eh?) LOLOLOL! Have a really great time at the Rodeo!

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notyourmomma 10 years ago said:

Working on taxes and paperwork, ugh. Liv is treating me to an early dinner. We don't know where yet. Beer and BBQ or Mexicano and Cervesa?
Michelle, have a rocking good time at the rodeo! Hope you have fun all day!!
Janet, a Top Chef lunch, yummy. Korean BBQ sounds good too.
Joce, your T&T trip sounds awesome. Poor Den and his nose! I'd love all your purchases to be in my frig! I want steamer baskets.
Shona happy to hear everyone is better. Yep, I understand the meat craving with low iron.
Marie, yum on chicken spaghetti! Wild temp swing....we are a bit mellower.
$750.00 dollar repair on convertible....and then the ice maker broke in the frig. Honestly appliances aren't made to last anymore!!!! The microwave, the dishwasher, the clothes washer and now the ice maker. 3 years old. HARUMPH AND GRUMBLE. Sears Kenmore, LG and Samsing, all from scratch and dent store.
Liv did great at skating that pesky double salchow is getting easier. Her flying camel into a sit/change sit/layback is pretty. Her layback has always been pretty but she hurts a lot afterward.
Sumac is delicious! So good on fish.
Nail appointment manana. Almost sorry to see the deep burgundy and teal go.

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Good4U 10 years ago said:

Marie, I was pretty sure your parents would like that cake:) I must make a point of making that soon! Den loves pineapple and I know it will be a big hit here as well:)

Shona, I am more than delighted to hear both you and Sophia are now on the mend again:) Crossing my fingers that the flooding stays well away from there! When I saw the flooding in Calgary, on TV last year, your heart just has to go out to those people. It must be awful to deal with that sort of thing? I knew the first T&T store was in Vancouver but I just checked it out some more and I did not know it was owned by Lowblaws! Here is a bit more info on it. n.wikipedia.org/wiki/T_%26_T_Supermarket LOL @ you meeting your friends at the coffee shop instead:) I bet you were not the only one doing that? I always make more scalloped potatoes than we need but IMHO they do make the best leftovers:) Yup eat your red meat and keep up your B12 levels and folate that will help you get back your strength:) LOL after all we are really Carnivores:)

Michelle, I am sure you and the kids will have an incredible time at the Rodeo:) Have fun and LOL Janet's description of how to tell if poached eggs are done is PERFECT REALLY:)

Tina, Ugh on the cost of repairing your convertible top:( However, you need a working roof on your car. Does the salt from the ocean build up on the mechanisms like that to harm them? I was surprised when I was down there at some of the damage it does to tops of cars and several other things. Our cars rust out from the bottom up b/c of the salt they use on icy roads. I can send you steamer baskets if you want. Just let me know what size etc. that isn't a problem for me at all:) Bummer on all your appliance problems:( It just seems one thing after another sometimes with things! I am so pleased Liv is back on her skates again:) It would be a big treat for me to watch her practice:) I am sure Ang will come up with other delightfully creative colour schemes for your nails this time too! Pics please:)

Janet, Your lunch sounded just delicious! LOL I didn't see anyone getting any live fish hammered on the head like that:) LOLROFL When you mentioned the meat section having pkgs. Of duck breasts at first I thought I saw little piggies:) Too funny! Wouldn't that be a sight to see? Den would have loved that section. Maybe he can come in to see the stuff with a nose plug on that you use for swimming?:)

LOL Typical me:) I go to the store to buy potatoes and broccoli and I spend over $100.00:) They had huge bunches of baby dill weed on sale and I just went to check out if I can freeze it and they say that is the best thing to do to it! Who knew? I have everything all put away and squeezed into the fridge. I have to make a concerted effort one of these days to go out and buy that extra fridge we need too! Procrastination is my sin:)

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