Rare Roast Beef en Choux

My friend Joel hosted his annual Meatluck this past weekend. His meatluck parties are always a bonanza of an evening, and any meat-lover and first-rate carnivore will find themselves in Heaven for just one night. The rules? Simple. Bring a dish that contains meat in it, no matter what course you're assigned. Yes, even dessert.

I've been to the previous two Meatlucks (you can read about them here and here). The dishes and the course you're assigned may always be different. But you're always guaranteed the same thing: fantastic, creative foods, LOTS of food, flowing wine, great company amongst fabulous friends, old and new, and a wicked meat hangover the next day.

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Wordless Wednesday #64: Meatluck Hangover

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Meatless Monday: Sauteed Swiss Chard and Chickpeas with Pine Nuts and Sultanas

Here is a fantastic meal using two of my favourite ingredients: swiss chard and chickpeas. It's hearty, delicious, and very quick to make.

The creamy sweetness of swiss chard pairs really nicely with nutty chickpeas, and the addition of toasted pine nuts and plump golden sultanas is lovely. A sprinkling of dried chilli flakes adds a nice kick, while a squirt of lemon at the end adds some acidity to help round out the flavours.

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Hear Me Rawwwwrr!

Belmonte Raw finally opened its doors two weeks ago. It was the very few establishments I could actually dine at while I'm on my detox, so a visit to Carol and her shop was in full order this past weekend.

I had the pleasure of meeting Carol, the brainchild behind Belmonte Raw, a few weeks back. Belmonte Raw specializes in cleansing, healing and detoxifying juices and meals. Started as a delivery-only service to corporations and homes, when I met Carol, she was telling me about how she was finalizing her restaurant/retail shop.

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Wordless Wednesday #63: Fried Bread! and Other Goodness

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Kale, Broccoli, Chickpea and Avocado Salad

I'm back on another round of detox, which means bye-bye to all meats and animal products, caffeine, dairy, alcohol, gluten and sugar. It may seem a little insane, as most people often ask me, "So, what are you eating?" Lots of vegetables, legumes, and grains. Which I actually love so giving up the meat isn't a problem for me. I usually have a much harder time giving up the caffeine (I love my morning coffees) and sugar (insatiable sweet tooth).

As you can probably tell from some of my previous posts, I'm a big fan of salads. Because salads don't have to be boring with plain old lettuce. Have fun with it. Customize it. Put your favourite things on your salad to make it more exciting for you.

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Wordless Wednesday #62: Holy Chuck Burgers

(THE GRIND N' SHINE - Double bacon cheeseburger, caramelized onions, fried egg and topped with crispy fries )

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