If you are ever in Whitby…Mexican brunch at Los Cabos

We were in Whitby many weeks back and we decided to check out Los Cabos for their Mexican brunch. The place was cozy and filled with fun Mexican décor. They had a steady stream of locals dining as well.

Their brunch selection had the usual pancakes, bacon and sausage. The Mexican twist comes in their Eggchiladas (their version of a Mexican omelet) and cooked-as-you-order/all-you-can-eat quesadillas. It was okay. Well, for $7.00 per person, how can you lose?

We got some pulled pork quesadilla and it was good, especially with sour cream and salsa.

Our meal was ok, but not fantastic. I will still head to Burrito Boyz to get my Mexican fix. Their dinner menu did look more interesting—flautas, ceviche, tostadas, among others. However, I don’t know if we will ever be in Whitby for dinner. They have quite a few events posted and they have a patio (for next summer!). So, if you do happen to be there, check this place out and let me know how different evenings are over here. Hasta luego!

Heritage homes, robots and crazy cookies in a place called Port Hope

Along the shores of Lake Ontario, a lovely community beckoned us to stay for the day. We arrived at Port Hope a couple of hours before noon and had some time to explore the area before finding a place to eat. We went to their Information centre downtown and got some ideas on what to do for the day in this picturesque city.

First we checked out the Ganaraska River that runs through the heart of town, to catch a glimpse of the last of the salmon run. I saw some huge salmon jumping along the ladders of the river. Not quite the salmon run folks would’ve seen a week earlier, but it was pretty cool, nonetheless. This river empties into Lake Ontario and is known for year-round fishing. Rainbow Trout also make the run upstream during Spring. I think we will attempt another trip then to try to catch this! 

After watching the many folks who were fly-fishing, we decided to head off for lunch and some dessert. We ate at one of the popular local spots, Jim’s Pizzeria and Spaghetti house and had some, well, pizza and spaghetti . We clearly knew what their specialty was, so why complicate things? We ordered Jim’s combination (pepperoni, mushroom, green, peppers, onion, and bacon) and DD#2 got some Hawaiian (they had a buy 1 medium, get another free promo! Sweet! Or should I say, savoury!).

Pizza at Jim's Pizzeria, Port Hope

The pizza was made to order. It was fresh so we didn’t mind the little bit of wait. The crust was thin and the sauce was delicious. Truly, wonderful pizza! I got some spaghetti and meat sauce. It was delicious—nothing fancy, but a good, hearty meal.

After our nice lunch, we checked out some shops. They had a lot of quaint stores selling home stuff and quite a few antique shops. We just browsed around and worked up our appetite for some dessert. We headed over to Dreamer’s to try some of their famous crazy cookies. They boasted a sign outside of how many crazy cookies have been sold. We would have been damned if we weren’t one of the over 100,000 folks who have tried this!

At $2.00 each, we thought, this had better be good. But it wasn’t good. It was great! Chocolate, caramel and pecans brought a mouthful of cookie heaven! Yum!

Dreamer's Crazy Cookie

Then it was time for some coffee. We went over to Atomic Roasters coffeeshop for some home-roasted, bold coffee.

The girls had raspberry sorbet which the very pleasant owner happily gave out. We also bought a box of 10 ($2 per piece!) artsy gourmet chocolates to sample all sorts of fancy flavours-- from chili-infused to maple syrup filled ones. They were just too pretty to eat.

Chocolates at Atomic Roasters

After all that eating, we decided to drive down to the beach. We relaxed at one of the benches while the girls frolicked along the waters and played in the sand. From this main beach, we could already see the Scarborough Bluffs. Nice.

Before heading home, we went on the self-guided driving tour recommended by the Information centre. We stopped at about 30 restored century homes and buildings along the well-preserved main streets from the 19th century. A short commentary for each stop was provided with the driving guide. Knowing the history made the short drive-bys all the more interesting.

Heritage homes at Port Hope

Did I say we only did the driving tour before heading home? I lied. Hubby would not hesitate to say that I’m quite notorious for side trips. So, needless to say, I convinced him into stopping by Primitive designs to look at some very interesting things for the house. Two giant robots guarded its entrance and also served as a beacon for anyone who might miss this shop.

Merchandise from around the world was available for quite reasonable prices. It was hard to just walk away from there without a purchase. So, I didn’t give myself a hard time anymore and got a little something :) The trip was now complete.

Dutch treat: The Netherlands Bazaar 2013

Last Saturday, my mom and I went to check out the Netherlands bazaar at the Thornhill Community Centre. We didn’t quite know what to expect, but it was a bazaar so it didn’t take much to convince us to go.

We arrived about an hour after the bazaar opened. Parking was awful but we lucked out on a spot. When we went inside, we were surprised to see so many goodies!

There were booths selling flowers (no tulip blooms, only bulbs during this season), knick knacks and souvenirs from Holland (as one would expect). There were also many booths selling cheese, sausage, candies (mostly licorice), pastries and other yummy delights! Mother and I didn’t quite know where to start!

We ended up getting a few goodies to try—almond pastries, Dutch cookies, Boterkoek (Dutch Buttercake), a wedge of Gouda cheese, sausage and an assortment of wafers. Yum!

Then, we headed to the lunch section where they served the meals. We ordered a very hearty pea soup, warm and juicy sausage and some very delicious kroketten (Dutch croquettes). Made of veal mixed in roux, the croquettes were light and creamy inside. These were fried with a crunchy breading and were perfect to dip in some Dijon mustard.

We ate these in one of the many tables nearby while listening to some folk music played with an accordion.

The bazaar also featured an art gallery, book and record sale, and a White Elephant sale (like a garage sale or mini flea market). Then we also went upstairs (the bazaar was spread out over several sections and floors of the community centre) to look at the craft and play area for kids. Fun local games were set up along with some face painting and balloon twisting.

Back downstairs, while others lined up for herring and mackerel (served with onions or packed to take home) at the mini fish market, we lined up to get some freshly-made mini crepes (Dutch baby pancakes or poffertjes).

They were so airy and delightful with a light dusting of powdered sugar. They were so easy to eat with the mini-fork provided. Flag toothpick or none, this was a true Dutch treat!  

 

Apparently this bazaar, with proceeds going to charity, runs only every two years. Am glad we got to go to this one. We will make sure to go back in 2015!

Wanderlusting Mama’s top ten eats (and drinks) in Spain

As you may have deduced, we did a lot of eating when we went to Spain. I have written about all of them in previous blogs. Here is a summary of food and drinks that I highly recommend you try:

1. Jamón Ibérico—enjoy these thinly sliced on their own, with bread and cheese or with olives. These are also good with some honeydew melons.

Jamon Iberico

2. Tapas—try different kinds. I love gambas al ajilo (garlic shrimp), champignones (mushrooms), cordero (lamb), and many more! As these are small servings, you can try many different kinds. Each order will cost anywhere from €3 to €6 depending on where you are

Tapas

3. Paella—as I had mentioned, this is my absolute favourite Spanish dish. Cooked in a paellera, the orange colour of the tender rice comes from the fresh tomatoes and saffron. I particulary like the marinera version as I love seafood. However, I will eat any kind of paella-- Valenciana (with meat) and mixta (mixed).

Paella

4. Arroz Negro—this is like a black paella, literally meaning black rice. It is rice cooked in squid ink and usually served with squid and shrimps. It doesn’t look too appetizing but it is delicious!

Arroz Negro

5. Pesquaditos fritos—a traditional dish from Southern Spain, and literally meaning fried small fish, it is a delightful crunchy snack.

6. Chopitos—fried, baby cuttlefish, which are fresh, very lightly battered, and quick-fried. It is nice to eat even on the go!

Pesquaditos Fritos and Chopitos

7. Pimientos de Padrón (or Roasted Galician peppers)—these small green peppers are served roasted with a dash of salt and brushed with oil. They are not too spicy and only had the slightest kick. Once you pop one of these into your mouth, it is pretty hard to stop.

Pimientos de Padron

8. Churros con chocolate—this fried pastry dough is best eaten freshly cooked. Some eat it plain with just a dusting of sugar but I prefer dipping it in some rich hot chocolate. I can eat this anytime!

Churros con Chocolate

And to drink
9. Sangria—this fruit punch comes in many varieties. Commonly, it contains red wine, some chopped fruit, soda and juice. It is perfect for summer and can surely be appreciated even by non-wine lovers.

Sangria

10. Horchata de chufa—this white, milky drink (made from tubers of the nut sedge plant) is best taken ice cold. As I have recounted in my previous blog (Valencia), the taste was like a cross between soy milk and some sort of yam smoothie. It is another refreshing and popular summer drink, a good alternative to frozen lemonade.

Horchata de Chufa

I hope I haven’t made you too hungry. These may not be readily available where you live, but there are restaurants which would have some version of these. Some of these are also pretty easy to do at home as well where you can have your own rendition of these Spanish delights. Recipes are all over the internet—believe me, I checked already!

If you are fond of pastries, I highly recommend mazapan. And for those who love to cook, don't forget to get some olive oil and also saffron from La Mancha!

¡Buen provecho!