Monday, April 14, 2008

High Tea in Ottawa

Chateau Laurier and Parliament Hill
-32 c but a beautiful sunset shot from the Rideau Canal
2008-03-12 01:19:56 GMT



High Tea At Zoe's, At the Chateau Laurier Hotel

I was in Ottawa in February, it's my home town, and although the regional grape vines were under 5 feet of snow I was able to try Ice Wine Tea at an afternoon tea at Zoe's. They have over 40 types of tea to choose from. The Ice Wine Tea tasted of honeyed grapes with a bit of spice and lychee.The tea paired very well with the scones and Devonshire cream, which are a heavenly tradition. I've listed the different menus for you to drool over!

Traditional Afternoon Tea

Seasonal Fresh Fruit Cup
Afternoon Tea Cake
Fruit Tartelette
Cranberry Scones
Devonshire Cream and Strawberry Jam
Dainty Finger Sandwiches
English Cucumber and Onion Sprouts
Turkey Salad, Mayonnaise and Green Onions
Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese
Choice of Fairmont Tea

Canadian High Tea

Port Marinated Peaches, Whipped Cream
Maple Mousse, Maple Tuile and Nanaimo Bar
Cranberry Scones
Devonshire Cream and Strawberry Jam
Open Faced Sandwiches
Nova Scotia Lox and Bagel
Ontario Goat Cheese Mousseline and Fig Chutney
Smoked Quebec Duck Breast with Clementine MarmaladeCanadian Cheese Board
Sir Laurier d’Arthabasca, Aged Balderson Cheddar, Ontario Borgonzola
Choice of Fairmont Tea

Champagne Tea

Moët & Chandon Blue Label Nectar Impérial
Fresh Strawberries with Warm Dark Chocolate Fondue
French Pastries, Cranberry Scones
Devonshire Cream and Strawberry Jam
Afternoon Hors-d’oeuvre
Crème fraîche Yukon Gold Blini and Québec Sturgeon Caviar
Foie Gras and Truffle Mousse,
Pickled Red Onions on a Toasted Croûton
Crab and Blue Cheese on Fresh Baked Baguette
Choice of Fairmont Tea

Mango Pannekoeken


Mango Pannekoeken just out of the oven


Orange Pepper Bacon


Brunch is served, drizzled with lime dressing

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Ginger, Orange Rind and Mango Pannekoeken



This is a favorite brunch, I serve it with bacon that has been brushed with orange syrup and cracked pepper over one side. The pannekoeken has the consistency between a pancake and a Yorkshire pudding.

1 c. flour
1 c. milk
4 eggs
Dash of nutmeg
Dash of salt
8 pieces of candied ginger, chopped.
2 mangos, flesh chopped into bite size pieces
3 slices of candied orange slices, chopped

Heat 3 tablespoons butter in 9-inch round metal cake pan in preheating oven at 400 degrees, until bubbling. 1-2 minutes.
Mix flour, milk, eggs, nutmeg, and salt. Beat lightly, leaving lumps. Fold in ginger, oranges and mango. Pour into hot pie pan. Sprinkle brown sugar on top. Bake 20 minutes until puffy and brown. Serves 4.
I serve it with 1 tps orange syrup, ½ lime juice, 1 tbs brown sugar, warmed in the microwave for 20 seconds.





Saturday, April 12, 2008



This is a card I made for a coffee connoisseur friend's birthday...I sent him some Alux coffee.

Great Cuppas



I'm on a bit of a coffee kick since I have been starting my day with Cafe Creme thanks to my Ikea Foamer. I have been looking for freshly roasted coffee and I have found a local gem. Alux Organic Gourmet Coffee and Chocolate is a Coquitlam, family-run business that roasts your coffee and delivers it to your home ( in the Coquitlam area) the same day. Many of their coffees are organic and they have a detailed rating for their coffees.

In Mayan mythology, an alux [Mayan: ä lōōsh’] is a tiny spirit that travel through the land. Aluxob are small, only about knee-high, and resemble miniature Mayans in traditional clothing. Aluxob are generally invisible, but can assume physical form for purposes of communicating with and frightening humans as well congregating together. They are generally associated with natural features such as forests, caves, stones, and fields, but can be enticed to move somewhere through offerings. They could be considered a Mayan version of leprechaun, as the tricks they play are similar.

It's wonderful fate to have a coffee spirit traveling through Coquitlam, providing excellent coffee and Mexican chocolate. I offered a good coffee grind, a french press and micro foam, and it was enticed.

Last week I was in Kits to pick up a yoga video at Banyan Books and I discovered Aphrodite Cafe and Pie Shop.

I had a tasty Wild Mushroom Quiche and salad for a spontaneous lunch. As this post is about coffee, I was very impressed with their house coffee, a blend specially developed for the cafe by Origins Organic Coffee on Granville Island. I will definitely return to have more coffee and a piece of organic pie. It's too bad I can't bring a pound of those beans home with me.