Thursday, July 7, 2011

Still Drooling Over Last Weekend's Meals

It's already the NEXT Thursday and I'm just getting around to sharing my great Canada Day Long Weekend adventures. Although I really did mean to share each day and savor each delicious taste... I guess we'll have to settle for an abridged version.

Friday, we headed down to the waterfront for Multi-Cultural Day, anticipating great foods from around the world and lots of entertainment too. Somehow, we were too early, or too late for most things, and ended up at home enjoying our own trip to Thailand on our balcony with a Mark Bittman treat
Chicken Satay with Peanut-Coconut Dipping Sauce while we watched the fireworks from our own comfy seats.

Saturday was spectacular! Sunny... a perfect day for a drive to the Annapolis Valley and check out the new permanent home of the Wolfville Farmers Market.
I was going to share lots of photos and talk about the musicians and each of the vendors... organic produce, fresh grass fed beef, free range chickens, great munchies, crafts... But you'll have to settle for a photo of my "score"... except for the croissants and pain chocolat from La Boulangerie La Vendeene (also at the Halifax Seaport Market) ... Those we munched on our way to Grosse Coques on the French Shore just across from Digby. It's an Acadian town and we ate lunch at Chez Christophe, famous for its Acadian Rappie Pie and other tasty delights. The pie is definitely an acquired taste... chicken or clams in a potato sauce unlike any I've had. I do have to find out how they get the gelatinous texture from the potatoes. One of the most wonderful things about Nova Scotia, is how friendly everyone is. The restaurant is in a renovated house with bedrooms converted into small dining rooms. Very quaint. In our dining room, there was a table of "locals", who come by often for the seafood lasagna (I had some and it was delicious), the Mayor of Kentville (about an hour's drive) and a business associate, and some tourists who were interested in the lobster dish (which actually was the reason we were there... my Honey had been there on a business trip a couple of weeks earlier and knew I'd love it) which wasn't on the lunch menu. The reason for the convoluted tale, is that everyone got engaged in the conversation about the area, what to visit, what to eat...

But I was in a hurry to get to the farmers market just down the road from the restaurant, hoping to find some Acadian dishes to take home before it closed for the day. Unfortunately, I didn't make it in time. Fortunately, we bumped into a business associate of my Honey's and we got to talking about how I missed out on lobsters because the season had just ended for that area. He said... don't worry, my brother-in-law owns the lobster pound and let's see if he has any. Bottom line, although this was going to be a big post all by itself...two gorgeous lobsters, plus a bottle of Atlantic Ocean Salt water and fresh seaweed. After a glorious drive home, dinner was the best way to end such a spectacular day...
But the weekend didn't end there. On Sunday, we went to the International Pow wow that was spectacular, even if my photos weren't. The little ones love the teepees the bestNot to mention the "big kids" playground at the other end of the park.
Needless to say, Gramma was pooped at the end of that adventure. Dinner was brilliantly easy and so good...


Naturally, I had to share this dish with Presto Pasta Nights, this week hosted for the fourth time, no less!!! by the lovely Helen of Fuss Free Flavours. I'm just getting in under the wire. Perhaps you can too.

And now it's time for bed... I wonder what adventures are in store for me this weekend? I hear the annual Pictou Lobster Carnival is on. After all, it's been a few years since we've been.

5 comments:

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

What a glorious weekend Ruth!

Ruth Daniels said...

Absolutely!!! It's pouring outside, but still made it to the market today. Hopefully it will stop raining soon & we can find a new adventure for tomorrow.

Tina said...

Those are nice shots of fabulous food. No wonder you are still drooling "-)

Ruth Daniels said...

Thanks Pierce, There's nothing like Nova Scotian farmers markets and glorious outings within minutes of the city. An hour's drive really has you to the middle of the province. Oceans one way, lakes, forests and lush farmlands... it's hard to choose which way to go.

Pille said...

Ruth - the food is looking good, but I LOVE the teepee!! Now that I have 2 kids of my own, I get all keen on the little things :)