Two months, dozens of meals, hundreds of taste tests, and one order of braised veal sweetbreads later, we’re thrilled to reveal Ottawa Magazine’s first 101 Tastes list. We took a spectacular culinary stroll through the capital region, stopping to taste all that caught our fancy along the way. The only parameters? From bread to honey and burfi to rendang, the food and drink that made the cut had to be either made in Ottawa, unique to Ottawa, or hard to find elsewhere. Bon appétit!
SIMPLE PLEASURES
Comfort food goes haute, with gourmet pies, ice cream, and — to wash it down, a fine microbrew
1 Beau’s Lug Tread Beer
You’ve gotta love a family-run homegrown microbrewery with its own band, called the Oh-Yeah’s. The beer, made with certified organic malt and local spring water, is just as refreshing as its quirky branding. $7.65/750 mL. Available at many restaurants, bars, and LCBO stores. www.beaus.ca.
2 Pascale’s ice cream
Made with heart and a whole lot of cream, eggs, and sugar, Pascale Berthiaume’s decadent homemade ice cream has the city swooning. The peanut butter salted caramel is a party in a half-pint and proves there’s no such thing as being too rich or too yummy. $10 for a half-pint. The Piggy Market, 400 Winston Ave.,613-371-6124. For other locations, check www.pascales-icecream.com.
3 Bryson Farm’s baby salad greens
Digging into a bag of Bryson Farm’s organic salad greens is like opening nature’s box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get: mâche, endive, frisée, kale, arugula, cress, sorrel, beet tops, chards. From sweet and lemony to mustardy and spicy, more than 100 varieties are grown and snipped with care throughout the year. 23 Stewart Rd., Shawville, 819-647-3456, www.brysonfarms.com.
4 Memories’ triple berry pie
Raspberries, blackberries, and cranberries. Oh, my! This stunning deep-dish wonder is refreshingly tart, bursting with bright berry flavour, and topped with crunchy brown sugar oat crumble. The only thing better? Three words: à la mode. $7.25. Memories, 7 Clarence St., 613-241-1882.
5 Lamb tourtière from Les Fougères
Lots of meat in this ground lamb tourtière, made moist with the addition of pork, as well as goat cheese. Its fruitiness comes from red peppers, red currant jelly, and balsamic vinegar. $6/single, $16/four servings. Les Fougères, 783 Hwy. 105, Chelsea, 819-827-8942, www.fougeres.com.
6Coriander pesto
Gentle and creamy, this pesto hasn’t a sharp bone in its body. Good for any wide noodle (which you can also pick up here). Made-in-house and pret-à-porter. $8.50/4-person serving. Pastina, 355, boul. Gréber, Gatineau (Gatineau sector), 819-243-0546.