Ottawa has a bad reputation. People say it's boring, blend and a tourist-trap for people yearning to see the Parliament. I couldn't disagree more. I used to hate it as a child, but now it is one of my favourite places to spend a weekend away. There is so much to do. In fact, I haven't been to the Parliament in over 10 years. Ottawa hosts all of Canada's National Museums (except the National Museum of Human Rights in Winnipeg) and has a growing "hipster" community. This wave of change has brought with it a renewed creativity in Ottawa's food scene. There are staples that have been around for generations, and then there are the new, cool up-and-comers. I shall share here my favourite places to eat in our dear capital, and hopefully, some of you will rethink your opinion of this small but abundant city. Stoneface Dolly’s 416 Preston St. Right in the middle of the Italian neighbourhood lies one of the world's best restaurant according to yours truly. Stoneface Dolly’s has now been around for 18 years. It was founded by Bob Russell, the loveliest of gentleman which still works almost every day at the restaurant. He grew up in South Africa which inspired Stoneface’s famous Chicken Bobotie (pronounced bah-boot-ee) (pictured above). This wonderful fish is made up of chicken in a raisin, curry and coconut cream sauce. It is both sweet and spicy, and absolutely delicious when paired with eggs and a benedict sauce. Russell releases the recipe for his Chicken Bobotie in a cookbook in hopes of raising money for Citizen Advocacy, an organization that works with people living with handicaps, and for Grammas to Abruyas, a group supporting grandmothers who are raising their grandchildren after their parents died of AIDS. Don't you love it when the food fills your stomach and your soul? Suzy Q 969 Wellington St. W Here is a controversial opinion: the best donuts in Canada can be found at Suzy Q. I can already hear you screaming in my ear that Montreal has an amazing donut scene, even with some chefs winning national competitions with their creations. Suzy Q just has something more. The secret lies within their particularly fluffy dough. The consistency is just perfect: not too soft, not too hard, and just enough of crunch. Their flavour selection changes regularly, but they always keep fan favourites like Blue Vanilla Fruit Loop or Dirty Chocolate. Their fruit-based donuts are where they shine the most. They had odd combinations, but that work superbly. The icing is not too acidic or sweet, and they don't add a ton of powdered sugar. It is simple and straight-forward donuts like Raspberry-cassis of their Spicy Pineapple that make this small shop stand out. Moulin de Provence 55 Byward Market Square Famously known for selling a small maple leaf cookie to Obama (now named the “Obama cookie”), Moulin de Provence serves some of the best pastry in the city. The open-air communal space is truly Canadian in the sense that it invites everyone to sit together and have a chat over a cup of hot chocolate in winter or an iced coffee in summer. Since 1999, they have chosen to only use natural ingredients in all their pastries and baked goods, making you feel a little bit less terrible about the 6 loaves of bread, and 3 croissants you bought. Piccolo Grande 102-55 Murray St. Just next to Byward market, Ottawa's food center, Piccolo Grande is a true gem for gelato and sorbet lovers. This was a new discovery this year for me, and I was wowed by their large collection of classic and new flavours. Their Green Apple sorbet was exactly what I needed in this scorching heatwave while the Wild Berry gelato was smooth, creamy and fresh. There are no unnatural flavours like "funfetti" or "cake". All of their gelatos are handmade every day with fresh ingredients in small batches. I was blown away by the quality of their product (even if, like in all good gelateria the price was quite high). Perhaps, it was because of the heat or simply for the love of the product, but the place was filled. Either way, the wait is worth it. Absinthe
1208 Wellington St. With a menu that can only be described as indulgent, Absinthe is a perfect place for meat lovers. Sure, they have a vegetarian option, but they truly excel at cooking, braising, marinating or doing all sorts of crazy things they can think of. Their menu changes all the time, but you can always expect twists on traditional feel-good dishes like duck breast in mushroom sauce or braised pork with carrot puree and lardons (yum). The vibe is a little more upscale than the previously mentioned places so reserve it for special occasions only like an anniversary or a business dinner. Xx.
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