Category Archives: nova scotia

April Showers Bring Mayflowers

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The Mayflower (Epigaea repens) or Trailing Arbutus, is the provincial flower of Nova Scotia.

mayflowers in Nova ScotiaEarly spring you can find these tiny pink flowers in many areas but they are very hard to find. It seems like you have to know where to look for them and when you do, you need to move away the foliage to see the flowers. My sister and I always go to the same place where we are guaranteed Mayflowers because it was where our mother went to pick them.

As a child, early May meant that Mayflowers would be arranged in a bouquet on the kitchen table. Their sweet aroma can really fill a room. I remember one time my parents heard on TV that Mayflowers were good to eat. Soon after wards, I’d pop a bloom or two into my mouth. One time I polished off an entire bouquet (except the leaves).

mayflowers in Nova ScotiaThe name comes from early American settlers, after their ship which carried them to North America in 1620. It was the first flower of spring to welcome them after a long, cold winter.

They grow along the east coast of North America and I’ve always seen them in wooded areas or cemeteries.

Melmerby Beach Provincial Park

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“The warmest water North of the Carolinas” – Melmerby Beach is located along Nova Scotia’s Northumberland Shore. Along the Sunrise Trail and minutes from New Glasgow.

Ever wonder why the water at this mile long beach is warm? I set out to find the answer and after some digging, here’s what I found. Wikipedia says that the Northumberland Strait is shallow in depth and that likely explains why water in some areas can heat up to 25C in the summer months. “It’s just like bath water,” we’d say as kids.

Here are a few pictures from a recent visit:

Melmerby Beach Provincial Park

Melmerby Beach Provincial Park

Melmerby Beach Provincial Park

Jost Vineyards

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“Wine is bottled poetry.”
– Robert Louis Stevenson

The welcome area at Jost Vineyards in Malagash, Nova ScotiaI love wine. That’s why, when my sister suggested that we take a trip to Malagash to visit Jost Vineyards, I got excited. I’ve heard great things about visiting this winery, especially in the summer when they let you stomp grapes in a barrel. In April though, this visit would be purely sampling wine and visiting their showroom and gift shop. Fine by me.

One time I asked a manager of a wine store in Halifax did he have a wine that was his personal favourite. His answer amazed me. He said, “Any wine made here in Nova Scotia.” When I asked why? He said, “Because I can taste the soil, I can taste Nova Scotia.” Neat response eh?

I can’t say that I’ve tasted salt water or blueberries but I’ll keep trying 🙂

Jost Vineyards IcewineBack to Jost, since moving to Nova Scotia from Germany in 1970, Hans Jost and his family have been gaining a lot of success. In 1999, Jost’s Vidal Icewine received accolades at the All-Canadian Wine Championships as Canada’s Wine of the Year. Jost Vineyards was the first winner outside of Ontario and British Columbia since the competition began 20 years earlier. Also, in 1999, the Vidal Icewine won the Andy Brandt Trophy for Best Dessert Wine.

When traveling around Nova Scotia, stop into one of the many wineries and have a taste of Nova Scotia.

Link:
Winery Association of Nova Scotia

Tatamagouche: The day the women went. Part 2

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Tatamagouche, Nova ScotiaMy last post was about a day trip to the village of Tatamagouche. From holding adorable baby bunny rabbits at the farmer’s market to an impulse purchase of earrings at Holly’s Jazz and Jewels later, my sister and I stepped into The Chowder House for a quick bite. Judging by the lunch crowd, we thought for sure we’d be in for a long wait but were pleasantly surprised with efficient service.

Raven Gallery in Tatamagouche, Nova ScotiaBefore leaving town and onto our next stop, we took a quick jaunt into The Raven Gallery. At the front door we were met by owner/director Sharon McKenna who hurriedly hung up the phone to welcome us. The collection of local art was impressive and Sharon spoke with passion about how, after 6 years of opening the gallery, she is proud to say that 95% of the art on her shelves and walls is from Nova Scotian artists. In fact, Sharon likes to concentrate on works from artisans from the three counties of Pictou, Cumberland and Colchester.

Also impressive was the wall of “Young Artists” who are given prime space near the front of her store. This demonstrates how serious Sharon is about teaching art to budding artists. She said how, as a dyslexic student, her teachers encouraged young Sharon to use art as a way to learn and express herself. As a result of her artistic expressions, Sharon gained a scholarship and formally studied art thanks to resourceful educators. Now, this national award winning artist and book illustrator wants young
children to see art as a communicator and a confidence builder. “I want to give these kids a place to show their work, to be proud of what they’ve done”.

In case you were wondering about her dog, Sharon said it was at the vet.

Tatamagouche: The day the women went. Part 1

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Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia signLast weekend, my sister and I decided to take a road trip. Even though we had a day jam-packed full of errands, we wanted to venture along the North Shore and brake for whatever caught our eye. My daughter groaned and reluctantly agreed to come with us.

Tatamagouche is where the hit series The Week the Women Went was taped last summer and aired on CBC-TV this past winter. After stopping for a quick picture of the village sign, we realized it was Saturday morning and the Farmer’s Market would still be open.

The Tatamagouche Farmer's Market on Saturday mornings in TatamagoucheWe entered “Creamery Square“, a new heritage development, that houses an interactive heritage centre (re-opening summer of 2009) and the weekly Farmer’s Market. Once inside one of the big red buildings, you were greeted by tables of homemade soaps, jewelery, fresh baked pies, meats, clothing and the most enormous brownies I’ve ever seen. I was told that a local woman combines cake and brownie recipes. As with many Farmer’s Markets across Canada, it is a regular meeting place for locals and a place to stock up on tested-til-perfect food items.

Holding a bunny at Tatamagouche Farmer's MarketAfter my daughter drew a picture at the kids art table (they gave a prize to each young artist), my sister noticed bunny rabbits near the front entrance. The owner had black, white, and brown bunnies for children to hold gently and pose for a picture. Instantly, what my daughter was convinced would be a boring day, turned into an awesome one.

Kristen’s love-affair with Brooklyn Warehouse

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Here’s another guest post from my friend Kristen of With Bite:

By now, it’s fairly obvious that I have somewhat of a love-affair with the Brooklyn Warehouse. I could say the same old things; food’s great, atmosphere rocks, service is fantastic, yada, yada, yada…but the thing that keeps me coming back is the fact that everytime I think about Brooklyn, I remember how much fun I had. This is a great place; it’s a neighborhood resto, run by a father and son duo, who really care about the products that go into their meals, quality service and customer satisfaction.

Since I go there somewhat frequently, I’ve gotten to know George Christakos, and his philosophy on how to run a successful restaurant. It’s evident, in watching his interactions with clientele, that lots are repeat customers – and repeats for a reason. Quality and consideration are two ingredients that go into every dish and drink, and for this, Brooklyn Warehouse is truly a winner.

As I write this post, I’ve just finished the Coast “Best of Food” Survey. Brooklyn Warehouse took top honors in several categories, but most importantly for me – Best Restaurant. After my most recent visit, in which I introduced my sister, visiting from Manhattan, to my favorite resto, Brooklyn took top honors in Best Burger as well. Had Best Caesar Salad been an category, I think it’s obvious who would win.

For this meal, my sis and I chose two items that are signatures on Brooklyn Warehouse’s menu. My sis also chose the refreshing Green Curry for her entree; a tasty green curry with fantastically fresh veg, but alas, my photog skills failed me for that one. Here, however, are the pics of what I would refer to as the quintessential Brooklyn Warehouse meal:

Caesar Salad

Halved Romaine heart, pancetta, foccacia croutons, caper berry “That Dutchman’s Dragon’s Breath” blue cheese dressing.

The Brooklyn Burger

7 oz. of grilled, organic N.S beef, Applewood cheddar, double smoked back bacon, served with tomato, onion & pickle, house-made crispy taters and red pepper mayo.

And what a meal this is. The Caesar Salad dressing is rich and creamy, slightly pungent with the blue cheese, but with a touch of sweetness to balance. The addition of grilled lemon adds a freshness that lightens up the dressing while adding a smokey zing. The use of pancetta as opposed to bacon is genius, as the thin, salty slices are just the thing to contrast the crisp lettuce.

The burger…oh, the burger. I ate the whole thing – and it ain’t small. The patty itself was flawless, but the addition of sweet, smokey Cheddar and salty back bacon raises the bar. The fries were just how I like- crispy on the outside and soft within, while the red pepper mayo was a great alternative to the usual cup of Heinz.

I’m a big supporter of this resto, and not just because I’ve grown to know and respect both the owners and staff – but because they do it right, providing a wonderful dining experience at affordable prices in the heart of Halifax.

Take a trip to the Brooklyn Warehouse and see for yourself. Then, cast your vote for Best Restaurant and Best Burger. Early bird voting is open now!

The Coast’s Best of Food 2009

Brooklyn Warehouse

With Bite blog

Guest Post: Curry Cream Mussels

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This week I am not on the “Right Coast” but near the west coast (the other right coast), in Alberta. Knowing that I likely wouldn’t be as near a computer as usual, I asked my friend and fellow-blogger Kristen to do a guest post.

Kristen is passionate about eating great food and making it. Her blog with bite is about savouring every bite. Kristen is a supports locally grown food, Halifax restaurants and appreciates the art of cooking (and baking).

Here’s Kristen’s post:

This past Friday afternoon, I was thrilled to find out that Superstore had mussels on sale; 5lbs. for 5bucks! I immediately phoned my best gal Maria to see if she was available to celebrate such a deal. When I got home, 5 lbs. of these tasty shellfish in hand, I decided to make a creamy sauce to coat ’em.

Curry Cream Mussels
Nova Scotia Mussels with Curry Cream Sauce
Ingredients:
5lbs. mussels, cleaned. Throw away any with broken shells
1 sm. onion or 1/2 large
2 cloves garlic
3 tbsp butter
1 c. heavy cream
1tbsp. Curry powder

Method:
In a large pot, saute onions and garlic in butter on med-low heat. Add curry powder and stir to make sure all the veg is coated. Add cream and heat until just incorporated. Remove from heat.
In the same pot, place the mussels and pour the curried cream on top. Cover and steam on Med. heat, about 15-20 minutes until the mussels open. Note: Do not eat mussels that haven’t opened on their own!

Gotta love the image of a big pot of steaming mussels!

Nova Scotia pot of Steaming Mussels

Read more yummy posts from Kristen’s blog with bite

Further info: How to pick your own mussels

Springing Forward: Atlantic Daylight Time

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Fall Back
Spring Forward

Halifax Town ClockLoosing an hour of sleep is something I can live with because it’s a signal that warm summer days are ahead. If it means that I can get an extra hour to get stuff done during daylight hours, like biking, then that’s okay too.

Which makes we wonder, why do we change our clocks twice a year?

In the late 1700’s, Benjamin Franklin suggested the practice but it took a few years to adopt the idea. In fact, it all started in Germany in 1915.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Daylight Saving Time (DST) accomplishes three things:

1. It saves energy. When we’re awake, we’re more likely to have our TVs, dishwashers, and lights on (among other home appliances). By shifting the hours we’re likely to be awake to correspond with the daylight outside, we’re less likely to have the lights on, so we use less electricity.

2. It saves lives. When people’s waking hours correspond with daylight hours, they’re safer. Traffic accidents, for example, are less likely when it’s light out.

3. It cuts down on crime. Crime tends to happen after dark. As is the case with accidents, people are less likely to fall victim to crime when their waking hours are synced up with the sun.

Moving clocks ahead in the spring can have an opposite effect. There can be more heart attacks in the week after springing forward — especially during the first three days of the week. Also, with the rise of use in air conditioners, that has to have an effect on things somehow.

In 1984, Fortune magazine estimated that a seven-week extension of DST would yield an additional $30 million for 7-Eleven stores. Slurpee’s?

Since 1966, most of Saskatchewan has not observed daylight time and stays on Central Standard Time all year round. Areas of Quebec east of 63 degrees west longitude do not change to daylight time and remain on Atlantic Standard Time year round. Pockets of Ontario and British Columbia do not use daylight time.

Confused between Daylight and Saving?Atlantic Daylight Time is used during summer in Atlantic Canadian provinces (Atlantic Saving Time during the winter). Many other time zones alternate between standard and daylight as well.

I have to admit, I was fascinated with what I found while researching this post. I always thought DST had something to do with farmers. In fact, when Canada started Daylight Saving Time during the First World War, farmers disliked it.

As well as remembering to change your clock on Saturday night, don’t forget to change the battery in your smoke detector.

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Halifax Town Clock photo credit: Darrell Theriault via Flickr

Everything you wanted to know about Nova Scotia

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Last week I started a new job. While sitting at my new desk opening up drawers and leafing through binders, I noticed a book sitting on a co-workers desk. I asked her if I could have a peak at it and she said “sure, it was cleaned out from your desk”.

The book is called “Nova Scotia Book of Everything” and it’s chock full of tidbits, slang words, best beaches, famous Nova Scotian’s etc.

Nova Scotia Book of Everything

Here are a couple interesting things I found while leafing through 176 pages:

* In 1901, Nova Scotia was the first province in Canada to manufacture cars – long before Ontario.

* That lobster was considered a “poor man’s food”, an everyday meal that children grudgingly took in their school lunches.

* The most winter lightning in Canada occurs in an area just south of Sable Island in the Atlantic Ocean.

Now I’m going to give the book back, it’s week #2 and I still have to make a good first impression 🙂