Photo credit: smallandround from Flickr

Growing up in a multi-ethnic and -racial household meant eating as much sauerkraut as I did, um, “phoenix talons” (a.k.a. chicken feet). Hey, don’t knock it until you try it. Or maybe just file this one away as TMI.

One of the big events during my childhood was always  Chinese New Year. This year the date happens to coincide with Valentine’s Day and it’s also heralding the Year of the Tiger (my year!). It’s a time for gathering with family and friends, and all big celebrations in my household always included lots of food.

Chinese culture is full of symbolism and superstition, some of which I’d like to share.

The colour red is associated with the festivities because it’s believed it will scare away evil spirits and bad fortune.

One of the many traditions at the heart of the occasion is the handing over of red “lai see” or “lucky money” envelopes to unmarried friends and family members. The newer the money, the better the luck it’s supposed to bring. Tian Phat and other Asian grocery stores around the city carry these in ample supply at this time of year.

Houses are cleaned thoroughly before the New Year. Windows are kept open to allow good fortune in while lights are left on in the evening to scare demons. All sharp objects are put out of sight so as not to cut the flow of good energy.

A bounty of food is served to reflect the prosperity of the year to come including sweets and goodies to ensure the sweetness of the year ahead. One of the dishes we always had for this and most special occasions was uncut noodles, which represent longevity and long life. Cutting the noodles is therefore a very bad omen.

Everyone says “Kung Hei Fat Choi!” which translates roughly as “Congratulations and be prosperous!”

Here’s a description of my sign (they vary depending on year and elemental cycle). This is the most flattering one I could dig up because it doesn’t mention any of the negative attributes like having a very short fuse.

Passion and creativity are the hallmarks of the Wood Tiger. What a great sign for the performing arts or any career that puts you in front of the public where you can use your creative ability and, or, leadership skills. You are the most mellow of Tigers and therefore not so domineering. You tend to be very popular, especially since you are probably charismatic.

So, I hope you enjoy this weekend by eating some dim sum with friends and family or by having a romantic dinner at a Chinese restaurant to celebrate both the new year and Valentine’s! All the best for the year ahead.

If, up until now, you’ve associated Mexican food with slathering as much melted cheese, sour cream, and salsa on some kind of soft or hard tortilla let me just direct you to a restaurant in the city that can sort you out stat.

The only way to describe Mexico Lindo is to say that it’s a hole in the wall. Really and truly. But don’t let the basic decor deceive you. This is as authentic an experience as it gets. Tucked away in Fairview, you may have never heard of it before. I believe it used to be neighbours to a Hells Angel club but, after that got shut down, it no longer holds that distinction.

The food is comparable to the few places Cokebaby and I were able to eat at while doing the resort thing in Mexico a few years ago. Off the resort, of course. Or the Mexican food we’ve had in other cities. It’s home style cooking by co-owner of the husband-wife team, Ana Jimenez.

Instead of getting a bread basket to snack on while you wait, you start with yellow corn chips and salsa. The salsa itself is fresh and spicy. And when I say spicy, I mean it’s definitely not for those for find honey garlic wings burny, if you know what I mean.

Photo credit: feministjulie from Flickr

We were lucky enough to be there on a night when aqua fresca was available (in watermelon!) so we ordered a pitcher ($6.99) for the table of four. Aqua fresca is a brilliant combination of fruits,  sugar and water, blended together to make a refreshing beverage.

I had the vegetarian enchilada combo: Tortilla soaked in spices and lightly fried, filled with vegetables (options for chicken, beef) and topped with cheese, onion and sour cream ($10.95). Cokebaby went with the chicken chimichanga & enchilada combo ($13.95). A chimichanga is a lightly fried burrito in butter (chicken, beef or vegetarian) topped with tomato, onion and sour cream. The combos are served with reasonably sized portions of rice and refried beans.

Our friends had chicken chimichanga ($5.99) and the chicken chimichanga combo ($10.95). Yeah, we weren’t really creative in our choices. But, believe me, it was all devoured without a spot of food left behind.

Personally, I’d like to see some other interesting items on the menu. They’ve got something called tepa which is tasty if you like that sort of thing: Large tortilla filled with potato and spicy sausage, topped with HOT SALSA, cheese, lettuce and sour cream ($5.99). I wouldn’t turn down a tamale, something in mole sauce, or tortilla soup though.

Three's a crowd

On the dog blog today, we look at the relationship between litter mates Tofu and Calvin (who was recently visiting with half-brother Theo).

Besides, pushing each other out of the way in order to get prime spot on my lap (and sometimes posing as each other), these boys have grown up to be best buddies.

More cuteness over at Who’s Your Dachshund?

He looks so good in hats!

It’s hard to believe but just under two short years ago, Cokebaby and I brought home a squirmy little five-month-old puppy. Now Tofu is 15 pounds of gentle love with a waggly bottom.

Check out the dog blog where you can read about Tofu‘s adventures and wish his brother Calvin a happy birthday too (they’re littermates)!

Below is a little bit of web history in the making. Now, I wouldn’t say I have a fear of public speaking (I am a PR gal after all), but where others in my graduating class have gone on to media relations I’ve hidden behind the safety of my computer screen doing the whole online communications thing. That is, until Monday. Here’s my live chat with Giles Crouch (a.k.a. Webconomist) about all things social media.

Gratuitous puppy photo

First, I have to apologize for it being quiet on the blogging front this week. Some of you who follow me on Twitter or who know me in real life have already heard the sad news. As the title of this post indicates, my dream job and I broke up on Monday. After three years of loving the work that I do on a daily basis, having a great group of colleagues, and really feeling like I was not just growing personally but contributing to something that was bigger than me, the dream finally ended.

Unfortunately, we live in uncertain economic times. The CBC got hit with having to face significant cutbacks which meant layoffs and eventually the dreaded union bumpings based on seniority. So, here I am.

I thought I’d be devastated. Not everyone gets the chance to work at their dream job. So I count myself lucky in that regard. Three years out of an entire career is pretty good. Maybe it’s only fair that someone else gets the chance to live that dream. The thing is, I became aware very quickly that there are other dream jobs out there. Maybe some of them are just waiting for me.

From the moment I tweeted my job loss on Monday afternoon, I’ve been receiving an enormous outpouring of well-wishes, offers to keep eyes and ears open, and even some more tangible offers to consider my resume for positions opening up. For that, I am grateful to have connected with such genuinely caring and interested people. Some of whom I haven’t even met in real life.

I am an optimist at heart and know that there are great opportunities ahead of me. Mostly, I just wanted to leave this long note to everyone who has said or thought a kind word on my behalf. It really means the world to me while I’m mourning the loss of one dream job and in search of another.

In a city filled with ample opportunity for Greek dining, I have to say that Opa Greek Taverna has always been my restaurant of choice. That’s not to say that there isn’t another great Greek restaurant in the city. Opa just happens to be the one I invariably find myself at when the craving hits me. It doesn’t hurt that a second location opened up near my neck of the woods in Bayer’s Lake Industrial Park.

Considering the dining options in the area consist either of fast food or big box chains, Opa has brought a little bit of class to an otherwise grim sea of mass consumerism. It also turns out to be a perfect option for dinner and a movie. Which is what we did with friends the other week.

Photo credit: Valerie_Everett from Flickr

One of my guilty pleasures at Greek restaurants is ordering a dish that is essentially flaming salty cheese.

The saganaki Opa is pan fried Kefalograviera cheese with lemon, flambéed in brandy ($11). Bad for your arteries? Probably. But everything in moderation, right? The saltiness is cut perfectly by the lemon and, shared among friends, you can split the calories.

For my main course, I went with the stuffed tomato & pepper “yemista”: stuffed with rice, grated eggplant, zucchini & tomato served over house made yogurt, sprinkled with feta. Served with Greek salad ($16). With the meal I had a glass of retsina, a white wine that has a distinct pine taste and goes incredibly well with the food from this region of the world.

Cokebaby had stuffed chicken “kota yemisti”:  spinach & goat cheese, topped with a saffron cream sauce. Served with choice of potato or rice, and daily vegetables ($20). With his meal, he had the Opa ale which was quite nice (not bitter or overly sweet).

We also shared a side of Opa lemon potatoes: oven roasted in olive oil, lemon and garlic ($6). I have to admit my eyes are sometimes bigger than my tummy, so I had almost a whole stuffed pepper on my plate by the time everyone was finished their meals. No matter though as it made for wonderful leftovers the next day.

Our friends had:

The stuffed halibut: tender Sambro halibut fillet baked & stuffed with spinach, scallions, sundried tomato & Kefalograviera cheese, topped with a feta cream sauce. Served with choice of potato or rice, and daily vegetables ($23).

And the mousaka: seasoned ground beef & lamb in tomato sauce on a layer of grilled eggplant, zucchini & potato, topped with béchamel. Served with Greek salad ($16).

Everyone left full and totally satisfied with their meals. But I’ve found that’s always the case. And that’s what keeps us coming back. As for ambiance, it’s not quite got the outdoorsy feel of the downtown location but there’s still a warmth and charm about the interior that is very welcoming. The service was also impeccable. We informed our waiter of the fact that we were catching a film at a certain time and he ensured our food was delivered in a timely and pleasant manner.

If you’re in Halifax, don’t forget to check out the Greek Festival this weekend. Running from June 12-14, the festival features a variety of entertainment AND of course lots of amazing food. If it’s your first time trying Greek food, it’s a great way to do some sampling. My fave spot is the café where they serve Greek coffee and some amazing desserts including one of my favourites: Galaktoboureko.

Recently, the first #halifaxchicks tweetup took place. A number of geek girls decided to give props to local tweeters one #followfriday and from that grew the discussion of having a girls’ night out.

Heh

Now, male bonding seems to typically include bro codes and high impact sports. I’m not sure what would happen on a geekier level if a #halifaxdudes tweetup ever occurred but I’m pretty sure the sports activities would occur in the wii world. Conversely, female bonding is seen to include tickle and pillow fights. If you do not wish for this delusional bubble to be burst, please do not read on.

Upon arriving at Mosaic, there were at least two other tables filled with just women. In fact, the only men around were the bartender and manager. When I found the right table, I saw mostly strangers. Ordinarily, I’m not the kind of person who’s comfortable in these sorts of situations. I am, after all, a geek myself and therefore more in the zone when behind the safety of a computer monitor.

But you know what? It didn’t matter. We each made our introductions, sat down around the table, and talked. Non-stop. And it was great.

Having moved here from another city, it took me years to build up a network of close friends. People who have lived here all their lives have a built-in network from childhood. Often, there’s no room for the new kid. In my case, most of my close friends in this city are originally from elsewhere or moved away and came back to find that their friends of old had moved on without them. I’m not making a judgement here; I’m just saying that it’s tough making friends when you’re East Coast By Choice (not by birth).

Twitter has opened up a magic social door though through which one can step and make new and very real connections via tweetups. Speaking of which, don’t forget about Third Wednesday coming up this week. Register at the EventBrite site or join the Facebook group for updates.

Photo credit: Sifu Renka from Flickr

This past weekend, a couple we know invited us to meet another couple over dinner. In the world of couples, this is like going on a first date. Making that ever important first impression can determine whether or not you’ll gain new friends or just move on.

All being foodies, we decided to go for a meal out at the Hamachi House (5190 Morris St.). As far as first “date” meals go, this restaurant knows what it’s doing. The atmosphere is not so intimate that you feel like you’re the only people there or have to speak softly, but it’s also sectioned off in a way that you can feel quite cozy.

A wide variety of food orders went around the table, from big sharing platters to individual meals. Cokebaby and I started with the beef maki: thinly sliced sirloin, rolled green onion and teriyaki ($9.95). This was a first for both of us, but quite tasty. We also shared the miso soup and house salad that his meal came with.

For the main meal, Cokebaby ordered the Hamachi House sampler: 1pc tuna nigiri, 1pc salmon nigiri, 1pc ebi (shrimp) nigiri, 1pc scallop nigiri, 5pc shrimp tempura roll & 6pc spicy salmon roll ($20.95). With the meal he had a Sapporo beer.

I went with the Holy Dynamite off of the fusion section of the menu: a dynamite roll wrapped with BBQ eel, avocado and red tobikko (8 pcs $12.95). With my meal I had a small sake. Sho Shiku Bai is my favourite and they had it on the menu. Their cold filtered organic sake was on the menu too (sold as a full bottle) but beer seemed to be the beverage of choice around the table. If you’re ever interested in trying a sake cold, I’d recommend this one. Nice and smooth compared to some of the burny and harsh sakes on the market.

The variety of sushi that was going on around the table was like food art. Everyone was most impressed with the Caribbean Maki at the other end of the table: Fresh scallop, tempura shrimp wrapped with mango. Spicy or light mayo (8 pcs $10.95).

Overall, the service was friendly and the food came to the table quickly. Apparently, they have a special between 10 p.m. and midnight where all their meals are half-price. So, maybe next time instead of heading to the Pizza Corner for that late evening snack this might be a yummier alternative. Provided one hasn’t imbibed too much alcohol. Somehow that idea does not paint the prettiest of pictures..!

[Maybe I'm sleeping off Cote du Rhone wine and a belly full of gastronomic wonders here in the lovely south of France, or maybe I'm touring around the ruins of the former Roman Empire. Je ne sais pas. One of my favourite bloggers in the beautiful city of Halifax generously offered to post here while I'm away. So, without further ado, here's Jenn Belle:]

Although I’m not originally from around here, Halifax has been where I’ve lived the longest. I was born in Germany and spent my first three years there, but I have very little recollection of the place aside from my morning cartoons being transmitted during dinnertime and my kindermädchen, who didn’t speak much English.  After that, I spent a decade in Bagotville, Quebec. I still think of it as a magical place that was perfect for childhood exploration and imagination. I spent my formative years getting dirty by trekking in the coulee, making forts in the woods of our backyards, and going down steep slopes that could put Citadel Hill to shame at breakneck speeds on our three-skis in the wintertime.

My dad was in the military, and as good as he was, there were only so many promotions he could take before he was so high up in the ranks he had to be posted somewhere else. I thought our move to Nova Scotia was the cruelest thing ever done to me, and I spent a lot of time and energy fighting the transition into my new home. When I finally accepted that this would be the place where I’d spend the next chapter of my life, I started to really like it here. It’s more than just a place full of lively, friendly people and delicious, fresh seafood. It’s my home, where my friends and family are, and the place that will always have a part of my heart.

Here’s what I’ve come to love about living here in the East Coast:

1. No one is out to get me. It took me two years to finally come to grips that people walking toward me on the sidewalk with a smile and a “Hello” are not stalkers secretly ready to stab me in the back. They are just a polite strangers saying hi. Compared to Quebec, East Coasters are pleasant people. You wouldn’t catch me dead smiling and speaking to a stranger on a Quebec sidewalk! (Or, rather, maybe you would…)

2. I can turn right on red lights. Given, I don’t drive, so it makes no difference to me, but many people have assured me how great this option is.

Photo credit: KennethMoyle from Flickr

3. I can BBQ 10 out of the 12 months of the year because the winter weather is mild. I remember when I used to have a house with a yard and a barbecue, we would be grilling up some steaks a week before Christmas. Santa and his reindeer loved ‘cued chicken breasts!

4. If I wanted to, I could take a dip in the ocean. That said, I typically choose not to take a dip in the ocean, because most of the year the water is usually a good ten degrees below “losing your toes” temperature, but I like knowing that I have the option.

5. Part of the East Coast, Halifax in particular, is home to the best, most delicious gastrointestinal delicacy that you will surely regret eating but won’t be able to stop yourself from consuming again in the future: the donair. If my body could handle it, I’d eat donairs daily. There’s just something about spitted meat and sweet garlic sauce wrapped on a warm pita that just hits the spot (and then beats your stomach into submission).

Jenn Belle has been everyone’s hero since 1985. She’s a nerd girl obsessed with television, reading, sequential art, and sometimes film. Chocaholic neat freak with OCD is also another way to describe her. She has a wonderful, supportive group of friends, a lovely family, and a cat that thinks she’s her baby. She’s a Halifax girl blogging all about her ordinary world, even if it’s to no one in particular. You can get to know this nerd over at her blog, La Belle Ecrivaine.