Sound of Lions new album!

My next door neighbour Marco and his band Sound of Lions are launching their new album called Take Me With You tomorrow (they're having a show at Zaphod). Marco was kind enough to send me the album a few weeks ago when I stopped his dog from mauling a random stray dog that showed up in their yard. :) It's an awesome album - alot more mellow than the first one but fabulous nonetheless. Here are a couple of my favourite songs that they released on Soundcloud as a preview the other day.

Remembering a warmer time...

Ottawa had yet another snowstorm last night and I am doubting that spring will ever arrive. It reminded me that I had not really shared any photos here of my trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico last month (aside from my purchases). I would do anything to be able to go back there right now. 

lawd half mursey

For sale @ Eva Gentry Consignment. I would build a room in my next house just for this. SO HOT. 

flowers + vintage

My brother in law Dave bought the most adorable terrarium for my sister for Valentine's Day, and when I found out he bought it at a shop here in Ottawa I have walked by almost every day since it opened in September, I finally stopped in to check it out. Flowers + Vintage is the pairing of Vanessa Madely of Sparrow Floral Design and Jaime McLeod of Housewife Vintage. Love the idea of pairing vintage goodies with flowers and plants. The store is totally adorable and I would have spent a small fortune on plants and flowers if I did not have a half hour walk to get home. I had my camera with me so I snapped some pics. Do stop by the shop if you are heading down Somerset (it's 502 Somerset at the corner of Lyon). You'll love it. 

I did bring home a greeting card and a vintage ring. 

New (to me) restaurant

Last night my husband and I went to Taylor's Genuine Food & Wine Bar on Bank St. for dinner to celebrate his birthday. Neither of us had been there before but I had read some reviews that said the food was awesome but it was a bit pricey. I would have to agree with those reviews. The food was phenomenal, and I think the only negative thing I would say is that for the price, I'd expect a bit larger portions. But we left comfortably full and basking in the joy of the experience. It was damn good food. And we would absolutely have dinner there again. (The service was great too - our server, John, was great. He thought my husband's jokes were a hoot and called me Madame, much to my horror).

When I had reserved online, I added a comment that it was my husband's birthday. When we sat down we were handed gratuitous glasses of champagne to celebrate. A nice touch. :)

We split an appetizer of beet salad = Beet puree, roasted and pickled beets, goat cheese panna cotta, granola, cider vinny. This is a first - they actually split it on 2 plates. SO what you see above is my half. Again, nice touch. :) And it was phenomenal. (We heard the folks next to us ask where the amazing goat cheese was from = Micha in Papineauville)

My main was phenomenal. Pan seared Nova Scotia scallops and braised pork belly = Potato puree, baby turnips, bacon, purple carrots, spaghetti squash, jus. The crust on the pork belly was orgasmic and the scallops were cooked to perfection. MMMMMMMmmmm.

My husband had bacon wrapped Mariposa pork tenderloin = Potato croquette, parsnip and apple puree, brussel sprouts, sunchokes, kale, fleuron, jus. He LOVED it. 

My dessert was sticky toffee pudding = Calvados caramel, house apple caramel ice cream, apple chip. I am not a fan of really rich desserts, so this was fantastic because it was nice and light - a first for any toffee pudding I've ever had. 

Hubby's dessert, complete with candle was tiramisu our way = Chocolate espresso panna cotta, white coffee ice cream, coffee soil, mascarpone clouds, candied nuts, meringue chips. I don't really get what this has in common with tiramisu but whatever, it went down really quick, and every last morsel. 

Thank you folks at Taylor's Genuine - you made my husband's birthday memorable. See you soon. :-)