Tree or Bush?

 Bush.

This week in food: 010

Incase you're wondering why I haven't returned your phone calls, I've been bound to 12 hour work days for the past 2 weeks. Meanwhile, the sun is beaming down 27 degrees celsius with a slight breeze...

It's literally breaking my heart.

Couple some comic books with fresh eats outdoors. This is what my week would have looked if I was a trust-fund kid, a lotto winner, a lucky duck, or a genie...

Two ripe mangos. Home grown basil. Spinach and butternut squash soup with whole grain toast. Fresh sweet apricots.

Hope you're making the most of this fine fine sunshine Toronto.

take a hike

The Victoria Day long weekend is generally reserved for getting out of town, whether to the cottage or across the border. On shorter weekends, when there's no time for a whole day of driving, escape options are closer to Toronto than you think. Though a perfect day can be spent having a picnic in Trinity Bellwoods, birdwatching in High Park or cycling through Taylor Creek and down the Don Valley, consider something new.

One of my favorite spots as a kid was Rattlesnake Point. This conservation area on the edge of the Niagara Escarpment in Milton has it all: hiking, camping, rock climbing and caves! There is also gorgeous scenery, birding, and great picnic spots. Making the drive over takes less time than riding the TTC end to end. Enjoy!
photo by my dad

Love is in the air.

On my way to work yesterday morning I passed Central Technical School at Bathurst and Harbord. The big, sturdy, medievalesque high school has got to be among my favorite downtown landmarks. For one, it was the primary setting for the movie Class of 1984, which incase you haven't seen it, is a perfect 1980's punk gang flick. It features a live performance by Hamilton's Teenage Head and plenty of ridiculous melodramatic violence. Two, the building is rumored to have derelict underground tunnels, cool right? According to alumni one was used as an artillery range in World War 1. Lastly, my third and final fancy for Central Tech is the students that dominate my neighborhood. The constant exposure to teen shenanigans right outside my window during lunch, before and after class. The kids are pretty hilarious and in a small way, it kind of keeps me young. Incidentally, as I walked by the school yesterday and watched as two young lovers no more than 16, gaze into each others eyes, totally engrossed and hopeless, I was overwhelmed by memories of spring flings past. Especially in Canada, after a long winter, spring is a special time of year. Truly, love is in the air Toronto, and some of you may have already caught the bug. 

So for those of you looking to get romantic this season, we recommend Hernando's Hideaway. A quaint little tex-mex basement restaurant just south of Wellesley and Yonge. We had the california salad, the chicken chimichangas and a couple of margaritas. The bill was reasonable, the food amazing and the atmosphere casual with a touch of gimmicky fun. Furthermore (and this is a big one) the lighting is perfect for date dining. Here's a look at what we ordered.

The entrance sign boasts "The Best Margaritas In Town"... I might even agree with them.

Although we didn't have a chance to test them, we're guessing the fajitas for two would be an appropriate order.

Pharrell, I ain't trying to kill your mood but I can do the Star Trek sign.

I am by no means a trekkie, although a child of the 90's could hardly escape the prime time takeover of The Next Generation. Because of it's sheer frequency, I came to somwhat begrudge the show. Whereas it's predecessor, with that charmingly outdated 60's sci-fi vibe was always a real treat as a kid, and still holds true today. Throughout childhood my dad was commonly the king of the remote around the house, and was much more amused by cartoons and sports then science fiction. Consequently, I was spared the agony of the repetitive adventures of Enterprise-D. But not Jillian, that's right, my fellow ghosty was brought up in a full fledged nerd lair... I'm exaggerating totally, her pop is not one of those guys that dress up as a Klingon for conventions, but I'm pretty sure he never missed an episode. Maybe we can even accredit some of Jillian's Vulcan-esque intelligence to her dad's valuable influence (a little Star Trek fanaticism never hurt anyone). With all that said, and Jillian out gallivanting around Montreal this weekend, I felt it my duty to watch and report on the new Star Trek movie in theaters today on behalf of Miss Elizabeth's Ghost. The verdict? Nailed it! A total credit to the Star Trek franchise, special effects, adventure, comedy and cast, the movie had it all. Furthermore, I was delighted to see Leonard Nimoy back in full glory. Typically, I would rate the whole experience a 10, if it weren't for the fact that Jillian was absent in sharing my Junior Mints and Diet Coke...

Maybe if you're lucky you'll get a full review from the spawn of trekky herself, after she's had a chance to see it on the big screen... Live long and prosper and beam me up Scotty. I'm out.

Dutch Dreams

Miss Elizabeth's Ghost would like to give a big boisterous shout out to Dutch Dreams. Now that the weather is fine and we're getting loads of exercise on our bikes we can justifying the ice cream indulgence... Yessir, we mean exactly that, indulgence...

Chocolate and peanut butter ice cream covered with fruit and whipped cream in a homemade dutch waffle cone. Frankly, its the only reason we'd ever go north of Bloor. Wear your stretchy pants and bring a sweet tooth.

This week in food: 009

Today is Mother's Day and appropriately I would like to dedicate this week in food to my mother, or rather my mother's raspberry pie. A calorie midget when in company of other desserts, with a light flakey crust, and about a million fresh, tart berries.


Up next, is a seasonal delicacy that always reminds me of my family. Every spring my little sister, mom and I would spend Easter at our cottage. A rundown cabin without running water or electricity situated in the middle of a 100 acre forest. The fresh water stream that ran through the property nourished an abundance of wild fiddlehead ferns. Throughout our visits to the cabin in spring we'd eat plenty of them, boiled on the wood stove and served around a picnic table. I purchased these fiddleheads from a wicker bike basket in Kensington Market.


Miss Elizabeth's Ghost would like to wish our mother's a wonderful day.

TCAF '09

Today we hit up the much anticipated Toronto's Comic Arts Festival. The capacious Yonge Street Reference Library was literally brimming with anxious nerds in pursuit of the latest and greatest in comic book art. Some subjected themselves to lengthy line-ups for a Yoshihiro Tatsumi or Adrian Tomine signature, while others mingled amongst the crowd. I on the other hand, happened upon a sweet little five part series by Jim Rugg titled, Street Angel. Afterward, I had the chance to meet Rick Spears, talk about the Pirates of Coney Island delay, his upcoming new project with James Callahan, and even got him to sign my newly purchased Teenagers From Mars book.



TCAF is still on for one more day, don't sleep.

Punk Rock & Trailer Parks

Typical small town backdrop, alienated by top 40 radio, narrow minds and white trash with only punk rock to turn to... Gee, sounds awfully familiar.

Punk Rock & Trailer Parks is a coming of age story that parallels my own, but with a little less gloom and self-pity. A lighthearted look into the first wave punk scene in Akron Ohio, home of protopunks Rubber City Rebels and legendary rock venue The Bank. Derf presents a charming, band geek protagonist self titled "The Baron", an overgrown wimp equipped with a weird but genial brand of wit. The Baron takes us on a ride in his beat up black Mercury Cougar through uncle Elmo's trailer park, to the church basement bowling alley where Lester Bangs and Joe Strummer are putting back beers and bowling pins. Along the way we meet Wendy O Williams, The Ramones, Klaus Nomi and others with amusing and believable outcomes. Derf's upbeat tone and accurate references to the setting and soundtrack of this incredibly intoxicating period of punk rock history make this book a must-have.

Check out Derf's other works here.

e-basil

A couple of weeks ago I planted some tiny Sweet Basil seeds into a big white pot. I put the pot outside on my deck during the day, and brought it into the warmth of my apartment at night. The basil has just begun to sprout and the smell has already got me fiending fresh Caprese Salad. 

Stay tuned for herb garden growth updates.