August Breakfast

One of the things I really love about August is the fruit that's in season. I love that you can buy fresh Ontario peaches and fresh Ontario blueberries, both of which are usually juicy, sweet, and delicious. Recently, on a whim, I decided to cut up a peach put it with some blueberries into an already-cooked bowl of oatmeal for breakfast, and I discovered that the end result was almost sort of kind of like fresh fruit pie or crumble. I mean, yes, it's obviously not pie or crumble, but it's much, much better for my blood sugar than actual pie or crumble, and I still get to savour some of the delights of the season in a medium other than whole fruit (which I also love -- don't get me wrong).

Also, I bought my first basket of Ontario yellow plums the other day. So excited!

Also also, chocolate chip oatmeal cookies rock my world.

The Battle for the Caramel Macchiato

Now, I know what you're going to say when you read this: "Dear lord, what is wrong with this person... could this post be any more of a white whine." And you're right...it is completely a white whine, but I'm totally owning it, so it's all cool. At least that's what I'm telling myself so I can sleep at night.

I have recently (last night) experienced a moment of Starbucks ennui. After politely ordering a decaf skinny caramel macchiato, which is one of my guilty pleasure drinks, I went to wait by the barista bar for my drink to arrive. And I waited. The barista first started to make me a full caf, which she quickly stopped. Then somehow my drink magically became a vanilla latte...not at all what I ordered...in fact, I am quite sure that the guy who got the vanilla latte that my drink became actually got some strange concoction that was a mix of a macchiato and a latte...I really hope he didn't drink it, I can't even imagine what that tasted like.

So when she then called my drink...which for some reason she thought was a vanilla latte...I politely said, "No. I ordered a skinny decaf caramel macchiato." She looked very confused. But set about making another drink...five minutes later, she handed me a new drink. A vanilla latte. I again, shook my head. Smiled a smile that was now rather forced and said, "No. I ordered a Decaf. Skinny. Caramel. Macchiato." She again looked really confused. Looked at the drink, looked at me. Then nodded and went about making my drink.

Watching her make a caramel macchiato was...horrifying! I have made hundreds of them in my time as a barista...and I've never over filled a cup. I've certainly never handed a customer the wrong drink TWICE.

I'm not entirely sure what the drink was that I got...it kind of tasted like a caramel macchiato. But not really. It was certainly NOT skinny. It had 2% written all over it. Totally was not decaf and really really was not sugar free. I felt like I was on some kind of crazy roller coaster after drinking that...

So, to the dear brand new barista at Starbucks, I promise I am not upset at you. I've been there. I know how stressful it is. But really honey...when there's just two customers at the bar...a Starbucks classic like the caramel macchiato should not be too much of a brain teaser.

Next time, I think I'll just follow other people's example and order a tea. But not a tea latte...she screwed that one up too.

Thank you for indulging me in my white whine. I promise not to complain too much...

Well great, now I want a coffee.

Alig8tor's Quest

The quest began many, many years ago, and ends ONLY when I have found the best sticky toffee pudding on Earth. And by Earth I mean, in Toronto.

That's right -- sticky toffee pudding. That delectable mound of moist cake smothered in warm toffee sauce and bathing in custard. At least, that's what it SHOULD be. But if you live in Toronto circa 2011, sticky toffee pudding seems to be a dry, solid brick of sponge cake with a pathetic drizzle of toffee and sometimes vanilla (VANILLA?!) coulis, garnished with fruit and whipped cream (c'mon -- FRUIT?!)

The quest began in the homeland, with the best sticky toffee pudding found somewhere in the Lake District, or maybe it was somewhere near Sheffield. It doesn't matter, because all that matters now is that I am here, in Toronto, and searching, yet again, for the best sticky toffee pudding. And I'm 0 for 3 -- Both the Ben Wicks Pub and Pogue Mahone served the disappointing dry brick I described above, and the Pepperwood Bistro in Burlington (let's call this a cross-Ontario search) had similar fare.

Onwards and upwards, friends. Suggestions welcome!

It's alive!

Nerdy things are afoot... stay tuned for restaurant and food reviews, as well as general ranting!