Dishing on Dishcrawl: Strolling food tour picking up steam

We ended our Westboro Dishcrawl with rich milkshakes from The Works

Amy (Twitter) is one of the co-creators of Local Tourist Ottawa who moved to the city more than eight years ago to attend Carleton University. Originally hailing from a small town in southwestern Ontario, she loves everything about Ottawa, from the buzz of Parliament Hill to Dalhousie’s local shopping and the thriving food scene.

There’s something about a brisk walk after a meal that wakes up the senses a bit. It’s a good thing, then, that a bit of light strolling is a central component to Ottawa’s Dishcrawlexperience — especially since last Tuesday’s Westboro event kicked off with plates of chacuterie at the Piggy Market. (Who announced that night they were shutting down for a couple of weeks to revamp the kitchen; they’ll be returning bigger and better than ever before — with the ability to cure their own meats! Yum.)

Porcine decor was a central theme of The Piggy Market (400 Winston), where we kicked off our night

Here at LTOttawa, we’ve written about Dishcrawl once or twice, but we like to share each experience with you because the event really represents a marriage of some of our favourite things: food, friends and the exploration of our city’s amazing neighbourhoods. It also aligns perfectly with our mandate to celebrate the people, places and things that make Ottawa great — because it really is a combination of all of this!

Since launching in early July, Dishcrawl has held seven events exploring the culinary culture of the Byward Market, Bank Street, the Glebe and Westboro. In fact, they’ve become so popular that the next two events — both set for Little Italy later this month — sold out in mere hours. (If you have trouble getting tickets, it’s best to watch Dishcrawl Ottawa’s Twitter feed, as well as sign up to the site.)

The Village Cafe (295 Richmond) was a welcome surprise during Dishcrawl

In case you don’t know, here’s how it works: Dishcrawl Ottawa announces it’s neighbourhood of focus online a couple of weeks before the event is scheduled to take place. Then, two days before the food fest (think of it as a culinary pub crawl), the 50 to 60-person guest list gets an email disclosing a central meeting place. From there, it’s a night of surprises, with guests being led to 3-4 different locations to taste some great food and mingle with each other as they share in the experience. With a few Dishcrawls under their belts now, your hosts — Sarah, Leanne and Andrea — are all a bubbly bunch that set the group at ease.

As mentioned, last week’s event took place in Westboro and saw us stopping at the Piggy Market, Fratelli’s, the Village Cafe and the Works. (Along with a surprise, take-home treat from Three Tarts.) While I knew (and already loved) three of the venues, the Village Cafe was a welcome surprise — and as a cozy nook tucked in along Richmond, it was a place I probably wouldn’t have stopped otherwise.

Also, between those four restaurants, our group last week got to sample about eight different dishes, making the price of the $60 ticket well worth it. Check some of it out below:

Chacuterie and cheese from The Piggy Market (400 Winston)

Pesto primavera from Fratelli's (309 Richmond)

Oven-baked crab cakes with peach jam from the Village Cafe (290 Richmond)

Seared scallops with brown butter and grilled portabella from the Village Cafe

Steamed mussels with tomato bruchetta sauce at the Village Cafe

I look forward to seeing what the next Dishcrawl brings to the table: Preston has a wealth of restaurants and food shops to choose from and the community boasts a hospitality like no other, meaning it’s sure to be a memorable night. As mentioned, the tickets are already sold out, but with any luck, we’ll see another one in the near future!

Are you going to Dishcrawl Ottawa’s next event on Nov. 22? Share your experience with us via Twitter using @LTOttawa.

Suave, secret and a success: Ottawa proves it’s cool with pop-up picnic Harvest Noir

About 750 people turned out for Ottawa's first 'pop-up picnic' on Saturday

Amy (Twitter) is one of the co-creators of Local Tourist Ottawa who moved to the city more than eight years ago to attend Carleton University. Originally hailing from a small town in southwestern Ontario, she loves everything about Ottawa, from the buzz of Parliament Hill to Dalhousie’s local shopping and the thriving food scene.

For those of you who missed this past weekend’s ‘secret’ Harvest Noir picnic, a picture can tell 1,000 words.

Some of my dining companions at Harvest Noir

Inspired by the trend of the pop-up picnic that’s taken a number of global cities by storm — think Berlin, Paris, New York and Montreal — Ottawa hosted its own version of the foodie phenomenon on Saturday evening, which saw 750 people decked out in their finest black clothing descend about the Museum of Civilization for Harvest Noir. (While the food-focused movement traditionally features a white dress code, it’s nice to see that Ottawa did things a little different.)

My dining companion, Jane

Confused by the conception of a ‘secret’ picnic? Basically, it was a “Destination Unknown” event described as “Ottawa’s secret picnic feast & black tie dance party.” Those wishing to attend Harvest Noir would sign up online for the $42 ticket and were told to:

• Dress their best in black
• Stock a picnic basket filled with local food
• Bring along your own plates, cutlery and white tablecloth

Harvest Noir’s organizers took care of the rest — namely the tables, venue and entertainment (a band, a DJ and Cirque-style performers). While guests knew the festivities would get underway at 4 pm on Saturday, we weren’t given an address until noon that day. We were only promised that the venue would be ‘architecturally stunning’ — which it was.

Still not sure what I’m talking about? Check out this video that the Ottawa Citizen’s Ron Eade put together:

Organizer Greg Serle said Harvest Noir’s attendance exceeded his expectations and he made it no secret that he plans on organizing another event next year — potentially earlier in the year as the weather wasn’t cooperative. Still, when the rain came out, everyone, it seemed, had an umbrella on hand. And very few packed it in as a result — there was just too much fun to be had.

Why should a little rain stop us?

Still, Harvest Noir was a testament to the fact that Ottawa really can be hip and happening, in spite of the stuffy reputation the city often has. The level of commitment by the guests was evident in the effort put into the dress (think top hats and ballgowns), the food (I spotted amazing spreads of roasted lamb, tortiere, cheese plates and pies) and perseverance through the rain. Guests were arranged at long tables sitting 80-100 people each, creating this cool sense of camaraderie amongst neighbours. Everyone was freely sharing and chatting with those next to them — whether they knew them or not.

The dance party took place inside the Museum of Civilization's Grand Hall

While the choice of the Musuem of Civilization was certainly visually stunning, I personally would’ve like to see Harvest Noir take place in a more pedestrian-friendly location so as to have an effect similar to that of a flash mob. When eating, we were tucked away behind the museum in a flat area that few would tread unless specifically seeking out the spot.

Still, I would call Harvest Noir a smash success — I overhead many of us whispering about the impressive picnics packed and outfits donned; we were clearly all planning for how we could top ourselves next year.

Tasting the city: C’est Bon Cooking offers food-filled strolls through Ottawa’s culinary scene

C'est Bon Cooking offers at least one weekly food tour, typically in the Byward Market

Amy (Twitter) is one of the co-creators of Local Tourist Ottawa who moved to the city more than eight years ago to attend Carleton University. Originally hailing from a small town in southwestern Ontario, she loves everything about Ottawa, from the buzz of Parliament Hill to Dalhousie’s local shopping and the thriving food scene.

The fresh air of fall makes for perfect walking weather.

Bread is serious business at Little Italy Bakery

Good timing, then, that I had the opportunity to take an educated stroll a couple of weeks back with C’est Bon Cooking, as they held a special tour of Preston Street’s Little Italy for the 15th annual La Vendemmia.

A bit of background on C’est Bon Cooking: Started by Chef Andrée Riffo in 2008, C’est Bon offers cooking classes, culinary team building and tasting-style tours of Ottawa’s hottest culinary neighbourhoods, mainly in the Byward Market, where they offer 2 different routes weekly. C’est Bon also makes a point of checking out “other foodie neighbourhoods” at least once a season. Preston Street seems to be the theme of the year, as C’est Bon is offering another tour in Little Italy on Oct. 29.

Our group of eight — including the incredibly knowledgeable Paola St. Georges as guide — met in front of the Preston mainstay of Nicastro’s around 10 am. Many armed with coffee, it was fun to chat and learn a bit about what others were expecting and their takes on Ottawa’s thriving food scene. (At least three in the group had done one of Paola’s Byward Market Tours).

Fresh, organic produce from Riverglen Farm at the Little Italy Farmer's Market

We started out at Little Italy Bakery, which has a tiny storefront crammed full of bread. A new experience for me, it was interesting to learn that this one small shop made all the buns for Nicastro’s and The Piggy Market, amongst others. We also heard tales of how people would show up and buy garbage bags worth of buns, which we gladly sampled. (The bread was excellent — a perfect combination of flaky, powdery crust and a soft, airy middle.)

After a quick stop in at Nicastro’s — which hardly needs a description, having three stores across the city that have been well sought out since the first opened in Little Italy in 1972 — we headed over to the Little Italy Farmer’s Market, which takes place Saturdays in the parking lot of the adult high school at Preston and Gladstone.

Considering how community-focused Preston is, it was neat to learn that this year marked the first full season of the Market — though its last weekend for the season just passed. (The vendors are talking about doing a Christmas edition though, so keep your ears peeled!) A neat twist on what’s offered in some of the others around the city, the Preston Street Farmer’s Market boasts a “Farmer’s Breakfast” for $6. A total of four or five vendors participate to bring you your meal and you stroll around to each booth to gather the goods, all of which are local.

Meow! That's Hot sauces are sure to spice up any meal with fun, fruit-based flavours

Joel, of Joel's Coffee in Rockland, shows off a bag of beans that he roasts himself

We spent quite a lot of time at the Market, hitting Riverglen Farm, Helios Farm (featuring some of the spiciest and tastiest arugula I’ve tasted), Knock Out Cattle Co., Beking Poultry Farm (where the$6 breakfast kicks off!), Hall’s Apple Market, Snell House Foods (all-natural salsa and salad dressing), Jacqui O’s Sweet Temptations (who has now move to the Landsdowne Farmer’s Market), Meow! That’s Hot (fruit-based hot sauce) and Joel’s Coffee.

But the highlight was a 10-minute chat we had with Luciano Pradal, a known local tourism expert in his own right, who sometimes leads his own walking tours of Preston that are more focused on the neighbourhood’s expansive history. The vivacious man serves up roasted chestnuts with a smile and a joke at the Farmer’s Market each week — and, now that the weather’s turning cold, he’s in front of La Bottega on York Street. (By the way, if you’ve never had a roasted chestnut, you really should; one of the most delicious, buttery-tasting things I’ve ever eaten. I was seriously surprised.)

Luciano Pradal is a well-known figure on Preston Street and in the Little Italy community. His roasted chestnuts may be just as famous.

More than an hour into our tour already and we had barely made it 300 feet; just a sign of the many things to come — and all that Preston Street and C’est Bon Cooking has to offer.

Next up, we hit Divino Wine Studio (which offers cooking lessons, Italian lessons, wine tours through Italy and $35 three-course dinners on Tuesdays. Wow.), Sanguiccio’s (who makes what he feels on any given day of the week; that means you’re always in for a surprise), and Preston’s other best-known, family-owned businesses: Luciano’s Fine Foods and Home of Pasta.

Luciano Foods and its sister store, Home of Pasta, are two of Preston's best-known food stores

A quick side tour by the still-closed Patiscceria Gelateria Italiana (it was shut down due to a fire in July) and through a back alley to highlight how the Italian community is used to living — with houses backing on to a grassy back lane where children play together and full gardens pepper each person’s own yards — and we arrived at the back of Preston Hardware.

Really? Yes, really. Unknown to me, Preston Hardware come fall turns into a veritable one-stop shop for all things related to home-based wine-making. The back warehouse was chock full of thousands of wine grapes, wine juices, wine-making supplies and an industrial-sized grape press.

Wine grapes fill the back of Preston Hardware during the fall harvest season

By now we were well over our allotted 2.5-hour tour, but having learned so much already, we pressed on, hitting the Lindenhof (Ottawa’s only German restaurant), Simply Biscotti and Pub Italia, where we finished off the day with some much-needed water and not-so-needed pizza. (We were all stuffed with samples by that point.)

I wish I could contain all the knowledge that Paola imparted to our captivated group during our stretched out, four-houd tour, but it really is an experience everyone should have for themselves.

Perhaps it’s best described in C’est Bon Cooking’s own words:

The aim of our food tours is to get participants excited about food and the wonderful restaurants and fine food shops we now have in Ottawa. We start by telling our guests about the evolution of the food scene in Ottawa, taking them from the days when the city boasted only a few fine dining options to now where great restaurants and fine food shops abound! We also introduce our guests to Savour Ottawa and how that association is helping our local farmers “grow their business” with local restaurants and the public. As the tour winds its way through, we tell our participants a little of the history of Ottawa’s epicurean neighbourhoods and how they came to be.

Our host for the day, Paola St. Georges, was incredibly knowledgeable, offering background and tidbits about Ottawa's changing culinary scene at every chance

And I’ll also leave you with three fun facts I didn’t know about Ottawa’s foodie scene (of which I consider myself to be an active member):

• The Lone Star Texas Grill was one of the first restaurants to spice up Ottawa’s restaurant scene, with former Texas-born RoughRider Val Belcher bringing TexMex north of the border. The lineups at the Merivale location were legendary when the restaurant first opened in 1986. There’s now 16 locations across Ontario and the food family also now includes Big Daddy’s Crab Shack and The Big Easy (on Preston).
• Ottawa’s foodie community has been looking to open a permanent Farmer’s Market somewhere in the city, and a warehouse just off Preston, between Somerset and Gladstone, is rumoured to be one likely location.
• Pub Italia’s religious decor is the result of Italian owner Joe Catroneo trying to accommodate his own history with that of his wife — an Irish girl. Joe was also the driving force behind the movement to get murals put up under the 417 overpass, which was the first time Ontario allowed such activity on one of its bridges.

As the day wound down, everyone in our group was in agreement: The $45 cost of a C’est Bon Cooking tour was worth it — in value, info and deliciousness.

Check out C’est Bon’s website for its upcoming tours, including a repeat of the Preston Street tour and other seasonal happenings!

The (delicious) Taste of Preston Street

LTO's Genevieve, Jessey and Amy at Ottawa's Taste of Preston Street

Last weekend, the lovely folks over at Savvy Company invited Local Tourist Ottawa founders Amy and Jessey, as well as our pizza-loving contributor Geneviève, to attend La Vendemmia’s Taste of Preston Street Food and Wine Show. As I’m sure you can imagine, we were thrilled.

Celebrating the abundance of Preston Street’s Italian and international restaurants alongside some really nice wine, we’re not ashamed to say that between the three of us we sampled just about everything.

It was glorious.

Of course, there was wine...

and pizza....

...and so much more.

A plate of sweets from Pasticceria Gelateria Italiana & Simply Biscotti

The Prescott's famous meatballs (they're famous for a reason)

Delicious deliciousness from Stoneface Dolly's

Amazing clam chowder from Big Easy's Seafood and Steak House

Seriously creative treats from Reggina Pastry

More from Reggina Pastry

The greatest Italian pastry of all, again from Reggina Pastry

Local Tourist Geneviève, who headed straight for the pizza...

Butternut squash soup, clam chowder, escargot, biscotti, ravioli....

A huge thanks to the organizers of this event for including LTO, and for working so hard to put together such an incredible showcase.

It was wonderful to sample the huge diversity of food that Preston Street has to offer, as well as rub shoulders (and clink glasses) with other local bloggers and foodies.

Of course, we also got to meet Geneviève, one of our very favourite Local Tourists, in person for the first time!

What’s your favourite restaurant on Preston? 

Sunday shucks: The Whalesbone Oysterfest always draws a crowd

The Whalesbone's 4th Annual Oysterfest

For those in Ottawa’s restaurant industry, the annual Whalesbone Oysterfest is the always a great way to launch into the summer party season.

Rocky Shore Malpeque oysters from P.E.I.

A no-nonsense affair, the Whalesbone team cram the gravel parking lot to the side of their Sustainable Oyster & Fish Supply storefront with people, tents, plastic tables and chairs and food stations — offering fish burgers, pulled pork and, of course, oysters — 6,000 of the bivalve mollusks were served this year.

The event, now in its fourth year, features live music and two oyster-shucking contests (one for chefs and one for pros; the distinction is a fine line) to keep the crowds entertained. And oh yeah: A couple of drink stations to keep us all hydrated on the sunniest day of the weekend. (Two local breweries — Beau’s and Kichesippi — were brought in, along with Sailor Jerry’s Spiced Rum and wines from the Oregon-based Sokol Blosser winery.)

Oddly, despite the packed parking lot on the corner of Kent and Arlington, the lineups don’t even come close to rivaling Bluesfest ….

The Whalesbone staff shucked 6,000 oysters during the 11-hour event

Oysterfest is mainly a gathering of the city’s culinary scene, where everyone seemingly knows everyone else, making it feel more like a house party than a summer festival shindig. (Chefs from Beckta, 18, Domus, Farb’s, Murray Street, Petit Bill’s and, naturally, Whalesbone were all there.) The fact that it falls on a relaxed Sunday afternoon — from noon to 11 p.m. — probably helps. That being said, I met a few people who stumbled in from the street after seeing how popular the small space was, willingly shelling out the $25 for a ticket. (It comes with food! A selection of oysters, or a sandwich — walleye, halibut, smoked salmon or pulled pork.)

Oysterfest's shucking competition

The highlight of Oysterfest is the aforementioned oyster-shucking contest, which takes places in heats, with some strict rules and blaring music that revs up both the shuckers and the cheering/jeering crowd. Both those competing in the Chef’s Cup (local restaurateurs who serve standard fare) and the Pro Cup (those whose menus often feature oysters) are given 14 oysters and must present 12 for judging. Success is dictated by speed and cleanliness of cut: There can’t be any shell, sand or blood (shucking ain’t easy), nor can the meat be pierced. The oyster must also be cleanly cut from the shell. Any fault means a three-second penalty against your overall time.

The Devillaires

The overall winner of the event — from the pro category — was an outsider: Mike Langely of Rodney’s Oyster House in Toronto. (Their website‘s feature photo section shows Langley with the Oyster Cup.) The Chef’s Cup went to Mike Poliquin, of Metropolitan Brasserie. (Check out the seafood platters offered by the downtown restaurant during Hill Hour each weekday, from 4-7 p.m.)

Unlike your standard party, Oysterfest peaks in the early evening, around 7 or 8 p.m., just as the sun is setting. But those who stuck it out were rewarded with the smooth, eclectic music of Souljazz Orchestra, one of three local bands to take to the small stage with big sounds. (The Devillaires and Greenfield Main played in the afternoon.)

Souljazz Orchestra

If you didn’t get a chance to check out Oysterfest this year, I’d strongly encourage you to stop by the Whalesbone at 430 Bank for an oyster or two. Their service is infused with the same great upbeat and naturally jovial attitude that makes this annual event such a good time. And the re-introduced Sundae Bar isn’t too bad either …

What summer events are you looking forward to this year? Drop us a note at ltottawa@gmail.com and tell us about them!

Tulips & Maple: Learning the 3 T’s after 20 years of fab food

The Champagne ceiling was a highlight of the Tulips & Maple 20th anniversary party on June 15

After two decades in the “cater-taining” business, the culinary couple behind Tulips & Maple — Mark van der Pas and Kristine van der Pas-Norenius — have learned a few lessons of success.

One of the stilt walkers who served the Champagne ceiling

And at their 20th anniversary party last week, they shared some with their guests.

One that stuck out? Follow the three T’s: Trust, truth and taste.

Server with Surf n' Turf: Chilled shrimp mousse with carpaccio

Local Tourist Ottawa checked out the food-filled fest, along with more than a few dozen others. It’s evident that Tulips & Maple definitely know how to throw a party. (Could have something to do with catering so many over the years ….)

But beyond the amazing food, the fun was in the details. Coming back to the rule of letters, the event was planned to a ‘T’.

From a note-stuffed bun that welcomed guests and told them about a clue-based scavenger hunt and the “champagne ceiling” served by staff on stilts, to a pepper-infused rye cocktail served with the flair bartending styles of Steve Benson, the party will filled with creative touches.

Since Mark and Kristine met and fell in love before starting their business, it is fitting that marriage is a good way to describe a lot of what Tulips & Maple does. Their food is a great blend of flavour and fun, their combination of passion and professionalism is the reason why they’re likely Ottawa’s best-known catering companies and even their name — Tulips & Maple — is a mix of the couple’s two backgrounds: Dutch and Canadian.

The uber-cool 'live' salad cone station

The lettuce wall for the 'live' salad cone station

The final product!

LTOttawa spoke with Tulips & Maple in advance of last Wednesday’s party and learned that the company started out of a basement in Manotick in 1991. It’s now grown to employ more than 40 people and occupies an 8,000 square-foot space. Mark and Kris are also in the process of launching a sister company, Great Canadian Plates, to cater to the Capital Exhibition Centre come January 2012.

Still, the best way to understand what Tulips & Maple is all about is to check out the grub:

Duck Two Ways: Confit of duck leg served on a spicy black bean muffin topped with seared duck breast agulitte and an orange-anise gastrique

The Decadent One: Slow brasied ox tail in chianti wine and wrapped in a light pasta pillow served on a mini spoon

The Raw Deal: A selection of raw vegetables and herbs tossed in soya-cashew sauce

Mini lamb chop served with a mint-pomegranate walnut pesto

Nicoise in a Bite: Braised purple potato, hard boiled egg, black olive tapenade, seared tuna topped with friend caper and lemon gremolita

The Mini Pear: Mini pears stuffed with mascarpone cheese, dipped in silky butterscotch sauce and choice of assorted coatings

Oh! And check out Ron Eade’s Omnivore’s Ottawa blog for the other 19 lessons Mark and Kristine have learned over the years.

Do you know of a cool local company or business we should be highlighting? Send us a note at ltottawa@gmail.com.

Simple food, bold flavours: Brunch at Chez Eric in nearby Wakefield

Cafe Chez Eric

There’s just something about a lazy Sunday, when the spring is starting to show signs of turning to nicer weather, that makes you want to get out and explore.

Brunch Board

So when I got the chance to get out of the city and in the Gatineau Hills — and all in the name of breakfast, no less — I was thrilled. Three friends and I headed off to Wakefield, Que., for a leisurely (read 2.5-hour) brunch and afternoon of coffee-drinking. In a stroke of luck, it was one of the days where rain was kept at bay and the temperature was sitting at around 12 degrees. But driving up into the Hills, snow could still be spotted between the trees and there was a noticeable drop in warmth. (I think the weather just added to my exploratory mindset, adding a non-city freshness to the air.)

Lasagna with Grilled Veggies and Homemade Bechamel

Our destination was Chez Eric, a small bistro-style restaurant located right in Wakefield. While it boasts only a smattering of tables, the constantly changing menu focuses on seasonal and local ingredients, many of which are sourced from the rural area surrounding Wakefield. When we arrived just after noon on Sunday, Chez Eric’s owner Che Chartrand was outside smoking duck breast and making prosciutto.

I believe everyone should make the trip to Wakefield for its beauty alone. However, on a weekend, brunch at Chez Eric is a must. The cozy restaurant has a ridiculously friendly staff, large portions and a menu that offers something for everyone. Between the four of us, we managed to select veggie lasagna, a burger, eggs benedict with homemade trout gravalax and a fine herb and feta quiche. Not only is the food delicious — and it could be the air — but the flavours were standout: bold and plentiful in all the dishes that were otherwise quite simple.

Spinach and Feta Quiche with Fine Herbs

From my experience, the food at Chez Eric is all about balancing flavours. My eggs benny, for example, weren’t overwhelmed by the taste of the trout, which was sweeter in flavour than I was expecting. The richness of the homemade hollandaise sauce accompanied it well. And the bit of lasagna I stole seemed to burst with bright tomato sauce, but the freshness of the veggies — especially the mushrooms and the zucchini — was also quite apparent in the dish

Eggs Benny with Gravalax Trout

And the restaurant is on this little piece of land that has spindly trees around the property line, with a small brook running across. In the summer, the outdoor patio makes it a beautiful place for dinner on a warm night. The shop also sells a few cute culinary add-ons, like flavoured salts, rubs and jams.

We left much later satisfied and relaxed. A trip to Wakefield will do that for you — no matter when it falls. Though the town is  significantly more lively in the summer, when people stroll along the shoreline and pack the waterview patios along Wakefield’s main drag.

Also, be sure to check out Cafe Molo for a great cup of coffee and the famed Black Sheep Inn, which features live music on Sunday afternoons.

Any just-out-of town trips that you’re particularly fond of? Drop us a line!

What goes into a UN-wedding show … Q&A with ROUGE

http://www.rougeottawa.ca

ROUGE champions itself as Ottawa’s “ultimate bachelorette party,” where brides-to-be can take the wedding show experience out of the conference centre and into the nightclub. In fact, ROUGE calls itself an un-wedding show! Featuring local-only vendors, ROUGE takes place on March 26 at Mansion Nightclub, with proceeds from the $10 tickets going to support the AIDS Committee of Ottawa. Amy Karlin, of Splendid Events, lets us know what goes into planning a sexy, sultry bridal bonanza.

Where’d the idea for ROUGE come from?

Last fall I was having coffee with local photographer Vanessa Dewson, and she mentioned she’d been wanting to get involved in a red-carpet event and wanted to know if I could lend a hand on the planning side. She wanted to give women a chance to get dolled up, have a great night out, and have some professional, high-fashion photos taken with their BFFs — an updated 2011 version of Glamour Shots, if you will!  We got talking with the ladies at Luxe Bridal who had been dreaming up something similar, they brought in the incredible team at Clould in the Sky Studios, and after a lot of coffee and brainstorming, Rouge was born.

Ottawa’s wedding show season sees a half-dozen bridal shows come through the city. Why do you think an ‘unwedding’ show is needed? And what is an unwedding show anyway?

An un-wedding show is an opportunity for brides to meet wedding pros outside the typical trade show environment.  Instead of going from booth to booth to meet vendor after vendor and collect business cards, they’ll actually get to see us at work as we throw an amazing celebration.  They’ll try delicious cupcakes, have incredible photos taken with their best friends, and see us flawlessly coordinate a great party, rather than just hear our sales pitches.  We’re letting our work speak for itself!

You’ve assembled a team of Ottawa-only vendors for the event. What type of wedding talent does the city offer? How do you think our local businesses vary from those in other cities?

The amount of top-notch wedding talent here in Ottawa never fails to amaze me.  In the past two to three years there’s been an explosion of small businesses — many owned by women — who truly focus on quality and client experience rather than quantity or sheer sales numbers.  Luxe Bridal, Auntie Loo’s Treats and Flowers Talk are a few of my personal favorites.

I think Ottawa’s local businesses are unique compared to those in other cities because we’re all so supportive of each other.  We all want to have a competitive edge but we’re also eager to help each other out, share our experiences and tackle challenges together.  That’s something I haven’t heard of in a lot of other cities, especially in the wedding industry.

We’ve all heard tales of, perhaps even experienced, a Bridezilla. Being an event planner yourself, how do you calm those nerves?

As a planner, I have to say that the best remedy for nerves is often good planning.  Knowing that a trained professional knows all the details of your wedding inside out and backwards goes a long way to maintaining piece of mind.  But everyone has a moment or two where they feel a bit overwhelmed.

To deal with those nerves, I always recommend that my client couples go out on a date a few weeks before the wedding where all wedding talk is strictly off-limits.  Sharing a few hours together with a great meal, a bottle of wine, and the love of your life is probably the best thing you can do to regain perspective and remember what’s really important: your relationship!

What’s been the most memorable wedding you, personally, have been involved with in Ottawa?

Great question!  The most memorable Ottawa wedding I’ve been involved in was last spring at the National Gallery of Canada.  The bride and groom were from two different backgrounds and created their wedding day in such a way that both sides of the family had a chance to learn a bit more about the other.  They wrote the entire wedding ceremony themselves, including only the traditions that were important to them as a couple: some from each side of the family and some new traditions they had started together.

The couple also relied 100 per cent on local businesses, from caterers and florists to artisan bakers and cheese makers. Since many of their invitees were from out of town and even from other countries, their guests really got to experience a made-in-Ottawa wedding. Basically, the couple’s personalities were evident in the entire day from start to finish, which made their wedding both meaningful and intimate.

ROUGE has partnered with the Aids Committee of Ottawa for this event. Tell us a bit about that charity.

From the very beginning, we knew we wanted to partner with an AIDS charity for ROUGE.  Even today, people suffering from AIDS often feel marginalized and stigmatized, so we were eager to work with a charity that provides hope and support to those same people.  We chose the AIDS Committee of Ottawa because they have such a long history here in Ottawa: Since 1985, the ACO has offered support, prevention and education services to the local community.

The ACO also operates The Living Room, a drop-in centre that provides free, confidential, practical and support services to people living with or closely affected by HIV/AIDS.

What will be the most special thing brides-to-be can expect from ROUGE?

I think the most special things brides can expect from ROUGE is that they get have a truly memorable night out with their best friends, meeting top-notch vendors and trying their products and services without feeling sold to. Plus they get to support a great cause, the ACO.  We like to add a little sass to the mix so there will definitely be a few sultry surprises that night — this is not your mamma’s bachelorette!

Are you planning to attend ROUGE on March 26? Send us a note!

The monthly blessing that is Oz Kafe’s Chef Appreciation

The somewhat-hidden Oz Kafe

I consider myself pretty darn lucky to have a number of good friends in the restaurant business. In addition to sharing some less-than-stellar hours with me — I work evenings and the odd weekend — allowing us to socialize in the wee hours of a week day, I get to explore my love of food with people who know loads about it. And I’m not just talking about being able to tell the difference between a key lime and a persian lime, but the science and technique behind a dish.

It’s often said that Ottawa has more restaurants per capita than any other Canadian city. We play host to a bustling array of options — from taste to style to atmosphere. All of this collides once a month during Chef Appreciation night at Oz Kafe.

The tradition basically started as a way for those in the industry to play around with food a bit, get creative, mingle and generally recognize and thank one another for the time and commitment put into the craft of great food! On the last Monday of every month, a team of chefs come together to create a feast of their choosing for a ridiculously good price. ($25, I believe.) I’ve since anywhere from three to seven courses, with some nights based on theme or ingredient, others totally random.

But be forewarned; you MUST be working in the food/bar industry to make a reservation. Even though they offer three staggered sittings, they pretty much always sell out — and early.

So when I was invited to attend January’s Chef Appreciation with the hosting restaurant, Domus, I was thrilled. The theme — Domus Takes A Tropical Vacation — was a much-needed way to break the winter blues with flavour-inspired dishes that had great texture to each. Take a look at the menu to get inspired!

Click to read the menu for January 2011's Chef Appreciation

Sadly, my camera died soon after arriving, so I only got shots of the soup and salad courses. My fave dish of the night, the spiced meat patty with papaya catsup, remains but a special memory. Luckily, fellow Ottawa blogger The Twisted Chef snapped some great shots, including some “behind the scenes.” (In the kitchen.) Check them out here.

We’re now a week away from February’s Chef Appreciation and, much to my delight, I’ve been invited back along — again by the host-linked restaurant, Beckta. The star chef will actually be Andrew Flint on his own accord; he returned to Ottawa recently after a stage at Spain’s Mugaritz, voted the No. 5 best restaurant in the world in 2010. For this event, I’ll be SURE to have my camera battery charged.

So if you have a food-talented friend, beg them to bring you along one night. Or in my lucky case, two! And a visit to Oz on a standard night alone is worth the trip up Elgin. Food is reliably good, atmosphere is unparalleled, local DJs spin some great tunes and it’s still the industry hangout spot on most nights. If you care about food, you’ll find someone to chat culinary conversation with here in a heartbeat. Go forth and eat!

Want to send us a note about your food adventures in Ottawa? Send us a note!

Q&A with award-winning photographer Paul Couvrette

Paul Couvrette, of Couvrette Studio

Paul Couvrette is an Ottawa-born, award-winning photographer whose been practicing his craft for 35 years. Shooting everything from portraits of prime ministers to weddings to advertisements, his downtown Ottawa space, Couvrette Studio, is a hopping place. Named Canadian Photographer of the Year in 1994, Paul has shot more than 300 magazine covers, his work gracing the front of Time, Reader’s Digest and Ottawa Life.

When did your passion for photography begin?

I did a Journalism degree at Carleton University and freelanced as a writer for two years, primarily as an art critic for a number of magazines and the Ottawa Citizen. During that time, every time I was asked to do photojournalism to accompany the articles — editors praised the photography as much as the writing. Frankly, I was paid as much to write as the shoot … and I simply liked shooting better.

You’ve shot some big Canadian names, from Rick Mercer to former Olympians, even Prime Minister Stephen Harper. What’s been the most memorable shoot in recent years? Any funny stories?

Rick Mercer, taken by Paul Couvrette

There are literally hundreds of memorable shoots from my time covering Trudeau to my assignments in the Arctic.

Funny stories … Well, just before I did Rick Mercer’s portrait he asked me to make certain I did not make him look like a comic. And he was serious!

Photographing Trudeau on Canada Day once I saw Justin Trudeau pop a balloon on a hot video light. The “POP” resulted in two RCMP undercover men pulling weapons and pointing them right at me since I was a foot from Trudeau. I asked him about the scare a bit later and he said the he wasn’t worried “since they were good shots.” I think he meant the RCMP.

How do you put those in front of the lens at ease? Any secrets?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital Style cover of Amanda Forsyth

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are a lot of different techniques, but primarily I tell them that I sympathize … since I, too, hate being in front of a camera.

In your opinion, what makes a photograph sing?

Expression, composition, tonality and storytelling are the key elements of a good photo. I respect any artist who has a strong command of their medium as it still stands out amongst the digital onslaught of our time.

You also seem to be a photographer of many hats, shooting weddings, portraits, architecture and ads. Do the same basic principles apply to each style? How do they differ?

Yes, I am a bit of a rarity in that not only do I shoot all these styles, but I have won major awards in each area. Yes, the same basic principles apply, except of course that in photographing people you have both the challenge and the benefit of using expression to tell the tale.

Photo by Paul Couvrette

Any favourite shooting locations in Ottawa? (Besides your studio, that is.)

I love my large studio since it lets me shoot things most people can only dream of. If I was to choose another location it would have to be on the Ottawa River in one of the beautiful spots in Beachburg (about an hour’s drive west of the city.)

Ottawa's skyline by Paul Couvrette

For those photo junkies out there, what gear do you use?

My main camera is a Canon 5D Mark II … Though I wish film was still around.

Beyond the camera, how else do you enjoy exploring Ottawa?

I have two children aged 11 and 15 who have forced me to have a second childhood. On Sunday night, I was sliding at Winterlude.

What do you think about the state of the photography industry?

Digital impacted the public quite negatively in that many have a lower expectation of end product than they did only a decade ago. Sadly, the bulk of people are so overworked that they can barely make time for a family portrait and settle for a WalMart snap. I am certain that many people will regret their choice of poor quality images to remember the key times of their lives. Everything comes back around and I’ll be here waiting.

Christmas Portrait taken in Couvrette Studio

Thank for the chat, Paul! Check out more of his amazing work on both his portrait and commercial sites, and on his blog.