Two brown leather books sitting on top of a table.

By on April 26, 2013

Allium

Address:

87 Holland Ave,

Ottawa, ONT

This rather hip and modern restaurant has gained lots of attention over the past few years. Situated on Holland Avenue and being so close the government landscape of Tunney’s Pasture, this restaurant has become a rather social busy hub especially during the lunch time rush. Patrons are spoiled at Allium by the vast array of fresh ingredients and seasonal dishes that Chef Arup creates on a daily basis. Just when you thought you’ve tasted the regular appetizers that fill up the typical ordinary restaurant menus – along comes Allium to revive the ho-hum dishes and add its own spin to it that literally leaves you wanting more and more.

Case in point their delicious take on their fried calamari. This is no run of the mill octopus drenched in oil that more than often than i care to know is how its served in other eateries. Over cooked to the point where it’s like you’ve ordered some Hubba Bubba  chewing gum and lets not forget the gratuitous lemon wedges and a poor man’s version of bottled cocktail sauce that only has one purpose: to kill the remaining taste buds that you have that hasn’t been spoiled by the abundant oil and try to awaken them with  its acid. No, at Allium it couldn’t be any more different; the calamari comes out lightly battered and fried with a sprinkle of sea salt and served with some pickled onions that adds the right amount of bite and contrast to the mouth watering crustacean. Now if that doesn’t tickle your fancy then their sinful truffle Mac & Cheese will just blow you away…(for a true Food Whore experience…start with the calamari and then dive in the uber rich Mac & Cheese). At the first forkful, I was hooked – now keep in mind that I am be all account a pasta whore – yes, that’s right I said pasta whore. It doesn’t matter what the occasion is – pasta cooked like the one cooked at Allium should be had all the time. It came to a point where the servers knew without asking that I wanted the Mac & Cheese (providing that it was still available on their menu). I can go on and on how amazing it tastes but I’m not here to just talk about my weakness for their pasta but for the restaurant as a whole. It’s all encompassing – from the kitchen to the level of service that is given to their patrons, Allium is a gem.
Allium keep up with the ever changing food industry phases – they offer a Tapas menu on Monday evenings…so that way you can enjoy their meals in small quantities without breaking the bank or splitting your pant seams.

Always salivating for some more…

Sincerely,
FT

P.S Please forgive me for not having posted a picture of my crack cocaine of food…my Mac ‘n Cheese…in total excitement of having it before my very hungry eyes, I had forgotten to take a picture of it. However, this turns out to be a blessing in disguise as now I will have no choice but to go back and order it yet again…like I needed an excuse ๐Ÿ˜‰

As promised here is the infamous Mac ‘n Cheese…I wouldn’t deprive you of this great dish ๐Ÿ˜‰

Friday night, I had the privilege of attending the 2024 Canadian Culinary Championships - Mystery Wine Challenge - People's Choice Award๐Ÿฅ‡๐Ÿฅ‡@greatkitchenparty
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Congratulations to all the chefs involved in this intense competition. The chefs needed to create a dish to pair with the mystery wine. Each chef was given a tricky budget of $550 for the 250 guests. I was witnessing creativity at its best!!๐Ÿ˜‹
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The winning dish๐Ÿฅ‡ (centered in the middle of the photo) was created by JP Dublado: Red Deer Resort and Casino, Red Deer AB
Dish: beet & soy cured albacore tuna - ponzu gel - tomato water - puffed wild rice - beet green oil
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Amazing talent from all the chefs as they paired with the mystery wine (a 2021 Lailey Vineyard Zweigelt)๐Ÿท๐Ÿท
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#foodblogger ##foodgram #foodcompetition #travelblogger #CCC2024 #greatkitchenparty #peopleschoice #peopleschoiceawards #underpressure #foodandwine #underbudget #onbudget #culinarycompetition #thefoodteasedrinks #thefoodteaseeats #ifwtwa1 #tmac
Planning for your BIG wedding day๐Ÿ’ and looking for something different than the traditional bachelorette party? ๐ŸŽ‰๐ŸŽ‰
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Then you need to read my solo Montreal getaway article featured in the latest issue of @ottawawedding magazine.
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Special thanks to @montreal for the beautiful experiences.
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Amongst the amazing activities:
โ— High Tea at the Ritz-Carlton ๐Ÿพ๐Ÿฅ‚
โ— Pampering at the Scandinave Spa ๐Ÿ’†๐Ÿผโ€โ™€๏ธand at Le Germain Hotel 
โ— Visiting the beautiful light show at the Botanical Gardens โš˜๏ธโœจ๏ธ
โ— Culinary experiences at the Foxy restaurant and discovering local restaurants during a food tour๐Ÿ˜‹๐Ÿ˜‹
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Solo getaway or with a friend or two, any reason to visit and experience Montrรฉal is a good one!! ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿค—
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With its countless cultural activities and experiences, one can easily enjoy this beautiful city! And let's not forget their food scene... that alone is reason enough to visit!!๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜‹
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I think it's time for you to discover, and for some, REDISCOVER Montreal! ๐Ÿคฉ๐Ÿคฉ
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#travelblogger #foodblogger #travelgram
#mtlmoments #mtl #mtlfoodies #published #presstrip #passportready
#alwaysexploring #travellikealocal #localbusiness #ifwtwa1 #tmactravel #thefoodteasetravel #exploremontreal #touristattractions #solo #solotravel
I am very proud to share my culinary "observer" perspective regarding @lecordonbleuottawa culinary workshops in the latest issue of @luxeottawamagazine ๐Ÿ˜Š
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Visiting my alma mater and watching the culinary workshop from a different lens reinforced the rationale as to why I pursued my culinary educationโ€ฆthe pleasure of savouring the fruits of your labour. ๐Ÿ˜‹
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It is this journey that ignited my passion for cooking, helped hone my skills, and introduced me to a world of flavours and techniques that continue to inspire me to this day. And perhaps it will inspire you as well!๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐Ÿณ๐Ÿ‘ฉ๐Ÿผโ€๐Ÿณ
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Check out the article and the new culinary workshops being offered. Enjoy the adventure!!๐Ÿ˜Š๐Ÿค—
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#foodblogger #travelbloggers #foodlovers #foodgram #culinaryinstitute #workshop #lcb #lecordonbleu #lecordonbleuottawa #alwaysexploring #alwayslearning #published #luxemagazine #ifwtwa1 #tmac #tmactravel
Where's my rubber ducky ๐Ÿค๐Ÿ˜‰?! 
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A year ago this week, I was enjoying some bath time while in @discoverdominica ๐Ÿ–๐Ÿ๐Ÿ˜
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Dominica's lush scenery is extraordinary, and I'm grateful to have been invited to visit their beautiful island๐Ÿ˜Š๐Ÿ˜Š
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Visiting Wotten Waven Sulphur Springs was perfect to relax and rid of some unwanted stress. And the outdoor bath surrounded by all that green landscape was simply the BEST! An unforgettable experience! ๐Ÿคฉ
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Dominica's adventure activities - diving, snorkeling, hiking, kayaking, swimming - are just some of the many ways to enjoy this tropical island.๐Ÿคฟ๐Ÿ™‚
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Put Dominica on your travel list. You'll love it!!โค๏ธโค๏ธ
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#foodblogger #travelgram #travelblogger #passportready #presstrip #discoverdominica #dominica #sulphursprings #lush #bubblebath #outdoorbath #newdestination #newexperiences #tmactravel #ifwtwa1 #thefoodteasetravel #tmac #tropical #zen #wottenwavenhotsprings
What goes better together than Champagne and lobster?! Nothing, except MORE Champagne...hence the magnum of Veuve!๐Ÿพ๐Ÿฅ‚๐Ÿฆž
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This is the definition of indulgence. ๐Ÿ˜‰
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Why wait for special occasions?! Enjoy what makes you happy whenever the mood strikes! 
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Carpe diem!!๐Ÿพ๐Ÿฅ‚๐Ÿ˜
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#foodblogger #foodlovers #travelbloggers #travelgram #champagne #champagnelover #lobsters #lobsterlover #carpediem #indulgence #anyoccasion #seizetheday #lobsterdinner #splurge #thefoodteasedrinks #thefoodteaseeats #bubbles #more #moreplease #specialoccasions #anyday

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