By The Food Tease on March 14, 2017
Gone are the days where a cocktail was just a cocktail.Β Today, we see an exciting new surge of enthusiasm regarding mixology. Much like a chef in the kitchen, these barchefs are taking cocktail making to a whole new level!
We are seeing talented bartenders displaying their innovative skills in the most unique manner ever when making their tasty and mind-blowing libations! Much like culinary competitions, there are now mixology competitions for bartenders to show off their creativityΒ and spirit savviness.
Our very own city,Β Ottawa, will be hosting the regional finals of Canadaβs largest mixology competition, MadeWithLove.
Ottawa will be seeing 16 barchefs from our neighbouring bars and restaurants compete for the crown ofΒ Ottawa’s BEST Barchef for 2017 !!
MadeWithLove isΒ an annual event that allowsΒ guests to discover whatΒ their city’s craft cocktail scene has to offer. And believe me, Ottawa’s barchefs are something else. They have become a force to be reckoned with!
MadeWithLove organizers explained that the competition has beenΒ running since 2009 and is now the biggest mixology competition in Canada.Β They started to run the events in the biggest cities, but thenΒ approached some smaller ones starting with Halifax, Winnipeg, and then Calgary.
“We love hosting the regional finals in smaller cities as it really helps to grow the cocktail culture. Ottawa was ready to have its own regional finals. We had many registrations from the bartenders who wanted to compete and the bar where we hosted the qualifiers was full of supporters. Of course, the Ottawa regional finals has its place among the other cities in Canada and it will be part from now on in our national tour.”
βAn internationally renowned mixology competition that combines creativity and extravagance”
Ottawa’s 16 talented Competitors:Β
Christopher Vachon – Salt Dining + Lounge
Eric Romolock – Fauna Ottawa
Andrew Mc – Bar Laurel
Jay Doggey – Common Eatery
Julian Bernard – Fauna Ottawa
Jeff Taylor – South Block Whiskey Bar
Mark McLachlan – Atari
Gabriel Tessier – Datsun
Marty Pineaultey – Ace Mercado
Simon Hodgson – Riviera Ottawa
Simon Lemay – Fairouz
Taylor Provan – steak & sushi
Aryn Γ
ver – Bar Robo
Cristin Price – Bar Laurel
Stephane Duval – Carben Food + Drinks
Micke Chatham – EVOO Greek Kitchen
JUDGES’ CHOICE WINNER:
Cocktails will be judged on their originality, creativity, and taste. Judges will look for passion, expert knowledge, distinct ingredients and the way competitors incorporate these elements in their cocktail creation. The bartender who will be attributed the most points will go on to the National Finals in May 2017 and will have a chance to win one of 10 trips to one of the MADE WITH LOVEβs affiliated distilleries.
PUBLIC’S CHOICE WINNER:
Every guest will receive a Β«dogtagΒ» necklace. After having tasted the competitors’ cocktails, the guests will have to give their Β«dogtagΒ» to their favorite Barchef. The bartender who will have collected the most necklaces will also be eligible to the National Finals in May 2017 and will have a chance to win one of 10 trips to one of the MADE WITH LOVE’s affiliated distilleries.
The two crowned winners of each category, Peopleβs Choice and Juryβs Choice, will represent Ottawa at the National Finals taking place in Montreal in May 2017.
Where: Horticulture Building, in Lansdowne Park
When: Monday March 20, 2017
Time: 6pm – 11pm
Tickets: $65 (pre-sale) at each participating barΒ orΒ $75 at the door.
Tickets include a full tasting of all competing cocktails & delectable food-pairings, affiliated showcase cocktails & foods as well as having the opportunity to vote for the publicβs choice winner. 19 years+ // Non-refundable.
Come out and vote for your favourite barchefs as they create and presentΒ original tantilizing cocktails that pair perfectly with some delicious food pairings!
Cheers!
Chocolate lovers in the know can't seem to get enough of the decadence that @hummingbirdchocolate provides in ALL of their sweet treatsπππ«
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And if this is news to you, then you can read about my chocolatey sweet experience in the latest edition of @fiftyfivepluslifestylemagazine
Your sweet tooth will thank me ππ
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At their new Hummingbird Chocolate location (476 Ottawa St. Almonte), you can now reserve a private tour and see how all that chocolate yumminess comes together. During my visit, I had a real 'I Love Lucy' moment when I had the privilege of working on the chocolate covered caramel assembly line....And yes, I ate many caramel treats for 'quality control' measuresπππ¬π¬
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Hurry and get your Easter treats!!π°π«π¬
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#foodblogger #travelblogger #foodie #foodlovers #chocolate #chocolatelover #chocolatetour #hummingbirdchocolate #ethicalfarming #chocolatemaker #fairtrade #supportsmallbusiness #bestintheworld #awardwinning #beantobar #thefoodteaseeats #ilovelucychocolatefactory
Mar 24
Want a game changer for your pizza indulgence? Then you definitely NEED to try the PINSA dough at @joesitalkitchen π π
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Aside from the delicious and dinstinct flavour that the Pinsa crust hasππ, it also delivers on these health benefits when compared to the classic pizza dough?
β
οΈ 100% less cholesterol
β
οΈ 85% less fat
β
οΈ 40% less sugar
β
οΈ 40% less calories
β
οΈ 33% less carbohydrates
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And the bonus....you can eat more without feeling sluggish, as it's easier to digest and you won't feel guilty for having eaten it all!! π
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It's time to treat yourself to a new pizza experienceπ
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#foodblogger #travelblogger #foodie #foodporn #pinsa #pinsaromana #pizza #gamechanger #healthierchoices #flavor #pizzadough #indulge #healthyfood #ottawarestaurants #supportlocal #thefoodteaseeats
Mar 8
Warm weather, cold weather... anytime to celebrate some Winterlude activities is an enjoyable time βοΈβοΈ
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What could be more fun than to be warmed up by a cute fire area, as you indulge on some tasty libations and nibbles, at the beautiful ice bar that @rabbitholeott has creatively set-up for their guests to enjoy?!
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I had the yummy pleasure of tasting their Mexican hot chocolate with @patron tequilaπ₯π₯π And, if that wasn't enough, I thoroughly enjoyed their VERY addictive Mac and Cheese bites!!ππ
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Go out and enjoy some #winterlude activities and stop at the icebar for some fun!ππ₯π₯π
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#foodblogger #travelblogger #foodie #winterlude #winterfun #icebar #patrontequila #macandcheese #mexicanhotchocolate #tmac #tmactravel #thefoodteaseeats #thefoodteasedrinks #firepit #newadventures #winterwonderland #wintervibes #iftwa #ottawarestaurants #supportlocal
Feb 9
I had the pleasure of spending time yesterday with John Diep, Chef and owner of @shinkasushibar
I was mesmerized as he assembled a truly beautiful and ever so flavourful Omakase sushi box (chefs choice). Sushi lovers, you need to check them out!!πππ£
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I was in food heaven indulging in some lobster tempura, wrapped in a soybean sheet...it doesn't get better than this! So creative!!
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Watching Chef Diep create and assemble my Omakase sushi was like watching an artist paint, except I had the pleasure of eating his outstanding creativity!!ππ
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The edible art that leaves you wanting for more. My Omakase sushi consisted of an assortment of fish and ingredients that I had never tried before, and I'm so glad that I have now. I'm am talking about; soybean sheet encasing the lobster tempura (think of a tasty crepe), Kama toro sashimi (neck part of tuna, melt in your mouth), blue fin tuna, Hamachi topped with jalapeΓ±o (yellowtail), golden thread fin sashimi, chutoro nigiri (fatty tuna) topped with sturgeon caviar from Poland...to name just a few. And those beautiful flowers that you see, they are all edible, shipped straight from Japanπ± πΊπ£π―π΅ππ
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β³οΈβ³οΈShinka's community delivery service now provides sushi lovers who live outside the city, a delicious opportunity to enjoy their offerings!! Now that's service!!β³οΈβ³οΈ
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Check them out. You won't be disappointedπ€©
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#foodblogger #travelblogger #foodie #foodporn #foodpornshare #sushi #omakase #omakasesushi #supportsmallbusiness #ottawarestaurants #shinka #shinkasushibar #sashimi #japanesefood #indulgence #chefschoice #newexperiences #luxelife #chefsofinstagram #lovemyjob #tmac
Jan 29
Happy Lunar New Year 2023, year of the π ππ
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What better way to ring in the new year than to gather with friends and like-minded food lovers. Here's to a new year of luck, prosperity, and good fortune!!π°π§§
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I absolutely love to eat at #yangtze on Somerset, and without fail, every time, their dishes are spot on! This was the perfect place to celebrate!!ππ
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Everything from their shrimp and pork shumais, stuffed eggplant, fried shrimp rolls, and pork dumplings and fried noodles with a side of garlic bok choy was absolutely tasty!!
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All the best to those that celebrateππ°π§§
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#foodblogger #travelblogger #foodie #lunarnewyear #chinesenewyear #yearoftherabbit #yangtzerestaurant #ottawarestaurants #supportsmallbusiness #supportlocal #prosperity #luck #goodfortune #wearingred #thefoodteaseeats #tmac #ifwtwa #happynewyear
Jan 22
Being one with nature in @discoverdominica π΄π΄π§π₯
Who loves hot springs? I know I do, as they are incredibly relaxing and therapeuticπ₯π
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Relaxing in one of Wotten Waven's well-known natural hot sulfur springs, which are believed to have medicinal qualities, was incredible!! The hot sulphuric water is mixed with river water, so it's not only tolerable but that it doesn't burn the skin. Complete relaxation!!
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When traveling to new destinations, I try to immerse myself in cultural experiences, and this hot sulfur dip in Dominica was a mustππ€©
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#travelblogger #foodblogger #natureisland #dominica #discoverdominica #hotsprings #sulfur #sulfursprings #relaxation #naturephotography #beingonewithnature #luxelife #luxetravel #luxelife #wellness #naturespa #culturalexperience
Jan 12
A new year, a new start, so let's do it with some fun! πΆπ
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Toronto's @lulalounge
provided the energetic vibe that I was seeking!!ππ₯πΎ
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Live latin music and delicious dishes made for a fun evening out. Everything from their corn bisque, shrimp stuffed avocado, to their uber flavourful truffle butter steak and chocolate lava cake was deliciousπ And ofcourse, their mojitos were off the chart!! π π
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Looking forward to more evenings and getaways to relax and let loose!ππΊπΆ
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Here's to a new year with new adventures!π
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#foodblogger #foodie #travelblogger #nye #nye2023 #lula #lulalounge #dance #latinmusic #toronto #discovertoronto #torontoeats #alwaysexploring #weekendgetaway #thefoodteaseeats #destinationtoronto
Jan 4
My first-hand experiences confirm that Dominica is truly the ULTIMATE nature island π π Special thanks to @discoverdominica @wanderlustcaribbean @junglebaydominica @coulibri_ridge for such an incredible adventure!!π
#discoverdominica #natureisland #naturephotography #travelblogger #travelgrams #passportready #foodblogger #luxelife #luxurytravel #bucketlist #alwaysexploring #travelwriter #lovemyjob #femmetravel #thefoodteasetravel #ifwtwa #tmactravel #tmac
Dec 31
'Tis the season to be merry and festiveπΎπ₯
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I just had to try @moetchandon Ice Champagne, and it's ABSOLUTELY delicious π π
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Who would have thought, a Champagne drink created to be served on ice would taste so divine!! Love it!!
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Merry Christmas to all my food loving friends!!ππ
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#foodblogger #travel logger #spirits #champagnelover #chasingdreams #champagne #moet #moetchandon #moetchandonice #merrychristmas #livinglife #luxelife #goodtimes #thefoodteasedrinks #tmactravel
Dec 25
There's nothing better than impromptu dinner plans, especially when it involves @matiottawa
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How can you go wrong with lobster tacos, PEI oysters, tuna crudo, salmon tartar rolls, and garlic gnocchi to their ridiculously tasty grilled steak?!πππ₯©
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A much needed and long overdue visit at Mati. And without fail, they still managed to 'wow' me with their outstanding dishes and warm hospitality!π
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Two things that are key for a successful establishment: Delicious food β
οΈ paired with optimal service β
οΈ and Mati fits the bill on that and then some!!
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Go and treat yourself and thank me laterπ
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#foodblogger #foodie #travelblogger #foodporn #foodpornshare #diningout #impromptu #steak #steaklover #seafood #tuna #lobstertacos #grilledbeef #indulgence #wantmore #needmore #thefoodteaseeats
Dec 24
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