Food for Thought with Alex Bielak - The Top Ten New Restaurants in Canada?

The Top Ten New Restaurants in Canada?

Sadly the top ten new restaurants in Canada, as defined by EnRoute Magazine, won’t include any from the swath of the Golden Horseshoe, from Mississauga through Oakville, Burlington and Hamilton to St Catharines. The last time a “local” restaurant cracked that list was in 2010 when Quatrefoil in Dundas was deemed worthy. (I’ll suggest some possible reasons for why that might be in a moment.)

The good news is two excellent restaurants, Backhouse in Niagara on the Lake, and The Berlin, in Kitchener, both within relatively easy reach of Hamilton, stand a very good chance of making the list. Your online vote for them, or 34 other candidates for the top 10, might also be rewarded with a trip for two to a nominated restaurant of your choice, plus some spending money.

Interestingly both spots have something in common apart from great chefs and a focus on local, seasonal food: It’s a whomping great adjustable woodfire grill on which many of their dishes are cooked. I’ve eaten several times at both spots and they’re worth the detour, and worthy of your vote. In fact I reviewed The Berlin for the Waterloo Region Record and it attained the highest fork rating I’ve awarded to date.

En Route’s annual list is hotly awaited by foodies across Canada: always a pleasure to read, it is not

Food for Thought with Alex Bielak -Taste Burlington, Nosh Hamilton

Taste Burlington, Nosh Hamilton (FFT-097)

This column features a long-standing event in Burlington and an important new initiative, championed by Ward 4 Councillor Sam Merulla, in Hamilton.

For the first time in several years I missed the summer launch event for the Taste of Burlington. The popular promotion – prix fix meals at some of Burlington’s best restaurants – runs July 17-31, 2016. I’m told about 350 attendees enjoyed some great food and drink.

Earlier this year I wrote predicting success for the Holiday Inn’s Alloro. They placed second then in the People’s Choice award at the Winter launch, and this summer upped their game to win in that category, and also the “Best Taste” with what sounds like a great dish: jalapeno infused bacon wrapped scallop served over coconut rice with a lemon aioli and mango/grilled pineapple chutney.

Taste Co-ordinator Linda Cvetanovic wrote “In the “Best Taste” category only a half point separated the top 3 with Chef Stephanie Brewster [about who I wrote effusively at the end of April] from the Greenhouse Café at the Royal Botanical Gardens securing the runner up spot (and 3rd place in for People’s Choice) with her goat cheese pannacotta with hibiscus gelee, passion fruit and pomegranate. Just a quarter of a point away was third place winner Chef Doran Abra of Water St. Cooker with a smoked trout crostini with radish-cucumber salad and Old Bay aioli.

Chef Mitchell Lamb of Stonehouse – surely one of the most consistent and innovative chefs in the region - repeated his third place finish in winter with a smoked paprika marinated tiger shrimp, jalepeno and cheese curd sausage, curried mango chutney and chimichurri.

In Hamilton, the remarkable upswing in the culinary scene over the past five or so years has led to the development of NOSH, a week-long celebration, formally supported by Council, that will take place during National Small Business Week (October 17-23, 2016).

Merulla, who is the NOSH Honourary Chair, said in a press release “Hamilton's emergence on a national scale is in part attributable to the rising food scene we have in the city – and it’s time to show that off.”

Despite an acronym that only a committee could have created (“NOSH stands for North Hamilton - including lower city, Outlying communities - former municipal entities, South Hamilton - including Binbrook, Glanbrook, and Mount Hope”) the intention is wonderful. It’ll be a showcase of Hamilton's culinary scene from Winona to Waterdown and is anticipated to have a selection of paid and free events for the community and visitors in which to participate.

I look forward to sharing more with readers as information becomes available.

To see all past columns please see (and “like”) the Food for Thought Archives
Alex (Alex can be reached on twitter @AlexBielak)
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In Honour of the late Mahesh Butani

The Spectator's tribute to Mahesh can be found by clicking here, or buying June 24th's paper. 

Mahesh Butani was a passionate individual who was steadfast in his convictions. His love for Hamilton was second to none, and we are deeply saddened to learn of Mahesh's passing.

We thought it most fitting to honour Mahesh by reposting an answer he gave to a question we once asked him in The Hamiltonian:

If you had the undivided attention of all Hamiltonians, including city council, what would you say to council, and what would you say to Hamiltonians, in terms of advice on how we can better succeed as a city?

To the Council:

Endeavour to meet at least one other councilor and their family for an informal dinner once a week through the term, in spite of conflicting agendas and schedules.

Always be wary of forming a quorum at barbeques, games and chat rooms.

Stay the course on the vision of making Hamilton a ' People's Place' as per the internationally recognized definition of the term, in spite of conflicting agendas.

Hand over the baton with grace when you feel you have given your best to the community and have nothing more to contribute to the ever evolving public good in rapidly changing times.

To Hamiltonians:

Form new Citizens Talent Banks and not new Watch Groups.
Start trading in innovative ideas amongst different talent banks and the Council.

Collaborate with your Councillor to achieve your aspirations for Hamilton.

Don't be afraid in forming a quorum at barbeques, games and chat rooms.

Stay the course on the vision of making Hamilton a 'People"s Place' as per the internationally recognized definition of the term, in spite of conflicting agendas.

Mentor with grace those who you feel are capable of leading the next guard to enhance the ever evolving public good in rapidly changing times, and show up to vote for them when your time comes to take a stand.

Rest in Peace Mahesh. You will be missed!

The Hamiltonian

In tribute to Reverend Brother Michael Baldasaro

There was no-one quite like Michael Baldasaro, except perhaps Walter Tucker, his long time friend. Michael was a true original with a unique spirit and was a relentless passion for the causes he believed in.

If one did not know Michael, you might have found his appearance rather offputting. But Michael was a brilliant conversationalist, a bright and learned man and a man blessed with life experience and wisdom. 

He was fearless as he stormed our country's highest courts to stand up for his beliefs. As leader of the Church of the Universe, Michael held fast to his spirituality.

Michael will be dearly missed by Hamilton and by Hamiltonians. He was truly, "The Baldasaro".

Rest in Peace Brother Michael. 

The Hamiltonian

Please feel free to post your tributes and recollections on the life Michael.

From the Lens of Ron Ogulin

Click on pic to enlargen

Ron Ogulin is a talented local photographer, who specilaizes in shooting by Hamilton shorelines.  Enjoy this shot by Ron. 

If you are a photographer who would like to submit a picture for consideration, please send to admin@thehamiltonian.info

Food for Thought with Alex Bielak - New RBG Chef Reaches for the Moon

Chef Stephanie Brewster in New Kitchen

New RBG Chef Reaches for the Moon

I’ve written previously about the ‘Luna’ re-launch events for the rejuvenated Crown Jewel of the Royal Botanical Gardens’, the stunning David Braley and Nancy Gordon Rock Garden. More on that below, but the real long-term foodie story here is of a new chef with serious cred that has been enticed from London, Ontario to take over culinary operations at the RBG. I believe Chef Stephanie Brewster is going to transform RBG’s culinary operations for the better.

Hailing from Fanshawe College, where she was a popular professor in the culinary program, she was the winner of the very first episode of Chopped Canada, impressing chef judges Michael Smith, Vikram Vij and Anne Yarymowich. Along with some other food writers I had the opportunity to meet her (again in my case) at a walkthrough of the new facilities at the Garden.

Brewster with her great attitude and ready chuckle is easy to warm to. She has quickly immersed herself in the local culinary scene. Clearly relishing competition, she went head to head with three other chefs in a recent Popup Hamilton Showdown where she produced a stunning dessert pairing for a Peller Estates Icewine she was assigned to match up with.

She told me, just having returned from Italy, and with only six weeks in the Burlington/Hamilton area