A place to keep track of all the things I am going to accomplish food-wise during the year!

Ahhh the things I do for the love of food….

2014

1. Open Cardamom and Cloves. This one may sound like a no brainer, but until the doors are open it’s still a goal I’m working towards. Let’s add – and keep it open… that sounds a little more like a resolution.

2. Take a food related vacation. I’m not sure where yet – and I have no idea what my schedule will allow for, but I will travel somewhere amazing (not necessarily far or for very long) and will go for something food related. Broad? Maybe. But who hasn’t wanted to go to Spain for paella and red wine?!? Or Morocco for Kefta???

3. This year I’m turning 30. It doesn’t have to be a big deal – but I think I’m going to make it one. I plan on having a meal to remember to celebrate this milestone.

2013

1. I still want to learn to cook offal – this is my year!

2. I want to spend an afternoon in 3 foodie neighbourhoods, that I don’t already know and love, in Ottawa and learn more about the shops, restaurants and food artisans that are there.

– The Glebe
– Chinatown
– Centretown

3. This year I’m going to up my food vocabulary – so every day I’ll post a new food term or definition on twitter and do a round up here on the blog.

4. Another left over from 2012 – I want to make my own dishes. Or dish. Let’s see how hard that is first.

5. In a step towards becoming that old Italian Grandmother I so long to be, I want to make my own pasta. I know, I know… I can’t believe I haven’t done that yet either.

2012

  1. I want to eat at 15 restaurants off The List, that I haven’t already. It doesn’t sound like a lot but when you factor in also going to places you already love… that’s a lot of eating out!
    – Courtyard Restaurant
    – Zen Kitchen
    – Pressed
    – Absinthe Cafe
    – The Table
    – Ceylonta
    – Moji
    – Palais Imperial
    – Brothers Beer Bistro
    – Union 613
    – Vittoria Trattoria
  2. I want to learn to cook offal (edible organ meat such as the heart, tounge, liver of an animal) that I actually enjoy eating. I’ve made beef liver… wasn’t a fan of that recipe. But I learned this year that I am a potential fan of anything, as long as it is cooked properly. I can’t count the number of times I’ve said “Oh I normally hate (insert previously hated thing here), but like this… it’s good!”
  3. I want to go all out at high tea at the Chateau Laurier. And what better year than this, seeing as it is their 100th anniversary!
    – Tea Time
  4. Host a foodie get together.
    – January 14, at the Manx!
  5. Have an out of the ordinary dining experience. I realize this is a bit vague, but I think I will know this when it happens.
    – Joe Beef Dinner at the Urban Element – February 27
  6. I want to learn to can/preserve more local goodies and ‘pick my own’ whenever possible this year.
    – Tomato Sauce
  7. Spend time and discover Ottawa’s China Town.
  8. Learn to make 3 things I currently buy.
    – Sheppard’s Pie
    – Bread Yeast
    – Cocktails
  9. Find a white wine I enjoy drinking… not just the one I drink because I finished the red.
    – Dunes from Sandbank Winery
  10. Learn how to cook with 3 ingredients I not only do not use right now, but have never heard of.
    – Karela
    – Sunchokes
    – Malanga
  11. Make my own dishes… or dish. Depends on how the finished product looks. Let’s not get crazy ambitious.
  12. Find Ottawa’s best ________. A taste test of the city’s best something. Right now I’m thinking tacos. But that might be my craving for Mexican food talking. Yep… just checked. It definitely is.
    – Ottawa’s Best Brew!