Wednesday, September 12, 2007

BEST SALAD EVER!



O
K, cats ... start purring coz this is my fave salad! A couple of balls of the best mozzarella you can find (please try to use the authentic Mozzarella Di Bufala ... it's really different from the chemical crap you buy in supermarkets), a couple of handfulls of argula/roquette salad (rucola), fresh ripe figs, fresh ripe tomatoes (no water culture greenhouse suckaz), some A.O.C. prosciutto (Italian cured ham), organic runny honey, good grassy olive oil (only extra virgin cold pressed, anything else is shite!) a couple of basil leaves (red, green, whatever). Basically, you toss everything together on a serving plate ... peppery crunchy rucola, chunks of mozzarella, slices of ham, crossed figs, tomatoes, drizzle with honey and a nice swig of olive oil and sprinkle with a pinch of salt and some freshly ground black pepper. Usually I drink Prosecco with this. Njoy!

It's such a simple recipe, so it comes down to using the best ingredients you can get. A guaranteed killer for your next dinner party!

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

INDIAN SUMMER

Summer seems to be over, but it's not winter yet! No Sir. First we get to enjoy the Indian Summer. Going apple picking, walks in the colorful forests. As tribute to the great summer we had, a couple of pics.


Our lovely neighbour Anne and her dog Moebius


Tinneke & Brigitte


A man and his BBQ


Whiskey-Coke


Cheers!

Last weekend we went to OSHEAGA, and ran into Bent Van Looy (Das Pop), which was nice!
OSHEAGA is Montreal's own Pukkelpop if you like, in Parc Jean-Drapeau. Parc Jean-Drapeau was the site of the '67 World Expo and lies on Ile-St-Hélène in the middle of the St. Lawrence river. The park offers a great haven of peace and quiet far away from the bustling city life, but then again only 1 metro stop away from where it's really at!

A couple of differences with Belgian festivals I used to go to (Werchter, Pukkelpop, Marktrock, Lokerse Feesten, Gentse Feesten): less crowded so more relaxed, less beer stands and less people working in beer stands, so less drunk people, less grass (to sit on), less grass (to smoke), no fries (?!), no pizza, not allowed to bring your own drinks except water so they can sell more of their own overpriced stuff, less security, more crowd surfing, no bracelets and so on.

Highlights for me were Feist, Damien Rice, Editors, Gotan Project and Arctic Monkeys. New discoveries: Peter Von Poehl (with Bent Van Looy on drums), Au Revoir Simone and still not quite sure about Blonde Redhead.

LABOUR DAY

First Monday of September was Labour Day ... and for that long weekend we went to see our friends Craig & Nath and their kids Petra & Anna at Nathalie's parents place in Amherstview, close to Kingston on Lake Ontario, about 3hours drive of Montreal direction Toronto.

Except for my little canoe adventure facing the elements of nature (strong headwind and 50cm waves) and actually winning that battle, it was a pretty lazy couple of days mostly spent drinking and eating. Gin & Tonic, Kick ass Garnacha wine, beer, Prosecco, you name it, we had it.

Here's some pics of the sunset on Lake Ontario.