Poulet a la James North

Charred!

 

It is always a pleasure to find a place that is wise enough to choose one thing and do it exceptionally well. Charred is one of those places.  This tiny and intimate little central Hamilton resto does chicken, - charred on a charcoal rostisserie and served with homemade piri-piri sauce. 

They do several different riffs on the charred chicken theme - one of the best is the poutine - fresh cut fries, homemade piri piri cheese curds and gravy. Add charred chicken on top and this is a filling and delicious dish. (Regular $5; large $7; charred chicken on top, $3)

  Another good bet is the Charred Sandwich ($7) - pulled charred chicken with peppers and onions, topped with aged cheddar, homemade piri piri mayo and cilantro.

 

There's also chicken to take out, as well as fresh salads and roasted potatoes.

And that's about it - simple, delicious and really well done.

The space is also unpretentiously simple, with reclaimed brick walls, some local art, and tables in the window that give a clear view of the action on James Street.

Charred is an attractive place for a casual lunch for those who love BBQ chicken and piri piri.  It's another good excuse to hang out on James Street North.

Charred

244 James St. N.,

Hamilton, Ontario

L8R 2L3

(289)396-0662

www.charred.ca

@charredchicken

Absolutely Necessary Things to Pack for a Visit to The Falls

Travel Tips

Each destination has its unique peculiarities, which means  when deciding what you will pack for a visit, there are particular things that will make your time there easier, or more fun, or more rewarding.
For a vacation in Niagara Falls, you need to pack all of the usual suspects – er , objects – that you would for a typical trip, but there are some things that will really make a difference.  Add the following things to your packing list, throw them into your suitcase and you’ll thank me for it!




1.A large clear plastic bag.  Why? If you own a good camera, you will want to protect it from the mist that is an almost permanent fixture at The Falls.  I like to have my camera ready, and I often carry it around my neck, but cover it with the plastic bag to keep it dry.  Sometimes you can use the plastic to shield the camera while you take a shot.  Also bring along some soft dry cloths to wipe any wayward water drops off the lens.  It is particularly important to protect your camera if you take a ride on the Maid of the Mist.  It is such a dramatic occaision for pictures, but the spray is intense.



2.  A folding umbrella – not for the rain, but for the spray if you are going to spend some time at the edge of The Falls and do not want to get soaked. (Actually, on a 30  degree day, it feels pretty good!)
3. A copy of the Frommers Niagara Region Guide that will tell you the best places to visit, eat and stay, and reveal insider tips you would never otherwise discover. (In the interest of full disclosure, I wrote the guide, but trust me when I tell you that it is a thorough and detailed guide, with lots of useful info.)

4. Your ipod or iphone – the Niagara Falls Adventure Pass lets you download a lively commentary for all of the places on the tour, with the history and lore you need to really appreciate what you are seeing.

5.  Some blank postcards and a good pen – for collecting autographs.  Niagara Falls attracts famous people like flies to honey.  There is seldom a week goes by without a notable character showing up Falls side.



6. a good pair of binoculars – that way you can visit the Canadian side of The Falls, but use your binos to get a close view of the American Falls, as well as the birds, Navy Island and the details of the rocks and islands at the top of The Falls.

7. Motion sickness pills – if you stay in The Tower Hotel – which stands atop a 500 foot tall tower – you might need them.  One whole wall of each room is all windows, and the tower will sway slightly if the wind is a bit agressive.  Very exciting, but maybe a bit queasy for a delicate tummy.



8. Your lucky rabbit foot, four leaf clover, or lucky charm – you will want to visit the glamourous Fallsview Casino, and with luck you may leave richer than you arrived.  (You will have a good time even if you loose a bit of coin.)

9. Your favourite mantra – the  Cham Shan Budhist Temple (aka The Ten Thousand Budha Temple of Peace) is a special building that you will not want to miss.  A little contemplation and some time to appreciate the truly special architecture here will put you in a Zen state of mind.



10. An easily washed, stain resistant t-shirt .  Niagara Falls is a surprising hotbed of Italian cusine, due mostly to extensive Italian immigration after WWI and WWII.  Places like Antica Pizza, or Mamma Mia’s offer up slurpy family-style plates of pasta, meatballs  and pizza – messy but delicious and affordable  and not to be missed. Just like Mamma used to make, – if Mamma was named Gina or Serafina.

Bargaining eh?

Niagara Falls for the Bargain Hunter

Regretably, we are a nation of non-hagglers.

Canadians, in general, are not good at bargaining.  It’s somehow – well – not polite to badger someone into cutting their prices.  Bargaining is not a Canadian thing.

But paradoxically, there is no one who enjoys a bargain more than we do.  So what we are good at is searching out the best places, best prices and best buys.

Here’s five of the best buys in Niagara Falls, no bargaining or bartering required. (Now that’s a real Canadian deal.)
1. The Bundled Attractions Pass: The Niagara Falls Adventure Pass is a great way to save money.  The pass costs 40% less than if you bought four attractions seperately. For $46.95 per adult, and $34.95 per child, between April and October, you get admission to the Maid of the Mist,  Journey Behind the Falls,  Niagara’s Fury and White Water Walk, along with two day’s rides on the Peoplemover, an all day on-and-off shuttle service along the Niagara Parkway. Also, you’ll receive reduced price admission to the Butterfly Conservatory, Sir Adam Beck 2 Generating Station Power Tour, Whirlpool Aero Car, Old Fort Erie, McFarland House, Laura Secord Homestead and the Mackenzie Printery and Newspaper Museum. An added bonus of the Pass: visit a Niagara Parks Welcome Centre and staff will reserve your times to see several attractions, allowing you to bypass line-ups and feel like a real VIP. You can buy your pass online and print your own, and you can even arrange to download a guide to your MP3 player. Great Value!

2. Free Light Show: The Falls are illuminated 365 days of the year and they are a spectacular sight.  Smart visitors find a good spot in Queen Victoria Park to sit on the grass and just enjoy the view. Costs nothing.


3. A Night on-the-town Bargain ( if you are a female) Rumours Nightclub welcomes all females on Friday night. No cover charge all night for ladies at this popular dance and drinks bar.


4. Gamble on a Great Night Out for 25 cents ( and up): The people watching is great at the Fallsview Niagara Casino.  You could spend a night just roaming through the gaming rooms watching the action.  But you can gamble yourself – you can bet the minimum amount in one of the one-armed bandits (slots) -  25 cents.  If the stars were aligned correctly, you could go home with more money than you spent.


5.  Even a Bargain Hunter Has to Eat: Dining in Niagara Falls can be expensive, but if you are willing to go a little bit away from the Falls area, there are some real dining bargains.  For a delicious. filling and affordable meal, try the calzones at Johnny Rocco’s Italian Grill on Lundy’s Lane.  Have a glass of wine, a salad, one of the best calzones in town, and you’ll be out of there for under $20.





So, get set for an affordable visit to the Falls! A real Canadian Bargain.

A Snow Thrill on the Downhill 

in Charlevois, Quebec:

Rodelling at Le Massif 

 

I stood at the top of the hill, shivering in my helmet and new Ugg boots. Ahead of me was the first leg of a colossal snow slide.

“Don’t worry,” laughed Giles, a twenty something kid I’d met in the snow tractor on the way along the top of the mountain, and who obviously couldn’t wait to attack the hill.  “Your fear will keep you warm.”

In a way he was right.  While the fear dissipated quickly, the adrenalin kept me warm.

If as a child you experienced a Canadian winter, you will share the collective memories of sliding down icy hills on toboggans, sleds, flying saucers or even pieces of cardboard.

That childhood descent was intoxicating, but would only last ten seconds, if that, and then you would have to drag your sled back up the hill to do it again.  I remember wishing that the downhill thrill could go on for ever.

If you shared that feeling, rodelling is for you.  It’s a ‘piste de luge’ experience featured at Le Massif in the Charlevois, the only place in North America that offers this winter adventure. It’s a sledding dream come true, providing a professional hand-crafted sled, a long uninterrupted and challenging groomed track, and at the end, a gondola to take you back to the top.  The 7.5 kilometre track winds through natural forest, twisting its way down the mountainside to end at the edge of the frozen St. Lawrence River. In total, the rodelling experience takes about two hours, and it is a cool winter thrill, an exhilarating alternative when skiing becomes old hat.  Or old tuque.

So, now I have snow down my neck, leaking into my gloves and glued to my cheek. My tuque is ascue and the fir trim on my new boots is heavy with ice pellets.
So why am I smiling?  Because, even though I was going too fast, missed the turn and ended up inbedded in a snowbank, this is the most winter fun I've had in years.

The attraction has proven so popular for the resort that it has expanded its hours and is often fully booked. Any winter sports' lover, especially one who is finding skiing and boarding a bit ho-hum, will want to try rodelling.

At the end of the hill, you can glide up to the top to the ski resort in the gondola and enjoy white linen dining in Mer et Mont at the chalet. 

Afterwards, you can take the train back to Baie Saint Paul, and warm up with a night in Hotel La Ferme, or return to Quebec City.  

Rodelling - my idea of a cool winter sport!

Le Massif

Le Massif de Charlevoix Ski Resort 

Phone : 1-877-Le-Massif (536-2774)

www.lemassif.com/en

 Directions:
To the Summit (+/- 75 km from Québec City):

• Follow signs for Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré
• From Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, continue along Route 138 for about 45 km
• Turn right at the sign for Le Massif, located on the right-hand side of Route 138, 15 km BEFORE the town of Petite- Rivière-Saint-François
• Drive 6 km… You’ve arrived!

To the Base (+/- 110 km from Québec City):

• Follow directions for Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré
• From Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, continue along Route 138 until you see the sign for Petite Rivière St François, located about 15 km past the sign for the summit of Le Massif
• Turn right, drive to Petite-Rivière-St-François
• Continue along Principale St. for about 15 km
• Turn right at the sign marking the entrance to Le Massif, onto the access road
• Proceed to the parking area… You’ve arrived!

Follow The North Star to Freedom: Niagara Tours

For many slaves fleeing a life of endenturement in the United States, Canada represented freedom.  It was the shining Northern star at the end of the Underground Railroad, the secret network of helpers and hiding places that aided runaway slaves on their journey.

Niagara Bound Tours is a tour company that custom designs tours that will explore the history and heritage of Black immigaration in Niagara, with particular emphasis on the slaves who arrived here as a result of their journey along the Underground Railroad.
The tour features several places of interest, including Hariet Tubman’s church, the crossing sites of freedom seekers on both sides of the border including the Canadian site of for the crossing of Josiah Henson (Uncle Tom’s Cabin character), and the Welland Canal Centre – home of  the permanent Black history exhibit.
Tours can be individual or in groups. The customized tours include a step on guide who is a direct descendant (fifth generation) of a freedom seeker from Kentucky who came to Canada in 1850 settling in the Niagara Region.   Recently added are tours of the Buffalo-Niagara Underground Railroad as well.
NIAGARA BOUND TOURS
87 Masterson Drive
St. Catharines, ON  L2T 3P8
905-685-5375
www.niagaraboundtours.com

Doing Time in the Museum

 

 

Art Blooms Behind Bars

 in Quebec City's 

Musee National des Beaux-Arts

In the mood for a little jail time?

The splendid Musee National des Beaux-Arts du Quebec has one of the most historically interesting positions in Canada -in Battlfields Park, overlooking the iconic Plains of Abraham and the mighty St. Lawrence. From the outside terrace of the museum restaurant, you can sip a cup of coffee while perusing the land where so much of Canada's history occurred.

And thought the landscape is swaddled in snow and ice when I visit, it is still impressive.  On the fields beside the museum, locals are practicing cross country skiing, and children skate on the nearby rink.

But there is more than location that is brilliant in this museum.  The colleciton is wide ranging, but with a special emphasis on the abstract artists best exemplified by Jean-Paul Riopelle, whose works are displayed in a spacious gallery.

The collection consists of more than 37,000 works dating from 1700 to the present, and represents the largest collection of Quebec art. It gives visitors an opportunity to see works by both the established artists of Quebec and the newly emerging talent.

I loved this piece by Jean-Phillipe Dallaire, "Unicorn Rooster"

In addition to the location and the collection, the architecture of this museum is exceptional.  The entrance of the musem leads to a sunfilled glass domed lobby. The neo-classical section of the museum was designed by Wilfrid Lacroix in 1933 and was, until 1991, the whole museum.  It is an elegant space, with comfortable chairs for the tired art lover, and large exhibition rooms.
 Rather than demolish the Old Quebec City prison next door, the museum annexed it and made it an new exhibiton space particualrly devoted to the collection of Inuit art donated to the museum. Several of the old prison cells were kept intact to show what prison life was like in the 1900s.According to their website,
 "On the ground floor, block 6, which had housed dangerous criminals and those sentenced to death, was kept intact along with block 11, formerly reserved for vagrants and petty thieves."

It adds an interesting frisson to your appreciation of the art objects!

The watchtower showcases a visually impressive work created in 1991 by David Moore under the program to integrate arts into architecture.

The Musee National is the perfect destination for an afternoon of looking at fine art that is indiginous to Quebec.  An added incentive to a visit is the Restaurant de Musee, a lovely space that serves light meals during the open hours of the museum. In summer, the terrace is one of the best places in the city to dine or to linger over a glass of wine and watch the sun set over the river and the park.

Your Farmers' Market Has More than Veggies!

So Many Good Things at the Burlington Farmers' Market

You may be quite surprised the next time you visit your local farmers' market.  The scene has changed - evolved as it were.

You expect to find carrots at the farmers market.  Not beauties like these heritage varieties that I bought today on the Burlington market, but good local carrots are a consistent staple at most markets.

                                                         
And potatoes, like these coloured lovelies.

 It's expected that there will be onions - though probably not always heirloom whites.

 

I loaded up on all of these, as well as green beans, corn, tomatoes, and some nectarines.  I even got a basket of fat tomatillas.  But what surprised me was the wealth of other good things to eat that was available here, made or grown by individual small producers, from numerous little stalls.

Like home made Ice Cream!

Alexa Fraser makes ice cream from fresh milk and cream and local fruits and herbs.  Her basil ice cream is a hit, something a bit different to perk up a summer meal.
Her ice cream is pricey, $8 for a pint, $4.50 for a cone, but the ice cream is pure and delicious.

And Then There's Fresh Flowers

Millcreek Flower Farm, just outside Ancaster, brings beautiful bouquets of flowers to market each week.  They're irresistable.

I bought a bunch of lavender coloured lizyanthus, or prairie flowers, which look lovely on my kitchen counter.

Need something healthy for the main course?  

Smokeville has smoked rainbow trout that makes a perfect centre dish for a summer meal.  They also do smoked salmon, trout, bacon and salmon pate.

 Other vendors offer small batch organic olive oil, home made bread and pies, and fresh eggs and cheese.

So who needs the supermarket in high summer season when the farmers' market is in full swing?
Not me!

The Burlington Market is held in the back parking lot of Burlington Mall, corner of Guelph Line and Fairview Street on Wed, Fri, and Sat.