The Food Experience

I've come to realize lately how I love to go out to eat. I don't get to do it often but when I do, I want to go to a really good restaurant. Not only does the food have to be good but the atmosphere as well. Because of Sheldon's gluten-free dietary needs, we usually go out for sushi. Now that I work downtown, my eyes have been opened to the plethora of restaurants that are just in the ByWard Market alone. What a shame it would be if I never get to eat at them!

A friend I carpool with told me about the Taste of Winterlude event in February where you can "enjoy exclusive prix-fixe menus, fine dining experiences...culinary delights at some of our best local restaurants." This has me excited as it will give me a chance to eat at some of the pricier restaurants that I normally avoid because of the price.

As we're planning for Angelina's last birthday with us before she moves to B.C., we asked her what she had in mind. She said she didn't care as long as it was with her best friends and good food had to be a part of it.

The same group will be going on a Montreal temple trip this weekend (as our first and our last for a long time) before Jen has baby #3 and Angelina moves. Jen requested that we go somewhere good to eat after. A friend at work told me that Montreal is having restaurant week as well. Once again, good food has to be a part of our festivities.

Then Sheldon asked me to pick out the restaurant I wanted to go to for Valentine's Day.

This has got me researching restaurants a lot and I've come up with a list of places I'd like to try or just go to again to try some different menu items. I've compiled a special list and put it in the right column of this blog.

One restaurant in particular has really grabbed my attention; Atelier. It sounds like they mix art, science, and food together which creates a really unique experience. They serve a 12-course tasting meal that includes items such as caviar creamsicle, nitro noodle soup, liquid centres, and yellow snow (not sure what that one's about but I'm intrigued). Take a look at some of the pictures I borrowed from their website. It's so artistic! For more pictures, check out their gallery.





Hopefully the list will provide my husband and friends some new ideas of where we can go the next time we have something special to celebrate. Perhaps I'll even create a Favourite Restaurants list. Until then...happy eating.

Job Description: Non-negotiable

POSITION:
Mom, Mommy, Mama, Ma
Dad, Daddy, Dada, Pa, Pop

JOB DESCRIPTION :
Long term, team players needed, for challenging permanent work in an often
chaotic environment. Candidates must possess excellent communication and
organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include
evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call.

Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on
rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities. Travel
expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• The rest of your life.
• Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5.
• Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly.
• Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf.
  
• Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers.
  
• Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects.
• Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks.
• Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next.
• Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices.
  
• Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.
  
• Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product.
• Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility.
  

POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION:
None. Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining,
constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can
ultimately surpass you.

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE:
None required. On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

WAGES AND COMPENSATION:
None. You pay them, offering frequent raises and bonuses. A balloon payment is
due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them
become financially independent. When you die, you give them whatever is left.
You will enjoy this reverse-salary scheme and wish you could only do more.

BENEFITS:
While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid
holidays and no stock options are offered, this job supplies limitless opportunities
for personal growth, unconditional love, and free hugs and kisses for life if you
play your cards right.

There is no retirement. If you are fortunate enough you will become grandparents.

OC Transpo Strike Song

FYI....we're on day 50 of the strike now.

It's No Bull

Happy Chinese New Year!

Welcoming in the Year of the Ox.

This was only about half of the dishes we ate!

Mmmmm....lobster.

OC Transpo Strike Ruins Hitler's Plans

What's going on?

It's 6pm.

I'm still at work.

It's snowing hard.

I have a cold.

Can't go home.

Buses still on strike.

My ride has to work late.