Spring activities

Tags

carpets, Damascus, Iran, leisure, lobster, ocean side, Oriental, Persians, Seafood

The other night we went out for dinner instead of staying at home as originally planned. The day had been very busy and though we had planned a simple dinner, we were not up to making dinner. So we went to the end of our street which is a former wharf/pier where there is a great restaurant, seafood and lobster of course. The dining room and terrace is build right over the Hillsborough river.

The Lobster on the Wharf was a first for us despite the fact that we live just 300 feet away. We got a table on the terrace with a wonderful view of the river, we have had some very warm weather and it was about 23C that evening. 

The view from our table. Across the river is the town of Stratford.

Behind us in the park the setting sun over Charlottetown.

Also this month the 16 bells of St-Dunstan Basilica pictured above, are being re-installed. They were taken down in 1978 due to structural issues in the one tower of the basilica. A couple of years ago, some citizens of our town got together to fund raised and come up with an engineering plan to built a steel structure inside the North Steeple and re-install the bells so they could once again ring. This year they will once more on Canada Day 1 July to mark the 150th Anniversary of Canada.

steel structure to be installed sitting on the steps of the Basilica.

The containers with the bells inside waiting to be hoisted up.

Across the street is the Great George Hotel, a wonderful little hotel which is composed of a whole block of heritage buildings all built around 1835 and turned into a privately owned hotel. Really a nice place and of course being May the tulips are out.

Talking of Spring, many people are now planning their gardens and Van Kampen is offering the first baskets of flowers. The prices are a little too high for my taste, I am going to wait until mid-June to get what I want, there will also be more choice then.

A small offering of what they have now on sale.

Also with Spring, it is time to clean my Oriental carpets, all of whom I bought in Damascus years ago. It is or was the greatest carpet market in the region. Iran is another great place for carpets but with sanctions it is difficult to bring them out of the country. Damascus was a great market because the great caravans and then the railway brought people to Damascus and the Hejaz railroad would bring the faithful to Mecca. Most people would finance their trip by selling family carpets in Damascus. Great choice and prices. I am so glad I had the opportunity to live 8 years in the Middle-East and enjoy the food, people and culture and the great ancient markets.

They need to be aired and beaten and take some Sun it’s good for the fibers. All are hand made, 100% wool and natural dies, real gems.

 

 

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Lobster Season

Tags

cuisine, Fish season, Food, lobster, Lobster thermidor, PEI

Yes the lobster Season is OPEN, the boats left the harbours around the Island. Here is a beautiful picture of the boats as they go out. Probably around Rustico which is 30 minutes from my place. Really nice to see.

My favourite lobster recipe is Lobster Thermidor

Lobster Thermidor is a French dish consisting of a creamy mixture of cooked lobster meat, egg yolks, and brandy (often cognac), stuffed into a lobster shell. It can also be served with an oven-browned cheese crust, typically Gruyère. The sauce must contain mustard (typically powdered mustard).

This version, by 1940s Gourmet chef Louis P. De Gouy

INGREDIENTS

2 (1 1/2-lb) live lobsters
1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter
1/4 lb mushrooms, trimmed and thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons medium-dry Sherry
1 cup heavy cream, scalded
2 large egg yolks

PREPARATION

Plunge lobsters headfirst into an 8-quart pot of boiling salted water*. Loosely cover pot and cook lobsters over moderately high heat 9 minutes from time they enter water, then transfer with tongs to sink to cool.
When lobsters are cool enough to handle, twist off claws and crack them, then remove meat. Halve lobsters lengthwise with kitchen shears, beginning from tail end, then remove tail meat, reserving shells. Cut all lobster meat into 1/4-inch pieces. Discard any remaining lobster innards, then rinse and dry shells.
Heat butter in a 2-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat until foam subsides, then cook mushrooms, stirring, until liquid that mushrooms give off is evaporated and they begin to brown, about 5 minutes. Add lobster meat, paprika, salt, and pepper and reduce heat to low. Cook, shaking pan gently, 1 minute. Add 1 tablespoon Sherry and 1/2 cup hot cream and simmer 5 minutes.
Whisk together yolks and remaining tablespoon Sherry in a small bowl. Slowly pour remaining 1/2 cup hot cream into yolks, whisking constantly, and transfer to a small heavy saucepan. Cook custard over very low heat, whisking constantly, until it is slightly thickened and registers 160°F on an instant-read thermometer. Add custard to lobster mixture, stirring gently.
Preheat broiler.
Arrange lobster shells, cut sides up, in a shallow baking pan and spoon lobster with some of sauce into shells. Broil lobsters 6 inches from heat until golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Serve remaining sauce on the side.
When salting water for cooking, use 1 tablespoon salt for every 4 quarts water.

 

Spring in PEI

Tags

lobster, painting, PEI, scenery

PEI Countryside with its fields of red earth ready for potato planting. Lobster boat passing by, it could be a painting.

We were packing

Tags

art., culture, Food, island, lobster, moving, NB, oyster, PEI

Last year at this time we were 2 weeks away from moving day.  Had to plan the move but also the road trip with the dogs in the back seat of the car. Leaving Ottawa proceeding to Montreal on the 417 and then joining highway 20, up on the South shore of the Saint Lawrence river, at Rivière du Loup joining highway 85 and then highway 2 upon entering the province of New Brunswick.

I had decided to make a stop half way to PEI. However now in hindsight, our half way stop was too early in the day at Rivière du Loup and we should have proceeded to Edmunston in New Brunswick, sort of getting us over the hump so to speak, but I was concerned about the dogs and their comfort. I remember that the next day the road from Rivière du Loup to Edmunston and then to Fredericton to Moncton to the bridge unto the Island seemed endlessly long, Highway 2 hugs the Maine border in that area to then swing out across New Brunswick to the sea.  It was all highway driving and the portion in New Brunswick from the provincial border of Quebec was very scenic, a new highway built at great cost but well worth it. As you drive along the Maine Canada border  into moose country in New Brunswick on the way to Fredericton, I found that part long with warnings all along the road to call police if you see a moose on the road, they can be very dangerous and fatal if they charge your car. The dogs slept on the back seat wrapped in their blankets, though our Nick was mighty apprehensive of this long car ride which he did not understand, while Nora did not seem to care at all, just curious about the new smells.

We did move 4.5 tons of personal effects and goods, which seems like a lot but is the average weight for a couple moving. The moving truck would arrive a few days after our own arrival in Charlottetown. The weather was good all along and the move was done easily with the help of our friend Blake.

Now a year later, we went through our first Winter in PEI, pretty busy with volunteer work with various organizations and lots of social functions. Though some businesses, restaurants close during the Winter months, there is still plenty to do and the amount of Art and Culture is quite surprising for this small Island, certainly well above what one would expect. We did discover that Oysters in Winter are far superior than ones in Summer months, Winter lobster is also a lot better tasting and has far more meat.

Just last week we went to the Pour House for a concert by Guy Davis who is the son of Ozzie Davis and Ruby Dee, a great blues musician. There are all sorts of things going on in Winter from food festivals to art exhibits to cultural evenings, talks and conferences, pub nights, classic movies or art movie nights, kitchen parties, etc, it is a bit of an insider thing, we are enjoying ourselves and the best of it is our friends here an easy going bunch.

The Winter was also much milder than old Ottawa, not so much in terms of snow and more sunny days. The wind however remains a factor, we are on the Atlantic and wind conditions are always something to be aware of.

One year already, how time flies when you are having fun.

Spring lobster season 2016 — Mussel Beach

Tags

Canada., cuisine, Food, lobster, Musselbeach.wordpress.com, PEI

Something so Prince Edward Island, I thought I would re-blog this entry from a blog I follow entitled Mussel Beach. musselbeach.wordpress.com

 

No recipe today, just gratuitous lobster photos from the spring season that ended at the end of June. We didn’t get to the wharf as often as we usually like to. So we made the most of the opportunities we had. I packed up my propane lobster cooker (I think it was actually designed in order […]

via Spring lobster season 2016 — Mussel Beach

In Lobster City

Tags

Canada., Charlottetown, lobster, PEI, Seafood, tourism

With the opening of the Lobster fishing Season in late March in the waters around PEI there is a lot of Lobster on the market. Because of dwindling stocks and raising prices, one pound lobster is sold in restaurants from $25. to $31. and the two pounder is over $40 dollars. The little canners are now banned, too immature and a measure in need of preserving stocks. Seafood stocks in general are down 40% due to over fishing in the Maritimes. Fishermen over fished the Cod and the Atlantic Salmon and now it is all farmed which is pretty awful when you think of it, especially if you are old enough to remember the taste of it before it disappeared. A bit like the worm infested Tilapia fish sold frozen in supermarkets.

Charlottetown does not have a Fish Market, which is surprising given the amount of fish brought to shore, it has stores like Mr.Seafood which sells fresh seafood and fish. There are also many restaurant in the Capital serving Oysters and seafood and out of town eateries like the famous Point Prim Chowder House in Belfast PEI. http://www.chowderhousepei.com

Point Prim Lighthouse, PEI

But right across the street from my humble abode is the Water Prince Corner Store, the old corner store disappeared years ago but the name endure and this gold mine of a seafood restaurant is open from May to October only. The owner was a former bricklayer who purchased the property and re-invented himself into a restaurateur. In the process he did very well. This very simple restaurant is known for its Lobster at one , one and a half and two pounds, cooked in the traditional way and served with lemon juice. Nothing fancy here, just honest seafood. He also export the world over. The menu also has many other seafood items prepared in the traditional way, it is all good. It must be if you consider the line ups from lunchtime to dinner.

Happy tourists stuffing their faces with seafood at the Water Prince

Despite the empty tables outside the inside is standing room only. 

Lunch crowd gathers, people fight for tables.

Public transport for tourists

Coming down Prince Street to pick up the happy wanderers off the cruise ship.

We also have Lobster Ice Cream now which is available from certain restaurants for a short period. Now this is not as strange as you might think, a few years ago in Sicily in the town of Ragusa we came upon a very well known ice cream shop which had Beet Ice cream amongst the many un-traditional flavours, I tried it and can say it was quite good.

You can also get for breakfast at the Farmer’s Market on Belvedere street Oysters on the half-shelf at 10am, now in my book that beats eggs and bacon any day, which just go to show how civilized Charlottetown is.

 

Links to PEI

Tags

BestofSea Festival, Canada., Charlottetown, Indian River Festival, lobster, PEI, St-Mary's Church, UPEI

The birthplace of modern Canada is Prince Edward Island also known in French as Ile Saint Jean. It is known today around the World for Anne of Green Gables, its soil and beaches which is Red coloured also called Terre Rouge, potatoes, excellent beef and outstanding seafood. The island has numerous premier restaurants with many female Chefs and it has the premier Veterinarian School in North America at University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI). Haras farms for Horse breeding is a big industry. The island is also an artist colony and musicians abound, there are continuous Festivals from February to December.

One Festival is to select the best Chef and the best seafood on the Island and vote for the best restaurants with the most innovative cuisine. You have to remember that PEI only has 140,000 persons living on the island. The Festival is this weekend and people are invited to taste and vote.

All about Lobster’s from Prince Edward Island, see link below.

http://www.tastepeilobster.ca

The #1 selling Mussels in North America are from PEI

http://peimussel.com

More about Best of the Sea Competition

http://bestofsea.com/chefs/#

Also another great Festival is Indian River near the village of Kensington PEI.

http://www.indianriverfestival.com

The old Church of St-Mary’s is an architectural gem in French Gothic Style. At this time of the year the Friends of St-Mary’s sponsor Christmas concerts starting this Sunday 29 November being the First Sunday in Advent.

St. Mary’s Church, a fine example of the French Gothic influence, was built in 1902 by Island architect, William Critchlow Harris. The Harris trademark, a rib-vaulted or groined ceiling, enhances the quality of sound and archives this with the use of fir, pine, spruce, maple, and birch throughout the building.