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Top 5 Kitchen Gadgets: Portable Water Bottles

Catherine Jheon — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:12:00 GMT

A reusable water bottle just makes sense -- for your body (everyone knows drinking water is good for you) and for the environment. This is one accessory you can feel good about. To that end here are 5 portable water bottles that caught my eye.

First up is the Love Bottle: People go gaga for these pretty reusable water bottles made from recycled glass. Every bottle comes with the word “love” on it, hence the name. Comes in two sizes: 500ml ($15) to 1000 ml ($20)
CamelBak Better Bottle: This bottle gets excellent reviews for durability and convenience. Made from BPA-free plastic, it has a special bite valve and straw so you can drink without squeezing or tipping the bottle. 800 ml ($10)
Sigg – If you’re looking for an alternative to plastic bottles but with a flair, these aluminum bottles from Switzerland should do the trick. Sigg bottles are incredibly popular thanks to their trendy colours and designs. 600ml ($22)
Klean Kanteen – Another good alternative to plastic bottles, is this stainless steel bottle from Klean Kanteen. (I have one). These bottles are often regarded as a competitor to Sigg bottles. They are not as trendy as a Sigg, but on the upside, they are cheaper. 700 ml ($18)
Kor One – Sexy and sleek is how fans of this BPA-free plastic bottles describe Kor One bottles. It won top prize at the 2009 Int’l Plastics Design Competition. If you want the trendiest water bottle around -- Oprah, Martha Stewart and Gwyneth Paltrow are all fans -- the Kor One is it. But it does come at a price. 740ml ($30)

Kitchen gadgets appear Wednesdays.

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Book & Giveaway: The Spice Necklace

Catherine Jheon — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:19:00 GMT

(Ann all windswept and blissed out, Mango Chow, The Spice Necklace)

I was all prepared to dislike Ann Vanderhoof, the author of The Spice Necklace. I mean the Toronto native lives half the year sailing to exotic places and collecting local recipes.

And if that’s not enough to conjure up some sizable green eyed monsters, she’s gone and written a fantastic book about her adventures in the Caribbean from a food lover’s point of view no less. Being the petty jealous person that I am, there was no way I could like her.

Despite all this, Ann, with her easy charm and infectious smile, won me over. Damn you Ann! Admittedly she had some help from her delicious yet ridiculously simple Mango Chow (I’ll post Ann’s cooking demo and recipes from the book later in the week).

All kidding aside, I enjoyed Ann’s gentle yet passionate account of island culture, the people she befriended, not to mention her mouth-watering descriptions of the food (see photo gallery below).

Part guide book, part cookbook, part memoir, Ann’s latest book is the perfect read for food lovers who crave adventures in the sun.

Damage: $32.95

You’ll like it if: you like food, adventure and sun, not necessarily in that order. Each chapter ends with recipes inspired from that particular island.

Highlights: Be it gathering nutmeg in Grenada, hunting crabs and crayfish in Dominica, or tracking down the best oregano-eating goats in the Dominican Republic, Ann’s description of island life and culture will transport you.

Giveaway: I have two signed copies of Ann Vanderhoof’s The Spice Necklace to giveaway. To be the lucky recipient, email me at blogATfoodnetworkDOTca (note: email address has changed) the correct answer to the following question: Which Caribbean-influenced recipe is March's Cooking Club Challenge.? Please see contest rules.

Also, what do you guys think about starting a book club for food lovers? We’ve been throwing the idea around for a while and want to know if you guys would be interested.

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Book & Giveaway appear Tuesdays.

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Photos: Mercato San Lorenzo, Florence
Question of the Week: Have You Smuggled Food Across Borders?

Photos: Mercato San Lorenzo, Florence

Guest Blogger — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:31:00 GMT

(Cured meats and sweets -- enough said!)

Florence is an architectural and artistic wonderland where at every turn, there’s a new, majestic site to behold.

But if you're like me, you like to break up the breath-taking views with something a bit more tangible -- Tuscan food! And there's no better place to witness the bounty of this Italian region than at the city's Mercato San Lorenzo (St. Lawrence Market).

From Florentine steaks fit for a king (or a group at least), to the most wonderfully sourced olive oils and rare aged Balsamic vinegars, this is a market that boldly says: Tuscan and proud of It!

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Mary Luz Mejia is a Toronto-based freelance food writer, food TV producer

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Photos: Winter Farmers Market, Vancouver
Photo: Biarritz, France

Book & Giveaway: Williams Sonoma Foods of the World: Paris

Nadine Sharon Anglin — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:10:00 GMT

Paris eludes me my foodie friends. She stands an oceanic world away and holds all her gastronomic treasures at far reach. I don’t doubt I’ll get there one day (and in fact, this year, may very well be “the one”), but for now I’ll get by on preparing Parisian fare in my Toronto Pied à Terre—I mean, apartment.

The Paris edition of Williams Sonoma’s Foods of the World series of books is a good way to get immersed in Parisian food culture right in my kitchen. You won’t find recipes of the high-end nouveau cuisine variety in this 192-page book, but instead, exceptionally pared back recipes, the back-bone of day-to-day dining in a city where a passion for food is akin to religious fervor.

I chose to make a simple dish of Oeufs a la Crème avec La Salad Frisse avec Lardons, or as they say down in the Catskills, Eggs Baked in Cream with Frisse Salad and Bacon. According to the book, Parisians don’t generally have eggs for breakfast, opting instead for croissants or toast with jam (eggs show up later at mid-day meals). Eggs are always on hand in my fridge, but when I hit the grocery store, they didn't have any frisse. I went with escarole instead, a first-cousin in the same family of endives.

Everything about this dish is understated; the true drama comes from how well you choose your ingredients—the freshest eggs you can find; the best gruyère; the most indulgent full-fat cream. The salad is a bitter greens nest topped with the quickest way to gastro-gratification: salty, fatty bacon (there are, of course, other tasty ways to get your kicks in the kitchen, but bacon ranks as one of the best of the G-rated bunch). Make this dish on late Sunday mornings while you pore over the newspaper and congratulate yourself on preparing at least one proper meal during the week (I will!).

Damage: $34.95

Highlights: The first third of the book is dedicated to features on the history of Parisian cuisine, markets and dining habits as well as illustrated primers on things like French breads, coffees, chocolates and desserts. Each recipe is accompanied by information on where the dish originated from and how it is enjoyed in Paris.

You’ll like if: You’re new to French cuisine or are looking for simple French bistro-style recipes.

Giveaway: I have one copy of Williams Sonoma Foods of the World: Paris to giveaway. To be the lucky recipient, email me at blogATfoodnetworkDOTca (note: email address has changed) the correct answer to the following question: What family of greens does escarole belong to? Please see contest rules.

Book & Giveaway appear Tuesdays.

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French Food at Home

Top 5 Kitchen Gadgets: Travel Mugs

Erin Jackson — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:30:00 GMT

It's Getaway Month here at foodnetwork.ca, so we're bringing you our Top 5 travel mugs which are great for your next trip, whether it's to a sunny, tropical destination, or just a quick ride in the car. These environmentally friendly options will save plenty of cups and keep your favourite beverage nice and toasty.

1: This translucent tea infuser is a great way to make loose leaf tea on the go. $10 from Kitchen Stuff Plus.

2: KSP Grip Travel Mug has a handy carabineer, which is perfect for clipping to your backpack or purse. The stainless steel container will keep your drink warm for hours and has a great sleek look. $10 from Kitchen Stuff Plus

3: This Bodum mug has a removable insert so you can customize the look of your coffee mug. $12.95, The Green Beanery.

4: There's no better way to meet fellow Canadians on vacation then to carry your Tim's mug. This one is the cheapest of the bunch and the first fill-up is on the house, which is great if you're facing 6 hours of airplane coffee. $4.69, Tim Hortons.

5: This portable coffee and tea press from MEC is the perfect way to get a caffeine buzz on the go. Just pour boiling water on top of coffee grounds or tea, press down, and enjoy. $26, Mountain Equipment Co-Op.

Kitchen gadgets appear Wednesdays.

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