Summer break

Hello people of the Internet.

Just a quick 'hey' to say I've decided it's too hot and too summery to be cooking or sitting at a computer (when I'm not cooking or sitting at a computer for work.)

Instead, I'm going to go swimming and eat more ice cream, and I'll see you back here around Labour Day, unless something really big happens that I want to tell you about.

So until then, keep up with me at my blog at House & Home magazine, my weekly column at the National Post, etc.

And until then, have a sweet and shvitzy rest of your summer!

The 5lb question

Just curious: Is it possible to gain five pounds in two days? Because I’m not even kidding, I think that just happened to me.

Maybe I should lay off the deep fried Snickers bars and blooming onions? Perhaps I should take a pass next time someone offers me homemade breadsticks, or hand-made doughnuts?

Possibly, I should start drinking less wine and root beer, and more water? Nahh.

I think the better plan, right after I get back from my weekend trip to Yarmouth, where I’ll be judging a chowder contest and then eating my weight in lobster and oysters – yes, right after that, maybe I’ll start working on my cardio.

But until then, I'll continue to eat my face off. After all, I can always lose these extra pounds, but summer comes but once a year.

Stampede, y'all

A short posting today because I've got to catch my fight to Calgary in a few minutes as I'm heading off to see the Greatest Show on Earth. It may be the first time I'll be taking in the Stampede, but it won't be my first time eating some tasty Alberta vittles. I'm going to be checking out the Chuckwagon Races and the Stampede Rodeo, and I'll even have a behind-the-scenes Chute Tour of the bucking chutes, which sounds awesome even though I'm not really sure what it means, (though I figure bucking is involved.)

And you can get bet your bottom dollar that I'll be eating lots. I'll be eating Alberta beef and oysters and especially midway food (check out the National Post next weekend for my photographic deep-fried journey.)

The bottom line is, I'm hitting Calgary for a weekend of rootin' tootin' cowboy fun.

Not your everyday food festival

It’s the name of the event that first grabbed me: Right Some Good. So evocative of Canada’s East Coast. So full of tasty promise.

Tickets are now on sale for 10 days worth of delicious adventures on Cape Breton Island; the new food festival runs from August 25^th to September 4^th.

The plan is, a number of global Michelin-starred chefs – such as Chef Atul Kochhar of London, the first Indian chef to ever receive a Michelin Star rating, and Chef Javier Vargas Guimaray of Peru, who has won the Guinness World Record for the world’s largest ceviche -- will prepare gourmet feasts using steadfastly sustainable good old Cape Breton ingredients.

Each meal will involve a star chef and skilled team, including an aspiring junior chef selected from applications across the country. Dinner guests will also experience some down home Cape Breton musical talent and hospitality at each unique venue across the island.

While toe-tapping and whiskey sipping, diners will dive into dishes like rhubarb glazed Bras d’Or pork rack, Mira Bay lobster stuffed with shellfish butter, and maple apple dumplings.

All 10 custom menus will focus on ingredients from the sea, forests and fields of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, so you know it’s going to be a good old time -- with some right good food.