Devil's Falls, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia

One of my favourite places in Nova Scotia is located on an off-the-beaten-track trail, located near New Boston in Cape Breton. It's a place I like to go to when I just want to sit and relax.

Known as the New Boston Falls among my family, Devil's Falls is a sight to behold after a lot of rain. It's also beautiful to see in the Fall, when the leaves have started to change colours.

A note of caution, though; be careful if you want to take photos from the base of the falls - the hill is very steep and slipery!

Pier 21 Canada's Immigration Museum

A place that is very near and dear to my heart is Pier 21. It's a museum/interpretive centre/art gallery located along Halifax's waterfront. In 2007, it was voted one of Canada's Seven Wonders in a national contest.

It was at Pier 21 where 1 million immigrants, displaced persons and war brides first stepped foot on Canadian soil between the years of 1928 and 1971. To these people, every day was Canada Day. Canada was a country of hope and promise for a better future.

This National Historic Site was lovingly restored and re-opened with national fanfare on July 1st, 1999. I had the privilege of working at Pier 21 for 4 1/2 years. I've never worked in a place where I was so inspired and so moved. It instilled in me a strong pride in my country and it's immigrants. Cause, when you think of it, we are all immigrants (with the exception of First Nations, such as the Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq).

We all have a story to tell and Pier 21 is all about stories. Some are poignant, of surviving the holocaust and weeping for joy when finally arriving in Halifax to start anew. It was always nice to see them, years later, return to the new Pier 21 with their families. The emotions of that day of arrival are still very raw and sometimes there are tears. I recall one day a man stood quietly alone, looking pensive, after a very long time, he knelt down and kissed the floor.

That's my Canada.

Fort Anne National Historic Site, Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia(Laura - Part 6 of 8)

My great aunt Eleanor lives in Annapolis Royal, home to the oldest fort in Canada, Fort Anne National Historic Site. Laura's photos featured with this post remind me of visits with my Aunt, and walking the pathways around Fort Anne's fortifications, originally built in 1629.

The Fort Anne Museum houses an amazing needlepoint tapestry, depicting over four centuries of local history. This quilt was unveiled on Canada Day in 1995 to commemorate the 400-year history of Annapolis Royal and the story of Fort Anne.

CUT

Since it opened in 2007, I have heard rave reviews about CUT- the newest RCR property. The restaurant offers diners a two-level structure of Steakhouse & Grill within the Halifax Courtyard Marriott. Executive Chef, Tahir Salamat began as apprentice in Pakistan before realizing his own vision of Asian inspired global cuisine with French influences.

On Sunday evening, I had the pleasure of dining at the downstairs Grill, whose menu consists of small plates.I went with a friend of mine and we decided to share four – two would have been enough.While the menu presents ‘small plates’, they were filling enough to serve as a meal, yet affordably priced.

Of the four plates, we started with the lobster poutine and Chapili kebabs. The poutine was simple, yet indulgent. Composed of the usual poutine fare: fries, cheese and gravy, it was elevated to a level of decadence. The lobster was juicy and sweet, while the halloumi cheese had just the right texture to match; slightly melted with a hint of salt and a chewy bite. This was blanketed in a light, yet creamy hollandaise sauce. The fries were some of the best that I’ve had in the city – hand cut, crispy outside and soft within, complemented by rich, beef-based gravy. The Chapli kebabs were served with plum tomato chutney.The term ‘chapli’ refers to the cut of the meat; minced beef fried flat on a griddle.The chutney, consisting of tender plum tomatoes, tart pomegranate seeds and caramelized onions, was set off by red onion for heat and crunch.

Next, we paired the duck leg confit with the cheese plate. The duck had a crispy skin enveloping its supple meat.The dish was served with two contrasting sauces: a smoky apple bourbon sauce with a hint of brown sugar, and a sharp orange marmalade, which was a touch bitter for my taste.The creamy, mild Gruyere and Gouda held their own next to the buttery meat, while we saved the blue cheese for the delicate walnut crisps; a classic combination.

The restaurant itself is a delightful space in which to spend an evening; warm cream and gold tones were matched with blond wood, while funky accents enhanced the eatery’s hip vibe. The music was a selection of manager’s mixes featuring Dave Matthews and Radiohead, Ben Harper and Bob Marley.Altogether, they were groovy tunes for a stylish place with real, cool, food.

CUT
5426 Portland Place
Phone: 902.429.5120
www.cutsteakhouse.ca

Open daily for Lunch: 12:00pm to 3:00 pm
Dinner: 5:00pm to 11:00 pm

Sand Developments, Not Castles, Nova Scotia

My kids are world class architects and developers. They create cities, residential areas, freeways and industrial parks. Just add sand and lots of imagination. No tools necessary - seaweed, driftwood and rocks will do perfectly. I am assured they're the greenest of cities, they rely on solar, tidal and wind power.

The beach at Taylor Head Provincial Park is a blank canvas that provides hours of fun. The rise of the tide creates opportunities for these urban planners to erect dikes, bridges or swimming pools. As the tide falls, new building materials expose themselves. Streams and sand bars appear that are in dire need of causeways.

Grand Pre National Historic Site, Nova Scotia(Laura - Part 5 of 8)

Grand Pre National Historic Site is located on the Evangeline Trail in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia. I remember going to Grand Pre during school trips as a student in the valley. The first time I read the poem Evangeline by Longfellow, I shed a tear for all of the Acadians deported from their homeland and separated from there loved ones.

Laura visited Grand Pre this summer and took this awesome shot of the statue of Evangeline with the memorial Acadian Church in the background. You have to go there in person to truly appreciate the church's stained glass windows.

Lavender Jelly, Annapolis Royal Farmers Market, Nova Scotia

Every year, my family and I make a visit to Annapolis Royal. First thing on Saturday morning I head over to the Farmer’s Market. It’s an open air market that is bursting with the smells, sights and sounds of the Annapolis Valley. For a few locals it’s a weekly social gathering, for others it’s a plethora of local produce and fresh baked goods that can easily stir you to dizzying heights.

As I was walking past the local town crier who was handing out fliers for that evenings Kings Theatre performance, I glanced at a table of jellies and other preservatives. I never used to like jelly. Don’t know why. Maybe it’s because I’m a messy eater and can imagine the inevitable.

As I handed over the cash, the nice lady standing behind the table must’ve sensed my trepidation when out of the corner of my eye I noticed a jar of lavender jelly.

“What?” I exclaimed, “Lavender jelly?” The lady told me that the recipe was her grandmothers and it’s one of her best sellers. Knowing this, I simply had to give it a try.

Monday morning when the toast popped up, I had the jar of lavender jelly and a knife ready to go. Suddenly, as I opened up the Mason jar a thought came to me. What if I hate it? What if the one thing I boasted about (before even tasting it) is something that will end up in the back of my fridge beside the expired prune yogurt and the baking soda box?

So I slathered it on my toast and took a huge bite. WOW! Thanks to lavender jelly for Annapolis Royal’s Farmers Market, I can enjoy summer from a jar on my toast and am now looking to experiment with other flavours.

By the way, I say I’m not a fan of marmalade either, but based on this experience anything could happen. =)

Tunes at Noon, Halifax, Nova Scotia

On Friday during our lunch hour, my friend Mike and I grabbed some take out at Extreme Pita, and headed over to Grand Parade square for a picnic.

Happily, Ruth Minnikin and her band of Americana/folk artists were on site to entertain us with there groovy melodies. This outdoor concert was one in a series of lunch-hour concerts put on by the Halifax Regional Municipality.

For more information on these free concerts, check out the Tunes at Noon Summer Concert Series schedule. These concerts will continue until September 5, 2008.

A 'Sweet' Nova Scotia Road Trip

I decided to play tourist for the day and check out some of the culinary offerings outside of the city. Our destination: Old town Lunenburg and Mahone Bay. The theme of this road-trip was definitely ‘sweet’.

Our first stop was for ice cream at Sweet Treasures in Lunenburg. Once inside, I was hit with the enticing smell of homemade fudge, compounded by that of freshly made waffle cones. The store offers eleven of their own house made flavors. It also sells the much-loved Scotsburn ice cream, but really, who would go for generic when you can get the real deal? We decided to keep it simple, trying pure chocolate, and upping the anti with mint chip. Both were full flavored, velvety and smooth, with the mint putting forth a blast of refreshment.

On our way back into Halifax, we made a visit to the Biscuit Eater in Mahone Bay to pick up a much-anticipated biscuit. I had it on good authority that these were some of the best in the province, and was not disappointed. I chose the blueberry, a mix of crumbly butter biscuit, packed with large sweet berries. I have to say that I’ve tasted no equal.

The eatery’s appeal is enhanced with comfortable seating and a relaxed ‘living-room’ feel. The café’s standout feature is the fact that it doubles as a used bookstore. With their mix of satisfying treats and literary treasures, the Biscuit Eater certainly does fuel the mind and the senses.

Also of note on this trip is Wild Elements. I stumbled onto the store, and much to my surprise and delight, found myself in one of the most diverse kitchenware Mecas this side of William Sonoma. If you’re planning a trip to Lunenburg and have a love of all things culinary, this shop definitely warrants a visit.

Sweet Treasures
Montague Street, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia

Wild Elements
55 Montague Street, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
www.wildelements.ca

The Biscuit Eater
16 Orchard Street, Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia
www.biscuiteater.ca

Halifax International Busker Festival, Nova Scotia (Part 3 of 3)

Steve and I checked out the Halifax International Busker Festival this week, and we had a blast. My favourite Halifax busker performance featured a high-flying trio of women called the Aerial Angels from Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States.

These incredible female artists are captured in these photos performing aerial silk feats. These certainly aren't tricks I'd try at home. My heart missed a beat every time these women suddenly fell six feet, with nothing to support them but silk.

The Aerial Angels routine was full of tons of other tricks, and lots of comedy. We laughed a lot during their performance.

Shand House, Windsor, Nova Scotia(Laura - Part 4 of 8)

While visiting Windsor in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia, Laura checked out this beautifully restored Victorian home.

The Shand House Museum is a late-style Victorian museum, featuring wood work and crafted furniture from the Windsor Furniture Factory. From the tower, you have a panoramic view of entire town of Windsor and the Avon River.

That Dutchman's Farm, Fundy Shore, Nova Scotia(Laura - Part 3 of 8)

My friend Laura checked out That Dutchman's Farm in Upper Economy on the Fundy Shore in Nova Scotia. While at this traditional Dutch-style farm, she ate some delicious Gouda cheese produced on site.

The photos feature that Dutchman's wooden shoes left outside the front door of the cheese factory. She could put her entire shoed foot inside one of these shoes, still leaving lots of space. She also captured mamma and baby highland cattle. Aren't they cute!

Amherst Shore Provincial Park, Northumberland Shore, Nova Scotia

On Monday, Steve and I went to visit our friend Glenn at his family's cottage near the Amherst Shore Provincial Park. Although the weather wasn't really cooperating with us, we did manage to take a lovely walk on the beach in the afternoon between showers.

To my delight, Glenn showed me how to find a myriad of sea creatures in the red mud that lines the shore. We spotted baby crabs, star fishes, and more. Since it was low tide, we were able to walk through and around the puddles, squishing our bare feet in the soft mud. What fun!

All day, Glenn's mom June spoiled us with yummy food, including the best shortbread cookies in the world. To top things off, we also played a merry round of 45s - a popular card game I grew up playing with my own family in the Annapolis Valley.

This was my first experience on the Northumberland Shore of Nova Scotia, but it certainly won't be my last.