7th Day of Halifax Yuletide: Morris East Restaurant

(Meanwhile... at 12 days of Halifax Yuletide...)

(Andrew and our friend K, all dapper at the 1920's NYE party. American friends: note the absence of shoes. Yep in Canada we remove our shoes inside, even at parties)

(photo by Colin Duann Photography: Fabulous Photographer AND so happens he was also the best NYE Party Host Ever)

(The ladies- no shoes even in the hallway!)

For the past several years Andrew and I have spent NYE supper at our absolutely favourite neighbourhood restaurant: Morris East.

On the 7th day of Halifax Yuletide my True Love Gave to Me: Morris East NYE Feast!

(6 Freedom for Exploring, 5 Boardroom Cafe, 4 Got Sucked Away, 3 Carrot Ginger Soup, 2 An Amazing Bookstore, and Some Delicious Coffee for Me!)

I don't remember the exact moment that Andrew and I discovered Morris East, but it only took a few delicious pizzas and scrumptious brunches for Morris East to become our favourite neighbourhood restaurant.

Reasons why Morris East is our FAVOURITE restaurant in Halifax:

(please note that all these points are of equal importance and not a first-last type list!)

• The atmosphere: Morris East (particularly the downtown location) has a distinctly cozy and urban feel. The first time we ate there I felt like I was back in Montreal. (Yes, I know I have Montreal withdrawal and should just get over it since it's been 7 years... but it is one of my favourite cities, don't judge me).
• The staff: Everyone who works at Morris East is awesome. No really, the service is the BEST and is always consistently fantastic (and we have been there a lot). 
• The Food: I know it's weird that this is 3rd in my list, but it could easily be tied with first. The pizzas are absolutely delicious and the brunch menu is different without being "too different". I love that ME uses local ingredients and has a seasonal menu. Also, because of ME I now eat dips. Yes, I have issues with condiments (dips are included in this category), however ME is the ONLY place where I will eat the dips. I don't need to know what is in them, all I need to know is that they are delicious.
• The Drinks: The cocktails at this place are phenomenal. Katrina, the head cocktail-genius, has created the BEST Christmas Mojito and always has yummy delicious concoctions worthy of my tastebuds. 
• The Social Media: This should come as no surprise, but the social media skillz of a business score points with me. Jenny, the owner, rocks at Twitter. For example, I tweeted at 3pm on NYE asking what time the sitting was for the downtown location and within 10min she had responded. Jenny invests a lot of time and effort and takes social media seriously- and it shows.

This summer we had the pleasure of participating in a Morris East filming of "You Gotta Eat Here" which was a surreal and fun experience. I doubt I made the final episode cut since my filming moment wasn't awesome, but it was ridiculously fun to have been invited (since we're regulars!). 

Andrew and I also recently made the trip out to Larry Uteck to check out the second location of Morris East. With a slightly different menu, a huge space (and gorgeous kitchen), it still has the same friendly feel with a larger space. What's neat is that the new place has a dedicated wine bar section, which I can see being the perfect space to enjoy the delicious cocktail creations. 

(a blurry photo of me enjoying a delicious pepperoni pizza at ME a few years back!)

That said, I do believe that after we move Andrew and I will continue to hold the downtown location Morris East as our favourite neighbourhood restaurant, even though we'll be "honorary South Enders". 

6th Day of Halifax Yuletide: The Freedom in Exploring

Today, despite still being sick, I took advantage of having the day to myself and met up with fellow blogger and yogini, Erica from Exuberant Bodhisattva for coffee (at, you guessed it, Smiling Goat).

On the 6th Day of Halifax Yuletide my True Love Gave to Me: Freedom in Exploring

(5 Boardroom Café, 4th got sucked away, 3 Carrot Ginger Soup, 2 An Amazing Bookstore, and Some Delicious Coffee for Me!)

As I walked home, I realized that once we move I no longer will be able to just spend my afternoon wandering aimlessly downtown on my own. I love spending time with my hubby, but I also value my alone time and one of my favourite things is being able to just go for a walk, picking up a few veggies, a book and a few treats for me.

I like walking with a purpose, a destination and living in the heart of the downtown gives me lots of destinations, even if I don't purchase a thing.

Part of a very (compelling) argument for living urban vs rural is the physical activity had when you can walk (or bicycle, which we don't do) places. Suburbs, for the most part, are poorly designed and our future home definitely has limited access to public transit. Thankfully, a quick bicycle ride away is a shopping complex with groceries, rec centre, gym, pet store, vet etc. Potentially I can see us biking around, since our main obstacle in biking in the city was Andrew (and my) fear of being hit by a car.

On a day like today, when Andrew is at work with the car, I'll be stuck at home. So today, as I walked home, I took in the slow progress of construction of the new library, the hustle and bustle of local shop owners and the freedom of taking a few hours out of my day to get out of the apartment and be active.

This realization has underlined just how important a physical activity plan will be in our new life adjustment. That and I'll have to make friends with my new neighbours (I foresee cookies being baked in February!).

To my suburban rural peeps- how do YOU stay active and connected? Are you a two car family? What are your strategies?

5th Day of Halifax Yuletide: The Boardroom Game Cafe

It would appear that the 4th day of Yuletide didn't happen... mostly because I have been sick and like all colds, it has affected my perspective of the space time continuum (where is Q when you need him?).

On the 5th day of Halifax Yuletide my True Love Gave to me: 

THE BOARDROOM GAME CAFÉ!!

(4 got sucked away, Carrot Ginger Soup, An Amazing Bookstore 

and Some Delicious Coffee for Me)

The Boardroom Game Café is a relatively new addition to our South End neighbourhood and we've already been twice. Unlike other gaming places that are set up mostly for War Hammer, Magic the Gathering and DD etc type players (ie serious board gamers only, mostly men, noobs not welcome), the Boardroom Game Café is et up exactly like a café for all boardgame lovers.

Tables are interspersed all around and there is a delicious menu of savoury and sweet treats (the candy bowl is DELICIOUS) along with some seriously tasty beverages. With over 400 board games, there is no judgement on what game you play. I have seen people playing Scrabble, Clue, Risk and even Girl Talk (remember that game?? Pimple stickers!). For the most part it's an equal 50-50 women-men which is pretty darn interesting for a game place.

(The new game a staff suggested and then taught us how to play: Samurai. A hex game similar to Carcassonne, we'll most likely purchase!)

ps- the beer was a Dark Chocolate Stout from Brooklyn Brewery-delicious!!!

The Staff are ridiculously friendly and will help you pick out games THEN they will sit down and explain the rules to you or stop by and answer questions. A fun alternative for a social evening (and a cheaper way to try out new games) the 5$ price tag (have to be legal drinking age- 19yrs in Nova Scotia, you'll need your ID) gives you unlimited game playing until closing at midnight (most nights).

(A 2 player Carcassonne game: The Castle. Although fun, neither of us thought it was as good as the original and would never purchase it. Glad we tried it, now we know!)

Tonight Andrew and I walked down for the perfect date night where we tried out three new games. We discovered one of the three that we would love to purchase. I only won one out of three games, mostly due to my sick handicap (I am usually the winner at boardgames) but it was a blast.

3rd Day of Halifax Yuletide: Carrot Ginger Coconut Soup!

Today I woke up with half my face stuffed up and with the aches. Only one week left of vacation. Great.

I decided, after a morning spent tidying up and packing, that I would treat myself to (two!) Smiling Goat Coffees. As I walked down Queen Street, with the snow gently falling, I realized that I would greatly miss the ability to just up and wander downtown on my days off.

After a few hours of reading I realized that what I really and truly wanted was to try to replicate the most delicious carrot ginger soup I have ever had... which was at Morris East (Bedford Location). And so, I made my way to Pete's... which is a convenience I will miss.

On the Third Day of Yuletide my True Love Gave to Me: Pete's Frootique

(An Amazing Bookstore and Some Delicious Coffee for Me!)

Pete's Frootique, although not perfect, is a convenient place to quickly pick up some fresh and local fruits and veggies (you just have to read the labels carefully), some soap and body butter making supplies, along with fancy and different ingredients. The original Pete's is in Bedford, but it just won't be the same as stopping in on my afternoon wanders to pick up something fun and tasty for supper.

I remember growing up watching Pete share his favourite fruits and veggies on Live at Five (CTV, oh yeah!). Since then his business has grown exponentially with three stores, his own line of products AND his own (delicious) vineyard! Originally from England, Pete Luckett has his own consulting company.

There was a time when Pete's had a live piano player playing ragtime on an old piano in the Bedford store location. How neato is that?

In order to try to combat my cold, I picked up some organic local carrots, ginger, organic coconut milk and organic vegetable broth- figuring I could modify this carrot miso soup recipe from Smitten Kitchen... Crossed my fingers and what do ya know? It tastes delicious!

So, here's my adjusted Carrot Ginger Coconut Soup (admittedly not as amazing as Morris East, but pretty darn close!)

EcoYogini's Carrot Ginger Coconut Soup

(all ready for tomorrow's lunch!)

Ingredients:
2 lbs of peeled thinly sliced carrots (local is best, since fresher is always better with carrots re: flavour)
3 chopped cloves of garlic
3 tablespoons (could have been 4) of freshly grated ginger
1 can of organic coconut milk
3 cups of organic vegetable broth
2 tbsp of olive oil
1 onion chopped
salt-pepper to taste (Andrew said he put "a bunch" of salt in the soup, I would say a tsp)
(extra kick: 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper flakes)

Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Before it gets too hot, add the carrots, onion and garlic and stir until onion is translucent (about 10min). Add broth, coconut milk and ginger. Cover and simmer for about 30min (or until carrots are tender).

Using an immersion blender, blend up the soup. If you want a less thick soup, using a bowl and a mesh strainer (or cheese cloth) and the soup ladle, strain the soup.

Serves 4-6 bowls. :) Enjoy!

2nd Day of Halifax Yuletide: The Bookmark

On the Second Day of Yulemas My True Love Gave to Me: An Amazing Bookstore
(and the most delicious coffee!)

So. I hope you had a fabulous Yulemas and Boxing Day! Here in the H-dot, stores and boxing day sale IRL only happen tomorrow, since Nova Scotia has all retail stores closed on Boxing Day. We're old school like that.

This year, like most years, I received a book for Yulemas. I heart books so very much and if you're a regular to this here space, you'll know I devour books by the dozens. I have odes to bookstores and analog books... but last year I was also gifted with a Kindle. I will admit, that although it will NEVER replace a real life book, my Kindle does have it's purpose.

In any case, something I will most certainly miss from living downtown is the best locally owned bookstore around:

The Bookmark II.

 (Image from bookmarkinc.ca)

What I love about the Bookmark is the small cozy feel, the sense of absolute book-adoration of the staff and the fact that a staff person there, Neil, actually knows my name... and never makes fun of my absolutely fluffy book purchases (typically in the fantasy romance genre... yeah Kim Harrison and Laurell K Hamilton are my best buds, what?).

Also, they have a frequent buyer program, after 10 books purchased you get a discount (I think I'm on my third discount.... yay!). You can order any book and they'll try to bring it in (French books are a bit more challenging for a whole other slew of reasons).

Sadly, in early 2013, the owner of Bookmark (original Bookmark is in Charlottetown) Rodney Jones passed away. Definitely a loss felt in the Atlantic book industry.

I heart my local bookstore and on our trips into the city for Smiling Goat we will definitely stop at The Bookmark II for our literary reading purchase to enjoy over our delicious coffee first :)

Be aca-awesome and support your locally owned small bookstore!

12 Days of Halifax Yuletide: 1st Day Smiling Goat

Although the 12 days of Yuletide are supposed to begin on Yulemas (Christmas) day, here at EcoYogini we're starting a few days early...

Since on January 7th 2014 (only two days after the traditional end of the 12 days) will be the closing day for our NEW HOUSE (squee!) I have been reflecting on all the changes that are to come in our lives once we move. Our new house will be outside of the city (approx 40min away) and there are many things about living in Downtown Halifax that I will miss.

Like everywhere I've lived, I've made some lovely community connections in Halifax. Although I'm sure I will make new ones in my new neighbourhood, I wanted to share some of my favourite haunts over the next 12 days, kind of an "Ode to Downtown Halifax" as my farewell to urban living.

First Day of Yuletide my True Love Gave to Me: The Most Delicious Coffee!

Smiling Goat Espresso Bar

 (image from jar of life March 1st 2012 sadly my photo of the outside was blurry!)

Nestled between a delicious Mexican restaurant and the Lord Nelson, across from the iconic Public Gardens (a Victorian Garden since 1836), Smiling Goat serves the BEST espresso and coffee in the city. I say that because I am a coffee snob. And because it is true.

Locally owned and committed to providing organic, fair trade and delicious coffee with an eco-conscious underlying theme, no "flavoured syrups" will greet you here. All flavoured espresso based drinks (such as pumpkin latte, eggnog latte and chai latte) have actual true ingredients (such as pumpkin pie filling, eggnog and chai tea). Mocha's are served with organic chocolate and organic chocolate milk.

(my delicious mocha today!)

On top of the gorgeous coffee, the staff are always super friendly, not pretentious and very knowledgeable about coffee served. Geoff also tries to support local whenever possible and even promotes a staff's handknit coffee cozies! Often you can find free jazz events, espresso tastings or espresso and wine events.

Andrew and I have been going to Smiling Goat on our weekends (and sometimes I'll pick up a mocha for my long travel trips, or if I have a particularly stressful meeting coming up at work) since we moved downtown. It's only a 10min walk from our apartment. The staff all know our names and we know theirs. It's our neighbourhood cafe and we love it.

(sneaky iphone photo! A beautiful cozy cafe)

Although it won't be our geographical neighbourhood cafe once we move, I know that Andrew and I will continue our weekend Smiling Goat tradition as often as possible. We'll just have to take an hour out of our weekend errands into the city to stop, have a delicious coffee and read quietly together.

Do you have a neighbourhood coffee place in your town?