The Keg Steakhouse on Upper James street on Hamilton’s “Mountain” is one of those restaurants where you’re guaranteed to get a good steak without having to break the bank (but, seems good things don’t last long). After our last visit it should have been enough to confirm that the quantity and quality of their food is no longer what we’ve grown to expect, but we didn’t think much of it and decided that we would give them another try.

It was a Friday night so we went with the expectation that we’d have to wait to be seated as we’d be dealing with the weekend dinner crowd, plus the weather was great so the patio crowd was also there. It took us about 30 minutes to be seated and it was a great opportunity to people-watch as we tormented ourselves with the lovely scent of grilling steaks from the kitchen. Our server for the night was very good at his job, something we’ve also grown accustomed to at the Keg (good service).

We started off with  non-alcoholic beverages and I settled for my normal decaf coffee which was hot. I can’t say much more of this coffee as it was bland and if not for it being dark like coffee, I could easily be drinking a hot glass of water with cream and sugar. After placing our dinner order we settled for the Garlic Cheese Bread appetizer (Cheddar, Monterey Jack and Parmesan cheeses oven toasted to a golden brown on French stick), which I must confess was the hit of the night. The sort of tangy taste of the aged Parmesan was simply delightful and overall very filling.

As we waited for our meal to arrive it gave us the opportunity to chat, scope out some of the dishes that were making it’s way to the other tables ( the lovely scent was so punishing when you’re hungry… lobster seems to have been the hit this night) and take in the general ambiance. A multil-level restaurant, with different size tables and booths, filtered light to give a sort of romantic feel and there was a buzz of activity since it was a full house.

Indy wasn’t very hungry so she ordered the Keg Caesar – Crisp romaine and aged Parmesan cheese in a creamy dressing, which she mentioned was excellent. Tehya ordered off the kids menu and settled on the Kids Sirloin Steak – Each meal includes your choice of fries, Caesar salad or seasonal vegetables. All meals include a vegetable plate, ice cream for dessert and a soft drink, juice or milk. In the pics you’ll  notice two things about this kids meal. It was similar in portion size to the steak Caron ordered off the main menu and with the inclusion of the vegetable plate, you got the impression that you got much more for your money by ordering off the kids menu.

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As mentioned above, Caron got the  Grilled Top Sirloin served with fries. (choice of baked potato, fries, salad) Generally the steak was rather small and bland, but at least it was cooked to her liking. I strongly believe that if you’re going to have a scanty plate, use a smaller plate so at least we get the impression we’re getting a full meal. In my quest to move away from my traditional order of “steak” I opted for the grilled chicken topped with lobster sauce with chunks of perfectly cooked lobster pieces and asparagus. Just wish there was more lobster and less of the overcooked chicken breast. I’m no fan of chicken breast and this horrid attempt at grilling only confirmed this. My meal came with garlic mashed potato, which is why I keep coming back to the Keg. Their garlic mash is probably the best in the city.

Our bill with tip came to just over $100 ( we didn’t order any alcoholic beverages) and though the service was excellent and it also gave us the opportunity to spend time out as a family, I would really have to think twice before going back to the Keg for dinner. There’s some work to be done on quality and quantity to get back to the standards they originally set for patrons. I realize that this night was very busy, but it’s my opinion that a good restaurant can be judged on a busy night to see if they can maintain a level of standard when more is demanded from the kitchen.

Hamilton Mountain Keg
1170 Upper James Street
Hamilton, Ontario
L9C 3B1
Canada
(905) 574-7880

HOURS:

DINING ROOM
Monday – Thursday 4:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Friday 4:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Saturday 3:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Sunday 3:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

BAR
Monday – Thursday 4:30 p.m. – Midnight
Friday 4:30 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.
Saturday 3:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.
Sunday 3:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

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One of the benefits of operating this website is that it gives us the opportunity to explore things we wouldn’t normally do before. One of then being, experimenting  new tastes and flavours and with the wonderful multicultural landscape of Canada, there are so many options. Last Wednesday we spent a couple hours hiking Mt Nemo (look for that review soon) and it was agreed that after the hike we would head over to Lulu’s Shawarma in Hamilton for dinner. Marco and Toni (our partners in crime) are veterans at dining out and they mentioned that it’s a good option for eating affordable Middle Eastern food. Cheap! Good!.. I’m sold.

Lulu’s can be found within the heart of downtown Hamilton, just off John St North and it’s very easy to pass by and never really notice due to it’s small size. The inside is about 15 x 20 feet and on a busy day I can see this place being really cramped. The counter to order overlooks the small kitchen with the hot-top grill where at any given time you’ll see an assortment of meats being cooked by lovely couple who owns and operates this joint. There’s space for about 12 people (being generous) at the tables where you can sit and dine if you so choose and the place itself is very clean and welcoming. There’s a smile to greet you on entry and just the same when you leave.

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A quick look on the walls and you’ll see what a popular establishment LuLu’s is, with all the awards they’ve won over the years (see pics above). While we waited for our orders to be called my senses were immediately called into action, as I could smell some sort of meat being cooked with a hint of spices and diced onions. Yes, I couldn’t wait to give this a try. We all got the Chicken Shawarma with “everything” and I also asked for mine spicy! Let’s be clear… I’m a pepper head and have been disappointed in the past with lame sauces that parade around as being spicy or hot. So I didn’t really expect much when I asked from my order to be made spicy.

Between the time we got our orders to the time I spent cleaning up the rich remnants of garlic sauce off my face, it was blank to me as I was in a trance of food goodness. You get a pita stuffed with the works and topped with layers of chicken.. so much so that it’s served in a pouch wrapped in tin foil and you’re given a fork to start the eating process. As I worked my way down the pile of food, I got a slight hint of the hot-sauce they added for me and though it was not blazing hot, it was the perfect balance for this meal. Our table was quiet, expect for the occasional “how do you like it”. We were hungry and this meal was absolutely hitting the spot!

The owners/operators glanced over and also inquired if everything was ok and they got thumbs up from our table. One couldn’t also help but notice how friendly and welcoming they made us feel. This was a true example of a mom and pop business at it’s best! I/we don’t claim to be experts in Middle Eastern cuisine, but this was truly a wonderful meal and it was relatively cheap. The Shawarma cost $4.82 + tax and it was very filling. So much so that Caron couldn’t even finish her’s onsite. BTW, if you’re dining in get the container with the garlic sauce and add as necessary… it’s outstanding.

If you look at the pics above you’ll notice that they also serve Humus, a variety of Salads, rice, Falafel and an assortment of other fast foods.

Lulu’s Shawarma
32 John Street North @King William, Hamilton, ON L8R1H3
Phone: (905) 521-4848

Mon – Fri – 11am-10pm

Sat 12pm – 10pm

Sun-Holidays – Closed.

Since LuLu’s is family owned and run by the hard working couple I touched on above, I guess they need time off on Sundays.. just wish they could clone themselves and give us the opportunity to eat here 24-7 7 days a week. I did say the food was outstanding!

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Nothing signals that summer is here than feasting on a large plate of  fish and chips at Hutch’s on the beach, after you’ve enjoyed the sights and sounds of all the activity at the beach. We had spent the morning trying to launch our friend’s sailboat and by noon we were getting frustrated, tired and needed to replenish our fuel or risk passing out in the heat of the midday sun. We were 2 minutes walk from Hutch’s, so it was the obvious choice.

Be prepared on warm days to experience long lines to place your order and people hovering over you to claim your seat in the cool 50′s styled dining room as the place gets very crowded. On these beautiful summer days, the beach and boardwalk (paved trail) is usually packed and everyone seems to end up in Hutch’s to cool down, grab a bite or get a frozen dessert from the ice cream store built within the restaurant itself.

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We were lucky enough to find an empty booth, so the girls claimed it before someone else did, while I joined the line to place our orders. The line was rather long and went to the outside of the building, No worries as it moved quickly. Order placed I went back to our table since you’re given a ticket with your order number, which is called over the overhead speakers when it’s up. I think we waited about 10 minutes, which wasn’t that long of a wait considering the amount of people that packed the restaurant.

Marko and Toni each got the large fish and chips plate which goes for $10 (still can’t believe they eat it all). You get two pieces of battered, deep fried fish covered with a pile of fresh cut fries. Since I’ve been trying to eat a little healthier and we knew from our last visit that the large order is huge, Caron and I decided to split one. If you’re like me and like your fries with mayo, be sure to ask the person at the sales counter to include a small container for you. I doubt that it’s made inhouse, but it’s tangy and creamy – perfect for dipping those wonderful fresh cut fries.

The chips are short and thick and I honestly believe that they could have been cooked a couple minutes more. But we were hungry and were enjoying them just the same. The fish on the other hand was VERY greasy and the batter seemed to have been over cooked. However this was probably due to the thickness of the fish, which I’m sure had to stay a bit longer in the deep fryer to cook all the way through. The thickness of the fish is also to blame for the sort of wet or soggy interior when you broke through it with your fork. Just too much moisture for my liking! But I was the only one at the table who felt this way.

The tall cup of orange Crush really help tie this fried dish together and I love the fact that there were no fishy smell or taste to the fries. The tartar sauce comes in little plastic envelopes and though the ketchup comes from one of those pump containers where you serve yourself, it’s fresh and of good quality. There’s the usual salt, pepper and basic vinegar on the tables.I can be a bit nosy (not intrusive)  in restaurants and I noticed on the table across from us they ordered what seemed to be the footlong hotdog and the other person had the cheeseburger. Both looked very tasty and I immediately wished I had gone for the hot dog instead, which looked like of of those tasty all-beef ones.

Done to mimic a 50′s style diner (actually I think the place was built back in the 50′s), there’s a huge juke box at the front where you wait for your order to be called and on each table there’s a miniature version (see pics above) as well. The walls are covered with a tons of sports memorabilia and if you didn’t know better you’d think ti was a shrine to local football and hockey. The bathrooms are clean, but in the ladies vanity area I was told that the taps were installed incorrectly. The ones marked hot is cold and cold is hot.

The best seating option for me are the ones directly facing the paved path of the beach area as you can people watch while you enjoy your meal as well as watch the boaters and on a clear day you can see across the lake to Toronto. Great use of windows to bring a bit of the outdoor activity and scenery in.

The staff at Hutch’s does a great job keeping the dining room clean, as we saw on at least 3 occasions the teenage staff were busy sweeping, wiping and removing garbage… with a smile on their faces.

To recap… be prepared for lines on warm days, if there’s 2 or more in your group (BTW the seating can only accommodate 4 people at the tables) one should place the order while the other secure seating, the large fish and chips order feeds two people easily and ladies don’t forget about the switched taps in the bathroom.

Hutch’s On The Beach Diner.

Address

280 Van Wagners Beach Road,
Hamilton, ON
L8E 3L8

Phone : (905) 545-5508

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After  a lovely breakfast at Stone Crock Restaurant, we headed over to the St Jacobs Farmer’s Market, since this was the real reason for our day trip to St Jacobs. A vibrant market with over 600 vendors and aisle upon aisle of fresh produce from across Ontario and from local farm gardens. Plus, there’s meats, cheese, baking, local crafts, home decor, furniture, clothes, tools, housewares, and more.

I was like a kid in a candy store this day! We arrived around noon and the parking lots were jammed packed, however the amount of people you have coming and going, a spot was not that difficult to find. On entering the indoor market you’re immediately greeted with the vibrancy of a packed farmers market. The sounds of people negotiating prices, placing their orders and the occasional shouts from vendors broadcasting what they have on special for the hour. The scent of baked goods, smoked meats and ripe fruits permeated the entire two floors of this master crafted wooden structure. With exposed timber and fine craftsmanship, it felt as if you were in a glamorous barn type building. It reminded me of a scene in the movie “Witness” during a barn raising by the Amish people. But as far as I could tell, the Mennonites were the ones who can lay claim to founding this astounding market.

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The selection and quality of products were unmatched as far as freshness, size and taste goes, but I found the prices to be about 10-15% more than what you’d pay at the grocery store. There were samples galore and one could easily skip lunch and dine just of the wide variety of samples vendors were giving out to shoppers. And in all honesty, it’s the widest selection of pies I’d ever seen in my life and to top it all off I saw a kid selling pickles on a stick. As you would expect to find popsicles, this kid (see pic above) had pickles on sale and they seemed to be hit, with the large crowd I saw around him.

Couple pointers I must mention though… the crowds can be extensive and navigating the market can become a bit of a challenge, without bumping into others and if you plan on bringing your children with you, you may want to think twice about bringing that baby buggy. With the crowds and tight hallways, navigating the aisles may be a bit challenging. However, the outdoor market is well suited for the entire family with it’s complete openness and the kids will get a kick out of the petting zoo at the rear.

You also got the sense of the true multicultural aspect of life in Canada as the food on sale represented many corners of the world. And if you listened closely you could also pick up on a wide array of languages and accents from the vendors and those shopping and others like me who were just mesmerized by everything.

It’s takes a good hour or so to walk through and really grasp everything the indoor market has to offer so do consider this when planning your trip. St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market  is a unique and lively place to shop.

The Outdoor Market.

Just when the sadness of having to leave the market came over me, our friends who’d been here several times before said it was time to go to the outdoor part of the market. My eyes lit up once again and this time I was in for a bigger and better treat. This section reminded me of my childhood days accompanying my mom to Sunday market in the Caribbean. Which was all open-air. The only thing that was missing was the fresh catch of the day, since the market we went to also had a seafood section where the local fishermen would sell what they caught that morning.

Here you’re greeted with the smell of cooking food as there were many options for street food to choose from. Including some of the best pita sandwiches I’d ever seen. Fresh grilled meats, topped with mouthwatering cooked vegetables (peppers,onions etc) and wrapped tightly into a sandwich which you could hold onto while still walking through the market. Seems the fresh cut fries were just as popular, with the huge lines that were gathered to fork over cash for this deep fried goodness.

Just as the indoor market had a wide selection to choose from, the outdoor market was not to be out done, except you here you could find buskers, a flea market and a small petting zoo. There were chickens, ducks, pony rides and from the pics below you’ll see a couple beautiful horses that stuck their heads out the window just in time for me to capture them with my camera.

I’ve never been a friend of flea markets so I quickly browsed through the cheaply made stuff on sale, but I did come across the most magnificent horses I’d ever seen at the rear/side of all the vendors. They was part of the trolley ride you can take through town and this can be found at the back of the outdoor market, where the flea market section is.

It seems that this section of the St Jacobs Market was also used for wholesale selling as there were options to buy in huge quantities. I saw bushels of corns, potatoes, tomatoes, beans, etc and I can only image if we came later in the summer when the local farmers were really reaping their crops.

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BTW if you’re looking for bathrooms you have two options. There’s some within the indoor market on the ground floor and in the outdoor market, work you way into the red building where there’s the designated seating area. And if you’re visiting on a sunny day remember the sunblock and walk with a bottle of water as it gets pretty hot.

I can honestly say that there’s no better way to spend the day or reason to take the drive to St Jacobs. Enjoy international favourites, and local delicacies including sausage, apple fritters, and pure maple syrup sold by Mennonite farmers who travel to market by horse and buggy. Oh yea! – don’t forget to try the pickle on a stick

St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market & Flea Market:

878 Weber Street North, Waterloo Ontario

Hours of Operation Phone: 519-747-1830
E-mail:markets@stjacobs.com

3 km. south of Village of St. Jacobs

DAYS & TIMES

Thursday & Saturday year around

7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Tuesday Summer Market

June 16 to September 1, 2009

8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

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We were told that if we were planing on visiting St Jacobs that we should try to arrive early, as it gets pretty crowded on the weekend especially with the wonderful weather in the forecast. Friends of ours had dined at the Stone Crock Restaurant on a previous trip to St Jacobs, so they suggested we have the buffet breakfast to start off our day. I’m one of those people who like doing a bit of research before I’m about to visit somewhere, especially when it comes to restaurants. The reviews I came across for the Stone Crock Restaurant online were less than desirable. However, our friends made the suggestion and we trusted their opinion more than some faceless person on Tripadvisor, who arrived just before they stopped serving breakfast and expected a fully stocked buffet.

We arrived a little after 8 am and there were already several patrons inside and according to the info I read online, they open at 8 am. I guess everyone were on our page and wanted to get a jump-start to their day with a good breakfast. Parking is free and can be found on the entrance to the right side of the building. But with limited spaces I could easily see this parking lot getting filled fast. Now I’m not sure if this is allowed, but we left of our car in the very same parking lot after breakfast and toured the small town of St Jacobs so we didn’t have to source other parking options.

* For driving directions, location and service times, please see below.

We we’re a party of four and were seated immediately as we arrived just after they opened as I touched on above.  I did notice a rather long bench at the front where you wait to be assigned a table, so I assume it gets pretty busy during the later part of the morning. We were here for the buffet breakfast, but there are many ala carte options if you so choose. A very pleasant lady came over and introduced herself as our waitress and took our drinks order. Yes, the coffee is good and you will find yourself having that second cup. She explained that the buffet was open and that we were free to go up and get started.

There are two main buffet sections, with the “salty” stuff on one and the “sweet” on the other. The salty included eggs, bacon, different fried potatoes, sausages, toast, French toast, ham, quiche…you get the picture and on the sweet section there’s an assortment of desserts, fruit and breads. Can you guess which section I didn’t go to? I must warn you though, as you make your way between the sausages and french toast you’ll be captivated by the scent of apple pie. You’ll swear you’re in your grandmas kitchen as the lovely scent of baking apples combined with cinnamon sugar catches your attention and forces you to place a couple of the apple fritters onto your plate. I was told by Tony who’s been here before that I should grab a couple as these go very fast. For the cereal lovers there’s hot oatmeal and an assortment of cold cereal to choose from. I’m a big fella and I do put away a good meal and with all the options I was in my personal heaven. I started off with the eggs, deep friend bacon (lovely), sausage, hash browns and fried potato slices.

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We topped up our coffee, enjoyed good conversation and the placemat under our plates was a map of the area so that helped us to further plan our day in St Jacobs. Caron, Marko and Toni are all dessert people so they went up and sampled the fresh fruit, the trifle (which did look yummy) and some of the other freshly made desserts they offed. When a table goes quite, you know everyone is enjoying the meal. I on the other hand went in for round two as I did zero in on the baked beans my first time around, but didn’t have room on my plate and I wanted another portion of the fried slices of potato which had a light seasoning on them. I’m a huge fan of baked beans and weather this batch was made from scratch or from a can, they were excellent. Very savory and the beans themselves kept their same and were not crushed.

The restaurant at this point was starting to get packed, but the way the tables are spread out into different rooms, you never get the feeling of being crowded. The interior gave you a sort of home style comfort with the wooden tables and chairs you’d find in most homes across Canada and the open airy feeling was very welcoming. We lucked out with a table by the window so we could see people coming and going in the parking lot and the natural light enhanced this dining experience.

As you looked around to the other tables you could see people enjoying good food and from the low chatter you could tell they were enjoying the conversations they were having with friends and family. Even the toddler at the table 5 tables away was enjoying whatever her mom was feeding her.

We were now fueled-up and ready to hit the streets of this historic town of St Jacobs. As we made our way back to the front it was then that I noticed the gift store on the right side of the exit. A great spot to pick up little trinkets to remember your visit to St Jacobs. I guess I missed this on entry as I was more focused on the alluring scent of sizzling bacon and the rich smell of perfectly brewed coffee as we entered earlier.

I’m not sure why this restaurant gets all the bad reviews online, but our group was very pleased by the ambiance, the service and excellent food choices. Fresh, well cooked and on point when it comes to serving temperature. Which I’m sure is hard to achieve when you’re serving food buffet style. Breakfast is served between 8-11 am, costs $9.99 per person and the selection is awesome.

Getting there:

St. Jacobs Stone Crock Restaurant
1396 King Street North
St. Jacobs, ON N0B 2N0
Phone: (519) 664-2286
Fax: (519) 664-1513

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We’d love to hear your comments if you’ve been to the Stone Crock Restaurant in St Jacobs, kindly leave us your thoughts in the comments section provided below. Additionally we’d appreciated it if you to join our Facebook fanpage by clicking on the image below. This way you can keep updated on all the latest Ontario revelations we uncover and share your experiences with the group.

There’s nothing more appealing than having to spend your evening covering an event that focuses on food. Especially when it’s professionally run and very welcoming. As part of the Ancaster Heritage Days, the Taste Of Ancaster is in it’s 6th year and we were afforded the opportunity to be part of it. After contacting Mary Ann Leach, the chair of the Ancaster Heritage Days she organized with Scott Rastin from the Knights Of Columbus to get us a couple passes to attend this years event.

This years event was held at Marquis Gardens 1365 Sandhill Drive, Ancaster.  A venu we last visited a few years back when they had only just opened and we we’re just as impressed as we were back then with their level of service and the warm and inviting feeling you get from this venue. On entering we were greeted by Scott and he went through all that we could expect and should try while at the event. It was nice seeing that one of the main organizers took the time to greet everyone that came through the doors this night. Love the personal touch.

Basically the Taste Of Ancaster is a celebration of the culinary culture of the area, where restaurants from Ancaster gives attendees the opportunity to go through what seems like a sample menu. Additionally you also have a wide selection of wines from the Niagara region to sample, like : Colio Estate, Palatine Hills Estate, Peller Estates, Stoney Ridge Estate. Not to be outdone, there were a few breweries present as well, including Labatt’s, Steam Whistle and Wellington Brewries.

On this night I had to avoid all drinks with alcohol as I’m on medication that prevents me from consuming any. And since Caron nor I are not wine drinkers there’s not much I can say about the quality or selection of wines that were there to taste. However the region was well represented and the few people I spoke with were very pleased by the selection and the fact that this gave them an opportunity to taste wines and not having to purchase a full bottle. The one brewery that seemed to stand out (from the lines) was “Steam Whistle”, but it seems more people were interested with the wine tasting aspect of the show.

The food… the real reason why you’d see me at this event (other than to network). Generally all the food were good, but there were a few restaurants that stood out. The best overall dish this night was the savoury chicken wings presented by Faloney’s Of Ancaster. Both Caron and I agree that the plump, juicy and richly covered wings were to die for. Whatever the sauce is they used to drench the wings in was absolutely heavenly and the wings themselves were perfectly cooked. Not dry, and it had that sticky sort of texture that you’d expect from ribs you’d get at a good BBQ smokehouse from down south (St Louis, Carolinas, Texas..etc). As far as exotic dishes go, hats off to both My Thai and the India Village restaurants for tasty rice dishes. Though I not a huge fan of basmati rice, the outstanding way they combined fresh slices mangoes, pineapple and other fruits and spices to prepare this rice dish worked well and I have no problem recommending the India Village restaurants to friends.

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Overall the display put on my the Marquis Gardens stood out for us. From the allure of the chocolate covered fruit from the chocolate fountain, to the cajun shrimp that’s flambéed in front of you… these guys really know how to steal a show. You can see one of the head chefs in action in the picture at the top of this post.

I’d say there were about 200+ people at any given time at the event, but it never felt crowded, nor were there long lines to sample any of the goodies. The live music from the Ron Palangio Band added a nice touch to the event as it gave you the feeling that you were just hanging out with friends on a Friday night. Even though you didn’t know anyone. Even if you’re not into food or wines, the opportunity to network is well worth the price of admission as far as I’m concerned.

The price of admission was $40 a person and though some may think it’s a bit pricey, it’s well worth it. There was a huge selection of food to try, the wines and beers were just as plentiful and as I touched on above, this was an excellent event to network. Additionally I must mention that proceeds from the Taste of Ancaster goes to local charities as well.

We highly recommend that you be part of this event next year (usually held in June) and come out meet people from your community and support a good cause.

Location: Marquis Gardens 1365 Sandhill Drive, Ancaster, ON

Price of admission: $40 (fully inclusive, so no buying tickets to sample as other events)

Who: This is part of the Ancaster Heritage Days celebrations and is put on my the Ancaster Knights of Columbus.

Special thanks to Mary Ann Leach and Scott Rastin for generously accommodating us.

*If you’d like to have us cover your event or do a review of your business and give it a boost of exposure from the 1000′s of visitors that visit us daily, please contact us.

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We’ve had  a craving for a “greasy” breakfast for a few weeks now and though I make excellent fresh-cut hash-browns, I just wasn’t in the mood to cook this morning. Years ago when I worked downtown Hamilton as a Database Administrator, the odd morning I would stop by Steve’s Open Kitchen on James Street South and grab a quick bite. What a treat that would be! So we decided to head down there this morning and make it a breakfast date (the girls were in school).

It’s always a good sign when you walk into a place and the locals are packed in there, not to mention there was a table full of our boys in blue (Hamilton’s finest). If the local police were having breakfast here, the food must be good. As I mentioned it was a few years since my last visit and I wasn’t sure if things had changed. I was quite surprised to see Nick still hovering over the flat top cooking up a fresh batch of those wonderful breakfast potatoes they serve.

We were greeted by the waitress on duty this morning and asked if we wanted a booth or of we’d like to sit at the counter. Back in the old days I would sit at the counter since it was just me, plus it gave me a chance to watch Nick cook. Since all the booths were packed we opted to have coffee at the counter until a table cleared. We only had to wait about 5 minutes before we got seated, had menus in hand and coffee was being poured into cups for us. No decaf, so I had no choice but to go for the real deal this morning. Overall it was a pleasant cup of coffee and came with regular top-ups.

There’s a few options as far as breakfast goes (see pic of menu below), but we opted for the “Classic”. Which was Bacon or Ham or Sausage with 2 large eggs, home fries and toast (2 pieces cut in 4)  which goes for $3.95. Caron ordered the bacon and I had the sausage. I knew she wouldn’t finish hers so I didn’t get the same meat as her… my plan worked. As I did eat some bacon this day as well.

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As I sat there enjoying the company, the coffee and morning newspaper, it also gave me the opportunity to people watch a bit. If you ever want to see the working class of a city, stop by a diner for coffee. What a lovely atmosphere!

Steve’s Open Kitchen is a small spot on James Street South and seats about 15-25 people (they now have an extended side), with booths that can fit 4 people, some doubles, plus you also have the option of sitting at the counter if you’re by yourself. There’s nothing that really stands out about the decor, but that’s expected for  small diner like this. What the place lacks in “pretty” interior, it sure do make up with the tasty food they serve. At relatively inexpensive prices. And you get a definite community feel once inside.

After about 5 minutes of so our breakfast arrived and we were starving (the scent in this place is amazing)! The eggs were cooked perfectly, so too the sausage and bacon, which was very meaty and not just a strip of pork fat. SPECIAL mention must be made about the breakfast potatoes. I’m not sure how it’s seasoned (yes it must be seasoned) but quite honestly (and Caron also agrees) this is the best breakfast potatoes we’ve ever had.  One word of warning though, ask for your toast without the butter, as it’s piled on there. If you like butter on your toast, ask for it on the side or you can get jam or marmalade packets on the table. I also didn’t really care for the paper thin bread used. I realize that we got a lot for what we paid, but I’m sure patrons would pay the extra to have a sort of Texas style toast. This breakfast deserves a better piece of bread, Nick.

Overall a wonderful way to spend the morning. The service is very nice and fast, so even if you had control of your time like us (we could have spent all morning there )or was on your way to work, you be in and out very fast. And well fed! Our final bill with tip came to $15.00 ($11.75 with taxes was the actual bill) and that was with unlimited coffee. There’s no actual parking on James street itself, but there’s a few parking meters around the corner on the side streets. So for about $1 you’ll have parking for about 1 hour.

Cheers to Nick and staff at Steve’s Open Kitchen. You guys are a true landmark in the area, serving up good food, in a wonderful environment.

Contact/Address:

Steve’s Open Kitchen Hamilton
149 James Street South,
Hamilton, ON L8P 2Z5
905-529-9913

* If you’ve been to Steve’s we’d like to know what your experience was like. Please leave us a comment below.

**If you’d like to be featured on OntarioAlive.com where your business, event or establishment would be seen by thousands of locals every week, do get in contact with us. We’d be happy to drop by and do a review.

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Since our last food show (Food and Drink Festival – Hamilton) a couple weeks back I was a bit hesitant to visit the Good Food Festival, but with the professionalism shown to me when I sent in my request for Media Accreditation, I thought I’d give it a try. As I mentioned in the review for the Hamilton event, it was poorly organized (layout) and I hated the fact that there were so many drunks walking around from the wine tasting.

It was Sunday morning so the drive down the 401 was relatively traffic free…  in less than 1 hour I was already inside the venue (International Center) and registering to get in. Seems the rain didn’t deter people from attending as there was a steady flow of people purchasing tickets and grabbing their welcome bag as they made their way in. The welcome bag was one of those reusable shopping bags you can purchase at Metro grocery stores (I believe Metro is the main sponsor for the event, thus the branded shopping bag giveaway). However later in the day when I was about to leave, the bag changed to a “Canadian Living” bag, which was packed with a few goodies. Including the latest issue of “Canadian Living” magazine.

What a great use of space. The event floor was well planned (see pic below) and there was tons of room to move, line up for giveaways and stop to browse, even though there must have been a few thousand people in attendance during the couple hours I was there. At no time were people getting into each others way, so the flow of traffic itself was well maintained.

Highlights of the day!

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This was truly an event with ethnic flair, gourmet goodies, a wide selection of natural foods, cooking advice and an overall amazing experience for foodies to explore different aspects of local and foreign cuisine. And the selection of ingredients on display was enough to tempt anyone to get cooking.

Unlike other similar events, there were many booths with free sampling and for the ones that didn’t offer free samples, had price reductions on their items to make it more affordable for attendees to give it a try. However the ones were there were free samples usually had failry long lines, but the lines moved relatively fast, so you didn’t have to wait too long for that free bottle of flavoured Dasani water.

What stood Out For Me?

I love bread, especially the artisan types and I was stunned by the wonderful gesture by the people at the “Italian Home Bakery Ltd“. As I worked my way through the event, I was told by Vince (I believe that was his name) to come back for something to take home with me, and I’m so happy that I took them up on their offer. Last night’s dinner was made complete by the wonderful French stick he gave to me and for lunch today I had an amazing grilled sandwich made from the sliced Calabrese that was also included in the bag he gave me on my way out. Friends, if you’re looking for GOOD bread, give Italian Home Bakery Ltd a try. You can check out what they have to offer and how to get your hands on the amazing bread they bake at their website http://ihbakery.com/

Grace Foods. From the huge display (booth) they had to the cooking seminar they put on throughout the day, educating people about ethnic foods and preparation methods, Grace didn’t disappoint. One couldn’t leave this event without learning at least one thing. The info provided by the Grace Foods team was stellar.

Chetty’s. If “Chris” from Chetty’s is reading this, please note that our team at FierceSauces would love to do a review on your hot sauces. Please get in contact with us to give your blazing sauces some exposure. I got to taste a couple of the sauces that Chetty’s had on display and the one that really stood out was the lime flavoured one. Quite honestly, this was one of the better sauces I’ve had in a while and I was especially impressed with the after taste. But a review of the sauces will be reserved for our sister site. It was nice seeing these guys on display, showing some of the traditional hot sauces with a Guyanese heritage. Lovely display (see pic above) and great attitude. Just love your friendly nature and proud way you described what you do.

From the time you enter this year’s event and you’re greeted by the scrumptious looking whole roasted pig (wish I could get a few slices), to the friendly nature of all the people who had booths, the freedom to browse and really enjoy the show, to the many cooking lessons and demonstrations and all the samples of food and drinks… this is one of those “must-attend” events that you should etch into your calendar. Free parking and professionally run, you’ll really love this event as much as I did. I only wish I had more time to take in some of the demonstrations… like the one put on my the dairy farmers (cheese). And it would have been nice to meet some of the celebrity chefs that were carded to be there over the weekend. Maybe next year I’ll speak with Amanda to see if she can connect me with one of those chefs to offer a more in-depth side of the event to readers.

That reminds me…special thanks to Amanda Wedgewood for accommodating us at this years event. It’s nice that people are seeing the worth of bloggers and treat them with the same sort of professionalism they reserve to other forms of media.

Important Info.

Website: http://www.goodfoodfestival.com/

Location: International Centre, Hall 5 6900 Airport Rd (at Derry Rd), Mississauga

Festival Hours:
Friday: noon to 8pm
Saturday: 10am to 8pm
Sunday: 10am to 5pm

Tickets cost:

Adults : $14 | Seniors $10 | Kids under 12 with a paying adult is free.

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What started off as drive to the grocery store to get a liter of ice cream, turned into a trip to  the new Marble Slab Creamery in the  Heritage Greene Shopping Centre. At a meeting a few days ago I learned that some of the ‘best” ice cream in Hamilton, can be found at Marble Slab Creamery and I mentioned it as I was leaving the house for the grocery store. The mini-van went into action and we were at the new Marble Slab location in less than 10 minutes. Our daughters are passionate about ice cream, so we decided that we just had to give this parlor a try after they heard my comment. If you’ve read the post I did on Stoney Creek Dairy, you’d know that we even brave the cold temperatures to get ice cream.

The Heritage Greene Shopping Centre is fairly new, so even though I’ve been there a few times before, I never really paid much attention to the stores that were there. Maybe this is why I had no prior clue about Marble Slab Creamery. It was a lovely, but cool spring evening and from the outside the store seemed closed (tinted windows?) so we thought that we were out of luck. However we quickly learned that it was open, when a flock of customers came out looking fully satisfied that they just indulged in some good ice cream.

There were a few guests enjoying an assortment of ice cream treats as we went inside (very spacious and clean). And since this was our first visit here, I kinda peeked at what the others were enjoying to get ideas for ordering. After-all, if they’ve ordered it, it must be good? Be prepared to be overwhelmed with choices… not just flavours, but toppings as well. This place has it all! But if you specialize in ice cream, one would expect that right?

The staff on duty were VERY helpful (and friendly) in suggesting flavours etc and giving us info on the general way one can order (hey this was our first time and we needed the tour). Basically we got what we would normally get when we purchase ice cream elsewhere, just so we could make a comparison. Indy and Kieana didn’t comment much about their order (at least no complaints), but Tehya was quite pleased with her  BUBBLEGUM order - Sweet and oh so pink, our Bubblegum is as fun as it is yummy. And I was QUITE Pleased that I could finally get “rum” ice cream. This is almost impossible to get in Ontario (Natural rum flavoring is blended with Sweet Cream for a taste of the Caribbean in a cone or cup).

Some pics … (click on each to expand)

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I won’t go into detail as to the many flavours, toppings and sizes you can get as you can see it all on the company’s website (see below), but I will tell you that you will pay “speciality store” prices (starts at about $4.50), but the ice cream is good. Is it the best I’ve ever had.. probably not! But it’s so nice having so many flavours to choose from, especially ones that are a bit hard to find at other ice cream joints. Like; butter pecan, rum, birthday cake, black walnut, key lime and fudge. From the pics you’ll see how bright and clean the place is as well as some of the items you can order.

Besides ice cream you can also get milk shakes, low fat frozen yogurts and cakes. From a quick glance I think the cakes are about 20- 25% more than what you’d pay at Dairy Queen, but since I didn’t purchase any I can’t comment if the extra price is worth it when it comes to taste.

Overall a great experience and a welcomed choice for ice cream on Hamilton’s East Mountain.

Address:

Heritage Greene Shopping Centre
1783 Stone Church Road
Hamilton, ON L8J 0B4
905-560-8988

Website: Menu of flavours.

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As we arrived at Copps Coliseum for this year’s Food and Drink Festival we instantly got a bit worried. It was 8pm and the event closes for the day at 10pm, yet there was a fairly long line outside the building with eager foodies waiting to get in. I think I read somewhere that the organizers changed location from the normal Hamilton Convention center, to avoid such lines.While in the line itself we soon realized that the majority of people were there for the wine and beer and were not necessarily foodies. We got the vibe that one would get in a line to get into a popular nightclub. A ton of eager beavers waiting to go “tasting”. Read the full story