Learning Mandarin

Though I am already eating at many Asian restaurants in Ottawa (with many of them being Chinese) I do not know how to speak Mandarin, and thus I have embarked on a small adventure in learning a new language. Though I have not yet purchased a membership for the website,and am currently relying on the free online lessons, the website "Learn Chinese EZ" offers amazing free lessons, and a system which has already been working for me. Though it is a shame that you need a membership, which costs only ten dollars in order to buy the mp3 version of these lessons, it is a very reasonable price. If the free version of the lessons is good, than the one that you pay for should be better right. If anyone else wishes to follow me in learning this valuable and growing language, I would definitely recommend this site, which is again http://www.learnchineseez.com/ or here: http://www.learnchineseez.com/lessons/mandarin/ to directly start learning. If you want to buy a membership here: http://www.learnchineseez.com/members/ if you want a full membership. Thank you for reading. I hope to one day speak to any of those reading this, in Mandarin.

Copacabana Brazilian Grill and Buffet.

This eatery presents live music, dancing on Fridays and Saturdays, and as much meat as you can muster. The first smell you are presented with upon entering the restaurant if the grilling of meat, and the sauteing of the other buffet items.

The food itself it divine. Only the best cuts of meat are served, and these are grilled and rotisserie'd
 to their (fork-tender) perfection. Prime rib, crown roast, and bacon-wrapped filet mignon are just some of the beef dishes that they offer.

They also offer chicken breasts, pork ribs and roasts, as well as other, smaller dishes such as cornbread cupcakes, which are excellent.

The food is amazing, but what is better is how it is served. A waiter comes around to the table every so often (about five minutes) and asks if you would like any meat. The waiter then proceeds to show you a two and a half foot spike covered in meat, which he then slices onto your waiting plate.

The only problem with eating here is the price. The meals cost up to fifty dollars a plate. But it is worth it, at least once, just to try here.

Here's the location: 150 Eglinton Avenue, Toronto, ON M4P 2K5 (Copacabana Brazilian Steak House).
And here's the site:http://www.copacabana.ca/
I'd like to quote Andrew Zimmern, host of bizarre foods. "If it looks good, eat it"

Pilos

Located near the downtown of Ottawa, This near five-star quality food is served at 3-4 star quality prices. The traditional Greek fare available is nothing less than astonishing, with a large list of both traditional and modern Greek dishes. The usual slouvakis are available, as are the typical tandooris (a little bland here), and feta squares, but this restaurant also offers extremely exotic options (to most people). Whole quail server in groups are grilled in garlic, and offer a new taste to most- a cross of beef, chicken and pork. Also available are scampis. Thes are not shrimp scampis, but are a completely separate animal, also known as Norway Lobster. These are served halved and grilled. and as I could not try them, have heard that they are delicious

The service is ample, but be prepared for a long night, as they wish to make the meal into a long evening of talking and pleasant munching. The lighting is moody, and candlelight it the main lighting after the sun goes down. Ask questions about the food on the menus as much of it is in Greek, and you will sometime not know what you are ordering. For example the taramosalata which sounds a great deal like a good dessert is actually a Greek version of caviar, which is a very good appetizer, but is not much of an ice cream.

Remember always have fun, always eat new things, and above all don't go to the same restaurant twice in a month

INFO:

876 Montreal Road  Ottawa, ON K1K 4L3
(613) 741-4657

     

Baton rouge steakhouse
360 Albert Street
Ottawa (Ontario) K1R 7X7





Fine food... at fine prices. the meals are at least four star quality, but are served at 3 star prices. The succulent prime rib steak sandwich with mozzarella cheese coating, served on a baguette style bun, soaked in the juice of the rib slices, was utterly fabulous,


The seafood linguine with fresh jumbo black tiger shrimp, and tender, melt in you mouth scallops, covered in a delicious slightly spicy rose sauce. The noodles which are served al dente or tender aren't lying in a pool of sauce, as there is just the right amount.

The lightly spiced fries have a crispy outside and soft inside are piled onto the plates with every non-pasta meal. They are excellent, simply excellent.

The Cajun jambalaya soup is hearty, and features whole jalapeno peppers, miniature mushrooms, and white rice. The soup should not be eaten before a meal by a person with a small stomach.

The Cajun penne jambalaya was spicy, with jumbo blackened black tiger shrimp. The spicy, peppery Cajun spice surrounds tender penne noodles, onions, and tomato chunks. Truly a meal for a king of mardi gras

Also just a helpful tip for this mardi gras season. Don't forget for each drink you take to drink seven times the amount of water to avoid a next morning hangover. Also before you drink drink a quarter cup of olive oil, or a glass of milk to combat electrolyte loss. Or better yet just don't drink. 

also here's the link

http://www.batonrougerestaurants.com/22-restaurant-en/baton-rouge-ottawa.html

Okay time for another one. The Crazy Horse stone grill steakhouse and saloon. This place is unique because of its amazing cook your own steak method. you use a super-heated slab of stone covered in rock salt and steak spice to cook your steak. The other cool thing about this place is that they offer bison steaks for 23.00$ an eight ounce steak, which is really good.

But if you don't like bison meat they also offer normal steaks, and various other meals like fajitas, nachos, and good Tex-Mex food. 

The music might be a bit loud, but the prices are affordable for the amount of food you get, and the quality.

The location is here: 115 Roland Michener Drive

Kanata, Ontario K2T 1G7 and the prices range from 15-25 dollars an entree .

the stone and one giant hunk of beef

Hello World

Hi there everyone. This is my first blog, so I apologize if anything seems amateur, because it is. I am writing this simply to introduce you to my blog. I will usually list restaurants in Ottawa the capitol of Canada, But will also venture out into the surrounding area. Also in April I will be making a trip to Britain, and will tell you about the cuisine their (if I understand correctly it's all chips). So this blog won't be strictly about the restaurants in Ottawa.

So lets start with what is in my opinion one of the weirdest but the best restaurants in Canada. What I speak of of course is the little Sheep Mongolian Hot pot, which is located here: 344 Bank Street Ottawa, ON K1H7X9. this place is unusual, as it actually serves genuine Mongolian food, and not just modern Canadian Chinese food. A few notable things they offer are quail's egg, tea boiled egg, and two buckets of an usual fungi that tastes exactly like what you cook it in. The restaurant also offers more normal fair such as meat balls (called meat tendon balls but don't worry), pork, lamb, and chicken.


The meal works like a fondue. you order a broth, which comes in metal bowl. you place to bowl onto the convection hotplate and allow it to heat up. you then order meat when the waitress or waiter asks you. He will ask you whether you would want to order beef or lamb. all of the other meats are available at the buffet. While waiting for the broth and meat to arrive, you can go to the buffet, and pile up your plate with other things that you would like to try. I really would recommend the quails eggs, and the white fungus. Also pick up some buns, and cold onion rings if you can't wait for the broth.


Once you get the broth (spicy or normal, or vegetarian if you like that) You wrap the meat or food around your chopsticks, or place it in the ladle. I will take about 2 minutes to cook, Also check out the sauces that are available at the buffet. if you want to experiment, though I would try the plain meat and broth first. Also don't eat anything in the broth.

the hot pot yin and yang style for 2

For dessert try some more of the cold things, didn't get a chance to try them all, but the sweet buns and fig rolls are really really good. The prices are a bit steep, but worth it at only 16 dollars a pot, and 2 dollars extra for the beef or lamb.