Month: September 2016

Food from the Rock

Bonnie2 Comments
My Caesar at the Cafe at the Rooms in St. John’s. Much spicer than my usual Caesar (Hello Sriracha) with a spicy sausage as a garnish.
Bologna is one of those foods you either love or hate. I happen to fall in the love category, though I consider it mostly a lunch/supper fare. When I saw bologna as a breakfast meat, I knew I had to try it. The French toast was good too. (PJ Billington’s in St. John’s)
Cheesecake for dessert at the Cafe at the Rooms in St. John’s.
Chocolaty goodness for dessert at Portabellos in St. John’s
Scallop salad at the Mystic Restaurant at Sinbad’s Hotel in Gander
My sister and brother in law were in Newfoundland visiting his family at the same time I was there. We frequently compared food via text and I was a bit confused when she said she was having a “mess” for lunch. I was so excited to discover “weiner mess” on the menu of the food truck in Farewell while waiting for the ferry to Fogo. My brother in law says I should have had dressing on it, but it was really good as is.
Calamari from Newfoundland squid. I’m not a huge calamari fan, but this was good. (Nicole’s Cafe on Fogo Island)
Salt fish dinner is one of my favourites, so I had to try salt cod pizza. This was one of the best things I ate all summer. The best part: it was topped with pork scraps (which fancy people call scrunchions.) (Nicole’s Cafe on Fogo)
Cod cakes at the Cafe at the Rooms in St. John’s
The first night in St. John’s we went to George Street and had fish and chips in a pub. Classic.
Scallop salad with bacon. Need I say more. (PJ Billington’s in St. John’s)

My trip to Newfoundland in July included lots of good food (of course). You know it was good when you’re still thinking about it two months later. 🙂

 

The Incredible (Lobster) Journey

Bonnie2 Comments

The media was a buzz recently about a proposed ban for importing lobster to the European Union because North American lobster were found in the water off Sweden. Homarus americanus is native to the east coast of North America but is not found in Europe (good name then, right?) They are considered an invasive species and as such, there was concern about them taking over the habitat of native species. While scientists have indicated that the warmer waters of Europe will not support lobster reproduction, concern remains.

 

I get it; invasive species can reek havoc on an ecosystem and while lobster are a highly valued species is Canada and the Unites States, the cost of upsetting Mother Nature is much higher. Green crabs have reeked havoc on the east coast since arriving in the bilge of vessels 200 years ago. Even something  innocuous like a goldfish can turn bad when it ends up somewhere it shouldn’t.

 

So, last week the European Union decided there was sufficient concern to warrant more study on a proposed ban. At stake for Canada and the United States: $200 Million US in exports to that market. It’s kind of a big deal. Lobster are shipped live, so by necessity a ban would shut down that market.

 

What I think needs a bigger review as part of the study is how the lobster arrived in the water off Sweden. This isn’t “Finding Nemo” meets “The Incredible Journey”.**  Lobster aren’t hanging out in tanks, plotting their escape from evil dentists fish mongers to the nearest ocean.

 

The most logical way lobsters found their way to the waters off Sweden? Someone(s) put them there. Every few months there are stories of people buying lobster and releasing them back to the ocean. While I realize the impact on an industry half a world away isn’t a primary concern of the EU, wouldn’t it make more sense to focus on the cause (people who release them “back” into the wild) versus shutting down an industry. A quick google search on releasing lobster into the wild would leave you to believe most are looking for some type of public affirmation of their good deed. Like many of us, I’m guessing that the ripple effects of releasing a foreign species into the water wasn’t considered; the ocean is the ocean, right?

 

If this ban becomes reality, it could be catastrophic for the industry on both sides of the border. It would add to the mystique of lobster in Europe as nothing else could, much as Cuban cigars were so highly sought in the US during the embargo. I’m guessing lobster would be slightly more challenging to sneak through Customs…

 

~~~

 

** For what it’s worth, I think it would be a cool movie: “Look Bob, I think I the ocean’s just over this hill. Let’s ask that Golden Retriever for help.”

 

 

My Morning Cup

Bonnie4 Comments

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One of my new obsessions this summer has been East Coast Coffee. I found this new-to-me coffee and a local gift shop. I couldn’t resist trying a coffee called “Fundy Fog Buster” or “Morning Screech”. I tend to stick to medium to light roast coffee, and both are great in their respective categories.

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The big draw for me was that it was a local-ish company. While Cape Breton isn’t down the street, it’s Maritimes roots certainly make it more local than the larger, better-known coffee producers. When I read that the pods are bio-degradable, it was a final tipping point. It bothers when I see how many pods accumulate in the garbage next to my coffee station; it’s nice to know that these will eventually have an end-life.

 

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Good coffee, local company, pretty boxes, great names: how could you go wrong?

Fifteen Years Later

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When leaving Newfoundland in July, I made a point of looking around the tarmac in Gander while boarding the plane. Dawn was just beginning to break (or at least in felt like it; it was a very early flight). The tarmac was mostly empty, but in my mind I was trying to picture it like this:

 

Operation Yellow Ribbon at CFB Goose Bay.jpg
By Source, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=40290997

 

The story of hope on a sad day that I chose to remember.