Moving right along!

So we've been plugging along in our efforts. We have to re-epoxy the bar to get a more even surface on it. Daddy Chef worked tirelessly yesterday to remove the old linoleum from the stairs and today his dad is helping us put the new stuff down. We bought a lot of equipment last week including a Garland convection range for me!!!! I was talking to GM while we were there and I believe his exact words were, "I can hear you vibrating over the phone..." needless to say I was more than a little excited. We also bought some line fridges and racks along with a new range for Daddy Chef to have on the line. The old one didn't have an oven which would have been awkward. I would love to get a Salamander but I think we're going to have to wait on that.

Now on to what everyone is actually interested in. It looks like Opening night will be September 16th. Our furniture is due on the 14 so hopefully it is on time! We''re in good shape for everything the electrician (who is awesome) came and all of my nightmares were just that so I am a happy camper so far! Countdown is on and stay tuned for website details and a few menu teasers!

Hope you are all as excited as I am and please comment on your favorite desserts and I'll try to fit them into rotation. If you don't tell me what they are then I can't make them especially for you!!!

My sister Em is moving to China next week to teach high school over there. I'll be making these (although my own recipe which for now I'm guarding in my brain) for her going away party! Bye Em Little Miss Pants will miss you!!!! So will I but I'm not that important! ;p

Enjoy!

-lexi

Busy Week!

Sorry I haven't written for a while everyone, we've been super busy with the place! We've done pretty much everything we can until the trades guys come in. The bar is done we're just waiting for the epoxy to dry, which takes 3 days, and then we'll be close! We got our banquettes and booths ordered finally and on the plus side we're under budget!!! Which may end today as the electrician is coming to take a look at the matrix that is in our basement. I've honestly been having nightmares about it. I'd tell you about them but they're just to dorky and terrifying! Let's just say they could possibly have been written by Joss Whedon. Shudder.

I Thought I had before and after pics but I don't have the after ones right now, also it's still a work in progress but I'll take some pics today so that you can check them out later! Big props to The Breakable Woman and GM!!! We couldn't of gotten what we have done so far without you!!!

It's really exciting we can start to see what the place is going to look like and we are all beyond pumped!!!

I made my own cupboard version of this last night. I had some eggplant left from the Ratatouille I made a few days ago. I've made this recipe before though and it's pretty awesome!
Eggplant Parmesan
As always Enjoy!!!!

-lexi

Beer Day!!!!!

So today off we go to the distillery district to meet our possible beer rep!! If all goes well I will be plugging not just the beer but recipes for it here in the blog! I like this kinda work. I get to go eat food and drink beer on someone elses dime!! Who wouldn't want to call that work?

Yesterday we had the banquette people come in to measure and pick swatches for the tables and booths which was a lot of fun and we think they're gonna look really great. We also went to Home Depot to buy a mess of things that involve finishing the bar and about a zillion swatches to put up to decide what version of white we'll be painting the place. The woman at the paint counter was super helpful and showed us everything we needed as well as making some great suggestions. The guy was an idiot and just told us that they didn't have ANYTHING that we would be able to use. I like it when the women are more helpful and knowledgeable in hardware stores. It makes me smile.

Also Daddy Chef got to get to know our space a bit better after his trip and we continued a little bit of demo work. All in all a good day. We also tried the new "name me" burger at Harvey's considering the price I'm going with "The Ripoff Burger."

It's really hot today 31C but feeling like 45C so my recipe today involves freezing, and that's it. My sister looooovveeesss these!! (That's how she says it) So this one's for you Em!!!

Limber de Coco (Coconut Cream Popsicles) : The Noshery

Enjoy!!!

-lex

Day 5

So yesterday not much got done. I was all by myself so I just finished up a few projects that were lying around. I the bar in places the palm sander won't reach and finished all I could reach if the "door thing" (which is what we call it as we are not sure it has a name. Divider maybe? I dunno) and waited around for Daddy Chef to get home from his trip. Not super productive n=but it was boring stuff that needed to get done and it did. Today we are doing a Home Depot run and probably a Lee Valley one so that we can sand and stain the bar!!! Yay!!!!!!!!!!

So this is really white trashy food but not gonna lie it's a family favorite. Also It may be a winter menu spoiler. However I usually make puff pastry cheese straws to go with it. If you aren't crazy like me and live in Canada Presidents Choice makes an AWESOME frozen puff pastry dough that I love. For Cheese Straws that go with this recipe just brush with butter or olive oil and sprinkle on some parmesan, chili flakes, basil and oregano. Tasty.

http://noblepig.com/2009/01/07/belle-of-the-bowl.aspx

Enjoy!

-lex

Day 4

So I was going to take a half day off today but it looks like I gotta go in this morning, mainly because I'm kinda dumb. You see for those of you not in Canada today is a civic holiday which means NOTHING IS OPEN!!!! Luckily I found a hardware store that is open until 1pm so I can get some supplies that we need. Also I get my Little Miss Pants back this afternoon and I want to get some work done in case Daddy Chef gets stuck in traffic. So I'm gonna do a quick clean up at the apartment. Not that it's too bad, I haven`t really been here. Just a bit of cleaning up my bachelorette style cooking. Which I have to say is shockingly similar to bachelor cooking. See we're not that different guys!

Anyway I'm on my own this morning as The Breakable woman has to work and The GM (We really need a moniker for him!) has his parents visiting so he needs top clean. I'm kinda psyched though I can listen to all the crappy music I want with no one bothering me!!! Wish me luck guys!! And I'll Talk to you all again real soon!!!!

For all you fabulous people who hold sunday brunch/lunch heres a quick and easy monday night recipe for your fabulous leftovers!!!

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Smoked-Salmon-Souffle-10897

Enjoy!

-lex

Day 3

Quick note before I run off! We did a lot of work yesterday with a lot still to go but all in all a productive first day!! Don't have long as I slept in but I'll try to update tonight!!!!

Lex

First Full day!

So today is the first full day of our ownership! My GM and I didn't get much done yesterday due to the portuguese "water of life" that the former owner pressed onto us. It was moonshine, hence the reason I did not update lastnight. So today we actually get some work done!!! We have a lot of work ahead of us but I think we can do it. I'd really like Daddy Chef to come back from his trip and be amazed at how much we've done. Not sure how much I'll be able to update today as we don't have internet at the resto right now but hopefully I'll be able to do a quick one when I get home. Until then not much to update. Hopefully we'll start working on the bar today with the fantastic Breakable Woman so yay!!!

Update!!! So we just got home from wrecking day!!! We got a lot done, got all the decals and rails off the walls and stripped all the barstools. Doesn't sound like a lot but Daddy Chef will freak when he gets home!!! Tomorrow patching walls and stripping the bar!!!!!! Wish us Luck!!!!!

Until then here is a great Saturday recipe It taked forever but is quite possibly my favorite ratatouille recipe ever. Since it takes so long I reccomend making a double recipe so that you can freeze some of it. If vac sealed you can taste some fresh summer in the middle of winter!!! At least it's this summer. Is anyone else LOVING the veg this year? I made a peach pie ou of underipe peaches the other day and NO ONE NOTICED!!! Ok I'm off topic and I need to wrap this up. Enjoy this rat as everything seems to be perfectly sweet this year. I promise when the veg are gone the memory of this will get you through the winter!!!

http://www.justhungry.com/2006/09/ratatouille.html

Enjoy!!