Pop!

Recent Value Village find: 4 place mats for $1.99 (plus tax). Quilted and brand-spanking new. I don't know what it is about thrift stores that get me going. I do know that I'm not alone; Al Hoff's zine Thrift SCORE was so popular, she published a book by the same name.

Maybe it has to do with the lack of diversity among the upscale kitchen shops scattered around town. Or maybe it's just the mystery of discovering a lacy tablecloth that has held somebody else's Sunday dinners. Either way, these mats are total showstoppers.

To market, new(ish) market

Ottawa's newest market, informally known as the 100 K market or the Lansdowne market, actually got going last summer. But it has absolutely taken off this year and quickly become my favorite spot to grocery shop. Best: apple cider doughnuts, free samples of Elk salami, lemongrass truffles, oniony Art-is-in hamburger buns, and killer hot sauce.

Last week, I picked up a golden-crown melon, which has a thick yellow rind and subtle watermelon-like flesh. I also bought four injera sandwiches from True Food Ecosterre. The bread part is made from fermented teff (African cereal grain), which is spread with vegetarian or meat filling and then rolled up. The spicy variety is my most recent lunch obsession.

The Ottawa Farmer's Market is open Sundays at Landsdowne Park.

Put them in my belly

A birthday prezzie from Paradiso and Jitka: pink and white Jelly Bellies. So far, I've tried cotton candy, strawberry cheesecake, strawberry daiquiri, coconut, French vanilla, bubblegum, and cream soda. In case you've only tried plain old primary-colored jelly beans, JB provides an online flavour guide to help you get it right. They are supposedly 'gourmet,' and some of them, in fact, do rival the 'three-course meal chewing gum' from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Try the peach bean if you've tired of the fresh Niagara version.

The beans can be had at Sugar Mountain locos across the city.

Booze Boxes

My new favorite weeknight wine is Bonnie, the younger sister of Three Thieves' Bandit wines. Bonnie is a budget rosé that comes in jugs and Tetra paks. She tastes of clean, sweet cherries, and her small size is perfect for lightweights. Wine in a box is probably not for the snob of heart, but the benefits to the environment are undeniable.

I drank mine down with with fresh nectarines and a plate of cold pasta tossed in walnut pesto. If you want to sneak it into a movie though, just toss it back straight from the carton.

Bite there (Hampton, NB)

My mother just sent me a bar of soap from New Brunswick company Lavish. I mention it here because this bar is two tasty-looking layers of brown sugar and raspberry. The soap itself is nice and mild, but it smells delicious. This is not the first time I've wanted to lick a bar of Lavish, and no wonder - it's made from coconut, olive, and sunflower seed oils.

Diane Peacock, Lavish founder and resident soapiére admits that she's always been intrigued by the the idea that soap and other things like it can appeal "not only to the sense of smell but also to taste." No surprise that Lavish also comes in Blueberry Fields, Oatmeal Buttermilk, and Anise, Basil and Bay. Diane has also created such 'flavours' as Honeydew Cantaloupe, Almond Goat's Milk, and Maple Swirl. A few years ago, she even added lip smacking balms in licorice, creamsicle, and orange and clove.

Lavish is available at the Boyce Farmer's Market in Fredericton for $3.50 a bar. If you're not going on a road trip, email lavish@nbnet.nb.ca to place an order.

A Big Box of Berries

Ever since Lucy introduced me to IKEA's delicate bread and butter pickles, I've been combing their "Swedish Food Market" for Scandanavian potato chips, rye bread mix, and thin gingersnaps. A couple days ago, I tried a jar of the wild lingonberry sauce, which is daintier than traditional cranberries. So far, I've eaten this brilliantly-colored jam on toast, chicken, smoked mozzarella, and crackers. I love that the first ingredient is wild berries, and I freely admit to loving IKEA's door-crashing mini mart.

Ottawa's Swedish a capella group, The Lingonberries, is on an indefinite hiatus. But DVDs of their 2004 ABBsolute Berries concerts are still available, and I can't think of a better soundtrack for summer.

Carrie Who?

Comic courtesy of Drew at www.toothpastefordinner.com

This year, Peta crowned Carrie Underwood the world's sexiest vegetarian celebrity. Obviously, they haven't met Vanessa Holm, Ottawa's coolest vegan activist.

As part of NCVA (National Capital Vegetarian Association), Holm is helping organize a series of monthly vegan potlucks at the Jack Purcell Centre. The first one is this Saturday. Details here.

If you want to see just how sweet veganism can be, introduce yourself to Vanessa at the potluck. She defies just about every stereotype you have about pleather-wearing, nut-soaking, emaciated hippies. And Holm enthuses that "These potlucks are a great way to learn about different types of cooking as well as meet new people."

If you don't know what to bring, try going here or there for recipe ideas. Then put away the honey and pour on the maple syrup!

Cold Nuts

Mercado Latino in Vanier is one of my favorite grocers. A bottle of their sour tamarindo soda is a good enough way to cool down, I'd say. But tonight, I stirred a few spoonsfuls of rice-based horchata mix into a glass of iced water. It was refreshing without too much sweetness.

Sainsa, the brand that's sold at ML is made from seeds, grains, and nuts (luckily, it also contains sugar and cocoa). It's also good blended up with milk and a banana for a light summer breakfast.