Ottawa: Judges, Boutiques, and Snout to Tail Dining

On my second day in Ottawa, April had class in the morning, so I headed downtown to the Supreme Court by myself. I was let up the marble staircase into the wood paneled courtroom at 9:00am. Inside, I watched as the litigators got their pictures taken by proud family members in the audience. To argue a case at the Supreme Court would likely be a career highlight – I can only imagine the hours of preparation, anticipation, and nerves leading up to this day. As we were instructed to rise, 7 of the 9 Supreme Court justices entered the courtroom and took their seats on the red leather high-back chairs. For the next four hours I watched as the litigators made their best arguments and fielded questions from each of the judges. It was, in a word, phenomenal. The case was relevant to what I had learned about in school during my 1L year (but due to a publication ban, I unfortunately can’t write about it). However, I will say that it was so surreal to see those judges whose decisions I have read and re-read for the past three years. I loved watching how the litigators presented their arguments, what issues the judges hung onto, and how they framed their questions. Four hours later, I emerged feeling proud of my chosen profession, and inspired by what I had seen in the courtroom. What an incredible experience.

When I returned home, April and I dug into a yummy charcuterie platter and salad, before getting ready for an afternoon of shopping. She had heard that the Westboro neighbourhood of Ottawa was cute, so we drove there in the cold darkness. While we could definitely see the charm of the area, with its historic old homes, quirky hipster boutiques, and cozy coffee shops, there weren’t long strings of shops to pop in and out of, which required quite a bit of driving around. We especially liked Victoire, a pretty boutique with gorgeous displays (pictured above).

Oh, did I forget to mention that we happened upon an impromptu photo shoot? No big deal. Just some modeling whilst dodging bicycles hurtling down the bike path. #ringring

After touring through most of Westboro, we headed back toward Byward Market, and stopped off at Suzy Q’s, a doughnut place, on the way. April had heard about it, and with only 20 minute before closing, we popped in. Obviously, I cannot eat doughnuts. But that didn’t stop me from enjoying the smells of the freshly baked doughnuts that the owner kept bringing out of the oven. Massive trays full of plump doughnuts with thick glazes lined the shelves. Flavours like salted caramel, maple bacon, and raspberry cassis were enough to make my mouth water. April splurged on four different flavours, while I snapped photo after photo of the food I will never eat again…wah. Just kidding, it didn’t bother me at all. Back in April’s jeep, as she took a few bites of her doughnuts, we broke into fits of laughter. April exclaimed, “what kind of friend invites her Celiac friend who is visiting her to go to a doughnut shop, and then eats the doughnuts right in front of her?!?!” Bahahaha. It was hilarious.

For dinner we went to Murray Street, a snout to tail restaurant near the market area. The restaurant itself was warm and cozy, with a rustic vibe to it. I ordered the mussels, followed by the duck confit with quince. April had the “hearts & bone” (beef heart with bone marrow), and then the beef short rib. Just like our meal the night before at Play, everything was spot-on deliciousness. I really really enjoyed my food and will be thinking about that duck for a while. Seriously, the food scene in Ottawa is super impressive. #watchouttoronto

Ottawa: Parliament, the Supreme Court, Obama cookies, and Play

Last week was our November reading week, and in an effort to make the most of my time off, I booked a trip (months in advance) to visit April in Ottawa! Unbelievably, I had never been to Ottawa before. #badCanadian. Not really knowing what to expect, I can say that I was so so so surprised at the beauty and charm of our nation’s capital. I loved it!

I flew with Porter airlines, out of Toronto’s city centre airport. It was my first time flying alone with Porter, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that it only takes one hour from my condo until the time I’m sitting at the gate. So efficient.

When I arrived in Ottawa, April took me into the city centre to see Parliament Hill, the Supreme Court of Canada, and the canal. The sun was just going down over the hill, and it was truly the “golden hour” of photographers’ dreams. What a pretty introduction to Ottawa!

We headed straight for the Supreme Court, passing the Parliament buildings and the gorgeous Fairmont Chateau Laurier (the castle above), on the way.

When we arrived at the Supreme Court, we saw an Aboriginal man standing at the top of the imposing granite steps. While our access inside the court was limited to the main foyer area, we learned that I could return the next morning to actually watch a case in progress. As we wandered around the foyer, we saw more Aboriginal people celebrating a case that had just ended. Little did we know that it was the Tshilqot’n nation case that we studied in depth during our first year Property law small group section together. Totally bizarre that that was the case that happened that day.

Excited by the possibility of actually seeing a case the next day, we left happily and headed over to Parliament Hill to soak up the last of the daylight. Honestly, the Parliament building is gorgeous. It is so majestic, traditional, imposing, and downright awe-inspiring. Standing at the gates, looking straight up at the building, must be one of Canada’s prettiest views.

After having a major photo-shoot on the grounds, we weaseled our way inside to watch the House of Commons listening to disrespecting one another. When we had had enough (4 minutes later) we left and headed down to Byward Market. The Market is a cute little part of Ottawa with cobblestone streets, lots of food vendors and cute restaurants, and little shops. It really reminded me of the Fisherman’s Wharf area of San Francisco. April took me to see a random little bakery that has monetized on President Obama’s visit to Ottawa, when he ate one of their cookies. Now all over the bakery are signs saying “home of the Obama cookie!” with pictures of him eating his cookie. Ha!

We grabbed a snack and drink before heading down to Play, a restaurant in the Market where April had made a reservation. Play serves small plates, like tapas, and encourages diners to choose 2 or 3 per meal. The ambiance was cozy and warm, and we had a great time catching up over gluten free potato chips (and bread for April) with some quality wine. The staff were incredibly attentive to my dietary restriction, which made the whole experience that much better. Between April and I, and all our dishes, we had zero misses. Everything was spot on perfection. I’d highly recommend it if you’re ever in Ottawa, and it would be great for a business lunch meeting too!

Having eaten and drank way more than our fair share at Play, April and I headed down to Fat Tuesday’s for some ciders and a duelling piano show. The perfect way to start my vacay in Ottawa. #steaknfrenchfriesreunion

Prince Edward County

Last weekend was one for the books. On Friday afternoon I was feeling a bit blah and the day wasn’t going as planned, and I spontaneously texted Chris, asking him to “take me away” for the weekend. Within minutes he was on his phone planning up an entire weekend in Prince Edward County, a beautiful area east of Toronto known for its wines. Seriously, I have the best man.

Our weekend began with a fun country dance out where Chris’ family lives. On our drive out there, we saw the most enormous harvest moon I’ve ever seen. It was hanging low and lit up the entire sky. Chris pulled over so that I could take a good picture of it. We partied at the Legion with his sisters and brothers-in-law, dancing to the live band and bidding on the silent auction. Chris snagged a couple of Tom Thompson (Group of Seven) prints, which are gorgeous and will make a nice addition to his home. The next morning we headed off for the County, as the locals call it. While Chris had planned a private tour of Waupoos Winery, we weren’t able to make it in time, and instead stopped in Wellington for their annual Pumpkinfest! Everyone was walking around with little pumpkin crocheted hats, craft and goodie stalls were set up, the sidewalks were full, and the giant pumpkins were being weighed. It was awesome. Chris bought me a bowl of steaming hot chilli and some apple ciders, and we sat at a little picnic table overlooking Lake Ontario. Afterwards we checked out a petting zoo that had been set up. There was a baby goat wearing a sweater that stole my heart. Adorbs.

After we left Pumpkinfest, we continued east along the main drag, enjoyed a cappuccino and espresso at a sidewalk cafe, and popped in and out of antique stores. I loved all the old barns filled to the brim with antiques. One store was having a renovation sale, and I managed to snag a Romanian food preparation bowl from the early 1800s for $75 (I’ve been eyeing them in Toronto for years, but they are all well over $250). What a great find. I can’t wait to put it on a console table behind a couch, heaping with pinecones or something. Right now it’s sitting next to my couch filled with throw blankets. I just love how rustic it is. Here’s Chris modeling it on his head:

For lunch we stopped into Bloomfield, to the a cheese bar/speakeasy. I had a swiss chard Caesar salad with a poached egg, while Chris enjoyed a charcuterie. Both were excellent, especially if washed down with some Waupoos cider. For dessert, I had what was arguably the best gluten-free dessert I’ve had in 5 years: a buttertart with flaky pastry and oozing filling. Heaaaaven. The day just kept getting better.

As we drove to our bed and breakfast, we marvelled at all the old Victorian homes. They have been restored to their original beauty, and are carefully maintained by their owners. Seeing all the old homes was definitely a highlight of the trip, and it had our minds buzzing with possible relocations in the future. We stayed at La Bella e Vita B&B in Picton. It was one of those old Victorian homes, and was done up in an Italian manor style. Not my taste, exactly, but pretty nonetheless. The super tall ceilings and thick mouldings made for some beautiful rooms.

For dinner we walked into town and ate at the Acoustic Bar & Grill. Phenomenal food. We listened to a live guitar duet play while munching on salty home-made potato chips with red pepper mayo and Waupoos cider, and then enjoyed a roast chicken sandwich and a steak for our mains. We scurried back to the B&B in the freezing rain, thankful to have such a gorgeous room to welcome us.

On Sunday morning the B&B owners laid out an amazing spread: a yogourt/granola bar with all the toppings, fresh fruit, and pastries (Chris keeps talking about the custard croissants!). Then we were served an antipasti platter of meats and cheeses, and pickled vegetables. Finally we received the main course, “eggs in purgatory”, which were poached eggs in marinara sauce atop a crostini with basil. SO GOOD.

At 11:00am, Chris set up a private appointment at Sandbanks winery. We did a lengthy tasting, which was interesting, considering all the food we had just indulged in, which came with a nice cheese and cracker spread. I literally could not eat anymore cheese, at which point Chris knew I must have been very full indeed!  After receiving our two free bottles of Baco Noir Reserve, we wandered through the vines, nibbling on grapes that had been missed in the harvest. Then it was on to Waupoos cider company. After a cider tasting I bought some ice cider, and we frolicked around the vines. I could not get over the gorgeous view of Lake Ontario through the vineyard! It was such a beautiful sunny day out too, that the whole experience was so enjoyable.

On our way back west, we popped into a few places: an art/antique shop that was filled to the brim with crazy art and collectibles, and “The Marshmallow Room” where we bought some home-made lemon marshmallows from heaven. All in all, it was an incredibly beautiful tour through the County in the fall. The colours of the leaves, the old fashioned homes, the foodie culture, the vineyards, and the quaint antique shops all combined to create one memorable weekend. Here’s a video I made (pardon the shakiness of it) of the little snapshots of our weekend, if you’d like to see:

Prince Edward County Movie from H Pals on Vimeo.

Fall Fashion

Living on what is arguably Canada’s best shopping street has its pluses and minuses. On the plus side, I’m constantly reminded of what’s in style – on the minus side, I’m constantly tempted to shop for these stylish pieces. Take today, for instance. On my walk home from school, I casually slipped in and out of shops on Bloor and ended up spending too much for my own good. So much for my fall budget. There are four main items, however, that I’ve seen out and about that I’m really loving for fall this year:

1. The lumberjack-ess scarf

2. The baby blue cable knit sweater

3. The pony-hair leopard print flat

4. The structured red cross-body satchel

Today I crossed off numbers 2 and 3 from my list, and am hoping to find a structured red satchel soon (or at least in time for my trip to Ottawa!). I feel like with these four pieces, my existing wardrobe will be infused with a bit of “this season” magic, without having to break the bank.