Qualifirst

Finally able to put my Molecular Gastronomy set to use and channel my inner Michelin star chef. Going through my molecular recipe book, I noticed that there were a handful of gourmet ingredients that were needed. All of which I have never heard of before, let alone know to where to even buy them!

I was lucky enough to be introduced to Qualifirst, a gourmet and niche ingredient company based in Toronto with their mission to help Canadians find gourmet ingredients at affordable prices. Qualifirst has made finding the world’s best specialty foods its number 1 mission for more than 50 years. Their customers and clients are true foodies—people who share a passion for world-class ingredients, cutting-edge techniques, and exquisite presentation.

To help with my molecular gastronomy journey, I received 6 of their gourmet molecular ingredients which include Gum Agar, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Alginate, Soy Lecithin, Calcium Chloride, and Calcium Lactate Gluconate.

If there is a niche/gourmet ingredient you are looking for, more than likely Qualifirst will have it in their line of over 3000 products! Just visit their website to browse their catalog and place an order! It's as simple as that.

CONTEST - Win 2 Free Tickets to Taste of Toronto

It's almost that time again! I am so excited that one of my favourite food festivals, Taste of Toronto, is returning again to Fort York for its 3rd year from June 23rd to 26th! An exciting lineup for this summer's hottest restaurant festival has something for everyone with live entertainment, a lively marketplace, and hands-on cooking demonstrations with our city's best chefs!

This year celebrity chef Chef Chuck Hughes kicks off opening night, with coveted restaurants in the line up you for sure will not want to miss! Old favourites like Richmond Station, The McEwan Group, Drake One Fifty, and Los Colibris are back at it, while new restaurants such as Alo, Piano Piano, Antler, and Miku just to name a few will surely leave its mark during these 3 days.

I have teamed up with Taste of Toronto to give away a free pair of tickets to this year's festivities to one lucky winner. You will both gain free access to the grounds for any one of the sessions of your choosing! Head on over to my Instagram page to enter!

Pure Leaf Canada - #tweakyourtea

It seems like everyone I have been talking to lately have been raving about this brand of beverage that they all have been loving. If you haven't heard this yet from your friends or family, the drink so many people have now been converted to is called Pure Leaf. If you have not been exposed to this drink yet, today is your lucky day because thankfully I have had the opportunity to try this delicious drink and am here to share with you the new Pure Leaf Unsweetened Tea launching right here in Canada!

Pure Leaf is brewed from real tea leaves picked at their freshest to deliver a genuine tea experience. The unsweetened portfolio (Green Tea, Black Tea, Lemon) has 0 sugar, 0 artificial sweeteners, 0 calories, which means 0 compromises! The best thing about these drinks is that they are so versatile and can be used and mixed in so many different ways with an endless amount of personalized flavour combinations. Below are 3 of my original variations of these drinks using a combination of different fruits to maximize its flavour potential. Each variation uses one of the three Pure Leaf Unsweetened flavours, and I've standardized each drink by adding some mint and a lime/lemon to spruce it up. Add some ice cubes in it to make it extra cold and refreshing.

Very Berry with Unsweetened Pure Leaf Lemon Tea.

Strawberries + Blackberries mixed with Unsweetened Pure Leaf Lemon Tea

The Tropics with Unsweetened Pure Leaf Black Tea.

Mangoes + Pineapples mixed with Unsweetened Pure Leaf Black Tea

Kiwi Razz with Unsweetened Pure Leaf Green Tea

Kiwis + Raspberries mixed with Unsweetened Pure Leaf Green Tea

No matter the flavour and combination of your favourite elements, Pure Leaf is the perfect beverage to go with lunch, brunch, dinner, cocktails, get-togethers, post workout re-hydration; well just about any occasion you can think of! As summer is quickly approaching, don't forget to grab yourself a few bottles of these Pure Leaf Unsweetened Teas, the drink with zero compromises without sacrificing any flavours. How will you #tweakyourtea? Cheers!

Heart Healthy Recipe: Herbed Dipping Sauce

Prep time: 10 min | Refrigeration time: 1 hour | Yield: 250 mL/1 cup | Servings: 16

Make this tasty side dish or appetizer by serving with grilled vegetables.

• 250 mL (1 cup) 1% plain yogurt
• 30 mL (2 tbsp) fresh rosemary, finely chopped
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 2 mL (1/2 tsp) ground cumin
• Pepper to taste

Directions

• Combine all the ingredients.
• Refrigerate at least one hour to let flavours blend.
• Serve with grilled vegetables.

Nutritional Information Per Serving

• Calories: 10
• Protein: 1 g
• Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 1 g
• Fibre: 0 g
• Sodium: 11 mg

Heart Healthy Recipe: Greek Veggie, Chicken and Cheese Wrap

Prep time: 10 min | Servings: 4

Wrap up this tasty vegetable mixture, chicken and zingy Canadian Feta cheese in a pita with luscious yogurt dip on the side, and your lunch will be the envy of your co-workers.

• 1/2 cup (125 mL) 2% plain yogurt
• 1 tsp (5 mL) grated lemon zest
• 1 large black olive, minced
• 4 large lettuce leaves
• 4 large (about 9 inches/23 cm) whole wheat pita breads
• 1 cup (250 mL) shredded cooked boneless skinless chicken breast
• 1 cup (250 mL) chopped English cucumber
• 1 cup (250 mL) grape or cherry tomatoes, cut in half
• 2 tbsp (25 mL) very thinly sliced red onion (optional)
• 2 1/2 oz (70 g) diced Canadian Feta cheese
• 1 tsp (5 mL) dried oregano

Directions

• In a bowl, combine yogurt, lemon zest and olive. Portion into individual containers or one container, cover and refrigerate until serving, for up to 1 day.
• Place one lettuce leaf on each pita; arrange chicken, cucumber, tomatoes, onion (if using), Canadian Feta cheese and oregano in a line down the centre of each, dividing evenly. Fold top and bottom of pita over filling, then roll up pita tightly around filling to enclose.
• Wrap tightly in plastic wrap or waxed paper and refrigerate until serving, for up to 4 hours.
• To serve, unwrap pita, cut in half crosswise, if desired, and serve with lemon-olive yogurt for dipping or spreading.

Nutritional Information Per Serving

• Calories: 312
• Protein: 22 g
• Fat: 7 g
• Carbohydrates: 42 g
• Fibre: 6 g
• Sodium: 601 mg