Showing posts with label hera bell. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hera bell. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

A Play Not To Miss A World Premiere at Centaur Theatre "The St Leonard Chronicles"


When Montreal playwright /  screenwriter Steve Gallucio writes a play like " The St Leonard Chronicles"  and it will be opening as a world premiere at Centaur Theatre in Montreal, you can not miss to go and see it.


A start studded cast will welcome you from October 1st. to 27th 2013 to this comedy depicting a young Italian couple's journey trying to move from St Leonard to an Anglo Saxon Beaconsfield neighborhood.

If you saw Mambo Italiano, and you left the play with tummy cramps due to laughing too much. Make sure to see The St. Leonard Chronicles... There is something intimate about seeing such masterpieces at a theatre stage instead of in the movies.

Few years ago we saw  "Incendies"  at Centeaur. Later on it became a movie. It was even nominated at the Oscars under the foreign film category. The movie although good, did not make the same emotional impact on us as the play. There is something magical about the theatre. You become a part of the story as you watch.

For more information just click to the red text above. Make sure to buy your tickets. They are going fast.

We will be at the opening. Some of our relatives will travel to Montreal from Toronto to see the play.

3 of the actors from the play were in my studio recently.


Happy Theater,

Hera


Monday, September 2, 2013

Beets Season Is Here. What To Do With Them? (by Hera Bell)

I personally know many people who can no longer enjoy eating beets. Most of the time it is because their mama fed them much too often with beets dishes.

How sad. Too much of anything is no longer a great experience.

I can't say that I eat beets every single week. I did not grow up with them. But I now enjoy them in their many forms of cooking.

Fall is the season to find them in abundance in our veggie markets. This year's crop is much smaller then other years in Montreal. This might happen. They still taste yummy.

Would you like to know the nutritional values of beets?

We can prepare them in few different ways.

Ukrainians  cook them in soup form. Borscht soup.

You can find them in our supermarkets as pickled in jars. You can make your own at home. Anything you buy packaged is full of salt and additives. Try to make your own.

Last night I roasted them in the oven.

I peel them first. I suggest you wear some gloves. Otherwise you will end up with nice red hands. And we are not into Halloween party mode yet. (ROFL)

I put them in a bowl first. Add  some apple cider vinegar, olive oil and a thin layer of unsalted onion powder and a pinch of salt. Then place them in the oven. Cover the top of your roasting pan. Cook them at 400 degree until they become soft.




Take them out, garnish them with oven roasted crushed  walnuts. Voila... Enjoy them as a side dish with any of your dishes. Their sweet roasting aroma will fill your home and trust me they will taste yummy.

You actually can add anything you like. The beauty of cooking is marring flavors.

PS Warning: after eating beets you will have very red bathroom experience. It is not blood. Do not worry. It is a part of eating beets. But I can  assure you eating beets will make you more regular.

Bonne appetite,

Hera




Montreal's Biodome A Unique Eco System & Over 4500 Fauna To Discover And Much More (by Hera Bell)


What to do in Montreal on a rainy day? Even better, on  a very cold -30 Celsius Montreal winter day?

You can take the entire family to Montreal's Biodome. If you are a fauna photographer, you will be delighted to take your camera. Your visit will be worth while, I can assure you. You might even get addicted for return visits.

Yes, it might not be the best kept secret to us locals, but since this Blog is being followed by a fair amount of visitors from other countries. So therefor, I would like to talk about such treasures as our Biodome in Montreal. You will enjoy an immersion experience in five ecosystems. There is over 4,500 animals from 250 different species and 500 plant species, all under one roof.





















 
 
 
 
 

Around the same area, if you have any time left you can also visit the new  Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium . There you will discover the splendors of our universe, reach up and touch the stars. Here it is how it was constructed . It opened its doors to the public  this year April 6 2013.




 Montreal's Botanical Garden   has a great indoor green house for winter visitors. However if you are in Montreal this summer, be sure not to miss seeing a very special exhibit  Mosaicultures Internationale . It will last till September 29 2013 ... Entrance fee per person is $29.50 this summer due to this special exhibit. You can buy your tickets on line to avoid long line ups. to explore the rates on line click on the red text.













Usually during Fall   Gardens Of Light at the Chinese Garden is quite a magical place to take your kids during a nice evening. This year it will take place between September 6 till November 3 2013....





The photos you see here were taken previous years. Photography by Hera Bell. ©

All the  RED texts are links. Be sure to follow for more fun discoveries and  information.





Sunday, September 1, 2013

Les Viandes Mc Cormack Meats Montreal's Best Kept Secret For Us Carnivores (by Hera Bell)

We used to purchase our meats from a farm in Eastern Townships. They were all great at the beginning. I guess they have become popular enough that it killed the quality. Like most things in life. Our last order of a half a cow,  everything about this cow tasted fat gone bad. We used to LOVE their low sodium smoked  bacon. Their last batch tasted heavy on the salt and not as tasty.

Anthony and I like consuming  meats from animals without hormone supplements. A meat that is not mass processed and we prefer meats coming from animals raised on real free roaming farm environments.

Then our friends Oliver & Carry introduced us to Les Viandes McCormack Meats  in Verdun. Halleluiah, I say.

If you are looking for the old fashion style small butcher shop with amazing meat cuts, they are it.

We are not talking about this supermarket overly processed meat. We are no longer in Kansas Dorothy... Small shop, personalized attention, fresh cuts designed for your needs. hehehe

We cooked last night their smoked ham. What a delightful experience it was having our first bite into it. A 2.5 kilo coasted under $20.00. A yummy $20.00 I must add.



2.5 kilo was cooked over an hour and a half in the oven at 325 degree covered. I added nothing to this fabulous piece of meat. Just some seasonal colorful carrots from a farmer's market.



I prepared mashed sweet potato as starch part of the meal.

Boil one large sweet potato after cutting them into cubes. Add a pinch of salt as shred a large garlic clove in the boiling water water.  Once boiled and very soft, drain its water, add a bit of milk and butter and crushed pecans and puree them. It serves plenty as a dinner for 2. You will have leftovers.



We live in the West Island. But taking a tiny trip to visit them  in Verdun will be worth  your every minute. They have fabulous aged Kobe beef for the connoisseurs. They specialize in seasonal game meat as well. From yummy wild boar bacon to deer which will hit their store soon. Imagine cooking a  Traditional Lac St Jean Tourtiere  ... Yummm

Go try them. You will not regret.

For the vegetarian customers, they have some frozen porcini mushrooms to die for. We bought some, I will try them later.

Their regular bacon was packaged as generous portions of 6. at $5.40 a package it made to our brunch table this morning. The aroma in the house is intoxicating. This is prime bacon. I must add.

Over the years we did cut our salt consumption to a minimum. Although this bacon has a wonderful flavor, its salt content is a bit much for our own taste.

It can be a great treat to have it once a week on lazy Sunday mornings.



For The Love Of Food, go and take the adventure, get out of your supermarket box once in a while.

Bonne appetite,

Hera




Saturday, August 31, 2013

Wonderful Glass Designs Of Dale Chihuly At Montreal Museum Of Fine Arts (by Hera Bell)


If you haven't paid a visit to  Montreal Museum of Fine Arts   yet to see Dale Chihuly's magical glass exhibit, I suggest you to do so before it leaves our city. It will end October 20th 2013.

You will be instantly transported to the wonderful world of this great artist.

There is an interesting IPhone App  created by the museum to create art like his. I am sure it will please some adults and children.

If you would like to see the montage of the Sun piece which is located outdoors of the museum's building you can watch it on  YouTube.

Renting an audio guide is worth while. It gives many insightful information of his history, thoughts and how certain pieces were created and where.

My husband and I we have museum membership for many years. Attending many wonderful exhibits throughout the year is worth while to become the Museum's friends.

Cameras are allowed, without use of a flash. Photos taken can only be used for your personal pleasure.





 
 
 
 







photos by Montreal photographer Hera Bell.