There's a "hot" new eatery in #Ottawa - #MoralsVillageHotPot (#Ad) #Ottawafood #OttawaEateries

More than a meal ... a dining adventure.

Disclosure: I was not compensated, nor obligated to post or share about this experience. 

However as I was an invited guest or plus-one I did receive my meal free of charge. All opinions are my own.

When Julie (Try Small Things) invited me to be her plus one for dinner at the newly opened Morals Village Hot Pot Ottawa (located at Riverside and Hunt Club), she didn't have to ask me twice. My decision to accept her invitation was a good one, because our meal turned out to be an interactive dining experience. My first impression was the warm reds and golds of the beautiful decor, and the welcoming and friendly greeting we received from the staff. 

Things I learned as a Hot Pot newbie:

• The Morals Village name comes from their commitment to giving back and community. In keeping with that sense of community it's not surprising most of the seating is communal style with a flat top stock pot burner at each seat. 
• Hot pot is a traditional Chinese dish using soup stock to cook a variety of ingredients. 
• Morals Village is an all-you-can-eat restaurant with a flat fee that includes the hot pot ingredients. (Note: the stock and beverages are not included in the flat rate. Visit the website, or restaurant for pricing details). 
• The staff is friendly, and knowledgeable, which is important for a Hot Pot newbie like myself.
• Over the course of a meal the stock in your pot is topped up. Staff explained this was to keep the stock from getting too salty as liquid evaporates from the boiling stock.   
• The reason there are two sets of chop sticks (one white, one black) is to avoid cross-contamination. One set is for raw meat, and the other set is for cooked items. 
• My chop stick skills are virtually non-existent. 
• Elastic waist pants are an excellent fashion choice when hot-potting. 
• Sharing a hot pot meal with friends or family is a perfect choice on a cold day.
• I really really like my hot pot experience. 

The Stock:
The experience starts with choosing from one of a dozen stock options (priced from $3 to $8) that you will use to cook your chosen ingredients. Your pot-o-stock stays piping hot by way of table elements. I opted for the Mountain Cliff Wild Mushroom soup base which was very nice. 

The Ingredients:
There are dozens of ingredient options, with everything from fried pork skin, quail eggs, and squid rolls to seaweed, lotus roots, and tofu. Each visit is a new opportunity to be adventurous in your choices, and customize your eating experience. To my mushroom soup base I added: Rib Eye Beef Slices, Japanese Crab Meat, Broccoli, Sweet Corn, Napa Cabbage, and Japanese Udon Noodles. 
Into the hot pot they went, and not to start anything but ...  yes I stirred the pot. 

Service with a smile ...

The Toppings & Sauce Bar:
I bet you're thinking there is no way to top that ... but indeed there is. There are a dozen sauces, dips, and toppings to pair with your hot pot meal. This is where you'll also find spring rolls, sesame balls, and deep fried buns. I recommend all three! 

The Ice Cream Finish:
What better way to end a hot and spicy meal than with a sweet ice cream cone filled with Morals Village made-on-site vanilla soft serve ice cream. 

From start to finish it was a wonderful night, that included a great meal, shared with a fabulous friend. It doesn't get much better than that in my opinion. So next time you're in Ottawa, looking for a new dining adventure or find yourself asking "Where should we go to eat?" you might want to give Morals Village Hot Pot, or one of these Ottawa eateries a try. 

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about Ottawa eateries, and adventures in dining. 

Hockey Highlights & History @CanMusHistory #HockeyExhibit #Ad #CanadianMuseumofHistory #Ottawa

Ain't Nothin' more Canadian than Hockey, Eh!

Disclosure: I was invited as media to a guided tour of the #HockeyExhibit at the Canadian Museum of History free of  charge.

The Canadian Museum of History has pulled together a wonderful #HockeyExhibit that celebrates and highlights the tradition and history of Hockey in Canada. And it seems like a perfect outing to kickoff your celebration of Canada's 150th Birthday. 

The pictures below give you a small sampling of the interesting items you'll find on display in this exhibit. You'll also find all sorts of fan paraphernalia, artifacts, art, video and images, including several player contracts dating back to 1949. The Hockey Exhibit has interactive and multi-media components that make it fun regardless of where you sit on the hockey fan-dom scale. 

Hockey Fan-dom Scale:

• 0-3 FAN-potential: You know nothing about hockey. You're not sure what off-side or icing means. You watch the play-off games, but usually because someone else has control of the remote. I'm sure after seeing the #HockeyExhibit you'll be at least FAN-like.
• 4-8 FAN-like: You like hockey, and watch hockey on occasion. You would not say no to free tickets. You may be like me and your interest in hockey started when you were forced to learn what equipment goes where and how when your kids started to play hockey. You have fan potential. You know a bit but you're not an expert. After seeing the #HockeyExhibit you'll know enough to be considered a full fledged FAN. Grab yourself some cool hockey para-fan-alia at the gift shop on the way out so you look like a true fan. 
• 9-10 FAN: You're a fan. You love the game. You definitely watch and track your favourite team and the current season. You own at least one team Jersey and wear when going to a game, or while watching games at home. You might even wear it out and about on game days. Just add a few bits of para-fan-alia, and share some of the cool facts you learn at the #HockeyExhibit and you're well on your way to being a Super-FAN.
• 10+ Super-FAN: You're an extreme hockey fan! You live for hockey, it's the ONLY sport worth watching. You can quote hockey stats going back at least 10 years. You have a large collection of hockey jerseys (both home and away game Jerseys) and para-fan-alia (which you may have a separate shrine room where you display it). You wear your team jersey and or colours on every game day. You own at least one pair of hockey pyjamas and slippers. You plan vacations (and maybe your honeymoon) around the playoffs. You've probably painted your face in your team colours at least once (a season). You are indeed CRAZY ... about hockey. So clearly the #HockeyExhibit is a must see, if only to say "I knew that" at each display.

You can tour the #HockeyExhibit at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau Quebec (Ottawa), but only until October 9th, 2017. So I suggest you get a move on!

He shots! ... He scores!

Then ... 
You'll find many artifacts to help you see and understand (and maybe reminisce) the history of hockey in Canada. Even if you're not a hockey buff, you're sure to enjoy seeing the variety of player, team, and hockey related items on display. Everything from cereal to soup cans demonstrate the degree hockey has impacted the Canadian culture. 

Now ...
There will always be Canadian kids hoping to follow in the footsteps of Canadian hockey greats. And we have so many greats, and have always had so much hockey talent for our youth (both male and female) to look to for inspiration.  

These darlings belong to my friend who blogs at ReeseSpeaks Blog. 

Be sure to check out what the VP's had to say about their visit to the Hockey Exhibit.

And just because it's fun ...

Again you really don't need to be a big hockey fan to enjoy the varied and fun items and artifacts on display in the #HockeyExhibit. 

You can learn more at the Canadian Museum of History website, or follow them on twitter, facebook or instagram. And if you're looking for a fun hockey souvenir or para-fan-alia the Museum Gift Shop has a fun collection of hockey related items at all price points. 

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about the #HockeyExhibit at the Canadian Museum of History. 

June 3 & 4 #DoorsOpenOttawa 2017 #Ottawa #MyOttawa #ThingsToDo

Hey Ottawa! Did you know that every June in Ottawa you can see a collection of buildings and locations otherwise not open to the public?

Doors Open Ottawa

Doors Open Ottawa 

This year they have really upped their game. In addition to the more than 150 buildings that open their doors June 3rd and 4th, 2017, they've added:

• A photo contest (ends June 5th)
• An App for Android or iOS developed by students from the Algonquin college Mobile Application Design and Development program.  
• An Interactive Map
• A Free Ottawa-Citizen Shuttle Bus that stops within walking distance of almost 70 of the participating Doors Open buildings. 
• Escape Bicycle Tours are offering a Doors Open Bike Tour and bicycle rentals on Saturday June 3rd, weather permitting. 

The 2017 Doors Open Ottawa buildings I most want to visit are:

• Bank of Canada
• Canadian Aviation and Space Museum Reserve Hanger
• Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
• Canadian Space Services
• Embassy of the United States
• Geological Survey of Canada Building
• National Research Council of Canada (NRC) Ocean, Coastal and River Engineering Facilities

Looking for more fun things to do in Ottawa? 
Be sure to check out my Things To Do in Ottawa post. 

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about Doors Open Ottawa 2017. 

Note: I was not compensated for this post in any way. It's purpose is merely to share information I think will be of interest to my readers. All opinions are my own. 

.@TajOttawa is Celebrating 30 Years in July! #Ottawa #MyOttawa #OttawaFood #Ad

Taj Indian Cuisine: A delicious taste of local flavour. 

Disclosure: I received a meal free of charge for the purpose of this post. All opinions are my own. 

This July Taj Indian Cuisine is celebrating 30 years of serving Ottawa delicious Indian cuisine! Thirty years of being part of a community, and adding to it their unique local "flavour". Thirty years of owner Indu Bakshi creating the delicious North Indian flavours, recipes and dishes served at Taj. To celebrate this milestone and as a gesture of thanks to Ottawa and their community for 30 wonderful years, they've planned some exciting events, and promos. Be sure you're Taj on Facebook, twitter and instagram to stay in-the-know as they reveal details about their upcoming 30th Birthday Celebrations. 

The Taj staff is friendly, engaging, and knowledgeable about the dishes they serve. When asked their opinion or for assistance deciding menu items, I found them to be open, honest, and clearly eager to make my experience an exceptional one. Don't be afraid to ask about customizing your dishes to suit your taste palette. They really do aim to please and deliver the best dinning experience possible.

Taj Indian Cuisine is Open for:
Weekday Brunch Mon - Fri 11:30 - 2:00 pm  ($13.95) and 
Dinner-A-La-Cart Mon - Fri 4:00 - 10:00 pm, Sat 12:00 - 10:00 pm, Sun 4:00 - 10:00 pm. 

What can you expect from Taj Indian Cuisine in terms of Yum Factor? 
I'll let the following pictures do the talking ... 
Buffet: 

NAAN-TASTIC! 

Dinner:

And with the couple of thousand words those pictures just spoke, I'll leave you with one final thought. In my opinion you can't go wrong supporting small, local businesses. When they serve up dishes like these and the owner greets you and remembers your name by your second visit, it feels more like sharing a meal with friends. Friends that cook really really well!

Yep, just me Cathy thinking about Naan-fastic food!

Disclosure: I received lunch free of charge for the purpose of this post, but I've dined at Taj Indian Cuisine on my own dime and enthusiastically recommend it to friends and family. There's no doubt I'll be dining at Taj in the future. All opinions are my own. 

Here Are Seven Fabulous #Ottawa Eateries #WhereToEat #Yum

Add these Delicious Ottawa Restaurants to Your Must Try List. 

*With the exception of The Lone Star seating is limited so reservations are highly recommended. Note: These Restaurants have been listed in alphabetical order and not necessarily by preference, because let's face it ... that would be just too hard to do!

Baan Thai 
(Ottawa, Centrepoint near Baseline Rd, open for lunch and dinner, closed Sunday)
Thai Cuisine 
Baan Thai is a lovely little restaurant tucked away in the Centrepointe area. In the many years I have been going here I have never had a meal I haven't thoroughly enjoyed with service to match. My favourite is the Lunch Special which is served on a lazy-susan! The contrast of the sweet and spicy in the mango salad is particularly delicious!

Coconut Lagoon 
(Ottawa, St. Laurent near St. Laurent Shopping Ctr, open for lunch and dinner)
South Indian Cuisine
Even before I arrived I suspected my meal would be stellar, and award winning Chef Joe Thottungal and the staff at Coconut Lagoon didn't disappoint. You can't miss the passion Chef Joe puts into preparing his delicious dishes while sharing the inspiration behind each recipe. From appetizer to dessert Coconut Lagoon serves up delicious Indian cuisine that is sure to impress. 

FYI: Chef Joe is also featured in the Ottawa Cooks Recipe Book.

Jericho Lebanese Food 
(Ottawa, Bank St - The Glebe, 11:00 am - 10:00 pm, Sun 9:00 pm)
Mediterranean & Lebanese Cuisine 
I thoroughly enjoyed my Chicken Wrap House Special, and the several (okay many) bites from my friend's Falafel Plate that may have accidentally landed in my mouth when she wasn't looking ... oops ... accidents happen. The owner serves up some of the best Falafels in town. I found the owner-chef to be an engaging and wonderful host, and the decor and ceiling paintings unique and charming. 

Lone Star Texas Grill 
(Ottawa, Fisher & Baseline, 11:00 am - 11:00 or later most nights)
Serving up Tex-Mex fare 
Fajitas served family style. For years the Lone Star has been a family favourite for birthday celebrations. The ingredients are fresh and the staff friendly. Although there are several locations my favourite is still the original one located at Fisher & Baseline. 

Occo Kitchen 
(Orleans, Innes Rd, 11:00 am - 9:00 pm, Fri/Sat 11:00 pm)
Cuisine made from scratch using local quality ingredients
The menu at Occo Kitchen is an eclectic mix of casual dining options such as Fish Tacos, Burgers and Fish & Chips paired with sauces made in-house. The Fish & Chips I had were definitely delicious but the Fish Tacos looked amazing! It was a hard decision. The food presentation was beautiful and the service excellent and the decor stylish. 

Ox Head Restaurant 2 
(Kanata, Carling Ave & March Rd, open 10:00 am - 8:00 pm, Fri/Sat 9:00, closed Sundays)
Vietnamese Cuisine 
My go to meal choice at Ox Head is what I refer to as the bird's nest bowl aka as Stir Fried Egg Noodle with Chicken (Mi Xao Don Ga). Meals are served with green tea. The food tastes as good as it looks. You really can't go wrong with fresh ingredients and friendly service.

Taj Indian Cuisine 
(Ottawa, Carling Ave - near Bayshore Shopping Ctr, open for lunch and dinner)
North Indian Cuisine 
For almost 30 years Taj Indian Cuisine has been serving up delicious meals from recipes created by owner Indu Bakshi. I'm slowly working my way through the entire menu, having sampled to date Butter Chicken, Chicken Bhuna, Lamb Bhuna, Beef Curry, Tandoori Chicken, Vegetable Biryani,  Paneer Pakoras, and copious amounts of naan bread. When you enter a restaurant for your second visit and are greeted by the owner by name ... well in my opinion service doesn't get better than that. 

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about where to get delicious eats in Ottawa.

Note: I was not compensated for this post. The purpose of this post is merely to share information I think is of interest or relevant to my readers.

Don't Miss #HorsePower & #GoldRushExhibit at #CanadianMuseumOfHistory @canmushistory

Gold Rush - Dorado in British Columbia Exhibit at the Canadian Museum of History.

Worth It's Weight in Gold. 

Hold Your Horses! Before you go be sure to trot on over to the Horse Power - The Paul Bienvenu Carriage Collection Exhibit.

You know me always thinking out loud. This time to share a few "nuggets" of wisdom about two special exhibits currently at the Canadian Museum of History. Both exhibits have a "gold mine" of fascinating facts and artifacts which give a window into specific parts of our Canadian history.

There's gold in them thar hills ...
Until Jan 15th, 2017 you can explore the 280 artifacts that tell the story of the British Columbia's Gold Rush, and where it fits into the timeline of gold rushes around the world. On display are some extraordinary works of art, miner's tools and even a real restored stagecoach. You'll also learn all sorts of interesting facts and information about gold's "uses in science, technology and medicine".

Chasing the dream ...
This exhibit provides a window into life during the British Columbia Gold Rush, how it impacted Canada's immigration, colonization, culture and "helped to shape the Canada we know today". 

Here for a good time but not a long time ...
The Gold Rush exhibit is a collaborative effort between the Canadian Museum of History and the Royal BC Museum, and gives those outside British Columbia a limited time opportunity to see these artifacts from this interesting period in Canadian history. In other words it's not permanent so be sure to take advantage and explore this exhibit while you can.

Since this Thing 1 seems to think he's worth his actual weight in gold ... the debate continues. 

Hold your horses ...
You can't leave yet. That would be like putting the the cart carriage before the horse. EXTENDED! Until January 7th , 2018, 2017 you can explore Horse Power - The Paul Bienvenu Carriage Collection. This unique collection of 18 horse-drawn carriages and sleighs demonstrate the superior craftsmanship and attention to detail that when into these vehicles. The mode of transportation one drove back then, like now acted as both a way of getting from A to B and as symbol of wealth and social status.  

Transported back in time ...
This collection exhibits both the evolution of horse-drawn vehicles, and highlights carriage and sleigh designs and makers that are uniquely Canadian, including 14 made in Quebec. The Canadian climate influenced how people and goods were transported, which in turn impacted the design and materials used to manufacture horse-drawn vehicles. If it was merely to function as a (excuse the pun) work horse decoration and ornamentation would be minimal. On the other hand if the sleigh or carriage was about making a statement on your social status, or it's purpose was to allow for socializing this was reflected in the design, as evident in the intentional decision to manufacture roofless sleighs allowing one to "be seen". Like a Louis Vuitton trunk, a sleigh or carriage could be a sign of wealth.

Also interesting about this exhibit ...

The Musees de la civilisation in Quebec City developed this exhibit drawing from the more than 213 horse-drawn vehicles donated by Paul Bienvenu. Using 18 carriages and sleighs this exhibit not only examines the history and evolution of horse-drawn vehicles in Canada, but also ties them to famous or historically significant events or Canadians who owned or used these vehicles. 

Don't be shy, get social with the Canadian Museum of History: on twitter and facebook to be in the know, and on Instagram for pretty pictures.

FYI: CMH is running a 

Horse-Power Twitterature Contest!

A final note ...

If you have young children be sure to visit the Canadian Museum of History's Children's Museum. It's a wonderful interactive experience that never disappoints. 

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about all the golden opportunities to incorporate gold and horse puns into this post. I know it's hard to bridle your excitement having hit the mother lode of funny puns with me. But sadly it is time for me to stop horsing around. 

Note: I was an invited guest of the Canadian Museum of History for a media tour of these two exhibits, but received no compensation for this post. All opinions are my own.