Went back to this great « trouvaille » of restaurant in Ottawa, The Wellington Gastropub http://www.thewellingtongastropub.com/main.html. Justin and Katie had introduced us to it sometime last year. This time we go back to get together with « returnees » from Singapore, Mat and his daughter (spouse/mother still packing in Singapore) who are intended, at least for the moment, to settle down here in Ottawa. Plenty of time while waiting for our guests to select and taste some of their wine (we sampled several, amongst them, a Sangiovese, a Tempranillo, a Malbec and a Gewurztraminer.)This is the place with the enomatic facility, whereby wine in an open bottle can keep fresh for weeks, thanks to inserted inert gas (see blog December 2008 – Ottawa).
This time I had a sublime sablefish from BC which was totally delectable.
That was on our way up in the “hautes-laurentides”to celebrate my mother 92nd birthday, along with my brother and his family residing in Ferme-Neuve. Stayed at l’Auberge Chez Isaïe, (http://www.aubergechezisaie.com/) built by my grandfather in the 30’s, and now ironically owned and run by nephews, who have done a great job at improving on previous renovations. Cosy place to stay.
Lunch, as it is now customary on our way back, with Cynthia’s parents. This time though in Almonte (oddly named after a Mexican general, but pronounced without the “e”!), a small but very picturesque town in Eastern Ontario, built along the “Mississippi” River (that one flows into the Ottawa River not far away), and used to be a textile mills center, probably because of the serious drop in the river’s level and several falls, providing the power for the mills.
Simple lunch at a restaurant with a great location though, giving on the local river and falls, The Barley Mow, by a bright sunny Sunday.
July 26, 2009
