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The holidays are just around the corner
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Chefs Marc and Chantal welcome you to Cuisine & Passion
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Just a couple of weeks ago, it seems, we were putting together our fall cooking-class schedule. Now those classes are all but wrapped up and the holidays are just weeks away!
In this edition, look for information on special Christmas orders including our ever-popular meat pies--Tourtière du Lac St-Jean as well as traditional tourtières--and a bigger and, if you can believe it, better Christmas cake.
Also in this edition, you'll find information on some special cooking classes we have lined up to help you through the holidays.
And it gives us a great deal of pleasure to announce that, once again, we are holding our annual Holiday Magic campaign to help feed those who might not otherwise enjoy a Christmas dinner this year. For just $50, we will prepare a dinner for four people--read more below about how you can help.
While it may be a little early to say Happy Holidays, it's never too early--or too late--to say thanks for your support.
We hope to see you, again, very soon!
Chefs Chantal Gagné and Marc Miron |
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| French-Canadian classic becomes Orléans tradition
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Tourtière: Popular any time of the year
 We were barely into October and we were already starting to hear, "Are you making tourtières for Christmas again this year?"
Yes, we are!
Chefs Chantal and Melanie have become known for their hand-rolled pastry dough and the beautiful filling of pork, veal beef plus a hearty dose of fresh herbs. WARNING: Order early! At just $15.99 each, they will be flying out the door!
Tourtière du lac St-Jean
A deep-dish pie covered in flaky pastry dough and filled with venison, duck, chicken, pork and beef, our Tourtière du lac St-Jean has also been very popular at Christmas time. Because we are making only a limited number, we would advise ordering yours now. Each pie feeds six to eight people and comes in its own 1.5-litre ceramic ramekin. They are priced at just $60 each. |
| Spreading the good word--in both official languages!
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Chef Marc on TFO, Rogers
It seems that television crews are just about as common as customers at Cuisine & Passion these days. This past Friday, Chef Marc played host to Ruby TV, a French-language television program from TFO that tells viewers about what's hot in the Ottawa area.
And nothing is hotter than cooking classes at Cuisine & Passion! The cast and crew enjoyed a tour, an interview and an Asian Adventure cooking class, complete with Wonton soup, Cantonese lemon chicken and Kue labu (Indonesian pumpkin custard). They left impressed--and full!
Look for Chef Marc to also make a monthly appearance on the French-language Rogers program, Entre Nous, beginning in early November. We'll bring you more information as the dates firm up.
Entre Nous looks at some of the many activities in the region while introducing the audience to a variety of experts.
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| Beat the rush--book your Christmas party now!
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Time to book your Christmas party
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Book your party now
to secure your preferred date.
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To get your first choice of dates, we would advise that you book your Christmas party now as space goes fast starting right about this time of year.
At Cuisine & Passion, we offer all sorts of options. Whether you want to incorporate a hands-on or demonstration cooking class or just enjoy a world-class meal, we have lots of options available.
To learn more, contact us by telephone at 613-845-1090 or by email at chefmarc@cuisinepassion.ca.
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| Holiday Magic: A passion for giving
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We're all in this together
 Did you know that hundreds of families in Orléans visit the food bank each month just so they have something to eat? These are our friends and neighbours!
Not a day goes by that we don't count our blessings. Once again this year, we have launched our Holiday Magic program, a chance for all of us to give back to those in need.
For just $50, you can feed a family of four this Christmas. For each family, Chef Marc will prepare a traditional three-course turkey dinner valued at more than $140 for each family, and the good folks at the Orleans-Cumberland Community Resource Centre will distribute the food.
For your donation, your name will be placed on a festive tag that will adorn both the large sign in the store and the Christmas ornaments in the windows.
Our goal is to feed 20 families (80 people) this year. Won't you help?
Give a little. Help a lot. |
| Bring home the bottle--on us!
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FREE premium olive oil with $75 purchase
 Once again, we are offering you the chance to stock your pantry with a premium Italian olive oil.
Spend just $75 on any items in the store this Saturday only--including fresh or frozen food, dinnerware, kitchen tools or gift certificates (but excluding cooking classes)--and we will give you a 500 mL bottle of Biologico Extra Virgin Olive Oil, valued at $24, at no additional cost.
Made by a small, independent producer in Italy, this oil is the perfect ingredient for dressings and low-heat cooking (cooking olive oil at a high heat is never a good idea). Or, drizzle it over your cooked protein for a great finish.
Remember, this offer is available on Saturday, October 29 only, and only while quantities last. We look forward to seeing you!
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| The holidays just wouldn't be same without it
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Fruitcake will be available in December
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Our cakes will be brushed with cognac syrup once a week until Christmas.
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If the only fruitcake you've ever had comes from a big-box retailer, we have some great news for you!
This year, we asked pastry chef Denis Lehudic, who currently holds that position at the Montreal Casino--to do the honours. He has made some beautiful cakes that are just dripping with goodness and flavour.
The cakes are still maturing and will be ready in about eight weeks. Each cake weights 600 g (which is 25 percent bigger than last year!) and sells for $35.
Call 613-845-1090 or email us now to order yours. Don't wait or you could be disappointed.
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| Special cooking classes for the holidays
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Preparing for the holidays
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We know, we know. Halloween isn't even over yet. But, as is obvious by the changing weather, the holidays are just a few weeks away.
Once again, we will be holding special cooking classes dedicated to holiday baking and hors d'oeuvres. Last year, classes filled up early so you may want to book a spot as soon as you can.
Holiday hors d'oeuvres: November 16 with Chef Marc.
Holiday Baking: November 23 with Chef Chantal.
Cost: $45 per person.
Each demonstration class is approximately 90 minutes in length and you get to take the recipes home.
You can book your spot with us by calling 613-845-1090 or by sending us an email.
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| Tip of the month: Cooking fish
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by Chef Marc Miron
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Fish can be a delight if cooked properly
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Overcooking can ruin an otherwise great fish dish.
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Do you know someone who says, "I just don't like fish"? Are you one of them?
I often hear people say that, only to change their minds once they try it properly cooked. Fish is a very delicate protein and, as such, often tends to get overcooked, leaving it dry, even rubbery.
A single portion of fish should take no longer than about 12 minutes to bake. If you are pan-searing it, 8 to 10 minutes total should be sufficient.
My preference is to sear the fish quickly, then finish it in the oven for about 8 to 10 minutes at 350F. Oven heat is much gentler than heat from an open flame of a hot burner and will leave your fish well cooked but tender and juicy.
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| Think global. Give local.
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Giving has never been easier
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Beautiful gift baskets for every occasion.
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Wouldn't it be nice to surprise someone with a gift basket loaded with local food products?
Choose from a selection of our ready-to-go baskets or select the Cuisine & Passion sauces, jams, spices or other products you'd like to include in a custom basket. Just tell us your budget and we'll put together a custom selection for you.
Whether it's a gift certificate for a cooking class or a gift basket filled with culinary delights, we can help you take care of all your giving needs. Drop in soon!
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| Featured recipe: Wonton soup
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by Chef
Marc Miron
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Great tasting--and good for the soul
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Sesame oil and soya sauce give this soup a distinctly Asian flavour
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This last couple of weeks has turned considerably colder so we thought a nice soup recipe might be in order.
But rather than the traditional fall soups with scrumptious squashes, marvelous melons or some other ingredient that is paired with an equally awe-inspiring alliteration, we thought we could take you on a little Asian adventure with our version of wonton soup.
PART ONE: PORK AND SHRIMP WONTONS
This recipe makes 30 wontons. Freeze the extra ones for later use.
Ingredients
(4-6 servings)
250 g shrimp, peeled, deveined and chopped
80 g water chestnuts (pat dry), chopped
250 g ground pork
3 1/2 tbsp light soya sauce
3 1/2 tbsp rice wine
1 1/2 tsp sesame oil
1 tsp ginger, chopped
1 1/2 tbsp corn starch
salt and pepper to taste
30 square or round wonton wrappers (three wontons per person--freeze the rest for later use)
Method - Mix all ingredients (except wrapper) in a bowl.
- Place a thumb-sized portion of the mixture in the middle of the wrapper.
- Moisten half the edges with water, then bring all the edges together, pressing them to enclose the ingredients in the wrapper (they don't have to look fancy!).
- Use as indicated below.
PART TWO: BROTH
Ingredients
1.5 litres chicken stock
100 g fresh spinach
2 spring onions, chopped
Ginger, soya sauce, garlic to taste (optional)
Method
- Bring chicken stock slowly to a simmer.
- Add wontons to stock and poach for about two minutes.
- Add spinach and spring onion and serve.
Now, enjoy!
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Give the
gift of fine cuisine
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Looking for a great housewarming or birthday gift or a unique way to say thanks for helping out? A gift basket from Cuisine & Passion is just the answer! You can design it yourself or let us put together the perfect combination of tasty treats fresh from our kitchen.
Bring a smile to someone's face today! Drop in, call us at 613-845-1090 or email us now for more information.
| | Visit us today at 2297 St. Joseph Blvd. in Orléans (beside Pizza Hut) and we will help you make that certain someone feel extra special! |
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