Rocket Bakery and Fresh Food ~ St. John's Newfoundland

After walking the waterfront each morning, I'll pop by Rocket Food Newfoundland located at 272 Water Street, St. John's to get fueled. The coffee is superb, pastries fresh and the atmosphere is neighbourly. Every visit I try a different nibble. This morning I selected a Lemon (Citron) Tart which augmented my pucker power! I loved it! Locals and folks coming off the boats agree, Rocket is fast and succulent! And that is good reason they're going off like a rocket, soaring to new culinary heights and taking us right along with them...

Copyright © Mick Huerta 2012. All Rights Reserved.
mickhuerta@gmail.com
All Accordin' - Travel, Culture, Food & Wine!

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Ches's Fish & Chips! ~ St. John's, Newfoundland

Family tradition has it that any trip to St. John's, NL requires a visit to Ches's Fish & Chips! In part because the Freshwater Road location is a mere half block down from our grandparent's house. And honestly this first week, we've eaten there three times! First two were during lower traffic times and the Fish & Chips were incredible! Crispy batter, fish right on and the chips, PERRRFECT! But the third Ches's was slammed, packed to the gunnels and our plates arrived greasy. Argh!

When it comes to frying the adage "Haste Makes Waste" is exceptionally true. Someone should caution the cooks that when you add food to heated oil the temperature drops. And if you don't attend to maintaining temperature and add food when temp is low, the result is greasy fried food. Never an appealing thought. Two out of three ain't bad. But I now know why internet reviews of Ches's hint at spotty performance. Some rave; others call it an oil slick.

Whos right? Apparently, they all are. But this is an easy fix in the kitchen. And then we, the customers, won't play grease roulette when looking for Ches's Fish & Chips at their very best!

Copyright © Mick Huerta 2012. All Rights Reserved.
mickhuerta@gmail.com
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"On the Dock!" ~ London Dock Rum

Salt Cod produced in Atlantic Canada made it's way south to the Caribbean. To return, the tall ships were brimful with barrels of island rum increasing availability, lowering prices and subsequently changing Maritime drinking culture altogether. A 300-year-old trading tradition will certainly have that effect.

And in all that old history it's understandably there are strongly held preferences when it comes to rum; some select light for spritzing with a twist, golden for mixing the (in)famous Planter's Punch with a scrap of fresh nutmeg. And the dark rums, expressly those from Guyana, are heart felt favourites for those who look for big, essential rum flavour in a glass.

Guyana is reknown for rich, dark Demerara Rums (produced on the banks of the Demerara River, just outside of Guyana’s capital, Georgetown). Throughout history these rums overwhelmingly have been strong, over-proof (cask strength). And because of their full and bounteous flavor, Demerara rums can be aged for extended periods with very smooth results dominated by caramel and molasses flavors. Some fill a snifter just as nicely as a good cognac, to the euphoric pleasure of rum aficionados.

Fortunately, London Dock Rum is blended in Canada under license to White Favell, Vintner's of London and is a true Navy Rum coming in at 57.1% alcohol by volume. Even the label of Favell’s London Dock Rum maintains a nostalgic windjammers theme harkening back to a long nautical history. This is a stand alone rum. No need to do much but spritz and sip.

Recipe: Pour a brimming ounce over crushed ice in a frozen glass, then squeeze juice fresh from the citrus - lemon, limes and perhaps even oranges. The result is a cocktail to take the edge off the day and steep you in Maritime tradition. Shlàinte!

Copyright © Mick Huerta 2012. All Rights Reserved.
mickhuerta@gmail.com
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Water Lilies - Newfoundland, Canada

A weekend of roughing it just south of St. John's, N.L. was full of the cry of loons, osprey's taking flight with trout in talons yet the thing that really touched me was walking between ponds and ponds chock full of Water Lilies. Something so delicate so far north and so short lived reminded me that this moment is precious, this moment is ephemeral and that this joy is mine forever.

Copyright © Mick Huerta 2012. All Rights Reserved.
mickhuerta@gmail.com
All Accordin' - Travel, Culture, Food & Wine!