Food trucks in London & a Goodah Gastro Truck review

My grade nine English teacher encouraged our entire class to attend a rally one day. I can't remember what it was for or if I was passionate about the cause, but I remember it made me feel great to get political and join a community to stand for something. Since then there aren't a ton of issues that I get too fired up about but one is FOOD TRUCKS!

Why, why, why do almost all other major Canadian cities have a bustling food truck culture, while our municipal powers continue to tell us no? Why do the brick-and-mortar restaurants get to decide that these trucks would harm their sales and therefore that they aren't allowed to be around? WHY?!

Luckily, London does have an operating food truck called Goodah Gastro Truck that says parked at 199 Queens St (near Clarence) which is totally legal. I believe it is also available for catering and special events, they just aren't allowed to up and drive to wherever they want... yet.

Myself, Calvin, Ollie, Koko & my gluten-free mom buzzed over for lunch the other day and had an amazing lunch.

The truck has a standing menu of delectable grilled cheese sandwiches as well as tomato & dill soup, apple slaw, brownies and drinks. Then they have a daily special that is sure to make your mouth water. (Check their Facebook for the specials.)

I ordered the Amour. It came with a side of soup which was packed with fresh dill flavour and that perfect tomato texture that lets you know the soup is made with fresh ingredients. A perfect pickle came with it as well. Then the sandwich... The outside of the bread was grilled perfection - hot, golden and buttery. Inside was ooey-gooey brie cheese - more than my $8's worth I'll say that. The creaminess of the cheese was perfectly balanced by fresh spinach, and a sweet raspberry-pepper jelly that offered perfect tang (as soon as it wasn't the temperature of pure, molten lava!) 

 

Calvin decided to try the daily special which was a Club - Roasted Turkey, Smoked Bacon, Tomato, Baby Spinach, Pesto Mayo, smothered with Cheddar and Jack then grilled between fresh Sourdough... Unreal!

He also had a side of the slaw and it was to die for! Super creamy and packed with tart apples. I wish I had snapped a photo before he devoured it.

The staff are warm and friendly - in fact, they made my mom up a special platter because she can't eat their bread (due to a gluten intolerance). If you happen to be gluten-free also, swing by and ask for Rose's GF Platter. It contained: fresh tomato, spinach, grilled veggies, turkey, a pickle, a side of slaw, balsamic drizzle, and 4 generous pieces of Brie cheese. She was in heaven. 

London's food culture NEEDS food trucks. Not only should you support the idea, and get on board for any online groups/campaigns/petitions that come up, but walk or drive out to GOODAH and buy a sandwich to support them today... you'll thank me later.

Healthy Snack Ideas - With Real Photos

Thanks to my husband's generous gift of an iPhone 5, I have been snapping nonstop photos of my meals and snacks over the past month.

Sometimes it's hard to conjure up a healthy snack which Ritz crackers, caramel popcorn and ginger ale are at our finger tips and require no imagination. But if our only obstacle is igniting your creativity then I am up to the challenge!

Use some of these suggestions, along with a few photos of things I've eaten recently (or served to Oliver). They range in prep time, cost, flavour preference, and even health-factor, but I love them all.

• A mini whole-grain wrap or pita stuffed with egg salad, chicken salad, tuna salad or fresh veggies
• Pita wedges, baked, dipped in hummus
• A hard-boiled egg and cherry tomatoes
• A mug of vegetable soup 
• An olive, aged cheddar and fig plate
• Pumpernickle toast with natural peanut butter and dried fruit
• Leftover quinoa/rice/other grain with chopped cucumber and vinaigrette added
• A bowl of oatmeal with maple syrup and walnuts
• A mini pizza on a whole-grain english muffin (toppings: mushrooms, green pepper, pineapple)
• Puffed cereal, edamame and cheddar cheese chunks

 

•  Carrot sticks, kiwi, pickles, trail mix with a peanut-butter and pistachio coated date

• Homemade yogurt with fresh fruit, sunflower seeds and pepitas

 

• Guacamole!

• Banana, toasted cashews and mini-muffins

• Lemon poppyseed loaf, mixed fruit

• A slice of flourless dark chocolate cake bathed in mixed berries

Homemade Granola - Oh The Possibilities

You can't argue with me: granola is pretty freaking delicious. If I have a carton of almond milk chilling in the fridge it has no chance at surviving me and my trusty cereal bowl. I would eat granola for breakfast every day (if it wasn't for my love affair with toast - sigh.)

Granola is really easy to make and I'm very sad if you buy it prepackaged unless you have a valid reason like you're preoccupied with 15 children or you have no arms or you can't afford a baking sheet.

Here's my bare bones method.

Preheat your oven to ANYTHING. I suggest 375 or 400F but let's not get technical.

Line a baking sheet (the kind you make cookies on) with butter or coconut oil or tin foil or parchment paper.

Warm up a mix of butter (or coconut oil) and honey (or maple syrup). Maybe a 1/2 cup of each - don't worry about it.

Now fill a mixing bowl with a whole bunch of stuff. Go on. I would suggest oats but this isn't a dictatorship. It's granola making, lighten up. A recent favourite that I made contained dried blueberries, pepitas (that's hulled pumpkin seeds), shredded coconut, salted pretzels and dark chocolate chips. You can put nuts, seeds, spices, other cereal. Try granola crumbs. The sky's the limit but I wouldn't suggest ground beef or grape popsicles. At this point I add a pinch of salt but it's very naughty and I can't condone you doing it to your batch.

Go back to that butter-honey you warmed up. (It wasn't in the microwave was it? Use a pot on the stove you high-tech clown.) Pour the mixture over the bowl of odds and ends. Use a wooden spoon to toss it all together then spread it on your sheet.

Bake it for 10 minutes then take it out and stir it with the spoon. Keep doing this every 10 minutes until it looks toasty. Then let it cool and store it in a large glass mason jar.

Mmmm, see aren't  you glad you didn't follow a MarthaStewart recipe or anything like that? You go granola-maker!

My boy is 1!

Yesterday was Oliver's birthday. (Also, the anniversary of Marilyn Monroe's untimely and mysterious death.)

While I can't believe how fast the time has gone and am in utter shock that my son is not still a squirming 7 pound newborn baby, I would like to recount some of my most favourite things about this 12-month old bundle of joy.

• Oliver has an uncanny ability to know when to applaud. He has impressed many an onlooker by giving a hand to a sentimental moment, clapping after athletes are announced at a sporting event, applauding a hilarious moment, and starting a standing ovation after a speech. 
• Oliver has the dancing prowess of a (hopefully never existing) Rihanna-Chris Brown love child. Just crank an Usher single and let unbelievable hip hop moves ensue.
• Oliver's palette is one pinot noir away from Geoffrey Zakarian-caliber. Example: his past 24 hours have consisted of a spicy-sushi for yesterday's lunch, a four-course wedding dinner with adult portions (roasted cauliflower-aged cheddar soup, honey-dijon dressing on spinach salad, vegan pear gallette on leek-asparagus nest with pickled wild mushrooms and brandy emulsion, and a raspberry-white chocolate truffle cake), a fruit salad with pumpernickel crouton breakfast, and a snack of fresh-from-the-garden caprese salad (basil, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella cubes and balsamic vinegar).
• Oliver and I love biking or walking to the nearby forest to pick wild berries. We never get enough to have leftovers by the time we get home but it's sure a delicious return trip.
• Oliver has such an easy-going, adaptable temperament we're able to bring him along to many things instead of arranging a babysitter. He has attended heavy metal concerts since he was 3 months old. He has been to a few movies at the theatre - while awake and while sleeping. He attended a military air show, two weddings, and is taking his third international flight on Friday.
• Oliver can craft a toy from anything. Some of his favourite play things are the lid from a container of Wendy's beef chili, my bottle of vanilla extract, a detached computer mouse, and most beloved of all, the blue watering can.
• Oliver now understands my many overly repetitious commands: Gentle! Patience! Careful! Follow Mommy! Feet first! and Big Bite! Oh, and who could forget Calvin's bandmates request: Headbang!

He is a very loved little boy and as baffling as it is, a whole year has come and gone and we're thankful to have spent it with him.