Where to Eat in Moncton

Here we are at the year's end, and as we spend the last of the holidays with family and friends, consider these two excellent eating places which each gained recognition for "Where to Eat in Canada" for 2005.

Little Louis' Oyster Bar

Little Louis’, specializing in seafood and steaks, is an absolute jewel of a restaurant! Well deserving of mention in Anne Hardy’s “Where to Eat in Canada” published by Oberon Press of Ottawa, their fine cuisine prepared and presented to perfection is a credit to a stellar team of cooks headed by Stephen Huston C.C.C. an award winning Executive Chef with distinctive qualifications held by a very few in the Atlantic Region. Moncton’s best kept secret, this hide-away restaurant on the second floor of 245 Collishaw Street in the city centre has a high-end, elegant continental ambiance that harkens back to a more gracious era. Open just three years, they are a supper club with fine cuisine and true ambiance with a sprinkling of jazz. Their excellent menu choices feature French classics with a fusion twist and include lunchtime favourites such as soups and salads, pasta, rice, meat and fish dishes; and fabulous dinner offerings in specialty local oysters, sumptuous steaks and vegetarian delights. Foods are fresh, pastries are made on site and they offer day-boat catch whenever available, and their sauces are simply heavenly. A fully licensed restaurant, their wine cellar is second to none and they have a trained staff who understands wines and foods with their experiences in Europe and the rest of the world in the service industry, bringing a wealth of vintner knowledge and understanding to the table.

European Bakery and Café

European Bakery and Café at 603 Acadia Avenue in Dieppe has the distinct honour of being voted one of the best places to eat in Canada by Ann Hardy’s publication of “Where to Eat in Canada,” which is an independent guide published by Oberon Press in Ottawa. Owned and operated by the exceptional husband and wife team of Oliver and Tatjana Hofer, who are originally from Germany, European Bakery and Café credits its success to “home cooking” using the finest organic ingredients and made from scratch. As Oliver says, “Tatjana is an excellent cook and she loves what she does. She would not make anything for the public that she wouldn’t feed to her own family, so all the care and quality that goes into her cooking can be enjoyed by all our customers.” Oliver himself is a Master Baker and Pastry Chef, having grown up in a family of bakers. In fact, his father still runs a bakery in Germany. Oliver makes breads, bagels, and cakes, including wedding cakes with butter and whip crème made in the European style with low sugar content. Visit European Bakery and Café for tasty breakfasts beginning at 8:30 am or enjoy lunch until 5:30 pm or 6:30 pm with hearty soups containing lots of vegetables, delicious sandwiches and sumptuous desserts with real whipped cream or butter cream and specialty coffees such as Irish coffee cappuccino and Italian espresso. Take advantage of their excellent take-out service or visit European Bakery and Café today, enjoy the homey ambiance, and discover why they’re one of “The Best Places to Eat” in Canada!

The Ghosts of Christmas Past

In Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” we are introduced to the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future and while we may entertain the ghost of Christmas future, we dwell primarily on the present. Here are a few tidbits, however, from the ghosts of past Christmases in the lives of luminaries who have gone before or may still be with us:

Russia, 1866
Christmas day at the country estate of Count Leo Tolstoy deep in the fir forests at Yasnaya Polyana was cold, crisp, and blanketed in snow. In the country mansion, a huge floor-to-ceiling Christmas tree, brightly decorated, provoked ooh’s and ah’s from the children of the estate workers who were always invited to Christmas dinner. They were each given a wooden toy and a piece of pudding gaily wrapped, and Count Tolstoy’s own small children joined the din. On this particular Christmas, Tolstoy’s young son, Ivan, was given a china mug, which he just loved. He spent all evening showing it to whomever would listen to him as he ran through the vast house. Alas, he tripped and fell and broke his precious gift. He went to bed that night having had an early education in life’s disappointments!

Austria, 1888
This Christmas morning dawned bright and cold in the City of Vienna, Austria, where the Empress Elizabeth woke to one of the last happy Christmases she would experience. Known in her girlhood as the tomboy Princess Sisi, Elizabeth was bright, eccentric, and the leading beauty of her day. A family get-together for gift exchanging was the highlight of her day where, surrounded by the Emperor Franz Joseph, the Crown prince Rudolph and her six-year-old granddaughter, also named Elizabeth, the Empress revelled in a rare opportunity at family life, delighting her granddaughter with an exquisite miniature set of white wicker furniture for her dollhouse. A happy Christmas moved into a New Year filled with heartache and tragedy with the death of Crown Prince Rudolph in January, and portents of evil to come with the birth of Adolph Hitler in April of 1889.

Canada, 1919
Canada’s own darling author, Lucy Maude Montgomery, awoke to a sad and dreary day, nostalgic for days gone by and still raw from the recent death of her dear cousin and “kindred spirit,” Frede. She proceeded to make breakfast while her young sons exulted in their gifts under the tree. She was to spend the day harnessed to the kitchen with a smoking stove and an oven that would not get hot. It was 2 pm before Christmas dinner was served and 4 pm before she got all the dishes done. By day’s end, she had a wracking headache, took two aspirin, and went off to bed!

France, 1922
European socialite, Princess Liane de Pougy, author of “The Blue Diaries,” recorded in her diary her utter triumph of a Christmas meal, which she cooked herself, as her maid was given the day off. She prepared French truffles in a casserole dish with slices of ham, fillet of beef, and rashers of bacon, which simmered slowly on the stove all day in vegetable stock and white wine. The smell was heady, exotic, and warm, and her dish a “triumph of gluttony” as she called it. Rich and inviting, the exquisite taste produced profuse “thank you’s” from her guests about which she remarked to her diary, “There’s nothing more sincere than the gratitude of a satisfied palate.”

England, 1995
Christmas morning of this year found Brian Eno, rocker of Roxy Music, opening presents with his wife and two daughters. He spent two hours putting together a Barbie horse and carriage toy only to discover that batteries weren’t included. Annoyed, and no doubt tired, he would write in his diary later that day, “I imagine all over the Western Hemisphere, disgruntled, unshaven fathers are doing the same thing...,” which is putting toys together for over-excited children.

– And how will your Christmas day be?

Basket Kase Gifts

Basket Kase Gifts makes a case for the versatility of gift baskets filled with treats and pleasures for any occasion, from a sumptuous Christmas basket all decked out for the festive season to wedding and anniversary, a new baby, birthdays, a special “thank you,” business or corporate occasions, funerals and sympathy, housewarming, or just for fun! Basket Kase carries a complete selection of unusual and beautiful baskets suited for any commodity – fruit, wine, cheeses, gourmet treats, or health and beauty products. Available at various price-points, there’s a gift basket to suit every occasion and budget!

Visit Basket Kase at Marché Moncton Market on Saturdays, or contact them at (506) 871-8738, email at basketkasegifts@rogers.com, or make an appointment to visit their location at 95 Highfield Street in the city centre. Owned and operated by Claudette J. Hyman, Basket Kase’s unique inventory of baskets come from as far away as China and Africa and as close to home as northern New Brunswick where a local artisan in twig furniture provides Basket Kase with handmade beauties. Claudette accents each basket with paint, shellac, or decorative touches that make each one distinctive and unique. Baskets can be purchased as is or filled as a gift basket for any occasion.

This holiday season, fill one of these lovely baskets with a selection of gifts from the Farmers Market. It’s sure to be a beautiful and thoughtful gift filled with one-of-a-kind items all lovingly produced by the many fine talents only found at the market. It’s a gift basket that will be cherished by everyone on your list. Happy Holidays!

Johanne Doucet’s Four Seasons Studio

Johanne Doucet’s Four Seasons Studio can be found weekly at Marché Moncton Market on Saturdays, and at the Dieppe Farmers Market on Sundays now through to Christmas! Her bevelled glass suncatchers are a big hit as they feature vintage lace, tatting, and doilies sandwiched between panels of glass in a perfect combination of old and new, with the novel use of doilies that Grandma could never have envisioned! This classic and sophisticated look in suncatchers creates a new element to formal decor and is a special eye-catching delight as the bevelled glass sparkles in the light.

Johanne also excels at beaded jewellery, with glass beads strung on sterling wire in beautiful drop earrings, necklaces, and bracelets. Her memory wire coiled several times onto itself gives the look of several bracelets all in one piece and is adjustable to fit any size wrist. Painstakingly pieced together in vibrant colours, Johanne’s jewellery are works of art you can wear with any outfit – from the everyday casual to elegant and sophisticated dress for evenings, parties, or special occasions. Great for a special gift, it’s the perfect stocking stuffer. This Christmas, invest in the lovely and creative works of art available at the Four Seasons Studio at the Market! Happy Holidays!

D & J’s Stained Glass Studio

Danny and Jemma’s Stained Glass Studio at Marché Moncton Market is the pinnacle of one couple’s passion for glass. Danny Lutes is a virtuoso at stained glass art as his booth at the Farmers Market clearly displays. Here you can find lovely sun-catchers in every design the imagination can conjure up, from realistic renditions of cats and dogs to Disney characters, colourful birds, fantasy figures such as fairies and mermaids, Harley-Davidson logos for the motorcycle fan, sunbursts, sunflowers – you name it, Danny create it in stained glass. Got a special order or request? Danny is pleased to accommodate you. Danny also creates larger works such as whole windows, kitchen cabinet doors, custom lamps, screens, or mural wall panels for your home or business. The lovely underseascapes at Skipper Jack’s Restaurant were made by Danny!

Danny’s art has been his salvation. A former construction worker who had a small interest in stained glass as a hobby, Danny had a bad accident at work that rendered him unable to work in his field. With a totally crushed face and blind in one eye, Danny’s road to recovery was helped by the development of his initial interest in stained glass to a full blown passion. Stained glass creation has been therapeutic, and Danny’s saving grace has become our gain. A year ago, Danny met and married Jemma, and she now shares his passion for glass! This Christmas season, add a gift from Danny’s kiosk to your Christmas gift list for family and friends. They’ll be amazed at the expert workmanship and at the lovely and creative designs. Let Danny’s art grace your home for many years to come. Contact Danny and Jemma at 854-6632 or email them at djglass@nb.sympatico.ca and make their art a part of your Christmas gift list! Merry Christmas!

The Pampered Damsel

Nothing exudes a feeling of luxury like the handmade soaps by The Pampered Damsel! This festive season, treat yourself and your family and friends to a selection of these lovely soaps that are as much a treat to the senses of sight and smell as they are to use. Clear, fresh, and fragrant, these soaps are truly unique and are a distinct departure from other handmade soaps available at the farmers market venue. Made from all natural vegetable oil, these soaps are hypoallergic with no detergents, sulphates, surfactants, alcohol, or sugar solutions. Ingredients include kosher vegetable glycerin, water, moisturiser, emulsifier, aloe vera gel, and essential oils with some soaps containing oatmeal, dulse, cocoa, craberry seeds, apricot shells, coffee grounds, chlorophyll, mica, poppy seeds, ground herbs and spices, tea leaves, loofah, and cosmetic grade natural pigments, depending on the type of soap you purchase.

Tiffany Carson is the driving force behind The Pampered Damsel. Crafty and artistic with an innate sense of style, her meticulous attention to details shows in the superb craftsmanship that goes into anything she produces, and her handcrafted soaps are no exception. Make these exceptional soaps part of your gift-giving plans - they’re great for stocking-stuffers or gift baskets. Got a special order? Contact Tiffany Carson at 856-5917, email at tiffany@pampereddamsel.com, or visit her kiosk at the Dieppe Farmers Market on Saturdays, and revel in the delights of "The Pampered Damsel!"

Leonidas European Chocolate Delights Inc.

Ah, chocolate! The food of the gods! Throughout history mankind has had a love affair with chocolate, and it’s still going strong! Once the domain of the very rich, chocolate is now widely available to all. Brought back to Europe from the tropics by fifteenth century explorers to the New World, it was the Europeans who perfected the art of chocolate making. Today, chocolate is still considered a luxury, a gift of love and, it has now been scientifically proven that chocolate has many healthful benefits as well. Recent tests have found chocolate enhances serotonin levels in the brain, enhancing the feeling of well-being, and flavinols found in chocolate are beneficial for heart health also.*

Some of the finest chocolates to be found in the Greater Moncton Area can be purchased at Leonidas European Chocolate Delights in Champlain Place. Freshly made by hand and imported weekly from Belgium, Leonidas has exquisite chocolates with “melt-in-the-mouth” fillings in both hard and soft textures in dark or light chocolate. Nuts, liqueurs, fruit, and nougat centres appeal to a wide audience as everyone tries to grab their favourites. The creamy fillings are just heavenly!

Leonidas carries a wide assortment of chocolates, truffles, and fruit candies and the customer can choose a selection of favourites or a variety of different pieces all lovingly packaged in festive boxes that come in various sizes and wrapped with a fancy ribbon in your choice of colour. The perfect all-occasion gift, chocolates are a great offering for the new mom, a special anniversary, a luxurious party favour, or a novel dinner place marker, and with the upcoming holiday season it’s a great gift for co-workers, business colleagues, the neighbour next door, special friends, or a loved one. Make a special gift basket of a variety of treats from Leonidas this Christmas, it’ll be a welcome gift that symbolizes friendship, holiday cheer, and the warmth of family and friends – not to mention tradition!

Leonidas’ excellent chocolates are also available to the wholesale customer for re-sale at locations throughout the city such as hotels, flower shops, hospital gift shops, corporations, health food shops, and even spas. With future plans in the works to offer online ordering via e-commerce, university and college students in business curriculums are currently researching programs into this business venture, and with a view to further expansion in the near future, Leonidas hopes to locate to all the major cities in the Atlantic Provinces, bringing the gift of a superb chocolate product to Atlantic Canadians everywhere.

The Leonidas story began almost 100 years ago when a U. S. confectioner of Greek descent, Leonidas Kesekidas travelled to Belgium, winning accolades and medals for his chocolates at the Brussels World’s Fair in 1913. Leonidas eventually settled in Belgium where he opened his own shop and factory, building up a clientele and a reputation for exquisite chocolates throughout Europe. The result was that by 2000, Leonidas Chocolates are on sale in 17 000 outlets in 40 different countries worldwide, and “Today, the name Leonidas has come to stand for the quintessential Belgium chocolate.” By offering quality and freshness, Leonidas ensures “only the highest quality ingredients are used in their chocolates – Belgium couverture chocolate, fresh butter, fresh cream, hazel nuts from Turkey, Morello cherries from the Périgord, almonds from Italy, walnuts from Grenoble as well as the highest quality Amaretto, menthé, and liqueurs.” In 2001, Leonidas obtained ISO 9001 certification, ensuring top quality in ingredients and in absolute customer satisfaction in the manufacturing and sales of their excellent product.

In Moncton, Leonidas Chocolates is brought to you by the father and son team of Joe and Nick Sparturo, both seasoned businessmen and visionary entrepreneurs whose family business empire encompasses a wide range of business ventures, all with the objective of bringing the very best in goods and services to their many customers. With “Quality First” as their watchwords, Joe and Nick and their many dedicated employees at Leonidas will be happy to accommodate your every wish this holiday season. Drop by Leonidas Chocolate Delights at Champlain Place and make your holiday a sweet one with chocolates by Leonidas! Merry Christmas!

* Here are some of the links to the benefits associated with chocolate

http://www.clevelandclinic.org/heartcenter/pub/guide/prevention/nutrition/chocolate.htm
http://www.immunesupport.com/library/showarticle.cfm/ID/3464
http://www.intemperantia.com/healthbenefits.htm
http://archives.cnn.com/2000/HEALTH/diet.fitness/02/02/chocolate.wmd/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4371867.stm
http://www.canadianliving.com/CanadianLiving/client/en/Family/Detailnews2.asp?idNews=232747&idSm=64
http://www.lifescript.com/www/HealthResources/Spotlight/FoodNutrition/ChocolateBenefits/index.asp
http://stuffedchocolate.com/chocolate%20links.htm

The Homebuddy

Welcome to The Homebuddy, the newest idea in the story of your largest investment – your home! A complete organizer for all the important information pertaining to your home, it helps to consolidate information on the myriad elements in your house, helping you to keep records on such issues as repairs to various structures, to track fuel costs, whether your home uses oil, electric or wood heat, the type of water heater you use, what materials your roofing consists of, what your plumbing entails, do you have air conditioning? What brand name appliances or fixtures make up your lighting system? What kind of insulation do you have? Is it up to code, etc.? All this information may or may not be kept in a central filing system or may be all ensconced exclusively in the head of the household member to the exclusion of other members of the household. The Homebuddy offers a place to record all pertinent information, so its all in one place and at everyone’s fingertips in case of an emergency.

The brainchild of Cheryl Thomas, this idea is simple, yet fascinating. We all take our homes for granted; yet, it is our shelter from the storms of life. Cheryl’s timely and handy booklet offers a step-by-step, comprehensive map to creating our own home story that can serve as both a practical source book and a record for posterity. Looking for a truly unusual gift for a loved one this Christmas? The Homebuddy is just the thing! Visit Cheryl at the Marché Moncton Market on Saturdays and reserve your copy of The Homebuddy, or call 387-4412 for more information. The Homebuddy – “a homeowner’s best friend!”

Laurie's Beaded Treasures

Laurie Loretto’s beaded art is truly a sight to behold! Intricately woven bead decorations on tinsel and clear glass Christmas balls or around small mirrors with beaded fringes and tassels are a must for your Christmas tree and will make a great Christmas gift for anyone on your list. Laurie also makes exquisite beaded jewellery – rings, earrings, bracelets, and superb beaded collars in exciting designs. Some designs incorporate a bright copper penny or a semi-precious stone woven into the beadwork as an unusual accent piece. Laurie’s friend, Suzanne LeBlanc, who shares her table, is an equally talented artist in this medium, and she also makes beautiful and inventive necklaces, bracelets, bookmarks, boot bracelets, rings, cross pendants, and mini-marble Christmas ornaments including some of the Christmas spiders. While Laurie and Suzanne use the same materials, they each exhibit their own creative style.

Laurie and Suzanne’s beaded creations can be found at the Marché Moncton Market on Saturdays now through to Christmas. She usually takes the winter and spring months off, returning to the market in June. An imaginative and inventive person, she credits her sister with giving her the idea to do beadwork that she now finds therapeutic. “I start my beadwork and all my worries melt away,” she says. “It’s a great way to relax.”

This Christmas, indulge in a piece of artwork from Laurie’s amazing beaded collection of fine, one-of-a-kind items. Her Christmas spider is terrific and has an accompanying story that comes with it. It’s a great gift idea for a teacher, a friend, the next door neighbour, a babysitter, or even for yourself. No Christmas tree should be without one.

Visit Laurie’s kiosk at the market. You’ll be surprised and delighted by her unique talent, patience, and the wonderful piece she produces from the tiny glass beads all imported specially in a rainbow of colours. Make a Laurie Loretto collectible ornament or a piece of jewellery a must have for your Merry Market Christmas!