Restaurant Review: Rocky River Cafe

There is a trick to having a restaurant with only a few tables. We've been to this restaurant before, Dec.  26th, 2013, and Dec. 6th, but not since it changed hands. It was The Masonry. We are frequent restaurant visitors!


It's small, and it is in a lovely old building. Brick walls, and such. The last time we were there, there was some broad on her cell phone doing business while we were trying to have our meal in peace and quiet. She had ear plugs and didn't have an awareness about people around her. She was disturbing. I took a selfie with her, after turning around and glaring at her several times.

The restaurant was for sale for a time, and then new owners took over. After our Tuesday volunteer day, hubby does Meals on Wheels in the morning, I provide respite for a nonagenarian in the afternoon, we often go out for dinner.

As we entered, there were five tables for twosies, and 4 tables for fours. Now, the two tables we were were offered were in the middle of the room, very near the people sitting eating, right in the traffic path. Yet, here was a woman our age, and her mom, two at a table for four. We were told that they needed to keep the tables for four freed up, just in case they get a crowd in. This diminishes my importance as a customer. Don't we deserve to have some space?

We've been turned away from this restaurant, when they were full. We understand the small restaurant concept. We understand that they need to fill tables. People can learn to make reservations. What about us?

We were sat right beside the brick chimney.

Hubby has a 30% hearing loss. I asked if we could sit beside the wall, at a table for 4, as it is hard to hear in the room with the brick walls echoing sound. They did slightly accommodate us, and move the table for 2 against the wall, and the table for 4 out into the middle of the room. It did help us hear one another.

Then, a young man entered. He was immediately set up at a table for four. He knew the people serving us. Chatting loudly across the room with them, where they were behind the bar. I was shocked. Then, a woman joined him. It was far too loud, for us. You know the kind of people who think everyone wants to know their business.

Otherwise, the service was good, although there is a small room, where a group of 6 filled the space, and they needed some attention. The food was served fairly quickly, yet that is never an issue for us. I do appreciate being asked, after a few bites, if the food was good, which our server did.

The food was good, although hubby was limited to the beet salad (he cannot have dairy, yeast or eggs), there was nothing else he could eat. I had mussels. That said, we didn't feel important and we won't be back.

Restaurant Review: Wildfire BBQ and Smokehouse

This is a fun place, open seasonally in a renovated garage, with a side car for food prep. Located at 6They have a Facebook page! Very richly flavoured and yummy smoked meat, including pulled pork, ribs, chicken, and loaded large potatoes. Lots of choices, including any of these on a bun, or as platters. We've only ever ordered and brought things home to eat. Very good portions, I feel the need to cut back the next day and have a salad! If you've been to any of the cook-offs downtown, you'll appreciate this spot.
5 Craig St., Perth, ON, right beside Timmy Ho's.

"Ain't no sin to have sauce on your chin!"

As is the way, you order 'sides' with it: slaw (which was OK), fries, beans, creamed corn, cinnamon apples. Not a lot of veggies, but this would be a rich meal after a long, hard day. We picked some up on our way home after birding! I'm not thrilled with the fries, they taste a bit rich, perhaps that is a function of having it in the container with the rest of our Smokehouse Sampler (1/4 chicken, 1/4 rack ribs, pulled pork and beef brisket). This was more than plenty for the two of us! They have ice cream, milkshakes, iced tea, soda, as well.

They've done their research!

You get what you pay for, though, as there are family meals you can pre-order and pick-up for home. A whole chicken, for example, but such a wonderful flavour, or a pound of pork or beef.

The signage is fun, showing 'how many sleeps' until opening, with local street signs obviously gathered from years in the region. You have to love a place that shows a sense of humour on the part of management. There was a countdown to opening, as you can see by the above sign! Their Muskoka chair is quite the size. The people I saw in the chairs couldn't really be seen! The hand washing station is important, as you really want to use your fingers and wash before and after your meal!

Out for lunch... yes, again!

After visiting LAWS on Friday, for hubby's donation in honour of his Sady,

I was treated to yet another lunch out.

East Meets West, in Perth. We were there last week, too. Yes, I'm spoiled rotten!

Renovated bakery, love that brick

Staff are wonderful –no dairy, yeast or eggs...

Chef Ram greets his guests

I had Jambalaya Rice, and hubby's Naan

More therapy: out for lunch!

It's been quite a time here at the house: new kitchen tap, new well pump, new painted car door, new door handle (it locked us in), as well as losing our precious Sady cat. Then my publisher's business was sold. I had to buy the last of my 288 remaining books, driving to Refrew to pick them up.

Our newest adoptee, Annabelle has been a perfect diversion. She much prefers living with people,

than living in a barn. She adores the grandkids, too! She was on my lap when hubby came home and growled when she heard the garage door go up. She is a guard cat!

My goldfish tank pump is still leaking –just can't get a handle on it! The flooring is warped and I feel so upset. It's leaked through to the basement ceiling. Sigh. One more coffee and I will think about what to do. In the meantime, we had a great lunch out last week.


A new restaurant, at least a newly renovated one, and a new owner, makes for much fun, too. We read about it in the paper.

East Meets West
This was a military-like enclosure,
with passageways for the horses in 1816.

Originally, this was the Goodwood Oven restaurant. Then, for a couple of years, it was Around the Corner.

Now, it is East Meets West, run by Chef Ram Mogandas (age 36). He closed Chuckles Jack in Smiths Falls (they are having a hard time with losing employers) and opened up this one.

Weir wrote an article about the restaurant opening. Our infamous MPP (AKA "Back off government") Hillier (who has blocked me on Twitter –accuses me of 'partisan politics' for my personal opinions) was there, of course. He is in every photo-op in the town.

Also, the mayor of Perth was there, but that makes a bit more sense! It's a nice option, having Indian food, it draws tourists. We have many fine antique stores, as well as touristy places to visit. We have 5 (?) pubs, it being a town settled by Scots! Mexicali Rosa's, pizza shops, Subway, and several coffee shops, as well as Timmy Ho's and other fast foods. I know. I pick up the refuse from the ditches every once in awhile. Lots of coffee cups, as well as beer cans. But I digress.

Now, non-disclosure: there are some cute young things who earn a nice living and a nice following for covering restaurants, festivals, places to go on their blogs, but while I celebrate the places we visit, I do it for fun not fees.

Hubby, with Chef Ram Mogandas behind him

It's a lovely atmosphere, with a nice long bar as you enter the building. The walls, lovingly crafted by Scots stone masons in 1816, give it a certain ambience.

It was yummy food. There is a variety of choices, with food able to be created that avoids dairy, eggs and yeast for hubby. This has meant that hubby has to often choose a hamburger (sans bun) and fries when we eat out.

One can have Indian food, a mix or Italian choices, i.e. pastas. The spices were wonderful.

The staff were attentive. Chef Ram was cheerfully delivering food as the room filled up. It was a wonderful break in the week. Now, back to that %$^#* pump.

Trip to Almonte, Heirloom Restaurant

"Let's go," I said. To Almonte for some bird seed and bird-friendly coffee (at Gilligalou) and lunch!
"Sure," replied hubby. We went to Heirloom, it's an amazing space, with excellent food!

Artwork upstairs, wonderful heritage beams, and good food, all prepared on-site.  Food prepared simply, so hubby can eat. (He's intolerant to yeast, eggs, dairy, spelt and mushrooms!) Some amazing wine selections, too. I had a glass of white!
You don't see beams like this anymore. Only in really old heritage houses.
The sun was amazing, shining in the windows. It gives the hope of spring in its warmth.
The building also has condos.



On the way home from Almonte, we passed the sight of an OPP investigation.

I was curious, it was on Wolfe Grove Rd., one of our favourite roads. I found a sad news item:

OPP investigate fatal fire near Almonte

LOCAL NEWS Saturday 10:41 AM

The Ontario Provincial Police are investigating a fatal house fire in Lanark Highlands, about an hour north-west of Ottawa. Joyce Gibson, 67, died in the fire that began at about 8:30 a.m. on Thursday morning on Gibson Road near Wolf Grove Road, between Hopetown and Almonte.

OPP; a house fire

Lots of vehicles

I wish I could make some money off of these trips, but, despite several requests a day to 'share this piece –of interest to your readers', I avoid such deceptive things. I took an ad once, for snowmobile safety links. I donated the money to my hospice group. I was given a press badge to visit Puppets Up! one year, in return for coverage. That was just plain fun. We went back the next year and took the kids and grandkids!

I noticed a terrific article in our big newspaper (Ottawa Citizen; Daytripping to Perth). I cynically wonder how much she was paid to write this, or if meals were complimentary. Why can't I earn something this way?! I wonder if it was the tourism board, or BIA, who supported her trip... It was a perky little article. Good advertising for Perth. Excuse me for being deeply suspicious! I think an ad should be stated as an ad. The line between journalism and editorials is blurring. Journalists are unashamed of providing opinions and flowery language in their 'articles.'

In the US, blogger must declare if anything was given for, for example, a book review (i.e., free book). Not so according to Canadian law. Lots of companies are using PR firms to hand out products for bloggers to try, in exchange for a favourable review and/or a giveaway contest.

Daytripping to Perth

TRAVEL JAN 16

Perth is packed full of heritage, of good food, interesting shopping and places to stay the night, as Laura Byrne Paquet found out. What did you do? Headed to Perth for a short girls’ getaway with two high school friends, Catherine and Brenda.

I'm on the wagon: food and drink!

The chip wagon!

<= Not this one!

More like this one!

This is one of the most effective ways of controlling your weight. Watching your food and drink. I don't want to bore those of you not worried about your weight. I do want to put it out into the universe that I have to cut back on treats! When I go out and do my difficult palliative work, it is easy to come home, put on a W movie and have popcorn (my comfort food). My late father would make us popcorn every Sunday night, just before we would watch Disney World.

 If you speak/write it, you have to be more accountable!

This is my plan 

One month on the wagon to kick start better, more conscientious eating. I've lost 1.9 kg (4 lb.) since Dec. 29. So far so good.

We were watching curling together!

Exercise

I'm exercising well, I always have kept this up. Jogging from the time I was in high school, as a retiree there is lots of time for this! We are religious about exercise. It helps the brain, mind, heart, as well as the body.

 Now, with it being hard on my knees and shins, as well as my tendonitis, we work out in the basement. The elliptical (30 min. =  455 cal.) is wonderful. Also, collecting kindling (150 cal. /15 min.), using an axe to clear away ice from the mailbox, snowshoeing, forest walkies, this uses up some of the caloric intake. It's all about intake and output!
It's all about changing your exercise to suit your age, physical condition, and stage, if you must. What bothers me is that activities of daily living (ADLs) don't seem to count. I worked, for 5 hours, with a paraplegic client yesterday. Today, as therapy, I shall bring in some firewood. Mind you, I brought in a couple loads of firewood two days ago and pulled a calf muscle on the icy snow. You have to be careful at this age!

Nutrition

meat/carbs/veggies

Having taught nutrition, I understand the concept. You get lazy, though, when stress strikes. Eating out, cutting corners, buying prepared foods.
This is good:
Balancing foods; dividing your plate up into 1/4 meat, 1/4 carbs, 1/2 veggies.

I have to cut back on cheese, which is such a fine snack. Sigh. Only so good because it is so full of fat!
The four food groups are important. You know, the four food groups:
fast food, fried food, junk food and chocolate! (ツ)

Bet you can't eat just one!

A few years ago, when hubby was determined to lose weight, I suggested he write down everything he eats. He lost 30 lbs. He went to classes with a nutritionist, through the Family Health Team, and learned a lot.
I taught students to read labels.
This label is for cookies, and you must see how much EACH cookie has in terms of the various nutrients and caloric intake. It's shocking, really.

It's important to read labels.
They list them by quantity,
the highest first. 

Sometimes they fool you and simply state /100g, which may not be a logical portion. (Bet you can't eat just one!)

Now, I know some waste food, so the US researchers say, but the people I know are pretty frugal with food and portions. Lots of my students brought in leftovers for lunches!

I've begun using an on-line program, which automatically has the caloric count. Eventually, I'll get to know them off by heart. I know I just have to cut back on treats, my rewards for getting through the day.
Heaven knows we have some wonderful restaurants around here, and it is only too easy to go overboard there, especially when you cannot control your portions.

Even Ceasar Salad has its drawbacks!

Bagels, lox, and cream cheese. Yum.