#tortiere

My brother has, after tasting tortiere twice, decided that it's a proper Christmas tradition, something I'm certainly not going to dispute.

As many of you know, I have lived in Scotland and in Canada. While I was living in Scotland, there were a couple of things that I and my Godmum both missed from Canada and my Grandmother would send regular care packages. These things included cream based Renee’s ceasar and ranch salad dressing and Kraft peanut butter (The Scots do many things well but peanut butter is NOT one of them). At any rate, I’m sure the ilk of @cracksandcraters, @calligraphy-skele and @ladyanatares all know what I’m talking about when I say one thing I always made sure to get sent over was the LCBO magazine. For the non-Ontario Canadians, our LCBO (liquor store) produces a free magazine with some beautiful recipes. Of course the point is to suggest whatever product/wine pairing/beer pairing etc. thing to go with them, but you can walk into the store, not have to buy anything and pick one up and the recipes don’t necessarily include the booze. They’re about the size of a Cosmopolitan magazine and they’re seasonal.

My flatmate was an American (From Texas) and his particular hangup was about salsa. We both wound up findiing ways to introduce eachother to regional dishes; I had my godfather make him Balmoral chicken (look it up) and I explained to him that Coriander = Cilantro in the UK so he could make me fresh salsa. I made this, based off a recipe from the LCBO magazine with some of my own additions

Christmas In November Chartier Restaurant – Mind Blowing Tortiere

Tortiere Done Right Chef Steve Brochu from Chartier Restaurant

I’d never cried during a cooking demonstration until I watched the one hosted by Chartier Restaurantin Beaumont Alberta with owner Darren Cheverie and Chef Steve Brochu. I’d met them earlier as they were my neighbours and when my luggage didn’t get to me in time the first night, they loaned me an ugly Christmas sweater! Right in the…