The Inspirer

By it's very definition, inspiration moves our intellect, spikes our emotions and drives us into an altered level of being, the condition of which results in something we can hopefully reflect upon as being great; something to make us, and the sources proud. While this agent of creativity can take any form, for many of us it presents itself in one very common and repeating shape; a place, person, thought or event that we return to anytime we need that spike of adrenaline and positive energy. For me the origin of so many of my abilities, labours, achievements and stepping stones is my brother.

It seems to date back longer than I can remember, his actions always causing me to think outside the box, take chances and become hopefully not just a better person, but a more adventurous and experienced one as well. This desire to interpret all things new comes to me in no better way then a challenge, and herein lies the way in which my sibling affects me in the most positive way possible.

Whether it was time spent in Tibet, adventuring the tops of mountains, or the gift of a scorpion wrapped in sugar, he finds ways of making me push myself to a greater understanding of things around me, especially in the market of culinary achievements. As an example, after returning from a recent trip to New York, he handed me a chocolate bar unique in ingredients, and while the Dark Chocolate Bacon Bar seemed a tasty treat on its own, I knew that I would have to find a way of using this as an ingredient in my pantry; and so I did, the result and recipe of which I will soon share with you.

The Locale, as I've previously mentioned, was designed to introduce and, again by definition, inspire, which has proven incredibly self affecting. Because of this site, I have found myself so often drawn to things I would most likely have passed by, if for no other reason to share them with others; and while I know my rooted reasons for wanting to share these things, I felt it would be suiting to give special thanks to the person who has, for so many years, done for me what these entries have hopefully done for some of you.

In the spirit of this subject, and to recall another recent story; after taking a trip to Nauman's farm in St. Clements, Ontario, a new and welcome challenge was handed to me by the aforementioned source of so many of my accomplishments. If you've never been to or heard of Nauman's, it is a family run farm that situates itself outside of the busy streets and hustle and bustle of the city. They farm seasonally selected crops which draw in eager visitors, both new and repeat, from all over, providing a bit of family fun and adventure along the way. With pumpkin catapults, mazes and a huge pumpkin patch to find that perfect carving gourd, I think the most fun I've had at a farm in recent history was to watch my niece explore and interpret new things at her grasp in the way only a curious child can. It brought me back to days of berry picking with my mother, remembering the unmistakable taste of fruit picked fresh from the vine. As such, Nauman's is a place I would recommend exploring for yourself someday; however, to get this story back on its topic, having just visited their fields with members of my family, new inspiration struck as I was handed a Futsu squash, attached to the words "Here, make a desert out of this" ah, another inspiring challenge, I'm thinkin' souffle...

I could certainly go on in praise and thanks for all he's done, but I think it has become obvious over the years just how much he has taught me; and for that I can't say thank you enough. It's amazing to me how a simple action can spark a series of thoughts and emotions, and as I stare at this squash in my kitchen, ideas are beginning to form, flavours coming to mind, a new culinary adventure on the horizon and the research and knowledge which stems from it appeals to me like nothing else I can describe, and I have my big brother to thank for that.

It is on this ending note that I inquire into the inspirations behind your positions in life; what makes you strive for more? I'd love to learn of the things the make you passionate for what you do, because sharing an inspiration can help lead to a partnership in design, a furthering of ideas and maybe even someday the realization of of a dream.

Hopefully passing along the gift of new
-Phil

Nauman's Farm

3250 Hessen Strasse RR#1

St. Clements, Ontario

http://www.naumanfarm.com/

Chipotle Chocolate Steak

Ingredients

1 oz finely grated Mo's Dark Bacon bar (if you can't find the exact brand then feel free to use any bacon flavoured chocolate bar you happen to have.....subsequently you could use any dark chocolate and then fry up and crumble some bacon into the marinade, or wrap a strip around your cut of beef before cooking)

1 - 7oz can of chipotles in adobo sauce - reserve the chipotles, which are dried and smoked jalapenos, for other great recipes and only use the remaining adobo sauce for the marinade

salt and fresh ground black pepper

Mix the above ingredients together and marinate the steak for at least two hours to develop the flavours.

Before bringing to the pan or grill, remove excess marinade and discard. Seer steak on both sides and finish in a 350 degree oven until medium rare. Of course, the ideal way to cook this would be on an outdoor grill, but because I live in an apartment, the pan seer/oven method is an acceptable alternative.

I served this along with roasted potatoes, sauteed mushrooms and bok choy, because that's what I had, but you could use whatever you like, travel the world as best you can. While dark chocolate, bacon and spicy chipotle may not sound like a winning combination to you, I assure you it is, the chocolate balances out the capsaicin harmoniously and your taste buds will thank you.

Einstein's Cafe

The man from whom this restaurant gets its name was born in Ulm on March 14, 1879; it was a Wednesday, and that's about the extent of what you need to know of the famous Albert Einsteisn and his relation to this story, which was written by a man who ate at this restaurant on October 23rd, 2009; it was a Friday.

I first heard about Einstein's through a coworker who expressed his detailed and contented experience of dining on their lunch menu, followed immediately by a backing recommendation to head there soon. By the description they both gave of the place, "Mexican food with their own twist on it" I knew I had to go; and on this note I should state my solid appreciation for the direction, because had it not come up in conversation, Einstein's location would likely have remained unknown to me for quite some time. It is situated downtown on Grant Street, just off of Fountain, which is subsequently where the crazy amounts of construction have blocked off entry (take a detour down Wellington to Neeve and you can still get to it). So, just as I heeded the words of a coworker, trust in the words that follow and detour your way through their doors for a hidden opportunity.

Just before I go in to too many details on the service and food, it should be noted here that I am guilty of a tragic crime against the industry in which I have studied and worked for so many years. If you've ever worked in a restaurant, then you will know and share the sympathy for the infamous closing shift; finding yourself standing alone behind a line at minutes to midnight, the stations wiped down and wrapped, fridges counted and the floor mopped; the only thing left for you to do is shut down the grill, fryer and oven and ditch your last saute pans on the dishwasher as you fling off your salt and peppers and grab a pint at the wood. The dream seems so close to your reach that you can taste the sudsy victory of another weekend finally out of the weeds; and that's precisely when a four-top walks in and orders apps and mains - you've never heard profanity until you've placed a cook in this situation.

Well, ladies and gentlemen, this guilty diner did just that on Friday evening, and because of my trespasses, I will forgive the kitchen and staff at Einstein's for the very minor errors in the experience. Actually, I may go so far as to say that it was my actions that actually caused these slight hiccups in the meal, so please read on with this information in mind.

Now, without further ado, let's step inside the restaurant and into a dining room decorated with all things new and old, eclectic and collected, where the four of us grabbed a seat in the main dining room and began our experience with the famously named establishment.

Our first reactions to Einstein's were all the same: "This place is really, really neat!" and it was, I will stand behind that statement now. Its interior was just what you would expect after seeing the outside, with a fun, comfortable and inviting aura. It reminded me of an old bed and breakfast home, naturally collecting memories within its walls, offering a familial sense to all that enter. Further to being impressed with the decor and calming atmosphere, we were immediately greeted by the server who had been expecting us (yes, I at least had the decency to call ahead and make a last minute reservation) and she handed us our menus, took our drink orders and explained the evening's specials, which were tantalizing to say the least.

After taking a detailed look through their menu, I quickly recognized my ever so common dilemma, in that I was interested in more dishes than I could realistically order, and so even though the peach burrito sounded amazing, I opted for the red snapper with creamy sun dried tomato sauce, roasted potatoes, rice and mixed roasted veg. Two of my dinner companions went with the evening's special of roasted chicken breast topped with marinara and goat cheese, served with veg and potato and a choice of creamy cauliflower soup or fresh salad with a dairy free cucumber dressing; the final dish on our table was the bacon wrapped scallops with the same sides as previously mentioned. Since they were given a choice, and the cauliflower soup sounded far too satiating to pass up, both who ordered the special decided to forgo the salad, and as an app for the table we ordered the spicy goat cheese and olive dip, served with french bread, which I can only describe as being delicious.

Once the appetizer was cleared - and this is where I need to remind you of the hour on which we dined - the server brought out two salads to match the specials; the soup, it seemed, was completely forgotten. It was strange though, normally in a situation like this there would be the demand for correction, an upset and push to get the soup to the table, but for some reason no one seemed put off enough to bother; the salad after all, looked pretty darn tasty, and the ensuing flavours from those leafy greens and their complimenting dressing were enough to quickly forgive such an oversight.

When the salads were done and the mains presented, two things happened: first there was an incredibly inviting attack on the senses as wonderful aromas took over our space, and second, we realized immediately that the incredible portion sizes were likely going to lead to pleasing leftovers, and on this thought we were not wrong.

As far as the food and flavours themselves are concerned, I do have one qualm amongst the table to point out, and that is the lack of seasoning which went into each dish. While everything I ate was good, that is also the fairest way I can put it. Nothing was by any means bad, it was all really good, it just seemed as though the ingredients on the plate had so much more potential to be brought to life if only they had be been properly treated along the way. However, with that being said, I do also understand the growing trends in needing to watch ones intake of sodium and that the awareness and causes of so many food related diseases are becoming more commonly addressed on the restaurant scene, so even though this one honest upset stands with me, it may not stand with everyone; and to be fair, that is, after all, why restaurants provide us with salt and pepper shakers.

Finally, on the interest of service, despite stopping in at the doomsday hour, not once did we feel rushed to leave or as though we were holding anybody up from something more important, and for this fact I tip my hat in the direction of service. I often times forget about the patience a server must have to deal with the demands of hungry diners, especially when they are causing overtime on the week's pay cheque. Our server, however, never gave us the impression that we were anything less than important to her business, and that attitude goes a very, very long way for reputation; my applause goes to you.

When our meal did finish up and we paid our bill, there was a strong desire to quickly explore the rest of the house, and so we each took to a little tour to the upstairs dining room, which by this point in the day was closed off, but is open and often packed during normal hours of operation. Continuing our exploration back down on the main floor, there is a second dining area, a little coffee nook and a bakery, which unfortunately, and without surprise, was also closed; all the more reason for return visits.

To look at the experience as a whole, it was definitely one we all seemed to enjoy, with only a few exceptions that seem hardly worth mentioning as I reflect. I will most certainly be returning there, and soon. The remaining menu selections are too enticing to pass up and the bakery is an obvious attraction, as I'm a man who loves his pastries.

Its given name, which was chosen "Because the woman who originally owned it was eccentric and liked it," helps this place to stand out, make it memorable and it draws you inside this side-split century home for a closer look. Einstein's, as a lunch and cafe hot spot, has been a staple in the Guelph community for over twenty years, and their reputation is growing as each new one passes. Having recently gone through some renovations, they are pulling in bigger crowds and are amping up their production on a daily basis, and as a relatively new resident to this city, I will do my best to keep this reputation on the incline and can without a doubt see myself enjoying those in-depth conversations with friends, exploring the science of their food, and flirting with the idea of making this locale a frequent inspiration for projects yet to come.

Enjoy
-Phil

Einstein's Cafe

2 Grant St, Guelph

Open Monday to Saturday,

11:00am - Lunch Menu

2:00pm - Light Tapas Menu

5:00pm - Dinner Menu

Steph Macpherson and Zachary Lucky pt. 2

Just before winding up his set and packing away the guitar, Zachary Lucky called forth from the audience the talents of a girl named Steph. As all eyes in the room glanced over to the girl sitting at her table on the far side of the Annex at Red Brick, she rose from her seat and made way to the stage, where she provided for us a new dynamic to Zach's already moving style. Within this simple action of calling out a name, it became irrefutably clear that Steph and Zach together are not only inspiring to the audience, but also to each other, building on each other's talents in the most natural way possible. On this tour they've embarked upon there is no opening act, only support, shared vision and wonderfully syncopated music.

Beautiful and captivating as it was, unfortunately this collaboration of theirs had to strum its final chord, but when it did, there was a sense of growing excitement for the next portion of the evening. Within the structure of this duet we had been teased with the talents our the next performer, and it seemed that from that point the minutes refused to tick by anything but slowly as we awaited our next fix.

During the ten minutes between Zach and Steph's sets I had the opportunity to converse with another spectator at the venue, and we both seemed to agree that, while many performances can impress, it is pretty rare to witness musicians who fit so perfectly well with the crowd to which they play, specifically in small venues where your songs are still unknown. It takes courage to wear your heart on your sleeve as Steph was about to do for us, and that in itself is a talent for which I feel extreme admiration and applause. But I digress, the ten minutes are up, and so on with the show.

As many of you already know, and are likely learning just how true this statement has become, a woman with a guitar immediately has my undivided attention; a woman with a guitar, a voice, a craft with words, and the talent to showcase all three on one platform, however, has more than just my attention, they have my shared passion for art and the subsequent respect that stems. Steph Macpherson, in other words, was the focus of my existence while she played out to the world surrounding her.

Steph and her folk/acoustic talents hail from beautiful British Columbia where she has studied music since roughly the age of five. It seems clear that she has used those years of practice and study wisely, and her desires to make those obvious talents a journey into lifelong experiences is something we as listeners can be grateful for. Her inspiration has been drawn from some of the great songwriters we've come to know and love through our stereo speakers, but that should never suggest or imply that her talents are not her own. After listening to her music fill the room, I can definitely appreciate and connect with the roots of her style, but when she ended the night with Jeff Tweedy, I became a man of weakened knee - more on that in a moment.

On the subject of her abilities, just as the performer before her, her lyrics and voice matched the emotion with which she shared them. As she sang, I came to believe and understand that, no matter where she travels, there is an ability and beauty within her to make any space her home. She seems to understand the imagery and complexities within any moment of her life and possesses the ability to translate that into song. Her stories, personality and fun-loving nature came out even more so in the moments between songs; moments which I can describe as nothing short of sweet and sincere, strengthening her connection with the entire crowd.

When her set came to an end and we all hoped for that final encore, Zach and his guitar made way back to her side, just as she reached to her bag and pulled out a songbook. Before they began playing their final number, there was hesitation from them both because, as they explained, they had never rehearsed what they were about to play, and therefor could not guarantee its accuracy; but, and I hope they are both reading this, the performance they gave of Golden Smog's Radio King (enter Jeff Tweedy), was enough to win me over for repeat performances and support in any way I can. Not only was the song itself an impressive one to pull from the repertoire, it was also the fashion in which they performed it: completely unplugged and in a way you would expect to be heard in a friend's living room, with everyone closely acquainted and listening intently. With that spirit in mind, it may not have been executed with perfection, but it was that imperfection and amicability which made it the highlight of the evening for me; as I mentioned, a man with weakened knees.

Just as it did with Zach, my conversation with Steph after the set was incredibly comfortable and inviting, and as they head off across the country for the next leg of their tour, I hope that the audiences to which they play grow and get to share at least a moment of their time. With any luck, I will be awarded an opportunity not far off to meet up again, share an evening of music and drinks and add more of their talents to my collection.

Until that time, I thank you both for the inspiring performance and wish you the best of luck as your tour continues.

Cheers

-Phil

For Steph's music please visit

http://www.myspace.com/stephmacphersonmusic

Recommended listening:

Too Dangerous

Best Of Us
Something In You

That should get you on track to a great discovery. Enjoy.

Zachary Lucky and Steph Macpherson pt.1

Wednesday nights are not normally ones you can call exciting; it's the middle of the week and while the majority of the 9-5 is behind us, there are still two days of the solid grind staring us in the eyes before the weekend hits and we have our freedom to explore. However, refusing to let the foresight of my tired feet ruin a perfectly fine evening, I take to my trusty computer and it's schedule of upcoming events. After quickly researching the Red Brick's web site at 8:10pm , I discovered that a show was already ten minutes underway, and so without hesitating I sought to revel in the mid-week celebration, and dashed out the door. It seemed that Wednesday's clock was on my side, because, due to an extremely fortunate delay to my benefit, by the time I had my drink and found seat at the back of the room, Zachary Lucky was just sitting down to start his performance.

Before I continue here, I have decided that to pay fair and proper recognition to both artists in this show, I am going to separate their performances into their own respective entries. I will write them as they appeared on stage and with no prejudice or favouritism to highlight one more than the other. Both Steph and Zach impressed me with their show(s) and so this seems the best way to highlight and share their abilities with readers yet unfamiliar. So since it was he who went on first, I present to you the talents of Zachary Lucky.

Zach's performance was something that reminded me there are still musicians out there who honestly feel what they play. A statement like that may sound strange, but it's unfortunately true in the sense that I've seen musicians who play, sing and orchestrate their music just fine, but when it comes to the emotional side of their abilities, it falls flat, and subsequently so does their music. Zach, however, caters equally and graciously to all angles of those delicate ingredients which give an artist his or her proper title.

Between songs he bantered appropriately and playfully with the clearly impressed audience, making everyone feel at ease and comfortable with his presence. No longer a stranger in the room, he shared stories through song, and we were all not only captivated, but also sympathetic, hopeful, and touched by the messages and words within his seemingly effortless craft. Both in the way he plays and sings, his music bares an honest and stripped down truth to life, love, living and losing.

Born of Saskatoon, he is currently on a cross country tour, touching down in many of the big cities, and fortunately a few of the small as well; though this was his first time in the city of Guelph, hopefully, and by his own words, it will not be his last. I had a chance to speak with him briefly after the show and if I can say one thing about his personality off stage, it's that it is inviting. Approachable and clearly passionate for music, he did not shy away from any question given by the surrounding group of listeners, connecting on a personal level with anyone who approached.

His talents of acoustic and inspired folk have been featured on CBC radio, have garnered the attention of magazines, fanzines, and an expanding circle of happy listeners. You can find his music pretty much anywhere on the Internet, including iTunes, myspace, youtube, you name it, he's out there and I strongly recommend you go looking; and while you're at it, I would also suggest preparing yourself for the next entry and check out the musical styling of Steph Macpherson. As separate entities they are fantastic musicians, but as the performance last night proved to me: get them together and you've got something requiring an audience. More on that soon - Steph Macpherson to follow by the weekend.

Phil

To check out Zach's music, visit:

http://www.myspace.com/zacharylucky

Recommended listening

Coming Back Home

Lonely Song

Don't Ask Me To Sing For You

But of course I encourage you to explore the rest.

Where The Wild Things Are

For two years I've sat baited with the anticipation for one my favourite childhood stories to come to life on the big screen. For a while there was a fear that Spike Jonze's adaptation of the Maurice Sendak story would not get a release; early test screenings revealed that the visuals were too scary for children and enough parents complained that the studio pulled the $75 million dollar project, ordering Spike to start from scratch. Not only was there a concern of the whole thing being left to collect dust on a shelf, but there was also worry that a sacrifice would be made to the quality of work put in. Could director and writer actually produce something true enough to the imagination behind the original 1963 children's book, while at the same time appeal to the producers backing the film? After finally getting my chance to put this anticipation to rest I can say, with all confidence, yes.

Far be it from me to critique a film, I have not studied the art and I couldn't tell you the first thing about the labours which go in to a movie of this scale and caliber. Lack of expertise aside, what I can tell you is how the images, emotions and story on screen affected me. I can also tell you that as a person who refuses to abandon their inner child, imagination and longing for innocence and adventure, I immediately rushed back to the days of my mother reading me this curious story as a child; the strange and scary, yet mesmerizing pictures, and the oddly comforting effect those words and images had on me so many years ago. As such, there seemed no better person to see this tale come to life with than that same person who encouraged my childhood playfulness and creativity, and gauging her response to the picture, it seems my mother had the same joy of revisiting the plot and wild imagination of being a kid that I did.

I'm going to use the word "unfortunately" here because of how much I cherish this book, but certainly without judgement for this fact, it seems a lot of people I talk to have not heard of this story, and so for those of you new to it, a brief summation, without ruining the movie, I promise. At its core, this is the tale of a young boy by the name of Max. He is a child of ambition and a slowly fading youth, whose imagination he refuses to leave behind. Through a series of mischievous events, this imagination quickly finds him grounded in his room without dinner, a fate which only sparks his desire to get away from home. Through the power of his creative mind, he escapes his room and sails away to an island inhabited by giant creatures, The Wild Things. Shortly after arriving on this island and befriending the creatures, he is crowned their king and fantastic adventures ensue; which is where I will stop, lest I give away the ending.

I can't tell you that as a child I understood the multi-layered morals and lessons embedded within the pages Sendak's work, but I do distinctly remember not needing to be afraid of those things, those wild things, which are vastly different than me, and that my imagination could not only take me anywhere I wanted to go, it could also help me to understand situations a little better. As an adult, this imagination is somewhat more limited, confined by the realities of facing responsibility and the limitations of travel thanks to constant increases in gas prices, but that shouldn't mean I can't still explore that creative side of my brain and have fun with life at the same time. Being the extremely proud uncle that I am, nothing excites me more than the wonder and curiosity that appears in the eyes of my nieces, and I can't wait until they are able to explore and describe their own worlds, with their own stories, before growing up to the realities of what we have created for ourselves; and such is the conflict growing inside of Max.

In the movie we are painted a more detailed picture of the world in which Max lives everyday, just on the edge of childhood innocence and facing actually having to grow up. His teachers, his family, his peers on all sides, all seem beyond him in years and are trying to make him understand that all things eventually come to an end, a harsh and horrible reality to face for any individual, and so he seeks solace within his mind and searches for answers to who he is about to become. The story, while more detailed, plays out much the same way as the book, but where those meanings were beyond me as a child, they are so present and touching as an adult. I understand now just what the wild things are; that a child's imagination is not so far outside the real world that it can't be related back to those events happening in our everyday. I felt moved on more than one occasion, and at one point actually felt a tear well up inside me, thankful for the love that exists in my life.

For those who are familiar with the book, and perhaps a little scared of what has been done to this story, fear not. Maurice Sendak worked in partnership with Spike Jonze during production of this movie, so you can be assured that the same quality of story is present. As a tidbit of advice, however, and if I can be so bold, I would recommend that you go into this movie with the same outlook as that child still lingering within you. The dialogue is spoken in the only way it can make sense, and the story pushes forward much the same: through the eyes of a child. And although it is meant as a child's view of the world, some viewers have already claimed that this movie is too scary and not intended for children, but as I heard the young ones sitting behind me carry on with excitement about the Wild Things and their adventures, it is clear that the only fear is coming from the parents. On this note I give incredible praise to the director for making this a movie which doesn't take for granted the intelligence of youth. As parents and uncles and aunts and guardians of our loved, we instinctively want to shield the eyes and ears of our little ones from things which can cause nightmares and fear; and while I am no different from this crowd, I will at the same time, state that I respect the demographic enough to let them have their fun. True, a few scenes may startle, but that's what the imagination does, it sparks emotions and helps us grow; and as it did in me, in Max this imagination brings him to face all of those important things inside of him; things that parents, in all their infinite wisdom and experience, just don't understand, or better yet, seem to have forgotten.

Beautifully told, exquisitely presented, with a perfectly in tune soundtrack provided by Karen O (of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs) and creature effects provided by the Jim Henson company, this movie stands remarkably true to the original, while expanding on its mysticism at the same time. It has brought me back to a time I hold so dear to my heart and a time I look forward to sharing with kids of my own someday. Watch it with a loved one of any age, watch it with innocence, watch it twice, and don't' shut out the imagination behind every scene. Remember what it was like to be a child seeing the world through growing eyes, the wonderment in every event and how those events shaped you to become the person you are today. Lose yourself in the fun of being a wild thing, as the tag line states, "There's one in all of us"

-Phil