Alter Ego: Guest Food Blogger #4

Bill Staley and Hayley Mason over at The Food Lovers’ Primal Palate recently invited Ruby Reduction to review their cookbook Make it Paleo, a collection of over 200 grain-free recipes.

When our copy arrived in the mail, we couldn’t wait to begin.

I should preface this by saying I don’t classify our lifestyle as being Paleo (at least not in the full-fledged, card carrying sense).

Granted, the meals we prepare generally follow many of the principles that form the Paleo or Primal diet: lots of vegetables, a high quality protein source, and a healthy serving of fat.

We also tend to eschew grains and legumes; limit our intake of sugar (including high-sugar fruits); and avoid processed foods altogether.

However, despite the similarities in dietary choices, we still love the occasional pizza or cold pint (or pitcher) from one of our favourite craft breweries. (Just kidding, try this one).

To read the rest of the entry, please click here.

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Extra Credits

This past weekend my wife and I had the chance to work with the tremendously talented people at Say Ten Productions as they shot a one-minute short for the upcoming Digi60 Seconds competition. The competition–organized by the Digi60 Film Festival and Invest Ottawa–challenges local filmmakers to find creative ways of showcasing some of the more unique locations our Nation’s Capital has to offer.

The opportunity to be a part of the short is due to our colleague Beth, a screenwriter in her spare time who happened to work on developing the screenplay for the short. When the need for extras arose, she asked if we were interested in helping out. The answer was simple: of course we were!  And if we needed any further coaxing, the filming would take place at Le Cordon Bleu and would force us to dress up.

Oddly enough (at least for me), this was the second time in two weeks that I have been an extra in a production, the first being for the web-series Scream All You Want. Though work as an extra is far from glamorous–it’s true that it can be a fair amount of hurry up and wait–being behind the scenes gave me an enhanced appreciation of the degree of effort required to produce even a single minute of television or film. It truly is amazing.

I have been fortunate both times to work with casts and crews on sets that were equal parts friendly and supportive; I understand that is not always the case, particularily for larger productions. At any rate, it was an enormous amount of fun being even a small part of the local arts scene. I wish both success and can’t wait to see the final products (and I hear I’ll even have an IMDb credit or two to my name. Nice!)

End Scene.

Alter Ego: Guest Food Blogger #3

The following is an excerpt taken from my recent turn as guest food blogger for A Ruby Reduction, published 18 May 2012.

It’s funny how our taste preferences have a tendency to change or evolve with age. If I were to sit down little nine year old Jamie and ask him to name his three favourite vegetables, I can almost guarantee the list would not include broccoli, cauliflower, or Brussels sprouts. However, 25 years later and rarely a day goes by in which I’m not enjoying a combination of all three.

My mother must be so proud.

(Wait a minute. If I could travel back in time and meet the me from 1987, am I really going to waste that ability by asking him what his favourite vegetables are? Of course, not. I’m slapping a copy of Gray’s Sports Alamanac in his hand and telling him to not put some money on the Cubbies).

To read the rest of the entry, simply click here.

Apparition

At the Hawthorne Hotel in Salem, Massachusetts.

Waxing Nostalgic

I haven’t seen your face around since I was a kid. You’re bringing back those memories of the things that we did… (Photo circa 1985).

Searching for the Ghost of Harvey Parker

Roaming the tenth floor of the Omni Parker House hotel, searching for the ghost of Harvey Parker.

IMG Gallery: Down on the Farm

Black and white photos of a family farm located in Eastern Ontario. The images were captured during early autumn 2009.

IMG Gallery: Iceland Airwaves

The following collection of photos were captured during the 2009 edition of the Iceland Airwaves music festival. From October 14 to 18, various venues throughout Reykjavik played host to approximately 150 local and international acts, including Metronomy, The Drums, Kings of Convenience, FM Belfast, and Alaska in Winter.

Safe and foolish.

Standing on the Ledge of the Skydeck at the Willis Tower, 1,353 feet separating the soles of my shoes and the streets of Chicago. Feeling equal parts safe and foolish. Resolve to strike a similar balance each day (and night).

Alter Ego: Guest Food Blogger #2

The following excerpt is from my occasional turn as guest food blogger on A Ruby Reduction. In this entry, I discuss life wtih a seemingly insatiable sweet tooth and attempt to temper my cravings through a rather unusual treat – bacon chocolate chip cookies…

To the surprise of absolutely no one who knows me, I have a confession to make: I am the proud owner of an unbelievably potent sweet tooth.

I know, such a shocking revelation.

For me, temptation from all things sugar is at times too hard to resist. One indulgence in particular, whose appeal I am utterly powerless against, is the cookie.

One cookie leads to two. Two lead to three. Three lead to a number greater than I care to admit.

But at least my craving is satisfied, right? Not exactly.

Every time I venture down this slippery slope, I naively believe this sense of contentment will last. Unfortunately, it turns out to be a mere appetizer, inevitably followed by an entrée of regret coupled with a heaping side of self-loathing (and eventual tummy ache).

To frame this pattern in somewhat simpler terms: sucrose, fructose, glucose, comatose. Ugh.

To view the rest of the entry, simply visit RubyReduction.com (originally posted 02 December 2011).