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We are going to introduce Korean Hotteok to the Westboro market this Saturday. Please come and enjoy!👍

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The best saj, the best vibes, and one of the best falafel in town.

The Falafel Guys have moved indoors for the season and you can find them every Sunday at the Ottawa Farmers' Market

If you’ve never had saj, it’s an unleavened flatbread that is chewy and delicious. This one is specifically Syrian-style. The Falafel Guys make it fresh right before your eyes, along side their fresh falafel. You’ve got to try the falafel sandwich and the zataar cheese Syrian pizza with tomato. Both are tooooo good.

Ottawa Food Blogger | Allie on Instagram: "The best saj, the best vibes, and one of the best falafel in town. The Falafel Guys have moved indoors for the season and you can find them every Sunday at the @ottawafarmmkt. If you’ve never had saj,... Ottawa Food Blogger | Allie shared a post on Instagram: "The best saj, the best vibes, and one of the best falafel in town. The Falafel Guys have moved indoors for the season and you can find them every Sunday at the . If you’ve never had saj, it’s an unleavened flatbread that is c...

Join us at Breaking Bread in the judge’s seat! This year you can bid to win our fourth judge’s seat and join our guest judges to crown our Sandwich Sovereign 2022. Buy your Breaking Bread ticket at hopwell.ca/bbbs to join.

This year you will be joining our amazing panel of judges: Returning judge and Canadian cookbook author Margaret Dickenson, Ottawa Food Blogger Allie () and returning judge and first ever Chef Emeritus, Chef Joe Thottungal. Judges will be served special plating and cast their votes for our Sandwich Sovereign. You will get to vote on your favourite sandwich based on taste, plating and originality.
#613

Extremely honoured to announce that Hopewell has asked me to be a part of their Breaking Bread Breaking Stigma event.

The event is open to the public and tickets are on sale now! (Oct. 25th at 📍 allsaints Event Space - Ottawa downtown Ottawa)

The Breaking Bread Breaking Stigma event is Hopewell’s largest annual fundraiser to support their eating disorder support centre services.

For the event, Hopewell has partnered with local chefs from the Ottawa region who will each create a unique sandwich for guests to try and to vote on their favourite! Additional appetizers and drinks are also included in your ticket.

Not only am I honoured to be invited as a judge alongside Chef Joe Thottungal and Canadian cookbook author Margaret Dickensen, the work that does is very near and dear to me, as someone who has struggled and continues to work on my own disordered eating and body image challenges.

I’ve always loved food, but my relationship to it has been very complicated for a very long time. While it was never my original intent when I started YumYumYOW, I’ve found that this page (alongside therapy) has really helped me in my mental health and relationship-to-food journey.

Let’s enjoy some delicious food while supporting our community. Hope to see you there! ♥️

HARVEST A Feast of Fall - An all-star lineup of 15 Chefs serving Farm to Table-inspired food and drink selections. 🍂🍴

Meet Our Chefs: CHEF TRUDY METCALFE-COE
Originally from Nain, Nunatsiavut, the Inuit Land Claims region in Northern Labrador, Inuk Chef Trudy Metcalfe-Coe has called Ottawa home for thirty plus years. Trudy started cooking around the age of twelve and takes pleasure in bringing comfort to family, friends, and community, through her love of creating tasty dishes from Country Food (food from the Arctic such as caribou, seal, arctic char and musk ox). Trudy is a very proud Mama to two successful daughters who are strong Indigenous Leaders in their community and a loving T**i to her two precious grandchildren. Trudy is also very artistic and spends many evenings in front of her sewing machine sewing beautiful parkas based on traditional Inuit designs, with a modern twist. She also creates jewelry using seal skin and enjoys beading.

HARVEST is a multi-chef food & beverage experience that celebrates Ottawa’s amazing culinary community and is also raising funds to fight food insecurity.

Get your tickets now at harvestottawa.ca.


Harvest: A Feast of Fall Ottawa Community Food Partnership Pelican Seafood Market & Grill Courtyard by Marriott Ottawa Downtown Chef Phil Cameron Perch Ottawa Wanderingchef613 Ottawa Embassy Hotel & Suites Le St Laurent restaurant e18hteen Grill 41 Royal Canadian Mint / Monnaie royale canadienne Cocotte Bistro Essence Catering Madahoki Farm Riggins Family BBQ Knock on Wood Communications + Events City of Ottawa LouLou Lounge Furniture Rental Optimal Show Experience Ashley Fraser Photography Yum Yum YOW Ottawa Road Trips Ottawa Tourism Ottawa Festivals Sandra Plagakis Catherine Landry The Ottawan

On Wednesday I lost one of the most important people in my life, my dad.

My dad radiated positivity, and spread love and kindness to everyone he met. I am so grateful to have been endlessly spoiled with his love and so deeply sad at the idea of facing the future without him and his hugs. He was THE best.

Thank you for the love and support from family and friends who knew what was going on over the past year, and also to everyone on this platform who didn’t know and made the last year, which was far from normal for me, feel normal and positive in some ways.

BAP! Brie, Apple, Pesto!

Gooey, fresh, crunchy, savoury, a little sweet and made on house made focaccia … what more could you want in a grilled sandwich!? Nothing for me. This sandwich was perfect.

Union Street Café () is adorable, hidden gem café located amongst the houses in the New Edinburg neighbourhood. I’ve loved everything I’ve ever tried from there and am lucky it’s within walking distance from where I live.

But even if you don’t live close as close as me, I encourage you to head just slightly east of downtown and enjoy this delicious (& vegetarian 🌱) spot! The café is currently closed to indoor dining but there are a couple of tables outside and a giant park along the water to picnic in.

Happy hour with oyster & tartare sliders? Yes please!

has a happy hour every day from 3-5 and are serving up some tasty $6 dishes! I love the location of patio because it feels like a little European cobblestone escape from the rest of the Byward Market.

Ordering one of almost everything on the Social Hour menu, we ate 8 oysters ($2 each), the crispy squid, an order of three mini tartare sliders, the squash fritters and a side of fries.

I’d definitely get the the crispy squid again. It had quite a thick breaded batter but for $6 it was a great portion size and I liked the flavour profile. I also really enjoyed the freshness and French style flavour of the steak tartare sliders and the sweetness of the squash fritters.

Draft beer and house wines are $6 a glass but I grabbed a ‘to kill a mockerita’ made with from their mocktail menu and it hit the spot!

RAMEN subscription and DIY Kits, HELLO!

Now delivering to and available in Ottawa, Crafty Ramen is originally from my hometown of Kitchener and I’m so excited to share with you their greatness! I tried take away from their restaurant for the first time a few months ago and it was love at first taste. *A D*

Restaurant quality ramen (various vegan 🌱 options!) with locally sourced ingredients, and no artificial flavourings delivered right to your door. Everything is prepped for you, and the instructions make the DIY kits so easy to make.

Below I’ve listed a few things that I loved about the three different dishes I made yesterday and shared with my family:

1. Northern Warmer - I really enjoyed the chicken miso broth, loved the chashu pork, and of course, the adorable chili miso butter men!
2. Hiyashi Chuka (vegan) - I love the option of cold noodle (no-broth) dish. It had with thicker noodles (perfectly chewy) and such a fresh soy-sesame dressing.
3. Spicy Chicken TanTan - a fan favourite!The broth is so rich and creamy with the perfect kick of heat. The richness of the broth pairs well with the ultra fresh bok choy it comes with.

Hop on that subscription train (you save by subscribing) or order a few kits for delivery from their shop, and ENJOY! *The kits are also available for purchase at ; through Burrow Shop and locally!

HOT TIP: If you’re ever in Kitchener or Guelph I highly recommend trying their Mapo tofu noodles which is one the best mapo tofu’s I’ve had outside of China! Be prepared to sweat.

Falafel on Wheels 💯

Simply delicious! Super fresh falafel & the best tahini sauce.

is serving up falafel just about any way you want it with such great quality and great prices!

The falafel fries ($6.65) is their signature dish and definitely must-try! The fries and falafel are smothered in a rich and creamy tahini sauce with tomato and parsley on top. Next time I’m totally going to ask to add some pickles (because their pickles were so good and fresh!) and maybe some hot peppers on it too.

Of course, I tried one of their most popular items, the falafel sandwich ($6.20) served on fresh pita and stuffed with three falafel balls

And for the purest falafel experience definitely grab the falafel snack! It’s served with hot peppers and tahini dip and is only $4.87 for 4 pieces. The falafel are served fresh out of the fryer with a crispy outer layer while staying soft and fresh inside!

The whole menu is vegetarian/vegan 🌱 and clearly identifies their vegan and gluten-free options!

Thank you to for the recommendation (and for teaching me so much about Lebanese cuisine) and for the owners of for the wonderful and friendliest conversations and comforting food!

has opened! And she’s tasty!

The group never disappoints and the is no different.

I tried the Ezzo Pepperoni- $24 (finally little pizza cups for Ottawa pizza!) and the Salsiccia - $24 and both were delicious. Really loved the sauce, the fresh basil and the crust of both. Definitely a contender for the best thin crust pizza in town for me!

The interior gives me all the Brooklyn vibes and I can’t wait to dine in one day. For now though, I’m grateful for their great big & very spacious patio! I have to say I was pretty stoked to be the second table seated on opening day.

I inquired about hot sauce/chili oil and was informed it is still in development so I’ll definitely be back to see what comes next!

The unique dessert with vanilla ice cream and olive oil & Maldon salt is also calling my name….

The COCOBAP!

Aka the perfect Korean style fried popcorn chicken (KFC) dish for me, served with a runny-yolk fried egg and kimchi on rice and tossed with a sweet and spicy sauce. I had a travel a bit with the food so we got the sauces on the side!

is also serving a super unique and innovative vegetarian 🌱 option that I have never seen before - fried artichoke in a popcorn chicken style. The texture and flavour was so dang good I would definitely get that again next time. And don’t forget a side of their waffle fries!

Take just a small small detour off the 401 if you’re in the area or on your way through, and explore downtown Guelph and of course Coco Chicken. I haven’t spent a lot of time there but the super cute downtown, full of restaurants & patios and small shops mixed with old architecture charm will definitely bring me back again soon!

It’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to 🎵

Crying tears of gratitude for everyone in my life who endlessly support me and send me love. I LOVE ALL YA’LL SO MUCH♥️

Thank you to my dearest Hannah for these .doughnuts birthday doughnuts & thank you to .oolongtheway for the comfiest, coziest and perfect hoodie 💕

More than a steakhouse, .ottawa in the Byward Market makes one DELICIOUS burger!

They have a bunch of options now including the ‘L’ burger with truffle aioli which really caught my eye! I love that they are also doing a Burger Bag for $40 which includes 5 of their classic Bennett Burgers with ‘a pile of fries!’ And you do not want to skip the fries if you are a shoestring fry lover like me. SO good!

The patties bring forward that great beefy flavour, they are seasoned well and especially important right now, the buns hold up in transport!

This is your Friday night sign to get some burgers 🍔 ♥️

GIVING BACK GIVEAWAY.

To say thank you for all of the endless support and to give back and support one of my favourite neighbourhood restaurants, I’ve purchased three vouchers from (each redeemable for one combo plate) to giveaway to two winners!

has such delicious and innovative Korean dishes, and as they say “traditional flavours with modern twists.” They also have so many amazing vegan options for mains and sides - including their kimchi! I absolutely love everything I’ve tried from them and the family behind the business is simply wonderful. Thank you for the deliciousness, and the kindness that you bring to our downtown community!

If you’re new to Korean food I’ll be explaining the dishes in my combo platters (seen here) in my stories. Of course, if you’re interested in knowing more I would love to provide more specific recommendations! Just reach out and ask!

How to enter:
1. Follow me &
2. LIKE & SAVE this post
3. Tag a friend!
4. For 5 extra entries, SHARE this giveaway in your stories. *Please note that if you have a private profile, or you don’t tag me in the story, I won’t be able to see it.

Thank you to everyone who has supported my YumYumYOW journey. This platform has brought me joy in more ways than I ever expected. In my almost 15 years of living in the city I have never before felt such a strong sense of community. I am grateful for every DM I receive, every engagement on my platform, for anyone who has trusted my recommendations, and for every business who has trusted me in partnership. Thank you from the bottom of my heart ♥️

This is not sponsored content.

I will close the giveaway on Friday April 16th at 11:59pm and announce the winner on Saturday April 17th. Good luck!

@ Food Mood: Korean Kitchen

Today was a great National Avocado Day! 🥑

It's National Avocado Day! Ottawa Food Blogger Allie Simanzik shares her Top 5 favourite local avocado dishes.

In early March I had the chance to eat at in Calgary which ranked 14th on Canada’s 100 best restaurants list for 2020 (). I let the server and Chef Darren MacLean choose what I’d be eating and was presented with some delicious bites. Little did I know it would be one of my last few meals out for a while.

My favourite dish was the miso buttered onigiri rice ball (second photo) that was stuffed with salted ume plum and served with a fried egg on top. The miso butter and rice was crisped beautifully on the binchotan charcoal grill and the bites that mixed with the salted plum created a taste and flavour that was truly unlike any flavour profiles I have had before. Coming in at a close tie for second favourite, was the charcoal grilled cabbage (first photo) and the chicken knee (cartilage) yakitori.

We had quite a few nigiri and sashimi dishes but I for the most unique experience I would recommend sticking to the yakitori/izakaya style dishes and trying as many of those as you can! Each one was truly delicious and satisfying.

I would also highly recommend trying to get a seat at the bar where you can watch the grill in action. It was definitely an interesting experience engaging with throughout the meal.

Check out my Calgary highlight for some binchotan grilling action!

restaurant @ Calgary, Alberta

When it feels like home....

It’s National Take Out Day! Get your cravings satisfied! ❤️ Food Mood: Korean Kitchen

Dalgona coffee was virtually non-existent until January 26th of this year.

https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/bvgbk8/people-all-over-the-world-are-making-frothy-dalgona-coffee-thanks-to-quarantine

People All Over the World Are Making Frothy 'Dalgona' Coffee, Thanks to Quarantine The aesthetically pleasing drink only takes three ingredients—and the ASMR-style YouTube tutorials are the soothing content we need right now.

Two of my favourite things! Eggs & Kawaii Cuteness!

Japanese Mom Transforms Fried Eggs Into Incredibly Cute Meals

Extremely grateful to have been asked to contribute to such an important initiative. Let's fight back against xenophobia. Think globally, eat locally

The Best Chinese Eats in Ottawa from Yum Yum Yow — No Appetite for Ignorance All around the world, Chinese businesses are feeling the effects of COVID-19. Misguided and xenophobic fears are turning local diners away from restaurants that have nothing to do with the epidemic - businesses in the Ottawa community are shouldering an unfair burden. What can diners in Ottawa do

GIVEAWAY TIME! Head over to my IG for your chance to win a ticket to Ottawa’s Crave Food & Wine Festival for you and a guest!

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9mIVs6FLHr/?igshid=16kw4vi1wba3k

GIVEAWAY [Cancelled due to COVID 19]. That big smile on my face is from me looking into this glass of wine like it’s a crystal ball showing me how fun and tasty @craveott Food & Wine Festival is going to be! 🔮 I want to enjoy the festival with YOU so...I’m giving away 2 tickets (1 winner and their guest) to the exciting new Crave Food & Wine Festival happening April 4th & 5th! To enter: 1. LIKE & SAVE this post 2. Be following me @YumYumYOW & @craveott 3. Tag someone you want to wine & dine with! (one tag per comment & unlimited entries) *for an extra entry, share this post in your stories. So many delicious local Ottawa restaurants are going to be at @CraveOtt including @thesmoqueshack! After having their incredible chicken and waffles (highly recommended and such a huge portion for just $18!!!), and the ribs and jerk chicken platter (also very delish!) I can’t wait to see what they bring to the fest! Swipe to see more - including glistening ribs in the tastiest bbq sauce! Did you know a percentage of the proceeds of the festival are going to Make A Wish Eastern Ontario Foundation? Another incredible way to support your community through food! Disclaimer: Giveaway is currently postponed and will reopen closer to the postponed event date. All entries to date will remain valid. ❤️ stay home & stay healthy. This contest is not associated with Instagram. #613eats #ottawafood #ottawaeats #613food #ottawafoodie #ottawafoodies #ottawarestaurants #ottawablogger #ottawaevents #chickenandwaffles #southernbbq #jamaicanjerk #smokedribs

Thank you to each of you for checking out and following my page.

Cheers to stuffing my face from a young age and to many many more years of stuffing my face to come 💜