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Restaurant Association of Nova Scotia
Welcome to
BITE - your Nova Scotia food and beverage newsletter. The Foodie Edition will provide you with interesting articles, upcoming events, current restaurant information, recipes and more!
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Shout-out to Waves Seafood & Grill
"I was in your restaurant on Friday and first time eating out in 3 months chose your place. I was so impressed with everything you do to keep everyone safe. Thank you and I will be back. And the fish and chips was as good as always!!!"
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How to Enjoy Summer During Covid
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- Nova Scotia has some of the most beautiful trails and parks for a hike or nice day trip. Click here for a listing of amazing places to visit. Here's another site you can check out as well here
- It's patio season! Check out a favorite cafe or restaurant and enjoy some of your favorite food and beverages
- Camping! With campgrounds open, pack up the gear and explore what Nova Scotia has to offer. From family friendly to tenting in the deep woods, there is something for everyone. We also have some beautiful provincial parks that are worth checking out. Click here
- Host a barbeque and enjoy with those in your bubble
- Grab ice cream and go for a nice summer walk
- Seek out a drive-in movie
- Hit the beach - our province alone has so many beautiful beaches (here)
- With the Atlantic bubble, you can now enjoy what some of the Atlantic provinces have to offer as well.
- Check out one the many waterfalls that Nova Scotia has to offer (here)
- Visit one of the many fantastic wineries in Nova Scotia. Click here for more details
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Shout-out to Boondocks Restaurant
"My friend and I had a very pleasant lunch on Thursday. Thanks for doing a great job making us feel safe in the Covid world. Will definitely return."
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New Things to Try in the Kitchen
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Lobster Roll
I grew up in Nova Scotia where seafood was cheap. My Mom and grandmothers had some pretty inventive ways of making lobster 'not-boring!' Now, lobster is a treat and costs a fortune. I've paid over ten dollars for one of these lobster rolls in Cape Cod and it wasn't half as good or half as big as the ones my Mom taught me to make. This is a wonderful summer (or winter) treat and makes a fancy luncheon to impress your friends. (And no, I don't eat the green stuff in the lobster!) by Starr
INGREDIENTS - 4 servings
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1 tablespoon butter, softened
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4 hot dog buns or kaiser rolls, split
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4 lettuce leaves
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1 1/2 pounds cooked and cubed lobster meat
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2 tablespoons mayonnaise
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1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
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1 dash hot pepper sauce (e.g. Tabasco)
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2 green onions, chopped
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1 stalk celery, finely chopped
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1 pinch salt and pepper to taste
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1 pinch dried basil, parsley or tarragon
PREPARATION
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Lightly butter the insides of the buns or rolls and line with lettuce leaves. Set aside.
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In a medium bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, lime juice, hot pepper sauce, salt and pepper until well blended. Mix in the green onion and celery, then lightly mix in the lobster so it just gets coated without falling apart.
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Stuff the lobster filling into the buns and sprinkle parsley, basil or tarragon lightly over the filling.
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Shout-out to ll Mercato
"The attention we received as soon as we walked in the door was lovely, social protocols were evident every where. Hand sanitizer as you walk in, staff in masks, people and tables 6 feet apart, the waitress was delightful, food was, hmmm what's better than delicious, it was bieno....it was an amazing evening out, after being home for so many months"
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Watermelon Cocktail
Super easy watermelon cocktail - yields 4 servings
Ingredients:
- 5 cups seedless watermelon chunks, plus wedges or balls for garnish
- 3 tablespoons lime juice, plus lime wedges for garnish
- 2 tablespoons sugar, depending on the sweetness of the watermelon
- 3/4 cup tequila or your preferred liquor, such as vodka or rum, optional
- 2 tablespoon orange liqueur, optional
1. Combine the watermelon, lime juice and sugar to taste in a blender and blend until very smooth. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer into a small pitcher. Stir in the tequila and orange liqueur if using.
2. Fill 4 glasses with ice. Pour the cocktail into the glasses and garnish with watermelon and lime wedges.
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The Ultimate Guide to Sourdough Bread
When covid started and self-isolating became the new norm, baking became the new favorite pastime. We heard from lots of foodies about their new-found hobby. At the top of the baking list, was bread. More specifically - sourdough bread.
Check out this great how-to guide for making your very own sourdough. Click
here.
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Shout-out to Sou'Wester Restaurant
"We had our Canada Day supper here. Both of us had the fish & chips and they were delicious. The homemade gingerbread was amazing. The overall atmosphere and attitude of the staff was excellent. Tables were spaced an appropriate distance apart, staff were wearing masks and tables were being cleaned very well as each customer left. We felt comfortable dining here. Even with everything they are doing to keep us safe, they still maintained an inviting, cozy and friendly atmosphere. We will definitely be returning soon."
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3 Mistakes to Avoid When Storing Cheese, According to a Cheesemonger by Carol Johnson
1. Avoid: Wrapping your cheese in plastic or non-porous material.
While cheesemongers usually wrap the cheeses they display in plastic, avoid doing this at home-the professionals do it so they can showcase the cheese they're selling, and they go through the cheeses quickly enough that the plastic rarely imparts flavor on the product.
"What works best is to wrap it in some kind of porous material," says Johnson. "Cheese is a living thing, so you have to wrap it in something that is breathable." Plus, plastic wrap can give the cheese a plastic-y flavor. "That's the problem with a lot of pre-cut cheese wrapped in plastic: it takes on the plastic flavors, and the bacteria starts to die," she says.
Johnson recommends using cheese paper, butcher paper, or even wax paper.
2. Avoid: Storing your cheese in the coldest part of the fridge.
Since not everyone has a "cheese fridge" (we just learned what this is, and now we desperately need one), it's important to learn the safest place to store cheese in your home refrigerator: your produce drawer.
"Cold slows down the ripening of the cheese, and then the airflow can dry it out pretty quickly. Cheese likes a certain amount of humidity and it likes to be warmer," says Johnson. "I put my cheese in the produce drawer, or whatever part of my fridge is the warmest."
Of course, you can store hard cheeses, like Parmigiano Reggiano, outside of the fridge "for a really long time."
3. Avoid: Not using an extra layer of protection.
Johnson recommends putting the cheese you've wrapped in paper (not plastic!) in another container for extra protection-either Tupperware with holes poked in it, or a plastic bag with holes poked in it. The holes are key, as cheese is a living thing.
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Shout-out to Ristorante aMano
"Excellent, attentive service (the restaurant staff wear masks to protect their patrons - very smart; there's a station at the entrance to sanitize your hands when you enter, and the tables are appropriately spaced). The menu is varied with plenty of options, and food was delicious. Perfect portion sizes, too. Highly recommend, and we'll be back."
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How to stay safe this summer....and still have fun!
Nova Scotians need to follow social distancing guidelines to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. This means limiting your contact with other people and staying 2 metres (6 feet) away from them.
To protect yourself and others you need to:
- stay 2 metres (6 feet) away from other people as much as possible, unless you're in your close social group of 10
- keep your close social group of 10 consistent, as much as possible
- make informed choices about who and how to interact with each other (consider age, occupation and health conditions)
- make sure you follow social distancing guidelines for the gathering limit, businesses, organizations and workplaces
- Keep your hands clean - wash frequently especially before eating food
- Cough and /or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow
- Clean and disinfect regularly (railings, doorknobs, light switches, etc.)
- masks - even if you don't have symptoms, Public Health strongly recommends that you wear a non-medical mask whenever you're in places where it's hard to maintain social distance (like public transit, stores and group living situations)
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Mind the heat...
Summer is a great time to get outside and explore our province. With covid-19 still a concern, we get a feeling that outside time will be even more prevalant this summer. Here is a reminder of how to avoid heat exhaustion and heat related illnesses.
*One of the suggestions is to avoid alcohol. That is probably not entirely necessary, but drinking responsibly is highly recommended. Watch how much you drink in overly warm/hot conditions, and make sure to still drink water!
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| Have you been to a restaurant recently? If you had a positive and safe experience eating out in Nova Scotia, we want to hear about it. Please feel free to email testimonials (including the name of the establishment) to
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Every $2 donation means Feed NS can distribute enough food to provide 3 meals. If able to contribute, Feed NS could really use our support during the Covid-19 pandemic.
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We are in search of Foodie submissions from our members! If you have an event, new feature, or fun recipe to add to the Foodie Newsletter and/or our social media.
Submissions or feedback can be sent to
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Restaurant Association of Nova Scotia
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