Desire and I have been ill, so we decided to go out on the town for a short jaunt in order to get some fresh air and get us home before it got too chilly.  We started out at the Halifax Market in the Brewery – my first trip there, though Desire had been before when he went to school here.  It was VERY different from the Ottawa market that I’m used to – for one thing, Ottawa’s Byward Market encompasses all kinds of independent shops that line the streets for several blocks as well as all kinds of stalls along the street, many of which are there every day for the summer, and much of the spring and fall as well.  More space and more time means less crowding and you can really settle in and browse comfortably.  The Halifax market, being indoors and running year round, but only Saturday mornings, attracts a rather large crowd all trying to shop at once, making even a simple walk-through somewhat challenging.  Some might find this festive and take joy in the community-building in us all being thrust together, but I found it detracted from my experience as I felt herded along and felt guilty stopping to browse at any one stand for more than a moment, because we were inevitably in someone’s way.  I will say, however, that there was a really impressive amount of variety, and that as soon as I acclimatized to the press of the crowd, I really enjoyed trying the food that was available for sampling (cider, cocoa, wine, jellies on crackers, and flavoured oil for bread dipping – there was also cheese and gelato if you asked, but, again, the crowd made me hesitant to bother anyone I wasn’t certain I would buy from).  We’ll have to go back on another Saturday just as they open – perhaps there’ll be fewer people and more selection.  Overall, though, still worth a glance.

A very pleasant meal followed at Gingergrass Thai & Vietnamese Restaurant at 1284 Barrington Street. We decided to try something new for an appetizer, so we tried Salad Rolls, which is rice paper wrapped around vermicelli, lettuce, shrimp, and another meat that we currently forget the identity of.  I LOVED them – but they freaked out Desire a little bit – with the room temperature rice paper being soft and chewy and the vermicelli inside, he said he felt like he was eating a mouse.  (Well, I suppose it would’ve been a boneless, hairless mouse).  He enjoyed it better when he just ate out the insides.  *laugh*

Bubble Tea

For our main course, Desire got Vietnamese ribs with a carmelized sugar sauce, and some steamed rice, and I got a beef pho.  Both came out just beautifully – the presentation was lovely (the flatware would’ve gone GREAT with our own!) and the food itself was delicious.  The ribs were so tender that the bones could have been chewed and eaten and the sauce was complimentary without overpowering the meat itself.  The beef in my pho appeared pinker at the top where it stuck out of the broth, leading me to believe, that it was only lightly cooked at most, then put in the broth to allow it to cook the rest of the way – my FAVOURITE way to do beef!  It was tender and light!  The pho came with a small plate with both a sweet sauce (I believe tamarind) and a red spicy sauce on the side so I could flavour the broth as I wished.  I spiced it up a little, and found a PERFECT balance.  The only thing I missed was something I experienced for the first time in Ottawa at a Vietnamese place called Sweet Art at 309 Dalhousie.  There, they bring you the pho and the sauces, but they also bring a plate loaded with bay leaves, sprouts and lime so you can personalize the broth’s taste and add in as many sprouts as your little heart desires.  As a major lover of sprouts, this appealed to me immensely.  So, after that wonderful place, all pho now seems deeply under-sprouted.  Still, it was a beautiful soup.

For dessert, we got a fried banana with ice cream (I had the banana, Des had the ice cream) and a mango bubble tea.  Hurray for finally finding bubble tea on the east coast!  No sherbet bubble tea, but still darn solid.  There was some for sale at the market too, so it was two bubble tea discoveries in one day! I am a lucky little girl!

Prices were reasonable and the service was excellent.  We’ll definitely be back to try a Thai-heavier meal from them – maybe some curries!

Easel

Our last stop was at the art store for some supplies for Des.  We found a little table-top easel on for very very cheap, and just had to pick it up!  I got to carry it home and felt very bohemian!

What a lovely day!  Now if only we could shake the illness!

Tomorrow:  Cat Show!