Westmount's Green House Spring Floral Exhibit by Montreal photographer Hera Bell

Each year I try to visit Westmount's Green House during this time of the year.

It is an oasis away from the hustle and the bustle of a town. A marvelous green space to get away from Montreal's cold weather.

Each Spring they prepare an amazing floral exhibit.

When you enter the premises the aroma of the hyacinths can become intoxicating. Almost each week another variety of tulip opens up.

While your visit you might run into students studying, babysitters sitting and feeding babies, kids running around and having fun.

For the photographers it is an amazing place to get lost photographing the colorful array of flowers. The good news, they allow tripods.

Here are some samples of what I mean. They were all taken hand held with available light at an overcast day.

 

 

The admittance is free.  You pay for parking.

Happy Spring everyone.

 

 

Hera Bell's Asian Inspired Fennel & Yellow Beets Salad

I love harvest time. You can find all bunch of locally grown yummy veggies and fruits.

I particularly am in love cooking with yellow beets since my discovery of them few years back.

Check out the nutritional value of beets.

They are great oven roasted. They are great boiled... Lovely in color. And they do not stain your hands as bad as red beets.

So I peel them off. Cut them into cubes. Shred a fresh claw of garlic and a sprinkle of salt, boil them until tender.

Meanwhile, slice up an entire fennel.

Add it into a bowl. I squeezed an entire orange, one lemon, then added 2 table spoon of apple cider vinegar. I added 4 table spoon sesame oil and 2 table spoon olive oil and 3 tablespoon low sodium soya sauce. I cut 2 marinated garlic into very tiny pieces. Pour over the sliced fennel.

When the beets are ready and still hot drain them ad add them over the fennel. This process with make the fennel softer. Add some lemon or orange grind, chop 3 shallots. Toss the entire batch, and refrigerate.

I can assure you it will be very yummy. Bonne appetite.

PS: The photos were shot with a cell phone.

La Verita Your High ($$$) End Italian Dining Experience In West Island (by Hera Bell)

If you live in the West Island and you have a date who loves Italian food and who is easily impressed by a high end menu ($$$$$)  I suggest you go and experience Restaurant La Verita in the heart of Dollard Des Ormeaux's Marche De L'ouest...

I heard about them few years back from a friend who was raving about the place. My mother in law loves Italian food. When the place got suggested again by my sister in law, we have decided to treat my mother in law for her birthday.

So off we went last night without any reservations around 7pm on a Friday night. We took a chance.

The friendly and polite staff seated us. They brought us eact the menu.

The web site does not have any menu on line. Their pasta dishes are between $19.00 and $25.00. They include soup or salad.

They brought us a small plate of warm focaccia bread. It had sun dried tomatoes and few black olives on the side. Later on they brought  the bread which was yummy and warm.

The soup last night was a cream of pea soup with subtle hints of mint.

I was very happy that I opted for their lobster ravioli dish with a light creamy sauce. My dish was $24.00 and it was tasty.

When the time came for desert, our friendly waiter made a menu presentation on a tablet. He indicated that their signature desert is Mascarpone cheese cake.

If you ever to this restaurant, I strongly suggest you to keep space for their deserts. It will be the best part of your dining experience.

My hat off to their pastry chef.

Apple pie with vanilla ice cream.

Espresso crème brule..

And voila their delicious mascarpone cheese cake.

All the photos are snap shots with a cell phone.

Verger Phillion in Hemmingford (by Hera Bell)

Last Sunday among many other wonderful discoveries, Anthony and I discovered Vergers Philion in Hemmingford.

I thank Val for introducing us to  their amazing Pear Ice wine Gaia. Wonderfully balanced, lightly sweet and very fruity. Great company to be consumed with various cheeses and sweets.

I brought back an empty bottle as well. And I had to use it as a vase. Voila...

The photos are cell phone snaps.

Discovering Le Circuit Du Paysan At Hemmingford And Val's World ( by Hera Bell)

About an hour and a half drive away from Montreal  towards the USA border you will discover the wonderful world of  Le Circuit Du Paysan .

It is worth your visit. A very pretty pastoral landscape will await you. From artisanal ice cider or vine producers, to apple orchards and various other activities will enchant your entire family. Visit the red text above.

There are no accidents in life. Nor coincidences... Meeting Val had to happen. For that I have to thank Vito.

Last Sunday we were invited to their house in Hemmingford. It was an open house Fall harvest party.

I did not bring my camera. Only my cell phone. So all the images were taken with my cell phone.

May I present you tiny glimpses into Val's world with her permission. She is a warm, kind, giving and inspirational lady that stole my heart last Sunday.