Girl About O-Town

Saturday afternoon, I stopped in for lunch with my mom at the recently opened Ottawa South specialty cheese shop Serious Cheese.  We rolled in around 1 o’clock and immediately found a comfy spot in the sun to sit down. 

Once settled, we scouted around the store, peering shamelessly through the glass counters at a glorious selection of gourmet cheeses, fresh baked bread and cheese-related cooking gear (fondue pots anyone?).   Then, when we could no longer resist the allure, we looked up at the menu to make our cheese choices.  Mom devoured the daily special, a Brie & Prosciutto grilled sandwich, while I indulged decadently in the Bacon and Truffle Mac & Cheese with a mix of creamy Gruyere and Gouda.  What can I say?  This girlaboutOtown gobbled it all with not a single second thought.  Yum!

Serious Cheese  is one busy place.  In addition to those enjoying a lovely lunch in the early afternoon sunshine, there seemed to be a steady stream of cheese loving customers coming into the shop to pick up something special to add to their Saturday night plans.  Staff was both friendly and knowledgeable, and between the aroma in the air and the samples out to share, patrons couldn’t help but smile. 

So, whether you are a genuine connoisseur or – like me – have the occasional hunkering for a good chunk of specialty cheese, may I suggest you wander down Bank St. to see what you might find at Serious Cheese?  You’ll no doubt be pleased that you did… 

Photos by me.

Who can argue what weekends are wonderful?  Especially this one past, since it is was my last before returning to the confines of my cubicle.  My extended vacation is coming to a close, and the frenzy of fall has finally set in. 

To celebrate a sensational summer of creativity and personal progress, the fella and I went out Friday night.   Downtown was our destination, with art and appetizers on our agenda. 

Stopping in first at the Terrence Robert Gallery on Sussex Drive to see new paintings by rising art star Neil Young, we were graciously greeted by Gallery Director Joel Pleet.   You may recall this girlaboutOtown’s recent profile on Ottawa-raised Neil Young following the New Art Festival, and my extreme enthusiasm about his work.  Neil and I still occasionally connect, and during our last exchange, I discovered that a select few of his powerful pieces are currently on display.  Even better, they can be found in the front window!

The Terence Robert Gallery specializes in contemporary fine art and showcases both established and emerging Canadian artists.  Seriously swank, this two-storey space is enhanced by an abundance of daylight and historic stone walls.  The gallery is warm and welcoming, while retaining a sense of sophistication, and assures visitors of a very enjoyable viewing experience.   In addition to the absolute pleasure of seeing great art, the Terence Robert Gallery also makes it accessible to everyday shoppers by offering payment by installments for up to 12 months.

After the art, it was off to the bookstore to sample the stacks.  For more than a few minutes, the fella and I searched through subjects of interest, finally settling on a title equally intriguing to us both.  “The Architecture of Happiness”, by Alain de Botton, discusses the significance of our surroundings and suggests that the style and structure of home can have a meaningful impact on our psychology.  Despite the book’s mixed reviews, we were not deterred, as this is an idea that resonates well with us both.

Feeling inclined to explore further, we strolled south toward the Rideau Centre.  I couldn’t stop myself from checking out the new Michael Kors store on the second floor, while my fella fled to somewhere far off where socks were no doubt being sold.  We met up again for a sweet cinnamon treat, and plotted our next moves around the mall.

Once done with our wandering, it was off to Restaurant 18 to wind down.  We capped off our downtown date with a drink at the bar, accompanied by nothing but some spicy nuts, too full of refined sugar to find room for more. 

 Photos by me.