Popular search terms on the blog for January 2010
These kinds of things are interesting right? In case you are curious, here are the most popular, followed by the weirdest terms people have "searched" for and ended up here on the blog in the past month.
- William Petersen
- Tyrone Warner
- Blublockers
- Laurentian Art Pottery
- Halifax Donair Milton
- "Wool Felt" waste Toronto
- Starbucks Belleville
- Wilderness of Manitoba
And January's weirdest search term? "meat eating halifax"
Things to do in Belleville: Go to the Nova Deli
Hard to believe this is only the third post in my unending series on "Things to do in Belleville, Ontario," (And yes, there are far more "cultural" things you could do in Belleville, like go to boring places like the Glanmore House or the Frink Centre, but I'll only turn to those once I exhaust a complete guide to things the locals actually do), so I'm already likely to peak with the greatest place to go and the greatest place to eat in the entire city, but here it is.
The Nova Deli.
The only place to get a "real" donair in Ontario.
Not that I've ever had a "real" donair from Canada's east coast, but I hope to ratify that someday.
Anyways, a donair is pretty simple stuff: Take a pita, add some meat made out of 100% ground beef held together by soda cracker and spices (shipped from the east coast), add some cheese and some veggies, ladle on some of the sweet and sticky white sauce (secret recipe) and that's it. Sounds a lot like a gyro, but totally different... there are lots of imitations of the east-coast donair, but none of them put together a fresh, juicy donair like the guys at the Nova Deli, who are all red blooded Nova Scotians.
I didn't include more photos of the inside of the Deli, or the donairs themselves, because that is a pleasure I wish to let you find for yourself.
When you go there, depending on who is working, you're likely to get a warm reception, and if you're an old school regular (like myself), they'll always remember your name, no matter how many months its been since you've been to the shop. It's easy to find too: It's more or less across the street from McDonald's on North Front Street.
Donair toppings are sparse: I wouldn't suggest ordering anything else but the TLC (tomato, lettuce and cheese). Other donair varieties include the "neat" version, which comes in a bowl, or a donair spread out on a bed of fries. Depending on their stock, you can also get donair sausages (frozen, and perfect for breakfast).
Sizes come in small, medium, large and beastie. Newbies should probably stick to the small, and I'm partial to a medium. As for the beastie, for size comparisons, it's about the size of a pointy hand-ball. Once upon a time there used to be a hall of fame for those who could eat the entire thing in under 20 minutes. Don't plan on eating anything else that day if you are attempting this... you'll also need 2-3 cans of pop to help get all that beef down your gullet.
The hours are a little wonky, so be sure to call ahead to make sure they are open: the number is (613) 968-3357, and if you call ahead of time, you'll have your donair there waiting for you as you brave North Front Street traffic (they make the donair fresh for every order).
Finally, this is how you eat it: Take your foil-covered donair, and hold it fold or pointy side "up" (if you are carrying donairs in the car, be sure to hold them all upright like so, so the sauce doesn't go all over the place). Lift the fold or de-spiral the point. Next, tear the foil horizontally, from about 1/4 of the way down from the top of the donair, all the way around in one complete pull. Then, take that foil and fold it up against the bottom of the donair, like a reinforcement. DON'T take the donair out of the foil completely, you'll just end up with a huge mess. As you eat your delicious donair, pull back a little foil at a time as needed, kind of like a banana. Near the end, you'll have some pieces of meat that are totally soaked with grease and donair sauce... don't be afraid, get your fingers in there are pull those bad boys out, as well as any leftover diced tomatoes or lettuce, and scarf them all down. Once your foil cup is free of all meat/veggies/bread, you should have a nice pool of sauce going on, which means there is one thing left to do: fold a little spout in the edge of the cup, and pour the rest of that sauce into your mouth -- in one big slurp.
Don't forget to use the hand wipes.
Things to do in Belleville: Go to Reid’s Dairy
So if you find yourself in Belleville, Ontario, and asking yourself, "What do I do with myself today?," consider this one of many pleasurable activities to consider.
Reid's Dairy, which is located just south of the 401 on Sidney street (easily accessible for a quick pit stop if you're passing by), is over 100 years old and remains independent to this day. I remember when it never had the tower and fake waving woman inside (the princess is long gone now... I believe it had something to do with Dairy Queen), and when Reid's had a massive petting zoo, with lots of goats and other livestock.
Now the zoo is replaced by a mini-mall square, complete with Quiznos, New Vision Christian book store and a flower shop, and Reid's most mind boggling drive thru you have ever seen in your life. Imagine a disjointed figure eight with traffic islands and you get the idea.
I suggest getting the Loonie or Toonie milkshake, but you can get whatever you like... the ice cream is fresh and very sweet. And as a bonus, on the side of the cup you get this disturbing cow staring out at you while you enjoy her sweet, sweet nectar.
But if it's your first visit to the dairy, head inside and check out the view of the factory through the glass windows (unless you are in there at the crack of dawn, you'll never see any action). Then, as you browse their various cheeses, hit the big red button on the wall and be horrified as the creepiest animatronic stage show featuring bumpkin bluegrass players commence.
If you look carefully enough, you can probably also spot the choo-choo train running around the perimeter of the store, and the giant cow's head which you can also activate with a big red button.
Does this all sound bizarre? It is. One of the two must-visit places you must hit when you stop by what the locals lovingly call, "Bellvegas."
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Things to do in Belleville: Go to Starbucks and Chapters
Never been to this Starbucks before? Well here's all you need to know: Never, under any circumstances, should you order anything besides coffee or tea. You'll look like a pompous so-and-so from Rednersville Road, slumming it in the only part of town you consider classy (here's a hint: it's not)... or you'll look like the too-cool-for-school yuppie taking refuge in a somewhat urban and hip locale (again, not).
At Starbucks, in general, you are going to get ripped off. The coffee is too expensive, and the tea is too expensive (that's okay, because you are still getting a very highly caffeinated beverage that doesn't totally taste like sewer water). But don't ever order any espresso based drinks, because those beans in the back room taste like they are older than dirt, and the under-trained, overworked "baristas" behind the counter have no idea what they are doing.... don't waste your money on that too short shot of espresso in half warm milk/half bubble bath foamed milk.
And were you planning on getting something "mocha" or "frapped" in it? Spend the 6 bucks at Dairy Queen and just get yourself a milkshake... because you are not getting coffee when you order that business, you are getting desert.
So with that said, grab yourself a nice hot cup of coffee, add your fixings, and head over into Chapters. Belleville's Chapters is pretty average in the chain of stores, but for Belleville, has a pretty extensive magazine collection. There's you usual fashion mags, craft mags, "men's" mags, and honestly, and entire row dedicated to automobile magazines. Grab whatever you like, and sit down on a window ledge that serves nicely as a bench to have a little browse. If none are available in the front of the store, head over the West side window, where there's another great little window ledge to sit.
Did I mention the entire row dedicated to automobile magazines?
Now, you may be tempted to bring a few magazines into the Starbucks for a little perusing. Shortly after the Belleville Starbucks opened in 1999, this was all the rage. Of course, people started spilling their 4 dollar "lattes" all over the merchandise, and that practice was soon outlawed. But hey, it's Starbucks, and you should try your luck anyways.
Mind you, you'll have to see if there's any tables actually available. There's usually a handful of Loyalist College students working away on their laptops, doing important work like updating their Myspace profiles, as well as little groups of women who seem to take up the rest. Be warned that if you bring your own book and try to read in one of the comfy chairs, some nice-seeming person will sit in the one next to you, and will soon begin to unfurl their impeccable weirdoness upon you. At least their bathrooms are spacious!
Have I made Starbucks and Chapters in Belleville sound terrible? It really isn't that bad. In all honestly, it's the nicest place you can spend an hour or two in town, especially when you combine it with a lap or two of the Quinte Mall next door. Or if you want to go out at night and avoid the bars like "Matt and Joes" or "Little Texas," this is really your only after 7pm option.
One last Starbucks and Chapters in Belleville tip: If you are just stopping in to grab a coffee all quick like, the locals seem to be okay with just half pulling up into the curb out front, or parking on the painted hash-marks beside the handicapped access slots (not in the slots, just beside them, more or less in traffic). I don't necessarily condone this, but you should at least know.
Enjoy your stay in Belleville, and stay tuned for more helpful advice!