Culinary Q & A with Isabelle Gallant

Occupation: I’m a journalist. I work for CBC Radio as a researcher/producer. I think I like writing about food best of all! Someday I’d love to be a full-time food writer. 

What did you eat today?

I had a very strange breakfast: some leftover waffle batter that I had turned into cake because it wouldn’t stop sticking to the waffle iron. I spread it with almond butter so it actually tasted pretty good, despite a strange texture. And half a grapefruit.

For lunch I had some leftover roast chicken and sweet potato fries. Supper was a green salad with cucumber, chick peas and almonds on top.

What do you never eat?

I’ve tried to like oatmeal so many times … just ask my husband. I think it’s a texture/taste combination, but I just can’t get into it.

I’m also not a fan of anything gelatinous or soggy … like any form of Jello, or bread in soup. And I really don’t like Miracle Whip or Cheez-Whiz … I’m a bit of a food snob.

What is your personal specialty?

I don’t think I really have a specialty … although I love making scrambled eggs and they were the first thing I learned to cook, from my Dad. I think I’ve been making them long enough that I’ve mastered the technique! I also make a mean cornbread, and a delicious chocolate vegan cake.

Complete this sentence: In my refrigerator, you will always find:

Fresh vegetables, soy milk, a heel or two of Parmesan, a jar of jam, half a lemon stored in a ziploc and shoved into the door, and a bunch of leftovers.

What is your weekday meal standby?

Something with eggs. Usually fritatta because you can throw lots of different kinds of vegetables and cheese in it.

I’m getting healthier with time … in university my go-to if there was nothing good to make was frozen french fries with ketchup and grated cheese. Unhealthy, but delicious! I still crave it sometimes.

What is your favorite kitchen item?

I love wooden spoons. We have a lot of them, including some that are warped and and one that I took from my Mom’s house a while back. It’s starting to get a crack in it but I just don’t want to throw it away. I also think I would find it hard to live without our microplane grater.

World ends tomorrow. Describe your last meal.

Brunch the way my Dad used to make it: scrambled eggs, biscuits, Lunenburg pudding, bacon, fresh grapefruit, lots of sharp cheddar cheese, toast, peanut butter. (One of my favourite food combos ever is toast with peanut butter, cheese, and bacon.) Maybe throw in a bowl of creamy mashed potatoes for good measure. In a perfect world, I would eat this meal on a sunny Sunday morning with my family.  

Where do you eat out most frequently?

Probably the Blue Plate Diner. It’s close, has an interesting menu and most of all an awesome atmosphere.

What’s the best place to eat in Edmonton?

I don’t know if I can pick just one. There are still so many restaurants I want to try, but of the places we’ve gone the Red Ox is one of the best. It’s elegant and special, yet simple and cozy. The food is wonderful too! We’ve been trying a lot of ethnic places that we love too, especially Padmanadi, Langano Skies, Boualouang, and this great Chinese hot pot restaurant in Chinatown. It’s called King’s Noodles and Hot Pot (I didn’t even know what it was called so I just googled it!). I would, however, recommend eating there with someone Chinese. It’s a lot to take in for a Westerner!

If you weren’t limited by geography, where and what would you eat?

I would definitely go to Paris and gorge on croissants, pains au chocolat, and baguettes. And probably visit all the city’s chocolate shops too. I would love to visit Italy – never been there – and discover all the food it has to offer. And I would for sure find out the best places to eat in Asia and visit all of them. I think I would pretty much go on a world food tour if I could.

Isabelle blogs at The Little Red Kitchen.