Parc Naturel Lavigne

February is the best month for winter activities !The days are longer, there's still lots of fluffy snow, and it's warmer than January. So with no big plans this Family Day long weekend we decided to enjoy some winter fun and head east to Parc Naturel Lavigne.

This little park is a real cross-country skiing gem.  It's only 40 minutes from our house in Ottawa but it feels a world away: a woodlot surrounded by farm fields as far as they eye can see. In some places the trails meander here and there around the trees. In other places you get to enjoy some surprisingly big hills.

In terms of variety of experience, I would say its the best overall cross country trail that I've tried near Ottawa, and that includes both the Ontario and Quebec side of the border. A lot of skiers in this area are drawn to Gatineau Park, but you have to pay to use those trails - and they are so crowded! In comparison, we passed only one other group skiing the whole time we were at Parc Naturel Lavigne, which made for a very relaxing experience. It's also great for families as beginners can try the flatter trails while those with more experience can try something more challenging.

Bonus points for Margot: we passed a few horse stables along the way!

This is our fifth, and possibly last, cross-country ski of the season and I'm super happy that we are going out with a bang.

Perch

It's been awhile since I've been to a fancy restaurant. And it's been even longer since I've been to a new fancy restaurant. But as a pre-Valentine's day gift to ourselves Glosette Girl and I decided to try Perch, which is a new restaurant on Preston in Little Italy. They opened last November, and I've been meaning to give them a go.

In terms of atmosphere, Perch has a slightly edgy industrial look. The background music was modern and interesting but not overpowering, which I liked, because I hate it when you go to a place and you have to shout to talk. 

Right now, as the pandemic measures wind down, they are only serving set menus so we tried the 5-course option. Here's what we had:

• Brocolli Stem with Seabuckthorn & Camelina Emulsion
• Chawanmushi
• Birch Marinated Walleye Agnolitti
• Koji-aged and Seaweed Wrapped Roasted Duck Breast
• Carmalized Parsnip Ice Cream
  

There was also a free aperitif of boullion soup and bread when we first arrived. That was really appreciated because it was freezing the night we went out.

Some of the courses were better than others. In particular, I loved the duck breast and Glosette Girl really liked the brocolli stem.

Enjoying the broccoli...

But neither of us really liked the parsnip ice cream. So I think they need to tighten up a few of the courses.

...but having second thoughts on the ice cream!

The service was really timely and efficient though and I could tell they were putting a lot of effort into making sure we have a nice experience and overall I had a great time. So I definitely think it's worth a try.

One funny thing though: we were still a tad peckish even after our five-courses! We ended up having a post-meal snack at Tooth and Nail, which is just around from our house. If you're really hungry, maybe best to stick with pub food!

Lovin' the Beer and Pretzels at Tooth and Nail

Guest Post: Day in the Life of Margot

When the world feels heavy with conflict, sometime its nice to remind yourself what it's like to see the world through the eyes of a kid. Here's Margot narrating a tour of our house or as she calls it "A Day in the Life of Margot":

 

 

I didn't plan this video by the way - it just showed up in my cellphone one day and I decided to share it! But I love these candid portrayals into Margot's mind. It's moments like these when I say: thank goodness for ubiquitous cameras! I'm smiling now as I see Margot narrate what she thinks is important about our house and in 25 years when I look back at this I'm sure I'll still be smiling.