No Christmas is complete without a holiday log. Ours makes homage to another of our favourite desserts: tiramisu, an Italian classic for a reason! Its decadent mixture of mas carpone, brandy, chocolate, cake and instant coffee is second-to-none on the self-indulgence meter. Everyone around the table will feel special feasting on this. How to set the perfect holiday table Just because it’s the holidays doesn’t mean you need a theme of red and green. At Van Houtte®, we’ve got nearly a century of expertise at making things taste, and look, their very best. DIY: Christmas coffee potpourri Set the tone for the holidays at home with this easy, kid-friendly DIY. The spicy, deep aroma says hello-good-morning, happy-holidays and bake-cookies-now all at once!Cookie FlowersFlower CookiesCookie BouquetsCookies RosesEdible BouquetsCookies FloralPaper FlowersSugar FlowersCookies PastelsForwardCookies shaped like flowers on a stick. They look so cute, but how d you get it on the stick without it crumpling.

Hi everyone, We just wanted to post a quick note to say that we’re closing out 2013 by taking a hiatus from curating Local Tourist Ottawa. The last three years have been incredible; we’ve had more than 500 submitted posts by nearly 200 contributors. We’ve been named a top blog in the city, interviewed by […] Ottawa’s Christmas markets: Will you or won’t you? The thought of battling the overheated malls to buy more stuff for my friends and family has not been an appealing activity for me in the past few years – that’s why I love hitting up local markets, and supporting local artisans. sumo sushi menu goldsboroAt the perfect holiday market, I can buy gifts that will tantalize taste buds, […]jiro dreams of sushi tvtropes Fashionably late: H&M arrives in Ottawajiro dreams of sushi fnac

Jenna Farrell is a recruitment and communications professional with a passion for Ottawa’s fashion and fitness communities. An Ottawa Valley girl at heart, Jenna and her husband live in Hintonburg where they enjoy Ottawa’s best dinner spots, local beers and donuts (she especially likes the donuts). For more of Jenna’s writing, visit www.navyandgold.ca. With the recent […] Days Out Ontario’s Ottawa fall faves (within an hour of downtown!) What makes a better back drop to day tripping adventures than fresh, crisp air and the russet, orange, and yellow hills of autumn? vouchercloud yo sushiWith fall officially here, there is no better time to head out on the open road to explore restaurants, museums, and trails in Ottawa and area. jiro dreams of sushi legendadoHere are a few nearby gems […]jiro dreams of sushi nowvideo

A food truck love affair: Ottawa’s first annual food truck rally Hilary Duff (blog/Twitter) lived in Ottawa for four fantastic years while getting her journalism degree at Carleton University. She moved to northern Ontario in mid-2011 to work as a reporter with CBC Radio in Sudbury, but is continuing to foster her love of Ottawa from afar.  Facebook pinged at me, half a year ago. It’s Harvest (Noir) season: Wanna go? Ottawa is blessed with some truly great local food options. From The Elk Ranch to Bottega Nicastro to the Brewer’s Park Farmer’s Market, there really is a local food option to suit every taste, as long as you know where to find it. Once you’ve found it, there’s no better time or occasion to enjoy […] Race to the finish: Ottawa’s first Color Run fun for all ages and fitness levels Josh Finn was born and raised in Ottawa and currently works as a policy analyst at Transport Canada. While he is passionate about travelling, he also enjoys discovering the hidden treasures of his hometown.

In his spare time, you can find Josh running or cycling along the canal, participating in sports leagues, volunteering with local […] A kaleidoscope of colours: The happiest 5K on the planet comes to Ottawa National Capital Craft Beer Week: Where are your top Ottawa spots to grab a pint? Desirae Odjick is a marketer and copywriter who has lived in and loved Ottawa her whole life. She reads, does yoga, runs half-marathons and is really trying to take up a winter sport. “Overly enthusiastic” is her default state.  If you’re an experienced beer connoisseur or a completely newcomer to the beer scene like myself, […] Ottawa’s El Camino: Have you been? Melanie Bechard is a reporter-turned-communications-professional who wanted to live in Ottawa years before she finally got here in 2007.  She has a dog, a cat, a husband, a garden, an embarrassingly well-organized yarn stash, and a slightly obsessive love of classic movies. She also travels as much as she can.