Staycation Ideas For Your Summer in Ottawa

No European vacations for us. No African safaris or walking the Camino de Santiago. And that's okay for this year since some very important personal projects have given us an Ottawa centric summer. In between all the unexpected and emotional, we have worked hard to steal wee breaks when we can and enjoy our fair city. Having out of town visitors with us for a time, definitely helped with our picks.

Let me share a few of these delights. Perhaps you will consider doing an Ottawa 'staycation'.


CARAVAGGIO AND HIS FOLLOWERS IN ROME AT THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF CANADA
"Caravaggio and His Followers in Rome is a major international loan exhibition of approximately 60 works that brings the genius of Caravaggio to Canada for the first time and marks the 400th anniversary of his death. Showing exclusively in Canada at the National Gallery in Ottawa, this ambitious exhibition focuses on the period he spent in Rome." [excerpt from the National Gallery of Canada's website.]

My biggest thrill this summer was seeing the Caravaggio exhibit at the National Gallery of Canada. Unfortunately the mister couldn't join me. I participated in a guided tour with my book club. I decided years ago that bringing along a talking expert suited my art exploring experience best. I need the nuances spelled out for me. To hear a bit about the history of that time. I love the chance to ask questions. It is well worth the $7. Plus we had collapsible chairs to have a seat at each stop.

The entrance fee to the gallery was $12 since I was part of this larger group. Following the exhibit, I spent time, as I always do, reacquainting myself with the art work in the Canadian collection. This proved to connect well with my tour of the Parliament Buildings and also Rideau Hall later in the summer.








NATIONAL WAR MEMORIAL
"Originally built to commemorate the First World War, in 1982 it was rededicated to include the Second World War and the Korean War. In 2000, the Canadian Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was added to the memorial site and symbolizes the sacrifice made by every Canadian who has died or may yet die for their country." [excerpt from the Wikipedia website]

We like to go to the moving Remembrance Day service held at Confederation Square each November 11. But in reality, the sacrifices made by our fallen soldiers, is something that gives us our freedoms everyday. I appreciated having my own quiet moment by the memorial recently on a hurried day downtown. Their commitment was great. Two minutes of silence before this granite cenotaph has the same gripping reminder for us on a sweltering hot day as it does in bone chilling windy November.




CHANGING OF THE GUARD ON PARLIAMENT HILL
Weather permitting, you can witness the ceremonial changing of the guard on Parliament Hill, each day at 10:00 am. It lasts 30 minutes. To get a good view by the ropes, you should consider coming to the hill for 9:30 am. I stood on the east side in a bit of shade. Consider appropriate sun protection. Although the actual ceremony begins at 10 am, there is a presentation at 9:45 am that gives some interesting history. Worth hearing. The price is right for this show of pomp and circumstance - Free!

Hurry though. This event ends Friday, August 26th.







CENTRE BLOCK GUIDED TOUR OF PARLIAMENT HILL
This tour is a must for every Canadian at some point in time in their lives. Each time I go, I tend to be captured by some theme. The obvious first, understanding parliament's place in our democracy. Other times I have focused on the beautiful neo-Gothic architecture and the rich architectural history. This time, I felt more taken in by the art work. I wished I had better pictures to show. I think the art work could be a tour unto itself. We were not able to go up the Peace Tower since the elevator was out of service but we were able to climb the stairs to visit the Memorial Chamber. Also a must see.

Again, the price is right - Free!

Tours run Monday to Friday from 9 am to 7:20 pm and then on the weekend from 9 am to 4:20 pm. You can get your free same-day tickets from the Info Tent on the east side of the Centre Block. It's white and big. You can't miss it.

Our tour guide was informative and fun. Once through security (this takes a bit), the actual tour was less than one hour. Set aside 90 minutes in your schedule as not to feel rushed.





















MOSAIKA SOUND AND LIGHT SHOW ON PARLIAMENT HILL
This show tells the story of the history of Canada with sound and light with the Parliament buildings acting as the canvas. It begins at 10 pm each night on Parliament Hill. Come about 9:30 pm to claim a good spot on the lawn.

Bring a blanket to get cozy in your spot (better than lawn chairs as that will block the views of others) and bug spray just in case. The night I went there was plenty of room. (I did notice chairs set up at the back near Wellington Street for those with mobility issues.)

If you have been to the National Gallery of Canada and the Parliament Buildings already, your knowledge of Canada is starting to weave together.

This event ends Monday, September 5. And the price? You guessed it - Free!






PHOTOGRAPHS BY YOUSUF KARSH IN THE FAIRMONT CHATEAU LAURIER
Yousuf Karsh is Canada's most famous portrait photographer. As you stroll through the lobby of the historic Fairmont Chateau Laurier you can see some of his works such as: Winston Churchill, Albert Einstein, Stephen Leacock, Georgia O'Keeffe. Consider taking in afternoon tea in Zoé's Lounge.




GUIDED TOUR OF RIDEAU HALL
Whether you are a monarch or not, the guided tour of Rideau Hall is worth it to catch a further glimpse into Canada's history. It is the official residence and workplace of the governor general and the only one of the six official residences that is open to the public. Again, I was attracted to the art collection. I would love it if they spoke more about the pieces and the artists.

Guided tours of the residence are free of charge and last approximately 45 minutes. As you approach the residence, you will see where you can book your tour time. The grounds themselves are open from 8 am until an hour before sunset. The residence is on 79 acres. There is also a grounds tour if you would like to check out every bit of it. More details for planning your visit can be found on their website.










CANADIAN DELICACY - POUTINE!
No visit to the Nation's Capital would be complete without trying one of our famed regional dishes - poutine!

Apparently poutine has its origins in Quebec and the love for this food has now made its way across Canada. I would say there is a definite concentration of poutine houses still mainly in Quebec and on the fringes. (Which includes the Nation's Capital!) A good poutine has to have fries that are crisped well to withstand the saucy gravy. The gravy should not be too salty. The cheese component works well if it is St. Albert's cheese curds. Shredded cheese will not do.

We consulted the experts for just the right destination and then made our way to S & Fries at Carling and Maitland. A full picnic table of keen tasters dug in. Perhaps a dish only a Canadian could love.

Double Decker Diner & Dairy Bar in Downtown Manotick

The Double Decker Diner & Dairy Bar is located on Manotick Main Street by Clapp Lane. The location is easy to spot, if not for its uniqueness alone but certainly for its sense of presence. Happening upon a double decker bus anywhere in the Ottawa area is unusual so it is a real standout in its bright British red and a blue.



The recent interest by CTV Ottawa in finding the best chip truck in the region has rekindled our teenager's poutine interest. Although not regular fare, when he gets the opportunity to have chip truck fries, it must be poutine. So far, 853 CTV Ottawa readers have weighed in with their expertise and campaigning ability. As well, some 34 tweets have come in to @CTVOttawa registering their vote.

The highly unscientific leader board looks something like this:

Double Decker bus in Manotick	103
S&G's at Maitland and Carling	65
Wes's Fries in Arnprior	60
Magic Fryer, Canadian Tire, Coventry Rd	51
Poutine Queen in Almonte	48
Fritimania on St Joseph Blvd	42
Sweet Potato in Carp	33
Claude's Chip Stands - Cummings/Ogilvie	32
Mike's Chips, Carleton Place	28
GJ's on Trim Road btwn 174 & St-Joseph	28

We have been watching as the comments have been posted on the CTV website and it is clear there has been some very serious campaigning going on by a number of vendors. All in good fun as this is the chip truck season. And those on the leaderboard are likely fairly reliable locations, so no harm done I suppose.

On our way home from Gananoque yesterday, the teenager took a shot at validating first place, the Double Decker Diner & Dairy Bar in downtown Manotick, by ordering a regular poutine. He had been there once before and although he liked it, he is skeptical of its top seed.


The experience was as he expected. He says the crisp in their fries works well for poutine. Also, he appreciates that they understand the importance of layering in the cheese and gravy, not just putting it all on top. But like his prior experience, the curds just aren't a first rate product for him (no squeak) and the gravy is just too salty. At that proclamation, I went in for a taste and wholeheartedly agreed that this gravy is heart-stoppingly, too salty. What a distraction.



I took their smallest fry, called regular and enjoyed it well enough.

A soft drink is $1.25

Regular Fries $3.50 (What I would compare size-wise to a medium at other stands)
Large Fries $4.25
Family $8.00

Regular Poutine $4.75
Large Poutine $6.00

Parking is ample as is the seating. There are a number of umbrella'd picnic tables outside. Cozy tables and chairs on the second floor of the bus, makes for a retreat if you are looking for shelter from the elements.

They are trying to get the word out there and now have their own Facebook fan page.

Manotick is lucky to have the Double Decker right in town to service those with the chip truck craving as they really aren't too bad. However, the teenager still says the best fries are Wes' Chips in Arnprior and the best poutine is S & G Fries at Carling and Maitland. Though, he chooses to continue his search for the best, in case it is yet to be discovered!

In the language of the Poutine Chronicles, this place is 4 curds out of 5.

Double Decker Diner & Dairy Bar
Manotick Main Street by Clapp Lane
Manotick, Ontario

Mon to Fri: 11 am - 7 pm
Sat to Sun: 11:30 am - 7 pm

The Poutine Queen in Almonte

The Poutine Queen in Almonte is 45.6 km and 41 minutes from our door, so one might ask why would we travel so far for chip truck fare when S & G Fries is but 1.1 kms away and has a solid track record with our resident expert, the teenager.

There are two reasons that we made the drive today.

First, we heard on Friday that CTV Ottawa was in search of the best chip truck in the region. We have been following the website closely and also their Twitter account @CTVOttawa. As of this afternoon, the tally of the top 10 so far looked like this:

1. Wes's Fries in Arnprior
2. The Poutine Queen in Almonte
3. Claude's Chip Stands at Cummings and Ogilvie
   
4. Glen's on Richmond Road, Westboro
5. The double decker bus in Manotick
6. S & G Fries at Carling and Maitland
7. Mike's Chips on Bridge Street in Carleton Place
8. JP's Fries at Baseline and Clyde
9. The Magic Fryer at Canadian Tire on Coventry Road
10. Woody's Pit on Highway 7 near Innisville

Of the top 10, our resident expert had only had experience with 1, 4, 5 and 6. He personally would have rated S & G Fries higher than Glen's but this vote is just really one of popularity, not so much about ranking. And it is no surprise to anyone that Wes's Fries is leading the pack. But what about some of these other chip trucks so high on the list? What were they all about? Perhaps it was time to check out The Poutine Queen or Claude's Chip Stands.

Secondly, my MIL has had a request in with us for a month now that she would like to be taken out for chip truck fries some day. She just recently had another big numbered birthday (from here on in they are all big numbers) and although she can't drive anymore and has a few health issues, she seems virtually indestructible. Our guess is that if she wanted to do chip truck fries she likely would not hear much objection from her doctor, despite their questionable level of sustenance. If chip truck fries is what she wants, chip truck fries she will get. And today we would make good on our promise. The setting was ripe for doing product research.

With the MIL's assignment at hand and new information pouring at us from the web, we decided that taking a Sunday drive on a holiday Monday could justify the long road to Almonte. So the family piled in and off we went. Rolling miles of pavement, groves of trees, fields laden in sparse brush and soon we found our way to the pink truck in sleepy, downtown Almonte. It is located on High Street, just off of Bridge Street and beside the self-serve car wash. If it wasn't for the promotion sign in the window announcing the CTV Ottawa's search, you would never know that this place was holding second spot. There was no one around. I don't know when they close up at night but I was guessing that at 4:45 pm, we might be close to closing time.

The boys picked poutine and the girls picked fries. Although they were tasty, it was unanimous that it wasn't worth going the 45.6 kms when S&G Fries is just around the corner. The poutine fries were a bit cooled off since they came right from the 'wait' bin. The plain fries were piping hot as they came fresh from the fryer, but they were just too bland and needed more cook time. Our favourite fries have a crispy outside but a full, soft, well-cooked centre. I do see why Almonte might be fond of the eclectic pink truck and all it has to offer. After all, they do have Stuffed Poutine, heard to be all the rage.

On the plus side, the small fry at $2.75 was substantial and many extra fingers had to dig in to help the MIL with her bounty. In the end, she enjoyed the outing, the time to chat and the tasty fries that awaited her at her destination. These fringe benefits made the distance seem insignificant. Product research aside, today, this visit to a winning-est chip truck was all about her.

In the language of the Poutine Chronicles, this place is 3.5 curds out of 5.





The Poutine Queen
High Street near Bridge Street
Almonte, Ontario

Fine Lunch Dining at S & G Fries

You guessed it. This is the regular-sized poutine from S & G Fries, located at 1845 Carling Avenue, right next to both the Beer Store and the Produce Depot. They claim to make the Best Poutine in Ottawa and have many testimonials around the place to substantiate this declaration.



We ended up here because this afternoon was 'get organized for the prom day' and my son had a knowledgeable friend along for consultation. The payoff to her was lunch at S & G Fries. She accepted in a heartbeat. MP claims to be pure French Canadian stock and can speak with a voice of authority on poutine, as it is the national dish of Quebec.



MP gave the poutine at S & G Fries high marks. "The fries were cooked properly." No elaboration on what that meant. I took her at her word. She was also pleased when she saw the sign for St. Albert's cheese curds. Being within 10 minutes of the St. Albert Co-op Cheese Factory, MP says she often enjoys the curds so fresh that they are extra squeaky! As early as the end of the 19th century, master cheesemakers in a charming Eastern Ontario village were already manufacturing a highly renowned Cheddar: the St-Albert. Not all native Quebecers share the praise that MP has put on the standard of curd expected in her perfect poutine but suffice it to say, I really wouldn't know any better. St. Albert is a small town close to the Quebec border, but still in Ontario, so perhaps that is where the judgment lies.

When we asked MP for her final verdict, she said she thought the outstanding poutine actually came second to the poutine she loves and has had frequently at the Blooming Onion, once situated in the Byward Market, but now relocated to a spot near Cyrville Road & Maxime St. She is supported in this pronouncement by XPress' annual reader's poll in the past.




Although I don't have the pedigree that MP carries to best judge the perfect poutine, my tastebuds alone tell me that a trip to S & G Fries for any kind of chip craving, will undoubtedly prove to be a positive experience. In the language of the Poutine Chronicles, this place is at least 4.5 curds out of 5.

Is S & G Fries the best poutine in Ottawa?

S & G Fries
1845 Carling Avenue
Ottawa, Ontario
613.729.2129