From green beans in a miso sesame sauce and soboro don to miso corn muffins, the fermented bean paste adds depth and complexity to everyday dishes.

Callaloo has proved to be so popular at the market that next season Burrell intends to buy a glass-doored freezer to sell it year-round. “To be jerk, it has to have that flavour. All the ingredients are from my farm, except one thing in there, it's a spice, that I get from Jamaica. That's what gives it that authentic smoky flavour,” he says.

Of the many dishes served that are beloved by the Quirky Carrot customers, here are two of their all-time favourites.

Effortless, you say? That doesn't sound like a cycling jaunt around the city. Well, this bike trip is on an electric bike so it really is about as easy as pushing a button! Of course, you can choose to leave the feature turned off on hybrid bikes and rely on good old fashioned pedal power, but when confronted with a steep hill or just when your legs start to get tired the automatic function on e-bikes can be a real life-saver.

Spring is a special time on a flower farm. As buds bloom and the results of plantings months ago when the snow still covered the ground are suddenly revealed. It’s a series of experiments with awfully long gestations. The gardener must wait patiently to see which ones were successful. Sas Long, owner of design studio and flower farm, Floralora Flowers, understands this process. (pages 25-30)

On a frosty night in October, a large black sow prepared for a familiar labour. She had done this before, but this time she had a cosy, clean stall and fresh straw. Most important of all, she had a coach.

You’ll find Ottawa’s oldest pub in the middle of the bustling ByWard Market. Built in 1849, The Chateau Lafayette, is an Ottawa institution affectionately known as "The Laff." In fact, its long history means that it was here before Ottawa was even called Ottawa, and pre-dates the original Parliament buildings and the nearby Chateau Laurier.

Ottawa, Canada's capital city, should be the destination for your next romantic city break escape. What do you need from a weekend getaway with your sweetheart? How about an upscale hotel, a sexy chic restaurant, and fun activities and events that encourage bonding? That will do nicely.

It’s a strange truth that although modern city dwellers live packed together in close proximity, we really don’t know our neighbours at all. Just what do the people that share your postcode do in the privacy of their own homes? What are their family dynamics like? What are they watching on TV? And pray tell, what on earth is going on in their garage?

A scream breaks through the peaceful sanctuary and several bathers look around to see what, or who has created the ruckus. A splash from the cold dip pool and a very quick run to the safety of the sauna reveal that it was just part of the thermal cycle, here at Spa Nordik.

The Nation’s capital is made up of so many unique and interesting neighbourhoods. Each has its own claim to fame, it’s own appeal, it can be hard to choose a favourite. I arrived in Ottawa in 2006, newly married and transported from my native London, UK. My first job was in Old Ottawa South on Sunnyside and this cheery sounding street name was where my new Canadian life all began.

Canada’s capital has all the usual must-see sights of any major city. But just under the surface, this leafy, family-friendly metropolis has more than a few unexpected gems. Home to...