East Coast Living Summer 2020

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LIVING Anniversary

Inspiring home life in Atlantic Canada

Waves of nostalgia THE SOBEY FAMILY RECONNECTS A FAMILY LEGACY WITH A THROWBACK NOVA SCOTIAN COTTAGE

SUMMER 2020 | $4.95 eastcoastliving.ca

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DARTMOUTH, NS 902-457-7468 | PICTOU, NS 902-485-1990 | HALIFAX, NS 902-455-2870 | BRIDGEWATER, NS 902-543-2457 DIEPPE, NB 506-857-8790 | SAINT JOHN, NB 506-654-1303 | ST. STEPHEN, NB 506-466-3220 | ST. JOHN’S, NL 709-597-2599

contents

SUMMER 2020

Pottery

by Rachel Morouney

30

11

Art that tells a story

THE LIST

FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

11 Décor: The ties that bind

18 Cover: Waves of nostalgia

6

Discovering art that tells the story of our unique moment in time

12 Projects: 20 years of change

How a new cottage reconnects the Sobey family legacy at Nova Scotia’s Chance Harbour Beach

23 In depth: The perfect pick

with Jonathan Legate

Versatile and flavourful, local apples are a favourite in East Coast kitchens

Our favourite designers, decorators, and artisans look back over the last two decades

14 Hobbies: DIY felt succulent

planter

A fun project to add a splash of colour to your space

16 DIY: Tune up your bike

for summer

EATING IN 26 The thrill of the grill

Grilling fruits and veggies—not just for dinner time!

Ready your wheels for the road with these DIY tips

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SUMMER 2020

Editor’s message

Turning DIY skills to mask-making gives our editor a productive pandemic outlet

28 Libations: True terroir

Atlantic producers put local spins on the world’s oldest beverage

29 Buying guide 30 Last look: The wheel

keeps turning

From B.C. to Scotland to Japan, New Brunswick potter Rachel Morouney shares her artistic journey

quality built

with purpose

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Welcome

home Summer 2020

M

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PHOTO: BRUCE MURRAY/VISIONFIRE

We’ve been serving the Greater Moncton area for 14 years.

y sewing machine stayed in its box for about a decade until COVID-19 hit our region. In my 20s, I sewed and knit a lot, but over the years, I grew busier and my hobbies fell by the wayside. As the pandemic heralded a slower life closer to home, my old pastimes began to call.

I’m not alone. Instagram and Facebook are packed with images of new home bakers showing off their sourdough, novice gardeners asking for advice, and returning sewers, like me, highlighting their latest creations.

It started when I saw a number of other countries’ health authorities suggesting wearing fabric face masks.

Due to the state of emergency in Nova Scotia, a quick jaunt to Fabricville wasn’t in the cards, so I made my first attempts using a pillow case that lost its mate. My prototypes were passable, crooked stitching and all.

By the time I grew confident in my skills, Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer, recommended wearing fabric masks in areas where social distancing is difficult.

Weeks of lockdown were solitary and at times lonely, but cutting, pinning, and sewing masks occupies my hands and my mind. I start with whole cloth and finish with masks. This simple task offers a tangible finish, unlike this uncertain period of our lives.

Several weeks into my project, I posted the pattern I’d adapted from a few others on our website and learned I wasn’t alone in my return to sewing. The step-by-step blog post was one of our most read posts this year. Find it by searching “masks” on our site.

This edition of East Coast Living was largely written before COVID-19. Lately, our lives have been dominated with difficult news, and I hope you’ll find a brief escape in these pages.

In this issue, we visit a historic cottage in Chance Harbour, N.S. that’s been a summer getaway for the Sobey family since 1943 (page 18). We discovered hobby artist Erin Hodge and how her painting is both an escape and a connection to this unique moment in time. (page 11). The List focuses on DIY as we talk to interior consultant Jonathan Legate about the changes in design trends he’s witnessed over the last decade (page 12) and learn to tune up your bike at home (page 16). Our Eating In sections reminds us that we can fire up the grill for any meal (page 26) and introduces mead, a historic beverage that’s making a come back (page 28).

In April, we welcomed intern Olivia Malley to our team, albeit remotely. A new grad from the University of King’s College journalism program, Olivia gets the last word in this issue with a profile of Rachel Morouney (page 30), a potter from Port Elgin, N.B. We wish her well as she starts her career.

We’d love to see what projects you’re working on this summer. Tag us in your shared photos on Facebook and Twitter and tell us why it matters to you.

Kim Hart Macneill, Editor ecl@metroguide.ca EastCoastLiving East Coast Living Magazine

SUMMER 2020

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On our cover: Rob and Monique Sobey bring their love for Canadian contemporary art and appreciation of family history to life in their Chance Harbour, N.S. summer retreat. On page 18.

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SUMMER 2020

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DECOR

The ties that bind Halifax artist Erin Hodge reveals in her latest painting what it feels to be Nova Scotian right now

BY CRYSTAL MURRAY

A

rtist Erin Hodge would usually be drawn to her paints and canvas when her spirit was happy and joyful but in the midst of a time where the word “usually” has been dispensed for adjectives like; unprecedented and uncertain she found herself creating as a way to soothe

her soul.

When the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a new way of life for Canadians, Erin found herself settling into the darker side of the new realities.

“I became totally consumed with the news of the pandemic. I just sat there day after day, news update after news update. All I did was sit, I needed to do something more positive to consume my time and take my mind of the things that were happening around the world,” says Erin.

Nearing four weeks into her family’s isolation at her home in Spryfield, N.S., Erin decided that it was time to get back to her painting.

Most of her artwork is representative of photograph’s that she takes during her travels to different Nova Scotia shorelines. She is drawn to the ocean and fishing communities like Canso where her family has roots. She selected an image she remembered taking during a drive to Peggy’s Cove last summer when she pulled over to look at a couple of fishing boats. On one of the boats there was a pile of ropes of various colours and weights. While she was interested in the textures and perspective of the coils of fishing ropes on the boat deck when she started to paint, she started to feel something different about the meaning of the painting that she titled “The Ties that Bind.”

Not long after she started the painting Nova Scotian’s were stunned to learn about the tragic events in Colchester County.

“I continued to paint when Nova Scotia was in the midst of the most unspeakable tragedy we have ever faced, I continued when we began to lose so many of our most vulnerable to COVID-19, I continued when we lost 6 of our brave military in the helicopter crash, and I still continued when we lost a little boy. It almost seems too much. But, with each rope I thought about all of you, your mothers and fathers, husbands, wives,

Fishing ropes that captured the attention of Erin Hodge transform into a symbolic gesture of togetherness in her latest painting she titled the Ties that Bind.

sisters, brothers, sons, daughters, friends, and neighbours, says Erin in her artist statement as she explains her painting.

“More than one rope is stained with tears. The more I painted I realized that this is what we are, we are vibrant and colourful, we come in different sizes, colours and shapes,” she adds, explaining that these ideas often define her work.

As Erin painted, despite feeling the heaviness of the pandemic and local tragedies she was also finding a little light inside herself and the beginning of a little lift that compelled her to continue. While she acknowledges the fact that the new briefs continued her painting gave her an escape and she was starting to feel a little bit of the happiness that would have normally brought her to her home art studio.

“We are all in different places, but we are all intricately connected, woven tight within the strands and strings and rope of each other.

This is what we are in Nova Scotia, this is what it feels like to be us. We start everywhere and end nowhere together. This is to everyone we lost. This is to everyone touched by those losses. May we forever be the ties that bind.”

With one art piece completed during her time at home, Erin says that she intends to start another piece any day now and has made an effort to spend less time getting caught up in the incessant stream of information that had originally consumed her. She has selected a photo of a couple of fishing boats that will be her reference point. She says she didn’t choose the image for any specific reason she always tries to capture a perspective that not everybody would see.

See more of her work on her website erinahodge.wixsite.com. o SUMMER 2020

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20 years of change: with Jonathan Legate

BY CASSANDRA MACKAY

Our favourite designers, decorators, and artisans look back over the last two decades

A

s a child, interior consultant Jonathan Legate started spending his allowance on architecture and design magazines. At 19, he opened his first home accessory store.

Not long after, he opened a vintage furniture business, and in 2008, he established an independent consultancy.

He aims to create homes that express his client’s vision by building a strong foundation and relationship with them. He describes his style as contemporary and traditional.

HOW DID YOU FIRST GET INVOLVED WITH EAST COAST LIVING?

PHOTO: STACEY VANBERKLE

I believe my first time working with East Coast Living was when it featured a fabulous, completely custom penthouse. That was about 17 years ago and that condo still has elements that would be considered unique and fresh today.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE EAST COAST LIVING STORY? Creating Christmas decor for the front door and entrance of a very special house. I used fresh greenery all harvested, with permission, from the neighbourhood including evergreen, holly, ivy, berries, and cones. It had a distinctly maritime flavour with antique glass fishing buoys. It’s even more special considering the house was torn down a year later. It felt good to have preserved the memory of this beautiful home in print.

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WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO BE A DESIGNER?

WHAT’S CHANGED IN DESIGN IN THE LAST 20 YEARS?

It’s been my raison d’être since the time I knew what a house was. My first drawings were always of houses and furniture. As a young child I funnelled all of my allowance into design magazines and I spent hours and hours taking in every detail.

Trends come and go, but quality and simplicity last forever. Go with what your heart loves then throw in some things that are more of the moment. A home that reflects its occupants is always in style.

SUMMER 2020

PROJECTS An open plan home with a box bay dining area with built in banquette serves as a family dining room, hang out and entertainment space. My personal style is eclectic, I love mixing periods and letting them play off one another

I think that caring about the environment and considering your impact on the world is very relevant now and will continue to be as we all work together to keep our planet safe for future generations.

We use this at home when we make decisions to buy locally-made things, items of quality that we don’t consider disposable, furniture you’d want to pass onto the next generations. I use the Saarinen Tulip table in a lot of my designs. It’s a modern classic design as relevant today as it was when it was designed in the 1950s.

WHAT HOT NEW TREND DO YOU LOVE? I am so thrilled to be using wallpaper again at client requests. You can really create a personal style and a wow factor with

wallpaper. And it’s easier than ever to remove, some are even peel and stick so apartment dwellers can make a splash too.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE SPACE TO DESIGN? Family homes. I love the idea of creating the background for people to live their lives.

A beautiful home that’s functionally welldesigned improves your life. An efficient layout means less time dealing with everyday things and more time to enjoy your family and your space.

I love creating special corners for everyone to enjoy, from a cozy window seat to a loft in a kid’s bedroom, a bathroom escape, a dining table to celebrate around.

Every family member is considered including the pets. I want my clients to have a home that feels welcoming to be in, a place to come home to and a place to create memories. o

SUMMER 2020

PHOTO: STACEY VANBERKLE

WHAT’S ONE TREND YOU THINK WILL ALWAYS STAY RELEVANT?

The simplicity of the Saarinen tulip table gives lots of visual and physical space for the antique Louis 16th chairs. A Danish light fixture floats from the 150 year old 10’ ceilings while contemporary art brings warmth and attitude.

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DIY Felt succulent planter A fun project to add a splash of colour to your space STORY AND PHOTOS BY LAURA NIGHTENGALE

P

lants and greenery add warmth and coziness to a home, bringing a space to life. Little plants are a great way to dress up empty corners of bookshelves or window sills or to design a beautiful centerpiece. Unfortunately, I also have a tendency to kill live plants. Even the ones that are supposed to be very hardy! So instead, I create cute plants and succulents out of wool felt to decorate the little spaces in my home. They are simple to make and require no maintenance, they are quite literally impossible to kill!

The key to making felt florals and succulents is not to worry about perfection. The leaves are never all identical, and that’s part of the charm of this little succulent. Once the leaves are all assembled, the imperfections blend together to create a very pretty and realistic effect.

I always use felt that is either a wool/rayon blend or is 100% wool. Those fibre contents create the sharpest lines and the finished product looks much cleaner and more polished. Acrylic craft felt is too fuzzy and doesn’t yield the best results.

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1

2

3

HOBBIES

STEP 1: GATHER MATERIALS

STEP 2: CUT OUT RECTANGLES

STEP 3: SHAPE THE LEAVES

You will need a 9”x12” sheet of green felt, preferably wool blend or 100% wool. You will also need a glue gun, fabric scissors, polyfil (or wool) stuffing, a 125ml mini mason jar, twine (optional), ruler, air-erasable marker, grey craft paint that will adhere to glass and clear top coat, a paintbrush and sandpaper.

Use a ruler and air-erasable marker to mark and cut 30 rectangles out of green felt in 3 sizes. 10 large rectangles 1 ¾”x1 ¼” each, 10 medium rectangles 1 ½”x1” each, and 10 small rectangles 1”x¾” each.

Using sharp fabric scissors, shape each rectangle into a leaf. Begin about 1/3 of the way in along the bottom of the rectangle and guide the felt through the scissors, curving to the edge of the rectangle and then up to a point at the top center. Flip the leaf over and repeat along the other side leaving a flat bottom in the center 1/3 of each leaf.

4

STEP 4: MAKE A SPIRAL Glue the smallest 10 leaves into a spiral. Add a small dot of hot glue to the bottom right edge of a leaf and overlap the bottom left edge of another leaf on top, angling it slightly downwards. Continue with the remaining 8 leaves to create a spiral that coils on itself.

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STEP 7: ADD LARGE SIZED LEAVES Similarly, glue the large leaves in 2 layers of 5, positioning each leaf point to lay in between 2 leaves from the previous layer.

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STEP 5: ROLL THE CENTER SPIRAL

STEP 6: ADD MEDIUM SIZED LEAVES

Add a short line of glue along the base of one end of the spiral and begin to tightly roll the leaves on themselves. Make sure to keep the flat bottom edge lined up as this will force the leaves to splay out slightly. Hold in place until the glue sets. Continue adding small lines of glue and rolling the spiral until you reach the end.

Space 5 medium leaves evenly around the base of the rolled center. It’s ok if they overlap slightly. Glue them in place using a small amount of glue at the base of each leaf. Layer the next 5 medium leaves so that they are each in between 2 leaves from the first layer.

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STEP 8: PREPARE THE JAR Paint the jar with 2 layers of grey paint. Allow the paint to dry completely then sand the jar lightly so that some of the glass peeks through. Apply a top coat to seal and add a piece of decorative twine around the top of the jar if you wish.

This little felt succulent planter is sure to add a little extra joy to your space!

SUMMER 2020

STEP 9: ASSEMBLE THE PLANTER Stuff the jar lightly with polyfil stuffing, leaving about 3/8” of space at the top. Add a generous amount of glue to the bottom of the succulent and position it on top of the stuffing. The succulent should sit down into the jar enough that the stuffing is not visible, and the leaves will hang over the edges of the jar. o

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TUNE UP your bike for summer Ready your wheels for the road with these DIY tips

BY ROBYN MCNEIL

I

t's finally time to get back on your bike after winter's long freeze. Before you do, there are a few simple tasks that will make your ride road ready. We asked several local bike shops which maintenance you can preform at home and when to take it to an expert.

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DIY

1

START WITH A CLEAN SLATE Keeping your bike clean and well-oiled is vital. Not only will it perform better, but the act of cleaning helps you stay aware of minor maintenance issues, extend the life of your bike, and save you money.

“Nothing runs faster or smoother than a clean bike,” says Kyle Wheaton, manager of Bike Works in Saint John, NB, a shop that served the local community for more than 23 years.

To clean your bike, you’ll need: plenty of rags, brushes for getting into nooks and crannies, bike wash, degreaser, and chain lubricant. You can buy all three at your local bike shop, or use diluted dish soap in place of bike wash.

Clean the frame, chain, rims, sprockets, and derailers (the part your chain travels through to switch gears). Next, lube the chain, brake arms, brake and derailleur levers (on your handlebars) and the spots where any cables connect to other parts.

2

CHECK FOR WEAR, MAKE MINOR ADJUSTMENTS

3

Turn your focus to individual components.

“If you are storing your bike over the winter, you have to check your tires because they will probably be flat. And if it was stored outside, the freeze and thaw can affect it too,” says Erin Knowles, of Bike Again, a volunteer-run, DIY bike shop in Halifax. The 20-year-old shop lends tools and bike repair guidance for a small fee and sells parts at cost.

Other than checking your tires for air, you’ll want to look for cracks in the sidewall (the side of the tire). Ensure your bike seat is steady and comfortable, the brakes have enough meat on the pads to stop your bike, and that there are no dead links in the chain that will keep the gears from switching smoothly.

“Just give it a look over,” says Knowles. “And, of course, you can always come here.”

TAG IN PROFESSIONALS FOR SIGNIFICANT REPAIRS If you come across necessary repairs or adjustments during cleaning or the parts you can do many of them yourself. While most folks feel confident to adjust a seat or change a tire, more complicated jobs are often a different story.

“Some people might adjust their brakes, install their chain, or set up their derailers,” says Jenna Molenaar, co-owner of Halifax Cycle and Guitars. But, when it comes to reinstalling a bottom bracket or overhauling a hub, they visit the shop for the expertise of Molenaar and her business partner Roger Nelson.

Many bike shops offer learning sessions where you can learn to preform simple repairs, like adjusting brakes and gears and fixing flats at home.

It’s time to reap the benefits of your hard work by zipping down the street or exploring back roads. The best way to keep your bike road-ready is keeping it clean and wellmaintained all year long. o

Buying a new (or new to you) bicycle The most important consideration when buying a bike are use and fit. There’s a big difference between riding the streets of hilly Halifax and taking backwoods adventures in Atholville, N.B. “We see lots of people on bikes that are way too small and others on bikes that are way too big,” says Bike Work’s, Wheaton. “The proper fit is very important. If you’re going to invest in a bike, you want to make sure it’s comfortable to ride, whether for an hour a month or an hour a day.”

To calculate the right height for you, measure the inseam of your pants. For a city bike, multiply your inseam in centimetres by x 0.685, for a mountain bike multiply by 0.66, and for a road bike multiply by 0.70. Convert your total to inches and you have your frame size. o

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In 1943, Frank Sobey was a hardworking businessperson with six grocery stores bearing the family name. He was also a theatre owner and mayor of Stellarton.

Life with his wife Irene and three boys was comfortable. The concept of cottaging was fairly new. A second home was once only a privilege of the upper class but during and after the Second World War as a more stable middle class emerged, Pictou County families like the Sobeys sought an idyllic little escape by the ocean.

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COVER STORY

Waves of nostalgia How a new cottage reconnects the Sobey family legacy at Nova Scotia’s Chance Harbour Beach

BY CRYSTAL MURRAY PHOTOS BY STEVE SMITH, VISIONFIRE

W

hen Monique and The couple rented out the cottage Rob Sobey decided to for the first two summers, giving completely rebuild them time to evaluate the project. the 1930s era cottage The initial plan was a complete Rob’s grandparents restoration but the vintage structure owned they had two objectives. was revealing signs that time and They wanted to stay faithful to weather had taken a toll. Ancient the original design and they were wiring was another issue. After a little determined to curtail the disruption soul searching, they decided that to their beach lane neighbours. rebuilding was the best strategy.

The two-storey cottage with a “We still wanted to build something walk-out basement rests on the that would minimize the break with the crest of a gentle slope that banks on past,” says Monique. “We kept the same the Chance Harbour Beach near the Above: Monique and Rob Sobey welcome you in for a foundation and basic style of the home. visit at their summer retreat on a cozy cottage lane. end of Lewis Road in Pictou County, Our neighbours really appreciated this Nova Scotia, on the shores of the and during the build and since many Left: Monique looks forward to the day that they can Northumberland Strait. It’s been a have stopped by with comments about open their cottage to extended family and friends. Last tight knit summer community for summer Monique shared a glass of wine with friends Cori how happy they were that we respected Bennett and Lori MacKay. over 80 years. Properties rarely sell; the original design that still fits in with most often families pass them on to the neighbourhood.” the next generation. Several of the surrounding properties have become Also being respectful that most of their neighbours were seasonal, permanent homes but the majority are still summer only dwellings.

Monique and Rob decided to wait until after Labour Day to start Rob’s grandparents, Frank and Irene Sobey bought the cottage in 1943 construction. On Sept. 17, 2017 the contracting company led by Tim and the cottage stayed in the family until roughly 1978,” says Monique.

Goswell began the tear down as the family bid farewell to the original It passed through the hands a couple of other owners. A few years ago, Sobey summer haven.

Rob had a growing interest to reconnect with this piece of the family It had been out of family for several decades so there was no history. He wanted to bring the storied cottage back to its former back to memorabilia to collect but contractor Tim Goswell made a unique its former self. discovery. He was locating wiring and tearing away Gyprock when By the time the cottage sold out of the family, Rob’s own parents had he found the location of the old telephone and party line. Etched in built a summer home in a neighbouring beach community. He and his pencil on the raw wood panels were the phone numbers of family siblings spent their summers roaming the beaches of Black Point and and neighbours and notes about the weather on various days and Sinclairs Island. “When Rob approached the family who owned the summer celebrations. cottage and asked if they would be interested in selling, they were not “Tim cut out the pieces, we had them framed and we gave them quite ready at the time,” Monique recalls. “So Rob asked them to let him to Rob’s Mum and Dad for Christmas a few years ago,” Monique says. know when they were. A few years passed and in the spring of 2016, we “We wanted Rob’s dad to have a piece of the original cottage from had a deal.” when he was a child.”

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Clockwise from top left: This summer will bring more opportunity for quiet pass times on the deck.

Let the sun shine in. The main living area is a wide open, casual space, creating an easy flow.

The principal bedroom maintains the rustic, earthy tones that the couple enjoy in their surroundings and lend a little more serenity to their own personal space.

A pathway to the past was always at the heart of the cottage rebuild. The walkout basement creates an extra level of beach view and space to still enjoy the outdoors on a rainy day.

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SUMMER 2020

Tim Goswell has become a trusted professional working on several projects with the couple. “He can anticipate our probable design element,” Monique explains. “We trust his commonsense approach and candor and coming up with ideas.”

Tim believes that working with clients like Monique and Rob who have a clear vision of what they are looking for makes his job so much easier. “You have a direction on what you are trying to achieve and can spend your time planning on how to make it happen, rather than secondguessing what the client is expecting,” says Tim. While the footprint of the 2,500-square-foot cottage didn’t change the couple did decide on Tim’s recommendation to raise the foundation several inches to accommodate rising sea levels. “As our climate changes our weather seems to be getting more severe,” says Tim. “We seem to be getting higher tides and more erosion every year. You must try everything possible to protect your house and property from the changing climate.”

Some municipalities have restrictions on building close to the ocean and he expects local regulations to get tighter. “The Nova Scotia government has introduced a new bill dealing with the construction around our coastlines,” Tim says. Government hasn’t released details yet but he thinks it will be similar to Halifax’s requirement of a minimum vertical setback of 3.8 metres above sea level.

Nova Scotian decorator Deb Nelson also worked very closely with the Sobeys from their initial days of the build. Over the years, Deb had also become one of Monique’s go to resources for décor and style ideas. Beside the collection of finishes for the Sobey home Stellarton and the new cottage, Deb and Monique have curated a special friendship.

COVER STORY

HIDDEN TREASURES Because the cottage had been out of family for several decades there was no memorabilia to collect however a welcomed discovery was made prior to the demolition.

When contractor Tim Goswell was locating wiring and tearing away Gyprock he found the location of the old telephone and party line that ran into the cottage.

Etched in pencil on the raw wood panels were the phone numbers of family and neighbours and notes about the weather on various days and summer celebrations.

Contractor Tim Goswell cut out the pieces and Rob and Monique we had them framed and gave them to Rob’s parents for Christmas a few years ago. “We wanted Rob’s dad to have a piece of the original cottage from when he was a child,” says Monique.

“Monique… knows exactly what she wants,” Deb says. “She is so easy to work with. That makes my job so simple.”

While Deb’s job as a decorator is to work with clients and accommodate all styles, Monique believes that they work so well together because they have similar tastes. “We both like very relaxed and traditional but with a bit of a modern spin,” she says. “When we thought about the interior of the new cottage a modern farmhouse theme would be the easiest way to describe it.”

Goswell’s team worked throughout the quiet season at the shore.

By spring, construction neared completion. “Building with such a tight timeline was tough but very important for everyone,” says Tim. “Our summers are very short as everyone knows and people want to enjoy their cottages without having construction around them all summer.

Rob and Monique didn’t wanted to disrupt the neighbourhood during the summer season.”

They missed their initial target of a Victoria Day Weekend finish but

by July 1, 2018, the reimagined summer home was complete and ready for the next chapter with Rob, Monique and their growing family adding to the story.

Before and after photos reveal how closely it mirrors the previous dwelling. True to their vision, they maintained the exact footprint and square footage. The exterior was modernized with a soft grey shingle with black trim that softens into the landscape. Like its predecessor there is an expanse of windows and doors on all three levels facing the water, but they installed a floating glass railing to give a new modern edge with an almost unobstructed vista.

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While the cottage is a nod to the legacy of Rob’s grandparents art work was curated to reflect their own passion for Canadian contemporary art and pieces of Monique’s Acadian heritage. A painting by Nova Scotia Artist Eleanor King, now based in NYC, fills the wall at the bottom of the stairs leading to another family space in the lower level.

While keeping in step with original architecture, Monique and Rob played with the interior layout and opened up the floor plan on each level. Looking though the backdoor window you can even get view of the seascape on the other side. Fun and function were important considerations.

“Frank and Irene did a lot of entertaining.

We wanted a space where we honoured that tradition with family and friends,” says Monique.

The main floor is an open invitation from the first steps under the pergola leading down from the parking area to the threshold of a small entry in the simple country kitchen. A generous island grounds that space with a few stools (that tuck in neatly when not in use) where folks can gather over morning coffee or a glass of wine before dinner. The kitchen finishes are unfussy—much like Monique’s own style: fresh but refined. A small print of a lobster (“Anatatomie Du Homard Acadien,” a gift from one of her friends), hangs above a shelf of small antique knick-knacks. It’s a nod to Monique’s Acadian heritage.

In another corner a print of the “Birds of Bermuda,” referencing the family’s connection to the island where Rob’s great great-

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grandfather served as an English soldier before moving his family to Canada over a century ago.

A small guest bedroom and bathroom swings off the kitchen, the only partitioned walls on the main floor. In the centre of the living space, an elongated sofa and dining table stretch the space towards to the front of the room where another sitting area offers a front-row seat to everything happening on the water.

“I tried to repurpose a few items that we had in my home in Stellarton,” Monique says. “The coffee table that Deb had procured from an architect in Chester left my living room at home and is now in the cottage. I love my long narrow dining room table. I purchased it from Angela’s Home Décor in New Glasgow. I think it was actually made by her brother.”

Natural light bathes the cottage. The inclusion of white shiplap on the interior walls dramatically enhances the reflection of the sun and keeps the atmosphere bright and cheerful on gray days. “In the wintertime it is almost blinding in the daylight with all of the interior white, the white of the snow on the ground, and the ice in the Strait,” says Monique.

Deb says that the shiplap was one of the first things that Monique knew she wanted. As soon as the floor plan was ready Deb went to work on the wish list.

“She knew she wanted teak accents and we brought that into the kitchen and the fireplace. She also wanted white oak floors to create comfy cottage vibe. Rob and Monique are not uptight fancy people. There is nothing in the space that is really high-end or formal.

It’s meant to be a cottage: a space everyone can enjoy.

They have a collection of Canadian contemporary art. While they tried to select pieces that dovetail with the nautical theme, Monique says they also picked pieces that just looked so great against the bright white shiplap.

Mixed with a few works from local artists like Pictou County native Luke Naylor, they selected pieces from several artists who have been nominated for or won a Sobey Art Award.

A framed remnant of a nautical flag by artist Jason de Hann is at the top of the stairs, a testament to the past and leads down to the lower level where a large format drawing titled “Wormhole” from Nova Scotian artist Eleanor King tunnels to the future. The two pieces illustrate the ongoing theme of blending past and present.

Character and charm can sometimes be hard to achieve in a new build. They are elements that are earned over time, but Rob and Monique have proven that even when you dismantle the bricks and mortar of the past you can still preserve a sense of place and connection to what was there before…and not upset the neighbours. o

IN DEPTH

THE

PERFECT PICK

Versatile and flavourful, local apples are a favourite in East Coast kitchens

BY OLIVIA MALLEY

SUMMER 2020

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“Don’t be told what is good but find out what you like and go for it” —Barry Balsom

A

pples grow nearly everywhere except for Antarctica. Yet the Maritime Provinces are what Barry Balsom calls a, “hotbed for apple growing.”

Balsom and his family have run Arlington Orchards in Arlington, P.E.I. since 1993. Their orchard came to be when they noticed wild apple trees dot their property. After some research, they realized they had a good chance of having apple trees flourish.

When it comes to picking apples for yourself, Balsom recommends following an old French poem’s advice. “When the apple is born the blossom faces the sun,” he says. “So when it is time to pick the apple turn the blossom to the sun,”, meaning if the apple is ripe it will roll off into your hand. Another way to tell if an apple is ripe is by cutting it in half and seeing if the seeds are brown.

Yet some people like unripe apples, Balsom says people eat certain apples way before he would. “Experiment and find out what you like,” he advises. “Don’t be told what is good but find out what your taste is like and go for it.”

Due to the abundance of local apples, stores carry a wide variety.

Honeycrisp, Gala, Ginger Gold, Melbas, and Cortland are among the apples that grow well on the East Coast. If you are looking for a tasty spread or a sweet dessert, check out Arlington Orchards’ crab apple jelly or apple crisp recipe on page 25.

When baking with apples, Guy Gautreau of Verger Belliveau Orchard recommends using an apple with more acidity. “Acidity in my view makes apples much more interesting in any sort of cooking and baking because it will help balance out the sugars,” says Gautreau. “We see a lot of differences in preferences among age groups but most people prefer sweeter apples.”

Verger Belliveau Orchard was established in 1932 in Memramcock, New Brunswick. The business has been operated by the same family for most of its 80 years of operation. What started as 100 apple trees has now grown to over 70,000.

To avoid bruising your apples, Gautreau recommends treating the apple carefully. It is also good to note that some lower pressure apples, like MacIntoshes, bruise more easily.

For the orchard’s U-pick, Gautreau is able to plant some wackier varieties of apples, kinds grocery stores don’t often have room for. Yet when it comes to picking what kind of apples he will grow, it’s a gamble.

“The trees are there for decades, so you need to figure out what people want to eat for years and years and years,” says Gautreau. “It is not like choosing a variety of carrot you might want to test and if you get it wrong the consequences aren’t huge. You can just change it the next year.”

They currently have 25 different varieties of apples, some which they use for cider and wine. To make your own apple beverage, try the Nova Scotia Food Grower Association’s recipe for hot mulled cider on page 25. o

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IN DEPTH

Crab apple jelly 1. Take your crab apples and put them in a pot. The Balsom family use Dolgo crab apples. You’ll need 10 cups of juice, which usually requires about 30 apples.

2. Add water just until you can see it then boil the apples on low to medium heat until they are soft.

3. Take the pot off the stove and let it sit for several hours, overnight will work well.

4. Strain the apples into another container, be careful not to squeeze the apples while you drain because that will make the jelly cloudy 5. Pour 10 cups of juice into a heavy pot and bring it to a boil over medium to high heat for 5 minutes. Then add 8 cups of sugar and boil for another 20 mins.

6. Take off the heat and ladle into canning/mason jars.

Makes about 10 or 11 250-ml portions, for less adjust the apples to sugar ratio accordingly. For every one cup of juice, you will need roughly ¾ cups of sugar.

Hot mulled cider INGREDIENTS 2L apple cider ¾ cup brown sugar 2 Tbsp butter 1 stick cinnamon 6 whole cloves

DIRECTIONS Bring cider to a boil in a large pot, add remaining ingredients, simmer until sugar dissolves. If desired, cinnamon and cloves can be tied up in cheesecloth before adding to the liquid - this will make removal easier. Hot Buttered Rum Option: Add 1 oz. of rum to a 4-oz. serving of Hot Mulled Cider.

Apple crisp INGREDIENTS Crumble ½ cup flour ¾ cup instant oats ½ cup packed brown sugar 1 tsp cinnamon 1/3 cup margarine or butter Apple 6 cups of sliced apples ¾ cup white sugar 2 Tbsp water 1 Tbsp lemon juice Dash of cinnamon nutmeg

DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.

2. Mix flour, instant oats, packed brown sugar, cinnamon, and margarine or butter until crumbly.

3. In a separate bowl mix sliced apples, white sugar, water, and lemon juice. If desired, you can add a dash of cinnamon nutmeg.

4. Put the apples in the bottom of a greased 9-inch pan.

5. Sprinkle the crumble on top.

6. Cook for 40 minutes until tender, you want to try and avoid it becoming mushy.

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The thrill of the grill

Grilling fruits and veggies—not just for dinner time!

BY ALAIN BOSSÉ

G

rilling vegetables isn’t new—the Aztecs were grilling corn as far back as the 1500s—and I’m willing to bet that any of you who have a barbecue, a charcoal grill, or a fire pit have grilled vegetables at one time or another. So instead of focusing on what you’re grilling, I’m going to talk about when you’re grilling it. I’m guessing that many of you grill vegetables to enjoy with your steak at dinner time: perhaps you throw a few cobs of corn on the grill; zucchini is another popular choice for popping on the barbecue.

Personally, I love to grill plump juicy tomatoes that are ready to pop in your mouth and tantalize your taste buds; but is dinnertime the only time you’re using your grill? What about breakfast time? There’s nothing better than taking a few fat slices of a bright orange sweet potato, basting with good quality olive oil, seasoning with salt and pepper, adding to a hot grill and leaving them until soft and caramelized. Once you reach that perfect stage, you just slide the slices onto your breakfast plate, top with fresh avocado and a perfectly poached egg; and if you’re like me and you enjoy a bit of heat, add a little Sriracha sauce on top.

Try elevating your lunchtime salads by adding roasted grilled vegetables; even lettuce can be grilled, and two salad offerings that I love to throw onto the barbecue are radicchio and romaine. There’s something

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in that smoky charred flavour that turns a plain, humdrum salad to something really special.

Dessert is the perfect time to grill fruits. Yes, really! But along with dessert offerings, I particularly like stone fruits, such as peaches, plums, and nectarines, grilled as fabulous accompaniments to chicken and pork.

Try putting some pineapple drizzled with a bit of olive oil on the barbecue; you will have a dessert that will leave people completely satisfied. A bit of fresh grilled pineapple topped with some French vanilla ice cream and a bit of homemade salted caramel sauce is a joy to behold. And while we’re on the subject of grilled pineapple, let’s talk about burgers: if you thought pineapple was strictly for dessert, then you’re missing out. If you’re barbecuing burgers, especially those made from white meat such as ground chicken, turkey or pork, consider adding a slice of grilled pineapple to the fixings for a gourmet treat.

There are a few tricks to grilling fruits and vegetables for the best results. The first is assessing your vegetables to determining how long they will take to reach the desired stage of doneness. This is especially important if you’re grilling more than one type of veggie: denser vegetables such as potatoes will take longer than something more delicate like asparagus. Always start with the vegetable that will take the longest

EATING IN

Grilled radish and asparagus salad

JACKSON PRODUCTIONS INC

Serves 4 2 lbs radishes, trimmed 1 lb asparagus, trimmed 1 medium red onion, chunked ¼ cup olive oil 1 tsp sea salt ½ tsp fresh ground black pepper ½ cup Maple Grapefruit Vinaigrette ½ cup pumpkin seeds ½ cup crumbled feta cheese 1. Heat grill to medium high. Combine radishes, asparagus and onions in a bowl, add olive oil, salt and pepper and toss well to combine. Add vegetables to a grill pan or mesh and place on the barbecue.

2. Grill until a rich brown colour appears, tossing the vegetables from time to time.

3. Assemble dressing while vegetables are grilling.

4. Place grilled vegetables back into the bowl, drizzle with the dressing and top with pumpkin seeds and feta.

Grapefruit and maple vinaigrette Makes 3 cups 2 tsp Dijon mustard 1 clove garlic, finely chopped 1 ½ cups vegetable oil ½ cup maple syrup 1 cup fresh grapefruit juice Sea salt and pepper, to taste

JACKSON PRODUCTIONS INC

to cook: begin grilling over direct high heat and then move to a cooler spot on the grill and allow them to finish there. Consider roasting your vegetables in foil packets, use skewers, or try a grilling basket—all of these give you more control.

Also, cut your vegetables so that they will cover the grill and not fall through the grates, and you also want your vegetables relatively close in size to ensure that they take approximately the same amount of time to cook. Be generous in the amount of olive oil you use on the veggies or fruit; not only does this give added flavour but the oil will also keep your produce from sticking to the grill. The nice thing about grilling vegetables is that you can do a week’s worth at once rather than having to deal with doing them daily. I find they reheat beautifully, but as a bonus, cold grilled vegetables and grilled fruit are just as delicious as when they’re hot, and are especially nice in the summer when the temperatures soar.

Grilled summertime medley Serves 4 6 medium potatoes, washed and quartered 1 medium white onion, thinly sliced 2 tbsp olive oil 1/4 cup cold butter Salt and pepper 1 pineapple, peeled, cored and cut into lengths 12 grape or cherry tomatoes 1 medium zucchini, cut in 1 inch chunks ¼ cup olive oil ½ cup fresh basil, chopped 1. Place potatoes and onions on a large piece of foil and toss with olive oil.

2. Dice chilled butter and scatter over potatoes. Top with onions, salt and pepper. Seal foil forming a flat envelope. Place on upper rack and cook for 30 minutes.

3. Open foil and pierce potatoes, if hard re-seal and continue to cook, if fork tender reseal and set aside.

4. Toss pineapple, tomatoes and zucchini in the olive oil and grill over medium high heat, turning until heated through and the natural sugars have caramelized.

5. Remove from heat, cut pineapple into bite size pieces and toss pineapple, tomatoes, zucchini and basil with potatoes. Add more salt and pepper to suit your preference.

Originally published in Saltscapes Good Taste Spring/Summer 2018

1. Whisk all ingredients together until emulsified.

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LIBATIONS

TRUE TERROIR

Atlantic producers put local spins on the world’s oldest beverage

BY MIKKI GORMAN

D

ating back some 9,000 years, mead was an ever-present staple of ancient societies until the Middle Ages, when hop- and barley-based beers overtook it as the go-to drink for the peasant and mercantile classes. As trade and technique advanced, accessible domestic and foreign alcohol overshadowed locally-made mead and it nearly disappeared entirely. But a collection of Atlantic Canadian meaderies are bringing it back to the foreground. “[It is] true terroir” said Charles Lipnicki, who runs Prince Edward Island’s first meadery (Island Honey Wine in Wheatley River) with his wife Laura. “If you want to taste a specific region then you will not find a truer barometer of time and place than honey. The honey used in mead shares the subtle nuances of not only a crop, but the riverbanks and meadows and hedgerows of the area.”

For Jen Holthom, who owns and Midgard Meadery, in Scotch Lake, N.S., just south of scenic Bras d’Or in Cape Breton, mead was a natural extension of her bee business.

“It’s very complicated, bee keeping,” says Holthom. “It’s very interesting, and food culture hasn’t really caught up to it,” despite it once being practically a dietary staple.

Not long after she began bee keeping at Scotch Lake Farms in the early 2000s, Holthom expanded into mead production, hoping to stake a claim in the region’s small mead market.

In 2012, she changed the business name to Migard Meadery, referencing the Norse word for Earth. Norse culture and mythology were closely tied to the sweet drink, such as the legendary Mead of Poetry, from which all arts were thought to have been inspired.

Due to the high cost of honey and and naturally low-output from honey-wine, it takes about seven kilograms of honey to produce about 19 litres of of mead, you won’t find Midgard in provincial liquor stores. This restrains the company’s growth, but batches always sell out far ahead of time, thanks to local and online orders. “It’s a small mom and pop operation,” says Holthom.

“I come across people who are way more interested by my product than I am,” jokes Nathanial Jarvis, who co-owns Ursan Meadery with his brother Jack in New Ross, N.S. While those unfamiliar with mead may be hesitant at first, Ursan’s offerings are so popular at the Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market that the meadery often sells out. The company is currently expanding the meadery so it can produce more with each batch.

“It’s a really fun industry to be a part of.” o

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So now that you’ve been stung by the honey-mead bee, what will you drink it with? The answer depends on the season.

A summer mead is lighter in flavour and colour, often with a more floral bouquet and hints of regional berries. These make excellent and refreshing choices for desserts.

Try Ursan’s Blueberry Mead with a light summer cake or sweet crepes, Midgard’s apple-scented Yggdrasil with a classic homemade apple pie and vanilla ice cream, or Island Honey Wine’s award winning Wildflower Mead with a selection of local fruits glazed in a light syrup.

For the headier and heavier days of fall and winter, try classic pairings like Midgard’s black currant-based Niflhiem with slow roasted lamb or goat, just like the Norse thunder god Thor himself is storied to favour, or Ursan’s Sweat Mead with a honeyed-ham or glazed chicken, or Island Honey Wine’s fall specialty, Apple Cider Mead, with an earthy autumn stew and and thick-crusted, whole grain bread for sopping.

WHERE TO FIND MEAD The mead trend is a slow grower, so you won’t find it at most provincial liquor stores. Try the meaderies mentioned above, and these spots:

New Scotland Brewing 91 Alderney Dr., Dartmouth, N.S. This brewery produces almost as much mead as beer. Watch for original flavour combinations like Highland Stinger, which features strawberries and peppercorns.

Island Honey Wine Co. 820 Millboro Rd., Wheatley River, P.E.I. This sweet treat you will find at the provincial store. Call the meadery for seasonal hours. A visit to the farm is worth the drive.

Pollen Angels by Sunset Meadery McLeod Hill, N.B. You will find these sparkling meads, alongside a few others, at 30 ANBL locations across the province.

BUYING GUIDE

Buying guide Now that you’ve seen all the quality products and services available in Atlantic Canada, here’s a guide to help you access these products for your own home.

All Seasons Sunrooms (p. 6) allseasonsnrooms.ca

Glubes Audio Video (p. 31) glubes.ca

Advocate (p. 3) 902-455-2870 advocateprinting.com

Hearthstone Inn (p. 29) hearthstonehospitality.ca

Nimbus Publishing (p. 22) 902-455-4286 nimbus.ca Sunspace Sunrooms (p. 13) 1-800-755-3365 sunspacesunrooms.com

Jackson Grills (p. 32) jacksongrills.com

Attica (p. 10) 902-423-2557 attica.ca

LakeCity Woodworkers (p. 5) 902-465-5000 lakecitywoodworkers.com

Comeau’s Sea Foods (p. 2) comeausea.com

Metro Home (p. 9) 902-894-5536 metropei.com

East Coast Living Subscriptions (p. 8) eastcoastliving.ca

Thermador/BOSCH (p. 7) 1-800-567-3855 venmar.ca The Stone Depot (p. 9) 902-835-0741 thestonedepot.ca Red Door Realty (p. 6) 902-499-1323 reddoorrealty.ca

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LAST LOOK

The Wheel Keeps Turning From B.C. to Scotland to Japan, New Brunswick potter Rachel Morouney shares her artistic journey

BY OLIVIA MALLEY

F

or over 40 years, Rachel Morouney has made a living making pottery. In Port Elgin, N.B. she still uses her first pottery wheel, which she, her husband, and her father-in-law made in 1979. Her road to becoming a potter was not textbook; it didn’t start in a classroom or as an apprentice. It started with a chance trip to an open studio.

In Vancouver in her early 20s after leaving high school at 17, she was invited to some open studio time at a pottery place. A hands-on person who enjoys trying new things, she accepted the invitation and found instant gratification. “It was sort of a wow thing for me,” says Morouney. “If you put your hands in the right place you might get a pot. And I did.”

After Vancouver, Morouney and some friends headed for Europe. Landing in the Netherlands, she biked to England, then spent the summer

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in Scotland. Along the way she couldn’t shake the pottery bug. She would often stop at little pottery shops she discovered on her travels.

“Wherever I was I watched potters if they would let me,” she recalls. “You know you always have to be pretty respectful of people’s spaces. You have to step lightly and be interested and ask the right questions.”

In the coming years she went to Fort Smith, N.W.T. to visit her brother. There she found a potter who let her watch him work and help with tasks like firing the pottery. “He gave me space out back in the woods where there was a kick wheel and as much recycled clay as I could throw,” she says. She met her husband during the yearlong stay, then they moved to New Brunswick where his family lived. At first, she couldn’t make a living off just pottery so she worked minimum-wage jobs. In her spare time, SUMMER 2020

she would use her wheel, which at the time was on her in-law’s porch.

Being self-taught, it took Morouney a long time to perfect her craft. “It takes years,” she says. “It takes dedication and lot of mistakes to get it right, at least right for you.”

She says people don’t have to spend a lot of money to get started. She kept costs low by using secondhand tools, saying the money she made selling pots went to feeding her family and not into paying back equipment debt.

Now she’s a full-time potter. A year spent in Japan heavily influences her art, as does older Chinese pottery. She says she doesn’t like making pottery without decoration. Morouney sells her art at crafts shows and at the Sackville Craft Gallery, which she runs with 14 other artists in Sackville, N.B. o

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