East Coast Food Stories

09/04/2026

Creating a stunning, seasonally-inspired cheese board is easy with the artisanal lineup from Annapolis Fine Cheese. Made with 100% Nova Scotia milk, start with a wheel of rich, creamy Blomidon Brie to build around. Add a generous wedge of firm ripened Valley Gold (similar to Gruyère), then place small bowls of fresh cheeses: original, herb & garlic, and truffle. Garnish the board with your favourite crackers, sliced crusty baguette, fresh herbs, and in-season fruits and veggies. Add locally-made spreads, jams, jellies, and preserves to round it all out.

This gorgeous end-grain cutting board from Larch Wood Canada was the perfect backdrop to create an impressive-looking spread with minimal effort. Supporting local has never looked (or tasted) so good!

09/02/2026

It may be September, but patio season is definitely not over yet! 🍂🐾

September can be one of the best times to grab your pup and head to a patio. The days are still warm, the evenings are a little cooler, and there’s plenty of patio season left to enjoy!

Downtown Halifax is a veritable playground for dogs and their humans, with dozens of dog-friendly patios to choose from. Each pub, restaurant, beer garden, and hotel patio offers something a little different, so we hit up five very different spots with our favourite pup, Roscoe.

🐾 Stop 1: Garrison Brewing Seaport Hall

A laid-back, dog-friendly brewery patio at the Seaport that’s great for a flight of local beer, people-watching, and making a few new dog friends.

We cooled off with a colourful flight of Garrison beers, while Roscoe got his own locally made Malty Dog treat (and plenty of fresh water!).

🐾 Stop 2: The Brown Hound Ironstone

Tucked away in a flagstone courtyard off Lower Water Street, this cozy, UK-style pub patio feels like a little hidden gem in the middle of downtown.

We paired their excellent chicken wings with a Big Spruce sour and an Island Folk Elderflower Cider, while Roscoe looked on hopefully.

🐾 Stop 3: The BG

A lively waterfront beer garden with harbour views, cold local drinks, casual snacks, and some of the best people and pup-watching along the boardwalk.

We enjoyed Lake City Cider and Nine Locks Dirty Blonde alongside a loaded nacho dog and buffalo chicken bites, perfect casual patio fare for a waterfront afternoon.

🐾 Stop 4: Stone’s Throw Patio at the Marriott Harbourfront Hotel

A peaceful waterfront patio for local seafood, drinks, and watching the boats go by, plus a great place to start or finish a boardwalk stroll.

We settled in here with calamari, a summery hummus bowl, and seafood tagliatelle, paired with a Caesar, a pint of Good Robot Diablo, and Moonrise Ridge fresh strawberry cider.

🐾 Stop 5: LevelBar Patio at the Prince George Hotel

A surprisingly tucked-away courtyard filled with greenery, comfy seating, and great happy hour specials right in the heart of downtown.

Happy Hour called for a Propeller Pilsner and Lake City Cider, plus noir-ancini, waterm

07/07/2026

One bus, four delicious stops, and a whole lot of cheese! 🧀

I had such a fun day joining Taste of Nova Scotia and Dairy Farmers of Nova Scotia for a guided tour along the new Nova Scotia Cheese Trail. We spent the day meeting local makers, enjoying incredible food and drink pairings, learning about Nova Scotia’s growing cheesemaking industry, and sharing one delicious culinary adventure together.

Our stops included Local Source Market, Bistro 22, Masstown Creamery, and That Dutchman’s Cheese Farm. We sampled cheeses from each of the seven cheesemakers on the trail: Annapolis Fine Cheese, Fox Hill Cheese House, Knoydart Dairy Farm & Cheese House, Roma Cheese Ltd., Masstown Creamery, Skye Glen Creamery, and That Dutchman’s Cheese Farm.

Throughout the day we enjoyed delicious Nova Scotian cheeses paired with refreshing local beverages:

🧀 Grand Pré Wines Sophie! Sophia! (non-alcoholic) with Skye Glen Creamery’s Fromage Blanc

🧀 A flight of: Coldstream Clear Nova Scotia Light, Chain Yard Urban Cidery High & Dry, and Gaspereau Vineyards Tidal Bay with lunch at Bistro 22. I ordered the seafood chowder and lobster roll... yum!

🧀 Sea Level Brewing Port in the Storm Porter with Masstown Creamery’s Cheese Curds in Poutine

🧀 Luckett Vineyards Unoaked Chardonnay with Masstown Creamery’s Cheddar

🧀 Planters Ridge SEK with Roma Cheese Ltd.’s Burrata

🧀 Bulwark Cider Apple Ginger Cider (non-alcoholic) with That Dutchman’s Cheese Farm’s Dragon’s Breath Blue and Fox Hill Cheese House’s Smoked Gouda

Thank you to Dairy Farmers of Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia Culinary Trails, and Taste of Nova Scotia for a fun tasting adventure!


Dennis Pierce Fox Hill Cheese House Knoydart Dairy Farm Local Source Market Masstown Creamery and Cafe 🥛 🧀 🍦 Skye Glen Creamery Annapolis Fine Cheese That Dutchman’s Cheese Farm

06/29/2026

Cookbook Club Italian style in a rustic valley barn 🍅

06/25/2026

I’ve enjoyed getting to know Chef Athul during some fun photoshoots at White Point Beach Resort. I can see how he inspires everyone around him with his passion for serving delicious local food!

06/19/2026

So excited to see what Bessie North House has on the menu tonight! Bright, fresh spring flavours 🌿Always the most amazing meal.

06/18/2026

One of my favourite projects each year 🥰

The 2026 Taste of Nova Scotia Culinary Guide is packed with incredible restaurants, producers, artisans, culinary trails, recipes, and food adventures from across the province. I love photographing the local recipes, working alongside Taste of Nova Scotia members to bring their delicious creations to life.

Pick up a copy and start planning your next Nova Scotia culinary adventure!

06/13/2026

Yum!

Fresh, vibrant, and packed with local flavour 🥗✨

Comeau’s Sea Foods Ltd.' smoked salmon salad with lemon dill vinaigrette is the perfect meal for summer entertaining. Featuring rich smoked salmon, crisp greens, and a bright dressing, it’s a refreshing dish that comes together beautifully with local ingredients. 🥬

Find this recipe and more at https://tasteofnovascotia.com/recipes/comeaus-smoked-salmon-salad-with-lemon-dill-vinaigrette/ 🔗

📸: East Coast Food Stories

05/23/2026

Another sunny Saturday and I’m thinking back to how fun Open City was two weeks ago!

You can visit these businesses any time of year, but here are a few photographs from my Downtown Halifax adventure to inspire you.

It was one of those perfect spring days where everyone just seemed happy to be out exploring the city. People wandering between shops, popping into galleries, trying special Open City takeout treats, and spending the day discovering local businesses.

After photographing Open City for 15 years, I still love what the event represents: getting people out into the community and encouraging them to support the small businesses that help make this city feel vibrant and interesting year-round.

Already looking forward to next year!

05/01/2026

I’m honestly still trying to process this one. I’m heartbroken that we are saying goodbye to Obladee.

A warm light on a cold night.
A table shared with friends.
A glass of wine that turns into two… then three… because no one is quite ready to leave.

Obladee created that kind of magic. It was never loud or flashy, just deeply thoughtful, intentional, and full of heart. A space where the details mattered, where local producers were celebrated, and where you always felt taken care of.

So many of my favourite memories in this city happened here. Conversations that went on for hours, celebrations big and small, and those simple nights that somehow became unforgettable.

It’s also been one of the places that shaped me creatively over the years. Photographing in that space always felt special… the light, the warmth, the beautiful plates paired with thoughtfully curated wines.

Some places just stay with you — this will always be one of them.