The Muir really has started to feel like home when we’re in downtown Halifax. We stayed there for three nights this week, and really used the heck out of the whole Queen’s Marque complex, before relocating back to Bedford prior to our flight.

Our first day at The Muir, after I got a quiet breakfast downstairs in the morning, we went for a little walk around and then ate lunch at Salt + Ash. Cool spot; nice vibe. And great view, obviously.

• cocktails
  • warm n’ fuzzy: jim beam bourbon, apple cinnamon syrup, lemon juice, cinnamon sugar rim, dehydrated apple slice (ed: this tasted like a goddamn apple pie)
  • crystal crescent #3: blue lobster vodka soda, benjamin bridge piquette, charred citrus, grenadine, soda, drunken cherry
  • north negroni: willing to learn gin, campari, cinzano rosso vermouth, rosemary syrup, lemon juice, egg white, rosemary sprig
• starters
  • jalapeño cornbread w/ tequila lime butter
• mains
  • fried chicken sandwich w/ hot + spicy, beach house dip, nasty sauce, fries
  • lobster salad w/ avocado, potato, green beans, tomato, mixed greens, cider vinegar, boiled egg

That night we met up with Tess + Aravind at Peacock, the wine bar we could practically see from our window. Some of us were not feeling great, so it probably wasn’t the best way to experience the place, but it was still pretty good.

• Food
  • focaccia, rosemary, whipped white bean dip, preserved lemon
  • fresh burrata, red wine marinated figs, birch vinaigrette
  • grilled beet salad, haskap, basil & dill vinaigrette
  • chicken fried halibut cheeks, sugar kelp, oyster aïoli
  • rigatoni, miso cacio e pepe
  • lamb sausage, spiced carrots, harissa, maple, onion relish
• Wines
  • 2020 DeLoach, Heritage, Chardonnay – Russian River Valley
  • 2021 Famille Fabre, Tour de Rieux, Cinsault – Languedoc (x2)
  • 2021 Bodegas Alvarez de Toledo, Mencia – Bierzo
  • 2014 Bachelder, La Petite Charmotte, Pinot Noir, Nuits-Saint-Georges

The next day we woke up, faffed about in the very comfy room, and eventually braved the cold & damp to have lunch at The Narrows. We’d heard how good it was and wanted to see for ourselves…and we weren’t disappointed. A true pub (not like so many of the pre-fab joints littering Halifax) in an old house, with cozy rooms and snug tables and relaxed vibes. We ate fish & chips and a fried fish sandwich and chopped salad and drank cask beer. There was even a nearby crib board so we squeezed in a game. What a cool spot.

After that we walked back across Gottingen; Lindsay had an appointment, so I Ubered back downtown and picked up a capp from the new-ish Java Blend downtown before walking back to the hotel and drying off / warming up.

Lindsay was also out for dinner, so I just wandered downstairs to Drift for dinner at the bar.

• starter
  • Atlantic salmon tartare w/ charred lemon, dill, red onion, capers, brown bread crackers
    • Jean-Marc Brocard Chablis
• main
  • roasted braised Nova Scotia lamb, split pea cassoulet, lamb bacon, mint, turnips
    • DeLoach Heritage Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
• dessert
  • Famille Sichel Sauternes

After some room service breakfast this morning, we got ourselves together and checked out. Shortly after that Patrick met us and we went back to Drift for lunch. It was too gross out to explore much beyond that. Our food was good, but the service wasn’t great. It culminated in someone dropping an avocado-covered knife on Lindsay’s coat, and definitely noticing it, but just…not doing anything about it. Anyway.

The plan for tonight, after one last quick visit with Tess + Aravind, is to order some donair pizza and then try our best to sleep that off before our flight tomorrow.

And it was thus, that we ate our way through the Maritimes.