Marty's World Famous Cookbook
Including some classic Canadian recipes!
In Canada, Marty Curtis, owner of the Muskoka landmark Café “Marty’s World Famous Café” has been called “The Michael Angelo of Buttertarts.” If you thought Canada had zero in terms of culinary offerings- think again. While not as chi-chi as a French Napoleon or a Financier, a buttertart oozes sweet charm from every flaky crumb and in many a cottager’s (and Canadian’s) opinion, Curtis makes some of the best in Canada.
If you’re hankering for more regarding said famous buttertarts, you’re going to have to buy Curtis’ new book: Secrets from the Muskoka Landmark Café - Marty’s World Famous Cookbook amigos because this writer is sworn to that recipe’s secrecy (all one can say is Curtis opts for a century-old Nun’s pastry dough to make his tart pastry drool-worthy). We can however discuss the fun and whimsical recipes set up in chapters that cover: Muskoka Mornings (aka breakfast) and that include Eggs Benedict with melted Brie and Asparagus, Soup or Salad? (light lunches) that include Opa’s Mushroom Soup , the $15 Grilled Cheese, and Marty’s Killer Caesar Salad, or you can skip right to Marty’s Personal Favourites such as Big Ass Salsa or that other quintessential Canadian favourite from French Canada, Poutine. Magnifique alors!
From Muskoka Fishing to Nanaimo Bars
For that perfect Q, you’ve got Barbecue Classics, and Fishin’ Muskoka (including Food Network Canada’s own TV Super Chef Michael Smith’s Favourite Maritime Clam Chowder recipe!). And then, for all of you sweet-toothed types out there, yes, a whole chapter dedicated to the Buttertart (curious yet? You should be!), one chapter on pies (some even savoury- most wonderfully dessert bound) and café sweets such as the legendary Nanaimo Bars. In his intro to the recipe, Curtis writes, “Legend has it that a local housewife created these no-bake squares for a magazine cooking contest, and named them after her city: Nanaimo, British Columbia. She won first prize and put her city on the map for all the best reasons. Thank you to the city of Nanaimo and to the lady who made it happen.” Food Trends echoes the sentiment! But it’s Ingeborg’s Carrot Cake that caught this cook’s eye- with a buttermilk glaze and a cream cheese frosting, this sounds and looks like the ideal way to top off an autumnal meal!
The Zone- Just Get Into It!
And just so you don’t walk away saying: “I bought this book and all I got was a cookbook” (which would be enough for most), you also get some handy Metric Conversion Charts in the back and a bit of Curtis inspiration that he calls: Finding the Zone. Maybe a little out of place in just any cookbook- but as he explains, “The ‘zone’ is the name I’ve given to the place deep inside our soul that harbours our ability to achieve anything we put our mind to. It’s the place that refuses to be invaded by self-doubt, bad memories, lack of confidence and other negative feelings.” The following pages offer up exercises that Curtis says helped him to persevere even when he needed to. Words that resonate: “Whether you think you can or you can’t either way, you are right.” (Henry Ford). With that, and in the words of Marty Curtis- “Cook from the zone” and enjoy, eh!
If the $15 Grilled Cheese Sandwich caught your eye, click here to get the recipe and a mouthful of WOW!
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