The CBC has broken the story that recent messages posted on Twitter under the 'Chef at Home' user name were not posted by Michael Smith, but by an impostor assuming the popular Chef and TV host's identity.

Recent tweets made disparaging remarks about Montreal restaurants, and seemed especially out of character for those familiar with Smith.

(Cult)ure had the pleasure of interviewing Smith last year and he was warm, friendly, open, and every bit the gentleman you see on TV each week.  Check out our interview here, and be sure to spread the world to your friends on Twitter about the identity theft.

Every Wednesday (Cult)ure shares with you one of the internet's best webcomics. 

I haven't spent much time surfing around Gregnog.com yet, but his "I am a Host at The Olive Garden" series of strips are just the kind of slice of life comics that I love. Anyone who has ever worked a crappy job can relate to the 26 strips found here.

Born in Germany, and now based in Ottawa, local photographer Jo Kressin will be exhibiting original photographs (pictured, "seasons over") at the Manx Pub (370 Elgin St.) from April 6 to May 3, 2009. Surprisingly, you haven't yet missed the opening reception, April 19, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Equally surprising, you haven't yet missed the opening reception of "FOUR SIGHT", a Focus-4 Exhibit featuring Ray Piesina; Bill Woodley; Gerald Smith and Claudia Salguero presented by The Foyer Gallery, situated at entrance #1, the Nepean Sportsplex (1701 Woodroffe Ave.) Vernissage will be held on Saturday, April 18, 2009 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. despite the fact that the show ends the next day. 

La Petite Mort Gallery presents *fresh juice* aka "The-Five-Day-One-Night-Stand" a group exhibit featuring small, affordable, and fresh new drawings and paintings by some of the gallery's brand new members, and some ol' timers too. Starting tonight, April 17,  from 7 - 10 p.m., and runs 'til the 23rd.

Lady Evelyn Alternative School is holding its annual Fundraiser and Night Out at Patrick Gordon Framing (160 Elm St.) on Friday, April 17th. There's a silent art auction, and, if that's not enough, there will be door prizes and raffles sponsored by Raw Sugar Café, Shanghai Restaurant, Wabi Sabi, Workshop Boutique, Donald Kwan, Canteen Art Shop+Gallery, The Green Door Restaurant, Oz Café, Domus Café (courtesy of Tracy Arnett), The Singing Pebble Book Store, HBK Concepts Salon, Star Gymnastics, Camp Fortune, Cuckoo's Nest Designs, and many others. The fundraiser runs from 8:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. (Silent Auction bidding open from 8:00pm to 10:30pm).

Continuing the burgeoning tradition of having an art opening any ol' time, Pira's first exhibition of paintings at The Atomic Rooster (303 Bank St. between Somerset West and Maclaren) opens tonight 7 p.m. until 10 p.m. The show runs until May 10 2009. I went to the Rooster once a little over a year ago and remember it as decent. Perhaps this is a good reason to return.

The Cambridge classics scholar Mary Beard, who will be appearing at Carleton tonight to give a talk on ancient Roman humour, recently posted an item on her blog about a show recently broadcast on TV in Britain, in which the celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal created and served a meal inspired by Roman dishes.

The meal included a pig stuffed with sausages, cut open after it was wheeled into the dining room, to give the appearance of a pile of intestines falling out; and an attempt to recreate garum, the rotten-fish sauce that was found in many Roman dishes.  (Overall, the whole thing looks pretty disgusting. But it's nice to know someone's around to give this stuff a try, just so the rest of us don't have to.)

Side note: Blumenthal has recently been in the news for another reason. His restaurant "The Fat Duck," which was voted the best restaurant in the world in 2005 and holds three Michelin stars, was shut down for over two weeks due to an outbreak that led to over 400 diners complaining of diarrhea and vomiting. It opened again on March 12, and was instantly filled again.

Last week, with my brother and his wife in town, we went out for a big group dinner at Caffe Ventuno, which is a restaurant attached to the Negozio Nicastro at 1355 Wellington Street West, in Westboro. It was a remarkably pleasant experience. The atmosphere is casual, as is to be expected for a setting that's half-restaurant, half-grocery store. The food is fairly simple Italian fare, with lots of pizza and pasta and seafood dishes, at reasonable prices. But it all tastes fantastic - everything is fresh and colourful and flavourful - the wine is great, and the service is convivial but professional.

We had a couple of appetizers, one of calamari (done perfectly, not chewy at all), and the other an assortment of meats (prosciutto and, er, something else), cheeses (bocconcini and asiago), and marinated vegetables (olives, artichoke, roasted red pepper, and mushrooms). Both were extremely satisfying, as was my veal with artichoke & capers, and spinach on the side, with roasted vegetables.

I'll definitely be back soon.

"play" is Stephen Beckta's second restaurant in Ottawa, following up on "Beckta," which opened in 2003. "play" is more casual, and less expensive, but still a great experience. I was there on three separate occasions, the first two just killing time after work, and the third was a Saturday night dinner.

 The dinner involved an appetizer of san daniele prosciutto with fig compote, followed by a duck confit with white beans and sherry reduction (fantastically tasty), a light salad, and a plate of three different kinds of cheese to finish up. The atmosphere was lively but not too noisy, and the service was impeccable - prompt and friendly and never overbearing.

A bartender told me that they're going to work on making the bar area feel a little more intimate - high ceilings with industrial pipes currently give it a bit of a "cold" look - which should make it even nicer.