Overall - 9/10
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
Food - 9/10
Service - 9/10
Ambiance - 9/10

appetizer Duck Lamb pork Review Calgary Seafood Tapas

6:47 PM

This steamed Chinese dish utilizes egg tofu that comes in tubes and can be found in Chinese groceries.  The egg tofu is silky smooth and pairs wonderfully with the minced pork and mushrooms. If you are a fan of soft tofu, then you will definitely love the flavour and texture of the egg tofu in this recipe.

Chinese pork Tofu

1:54 PM

Overall - 7/10
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
Food - 6.5/10
Service - 7/10
Ambiance - 9/10

appetizer Beef Duck Lamb pork Review Calgary Seafood

9:08 AM

The Annual Calgary Food Bloggers Bake Sale is returning for its 4th year.  This year it will be held on Saturday, November 29 from 10 am - 4 pm at the Calgary Farmer's Market.  All proceeds will go towards supporting Brown Bagging for Calgary Kids (BB4CK).   If you live in the Calgary area, please come out and support a good cause and enjoy the delicious baked goodies made by Calgary Food Bloggers, including yours truly.  Here is a little description about Brown Bagging for Calgary Kids:

dessert events local

2:14 PM

Sticky toffee pudding is my all-time favourite dessert.  We've had our fair share of sticky toffee puddings over the years and I was thrilled to find a recipe for it in Jamie Oliver's latest cookbook, Jamie Oliver's Comfort Food.  I decided to give it a try and see how it would turn out and was impressed with the results.  The soft cake once drizzled with the decadent toffee sauce, gives it the perfect pudding texture.  This recipe is definitely for a special occasion or the holiday season as it doesn't skimp on the ingredients that make it so delicious.

dessert Food Network holiday

1:33 PM

There are some purists that say a perfectly seasoned and grilled steak needs no sauce. I on the other hand think that the right condiment can really enhance and compliment the flavour of your meat. A great example is the Argentinian chimichurri sauce made from parsley, garlic, vinegar and olive oil. My version uses fresh cilantro, lemon instead of vinegar and a touch of honey for a sweet, tangy and herbaceous sauce. 

Beef condiments

9:05 PM

Overall - 8/10
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
Food - 8/10
Service - 8/10
Ambiance - 9/10

appetizer Beef dessert pork Review Calgary Seafood

2:58 PM

There is nothing simpler and easier to make for dessert than these one bite brownies.  These mini brownies make it easy to enjoy a sweet treat after a meal without the guilt.  Just be careful, as these delicious treats make it hard to stop at just one!  The chocolate I use is Lindt's Intense Cranberry Dark Chocolate bar, which is tasty on its own and easy to use in baking.

dessert

4:20 PM

Last week, we were invited to the grand opening of Café Blanca, a beautifully designed space in the heart of downtown Calgary. After speaking with the owners that evening, we were told the idea behind this hip independent coffee house is not only to serve delicious, high quality and fair trade coffee but to provide a creative space for a variety of events.

One of the unique features of this coffee house is their use of a siphon.  We were told this technique was first used in Berlin and then refined in Japan.  Being a couple of science buffs, the glass vessels and heating elements reminded us off being in the chemistry lab again but this time instead of noxious chemicals, the final product was some of the smoothest, full bodied coffee we've ever tasted. The use of the siphon definitely removes some of the mouth puckering acidity that you can sometimes get with normal drip coffee. The special blend of Ethiopian, Sumatran and Colombian beans also has a lot to do with the smooth and rich character of the final product. Perhaps the best part of siphon coffee though, is the experience of watching your drink being skillfully prepared by the well trained baristas who literally have the art down to a science.  

Siphon demonstration

Not only do they serve coffee and teas, but they also feature food on their menu.  On this night, they served up a tasting of chef Michael Christen's creations: bocconcini salad, chicken BLT, house smoked salmon and tiramisu.  

Bocconcini salad taster

Chicken BLT

Smoked salmon

We found the food to be very tasty and went deliciously with the siphon coffee and hibiscus tea served that evening.  Café Blanca's uniquely designed space also lends itself to performers with its stage, with the owners planning jazz and comedy nights just to name a few.  If you have the chance to stop by Café Blanca, we recommend that you take your time to enjoy the space, friendly staff and of course, quality food and drinks.

Breakfast coffee events local Review Calgary

3:56 PM

This is my take on a near perfect banana muffin recipe.  The addition of cinnamon, raisins, a sprinkling of crunchy pecans and reduced sugar make them great for breakfast or a snack during the day.

Breakfast dessert vegetarian

6:20 PM

Overal - 8/10
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
Food - 8/10
Service - 8/10

Beef Cheese Review Calgary

9:23 PM

Granted I've never seen potato salad served at a steakhouse but I really do think this is the perfect side to a nice grilled steak. The creamy horseradish, caramelized onions and crispy bacon are all accompaniments that taste delicious on your steak so why not incorporate them into a single delectable side dish!

bacon pork Salad

4:12 PM

Recently we were invited to write a guest blogger article on Calgary's "Top 5 "for Taste Trekkers.  Our love for French food inspired us to write "The Top 5 French Bistros in Calgary", highlighting our favourite bistros to date.  What is your favourite French restaurant?  Do you have a Top 5 list of food experiences for Calgary or your city?

(The fresh produce of sun dappled Aix-en-Provence)

French Japanese local organic Review Calgary

8:42 AM

Overall - 8.5/10
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
Food - 9/10
Service - 8/10
Ambiance - 8/10

appetizer Beef Japanese Korean pork Review Calgary Seafood Sushi

7:01 PM

Overall - 9/10
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
Food - 9/10
Service - 9.5/10
Ambiance - 9/10

Beef beer Japanese Lamb pork Review Calgary Seafood

5:05 PM

What is so special about organic beef you ask? In our opinion the flavour is more intense, the texture is usually more tender and in general it just feels like you're eating beef as opposed to the shrink-wrapped, watery meat that you get at a lower price. I don't want to come off sounding like a beef snob, but when it comes to special occasions where steak is on the menu, you just feel more satisfied going with the higher quality organic beef even if the price is higher. 

Beef local organic Review Calgary

7:44 PM

Overall - 8/10
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
Food - 8/10
Service - 8.5/10
Ambiance 9/10

appetizer Beef Chicken dessert Review Calgary Seafood Thai

4:07 PM

This year in our garden we chose to focus more on herbs and tomatoes as opposed to the beets, carrots and chard that we usually grow. One of our favourite herbs so far this season is the Thai basil. Its similar to regular basil but purple tinged and more fragrant. This recipe makes use of this delicious herb and was inspired by a dish we recently had at Juree's Thai Place. Aside from the basil the other star ingredient has to be the fish sauce which adds a nice fishy savouriness to the dish.

Chicken Thai

7:21 PM

Overall - 9/10
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
Food - 9/10
Service - 9/10
Ambiance - 9/10

appetizer Bison dessert Lamb Review Calgary Salad Seafood

11:02 PM

Chicken is a meat that can be bland and dry if not cooked right.  This recipe ensures that the chicken is moist and flavourful.  Coq au Vin is a traditional slow-cooking French dish that has the chicken braise in typically red wine (can vary depending on the region of France you're in), bacon, mushrooms, onions and herbs (in our case, thyme and sage).

Chicken French

4:25 PM

Overall - 9/10
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
Food - 9/10
Service - 9/10
Ambiance - 9/10

Chicken Pizza pork Review Calgary Salad

5:01 PM

Overall - 7.5/10
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
Food - 7/10
Service - 8/10
Ambiance - 8/10

appetizer Beef Cheese dessert France French holiday Review France Salad Seafood travel

10:46 AM

These beef rolls are the perfect finger food and super quick and easy to make.  Recently we made a half dozen and brought a few on an impromptu picnic lunch.  Cut them into inch sections and you have an appetizer for your next soiree that looks fantastic on the plate.

appetizer Beef Cheese condiments

9:30 AM

Overall - 8.5/10
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
Food - 9/10
Service - 7.5/10
Ambiance- 8.5/10

appetizer Cheese dessert Italian Lamb Review Calgary Seafood

9:07 PM

Overall - 7.5/10
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
Food - 8/10
Service - 7.5/10
Ambiance- 7/10

Beef Chicken Mexican pork Review Calgary

3:35 PM

Egg foo young is a dish that you commonly see on the menu of westernized Chinese restaurants. These little omelettes full of Chinese BBQ meats and fried veggies are so easy to make and delicious that the best versions I've had have actually been made at home. If you can't get out to your local Chinese BBQ restaurant,  any meat can be mixed into the eggs to make this dish.  

Chinese pork

2:39 PM

Overall - 8/10
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
Food - 9/10
Service - 7.5/10
Ambiance- 8/10

Cheese Indian Lamb Review Calgary Seafood

8:37 PM

Overall - 8/10
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
Food - 8.5/10
Service - 8/10
Ambiance 8/10

appetizer dessert Duck France French Lamb Review France travel

4:58 PM

This dessert has many variations in Asian cuisine; the Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese all have their own versions.  The one that you can find in Hong Kong style pastry shops contain either sweetened red bean or peanut, with a sprinkling of shredded coconut.  The flavours of the coconut and red bean are reminiscent of the hot red bean soup dessert served at the end of meals in a Chinese restaurant (if you receive fortune cookies, ask the server for the real Chinese dessert); only at room temperature, making it a perfect treat for the warmer months of summer.

Chinese dessert Japanese vegetarian

2:29 PM

Overall - 8
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
Food - 8
Service - 9
Ambiance - 7

                   

Japanese Review Calgary Seafood

5:47 PM

Polenta is just as easy to make as regular pasta with the added benefit of being able to pump up the flavour with heaps of parmesan cheese, butter and fresh herbs. You can top it with your favourite tomato sauce or in our case, roasted sausages and peppers. 

Cheese Pasta pork

4:48 PM