This pizza was created for the YYC Pizza Week 2015 Blogger Challenge and it's a fantastic one at that.  It is our opinion that you can never have enough duck; enter the 'Duck Duck Deuce' pizza. This doubly decadent duck creation is the perfect way to herald in the cooler months.  It features earthy morel mushrooms, ricotta, tender duck confit and duck rillete-foie gras quenelles atop a foie gras spread.  The sweet and tangy fig-balsamic reduction and fresh pea shoots balance out the richness.  This luxurious pizza is surprisingly easy to re-create as we document below.

YYC Pizza Week is an annual fundraiser for Calgary Meals on Wheels where restaurants across the city enter into a friendly competition for best pizza in several categories.  We have submitted our "lucky" duck pizza in hopes of victory. Please visit the YYC Pizza Week website for full details and vote for us!

Blogger challenge Cheese Duck events Featured French Pizza YYC Pizza Week

8:26 AM

We may be a little biased but we think we have a good collection of fall recipes here on the blog that we've posted over the last 4 years. In anticipation of the official start of fall, which is this Wednesday, we thought we'd share our top three fall recipe picks:

Butternut Squash, Sage & Cheddar 'Pizza'
What better way to use squash that are in season than in a 'pizza'?  The nutty butternut squash, sharp cheddar cheese and woody sage on a buttery, flakey puff pastry crust are the perfect fall combination.  Check out the recipe here.

Indian Spiced Cream of Carrot Soup
One of our favourite things to harvest from our garden are carrots.  Nothing beats the taste of an ultra sweet home grown, organic carrot.  This recipe takes advantage of the root vegetable harvest by spicing things up with garam masala, coriander, fennel and mustard seed.  Combined with the gentle hum of coconut milk in the background, you've got an extraordinary fall soup.  See the recipe here.

Apple Braised Pork Shoulder
This recipe comes from a time when we used an iPhone 4 to take photos; however it doesn't detract from the fact that this is an amazing dish that utilizes the fall harvest of orchard ripened apples.  The sweet apple paired with the melt in your mouth fennel braised pork is a warming (and winning) combination.  Check out the recipe here.

What is your favourite fall recipe?

Cheese Fall Indian List Pizza pork soup

10:17 PM

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

Beef Cheese dessert local Pasta Review Calgary Seafood soup wine

10:50 PM

Spring has sprung and I've been inspired by the beautiful asparagus that is currently in season.  Used in this rotini dish with creamy ricotta and flavourful bacon, it is not only gorgeous to look at but delicious to eat.  On this occasion, I've used Catelli's Healthy Harvest Ancient Grains rotini and the slightly firmer texture compliments the asparagus perfectly.

Cheese Featured Italian Pasta pork

7:11 PM

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

appetizer Beef Cheese Chicken family friendly Review Calgary Salad Seafood soup

7:34 PM

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

Cheese dessert Review Banff Seafood

3:13 PM

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

Beef Cheese Review Calgary

9:23 PM

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

appetizer Cheese dessert Italian Lamb Review Calgary Seafood

9:07 PM

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

Cheese Indian Lamb Review Calgary Seafood

8:37 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

Overall - 8
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Food - 7*
Service - 8
Ambiance - 9
(*Food rating takes into account value)

Cheese Pasta pork Review Calgary Salad Spanish

10:00 PM

This delicious recipe is easy to make, all you need is some time.  When sautéed over a low heat, the thinly sliced onions caramelize and develop a sweet savoury flavour that only requires simple additions to round out the flavour: sage, garlic and parmesan cheese.

appetizer Cheese vegetarian

5:37 PM

I'll admit that I quite enjoy my pasta loaded up with sauce. However every so  often I do like my pasta simple. In this recipe, the spaghetti is simply coated in the delicious oils rendered from the chorizo sausage and freshly grated parmesan cheese. The secret ingredient is a splash of good balsamic vinegar to cut through the richness of the sausage while adding a hint of sweetness.

Cheese Italian Pasta pork

6:13 PM

When a special occasional rolls around, this steak recipe is perfect because its delicious, easy to make and looks great on the plate. The combination of lemon, shaved parmesan and olive oil really enhances any cut of steak.

Beef Cheese

10:02 PM

This is a quintessential autumn recipe that takes advantage of the butternut squash that are in season.  Add some simple ingredients like cheddar cheese, aromatic sage and you have a delicious "pizza" that can be made in under an hour.  The flavours are rich, nutty and earthy- perfect for a chilly fall evening.

Cheese organic vegetarian

8:39 PM

Here is a savoury crepe recipe that can be served pretty much any time of day from brunch to dinner. The crepes are made with green onion and filled with sharp cheddar cheese and sautéed spinach.

Cheese vegetarian

8:17 PM

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

Cheese Chicken French Review France Seafood travel

3:30 PM

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

Cheese Duck France French Review France Seafood travel

10:45 PM