Showing posts with label local. Show all posts
Showing posts with label local. Show all posts
Overall - 9.5/10
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Food - 9.5/10
Service - 9.5/10
Ambiance - 9/10
Click to add a blog post for Q Haute Cuisine on Zomato
10:50 PM

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:
2:14 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.

Cafe Blanca on Urbanspoon
3:56 PM
Taste Trekkers Guest
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)
8:42 AM
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. 
7:44 PM
We were contacted recently by SkiptheDishes to try their service.  SkiptheDishes is a food delivery network, offering online ordering for delivery/pickup from a variety of restaurants.  We were curious as to how delivery from a higher end restaurant that you wouldn't necessarily associate with take-out, would compare to the sit-down experience.  So after exploring our options on the website, we decided on LeVilla Restaurant...
LeVilla Restaurant on Urbanspoon


9:40 PM
Overall - 8/10
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Food - 9/10
Service - 8/10
Ambiance - 8/10
 Clive Burger on Urbanspoon
8:00 PM
In our books, Kingsland Farmer's Market is still the best in the city. It might not be as trendy or pretty as some others, but what it lacks in aesthetics it makes up for in quality vendors, a welcoming atmosphere  and what we think are some of the best food stalls in town. Here is a recipe for an easy to make and delicious chopped salad that makes the most of the fresh ingredients we found this weekend.

9:20 PM
Overall - 9/10
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Food - 9/10
Service - 9/10
Ambiance - 9/10
Selkirk Grille at Heritage Park on Urbanspoon
3:53 PM
Overall - 9/10
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Food - 9.5/10
Service - 9/10
Ambiance - 9/10
downtownfood on Urbanspoon
Cheddar cheese ice cream- say what?!
3:54 PM
Overall - 7.5/10
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Food - 7.5/10
Service - 7/10
Ambiance - 8/10
Vendome Cafe on Urbanspoon

5:28 PM
Overall - 7.5/10
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Food - 8/10
Service - 7/10
Ambiance - 7/10
Farm on Urbanspoon

11:13 AM
Overall - 9/10
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Food - 9/10
Service - 9/10
Ambiance - 9/10
NOtaBLE on Urbanspoon

8:39 PM
Overall - 8.5/10
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Food - 9/10
Ambiance - 7.5/10
Service - 8/10
Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co. on Urbanspoon



3:49 PM
Dear wonderful readers,

We know you've been stalking us online for a while now (the stats say so, and apparently y'all really like Chinese Braised Pork Belly.  Just saying.)  Well, it's time to stalk us in real life and maybe even say hello while supporting a great cause.

The hubby and I will be doing some baking for the Calgary Food Blogger Bake Sale- Holiday Edition, benefitting Calgary Meals on Wheels.  We will be making one of my favourite desserts: COCONUT TARTS! And yes, they are THAT GOOD.  This Hong Kong style dessert will be my own mother's recipe and hopefully you'll like them as much as we do.  Deets are as below:



 Help us raise money for a great cause and stuff your face with yummy blogger-love-infused baking while you're at it!  

 Happy Holidays,

 Chrissy & Darrin

 P.S. Check out the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/109927729172045/ for a list of other participating bloggers.
5:50 PM
Spragg's Meat Shop has multiple locations around town including one at the Kingsland Farmers Market. This family run farm raises some of the best pork we've ever tasted. It must have something to do with the fact that their hogs are free range and allowed to roam in spacious pastures. Although a bit more expensive we've found that when we purchase high quality meat rather than the 'family packs' at large supermarkets we end up enjoying the flavours more. Here is a great slow cooker recipe that highlights the deliciously tender pork with the classic Chinese aromas of five spice and star anise. 

8:26 PM
If you've been following our blog recently, you'll know that our favourite farmer's market in Calgary is hands down the Kingsland Market. Not only does it have the best food options, but also a great community feel and unique vendors. One of those vendors that we had the pleasure of meeting was the maker of Yatu Gourmet Magic, an Ethiopian spice paste perfect for meats and veggies of all kinds. It's predominately a tomato based sauce but kicked up with a number of different spices including what we think is cinnamon and cardamom. Here is a roasted chicken recipe that really highlights the deliciousness of this spice blend.

8:18 PM
Overall - 8.5/10
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Food - 8/10
Ambiance 9/10
Service - 8/10

 Muk a Muk Bistro & Lounge on Urbanspoon

9:21 PM

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


Boxwood on Urbanspoon


3:33 PM
Overall - 8.5/10
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Food - 8/10
Service - 8/10
Ambiance - 9/10
213, 211 Bear Street, Banff Ave, Banff, AB.
The Bison on Urbanspoon


We recently had the opportunity to take a little holiday away to Banff and Lake Louise after a very busy holiday season.  Fortunately we are only an hour away from Banff which means The Bison Restaurant is a place we'll be able to come back to more often.

4:20 PM
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