Cowtown Epicurean

The Himalayan

2011-07-03T12:34:00.000-07:00

I wrote about The Himalayan once before. It was the first time I had been there, and it was only a few days after they had opened. The experience I had that day was not the best and I wrote, “This little Nepalese restaurant has an Everest sized mountain to climb before they are at a level to compete with the great restaurants in that area.”

After I wrote my honest, yet slightly negative, post the messages started rolling in. You can read the post and some of the comments here. I had to remove some of the comments because they were crossing the line into hate mail. One blamed me for the worlds obesity epidemic. I started to think I should give this small Nepalese restaurant another try.

In the last few months I’ve visited The Himalayan twice. I must say that it seems that every time I go the food and service gets better. Today when I arrived Sanjay (the owner) greeted us and made us feel right at home. We both decided to get the buffet and were pleasantly surprised at the selection. It was mostly new items with a few favourites.

The buttery naan bread was luxurious and tender, the perfect vessel for the Everest chicken which melted in your mouth. The green salad was fresh and went perfectly with the sweet mango sauce. I mentioned in my last blog that the dessert was lacking, well on this trip they had a to-die-for strawberry rice pudding that I could eat all day. A perfectly executed coconut and semolina cookie and some salted fresh fruit. I think that Himalayan is really doing a great job translating their food culture into Canada friendly treats.

I have not met a more hospitable host in Calgary. Morgan (my Girlfriend) asked him about the music we were listening to, and he not only told us a brief history of the artist but gave her a C.D. (on the house) of Tibetan music. If I wasn’t so full I would have ordered some of their Chai tea but I had to save that for next time.

I want to correct my statement about the up hill battle that The Himalayan restaurant faced; The Himalayan has set themselves apart from all the other restaurants in the city by offering great food, and impeccable service at minimal cost. They have situated them selves on top of the mountain in a tasteful and impressive way and have shown the tenacious spirit of the Nepalese people. Thank you Sanjey for sharing your wonderful culture with us.

Epic Mealtime

2011-05-28T09:57:00.001-07:00

What do drunk French Canadian cooks do on their days off? Epic mealtime gives you some insight into that question. Fortunately these guys decided to video tape the debauchery and post it on Youtube. I love Canada. The crazy canadian online … Continue reading →

xPosted on May 25, 2011 by Michael Buffett

Quynh Vietnamese Cuisine

2011-05-02T11:16:00.000-07:00

Today I was browsing Urbanspoon.com to find a tantalizing new eatery. I quickly realized I still hadn't been to Quynh. Urbanspoon have them rated as the number one Vietnamese restaurant in Calgary. If you follow my blog, you'll know I have a soft spot for quality Asian cuisine. My girlfriend Morgan and I quickly jumped in my truck and headed to the North East.

Quynh was the nicest looking Vietnamese restaurant I have been to in a long time. The paintings and decor were interesting, and I especially loved the tacky "lobster lights" on the front wall. The service was quick and friendly. I was not sure how good our servers English was, but since all the dishes were numbered it didn't really matter.

We ordered the fried quail, and shrimp sausage on sugar cane; and two orders of vermicelli. The quail was packed with flavour, however it was a bit tough and they had not removed the bones. I serve quail in my restaurant all the time, and it only takes a few seconds to take out the unwanted bones. The shrimp sausage was beautiful. The tender shrimp wrapped around the sweet sugar cane with spicy dipping sauce. This was easily my favourite dish of the day.

Both of our vermicelli bowls were average. My chicken looked as if it was cooked in advance. All the ingredients were there, I just didn't feel the love in this dish. I think that there are enough great Vietnamese restaurants by my home in the South West that do a much better job. Overall I think Quynh was good, but I wont be making any more special trips. I'm gonna give Quynh four drippy teapots out of five.

Cidex Signature Homes are not what they seem...

2011-04-29T10:55:00.000-07:00

Sorry I have not been posting as much as I should. I've been in the process of buying a home. Unfortunately, Cidex Signature Homes tried to sell me a dump. They renovated the home and did not address any of the major issues. The leak in the roof, The furnace that leaks carbon monoxide and the windows that are rotting behind the beautiful new drywall. A five hundred dollar home inspection saved me tens of thousands of dollars. We are giving them a chance to rectify the situation, but if you would like to see a bit of the home inspection I’ve attached it. If you want to see the lipstick they slapped over it in the show home look on Attainable Homes web page here

http://www.attainablehomescalgary.ca/projects/deerview-village

A Romantic Banff Vacation on a Budget

2011-04-26T16:49:00.000-07:00

Banff on a budget.

The glorious mountainscape that is Banff is the perfect backdrop for a romantic getaway. However, if you had to rate the affordability of a Banff vacation on a scale of one to four dollar signs it would easily amass the full four $$$$. Every year my girlfriend Morgan and I go to Banff for Easter, but this year we are in the middle of purchasing our first home. We are trying to pinch pennies, but instead of canceling our trip we decided to simplify our spending portfolio.

Before traveling to Banff, after we packed and cleaned the house, we sat down and planned out some of our money saving meals. Both Morgan and I have spent sufficient time in banff, Enough to effortlessly list off some of the best deals in town. The challenge would be putting this into practice while still appreciating the luxuriousness of the mountain culture.

At inception our trip was frugal. We ate lunch at home in Calgary before our hour drive and we brought snacks. We arrived at the Juniper Hotel around four PM. For under three hundred dollars we booked two nights. A lavish king sized bed, an unimpaired mountain view and an outdoor hot tub are just some of the reasons we love this charming inn. After check in we were quite hungry and decided to have an early dinner, followed by some white wine in the hot tub.

The Old Spaghetti Factory was our first penny-wise choice. Our meal was under twenty dollars per person and included soup or salad, an entree, and ice-cream for dessert. Morgan had the house salad with french dressing and I had the caesar. Morgan had the chicken parmesan and I had the veal; we both had the spumone ice-cream. For a little Italian franchise the Old Spaghetti Factory served up some flavorful dishes. We both really enjoyed the large portions and perfectly cooked food. The service was both fast and friendly. We received our thirty-six dollar bill, left a nice tip and headed next door to the liquor store to get some wine.

Knowing a little about wine can really help when trying to have a special weekend on a budget. In a restaurant you would have to spend close to a hundred dollars to get a great bottle. At a wine depot, if you know what to look for, you can get a bottle of similar quality for around twenty dollars. I usually look for France. They have a history of making great wine so even a cheap bottle can be something special. We decided that we wanted a white wine for the hot tub, and great white wine region in France is Alsace. The white wine from this area is easy to spot. It will come in a german style bottle with a long neck. Also, it will most likely have a german sounding name. We picked a nineteen dollar Gewurztraminer made by Pfaffenheim(see what I mean?). If your red wine drinker or a pinot-file like me, look for a bottle from Burgandy.

After a stunning bottle of wine, a huge dinner, and an hour in the hot tub Morgan and I were out like a light. We arose with the sun at about six AM and very hungry. We decided to have breakfast at Phil’s. Phil’s is a breakfast chain that neither of us had been to before. It looked just like any other breakfast place, and we quickly received some coffee and water. The service was quick and the food was alright. Morgan had whole wheat french toast, I had the eggs benedict with canadian bacon and shredded hashed browns. The best thing about this eatery was the whole pot of coffee that they left on the table. We got our bill and paid thirty dollars after tip. Another great deal.

The scenery in banff is wondrous, and the hiking trails are some of the best in the world. Morgan and I decided on the Spray River hike by the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. That particular hike has great mountain views, and as the name suggests it follows the Spray River. You can see all the best hikes in banff here**, but before we tackled the several hour hike we needed some nourishment. It was approximately noon so we decided to grab a bite at Barpa Bills, the famous local greek souvlaki house. I’ve been here many times before and for only $17.50 we bought two pita wraps and a side of fries. The food is appetizing and won't empty even the lightest of piggy banks.

For dinner that night we wanted something light. We determined that we wanted Asian cuisine and then researched some local places. We found a tiny Thai restaurant called Pad Thai. It’s located in the Clock Tower Village Mall and is rumored to be the cheapest place in town. for about fifty bucks after tip you can get an appetizer, two mains, rice and two Thai beers. We ordered spring-rolls, the namesake Pad Thai, a curried beef stew and some coconut rice. The spring rolls were packed full of flavor, and came with a sweet rice vinegar dipping sauce. The curried beef stew was a huge potion with potato, onion and carrots in a coconut curry. We both really enjoyed the Pad Thai and think it was a good choice to name the restaurant after such a delicious dish.

Easter brunch is the main reason we came to Banff. The Rimrock has an extravagant selection of classic brunch items with a few modern twists. For thirty-seven dollars per person you can have all-you-can-eat surrounded by breathtaking mountain views and live music. When we left the Rimrock were were stuffed, and so incredibly satisfied. I can't wait to go back next year!

This was one of the most romantic, special, and relaxing weekends of our lives, and we were able to do everything we mentioned for less than six-hundred dollars. With a little bit of planning, and the ability to talk about your finances openly, Banff does not have to be unaffordable. I really hope this helps some of you get out to the mountains because if you have never been you don’t know what your missing.

If you know of any great deals in Banff leave a comment because I’m sure there are some gems that nobody knows about.

Catch

2011-03-25T00:33:00.000-07:00

This year at The Big Taste, Calgary’s Dining Festival, Catch offered up a glimpse into their kitchen. Executive Chef Kyle Groves came up with four succulent dishes that General Manager/Sommelier Anthony Chalmers paired perfectly with some of BC’s finest wine. The twist was that we (the guests) had to cook all of the dishes. This interactive cooking class, set on the second story of Catch’s soon-to-be-renovated dining room, proved to be the most interesting event of the week.

We arrived at noon and Anthony had a few bottles of Summerhill Cipes Brut sparkling wine ready to pour. The sound of the champagne cork popping was a sign that lunch was certain to be a memorable experience. Read More...

ESCOBA

2011-03-23T00:06:00.000-07:00

Cross posted from getdown.ca

As you must all know by now, last week was The Big Taste, Calgary’s dining festival. I spent the week sampling some of the best cuisine this city has to offer. I concluded the event on Sunday evening, with a nice dinner at a small winebar on Eighth Avenue: Escoba.

The chef, Brad O’leary, came up with a simple selection of some of the house favourites. I started the meal with a selection of tapas, Read More...

Thai Lanna Cuisine- Ottawa

2011-03-21T01:22:00.000-07:00

The most important thing to locate while on a layover is where to eat. I always look for good food, at a reasonable price. Ordering room service at exorbitant rates from the hotel restaurant, while luxurious, is not always feasible. Some of the flight crew members had awesome tips on where to eat breakfast, lunch or dinner. I learned that Ottawa is a hot bed of international culinary treats.

Hoping for a quick lunch I headed over to Thai Lanna Cuisine. It’s a small friendly Thai food restaurant. Its hidden away in a small strip mall, on Bank Street in Ottawa. It’s a popular place with dine in, or takeout options available. I’ve been a few times before, and I find the take out option usually a lot faster. If you have the time however it’s a cozy place to sit and eat.

If you were coming with a large group of people I would call ahead to make a reservation. The restaurant itself only seats about twenty people, maximum. There is one long bench against a wall with tables that sit four to six, and two smaller tables for parties of one or two. The decor is very authentic. The vibrantly colored pillows and table cloths make for a very comfortable atmosphere.

The menu has all the big Thai classics. Pad Thai, spring rolls, Thai curries, as well as many vegetarian and seafood options. They used chili peppers to show how spicy a dish would be(one chili pepper signifying mild and four signifying super spicy). My friend thought that the green curry dish she ordered (which had four chili peppers beside the menu description) could have used some more heat. My dish, the stir fried basil and hot chili was just right! They were very accommodating if you wanted a certain dish more or less spicy. The coconut ice cream served with sticky rice pudding on the dessert menu is also a great treat after a spicy dish!

The prices are reasonable; the most expensive dish was $15.00 during dinner hours. The service was prompt and personal. I would absolutely recommend this restaurant to anyone staying in the Ottawa area. Seeing as my trip to Thailand is far in the making; Thai Lanna is great alternative for now!

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Written By : Caitlin Welz

I live in Ontario, but I’m never there for long. Working as a Flight Attendant for an international airline gives me the opportunity to travel all over the world. I definitely have the” travel bug”. When I’m not traveling for work I’m exploring new destinations on my own. I love taking pictures and sharing my experiences. I truly believe that life is not about the destination it’s about the journey. Enjoy it.

RUSH

2011-03-19T10:04:00.000-07:00

Cross posted from getdown.ca

This week was the once-in-a-year dining opportunity to experience intoxicating variations of some of Calgary’s best chef’s dishes. The Big Taste dining festival is an extraordinary event for anybody who wants to dine out in Calgary for a reasonable price, and experience a menu that is usually reserved for occasions like Valentine’s Day, or Mother’s Day. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the end of a long and cold winter than a week of indulgence.

"When the entrees arrived we thought the presentation was stunning. Both dishes were rich and complex. The rib eye which was carved from a roast perfectly cooked, and placed above “pomme purée” – a perfect french style mashed potato."

Read More...

Charcut

2011-02-13T10:18:00.000-08:00

Back ally burgers, Pig head Mortadella, and their famous "lunch all at once" are only a few of the reasons I love the concept of Charcut. This downtown eatery is my new favourite. The food is awesome, the service is relaxed but efficient, and the decor is fun. Bravo Charcut.

If you are in a hurry for lunch, you can get in and out in under 45 min with the "lunch all at once". You get a soup, sandwich and cookies in a bag. Everything comes all at once, so you can eat as fast or slow as you want. And if your in a real hurry you can just take to cookies and eat them on the road. This is perfect for all of the fast paced business executives in the downtown core.

If you are a foodie like me, you will enjoy the charuterie bar where they serve you their homemade cured meats and pickles. The pigs head Mortadella is displayed at the bar, It's something of magic. I love the tender meat speckled with pistachios. The home made pickles are crunchy and the brioche is buttery goodness. I think they hit a home run with this one.

At ten O'clock on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays something special happens. They put up an open sign in the ally way, and dozens of people show up to buy five dollar mini burgers. They make several dozen and sell them until they run out. I don't know if this idea is original but it's the first time I ever heard of anything like this. I love it.

I highly recommend getting your ass over to Charcut Roasthouse ASAP. Five pigs heads out of Five

Marconi’s - Montreal, Quebec

2011-01-31T09:24:00.000-08:00

I've wanted to go on a Montreal mini-vacation for some time. My friend Pam called me up one night last week, and invited me to go with her. She was going for an interview and would only be there one night. I was up for the seven hour drive. Not to mention, I had been craving a good poutine or pizza since I had been there last. We got in around seven pm that night.

Pam had been raving about this little Pizzeria called Marconi’s where you could get a “pizza-getti”. It's basically a deluxe pizza with spaghetti and meat sauce folded inside. Then more sauce poured over the top. A knife and fork kind of pizza for sure! The next day we made plans to go for lunch.

Marconi’s pizzeria is located on Rue Beaubien Est, Montreal. It specializes in a variety of pizzas pastas and subs. The menu is small, but the food and service are great. The combination of pizza and spaghetti seemed a little much for me. I opted for the lasagna. It was eight dollars and was one of the best lasagnas I’ve ever had. I’m not a huge lasagna fan, but our server recommended this dish; saying “Le sauce est delicieux”. And the sauce was delicious! My mouth is watering now just thinking about it.

The Lasagna came on a large oval platter, and was served with a beautiful freshly baked bread roll which was a great addition to mop up all their signature sauce. Homemade lasagna is the best way to go. The pasta was nice and soft and not crunchy around the edges like some lasagnas. The portion was remarkably large, so much so that I could not finish the entire plate. Pam’s Pizza-getti was large as well so we had lots of leftovers!

The only real drawback to this restaurant was that they didn’t accept Interact. It was cash or credit only. There was an ATM upstairs if you didn’t have either like me. Oh well I guess I’ll know for next time!

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Written By : Caitlin Welz

Earls

2011-01-30T10:36:00.000-08:00

Earls seems to be one of the city's fastest growing chains. The food is alright and you will always find a cheap, quick and edible meal. It may not be the best meal, and the service may be slightly confused, but its OK. On my most recent trip I tried the soup, the sushi, and the pizza.

The sushi rice was undercooked and lacked in the flavour department. I didn't really expect it to be amazing, however I've had better frozen sushi. The pumpkin soup was thick like butter chicken, and tasted of leek and curry, but not pumpkin. I think they went a little overboard and lost the nuances of the delicate pumpkin.

The thing that saved my meal was the pizza. It was great. The crust was thin and crisp, and the toppings were plentiful. This pizza and the quick service we received are the only things that will keep me coming back. I would say that if you are looking for a quick bite, and your short on time give earls a try and judge for yourself. With their several locations you might find something on the menu that you just love.

I'm going to give Earls two franchise restaurants out of five.

Arugula Pesto

2011-01-29T18:48:00.000-08:00

Arugula pesto is easy to make. It is delicious and only takes a few seconds to make. This recipe can be used with steak, fish, as a dressing, or mixed with mayo and used as a dip.

I'm currently on the Wild Rose Cleanse. If you modify this recipe, by taking out the cheese it becomes cleanse friendly.

Arugula
Garlic
Olive oil
Toasted almonds
Parmesan cheese
Salt

All you need to do is put all the ingredients into a blender and your done.

Rouge

2011-01-20T11:17:00.000-08:00

This year for my birthday I asked my girlfriend for nothing more that a lunch date. She decided to take me out to Rouge. I have wanted to go to Rouge forever. It's rated the sixtieth best restaurant in the world by S.Pellegrino, and I can see why. The thirty-five dollar three course menu was divine. I thought with such a great reputation that the price would be through the roof, but I was wrong.

The appetizers: chicken consomee with dumplings, and elk pate. Morgan had the soup because she was feeling under the weather and I couldn't help but dip my bread into it. I had the pate. It was the most delicious pate I ever had. It was served with house made crackers and sun dried apricots (my mouth is watering right now). It was just salty enough and smooth, but sweet and firm at the same time. I loved it.

The mains: creamy pork gnocchi, and braised bison rib with risotto. Morgan's gnocchi was like a grown up mac-n-cheese. Rich and creamy, with tender pork and little pillows of potato gnocchi. It was the best dish of the day. I had the Bison. It was succulent and tender, but extremely rich. I kind of wish that they had something to break the richness. I think a few veggies would have taken this meal to the next level. But I still enjoyed every last bite.

The Dessert: dark chocolate and light chocolate brownies. The plating was beautiful. Both had completely different concepts of what a brownie is, but were equally tasty. I'm not sure if I could pick a favourite. I loved the shaved white chocolate on top, the fresh berries, and the sweet chocolate mouse on the white chocolate brownie. The dark chocolate brownie was rich and dense. It was served with a pear sorbet that "paired" perfectly (excuse the pun).

This was one of the best meals I've ever had, and for only thirty-five dollars it was a steal of a deal. I'm going to give Rouge five stars, out of five!

Blue House Cafe

2011-01-15T20:06:00.000-08:00

   Living Social Deals website is great! I purchased sixty dollars to spend at blue house cafe for twenty-five bucks. What a deal. I would have never heard of this charming little South American seafood restaurant if I didn't receive the e-mail. And I'm glad I did.

   This small restaurant in the North West offered live music, fresh seafood, and pretty decent service. Morgan and I both thought the decor, and menu could use an update. But once we tasted the flavourful South American dishes we cooled our jets and enjoyed our Spanish inspired dinner. We shared a sauteed shrimp appetizer that was rich, creamy, and succulent. The bread, on it's own was a little lack luster, but perfect as a vessel to soak up all the sauce.

   Morgan's main dish was a striploin with beans. The portion was large, and she loved the taste. My entree was a spicy seafood, chicken and sausage mix on rice. It was awsome! The crab was sweet, tender and plentiful. The scallops were small but fresh, and with the spicy sausage it sung in harmony.

   Now don't get me wrong, it wasn't the best meal I ever had. There were a few things that were not perfect, but over all it was really good. I would recommend this place to you. Yes, it was out dated and if it wasn't for the discount, its overpriced. I'm going to give this little blue house three episodes of restaurant makeover out of five.

Belgo

2011-01-08T18:38:00.000-08:00

Tuesday, I had the opportunity to sit down with Ashish Damle. He is the executive chef at Belgo, a 250 seat French Brasserie that serves "simple French food,” as he would call it. Ashish, who has only been with Belgo since September, has had a career that has circled the globe. At the helm of the knife wielding, kitchen brigade of fourteen, Ashish is certainly in his element.

Growing up in India, where his parents had dreams of a son who would be a lawyer or Doctor, Ashish had plans of his own; he wanted to travel. In 1999 he did just that, leaving on a cruise ship for the Caribbean. Planning to travel the world cooking, Ashish soon found that the long hours and little free time that comes along with cruise ship life was not for him.

Canada was the next step in Ashish's career. After falling out of love with life at sea, his gaze settled on culinary school. He began training at one of Canada's newest schools, Niagara Collage. Gaining experience with great chefs like Michael Olsen gave him the confidence he needed to boost his career. Then he got his first big break, a call from Wellington Court with an offer to work with Erik Peacock; a famous Canadian chef.

A few years later, moving across the county to the mountains, Ashish accepted a job as Banquet Sous Chef, at Chateau Lake Louise. The experience he was gaining would be instrumental in his passion for travelling. Shortly after he left Lake Louise to come to Calgary, Ashish was asked to travel to Russia to consult for a new restaurant that was opening.

Now that Ashish has all the experience anyone could ever need cooking, a new chapter is starting. As the executive Chef of Belgo, Ashish will bring a worldly style to Cowtown. With a new menu starting in the spring you can look for dishes like “Beer and Cheddar Fondue” made with one of their thirty-five different beers, or some of the chefs favorite dessert; Macaroons. There will also be old favourites like steak tartar and braised bison short ribs. If this won’t keep him busy enough, this year Ashish's wife will give birth to their first child. A great new job as the Chef of Belgo, and a new born child will hopefully set the stage for a good, long career in Calgary. Congratulations Ashish!

Calgarys Wing Nights

2011-01-06T11:09:00.000-08:00

Chicken Wings; the part of the chicken that used to be thrown away or reserved for stock is now the most common bar snack in Canada. Spicy little nuggets covered in sauce. Wings are most commonly served with celery sticks and a creamy dipping sauce. You can find great wings around this city usually between $0.15 and $1.00 a piece. Where are the best places in the city to get wings you ask, well, here it goes.

The Amsterdam Rhino and The District are side by side and connected by the kitchen. They also have a wing special almost every night of the week. The wings cost only $0.15 each with the purchase of a drink. All the sauce is homemade, and the wings are juicy and tender. The atmosphere is casual, but turns into a night club in the evening. I thoroughly enjoyed the jalapeno cheddar wings, and the blue cheese sauce was flavourful and creamy. Check this place out!

The Unicorn is right downtown on Stephen Ave and is a great live music venue. They sell wings on Wednesday; $3.50 for ten (that's $0.35 each). The last time I went they were having a open mic and the musicians were fantastic. I'm not sure if they do that every Wednesday or not, but with 35 flavours including "Calgary's hottest wings" and five flavours of dip weather or not the music is good you'll leave stuffed for just a few bucks.

The Rusty Cage's special wing nights are Wednesday and Sunday. Their wings are only $0.29 each and come in your choice of fifty flavours. I admit the wings aren't my favourite, but they have several locations and the most choices of flavours I've come across. Its a good bar to get together with some friends and catch up on old times.

Check out more places in Calgary to get wings at hotwings.ca

Seoul, Korean BBQ

2011-01-03T19:51:00.000-08:00

Korean BBQ is a unique dining experience for culinary adventurers. Seoul, like many other korean restaurants offers an interesting hands on approach to formal dining. The stove is located in the middle of the table, and with the help of your server you cook your own meal. You can also choose to have the food prepared by the chefs, but Morgan and I enjoy the intimacy of doing it together.

At first glance the prices may seem high, especially because Seoul does not give the impression of a fine dining restaurant. One must keep in mind the fact that all of the BBQ dishes come with several, generously portioned side dishes. We ordered the beef dumplings to start, at the advise of our server who spoke great english. They were similar in flavour to Chinese-style pork dumplings, but these were lightly steamed instead of fried. They were delectable.

For the main course, we ordered two kinds of meat to BBQ. The first to hit the grill was the Korean version of pork belly, also a renowned favourite in the region. Unlike its North American cousin bacon, this belly was neither cured nor smoked. Our palates felt like they were missing something, but we enjoyed the crispy texture and carmelized fat that bacon lovers adore. The marinated beef rib-eye was finely sliced and incredibly flavourful. It just needed to be seared quickly before enjoying, although if you like your meat more cooked than Morgan and I, all you need is patience.

Between the satisfying meat, the interesting side dishes, and the long conversations in between turns on the grill, our experience at Seoul was quite pleasant. We would recommend this to anyone, especially those who are feeling adventurous. We rate this unassuming Korean gem four spicy kimchi-lettuce roles out of five.

The Coup

2010-12-30T21:01:00.000-08:00

A vegetarian restaurant named after a chicken pen, or the sudden, illegal deposition of the Canadian government? Whatever they were thinking about when they named it, The Coup is something else. It describes itself as "a modern restaurant dedicated to providing a vibrant atmosphere and creative vegetarian fare while promoting local, whole and organic foods," and this is exactly what it delivers.

We had plans to meet a friend for dinner tonight and decided to check out The Coup. I called to make a reservation but, to my dismay, they didn't offer this service. "first come, first serve," she kindly told me over the phone, "and come early, because we will be busy tonight." So we changed our plans from 5:30 to 4:30 and headed over to the trendy part of seventeenth avenue to where The Coup is located. When we arrived, the doors were locked, and had a sign on the door that said they open at five. I guess we shouldn't have changed the time after all.

Since we had some time to kill we decided to grab a coffee around the corner at Caffe Beano. What a blessing in disguise! I had never been in this quaint cafe before, but I was in for a treat. They were just pulling some ginger cookies out of the oven, so the entire restaurant smelled of Christmas. I ordered my usual; an Americano Misto, and it was perfection in a mug. I told the guy behind the counter how good the cookies smelled and he instantly handed me a fresh one, on the house of course. I split it into three and handed each of the girls a piece. Already I was having a great time and we hadn't even entered The Coup yet.

We three carnivores finally entered The Coup at about quarter after five. There were already people lining up at the door waiting to be seated. Strangely we were greeted by a woman in her early fifties trying to sell us a sixty dollar gift certificate. She told us about being laid off from her work, and wanted to exchange the gift certificate for cash. I asked to have the certificate verified and purchased it from her. We were seated quickly and were all impressed by the modern decor.

We started with the servers recommendation; the sesame, date and yam dip. It was served cold, in a deep bowl with pieces of bread and crackers sticking into it. The grilled foccacia bread was the star of the show here, and went really well with the dip. My main course was the upstream burger, it was a seeded yam, smoked tofu, and cashew patty, with fresh dill, red onion, and garlic aioli sauce on that wonderful organic foccacia. Wow, I enjoyed this burger immensely. It was better than most of the beef burgers I've tried in the city. Morgan had the vegetarian Tacos which were also bursting with flavour and textures that you couldn't find in most Mexican restaurants. Our friend had the falafel Quesadillia which was perfectly balanced. All of our meals came with a choice of sides but we all opted for the baked rosemary yam fries with the tahini miso gravy, and garlic aoli. The yams were so good that thinking about them as I write this is making my mouth water. If nothing else, I would go back just for the fries.

Dessert; we shared a hot date cobbler with ginger, orange and dates, layered with crumbled oats and cinnamon, topped with tofulatti (vegan ice cream). The cobbler was rich, flavourful, and the tofulatti was creamy. It had a perfect hint of vanilla. I honestly thought that ice cream made from tofu would not be that good. I was wrong. For changing my misconception of bland and boring vegetarian food, and hitting some extreme high notes, I'm going to give The Coup five organic vegan chickens out of a possible five.

After our meal we took a stroll down Seventeenth Ave to a little tea house called Steeps. We enjoyed a pot of tea in this casual, hip little spot for about an hour. They had an amazing selection of teas. The girl behind the counter was knowledgeable helped me pick a tea. She also gave me several small samples I might like to try in the future. I don't know what it was about this day, but everywhere I went was special. I recommend you check out these little hidden treasures as they haveenriched my life.

Mango Shiva

2010-12-29T09:28:00.000-08:00

Named after the hindu God, Shiva, Mango Shiva looks like the kind of place you would find Godly creatures hanging out on a Saturday night. It is an impressive space with a decore that is hip and fashionably current. Such detail I don't think you will ever get bored of your surroundings. You'll instantly notice the mirror behind the bar from which a hundred black hands are each holding a candle, and the vintage electric light bulbs that light the wall from the front entrance to the open kitchen in the back. Whoever designed this space is an extremely creative mind.

  I have been to this restaurant before, so when Morgan's Father said we should go there for dinner, we were thrilled. Every time we visited in the past, the Indian fusion style food was amazing. The service was great, and we went home thinking of reasons to go back as soon as possible. Other than one small problem this trip was no exception.

  We started by ordering a few appetizers to share. We had the five spice seared duck breast and the Bengal tiger prawns. Both were fantastic; the duck was flavourful and tender, while the tiger prawns were perfectly cooked and spicy. The server brought us our Spanish wine, and insured us that it was full bodied enough to stand up against the piquant nature of their food; he was right. For our mains we each tried something different, and had them make us a special East Indian spinach and paneer dish to share. Everybody loved everything. The paneer dish that is not on the menu was fantastic. My Curried lamb shank with saffron rice and grilled jack fruit was succulent.

  The problem I had mentioned earlier was that Morgans quarter chicken special did not show up at all! The server had forgotten to ring it in. This took about fifteen minutes to resolve, but Morgan was a good sport and got a plate to try all the other dishes at the table. She eventually received her food and the server was overly apologetic, and did not charge her for the dish. Also, after dinner he brought us some free "gulab-jamun," which is an Indian sponge cake with mango gelato.

Mango Shiva is one of the most original spaces in Calgary, and well worth the money. I'm going to give it four mythological Hindu Gods out of five.

Coca-Cola Glazed Ham

2010-12-28T19:27:00.000-08:00

Pork is probably the most common meat in my kitchen. I use the pork belly, the loin, and make pork sausage on a regular basis. One of the most common applications in the home kitchen must be the roast ham. A tender and flavourful piece of meat that can be enjoyed hot out of the oven, or cold, days after it has been cooked.

This is a recipe that I most likely would of never have tried, if I had not forgotten to buy raisins for my glaze. The fact of the matter is that it was Christmas day and the convenience store was the only thing open. I was looking for something to replace the raisins I had forgotten, and I remembered hearing about this Coca-Cola glaze and figured: what the hell.

Here is a recipe that once you try, you may do over and over again.

Coca-Cola Glazed Ham:

1 good quality, cured bone-in ham

1 litre bottle of Coke

2 tablespoons of hot grainy mustard

4 cloves

1 bay leaf

First, you must pre-heat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

Heat a large sauce pan, and pour in the Coca-Cola. Add the mustard, cloves, and bay leaf. Cook for about a half hour on medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the glaze will coat the back of a spoon.

Pour some of the glaze over the ham reserving most of it for basting. Put the ham in the oven and cook until it reaches an internal temperature of 150 degrees. If you don't have a thermometer you can just test it with a knife. Push the knife into the middle of the ham, leave it for five seconds, and pull it out. If the tip is hot the ham is most likely done. While its in the oven, you will need to pour the remaining glaze over the ham about every twenty minutes.

When its done slice the ham and serve it on a platter with sides of vegetables, like potatoes and carrots.

Himalayan

2010-12-27T17:41:00.000-08:00

  Morgan's mother, Cheryl, has renovations going on at her house, so we decided to take her out for lunch this week to Himalayan. This new restaurant on 17th Ave SW is offering a glimpse into the world of Nepalese cuisine. It's owned by the same people that used to own Everest Kitchen, also on 17th Avenue. Since I had never experienced this cuisine before we thought we should check it out.

  When we first walked in we noticed a few things. They had a buffet, and it was really small. We took a look through the menu and decided that the best bang for our buck would be the buffet. It offered only a few items and there were only a couple I enjoyed. The butter chicken was pretty good until you bit into a chewy, rubbery piece of meat. The salad was OK, but I could have got the same (if not better) pre-packed from Safeway. Now the dessert, it was awful, a choice of rice pudding or a bad fruit cocktail. This little Nepalese restaurant has an everest sized mountain to climb before they are at a level to compete with the great restaurants in that area.

  I think that if we had ordered off the menu it might have been better. They offer a choice of Tareko (traditional fried fish with spices), Chatamari (Nepalese chicken crepes) and Momo (vegetarian dumplings). I will try this restaurant again and write a new review if I find that the "al a carte" experience is any better, but for now I give Himalayan one giant Mount Everest to climb out of five.

Morgan's Baked french Toast

2010-12-27T14:52:00.000-08:00

The Perfect Christmas Brunch;

Finally, this year Morgan and I got to host a Christmas brunch. I have always wanted to be the host for an event like this, but since I am so young the honour usually goes to someone with a little more experience. Morgan and I came up with a decadent recipe for Eggnog Baked French Toast. We served it with a fruit salad and spiced yogurt, and some of Spolumbos maple-breakfast sausages. I think this could become a Christmas tradition for us.

The Baked French Toast:

1 loaf of french bread
1 litre of eggnog
6 eggs
1/2 cup of brown sugar
125 grams of butter
1 tablespoon of cinnamon

1 teaspoon of vanilla

1/8 cup of real maple syrup

First, you need to combine half the sugar (1/4 cup) with the eggs, and whisk until well combined. Then add the cinnamon, vanilla and the eggnog.

Slice the french bread and lay evenly in a deep, glass baking dish. Pour the egg mixture over the bread, being sure to cover it entirely. Flip each piece of bread once and store in the refrigerator over night.

You are going to bake the dish at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for forty minutes. When it has been in for about thirty-five minutes you will pour the butter sauce over the top and finish baking.

The butter sauce is the remaining sugar(1/4cup) with the butter and maple syrup. Just cook this in a saucepan for five minutes and its ready.

For the fruit salad:

All you need for this is some fruit - I used mandarins, blueberries, and strawberries - and plain yogurt, sweetened with honey and topped with a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Now, just saute some breakfast sausage; you'll have one of the best Christmas brunches ever.

Calgary's Coffee Scene

2010-12-25T13:18:00.000-08:00

The coffee bean: Fire roasted and brewed since the early seventeenth century, it has become the modern addiction, and obsession, of the young professional. From the subtle aroma wafting out of your automatic coffee maker, to the barista that spends a good portion of their life trying to perfect the art of the latte, a great cup of coffee is something many search out on a regular basis.

Bumpy's Cafe is one of my favourite in the city. They are winners of the Krups best cup award, for the best cup of coffee in Calgary. They have an amazing team of baristas that can do magic with the espresso machine. They have a light menu, and a pretty central location. If you like coffee like I do I would say, "Check it out".

DeVille Luxury Coffee and Pastries is another wicked coffee house that serves (my favourite) black cat espresso and some killer sandwiches. They have two locations downtown, one in Art Central, and one in Fashion Central. What sets them apart besides their amazing coffee is that they are licenced to serve booze. They offer wine and cheese, so if coffee isn't strong enough for you then this might be your place.

Caffe Artigiano has been home to the world barista champion since 2003. Needless to say the coffee here is something mystical. The light foam and rich flavour lands me in line a few times a month, at least. The decor is pleasant and it's right next to my work, so when I'm having a rough day I head on over for my americano misto and relax by the window.

Phil and Sebastians I've blogged about before. This roasterie knows its way around coffee beans, they roast their own coffee and have 2 locations now. The new one in Chinook Mall, and one in the farmers market. I wish they had a downtown location, so I could be a regular, but whenever I make it to one of their locations I certainly get my fix.

Quail and Poached Plum salad

2010-12-23T09:19:00.000-08:00

I've been tinkering with this recipe for awhile now, the flavours sing in harmony. A few large, ripe plums poached and cooled in a spiced wine, it's something of magic. Then use the cooking liquid to make the vinaigrette and the reduction, yummy.

The quail is a little, bite sized, morsel of flavour that is so heavenly; it sits on the bed of bitter frisee salad like a halo. Then all this dish needs is a light dust of toasted fennel seed to give it that unique essence of Italian sausage.

Give this dish a try. I know it may seem complicated, but I assure you its well worth the effort.

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For the plums:

A few ripe plums
1 bottle of good Port wine
200ml Cassis
1 stick of cinnamon
2 star anise
1 bunch of thyme
1 tbs brown sugar
1 orange zested

Place all ingredients into a medium sized pot, and simmer on low heat for half an hour, or until fork tender. Cool the plums in the liquid. Strain the liquid and keep in the fridge for later use. Now, all you have to do is core the plums and cut them into thin strips.

For the Vinaigrette:

1 shallot chopped
1 garlic bulb chopped
1/4 litre of the reserved cooking liquid
2 tbs mustard
1/2 cup good extra virgin olive oil
slash of white balsamic vinegar
pinch of salt and pepper

Sautee the shallots and garlic in a small amount of the oil.
Place all of the ingredients into the blender and blend on high for thirty seconds. Just strain the liquid, and your done.

For the quail:

1 whole quail semi-deboned
salt and pepper

This part is really easy. Pre-heat a convection oven (if its not convection it has to cook longer) to 380 degrees Fahrenheit. Cut the quail in half, and add salt and pepper. Sear skin side in a hot pan and then put the quail skin side up in the oven for 4 minutes.

For the reduction and the toasted fennel seed:

50 grams fennel seed
1/2 litre cooking liquid.

These are both garnish, however they complete this dish by adding a certain punch of flavour.
Just reduce the cooking liquid to 1/4 and cool, that's your reduction.
Toast the seeds for five minutes and put it through a fine strainer. Done.

To assemble all you need to do is sprinkle a line of the fennel seed across the plate. Then make a sexy design with the reduction. Mix the dressing with the frisee lettuce, and place in the centre of the plate. Add a few slices of plum on top with the quail.
Voila, c'est Fini

This dish will keep them coming back, time and time again!