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Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Over Sauced and Under Seasoned at Chapter One

Sweet corn, smoked potato and buttermilk soup
When looking for places to eat in Dublin, Chapter One was a name that kept popping up, probably because of its Michelin Star status. When I checked out the website, I could see that they had a chef’s table and a tasting menu which looked interesting, so I asked the Visa Concierge to try to book it for Moo. Unfortunately, the chef’s table located in the kitchen is only available to groups of 6 people or more. So instead we opted for a table in the dining room, as our Visa Concierge had been assured that the tasting menu would be available to order regardless.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Going Full English

Traditional English Breakfast
Our goal on this visit to London was to eat a Full English Breakfast. Although we weren’t sure what it consisted of, we luckily enough had friends who lived in London and could take us somewhere that would serve one.

Located not too far from Victoria Station was Kazan Kitchen, although not primarily focused on English fare, they offered a traditional full English breakfast, which as we found out, consists of eggs, bacon, mushrooms, toast, beans, tomato and a Cumberland….  Yup, a Cumberland  which if you don’t know what it is, is basically a large sausage.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Enticing El Rancho Spanish Restaurant

Pupusa
Over the summer, steadfast dining companion, @thepolishviking and I had devised a list of places that we had to try in Edmonton. On the top of the list was El Rancho, which we had previously tried to visit but was closed on Mondays. So off we went one evening with @andrealauder to start on our very long list of places to visit.

Our server for the evening was Dora, who was half owner and half of the kitchen team at El Rancho, along with her mother. She was very knowledgeable, friendly, enthusiastic, and quickly took a liking to the Moo. We opted to take her suggestions and ordered a few appetizer platters so that we could sample a variety of items. She also took the liberty of altering the platters to ensure there was enough for one item per diner.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Peace at Last at Hotel Le Germain

Prox Card Holder to Initiate Lights
After two sleepless nights at Hotel Arts, we opted to move to another hotel to try to salvage our last night in Calgary. On the advice of @Mindfulstream and @lilideluxe whom we had met the day prior, we chose Hotel Le Germain. Being centrally located it was the ideal hotel not only because it was close to the Red Arrow, which we would be taking home the next day, but it would make it stupidly easy to waddle back to our room that evening after what we knew from a previous experience would be a delicious but insanely filling meal at Charcut, the restaurant of Hotel Le Germain.

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Wishing for More at the Artisan Resto Cafe

Much needed Mimosa
Located on Whyte Ave, the Artisan Resto Café offers breakfast almost all day, which is exactly what we were looking for that particularly day we were there. They have a large patio, with ample outdoor seating, as well as a large indoor space consisting of a mix of banquettes, tables with chairs, and bar height seating. In one area of their dining room, they have a charming Wishing Tree, complete with fake birds perched within it, a wishing well, and a bird bath diners can throw their coins into in order to make a wish on the tree.

Friday, November 30, 2012

The Pig's Ear Celebrates Irish Fare


Organic Salmon
Being our first time in Ireland, we didn’t have a clue where to dine. Thankfully @AWeathergirl13 lived in Dublin and recommended that we take the time to dine at The Pig’s Ear. A casual eatery serving Irish fare, their food is better than in some restaurants owned by celebrity chefs. Located near Trinity College, they offer healthy sized portions at reasonable prices.

Having seen some of the plates that other diners had, we opted to skip the appetizer and go straight to the entrée since we had already seen their dessert menu and knew there was plenty to choose from.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

De New Kid on the Block - DeDutch Grand Opening

The Windmill
Invited to the Grand Opening of DeDutch, I couldn't pass up the chance to check out what a Dutch pannekoeken really was, since I missed the opportunity while in Amsterdam last month. Along with by faithful bodyguard, @thepolishviking, we were pleasantly surpised to enter the restaurant and find it looked nothing like what we were expecting. As opposed to the typical purveyors of breakfast foods whose space looks a bit dated and sterile, at DeDutch, the space was bright and modern. With yellow, white and orange colors dominating both the walls and the furnishings, it was certainly a welcome change from other drab breakfast joints.

Friday, November 23, 2012

Anniversary at Alloy

Zebrino tomato and queso fresco
For the humans’ third wedding anniversary, I really wanted them to do something different than the last few years, which consisted of going out for dinner…. Whopeee….  Granted, they have had some great off menu dinners, but other than that, it wasn’t much different than any other night.

So I contacted Uri at Alloy Restaurant and asked about the possibility of doing an off menu dinner there, and he was more than happy to oblige! We arranged for a date and he asked for a list of the humans favorite ingredients, as well as how many courses they would want and I left the rest in his hands.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Nomiya not so Nommy

Fresh Oyster Nigri
Located in a storefront in the plethora of stores located between Calgary Trail and Gateway Boulevard, Nomiya offers a variety of Japanese food, not just sushi and bento boxes. Their menu is quite extensive and is pages and pages long, offering a huge variety of items.

Consider the length of the menu, it took a substantial amount of time to look through and decide what to order. The server was a bit too eager and we had to send him away several times so we had time to get through the menu and actually choose what we wanted to order.

Friday, November 16, 2012

Satisfying A Craving for Vietnamese Food - The Golden Bird Restaurant

5 Star on Vermicelli
On one summer evening, we were craving Vietnamese food and decided to venture into Chinatown to satisfy our cravings. Unfortunately, our first choice, Pagolac was closed for vacation, so we had settled with finding another place nearby. A few doors down, and less familiar to us was The Golden Bird Restaurant. A decent sized space with quite a few tables, decorated with a Western sensibility with a variety of paintings. The restaurant was empty, so we were quickly shown to a table and handed some menus. The menus were expansive, with pages upon pages of items listed out, but it contained many pictures, which were very helpful in some cases.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Viajante - Have Blind Faith (CLOSED)

Amaranth with sorrel
When deciding on restaurants to dine at in London, I chose Viajante Restaurant on a whim after reading a review in the Edmonton Journal about a restaurant that does blind tastings. Unlike many other restaurants in London, Viajante doesn’t provide you with the menu prior to the meal, the only decisions you get to make are how many courses you want and if you want the wine pairings. The servers say it takes the stress out of eating, allowing the chef to take you on a relaxing, culinary journey. They do of course make accommodations for food allergies and any food you are really adverse to, otherwise, they hope that you will eat whatever they put in front of you, as it was meant to be served. The dining room is divided into two areas, the one we were in which was more secluded with a fireplace without a fire, and the other right by the open kitchen. That evening we chose the 6-course meal and I opted to have it with the wine pairings. In reality, it wound up being more than 6 courses once you add in all the amuse bouches.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Missing the Boat at Culina Millcreek

I’d heard that Culina Millcreek was a good place to go for brunch, and their food was fairly solid regardless of the meal. So on one sunny Sunday morning, I ventured out there with my bovine bodyguard, @thepolishviking of Dine and Write.

The restaurant itself is fairly small, but the menu was quite extensive and everything looked good. After perusing and debating, we managed to narrow down our choices, even though we could’ve easily ordered almost every item. We began with grilled cornbread, accompanied with Saskatoon berry butter. The cornbread is dense, and slightly sweet, a good start to our morning, while the Saskatoon berry flavor doesn’t quite manage to break through the butter taste.

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Meandering Dinner at Red Ox Inn

Pork Belly
We had heard from many people that Red Ox Inn was one of those places you take someone on a special occasion, but hadn’t a clue where it was located. So when the male humans boss offered to take the humans out to celebrate the males seven years with the company, I suggested they go to the Red Ox Inn and take Moo with them.

Located on the South side of the river in what looks to be a very residential neighborhood, the small strip of stores stuck out. The restaurant itself is very small, so small that we had to wait outside while they got our table ready. Inside there are banquettes lining all the walls, with tables in front of them and chairs on the other side of the tables.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Social Modern Pub Food is Polished

Brown Cow
I’d never heard of Social Modern Pub until Rishi Patel, asking yours truly to come try out their food gratis with a dinner companion. Naturally I asked @thepolishviking to join me and off we went one weekday evening.

The manager, Ian Carriere had arranged for us to identify ourselves to him when we arrived via a secret code word, “Snuffleupagus”. Ian was an excited, exuberant, passionate, and extremely enthusiastic person. He spent a considerable amount of time going through the menu with us to let us know what his favorites were, what items were new, and what items were carried over from the previous incarnation of Social Modern Pub.

Friday, October 19, 2012

Dependable Kyoto Japanese Cuisine

Bean sprouts and miso soup
Kyoto Japanese Cuisine Downtown is one of our default places to go whenever we want moolicious, quick meal at a reasonable price, particularly at lunch. It’s also open on days when a lot of other places are closed. Although they have an extensive sushi and sashimi menu, along with other items, we usually get bento boxes as they offer great value, giving you the opportunity to try a little bit of everything. At dinner, the bento boxes tend to be a bit more expensive, but instead of having a set bento box, you get to choose the items you want in it.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Not Terribly Tasty at Taste Calgary

Ancient Grain Salad
Taste is a restaurant that focuses on hot or cold small plates, urging people to share and allowing them to try several different items without committing to a larger plate of any one particularly item.  Although it was conveniently located right next door to the hotel, we were neither impressed with the food nor the service.

On the evening we went they suggested we order 3-4 plates to share, so we ordered the ancient grain salad, feeb tartare, rabbit tostada and pigs ear. The dishes came out in no particular order, and were presented to us as soon as they were prepared.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Sublimely Informative Summer Bubbles Tasting at deVine Wines

I attended deVine Wine’s annual Summer Bubbles champagne tasting night. As I’m still relatively new to drinking wine and know very little about what goes into making it, or what the differences between the different varietals are, attending wine tastings is a great way to learn more about wine, as well as try a variety of wines without committing to buying a whole bottle.
At this wine tasting, the focus was on sparkling wine and champagne, with seven different sparkling wines and champagnes to taste, I knew it was going to be an interesting night of Moo drinking my body weight in alcohol.

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Dining at Diner Deluxe

The Best Oatmeal
We had heard good things about Diner Deluxe from friends who had visited Calgary, and had also seen it on Food Network’s show, You Gotta Eat Here and saw some interesting things including their oatmeal. So we decided that we had to give it a whirl while we were in town.

The interior is that of a funky, retro diner, with your classic 50’s diner tables, chairs and banquettes. We decided to order The Best Oatmeal that we’d seen on You Gotta Eat Here, along with the crispy potato pancakes and the classic breakfast. 

The fried oatmeal had a hint of maple taste to it, was very dense, and served in a small cast iron skillet. On it’s own, it tasted plain and heavy, but tasted delicious when combined with the thick and nicely tart lemon curd, and swimming in the vanilla bean cream.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Lovely Lebanese Food at La Shish Taouk

Feeb Schwarma
La Shish Taouk is the only Lebanese restaurant I’ve dined at to date and I’ve been there many, many times since, particularly when I’m itching for inexpensive take out that will last several days. On this particular visit, we went with the humans’ family so we could try a few different items.

The Mayfield location is large and spacious, with ample seating. Unlike their downtown location where it is mainly take out, this location offers take out, as well as sit down restaurant service.

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Supposedly Local and Seasonal in Saskatoon at Weczeria

Nice interior
I’d never been to Saskatchewan before, although the female human was born and raised there, so I jumped at the chance to accompany them on a quick visit to her hometown of Saskatoon.

Not sure where to go to eat since it’d been over a decade since the female human had lived there, we got a few suggestions from @andrealauder, a fellow Saskatchewanian. She told us of a restaurant called Weczeria Food & Wine, that is located on Broadway Ave, the closest equivalent to Edmonton’s Whyte Ave that Saskatoon has, this street is filled with quirky, independent stores, cafés and restaurants.

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Swift Lunch at Viphalay Laos and Thai Restaurant

Pad Thai
Viphalay Laos and Thai Restaurant took over the spot that was the once long standing La Tapas Spanish Restaurant, and most recently defunct Karma Indian Cuisine. Located in what looks like a converted house on 99 Ave, right across from Starbucks Omega, the store at which I’m Mooscot at, this is the second location for this particular venture, with their first located right across from Little Italy.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Superbly Simple Ice Cream at Village Ice Cream

Village Ice Cream
Tucked away in what looks like an area mostly filled with warehouses is Village Ice Cream. Once you find it, you can’t miss it with it’s bright yellow siding. Although it’s a small space, they do have outdoor seating.

They have a list of flavors that are always available indicated in white, as well as a list of ice cream flavors that are seasonal. The staff was incredibly friendly and encouraged us to try as many flavors as we liked before committing to a larger serving. The Phil and Sebastian Coffee ice cream tasted like a cup of coffee with cream, and the cardamom flavor was purely cardamom flavored.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Burrito Libre Surprisingly Satisfying

Burrito in a Bowl
Burrito Libre, located on the University of Alberta campus, although I had walked past it many times, I’d never had an inclination to actually go inside. But a tweet up organized by @CaitWills, which included mooself, @andrealauder, @toogood_PR, @alpinejcobb, and @debhammacher, finally gave me an excuse to try it out.

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Delightful Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes

Wedding Cupcakes! Photo by Brown's Photography
When the humans got married 3 years ago, the humans opted to go with homemade cupcakes instead of a wedding cake, since they were having a fairly small and informal affair. So they asked the male humans sister to make them since she’s got a knack for cooking and baking. In order to accommodate the male humans mother, a vegan, she made both regular and vegan chocolate cupcakes.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Cinnamon Buns from Yesteryear

Tuck Shop Tent
Last year, the female human took me to Alumni Weekend at the University of Alberta, since she graduated from there once upon a time in a land far far away….  OK, maybe she’s not THAT old, but she certainly is compared to Moo!

She wanted to try the Tuck Shop Cinnamon Buns, as at the time, she and @thepolishviking were on a quest to find the best cinnamon buns in Edmonton. Located on North Campus in Quad, the tent was open and served cinnamon buns for Friday and Saturday only. When we approached Quad, the heavenly and unmistakable smell of warm, fresh baked cinnamon buns filled the air.

Monday, September 17, 2012

Porcine Delights at Carne

Roast Porchetta Sandwich
Located in Olympic Plaza, Carne sells everything that is meatolicious, or as they dub it “Street Meat”. On this particular day, we go with a porcine theme and order their roast porchetta sandwich, bacon mac, and maple bacon crème brulee.

The roast porchetta sandwich is substantial, filled with loads of tender, juicy, fatty, porcine goodness in the form of heritage berkshire pork belly, and is ensconced in a crispy ciabatta bun. The mound of meat has a hint of salty deliciousness and bits of crispy pig skin, I only wish there were more moolicious skin. The apple slaw complements the richness of the sandwich as it is refreshing, light, and bright tasting.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

The Lost Little Village

We were spending the day at the Fringe and needed something to eat, so we decided to give Little Village a whirl. We started with the grilled pita with hummus, which was a bit pricy for our liking at $5 as there was not much pita for the amount of hummus you got. Although the pita was fresh off the grill, the hummus tasted bland and could have benefited from more seasoning. The lamb and potatoes for $8 consisted of a cup of potatoes topped with lamb. The potatoes were marinated in lemon juice and olive oil, giving it a bright, refreshing taste, accompanied with a nice and dilly tzatziki sauce. The shredded lamb on top was moist and tender, but lacking in the flavour department.

Monday, September 10, 2012

Family Friendly Tutti Frutti - Eat In Eat Out Feature

Aditi taste testing for us
As a bovine of leisure, one of the biggest obstacles I’ve had to overcome this past year is thinking outside my comfort zone in order to find suitable places to spend time with one of my favorite fellow bloggers, @michpetersjones of The Tiffin Box. I must admit up front that I don’t usually have to think of anyone other than myself, and don’t have many friends with little humans – otherwise referred to as children. So my usual inclination when picking a place to spend time with someone who has a wee one in tow is to say, “Let’s go for coffee!”

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Nectarous Nomad Mobile Kitchen

Crack and Cheese
It appeared that I was probably the last person I know to try Nomad Mobile Kitchen. Although I had heard how fantastic their Crack and Cheese was, I hadn’t had much opportunity to try them out until 124 St Grand Market opened up.

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

No Peace to be Found at Hotel Arts

Hotel Arts
The humans third wedding anniversary was coming up and in previous years, they never did anything to celebrate other than go out to eat. This year, I was determined to get them to do something different, romantic, and relaxing, such as getting away. Originally I thought that Banff or Lake Louise would be nice destinations, but no matter how hard I searched, I couldn’t find a hotel room that they could afford. I hadn’t been to Banff since I was adopted from the Cows there, so I hadn’t a clue that hotel rooms there are generally over $200 per night! Given that they would also have to spend money on a car rental to get to and around either destination, since we don’t own a car, spending at least $600 for 3 nights, and likely another $200-300 for a car rental was too much to spend before they’d eaten or done any activities.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Jack's Grill - Another pricey misadventure (CLOSED)

Prosecco to start
Jack’s Grill is another one of those places that whether or not they've been there, people list off when you ask what’s a nice place to take someone for a special occasion. Although we have had very few hits and mostly misses when it comes to food related Groupons, we figured nothing ventured, nothing gained, particularly since we knew a meal at Jack’s Grill would be pricey regardless.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Dissatisfying Sicilian Pasta Kitchen

Bruschetta
Perhaps eating at Corso 32 has forever ruined me and I’m incapable of judging other Italian restaurants fairly. Or perhaps I'm overly critical of pasta dishes because to do them well they don’t have to get over complicated with it. After dining at Sicilian Pasta Kitchen Downtown, I couldn't quite figure out how they had been around for as long as they had. This place has been around as long as my humans have lived in downtown Edmonton, which is about a decade now. They'd never had the inclination to dine here, but were invited to dine with a group of people, so I tagged along.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Zaika Indian Bistro - Sleek and delicious Indian buffet

So much food!
Located in the heart of Summerside, Zaika Indian Bistro doesn’t look like much from the outside. On the inside however, it looks nothing like your typical Indian restaurant. With black banquettes, a sleek dark interior, and a circular metal buffet area in the middle of the restaurant, they are trying to make things as modern as possible.

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Welcome changes to Taste of Edmonton 2012

Bacon Bomb
Although I was unable to attend the media launch for this year’s Taste of Edmonton to hear about the new food, restaurants, and aspects they were adding to make this year’s festival new and interesting for long time attendees, several of my fellow food bloggers (Only Here for the Food, beyondumami, What Would Argenplath Pay?, and The Tiffin Box) were able to attend and write about it.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Mooliciously Addictive Gourmet Girl Cookies

Sarah Masters Phillips - Evil Genius
The evil genius behind a new cookie vendor is Sarah Masters Phillips, sous chef at Highlands Kitchen. With a penchant for baking, particularly cookies and other comforting desserts (see my post about how she taught me to make scones), she wanted a way to share her passion with others and came up with Gourmet Girl Cookies. Her mooliciously addictive treats are currently available Wednesday nights at the Southwest Farmers Market, as well as bake to order. 

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Tutti Frutti Invades Southgate Centre

Sleek new Tutti Frutti Southgate location
Tutti Frutti opened its second location in Edmonton, this time at Southgate Centre. Located in a store front just around the corner from The Bay, this location is smaller than it’s original Edmonton location, but has a sleeker look. Although the wall of frozen yogurt machines is clad in the same baby blue plexi like material, the orange ceiling, and crystal red chairs add eye-catching and refreshingly different bits of color.

Thursday, July 26, 2012

The 2 S's at Khazana

A little bit of everything
We had never been to Khazana, but seized the opportunity to try it when a Groupon went on sale, even though our Groupon experiences have been hit and miss. Although the Groupon explicitly stated it wasn't valid for the buffet, the host steered us toward it, without even offerring us any menus.

Sunday, July 22, 2012

ATCO Gas Cook Off

Competitors - Phil Wilson, Teresa Lin and Michelle Peters Jones
This year, Events Edmonton decided to spice things up by tapping into the growing food community on social media by hosting a cook off between food tweeters and bloggers at the Taste of Edmonton, in conjunction with the ATCO Blue Flame Kitchen. The theme for this cook off was the best food truck entree using Albertan products supplied by Safeway.

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Haweli Groupon A Miss

Mystery dips with bread of some ilk
It had been years since either of us had been to Haweli, and neither of us had been there other than during their lunch buffet. So we decided to buy their Groupon and make a dinner time visit. Upon arrival, it was obvious they were trying to drum up more suppertime business as there was only one table occupied in a very large space when we arrived. Although most places we go for Indian food wind up being buffet style, we welcomed the opportunity to order from the menu and not stuff ourselves silly for once. Even though we weren’t 100% certain of what everything was, we picked a few things that sounded familiar and went from there.

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Pinkberry Arrives - Frozen Yogurt to the Stars

Pinkberry Grand Opening!
Pinkberry held their grand opening at West Edmonton mall on Thursday, July 12th. To celebrate, they hosted both a VIP and Media preview, as well as free customer sampling.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Humdrum at Continental Treat

Lamb chops with spaetzle
We had heard many things about Continental Treat Restaurant from friends and family, and had recently bought a Steal the Deal for the restaurant to give us an excuse to try it out. The evening we went, we went with a friend whose family is Czech, and although she had never dined there herself, was interested in seeing how it would measure up to her mother’s food.

Their menu was quite large and took a while to peruse, but we all managed to settle on different menu items so we could try a little bit of everything. Their portion sizes are not to be underestimated, as they are all quite large. However there was a theme to the evening other than large portions, and that was unfortunately that most of the food was bland. 

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Three Boars Eatery - Far From Boarish

Duck Rillette
Tucked away in the Garneau area, Three Boars Eatery focuses on providing a variety of beers as well as small plates of food made from fresh, local ingredients. It has a pub type atmosphere in a small space, unencumbered by the usual trappings of a pub such as the large wooden bar and a dark space.

Their menu changes on a regular basis, at least weekly if not daily. So be prepared to be adventurous, if you had a favorite dish on one visit, it might not be there on the next. They also have a large offering of beer, as well as other spirits.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Malcontented at Moriarty's Bistro and Wine Bar (CLOSED)

Uncomfortable chairs
Moriarty’s Bistro and Wine Bar is located in the heart of downtown. The décor is elegant and seating is split into 3 types: tables and chairs, booths, and bar height tables and stools. Although I normally prefer to sit in a booth, their booths were all occupied that evening, and we were seated at a table instead. This was unfortunately the start of a very uncomfortable evening for us. The chairs, although elegant looking, felt like plastic lawn chairs, but our server quickly informed us that they were very expensive, $600 designer chairs by Philippe Starck. If there’s anything I’ve learnt is that designer items might be pretty, but they’re often form over function, or in this case comfort. It doesn't matter to me how pretty the furniture is if it induces pain, it is not for Moo. The chair was immediately uncomfortable for the male human, who often suffers from lower back issues, but we hoped that the meal would be quick enough that he wouldn’t have to suffer for long.

Sunday, June 24, 2012

The Search for English Scones and Clotted Cream

Double Devon Cream
If you haven’t read my post about having High Tea at Claridges Hotel in London, England, then you probably don’t know that I’ve been absolutely obsessed with scones and clotted cream since returning from Europe in 2010. We have been on a quest ever since to find or make something similar. Unfortunately store bought scones in Canada are not the same as you find in the UK. Biscuits are the most similar thing we have in Canada to an English Scone, but they are not as flaky and tend to fall apart more easily than scones. Many people don’t understand what an English Scone is and think that those hard, dense, flat, and dry lumps of dough they call scones at most coffee shops are scones. Let me tell you that you are sorely mistaken and are missing out on the light, fluffy, flaky, moist goodness that is a traditional English scone!

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Over Indulgence

Indulgence, A Canadian Epic of Food and Wine is an annual fundraiser put on by volunteers who are part of the local food and wine community. Ticket sale proceeds go towards supporting the Junior League of Edmonton food-related programs. Top chefs from around Edmonton are paired with Alberta food producers and VQA wineries in order to create food and wine pairings utilizing local ingredients. The cost of the event is covered by participating restaurants, producers, and wineries.

Chef Andrew Cowan (Hundred Bar & Kitchen) and I = Matching Chefs Outfits



Wednesday, June 6, 2012

No Bake Lemon Cheesecake - For the Lazy Baker

Some of you might know that I’m not much of a cook, I can however bake. So whenever I have to go to a potluck, I’m usually the first to volunteer to bring a dessert. At @foodkarmablog’s recent Street Eats themed potluck, I opted to bring my no bake lemon cheesecakes, since they’re small, easy to eat and could potentially be something sold from a dessert food truck.

A few tips and tricks for you:
  • Ensure you buy lemon Jello and NOT lemon pudding. Sometimes at the grocery store the packages look the same and they stock the wrong item in the wrong place.
  • Let the cream cheese sit out on the counter for about an hour before you use it to make sure it reaches room temperature. This makes for a much smoother cheesecake.
  • Once you’ve combined the lemon Jello with hot water, make sure you let it sit until its room temperature or else you will wind up cooking the cream cheese. If you don’t have the time or patience to let it cool naturally, just stick it in the fridge for about 15 minutes.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Venturing Outwards to Vivo Ristorante

Caprese Salad
Located far southwest in a complex full of shops, restaurants, and cafes, Vivo Ristorante has been the talk online. A sleek and modern restaurant, it’s filled with large booths, dark wood contrasted by bright red seating and an open kitchen where you can watch the action.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Sumptuous Slow Food Gala

Swag!
Put on by Slow Food Edmonton, the Slow Food Gala took place at Prairie Bistro at The Enjoy Centre on Saturday, May 5th, bringing together the best chefs in Edmonton to work together to create a spectacular 8-course meal.

Chefs were tasked with making courses that highlighted a local ingredient, and each course was paired with either wine or beer.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Support Drift


Support Drift Food Truck!
Support Local Business!

The Story

Drift Food Truck has been regularly parked on 108 Street and Jasper Avenue since last season. A few short weeks ago, they showed up at their regular spot to find that they could no longer park there due to construction.

After working with their Street Vending Coordinator, they were able to relocate quickly to a spot on 100 Ave and 108 Street. Although they only park there 3-4 times a week, a nearby business owner has been complaining to both the City of Edmonton and to Kara and Nevin Fenske – the owners and operators of Drift Food Truck daily.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Mr Moo's Adventures First Year Anniversary

At Lux Steakhouse, picture by @Dudleydavid
Even though this blog has existed longer than a year, it didn't officially become a food blog until a year ago. May 13 is a day that changed the course of this blog and my life forever. That is the day that I met @thepolishviking in person, and she encouraged me to continue my blog as a food blog, as it brought a unique perspective that seemed to be unexplored in the #yegfood blogging scene - that from a bovine and a faux fur.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Other Calgary Eats and Treats - Coffee, Donuts, and Pastries

Phil & Sebastian Coffee Roasters

Beautiful Latte Art
A local artisan coffee shop, Phil & Sebastian Coffee Roasters is a homey place that makes a might fine cup of coffee, complete with coffee art. With two locations, one in Marda Loop, the other in a far-flung corner of Chinook Mall, it’s worth seeking them out.

The lattes they produce are spot on with perfectly steamed milk giving it just a hint of sweetness, topped thick rich foam and adorned with beautiful latte art.