Month: May 2008

Like Wok Box, Only Better: Thai Express

After picking up some flowers to bring to Felicia’s commencement at the Jubilee, I stepped down to the food court at the City Centre Mall looking for a quick bite to eat before the ceremony. I headed straight to Thai Express, tucked beside Good Buddy just underneath the stairs. I noticed it a few months ago, and thought it looked exactly like a place I visited while in Vancouver last year. Turns out, Thai Express has locations all over Canada – I had no idea.

Between the curries, the soups, and the stir-fried rice and noodles, I decided to opt for my standard order of Pad Thai ($5.59 for the vegetable option). Being the only one in line had its advantages – my dish was freshly prepared in under three minutes, and absolutely smoking hot when I opened the box at the table. The staff were super-friendly, and as a peanut lover, I appreciated the container of crushed peanuts available to customers to self-garnish their orders.

Though I adore the Chinese take-out box packaging, I think it is meant more for things like dry ribs or fried rice – dishes where it isn’t necessary to thoroughly mix the dish first; it was a bit challenging to ensure that all of my noodles were evenly coated with sauce which had accumulated at the bottom of the box. Unlike Wok Box though, where I find the vegetables included to be quite sparse, this serving was chock full of bean sprouts, green and red peppers, onions, broccoli, carrots, and baby corn.

So for the price, the portion size, and the efficiency at which my order was processed, I’d visit Thai Express over Wok Box again any day, even sans coupon.

Freshly made-to-order

Boxed and ready to eat!

Pad Thai topped with peanuts

The Cooking Chronicles: Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Many moons ago, Mack’s Grandma, upon finding out about our cooking experiments, gave us a copy of a recipe she thought we might like to try – Kelly Ripa’s Red Velvet Cupcakes. We never did get around to the recipe, but with the advent of her 75th birthday celebration, I thought it might be nice to make them for her as a gift.

After looking over Ripa’s instructions, I wasn’t sure about the strawberry juice addition (typical red velvet recipes ask for food coloring instead), so I looked up alternatives that didn’t give me a bad feeling. I came across Paula Deen’s Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting, and being the Food Network fan that I am, decided to use that recipe instead.

I made two modifications that may have influenced the final product negatively. First, I doubled the amount of cocoa powder asked for (to 2 teaspoons instead of just 1), as I wanted a stronger chocolate flavour. Having never made red velvet anything before, I wasn’t sure if this change was what prevented the batter from being red (it was a striking magenta color). Secondly, I used extra large cupcake liners instead of the recommended large ones, meaning that the cupcakes had to stay in the oven longer than the 20-22 minutes listed. As such, the tops and the sides of the ‘cakes turned an unsightly brown color – my immediate reaction after taking them out of the oven was a cry of “They’re so ugly!” I was hoping to cover up my mistakes with frosting.

The cream cheese frosting turned out well (I cut the icing recipe in half; I find I always end up with way too much), with the quantity being just enough for the 12 cupcakes. I dotted the tops with rainbow rounds (my original idea of dusting with a “75” stencil fell through), and hoped for the best.

Grandma Male really liked them, and remarked on how moist they were, with just a hint of cocoa taste. Though the sides of the cupcake were obviously brown, the insides were a shade of dark pink, and played off the colorful sprinkles and white icing nicely. I wasn’t a huge fan of the slightly-sour frosting (I prefer the cavity-sweet kind), but both Mack and his Grandma enjoyed it.

These are an interesting variety of cupcake that I would make again…without the impromptu recipe modifications.

Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

June is for Festivals

It’s been a while since I’ve put together one of these, but here are some upcoming events of interest (many, if not most, are free of charge to attend) in River City.

  • I’ve been meaning to tag along one of the free Discover Downtown Walking Tours since the Downtown Business Association started the promotion a few years ago, but it’s difficult given the weekday hour. At any rate, if you can spare some time during the day, these one hour tours will be offered on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 1-2pm starting June 2 – August 20.
  • The Edmonton Film Society continues their “Ye Olde British Comedy” series through to mid-June. Just $5 a screening!
  • The first ever Creative Age Festival, which runs June 2 – 8, highlights “arts and aging by showcasing arts-based workshops, performances and events, including special film screenings and an Arts Café”.
  • From June 4 – 7, the Dreamspeakers International Film Festival will celebrate the best of Aboriginal films through screenings, workshops and events.
  • Heart of the City: Music & Arts Festival 2008, a community celebration of the diverse music and arts scene in the city’s downtown core, is taking place on June 7 at Giovanni Caboto Park (95 Street & 108 Avenue).
  • Take some time to meet with local producers on June 8 & 9, for the Spring Time Family Drive, where 10 farms open their gates to the public for tours, children’s activities, and shopping. The Summer Family Drive will take place in early August if you can’t make it in June.
  • The now Epcor-sponsored NextFest, taking place June 5 – 15, features 10 (plus the gala) days of performances, visual art displays, and more.  
  • The annual Pride Awards kick off the always spirited Pride Week 2008: Unmasked and OUTrageous. Lunches, film screenings, and of course, the celebrated parade can be attended between June 13 – 22.
  • I had no idea this year would see the 11th incarnation of the City’s River Day, being held on June 14 this year. Free family events include a pancake breakfast, paddling sessions, fishing lessons, and boat demonstrations, all at Rundle Park.
  • Also on June 14 is the Hermitage Park Family Fishing Event – for $5/family, you can fish away!
  • Improvaganza, Rapid Fire Theatre’s annual improvisational comedy festival, runs June 18-29 at the Varscona Theatre. Tickets are $10 for each show (with the exception of the Grande Finale), but there are two pay-what-you-can, family-friendly shows on Saturday afternoons.
  • National Aboriginal Day celebrations will be taking place from June 18 – 24, with everything from drumming performances, art displays, and outdoor barbeques to take part in.
  • The noted Edmonton International Jazz Festival runs June 20 – 29. Though most of the concerts require paid tickets, there are a number of free outdoor events and workshops to look forward to as well.
  • Art lovers have probably been looking forward to the June 20 – July 2 Works Art & Design Festival all year.
  • Airfest, billed as an “aviation extravaganza” has been growing every year, and will be held on June 22 in 2008. Check out the Alberta Aviation Museum website for updates.

Have fun!

EDIT: an ad in Vue Weekly reminded me about a festival I forgot to include: June is also Bikeology month, with drive-in movies, mocktails mixed by blenders hooked up to bikes, and free tune-ups. Check out the website for full details.

The Scent of Summer: Fat Franks

Ubiquitous in the warm months on street corners all over Edmonton’s downtown core, Fat Franks is a bonafide Edmonton establishment. In addition to 8 trailers stationed at Canadian Tire stores, 11 outdoor stands covering territory from High Street to the Law Courts, a Whyte Avenue location open 9 months of the year, there are two year-round operations: one at the River Cree Casino and another in Commerce Place.

I didn’t know about the Commerce Place location until recently, when a piece in Avenue Magazine caught my attention in December. It turns out it opened in October 2006, and has been satisfying customers ever since.

Some hot dog trivia (from a board at the back of Fat Franks):

  • “Hot Dogs” were first introduced in 1904 at the St. Louis World Fair. The name “Hot Dog” comes from the early NY City vendors who used to yell out “They’re hot, get ’em while they’re red hot”
  • Mustard is the most common condiment used on hot dogs
  • Fat Franks has served over 1 million hot dogs since 1995. That’s 3 million feet if put in a straight line; 134, 000 Kilos of meat, 113,000 kilos of bread & 32, 500 kilos of mustard!

Walking into the food court this afternoon, I almost missed Fat Franks – they really should have flashier signage, or at the very least, use all of the banner room provided above their space.

I took some time to peruse their menu. All of their hot dogs are made with 80% beef and 20% chicken (and no by-products). I had the choice between a Junior Dog ($2.60) to an Avenue Dog ($4.85) with bacon and cheese. I went somewhere in between with my order of a Jumbo Dog ($3.60). A variety of smokies were also on the menu, including honey ham, jalapeno & cheddar, and Italian, all priced under $5. Sides of fries were also available ($2-3), though after seeing their morning offer of a breakfast sandwich with grilled egg, bacon or sausage links and cheese, I almost wished it was still early.

The friendly attendant had my hot dog ready in seconds. I’m not too keen on toppings (I think it takes away from a really juicy hot dog), so with a little drizzle of ketchup, I was done. Before I left, I made sure to get a “Customer Appreciation Card” stamped – buy 10, get 1 free. I’m not sure I’ll be back often enough to warrant carrying a card in my wallet, but I should have asked whether or not it was valid at the various outdoor locations as well.

I sat down at one of the tables next to the window and inhaled the fragrant scent of a grilled hot dog – it is a smell that easily transports me to campfires and backyard barbeques. Between the toasted, crispy bun, the slightly charred dog, and the sweet tang from the ketchup, I was thoroughly satisfied.

While I’d probably have to have two dogs to make it a proper meal, one indoors was enough. Next time – I’m hitting up the carts.

Fat Franks in Commerce Place

Jumbo Dog

Revisiting Sobeys Urban Fresh

Quite a lot has been written about the recent opening of the European-style, small-scale Sobeys Urban Fresh supermarket (10404 Jasper Ave). Most, if not all comments, are positive.

Sobeys Urban Fresh

Space-saving shelves for produce (they also sell baby versions of most vegetables you can think of)

Dried mushrooms…in bulk!

Don’t get me wrong – there’s lots to love about a pedestrian-centered, neighbourhood market emphasizing the use of only the best ingredients. But then there are some things that I’m not so sure about, or at least, prevent me from patronizing the store more often.

The Good

  • For someone who doesn’t drive, not having to navigate a massive parking lot to get to the front doors of the store is definitely a positive.
  • Small portions, such as beef patties sold in pairs, or bread sold by the slice (29 cents/100 grams), are perfect when you only need enough for one or two.
  • I’ve mentioned them so many times I wouldn’t blame the average reader for thinking I have shares in Greens, Eggs and Ham, but in conversation with Mary Ellen the week before, she said the fact that their products will be stocked year-round will help their farm a lot. I am sure that the promotion of other local products (such as coffee from St. Albert’s St. City Roasters) is helping with citizen recognition of what Alberta has to offer.
  • Perhaps a more personal compliment – I love the wide counter spaces in the Bistro that overlook Jasper Avenue. Though the patio is great, the well-lit windows on the world provide a comfortable work area. Armed with a cup of coffee, I could easily read or work the afternoon away there.

 

Coffee from St. City Roasters (and very girly stationary)

  • I think the homage to the past (present in the menu page discussing the origins of the Cecil Hotel, the original building at that site, and the black and white print of the hotel displayed just above the fireplace in the bistro section) deserves recognition, particularly for this area of downtown. With the word “revitalization” being thrown around so often, I think it is important even for a city as young as Edmonton to pause and acknowledge its history.

 

Jasper 104th Bistro (the print of the Cecil Hotel is on the right)

The Bad

  • An article about Sobeys Urban Fresh that appeared in the Edmonton Journal just before the store opened indicated that this location had a partnership with the City Centre Market. If that “partnership” is limited to simply opening up its side doors, what’s the point? At least, that is all I’ve seen so far, two weeks and two trips on Saturday to 104th Street and Jasper Ave.
  • Despite the fact that Sobeys is closer to me from my office, I have chosen to trek to the Save-On Foods on 109th Street instead on several occasions to have access to a larger selection. Particularly when I don’t know the meal I’m putting together, or am not sure which specific brand I am going to pick up, having options is more handy than a shorter distance to walk.
  • I’ve been to the Sobeys quite a few times, and have found it much too busy for my liking. Bustling and vibrant it is, but to be honest, I’d actually prefer shopping late at night to avoid the crowds if given the choice. And though there are areas in the store that are wide open (Bistro, bakery, produce), the small canned and boxed goods section have narrow aisles that make it difficult for two people to peruse opposite sides of the aisle at the same time. A tad too claustrophobic for my liking.
  • I’m a sucker for self-serve checkouts, and feel quite competent with them in supermarkets. So with the limited number of tills at Sobeys, and the relative speed I can get through the check-out process at Save-On (where I have never stood in a line to wait for a self-serve machine), it should be no surprise that Sobeys loses out on this as well.

The Interesting

Lastly, I’ve found no mention of the difficult dilemma and reconciliation of the two sides of Sobeys Urban Fresh. A store that proudly supports the organic, sustainable and environmentally-friendly (demonstrated in their produce, products sold, and reusable grocery bags) is the same store that generates massive waste from their one-time use packaging in the deli.

Perhaps it’s a “pick your poison” type of mentality – I know I keep my nylon shopping bag tucked in my purse at all times, but at the same time, I don’t think twice about using a disposable coffee cup.

At any rate, I do think this is a contradiction of sorts that should be getting some kind of play in the media.

Ready-to-eat options from the deli

It’s not fair to say I won’t be back to visit Sobeys Urban Fresh (I love how 104th Street is developing) but if I am in need of a meal or groceries, you will probably find me at Save-On instead.

The Best Weekends are Fresh: City Centre Market

This post is coming a bit late, covering our trek to the City Centre Market on its opening day of May 17, but as the market is open every Saturday, from 9am-3pm (rain or shine!) until Thanksgiving, there’s no excuse for you not to check it out!

 

Market Day

We started the day with brunch at my favorite pre-market haunt, Blue Plate Diner (10145 104 Street). It was filled to the brim, but they managed to clean and clear a just-vacated table for us almost immediately. While I originally thought I ended up with a dish outside my usual repertoire, it turns out my order of the Pancake Breakfast ($11.50) was the exact dish I ordered back in September – after my last trip out to the market. Mack decided on the Eggs Benny ($12), and of course, we both asked for coffee to start us off.

The kitchen was on an absolute roll, so despite the packed house, our food did not take long at all. The pancakes were great – giant by any comparison, they were thick and fluffy, perfect for sopping up the real maple syrup supplied on the side. Mack liked his benedict for the most part, though wanted the dish, particularly the hollandaise, to have been served a little warmer.

Pancake Breakfast

Eggs Benny

Full and ready to walk off some of our morning meal, by the time we got back out to the market (104 Street, between Jasper & 103 Avenues), it was already past 12:30pm. And as they say, only the early bird gets the worm, so many of the popular vendors had already sold out of their wares.

“Sorry, Sold Out”

Luckily, one of my favorite vendors – Greens, Eggs and Ham, had plenty of duck eggs still, and I picked up a few for my Mum. Mary Ellen Grueneberg was super-friendly, as always, and said that the piece that Judy Schultz did a few weeks ago resulted in many calls – from interested employees, pet owners, and of course, those keen on their duck products.

Greens, Eggs and Ham truck

Doef’s Greenhouses also had a beautiful array of tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and cucumber (all grown year-round) that looked so tempting, especially in the face of the winter vegetable remnants sold at stands next door. As with most growing seasons though, things will look up in just a few short weeks – with fresh berries, beans, and corn just around the corner.

Tomatoes!

Vegetables!

For those with a green thumb, there were plenty of potted plants available as well, though really, I can’t wait for the spicy edible flower salads from Inspired Market Gardens.

Plants from Inspired Market Gardens

Between the entertainment and the stalls, the samples and the snacks, there is lots for everyone to see. Mack, however, was waiting to pounce on the mini-doughnuts, and was rewarded for his patience.

Live music

First doughnuts of the season

Mack savours the last one

City Centre Market

There’s just nothing like a Saturday at the market.

Quotable People: Installment Thirteen

  • “I like a friend the better for having faults that one can talk about.” – William Hazlitt
  • “The best of life is conversation, and the greatest success is confidence, or perfect understanding between two people.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
  • “The road to a friend’s house is never long.” – Danish Proverb
  • “Friends are those rare people who ask how we are and then wait to hear the answer.” – Ed Cunningham
  • “We are not the same persons this year as last; nor are those we love. It is a happy chance if we, changing, continue to love a changed person.” – W. Somerset Maugham
  • “Friends are like windows through which you see out into the world and back into yourself…if you don’t have friends you see much less than your otherwise might.” – Merle Shain
  • “The greatest good you can do for another is not just share your riches, but to reveal to him, his own.” – Benjamin Disraeli
  • “Friends do not live in harmony merely, as some say, but in melody.” – Henry David Thoreau

Random Notes

  • Liane Faulder (Judy Schultz’s replacement for the weekly Journal Bistro column) published her first few articles this week. She chose the theme of senses, focusing on a select few restaurants that tempt the palette with visual glory, sensual aromas, and textural pleasures, as well as an additional piece on a restaurant in France that serves food in the dark. It’ll take a while to really understand her style, so I’ll hold out judgment for a while.
  • Both Giada and Ina will have new shows on the American Food Network. I hope it isn’t too long before it will air on the Canadian side of FN!
  • This is probably old news by now, but Gordon Ramsay might be the next superstar chef to break ground in Vancouver. Urban Diner cites numerous sources that Ramsay is in talks with Holt Renfrew to open a restaurant in their store.
  • Via Chow, a very cool collapsible coffee cup made with the commuter in mind.
  • Though I missed the television airing of House‘s fourth season finale, I managed to watch it on Thursday. Oh, Wilson.
  • I’ve watched a few movies over the last month or so, some worth remembering, and some not at all. Iron Man was surprisingly good (Robert Downey Jr. was the perfect choice for the titular character), and P.S. I Love You was a disappointment (I couldn’t wait for it to end). And of course, the countdown to Sex and the City begins!
  • At the drugstore, I came across bags of Skittles I’d never seen before – Skittles Chocolate. Each package comes with five flavours: S’mores, Chocolate Pudding, Chocolate Caramel, Vanilla and Brownie Batter. Why mess with the rainbow?
  • I tried an Iced Brewed Coffee ($2.15 for a tall) at Starbucks on Friday. It’s apparently just double-strength coffee, iced, with a few pumps of syrup, but for some reason, it’s a lot better than most of the iced coffees I’ve tried – slightly sweet, but still a strong enough coffee taste that wasn’t diluted too much even with the melting ice cubes.

Enjoying an Iced Brewed Coffee

The Cooking Chronicles: Inspired Spinach Salad

At a Sunterra-catered dinner a few months ago, I had one of the best salads I’ve ever had the privilege to try. Atop a base of spinach greens sat sliced white mushrooms, bits of real bacon, a sprinkle of parmesan cheese, and hard boiled eggs. The dressing of choice was a poppyseed raspberry vinaigrette. Much to my dismay, Sunterra doesn’t offer this specific salad in their deli, so on Saturday, I set out to duplicate it the best I could.

I copped out on the vinaigrette, opting to use store-bought Kraft Extra Virgin Olive Oil Signature  Red Raspberry Dressing, and to make life even easier, I used pre-washed spinach greens. Four sliced mushrooms, one crumbled bacon strip, a dash of grated parmesan, and two sliced hard boiled eggs later, my salad was assembled.

The eggs provided the needed protein to an otherwise light dinner, and the bacon added a lovely crunch and flavour boost. While the dressing wasn’t as good as Sunterra’s from-scratch dressing, the salad as a whole was quite good. This would make a great take-to-work meal.

Inspired Spinach Salad

Chinatown: Treats from my Childhood

Besides easy access to reliably inexpensive eats, my newfound proximity to Chinatown also allows me to relive my childhood. Through food, that is.

While the growing diversity of Edmonton’s population means ethnic products are readily available at some major supermarkets, nothing beats the selection and one-stop-shopping convenience at an Asian grocer.

I ended up at 99 Supermarket (10768 99 Street) on a random weekday recently, and was amazed with all of the treats I stumbled upon that I used to consume voraciously as a child.

I always find such colorful displays missing from Western supermarkets

The incredibly tempting cookie aisle – death for dieters to visit

I once handed out Pocky, thin chocolate (or strawberry, or vanilla, or…)-coated cookie sticks to my coworkers one Christmas. Though most of them hadn’t heard of Pocky before, I think the friendly packages are capable of bringing a smile to anyone’s face!

 

Nearly everyone in my elementary school class had one (or two) of these savoury cookie packages in their lunch kits every day. Satisfyingly salty, crunchy, and light, they’re like a Chinese equivalent to a rice cake. Asian producers definitely had the pre-sized snacks down pat ages ago.

 

Death to those with a peanut allergy, these caramel-coated pieces are a sweet, filling alternative to the more prolific sesame cookies. Made with peanuts, they also taste more substantial.

And who could forget the chip selection?

 

Our receptionist once stashed a family-sized bag of these shrimp crackers at her desk. Needless to say, they were gone within the day.

 

More oily and less crunchy than shrimp crackers, cuttlefish snacks just magically melt on your tongue. You’ll just have to try it and see for yourself.

Of course, relatively healthy snacks exist at the supermarket as well. One example are the packages of preserved mandarin peel. My sisters used to love to chew on these tangy bits of fruit – a bag can be head for just 69 cents!

Preserved Mandarin peel

Lastly, in the drinks aisle, I came across Milk Tea. Separated into individual, one-glass servings, the dry mix contains coffee, sugar, and milk powder. Iced, the sweet drink is perfect to be sipped out on a patio on a warm summer evening.

Milk Tea

Now that I know what is available just a few minutes away, it will be awfully difficult not to simply run over to one of the supermarkets every time I have a craving for a treat from my childhood.