Games Day

A scene in The Break-Up sees a group of thirty-somethings gather to play board games. This seemed to me like a rather dry idea, but maybe there’s more to it than that, as I participated in my own “games day” of sorts today.

Piling over to a coworker’s house, we played Cranium Pop 5 and Scene It, both of which are new to me. I have played the original Cranium before, and didn’t enjoy it as much as I should have, likely because my desire to win was challenged by my inability to rock the “humdinger” and “sculpturades” categories. Because of this, the Pop 5 version is more up my alley; instead of being assigned a manner of dissipating the clues, you and your team are given a choice of methods (which yes, can be influenced by the answer category and points strategy, but still).

Scene It, a game that combines trivia with visuals, audio, and video, was great fun as well. Although movie knowledge is not my forte, the multimedia-inclusive design was novel, stimulating, and appealed to the pop-culture-infested side of my brain. I’d definitely give Scene It: TV Edition a try!

I wonder if a game rental service exists, as the price is an obvious deterrent to collecting too many games. Like Bag, Borrow or Steal, the company where purse-aholics can pay a monthly charge to “rent” designer bags, someone should start a business where a monthly membership fee grants customers the right to borrow from a catalogue of games.

Regardless, games night anyone?

Real men make quiche, too

It seems that I am on a baked egg kick. On the heels of my frittata experiment last month, I enlisted the help of a friend and his spacious kitchen (in that order, of course) to test out a Better Homes and Gardens quiche recipe.

We opted to use frozen pie shells (why make from scratch what can be purchased “off the shelf?”) and chose smoked turkey breast as our filling ingredient. Like frittatas, “mix then bake” was the order of the day. Everything on the recipe was straightforward, even though we did prematurely combine the cheese and the flour with the wet mixture. Honestly, the most difficult part was waiting for the quiche to cook; nearly fifty minutes passed until we decided the egg had set enough to eat.

A photo of the finished product is below; it’s safe to say I’m pretty proud of our creation! We paired the quiche with a simple romaine salad (it seems that grape tomatoes taste infinitely better when you know the pint cost $4), but I think a vegetable or tomato soup would have worked just as well as a side. Next time, I would also consider adding a layer of cheese on top of the quiche before baking for extra flavor and texture.

Needless to say, I can now add quiche to my growing repertoire of cookery.

Quiche x 2

Plated and ready to eat! (Disclaimer for foodies: we knew white would have been the more appropriate wine pairing, but we only had red on hand…)

These boots are made for walking…

I am not sure how often I will post about “fashion,” but the early days of my blog are a good time as any to forgivably experiment with topics.

The city has been hit with what seems like continuous snowfalls since mid-October, so since I do quite a bit of walking outside, I thought a pair of winter boots would be a good investment for me. Now that I’ve had a pair for the better part of three weeks, I can’t imagine how I got along in Edmonton winters without them.

These Kenneth Cole Reaction “Jonely Lonely” boots are actually my first pair of adult winter boots, a far cry from those pink and purple, velcro-fastened monstrosities I was forced to wear in childhood. This pair is not only functional – essentially flat and only calf-high – but they have also quickly become my workday and weekend staple, with the ability to complement both dress pants and jeans with ease. Although the grip could use some improvement, I have been able to walk to and sit at work in comfort. All hail practical purchases!

Kenneth Cole Reaction “Jonely Lonely” boots (image from macys.com)

Urban Diner

Just returned from brunch with a few of my girlfriends in celebration of a birthday. We went to Urban Diner (12427 102 Avenue), located in the upscale High Street district. I have been there for dinner on several occasions, but this was my first taste of their breakfast menu.

We went in without reservations, so we had to wait about twenty minutes for a table. Although the time went by fairly quickly, I would advise calling ahead to book a table, as there isn’t really a proper waiting area set up in the restaurant.

I love the feel of the place – the staff are friendly, the dining room is clean and bright, and the food is comfort-oriented. Above the cash counter hangs a chalkboard advertising their daily specials, ‘shakes, and wine; I think it’s a nice touch.

Besides coffee (a must!), I ordered the frittata (with sausage, bacon, spinach, portabella, peppers, tomatoes, leeks, swiss & mozza, served with Diner potatoes and toast). My friends chose the smoked salmon bennie (with basil pesto, roasted bell pepper, spinach, cheddar & cream, served with grilled French bread and Diner potatoes).

Given that the restaurant seemed especially busy, the food was quite prompt. I’m a sucker for novelties: the frittata arrived in its own mini cast iron pan! I’m not sure how many eggs they used, but I can say I was rather stuffed at the end of it. Still, I wouldn’t really call the dish a ‘frittata’ per se; it is more aptly termed ‘scrambled eggs and then some.’ I am also happy to report that thankfully, I did not taste the leek!

Urban Diner never disappoints; I highly recommend it for brunch or dinner!

The quaint view from the window

Smoked salmon bennie

Frittata

Doan’s Restaurant

Vietnamese pho has long been a favorite of mine, with southside’s Pagolac (9642 54 Avenue) claiming my vote for pho supremacy in Edmonton. However, I decided to put that title to the test when I visited Doan’s Restaurant (10130 107 Street) with a friend on Friday night.

Doan’s has consistently won See Magazine‘s annual readers poll for “Best Vietnamese.” And though I once sampled their pho in a take-out order, this was my first dine-in experience to date.

The decor is a classic case of Asian misinterpretation of Western flair. Although the pink walls, solid wooden tables and seat covers are nice enough, the palm trees (yes, I said palm trees) and Oriental art accents create an apperance of trying too hard. To underscore this point, the water was served in wine glasses.

To eat at an Asian restaurant without tea is a foreign idea to me, so we ordered a pot of green tea ($2). We were surprised to find they used a tea bag instead of loose leaves or steeped tea. Pagolac, on the other hand, offers a brewed variety, and doesn’t charge for their tea.

We decided to start with a half plate of cha gio (spring rolls) while for the main course, my friend settled on Pho Dac Biet (special beef noodle soup with brisket, medium rare beef, well done beef, and beef balls) and I ordered my usual Pho Tai (medium rare beef noodle soup).

The food arrived promptly. The sping rolls were crispy and not greasy, but my friend noted that they were smaller than their Pagolac counterparts. As for the pho – it was simply delicious. The broth was rich and flavorful, with enough cilantro garnish to keep me happy. They were also extremely generous with the portions – the bowl contained noticeably more noodles and beef than Pagolac’s version. So for approximately $1 more, Doan’s offers the better value.

Though I enjoy Pagolac’s laid back atmosphere and free tea refills, the quality of the food at Doan’s gives Pagolac a run for their money. I’ll definitely be back for another round.

Palm trees!

Pho Dac Biet

Pho Tai

“Studio 60” Reprieve

I was getting ready to write a post titled “In Memoriam: Studio 60” when NBC officially granted the flailing drama a full season on Thursday.

I loved Aaron Sorkin’s previous effort, The West Wing. I quote the show incessantly, compare moments in real life to scenes in an episode, and talk about the characters as if they were actual people. But that’s it – the world Sorkin created was so rich, so palpable, and so true that it’d be a wonder if the audience wasn’t affected in such a way. The characters were three-dimensional, not stock in any sense, and developed gradually over time. Moreover, the political forum was a medium that allowed issues to be brought up and debated, so education ended up an appropriate and inadvertent byproduct of the show.

By contrast, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip seems to be on a mission to force the viewers to not only like the characters, but also to bow down to high-brow television too. The show’s “Big Three” are part-stereotype, part-political touchstone: Harriet is the liberal Christian entertainer, with values that continuously conflict with Hollywood expectations; Simon is the black comic who grew up in the ‘hood, with interest for equal representation behind the scenes; and Tom is the young actor from the Midwest with a brother in Afghanistan and parents who don’t understand his career decision. Critics and the general public alike have chastised the show for being too pushy and pedantic, overindulgent in its adoration for itself. Who really cares about the ratings of a sketch-comedy show, or whether or not a politically incorrect piece makes it on air? Whereas West Wing‘s POTUS dealt with an assassination attempt, impeachment, genocide and terrorism, NBS network chief Jordan McDeere frets over censors, negative publicity, and signing the next bit hit.

Despite my criticism, it hasn’t been all bad. My favorite scene so far is a tender moment between Matt and Harriet, the show’s will-they-or-won’t-they couple, underscored by a lute version of Sting’s “Fields of Gold.” Lovely.

I will continue to watch simply because it’s Sorkin. However, I do hope that the talk about the show coming down from its pedestal is true – Studio 60‘s longevity depends on it.

Tim Hortons’ Breakfast Sandwich

On Sunday morning, I finally made it to Tim Hortons to try their new hot breakfast sandwich, which I haven’t stopped talking about since seeing the advertisement (it appears that they allow their Canadian customers to have their sleep and eat too, offering the sandwich until noon on weekends but only until 11am in the States).

I have always been a fan of the Sausage McMuffin at McDonald’s, but if I had to compare English muffins with biscuits as a base, the latter would win every time. For this reason, Tim’s sausage sandwich is my clear favorite. It is marginally bigger than the McDonald’s version (with 60 more calories), but at $2.49 plus tax, it’s fairly pricey; for that amount you could almost buy an entire meal at McDonalds. Still, it would be well worth the occasional “splurge” when you’re craving a cheesy, egg-tastic treat to start out your day.

For the record, my dining companion consumed both the sausage and bacon versions, and claimed he felt “sick” afterwards. Weak.

Understand that I never intended on taking a photo that seems to undercut the appeal of the sandwich…

Theatre: “Lost in Traffic”

Following dinner, we headed to the Myer Horowitz Theatre at the University of Alberta (8900 114 Street) to watch Quebec-based Theatre Parminou‘s production of Lost in Traffic. The purpose of this interactive, social activist play was to: “increase public awareness of the traffic of women and children.”

Four very versatile actors and one “game leader” presented various scenarios involving the trafficking of women, including: a sly American attempting to convince a young girl to leave her home to become an international model; a lonely man about to head abroad to marry essentially a mail-order bride; and a matriarch defending her decision to isolate and contain her foreign-born housekeeper for decades. In between anecdotes, the game leader would step on stage, either to provide more information, or in some cases, stopping the action altogether during the scenes themselves in order to poll the audience for possible interventions to prevent the trafficking from occurring.

I really liked the set design that involved five wooden trunks used as props throughout the show. They visually represented the theme of displacement, and can even be seen as a metaphysical reference to the theatre group’s own nomadic travels as they bring the show to campuses across the country. I also found the play to be appropriately educational, such as the 2004 change to the exotic dancer immigration clause.

The game leader was an interesting concept, and although I realize the rationale for the role was to encourage audience investment by allowing for the illusion of influence and control, a more effective means to this end would have been a complete storyline where the audience could build empathy through more natural processes.

Moreover, it seemed to me that the scenarios boiled the subject of trafficking down to stereotypical character profiles on both sides – the innocent-girl-turned-prostitute, the housemaid who cannot speak the language, and the stubborn Canadians who refuse to believe that the problem exists on North American soil. Of course, my own knowledge is limited, so who am I to say that such common beliefs don’t actually reflect realities? Still, at times, the production felt like a play written to fulfill the requirements of a class project.

In the end, I was expecting suggestions or ideas on how we, the public, could help with the prevention of human trafficking. Unfortunately, the bottom line provided was just to ‘spread the word’ and to advocate on behalf of those without voices. Yes, it’s now left in the hands of the audience, but I would have appreciated something more concrete than “speak.”

Ricky’s All Day Grill

Two friends and I visited the Ricky’s All Day Grill in Edmonton City Centre Mall (10200 102 Avenue) before heading out to see a play on Saturday night. With four locations in the city and another on the way, it’s surprising that none of us had eaten there before.

The restaurant is brightly lit, with funky multicolored light fixtures on the ceiling and 50’s-inspired art on the walls (perhaps harking back to the safety, security, and family values of times past?). The menu features breakfast items (pancakes, waffles, and omlettes, ohmy!) served daily until 4pm. As someone who has a penchant to sleep in, I can say that I will be back one afternoon for brunch.

I ordered the vegetarian teriyaki bowl (stir-fried veggies with teriyaki over oriental noodles). City counselors are always encouraging for the growth and development of facilities in the downtown district, and really, for suburbanites to stay or play downtown after hours, the service and selection must be superb so people will overlook parking complications and other difficulties. Know too that although I am a great advocate of the downtown experience, if I am allowed to use this one occasion at Ricky’s as an example of what the core has to offer, I am certain no one will be flocking to the area anytime soon. Not only was the waiter slow at taking our drink and dinner orders, but the kitchen also got my order wrong (they included chicken in my dish).

Sure, the portion was a decent size, and there was a fair balance between the noodles and stir-fry, but our dinner was rushed and thus rather unpleasant because of the poor service.

When I do try Ricky’s again, I will be heading to one of the other locations.

50’s-inspired art

Teriyaki bowl

Homefire Grill

Last night, a friend and I had dinner at Homefire Grill (18210 100 Avenue). I read about the restaurant a few months ago in Vue Weekly, but hadn’t yet had the opportunity to check it out.

The dining room itself is painted in mute autumn tones, which helps to evoke the cozy atmosphere the name suggests. On the other hand, perhaps I’ve been brainwashed by too many Restaurant Makeover viewings, but eateries that attempt to cater to every possible crowd often end up diluting their overall quality. Homefire Grill seems to suffer from such an identity crisis. While the menu lends itself to family-friendly meals, and the Navajo-inspired symbols that adorn the walls, sconces, and drop lamps provide a dash of ‘mom’s kitchen kitch,’ the fireplace centrepiece and room-wide dim lighting create an environment more aligned with adult dining (I find food to be quite the afterthought in these reviews. Who knew I’d be more interested in the aesthetics?).

There were some interesting menu options (the “nice little salad” for one, and the buffalo meatloaf which I will surely return to try), but I settled on the country ham and pineapple pizza while my friend chose the Singapore sling stir-fry.

Although the pizza was somewhat tasty (the hickory smoked bacon flavored the generous topping of cheese quite nicely), the soggy crust prevented it from any elevation above the fare available in most high school cafeterias. The beef in my friend’s stir fry was seasoned and grilled to perfection, but a lack of noodles and the use of frozen vegetables led to a dish that left much to be desired.

We split a creme brulee for dessert (actually quite unusual for me…all of my meals typically begin and end with an entree). Instead of the torched sugar we expected, the brulee was topped with a thick layer of caramelized sugar. It definitely took some effort to break through the coating to reach the disappointingly cool custard beneath. I’m not enough of a creme brulee expert to know what they did wrong, but the dish was disappointing, to say the least.

Reading over this review, I acknowledge that it appears I had a negative experience – and that wasn’t the case. Our waiter was polite and attentive (he even took the time to tell us about Mick McGeough’s blown call), and I would definitely recommend this restaurant to adults who are looking for a quiet, comfortable dinner venue. Next up on my return trip: buffalo meatloaf!