Occupations:

Charles – boot boy maker (Boot Boys are machines that clean the bottom of shoes in curling rinks, rec centres, factories, etc.)

Marianne – student/part time Sobey’s Bistro server

What did you eat today?

We each had a latte and muffin at Da Capo for breakfast, sandwiches and veggies at a family gathering for lunch, and a lemon-rosemary-thyme-garlic roast chicken with potatoes and veg for dinner.

What do you never eat?

Charles: raisins, peanut butter, pineapple, mac and cheese, cheese on its own (it has to be cooked on pizza, pasta, etc.)

Marianne: raw tomatoes – I’m good with having them cooked in sauces or hidden in other cooked dishes, but something about the taste and texture of them raw puts me off.

What is your personal specialty?

Charles: Pecan squares; tuna casserole and souffle

Marianne: vegetarian chili

Complete this sentence: In our refrigerator, you will always find:

Butter (salted tub for use on toast, bagels, etc. and unsalted bar), eggs and milk, a couple cheeses (usually gouda, something else and Parmesan), raspberry jam, peanut butter (for Marianne) and Maple Syrup

What is your weekday meal standby?

Charles: ground beef or cubed steak stewed with onion, Paprika and other spices with pasta

Marianne: some sort of pasta and tomato sauce (we make the sauce) or a veggie stir-fry with some rice noodles

What is your favourite kitchen item?

Marianne: the Microplane – I love it for lemon zest, Parmesan and nutmeg

Charles: it’s all about the knife holder man ("The Ex")

World ends tomorrow. Describe your last meal.

Lots of different Pale Ales from around the world and the coconut curry sauce from Culina Mill Creek but on fresh calamari. Charles would go for a good piece of fresh salmon or some type of meaty fish, and I would love a big bowl of fresh PEI mussels in a white wine and garlic sauce as well as a chunk of baked brie or goats’ cheese, some really good bread, a bowl of baked yams with a bit of maple syrup and lots of nutmeg, brussel sprouts and some Thanksgiving stuffing with lots of raisins in it. Dessert would be the "sample platter" from Social in Ottawa (carrot cake, chocolate cake, creme brulee, crumble and cheese cake).

Where do you eat out most frequently?

Blue Plate Diner for dinner and Leva or Da Capo for espresso/coffee

What’s the best place to eat in Edmonton?

We loved Red Ox Inn when we were there for Fork Fest this year – the service and food was fantastic.

If you weren’t limited by geography, where and what would you eat?

Neither of us has spent much (if any) time out of Canada, but right now, we would likely head to Montreal or somewhere in that area.

Charles: fresh Montreal bagels, Shwartz’s smoked meat, Beaver Tails with maple butter

Marianne: at the moment, I just dream of freshly caught sea food (especially shell fish), then I would be good to go.

Charles and Marianne blog at Loosen Your Belt and Eat Around Edmonton.

Occupation:  Insurance Adjuster

What did you eat today? 

Breakfast: Muesli Scone & Earl Grey tea

Lunch: Strawberry yogurt with red grapes & a banana

Dinner: Planning on making katsudon (rice bowl with breaded pork cutlet).

What do you never eat? 

There really isn’t much I NEVER eat. I don’t eat chicken that often, and I only eat packaged baked goods under duress. They just taste like chemicals to me.

What is your personal specialty? 

I’m not sure I have one – maybe cakes?

Complete this sentence: In my refrigerator, you will always find:  

margarine, cheese (parmesan & 1 other kind), eggs, plain yogurt, water, sake, Pimm’s, nori, maple syrup, dijon & wholegrain mustard, jam/marmalade, dashi granules, curry paste, natural peanut butter, tomato paste, pesto, spinach or lettuce, pickles, onions, carrots, apples, and usually an open bottle of white wine.

What is your weekday meal standby? 

I don’t really have a stand-by. If I don’t feel like cooking, I’ll take some leftovers from the freezer or have toast for dinner (healthy, haha). I usually plan my meals in advance and they vary a lot week-to-week because I hate eating the same thing all the time.  

What is your favorite kitchen item? 

Rice cooker, hands down.

World ends tomorrow. Describe your last meal.

I would either like to go to a 3 michelin star restaurant and have a super long, many course meal… or it would be a ridiculous combination of all my favourite foods – yorkshire pudding & tuna sashimi & butter chicken & french beans & custard & bacon & chevre salad & miso soup & veal & greek salad & fried rice with tons of ginger… I could go on.

Where do you eat out most frequently? 

There’s not really one place – there are so many restaurants I’ve never tried so I like to switch things up. For convenience, I suppose I go to the Free Press Bistro or I Heart Sushi most often, as they’re both only a few blocks from my place.

What’s the best place to eat in Edmonton? 

I am definitely no authority on best places in Edmonton. The best place I’ve been recently is Characters, but I’ve never tried Red Ox Inn and there seems to be a consensus on it being one of the best.

If you weren’t limited by geography, where and what would you eat? 

I would go to Japan and try all the meals I’ve only read about; I particularly want to try basashi (horse meat). And if I could afford it would go for kaiseki-ryori (a multi-course meal in a traditional restaurant).

Brooke blogs at Take it and Like it.

Occupation:  Land Developer

What did you eat today? 

I had yogurt for breakfast with granola, flax seed and slivered almonds mixed in. I am going to New Asian Village for lunch, so I will eat tons of butter chicken and naan bread there (and a small token sampling of all the other dishes). My husband is making supper, so it is a mystery to me until I get home.

What do you never eat? 

I would say raisins, but I actually ate some in a salad I posted about while I was on vacation. I do not like them though, mostly because they remind me of bugs (they should never have told kids to eat ants on a log if they wanted them to LIKE raisins). I also don’t like processed cheese slices or cheese whiz or Velveeta because they creep me out a bit. I do eat most things though even if I don’t love them, if they are in a dish someone else has made.

What is your personal specialty? 

Things with peanut butter. People used to go nuts when I made peanut butter marshmallow squares – yes, the kind that are super easy and only involve four ingredients. I also do a peanut butter chicken marinade that seems to be popular. Other than that I think people like coming for dinner in hopes that they will eat something they wouldn’t make themselves.

Complete this sentence: In my refrigerator, you will always find:

margarine, milk, eggs, condiments (jams, ketchup, soy sauce, curry paste, pesto), cheese (usually four or five types), preserves (roasted red pepper, sundried tomato, artichokes), veggies, and frequently left overs. 

What is your weekday meal standby? 

I don’t really have a standby. Most of the time it is some sort of meat dish and some sort of veggie dish. Sometimes I will want something quick, so I go with a stir-fry or a pasta. In dire circumstances I make breakfast for dinner 🙂

What is your favorite kitchen item? 

My chefs knives (and santoku knife). They are super sharp and I love chopping things with them.

World ends tomorrow. Describe your last meal.

I would have to eat for hours! There would be lots of seafood, lots of cheese, and some curry. I suppose a good dose of peanut butter and chocolate would finish it off, and there would be wine with every dish, picked by someone that knows about wine, so not me.

Where do you eat out most frequently? 

I hit a lot of Indian buffets or sushi places for lunch, and for dinners I usually head downtown to one of the independent restaurants around. Some of my favorites are 4th and Vine, Red Ox Inn, and It’s All Greek to Me.

What’s the best place to eat in Edmonton? 

Right now I would have to say either Red Ox Inn or Sage (at the River Cree Casino), although Brooke raved about Characters after going there, I haven’t been recently enough to say.

If you weren’t limited by geography, where and what would you eat? 

I would go to Biarritz, France and see the woman that billeted my sister while she was there learning French, and just let her cook for me. When we were there she made us lots of food that was unreal, especially this one stew that had muscles and squid in it. It’s just great to eat local food done well by local cooks, and I like eating things that are different from what I usually make.

Courtney blogs at Take it and Like it.

Occupation: PR

What did you eat today?

Nothing yet, just Orangina.

What do you never eat?

Salmon, sardines, oysters, Kinder Surprise and white chocolate (none of the above are actually chocolate)

 

What is your personal specialty?

Sweet & sour spare ribs. Actually it’s my mom’s recipe, but it’s a big hit especially with plain rice.

What is your favorite kitchen item?

Chopper (hand or electric) to make fresh salsa. I just hate cleaning it. My one cup coffee maker also ranks quite high.

World ends tomorrow. Describe your last meal.

For sure I’d have gazpacho with croutons and tiny cubes of veges, beef tataki, beef carpaccio, a nice salad with misonaise dressing and the rest would probably be Mexican food, like a whole buffet when you go to a resort. I never eat this much, but what if the end is delayed…

Where do you eat out most frequently?

At work, in the NAIT Common Market or Bytes, just because it’s there. If I were to venture out somewhere I’d have a chicken Texas BBQ Ranch wrap with noodles at Badass Jacks.

What’s the best place to eat in Edmonton?

Just outside of Edmonton, there’s a restaurant in St. Albert called The Cajun House. It’s my favourite place to go because it’s cozy and the food is fantastic. Ernest’s Dining Room at NAIT for the Friday lunch buffet is also one of my favourites, when we can get in.

If you weren’t limited by geography, where and what would you eat?

I was going to say Paris for the cheese, but I think I’d probably go to the south of Spain to have some gazpacho and yummy tapas. Restaurants typically open at 9pm for dinner, which works great for my night owl schedule. (then I’d go to Paris for breakfast)

Occupation: Chief Hired Gun of Lealea Design.

What did you eat today?

Breakfast was two eggs and two pieces of toast. Lunch was a tuna salad sandwich. Dinner is broiled marinated lamb loin chops in red wine, garlic, onion and rosemary, with leftover whole wheat penne and some bottled generic tomato/basil sauce.

What do you never eat?

This is hard because I will almost eat anything. The one thing I will never eat is this Filipino “delicacy” called “balut” — it’s basically aborted duck egg. Seriously. Can I have my eggs unfertilized, please?

What is your personal specialty?

Probably chicken cashew stir fry. So easy. So tasty. 🙂

What is your favorite kitchen item?

My 8″ Global chef knife. Beautiful, light, and very functional.

World ends tomorrow. Describe your last meal.

It will be a buffet of mostly ethnic items. So I can have a little bit of everything, pause in between to settle, and eat some more. If a gun was pointed at my head and I really only had to have a 3 course meal: calamari to start, lobster and scallop linguine in a spicy rose sauce, and tiramisu.

Where do you eat out most frequently?

Double Greeting Wonton House. Rob (my hubby) and I always order their Wor Wonton, and then one other random item. One of the few places where you feel full and spend less than $20 that isn’t a pho or fast food joint.

What’s the best place to eat in Edmonton?

So hard to narrow down, but I will have to say Il Pasticcio is probably the best. Nice ambiance, comfy atmosphere, great service, good looking chefs — we like the fact that the kitchen is open to the public, and the head chef my sisters and I call Chef Handsome. Oh, and the prices are pretty decent.

If you weren’t limited by geography, where and what would you eat?

I think it would be fun to be part of a Hawaiian luau. First of all, it fits my wish of “buffet of mostly ethnic items” while it’s set in a beautiful beach during sunset outdoors, and lots of happy people. Mm, live pig roasts… and seafood!

Occupation:  Freelance writer, owner of Apostrophe S.  Mom to three.  Wife to one. Volunteer to many.

What did you eat today?

Poached eggs and corned beef hash, grilled gouda, avocado and red onion sandwich on ciabatta, Italian sausage and risotto with butternut squash. 

What do you never eat?

Green peppers and pork hocks, ugh.

What is your personal specialty?

Risotto of all shapes and sizes and cajun bread pudding.

What is your favorite kitchen item?

My lemon zester.  I heart it.

World ends tomorrow. Describe your last meal.

A big glass of Nk’Mip’s Meritage wine.  My husband’s fusilli with Italian sausage, fennel and red chilis.  My daughter Ella’s lemon meringue pie.

Where do you eat out most frequently?

I love Leva for their cappuccinos, pastries, gelati and lunch panino.

What’s the best place to eat in Edmonton? 

I adore Culina for special night out.  It is dark, intimate and very romantic.  The service is perfect.

If you weren’t limited by geography, where and what would you eat?

Ah, this is a cliché, but true – Italy!  Specifically, rural Italy, in a region called Abruzzo, on a little olive oil farm called Le Magnolie.  The Nonna of the house does the cooking, and it is simple, hearty, fresh and belissimo!  I am at her mercy, but hopefully she’d serve a big plate of antipasto, homemade gnocchi nestled perched on fresh tomato sauce and garlic, roast turkey with lemon and rosemary and warm pizzelles with homemade cherry jam.

Occupation: Marketing Writer

What did you eat today?

I suppose the easiest way to answer this question is with a meal-by-meal breakdown, so here it goes.

Breakfast: 3 Red River & Oats pancakes (I made these a couple of weekends ago and froze the leftovers; I just popped a few in the toaster this morning and had a good breakfast ready in just minutes), and a protein & fibre drink (made from hemp protein powder and water).

Snack: Unsalted, multi-grain rice cakes with peanut butter.

Lunch: It happens that you asked me this on a Thursday, and the company I work for buys lunch for the employees every Thursday. Today, a few of the guys here actually BBQed some steaks and hamburgers. I had a steak, Caesar salad, some raw veggies, and a Coke.

Snack: Organic braeburn apple…these are the best apples I’ve ever tasted.

Supper: I’ve been trying to eat healthier, lately, and to keep with that, I had a turkey burger. The patty was made from organic ground turkey mixed with some hot sauce, a bit of curry powder, and just a touch of garlic powder. I topped this with a bit of Dijon mustard and, instead of eating it on a bun, I wrapped it up in some organic lettuce.

I also had a salad, just some lettuce, mixed bean sprouts, and half of an apple (all organic). I tossed this with a reduction of Yukon birch syrup, red wine vinegar, and olive oil.

What do you never eat?

I try not to discriminate against food, as just about everything can taste good if it’s prepared well, but there are a few things I just can’t eat. The first is Brussels sprouts. I hated these as a kid, and just haven’t been able to bring myself to give them a second chance as an adult.

I also refuse to eat Twinkies. I mean, do Twinkies even count as food? I have never eaten one, and I’d like to keep it that way.

What is your personal specialty?

I like to think that I’m a pretty good cook, but I admit that most of my dishes are pretty simple. If I had to pick a specialty, it would probably be my beef stew. There isn’t really a recipe, so it’s a bit different every time I make it, but other than the odd comment about it being too spicy (I like hot food) I’ve never had a complaint when I’ve made it for other people. My old roommate once said it was the best stew she had ever tasted.

What is your favorite kitchen item?

Probably my slow cooker. That’s the real secret ingredient in my stew, as well as a lot of other hearty dishes that I like to make in the winter months. It’s even good for use in the summer, because it doesn’t heat up the apartment the way that the stove and oven do.

World ends tomorrow. Describe your last meal.

This is a tough one. I’m not sure I can pick just one meal. I’d probably end up eating as many of my favourite foods as possible. A few things that I’d definitely have to include would be: a thick, medium-rare steak; a bison burger; a “deluxe” pizza; a cold beer (maybe a Maudite or an Alley Kat Charlie Flint Lager); a glass of wine (a pinot noir of some kind)…

Then again, maybe I’d try something I’ve eaten before…some kind of endangered species, maybe. I mean, the world is going to end tomorrow, so what harm could it do to eat a bald eagle, right?

Where do you eat out most frequently?

I try to check out a lot of different restaurants, but I think I eat out at Cosmos most often. My girlfriend (Sara) and I both love Greek food, so we tend to visit Cosmos a lot. They have great food, and incredible service. We went to the Rice Howard Way location for Sara’s birthday and they actually comped her entire meal, all of her drinks, and bought her a glass of wine and a piece of cake. Needless to say, I left a good tip and we’ve been telling everyone about their great service.

What’s the best place to eat in Edmonton?

A lot of really great restaurants have opened up in the last few years, and Edmonton is really starting to become a great city for foodies, so choosing the best place is tough.

On top of that, it really depends what I’m in the mood for. Picking an overall best restaurant in Edmonton is not easy, but my personal favourite would probably be a place just off Stony Plain Rd. called Singapore Baba. It’s a small, Singaporean place, run by a husband and wife team, that serves enormous portions for very low cost, and the service is excellent. You feel almost as if you’re a part of their family while you’re there.

Unfortunately, the last I heard was that they had been forced to temporarily close because the wife was in the hospital recovering from a car accident. That was almost a year ago, and I haven’t had a chance to see if they’ve reopened. I have a feeling that, unfortunately, they were probably forced to close down permanently, but I hope not. Maybe I’ll drive down there sometime this week and see if they’re still in business.

If you weren’t limited by geography, where and what would you eat?

This is another tough one, but I think I’d go to Japan to eat genuine Kobe beef. About the only Kobe you’ll see in Edmonton is in burger form, but apparently a Kobe beef steak is the best steak that money can buy. Assuming I had the cash, that would probably be my pick.

Occupation:  Student/Grease Monkey’s Assistant

What did you eat today? 

All Bran bar for breakfast, Homemade Leftover Fajitas for lunch, fish and chips for supper, and wings at Hudsons

What do you never eat?

Cabbage, Eggplant, Most Milk Products (I’m Lactose Intolerant) and Citrus as I am allergic

What is your personal specialty?

I would say my personal specialty would have to be Tacos or Fajitas. As well I make a mean tuna casserole! Dessert wise I would have to say Sex-In-A-Pan!

What is your favorite kitchen item?

This is a hard one, I would have to say my cutting board and a good sharp knife.  Many creations are made there, just randomly adding new and different ingredients to things.

World ends tomorrow. Describe your last meal. 

My last meal would have to be Shake’n’bake chicken, really good Jasmine or Basmati Rice, and Asparagus tips, with Blueberry pie for dessert

Where do you eat out most frequently?

Um, I don’t think that I have a most frequently, I don’t eat out very often, however my favourite by far would have to be Arbys.

What’s the best place to eat in Edmonton? 

The Dish & The Runaway Spoon.  It is a little restaurant off of 124st downtown, and their creations there are just so appetizing and interesting.  Flavour combination is very original there!

If you weren’t limited by geography, where and what would you eat? 

I think that I would go to my parents house for sure! I love my dad’s cooking, I could be more extravagant however, I absolutely everything that my dad makes, and my mom’s baking is TO DIE FOR! She always makes the best desserts! I think I would ask my Dad to make his Shepherds Pie, and have my mom’s icebox cookies or Banana Bread!