Coffee Shop Character: Sugar Bowl

After pho, Bettina and I were on the hunt for dessert. Our first choice was Leva Capuccino Bar in the University area, but it turns out to have shut down! It’s currently being renovated under a new name.

Thus, our second choice, thankfully located nearby, was the Sugar Bowl (10922-88 Avenue). I have quite a biased opinion of this cafe, with nostalgic affection connected to my first visit there. It involved a meeting with online (yes, online) fans of Billy Boyd, just prior to his appearance at the Garneau Theatre a few years ago (and no creepy pedophiles showed up).

The Sugar Bowl could be considered a younger, edgier relative of the Blue Plate Diner. I have always loved the decor – exposed brick, aged hardwood floor, roughly sanded tables, pendant lighting. On the downside, I have never been impressed by their service, as it has consistently proved to be mercifully slow, but on most occasions, I am willing to overlook it for its cozy cultivation of conversation.

When we arrived at 8, the room was about half full. By 9:30, however, it was packed, with groups of diners even patiently awaiting a table at the bar. We also found that as the night progressed, the lights were dimmed and the music volume was increased, with the song list switching from rock in favor of more techno-flavored tunes, making the atmosphere more in line with that of a bar.

Keeping it light, I ordered a vanilla hot chocolate and a Sugar Bowl Soufflé (made with Callebeaut chocolate). The hot chocolate came with a bit of a wait, and was lukewarm, but had a creamy, smooth vanilla flavor. The soufflé, on the other hand, took ridiculously long to make. When it finally arrived, more than thirty minutes later, the waitress apologized, saying that the order was tardy because the first one “collapsed.” Seeing the final product, I wondered what the previous creation looked like. Overturned on the centre of a square plate, and dressed with a shake of powdered sugar, I wasn’t sure what to make of it. I had never before had soufflé, so I was not a seasoned judge, but to me, the consistency was a cross between a pudding and a half-baked cake. The cocoa flavor was rather weak, actually, and I could have done with more tart confectioner’s sugar to supplement the dull, uninspired taste.

I can’t say I won’t be back, but it would likely be to sample their entrees instead.

Vanilla Hot Chocolate

Sugar Bowl Souffle with Callebeaut Chocolate

Quick but Dirty: Pho Hoa

On Thursday, Bettina and I went to Pho Hoa (9723-106 Avenue) in Chinatown for dinner. It has been years since I dined here, the last time being sometime in high school right after its grand opening. Nothing negative resonates with me from that experience, but this time, I’m sorry to say it left quite the impression.

First of all, trying to enter the restaurant was an ordeal in itself. There were several doors, all but one marked with faded, handwritten signs, or sealed shut with packing tape. Once in the dining room, we were abruptly seated with a curt nod and menus deposited at a random booth – the kind of turn-your-back service seemingly common at Chinese ethnic eateries.

I must say – the owners really let the place deteriorate. The seats and floors were dirty, and table legs were steadied with wads of paper napkins. Lighting was poor, with peripheral seats near the windows left in the dark with poor placement of overhead fluorescent bulbs. And though it must have been the same way all those years ago, I had forgotten about the communal chopstick and soup spoon jar. Still, with one glance at the rest of the place, the utensils begged for a personal scrubbing with the tea, Hong Kong style.

The waitress clearly had a low English proficiency. When asked, with the aid of hand gestures, about the thickness of the steak, her reply was “No.” Similarly, a clarification about the vegetables included in one of the dishes was left unanswered as well. Needless to say, ordering by number came to be quite handy. I did find the menus amusing though, with pictures and descriptions about the types of soup bowls offered; essentially, it was “pho for dummies.” I ordered the Pho Bo Vien (noodle soup with meatballs), while Bettina chose the Pho Tai (noodle soup with eye round steak).

One positive – the food did arrive lightning quick, definitely in less than five minutes. The portion size was noticeably smaller than Pagolac’s version, but even more egregious – the soup base was nearly flavorless. My friend had to resort to hoisin sauce as an additive. To me, the broth had an odd aroma that I couldn’t quite place. And no, I don’t think it had anything to do with beef.

We had chosen Pho Hoa on a whim. Not surprisingly, we won’t make that mistake again.

One shining example of a table in need of repair…

Pho for beginners!

Pho Tai

Pho Bo Vien

Deliciously Affordable: New Asian Village Lunch Buffet

A few girlfriends and I went to the new Strathcona Square location of New Asian Village (9808-34 Avenue) to try out their lunch buffet. I’m not a huge fan of buffets (unless I’m not paying) as I typically cannot eat enough to make the cost worthwhile. Thankfully, today’s meal was a mere $9.95; pennies for pounds of food!

Having only been open for three weeks, the restaurant still looked brand spanking new. Accented with Indian antiques, the dining room decor is subtle but effective – dark woods, red drop lamps, and corner booths draped with organza fabric. The buffet area is well designed, occupying one side of the room, and pointed to an obvious directionality. Hot dishes stewed in basins with sliding lids, and were the most functional yet stylish containers I’ve ever seen at a buffet.

There were over fifteen hot dishes available, including naan bread, saffron rice, chicken kadai and beef curry. I can’t remember the name of my favorite dish, but it used the same sweet, flavorful sauce as the butter chicken. Although a few curries were too spicy for my taste, the quality of the food was excellent, and even more amazing when the price is considered.

For dessert, I tried the rice pudding, but quickly put my serving aside, as there was a rather strong hint of ginger mixed in. The mango custard, on the other hand, was quite nice – light, and had a nice cooling effect after ingesting a variety of strongly seasoned meats.

The service was great, though I would caution the waitress about immediately telling about the “plumbing problems,” and out-of-order washrooms, which happened as soon as we sat down at our table. As our glasses of drinking water were delivered soon after, we weren’t sure if we should trust the water quality (we’re paranoid, what can I say?).

Despite the bathroom hindrance, New Asian Village is definitely worth a look. Be sure to check out their lunch and dinner ($14.95) buffet specials before it’s too late!

Cozy booths (with low, sunken cushions)

Table setting

Coconut display

Buffet set up

My (first) plate

Rice pudding dessert

Mango custard

Us!

Theatre: “Oh Susanna!” Christmas Special

On Saturday night, Mack and I watched the Oh Susanna Christmas Special at the Varscona Theatre. I had been looking forward to this since Eros and the Itchy Ant in November, so I’m glad I was actually able to make it. From the website:

“Oh Susanna! is Edmonton’s own Euro-style variety show, playing monthly since 1999 in Strathcona’s improv comedy hot-spot, The Varscona Theatre. Antics, music and spectacle abound, guided by international glamour-gal Susanna Patchouli (Mark Meer) and her co-host Eros, God of Love (Jeff Haslam). Watch as celebrity guests engage in sparkling conversation and high-spirited competition! Delight in the shenanigans of the Compania del Mambo! Thrill to the tunes of the Oh Susanna Jug Band! All this…and cocktails!”

I thoroughly enjoyed the show – it was an evening filled with lighthearted fun and laughs (Susanna came out in a forest green velvet mini-dress, announcing that she was, “A Christmas elf…who also happens to be a prostitute”). Meer and Haslam were fantastic as their alter-egos; both were quick witted and had phenomenal ad-libbing ability.

Susanna and Eros were accompanied by a large supporting cast, and in my opinion, they represented Edmonton’s “Theatre All-Stars.” There were appearances by Davina Stewart, Sheri Somerville, Jocelyn Ahlf, Andrew MacDonald-Smith, Celina Stachow (visiting from L.A.), Farren Timoteo, Dana Andersen, and my personal stage favorite, Andrea House. The who’s who in attendance extended off-stage as well, as I saw Stewart Lemoine flitting about the theatre, and even now Vancouver-based Chris Fassbender in the crowd.

I definitely felt like I received my money’s worth, as the show included many entertaining segments:

Cooking with “Girls on the Grill,” where every member of the audience received a sample of turkey buttie, essentially the sandwich equivalent of a full turkey dinner: roast turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy and cheese, all contained within the confines of grilled bread (at intermission, there were glasses of “one arm punch” and eggnog available to drink as well).
The talk show element that discussed current events, after which I could not get the image of premier-elect Ed Stelmach-as-Muppet out of my head.
Several musical performances, including a beautiful rendition of “First Noel” by House, and a hilarious Wham! tribute of “Last Christmas.”
A cute Stewart Lemoine playlet, Christmas in Patagonia, featuring Timoteo, brilliantly cast as “Toddler Jesus.”
An interview with two Edmonton expats now living in Toronto, back to reprise familiar roles in A Christmas Carol at the Citadel. One of these men, Larry Yachimec, happens to be the star of the Westjet commercial as the clueless patron who required channel guidance from an observant stewardess (he did the laugh!). Obscure fact: the commercial was filmed in an airport hangar in Hamilton, Ontario.

My only negative comment was in regards to the burlesque performance, which seemed tacked on and out of place (I was even more horrified when I found out there were young children in the crowd…). And though I was disappointed with the lack of “The Game! The Game!”, it provided me with an excuse to return in the new year.

There were many in-jokes for those in-the-know audience members (like the line spoken in raucous unison, “I don’t want to go to jail looking like this!”), as well as numerous self-plugs for projects cast members were involved in. This I didn’t mind, as part of the point of this production was to shamelessly lend support to other artistic endeavors in the community.

I can’t remember the last time I had so much fun at a show. Though Oh Susannah! has been on for seven years, I still feel like I stumbled on one of the city’s best kept secrets.

Christmas Buffet: Sutton Place Hotel

This afternoon, my organization held it’s annual holiday party. As was the case last year, our lunch was held in one of the meeting rooms in the Sutton Place Hotel (10235-101 Street), with access to the Grande Ballroom where the main buffet was set up.

At $26.50 per person, it may seem pricey on the outset, but considering the type of food available, and the upscale elegance of the setting, it is fairly reasonable. The menu included roast turkey, baked salmon, beef tourtiere, and a variety of cold seafood platters. Although the spread was similar to last year’s offerings, I do believe the quality had much improved (granted, the mere act of conjuring up superlatives to describe this year’s lunch may have colored my perspective slightly). In particular, I found myself favoring the cheese perogies and carved ham. For dessert, I chose a slice of chocolate mousse cake (incorrectly labeled “double chocolate”), and as Rachel Ray would say: “Yum-o!”

Props to my coworkers who had created a Christmas-themed Jeopardy game to follow our meal. It was incredibly well put-together, with questions sampling Yuletide songs, pop culture, and charades.

Overall, it was a fun and relaxing way to spend an afternoon away from the office.

Table setting

Buffet line up

My plate!

Chocolate mousse cake

Unremarkable and Without Identity: Kelsey’s

My friend and I went to Kelsey’s (3203 Calgary Trail Southbound) on the southside for dinner last night. We wanted to go someplace casual, and Kelsey’s was a compromise between my pick (Blue Plate Diner), and his (Earl’s).

Kelsey’s is part of the Cara Family of food services, which also includes Second Cup, Milestone’s, Swiss Chalet and Harvey’s. This was my first time in this particular chain, and when asked to describe it, my friend remarked that the restaurants have a remarkable resemblance to Boston Pizza. After eating there, I would have to agree. But whereas, for example, Homefire Grill had an apparent identity crisis, Kelsey’s simply has no identity.

The main difference between the two (besides Howie Mandel’s overly obnoxious television spots) is that Kelsey’s’ “your neighbourhood bar & grill” tag automatically gears it towards adults, while BP’s “you’re among friends” is more all-around family friendly. My assessment is also supported by the decor in Kelsey’s. Dark, and not as well-lit and inviting as the neon-colored, Hollywood-postered Boston Pizza, it evoked a lethargic atmosphere more suited to twenty-four hour operations like Denny’s. This particular location seemed to showcase its lounge as well, as the main door opened up to reveal an elevated bar, flanked by two separate, smaller dining rooms on either side.

The menu had the requisite new-age salads, pastas, sandwiches, and grill items that are par for a casual dining course. I will say, however, that their “complete classic meal” was quite a steal – an appetizer, entree, and dessert for a few dollars more than the regular price of a main. I couldn’t pass up such a deal, so I ordered the Balsamic Chicken (two boneless chicken breasts marinated in garlic and spices, grilled and topped with a balsamic garlic cream sauce, served with garlic-mashed potatoes and vegetables), and a cup of broccoli cheddar soup to start. My friend opted for the build-your-own Chicken Fajita.

Our food arrived after an abbreviated delay, served by a waitress that reminded me of Kristin Chenoweth, all kinds of bubbly and grown-woman cute. My friend’s fajita came with much fanfare – a large platter containing, among other things, a sizzling plate of sautéed onions, bell peppers, and chicken. Four tortilla wraps didn’t seem like enough, but my friend didn’t complain. My soup was better than average; it was nice to see the serving topped off with fresh cheddar. On the other hand, the chicken was nothing to write home about, especially now that I’ve experienced 4th and Vine’s fabulous hazelnut garlic rub. The potatoes were a little on the runny side, and though the vegetables were good, steamed zucchini and broccoli shouldn’t be the best part of an entree.

We split my last course – the chocolate marshmallow truffle (chocolate truffle with marshmallows on a cookie crumb crust with white and dark chocolate, topped with real whipped cream). It’s a shame I was still sick, because the combination of truffle, crushed cookie, mini marshmallows, chocolate sauce and whipped cream was a Goldilocks dessert – not too sweet, but just right.

It’s hard to know if I’ll be back at Kelsey’s, because I was left with absolutely no lasting impression. It would be difficult to recall this restaurant in times of hunger.

Restaurant interior

Chicken fajita

Broccoli cheddar soup

Balsamic chicken

Chocolate marshmallow truffle

Reliable Standby: Swiss Chalet

My family and I had supper at Swiss Chalet in South Edmonton Common (2203-99 Street) this evening. Not glamorous but comfortable, Swiss Chalet is among my favorite casual dining spots – affordable, with a good menu, consistent quality, and friendly service.

We snagged seats in the lounge, as the dining room was buzzing with a typical frenzied Friday night crowd. Had I not been fending off a cold, I would have gone with my predictable selection of chicken pot pie, but today, I opted for the chicken quesadilla with a side of chalet chicken soup.

Though our food arrived after a longer wait than usual, I was happy with my dish. The portion size was larger than I expected, with four generous slices each packed with a healthy dose of chicken, cheddar cheese, onions and bell peppers. The soup was great as well – hot, flavorful, and filled my psychological need for chicken broth.

I hope to be well enough to enjoy an order of chicken pot pie soon!

Chicken club wrap with fries

Chicken quesadilla with chalet chicken soup

Not My Cup of Tea: Mikado Restaurant

As any restaurateur is well aware, lunch is the best way to more inexpensively sample an eatery’s fare. So although I am not a fan of Japanese food, I thought I’d give the southside Mikado (1903-98 Street) a shot this afternoon with my Mum.

I have to admit to being impressed by their decor. Designed to reflect a simple elegance, the dark wood and leather furniture, accented by cream-colored square and geometric lanterns aspired to offer Asian cuisine within a Western framework and expectations. Fronting the kitchen lay a full-service sushi bar, with uniformed chefs visibly at work. The waitresses too were costumed, complete with satin kimonos and tatami sandals. Non-descript flute and piano-heavy instrumentals streamed from the speakers.

In addition to regular tables and booths, patrons also had the option of renting private rooms. Before we left, my Mum and I asked for a brief tour, which they willingly obliged to. I must confess the kitschy part of me was enthused at the idea of eating at a low table, seated on the floor in a traditional manner. But that’s to buy into cookie-cutter culture, right?

We had heard that Mikado served lunch specials, but when questioned about these, the waitress merely pointed to the menu she had given us, and said that the specials were the Bento Boxes, priced lower than they would be at dinner. Balking at the idea of eating sushi, I settled on the Beef Teriyaki (beef slices, vegetable stir fry, rice), while my Mum decided on the A-1 Bento Box (sushi, sashimi, mix tempura, chicken teriyaki, salad, rice).

While we waited for our food, we enjoyed several cups of brown rice tea. Stronger than the jasmine tea they typically serve in Chinese restaurants, we marveled later on at how hot the brew stayed throughout our meal in the seemingly magically-insulated plastic teapot.

My Mum’s order came rather quickly, although I had to wait at least another five minutes for my own dish to arrive. Needless to say, for the price ($12.95), she wasn’t floored with her Bento Box. She said she much preferred the version available at Banzai (4608 Calgary Trail).

As for the Beef Teriyaki – to begin with, I was expecting a larger portion for $12.95. Although the beef itself was tender, the slices were bathed in oil, whereas I was hoping for more teriyaki sauce. The chopped cabbage, carrots, and broccolli were fine, but lacked pizzazz. And like my Mum, I knew of a better deal sold elsewhere – the Tokyo Express beef bowl.

Yes, I acknowledge that the higher prices paid at Mikado are for the atmosphere, but personally, I favor the dine and dash variety of Japanese cuisine offered at Tokyo Express.

Sushi bar

Booths

Cup and teapot

Bento Box

Beef Teriyaki

Upright Consistency: Doan’s Restaurant

I haven’t yet decided if I’m going to “repeat post” about restaurants I’ve already reviewed, but in this case, I do have some new pictures, so it is worth blogging about.

Following the Festival, a few friends and I went to Doan’s Restaurant, which I first wrote about in October. I’m quite uninspired about what to add to my previous review, but I do think this translates to a positive remark about Doan’s, as the service, food quality, and ambiance all remained consistent.

However, even though the dining room itself is better taken care of, and the portions are larger, I still consider the southside Pagolac my favorite Vietnamese restaurant in Edmonton. Pagolac is like a friend’s basement – I feel comfortable sitting back, and enjoy the conversation that flows and is facilitated by a casual atmosphere. Because of the decor at Doan’s, I am conscious of the need to sit upright, as the environment dictates more formal behavior.

Perhaps the way to go is Pagolac for dining in and Doan’s for take out?

Dining room

Tea (still a rip off, but I used my “emergency tea bag” to make the pot stronger, without just asking for free hot water)

Wonton Soup for one (isn’t it cute?)

Combination Grilled Beef Plate

Pho Tai for me (as always)

Festival of Trees

A friend and I headed to the Shaw Conference Centre for Edmonton’s annual Festival of Trees event tonight. In support of the University of Alberta Hospital, the Festival showcases hundreds of decorated trees and offers live entertainment, shopping, and activities for children. I am ashamed to admit that although I’ve lived in the city all my life, this was my first time at the Festival. When I asked my sister about the impression she garnered from volunteering last year, she said, “It’s fun if you have kids.” Well, I have no kids to speak of, but this seemed like a way to ease into the Christmas season that did not involve listening to carols streaming from store speakers.

The Hall is indeed beautifully decorated, with an arrangement conducive to allowing for easy access and movement between displays. Groups of trees dotted the middle of the room, separated by wide, maneuverable aisles, while organized children’s activities such as card making and cookie decorating occupied the periphery. A stage, seating area, and concession lay at the far end of the room, with the perfunctory gift shop located near the exit. Whomever designed it definitely had parents and young children in mind though, as there are benches scattered throughout the space.

The trees being the main attraction, we wove through the displays, each selecting our favorites. The “theme” trees stood out the most, as by the end, individual tress began to morph into a generic cloud of tinsel, multicolored lights, and crystal ornaments. I had a soft spot for the Fringe Theatre Adventures creation, but my personal award for originality goes to the makers of the only “upside down” tree.

Despite taking in a brief highland dancing performance and exploring the gingerbread houses and hospital discovery area, we were finished our rounds in an hour. I am glad that I attended this year, but I have to agree with my sister’s assessment about the Festival overall: it would be more fun with kids.

Entering the Hall