Kingsway’s Radiant Reveal

While it took us a few months to finally visit the revamped Southgate Centre, because of the convenient scheduling of Kingsway’s  grand reveal, we were able to hop on a bus right after the Holiday Light Up to join the festivities at the mall.

Kingsway all decked out for the holidays

In particular, I was curious about the premiere of their Twilight Spectacular, billed as “Western Canada’s first light show” – over 100,000 LED lights synchronized to seasonal music. At 7pm, a crowd gathered at the main west entrance (next to the food court) and waited for the event to begin. Just above us, on the second level balcony, someone was delivering a speech to VIPs who were given access to a prime viewing location upstairs – it was strange that the mall authorities didn’t think the public who came out for the opening also deserved to be a part of the welcome and introduction.

After a chorus of singers opened the show, the lights dimmed. As rock versions of popular carols blared, a suspended coil-shaped Christmas tree, strings of vertical lights and star-shaped orbs flashed to the music. It’s a novel entertainment installation, but it wasn’t what I expected – perhaps if the show had been spread out over a larger area, or if animated scenes were played out somehow in lights, it would have been cooler.

Twilight Spectacular

The show will begin after dark and run every hour, on the hour, throughout the holiday season, so you can see it for yourself, but I’d say unless you were planning on shopping anyway, it’s not worth special trip.

At 8pm, a fashion show was hosted on a small runway that had been set-up in front of Aritzia. We didn’t have a clear view of the runway, but stayed to watch anyway, primarily to catch a glimpse of Canada’s Next Top Model runner-up Linsay Willier (I saw her back in September at Edmonton Fashion Week).

Besides highlighting fashion available at the mall itself, the show closed with a dozen dresses Kingsway commissioned from local designers on the theme of “luminance” (including one of my favourites – Kelsey McIntyre). The dresses will be available for purchase through a silent auction until November 22, with all proceeds going to WIN House.

Linsay Willier (it was hard to look directly at the runway with the glaringly bright lights positioned the way they were)

The models pose with the designers of their garment

While I think the name of the designer who created the outfit should have proceeded each walk off, all in all, it’s a win-win for both local designers and a local charity – bravo to Kingsway for an innovative promotional tie-in.

Edmontonians – we now have two sparkly new malls to spend our money in. Choose wisely.

Christmas on the Square Holiday Light Up 2009

I’ve been looking forward to the Holiday Light Up celebration for a while – with a fireworks show actually choreographed to music, and warmer temperatures than on New Year’s Eve, I wonder why it isn’t the city’s most popular event. And with family-friendly activities precluding the light-up, in addition to City Centre Market vendors, it makes for a great few hours spent in the core.

Christmas carollers on stage

Sleigh rides around City Hall were pretty popular with the children, and the Art Gallery of Alberta had a tent promoting their new logo and grand opening in January 2010. We also checked out the vendors on hand (whose heated tents were better spaced out this year).

Inside the Art Gallery of Alberta tent

Mack as Vanna White

At 5pm, everyone readied for the grand finale – two children, alongside Mayor Mandel and Santa Claus, flipped a giant light switch to power up the Christmas lights. The tree, from Whitecourt, AB, stands at sixty feet, and this year, features animated icicle lights that make it appear as if snow is falling from the tree – pretty neat.

The crowd for the main event

Ready for the light-up

All lit up

The light switch that made it happen

The fireworks that followed were fantastic as expected, with flares and sparks released in time to cymbals crashing and trumpets blaring. If you haven’t yet experienced the show, I would encourage you to attend next year.

Fireworks!

Notably missing this year were the small Bright Nights displays that have been a fixture on the Square during the holiday season for the past few years. I guess the cancellation of the Hawrelak Park Bright Nights also meant the necessary retiring of all related decorations. The few inflatable displays they had on the east side of the Square really weren’t the same.

I’m counting down the days to Christmas already, but this was a great event to help kick off the season!

You can see Mack’s photo set here.

Rocky Mountain R ‘n’ R

It’s been years since I’ve been to Banff, and though Mack was there last summer, as it was for business and not pleasure, we seized my work conference in Calgary as an opportunity to escape.

Banff

As late October is considered the calm between the storms, we had no trouble finding accommodation at reasonable rates, but as we soon found out, there were downsides to visiting during low season as well.

Much has probably changed in Banff since I last visited (my only really clear memory is of the Hudson’s Bay Company), but I somehow expected it to be more commercial than it actually was. Perhaps the lack of tourists contributed to this, but walking the few main streets they had, I enjoyed the relative tranquility of being amidst the mountains.

On a bridge

Mack

Banff at nightfall

We embraced the tourist-y attractions, including visiting the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. One day, we’ll just bite the overpriced bullet and book a room there.

Approaching the hotel

Looking off one of the balconies

Me and Mack

We also probably should have done more walking, but being the unprepared travellers that we are (and still in denial that winter is rapidly approaching), we had neither proper footwear or jackets to set off on a hike. Still, we did enjoy what time we did spend outside.

Mountains

Mack at the Bow Falls

I love little streams

As I alluded to above, there are downsides to visiting during low season – such as the closure of major attractions for repairs.

The closest I would get to the Upper Hot Springs

We headed to the Banff Gondola with the hopes of appeasing some of our disappointment. After the sticker shock of nearly $60 for our round trip up Sulphur Mountain, I was able to enjoy the eight minute ride.

Maybe I was wrong about the commercialization part…

I’m not afraid!

Up they go!

We had to marvel at the efficiency of the one employee at the bottom of the gondola attraction – he alone was responsible for both loading and unloading the cars. He definitely earned his salary.

At the top

The view of the town below was spectacular

More than anything, it was a treat to be able to get away from the city for a few days to relax. Thanks Mack for a lovely weekend!

The Cooking Chronicles: Potato Soup with Ham and Cheddar

Armed with an Eric Akis recipe and our still prosperous potato stash, I set to make a potato soup with ham and cheddar. I haven’t made a soup that required blending since an experiment with my Mum’s ancient immersion blender, but since we are now equipped with a shiny new food processor, I thought it was about time I tried it again.

This recipe was so easy, with the most difficult thing being the ladling of the soup into the food processor, having to be careful not to spill any of the potato-y goodness. I didn’t have any thyme on hand, but the aromatic dried oregano seemed to work just fine in its place, and I added some corn and peas for texture and good (vegetable) measure.

I loved the result – the pureed potato and onion provided a natural richness to the soup that even cream couldn’t compete with, while the white pepper added some needed depth. Mack wasn’t too keen on the cubes of ham, but I, on the other hand, loved it.

Potato Soup with Ham and Cheddar

Thanks Jon for the suggestion of such a soup process – we’ll definitely be making it again!

The Comfort is in the Heat: Boualouang

Though Chinatown is only a ten minute walk from Downtown, depending on what event we’re running to, sometimes it is an additional distance we don’t have time to travel. That wasn’t the case on Thursday, when both the weather and our schedules were cooperative, with our Global Visions screening at Paramount falling at 8 (on a sidenote – I don’t like the trend of plays moving their start times to 7:30. I like the option of lingering at dinner).

As a result, I was finally able to return to Boualouang, many months after my first visit, and six months since the restaurant relocated down the block to a beautifully-renovated space. While the original location was functional and well-kept, it was bland and visually unattractive. This new venue better suits the wonderful food produced by the kitchen, and of course, provides the owners with a few tables to spare (they seemed to be forever turning people away at the previous restaurant). I especially love the lavish blue drapes that help separate the room from the bustling world outside.

Interior

I was very tempted to order a dish I hadn’t yet tried, but the side of me seeking a familiar, reassuring meal eventually won out. I couldn’t complain though – their green curry is (in my opinion), the best in the city. The chicken was tender, drenched in a sauce lovingly prepared with flavour that was worth the heat (which is saying something for a person who usually stays away from spice). We ended up ordering an additional bowl of coconut rice to soak up the curried goodness, and kept our server busy who insisted on keeping our water glasses filled to the brim.

Green Curry

The pad thai was also great, with a serving size that blows me away each time. Mack loved the grilled shrimp (and surprisingly) the tofu strips, and though isn’t a big fan of the sweet and spicy profile of the dish, was willing to overlook it for me.

Pad Thai

We were both stuffed, with leftovers remaining. For just over $40 (including tip), we were treated to a satisfying, relaxing meal with time to spare before our next engagement. If you’re in the area, be sure to keep Boualouang in mind.

Boualouang
10569 97 Street
(780) 423-4207
Monday-Thursday 11am-9pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-10pm, Sunday 12-9pm

Food Notes for November 9, 2009

Mack and I watched Broke, the premiere screening for the Global Visions Film Festival at the Paramount on Thursday (a sidebar – I love that the festival affords me one opportunity a year to take advantage of our last functioning theatre on the Avenue. It’s a glorious venue that was saved by the City Centre Church, of which I am grateful, but I would be remiss if I did not say that the city needs more standalone theatres – what’s better than the sight of Paramount’s blazing marquee?). About a pawnshop owner and his unlikely relationship with an ex-convict who decides to volunteer with him, it opened my eyes to how pawnshops work, but other than that, I didn’t enjoy the film. Even the brutally honest character of the owner couldn’t make up for the plodding pace of the movie. Anyway, onto this week’s notes:

  • Chris over at Eating is the Hard Part posted about two up-and-coming places last week. Blush Lounge (2940 Calgary Trail, 780-757-0330) replaces the old Ivory Club on the south side, while next to Cora’s, another chain is setting up – this time, a fondue restaurant called Melting Pot. Look for it to open in early 2010 – their most popular item is a four-course meal consisting of a cheese fondue, salad, entree and a fondue dessert.
  • Speaking of chocolate, Foodie Suz tweeted about a new chocolatier to come in Commerce Place called Sweet Lollapalooza. With a name like that, how could one not pay them a visit?
  • Though brunches at the ARTery are on hiatus (with the City Market in hibernation until the spring), the EATery is now serving light entrees Wednesday to Friday evenings, and from the looks of it, may even start offering Sunday night suppers soon enough.
  • Liane posted about the renovated Fantasyland Grill – now named L2 Grill. I’d be interested to see their new decor, but if they hope to compete with the likes of Cactus Club with the revamp, did someone forget to tell them that flambé dishes are no longer de rigueur?
  • Vintage on High Street has morphed into it’s third incarnation in as many years – it’s now The Common.
  • Valerie posted about a second macaron baking experience she had with Béné, another local foodie.
  • Cooking with appliances: the Edmonton Public Library is offering a course on “microwave and toaster oven baking” for teens – Easy Bake for the real world (no, I never had an Easy Bake).
  • Also on cooking – Company’s Coming will be holding another Scratch & Dent sale, just in time for the holidays. I went to a sale over the summer, and picked up some cookbooks at great prices.
  • This is pretty neat: a very visual “foodshed map” of Vancouver, to guide those seeking to source their food closer to home.
  • Something I always wanted to know (but never sought out, of course) – what fruits and vegetables are most susceptible to pesticides? This handy list tells you.
  • While not as comprehensive as the hamburger guide I linked to a few months back, I’m a sucker for polished photos that make me hungry – here’s a guide of one eater’s favourite sandwiches.
  • Curious about what the last days of Gourmet look like? Wonder no more.
  • With less than half the comments generated by the first 50 things, it seems Bruce Buschel’s part 2 of “100 Things Restaurant Staffers Should Never Do” is somewhat less controversial. But still worth a glance.
  • Starbucks’ Red Cup debuted last week, and the Holiday Drinks followed this week. Bring on the Gingerbread Latte!

 

Only 45 days until Christmas…

With Zoltan

  • We also passed by the window at Le Papier that was too cute not to snap. Janice even posed in front of it, ready to show Maple Leaf fans her true colours. It was a fun day – we’ll miss you Janice!

Grover’s an Oilers fan!

Breakfast Artistry: Cora’s

I really thought 9:45 on a Sunday morning was early enough to escape the brunch-line crunch, but I was wrong. Arriving at Cora’s today, I was greeted with a crowd that not only snaked through the lobby, but onto the sidewalk outside. It made me wonder if the same resilience would hold in colder weather.

Eventually, I was joined by two more of our party of four. Our wait actually didn’t end up being that long – around twenty minutes. As we edged closer to the front of the line, we were able to peer into the kitchen to watch the “breakfast artists” (Cora’s term, not mine) at work firsthand, busily blending smoothies and assembling plates.

“Breakfast artists” at work

The restaurant itself was also larger than it appeared from the outside, with basic wooden tables and chairs divided by four foot high partitions. They broke up the space somewhat, and definitely helped Cora’s maximize the room. Janice made the apt observation that she felt a bit like she was in an elementary classroom – colourful cartoon representations of Cora’s dishes graced the walls, alongside random animal figures perched high on shelves. And though Cora’s is a chain, where each restaurant is likely decorated in a similar way, I had to say I liked the sense of lightness and fun expressed by the interior.

Interior

The family-friendly atmosphere was also highlighted by the many children dining alongside their parents. Moreover, we noticed that the patron demographic seemed to skew pretty young, with the majority of diners in the 20-35 age range.

Our friendly server got the three of us started with beverages right away while we waited for Annie. May ordered the smoothie ($3.95), which changes daily, while Janice and I stuck with coffee ($2.35). After our drinks arrived, and our server knew a friend was still to join us, she checked on us periodically to see if we needed refills, but never pushed us to order, despite the consistent line outside. At some point, recognizing that Annie was running really late, we ordered without her anyway, but with noted appreciation for our server’s patience.

Smoothie

I was excited to see the menu, with some knowledge of Cora’s reputation, especially out east. I loved how visual the menu was, with photos of every dish to illustrate the artistry that goes into every plate. While I usually settle on my meal fairly rapidly, with the choices so vividly represented in front of me, my decision was made all the more difficult. In the end, the ham and swiss crepomelette ($10.95) won out for both May and myself, while Janice ordered the ham panini-crepe, and Annie opted for Cora’s special.

Colourful menu

Though our server apologized profusely for our wait for the food to arrive, I didn’t think the length of time was unreasonable at all (especially given our tardy order placement). My crepe, which had been stuffed with a ham and swiss omelette, was good overall – the lightness of the crepe was notable, as was their generosity with the fillings. The hollandaise was a little on the rich side for my taste however, though I must admit I don’t usually order any dishes containing the sauce. The fruit included was a nice touch (and for me, the small bowl was enough – Janice’s “mountain” of fruit with the panini-crepe would have been too much for me), but the cantaloupe slice made me wish they used only fruits in season.

Ham and Swiss Crepomelette

Panini-Crepe (lovely grill marks)

Cora’s Special (2 eggs, bacon, ham, sausage and crepe)

With excellent service (the roving coffee servers were great), I would not hesitate to recommend Cora’s as a brunch destination. My only nitpick is its location, towards South Edmonton Common, and not easily accessible by public transit. With the success of this outpost, however, perhaps TPTB at Cora’s will consider opening a second branch closer to the core? I can only hope.

Cora’s
111, 2920 Calgary Trail
(780) 465-2672
Monday-Saturday 6am-3pm, Sunday 7am-3pm

2009 Chili Cook Off

This guest post was written by Mack, an Edmonton-based geek who fancies himself a part-time foodie. You can find him online at his blog, and on Twitter.

Scotia Place hosted the 19th Annual Chili Cook Off yesterday during lunch time. Eighteen teams competed for the title of “Ultimate Chili”. Anyone could buy a “bowl” of chili for $2, with all proceeds going to the Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters. Yes, bowl in quotations. I realize the event is for charity, but the bowls were more like Dixie cups. You could barely fit a plastic spoon inside to scoop out the chili!

Chili Cook Off
Scotia Place packed with chili lovers

I decided to buy two. The first chili I tried was from Tantus Solutions Group. Theirs consisted of ground beef, kidney beans, tomatoes, brown beans, pepperoni, garlic, chili peppers, mushrooms, green peppers, onions, chili powder, parsley, and salt/pepper. They served it with grated cheese and few small tortilla chips. It was tasty, but it didn’t blow me away or anything.

Chili Cook Off
Chili from Tantus

Chili Cook Off
The Mexican-themed Tantus cooks

The second bowl I bought was from the Delta Edmonton Centre Suite Hotel. Their chili was made of bison sirloin, black beans, kernel corn, onions, red peppers, crushed tomatoes, chili powder, fresh chopped jalapenos, paprika, cayenne, crushed chilis, garlic, honey, and apple wood smoked cheddar. They served it with a cheese biscuit on top. I’m so glad they had printed copies of the recipe to take, because the chili was absolutely delicious! Definitely worth the $2.

Chili Cook Off
“Ultimate Chili” from Delta

I didn’t stick around long enough to find out who won the title of “Ultimate Chili” but Jerry told me today that it was Delta! Well-deserved, in my opinion.

I had never been to the Chili Cook Off before, but I’ll be back next year.

For the Love of Nostalgia: Diner Deluxe

On a slushy Saturday morning in Calgary, Mack and I made our way to Diner Deluxe, which has the distinction of being my favourite brunch purveyor in the city. I love the nostalgic feel of the place, the 70s furniture, the pastel walls, and how the kitchen spills into the dining area. It also helps that Diner Deluxe inaugurated me into Calgary’s brunch culture (something Edmonton is sorely missing), and subsequently led me to Nellie’s, Avenue Diner, Dairy Lane and Galaxie Diner, among others.

I find the wait, while the same in duration as some of the other places (anywhere from twenty to forty-five minutes), is tempered with chairs to sit on and self-serve coffee to ease the time. And of course, all of what we look for is there: quick kitchen-to-table service? Check. Coffee refills without request? Check. Heaping portions? Check.

On the back of the menu (too cute)

The rosemary potatoes in my egg and sausage breakfast were outstanding, crispy and flecked with herbs. The portion of sausage included was also quite generous. Mack’s stuffed French toast was a little unevenly prepared, with gobs of cheese in certain sections, but overall, he liked the indulgent dish.

Two Eggs with Sausage, Multigrain Toast and Hashbrowns

Sourdough French Toast Stuffed with Canadian Bacon and Smoked Cheddar

Though Mack said he preferred Galaxie (our counter/courtside seat to the flattop stage didn’t hurt), he liked Diner Deluxe as well. In the end, perhaps it’s a good thing we don’t have as many brunch eateries in Edmonton – I wouldn’t have the travel excuse to fall back on as a reason to visit them all!

Diner Deluxe
804 Edmonton Trail NE, Calgary
(403) 276-5499

Comfort Food at its Best: Farm

Oh, Farm. I’ve wanted to go to Janice Beaton’s jewel of a restaurant for so long that I almost can’t believe it’s only a year old.

Beaton is a noted Calgary-based cheesemaker who ran a successful cheese and charcuterie shop in Kensington for year. She decided to close the shop recently to focus on Farm, and though I only have one experience to base it on, I’m excited to see Beaton take an already wonderfully-executed concept to the next level.

A twenty-minute trek on foot from our hotel brought us to the bustling interior of Farm, a tiny storefront that is very easily missed. We joined a small line of about eight individuals, and were told that our wait would be no longer than twenty minutes. As we inched closer to the front of the line, we were amazed that each new server we encountered stopped to greet us and ask if we had been taken care of already. This, coupled with the option to order wine to accompany our wait, were small but appreciated gestures of welcome that helped set the warm tone for the evening.

We surveyed the décor as we sipped our wine – people were packed into Farm like the best kind of restaurants, in a get-to-know-your-neighbour kind of way. To that effect, Farm even has a communal table lit with two funky chandeliers, and though we didn’t mind our Founding Farmers dinner with shared seating, we were happy to have been treated to a more intimate affair that night.

I loved their exposed kitchen (complete with counter seating), the colourful chalkboard on the back wall declaring their ever-changing specials, and the carpe diem quotation that met patrons upon entry: “The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it.” It was a sign that we should make the most of our visit. And we would.

Mack at Farm

One of Farm’s celebrated menu features are their cheese and charcuterie offerings. Going beyond a baguette-pairing though, the kitchen also pairs each selection with a special accoutrement. We were both feeling pretty starved, so decided on five selections ($25), and leaned on our expert server for guidance. He added to our choice of 3 year old cheddar and Valbella prosciutto with recommendations of double-cream brie, and bunderfleisch and venison salami also from Valbella.

The platter was beautifully put together, with each of the meats artfully arranged into vertical towers. Our server explained each of the pairings, some of them which seemed offbeat at first encounter: pickles with the bunderfleisch, mustard with the salami. We felt a bit like Ratatouille’s Remy in the scene when he experiments with taste and flavour combinations, particularly when we found our favourite – aged cheddar with grape jelly. While it seems strange, the initial sweetness gave way to the salty burst of the cheese, a perfect pairing. The prosciutto was another favourite, though sans the olive accompaniment, at least for me. The bunderfleisch was new to both of us, but had a rich flavour and texture that stood up well against the sharpness of the cheddar.

Cheese and Charcuterie Platter

We were a bit afraid our entrees, ordered up front, would be delivered while we were still making our way through adult cheese and crackers. But we should have given more credit to the restaurant, which expertly timed everything, and we needn’t have worried.

Our stomachs were ready for Farm’s comfort-food mains, which, as Andree wrote about last week, are meant to be shared. The Spring Creek Ranch short rib ($18) was fall-apart tender, and melted in our mouths. The creamy celery root puree was lovely as well, a nice change from the usual potato mash. I just wish there had been more of it!

Spring Creek Ranch Short Rib with Celery Root Puree and Roasted Beets

Mack’s choice of spicy mac and cheese ($10 for a small) was a winner – the nutty, crunchy breadcrumb topping made the dish for me alone. The sauce was also of a perfect consistency – neither runny or too stiff, with the addition of spice a welcome twist (counterbalanced by the side of sweet pickles). The size of the dish was an indication of how rich it was, and though Mack probably wanted to eat two portions, we were glad to have the short rib to balance it out.

Janice’s Mac ‘n Cheese

Our server was excellent, and provided some of the best service that I have had in a while. He was personable, good humored, and knowledgeable. And it was his concession that ultimately pushed us to order from the dessert menu – he offered to warm the chocolate chip cookies (5 for $5) for us.

Imagine capping off your comforting meal with homemade cookies – it was a revelation. Paired with a cup of strong Fratello coffee (locally-roasted, of course), we couldn’t have been happier. Even if they weren’t the best cookies I ever had (I would have preferred them to be sweeter), the fact that they were warm, and available at a full-service restaurant, was the icing on our proverbial cake.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Before we left, we took a moment to explore the small shop behind the restaurant that sells cheese, meats and condiments. Though we didn’t need a reason to come back, we’ll be sure to bring a cooler the next time we do. Oh, Farm. I can’t wait for my next visit.

Farm
1006 17 Ave SW
Calgary, AB T2T 0A5, Canada
(403) 245-2276