A Well-Oiled Machine: Cactus Club Cafe

After running some errands in the west end, Mack and I converged on Cactus Club Cafe for dinner, spurned on somewhat by gift cards we had on hand. Our first trip since being pampered at their VIP opening, we were ready to see what the restaurant offered on a day-to-day basis.

I was happy to see that the patio was open, but as both the dining room and outdoor seating required at least a fifteen minute wait, we elected instead to wander into the half-full lounge. About a half hour later, the lounge was packed, so we were happy to arrive when we did.

The bellini was calling my name that day, and as I found at the opening, it was refreshing yet deceivingly potent. On a more elegant occasion, I would have ordered the sablefish, but I felt like fries and a sandwich that day. I was eager to sample a full-size version of their BBQ duck clubhouse ($17), which had been my favourite item that night in April. Mack decided on their aptly named The Burger ($14), which also seemed fitting for the lounge setting. As Mack was feeling a bit puckish, we also sprung for the smoked cheddar spinach dip ($11.25) to start.

Bellini

Service was brisk throughout our stay; Cactus Club was rolling like a well-oiled machine. Our appetizer arrived in good time, hot and perfectly cheesy. I typically don’t seek out spinach dips, but this version, packed with grilled chicken, fresh tomatoes, parmesan and mozzarella, took the edge off the sour cream.

Smoked Cheddar Spinach Dip

My duck clubhouse arrived looking rather small, but once I started to devour the sandwich, I realized its richness more than made up for size. It was a bit messy to eat, but the layers of carved duck, pan-fried chicken, and crisped pancetta, sandwiched between pecan fruit bread, were worth it. The fries were hot and crispy, but nothing special.

BBQ Duck Clubhouse

Mack’s burger was even more of a task to eat – the pool of liquid at the bottom of his plate grew to a formidable size by the end. He liked it – a juicy, tender patty, coupled with classic toppings of aged cheddar, sautéed mushrooms, and bacon.

The Burger

As WEM restaurants go, Cactus Club is my new go-to eatery after a day of shopping. I’m just not sure I’d go out of my way to eat there, knowing that a crowd and a car jam would be waiting for me.

Cactus Club Cafe
1946, 8882 170 Street NW
(780) 489-1002

Food Notes for July 6, 2009

Capital Ex released the Sip! wine and food experience menu. We went last year – I would recommend sticking around for the CookTop shows to score free samples instead of purchasing tickets – this year, the stage features Brad Smoliak and Restaurant Makeover’s David Adjey.
Transcend released its first podcast last week, which sees Poul talk about how he got his start in the coffee business. Also, with mention of their second cafe location in a recent post, I hope they can release details soon!
I passed La Piazza Dasee, which is apparently now serving brunch on Sundays from 10am-2pm. As it looked like they didn’t have a full kitchen, I’d be curious to see what types of dishes they serve.
The Journal and Liane Faulder on her blog covered the opening of the new T & T in North Town Mall on July 2. There are also unconfirmed rumours floating around that the vacant Wal-Mart space in South Common will become another T & T.
Also with regards to Liane – she’s Delux Burger Bar’s second celebrity chef for their “burger of the month” promotion. Her lamb burger will be featured at Delux for the month of August.
Vue Weekly had a solid write-up of businesses along 118 Avenue this week, including the Portuguese Bakery.
The Journal profiled local company Bles-Wold Dairy this week – their product makes it “from the cow to the store” in three days.
The Canadian Farm Writer’s Federation is hosting their national conference in Edmonton this year. There are a few interesting sessions, including farm tours – check out the September schedule here.
Food Inc., a movie about industrial food production that has been called a “horror film” in its own right, will land in Edmonton on July 17 at the Garneau Theatre.
Alan Richman wrote a great piece in the August issue of Bon Appetit about the duelling forces at work in Vancouver’s food scene.
I missed linking to an article that appeared in the NYT two weeks ago about mid-price chains lowering their prices, and the impact that may have on their future ability to raise their prices to pre-recession standards.
The Chicago Tribune points to their nine menu pet peeves. My favourite: “‘Garden Fresh’ –
Rick Bayless garnishes with microgreens grown in his Bucktown garden. He has the right to say garden fresh. You don’t, Subway.”
Mack and I joined his dad, grandma, Kim and Shane for supper at Original Joe’s on Friday. I’ve written about them in the past, and my opinion hasn’t changed much since then. Consistent and casual, they provided a casual venue for a decent meal. The fish and chips ($15.99) were pretty good, with a nice, light batter. Mack also enjoyed his smoked turkey club wrap ($11.49).

Fish and Chips

Smoked Turkey Club Wrap

The new Anthropologie in West Edmonton Mall has transformed the space into a homey, rustic store. I love their selection of kitchen goods, including, on a recent visit, wooden ice cream spoons. Retro cool, but not worth the $9.95 price tag.

Wooden Ice Cream Spoons from Anthropologie

Edmonton’s Coffee Scene is Perking Up: Credo Coffee

Cafes that offer specialty coffees are rapidly gaining ground and market share in Edmonton. Just to name a few – Three Bananas, Leva, daCapo, and of course, Transcend, are elevating what coffee lovers should expect from a cup of joe. More exciting than a consistent, high quality product, however, these cafes employ well-trained baristas, where coffee is not just a job, but a passion.

I’m happy to report that the specialty coffee scene has just gained another member in the city – Credo Coffee opened its doors at the end of June on the ground floor of the Icon Tower, located in the trendy and boutique-lined 104th Street. It is definitely a welcome downtown addition – I’m surprised it took so long for a cafe of this nature to materialize in the core.

Credo Coffee

Geoff Linden, formerly of Three Bananas, and who has also pulled shots at Transcend (he said himself that the specialty coffee scene in Edmonton is a small one), is behind this venture. Credo’s tagline, “coffee to believe in” draws attention to their commitment to fine coffee. While they are not in the business of roasting, they do serve only Intelligensia Direct Trade Coffee: “For a coffee to be considered Intelligensia Direct Trade there is a specific list of criteria that must be met by both Intelligentsia and our grower-partners. In the broadest terms these coffees should be understood as a true collaboration, with both sides investing a great deal of time, energy and ideas to produce something great.”

Kenya Thunguri – one of the two brewed coffees Credo was serving

Not satisfied with simply serving great coffee (menu here), Credo also offers specialty teas, and further distinguishes itself from other cafes with fresh sandwiches and baked goods all made in-house.

The cafe is bright, benefits from a lofty openness afforded by a high ceiling and had a vibe similar to Calgary’s Caffe Artigiano. I think Credo could rearrange their seating area to further maximize their space, but I did appreciate that their table placement did allow for easy movement. In addition, like some other food establishments in the city such as Culina Highlands, Credo exhibits art work created by local artists.

Interior

Mack chose to try their macchiato ($3.25), nicely finished with latte art. I opted for a brewed dark-roast coffee ($2.50, though price could vary depending on origin), which was full-bodied and rich. It was a touch acidic, but as I am used to drinking my coffee with milk, that was expected.

Macchiato

Brewed Coffee

I hope Credo is able to secure external signage soon – with the ongoing construction in the area, it is easy to miss! I encourage you to stop by, and revel in downtown’s first specialty coffee cafe!

Credo Coffee
10134 104 Street
(780) 761-3744
Monday-Friday 7pm-9pm, Saturday 8am-9pm, Sunday 10am-5pm

The Cooking Chronicles: Roasted Broccoli with Shrimp

A stir-fry with vegetables and chicken or shrimp is one of my weekday staples, for ease of fridge and freezer stocking. On a day when I thought I would again rely on that meal, I remembered a recipe I had seen on The Wednesday Chef for roasted broccoli with shrimp.

As directed, I tossed florets of broccoli with olive oil, cumin, coriander, chili powder, salt and pepper, then spread them on a baking sheet to roast in the oven. The shrimp came next, flavoured with olive oil, lemon zest, salt and pepper, and soon joined the broccoli in the oven. Finished with some fresh lemon juice and served with brown rice, it was an easy meal (we took Luisa’s suggestion and ate it straight out of the pan). I loved the crunch of the broccoli and cumin kick, though I was a little heavy-handed with the lemon juice.

Roasted Broccoli with Shrimp

An easy and tasty weekday meal, I will be making this again.

Fun on the (Victoria Driving) Range

Every time we passed by the golfers at the Victoria Driving Range last year, we declared our intention to join them that summer. Unfortunately, those declarations never spun into action. This year, Mack made it a point to incorporate the driving range into my birthday activities, so we ended up there on a Sunday afternoon after brunch at the Mac (sans dress and heels).

Victoria Driving Range

Neither of us golf (the last time for me was in Grade 10 phys. ed), so it is no surprise that we looked out of place, in a sea of golf wear and bags of clubs (even the few children at the range had their own appropriately-sized bag of clubs). For less than $20, though, even amateurs like us were able to get some fun out of it – $3 for a club rental, and $7.50 and $9 for a large and extra large bucket of balls, respectively.

We definitely could have used some instruction on stance and swing, but watching the pros next to us provided enough visual guidance for that day. It was a little intimidating having to shoot next to a concerted “whap” sound (the club our neighbour was using was at least 10 inches thick), but with luck and repetition, we were both able to experience the instant gratification of a crisp, clean shot.

Readying for a shot

Mack swings!

All in all, it was a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon, drinking in the beauty of Edmonton while changing up our weekend routine.

Ballroom Brunch: Sunday Brunch at the Mac

Instead of our usual upscale birthday dinner, I decided to substitute an upscale birthday brunch. The Sunday brunch in the Empire Ballroom at Hotel MacDonald, priced at $48 per person, is undoubtedly the most expensive in the city, a seeming extravagance even in times of excess. I had heard positive things about the buffet from others, however, and decided it was worth the experimental splurge.

Mack and I embraced the opportunity to dress up, though I suspected we might be overdressed. I was right – some patrons were in their weekend finery, while others were clean casual at best, in faded jeans and shorts. While I respect that patrons can choose their level of formality, it just seemed more fitting for this particular setting to aim for elegance. The ballroom, flush with natural light, had an inherent grandness to it, with high, detailed ceilings and numerous chandeliers. I loved the quiet ambiance and the reflective history of the space, acknowledging that the venue has served many significant guests throughout its time.

Empire Ballroom

Our tableside view

When we arrived, we were greeted by a very professional hostess, who gave us a tour of the food selections before showing us to our seat – a mix of hot and cold breakfast and lunch options were available, including carving and omelette stations. A dessert bar was situated in the ballroom itself.

Pastries and salad bar

Cold seafood selections

Dessert bar

Soon after sitting down, our server immediately offered us a cocktail of champagne and fresh orange juice. Much to my surprise, our drink was continually filled up throughout our stay, instead of a one-glass offering, which is what I was expecting. The mimosa was actually quite refreshing, in a way that urged us on to fill up just “one more plate”.

I resisted the urge to try everything (a mistake I often make at buffets, usually too late to enjoy the quality entrees), and instead was initially selective with what I chose. We skipped over the salads and the soup, but were swayed by the flaky pastries to start. The hot breakfast entrees also made an appearance on our first plates, which included corned beef hash, maple sausage, bacon, pancakes and eggs benedict. Our conclusion: it was darn good bacon, and the cinnamon pastry wasn’t bad either.

Mack’s first helping of bacon

Mack’s plate #1

My plate #1

Our second helpings involved a mixture of breakfast and lunch entrees, though Mack focused more on the former, a traditionalist when it comes to his first meal of the day. Of the lunch entrees, which included pasta, chicken, roast beef, lamb and halibut, the oven-roasted halibut was the standout, enveloped in a creamy sauce. The charcuterie and cheese plates were nice additions as well.

Cheese plate

Mack’s plate #2

My plate #2

A custom omelette formed our third course, where anything from shrimp, ham, tomatoes, bell peppers, mushroom and cheese could be thrown in. While the omelettes were good, it was the novelty of selecting ingredients and watching the dish be prepared that made it special.

My mushroom, ham, bell pepper and cheese omelette

Dessert finished us off. It was tough not to take one of each off the dessert table, which appealed to the eyes first. There were warm crepes and chocolate fondue in addition to an array of cold desserts, including sliced fruit, cheesecakes, mousse, and slightly out of place, rainbow Jell-O. Mack tried a slice of the chocolate cheesecake, but found it too rich for his liking. He instead preferred (yes), the martini glass of cubed Jello-O. I had some fruit dipped in the chocolate fondue, but my favourite dessert had to be the maple and white chocolate mousse – light and almost frothy, the mousse just melted in my mouth.

Dessert!

The meal had occurred at such a leisurely pace that, filled to the brim, we were taken aback that two hours had somehow passed. The service was exceptional throughout; unlike some buffets where drink orders and refills are sporadic and inconsistent, the wait staff checked on us continuously, without seeming intrusive or redundant. When we needed an extra hand to help us take a photograph, our server didn’t hesitate to accompany us outside for a quick snapshot on the patio either.

During our meal, we had seen numerous parties take advantage of the glorious day by wandering the grounds just outside the ballroom. We followed in their footsteps, and took in the view of the river valley, as well as the impressive angle of the hotel from behind.

Hotel MacDonald

Me and Mack

We both agreed that while neither of us consumed $48 worth of food that day, we had paid for a quality meal offering countless choices, a fair share of pampering, and a setting fit for royalty. We may not do it again, but it was a great venue to celebrate an occasion with a loved one.

Hotel MacDonald
10065 – 100th Street
(780) 424-5181
Sunday Brunch served from 10am-2pm

Day 4 in DC: Brush with Barack

While DC’s Metro isn’t perfect for tourists, it was pretty darn great at facilitating most of our trips to and from the most popular tourist sites. Some, such as the Mall, Arlington National Cemetery and Georgetown aren’t directly connected by Metro, but for the most part, so long as we were ready and willing to walk, transportation around the city was seamless. The stations were reasonably clean, easy to navigate, and rider friendly with electronic ETA signs at each platform (we did find it rather odd that instead of using pre-programmed announcements at each stop, however, that the driver had to personally declare each stop). It didn’t hurt that the stations were aesthetically pleasing as well, with grand, curving archways that channelled European train stations instead of the more typical dreary, underground bunker-style.

DC Metro Station

We purchased a weeklong short trip pass for $26.40, which covered all of our travel on the Metro. When we received the passes, we had to wonder if there would ever be a time when our current Prime Minister would ever appear on any Canadian subway ticket.

President Obama on the Metro pass

On Thursday morning, we allowed ourselves the luxury of sleeping in until 8:30, and then stopped at Starbucks for a leisurely coffee and the space to share the teacake we had picked up at the farmers’ market the day before (it was a start to our day of inglorious eats, to say the least). Having sufficiently awakened ourselves, we headed to our first stop of the day – the White House Visitor’s Centre.

As previously mentioned, we weren’t able to secure a White House tour, which was disappointing, but as we found no shortage of other activities, was slightly easier to swallow. As a result, we ended up at the Visitor Centre, which we found to be in dire need of a complete overhaul. While we didn’t mind the aged facility, we couldn’t believe the sad nature of the exhibits, which ranged from a DVD on repeat, cardboard cutouts, and modest information panels on the history of the rooms and the residents of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. As the Capitol Visitor Centre just had their renovation (to include, among other things, interactive electronic touch screens and 3-D models), I hope the White House Visitor Centre is next in line.

White House Visitor Centre

I will say that we did enjoy the part of the video that we stayed to watch, which provided a glimpse of the rooms we would not be able to see in person, and that the gift shop was one of the most affordable that we had seen.

We eventually made our way towards the actual White House, about a block away. While approaching the building, we encountered a group of police officers who had started to block off the intersection leading into the patrolled grounds. We didn’t have long to wonder why they were doing this, because after the crowds had been ushered a fair distance back from the road, the President’s Motorcade, complete with police escort, several SUVs and an ambulance, passed by, as the crowd cheered and waved.

Road blockade

President Obama’s Motorcade

It blew my mind how logistically complicated it must be to systematically close off the streets where the President would pass through, but Mack was probably right in his assessment that POTUS’s handlers likely have it down to a science.

The top of the Ellipse, right by the Christmas tree, was the closest we were able to get to the White House. We agreed that it was a little anti-climactic, and as some have said, partly because of the prescribed viewing distance, was definitely not as grand and breathtaking as the monuments and memorials in the Mall.

The White House

At the White House (sadly, this shot is better than the one a fellow tourist took for us)

Our next stop on our tourist mishmash was the National Museum of Natural History. For whatever reason, I had it in my head that this was the site of 2006’s Night at the Museum. Apparently I was sleeping during the movie because although the sequel, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, was filmed in several of DC’s museums (including Natural History), the setting of the first film was the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

National Museum of Natural History

At any rate, we made it a point to be out of the museum in less than two hours, even though the air conditioning was a welcome refuge from the escalating midday heat. We saw the Hope Diamond, the Dinosaur Hall (including examples of Albertosaurus and Edmontosaurus), and my favourite, the elephant in the rotunda (that sounds like it could be the start of a joke…).

Dinosaur Hall

Elephant in the Rotunda

By the end of our brisk museum tour, we were ready for some lunch. As we were planning on visiting Union Station next (primarily to compare it to Grand Central Station), we thought it best to defer our hunger until we reached that building.

The architecture of Union Station is grand, and we loved that the halls mirrored the look of the underground Metro stations. These arches were more magnificent, however, benefiting from illumination by natural light.

Union Station

It wasn’t until we explored Union Station further that we discovered full-scale restaurants and cafes outside of the food court area, but that day, we were content with a fairly inexpensive meal. I’ve also never before encountered so many free samples outside of a farmers’ market or Costco – the fast food outlets were competing with each other, doing their best to capture the tourist vote. My choice of a basic plate of teriyaki chicken with rice and vegetables ($5.99) from Sakura Japan turned out to be surprisingly good, with a portion size that could have easily fed two people.

Teriyaki Chicken

We then shopped for a bit (well, when I say “we”, I mean I led, and Mack followed), where I found the perfect garment store for me – White House/Black Market, whose primary business is selling white and black clothes. I spent way too much money on a dress, but hey, the pockets and the fit were too good to pass up!

Vice-Vice President?

We had noted the National Air and Space Museum down as a potential time bridge to other Mall activities, and after Union Station, we had exactly half an hour to explore it before closing. We powered through it, and were only able to take a brief look at some of the incredible aircraft and space vehicles housed within. It is the Smithsonian’s most popular museum, and even with our concise visit, we were able to see why – the germ and power of discovery is inherent, and it doesn’t hurt that the museum holds an IMAX theatre, and some of the most visually astounding displays we had seen yet.

National Air and Space Museum

This section was closed, as staff were setting up for a private function – how cool would that be?!

We had broken our “one museum per day” rule, and paid the price. We took a break on one of the many benches along the Mall, and thought seriously about not partaking in the walking tour we had planned on joining. We both knew, however, that guided tours by locals provided some of the best insights into the city, and so we picked ourselves up and somehow managed to get to the site of the DC By Foot on time.

DC by Foot

The tours are led by eager volunteers and are free of charge, but tipping is encouraged. Our tour guide was a retired teacher who, based on his demeanour, really missed teaching. He was a little overenthusiastic in the beginning, but thankfully, mellowed out by the end, and was a great source of enlightening and humorous information.

On the tour (one of Mack’s favourite pictures captured on the trip)

The two hour tour led us to the monuments and memorials we had already seen and photographed on our second day, but was one of my highlights of the entire trip, as it furthered my appreciation for the city, and provided a lot of helpful context. I highly recommend taking the tour, preferably near the beginning of your visit to DC.

Washington Memorial at dusk

At the Lincoln Memorial (thank goodness for sneakers…)

We ended the tour at the Lincoln Memorial, and decided to wait out the darkness to see the Washington Monument and Lincoln and the Korean War Veterans Memorials in their full night glory. The latter was particularly haunting, with the semi-lit gaze of one soldier always aimed at the viewer.

Washington Monument and Capitol at night

Lincoln Memorial at night (loved how he was illuminated)

Lincoln Memorial

Lincoln up close

In dire need of dinner, we asked the tour guide for a restaurant recommendation. He took one look at our “youthful” selves said we should head to Georgetown, site of “hip” establishments, and said the walk was about 1 mile. We believed him, and set out for Georgetown. Though we may or may not have taken a wrong turn, when we realized the distance between us and the twinkling lights of the “hip” waterfront eateries was much further than we were prepared to go, we knew limping to the Safeway in the Watergate complex would be the more realistic option for food.

Along the water

Sandwich and Stouffer’s FTW!

Absolutely exhausted, we retired early to gear up for our last full day in DC.

You can read Mack’s Day 4 recap here.

Happy Canada Day!

Netty stole Mack’s favourite hat to demonstrate his Canadian pride. Happy Canada Day everyone – hope you were out enjoying the festivities today!

July in Edmonton is for Fireworks!

There is so much to do on Canada Day, starting with family-friendly activities including a pancake breakfast at the Alberta Legislature, and many other activities, including the Great Divide Waterfall at the High Level Bridge, and of course, fireworks – see them all at this City of Edmonton list.
Help the Telus World of Science celebrate their 25th Anniversary on July 1, where they revert back to the price of admission charged in 1984.
The Silly Summer Parade kicks off a summer of flurry in Old Strathcona on July 1.
The Winspear Centre is hosting a free multicultural concert at 3pm on July 1.
The Freewill Shakespeare Festival continues for nearly the entire month, ending July 26. Titus Andronicus and Comedy of Errors are featured this year.
The Edmonton International Street Performers Festival picks up where The Works leaves off from July 3-12 in Churchill Square. Bring lots of change!
Breezy, lighthearted musicals are the focus of the Edmonton Film Society’s series for the summer. Check out movies on Monday nights at the Royal Alberta Museum for just $5, such as Carmen Jones on July 6.
The Whyte Avenue Art Walk on July 10-12 will feature over 230 artists in an “outdoor studio”. The Whyte Avenue Street Fair and Fashion Show will see two streets closed to traffic on July 12 from noon-5pm – I checked out the event last year.
The Sourdough River Festival is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Help them commemorate the occasion on July 11-12 at Terwillegar Park.
I attended Edmonton Countryside’s Taste! of Summer last year and was absolutely blown away – it takes place on July 12 this year, also at the St. Albert Grain Elevator Park.
The Devonian Botanic Garden is hosting their first ever Green Festival at the Garden on July 20, with business on hand to answer questions and offer informative sessions on “green” techniques.
Edmonton’s excuse for carnival excess, Capital Ex, is back for tween and teenage delight on July 17-26.
Churchill Square will once again host Taste of Edmonton on July 17-26. 40 restaurants are participating this year.
Mack’s Mom hates the “vroom-vroom”, but if you do, check out the Rexall Edmonton Indy, July 24-26.
Celebrate our city’s heritage at the Edmonton and Northern Alberta Historic Festival, which runs July 24-August 2. Tons of activities, including guided tours and special museum activities.
Movies on the Square is back the August long weekend, with a screening on July 31.

Announcing the Wild Boar and Beer Scavenger Hunt Winner!

Congratulations to Maria Iacobelli, who earned 210 out of a possible 300 points in Slow Food Edmonton’s first ever Wild Boar and Beer Scavenger Hunt! Maria and a guest will be treated to wild boar and a host of other local, seasonal dishes on July 12 at Alley Kat Brewery.

I am glad Maria looked like she had a blast taking the photos – I encourage you to patronize the local businesses and producers featured in the scavenger hunt. Here are a few of her photos: