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

The Power of Blogging

Two of my blogging-inclined friends informally challenged me when they found out that I had started a blog of my own. The first was to maintain this blog for at least three months. The second was to reach a post count of three hundred. Well, I’m over halfway to the first milestone, but still two hundred and fifty shy of the second, so I have miles to go before victory can be declared.

I’m not sure if it’s my inherent nature to compete, or the excitement born from a new project, but I find myself having to consciously check my blog at the door. What I mean is that in my quest to document the new, unknown, and yet to be discovered (particularly in the culinary world), I feel like I’m living to blog, when it really should be the other way around.

As someone still clinging to her discman while iPod gangs reign supreme, I’m shocked at the speed of how this new-to-me technology has surpassed my good sense.

But if the first step to fixing a problem is admitting that it exists, then I’m well on the road to recovery. I hope.

Friend

I couldn’t in good conscience post about Oscar and not about our first non-aquatic pet, Friend.

A small grey, sweet-tempered rabbit, Friend was our family companion for many years. He stood on his hind legs to greet us, had an early habit of running circles around those he wanted to show affection to, and loved to cuddle and settle comfortably in laps.

We tried to let him enjoy our fenced yard as much as possible in the summer. Many lazy afternoons were spent chasing him around the backyard, watching him dig holes with glee, or snapping pictures as he lounged around on his stomach. Besides carrots, fresh strawberries and bananas were his favorite treats.

I do miss having a rabbit around the house. It has been over a year since Friend passed, but I haven’t been able to bring myself to get another yet, and Oscar’s a handful all on his own.

Wherever you are, Friend, I’m sure there is an abundance of grass, dandelions, and carrots to keep you happy!

Peek-a-boo!

Friend indoors.

As relaxed as can be.

The Grinch in Seattle

Over the weekend, officials at a Washington airport decided to dismantle their holiday displays. From the Seattle Times:

“The airport managers ordered the plastic trees removed and boxed up after a rabbi asked to have an 8-foot-tall menorah displayed next to the largest tree in the international arrival hall. Port of Seattle staff felt adding the menorah would have required adding symbols for other religions and cultures in the Northwest, said Terri-Ann Betancourt, the airport’s spokeswoman. The holidays are the busiest season at the airport, she said, and staff didn’t have time to play cultural anthropologists.”

The rabbi isn’t to blame in this situation, as he apparently just wanted to “add light to the season,” not create another controversy during the already hyper-politically correct “winter festival.”

I mean, I don’t personally mind using “holiday celebration” in place of “Christmas,” but having to eliminate images, images many consider secular and representative of the season as a whole to begin with, is another issue. I even know someone who was requested to replace a picture of a Christmas tree with a “non-denominational snowman” on a company publication a few weeks ago.

As gleaned from the above article, I think the U.S. Supreme Court has it right: “Christmas trees can be secular symbols if they are not part of a religious-themed display.” It’s a tree. Just let it go.

Film: “Cars”

I watched the animated Disney/Pixar feature Cars yesterday. I initially stayed away because I remember the movie had been quite poorly reviewed, but I think it may have been unfairly judged.

The capabilities of computer-generated animation continue to amaze me: Cars is simply beautiful to look at. Stunning vistas, “how’d they do that” realism with leaves and dust, and unique details that make it a Pixar film (there were Volkswagen Beetle-shaped flies!).

Plot-wise, the movie involves a solid story for children about the importance of teamwork, sense of community belonging, and responsibility to others. There was even a message about remembering to slow down and to exit life in the fast lane once in a while. My friend and I had to roll our eyes, however, at the attempt to educate audiences about the decay of small American towns that were bypassed with the construction of the Interstate (yeah, we are heartless bastards).

The main voice talents didn’t stand out, except perhaps Paul Newman, who was perfectly cast as the wise mentor Doc. There were quite a few celebrity cameos as well, with the likes of Jay Leno, Mario Andretti, and even Michael Schumacher lending their voices to car-shaped caricatures of themselves (speaking of the cars-as-people equation, my friend and I wondered how new cars were produced in this world. Is this how hybrid cars came into being?).

All in all, Cars is fun, family-friendly entertainment that complements the rest of the Pixar canon.

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

On High Rotation

I don’t personally download music, so my exposure to new material is through a rather old fashioned medium: the good old radio.

At the moment, I have become thoroughly attached to The Fray‘s two singles: “Over My Head (Cable Car)” and “How to Save a Life.” One non-threateningly upbeat, and the other saturated with low key tones, they cater to whatever mood I happen to be in.

I haven’t yet had the opportunity to listen to the rest of their album, but if these songs are any indication, I may have to sample more of The Fray.

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree!

Some may consider this early, while others will wonder why so late, but I finally managed to put up our family Christmas tree this weekend.

We’ve been thinking about buying a pre-lit or fiber optic tree in the last few years, but every December, when our reliable fir is up and decorated, I can’t complain. We did purchase LED lights last year, but other than that, the tinsel, ornaments, and collective nostalgia the tree brings with it have remained the same.

Especially because I’m getting older, I do think there’s something special about year after year, hanging the same hand-crafted ornament I made when I was six. Or even just handling ornaments that have been around for as long as I can remember – like the tattered paper Muppet cutouts that have lasted alongside heartier plastic reindeer and Santas.

I may be a slave to tradition, but this is something that I do not want to mess with. My inner six-year old thanks me.

Our family tree

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.