Expectedly Uninspired: Chili’s Grill & Bar

I believe I was still wearing white jeans and listening to Hanson the last time I ate at Chili’s (or was that last weekend? Haha). In any case, it has been a while.

Bettina and I ended up at the Whyte Avenue location (8217 104 Street) tonight for a pre-Fringe show supper. The restaurant is surprisingly clean (not sure why I expected otherwise), and the decor features the stone and wood accents that are rampant in eateries associated with the word “grill.” I agree with Bettina’s assessment that Chili’s has done well in revamping its image in an attempt to compete for the lounge crowd, but for this branch in particular, it tries too hard to cater to all diners, from families to the after work and evening patrons. Quality seems to be the first casualty in chains that stretch themselves too thin.

Nothing on the menu was particularly intriguing, but all I felt like eating was a simple burger and fries, so it didn’t matter too much. I ordered the Bacon Burger (maple-smoked bacon, cheddar, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles) with a side of fries, while Bettina chose the Lettuce Wraps.

The service was quite attentive throughout, so I couldn’t complain about the wait staff, but the food was less than impressive. My burger and fries were warm, as if they had been left standing on the counter for some time, and unexplainably they had only decided to toast only the top half of the bun. Bettina’s said her dish was all right, but the portion wasn’t worth the $12.99 charged.

With the exception of Cafe Mosaics (and Dadeos to some extent), there seems to be a dearth of good dining available on Whyte. It may be worth going elsewhere (like the nearby Route 99 Diner), for a bite to eat after drinks.

Restaurant interior (second floor)

Bacon Burger

Lettuce Wraps

Pan-Asian Goodness: Matahari

High Street is home to many untapped culinary adventures, at least for me. So I took a step in the right direction when May and I dined in Matahari (10108B – 124 Street) this evening.

Being early on a Tuesday, we were surprised that there were three tables of patrons already seated when we entered the restaurant. The decor is simple and soothing, with light green walls and a functioning koi pond in the centre of the dining room. Oddly-designed square booths line the main seating area, that would hypothetically fit six persons, but for ease of exit and entry could likely only comfortably fit four.

Spouting a “pan-Asian” menu, I expected watered-down cuisine heavily influenced by the Western majority, but I was pleasantly surprised. There were a few dishes (Singapore Laksa and Malaysian Rendang, to name a few) that I’d want my Mum to sample to determine the level of authenticity. Despite the many tempting options, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to have their tofu Pad Thai (stir fried flat rice noodles with chives, egg, pickled radish, and bean sprouts in a tangy tamarind sauce topped with ground peanuts). May selected the Kerala Noodles (Indian stir fried vermicelli with peas, onion, egg, curry leaves, carrots, red bell pepper, in a tomato and soy-based sauce topped with cashew nuts and coriander). I also ordered a plate of Thai Curry Puffs to start.

The food took a little longer than I would have liked (not having eaten anything since lunch), so I was more than hungry by the time our appetizer reached us. But they were worth it – the puff pastry was flaky, filled with spiced beef with just the right amount of heat. The oyster sauce for dipping was a sweet accompaniment to the dish. The serving, however, was on the small side for the $4.95 price tag.

Our entrees arrived soon after, and I found the portions to be quite generous (I had enough left over for a good sized lunch the next day)! I had asked for mild seasoning, and it was exactly that. The chives and radish provided a nice crunch, while the tofu rounded out the dish quite nicely. I would consider Bua Thai’s version slightly better, but Matahari’s is less greasy and lighter overall.

I’d recommend Matahari, and will be back myself, perhaps once I’ve visited their neighbours.

Extensive menu

Thai Curry Puffs

Pad Thai

Kerala Noodles

Heritage Festival 2007

After a mediocre (and expensive) showing of food at the Taste of Edmonton, I was really looking forward to the reasonably-priced variety at the Heritage Festival.

Dancers at the Azerbaijan site

Sure, there are cultural pavillions filled with neat artifacts and intricate handicrafts, and a veritable panoply of eye-catching entertainment, but I would be lying if I proclaimed anything other than the food to be my main reason of attendance.

Every year, I go through the menu with every intention of trying something new, and yet, once on the grounds, underneath the hot sun and facing lines unending, I end up retreating back to my reliable standbys: gelato from Italy (the Bacio wasn’t refreshing, but it was chocolate-y goodness!) and langos (fried bread dough) from the Hungarian pavilion.

Langos (a hazard to eat for those wearing dark colors)

My sister’s Falafel from the Arab pavilion

Our Contiki Tour Manager had urged us to try Dutch pancakes while we were in Amsterdam, but my friends and I weren’t able to locate a stand selling this specialty. So I figured I’d finally get my kicks at the Holland pavilion. Unfortunately, the poffertjes, at least in this incarnation really were nothing special, tasting like mini pancakes made from dry mix dusted with icing sugar.

Poffertjes

Still, as Edmonton’s summer festivals go, this is one of my favorites. What better place to pick up inexpensive souvenirs and trinkets?

Dickson getting his fortune read at the Chinese pavilion

Mack wears his special hat

There’s one more day to check out the fun. Just remember to bring a donation for the Food Bank!

The Cooking Chronicles: Egg, Cheese and Hot Dog Bake

Needing a quick supper idea, and knowing that I had some leftover hot dogs and buns in my fridge, I remembered a Real Simple recipe for an egg, cheese, and sausage bake, and decided to modify it based on what I had on hand.

Substituting hot dogs in place of Italian sausage, green peppers instead of onions, and adding a few cherry tomatoes that I had meant to eat in a salad, it was a very easy recipe to pull together. The final product was all right – it was essentially a quiche-like casserole, the egg-soaked bread pieces ending up tasting like French toast, and overall helped round-out the dish. My family wasn’t as enthused about the bake, but each to their own, right?

I’d say this is a good brunch pick, or one to make if you have children coming over for dinner.

Egg, Cheese and Hot Dog Bake

The Cooking Chronicles: Strawberry Shortcake

Having seen strawberries advertised in flyers over the last few weeks, I was drawn to Michael Smith’s recipe for Strawberry Shortcake in a recent edition of the Globe & Mail.

I tried my hand at it on Monday night, and was sorely disappointed with what was by far the blandest dessert I’ve ever made. The nutmeg-flavored biscuits and sweetened strawberries were passable on their own, but paired together with the vanilla-scented whip cream, ended up tasting all wrong.

Though I could detect the difference in the cream versus butter-based dough (which resulted in a lighter, cake-like consistency) the biscuit itself doesn’t lend itself well, in my opinion, to dessert, and fares better as a brunch item. The whipped cream would have benefited from a sweeter additive like honey, but it probably wouldn’t elevate this dish to second-attempt-worthy status.

I may end up retreating back to my fail safe panna cotta to pair with other fresh berries this season.

Strawberry Shortcake

Vegan Charm: Cafe Mosaics

I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that it’s getting more and more difficult to think of restaurants in the city that I have a desire to try. Still, when pressed for an eating establishment near the Varscona Theatre where Mack and I were heading after dinner, I remembered the easily-missed Cafe Mosaics (10844 82 Avenue) on the west side of Whyte. Annie and Anna had both spoken highly of it, so I figured it was worth a visit.

The decor reminded me of the boutique Nokomis next door with its soft pastel walls, twinkly lights, funky art and stylishly mismatched furniture. Overall, its vibe was reminiscent of Blue Plate Diner without the urban pretentiousness.

The vegetarian menu at Cafe Mosaics contained quite a few tempting choices, even offering all day breakfast selections. I was in the mood for pasta, so opted for the cheese ravioli served with garlic toast, while Mack decided to test their version of grilled cheese.

Our food, healthy portions of home-cooked comfort, arrived after a short wait. The ricotta-parmesan filling in my ravioli pockets was delicious, as was the sweet tomato sauce that topped my dish. Mack similarly enjoyed his sandwich, claiming the inability to reproduce such a product at home.

With good food, service, and a great dining atmosphere, I’d say Cafe Mosaics did quite well on the critical restaurant checklist. I will definitely be back!

Restaurant interior

Menu (with a revolver on the cover. No idea.)

Cheese Ravioli and Garlic Toast

Grilled Cheese and Fries

Taste of Edmonton 2007

Though I know I said I would cut out the “extras,” at least until returning to my pre-Europe weight, I couldn’t resist a trip to the annual Taste of Edmonton festival on Monday.

I had previewed the menu somewhat on the website before heading down to Churchill Square, so it wasn’t as much of a shock to me that tickets were astronomically priced at $1 each. When taking into consideration portion sizes, and the questionable quality of food cooked en masse in an outdoor tent, this summer tradition has really become an expensive one.

Thus, Dickson and I decided to sample just a few dishes, with the intent on filling up on more reasonably priced fare elsewhere. Out of habit, I chose Hong Kong Bakery’s green onion cakes and was pleasantly surprised that they were tastier than last year’s version – more flaky and crispy this time around. Dickson scruputously redeemed his tickets on stuffed mushrooms from the Gas Pump and Beijing Beijing’s ginger beef. He much preferred the former dish, if not only for its smaller grease rating (and no pictures…just two days back from Europe, I wanted to step away from the camera for a while).

I’m not sure I’ll go back to the Taste of Edmonton next year, especially if it is similarly priced. I’d be more likely to skip down south to give Taste of Calgary a try, simply because most of the particpating restaurants are new to me.

Taste of Edmonton runs until Saturday.

The Cooking Chronicles: An Evening of Food and Wine

Since beginning this (food) blog last year, my interest in the culinary arts has not been contained to cooking and eating out alone. Due to repetitive exposure to Giada de Laurentiis and Ina Garten’s entertaining strategies, I had embraced the notion of hosting my own dinner party for some time. I had purchased paper invitations on sale at the end of last year, but didn’t yet have a large enough repetoire of recipes under my belt to really build a menu from. Over the last six months, however, I’ve experimented with enough dishes to put together a coherent meal, from appetizer to dessert. And though I knew June would be a busy month, I also acknowledged that if I didn’t throw the party before I left for Europe, it would likely not happen at all, at least not in the immediate future.

So the planning began about three weeks earlier, with “save the date” e-mails to four of my friends (plus Mack, who had agreed to host the party at his house). A week after that, I mailed out the invitations, following rather formal conventions gleaned from the web, including, for example, in place of the standard “RSVP,” the phrase “Favour of reply is requested.” As well, to mark this as a special occasion, I specified a semiformal dress code (in my post-party research, I stumbled upon a great website that offers free, printable invitation templates, most with a whimsical theme – worth checking out if you’re in a creative pinch).

As for the menu, as I am of the belief that I was Italian in a previous life, planned to cook several of Giada’s recipes. I was really interested in making individual servings of dishes wherever possible, not only to make the food easier to serve, but for presentation purposes. And with the dessert, for example, its ‘make-in-advance’ nature is perfect for such an occasion.

Panna Cotta with Fresh Bertries

So on Sunday, at Mack’s house, with the vinaigrette and panna cotta made the day before, we got to work cleaning, decorating, and preparing the majority of the food. With careful planning and a well-stocked fridge, it wasn’t as taxing as I had anticipated.

Table set-up

Toasting the almonds for the salad was a straightforward procedure, and really brought out the flavour of the nuts. Also, I cheated this time around in using canned orange pieces, but I promise to learn how to segment an orange next time. We did have a bit of trouble with moulding the parmesan frico cups at first, but with Mack’s “ingenious” idea of using a plastic water bottle in place of a glass, we were able to move on to the tomatoes.

Mixed Greens with a Citrus Vinaigrette served in a Parmesan Frico Cup

The inclusion of a splash of tomato juice and decrease in the amount of breadcrumbs (as observed on my first try) made a noticeable difference to the spinach-stuffed tomatoes – the side as a whole was more moist and tasted better.

Spinach Stuffed Tomatoes (before baking)

Individual gratin dishes (from Dollarama!) made the penne with four cheeses easy to serve, and though we didn’t miss the gorgonzola we left out, it probably would have thickened the sauce just that little bit. I did, however, like the hint of tomato mixed in with the cream (and yes, Mack even offered each of the guests “fresh ground pepper” to go with their pasta).

Penne with Four Cheeses

As for the “fire-raising” moment of the night – in hindsight, I should have warmed the focaccia round with the tomatoes in the 375 degree oven and not alongside the pasta in the 500 degree oven. My apologies to my friends who were too polite to not consume burnt bread…

Overall, the timing of the dishes worked out quite well. A wonder what planning ahead can do when setting up a multiple-course meal. Also, Mack’s wine picks did much to set a more mature tone to the evening – a Naked Grape Chardonnay and a bottle of White Zinfandel. I didn’t get to try the Zinfandel myself, but from what I heard, it accompanied our pasta nicely. Lastly, though the table was a bit small for six people, meaning that we had to serve each person individually instead of utilizing a shared platter, it may have been better as each of the guests then felt taken care of.

Ready for dessert!

I had planned for an early 5:30pm start to accommodate one of the guests, so the sun was still quite bright when we began to eat. As the night progressed, however, there was a moment while we were having dessert, close to dusk, candles flickering, with jazz playing softly in the background that I really appreciated the moment and the small accomplishment that (Mack and) I had completed.

Mini Linzer Cookies with Organic Strawberry Jam

But to give credit where credit’s due – I could not have pulled this off without Mack’s help – not only gracious enough to lend me his home, but a hand in everything from music selection to table setting to food to clean up.

Whew!

I found that cooking for six was manageable, with perhaps eight being the upper limit to maintain sanity. I would do it again, but in a different form – backyard BBQ bash, dessert night, wine and cheese evening – but likely not for a while. I’m happy to check off “throw a dinner party” off my list of 43 Things.

Group shot

Waiting out the Rain: Flavours Modern Bistro

My sister and I ducked into Flavours Modern Bistro (10354-82 Avenue) for a late lunch this afternoon in part to refuel but to also wait out the rain. And wait we did.

I haven’t been back to Flavours since a bad experience a few years ago with a very rude waiter. It was a shame too, as their applewood smoked chicken was divine, but couldn’t override the bad taste left in my mouth from horrible service.

On this rainy grey Sunday, however, I was willing to put aside past grievances and give the bistro another shot. Their lunch menu looked inviting, and with plates ranging from $8-12, the prices were reasonable. The interior hadn’t changed since my last visit – creaky hardwood floors, dark furniture and banquets, sleek mirror-lined walls and classy chandeliers. With sultry jazz music playing in the background, it really was a shame that the restaurant was nearly empty – perfect dining atmosphere cannot be devoid of tinkering wine glasses and hushed conversations.

My sister ordered the feature BLT sandwich and a caesar salad. I opted for the succulent-sounding breast of chicken sandwich (with pancetta bacon, lettuce, tomato and smoked provolone) and a bowl of Brazilian spiced black bean soup. Despite a table of four being our only other company, the food took over twenty minutes to arrive. Perhaps moderately acceptable if we had ordered well done steaks, it was inexcusable in this instance. My sister was also rather miffed that they didn’t offer freshly ground pepper or refill our water glasses once throughout our meal. The sandwiches themselves were on the small side, but I found the chicken tender as it should have been. The soup turned out to be the unexpected better deal – slightly spicy and chock full of beef, vegetables, and lentils, I would have gladly given up my sandwich for another bowl of soup.

Though not as negatively memorable as my last experience, our lunch at Flavours didn’t stand out as particularly good either.

Restaurant interior

Breast of Chicken Sandwich with Brazilian Spiced Black Bean Soup

BLT with Caesar Salad

Picnic in the Park with The Copper Pot

Doug had a great idea for his farewell lunch at work – instead of the standard sit-down meal at a nearby restaurant, he wanted us to take advantage of having the beautiful Ezio Farone Park just across the street from our building by having a picnic together. So ordering sandwiches from The Copper Pot (101, 9707-110 Street), we gathered on the grass under absolutely perfect weather.

Besides their regular lunch menu (which can be viewed on their revamped website), The Copper Pot also offers three sandwiches, one wrap, and a soup & salad combo available for take-out only. Priced at $8 each (sides extra), the selections are on the steep side, but considering its downtown office building location, the expense is understandable. I ordered the Ham & Cheese Panini (blackforest ham and brie on grilled French bread) and fries. As I enjoyed my sandwich with good company and for a special occasion, I didn’t mind incurring the cost for something easily duplicated at home for much less, but on a regular day, I doubt I’d order it again.

So – thanks Doug for a great Friday afternoon, and all the best with your future endeavours!

Ham & Cheese Panini and fries