Mushroom risotto.
Had dinner at Redwater Rustic Grille (Bow Valley), a restaurant with a warm, sophisticated atmosphere and a menu with wide appeal. The restaurant is part of the Vintage Group (owners of Rush, Vintage Chophouse & Tavern, Bookers BBQ Grill & Crab Shack), a chain that has a proven formula: a sleek ambiance, solid menu and diverse wine selection.
Redwater Rustic Grille is a take on West Coast cuisine with regional ingredients. For a starter we ordered the Ahi Tuna Carpaccio with pickled beets, avocado relish and cilantro cream ($15). It was delicious even though the tuna was overpowered by the avocado relish. It was also pricey for the size. It only came with five won ton crisps to boot. Would it have killed them to add an extra won ton crisp to make an even number? I’m sure the tuna-to-crisp ratio would have remained intact. We had three people at the table, so we each had one and then had to awkwardly split the last two crisps. We could have asked for extra crisps, but we shouldn’t have to. Plus, I was too hungry to wait for our server to return. Read More
On the weekend I made egg noodles with stir-fried beef and had a huge craving for chili oil, you know, the little clear container of orangey oil that is ubiquitous on the tables of all Chinese restaurants. So I stopped by Lucky Supermarket (8 Avenue S.E., Calgary) to pick up a jar of it, but at the steep price of $5.50 for 250 mL, I decided it would definitely be cheaper if I made it myself. Turns out it’s ridiculously easy.
Homemade chili oil: 7 minutes to make and 50 cents total.
You can buy dehydrated red or thai chilies from any Asian supermarket for a couple of dollars a bag. I also use these chilies when I’m making curry, thai soup, or when a recipe calls for chili flakes. Read More
Taste of Calgary is like an outdoor tapas smorgasbord with 30 different restaurants to taste samples from. The outdoor food and beverage festival was held at Eau Claire Market in Calgary. This year was its 14th, and with all those years of food faring, I expected to be blown away. Of course, it is up to the participating restaurants to promote their businesses and make you like them enough to hoof it to their restaurant once the event is over. It’s also up to you to choose wisely. This, I did not do. Also, I went on a hungry stomach without pre-eating AND agreed to share food with a few others. In my defense, since my sister paid for the tickets, I couldn’t be too picky/greedy.
One of many food booths at the 2010 Taste of Calgary.
At .75 cents a ticket, most food required five to six tickets. Do the math; that adds up to $3.75 or $4.50 respectively for each tiny sampler plate. Not cheap. Here’s a rundown of what I ate: Read More
Hospital. Yum? Illustration: Jason Neil
Far from a superficial want, food is sustenance, it’s joy, it’s community. For me and for some of you, food is a way of life.
I respect where our food comes from; those who produce our food and those who prepare it work hard. This website is a celebration of those people and meals.
That said, I am not afraid to post bad reviews on here. Your money and time are valuable. Spend wisely. Nothing sucks the joy out of an occasion faster than a mediocre meal.
Although we all love fine dining, let’s face it, sometimes all you need is a Baconator.
A stint in the hospital gave me a new appreciation for what goes into my mouth. For a backgrounder on the origin of my food obsession, read I Live To Eat (published in NYUMMM magazine).
Happy eating!
