messier's Profile
Calgary - Alfajores???
...and Coco Karamels' Alfajores are AWESOME so don't even think twice! The quince ones? OMG
Spumoni ice cream in Calgary?
My Favourite Ice cream (?) in Altadore sells it by the scoop or they can pack a tub for you...they may be closed for the season now?
I also think I got some from Pepino's in their pre packed tubs once.....
Fresh Kitchen
I had a similar experience, Love to dine out..we bought a ranch dip that was rancid. I had been going there semi-regularly, but that turned me right off. Maybe their seasonal menus are the way to go- I imagine the Friday dinners would be prepared to order? I might try those, not liking a salad is just a matter of taste-but spoiled food is certainly not! I'm staying away from pre-packaged food there for sure.
Where to buy: Tart Rings/Cake rings in in Calgary/Edmonton/Red Deer
hi maple;
if you decide to give up and go online may I suggest Goldas Kitchen in Mississauga? I went there on a trip to Ontario recently and they have everything! I've placed an online order since I returned and had great service. Yes, the shipping is a little high, but when you can't find what you want sometimes you have to just bite the bullet I guess. Either that or I would hit kijiji and look for bakery sales. I got some really nice large loaf pans that way from a bakery that was going out of business. Good Luck!
Notable reservations
When I first read the post from shopwinefinedine I thought this was a little weird, but I'm glad you've taken the time to explain to us, because now I think its quite fair.
I will definitely take your advice and come early or a bit later in service!
JoJo's BBQ - Calgary
I agree miss.foodie, I haven't been to the truck yet, but I had a nice preview dinner a few weeks ago! Jody sold "preview dinners for two" from a notice on her facebook site. The ribs were so awesome, I really love that the flavour was high in smoke and cherry wood (i think). Fritters are on my list-hopefully for this weekend!
Ace Bakery Products, YYC
I agree with you Bill! My sister lives in Toronto and whenever I visit her I make sure she loads me up on Ace Bread. I haven't found one I didn't like! I gave up on ever eating it here, so I will go to Shawnessey and see if I can get my fix! Thanks for the heads up!
Jelly Modern Doughnut - you have to try it
I agree, I love Donut Mill. When I first moved here fellow Chow's recommended I go there and since that first trip the SO and I go there once a month for apple fritters!
Sadly, I don't see any real "classics" on the menu -and frying is still frying even if you use organic flour!!! (lol) but hey-its a treat, right? I'll go and check it out, but I agree it will probably only be a once and awhile thing. If their cinnamon buns are good they may get me though!
Prairie Food Trucks - A Possibility?
Well, for those who don't know there will be a new entry into Calgary with Jojo's BBQ...I've been following her on facebook and she says her "Chariot of Smoke" will be parked at BBQ's Galore on Edmonton Trail. She's got a custom smoker in her converted motorhome!!!
I really hope she opens some doors for other food trucks. I would love to see us embrace this as a city, even if it is a seasonal phenom!
Here's her website, I imagine folks who've been in Calgary longer might know her? She worked for the Palomino?
http://bbqcalgary.com/
More Than Mangos - YYC
I ran head first into Andreas in a store a few weeks ago! He remembered me from my yellow dragonfruit cravings during my pregnancy-which became an expensive habit!
Anyhow, over niceties he told me he was working for the Byblos bakery as a sales rep. I didn't pry-but I assume he's no longer selling his lovely fruit :(
Wurst - Calgary German Beer Haus
I hope for this too! Homemade spaetzle would make me weep with happiness.
Coconut Milk Powder - YYC
ladybug- I picked some up this time last year at T&T in the NW. They had both coconut cream and coconut milk powder. I had a hard time finding it-not in the place you'd think to look-I had to ask someone. Good Luck!
Where can I find Rugelach or Babka in Calgary?! Mail order?
There is a kosher bakery inside of the Carriage House Inn. You can call the front desk and ask to place an order with the bakery. On Thursdays and Fridays (I think) they wheel out all the baking into the front hall. It sells out fast!! They have kosher cinnamon buns and scones, challah, bagels and all kinds of cookies that are completely parve.
They also have the Rugelach and Knishes (potato or mushroom) for sure, because I've ordered them! No Babka though :( if you find Babka you gotta let me know where!
Sociale...
I hear that Kenny Kaechele (sp) is the Exec (former from Tango) but otherwise, not much. They have a facebook page that drops menu teasers in my feed every once and awhile....
Search for Mail Order Cakes (All of WC)
sweeterpea and miss.foodie! Thanks so much for finding this for me! I was ready to pull my hair out!!!
Search for Mail Order Cakes (All of WC)
Apparently there is a company based somewhere in the Western Provinces that makes mail order cakes. These cakes are packaged in gorgeous keepsake hat boxes and have themes.From what I remember they don't have a store and it is mail order only. I want to say they are based in Edmonton, but a google search has proven fruitless.
I was on the site a year ago, but I can't find them now and for the life of me I can't remember their name! They didn't have a huge variety, but they shipped internationally and each cake presentation was absolutely lovely. I know they have also been featured in some magazines and I'm almost positive they are a Western.
Does anyone know the company? My MIL has requested a cake from them for her 85th after having one at a party last year, but of course she doesn't remember any details and the resident who had the cake is no longer with us to let us know. After a night of searching I'm at a loss.
Thanks in advance for any leads!
Dolce Sapori (Calgary)
After heading to Dolce Sapori with friends this weekend, I felt I needed to update my first review.
The eight of us arrived at 9pm, the set time for our reservation. After waiting 10 minutes we were lead into the dining room. One would expect that the delay was due to them being busy, but upon entering the room seemed manageable-even quiet- for a normal Friday evening service. There were a total of 16 guests not including ourselves. Four of them were on coffee, a group of six was well into dinner and everyone else was waiting.
And boy, did we wait. No water, no acknowledgement, no nothing. We watched the one waiter (yes one) try to manage all the tables while the hostess brought up another group of four. After 25 minutes passed we all decided to stare intently at the waiter, who then chirped a quick “be right with you!” and took another 10 minutes to come.
At first, we thought we were mistaken. One waiter for this whole room? Where did the hostess disappear to? Could she not help? Was no one downstairs free? As we debated this we waffled between anger and just feeling sorry for this poor guy. But we were there, and we were hungry so we decided to play it out-all of us having had a great experience there before.
As time ticked by we examined the menu, made our choices and shared a bottle of water that one of us had in our bag (NO JOKE).By this time, the waiter came up breathless, rushed us through and order (I believe he intended to have us order wine and wait some more) and ran away before we could ask for water. Luckily, the wine came quickly. Sadly, the food did not.
All in all, we waited an hour and ten minutes for appetizers. We had decided to order some of what we’d had before, just for comparisons sake. You would think, dear friends, that after this long wait the food would at least be palatable! But no! The pears in the pear, prosciutto and Gorgonzola plate were dry, the dip was lumpy and the bread sticks tasted like leavener. We were enjoying the antipasto platter, until we got to the pickled vegetables, which had a scary tingle to them. We didn’t eat the rest. The shrimp was served in ice cold tomato sauce And the worst part of all was the hard, rubbery ravioli. You remember how much I loved it the first time? The brown butter sauce? The sweet lovely squash? It all came cold, sad and overcooked. So much that I ate the centre and not the edges, hoping to find some remnant of the deliciousness I’d had before. Nope.
During this meal we watched the waiter and the busser crash into each other trying desperately to work the tables and the hostess kept sending up more people to add to the chaos. Needless to say, there were other things-other things I will spare you. We were going to ask for water and were considering a coffee to at least end the evening with something warm in our stomachs when the bill came, resplendent with an 18% auto-grat. We took our cue and set to leave.
There was a lot of long awaited hype for this restaurant. Endless teasers in City Palate and lots of curiosity. Its just been four months in and I have to say I must retract my recommendation and warn you to stay away. If this was supposed to be a labour of love for the owner-he needs counselling.
New places in Cgy
they're open...the smokers show up around 7pm, lol.
Its ok. Nothing to get too excited about.
Cuisinart ice-21 ( ice cream maker in edmonton)
I have this one jayfoxpox and its great. I've had it for two years and I use it constantly, it was a wedding gift.
My SIL got it for us at The Bay, and in fact it was a special pack that had an extra bowl. I saw it there again last year, so its worth a look!
Don't hesitate though, the reviews are right on!
where to buy slider buns in Calgary
I was at Safeway today and they had them! I was at Marda location, they were with the hamburg buns, but at the bottom with the wheat ones. I wouldn't say they had a huge supply, but they were there!
Nectar Desserts in Calgary
I have to agree here-comparatively $40 is not that unusual for a full retail space. Although dramatic increases may in fact push some small businesses out of prime real estate, I would imagine that would be a business that has been long established at a low rental rate in the same spot for many years. This is not the case here.
Most commercial leases run for 5 years and have stepped rates that are clearly set out. If this would have been the 5th year of this business, the owner should not have been surprised by the rate. Even if this is not the case, she states clearly that she knew for weeks that this was coming. She states she will walk away with nothing. She's sold her assets. Her stockholders will not get dividends.
If you have a viable business with an established clientelle, why sell off? Why not move and try again? Improve on your space (accessibility, frontage) . Anyone who's been there on a Saturday night knows that the spot was popular enough that at least a few of its existing customers would follow Nectar to a new place.Its an original concept that hasn't really been copied. And its not like it was easy to find, easy to park or easy to get to (those stairs!!)
No, I agree with Mr. Manzo here. it sounds like mis-management to me, nicely couched with a rent increase. And a chance to recreate yourself without ultimate responsibility, At some point we all have to balance the ledger sheet.
Nectar Desserts in Calgary
Apparently Nectar Desserts is closing for good this Sunday. Someone from my SO's office called yesterday to order a cake for a party and she was told they were not producing any more orders. Their website had this statement today:
http://nectardesserts.com/
Although my experiences there have been up and down, I'm sad to see any local business go especially one with such a great premise.
Beignets in Calgary?
LOL John, I am a bit nuts these days, but I truly appreciate that you understand how just the thought of the possibility of maybe getting one bite of one PoBoy has sent me into a craving frenzy that just cannot be satiated.
Now all I can think about is PoBoys and Muffuletta and pralines. Lord in heaven.
So yes JZED. Details. DETAILS.
Beignets in Calgary?
if I could get a PoBoy here I would give up my pending child.
I would.
new sunterra...
Oh dear. Well. I suppose I question it because of what I saw. Hence it was a question, not a statement.
And I stand behind my impression. Although it has all the elements, it is not only a grocery store and "mainstay" groceries don't even seem to be their focus, based on the marketing-not to mention the layout.
The are heavily stocked on pre-prepared food, and frankly what I had was not that good. I can even excuse that, but when you then decide to serve food--well. Not to mention I had to go into a corner for produce (and the gelato bar was much more prominent than the carrots, thank you)
So what I'm saying is If all those people are still employed (and not just at the coffee bar) and all those displays and grab-n-go's are still brimming over day in and day out with fresh salads and prepacked goodness-great. If all that bread gets sold-wonderful. If every one of the 30 pies I counted wrapped in saran gets turned before it goes stale-awesome. I just see a lot of excess and not a hell of a lot of basics or food quality. And sorry-I'll bus it from Inglewood to just about anywhere for something half decent to eat. Many times on your reccomendation.
So will they succeed? That wasn't my question. They will. Because grab and go is easier than seek and find. I get it.
But are they sustainable? The double faced displays will soon tell the tale.
new sunterra...
I went yesterday and it is indeed pay and display, but they will validate with a purchase for up to 45mins...it's something to keep in mind.
As for my take, did anyone else wonder how this huge place is sustainable? I can't believe they can run through all that fresh food in the deli cases! Wow! I can't help but think it could be easily half the size? What happens when they pull back all their opening staff? It will be a big echo chamber! Its bigger than any Whole Foods I've been to and they already had very large displays with "filler" facing...just makes me wonder what it will be like a year hence?
Anyhow, love the decor in the restaurant, the prices seemed fair and you definitely feel inspired to eat in the environment. Unfortunately the food was just....gah. I've always been disappointed with their preprepared offerings and I guess I was hoping there would be some progress there now that they are serving to order. Sadly, no. My meal isn't even worth mentioning here. Really.
As for produce, it was truly lovely. I wouldn't hesitate to buy meats, fruit or veg there if I was in the area-but I know I can get most of these products from the merchants I already frequent, so its not like its a "have to go" destination for me. I guess unless I feel a strong urge to buy condiments (which does happen near the holidays) or grab a quick lunch if I'm right in the area I won't be back anytime soon. Wish them luck though, it seems like a big, expensive, heavy on labour venture.
Nectar Desserts in Calgary
I think if you browse this thread you can see a slow decline in service and food quality that speaks for itself, so I'm not surprised about your cake experience.
What does shock me is the surcharge....I can understand it if you all sat together, but since they are the ones that split you I find it odd-no, I find it wrong-that you had to pay it.
Now its been no secret of Nectars weird seating policies, but I don't get why, if they split your party they feel justified to charge you a large party gratuity.
Have you emailed Rebekah the owner? Some people have got results that way and I certainly think the levy is worth complaining about.
Itza bakery
did someone say ALMOND CROISSANTS??? Ohhh!
John did you notice any pain au raisin? I would die for one of those!
