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nutellaluvr's Profile

Anyone seen fresh fiddleheads in Calgary?

Cherry Pit @ CFM has them. $7.99, I believe.

Smashburger Coming to YYC

Went back for a second visit yesterday, this time trying the Grilled Chicken Spinach and Goat Cheese Sandwich. Bearing in mind that my expectations of just about any chain restaurant is limited, I was exceedingly pleased with this offering. Tickled even; I would go back for this menu item happily and often. From my first visit I had a survey code for free Smashfries which I utilized yesterday. Double-Meh. The Grilled Chicken Sandwich made up for it though. Double-Yay!

Sushi Pizza in Calgary?

Last night we returned to Ajisai for their Sushi Pizza specifically. It was as good as ever and cost $10.95. Their Aburi Scallop Roll is terrific as well!

Nathans hot dogs at Safeway...what varieties (Calgary)

It's true, I saw Nathan's at the Market Mall location of Safeway this past weekend. There were two varieties, but I have to admit I didn't make note of what they were specifically. They were in packages such as Schneiders, and 5 or 6 links per package. Hope this helps!

Calgary Groupons: Anyone use them?

Thanks Jetgirly, I wrote to Living Social for a refund. I was sooo bummed when I went down to Kensington to just find them closed.

Ice Cream -- it is a problem (Calgary)

When we were last at Lic's, the tubs all said Chapman's Ice Cream, and they had a Double-Chocolate-Brownie-Fudge Ice Cream that I later found at Co-op (in a smaller size of course). Totally yum!

New Mercato in West Calgary (Aspen?)

We were in to the new Mercato on Saturday in which the restaurant was open (right hand side of the building), but the deli/market wasn't opening unit the 21st (left side of the building). The address for the complex is: 873 85 St SW, Calgary, AB. Parking is looking superb!

Authentic Greek Yogurt

Safeway has recently added a Fage-like offering from Skotidakis. There are two flavours, Honey, and Blueberry/Pomegranate. The "jam" is separate like Fage, and the yogurt is 0%. IMO it isn't quite as creamy as Fage, but a solid offering it is. I'll be heading back for more, even if it is $2.19 per container!

Real, spanish chorizo in Calgary?

The Italian Store next to Scarpone's (McKnight & Deerfoot) has dried Spanish Chorizo, but it does have kick. I love it on pizza! The links are roughly 4" long, and cost in the vicinity of $1 each.

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The Italian Store
5140 Skyline Way NE, Calgary, AB T2E 6V1, CA

Supermarket woes

I completely understand tatiana131. Country Hills Sobeys used to have better than average produce (not to say it rated alongside Farmers Markets), but no longer. This has been going on for longer than a few weeks though. Produce quality has been declining for the better part of a year. I watched one of the stock boys filter through the sweet peppers weeding out the old and wrinkled, only to realize he had left only two peppers remaining. So he deposited half back again, and IMO he wasn't wrong in the first place. Product selection has also declined to the point that some basics like Free Run eggs aren't stocked nor more than two flavours of Liberte Greek Yogurt. This may seem picky, but are merely an example of likely another frustrating shopping trip. A bland nightmare indeed.

malted milk powder in yyc

There was a past discussion regarding Malted Milk Powder, perhaps it will help!

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/731484

Pumpkins for Roasting? (Calgaryj)

I believe what you're looking for is a Sugar Pumpkin. Emeril Lagasse recommends this type of pumpkin for cooking/roasting as they are far more flavourful than the "jack-o-lantern" variety, and are readily available. I've purchased them several times and have a few spares in the basement! You can get them at local farmers markets, as well as the Cherry Pit at CFM. They are sometimes called Baking or Cooking Pumpkins, they are orange, round, just generally smaller than one you would use at Halloween. They are $0.99/lb at the Cherry Pit ($3/ea). Good luck!

Authentic Greek Yogurt

I've tried the Oikos plain, organic plain, and strawberry. I think the strawberry is a weaker offering, which is not to say there's not enough fruit in the bottom, it's just not very strawberry-ish. And it sooo isn't Fage. Personally, I'll stick with Liberte as even the 0% plain IMO is richer/creamier than Oikos.

Double Zero

I'll be the first to say that the protein component of their pizza has never been Matador's strong suit. And yes, I agree that the pepperoni they use is the ~3" version you describe. Hence the reason we tend to order veggie oriented pies (El Greco, Traditional Greek, Veg) although SO still likes the #20 and Bullfighters.

I just don't remember the crust being any different ... I will quiz others. Perhaps I'm oblivious. But could I be THAT blind? Hmm.

I wouldn't think the pizza in the lounge is any different, we're really just talking about a different seating area. Next time I see George I'm going to quiz him too. I'm not wild about their surcharge for 1/2 and 1/2 pizzas, so perhaps a conversation is necessary.

Double Zero

After reading nonlinear's recent review of Matadors, I have to admit, I stopped breathing for a moment. I grew up w/Matadors. Sure, I haven't been in a while (waistline issues), but It's bad now, really?? So last night, off I went!

My findings: so sorry nonlinear, but I just can't agree. We enquired whether George had sold, and no, he was in earlier. For a basis of comparison, we ordered a pie we'd had before, a #17 (Traditional Greek), and being particularly critical (one piece was deconstructed, another w/crust segregated), it was 100% as good as ever. Crust was the same, toppings, sauce, cheese, everything. I could find no difference and loved every single bite. Perhaps you got a newbie making your pie, or unknowingly went on a seriously-off-day?

My faith is restored.

Fish n' Chips in the NW of Calgary?

Tudor Rose (www.tudorrose.ca) in Panorama Hills does Fish n' Chips! On Sundays they have a special on them, $6.99 for a sizeable portion of chips with a lightly battered piece fish, also IMO generously portioned. Very casual pub style place, comfortable. Plus they have Big Rock's Dunkelweizen.

Uses of an Immersion Blender

Immersion blenders save the day if you have lumpy gravy and do small batches of egg whites nicely (or at least mine does with the attachment). Nuts aren't something I would use with this tool though...

Prairie Food Trucks - A Possibility?

My first trip to Alley Burger came on Saturday when they opened during the Prairie Regional Barista Competition at Fratello. The line was admittedly slow going and chaotic. The organizers closed off the parking area to the public until the volunteers/judges/participants/onlookers were served. The public had to form their own line outside the gates. Yikes.

Regardless, we were fortunate enough to be about twelfth in line with the judges so we were served our Original Alley Burger and small fries around 1:30. The burger was better than I expected and I'm keen to try their Angus Burger. The fries were hot, crisp, and infused with garlic, or so it seemed to me. Totally yum.

Fiasco Gelato was parked immediately next to Alley Burger (again "inside" the gates), and offered three flavours: Chocolate Shavings, Strawberry Creme, and Blackberries and Cream. I did a chocolate/blackberry combo and thought both to be gorgeous. Especially while waiting for Alley Burger to work through their line in the hot sun. Perhaps the gelato isn't as sinful as GelatoParadiso (LA) which we've become accustomed to, but certainly worth frequenting!

I just felt sorry for the longgggg line outside the gate, they likely wondered whether they would ever be served, and what on earth would be left to eat once the first HUGE line was served.

Best bakeries for day-olds, deals, and cheap crusty bread loaves?

Prairie Mill (Northland Dr) has often had a big display of day old baking. I haven't had the best of luck there, but you never know. I have however had some beautiful day old from Amandine on Centre St. N!

Restos serving insects on the menu

You might have to go down to the grounds. Last year it hit the newswire that Cricket Pizza was a new offering. This is purely heresay on my part...

Calgary Groupons: Anyone use them?

We purchased Groupons for Tudor Rose and my only recommendation is to avoid burdening the staff with these on a Friday or Saturday night. They are already overwhelmed and this just adds to the complexity. We used the Groupons right away and had no issues whatsoever.

ISO meyer lemons in YYC

I picked up fresh Meyer lemons at CFM two weekends ago. They were classified as "small lemons" for 50 cents each at the General Store. I was under the impression they didn't appreciate the difference between the varieties :)

Peanut Butter - Calgary

GOOD NEWS!!! I am so excited to have returned this evening (May 31) from Sunterra in Westhills and can happily report that they have four (4) varieties of Peanut Butter & Co. Yes, four! Amazingly, you can find the goods along with all the other peanut butters (second shelf from the bottom), and they are carrying White Chocolate Wonderful, The Heat is On, The Bee's Knees, and Dark Chocolate Dreams.

I opened my jar of The Bee's Knees on the way home ... is that wrong?

good coffee far south YYC

P&S is open in Chinook, so depending upon where in the SE you are (it's all perspective), it might be manageable. P&S opens at 7 am! Otherwise (and assuming you're heading far-south), I'd suggest Good Earth in Lethbridge just off Mayor Magrath.

The new Calgary Farmers' Market at Blackfoot Centre will open tomorrow

ToQ? I will have to give them a try!

Back to CFM Saturday morning for more GV tomatoes, but I arrived at 8:30 in an attempt at good parking. Success! I was banking on Fratello being open and I could wander with it as vendors opened. The latter part of the plan worked, but Fratello's Espresso was (dare I say), nasty. Acidic. Head-shakey stuff. And I like Ristretto. I had enquired what variety/type of chocolate they used for their Mocha and the girl said it was a chocolate flavoured pump syrup. Hence the reason I passed on that one. And I had such high hopes. Back to P&S!

The new Calgary Farmers' Market at Blackfoot Centre will open tomorrow

While CFM was closed, I tried out Kingsland and Broxburn specifically. Gorgeous swiss chard!

I also made a special trip to Sunnyside for GV tomatoes back in March, and sadly they only had cherry tomatoes (no signs indicating they were GV and the staff was - let's call them unresponsive) @ $8.95/lb. Yikes.

Happily, the cocktail tomatoes I picked up yesterday from GV @ CFM were outstanding as usual. May have to go back before the weekend is out for more!

The new Calgary Farmers' Market at Blackfoot Centre will open tomorrow

Hubby also mentioned that more of the retail space seems to be taken up with prepared food offerings; he was thinking the overall space was smaller than at Currie Barracks.

Also mentioned was how thrilled the nearby businesses will likely be with CFM customers taking spots in their parking lots across the street, hence the mile radius comment may come true.

I am however just glad to be able to get Gull Valley tomatoes. For that I can run in while someone hangs.

Real Fruit Juice Gummie Bears in Calgary?

Annie's offers "Fruit Snacks" (http://www.annies.com/fruit_snacks), which I take it are a similar beast, albeit bunnies rather than bears. I've seen these at both Planet Organic locations.

The new Calgary Farmers' Market at Blackfoot Centre will open tomorrow

I took this posting to heart when I headed down to CFM this morning (Thursday).

I was there at 11:01, and the parking was a nightmare. The front lot had guys directing traffic and there wasn't a spot to be had. The "back" lot, which is on the north side of the building is said to have 600 spots (according to CFM), but IMO that is rather optimistic. I would guess this location has 20% of the parking compared with the Currie Barracks if you allow for their overflow parking options. Yikes.

I think I'll be getting hubby to drop me off and wait while I run. Likely not exactly what CFM had in mind I imagine.

Huevos Rancheros in Calgary?

I think you're right about Diner Deluxe. We were there last weekend and one of us had the Southwest Scramble. Although the scrambled eggs are served on a corn tortilla, the similarities pretty much stop there. There are sweet peppers (no noticeable chiles) with some salsa mixed in (perhaps). No refried beans, no cheese. Add potatoes. So from what I saw and tasted, Huevos didn't come to mind. Sorry.

When we were at Salt & Pepper (Bowness) last they served Huevos for brunch. Keep in mind that was Easter 2010.

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Salt & Pepper
6515 Bowness Rd NW, Calgary, AB T3B 0E8, CA

Diner Deluxe
804 Edmonton Trail NE, Calgary, AB T2E 3J6, CA