Hoj's Profile
Chinese Wedding Banquet Restaurant Recommendations for Calgary
I would recommend Harbour City or Forbidden City.
Phil & Sebastian Marda Loop OPEN!
Actually, John, our Hydra is not 4 groups, it is 3 groups. What makes the Hydra different than the Cyncra is its ability for individual group pressure profiling...exciting times for espresso for sure.
Also, the Hydra is definitely the first in the province, but I'm quite certain it is the first in Canada, and I think the 3rd or 4th in North America.
Best Authentic Thai & Chinese in Calgary
Sharonanne, I can see the appeal for hole in the wall for certain ethnic cuisines....but in my opinion, Chinese food doesn't really follow this correlation anymore. Perhaps certain small noodle/congee shops, but for the most part, the best Chinese food I've had in Western Canada (Calgary/Richmond/Vancouver) have all been at larger, clean and definitely more 'upscale' chinese restaurants. In fact, I've been to alot of 'hole in the wall' chinese resto's in Calgary and have been supremely disappointed.
Also, I had no idea Silver Dragon even had XLBs as I'm quite certain they aren't a Northern cuisine restaurant. I think Silver Dragon gets recommended so often is due to the huge history it's had in Calgary. That restaurant has been around forever!
Piegon or Squab in Western Canadian Restaurants?
I've also had it upon special request (ask and order maybe 1 or 2 days in advance) at Harbour City and even in Central Grand.
Best Authentic Thai & Chinese in Calgary
For dinner you should go to Forbidden in the NE, just off Memorial in Pacific Place mall. There's also decent HK cafe connected called Pebble Street... but Forbidden is delicious.
Cooking Blow Torch
Thanks everyone for their quick and helpful suggestions. I'll probably purchase one of those propane torches as they seem to be the best deal. Just wondering if anyone has any cautionary advice or tips when using these larger propane torches.
Marra's Way Sushi, Canmore
Good to hear John, but aren't you weary of sushi that's sitting there for a long time? I understand that most likely this isn't much of an issue during packed hours, but it seems risky that you may have chosen that one $5 plate that's been sitting there for half an hour...
I know some of these types of places still have some sort of an ala carte ordering method. Was this the case here? In Japan, I ate at a Kaiten, and you had the option of ordering anything, having it made fresh, and sent to the table.
Donuts (Calgary)
I think this may be a quick way for immigrant groups to feel more assimilated into the Canadian culture. To many people, going for a Timmy's Run or grabbing a double double is actually part of their everyday routine. Conversations between Canadians and immigrant groups likely cover this at some point. Thus, immigrant families making a concerted effort to go to TH and make it a part of their day take joy in showing an effort into assimilating into this Canadian phenomenon. Although I don't know much about the CBC feature on Canadian Mediocrity, it's not a totally outlandish hypothesis. If only I could run an ESL school for new Asian immigrants, teaching them about coffee, espresso, and cupping!
Giuseppe's Italian Market - YYC
Sounds great, going to make it a point to stop over there for lunch one of these days. Especially since Pulcinella's has divebombed into an abysmal restaurant over the last few years.
Does anyone know what other things they are selling? Some good cured meats, or fresh pizza dough? And do they have a coffee program?
Cooking Blow Torch
Hello everybody. Can anyone suggest to me a good place to get a small little blow torch for cooking? You know, the ones most popularly used for crisping the tops of creme brulee. Also, what kind of prices am I looking at?
Thanks in advance.
Oh and by the way, I'm located in Calgary.
Donuts (Calgary)
Could not agree with you more, John. It really irks me that the pride and joy of Canada is ... TIM HORTONS. Yes. Undercooked, frozen, re heated garbage holes called 'donuts', and sewage water coffee loaded with cream and sugar is what we Canadianis identify most with! Thank goodness the coffee is good in Calgary, or else I'd have to jump off a cliff.
Anybody up for a 'Timmy's Run' (TM) (R) (C) ????
Donuts (Calgary)
I don't know if I've ever had 'freshly fried donuts'. Maybe the ones they used to give out at Krispy Kreme when you waited in line. But I haven't had any other selections other than the glazed.
However, I have had freshly fried mini-donuts, as various locations. As sharonanne alluded too, that's probably why the stampede mini donuts are so popular - you can't find freshly fried donuts anywhere!
Actually, at the Calgary Farmer's Market, there is a mini donut trailer that freshly fries mini donuts. They have the standard cinnamon-sugar coating (applied afterwards) but they taste fresh, crisp, fluffy with slight density, and are really delicious. Don't know how they compare to the ones you're used to though! The CFM is open during the summer (till Sept I think) Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun.
Alberta Food road trip!!!! :)))) Edmonton, Jasper, Banff and Calgary.
Calgary: Phil & Sebastian Coffee Co., located in the Calgary Farmer's Market (which you should also spend an afternoon / lunch there).
Manuel Latruwe in Calgary - What should I get?
It's probably only a 5-10 minute walk from the Victoria Park / Stampede station. Give it a go, and then you can also go to L'Epicerie right next door and kill two birds with one stone.
YYC-Where should I go for my birthday?
Perhaps some place like Bistro 2210, or even Brava Bistro?
YYC-Where should I go for my birthday?
It may be helpful if you list some of the places you've been to before that you might think posters may suggest. Happy birthday in advance.
Richmond Non-Asian
I'd suggest being a good friend and opening their eyes to the absolute deliciousness of asian food, especially in Richmond. Chinese, Taiwanese, Korean, Japanese... all SOO good.
Sushi in the YYC
Isn't that Hikari? Or did they change owners again?
Personally, I never, ever go eat AYCE sushi. For one, the quality is just so disgustingly bad that it hardly becomes worth it, and two, the price you end up paying would get you almost equally as stuffed ordering off the menu, except with much better food.
Had another excellent lunch at Misato today, which is, in my opinion, the best sushi in Calgary still. Some delicious nigiri - beautiful hamachi, with a buttery soft texture and perfect temperature, and the meaty, succulent saba with green onion.
New Caffe Artigiano open (Cgy)
John, the 15th Avenue concept store uses all Starbucks beans. It is owned and operated by Starbucks, but differentiated in order to revamp and individualize the store concept.
Sorry to hear about your coffees from Pike Place. I think it goes to show that often, equipment is not the limiting factor for making good coffee, it is most definitely down to the beans and the barista. Good equipment does NOT equal good coffee. Which Ethiopian did you have? Slightly surprised to hear how good it was but that's always a positive sign, I suppose.
Caffe Mauro (Calgary) - Please support this fantastic sandwich spot in its new location
Is this like right beside Holy Grill?
New Caffe Artigiano open (Cgy)
On a large scale basis, obviously Artigiano cannot compete with Starbucks. But if you look at how Starbucks as a company is doing, you'll see that other multinational corporations that have the type of reach and distribution as Starbucks have slowly started to eat into their market shares. You'll be surprised as to which ones too: the emergence of a revamped McDonald's coffee program, even Dunkin' Donuts to some extent have all bit off a bit of Starbucks revenue.
On the local side though, Artigiano can most definitely compete with Starbucks. And haven't they shown it already? Opening stores boldly across from other Starbucks, and surviving (or even thriving) already shows to me they can compete in the truest definition of the word. On a quality scale, there's hardly any comparison between what you can get at Starbucks compared to what you can get at Artigiano.
And Starbucks realizes this too. They have realized that the independents and the high quality, coffee focussed characteristic that they embody may be what consumers are looking for. Thus they have started to open up a few concept shops called 15th Avenue Coffee & Tea (owned by Starbucks), which are completely different in store design and equipment as to regular Starbucks, more of an independent feel, without push button fully auto machines and trying to recreate what alot of the independents (such as Artigiano) have been doing for years.
"Simple" Upscale Dining in Calgary
I'd actually recommend Brava. I don't find this place pretentious at all, it is decorated simply and on point. The food itself is also non-pretentious and very good, and I think would be a great place to take your dad.
Calgary - Favourite Bakery?
Brulee is an absolutely fantastic bakery and I have never been disappointed with any cakes from there. That said, I can't remember if they do have a black forest cake but they may be able to make one for you?
Good Pate?? Calgary
Another vote for l'epicerie. they have a number of sandwiches with several pates available to go as well. (IIRC)
Calgary Farmers market
Actually, 4:00pm on Sunday is probably a bad time to go as the market closes at 4 on Sundays. It's open till 5pm on Fridays and Saturdays, but closes at 4 on Sundays.
Good tip about the Windset Farms tomatoes. While the large majority of the produce are absolutely fantastic at the market, there are several stalls selling inferior goods and using the fact that they are situated within a farmer's market as a cover to it.
Best sushi "togo" for party platter - YYC
Try Momoyama. Have to call in advance but I think you can talk with him (Mark) on what you want on it.
Regency or Silver Dragon for Dim Sum in Clg
None of the above. I will second the recommendation for U and Me in chinatown. Definitely one of the best places in Calgary and you order off a menu. For something slightly different than the regular Cantonese style dim sum, you can try Peking Garden near varisty in the strip mall just down shagganapi from Market Mall. It serves northern style dimsum (one of the dishes you can order is peking chicken) and is different than the regular dim sum. I wouldn't say the food is extremely vibrant or colorful but it is more country style(?). Finally the recommendations for TPot and Forbidden City are very justified.
Ordering off the carts is actually not very fresh - if you think about it, those carts circulate the restaurant while tons of dishes just sit and sit and sit. I prefer the 'order off the menu' style as it is more fresh.
