....that finds fast food restaurants are pricing themselves out of the market?
Whenever I travel I try not too eat at the places we have at home. Case in point. We haven't got a SmashBurger yet so I thought I would try it for lunch on Rememberance Day. I ordered a Calgary Burger and fries and including GST it was $9.95. I didn't have a beverage. The couple ahead of me ordered 2 burgers, fries and drinks and it came to just under $30.00. I decided to try Nathan's Hot Dogs one day a while ago and again I was the better part of $10.00 without a drink.
Now here is my problem. There are a lot of restaurants that have a lunch menu and you can get a full entrée for under $10. There are full Chinese buffets that are not very far over $10.
I realize the convenience factor was there. I had no complaints on the fast delivery to my table and the quality was there. I just can't get my mind around why I wouldn't go to a sit down restaurant for possibly less than a fast food joint. Am I the only one?
Dean in Red Deer, AB

Scallops or oysters? Fanny Bay is known for it's oysters which I have had in a jar from Superstore. I absolutly love them and always pickup a bunch to BBQ when I go to our friends on the island. The jar is a great substitute!
Dean in Red Deer

Is it really a VOID in Grey County for fine dining? Bump.
Dean in Alberta

I will be visiting my relatives in Durham, Ontario which is located at highways 4 & 6. I am finding that The Bistro is the only better dining facility in Durham but is closed on Tuesdays.. It is not a problem to go to Flesherton, Hanover or other close by areas. Any suggestions?
Dean in Alberta.

Well I finally made it! I keep hearing about Nathan's Hot Dogs and wanted to give it a try as I was in a hurry for a quick lunch. I was surprized how long it took to get my dog. There were a few other patrons in there when I went yesterday. I have to say I wasn't overly impressed and amazed anyone can consider a hotdog as a meal.
I had the NY with sauerkrout and it cost $4. Afterwards I went to Safeway and they had packages of Nathans on for $5 as a Friday special. I never bought any because I think it is just hype.
Dean in Red deer

The 5 Guys in Red Deer opens this Monday with a full menu including hot dogs. According to the paper they have a staff of 50.
They are now planning a second RD location.
Dean in RD

I bought mine at Walmart but I have also seen them at Dollarama.
Dean in Red Deer

Living in Red deer we are close to the plant at Sylvan Star Cheese at where else - Sylvan Lake.
The best cheese they have is the Grizzly Gouda which has won at world competitions. Now, they have a gouda with garlic and herbs that again has been judged the best in Canada and I think they will be taking that to the worlds.
In addition I get the aged cheddar at the Crossroads Market in Calgary that is the oldest they carry. I have neve found better.
Dean in Red deer

Scary Bill:
It's funny you should mention the Shriners Christmas cakes.
In Red Deer they get them made by someone up at Bentley and sell them at the malls around now. They are beyond belief! They are so moist. They are only available in Red Deer.
Dean

I spent many years in Airdrie and I hadn't thought of a hot dog as being a meal.
The other two close restaurantsare my favourites for fast food. I do love 5 Guys and I have eaten at Swiss Chalet since they were founded in Toronto in 1955.
Does this now mean I may try a Nathan's Hot Dog? I'll give it a try.
Dean in Red Deer, AB

There is a Nathan's Hot Dog restaurant on the southside of Airdrie but I have never been in it (too busy going to Five Guys in the same strip mall). Not sure if they carry food products beyond their restaurant service.
Dean in Red Deer

I love garlic. A while back I 'discovered' the Chinese garlic at Superstore. There were three heads in a small bag. It wasn't overly powerful smelling and had what I thought was a gentle flavour. Yet, it delivered the way good garlic should. Now, I am very unhappy with this garlic and looking for a new source. I am not sure if it was because of the season in China and it lost it's potency having been picked in their 'fall'.
Any great tips for good, (no I mean really good) garlic heads?
Dean in Red Deer

The signs are finally up. We are coming in to the 21st Century!
Dean in Red deer

There is also It's All Greek To Me which is consistently good as well as Las Palmeras across the street which John Gilchrist called the best Mexican restaurant in Alberta. For Chinese, Red Star is probably your only choice.
Dean in Red Deer

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Las Palmeras
3630 50 Ave, Red Deer, AB T4N 3Y6, CA

My B-I-L's father had a heart attack and high cholesterol. He was a hunter and changed just to eating elk as a red meat. He went for his annual check-up which included blood tests. A few days later the doctor asked him to re-take the tests as there had been a foul up. He did.
The doctor called him in to his office and asked what he was doing and eating. He told him. The doctor said he had never seen such a significant drop in anyone's cholesterol levels and to keep eating the elk which is a very healthy meat from the wild as ot doesn't have any hormones, vitamins, drugs, etc.
Dean in Red Deer

Holy Smoke about Holy Smoke! We were down for the Stampede on Thursday and ended up there about 2:00 after getting all our running around done. There were only a few other people there so we got fast service. Our daughter had said she has heard nothing but good comments so we were expecting a treat.
We ordered 5 ribs, large chili, baked beans and a cornbread. We wanted water but they don't have ice so they gave us colder tap water.
The service was prompt and we really, really thought all of our choices were excellent quality. I then odered 3 more ribs and a cornbread which my wife promptly grabbed along with one more of the ribs.
I would definitly go again.
The smoke smell was not bad in the restaurant as the front door was open and we could have eaten outside as most of the tables were empty.
This added to our Stampede experience.
Dean in Red Deer.

We are coming down next Thursday for Stampede and thought we would go here for the Pulled Pork about 1:00. What are the best side dishes and will it be busy. Is it still the same as the reviews?
Dean in Red Deer

Sorry to say I have never even heard of it! Why not be the first and post a review?
Dean in Red Deer

It is hard to believe this post I started almost 3 years ago is still alive and will be 3 years old on June 20th!
Dean in Red Deer

Red Deer is coming in to the 21st Century! Rumor has it the new pad in the parking lot of Home Depot is Five Guys.
Gotta love it!
Dean in Red Deer, AB

I didn't realize they were serving meat from Cornish Game Hens!
Dean in Red Deee

Thanks for the replies.
I had a heart attack September 10 so am on a low sodium no fat diet. No sour salt!
It is kind of cool because I am now finding out what my food REALLY tastes like.
Dean in Red Deer

Our vegetable supplier is east of Markerville. Take the road out of town. You will come to a medium bend in a mile or two. You will then come to a big bend to the right. Just a short distance on the right. There is a sign but it is small. They don't really seem to have hours as we have been out there at 9 on a Saturday night and spent some time laking to them. Have you ever had a solid radish bigger than a golf ball? And, sweeter than an orange?
She is at the Farmer's market in Red Deer on Wednesday from 4 to 7:30 where the old Arlington Hotel was in the parking lot.
The reason we go to farmers markets and pay the higher prices is to eat quality food grown locally.....not from Mexico or the USA.
Dean in Red Deer
PS: We did go to the Kingsland Farmers Market on Wednesday and while it was OK, most of the vendors I felt were not selling local produce so we bought one small bunch of radishes for a snack on the way home.

The other day I was in No Frills in Airdrie. A person from a communal farm came in and bought large quantities of vegetables that were on sale. He then took them out to his truck. His truck already had boxes in it of all sorts of produce.
The next day my wife and I were at a Farmers Market. Guess who was there selling his produce? I asked them if he grew these on their property. He assured me he did. I then said "Funny, I was in No Frills in Airdrie yesterday and you were buying these items in large quantities on sale." He glared at me and turned his back , walked away and his wife lost her ability to speak English. Amazing!
If you are buying fruit or vegetables, be sure who grew it. We have an excellent source from Markerville that is west of Red Deer and we have stood in her garden. We know she grows her items.
Dean in Red Deer.

It's funny! This is an essential item for canning but it was not to be found anywhere! We finally got a small bottle at Nutters Health Food Stores.
Thanks for the replies.
Dean in Red Deer, AB

My wife had about a 25 year old box of Sour Salt. It is now finished and we can not find a new box or bottle. We tried Superstore in NE Calgary and Safeway in Red Deer.
I have done a Google Search and Sour Salt is also known as Citric Salt. It is used in pickling and what my wife uses it for is to preserve the color when cooking beets. With an excellent crop this year I can see us using it for sure?
We did see Kosher Salt but neither Sour nor Citric Salt.
Any guesses where we can get it?
Dean in Red Deer,AB

I agree on Red Star. The chef is a Red Seal and it has a great view overlookng downtown and a wooded area. The portions are a little small and the prices a little higher than most. My second choice is the Jackpot Casino. Excellent portions and prices. If we do take out, this is the one we use. If you are north of the river, New Year on the NW corner of 67th and Gaetz is excellent. Haven't been in there for a while as I tend to use Jackpot and Red Star.
Dean in Red Deer

The Crowsnest Resort was closed for renovations so we could not go there for New Years Eve. I have heard the chef has left and they don't have a restaurant right now.
If the food was cold at Chris' it was because it was off site. The food is prepared right before your eyes so there is no way that will happen. Some times when we go we have to wait as it is that popular and not very big.
Dean in Red Deer

In Frank there is a bar called Pure Country. It is awesome. On Wednesday they have about 15 types ( I couldn't figure out how to spell varities?) of chicken wings for 50 cents each. You have to order 10 per type and they are the size of your hand / fist. HUGE!!!!
Other times I have their steak sandwich, I forget the price because I just order it. For $1 more you get the equivalent of a styrofoam cup of fried onions and the same price for a cup of fried mushrooms. That being said I have never had a bad meal there.
In Blairmore there is Rivers Edge as you enter the town. It is pretty consistent with good Chinese food. Don't order the Chinese anywhere else as it is never worth it.
For breakfast (homemade and worth it!) go to the Sones Throw Cafe on main street. Never had a bad meal there either.
The Tin Roof Grille on the main street was good but it changed hands and I haven't been in since.
On the highway in Coleman is Popeil but it is expensive but worth it.
You may heae the convenience store just west of Subway and east of Popeil has good Chinese food and we had it New Years Day. We had high expectations but were disappointed. Rivers Edge still wins.
In the town of Lower Coleman there is Chris' Restaurant. I give it ten stars. All the food is home made before your eyes. The ambience is small town but the food is well worth the drive to the business section.
If you are in a hurry the Subway does up a quick sub that is as good as any Subway. Not exactly a Chowhound stop but if you're in a hurry this or Tim Hortons will do.
The fried chicken in 7 -11 is greasy but boy do they do a huge business to the skiiers
Dean in Red Deer and Coleman

I did go here on my trip in early November.
It was really worth it!
Thanks jjmellon.
I did have the mixed grill which at $17 is a bargain.
My only complaint was the service was very slow. I don't have a problem when a restaurant is busy, but on a Tuesday night at 7:00 and the place was fairly empty it should be quicker.
However, the quality of the food made up for the slow service.
Dean in Red Deer, Alberta