Rockyview Hospital's Pumpkin Carving Contest.

I only took a picture of a few.  The Duckett ones are under the "Scary" category. 

Much different from Nectar's pumpkins last year. 

Urban Diner

Apparently the restaurant gods strike again.  Or it seems to be bad luck that surrounds me and my one friend, each time we try to go to a specific restaurant (not looking at operating hours) and they are always closed.  Not on a Sunday, but this time it is a Wednesday.  I should be more surprised but really I'm just annoyed.  However, there is a silver lining.  I got to experience Urban Diner (even though I had been waiting to revisit Dadeo).  Our server said there is a second location near the High level diner and weekend brunch is always packed.  The menu cover reminds me of paintings by Norman Rockwell. I didn't get the diner feel in this place, more of a home style rustic taste (hardwood floors), yet the other half of the restaurant had the black and white checkered floor,  so a bit more diner-esque there.

I hesitated between the corned beef sandwich and the pulled pork.  The pulled pork won. It also won my stomach. Very bbq-y. I know that's not a word, but that's how I choose to describe it at that point in time.

The sweet potato fries were a bit of a let down.  Typical, store bought cut and flavour. However, the dipping sauce was a spicy mayo that made up for the plain tasting sweet potato fries.

It's all greek to me

I have been wanting to go to this place since I saw it in the summer. Small tables outside on the cobblestone, next to the LRT station.  This place is a hole in the wall restaurant with only one attentive server for a relatively busy night.  Good job!

Spanakopita: Very tasty and I like how it was served.

Lamb souvlaki, on pita bread, rice, lemon potatoes and tzatziki

Moussaka

Rice pudding with cinnamon. A little after dinner treat. Similar to the on the house dessert you get from Chinese restaurants.

Baklava and the lemon dessert that I forgot the name of. The baklava had a bit too much phyllo dough.

Check out the Stuffed peppers! (2011)

Bellamy's Lounge

After a most interesting bus ride up from Calgary with the wild group from the Foothills... we arrived at The Crowne Plaza in downtown Edmonton.  I'm not usually a fan of hotel restaurant food, but this place was relatively decent food-wise.  The service was slow, but only due to 1 server for the masses.  There was also a case of disappearing plates.  

The Crowne actually houses La Ronde, the revolving restaurant (haven't tried it yet). But this night was more about casual convenient food.

The menu described "Organic greens & roasted pear toss" as Roasted organic bosc pears & spring mix organic greens with toasted walnuts, sundried cranberries, pecorino cheese with taragon buttermilk dressing.  When I ordered this salad, they apparently ran out of pears, so apple would be substituted. Also, I had a choice of ranch or balsamic dressing.  So I'm going to assume taragon buttermilk was out?

My salad first came out and note what is missing.

Our server brought out the sliced apples (not roasted btw)

I did some repositioning.

Calamari done right!

Baby spinach and beet salad.  Yellow beets.

Massive Nachos.

10111 Bellamy Hill

Edmonton, AB

Bellamy's Lounge website

Henny Penny [Roasted Cornish game hen with ricotta stuffing]

I was watching the "Henny Penny" episode of The Golden Girls when I thought about making Cornish game hen(s). This was the result. I think I flipped Henny Penny the wrong way.

I did a macadamia nut oil (italian herb) rub with 1/2 tsp thyme, 1/2 tsp rosemary, 1 chopped clove of garlic, 1 tsp of lemon juice, sea salt, ground black pepper.

I covered it up and let it set overnight.

I used the recipe from Youtube cook ilovetocookalot.

I used about half of the stuffing and froze the rest. 

Ricotta stuffing:

1/3 c. grated Parmesan cheese

1/3 c. bread crumbs

1/2 c. ricotta cheese

1 egg yolk

1 chopped garlic clove

1 tbsp thyme

A dash nutmeg

Ground black pepper

Sea salt

1/2 to 1 inch chopped potatoes from 1 baker potato tossed in olive oil and salt and pepper.

Placed around game hen.  

Roasting instructions:

Preheat to 350 degrees C 

- 20 min

- turn on side using potatoes for structural support

-20 min

- rotate again

-20 min

- rotate again

- 30 min

Total cooking time 1hr 30min. 

And here's the Henny Penny skit. 

Cruffs October 2010

Cruffs, The House of Cream Puffs.

2312A – 4th Street SW

Calgary, Alberta

***Scroll down for July 2011 Update!**

Calgary's solution to the Beard Papa shortage.

Located in the strip mall next to Second Cup on 4th St SW. 

The shop itself is pretty tiny, the selection is good.

I had the banana filled cream puff. The cream puff itself is really good, very flaky. The banana filling actually tastes much like real banana rather than banana flavouring.  My only concern is the temperature of the filling.  I guess it's just from comparison to Bead Papa's, theirs are cooler.  All in all still good.  It is also a house of cream puffs and Panekoek. (Similar to this)

This is a new business, so there is definite room for improvement service-wise. It just seemed a bit awkward while ordering and paying. My cousin was with me and also said she just got the feeling we should just get out of here asap! I ended up taking my photo's at Starbucks a block away.  It just didn't seem like the right time for me to whip out my camera and start clicking away in the shop.  

Also the time it takes to fill a cream puff seems to be a bit lengthy. Again, it is probably due to it being a new business.  I'll wait a few more months and give it another go. 

They also had samples of their Panekoek (Pan-a-cook) crepe-like desserts with strawberry filling.

Delicious!

* 2011 July update *

Thanks to a groupon, I got to try out a larger variety.

First of all. There are MINI cream puffs. Thank goodness. One regular sized one is far too large for me.

I was wondering if they were going to label my half a dozen assorted. Indeed they did.

My favourite is between the Bailey's and the Pistachio.

I also had the Strawberry cheesecake Panekoek. I actually like this better than the cream puff.

I have to admit, the service was about a hundred times better than my first visit. No awkwardness at all. No temperature concerns with the creampuff. It's very much up to snuff this time around.

Centini

Located next to the Telus Convention center and across from the Jack Singer, this restaurant is perfect for pre symphony or post symphony food.  Competing across the street is Teatro.  I haven't read many positive reviews for Centini, so I didn't go in with high expectations.  To my surprise this place is fantastic! When you walk in the kitchen is open concept with bar seating as well as table seating.  The decor is modern and homey.  The staff are very friendly and attentive.  Like most Italian restaurants they serve bread with EVOO and balsamic vinegar.  The bread basket has a nice assortment including Parmesan bread sticks, foccacia, white and whole wheat. 

I only went with a main course because there wasn't too much time before Big band night at the CPO. It was a great choice because it was really filling. 

Duck Agnolotti with amaretti, sage and parmigiano reggiano.   (Agnolotti is similar to ravioli.) 

My friend went with the mussels in fennel broth and Gnocchi.  The mussels were quite large compared to other places serving mussels.

Gnocchi Gorgonzola

A little amuse bouche: Breaded minced veal and vegetable stuffed olives.
This is the only reason why I took half a Bea away, I am not an olive fan. The rest of it was great, and I'm sure for those who do like olives, you'd probably be in heaven with this dish.