Restaurant Reviews Archives - Eat Your Broccoli!

July 10, 2019July 10, 2019

Amato Gelato 15th Anniversary Celebration

I like, write in this blog twice a year. At least, that’s what happened last year. I’m dusting off my keyboard because I’m attending a foodie event.

I thank Amato Gelato for taking the time to check out my blog. Being a part time food blogger, it’s not easy to network.

I’m a regular at my neighbourhood frozen treat joints. My kids have their favourite flavours; green tea and anything chocolate. Amato has 72 flavours, which is the largest frozen treat offering that I have seen anywhere. Besides their gelato, they have an updated menu with new items such as affogato. More on that later. A few little known facts. They supply to restaurants. They just recently renovated and are celebrating their 15h anniversary. They bring in their baked goods (frozen) from Italy.

I met some well known food bloggers and instagrammers in the YYC food scene. Also some friends and neighbours. I admire that Amato truly is part of the community. Onto the delicious offerings. Sadly, I made the mistake of eating dinner with my kids (so that they would eat their dinner) before coming here. The pastries from Italy were delicious. They had a variety of offerings from their new menu including pizza which I didn’t get a chance to sample. The affogato was heavenly. Well rounded expresso with notes of caramel and chocolate. Followed by a smooth, rich finish of vanilla cream. The event finished with a nice swag bag including a choice of one of their gelato pints.

I love local. I love community. I love family friendly, and dessert.

15th Anniversary
A small selection of gelato
Memorabilia
Menu
Affogato
Which one is the durian?
Some goodies

June 1, 2018

Calan Beef Noodle

I rarely get a chance to go to restaurants sans kids in Calgary, so I took advantage to go with a friend to Calan Beef Noodle. Hand pulled noodles are all the rage in Toronto at the moment. I saw something similar with the ramen trend when I last went to Toronto in 2014. It took a while before taking off in Calgary.

The first thing I noticed when I walked in was the “noodle-slinger”. He was pulling a large ball of dough, twisting it and thumping it occasionally on the counter. It was a lot of fun to watch.

This is northern Chinese food, which is not common in Calgary. The handmade noodles can be pulled into four different variations. Thick, thin, flat and narrow and flat and wide. I ordered the Hand-Pulled Noodles in Beef Soup with Pickled Sour Mustard with thick noodles. I ordered it in a combo which includes a tea boiled egg and beef tendon. The first thing I noticed was the flavour. The noodles had a nice springy, chewy texture. The broth had a nice beefy taste. Then I was slammed by the chilis. The soup came with bits of beef and I suspect possibly century egg. The pickled mustard greens added a nice tang. The tea egg and side of beef tendon brought back memories of childhood Chinese banquets and home cooking.

I would usually comment on my dining partner’s dish, but we both had the same thing. He thoroughly enjoyed his meal. Service was quick as we enjoyed a leisurely late lunch around 2pm.

The noodle soup was hugely satisfying and comforting on a cool rainy day.

Hand-Pulled Noodles in Beef Soup with Pickled Sour Mustard, tea egg and beef tendon

May 23, 2018

Pai Northern Thai Kitchen

It’s been a long time since I last went to Toronto. For the next few days, I’m planning to hit up anything unusual that I can’t find in Calgary. It shouldn’t be too hard. My sister recommended Pai Northern Thai Kitchen, an award winning Thai restaurant.

We started off with the Grabong. They were deep fried squash fritters. The presentation was eye-catching. The fries were deliciously crisp and paired well with the tangy tamarind sauce.

My sister recommended the Khao Soi, which is egg noodle with curry. They describe it as a golden curry. To me, it tasted like red curry. But the difference is the multiple layers of flavour. It definitely tasted scratch made with fresh ingredients. The fried noodles were a nice touch too.

My sister had the Khao Pad Thamada, which is fried rice. It was pretty good, but the Khao Soi was outstanding.

The place seems to cater to the younger set. Noise carries and the decor is very casual with Thai influences. If you like Thai food, this is a definitely a must try.

Khao Soi 16.5
Fresh egg noodles in a golden curry topped with crispy noodles, coriander, green onions and your choice of Braised Beef, Chicken Breast or Chicken Drumsticks (contains shrimp paste)

Khao Pad Thamada 14.5
Stir fried jasmine rice with egg and green onion. Served with your choice of Chicken, Beef or Tofu & Veggies. (contains oyster sauce) Served with nam prik nam pla sauce (fish sauce, garlic, chili & lime)

Grabong 14
Freshly shredded buttercup squash fritters lightly coated in red curry paste batter, deep fried and served with a sweet garlic tamarind dip with nuts. (contains eggs and peanuts)

January 17, 2018January 17, 2018

Two Penny Chinese

It seems that going out to eat at a nice restaurant with friends is a rare occurrence these days. Let me clarify that. Nice, as in full service, not rushed, and finer dining. Not a compressed lunch date at a fast casual place, or a food court, or chain restaurant with my toddlers.

I was curious about Two Penny. My general perception of authentic Chinese restaurants is that the food is good, but the service is very subpar (read rude) if one doesn’t speak the language. Now before you get on your high horse and criticize me for my politically incorrect point of view, let me say this. I am Cantonese by heritage; and I do speak the language reasonably unwell enough to be spoken to in English when I was in Hong Kong. It’s refreshing to have good Chinese food with much better service.

I ordered jasmine tea to go with my meal. The tea service was quite fancy. It was steeped in a wine pitcher, strained into another wine pitcher and finally poured into a tea cup. I loved the hand selected tea as I could really taste the flavour of the jasmine flowers.

I’m not a fan of traditional dim sum. It’s mostly greasy with this its-still-sitting-in-my-bloated-stomach-hours-later-feeling. But I like the idea of dim sum, and the steamed dishes. We started off with a traditional soup dumpling and some char siu bao (steamed BBQ pork buns). I like traditional and I was happy that it was prepared that way. They were both very tasty.

Our next course was beef and broccoli. This is not your ho-hum Chinese takeout dish. The beef is Wagyu brisket. Melt in my mouth good.

The drunken fish was a nice twist on the traditional steamed fish. Less oily, but retaining the freshness of the spring onions with citrus undertones. Very elegant. The rice did a nice job of soaking up the sauce.

A little arm twisting was required to try an additional dim sum dish. The crispy mushroom dumplings had a subtle flavour which were perfect on their own. However, the accompanying truffle mayo was overwhelming. It might have been nice if it was paired with a stronger dumpling.

I found that all the dim sum options were portioned well for three people. I don’t know if that was intentional, but with three in our party it worked out really well.

Even more arm twisting was required to try the dessert course, a mandarin creamsicle as we were stuffed from the previous courses. It was built on three layers. I only had the one bite so I couldn’t truly appreciate all the tastes. I did however, enjoy the cardamom meringue.

I would love to try more of their dishes.

November 10, 2017November 10, 2017

Whitehall

Yes, this blog is still alive, sort of. I took hubby out for his birthday dinner about a month ago to Whitehall. I was looking for something different; and a modern take on British influenced cuisine fit the bill. Whitehall has been around for a couple of years and I’ve always been curious about it. It’s a restaurant that has a Michelin starred touch, thanks to its chef.

I enjoyed the decor; “The Other Room” sign was hung over the entrance to well, the other room. Service was very good, with the attention to detail that could be expected of a place with such a pedigree.

After a lot of thought, we both decided to go with the Chef’s Tasting menu as shown in the pictures below. The whipped pork rind was topped with chili which added a nice pop. The butter tasted like, well, butter.

I do like fine food without the pretentiousness of fine dining. This place fits the bill. The bread was served fittingly in a paper bag.

The salad course came with an interesting twist. Stilton snow. I’m not a big fan of Stilton cheese, but the snow added a hint of subtlety to tone down the flavour.

Salt baked pickled shallot and beets with stilton snow

Hen of the Woods mushrooms are a British thing. My husband told me so. They are also a Japanese thing, known as Maitake in the Land of the Rising Sun. This dish is a nod to the Japanese influence, with the tartness of the yuzu complimenting the earthiness of the mushroom.

Maitaki (Hen of the woods) mushrooms with pickled ginger and yuzu sauce

The risotto was my least preferred dish, through no fault of the chef. Each of the previous dishes had one bold flavour with a supporting cast. The main act didn’t come out in this dish, but perhaps that was the intent.

Toasted barley and watercress risotto with cured salmon

This course was by far my favourite. The potatoes were crisped in a rich, buttery skin. I could have ate them all night long. The lamb was done to a perfect medium rare. The kebabs were herby spicy and the chutney complimented the lamb sirloin nicely.

Lamb sirloin and kebabs with cucumber pickles, mint chutney and fingerling potatoes

The pine parfait was interesting. The undertones of pine flavour matched well with the richness of the chocolate.

Pine parfait with pine oil cookie crumble, chocolate wafer and cranberry coulis honey crackle wafer

I really like the bold flavours which takes a cuisine not known for boldness to another level. Hubby would love a return visit.

November 16, 2016

Deane House

I took hubby out for a late birthday dinner at the end of September. I was looking forward to visiting Deane House again. The last time would have been many years ago. How fortunate that the restaurant had only just opened a few days prior to our visit. We stopped by for lunch.

We were seated in the former patio area that is now enclosed. The decor is sort of a modern-rustic-country charm. Comfortable seating with a touch of country. The staff were new and they were still greasing the wheels. The food was fantastic. The service had some hiccups, but could be forgiven seeing that they were only open a few days.

Their menu is local/regional inspired cuisine. I enjoyed my grilled albacore tuna. It was nicely seared on the outside and the beet dashi complimented it nicely. The pear frangipane tart was divine with the notes of sweetness cut with the sharpness of the ginger. The coolness of the ice cream finished off the bite nicely. I had a bite of hubby’s chocolate pate. It was super rich, without being drowned in sweetness.

The service was quite prompt and attentive to start, but towards the end of the meal, the lunch rush got busier and the our server was nowhere to be found. They also have a limited non alcoholic beverage selection which I hope they will improve upon. Grizzly Paw soda from Canmore would make a great addition.

Wood Fired Grilled Albacore Tuna Charred Brussels Leaves, Herbed Spaetzle, Beet Dashi

November 2, 2016November 3, 2016

Cliffhouse Bistro

I was up on Mount Norquay to try their via ferrata a month ago. A via ferrata is a hike, but a harness is used and clipped to a cable on steeper sections. Ladders are used for the vertical sections and it has elements of rock climbing. Also a very narrow suspension bridge. What fun!

We were looking for lunch after our experience and decided to try the Cliffhouse Bistro before we went back down the chairlift. This is a restaurant with a view. It offers the same menu as their day lodge cafe. It wasn’t super busy, but it’s obvious that it also attracts tourists just for the view. It’s located at the top of the chairlift on Mount Norquay.

We started with the butternut and feta dip. I found that it was quite salty, but that’s kind of what a need for a hike in the mountains. Hubby had the prime rib sandwich with a side of beet chips. He loved the beet chips and the sandwich was also tasty. I enjoyed the Cobb salad with grilled pork belly. Mmm… pork belly.

I thought that the lunch was fairly elegant for being up on a mountain. The service was good and the views are even better. The cafe is open seasonally, so check before you go.

Butternut and Feta Drip Finished with Lemon Olive Oil and Sea Salt. Served with Croutes — Butternut and Feta Drip
Finished with Lemon Olive Oil and Sea Salt. Served with Croutes

Shaved Prime Rib Sandwich Roasted Roma Tomatoes - Arugula Horseradish and Honey Marscapone - Beet Chips — Shaved Prime Rib Sandwich
Roasted Roma Tomatoes – Arugula
Horseradish and Honey Marscapone – Beet Chips

Cobb Salad Baby Iceberg Lettuce - Duck Egg Avocado - Pork Belly Beefsteak Tomato Blue Cheese Dressing - Herb & GarlicToast — Cobb Salad
Baby Iceberg Lettuce – Duck Egg
Avocado – Pork Belly
Beefsteak Tomato
Blue Cheese Dressing – Herb & Garlic Toast

September 4, 2016

Naina’s Kitchen

My birthday is coming up soon, so I asked hubby to take me to Naina’s for lunch. I’ve always wanted to pay a visit, except life got in the way. This seemed like a good time to go.

They were located in Ogden for the longest time, but have just moved to their new home in Victoria Park. The restaurant has been open for five days and plan to have their official opening on Friday. I love the decor. Black and charcoal. Modern and rustic, yes. Oh my gosh. The food. Yes.

Naina’s is known for their stuffed burgers. I need to get out of my Safeway deli rut courtesy of my recent trip to YVR. So I went all in and ordered the daily special, the stuffed jambalaya burger with a side of the soup special, turkey and barley. The beef was flavourful and done to a turn. My first bite was a of creamy, molten cheese. The second bite was sausage with spicy rice. It’s like alarm bells went off in heaven. There was a sauce that complimented it nicely but I totally forgot what it was. Mayo maybe? Who cares… back to the burger. The soup was nice and comforting on a rather chilly day for fall. Hubby had the eggs benny stuffed burger with a generous 1/2 portion of poutine. I had a bite of the poutine. The fries were clearly home fries. Nice and crisp and there was ample brown gravy to go around.

Ok, because it’s my birthday, I’m going for a splurge. I tasted their ice cream of the day, spicy apple with candied bacon. Delish. This is the best ice cream I have ever tasted. Smooth apple with hints of cinnamon, sugar, notes of candied ginger and bacon. Hubby wanted just one bite but he ate half of it. If they end up selling this, I’m going to buy it by the truckload. As if stuffed burgers weren’t enough, Naina’s has recently gotten into the house made ice cream business. Watch out Calgary.

The place was empty. Long weekend, pride parade coupled with a newly opened restaurant. Great for me. Service was top notch. The back of my server’s tshirt said “Get stuffed”. How appropriate.

Jambalaya stuffed burger with turkey barley soup

First bite of the stuffed jambalaya burger

Second bite of the stuffed jambalaya burger

July 14, 2016

Native Tongues Taqueria

Hubby and I were in the mood for something different on date night. So I decided on Native Tongues Taqueria, to investigate their take on Mexican street food. I’ve been to Mexico once and sampled the street food in Loreto. There are so many styles of Mexican food; I’m not saying that this is even a fair comparison.

The place was packed on a Sunday night. The atmosphere was loud and lively. As first timers, we needed some help with the menu. Our server was very helpful. We went with her recommendation, the tacos al carbon. This translates to “tacos grilled over charcoal”. We ordered the barbacoa de cordero. It was fall-off-the-bone slow roasted lamb neck. The homemade flour tortillas and the flavourful sides of salsa, roasted onion & pepper complimented the dishes perfectly. We could ask for more tortillas and we did.

To start, the taquitos were a nice amuse bouche. We finished with a couple of decadent desserts – the tres leches cake and the flan de chocolate. The tres leches cake was good, except that I was a little disappointed that the pineapple was raw. I mean it would have tasted fantastic charred over the grill and caramelized.

Tasty indeed.

Taquitos potato & sheeps milk cheese, salsa de ajo, crema, queso fresco — Taquitos
potato & sheeps milk cheese, salsa de ajo, crema, queso fresco

BARBACOA de CORDERO slow roasted lamb neck, salsa verde & rojo, coal roasted cebollas, agua chile, white onion, cilantro — BARBACOA de CORDERO
slow roasted lamb neck, salsa verde & rojo, coal roasted cebollas, agua chile, white onion, cilantro

TRES LECHES CAKE horchata soaked cake, whipped cream, pickled fruit — TRES LECHES CAKE
horchata soaked cake, whipped cream, pickled fruit

FLAN de CHOCOLATE chocolate flan, salted caramel, coconut, almond — FLAN de CHOCOLATE
chocolate flan, salted caramel, coconut, almond

April 23, 2016

Spaghetti Cafe Prairie

I keep a low profile as a food blogger. Only because I don’t have much time these days to pursue my passion. I was surprised to receive an invite from the restaurant owner to visit his cafe. I couldn’t visit in person, so I ordered from Skip The Dishes.

Food trends come and go all the time. Some have staying power, like ramen. Noodles for me are always a classic, never out of style. Asian cuisines doing a take on western cuisine is not new. But this is the first that I have heard of Japanese spaghetti. Intriguing. I’m all for fast, good quality and affordable food.

I ordered the Japanese chicken spaghetti, with a salad and the carrot and lemon zest soup. The spaghetti tasted like roasted chicken with a slightly asian style soy sauce flavour. Like home cooked food. The carrot and lemon zest soup had vibrant flavours and color. Pasta was done al dente. Hubby had the spaghetti carbonara. I had a taste, it was good. The portions are really generous and it is good value for the price.

I could see my old, super active self hitting this place after a session at the climbing gym or day out in the mountains. Now I can see myself halving the portion and saving it for lunch the next day.

I like it. I’ll be back. Thanks for the invite, Takeshi!

Japanese Chicken Spaghetti, Carrot and Orange Zest Soup, Salad