SAIT Culinary Campus

On Monday, February 2, 2015, our EIT Link Committee at TransCanada hosted a team building event at the SAIT Culinary Campus. Our second year in a row going there! We opted for Southern cuisine and you can look at our foodie journey in the pictures below.

Anuraag and Will doing some taste tests with the chef.

Scott getting ready for some skillet action.

Caitlin and Sarah all smiles!

Shannon and Kristen dicing up the veggies.

Esther, Caitlin and Tim clearly hard at work.

The girls!

The whole team :) Job well done!

Our final spread!

RESTAURANT REVIEW: Daravara

Weekends in Edmonton always go by so fast when I come back for birthdays, anniversaries, special events. I always leave Edmonton feeling so unfulfilled because it was yet another weekend that went by without me trying out a new restaurant that Edmonton had to offer. So when one of our old friends told us he was coming from Houston to Edmonton for a quick visit, we decided we all had to do what you could do best in Edmonton ... eat. If you live in Edmonton, you'll know that a lot (and I mean a lot!) of new restaurants and pubs and eateries have opened up in the past few years. We decided to go check out Daravara (10713 124 St NW, Edmonton, AB) for brunch.

The menu was small but what was important was that it had a variety of food on there that was unique. I decided to go with the $14 Cornmeal Pancakes combo (shown below). I was immediately drawn to this item because I've never tried cornmeal pancakes before! The cornmeal taste was quite evident and served with syrup and better, tasted better than normal pancakes! The turkey sausage was cut into round slices and well-seasoned. I would've prefered the syrup to be served on the side because at this point my sausages were drenched in syrup which made for an awkward taste. The fruit was plentiful and fresh, all in all a good combination!

Shortly after our trip here, Daravara was named #5 on Avenue's Best New Restaurants of 2015. Unfortunately I did not take a picture of the bar area as I already got made fun of enough by the boys for taking a picture of my food ... but I've used Avenue as a source because I wanted to make sure the world sees this! I'd like to point out that it's been an ongoing idea in mine and my boyfriend's minds to implement piping/bottling decor into our houses. So you can imagine my excitement when I saw this at Daravara (shown below). This was the first time I had seen it in a public setting so I was ecstatic to see that Daravara had taken it to the next level and utilized Jameson bottles as light fixtures!

I'll definitely have to come back for lunch and dinner. I can just hear the house made beer cheese and confit duck tacos screaming my name! 

RESTAURANT REVIEW: CHARCUT Roast House

I can't believe it took me so long to finally eat at this gem of a restaurant - CHARCUT Roast House (899 Centre St SW, Calgary, AB - connected to Hotel Le Germain). CHARCUT is run by co-owners/co-chefs Connie DeSousa and John Jackson. Connie DeSousa brings a spotlight of fame as she was a runner-up finalist on the first season of Top Chef Canada and a judge on the third season as well! John Jackson brings in a variety of experience from New York to San Francisco to Europe and even Bora Bora! I had heard of so many wonderful things of CHARCUT and was so excited to indulge in this unique culinary experience!

My visit to CHARCUT was during the lunch hour. The restaurant was packed when we arrived for our 1230pm reservation - a good sign! CHARCUT prides itself for its creative "CHARCUT Lunch All At Once" menu option which promises that you will be in and out within 45 minutes. So we opted for this, picking from the following 2 choices:

1. The daily sandwich on focaccia served with kitchen pickles, parmesan fries, the daily soup with crostini and a bag of delicious warm cookies to end the meal. ($15)

2. The daily rotisserie served with garlic, parmesan fries, mixed greens with its house vinaigrette and a bag of warm cookies AND coffee to go. ($25)

I figured whatever option I chose, I would come back again next time for the other option. It was a slightly colder day so I was really craving some soup. So option #1(shown below) it was! The food came out fairly quickly - around 15 to 20 minutes if I recall. The tomato soup was the perfect amount of creamy - mm mm heaven. I went for the parmesan fries right away because who could resist digging into crispy PARMESAN covered fries?! Now let me tell you about the star of the show - the roasted pork loin sandwich. The servings of meat were plentiful - smothered in cheese and fantastic sauces. The first bite I took was unbelievable, and same with the last bite. The meat was tender and scrumptious. It actually took me awhile to finish this beast of a sandwich - I did not expect it to be so big! Needless to say, I was stuffed to the gills and couldn't even get started on the warm chocolate chip cookies that were still left on my board. But of course, CHARCUT has thought this through. Because the cookies were served in a to-go bag with the cute CHARCUT pig logo on it, fastened with a pig paperclip! 

I ate the cookies later at home that night, warmed them right up in the microwave and they tasted so good. Made me definitely want to come back for dessert and try the rotisserie as well! Overall, I was seriously impressed with CHARCUT and am actually ashamed of myself for not eating at this restaurant earlier. Props to Connie and John for this well accomplished establishment. It's only 2 blocks away from work so I'll definitely be back very soon! 

I Want You To Know

RESTAURANT REVIEW: Township Bar & Grill

The Township Bar & Grill just recently opened in Bow Valley Square (250 6th Ave SW, Calgary, AB) in downtown Calgary. It took over the previous Redwater Rustic Grille. Even though it is a restaurant located in a corporate building, once you've stepped into the restaurant itself, you feel like you're somewhere else. This was a fantastic feeling to have given that all of us were ready for a break from work. Unfortunately I was with a group of coworkers who make fun of my endless need to take pictures of restaurants so I could not get a snapshot of the beautiful interior decor. But I've taken a picture off their website that shows part of what the restaurant looks like.

I have a weakness for fried chicken, if you didn't already get that from my Instagram. Fried chicken FOREVER. So naturally, I settled for the $17 Southern Fried Chicken (shown below). The real reason why this entree caught my attention was what the chicken would be served with ... mac and cheese. SPICY mac and cheese. Who wouldn't want that in their mouth?! The fried chicken was greasy enough to satisfy my taste buds. Don't even get me started on the spicy mac and cheese. It was baked! There was a good amount of spice so that it didn't take away from the cheesiness but still maintained a good kick in my mouth. I loved that the Township Bar & Grill served this to me on iron dish with adorable little handles on the side.

The service was a tad slow that day so I'd have to recommend that you budget at least an hour to get in and out of there. But looking forward to coming back for after work drinks and appetizers!

RESTAURANT REVIEW: Sugarbowl

Having been born and raised in Edmonton for practically my whole life, I'm going to admit that it's pretty embarrassing that it took me so long to try out Sugarbowl's breakfast menu. 

Any fancy occasion? I was actually celebrating my 24th birthday with my parents and younger sister! I've passed by the Sugarbowl more times than you can imagine since it is located right off the University of Alberta (10922 88th Ave, Edmonton, AB). It did not come as a shock that the wait for a table of 4 on a Sunday for brunch was quite long - they also don't take reservations on Saturday and Sunday. But I appreciated that the hostess took the time to update us on our wait time several times. I had already checked out the menu the night before but all the options sounded so good - I didn't know what to choose! We decided that in order to get the best of all worlds, we would order family style. Let's start with the Chicken and Waffles (shown below). For $14, the platter served the 4 of us perfectly so that we could each have a good portion of it - so worth it! The waffles were crispy with warm creamy maple butter on the side. I was actually quite surprised with the chicken, as I had expected it to taste like previous fried chicken I've had in chicken and waffle combinations. The Sugarbowl of course, is unique in this way because their chicken is actually marinated with spice! So imagine that, chicken with some kick to start off your morning. Delicious indeed.

The Bacon 3 Cheese Mushroom Omelette (shown below) stole my heart ... err stomach. for $12, this was a hearty meal that included a fairly big omelette, one full piece of toast (cut into half) and lots of carbs! Mm potato heaven. The potatoes were grilled and moist, slightly seasoned to perfection. Don't even get me started on the omelette. It was the perfect balance of egg vs toppings, just the way you want an omelette to be.

Unfortunately I did not capture the breakfast sandwich ($8) we also ordered but let me tell you, that was the biggest breakfast sandwich I've ever seen! It was also served with toast and potatoes. 

The last thing we ordered from the Sugarbowl was the infamous cinnamon bun. BIG BUN. That is pretty much the best way to describe this $4.25 massive baked good (shown below). The cinnamon bun was fluffy and served with a knife stuck in the middle of it. The knife gives it away that you can not simply just eat this cinnamon bun in a few bites. The knife beckons to be used so that you can share this cinnamon bun goodness with others. All I can say is, that was a sweet way to end the meal.

I look forward to visiting the Sugarbowl for some more good times, can't wait to try out their lunch and dinner menu. Because the last time I had dinner there was back in 2008 - shame on me for missing out on the sweetest place in Edmonton since 1981!

RESTAURANT REVIEW: Grumans

Grumans has started to become a tradition with my coworkers on Fridays. This was my second time dining in, but I was no stranger to their catering menu as I've used it a couple of times for the lunch and learns I've set up at TransCanada.

Being early is key. We generally leave the office at around 11:30am and it's just under a 10 minute walk to get there (230 11th Ave SE, Calgary, AB). Unfortunately due to some meetings running overtime, we ended up leaving at 11:45am this past Friday and that resulted in a 30 minute wait at the restaurant for our party of 6. During this wait, I'd have to say I've never seen such customer service. The hostess was considerate, apologized for the wait but kept coming back to check on us (with a big smile!) and gave us frequent updates on when we would be seated. When we were finally seated, we actually had to split up into a group of 4 and a group of 2. They attempted to place us somewhat right beside each other which was hilarious (and thoughtful!), but I didn't mind this at all. I just wanted to sit down and order because I was famished.

I ordered the Smoked Meat Shepherd's Pie the first time I visited Grumans (shown below). At $15, this was well-priced for the huge portion it came in. The swirl effects from the baked mashed potato crust added to the presentation of the dish and once I took a bite of the mash, it was heaven in my mouth. The salad was interesting because the dressing was actually served warm. I didn't realize I'd enjoy warm dressing until now - this is going to have to be something I try when I make my own salads at home! I usually dislike how "cold" salads make me feel, this is mainly why I stopped making them for lunch. I realized with the cold winter days we have to endure at the moment, a cold lunch was not what my body enjoyed. So this seems like it could be the solution to getting fit from a "warm" lunch! The Montreal smoked meat within the pie was hearty and warm, with just the right amount of seasoning to not overpower the taste. Sure enough, I was so full that I basically walked back to the office dreaming of a nap.

During my second visit, I decided to try one of the many sandwiches. They all sounded so good but I decided to go with the $13 Old Fashioned Montreal Smoked meat sandwich (shown below). I'm beginning to see a trend ... The food came out within 10 minutes - so quick! I was starving since it was almost 12:30pm at this point. I didn't realize the amount of meat in this sandwich would be TREMENDOUS, as you can see from the layers and layers and layers of smoked meat. It was served on rye bread (yum!) with a layer of mustard. Personally, with the amount of meat that was in this, I would've liked to have a few more layers of mustard. I actually started to dip my sandwich in the ketchup that I was dipping my fries in. My boyfriend had ordered gravy for his fries and I was curious to try it, but that resulted in quick regret. Unfortunately, the gravy must have changed since the last time we came, because it had a very bitter taste to it which was not as appreciated by my taste buds. As it came to no surprise, I was stuffed after I finished this delicious sandwich. Yes I finished it. I debated eating only half of it and bringing the rest back to the office for a late afternoon snack. But I figured I might as well conquer this beast of a sandwich all at once.

We are going to be using Grumans as catering for a meeting next Monday. I've ordered the "Famous" Mac and Cheese, Smoked Meat Shepherd's Pie and the Three Cheese Spinach Ricotta Lasagna. Can't wait to taste it all! In the mean time, if you're thinking of a new place to check out for some delicious reasonably-priced food, take a visit to Grumans!

VENUE REVIEW: Bank and Baron

Whether it be for Wine Thursdays or just to grab a few drinks with coworkers and friends, this bar has always been a good time. The Bank and Baron P.U.B. (Public Urban Bar), is where an"Old School Bank" meets a "New School Pub". Taking you back many years ago, this used to be The Bank of Nova Scotia, which is recognized as one of the province's most historical landmarks. The location of the Bank and Baron is right in the heart of Stephen Avenue, which makes it easily accessible for all the Calgary downtownians. 

I've never actually taken pictures of the inside but the photo I've taken from their website will give clear indication as to why it's one of Calgary's most popular spots to hang out.

Wine Thursdays on the Bank and Baron outdoor patio started for us back in the summer of 2014. There was no better way to unwind on a Thursday with half price bottles of wine. Personally, a glass of wine is not my drink of choice but I took a liking to the Riesling the first time I was there and that became the usual order we had from then on. The bottle itself ended up being just under $15 after the promotion was applied. 

Unfortunately, I could not attend the new menu launch a couple of months ago, but huge thanks to Samantha (GM) for the generous invite for me and 5 friends! I finally got to indulge in the Bank and Baron's food when we had our company mixer there two weeks ago. The huge portions of donair philly nachos and beef sliders were quite tasty and had just the right amount of flavour. This mixer we had hosted was last minute so unfortunately we could only reserve half of the Upper Mezz in the pub. But this provided a great view from the second floor so we could enjoy the unique atmosphere around us. Over 150 people showed up and it was a bit tight to squeeze everyone in, but I look forward to having more mixers here and booking the Bank and Baron in advance so that we can take over the entire Upper Mezz next time! I highly recommend the Bank and Baron for a company function, especially when the senior vice-president of your company decides to drop by as well. The Bank and Baron is the definition of class in Calgary and is one of my favorite spots.

Back At It Again.

Baby I'm back. Throwing it back to 5 years ago! What a classic hit by Baby Bash. Remember Suga Suga? Another classic as well.

So last week was a whirlwind, that's for sure. I am officially on my 3rd rotation at TransCanada now, working on the electrical facilities for the Grand Rapids Pipeline Project. All about that Alberta oil baby! Click on www.grandrapidspipeline.com for more information.

This past week, I've worked harder and have been busier than I have been in the past few months. Very pathetic I know, but switching full time to this new position has really opened up my eyes to the world of engineering. I've been stretched, pulled, tested, challenged like never before in just 5 days and I love it. I've mentioned before that it's so rewarding to work in a field that you studied in. It's a rare opportunity nowadays. I can't wait to see what new challenges this job will bring. It will be a mystery but if there's one thing I know for sure, it'll be worth it.

Student Life.

Happy belated 2015 everyone!

Sorry for the delay in posts. I'll be back to blogging tomorrow once I finish the NPPE!

Fingers crossed that this will be the first and last time I will have to do this. 

xoxo.
E