Bacon!

To celebrate a belated birthday for Mrs. Vinny, we checked out this cute hole-in-the-wall called Bacon. We had heard good things from Mrs. Vinny, and we figured that with a name like Bacon, you really couldn't go wrong. ;)

I was pleasantly surprised to discover that this Ukrainian-fusion fare eatery is actually a relatively healthy place to dine. Their ingredients are almost all organic, the breads are whole-grained, and the vibe of the place definitely caters to the eccentric, all-fresh tastes of a particular subset of diners. The decor was funky in a thrift-shop sort of way; you get the feeling that they want to create the homey, retro feel of Baba and Gido's dining room.

We started the brunch meal off with some juice, both carbonated and non. Mrs. Vinny & I had the non-carbonated pear juice, and it was a brilliantly subtle, fresh-tasting, mild juice to start off my meal. Hubbs had a fizzy pineapple juice, which he also enjoyed. The boys also had ginger beer, and apparently the kind offered at Bacon is the best kind of fizzy ginger beer, according to Vinny. :)

Hubbs and I enjoyed the appetizer of perogies with bacon gremolata, while the Vinnys savoured their appetizer. I would say Hubbs and my favourite dish there was the perogies; I would go back just to eat those. They were the right texture (soft, but not mushy) and the gremolata totally made the dish lick-worthy. :)

Our meals were tasty, but not terribly memorable. Hubbs had a sandwich, I had a salad with nuts in it, and though both were tasty enough, we can no longer remember what was actually in our respective meals. Both couples also shared some desserts (ours was a spiced cake with ice cream), but again, the dishes were pretty standard, so there isn't much to say about that. However, we're both still raving about the perogies :)

The price was mid-range, and definitely affordable. Service was prompt and professional, though not superbly personal. Overall, I would go back for the perogies and the juice, and would recommend Bacon to those who wish to have a relatively healthy, light lunch or dinner.

For a place called Bacon, however, don't expect a ton of bacon-ridden dishes; they're not really about the bacon as the main ingredient, but more as an accompaniment. Fry up your own pack of Schnieders if you really want bacon, because the fare at Bacon will leave you wanting for more of the fatty greasy crunchy delights we often think of when we think Bacon!

Rating: 7 / 10

New York Bagel Cafe

Hubbs and I were lamenting the lack of fantastic breakfast places in the city; sure, there was the always-crowded Barb & Ernie's, and there was the university-scened High Level Diner, but where could we go to get a great choose-your-own-filling omelet and properly made hash browns?

Thanks to Lex Culinaria, I decided to check out the New York Bagel Cafe, located at Gateway and 83rd. It really was a hole-in-the-wall in terms of its location and size, but it was a pretty hopping place on Saturday morning when Hubbs and I arrived. We were lined up for about 25 minutes before we were seated at one of their few tables; I think they had something like a dozen tables? Not many, at any rate, and less than the requisite number needed to accommodate the ever-growing line-up at their door. I hadn't lined up like that for breakfast since my wait for a table at Paul's Omelettry in Vancouver a few months ago, and even that line-up wasn't so lengthy in terms of wait time.

The cafe decor was quite earthy, with lots of orange and brown and rustic gold and copper accents. It was cozy, and quaint, and definitely had that "hang out and have some coffee and get caught up" sort of feeling.

Hubbs ordered a cappuccino and I a hot chocolate when our very busy server came around to our table. She definitely tried her best to be prompt, but it appeared she was only one of two servers in the place, and she was the barista for her tables as well. This made her infinitely more busy than most servers, so we extended an extra measure of patience when we had to wait for our bill, our food, our coffee.

Hubbs ordered his specialty omelet filled with bacon, smoked salmon, and camembert, while I had the "boring" brekkie of bacon, eggs, bagel, and hash browns. When our meals came, I was pleasantly surprised to see a side of fresh assorted fruits on my plate: small wedge each of dragonfruit, honeydew, watermelon, pineapple, orange, and a cluster of grapes and half a strawberry, Definitely the healthiest and prettiest "garnish" I had seen on my breakfast plate in a LONG time.

The eggs were enormous, and as a result Hubbs' omelet was gigantic. I was filled to the brim on my meal and had to give away some of my bacon and fruit to Hubbs. I refused to part with my hash browns, however, for they were perfectly crispy, lightly salted, and seasoned very very well. I ate every last piece.

Our final bill total was a bit pricier than some other breakfast places, but even so, we felt the experience to be totally worth it. With the light drizzle of rain outside and the bustling Strathcona market nearby, we felt as though we were no longer in our cold desolate city but rather, in a more Vancouver-esque sort of place. It was a beautiful breakfast and an even more beautiful escape. :)

Rating: 9.5 / 10

Hardware Grill

Sorry for the lack of posting as of late. I won't post unless I've been somewhere new or interesting, and in the last two months I've been a creature of habit and returning to the same haunts for dining each time.

That is, until now.

On Friday night, sans reservation, Hubbs and I decided to go out for a celebratory dinner (he kicked arse at a project at his job, which earned him much accolade and support from his peers). We tried our usual favourites but they were full, so we decided to kick things up a notch and go classy, Hardware Grill style.


We didn't actually expect to get a table; it was 7:30 p.m. and a Friday night. However, we were pleasantly surprised that the restaurant had a spot for us immediately. Our next question: could we dine there even though we were wearing jeans (and a nice top)? Yes, absolutely was the response.

We were led to a very cozy half-moon-shaped booth, and the host pulled out the table so that Hubbs and I could sit down. Then he moved our table back into position so that we could eat properly. I had a chance to sit and appreciate the ambience: classy, but not pretentious, upscale, but not awkwardly so. The music was jazzy (always a plus!), and conversations could take place in whispers and everyone would still be able to hear each other, for the noise level here was not raucous at all, but rather politely quiet and comfortable on the ears.

Service from our maitre'd came quickly, and Hubbs ordered himself a Caesar, which turned out to be perfectly seasoned (rivaling the one at LUX that he loves so much). I ordered a glass of gewurztraminer (I don't even remember where it was from, but it was the only G on the menu that was sold by the glass) and it was truly the best wine I've ever had, hands down - smooth, sweet, mild, fruity, and completely light.

We both had fantastic appetizers to start, with Hubbs getting the lobster risotto which was creamy and flavourful, and I ordering the pan-seared foie gras, which was absolutely decadent, perfectly prepared (crispy on the outside, melts in your mouth on the inside), and satisfied my foie gras craving.

Our apps came in a timely fashion, as did our entrees: lamb rib eye wrapped with ground beef short-rib and foie gras, and a crusted halibut with potato crepes for Hubbs. I loved the lamb ravioli that accompanied my dish, and the lamb rib eye was terrifically tender and spectacular. I didn't as much enjoy the short-rib/foie gras combination, but that was only because I am a purist when it comes to foie gras. Hubbs ate everything on his plate, and so it seems he too, thought his meal to be absolutely incredible.

By the time we had polished off our apps and entrees, we were stuffed to the point of not even being able to admire their dessert menu. Oh, how we would have loved to try their version of creme brulee, or sink our teeth into the sweet gooey goodness of a molten chocolate cake! Alas, we were too full to even think of it.

I was so impressed with the service, the food, and the atmosphere of the Hardware Grill that I daresay it has earned its way into top spot as my favourite western-dining restaurant. If you love to have great wine, fantastic conversations, and delectable food in a classy, but comfortable, environment, this is totally the place to go. I'll be back for sure, maybe for my engagement anniversary! ;)

Rating: 10 / 10

Hubbs' Rating: 10 / 10

Foodie Finds - Cereal Edition

I wish I had more opportunity to cook, but since Hubbs and I are both on a "clean eating" pattern for a while, it seems that cooking (with all its oils and sauces and sometimes-rich ingredients) is not the best way to go. Instead, we've been making great use of our Hamilton Beach grill and pre-marinated chicken breasts and salmon fillets from Costco.

However, in the time that we have been eating at home, we have been upping our cereal intake and discovering new goodies that are higher in fibre and protein, and lower in sugar and fat. Here are some of the winners (and some that taste awesome but maybe aren't so healthy):

Kellogg's Two Scoops Crunch: Cranberry Cereal, which is only available in Canada right now, is a delicious spin on the ol' Raisin Bran that we're told is good for us. This new cran version is delicious, it doesn't get very soggy in the milk, and it packs 5g of fibre per serving. Description: "Sweet, crunchy flakes with two scoops of cranberries and oat & honey granola clusters." I just ate my first bowl (bought this box yesterday) and am already tempted to eat a second. Try it!



Tony's Turboz Cereal, which contains a mighty 7.1g of protein in each serving, is also only available in Canada right now (to my knowledge). I always describe the cereal as a healthy, smaller version of Honeycomb, although Hubbs disagrees. We both agree, however, that the sweet, crunchy cereal is very satisfying and addictive. Tony's Turboz is currently being marketed as a kid's meal-replacement cereal, but the truth is that adults are just as guilty of not consuming enough protein as part of their first meal of the day. Tony's Turboz is an excellent way to get in some protein, especially if you don't quite feel like steak and eggs first thing in the morning ;)



Honey Bunches of Oats - Strawberry is my naughty cereal delight. I can't extol the virtues of its nutritional value, since it contains little fibre and 8 grams of sugar per serving (although the calories on this cereal are lower than on the other two). However, I've always been a fan of Frosted Flakes, and this cereal reminds me of that one, except with a bit of strawberry tartness to balance out the sugary sweetness. It tends to get soggy quickly, but since I eat my cereal at break-neck speed, this is usually of no concern to me.

And those, my friends, are my foodie finds in the cereal department. Try them out, and enjoy! :)

Simply Sublime Guacamole

As you know, I'm not much of a cook. In fact, as much as possible I avoid cooking, not because I hate it (I actually really enjoy it) but because I refuse to waste perfectly good ingredients that, when I'm done with them, turn into something only half-edible; I'm practical that way ;)

That said, I have found the best, simple guacamole recipe EVER. I wish I could take credit for it, but the truth is that it comes from this foodie, and true to form, it is a fantastic recipe. I've tweaked it some for my tastes, and here is my modified version:

3 avocadoes, ripe
3/4 lemon
2-6 cloves of garlic (I usually use 4 good-sized ones)
1/3 large white onion, chopped
1 tomato, chopped
Tabasco sauce
salt

1. De-pit and mash up ripe avocados.
2. Crush garlic cloves into the avocado mush.
3. Squeeze the juice of 3/4 a lemon into the avocado/garlic mush. Mix well until the mush is smooth.
4. Add chopped onion and tomato to the mix and blend it together.
5. Add a couple of drops of Tabasco sauce. Add salt to taste; some of the salt gets absorbed by the avocado and onion and tomato so if you oversalt it a little you're still OK.
6. Mix into the guacamole.
7. Cover and chill it for 2+ hours, so that the garlic flavour absorbs into the mix.
8. Enjoy! This recipe yields about 2 cups of guacamole.

My Hubbs loves this recipe and he usually finishes the whole bowl in a day (and then reeks of garlic for about 24 hours following his guacamole feast). It's easy enough for me to even prepare, and it tastes fantastic!

Hope you enjoy it as much as Hubbs does ;)

Pizza Boys - Ragazzi Bistro Italiano

I'm glad I didn't know about this place sooner, or I might have been 300 lbs by now. Pizza Boys Ragazzi Bistro Italiano is the best-kept secret in town, until now that is. After Hubbs read about their infamous pizza on his bud's site, we made a little detour to try it out for ourselves. We ended up visiting there twice in 3 days. What does that tell you? ;)

From the outside, I have to be frank: Pizza Boys looks divey. It is located on the corner of a strip mall-esque building with a motley group of stores. You've probably driven by a thousand times and not stopped because of the exterior, or its location just a block from Bonnie Doon Mall. We were skeptical until we walked in. Then we were immediately converted. The aromatic scents of baking pizza and pasta in the air wafted up our nostrils and triggered immediate salivation. The decor, though not upscale or fancy, was homey, comfortable, and welcoming. We were seated right away when we visited on Wednesday, but for Friday's dinner we were smart enough to make reservations because the place ended up being packed!

The service was very personable and down to earth; you won't find any fake-friendly servers here! They were prompt with the drink orders (Hubbs had this soda called a Chinotto that tastes good going down but leaves a funky bitter aftertaste while I had the bottomless pop), and upfront with the fact that dinner orders take a while because everything is made fresh on order! I liked the sounds of that, and appreciated the honesty.

The food at Ragazzi is second to none. The pizza (we've tried both the Davide's Inferno and the Raging Bull) is fall-off-the-chair delicious, and their crust is this unique fluffy thin crust whose texture can only be attributed to the fact that the dough had been hand-tossed immediately prior to baking. We also had their Bocconcini Coperti (baked bocconcini wrapped in prosciutto) during visit #1 and their Soprano Bread during visit #2. The Coperti was a cheesy, delicious mess and we enjoyed that it was a light beginning to our meal. The Soprano bread, however, was not light. This is by far my favourite thing at Ragazzi, and it's not a teensy little appetizer that is meant for one. No, the Soprano bread is this bulls-eye shaped, 10" round loaf of garlicky, olive oil drizzled, anchovy-topped homestyle bread that you pull apart in rings and dip into an oil and vinegar mix. It has a dense texture, a crispy top and bottom, and the best mix of spices I've had in a non-sweet bread in forever. It is addictive, but it fills you up quick so it honestly is meant to be shared by 4 people.

For dessert, they have a limited menu of items, but since tiramisu was one of those choices, we sampled that on visit #1. It was phenomenal, and served in a tall sundae glass with a mountain of whipped cream. I know there are other places in town that claim they have the "best tiramisu in the city," but I think the one at Ragazzi rivals any of theirs. Light, fluffy, satisfying are words that come to mind to describe our divine dessert experience.

We'll definitely be back to try their pastas, but if you're looking for the best Neopolitan pizza in the city, or the most addictive bread in town, go to Pizza Boys' Ragazzi Bistro Italiano. Don't go for the atmosphere, the great service, or the affordable prices...go for the incredible food. I promise you won't be sorry.


Rating: 10 / 10

**Sorry there are no pictures to accompany this post. We sent sans camera, and the honest truth is that there are no pictures online that can capture the awesomeness that is this place.

Diner Deluxe - Calgary

During my misadventures in Cowtown, my dear friend MicheLin took me and JHo to a great little breakfast place and bakery called Diner Deluxe.

The place was packed, we had to line up, and while we were waiting my attention was directed to a giant urn of coffee and some mugs (vintage style, none of them matched) that were made available to all patrons awaiting a seat. Very nice touch, indeed.

The place itself was very retro, and I think their tables and chairs (all of which were unique and different) are actually vintage furniture from decades past. The place was abuzz with chit chat, and the menu that we got right after we were seated was jam-packed full of breakfast items, some of which were available until 3:00 pm. I selected coffee as my bevvie of choice and their Canadian bacon eggs benedict, served with potato wedges (which you could substitute for yam wedges for a small additional price).

In spite of the crowded place, our meal came in good time and I melted when I took my first bite of the eggs benedict. Their homemade hollandaise sauce was absolutely incredible, and in spite of my loathing for yolks I gobbled up the whole thing (2 eggs = 2 eggs benedicts). I didn't even have room to polish off my potato wedges, which were of the pan-fried variety (and therefore not crispy enough for my deep-fried standards). The coffee was also perfect (smooth, not too strong, not too weak, and flavourful) and I must have had 3 mugs in one sitting.

The highlight of my visit came after paying for my meal (cost = $16, incl. tax and tip) and making a stop at the bakery next door, which is affiliated with and connected to the diner. On Fridays and Saturdays only (so I am told), the place sells this delectable chocolate-cranberry-sourdough bread, which is probably the best sweet bread I've ever tried. The bread itself is moist and soft, and not too heavy with flavour; however, embedded throughout this loaf are large chunks of smooth milk chocolate and juicy dried cranberries, which make every bite a rush-inducing experience in bread consumption. Needless to say, I bought a loaf and decimated nearly 1/4 of it myself during the course of the day :)

All in all, Diner Deluxe is a great place to visit for breakfast and baked treats on a lazy weekend morning. I highly recommend it for its funky atmosphere, affordable prices, addictive coffee, and chocolate cranberry sourdough bread. Trust me - one bite and you won't be able to stop yourself.

Rating: 9 / 10

Tzin Wine & Tapas Bar

So last night, Hubbs, the Igloo Coder (aka Geek Tukka), and I met up at this new little place called the Tzin Wine & Tapas Bar to have drinks and good conversation and great food. Tzin is pronounced "sin," BTW.

Well, it was *packed* when we got there at 5:30, and no, they do not take reservations. We probably should've gone at 2:00 pm to snag a table, but since we were there at 5:30, the only spot available to us was at the bar, on tall stools facing their extensive wine collection.

Anyway, the decor in Tzin is very modern and chic, although with their kitchen right at the front of the house (facing the window), the rest of the place is remarkably dim and devoid of natural light (which is not a plus in my books). The 20-or-so people that can manage to cram themselves in there to visit with friends will find that, in such a limited space, even whispered conversations would echo and build into a thunderous roar. How much more so, then, when the music is blasting and people have to shout in order to be heard by their friends! The noise was a little unbearable for my tastes, and frustrated me somewhat that I couldn't always hear what my companions were saying.

The menu was a fair size and consisted mostly of tapas, although I noticed that at lunch time they do offer sandwiches as well. The wine list was huge and a little intimidating to the non-vino ignoramus that I am, but luckily Igloo C knew exactly what to order, and it was a perfect choice (fruity, refreshing, not too dry Pinot Bianco). Not knowing the size of my tapas (I saw big plates and small ones come out, so I couldn't be sure how large my order would be), I ordered some pan-seared scallops served with fried kale, raisins, and roasted pine nuts.

As it turned out, my order was a decent size, but only came with 2 scallops. It was delicious, though, and I was admittedly a little glad that both Hubbs and Igloo C turned down my offer to share with them ;) Hubbs had a trio of meats wrapped in some sort of pastry and served with an abundance of arugula marinated in a light vinagrette. He appeared to really enjoy his dish, although I could tell it was not nearly large enough to satisfy his appetite. You can read about Igloo's thoughts on his choice here.

I couldn't help but notice that, as we were eating and trying to maintain a conversation amidst the noise, that a line-up was building at the entranceway. New patrons who wished to stay and eat, but were waiting for tables, found themselves standing outside the bathroom doors with wine glasses in their hands, patiently hoping for a set of diners to leave. I found this to be a little awkward for the new patrons who were waiting as well as for the rest of us who were trying to eat (but who were being stared at every few minutes by someone coveting our seats).

In the end, I was relieved to discover that both Hubbs and Igloo C were willing to switch venues so that we could actually sit down somewhere, face each other when we spoke, and not have to yell above a stereo in order to be heard.

Overall, then, as a non-wine-person I thought that Tzin was good, but not amazing. The wine collection and the colour-coded menu were nice touches, but the space limitations and noise levels were not terribly impressive to me. I would only advise visiting Tzin if you are an avid wine aficionado or you love being in cramped areas with a bunch of other loud strangers. Otherwise, skip the Tzin and head directly to Ric's Grill, an always-tasty and generally quiet establishment.

Rating: 7 / 10

Mangiamo's Trattoria

Yesterday, for my belated b-day celebration, the Vinnys, Hubbs & I ventured out of our comfort zone to try out Mangiamo's Trattoria, pronounced as mon-JYA-mo's tra-tor-EE-ah. According to my fabulous Italian mentor teacher, the name of the place basically means "Let's Eat Casual Diner." It sounds a bazillion times better in Italian, non?

Anyway, the place is very upscale yuppy chic on the inside; neutral walls and dark wood furnishings and generally very classy. Nothing like what we would have expected for a place that touts itself as serving "Italian comfort food." It's also not a terribly large restaurant, so we were a little intimidated to see a table for 15 set up in the middle of the place. It worried us that perhaps our service would be a little on the slow side. Our fears were, unfortunately, founded.

That aside, the place was fantastic. The server was very friendly, personable, and helpful. The menu was small (3 appetizers, 3 salads, 5 entrees and 8 pastas) but the offered dishes were tantalising. I opted for a lemon herb salmon served with baby crab cream linguine, while Vinny had the striploin and Mrs. Vinny had the pork tenderloin. Hubbs went for the Italian sausage buccatini (spelling?), and the guys also shared the antipasti appetizer. All of their entrees came with your choice of side salad or soup, so I chose their house salad (mixed greens with candied walnuts and dried cranberries, and tossed with a honey vinagrette).

The app came quickly, as did the bread and our drinks. I didn't try the apps but am told that it was delicious, and came with a variety of 4 cheeses and 2 different types of salami-esque meat, along with some pickled asparagus. The bread (buns) were cold, which we were a tad disappointed by; warm buns make the butter melt much better, in my opinion, and I don't think it is too much to ask from any restaurant to make sure their buns or bread are warm. But that's just me.

Our soup and salad took a bit longer to arrive, but thankfully we had much to chat about so the time flew by. If you're super hungry, however, I can imagine that the wait would be torturous. My salad was the perfect size and also very tasty; I thought the walnuts were a bit too sweet and overwhelming for the rest of the salad, but generally speaking I enjoyed my greens. Mrs. Vinny, the lone soup drinker at the table, tells me that her wild mushroom soup was fantastic - not too creamy and not too thin, with a nice balanced mushroom flavour.

When our salad and soup plates were cleared, our entrees followed immediately, which I appreciated. I didn't sample others' dishes due to my cold, but my salmon was perfectly poached (still moist in the middle!) and had a nice lemony-herb taste to it. My creamy linguine was, much to my relief, not too creamy, although it was a tad heavy. Hubbs thought his sausage buccatini dish was scrumptious, and his serving was so large that he could only finish about half of it! Mrs. Vinny also really liked her pork tenderloin, and said that it had a nice (albeit slightly sweet) sauce that gave flavour to her meat; unfortunately, it probably overwhelmed her pasta because she couldn't taste the blue cheese that was supposed to be in her side dish. Vinny enjoyed his steak and said it was good, although he looked for a salt shaker (there was none) at the table and commented that the steak was a little undersalted.

Overall, though, it was a lovely restaurant and a very pleasant experience, and generally speaking the food was worth its price (main entrees ranging from $17-$26). Three out of the four of us had doggy bags to take home, and we left the place happy, well-fed, and well-watered.

If you're looking for a more upscale Italian dining experience, I would recommend Mangiamo's, but don't expect to find the typical lasagna and penne that you would get at a more chain-style restaurant. They have great food here, but it's not the type of Italian I would have guessed it to be. That said, the place has a great, relaxing feel to it and the food is really good, for the most part. Go with a date, and go on a weeknight!


Rating: 8.5 / 10

Hubbs' Rating: 8.5 / 10