Restaurant Review: A Ladybug Bakery and Cafe

Nothing says weekend like a good decadent brunch, so it’s really nice to see all the new places offering a brunch menu. I enjoy going out of my way on the weekends to find special brunch locations and with the long weekend coming up; it’s a perfect time to explore. We tend to venture to the mission area of town, but my friend was telling me about this quaint little French bakery in the SW near Aspen called A Ladybug Bakery and Café. With a precious name like that, I figured their dishes must be more of the same.

Atmosphere: Both a pastisserie and coffee shop with many delectable brunch dishes made to order with an open and bright dining area.

Price Range: Mid $10s

Food and Coffee: When you first enter the café, the setup will direct you past the amazing display of pastries and desserts where you can spend 10 mins ogling the choices then place your order. I decided to go sweet that day and my husband decided to go savory, so it was the perfect combo (especially when I was planning on sneaking food off his plate anyhow).



You then pick a table in the dining area and your order gets delivered to you just like in a restaurant. The idea is pretty neat and very efficient but get here early because it gets busy! Once we sat down, it didn’t take very long before our food arrived. I got the Strawberry Waffle with whipped cream and jam. I don’t know how else to describe it besides gorgeous. It was a beautiful plate and it took me a bit of time before I actually wanted to dig in and ruin it, but the stomach overpowered all that. The waffle was fluffy and light but crunchy and flavourful. It wasn’t overly sweet, which was my concern when I looked at it. There was just enough to fill me up without being stuffed.

My husband tried the Salmon Crepe with dill yogurt sauce. The crepe was chewy with pieces of smoked salmon throughout. We did find the yogurt sauce a bit overwhelming after a while and it became a bit heavy.

The americano and cappuccino that we ordered was a great way to kick off the day. They were serving both Peruvian or Costa Rican roasts that day. I opted for the Costa Rica one and it made a very nice shot of coffee. The cappuccino was creamy as well.



To end our meal we had to go back and order something from the pastry display (its just so captivating). The Vanilla Croissant that we decided on was flaky and delicious, not very sweet and just the right amount of chewiness. I would have went back for the Pain au Chocolat had I not been so full!

My Pick: Waffles, Croissants

Overall: What better way then to wake up your senses on the weekend with a lovingly prepared platter of amazing food. Sometimes it’s worth it to drive that extra distance to get that extra extravagance.

A Ladybug Bakery and Café
2132 10 Aspen Stone Blvd
Calgary, AB
(403) 249-5530
Website: www.ladybugandcafe.com/

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Restaurant Review: Petite Restaurant

Lately people have been asking me about where to go or what to eat and as much as I love blogging about my experiences, I’m always a bit hesitant about providing people suggestions. Since everybody’s expectations could be a bit different. Plus, I never know how adventurous of a diner they are, whereas my boundaries are very broad. However when a couple of my friends were looking for a place to eat that’s interesting and different, Petite popped up in my mind.

Atmosphere: Petite no more, the newly renovated space is contemporary and always energetic. Good place for groups of all sizes.

Price Range: Mid $10s - $30+



Food and Wine: We were at Petite for a nice group dinner and luckily for us, we had reservations (always highly recommended). The place was packed since it opened only a couple weeks before our dinner and I’d imagine it to be pretty busy even now. Since we’re all pretty adventurous eaters, we decided to start with the AAA Beef Tartare and Escargot appetizers.

The Beef Tartare had good flavour without being over salted. The quail egg added a nice fattiness to the grainy mustard base and crunch of the garlic bread. It was served with a light peppery arugula and tomato salad, which really helped clear the palate. Our Escargot and Mussel Fondue was creamy and the garlic butter made it that much more decadent. Served with crispy toasted brioche and delicious buttery brussels sprouts on the side. I can definitely eat these sprouts daily.



For entrees, the Chef’s weekly feature was a Lamb Tenderloin atop polenta and broccolini. It was cooked to perfection and the lamb had a very very faint gamey taste. To the point where the discussion at the table surrounded whether or not it was lamb at all, but maybe beef tenderloin instead. I prefer my lamb done just that way. However the husband wanted it a bit gamier. Why? I have no clue, affirmation maybe? I enjoyed the polenta, smooth and silky a great compliment to the lamb.

I ordered the Elk Striploin. For being in Elk country, I still find this a rare item on menus and order it every chance I get. Elk is lean but still tender, flavorful and when done well (which this one was), not gamey at all. The woodiness of the wild mushrooms and pureed parsnips were a great pairing to the peppery au jus (although the au jus did make for a slighly messy presentation due to transit).



After regaling over our dinner, we were still far from calling it a day. There was still dessert to be had. We decided on the White Chocolate Sticky Toffee Bread Pudding with candied peanut caramel butter sauce. We substituted the Devonshire cream with their Brandy Ice Cream, since I enjoy the hot and cold combination of dessert better. The bread pudding was moist and rich, not super sweet. Each bite literally melting in your mouth, a bit of the warm pudding and a bit of cool ice cream..nothing beats that in my mind. Great paired with the Graham’s 20 year port and a cup of double espresso.

We had the opportunity to sample two different wines that evening, starting with the T. Rodriguez Tempranillo from Toro Spain. Lots of blackberry and oak flavours, big bold flavours and a tannic finish, it was great with a meat heavy meal. Next was the Terrazas Malbec from Mendoza Argentina. Another rich bold wine, mainly cherry and plum notes with strong tannins and also a great accompaniment to meaty dishes.



My Picks: Escargot and Mussels Fondue, Elk Striploin

Overall: If you’re open to trying new dishes and don’t shy away from unique plates (there are still great choices aside from game meat), this is a great place where the flavours are definitely not petite.

Petite Restaurant
344 17 Avenue SW
Calgary, AB
(403) 452-5350
Website: http://www.petiterestaurant.ca/

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Food Blogger Bake Sale at Casel Marche

It’s that time of the year again, time for the second annual Food Blogger Bake Sale! Once again Calgary food bloggers are coming together to organize a bake sale that’s benefiting the Brown Bagging for Calgary’s Kids Society. We have even more bloggers joining in on the fun this year, meaning more selection, quantity and hopefully even more money donated to charity.
The Brown Bagging for Calgary’s Kids Society is a program dedicated to providing healthy and nutritious lunches for Calgary’s youth who would otherwise have no access to food. Their lunch program started in 1990 and is going strong today serving close to 30,000 children in over 60 communities. Each day they provide over 1,500 lunches to 60 schools within the Calgary area free of charge to the kids. The program is completely ran by volunteers and supporters, so please drop by the bake sale this weekend and help their cause.

This year the Food Blogger Bake Sale will be held at Casel Marche located in the new building on 17th Ave and 24th Street SW, who has graciously offered up their space for the endeavor. The sale will run on both Saturday Feb 10th and Sunday Feb 11th from 10 am – 5:30 pm. So please stop by pick up a couple goodies (perfect for Valentine’s day!) and say hi!

For more information check out the Facebook link here!

Casel Marche
2503 – 17th Avenue SW
Calgary, AB
(403) 770-4700
Website: http://www.caselmarche.com/

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Celebrating Apple Month with an Apple Fennel Salad

Last week I had the pleasure of attending a BC Tree Fruits hosted event celebrating Apple Month! The event was held at Home Tasting Room on Stephen Avenue downtown and featured many specially prepared dished by Chef Rogers. Some dishes we got to sample include an apple and cheddar tart, duck confit and apple pastry, apple and feta salad, not to mention the tasty drinks served as well. The crowd favourite was definitely the pork belly overtop apple puree with a light apple foam. I enjoyed washing mine down with the apple juice and hennessy cocktail.


Aside from the great food and company, I found it the perfect opportunity for me to learn more about the apple and their operations. BC Tree Fruits is a Canadian based company locally sourcing their apples (and other fruits such as cherries, plums, etc) from the Okanagan Valley. They represent over 800 local BC farmers who produces up to 4 million carts of apples a year, which allows them to limit their environmental footprint and by purchasing their products, so can you.


During the evening, a local BC farmer also spoke about her passion about apples and how it relates to healthy eating and sustainability. All of which I found very inspiring. What better wisdom to pass down then living a better healthier lifestyle and enjoy eating wholesome natural foods? I found it motivating and wanted to celebrate this great month by creating a fresh and healthy recipe which highlights the apple in all its glory. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.


Apple Fennel and Arugula Salad with Apple Vinaigrette
Ingredients:
1 fuji apple, cored and cut in to matchsticks
1 fennel bulb, cored and cut finely
1/2 small onion, chopped
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1/2 tbsp dijon mustard
1 tbsp honey
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tbsp olive oil (optional)
Arugula
Pecans
Dried cranberries

Preparation:
In a small bowl, combine the apple cider vinegar, dijon mustard, honey, salt and pepper. Stir until the honey is fully dissolved. Add in the olive oil if using. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, add in the apple, fennel, and onion. Pour in the apple cider dressing.

Toss until all the ingredients are coated with the vinaigrette.

To serve, place a bed of arugula on a plate, top with the apple and fennel slaw. Add pecans and cranberries over top. You can also add a bit of the fennel fronds on top.

Enjoy!

Serves 4

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Restaurant Review: Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria

Just over this past weekend I went on my first winery tour through Southern California (closer to Santa Barbara in the Santa Ynes Valley). Most of the wine produced there aren’t exported and kept pretty local, so I felt privileged to be able to taste the different varietals grown there, mainly Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs. I remember thinking during lunch that I would very much enjoy a pizza to go with my pinot as opposed to the bread and cheese we were served. Now that I’m back in town I can definitely use some thin crust pizza and seeing as it’s Wednesday, what better time then to head over to Famoso. Where they feature specific wines each Wednesday and if you ask nicely, you can even taste them as if you were taking a mini wine tour of your own.

Atmosphere: Casual, laid back surroundings where you place your orders up front then sit back and enjoy the view of Calgary’s 4th street.

Food and Wine: It’s a different and interesting concept at Famoso, reminiscent of a coffee shop. Where you order at the front, take a seat and then your food gets served. It works well for those who are familiar with the menu and know what they want. However, if you’re unfamiliar with the menu feel free to take a seat first before deciding. We were the latter.


After being seated, we were treated to a sample of the wine features that day (coincidentally it was a Wednesday). The server also notified us that with any bottle of wine we also got a free appetizer that evening. We chose the Bruschetta which came with a side of grilled pita. There was quite a bit more tomato than onion, but the dish was very light, I really enjoyed the chewy pitas that the dish was served with.

We decided on two pizzas that evening, one red (tomato) sauce based and one white. The Cappricciosa which came with Italian ham, mushrooms, artichoke hearts and olives was on the lighter end. The artichokes and olives adding that extra bit of tanginess, cutting through the olive oil and cheese, but we did find it a little under seasoned. The Proscuitto Arugula pizza came with a white sauce made from olive oil, oregano and garlic. It was topped with pecorino romano cheese and of course proscuitto and arugula. Both my husband and I preferred this one over the first because we’re garlic lovers and this pizza definitely had a good amount of it! I enjoyed the chewy crust and how thin the pizza was and am looking forward to trying another white sauced pizza.


To end the evening we had to order the Dolce and Banana. Nothing beats caramelized bananas with brown sugar and more caramel with vanilla bean gelato. Vanilla and bananas go together like peas and carrots. The caramel sauce was light and not overly sugary. The bananas were soft with a nice bruleed topping. Great way to end the meal!

The featured red wine that evening was the Seven Terraces Pinot Noir from New Zealand. It was a lightly acidic red, with minor touches of oak and berry notes. The wine was a bit tart with a mild finish. It was a nice complement to the white pizza without overwhelming the taste of the pie.

My Picks: Proscuitto Arugula Pizza, Dolce and Banana


Overall: With the lack of vineyards in and around the Calgary area, the next best thing we can do is aim for wine tasting at a wine store or restaurant. I prefer the latter since nothing truly brings out the greatest in the wine then accompanying it with some great food and vice versa. While on that note, what brings out wine better than food that it was made to go with from the lands of Italy? Famoso is a great place to enjoy both in a more relaxed laid back sort of way.

Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
105 2303 4th Street SW
Calgary, AB
(403) 455-3839
Website: http://www.famoso.ca/

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Hong Kong - A Foodie's Paradise

With it being Chinese New Year right now, it has really got me thinking about our last Asia trip, especially all the delicious food that we found in and around Hong Kong! Crispy BBQ pork, roasted goose, stinky tofu! Although some might not see those as delicacies, no worries, there are a plethora of different cuisines and dishes offered. Ranging from street food for the adventurous ones to upscale Michelin star restaurants serving Italian and other foreign fair. I can only imagine what the foodie adventures would be like during Chinese New Year since I’ve never been during this time.

I can’t even being to imagine what it must be like in Hong Kong during the Lunar New Year aka Chinese New Year. The busting night markets must be even busier, the food must be even tastier and the lights are probably brighter everywhere you go!


Thinking back there were definitely some must sees. Avenue of the stars was one of those destinations because of its location and the amazing view it provides of Hong Kong Island. Located along the southern end of Tsim Sha Tsui on Kowloon Island. The promenade highlights all the Hong Kong stars and their achievements in arts and film (iron Bruce Lee statue also located here). At 8pm nightly there is also a light show display.

Since you’re already on Kowloon Island, don’t forget to check out Mong Kok, where you can find many different eateries selling the famous BBQ pork, duck, cha siu and other amazing Chinese rotisserie goodies. Mong Kok is also where the Ladies Street night market is located. There you can find a variety of items sold at very low prices. Remember to haggle because that is really part of the fun! The store keepers already know who the tourists are, so make sure not to start your pricing too high.


If you continue south of Mong Kok you’ll hit Temple Street, another night market area where they will tell your fortune. There are also a lot of eateries along the sides of the street and you can truly experience outdoor street dining. Remember to bring lots of tissues because these eateries do not provide tissue paper, but you can buy some for a small charge.

When dining in Hong Kong, you can’t miss the dim sum and bakeries! A must during the day or as a mid afternoon snack. People enjoy going to dim sum restaurants in the early afternoon and just sit with a pot of tea (yum cha) while enjoying small dim sum (meaning touch of heart) aka small dishes. Going with a larger group of people will allow you to try a variety of different foods. It’s like Chinese tapas for brunch!


The thing I miss most about Hong Kong is their bakeries. All the different selection of goodies, sweet and savory buns! My favourite remains the Bo Lo Bao with taro stuffed in the middle. I was also able to find green bean stuffed Bo Lo Baos (straight translation meaning pineapple buns because of the way it looks, no pineapples are actually used to make the bun).

If you get a chance to wonder over to Hong Kong Island, you must check out The Peak. The view up at the peak is one of the best in Hong Kong. There is also an attached shopping mall and many places to eat. A common trend throughout Asia, you won’t ever go hungry because no matter where you are..there is a restaurant or eatery. We had the opportunity to eat at The Pearl Restaurant overlooking the amazing view. We ordered the seafood platter, which was more than enough to fill us up, but we couldn’t stop there. Other dishes we tasted included the warm mushroom salad, seared scallops and amazing desserts (molten chocolate lava cake and bread pudding). I still remember the meal today.


I’m really curious how a city that’s so bustling and lively can get even more so, but there really is no other holiday in the Chinese culture that’s bigger than the Lunar New Year. I can only imagine what the night markets would be like. How the temples must be overflowing with people (Wong Tai Sin Temple is a must see as well!) and how the food must be even more bountiful! I guess the only way to really find out is to experience it myself one day….whenever that day is!

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Prosperity Cakes for Chinese New Year

I remember being a kid and going back to school in January. All the kids at school would be extremely miserable because all the Christmas festivities for the season were over. No more Santa, presents or goodies, at least not for another year. I on the other hand couldn’t wait for January because I knew Chinese New Year was always just around the corner (and my birthday)! This meant even more food, goodies and better yet, money. All of it very much a part of growing up in a Chinese family, especially mine since my parents are very very traditional.

My parents celebrate Chinese New Year for the full 15 days. Cooking a myriad of different dishes daily, they’re still trying to explain to me all the different meanings behind each dish. I only hope that I will one day be able to remember them all, let alone learn how to cook each one. I truly admire my parent’s ability to hold on to their traditions all these years and I would love to pass that along to my children (when we get around to that).

Since I enjoy each dish, it’s always been extremely tough for me to pick a specific one to highlight on my blog. I decided on the Prosperity Cake (aka Fat Go) essentially meaning rich and prosperous in Chinese. I chose this recipe because it was something I really enjoyed as a kid, when my parents used to make them, but then they stopped for a while because the temperatures and flour found here just didn’t produce the same quality cake that they were used to.

As for me, I thought they were delicious none the less. So I was pretty sad when they decided to stop making them. It wasn’t until a couple years ago that the Asian supermarkets around town started to carry them. My parents started buying them again and I started eating them every chance I got. Although I still don’t find that they taste the same as my parents. Now that I’m older and have really discovered the joys of cooking and baking just like my parents do. I decided it would be a neat idea to make these cakes and in turn give them to my parents for Chinese New Years.

Below is a modified version of the recipe I found online.

I hope you enjoy them as much as I did growing up and that they bring you true prosperity! Happy Chinese New Year, Sun Neen Fai Lok and I hope everybody has a great year of the Dragon!



Ingredients:
1 cup water
1 1/2 block Chinese brown sugar (or 1/2 cup golden brown sugar)
1 cup rice flour (or self rising cake flour)
1 tsp baking powder

Preparation:
Line 6-12 ramekins with cupcake liners, depending on the size of the ramekins.

In a medium sized mixing bowl, dissolve the brown sugar in the water (if using Chinese brown sugar, you’ll need to use hot water or heat up the mixture until all the sugar dissolves).

In a separate bowl, combine the flour and baking soda.

Slowly stir the flour mixture in to the sugar mixture until combined.

Divide up the batter evenly amongst all the ramekins.

Steam for 15-20 mins or until a toothpick inserted in the cake comes out clean.

Variation:
You could use 1/4 cup coconut milk and 3/4 cup water to add additional coconut flavour to the cake. I prefer the traditional one, but it never hurts to experiment.

Enjoy!

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