After reading a great article about reducing food waste by Julie Van Rosendaal, I made it one of my top New Year’s resolutions to do just that.  Combined with other typical resolves like being more frugal and trying new things, it had me thinking about how one can use all of the parts of an animal when cooking.

In many countries it’s commonplace to eat the organs, brains and even eyeballs of animals and fish. I don’t think brains will be on my plate any time soon (if you’ve ever seen Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom you will understand), but I noticed bone marrow on a menu recently on my walk to work.

Bone marrow is not your standard fare, so I was rather intrigued by this option and began to hunt for more places serving it up.  Pretty sure Old Mother Hubbard would be proud.

My first stop was The Libertine Public House where I ordered the Roasted Marrow Bones.  They were served with arugula salad, in-house pickled radish, Himalayan pink salt, and crostini and actually arrived with their own special instruction sheet which I thought was a nice touch.

Basically you spread the marrow, which was very rich, oily,  and kind of gelatinous on the crostini, top with arugala salad, pickled radish and a sprinkle of salt.  I tried all elements combined and on their own and I really enjoyed the flavours.

Not sure how many other freaks are out there, but as a kid, when my mom would cook a nice standing rib roast, my brothers and I would fight over who got to chew on the string that held the roast together after it was done cooking.  That is what the bone marrow tasted like to me.  Meaty, fatty and delicious.  It’s definitely an appetizer that should be shared, due to its richness.

Next stop was CHARCUT Roast House, which served up a Bone Marrow and Escargot au Gratin with Garlic Brioche Toast.  This was served in a similar fashion, but with a parsley salad with fried capers.

The CHARCUT marrow had a thicker consistancy and the escargot added a bit more substance to it.  A very unique indulgence.

And last, but not least, the item that got it all started, the Bone Marrow Mashed Potatoes at HOME Tasting Room.

Normally they are served as part of a meal, but they were kind enough to allow me to order them as a side dish, along with some other fantastic sharing plates.  I am a self-proclaimed mashed potato whore, so the fact that these were absolute perfection was not much of a surprise to me. The bone marrow really enhanced the flavour and made these a decadent treat.

It’s no wonder dogs spend hours gnawing on bones, eagerly anticipating the moment when they get to the high-cal, nutrient dense centre. While dogs might not be a man’s best friend when it comes to choosing meals…um, they eat their own poop and drink out of the toilet, I think they’re they’re on to something here.

Ingredients like this make you really think twice about how disassociated we’ve become from what we consume. We often toss out perfectly good food without a second thought and, more disturbingly, without even considering it as food.

Upon further investigation, I have learned that you can purchase bones (without having to buy a roast or other cut of meat) quite cheaply at most grocery stores.

Can’t wait to serve up this tasty Cro-Magnon snack one night and see what the boyfriend says. Pretty sure his inner caveman will be all over it!

Love food?  Check out The Big Taste, Calgary’s Dining Festival coming up soon from March 2-12, 2012.

There are few places to dine in Calgary that are as picturesque as the River Café.  As hokey as it might sound, there is something almost magical about the place.

Set smack-dab in the middle of Prince’s Island Park near the lagoon where the Bow River passes through downtown, the location will charm you with its natural beauty, and the rustic fishing cabin vibe will make you feel welcome and cozy.

Since it is only accessible by foot, you can enjoy a short jaunt over a little bridge from Eau Claire and down a path into the gorgeous park on your way there.

And then comes the food!

I have only had the opportunity to dine there twice. The first time was during an event at last year’s “The Big Taste”. Their delicious “seasonal Canadian cuisine” was fresh and paired perfectly with wine. It was definitely a memorable meal.

The second time was recently on a beautiful fall afternoon.  We curled up by the fire with some drinks and appies and it was a fantastic way to spend a lazy Sunday!

We tried the Fish & Game Board (pictured above), which was a deluxe assortment that included Duck Paté, Candied Salmon, Smoked Bison, Rillettes Steelhead Lox, Sylvan Star Gouda, House Pickles, Brassica Mustard and Housemade Crackers. The Ginger Snaps martini and Theo Organic Fair Trade Hot Chocolate with homemade marshmallow were a lovely compliment to this delicious snack.

With a number of significant accolades under their belt, including Tourism Calgary’s 2011 White Hat Award for Best Restaurant and Avenue Magazine’s 2011 Best Place to Take Out of Town Guests, the River Café also boasts a wine list with 420 selections and 5,000 bottles in the cellar.

They celebrated their 20th Anniversary in November and continue to show us why they are a local favourite.

Whether you’re looking for a romantic dinner with your significant other, a weekend brunch with friends, or a decadent meal to enjoy at home (they are now offering a “Christmas Turkey in Your Home” menu), you can find it all at the River Café .

If you have any special memories from the River Café over the last 20 years we’d love to hear them!

Still looking for a place to spend New Year’s Eve?  They are offering special tasting menus with selections from their award-winning wine cellar.  More details can be found here.   

Please note that they will be closed on Christmas and for the month of January.

On the 30th,  I was lucky to attend the Holiday Get Gorgeous @ Home roaming fashion show and lunch at Home Tasting Room. Hosted by Karen Judge of Studio Gorgeous, the noon hour soiree featured fashions from Karen’s up-to-the-minute favourite boutiques in the city. Crabapple Clothing Company, Eye On Design, and Something 2 Wear were all featured over the season-inspired lunch with beautiful outfits to wear for any sort of holiday occasion from your fancy office Christmas Party to an evening of baking sugar cookies with your girlfriends.

Sequins are always in during the season of mistletoe and tinsel, so it is no surprise there was lots of sparkle in several of the outfits throughout the roaming fashion show. An adorable sequined tunic top can be layered with a skirt or worn over leggings for a fun comfortable party look. Long skirts have seen a comeback throughout the fall; for Christmas try one with a layered tulle crinoline underneath for a dramatic entrance to any party.  Infinity scarves and fur collars are a perfectly cozy way to accessorize for those extra chilly evenings out on the town and they transition well from the office to the party. Many big Christmas parties have lost their love of black tie, so pull on a pair of beautiful black leather boots with your party dress to keep it from looking too fancy. Ikat prints are stunning in gem tones – try one in a flowy slip dress or a classic 60s sheath style. A lady who lunches is never without the perfect handbag – pick up a sparkley clutch this holiday and stash it in your daytime purse for after-work fun.

Watch for more fabulous Get Gorgeous @ Home coming soon in the New Year – be a lady who lunches!

At some point or another, we all enter into a routine lifestyle that we may or may not even be conscious of. You know, throwing in some pre-packaged meal into the oven (or worse – the microwave) and slipping into sweats the minute you walk in the door. Life is hard enough without allowing yourself a little fun once and awhile.

A night on the town pretty much cures any sort of rut, you’ve got going on. Instead of getting into your PJs at 7pm, step it up a notch with a fabulous outfit. You don’t have to spend much to look sharp for your evening of swank.

Instead of noshing on leftovers and chips for dinner, try out a new restaurant. Calgary’s food scene is bustling at lightning speed so it is nearly guranteed that you will find something noteworthy for your (soon-to-be) refined palate. I recently had the opportunity to sample the new menu at Parkerhouse on 6^th Avenue SW and would recommend it as the perfect date spot or girls night dinner venue.

For example, Thursday nights feature dollar oysters, and as a self-declared seafood aficionado stuck between the mountains and the prairies – their selection of shells is incredible.  My group of friends decided to get lots of appetizers to share so we went with a plate of Fresh Shucked Oysters, the Crab & Sweet Corn Perogies, Steamed Mussels, and the Seared Digby Scallop & Jumbo Prawn. We also enjoyed a small bowl of the Manhattan Rose Seafood Chowder which was savoury and delicious.

As mentioned, I love seafood so of course, for the main course I had to choose the Seared Jumbo Scallops with fingerling potatoes, edamame with a creamy shellfish sauce. It was beautifully prepared and was the perfect compliment to our appetizers.

Despite the fact, that we were all stuffed beyond belief at this point, we all decided to have some dessert to finish off the meal. My friend and I shared the sigh-inducing Flourless Chocolate Walnut Cake that was topped with Winter Stewed Apple Chutney and Spanish Caramel Gelato. Absolutely mouthwatering.

It was so nice to swank up the routine for once and having someone else cook (a very decadent meal at that). While obviously we can’t do it all of the time – downtown is always waiting for us.

Calgary might not have a Santa Claus Parade, but it does have a large number fantastic family-friendly holiday events to help get even the Grinchiest hearts into the spirit of the season.

There are a number of things to look forward to this December and many of them are free!  Here are my top 10:

1.) Skating at Olympic Plaza
Growing up in Vancouver’s balmy climate made it hard to experience what seems to be a winter rite of passage for most Canadians – skating on an outdoor rink.  I am very excited to try this for the first time EVER!  And to make it an even more memorable experience, on Dec. 5-9, 12 & 13 there will be choirs singing at Olympic Plaza over the lunch hour.

2.) Window Shopping
Strolling along Stephen Avenue amidst the twinkle of Christmas lights and festively decorated storefronts with a warm drink in hand is one of the nicest things to do in the winter.  There are several companies in downtown Calgary like Holt Renfrew and Twigs & Co that do a fantastic job of decorating their stores.  Many of the hotels also get in the spirit and decorate to the nines.

This gorgeous gingerbread replica of the Fairmont Palliser is currently on display in their lobby.

The CORE Shopping Centre is also home to a spectacular 45-foot Christmas tree, which is said to be the tallest of its kind in Western Canada.  It has over 2,670 ornaments and 45,000 individual lights in total.

If you’re lucky you might even run into our Present Patrol who will be handing out free Visa gift cards to downtown passersby between December 8-18th.

3.) Giving Back to the Community
Christmas is a time to think of others and give with your whole heart.  Since there are many families that do not enjoy the same blessings that we do, my Mom always taught us to be thoughtful of others, especially during the holidays.  There are a number of different charities that help those in need with various things like gift hampers, meals and necessities.

Even if you are unable to make a monetary donation, many organizations are always looking for volunteers to help with various tasks.  For example, Bankers Hall is currently looking for volunteer holiday gift-wrappers during the month of December. Proceeds will benefit the Nurture Yourself Program, which provides empowerment seminars for women, men and youth in several languages. The YWCA hopes you will Give the Gift of Safety.  Looking to connect with different opportunities in your community?  Try Volunteer Calgary.

4.) Choirs Singing Christmas Carols
Listen to the many choirs singing seasonal favourites at various locations all over the downtown.  Knox United Church will play host to the Calgary Carol Festival from December 3-5th where a variety of Calgary choirs will get together to perform for a worthy cause, The Calgary Inter-Faith Food Bank. Admission is a donation to the Food Bank.

5.) Breakfast with Santa
If you missed Santa “dropping in” Downtown on December 1st you can still take the little ones to meet the big guy himself at the Bay Downtown.  He will be back again on Saturday, December 17th for breakfast at the Bay!  It’s best to reserve your spot early as space is limited.  More details can be found here.

6.) Ice Sculptures
Watch huge blocks of ice get carved into intricate masterpieces with chainsaws right before your eyes! One large interactive sculpture will be added daily between Dec 5-9th on Stephen Avenue Walk right in front of the Sport Chek (120 8th Ave SW).

7.) Cocktails with Friends
The weather outside is frightful, but the drinks are so delightful!  There’s something so cozy and fun about hitting up a restaurant or pub with friends for a couple of pre-Christmas cocktails.  Can’t decide where to go?  We’ve got a few ideas for you with “The Twelve Drinks of Christmas.”

8.) Discounts & Sales at Your Favourite Stores
For those that love to shop, there are many sales and customer rewards this time of year.  Check the websites of your favorite stores and malls, like The CORE/TD Square/Holt Renfew, before heading there and you might manage to save yourself a few dollars or win one of their special giveaways.

9.)  Warming Up With A Cozy Cup
There is no shortage of coffee shops around these parts.  Whether you get takeaway or decide to stay, we are lucky to have many choices.  deville Luxury Coffee & Pastries boasts that their specialty, the Nutella latte, is “the best latte ever” and I’d be hard pressed to disagree. They also offer hot chocolate and a chocolate latte, both made with Bernard Callebaut chocolate shavings.  Caffe Artigiano, Insomnia Coffee Co, Good Earth Café, Urban Bean Coffee Co and Caffe Rosso also offer up a number of hot drinks, and, of course, we can’t forget the world famous Starbucks’ holiday-themed beverages!

10.) Searching for the Ultimate Comfort Food
When the weather dips below zero it’s time to seek out different ways to warm up your cockles.  Some of my personal favourite comfort foods are the wonton soup at Sukiyaki in the Lancaster Building, the mac n’ cheese at Blink, and the chocolate lava cake at Saltlik. Mmmmm!

The Fiasco Gelato Food Truck has noted the change of season and is now offering up some fresh and hearty soups along with their regular fare.  Their “Souped Up” truck can be found at various locations across the City featuring gourmet artisan soups with delicious flavours like curried zucchini, Thai carrot, lentil lime and chipotle coffee chili. Each bowl is garnished with fresh toppings like basil, olive oil, and honey lime cream and comes complete with a whole wheat mini loaf. The perfect street-side offering from YYCFoodTrucks on a frosty winter day.  I tried the roasted red pepper and it was delicious!

While Downtown, if you happen to capture any of your fun holiday moments please don’t hesitate to enter them in the Downtown Calgary Facebook Holiday photo competition, where you will have a chance to win a Luxury Downtown Getaway prize package, which includes hotel, dining, theatre and a $750 shopping spree.

If you’ve got any other ideas on what to do downtown this holiday season we’d love to hear from you!

We all know the famous Christmas carol, “The 12 Days of Christmas,” but do you know anyone on earth that would like to receive ten Lords-a-leaping or a partridge in a pear tree?  I didn’t think so.

With this in mind, I was determined to find an updated version of this holiday classic that’s a little more in synch with my lifestyle and so began “The 12 Drinks of Christmas.”

I am by no means a total booze hound, but I have been on a bit of a “Christmas Crawl” recently in search of some interesting beverages to imbibe this Yuletide season.  Here are a few worth singing about.

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me….

12 Spiced Rum and Eggnogs

This delicious holiday classic can be found at Blink Restaurant & Bar, 111 8th Ave SW.

 11 Werther’s Shooters

A tasty blend of Captain Morgan’s Rum and Butter Ripple Schnapps, this shot is a take on a treat usually found in Grandma’s candy bowl.  Find the Werther’s Shooter at The Unicorn Pub, 304 8 Ave SW.

10 Gingerbread Spiced Coffees 

Enjoy the taste of gingerbread in liquid form at the Sandstone Lounge at the Hyatt Regency, 700 Centre St SW.  A comforting blend of fresh coffee, Frangelico, Bailey’s Irish Cream, and a hint of gingerbread, all topped with a dallop of whipped cream.

9 Starlight 200s

You might not be able to see the Star of Bethlehem, but this shining star can be found at the Fairmont Palliser’s Oak Room, 133 9 Ave SW.  You’ll get a brilliant glow from this unique mix of Plymouth Gin, Madeira and Warre’s Otima 10 Year Old Port.

8 Boozy Suzys

Most of us have at least one relative at Christmas that hits the punch bowl a little too hard.  We’ll dedicate the Boozy Suzy to them!  This high octane cocktail containing apples, cloves, Dubonnet, Benedectine & vodka (2.5 ounces of liquor in total) can be found at Charcut Roast House, 101, 899 Centre St.

7  Theo Organic Fair Trade Hot Chocolates

Warm up by the fire with a mug of this chocolaty taste of heaven, complete with a homeade marshmallow.  Add a shot of Peppermint Schnapps and you’ve got a Polar Bear on your hands.  Find it at the River Cafe in Prince’s Island Park.

6 Tandoori Caesars

When you find yourself saying, “Bah, humbug” to all the holiday drinks, change it up with this spicy Tandoori Caesar at Mango Shiva, 218 8 Ave SW.

5 Hot Buttered Rums

Butter = good.  Rum= good.  Mix them together and how could you possibly go wrong?  This low-cal (yah right!) tummy warmer can be found at the James Joyce Irish Pub & Restaurant, 114 8 Ave SW.

4 Royal Margaritas

A splash of Chambord makes this margarita fit for a king, or maybe 3 kings.  The Magi would definitely feel like royalty at Saltlik, 101 8 Ave SW.

3 Toblerones

Toblerone has always been a popular stocking stuffer.  This adult version gets its kick from Irish Whiskey, Creme de Cacao, Frangelico, cream and saffron honey.  Available at Rush Restaurant & Lounge, 100 – 207 9 Ave SW.

2 Fireside Cobblers 

A couple of sips of this perfect blend of Benedectine, Appleton Amber Rum, Maple Syrup, Fresh Apple Juice and nutmeg will warm you up from the inside out.  Enjoy one amongst the live piano music and lively crowd at Murrieta’s Bar & Grill, #200, 808 1  St SW.

And a Yellow Snow IPA

You may have been warned to never eat Yellow Snow, but drinking it is a whole other story!  Break the “golden rule” with the Yellow Snow India Pale Ale at The Libertine Public House, 223 8 Ave SW.

Please drink responsibly this holiday season and if you do have a few too many wobbly pops be sure to take advantage of alternate transportation like taxi or public transit.

Know of any other fun drinks we should check out this winter? We’d love to hear your suggestions.

Cheers to you and yours!

Food trucks have appeared in cities all over the world and now Calgary is in on it too. What did everyone have to say at the launch of the Calgary’s Food Truck Pilot Project on Stephen Avenue? Lots. Twitter was buzzing and the hashtags were trending. Here’s some of the best moments along with some advice for success and a new way to describe hunger.

“	#yyctastethetrucks today! I have never been so excited about food served from a truck.
	KelseyRiecken August 11, 2011

“	I’m looking forward to #yyctastethetrucks and have even convinced the coworkers to join in… Can’t wait for gelato!
	alisonborealis August 11, 2011

“	Dividing + conquering at #yyctastethetrucks with @kanuck75. About to have truffled fries in the taco line up I love this city!
	ElMrrr August 11, 2011

“	Hey @CHARCUT, your @AlleyBurger is too popular!! You might need an additional truck. …or 6. http://t.co/AvbxifM
	iKasperr August 11, 2011

“	Thankyou #yyccc for allowing #yycfoodtrucks to exist!! Fun food, fun idea.
	_Skarlett_One August 11, 2011

“	With crowds this big, I think u can call the #yycfoodtrucks experiment a success #tastethetrucks #yyc
	killhouse August 11, 2011

“	Success! Delicious success! Thanks @AlleyBurger I was velociraptor hungry #yyctastethetrucks http://t.co/DFgrzdP
	Clock_workLemon August 11, 2011

As food truck fever spreads across Calgary, there’s a lot of chatter about the new food trucks rolling out this August.  With that chatter has come some confusion, so we’d like to clarify a few of the details surrounding this pilot project and, more specifically, how it pertains to the downtown area.

The Calgary Downtown Association is a part of the newly formed committee created to nurture the street food culture in Calgary. This program aims to build on the diversity and vibrancy of Calgary’s existing culinary scene. The trucks will add a new dimension to our growing food culture, balanced with the superb restaurants already in place.  The combination of 7 to 10 trucks along with over 65 restaurants downtown, will provide different and unique dining experiences.

Pilot Project Phases and Basic Guidelines

**Please note that these guidelines are currently in draft form and may still be subject to change as of the time this post was published.

The pilot project has 3 phases, after which the results will be taken to city committee.

• Phase 1 – August to October 31, 2011
• Phase 2 – November 1 to March 31, 2012
• Phase 3 - April 1 to October, 2012

Because street food sale is normally prohibited under City Bylaws, a special permit is issued to each truck and reviewed at the end of each phase.

Some of the basic guidelines that need to be adhered to are as follows:

• Cannot operate outside the hours of 7:00 am to 3:00 am
• Must adhere to all parking restrictions and guidelines, including payment for stalls used
• Cannot stay on the street and vend at one on-street location greater than 4 hours (not including setup and takedown of 2 hours or less) unless approved for a special event
• Operation is prohibited:
  • within 25 metres of any restaurant, food service establishment, park concession or business selling similar products
  • any street adjacent to or within one city block of a school between 8:00am and 5:00pm on a school day
  • within the boundaries of any parks, school grounds, festivals or special events without written permission.
  • primarily residential streets or directly in front of a residential building
• Late Night Operation is prohibited between 10:00pm and 3:00am at the following locations: Any location on the same block or the block faces across from any operating nightclub or bar; and 10 Avenue SW between Centre Street and 4 Street SW.

Calgary Parking Authority Lots

• A minimum of 2 stalls have to be paid due to size of trucks and public safety.
• Vendors must maintain a clean site, picking up their garbage prior to leaving the lot.
• Only one vendor can use a particular lot at any one time. This will ensure that the lots are available to normal parking customers. Usage will be evaluated for the trial Phase 1 period (August to October 31, 2011) to determine if there are any concerns at that time.

Calgary Transit LRT Park and Ride Stations

• Operations are permitted in all LRT park and ride stations. Free spaces or reserved spaces can be used (with special permission required for reserved spaces).

Points of Interest

One interesting aspect about the growing “Food Truck Revolution” is that the trucks are equipped to operate year round, not just the summer months, like many of the current street food vendors.  Also, they won’t always be in the same place.  There are plans to use Twitter (#yycfoodtruck) and other social media platforms like Facebook to alert people as to their current location.

The exciting lineup to date that you’ll see on the road soon (pending all approvals) includes: Alley Burger, Fiasco Gelato, Fries & Dolls, Jojo’s BBQ, Los Compadres Mexican, Pimentos Mobile Pizzeria, Perogy Boyz and Blam!Wich.

Want to Taste their Wares?

On Thursday, August 11^th a variety of the approved food trucks will be in one place for one day only to showcase and launch the Calgary Food Truck Pilot Project.  All Calgarians are invited to this “YYC Taste the Trucks” event, which will take place on the 100E block of Stephen Avenue Walk (Calgary TELUS Convention Centre block) on August 11^th from 11:00am to 3:00pm.  Some of the trucks will offer their full menu, while others will offer a tasting menu for sale. Remember to bring your appetite and your wallet.

Update: Here’s what Calgarians had to say about the launch of the Food Truck Pilot Project

While you’re downtown to taste the trucks why not make a day of it?  Take some time to linger and enjoy the many attractions that downtown has to offer.

Finding a good bran muffin is not as easy as it sounds.  Shocking, I know.  They’re often dry or not very flavourful, but apparently bran is good for you, or so I’ve heard.

In my recent “muffin crawl,” I’ve found that nothing compares to the ones at Rise Bakery. Their muffins change daily but are always ridiculously delicious.

Bran strawberry, bran cranberry, bran blueberry, bran raspberry, bran peach – I’ve probably tried them all. I also had one with vanilla and pecans and another with oatmeal and raspberries. I don’t think there was any bran involved, but pecans and raspberries are two of my favorite things and they did not disappoint!

When you get there in the morning around 7ish they are still warm. There is something so wonderful about walking into a bakery first thing in the morning. The smell is intoxicating and it reminds me of special mornings when our mom used to bake us chocolate chip muffins.

Muffin tops are my thing.  Usually I rip them off, eat half and then save the other half for my last bite, but at Rise their bottoms are almost as good. They’re moist and delicious and no butter is even needed, which is good considering I’m up to two muffins a day now and will likely need an intervention soon.

They also have scones and fabulous looking cinnamon buns, breads, sandwiches and salads, and this amazing chocolate sourdough bread with cherries, but it’s pretty rare that I can get past the muffins.

All of the items on Rise’s menu are created fresh in-house daily at their two locations in downtown Calgary, one in Bow Valley Square and one in Penn West Plaza.

Another bonus is their friendly staff.  When I walked in there one morning and asked for a “tall” latte forgetting that I wasn’t at Starbucks, I wasn’t even sneered at. The girls that work at the Penn West building are lovely and much more alert than I am at that time of day!

Rise also does catering and I have used them for a couple of meetings and received rave reviews. They were on time and the food and coffee were fantastic. I highly recommend them as a great place to start off your day.

John Gilchrist is a name that is synonymous with food in Calgary. A food writer and author of My Favourite Cheap Eats 2: Calgary, Banff and beyond, this man knows what’s worth the pennies and calories in Cowtown.

Who’s your favourite downtown food cart vendor?

The Yodelling Sausage.

What makes it your favourite?

Klaus has been serving high-quality German sausage for decades.

What do you normally order?

Bratwurst with curry sauce slid into the baguette.

If you could pick any type of food you’d like to see on the street that isn’t currently there what would it be?

Jamaican jerk.

From bratwurst to burgers, if you’re looking for some street eats Downtown Calgary is the place to be!

So far we’ve heard from Connie DeSousa and Mayor Nenshi, what other local celebrities would you like to hear from?