Travel Alberta

Posted by: admin on: January 23, 2012

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Written by Travel Alberta Their books are not your typical Alberta guidebooks http//www.ranchcanadianrockies.com/stories/how-the-west-was-won /, littered with service details and predictable scenic drives through Banff National Park. Both their books do indeed cover roadtrips but the scenery tends to focus on groaning boards around the province. However, this specific report zooms in on big cities exactly what we had in mind when I joined Judy Schultz and Mary Bailey at an uptown diner where I asked them to dish about the food scene in Edmonton and Calgary. Two of the provinces most passionate and knowledgeable food aficionadas, this duo is committed to encouraging Albertans to replace

our fast food, franchise eatery habit with an eating adventure that veers way beyond-the-box noshing. Theyve recently followed up their best-seller, The Food Lovers Guide Trail Guide to Alberta with Volume Two, which adds to, and cross-references, the information in the first book. Loaded with scenic drives that highlight eateries on various roads across Alberta, consider this an abridged version, a map or menu for foodies. Beyond Banffs Scenic Drives Calgarys into trendy, fun bistro dining where young professionals on expense accounts meet for drinks and move on to dinner, observes Mary, a certified wine educator and publisher of Edmontons City Palate. Think chic, eclectic eateries like Divino and Living Room 403-228-9830. In Edmonton, ethnic eating is hot, says Judy, a nationally recognized food and travel writer and author of seven books. Little India, Little Italy, Chinatown where Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai and Cambodian restaurants and food shops congregate along 97th Street these neighbourhoods define our multi-ethnic culture. Make a voyage of discovery to the Lahore Sweet House 780-435-9419, Santos Pizza and Steak 780- 421-1507 and the Hong Kong Bakery. People get excited about restaurants in Calgary, says Mary. Theres an air of celebrity about a new place. And people tend to splurge Calgary sells more wine than Edmonton. The amazing

thing about Edmonton, says Judy, is that you can get a top-dollar, exquisite meal, as good as any Calgary has to offer, for 30 per cent less. And thats at an establishment like the Hardware Grill or Jacks Grill but keep it a secret, okay? Or none of us will ever get reservations! Corners with Cachet, Streets with Savoir Faire The ladies agree that the scenes in both cities share a lot of common ground case in point, those streets or corners where marvellous menus and fine food shops seem to cluster. Take the renaissance blooming in Edmontons 124th Street area new restaurants too new to make it into Volume Two Matahari 780-452-8262, the Glenora Grill 780-482-3531 and Mangiamos join perennial favourites Caf de Ville and the Urban Diner 780-488-7274. Whyte Avenues poppin with one-of-a-kinds like Flavours Modern Bistro 780-439-9604 and Packrat Louie. For bars that serve up groovy ambience with good food, try Sapphire 780-437-0231 and Savoy 780-438-037 3. Along Calgarys Kensington Road a scenic drive in itself pick up the essentials for a gourmet picnic at Janice Beaton Fine Cheese, the Kensington Wine Market and Muse Bakery 403-670-6873. Then theres the whole 9th Avenue SE thing a great place for a weekend walkabout, says Mary. Check out Sugo, Village Cantina, Spolumbos, and Rouge. Afters Weve finished lunch. Over coffee, Judy and Mary get down

to the core of the matter. Yes, Calgary may be closer to the Rockies and have more artisan bakeries than Edmonton but the capital claims more sushi restaurants the real point is both cities are blessed with dedicated, talented purveyors of fine food in all its flavours who need and deserve our support. If we want to nurture a vibrant food scene, they say, we can live up to our taste buds potential and bypass the salt-sweet-fat sameness of the safe and predictable. We can start by seeking out an independent restaurant or food shops in our neighbourhood…and we can do it with a couple of great guides in hand. Look for The Food Lovers Trail Guide to Alberta and The Food Lovers Trail Guide to Alberta, Volume Two in bookstores across Alberta.

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