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Chow Down in Cowtown explores some of Calgary’s most awesome eats with Ceci n’est pas un food blog.

Happy Mother’s Day! Where are you taking your mom to brunch today? For some reason, Mama T associates the word “brunch” with “buffet”, so I’ve taken her to Belgo a couple times now to avoid the hotel buffet crowds (and prices!) Mama T is out of town, so I’ll be celebrating with her in Hong Kong next week, but if you’d like to do something a little less traditional with your mom, give Mango Shiva‘s brunch a try.
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Chow Down in Cowtown explores some of Calgary’s most awesome eats with Ceci n’est pas un food blog.

Disclosure: Several Calgary is Awesome editors were invited by Muse to a free media showcase dinner. We were not obligated or compensated to write this post. Opinions are 100% our own.

Last month, a few of the editors from the Calgary is Awesome team were invited to Muse to see how the restaurant has changed since new co-owners Stephen Deere and Heather Wighton and executive chef JP Pedhirney (formerly of Rouge) took over earlier this year.
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Chow Down in Cowtown explores some of Calgary’s most awesome eats with Ceci n’est pas un food blog.

While most restaurants participating in The Big Taste offered simple prix-fixe menus with maybe one or two options, Ox & Angela went all out, offering multiple dishes per course – no decisions needed! B. and I dropped by on the last day of the festival for Sunday brunch, so we got a few breakfast items as well.
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Chow Down in Cowtown explores some of Calgary’s most awesome eats with Ceci n’est pas un food blog.

As I mentioned in my last post, B. and I checked out two places during Big Taste. For the first place, it was my day off/work from home day on his birthday, so I headed downtown and took him out to Wine-Ohs, located in what used to be Piq Niq/Beat Niq on 1st Street SW.
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Have you seen these orange signs at your local Calgary Co-op? These signs, which are all part of Localize, are the brain child of Meghan Dear, an Edmonton-based professional biologist with a graduate degree in project management hailing from Millet, AB.
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Chow Down in Cowtown explores some of Calgary’s most awesome eats with Ceci n’est pas un food blog.

The dust has finally settled after what appears to be yet another successful 10-day run of Big Taste Calgary. B. and I were only able to make it out to two restaurants – and just for lunch, no less – but from the looks of my Instagram and Twitter feeds it looks like some people were out every night!

The week kicked off for me at Yellow Door Bistro, where I was part of a fortunate few who were treated to a free sit-down dinner before the doors opened wide for a media/industry opening party. It was great to have the chance to actually see and taste some of the actual items offered on the menu.
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The Calgary Home & Garden Show is coming to the BMO Centre this Thursday, February 28 and going on until Sunday, March 3. There are going to be hundreds of exhibitors addressing all your home renovating, decorating and gardening needs! HGTV personalities Bryan Baeumler and Paul LaFrance will be gracing the Main Stage to share their home improvement tips, and Bob the Builder will be entertaining kids on Friday, March 1, the Home & Garden Show “Family Day”.

Of course, being the Food Editor, I’m more excited about Food Truck Alley and the Food Truck throwdown happening on Saturday, March 2 at 10:30 AM, where two food truck chefs go head-to-head with garden party-themed dishes they created just for the show! Local chefs like Geoff Rogers from MARKET and Kyle Groves from Catch and… myself (!!!) on behalf of Passion for Pork will also be on the Main Stage to demo a few yummy dishes.

I managed to score three (3) pairs of tickets to give away to Calgary is Awesome readers. All you need to do is email me with your favourite pork dish at vincci [dot] calgaryisawesome [at] gmail [dot] com for a chance to win! Contest closes on Tuesday, February 26 and I will get the tickets out to you by Wednesday just in time to enjoy the show. Good luck and hope to see you there!

PS: I’m also giving away tickets through my blog, Ceci n’est pas un food blog and the Passion for Pork Facebook page.

Chow Down in Cowtown explores some of Calgary’s most awesome eats with Ceci n’est pas un food blog.

I first discovered Carino months ago while dining across the street at Diner Deluxe, and saw the big, wooden letters crudely spelling “CARINO” on the small building that used to house AKA Winebar.

I was immediately intrigued, partly because I live in the area, but after looking at the menu, I was a little unsure about the Japanese-Italian fusion concept, and none of the items on the short list (the menu is only a page long, including desserts) really appealed to me, so I never went.

A few months later, as Carino accumulated more positive reviews, particularly for their Teriyaki Kobe Beef Burger (above), I joined a few friends there for dinner, including fellow food blogger Dan Clapson, who graciously shared his photos for this post since I forgot my camera.
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Chow Down in Cowtown explores some of Calgary’s most awesome eats with Ceci n’est pas un food blog.

Calgary food critic John Gilchrist recently crowned Avec Bistro (along with Candela) as Calgary’s Top New Restaurant of 2012. Did it deserve these accolades? My Perennial Brunchmate Tiffany and I broke from our usual brunch pattern and decided to check it out for dinner a couple weeks ago.

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Chow Down in Cowtown is an (almost!) weekly account of Calgary’s most awesome eats from Ceci n’est pas un food blog.

Being from Hong Kong, I grew up eating Cantonese food with my family. While I love Cantonese food, (Dim Sum, Chinese BBQ or Steamed Fish, anyone?) I do have a soft spot for the bold flavours, noodles and dumplings of other Chinese cuisines. Everyone knows my favourite restaurant in Calgary is Szechuan Restaurant, and I also like Han’s, except they never seem to be open whenever I’m downtown. I was eavesdropping on a Twitter conversation not too long ago when I heard about Helen’s Café.

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