Search Results for: ice cream

white elephant thai cuisine

February 12, 2013 By Fareen Leave a Comment

Sometimes the best food can be found in the most obscure places. This place is definitely not a secret though. I had heard so much about how great the White Elephant Thai Restaurant is and it definitely lived up to its reputation.

Located in the Pointe Inn, you would never know that this hotel held such a gem. We were advised to make reservations and we were glad we did. The place was quite busy, even for a Tuesday.

We started with the Tom Yum Goong soup with coconut milk. Full of veggies and shrimp, it was spicy and flavourful.

We got a few things that we thought Q would like. The thai-spiced wings weren’t spicy but had loads of flavour. They were deep fried and had a great crunch.

Q is also a sucker for spring rolls so we ordered some of their veggie ones. He found them a bit spicy, meaning more for mamma. They were so tasty, I wasn’t complaining.

S’s cousin was with us and, being a frequent traveller to Thailand, suggested the Som-Tum – green papaya salad. Although spicy, it was a very fresh tasting salad and one we would definitely order again.

One of my favourite curries is Panang so we ordered one with chicken. It was sweet and spicy, and bursting with flavour.

We also had the red curry with beef and pineapple. The chunks of fresh pineapple added the perfect sweetness to cut the spicy curry. It also contained large chunks of lemongrass that flavoured the coconut milk.

The coconut rice was pure perfection. Full of coconut goodness, it soaked up the flavourful curries.

The quantities of all the food was plentiful, more than other restaurants. We had lots of leftovers and were able to enjoy the delicious food the next day. It was a great meal and we ended on a high note with the coconut ice cream.

What everyone said was true, it was an amazing restaurant. I just can’t wait until my next visit.

rama thai (san diego)

January 15, 2013 By Fareen Leave a Comment

We spent three days running around San Diego trying to see all the sights and keep our little guy entertained. We went to Legoland, Sea World, the Safari Park, saw a museum and did a harbour tour. It was fun but exhausting. I’m glad we had the foresight to book a chill day before heading back home. We moved to a hotel by the marina and enjoyed the water, leisurely walking on the boardwalk and eating good food.

For Christmas eve, we checked out a local thai restaurant, Rama Thai. It was a busy place and we were lucky to get in. We sat on the covered sidewalk which gave us a chance to enjoy the nice weather, knowing that people back home were facing temperatures in the minus twenties.

Not wanting to eat too much, we ordered one appetizer and one main, which actually was more than enough for the three of us. At Q’s request, we started with the calamari. The fresh calamari was breaded in panko and served with a sweet dipping sauce. The coating was crispy and the calamari was cooked to perfection.

For our main, we had one of our favourites, Panang Curry. We had ours with chicken and shrimp and ladled it over steamed rice. The aromatic curry had chunks of chicken, good sized shrimp and loads of vegetables, including crinkle cut carrots. The spicy broth had a hint of sweetness and it was delicious.

We ended our meal with a scoop of pineappe and coconut ice cream. It was a great combination and cooled our tongues.

As we were leaving the restaurant, I noticed a couple at another table enjoying some prawns wrapped in noodles and deep fried. I will definitely have to try that the next time.

mint and chocolate

December 9, 2012 By Fareen Leave a Comment

Mint and chocolate. What a perfect combination. It works well with coffee (peppermint mochas, yum!), cookies and definitely dessert. It was the inspiration for some cupcakes I made a couple months ago for hubby’s birthday. Although I had made some ice cream cake to celebrate at home, I thought it would be fun to send some cupcakes for him to celebrate at work. Hubby’s co-workers were treated to After Eight Cupcakes – chocolate cake topped with peppermint buttercream.

The combination worked well and so I made them again this weekend. Instead of using the chocolate as a garnish, I used candy canes. The Candy Cane Cupcakes were made for the Food Blogger Bake Sale.

A Holiday Edition of the bake sale was created to raise funds for Meals on Wheels. Fellow food bloggers Vincci and Dan have worked hard in planning and promoting this event – you guys are awesome! When I went down this morning, the tables were full of yummy goodies and creative packaging. The event has been extended to tomorrow so be sure to go down to Casel Marche, try some wonderful baking while benefiting a great cause.

model milk

November 17, 2012 By Fareen 1 Comment

I had been wanting to check out Model Milk for quite some time and a
friends birthday seemed the perfect occasion. We ventured out in the
snow and found the place on 17th avenue quite easily with the big white cow
head above its doors. It’s a good thing we made reservations because
the place was packed!

With service being a huge deal for me, I was thrilled with the awesome
service we got from Andrew. He took the time to explain things and make
recommendations.

We started with the cheese and chive fries which were perfect for
munching on while we waited for the main course. The manchego cheese
that topped the crispy fries added just enough saltiness.

For our main course, we had the Maple Hill fried chicken and waffles. We
saw a few tables enjoying it as we walked in and we just had to try it
for ourselves. The large format item for two was perfect for the three of us
to share. With six pieces of chicken, it was easily dividable and was so
filling. The chicken, cooked sous-vide style, was perfect. The outside
was light and crispy, the inside was tender and juicy. The rosemary
waffles paired well with the syrup covered chicken and the large plate of
greens balanced out the meal.

Although we were stuffed, we had to try the dessert. We ordered the
peanut butter ice cream sandwich. The ice cream was creamy and the
praline topping was the perfect crunch. So good!

All in all, it was a great evening. I look forward to going back!

oliv tasting room…and a giveaway!

October 25, 2012 By Fareen 2 Comments

A couple of weeks ago, we checked out the Rocky Mountain Wine and Food Festival. Among all the tables sampling various wines and amazing food, there was the Oliv Tasting Room, giving tasters of balsamic vinegar and olive oil. The balsamic vinegar that I tried was thick and syrupy, like it had been reducing on the stove for a while. It was amazing!

In the few minutes we spent with the owner, Isabeau, we learned all about their lovely oils made in South Africa on their farm and their amazing vinegars sourced directly from Italy. She also told us about the various ways olive oil is made and how theirs is a true olive oil, not altered with any chemicals. This means a healthier oil. The balsamic is also of high quality, and it was apparent with every taste.

In their two locations in Saskatchewan and one in Calgary (100-1130 Kensington Road N.W.) the Oliv Tasting Room has samplings, where you can go in and try out the 60+ flavours of oils and vinegars.

Since taking the balsamic vinegar home, we have tried it on everything – from sweet slow roasted tomatoes to crunchy kale chips. We even tried it on ice cream!

Want to try some for yourself? Write a comment either here or on Facebook, or send me a tweet. Contest closes on Monday, October 29th (hubby’s birthday!) at noon. The winner will have to pick up their prize directly from the store, so Calgary and area only please. Good luck!

hector’s casa (kelowna)

August 25, 2012 By Fareen 1 Comment

Well, it’s back to reality after spending some time in gorgeous Kelowna. The sun, the sand and even time to finish a book (!), it was a much needed break.

It was nice to have both sets of parents with us and Q was in heaven, being spoiled left, right and centre. Both our parents have anniversaries in August so we celebrated with a meal at Hector’s Casa. We make it a point to stop in at Hector’s every time we are in Kelowna. The food is always amazing!

I love that every meal starts with complimentary tortilla chips and salsa. The salsa was fresh and tasty.

Nachos are Q’s favourite and he had the kids nachos with beef and a side of guacamole. The nachos were great and very cheesy. The guacamole was nice and creamy. Q gobbled up his food.

Our meals were great. Although I’m not a big fan of beans and rice, everyone seemed to enjoy it. I loved my meal, the Enchiladas Verde. Sauteed shrimp with salsa fresca rolled in tortillas topped with tomatillo sauce.

The other dishes included Enchiladas Rojas, Tacos Fresca and Taquitos.

Of course, we couldn’t leave without having dessert. We chose two to share since we were all stuffed. The plantain sauteed in butter was a hit. It was topped with cinnamon, sugar and chocolate sauce and served with ice cream.

The best dessert though were the churros. These were rolled in cinnamon sugar and served with ice cream. So yummy!

Looking forward to the next time!

smashburger

May 8, 2012 By Fareen 5 Comments

Calgary’s newest burger joint is Smashburger. The restaurant officially opened on May 2nd and I was excited to try out the burgers at a blogger preview the day before. Tom Ryan, the founder, spent time with us explaining the chain while we enjoyed the menu.

Smashburger gets its name from how the burgers are prepared – smashed on the grill. Fresh Angus beef meatballs are pressed with a smasher between a buttered grill and wax paper. According to Tom, this allows the burger to cook up rather than out and locks in the juices.

The menu is quite extensive, featuring both beef burgers, chicken burgers, sides, salads, shakes and hot dogs.

I especially loved the tea bar. This is perfect for people like hubby or my sister who just don’t like carbonated drinks.

The three of us at our table ordered 3 different burgers and sides and decided to share so we could get the full variety.

In regards to the sides, we tried the Smashfries and the Sweet Potato Smashfries, both of which were tossed with rosemary, olive oil and garlic. I loved the sweet potato fries the best and found myself munching on these until the very end, even after I was stuffed.

Another great side were the fried pickes. I have seen these on numerous menus and finally decided to give these a try. The salty discs of pickles that were breaded and fried were really tasty. Being a pickle fan, I know Q will really enjoy these!

We also had the veggie frites, sticks of carrots and beans that were flash fried. A great alternative for those avoiding carbs.

The first burger I tried was the Mushroom Swiss. I think this was one of my favourites. The patty itself was really moist! The burger was topped with garlic sauteed mushrooms, swiss cheese and mayo and was served on an egg bun.

We also ordered a spinach and goat cheese burger which was originally meant for chicken but we ordered it with beef. This was a messy one but really good! It had goat cheese, cucumbers, spinach, tomato, onion and a balsamic vinaigrette and was sandwiched between a multi-grain bun. The tangy goat cheese was quite prominent, so if you’re not a fan, this is not the burger to order.

The chicken burger we tried was the avocado club, minus the bacon. Creamy avocado in any sandwich is always a hit. I was surprised by how moist the chicken was!

If you’re not a burger fan, Smashburger also has salads. Tom made sure that we had one at our table and we were able to see how huge they were.

Don’t forget to try a milkshake when you’re there. Milkshakes are made with local MacKay’s ice cream. We sampled both the Vanilla and Saskatoon Berry but Vanilla was easily my favourite. It went great with all those burgers.

Want to try out Smashburger for yourself? If you’re in the Calgary area, leave a comment with your email address or send me a tweet (@fareenjj) by Thursday at midnight and I will make a draw for some gift certificates on Friday.

crab apple and ginger chutney

September 19, 2011 By Fareen Leave a Comment

Last week, Q and his cousins went over to my aunt’s house for apple picking, something that has become an annual event. The kids, aged 2 to 5, using ice cream pails as baskets, gathered as many little crab apples that they could. It didn’t take long, but it was really cute, watching them scramble to see who could get to the apples first.

We came home with half a pail of apples. Since my oven was still not working (have I complained about that enough yet), a pie was not an option unless I wanted to use the little toaster oven. I had seen on twitter mentions of an apple chutney by Aarti Sequeira, of Aarti Party on Food Network (why do we not have this show yet in Canada?). I had to make some changes as I didn’t have a few of the ingredients. The original recipe can be found here.

The resulting chutney was thick and sweet with just a hint of spice. It was a great savoury way to use the crab apples!

Crab Apple and Ginger Chutney
(adapted from Aarti Party, Food Network)

2 TB canola oil
1 tsp cumin seeds
1/2 yellow onion, thinly sliced
1/2 tsp chili powder
1 pound crab apples, cored and diced
1 6″ piece ginger, cut into matchsticks
1/2 cup sugar
2 TB white wine vinegar
salt
pepper

Warm the oil in a medium pot over medium-high heat. Add cumin seeds and cook for 30 seconds. Add the onions and cook until golden, 8 – 10 minutes. Add the chili powder and stir constantly for 30 seconds. Add the apples, ginger, sugar, vinegar, salt and pepper and stir. Cook until the sugar thickens and apples soften, about 15 minutes.

chocolate chip cookies

September 15, 2011 By Fareen Leave a Comment

The end of August was spent in the Okanogan. Our week in Kelowna included quality family time and enjoying the sun, sand and water. What really excited me was having a working oven for a week! I’ve been a little lost with mine still not working, and I’ve been missing baking with Q.

I had most of the ingredients with me, but no baking soda or a mixer. I made a few changes and within twenty minutes, we were eating warm cookies with cold milk. The cookies were also great later in the day when we sandwiched some vanilla ice cream between them.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 stick butter, softened
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp baking powder
2 1/4 cups flour
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 375°.

Combine the sugars and softened butter. Once combined, add the eggs, one at a time. Add vanilla. In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients and add to the wet mixture. Mix until completely blended. Add the chocolate chips. Drop dough on a greased cookie sheet.

Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Makes 3 dozen cookies.

kulfi two ways

July 23, 2011 By Fareen 2 Comments

In our house, we love kulfi. Kulfi is a popular indian ice-cream. It is 3 types of milk mixed together and frozen in a mold. It’s easy, and can be made by anyone since an ice cream machine is not needed.

Using my mom’s recipe, I made some kulfi and froze it in a glass dish, topped with some roasted almonds. I got to thinking though (since I’ve kidnapped my dad’s ice cream machine) – would it taste better if placed in an ice cream machine? Would the addition of air actually change the taste? Using the same recipe, I placed it in the machine to compare.

The answer – YES! The ice cream that came from the machine was more decadent than the kulfi that was just frozen. Hubby was convinced that I used a different recipe since it tasted so different. Don’t get me wrong, we love the kulfi that I have been eating for most of my life. The machine version though, turned it into something very different, in a good way. I just love ice cream experiments!

Kulfi

1 cup whipping cream
1 can evaporated milk
1 can condensed milk
3 splashes of kewra essence
roasted almonds

Mix the milks and essence together and pour into a shallow dish and top with almonds. The mixture can alternately be put into popsicle molds. If using an ice cream machine, add the almonds in the last five minutes.