Author: Gail

Dining Outside the Home: Hail, Caesar

Dining Outside the Home: Hail, Caesar! When you visit a place engulfed in history, it’s not uncommon to hear about its claim-to-fame signature cocktail. Invented in Calgary, yet popular exclusively all over Canada, is the Caesar, also known as a Bloody Caesar. Similar to a Bloody Mary with vodka, spice, and flavor enhancements, the one key ingredient that cannot be excluded is clam juice. It is essential. Mott’s Clamato Cocktail, to be exact. End of story. No matter where you go in Canada, the Caesar is in a class all its own. Every mixologist has their own creation of a bold, savory, made-from-scratch fresh taste combination unique to that bartender. And that is where the fun begins. From a multitude of seasoned rimmers to the grand finale show-stopping garnish, the Canadian Caesar will have you walking away convinced you just experienced uncultivated euphoria. 

Familiarity Breeds Comfort 

“If you are fearful, 

a horse will back off. 

If you are calm and confident, 

it will come forward. 

For those who are often flattered or feared, 

the horse can be a welcome 

mirror of the best in human nature.”

~ Clare Balding

Beakerhead Brainstorm Hits Calgary, Canada

Beakerhead Brainstorm Hits Calgary, Canada! Mechanical sea creatures, giant motorized robots, walking on water, and hands-on technology are all eye-popping evidence of cultural encounters at the Beakerhead celebration held along Stephens Avenue in downtown Calgary, Canada. This is one time when seeing is believing. Inventors of all ages, as well as nerd busters and scientists, bring engineering to life by giving the public an up-close-and-personal glimpse of the what the genius mind can create. Every September it’s a “Mad, Mad World” where imagination knows no bounds. Join the street party where live music meets illusion for only the cost of curiosity. 

Eating My Way Through the Holidays! Special Edition: Pumpkin Roll

Eating My Way Through the Holidays! Special Edition: Pumpkin Roll! Announcing a festive cake that looks as though you stopped by the bakery. Anyone can feel like a professional pastry chef with this holiday specialty. In a few simple steps, the rich pumpkin flavor is enhanced by the velvety cream filling. Afterwards all you have to do is sit back and bask in the accolades. 
PUMPKIN ROLL 
Ingredients for Pumpkin Roll:

3 eggs

2/3 cup pumpkin purée 

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda 

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 

3/4 cup flour 

1/3 cup chopped pecans 
Ingredients for Filling:

8 ounces Neufchâtel cheese

3/4 teaspoon vanilla 

2 tablespoons butter, softened 

1 cup powdered sugar
Instructions:

Preheat oven to 375°. Grease and line a 10″x15″ jelly roll pan with waxed paper. For pumpkin roll combine eggs, pumpkin purée, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, and flour. Mix until well blended. Pour into jelly roll pan and spread evenly to edges. Sprinkle with chopped pecans. Bake 12-15 minutes. Watch carefully. Remove from oven. Sprinkle powdered sugar on a tea towel, turn cake onto towel, and remove the waxed paper. Starting at one end, roll the cake up, and refrigerate for one hour. Meanwhile, combine Neufchâtel cheese, vanilla, butter, and powdered sugar. Mix together until smooth and velvety. After one hour, unroll cake and spread the filling all the way to the edges. Reroll cake and refrigerate two hours longer. Dust with powdered sugar. Slice and serve. 

Dining Outside the Home: Milestones in Calgary, Canada

Dining Outside the Home: Milestones in Calgary, Canada! Try a trendy new dining experience for Date Night with your favorite squeeze or Girls Night Out to unwind. Get started with a vegetarian appetizer or a signature dish. No matter the choice, they’re all shareable. Rustic sandwiches pair aged garlic cheese with freshly grilled meats and honey sriracha slaw for savior-faire. Or perhaps a pasta bowl of sesame ginger beef and shiitake coconut rice is more to your liking. The choices seem unlimited. And the food photos in the menu have you drooling before the sun dips below the horizon. Sit back, settle in, and wile the night away. Leisure is made for Milestones. 

Eating My Way Through the Holidays! Special Edition: Pomegranate Arils

#Eating My Way Through the Holidays! What’s cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Home For the Holidays: Precious Pomegranate Arils! Never mind the antioxidants, vitamins A or C, or it’s antiviral benefits; these seeds are amazingly sweet. Add lime zest for zing and pizzazz. Did you know there are over a hundred juicy gem-like seeds in every pomegranate? Another reason to choose this powerfully magnetic mythological mystery. 
PRECIOUS POMEGRANATE ARILS
Ingredients:

1 ripe pomegranate 

1 fresh lime
Instructions:

Make sure the pomegranate’s skin is hard to the touch. No dark spots or blemishes which indicate bruising. There’s more than one way to open a pomegranate. For me, the underwater technique wins my vote. It’s less messy without staining my fingers red and can be done in a few minutes. Fill a large bowl with cool water. Cut the end that looks like a small crown. Then score the skin as though you were going to quarter the fruit. Basically this gives you a line where you can separate it into four sections. Now place one section under water. Turn the skin inside out. The seeds will sink to the bottom of the bowl and the membrane will float. Remove the membrane pieces and repeat with the remaining three sections. When finished pour the bowl of water through a strainer to rinse the pomegranate arils. Transfer them back to the empty bowl. Take a fresh lime and zest the entire skin. Quarter the lime squeezing the juice over all. Use the ruby red seeds to garnish beverages, top yogurt, embellish a smoothie, or as a simple indulgence. 

Peace Bridge is Pedestrian Landmark in Calgary, Canada 

Peace Bridge is Pedestrian Landmark in Calgary, Canada! Spanning the Bow River, the Peace Bridge connects commuters on foot or bicycling to downtown Calgary. But that’s not what makes it unusual. Arched steel and tubular girders make this unique footbridge an architectural marvel. The atypical red and white design represents the colors of the Canadian flag as well as the flag of Calgary. The protective glass roof and nighttime illumination offer safety from the elements. In an effort to minimize the ecological footprint, the height is restricted and piers are nonexistent. At first glance, one could easily mistaken the bridge for a commuter train or a giant novelty toy known as the Chinese finger trap. I prefer to describe its sleek design as a glimpse into the future. Without a doubt, it is a “must see” when visiting Calgary, Canada. 

Eating My Way Through the Holidays! Special Edition: Scalloped Oysters 

Eating My Way Through the Holidays! Special Edition: Scalloped Oysters! For a true southern dish, you may turn to succulent oysters, crispy topping, and a creamy luscious sauce for a rich holiday dish that traditions are made of. More than likely, the family secret may be passed down through the generations. Some include parmesan cheese, others an oyster liquor. Perhaps the crumb layers consist of crushed butter crackers, but then again they may be seasoned breadcrumbs. No matter how you serve it up, the excitement builds for scalloped oyster dressing. Or casserole. Whatever you choose to call it. 
SCALLOPED OYSTERS
Ingredients:

1 pint Oysters, whole

2 cups cracker crumbs

1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted

1/2 teaspoon sea salt 

1/8 teaspoon white pepper

3/4 cup heavy cream

1/4 cup oyster liquor 

1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350°. Spray an oven-proof dish with nonstick oil. Drain oysters, saving liquor. Combine cracker crumbs, melted butter, sea salt, and white pepper. Mix well. Spread one-third of the crumbs in the bottom of the dish. Layer with half the oysters, forming a single layer. Repeat with cracker crumbs and oysters. Top with the remaining cracker crumbs. Combine cream, oyster liquor, and Worcestershire sauce. Mix well. Pour over oyster layers. Bake uncovered for 40 minutes. Serve warm. 

Dining Outside the Home: Native Tongues Taqueria in Calgary, Canada

Dining Outside the Home: Native Tongues Taqueria in Calgary, Canada! If you’re looking for traditional street foods of Mexico mixed with a desire to socialize, you may wish to experience the cantina atmosphere of Native Tongues Taqueria. A quick glance will have you wondering if the soft patina of adobe walls peppered with festive Mexican tiles are for real. They are. Communal wooden tables and solid benches promote casual conversations. Fresh ingredients make up for the pricey miniature tacos, which disappeared in three bites. Other patrons seemed to gravitate to the authentic guacamole and house made chips washed down with a signature Mezcal margarita. Sharing platters is the way to go. The chef-driven labor-intensive attention to detail keeps this restaurant from falling into the category of “Mexican fast food”.