Cream, eggs, sugar, fire. Put them together and you have your basic creamy custard-based dessert. While the base to all custards are composed of the same ingredients, the ratio in which they are combined can result in drastically different desserts.

Burnt To Order - 1235 26 Ave SE (Crossroads Market) - Calgary AB

Creme Brulee is one of my favourite classic custard desserts. I prefer mine where the custard is creamy but not overly sweet and the caramelized sugar cracks away beautifully when broken. This past summer I was introduced to the specialty creme brulees crafted by Chef Jesse at Burnt To Order, and I haven't been able to eat any other creme brulee since.

Burnt To Order can be found on weekends at the Crossroads Market in Calgary. The menu serves up granola and breakfast brulees, but I'm mostly interested in the specialty creme brulees. Burnt to Order offers 4 core flavours on their creme brulee menu that change every season, and each weekend there is a special feature as well. The creme brulees are gluten free and there's even a vegan option available, meaning there's a dessert here for everyone.

Although the flavours of each brulee are different, the custard base is just about the same. The creme brulees are smooth, creamy, and it is literally impossible to have just one bite. At $8.50 each, or 3 for $24, the prices are incredibly reasonable for the quality of dessert that you receive.

During the summer time the Bean & Basil was, unexpectedly, the flavour combination I fell in love with. A vanilla bean creme is bruleed and topped with fresh strawberries, microbasil, and a drizzle of 10 year aged balsamic vinegar. The strawberry and basil combine well, and the balsamic adds a tart component that cuts through the rich custard base.

Another favourite from the summer was the Cracker Jacked (also on the fall menu!), which featured a popcorn infused vanilla custard topped with salted caramel sauce and kettle corn from Sugar Creek. I'm a huge sucker for freshly made kettle corn, and the sweet and salty balance in this creme was delightful.

Burnt To Order utilizes local and exotic ingredients and is environmentally conscious by serving the creme brulees in reusable Mason jars. The flavour combinations range from classic to contemporary. and many are innovative flavours I would never think to pair with a classic creme brulee. I've loved all the flavours I've tried so far, and every trip to Calgary now includes a stop at Crossroads Market to pick up a couple creme brulees to enjoy when we are back home in Edmonton. As long as you let the "char-ista" know that you're bringing the brulees elsewhere, the toppings are packaged separately and everything transports incredibly well for later enjoyment.

The fall menu is now featuring an apple pie creme that is totally calling my name. With fall spiced Golden Delicious apples paired with salted caramel custard, it sounds like I need to make a trip down to Calgary. Stop by the market Friday-Sunday each week and get yourself some creme!

I don't know about you, but I find it difficult to find good, authentic Malaysian food in Alberta. Very few restaurants in Edmonton serve Malaysian food, and for those that do, I find that the food isn't overly impressive or consistent. Instead of being frustrated by the local options, I took my search to Calgary and found a great spot thanks to a recommendation from a friend.

Banana Leaf Tropical Cuisine - 3330 32 Street NE - Calgary AB

Milk Tea with Grass Jelly
Tucked away near the industrial area of Northeast Calgary, Banana Leaf is in an obscure location but is well worth the effort to find. I stopped by with my parents for an early lunch on a weekday and snagged the last table in the busy restaurant. The restaurant is brightly lit and has a fair amount of seating, but given the small space it fills up quick during the lunch service.

To start our lunch we ordered the Deep Fried Crispy Chicken Nuggets with Garlic and Onion ($8.95). These aren't your McDonald's chicken nuggets, they're a cut above. Chunks of chicken thigh meat are battered and deep fried, then tossed in a mixture of garlic, onion, and green onion. The result is a mountain of crispy chicken nuggets full of flavour that you can't stop eating.

We ordered the Roti Canai with Curry Beef ($13.95) which came with some peanuts, sliced cucumber and egg. For those of you unfamiliar with this version of roti, the dough is made with copious amounts of clarified butter in flour and water. The dough is stretched into an extremely thin sheet before being folded and fried, and the result is a crispy, puffy, layered roti. The roti canai at Banana Leaf was golden in colour, and crispy with just the right amount of layers. The curry beef was rich and fragrant, delivering a good amount of heat with each bite. The beef cubes were tender and flavourful, making this a solid dish overall.

The dish I was most looking forward to ended up being the star of our meal: Seafood Curry Laksa with Vermicelli ($11.50). A generous portion of fish, fishballs, egg, and puffed tofu swam in the fragrant curry and coconut milk broth, and the layer of red chili oil gave a punch of heat with each bite of noodles. The laksa was authentic and is the best I've had in Alberta. This noodle soup alone is worth the visit to Banana Leaf.

It's great to know that Calgary has a restaurant serving up delicious, authentic Malaysian dishes. Banana Leaf is definitely a hidden gem, the prices are affordable, and I can't wait to be back to try out some more dishes on the menu. If you're in the general area, it warrants a visit! If you don't want to wait for a table, make sure to arrive early and get a big bowl of laksa!

Japanese is one of my favourite cuisines. There are plenty of Japanese restaurants around that serve sushi, but the one thing Alberta needs more of is Japanese izakayas. Edmonton is lucky to have Izakaya Tomo, but I wish there were more casual options for post-work drinks and tapas. This is why I was really excited when I heard Hapa Izakaya was opening its first Alberta location in Calgary.

Hapa Izakaya - 816 11th Avenue SW - Calgary AB

On one of my recent trips to Calgary I finally had the chance to visit Hapa. I had my first taste on a visit to Vancouver years back and couldn't wait to see what menu items they brought over to Alberta. Hapa Izakaya is located downtown on busy 11th Avenue, where parking can be a challenge to find depending on the time of your visit. The space is large with an open concept design and the large windows in the front of the restaurant allow plenty of natural light into the restaurant. Come sundown, the dark decor and dimmed lighting give a more intimate feel.

As with many izakayas, there is a regular menu and a fresh sheet outlining daily features. I noticed that the menu seemed to be smaller than that in Vancouver (the menu has expanded since my visit!), but there was still a fair amount of options to choose from. In addition to ordering a la carte off the menu, Hapa offers a 12 course prix fixe menu at $35 per person and has a 'Hapa Hour' menu from 5:30-6:30 pm with certain plates offered at 50% off.

Our meal started off with the Bintoro ($12), which is a seared Albacore tuna sashimi in ponzu sauce. The thick cut slices of the lightly seared tuna were so fresh, and I loved the slightly tangy ponzu sauce. The greens, seaweed, and garlic chips were a great accompaniment to the fish. I could eat this tuna all the time.

Hapa Izakaya also has a decent selection of sushi rolls, so we went with the Kin Roll ($15) and Umi Roll ($15). The Kin Roll is made with asparagus tempura, onion, miso mayo, yuzu rind, and topped with yellowtail that is torched tableside. The fish is fresh, asparagus still slightly crunchy, and the sweet miso brings all the flavours together. The Umi Roll on the other hand is made with chopped scallops and avocado then topped with Ahi tuna and pickled onion vinaigrette. The Ahi tuna carries flavours similar to that of their ponzu sauce. The rest of the roll is less flavourful, but that allows you to taste just how fresh and sweet the raw scallops are.

When I visit izakayas, Takoyaki is always at the top of my list of things to order. The Takoyaki ($7.50) at Hapa Izakaya is on the fresh sheet, so unfortunately it isn't always available. However, if you get the chance definitely order it! These crispy balls of octopus in smooth batter are something you don't want to miss.

Finishing off our orders was the Spicy Pork Ishi-yaki ($12). Served in a hot stone bowl, rice is topped with minced pork, garlic sprouts, tomato, lettuce, spicy miso, and a raw egg. Similar to Korean bibimbap, this rice bowl is mixed up table side and allowed to sizzle in the pot. There was plenty of sauce to coat all the ingredients and the crispy rice. I loved the punch of spicy miso and garlic flavours, and it's a bowl of rice that will definitely warm you up on a cold night.

Offering something different compared to the traditional Spanish tapas, I'm sure Hapa Izakaya has been happily embraced by those who enjoy going for post-work drinks and small plates. Our server was knowledgeable and attentive, and it was a great upbeat environment to dine in. I'm a little sad that Hapa Izakaya hasn't expanded up to Edmonton, but there's always hope!

Ever since I had brunch at Cucina in Calgary I needed to go back for more. And while I haven't had the chance to return, something different has come on my radar. Recently two of the chefs who worked at Cucina, John Michael MacNeil and Alison Bieber, co-opened a brand new restaurant (and got married!). For me that meant saying "bye bye" to Cucina and heading to Black Pig Bistro on my next trip to Calgary.

Black Pig Bistro - 825 1st Avenue NE - Calgary AB

Black Pig Bistro gets its name from the Black Iberian Pig, native to Spain and Portugal. The restaurant opened earlier this year in the Bridgeland area of Calgary and has even been nominated to win the title of Enroute Magazine's 2014 People's Choice Award for Best New Restaurant. With the opportunity to drop by on the way to Banff, you bet I convinced my boyfriend to stop for lunch!

We arrived late on a Saturday afternoon to a quiet restaurant and were seated right away. As we walked to our table I eyed the Jamon Iberico behind the bar and immediately fell in love with the decor. The light teal, white, and black contrasted against one another is one of my favourite colour combinations, and happens to be the colour scheme in my room. Bonus points!

With so many great options on the menu, my boyfriend eventually decided on the Serrano Ham & Cheese Sandwich ($15): smoked pepper aioli, manchego and fresh tomato on a baguette. The sandwich came out to the table with a side of housemade pickles that were a mix of sweet and sour, a little spicy, and deliciously crunchy. Black Pig Bistro has taken the classic ham and cheese sandwich and elevated it with the use of quality ingredients. The serrano ham combined with the manchego are delicate but give the sandwich an almost creamy consistency. Add in the tomato for texture, slap it inside a soft baguette with a crunchy crust, and you've got a pretty stellar sandwich. The sandwich was so easy to eat and was a great portion size for lunch.

As the self-proclaimed glutton in our relationship, I chose to go with the three course lunch for $25. First up was a Tomato Tartar with a sherry vinaigrette over garlic croutons. I loved the presentation on this one since the top of the tomato acted as a lid to lift and reveal the tartar below. Inside the tomato was a bruschetta salad of sorts, well flavoured with salt and basil. The crunchy croutons were a great accompaniment as they were extra garlicky, and the vinaigrette added a tangy punch.

My main course was a Sous Vide Alberta Beef Sirloin with roasted shallots, pine nuts, kale and piquillo pepper sauce. When the dish was presented before me, all I could think was "wow!" Look at the colours on that plate and how beautiful our Alberta beef is. The sirloin was a perfect medium rare and lightly seasoned to allow the true flavour of the meat come through. I loved the mild kick of heat from the pepper sauce, and the lightly sauteed kale was tasty on its own or combined with the dish. The flavours were incredibly well balanced, and it wasn't long before a fork from the opposite end of the table came to help me out.

The last course to my lunch was a Honey Yogurt Mousse with raspberries and pomegranate pearls. The mousse had the consistency of a thickened panna cotta, and it was nice and tart on its own. In combination with the honey and other accompaniments it was a perfect light finish to the meal.

Black Pig Bistro surely didn't disappoint, and I was already thinking I needed to return for dinner on a subsequent trip. Lunch service was quick and our server was very attentive to our needs. If you're in Calgary for lunch you should definitely consider stopping by for the $25 three course meal! You get delicious food and great bang for your buck!

Every trip I make to Calgary is an "eat-cation." It just seems like there's a bounty of restaurants that get rave reviews, so I try to fit in as many meals as possible every time I'm down there. A while back I was in town with some family and we decided to check out Carino as I had heard some good things about their ramen!

Carino Japanese Bistro & Wine - 709 Edmonton Trail NE - Calgary AB

Located within close proximity to other popular eateries, Carino is a little different from the rest. The small space is decorated with mirrors and black chandeliers, giving it an upscale, modern feel. On the menu there's French and Italian twists on traditional Japanese dishes so it was hard for us to decide what we wanted to try.

We ended up starting with the Ahi Poki Rice Bowl ($14) with marinated ahi tuna, shallots, sesame oil, green onion and avocado. The fish was fresh and the aroma of the sesame oil was the predominant flavour of this dish. The avocado gave it a creamy texture, and I like that the rice had been mixed with some rice vinegar to give the dish some tangy notes. I just wish there was a greater portion of tuna!

Next up was the FSM Hash ($11.95): 2 poached eggs, yuzu hollandaise, corn, onions, peppers, chorizo sausage, pork belly, beef, and garlic potato hash with grilled focaccia. It was your typical Sunday morning brunch with a little twist. The eggs were poached perfectly and the hollandaise the right consistency. The potatoes were well seasoned making the hash very tasty, but aside from the different hollandaise I didn't find this dish to be too special.

Our next dish was the Loco Moco ($14) which featured a wagyu beef patty over rice, teriyaki sauce, mushrooms and a sunny side up egg. The wagyu patty was cooked to have some pink on the inside, but it was tender and juicy. We broke it up and mixed it with the sauce, egg and rice to make a delicious mish mash of sorts. The yolk kept everything together and it was a pretty filling dish.

The Mentaiko Pasta ($14.95) was surprisingly one of my favourite dishes at the table. Spaghetti was mixed together with pollack roe, baby scallops, prawns, shiso leaf & seaweed. I love tobiko (flying fish roe) but had never tried pollack roe and quite enjoyed it. This pink roe is miniscule and adds an unexpected crunch and briny flavour to the al dente pasta. There was a nice portion of seafood in the dish but the roe is what made me love this dish the most.

Last but not least was the ramen I had been waiting for. We chose to go with the Miso Ramen ($13.50) which consisted of a miso broth with BBQ pork, bean sprouts, cabbage, corn, bamboo shoots, a boiled egg & wakame. The pork was flavourful and tender and the noodles were al dente. The miso flavour was prominent and the broth had a nice depth of flavour. Not the most amazing ramen I've ever had, but pretty good for Alberta standards.

Who would have thought that Japanese and Italian cuisine could mix together? I definitely didn't, but Carino is here to show that it can be done and executed well. It is a little pricier, but the intimate atmosphere is perfect for a dinner date or celebratory dinner.

A few months back I had a couple hours to spend in Calgary. What better is there to do than eat?! Well, many of you could argue with me on that one, but my agenda in Calgary is always food, food, food. I was long overdue to catch up with my friend Carmen, and we hit up a restaurant that has been on my list for a while.

Downtownfood - 628 8th Avenue SW - Calgary AB

Downtownfood is located in the heart of the city and they've made huge waves in the Calgary food scene with their innovative ideas. With Chef Darren MacLean to lead the team, Downtownfood stands out amongst other restaurants with their rooftop garden and beehives. 40 different varieties of plants grow on the roof and they harvest their own honey for use in the restaurant. Can you say amazing? With a commitment to local foods and making everything in house, it's almost like there's nothing this restaurant can't do.

The meal started off with some housemade bread and organic butter with rock salt. The bread was pillowy soft with a chewy crust and the butter was the perfect consistency to spread.

We had decided to order a variety of dishes to share and try out. We started our meal with the Qualicum Bay Scallop "Ceviche" ($16) served with Albacore tuna, stripe prawn, coconut milk, aji amarillo, pickled celery and tandoori popcorn. The fish, shrimp, and scallop were very fresh, and I loved that you could taste the flavours of all the ingredients. The spiciness of the dish was toned down with the coconut milk broth, and all around this was a wonderful starter.

Next was the Crispy Eggplant Wonton Tempura ($13): sake and mirin glaze, edamame purée, braised Japanese eggplant tapenade. I've never been a huge fan of eggplant, but I quite enjoyed it in tempura form (heck, if you tempura anything, I'll probably eat it!). The wonton skin was nice and crisp while the eggplant itself maintained a firmer texture.

Our next plate was the Compressed Pear and House Cured Bacon Salad ($14) featuring Poplar Groves Tiger blue cheese, candied walnuts, green apples, arugula, honey, and lemon. A deconstructed salad arrived at the table and I really liked how all the ingredients were laid out across the plate in equal proportions. I believe Korean pears were used in this salad, and they were sweet and juicy against the contrasting tartness of the apples. The chunks of bacon were salty and smoky, which was the highlight of the dish for me. I'm not the biggest fan of blue cheese and found the Tiger blue cheese to be quite pungent, but little bits here and there added another dimension to the salad.

Next up was the dish I was looking forward to most - the Brandt Lake Wagyu Tenderloin Tataki ($15). First off, I LOVE beef tataki. And if you're going to make it with Brandt Lake Wagyu, it's bound to be amazing. The dish featured the beautifully marbled beef slices sitting atop a bed of lacto-fermented pears, daikon, scallions, ponzu, and housemade wasabi zuke salsa. The beef was incredibly tender, as expected, and I loved the use of the crisp, juicy daikon. The ponzu was perfectly made and gave the dish the umami factor. I loved this dish and would definitely have it again!

Our last starter dish for the evening (we ate a lot!) was the Watermelon Salad ($12). This salad was beautiful and featured watermelon done three ways: fresh, pickled and jellied, and further paired with cucumber, feta, mint oil, and black pepper. It was such a refreshing dish with the fresh, juicy watermelon acting almost as a palate cleanser. The feta imparted the perfect savoury contrast, while my favourite of the three watermelons was the pickled rind... so good!

While we waited for our main course, the kitchen sent out a lobster cream broth for us to sample. Served with a lobster, shrimp, and scallop croquette, this broth was packed with flavour and tasted like 5 lobsters were crammed in there. Bits of celery and onion were present in the broth to add a little bit of texture, but the flavour was top notch.

For our entree we chose to order one and share it. We both had our eyes set on the Wild Boar Chop ($26) which was cooked sous vide with Chinese char siu jus and served with parsnip puree, smoked king oyster mushrooms, kale, and a scallion & ginger salsa. The meat was tender and moist, and the Asian sweet and salty flavours worked really well for this boar chop.

To cap off our night of indulgence we ordered the Strawberries & Cream. Each freshly made beignet was soft and fluffy and paired well with the strawberries and whipped cream. This was the perfect dessert as it wasn't too sweet.

And to our surprise the kitchen sent out an extra sweet treat for us to have: a s'more bite for each of us, with every component made in house. The cracker had a nice bite, while the bruleed marshmallow had hints of honey and vanilla in it. We were totally spoiled that night!

When two people with eyes hungrier than their stomachs get together, the table ends up feeling way too small. But somehow we managed to finish everything that night and rolled ourselves home! Downtownfood is a wonderful restaurant that greatly exceeded my expectations. I was surprised to see such an Asian-inspired menu, but I enjoyed every dish of our meal that evening. Their commitment to working with small, local producers is admirable, and I think it's fantastic that they're able to utilize their roof space to cultivate plants and harvest honey! Their prices are on the expensive side so this isn't going to be your go-to restaurant, but if you're willing to support local and pay for good quality food, then it's worthwhile. I'm actually hoping to find myself in Calgary on a Monday night in the future, as Downtownfood features a weekly industry collaborative with Eats of Asia.
The menu looks awesome, so check it out if you have a chance!

If there's any city that I feel knows how to do brunch, it's Calgary. Every Saturday or Sunday morning, local restaurants in the Calgary region offering brunch are bustling with activity, and the wait times are never-ending. Luckily, one of my last trips to Calgary resulted in stumbling across brunch where reservations were accepted.

Big Fish - 1112 Edmonton Trail NE - Calgary AB

As you can probably imply from the name, Big Fish is known for their seafood. With a commitment to sustainability by participating in the Oceanwise program, and supporting local businesses, I'm surprised I hadn't heard of them before. Oyster nights, fish, seafood paella, and other crustaceans can be found on their menu throughout the week, but I had no idea what they would be serving up for brunch.

Walking in shortly after 9 AM on Sunday, the restaurant was practically empty, giving the group of 7 of us the restaurant to ourselves. We were greeted warmly upon arrival, and seated with our drinks and menus in hand shortly after. Once we placed our orders, a plate with housemade ketchup and jam was brought to the table to accompany our dishes - and both condiments were delicious.


Wild mushroom, truffle, basil and white cheddar scramble on Noble duck confit hash
For myself, I had the Dungeoness Crab Eggs Benedict with Basil Hollandaise ($14), which came out with smashed red potatoes, baby pea tendrils, and Sidewalk Citizen's toasted bread. My eggs were soft poached perfectly, yolk oozing over the top of the entire dish when broken open. I love that real crab meat was used in the dish - its so rare, so I love being able to order fresh crab off menus when its available. The hollandaise was thick and creamy, but not overpowering, so that I could still taste the crab itself. With tender, flavourful potatoes and crisp toasted bread, the dish was perfect for brunch and I didn't feel overly stuffed.


Maple fried Highwood Crossing oatmeal with orange curd and vanilla bean cream
If you're a seafood fan but your culinary counterparts are not, the brunch menu at Big Fish is diverse and has something for everyone. The portions are perfect for brunch, and everyone at the table enjoyed the dish that they ordered. Most dishes run in the $12-$15 range, making brunch affordable, and with reservations accepted, there's never a wait. I would return to Big Fish for brunch without hesitation - heck, I actually really want to join them on Sunday nights for the traditional seafood paella!