When it comes to travelling, there are two types of people: the people that like to arrive much earlier than their scheduled flight and the people that arrive last minute, just moments before the cutoff to check in their luggage.

HALO Bar + Bistro - Renaissance Edmonton Airport Hotel

I find myself in the latter group, which is terribly frustrating for my boyfriend who is one of those people that like to arrive extremely early. But after a visit to the Renaissance Hotel's Halo Bar + Bistro at the Edmonton International Airport (EIA), the two of us just might be able to make a compromise on our travel habits.

Two weeks ago my boyfriend and I were offered the opportunity to spend a night dining at Halo with our friends Linda, Chris, and their partners. The EIA had originally contacted us separately to try out the many dining and shopping opportunities within the terminal, but they were more than willing to allow us to share this dining experience together when we asked. It made for a fun evening of catch-up and laughter, especially since my birthday was right around the corner.


French Fries with Saskatoon Berry Ketchup ($6)

The hotel's General Manager, David Keam, and Director of Rooms, Sumit Bhatia, were our hosts for the evening, and their passion for the hotel and hospitality industry really came through. The Renaissance at the EIA opened two years ago as the only Renaissance Hotel connected to an airport. Most airport hotels are bland and not too exciting, but the Renaissance in Edmonton proves to be anything but. Designed by the same team behind the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, the Renaissance Hotel is sleek, modern, and many of their decor pieces invite you to discover more about the hotel itself.


Cured Meat and Sausage Charcuterie Board ($22)
We started our evening by the lounge sharing casual conversation over some of their bar bites. Chef de Partie Daniel Ducharme gave an overview some of the plates we would be tasting throughout the evening and I was quite surprised to hear that Halo tries to incorporate local produce and ingredients wherever possible. This is fantastic though, as travelers staying in the hotel have the opportunity to see and taste the quality of the products from our local producers.

As a group we got a taste of the fries, charcuterie, perogies, and calamari off the bar bites menu. Saskatoon berries are abundant in our province so it was great to see them used in the housemade ketchup served with crispy french fries. The beautifully presented charcuterie board featured a variety of cured meats, supplied by Canmore-based Valbella Gourmet Foods, and cheeses from across the country. The lightly breaded calamari ($14) was tender and had a bit of a kick with a dusting of togarashi and a dip into the ponzu sriracha aioli.

The Nagy Mama Potato and Cheddar Perogies ($13) served with caramelized onion and kielbasa sausage are made by Baba's Own, a local Edmonton favourite. Fried to a bubbly crisp and served on a bed of chive sour cream, these perogies had great texture and flavour.

These four dishes were just a snapshot of the many available on the bar bites menu, but they were great incentive to try more. If you need more reason, appetizers are buy one get one free from 4-9pm every Friday, so you can end the work week on a high note. Or if you need a weekday pick me up, stop by for 'Bar Ritual' after a busy workday. At 5:15pm the siren signals the end of the workday, free drinks are passed around, and the all-Canadian music party starts with Kim Mitchell's Lager and Ale.

For our entrees we moved over to one of Halo's two private dining rooms. Each room can comfortably seat 8 guests and are equipped with televisions if they are needed, making them a great option for an intimate group dinner. As we each decided on our main dishes for the evening, the Duck Nuggets ($8) on the small plates side of the dinner menu caught my eye. I was hoping for morsels of duck in nugget form, but these nuggets came as full size tenders. The corn flake crust was beautifully golden and crisp, and the flavour of the duck was reminiscent of Chinese BBQ duck, especially with the five spice honey dip.


Land & Sea ($15) - confit pork belly, seared scallop, pea puree, fennel, arugula, apple
As the entrees arrived to the table, each was beautifully plated with pops of colour. As it turns out, the three ladies at the table were drawn to the risotto, while the men ordered the beef short rib, chicken, and sturgeon off the menu. Gordon went with the Braised Beef Short Rib ($33) served with a warm grainy dijon potato salad, carrots, and Saskatoon Berry jus. The short rib was rich, and fall-off-the bone tender, the way short rib should be. Halo typically serves a braised bison short rib, but there has been difficulty sourcing bison as local ranchers are getting better pricing by sending it south to our American neighbours.

Chris went with the Sturgeon Fillet ($28) which was brown butter basted and served alongside fennel potato latkes, lemon vinaigrette, and a fennel and arugula salad. Aside from the latkes losing their crisp, there were no complaints.

I'm a sucker for lobster risotto, so the Lobster and Forest Mushroom ($39) made with a variety of Prairie grains was right up my alley. The full lobster tail served on the colourful risotto was stunning, and not a presentation you typically see. The use of 7 different grains rather than traditional Arborio rice gave the dish varying textures which kept each bite interesting. I almost prefer this version with the chunks of mushroom and mix of peas - that's how much I enjoyed it! Factor in the perfectly cooked lobster tail and this dish knocked it out of the park.

After dinner we were taken on a tour of the hotel to see what it had to offer. Hotels under the Renaissance brand are typically a step above your average hotel, offering a clean, clever design to enhance your stay. Staff are friendly and the 'Navigators' within the hotel (experts in local food, entertainment, and culture) are passionate about Edmonton and more than willing to direct you to places to check out in the city.


Library
The Renaissance Airport Hotel offers over 200 rooms, twelve of which are suites, one a beautiful penthouse suite outfitted with a remote-controlled $6000 toilet. Despite the differences, two things are consistent between them all - rooms are completely soundproof and each contains mirrors that reflect light to give your room a beautiful sparkle. The second feature was actually discovered by accident after the hotel opened!

Those of you that live in Edmonton are probably thinking you'll never have the opportunity to stay at the Renaissance, but the hotel actually offers an excellent staycation package. When you book a room at the standard rate, the staycation package gives you:

• a complimentary room upgrade
• welcome amenities
• two welcome cocktails at the HALO bar
• a sharing platter at the HALO bistro
• in-room dessert
• continental breakfast for two at the HALO bistro
• parking

It's an incredible deal and you get to discover all that the Renaissance has to offer.


Apple Pie
Our evening ended with dessert served in a room tucked to the side in the hotel's banquet kitchen. This room is able to accommodate up to 8 guests and is the home to the Chef's Table that the hotel offers from time to time. A large window allows guests to watch the hustle and bustle in the kitchen, and a television screen gives an overview of the kitchen prep area. It would be so interesting to watch the kitchen operate on a busy night!


Creme Brulee
As we all shared a variety of desserts we realized that given the location of the hotel there isn't much competition for Halo, unless you consider Chartier in Beaumont, which is a completely different type of cuisine. Halo's menu offers a wide variety for travelers (and eaters!) of all types, and they take pride in sourcing ingredients locally where possible. For some, it may seem a long distance to travel for a meal, but the food is worth your while.


Chocolate Ganache Tarte
If I haven't convinced you to make the trip out for a meal, consider dropping by for some nibbles or a drink before your next flight. Or if you are picking someone up from the airport, arrive a little early and park in the hotel parking area. Grab a bite or a drink while you wait - there's a convenient pedway connecting the airport to the hotel, and you can get your parking validated.

A big thanks to the Edmonton International Airport for coordinating the evening, and a huge thank you to the team at the Renaissance Airport Hotel for the hospitality and putting together such a memorable night. From this point forward it looks like I'll be arriving for my flights a little earlier, and my boyfriend has you to thank for that!

psst, if you're a frequent traveler, make sure to sign up for EIA Rewards - it's a complimentary program that sends out monthly discounts for parking, shopping, and dining. Members are also entered into monthly draws for flight prizes!

*Disclosure: I was contacted by the Edmonton International Airport to review a dining/shopping experience. Views expressed in this post are solely mine. This post is 100% my opinion, and as always, my priority is to you, the reader, to present an unbiased, thorough review.

For the past two years my family has entrusted me with the task of preparing Christmas dinner. It's exciting to plan a menu and surprise your guests with beautiful dishes, but I've also found out it can be incredibly stressful! You need to remember to defrost your turkey, buy and prep all your ingredients, and somehow manage to serve your guests at a reasonable time all on your own. Man, it's not easy.

This past Christmas I was contacted by Echelon Foods about serving a turducken roast for Christmas dinner. I've always wanted to try a turducken, and seeing that it meant that I could have one less dish to worry about for my family gathering I happily agreed to try it out. So what exactly is a turducken? It's a completely de-boned turkey with duck and chicken wrapped up inside of it! Echelon completes their version with a chicken apple or Italian sausage stuffing inside too.

I chose to serve up the Bacon Wrapped Turducken Premium Roast this year, and it was so easy to prepare. The football-sized roast was a solid mass of a deboned turkey, skinless chicken breast, skinless duck breast, and Italian sausage stuffing, all wrapped up with strips of bacon. After 3 days of defrosting in the fridge all I had to do was unwrap the roast and place it on a roasting pan. Four hours later it was ready to serve along with all the sides I had prepared for the meal.

The turducken was cooked according to Echelon's instructions and turned out great. The roast was easy to serve and I didn't have to think about how to carve a huge turkey! The crispy bacon gave the turkey a nice smoky flavour and the meats were fully cooked. The turkey was a tad on the dry side, so I would cook it for a little less time if I were to do a turducken again. The only issue I had with the roast was that the stuffing was quite salty - at either end the roast it seemed like there was a higher ratio of stuffing to meat, so the roast was quite salty eaten alone. When paired with a starch on the side it wasn't a problem.

If a turducken is something you've never had before, it's definitely one of those things you should have on your foodie bucket list. There's plenty of tutorials and recipes out there you can follow to make your own, but having one pre-made that you can just throw into the oven to roast is less time consuming and way more convenient. So whether it's Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, or just a fun dinner party with loved ones, give the Echelon Turducken a try and let me know what you think!

*Disclosure: Echelon Foods sent me a turducken roast for consideration of a review. Views expressed in this post are solely mine. This post is 100% my opinion, and as always, my priority is to you, the reader, to present an unbiased, thorough review.

There has been an influx of new restaurants in Edmonton over the past few months and there are still a few on my radar that I'm anticipating at the beginning of this year. One of the restaurants I've been looking forward to is The Glass Monkey, but I feel like it has been flying under the radar. Not much has been said, and not much has been heard - so I was really curious to see what the restaurant was all about.

Glass Monkey Gastropub - 5842 111 Street - Edmonton AB

This past weekend I surprised my boyfriend with dinner at The Glass Monkey. We arrived at 6:30 on a Saturday night at the restaurant was packed. This was actually quite shocking for me to see, as it is a relatively new restaurant and there hasn't been much hype for it. Being located in a residential area must be the key - our server told us that a lot of their patrons live in the immediate vicinity. The space formerly occupied by Jack's Grill has gone through lots of renovations and the atmosphere is quite different. Clientele for the restaurant ranges from young adults to older couples, and The Glass Monkey's extensive wine and beer list (+ Q Water) makes any occasion appropriate for a meal here. Calling themselves a gastropub, The Glass Monkey promises high quality pub food in the form of tapas, small plates and full sized meals.

A menu is provided at every seat in the restaurant and all the items are categorized differently. Snacks, boards, small plates, pizzas, large plates, salad, pasta and desserts - they cover a wide range of dishes and there definitely is something for everyone on the menu. Many items on the menu are made in house, including the pastas, pizza doughs and charcuterie. Upon hearing this, it definitely swayed my decision on what to order for the night.

Our meal started off with the Charcuterie Board ($18): daily selection, crostini, house pickles. The selection for the day included the housemade smoked salmon, prosciutto and venison salami alongside pickled beets, radish, carrots, gherkins and crostini. What's in the middle you ask? Grainy mustard in its own serving vessel. The salmon had a light smokiness and smooth texture while the prosciutto was drier than what you typically expect. However, the prosciutto wasn't overly salty, and I didn't mind the thicker cut. The salami on the other hand was my favourite of the three as it was flavoured with a great combination of spices to combat the gaminess of the meat.

Thanks to Charcut, I now love beet salads and always order them when I see them on a menu. The Glass Monkey's version ($11) is comprised of: roasted beets, goat cheese, balsamic glaze, pine nuts & arugula, which is quite similar to the offerings at other restaurants. The beets were sweet and worked as a great palate cleanser,while the creamy goat cheese and baby arugula provided some contrasting textures and flavours. The ratio of cheese to greens worked well - I only wish there were more beets for me to eat!

For mains, my boyfriend ordered the burger ($15): sirloin beef patty, Sylvan Star gouda & homemade fries. Upon ordering, our server actually inquired as to how he wanted the patty cooked and we went with medium rare to see what it would be like. It's very rare for a restaurant to be willing to cook a patty other than well done, so this was exciting. The burger came with all the usual fixins (romaine lettuce, tomatoes, pickles) and the burger was pillowy soft. Eaten altogether, the burger was seasoned well and had a little kick of heat to it. Seeing as it was cooked medium rare, the patty didn't hold itself together well and was a little difficult to eat. Aside from that, it was a great burger with a side of crispy fries.

For myself, I had to try out the Home Made Pappardelle ($18): slow roasted pork shoulder, wild mushrooms. When it appeared at the table, I have to admit I was slightly disappointed since it looked like such a small, boring dish. However, the first bite into the pork made me take those feelings back. Each bite of pork was incredibly tender and juicy. There was a large portion of protein in the dish compared to the small amount of pappardelle (which was al dente and tasty, by the way), and the dish had been seasoned well. I was informed that Berkshire pork is slow roasted for 12 hours, pulled, and used in this dish. It was delicious and I would highly recommend it!

To round off the meal we ordered the classic Jack's Grill Bread Pudding ($9): caramelized rum sauce, whipped cream. The bread pudding itself was brought to our table steaming hot - the first bite actually almost burnt my tongue and made the whipped cream melt incredibly fast. The pudding was moist, but I found the sauce on top to make the dish a little too sweet for my liking. My boyfriend on the other hand really enjoyed it.

As we dined we noticed that the restaurant was getting increasingly busy. Large groups were coming in and willing to wait for a table to open up, while others chose to forego formal dining and sat up at the bar. I couldn't believe how many people were coming into the restaurant! But because of this, service was compromised the evening of our dinner since there were not enough wait staff to accommodate diners. While our server was knowledgeable and pleasant, there were periods of time where we could not locate our server and we ended up dining for about 2.5 hours.

The Glass Monkey offered us a great evening of delicious food - not that I'm surprised, considering Chef Darcy Radies (of the Blue Pear) and Chef Bryan Meintzer (Jack's Grill, Blue Pear, The Marc) are behind the menu. With a great selection of dishes and a warm, inviting atmosphere, I can definitely see myself here many times in the near future. I had such a huge dilemma choosing my dinner options that my boyfriend already said we would be back soon as dinner was "excellent" (his own words, I promise!). I love that the restaurant environment is a mix of formal and casual so that it caters to every diner, and the prices are affordable. Stop by for drinks after work, make it a night out with your girlfriends, or stop by to celebrate a special occasion - whatever makes you happy. Just make sure to make a reservation before you stop by - it'll be tough to get a table if you don't!

On my quick trip to Banff last month, I had the chance to stop by a restaurant I've been dying to try in Calgary. Finally. I think I've been wanting to make a visit for a couple months now, so finally sitting down in the restaurant was a dream come true. Sad dreams, I know.

Model Milk Bistro - 308 17 Avenue SW - Calgary AB

Model Milk was a restaurant I really wanted to visit, mainly for their Sunday Supper. Everytime I've been down in Calgary, I've never been around on Sunday night - so when the opportunity came up, I jumped at the chance. We weren't able to make reservations for early in the evening (5pm), but were assured there should be seats available when the restaurant opened.

A majority of the interior of the restaurant is lined with brick and warm wooden accents, while many unique light fixtures are placed throughout. The juxtaposition of classic and modern architecture makes this restaurant really special.

I was meeting my friend (Carmen)for dinner, and arriving at 5:15, we were surprised when the waitress informed us that all their walk in tables had already been taken. Apparently there was a big line up before they even opened, so seating at the eating bar were the only seats available. To tell you the truth, I always prefer the eating bar cause you can see all the action and interact with the chefs in the kitchen!

Now, for those of you unfamiliar with Sunday Supper, it happens at Model Milk every Sunday, and it's the only thing you can get - no orders off the regular menu. The menu is preset and different each week, and you get a 3 course meal for $35 per person, drinks excluded. But don't think you're just getting 3 dishes, cause each course consists of a couple different items. So to start off the meal that night, I tried one of their unique non-alcoholic creations, the Blueberry sour ($6): wild blueberry purée, fresh lemon, lavender, ginger, egg whites. The drink itself had a trace of tartness, but it was refreshing and yummy to sip on throughout the meal. There were so many interesting choices both alcoholic and nonalcoholic - I can't wait to be back to try out some more of the unique creations!

To start off our meal for the night was the MM Caesar salad served family style, consisting of kale, baby romaine, Caesar dressing and Korean chili powder. The greens had a satisfying crunch to them, while the salad was garlicky and slightly spicy. Garlic lovers, try this out. Vampires? Beware.

Next up was an individual Smoked Tomato & Mozarella Crostini for each person. When I first saw the crostini, it kinda struck me as looking like a beautiful egg. The melted mozarella topped with an intensely red 'liquid' yolk on a crisp crostini had a nice smokiness, while the balsamic countered it with a light sweetness.

The last dish to our first course was the Fricasee of Calamari. The calamari was presented in ribbons, served with dehydrated tomato, edamame, and croutons. The calamari was tender and easy to chew, and full of salty and spicy flavours. Of all the dishes, this was one of my top picks for the night. Best of all, it's available on their regular menu!

The first dish of the main course to be served up was the Oven Roasted Lois Lake Steelhead Trout served over a mix of onion and fennel. I'm not normally a fish person, but the trout was cooked to perfect, flaking off with each bite. The fish itself wasn't overly seasoned, so the true flavours of the trout were able to shine, and the fennel below added a different element of texture and flavour. This was Carmen's favourite of the night!

The second feature dish of the main course was Model Milk's Fried Chicken served with pan gravy. The coating of the chicken was nice and crisp (even after sitting for a while), coating the tender, moist chicken on the inside. The gravy was light, giving the dish a bit of depth and moisture when eaten altogether - definitely recommended!

Every sunday supper meal comes with four sides with the main course. First up was a combination of the Beets Bakey & Roasted Cauliflower with Taleggio. Ever since having beets in a salad at CHARCUT, I've loved beets as a side. The beets kept their form but were easy to bite into, juicy and naturally sweet. The cauliflower on the other hand was creamy and not so cheesy that it felt heavy.

Our other two sides were Sauteed Greens with Sesame and Polenta. As a little girl growing up, I was never exposed to polenta. It was always rice, rice, and more rice. I love seeing it as a side on menus, as I love the creaminess and texture. The polenta cooked up that night was no different, and it was definitely big contrast to the crunchy greens served in the same dish.

To end off our Sunday Supper meal was a delicious Banana Cake with Housemade Chocolate Ice Cream. The cake itself had a layer of vanilla cream in the middle, and covered with dark chocolate. It was served up warm, moist, gooey, and not too sweet - just the way desserts should be! The ice cream wasn't too rich, and just slightly sweet like the cake. We actually got to see how the chefs make the ice cream too, it was a cool little machine that made small batches at a time. See? So much fun to be had sitting at the eating bar!

At $35 per person for a huge, filling meal on a Sunday night.. I have nothing to complain about. The dinner service was well executed and the service was prompt and friendly. The menu for Sunday Supper changes on a weekly basis, but I'm sure you'll love it no matter what is on the menu. Be sure to arrive early, or snag a reservation. Sunday Supper runs each Sunday until 10pm - maybe I'll see you there the next time I'm around in Calgary!

A couple weeks ago, the winter edition of Fork Fest was running in Edmonton. For those of you unfamiliar with Fork Fest, it is a two week long event where various restaurants in Edmonton offer a prix fixe menu in addition to their regular offerings for a lower price to allow patrons to try out a sample of what they have to offer.

Sabor Divino - 10220 103 Street NW - Edmonton AB

Sabor Divino is a restaurant that is always featured when Fork Fest comes around, and I always look forward to what they are offering on their menu. This Mediterranean restaurant is located in downtown Edmonton, and it had been a while since my last visit - so I figured it was time for a revisit!

Sabor Divino is a quiet restaurant, dimly lit for a feeling of intimacy, but big enough to accommodate larger parties. For the night, we were seated near the kitchen in a brighter area - a request I had made which the restaurant clearly paid attention to. The attention to small details really shows how much they care about your dining experience, which unfortunately can be hard to come by these days.

The Fork Fest menu showcased a three course meal, with a choice between two entrees for $45/person. When you take into account the pricing for the three courses versus a regular meal a la carte, there is considerable savings, which is what I love about Fork Fest! So to start off, we were presented with olive oil and balsamic for dipping bread, and our Grilled Piri Piri Prawns - with pimento aioli and mixed greens. Each prawn on the plate was large and meaty - they had been slightly seasoned with salt, but the spicy aioli kicked it up a notch. The mixed greens were mixed with balsamic, making the miniature salad tangy but refreshing.


Grilled wild boar chop served with Brazilian style black bean feijoada
For myself, I had chosen the Fresh Monkfish and Lobster Risotto. The creamy risotto surrounded numerous chunks of monkfish, all of which were fresh and perfectly cooked. Underneath I was surprised to find a massive lobster claw waiting for me - I'm usually a crab person, but this lobster claw was naturally sweet, and the cream sauce was light, allowing the true flavour to shine.

To finish up the meal, we were served Leite Creme - Portuguese milk custard - which was right up my alley. The custard itself was creamy and not too sweet, just the way I like it. But the most interesting component had to be the caramelized sugar, which had notes of cinnamon and cayenne, making it different from the other Creme brûlée like desserts I've had in the past. The spicy and sweet was unexpected, but a harmonious combination.

I always try not to have high expectations when I walk into restaurants, but having had a great experience prior to this dinner, it was inevitable for me to have higher standards for Sabor Divino. Our waiter was respectful, food was delicious, and the environment facilitated a quiet, intimate dinner. I'll definitely be back in the future for special occasions!

A couple weeks back, Robyn sent me a top secret invite for a surprise birthday party down in Calgary for her husband Phil, another food blogger here in Edmonton. Phil had mentioned he wanted to celebrate his big 40th birthday over a meal at Charcut (a dear favourite of mine!), so I quickly arranged to clear my schedule and get myself down to Calgary for the big night.

CHARCUT Roast House - 101 899 Centre Street - Calgary AB

The morning had come to head down to Calgary, and to my knowledge, Phil still didn't have a clue what was going on. I didn't think it would be that hard to hide from two people in a big city like Calgary, but WOW I was wrong. Things are a little different when a group of people share similar tastes and want to hit up all the same places in the same city! I was travelling with Diane, Teresa and Carmen, and we had planned to grab brunch after entering the city, going to a couple local bakeries to pick up goodies for home, and hit up the Calgary Farmers Market before checking into the hotel. We were twitter stalking the couple, finding that we were following their tails to each location. It was difficult not to tweet about where I was, and seeing that we were staying in the same hotel as Phil and Robyn, Robyn had to be creative and stall every time we were in a nearby location, or when we were checking into the hotel.

When we arrived at the restaurant, we found out that Robyn had rounded up about a dozen of us from Edmonton for the big surprise. We weren't sure whether Phil had figured things out yet, but all was confirmed by his expression when he walked into the restaurant. He was speechless. Weeks of sneaking around and being secretive had paid off big time!


Arugula & Tuna Conserva - shaved celery & lemon preserve - a hit around the table, even for the tuna haters!
For the night, Carmen had worked with Chef Connie DeSousa to plan a 10 dish meal served family style for all of us. Little did I realize it would be the biggest meal of my life! Restaurant hospitality was great, but the company even better. I won't go in depth about each dish that night, but thought I'd share a glimpse into the major gluttony around the table.


Warm raclette cheese - cast iron baked pan bread made to order - the melted cheese on fresh brioche is always, always welcome

Slow roasted heirloom beets - house made soft organic cheese, mint, basil - the beets are refreshing and great for palate cleansing, while the cheese adds richness to the veg on the plate

CHARCUT BOARD - house cured meats including Heritage Wine and cheese sausage - the sausage is Phil's favourite! But my favourite will always remain to be the pig head mortadella and lonzino. But really, a big plate of meat? You can't really go wrong..

Duck fat fried poutine, cheese curds and truffle gravy - potentially a heart attack on a plate. go big or go home!

Farmers market seasonal vegetable pasta - kudos to the kitchen for the freshly made al dente pasta. Flavours were light and the sauce was nice a creamy

Spit roasted Spragg Farms porchetta - arugula, grilled lemon, roasted garlic - natural flavour, beautiful crackling, but unfortunately chewy as decided unanimously across the table

Platter: Slow roasted heritage chicken - Share Burger CHARCUT style - smashed poplar bluff potatoes - I think this dish pushed my limits as I was so full at this point, but the chicken was tender, the share burger a sausage-like patty delicious when paired with a bun, and the potatoes a nice filler

MASSIVE warm date toffee pudding - chantilly cream, caramel sauce, roasted almonds

Individualized warm date toffee pudding - can I just say this is amazing? The warm cake-like texture drizzled in caramel and cream is something else. So. Good.

Raspberry lemon meringue cake - light meringue and super tangy filling
All in all, it was a wonderful meal with friends over great food. I can always expect CHARCUT to meet my expectations, and the trip down to Calgary just for dinner was totally worth it! Of course you'll be hearing about my other Calgary shenanigans soon enough, but to tide you over, you can read Robyn and Chris' account of the dinner in the meantime!