“I love Asian food, period. It's the food I grew up eating with my neighbours. People think of terroir as the taste of place, but terroir is heavily influenced by the people who settled there,” says Darren Maclean, chef/owner of Shokunin. Born in Innisfail, MacLean’s...

Patio Season…. two magical words in Alberta’s all-too-short summer. So much so that grabbing the few scant seats available becomes of paramount importance on a sunny day. But the good news is you can now add some new locations for your outdoor dining and drinking...

Whether you’re looking for respite from the summer heat or just want a reason to smile and celebrate, nothing beats a frozen treat when the mercury hits the high 20s. And with the resurgence of dedicated ice cream shops, finding a frozen dessert on your next stroll...

“People are drinking slightly less beer and spirits, consumption rates are down, but they're also drinking tastier things. They're looking for quality over quantity, which is a very healthy choice,” says Bill Robinson, president of Alberta Beer Festivals (ABF). Born...

by Linda Garson and Tom Firth Now Alberta has become firmly established as an ideal location for breweries and distillers, what’s next for our province’s local beverages? Could it be cideries? Cider can be made in any brewery from bought apple juice, or brewed under...

Ask just about anyone to pass the EVOO and they’ll know that you’re talking about the Extra Virgin Olive Oil. It’s the primo pick for many, sitting on the counter at-the-ready to be used for cooking, dressings, marinades and more. It’s hard to compete with the...

craft noun- an activity involving skill in making things by hand. verb - exercise skill in making (something).Oxford English Dictionary They started appearing on Alberta liquor store shelves a couple of years ago, viz. specialty spirits, beers, ciders, meads, and...

There’s so much to look forward to come spring - fresh herbs, fully stocked farmers’ markets, and a diet not so reliant on parsnips and potatoes. Food-wise, most of us associate spring with all things green: arugula, asparagus, chives, spinach, and peas. But almost...

It’s spring… finally! And aren’t we all glad. But now comes the uncertainty. Is it sunny and warm, snowy and icy, or blowy and rainy - or all of the above? We’ve been looking for cool products whatever the weather throws at you, and here are a few of our April...

Cook with hard boiled eggs too using these four applications! Easter; it’s a holiday known for food traditions like baked ham, chocolate bunnies, marshmallow Peeps, and yes, hard-boiled eggs. Despite the fact that these are usually not for eating, painting Easter eggs...

“Saturday we got married. Sunday, Italy won the World Cup, then Monday we opened up the Southside store. 2006 was a great year,” says Gino Marghella, General Manager of the Italian Centre Shops. In true romantic Italian style, his mom went to Italy on vacation, fell...

When it comes to garlic, most of us are used to the mildly flavoured white bulbs that are readily available in major grocery stores. But if you’ve bought fresh seasonal garlic at a farmer’s market or through an organic produce delivery service like SPUD, perhaps...

Three red wines for sharing with your loved one when it’s cold outside, and you’re inside!  McWatters Collection Meritage 2013, Okanagan Valley, BC  This opulent wine is so seductive on the nose and draws you in drooling. There are ripe berry aromas to greet you on...

These are cold, lean months, and everyone is in financial recovery from the holidays. Cooking with the cheaper cuts of meat will help stretch your grocery dollar, while not compromising on any flavour. Drumsticks are typically the overlooked part of the chicken in the...

By David Nuttall As we head into the depths of winter, most of the people who don’t escape to the far south think of curling up to warm fires while enjoying hot beverages or wine. Very rarely does beer enter the picture. But hold on, isn’t hot cocoa and hot spiced rum...

By Linda Garson 70 new places to eat and drink opened in Calgary alone last year – it was an amazing year for foodies, lovers of wine, beer, cocktails, tea and coffee – you could have tried somewhere new every week and still not have visited them...

With credit card statements arriving any day soon, here are three very different red wines from different countries that share one thing – good value!  Paul Jaboulet Ainé Cotes-du-Rhone Biographie 2015, Tain l’Hermitage, Rhone Valley, France  Warm berry aromas greet...