Oh Canada & Calgary!

Hello eh! I hope your summer has been full of fun and lots of good food eh!

My folks went up north to Alberta a few months ago and it got me thinking about the yummy food I enjoyed while serving an LDS mission there for 2 years back in the early 90's. Let me tell you that Canada is just as much the melting pot for worldly cuisine as America is. I spent over a year in Calgary. The North West section has a high Asian population while the North East section has a high Middle Eastern population. Throw in the Cree Indian nation, Russian Orthodox etc. you began to get my drift that there are some good eats in this part of the world.

I have a few people I work with who hail from Canada and I have them bring me back Cadbury Mr. Big and Crispy Crunch candy bars all of the time. If you can ever get your hands on a Mr. Big I guarantee it will be the best candy bar you will ever have. I have contacted Cadbury, who is now owned by Kraft, to see why they won't sell it here in America and they give some lame excuse about contracts, licencing...blah...blah! The Crispy Crunch is their version of the Butterfinger but better. Also try their Smarties (M&M's) but with Cadbury chocolate which is better. Do you see "better" as a theme here. Viva La Cadbury!!!!

If you have never been to this part of the world you really need to head on up and hit Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper on the BC, Alberta border. It is a trip you will never forget. I still need to get back east to Montreal and Toronto someday as it's the closet thing to Europe without jumping the Atlantic I hear.

Here are my picks I recommend to anyone heading north of the border.

Sky360 Restaurant     http://www.sky360.ca/

First off the view of downtown Calgary at this place is worth the higher cost of the food by itself. Like many other towers around the world it slowly rotates so you get a view of the awesome city from every angle so I suggest eating before dark so you can take it all in. My menu item of choice is the 6oz AAA Beef Tenderloin. This cut of meat melts in your mouth. The Albertans love their beef and almost think of themselves as more Texan than their Province brethren. Make sure you start off with some Fried Calamari as it's some of the best I've had. This is rather pricey as you can see by the menu but eat light that day so you can blow your daily allowance here for an early dinner.

Joey's Fish & Chips     http://joeys.ca/index.html

This place is all over Canada but we ate at the one in downtown Calgary all of the time. I know that your thinking fish & chips! Whoop-a-de-doo! but trust me you will love them here. The fish is battered light and fried to perfection and the fries and golden and crisp. Sprinkle on some malt vinegar, lemon and then dip away in their excellent tarter sauce. Trust me you will never have fish & chips like this but of course there are other menu items if you must branch out on your own. Don't be afraid of sea food in Alberta as the BC coast is only a few hours by flight away and most of the restaurants fly in fish daily.

Earls Kitchen     http://www.earls.ca/

This restaurant is also all over Canada and in Denver??? go figure. They have a cool parrot motif at the one in downtown Calgary and an even cooler menu. Lots of unique takes on the standard sports bar food items but what kept me going back time after time was the Roasted Vegetable & Chicken Quesadilla. After 20 years and it's still on their menu so you know it has stood the test of time and taste. Their burgers are gut bombs and delicious if your in the mood for some sight seeing fuel.

These are the places that stand out to me but other things you have to try while your in Canada are Perogies. They are a Polish dumpling that is stuffed with sauerkraut, mashed potato's, bacon, onions, fruit etc. My favorites are the mashed potato, cheese & bacon and then deep fried. French Fries with gravy and of course the candy bars mentioned above. Let me know what you have enjoyed on your trip as well as I will be taking my family up there soon.

So take off you hoser and head to Canada sometime eh! I miss Bob & Doug McKenzie!