Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Paneer with Lababdar Sauce at Naanolicious

Paneer with lababdar sauce @naanolicious #yegfood

A photo posted by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on

One of the things I really love about the new menu at Naanolicious is a section where you can pick your protein and your sauce and create your own curry. I absolutely love how the paneer is done - often perfectly grilled on the outside and soft on the inside - so I had that with the lababdar sauce. This was a creamy, tomato-based sauce with onions, not as rich as a butter sauce with slightly more kick. The delicate flavour of the paneer worked well with the spice of the sauce, much of which was mixed with the side of saffron rice.

Breakfast for Lunch: Steak and Eggs at Next Act

Steak and eggs #yegfood

A photo posted by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on

The peace group with which I am involved decided to get together for lunch after a picket on a recent Saturday afternoon, and The Next Act was nearby and convenient - and, lucky for us, the big table at the back was available. I had steak and eggs, as the brunch menu was still in effect. The steak was tender and juicy, with the eggs perfectly done and a heaping order of the seasoned hash browns. Satisfying, indeed.

Tomato Basil Soup at Zocalo

Soup. Tomato basil. #yegfood

A photo posted by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on

As I hunkered down in Zocalo one chilly afternoon to get some work done, I decided to warm up with a bowl of tomato basil soup. This soup made me chuckle a little, as it made me rcall the "Soup Nazi" from Seinfeld (I think one of the characters was just crazy about the "tomato bisque"). Smooth and creamy, the soup had a slight tang to the aftertaste and was overall quite pleasant.

Sunday, February 7, 2016

Just Desserts: Tiramisu at Leva Cafe

Dessert! Tiramisu and coffee #yegfood

A photo posted by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on

As my meeting at Leva Cafe continued, I needed more coffee and a dessert. I ordered another Americano, and finally tried the tiramisu in a cup. The top layer was like a heavy whipped topping, with a rich, cream cheese underneath. The bottom layer, my favourite, was liquor-soaked cake. It was not heavy, but still rich. The coffee helped cut the sweetness. This is not something I would order every day, but is definitely another one of Leva's excellent desserts.

Breakfast for Lunch: Garneau Breakfast at Leva

I had an early afternoon meeting this past weekend at Leva Cafe and ordered brunch while I was waiting. I had the Garneau Breakfast, with two eggs over-easy, potato hash (very crispy, home made hash browns, and toast) with smoked salmon instead of the maple bacon. There was a surcharge for the latter, but I was brought a rather substantial plate of salmon, so it was worth it. Loved the portion size, the freshness of the ingredients, and the Americano I ordered with it too. A decadent Saturday treat.

Potato Crisps at Sherlock's

Potato crisps #yegfood

A photo posted by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on

While waiting for my party to arrive at Sherlock's last week, I ordered some potato crisps to pass the time. The chips were freshly made, as the few softer ones indicated, warm, and mostly crispy. The applewood flavour was like a very smoky barbecue, while the poblano avocado dip added some tang to the taste. This is an inexpensive, shareable snack.

Vegging Out: Vegetarian Appetizer Sampler Platter at Naanolicious

Vegetarian appetizer platter @naanolicious #yegfood

There is a special at Naanolicious on Thursday evenings that vegetarians will definitely want to check out. The vegetarian appetizer platter, paired with a beer, for $14.95 is a huge portion on a large plate: one samosa, several veggie pakoras, a couple of aloo tikka patties, naan bread with a dipping sauce, and two chutneys. I managed to devour this flavourful feast myself, but if I was less hungry, I also certainly could have shared.