Avocado Toast at Sweet Pea Cafe - But I Can Still Have Nice Things!

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Post bike ride snack: iced soy latte and avocado toast. The bread is amazing, and the avocado has black sea salt making the flavour pop. Whether or not I will still be able to have nice things is yet to be determined. #yeg #avocadotoast #yegfoodie #edmonton #yegeats #edmontonfood #edmontonfoodie #plantbased

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@apaulagetics) on Jun 30, 2019 at 2:03pm PDT

Paula Hits the Road: Mat's Diner in Calgary

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I saw so many posts from friends eating here during Sled Island, that I had to try it. This was a very late lunch/early supper of avocado toast on focaccia with sunny side up eggs and balsamic drizzle. I added a side of herbed roasted potatoes (they were awesome) and smoked salmon. #yyc #calgary #yycfood #kensington

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@apaulagetics) on Jul 2, 2019 at 3:20pm PDT

Avocado Toast at Blue Plate Diner

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Toast with black bean paste, scrambled eggs, and avocado. Love the potatoes. #yeg #yegfood #yegfoodie #yegbrunch #avocadotoast #brunch #yegdt #blueplatediner

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Dec 8, 2018 at 11:01am PST

Smoked Salmon and Avocado Sandwich at BRU

Late lunch of a smoked salmon and avocado sandwich. #yeg #yegfood #yegeats #smokedsalmon #sammie #sandwich #yegdt #yegfoodie

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on May 4, 2018 at 1:06pm PDT

Breakfast for Lunch: Smoked Salmon, Egg, and Avocado Wrap at Cafe Rista

Smoked salmon, egg, and avocado wrap with cold brew. #yegfood #brunch #yegeats #yegfoodie #smokedsalmon #breakfast

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on May 11, 2018 at 12:14pm PDT

Breakfast for Lunch: Smoked Salmon, Egg, and Toast at BRU

Yesterday's brunch - smoked salmon and egg on toast. #yegfood

A photo posted by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Feb 5, 2017 at 9:46am PST

I had a meeting at BRU Coffee + Beer House this past weekend. I was already familiar with BRU's coffee, and as it was time for lunch, was delighted to discover that BRU offers brunch on the weekends. I had what was an attractively arranged open-face sandwich on rye, with smoked salmon, hard boiled egg (my request, as opposed to the soft boiled egg on the menu), and avocado, with a dill yogurt dressing. I held the cream cheese. There was a lot of smoked salmon, and the yogurt was light and wonderful with the garnish of fruit on the side. Unfortunately, it's hard to get ripe avocados at this time of year, and my server even apologized for the fact the wedges were chewy. While falling short of perfect, I did enjoy the dish overall.

Pulled Chicken in Adobo at Situation Brewing

Pulled chicken adobo sandwich. #yegfood

A photo posted by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Dec 10, 2016 at 4:03pm PST

Situation Brewing is a new microbrewery and pub on my favourite block of Whyte Avenue. I finally got a chance to try it this past weekend, and of course ordered a pint of one of their beers. All pints are $7 which is good value. I had the Afternooner Tea Saison, which was an Earl Grey Blackberry ale. It was a pleasant, smooth ale, but I really could not taste the Earl Grey or the blackberry. I was disappointed, as I love both tea and fruit beers.

For my food, I chose the pulled chicken in adobo sandwich. It was a mountain of pulled thigh meat in a tasty adobo sauce, topped with avocado slaw. I loved the slaw, as it was full of avocado flavour, and I love avocado. The bun was also spread with avocado. However, I am not a fan of slaw in sandwiches, as the slaw tends to get room temperature as opposed to cold, and the hot filling cools down. Still, the sandwich tasted good enough for me to overlook this. Plus, there was a mountain of fries, perfectly crispy and seasoned, that I was simply unable to finish.

I would try Situation Brewing again, but definitely make a different beer choice and perhaps try some of the other menu items that caught my eye.

Avocado Combo at Maki Maki

Lunch at Maki Maki (I'm having the avocado combo) #yegfood

A photo posted by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Sep 29, 2016 at 11:42am PDT

I usually have pho at Maki Maki, but decided to have one of the specials. The avocado special came with an avocado roll, several fried soy croquettes, a salad, and a bubble tea (I picked avocado, of course). Wow - this was a huge amount of food. My favourite part was actually the croquettes, which were in a light breading with a rich, dense filling. I took the bubble tea to go as I could not finish it. Even the miso soup at the beginning was very ample. Great value.

Breakfast for Lunch: Farmer's Breakfast Skillet at Friends and Neighbours

Farmer's breakfast skillet - all veggie! #yegfood

A photo posted by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Jul 4, 2016 at 1:20pm PDT

A late lunch a couple of weeks ago at Friend and Neighbours (10834 82 Avenue) allowed me to further explore the abundant vegetarian menu. The Farmer's Breakfast Skillet was a sight to behold, with potatoes, a tofu scramble with kale, sweet and smoky tofu (which doubles in some dishes as veggie bacon), and crispy tofu. This meal really could have been called "Tofu Three Ways." I found the crispy tofu sort of difficult to eat since it crumbled very easily, and the bites that were not perfectly crispy were hard to chew. Some imitation ham or sausage may have been a better choice. Oh, and there was toast. This is the ultimate vegan breakfast.

Breakfast for Lunch: House Breakfast at Friends and Neighbours

House breakfast #yegfood

A photo posted by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Jun 19, 2016 at 12:26pm PDT

I had a late brunch this afternoon at Friends and Neighbours (10834 82 Avenue) and did not feel like something super heavy. I opted for one of the many vegetarian choices, the House Breakfast. Usually something with that name will have a meaty component, but this plate of two eggs any style, toast, and hash browns was accented with a spinach and craisin salad, as well as lots of avocado. I think there was probably an entire avocado cut up on my plate, and it was perfectly ripe. I enjoyed putting avocado and craisins on my toast, and using it to sop up my over-easy eggs. This was definitely more substantial than it looked.

Edmonton Folk Music Festival 2015

I attended the 2015 Edmonton Folk Music Festival from August 6-9, and once again food was a part of my activities.

I decided to stay vegetarian for most of the weekend, and started off with the ginger beef from Padamandi. Kasim also threw in a spring roll and veggie chicken drumstick. The flavour and texture of the "beef" is a pretty good imitation of the real thing.

I also had the combo of Pad Thai, green curry with tofu, spring rolls, and rice from Numchok Wilai. The curry tasted great but was a bit too hot for me. Very satisfying portion size.

I have never eaten in Langano Skies before, but tried the split pea curry with injera from their booth. Tasty without being spicy, although a bit of a challenge to eat in such a setting.

The weekend got hotter as it progressed and I found the quinoa avocado salad from Sailin' On to be flavourful and refreshing. My only suggestion is to have the avocado better integrated - it could have been pureed and seasoned and presented more like a dressing as opposed to a few plain chunks here and there.

Calico Baking Company is a new vendor on the scene, selling its local creations at various events and farmer's markets around the city. Their fare was perfect for the morning/early afternoon workshop sessions. The mint water was especially wonderful on a hot day, and simple - water infused with mint leaves. My muffin was supposed to be banana sourdough with chocolate, but was actually more like bran.

As the weekend wore on, so did my resolve, and I wanted a morsel of meat. The lemongrass beef skewer from Hoang Long satisfied that craving.

My final full meal was the chili chicken from New Asian Village. A hearty portion, although the pile of saffron rice satisfied my need for carbs better than the cold roasted potatoes.

Of course, no visit to the Folk Fest would be complete with a green onion cake (from the food booth of that name) . . .

. . . Or, my annual serving of fresh-made greasy French fries.

Vegging Out: Lunch at Cafe Mosaics

I wanted to try Cafe Mosaics again, my second time since the renovations and change in ownership. I started with an appetizer, the "toona" avocado with wontons. The "toona" tasted like tuna salad only because of the herbs and veggies added to it. The base itself was more like hummus. The wontons were also actually deep fried pita chips.

I was blown away by the vegan pho when I had it last year, even though at $15 it is pricier than any bowl of pho I have seen elsewhere. Alas, the new version did not live up to my expectations. I am not going to pull any punches here: it was the blandest bowl of pho I have ever had (and I eat pho regularly). It contained a variety of mushrooms, mostly buttons, with a few pieces of white fungus and some soft tofu. The veggie mutton as advertised on the menu was nowhere to be found. I was later told that the supplier the restaurant uses has been closed. The broth had absolutely no flavour that I could discern. A total disappointment.

Breakfast for Lunch: Tofu Scramble at Cafe Mosaics

Although I have reviewed this dish before, Cafe Mosaics has undergone a physical renovation and so has its menu. The tofu scramble is still loaded with vegetables and comes with the same delicious roasted potatoes as before, but now also comes with veggie candied bacon and toast with avocado spread on it. I was not as much of a fan of the candied bacon as I thought I would be - it was at once sweet and savoury but lacked the bacon flavour of other veggie bacons I have had. Still, this is a colourful, flavourful dish that has always been my go-to meal at Mosaics. I don't see that changing.

Vegging Out: Veggie Sandwich at Friends and Neighbours

I returned to Friends and Neighbours Cafe (10834 82 Avenue) yesterday for another late lunch. This time I tried the veggie sandwich, which included a load of soy bacon, spinach, avocado, and tomatoes with red pepper spread on a toasted whole wheat bagel. The sandwich was not exactly as described: the menu said there was also grilled tofu, and made no mention of the red pepper spread, but the soy bacon was plentiful and the spread worked overall to bring the flavours together. For my side I picked the hash browns, which are really more like home fries. A note to vegans: the bagels and buns used for sandwiches at Friends and Neighbours are pre-buttered (margarine, actually). However, I could not taste it and would not have known about it at all had I not asked. Still, this may be an issue for some of you, so I thought I should mention it.

The Pho Files: Maki Maki

On Saturday, I was attending an event at a venue almost directly across the street from Maki Maki. It was well over two years since my first and only visit to the restaurant, and without even knowing it, I ordered the exact same meal! The only difference was the addition of an order of green onion cakes, which were crispy and delicious. Otherwise, I enjoyed the avocado roll, with the crunch of tempura adding texture to the fresh avocado.

The pho tai did not disappoint - it was even better than I remembered. The broth was rich and flavourful, and there was so much meat that I actually ran out of noodles first! Sliced so thin, the steak was amongst the most tender I have ever had in pho.

Smoked Salmon and Avocado Salad Rolls

I popped into Pho Delight for a quick supper alone a couple of Saturday evenings ago and in addition to the soup I ordered (medium steak, of course), I was intrigued by the smoked salmon and avocado salad rolls advertised as a special. Very refreshing and delicious, each of the four rolls featured a generous amount of avocado and smoked salmon, along with noodles, basil, and other vegetables typically found in a salad roll. It was indeed a unique combination. I found that the peanut sauce, the same which accompanies other kinds of salad rolls, did not really go well with the flavour combination. Hoisin or plain soy sauce would have been a better choice. However, I was impressed that the avocado was of perfect ripeness (over-ripe avocado makes me gag).

Chicken with Onion at Mamenche's

I ordered one of the chicken dishes yesterday during at business lunch at Mamenche's (10831 101 Street). Three pieces of chicken were marinated with onions until the meat was sot ender, it was falling off the bone. It was served with seasoned rice and a salad of greens and avocado. Filling and flavourful - and at only ten dollars, affordable!

Tacos de Res o de Higado

Tacos de Res o de Higado, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

Mamenche's (10831 101 Street) has been on my list of restaurants to try for some time, dating back to when it was still located on 97 Street in Chinatown. I finally had lunch there last week and was amazed at the friendliness of the service and freshness of the food.

This was my first foray into Salvadoran cuisine. I opted for the Tacos de Res o de Higado, which are two tacos in a fresh, soft corn tortilla with diced steak, tomatoes, onion, cilantro, and avocado. The flavours blended perfectly. It was light, refreshing, and delicious.

I look forward to my next visit!

Breakfast for Lunch: Omelette at Three Bananas

Omelette at Three Bananas #yegfood, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

I have often had coffee or a snack at Three Bananas, but never breakfast. This changed last Saturday when I was in the Churchill Square area for an event, and decided to seek nourishment first.

My Greek omelette was modified without feta. The combination of avocado, red onions, and tomatoes worked well. The onions were sweet and the tomatoes added moisture and were very fresh. The avocado was a little over-rip, unfortunately. The thick slices of toast made me not miss any potato component of the meal.

Grilled Turkey Sandwich and Iced Coffee at Gracious Goods.

Turkey grilled sandwich and iced coffee at Gracious Goods. #yegfood, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

I had to finish reading a book in preparation for a talk I am giving. Problem is, it seems like no matter which cafe I pick, someone knows me and strikes up a conversation, thus causing me to set aside the purpose for which I am there. So, I headed to Belgravia yesterday to Gracious Goods Cafe where I could read in peace.

Thing is, I was also hungry and thirsty from the bike ride there. I had a grilled turkey sandwich in flatbread (other choices were as a wrap or on focaccia), replacing the provolone cheese with avocado (which normally costs 50 cents extra to add). The flatbread was grainy, with a hint of sweetness, and served almost like a wrap.

The combination of the spinach, cranberry sauce, and turkey made the sandwich almost taste like Thanksgiving dinner, while the avocado added an earthiness. The way the sandwich was heated caused all of the ingredients to be hot, including the avocado, which was a bit strange. However, the most remarkable think about the sandwich was the fact they use actual, pulled roast turkey - not turkey deli. It was also a bit on the small side.

To drink I had an iced coffee. Freshly brewed, it was deep and fantastic.

I really like the location and atmosphere of Gracious Goods and will be back, hopefully on a regular basis.