Italian Sandwich at Tony's Pizza

This Italian hero was one of the best sandwiches I have ever had. Stir-fried chicken with onions and peppers, with fresh tomatoes and seasonings. I skipped the cheese. #yegfood

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Sep 19, 2017 at 11:02am PDT

I was at Tony's Pizza last week for an event with an organization I work with, and decided to try something on the menu I had never had before. I noticed an Italian sandwich made up of a stir fry of one's choice of chicken, veal, or Italian sausage, with peppers and onions, served on a torpedo bun with mozzarella and topped with fresh tomatoes and seasonings. I chose the chicken and skipped the cheese. The filling was incredible, as the peppers and onions were brought to a point of tenderness and sweetness that resonated on my palate. The bread was fresh and crispy, lightly toasted. And, it was HUGE. I want this again, and I want it soon!

Vegetable Pizza at Piccolino Bistro

My brother and I took our father to Piccolino Bistro for his birthday recently. I had the vegetable pizza. I absolutely love how the thin crust stayed crispy without being over-done, under a mountain of toppings. The cheese to vegetable ratio was perfect. The variety of vegetables was also great. I ate half and took the rest home. Two people could easily share.

Lunch at Tony's Pizza Palace

A business lunch brought me to Tony's Pizza Palace last week. I had not had their bruschetta in ages, so I decided to start off with a half order. I soon realized I could have made this my lunch. The portion is quite generous, and delicious: crispy baked dough with a topping of tomatoes and seasonings.

I did not know that ton'y had a special lunch menu. I ordered a chicken and salad dish, which featured one large, juicy breast infused with flavour, breaded and baked in the oven. On the side was a garden salad tossed in Italian dressing (what else?) and a warm bun. At around $10 it was a very good value. I don't normally like salad on the side, but the addition of black olives kept the flavour interesting, as well as the fact that it was tossed entirely in the dressing.

Fusilli Al Pacifico at Chianti

Chiantis #yegfood, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

Fusilli Al Pacifico has long been my favourite pasta dish at Chianti's, so when I finally got a chance to have supper at the restaurant on Saturday, that is what I had.

I love pasts without a heavy sauce, and dishes like this are all too rare in Italian restaurants. The flavourful combination of olive oil, peas, onions, sun dried tomatoes, and smoked salmon makes for a light, refreshing meal that is also filling.

Best. Focaccia. Ever. (Italian Centre)

Focaccia, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

Spinelli's Bar Italia at the north side Italian Centre is serving up a lot more than espresso and sweet treats. Now, you can get grilled sandwiches, soup, pizza, and focaccia.

Focaccia. I have had it before and never considered it a big deal. A dense hunk of break, with seasonings.

I saw some gentlemen having focaccia at Spinelli's recently, and it looked very different. First of all, it had toppings. It looked more like pizza, without cheese.

I was at Spinelli's on Monday evening waiting for a friend, watching soccer, and killing time before a board meeting - in that order. I had also eaten supper early and had the evening munchies, so I had a piece of the tomato and olive focaccia (the other choice would have been tomato and jalapeno peppers, which I can't do for medical reasons).

My tastebuds were blown away by the rich seasonings, earthy olives, and sweet tomatoes. The bread itself was light and flaky, with the fact it had been heated making it crisp. I am not even sure I can put into words how delicious the focaccia was.

I will definitely keep this in mind when I am at the Italian Centre and wanting a snack or light lunch.

Moment of Truth: Ten Inch, Two Topping Pizza at Santo's

Ten Inch, Two Topping Pizza, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

I have been visiting Santo's on a regular basis ever since it re-opened under new ownership and management this year. During these visits, I have tried numerous items representative of the new menu, from pasta to steak to breakfast.

It was finally time to stop and taste the pizza.

Santo's has always been famous for inexpensive, delicious pizza. Indeed, this is one tradition the new owners are keeping. Most of the 13 inch pizzas are within $10-$12 in price, and there are a few new additions amongst the choices.

As I was dining alone, I did not want to consume a 13 inch pizza, nor was I in a position to take any home. Fortunately, a 10 inch pizza is now available. And for only $7.95 (for two toppings) it is a value indeed.

My mushroom and black olive pizza was hot, loaded with toppings, and had a tangy sauce. Neither a traditional flat crust nor a puffy North American style, it was crispy. and stayed crispy throughout the meal. Crispy, and a little dry and hard, especially around the edges.

Still, for the price, I can't complain too much. The pizza is not quite the same as it was before, but I don't think customers will be disappointed either.

Marinara Pizza at Famoso

Marinara Pizza, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

Famoso has been on my foodie to-do list for some time now., I finally made it to the Whyte Avenue location for lunch today.

I have had thin crust pizzas before, but not done the way Famoso does them - 90 seconds in a blazingly hot pizza oven, Neopolitan style. I had a Marina pizza which is cheese-less. It was covered in Famoso's unique tomato sauce and sparingly adorned with roasted garlic, oregano, and basil leaves. The basil gave a flavourful kick, while the roasted garlic was perfectly not overpowering.

As promised, the crust was crispy towards the edge, with bubbles and slight charring, while quite moist in the middle, hence the suggestion to fold the pieces over onto themselves to make eating easier.

The pizza almost reminded me of a very wet bruschetta. It was light, but filling and the perfect pizza for one person.

Santo's Reborn - Gnocchi with Bolognese Sauce

Gnocchi with Bolonaise Sauce, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

Breaking news in the dining scene of northeast Edmonton is that Santo's (10821 95 Street) is under new ownership. The family that had run the place for decades, after whom the restaurant was named, sold the place to new owners who renovated top to bottom. The dining area is far bigger, brighter, and classier than ever.

However, the biggest concern was over the menu. Would Santo's remain a place for delicious, inexpensive pizza and pasta? I am happy to say, the answer is yes. Reprinted in a much nicer form, the menu is almost identical to the previous one. There are a few new pizza toppings (like donair meat) and the smaller sizes of pasta are gone, but otherwise the burgers, sandwiches, steaks, pizzas, and pastas that have made the place famous remain intact.

I checked it out last evening and after I got over the initial shock of how the interior has changed, I ordered gnocchi with bolognese sauce for supper. The portion was deceptively large, served in a deep bowl. The gnocchi was suitably chewy while the sauce was rich and full of meat. I would say it was a winner. And at only around $10, quite affordable.

Santo's is a place some people have avoided because of the atmosphere. Yes, the horse racing and VLTs are still in the back, but much more separate than before. Now, it is a restaurant I would definitely go to more often and bring friends.

Penne and Meatballs

Penne and Meatballs, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

Calling Boston Pizza Italian Food is one step worse than Olive Garden. Not that the food at either establishment is bad - it's just aimed at the tastes of the masses.

Boston Pizza (the Westmount location on 113 Street and Groat Road) is where I ended up for supper tonight. I went for a build my own pasta with penne, pomadoro sauce, and meatballs. No complaints - the portion was hearty. I especially like the meatballs.

Call this a guilty pleasure.

Pizza with Mushrooms and Black Olives

Pizza with Mushrooms and Black Olives, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

Tony's Pizza Palace (96 Street and 111 Avenue) is always busy - and for good reason. The place is one of the oldest places in Edmonton serving authentic, thin-crust pizzas - and one of the best.

The organization for which I work hosted a volunteer appreciation event at Tony's last night. We had 30 volunteers (and family members) enjoying a variety of pizzas. As for me, I like to keep it simple and shared a two-topping, extra-large pizza with mushrooms and black olives.

This was definitely a "knife and fork" pizza, as there was so much topping part of the bottom crust would have given way if picked up. I loved how it was loaded with black olives, providing a tart, salty flavour.

Everyone else seemed to be enjoying their pizzas as well. Thank you Tony's for having us!

Penne with Meat Sauce

Penne with Meat Sauce, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

The pasta at Santo's (108 Avenue and 95 Street) is hearty. I especially enjoy their sauces, which are fresh and flavourful.

I had a full serving of penne with meat sauce for supper yesterday evening. It was hard to go wrong with it. The penne was cooked perfectly al dente and the sauce was rich and meaty.

Santo's may not be the prettiest place in the world, but the food is excellent.

Barbecue Chicken Pizza

Barbecue Chicken Pizza, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

Pizza at Avenue Pizza (85 Avenue and 112 Street) was everything I was told it would be: thick, cheesy, greasy, and loaded with toppings. The barbecue chicken pizza is one of their specialty pizzas, and it did not disappoint. It was definitely a bit on the rich side, and went well with beer. Avenue Pizza is a dive joint all right, but has some character. I can see why it is a regular hangout for some.

Back to Battista's: Pesto Presto Calzone

Pesto Presto Calzone, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

I was in northeast Edmonton yesterday in the midst of numerous photo shoots, and decided to head back to Battista's to try another one of their fabulous calzones.

Mama Mia was once again sold out, so I went for the Pesto Presto, an expertly layered sandwich of pesto, sliced chicken, mozzarella, and tomato sauce. The pesto totally came out on top here, mixing perfectly with the other ingredients. The chicken had a very subtle taste and blended in.

I also was thrilled to try the Nutella calzone, the one dessert item on the menu. Nuttella tastes good to me no matter how you spread it, and on the warm dough with fresh strawberries, I was almost licking the drippings off my fingers.

I come for the food and the people - next time, it is Mama Mia or bust!

Veggie Calzone - Battista's

Veggie Calzone, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

I was attending the Kaleido Festival on Alberta Avenue this past weekend, and when it was time for lunch I decided to make the trek over to Battista's Calzones on 84 Street and 118 Avenue. I have heard so many things about Battista and Liv and their menu of calzones that it has been on my "try" list for months.

The trek was well worth it. Battista's has a small menu of different kinds of calzones (it's like a pizza, but folded over into a baked sandwich), including one dessert option (Nutella, for which I have a weakness). The Mama Mia, Battista's signature emeatball calzone, was sold out, so I had a veggie instead.

The whole garden showed up within an oozing filling of mozzarella cheese and marinara sauce. Extra marinara sauce was provided on the side for dipping the perfectly baked crust.

Not all calzones are created equal. Battista's are a cut above the rest.

Santo's Encore: Gnocchi in Tomato Sauce

Gnocchi in Tomato Sauce, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

I'm in post-Viva Italia Viva Edmonton afterglow and still feeling Italian. As a result, I headed back to Santo's today and indulged in a plate of gnocchi in tomato sauce.

The sauces at Santo's are totally homemade, and the tomato is one of the best I have ever had: not spicy, but rich and thick and full of flavour. The gnocchi is also special - the tiny potato dumplings soaked up the sauce and were perfectly chewy.

At around $10 the portion was excellent and kept me satisfied all afternoon. When it comes to Italian food served right, Santo's is hard core.

Viva Italia Viva Edmonton (VIVE) - Pizza

Viva Italia Viva Edmonton (VIVE), a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

Viva Italia Viva Edmonton (VIVE) was the final event of the East meets West festival, a week-long celebration of the cultures in McCauley. Since this was an Italian festival, food was a central component of VIVE.

Pizza and steakhouse Santos on 95 Street and 108 Avenue was selling pizza by the slice. Santo's is a popular neighbourhood hangout - prices are low and the food is excellent. The atmosphere is more like a bar than a restaurant and there is betting on horse races that takes place within the premises, but if you are looking for a solid meal and great service instead of a family restaurant, Santo's is a place with a lot of colourful local culture.

I eagerly got a slice of vegetarian pizza. At only $3.50 it was a bargain - it was around a quarter of the size of one of their pizzas (their pizzas only come in one size) and loaded with toppings. There is just enough pizza sauce to make everything nice and moist without compromising the compusre of the crust. Someone also pointed out to me once that a great thing about a Santo's pizza is that the topping go all the way to the edge of the crust - there is no huge wedge of dough there.

This formidable slice of pizza was the only thing I ate at East meets West, because it filled me so much! I am going to have to head to Santo's again soon, because just writing about it is making me crave their pizza again. However, I will have to bring someone to share it with.

Taste of Edmonton 2011 #8 - Tiramisu

Taste of Edmonton 2011, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

Tiramisu is one of my favourite Italian desserts. This version from Pazzo Pazzo was a bit more dry than others I have had, but was bursting with amaretto and chocolate flavours. Several passers-by asked me what it was and where I got it.