Cowboy & Co. Coffee Cafe, Olds

If only this coffeeshop was open when I was in high school... I could have just walked across the street for a delicious cup o' java and a nanaimo bar for lunch!  Would that have been any healthier than the KFC fries and gravy I chose instead?  :)

Located across the street to the south (not along the highway) from the old Olds High School, this quaint little coffeeshop is right out of an old western movie!

The barrista says that the antique copper espresso machine came from Italy.  It is a gorgeous piece of equipment and it made a lovely latté!

My favourite part of the whole experience though was when a couple of older gentleman were leaving.  The barrista politely called out, "see y'all later!"  Oh wait, maybe my favourite was the fact that they carry Roger's chocolates - imported from Victoria, BC!  Mmmmm....

Summary

ambiance - unique, fun, interesting

value - good

flavour - caffeine-a-licious!

The whole "western theme" of the place got me thinking about a conversation I recently had with a friend.  She was talking about how much culture there seems to be in eastern Canada and the eastern States because of the older buildings, older history, etc.  I argued that we have just as much culture as places like Québec City, even if we don't have as much history.  Our culture is that of the Calgary Stampede, cowboys, hockey, winter sports, etc!  We may not have cobblestone or century-old cathedrals, but we have culture. Yahoo!

What do you think?  How old does an area have to be before it starts to develop its own culture?  Is it more difficult for someone to recognize their culture while they're immersed in it?

The Swamp Donkey!, Sundre

Ahhh... the Swamp Donk!  My husband and I first met at this small town pub on December 14, 2008.  He was drinking long island iced teas (ha ha!) with his riggin' coworker and I was drinking beer with my teachin' buddy.  But, it's been recently renovated - new menu and all and so I figured it was time for a restaurant review!

Half of the establishment used to be a restaurant - but no more!  It's a full-fledged pub now, no minors allowed!  Downstairs is the "pool hall" and upstairs the "sports pub".  It's not too different, just fresh, clean and slightly updated.

After a long week, I was again having some beer with some teacher friends of mine. I was hungry and tired... was it my over-hunger or was it the beer that made my spicy chicken burger taste SO GOOD? A spicy breaded and deep-fried chicken breast, a nice spicy mayo, a crunchy bun, cheese, lettuce, and tomato.  It was super-yummy!  And I love that you can order any sandwiches or lunch items with a side of veggies and dip... it makes for a slightly more healthy meal.

Most of the menu items are the same as before, but I think there are a lot of good options on the menu.  My only complaint is that most of the food is deep fried or drenched in cheese.  It's hard to watch your waistline at the Swamp Donk, but it's easy to watch people (and perhaps find a husband-to-be?)!

No picture this time, sorry.  I was too busy drinking my Bud Lite Lime!

Summary

ambiance - energetic, fun, love the log cabin look

value - a bit pricy  (the appetizers seem too expensive, but everything else is reasonable)
flavour - excellent! (because I was extra hungry or a bit tipsy?)

:)

KINH Vietnemese Restaurant, Olds

It used to be the dark & skanky bar called "The Signature Club"... and now it's a Vietnemese restaurant?!?  What a shocker!

Just to the south of The Brick on main street in Olds, you'll find a delicious place to stop for lunch or supper!  And what a fresh change - it's not pizza, hamburgers, or even Chinese food.... it's Vietnemese!

I first discovered KINH at the teachers' PD day in Olds. A bunch of us decided to try it out for lunch and since then, I've been back a number of times!  I'd like to tell you about two different dishes...

Lemongrass Chicken on Vermicelli Noodles
Strips of chicken in a light sauce, sitting on top of finely chopped lettuce, cucumber, carrot, sprouts and rice vermicelli noodles.  Oh, and it comes with 2 deep fried spring rolls.  The chicken is nicely seasoned.  I love the crunch of the sprouts mixed with the softness of the noodles.  I can eat the whole bowl (which is huge, by the way) and not feel disgustingly full.  It's so fresh and light, yet delicious.  It comes with a light sauce which I pour over the whole thing.  It's not spicy, but if you'd like some "zip", try adding some red sauce (on the table).

Chicken/Beef Curry on Rice/Noodles
Okay, it's 4:30pm and my mouth is watering just thinking about these dishes!  I might have to drive to Olds after I'm done typing these blogs!!  I prefer the chicken curry on rice, but Blaine prefers the beef curry on noodles - just mix and match according to your preferences.  The chicken/beef is tender and comes in a thick curry sauce with some peppers, onions and yams.  Pour the whole thing over your rice/noodles and then dig in!  Mmmmm.... the yams are so soft and the veggies are still slightly crunchy.  And there's just enough heat so that my nose starts running just a little bit.  This one is more filling than the lemongrass dish and it's definitely spicier.

Oh, and try the Vietnemese coffee... it's strong and very sweet, all poured over ice.  I can't wait to have one on a hot July day!

Summary
ambiance - informal, okay (the washrooms need an update)
value - excellent!  (about $12 for a huge plate/bowl of food)
flavour - excellent! (*drool, drool* I'm seriously going to drive to Olds now!)

One note of caution - minors aren't allowed.  They must still have it licensed as a bar.  :(
What does KINH mean?  Click here.

(credit: http://bambooatasteofasia.com/vermicelli_noodles)

Did you hear....?

The Cremona Hotel, owned by Gerry and Gail Neilon (source), has had a massive renovation!  My masseuse tells me that she went there last weekend with a party of 10 and it took about 3 hours for everyone in their group to get their food.  Hmmmm.... is it because of a new cook or new menu?  I'm not one for gossip - I need to find out for myself!  I'll give them a week to "work out the kinks" and then I'm going to pay them a visit!  Stay tuned!

Piros, Sundre Alberta

February 7th has been the beginning of three great things in my life so far: my life (yup, it's my birthday), my engagement to my now-husband, and now... my food blogging!  Blaine and I went out for dinner for my birthday last night and we chose Piros in Sundre. Usually quite a busy place, it is a popular spot for families and the grey-haired crowd.  The menu is huge - ranging from pizza (nice, spicy sauce) to steak (nicely cooked) to my personal favourite - Greek specialties!  The chicken souvlaki (seen above) is a full plate of heaping Greekness (is that a word?)!  The tzaziki sauce is delicious and the chicken is tender and perfectly cooked.  There is plenty of feta cheese in the greek salad!  However, if you're counting calories, I have some suggestions.... First, ask for a styrofoam carry-out dish (or be environmentally friendly and bring your own) and take half of it home for lunch tomorrow!  Second, get the salad dressing for your greek salad "on the side"!  What can I say, the chef really likes his olive oil!  One major flaw I found... the house red wine tasted like vinegar.  I think the glass I got was from an old bottle that's been left open for at least a few days.

Summary
ambiance - fair (very open area, it could use a reno)
value - great (plenty of food for the price!)
flavour - great (delicious, well seasoned, well cooked)

The Plan

Small town restaurants... they can be good or they can be REALLY bad!  Why do we insist on driving over an hour to the city on a regular basis for some good eats?  I believe that with a little bit of research, good food can be found right in our own hometowns... or at the very least, after a ten or twenty minute drive through the scenic countryside!