A Tasty Twist on Bruschetta!

A couple of weeks ago a group of us went to Pulcinella's restaurant in Calgary, which specializes in authentic pizza cooked the traditional wood-fired oven way. I have been there a couple of times this season and have grown very fond of their Bruschetta Misto appetizer, great for sharing or to have all to yourself! 2 slices of the 4 you are served are done the traditional way with tomatoes, olive oil, etc. However, the other 2 slices are different, but so delicious and inventive thanks to the Executive Chef! He tops them with roasted sweet red peppers and dried ricotta instead! I actually crave this now and am trying to hold my drool in while typing in this entry! Here's a photo of the Bruschetta Misto:

If you are ever in Calgary and craving pizza, I highly recommend trying out Pulcinella's in Kensington. Check it out:

http://www.pulcinella.ca/

The V-Day Menu!

Once a month I like to delve into my past by cooking my husband a 3 course meal one Sunday per month, just as if I was in the college kitchen. I do this not only because I love to cook & bake, but I also find it helps ease the transition through the Sunday doldrums and into the "case of the Mondays" by having a wine-paired dinner to look forward to at the end of the weekend. The celebration of my 30th birthday continued on January to the 29th, when Matt threw me a party for my western friends & family, and to thank him (and celebrate our love around Valentine's Day...we are cheesy, I know!) I am going to start the 2011 3-course events by adding a little more spice to our lives on Sunday, Feb 13.

The Menu:

Slow Cooked Buffalo Chicken Bites
Chipotle Pork Chili
Herbed Cheddar Bread
Mexican Chocolate Cake

The wine pairing: Sumac Ridge 2007 Gewurtz-a good wine recommendation with the chili that I found recently.

To start accumulating the ingredients for this menu, my DH & I ventured to the local market yesterday. I was tempted to pick up blue cheese to pair with the wings, but decided last minute to try them with some of the feta I already have at home. I went to pick up some Louisiana-style hot sauce and to our surprise, there was a sale on 4 bottles for $10, so we decided to start up a habanero hot sauce collection! We now have 3 different sauces, each one featuring a different coloured pepper.

Stay tuned to see how the menu turns out!

The Best Alley Burgers in the West!

Calgary's best kept secret was let out of the bag when CBC did a brief expose on Charcut's Alley Burgers this weekend. Fans of this hip restaurant will line up in a dark alley in downtown Calgary to taste these delicious, freshly made burgers-no frozen patties at this place! Fans on Charcut's facebook page are notified of the date and time they will be sold and get in line an hour beforehand - with no thoughts of the freezing cold and snow! And it is well worth the wait if you can get your mittens on one!

Click Here to see photos of cbc's expose

http://www.charcut.com/ for more information on this fabulous place!

Some of my favourite menu items include the shaved pig's head mortadella, the 90z+ share burger (you need to share it for a reason), and a great side is the duck fat poutine. Bring a hefty appetite, you will leave full!