Interview: Calgary's Top Chef Canada Contestants Connie De Sousa and Rebekah Pearse

Earlier in the week it was announced two local chefs made the cut to compete on the newest season of Top Chef Canada.

The Altadore Dining Lounge: Great Brunch in Southwest Calgary

Finding a weekend breakfast in Calgary can be a bit of a struggle. Most of the good places are always busy and being impatient I usually find myself cooking at home, just to avoid the hassle or waiting in line.

Today I was determined to have someone else make breakfast. So around noon I took a drive through Marda Loop, and with a line-up out the door at the Belmont Diner, I thought I would try out a new spot. 

Celebrate Apple Month

An apple a day may well keep the doctor away, which is a very good reason to eat one. But more to the point, apples go great with pork belly — which is not exactly known for its doctor-repelling qualities, but is just so delicious.

Last week, the folks from BC Tree Fruits hosted an event at Home Tasting Room to celebrate the 52nd annual Apple Month and showcase all the wonderful ways in which apples can be used in cooking.

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A Valentine’s Meal for a Cause

With less than two weeks until Valentine’s Day, your chances of scoring an evening out at a quality Calgary restaurant are growing smaller by the hour.

Fortunately, NOtaBLE Restaurant Works has set aside one of its busiest nights to host an evening of fine dining for a great cause.

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Come for the Art, Stay for the Beer at The Candahar

Come for the art, stay for the beer.

That’s the intention behind English-born artist Theo Sims’ The Candahar, an interactive art exhibit that recreates a traditional Belfast public house — barkeeps and alcohol included — at the Alberta College of Art + Design’s Illingworth Kerr Gallery. 

The installation runs until May 26.

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10 Aphrodisiac Foods for Valentine's Day

Pomegranate belongs to the goddess of love Aphrodite. Photo by Mercedes..Life As I Pictured

Abalone: This sea-snail is high in protein (good for sustaining energy during a romantic evening). With a taste like a buttery scallop and firm texture, enjoy it stir-fried or sauteed in butter.  Find it frozen at T&T Supermarket. (9650 Harvest Hills Boulevard, 403-237-6608)

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Tables for Two

It’s an annual ritual for many men — scramble around at the last minute to find a restaurant still taking dinner reservations for Valentine’s Day so as not to look like the schmutz who had to take his date to Swiss Chalet. This year, why not try something different by planning ahead? Score points with your special someone at these 10 romantic restaurants offering special Valentine’s Day dinners and still taking reservations … for now.

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17 Best Chocolate Fixes

How do we love thee, chocolate? Let us count the ways. According to you, the readers, there are 17 favourite ways to enjoy chocolate, from truffles and baked goods to hot and cold beverages. With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching, everyone’s got sweets on the brain so don’t waste time on substandard chocolate. Take our — and your — advice and indulge in tried and true decadent delights. 

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Meat Loaf: Classic Comfort

Ah, meat loaf — so humble, so delicious. The mere mention of this soul-satisfying basic takes me back to the carpeted kitchen of my childhood. (Incidentally, who thought carpet in the kitchen was a good idea?)

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5 Tips for Aspiring Manly Man Chefs

There are practical reasons for men to take an interest in their diet. For example, research suggests that obese men with erectile dysfunction can improve their libido by losing 10 per cent of their body fat. 

Yet, the stigma remains that cooking, outside of barbecuing and ordering a pizza, is not a macho activity. For men, failing to take control in the kitchen often means settling for ready-made meals or meat-and-potatoes dishes.

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