Cravings Market – Calgary, Alberta

Cravings Market is truly a unique experience. It’s almost like an upscale fast food cafeteria, or food court. I’ve been here a few times for lunch, and it is really packed all the time. It’s got a huge variety of food stations where you pick what you’d like to eat, and they’d charge you by swiping it onto a card that you’re holding. When you’re done with your meal, you pay the balance on your card either individually or by table – as the table you sit at, you would all get the same table card, and then they are numbered for an individual card basis. It is a great idea, and avoid problems when customers from local business would like to “split the bill”.

For breakfast, I ordered an Open Sea Panini which was a panini sandwich with smoked salmon, cream cheese, tomatoes, red onions and capers. The sandwich was extremely tasty, but I think the chef forgot that capers were salty. So, overall, the panini was too salty. I didn’t return it back to the kitchen as it was bearable, but would have been a better experience if that wasn’t the case. You really got the smoke salmon taste, and that really made it the reason why I still loved it.

I also ordered a Pina Colada Smoothie which was great! It was packed with pineapple and coconut flavours that you can taste right off the back. The best thing, it wasn’t alcoholic, so I drank the entire glass right away! The portion of the smoothie was quite generous as well, as they filled a milkshake glass to the top!

We also ordered a breakfast in a bowl, and we tried the All Canadian breakfast in a bowl which was a bowl full of pan-fried potatoes, scrambled eggs, cheese, tomatoes, bacon, green onions and Hollandaise sauce on top. It also came with really good buttered bread on the side.

For a drink, we ordered a large Hot Chocolate which wasn’t anything special of course, but still good!

Cravings Market
7207 Fairmount Dr SE
Calgary, AB
(403) 252-2083

Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill – Las Vegas, Nevada

We were in Las Vegas celebrating our wedding anniversary, and wanted something nice, but still quite reasonable in price. We heard lots about Mesa Grill from Bobby Flay’s show on Food Network (Throwdown with Bobby Flay) as they use this kitchen as a test kitchen sometimes (their test kitchen is the one in New York though). Regardless, we made reservations to be a guest a Mesa Grill.

We were a tad early, and was seated by the bar as we waited for our table. It wasn’t a long wait at all, before we got seated at our table. The atmosphere in Mesa grill was really quite cozy, yet it was high end, and a tad dark!

As we first got seated, the waiter immediately asked us for our drink orders and brought us a basket of bread, with wonderfully tasting bread – which I believe were: corn bread muffin, jalapeno bread, and a nut bread! I had a piece of each of the breads and my favorite would be the jalapeno bread!

For main, I tried the Ancho Chile-Honey Glazed Salmon which was a perfectly pan seared piece of salmon, topped with spicy black bean sauce & roasted Jalapeno Crema. The crust on the salmon was so good, even until the last bit, it was still a nice crisp! The ancho chile was full of flavor but was not over powering, it was a great balance of textures and flavors.

We also ordered Pan Roasted Venison which is served with Sweet Potato Tamale. The venison was really quite special and it is something most people don’t order by looking around! We really enjoyed both main entrees and have nothing but good to rave about.

For dessert, we enjoyed ourselves so much we thought we would stuff ourselves extra for this special occasion. We ordered both Churros which was deep fried long dough, dusted with Cinnamon Sugar & Star Anise with a Dark Chocolate Dipping Sauce. We also had Pineapple Upside-down Cake with a rum caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream on the top. Both desserts were really good, but I must admit, the Churros was much more memorable as it’s not as common of a dessert.

The price of the dinner is higher than your typical dinner, but was reasonable for where you are, and what you’re eating! Bobby Flay is after all a celebrity chef, which a Michelin Star earned in 2008!

Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill

Caesars Palace
3570 Las Vegas Blvd S
Las Vegas, NV
(877) 346-4642

Quiznos Subs – Prime Rib on Toasted Garlic Bread

Quiznos is a wonderful place to get a customization sub, and they are always friendly and willing to help! I went in this time with my eye set on the special: Prime Rib on Garlic Bread as as always, when I’m trying some new, I like to take the smallest size available — just in case!

I got my order in a combo with Chicken Noodle Soup which I was really happy about, since I really felt like having soup. To my disappointment, the soup was overly salty, and I didn’t feel like saying anything, so I just took a few spoonfuls and threw it out.

The overall of the sub looked really squished when it arrived to me. But, as I was eating through it, it got yummier as all the vegetables, cheese and prime rib was being exposed.

As mentioned, Quiznos can customize your sub, with the choice of what you want on your sub from sandwiches, sammies, pizza to start with. Then, there are more options of the main ingredients in your sub, and of course the option of the type of bread you’d like. I’ve played mix and match a few times, and really, any selection is a great and tasty selection! I left really satisfied, and I could be back soon!

Quiznos Subs

4705 130 Ave SE
Calgary, AB
(403) 257-4712

Tobiko Sushi and Martini Bar – Calgary, Alberta

Sushi Bar is located inside the casino of Deerfoot Inn & Casino off 114th Avenue Southeast. It has really good sushi, which is really fresh, and made in front of you!

We’ve tried their sushi a few times now, and both take-out and dine-in. Both options are really good.

Sushi Bar open every Thursday (5pm – 11pm) and Friday and Saturday from 5pm -midnight

Deerfoot Inn & Casino is a resort very much like Las Vegas, without all the sounds and heat. Vegas is a wonderful place to go if you’re looking for great cuisine and casinos – Vegas Deals! But, if you can’t get away, this is a great alternative.

Deerfoot Inn & Casino – A South Calgary Hotel

1000, 11500 – 35 Street SE
Calgary, Alberta T2Z 3W4

A Ladybug Bakery and Cafe – Calgary, Alberta

I have always loved strawberry waffles and A Ladybug Bakery and Cafe sure knows how to make them the way I like them! Previous to this experience with Ladybug, I’ve only been to their old location at the Currie Barracks, which has now closed, and it doesn’t look like they’re going to open a new location in the new Calgary Farmers Market

We had a few people that joined us for lunch, and we got pictures and their comments of the dish also! 🙂 But, I did order the Strawberry Waffles and it was as very tasty. The texture of the waffles was amazing with generous toppings!

We had an order of their lasagna and it looked really amazing! The smell of cheese, you could smell it at least a table away! This lasagna was packed with mushrooms, bechamel sauce, ground beef, and tomato sauce, it truly was an awesome choice!

I did enjoy their Chai Tea Latte and I found it was a bit watered down, but the quality of the chai tea was really good. I didn’t mind it was a little more subtle.

We had dessert to complete the meal, and I had a Tiramisu because I wanted a delicious one that I was craving since our trip to Las Vegas. It was a very delicate and delicious tiramisu here.

We also had their Chocolate Eclair which was quite decent! A delicate filling inside a beautiful chocolate donut.

A Ladybug Bakery and Cafe

2132 10 Aspen Stone Blvd
Calgary, AB
(403) 249-5530