Cafe – Page 11 – Elsie Hui

August 12, 2014August 12, 2014

Sugarbowl – Edmonton, Alberta

Edmonton is a neat place for dining and I must say, I don’t mind dining in Edmonton! We went for breakfast bright and early at the Sugarbowl and it was already busy with a bit of the lineup outside their doors. We decided that we didn’t really want to wait for a table inside – so we sat outside!

As we were outside on a breezy morning, I started with a nice cup of tea! The tea was quite unique as it wasn’t a brand I’ve seen before. It was quite fragrant but not overwhelming. I think it would have been nice with honey – I just put sugar in mine.

This restaurant is known for their Cinnamon Buns so I ordered one and it was the size of my head! Although it doesn’t look very appealing, it was very fresh and soft and fluffy. It tasted really delicious with brown sugar topping and butter on the side. It’s like a fresh loaf of cinnamon bread but better!

The other breakfast we ordered was their Chicken and Waffles and this was another great choice! The chicken was not greasy, well seasoned, and pan-fried to a nice tender crisp – and still super juicy! The waffles were light with a hint of sweetness. The maple butter was definitely a nice condiment and it completes the dish!

This was one of my favourite breakfast places in Edmonton. Although parking can be a bit tricky, we’ve been lucky enough to find street parking and the weather was nice enough for us to walk to. The service was a bit lacking – but what lacks in that department really makes up in the quality of food! I’m sure this is a place I will return to!

Sugarbowl Cafe

10922 88 Ave NW
Edmonton, AB
(780) 433-8369

July 28, 2014November 11, 2014

Iron Skillet – Spokane, WA

During our road trip, we stopped at a truck stop and decided to eat at Iron Skillet where we give nothing but positive reviews from our experience! We got some gas and parked in the parking lot to enjoy a quick dinner!

I ordered an odd drink, but it was delicious! It was their Strawberry Lemonade and it was a refreshing drink with fresh berries in it! It hit the spot perfectly as I probably needed some sugar after such a long drive.

I ordered something I figured I would love, their Meatloaf Mash Bowl which consisted of a few of my favourite things: meatloaf, corn, mashed potatoes & gravy! When it got here, it was as awesome as hoped! The meatloaf was flavourful, soft, tender and juicy. Mixed with the sweet corn, mashed potatoes and gravy – it was the best meal I’ve had in awhile!

My meal was not the only awesome one! My husband ordered their Corn Beef Hash Skillet which he loved as much as I loved my dinner. It had the shredded potato hashbrown which my husband loves with corn beef! His skillet was topped with eggs and cheese – it was the perfect combination!

As weird as this sounds, we’ll be back here next time we drive by, or perhaps a different Iron Skillet location. We’ve never heard of this chain, but we’ve experienced it and we’re not going back!

Iron Skillet

10506 West Aero Road
Spokane, WA 99224
509-842-1100

July 27, 2014

La Boulangerie – Calgary, Alberta

I still really love bakeries and cafes and when we drove by Le Boulangerie I knew I wanted to try this place and enjoy my snack on it’s patio. So, we parked our car and paid a fortune for coming here. I should’ve parked further away and taken a stroll over, but that’s the price I pay sometimes!

This cafe is quite popular and it’s busy! Even at the odd hour that we went, it seemed like it was packed. The selection of goodies inside was huge, but we opted out for our favourites as its just a little snack. You can order things from their hot menu items or sandwich items as well as their bakery/pastry selection. I decided to have their Hazelnut Eclair which looked quite delicious. I was worried about it being too sweet, but it was very subtle. Unfortunately, it didn’t taste very fresh although it was tasty. I could only imagine how wonderful it would be if it was fresh!

The other thing we ordered was their Almond Croissant which didn’t look that appealing. It did have almond flavour but it too wasn’t very fresh. It was quite crispy on the outside but it wasn’t light and fluffy on the inside. I’m not sure what’s going on, besides thinking it wasn’t too fresh.. or I was just overly excited and being to hopeful.

On a positive note, our drinks were very delightful! I ordered a cup of Chai Tea Latte and it was really fragrant and delectable! It was really nice to enjoy a nice hot drink on a breezy summer day on the patio!

My husband also enjoyed his Hot Chocolate which was decadent and delicious! Our drinks really hit the spot and it was good!

Overall, I think if I do return, I will order something from their savoury menu where they have to prepare it – like their crepes! Now that I read other customers reviews, it looks like crepes are a popular thing here! So, I could be back for that and some hot drinks!

La Boulangerie

2435 4 St SW
Calgary, AB
(403) 984-9294

July 24, 2014July 24, 2014

Vendome Cafe – Calgary, Alberta

I got to go out and eat breakfast one morning at a local restaurant in Kensington at Vendome Cafe and I loved it. The service is exceptional here and the food is divine, made with real and fresh ingredients.

I started my breakfast with a cup of Hot Chocolate that tasted absolutely amazing!

I ordered a half order of Mushroom Eggs Benedict and the mushrooms were amazing! This has got to be one of my favourite eggs bennys as it tasted like what it’s suppose to! The picture really doesn’t do its justice but it tasted amazing!

With the eggs benedict, I had their soup du jour which was a Barley Soup and it was very savoury and flavourful! It was a very hearty soup and it was warming for a chilly morning!

My overall experience here was super! The atmosphere, the food, the service and the community really puts this place on the map! What a great find!

Vendome Cafe

940 2nd Ave. NW
Calgary, AB
(403) 453-1140

July 24, 2014July 24, 2014

Leo Burrito Tacos – Radium Hot Springs, BC

We didn’t know what to eat during out trip out to Radium, BC and we decided to eat at Leo Burrito Tacos just off of the highway. It’s really easy to find, but the parking lot is a little small.

I ate their Pork Taco which was sold individually and it’s pretty small. This taco basically has pulled pork, some salsa and pickled onion. The evening we went, they were out of pineapple salsa which was the one it’s suppose to come with – but I got mango salsa instead. It was a good taco and very fresh. The meat was tender and juicy.

As my taco was a little small, I ordered a side of Leo Gems which was basically tatertots. It looks like it comes in a small bowl, but there’s actually lots of Leo Gems hiding in the bowl! They were fried really nicely as it was still crispy when we got to the end.

My husband ordered the 12″ King Kong which was a giant burrito which had all my husbands favourites for a burrito: slow cooked beef, cheese and sour cream!

This trip, I went with my sister and her husband. My brother in law enjoyed a salad while my sister had a Suzy Q Burrito which was a good sized burrito stuffed with roasted bell peppers, mushrooms and guacamole!

Overall, this little restaurant was really quite good! It was relatively cheap, the portions was quite reasonable for burritos and Leo gems and the best thing was the food was extremely fresh and delicious! Another great thing about here is their opened late!

Leo Burrito Tacos

4951 Hwy 93
Radium Hot Springs, BC
(778) 527-4999