What I Thought of It

• Emerald Garden Peking & Seafood Restaurant

  Eating Out, Restaurants No Comments

  Emerald Garden Peking & Seafood Restaurant
  1006 16 Ave NW (see map)
  Calgary AB
  Phone: 403 289 3881

  Emerald Garden is hard to miss. It’s right next to Highway 1, between Centre Street and 10th Street, and a few steps from Tim Horton’s.

  This Chinese & Portuguese cuisine restaurant is not open all day but serves lunch and dinner. Check beforehand if you want to go there at any other time.

  We went to Emerald Garden on a Monday for dinner and found it buzzing with diners, especially for a Monday. The restaurant is pleasant and spacious inside, with nice fabric-covered booths and large round tables for larger groups.

  The service was good and the staff friendly and polite. The wait for our food was long, maybe because it was so busy.

  We ordered the three-course meal of Peking duck. The first course was strips of duck meat, which you fold into wraps with cucumbers, green onion, and sweet sauce to make great-tasting miniature “sandwiches”. The second course was fried rice with pieces of duck meat, vegetables, and - a pleasant surprise - pineapple. The third and final course was duck soup, which had a rich broth and was teeming with bok choy, tofu chunks, and duck bones.

  By ordering the three-course meal you basically use every last part of a whole duck to create three delicious dishes. You could also order just one course (wraps) or two courses (wraps plus rice or noodles, or wraps plus soup), but it’s only a couple more dollars to get all three.

  For those interested, the menu offers a large selection of other Chinese dishes as well as Portuguese specialties. I intend to try the Portuguese cuisine next time.

  Last thoughts: A visit to Emerald Garden Peking & Seafood Restaurant is definitely worth your while. It is easy to find and has plenty of parking on the back and side streets. It’s probably the best-value Peking Duck in Calgary.

  Food ++++
  Service ++++
  Ambiance ++++
  Washrooms ++++

  Find Emerald Garden on the map.



• Bassano Dam

  Attractions, Recreation No Comments

  The Bassano Dam is located about 8 km southwest of Bassano and can be reached by following the signs from this small Alberta town. Be warned that getting to the Bassano Dam is a bit of a puzzle. The signs are not great and most of the road is gravel.

  Once you do arrive at the Bassano Dam, you’ll find a picnic area that offers a great view over the dam and the surrounding water.

  At this viewing area you’ll also find a sign telling the story of the dam: how it was built in 1910 and refurbished in 1984.

  After that there isn’t much more to do except walk or drive over the dam and get a view from all possible angles.

  Last thoughts: I would not make a special trip to Bassano to see the dam. But, if you’re driving a long stretch on Highway 1 between the mountains and Saskatchewan, then by all means stop and have a picnic here.

  Surroundings +++
  Atmosphere +++
  Experience +++

  Find the Bassano Dam on the map.



• Burger King, Country Hills

  Eating Out, Fast Food 1 Comment

  Burger King #12848
  800-500 Country Hills Blvd (see map)
  Calgary AB  T3K 4Y7
  Phone: 403 215 1322

  A very late lunch brought me to the Burger King on Country Hills Boulevard on the north side of Calgary. This Burger King is easy to spot from Deerfoot Trail - it’s in the first strip mall on the right.

  It was just after 4 pm on a Thursday, when I was in dire need of food. Burger King is tried-and-true in my books, so I staggered into this one. This Burger King has a play area for kids, which was dark - maybe closed - today. Elsewhere the restaurant was well lit and cheerful. The plastic booths make for a comfortable spot to eat your lunch and perhaps read the paper at the same time.

  I did notice that it was pretty cold inside the Country Hills Burger King, cold enough to make me think about putting on my jacket.

  The ordering did not go smoothly. In the quiet restaurant there were three people behind the counter, who all expected one of the others to help me. In the end nobody gave me a proper greeting and each fetched a different part of my order.

  The upside at this Burger King, like in some other Burger Kings, is the self-serve pop machine, which gives refills to your heart’s content.

  My BK Big Fish Combo was ready quickly, much faster than I’m used to at Burger King. It tasted as it should, with the nice Burger King tartar sauce that I like, and the fries were also done to standard.

  Last thoughts: This Burger King on Country Hills Boulevard should fix the heating, but I would not think twice about a second visit. That said, the staff could be a bit more friendly to make the customer feel more at home.

  Food ++++
  Service ++
  Ambiance ++++
  Washrooms ++++

  Find Burger King, Country Hills on the map.

  Tags: Burger King



• Little Manhattan

  Movies / TV, Recreation No Comments

  Little Manhattan is a heartwarming, feel-good movie, so you have to watch it because you’ll be glad you did.

  The movie Little Manhattan is about Gabe (Josh Hutcherson), a 10-year-old boy who lives in Manhattan and, like most boys his age, is deathly afraid of girls.

  But then Gabe, wanting to learn karate, joins a class and runs into Rosemary (Charlie Ray), a classmate from school and the only girl in the karate class. When it comes time to pick sparring partners, they end up paired with each other.

  The story unfolds as the beautiful journey of two people falling in love for the first time. I could go on and on about their young love, as it was so touching and sweet, but I won’t spoil the magic for you. Let your heart be gladdened by Little Manhattan.

  Last thoughts: Little Manhattan is a great movie for the whole family. It will make everyone feel good, which is rare with movies these days. The beautiful rendering of a tender story makes Little Manhattan time well spent in front of the TV (how often can you say that?). Watch it, and feel free to complain if I misled you.

  Genre: Romantic comedy
  Length: 90 min
  Rating: PG
  Story +++++
  Cast +++++
  Humor +++



• Kentucky Fried Chicken, 52nd Street NE

  Eating Out, Fast Food 1 Comment

  KFC #1744
  1440 52 St NE (see map)
  Calgary AB  T2A 4T8
  Phone: 403 273 3100

  Lunch today was at Kentucky Fried Chicken in the Trans-Canada Mall, an easily accessible shopping area on the corner of Highway 1 and 52nd Street NE. This KFC already had a couple of customers when we got there around noon. It was not quite a lunch rush, but there was a small, steady stream of hungry folks.

  Despite the absence of a heavy lunch crowd, things were moving at a snail’s pace. The staff were very slow taking orders, and I waited almost 5 minutes for my Classic Combo to arrive.

  This KFC had an old-fashioned ambiance dominated by plastic swivel chairs and booths. The dated look could certainly use an overhaul.

  The food was edible but not great. The chicken burger was piled with so much lettuce that, had I left it on, I couldn’t have tasted any chicken. The fries were saved by their seasoning, without which they might have been nothing more than cardboard sticks.

  Last thoughts: I’ve noticed that KFC is doing poorly in the fast-food market, and I think it’s because they haven’t kept up with the times. The restaurants look old and dated, and the staff are lethargic. They don’t need to be running around - they just need to show some interest in their work. For me, KFC is and will remain a last resort.

  Food +++
  Service +++
  Ambiance ++

  Find KFC, 52nd street NE on the map.

  Tags: chicken, Kentucky Fried Chicken, KFC



• Dairy Queen, High River

  Eating Out, Fast Food 2 Comments

  Dairy Queen, High River
  1202 16 St SE
  High River AB  T1V 1M4
  Phone: 403 601 8420

  You will find the Dairy Queen Restaurant in High River just next to Highway 2. It’s a fair distance from the center of the town but conveniently close to the hotels and other fast-food restaurants.

  We dropped by this DQ on a Saturday afternoon, when there was a steady stream of customers.

  The staff respectfully stood back while we pondered the menu and readily stepped forward when we wanted to order.

  The food was not ready right away but would be delivered to our table.

  The restaurant was spacious and decorated in soft colors. There were booths against the windows and walls, and tables and chairs in the center. The look of this DQ evidently has not been updated in a while, but it was well-maintained and the old-time feel made for something unique rather than generic.

  Our food came, though napkins were missing. No big deal, because there were plenty at the condiments station nearby.

  The food was hot and fresh and tasted pretty good for fast food. Stay tuned, for I’ll write more about the food items in later reviews.

  Last thoughts: The DQ in High River doesn’t look like much on the outside, but once inside you’ll be happy you dropped in. I wouldn’t hesitate to go back the next time I feel hunger pangs in the vicinity. It’s a shame that Dairy Queen’s prices are higher than its competitors’, as I opt for the more affordable fast-food joints nine times out of ten.

  Food ++++
  Service ++++
  Ambiance ++++
  Washrooms +++

  Tags: Dairy Queen



• Side Effects

  Movies / TV No Comments

  Side Effects is a movie about Karly Hert (Katherine Heigl), who works for a pharmaceutical company as a rep selling drugs to doctors. She has a fat paycheck and a company car but she hates her job.

  Then she meets Zach Danner (Lucian McAfee), a down-to-earth guy who has just quit all his jobs to start building his dream house out in nature, a home that he hopes to share with Karly.

  Karly makes a spontaneous decision to quit the pharmaceutical industry in 180 days. Going forward, she decides to be brutally honest with the doctors about the medications she sells, side effects and all. Ironically, her sales skyrocket and she starts raking in big bonuses, eventually getting sucked all the way into the corporate rat race.

  You’re probably thinking, “sounds boring,” but it’s not. The story takes quite a few nice turns and has an unexpected ending. It’s a refreshing departure from tired Hollywood formulas. It also divulges some not-so-nice workings of the pharmaceutical industry and the questionable routes by which new medications find their way to the lucrative prescription-drug market. The screenplay was written by a former pharmaceutical company sales rep.

  Last Thoughts: Side Effects is a thoughtful, small-budget movie featuring a great performance from Katherine Heigl (who broke out in Grey’s Anatomy). I personally like the movie’s message, which will make you think twice the next time you buy prescription medication. If you get the DVD, check out the Special Features, which offer an even deeper insider look into the pharmaceutical industry.

  Go to the TRAILER for a sneak peek.

  Genre: Comedy
  Length: 90 min
  Rating: R
  Story ++++
  Cast +++++
  Humor +++



• Ramada High River

  Accommodations, Hotels / Motels No Comments

  Ramada High River
  1512 13 Ave SE
  High River AB  T1V 2B1
  Phone: 403 603 3183

  The Ramada Hotel in High River is situated on the outskirts of town but very easy to reach from Highway 2. Around the hotel are several food establishments, like McDonald’s, A&W, Dairy Queen, Subway, Boston Pizza, Smitty’s, and Joey’s Only Seafood Restaurant.

  Stepping into the Ramada in High River makes you feel at home right away. Every hotel experience begins at the front desk, and here the front desk staff were delightful and attentive. It was like being welcomed into a small, family-run inn. Yet small is not the right word for the Ramada Hotel in High River. The hotel is very spacious, starting with the front lobby. On the right is the front desk, and on the left a roomy lounge and breakfast area with dining nooks, inviting armchairs, sink-into couches, books, artwork, a fireplace, and a TV.

  We were looking for a king-size bed and given Room 319. This room was impressively clean - I daresay the cleanest hotel room I’ve ever stayed in.

  Room 319, like the hotel lobby, is very spacious. To the left of the entrance is the large bathroom, with a big tub, a roomy sink and counter, and a wall-to-wall mirror. The special touch in the bathroom was the hair-dryer. What’s so exciting about a hair-dryer? Well, this one had a small orange light on the handle, which functioned as the perfect night light. The bathtub was equipped with a fantastic showerhead that could be adjusted to more than five settings, guaranteed to make you linger even longer in the shower.

  The room’s main hallway has a full-length mirror above a fine sitting bench. It also has the only closet in the room, stocked with an iron and ironing board. There is a small sink and counter outfitted with coffeemaker, fridge, and microwave, which is really handy if you want to eat in. We didn’t find plates and cutlery, but the staff would surely help with that in a pinch.

  Farther in is the sitting area, complete with sofa, work desk, and a dresser supporting a flat-screen TV. The desk area gets bonus points for having power sockets for plugging in your laptop and other electronics. There is also a cable for wired Internet access, which you get for free along with wireless Internet access (no password needed).

  From the sitting area, a set of double doors open into the bedroom. Here is the massive king-size bed topped with no less than five plump pillows. The bed is flanked by two side tables with lamps. It gave us no small pleasure to discover that the table lamps could be turned on and off by simply pressing a lever (instead of fiddling helplessly with obscurely placed knobs). The lamplight was too bright for winding down at night, but at least the bulbs were energy-savers. Facing the bed is a second dresser holding a second flat-screen TV, as well as another full-length mirror and sitting bench.

  

  The bedroom window looks out to a nice view of the area and a close view of McDonald’s nearby, open 24 hours a day. Having said that, we were not bothered by any outside noises.

  The only thing about the room that bothered me was the noisy heating system, but I am sensitive to these things and it was not running all the time. I simply turned off the heating before going to sleep, and the room was still warm the next morning despite the deep-freeze temperature outside.

  Let’s now explore the rest of the hotel. On the third floor (and probably on each floor) next to the elevator, there is an ice machine and a vending machine that sells not only candy but also items like toothpaste, razors, and Tylenol. There is also a drinks vending machine. Curiously, the third floor drinks are more expensive than the ground floor drinks. The General Manager was surprised about that and promised to take it up with the drinks vendors who set the price.

  The ground floor houses the main amenities: meeting room, business centre, fitness room, indoor pool, and convenience mart.

  The fitness room boasts an impressive array of modern equipment: treadmill, elliptical machine, upright stationary bike, recumbent stationary bike, three weights machines, free weights, two exercise balls, and exercise mats. All the equipment looked new and well-maintained. A leisurely workout in this fresh and bright fitness room was both relaxing and energizing.

  The pool area is right next to the fitness room. There is a good-sized pool with a looming waterslide, which shoots you down very fast but adds great fun, as well as a big whirlpool (hot tub). There is a men’s and a women’s washroom/changing room, but no stalls to shower in. There is only one showerhead in the common area for rinsing before going in the pool.

  For a quiet evening, you can make yourself at home in the lounge. Grab a book, a cup of tea from the breakfast area, and a delicious homemade cookie compliments of the front desk. Or help yourself to some popcorn from the popcorn machine while channel-surfing on the big-screen TV.

  If you’re in need of anything else, such as a frozen dinner, drink, magazine, or other small thing, you can try the convenient little Ramada Mart next to the front desk.

  After enjoying a great night’s rest, we were up and eager for breakfast. The Ramada’s complimentary breakfast is served from 6 am to 10 am daily in the lounge/breakfast area. The breakfast spread exceeded even our wishes. There was bacon, sausages, boiled eggs; toast, English muffins, bagels, pancakes, muffins, pastries; assorted jams, peanut butter, cream cheese; pre-mixed batter and two waffle irons for making your own waffles; instant oatmeal, six kinds of dry cereal, yogurt, and fresh fruits; three kinds of juice, several kinds of tea, and of course coffee. No other hotel I’ve stayed in can compete with this breakfast.

  One thing about the breakfast that did disappoint was the use of paper plates and plastic cutlery, which is not so friendly to the environment.

  Last thoughts: Staying in the Ramada Hotel in High River was a wonderfully memorable experience from beginning to end. We were treated without fail to superb service from general manager Gale Jacobs and her staff, who truly welcomed and engaged us like family. Our room was a dream to stay in, the breakfast was a feast, and the amenities were a retreat for the mind and body. I already want to go back!

  Location +++
  Room +++++
  Service +++++
  Ambiance +++++
  Pool ++++
  Breakfast +++++



• A&W Uncle Burger

  Food Products 1 Comment

  A&W Uncle Burger

  The Uncle Burger is the latest addition to the burger family served by A&W Restaurants in Canada. I decided to taste-test this newcomer to let you know whether it’s worth ordering.

  The Uncle Burger patty boasts 5 ounces of sirloin beef. It’s definitely bigger and thicker than its burger relatives (Teen, Mama, Papa, and Grandpa Burgers) at A&W.

  What’s on it, you wonder?

  The 5-oz sirloin patty comes in a sesame seed bun. Starting from the bottom piece of bread, you get ketchup, mustard, some onions, and a couple of round pickle slices. Then it’s the beef patty, two tomato slices, some lettuce, some “chubby” mayo, and the top of the bun.

  I guess A&W chose to introduce a sirloin beef burger because McDonald’s and Harvey’s already have Angus burgers. A 5-oz patty looks meatier than most of A&W’s burgers. The beef is enhanced with A&W’s signature seasonings, so it has the typical A&W taste.

  The taste test:

  Like every A&W burger, the Uncle Burger comes in a foil wrapper to keep it warm. And warm it was, so the wrapper concept is a winner. A&W gets points for that, because there’s nothing worse than a cold burger.

  The sesame seed bun and the vegetable toppings were fresh, and the amount of condiments was just right.

  The sirloin beef patty was nicely juicy and tasty. My taste buds would have liked a bit more seasoning. It’s as if the Uncle Burger gets the same amount of seasoning as its relatives, despite being bigger.

  Last thoughts: A&W has a winner in the Uncle Burger. It’s tasty and meatier than most fast-food burgers, and the whole package (bun, meat, sauce, toppings) made me go “Mmm” on every bite. It’s now one of my preferred burgers, so get ready, A&W - I will be coming back soon.

  Nutrition facts: (from the A&W website)

  Serving Size (g): 258
  Calories: 560
  Total Fat (g): 33
  Saturated Fat (g): 11
  Trans Fat (g): 1
  Cholesterol (mg): 70
  Carbohydrates (g): 39
  Fibre (g): 3
  Sugar (g): 8
  Protein (g): 29
  Sodium (mg): 1200



• Innate (Bilt) Fresco H20 Water Bottle

  Household, Products No Comments

  I got this water bottle because I was looking for a metal (i.e., not plastic) water bottle with a wide mouth. The Innate (formerly Bilt) Fresco Stainless Steel Drinking Container was marked down to $4 at Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC). Can’t go wrong with that price, I thought. That’s where I was wrong.

  But first, the bottle is made of stainless steel and BPA-free, so unlike plastic or lacquer-coated aluminum water bottles, there’s no nasty plastic directly touching your water. The lid is made of food-grade plastic no. 5, which is currently considered “safe”.

  The design of this water bottle is reasonably good. It looks sleek and feels nice to the touch. The lid has a handle, so you can hook on a carabiner to hang the bottle from, say, a backpack.

  So far it’s not a bad water bottle, but there are three things about it that I really dislike:

  1. It dents easily. The stainless steel is prone to damage from even the smallest impact.

  2. The lid closes poorly. Unless you twist it rapidly - almost too rapidly - it will leak.

  3. After being washed, the bottle does not dry well on the inside. Water gets stuck in the shoulder, just under the drinking collar, and stays there unless you wipe it off.

  The wide mouth is a good feature and will supposedly fit to a portable back-country water filter, but I think the opening could be bigger. Drinking from a water bottle is easier when my nose can also fit in the hole.

  Last thoughts: The Fresco H20 Water Bottle is nice-looking but has some shortcomings that I can’t live with. Apparently, there exists a newer version with modifications to the top part, which could solve two of the three problems I mentioned.

  Quality +++
  Design ++++
  Style ++++
  Features +++
  Price +++++

« Previous Entries