Having fresh herbs at the ready makes everything in your kitchen brighter—including the dining-room table when you arrange them there in lieu of fresh flowers. Pick leaves straight from the pot to add a summery freshness to roast chicken, sauces, salads and even dessert. Pour boiling water over a handful of fresh herbs (such as mint) to make real tea, or steep in heavy cream to infuse it with flavour before whipping, making ice cream or crème brûlée. 
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Get your pinky in the air and wave it like you just don’t care. It’s time to throw a tea party. And while there are a lot of iced-tea options out there, this one is a tea-time game changer. Spice Market is a blend of red rooibos, spices and dried fruit. It’s caffeine-free and doesn’t require any sugar—it comes out dark and flavourful with an unbelievable sweetness. You can let it sit and it doesn’t become bitter or astringent, which makes it perfect for a long afternoon of sipping. (It also makes a fantastic G&Tea.) $10 for a 125-gram bag. At Tea Trader, 1228A 9th Ave. S.E., 403-264-0728, teatrader.com.
It was the name that got my attention: South Silk Road, a Chinese restaurant on the corner of 8th Avenue and 14th Street N.W. It conjured a favourite author, Eric Newby, and his wanderings, such as A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush.
I could see The Man and me taking a long walk on the South Silk Road. What we did, though, was take a short walk into South Silk Road on a recent Saturday eve. This place has been open only since the beginning of March, but it has caught fire, especially with the Chinese community. (As far as we could tell.) We were really up for a new adventure, and South Silk Road was it. more
C is for cookie, but that isn’t good enough for Chewie. Chewbacca the Wookie has a meat tooth, which is why these chocolate-chip cookies are accelerated to warp speed with bacon. They may not look like much, but they’ve got it where it counts. Laugh it up, fuzzballs. Join the bacon side and may the force be with you. more
Although Tomo Mitsuno could safely serve you blowfish, he can’t in Canada. Instead, he puts his knife skills to work on an innovative Japanese-Canadian menu.
The key to cutting fugu, according to Tomo Mitsuno, is to avoid the liver—and to be careful with the skin and the ovaries. As one of the few Calgary sushi chefs licensed to cut fugu, the deadly poisonous Japanese blowfish, his advice is good with me. The liver holds most of the tetrodotoxin, the poison that paralyzes the consumer and leads to death in a few hours. more
Japanese food is one of the most popular types of cuisine in Calgary when it comes to eating out, but it’s fun (and entirely possible) to pull together a spread at home. A rice or noodle bowl makes a fast, healthy and inexpensive meal, and is a great use of leftovers. And, with so many bite-sized options, Japanese food is perfect for a party—DIY negimaki rolls and seared ahi tuna can be supplemented with sushi from the deli department if you don’t own a sushi mat or aren’t confident with your sushi-making skills. Serve with ice-cold Japanese beer and sake to wash everything down. more
King Rama was a pretty awesome swimmer and won lots of races, but his interpretive water ballet was even more impressive. People went nuts for his alternative aquatic dance moves. Here is a reinterpreted version of the straightforward Thai “Swimming Rama,” which uses an assortment of nut butters instead of peanuts. more
He’s not exactly the Phantom of Teatro, but John Michael MacNeil does like to haunt the restaurant’s basement when it’s time to cook up something new.
As I follow chef John Michael MacNeil through the basement of Teatro, I’m hoping he doesn’t lose me around a corner. I’m not sure I’d ever find my way out of the rabbit warren of rooms that occupy the lower level of the century-old Dominion Bank Building that houses the restaurant. more
A sweet, golden ring is a perfectly fitting symbol of happily ever after. So move over cake and cupcakes; doughnuts are the new It dessert for wedding celebrations. At Jelly Modern, chef Grayson Sherman works with brides to create doughnut arrangements that start with house-tinted frostings and fondants to match the wedding colours. Jelly Modern also offers wedding-cake pops (perfect for when you have a Champagne flute in the other hand) and a groom’s arrangement of maple-bacon doughnuts. At Jelly Modern Doughnuts, 100, 1414 8th St. S.W., 403-453-2053; jellymoderndoughnuts.com.
A couple of years ago, Karouzo’s famous pizza joint on Fourth Street N.W. was flooded by one of our torrential summer rains. Shortly after, a sign went up that said it would reopen shortly. “Shortly” dragged on for about 18 months, then we noticed fixing-up activity. Lo and behold! Karouzo’s morphed into 4th Spot Kitchen & Bar, and that has been a very good thing. more
When it comes to baking without gluten, start with recipes that are naturally gluten-free before venturing into new territory. Then, before attempting more finicky biscuits, cakes and yeast breads, try pancakes, which don’t rely on gluten for their structure, or these dense, chewy chocolate cookies loaded with heart-healthy nuts. Classic mac and cheese from scratch is a perfect example of how you can swap a few ingredients while keeping the technique the same. more
Storing or freezing prepared food has long been an economical time-saver and a great way to preserve the best of the season. Whether you do it yourself, with friends or simply make a large batch of dinner and tuck away the leftovers for another meal, stashing a little something in the freezer is great insurance against takeout when you’re trying to eat well. The following recipes make large batches, but can be doubled again if you want to boost your booty. Freeze them in single servings—perfect for lunches at work—or in larger amounts for when everyone will be eating together. more
At Webber Academy, Thuy Le Luong offers lessons in nutrition and healthy eating. It’s a part of their education that the students find easy to swallow.
The first wave of the lunch rush at Wylie’s Cafe hits at 11:30. By that time, executive chef Thuy Le Luong is ready with big pots of linguini or platters of beef tacos or bowls of stir-fried chicken and vegetables. She knows that she and her small staff will be busy scooping and plating and passing out utensils to 400 hungry students over the next 90 minutes. more
If you’re carrying treats to granny’s house , you’re going to attract wolves—it’s that simple. But if you take a basket of apples, you can stroll without a care in the world (wolves can’t abide healthy things). Once you’ve arrived safely, bake those apples into a tasty treat for the dear old girl. more
Daughter Chloé teaches at a Canadian school in Abu Dhabi; the Man and I knew this was our opportunity to check out the exotic land of the United Arab Emirates. It is such a very interesting country, full of adventures for those who like the variety of deserts the world offers, with an occasional dip into the Arabian Gulf and exploring the “high weirdness” of Dubai. (That’s my friend Allan Shewchuk’s expression. Think of Las Vegas on steroids.) more
