- There’s a new restaurant on the block: Twisted Fork (11162 82 Avenue, (780) 761-3675) was reviewed by See Magazine last week.
- It seems the space that housed the historic Silk Hat is due to be revitalized again. There have been help wanted ads in Vue Weekly for The Hat Resto-Pub. I wonder why they chose the word “resto-pub” instead of the more trendy and current “gastropub”?
- Sorrentino’s annual and very popular Mushroom Harvest is on September 1-30. Just don’t make the mistake I did last year and call to make sure the location you’re heading to is actually offering the special dishes that day.
- My sister (a Sobeys employee) let me know that Sobeys is unleashing their own version of a membership card in September called ClubSobeys. Points accumulated can be redeemed as cash discounts towards future purchases or as Aeroplan Miles – score one for Sobeys!
- I was disappointed to see that Aaron McCargo Jr. won this season of The Next Food Network Star. I was cheering for Lisa Garza, a master of entertaining, but given her panache for fashion and her cooking style, Giada de Laurentiis may have vetoed her win.
- Mack and I tried a classic sausage and egg Starbucks breakfast sandwich while in Vancouver on the weekend. It was ready in no time and piping hot to boot, but I didn’t get a chance to see how they warmed it. I have to agree with Mack – it is a far cry from the similar sandwiches available at McDonald’s and Tim Horton’s, but as they are available all day, and are cheaper than the $5.95 sandwiches in the cooler, I can see why some people would opt for the eggy treat.
Starbucks Breakfast Sandwich
Only Here for the Food 
I was also disappointed in Aaron’s win on Next Food Network Star (in our home, the Food Network is usually the choice when we can’t find anything else). Aaron seemed charming and nice and friendly but he had an odd timbre to his voice and his concept for the show was basically just another stand, chat and cook show. They’ve got scores of those shows already.
But Lisa Garza? Once you get past her Dianne Wiest squint (distracting) you see one of those people who is driven to succeed to the point of being irritating and possibly dangerous (film reference 2 – think Reese Witherspoon’s character in Election).
And she cried on almost every episode. Way too much ambition and aggression bubbling under the surface there. She’d be into her second nervous breakdown by the end of season one had her show hit the screens.
Adam had a more relaxed on-screen presence and his concept for the show (with some shaping by that great producer/director) was fresh and interesting.
Silly cooking reality shows. Between Next FN Star, Top Chef and Hell’s Kitchen I can’t keep up. They should pit finalists from each of these shows against each other in a Tournament of Champions/Football Champions League contest.
Enjoy the blog. Has already given me ideas as to where to eat next. Whenever that is.
Yeah, I can see how her ambition could sour your opinion about her. But for me, I really did want to learn from Lisa – it was evident to me that she knew her stuff, and her brand of cooking was attractive to me.
I think you have something with pitting contestants from each of the food reality shows against each other: the Ultimate Food Network Showdown!
Thanks for your comment!