Jill Browne, from home and away

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Home: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

White Spot is way more popular in B.C. than in Calgary, at least with people I know in both places.

I think the menu is the same.

I’ve ignored the Calgary White Spots for years, but I have a good memory of one that used to be downtown, long ago.

When I first came to Calgary it was January and extremely cold. I was on my way to the downtown bus station to head out to Banff, with my skis on my shoulder and a massive backpack with my worldly goods.

A stranger said I looked cold and bought me a hot chocolate at the White Spot. That was it. No come-on, nothing inappropriate, just a kind and friendly gesture.

My Wednesday breakfast partner and I tried the White Spot on MacLeod Trail today. I can’t remember ever being inside.

It’s really a nice-looking restaurant, clean, spacious, calm. The breakfasts, just fine. Bacon, eggs, hash browns, French toast. All good.

A friendly waitress named Della looked after us.

I’d go back. I’d even try it for dinner some time.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Home: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

The poor weather was good luck for us: we got parking on the street in Kensington.

Let me repeat: we got parking on the street in Kensington.

I actually avoid Kensington, even though it’s one of Calgary’s more interesting commercial spots, because of the parking. Yes, I am a bit more picky. A lot more picky about parking than anyone else in the world. I don’t care. If parking isn’t easy, why go?

So, poor weather = good parking.

Moving on to the actual food experience, I would go to Wake Bistro again. We sat in a table by the window with a view to the goings-on outside, such as they were.

I had the bacon, eggs, special breakfast, all great, and with an added touch of homemade mango jam. Tasty.

I’d go back.

Had a little stroll in the rain for a few minutes, over to Pages. Bought books.

Admired the green velvet cupcakes in the window of Cravings the cupcake place. Well, green cupcakes. Not something you see every day but perhaps inevitable on March 16. St. Patrick’s Eve.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Home: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Primal Grounds, 3003 – 37 Street SW

Looks like it might have started life as a Dairy Queen. Run by a lady who makes soup and sells it at the Kingsland Farmers’ Market.

We didn’t want soup, we wanted breakfast, and we weren’t disappointed. The choice was limited; this isn’t primarily a breakfast place. Limited but excellent: the breakfast bagel was a meal and a half, fresh and nice.

Great latte as the name suggests.

I always thought it would be cool to have a coffee shop in the Provincial Court building and call it Reasonable and Probable Grounds. Another one in the old Court of Appeal building, called Grounds for Appeal of course.