Jill Browne, from home and away

Monday, February 14, 2011

Home: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

I’m not sure how much imagination I have when it comes to finding a new breakfast spot every week but I’m going to need ideas by Wednesday morning, and the Wednesday after that, and the Wednesday after that, as long as we can manage.

Need suggestions.

Should serve breakfast, not just an early lunch.

Must have good coffee.

That’s about it.

Ideas? Please?

Thanks!

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Home: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Yippee! Wednesday. It’s become my breakfast out with Suzanne day. The rule is, never the same place twice.

It’s going to be a hard rule to keep, because I’ve really liked a couple of the places.

Today: Over Easy on Edmonton Trail. Never been there before.

Decor is fun and relaxing, a sort of 50s meets Danish modern with a blackboard on the ceiling for good measure. Nice big front windows.

Delicious omelette with artichokes and other good stuff (not on the regular menu, it was the special). Good coffee.

Reasonable price. I am a bad reporter. Too lazy to pull out my receipt and have a look but in the neighbourhood of $11 sounds about right.

The food was good, the restaurant was not empty but not packed, just pleasantly humming.

Very friendly, attentive servers.

Liked it and that’s no yolk.

😉

TRFKAN (The Restaurant Formerly Known As Nellie’s) is called The Loop Breakfast House now.  This wasn’t obvious to me, not that it matters since I know where to go: 2015 – 33rd Avenue SW, Calgary.

I’ve gone for breakfast (actually more like brunch, it’s a lot of food) about a half-dozen times in the past year, I bet.

Happy every time.

Today:

$11.95 for the Big Al, which is (gasp) 3 eggs, bacon, French toast or pancakes, regular toast, and potatoes. I was still full at dinner time.

My friend: a fruit plate and an omelette.

Both: coffee and milk.  (As in, a serving of milk that you buy, not just a splash in the coffee.)

Total bill, $41.00 before tip.

It’s independent, it’s comfortable, the food is good, and the neighbourhood is developing some atmosphere.  A lot of people would say Marda Loop is already funky and pedestrian-friendly.  Today was too cold to walk around, and I am not sure I would pick the Loop as my destination of choice for a stroll, but yes, it does have some interesting nooks and crannies.

I like The Loop Breakfast House for a casual weekday breakfast or brunch.  Can’t say how it is on weekends; I don’t go out much then!

The Loop Breakfast House in Marda Loop, Calgary. Photo: Jill Browne. January 12, 2011.

theloopbreakfasthouse.ca

403 – 802-2174

2015 – 33rd Avenue SW

Calgary, Alberta

Friday, January 7, 2011

Home: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Weather today:  Around freezing and overcast all day.  No sun.

There’s lots of choice for Vietnamese food in Calgary.  It’s one of the cheaper lunches, and leaves you full for the rest of the day.

My friend was shopping at Best Buy and suggested we meet at the nearby Pho.  It’s actually called Le’s Pho, 8180 – 11 Street SE, Calgary.  Forget the address.  Get to Heritage Meadows (between Deerfoot and Blackfoot, at the east end of Heritage Drive, down on the flats).  The Best Buy is at the south end.  Le’s Pho is across the parking lot.

I’m actually having trouble figuring out if it’s Le Pho, Le’s Pho, Le’Pho, but I know the location is right.

My friend had a big bowl of beef soup, I had the chicken on top of vermicelli.  We shared an order of salad rolls.  The total bill before tip was $24.05, and as far as I could tell it was a 50/50 split.

It’s one of those Vietnamese restaurants that you find all around Calgary.  Though the outside is kind of featureless industrial, the inside has the unmistakable ambience of “let’s not spend a lot of money on the furniture and decor”, which is fine by me.

I’m not a connaisseur of this food.  I like it once in a while, and I got what I came for.  No complaints.

It was odd that the waiter didn’t want to give my friend a knife to cut the salad roll in half, though.  He seemed to find the request a bit of an outrage but complied anyway.

If this map is ridiculously small, I believe you can enlarge it and it should show you where I mean.  The little arrow may be on the back of the building, though.  That’s just a Google Maps thing and I couldn’t change it.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011.  Home: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Weather today: about freezing or a little warmer, no wind.  Major Chinook arch.

Breakfast

Breakfast for two was just over $30 with tip.  We ate substantial meals; enough to call it the main meal of the day.

Each had the same thing: a “Blackstone Bowl”, English muffin, beverage (coffee for me, diet cola for my friend).

The “Bowl” is a layer of potato wedges, a layer of chopped tomatoes, some slices of bacon, and scrambled eggs with cheese on top.

Not great, not terrible.  Is it the best you can do for $15?  I doubt it but I’ll have to start paying attention.

I’ve been going out for breakfast about once a week.  Should have a new restaurant to report on soon.

Ricky’s Restaurants, Calgary