Category: Canmore

It is not every day that a new vodka hits the liquor store shelves, and certainly not one that is fabricated using only (100%) ingredients from Alberta. The bad news is Ginger and Nutmeg missed the grand opening party. The good news the Wild Life Distillery is nearby, in Canmore.
The distillery’s founders Matt Widmer and Keith Robinson are both Bow Valley locals. Widmer grew-up in Banff and Robinson in Canmore, their connection, like many residents, was snow and sport related – in this case, cross-country skiing events.

It might seem strange for graduates of Kinesiology (Widmer) and Business Administration and Marketing (Robinson) to join forces, but they both appear to be driven by entrepreneurial forces. In the summer of 2014, they shook hands on the slightly crazy idea of opening a distillery in Canmore, and the Wild Life Distillery began to take shape.
Nutmeg asked how the concept came together. According to Widmer,
“I have had an interest in distilled spirits since 2010. While living in Tofino, I would…

Recipes & Travel:
Alberta, Canmore, Liquors, Wild Life Distillery

Nutmeg is coffee-obsessed if a cup is not in her hands within 30 minutes of her feet hitting the ground in the morning it’s best to stay away. What is odd about her addiction is that her first encounter with coffee was while visiting her grandparents in the West Indies and she hated the bitter brew.
Now, just a few years (or so) later she’s hooked. Needless to say when a new java option appears in town Nutmeg feels it is her duty to investigate. (more…)

Recipes & Travel:
Alberta, Canmore, Coffee Shops

The cocoa goji balls are criminal – they should be locked up!
Carole Beaton owner and operator of An Edible Life in Canmore is modest, she says that she is not a confident cook and “only started baking in the fall.” When pressed for more details, Carole admitted that she may have baked before launching her food business, but never in retail quantities.
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Recipes & Travel:
An Edible Life, Canmore, Cocoa goji balls, Food, Gluten-free, Takeaway

Quarry Lake with a sweeping Bow Valley view is perched above the Town of Canmore. It is a popular recreational location in summer months for picnics and wedding photos. The lake is the result of a successful mine reclamation project on a site that was at one time known as Canmore Creek #3, a strip mine.
Nutmeg is fairly confident that the buffed athletes who swim in the lake waters when participating in the annual Canmore Triathlon and families who enjoy leisurely summer picnics on the rocky shores have no idea of the lake’s history.

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Recipes & Travel:
Alberta, Bow Valley Information, Canmore, canmore museum and geoscience centre, Canmore Tourism, Mining History, Travel Alberta

Are you visiting the Canadian Rockies?
Would you like to get a taste of real, off-the-beaten paths, small mountain town spirit?
As you already know, Nutmeg is a giant fan of Canmore. When she stumbled across this concept a journey that embraces the beautiful Bow Valley area, a bit of history and some shopping she simply could not resist uncovering more about Street Sherpa.

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Recipes & Travel:
Audio Tour Guide, Canadian Rockies, Canmore, Street Sherpa, Travel Alberta

Does Paintbox inspire your creative juices?
A bit of childhood whimsy with paint by numbers?
Or the lyrics to the 1967 Pink Floyd song?

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Recipes & Travel:
Canadian Rockies, Canmore, Cooking classes, Paintbox Lodge, restaurants, Travel Alberta

Ginger and Nutmeg have some close friends who after living in Minnesota, Montreal, Colorado and Seattle have chosen (wisely) to live in Provence, on a permanent basis.  Now, one could question their combined level of sanity in choosing (not so wisely) to visit Calgary and Canmore at the end of January.

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Recipes & Travel:
Banff National Park, Canadian Rockies, Canmore, Travel Alberta

Ginger’s whole family was in Canmore to celebrate belated birthdays and the New Year ahead. The house was full and there was lots of buzz around the first day of kiddie ski lessons. Just try to imagine 500 kids starting ski lessons on the same day.
Nutmeg awoke that morning with a minor version of the modern day plague – a head cold. She chose not to battle the kids and parents at the hill, but rather to stay home quietly with Jade and wait for the chef to arrive.

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Recipes & Travel:
Alberta Organic Produce, Canadian Rockies, Canmore, Cauliflower, Cooking classes, Organic Chef, Soup, Travel Alberta

Nutmeg had the pleasure on a recent sunny Friday to convince restaurant owner Micheal Beamer, to leave his station behind the La Marzocco espresso machine (for serious baristas), for a few minutes and tell her his story about this small business success. Micheal Beamer headed out to Western Canada in the late 1980’s.  He made his way to the Rockies for the skiing and the scenery.  With a hotel management degree from Georgian College and a big smile he started work at the famed Chateau Lake Louise.  Micheal’s focus on customer service allowed him to move to the position of Assistant Beverage Manager within five years.  During that time, “coffee-culture” was growing south of the border in Seattle and heading North. (more…)

Recipes & Travel:
Beamers Coffee, Canadian Rockies, Canmore, Coffee Shops, Restaurant Reviews, restaurants

It is a funny thing, how Ginger and Nutmeg (both Virgos) have so many friends with the same birth sign.  It could be some sort of natural selection occurring, as it is  quite obvious that all the very cool, sporty, beautiful people are Virgos.  Or maybe it is the fact that November is typically a cold, dark month and what else are you going to do…babies arrive about nine months later.  In any case August and September are a great chance for Ginger and Nutmeg to celebrate birthdays with their buddies.
There is a restaurant in Canmore named  Wild Orchid Asian Bistro and Lounge, it is located the Silver Creek Lodge.  The lodge is located on “gasoline alley” just off the Trans-Canada.  The restaurant is at the back of the lodge and once you arrive you quickly forget that you are so close to a busy thoroughfare.  There is a small sushi bar and a fairly large dining area.  The…

Recipes & Travel:
Canadian Rockies, Canmore, Restaurant Reviews, restaurants, Travel Alberta, Wild Orchid Asian Bistro and Lounge