Posts tagged: Travel Alberta

Ginger and Nutmeg were not on a plane to France May 1st.
Instead, they had a chance to

their backyard.

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Recipes & Travel:
Banff Gondola, Banff Museums, Banff National Park, Canadian Rockies, Dog Friendly Banff, Sulphur Mountain Gondola, Things to do in Banff, Travel Alberta

Seeking the ideal setting for your wedding vows?
It may surprise winter diehards; the team at Mount Norquay in Banff creates lasting memories all year round.

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Recipes & Travel:
Banff National Park, Canadian Rockies, Mount Norquay, Mountain Weddings, Skiing in Alberta, Things to do in Banff, Travel Alberta

Southern Alberta spring is transient.
Nutmeg likes to call it the Spring Tease.
You might be tempted to clean off the deck, haul out the garden furniture and make an assessment of the damage winter did to the yard. You may even take your bike out for a spin, careful to avoid the gravel left over from the icy days. There could be an opportunity to sneak in an early season golf game.
Don’t put away your warm clothes yet!
These are the few weeks a year, when multi-sport enthusiasts can ski and golf in the same day, although you may be warmer skiing.
Last week the daytime temperatures in the Bow Valley hovered around 7C (45F) and Lady MacDonald was crowned with a fresh dusting of the white stuff.
Nutmeg reflected once again, that there really are places in the world, where flowers are blooming by this time.
A touch of red

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Recipes & Travel:
Banff National Park, Canmore Alberta, Flowers in France, French Poppies, Monet Paintings, Provence Travel, 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

As you all know, Nutmeg was not terribly excited about heading back to Calgary in November. I decided that I should help her out and do a little research on where to find a bit of France in Calgary (pronounced Càl-gà-riêéè in French).
Although, Alberta has a reputation for being Anglophone, it is actually the third province in Canada for number of residents with French as their mother tongue. Over 68,000 people can legitimately claim that fact.
Despite a reputation of beef, beef and more AAA beef; the province has more to offer on the restaurant and grocery scene. In part, we can thank our French-speaking residents for their more sophisticated palate. Check out how Française Calgary really is…

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Recipes & Travel:
Calgary Restaurants, Food in Calgary, French Food, Restaurant Reviews, Travel Alberta

Ginger, Nutmeg, and Jade recently arrived back in Calgary after their “Year in Provence”. Ginger insisted that he had to return to North America for several commitments. Although, he did admit that returning in the month of November was dubious. The two ladies agreed to come back reluctantly, but only after Ginger promised that they would return to France next summer.
Nutmeg was thrilled that there was no snow on the ground for their arrival.
Jade was happy to get out of her travel kennel. She was not too fussed about where she was, as long as the food kept coming at regular intervals.
Ginger was probably the most excited as the NHL hockey season was underway and his regular “old boys” league were still playing on a weekly basis.
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Recipes & Travel:
Blink Restaurant Calgary, Calgary Cooking Classes, Calgary Restaurants, Food in Calgary, Travel Alberta

This will be a short one on Alberta’s spring.  Nutmeg moved to Calgary 17 years ago, Ginger had arranged with Mother Nature for a fantastic spring and even better summer that year.  Since that time, Calgary and Mother Nature have ignored Ginger and completely tormented Nutmeg.  Practically every year there is a deficit of snow for skiing in January and February, or it is too darn cold.

 
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Recipes & Travel:
Travel Alberta, Travel in France

The City of Calgary has spent $11.5 million and two years renovating Central Memorial Park, one of the oldest parks in the city it opened in 1912.  This centrally located park had fallen from a prominent memorial dedicated to those who fought in the two world wars, to an inner-city eyesore full of drug dealers and home to some of Calgary’s unfortunate street dwellers. The park was officially reopened on May 14, 2010.  The park construction and work on the new restaurant Boxwood Cafe is finally finished.  The restaurant opened on September 15th.  Nutmeg could hardly wait to check it out.  So the best way is to go for lunch with a great friend! (more…)

Recipes & Travel:
Boxwood Cafe, Calgary Restaurants, Food in Calgary, Restaurant Reviews, Travel Alberta

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