Sweet Life

Sweets for the sweet! City Spice hits a sugar high this month as we investigate the most decadent and delicious treats in Edmonton and Calgary.

From the Editor

Cinnamon hearts, fancy cupcakes, sugar cookies, flower bouquets, punch out Valentines, doilies and lace! What’s not to love about Valentine’s Day? This year, City Spice celebrates with sweet treats to kick off your day of romance (or chocolate to treat yourself!). I’ll be stopping by The Artworks and Notables in search of nostalgic cards and stationery (in Calgary, try Box Paper Scissors), and I might spoil myself with a trip to Wellington Garden Centre to drink in the atmosphere. They have so many gorgeous items – dishes, ornaments, stationery - and it’s all arranged to look absolutely decadent. Valentine’s Day might be the perfect excuse to defy my boyfriend’s love of sleek, urban décor in favour of romantic French La Rochere glassware – in pink! Comments, questions or vacation tips? Get in touch by e-mailing editor@travelalberta.com.

The Cupcake Comeback

The Cupcake Comeback A nostalgic favourite has become a hot commodity in Edmonton and Calgary by Caitlin Crawshaw In the battle for baked-good supremacy, the humble muffin has long had the upper hand, maintaining the loyalty of coffee connoisseurs and snackers everywhere. But a new contender threatens to steal the spotlight: the cupcake. Of course, the cupcake isn’t really ‘new’ at all – it’s a childhood favourite that evokes memories of birthday parties and baking with Grandma. But recently, it’s emerged as a tasty trend across North America, including Alberta. About a half-dozen cupcake shops have opened in the province in the last few years. Edmonton’s Flirt Cupcakes on Whyte Avenue is one of the newest. Big demand for tiny cakes When Rick Krupa and Michelle Lemoignan opened their shop on Valentine’s Day last year, there was a line-up around the block. Not surprisingly, three months later, the bakery was already turning a profit. On the eve of their first anniversary, Flirt Cupcakes has a dedicated following of foodies who come regularly for the fresh-baked treats and their catering services are in high demand. Why do we love them? The appeal of cupcakes is part nostalgia, part convenience, says Krupa. You can’t easily nosh on a piece of cake while walking down the street. “If you have the same craving, and you’re hungry, you can come in (to Flirt), grab a cupcake and throw the wrapper away. It’s a convenient food, really – like a chocolate bar,� he says. Calgary cupcakes too! Kari Richardson began Calgary’s Buttercream Bake Shoppe a little over five years ago. Now the bakery has three locations – 17th Avenue, CrossIron Mills and the Calgary farmers’ market – and serves 56 different flavours throughout the year. The chocolate cupcake is Richardson’s mother’s recipe. A self-taught baker and former marketing professional, Richardson decided to start a cupcake-focused bakery after discovering a number of cupcake shops in New York. The trend didn’t surprise her. “They’re easy to eat and it’s also the nostalgia that people like,� she says. Why do they taste so good? All of Flirt’s recipes contain natural ingredients. “We stick to the good stuff,� says Krupa. Their signature cupcake, the Flirt, includes Callebaut cocoa shipped in from Belgium, the vanilla cupcake uses Madagascar bourbon vanilla, and all of the cupcakes use real butter and sugar. I want more! In both Edmonton and Calgary, numerous cupcake shops have cropped up in recent years. In Edmonton, Fuss Cupcakes offers nut-free cupcakes at its Whyte Avenue and west end locations. On the south side of town, foodies can indulge their palettes at Riverbend’s Whimsical Cake Studio. The Cupcake Shoppe sells its treats at the Sherwood Park and St. Albert farmers’ markets and also delivers. The cupcake scene is just as fruitful in Calgary. A sister-duo from High River runs Crave Cookies and Cupcakes, which has locations in Kensington, 17th Avenue, Aspen and Willow Park. In Chinatown, Bliss & Co. Cupcakes proves that big taste can come in small packages.

Craving Chocolate?

Craving Chocolate? Chocolate gurus in Calgary and Edmonton share their tips on how to enjoy one of life’s small pleasures. by Mike Fisher Two top urban chocolate gurus answer questions about how and where you can live the urban sweet life as we approach Valentine’s Day, and explain what makes a perfect match. Stir it up with Brett Roy of Sweet Lollapalooza Confections in Edmonton and Brad Churchill of Choklat in Calgary. Brett Roy Sweet Lollapalooza Chocolate is to women as what is to men? Sweet Lollapalooza’s Aztec haute chocolate is something everyone falls in love with, including men. It is inspired by the preparation of the Maya, who it was believed had chocolate with every meal. It has been recorded as the drink of everyday Maya people and of the rulers and gods. And what guy doesn’t want to partake in the drink of rulers and gods? Make yourself a matchmaker: eat confections at which Edmonton parks? Whitemud Park is a great place to explore wildlife in the city. Our Torque Bonbon reminds me of this park. It’s got a wild, spicy ganache filling inside a refined coating of fine dark chocolate. Louise McKinney Riverfront Park offers a great escape for downtown dwellers and commuters. It includes a Chinese garden that reminds me of our Roasted Black Sesame Bonbon, which is inspired by several dim sum dishes my family loves. William Hawrelak Park is a great destination in the summer and winter. Because there is so much to do there, with the amphitheatre, paddleboats and trails, it most resembles our nine-piece bonbon box with its variety in flavours and textures. On Valentine's Day in Edmonton, where should you be? Keeping warm with someone you care about, somewhere that’s special for both of you. For me, that would be at home enjoying great conversation, sharing my champagne truffles from our heart-shaped box and a mug of Aztec haute chocolate. The neighborhood where Lollapalooza is located resembles what Lollapalooza confection and why? I’d have to say our chocolate chip cookies, which has a base dunked in French milk chocolate. We’re at 199-10155 102 St NW. The chocolate base is like the pedway system that keeps the community together inside and warm in the winter. If you're going to bite off more than you can chew, what should it be? You’d probably want to reach for buttercrunch. It’s got lots to chew on, including a thin layer of butter toffee, Italian hazelnuts and, of course, chocolate. The year 2010 signals what for chocolate in Alberta? High quality chocolate has been the subject of many recent nutritional research studies that have identified an increasing number of health benefits of chocolate. We can feel good about indulging in it for our emotional and physical health. Brad Churchill Choklat How do you pair chocolate and wine? Not all chocolate and wine go together, but you can treat pairings as a fun alternative to desserts when you have company over, or if you go out. Choklat hosts chocolate and wine pairing events in Calgary, we’re at 3127A 9 Ave SE. Just like wine, single origin and estate level chocolate, such as that which we make right here at Choklat, has flavour nuances that make some pairings spectacular, while other pairings taste terrible. Changing the roasting profile of a type of cocoa bean will change the types of wine the chocolate is best paired with. You can download the wine pairing list. The tip of the tongue is best for doing what with chocolate? Honestly? Nothing. The benefit of the taste of the product is in the middle, sides and back of your tongue, and here at Choklat it’s all about the taste. You have 10 seconds left on earth - what would you eat and why? I would eat our Ocumare milk chocolate, which has a smooth, creamy, nutty flavour. Even though we import some of the rarest cocoa beans in the world to make our chocolate, and make some of the best dark chocolate you’ll find anywhere, I am at heart, a milk chocolate lover. What Calgary park works best with Choklat? I’d pair Ocumare with Canada Olympic Park, where the best athletes on the planet compete in World Cup competitions. It’s on par with the best in the world. Why trifle with truffles? At Choklat you can buy truffles custom-made while you wait or made to order. For the first time in this industry, you get what you want for the truffle center, what you want it dipped in, and then what you want the truffle coated in. What chocolate guarantees a kiss if you give it as a gift? Place one of our little blue take-out boxes of truffles in your sweetheart’s hands and they’ll know you wanted nothing but the best for them. That thought alone is worth all the kisses in the world! More for chocolate lovers Check out other chocolate destinations in Calgary and Edmonton.

Edmonton Band - Toy Singers

“Pretty, melodic and fun,� says singer/guitarist Aaron Parker when we ask him to describe the Toy Singers’ music. The Edmonton-based band’s upbeat sound is smile-inducing, their melodies tinged with happy nostalgia. It’s trumpet-tinged easy listening music that makes you tap your toes and whistle along. We sat down with Aaron to find out more about the Toy Singers.

Toy Singers - Favorite Place to Play

Where is your favourite place to play? We like to play at Brixx Bar and Grill because it is a good sized room for our band. We have played there a lot, so we do like to branch out, but some of our best shows have been there because it is intimate and gets decent crowds. Describe your perfect audience. Bands always want to attract people who love live music. It is very encouraging to see people we don't know coming to multiple shows. Some bands get upset if an audience talks during their performance but I figure, if they came out and paid at the door, it is our responsibility to draw them in. We try to make our music fun to listen to and to be ourselves on stage.

Toy Singers - Alberta's Unique Music Scene

People often need a night out and if they need to talk or take a walk or whatever, that's their right. That being said, I think our shows are good enough that people do not regret listening intently. They don't need to dress a certain way or anything - we don't have to go on a date with them. If we did, we might want to ensure that they were intelligent people who appreciate art, culture, and fashion. But then, I guess most of our audience is like that already! What makes the Alberta music scene unique? For a lot of us, being here means that we have an appreciation for nature and people, but we don't get too puffed up (hopefully), thinking we are cool just for being from a certain city. We also have a lot of natural beauty and all the musicians we know find that to be a huge reason to stay around. Musicians here support each other, even when the music is diverse.

Toy Singers - Living in Edmonton

How does living in Edmonton influence your music? We feel a bit like outsiders in Edmonton because we don't fit squarely into one scene or crowd. I think that's good for a band. Even though there are a lot of musicians who have supported our music and there is a decent music scene, we aren't in danger of becoming parodies of ourselves or conforming to a trend.

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