Happy Holidays

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays to you all! Hope to be blogging more in the New Year.

Love, nwtnatalie

Happy Chihuahuas

Clearly they enjoyed summer vacation as much as I did.

Oh hi there.

Like all things, the best place to start is the beginning.

It was a great summer. The best in many years, one of those awesome, fun filled, carefree summers from your childhood.

So the Mother in law came out for a visit in June, she enjoyed Yellowknife and that was nice. Two weeks later my parents came to visit us. Dad always wanted to travel to the territories, he was offered a promotion here back in the day but the crying children and flat out refusal from Mom thwarted that dream. So they too loved it here. Even with the prehistoric mosquitoes and 15 degree weather, they thought it was awesome. We fished, we checked out the shops, the restaurants, picnicked along the Ingraham Trail and had so much fun. Dad and Hubby went for the fishing trip to beat all fishing trips with Hubby's coworker and they came back as excited and happy as two kids in a candy store.

Normally leaving my parents is really, really sad and hard for me. However, two weeks after their departure, Hubby and I (and Malcolm & Olivia of course) had airline tickets booked to go to Newfoundland. Mom and Dad were joining us there, we were going to my university roommate's wedding and taking in Saint John's. So seeing them go wasn't as sad as it normally would have been.

Saint John's and Marystown, NL were simply too much fun. Visiting the Rock was the happiest traveling experience we had in a long time. First of all we were stunned by the friendliness of the people. Example: "Thank you!" "Oh my dear, you are welcome, and you have a great day lovvie." It was simply wonderful. Plus the Terre-Neuviens LOVED my dogs... everyone stopped to exclaim, laugh, pat and just love them. Even in the face of the derelict Marystown Motel... it was a busy, fun filled and happy 11 days.

Then we continued on to the Motherland, Nova Scotia. I hadn't been to the Motherland in the summertime in years, so it seemed extra fun and special. We hung out at Mom and Dad's cottage, spent time with our family and friends and just enjoyed every second.

When I started projectile vomiting all over the place... I thought clearly it was the H1N1. (Just kiddin' Megan!) Well, the cause of the illness was not from any germ or flu to say the least. Hubby returned to the North and I decided to stay home a few more days after him. However, I was so ill, there was simply no way this body was going to make the trip back to the North. In the end, I stayed 3 weeks longer than previously expected and returned as I had a new, awesome job lined up in YK. More good news came from Hubby, he had received an department transfer and is now working in a position that is much more professionally satisfying for him.

After the wonderful summer and three WONDERFUL new things in our life we felt like we had won the lottery of good fortune. Mom joked that we should run, not walk and actually buy a lottery ticket! Have you ever had that feeling sneak up on you when things are going really, really well that it isn't going to last? Something really bad will HAVE to happen to even out the good? Hubby and I commented on that upon my return to YK.

Back in YK, I started my first week at my new job. Things went very well and I was again, very happy and content although still struggling with first trimester sickness. By the Friday of my first work week, I was so excited to be off with Hubby and have some quality time together over the weekend. Again, I couldn't shake that "something horrible is going to happen" sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.

When we rolled home that Friday evening, after being back in Yellowknife for a mere seven days, I received the news that my Dad had been in a terrible accident in Nova Scotia. He was killed instantly.

Because I love my little blog, and my blogging friends and even the one reader left, I wanted to share with you where I have been. When I am super happy, I don't really feel like blogging. When I am super sad, I really don't feel like blogging either. I may talk a little bit about the past events, but I do hope to keep the same feel to the blog. If it is a while between blog postings, please keep checking back.

Signing off... over and out... Natalie

I can't make this stuff up...

Tonight while grocery shopping at our wonderful local Co op store, I stumbled across a completely flabbergasted woman at the cheese section of the deli department. She looked at me in utter bewilderment while holding a hunk of cheese in her hand. As I was passing by, she waved for me to come over.

Wheeling my cart over, she stuck out the hand holding said hunk of cheese and asked me if she was really seeing what she thought she was. Taking the piece of cheese from her I was not surprised to see dime sized turquoise and white furry mold spots dotting the surface. Smiling knowingly, I turned the hunk over to reveal what I had suspected, this was a store packaged, heat sealed product. Please see this post for more information on this occurrence.

Before I could say anything she pointed to the cooler where more moldy packages of cheese were laying.

Showing her an example of prepackaged cheese versus store packaged cheese I explained to her what the Deli Manager had previously explained to Hubby regarding why their cheese is prone to mold. This woman looked at me absolutely incredulously and I affirmed that yes, I am being serious. She thanked me and we continued on our way.

Now, to me this is absolutely unacceptable. I LOVE the Co op here in town. It is a beautiful, well maintained and clean store. Their employees are well trained in the art of all things grocery related, and for that I am appreciative. Lately I have noticed an influx of specialty, organic items on the shelves and for that I am doubly appreciative.

However, this bizarre cheese situation still mystifies me. To me it seems a simple solution would be to vacuum seal these products as opposed to heat sealing them in plastic wrap which inevitably is causing mold growth on their hunks of cheese.

What are your thoughts on this situation?

Christmas in July!

So... I just bought this box of cereal last week at the Co op as my EF store boycot is on once again.

Imagine my surprise to see the festive Christmas/Holiday decor on the packaging when I unpacked my groceries.

The good news is that it is not yet expired, so really there is no harm done at all. However, there is something about eating Christmas Crispex in July is slightly jarring to me.

And no, this cereal was not discounted in any way.

Silly dog

Oh Malcolm!

Return to Bullock's!

This evening, I had the pleasure of dining with my fellow YK blogger, Jason, his godmother, mom and my Hubby at Bullock's Bistro. Bullock's is located in the Old Town section of Yellowknife, directly across from Weaver and Devore. Some of you may remember this post which originated this evening's dining experience.

Be forewarned, this summer Bullock's is not taking dinner reservations. This is commonplace in chain restaurants in larger centres, however I was surprised that Bullock's has gone this route. Dinner service starts at 5pm so arrive early to snag a table, as per Jason's advice. Jason and co arrived a few minutes before 5pm and Hubby and I arrived a few minutes after five, which would have been too late. Jason had thankfully saved the table.

Within minutes of our arrival, the restaurant was filled to maximum capacity. Once the restaurant was filled to the brim, the server/owner went to the cooler and called out for people to let her know what alcoholic beverage they would like. If you wanted a non alcoholic drink, you could serve yourself. In the past all beverages were self serve from the cooler, however due to various laws the staff is now required to serve alcoholic beverages.




The server/owner brought us buns and took our orders. There are no side plates for the buns, so just grab one and dig in, eat it right off the bare table top. The choices on the menu were very fresh looking caribou, cod, pickerel, arctic char or the seafood platter. For the fish, you have the choice of grilled, pan fried or deep fried. There is also the seafood platter, where the three fish selection is skewered and cooked to your preference. The server does not give out menus unless specifically requested as the menu varies daily depending on what fresh ingredients they have. The downfall is that you do not know the prices of what you are ordering, however you can expect each entree to be around the $30ish dollar mark, give or take a little.

I was tempted to go with the caribou, as I have never ate caribou before and the muskox we had previously tried at Bullock's was absolutely heavenly. However, I decided to go with Jason's selection, the seafood platter.

From the time we ordered to the time we were served, it was approximately one hour. This is perfectly acceptable as you can see the cook working full blast cooking by herself behind the counter. The server/owner helps the cook to prep the plates. The cook started by frying the french fries, then moved on the the various fishes and finally cooked the caribou. As the meals were ready, they were served. A tip if you are in a rush, is to sit at the bar as their meals were served first. Another tip is do not go to Bullock's if you are in a rush!

Our meal was served with Hubby being told they would bring more fish for him in a moment. When it was ready, an additional piece was brought to the table and plunked on his plate. More fish for the seafood platter that three of us had ordered was also brought to the table on a small dish for us to share in addition to our kebab.


The pan fried fish kebab (AKA seafood platter) was dredged in the most flavourful, tasty, yummy batter I have ever tasted in my life. There is also a dark sauce added to it, which adds a whole new yummy dimension to the dish. There were homemade french fries (crispy and hot) and a romaine salad served with each meal. If you prefer only fries or only salad, let the server know. With the salad you have the option of a feta dressing or herb dressing, I tried the feta which tasted very strongly of feta and garlic, but was quite delicious.

The ambiance in the restaurant is slightly frantic, loud, overcrowded yet everyone is happy, enjoying their delicious food and the unique atmosphere. The music was quite loud at first causing us to have to holler/scream talk, but the request to lower the music was obliged and once it was turned down made for easier dinner conversation.

We had a wonderful meal and the company added to the great experience. If you heading to Bullock's for a meal, leave all your previous dining expectations at home. You are not heading to Earl's or Moxie's, nor the Five Fishermen. Bullock's is kind of like eating at a huge family reunion being hosted at your aunt's house. It will be crowded, loud, someone may yell at you to move your chair or ask if someone can sit at your table, but the food will be great and that is why people keep coming back.

Here is Jason with the leftovers, self wrapped in butcher's paper and placed into a cardboard box to prevent leakage. No environmentally unfriendly styrofoam "to go" containers here!

Smile!

Let's face it, in larger city centres, you don't go around smiling at everyone you see on the street. There are many reasons for this, but the bottom line is that it is a matter of personal safety. You never know what creeps are out there lying in wait. I am above average in the paranoia department due to my cop's kid upbringing, however, most females are pretty careful these days. Or maybe that is just me.

When I left my friendly, warm land of Nova Scotia the unfriendliness of the general public of British Columbia really floored me. In Halifax the standard stranger eye contact in public places etiquette seems to be:
a) Acknowledge other individual with a brief glance and quick closed lip half smile. Eyebrows remain level.
b) Keep face neutral, avert eyes. Continue briskly on your way.
c)If the person seems really sane a full fledged eye squint combined with a full closed lip smile may be appropriate.

Now, in BC the standard procedure is ALWAYS B. Never A or C. It just doesn't happen. When you are used to A and C, it is alarming at first. However you get used to it pretty quickly.

Yellowknife seems to have a scale all on its own in the stranger eye contact department. It is commonplace to have complete strangers execute a FULL teeth exposed, eyes squinted, warm faced smile. Imagine my complete surprise after the coolness of BC!

To this day, the friendliness and warmth of complete strangers still takes me off guard. I must say, it is another asset of this wonderful little place North of 60.

Grocery Rant

The first ever time I grocery shopped in YK, it was absolutely scary. The cashier wildly scanned each item and then flung it down the conveyor belt. Hubby and I stood there waiting for her to bag our groceries (as that is what happens at every other grocery store I have ever shopped at in my life...) while she continued the wild scanning and flinging. When she was done she stared blandly at us and announced the HUGE price. (First grocery trips are always so expensive, I hate having to re buy everything that was once in your cupboard.) While she smacked away on her gum she completed the transaction and then, as she handed us our bill told us to bag our own groceries.

I hate grocery shopping in YK. However, nine months down the road I feel I have become a marathon grocery shopper, I have learned to ALWAYS bring Hubby to the grocery store, he loads up the front end of the conveyor belt while I run to the end part of the conveyor belt and start bagging. It works well, and I am contemplating applying to the Northern Olympics to see if we can start it up Northern Grocery shopping as a new Northern Olympic event.

Having boycotted EF and I have now returned as the high prices as Co op became far too expensive to continue to exclusively shop there. The last trip to EF grocery store illuminated exactly why I cannot handle shopping there.

Hubby and I set up for the unloading and packing of the groceries. His mother was even there to help me pack. As I filled a bag with groceries I sat it at the end of the conveyor belt as Hubby was still unloading the cart. That same cashier was practicing her expert scan and fling technique. Soon the end portion of the conveyor belt was jam packed with bagged groceries and groceries still requiring bagging. MIL and I worked at top notch speeds. As the cashier was in her happy place, scanning and flinging away (while smacking loudly on her gum) she did not notice that the groceries were piled high and there was no more room for more bagged groceries. (No, putting bagged groceries on their filthy floor was not an option!) I loudly yet politely called out for her to stop for a second until Hubby could push the cart down so we could start loading up the cart and finish bagging the groceries. She ignored me and within these few seconds the influx on new groceries caused all the bagged groceries to squash together at once. I heard a huge crunch as the bags of chips crushed together and the bread bag was flattened to a pancake like state.

So here’s my problem. I am sick and tired of the dingy half empty store filled with half spoiled produce and often empty shelves. I KNOW there are people on this earth who don’t even have the luxury of a grocer or even food while others are stuck paying $20 for a litre of milk. I SHOULD probably not complain.

But here in YK, it’s almost like a tease. We have produce, but it half rotted. There is a grocery store (Three to be exact) but the shelves are half filled. The bread is set to expire in four days. The milk goes bad after two... and then there is the often times poor service at that certain grocery store. My grocery order is ALWAYS between $300ish to $400ish every 3ish weeks. I hate paying all that money to a national grocery chain to consistently have these bizarre and stressful shopping experiences.

And NO, I really don’t buy into the whole, “We have a hard time finding good workers here in YK” thing. The difference in customer service and overall store quality between Co op and EF proves that is not the case.

Another photo caption contest!

I have LOVED Ferry Tale's Photo Caption Contest this past week. So to continue the fun, here is my photo that needs a good caption! I eagerly await your captions or short stories.

(For my family who read this, you can leave a comment in the comments section, just click on the comments section at the end of this post, select anonymous and leave your name in the body of the comment.)

Of course there will be a prize for the award winning caption or story.

Summertime in the Knife

Almost every YKer that I have met has assured me since the first day I arrived in the metropolis that YK has fantastic summers. The summers are so marvelous that they actually "make up" for the long, cold, dark winters. In the midst of the long, dark winter, these individuals would seem to develop a longing, far away, dreamy state when even thinking of the wonder that is the summertime in YK. Let me be very honest when I say that I didn't believe a word of it, even though numerous people sang the praises of the Northern Summer.

Well, now I am living it and I must admit, Yellowknife in the summer is truly a lovely place. The long days without any darkness are certainly a little wonky when you are not used to it, however I much prefer this to the long, dark winter days. A nice room darkening curtain will do the trick of eliminating the daylight from shining though into your bedroom. Walmart in YK carries a few different styles, so they are available here in town.

Now, I am not naturally a Nature person. I don't enjoy being in wild animal's homes or territories. I wouldn't want them in my home, so I tend to grant them the same respect. One of the most fantastic aspects of the Yellowknife summer is going outdoors and experiencing the awesome hiking trails, day parks, lakes, and other attractions such as Cameron Falls. So I have recently been facing some of my biggest fears (wild animals) and getting out and enjoying all that the North has to offer out of doors. Hubby and I have taken up fishing (heart stoppingly FUN!) and are looking to purchase a canoe right away. While I am constantly phobic that a bear or any other wild animal is going to come wandering out of the forest to where I am hanging out, I am facing my fears and hopefully will come to feel more comfortable amongst wilderness.

There just may be hope for me yet.

Here are some photos from the beautiful lakes around the Yellowknife area.

Prosperous Lake at 11:15 pmProsperous Lake, around 9:30 pm, this was one of the most calm and peaceful places I have been in a very long time. All around us we could hear the calling of birds, the splashing of fish in the lake and a muskrat entertained us swimming all around the wharf where we were fishing.


This little guy was spotted in Frame Lake, just next to the Frame Lake Walking Trail. This trail is accessible at various places around Yellowknife, including by the hospital, Ruth Inch Pool as well as City Hall. It is a satisfying and beautiful hike from the hospital to City Hall and back.

Frame Lake

This is Madeline Lake, located just off the Ingraham Trail. They have picnic tables and little camping stoves if you are looking for a nice place to have a picnic and do some fishing or boating.

I encourage anyone coming to the Yellowknife area to get out and experience the wilds of the North. It is absolutely spectacular as Tourism NWT claims and if I can do it, so can you.

Lunch au Wildcat Cafe

Le Wildcat Cafe
3186 Wiley Street, Oldtown, Yellowknife
Opens at 7am
Prices range from $$ to $$$$$



Today I had the pleasure of having lunch at one of Yellowknife's more famous restaurants, Le Wildcat Cafe. My friend and I decided to go at 1pm in order to avoid a big noon lunch rush. We were pleased to see that while le Wildcat was nice and full, it was not overcrowded. Before entering the restaurant you are greeted with this sign that helps to explain the seating procedure of le Wildcat.

There are long benches and wooden tables on each side of the restaurant that will comfortably sit around six adults. In three of the corners of the room there are smaller tables that will sit two to four adults. This restaurant is separated into two rooms, one for the kitchen and the other is the main dining area. The walls are beautiful, rustic, stained wooden logs and boards. Olden day artifacts adorn the walls and corners. Be sure to look up to see an old saw strung across the rafters as well as a well used paddle.


Le Wildcat also has additional seating available on the patio adjacent to the restaurant. A sign advises patrons to be sure to go into the restaurant to let the server know that you are there. With temperatures hovering around eight degrees Celsius today, we decided to dine inside!

The ambiance of le Wildcat is fantastic, you truly feel as if you have been transported 60 years into the past. I wouldn't have been at all surprised to see a burly woodsman in a plaid jacket with an axe slung over his shoulder saunter in through the front door. Actually, in Yellowknife that probably wouldn't be too far fetched anyway.

The servers were highly competent, something I always appreciate when dining in our lovely metropolis. As for the lunch menu, the prices range from reasonable to quite pricey, depending on the items. The menu is quite a bit larger than what I had suspected, so the selection was quite plentiful.

My friend and I both ordered the arctic char burger which is served on a scrumptious and fresh kaiser bun. The bun is smeared with slightly overpowering garlic mayonnaise, lettuce and thin slices of red onion. As for the arctic char itself, it was sheer culinary perfection, lovely and soft, not at all overcooked or hard, allowing the obviously fresh flavor of the arctic char to dominate the burger. I wasn't so fond of their fried potato wedges, they were a very dark brown colour... chewy on the inside, overly crispy and over fried on the outside. I would have greatly enjoyed the option for either a fresh salad or a roasted potato in it's place.


At $18 a plate for each arctic char burger plus a soft drink each our bill totaled just over $40. A little steep for lunch in my opinion, however I will be back to try both their breakfast and dinner menus.

Lakeshore Drive, Penticton

This is one of my favourite places on Earth. It is so calming and beautiful to walk along the boardwalk with the sparkling lake bordered by big BC mountains.

If you are ever looking for a fun Canadian vacay, I suggest checking out BC's Okanagan Valley. Westjet offers great seat sales into Kelowna and the outlying areas are absolutely breathtaking. If you are a fan of wine, the OK Valley has well over a hundred wineries according to the last vineyard map I saw, my favourites are Lang Vineyards and Elephant Island in Naramata. Burrowing Owl, just south of Oliver is another gem, nestled at the tip of the Sonora Desert. The other big attraction for me is the beautiful beaches with amazingly clear and warm water.

I am definately feeling home/BC sick these days, especially when the temperatures in the Okanagn have reached +35C in the past week.



I would love any suggestions from the YKers out there for fun things to do around town or things to look forward to in the coming summer months.

Catching Up

Hello Readers,

For the last two weeks I have been without internet, with the exception of my cell phone. The blog is now updated, all of your comments have been posted and hopefully replied to. I want to thank everybody who stops by and takes time to read this, it surprises me every day.

Now, getting back to business, here are some photos of my dogs in their most favourite place on Planet Earth, the Dog Beach and Lakeshore Drive in Penticton. Those are some happy puppies.


Can you spot the chihuahuas? They look so tiny compared to the scenery!


Sun, sand and a curb to walk on. That's all Olivia asks for in life.

Return to YK BP

Breaking news flash, I have broken my seven month long boycott of YK BP and returned to try it once again. Of course this was due to our friend’s suggestion, but I gritted my teeth and back I went. Sure enough our server was the same gal who seven months ago screeched at me that she did not KNOW what types of herbal teas they offer, I can’t expect her to know EVERYTHING. She did not KNOW why our appetizers took 30 minutes to come to the table in an empty restaurant and why they were stone cold and gluey. Let’s just say I felt nervous in her presence once again, sweat actually beaded on my palms. But I played it cool... and prayed silently that she did not remember me.

Let’s start at the beginning though. We were seated by a young person who had yet to master the fine art of verbal communication and manners. Of course I can deal with that as they were not being outwardly rude, just seemingly incapable of human to human speech.

Example: Hostess hands menu to Hubby. Hubby replies, “Thank you very much!” Hostess stares at ceiling and replies, “Yuh.”

Note: Yes, I did watch her eyes stare at the ceiling and no she did not manage to say an articulate “yeah”, it was definitely, “yuh.” To confirm this occurrence when the hostess handed me my menu I replied with another, “Thanks a lot!” To which the hostess continued to gaze far, far away and again said, “Yuh.”

Okay. While it didn’t start out great, I was relieved that the seating part of our dinner went as smoothly as it did. Next came our server to take our drink order. Again, I was nervous and very uneasy when I realized it was THE SAME SERVER WHO SCREAMED AT ME OVER HERBAL TEA, so I channeled my inner Deepak Chopra and forged on with the ordering process.

It was truly like a miracle had occurred at YK BP. This once shockingly rude and hysterical young individual spoke to us appropriately, politely and was at ease with the order taking and food serving process. She calmly rattled off what beer they had for Hubby and calmly and politely told me that their slush machine was out of order, so no Boston Bellini for me.

I literally can say I was stunned with this experience but in a happy and wonderful way. Our food was served promptly and was actually hot. (My one teeny beverage critique would be that my Caesar was so fiery hot that I doubt a fire breathing dragon could consume it... just had to say!)

To conclude, my final thoughts for YK BP is to give them a nice pat on the back as it was obvious to me they have made a big endeavor to improve the customer service offered by their establishment. Kudos to you YK BP!

Best Ever Reader Submitted Comment!

In case you missed this fantastic reader submitted comment in the comments section, I am posting it here as it contains some valuable info for all of us Yellowknife dining gurus.

I was laughing out loud when reading about your Bullock's experience. Let me guess: you showed up after 6pm? Never, never do that again. LOL I too showed up after 6pm on my first few occasions. What happened to you also happened to me. LOL (Seriously, I can't stop laughing.)

You should give Bullock's another try. It's a great place to eat AWESOME food and meet some VERY interesting characters. (Well, you've met them already but they were at their worst.)

Here's what you do: make a reservation for 4:30 or 5pm. Your meal will take 30-45 min to prepare. While you wait, they will give you fresh buns and butter. And, MAN! Are those buns the best EVER. But make sure not to ask for more. You will be sternly told, "NO." And if you forget to do that, you MUST NOT insist. The response will be something like, "There are more people coming. They want buns too you know?! You can't eat all the buns! Everyone gets one!" (Of course they lie. You can only have one bun because they only make so many to reward those that show up early for supper. I bet you got no buns.)

When they hand you a menu, take it but don't look at it. Ask them what's available today. They will list off names of fish. Don't ask for any description about the fish. You are going there to eat fish and the fish you eat is whatever was caught that day. You should be familiar with local fish if you are "from here." Make up your mind right away and order it. I usually order the Fisherman's Platter which is a bit of everything they have. You can also earn bonus points for knowing that your fish can be either grilled, pan fried, deep fried, or grilled and comes with your choice of fries, salad or half and half and ordering it without them having to ask.

It is safe to order their delicious fries at this time of day. They will arrive hot and crisp and be dotted with sea salt. They are at their best with cider vinegar. You should also know that the black sauce on your table is for grilled fish only. The dressing for the salad is the feta cheese and dill mixture. BTW, both recipes are closely guarded secrets.

After you've ordered and before the buns get there, go get your drinks. As you wait, the staff will strike up conversation with you. They will probably ask you many questions. The more "local" they perceive you to be, the bigger the meal. (Or maybe that's just my perception.)

By 5:30pm, the place will start to fill up. And everything starts to go fast. By 6-6:30pm, it's usually chaos. Luckily, you were served at 5:30-5:45pm. By 7pm, they run out of food and you are paying your bill and heading to the movies.

You simply showed up at the wrong time. So yeah, try it again! Can I tag along?

For more of Jason's wonderful and thought provoking commentary, check out his blog here. I am really looking forward to going back and trying it again, when are we going?

Keeping it Real - Restaurants in YK Part 2

Please see Part 1 here

Diamante
$$$ ¾
1-483 Range Lake Road, next to Sam’s Monkey Tree, across from the Shell Station

Mmm. Last week was my first visit to Diamante, and I was happily surprised at the tasty, fresh food and quick and efficient service. Woo hoo. The interior decor is slightly out of date, however it was clean and well maintained, so major bonus points for that. The drink and food menu need to be replaced. They have seen better days. Back to the food, it was wonderful. The pasta is HOMEMADE. Delish, perfectly cooked, nicely seasoned, the sauce complimented the noodle, not overpowering it. I had seafood pasta which had large hunks of all kinds of seafood. This Maritimer gives that a big ol’ thumbs up. We were served fresh and moist sour dough bread with an appropriately crusty crust. I had mussels which were nicely cooked and all safe to eat, in a lovely white wine creamy tomato sauce. The server was friendly and knowledgeable, efficient... what more can one ask for.

Final thoughts: This is a hidden gem in our fair metropolis. I would go back without hesitation. Try their Bellinis... oh try them. Try the homemade cheesecake with caramel sauce. Deeelish.

Our Place Family Dining Room
$$$ ¾
50th Ave & 50th St

Simply put, the food was OK. They list “Fresh PEI Mussels” on their menu, when I asked how that was possible; our server explained that they are frozen PEI mussels. Not fresh. The service was above average for YK. My one issue with the service was that we were seated somewhat close to the kitchen and the server kept running back to chat to the cook. “Oh, I am going to try to sell those customers the special! Let’s see how I make out!” Awkward. The interior decor of Our Place is outdated, it is incredibly dark inside, the majority of seating are 1980s office chairs, pink in colour, they are in need of an update. From our window seating we were able to watch many homeless people staggering the downtown streets of YK. I am on the fence about this establishment, with a slap of paint and new seating could make a really big improvement. The food was pretty good as well as the service so for that alone, I would go back!

Final thought: With an updated aesthetic, this restaurant would be one of the better places in YK.

Bullocks’ Bistro
$$$$ ½
3602 Pilot’s Lane, across from Weaver and Devore in Old Town

This was one of the first places we ate when we were still YK virgins, Newbies, Southerners through and through. I have not been back since. This restaurant is a famed aspect of YK. Many tourists eat there to experience a veritable Northern dining experience. The Arctic Char and Muskox we tried were absolutely, mouth wateringly delicious. The fries and salad were not so good. The dressing bottle on the table was the number one filthiest thing I have EVER seen in a restaurant in my lifetime. It was covered in whatever oil was in the bottle, and it was really caked on, so I knew it had been there for some time. The service was simply alarming, very rude. When we arrived the server led us through a jam packed room and started screaming at one table to move so we could sit there and they could sit somewhere else. When we were seated she snapped at us that we could get our own drinks from the run down looking coolers against the back wall. She then snapped at us that all that was left on the menu was two pieces of char and some muskox, so what did we want. We didn’t know what on earth muskox or arctic char was, so we went with one of each. We ate, enjoyed the meat and fish then paid the insanely high price for our meal and left.

Final thoughts: If I am paying $35 for a piece of fish and some old, soggy fries and am not even being served my drink, I would at least expect to be treated politely. You will either like it or loathe it. Try it out and let me know! I have since heard that they are no longer allowed to "not serve" drinks, so that is a point in their favour.

Vietnamese Noodle House
$$
4609 50 Ave, across from Quality Furniture

This was an OK eating out experience. The decor is very outdated with insect papers and air fresheners stuck in the corners of the restaurant. The food I tried was not bad at all... yummy chicken balls and beef and broccoli, the rice was fluorescent yellow colour, so I am still pondering what variety of rice that was. If you feel like some Vietnamese noodles, I suggest take out. I have only eaten there once for a quick lunch, so that is the extent of my knowledge of this establishment.

Final thought: I think another restaurant makeover is in order!

Explorer Hotel, Trader’s Grill
$$$$
4825 49th Avenue
Brunch Only Review

This is a MUST when in YK. You should always make a reservation as this is super popular, just call 873-3531 and ask to speak to the restaurant. This is a wonderful eating out experience, the brunch is absolutely on par with any you would find at a fancier establishment in the South. On the lower lever of the dining room they set up a waffle and pancake section. This is a heavenly experience! The waffles come freshly made to order, with white and milk chocolate curls as a garnish in addition to gobs of whipped cream. After this, go on to the spread in the little room just off of the dining room. A chef will be there carving up some form of meat, they have arctic char, various other seafood, chicken, eggs, bacon, sausages, fruit, desserts... whatever you could dream of wanting to eat. It is wonderful. All of their desserts are made on site, which is a fabulous perk.

Final Thoughts: You must do it. I believe it is priced at around $20/person, but as a treat, it is worth it. You are worth it! Yum!

Keeping it Real - Restaurants in YK Part 1

I find there is very little online info on restaurants in YK. I really dislike going to a new restaurant without prior knowledge of the place, so here is a rundown if you are looking for a place to eat in YK. I welcome and encourage all you Northern Bloggers to respond and blog about your experiences to help out all the Northern Newbies looking for a place to eat. If you know of any hidden gems, please let the rest of us know!

Note to Newbies: Never feel like you are under dressed when dining out in YK. It is not possible. So strike that worry from your dear minds.

$$$$$ is the most expensive rating and $ is the lowest.

Le Frolic Bistro Bar
$$$$
5019 49 Street, or as we say in YK, across from the mall

I have mixed feelings about this place. It is one of the more upscale dining establishments in YK. Initially it was my absolute favourite place to eat. While the atmosphere is fantastic, the best I have yet to see in YK, like all things YK the service and food is hit and miss, which I find disappointing beyond belief. I have probably ate there about six times, the first four times we enjoyed very nice, well cooked and presented meals with on par service and walked away feeling satisfied and leaving a nice tip for our server, always a good sign. The last two visits we had some bad service and not so great food, we haven’t returned since.

Final thoughts: Great ambiance, mediocre service, pricy drinks, expect to pay $30ish for entrees and $15ish for starters. Don’t miss the Crab Cakes, Arctic Char or Bison Burger. For the price, I expect vastly better and consistent service. Try it out and hope you catch them on a good day.

Fuego
$$$$
4915 50th Street

Hubby and I had our V Day dinner at Fuego this year. For Valentine’s Day, they opened up their upper banquet room to accommodate the extra bookings. I don’t really have many great things to say about our experience, so here is the rundown. The room we ate in smelled very musty and old. The servers were vastly unknowledgeable. The Tinhorn Creek Pinot Blanc was grossly overpriced... $46 for a bottle that sells for $16 at their winery and $22 ish at the YK Liquor Store. A portion of our meal was still FROZEN inside, the duck was 100% uncooked, it was supposed to be cooked. My last beef was the included 20% gratuity. I have known many servers and know how darn hard some of them work. I understand why some establishments include a gratuity on the bill. But at Fuego on February 14th, the service was just bad. There was plenty of staff to accommodate the number of patrons, but these gals were just young and unknowledgeable. They really didn’t care about what they were doing, but tried to maintain the fact that they were extremely posh folk. I didn’t want to tip these kids 20%... because they sucked at their job and served me below par, overpriced food. It was obvious they were not well prepared for the numbers they booked and fed that evening.

Final thoughts: I will try it out again on a non holiday in the future. The ambiance in the bottom level was pretty modern for little ol’ YK. If you do go, skip the V Day meal.

Taste of Saigon
$
4913 50 Street

Please try this place out and enjoy their consistent, yummy, affordable food. As the name suggests, they serve Vietnamese cuisine and their slogan is, “Vietnamese dining at its best” and I agree. The interior is clean, and well maintained. The staff is pretty efficient and friendly. They offer a great, speedy take out service. I highly recommend #44 or #45!

Final thoughts: Do it. It’s good. Order by the number and not the name, it will be worth it.

Boston Pizza
$$ ½
5102 48 Street

I genuinely cannot formulate any sort of review for YK BP. I went. It was bad. I wrote the company. They sent me 4 free vouchers for personal size pizza and a fountain pop. I donated them to a kid’s program run by Hubby’s work. According to the manager they have a really hard time finding and retaining good employees. It shows.

Final thoughts: It’s a great chain to have in YK, I may in fact return one day... maybe.

L’Attitudes
$$
Upper Level, YK Centre Mall

This is one place I go back to again and again. Consistent, friendly, knowledgeable servers, which I love. There is a modernish, clean atmosphere and the food is always good to great. Kind of reminds me of an upscale Irving Big Stop, if ya know what I mean my Maritime peeps. (That’s a good thing for the rest of you!) They have a mean chicken finger, great wraps, the salads are always fresh, and the fries are crispy and plentiful. Oh yes. We like that. L’Atitudes is the perfect place for a quick or leisurely lunch.

Final thoughts: I am pretty sure you can’t go wrong with this place! However, this is YK, so nothing is ever definite.

Perhaps the Ultimate in Blogging Nerdiness

I know you all are jealous.

Much ado about nothing... or mouldy cheese. Whatever.

One thing I miss constantly about the Southern land of Canada is the never ending supply of fresh produce. This was a long, hard winter filled with withered peppers, rubbery, half rotted potatoes, tomatoes, you name it, it wasn’t so fresh. I know a few people who have worked in grocery stores and I am pretty sure that most of the fresh produce on the shelves at YK groceries stores would have been pitched in the bin in other groceries in Canada. Like the trooper that I am, I dealt with this, cutting off the mouldy bits, throwing out much more produce than I ever had before in my life as everything seemed to go from “OK looking” to “inedible” in 2 days of being in the fridge. I get it, I live in the North and I obviously cannot expect to purchase the same level of quality produce that I would expect to readily purchase a 12 hour drive south of here. Ok. Fine.

Recently, with the closure of the MacKenzie River crossing, the selection and quality at the grocery stores here in town has really gone from bad to worse. In the past few weeks, I have purchased bad chicken, bad milk and cheese in addition to the usual half rotted and withered fruits and veg. While I couldn’t do anything about the chicken or milk, when my nice $12 chunk of Gouda turned to white fuzz after one week in my fridge, my hubby very nicely returned it to Co op for me. This was the third package of expensive-ish cheese that I was going to have to trash that had been purchased in the past few months.

Interestingly, the deli produce manager was present at the customer service counter when it was being returned. When she noticed what Hubby was returning, she was apparently horrified but aware of “this problem”. Oh. OK. She further elaborated that some of their fromage comes pre-packaged but others come in wheels which they have to slice themselves. This is where the problem begins. Their packaging system involves wrapping the hunk on cheese in plastic wrap and heat sealing it shut with a heat gun. The heat of the gun triggers mould production in the cheese and they end up losing about 1/3rd of the cheese from every wheel they package.

Now, I am not a scientist, nor do I pretend to be one on the weekends, however, that just doesn’t seem normal to me. The first mystery which I cannot crack regarding this is, has the technology of vacuum sealing not come to Yellowknife yet? Why do they continue to heat seal this product when they clearly are losing revenue by subjecting the cheese to a detrimental heat sealing process? The second issue I have with this is, do they not understand the nature of mould on food? Yes, you see the mould on the surface of the item, however it also has little mould roots that reach down through the food item. To safely eliminate bad mould from cheese, it is recommended that 2 centimeters be cut off from around the fuzz. Obviously this packaging process is triggering mould production and I think they need to stop doing this!

So, the deli manager nicely suggested that we “go see her” when we go to the deli section at Co op from now on and she will “get us some good stuff”.
What are your thoughts on this? Do you think this is an acceptable practice? Cause, I am not feeling that it is so great. I would like to see the grocers in this town step up and start improving practices to better their service and products for this community!