Good Food Gone Dad

Food, a simple connection

Okotoks Foodbank is celebrating their 35th anniversary with the release of a cookbook – and we’re impressed. This lie-flat book contains 134 easy to read recipes – one per page, with chef’s tips, information on basics and cooking methods… and beautiful photographs! As well as must try local dishes, ‘Beets & Sweets Bowls’ (P.120) and ‘Gourmet Honey Bison Burgers’ (P.164), there are intriguingly named recipes like ‘Pencil Thin Moustache Cocktail’ (P.34), and dishes from all over the world. $38, okotoksfoodbank.ca for stockists and to order.

Mighty Pine Mixers Spruce Tip

Where do you think this mixer comes from when you read on the website, ‘Made among the trees in Alberta’. Of course it’s Bragg Creek! Containing little more than extract of spruce tips, lemon, water, and sugar, we made their suggested recipe with 1oz gin, 1oz of the mixer, ice, and topped it all off with soda – love it! It’s clean and fresh, so we tried it with Irish whiskey – and we love it! Try with sake, beer, and green tea - it’s a fabulous addition to your favourite tipple. 473mL $18, see mightypinemixers.com for stockists or to order.

Amedei Chocolate

We try many great products in our line of work, and our recent Amedei tasting was one of the most memorable. Founder Cecilia Tessieri’s passion is evident in her artisanal bean-to-bar chocolate, using high quality cocoa beans, like Criollo and Trinitario, sent directly from the plantation to Tuscany, where they are hand-processed. We loved all the flavours, but Toscano Red, made with dehydrated strawberries, cherries and raspberries, cloaked in 70 percent extra dark chocolate, is a standout stunner! At Italian Centre Shops $9

Schumann’s Whisk(e)y Lexicon

For the whisk(e)y enthusiast that might know everything or think they know everything, this is a remarkably handy guide. Among its many positives, it’s written alphabetically, with no regard for nation or origin, meaning if all you have is a name to go on, or just want a quick flip to find out who in the room is right about that obscure little piece of information. Beautifully written with brevity and an obvious love of the spirit by Stefan Gabányi from Charles Schumann’s bar in Munich. Rizzoli $54

Evive

Montreal-based Evive is changing the smoothie game one cube at a time. Made with plant-based, organic superfoods, eating healthy tastes better than ever before, and it’s so easy, too. The best part is there’s no blender to clean! The breakfast and lunch options blew us away in both flavour and texture: we’re loving the Azteque smoothie made with coconut milk in the mornings, and the creamy Tom Thai over basmati rice for a quick, nutritious lunch. $4-6 per wheel at evivenutrition.ca

Copper Spice Co.

Good things can come out of the quarantine, and Edmonton’s mom, dad, and daughter trio, boutique online Copper Spice Co., is definitely a good thing. We’re coveting everything on the website – we want a wall of these jars! There’s an enormous range of quality spices, herbs, and gift sets, all beautifully packaged, as well as many of our favourite cookbooks. For Father’s Day, we’re choosing the Classic BBQ Gift Set of four custom blends, Blackened Cajun, Nordic lemon Dill, Jamaican Jerk, and the addictive Korean BBQ! $64 at copperspiceco.com.