E TC E TE R A . . . Cuispro Foam Pump
Unnecessary soap in our lakes and oceans is a bugbear of ours, so we were excited to try this new Foam Pump from Cuisipro. It’s not only more environmentally friendly but economical too, as you use 25 percent liquid soap to 75 percent water – and the result is a lovely, creamy, thick foam which feels great on your hands. It comes in a choice of eight colours and has a strong suction cup to keep it in place, a great addition next to the sink! $13-19 in stores and at zestspot.com and cuisipro.com.
Wild Folk Non-Alcoholic Classic Cocktails
Dalia Kohen was the founder and owner of Calgary’s The Coup for 15 years, so we already know that anything she does is going to taste superb, as well as being local, organic, and ethical. It’s no surprise then that her two new canned sparkling cocktails are some of the best we’ve tried! Made with a blend of natural herbs and botanicals, Vermouth Spritz and Sparkling Negroni are everything you’d hope for – with a bonus, they’re zero-proof! $5-7 237 mL cans. drinkwildfolk.com for stockists.
The Alberta Box, Winter Edition
It’s the season for gift boxes, and there are some great choices this year, but it doesn’t get more convenient than to pop in to your local participating Sobeys, Safeway, or IGA and pick up The Alberta Box, which houses items from 24 Alberta producers as well as a coupon book with 23 money off or get one free vouchers from some of our favourite local food and drinks makers! There’s also a leaflet with information on each producer – it’s time for the support local feel good factor! $50 Beyond Meat Sausages
As well as being found on menus in Calgary restaurants and in grocery store freezers, Beyond Meat is headed to your breakfast table with Beyond Breakfast Sausage Links. Gluten-free, and packed with plenty of protein, they’re a perfect plant-based pairing with your pancakes or waffles. Most importantly they’ve got great texture and flavour, which can be hard to achieve with meatless options. $8 pack of 8, widely available in stores. The Laughing Cow Mix Zoglo’s Incredible
The plant-based eating trend shows no signs of stopping, and there are plenty of options to choose from. Toronto-based Zoglo’s has introduced their Incredible line -12 new options that are varied and versatile, from cutlets to shawarma, all lactose-free and excellent sources of non-GMO proteins. The Incredible Meatballs and 3 Mushroom Burger made great alternatives for a quick dinner, while the Beef Strips did the trick with stir-fry vegetables. Around $7 at FreshCo and Calgary Co-op. 40 Culinaire | December 2021
Staple of the lunchbox, picnic hamper, and COVID-safe cheeseboard, The Laughing Cow (we used to love saying La vache qui rit as it made us laugh too and sounded so sophisticated!) is celebrating 100 years this year, and has just launched two new flavours with legumes: Chickpea with Herbs and Red Bean with Paprika. They’re tasty, spreadable, quick, and oh-so versatile for appies, handhelds, or just snacking. Still in a round box with eight triangular portions, $4-5 in major grocery stores.