The new year is finally upon us and we, like many others, are happy to say adios 2020. We are starting the new year full of optimism and hope that life will return to some sort of normalcy. We continue to focus on community and the creative locals who manage to stay fresh and innovative in the toughest of times.
SWEETS FOR YOU AND YOUR SWEETIE Ollia Macarons & Tea is known for its classic French macarons with a modern touch. A gluten-free bakery, they offer an assortment of goodies online and instore. With Valentine’s Day approaching, Ollia’s is offering an exotic Ispahan macaron cake. Made famous by French pâtissier Pierre Hermé, Ispahan is a macaron shell topped with white cake, rose white chocolate ganache, lychee butter cream, and raspberry coulis. It’s finished with raspberries, rose petals and lychee, and perfect for two, measuring four inches across. Place your order online for pick-up, take-out or delivery.
Shop Local!
TOP O’ THE MORNIN’ TO YA, SOUPS ON Owned by Inglewood resident and longtime entrepreneur Jill Hawker, The Apothecary is Calgary's original refillery and a destination for essential oils, wellness, natural body care and a zero-waste home. The store opened in 2012, and the refillery in 2017 allowing customers to drop in with their own jar or pick one up to fill with favourite products. They also offer a small selection of culinary items including soup mixes, teas, herbs, sprouting seeds, gums, salts, soups and zero-waste kitchen essentials like reusable containers and Weck glass jars. We like the jarred artisan dry soup mixes for making a quick, easy dinner. Each jar will make 8-12 cups of soup and requires only the addition of a protein, tomatoes, or coconut milk. Choose from several combinations and purchase online. We recommend the coconut chicken curry, taco bean and the always-popular chicken noodle. Last year, The Apothecary started offering curated kits and the Top o’ the Mornin! is the perfect morning wake-up call. The box includes granola and maple syrup, pick-your-own coffee, jam, nut butter and dried fruit all for one set price. Add-ons are available for an additional fee and all ingredients are Canadian. The Apothecary | the-apothecary.ca | Soups $9 | Kits $24
Ollia Macarons & Tea | $12.00
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A WELL TRAVELED SPICE RACK Stephen Gollan is a travel photographer and blogger who dabbled in kitchens at an early age as a sous chef. His passion for traveling led him around the world learning more about spices and meeting local farmers. Upon returning home to Calgary, he began blending and selling the spices he brought back with him. Interest in these blends and success as a photographer meant more traveling and to date, Gollan has traveled to 8 JA N UA RY » F EB R UA RY 2021
more than 100 countries, built relationships with farmers during his travels, and imports more than 300 whole spices. He and his mom, Mary Gollan, blend the spices in Calgary offering a variety of unique combinations through their small shop in the Crossroads Market. The Spice Merchant highlights include Ethiopian bebere, Sumatra rendang, West African jollof, Georgian svaneti spice, and Afghanistan char. A few of the whole
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spices you can try are Kampot red pepper, Icelandic arctic thyme salt, grains of Selim and Greek mastic. A story accompanies each spice blend making it even more interesting. Questions? Ask any of the team members working the booth in the market or send a query online. The Spice Merchant | thespicemerchant.ca | $6.00 - $44.99
