The Curious Empty Nester in July
July's Inspirations
The long hot days of summer have arrived. For us Calgarians it was a long time coming as we endured days and days of rain and cooler temperatures. But then the sun came and it stayed with the sun performing it’s best for our world famous Calgary Stampede. Surprisingly, even though it got quite warm, the bulls were still feisty instead of being hot and lethargic looking for a nap in the sun.
After the Stampede, many people retreated to their cottages or to their patios to relax; however that was short lived. We were inundated with smoke from the devastating forest fires around Alberta and British Columbia. The smoke was stinging our eyes and hurting our throats. Thankfully things have died down and we have been able to get back to enjoying our brief summer outside. And while I am inside right now with one eye on Olympic events on television and one eye on my computer, I share this newsletter with you. This month we keep things light with a whipped cottage cheese spread and dip. We enjoy a pomegranate and lime spritzer mocktail, we travel to Rome with my friend Angela Boehm, and we highlight Fine Print restaurant in Calgary, Canada. Finally, I share five of my favourite Angela Boehm photos who is a very talented photographer and who will soon be publishing a book of photographic moments in time.
Food:
Whipped Cottage Cheese Spread and Dip
Cottage Cheese has become fashionable again! Like all mid-century fashion and furniture, Cottage cheese had its most popular peak in the 1950’s to 70s but it is now making a comeback in an updated form. Along with it’s colleague feta cheese, cottage cheese is being whipped in blenders and food processors everywhere thanks to viral social media. The product is a savoury (or sweet depending what you add into it) smooth high protein spread and dip that is versatile and healthy. I have provided a recipe that gives you more of a “ranch” flavour but you can add the herbs, spices and seasonings of your choice or make it a dessert and mix in jams, fruit or honey. This recipe below has a bit of sour cream or greek yogurt to make it even smoother but you can forgo that addition to keep it simple.
Ingredients:
1 Cup cottage Cheese (full fat)
1/2 cup sour cream or greek yogurt
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon fresh dill 1/2 teaspoon dried dill
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
Salt and pepper to taste
Squeeze of fresh lemon
Optional garnish: minced fresh chives
Directions:
Combine all the above ingredients into a food processor or blender. Blend until smooth. Serve as a dip for crudité or as a spread on crostini for open face sandwiches.
Drink:
Pomegranate Lime Spritzer Mocktail:
This mocktail is perfect for those warm summer evenings on the patio. It is tart and refreshing at the same time. Make it as sweet as you want by adding more or less simple syrup (made by boiling equal parts sugar and water and then cooling).
Ingredients:
1/4 cup pomegranate juice
Half a lime cut into wedges
2 tablespoons simple syrup or 4 drops liquid stevia
3/4 cup sparkling water
mint leaves and pomegranate seeds for garnish
Directions:
Place lime wedges into glass and smash with a muddler. Add pomegranate juice, simple syrup and ice into a shaker and shake. Pour into glass with the limes. Top with sparkling water and stir with a tall spoon. Garnish and enjoy.
Travel Favourites:
Angela Boehm’s Rome:
I am proud to say that I have incredibly talented friends and Angela Boehm is certainly one of them. I have known Angela and her husband Trent for almost thirty years. Angela was a finance executive with CP Rail when I met her. She had a stellar business reputation of someone who could get things done with professionalism and efficiency. She was so efficient that when she was pregnant with her first child, she worked until the very last minute to ensure all her files were properly closed and then conveniently went into labour a few hours later!
Angela has always had a diversity of interests. Growing up, she did all types of western riding including barrel racing in which she competed. She trained horses for other forms of show as well. Always fit, Angela embraced her hobby of mountain biking and she would often place highly in various competitions all over North America. In later years she took on road biking.
Angela is also a philanthropist, with her and her husband quietly giving back to the community with little fanfare. To highlight a few of Angela’s efforts, she was a Trustee for eight years and Board Chair for 3 years of the Alberta Cancer Foundation. While she was Board Chair, she led her talented team towards the building of a new world class Cancer Centre in Calgary. She also chaired the Ride to Conquer Cancer for three years. The Ride to Conquer Cancer is a two day, 200+ km cycling ride that requires an enormous amount of logistics and volunteer coordination to run the event in order to raise money for Albertans so that they receive the best cancer care possible once diagnosed. To date, The Ride to Conquer Cancer has raised over 74 million dollars for the Alberta Cancer Foundation.
In 2019, Angela took up another hobby - photography. However, like anything Angela does, she did it with excellence. Angela has become a critical favourite in the world of documentary photography. Her photos are powerful stories of the living generations around her. Her subjects are friends, family as well as the environment around her.
Angela’s work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, including at London Photofest, Contemporary Calgary, and Art Toronto. In 2021, she received the Emerging Photographer Merit Award at Exposure Festival, the Landscape Award at InFocus Film Festival, and the Landscape Competition Award at the London Photo Festival. Her body of work, The Giving Trees, was exhibited as a solo exhibition at the Wild Skies Gallery and C Space King Edward Gallery in Calgary.
Angela’s latest work, Minus 30, was photographed in temperatures that had to be minus 30 celsius or colder. It was selected for exhibition at Contemporary Calgary's Exposure Festival's '23 Showcase and the Alberta Society of Artists winter group exhibit. She is presently publishing this project as a book and Hartmann Projects (a German publishing house) is in the process of publishing Minus 30, the first Monograph of Angela’s work. I love her photography. It is a beautiful commentary of the world around us. It is haunting and fragile and yet shows the beauty and strength of humanity and the environment at the same time. Her work touches your soul and I highly recommend that you check out her work on her website or exhibitions sometime soon. Link to Angela Boehm's Photography Website
Last year, Angela and Trent travelled to Rome, Italy in support of the
Vatican Museum where they were given special access among the artifacts to learn how the museum restores and safe keeps priceless works of art. I am grateful to Angela for taking out time from her busy schedule to give me her favourites in Rome.
Favourite Hotel:
Hotel Splendide Royal:
Hotel Splendide Royal is located next to Villa Borghese and near the Spanish Steps but is set away from the crowds just down the street from Hotel Eden, a nostalgic favourite hotel of mine. It is lavishly decorated and appointed in Italian 19th century opulence but the rooms and suites are spacious and well appointed. The ensuites are also large which Angela points out makes for a more comfortable and special stay in Europe. Service is described as “sophisticated and polished”. They have beautiful rooftop restaurants and lounges and their favourite Adele Mixology Lounge had a sweeping view the Roman skyline where guests can sip well made cocktails in an elegant but slightly informal environment compared to the other in house dining locations.
Favourite Restaurants:
For Angela, part of the beauty of Rome is that there is no end to the amount of authentic Italian establishments for a glass of wine and delicious finger foods while you watch the most interesting people wander by. In fact, Angela has observed that Rome could only be challenged by Las Vegas in the world of interesting people watching. For full sit down dining experiences, Angela recommends the following three restaurants:
Pizzaria da Baffetto:
If you are looking for a super casual meal, Angela very much enjoyed the pizzas at Pizzeria da Baffetto. Known for its legendary Roman style pizza, this pizzeria was, and still is a popular stop for movie stars and celebrities when they are in town. All they serve is pizza (and maybe the odd bruschetta to begin) so if you can get a seat in the small but packed establishment you are in for a treat! Angela and her husband sat across from the pizza chefs where they were able to watch them in action before she enjoyed the Zucchini Flower pizza.
Pescheria Rossini:
Located in the heart of the residential neighbourhood of the Parioli District, this restaurant focuses of simple and fresh fish dishes that appeal to the tastes of each customer. Upon arrival, the diner is led to the fish counter which displays a variety of fresh caught fish to be chosen. You then discuss with the wait staff (whose english language abilities vary) as to how you would like the dish prepared. This involves a lot of pointing and broken explanations, but when the staff return with the customized finished dish you are not disappointed. Angela said her dish was delicious and very well prepared. She and her husband Trent enjoyed their fresh fish creations sitting among sophisticated Roman diners eating with their dogs on their laps while watching the world go by on the residential Roman streets.
Alfredo Alla Scrofa:
Known as “Alfredo’s”, this “white table cloth” culinary establishment is the birthplace of Fettuccini Alfredo. In 1914, Alfredo Di Lelio was caring for his wife who had just given birth to one of their children. He took fresh pasta, butter and parmesan cheese and created a divine pasta dish that has since become legendary. Making Fettuccini Alfredo is actually quite simple as long as you have quality ingredients. Cook fresh, thin fettuccini egg noodles for 30 seconds, drain and then add to a serving dish that has room temperature butter covered in parmesan cheese. Combine these ingredients in a rotational top to bottom rhythm until the pasta is coated in the melted and creamy rich sauce. Serve immediately. At Alfredo’s, the person in charge of mixing the butter and parmesan into the pasta is called the “Matecatore” who is deemed an essential part of the pasta process. Although Angela is not generally a pasta fan, she inhaled her dish, devouring each mouthful and that sounds like an endorsement to me! Note that Fettuccini Alfredo is not the only menu item. There are a variety of past dishes to choose from including meat, salad and Italian desserts.
Favourite Rome Sightseeing Spots:
Angela advises that one of the best things about Rome is being able to walk out the front door of your accommodation and just exploring in any direction to see where your day will take you. There is so much history and beauty in Rome - it is everywhere. Here are three of her favourite highlights of this historic and ancient locale for you to wander to:
San Luigi Dei Francesi:
This ancient church is located near the Piazza Navona. Built in the 16th Century and overseen by the Medici Family, this church is dedicated to the patron saints of France. San Luigi Dei Francesci is filled with the frescos and artworks of many of the Italian greats including: Caravaggio and Domenichino among others. This is a working church and you can just wander in for free, as long as you are respectful, to admire these great works of art.
Vatican City:
A trip to Rome is not complete without a trip to the Vatican Museum within the walls of Vatican City, the home of the Catholic Pope. An incredible museum, Angela and Trent were treated to a private tour where they were impressed with the Vatican’s commitment to the restoring and safekeeping of historical works. You could spend all day admiring the artworks that expand across the world and the generations. Highlights include (but are not limited to) the Sistine Chapel, the Raphael Room, the Gallery of Maps, the Egyptian Museum and the famous spiral staircase. Note that the Vatican has a strict dress code. Low cut dresses, sleeveless dresses, mini skirts, shorts and hats are not allowed. If you forget to comply, apparently there are plastic cloaks you can purchase and wear so that you are not denied entry.
Castel Gandolfo:
Located on the edge of an ancient volcanic crater which is now Lake Albano, Castel Gandolfo is located just outside of Rome and is easily accessible by train. Known as the summer residence of the Pope since 1608, it is an exclave of Vatican City. The air is cooler and crisp compared to the hot and muggy air of Rome so it is easy to understand why this would have been chosen as the summer getaway for the Pope. Angela and Trent enjoyed wandering this summer residence which included a portrait gallery among the private rooms as well as walking through the charming village.
Restaurant of the Month:
Fine Print, Calgary, Canada
This month I highlight a restaurant that is located on the popular downtown walking street of Stephen Avenue. Stephen Avenue is the heart of downtown Calgary where people stroll down the pedestrian street to shop, dine or visit various modern skyscrapers placed in between historical buildings that date back to the earliest days of our great city. One of these historical buildings (constructed in 1893) used to be the home of Calgary’s longest running newspaper: The Calgary Herald. More recently, it was the home to the popular restaurant Divino before it closed it’s doors forever. It now houses Fine Print which pays homage to this history.
The menu of Fine Print is comprised into 5 literary sections: Preface, Forward, Epilogue and Mid-Day Reading. The food is contemporary with a French vibe. Popular favourites (many of which I have tried) include their tempura beans, bison tartare, salmon and hamachi crudo, beet salad, pan seared branzino and the beef tenderloin. Flavours are refined and fresh. The serving sizes are neither too big or too small. There are a variety of choices on the menu to satisfy any palate. I would happily bring a guest who enjoys culinary flavours here anytime.
The service is often professional with staff keeping a keen but not intrusive eye on their tables. The service hasn’t always been consistent but still, it isn’t bad. The cocktails are quite good with little details like monogrammed ice cubes and fine glassware.
I find that Fine Print is an easy choice for people who want to go out for a sophisticated evening of conversation, good food, as well as fine cocktails. It is so nice to not be drowned out by loud music or the din of the room. For those who need a venue for an intimate corporate event, there is an elegant back room with sliding glass doors that fits the bill. It is a restaurant we have made repeat visits to and look forward to joining friends soon back there!
Five Things:
This was a very difficult Five Things. It was so hard to choose only five photos from Angela’s work. If you go to her website angelaboehm.com you will be able to view the other amazing works and choose more favourites. Hopefully we will be able to also get our hands on her published monograph soon! Enjoy!
The Giving Trees
The Giving Trees
Minus 30
Minus 30
Salaryman
Love this issue !!!! Looking forward to trying Fine Print and trying your pomegranate mocktail. We should enjoy one together.
Nicole, your July article is excellent 👏👏.