Graffiti flowers rule! And one helluva sandwich.
Posted by John Manzo on March 19, 2008
This semester I have office hours (contact hours for students) Wednesdays 1:00-3:00, so unless I have to be on campus earlier I take this opportunity to walk downtown, weather permitting (and for the last month or so it’s been very permitting, gorgeous springlike weather), have lunch somewhere and then hop on the C-Train to get to my office. En route today, I spotted some heart-warming (really!) graffiti on the side of a dumpster- this is one off 11 St by Kalamata Grocery:
Painting flowers? Who’s doing what now? THIS is what the thankful person is referring to:
These are all over town, maybe 3″ in diameter and they’re cuter than hell. They’re painted, as the note of gratitude says, not done with a vulgar Sharpie or with less-vulgar but not as … artistic spray paint. I’ve seen these flowers everywhere and to spruce up the side of a smelly dumpster, it’s just sweet beyond words. I thank you too, flower person.
And so that was a nice little surprise, a little humanity in the cold urban realm. Anyway, I made it downtown ahead of the lunch rush, around 11:15, and headed to Caffe Artigiano (see “places I like” for location and hours) for what I hoped would be a leg-of-lamb panino. But they had none in the case today, so I opted for a roast chicken one instead. And WOW what a fantastic sandwich! Big chunks of real, sliced off the bone roast chicken, lots of steamed (or sauteed?), not raw and distracting, veggies (zucchini, spinach and bell peppers I think) and a schmeer of ricotta with something aromatic and garlicky in there too (garlic, I guess), on big slices of sourdough and finished in a panini press as only Artigiano seems able to do- warmed and a little crispy but not burnt and brittle. It was delightful. $8.25 and worth every penny.
After that repast I got a macchiato made by assistant manager and barista extraordinaire Zane- at his recommendation, a “single Artigiano macchiato in an espresso cup.” Poured not scooped. It was outstanding.
Office hours start in two minutes- perfect blog timing, eh?
March 19, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Panini! Chicken! Oh! I make these regularly, but tonight I’m making fish sandwiches.
March 22, 2008 at 1:24 am
Hi Dr. Manzo,
I happened to be in Cochrane today for a group meeting and we went to a little coffee shop there. Have you ever been to Java Jamboree in Cochrane? It is near the Safeway there, and here is the website. http://www.javajamboree.ca/
I’m no coffee expert, but if you’ve never been to there, you should check it out! My friend who lives there told me that they have a coffee making machine that costs around $50,000 and there are only a few in Canada. And the coffee there is not expensive either!
Hope you’ll check it out if you haven’t been yet
From Grace
March 22, 2008 at 9:25 am
Thanks Grace- of course I know jamboree, it’s in my places I like page and I report on its new location in the beltline. The espresso machine is a synesso and it’s around $20,000 actually.
March 27, 2008 at 8:44 am
I am glad to see that Caffe Artigiano has opened in Calgary. I discovered Caffe Artigiano when I was at VIFF last year. I missed my early morning movie because I just enjoyed my coffee and snack too much to bother heading back to the cinema. I shouldn’t say missed, more like I gave up seeing a movie
March 28, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Mmmmm…leg-of-lamb panino. Definitely one of my favourite lunchs when I worked in Kerrisdale (among so many other standout locations). I might have to just drive from my office in Okotoks to go get one!