The Aimless Cook Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Chef Erin Boukall and I had the opportunity to share a meal with Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek. It was a good chance to get to know someone we often see behind a podium, or as the subject of some article or another praising or criticizing her work. Whatever the case, I know that being the Mayor of a growing city with as many complexities as Calgary can’t be easy. That being said, I wanted to ask questions about the strategies that are currently in place and give Mayor Gondek a chance to talk about them in a space where her ideas can convey a fair and balanced perspective.

Special thanks to:

Mayor Jyoti Gondek @jyotigondek

Chef Erin Boukall @culinarycalgary

Chef Darcy Lane @cookcanada

Chef Deepak Singh Kalsi @deepaksdhaba

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Hi everyone! Sorry for the hiatus, but I’m back with a brand new episode about the Calgary Stampede food. This is a recap of the dishes I got to try during my first year as a judge for the Best Midways Foods. I’ll go over the top 5 best dishes, the bottom 5 dishes, as well as talk about your thoughts from your comments on social media during the duration of the Stampede. Enjoy!

Shout outs to:

Shabina from Wandering In YYC

@wanderinginyyc

Sarah Hovind

@sarah.sociables

Chanry Thach

@chanrythach

Carmen Cheng from Food Karma Blog

@foodkarmablog 

Check out the substack for all the pictures of the dishes:

https://linktr.ee/theaimlesscook

Thank you for listening. Please rate, review and share with your friends!

Peace.

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In this episode, Jay talks about a few of your favourite Canadian culinary creations. Of course, Poutine is the topic of this episode and Jay goes over a little history of this famous dish, the makings of the ideal poutine, and the neverending debate on the perfect plate. It’s all here on The Aimless Cook Podcast.

Special thanks to:

Chef Steve Glavicich of the Youth Culinary Arts Program at Woods Homes

@braizenchef

@ycapmarket

If you like this show, be sure to rate, review, and SHARE with your friends. Support this show by buying merch from our shop:

http://www.linktr.ee/theaimlesscook

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheezies

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/oakvale-of-albion/block-party

License code: HTYVOVEYJE809O7F

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/andrey-rossi/sunny-side-neighborhood

License code: KHZNOINJUUP5YRPH

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/qube/foam

License code: PHKLS3SUBRNOJ6CD

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/aaron-paul-low/thought-patterns

License code: II5QRDCOBMQW4TRB

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Today we’re gonna talk about what’s been happening, what I’ve been eating, our YYC Restaurant Review Of The Week, the latest from Instagram and Tiktok, AI imagery in social media, and 5 of my favourite food scenes in movies.

Thanks for listening. If you like the show, please rate, review, and SHARE with your friends!

If you have any questions or comments for me, please DM me or email me at:

jay@theaimlesscookpodcast.com

Who we talked about today:

The J-Spot: @thejspotyyc

Rain Dog Bar: @raindogbar

Night Owl Vietnamese Cuisine: @nightowlyyc

Chè Bóng: @chebongyyc 

If you’d like to support the show, you can donate or buy some merch from the shop:

http://www.linktr.ee/theaimlesscook

Be kind to one another, stay hungry, and I’ll see you on the next one.

Peace.

Music Credits:

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/oakvale-of-albion/block-party

License code: HTYVOVEYJE809O7F

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/christian-larssen/suburban-honeymoon

License code: 6SAWMLQIGS7HDTLH

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/qube/foam

License code: NEPVISKYE1ITPW5W

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/monument-music/adventure-time

License code: N2NXGD5GA59U8RUT

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/giulio-fazio/funambule

License code: D78VPQS7AS8AYW1D

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/monument-music/majestic-whispers

License code: LP2PEHWKQA0QFA2W

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/simon-folwar/the-imperial-garden

License code: ILSJPCVK2YUV3HHL

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On this episode, we begin a series on iconic dishes in Canada starting with Butter Chicken!

Jay talks to Chef Deepak Singh Kalsi from Deepak’s Dhaba to learn a little history of this Canadian favourite and talk about Deepak’s own journey of being a cook, coming to Canada, and starting his restaurant business. 

Deepak's Dhaba: @deepaksdhaba

Thank you for listening. If you like, please rate and review. You can support this show by donating or buying merch from our shop.

http://www.linktr.ee/theaimlesscook

Music Credits:

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/oakvale-of-albion/block-party

License code: HTYVOVEYJE809O7F

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/oliver-massa/morning-bustle

License code: IJBGCCTFI3QYOVGX

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This week, we wrap up our Lunar New Year special with a look at some old and new Lunar New Year traditions. Jay also talks with our special guest, Ji Won (Jessi) Yu from Stay Social YYC for a special look at 4 local Asian-owned restaurants with unique offerings that keep us coming back for more. Have a happy and prosperous Year Of The Dragon!

As always, please rate, review, and share with your friends if you like this show. Support us by grabbing some merch or making a donation:

http://www.linktr.ee/theaimlesscook

The places we talked about:

Bun Bo Hue Deli, 4909 17 Ave SE 

Korean Deli (Deli Oriental Meat Style & Food), 117 15 Ave SE

Quan Cuty: @cutyrestaurant

Yim Siam: @yimsiamyyc

Special thanks to:

Tina Lee of T&T Supermarket: @tt_supermarket @tinalee_tnt

Jessie Yu of Stay Social YYC: @staysocialYYC

Chef John Leung: @chefjohnleung

Friends Of Chinatown YYC: @friendsofchinatownyyc

If you’d like to send your comments and messages, please DM me @theaimlesscook on Instagram or email: jay@theaimlesscookpodcast.com

Music Credits:

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/oakvale-of-albion/block-party

License code: HTYVOVEYJE809O7F

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/zimpzon/xinjiang

License code: KQFYVPOHP6ACAB0V

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/oakvale-of-albion/chinatown

License code: EG0L3GKRWNSVMP6X

Citations and sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitchen_God

https://www.misspandachinese.com/kitchen-god-and-the-preparation-for-the-lunar-new-year/

http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/cosmos/prb/earthly.htm

https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/Chinese_Customs/Kitchen_God.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_New_Year

https://oldworldgods.com/chinese/zao-jun-kitchen-god/

https://mythopedia.com/topics/zao-jun

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitchen_God

https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/Chinese_Customs/Kitchen_God.htm

https://study.com/academy/lesson/zao-jun-chinese-kitchen-god-myths-facts.html

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/chinese-canadians

https://www.cbc.ca/life/culture/beyond-the-hongbao-how-these-chinese-canadians-embrace-lunar-new-year-customs-today-1.5006221

https://www.cicnews.com/2023/01/the-lunar-new-year-a-time-to-remember-and-celebrate-canadas-diverse-heritage-0132561.html

https://canadianimmigrant.ca/living/culture/8-things-to-know-about-chinese-new-year

https://www.jstor.org/stable/26864127

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In Part One of the Lunar New Year Special, Chef Jay talks to Ricky Chung and his daughter, Joanne from Hung’s Noodles. Ricky tells his immigrant story from his humble beginnings, developing his noodle recipes in his uncle’s workshop, to Hung’s transformation over 3 generations to the business it is today. It’s an inspirational story of strength, resilience, and the importance of family.

Special thanks to Ricky and Joanne Chung for your time and for sharing your story.

We talked about:

Bar Chouette: @thebarchouette

Hung’s Noodles: @hungs.noodles

Friends Of Chinatown YYC: @friendsofchinatownyyc

If you like this episode, please rate, review, and share it with your friends. It means the world to me. If you’d like to comment on this or any past episodes, please feel free to DM or email me at jay@theaimlesscookpodcast.com

You support this show by buying merch from the shop or making a donation.

http://linktr.ee/theaimlesscook

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On this Freestyle Friday, Chef Jay reads your comments and DMs from the past week, then talks about some of his pet peeves in the food space from the industry perspective and the dining and creator perspective. He then talks about his most recent food epiphanies, going over some of his newer flavour experiences, including Nigerian food and Korean raw marinated crab. Finally, and as always, the YYC review of the week.

Special thanks to Chef Andrea Harling of Lil’ Black Rooster at CFM West

@lilblackroostereats

Happy Blogiversary to Bernice Hill and her blog, Dish n' The Kitchen!

http://www.dishnthekitchen.com

Places we talked about:

Cooking Mama: @cookingmamayyc

Flavours Restaurant: @flavoursrestaurant

Pathway Burgers And Momos: @pathwaymomos

Tiger K: @tigerkyyc

Calgary Farmers Market: @calgaryfarmersmarket

Thank you again for all your love and support. Please rate, review, and share with your friends if you like this show. It means the world to me. 

If you’d like to support, consider donating or buying merch from the shop:

http://www.linktr.ee/theaimlesscook

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Alberta is the place for beef, and what better way to showcase this wonderful product than with burgers? Calgary has seen a lot of great burger spots open up and I have tried quite a few of them over the years, including one of the newest burger bars, Class Clown Hamburgers.

In this episode, we talk about cooking burgers, favourite styles, thin patty vs. thick patty, cheeses, the origins of the smash technique, and the review of the week. My wife, Jo, also makes an appearance to talk a little about food nostalgia and shares her memories of a distinctly Canadian connection to the burger universe.

Thank you, as always, for listening. Please rate, review, and share with your friends if you like. If you want to support the show, click the link to find my Substack newsletter, the merch, or donate. It would mean the world to me. If you’d like to sponsor the show, you can DM me on Instagram: @theaimlesscook or email me at: jay@theaimlesscookpodcast.com

Places we talked about:

The J-Spot: @thejspotyyc

Class Clown Hamburgers: @classclownhamburgers

Smashburger: @smashburger

White Castle: @whitecastle

George Motz’s YouTube Show: The Legend Of Oklahoma’s Fried Onion Burger

Sources:

Depression-Era Origins Of The Famous Oklahoma Onion Burger

Meet the American Who Made Us Flip For Fast Food: White Castle Founder Billy Ingram

A Century Of Sliders: The White Castle Story

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Today, we talk about foodies. Whether you like the term or not, foodies are an integral part of the complex culinary landscape we wander through every day. It seems we are continuously inundated with a deluge of food-related content, be it by choice or involuntarily. I asked you, the listeners, what you think being a foodie entails and on this episode, I talk about your comments.

I also talk about the many factors that make up the opinions we form in our heads about certain experiences and how subjective they can be. Do some have more credibility than others when it comes to giving their opinion on food? Let’s talk and explore.

Special thanks to all the listeners who submitted your comments on this episode. 

Marie Jane Levesque

Merry Spooner Kuchle @merryabouttown

Simone Andersen @simonecherie_

Wendi Leitzell

Allan Pineda @baonmanilanights

Gregor McWee

The Movies:

Foodies: The Culinary Jetset (2014) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3400460/

City Of Gold (2015) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2614776/?ref_=fn_al_tt_4

Restaurants from this episode:

Ryuko @ryuko.yyc

Smokehouse N Broasters Calgary (Smokehouse Diner) www.smokehousediner.com 

Tiger K @tigerkyyc

Where to find me:

You can DM me on my Instagram

Chef Jay del Corro @theaimlesscook

or email at jay@theaimlesscookpodcast.com

For more content, including written reviews, essays, etc, subscribe to my Substack:

http://www.theaimlesscookpodcast.com

Support the show through donation or buying merch from the shop: http://linktr.ee/theaimlesscook

Please rate, review, and share with your friends.

Be kind to each other, stay hungry, and I'll talk to you on the next one.

Peace.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.