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:

[email protected]

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: [email protected]

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 [email protected]

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: [email protected]

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 [email protected]

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.

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Dim sum is a cultural culinary phenomenon that I connect to a lot of fond memories. It’s a great way to come together and share in a meal with no special occasion required. It can be a casual catch-up session with a friend or a huge family gathering. Whatever the case may be, the sheer joy of seeing these wonderful delectable dishes hitting the table as they embrace us with their steamy tendrils of nostalgia makes me hungry and excited just thinking about them.

Special thanks to everyone who submitted their dim sum memories and top fives. I appreciate you all:

Andrea Oh @sixfootcanasian

Amy B

Derek Kwan @dgk1969

Joanne Shi-Min @hungs.noodle

Liz Tang @dimsumgirl_

I also want to add that I started a newsletter on Substack that you can subscribe to with more of my written work, in addition to reviews from this show. You can find it at: http://www.theaimlesscookpodcast.com 

My name is Jay del Corro. You can reach me via Instagram at @theaimlesscook or email me at [email protected].

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On this episode of Freestyle Friday, we catch up after the holidays and after being super sick for the past few weeks. It was a hell of a time, but I'm glad to be healthy again. Also, I talk about the Calgary restaurants that are long gone, but not forgotten. I will also talk about my recent visit to Rain Dog Bar in Inglewood, and how their menu captured my attention and made me forget I was there to talk about burgers.

So glad to be back! Thanks for listening. Of course, as always, please share with your friends if you like this podcast. Rate and subscribe, and buy some merch from the store!

Jay del Corro @theaimlesscook

[email protected]

www.linktr.ee/theaimlesscook

Places and people I talked about:

Salt & Brick: @saltandbrickyyc

Chef Dave Bohati: @chefbohati

Rain Dog Bar: @raindogbar

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In this episode, we talk about solo dining! I start with an ode to pho at one of my favourite spots, Pho Rang Dong in Forest Lawn.

After that, I talk about some of the benefits of eating alone, I share your thoughts on solo dining, and of course, some great spots in YYC for your next solo dining experience!

You can find me at:

@theaimlesscook IG

@ricedaddyeats Tiktok

www.theaimlesscookpodcast.com

The places we talked about today:

Calan Beef Noodle: @calanbeefnoodle

Ramen Ichinen: @ramenichinenyyc

Pho Rang Dong: 4527 8 Ave SE, Calgary AB

Guilin Noodle: 303 Centre St. S, Calgary AB

Sun’s BBQ, Calgary Court, Cafe 100%: @tasteofasia_yyc

Peppino: @peppinoyyc

Calgary Italian Bakery: @calgaryitalianbakery

Spolumbo’s: @spolumbosdeli

Saigon Deli: 4527 8 Ave SE, Calgary AB

Banh Mi Nhu Y: 3229 17 Ave SE, Calgary AB

Lil’ Empire: @lilempireburger

Clive Burger: @cliveburger

VBurger: @heyvburger

The J-Spot: @thejspotyyc

If you love the show, please rate, review, and share with your friends. Also check out the substack at www.theaimlesscookpodcast.com for more content!

BUY MERCH: The Musubi Tees are available in the shop www.linktr.ee/theaimlesscook

Thanks for listening. Be kind to each other.

Peace,

J

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