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Greetings!

SECOND ANNUAL STAMPEDE BREAKFAST AT CHEF'S TABLE     

LEMON RICOTTA PANCAKES ARE BACK!  

Plan a Stampede Breakfast for family and close friends and show off your pancake flippin' skills with this recipe. The pancakes are to die for and will certainly impress!

Ingredients 

 1.5 Cups All Purpose Flour

1 Tablespoon Granulated Sugar

1 Tablespoon Baking Powder

1/2 Teaspoon Salt

1/2 Cup Extra Smooth Ricotta

1 Egg

1.5 Cups Milk

1/4 Cup Butter (melted)  or Veg Oil

2 Teaspoons Finely Grated Lemon Rind

Vegetable Oil

1/4 Cup Icing Sugar

4 Lemon Wedges

1/2 Cup Fresh Blueberries and Strawberries

Directions 

1. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
2. Press ricotta through fine sieve into separate bowel. Whisk in egg, milk, butter and lemon rind. Pour over dry ingredients and stir until just moistened (batter may be slightly lumpy).
3.  Heat large nonstick pan over a medium heat; brush lightly with vegetable oil. Pour 1/4 cup batter per pancake into skillet, spreading with spatula to form 5 inch circles; cook until bottom is golden and bubbles break on top but do not fill in, 1.5 to 2 minutes. Turn and cook until golden on the bottom.
4. Transfer to warm plates. Using small sieve, sprinkle icing sugar over pancakes, garnish with fruit and lemon wedges.

RAW BAR & HOTEL ARTS   

Featured Stampede Wines

To kick off Stampede, Raw Bar will be featuring some special wines with a little "Western Spirit". We will be featuring selections by Hayes Ranch in California and Finca La Florencia from Argentina by the glass or by the bottle.

Wines offered July 7-15/12

Hayes Ranch "Best Foot Forward" Chardonnay - Glass Price: $9.00, Bottle Price: $44

Hayes Ranch "In the Saddle" Cabernet Sauvignon - Glass Price: $9.00, Bottle Price: $44

Hayes Ranch was named by Wine Enthusiast in 2011 as "Winemaker of the Year". To learn more about their portfolio of wines with a Western spirit, please visit their website at http://www.hayesranchwines.com/.  

Wines offered July 7-31/12

Finca La Florencia Torrontes - Glass Price: $8.00, Bottle Price: $38

Finca La Florencia Malbec - Glass Price: $8.00, Bottle Price: $38

To learn more about the family-owned winery located in the foothills of the Andes, please visit http://www.familiacassone.com.ar/.

DUELING CHEFS COMPETITION

At last year's Stampede, Hotel Arts Executive Chef Duncan Ly won the Dueling Chefs Competition.

This year, Dueling Chefs will be changing their format as 2012 is the "Battle of the Women" featuring some of the top female chefs in Calgary including the Raw Bar's Jinhee Lee.

Chefs will be given a bag of mystery ingredients from Calgary Co-Op and asked to prepare between 5-6 dishes in under a hour to be judged by a group of celebrity and food panelists. Dueling Chefs will take place in the Calgary Co-Op Kitchen Theatre in the Western Oasis, BMO Centre, Halls D& E at Stampede Park. Jinhee Lee will square off against Personal Chef Lauren Funk on Wednesday, July 11th at 5:30pm. The winner of their heat will face off in the Dueling Chef Finale on Saturday, July 14th at 5:30pm.

WESTERN ARTISTRY

The Art of Stampede

BELLA'S BLOG - STAMPEDE 100 HERE I COME! 

The Calgary Stampede is anticipated to be one of Calgary's biggest parties this year! Now that my girlfriends and I have our stylish stampede outfits from True Religion, it's time to plan out where these fashionistas' will be seen. I've put together my entertainment and event itinerary which lists the top things to do over the 10-day celebrations.

• Zip line @ Stampede Grounds

Try out the longest temporary zip line in Canada right on the Stampede Grounds! The line starts near the Big Four Building and ends on the south west side of the Saddledome reaching up to 60km/hour in speed.

• Food Trucks @ Midway on the Stampede Grounds

Three of Calgary's well known YYCFoodTrucks will have a place in the midway this year. Look out for Los Compadres, Naaco Trucka and Mighty Skillet while strolling through fun, games and delicious food.

• Paul Brandt & the Grandstand Show

The Calgary Stampede presents the 2012 TransAlta Grandstand Show, Century, featuring our very own country superstar Paul Brandt and The Young Canadians.

• Chuckwagon Races & Rodeo

• Stampede Breakfast @ Kensington Riverside Inn & Chef's Table

Join the Hotel Arts Group and Yelp Calgary on Tuesday, July 10th for a pancake breakfast with a culinary twist. Please RSVP through Yelp Calgary. Use www.flapjackfinder.com to find other breakfast locations throughout the week.

• Nashville North on the Stampede Grounds

• Cowboys Stampede Tent...and really any tent downtown!

• Watch the Fireworks from four quadrants in the city!

For both Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays of the Stampede, fireworks will be launched from all four quadrants of the city, creating an amazing light show for everyone.  

• True Religion Stampede Event at West's Rooftop Patio Saturday, July 7

I'll be seeing ya'll around! Enjoy your stampedin!

GET TO KNOW OUR STARS 

At Chef's Table, the exquisite culinary creations designed by the chefs take on a life of their own. Each dish has a unique personality, a mood that changes with the seasons and a bold taste that comes alive with each bite. The food is brought to life through the talent, dedication and inspiration of our chefs. Their passion for food makes each dish more than just ingredients, it creates a masterpiece.  

Chef's Table's Sous Chef, Christopher Barton is a true culinary artist constantly striving for perfection. Chris believes "Why be good, when you can be great?"  

Chef Barton was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta. He has a great attachment to his home town and to the Calgary Stampede. In the early 1920's, his great-grandfather, Jack Morton was one of the first cowboy's to ever compete in the Stampede. Chef Barton also loves country music and escaping to the mountains for hiking and scrambling whenever he can.

Chef Barton studied at one of the most esteemed culinary schools in France, the ESCF-Ferrandi Culinary School in Paris. While furthering his knowledge of French cuisine, Chef Barton had the honor of working under the Head Chef Pascal Barbo at the L'Astrance Restaurant. He also had the opportunity to work at the famous Hotel Lancaster. During his time in Paris, Chef Barton learned French, the importance of using the best ingredients and of respecting those ingredients and their flavours. Above all, Chef Barton learned that being a chef is more than a profession; it is a way of life, and a pleasure to create such culinary designs.  

"The thing I love most about Chef's Table is that it's smaller, more intimate. It reminds me of Paris, where it feels like your apart of something; it's personal. We're a family here, and there's so much room to be creative" said Chef Barton.  

During his time abroad, Chef Barton achieved the 1st place standing at the 2008 International CCN-World Young Chefs Competition in Paris. Chef Barton also won the 2006 SAIT Chaine des Rotisseurs Dinner, in Calgary, Alberta.  

Chef Barton lets the ingredients inspire him, to create culinary works of art. His creations are born through passion, talent and a love of cooking...we are pleased to share this divine culinary experience with you.

UPCOMING ENTERTAINMENT THIS SUMMER 

Jersey Boys Come to Calgary

If you love a great old fashioned cocktail, channel that nostalgia with a trip back in time to experience the JERSEY BOYS. The show will be at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium until July 16th. To buy tickets and for more information visit www.dancaptickets.com.  

To find out more about the show or tour, please visit their site at www.jerseyboystour.com.  

Kensington's 18th Annual Sun and Salsa Festival

Start with tomatoes, add garlic and hot peppers, and garnish with cilantro! Set fire to those taste buds during Kensington's 18th annual Sun and Salsa Festival on July 22.

Kensington, Calgary's 'Village in the City', invites you to participate in the Salsa Tasting Contest. Kensington businesses will serve up over 500 gallons of 40 different salsas. You get to be the judge. Purchase a bag of chips from our Charities for $3 or 2 for $5, and taste test your way through all the spicy salsa recipes served up by teams of Kensington businesses. Our Charities will also be selling water for $2.

This annual family event takes place along Kensington Road and 10th Street NW. Six live entertainment stages will spread Latin flavour through the neighbourhood if you want to listen to music and dance. Bring your kids to the Children's Carnival zone for family orientated entertainment and fun! Check out our amazing art demonstrations or be an artist yourself and help paint a mandala on the street. And of course all our great Kensington retailers, restaurants and pubs will be open for your shopping and eating pleasure, along with the streets being filled with vendors & artisans selling a variety of products & services for the day.

Both Kensington Road and 10th Street will be closed for the day. There's an LRT stop (Sunnyside) right at the Kensington Safeway, so public transit is a great way to beat the crowds. And we're right off the bike paths so why not ride, blade, run or walk on over to our festival!

Folk Fest

Folk Festival will be held July 26 to 29 at Prince's Island Park. There will be 68 different artists performing from 14 different countries on 7 stages at the park. In addition to seeing some great musical talent, you'll be able to visit the interactive family area, browse the artisan market, sample excellent cuisine from the global village and enjoy a beverage in the beer garden.

For more information and to purchase tickets visit www.calgaryfolkfest.com.

Made with Love Cocktail Event 

Tickets for the "Made With Love Cocktail Event" are now available online. This marquis cocktail event takes place at the Art Gallery of Calgary on July 30th from 6pm and includes 12 cocktail tasting in the price of the ticket.  

As evidenced from similar competitions in other major Canadian cities, this is a cocktail event that you don't want to miss. Some of the Calgary's best bartenders from the Calgary Professional Bartending Association will be showcasing their talents at this event including Colin Tait from Raw Bar as well as Christina Mah, Franz Swinton (Cube), Jimmy Nguyen (Cube), Emily Butt (Notable), Spenny Crosby (Anejo), Rebecca Davis (Charcut) Kenton Hrynyk (Brix & Morsel).

For tickets, visit  http://www.enjoymadewithlove.com/calgary2012/. 

Reggaefest

ReggaeFest 2012 August 15-18 will deliver over 12 hours of non-stop family friendly Reggae entertainment. Activities throughout the Mainstage Event at Shaw Millenium Park will include a fun and interactive youth area, food and craft vendors and the Village Brewery Beer Garden featuring their delicious Blonde and Blacksmith Ale.

 Tickets are on sale now at  www.reggaefest.ca. Come be a Rastagarian!

X-FEST

X-FEST is an exciting summer outdoor celebration of alternative rock music on September 1 that will take place on one of the cities historic sites, Fort Calgary. The festival is in close partnership with The Union, who works in the live entertainment industry across the Country. The line up for X-FEST 2012 includes Linkin Park, Incubus, Silversun Pickups, Young The Giant, Fun., The Joy Formidable, Mutemath, The Pack Ad and L.P. Tickets can be purchased at www.unionevents.com.    

Coming from out-of-town? Hotel Arts is offering a special discounted rate to guests attending X-Fest! For more information call 403.266.4611.

Come and "Rock Out!" this year at X-FEST.

WAYFINDING COMES TO CALGARY

The City of Calgary and the Calgary Hotel Association launched a new "Wayfinding Program" in Downtown Calgary to help people easily locate points of interest in City Centre. The signage, which includes downtown hotels, will also direct visitors to the mobile-friendly VisitCalgary.com website, where they can discover more information about the different attractions and points of interest in the City Centre.  

Hotel Arts has one of the attractive new "Wayfinding" Signs located on the 1st Street SW entrance to our property. It's a great new addition to our neighbourhood and, combined with the new signs throughout the City Centre, will help immeasurably with visitor experiences.

To learn more, please check out the press release featured on the Calgary Hotel Association's website here.