Dining: Ironwood Stage and Grill

Recently, a friend of ours organized a large group outing to have dinner and then see a show at the Ironwood Stage and Grill in Calgary. I was excited about the event, as I hadn't been there before, and I'm always looking to try out new places.  The establishment is located in the SE of the city, fairly close to the Zoo, so not obnoxiously far away.  I also love walking around in the cute Inglewood neighborhood where you can find something new and interesting nestled inside of each of the little storefront shops.  Like these crazy, enormous gnomes.  So cute!

 At any rate, this is 9th ave, where you can find the Ironwood Stage and Grill.  There are pay parking lots on each corner of the opposite side of the street, within just a couple of minutes walking distance. This shot was taken from the parking lot at the far end of the block.  There is also street parking in the evenings, on the same side of the street where the Ironwood is located, but since we were headed in from the opposite direction, it was easier to just park in a lot than try to turn around, make our way back, and parallel park!

Ironwood Stage and Grill
1229 - 9th Avenue S.E. Calgary Alberta Canada T2G 0S9
(403)269-5581

 See that sign all in lights?  That's the front of the Ironwood.  The sign proudly proclaims whatever is playing that night, and the Ironwood has lots of shows.  As a matter of fact, you can pick almost any day of the week and find live entertainment of some variety on the schedule.  Check their entertainment listings here, for some very interesting variety, musical, and comedy acts local to the Calgary area as well as some touring shows.

Reservations are recommended for performance times, and I'd second that recommendation.  We arrived early; around 6:30, and there was only one other table of diners in the place.  However, as the clock crept forward toward show time, we were grateful for the reservation for our large group (there were 12 of us) close to the stage because in this small venue, prime space fills up fast.  The Ironwood is long and narrow, with the low stage taking up one of the short ends, and the fairly high bar stretching along a good portion of one of the long sides.  This means many views from halfway back and further are obstructed, so it's going to pay to get a good seat early if you want to be able to see what is going on.

When it comes to service, I wish I could give a better review.  I have a feeling that it wasn't entirely our server's fault; there didn't seem to be many people on staff, and the waitress had a lot to handle with our large group.  However, I have to admit that it was more than a little lacking.  Drink orders were initially filled quickly, but food service took a long time, and arrived spottily.  For my part, my dinner was served more than ten minutes after the rest of those seated around me (though I had ordered the special, which four others around me had ordered as well) and was partially incomplete (the garlic toast arrived another ten minutes or so later).

Some of the food served was lava hot in spots, as though it had been re-headed in a microwave (as Gordon Ramsey would skewer the kitchen staff for were this an episode of Kitchen Nightmares!) but for the most part, the quality seemed good. Additionally, drinks are pricey (expect to pay five bucks for a soft drink) and refills (which are not free) seemed to be difficult to order and slow to arrive.  There were long waits for almost anything.

Gnocchi Alfredo

The special, which most of our table ordered, was a gnocchi alfredo with mushrooms, served with garlic toast. The gnocchi was nicely cooked, though mildly sticky, but the garlic toast was white texas toast from a bag, spread with margarine and sprinkled with garlic powder.  Not very special for a special, I'll admit.  Still, the food was filling and reasonably priced at $13.  Due to the pricing of the appetizers, we all skipped immediately to the main course; from previous experience one of the others in our party noted that the appetizers are extremely small in portion size for the price, and not really worth indulging in.

Steak Flatbread

 My other half opted for the steak flatbread, also reasonable at $16 for the portion size, which hovered between the average small and medium pizza.  He found the steak slices on the pizza to be a little tough, likely from being cooked twice, once on it's own and again during the baking of the pizza.  The crust, however, he found to be nicely crisp and light, with plenty of sauce and other toppings to balance out the meal.

Chicken Lasagna

Also at the $16 price point, one can find the chicken lasagna. Served in an individual lasagna dish, this is a very large serving almost suitable for sharing. This was the item with the inconsistent heating, lava-hot in the center.  The cheese on top was nicely crisped, and the portion was large, though it was again served with the white-bread-and-garlic-powder garlic toast.

Steak Sandwich

Another member of our party chose the steak sandwich, one of the more expensive entrees at $17. This was a slice of flatiron steak served on a slice of plain bread, topped with some onion rings.  There is an option of french fries or salad on the side.  The verdict on this was slightly tough, somewhat overcooked, and not terribly satisfying.







Additionally, those at our table that dared order dessert - a small bowl of vanilla gelato - got a bit of sticker shock when their tabs came due.  Expect $12 per small dessert here; like the appetizers, they are not worth ordering in this venue.

With seating that isn't super comfortable, we were a little stiff after a while in the evening, and while we thought the show we saw was amazing, we were left uncertain about whether or not we would return to the Ironwood for future events.  They do have an amazing variety of acts that play there, so it's a possibility.  The quality of entertainment can be stellar, but the food is mediocre and the service is a bit lacking.  Because of the problems we had and the distance of the drive, the Ironwood earns only a middle-of-the-road two and a half stars from this reviewer.  If you are really interested in a show being presented there, I'd say go for it, but proceed with caution unless you've brought a thick wallet!

Sew Delicious

Princess Magic at work!

Out in Carseland, delicious things are happening.  That's where Brenda Stuart-Berry resides, with her husband, son, two mischevious barn cats and a kitchen that is magical.

At least, I think it's magical.  That's the only explanation I can come up with for why my husband reacts the way he does to her baking.  Either that, or she sneaks crack into the fondant.  Nah, Brenda is too much of a sweetheart for that; I think it's magic.

Check out that gold leaf on the binding!

For my last birthday, I was treated to an amazing cake from Sew Delicious.  It was, in fact, the perfect cake for a voracious reader and writer, and happened to be delicious, but this wasn't my only sampling of Brenda's cakes.  In fact, you may have enjoyed one yourself, as they spring up at numerous events around town, including Quality Dog Grooming's customer appreciation parties, and events at Shoppers Drug Mart.

 Without a doubt, her cakes are beautiful, and always designed with a personal touch for the recipient.  I've seen her come up with cars, houses, laptops, game controllers, a rack of ribs and even a mountain with a tunnel that a train could move through for a very special Thomas the Tank Engine birthday party.  Whatever the subject matter is, Brenda carries it off with grace and style.

It seems almost unfair to show this when you can't taste it...

And that isn't even touching on the beauty and elegance of her wedding cakes.  Sitting down at a cake testing with Brenda is a special event.  She lays out a pretty table for her brides and grooms, with a selection of her wares, so that the nuptual pair can mix and match to their hearts content, rather than try to imagine what the frosting from this cake would taste like on that other cake with the frosting they hate. Really, when I had a tasting for my wedding cake, I just had to guess.  This is a way better solution.  Plus, you get more cake.

As for the flavours and compositions of her cakes,  Brenda has most bakeries beat from the get-go.  She offers unique options, such as her pina colada which is moist and bursting with coconut and pineapple, and makes her fondant from scratch, which means it isn't that nasty stuff you have to peel off to get to the good part of the cake; it's delicious in and of itself.  My husband is a big fan of both her fondant and of her lemon vanilla cake.  As a southern girl at heart, I really can't get over her red velvet, which is a deep, rich red, moist, and full of chocolate flavour.

Whatever you choose, when you order your wedding cake from Sew Delicious, you can rest assured that you'll be happy with the beautiful and tasty results.  Even better, while you're out there for a tasting, you can have your wedding dress or suits altered, have flower girl (or bridal) dresses made, or shop for pretty accessories like ring bearer pillows in your own custom wedding colors.  On top of the baking, Brenda is also an expert seamstress.

Check out these beautiful items from her display at the Bridal Show in Strathmore!

You can find Brenda on the web at http://sewdelicious.vpweb.ca or give her a call at 403-361-1060.  You can also drop her an email at brendastuartberry@gmail.com to book an appointment. She comes to Strathmore at least three times a week for pick-ups and drop-offs, but visiting her out in Carseland is a must for fittings and tastings.  It's about a twenty minute drive from town, a bit more if you get stuck behind a slow freight train at the crossing.  Overall, Brenda gets five stars for stellar and beautiful work, and a smile that can brighten anyone's day.

Quality Dog Grooming

Meet Ivy.  She is our sweet little shih-tzu, and as you can see, not at all a spoiled girl.  She also is a little bit of a mop when she goes too long between groomings, which sometimes happens. Schedules get busy, and making an appointment can be a hassle, as can dropping her off and picking her up during the day, since my husband works and we only have the one car.

A friend with an equally beloved little canine recommended that I give Quality Dog Grooming a try.  She assured me that they were awesome people and a joy to work with, and that it would solve my problem of having to get my girl to and from the groomer during working hours.

Quality Dog Grooming has both a website and a Facebook group, and I'll admit to checking both out thoroughly before making an appointment.  And the actual booking was pretty easy, because they make it so - you can book through a website message, through email, through a post on their Facebook page, or by calling - whatever is easiest for you!  I love businesses that work around your needs, instead of the other way around.

I set up a pick-up time for Ivy, and the owner -  Melissa David - along with her new assistant Allison Broad arrived to an enthusiastic greeting from my very very kissy little Ivy.  She loves meeting new people, and loves kissing them all over their faces.  Both Melissa and Allison are very clearly dog lovers, as even Ivy's wet affection won smiles and belly rubs from the pair.  They were thorough in asking questions about Ivy, her history, and my preferences in grooming.  In fact, they were at least twice as thorough as any other groomer I've ever taken her to.  I felt extremely comfortable putting my sweetheart into their hands.

Melissa began grooming rescue dogs, a cause that is very close to my heart.  My spoiled sweet girl is a rescue herself, and animal causes are kinda a big deal around our house. She still volunteers her time with the town, readying doggies who land in the pound for adoption with forever families.  From talking to other clients and reading her Facebook page, it's clear that she knows her client doggies well, and cares about each of them personally.

As to the service, we had a tight schedule the day Ivy was being groomed, and had to head out of town.  But Allison was right on time dropping Ivy off, setting all my worries to rest.  And boy did my little girl look beautiful!  She came home with a cookie and a bow, as well as a punch card for the loyalty program at Quality Dog grooming, to get points toward a discounted grooming session.  The best part was that Ivy wasn't nearly as upset as she usually is after a grooming.

Usually, when Ivy comes home, she shakes and is incredibly clingy.  She's insecure and a bit scared.  It has always been this way at the groomer, so I figured it was just the price we paid for having her professionally groomed.  I knew it was hard on her, and it made me put off her groomings for too long sometimes, but eventually it had to be done, and I just didn't have the tools or know-how to do it myself.

But this time, what came home to me was a happy, happy dog.  Sure, she was glad to see us, but she wasn't having the separation anxiety she usually did.  It was fantastic!  I was so happy that she was content and "herself" after the grooming.  It just brought home to me how important it is to have a groomer who cares about your dog.

Overall, both Ivy and I had a great experience with Quality Dog Grooming.  I would recommend them highly, especially if you have a dog who is a little skittish about being groomed!  Quality Dog Grooming is located in Strathmore at 23 Strathford Close.  You can call or text them at 403-923-8983 or drop them an email at quality.grooming@hotmail.com

Five stars for giving me back a happy and prettiful pooch!! Don't forget to check out their website and Facebook!