Regina March 14-16

So its been a few days since I've posted.  I've been away in the glorious city of, yes you guessed, Regina (the title of the blog MAY have been a hint, right?).  I've been to Regina a few times now, and really, I think its built on a pile of dirt.  I can't explain it, but it just seems to be dusty and dirty all the time.  Its also very industrial.  Here, just for example, is what the view from my hotel window looked like.

Beautiful, ain't it?!!?  I just keep thinking of a picture that I took out the window of my hotel room in Chicago

in 2007 and comparing it to this photo.  I was on the 37th floor in the hotel in Chicago, one block away from the Magnificent Mile; the sun had just gone down, all the city lights were shining.  It was AMAZING.  I'm not saying that I took any kind of Annie Lebowitz/Herb Ritts amazing pic or anything but when I look at that photo I just really remember how INCREDIBLE Chicago is.  It takes me right back to being there in 2007.  I look at this picture of Regina and I just HOPE that I DON'T remember what it looks like in the future!

I know by now, my new friend Julie (who lives in Regina) is probably fuming because she doesn't think I'm giving Regina a fair review.  But more about that in a moment.  This is, after all, a food blog.  What about the food?  For a small city (about 200,000 peeps) it is unbelievable how many chain restaurants there are.  You name it, they have it -- and multiple locations of the same franchises.  So, of course, you know, I had to have some chain restaurant food - which is not necessarily a bad thing but you know its not likely going to be the 'greatest thing you ever ate'!

The first night I went to Chili's.  Of course, we don't have Chili's in Ontario.  The first time I went to Saskatchewan (in 2003) was the first time I'd been to Chili's and I thought it was great.  On Monday night, I'd had a very long day of travelling and I just wanted something reliable, easy and comfortable.  And, conveniently it was right across the (4-lane) road.  I had the Quesedilla Explosion Salad described as:  grilled chicken with cheese, tomatoes, corn relish, cilantro, tortillas strips and citrus-balsamic dressing. Served with cheese quesedillas.

I'm not really sure what the 'explosion' was and the cheese quesedilla was terrible.  However the salad was fresh and the fajita grilled chicken was excellent.  It was the first time I'd had a balsamic vinaigrette on a taco-style salad but overall it was fairly good.  Nothing special, completely predictable but decent enough and hit the spot.

Anyway, the next day I was talking to Julie who insists that Regina really is a nice city and it has some beautiful areas and some great places to eat.  She challenged me to go out, find some nice places:  the legislature park & lake in the centre of the city, the cathedral district and the old homes downtown (where convicted killer Colin Thatcher's house located for you Canadian politico-history buffs).  Julie also recommended a few GOOD places to eat.

I took Julie up on her challenge and drove down to 'the leg' (pronounced ledge, obviously).  It was a beautiful afternoon; the sun was shining and it was a lovely 5*C.  A beautiful day for a walk, which I took advantage of the paths around the lake.  These are a couple of pictures of the, currently functioning, legislature.

I drove through the Cathedral district.  Which, come the warmer weather is going to a great place to stroll.  There are some cute shops and restaurants, including the Cathedral Village Free House, which looks totally cool and this UNBELIEVABLE fire hall (I know -- weird right, but this building is absolutely incredible).  In my little tour though the Cathedral area there were two pictures that I just HAD to take.

I thought this was hilarious:  the 'Red Meat Wagon'!  Don't think you can go wrong with that, eh?  You know I loves me some red meat!  And what you can't see clearly in this picture is the 'Red Meat Wagon' is being pulled by an angry red cartoon bull which is really funny looking.  It made me laugh and I had to take it to blog about.

The next picture I encountered when driving by the public library.

OMG.  How awesome is this?  Remember the "Moose In the City" in Toronto in 2000 and the Donkey's and Elephants in Washington DC in 2002?  I don't know if this was Regina's wild animal campaign or if this is an isolated piggie but whatever, I couldn't resist.  He's so super cute!  I wish I could have brought him home on the plane with me!

I have to admit, Julie was right.  I found some great areas, some beautiful houses and some really nice places to go and hang out in Regina.  I still maintain that there are some crazy, horrible, dirty, industrial areas but at least I have a balance of some nice places too.

On Tuesday night I went out for a nice dinner at a restaurant recommended by Julie.  That is the entry under 'Bitten' so read on.