Enjoy seasonal favourites at Good Earth

A photo posted by Irene Seto (@heyseto) on Oct 17, 2015 at 3:36pm PDT

The weather may be cooling down but that just means it’s time to turn up the temperature for some hearty comfort foods and seasonal flavours. Local coffeehouse Good Earth has been brewing tasty coffees and wholesome dishes in Calgary since 1991. I love a good coffee shop that offers great sips, lots of seating and an awesome community vibe. Good Earth has been doing “local” since before it was cool with an emphasis on being as environmentally responsible and sustainable as possible.

So why haven’t I been to Good Earth in a while? I honestly don’t know why, but my latest visit to the original 11^th Street location has shown me what I have been missing. I’ll let the pictures do most of the talking but I did learn some cool things.

Good Earth reminds me of the “coffee pub” style restaurants in Ontario that focus on a diverse and extensive food menu as well as quality coffee. Rather than being a place to just get a snack and a drink, you can get a good meal and your necessary java. With Good Earth this also means handcrafted food items made fresh everyday in the kitchen. It was really impressive to see the number of different ingredients that one little shop used on a daily basis.

First up is a crustless Chicken Pot Pie with Herbed Pastry. Instead of a traditional pie crust, the bowl is filled with a creamy stew of potatoes, carrots and other veggies.  The puffed pastry on the side is light, buttery and flaky, making it a great addition to mix in with the stew or dip like bread.

Did you know that Good Earth makes flatbreads? I didn’t know that either! Both meat and vegetarian options are available on a crispy base. The Sicilian Flatbread has three types of Italian salami, roasted red peppers and olives. The Kale Pesto Flatbread is topped with roasted asparagus, heirloom tomatoes and feta cheese.

A photo posted by Irene Seto (@heyseto) on Oct 17, 2015 at 1:50pm PDT

Good Earth makes their rooibos teas unlike any other café in town. Rather than using a tea bag style, the rooibos is ground down and brewed like an expresso. This makes for extra concentrated flavours enhanced with a touch of vanilla for sweetness. This drink was a surprise treat and goes deliciously well with their wide array of baked goods.

Rounding out the affair is a vegan-friendly Pumpkin Spice Muffin filled with sunflower and flax seeds. Moist and rich, I’d like to try this muffin again heated up to really bring out all the flavours even more.

Now that I’ve been reminded of all that Good Earth has to offer, I’ll be sure to make a return visit soon. They’ve been supporting local for so long that I’d be happy to return the favour.