Recipes (Main)

This year my husband Rob and I are celebrating 13 years of marriage. We’ve zoomed past the seven year itch without a hitch (see what I did there), and kept things interesting with two adorable children aged 9 and 11, sister cats, a dog resembling a small pony, and an International student who lives with us during the school year.

We are a busy family, so Rob and I are always on the lookout for ways to reconnect and spend time alone together. It’s important to make time for one another and reconnect without all the white noise, the kids and the pets fighting for your attention.

A favourite getaway to replenish the soul for us is simply a quiet dinner out, sometimes including the theatre or a movie, and staying over night in a local hotel, a date night stay-cation if you will.

We’ve had a long winter here in Calgary and were in need of some time away. Thanks to the newly opened Calgary Airport Marriott In-Terminal Hotel, and some good friends, we were able to sneak away for a night together.

The Hotel

Located between the International and domestic terminals, the Marriott has 318 guest rooms, a Fitness Centre, swimming pool with hot tub, concierge level with a lounge, and a full Business Centre with everything required to get some work done. The Marriott connects to the airport itself so you could even wander over and visit the Spaceport, a Museum of Space history in Calgary.

Mobile check in is available and they are a dog friendly hotel – an amazing perk for those of us who travel sometimes with our pups.

If you are traveling with kids, request a room with a City view and airport view. Watching the planes is mesmerizing, with so many things going on at all times. See the planes come in and dock,  restock, reload, de-ice if winter time, simple preparing to go again on it’s next adventure. Rob and I sat and watched for quite some time.

For a few extra dollars pay to stay on the concierge level and request a view of downtown. Included with your stay on the concierge level is access to the M Club Lounge. The lounge includes comfortable chairs, views to mesmerize, a TV, and an always stocked snack bar.

Hors d’oeuvres are available in the evening and breakfast in the morning. Our room was located down the hall from the M Club Lounge, making it a favourite stop every time we left our room.

Our room was large with a sitting area and telescope by the floor to ceiling window allowing close up plane watching. Did you know becoming a Marriott Rewards Member will allow you lower rates and free Wifi? It’s true!

Dining

The Yakima Social Kitchen & Bar is located on the check-in level of the hotel and open 6am – 12am for fine dining, light snacks or even brunch. After checking in and getting settled in our room, Rob and I stopped into the M Club Lounge for a cocktail and more plane watching, then back to our room to freshen up for dinner at Yakima. This destination restaurant offers a menu with locally inspired ingredients influenced by Aboriginal, Asian and North American cuisine. As we arrived at the restaurant for dinner later in the evening, we were immediately captivated with how intimate it was with dimmed lights and candles on each table.

We started our meal with a couple of appetizers. Rob ordered the Sichaun Wings with chopped peanuts and green onion, and I the House Cured Salmon with pomelo and wasabi cream. I grew up eating salmon and loved the flavours this cured salmon had to offer. The wings were reminiscent of a peanut satay, and the flavour profile worked.

We both decided for our main entree to try the steak. We love steak, and were especially intrigued when we spotted Alberta Beef on the menu. Rob went with the Alberta Beef Fillet served with pickled red wine shallots, a truffled Yukon mousse line and squash. I thought I’d go smaller (smaller appetite) and ordered the Skirt Steak with a soy-maple broth, squash medley and potato stack. My meal ended up being quite large and Rob had to help me finish it all. Good thing he’s got a hollow leg.

We finished our meal with dessert. Being a creme brulee fanatic I couldn’t pass up trying the tonka bean creme brulee. Since we were sharing, our second dessert was a chocolate explosion spectacularly served inside a fish bowl. There were chocolate pearls, chocolate dirt, small cubes of cake and the chocolate itself resembled a cooled ganache. Both were a spectacular end to our meal.

We choose not to order coffee to go with our desserts as we were able to stop in the M Club Lounge and sit down to enjoy our coffee and the view. Kind of romantic right with all the glimmering lights of the City in view? Next stop was the hot tub and pool to work off some of the delicious calories we had just consumed.

Yakima Social Kitchen & Bar is a destination restaurant n the North East worth checking out. They offer a range of meals to suite all palates and when dining in you get four hours of free valet parking. Here’s a sneak peak of their brunch offering.

Things to do

With comfortable and spacious seating all over the hotel, it is easy to curl up with a good book or your e-reader/tablet and get lost for awhile.

The M Club Lounge has cozy chairs with view and even a coffee and cappuccino machine. Plus other grab and go refreshments. A light breakfast is available in the morning including eggs, bacon, sausages and so much more plus Hors d’oeuvres at dinner time. It was so comfortable and homey we could have spent ours there.

An evening cocktail was in order and we wanted a peek at the Hors d’oeuvres. Hot chicken teriyaki and a tofu dish were available, charcuterie with fresh made chips, a candy station, several mini dessert options, cookies, crackers and so much more. Way more than what we expected and everything so fresh.

Fruit juices and pop were complimentary as were sparkling or regular filtered water plus a coffee from cappuccino station. Alcoholic beverages are also available in the evening for a small charge and billed back to your room.

In the morning breakfast was equally impressive featuring eggs, bacon and sausage for those wanting a heartier bite. Or fruit, pastries and cereal for those wanting a lighter meal. I adored the parfait station and fresh fruit. Rob was more interested in the eggs and bacon with toast. He is definitely the Ying to my Yang where food is involved.

The fitness centre has everything you need for a workout including a view. With both cardio equipment and free weights available, you are able to get that work out in while traveling or even doing a stay-cation. Included in the fitness centre is filtered water, disposable earbuds, cool towels and there was even a bowl of apples to give you a boost post workout!

A soak in the hot tub is exactly what we needed after a crazy week, long day and filling dinner at Yakima.

Our stay was short as we had kids to pick up the next day, and deliver to activities. But it was memorable. While it’s great to stay in a hotel in downtown Calgary, it’s also great to stay out of the city, away from the hustle and bustle, be able to enjoy a great meal, comfortable stay and of course, the view.

Key points that really caught our eye: quick and flawless check in, valet service that was right there when you needed them or your vehicle, a pleasant welcoming lobby with comfy chairs everywhere (I wanted to try them all), the view from our room, spacious and super clean rooms, access to the M Club Lounge a must, and most importantly the service by every staff member we came across, simply amazing.

The Marriott Airport Calgary Hotel is the place to stay when you are leaving on a flight early the next morning, you are in town to visit for for an event, like the very noisy Calgary Stampede, or want a stay-cation getaway for two or even with the family. Seriously what kid doesn’t love a pool?! For more information, visit the Marriott Calgary Airport Hotel (link above).

This is a sponsored post. Opinions expressed are mine and based on the experience had while staying in the hotel and eating at the restaurant.