Going on a Food Hunt
Olives in market
True confession: my idea of fun is to comb the city in search of special foods that I don't find at the supermarket, like freshly baked Lebanese pita bread, tender and pliant and still faintly warm in its package, or 
frozen guava puree from Mexico which I use in fruit smoothies to add a tangy tropical note. There are lots of little shops scattered about the city with all kinds of edible treasures to explore. As if she was reading my mind, Calgary writer, chef and food lover dee Hobsbawn-Smith has just published an excellent little source book for finding fabulous food in the Calgary area:
SHOP talk - The Open-All-Hours Insider's Guide to Finding Great Ingredients in Calgary, the Bow Valley and Beyond by dee Hobsbawn-Smith
Shop talk is divided into 26 broad categores, with entries for Bakeries, Local Producers, Organics, Latin, Farmgate Sales, etc. With obvious relish and lots of flair, dee has done all the legwork for you, sourcing out where to find almost everything related to food in our region. Using this book provides many joys, from exploring new neighbourhoods to driving out to a farm to buy fresh from the source, to eating locally and, consequently, freshly. Some of my own favourite hunting grounds are included in Shop talk:
Montreal Bagels - 103, 8408 Elbow Drive SW 403-212-4060 I am from Montreal and I am here to say that these are the real thing, at least in the poppy seed/sesame seed permutation (say "white seed" or "black seed" to demonstrate real Montrealishness).
Village Pita Bakery and Mediterranean Food Store - 208, 255-28 28 Street NE 403-273-0330 For the most melt-in-your-mouth, supple pita breads, baked fresh on the premises, come to Village Pita and stay for lunch. A modest little lunch counter would have you think you were nowhere special, but the food will tell you differently. Have a spinach/feta pita with a large handful of napkins, and help yourselves to the free olives on the counter.
Fairmount Spiceland - 7640 Fairmount Drive SE (Astral Plaza) 403-225-7295 One of only a few places in the city where you can find fresh curry leaves. This is where I come to stock up my pantry with lentils, dried beans, rice and a large assortment of spices. Browse through the shelves to find Indian pickles and snacks, South African jams, pomegranate molasses and juice, plus many other ethnic ingredients.
Paolini's Sausage and Meats - 5735 3 Street SE 403-252-9000 This is as old-world a deli as you can get in the new world, with sausages hanging from the rafters, wiffs of smoked pork perfuming the air, homemade soup simmering in the back room. They carry a very good assortment of house-made cold cuts and sausages. Try their ravioli too, kept in the freezer.
Another true confession: the photo above of olives in a market is one I took on a trip to Turkey. How I wish I could say it was a local market!
As for frozen guava puree, go to La Tiendona Market - 1832 36th Street SE 403-272-4054. You can also stock up on black beans, masa harina, hot sauces and dried Mexican chiles, great for making your own spice mixes. Hey, that's a great idea for another post: Making your own spice blends! Coming soon . . . . . . . . .
You may want to chew on these titles for more foodie news:
My Favourite Cheap eats 2008 by John Gilchrist
The Food Lover's Trail Guide to Alberta, Volume II by Mary Bailey
My Favourite Restaurants in Calgary and Banff 2006 by John Gilchrist