Two Cowboys: Last Market for 2016 at Home with Canmore Christmas Artisans' Market in Alberta, Canada

At Home

Christmas is at home this year. Home is where the heart is. Home is also the place where friends and family work all year to support themselves and contribute to their community.

Canmore's Christmas Artisans' Market is our local Christmas market in this beautiful Rocky Mountain town. It is the market where we have our Chocolatier, Coffee Roaster, Potter and Woodcarver. Eighty local and visiting crafters attend the two-day market each year, which is in its 21st year.

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The Market was created in 1996 as a fundraising event for the parent-cooperative Canmore Preschool Society. It has been a successful annual event ever since that takes place on the third weekend in November. Vendors come from Invermere and across Alberta to spend the weekend in the mountains with Canmorians.

There is a high standard for goods at the market, and Artists and Artisans are carefully selected for their creativity and craftsmanship in addition to balancing the variety of offerings available at the market. Because it is a local market, Bow Valley residents receive preference. All goods are handmade and sold by the person who made them.

The market continues to be the largest annual fundraiser for Canmore Preschool and takes place at the Canmore Collegiate High School.

Observations

We attended on Sunday morning, the second day of the market. We were due to fly out to Auckland New Zealand the afternoon for our last visit to the Islands. We just couldn't pass up an opportunity to quickly check in on our friends. Every possible space was filled with the creativity of another artist or producer. Some were at their usual spots and others were newcomers. It included many familiar local and out of town faces from previous years.

The market is almost like a giant reunion for crafters. Vendors become friends as they attend market after market, year after year. They connect and take stock of their year's achievements. It is also an opportunity to make one more last sale before packing in for the Winter, and a welcome break with family and friends.

Because the market is well attended by the same vendors year-after-year, it provides an opportunity to see the Artisans' development. They display new and innovative products. You can witness improvement in their craftsmanship. The wares are often made just a little bit better than
the year before.

Attending the market is not so much about shopping as it is an opportunity to visit good old friends. That is why a local market is such an attraction for us. It brings people together. We love visiting our markets and tell the stories of the people that make the market a local market. Our market.

Thank you for supporting our market indulgence. We appreciate you sharing our content and rely on your continued support and sponsorship in 2017 when we will revisit our familiar places, meet with folks, friends and add to our portfolio of market coverage across Canada and New Zealand.

We do it because our local markets are the souls of our communities. It is where businesses ultimately begin. It is where we invest in ourselves.

Hendrik van Wyk
Artisan Cowboy

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Photos

Jelly Friends 

Coffee Friends

Two Cowboys: Weta Coffee Cold Brew and Rave Coffee, A Bean Exchange in Auckland, New Zealand

Crossing Oceans With Coffee

The Two Cowboys has several coffee sponsors. Two of them are among our favourites because they were the first to buy into our approach for promoting local producers. We have one on each side of the Pacific Ocean. Weta Coffee in Auckland New Zealand and Rave Coffee Canada in Canmore, Alberta.

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Because we travel a lot between New Zealand and Canada, we decided to embark on a bit of a coffee exchange between them. Dean from Rave Coffee asked us to deliver two of his favourites to Miles and Sandra. His signature blend, and also a Guatemalan Roast.  I asked Dean why he is sending a single origin all the way to New Zealand. Surely, they ship green beans to New Zealand from Guatemala? His reply: "All the talent is in the roast."

We checked in with Miles to deliver the package. Enjoy the video.

As you probably know, New Zealand is about to embark on their summer holidays. In Canada, we like ice coffee in summer. Kiwis are no exception. When the days heat up, they are fond of their cold coffee too.

Cold-Brew With Coconut

Miles introduced us to Weta Coffee's Cold-Brew. No, it is not the standard shots of espresso over ice. This is actually a sophisticated approach f0r making a really amazing drink. Cold-brewed coffee is ground coffee steeped in cold water for up to 24 hours and strained. Iced coffee is generally brewed hot and poured over ice.

There is a distinct difference in taste between the two methods. Ice coffee is done fast on the espresso machine and is quite strong because it is will get diluted by the ice later. Cold-Brew uses a process of infusion to extract more subtle flavours from the roasted beans. The result is often sweeter. Once it is made it is bottled and refrigerated to be consumed within 10 days. You can add ice to it, milk, and sugar. However, because it is already diluted it will not be as strong. It will make for a refreshing light drink intead.

If you are ready for the Two Cowboys version then here you go.

Ingredients:

• Weta Cold-Brew Coffee
• Glacier Ice (Or regular pure water ice if you don't live near a Glacier)
• New Zealand's Green Valley Barista Velvet Milk
• Organic Coconut Cream
• Park Distillery Vodka 

Process:

• Quantities need to be adjusted for the time-of-day you plan to drink your coffee.
• Early morning, take the coffee and save the Vodka for later.
• After lunch, start with a little bit of Vodka and as the afternoon progress increase the ratio while decreasing the milk.
• Early evening, leave out the milk entirely and adjust the coconut and vodka accordingly.
• Bedtime, take the Vodka and save the coffee for the morning.
• Mix to taste. 

If the above sounds impossible, then you may probably be right. It isn't easy being the Two Cowboys. You will have to travel to do this recipe right. Come on the road with us for the privilege of enjoying the above drink. It is an amazing adventure that span oceans and cross continents (and the odd Island) with good friends like Dean, Sandra and Miles.

Hendrik van Wyk
Cowboy Coffee

Get rewarded for supporting our local Producers: Receive special offers and invitations from the Two Cowboys and our Producers when you subscribe to our email list.

We are a content company. We earn our livelihood from producing great content about inspiring people and their stories. We use Patreon to help us earn from our work. It allows us to have a closer relationship with our collaborators and grow our audience. If you Sponsor us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/twocowboys or Donate to our cause on GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/twocowboys we can do a lot more for you, your business, event or community.

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Busy Busy

East Meets West

FlatWhiteMellow

For Summer

Two Cowboys: Mi Lugar Favorito Para Margaritas en Canmore, Alberta

My Two Girlfriends

(Learn: * Inspire: *** Amaze: * Live: *****)
(The Two Cowboys Subjective Rate-o-Meter.   )

Here's the confession. If you don't know already, I have two girlfriends.

Caipirinha and Margarita are both breathtakingly beautiful. They make my world a better, happier place. You need to be careful to pick a favourite. If you do, don't let them know about each other. If I have to pick one, it will be Margarita (Please don't tell Caipirinha).

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If I cannot meet her her at her place we often meet halfway at our favourite alternative spot in Canmore, Alberta. A small restaurant operated by Mexico City natives. A place she calls her home away from home. For me, it is my home with good friends, good food, and good Margarita. It is
Aroma Mexican Restaurant, an authentic Mexican establishment in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta, that is owned and operated by Jose Castillo. A little bit of Mexico in the snow. Margarita and my happy place.

Jose and his maître d', Rafael transports us weekly to lapping shores on the Caribean sea, filled with flavours and aromas from his homeland. Mole verde, salsa verde. Pick any verde, for your little bit of Mexico in the mountains. Above all, remember to meet Margarita. She will take your breath away.

Impressions

Canada is a land of many peoples. Immigrants from all over the world make it their new home. The Castillo family from Mexico journeyed via Montreal to finally settle in Canmore. They operate their very own authentic restaurant on Main Street. They are now Canadian. With them came their traditions of authentic Mexican cooking and a wicked understanding of the perfect Margarita.

Canmorians gained a little bit of Mexico without having to make the pilgrimage south. We can have our weekly dose of the good times in measured and responsible quantities, right here at home in Canada.

How do I know it is authentic?

Ask for Jose, the owner, operator and head chef. You will see a head peak out from a hole in the wall with a view to the kitchen at the back. This is where Jose will be busy stirring his mole on the stove, which is Mamacita's recipe from way, way back when. The restaurant is authentic because, the owner, which is Mexican, cooks his favourite home-made dishes for his favourite customers, himself.

Aroma is often filled to capacity. Yet, you will always find one table marked "reserved". That is the table that is kept for the surprise arrival of special guests. Friends of Jose and Rafael. Loyal and long-standing customers.

Let us just say, we've never been turned away.

"Jose, thank you for introducing me to Margarita. Thank you for bringing Mexico to us in the mountains. Thank you for always treating my family, my guests and I with the very best in food, hospitality and friendship."

P.S. Thank you for sharing your favourite Mezcal with me.

Hendrik van Wyk
Mexican Cowboy

Get rewarded for supporting our local Producers: Receive special offers and invitations from the Two Cowboys and our Producers when you subscribe to our email list.

We are a content company. We earn our livelihood from producing great content about inspiring people and their stories. We use Patreon to help us earn from our work. It allows us to have a closer relationship with our collaborators and grow our audience. If you Sponsor us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/twocowboys or Donate to our cause on GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/twocowboys we can do a lot more for you, your business, event or community.

Photos

¡Salud!

Happy Place

Mexico

The Market

Teamwork

Andale

Mole Verde