The trip started out with a small dinner at Whiskey District. I had their food, talked with the culinary team and listened to their individual stories and life journeys. What struck me was that not many of them went to culinary school — and that's something that needs to be addressed in this area to really heighten the strength of the south. But here's what I was thrilled to see: a steak tartare being served with such presentation and flavours. That dish set the tone for everything that followed.

Highlight: Steak tartare — plated with intention and packed with flavour.

I spent the entire first full day in Medicine Hat — fall day, coffee shops, bakers, the whole thing. What I really enjoyed was this original coffee shop. I sat and listened to the story of a fire that burned through the building, and how they kept the place up and going even with the fire damage still showing in some of the brick. That kind of resilience — you can feel it in the space. And the crumbles and cheesecake first thing in the morning? Insane. Just insane.

Highlight: Fire-damaged brick walls that tell a story. Crumbles and cheesecake that'll ruin your appetite for the rest of the morning — in the best way.

From the coffee shop, we hit up the giant teepee — and I learned so much more about its actual existence than I ever expected. This wasn't just a photo stop. There was knowledge sharing, there was smudging with a knowledge-keeper. We also visited the site where Medicine Hat got its name, and I came to understand both the story and the place where that name was given. That kind of land-based knowledge — it grounds you.

Zucchini Blossom came next. The owner — Kristine — is well known for her food, her personality, and the quality of her products. Everything is local. That's not a marketing line here; it's how she actually operates. We also sampled the locally sourced Reesor Springs bottled water — even the water in this part of Alberta has a story.

Highlight: Local-first philosophy done with heart and personality. Soup that proves simplicity done right is everything.

A visit to Medalta — a National Historic Site right in Medicine Hat's Historic Clay District. This is where art, craft, and industry all lived together. The kind of place that reminds you that making things with your hands has always mattered here.

A full tour of Homestead Market — a chance to see where local producers bring it all together under one roof.

A short tour out to Neubauer Farm for a meet and greet. The land, the people, the purpose — this is what southern Alberta's food system is built on.

Time to hit up some bees and learn about the importance of them — how they dwell and exist. Out with Sheldon and Stella of Sweet Pure Honey to visit the beehives. There's something humbling about standing in a field and really understanding what these tiny creatures do for everything we eat. The south doesn't make sense without them.

Highlight: Getting up close with the hives. Understanding the full food story — from flower to jar.

We ended the day at Hometown — a brother and sister team who opened their dream together. That story alone makes the food taste better. The reuben was the move.

Highlight: Family-run, dream-built. A reuben worth making the trip for.

I ended up at Coulee Café in the morning, where I have never — and I mean never — had such big pastries. Almost for no reason, they're that big. But delicious. The kind of delicious where you think: I may not need to eat again for the day. You'll eat again. But you'll think that.

Meeting Chef D'Arcy here was the right move. Someone doing honest, generous food in a town that deserves that energy.

Highlight: Pastries so big they seem unreasonable. They are not unreasonable. They are correct.

Who can go to the south without a pumpkin patch visit? We were almost overwhelmed with the amount of them, looking on into the scenery. This is fall in southern Alberta — wide open, golden, full of gourds. Pumpkin patches are open and worth every minute.

Highlight: That feeling of being surrounded by pumpkins in a field. Fall, in its full form.

Cattlemen's time — where the south celebrates steak. Very clean cut, higher-end place with next-level steaks. Deservingly, this was probably the best steak on the entire trip. I made sure to learn where they source their beef and all their products and produce. That story matters as much as the cut.

Highlight: Best steak of the trip. Full stop.

Off to Lethbridge Culinary School to meet the cooking students and the Blackfoot Confederacy. We heard students talk about their culinary journeys — and then the Treaty 7 elders led us on a medicine walk, sharing knowledge about the land these students get to dwell on. Two for one. That combination — young chefs and deep land knowledge — that's the future of food in this region. Locally produced lunch, prepared right in front of us.

Highlight: Hearing students talk about their journeys, then walking the land with elders. This is what culinary education should look like.

Then we took off to do a Japanese excursion in Lethbridge — to discover the building that lies there and understand the importance it holds. We got to learn the history and what this garden means to the community. Maple matcha cookies and matcha beer. Yes. Both. At a Japanese garden in the middle of the Alberta prairies. That's southern Alberta surprising you again.

A visit to Theoretically Brewing Co., a cool stop with awesome, and experimental beers!

A feature dinner at Italian Table — highlighted in the Porch to Plate itinerary and built around their Social & Share menu. The kind of place where the table itself becomes the experience. Jason Austin runs the room with intention.

Highlight: The Social & Share menu. Eating together, the way it's meant to be done.

This hip cafe offers specialty coffees using locally roasted Red Engine Coffee, fresh baked goods, and liege waffles. Stop by for a simple but tasty breakfast.

More stories in the south — this time at Little Gem Winery. A tour with Kathy Harms and Joel, followed by lunch. Southern Alberta wine country is not a punchline. It's a real thing, grown with real care.

Highlight: The tour-to-table experience. Wine grown on the prairies.

A stop at Stronghold Brewery in Fort Macleod. A brewery in a historic town — the kind of combination that makes southern Alberta road tripping worthwhile.

Highlight: Craft beer where history and hops live together.

High-end dining in Waterton. Chef Brian Long joined us and that made all the difference. The kind of meal where you're eating in the mountains and the food matches the elevation. Red Rock Trattoria doesn't just feed you — it situates you in a place.

Highlight: Dining with a chef who understands exactly where he is and why it matters.

A loose morning in Waterton — breakfast at the Lamp Post Dining Room inside Kilmorey Lodge. The kind of morning where the mountains are right there and you're not in a rush.

Even ate hotdogs in Waterton! And yes — that belongs in the same trip as a Michelin-worthy dinner in the mountains. That's exactly the point. Max runs this place with personality and craft. A proper hotdog in a spectacular setting is one of life's underrated pleasures.

Highlight: Max's hotdogs. Proof that great food doesn't need a tablecloth.

Went to the Rum Runner to meet with John — kitchen manager and chef. He had to be off at 4pm so we moved things up to 2pm and made it work. The Crowsnest Pass has its own rhythm, its own history, and the Rum Runner fits right into it. Good enough that coming back for dinner is absolutely on the table.

Highlight: John's kitchen energy. A place that earns a return visit in the same day.

Indulge in delicious pastries and coffee at The Cherry On Top Bakery.

Went to the pantry for more snacks and food — listening to more southern Alberta stories. That's honestly the whole thing. The food is the vehicle. The stories are the destination.

Highlight: Southern Alberta stories over local provisions. This is the soul of the trip.

Best described as “New Canadian,” the menu fuses contemporary techniques with culinary traditions from around the world. Every dish is thoughtfully crafted to highlight the rich bounty of local producers from Alberta, BC, and Saskatchewan, celebrating sustainable ingredients and seasonal abundance.