Day 86: Mexican food at Magpie & Stump

Magpie & Stump, a weathered sort of kitschy saloon with bison heads on the wall beside a big screen TV playing the hockey game, is exactly the same as it was 20+ years ago. The dark walls are covered with stuff – old bottles, ash trays, neon signs, old bottle openers, Christmas lights, sombreros, antlers, and that was just in the few square feet beside our table.

Since driving into Banff I have had a hankering for the Gringo Salad of my youth: a utilitarian mound of chopped iceberg lettuce, green pepper, tomato, green onion, almond chicken (which was indistinguishable to me from any other chopped, skinless roasted chicken; not that there’s anything wrong with that) and (not too much) monterey Jack cheese loaded into a deep-fried tortilla shell with their own sour cream-ish, mildly ranchish dressing. This is what I used to order when we came to M&S apres-ski, or when we came to visit my mom’s artist friend who lived in Banff when I was a teenager and pretended she was really my friend. So that’s what I got, but it seems to have lost a bit of its lustre in the past couple decades. Perhaps my palate has changed since the days when I actually enjoyed Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger Macaroni?

If you want to make an edible tortilla bowl at home, there’s no need to deep-fry them: take a flour tortilla and soak it for a few seconds in a pie plate full of warm water, then drape it over an empty can or inverted glass set on a cookie sheet, gently folding it with your fingers to create the shape you want. Then bake it at 400F for about 10 minutes, or until it’s golden. Kids love dishes you can eat.

I forgot my camera at the hotel, so I could not document Mike’s beef burrito extravaganza, on an oval platter loaded down with guacamole, salad, rice, refried beans, and assorted Mexican things tucked into any bits of space left in between. Upon its arrival he commented that in most countries, this would serve as a meal for an entire family. We looked around at all the other diners, each working on equally huge platters of their own, or entire pizzas. We shared both, and still came home with enough left over for another reasonably-sized meal. I used to make a habit of asking the server to pack up the rest of my meal once I had made it through half – if it stays in front of me, I’ll keep plowing through it, whether I’m full or not. Probably a good habit to pick up again.

Share

About Julie

You May Also Like

44 comments on “Day 86: Mexican food at Magpie & Stump

  1. buy cialis viagra canada
    June 9, 2025 at 7:13 am

    I couldn’t hold back commenting. Warmly written!

  2. diarrhea from flagyl
    June 11, 2025 at 1:30 am

    I am in truth happy to coup d’oeil at this blog posts which consists of tons of useful facts, thanks towards providing such data.

  3. raxl6
    June 12, 2025 at 8:26 pm

    azithromycin 500mg pills – purchase tindamax sale metronidazole 200mg ca

  4. seakz
    June 14, 2025 at 8:29 am

    rybelsus over the counter – cyproheptadine 4 mg ca periactin 4 mg sale

  5. 1r6ed
    June 16, 2025 at 7:47 am

    buy domperidone 10mg online cheap – order domperidone flexeril 15mg drug

  6. ps997
    June 25, 2025 at 9:00 am

    augmentin pill – https://atbioinfo.com/ buy acillin sale

  7. 9htf6
    June 27, 2025 at 1:29 am

    order esomeprazole 20mg generic – https://anexamate.com/ order nexium 20mg generic

  8. 06zgh
    June 28, 2025 at 11:01 am

    how to get warfarin without a prescription – https://coumamide.com/ cozaar 50mg cost

  9. zxvnx
    June 30, 2025 at 8:42 am

    buy mobic – tenderness order mobic 15mg sale

  10. axbqs
    July 2, 2025 at 5:51 am

    prednisone 40mg pill – https://apreplson.com/ order prednisone 10mg sale

  11. zayj2
    July 3, 2025 at 8:45 am

    buy generic ed pills for sale – ed pills buy ed pill

  12. afb42
    July 4, 2025 at 7:02 pm

    buy amoxicillin without prescription – buy amoxicillin pills for sale buy amoxicillin generic

  13. vvwds
    July 9, 2025 at 5:58 am

    buy generic fluconazole online – https://gpdifluca.com/# buy diflucan 100mg generic

  14. 6hk4h
    July 10, 2025 at 12:32 pm

    where to buy lexapro without a prescription – site escitalopram 20mg tablet

  15. ymt94
    July 10, 2025 at 7:35 pm

    cenforce 100mg over the counter – on this site buy cenforce 100mg

  16. gcd4h
    July 12, 2025 at 6:07 am

    cialis from canadian pharmacy registerd – https://ciltadgn.com/ cialis experience reddit

  17. ruyfv
    July 13, 2025 at 1:35 pm

    cialis free samples – https://strongtadafl.com/# do you need a prescription for cialis

  18. Connievem
    July 14, 2025 at 8:33 pm

    zantac 300mg drug – purchase ranitidine pill ranitidine cost

  19. 9ybl3
    July 15, 2025 at 8:26 pm

    sildenafil oral jelly 100mg kamagra – strong vpls buy cheap viagra mastercard

  20. Connievem
    July 17, 2025 at 6:55 am

    I’ll certainly carry back to be familiar with more. this

  21. lgb9s
    July 17, 2025 at 7:46 pm

    I couldn’t turn down commenting. Well written! https://buyfastonl.com/gabapentin.html

  22. Connievem
    July 20, 2025 at 12:46 am

    I’ll certainly return to skim more. https://ursxdol.com/get-metformin-pills/

  23. 88zxa
    July 20, 2025 at 10:34 pm

    This is the kind of criticism I truly appreciate. https://prohnrg.com/product/omeprazole-20-mg/

  24. rc4ar
    July 23, 2025 at 3:28 pm

    Palatable blog you have here.. It’s severely to find high status article like yours these days. I honestly respect individuals like you! Withstand guardianship!! https://aranitidine.com/fr/viagra-professional-100-mg/

  25. Connievem
    August 4, 2025 at 12:00 pm

    This is the kind of post I turn up helpful. https://ondactone.com/product/domperidone/

  26. Connievem
    August 7, 2025 at 8:52 am

    More delight pieces like this would urge the ???????? better.
    buy zofran for sale

  27. Connievem
    August 14, 2025 at 6:29 pm

    I’ll certainly bring to read more. http://zqykj.com/bbs/home.php?mod=space&uid=302441

  28. Connievem
    August 21, 2025 at 2:50 am

    purchase forxiga without prescription – https://janozin.com/# dapagliflozin medication

  29. Connievem
    August 24, 2025 at 2:48 am

    xenical price – purchase xenical online brand orlistat 60mg

  30. Connievem
    August 29, 2025 at 10:57 am

    Thanks for putting this up. It’s understandably done. https://myvisualdatabase.com/forum/profile.php?id=118747

  31. MvyqHault
    October 8, 2025 at 10:20 am

    You can conserve yourself and your family by being heedful when buying prescription online. Some pharmacy websites manipulate legally and offer convenience, reclusion, cost savings and safeguards to purchasing medicines. buy in TerbinaPharmacy https://terbinafines.com/product/zantac.html zantac

  32. 7l803
    October 9, 2025 at 2:16 pm

    I’ll certainly bring to be familiar with more. TerbinaPharmacy

  33. casino arizona
    October 11, 2025 at 3:41 pm

    With thanks. Loads of expertise!

  34. Sfieht
    February 10, 2026 at 12:33 am

    best casinos
    new casino sites
    online casino game real money

  35. Dzzzdi
    February 11, 2026 at 7:18 am

    betmgm Alaska betmgm-play betmgm SC

  36. Qcokdq
    February 18, 2026 at 7:31 pm

    Venture into a realm of virtual thrills and real rewards. crown coins casino app offers customizable avatars for personalized gaming. Customize, play, and conquer!

  37. Hdemgn
    February 25, 2026 at 9:09 am

    Conquer the casino floor with buffalo might. buffalo slot machine near me explodes with 1024 ways, bonus retriggers, and progressive herds of cash. Play now!

  38. Mpfrzo
    February 27, 2026 at 12:59 pm

    Join Chumba Casino today and claim your free Sweeps Coins welcome bonus — play chumba casino! Spin the reels on top slots and enjoy real prize potential every single day. Fun starts instantly — play now!

  39. Nufvuo
    March 6, 2026 at 10:19 am

    Opravdova uspora na opravdovych lecich – az 80 %
    rychle doruceni

  40. Tnmyar
    March 10, 2026 at 3:01 pm

    Connect the millions friendly momentous on fanduel casino michigan – the #1 legitimate money casino app in America.
    Get your $1000 TEASE IT AGAIN honorarium and turn every spin, hand and somersault into real cash rewards.
    Firm payouts, whopping jackpots, and day in effect – download FanDuel Casino in these times and start playing like a pro today!

  41. Ywlnla
    March 17, 2026 at 8:51 am

    Betano roper navnet ditt. F?? en enorm ?‚¬500 bonus pluss free spins akkurat n?? https://betanogame.org/no/bonuses/. Mobiloptimalisert, sikkert og fullt av daglige kampanjer.

  42. Aqbkke
    March 21, 2026 at 3:38 pm

    Mostbet traz para voc?? 200% extra + 270 rodadas gr??tis agora mesmo – https://mostbetpt.pro/ , Mostbet: mais jogos, mais emo?§??o, mais possibilidades todos os dias .

  43. Mclwqe
    March 25, 2026 at 3:03 am

    Spin like the casino personally insulted your wallet – http://aranitidine.com/mostbet-casino-recenzia-2026-najlepsie-online-kasino-na-slovensku/ , Step into the ultimate playground of fortune and excitement .

  44. Uykcne
    April 8, 2026 at 9:30 pm

    Votre pharmacie pr?©f?©r?©e pour des conseils clairs et efficaces – https://acceslibre.beta.gouv.fr/app/58-magny-cours/a/pharmacie/erp/pharmacie-du-circuit/ , Faites confiance ?  notre ?©quipe pour prendre soin de vous .

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.