Though the hot (okay, at least warm) days of summer may be behind us, the lack of patio space is no reason to forgo a cool beer – just pull up a stool at your local pub. The renewed interest in shopping and eating local definitely includes beer, and you won’t have to go far to find some of the best. These Calgary watering holes came in at the top of our list for their mouth-watering microbrews. (more…)
Photographer Paula Worthington, courtesy of Brookline PR and Catch Restaurant & The Oyster Bar
Catch & The Oyster Bar have had a makeover. Located at Centre Street and Stephen Avenue, the first floor boasts a redone oyster bar, but the comfortable seating area has just been freshened up. The second floor Catch Restaurant, however, has a brand-new look and feel. It’s much more of an upscale casual feel with rich wood tables – no white linen table cloths anymore – and wine racks from floor to ceiling. It still feels intimate, but much more relaxed.
Get a feel for the culinary flavour of yyc with these dishes
BY LAURA PELLERINE, DAN LEAHUL AND ALLISON ONYETT
For 75 years, Where Magazine has been the most trusted source for travellers looking for the inside scoop on what the world’s greatest cities have to offer. To celebrate this milestone, here are some of the most iconic and unique dishes the city has to offer, from local meat and produce to flavours balanced to perfection to cult favourites. It wasn’t easy, but we had a little help from some of Calgary’s top food experts—John Gilchrist, Karen Anderson, Linda Garson, Anh Chu, Catherine Caldwell and Andree Lau. Happy eating!
#2 - Grilled Cheese at Janice Beaton, photograph by Jason Dziver
1. “The Whole Truck” at Alley Burger Food Truck • This juicy burger is made from 100 per cent Spring Creek Angus beef with your choice of toppings. We liked it with piri piri aioli, fresh cheese curds, pickles, tomato and lettuce. There might be a line-up, but it’s worth the wait. Watch for their location via Twitter @AlleyBurger.
2. Grilled Cheese at Janice Beaton • Creamy Oka “Classique” cheese mingles with sharp cheddar and tomato chili jam, served on a freshly baked ciabatta bun.
3. The Crave-O-Licious Cupcake at Crave Cookies and Cupcakes • Moist chocolate cake is topped with blue vanilla buttercream icing and shaved dark chocolate.
4. Vegetarian Pad Thai at Delicious Thai • A hearty helping of noodles, sprouts and chunks of sweet, crispy tofu, with robust flavours of peanuts, lime and chilis.
5. Ricotta Gnocchi at Capo • Billowy ricotta gnocchi swims in a rich Lobster Américaine sauce, topped with black truffle oil and greens.
6. The Masala Mogo at Safari Grill • A plate of deep-fried cassava (a tropical root, similar to a potato) mixed with masala sauce: Indian spices with crushed tomatoes.
CBC wine and food pairing expert Linda Garson gives us her recommendations for a wine pairing dinner at Safari Grill. Ali and Salima Moledina have been serving Calgary with authentic, traditional East African cuisine for over five years.
Safari Grill
Thick, warm, yeast doughnuts topped with housemade marshmallow or Valrhona chocolate or a maple glaze embedded with shards of crisp Valbella bacon. These are just three of the daily dozen doughnuts conjured up at Jelly Modern Doughnuts. Kicking doughnuts up to the next level, Jelly makes all their own fillings from a tart lemon to a sultry B-52 using as many local and organic ingredients as possible. 1414 – 8 St SW, 403-453-2053. –John Gilchrist
Jelly Modern Doughnuts
Enjoy mouth-watering barbecue ribs, retro milkshakes and quirky hotdogs at these specialty eateries.
A combination of unpredictable weather and strict health code regulations have forced Calgary’s streetfood vendors to become a resourceful, inventive and inspired bunch. The day of plain ol’ hotdog carts are long passé—instead, many restaurants are branching out to the street, with walk-up takeaway-windows serving gourmet grub on-the-go. These connoisseurs of outside eats have raised the bar of their cornerside-counterparts, taking streetfood staples to unseen summits.
By Dan Leahul
Tubby Dog
The specialty at Tubby Dog is mountainous and messy hot dogs, generously loaded with mind-bending toppings, like Cap’n Crunch. So generous, it’ll leave you wondering just how-in-the-heck you’re going to be able to eat one. The ‘dogs are made with a juicy mixture of beef and chicken, but you can choose an all beef ‘dog, turkey, veggie or homemade Ukrainian sausage. Topping combos are limited only by your imagination, and the list is exhaustive: homemade chili, pickled ginger, Japanese mayo, fried egg, peanut butter. We like the A-Bomb with bacon, potato chips and cheese. The restaurant inside is a regular venue for live music, but we prefer to order from the streetside window, which on the weekends is the de facto muster point for 17 Ave’s late-night revelers, open Fri and Sat till 4 am.
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Peters’ Drive-in
Peters’ Drive-in is a throwback to a time when hot rods ruled the road and poodle skirts were worn without a sense of irony—and the menu hasn’t changed much in the 40-odd years it’s been in operation either. Head here in the dog days of summer, grab yourself a burger and a shake, plant yourself on a picnic table and take a time-warp—back to the days when you didn’t worry about caloric content—because the portion sizes are out of this world. All burgers come with one-and-a-half patties and are served with enough fries or onion rings to fill a miniature shoebox. Be warned, the milkshakes are the real deal, so thick and creamy it’ll take you the better part of the afternoon just to get through it. With over 30 flavours, you can be as creative as you wish, but in our opinion, there is no topping the classic vanilla (Page 60).
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Jojo’s BBQ
As the owner of Jojo’s BBQ, and a local authority on “true” Southern-style barbecue, you’ll find Jody Barned cruising around the city in her “Chariot of Smoke”—a 30-foot motorhome-turned-smokehouse that pumps out juicy, tender, and above-all, smokey, barbecue. Napkins need not apply here, you’ll want to savour every last finger-licking drop of her homemade barbecue sauce. You can track her whereabouts on Twitter (@JoJosBBQ) but she can usually be found in the parking lot of Barbecues Galore (3505 Edmonton Tr NE). We recommend the dinner for two—a rack of ribs, with barbecued cowboy beans, homemade coleslaw and a delicious pickled onion.
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When the weather’s warm, grab some gourmet-to-go at one of these fine eateries:
Boxwood
A homey little café set within the tranquil Central Memorial Park, Boxwood’s domain of expertise is displayed along its rotisserie spit—there’s organic chicken, lamb, even eggplant. We’ve yet to find a better porchetta in the city, a moist pork roast, with crackling layers of skin and savoury fat, served on a ciabatta with cabbage and apple slaw and grainy mustard. There’s plenty of vegetarian options as well.
Holy Grill
This cafeteria-style refuge off 10 Ave may be bare bones in its operation but the Holy Grill delivers high quality takeaway from breakfast to late lunch. Dining options are centred around burgers and paninis, the latter being the specialty here: for an expertly crafted lunch, try the Pacific, with smoked salmon, cream cheese, artichoke hearts and capers, served with beet chips. Stephen Ave is just a couple of blocks away, a great people watching spot with ample bench seating.
Mirchi
This Pakistani takeout spot offers boldly flavoured and unstintingly spicy cuisine. Mirchi’s minced beef shish kababs will have you perspiring before it’s even unwrapped—but those with vulnerable tastebuds need not worry, spiciness can be customized to suit the palette. If you’re looking for a quick snack, grab a bag of their vegetable pakoras, mildly spicy fritters of potato, onion and deep-fried cauliflower, and head to Lougheed House one block south and enjoy lunch in the lovely Beaulieu Gardens.
Vendome Café
One of the best-kept secrets in the city, tucked away on the far side of the tracks in the quaint neighbourhood of Sunnyside. At Vendome you’ll find traditional brunch fare with an upscale flair—such as lump crab eggs Benedict, mildly spicy cornmeal crab cakes under a poached egg and devilishly thick hollandaise. As hard as we try, we can’t get past the duck confit panini, with moist, braised duck and sweet caramelized onions sandwiched between a golden and crispy foccacia, with grainy mustard aioli for dipping on the side. Get it to go and head to Riley Park along 10 St NW.
Get a taste of a French-Canadian classic snack at the newly opened The Big Cheese Poutinerie. On the menu find 21 variations of the typical fries-gravy-and-cheese Quebec treat, including the popular Notorious P.I.G. (a combination of Carolina pulled pork, double-smoked bacon and Italian sausage with cheese curds and gravy). Other offerings include Buffalo Chicken (grilled chicken tossed in Frank’s Red Hot sauce and green peas) and the Cow Town (barbecued beef with caramelized onions). Though a majority of their menu is based around meat, they also offer gluten-free gravy and options for vegetarians. The hot spot is open until 3:30 am on Friday and Saturday nights for weekend warriors heading home from nearby pubs and lounges. 738 – 17 Ave SW, 403-457-CURD (2873).—Ryan Duncan
The Big Cheese Poutinerie
Discover Field Stone Fruit Wines, a true taste of Alberta
by Laura Pellerine
It’s no secret that Alberta is known for its high quality beef; if you’ve taken a look at some menus around town, you’ll also find that our Taber corn is a hit, as are our juicy Hotchkiss tomatoes, Poplar Bluff potatoes and free-range bison. However, what you may not know, is that we also make our own wine—fruit wine, that is. Ontario, B.C. and even Nova Scotia, may have their grapes, but here in Alberta, we’re making wines with the likes of saskatoons and rhubarb. (more…)
Step into the world of Persian cuisine with a dish of kashk-e-bademjan at Shiraz. Combining the gentle flavour of roasted eggplant (bademjan) with mint, fried onions, and crisp garlic and topped with a drizzle of whey (kashk), this is a silky appetizer that offers a great beginning to a meal of kebabs, stews of okra and chicken or beef and split peas, and luscious Persian pastries. 1120 Centre St NE, 403-452-4050. –John Gilchrist
Packing the lower level of The Core building with over 200 seats, Double Zero is heating up downtown with hand-pressed and rolled pizzas. This new pizzeria uses finely ground, Italian 00 flour and other top quality ingredients to create chicken-confit-and-eggplant or rapini-and-pine nut pies. And they make a tasty meatball panini too. 100, 751 – 3 St SW, 403-265-9559. –John Gilchrist
Double Zero Pizza
Start your night off with Melrose Café and Bar’s sweet tropical “Fishbowl”—a blend of three kinds of rum, Crème de Banane, Grand Marnier and Peach Schnapps, for a whopping total of six ounces of alcohol. Poured into an oversized fishbowl-shaped glass, there’s also fruit juice, cranberries and a cherry garnish. Warning—this drink must be ordered by two or more people, so be prepared to share.—Allison Onyett
Fishbowl drink at Melrose Café and Bar
by John Gilchrist
My Top 5 Places for Alberta Beef
1. LeVilla: Steak
No one cooks a steak better than Rick Chuk, the chef/owner of LeVilla, where the best of beef meets the best of culinary technique.
2. Rocky’s Burgers: Hamburgers
Follow the line of fans to the big red bus parked in a gravel lot in the southeast, Rocky’s Burgers. Grab a burger and fries and pull up a picnic table. Enjoy the big flavour of Alberta beef, Rocky’s way.
3. Smuggler’s Inn: Prime Rib
Order your prime rib any way you want in a multitude of sizes at Smuggler’s Inn, a Calgary institution for decades. Go big at dinner with a 57-ounce slab of prime rib or small (as in 10 ounces) with a prime rib lunch.
4. Cowtown Beef Shack: Beef Dip Sandwich
This little drive-through shack on Macleod Trail, Cowtown Beef Shack does the beef dip sandwich right—cooked slow, sliced thin and served with a rich jus.
5. Open Range: Tenderloin
Beef tenderloin on a pearl onion, chanterelle mushroom-ragu with a black truffle gravy. That’s the sumptuous contemporary-prairie style of Open Range.
A purveyor of some of the creamiest Gouda and tangiest Roquefort this side of the Champs-Élysées, Janice Beaton Fine Cheese recently opened its “Grilled Cheese Bar.” Its menu is straightforward, with two anchor items and one rotating daily—there’s the Ham and Cheese Please, with maple pepper ham, Gruyère, and sun-dried tomato tapenade or the sublime Farm, filled with warm nutty Oka cheese, a sharp three-year-old cheddar, and sweet tomato chilli jam. Each sandwich is served on a crisp ciabatta, and comes with a side of coleslaw. 1017 – 16 Ave SW, 403-299-0990. —Dan Leahul
Known for their melt-in-your-mouth cupcakes, Crave’s newest sweet treats are Whoopie Pies. This means you now to get have their signature buttercream icing sandwiched between two layers of chocolate, vanilla or red velvet cake. Try the raspberry chocolate—rich, raspberry buttercream stuffed inside delicate chocolate cake. - Dan Leahul
Open the red door off 9th Avenue and ascend the stairs to a loud, lively room packed with pizza aficianados. There’ll be Spaghetti Westerns playing on the walls, a bustle of pizzas being pressed and fired, and a casual, stuff-your-face attitude. This is Without Papers, the cheeky pizzeria brought to you by the boys of Sugo, the Italian restaurant on the ground floor. 1216 – 9 Ave SE (upstairs), 403-457-1154. -John Gilchrist
Without Papers
The Brasserie’s Grilled Oysters Rockefeller, made with Royal Miyagi oysters imported from Cortes Island off the coast of Vancouver, these delights of the sea get steamed on the grill and topped with fresh arugula, Grana Pandano Parmesan cheese and extra virgin Turkish olive oil (1131 Kensington Rd NW). —Allison Onyett
Kiss Kiss Dragon rolls at Kinjo Sushi
Peter Kinjo, the knife-wielding, song-singing, Pocky-giving chef has done so well at his Macleod Trail sushi bar that he’s opened a second one on Crowchild Trail in Dalhousie. There, Kinjo serves up Kiss Kiss Dragon rolls and Volcano rolls along with a sea full of sushi and Kinjo’s own brand of entertainment. 415, 5005 Dalhousie Dr NW, 403-452-8389. - John Gilchrist
by John Gilchrist
Top 5 Pizza Joints
Yukon Gold Potato and Truffled Honey Pizza at Una
by John Gilchrist
Hot Dish
In a world of heavy pastas and over-sauced meats, the veal scallopine with champagne-mustard sauce at Il Gallo Nero is a revelation. The champagne mingles with the mustard to tingle the tongue while the tender veal dissolves in your mouth. This is Italian food that lifts the spirit. 211 – 17 Ave SE, 403-237-9077.
Veal scallopine with champagne-mustard sauce at Il Gallo Nero
Editor’s Pick: Exotic Eats
Nepalese cuisine returns to 17th Avenue with momos, choilas, tarkaris, and dal bhat at The Himalayan. The food shows influences from India and China with spices unique to Nepal. Some favourites are the butter shrimp, a twist on butter chicken, and the sweet naan filled with coconut. Best bet is to try the Tuesday to Sunday lunch buffet. 3218 – 17 Ave SW, 403-984-3384.
Get Social
Witold Twardowski has found a new old space to renovate into the latest hot spot—the basement of the Lougheed Building downtown. Originally opened as Kronn’s Rathskeller a century ago, Sociale Bar & Grille is now a lively bar with exceptional food from chef Kenny Kaechele. The cioppino jumps with flavour and the barbecued pork flatbread with cambozola cheese is a gooey-messy delight. 606 – 1 St SW, 403-262-2279.
Sociale Bar & Grille
Burger Barons
Named by U.S. President Barack Obama as his favourite burger chain, Five Guys Burgers & Fries hardly needed the endorsement—the family-run restaurant has been consistently named as one of the best burgers in America for over 25 years. With its first Alberta location open in Deerfoot Meadows, expect to leave utterly stuffed. The burgers are served with two all-beef patties, and an unlimited number of toppings, including green pepper, jalapeño, and grilled mushrooms. Be warned: if you opt for an “all the way,” (with everything) make sure you’re packing extra napkins.—Dan Leahul
The mountainous burger at Five Guys
Vietnamese Crepes
Try a twist on traditional crepes at Kol3. Specializing in savoury crepes from central Vietnam (“bánh xèo”), made from rice flour, turmeric, coconut milk, and water, and stuffed with shrimp, sprouts, mung beans, onions, mushrooms and your choice of meat or tofu. Putting an even more unique spin on this traditional food, Kol3 also offers a bacon cheeseburger version, and the “Athena” filled with chicken, feta and spinach.—Diane Klaver
Vietnamese Crepes at Kol3
Classroom Dining
Run by students in professional cooking, hotel management and bar-mixology studies, The Highwood is a fine dining restaurant on SAIT’s main campus. The restaurant gives students first-hand experience of operating a restaurant, all under the careful supervision of their instructors. Diners reap the benefits not only in delicious cuisine, but affordability—for $44 guests get a five-course dinner Mondays to Thursdays. Menu items vary, but can include dishes like rack of lamb, salmon, or free-range chicken. 1301 – 16 Ave, visit www.sait.ca/highwood for reservations.—Diane Klaver
Fine dining at SAIT's on-campus restaurant
by John Gilchrist
Dairy Lane, opened in 1950, has been re-born with local, sustainable ingredients and simple, made-to-order presentation. And they still make a fine plate of eggs.
It’s retro and cutting-edge at the same time and there will be lineups on the weekend. Folks love the ‘50s atmosphere at Diner Deluxe and the hearty menu of Johnnycakes, grilled grapefruit, and eggs Benedict done four ways.
The breakfast burrito of scrambled eggs, cheese, mushrooms, onions, peppers, bacon, and sausage rules at Galaxie Diner, a tiny and perpetually busy joint in The Beltline.
It seems like everything comes with eggs at Over Easy Breakfast, which is not a bad thing. From omelettes and Benedicts to crepes and, of course, simple over-easy platters, the food is hot, fresh, and served with panache.
The buttermilk buckwheat pancakes are a hit at Red’s Diner, located in what once was a fur shop. Red’s is one of the few places where you can get a fine diner breakfast and a good cup of espresso at the same time.
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Stay, Dine, Do
