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
Tubby Dog (Photo: *ee)
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. (more…)
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
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