French · Restaurants · Special Occasion · Wine tasting

Supper Club – Edition #4 Avec Francine

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Town Hospitality organized an event. The lineup included Chef Garret Martin and Bar Manager Nate Wry of Francine’s, Sugar Water Events, and Kyo-Jean Chung from Crush Imports. Garret previously ran Major Tom and later, Francine’s, where I ate one of the best steaks in my life.

Set from 6:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. dinner included five courses paired with cocktails and wine ($243 per person). I asked Divine Offering if she was interested in attending with me. Lucky for me, she’s always up for fun! Let’s listen to “Sing, Sing, Sing” by Benny Goodman for this post.

The dinner was at The Garret Loft, above FinePrint on Stephen Avenue. We climbed the stairs and stepped into a long, lofty room. At one end, the kitchen welcomed us; at the other, a view of downtown’s ever-changing nature unfolded. A table stretched through most of the space, adorned with fresh blue delphinium flowers and burning candles.

This was my first time meeting Garret and Nate in person. I’ve only seen their photos in the Herald and was surprised by how fresh-faced they looked. With their resumes, I expected them to appear older, or at least more weathered.

The welcome drink was a French 75, created by Nate. The macadamia syrup added a nutty element, while the lemon provided an element of tartness. Delicious! We took our drinks, sat by a nook near the piano, and observed the scurry of activity before we sat for dinner.

We sat in the middle of the table, which roughly thirty other guests. The famous cheese monger, Isaac from Say Cheese Fromagerie, sat to my right with his posse. I’ve seen him on Instagram, usually chiseling into a massive wheel of cheese. To my left was a cluster of female friends, one donning a white hat. At the end of the table were couples. I sat across from one of Town Hospitality’s partners, Wyatt Norm.

The first dish was ham and chips with honey butter glaze, Bayonne ham, and aged comte cheese, paired with a glass of Montgermont Blanc De Blancs. Divine Offering took a bite and declared the honey butter glaze far better than the Korean snacks she’d bought. I picked up hints of thyme, while the chips tasted like cornflakes, topped with salty ham and cheese shavings.

The second dish was baby romaine salad with date vinaigrette, bacon, fried rosemary, and Roquefort blue. Paired with Maya Meaker Elgin Riesling, we learned the wine had a hint of residual sugar and high acidity, making it a perfect match for the sweet blue cheese from southern France. Divine Offering declared the cheese the star of the salad, smooth and creamy, without the usual sharpness of blue cheese. I loved how it melted in my mouth.

The salad was hearty yet light, sweet from the honey and salty from the bacon. I loved the combination of ingredients and textures, particularly the satisfying crunch when you cut into the “boat” of lettuce. I would order this again, and salads do not usually wow me.

Divine Offering eats slowly, while I’m usually quick. But I took my time for this meal as I didn’t want to stop tasting the flavours. One of my favourite of the night was the mussels, paired with a Pauet Macon-Villages Nos Cinq Terroirs, a smooth textured chardonnay.

The broth smelled fragrant and oceanic. The mussels were spectacular, plump, silky, and creamy, with a taste like fresh West Coast oysters. I loved how the delicate radish, apple, yuzu, and vanilla broth let the freshness of the mussels shine. She usually avoids shellfish, but these mussels were so soft and free of any fishy aftertaste that she ate every last one. I was disappointed she liked them so much, as I was hoping for her portion.

We were treated to extra cocktails throughout our meal, in addition to the welcome drink and five pairings. The Perfect Lady cocktail was simple and fun. I tasted peach with a hint of something tropical, like lychee. Divine Offering thought the Perfect Lady was a good break before the main course.

I thought nothing could outdo the mussels, but I had forgotten how well Garrett can cook a steak. The slow-roasted “delmonico” style steak was paired with a glass of contra soarda terra veneto rosso, a red wine from northern Italy. The peppercorn sauce was hot and full of flavor. The steak had a perfect chew, deep beefy richness, and a mouthwatering char. The whipped, buttery potatoes were smooth and creamy.

Divine Offering exclaimed the steak the best she’s ever had. We would both order this dish whenever it is on the menu at Francine’s. Garrett explained that all the food prepared was authentically French, buttery, rich, and salty.

Dessert was Divine Offering’s favourite course. The praline was creamy and not too sweet. I liked the salt and cheese, which countered the sweetness of the caramel. She quietly scraped the remaining butterscotch sauce off the plate to get every bit of sauce. She said if she were in the privacy of her own home, she would have licked the plate clean. I believe her. Her focus remained entirely on her dessert throughout the entire course. The wine was like a second dessert, sweet and complemented the parfait.

Divine Offering noted the cocktails made by Sugar Water Bar were expertly timed throughout dinner. The French 75 stimulated her appetite, while the ‘Ti Punch, her favourite cocktail tonight, ended the dinner perfectly. Nate noted that he prefers to use French spirits, such as French rum, and simple garnishes with the cocktails to focus on the taste. The last drink was funky and fun, fragrant and had a real “punch” to it.

The hospitality we received from everyone was an A+. Wyatt explained that these events give chefs a chance to create new dishes, as many grow tired of repeating the same hits night after night. Divine Offering thought the event was well-planned and definitely worth the money. The night was worth every nickel, with outstanding quality and drinks flowing all evening.

I plan to go again. I hear there will be a New Year’s Eve bash, though I might wait for the event following. I highly recommend Town Hospitality events and look forward to Garret and Nate’s upcoming restaurant, Francine’s. Hitting the Sauce gives the whole collaboration two phat thumbs up!

Restaurants · Vegetarian

Ten Foot Henry and Shelter

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Lululemon and I met up on Saturday for dinner. She said there was one stipulation: I wouldn’t fight her for the bill. I said sure, only if I got the next one. We debated which restaurant to visit and ended up at my recommendation, Ten Foot Henry. I like this spot for the wine list and the vegetarian options for Lululemon. Let’s listen to Mr. Sandman for this post.

I wanted to try the cauliflower gochujang ($23) and the gigli pasta ($25). Lululemon added the charred cabbage ($21) and the tomatoes with feta ($18). I told her this was too much food for the two of us. She ignored me and over-ordered. I informed her that she must have been Asian in her past life. Lululemon mentioned she had a Chinese childhood friend, and she did pick up on some traditions from her.

For drinks, she ordered a flute of Tomato Wheel Lambrusco ($15), and I ordered a glass of Chablis ($17). Lululemon enjoyed her sparkling red, and I told her that all the wine peeps, such as Vine Arts, Business and Pleasure, and Juice Imports, recommended Tomato Wheel. I read that the person behind the label is a Calgarian, and she buys the wine from Italy.

The tomato appetizer came first; this dish is a crowd-pleaser like all previous visits. I could smell the smoky char from the thick slices of warm bread. Blistering hot and sweet tomatoes mixed in with the feta made for total comfort food. All I needed was a small bowl of tomato soup, and I’d be in heaven.

I heard a lot about the gigli kale pesto pistachio pasta. The noodle itself was soft and wet. I liked the pop of flavour from the nuts and what I thought was lemon and cheese. The woman sitting next to me asked if she should order it. I nodded enthusiastically but later questioned my judgment when Lululemon noted that pasta had only one note and needed something sharp, like garlic or onions, to punch it up. After her comment, my bites of the pasta became less enjoyable.

We had another drink. Lululemon picked an orange wine while I tried a sparkling rosé wine from Maloof, a winery Juice Import brings in. This wine was just right; it tasted like strawberries.

The cabbage dish arrived, piled high and lusciously sauced. The leaves were soft and charred, tangy from the walnut vinaigrette and rich from the cheese. Lululemon loved the cabbage and confided it was the Ukrainian in her. I get her—rice is life for me.

We both thought the cauliflower was the best dish of the night. The gochujang sauce was thick and savoury, with a dry heat and notes of ginger and sesame. This dish was so good that I felt it could compete against any Korean restaurant in Calgary. I would order this again.

We weren’t done for the night. After dinner, we moseyed across the street to Shelter. We scored a seat at the bar, and Lululemon and I ordered some stellar cocktails. The bartender slayed, creating cocktails tailored to our whimsical requests. We oohed and awed as he poured a liquid into the glass while igniting it aflame. Thank you, Lululemon, for a fun night.

Restaurants

Hayden Block – Life Altering BBQ

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Chew Steel wanted to go out for dinner on Friday, so I told him to pick the restaurant. He was hesitant, as I last gave him free rein when we first started dating in 2010. He picked Hayden Block. Let’s listen to “Simple Man” by Lynyrd Skynyrd.

I’ve been to Hayden Block about three or four times, but this time, the food blew me away. I ordered the Beef Short Rib ($35), which my brother-in-law Dave recommended. I’ve come to realize Dave knows his food.

Chew Steel ordered a Smoked Old-Fashioned ($17) with a glossy, pristine sugar cube. He noted the ice cube was clear, unlike the ice we make at home, which is chock full of impurities. There is science behind restaurant ice cubes, which, while I appreciate, I don’t care enough to read the whole article.

I asked our server to give me more time to decide what I wanted to drink. She heard “lemonade,” and minutes later, I received the most deliciously tart carbonated lemonade I’ve ever had. When I clarified that I needed more time, not “lemonade,” she kindly removed the drink from our bill and told me to enjoy the free drink. I opted for the Lil’ Darling Hard Tea ($9), which had a homemade taste and a hint of dryness. In future visits, I’d order the iced tea and the lemonade, though with vodka.

Chew Steel ordered Brisket ($18) with a side order of Broccoli Salad ($6), and I ordered Bacon-Wrapped Corn on the Cob ($6) to go with my beef rib, as well as Corn Bread & Honey Butter ($2). Our server warned us we ordered a lot of food, but I waved away her concern, as I could eat competitively.

Holy smokes! When the food arrived, I sat stunned by the beautiful bounty. The beef rib was enormous! The amount of meat on that Flintstone-sized bone must have been at least 18 ounces. The beef was steaming hot and so beefy in flavour I didn’t bother with any of the BBQ sauces. No knife is needed with this beauty. I would tear parts apart with gentle pressure from my fork. With each bite, I could feel myself growing a pair of balls. The portion was so big, I could only eat a quarter of it.

Chew Steel’s broccoli salad was so generous that I must have eaten eight chunky florets. The broccoli was crunchy and not saturated with sauce. The dressing was slightly sweet, punctuated by the tartness of the cranberries and nuts. I could tell the salad was freshly prepared. I would get this again.

The cornbread was so good that I shed a tear. Crumbly and light, the whipped butter melted into its warmth, accenting the bread’s sweetness. I would order this again.

The bacon on the corn on the cob was crispy, though not hot. It didn’t matter to me, as the corn was sweet and cut into the richness of the beef and butter.

I can’t wait to return to Hayden Block again. That beef short rib is one of the best things I’ve eaten in 2024. When heated the next day, it tasted just as good. Hayden Block, I salute you!

Restaurants · Seafood · Special Occasion

FinePrint

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The good neighbours reunited! Quebecoise, Betty, Kournikova and I met up for our girls’ night. It’s been a while, as Betty was busy giving birth to a handsome little fellow. We settled on FinePrint because Kournikova wanted to check it out. Let’s listen to “I’ll Be Seeing You” by Jimmy Durante.

Quebecoise selected a bottle of Paul Mas Viognier ($56), which she noted was surprisingly affordable, given the Stephen Avenue location. Betty enjoyed this white wine so much that she asked me to send her the picture I had taken so she could search for it at her local liquor store.

I warned the girls that FinePrint wasn’t a sharing sort of place and that we should order our appetizers and mains. Quebecoise countered that we could share appetizers but get our own mains. It turns out we were both right.

I asked Kournikova to take the pictures, but she told me to ask Betty, who she said is a better photographer. I shook my head and said that’s not true, as the last time Betty and Quebecoise took blurry photos. Kournikova grinned and confessed she was hungry and reluctant to take the pictures. I shot back that no one enjoys it, but she never half-asses anything, no matter her mood. She nodded in agreement and took the damn pictures.

Quebecoise ordered the Tempura Green Beans ($10), a trademark dish at Fine Print’s predecessor, Divino. Quebecoise raved about the perfect crunch of the batter and how much she appreciated munching on vegetables. Kournikova pointed out that this was one appetizer she didn’t care for, noting that the beans clashed with the rest of the menu.

I picked the Cured Ora King Salmon & Hamachi Crudo ($26). Oh man, this dish gives my beloved Sukiyaki House a run for its money. The salmon was next level, cool in temperature and buttery in flavour. But it was the hamachi that stole the show. Its sweet, delicate white flesh left us raving. The miso, vinaigrette, and pomelo sauce struck the perfect balance, not too sweet, citrusy, or overpowering, just enough to enhance the fresh taste of the fish. Those little green beans couldn’t compete with the salmon and hamachi crudo. This dish is a winner and a keeper.

Betty is delightfully predictable and ordered the Alberta Bison & Truffle Tartare ($27). FinePrint makes one of the best tartare’s in this city. The pickled mustard seeds packed a spicy kick, while the bison was cut into beefy chunks. Each piece was flavorful with a satisfying chew. Betty remarked on its robust beefiness and couldn’t get enough of the texture. I would get this again.

My healthy and athletic friend Kournikova chose the Grilled Radicchio & Endive Salad ($18). She loved it—and who wouldn’t? The salad was packed with spiced walnuts, mint, pickled grapes, and comté. The tangy kick from the blue cheese vinaigrette was so good and went well with all the ingredients.

Quebecoise, Kournikova, and I ordered the Josper Roasted Sablefish ($48). The fish was phenomenal, flaky and hot, with the mouthwatering essence of charcoal. Quebecoise declared this her type of food and loved every element, especially the sour sauce and the combination of crunchy savoy cabbage, braised fennel, and charred orange.

Betty ordered the Pappardelle ($28) topped with Crispy Duck Confit ($8). The thick, ribbon-like noodles had a delightful chew, coated in a mix of ground nuts, basil, and cheese instead of a traditional sauce. Kournikova wasn’t a fan of the duck confit, finding it dry. I didn’t try the duck, but I thought the pasta was yummy.

We tried the Chocolate Espresso Cheesecake ($12) and Yuzu & Rhubarb Gateaux ($12) for dessert. I’m not much of a dessert person, so I don’t have much to say other than that they were pretty to look at.

I noticed most clientele consisted of ladies or couples on a date. If I were an American tourist, I would hit up FinePrint in a second. The quality is a cut above, and with the dollar in your favour, it makes it a no-brainer to treat yourself to some exceptionally made seafood dishes. Hitting the Sauce gives FinePrint two phat thumbs up.

Restaurants

Date Night #18 – An An Kitchen & Bar

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On Sunday, I felt the after-effects of attending a fabulous wedding the night prior. I wasn’t in the mood to cook, so I suggested we head to An An Kitchen & Bar for a late lunch. Ever since our brother-in-law Dave told us they make a wicked banh mi dip, we have wanted to go for banh mi date night #18. For this post, let’s listen to “Come to Me” by the Goo Goo Dolls.

Though I’m always craving a banh mi, my body cried out for the nurturing goodness of pho. I saw everyone around me digging into soup bowls, so I asked our server what everyone was eating. Our server confirmed most customers were here for the signature pho ($25).

Ooh-wee, this was one fancy bowl of pho and quite the ceremony. First, I got a bowl of spanking white sprouts, lemon, and basil. Then, a dipping sauce of hoisin and sriracha arrived, followed by a plate of wagyu rare beef and, finally, a bowl of noodles filled with beef bone and pork balls.

The broth is stellar and should be since it’s cooked for 12 hours. The beef broth tasted delicate and bright from my squeeze of fresh lemon juice. I appreciated how subtle the broth was. It didn’t overpower the meats or vegetables. It’s a clean soup I could sip on all night.

The noodles were slippery and didn’t expand in the broth like some other restaurants. The wagyu beef was something special. Sliced thin, once in the broth, it turned pink and remained buttery in texture. Chew Steel enjoyed the beef balls. The meat on the beef bone was tasty but not as tender as Pure Street’s version, where the meat is so soft it falls right off with a gentle poke from my chopstick.

Chew Steel ordered the beef rib banh mi, which came with pho broth and a soft-boiled egg. He whipped up the egg in the bowl, swirling it until it became an egg drop soup.

The bread was better than most banh mi shops. It was light and crispy but still soft inside. When dipped in the broth, the bread absorbed some sweetness and became a little soggy, like crackers scattered in chicken soup.

I loved the decadent sauce and fatty richness of the meat. Chew Steel would have preferred a leaner cut and mentioned that he would request brisket next time. I would get the banh mi again, but I would add noodles ($4) to the broth to make it more hearty.

An An is now one of our favourite Vietnamese restaurants, up there with Paper Lantern and Pure Street Food. For date night #19, we plan to go to Prosperity Bar. I can’t believe I need just one more banh mi date to sandwich the goal I set back in 2021!

Restaurants

Don Taco

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One summer evening, Chew Steel and I stopped by Buffalo 9 for a drink. That night, Don Taco, owned by the former chef/partner at Mikey’s Juke Joint, hosted a pop-up food event. For this post, let’s listen to ” Island in the Sun” by Weezer.

I didn’t take any pictures that evening, but I remembered how much Chew Steel loved the beef brisket while the birria wowed me. We both agreed that the freshly fried chips and homemade salsa were the best we had ever had. The food was so good we vowed to dine there again. Chew Steel looked up Don Tacos on his iPhone and noted it was currently a takeout-only shop in Highwood.

Yesterday, after my appointment, Chew Steel surprised me with food from Don Tacos. We sat eating in a parking lot because, with tacos like these, you got to eat them while they were fresh. You know it’s a good meal when you’re willing to eat it in the car.

We each got three tacos for $12: al pastor, shrimp and fish. That’s cheaper than fast food. The shrimp taco cost an extra fifty cents. Chew Steel mentioned the owner and his wife make the tacos fresh for you.

The fish filet was tender and generously portioned, and the exterior was a fine crumble breading rather than a heavy batter. Two corn tortillas cradled the fish and packed high with coleslaw and mayo; each bite was messy.

The Diablo shrimp was my favourite and worth the extra charge. The large, flattened shrimp were crunchy, crispy, and still hot. I loved the pico de gallo, as the tomatoes tasted incredibly fresh. I would order this one again.

The al pastor was a winner. The meat was super succulent and juicy. I noticed all their meat tacos are well marinaded and piled so high the meat overflowed. The pineapple was sweet and minced, so it wasn’t a jarring chunk. I would order the al pastor again.

Don Taco serves up my favourite tacos in town. I like them so much that I plan to pre-order them for a taco party. I can’t stop taco’bout how much I love them!

Pizza · Restaurants

Letty Pizza

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I met up with Lovegastrogirl at Letty Pizza, a new restaurant in the Beltline. After seeing all those blooming zucchini blossoms on Letty’s Instagram, I couldn’t resist the urge to squash my curiosity. Let’s listen to “Sugalumps” by the Flight of the Conchords.

If you come, I highly recommend sitting at the bar. There is ample space between each chair and enough space behind you to pull out your seat and cross your legs. The best part is watching the chefs in action and observing the attention to detail everyone puts into the final creation.

Photo credit: Lovegastrogirl

We started with an Espresso Martini ($14). My martini was on the sweet side. As we sipped, Lovegastrogirl noted the owner and chef, Daniel Ramon, was working. She mentioned Daniel came from Teatro, and he was the chef behind Clos de la Oyster Barre. I don’t keep up with who’s who in the culinary zoo, but I admired his teaminship. I saw Daniel check each station and help as needed, even picking up an empty box in the corner. He reminds me of a director I work with who’s always on the ground helping her team and simultaneously steering the operations.

Photo credit: Lovegastrogirl

Our first dish was the Salmon Crudo ($22). The salmon was cool in temperature and fatty in flavour. I liked the tart brightness of the passionfruit vinaigrette paired with the chilled slices of salmon. The taro root chip added a satisfying crunch, while the fresh basil leaf and basil oil added a subtle herbaceous notes.

Photo credit: Lovegastrogirl

Our second dish was the Grilled Cabbage ($17). Several restaurants in Calgary make killer cabbage dishes, such as Pigeonhole and Ten Foot Henry. I find Pigeonhole’s sauce overly decadent and Ten Foot Henry’s version of cabbage too chewy and thick. Letty’s was my Goldilocks moment—just right. I declare Letty the winner.

Each thin, crisp crunch was silky and crunchy, with a mouthwatering char. The hot honey vinaigrette gave it a spicy kick, while the pistachios added a crunchy and nutty texture. The Manchego cheese added an element of richness that went with the sweet, mellow cabbage slices. I would order this again.

Photo credit: Lovegastrogirl

Lovegastrogirl suggested the Japanese Curry Pizza ($28). I did not expect to love this pizza as much as I did. The pizza reminded me of eating naan and curry or a Japanese curry bun. The curry packed a punch, and combined with the soft, stretchy dough, it fired off on all cylinders. The richness of melt-in-your-mouth braised pork shoulder, the zing of the green onion and the crunch of panko breadcrumbs were fabulous. I would order this again.

Photo credit: Lovegastrogirl

Now, let’s talk about the dough. You cannot compare the pizza from Letty to Noble or Savino (not to be confused with Savona), my other favourite pizza places. Letty’s is in its category, just like Noble and Savino. Letty’s bread is soft and fluffy and, despite not being crispy, holds up very well to toppings, like the curry. The crust has a wholesome flavour that marries well into non-traditional ingredients in a way that more traditional doughs would not.

Photo credit: Lovegastrogirl

Our server suggested we try the 2022 Kerpen Riesling from Germany ($14) to complement the curry pizza. She was right, and I was pleasantly surprised by the pairing! The sweet wine was nicely chilled, had a heavy texture, and was refreshing.

Photo credit: Lovegastrogirl

For our second pizza, we tried the Margherita ($22). I remember the owner of Full Circle saying you can test the actual quality of a pizza by the margarita, as you can’t hide behind the ingredients. The crust was beautifully puffy, with nice air pockets around the crust. The tomato sauce’s flavour was vibrant and tangy. Unlike the basil in the crudo, the basil on the pizza had a more intense aroma.

Photo credit: Lovegastrogirl

The kitchen’s quality control is impressive. I noticed the pizza chef occasionally tossing pies into what I thought was a takeout container under the counter. Then I saw how he would frown and disdainfully throw those ones under the counter. I asked him why, and he said he was discarding pizzas because they were too small, had holes, or the crust didn’t bubble up. That’s impressive quality control.

Lovegastrogirl mentioned her favourite pizza spot is Posto, but now, she prefers Letty. She pointed out that she ate her crust tonight, which she never does at Posto. We had pizza left over, so we divided it up and took it home. Pomp, Lovegastrogirl’s husband, picked us up from the restaurant. She told Pomp she liked the crust at Letty’s more than Posto. He was pretty surprised, as it turns out it’s a big deal that Lovegastrogirl discovered something even better than Posto and actually ate her crust.

The next day, after Chew Steel reheated the pizzas in our air fryer, he commented the curry was nicely balanced, not overwhelmingly sweet or spicy. He noted the fior di latte in the margarita was noticeably good. As for the crust, he was a fan, which means we have to return to try other pizzas. Letty Pizza, I salute your unusual and remarkable pizza dough!

Restaurants

Central Taps – Happy Hour

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We had a big day at work, and to celebrate, my office roomie Angel and I went out for a happy hour. Stepford came a little later as she had to finish some last-minute work. For this post, let’s listen to “Roam” by The B-52s.

We trudged over to Central Taps, sunburnt and dehydrated from standing on hot pavement for most of the day. I was seeking hydration in the form of liquified grapes. Tired and wearing unflattering tee-shirts, we slunk from public sight and slid into our comfy booth.

I ordered a glass of white wine ($7) while Angel tried an espresso martini ($9). Our server told Angel her drink would take a few minutes as they had to let the espresso cool. She handed me what I thought was a glass of water. I almost spat it out because I wasn’t expecting to taste wine, even though that’s what I ordered. For house wine, this was more than adequate.

She took some pictures, and her eyes lit up when I complimented her on the shots. She loves taking photos, which is great since I do not. Angel has now become the official happy hour photographer.

Angel took a bite of her crispy, spicy salmon sushi ($6). She closed her eyes as she ate and described each bite as creamy, savoury, and surprisingly not spicy. Four pieces were served per order. Based purely on her obvious delight, I plan to order the salmon sushi when I return.

I ordered truffle fries (HH, $11) to share. Our server brought over a bowl, dumped the fries in, and then poured truffle sauce before tossing them and serving them on a silver platter. I appreciated the pomp and ceremony, as it was similar to having a Caesar salad made at your table. Angel commented it tasted like Earls but not as good. I would order it again just for the theatrics.

When Stepford arrived, the fries were cold. She ordered the Malibu Bowl (HH, $18), which she’s tried many times. She mentioned the beans were hard to eat and slimy. She’s easygoing and indifferent, a winning combination that makes her the perfect dinner guest.

Angel ordered the teriyaki salmon bowl (HH, $22), a dish I’ve had before at Central Taps. I love how the fish is cooked to your liking, with the vegetables remaining crunchy and not over sauced. The avocado adds a creamy, buttery texture that complements the fish and rice. The salmon bowl is my go-to dish. The portion is perfect. There’s just enough, so you are comfortably full but not stuffed.

We vowed to do another happy hour, and soon! When good times flow it makes for a united way to a better tomorrow. Happy hour, I salute you!

Restaurants

Bee the Banhmi – Date night #17

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Can you feel my excitement? I’m on banhi mi date 17 of 19, which means after two more dates, I’ll complete the goal I set back in June 2021. For this post, let’s listen to “Imma Be(e)” by The Blacked Eyed Pea.

I’ve been curious about Bee the Banhmi due to all the positive posts on Calgary Food- FoodYYC. Lately, I’ll only go to a new place after I have cross-checked through a friend’s recommendation, as Google is full of fake reviews. However, Lululemon and Lovegastrogirl, my two most reliable sources, haven’t eaten at Bee the Banhmi.

Bee the Banhmi is located inside Fresh & Local Market & Kitchens, formerly the Avenida Food Hall and Fresh Market. While the name of the market is not particularly catchy, it does house vendors with excellent reputations. I recognized Expat Asia, Zushi, J Spot Kitchen, and Krooked Provisions. Forget lining up for brunch at OEB; this is the place to go!

We ordered Hanoi spring rolls ($8.50), grilled pork salad rolls ($12) and a grilled beef banh mi ($16.50). I don’t usually order so much food, but I wanted to try everything Crump recommended. While we waited, the owner gave us complimentary iced tea.

We ordered our food to go, and despite the 15-minute ride home, the spring rolls were still crispy. The delicate wrapping was so thin and brittle that it cracked when I bit into it. The filling inside was tender and juicy, full of umami. I would order the spring rolls again.

My friend Kournikova would love Bee’s fresh lettuce wrap. There are no noodles inside, only crunchy pickled carrots, lettuce, and cucumbers. The pork was tasty, and the peanut sauce was phenomenal—creamy, smooth, and balanced. With the price of vegetables, I thought twelve bucks was a perfectly reasonable price.

The banh mi contained double the meat of its competitors, though I found the beef dry. I added some leftover peanut and fish sauce, which gave it some juice. Based on the reviews, I think the sub usually has more sauce, as customers have commented on the sate sauce. Next time, I plan to try the cold cut sub.

The vegetables are crunchier and pickled than Soc Trang or Banh Mi Cay and more rustic in pickling zest and texture than Thi Thi. I couldn’t taste the homemade mayo and pate, most likely because of the hot chilies I added. Next time, I would omit the chilies, as they were too spicy for me. The bread was better than Banh Mi Nhu Y, as it tasted fresher and fluffier.

Chew Steel and I enjoyed the food and would return. We were impressed with the quality, and the food was slightly different from your standard banh mi spot. No corners are cut here; you’ll get a delicious meal worth checking out. Bee Banh Mi, I salute you!

Restaurants

Missy This and That & Lula Bar

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On Saturday morning, Instagram notified me that Juice Imports was turning eight and celebrating at Missy This That. I DMed Bottlenick and Chew Steel to see if they were up for some natural wine. For this post, let’s listen to “Birthday” by Selena Gomez.

The crowd is young! Or rather, I’m getting old. The clientele had a friendly vibe, just chilling out with a hipster glass of wine. Pretty ladies lounged around the bar, swigging back big glasses of natural wine with ease and digging into plates of green curry, the feature dish.

Getting an elusive wine from Juice Import’s rare portfolio felt so good. It’s been too long! We asked Erik questions, and while he spouted his poetic descriptions, the merriment in the room deafened his words. I picked a rosé that tasted light and juicy, like fresh strawberries. Bottlenick requested a particular type of white wine, probably something unnecessarily complex. Chew Steel stuck true to his habit – an Old Fashion cocktail.

This evening was a particularly hot day, and the table we sat in wasn’t close to the air con. I was sweating like a pig, trying vainly to prevent my upper lip from perspiring. I did have an appetite for one more glass of wine, this time, a red. Erik steered me to a light and fun glass.

After I wished Juice Imports a happy birthday, we left to cool off in an air-conditioned joint, Lulu Bar. Bottlenick wanted the Coal Roasted Cod ($39), and I selected the Sichuan Noodle Salad ($17) and the Steamed Lobster Dumplings ($20). Poor Chew Steel hasn’t ordered on his own in my presence for 14 years, so he didn’t request anything special.

The food at Lulu is very good. The cod was tender and lightly sauced with coconut cream and curry. I enjoyed the fried brioche bread, which retained its crispy exterior despite sitting in a pool of sauce. There was just enough fish and bread for each of us to get a good portion.

The noodle salad didn’t quite live up to my memory from 2020, but it was still quite tasty. It featured a generous amount of saucy noodles and Asian sesame dressing, but it was missing the fresh crunch, numbing sauce, and herby notes that I remembered.

My favourite bite of the night was the steamed lobster dumplings. The seafood flavour was prominent, and the dumpling itself offered a delightfully chewy, gelatinous texture.

Juice Imports, we’re counting on you to host more events! This city needs your energy! Together, united, we can create fun and unforgettable experiences for all Calgarians.

Banh Mi · Vegetarian

Banh Mi Date #17 – Veggie sub so good, it’s un-be-leaf-able

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L and I had just finished sharing a spicy Italian sub from the Italian Centre Shop when Lululemon texted me that she was picking up subs from Banh Mi Nhu Y and asked if I wanted one. Even though I was full, I enthusiastically replied with a resounding yes! Let’s listen to “My Sharona” by The Knack.

She and her husband Books love the Bean Curd ($8.50) sub. Books, who typically order the beef sandwich banh mi, said that the bean curd version was even better than the beef. I’m all about replacing meat if the substitution is superior, so I was game.

The bean curd, though surprisingly thin, made the sub appear smaller compared to the piled-high beef satay sub. However, its unique flavor more than made up for volume. Chewy and juicy, the crepe like bean curd tasted like a woodsy shiitake mushroom generously soaked in umami. The vegetables didn’t overpower the bean curd as I had feared. The shredded pickled carrots were sweet and tangy, while the hot peppers added a fierce kick that prompted me to remove a couple. The mild, crunchy quartered cucumber and plain white onions provided a refreshing balance. This vegetarian banh mi is worth every bite so that no ‘beef’ exists. If Nhu Y Sub added an extra layer of bean curd, this sub could convert any carnivore.

I can’t compare this sub to others since it’s vegetarian and I usually eat cold cuts or beef, but I would happily eat another bean curd sub. I have two more banh mi dates to reach my goal of 19. When I see Lululemon next, I’ll pick some up from Bee the Banhmi or somewhere equally delicious. Lululemon, I salute you!

Seafood

Big Fish & Open Range – Oyster Night

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I met up with Lovegastrogirl for dinner. It’s been long overdue. The last time we hung out was likely Barbella Bar in January 2023. For this post, let’s listen to “Birds of a Feather” by Billie Eilish.

We decided on Big Fish & Open Range in Marda Loop. There is a lot of construction in the neighbourhood, affecting local businesses. However, on a Monday night, Big Fish was rocking with customers, mostly an older, silver-haired clientele, and I don’t mean the Targaryens. One table had a couple in their thirties and a well-behaved son. Lovegastrogirl was one of the younger customers, and I was comfortably in the median.

Photo Credit: Lovegastrogirl

We ordered a coupe of prosecco ($7), a feature, on Monday night. East or West Coast oysters were also on special. Usually, oysters are four bucks a shuck, but this evening, they were either $2 a shell or buy one dozen, get one dozen free. I informed Lovegastrogirl that Tik Tocker who ate 48 oysters on her first date should visit Big Fish on a Monday.

Fanny Bay was the option for the West Coast variety. The oysters were fat and slurpable, and the morsels were milky and tasted like the ocean. I tried the house-made ponzu, caper anchovy mignonette and four-chili cocktail sauce. I preferred the Tabasco sauce in the bottle. Lovegastrogirl is a dainty eater and only ate a few oysters, so I gobbled up the remainder as she regaled me with her recent trip to Italy.

Photo credit: Lovegastrogirl

I always order the BC Mussels at Big Fish ($24). It doesn’t matter the season, if it’s the heat of August or any month without a letter “r”, the mussels are fat. Better yet, the kitchen cooks mussels perfectly, so each has the consistency of a softly poached egg. Lovegastrogirl loved the creamy green curry broth so much that she would dip her bread into it.

Photo Credit: Lovegastrogirl

Lovegastrogirl loves her carbs, so we shared the Warm Lobster, Crab, and Artichoke Dip ($22). The dip tasted like a light blend of tomatoes and cream cheese. I could feel the different texture of the lobster and crab chunks in the sauce.

Photo Credit: Lovegastrogirl

Lovegastrogirl insisted on picking up the bill, which means I get to coerce her into hanging out with me again in September! I’m leaning toward Letty Pizza or somewhere newish and snacky, as my friend loves to nibble. Thanks, Lovegastrogirl, for putting some fun into my Monday! My treat next time.

Bars/Lounges · Beer · Patio · Restaurants

High Line – Veggie Dogs & Craft Brews

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Lululemon and I met up for brunch on Saturday. As I was already in Inglewood getting my hair lopped off, she met me at the salon, and from there, we looked for a suitable eatery for our mood. Let’s listen to “Goodbye Earl” by the Dixie Chicks for this post.

Lately, Lululemon has been a big influence on what I eat. She’s introduced me to Vegan Street, DJ’s Market, Italian Centre Shop, and a soon-to-be-sampled bean curd banh mi at Nhu Y Sub. Lululemon suggested we get hot dogs and beer at High Line Brewing. I was game because there’s nothing better than the simplicity of a dog on a bun.

High Line Brewing is larger than it appears from the outside. Once you pass the front bar section, there are several rooms to sit and sip the afternoon away. You pay at the bar, grab your beer and then find a table. We first sat inside in a nook under a large tree before moving to the patio.

We ordered a vegetarian Chicago Doggo ($11) with chips and some beer.
I sampled four beers: CLUB MATE+, Dadge, Wabi Sabi, and Heartless Romantic. What I liked about these beers was that they felt like an eclectic sampling of sodas and cocktails. The Dadge, a cucumber ale, had a fresh, mild melon taste that reminded me of the refreshing cucumber water you get after an Eucalyptus steam.

The Club Mate+ reminded me of a cherry cola but sweeter. The hard tea and yerba mate were so mild that I could hardly detect them, though I’ll be the first to admit I don’t have a sensitive palate.

The Wabi Sabi was my favourite of the flight. It reminded me of all the sparkling lemon sours I consumed in Tokyo. The sour tasted like bright, tart lemon and tea. The Wabi Sabi was also noticeably bubbly, which I prefer over the more softly carbonated beers.

The Heartless Romantic was another cherry sour but more tart and less sweet than Club Mate+. I would order this one again, but I preferred the Wabi Sabi.

The outside of the bun was grilled and crunchy, while the interior was soft and fluffy. The temperature of all the ingredients was perfect. Warm bun, steaming hot dog and cold, crisp condiments. The vegetarian weiner tasted like a regular hot dog but lacked that elastic snap. Proportionally, the ratios were perfect. Each bite has some sausage, bun, and a delicious hit of mustard, pickles, onion, and banana pepper. The tomato was fresh and juicy, the sweet flavour highlighted by the hit of celery salt and the heat and crunch from the banana peppers. Oh, this dog just hit right.

Though I was full, I insisted on getting the next round of drinks and some chips and salsa ($9) because I know Lululemon likes to snack while she drinks. The corn tortilla chips were gluten-free, cut thick, and crunchy. Salty and well-seasoned, the corn chips paired wonderfully with the tangy pineapple salsa. There were way more chips to dip, so next time, I’ll request more salsa and sour cream so we don’t run out. I also made a mental note of the selection of gluten-friendly beers for my celiac friends.

Lululemon sipped on Zing, a ginger beer infused with lemongrass, lemon, and lime. The lemongrass flavour was particularly noticeable. I tried Honeybush ($7) from Ol’ Beautiful, and it was one of the best hard teas I’ve ever tasted. I loved the dry, rich notes from the black tea.

Thank you, Lululemon, for lunch and your excellent company. I look forward to our next vegetarian and gluten-friendly adventure.

Banh Mi · Restaurants · Vietnamese

Banh Mi Date #16: Banh Mi Cay

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Chew Steel and I were out grocery shopping when he suggested we get a banh mi for lunch. Shwing! Since we were 12 minutes away from Forest Lawn, he asked me to find a place I like. For this post, let’s listen to “Feed My Frankenstein” by Alice Cooper.

I remembered a Facebook post by Maro Ezz who owns a Mediterranean bakery near Banh Mi Cay. Maro came in to order a banh mi and chatted with the owner, who mentioned business was slow. Concerned and wanting to support her, he wrote about the friendly service and excellent food and recommended that other people check it out.

I ordered a House Special Cold Cut ($8.50) and a Beef Sate ($8.50) for Chew Steel. The subs took a few minutes to make because the owner is meticulous. I watched, memorized as she gently layered the meats and deftly arranged the toppings. I noticed that my cold cuts were popped in the toaster, so the meat is warmed up. Before we left the plaza, I picked up plain rice rolls from Lang Cao ($10) for breakfast the next day. Lang Cao is a cash-only spot that sells freshly made banh cuon.

I took a bite of Chew Steel’s beef sate. The beef was saucy with a pleasant heat, and I loved the prominent lemongrass flavour in the soft meat. Chew Steel mentioned the bread was light and didn’t cut into the roof of his mouth. I was impressed with the amount of beef. I would get this again.

I counted four layers of cold cuts in my assorted sub. The meat had a rougher texture than Thai Tai and Thi Thien, and its natural taste stood out against the smoothness of more processed cold cuts. The pate was more subtle than Saigon Deli and Banh Mi Nhu Y. I liked how, occasionally, a drip of mayonnaise mingled with Maggi sauce and pate would drip down on my parchment paper.

My banh mi came with two slender stalks of cucumbers, sweet, pickled carrots and raw onions. The subs are bigger than Kim Anh and Thi Thi, but less girthy than My Tho BBQ or My My Subs. I enjoyed my assorted cold cuts but I preferred the sate beef because it was so freaking good.

The banh mis are excellent value and delicious. If Banh Mi Cay would pickle their onions and slice them a bit thinner, it would be near perfection. Thanks to the kind owner of a nearby Mediterranean shop for recommending this hidden gem. Hitting the Sauce gives Banh Mi Cay two phat thumbs up.

Chinese · Pubs · Wings

Lennox Pub and Hot’ N Fast

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On Wednesday, Bobbino and G-mah invited us to Lennox Pub. When Chew Steel and I entered, it took me a few seconds for my eyes to adjust to the darkness. When my vision focused, I admired the pub’s polished wood fixtures and finishes. Let’s listen “Hot N Cold” by Katie Perry to this post.

Since it was happy hour, we drank tall skinny sleeves of lager ($4.50) and ordered happy hour wings ($5.00). I added ranch dip, and Bobbino wanted carrots and celery. While we drank, Bobbino regaled me with a story about the great wor wonton he and G-Mah ate from Hot’ N Fast, a Chinese takeout-only spot near their home.

The wings are baked rather than fried, resulting in a less crispy wing. However, that didn’t detract from the juicy, tender meat. The tang from the hot wings was delicious, though the salt and pepper flavouring wasn’t noticeable. The vegetables were crisp and tasted fresh. I would order the hot wings again.

For a whole bunch of alcoholic drinks, two Diet Cokes, and three orders of wings and veggies, the bill was only $68! G-Mah only ate two wings, and I was still hungry, so I suggested I pick up a snack from Hot’ N Fast. Bobbino started to suggest items, and G-Mah scoffed at him, stating, “She knows what to get; she doesn’t need recommendations from you.” Of course, I already looked up all the reviews and knew what I wanted. I looked for Asian reviewers and based my decision on their comments and restaurant history. I also learned from Bobbino’s past stories what they ordered: chicken balls, lemon chicken, fried rice, beef and broccoli, and some vegetable dishes for Veggie Girl, my sister-in-law. I wanted to order something they never tried.

I called Hot’ N Fast before we left the pub, and when I got to the store, three customers were waiting for the food. The female owner was packing the orders while her husband cooked a storm in the back. One customer who couldn’t read the room said loudly to another person, “My wife saw our credit card bill and asked me what the hell I got that was hot and fast?” While he chuckled at his lewd joke, the other male customer looked uncomfortable, and the other customer and I looked away. Based on the female owner expressionless reaction, I gathered she didn’t care or just wanted those orders and customers out of her shop.

I ordered Salt and Pepper Squid ($15.95), Honey Garlic Ribs ($13.50), and Sliced Beef Ho Fun ($13.95). The dishes are inexpensive; you’re paying 2011 prices. Of the three, G-Mah and I loved the beef noodles. So freaking delicious. The noodles and beef had that mouth-watering smoky flavour you only get from a super hot wok. The beef was tender, and the noodles were glossy and toothsome. Even the bean sprouts tasted fresh. I would order this again, as it is as good as I can get in Vancouver.

Bobbino enjoyed the honey garlic ribs the most. I thought the ribs were tasty, but I would have liked more garlic and honey in the sauce. I found Hot and Fast’s version more soy-based, and the batter was a tad soft.

Chew Steel’s favourite dish was the salt and pepper squid. The squid itself was cooked perfectly, not rubbery at all. Hot’ N Fast’s version contained crisp green peppers, onions, and carrots. I liked the heat in the spicy seasoning, and I noticed none of the food was overly salty.

I would return for the beef rice noodles, and I hear the Singapore noodles are good. With the chef’s obvious wok hei skills, I would also order a fried rice dish. For inexpensive, Westernized Chinese takeout, I dig Hot’ N Fast. To be continued.

Restaurants · Special Occasion · Steakhouse

Chairman’s Steakhouse – Wednesday Deal

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On Calgary Food—FoodYYC! A Group for foodies’ Facebook page, there are many reviews about the Wednesday special at Chairman’s Steakhouse, I had to check it out. For only $110, you get one 18-ounce ribeye, cheese bread, two salads, two side dishes, and a cheesecake to share. Let’s listen to “She’s Got You” by Patsy Cline for this post.

Our reservation was for 6:30 p.m., and most of the tables were occupied, except for the best seats in the house, which are right up the window, facing the pond. I noticed those tables were empty for most of the night. Our table was near the kitchen entrance.

We started with cocktails, Chew Steel with a Fig Old-Fashion (2.5oz, $18), and myself with a Pink Elegance (2 oz, $23). I appreciated how the restaurant categorizes the cocktails with tags, such as “fruity” or “herby”.

My cocktail was tart than sweet and mainly tasted of strawberries and lemon juice. The ice cube in the old-fashioned sparkled with glitter, glistening with the steakhouse’s initials. The branding is pretty slick, and Chew Steel said it was one smooth cocktail.

The Chairman’s cheese toast is as good as Hy’s Steakhouse but not as oily. The layer of aged white cheddar, Quebec cheese curd and Sylvan Star Gouda was thin and broiled. The bread itself was soft, fluffy, and decadent.

Chew Steel opted for a Waldorf Salad (upgrade $3) while I chose a Caesar salad. His salad was chockful of apples, candied walnuts, grapes, celery and a sprinkling of arugula. He enjoyed the tang from the Stilton cheese.

My Caesar salad was yummy. Smoky bacon punctuated every bite of the chilled, garlicky lettuce. The leaves were generously coated with a blanket of cheese.

Our server, Alec, a former Red Seal chef, gave us very good recommendations. He suggested adding the Ruby Port Jus ($7) for our steak and a glass of 2021 Giusti, Massimo, Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon ($18) for our meal. I liked the wine’s finish, which disappeared on my tongue. Alec mentioned that the wine’s blueberry notes and acidity would pair well with fatty meats like ribeye.

Alec suggested ordering our ribeye medium, and a beautiful medium it was! The middle slices were ruby red. The outside pieces reminded me a little of yakitori because of the smoky flavour and charred fat.

The beef was so flavourful, but I was impressed with the ruby port. Alec said it took 48 hours to reduce. I never ordered steak with sauces, but it was better with it. I would get the ruby port again.

I upgraded our sides: Black Truffle Double Stuffed Potato ($9) and the Black Truffle Gnocchi ($10). The gnocchi had a nice chew, but I forgot to mix up the sauce, peas and parmesan, so the first few bites were dry.

L said it was the best stuffed potato cheese he’d ever eaten. I liked how the truffle flavouring wasn’t overpowering.

Before dessert, I saw a woman with glazed eyes try to enter the kitchen. The manager, wearing a blue suit, immediately escorted her to the washroom and waited for her outside and then walked her to her table. She looked like she was having a good time.

The New York-style cheesecake was nice and light. The graham crust was thin and had a nice crumble. The berry gel and orange curd provided a nice burst of freshness. The almond florentine was a nice decorative touch.

When we finished our meal, most of the tables had turned. A guest walked in and was brought to the best table in the restaurant, right by the water. L recognized him and mentioned that he was the developer of Westman Village.

I recommend checking out Chairman’s Steakhouse. The Wednesday special is an affordable way to test the waters before splurging on a regular night. Hitting the Sauce gives Chairman’s and Alec two phat thumbs up.

Cheap Eats · Tokyo

Harajuku Gyoza Lou

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There was a famous gyoza joint I was planning to take Chew Steel to, but when I looked the location up, it wasn’t convenient enough to fit into our schedule. Instead, we went to Harajuku Gyoza Lou, a restaurant his student recommended to his other student, who then took me years ago. Let’s listen to “Run, Fay, Run” for this post.

Harajuku Gyoza Lou is very popular with tourists, most likely due to its location and ease of ordering from their picture friendly menus. The prices are dirt cheap, too.

When we waited in line, a gaggle of female tourists came skipping over. They were my age but wearing pigtails and eye-catching dresses. One of the women came over asked the guy ahead of me if this was the waiting line for gyoza. He nodded. Her friends lined while she sat on the stairs outside the restaurant, opened her colouring book and began drawing. Her friend came over and snapped pictures while she looked up, her forty-year-old plus face smiling coyly to the camera. I noticed all her friends wielded selfie sticks.

Once I got a seat and took a long gulp of my drink, my mood improved. My bubbly lemon sour was refreshing and potent; and it was only 530 ¥. Chew Steel’s draft beer was 580 ¥. How could you not be happy under these conditions?

You can order the dumplings fried or steamed. We tried all three dumplings: chives and garlic, plain, and shiso. An order comes with six dumplings (¥ 390), and when all the damage was done, Chew Steel and I averaged about a dozen each. We watched as the gyoza master lined up trays of dumplings and monitored the massive sizzling cooking process.

We ordered our dumplings fried. To me, that’s the only way to go. The crispness of the wrapper was part of the appeal, when your teeth broke into the thin skin. Chew Steel made me a dipping sauce, combining the chili oil, vinegar and soy sauce on the counter. The shiso in the gyoza dumpling was fragrant and sweet, reminding me a little of fresh basil.

My favourite version was the garlic and chive, while Chew Steel preferred the simplicity of the regular filling. Chew Steel recommended popping the entire dumpling in your mouth, so the juices would remain in your mouth and not the plate.

I loved the cucumber with miso sauce (￥290) so much that I ordered a second helping to go with my last order of dumplings. The chilled cucumbers were ultra-crunchy and intensely melon-like. With the tangy, nutty and buttery miso, I thought the cucumber could spar with the gyoza for the best snack of the trip. We liked the food so much that we returned on the last day of our trip.

Hitting the Sauce gives Harajuku Gyoza Lou two phat thumbs up and her startling rage at Instagrammers who should know better two phat thumbs down. “Yoisho! Yoisho! Yoisho!”

Tokyo

Iroriya Higashiginzaten

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I spent months looking for new places to eat in Tokyo, but my prerequisite was no lineups, eliminating many good restaurants. While waiting for great food can be worth it, I wanted to avoid all the super-hyped spots that TikTok made inaccessible. Tokyo is so busy and crowded that the last thing I wanted to do was stand outside a restaurant for hours. Let’s listen to “Who Hoo” for this post.

I picked Iroriya Higashiginzaten because I could make an online reservation. What appealed to me were the reviews about their famous ikura bowl. If you order it, the staff comes out with taiko drums and chant as they heap scoop after scoop of shiny roe until it overflows into your bowl. I also liked that the restaurant was located in central Tokyo. Many of the restaurants I wanted to try were out of the way, which meant Chew Steel would have to navigate through a couple of stations to get us there.

Iroriya is located in the basement, off the side streets of Ginza. I read that seafood is caught in the morning and brought in daily, and the vegetables are from a local farm. Their specialty dish, funajo meshi (salmon roe), comes from Hokkaido.

Iroriya charges a seating fee, which comes with the most delicious bowl of beef stew. The clear broth tasted like gravy, and the homey blend of tender beef and onions was so good that I wanted to order another bowl.

We ordered grilled shiitake mushrooms (280 ¥), salmon roe don (37000 ¥), chicken karrage (900 ¥) and seafood salad (900 ¥).

The shiitake was grilled and served with a soy sauce broth. Our server warned us not to eat the stem. Meaty and soft, the mushroom could have been cooked longer, as it wasn’t piping hot. After our server took away our dish and commented on the leftover broth, I realized we should drink the sauce.

The chicken karrage was super crunchy and juicy. The meat had some pull as I bit into the hot morsel. Chew Steel loved the karrage, and while I liked the crunchiness, I preferred Sukiyaki House’s more seasoned meat. However, I would order the chicken again. It was delicious, just less refined than Sukiyaki House’s version.

When our salmon roe came out of the kitchen, the staff turned up the music and dimmed the lights. Two staff came out, one pounding on his drum and the other shouting, “Yoisho! Yoisho! Yoisho!” The female tourist beside me said she wanted to order the salmon roe as well, but it would be too much to eat.

She’s right; the salmon, though so fresh and glistening like orange jewels, was rich and salty. Despite trying it in various ways, on its own, with broth, or mixed with rice, seaweed, wasabi and a dash of soy, we couldn’t finish our bowl. I’m glad we tried it, but if we come again, I will skip it unless I share it with a group.

The seafood salad was my favourite dish of the night. The dressing was tangy and peppery. There was a ton of assorted seafood, like salmon, tuna, and ebi, all tossed with buttery avocado pieces. The tomatoes, onions and lettuce were spanking fresh. I would order the salad again. Next time Chew Steel and I are in Tokyo, I’d return and try some of the fresh seafood.

My neighbour asked the head guy in the kitchen if he spoke English. I wasn’t paying attention to their banter until he bought out a round of beers. She had bought everyone working in the kitchen a drink and shouted that they were awesome. One thing I admire about Americans is they know how to party. Yoisho! Yoisho! Yoisho!

Tokyo

Yakitori Sanki – Bib Gourmand

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One of my best-ever dining experiences was at Yakitori Sanka in Tokyo. I found this tiny spot when looking through the Michelin guide. The owner uses specialty local chickens and dusts each piece with sun-dried salt from the eastern Kochi Prefecture over Tosa binchotan charcoal. Not only was this the best yakitori and sake I consumed, but the service from the entire staff was bar none. For this post, let’s listen to “That Certain Female”.

I booked online via Table Check as soon as reservations opened, a month before our visit. I pre-ordered the eight-course yakitori course (6270 ¥), which included four appetizers and several chicken and vegetable skewers. The cost of the food and wine was more than reasonable for the quality and deliciousness we experienced.

The restaurant is hidden upstairs on the second floor. The room is clean and modern, showcasing a large charcoal grill that smoked and flared throughout the night. All the seats surround the open kitchen so that everyone can view the action.

I started with a sparkling wine. I read the owner is a sommelier. We noticed the chef would try all the wines before they were served to guests to test their quality. The wine itself was nice and mellow, with fruit-forward notes. I knew right away I had to try some of the other wines and sake because I felt I would appreciate the line-up.

Our set of appetizers included the most delicious warm custard. The nugget of braised beef and tomatoes exploded with rich flavour on our tongue. Chew Steel noted the salt texture in our green salad and commented that everything was perfectly seasoned.

The first skewer was the chicken shoulder, speckled with wasabi. The meat was soft and plump, with a clean flavour. L and I tried a fruity sake, which smelled like melons and was so smooth that I couldn’t even taste the alcohol. What I loved about this sake was that it was easy to drink and went well with the food.

The next chicken skewer was magnificent. The skin was thick and crunchy, and the meat was salty and juicy. I chewed as slowly as possible to enjoy the flavour. I noticed the chef intently dusting each skewer with salt and watching the smoke from the charcoal. Once every while, he would poke or add more charcoal to the grill.

One of my favourite pieces was the chicken gizzard. I loved the crunch, as the interesting texture reminded me of a cross between celery and cabbage. Each bite filled your mouth with the most delicious charcoal fragrance.

One of Chew Steel’s favourite bites were the chicken and green onion and grilled cabbage, which we could watch cooking for a lengthy time on the grill, more than twice that of the chicken. The cabbage was crunchy, with an explosion of refreshing, onion-like bite.

We then supped on super hot fried tofu. The room holds about 14 seats, and by 7:00 p.m., each spot was filled. Though Yakitori Sanka is tourist-friendly, it was frequented by native-speaking Japanese customers on Saturday.

The mushroom was so delicious it tasted like beef but ever so tender. I could feel my eyes rolling into the back of my head as I sucked the juices from the morsel. Chew Steel said this place would ruin us because other yakitori places couldn’t compare with it. He’s correct.

For our second sake, I wanted to try the drier one. I appreciated how the staff communicated all the details of the food and sake, using adjectives to describe each item. They were attentive all evening and it was clear that wanted us to have a positive experience and not miss any particular detail.

The meatball was unique—clear white juices from chicken. There was something very Canadian about the simplicity of flavour. The chicken was fluffy and clean.

We were given a soul-satisfying chicken broth at the end of our courses. The soup was nourishing and comforted my stomach, a nice touch to end the night. After we finished our soup, we were handed a cup of tea to sip on.

Yakitori Sanki is a special spot we plan to revisit in Tokyo. You can tell by watching the owner cook and the professionalism of the staff that they exemplify excellence in both craft and service. This restaurant ranks as one of the best that I’ve ever experienced. Hitting the Sauce gives Yakitori Sanki two phat thumbs up!

French · Restaurants · Special Occasion

Chic Soirée – Francine’s

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Kournikova, Lululemon, 47, and I met at Francine’s for a long-overdue dinner. Francine’s is a French pop-up bar housed in Meat & Bread. I’ve meant to check out this bar for ages, but circumstances prevented me until our girls’ night. Let’s listen to “Cherry Pie” by Sade for this post.

The bartender makes a mean cocktail! These weren’t the watered-down concoctions from a dive bar. I ordered a Francine’s 75 ($16), Lululemon picked the Bois Sacre Margarita ($17), and I forgot what Kournikova and 47 selected. Our drinks were excellent. The flavour in each drink was smooth and fruity, and it tasted like it was from fresh ingredients rather than concentrated juice. For example, I could taste the passionfruit in the margarita and the basil in my cocktail. The cocktails at Francine’s are on par with Klein/Harris and Paper Lantern. 

Forty-seven wanted to try the cheese puffs ($4 each). The little puffs were so delicate that the warm, soft innards melted in my mouth. The butter, with the addition of honey, was surprisingly light and sweet. 

The Smoked Sturgeon ($19) was a nice bite, a rich, mousse-like dip that was invigorating to the tongue. A fresh cucumber topping tied well with the sturgeon’s smokiness and the Ritz crackers’ sweetness. 

Kournikova suggested we get a salad, and we landed on the Baby Romaine ($16) because the other option had bacon, which Lululemon doesn’t eat. I was shocked at how much I loved this dish. This isn’t your chain restaurant Caesar salad, but an impressive array of flavours. I enjoyed the ripeness of the olive and the addition of fennel, juicy orange slices and garlic crumbles. The layers of crunchy lettuce were cold and crunchy, gloriously refreshing. I would get the salad again. 

The girls ordered a glass of prosecco, but I asked our server for a recommendation for a wine that would pair well with the steak. She suggested the Altugnanc Pinot Noir ($18) to complement the beef and gnocchi. Generally, I’m not too fond of pinot noir, but this wine was delicious. It was very grapey.

I didn’t want to eat the Parisienne Gnocchi ($32) because I wanted to leave it for the vegetarian and 47. However, both were light eaters and insisted I try some. The texture of the little nuggets was pillowy despite the seared edges. I liked the addition of slivered pea pods, as it brought out the buttery, herby sauce. 

The Steak Au Poivre ($46) was so good that I wanted to bring my brother here to try it. Each piece of beef was tender and succulent. The meat was soft, and the flavour was intense, like rich caramelized fat. The pepper in it was phenomenal. In my minimal steak-eating experience, Francine makes the best steak in the city, beating Caesar’s Steakhouse and Hy’s and nudging past Cassis by millimetres. 

Lululemon ordered French Toast ($17) and insisted everyone try a bite. She pressured Kournikova to try some, but Kournikova was firm. Both are persistent individuals, and Lululemon was motivated to share the deliciousness. However, I know Kournikova’s resolve is as firm as her posture, and I advised Lululemon that her attempts were fruitless. 

Lululemon ate the first bite and sighed how the toast went well with the aged cream cheese and honey ice cream. I tried her dessert because my resolve dissolved when I heard Lululemon’s exclamations of delight. Yes, it is worth it, even if you are lactose intolerant.

We split the bill, and only after did I realize Lululemon overpaid, as she didn’t eat any of the steak and put the dessert on her tab. I’ll have to get her an extra delicious treat from my upcoming trip to compensate for the discrepancy. Hitting the Sauce gives Francine’s two phat thumbs up. 

Bars/Lounges · Vietnamese

Paper Lantern – Twice Lit

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Friday was my last day at my job, leaving me an entire weekend of unemployment before I started my new position. Chew Steel wanted to mark the occasion by going out for dinner. I picked Paper Lantern as I wanted to relive my experience with Danni and the Olympian two days earlier. Let’s listen to “Kokomo” by the Beach Boys for this post.

Chew Steel asked our server for a recommendation and mentioned he enjoys rum. She suggested the Zombie Milk Punch ($18), which consists of three rums, lime, falernum cinnamon, grapefruit, grenadine, absinthe, bitters and clarified milk. I enjoyed my Mai Tai ($12), but his cocktail was even better. He remarked that he’d never had a drink that he enjoyed this much. I could taste cinnamon and lime. Chew Steel said it was smooth with the right balance of sweet, tart, and booze. I made a mental note to bring my friends Kournikova and Lululemon to Paper Lantern for cocktails. 

The Mango Salad ($14) didn’t disappoint. I was worried it wouldn’t be as good as Wednesday. The dressing isn’t too sweet and has a warm, lingering heat. I love the zing of the mint and the toothsome texture of the mango and papaya. The only other salad that compares to Paper Lantern’s is Lulu Bar’s Sichuan noodle salad. 

Chew Steel enjoyed the Beef Stew ($14). The beef and carrots were so soft that chewing wasn’t necessary. The rich gravy complemented the crusty baguette. The beef stew is the dish if you are craving a “meat and potatoes” type of meal. 

I wanted to order the “What’s the Kitchen Having ($14),” a rotating dish the kitchen makes for dinner. The salad greens were so fresh. The noodles were light and springy. Eating the greens with the noodles and meat reminded me of a Vietnamese bun with a different Asian twist, as the noodles were thicker, and the sweet char sui reminded me of Chinese food.

The soup tasted like it took a long time to prepare, as it had that wholesome flavour to it. Chew Steel thought there might have been shrimp in the base.

My favourite dish was the Crispy Crepes ($14). I tried a version of this dish at Cuty in Dalhousie, and I wasn’t a fan. However, Paper Lantern’s version has converted me. Our order came with two golden brown turmeric crepes. As I bit into it, the crepe gave way to a steamy pile of pork, shrimp, bean sprouts and mung beans. The roasted sprouts, fragrant from the wok, added a smoky note that elevated every bite. Wrapped in lettuce and dunked in fish sauce, these crepes have texture, freshness, and umami. I would order them again.

Chew Steel and I found a new hangout. He was impressed with the cocktails and food. This is my third visit, and knowing who runs the kitchen, I know we can expect the same consistency in the future. As we left, I glanced through the kitchen window to catch an admiring glimpse of the female chef responsible for our delicious meal. Hitting the Sauce gives Danni’s parents two phat thumbs up. 

Banh Mi · Chinatown · Vietnamese

Banh Mi Date #15: Paper Lantern

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For the past year, I’ve corresponded with Danni on Instagram. We share similar tastes in food, and we’ve even been to the same restaurants at the same time, though we weren’t aware then. We decided to meet up officially. I invited my friend, the Olympian. Divine Offering isn’t accessible on Wednesdays so that she couldn’t make it. Lovegastrogirl was in Tokyo; otherwise, she would have also come along. Let’s listen to “New Attitude” by Patti LaBelle for this post. 

We hemmed and hawed about where to go, and finally, I suggested Paper Lantern. It is a small world; as it turns out, Danni is the proud sister of the owner of Paper Lantern and Prosperity Bar. Her parents previously owned Orchid Room in Bankers Hall. I’ve never eaten there, but I heard the food was elevated Vietnamese cuisine and popular with the downtown crew. The Olympian and I asked her where she eats Vietnamese food, as we were curious where she would eat if it weren’t her family’s restaurant. She recommended Rau Bistro, Noodle World (#52 rice platter or coconut beef pho), Pho Uncle Ten, and Basil Ultimate. 

I ordered the PL Daiquiri ($12), Danni ordered a Mai Tai, and Olympian picked a non-alcoholic pina colada. My cocktail was light and breezy, with a tart tropical zing from the pineapple. For food, Danni picked some appetizers for us to share. I appreciated the water pitcher on the table, as I was parched that night. 

First up was the Sweet Nuoc Mam Chicken Wings ($12). Damn, the wings were saucy and crispy, the sauce was sticky and sweet. I was happy to see the wings and drums were five times the size of any pub wings. I want to try the shrimp salt and pepper version when I return. 

There was a lot of beef in the carpaccio ($12). I liked how the peanuts and onions gave some textural contrast to the soft, raw meat. The beef itself had a nice flavour. I didn’t realize there was cilantro in this dish. Had I known, I would have omitted the herb, as I’m one of the unlucky ones with the soap gene.  

The pork belly banh mi ($10) was a winner! The special sauce and house mayonnaise were savoury and rich. The braised pork belly was so soft and warm that it melted right into the light, crusty bread. The pickled vegetables added a lovely crunch to each bite. Danni recommended trying the chicken roti banh mi next time. Her eyes lit up as she described how the chicken was caramelized. 

The Pineapple Stir fry ($12) was as good as I remembered it from my last visit. The rice bowl contained ample sweet pork belly, shrimp, and pineapple. If you are hungry, I recommend ordering a rice bowl, as it is filling.

My favourite dish was the Mango Salad ($14). It takes a lot for me to like a salad over wings, so the chef back there is performing a miracle. The mango and papaya strands were chilled, crunchy from the peanuts and herby from the fresh mint leaves. I liked scooping up the refreshing salad on top of the shrimp cracker. 

When the bill came, I was surprised to see how affordable it was. My bill, including one cocktail, was only thirty dollars. In today’s economy, that’s incredible. I informed Danni I was bringing Chew Steel to Paper Lantern for our next date night. She suggested I try the Beef Stew ($14) and Crispy Crepes ($15). I already know what I want—a repeat of the mango salad, banh mi, and the shrimp salt wings.

We plan to do another girls’ outing, this time at Prosperity Bar, to try the Big Mac egg rolls, Philly Cheese Banh Mi, and some dumplings. Next time, we’ll be sure to include Lovegastrogirl and Divine Offering. Perhaps I’ll have to start my supper club again, No Man’s Dinner, with the president, Loaf2go. 

Restaurants · Vietnamese

Pure Street Food

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On Saturday, I met up with my colleagues. I hosted a little gathering at my house, and then we met for brunch the following morning. For this post, let’s listen to: “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” by The Proclaimers. 

I suggested First Street Market because we wouldn’t have to wait in line, and there are traditional breakfast items and things I like to eat, like pho, dosas, and tacos. Freedom went to Friends with Benedicts, Nightengale bought a sandwich from Alforno, and Hammer bought a rice bowl from K-Town Fried Chicken. Despite the long lineup at Friends with Benedicts, Freedom picked up his food rather quickly. Hammer enjoyed her crispy soy garlic tofu bowl and recommended that next time, I try the new Korean stall. Nightengale carefully ate her messy sandwich, which dripped with white globs of fior di latte. I’ve been craving pho for months, so I went to Pure Street Food when I saw the owner, Lam Pham, was at the helm of his restaurant. 

When I sat down, I took a moment to inhale the sweet, comforting fragrance of Pure’s hu tieu bo sate ($19). Oh, it’s been too long since I last ate here. The steam from the pho floated up; and the scent clung to my hair for hours afterward.

Unlike other Vietnamese restaurants, there was more meat than noodles. I especially enjoyed the tender slices of beef shank and brisket. I could taste the quality of each piece of beef. My favourite part of the meal was gnawing rather indelicately eating around the beef rib to suck out all the gelatinous goodness. I noticed the bean sprouts were spanking fresh and ultra crunchy. Even the basil tasted extra vibrant. The noodles were noticeably silky and slippery, and I saw that the longer I took to eat them, the more the heaviness of the broth was absorbed into them. The broth is rich and heavily infused with spicy sate oil. 

Near the end of our meal, Lam came over to our table and dropped me off a treat—his special sesame donut with pork belly and pork crackling ($8). I was already so full of my pho, but the fei poi in me couldn’t resist such a gift. Each donut half was stacked high with soft layers of pork belly, pickled carrots, cucumber and sriracha aioli. At the back of each donut was a light, crunchy crackle from the pork. Each bite was decadent, heavy from the sauces, and sweet from the thin sesame shell, like a savoury dessert. 

There was so much in the bowl that I couldn’t finish all the noodles, and I barely drank the broth. Such a waste, as a beef broth like this, is an elixir of life. Next time I come, I’ll get my meal in a takeout bowl, eat all the noodles, and then take home the broth and meat. My new place of employment is two blocks from Pure Street, so I’ll be sure to return soon for my pho fix.

Vietnamese

An An Kitchen & Bar

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On Friday, Chew Steel and I decided to go out for an early dinner. He suggested we try a new restaurant he thought I would like, An An Kitchen & Bar. We parked at his sister and brother-in-law’s business, conveniently located right across from the restaurant. For this post, let’s listen to “Dilemma” by Green Day.

We sat in the enclosed patio, which I thought initially would be too chilly. However, there was a stove at the door that kicked off some heat. I decided on two of the most popular dishes: An An Bun Cha Ha Noi ($19.50, +$1 gluten-free spring rolls) and the Pan-Seared Scallops ($16). For drinks, we ordered Asahi ($8), which came in a can. The beer was ice-cold, but I wished it came in the correct size glass. As I sipped, I wondered if my glass of beer was half full or half empty.

The seared scallops arrived in a set of five. I enjoyed the crunch of the tempura seaweed, the toasted peanuts, and the brightness of the lemon and fish sauce. Dipping the scallops into the fish sauce was tricky, as the toppings would fall off. The second time I dunked into the sauce, I lost my grip on the scallop, and it took a nosedive into its pungent bath. Despite my chopstick technique failings, I recommend this appetizer for its texture and flavour combination.

The vermicelli platter was a platter of eye-rolling deliciousness. The pork meatball was so tasty, with a soft and juicy texture. Chew Steel raved about the pork belly, which surprised me as he doesn’t like fatty meats. The pork was charred and crispy, with the smell and taste of the grill.

I loved the spring rolls served piping hot, crusted with a light batter, and melted in your mouth. The fish sauce was notably sweet and tart. I used all the lettuce, carrots, basil, cilantro, and carrots to make wraps. I heaped the springy noodles on top of the lettuce, layered it with pickled vegetables and herbs, added the spring roll or pork belly, and then dunked it into the warm dipping sauce. Chew Steel preferred to eat his food like a regular vermicelli bowl. He noted all the ingredients blended well together.

The portion was so large, we were full for hours after our dinner. We plan to return, and often, for the vermicelli platter. Hitting the Sauce gives An An two phat thumbs up.

Bars/Lounges · Wine tasting

Avitus Wine Bar – Date Night

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Last Monday, we wanted to get out and try somewhere new. I suggested Avitus, a tiny wine bar in Marda Loop. Chew Steel was game, so off we went. For this post, let’s listen to “Maneater” by Nelly Furtado.

Before we walked in, I warned Chew Steel that Avitus was a chick magnet. Usually, the men who show up look like they are on a hot date and aiming to impress. The bar is always full of women whooping it up—the ratio for every fearless man to woman is one to seven.

We sat at the only high table and started with a glass of wine. I tried the
Gun Metal Riesling ($16), a dry, minerally fruit-forward white wine. Chew Steel wanted a full-bodied wine and ordered a Pavillon De Trianon ($15). When I sipped his wine, I instantly got buyer’s remorse. Smooth and flavoured with infatuation, this is a bottle I would happily crush all night long.

For nibbles, we tried two cheeses, Delice de Bourgogne ($12), Comte ($12), Berkshire pork salami ($18), honey truffle ($4), carrots ($3), and a pickle ($3). The Delice De Bourgogne was Chew Steel’s favourite cheese; it was creamy and soft, oozing all over the bread. I liked the Comte because I’ve been more into nutty, hard cheeses lately. The truffle in the honey was dominant. The taste of truffle hit you first and then dissipated into the sweetness of the honey. I could taste a little smoke in the honey.

Chew Steel raved about the richness and chew of the salami. I thought the salami looked fattier than it tasted. The carrots were sweet, crunchy, and homemade. I enjoyed the juicy slices of the pickle, which helped cut into the salami’s fat.

We wanted another Pavillon De Trianon for our last glass of the night. However, fate is a cruel lover, and our server, who I suspect may be the owner, said there was no more. He suggested another wine that was similar but a little more refined, Chateau Beaumont ($17). While this wine was very good, I preferred our first red wine. The second wine tasted lighter and more delicate, but I like my wine with more of a punch.

I mentioned to Chew Steel that I would like to know what the owners of Cassis Bistro think of the wines and cheeses at Avitus Bar. It would be like Mozart and Beethoven meeting and reviewing each other’s work.

We had a great time trying new wines and cheeses. When we left, the bar was full of boisterous ladies jonesing for a good time. They know a good thing when they taste it. Hitting the Sauce gives Avitus two phat thumbs up.

Beer · Vietnamese

Tail Gunner and Rau Bistro

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Chew Steel and I stopped by Tail Gunner Brewery for a beer. Acme Pizza has officially moved into the brewery, and we saw several customers coming in to pick up a pie. Our server informed us if we wanted pizza, we could order from her, which is a different system than when Acme was at Two House Brewery. Let’s listen to “Angel” from Pink Pantheress for this post.

I went with my usual, the Linton Stephenson Czech Pilsner ($6.00, 330 ml). Chew Steel took a sip and noted it was crisp, dry and very “traditional.” I enjoyed the fresh foam and the light flavour. With beer this good, I don’t miss wine. 

I sipped Chew Steel’s Ross Dixon West Coast Pilsner pick ($6.00, 330 ml), and wow, this is a goodie. The initially tasted a little sweetness, followed by a tiny bit of bitterness. I thought the pilsner was floral, while Chew Steel smelled cedar and thought it was almost tropical. 

I was tempted to order a pizza, but I was craving Vietnamese food. I picked Rau Bistro, an old favourite of mine, located on Centre Street.

We shared the Banana Blossom Salad ($15) with Crispy Chicken Leg. The chicken itself was tasty, the skin a crackling, blistered brown. However, the salad mainly consisted of bamboo shoots with only a light sprinkle of carrots and herbs. The consistency of the salad was wet, soft and rubbery, with no distinct sweet or sour notes. The portion was large, but we only ate some of it. I read reviews of customers raving about this traditional dish, so maybe I wasn’t used to muted flavours. I would have preferred less bamboo shoots and more herbs, sprouts and banana blossoms.

I ordered a Mega Vermicelli Bowl ($18), and Chew Steel ordered a smaller version, the Grilled Meats Vermicelli Bowl ($16). The noodles in our bowl were plentiful but overcooked. However, the generous variety of crunchy vegetables made up for the noodles. He enjoyed the beef, which was sweet and smoky from what tasted like a charcoal grill. I loved the pork patty, which was juicy and just delicious. The shrimp was my second favourite protein, crunchy with a pleasant chomping quality. The chicken and spring rolls were a tad overcooked and chewy. The fish sauce tasted diluted and less potent than previous visits.

There was so much food in our bowls that we didn’t finish it. The portions are generous; you won’t walk away hungry after ordering a meal. We were content with the vermicelli bowls, but I wondered if we ordered the wrong dishes. When I looked around, everyone was enjoying hot steaming bowls of pho.

This particular visit is likely isolated, as it didn’t reach the high-level enjoyment I’ve experienced on prior occasions. I’m sure the wrap and roll combos and 7-course set meals are still on point. In any case, Rau Bistro is still a good option for Vietnamese food.

Restaurants · Seafood

Salt & Brick – Girls’ Night

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For our monthly girls’ night, we picked Salt & Brick, a hot spot that just opened up. Unfortunately, Betty was sick, so it was just Kournikova, Quebecoise and me. Let’s listen to “Confident” by Demi Lovato for this post.

We were seated on the main floor, near the front door. I liked our spacious table and comfy seats, which looked more comfortable than the low-riding tables in the lounge. We started with cocktails ($17) and admired the high ceiling and fun vibe. 

Based on our server’s recommendation, we tried the Beef Picanha ($42), Okonomiyaki Cabbage ($20), Brussel Sprouts ($23), Scallops ($35), and Cod Cheek Tempura ($28). Quebecoise selected an easy drinking white wine ($60), which went well with all the dishes we tried. 

The now closed Foreign Concept made the best Brussels sprouts I’ve ever tried, and Salt and Brick come in a close second. The sprouts were charred, salty, juicy, and sweet from the pickled grapes. The beer cheese sauce was rich. Kournikova commented that she could do without the buttery popcorn, which she thought didn’t add anything to the dish. The next set of pictures are better, as Quebecoise had the good sense shed some light from her phone for the photos.

Next was the okonomiyaki cabbage. The softness of the cabbage and the creaminess of the sesame aioli and bulldog sauce were delicious, reminding me a little of Pigeonhole’s version, as both are decadent. Kournikova preferred the cabbage over the Brussels sprouts because she found Salt & Brick’s version unique. 

The scallops were large and meaty. I enjoyed the sweetness of the heirloom carrots, while Quebecoise noted the smokiness from the bacon. Kournikova moaned that all the dishes were so rich. Of the three of us, I’m the least healthy and happiest from the night’s overindulgence of cream, butter and oil. 

The green papaya salad accompanying the cod cheek tempura stole the show. The nuac cham dressing was refreshing and tart, while the roasted peanuts added a pleasantly dry crunch. Wholesome, so simple, but so good. We all raved about that salad.

My favourite dish was the beef picanha. The edges of the steak were smoky and charred, and I enjoyed chewing the little niblets of hot fat. The steak itself was nicely spiced and tender. The mashed potatoes were thick and creamy, heavy and well-seasoned. I would order this again. 

Service was attentive and knowledgeable, and always on hand to discuss the food and wine we ordered in detail. I’m glad we checked it out, and I can see why Salt & Brick is such a popular spot. I’m looking forward to our next outing, perhaps hitting up an oldie but a goodie like Klein/Harris.

Cheap Eats · Chinese · Dim Sum

Phoenix Gate – Dim Sum

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I haven’t lunched with Ms. Biz for the last two years, and since then, I’ve stopped eating out for dim sum. She had a way of ordering food that elevated the mediocre Chinese scene eked out in Cowtown. Now I can thank my friend Truth Serum for recommending a new gem, Phoenix Gate. For this post, let’s listen to “Pink” by Lizzo.

The first dish to arrive was the Sui Mai ($6.99). Mama mia! Check out the size of the steamed dumplings. The sui mai was three times the size of Phoenix Gate’s competitors. The pork filling was juicy, and the generous shrimp topping was toothsome. The red tobiko provided a nice little crunch to the sausage heavy dumpling. I would order this again.

The shrimp in the Ha Gow ($6.99) was steaming hot and twice as big as other dim sum joints. I liked how the dumpling wrapper was dry and still had a bite. It’s a pet peeve of mine when the rice wrapper is too gummy after being over steamed. The shrimp itself was plump with a nice crunch to it.

The wrapper on the Deep-Fried Shrimp Dumpling ($6.99) was so crunchy it was almost cracker-like. The shrimp inside was more of a spongy mousse, similar to shrimp paste at a Vietnamese restaurant, than the crunchy goodness of a whole shrimp.

I picked the Stir-Fried Turnip Cake X.O. sauce ($6.99). The turnip cubes were lightly crisp on the exterior yet hot and jiggly on the inside. This dish is a winner, and I would order it again. I tried the chili oil, which I found too hot, as you could only taste the overwhelming spicy heat and not any other aromatics. Next time, I would skip the chili oil, as the food is flavourful enough.

Also tied for best dish was the Shrimp & BBQ Rice Crepe ($6.99). This dish comes with both shrimp and BBQ pork rice rolls. Hot diggety dog! What I loved about this dish was the folds and folds of the silky soft rice roll and the generous amount of shaved pork. I enjoyed the squishy and quavery texture of the noodles in my mouth.

Truth Serum told me that sometimes the kitchen makes mistakes and cooks the wrong dish, then come out and offer it to customers at a discount. Moments later, our server came out to show us an order of seafood chowmein and spoke to her in Chinese. Truth Serum translated that the chef made the wrong dish and asked us if we wanted the seafood dish. She politely but firmly declined the accidental substitution.

The Meat and Seafood Chowmein ($16.99) is enough to feed a family of six. The noodles were swimming with pieces of BBQ pork, squid, scallops, shrimp, fish and chicken, Chinese mushrooms and bok choy.

Truth Serum mixed all the noodles with the sauce, so the crispy bits were already saturated in the gravy. I thought there was too much sauce, which made the dish soupy. I also would have preferred a little more crunch to the noodles. Truth Serum suspected the chef threw the seafood chowmein back into the wok and just added the missing meats.

Guess how much this feast cost us? A mere $55 bucks! Hip, hip, hooray! I can’t wait to check Phoenix Gate for dinner, as I hear the shrimp balls and other seafood dishes are good bets. Hitting the Sauce gives this little gem two phat thumbs up.

Cabos San Lucas · Cheap Eats · Restaurants · Seafood

Taco Time in Cabo

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Cabos San Lucas is only a four-hour flight, which makes for a quick and easy vacation for us. This trip was our fourth time in Cabos. I like revisiting vacation spots because I get to know all the best places. For this post, let’s listen to “La Raspa”.

One of my new favourite restaurants is Pezcabo, a 25-minute walk from the Marina. If you aren’t familiar with Cabos, consider taking an Uber as my wi-fi was spotty and it took Chew Steel some sleuthing to find Pezcabo. The menu is only in Spanish, and even with Google Translate, it took guessing to decipher. I downloaded some photos from Google to show what I wanted, not that I needed to, as there was one server whose English was so fluent that I could tell she studied abroad. We ordered ceviche, raw clams, octopus, tuna and fish tacos, and spicy tuna tostada.

We tried two types of ceviche – a raw prawn and octopus ceviche and a mixed ceviche of fish, octopus, raw and cooked prawns. I’ve never tasted fresher seafood, so good that I didn’t bother adding any of the dozen or so sauces on our table. I would get the ceviche again.

The raw clams came chopped up and only needed a squirt of fresh lime. The clams were sweet and clean tasting with a pleasant chew. Lately, I’ve been more on a clam kick than oysters because I find the flavour and texture more appetizing.

The spicy tuna tostada was a winner, taking on Asian flavours from the heavy mayonnaise and sesame seeds. The portion was so much that I asked Chew Steel to help me finish it. The diced tuna was cool in temperature and firm, and you could still taste the quality of the fish.

My octopus taco was delicious. The octopus was tender to the tooth, stewed with onions and cooked in a soy-based sauce. I would get the octopus tacos again.

On our second visit, one of the servers brought us complimentary shots of mescal with slices of orange. I found this liquor so smooth that I wanted to order a second one but restrained myself as it was a long walk back to our hotel. Next time we visit, I would like to try fried pork, tuna ceviche, baked clams, and oysters.

For the best fish tacos, visit the One and Only Tacos. The owner uses seabass, and you can taste the difference in the silkiness of the fillet. You have to wait a while at this seafood shack because they cook to order, but that ensures everything arrives piping hot. The salsa, hot sauce and cilantro sauces are homemade and a cut above their competitors; the flavours are lighter and brighter and don’t mask the star ingredients.

For tripe and asada tacos, El Paisa gets top marks. The tripe was creamy and decadent, reminding me a little of beef tendon. The regular steak is my preference over the more expensive, less greasy version, as its fat makes each bite squirt with flavour. With each order, you get homemade guacamole, cucumber, and other toppings.

Tacos Gardenias is a goodie for the shrimp tacos. I get three giant shrimp per taco, three times the size of other places. The shrimp has this incredible toothsome crunch with a golden-brown batter. There are bottles of sauces and a tray of cabbage, salsa, hot peppers and pickled onions to top your tacos.

Our go-to evening spot is La Lupita for the service, ambience, live music and some of the best chorizo and al pastor tacos. The chorizo is a flavour bomb – crunchy from fried pork skin and juicy from the homemade sausage. I ordered two chorizos, and the second proved too rich even for me. Except for the al pastor, most of the tacos are two or three times the cost of other places, but the amount of filling and creativity in each dish makes it more than worth it.

If you have any recommendations, let me know. I’m always eager to taco ’bout the best eats.

French · Restaurants · Special Occasion

Lunar Year at Cassis Bistro

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Five Stars and Me Shell visited Calgary to celebrate my belated birthday, which also happened on Lunar New Year. I debated against three options for our dinner – Sukiyaki House, Klein/Harris, and Cassis Bistro. I opted for the latter because Me Shell loves French cuisine. Let’s listen to “Racing Horses” by Cheng² Duo for this post. 

Upon arriving at 7:30 p.m. on a bustling Saturday, the music and energy of patrons lit up every seat in the house. We started our evening at the bar. I selected a glass of champagne, Me Shell opted for a gin and tonic, and Five Stars enjoyed a beer and lemonade cocktail. As we soaked in the energetic buzz, I admired the large white roses adorning the bar’s countertop.

Once seated at our table, we shared a charcuterie plate and a black olive tapenade. Don’t skip on the appetizers; the quality of each ingredient shines through. We relished combining bites from the fresh baguette with duck rillette, ham, and salami, then punctuating every third nibble with some salty tapenade or a tangy cornichon.

Service from the entire staff kept the meal seamless, replenishing our crackers and bread as we devoured our appetizers. We were getting full and wanted to save room for the main course, but we didn’t want to stop eating the charcuterie because it was that good. I know the French don’t do leftovers, but I’m Chinese, and we prefer not to waste food in my culture. The owner, Gilles, understood our dilemma and offered to pack away our appetizers. Thankfully, Gilles is culturally aware and exceedingly gracious. As it was the new Lunar Year, I saw this as a lucky omen for our family’s future dinners at Cassis. 

I recommended the steak frites to Five Stars, and he was thoroughly impressed. Five Stars looked at the ruby center and exclaimed he could tell this was a perfectly cooked steak. He took his first bite, closed his eyes and let out a little moan. I snagged a bite and loved how it was both tender and chewy. The meat itself was flavourful, charbroiled on the crisp edges. The crowning glory of his plate was the peppercorn sauce. The gravy was hot and decadent, soaking up the frites beautifully.

Pro-tip: Always get the featured fish or meat dish. You’ll get something unique and nearly impossible to find in Calgary. Me Shell picked the meat feature, duck breast, accompanied by a cheese sauce-infused potato dish and a flavorful salad featuring pine nuts and pomegranates. I’ve tried duck confit before, which I love for its fatty and crispy goodness. This dish was different. The breast was sliced thin and cooked to a medium rare. The texture was firmer than duck confit, similar to a lean steak. I loved pairing the bubbling hot side of cheesy potatoes with the salad of pomegranate, bitter greens, and pine nuts because of the contrasting textures, richness, and temperatures.

The seafood feature was monkfish with lobster sauce. This was the first time I tried monkfish, and I found the fish dense and meaty, reminiscent of a cross between a scallop and lobster. I liked how the light sauce complemented the fish’s natural sweetness, so I could still appreciate the delicate flavour profile.

The dessert was the perfect finale, solidifying Cassis Bistro as our new family tradition. The creme brûlée was warm and creamy with a delicate sweetness. The top layer was so thin that it shattered from a gentle tapping from my spoon. In contrast, the mousse was so rich from the intensity of dark chocolate. Both these desserts are worth ordering again.

From the hostess to the server and every other employee we encountered, the staff outdid themselves in terms of hospitality and food. The impeccable service impressed my siblings throughout our visit from the moment we entered until we left. Thanks, Me Shell, for taking us out for dinner. I look forward to showing off some of the other Calgary gems when you return in the spring.

Bars/Lounges · Beer · Burgers · Restaurants

Class Clown and Juice Imports Collaboration

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Juice Imports and Class Clown hosted a unique lineup on Sunday night: hot honey butter cornflake-crusted chicken burgers, corn pop ice cream, and six new natural wines by the glass. I coaxed my friend Divine Offering to come out, as she’s a fan of both businesses. Let’s listen to “Who’s That Girl” by Eve.

Erik suggested we try Yokel Rose ($65), made by Josephine Perry, winemaker and proprietor of Dormilona Winery. He informed us that the winery’s mascot is the Western Swamp Tortoise, Australia’s most endangered reptile. Dormilona donates a portion of its sales to the Friends of the Western Swamp Tortoise, an organization that relocates tortoises, restores their habitat, and funds research and projects such as the breeding program at Perth Zoo. Divine Offering noted that she hadn’t tried many rosés and found this one sweet and sour. We both tasted strawberries and lip-smacking yumminess.

She tried the night’s feature, Hot Honey Cornflake Crusted Chicken Burger ($15). She liked it even more than the Schezwannabe burger on the regular menu and Hi5’s version at First Street Market. She mentioned the sweetness from the honey stood out. I tried a bite and enjoyed the crunch and flavour from the butter, hot heat and honey. Divine Offering loved this burger so much she wished it was on the regular menu.

I wanted something simple, so I opted for the Phil A. O’Fish ($12.50). The burger reminded me of McDonald’s filet of fish, but a million times better. The cod was large and flaky. The grilled bun was buttered and squishy and held up to the crispy fish, gently sauced up with tartar sauce, melted cheese, and pickles.

We shared the Coney Fries ($8), which we prefer over the Super Fries we tried on our last visit. I like the beefy sweetness of the coney sauce; it reminds me of the meat pasta my mother made when we were kids.

For dessert, she tried Corn Pop Ice Cream ($7), and I tried a glass of the Meinklang Epic ($14). Damn, this was a lovely sparkling wine, dry and floral with tiny bubbles. I would get this wine again.

When I posted a picture from the night, my Instagram connection, Dannitrann, told me she was there too and thought she saw me. I saw her too but didn’t recognize her because my eyesight isn’t the best. I recognized her from her old Yelp posts, which I loved reading. She’s a good writer, and more importantly, she finds the best eats in the city.

I ordered a California Classic ($12.75) for Chew Steel, and he enjoyed it, stating it was one of the best burgers in the city. I mentioned it was only a dollar more than our favourite fast-food burger, Dave’s Double Cheeseburger. It’s safe to say we aren’t going to Wendy’s anymore for our cheeseburger fix. Thanks, Divine Offering, for the lovely company and for trying new wines with me.

Wine tasting

Juice Imports – I only drink reds

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Erik, co-owner of Juice Imports, visited Calgary and hosted an all-red wine lineup event ($50) at Vine Arts on 17th Avenue SW. When Chew Steel (formerly known as L) and I arrived, we were handed a glass of Tomato Wheels Lambrusco. I see this sparkling red wine everywhere in Calgary, and I noticed it’s popular with sommeliers, as it is always highly recommended. As we were sipping this delightfully fizzy beverage, I bumped into Alia, a co-worker at my previous place of employment. For this post, let’s listen to some chill French cafe music.

Erik dreamed up this session because he said the phrase, “I only drink red,” is the most common comment he’s heard here in Alberta, partly due to the calibre of the province’s beef and long winters. He described the wines we were about to try as “nerdy” and fun.

The first tasting was Jochen Beurer Trollinger ($34.11), one of his favourites in his lineup, and a wine he helped make in 2020. Light and bright, our wine master commented this drank like a white wine. The grapes themselves are big and juicy, thin-skinned and ruby red.

The second wine was Pinard et Filles Vin de Jardin ($51.83, discount $46.65), one of the rarest in his wine portfolio. The winery exports only to Paris, New York, Ontario, and, due to Erik’s persistence, Alberta. The fragrance was fantastic, and I loved how different this wine was from anything I had tasted. I asked Erik why this wine tasted so unusual. He explained that the grapes are resilient and hearty, and the genetic profile of these hybrid grapes is unfamiliar to most wine drinkers. He tasted “roses, hippy, floral and something utterly haunting.” Erik recommended pairing this wine with something opposite of its flavour, such as meaty French dishes, beef, liver, steak, or blood sausage.

Erik mentioned he only had six remaining bottles of this garden wine and other limited quantities of the rest of the lineup. Alia said she would battle it out with me. She mentioned she was competitive, and I said I wasn’t, which is true because the word I would use to describe myself in these situations is ‘pour’severant. Whenever I enjoyed a wine, I trotted downstairs and asked an employee to tuck it away for me. I fancied this wine so much that I bought three bottles, two for me and one for my friend Lululemon.

The third wine was Craven Firs Syrah ($40.21). It smelled like a conventional red wine, but it tasted sweet and silky. Erik noted dark fruit, like figs or blueberry pie. He mentioned the wine maker’s philosophy revolves around texture and noted factors that affect the style and flavour of red wine, such as stems, maceration, and oak. Another interesting fact is Cabernet Sauvignon contains white juice.

I enjoyed the fourth wine, Pacina Rosso Toscana (2014, $46.98). Chew Steel took a shine to this red, which I found fresh, light and dry. The sips with sediment tasted better than the first sip without. Erik described the scent as roses in their riper stage, and another customer likened it to the smell of a leather jacket.

I asked Erik about wine markup at restaurants and what to expect for a wine I buy at a liquor store for around thirty bucks. A customer piped up and mentioned the Keg doesn’t markup any of their wines. I told Chew Steel that we have to start dining there again. I mentioned to the other guests that Class Clown sells the best priced wines in town, and you can get a good one for only $50.

The fifth wine was Domaine Breton Nuits d”Ivresses ($44.70), a dry wine that pleasantly puckered my mouth. Chew Steel enjoyed this wine. Erik communicated that the winemaker is a legend in France and told us this wine uses Cabernet Franc from 50-plus-year-old vines from several terroirs, grown in primarily clay and limestone.

The sixth wine was Domaine Richaud Terre De Gallets ($37.37, discount $33.63). Chew Steel and I agreed this was our second favourite wine. Erik mentioned that marketing dictates price; the more successful a winery is, the better price they can get. This winery is less marketed than its neighbours, reflected in its price to customers. I bought two bottles. Erik recommends pairing this wine with lamb and thinking of what grows well in the region’s landscape rolling hills, such as wild lavender, rosemary, oregano, and garlic.

Erik advised us that vintages can differ yearly due to countless factors and explained how some wineries can create the same flavour profile year after year. I quizzed him on his stance on consistency versus the style of dynamic wines he sells. For example, if I splurge on a bottle, I want to know what I’m getting, hence my fondness for his wine tastings. Torn, he expressed it comes down to two different experiences. He enjoys the emotional expression of his lineup and the fun that comes from tasting wildly different flavours and textures. He compared these wine styles to Marc Seguin’s work (i.e. dynamic) versus the familiarity you can get at IKEA (i.e. consistency). He said it was like comparing the familiarity and affordability of Campbell’s chicken soup and his love for his grandmother’s soup, which changes based on the ingredients in her kitchen.

The bonus tasting is from a place I’m familiar from past events, Laurent Cazottes. The farm produces incredible liqueurs from tomatoes, walnuts, pears, plums and grapes. 2015 Folle Noir (discount $34.51) is made with 50-plus-year-old grapes, its whole berries macerated in a distillate from Folle Noir from the previous vintage. I bought three bottles, some for gifts.

Thanks, Erik, for hosting an epic wine session. Your Calgary customers badly needed the ‘pour-fact’ guidance from their favourite wine expert, who always uncorks the secrets of superb wines.

Comfort food · Italian

YYC Pasta – Kensington

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For our work holiday lunch, some colleagues mentioned they would prefer to have dinner (with spouses) instead. While our budget for lunch was generous, stretching it into dinner was trickier in today’s economy. For this post, let’s listen to “Last Christmas” by Wham.

All my favourite spots would average $75 for a three-course meal without beverages. My colleague Grassy found an upscale place for $50 per person, but dessert and non-alcoholic drinks would push us way over. Lucky for my office, I found a Christmas miracle: a restaurant willing to accommodate our size, food restrictions, and budget. I went through every restaurant in Calgary to determine which place could meet our budget, and after a phone call at YYC Pasta Bar, I learned they have a private room for 30 customers. They also offer a four-course meal for $50; and most non-alcoholic beverages are only $3.

YYC Pasta is in the old Cotto spot in Kensington, which was a favourite restaurant of mine. I’ve never been before because I was sad to see Cotto gone and replaced with another Italian restaurant. However, I overcame my reluctance, mainly after talking to Sebastian, who promised to look after our vegan and lactose-intolerant guests. I got the sense they wanted our business, even though I was counting everything down to the last nickel.

Photo: Jov Montes

Dimples, L and I arrived early, but the Great One and several other guests were already seated. I mentioned the stragglers would be left alone at a big table. Grassy had the good sense to pull two tables together so the latecomers could sit with us. One thing I noticed about engineers is that they are excellent at solving problems.

Photo: Jov Montes

Our first course was the Caprese salad, a chilled and refreshing combo of sliced tomatoes, bocconcini, and balsamic reduction. The cheese was cold and creamy. I enjoyed the arugula’s pepperiness and the crunch from the salt flakes. When Aphrodite found out L doesn’t like tomatoes, she and M added it to their green salads.

Photo: Jov Montes

Our next course was a choice between calamari or bruschetta. The portion of the calamari was so large that most of us were full before our main dish. Everyone raved about the squid. The batter was thick and crunchy, while the squid was still perfectly tender. Uncle W mentioned he enjoyed the calamari and remarked most restaurants in landlocked Alberta don’t cook it well.

Photo: Jov Montes

L and I both ordered the veal tortellini, which is made in-house. The pasta was al-dente and super hot, clearly fresh from the pan. The sauce was rich, decadent, creamy, and dotted with ground meat. The pasta portion was so large that everyone took it home for dinner the next day. I would order this again. Reheated the next day, the pasta was just as good as the night before, though the cream turned into an oil.

Photo: Jov Montes

When the main course came out, a few people needed clarification – did they order the gnocchi or penne chicken? I remembered everything on that Excel spreadsheet. Uncle W never respond to the chef’s request to preorder by the deadline, so he got the chicken penne. M wanted chicken penne but no dairy in the sauce. Office Guardian ordered gnocchi because her husband ordered the tortellini, and they like to share everything so they can try more dishes. Sometimes, they even mix the sauces, which I’m totally against.

Photo: Jov Montes

Right before dessert, I asked Uncle W to pull out the winners of our five-door prizes. Except for one ticket, all four went to the marketing department. Several people accused me of fixing the prizes. Mrs. SentientQ observed the little gift box I put the names in was so tiny that Uncle W had difficulty drawing out each name. She and others speculated it would have been easy to drop specific names on the top. The draw was fair, but I admit, the optics could have been better. I cajoled the mob by stating I would take one of the non-winners (i.e. the losers) out for hot chocolate with my winnings, which seemed to appease some of them.

Photo: Jov Montes

The finale for many was the dessert. Whenever Sebastian dropped off a dessert, we startled him by loudly oohing and aahing. The desserts were so massive that most of us took it home. The warm chocolate was light and sponge-like, with a drizzle of not-too-sweet icing.

Photo: Jov Montes

At the night’s end, Sebastian patiently took pictures of us after we rearranged all the furniture to suit our pictorial needs. Sorry, Sebastian, my peeps are used to solving problems! Thanks, YYC Pasta, for making our dinner a success. No one went home hungry or unhappy, and we are so thankful you accommodated our group. Hitting the Sauce gives this pasta joint two phat thumbs up.

Burgers

Class Clown

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On Sunday, I texted Divine Offering and asked if she wanted to go somewhere for dinner. We went back and forth and decided on Class Clown, a new burger joint that opened up in Mission. I heard the burgers were delicious; and they served natural wines from Juice Imports. For this post, let’s listen to “It’s Tricky” Run DMC.

While I walked over, I signed up for the online waitlist about twenty minutes before I scored a seat at the bar. The heady smell of the beef hit me when I was still a block away. I like the vibe of the place. The space is very 70s, with curtains fringed around the bar’s ceiling and amber lights set against the walls. Rap music, on the other hand, was right from the early 90s, played loud and proud. I spotted a small private room that looked cozy and secluded. I wonder how you score that table.

Photo credit: Divine Offering

Divine Offering and I shared a bottle of Orenji Dormilona ($55). We would get a glass, but our bartender persuaded us it was a better deal to get the bottle. I found the wine juicy, fresh, and easy to drink. Divine Offering mentioned she had never tried orange wine before and would order this again.

Photo credit: Divine Offering

I was craving a burger. I ordered the California Classic ($12.75) and paired it with the Super-Duper Fries ($8.50). I informed Divine Offering that Miss Foodie highly recommended the Szechuwannabe Hot Chicken ($12.5), which she picked.

I loved my burger. The beef was lacey and crisp, and the two patties were proportional to the generous amount of lettuce shards, tomatoes, and squishy bun. I liked the stickiness of the cheese and how flavourful every ingredient tasted. Each bite was airy, crunchy and overwhelmingly delicious. It was so good that we stopped talking and just enjoyed every bite.

Photo credit: Divine Offering

The bowl of fries arrived utterly covered in melted cheese, house sauce, and Coney sauce, garnished with a sprinkle of Cheetos. The best component of the fries is the coney sauce, which is sweet, meaty and tangy. I liked the fries, but I would have preferred splitting another burger with Divine Offering, because the burger was that good.

Photo credit: Divine Offering

Divine Offering said her chicken sandwich was one of her favourites in the city, and it was a tie between this one and the Nashville hot chicken sandwich from Hi-5 Burger at First Street Market. She mentioned the batter was crispy, and the chicken was juicy. She didn’t find it too spicy or heavy, even though it was dripping with sauce and oil.

Photo credit: Divine Offering

When I came home, I told L he missed out. Class Clown makes one of the best burgers in the city, and we have to go back to try some of the other offerings. Hitting the Sauce gives Class Clown two phat thumbs up.

Restaurants · Seafood

Pigeonhole – Girls’ night

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For this month’s girls’ night, we decided on Pigeonhole. Now that Betty is pregnant, I always check to see if the restaurant has food that she’ll like so she doesn’t end up hangry. We met at Quebecois’ house for a glass of wine before heading to the restaurant. For this post, let’s listen to “Smoke on the Water” by Deep Purple.

Pigeonhole was hopping on a Friday night. At 7:00 p.m., most of the tables were full or in the process of being turned over for a new party. When asked if we wanted still or sparkling, we opted for the latter. Quebecois thought the restaurant served in-house sparkling water, which is only a couple of bucks a person, but we learned too late that they have only small bottles of sparkling water ($6). The sparkling water tasted fresher than most bubbles, but when it comes to water, I prefer it el cheapo, straight from the tap.

Quebecois looked at the wines on the menu and mentioned to our server that many were “young”. She and her husband are really into aged wines. The server said the restaurant likes its wines young and fresh. We ordered a bottle of Hiedler “lӧss” ’20 ($65). Quebecois commented the wine had low acidity and no strong taste, which she preferred. I enjoyed how cold the wine was and thought it tasted better than when it warmed up in my glass.

The wagyu beef tartare ($21) was even better than the last time I tried it. The beef was chilled, creamy and salty from the cheddar and horseradish. Betty enjoyed the kick of flavour in it, which I thought tasted like pickles. I would get this again.

Quebecois wanted the scallop crudo ($17). Kournikova enjoyed the chili-citrus vinaigrette, which she thought was almost as good as my homemade chili oil. I found the scallop a tad fishy, but I loved the pop of basil and the crunch from the Marcona almonds.

I wanted to try the mushroom croquettes ($9). Small but mighty, hot and crunchy, this was a one bite wonder. I would order this again.

The group’s favourite dish was the charred cabbage ($17). This dish is pure decadence. Imagine the flavour from the crispiest skin on a porchetta or torched salmon belly with kewpie mayo, but it’s cabbage. Covered in cheese and most likely a lot of butter and mayonnaise, everyone ate with their eyes closed and a smile on their lips. Kournikova mentioned she liked the little jalapeno spice that hit her throat at the very end.

I took all the photos this time and I’m pleased with the one of the roasted mini peppers ($9). The peppers were blistering hot, with a delicious char on them. Simple, but perfectly cooked. I was glad Kournikova wanted this dish, as I wanted something more wholesome after the cabbage.

Kournikova picked the Berkshire pork chop ($48). Maybe I’m not used to fancy pork, but I found the texture tough. The baked split peas reminded me a little of baked beans, and the roasted onions were silky smooth and delicious.

Betty always likes to order a pasta dish, so this one was for her. The ricotta cavatelli ($30) came with lobster mushroom, bacon, rosemary, and poached egg. The noodles were firm. I know the term “lobster mushroom” describes a specific type of mushroom with a unique appearance. However, I wish it was called something else because once I see the word lobster, I can’t stop expecting to taste lobster.

Our next outing will be at Kama, a restaurant I was reluctant to book before because they require a credit card when reserving via Opentable. However, my friends don’t flake, so I am willing to break my number one restaurant rule of never reserving a table at a new restaurant using my card. Thanks for the company, ladies, I’m already looking forward to the next dinner!

Restaurants · Special Occasion · Steakhouse

Opal Restaurant – Azuridge Estate Hotel

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It was my mother-in-law’s birthday, so her husband, Bobbino, took us out to Opal Restaurant at Azuridge Estate Hotel. It’s a beautiful spot located in the foothills. We sat next to the crackling fireplace and enjoyed watching the sunset through the floor-to-ceiling windows. For this post, let’s listen to “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours)” by Stevie Wonder.

Bobbino told me to pick out the wine. I wanted to avoid racketing up a hefty bill, as he was treating us to dinner, so I selected Pardon & Fils Beaujolais-Villages Gamay ($56), a fresh and fruity Beaujolais. Bobbino enjoyed this wine so much that he ordered a second bottle.

Our server Carly opened the bottle, poured me a little to taste, and handed me the cork. No one has even given me the cork after opening a bottle of wine, so when I went home, I looked it up found out it’s an old tradition. I thought it would be funny when the next time Lululemon comes over, I repeat the ritual, so she knows I’m not serving some faux wine. 

Carly came around with an amuse bouche, a hot, crunchy arancini. The shell’s inside was creamy and cheesy, which popped nicely against the bright tomato sauce. 

We shared the charcuterie plate ($42), and our eyes popped out when it was delivered to our table. The platter was piled high with cured meats, cheeses, pepper jam, dried fruits and nuts. 

Before our mains, Carly brought a palate cleanser and a scoop of passionfruit sorbet, served on a plaque of ice. L admired the clarity of the ice, noting there were no bubbles. G’Mah’s ice platter was more elaborate than ours, as it was imprinted with a happy birthday message. G’Mah mentioned it was worth photographing, but L didn’t take the hint and never took a picture. 

Everyone but L ordered the lamb duo ($55), even though Carly recommended it over the ribeye ($55). L’s steak was huge, so big I ate almost half of it. Though his steak was tasty, our rack of lamb was phenomenal.

I loved how tender it was, and Bobbino noted there was no gamey flavour. The lamb tasted clean and almost sweet. G’Mah raved about the garden’s fresh carrots and asparagus, while I was impressed with the crispy potatoes and the ultra-fluffy stuffing. The curry hummus was a great addition to the lamb and potatoes. G-Mah reminded Bobbino of the time when he was given some mint jelly with lamb and how he hated it. He winced and said he didn’t want to talk about it. I also do not like to relive bad food memories.

I understand why people bother driving out of the city to experience such a peaceful experience. We spent almost three hours leisurely sipping and dining while gazing at the picturesque view. Thanks, Bobbino, for a wonderful meal, and happy birthday to G-Mah!

Bakery

Sidewalk Citizen – Bread Class

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For years, I’ve wanted to take a bread class at Sidewalk Citizen. The opportunity finally came up when my friend Divine Offering mentioned she wanted to start taking some cooking classes. She was game for a bread session ($150), so we booked it. For this post, let’s listen to “If I Had a Million Dollars” by Barenaked Ladies.

Divine Offering and I are chronically early for everything, which is one of many reasons we get along so well. We were both half an hour early, so we sipped on a cold pint at Charbar. After, we moseyed over to Sidewalk’s section and sat with seven other guests at the bar.

We helped ourselves to pastries and sat at our seats. The head baker, Chloe Lomas, introduced herself, and we started the interactive two-hour class. We used a recipe from Jeffrey Hamelman’s “Bread” to make a basic sourdough. Due to the quality of their products, I wasn’t surprised to learn we could only buy the red fife flour and heritage grains at Community Foods and two places I’ve never heard of, Heritage Harvest and Scottish Mills.

For a scale, Chloe recommended buying an inexpensive model from Superstore. For a Dutch oven, she endorsed checking second-hand stores and the breadbasket, either at the dollar store or improvising with a colander at home. I respected her recommending affordable options, especially since we were all beginners.

Chloe talked about starters and the work that goes into feeding one daily. She encouraged us to name it and warned us that we would likely have to toss and create a one. For example, if your starter turns orange, pink or red, it is a sign there are harmful bacteria in it, and you need to chuck it.

We weighed the ingredients and learned how to knead and shape the sourdough. I was too rough with the dough and overworked it, while Divine Offering had right touch and molded her dough into a smooth ball. We both appreciated Chloe’s laidback teaching style and encouraging support during the class.

We made crackers from the excess initial mix and seasoned them with salts and spices from the Silk Road Spice Merchant. Divine Offering reflected it was the perfect way to use the discard, and she could easily change the spices every time. The spices reminded her of Cheez-Its. Once baked, we ate the still-warm crackers with red wine.

My favourite part of the class was making our pizza. When we stretched the dough, I resisted the urge to throw it up in the air like I saw the owner at Azzurri Pizzeria. I loaded up my pizza with tomato sauce, bacon, mushrooms, bocconcini and roasted red peppers. I named it the 300-pound pizza. My creation was delicious, the key notable feature being the crispy, fresh crust. Divine Offering mentioned that this was the best part of the class for her too, as there were so many great toppings, and the crust was so light.

It was fun to hang out in the kitchen of one of the best bakeries in Calgary. I told Chloe it’s one of my fantasies to work at a bakery (my other is making cheese platters for Peasant Cheese). She confirmed being a baker is hard on the body, and you have to get up early. The following day, when I saw my baked loaf, I thought I’d better stick to my day job. I didn’t follow the instructions, and with baking, you really ought to.

In the following days, Divine Offering and I exchanged tips and pictures and asked each other questions. You would think that something as simple as bread would be easy. I experienced that an exceptional loaf of bread requires skill, technique, time, quality ingredients and more patience than I have. Let’s just say Sidewalk will not lose me as a customer, and unfortunately, L won’t wake up to the smell of freshly baked bread in the mornings.

I recommend taking this class if you are serious about making the best bread possible or want a great night out. This was the most fun and informative cooking class I’ve taken. Divine Offering thought the format was ideal for beginners, and she got her money’s worth. We took home three balls of dough and our leftover pizza and crackers. She also liked how it was a hands-on format so we could practice the techniques before attempting it at home. Hitting the Sauce gives Chloe and Sidewalk Citizen two phat thumbs up.

Pubs

Parents’ Pub – Calgary Winter Club

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L’s colleagues invited him to the pub at the Calgary Winter Club. Since spouses were invited, I tagged along. Notinabox came down to greet us and bring us up to the restaurant. Already sitting at the table were Freakinghot and Badbf, whom we’d met before at a party last year. I also met Last Spike and his wife, Craigellachie. Let’s listen to “Layla” by Derek and the Dominos.

L and I ordered a cold pint of Last Best ($11). When Matech and Fit arrived, he selected a glass of red wine. I instantly got buyer’s remorse. I righted the wrong for my second drink by asking the server to get me whatever Matech chose. I don’t know what wine it was, but it was smooth and easy to sip. When I returned home, I looked at the wine menu and noticed some bottles from Juice Imports. I don’t know what the pub is called, so I’ll just refer it to as the Parents’ Pub.

L and I both ordered the Nashville chicken burger ($21). Last Spike’s steak fries ($26) looked good, as did Notinabox’s short rib mac and cheese and Matech’s tacos. Everyone’s food looked appetizing and was priced less than our local pub. Last Spike said this is where all the parents head off once they drop their kids off for their activities.

L was a good sport when I asked him to take pictures of the food. He only lamented that he never gets any credit on my blog for being the photographer. Fit complimented L’s photos. He thanked her and said his pictures were good, but they all have one look (Zoolander reference) that he calls “chewsteel”.

The chicken was all white meat. With the crunchy batter and spicy coating of hot sauce, the burger reminded me of eating hot wings but with fancy greens and in the softest, lightest brioche bun. The fries were long with an ultra-crunchy coating.

The conversation was a refreshing change from the norm. We talked about parking lots, railway environmental contamination, forty-three-dollar cocktails and crocheted outfits at fancy hotel restaurants, the shame as a student of losing to Bowness High and the importance of being north of the river.

Notinabox provided a tour of the facilities before we left for the night. My first impressions of the club were positive. Employees and members alike were friendly and polite. A constant stream of well-behaved kids ran in and out of the facility. If you have children, this would be a wholesome environment to grow up or if you’re already an adult, a place to safely toss your kids for the day. I joked with Fit that if Daenerys Targaryen could hatch her fossilized dragon eggs, anything is possible with me. Thanks for the fun company, Notinabox, and I look forward to hosting the next get-together.

Banh Mi · Cheap Eats · Vietnamese

Banh Mi Date #14 – Van Express

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Office Guardian walked over to Dimples and asked her where she wanted to go for lunch. Dimples pointed to Office Guardian’s belly and suggested wherever the baby wanted. They turned to me and asked for a recommendation. Let’s listen to “Possession” by Sarah McLachlan for this post. 

I suggested they head to Van Express for the pho or various soups as it was raining, and they wouldn’t have to walk outside. Office Guardian ran to get M to join and asked if I wanted to come along. I told them I would go for a walk, as it is tricky to navigate in the +15, but I would drop them off and continue on to Wise & Wright. Please note that all the pictures below were taken by Dimples.

When we arrived, the food smelled so good and the company so fun I decided to forgo my walk and join them. Eating here would also mean getting closer to my goal of 19 banh mi dates, even though it wasn’t L taking me. 

Office Guardian ordered Tom Yum ($11.90), Dimples ordered wonton noodle soup with vegetables and noodles ($11.50), and M and I both ordered a beef sate sub ($8.81). I was impressed that Tom Yum was packed with seafood, such as shrimp, fish balls, imitation crab, and fresh basil leaves. Office Guardian said the soup was nice and flavourful and not overly spicy. 

Dimples wonton soup looked good, too. The pork wontons were big and round, packed with meat. I told Dimples it was a pet peeve of mine when the wonton is more noodles than filling. The egg noodles looked properly cooked, thin and al dente. I could smell the cilantro in both their soups. She could only eat half, as she found the portion so filling. 

Our banh mi was the size of a foot-long sub. M mentioned that the bread, melted white cheese and meat tasted similar to Thi Thi. The carrots were cold and pickled, just the way I like them. The addition of onions and jalapeno gave it a nice bite. Price-wise, this is one of the cheapest and largest in the downtown core, aside from Thi Thien, who still only charges $4.99 for an assorted banh mi. I like this beef sate sub more than To Me, Secret Vietnamese Cafe and Thi Thien, but less than Pho 99, Pho Soc Trang or Banh Mi Nu Y. 

Banh mi date 14 out of 19. Only five more to go to accomplish my goal of going out on 19 banh mi dates. It’s important to have serious life goals.

Seafood · Special Occasion

Klein / Harris – Work lunch

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This week, our department had our team-building activities. I picked Klein / Harris for our lunch because Care Bear is celiac, Aphrodite is vegan, and Happy has a peanut allergy. If you have dietary restrictions, Klein / Harris is the place to go, as they offer so many options for everyone. For this post, let’s listen to The Scrantones.

We started with an assortment of mocktails. My drink was spicy from the ginger and fruity from the fresh bulb of orange at the bottom. Dimples, our recently onboarded social media specialist, took a video of our celebratory toast and suggested that we recreate it in reverse, commencing with the glasses touching and then moving them back. I complained it felt ingenuine to make a reverse toast, but she disclosed that it would actually create a more seamless and engaging visual when edited into a reel. I trust her as she is the expert. Please note that all the images showcased below were skillfully and quickly photographed by Dimples.

Aphrodite ordered the grilled Humboldt squid ($19) for the table to share. Happy didn’t know this and picked the squid as her main. Care Bear requested the butternut squash soup ($10) and the smoked duck ($19). Aphrodite picked a heritage green salad ($12) with a filet of salmon. Dimples and I both ordered the daily special, coho salmon with potatoes.

Everyone loved the squid. The texture was soft as butter. Dimples raved about the tenderness while Happy’s eyes rolled to the back of her as she ate her squid. I also liked the sweet sauce and soft potatoes nestled underneath the seafood. No one makes better calamari than Klein / Harris.

Care Bear enjoyed his soup, stating it was terrific. He said he makes good butternut squash soup, and this version is even better than what he makes at home.

The coho salmon was a winner. Holy smokes – that skin was crunchy and perfectly seasoned. The salmon was buttery and juicy, and the middle was glossier than the exterior. The center tasted richer and fattier and melted in my mouth. I would get this again.

Care Bear ordered frozen cheesecake mousse ($10) for dessert, as it was gluten-free. Aphrodite and I also ordered the mousse but with the graham crackers. Happy picked the mint chocolate sandwich ($10), and Dimples ordered the best dessert of the group, the K/H butter tart ($8). She insisted I try some of her pastry. Oh wow – the crust was warm and flaky, while the combination of the whipped cream and sweetness from the ice cream was just good old-fashioned comfort food.

My frozen cheesecake was yummy. The sweetness from the rhubarb preserves served as the perfect foil to the tangy, yogurt-like mousse. Dimples loved the dusting of the butter graham crumbs.

When it comes to enjoying a lunch along Stephen Avenue, I can’t envision a better spot. The atmosphere around me affirmed that I wasn’t the only one, as every table was filled with happy customers. Thanks, Klein / Harris, for delivering another exceptional dining experience.

Italian

Side Hustle and Annabelle’s Kitchen

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L and I met with Matech and Fit for drinks at Side Hustle in Marda Loop. On its website, Side Hustle is self-described as a watering hole tucked behind an alley, so I was surprised to find this bar anything but a hole in the wall. Let’s listen to “Radio” by Lana Del Rey for this post.

We sat on a comfortably large sofa across from the bar by the front. L admired the lamp fixtures against the wall while I noticed the open window wall. A group of young, clamorous females sat in one corner while every 15 minutes or so, a customer would come in, sit at a nook by the bar, and order a fondue and a glass of wine. 

For most of our visit, only one bartender took the orders, crafted drinks and brought out food, all without a single drop of sweat. L and Matech drank beers while Fit ordered a glass of Lambrusco (Solco, $11). Our server recommended a chai cocktail. Sweet, light and pretty, with aromatic spices, this is a winning cocktail. I relished the flavour combination so much that I told my friend Kournikova we had a new place to try for girls’ night.

Fit was hungry, so we ordered some snacks: Tom’s sausage rolls ($13), Parm fries ($10) and warm olives ($8). The pastry on the sausage roll was flaky. The filling itself was well seasoned. I found the homemade hot sauce a little too fiery. The frites were crispy and tasty. I commented there was aioli for the frites, and Fit disclosed that she doesn’t care for dipping sauce. L noted he liked the olives, which is a big compliment, as he doesn’t like olives outside of Greece.

A novel twist in the conversation unfolded when Matech chatted about his latest project. As he delved into the details, I was puzzled, as it seemed unusual for their workplace to start up on this particular venture. However, Matech quickly clarified the mystery, revealing that he worked with L part-time. His full-time gig was in the tech industry. It was funny that he had a side hustle, much like the bar we were in.

When we finished our second round of drinks, Matech said it was time to go. L picked up the tab, and I went on my phone to click onto an Uber. Matech, a master of spontaneity, clarified that we were all heading to a second locale. I looked at my watch, surprised, as it was already 8:00 p.m. Fit said they Ubered out, so they wanted to get their night’s worth despite having to fly out first thing in the morning. 

We snagged a table at Annabelle’s Kitchen. Matech ordered a bottle of Montepulciano wine as well as the crispy cauliflower ($16), arancini ($15), Nonna’s meatballs ($17), and a pizza (Mind Your Manners, $25). Matech picked this wine because he recently visited the Montepulciano region. I also learned that Fit doesn’t like dry wine because she finds the mouthfeel off-putting.

Speaking of wine, Fit told us about these fun wine parties she attends, hosted by the Wine Wizard. Small world! It turns out she’s friends with the Wine Wizard’s sister. I disclosed how we used to be next-door neighbours with the Wine Wizard, and the first time we met, he came to drop off a bottle of champagne. Fresh out of grad school and working as a research assistant, I drank the cheapest wine I could find at the time: Apothic. So when the Wine Wizard entered our house, I asked him if he wanted a glass of wine. He politely thanked me, and as he swirled and sniffed, I instantly got a bad feeling in my tummy. I never ask people what they do for a living, but a little voice in my head was panicking, so I inquired. He responded, “Oh, I import wine and am a wine connoisseur.” My face burned with embarrassment, and I fought the urge to shout in slow motion, “Noooooo!” and slam that glass out of his hand before he took a sip. Even now, when I reflect back, I wonder how he effortlessly drained that towering glass without even the slightest flinch. He transformed into a champion, a sorcerer of spirits, and for that one cursed evening, he was nothing short of a benevolent deity.

Our food came quickly. We first bit into the arancini, which was crunchy on the outside and hot and cheesy in the middle. Next up was the beef meatballs, which I found soft and mealy. I enjoyed swirling my meatball into the creamy pool of polenta, though Fit mentioned she dislikes cornmeal. The cauliflower had a light batter that melted in your mouth, and the vegetable tasted nutty and caramelized. I would order the fried cauliflower again.

The crust on the pizza was thin and crisp, with a proportional amount of pepperoni, mushrooms and mozzarella. The hot honey and red sauce gave it a needed kick. The food was tasty, but I really appreciated the stellar service at Annabelle’s and Side Hustle. Though it cleared out when we finished eating, our server never rushed us out and kept topping us up with water.

Thanks for the dinner Matech and Fit, and for the fun company. We will have to get together again, either at our place or at one of the Wine Wizard’s dinner events. I’ll even bring a very special bottle of wine we can drink before the event, to toast to the Wine Wizard, and it won’t be Apothic.

Restaurants · Vegetarian

The Himalayan – Double date

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On Saturday, I had reservations to check out Clos de la Oyster Barre as I heard a wine writer was pouring some excellent glasses of wine. However, Quebecois texted me that they got a babysitter and invited us to join them at Cassis Bistro. Neither could accommodate extra guests when we checked with each restaurant, so I suggested The Himalayan. Let’s listen to “Put Your Head On My Shoulder” by Paul Anka for this post.

Quebecois and Sirski came over to our house to share a bottle of Burrowing Owl I’ve been saving, a present given to me a few months ago. Then we hopped into L’s SUV and zipped over. The restaurant seemed short-staffed, as one tired but kind looking woman was doing everything in our section.

To start, L and Sirski ordered beers ($11). Quebecois and I couldn’t find anything we liked on the wine list, so we ordered a pineapple cocktail ($11.50). We enjoyed our drinks. The pineapple was sweet, and the pleasantly strong, tropical notes reminded me of being at a Mexican resort.

For food, we shared the pork momos ($16, plus two extra dumplings), butter chicken ($24), mango shrimp ($26), chau chau chicken noodles ($21.50), Himalayan eggplant ($21.50). The curries and stirfry came with saffron rice and naan.

The wrapper of the steamed dumpling was thick and sticky, encasing a well-spiced and juicy pork filling. The creamy dip was mild and complemented with the spices in the seasoning.

We dove into the mains, and there were two clear favourites: the chicken chau chau noodles and eggplant stir-fry. The soy flavour in the chau chau noodles was mouthwatering and the fragrance of the wok hei was intoxicating. The only thing better was the caramelized smokiness in the tender chunks of chicken. I would get the noodles again.

L doesn’t even like eggplant, and he loved the stir-fry. While the eggplant was soft with a melt-in-your-mouth texture, the green peppers and onions were nice and crunchy, sticky from the rich tomatoey sauce. Cooked eggplant is unfortunately, an unphotogenic subject, but for what it lacks in looks, it makes up for in taste. Whoever was operating the grill is a wok hei master.

The mango shrimp wasn’t too sweet and mild in flavour. I enjoyed dunking the light, crisp naan to soak up all the sauce. The butter chicken had a good kick as we requested a medium spice level.

L and I agreed we must come by the Himalayan more often to eat. The next time we come, I want to try one of the tomato-based curries over the cream curries, and we will order the noodles and eggplant again. Thanks for the fun company, Sirski and Quebecois. It was good to hang out again.

Happy Hour · Japanese

Goro and Gun – Happy hour

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Divine Offering and I met after work to grab a drink. She picked Goro and Gun, as their happy hour is too good to resist. From 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., you can enjoy snacks for a mere five dollars and savour bowls of ramen or hefty sushi rolls priced at just ten bucks. Cocktails and the house sake are priced at $7, while beers are available for just six dollars. For this post, let’s listen to “Juice” by Lizzo.

I tried a plum spritz ($7), a big wine goblet full of clinking ice, plum liquor, sparkling sake, and soda. It didn’t taste boozy, but I heard my voice getting louder as I drank. Divine Offering mentioned that the Matcha Heaven cocktail ($7) was refreshing, similar to lemonade; though she couldn’t taste the alcohol, she could feel it. While sipping her drink, she nibbled on a steamed pork bun ($5).

I wasn’t planning on eating, but the food from the kitchen looked so appetizing. I ordered a dynamite roll ($10), Divine Offering selected a spicy salmon roll ($10). For our second round of drinks, I picked house sake ($6), and she chose the sake flight ($16).

Our server selected the most popular sakes for the flight: Massumi Shiro, Fukucho Hattanso 50, and Kozaeman Junmai. Divine Offering thought the Massumi was the mildest, the Fukucho was the sweetest, and her favourite, the Kozaeman, was a happy medium between the first two sakes. My sake, the Aizuhoare, was five ounces of easy quaffing. At this price, I would get this sake again.
The sushi rolls were large and adorned with delicate tempura lace. The filling was fresh and generously portioned, and the rice retained its comforting warmth. The spicy salmon roll was a delightful combination of crisp, chilled cucumber and luscious raw salmon. I didn’t find the sauce spicy at all. I admired the log serving plate and the bright garnish of edible flowers.

The tempura in my dynamite roll was twice the size of other sushi restaurants and sweet from the teriyaki sauce. Each piece of sushi was a little more than a mouthful, filling enough to soak up all that sake we drank.

According to Divine Offering, the Houjicha mousse was matcha-like, and the crumble reminded her of white chocolate. The red bean was sweeter than the mousse, and she thought the combination was beautiful.

If you haven’t been, check out Goro and Gun. Throughout our visit, service was excellent, so I wasn’t surprised when, at 6:50 p.m., as we were paying our bill, a customer came in and ordered food and a beer. As the restaurant closes at 7:00 p.m., I was surprised the staff didn’t even look annoyed to be seating him. Divine Offering said on her last visit that the server was extra kind, allowing her friend to order a little more food at the happy hour price for takeout, as she really enjoyed her takoyaki and wanted some more for later. Thanks, Diving Offering, for taking all the pictures, the restaurant recommendation, and for the fun company.

Indian · Restaurants

Masala Bhavan – Date night

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L’s been working round the clock, so I left him off date night duties last week. However, he was still so busy the following week, so I insisted eating something delicious and not homemade would be good for his health. He amicably agreed, and we picked Masala Bhavan as our destination. For this post, let’s listen to “Party for Two” by Shania Twain.

I tried calling for reservations that evening. When the employee heard I wanted to come in 15-30 minutes, he responded that they do not accept short-term reservations and just to come. When we arrived, I was asked if I had reservations. I said no and I had tried calling about 15 minutes earlier, but I was informed Masala Bhavan doesn’t accept short-term reservations. The server gave me a table near the front of the restaurant. Most of the tables had a reserve sign. The restaurant was packed at 6:30 p.m., with several takeout orders ready to go.

We last ate here about two years ago during COVID-19. L mentioned he recalled enjoying the pakora, and I corrected him, stating that it was the chicken 65 appetizer he preferred. We ordered two Taj Mahal beers ($6.50), chicken 65 ($13.95), mysore masala dosa ($12.95), chicken khorma ($15.95), fish curry ($15.95), plain naan ($2.75) and steamed rice ($3.95).

The chicken 65 was delectable! The meat was so hot and spicy, so tasty it reminded L of an Indian karrage. I encouraged L to eat the chicken with the raw white onion slices, as it provided a clean, refreshing crunch. We loved the mint chutney, it gave the chicken an added punch of flavour and cooled down the heat. The chicken 65 is a must-order.

Next up were the two curries. The korma curry was so mild and subtle. I thought I could taste whipped cream. The chicken was tender and so hot you could see the steam rising from the bowl. Next time, I would try something else, like beef or a regular chicken curry just because I like my curry bolder and with more intense flavours.

The fish curry was everything we wanted – spice, heat and tang. The fish itself was plump and silky. The sauce was creamy and rich. I could feel myself perspiring with each spoonful. We would order this again.

The dosa was fun to eat. The shell was delicate and thin, filled with a smooth potato filling. I enjoyed dipping each crunchy bite into various sauces, each with a distinctively different flavour profile. With the sides, there was so much food we took home most of the curries and most of the naan and rice.

All the dishes tasted like it was cooked to order, as everything arrived fresh and hot. I suspect the servers may be family because they seem to genuinely care whether we liked the food and that we had to wait a bit to get our bill. If you want a cozy meal on a cold day, I recommend Masala Bhavan.

Wine tasting

Juice Imports 7th birthday

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Juice Imports celebrated their 7th birthday with a special tasting that sold out within 24 hours of posting. I scored the last two tickets ($45) and invited Lululemon as my plus one. Let’s listen to “Birthday” by The Beatles for this post.

Co-owners Mark and Erik selected some ultra-rare wines, including top-tier champagne, for this line-up. First up was Tarlant BAM! ($234.60). I took a sniff and thought the scent was pleasant, not yeasty like some champagnes. The bubbles were soft, and the flavour was bright and fresh. Erik informed us the grapes are the alternative varieties, the unsung grapes of champagne, Petit Meslier, Pinot Blanc, and Arbane.

Next was Dormilona Chardonnay ($55.49), an Australian winery I’m familiar with from Juice Import’s past tastings. I smelled butter. The texture was smooth, and it tasted oaky. Lululemon liked this one so much that she bought a bottle.

Our third wine was from Quebec, Pinard et Filles Nuance de Gris ($56.06).
The scent reminded me of cider. Cloudy in colour, I enjoyed how the flavour woke my tastebuds. Erik commented on the ridiculous amount of texture and the pretty aromatics.

The four wine was from the Czech Republic. I’m familiar with Nestarec, and I’ve drunk lots of their sparkling and rose wine, Danger 380 Volts and Ruz being my favourites. This wine was a red Forks and Knives Red ($41.10). The more I sipped it, the more I enjoyed it, more so for the pretty fragrance.

The fifth wine is from South Africa, Testalonga. The Dark Side Syrah ($54.78) is the first red wine I enjoyed from South Africa, as I found the wines from this country too minerally in the past. I’ve also enjoyed Testalonga’s sparkling wine, which I found at Missy’s This That. Lululemon lived in South Africa and told me she loves their wines. Erik described this wine as elegant but raw, with an aroma that reminded him of some of the country’s native plants.

The fifth wine was Peter Wetzer Kekfrankos ($46.65). The wine smelled sweet but wasn’t, more like a savoury black plum. I’m a fan of Peter Wetzer’s wines, and this one was right up my alley. I asked Erik why wines don’t taste like they smell. He pointed to temperature and environment and sense of smell versus taste. The temperature in your mouth differs from the room temperature in which you smell the wine. This climate difference can affect the volatilization of aromatic compounds in the wine and change the acidity and molecules. Also, when you smell wine, you are using your sense of smell and can detect various aromatic compounds, but when you taste, you are using your sense of taste, which is more basic, like sweet, salty, and bitter.

The last wine was my favourite. Marnes Blance Macvin du Jura ($46.61), from Domaine Des Marnes Blanches. Whenever Erik and Mark pick up a wine from this winery, I buy a bottle. Erik described this wine as “fiery” like brandy, with a grapey flavour and balsamic notes. This wine was sweet, so I planned to pair it with dessert at my next dinner party. Erik recommended pairing this wine with a fruit pavlova or comte cheese. I have a collection of Marnes Blanches wines that need to be drunk soonish, as I’m pretty sure my kitchen cabinet isn’t the ideal storing temperature.

Lululemon is hosting a party and asked Erik to help her select some bottles to pair with her food and theme. I’m excited to attend and I can’t wait to experience another chapter in our wine adventure.

Cheers to Juice Import’s 7th birthday, to their friends and customers who share their passion, and to the countless bottles waiting to be drunk. Here’s to the never-ending journey of savouring life, one sip at a time.

17th Ave · Mexican

Milpa

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On Friday, my friends Kournikova, Betty and Quebecois and I went out for dinner. As per our tradition, we gathered at one of our houses for a drink before heading to the restaurant. Let’s listen to “About Damn Time” by Lizzo for this post.


When we arrived, Milpa was less than half full. We were seated in the back, right by the washrooms, which irritates me because it reminds me of when I get stuck with a bad seat on a plane. Unlike my fancy friends, I always fly economy. Our server was fine when I asked if we could move up to the middle of the room.

I noticed the majority of the crowd was a younger demographic. I can see the draw. Milpa is a lively restaurant on 17th Ave with reasonably priced food. For drinks, Betty selected an apple cucumber spritz ($8), I ordered a Palomina ($15), Kournikova tried the margarita ($15), and Quebecois ordered a gooder – a bottle of Vive la Loire Touraine Rose ($60). My icy cold glass sparkled with salt. I found my cocktail boozy from the Cazadores Blanco, which muted the grapefruit flavour.

I asked Betty to take pictures of the food, as the month earlier, I had gotten Kournikova to take the photos. Betty looked confused as to why I wouldn’t do it and Kournikova explained it was because I take horrible shots. It didn’t hurt when she said it because she’s right.

I was curious about the menu, as Kournikova told me her celiac hubby approved of the food. Our server guided us through the menu and ensured we didn’t over-order. We picked the coconut ceviche ($15), queso fundido ($17), el pastor ($45), pulpo al chentextle ($30) and for dessert, we requested all three cakes.

I thought there was seafood in the coconut ceviche, but after poking around, I realized it was vegetarian. The ceviche was cold and milky, and a touch sweet. I liked the tang from the pomegranate and the smooth bits of taro. Betty mentioned the coconut tasted clean and soft. She said she likes ordering dishes that she doesn’t make at home. The corn and plantain chips were delicious, fresh and crunchy.

I loved the queso fundido. The snow-white cheese was rich and melty, while the mushrooms were meaty morsels. The corn tortillas were warm and fragrant, with a nutty aftertaste. I liked how it was warm and heavy, so smooth to the touch it felt luxurious. I would order the queso fundido again.

The octopus was tasty, but it isn’t a must order. I did like the variation on the plate, from the pureed beans, grilled corn and spicy jalapenos.

Milpa nailed the fun factor in the el pastor. The pork was shaped like a mini roasted spit, which we carved ourselves. The pineapple was still warm and sweet. The flour tortillas were soft and pliable. We all agreed the el pastor was the winning dish of the night.

Kournikova complimented Quebecoise’s selection of wine, which she thought held up to the pork. Quebecoise retorted she always picks French rose, as it’s not usually sweet and goes well with spicy food. She also noted it was a reasonable price for a bottle at a restaurant.

We tried all the desserts and enjoyed them except for the vegan cake, which was good but couldn’t compete with chocolate, caramel and whipped cream.

After we paid our bill, our server brought us a little shooter of slushy deliciousness and Betty, our designated driver, a candy bar. We cackled and howled at this unexpected treat and, after toasting, merrily went back home. I plan to return with L in tow for more el pastor and non-vegan desserts.

Bars/Lounges · French

Avitus Wine Bar

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I’ve been meaning to check out Avitus Wine Bar for months. As most of my close girlfriends live blocks away from me, it just makes sense for them to come over or for me to visit them. However, since Jaime was in town, it would be fun to try something new. For this post, let’s listen to “Mr. Wendal” by Arrested Development.

I knew Jaime would love this place as it’s everything she adores. The wine bar is quaint, armed with charming employees with quirky personalities. She’s all over that stuff. There’s a library of wine and lots of little details that chicks love, like mirrors and ornaments that remind me of signs that say “Live, Laugh, Love!” Speaking of ladies, plenty are there, letting loose and getting louder with each sip. I don’t hang out in Marda Loop, so I wasn’t used to the crowd, a mostly blonde demographic, ranging from 30-50 years old. They looked motherly in appearance but with catty eyes and claws out.

Our server offered to pour us as many samples as needed until we found a glass we loved. I instantly got flashbacks of Bar Vonderfels, where I first got my wine hard-on. We sampled some wines and decided on a Rose ($15). Jaime described this wine as very French, light and summery with the perfect dryness.

The owner created a cheese plate for us: Camembert ($8), Comte ($12), Ossau Iraty ($14), and Cherry and Calvados Chutney ($3). Our basket of carbs contained sourdough bread, baguette and zatar crackers. The cracker was my favourite, as I liked the snappy texture and salty seasoning.

I enjoyed the cherry chutney with the Comte cheese and camembert, and the ossau iraty just by itself. Of all the cheeses, I enjoyed the ossau iraty the most. Thinly sliced thinly, the flavour was unique and smoky. I would order this cheese again.

Avitar is a lovely addition to the SW quadrant of the city. I enjoyed our experience so much that I texted my girlfriends to set up a girl’s night. To be continued.

Bars/Lounges · French · Restaurants · Seafood · Special Occasion

Bar Chouette Round Two

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Jaime was in town! I took her to Bar Chouette because she’s a fan of Duncan Ly’s restaurants, and I wanted a place with a nice vibe. This is my second time at this restaurant. My experience this time was even better, likely because I took the advice of our server, Abby. Let’s listen to “And the Living Is Easy” by Guts for this post.

I knew Abby was a superstar because the last time I was there, Duncan noted that Abby was our server and said with confidence that we would be in good hands. She has phenomenal taste. I hemmed and hawed over which cocktail to order and let Abby pick for me. She selected her favourite, the Rosemary Brown Butter Old Fashioned ($17). Jaime ordered a glass of lambrusco (Fattoria Morette, $14).

Jaime fawned over the heavy glassware and blue and grey hues colours of the plates. I was impressed with the beautiful transparent brick of ice and the buttery texture of the bourbon. I don’t usually enjoy hard alcohol, but this cocktail was smooth. The crunchy praline tuile was sweet and peanutty, perfect for a stiff drink. When Abby came around again, we ordered her food recommendations.

This was my second time eating the Grilled Maitake ($18), even better than my first time. I was facing the kitchen this time and saw a chef grilling the mushrooms over a charcoal contraption. The smell of the smoke was heavenly. The hot butter juiced the entire mushroom, and the onion’s sweet and sour crunch just elevated each bite. Visually stunning. I loved how this dish was so rich yet delicate.

The Roasted Potato Gnocchi ($21) was another winner, so freaking fantastic that I smiled as I slowly chewed each bite. The gnocchi was imprinted with dark grill marks, hot little pockets of pleasure. I have never tasted better asparagus, so ripe with flavour. Each gnocchi was heavily blanketed in creamy parmesan cheese shavings. The chanterelles just added a delectable earthy dimension. I would order this again.

Next up was the Barbeque Carrots ($9). I read an online Google review where a fool questioned the value of a nine-dollar carrot. First, it’s carrots, not a singular carrot. Second, this is a labour-intensive dish, which takes five hours to prepare. The fresh dill and sweet crunch of the carrot were sublime. The toasty bread soaked up the sauce’s flavour and reminded me of White Spot triple O sauce, which doesn’t sound like a compliment, but coming from me, it is. I would order everything we tried again.

Abby recommended an Italian white wine for me (’20 Perticaia Trebbiano Spoletino Umbria, $13), and it was when I took a sip, I knew she was the best server in Calgary. I hope she stays at Bar Chouette long because I got Bar Vonderfels’ feelings. What a lovely wine! I could quaff this all night long, and at thirteen bucks a glass, I could!
At the end of the night, Duncan popped into the restaurant and came over to say hello. I told him his chefs nailed the food, and everything tasted like he cooked it. I joked to him that he only needs a hologram of him moving around the kitchen because his chefs have his back, and no one would be the wiser.
Another chef told me Duncan is a fantastic mentor and taught him much. I can tell this is still true. Before, when he wasn’t in the kitchen at Foreign Concept, I could always count on a stellar meal. This still holds at Bar Chouette. For me, the most important thing in a restaurant is consistency, and the only places in Calgary I’ve found are Sukiyaki House, Klein and Harris, Cassis, and before Bar Chouette, Foreign Concept. There are more restaurants, I’m sure, but I tend to stick to what I know. Hitting the Sauce gives Bar Chouette two phat thumbs up, making it on my list of favourite restaurants in Calgary.

17th Ave · Japanese · Restaurants

Lonely Mouth #Round Two

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I didn’t want to cook on Sunday, so I informed L that his old broad was taking him out for dinner. I felt like Japanese, but Sukiyaki House is closed on Sunday. Where else could we go? I remembered seeing Miss Foodie post about a memorable meal at Lonely Mouth, so I booked a last-minute reservation. For this post, let’s listen to “Signs” by Snoop Dog.

We arrived and were ushered into a cozy corner nook on the patio. We received hot towels to freshen up our hands and heard a rundown on the two-course meal featuring Alberta ingredients. For food, I selected the Bluefin Tuna Tartare ($19), Chicken Wings with Yuzu Ranch ($18), Sashimi Platter ($28), Brant Lake Wagyu Beef Tataki and Table Corn Udon ($35).

L saw Toki ($16) highball on the menu and noted it had Suntory Toki whiskey. I read the drink also contained super-carbonated soda and lemon twist and immediately followed suit. Delish! The bubbles were tiny, and the combination of the lemon and whiskey was refreshing. I would get this again.

First up was the beef tataki. I scooped up a thin, tender slice of wagyu beef, acidic and dripping in azuki and marrow vinaigrette, and ate it in one bite with the shredded crunchy potatoes and fuji apple.

I loved the snappy udon crackers, salty with an umami that reminded me of freshly fried shrimp chips. The bluefin tuna was clean tasting and salty, making it the ultimate bar food when paired with a strongly made cocktail.

In the past I was impressed with the sashimi platter, but this time around I thought the fish was just alright. The tuna was fishy and I found the other pieces of seafood a little too warm for my preference. I wouldn’t get this again. However, the pacing of each dish was perfect. We had enough time in between courses to relish in the memory of what we just ate. Their HR manager is doing a great job. The service was excellent, from the hostess to the various servers interacting with us throughout the night.

I was pleasantly surprised with the fried chicken. I only ordered this dish because I previously saw Miss Foodie rave about the wings. While it’s not an easy subject to photograph, the dish’s beauty is how it tastes. The ultra-light batter was crispy and foamy, melting in your mouth. The yuzu dipping sauce was deadly, thick, fragrant and creamy, adding another dimension of bright flavour. The meat itself was plump and white, completely unblemished.

This was my first time trying Lonely Mouth’s homemade udon and honestly, I don’t remember the noodles. All I can remember is the hot and crispy Taber corn tempura. The corn was creamy and barely cooked, so all you could taste was the sweet milkiness of the kernels. Just stunning.

L and I left impressed with the quality of the dishes and the level of service. Lonely Mouth knocked it out of the park. Hitting the Sauce gives this 17th Ave gem two phat thumbs up.

Bars/Lounges · Fusion · Patio · Restaurants

Bar Chouette

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On Thursday, I had plans to meet 47, Lululemon and Kournikova at Bar Chouette. I’ve been dying to check out this new restaurant because Duncan Ly owns it, and if you live in Calgary, you know he’s one of the city’s GOATs. For this post, let’s listen to “How Will I Know” by Whitney Houston.

The restaurant space is sleek and modern, with a spacious patio. Lululemon couldn’t get away from work, so it was just the three of us. Forty-seven ordered the Violette Haze ($15), and I ordered a bottle of Milan Nesterac Forks and Knives ($90) to share with the table. I think Kournikova ordered the Spice & Citrus ($18), but I’m unsure as I lost the receipt.

I tried a sip of the Violette Haze, and it was so tasty I will order it the next time I visit. Forty-seven had to go after one drink, so Kournikova and I stayed for dinner. We mulled over the menu and decided on the Smoked Trout Paté ($16), Cured Scallops ($21), Grilled Char Siu Squid ($20) and the Grilled Maitake ($18). Kournikova also ordered us another glass of white wine.

The smoked trout came with vinegary nori chips. I liked the addition of the fresh dill and the crunch from sour pickles. The presentation was just gorgeous. Kournikova took the pictures below, because I was struggling more than usual.

The cured scallops came with ramp vinegar gel, cucumber and buttermilk. This was a delightful bite to begin our meal. The scallops were cool and silky with no fishy aftertaste.

The grilled squid was meticulously stacked, so stunningly plated it deserves two photos. The squid was perfectly cooked, reminding me of James Waters from Klein and Harris, another chef who nails seafood in Calgary.

Kournikova detected five spices in the marinade, which reminded her of Chinese-style duck. The squid was cooked perfectly, buttery smooth and sweet from the mango chutney. While the squid was the best-looking dish, the mushrooms were the best-tasting.

Our favourite dish was the grilled maitake with marmite butter. Kournikova enjoyed the smoky flavour and the umami. I loved the sweet and sour element of the crunchy onions and the texture of the mushrooms.

The world’s a better place with Duncan Ly’s restaurant, and I’m happy to frequent this charming spot in the Beltline. Thanks, Kournikova, for treating me out to try Duncan’s new restaurant.