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 in Calgary’s Richmond neighourhood. 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 from their Highland Park shop. If you’re looking for where to eat in Calgary without spending much, this is one I’ll keep coming back to. I can’t stop taco’bout how much I love them!
I met up with Lovegastrogirl at Letty Pizza, a new restaurant in Calgary’s Beltline district. 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!
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!
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.
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!
