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.
Lululemon and her fiancé Books took me along on a Saturday shopping trip, as she’s been wanting me to check out DJ’s Market. When they picked me up, Lululemon had an iced Starbucks coffee for me to enjoy, which psyched me even more for this trip. Let’s listen to “August” by Taylor Swift for this post.
Lululemon is a vegetarian, so getting the freshest vegetables and fruits is important. She swears that not only does DJ Market have the largest selection of local and BC produce, but it is also cheap.
I was in awe when I walked in. There are two fridges full of fancy mushrooms, Hutterite chicken and eggs, sausages, and stands of fresh BC fruit. On the day we visited, I grabbed the sweetest bags of carrots ($3.99), English peas ($7.99), Hutterite chicken thighs ($8) and a flat of eggs ($9). Lululemon picked up mini cucumbers and beans for pickling, dill, a box of blueberries and bags of fruit.
Lululemon and I continued our journey to the Italian Centre. I followed her around the store and copied whatever she did. We waited in line for the cheese and olives. I stood by the aisle to wait for my turn, out of the way of other customers, while Lululemon went to the pasta aisle. I saw a man look directly at me and strode over to me. I immediately freaked out, thinking he was coming my way to yell at me. I ran over to the counter, closer to other customers. He pivoted, approached me, and disarmed me with one sentence: “Do you like olives?” I responded in the affirmative and tried his olive sample. Oh my gosh – this place truly is a paradise. Where else do you have people offering such delicious treats?
When it was our turn at the deli, we sampled various kinds of cheese, and I bought Appenzeller Swiss Medium ($13.31), Ubriaco Rosso Piave ($12.45) and Full Monty Olives ($8.95). I’m a faithful and diehard Peasant Cheese fan, but the employees at the Italian Centre know their stuff, have the hugest selection, and the prices are unbeatable.
I also bought a frozen meat lasagna ($50), packages of my new favourite dried pasta, Risa ($2.19) and an Arracini ($8.50) to go. The arancini was crunchy and soft and mealy on the inside. The tomato sauce was bright and thick, with a vibrant zing.
The next day, my in-laws and L raved about the cheeses and olives I bought back. The eggs and fresh chicken are the best I’ve bought in Calgary. I loved the produce so much that I dragged L to DJ’s Market two weeks later. The employees came around and greeted me, while the female owner recognized me and welcomed me back. When I told her she had the best produce and prices in town, she took a deep breath and thanked me, saying it meant a lot because she had just had some rude customers yell at her that the prices were too high and as a result, they were never coming back. She said they work so hard to keep the prices down, but she can’t prevent the rising cost of produce. I responded that no place sells produce fresher or cheaper than DJ Market, so good riddance to them.
Thanks, Lululemon, for opening my eyes to see the light. I’m now the Italian Centre and DJ Market’s number 1 fan! Looking forward to the next food adventure with you.
On our second last day, we checked out the Institute of Contemporary Art. L scoped out the area and suggested Row 34 for lunch. Before I left for this trip, my colleague Happy recommended Row 34, so I was up for it. I also knew there was a variety of craft beers for L to choose from.
The restaurant has high ceilings and a lofty warehouse vibe I noticed all the servers were on top of their game, professional and always posed to elevate customers’ experience. The weather on this particular day was awful, so we sat in a corner, watching the sheets of rain pour down through the window.
We weren’t too hungry and wanted something light to tie us over until dinner. I knew mussels weren’t in season, but I still ordered the Lager Steamed Mussels ($18). L wanted New England Clam Chowder ($13). Our server picked a crisp white wine (Domaine de la Ferrandière, $14) to go with my mussels, and L ordered Rally ($10), a session IPA.
My mussels were small and ordinary. The sourdough bread was too hard to eat, but I enjoyed L’s cornbread, which arrived in a big cast-iron pan. Oh boy, the bread was light and sweet, fluffy and soaked in sweet maple butter. The portion was so large that L could only eat half, so I gobbled up the remainder. L thought the clam chowder was even better than Bostonia Public House.
After the rain subsided, we walked to the Institute of Contemporary Art. When L got our tickets, the employee mentioned our admission was five dollars less because two exhibitions were closed. We took the elevator to the fourth floor and spent half an hour analyzing Simone Leigh’s sculptures. I was impressed with sheer enormity and the deep impression each piece imprinted on me. Once we were done, L said that was it and it was time to go. Unconvinced, I went back downstairs and double-checked it was just the Simone Leigh exhibition. The employee nodded and mentioned that’s why they gave us a discount, and typically, there is a watershed tour, but due to the rain, it was cancelled. The employee next to her snickered and looked delighted in my disappointment. L and I checked out some more museums and historical sites before our last dinner in Boston.
David, the friendly regular, recommended Oleana, as did my restaurant informer, Bottleneek. I couldn’t get reservations beforehand, so we went right when it opened and caught a table outside. Let’s listen to “Aman Avcı Vurma Beni” by Kemal Tanriverdi for this post.
We sat on the colourful outdoor patio amid leafy plants and a spouting water fountain. Two musicians played their instruments all evening, gently plucking away on their strings. Our young server provided us with an overview of the menu and, when asked, gave us his recommendations. I ordered a glass of white wine (Malagousia Blend, Theopetra Estate, Meteora, Thessaly, Greece, $17) while L selected a local beer (Lamplighter Brewing Co, Cambridge, MA, $14).
The Za’atar Bread ($11) was a ten out of ten. The bread is miraculous. Soft, light and spongy, the bread was salty from the Moroccan spices and walnut muhammara and fresh from the ribbons of cucumber and mint. I would get this again.
The Fatteh ($15) reminded me of a savoury dessert. I relished the fatty crunch of the pastry sheet and the soft curried cauliflower. The caramelized onions, pine nuts and yogurt made this dish just zing with intensity. The fatteh is another winner.
I read several reviews raving about the Spinach Falafel ($15), so I had to order it. We were instructed to roll each falafel with the flatbread and greens. I didn’t follow our server’s instructions, and instead, I broke apart the crunchy falafel into pieces, mixing the tahini, sour pickles, pine nuts and tzatziki. The spinach leaves were thick and wild looking.
Each dish came out leisurely, so we could take our time and savoured each dish. I ordered a non-alcoholic drink, the Rose Lemonade ($7), because the first glass of wine was enough for me in the heat. Our server noticed my lemonade was missing the rose petals, so he returned to the kitchen to remake another one. It’s this level of detail and attention from a server that elevates a great experience into a memorable one.
I was most curious about the Lamb & Eggplant Moussaka ($17). The lamb was rich and saucy, with a touch of sweetness. The mint and beet chips added a complimentary brightness to the mellow, soft flavours of the potato and eggplant. I would have preferred if the eggplant was not as chewy, but that’s my preference.
Our server highly recommended the Sultan’s Delight ($18), a dish he eats on every shift. I barely had to chew because the braised beef was so tender. I loved flaking the layers of beef off and swirling it in the puree. Eating the meat and eggplant puree in one bite was rich, sweet and smoky. The crowning glory was the single basil leaf that left an intense floral taste. We both agreed this was the winning dish of the night.
The chefs behind the food hit the nail with presentation and most importantly, the texture and flavour combinations. L noted all the ingredient went exceptionally well together. Paired with excellent service and serene back drop, this restaurant is a winner in my books. I can see why this restaurant is booked well in advance. L announced this was the best meal we had in Boston. Hitting the Sauce gives Oleana two fat thumbs up.
On Sunday, L was gone for the entire day. I originally planned to visit Martha’s Vineyard but didn’t want to be stuck on a tour bus for hours, so instead, I opted to check out the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts. Before L left, he asked me to please be aware of my surroundings. I told him honestly that I couldn’t promise him that, but not to worry as I planned to Uber everywhere. Let’s listen to “West End Girls” by the Pet Shop Boys.
The Gardner Museum was something special. I walked through the entrance garden through rooms filled with international treasures. I didn’t feel like I was in a museum but a very wealthy woman’s house. I preferred how there were no descriptions in the Gardner Museum, as I realized reading takes away from the visual experience. I spent about two hours wandering through the halls and floors because every time there were loud children, I would run out to enjoy the serenity in the quieter rooms, then return when I was alone again.
At around 2:30 p.m., I decided to check out Neptune Oyster. The wait was only half an hour, as there’s a sweet spot after lunch and before dinner when it’s less busy. The hostess was welcoming and told me I was lucky to sit at the bar as a friendly regular, and two employees were seated to my left. To my right were two women who looked annoyed to be next to me, even though they wanted to sit at the bar.
I asked my server to recommend a white wine to pair with oysters, and she suggested the Muscat ($13). I ordered four medium-sized oysters, a Littleneck and a Cherrystone clam. I looked around to figure out what to order next, but I arrived at a lull and could only see plates of oysters and lobster rolls.
The friendly regular and the two employees were drinking glasses of rose. I could tell by watching them that the wine tasted better than mine. Their carefree smiles glowed as they gulped down the pink liquid. The server would continuously fill up their glasses from what appeared to be a bottomless bottle. For my next glass, I asked to drink what they were drinking, and it was a far superior wine ($14).
I asked the friendly regular next to me what he recommended. David paused dramatically and then went into a full-on gourmet speech, just like David Chang and Anthony Bourdain in the Netflix food documentaries. It may be an American thing, but they are much more passionate when speaking.
I asked David’s opinion on Neptune’s lobster rolls, and he said a lobster roll is a lobster roll; it’s simply lobster and bread. He and his son can make a fantastic one at home, so when he comes to Neptune’s, he’s looking for something different. I quizzed him about the fried clams, and he said the fried clams are great, but he can get excellent fried clams right in his neighbourhood. Exasperated, I explained that I was only around for a few days and couldn’t make lobster rolls at home, and there wasn’t a famous clam place where I lived. He pondered a little and offered me a sample of his soft-shell crab ($24), which I found delicate.
The oysters ($2.90-$3.50) were pristine and immaculately shucked. However, it was the clams that blew me away. The Littleneck was sweet and tender, while the Cherrystone was salty with a bouncy chew, with a texture between a squid and scallop.
I told David that the clams were far superior than I could get in Vancouver. He quoted Barack Obama’s speech on how Boston is one of America’s iconic and world’s finest cities. Americans are patriotic. I’ve never referenced our prime ministers except to mention Trudeau wears excellently tailored suits. Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh, that’s the sound his jacket and pants make as he walks by.
I showed David my list of to-go places, and he told me not to bother with Toro. He’s never heard of Yankee Lobster; James Hook is good, but again, not as good as he can make it (with browned butter), and Oleana in Cambridge is worth the trek. He recommended Peach Farm and has tried the king crab.
I chose the Fried Clams ($28), and oh my goodness, the chef must be the god of the sea, Neptune himself, because never have I ever eaten such perfectly cooked clams. The clams were giant, like a cluster of oysters stuck together like enoki tempura. Sublimely cooked, the center of the clam was still milky and eggy. The other parts of the clam were pleasantly chewy. The flavour of the meat was sweet and briny, with a crispy exterior protecting the fat, creamy belly meat. I would get this again.
I also tried a bite of David’s lobster burrata ($43). This dish reminded me of the creations I tried at Le Pappilion in Montreal. The herby fragrance from the basil popped against the subtle flavour of the burrata and sweet lobster meat. The portion was large enough for two. I would get this again as well.
When I told the two employees beside David I was returning the next day, they suggested the crudo and Johnny Cakes. I pondered out loud if I should return to Neptune for every meal in my remaining time. David shook his head and strongly recommended going to Oleana and sitting on the patio. It turns out he was right. What an introduction to the high quality shellfish in Boston. Unbelievable! And to be continued.
L had a conference in Boston last week. I came along as flights were cheap, and I’ve always wanted to check out the east coast. We landed late in the evening, dropped our luggage into our hotel, and Ubered out for a bite. The only place I could find a reservation was the Bostonia Public House. For this post, let’s listen to “More Than a Feeling” by Boston.
The pub is a popular spot with families. Even at 8:00 p.m., groups were waiting for a table. One baby was wailing across the room, but it didn’t bother us. The Bostonia Public House is not a place you come to for a hot date; you come here if you have kids but still want a tasty meal.
L ordered a beer, and I opted for a spicy Bloody Mary ($11), different from my beloved Canadian drink, the Caesar. The tomato mixture was slightly bitter and cloudy with what I assumed was pulp.
We ordered a dozen of the Island Creek Oysters ($36). Our oysters came first, and I noticed each one was mangled. The oyster flesh was jagged and at room temperature. Our server came over just as I ate one and asked how the oysters tasted. I pulled out the oyster from my mouth because I felt something stringy, which turned out to be dark hair. I was shocked and disgusted, then realized it was possibly my hair, as I recognized a tint in the colour. I told our server not to worry and tossed the offensive item to the ground.
Before we left for Boston, everyone told us to try the clam chowder. The BPH Clam Chowder ($13.00) was worth every calorie. Each super thick spoonful contained chunks of meaty clams. We enjoyed the smoky, salty flavour from the bacon and creamy pieces of potatoes. L proclaimed this the best soup he’s ever eaten. I would order this again.
We shared the Lobster Mac & Cheese ($38.00), which was big enough for four people to share as a small side. The noodles were so hot that I burned the roof of my mouth. The tubes were soft and covered in a light cream sauce and thyme. The best part of the dish was the crunchy cheese top layer and the generous chunks of lobster meat.
When our bill came, our server took our oysters off the bill. L said it was completely unnecessary, and I felt guilty because I still wasn’t sure if the hair was mine. However, the server said not to worry, so we added an extra tip to the gratuity.
We ended the night walking around the harbour and downtown core. L had a big day on Sunday, so we wanted to take it easy and leave the shenanigans for later in the week.
Hitting the Sauce 