The Exchange: Eau Claire Athletic Club in Calgary

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On Saturday, Québécoise, Sirski, Deal and No Deal met us for dinner at the Exchange in Eau Claire. This dinner was particularly epic because we got to meet one of the chefs at the Exchange, Carla. Let’s listen to “Work It”.

Chef Carla stopped by our table to let us know one of the dishes we ordered wasn’t available. I was excited to meet her, as some of our favourite dishes have been her creations. She was humble and warm, speaking passionately about her food philosophy and love of food. I learned she moved from Peru to Calgary a few years ago and previously worked at Shokunin and Eight, which is owned by Chef Darren MacLean. It’s always impressive to meet a chef who has worked at MacLean’s restaurants, as I imagine the expectations there are not exactly laxydaisy. I’ve never eaten at Eight, but to get a sense of the experience, read food writer Elizabeth Chorney-Booth’s article.

If Québécoise hadn’t been with us, I would have happily asked our server, Liam, to choose the wine as he has great taste. I tend to order based on what I recognize, which isn’t always the smartest strategy when my wine knowledge is limited. Québécoise, on the other hand, approaches a list strategically, by region, vintage, style, and price. She buys enough wine to know retail pricing versus restaurant markup, which is a skill in itself. She spotted the Chablis Servin Les Pargues ($75) and immediately said it was a steal by restaurant standards.

The Chablis isn’t the buttery, oaky style often associated with California chardonnay. It’s clean, crisp, and bright, with a refreshing citrus note. Chew Steel was a big fan. Speaking of value, I forgot to tell Québécoise that our friends took us out to dinner at the Argyle Restaurant. The Glencoe Club recently started offering 750 mL wine bottles at retail price plus $20. That’s practically philanthropic for a club with a membership waitlist that feels more than generational.

Whenever there’s a feature with Peruvian influences at the Exchange, we get it because the flavours are incredible. I still remember the lomo saltado with buttered rice ($50), the Peruvian pork sandwich ($24), and, most recently, the halibut with squid-ink risotto ($27). I asked our server, Liam, if the halibut was better than my usual order of Chicken Tenders ($15). Fighting a laugh, he confidently announced the risotto’s deep, umami flavour was off the charts.

The risotto was silky and buttery, coated in a squid-ink sauce that tasted earthy and savoury. The halibut was meaty and juicy. I loved flaking the firm fish into the risotto and dragging each bite through the sauce. The halibut’s clean, wholesome flavour balanced the dish’s rich creaminess. Chew Steel especially liked the bright pop from the cilantro drizzle dotting the plate.

Side note. Liam is friends with Francine’s chef-owner Garrett Martin, and sous chef Jordan Anderson. We bonded over similar dining experiences eating the French toast, steak frites, and trout crêpes at Francine’s. He said the amount of thought that went into both the food and the drinks there is kind of wild.

With Deal and No Deal dining with us, both with a shared sweet tooth, dessert was non-negotiable. I’ve sampled three desserts at Exchange so far, and the Carrot Cake ($11) stands out. Gently spiced and moist, it’s elevated by a tangy yogurt-cream cheese spread, generously garnished pistachios and candied Beck Farm carrots for texture and sweetness. I’d order it again, which says a lot, as I’m not usually a dessert person.

Chef talent, off-the-charts savoury depth, smart wine picks, and carrot cake worth breaking the scale over? Yes, the Exchange worked it again. Thank you, Chef Carla, for a great meal.

Want more like this? Check out my running list of Calgary’s best restaurants, date nights, and cheap eats.

Francine’s Calgary: Canada’s 100 Best Recommends 2026

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August 2026 update: Francine’s was selected for the inaugural Canada’s 100 Best Recommends list, an unranked collection of exceptional casual restaurants chosen by the publication’s judges.

For my birthday, Chew Steel and I checked out Francine’s, a new French restaurant that opened up in Calgary’s Chinatown district. I’ve eaten at Francine’s before at a pop-up and a special event dinner, so I knew we were in for a treat. Let’s listen to Paradise by Sade for this post.

I made reservations at the last minute, so I was only able to secure bar seats at 5:15 p.m. As it was so early in the evening, we weren’t super hungry and just ordered two mains, the Steak Frites ($49.95) and the Smoky Trout and Crepes ($42.95). I wanted to try the trout dish because I read an Instagram post by the chef/owner, Garrett Martin, about his creative process for creating some of the dishes.

We started with a cocktail, a Francine’s martini ($17) for me and a Crepe Suzette Old-Fashioned ($16) for Chew Steel. The ice-cold gin-forward martini was aromatic and herby, marked with a distinct note of fennel. As we sipped, I noticed how quickly the room filled on a Tuesday evening. An older Asian couple sat beside us. It was cute to watch him, intently absorbed watching a YouTube video on his phone while his partner quietly ate, content in her own private little world.

The steak frites were among the best I’ve ever had. I don’t want to be dramatic, but the steak here is a must-eat-before-you-die type of experience. The bavette butcher’s steak was beautifully textured, sliced thin yet generously wide, with a charred, rugged exterior and a ruby-red interior that offered a juicy chew. The peppercorn glaze was rich and smooth, with a peppery bite that cut through the steak.

The fries were ridiculously delicious, golden and light, with an ultra-crunchy shell giving way to a whipped potatoey centre. Jordan, our bartender, nailed the wine pairings. For the steak, he paired it with a glass of Cabernet Franc (Domaine La Paleine, $10, 3oz).

The trout was soft and smoky, with a flavour profile reminiscent of salmon. We tore off a piece of crepe and wrapped it around a piece of trout, two types of pickled onion, cucumber, bright green spinach and chives. Each bite was decadent, drippy and messy.

The trout reminded me of Neptune’s famous johnny cakes, but the flavours were more refined. There wasn’t anything fishy or overly sweet. The combination of what I thought were unusual ingredients blew me away. The flavours were rounded and worked so well together that it made me think of head chef Koji Kobayashi’s fine-dining creations at Sukiyaki House. Jordan selected a bright white wine (Juste Le Blanc, Jurancon Sec $8.50, 3 oz) that cut through the smokiness and the decadent white sauce.

The mains are a generous portion, but I still wanted dessert. We shared the French Toast ($12.95) with honey-caramel, honey ice cream, and 15-month Comte cheese, paired with a glass of sherry (Moscatel Peromesa Jerez Valdespino, $13).

The dessert is worthy of Michelin recognition. The thick-cut bread was warm and eggy, layered with sweet, cold ice cream and topped with salty flakes of cheese. This dish, as well as the two before, had us licking our lips and scraping the plate for every last drop of caramel.

How good was the food? So damn fine, I sent Lovegastro, Quebecoise, Betty, Kournikova, Juliejuliehu and Divine Offering text messages raving about Francine’s and making future plans to revisit.

How indulgent was the food? I had a chemo follow-up appointment the very next day and had gained two pounds. I’m not sure whether that jump was due to fluid and inflammation or to the peppercorn glaze, but I choose to believe it was the sauce doing the heavy lifting.

Francine’s is one of the best restaurants in Calgary right now, and I’m looking forward to my next visit. Go, you won’t regret it!

Restaurants · Special Occasion

True Wild Distilling: Avenue Calgary’s Best Cocktail Bar 2026

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August 2026 update: Avenue Calgary’s judges named True Wild Distilling one of the city’s six Best New Restaurants for 2026.

On Friday night, the good neighbours reunited! We picked True Wild Distillery for dinner. Kournikova and Betty stopped by my place first, where we popped open a bottle of champagne Kournikova had brought along. With Québécoise absent due to prior plans, we toasted and indulged a little extra, with only three flutes filled. Let’s cue up The Fate of Ophelia for this post.

The white building seems somewhat out of place in the midst of an industrial area. When Chew Steel first brought me here for a surprise date, I joked that I hoped he wasn’t planning to murder me. Inside and out, it’s an impressive space, with high ceilings and a whimsical staircase spiralling upstairs. We were seated right next to the kitchen, arguably the best table in the house, with a sweeping view of the entire restaurant.

Betty ordered the Paper Lantern cocktail ($18), while I followed Kournikova’s lead with a dry, dirty gin martini, stirred. Its flavour was floral and perfectly balanced, and the single olive was so delicious that I found myself wishing I’d asked for more, but our server had a stern vibe, so I held back.

I’d been to True Wild before, so I recommended the beef tartare, fries, and any of the cocktails. We shared the Beef Tartare ($28), Fennel Salad ($24), Pickled Vegetables ($11), Roasted and Glazed Pork Belly ($48), and the Grilled Steelhead Trout ($46). When we asked our server if our order would be sufficient, she recommended another side, so we added the Kennebec Fries ($10). To complement the meal, we also ordered a bottle of Lionel Osmin & Cie Villa Plage Blanche ($70).

The beef tartare had changed since my last visit. Previously, it arrived beneath a nest of matchstick potatoes. This time it came with a potato chips. The meat itself was milder tasting than I remembered, served at a slightly warmer temperature with sweet and tart notes. We like to think of Betty as a bit of a beef tartare devotee, and her current favourite is at Pat and Betty’s, while Kournikova’s favourite spot is FinePrint.

The fennel salad was a standout. Crisp slices of fennel that tasted freshly picked and were dressed in a lovely walnut vinaigrette. It was so simple and refreshing. We would order the salad again.

The pickled vegetables were also a winner. Nice tang, crunch, and the vinegar balance was subtle and perfect. Kournikova pickles her own veggies, and even she agreed they were good. Betty noted the varied selection, cabbage, carrots, and beans, all served with an aioli.

The roasted and glazed pork belly was everyone’s favourite. Betty noted it was buttery with so much flavour, while Kournikova praised the crispy skin, noting that people often get it wrong. Here, the chefs had it perfectly rendered, fat and all. The sugar pumpkin was served roasted, dry and soft, which provided an appreciated contrast to the richness of the meats.

The grilled steelhead was also expertly cooked. The flesh was tender, rich, and soft. However, I was so full I couldn’t finish my portion, and it hurt my soul to leave food on my plate that tasted so good.

We munched away on the fries, which were just as good as last time. We definitely over-ordered. For three women, sharing two mains and a salad is more than enough, as the main courses are generously sized, particularly the pork dish.

I’m looking forward to our next dinner. Bar Gigi, Carino, or maybe The Exchange in Eau Claire. To be continued.

For more standout meals, see my guide to the best date night restaurants in Calgary.

17th Ave · French · Restaurants · Seafood

Cassis Bistro Calgary: Avenue’s 2026 French Restaurant Runner-Up

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August 2026 update: Avenue Calgary named Cassis Bistro a runner-up in its 2026 Best French Restaurants readers’ choice category.

One of Beep Beep’s favourite spots in Calgary is Cassis Bistro. I’ve yet to meet anyone who isn’t smitten with this place. My own siblings were also instant fans. Let’s listen to Jardin d’Hiverv for this post.

This one’s a short post because we skipped appetizers and dessert. Beep Beep’s a light eater, and my own appetite’s still finding its way back post-surgery. But these mussels at Cassis deserve a special shoutout because they were so damn good.

I notice on the menu that Cassis now brings in mussels ($34) from Salt Spring Island. Best decision ever. Some of the mussels were so fat that they were the size of a large oyster. Every mussel was steamed perfectly, silky and tender, with an almost custardy center that melts on the tongue, right down to the very last shell. And then there’s that taste, fragrant of the sea and delicately sweet. The wine our server picked, Pouilly-Fume ($18) went so well with the mussels.

I noticed the duck fat fried frites are different now. Each one is longer and not as brittle as before, resulting in elegant, crispy stems with a still-soft center. When I dipped each frite into the rich, garlicky aioli, I nearly wept with joy. I held back my tears from a fraying thread of self-dignity.

We also shared an order of Beef Tartare au Couteau ($32), with more of those golden frites and a salad. According to my French friend, Fougui, no one does it better than Cassis. I love the pomp and ceremony of cracking that bright orange organic egg farm yolk and stirring the creaminess into the tartare.

The cool pieces of beef pop with the flavour of briny capers and mustard. The portion of beef tartare is generous. Our server selected a glass of Cotes Du Rhones ($14) that Beep Beep mentioned paired well with bright flavours in the tartare.

When we left the patio, I bumped into the owner, who, fun fact, happens to live a few blocks away from me. I told him the mussels were so good I would be back in a week. What I really wanted to say to him was never, ever retire. Calgary needs Cassis like a moule needs its frites.

Bars/Lounges · Restaurants · Seafood

The Exchange: Meeting Chef Carla Davila Carlin

September 16, 2025April 25, 2026 Hitting the SauceLeave a comment

Beep Beep came to visit me! To celebrate, we booked a massage at Vital Performance Care, and then we dropped by for dinner at The Exchange in Eau Claire with Chew Steel. Let’s listen to ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger’ for this post.

We kicked things off with The First Bloom Gin & T ($15) — a fragrant goblet of organic gin, grapefruit tonic, ice, and rose petals. Chew Steel opted for the smoked old-fashioned, which was as smooth and well-crafted as it looked. But it was Liam, our server, who truly impressed with his wine recommendation: a bottle of Joseph Jewell Pinot Noir ($105) from the Russian River Valley. I don’t usually go for Pinots, but this one won me over — vibrant and full of flavour, like ripe strawberries steeped in warm tea.

Chew Steel’s Peruvian Pork Sandwich ($24) was sumptuous. When I took a bite, the richness of the crisp pork belly, enveloped in a warm, crusty bun, packed a flavourful bite. And that carrot soup hit the spot. Thick and hot, each sip was perfectly seasoned and so soul-satisfying. You could taste the love in the sandwich and soup! I would order this again.

I’ve ordered the Roasted Pork Copa ($33) twice now because it’s that good. The sweetly glazed pork is melt-in-your-mouth tender, even better when dipped into the tart cherry sauce. The stewed farro is silky with just the right bit of chew, and the generous portion could easily satisfy two. Beep Beep declared her wine paired nicely with the pork.

I enjoyed the Highwood Crossing Organic Grain Bowl ($22). The yuzu vinaigrette was bright and complemented the emerald green avocado, pea shoots, grilled chicken, and grains. All the ingredients tasted fresh.

I’ve also tried the Poached Icelandic Cod ($31), a customer favourite, and the portion is impressively generous. The sauce leans a bit too sweet and milky for my taste, but the Spiced Humbolt Squid ($18) more than makes up for it — thick-cut, tender, and coated in a crisp gluten-free cornmeal crumb. Personally, I’d love it even more in a light tempura batter, but then again, I’ve been living on McNuggets and Oreo McFlurries lately, so I know my palate might not be the gold standard.

We plan to take G-Mah, Bobbino, and my mother, Boss Lady, in the next month. I have my eye on some other dishes. Our Italian friend Fit told us the garlic and olive oil tagliatelle is stellar, which says a lot, knowing her food preferences. I’m also keen to try the burger and ribeye steak, both of which were recommended by other servers. In any case, Hitting the Sauce gives The Exchange two phat thumbs up.