17th Ave · Japanese · Restaurants

Lonely Mouth: Japanese on 17th Ave

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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: Date night in the Beltline district

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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.

Restaurants

Calgary Foodie Institutions: Delicious Jems Market and Italian Centre

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Update — August 2026

DJ Market, now operating as Delicious Jems Market, has moved and expanded to two locations. Its indoor market is at Unit 139, 11501 Buffalo Run Boulevard SW, next to Gold’s Gym on Tsuut’ina Nation. A second location is now open at 462 42 Avenue SE, next to the Hitch Shop.

The Italian Centre Market has also opened a second Calgary location at Northland Village Mall, 5111 Northland Drive NW, Suite 2150.

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 fresh fruit and vegetables are serious business. She swears DJ Market not only has the largest selection of local and BC produce, but some of the best prices too.

I was in awe the moment I walked in. Two fridges were packed with fancy mushrooms, Hutterite chicken and eggs, and sausages, while nearby stands overflowed with fresh BC fruit. On the day we visited, I picked up the sweetest carrots ($3.99), English peas ($7.99), Hutterite chicken thighs ($8) and a flat of eggs ($9). Lululemon loaded up on mini cucumbers and beans for pickling, dill, 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 cheese and olives. I stood off to the side, out of the way of other customers, while Lululemon wandered over to the pasta aisle.

Then I saw a man look directly at me and stride over. I immediately freaked out, convinced he was coming to yell at me. I scurried toward the counter, closer to the other customers. He pivoted, followed 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 paradise. Where else do people walk around offering you delicious treats?

When it was our turn at the deli, we sampled various cheeses, and I bought the Appenzeller Swiss Medium ($13.31), Ubriaco Rosso Piave ($12.45) and Full Monty Olives ($8.95). I’m a faithful, diehard Peasant Cheese fan, but I have to give it to the Italian Centre. The employees know their stuff, the selection is massive, 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 brought back. The eggs and fresh chicken were the best I’ve bought in Calgary. I loved the produce so much that I dragged L back to DJ Market two weeks later.

The employees greeted me as I walked around, and the owner even 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. She said it meant a lot because some rude customers had just yelled at her about the prices and declared they were never coming back. She explained how hard they work to keep prices down, but there’s only so much they can do about the rising cost of produce.

I told her no one in Calgary sells produce fresher or cheaper than DJ Market, so good riddance to them.

Thanks, Lululemon, for showing me the light. I’m now the Italian Centre and DJ Market’s number one fan! I can’t wait for our next food adventure.

Boston · Seafood

Boston review: Lobster rolls at James Hook

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I didn’t want a lobster roll from just anywhere, so I waited for the opportunity to go somewhere known specifically for their crustaceans. We packed our bags, and before leaving for the airport, we dropped by James Hook. For this post, let’s listen to “Should I Stay or Should I Go” by The Clash.

We arrived half an hour after James Hook opened, so it was still quiet. I told L to grab a table in the shade while I walked up to the food truck to order two large Lobster Rolls w/butter ($38.99), Sauvignon Blanc ($12) and a James Hook Summer Wheat Ale ($9).

I sipped on my wine and watched an older man sit quietly in the corner, carefully dissecting an entire lobster. His face was stern, and he never looked up, laser-focused on extracting all the meat from the shells. I saw an Asian dude around my age eating a small lobster roll and clam chowder. His back was turned to me so that I couldn’t read his expression. A couple of friends ordered several items and had to keep going to the food truck for napkins and hand sanitizer. After I was done spying and satisfied that we had hit the jackpot of tourist attractions, our food was ready.

Unlike all the other customers who had to wait at the truck, the employee brought out our food. I think this was because I tipped, and no one was waiting in line when our food was ready. I handed L his lobster roll and could tell it was heavier than mine. I complained bitterly, and without a moment’s hesitation, he switched our rolls. I felt myself swooning from his chivalry. We both took a second to admire our lobster rolls, piled so high that we had to cradle the toasted roll in the cardboard and foil when we ate. Otherwise, the meat would tumble off.

I couldn’t believe how much lobster tail and claws were in my sandwich. I poured the hot butter over the top of the bun, but there was so much that I ended up dipping the chunks of meat as the butter couldn’t make its way down to the bottom. The lobster was warm, light and clean. The red and white meat was succulent and tender, with a pleasant toothsome crunch to it. L and I have never eaten so much seafood in one sitting. I liked how all you could taste was the natural sweetness of the juicy lobster rather than seasoning or condiments.

The Canadian dollar is weak, so the two rolls and drinks cost me about $140 after the conversion. However, it was well worth it since we live in the prairies. It was an experience we couldn’t get elsewhere. Hitting the Sauce gives James Hook two phat claws up.

Boston · Restaurants

Boston review: Is Oleana worth the wait?

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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.