Mexican

Masa Mama

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Since my last post in 2024, I’ve had some pretty fantastic meals— Juice Import’s event at Our Daily Brett, girl’s night at Bridgette Bar, and most recently, Paper Lantern x Francine’s collab. But despite eating all that delicious food, I lost my mojo. However, I can feel it start to trickle back. Let’s listen to “Beautiful Stranger” by Madonna for this post.

Last Wednesday, Chew Steel suggested we go out for dinner. We landed on Masa Mama Taqueria in Marda Loop. I made a last-minute reservation, and we arrived for an early seating.

Do make a reservation. Mid-week and at 5:30 p.m., the restaurant was already completely booked and not accepting walk-ins. The room is small and packed tightly with tables and bar seating. We noticed more than half of the guests were of the silver fox variety. Chew Steel quipped it must be seniors’ night at Masa Mama. I’m not complaining. For once, it was refreshing to be part of the younger demographic.

As I’m doing dry January, I picked a non-alcoholic beer. I ordered the Collective Arts IPA ($8). On its own, I found it citrusy with tropical notes. The carbonation wasn’t as bubbly as I prefer, but it paired well with the tacos.

We shared the Masa Guac ($16). Do order this. The avocado was buttery smooth, peppered with halved ripe cherry tomatoes and a nutty toasted oil. The tortilla chips were thin, fresh and crunchy, though overly salted. The guacamole to chips ratio was generous, meaning every bite was a perfect balance of dip to chip. I would order the guac again.

We each ordered three tacos, two four-inch and one six-inch. We both picked al pastor ($6) and chicken tinga ($6), and for the larger taco, I chose the Mac Mama ($8), and Chew Steel opted for the Baja Fish Taco ($9).

Al pastor is always a satisfying combination of sweet and savoury. This version cradled a mixture of tender grilled pork and small pineapple pieces. I appreciated the tortilla held up to the filling and didn’t get soggy and break mid-bite.

The chicken tinga stood out. I loved the crispy skin’s crunch and the spicy roasted chicken pieces. The cool, smooth drizzle of crema added a drippy succulence to each bite. I would get the tinga again.

The larger tacos are made with a flour tortilla. The Mac Mama was lukewarm by the time I got to eat it. It tasted like a decadent McDonald’s Big Mac but in a quesadilla form. I enjoyed it, but Chew Steel’s Baja Fish Taco ($9) was my favourite. I wasn’t expecting the fish to be so large. The fillet was meaty and flaky, while the batter was crunchy and hot. Masa Mama makes one of the best fish tacos in the city.

For a regular appetite, a shared appetizer, two small tacos and one large taco would suffice for a meal. We were both stuffed after our feast.

I’m a big fan of Masa Mama. When we return, I’m open to trying new dishes, but the guacamole, chicken tinga, and fish taco will always be my go-to order. Hitting the Sauce gives Masa Mama two phat thumbs up!

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!