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!

FinePrint

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The good neighbours reunited! Quebecoise, Betty, Kournikova and I met up for our girls’ night. It’s been a while, as Betty was busy giving birth to a handsome little fellow. We settled on FinePrint because Kournikova wanted to check it out. Let’s listen to “I’ll Be Seeing You” by Jimmy Durante.

Quebecoise selected a bottle of Paul Mas Viognier ($56), which she noted was surprisingly affordable, given the Stephen Avenue location. Betty enjoyed this white wine so much that she asked me to send her the picture I had taken so she could search for it at her local liquor store.

I warned the girls that FinePrint wasn’t a sharing sort of place and that we should order our appetizers and mains. Quebecoise countered that we could share appetizers but get our own mains. It turns out we were both right.

I asked Kournikova to take the pictures, but she told me to ask Betty, who she said is a better photographer. I shook my head and said that’s not true, as the last time Betty and Quebecoise took blurry photos. Kournikova grinned and confessed she was hungry and reluctant to take the pictures. I shot back that no one enjoys it, but she never half-asses anything, no matter her mood. She nodded in agreement and took the damn pictures.

Quebecoise ordered the Tempura Green Beans ($10), a trademark dish at Fine Print’s predecessor, Divino. Quebecoise raved about the perfect crunch of the batter and how much she appreciated munching on vegetables. Kournikova pointed out that this was one appetizer she didn’t care for, noting that the beans clashed with the rest of the menu.

I picked the Cured Ora King Salmon & Hamachi Crudo ($26). Oh man, this dish gives my beloved Sukiyaki House a run for its money. The salmon was next level, cool in temperature and buttery in flavour. But it was the hamachi that stole the show. Its sweet, delicate white flesh left us raving. The miso, vinaigrette, and pomelo sauce struck the perfect balance, not too sweet, citrusy, or overpowering, just enough to enhance the fresh taste of the fish. Those little green beans couldn’t compete with the salmon and hamachi crudo. This dish is a winner and a keeper.

Betty is delightfully predictable and ordered the Alberta Bison & Truffle Tartare ($27). According to Kournikova, FinePrint makes one of the best tartares in this city. The pickled mustard seeds packed a spicy kick, while the bison was cut into beefy chunks. Each piece was flavorful with a satisfying chew. Betty remarked on its robust beefiness and couldn’t get enough of the texture. I would get this again.

My healthy and athletic friend Kournikova chose the Grilled Radicchio & Endive Salad ($18). She loved it—and who wouldn’t? The salad was packed with spiced walnuts, mint, pickled grapes, and comté. The tangy kick from the blue cheese vinaigrette was so good and went well with all the ingredients.

Quebecoise, Kournikova, and I ordered the Josper Roasted Sablefish ($48). The fish was phenomenal, flaky and hot, with the mouthwatering essence of charcoal. Quebecoise declared this her type of food and loved every element, especially the sour sauce and the combination of crunchy savoy cabbage, braised fennel, and charred orange.

Betty ordered the Pappardelle ($28) topped with Crispy Duck Confit ($8). The thick, ribbon-like noodles had a delightful chew, coated in a mix of ground nuts, basil, and cheese instead of a traditional sauce. Kournikova wasn’t a fan of the duck confit, finding it dry. I didn’t try the duck, but I thought the pasta was yummy.

We tried the Chocolate Espresso Cheesecake ($12) and Yuzu & Rhubarb Gateaux ($12) for dessert. I’m not much of a dessert person, so I don’t have much to say other than that they were pretty to look at.

I noticed most clientele consisted of ladies or couples on a date. If I were an American tourist, I would hit up FinePrint in a second. The quality is a cut above, and with the dollar in your favour, it makes it a no-brainer to treat yourself to some exceptionally made seafood dishes. Hitting the Sauce gives FinePrint two phat thumbs up.

Greece · Restaurants

Athens – Day one

July 5, 2022July 10, 2022 Hitting the SauceLeave a comment

I met up with L in Athens, Greece. After sampling the food for only 10 days, I can confidently state that the food in Greece surpasses what I’ve consumed as a tourist in Japan, France, and Italy. For this post, let’s listen to “The Children of Piraeus, Never On a Sunday” by Nana Mouskouri.

L had already spent time in Athens, so he brought me to his favourite tavern, Old Tavern of Psarras, for a snack and drink before our flight to Santorini. Greece has changed L. He now enjoys tzatziki, olives, dolmades (stuffed grape leaves) and feta. I know why because, in Greece, everything tastes better than what we can get in Canada.

We picked a spot in the shade and ordered two appetizers and a Mythos beer. I never liked yogurt until I tried it in Greece. The tzatziki (€4.50) has a thick, dense velvety texture and a fresh, light flavour. Our dip was zesty and herby from the dill and cucumber, the perfect foil to the warm, salty pita bread.

The leaves on the dolmades (€4.50) were so soft and warm that even biting into the grape leaves was a sensual experience. The rice mixture was creamy and bright with infused flavour. L mentioned the food goes well with the hot climate. For dessert, L wanted to visit his go-to bakery, Tzatzos S.A.

We walked over to Tzatzos and sat on the patio. L ordered two baklavas (€2) and two more beers (€3).

Holy smokes – the baklava at Tzatzos makes everything else I’ve tried before taste like sawdust. The honey was so light and sweet, more like nectar than the heavy stuff I’m used to in Calgary, Savino Pizzeria being the exception. The pistachios and almonds were toasty with a wood-like spice and the layers of phyllo pastry were light and brittle.

Oh my Zeus, if I can eat this well as a tourist, imagine what you access as a local! L said in the last five days he was in Athens, he never experienced a bad meal. I know when L travels, he doesn’t research where to eat, so I could only expect even greater things to come.