What a joy it was to watch Season Eight of the Great Canadian Baking Show. Huge congratulations to winner Elora Khanom, of Edmonton!
As well as Tubi, John Gilchrist’s ‘Cuisine of the Rockies’ is now available on roku.com and distro.tv too!
And more congrats to the winning chefs at Calgary’s regional qualifier for the Canadian Culinary Championship. Chef Matthias Fong from Primary Colours took the top spot, with silver going to Chef Tracy Little of Sauvage in Canmore, and bronze to Orchard’s Restaurant’s Chef Jenny Kang!
And to Calgary’s Mercato Mission, who are celebrating 20 years as a culinary destination! To commemorate the anniversary, everyone who dines in during January and February can submit a story of dining there on Mercato’s social media channels for a chance to win a dinner for four, a private dinner for 10 at Mama Cathy’s home, or a private dinner for 10 with wine pairings!
True Wild Distilling is finally open, and it’s a masterful transformation from a 1911 electricity substation to a jaw-droppingly beautiful, restaurant, distillery, and events centre. Props to Frank Architecture! Heading up the live-fire kitchen is Chef Jeff Lusis, who has returned to Calgary after eight years in Sydney - a chef who is not afraid of flavour! Just the first bites of malted barley sourdough (with malt from neighbour, Alberta Malting), and baked oysters with chicken fat butter, and you know you’re in good hands here. Distiller Justin Dziadyk (ex-Business & Pleasure) and mixologist Matt Van Buuren are blending their vodka, gin, and vermouths in-house for their excellent cocktails and alcohol-free ‘tails, and there’s a clever build your own martini program too.
True Wild Whisky is coming in four years, but meanwhile try their Roper’s Hold blended Canadian whisky, finished in house in Okanagan oak barrels. Ask for a tour, there’s a lot to love here! 3115 11th Street SE, truewilddistilling.com
Blowers & Grafton has reopened their OG Calgary Mission location, after a complete renovation! There’s not only a refurbished and refreshed look to the space, but this location has a menu with items that you can’t get in any of their Edmonton, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, or other Calgary restaurants (yet!). Share some of the new appetizers like their mini scallop or lobster rolls, and Orange Tamari Tuna Tartare, or go for one of their East Coast classics. Seven days 11 am-close, blowersgrafton.com
Edmonton’s Westmount area is home to Fox Burger’s third location, in addition to their burger joints in Highlands and Leduc. Known for their shareables and salads, your choice of ten burgers, and a game time menu with cheap beer and cheap eats, they’re now at 11003 124 Street, Seven days from 11 am, foxburger.ca
It’s the next chapter for Calgary’s much-loved DOP - DOPO is open in Marda Loop, in the lower level of the Elizabeth Complex, at 1907 34 Avenue SW. The little 30 seat room is warm and welcoming, with a low wooden ceiling, Tiffany lamps, family photos on the walls, and David Leeder (formerly at Teatro) at the helm in the kitchen. Some of your favourite DOP dishes are here, along with must-try new dishes such as the Brassica salad with crispy guanciale, and white anchovy vinaigrette; and Anolini - little pockets of joy filled with potato! Seven days from 4 pm, dopoyyc.com
We’ve been early waiting to hear who is stepping into NongBu Korean Eatery’s shoes in Edmonton’s Old Strathcona, after they closed their doors last September. Owner John Ahn had hinted that he was leaving the space in good hands with new Korean owners – and now Nara Katsu has opened, a second location for the family behind Nara Chicken and Tonkatsu! Get your katsu fix (as well as your rib-eye bulgogi, corn cheese, tteokkochi and tteokbbokki!) at 8115 104 Street. Seven days, 5-10 pm
Look for the blue painted wall in Old Strathcona’s former Waffle Bird space, at 8116 101 Street, now the home of the tiny Taqueria El Chingon, a sister restaurant to Three Amigos. You customize your meal here by choosing your taco, empanada, tacos dorado, or chilaquiles, and then your choice of nine proteins. Or go for chingones with melted mozza, sauteed onions, and jalapeno.
Native Tongues have opened their third Calgary location, so now as well as Beltline and Britannia, there’s another modern, yet rustic, taverna-style taqueria in the University District, at 4014 University Avenue NW. It’s a place for all ages, and everyone from students to businessmen are enjoying this flavourful comfort food (you have to try the new Papas Norteñas with baked potatoes!). Executive chef Fernando Castro is cooking here, and mom Yenny is in the kitchen making all the salsas and desserts! Seven days 11:30 am-close (no resos), nativetongues.ca
And Edmonton has another new Korean restaurant! Chacha’s Rabokki is now open, and they say they’re the only place in Edmonton where you can enjoy Korean Hotpot Rabokki – a popular Korean spicy hotpot dish of stir-fried rice cakes and ramen noodles (and there’s Cheese Rabokki for those who prefer less spicy foods!). 10117 100A Street from 11 am, closed Sundays.
Edmonton’s original specialty coffee roaster has opened has a new location! Now in addition to their Ritchie Market coffee shop, Transcend Coffee has opened their new 124 Street, warm and bright, café at 12332 106th Avenue NW. Choose from around 30 different hot drinks, and pick one (or two!) of their delicious pastries, cookies, or their beloved banana bread (from Canova Bakery). Seven days 8 am -3 pm, transcendcoffee.ca
Masa Mamma has opened! The people behind Con Mi Tacos pop-up, Chef Mikko Tamarra and Andrew Ocasion, have now opened their taqueria in Marda Loop at 3429 22 Street SW, and it’s busy! They say, “dope tacos, great guac, tasty snacks, sweet desserts”, and we say this is statement food – big and bold favours with different and unexpected fillings and toppings, alongside Ocasion’s excellent bar menu too! They’re having fun with their tacos, and yes, there are really good churros too! From 4 pm, closed Monday, masamama.com
A new brunch spot for Calgary’s Bridgeland! Komorebi Brunch serves up Japanese-inspired classic breakfast and lunch dishes. For Benny fans, there are six choices with toppings of beef amiyaki (Japanese grilled beef), spicy cauliflower, and chashu with house made chimichurri. For those with a sweet tooth, you’re well looked after too, with French toast and matcha ice cream, Matcha pancakes, croffles… 725 1st Avenue NE, Wednesday-Monday 8-3:30, @komorebi_yyc