Salutes and shout outs

In Edmonton, Pampa Brazilian Steakhouse have now opened A Bite of Brazil at 10114 104 Street NW—a coffee shop serving up their most popular dishes, such as gluten-free, savoury and sweet cheese breads and brigadeiros (chocolate truffles) in a casual environment, along with their own specialty Brazilian coffee. Open 7 days.

Calgary’s Bridgeland Distillery have created an exclusive membership Founders’ Club, for those that share their passion and to join them in the journey as their whisky matures. Perks include exclusive bottles throughout the maturation process and also a prerelease bottle of the first whisky. Details atbridgelanddistillery.com.

Calgary has a gorgeous new event space, The Pioneer, on 8 Avenue SW in the extensively restored ex-Art Gallery of Calgary and upstairs in the old Divino space next door. A blank canvas with four different spaces, it’s ideal for weddings, corporate events, pop-ups, fundraisers, gala dinners, film screenings and more.

Chef Judy Wood, of Meez Cuisine, has opened a gourmet restaurant in Calgary heritage mansion, Lougheed House. Open for lunch, brunch, and pre-booked high tea, Chef Wood has created a delicious, classic French comfort food menu using local ingredients. And after dining, enjoy a discounted admission to the house. Closed Monday/Tuesday.

Second openings in Edmonton: Doughnut Party have almost a cult following since they opened three years ago, and now they’ve opened a second location, in Ritchie at 9610 76 Avenue. 9–2 pm, closed Mondays.

And upscale, upbeat Guru Restaurant & Bar have opened the doors at their second restaurant offering more creative, Indian-inspired dishes in Ice District at 10111, 104 Avenue. Open from 11 am, closed Mondays.

malfunction last September. Chef Chris Barton, formerly of Anew Table, now leads the kitchen, with new shared plates and family-style dining menus for lunch, dinner, weekend brunch, afternoon cocktails, and Sunday live jazz, no corkage suppers. Lunch and dinner six days, closed Mondays.

inventive plant-based dishes from 15 Calgary restaurants, with wine and cocktails. New this year, the chefs will be vying for the “Best in Taste” trophy, with yours truly as one of the judges! Proceeds from this delicious event go to the Starlight Children’s Foundation. See you there!

Kensington has a new beer hall in the ex-Molly Malone’s spot, and it’s one for food lovers! Free House is the latest addition to the Creative Restaurants Group (Bonterra, Posto, Cibo and more) so we knew the food would be good, and it is! As a tasting room and showcase for staff and customers’ favourite microbreweries, 24 local beers are on tap at any one time; and as a food organization first who’s big on flavour, the chef-driven menu is designed to marry with these beers, with a focus on Alberta products. Enjoy—we certainly did! Open seven days for lunch and dinner.

Now in its third year, the celebration of vegan and vegetarian cuisine, Plants, Pinot and Potions, is taking place at WinSport on March 27. We’ll be sampling

City and Country Winery have been making wine in BC since 2017 and their goal to move production to Alberta has finally been realised! Calgary’s first urban winery and tasting bar is now open at 544 38A Avenue SE, making small batch, gluten-free and vegan wines with no added sugars, colours or flavours, in Flexcubes and Oenotanks rather than oak barrels. Enjoy a plate of charcuterie with a California zinfandel, and an Oregon or Okanagan pinot noir—all made in Calgary! Open Friday–Sunday.

Our Daily Brett’s new location is now open on 14 Street SW at 29 Avenue SW in Calgary—you can’t miss “Good Honest Food” painted on the outside wall! Now with 50 seats in this bright and modern new space, drop in for breakfast or lunch,

or pick up culinary treasures and prepared foods to take away. Open seven days.

You’ll have heard the hype by now, and guess what? It’s all true! Chef Darren MacLean’s new fish and plant-based Japanese restaurant, NUPO, in Calgary’s Alt Hotel East Village, is outrageously excellent. No detail has been missed; the dark, dark, black bars, black blinds for the north-facing windows, smoked mirrors, exquisite crockery, extensive sake menu, and stunning tea-infused cocktails—you’ll already be impressed—and then comes the food. OMG. We had the Omakase, a Japanese Chef ’s tasting menu, and possibly the best value in the city. Twelve unique dry-aged fish nigiri, hand-cut and dressed in front of you, plus several other dishes will wow you—and wait for the climax—no spoilers! Open seven days 5 pm–close. Reservations strongly advised!

And then there’s Eight, hidden at the back of NUPO—a chef ’s table of around 12 c ourses, cooked in front of you for only 8 people—and even more stunning, if that’s possible. But more anon about Eight as they’re completely booked up for a couple of months!

Edmonton Downtown Dining Week is coming soon, from March 11–22 More than 40 downtown restaurants are serving up multi-course brunches and lunches for $20, and dinners at $35 and $50, and cocktail tours, farmers market tours, opera, a drag brunch, and bingo. Check edmontondowntown.com for details.

Eight years in, National 17th has reopened after a major refurb—lighter and brighter with a raised level on two sides, and now tables and chairs as well as bench seating. The oyster bar is now a pizza station serving up completely delicious New York style, crispy crust 16-inch pies with malt in the dough, and by-the-slice after 9 pm. There’s a new beer board and wine by-the-glass program, as well as new cocktail, coffee, and loose tea programs. We love the new elevated menu; it’s a little healthier and definitely many cuts above your average pub food! (Insider info: don’t miss the S’More dessert!) 11 am–late.

March & April Vine & Dine series events

Fair Trade Vine & Dine Foreign Concept Thursday March 12 We’re celebrating Fair Trade values ahead of the National Fair Trade Conference with an always delicious pan-Asian pairing dinner at Chef Duncan Ly’s Foreign Concept! $81.75 ++

ATCO Blue Flame Kitchen Fridays March 13, June 12, October 2 and November 13 Reserve now for our 6-course pairing dinners with chef demos at ATCO Blue Flame Kitchen—they book up very fast! $81.75 ++

Vine & Dine, Vero Bistro Wednesday March 18, Thursday 26 Tuesday 31 We’re coming back for our 12th series at Vero Bistro to feast on Chef Jenny’s outstanding 6-course pairing menu— last year all three evenings sold out! $81.75 ++

1st day of Spring Chef’s Table Kitchen Party, Shoe & Canoe Thursday March 19 People said our first Chef’s Table dinner here last month, upstairs in the private kitchens, was the best culinary event they’d been to! Now we’re celebrating spring with another superb 6-course pairing dinner here! $81.75 ++

Vine & Dine Franca’s Italian Specialties Wednesdays April 15, 22, and 29 Italian is our most often requested cuisine, and we are coming back to Franca’s, one of Calgary’s hidden gems, for three 6-course pairing dinners! $81.75 ++

Domaine Gustave Lorentz Winemaker Dinner Mr. Chen’s Asian Brasserie Tuesday April 21 A special, one-off premium Fine & Dine multi-course winemaker dinner with Domaine Gustave Lorentz from Alsace at this award-winning Mission restaurant! $89.90++

Chef’s Table Kitchen Party Upstairs at Shoe & Canoe Friday April 24 As they’re so popular, we’re continuing our new series of 6-course Chef’s Table pairing dinners upstairs in the private kitchen at Shoe & Canoe into April and May! $81.75 ++

Culinaire Culinary Treasure Hunt Saturday April 25 For our 6th annual culinary hunt we’ve planned 30 exciting destinations for you to discover, and more treats for you to enjoy! Register as a team of two or solo at culinairemagazine.ca

Our spring and autumn wine and culinary tours of Portugal and Northern Italy are both completely sold out. Watch for details of our 2021 tours in our autumn issues!

Check out culinairemagazine.ca/events and contact linda@culinairemagazine.ca, 403.870.9802 to reserve your places or to arrange a private event.