Melanistic Magazine - Vol. 12

MELANISTIC DINING

DINING GUIDE

Written and Photographed by: NiLo

It is not often we get to celebrate the cuisine and dining experiences offered by our communities’ restaurateurs who work tirelessly to not only fill our bellies, but also to give us that taste of home we often crave. In this Fall-a-Day edition, we take a moment to showcase a few Black owned Albertan eateries that our readers suggest should be on your radar for your next dining experience.

Power Lounge

15135 Stony Plain Rd, Edmonton, AB (780) 884 - 5042

Our Meal Choice: Jollof rice, Stewed chicken and rice, Wings, Fries, and Chocolate waffles.

There is no late night eating like Power Lounge. A complete night club vibe, the music is loud and pumping, and it’s a full house by 1am. Our only late night spot on the list - it’s perfect for a night of partying that makes sure you’re not looking for food when the after party munchies hit. We loved the jollof and both kinds of wings we tried (of the 7 varieties that are available.) Our readers recommend beef tittys.

Café Caribbean

10140 117 St NW, Edmonton, AB (780) 660 - 0969

Our Meal Choice: Chicken roti

With items like macaroni pie, and brown stew chicken, this is the place for Trinidadian food in Edmonton. With some staples on the menu like fried chicken, curry, and brown stew beef, this restaurant also has a rotating menu of chicken roti, bussup -shut (paratha) and pumpkin. The dahlpourie was soft with lots of peas and was folded around tender chicken and flavorful curry with a heavy serving of sauce. We washed it down with the homemade punch, but the inside trick is mixing the punch and the sorrel. Our readers recommend the Buss Up Shut.

Krazy Jerk

1715 52 St SE, Calgary, AB (403) 691 - 1040

Our Meal Choice: Jerk Chicken

A Calgary legend for jerk, we were sure to have the Jerk Chicken with rice and peas. A sizable portion, the jerk chicken was saucy and tender, with the perfect amount of heat - it’s present but not overpowering. We washed it down with a delicious carrot punch that’s made in-house; you should definitely try it. This take out only restaurant is quite busy so be sure to call ahead. Readers also recommend the steamed fish.

Ge’ez

1235 17 Ave SW, Calgary, AB (403) 452 - 5367

Our Meal Choice: A platter including Ge’ez tibs, Dulet, Lentil stew, Spinach, Beans, Rice, Potato, Carrot, Chickpeas, Kitfo and home made Feta.

One of the best Eritrean and Ethiopian cuisines we’ve ever had. We tried a bit of everything (twice) and really stuffed our faces forgetting that we were supposed to only be sampling the food. The injera was very fresh, the sauces were flavorful, and the meat was slow cooked and tender. The ambiance was an attractive modern aesthetic with eye-catching cultural art throughout. This is a fun spot to meet up with friends for lunch.

Yenny Delights

#81 - 3131 27 St NE, Calgary, AB (403) 880 - 5731

Our Meal Choice: Oxtail and Joloff with plantain

Boasting Afro-Caribbean fusion, we were skeptical when we approached this location and saw oxtail and curry goat listed next to joloff and egusi, however our fusion plate did not disappoint. The oxtail was extremely soft and well flavored, the plantains were sweet and slightly salted - and oxtail gravy apparently pairs perfectly with Nigerian Jollof. Before we finished we had the freshest, softest puff puff to make sure we didn’t waste any gravy.

Liberian Cuisine on Wheels

8405 118 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB (780) 803 - 5885

Our Meal Choice: Check Rice and Fried Fish

The chef and owner at Liberian Cuisine on Wheels has been cooking for his community for years - delivering food to barber shops and beauty shops before he had his own kitchen. Now with a new location that’s brightly decorated, he continues to serve a variety of Liberian cuisine items, with other West African favourites and even Jerk Chicken. If you love spice, you’ll love their red sauce that comes with every meal. They serve a variety of rice including fried rice, and joloff (Liberian style). A lovely spot to meet with friends; everything is made to order, so call ahead if you want to cut down on your wait.

Monamie African Resto

13427 Fort Rd NW, Edmonton, AB (587) 525 - 2477

Our Meal Choice: Fufu

One of the best Eritrean and Ethiopian This Ghanian restaurant has been the pride of the North Side for over 5 years. Amazing jollof and a beautiful ambiance - this is a great location for eat-in as well as take out. Light soup was spicy in a way that heats up your body and makes you sweat a bit - not bad for keeping your sinuses clear! Fufu was soft and helped to mellow out the pepper, while the meat was tender with a lot of flavor. Our readers loved the joloff.

The Spice Joint Lounge

614 Connaught Dr, Jasper, AB (780) 852 - 3615

Our Meal Choice: Crab Grilled Cheese with Cesar Salad

This Jasper gem is where Fairmont meets Jamaica. With a Cafe spin on Jamaican inspired dishes, it’s a tasty addition to the landscape of cuisine in Jasper. The crab grilled cheese had bre, blueberry jam, crab salad - and jerk aioli for a sweet - spicy - creamy experience all in one bite. The cesar dressing was made in house, with a crunchy romaine that tastes like it was grown up the block. The rum punch paired wonderfully with the meal- but so did the guava pineapple for a nonalcoholic option. Customers highly recommend the jerk chicken sandwich on coco bread.

This spot has been a go to for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner. With styled plating, the taste does not disappoint. The avocado benny was exceptional as reported by our taster - she’s somewhat of a benedict expert. With a buttery hollandaise, a perfectly poached egg, and fresh bread baked on site, you’ll know what a benedict is supposed to taste like. Great for groups and friends. Our readers also recommend the risotto.

Flavours Restaurant

4129 4 St NW, Calgary, AB www.flavourcuisineandcatering.com

Our Meal Choice: Egusi Stew with Fufu and Beef

Flavours is a neighborhood establish ment offering what many say is the best Nigerian cuisine in Calgary. For 10 years they have been whipping up homemade classics. Egusi Stew and Fufu when done right is a perfect in troduction to Nigerian cuisine and Miss Bola does it to perfection. The combination of flavors will have you licking your fingers for sure and have you needing more Fufu in your life.

Llyods Patty Plus

255 25 St SE, Calgary, AB (403) 207 - 4455

Our Meal Choice: Regular and Spicy Beef Patties

Lloyd’s has been a must visit for many members of the Caribbean community, whether living in Calgary, visiting, or in transit to somewhere else. With the choice of spicy or regular - beef, chicken or veggie - there’s a patty for everyone. Lloyd’s patty filling is wellseasoned, moist, and with a yellow flakey crust. Lloyd’s also carries a variety of Jamaican sodas, and is also available for large orders and parties. Our readers love the cocktail patties for events.

Mesob Habesha Fusion

10546 109 St NW, Edmonton, AB

(780) 250 - 0999

Our Meal Choice: Tikel Domen, Yesom Fifir, Kik Alecha, Keye Misir Wot, and Doro Wot.

Flavours is a neighborhood establishment offering what many say is the best Nigerian cuisine in Calgary. For 10 years they have been whipping up homemade classics. Egusi Stew and Fufu when done right is a perfect introduction to Nigerian cuisine and Miss Bola does it to perfection. The combination of flavors will have you licking your fingers for sure and have you needing more Fufu in your life.

Chubby Jerk

5005 50 Ave, Red Deer, AB

(825) 221 - 9798

Our Meal Choice: Oxtail and Rice and peas, Stewed fish

Just off of Gaetz, Chubby Jerk is the center of Jamaican cuisine in Red Deer. Holding down the fort for the last four years the spot is quaint and well decorated. The Rice and Peas was our favourite rice of all the places we visited, the oxtail was tender and flavorful and the King fish was not over cooked and well seasoned with just enough pepper which didn’t overpower the dish. Our readers recommended the jerk chicken.

Safari Grill

#100 - 255 28 St SE, Calgary, AB

Contact: www.safarigrillcalgary.com Our Menu Choice: Safari Platter

Dining is an experience and at Safari Grill your sense of smell takes over the moment you open the doors, and in that moment, you know your belly is in for something delicious. The Safari Platter is loaded with some of the best grilled beef you will ever have. The fries are turned up a notch having been dipped in African pili-pili sauce. All around amazing sensory experience.