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Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Mary EATS: or in this case, drinks
July 1, 2007
It's Canada day, and the celebrations don't start til noon. The 14 year old volunteer that wouldn't give me a lick-on tattoo because it was only 11:26 said so! What were we to do!?! Naturally, we headed for the rustic comforts of the best part of Prince's Island Park....the River Cafe. My office is only a few blocks from this lively, yet tranquil restaurant, so I've visited a few times for meals. "Slow food" as opposed to fast food, is the name of the game, and the River Cafe prides itself in using locally grown, fresh, seasonal ingredients for their very "Canadian" menu. The staff are always uber-friendly and I come to the River Cafe just for the laid back, homey atmosphere. I find the quality of the appetizers and main courses are inconsistent. Most times, it is very good, but once in a while, an average dish does not justify its price tag. On this relaxing weekend however, we had already enjoyed some dim-sum and had worked up just enough room for some bubbly and dessert. The River Cafe has a HUGE wine selection... Much to our surprise, they carried the "gentle sparkling moscato" by Mionetto from the Veneto region in NE Italy. And for $30! It retails at the Kensington wine market for $17.49... that is great, considering most "fancy" restaurants have a 200+% markup on their wines. Here's another tidbit for the Oenophiles... no corkage fee on Sundays! (excluding December) The moscato was intensely floral, which matched the delicate fresh fruit and honey tones on the palate. Best served chilled, the tiny bubbles and slightly sweet flavour of the wine paired perfectly with the Lemon Tart topped with wild BC huckleberries, fennel ice cream and a toasted almond drizzle. So relaxing and delicious...you don't even realize you're getting a sunburn on the patio!
9/10
River Cafe
http://www.river-cafe.com/
Prince's Island Park, Calgary
403-261-7670
It's Canada day, and the celebrations don't start til noon. The 14 year old volunteer that wouldn't give me a lick-on tattoo because it was only 11:26 said so! What were we to do!?! Naturally, we headed for the rustic comforts of the best part of Prince's Island Park....the River Cafe. My office is only a few blocks from this lively, yet tranquil restaurant, so I've visited a few times for meals. "Slow food" as opposed to fast food, is the name of the game, and the River Cafe prides itself in using locally grown, fresh, seasonal ingredients for their very "Canadian" menu. The staff are always uber-friendly and I come to the River Cafe just for the laid back, homey atmosphere. I find the quality of the appetizers and main courses are inconsistent. Most times, it is very good, but once in a while, an average dish does not justify its price tag. On this relaxing weekend however, we had already enjoyed some dim-sum and had worked up just enough room for some bubbly and dessert. The River Cafe has a HUGE wine selection... Much to our surprise, they carried the "gentle sparkling moscato" by Mionetto from the Veneto region in NE Italy. And for $30! It retails at the Kensington wine market for $17.49... that is great, considering most "fancy" restaurants have a 200+% markup on their wines. Here's another tidbit for the Oenophiles... no corkage fee on Sundays! (excluding December) The moscato was intensely floral, which matched the delicate fresh fruit and honey tones on the palate. Best served chilled, the tiny bubbles and slightly sweet flavour of the wine paired perfectly with the Lemon Tart topped with wild BC huckleberries, fennel ice cream and a toasted almond drizzle. So relaxing and delicious...you don't even realize you're getting a sunburn on the patio!
9/10
River Cafe
http://www.river-cafe.com/
Prince's Island Park, Calgary
403-261-7670
Mary EATS: Luscious Lamb
June 29, 2007
I admit it. The only reason why I chose this restaurant was for its dessert menu. Someone told me they had a trio of creme brulees! The quality of these clearly needed to be validated....besides, we needed to celebrate the sale of my house! There is a good vibe at Velvet. Super friendly, attentive staff and a funky dimly-lit contemporary interior with mirrored walls and soft benches. It was a Friday night, and we were the only ones there! Attendees for a concert at the Grand Theatre didn't start trickling in until 7:30 or so, making it a very private dining experience. The drink menu features lots of martinis with creative names, like The Producer (refreshing blend of Grey Goose L'Orange, Melon Liqueur, Galliano, with dashes of cran + orange juice) and Your Name in Lights. We started off with a baked Mushroom Pate topped with mascarpone. The earthy tones of the pate paired really well with the perfectly browned garlic crostini and the citrus intensive 2005 Seven Terraces Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand with hints of fresh apples. A nice crisp wine that is not too bland and could also stand up to the stronger taste of the Mussels, which were tossed in a slightly salty ainse broth with some veggies. Nothing great about the it, and I made the mistake of ordering more seafood with my main course - the saffron conchigliette. The shrimps, scallops and mussels tasted like they were previously frozen and the pasta was uber al-dente...ick. Thank goodness the lamb was ten times better! Direct from New Zealand, the juicy chops were perfectly pan fried with a dash of delicious fresh mint pesto. The mushroom gnocchi was a nice aberration from the all too common potato. At last! The dessert!! Well...at least the vanilla bean creme brulee was decent. The passion fruit and mochaccino varieties had a nice flavour, but the texture was terrible. Super watery, and all in all, disappointing. Velvet is owned by the same people that run Cilantro and Divino...I'm surprised the quality of the food here was spotty.
7/10
Velvet at the Grand
www.crmr.com/velvet
608 1 Street SW, Calgary
(403) 244-8400
Mary EATS: Life's too short for a quick lunch
June 28, 2007
One of my mottos is "Life's too short for a quick lunch". The Divino Wine & Cheese Bistro on Stephen Ave is the perfect little place to indulge in a delicious lunch. There is a quaint patio, and the menu reflects its European bistro influences. The Lobster Cannelloni featured an absolutely heavenly blend of chanterelles & ricotta cheese wrapped in fresh pasta baked in a smooth lobster bisque. The large chunks of fresh, juicy lobster made it well worth the $22. The Lamb Confit Melt was quite a distinctive sandwich, with layers of melt-in-your-mouth braised lamb and leeks, and contrasting sweet tones from the fig jam, balanced with the saltier cambozola cheese. YUM. Can't wait to try more from this menu.
9/10
Divino Wine & Cheese Bistro
http://www.crmr.com/divino/index.php
113 - 8th Avenue SW, Calgary
403-410-5555
Mary EATS: Room with a View
June 25, 2007
Seafood restaurants like Oceana defy the geographic boundaries of landlocked Calgary. There are many places to go for fresh seafood now! Why Oceana? It's on the main floor of the La Caille building in Eau Claire and backs on to the pretty Bow River. The interior features large comfortable upolstered chairs with a modern classic decor complete with high ceilings and warm fireplaces, making it the perfect place for a relaxing dinner. The food was decent. I recommend the New England Clam Chowder for its rich creamy texture and delicious clams. The tomato based Manhattan seafood chowder was sort of plain. Their version of Oyster Rockefellers were overpowered by the pungent Hollandaise sauce. I much prefer the fried oysters at Catch. For the main course, the Orange Roughy Fillet was perfectly grilled with a delicious Parmesan crust and hints of lemon. Not bad for $25, considering the generous portion comes all the way from New Zealand! The more local fare, a pan-fried Pickerel hailing from Manitoba was nothing to rave about. The sides and starter bread were a bit disappointing. Bland seasonal veggies/rice pilaf and boring, dry Italian bread.
7/10
Oceana
http://www.oceanacalgary.com/
#101 - 7th Street SW, Calgary
(403) 245-8787
Seafood restaurants like Oceana defy the geographic boundaries of landlocked Calgary. There are many places to go for fresh seafood now! Why Oceana? It's on the main floor of the La Caille building in Eau Claire and backs on to the pretty Bow River. The interior features large comfortable upolstered chairs with a modern classic decor complete with high ceilings and warm fireplaces, making it the perfect place for a relaxing dinner. The food was decent. I recommend the New England Clam Chowder for its rich creamy texture and delicious clams. The tomato based Manhattan seafood chowder was sort of plain. Their version of Oyster Rockefellers were overpowered by the pungent Hollandaise sauce. I much prefer the fried oysters at Catch. For the main course, the Orange Roughy Fillet was perfectly grilled with a delicious Parmesan crust and hints of lemon. Not bad for $25, considering the generous portion comes all the way from New Zealand! The more local fare, a pan-fried Pickerel hailing from Manitoba was nothing to rave about. The sides and starter bread were a bit disappointing. Bland seasonal veggies/rice pilaf and boring, dry Italian bread.
7/10
Oceana
http://www.oceanacalgary.com/
#101 - 7th Street SW, Calgary
(403) 245-8787
Mary EATS: Toasted Delights
June 26, 2007
On such a sunny day, it seemed like a shame to have to sit inside! But unless you've snagged a spot by 11:30, it's nearly impossible to get on the patio of downtown Calgary's restaurants on a gorgeous summer day. It's a nice stroll along Stephen Ave regardless...People watching heaven on the weekdays at lunchtime.If you weren't looking for it, you might miss Cabernet. It has a relatively small exterior, and alas, no patio! The decor is unassuming, and a great place for an upscale casual lunch. A large kitchen prep area is stretched out across the length of the restaurant, and the hustle bustle of the place reminded me of a Montreal diner. The friendly staff were prompt with their service, and we enjoyed watching the chef prepare some home-style soups, grilled sandwiches and salads. My friend and I tried the Montreal smoked meat sandwich and an Italian panini. The thick slices of juicy, tender smoked meat were very authentic, and it was a classic Montreal sandwich down to the crisp coleslaw, fresh rye and a delicious mustard. I liked the Italian Panini even better! Grilled to perfection, and stuffed to the brim with roasted peppers, an olive puree, and delicious Italian cold cuts....all served with a hearty side of mashed sweet potatoes. And it only gets better... their prices are inclusive of GST!
8/10
Cabernet
225 - 8th Ave SW, Calgary
403-233-0564
On such a sunny day, it seemed like a shame to have to sit inside! But unless you've snagged a spot by 11:30, it's nearly impossible to get on the patio of downtown Calgary's restaurants on a gorgeous summer day. It's a nice stroll along Stephen Ave regardless...People watching heaven on the weekdays at lunchtime.If you weren't looking for it, you might miss Cabernet. It has a relatively small exterior, and alas, no patio! The decor is unassuming, and a great place for an upscale casual lunch. A large kitchen prep area is stretched out across the length of the restaurant, and the hustle bustle of the place reminded me of a Montreal diner. The friendly staff were prompt with their service, and we enjoyed watching the chef prepare some home-style soups, grilled sandwiches and salads. My friend and I tried the Montreal smoked meat sandwich and an Italian panini. The thick slices of juicy, tender smoked meat were very authentic, and it was a classic Montreal sandwich down to the crisp coleslaw, fresh rye and a delicious mustard. I liked the Italian Panini even better! Grilled to perfection, and stuffed to the brim with roasted peppers, an olive puree, and delicious Italian cold cuts....all served with a hearty side of mashed sweet potatoes. And it only gets better... their prices are inclusive of GST!
8/10
Cabernet
225 - 8th Ave SW, Calgary
403-233-0564
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