Avenue Calgary March 2021

26 YEARS OF CITY | LIFE | STYLE | CALGARY

MARCH 2021 | $4.95 AVENUECALGARY.COM

RECLAIMING AN ICON Cheryl Foggo on bringing John Ware to life

SPRING STYLE Fresh fashion finds from local boutiques

BEST

RESTAURANTS The 13 brightest stars in Calgary’s dining scene PLUS the winners in 27 more categories

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New Look, Same Quality.

Concorde has a new look. The pineapple, a traditional expression of “welcome” symbolizing warmth, friendship, and hospitality. Wherever this symbol is you can expect the same quality experience Calgary knows and expects from us.

Thank you for supporting us, not only in the good times but also the bad, and most importantly thank you for supporting local.

avenuecalgary.com

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EDITOR’S NOTE

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WORK OF ART

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25 YEARS OF CITY | LIFE | STYLE | CALGARY

MARCH 2021 | $4.95 AVENUECALGARY.COM

MARCH 2021

RECLAIMING AN ICON Cheryl Foggo on bringing John Ware to life

SPRING STYLE B E S T R E S TA U R A N T S 2 0 2 1 | S P R I N G FA S H I O N | C H E RY L F O G G O

Fresh fashion finds from local boutiques

BEST

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RESTAURANTS The 13 brightest stars in Calgary’s dining scene, PM# 40030911

PLUS the winners in 27 more categories

ON THE COVER Chef Duncan Ly inside his flagship restaurant Foreign Concept.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JARED SYCH

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avenue March 21

F E AT U R ES

11 DETOURS

58 DECOR

Meet the local man who created a virtual talk show that has landed some serious celebrity guests. Plus, an organization that encourages diversity in outdoor pursuits, and a look back at some milestones over the 40-year history of Bottlescrew Bill’s.

Take a look inside (and outside) Slice House, a striking contemporary home designed

by Kayla Browne of Bold Workshop Architecture that proves great design does not have to come at a great cost.

55 MOUNTAINS Why hiring a professional guide is the best way to have the best time in the outdoors.

Plus, the epic heli-hiking adventure that you will want to do this summer.

64 THE LIST Matt Rai, general manager of Lina’s Italian Market, riffs on everything from flower shops to artisan soda pops in his list of things he loves most here in Calgary.

16 CALGARY’S BEST RESTAURANTS Our annual celebration of the city’s dining scene and the bakers’ dozen (13) restaurants that this year’s panel of judges deemed worthy of being named Best Overall. Plus, all the winners and runners up from Avenue’s first-ever online Best Restaurants ballot, where readers told us their favourites in a range of different categories, from Best African, to Best Vegetarian.

by Karen Anderson, Rosemary Bacovsky, Elizabeth Chorney-Booth, Gabriel Hall and Patricia Lau

41 FASHION Spring is around the corner and style is in the air. But you don’t have to search far and wide to find something fresh and new for the upcoming season as local boutiques are brimming with great finds.

50 PROFILE: CHERYL FOGGO The accomplished author, playwright and film director talks about her connection to the historic figure John Ware and why his story continues to resonate in current times.

by Afros In Tha City

P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y J A R E D S Y C H , S T E V E C O L L I N S , T AY L O R B U R K

D E P A R TM E N TS

GOOD T O E AT

F

or more than 15 years, the March issue of Avenue has been all about the best restaurants in the city, everything from critical darlings to popular favourites. And while we’re here again, we’ve never really been here before when it comes to the current conversation about dining in Calgary.

It’s almost impossible to overstate the impact of the pandemic on dining. Restaurants have had to pivot to offering takeout, meal kits and more.

Restaurateurs have reformatted their dining rooms with screens, distanced seating and additional outdoor dining areas. And some have thrown in the towel, seeing no way forward through the continually changing requirements.

Many of these changes will be permanent, even as restaurants revert back to a version of normal at some point. And there are even more changes on the horizon for the restaurant scene, as social justice movements including Black Lives Matter and #MeToo will continue to demand that the industry,

Käthe Lemon Editor-in-Chief klemon@redpointmedia.ca

It’s almost impossible to overstate the impact of the pandemic on dining.

and those writing about it, do better to address bad behaviour in the kitchen and prejudice in the business. All of that change opened up a unique opportunity — and obligation — for our restaurant reporting in advance of this year’s issue.

We started by reaching out to our readers in a new way. Our first-ever online Best Restaurants ballot ran throughout the fall months and drew in more than 12,000 respondents. Over two rounds of voting, readers told us their favourite restaurants in more than 25 categories. We combed through the results to ensure accuracy but otherwise adhered to what our readers told us were the best for these category winners.

NEW TO RIEDEL!

To determine the Best Overall restaurants, we consulted with a panel of judges to select this year’s top picks — those restaurants that are elevating the local dining scene and where you can be sure that each meal will be superlative. Perhaps it’s a sign of our need for something to celebrate this year, but the judges’ choices skewed significantly toward what I would call “special occasion dining.” For many of us, eating at most (but not all of) these spots is not an everyday indulgence, but rather, these are the places that we go to, or order from, to mark an occasion.

This year’s list is by all measures small or, as some might say, highly curated. Whereas in some years past we’ve had as many as 25 Best Overall restaurants, as well as a list of up to 10 Best New restaurants, this year we are highlighting a baker’s dozen, only 13, as Best Overall. This certainly should not be interpreted as a sign that there are fewer restaurants to recommend right now. Indeed, we found it devastating not to be able to highlight more of the restaurants doing such amazing work here in Calgary, including some of my personal favourites such as Charcut, Teatro, Mercato and Moonlight & Eli. You’ll find some of those, along with stories about some of the category winners online at AvenueCalgary.com where you can also sign up for our Food & Drink newsletter to get a weekly serving of Calgary dining and food news.

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PHOTO BY JARED SYCH

EDITOR’S NOTE

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THE ARCHITECTURE OF STORYTELLING: HOSPITALITY DESIGN

VIEW INTO ART HOTEL LOBBY RENOVATION IMAGE BY HANNAH MOUSEK AND JOSEPH CRAWFORD

T

he Work-Integrated Practice Studio at the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape pairs students directly with practicing design professionals to explore emergent and established design topics in a real world setting that simulates actual practice.

through the lens of storytelling. During the studio, students examined the adaptive re-use of a real historic building set in a mountain town in the Rockies. We challenged students to explore the site’s potential by developing a design narrative through a personal lens. We encouraged students to think about how the design could be translated from the interior to the exterior to provide a seamless integration of concept — a cohesive experience for users.”

One of these unique studios was led by FRANK Architecture + Interiors’ principals and SAPL alumni Kelly Morrison (MArch ’09), Kate Allen (MArch ’09) and Kristen Lien (MArch ’08).

FRANK is well known for creating some of Seven senior Master of Architecture students western Canada’s most engaging restaurants worked with the leaders of this award-winand bars. “In our practice we approach design ning design firm for the entire fall semester.

S A P L . U C A L G A R Y. C A @UCALGARYSAPL

According to Hannah Mousek and Joseph Crawford, two of the students in the course, “We learned how to design from the interior out and developed an eclectic design concept that was inspired by the strong local artist presence in the area. This concept drove all of our decision making. The Work-Integrated Studio provided an opportunity for us to see firsthand the design process of a professional firm working in a real-world context — how they paint experiences and create uniquely beautiful spaces.”

avenuecalgary.com

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SERVING OUR COMMUNITY PCL’s Special Projects team is engaged in your business goals and committed to forging lasting relationships. PCL is the proud builder of the Sky Bistro in Banff, Forte Restaurant in Kananaskis Mountain Lodge and Sucre Patisserie & Cafe in downtown Calgary.

PCL.COM

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DETOURS

DAVID OULTON

HOLLYWOOD AT HOME ON HIS SELF-PRODUCED TALK SHOW, CALGARY ACTOR DAVID OULTON CHATS UP CELEBRITY GUESTS FROM HIS LIVING ROOM.

PHOTOGRAPH BY JARED SYCH

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algary actor David Oulton’s talk show, Face to Face with David, was created during the pandemic but tries to avoid being strictly about the pandemic. Oulton decided to start making his show independently out of sheer boredom and finished what would be its first season in just six weeks. His agent showed it to Amazon and the company quickly picked it up for its Amazon Prime Video in the U.S. and U.K., offering season one on July 14, 2020.

“It was definitely exhausting and difficult to pull a show together that quick. But with it being virtual, I could speak with someone while they are in London or at home in California. The format presents a lot of opportunities,” says Oulton.

He continues to film the show here in Calgary and has already completed a second season. The show is now available to Canadian audiences as well, and is set to premiere this month on OutTV. In each episode, Oulton dons a fabulous bathrobe, sips a glass of red wine and talks with his guests — a avenuecalgary.com

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DETOURS

THE OUTDOORS ARE F O R E V E RYO N E ZAHRA ABDULLAHI

“A BIG OPPORTUNITY IS BEING ABLE TO SEE INTO THE GUESTS’ HOMES AND SEE WHERE THEY’RE AT RIGHT NOW.”

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plane, who was reading a script. That man was Corbin Bernsen, the actor and director most famous for his role on the 1980s-1990s TV series L.A. Law. Struck by Oulton’s story of his home life and his passion for acting, Bernsen promised him a job on the set of Beyond the Heavens, a film he was making in Provost, Alta., when he returned from L.A. Oulton took him up on the offer and ended up being promoted to Bernsen’s personal assistant, a position that garnered him a credit on the movie.

The experience working on Beyond the Heavens also connected Oulton with the film’s executive producer Lisa McGillivray, who would end up legally adopting Oulton so he could break ties with his birth family. He has also remained in touch with Bernsen, who appears as a guest on the second season of Face to Face.

“I have been really fortunate in this industry to meet people who have given me their time and advice, and I wouldn’t be here without that,” says Oulton.

—Travis Klemp

The Alberta chapter of Colour the Trails shows us the mountains like we’ve never noticed them before.

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roximity to the great about social media,” says Abdullahi. outdoors is one of the “You meet so many people that are in biggest selling points for every type of sport, that are excelling in would-be Calgarians. With it, and that’s not usually what you see in an abundance of hiking and biking trails an outdoor magazine, or tourist videos.” and rivers to raft, it’s not unusual to find Abdullahi, an avid hiker herself, yourself surrounded with other nature helped establish the Alberta chapter in lovers, from novice hikers and young July 2020 with a group hike to Picklejar families to the most experienced backLakes in Kananaskis Country. Becountry campers. But who are those tween heightened public awareness of adventurers and what do they look like? racial injustice and the restrictions of a Colour the Trails, a pandemic, Abdullahi says social group that hosts it was the right time to en“WE WANT TO outdoor excursions for sure a welcoming space CREATE THAT Black, Indigenous and was available for BIPOC to SAFE SPACE IN people of colour (BIPOC), escape to nature without THE OUTDOORS plus their allies, says worrying about feeling AND SHOW UP outdoor enthusiasts can othered. “Not everyAS OUR FULL and should be anyone. body has a friend who’s SELVES.” “People assume that outdoorsy, and there are people of colour are not more people that want to outdoors, but we’re definitely out in the get outside. So how do those people get outdoors,” says Zahra Abdullahi, the access?” says Abdullahi. club’s Alberta leader. “We want to create Navigating weather and social that safe space in the outdoors and gathering restrictions, Colour the Trails show up as our full selves.” has since hosted a handful of activities The organization, formed in British year-round, like an introduction to ice Columbia in 2017 by Judith Kasiama, climbing, for all skill levels, with plans to maintains a strong social media presexpand into kayaking, mountain biking ence, with photos and videos of their and more. —Tsering Asha members participating in a wide variety of sports and trips, to fill the gap in repTo learn more or register for events, resentation. “And that’s the good thing visit colourthetrails.com

PHOTOGRAPH BY JARED SYCH

mix of entertainment and media personalities, as well as those from the worlds of fashion, business and politics. Guests who have come on the show so far include Carson Kressley, Debra DiGiovanni, Perez Hilton and, appearing on season two, Vanessa Williams. Oulton and guests discuss a range of subjects, from the #MeToo movement to DiGiovanni’s belief that cheese is superior to Botox.

“We wanted it to be very intentionally casual,” he says of interviewing guests at home rather than in a studio.

“A big opportunity is being able to see into the guests’ homes and see where they’re at right now, whether they’re working or just in their living room.”

Part of Oulton’s ability to connect with strangers comes from his tumultuous, but ultimately serendipitous past. Born in the U.K. and raised in Fort McMurray, he experienced abuse as a child. In 2011, when he was 16, Oulton took a trip to Los Angeles by himself and ended up striking up a conversation with the man seated next to him on the

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DETOURS

Openings LITTLE TAVERN PIZZA PROJECT

PHI MEDICAL AESTHETICS Calgarians can now visit Phi’s new second location in Mahogany for their beauty needs. The list of services at the injectables-only clinic includes Botox, skin boosters, dermal fillers and platelet rich plasma with micro-needling.

152 Mahogany Centre S.E., 587-391-5750, beautyphi.com

PITA LAND Look for this Middle Eastern restaurant chain’s first location outside of Ontario in Calgary’s Acadia neighbourhood.

Baba ganouj, chicken shawarma wraps, beef kebab plates, potato bowls and burgers are just a few of the dishes you’ll find on the expansive menu.

9110 Macleod Tr. S.E., 587-352-7482, pitaland.ca

PONSHU The family behind Ajito, Sho Sushi and Point Sushi has a new Japanese izakaya in Arbour Lake. Browse Ponshu’s menu, designed to look like a Japanese travel magazine, for dishes like ebi mayo with deep-fried black tiger prawns and Sea of Japan ceviche (pictured) presented with dry ice.

10 Crowfoot Cir. N.W., 403-208-9799, ponshu.ca

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FOUR DECADES OF B O T T L E S C R E W B I L L’ S

ottlescrew Bill’s Pub is a second-generation family business that’s reached and retained iconic status. Owners Stuart and Colleen Allan opened Bill’s predecessor Buzzards Wine Bar and Restaurant on 10th Avenue S.W. in 1980, adding Bottlescrew Bill’s in

1980

Buzzards Wine Bar and Restaurant opens.

Stuart, who is from the U.K., wanted a place similar to the wine bars he and Colleen had experienced in London. “That’s basically why we did it, so we could find a place where we could go and consume different wines ourselves,” he says.

1981

Buzzards opens the first licensed patio in Calgary. A liquor board inspector told Stuart it could only be popular for two months a year. He replied, “we’ll take the two months.”

1985

Stuart and Colleen lease the former Calgary Press Club next door and open Bottlescrew Bill’s Old Ale and Port House. “It alliterated nice with ‘Buzzards,” says Stuart. “Bill was just made up.”

1987

The now iconic Around-The-World-In-80-BeersPassport program debuts. Dubbed a way to “travel the world without leaving the bar,” participants try 80 different international beers over a year, keeping track of their progress in a faux passport. The list of names (and hilarious pseudonyms) of those who complete the journey each year is framed and displayed in the bar in perpetuity. An all-Alberta version of the passport has since been added.

1988

Big Rock Brewery begins brewing the pub’s house beer, Buzzard Breath Ale – the 14

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the adjacent space in 1985. Four decades later, their son Geoff Allan and his sister Jennifer Stewart are running Bottlescrew Bill’s as general manager and operations manager, respectively. We spoke with Geoff and Stuart Allan about some of the milestones along the way. —Nathan Kunz

first contract brew of its type in Canada. Since 2004, it has been made by Wild Rose Brewery.

1993 Buzzards hosts the first Testicle Festival, bringing varieties of prairie oysters (bull testicles) onto the menu every summer since.

1996

Buzzards rebrands to Buzzards Cowboy Cuisine, complete with a western-inspired menu. “There were wagon wheel chandeliers, a picket fence along the window,” recalls Geoff. “Total western decor everywhere. It was quite the place.”

2010

Renovations begin inside Buzzards to match Bottlescrew Bill’s, moving the remaining cowboy decor out of the dining room. Around this time a statue of hockey legend Lanny McDonald is acquired for the pub during a renovation of Flames merchandise stores at the Saddledome. Lanny is first installed inside, then later moved outside where he and his mustache stand guard to this day.

2015 Buzzards signage is taken down as the brand is absorbed into Bottlescrew Bill’s Pub.

2021

Bottlescrew Bill’s patio is winterized to remain open year-round.

Of the 300-plus beers served today, one has been there since the beginning: Big Rock Traditional Ale, which also launched in 1985.

P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y M A C H M E D I A M A R K E T I N G A G E N C Y, S T E V E C O L L I N S

Chef Keith Luce opened this “modern tavern” in Strathcona Park last fall.

Stop by for one of the 11 signature pizzas, which range from classic pepperoni to more inventive pies.

The menu also features shareable snacks, pasta and sandwiches.

5555 Strathcona Hill S.W., 403-475-8875, littletavernpizza.com

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OWNERS GILLES AND ANDREA BRASSART AND EXECUTIVE CHEF/OWNER DOMINIQUE M O U S S U AT C A S S I S B I S T R O .

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avenue’s

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THE TOP SPOTS TO EAT IN CALGARY FOR EVERY OCCASION AND EVERY TASTE.

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ou might say that a city is defined by its restaurants — that the quality and variety of dining options reflect what kind of city it is. In this sense, we can say with certainty that Calgary continues to be entrepreneurial, and fiercely and proudly local, as well as resilient.

It’s been a hard year for Calgary restaurants, but the chefs, restaurateurs and those front-line and behind-the-scenes staff who have gotten us our orders (whether in dining rooms, on patios or at our homes) have been relentlessly hard-working and innovative. Selecting the best amongst them this

year was an even harder job than usual, and we were faced with our own need to innovate. We did that by reaching out to readers, in addition to consulting with a panel of expert judges. On the following pages are the panel’s picks for Best Overall Restaurants — 13 places that set the bar for the local dining scene by innovating each day and reaching the highest pinnacles across all measures of quality for food, drink and experience — and a list of winners and runners up in 27 other categories, as determined through online voting by more than 12,000 Avenue readers. You can read more about some of these category winners at AvenueCalgary.com.

B Y K A R E N A N D E R S O N , R O S E M A R Y B A C O V S K Y, E L I Z A B E T H C H O R N E Y- B O O T H , G A B R I E L H A L L A N D P AT R I C I A L A U P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y J A R E D S Y C H

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B E S T

O V E R A L L

W I N N E R S

Alloy BEST AFRICAN Winner FLAVOURS CUISINE & CATERING 4129 4 St. N.W., 403-719-2770 flavourcuisineandcatering.com @flavoursrestaurant

2nd SAFARI GRILL 100, 255 28 St. S.E., 403-235-6655 safarigrillcalgary.com, @safarigrill

3rd MARATHON ETHIOPIAN RESTAURANT 130 10 St. N.W., 403-283-6796 marathonethiopian.ca @marathonethiopian

BEST BREW PUB Winner PRAIRIE DOG BREWING 105D 58 Ave. S.E., 403-407-2448 prairiedogbrewing.ca, @prairiedogbeer

2nd TROLLEY 5 BREWPUB 728 17 Ave. S.W., 403-454-3731 trolley5.com, @trolley_5

3rd (tie) OL’ BEAUTIFUL BREWING CO. 1103 12 St. S.E., 403-453-2739 olbeautiful.com, @ol_beautifulbrewingco ROGELIO HERRERA, CHEF AND C O - O W N E R AT A L L O Y.

O

ver the past 13 years, the owners of Alloy, Uri Heilik and chef Rogelio Herrera, have remained steadfast in their dedication to the Calgary icon they have created. The stylish, modern room has not aged and is still a favourite for Calgary’s business elite as well as stylish couples looking for a memorable night out. The menu is full of thoughtful and consistently executed dishes, which Herrera evolves twice a year to reflect recent trends and seasonal ingredients. He has created a streamlined set of offerings to ensure consistent quality, especially during 18

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3rd (tie) the ongoing pandemic. A dedicated and professional staff complete the experience and cement Alloy as a cornerstone of Calgary’s small fine-dining community. —G.H. 220 42 Ave. S.E., 403-287-9255, alloydining.com, @alloydining THE FOOD Imaginative fine dining with modern flair.

THE VIBE Stark modernist room graced by debonaire Calgarians. ORDER THIS The menu changes seasonally, but the truffle gnocchi is a beloved fixture. KNOW THIS The climate-controlled glass wine room stores more than 120 labels to match your dining expectations.

WILD ROSE BREWERY 5505 72 Ave. S.E., 403-727-5451 wildrosebrewery.com, @wildrosebrewery

BEST BRUNCH Winner OEB BREAKFAST CO. 825 1 Ave. N.E., 403-278-3447; 110, 222 5 Ave. S.W., 587-352-3447; 2207 4 St. S.W., 587-356-6323 eatoeb.com, @oeb_breakfast

Bonterra Trattoria 2nd THE BRO’KIN YOLK 130, 12580 Symons Valley Rd. N.W., 587-317-5734; 1410, 7 Mahogany Plaza S.E., 403-457-5955; 5691 Signal Hill S.W., 403-685-3316; brokinyolk.ca, @brokinyolk

3rd (tie) BLUE STAR DINER 809 1 Ave. N.E., 403-261-9998 bluestardiner.ca, @bluestar_yyc

3rd (tie) DINER DELUXE 804 Edmonton Tr. N.E., 403-276-5499; 106 Mahogany Centre S.E., 587-482-9979 dinerdeluxe.com, @dinerdeluxe

BEST BURGER JOINT Winner BOOGIE’S BURGERS A-908 Edmonton Tr. N.E., 403-230-7070; 2129 33 Ave. S.W., 403-454-2902 boogiesburgers.com, @boogiesyyc

2nd LIL’ EMPIRE BURGER 4323 1 St. S.E. (inside Annex Ale Project), 403-453-8994; 1105 1 Ave. N.E., 403-455-4007 lilempireburger.com, @lilempireburger

3rd V BURGER 819 17 Ave. S.W., 587-387-7272 heyvburger.com, @heyvburger

4th CLIVE BURGER 736 17 Ave. S.W., 403-229-9224 cliveburger.com, @cliveburger

5th ALUMNI SANDWICHES 725 17 Ave. S.W., 403-455-7255 alumnisandwiches.com, @alumniyyc

BEST BUSINESS LUNCH Winner THE NASH AND OFF CUT BAR 925 11 St. S.E., 403-984-3365 thenashyyc.com, @thenashyyc

J O S E P H L AV E R G N E , A C H E F W I T H C R E AT I V E R E S TA U R A N T S G R O U P ( O W N E R S O F B O N T E R R A T R AT T O R I A ) IN THE BONTERRA KITCHEN.

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onterra has long been a superb restaurant, though it tended to get overlooked in favour of newer and trendier hotspots.

Over the past year, it has become buzzworthy again, due in large part to the arrival of chef Christopher Hyde in late 2019. Prior to that, Hyde was best known for his tenure at Edmonton’s Uccellino and he has maintained Bonterra’s upscale Italian mandate, while significantly boosting its pasta game, working his magic on dishes with rich sauces and fillings (all of his ravioli variations are superb).

The best way to experience Hyde’s vision is

to visit when he’s offering a multi-course prix fixe menu to get a taste of his spectacular antipasti, pasta, carne and dolce creations. The best seats in the house are still on Bonterra’s oasis of a patio, which was a social-distancing superstar last summer. —E.C.B. 1016 8 St. S.W., 403-262-8480, bonterra.ca, @bonterracalgary THE FOOD Elegant Italian. THE VIBE Tuscan escapism.

ORDER THIS Any of the stuffed pasta dishes.

KNOW THIS For those looking for something a little more casual, sister restaurant Posto is right next door. avenuecalgary.com

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Bridgette Bar AMANDA JANSEN, G E N E R A L M A N A G E R AT BRIDGETTE BAR.

2nd CHARCUT ROAST HOUSE 101, 899 Centre St. S.W., 403-984-2180 charcut.com, @charcut

3rd KLEIN / HARRIS 110 8 Ave. S.W., 403-262-8100 kleinharris.com, @klnharris

4th ALLOY 220 42 Ave. S.E., 403-287-9255 alloydining.com, @alloydining

5th CRAFT BEER MARKET 345 10 Ave. S.W., 403-514-2337; and Southcentre Mall, 403-216-2337 craftbeermarket.ca, @craftbeermarket @craftyycsouth

BEST CHAIN Winner CACTUS CLUB CAFE Three Calgary locations cactusclubcafe.com, @cactusclubcafe

2nd (tie) EARLS KITCHEN + BAR Eight Calgary locations earls.ca, @earlsrestaurant

2nd

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ridgette Bar delivers creative chef-driven dishes that match the vibe of the exposed brick and mid-century decor.

From snacks, pastas, pizzas and wood-fire grilled and roasted meats to well-presented vegetable-centric plates and desserts like the iconic banana pie, Bridgette’s menu and stellar cocktail list evolve with the seasons.

Throughout the pandemic, Bridgette Bar has offered different weekly three-course meals for curbside pickup, featuring comfort foods such as roast chicken and braised short ribs.

With the kitchen team led by senior culinary director JP Pedhirney, Bridgette Bar also found creative ways to host well-orchestrated 20

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virtual dining events, curating multi-course gourmet dinner kits complete with beverage pairings delivered directly to each guest at home. —P.L. 739 10 Ave. S.W., 403-700-0191, bridgettebar.com, @thebridgettebar THE FOOD Wood-fired cuisine, elevated comfort food.

THE VIBE Mid-century-modern hipster rec room.

ORDER THIS The accompaniments evolve with the seasons, but any version of the wood-roasted half duck is a winner. KNOW THIS The crispy, golden, house-made garlic bread is actually bread pockets stuffed with gooey cheese curds and will leave you wishing you had ordered more.

NATIONAL Four Calgary locations ntnl.ca, @ntnl17, @ntnl10, @ntnl8, @ntnlwesthills

3rd JOEY RESTAURANTS Four Calgary locations joeyrestaurants.com, @joeyrestaurants

BEST CHINESE Winner SILVER DRAGON RESTAURANT 106 3 Ave. S.E., 403-264-5326 silverdragoncalgary.com, @silverdragonyyc

Calcutta Cricket Club 2nd U & ME RESTAURANT 201, 233 Centre St. S.W., 403-264-5988 uandmerestaurant.com

P R I YA K A I L A , A S S I S TA N T G E N E R A L MANAGER AND BEVERAGE DIRECTOR AT C A L C U T TA C R I C K E T C L U B .

3rd GREAT TASTE CHINESE RESTAURANT 123 2 Ave. S.E., 403-265-9880 greattastecalgary.com, @greattastechinese

BEST COCKTAIL Winner PROOF 1302 1 St. S.W., 403-246-2414 proofyyc.com, @proofyyc

2nd BRIDGETTE BAR 739 10 Ave. S.W., 403-700-0191 (text only) bridgettebar.com, @thebridgettebar

3rd ONE18 EMPIRE 820 Centre St. S.E., 403-269-0299 one18empire.com, @one18empire

4th CANNIBALE 813 1 Ave. N.E., 403-454-5808 cannibale.ca, @cannibale_yyc

5th KLEIN / HARRIS 110 8 Ave. S.W., 403-262-8100 kleinharris.com, @klnharris

BEST COFFEE HOUSE Winner CAFE ALCHEMIST 850 2 St. S.W., 403-261-0938 cafealchemist.com, @cafe.alchemist

2nd ANALOG COFFEE Multiple locations analogcoffee.ca, @analogcoffeeyyc

3rd DEVILLE COFFEE Multiple locations devillecoffee.ca, @devillecoffee

K

olkata (formerly Calcutta) is a cosmopolitan city with a strong feminine energy, where residents pursue joyful interaction and debate with vigour at the city’s many private clubs. All of these factors inform the vibe at Calgary’s Calcutta Cricket Club (CCC). Tropical palm-covered walls meet pink velvet chairs and cricketers oversee the action from framed portraits on the walls. Conversations spark over crisp India Pale Ales and smooth gin cocktails.

On the menu, street foods intersperse with Indo-Chinese Hakka fusion and Kolkata’s famous kathi rolls as chef Amit Bangar reinvents staples for a little transcendental dining pleasure. Since the pandemic, all but

the tasting menu is available to go. CCC has also maintained its relationship with the anti-hunger charity Mealshare and donated 10 per cent of proceeds at Christmas to the Calgary Food Bank. —K.A. 340 17 Ave. S.W., 403-719-1555, calcuttacricketclub.com, @calcuttacricket THE FOOD Inventive contemporary updates to Indian standards. THE VIBE Posh Raj-era sporting club.

ORDER THIS The Keralan black pepper mushrooms.

KNOW THIS Whenever you see “Chettinad” on a menu, order it. The fusion of cuisines in the signature dishes of this region are lip-smackingly good.

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Cassis Bistro A N D R E A B R A S S A R T, C O - O W N E R AT C A S S I S B I S T R O .

BEST DATE NIGHT Winner BRIDGETTE BAR 739 10 Ave. S.W., 403-700-0191 (text only) bridgettebar.com, @thebridgettebar

2nd TEN FOOT HENRY 1209 1 St. S.W., 403-475-5537 tenfoothenry.com, @tenfoothenry

3rd RIVER CAFÉ 25 Prince’s Island, 403-261-7670 river-cafe.com, @rivercafeyyc

4th LULU BAR 510 17 Ave. S.W., 403-519-0444 (text only) lulubar.ca, @thelulubar

5th KLEIN / HARRIS 110 8 Ave. S.W., 403-262-8100 kleinharris.com, @klnharris

6th RAIN DOG BAR 1214B 9 Ave. S.E., 403-457-7263 raindogbar.com, @raindogbar

7th FLORES & PINE 254028 Bearspaw Rd., 403-241-7611 floresandpine.com, @floresandpine

8th

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wners Gilles and Andrea Brassart run Cassis Bistro’s dining room with a mix of casual charm and French elegance, while partner and executive chef Dominique Moussu’s brilliance is evident in every plate of exquisitely prepared — and very French — food. Moussu is a heavy hitter who excels at fine-dining flourishes (including in the extraordinary take-home dishes he’s come up with throughout the pandemic), while the Cassis kitchen under head chef Dhanray Martin brings a special touch to accessible classics like steak frites and short-rib 22

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bourguignon. Cassis’s secret lies in its ability to take its food seriously without too much pretention, making it the perfect restaurant for both tried-and-true lovers of European cuisine and French first-timers. —E.C.B. 105, 2505 17 Ave S.W., 403-262-0036, thecassisbistro.ca, @cassisbistro THE FOOD Classic French bistro.

THE VIBE Cozy and intimate.

ORDER THIS Beef tartare au couteau.

KNOW THIS The restaurant offers field trips for school French classes (dependent on COVID restrictions).

ALLOY 220 42 Ave. S.E., 403-287-9255 alloydining.com, @alloydining

9th DEANE HOUSE 806 9 Ave. S.E., 403-264-0595 deanehouse.com, @deanehouseyyc

10th THE KING EDDY 438 9 Ave. S.E., 403-829-6016 kingeddy.ca , @kingeddyyyc

Deane House H E AT H E R P E D H I R N E Y, D I R E C T O R O F O P E R AT I O N S AT D E A N E H O U S E .

BEST SPECIAL OCCASION Winner RIVER CAFÉ 25 Prince’s Island, 403-261-7670 river-cafe.com, @rivercafeyyc

2nd MERCATO 2224 4 St. S.W., 403-263-5535 mercatogourmet.com, @mercato_mission

3rd TEATRO 200 8 Ave. S.E., 403-290-1012 teatro.ca, @teatrorestaurant

4th THE NASH AND OFF CUT BAR 925 11 St. S.E., 403-984-3365 thenashyyc.com, @thenashyyc

5th ALLOY 220 42 Ave. S.E., 403-287-9255 alloydining.com, @alloydining

6th ROUGE 1240 8 Ave. S.E., 403-531-2767 rougecalgary.com, @rougerestaurant

7th THE LAKE HOUSE 747 Lake Bonavista Dr. S.E., 403-225-3939 lakehousecalgary.com, @thelakehouseyyc

8th BOW VALLEY RANCHE RESTAURANT 15979 Bow Bottom Tr. S.E., 403-476-1310 bvrrestaurant.com @bowvalleyrancherestaurant

9th FLORES & PINE 254028 Bearspaw Rd., 403-241-7611 floresandpine.com, @floresandpine

10th HY’S STEAKHOUSE & COCKTAIL BAR 8th Avenue and 3rd Street S.W. (The Core Shopping Centre), 403-663-3363 hyssteakhouse.com, @hyssteakhouse

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ast year was supposed to be one of renewal for Deane House.

After being closed for the latter part of 2019 due to a flood, the historic house in Inglewood reopened with a refreshed concept and menu … and then COVID hit. But proprietor Sal Howell has proven herself to be extremely resilient and quickly introduced meal packages to let customers enjoy the menu at home. Both the take-home and dine-in menus have upscale comfort food flair, marked by the restaurant’s impeccable attention to detail and use of high-quality, locally sourced ingredients.

Despite two years of terrible luck, Deane House is rising above with both its food and service and is ready for another renewal in 2021. —E.C.B. 806 9 Ave. S.E., 403-264-0595, deanehouse.com, @deanehouseyyc THE FOOD Canadiana fine dining.

THE VIBE Historic but homey.

ORDER THIS Tacky beets with chili and ginger.

KNOW THIS Dinner in Your Home take-home meal kits require minimal preparation with a big pay-off.

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Flores & Pine JESSICA RENAUD, CHEF DE PARTIE (AND OFFICE MANAGER) AT F L O R E S & P I N E .

BEST FRENCH & FRENCH-INSPIRED Winner CASSIS BISTRO 105, 2505 17 Ave. S.W., 403-262-0036 thecassisbistro.ca, @cassisbistro

2nd ROUGE 1240 8 Ave. S.E., 403-531-2767 rougecalgary.com, @rougerestaurant

3rd PURLIEU 14, 3109 Palliser Dr. S.W., 403-280-7474 purlieucalgary.ca, @purlieuyyc

BEST INDIAN Winner CALCUTTA CRICKET CLUB 340 17 Ave. S.W., 403-719-1555 calcuttacricketclub.com, @calcuttacricket

2nd CINNAMON INDIAN CUISINE & BAR 1207 11 Ave. S.W., 403-290-1777 cinnamoncalgary.ca, @cinnamonyyc

3rd MOTI MAHAL 1805 14 St. S.W., 403-228-9990 motimahal.ca, @motimahal

4th RAJDOOT 2424 4 St. S.W., 403-245-0181 rajdoot.ca, @rajdootrestaurant

W

hen the Bear’s Den opened in Bearspaw nearly two decades ago, locals rejoiced to have a noteworthy restaurant close at hand. But the room was too formal and dark for everyday dining, which is why Bearspawsians were even more overjoyed when Flores & Pine took over in mid-2019. The now-bright room serves as a gathering spot for locals but also draws diners from all corners of the city looking for an interesting and high-quality (but not overly fussy) meal with above-average wine and cocktail options. The food ranges 24

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from comforting classics to fancier meats cooked on the restaurant’s impressive wood-fired grill, with enough range of selection to cater to everyone. —E.C.B. 254028 Bearspaw Rd., 403-241-7611, floresandpine.com, @floresandpine THE FOOD Elevated comfort food. THE VIBE Fresh and friendly. ORDER THIS Bison meatballs with perogies.

KNOW THIS The building is enormous and has a range of special event spaces for weddings and other celebrations (once it’s safe to gather in large groups, of course).

5th CLAY OVEN 1, 3131 27 St. N.E., 403-250-2161 clayovenindianrestaurant.ca, @clayovencalgary

BEST ITALIAN Winner MERCATO 2224 4 St. S.W., 403-263-5535 mercatogourmet.com, @mercato_mission

Thank you Avenue for voting Una Pizza the Best Pizzeria, Best Late-Night Dining and one of the best overall restaurants in Calgary! unapizzeria.com | 618 17 Ave

8529 Broadcast Ave | 403.453.1183 | @unacalgary avenuecalgary.com

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Foreign Concept 2nd BONTERRA TRATTORIA 1016 8 St. S.W., 403-262-8480 bonterra.ca, @bonterracalgary

3rd REA’S ITALIAN CUCINA 431 41 Ave. N.E., 403-230-7754 reasitaliancucina.com, @reasitaliancucina

BEST JAPANESE Winner BIG CATCH SUSHI BAR 8835 Macleod Tr. S.W., 403-708-5555 bigcatchcalgary.ca, @bigcatchcalgary

2nd FUJI RAMEN AND SUSHI 111, 12100 Macleod Tr. S.E., 587-352-5595 fujiramenandsushi.com @fujiramenandsushi

3rd SHIKI MENYA 824 1 Ave. N.E., 403-454-2722 shiki-menya.myshopify.com, @shikimenya

4th SHOKUNIN 2016 4 St. S.W., 403-229-3444 shokuninyyc.ca, @shokuninyyc

5th D U N C A N LY, C H E F A N D O W N E R AT F O R E I G N C O N C E P T.

S

uccess is a combination of many factors including talent, effort, luck and the desire to constantly challenge oneself. Since it opened four years ago, Foreign Concept has focused on innovation and passion driven by exceptional ingredients. That’s why chef Duncan Ly’s flagship restaurant continues to be at the forefront of Calgary’s Asian-inspired cuisine.

Ly met the challenges of 2020 by renewing traditionally communal Asian dining concepts to suit individual dining arrangements.

He also launched unique limited menus, such as meals based on his mother’s cooking, and introduced rarely-seen-in-Calgary ingre26

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dients such as pandan to bring even more Asian flavour to local tables. Ly continues to push boundaries, inspire staff and add to the Calgary culinary lexicon. —G.H. 1011 1 St. S.W., 403-719-7288 foreignconcept.ca, @eatforeign THE FOOD Pan-Asian flavours with European precision.

THE VIBE Cozy and romantic. ORDER THIS The beef carpaccio followed by trout ka va lan. KNOW THIS Last year Ly won the Calgary leg of Canada’s Great Kitchen Party for the third time, making a total of six podium placements, along with his silver medal at the Canadian Culinary Championships in 2014.

KINJO SUSHI & GRILL Multiple locations kinjosushiandgrill.com, @kinjo_sushi

BEST LATE-NIGHT * *When there is late-night dining.

Check closing hours before you go.

Winner UNA PIZZA + WINE 616 17 Ave. S.W. and 8529 Broadcast Ave. S.W., 403-453-1183 unapizzeria.com, @unacalgary

2nd HAYDEN BLOCK SMOKE & WHISKEY 1136 Kensington Rd. N.W., 403-283-3021 haydenblockyyc.com, @haydenblockyyc

Year after year, Vintage Group Restaurants are voted Calgary’s Best Steakhouses.

WINNER Best Steakhouse, Avenue 2021

2ND PLACE Best Steakhouse, Avenue 2021

chairmans.ca

vintagechophouse.com

Only the best will do. avenuecalgary.com

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Eight 3rd PROOF 1302 1 St. S.W., 403-246-2414 proofyyc.com, @proofyyc

4th COMERY BLOCK BARBECUE 638 17 Ave. S.W., 403-453-7636 comeryblock.com, @comeryblock

5th CANNIBALE 813 1 Ave. N.E., 403-454-5808 cannibale.ca, @cannibale_yyc

BEST MEDITERRANEAN Winner JIMMY’S A&A MEDITERRANEAN DELI 1304 4 St. S.W., 403-264-3424; 1401 20 Ave. N.W., 403-289-1400 jimmysdonair.ca, @jimmysaanda

2nd AIDA’S BISTRO 2208 4 St. S.W., 403-541-1189 aidasbistro.ca, @aidasbistro

3rd JERUSALEM SHAWARMA Multiple locations jerusalemshawarma.ca, @jerusalemshawarma

BEST MEXICAN

T H E E X C L U S I V E C H E F ’ S TA B L E AT E I G H T S E AT S J U S T E I G H T G U E S T S AT A T I M E .

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techniques, and making Eight the delicious pinnacle of interactive farm-to-table dining in Canada, even the world. —R.B. 631 Confluence Way. S.E. (within Alt Hotel), 403-457-2153, eightcdn.ca, @eight_cdn THE FOOD Local Canadian culinary mosaic.

THE VIBE Intimate, dynamic and interactive.

ORDER THIS Eight does not have an à la carte menu, just a tasting menu that changes daily.

KNOW THIS Reservations are in the form of non-refundable tickets and are released in two-month blocks that sell out quickly.

No photos are permitted.

NATIVE TONGUES TAQUERIA 235 12 Ave. S.W., 403-263-9444 nativetongues.ca, @nativetonguesyyc

2nd AÑEJO 2, 2116 4 St. S.W., 587-353-2656 anejo.ca, @anejoyyc

3rd CON MI TACO 821 1 St. S.W. (Grain Exchange Building, inside Meat & Bread), 587-890-7192 conmitaco.com, @conmitaco

PHOTOGRAPH BY MICHAEL TRUDEAU PHOTOGRAPHY

I

f you are lucky enough to secure a reservation at Eight you will be one of only eight guests seated at an intimate, theatre-style chef ’s table overlooking the kitchen as chef/ owner Darren MacLean and chef de cuisine Mitsuru Hara craft your multi-course meal.

The restaurant is run as a three-times-weekly ticketed experience hosted by MacLean, and many ingredients are sourced from a farm he runs on land south of Calgary. Throughout the evening, MacLean weaves a story describing the courses drawn from the Canadian cultural and culinary mosaic, detailing the source and history of ingredients and

Winner

Nupo DARREN MACLEAN, CHEF AND OWNER AT N U P O A N D E I G H T R E S TA U R A N T S , P L AT I N G D I S H E S AT N U P O .

N

upo pays homage to chef/owner Darren MacLean’s mother — in name (her maiden name is Nupponen) and in her love of vegan food, fish and sushi. Nupo is the first Calgary restaurant to offer a premium omakase counter sushi experience, a style of Japanese fine-dining similar to a chef ’s tasting menu, but on an even more intimate level.

MacLean conceives the daily 17-course omakase menu in collaboration with chef Maki Kojima, the first female omakase sushi chef in Canada, who oversees the nightly execution. Sustainable sushi offerings include fish aged in house for seven days in a fish dry-aging chamber. Artisanal cocktails include “mar-tea-nis” made with Matsu Kaze teas from

Calgary-based Michiko Ono, a certified tea sommelier, while the extensive sake list includes exclusives to Nupo, as well as Japanese whisky and Canadian and Old-World wines. —R.B. 631 Confluence Way S.E. (Alt Hotel), 587-353-1388, nupo.ca, @nupoyyc THE FOOD Japanese-style, plant-forward cuisine (no meat is served) with incredible sushi. THE VIBE Minimalist decor inspired by Alberta’s landscape. ORDER THIS Grilled Fogo Island squid with tableside squid-gut coconut curry.

KNOW THIS Advance reservations for the omakase are required as it is limited to 16 guests per night over two ticketed seatings. avenuecalgary.com

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Rouge BEST OF DOWNTOWN Winner CHARCUT ROAST HOUSE 101, 899 Centre St. S.W., 403-984-2180 charcut.com, @charcut

2nd KLEIN / HARRIS 110 8 Ave. S.W., 403-262-8100 kleinharris.com, @klnharris

3rd (tie) ONE18 EMPIRE 820 Centre St. S.E., 403-269-0299 one18empire.com, @one18empire

3rd (tie) MODERN STEAK 100 8 Ave. S.E., 403-244-3600 modernsteak.ca, @modernsteakca

BEST OF THE BELTLINE Winner TEN FOOT HENRY 1209 1 St. S.W., 403-475-5537 tenfoothenry.com, @tenfoothenry

2nd BRIDGETTE BAR 739 10 Ave. S.W., 403-700-0191 (text message only) bridgettebar.com, @thebridgettebar

D E A N FA S T, C H E F D E C U I S I N E AT R O U G E .

3rd

A

t Rouge, there is always whimsy on the plate and now there are foraged finds there, too. Culinary director Paul Rogalski’s stint on the TV series Les Stroud’s Wild Harvest has resulted in a “wild to table multi-course tasting experience” incorporating his discoveries: reindeer moss gnocchi, sorrel sauce verte and Douglas fir resin caramel have all been featured. Sous chefs pluck chives from the garden. Honeybees buzz around nasturtiums that will turn into garnishes. Squash leaves coil up an old ladder, while scarlet runner beans arch over the garden walkways. And while the first lockdown saw Rouge making sandwiches and pizzas 30

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for kids’ lunch programs, the second had the team serving up Rouge at home dinners to go for equally delighted diners. —K.A. 1240 8 Ave. S.E., 403-531-2767, rougecalgary.com, @rougerestaurant THE FOOD Upscale garden-grown and locally sourced; now wild and foraged, too. THE VIBE Intimate and dignified, this is the place to get the deal done, whether romance or business. ORDER THIS It’s rare to find novel tastes executed in a creative contemporary fashion, so splurge for the chef’s tasting menu.

KNOW THIS No matter the season, there will always be something on your plate, either fresh or preserved, from Rouge’s garden.

ALUMNI SANDWICHES 725 17 Ave. S.W., 403-455-7255 alumnisandwiches.com, @alumniyyc

4th VON DER FELS 1005A 1 St. S.W., 587-349-2656 barvonderfels.com, @vonderfels

5th LULU BAR 510 17 Ave. S.W., 403-519-0444 (text message only) lulubar.ca, @thelulubar

FOREIGN CONCEPT ALTERNATIVE ASIAN DINING From the moment you step into Foreign Concept it will be apparent that you are about to experience far more than an exceptional dining experience. You will be transported from the rigors of the everyday life. Fresh, serene, timeless yet modern, Foreign Concept invites you to a unique Pan-Asian culture and community.

Our team of award-winning chefs play with flavours from across Asia, using locally-sourced ingredients, and modern cooking techniques. The clean, distinctive and subtle flavours honour colonial Vietnamese cooking with surprising flavours from across the continent.

BEST OF THE BURBS N.E. Winner CITIZEN BREWING COMPANY 227 35 Ave. N.E., 403-474-4677 citizenbrewingcompany.com @citizenbrewingcompany

2nd WHITE ELEPHANT THAI CUISINE 1808 19 St. N.E., 403-457-1172 whiteelephantcuisinecalgary.com

3rd HEARTS CHOICES CAFE MARKET 4127 6 St. N.E., 403-276-2163 heartschoices.com, @heartschoices

1011 - 1 St. SW | 403-719-7288 | www.foreignconcept.ca

Thank You!

BEST OF THE BURBS N.W. Winner MULLIGANS LOUNGE 11618 Valley Ridge Park N.W. (inside Valley Ridge Golf Club), 403-221-9682 ext. 1 valleyridgegolf.com, @mulliganslounge

2nd NOTABLE 4611 Bowness Rd. N.W., 403-288-4372 notabletherestaurant.ca, @notablecalgary

3rd 4TH SPOT KITCHEN & BAR 2620 4 St. N.W., 403-984-3474 4thspot.com, @4thspotkitchenbar

4th (tie) THE BRO’KIN YOLK 130, 12580 Symons Valley Rd. N.W., 587-317-5734 brokinyolk.ca, @brokinyolk

and p past staff, friends, family, suppliers and reps for an

We lo look forward to being able to properly celebrate 4 dec decades of history as soon as we can. You, and the rest of Ca Calgary, are invited to what we hope will be a summer

AMIHAN GRILL + BAKESHOP 208, 3132 26 St. N.E., 403-455-6050 amihan.ca, @amihan_grill_bakeshop

ATLAS PIZZA & SPORTS BAR 6060 Memorial Dr. N.E., 403-248-3344 atlaspizzasportsbar.com, @atlas_pizza_calgary

Around-The-World-in-80-Beers passport travellers, current Aroun incred incredible 40 years! (You know who you are!)

4th

5th

Very m many thanks to our thousands of customers,

of Cel Celebration! We are looking forward to sharing it, and the ne next 40 years, with you all.

140 10 Ave SW, Calgary, Ab | (403) 263-7900 | bottlescrewbill.com

BottlescrewBill

BOTTLESCREWBILL

u o y k n a h T y r a g l Ca

For voting Hearts Choices ‘Best Vegetarian’ in this year’s Best Restaurants!

Hearts Choices has been serving up plant based food in Calgary since 2010.

A mix of authentic Thai and Asian flavours made by our Thai owner, Nan, along with familiar comfort classic dishes. All made from plants, all sure to satisfy.

Calgary Farmers’ Market (aisle 2) 510 77 Avenue SE Hearts Choices Cafe Market 4127 6 Street NE

(403) 276-2163 heartschoices.com heartschoices avenuecalgary.com

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Una Pizza + Wine E X E C U T I V E C H E F K AY L E B U R N S AT U N A P I Z Z A + WINE IN WEST SPRINGS.

4th (tie) NICK’S STEAKHOUSE & PIZZA 2430 Crowchild Tr. N.W., 403-282-9278 nickssteakandpizza.com @nickssteakhouse

BEST OF THE BURBS S.E. Winner FUJI RAMEN AND SUSHI 111, 12100 Macleod Tr. S.E., 587-352-5595 fujiramenandsushi.com @fujiramenandsushi

2nd PHO DAU BO 110, 4909 17 Ave. S.E., 403-272-5160 phodaubovietnamese.com, @phodaubo

3rd AROUND THE BEND 116, 8400 Blackfoot Tr. S.E., 403-523-0989 justaroundthebend.ca, @around.the.bend

4th CHAIRMAN’S STEAKHOUSE 2251 Mahogany Blvd. S.E., 587-291-9898 chairmans.ca, @chairmansyyc

5th STARBELLY OPEN KITCHEN + LOUNGE 220, 19489 Seton Cres. S.E., 403-570-0133 starbelly.ca, @starbellyyyc

BEST OF THE BURBS S.W.

R

enowned for its Californiastyle thin-crust pizzas, Una Pizza + Wine has been a crowd favourite for over a decade now. Using stone-deck ovens, Una has created the perfect thin-crust, artisans pie with a crispy bottom and chewy centre.

Beyond pizza you will also find Mediterranean-influenced dishes using local and artisanal ingredients where possible to support local farmers and suppliers. Una employs an in-house team of delivery drivers to ensure that the customer experience is maintained no matter whether you’re dining in or at home. With this well-established formula, owners Jayme MacFayden and Kelly Black 32

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Winner successfully launched the Una West District location for dine-in, takeout and delivery late last year, and have a third location in Bridgeland coming soon. —P.L. 616 17 Ave. S.W. and 8529 Broadcast Ave. S.W., 403-453-1183, unapizzeria.com, @unacalgary THE FOOD California-style thin-crust pizza with Mediterranean-influenced flavours. THE VIBE Casual neighborhood haunt. ORDER THIS The rich and cheesy 4-maggi pizza finished with truffle oil and local honey.

KNOW THIS Pretty much everything is made in house, including meatballs, sauces and, of course, the pizza dough, along with most of the salumi toppings.

PURLIEU 14, 3109 Palliser Dr. S.W., 403-280-7474 purlieucalgary.ca, @purlieuyyc

2nd HIMALAYAN 3218 17 Ave. S.W., 403-984-3384 himalayancuisine.ca

3rd EMPIRE PROVISIONS CAFÉ + DELI 8409 Elbow Dr. S.W., 403-244-0570 empireprovisions.com, @empireprovisions

4th CASSIS BISTRO 105, 2505 17 Ave. S.W., 403-262-0036 thecassisbistro.ca, @cassisbistro

5th (tie) MERCATO WEST 873 85 St. S.W., 403-263-6996 mercatowest.com, @mercatowest

5th (tie) VIN ROOM 8561 8A Ave. S.W., 587-353-8812 vinroom.com, @vinroomyyc

BEST STEAK HOUSE Winner CHAIRMAN’S STEAKHOUSE 2251 Mahogany Blvd. S.E., 587-291-9898 chairmans.ca, @chairmansyyc

2nd VINTAGE CHOPHOUSE & TAVERN 320 11 Ave. S.W., 403-262-7262 vintagechophouse.com, @vintagechopyyc

3rd MODERN STEAK 107 10A St. N.W., 403-670-6873; 100 8 Ave. S.E., 403-244-3600 modernsteak.ca, @modernsteakca

4th CAESAR’S STEAKHOUSE 512 4 Ave. S.W., 403-264-1222; 110, 10816 Macleod Tr. S.E. (Willow Park Village), 403-278-3930 caesarssteakhouse.com, @caesarssteak

5th RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE 294, 115 9 Ave. S.E. (Calgary Tower), 403-246-3636 ruthschrissteakhouse.ca/calgary @ruthschrisyyc

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B E S T

O V E R A L L

W I N N E R S

Vo n D e r F e l s BEST PIZZERIA Winner UNA PIZZA + WINE 616 17 Ave. S.W. and 8529 Broadcast Ave. S.W., 403-453-1183 unapizzeria.com, @unacalgary

2nd PAUL’S PIZZA STEAKHOUSE & LOUNGE 70 Shawville Blvd. S.E., 403-254-4224; 2767 32 Ave Calgary N.E., 403-250-5200 pauls.pizza, @pauls.pizza

3rd NOBLE PIE 1070, 2600 Portland St. S.E. (inside the Eighty-Eight Brewing Company taproom) noblepiepizza.com, @noblepiepizza

4th WITHOUT PAPERS PIZZA 1216 9 Ave S.E., 403-457-1154 wopizza.ca, @woppizza

5th BOW TIE PIZZA Multiple locations, 403-299-0000 bowtiepizza.com, @bowtiepizza

B EST V E G E TA R I A N Winner

B A R M A N A G E R B R YA N C H I L D S A N D O W N E R W I L L T R O W AT VON DER FELS.

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tiny Beltline gem with fewer than 30 seats and a kitchen the size of a walk-in closet, Von Der Fels (VDF) has been deservedly lauded for its well-curated wine selection and ever-changing and imaginative menu. Over the past year, owner Will Trow and the VDF team reinvented the restaurant for takeout, with chef de cuisine Douglas King seizing the opportunity to deviate from his usual sophisticated small plates and cook up exciting new takeout fare each week.

Last year, when VDF returned to dine-in service following the first pandemic-imposed shutdown period, the team launched an 34

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HEARTS CHOICES 4127 6 St. N.E., 403-276-2163; 501 77 Ave. S.E. (Calgary Farmers’ Market) heartschoices.com, @heartschoices

impressive new Von Der Cocktail program to complement the carefully curated wine list. These delicious handcrafted cocktails are creative and fun, yet perfectly balanced with that unique Von Der twist. —P.L. 1005A 1 St. S.W., 587-349-2656, barvonderfels.com, @vonderfels THE FOOD Innovative small plates to pair with wines.

THE VIBE Cozy and lively. ORDER THIS Hasselback potatoes with Fogo Island crab in a rich brown butter sauce. KNOW THIS Reservations are highly recommended due to Von Der Fels’ tiny size and extreme popularity.

2nd TEN FOOT HENRY 1209 1 St. S.W., 403-475-5537 tenfoothenry.com, @tenfoothenry

3rd THE COUP 924 17 Ave. S.W., 403-541-1041 thecoup.ca, @thecoupcalgary

Be Boring. Make Money.TM Investing should be boring.

Be Boring. Make Money.™ means ignoring fads and taking a long-term view of investing. It means seeking business models with sustainable competitive advantages, regardless of industry or economic conditions. It means sticking to a disciplined, bottom-up investment approach, no matter the market outlook.

At Mawer, it means putting the investment odds in our clients’ favour by focusing on the things we can control.

We are benchmark agnostic, think probabilistically, and embrace uncertainty.

Our investment philosophy is to seek: •

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at a discount to their intrinsic value, and

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Because we adhere to a single, well-defined investment philosophy and process, our efforts are focused. This shared approach and common language can better enable the exchange of information and ideas—the ideal result

being enhanced decisionmaking, increased resilience, and reduced risk.

For over 45 years we have managed our clients’ capital following our “boring” investment philosophy.

We believe that by being consistent, systematic, and disciplined, we can provide our clients with above average, long-term, riskadjusted returns, and help them safely and profitably navigate the investing landscape through many economic cycles.

It may be boring, but we think it works.

Calgary I Toronto I Singapore 1 800 889 6248 mawer.com

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BEST OVERALL RESTAURANT JUDGES Meet the judging panel that selected and wrote about the 13 winners of Avenue’s Best Overall Restaurants for 2021.

KAREN ANDERSON

Karen Anderson founded Alberta Food Tours, Inc. in 2006 and innovated the Alberta Food Finder game and Alberta Cares Packages during “COVID’s calm” in 2020. She has garnered IPPY, Taste Canada and Gourmand World Cookbook Awards for her cookbook, food and travel writing. Daily meditation keeps her focused on what matters, hiking and cooking keep her joyful.

R O S E M A RY B A C OV S K Y

Rosemary Bacovsky explores great food experiences in Calgary and the world through road trips, culinary tours and food festivals. She has dined at the majority of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants and is regularly called on to participate in the creation of national and international best restaurant lists. She supports her food passions through consulting as a pharmacist.

E L I Z A B E T H C H O R N E Y- B O O T H

Elizabeth Chorney-Booth is a frequent contributor to Avenue, the restaurant columnist for the Calgary Herald and the food trends columnist for CBC’s The Homestretch. She is the co-author of two bestselling cookbooks and her work has appeared in a number of national and international publications including The Globe and Mail, CNN Travel and Today’s Parent. An (almost) lifelong Calgarian, Chorney-Booth is overjoyed by the recent evolution of pizza and tacos in the city and loves sharing stories of the people who feed us.

GABRIEL HALL

Gabriel Hall is a writer and photographer who has spent more than 20 years travelling primarily between Canada and Asia, experiencing first-hand the connection between food, history and culture. His key interest lies within understanding localized ingredients, the historical techniques that have informed their use and how to apply those ideas to future modes of cuisine. When not travelling or studying, Hall can be found drowning his sorrows at random Japanese whisky distilleries.

P AT R I C I A L A U

As a food blogger, Patricia Lau loves to seek out delicious food experiences, locally and beyond, wherever her travels take her.

Her passion for culinary adventure has resulted in many “foodcations” to Japan and Europe, as well as from coast to coast across North America. In her home city, she keeps close tabs on Calgary’s dining scene and is often eating out and sharing her food adventures on various social media platforms. You can follow her adventures on Instagram @miss_foodie.

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Fine Chinese Cuisine Since 1966 Large selection of Dim Sum (Calgary only) Extensive menu, live seafood, Cantonese & Szechuan dishes Lunch, Dinner Open 7 days a week and all holidays Take out, delivery and catering services

106 - 3 Avenue SE • Chinatown

403-264-5326

silverdragoncalgary.com

109 Spray Avenue, Banff

403-762-3939 silverdragonbanff.ca

“The same secret recipes since 1975”

TAKE-OUT • DELIVERY

403-248-3344

T ©2 02 1

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

Money Matters As the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to challenge stability across industries, we’ve asked the experts how to best manage personal finances through these uncertain times.

ALWAYS IN YOUR CORNER ConnectFirst Credit Union has long been an ally to the Alberta communities it serves, no matter the economic outlook.

“There’s an authentic desire to help people through these times,” says connectFirst Private Wealth vice president Sean Bjorklund. “We’ll get through this together, and we’ll also grow together.”

Consisting of four regional divisions — First Calgary Financial, Chinook Financial, Mountain View Financial and Legacy Financial — connectFirst advisors offer members expertise specific to their individual needs.

Here, Bjorklund and connectFirst’s senior vice president of Wealth, Kathleen Hurtubise, share how Albertans can better prepare for a potential layoff, and how to best navigate the situation if it happens.

HOW TO PREPARE FOR A POTENTIAL LAYOFF With so many industries directly impacted by COVID-19, being let-go can feel like a real possibility. In times like these, Hurtubise says preparation is key. It’s never too early to take a financial inventory of your spending. She suggests identifying what can be cut from regular purchases if a layoff happens and an income stream is lost.

“Take a solid look at what’s going on with your money. What’s coming in and what’s going out,” says Hurtubise. “Take a bit of an inventory while you’re not under the immediate pressure of feeling like you have to react.”

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Don’t forget additional sources of income beyond salaries, such as rental properties or government benefits, along with smaller monthly expenses like streaming subscriptions. Honesty is the best policy here — how much do you really spend on groceries each month?

From there, identify where you can whittle down expenses. Phone plan renegotiations and cutting entertainment spending can be a good place to start. For the costs that can’t be cut, consider other options, such as looking into what you have in savings, understanding if there’s cash available in your mortgage or pursuing lines of credit.

Once you have a lay of the land, speaking

with a connectFirst advisor can help make sure your money goes as far as possible.

HOW TO MAXIMIZE YOUR PAYOUT IF YOU ARE LAID OFF If a layoff does happen, making the right moves at the right time is imperative.

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, but maximizing a payout often means minimizing the taxman’s cut. Bjorklund explains that each severance package likely has its own intricacies and differences, meaning talking to an advisor can make all the difference.

“Regardless of your situation, it’s always good to review with a financial planner,” says Bjorklund. “We genuinely enjoy helping people make money and make a difference. There’s nothing more satisfying.”

While sooner is better to get engaged and make informed, confident decisions, Hurtubise says the dynamic team at connectFirst is always available to make sure you have the support you need, regardless of where you are in the process.

“The right time is always right now,” says Hurtubise.

ADVERTISING FEATURE

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GET IT HERE Spring is in sight and a closet refresh is definitely in order.

Luckily, you don’t have to look far and wide to find pieces you’ll love this season as local boutiques have got the goods.

STYLING BY JULIE ROTH PHOTOGRAPHY BY STEVE COLLINS MAKEUP & HAIR CITLALI LOZA, ARTISTS WITHIN MAKEUP ACADEMY M O D E L D A R C Y, M O D E M O D E L S

AKRIS PUNTO JACKET, $1,695, AND DRESS, $1,550, BOTH FROM LA CHIC; KENDALL + KYLIE BOOTS, $269, FROM THE BAMBOO BALLROOM. avenuecalgary.com

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STYLIST JULIE ROTH SAYS: “These are not your typical trenches. Why not make a statement while getting equipped for spring weather?

After all, we can never have too many jackets in Calgary.”

SET MACKINTOSH COAT, $995, FROM CRABAPPLE CLOTHING COMPANY; DUCIE TOP, $160, AND KLASSIFIED SLIPPERS, $90, FROM ERA STYLE LOFT; LA PETITE FRANÇAISE PANTS, $179, FROM ESPY EXPERIENCE.

AKRIS PUNTO DRESS, $1,195, FROM LA CHIC; GLAMOROUS UK JACKET, $199, FROM THE BAMBOO BALLROOM; MAITHË BOOTS, $218, FROM ESPY EXPERIENCE.

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AKRIS PUNTO DRESS, $1,575, AND COAT, $2,090, BOTH FROM LA CHIC; MANOVIE TOSCANE SHOES, $258, FROM ESPY EXPERIENCE.

ST. AGNI TANK, $230, FROM FIELDSTUDY; DOUBLE D RANCH FRINGE JACKET, $600, FROM CODY & SIOUX; MARC CAIN PANTS, $440, FROM LA CHIC; GUILHERMINA SHOES, $168, FROM ESPY EXPERIENCE.

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STYLIST JULIE ROTH SAYS: “Between bold shoulders, head-to-toe floral prints, cut-outs and romantic silhouettes, I love that there is a dress style for everyone this season.”

FOR LOVE & LEMONS DRESS, $280, FROM CODY & SIOUX; LA CANADIENNE LOAFERS, $398, FROM ERA STYLE LOFT.

DOUBLE D RANCH DRESS, $150, ZIMMERMANN MINI DRESS, $1,325, FROM HOLT RENFREW.

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FROM CODY & SIOUX.

GLAMOROUS UK DRESS, $129, FROM THE BAMBOO BALLROOM.

MIE DRESS, $398, FROM FIELDSTUDY.

GANNI DRESS, $365, FROM ERA STYLE LOFT; GUILHERMINA SHOES, $168, FROM ESPY EXPERIENCE. avenuecalgary.com

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(ABOVE) BEATRICE VALENZUELA HEELS, $525, FROM FIELDSTUDY.

(LEFT) JOHN FLUEVOG ANKLE BOOTS, $459, FROM JOHN FLUEVOG. STIVALI BOOTS, $388, FROM ESPY EXPERIENCE.

STYLIST JULIE ROTH SAYS: “Yellow is one of the major colours for spring 2021. What better way to bring happiness and optimism to your wardrobe than with the colour of the sun!”

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BOTTEGA VENETA CROSSBODY BAG,

INWEAR TOTE, $139,

BOTTEGA VENETA BAG, $4,590,

ARE STUDIO BAG, $594,

$4,950, FROM HOLT RENFREW.

FROM CRABAPPLE CLOTHING COMPANY.

FROM HOLT RENFREW.

FROM FIELDSTUDY.

avenue March 21

MODERN OCEAN

MODERN BURGER

MODERN STEAK

A S U S TA I N A B L E F I S H & S E A F O O D H O U S E

CRAFT BURGERS & CONCOCTIONS

A N A L B E R TA P R I M E G R A D E S T E A K H O U S E

Catch the Vibe

WWW.MODERNOCEAN.CA WWW.MODERNBURGER.CA WWW.MODERNSTEAK.CA

avenuecalgary.com

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MAISON IREM NECKLACE, $465, AND EARRINGS (LOWER PIERCING), $195, FROM ERA STYLE LOFT; COUTUKITSCH CHARM EARRING (UPPER PIERCING), $36 PER INDIVIDUAL EARRING, AND SIGNET RING, $65, FROM THE LIVERY SHOP; Z SUPPLY TANK, $49, FROM THE BAMBOO BALLROOM.

STYLIST JULIE ROTH SAYS: “Heavy hardware with ‘charm’-ing accents and touches of pearls are jewellery trends popping up this season that are so fun to wear.”

LE LOU ULA THREAD EARRING (LOWER PIERCING), $110 PER INDIVIDUAL EARRING, FROM FIELDSTUDY; COUTUKITSCH HOOP EARRING (UPPER PIERCING), $22 PER INDIVIDUAL EARRING, SIGNET RING, $55, AND HAIR CLIP, $16, ALL FROM THE LIVERY SHOP; Z SUPPLY TANK, $49, FROM THE BAMBOO BALLROOM.

LILY BAKER MULTI-COLOURED RING, $265, FROM CRABAPPLE CLOTHING COMPANY; CITRINE AND SILVER QUARTZ RING, $1,425, FROM CANARY; COUTUKITSCH NECKLACE, $65, CHARM BRACELET CHAIN, $35, DISCO SNAKE CHARM, $30, NORTH STAR CHARM, $20, AND CRESCENT MOON CHARM, $20, ALL FROM THE LIVERY SHOP; DANNIJO MULTI-COLOURED BRACELET, $195, FROM ERA STYLE LOFT.

FASHION SOURCE The Bamboo Ballroom, 814 16 Ave. S.W., 403-454-1088, bambooballroom.ca; Canary, Calgary-based online resell marketplace, lovecanary.ca; Cody & Sioux, 1312A 9 Ave. S.E., 403-264-2489; and Old West Mall, Unit 3, 27 Balsam Ave., Bragg Creek; codyandsioux.com; Crabapple Clothing Company, 3526 Garrison Gate S.W., 403-686-3661, crabappleclothing.com; Era Style Loft, 917 17 Ave. S.W., 403-452-5095; and 122-326 Aspen Glen Landing, 587-351-6500; erastyleloft.com; Espy Experience, 1009 9 Ave. S.E., 403-457-3779, espyexperience.com; Fieldstudy, 102, 1812 4 St. S.W., 587-356-2134, fieldstudyshop.com; Holt Renfrew, The Core Shopping Centre, 403-269-7341, holtrenfrew.com; John Fluevog, 207 8 Ave. S.W., 403-265-1970, fluevog.com; La Chic, Bankers Hall, 403-269-4775, lachiccalgary.com; The Livery Shop, 1119 10 Ave. S.E., 403-453-7711, theliveryshop.com 48

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WHEN THE NEW NORMAL IS NORMAL, WE’LL STILL STRIVE TO BE EXCEPTIONAL.

220 – 42 AVENUE SE

403 287 9255

ALLOYDINING.COM

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C H E RY L

FOGGO Reclaiming and reimagining the past to craft the future of life on the prairies.

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BY AFROS IN THA CITY PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHAUN ROBINSON

*Afros In Tha City is a Calgarybased media collective that aims to empower Black voices. This profile was written as part of a journalism learning opportunity led by Kimberley Dooshima Jev.

W R I T E R - D I R E C T O R C H E R Y L F O G G O A N D E I G H T- T I M E W O R L D CHAMPION FORMER RODEO COWBOY FRED WHITFIELD ON A SHOOT FOR THE DOCUMENTARY FILM JOHN WARE RECLAIMED. T E X A S - B A S E D W H I T F I E L D P O R T R AY S WA R E I N T H E F I L M .

or more than three decades, Cheryl Foggo has dedicated her career as an awardwinning author, documentary film director, screenwriter and playwright to sharing Black perspectives and stories from the prairies. Now, Foggo is exploring how to continue capturing, preserving and sharing Black history in Alberta, while navigating life during a pandemic.

Foggo’s resumé is robust with readings, performances, books, articles and theatre productions surrounding the story of not just her own family history and experience but that of John Ware, a mythologized Black cowboy and rancher who settled in what is now Alberta in the late 1800s. Foggo brought Ware to life most recently in John Ware Reclaimed, a documentary she created in partnership with the National Film Board of Canada.

“For me, John Ware Reclaimed is, in part, the reclamation of the story of John Ware as it connects to Blackness,” says Foggo. “The film is a look at the life of the man behind the legends.” avenuecalgary.com

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CHERYL FOGGO CAREER HIGHLIGHTS CHERYL FOGGO PERUSING JOHN WARE A R C H I V E S W I T H M A R Y M A L L O R Y, W H O S E FA M I LY H A D B E E N N E I G H B O U R S O F T H E WARES. MANY ITEMS IN MALLORY’S COLLECTION WERE GIVEN TO HER BY WARE’S DAUGHTERS.

F

oggo first introduced her audiences to Ware in a presentation on his life in 2012. Two years later, in her play John Ware Reimagined she crafted fictionalized scenes of his life based on the evidence she found through research, intertwining them with stories of her own life.

Her film John Ware Reclaimed is a further investigation into Ware’s story, beyond the context of prejudice and injustices that often cloud our understanding of racialized historical figures.

The film premiered at the Calgary International Film Festival this past fall, and won the CTV Audience Choice Award for Alberta Feature. “It was really important for me to not make a film solely about the racism John Ware experienced,” says Foggo. “It was important to me to make it beautiful and show the love that he shared with his wife.”

The film shows Black life through a Black Canadian lens and includes scenes imagining Ware’s partnership with his wife Mildred, historical photos of Ware with his children and what his journey as a Black man could have looked like.

During a year stifled with unavoidable uncertainty, Foggo says she has found renewed clarity in the importance of her work. “The sense of urgency to preserve these stories increases for me as I get older,” she says.

Foggo laid bare her direct connection to Black history on the prairies in her family memoir Pourin’ Down Rain: A Black Woman Claims Her Place in the Canadian West. A 30th anniversary edition of her landmark work was released last year by Edmonton-based publisher Brush Education. The book weaves a tale 52

avenue March 21

FILM AND TELEVISION John Ware Reclaimed, NFB, 2020, writer-director The Journey of Lesra Martin, NFB, 2002, director (winner of the Silver Chris Award, Columbus International Film + Video Festival) North of 60: Love Hurts, 1997 screenwriter (Alberta Motion Picture Industry Awards finalist) Carol’s Mirror, 1992, screenwriter (winner of national and international educational film awards) North of 60, story-editing team member, 2.5 seasons

“ I T WAS R EAL LY IMPORTANT F OR ME T O NOT M AK E A F IL M S OL ELY ABOUT T H E R AC I SM J OH N WAR E EXPER IENC ED.” of a life changed and marvellously impacted by community, family and an unwavering dedication to recording Black history in Alberta.

John Ware Reclaimed continues to make the film circuit (for the time being, virtually) across the country and with a rise in attention to the perspectives and voices of young Black lives in Canada, this history that Foggo has been sharing for decades seems to be even more timely. “[I’m] searching for a way to make this history widely available to everyone and especially to the young Black people who really need it,” says Foggo.

Watch John Ware Reclaimed on the National Film Board website at nfb.ca/film/john-ware-reclaimed/.

THEATRE 21 Black Futures, 2021, playwright (one of 21 playwrights involved), commissioned

by Obsidian Theatre Company and CBC Gem John Ware Reimagined, 2014, playwright (winner, Writers’ Guild of Alberta 2015 Gwen Pharis Ringwood Award for Drama) The Devil We Know, 2012, co-written with Clem Martini, premiered at the Blyth Festival Theatre

BOOKS Pourin’ Down Rain: A Black Woman Claims Her Place in the Canadian West, 1990; 30th anniversary edition, 2020 Dear Baobab, 2011 I Have Been in Danger, 2001 One Thing That’s True, 1997

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Cambridge Manor

The Brenda Strafford Foundation is bringing our ‘people-first’ approach to our innovative new seniors wellness community.

START THE NEW YEAR IN YOUR NEW HOME AT CAMBRIDGE MANOR 253 Smith St. NW | 403-536-8675 | cambridge@theBSF.ca Visit us online at: cambridgemanor.ca | theBSF.ca

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Enjoy a rich and full life with the comfort and security of a true aging-in-place experience, from independent and assisted living to enhanced care and memory care.

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MOUNTAINS

GO WITH A GUIDE

P H O T O G R A P H B Y T AY L O R B U R K

Why the best way to explore nature is with someone who knows where to go, how to get there safely and how to make the most of the journey and the destination.

W

hether you’re trekking high up in the mountains or fishing down at the water’s edge, being outdoors in nature is a heightened experience. But it can also weigh you down with worry: What if we get lost? What if we get hurt? What if we meet a bear?

The solution is to go with a professional guide. Without feeling anxious about where you’re going and whether you

have the right food, water and gear, you can more fully enjoy your surroundings, experience the wellness and mental health benefits of being in nature, and lose yourself in the moment, knowing that someone else is taking care of things. “Hiring a guide can provide a safe and educational experience and allows you to better understand the environment you’re traveling through,” says Sylvia Forest, president of the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides

BY JACQUELINE LOUIE

avenuecalgary.com

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P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y T O M P O O L E , R O X A N N E W A L S H , K I M A U B E , T O B Y H A R R I M A N , J E S S E T A M AY O

spend your time in a meditative state, as well (ACMG), and a mountain guide herself. as learning about your surroundings and “You can learn something about stewardconnecting with nature,” Bibby says. ship and the environment, learn new skills Stonefly offers single-day and multi-day from professionals, as well as see places that trips by foot, truck, jet boat and helicopter. are less visited, because you have somebody Over the past year, Bibby has seen a big to show you these special places.” upswing in interest in fly fishing, as well as Julie Walker is a professional guide certiother outdoor disciplines, as restrictions on fied through the Interpretive Guides Assotravel have inspired many to explore their ciation, and program director and owner of own backyard. Hiring a fly fishing guide is Full Circle Adventures in southern Alberta.

Walker encourages her clients to focus more a great way to learn the basics and get some knowledge under your belt. “You could read on the journey and less on the destination. books and watch YouTube videos about fly “Being outside is a breath of fresh air — literally,” she says. “You are getting very high fishing, but nothing replaces the mileage and experience that I can offer, to help oxygen quality and you are getting Vitamin people learn and have more success on the D, the sunshine vitamin.” water,” Bibby says.

Walker also wants her clients to experiHiring a guide isn’t just for nervous ence the spiritually invigorating aspects of newbies. Avid outdoorsy types can also being outside. “Engagement with nature is benefit from guiding expertise, especially if really like an engagement with creation,” they want to venture further she says. “It’s a non-maninto backcountry areas where made environment where “HAVING AN inexperience at any level can there is a sense of something UNDERSTANDING OF be deadly. “The biggest thing bigger than ourselves. That WHERE YOU LIVE CAN that people hire a guide for connection is critical at a time GIVE YOU A SENSE OF — especially at the beginner when people have concerns PLACE, A SENSE OF level — is the safety eleand fears, whether they’re BELONGING AND A ment,” says ACMG-certified health-related or financial. [It SENSE OF mountain guide Jeff Bullock, can] reset a burnt-out nerROOTED-NESS.” director of operations at vous system and can totally —J ulie Walker, Inter pr etive G uide Alpine Air Adventures, a reframe a person’s mental and Banff-based company that emotional outlook.” offers guided rock climbing, Anyone who is curious backcountry skiing, hiking and trekking, as about the world around them would enjoy well as mountain skills courses. “When they heading out with an interpretive guide, says spend a day with a guide going through a Walker. “[Interpretive guiding] ties into whole bunch of safety skills, they get it really the idea of land acknowledgement — the quickly.” history of the footsteps we are travelling Neil Warren, a Calgary-based ACMGin could be everything from our parents, certified ski guide who teaches avalanche our grandparents and the first Europeans, awareness, crevasse rescue, navigation, to the First Nations, the trading routes and and backcountry skiing and snowboarding hunting trails. A lot of our first hiking trails courses, notes that getting the most out of were put on top of animal trails. Having an your day is another one of the main advanunderstanding of where you live can give tages of going with a guide. When someone you a sense of place, a sense of belonging else is managing all the details and all you and a sense of rootedness, that helps us feel have to do is show up, it allows you to make safe and grounded.” the most of the best possible conditions.

That feeling of being grounded also “Especially with ski touring and anything comes from being near water. Ken Bibby in avalanche terrain, it keeps the risk-to-fun of Stonefly Guiding Co. offers bespoke fly ratio as low as possible,” Warren says. “You fishing trips, focused on catch-and-release, get to have the most amount of fun with the in the waters less travelled in and around least amount of risk.”

Revelstoke, B.C. “It is an amazing way to

“THE BIGGEST THING THAT PEOPLE HIRE A GUIDE FOR IS THE SAFETY ELEMENT.” —Jeff Bullock, AC M G - c e r t i f i e d mo u n t a i n g u i d e

THE ULTIMATE GUIDED

B

HIKING EXPERIENCE

anff-based CMH is a giant in the world of heli-skiing, operating 12 B.C.-based lodges during the winter season. When the snow melts, things quiet down, but they don’t stop entirely, with summer heli-hiking adventures out of CMH Cariboos, Bugaboos and Bobbie Burns lodges.

(Only Bobbie Burns and Bugaboos will be doing summer trips in 2021.)

While it’s common for backcountry hiking lodges to ferry guests in and out by helicopter at the start and end of a multi-day trip, CMH goes above and beyond that with additional daily heli flights from the lodges into surrounding alpine terrain. By eliminating the tedious approach hikes, CMH guests get to experience a wide range of sweeping views and geological wonders: striated walls of glacial ice, rushing waterfalls, mossy pools dotted with delicate wildflowers, clusters of ombré boulders, and ice-blue lakes that heartier hikers can jump into if they dare. Weather permitting, a strong hiking group and their designated ACMG-certified guides can be dropped into multiple alpine areas over the course of a single day.

If this sounds totally indulgent,

well that’s the whole point. Hard-core mountaineering purists might scoff at the CMH model, what with the helicopter rides, cushy beds, gourmet meals, fully stocked bar staffed by an experienced bartender, hot tubs, massage therapists and so on. But those who don’t believe that you should have to suffer to reach the summit will find themselves fully in their element being shepherded around spectacular alpine zones they would never otherwise be able to access, outfitted in top-of-the-line hiking boots and outerwear that each CMH lodge has on hand for guests to use.

All three summer lodges also offer via ferrata adventures to willing and able guests. Perhaps the ultimate guided experience within the ultimate guided experience, via ferrata is essentially rock climbing aided by iron handholds, suspension bridges and ziplines. Yes, you’re harnessed into a system of cables to keep you from plunging to your death should you lose your footing, but even so, via ferrata is a true test of physical and psychological mettle, making you feel like you definitely earned that glass of rosé in the hot tub at the end of the day. —Shelley Arnusch

Avenue’s writers and editors are occasionally invited to experience dining or adventure experiences as a guest, including some of the experiences in this story.

Neither complimentary experiences nor advertising are required for coverage in Avenue. Neither companies that advertise nor those that provide other incentives are promised editorial coverage, nor do they have the opportunity to review or approve stories before publication.

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DECOR This page The monochromatic colour scheme of Slice House allowed architect and designer Kayla Browne to indulge her love of colour when it came to furniture and art pieces.

Opposite Cedar siding applied in the centuries-old board and batten method creates contemporary vertical lines on the exterior of the home. Extended cladding above the study windows outlines the overhang that engages with the deconstructed front porch.

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L I F E S L I C E

O F

DECOR

ARCHITECT KAYLA B R O WN E ’S S LI C E H O U S E S H O WS T H AT E LE VAT E D D ESIG N C A N B E B O T H AT TA I N A B LE A N D FU N C T I O N A L.

BY TSERING ASHA PHOTOGRAPHY BY JARED SYCH

reat design is sometimes seen as being at odds with affordability, but Slice House is proof that the two can coexist. “I don’t believe that good design should cost a lot of money,” says Kayla Browne, principal at Bold Workshop Architecture and the mind behind Slice House. “Everyone should be able to have access to it.”

Browne designed the house for a lot she and her husband purchased in 2017 on a street of established homes in Inglewood. Built in 1901, the original house on the lot was

G

uninhabited for a number of years and was not in a fixable state. Removing it allowed Browne to carry out her vision for a novel and unique home that still fit into the surrounding community.

The home she created is positioned slightly off of due north, with angular sections pointing due east and due south (hence the name “Slice House”). The striking exterior has long, slender windows encased in cedar cladding installed in the vertical board and batten style. A deconstructed front porch, with steps that double as seating and avenuecalgary.com

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DECOR

Clockwise from top left The living room is the hub of the house with double-storey ceilings that allow sightlines to the other rooms on the main and second floors.

The main-floor powder room is sleek and contemporary.

Instead of a walk-in closet in the main bedroom, Browne added closets along the walls to maximize the square footage of living space.

no railings (a deliberate omission by Browne to make the home more inviting), is a contemporary addition to the heritage neighbourhood’s existing front porch-scape. “You need to make architecture that’s representative of its time,” Browne says.

The living room (Browne’s favourite space) is the hub of the home. Three overhead skylights in the soaring double-storey ceiling flood the space with sunlight, while floor-to-ceiling windows in the surrounding rooms also feed natural light into the space. An enclosed study on the main level offers a private escape from the open living room. The balance of open, communal spaces with those that offer more privacy was something Browne kept in mind to ensure the home had universal appeal.

Browne’s utilitarian design inspired Slice House’s sleek, monochromatic look. “I made a considerable effort to try to use affordable materials and innovative ways in order to keep the cost down of the build,” she says. In the main bedroom, she eschewed 60

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“I don’t believe that good design should cost a lot of money.”

— K AY L A B R O W N E

a walk-in closet — a costly construct that eats up square footage — and instead added closet storage along two walls (intended as “his and hers,” she says, “or his and his,”). Located on the second level, the main bedroom has a wall of windows and a door opening to a rooftop terrace. The ensuite bathroom is cordoned off from the bedroom by an eight-foothigh wall, and the gap between the top of the wall and the 10-foot ceiling allows natural light from the windows into the ensuite shower.

An open catwalk links the main bedroom with the home’s two secondary bedrooms and a built-in workstation, open to the living room below, that Browne envisioned as a study space. “You keep electronics out of the rooms and the kids do their homework at the desk, so they can be involved in family life through the open space,” says Browne.

“If their parents are cooking dinner, the kids can be doing their homework and still be part of family life, instead of being in their rooms.”

Browne’s use of cold-rolled, raw black steel on the living-room fireplace, the kitchen backsplash and the catwalk, adds to the contemporary look of the home. The open kitchen has a generous island and view of the backyard garden, demi-courtyard and adjacent laneway home, also designed by Browne.

“One of the things that I’m most proud of with the development is just to give the lot new life, give some new life to the street and contribute to [the] streetscape,” she says.

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DECOR

E L E VAT E D DESIGN F O R E V E R Y D AY LIVING Architect Kayla Browne’s Slice House combines striking aesthetics with thoughtful practicality. Here are three things Browne considered when creating this novel, yet functional home.

REFRAMED SPACES

Reimagining unused space to work with limited square footage helps achieve a clean home design. Since the secondary bedrooms are small, Browne designed a lengthy built-in desk with built-in drawers in the hallway space outside the bedrooms for studying and storage.

OUTSIDE IN

The main-floor study/home office has floor-to-ceiling windows to engage with the streetscape. An overhang lets sunlight in while also providing shade during the summer months.

PRIORITIZE PRIVACY

A partial courtyard bordered by the house and a fence creates a private outdoor area that opens up to the garden for entertaining larger groups.

“I think it’s important to have outdoor space where you feel safe and protected, but still feel connected to the neighbourhood,” says Browne.

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Clockwise from top The lengthy kitchen counter provides ample room for food preparation while the extended island can accommodate more seating for entertaining.

Slice House architect and designer Kayla Browne.

The back of Slice House faces a laneway home, which was also designed by Browne.

A communal workstation outside the secondary bedrooms on the upper level was intended to function as a space for studying.

Enter the 2021 Made in Alberta Awards SOURCE Architecture and interior architecture by Bold Workshop Architecture, 200, 724 11 Ave. S.W., 403-478-4967, boldworkshop.ca House built by RockCreek Builders, 109, 10555 48 St. S.E., 403-461-4403, rockcreekbuilders.com Cedar siding oil from Sansin (Ontario), 1-877-726-7461, sansin.com Metal siding from Metalworks Canada, A, 1115 48 Ave. S.E., 403-279-2766, metalworkscanada.com Windows by Lux Windows, 6875 9 St. N.E., 403-276-7770, luxwindows.com Metalwork by Bluenose Welding, 403-710-7782 Millwork by Bellasera Kitchen Design Studio (inside Legacy Kitchens), 2980 Sunridge Way N.E., 403-243-1919, bellaserakitchens.com Floor and wall tiles from Stone Tile West, 4040 7 St. S.E., 403-234-7274, stone-tile.com Hardwood flooring from Stone Tile West Living room and outdoor accessories from HomeSense, seven Calgary-area locations, homesense.ca Mags sofa by Hay from Contemporary Office Interiors, 2206 Portland St S.E., 403-265-1133, coi.bz Floor pillows by Gan from Dade Loft, 104, 1212 13 St. S.E., 403-454-0243, dadeloft.shop Pink Herman Miller chairs from Contemporary Office Interiors About a Chair black dining chairs by Hay from Contemporary Office Interiors Lamp from EQ3, 100, 8180 11 St. S.E., 403-212-8080, eq3.com Three Sisters Summer painting by Jason Carter from CarterRyan Gallery, 705 Main St., Canmore, 403-621-1000; and 229 Bear St., Banff, 403-985-5556; carter-ryan.com Bedspread from West Elm, 868 16 Ave. S.W., 403-245-1373, westelm.com Kitchen hardware from Banbury Lane Design Centre, 1301 10 Ave. S.W., 403-244-0038, banburylane.com Countertops from Caesarstone, 16, 7155 64 St. S.E., 403-476-9880, caesarstone.ca

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THE LIST B Y T R AV I S K L E M P

MATT RAI

M

E S K E R F O U N D AT I O N “Something I aspire to is to give back to the community the way Jim and Sue [Hill] have with the Esker Foundation.

It is amazing what they have offered to the community in building the foundation.”

PEASEBLOSSOMS “Every time I need to make up with either my mom or my wife, these are the guys I go to.”

WITHOUT PAPERS PIZZA “Great vibe, wicked area, Inglewood is the best. The pizza is so consistent and from the ingredients to the crust to the expertise, they really have it all.”

ARTIST ALEX KWONG “A super-talented artist who uses spray paint to do amazing murals. One of Mayor Nenshi [in Toronto] is pretty popular and my favourite is the one of the Rat Pack. You’ll see his stuff all around the city.”

AVALON SALON “Hassan [Nasser, the owner] and I went to high school together. He is an internationally recognized stylist and his shop is filled with people I know.”

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W I ND I G O “A super cool, psychedelic band here in the city. To know a band and watch them grow and then be recognized in Australia and Europe is really neat. It was great to see them close out the night at the King Eddy.”

E S P Y E X P E R I E NC E “Megan [Szanik] does a great job, similar to Lina’s, of finding great brands and clothing that mean something to her.”

A NNE X A L E P R O J E C T “We do a lot with Annex sodas at Lina’s. It’s a great partnership.

I served them at my wedding.

Their Moscow Mule and Dark and Stormy are maybe the best in the city.”

CIRCUIT STREAM “I am a tech nerd and we want to develop apps for Lina’s.

These guys are virtual reality revolutionaries in Calgary. They use VR tech to educate and share with Calgarians, and it’s amazing stuff.”

L I V I NG F U R N I T UR E “[Through them] we were able to get customized furniture sourced from Montreal, Italy, etc., to fit perfectly in our condo.

It’s not like the stuff you see every day. It is unique and different.”

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JARED SYCH

att Rai is the general manager of the nearlythree-decades-old institution known as Lina’s Italian Market. Rai joined the Lina’s family four years ago with the challenge of raising the bar for the authentic, internationally inspired market, opening up Calgarians to new foods and new experiences while providing Italian-Calgarians with the foods they love.

As GM, Rai oversees a staff of chefs and bakers and fills the market with exceptional and otherwise-hard-to-find items.

In doing so, he is reconnecting Lina’s with the principles it started with 28 years ago.

Lina’s has expanded to three locations in the city, including one on Elbow Drive and the Supermercato location on 130th Avenue S.E. Here are 10 of Rai’s favourite things in Calgary.

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www.tanyaeklundgroup.ca | Direct (403) 863-7434 avenuecalgary.com

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WORK OF ART C U R AT E D B Y K AT H E R I N E Y L I T A L O

ANOMALY

T I T LE

Anomaly

T

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DATE

2020 ARTIST

Alex Caldwell MEDIUM

Stainless steel SIZE

156 x 144 x 72 inches LOC AT I ON

One Park Central, 510 12 Ave. S.W. NOT ES

Commissioned by Hines; installation by Crystal Services (Calgary). Alex Caldwell is represented locally

by Paul Kuhn Gallery. Another outdoor sculpture by Caldwell is at Drake condo tower at 1500 7 St. S.W.

Caldwell studied with Katie Ohe at Alberta College of Art (now Alberta University of the Arts), graduating in 1985. He set up Alexander Caldwell Design Ltd, in a warehouse converted into a studio and foundry. There, he makes his own art, does custom design work and fabricates work for other artists.

His sculptures have been called minimalist, but there is an earlier art movement that also resonates with his aesthetics and philosophy. Streamline moderne, epitomized

in automobile design, was the exciting new fashion at the 1933-34 Chicago World’s Fair.

With smooth curves, horizontal speed lines and sleek surfaces, streamline moderne signalled a confidence in modern life, accentuating simplicity and science. Introduced during the dark days of the Great Depression, it brought an optimism that was sorely needed, and continues to appeal. Likewise, Caldwell’s contemporary sculpture seems to resonate in these times.

PHOTOGRAPH BY STEVE COLLINS

he sparkling geometric form of Anomaly is eye-catching from the street. Whether you linger to gaze at your multiplied and distorted reflection or catch a glimpse while on the move, you see yourself incorporated in the mirror images of the shifting streetscape.

The grand wreath of gleaming steel spheres that seem to bubble one from another in a carefully balanced circle — suggesting small molecular systems, cloud formations or planetary activity — is one of Calgary artist Alex Caldwell’s most impressive projects to date.

International developer Hines invited Caldwell to fabricate this sculpture for the “Galleria,” an open space between the site’s residential towers. Hines dedicated the space to showcasing notable Calgary artists and debuted works by Caldwell, Blake Senini and Bradley Harms in late summer of 2020, with more to come in a second phase.

John Wilbeck, Hines’ Calgary representative, and the Houston-based design team asked Caldwell to make a large-scale version of an earlier tabletop sculpture in highly polished stainless steel. Caldwell had to develop new ways of working for this scale.

He imported specific sizes of steel spheres and square tubing rather than drawing from his collection of scrap metal, and hired two welders, a machinist and a stonemason to help him, although with the onset of COVID-19 he was forced to let his crew go. For months, Caldwell took on the tedious, gritty polishing job himself, ultimately finding it meditative. But as his deadline approached, he enacted COVID-safety procedures in order to have assistance for the final stage.

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SINCE 1978

B E T T E R VA L U E B Y D E S I G N