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Archive for the ‘Food & Flavour’ Category

Maharajah

December 4th, 2009 by John Gilchrist

I was downtown alone one evening and got a hankering for Indian food. But Indian food is not easy to order off the menu for only one diner. And since it was evening there were no big buffets around. I was stymied until I came across Maharajah across from City Hall in Rocky Mountain Plaza. They do “thali,” which is a combo platter for the individual diner. Maharajah’s is an excellent one. Or two actually – they have a vegetarian thali and a non-vegetarian one. Guess which one I had. (more…)

Tags: Maharajah
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First Down(town) Food Fest : River Cafe

November 26th, 2009 by Lisa Murphy-Lamb

With the Grey Cup, Calgary is offering a chance to eat more than hotdogs and chips-or whatever Grey Cup day fare you may traditionally indulge in. The First Down(Town) Food Fest is well under way offering Calgarians and visitors a chance to get into the game by sampling Grey Cup-inspired pre-set menus for lunch ($15), dinner ($25) or gourmet ($85).

I chose the River Café. It’s on my running route and I like how it looks nestled on Prince’s Island. I also like how it smells and attracts patio dwellers in the summer. This time I made a lunch reservation for two. But this time I didn’t need it. There were plenty of available tables. We got one by the window to watch the other runners, the strollers and the Canadian geese. (more…)

Tags: Grey Cup, River Café
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Murrietas

November 17th, 2009 by Jill Roberts

Named after Joaquim Murietta, legendary bandit and “Robin Hood of El Dorado,” Murietta’s bar and grill delivers a stimulating combination of charm and substance. The restaurant is perched on the second story of Stephen Avenue Mall, hewn from the bones of the historic Alberta Hotel.

We arrived late, cold, hungry, in uncomfortable shoes and without reservations. Lucky to get a table, we were soon pouring over the alluring menu, and seated graciously next to the fireplace.

Offering “something tailored to every taste,” Murrieta’s ample menu had us drooling over nearly everything.
(more…)

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Belgo Brasserie

November 13th, 2009 by Wil Knoll

Hard to put your finger on it, but it’s really tasty

Belgo takes a bit of time to try and explain to you what it is. In fact, it takes the first paragraph of their website’s index to describe what a brasserie is. I’m not too worried about what hours food is served, or if the menus are printed or just listed over the counter. But both my date and I were unsure what to expect when walking into the place. We were pleasantly surprised.

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Anju Restaurant and Lounge

November 9th, 2009 by Nathan Atnikov

Sitting in the upstairs bar at the Anju Restaurant and Lounge is a pretty good feeling. A decent view of downtown and some nice quiet music makes for a nice dining experience, even if a large plasma TV above the bar is spewing out images of grown men fighting in a cage. You can’t win ‘em all.

An impressive drink selection is the perfect compliment to Anju’s Korean cuisine, which offers different appetizers and meals in increments of 5, 10, 15 and 20 dollars. (more…)

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Bookers BBQ Grill and Crab Shack

November 6th, 2009 by John Gilchrist

For over a quarter-century, the old brick warehouse at 316 – 3rd Street S.E. has been home to a series of lively eateries from the boisterous Kingfisher of the 1980s to the various lives of Bookers.

The new Bookers BBQ Grill & Crab Shack – re-opened in September 2009 after renovations – belongs to the Vintage Group which also owns Rush, Vintage Chophouse, and the three Redwater Rustic Grilles. They’ve buffed the place up, moving the bar, replacing the furniture, knocking down some walls, building others, and generally making Bookers look like an old brick warehouse that has a barbecue smoker and a crab boiler in the back. (more…)

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Mango Shiva

October 30th, 2009 by Lisa Murphy-Lamb

I am planning a weekend in San Francisco with a friend. Her job is to research where to eat and drink. I find the fun literary/art/outdoorsy events. We met up over lunch to share our research. Lunch was at Mango Shiva a contemporary Indian restaurant on Stephen Avenue mall. In fact, Mango Shiva has moved in and taken over where Dairy Queen used to be (so that’s what’s happened to Dairy Queen, now I know).

Sleek and hip, this restaurant was crowded even though we were there before noon. If you want to eat lunch make a reservation. We had to eat at the bar, which was fine for us. I guess with the move, Mango Shiva had hoped to move away from the lunch buffet and move strictly to an a la cart menu. Lunch patrons complained and the buffet is back. (more…)

Tags: Food & Flavour, Lunch Buffet, Mango Shiva
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The Saltlik

October 22nd, 2009 by Wil Knoll

I may not have the most cultivated pallet on the face of the planet. I’m a fan of the simple things, like making hamburger helper and intentionally burning it a bit to get some crunchiness. The trick, you see, is to be distracted at home whenever you are cooking.

I can burn anything.

But I am still qualified to tell when my date is disappointed with a meal. A self described foodie herself, a majority of the discussion about our meal was talking about meals that we had elsewhere. Worse, the steaks we consumed were compared, unfavorably, to a chain steak house with far cheaper décor and prices. (more…)

Tags: Saltlik, Steak House
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The Trib

October 21st, 2009 by John Gilchrist

A friend and I decided to have lunch after a meeting at the Art Gallery of Calgary but when we stepped outside it was raining. So we made the quick jog across Stephen Avenue to The Trib, formerly known as The Tribune, at 118 Stephen Avenue SW. Same owners, similar look, but with a fresh, anti-recession menu. They’ve gone with a steakhouse tone, not a bad idea when you consider there really hasn’t been a steakhouse along Stephen Avenue lately. (Beef is, after all, what the tourists are looking for.) (more…)

Tags: Downtown Lunch Spots, Food & Flavour, The Trib
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Food is Life

October 1st, 2009 by Fiona Wren

What’s not to love about food?

If the above statement expresses the way you feel about all things culinary, check out the Calgary Public Library’s latest informational series, Food Is Life. The free series is a veritable buffet of information for those who consider themselves true foodies or want to learn more about food, health, and nutrition. (more…)

Tags: Calgary Public Library, Cultural Courses, Food is Life
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