Marathon Mouth

Hungry Thaiger is now a sit-down reestaurant Nearly a year ago, I extolled the excellence of Hungry Thaiger, a Thai ghost kitchen in Oakridge Community Centre in suburban southwest Calgary. But owners Somp (chef from Bangkok) and Travis (Saskatoon) have just realized a bigger dream: opening a full brick-and-mortar restaurant, a stone’s throw from the original. Before That means sitting down…

Calgary Farmers’ Market – South is a great plaace to hang out with frieds and family You recognize them as soon as you walk in the door. They’re gathering places, where people hang out with friends and families to share a leisurely meal or drink. They’re usually packed and abuzz with conversation. With luck or good timing, you might find an empty table. Once you do, you probably won’t want to…

34th Avenue SW1 Want a facial with that latte? Distilled Coffee House (2408 34 Avenue) is a combination coffee shop and beauty bar. Order a Rosso Roastery coffee and fresh-baked cookie. Distilled Coffee House Bonjour Sandwich Shop (1909 34 Avenue) is a tiny space churning out big, European-style sandwiches. The menu is roughly split in two. There’s the French lineup—think cultured butter,…

This might be the perfect spring trifecta in Calgary. Pints on a sunny, funky brewpub patio. A hot dog festival. The finish of a marathon road race, with all its thirsty competitors. Oh, and a fourth: a welcome “mat” for real dogs to lounge on, inside and outside the brewery. Mix it all together and you’ve got a (barley) mashup called Dog Days Festival, a two-week (May 23-June 6) celebration of…

The west entrance to this prominent southwest retail district is graced by a large “Marda Loop” banner. A perhaps more realistic sign: Welcome to Hell. That’s because a considerable stretch of 33rd and 34th Avenues was under construction for several years, prompting a merchants’ lawsuit against the City of Calgary. Even with the detour signs finally removed, it’s often a slow slog for drivers to…

Paradigm Spark is a new high-end coffee roaster and cafe on the eastern edge of downtown Calgary I encountered Paradigm Spark, and its owner, David Kim, when it was a pop-up coffee bar inside the Beltline’s Butter Block bakery. A few days later, it was gone. But thankfully it reappeared, some months later, as a stand-alone coffee roaster, barista classroom and cafe on the eastern edge of…

Choux & C. is a new Marda Loop dessert retreat It seems dessert shops are having a moment in Calgary. Take your expanded pick of matcha doughnuts, pistachio cream puffs or ice cream marriages with breakfast cereals. How hot is this trend? Consider,Avenue Magazine has just published a list of 10 new dessert places in Calgary. Ten! Sampling them all might put me in a diabetic coma. So I’ll focus…

Caffe Beano an intimate coffee experience Our modern world likes to lionize the newest, the latest, the trendiest. So it’s a pleasure to recognize a Calgary coffeehouse that’s quietly been a neighbourhood institution for more than 35 years. Caffe Beano keeps things simple. Good, custom-roasted coffee. Friendly, efficient staff. In-house baked pastries and fine Wayne’s bagel sandwiches. And a…

Fabulous Butter Block muffin and Q.lab coffee It’s increasingly hard to find a good coffee and pastry in Calgary for less than $10. So, here’s an outstanding pairing for only $5. Of course, there’s a wee caveat or two. As in buy one, get one free (Can I just get the free one?) And you have to hit two places. But it’s still a hell of a deal. Who doesn’t love a free coffee? We start at Butter…

Vaycay a new brew pub in Marda Loop With soaring food costs and stiff competition, you might not expect a new entry in Calgary’s crowded craft beer market. Yet Vaycay Brew Pub has just opened another such establishment, in busy Marda Loop; its three-year-old brewery is in nearby Currie Barracks. A flight of beers Owner Andrew Gass has a few competitive aces up his sleeve. One, obviously, is a…

There’s nothing more satisfying, as a Calgary food blogger, than discovering hole-in-the-wall gems in industrial parks. Old Fashioned Meat & Deli, tucked away near Blackfoot Trail SE, certainly fits the bill. It’s principally a deli, serving mainly the Polish community with an array of sausages, cold cuts and groceries. But it also makes to order fine sandwiches such as my pork loin, stacked…

Best of Calgary Foods and Drinks Calgary Farmers Market – South A big data dump on my favourite Calgary eats and drinks that are independent and “reasonably priced”. Save this list for your dining out pleasure. Organized by category. Coffee roasters: Devil’s Head Coffee, Sought X Found Coffee Roasters, Chronicle Coffee Devil’s Head Coffee Coffee shops: Q.lab, Sought X Found, Sierra…

Freo a stylish new Calgary breakfast spot Freo is a fine, new addition to the Killarney morning eats scene, such as it is. Located next door to the equally newish Millo Millo Bake Shop, this narrow space serves up breakfast standards like omelettes, bennies and pancakes. Pulled pork breakfast bowl But I’m here for the house-made, pulled-pork bowl ($22), a lovely concoction featuring poached…

Best mac and cheese in Calgary… the known universe? If you’re expecting an ode to KD getting me through university, you’re sadly mistaken. Instead, here’s a tribute to an epic mac and cheese from the brilliant hands of Krooked Provisions, at Avenida market. This version recently earned owners Leanna and Lyndon an award for Calgary’s best mac and cheese. How about the world? The winning formula…

BBQ Express This may be the most colourful lunch experience in Calgary. Also, one of the cheapest and fastest. With business mostly conducted in Chinese. At tiny BBQ Express, in north-central Calgary, you line up in front of a display case of hanging ducks and other meats. If you’re following the standard of ordering the lunch combo, you’re asked to choose two meats (roast pork, barbecue pork,…