Carino Riserva

 

Carino Riserva

2206 4 Street SW,  Calgary, AB

(403) 454-7668
Reservations can be made on OpenTable
www.carinoreserva.ca


So that amazing first date I had at Model Milk turned into something pretty special and we’re now celebrating our seven month anniversary.  With us both being huge foodies, we have done our fair share of dining out, and to mark 7 months of bliss we decided to try Carino Riserva, an Italian and Japanese fusion restaurant in the Mission area.

I’m not going to lie; I had my hesitancies in trying this place for a couple of reasons.  Firstly, this cultural food combo seems so polar opposite in flavours that it’s hard to imagine how it could possibly work well together. Secondly, Carino Riserva is a very small restaurant with tables arranged extremely close together, which you know I have an aversion to, and thirdly the décor is very simple and it didn't grab me the way some restaurants do.  This is  why I went back and forth the past few months as to whether I wanted to take the leap and try this little place out, but boy am I glad I did!

Yes, we were put at a little table with couples on either side of us that might as well have dined with us, and yes I could hear every word of their conversations, but I quickly lost focus as soon as we had our first bite of food.  I would say that the main flavours lean more towards Italian than Japanese, with the Japanese flavours subtly infused throughout.  No, you aren't required to put soya sauce on spaghetti, in case that might have been your fear as well.  

Now this is going to be a strong statement since I dine out all the time, but this had to be the BEST meal I’ve had in Calgary in a very long time.  The food blew everything else out I have recently tried out of the water.  All I can say is take the leap, you won’t be disappointed, I assure you.   

When going through Carino Riserva’s menu, you will be impressed by their offerings.  For Antipasti choices ($8-$15) they have many, including Panko Crusted Brie Cheese with a sweet chili sauce, Spicy Tuna Tartare infused with sesame oil, chili sauce and Tamari soy sauce, and a Steamed Clam & Mussel Hot Pot mixed with Italian Sausage, cooked in a Japanese Dashi broth, the foundation of many of their meals.  If you don’t know what Dashi broth is, it’s made with only three ingredients (water, dried kelp and bonito fish flakes) and it provides a perfect base for the dishes without overpowering them.  One of the salads they offer is their take on a Caprese Salad, which instead of balsamic and olive oil drizzled over it, they use a delicious Yuzu Vinaigrette.  The many pasta and gnocchi dishes ($17-$19) are also made with Dashi broth, but the broth is infused with additional flavours such as tomato sauce, pesto, garlic and truffle oil.  If you’re looking for non-pasta dishes, they also offer an array of meat and seafood dishes such as Beef Tenderloin, Duck Breast, Scallops, Cod and Lamb ($24-$33) gently infused with hints of Japanese flavours such as Soy-Honey, Garlic Teriyaki, Shimeji Mushrooms and Soy Butter Sauce.

We both decided to enjoy a bottle of Pino Grigio ($54) while sharing two mains from the Chef’s Tasting Menu.  We love seafood, so the first dish we had was Panko crusted soft shell crab on top of a creamy risotto with mussels and clams ($24). It was a generous portion, cooked perfectly and it was absolutely delicious.   The next special we tried was the Half Lobster Hot Pot ($28) with Dashi broth infused with tomato sauce, Italian sausage, mussels, clams and octopus.  Again the portion was generous and all the flavours melded together causing a sensory overload for our taste buds. It was amazing! At the end of this meal, we competed for the broth resting at the bottom of the pot, unable to get enough of it.  Lastly we broke down and had their dessert special, which was an almond ice cream, floating in a milk chocolate sauce with chunks of fruit jelly and dark chocolate pieces ($8).  The only word I could use to describe it is heavenly!

Carino Riserva has to be one of the most wonderful little gems tucked away in Mission. The service is excellent, the menu items are familiar yet unique in their preparation, and the flavours really are out of this world.  We will definitely be back again.

Thank you Carino Riserva  - Gochisoosama and Grazie per il pasto!

 

Favourite Downtown Coffee Houses

Coffee houses are places to sip on the most delicious thing known to mankind, while finding inspiration or just simply wanting to relax.  Many of these tucked away places feel as if you're sitting in someone's living room, with no pressure to leave anytime soon for fear you've outstayed your welcome.   Here are a few of my favourite coffee houses that I think are the full package:

Philosafy Coffee

632 17 Avenue  Calgary, AB

www.philosafy.com

This little coffee house popped up a short time ago on 17 Avenue SW and it's a fabulous place.  I love everything about it, from the atmosphere, flavour of their coffee, to the delicious baked goods supplied by Manuel Latruwe Belgian Patisserie and Bread Shop.  If I could have an apartment that looked like the inside of Philosafy, I would be thrilled, with its rustic décor of wood, metal, cement and marble that gives it a loft type feel.  I enjoyed a large latte, that was smooth and delicious which I paired with one of their tasty cheese and garlic scones.

My friend just started a new beauty business after being laid off from the oil and gas industry, and each Friday morning in the summer we'd pick a coffee house and brainstorm together.  When we visited Philosafy for the first time, we didn't want to leave and ended up spending three hours there here while regularly topping up on coffee.  We both commented how much we loved the ambiance, brightness and modern feel, as if we were sitting in a space out of Architectural Digest. 

I highly recommend trying this relatively "new kid on the block" coffee house, as you won't be disappointed.

Gravity Espresso & Wine Bar

909 10 Street SE, Calgary, AB

www.cafegravity.com


Gravity is a funky and contemporary coffee house & wine bar, mixed with the flair of an unpretentious art house. This is my usual place to go when I head on long bike rides in the summer, as they have a fabulous patio that gets sun all afternoon.  My go to drink is an iced almond latte with a pump of dolce syrup, which has to be hands down one of the best iced coffees I've ever had.  All the food is homemade, hearty and delicious, from their curries, soups, salads to baked goods.  If you want to enjoy a wine or beer, that's also an option as they're licensed. 

They offer live music, host numerous charity events  as well as local art and photography shows.  Each time you go, you'll also see new art and photographs on their walls that can be purchased from local artists.

I love everything about Gravity and the fact that they have become a driver for local artists & charities, as well as en established community coffee house & wine bar for the locals of Inglewood. 

If you are in the neighbourhood, stop by for a delicious coffee and while you're there, I highly recommend taking an hour or two and touring around the whole community of Inglewood, as you'll find eclectic shops from record stores, clothing boutiques, music venues to independent eateries sprinkled throughout.  

Bumpy's Café

1040 8 Street SW, Calgary, AB

www.bumpyscafe.com

If you're looking for a coffee house that provides delicious homemade comfort food like your grandma used to make, along with locally roasted organic coffee, then look no further than Bumpy's Café. Their motto is "Feel at home" and that is definitely how you feel when you enter through the doors, as they've created a warm & inviting space with a flare of retro throughout.

Each time I go here, I'm amazed by how the owner remembers all her regular customer's names along with their coffee and food orders.  She greets them by saying, "Hi (insert name), so will it be the blueberry muffin and a large latte again for you today?" I have yet to see her get it wrong. 

As for the food, you'll find homemade muffins, granola, quiches, meat pies, chili's, and panini's on their menu along with an array of coffee and tea options. In the morning, you'll see Grandma whipping up homemade muffins in the open kitchen by the coffee bar.  When you pick up your latte from the counter, you'll be treated to coffee art, with a beautiful leaf, heart and various other designs.  Everything they do is thought out, once again adding to the ambiance of "home".

So if you happen to be downtown, make sure to stop by for the delicious goodness  and warm environment that Bumpy's has to offer, you will enjoy every moment of it.  

 

The Guild

The Guild

200 8 Avenue SW,  Calgary, AB

(403) 770-2313
Reservations can be made on OpenTable
www.theguildrestaurant.com

It was a co-worker's birthday this week, and I wanted to take him out for a nice lunch to a restaurant that neither of us had been before, a real feat for a passionate foodie. Then I remembered The Guild, a restaurant that opened their doors just over a month ago, located right on Stephen Avenue and built into the main floor of The Bay building.

As per their website, The Guild prides itself on the finest traditions of butchery, cookery and bar-keeping, while using local beef, game and fowl and utilizing traditional cooking techniques over wood and coal. I was intrigued.

Because it was such a nice day, and no severe thunderstorm warning flashing across my phone, a rarity these days, we decided to sit on their large patio that has the capacity to hold up to 200 people, but not before peering in to see the inside the restaurant. I was happy to see that they didn't go with the same old cookie cutter look that new restaurants seem to be going for, which is either a minimalist or industrial approach. Instead, the space borders on a sultry 70's feel, with warm metals throughout, parquet flooring, riveted light wood tables and leather bound chairs & booths in black, grey and olive green. Definitely the focus within the space is the large and unique wrap around bar with the open kitchen situated just behind, a place where any single person or couple could sit comfortably and enjoy one of their many drinks like the Original Canadian Mule made with Crown Royal, ginger beer, maple and lime($10), or a classic cocktail like a Manhattan or Dirty Martini ($13).

Once my co-worker and I were seated on the patio, our friendly server came to our table wearing an old fashioned yet trendy uniform of suspenders, dress shirt and dark jeans which I found to be a nice touch with the restaurant going for the whole guild house theme. I also liked that our server was a good balance between professional and friendly, and was attentive enough throughout our lunch that it wasn't too over the top.  

When going through The Guild's menu it's both eclectic and rustic, with their menu broken down into raw, hot, soups, classics, salads, mains and mains to share. As I skimmed through it, I saw options like raw Gin and Tonic Salmon ($17), Blood Pudding ($14), Alberta Greenhouse Gazpacho ($12), Deep Fried Mac and Cheese ($9), Cobb Salad ($18), Chuck Burger ($18), Maple-Glazed Brisket ($29) and Slow-roasted Pig's Head ($39). 

We decided to share the Deep Fried Mac & Cheese with truffled ranch dressing to start, and then I ordered the Cobb Salad ($18) for my main dish and my co-worker chose the Chicken Poutine ($19) for his.

We expected the Deep Fried Mac & Cheese to be an appetizer size, but when it arrived there were four extremely large block pieces that could easily have been a main. As we bit into the savoury and comforting twist on a classic, it wasn't greasy at all in spite of it being deep fried, and the macaroni & cheese inside had kept its nice creamy consistency.  Though it would have been a bit flavourless on its own, dipped in the truffled ranch dressing turned it into a heavenly creation.

Shortly after we finished our appetizer, the mains arrived. My Cobb Salad was a good size plate of fresh organic greens with large pieces of moist chicken tossed in, along with small pieces of pancetta, blue cheese and pickled celery  Though it wasn't stacked full of the classic ingredients or prepared like a classic Cobb Salad, I really enjoyed all the flavours, including their homemade citrus dressing that just lightly coated everything. My co-worker thoroughly enjoyed his poutine as well, that was a combination of cheese curds, homemade chicken gravy, large chicken pieces, cabbage and pancetta. When I had a taste, I had to agree, that it was one of the best poutines we had both had in a long time.  

Overall, I would recommend The Guild to anyone craving something different from the norm, as I find their menu, décor, as well as their overall theme to be refreshingly unique. I have no doubt they're on the right track to being a great success!

 

 

Posto Pizzeria and Bar

Posto Pizzeria and Bar

1014 8 Street SW,  Calgary, AB

(403) 263-4876
Reservations can be made on OpenTable
www.posto.ca

If I was forced to choose one food that I had to eat everyday for the rest of my life, it would be pizza.  Pizzerias have come a long way from the days of offering basic pizzas like pepperoni and Hawaiian, with many now taking on the culinary challenge of turning pizza into a gourmet food option.

Over the past several years there has been a revival of this beloved food, as restaurants have begun to experiment with various toppings not traditionally found on a pizza like fancy cheeses, herbs, various sauces and spreads, seafood, lettuce, and even fruit, marrying the most delicious flavours together in a very unexpected way. Then there has been the transformation of the crust itself, with many abandoning the cookie cutter crust and turning to more of a  Napoletana style pizza that transports you back to the heart of Italy, with every bite.

As you walk into Posto, there is an instant warmth, making you want to cozy up for the night with a friend or partner with it's rustic décor of weathered wood, concrete and marble accents, accompanied by bold hanging lights that give off a soft glow.

As my date and I walked in, the staff were engaging and friendly. Once we were seated, our server took really good care of us, guiding us through the wine list and pizza options, as well as recommending personal favourites.

Because it was Sunday night, our server told us that they were offering 1/2 price pizzas, making the pizzas $9-$10, which was an added bonus.  Besides pizza, they also offer other options like various charcuterie boards of meats and/or cheeses ($7-$38), appetizers such as lamb meatballs, Humboldt squid and ricotta ravioli ($8-$10), as well as the option of starting with a delicious salad like kale, warm tomato or homemade Caesar ($10-$11).

We each decided to pick a pizza and share, so we ordered the spinach, shallot, garlic, wild mushroom and grana padano pizza ($19) as well as the chicken, almond pesto, goat cheese and red pepper pizza ($19).  Both pizzas arrived at our table in a reasonable amount of time and had been perfectly cooked in the wood burning oven.

We absolutely loved the flavours of the spinach pizza, with our server commenting that this pizza was definitely one of the staff favourites, but unfortunately the chicken pizza we ordered fell flat in comparison, with it being quite flavourless as well as dry, especially the chicken itself. Overall though, the one underwhelming pizza wasn't enough to deter us from returning again, especially as we saw the gorgonzola, fig, potato, radicchio and rosemary pizza ($21) pass by our table.

Overall I would highly recommend Posto Pizzeria and Bar for a nice night out with friends or a place to snuggle up with a date and enjoy some comfort food, as it offers a nice ambiance, friendly service and delicious meals made with quality ingredients at reasonable prices.

 

Trolley No. 5 Restaurant & Brewery

Trolley No.5 Restaurant & Brewery

728 17 Avenue SW,  Calgary, AB

(403) 454-3731
www.trolley5.com

My friend and I decided to stop in and try Trolley 5 over the long weekend, which is a relatively new craft brewery and restaurant that was built in place of the iconic Melrose Café and Bar. It's a large two storey structure, with an open front and large patio section. When you step in, it feels like you're entering a funky warehouse with the space feeling quite industrial with a mix of stainless steel, light wood & metal tables, wooden walls, modern oversized lights, exposed ceilings and retro faux leather beige booths. Overall I think they did a great job of decorating such a large space and keeping everything consistent within the theme.

Right from when we entered the restaurant, all the staff were extremely friendly and attentive, including the owner.  We really enjoyed the level of service from our Server as well, who was personable and engaging and eager to check on us regularly to make sure we weren't in need of anything as we moved through our dining experience.

One of my most favourite meals on a weekend is brunch, and I'm always eager to try a new restaurant that offers one.  For me a test of a good restaurant is how well they put together a breakfast, because if they fail when it comes to one of the simplest meals they can possibly make, it's not likely I will come back to try their lunch or dinner.

On Trolley 5's brunch menu, they offer an array of options from the Classic Breakfast ($12), Eggs Benedict ($14) to a BBQ Breakfast Poutine ($15). For their drink special that day, they were offering Mimosas for $6. 

Both of us were in the mood for the comfort of a Classic Breakfast, which at Trolley 5 is two eggs any style, choice of meat (sausage, bacon or ham) along with toast and hash browns, and we accompanied this with some Mimosas.

Our breakfast arrived promptly,  and when it was placed in front of us, it was instantly underwhelming.  The eggs were small, the brown bread was dry and barely toasted, the two little pieces of bacon looked like one piece cut into two,  and the store bought, frozen hashbrowns were little bits of over fried potato nuggets that were dry and unseasoned.  Everything tasted just how it looked, bland and flavourless, with me capable of making a much better one in my own kitchen. My friend and I both agreed that absolutely no effort was put into the meal before us, and not one thing stood out as being delicious. 

Though I know it can be hard to reinvent the wheel when it comes to a classic breakfast, there are still ways to make it stand out, like providing customers with fresh bread bought that day from a local bakery, homemade jam, organic farm eggs with rich and colorful yokes, a nice quality meat supplied by a butchery and hash browns done in-house. Those are the types of breakfasts that make me want to come back again, and unfortunately in this case, no matter how great the service was or atmosphere, both of us said we wouldn't return.

A restaurant that slaps together meals cheaply, using sub-par ingredients, just tells me that they're focus is more on quantity and making money, rather than taking pride in producing quality meals and valuing the customer who is left to consume it. In the end if you are known for your excellent food and service, I believe the success of a restaurant will come without having to cut corners.

As the saying goes, "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day", so I say make it a good one, and unfortunately Trolley 5 just seemed to miss the stop.

 
 

Model Milk

Model Milk

308, 17 Avenue SW, Calgary, AB 

(403) 265-7343
Reservations can be made on OpenTable
www.modelmilk.ca

So I went on a first date this past Sunday.  First dates are a funny thing because you never quite know what you're walking into.  If you discover that the chemistry isn't there, that you're not quite clicking, or that they're an awful human being, then there's nothing worse than being stuck sitting across from them as each course comes out, being forced to converse painfully for several hours.  Fortunately for me (phew!) it didn't turn out this way. It was clear that there was chemistry between us early on, and our conversation flowed easily.

My date had picked Model Milk for us, as it was one of his favourite restaurants, and on Sundays they offer "Sunday Supper", which they describe as a feast of wholesome goodness, served family style.  The cost is only $40 per person and an array of beautiful dishes are placed on your table to share.  That night we were able to enjoy pork belly placed on top of a creamy cheese and pesto sauce, steelhead salmon accompanied with steamed kale, green beans tossed in chilies, breaded and fried cauliflower and a homemade nanaimo bar for dessert. For a wine, we decided on the 2014 Wagner Stempel "Gutswein" Riesling at the price of $65 a bottle, which paired perfectly with our supper.

Every bite of food was absolutely delicious and everything tasted wholesome, as they had described on their website.  The size of the dishes weren't overly big, but after enjoying a taste of all of them, we were both full and completely satisfied. 

I was also impressed with the decor,  which has a rustic industrial theme, but still manages to carry warmth throughout.   Oversized colorful lights hang from large wooden beams attached to extra high ceilings and the walls are exposed brick with a light grey hue to them. Light wooden tables are placed throughout, with adequate space between the tables, which as you know is important to me.   In addition, I found all the staff to be friendly and accommodating throughout our dining experience.

After we finished our meal, my date asked me if I had thought about what I wanted to do after dinner.  The truth was I hadn't at all.  I had just wanted to see how we got through part A with the hope that all went well.  Fortunately it had, so part B wasn't out of the question.  We decided to head to a local pizzeria, sit on their patio and continue our conversation while we sipped on more wine.  Well unexpectedly,  our conversation ended up going till 1:30 am with us arranging to continue it two days later.

It had been a great evening, full of stories and lots of laughter, making my exhaustion due to an early wake-up call of 6:30,  fully worth it the next day. He had passed my criteria to earn a second date.  He was a foodie like me (check), he knew how to use his cutlery (check), he didn't talk with his mouth full (check), he dressed well (check), I was attracted to him (check), and most importantly he was sweet, genuine, and could hold a good conversation (check, check and check).

Now I would just need to find out the answer to my next big question, Do you have an empty fridge?  If so, then it's very possible that I may have found my match. 

 

Das Wirtshaus

  

Das Wirtshaus

101, 1324 - 11 Avenue SW, Calgary, AB 

(403) 452-4853

www.wirtshaus.ca

Another friend's birthday had arrived with 15 of us heading out for dinner to Das Wirtshaus, a relatively new German restaurant known for its schnitzel.  It's tucked in a little building off 11 Avenue where the Ruan Thai restaurant had been for years.  

Das Wirtshaus had been on our list of restaurants to try for awhile and had been chosen for the birthday boy who has a severe garlic allergy, as garlic is generally absent in German food.  His allergy is so severe that one night he ended up in emergency with his passage ways closing up, due to kissing his wife after she had eaten something with garlic that was still lingering on her lips. His wife wanted to ensure that he wouldn't receive another present consisting of another visit to the emergency room.

I've been into German restaurants in the past that felt like I had just entered Oktoberfest, but in this case, they have chosen a bit more of a modern décor.  It's simple, with taupe walls, dark wood tables, brown leather booths and wood floors.  Where I found some of the old mixed with the new was on their walls, with old fashioned oil paintings of mountain and village scenes as well as an extremely large moose head attached to the main wall.  

If you haven't tried German food before, you'll find it very simplistic in its flavours with very little spice.  Pork is their main meat, with potatoes as the most common side.  When looking through the menu, they offer a soup of the day ($7.90)  along with two salads, garden or chef ($10.90), served with either yoghurt or balsamic dressing.  The mains run from $10.90 to $21.90 in price.  They're most known for their schnitzel, but they also offer sausage and meatball dishes that all come with a choice of side, mixed vegetables, fries, warm potato salad, potato wedge or  fried potatoes.  For vegetarians there is spätzle, which is a pasta dish made with egg noodles mixed into a simple cream sauce.  

They have nine types of schnitzel dishes, which consist of breaded and pan-friend pork loin cuts with various toppings such as blue cheese sauce, mushrooms and onion & parmesan sauce. I decided try the Paprika Schnitzel which had red pepper sauce drizzled over the pork, thinking it would probably be the most flavourful of all the sauces offered.  It came with a complimentary garden salad or cream of potato soup and I settled on the garden salad with yoghurt dressing.  I also ordered the rosemary potato wedges as my side. I paired it with one of their German beers on tap, Radeberger, a light pilsner ($7.50). 

The food arrived with an extremely large piece of  breaded pork, smothered in creamy red pepper sauce with chunks of  red peppers throughout. I enjoyed the flavour of the sauce, which reminded me of a creamy red pepper bisque.   Without the sauce however, it would have been quite a dry piece of pork and I also found the potatoes to be quite dry as well, so the sauce helped to flavour and moisten everything. I wasn't overly wowed by my plate and neither was anyone else at the table, all mentioning the dryness of their dishes.

Unfortunately, we weren't anymore impressed with the service than the food. We found the staff to be extremely you and unprofessional.  Two servers had been assigned to our table and struggled to organize themselves properly to take our orders, with them having to constantly check with each other as to who ordered what. There was also no fill-ups of water unless you asked, and didn't bring the bill to our table when we had finished our meal.  We were expected to go up to the till, look at the bill there and pay our portion. 

Gratuity was automatically added to the bill because of the size of our group, which is standard practice, but sometimes I find that servers are less inclined to work as hard at providing top notch service and that was definitely the case when it came to our experience. 

We also found it strange that all three servers suddenly stopped serving us at 9:30 pm, with them standing behind the bar visiting and staring at us,  even though we hadn't finished yet, and there was still another table behind us.  If we wanted another beverage, one of us had to get up and go over to them to put in our request.

We hadn't paid attention to when the restaurant closes, as we enjoyed our final drinks, but as soon as the servers stopped serving us, we began looking for the hours on the window which showed 10:00 pm.  Usually a table continues to be served until the guests are finished, as this shows good customer service and that you value return business but not in this case.  Though we aren't the type of people to take advantage and hang out for an hour past closing time, we also don't feel bad staying a few extra minutes to finish up our last beverage. 

Unfortunately as we exited the restaurant, we all agreed that we wouldn't ever return to Das Wirtshaus again.  Though the lack of garlic had gotten us there, the bad customer service and mediocre food would now keep us away.  

In spite of our less than desirable dining experience,  we were still able to call his birthday a success.  The birthday boy never did see the inside of an emergency room that night, and he was able to safely kiss his wife.