YYC Holy Smoke Bbq

I really love this place! I have been several times to both the north and south locations and continue to be a fan! I love the variety of home made bbq sauces and the corn bread is fantastic! I find the prices to be very reasonable. I like to get this as take out and treat the people at work... always a hit!

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Model Milk - Calgary

Went in! Loved it! Had 4 apps or "small plates" - Manchego cheese fries, shrimp and grits with ham hock, shaved veal on toast with bacon, calamari fricassee with edamame beans- all wonderful. I will say there wasn't much happening for vegeterians on this menu but I'm not a vegeterian. It was also quite pork heavy but fortunately I LOVE PORK! (Probably half the dishes involved some kind of pork.) The suggested Canadian Chardonnay called Laughing Stock was great and the service was friendly and fast. This was a GREAT, GREAT meal! I will be back!

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Restaurants near the Westin Calgary

Charcut... Always a winner! And you have to love that every single time I have been in Connie has personally been around to all the tables. Great place!

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Restaurants near the Westin Calgary

How about Model Milk on 17th Ave and 3rd St SW? It was great!

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A seriously detailed review of my 2nd trip to NOLA- 8 days of Delicious Blissful Gluttony!!!

Amazing write up! Gluttony - I love it! You have convinced me to select Antoines for my aunt and uncle's 50th anniversary dinner. Classic old school and traditional will work well!

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Las Vegas Bakery for Custom Birthday Cake

My husband and I ordered our wedding cake from Freeds. It was stunning! Today, 6 years later, I stll have several guests that comment on how great the cake was - especially the red velvet. I would highly recommend Freeds. I look forward to ordering an anniversary cake on our next visit!

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Where are the best fresh oysters in Calgary???

I went to Rodneys in Vancouver recently - it was AWESOME!

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Trip Report (Long) - Bartalotta, Aureole, Mon Ami Gabbi, Lindos Michoacan, The Noodle House, Burger Bar

Started at Hubert Keller's Burger Bar. This was a fun place to eat. The food was fantastic. We enjoyed some deep fried macaroni, yam fires, regular fries, 6 kinds of dipping sauces for fries, and some very yummy sliders and burgers. All 6 of us gave it a thumbs up! We were too full to try the floats but want to go back.

The Noodle House in Mandalay Bay was really good. We just stopped in for some appetizers and had some dumplings and calamari which were great - made better by the enthusiastic server's advocation of a "saki bomb!" mmmm saki bomb... good way to get vegas rolling.

Mon Ami Gabbi was a lunch venue. The patio was great in the hot sun we liked watching the fountains and people watching on the strip. The Sangria is worth a mention. I also liked the French onion soup and Caesar salad. The duck confit was only okay as I didn't like the lentils and we did not enjoy the mozzarella in tomato - it was just not a well put together dish. This place is not really very "foodie" worthy but if you want a view have a soup and salad and carry on.

Lindos Michoacan is an off the strip venue. My friends joked that the cab ride was so long that I was actually taking them to Mexico (cost was about $12 bucks). On arrival they thought maybe I had taken them to Mexico as this place is very authentic for gringos like us. The food was the best Mexican I have ever had. The table side guacamole was worth the trip alone. The lime margaritas were fab! The chilli relenno was to die for and the fried ice cream reminded me of childhood visits to chi chi's. Then there was the bill... 6 adults ate and drank everything they could possibly consume and left a 20% tip and the bill STILL didn't break $200. Then, to top it all off, our wonderful hosts DROVE US BACK TO THE STRIP IN THE SHUTTLE! What a place. My whole group agreed we will be back EVERY trip to Vegas!

Aureole - the home of Cirque de Sommelier as the woman scales the 3 story high wine tower on a rope doing flips. This was entertaining. The dinner didn't go well., When we arrived we were told that our reservation was for March 16 not April 16. I called American Express who had made the reservation for me and their recorded phone conversation revealed that the restaurant had made the error and entered our booking in 1 month early. Hence our Swan Court request was impossible due to a private function. They did however fit us in without a big fuss. From there we ordered a tasting menu and I asked to have it slower than the usual brusque American pace at which tastings are always served. As such, i must have messed up their timing as they left us for 72 minutes between courses. We ate about 6 pieces of bread while we were waiting so then we weren't really hungry when the food finally came. I honestly was so underwhelmed I can't remember what we ate except that my friend's salad with a quail egg on top was worth remembering. I will say that at the end they did make a MAJOR adjustment to our bill so that was good. Overall rating - meh. Vegas has many great places why pay big bucks for meh?

Bartolotta - this was the BEST. We were given the absolute best table in the house out on the patio overlooking the pond. It was stellar. Our server, Mauricio, from Rome, was truly wonderful. I informed them that I had booked under Taste of Wynn (thanks Chow Hounders ... that was your tip to remind them) and I was told that it had been discontinued. Mauricio went off and came back with some "theatre menus" very similar to the Taste of Wynn. We went with those which was a 3 course tasting for $69 - worth every penny. Both the foodies and the non foodies said this was the best meal they have ever had. The portions were very large for tasting menu. The Cioppino was to die for and the spaghetti I ate was the best I have ever eaten - I can still remember its lingering fennel notes.

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Easter Sunday in Van- restaurant recs?

I did go to the Pan Pacific Hotel's Cafe Pacifica. We LOVED it! It was the nicest brunch I have attended (beats all Vegas and even Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel). The quality and selection combined with the room and the fun extras like Easter Bunny and kids activities made it great. It was very pricy $70 pp so of course you have to appreciate the ambiance too. The service was painfully slow at times though. I was very happy we went.

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Austin CH visiting Vancouver for girls weekend

Hamilton Street in Yaletown is a haven of trendy restaurants near you. You will LOVE Rodney's Oyster House on Hamilton - it was GREAT! It is the definition of funky casual foodie heavan. Especially if you like Oysters.
Another option is the Yaletown Brewing Company on Hamilton Street. You can have a flight of house made beers and try the lemon pepper shrimp.

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Rodney's Oyster House
1228 Hamilton, Vancouver, BC V6B2S8, CA

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Easter Sunday in Van- restaurant recs?

Will be downtown Vancouver on Easter Sunday. Would like a nice brunch spread somewhere with a view. Have the rest of the week to eat out too.

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Lumiere closing. Now what?

My concierge checked on it and confirmed they will not be open yet for my visit. She made the following recommendations:

- Market
- West
- Salt

Any thoughts?

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Lumiere closing. Now what?

I heard that Hotel Georgia has pused back opening for July but perhaps the restaurant is separate and will be opening. If it is open I will take your recommendation. Any backups?

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Five Guys vs. FAT Burger?

Haven't been to Five Guys yet... does it beat my previous favourite, FAT Burger? Which side of the parking lot are you on?

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Mexican food in Calgary

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!! I'm going to stop!

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Calgary Business dinner

Hahahaha - thought it was March 2011! Time flies!

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Mothers' Day Brunch?

Will be in Vancouver for Mothers' Day and would like to go out for brunch. Where is the biggest, fanciest, traditional hotel style affair in town?

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Lumiere closing. Now what?

My husband and I are travelling to Vancouver staying near waterfront. We had planned for almost a year to go to Lumiere and now hear the news that we will miss it by a month. But Vancouver is a large vibrant city - there must be something else wonderful? So bring it on Vanvouverites - what is the new latest and greatest thing for a tasting with pairings?

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Lumiere
2551 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC V6K2E9, CA

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BEST Pho Satay In Calgary?

I second this - we eat there alot as it is near the office and they have great Pho. They should be given special credit to how they package their take out. Other places make a mess of it and Quynh gives you the perfect "PHO TO GO"

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Quynh Vietnamese Cuisine
2555 32 St NE #335, Calgary, AB T1Y 7J6, CA

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Fresh pho noodles in Calgary?

Not sure bout fresh vs. dried but I will say that my favourite Pho is at Quynh in the NE. I especially give them credit for how they package their take out. They give you a bowl (the kind you can actually eat out of), a carton of soup and a bag of veggies. Other places either just mix it all together or give you a styrafoam carton - no good for eating soup out of. So for those that want take out Pho - Quynh is great!

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Quynh Vietnamese Cuisine
2555 32 St NE #335, Calgary, AB T1Y 7J6, CA

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Mexican food in Calgary

THANK YOU CHOW HOUNDERS! We went on a "food adventure" tonight and dined at a strip mall in Acadia. Tu Tierra was FANTASTIC. I have never had a chilli relenno in Calgary because I have never found anywhere that makes them - until now. It was our first visit but won't be our last. I had to laugh though because even though we drove right to the address (thanks to GPS) I couldn't see it right away because the old Asian restaurant pagoda sign which has been modified with the Tu Tierra name through me off. Not a place I would have rolled into without all of you foodies! Mucho Gracias!

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Tu Tierra Restaurant
8316 Fairmount Dr SE #30, Calgary, AB T2H 0Y8, CA

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Calgary Steakhouse recommendation?

Try The Trib, Vintage or Carvers. (Carvers is right inside the Sheraton Airport and is pretty great!)

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One night in Calgary - where should we go?

I re-read the original post and would like to suggest Belvedre. The reason this came up was "tasting menu" and "value". We had the 5 course tasting menu last month and it was "build your own". So my husband and I EACH got to select 5 dishes from the menu. So we tasted 10 of our top selections. It was FANTASTIC. We had wine pairings too and it was over the top great - especially since the entire bill was less than $300 including TIP. (5 course tasting and pairings for 2 people).

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Calgary Business dinner

I second the comment for Belvedere. 2 reasons - 1. They have excellent food and are PERFECT for a business dinner with clients and 2. They should be able to get you in.

Also, if you are having trouble getting in, try The Trib Steakhouse. We hosted my husband's 40th birthday dinner here and every single person (20 guests) loved their dinner. The lamb leg (looks like something Fred Flinstone would eat) was incredibly impressive and fabulous.

Also, never had a bad meal at Chef's table but it is probably one of our most expensive restaurants.

Nobody has mentioned Alloy - this is a fantastic choice for a business dinner. Guests are always impressed by the decor and food both. Service is great and food at Alloy is discussed alot on this board. They have a bit of a larger room than some places so this should help with availability too.

Last if you want to venture off the beat and path more, one of the hottest new places is NoTable. This would be great if you could get a reservation (they accept them but are booked well in advance). Worth a call though!

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calgary restaurants ?

If I were staying at the Hyatt I'd wander over to Charcut. It has that casual elegance that would be welcomed (especially on the 5th meal out in a row). The charcuterie board would be a great choice if you didn't want a big dinner and it is really their specialty. The owners are from Sa Francisco and are very accommodating with tours of the facility if you enquire.

I also really enjoy Centini. It has some beautiful plates and again that kind of casual elegance that is quite welcoming. All the pasta is house made daily.

Rush is a personal favourite too but I find it less laid back than the other two. They do have some outstanding light and very "foodie worthy" desserts at Rush - consider sliding over to Rush for dessert and a drink in the lounge?

If you like lamb, then the Trib is the place for you. If you call ahead they will carve a leg tableside very special.

You could also add Belvedere to this list. They have been really putting out some fine food lately. We had an outstanding tasting there last month.

As for Catch, I prefer to eat downstairs in the lounge. It has all the great fine seafood but very casual with the wood floors. The Oysters Rockefeller is my fave here. I had some really great service the last time we were in too.

And finally, if your done with "fine dining" or have time for lunch the next day before you go, you can walk out the door and go across the street to the Palamino for some pulled pork mac and cheese which is one of Calgary's finer comfort food dishes available (NOT a fancy setting ... this is a bit of an understatement but the Mac and Cheese is really good).

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Where can I find the best donairs chicken or beef in AB?

Yes! and I was told that in May 2011 they will be opening a 3rd location in the food court of the T&T supermarket in NE Calgary.

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Catered (take out or delivery) lunch for 40 in Calgary?

I am hosting some "lunch and learn" type events for clients and really want something good to bring in for lunch for approximately 40 people. There are a few small dietary requirements (1 veg, and 1 no dairy).

I want something memorable and good - what do all you foodies recommend?

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Diners,Drive-ins, and Dives Calgary.

I have written to DDD several times saying that GUY needs to go to BANFF and do an episode at the GRIZZLY HOUSE. Now if THAT place isn't a DDD worthy Dive I don't know what is.

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Where can I find the best donairs chicken or beef in AB?

I accidentally stumbled into Desert Pita (corner of 17th Ave SE and 52nd St). this is bar none the BEST donair I have ever had. Something about the crunchy pickled cabbage that was absolutely OUTSTANDING. I have been back 3 times in 2 weeks - I'm addicted!

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