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 fine roster of beers, including a salted black lager (Hidden Dragon) and a tropical New England IPA (Tangerine Speedo). And as a trained chef, he ventures well beyond typical bar food with, say, a superb short-rib taquito.
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 high in a crusty loaf along with cheese, pickles and other fixings.
It’s a meal for two, at $10 one of the best sandwich deals in the city.
A giant $10 sandwich
Old Fashioned Meat & Deli 532 Cleveland Crescent SE, Calgary Tuesday to Thursday 10 am-6 pm, Friday-Saturday opens at 9 am. Closed Sunday and Monday 403-287-1511
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 Cafe,Rosso Ramsay, MobSquad Cafe, Qamaria Yemeni Coffee
Vegetarian/Vegan: Hearts Choices, Padmanadi, Nan’s Noodle House, Vegan Street
Hearts Choices
Happy Hour: Native Tongues Taqueria, National Westhills, Buchanan’s Chop House, JinBar, Lonely Mouth Bar, Last Best Brewing, Vegan Street, Citizen Brewing
Pizza: Una Pizza, Coco Brooks, Noble Pie Pizza, Azzurri Pizzeria, Pizza Culture Napoletana, Italian Super Market
Beer and Pizza: Two House Brewing, Last Best Brewing, Eighty-Eight Brewing, The Mash, Tailgunner Brewing, Cold Beer & Pizza, Trolley 5
Pita Pies: Village Pita Bakery, Azar Bakery, Doughlicious,
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 eggs, hash, caramelized onion, hollandaise, sourdough toast and micro greens. Breakfast in a bowl.
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 is a magic mix of Scooby noodles, four-cheese sauce, kimchi, cheese curds, aioli and an inspired topping of grated Dorito chips. The $20-price tag might seem a little high, until you consider it’s a two-meal deal… except you can’t stop taking delicious bites until it’s all gone.
The magic mix
My only suggestion: Put this outstanding Mac Kim Cheese on the full-time menu. Otherwise, rush down soonest.
While you’re at the market, stop at Bee the BanhMi for a fabulous, enormous chicken Vietnamese sub, a definite two mealer for only $15 ($2 more for beef).
Fresh & Local Market and Kitchens 12445 Lake Fraser Drive SE, Calgary Thursday to Sunday, opens at 11 am
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, duck etc.).
And now the colourful really begins: a cleaver-wielding worker starts hacking your chosen meats into bite-sized pieces. These are all stacked atop a mountain of white rice in a takeout container now weighing 29 ounces. And costing $11, cash only.
Because there’s no seating, you’re quickly out the door, with the choice of messily eating with a little fork in your vehicle or waiting till you get home, where it will easily provide two meals.
A little fatty? Sure. But still one of the best lunch deals in the city.
BBQ Express 1403 Centre Street North, Calgary Daily 10 am-6 pm, except closed Tuesdays
Marathon Mouth 