Category Archives: Uncategorized

Delightful Canmore Tea House

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Wagashi Tea House owners Chris and Mariko Thomson

Wagashi Tea House is a delightful surprise—a verdant retreat attached to a Canmore garden centre in an industrial neighbourhood far from the cacophony of downtown. Its greenhouse-like walls and ceiling allow plentiful light and views of the surrounding mountains.

The greenhouse-like location overlooks the mountainous Bow Valley

Owners/chefs Mariko and Chris Thomson have crafted a carefully curated fusion menu centred around Japanese confections (such as adzuki bean paste rice balls), tea ceremonies and bento boxes.

My poke bowl ($24) is a wonderful mix of raw tuna, wonton crisps, edamame beans, corn, rice and a spicy house-made dressing so popular they sell it in bottles. I accompany things with a bowl of ceremonial-grade matcha, the hot water whisked in by hand.

My spectacular poke bowl, featuring raw tuna

On Fridays, locals arrive to buy raw, sushi-grade fish to take home. And perhaps a locally raised plant or two from the garden centre next door.

Wagashi Tea House
60 Lincoln Park, Canmore, Alberta
Thursday to Monday 9 am-4 pm, closed Tuesday and Wednesday
403-497-6144

Krooked Provisions: Ecletic and Superb

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Bet you’ve never had an all-day sandwich like this stacked Reuben beauuty

You’d think operating a little food-court kiosk would necessarily restrict your menu to a few key themes. That’s definitely not the case with Krooked Provisions, a wife-and-husband, Red Seal-chef operation in Fresh & Local Market + Kitchens in deep south Calgary.

Krooked Provisions’ owners Lyndon and Leanna

Super friendly Leanna and Lyndon use this tiny kitchen to showcase their imaginative takes on pirogies (eight ways), Reuben sandwiches (house-made sauerkraut), four-cheese mac ’n cheese and a Mennonite sausage doused in a pineapple-ginger-sauerkraut salsa.

Pirogies your grandmother never made

It’s not just eclectic. It’s uniformly excellent, thanks to first-class ingredients, skill and execution.

Four cheeses go into this sublime mac’ ‘n cheese

On my Marathon Mouth journeys, I infrequently visit a place more than once. Despite a sizeable drive, I’ve headed to Crooked Provisions three times. And I’m only halfway through the menu.

Even the sausages are spectacular

Krooked Provisions
12445 Lake Fraser Drive SE, Calgary (Fresh & Local Market)
Thursday to Saturday 11 am-8 pm and Sunday 11 am-5 pm

Hybrid Croissandwiches a Revelation

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Is it a croissant? A sandwich? No, it’s a croissandwich

The few croissant sandwiches I’ve endured have featured a rather stale croissant stuffed with, say, egg salad. At Poesie Co., a new, little shop on Kensington Road, the aptly named “croissandwiches” (all $15) are a completely different creation.

A round, ultra flaky croissant is cut in half, filled—in my case with chicken, pesto and béchamel—and then warmed in a little waffle-like oven. The resulting creamy yet crispy concoction is pure bliss, something unique in the crowded sandwich world.

Poesie is a hybrid bakery/sandwich shop

It all makes sense when you consider Poesie is an offshoot of local croissant master Yann Haute Patisserie. That expertise also goes into other menu items like cake frappes and gateaux glaces.

Poesie
1119 Kensington Road SW, Calgary
Opens at 11 am Wednesday to Friday, at 10 am weekends. Closed Monday and Tuesday
587-226-8091

Apprentice Cafe: Calgary’s Best Focaccia

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The house-made focaccia buns are the real stars of Apprentice Cafe’s superb breakfast sandwiches

In a crowded Calgary food scene, it certainly pays to occupy a solid niche. For Apprentice Cafe—a tiny Ramsay eatery with verdant views of downtown—that niche is the often-overlooked breakfast sandwich. Owner Rein offers nine such all-day sandwiches, including pulled pork and my expertly executed mushroom ($10.25), featuring goat cheese, caramelized onion, egg and black garlic aioli.

Apprentice Cafe owner Rein in his tiny Ramsay restaurant

But the real star of these breakfast sandwiches is the focaccia buns they’re cradled in. Inspired by the focaccia he encountered while working as a chef in Italy, Rein bakes a little loaf that’s golden on the outside and pillowy soft on the inside.

Easily the best focaccia I’ve tasted. Too bad you can’t order it to go.

Apprentice also serves good Rogue Wave coffee and house-made small-batch ice cream. Its hot chocolate was recently named best in the city.

Apprentice Cafe
1024 Bellevue Avenue SE, Calgary
Opens 8 am Tuesday to Sunday and 9 am Monday
825-488-0887

Calgary Bakeries and coffee

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Calgary keeps adding to its roster of bakeries that produce excellent pastries. Here are five that also brew a mean cup of coffee, making them the perfect place to meet up with friends.

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Everything elegant Mari Bakeshop makes is first rate, from croissants and pain au chocolate to more exotic roll cakes and choux pastries. This Bridgeland destination is a busy place, so order a latte before claiming a prized window seat.

Mari Bakeshop

There might also be a wee line at the Beltline’s little Begonia Bakehouse. Order a brioche-based pain Suisse and a“Canadiano” and head for a vacant table.

Begonia Bakehouse

Butter Block is arguably Calgary’s heavyweight pastry place, supplying baked treats to many city coffee shops. But it’s worth heading to its Beltline base for a fabulous banana cream pudding muffin, wolfed down with a double espresso.

Butter Block

Located on busy Macleod Trail across from Stampede Park, newish Otie Cafe produces work-of-art tarts and terrific, savoury cacio e pepe croissants. Wash down either with a coffee from local roaster Chronicle’s beans.

Otie Cafe

Chronicle beans also make an appearance at Killarney newcomer Millo Millo Bake Shop. Sip a cappuccino while munching an Earl Grey scone or delightfully cheesy pretzel bagel.

Millo Millo Bake Shop

More Calgary Coffee Cafes

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Cafe du Parc in North Glenmore Park

Here’s a handful of additional good Calgary coffee stops, primarily in kiosks and other small spaces. Most offer excellent Butter Block pastries.

Cafe du Parc
North Glenmore Park
7305 Crowchild Trail SW

If you’re strolling or cycling the verdant pathways of North Glenmore Park, pause at this kiosk for a fine jolt of java and a croissant from celebrated Butter Block.

Kaffeeklatsch
Parkdale
2000 Veteran’s Place NW

This coffee kiosk is in the lobby entrance to CBC Calgary. Pair your drink with a pastry from heavyweights Butter Block or Sidewalk Citizen.

Pause at Kaffeeklatsch before walking in to CBC Calgary

Angel’s Cafe
Montgomery
4105 Montgomery View NW

Angel’s is a full-service restaurant along the busy Bow River pathway in Edworthy Park. Stop for a coffee and maybe a breakfast sandwich.

Leafy Angel’s Cafe along the Bow River pathway

Social Grounds
Oakridge
3109 Palliser Drive SW

A community gathering place for young families, yoga classes or just a good coffee and a famous Glamorgan Bakery cheese bun. Check out the fresh produce and micro-baked bagels at Apple Lady market next door.

Social Grounds an Oakridge community gathering place

Adola Cafe
Springbank
120 Maclaurin Drive

Okay, this incongruous place is just west of Calgary. But if you’re close to Springbank Airport, it’s worth dropping in to new Adola Cafe, an elegant, high-ceilinged space serving Ethiopian coffee, with calming classical music in the background.

Adola Cafe is next to Springbank Airport