Avenue Magazine Calgary

25 Best Eats in Calgary Part One

25 Best Eats in Calgary Part Two

MUKU RAMEN
Every college student knows instant ramen noodles, but the real thing, cooked from scratch at Muku Japanese Ramen, may be a revelation. The new restaurant is dedicated to Japanese noodles and its miso ramen, a comforting favourite with slices of tender pork, corn and chewy egg noodles in a rich, meaty broth. (326 14 St. N.W., 403-283-6555)

BIG MOUNTAIN ORGANIC ESPRESSO
These local roasters have a whole line of organic,small-batch roasted beans, but the earthy Espresso makes an especially lovely, full-bodied cuppa, with a gorgeous brick-coloured crema. It’s even more interesting than the original Big Mountain Espresso Blend. As they say, it’s “the espresso of the Canadian Rockies.” (403-244-6864, bigmountaincoffeeroasters.ca) 

MACKAY’S COCHRANE ICE CREAM
The MacKay family has been making ice cream in Cochrane for more than 60 years, so they must be doing something right. This is small-batch ice cream, made in a high milk fat (premium) style with a low overrun (i.e., very little air added to the mix), so it’s dense, creamy and decadent. It’s hard to pick a favourite flavour — the MacKays make everything from vanilla and chai tea to durian — but a winner is the maple ice cream loaded with walnuts in a chocolate-dipped waffle cone. Hey, when you’re doing decadent, go for it! (220 1 St. W., Cochrane, 403-932-2455, mackaysicecream.com)

SOFT SHELL CRAB SANDWICH AT BIG FISH
This lunchtime treat is an addictive combo of crispy crunch with a salty hit of wild boar bacon and a layer of sweet organic tomatoes. It’s just what you want in a sandwich. (1112 Edmonton Tr. N.E., 403-277-3403, big-fish.ca)

SAUCY LADIES BREAD AND BUTTER PICKLES
Saucy Ladies from Lethbridge (actually only one hard-working lady) makes all kinds of the old-fashioned stuff you’d put up in the fall, if you had time. These are classic recipes for beet pickles, antipasto, dills and other such stuff, but those crisp bread-and-butter pickles with sliced cucumbers, onions and crunchy mustard seeds are pure prairie nostalgia. Add them to a cheese sandwich or just serve them on the side to zip up any every-day dinner. (403-329-8719, saucyladies.com)

BANANA BREAD PUDDING AT ALLOY
This is a favourite new spot to dine with its tasty Latin-inspired food, great modern vibe and perfect patio. And the bread pudding! This banana bread delight, in a minty Mojito anglaise and topped with coconut rum gelato, is truly unique. (220 42 Ave. S.E., 403-287-9255, alloydining.com)

ROCKY MOUNTAIN FLATBREAD FROZEN PIZZA
Canmore’s Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co. is a great haunt après anything, but now you can have its handmade, organic, wood-fired oven pizza at home, made with local ingredients like Hoven beef and Valbella sausage straight from the supermarket freezer. My favourite flavour: Four Cheese Classic with goat cheese, mozza, asiago and parmesan, topped with marinated cherry tomatoes. Bakes up perfectly in 10 minutes flat. (Available at Calgary Co-op and fine grocery stores; rockymountainflatbread.ca)

PERSONALIZED TRUFFLES AT CHOKLAT
Want your chocolate truffle filled with spiced pumpkin buttercream and rolled in cinnamon and nutmeg? Espresso buttercream dipped in 70-percent dark chocolate? Or orange-filled, with a 48-percent milk-chocolate shell and a dusting of toasted hazelnuts? Visit Brad Churchill at Choklat in Inglewood for single-origin and estate chocolate made from scratch and choose what goes into your own made-while-you-wait bonbon. Chocolate doesn’t get much more personal than that. (1327A 9 Ave. S.E., 403-457-1419, sochoklat.com)

ENCHILADAS VERDE AT MI TIERRA
There’s been a boom in Calgary’s Mexican population, so finally we have an authentic taqueria serving tacos, enchiladas, tostadas and other tasty Mexican fare from a pared-down little restaurant in the deep south. The location is challenging, but it’s worth the drive for an enchilada fix. (2, 10015 Oakfield Dr. S.W., 403-238-1749)

THE FOIE GRAS SANDWICH AT L’EPICERIE
Teatro Chef Dominique Moussu works double time these days at his new L’Epicerie gourmet food shop and loves to play with foie gras. Get his takeout terrines or indulge in the city’s most decadent sandwich — a crispy mini baguette stuffed with rounds of creamy duck liver pâté and served with his homemade potato chips. (1325 1 St. S.E., 403-514-0555)

25 Best Eats in Calgary Part One

25 Best Eats in Calgary Part Two