This month, check out a new vegan cafe, a French bistro, a poke shop and two bubble tea shops. Here’s what you need to know about the latest food-related openings, news and events in Calgary.
2030 Bubble Tea Cafe opens in Mount Pleasant
2030 Bubble Tea Shop is the newest of two new bubble tea shops that have opened in Calgary recently. The Mount Pleasant eatery has plenty of seating, so swing by with some friends for a drink. And if you’re hungry, the food menu includes items like spicy salmon sashimi, ribs and wings.
602 16 Ave. N.W., 2030bubbleteacafe.com
The Calgary Farmers’ Market is opening a second location in 2020
If you love eating and shopping local, we have great news: The Calgary Farmers’ Market is opening a second location. The new 50,000-square-foot market will feature 75 vendors, an alfresco shopping area, a play space for children and more. You’ll have to wait awhile to visit (it’s opening across the highway from WinSport in 2020), but you know what they say — good things come to those who wait.
The Dandelion opens in Ramsay
The newest addition to Ramsay is a vegan restaurant called The Dandelion. The new eatery kicked things off with a grand opening block party on September 1 and is now open for all of your brunch and snacking needs. The eatery has around a dozen chairs on the main level where you can sit down to enjoy a vegan take on chicken and waffles, jackfruit tacos, a chik-tan caesar wrap, baked goods and more. One thing to note: the eatery doesn’t carry take-out containers, so bring a container from home if you’re planning to grab something for the road. And before you leave, be sure to check out the south side of the building to see a cool mural by local artist Sarah Slaughter.
1048 8 St. S.E., facebook.com
Elate Lounge opens on 17 Ave. S.W.
At the newly opened Elate Lounge, you can treat yourself to a meal, a beauty treatment or both. The space is divided into two areas; the front is a full-service, 36-seat French bistro with live jazz on Saturday nights, while the back of the space is a beauty bar that offers nail treatments, facials, massages and waxing. Guests stopping in for a meal will find dishes like French omelettes, roasted beet carpaccio, steak frites, and pork belly and lentil ragu on the bistro menu. They can also pop in just for a coffee or a glass of wine or beer. If you want to fully experience Elate Lounge, make plans to have dinner with friends, then end the night with some beauty treatments as a group in the back.
927 17 Ave. S.W., 403-453-5283, elatelounge.com
Gong Cha opens in Chinatown
The other bubble tea spot to open recently is Taiwan-based chain Gong Cha, which recently opened its first Calgary location in Chinatown. The drinks here are made with ingredients like fresh tea, fruit purees, milk and various toppings like tapioca balls, red bean pudding and jelly. Try the milk foam brown sugar tea, coconut milk tea, matcha milk tea with red bean, milk foam coffees and more.
106A, 303 Centre St. S.W., facebook.com
A new beer, cider and spirits festival called The Mashing debuts this month
This new festival is all about beer, cider and spirits. During The Mashing, which runs from September 21 to 22, you can try food and drink samples or check out activities ranging from art exhibits to live music shows. The more than 50 sampling vendors include Good Mood Brewery, Annex Ale Project, Uncommon Cider Co., Craft Beer Market and Milestones Grill and Bar.
Stampede Grandstand, 1700 3 St. S.E., albertabeerfestivals.com
Pacific Poke opens in Altadore
By all appearances, the poke trend isn’t dying down in Calgary anytime soon. And now, another option has been added to the mix. Pacific Poke, which already has four locations in Vancouver and Burnaby, has opened its first Calgary location in Altadore. Offering its own creative, colourful take on the traditional Hawaiian dish, Pacific Poke feature four chef-inspired poke bowl options and a build-your-own option.
3554 Garrison Gate S.W., 587-864-9299, thepacificpoke.com​