Shop Local

More than any other, we’ve welcomed this summer with wide open arms, almost running to catch it and ensure it doesn’t slip away. While we are still facing uncertain times, we can still look forward to long walks by the river, barbecuing in our backyards, creating a great charcuterie board, picnics in the park, and continuing to enjoy great food and drink from local businesses.

This month our Shop Local column also features these amazing local products: Truffles from Say Cheese Fromagerie, Bow Valley BBQ Sauces and Salsa, Wine Jelly from Vino jelly Gourmet and Cedar Wraps from Barbecues Galore.

Tubby Dog

A graduate of Alberta University of the Arts (formerly ACAD) in 2002, Tubby Dog owner Jon Truch had his future planned out, he was going to move to New York to attend grad school and eventually start his career. However, a side gig slinging dogs led to a regular customer following, prompting a brick-and-mortar location location on 17th Avenue.

After a slow start trying to sell the concept of kitschy hot dogs served with an alcoholic beverage in a sit-down eatery, Calgarians finally got game, falling in love with this gourmet hot dog shop. A unique item on the menu since inception, is the The Ukey, a house-made Ukrainian sausage made using Alberta pork and a family recipe created by Jon’s grandpa, Peter. Like many others in 2020, Tubby Dog has had to find new ways to serve its customers, prompting Jon to turn his sausages into a packaged product served alongside a jar of in-house made mustard. The new mustards come in three flavours: spicy deli, ball park yellow or whole grain. Pick up a four-pack of Ukey sausages and a jar of mustard for your next barbecue.