Market Report: Mexican Street Food and Fresh Pie

Get ready to indulge in the vibrant flavours of Mexican street food and indulge your sweet tooth with cloud-like pies in this month’s market report.

From savory tacos to delicate desserts, we’re diving into the mouthwatering offerings that are capturing attention in Calgary’s food scene right now.

Story by Erin Jenkins

Photo Credit: Mestizo Mexican Street Food, Pie Cloud

MESTIZO MEXICAN STREET FOOD

For the family behind Mestizo Mexican Street Food, eating well has always been about more than sustenance – it’s a way of life. From running food stands in their hometown of Mexico City to following an uncle’s rise to fame as a chef in Japan, food is deeply woven into the family’s identity. But when the Garcías moved to Canada in 2003, it meant starting over with a new language and culture. Still, the idea of someday opening their own restaurant always simmered in the background.

“My friends only hung out with me for my dad’s food,” jokes daughter and marketing manager, Alexia García. “People always told us we needed to open a restaurant.” That long-standing dream became a reality when Luis García, the family patriarch, opened Mestizo’s first location at the Fresh & Local Market + Kitchens six years ago. This past June, the dream expanded with a second location in Kensington.

Mestizo is truly a family affair. Luis develops the recipes and manages the kitchen’s efficiency, while his wife, Luzma oversees accounting. Daughter Alexia leads marketing and catering, daughter Ximena handles HR, and son Sebastien manages the front of house. Together, they’ve created a “dream team,” turning their shared passion for food into a thriving business.

The Mestizo menu brims with the vibrant diversity of Mexican cuisine. Tacos al pastor and fish tacos are customer favourites, but dishes like the Mayan-inspired gordita taco, chorizo made from a late uncle’s recipe, and birria from a cousin’s kitchen showcase the authentic regional flavours that define Mestizo. Everything is made fresh to order and served quickly, thanks to systems perfected by Luis.

At Mestizo, it’s not just about great food – it’s about culture, family and community. Now that’s comfort food at its finest!

Mestizo Mexican Street Food | Fresh & Local Market and Kitchens | 426, 12445 Lake Fraser Dr. S.E.
Mestizo Taqueria | 124 10th St. N.W. | mestizoyyc.com

PIE CLOUD

“Pies are the ultimate comfort food,” muses Maureen DePatie, the founder and creative force behind Calgary’s beloved Pie Cloud. “They hold stories, memories and tradition.” And she’s right. The proof, as they say, is in the pudding. Or in this case, the pie. This year, Pie Cloud marks a decade of delighting Calgarians with pies that blend tradition, innovation and exceptional quality.

For DePatie, baking has been a lifelong passion. “I’ve been obsessed since I was a kid with my Easy-Bake Oven,” she laughs. Pie Cloud began as an “ambitious retirement project” when DePatie opened the original location in Kensington – building number 314, for those who appreciate a good math joke. But running a stand-alone storefront came with its challenges. A suggestion from beloved Calgary food critic John Gilchrist helped DePatie realize farmers’ markets could be the perfect showcase for her creations. The idea inspired a cross-Canada food tour, including stops at some of Quebec’s best bakeries, which reinvigorated her mission to bring deliciousness to Calgary.

Today, Pie Cloud finds a happy home at the Calgary Farmers’ Market’s South and West locations, where DePatie has found the perfect fit. “Farmers’ markets are about connection,” she explains. “They’re places where people value quality and take the time to shop thoughtfully. Customers appreciate the stories behind the food, and producers take pride in their craft. It creates a sense of community that’s hard to replicate elsewhere.”

Quality and creativity shine across Pie Cloud’s menu. French patisserie-style lemon and lime meringue pies remain bestsellers, while savoury options like turkey dinner pie – featuring a buttermilk biscuit crust – redefine comfort food. As DePatie puts it, “If you’re going to indulge, do it right.” We concur!