Quick Bites – July 2020

New Bites at Bea’s

Bea’s Cafe (inside Bite — Inglewood’s local grocer) has reinvented its restaurant creating a safe and socially distanced space with a refreshed menu by Chef Troy (Cruz Tacos — 2018 nominee Best Restaurant, enroute Magazine.) Favourites like the Inglewood Breakfast are still on the menu, and new items like the chilaquiles and the garlic chicken sandwich pull from Chef’s Mexican heritage and Mediterranean inspiration.

Busy Bite

One of our favourite little stores Bite — Inglewood’s local grocer, has been busy! It plans to continue with curbside grocery pickup services indefinitely and provide a quality mix of local, unique and everyday items by Alberta producers, farmers and manufacturers.

Get Your Coffee Fix

Cappuccino King has been working hard during these crazy times to serve you better. An online store with all of its products allows you to place your orders for in-store pickup or curbside drop. Keep checking the website and Facebook for changes to retail store hours, things are changing every day. Stay Healthy!

Summer is for Charcuterie

Count on Lina’s Italian Market for a variety of Italian prosciutto like Parma 18-, 24- and 30-months aged, a regular Italian Benetti prosciutto, a tasty imported Italian truffle salami or imported Mortadella straight from Bologna, Italy. They also carry the best of Italian cheeses like Burrata, buffalo mozzarella, pecorino, Sardo, Piave and Prosecco cheese — and lots more from Spain, France and America.

Fresh for the Patio

The folks at Confluence Distilling have launched two new ready-to-drink cocktails in a can just in time for patio season. The Grapefruit Gin and Soda, and Lemon Gin and Soda are distilled from 100 per cent Alberta grain, and fresh, macerated botanicals which are gathered locally.

In Memorium

Savour Calgary offers its sincere condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Calgary cookbook author and teacher Noorbanu Nimji who passed away June 10. Her final book, A Spicy Touch: Family Favourites from Noorbanu Nimji’s Kitchen, was co-written by Karen Anderson and won the 2016 Silver Taste Canada Award.

The Kit and Kaboodle

Kits have become all the rage during social distancing and Canmore’s Valbella Gourmet Foods keeps the party going with free delivery weekly to Calgary. Order the Carnivore Kit ($100 — incl. meats, pies, soups, ready meals etc.), BBQ Kit ($100 – incl selection of their best BBQ-able products) or the Mini Kit ($55 – incl. bacon, sausage burgers etc.). More info online.

Carnival Eats

Calgary’s newest eatery, Carnival Café, will provide Calgary with year-round carnival food taking the ordinary to extraordinary. With a dedicated food lab, the team creates new flavours of cotton candy and festival faves like the donut burger, fried chicken sandwiches, deep fried pickles, funnel cakes and more! Eat in or take-out.

Eat Local, Support Local

Alberta on the Plate returns for another year of festive eating and drinking. This Alberta-wide dine around festival happens August 7-16 showcasing local bounty and producers across the province. Participating restaurants offer multi-course fixed price menus highlighting local producers, growers, distillers and brewers. It is a great time to be, shop, eat and support local. Follow the website for news, events, and participating restaurants.

Three-Season Hideaway

Chef Brian Diamond and Sous Chef Alberto Ciofani, are working on changing up the Citizen Brewing menu featuring the fresh vegetables grown on site. This summer, the patio will be transformed allowing them to operate as a three-season hideaway. Citizen Brewery works with local farmers to feed livestock off the their spent grain and in turn will serve that same livestock in the brewery.

Japanese Tea Experience

Renowned tea master Riemon Tsuji founded TSUJIRI in 1860. He refined cultivating gyokuro, the highest grade of Japanese green tea allowing fresh tea to become available among other Japanese cities. In 2010 TSUJIRI Chaho was established outside of Japan and the first location opened in Calgary late last year. We’ve definitely been drowning our Covid sorrows in their parfaits, floats and houjicha tea.

From farm to grill, a virtual barbecue

The Alberta Motor Association has joined forces with several local producers to create a barbecue community and experience uniting people around the barbecue virtually. AMA’s Backyard BBQ experience encourages members to get grilling using locally grown and raised products and then share in an online group. The AMA also shares content from local chefs, local growers and grill-masters through live chats, recipes, tips, tricks, even exclusively curated playlists from Alberta musicians like Corb Lund. Follow along this summer to up your grilling game from the comfort of your home.

Che for days

Bambu on Centre Street N. is a collaboration of five childhood friends who grew up in the surrounding communities. Their connection to the area inspired the group to open a café featuring some of their favourite foods and beverages while supporting the community in various ways. Bambu specializes in coffee, teas, juices and Chè drinks (pronounced “Ch-ehh”). Che is a Vietnamese dessert incorporating a variety of flavours, fresh fruit, beans, coconut milk and fresh jelly or jello.

Editors note: Bambu has permanently closed.

Did somebody say BBQ?

Jane Bond BBQ has a new location, which includes seating inside an authentic Handy Van. This new space includes loads of parking, a giant smoker, a fun atmosphere, and the delicious barbecue fare Chef Jenny B. is known for. Find them across from Blackfoot Motor Sports.

Let’s Taco Bout it

The Taco Shop is opening a second location in Highwood Park offering the same authentic tacos and Mexican eats available at the 12th Ave. S.W. location. Chef Alli Said will continue to feature recipes and tacos made from scratch in a take-out option. Follow them on social media @tacoshopyyc for up to date information.

The little doughnut shop that could

Chef Alexander Benedicto and his pastry chef partner opened Beebop Doughnut Shop right as the Covid19 lockdown started. The plan was already in place and while in pandemic mode they were able to stay open offering take-out and delivery until the time came to re-open for dine-in. These guys make small batches of doughnuts throughout the day ensuring freshness, and work in an open kitchen concept (with plex-glass) allowing customers to watch the magic.

The modern family

As restaurants slowly re-open for dine-in, Modern Steak has updated its concepts and locations. The downtown location on Stephen Ave.features Modern Burger and Modern Steak. The Kensington location features both Modern Steak and Modern Ocean. Check websites for reservations and information.