Congratulations to Edmonton’s James Burns on reopening Pazzo Pazzo, after completing the repairs from the damage of the fire in January that happened very close to his kitchen in Mainstreet Tower, at 10020 103 Avenue. And just in time to celebrate his Italian restaurant’s 20th anniversary!
And congrats too to Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts, celebrating the 10th anniversary of The Lake House, their beautiful restaurant overlooking Lake Bonavista. Many of the team have been there since the beginning, and to commemorate that, they have introduced a ‘Best Of’ 10-year menu running throughout 2024, featuring classic and favourite dishes from the last decade!
Deidre Lotecki is one smart cookie! The chef and owner of Sweet Relief Pastries has opened Biscettes, a one-stop cookie shop in Calgary at 1516 6 Street SW. 12 cookies are always on offer, including one vegan and rotating seasonal flavours, and we know there’s something exciting coming for Mother’s Day! Red Velvet is the most popular and we also loved their Lemon Poppyseed sugar cookie, but then there’s Chocolate Salted Caramel… Biscettes work with businesses too, using their recipes for dough balls ready to pop into the oven, and voila - freshly baked cookies! They also offer circle or heart-shaped, personalised 8-inch cookie cakes - just choose the colour and your message. Takeout and delivery only. Orders by phone and at biscettes.com. Closed Mondays.
In addition to their Sherwood Park and Legacy Village, Calgary locations, Florida sandwich shop, Jon Smith Subs, have opened their third Alberta store in Airdrie. They’re known for their giant, 6- and 12-inch overstuffed gourmet deli sandwiches, and owner Amardeep Singh Nijjar is baking fresh bread every day with the option to turn any sandwich into a salad - the same ingredients without the roll. 107 - 30 Market Boulevard SE, jonsmithsubs.ca/airdrie
Edmonton charity, Sikhs for Humanity, have been handing out food for 10 years, and have now opened their own food bank. The charity is not affiliated with any religion, and everyone is welcome. The need is ever-increasing – they’re currently providing care packages to 400-500 families a week and it’s growing, so stop by 4954 Roper Road between 11am-1pm to pick up some groceries for yourself or those in need – or to volunteer! sikhsforhumanity.ca
They say good things come in threes, and the three ‘Js’ of Ryuko: Jase Lee, Jun Park, and Jacob Jane, have opened a west location in Calgary’s Christie Park, and it’s extremely good! There are 8-10 people in the completely open kitchen at any one time, which shows confidence in the cleanliness, the very talented team, and the techniques. Fresh fish is direct from Japan – they get a 300 lb blue fin tuna flown in every 3-4 weeks, or BC. Like the beef, much of the fish is dry aged and/or marinated, and as well as a rotating menu, they have surprise features - so ask what’s in today! Ryuko chefs are masters of balancing flavours and textures, and it’s a treat to sit at the bar and watch them. You’re coming for high quality, authentic, yet creative, Japanese food; everything is good but if you book ahead and are lucky, you might get one of their daily Kaiseki Boxes with nine small dishes of chef’s choice. 3150 - 40 Christie Park View SW, ryuko.ca for hours.
After four years, Edmonton’s Good Goods has opened their flagship store at 10250 106 Street. Nina Karpoff and Aga Wajda-Plytta’s online and bricks and mortar store supports artisanal products with curated collections from small, purpose-driven, Canadian companies. You’ll find plenty of food and beverage choices as well as lifestyle products for you and your home, and there’s a little coffee and tea spot too where they’re highlighting roasters and tea makers. Good products, good practices, and good people indeed! Wednesday-Saturday 9-4pm. goodgoodsco.ca
In addition to their West Edmonton Mall and South Edmonton locations, Levi Biddlecombe and Jesse Woodland have opened their third Backstairs Burger, serving up those gourmet burgers, shakes, and fries (and #ducktots and duck wings!) downtown at 11998 109A Avenue. Lunch and dinner, closed Sundays. backstairsburger.ca
If you’ve eaten at Mumbai Local in Canmore you’ll be delighted to know Chef Prasad Patil has opened Bombay Tiger, a new Indian kitchen and bar at 126 10 Street NW, Calgary. Chef Prasad trained in Mumbai, starting with baking and pastries, and Italian cuisine, and worked with Oberoi 5* hotels across India before coming to Canada and working in many much-loved restaurants: the Italian Farmhouse in Bragg Creek, The Living Room, Q Haute Cuisine, and Graze Canmore. We’re excited by his food; some are from his memory of his grandmother’s cooking, and others blending his experience across cultures - don’t miss the superb Burrata Tokri Chaat - burrata in a crispy potato basket with chutneys, and Andaman Tiger Prawn Curry cooked in a young coconut (only 5 each day!). Those with allergies are well-catered for here with many gluten-, nut- and dairy-free dishes, and vegan choices too – and great value pricing! Brunch is starting this month. Lunch and dinner, seven days. bombaytiger.com
Sons James, Tony, and Robert have taken over the reins from Edmonton’s Anna and Roberta Caruso, who opened Panini’s Italian Cucina eight years ago, and now they’ve launched Rob’s Famous Fried Chicken, offering five heat levels of jumbo strips and wedge-cut fries. Seven days 11am-11pm, 8540 Jasper Avenue. robsfamous.ca
The folks behind Old Strathcona’s Waffle Bird have now opened Dining Car Cafe, on the ground floor of Edmonton’s CN Tower. Come for sandwiches, soups, salads, and house-baked goods, with Caffè Sole tea and coffee from Aspen Roasters. They offer catering too. Weekdays 7am-3pm, 10004 104 Avenue. diningcarcafe.com
Calgary’s heritage red house where George Stanley designed the Canadian flag is now home to An An Kitchen & Bar, a new modern Vietnamese restaurant (the name means ‘eat eat’), and sister restaurant to the family’s Rice For King in Bridgeland. Run by big and little Anhs with Chef Hiew in the kitchen cooking up some elegant and beautifully balanced dishes – his excellent Pan Seared Scallops are a little spicy, a little crunchy, soft, and succulent, and we really enjoyed his Oven-baked Salmon Salad Rolls. There are so many good dishes, just order the Mini Pho Flight of regular, satay, and curry, (there’s a Banh Mi Sub Trio and a flight of 4 tropical cocktails too!) and you’ll be very happy – and very full! Come hungry for lunch and dinner, at 1111 7 Street SW, seven days from 11 am.
Chef Andrea Harling’s Sweatered Hen is now open! Known by many from her days at Calgary’s Brava Bistro and her new L’il Black Rooster in Calgary Farmers’ Market West, for her new breakfast and lunch spot, Harling has refurbished the former VBurger space at 819 17 Avenue SW. Everything here means something to her, and has very much involved family and friends – from the logo, to painting, building shelves, and the vintage plates, with many family recipes, including her grandmothers cheese biscuits and the Harling breakfast sausage. Sweatered Hen is built on nostalgia and warmth, and it shows in the menu of satisfying comfort food, made with love - Roasted Tomato and Cheddar Soup, and BBQ Brisket Bowl with burnt ends are two perfect examples, and will have you returning for more. There are also plenty of plant-based and gluten-free options. Sustainability is important and you’ll see jars of Harling’s pickles, spice mixes, romesco and BBQ sauces, salted caramel, and more, all used in her dishes - eat them there and take them home too! Seven days 7am–4pm.
It’s been a year in the making for Calgary’s new Prosperity Bar. Nhi Tran and Tanner Ennis, opened their tropical Vietnamese bar, Paper Lantern, four years ago, and when Golden Inn closed after 45 years, and the landlord wanted a bar in the premises, the stars aligned. They’re passionate about cocktails and their lives revolve around bars – from Edmonton to Vietnam. They designed everything for Prosperity Bar themselves, completely renovating the space with custom-made booths and bringing furniture from Vietnam. They share the talented Paper Lantern team, so you’d expect great hospitality, superb cocktails, and delicious bites, and you’d be right. Excellent Daiquiris and addictive Fried Shrimp Rangoons! They’re adding to the classic cocktail list, non-alcs, and food menu as they grow, and watch out for the completed upstairs space too shortly! Wednesday to Saturdays from 4 pm, 107 2nd Avenue SE, walk-ins welcome. prosperitybar.ca.