Local Restaurant Thread

[Leeman4Gilmour]

A shout out to Flora Euro Kitchen in Deer Ridge. Great little spot which has a unique menu. Maybe not for everyone. Wife tried the pork hock and I went Osso buco. Both delicious. Next time we go, we'll give ourselves more time and get the paella.

[craigwd]

Originally Posted by Leeman4Gilmour

A shout out to Flora Euro Kitchen in Deer Ridge. Great little spot which has a unique menu. Maybe not for everyone. Wife tried the pork hock and I went Osso buco. Both delicious. Next time we go, we'll give ourselves more time and get the paella.

Have you had the cevapi?
This location used to be my favourite Greek restaurant in the city.

[Leeman4Gilmour]

Originally Posted by craigwd

Have you had the cevapi?
This location used to be my favourite Greek restaurant in the city.

Not yet, but I'll get through the entire menu at some point I'm sure.

[GGG]

IBU opened up in Mardaloop this week. We went the first day and food is fantastic. It’s was opened by the guys who own expat Asia in Avanita market. It’s Asian Fusion small plates.

It’s Brussel sprout's are my new favourite Brussels sprout dish and the Pork Belly and Scallop dish was really good. I have had their cauliflower at expat Asia and it looks like it is the same and is also really good.

I can’t wait until next year when their chefs tasting menu comes out. It’s also very gluten friendly with about 80% being gluten free and they have a dedicated gluten deep fryer.

[aaronck]

Originally Posted by GGG

IBU opened up in Mardaloop this week. We went the first day and food is fantastic. It’s was opened by the guys who own expat Asia in Avanita market. It’s Asian Fusion small plates.

It’s Brussel sprout's are my new favourite Brussels sprout dish and the Pork Belly and Scallop dish was really good. I have had their cauliflower at expat Asia and it looks like it is the same and is also really good.

I can’t wait until next year when their chefs tasting menu comes out. It’s also very gluten friendly with about 80% being gluten free and they have a dedicated gluten deep fryer.

My daughter got a job as a server there- looking forward to trying it- she says the feedback has been great!

[Shazam]

I couldn’t tell if that building was a closed down restaurant or a new restaurant that was being built.

[fotze2]

Originally Posted by Shazam

I couldn’t tell if that building was a closed down restaurant or a new restaurant that was being built.

I think it was a florist if I remember. My pharmacy is across the street.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by fotze2

I think it was a florist if I remember. My pharmacy is across the street.

Oh is that who that guy in the hoodie was across the street?

[fotze2]

Originally Posted by Shazam

Oh is that who that guy in the hoodie was across the street?

Its for the cialis for our sessions Foxy Shazam.

[fotze2]

I went back to Cassis, had it as my final thought I would die meal. Sat at the bar alone, had the foie gras and a glass of white wine and a french 75. Just perfect and simple.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by fotze2

Its for the cialis for our sessions Foxy Shazam.

[fotze2]

Originally Posted by Shazam

I went again tonite and told the owner it was my death row meal.

The beef bourgignon was quite possibly the best thing I’ve ever eaten. It’s ratatouille but no rats.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

After many recommendations for Italian we tried Il Centro. Portions were good and it was decent enough. But the price to quality ratio was lacking. I’m cool to pay for quality but there’s got to be value and I thought it was lacking a bit. Fair amount more expensive than Chianti’s and only a slight improvement on quality. Definitely a couple steps below My Little Italia, Mercato or Luca.

Coming from an Italian background I do tend to be though on Italian joints though. Partner loved it though which counts for something I guess. Service was awesome. Gave me a real 90s vibe. Like I’m sure it was top notch in Calgary 25 years ago but for my money I’d pick My Little Italia every day of the week. Not a bad option if you’re in the neighborhood and want to support local. Plus it’s just steps away from Boudoir. Who doesn’t love some pasta and tiramisu followed up with lap dances for the whole family afterwards.

[Shazam]

The upstairs is a brothel. I #### you not.

[darockwilder]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

After many recommendations for Italian we tried Il Centro. Portions were good and it was decent enough. But the price to quality ratio was lacking. I’m cool to pay for quality but there’s got to be value and I thought it was lacking a bit. Fair amount more expensive than Chianti’s and only a slight improvement on quality. Definitely a couple steps below My Little Italia, Mercato or Luca.

Coming from an Italian background I do tend to be though on Italian joints though. Partner loved it though which counts for something I guess. Service was awesome. Gave me a real 90s vibe. Like I’m sure it was top notch in Calgary 25 years ago but for my money I’d pick My Little Italia every day of the week. Not a bad option if you’re in the neighborhood and want to support local. Plus it’s just steps away from Boudoir. Who doesn’t love some pasta and tiramisu followed up with lap dances for the whole family afterwards.

I used to work right behind Il Centro. In like 1994 all they did was like counter service sandwiches (which were awesome, like capicollo or mortadella on a sub bun). Then after a few years it totally changed eventually in to what it is now. Like a proper restaurant, which bothered me at first because it had always been a good cheap and fast lunch option. When I finally went to the new version I quite liked it and became friendly with the owner Fedele. I would peek in the back and order things for later. He actually made a bunch of pizzas for the gift opening after our wedding, I met him in the parking lot of the Crowchild Twin Arenas for the handover (he wasn't open on Sundays but did it for me). I left that job in 2013 and rarely made it back down there. Last year I took my wife to Franca's for supper and our server was Fedele! We chatted and come to realize he had left/sold Il Centro soon after I had left and his sister was one of the owners of Franca's so he helped out sometimes. Looks like Franca's just was sold as well.

So I am kind of confused when I see them saying they Il Centro is a "Family run restaurant for over 35 years". Maybe it has been an array of families, not the same one for 35 years. I believe he said his son(s) ran a place sort of east of the city, maybe Fabrizio's? Which looks pretty awesome if you are near there.

[fotze2]

I thought Il Centro was new owners. Was not as good as I remembered and the owner was actually nice most recently.

Went to IBU last night. I just assumed it was sushi. It is not sushi. No sushi. Was pretty good. Cauliflower was the star, Mushrooms meh, potstickers were potstickers. Huge portions for appetizers. Made us not order mains. Told the waiter they should probably reduce portion size.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by fotze2

I went back to Cassis, had it as my final thought I would die meal. Sat at the bar alone, had the foie gras and a glass of white wine and a french 75. Just perfect and simple.

Might be my favorite spot in the city.

[fotze2]

Originally Posted by Weitz

Might be my favorite spot in the city.

You have to go get the Bourg since its on special. Absolutely unreal. 48 hour cook they said. I was Anton Ego the food critic at the end of Ratatouille.

[fotze2]

In-laws are coming for Xmas for Macs Midget. Grandma is turning 75 and they are quite the high end foodies. She wants a meal with a tablecloth (for some reason). That probably narrows it down quite a bit. I cannot think of anything to be honest. Money not an issue. Expect to pay >$1000. Any suggestions?

[troutman]

https://cookingbeautifullee.com/2020...-are-a-foodie/

This is a little confession. None of the cooks or chefs in the food industry would call themselves “foodies.” Since we handle food for more than ten hours a day, we don’t want to continue thinking about food after work. Many chefs find it hard to be friends with those who claim to be foodies. Why? Because it’s almost impossible for anyone who has never worked in a commercial kitchen to understand how brutal it is. If “foodie” is defined by the ability to dine out in fancy restaurants rather than the knowledge of food and the techniques of handling food, chefs find it hard to have a real conversation with those foodies. A common complaint from my friends in the industry is: “They just don’t understand!”

“A person who thinks they know everything about food and the origins of food. Usually, these people have zero experience actually cooking and dealing with the stress of a real restaurant environment. They'll create blogs for themselves to create a sense of self-worth, often this isn't their real job. These are the same types that hang out at pretentious, expensive coffee lounges. They totally destroy a layman's love of food and make the average person feel like crap for going out to eat.”
– Definition of “foodie” by Mr. Tintin (Urban Dictionary, June 6th, 2019)

https://303magazine.com/2016/07/shouldnt-call-foodie/

Everyone and their mother is a foodie nowadays. It would seem that the only qualifying hurdle is the ability to put food in ones mouth.

Foodie no longer means someone who appreciates food, but someone who appreciates food more than you do.

This sad label now seems to be intrinsically tied to the idea that food must be expensive and luxurious, and only they know what that is. They have eaten at enough high-end restaurants and are now graciously willing to teach the common people about food. The problem is food—like wine, like art—has nothing to do with the price tag or how much you know. Food has to do with the depth, the creation, the meaning, the profile and most importantly, the experience.