WHERE TO DINE AWARDS 2018 - TOP 12
Foreign Concept The Nash Rouge
Pigeonhole River Café Suzette Brittany Bistro
FOREIGN CONCEPT THE NASH ROUGE
Flavours, ingredients and culinary ideas
from across Asia are transformed in the
hands of Foreign Concept’s award-winning
chefs. “The hospitality and calibre of the
staff at Foreign Concept is top notch,” says
Carmen Cheng. “The dishes are grounded
in authentic Asian flavours but modernized
with their cooking techniques and elevated
ingredients.” Even a simple fried rice dish
shines with house-made five spice Chinese
bacon, white kimchi, onsen egg, shaved
cremini mushrooms and citrus truffle
vinaigrette (page 30). Executive chef Michael Noble took what
succeeded at NOtaBLE—gourmet comfort
food, excellent service and a wood-fired
rotisserie—and brought it to the historic
National Hotel in Inglewood. “I am a big
fan of this restaurant,” says Patricia Koyich.
“The service is what seals the deal!” You
can order the famous rotisserie chicken
with The Nash’s own spice rub, or try one of
Koyich’s favourite meals here—the hangover
breakfast pizza at brunch with merguez
sausage and sunny side eggs (page 26). Housed in a historic home in Inglewood with
intimate dining rooms, Rouge’s French-style
cuisine utilizes herbs and vegetables from
the restaurant’s own garden. They also have
a stellar wine list providing top-notch wine
and food pairings and knowledgeable staff
(be sure to ask for recommendations). “The
restaurant is very cozy and a wonderful
place to celebrate a special occasion or go
to have a memorable meal,” says Cindy
Stewart. “One of my favourite meals is the
bison tartar to start and then the Rougie
duck breast (page 28).”
PIGEONHOLE River Café on Prince’s Island Park is a
welcome haven from bustling city life. The
patio, surrounded by greenery, is popular
for leisurely summer brunches while the
cozy, cabin-style décor and roaring fireplace
provide an ideal winter retreat. The menu
focuses on seasonal fare from Canadian
farms, ranches and waters. “In a time where
regional Canadian cooking has become quite
the trend, River Café still remains a leader
in that realm, having strived for a hyper
local and refined dining experience since the
1990s,” says Dan Clapson (page 26).
Pigeonhole focuses on sharing plates that
are creative and eclectic. The charred
cabbage is Instagram-famous and raved
about by many of our panelists, including
Dan Clapson, who says it’s a great example
of how the simple technique of charring can
make the most humble of all vegetables
shine. “Pigeonhole is one of those
restaurants that really pushes the envelope
when they’re creating dishes,” says Clapson.
“A must-try for an avid food lover visiting
Calgary (page 26).”
RIVER CAFÉ
SUZETTE BRITTANY BISTRO
Inspired by the seaside region of Brittany
in France, Suzette specializes in a dish
called galettes—a savoury buckwheat crepe
stuffed with ingredients such as the classic
French ham, Gruyère cheese and egg, or the
Moroccan merguez, potato, mustard cream
and tarragon. A casual vibe, local ingredients
and an executive chef who was raised in
Brittany complete the authenticity of this
charming bistro (page 30).
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018
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