Brava Bistro - Calgary, AB

I had the pleasure of meeting up with some of my closest girlfriends this weekend. Due to all our busy schedules, we had some difficulty finding a reservation and ended up with a 9:00 reservation at Brava Bistro. Our common love for food meant that each of us, secretly, couldn't make it that late without having some sort of "snack", and when we finally came clean with each other we all had to admit that we were more in the mood for appetizers than a full meal. We decided to share the lobster gnocchi, mussels, seared scallops, burrata & tomato salad, croque monsieur flatbread, lobster poutine, and a sundae for dessert. Favorites were the lobster poutine (with a shellfish butter sauce to die for) and the mussels in a white wine & cream sauce. The flatbread and the salad were a bit pricy for the portion size, and although tasty were otherwise unmemorable. Brava Bistro has a classic, intimate decor perfect for a romantic dinner or other celebratory occasion. The food is excellent, and I would be happy to return for a special occasion although the prices are a bit out of my range to become a regular occurrence.

Quick Eats: Menyatai Ramen - Calgary AB

Just a quick post today. Because my work shift just happened to give me a three day weekend, I decided to drive down to Calgary. Every time I come back I love Calgary more and more, but I also feel increasingly out of touch. I took the C-train for the first time in years today, and was amazed - not for the reason you think, but because the way I remember it in high school, there was no air conditioning and no electronic sign telling you which stop was coming up next or when the next train was coming. Actually, the last time I took the C-train regularly was before the Crowfoot station was even built - wow, reminiscing makes me feel old.

Not sure how I got off on that tangent, because today's meal really had nothing to do with the C-train at all. I had a craving for ramen and was about to head out to my go-to place, Muku, when I remembered another new(ish) ramen restaurant - Menyatai Japanese Ramen, also in Kensington. It's located off Kensington Road, and is a quaint little space decorated with bright colors and creative chandeliers. Very cheerful. I really liked the atmosphere, so it's unfortunate I didn't like the food a bit more. I wasn't too hungry so I just ordered takoyaki for myself which was entirely average, nothing special. My brother ordered the shoyu (soy) ramen with extra pork which was even more disappointing. All I could taste in the soup was one flavor - salty. Well, soy and salty. It had none of the depth I love about ramen broth. The noodles themselves were a bit on the mushy side as well. The toppings were probably the only thing I preferred over Muku - the BBQ pork was tasty and fatty, and I liked the addition of a soft boiled egg. However, as the bowls here are $2-$3 more than at Muku, with less choice and significantly less tasty, I don't think I will be returning here to sample any more menu items.

Thomsons (Revamped) - Calgary, AB

I had the pleasure of catching up with some of my best girlfriends last week when I was back in Calgary. As an added bonus, because one of my friends works at the Hyatt, she invited us to come enjoy a meal at Thomsons, the hotel restaurant which has revamped everything from its decor to its entire menu. We stopped by for the soft opening, the night before Thomsons opened to the public (it should be open now).

Upon stepping into Thomsons, the first thing I noticed was how very Calgary it was. Large pictures of cowboys and horses adorned the walls, adding a Western theme to an otherwise comfortable but unremarkable dining space. I hadn't been to Thomsons before the reno so I don't have anything to compare to, but my friend stated that some of the walls had been removed to create a more open atmosphere with an open kitchen.

Because it was a soft opening, we had been warned that the service would be slower than usual, but we also reaped the benefits of having the server be more informative than usual. He encouraged us to ask as many questions about the food and drink menus as we had, and went out of his way to talk about Thomsons new concept. Apparently the theme is local, fresh, in-season ingredients, with the menu changing as much as 30% daily to reflect the best the chef has that day.

We were only able to choose from four appetizers, four mains, and four desserts instead of the whole menu, but that was more than enough for our party. We decided to go with one of each appetizer - steamed mussels, confit duck breast, burrata cheese with tiger tomatos, and slow braised beef cheeks. When the appetizers came out, we were stunned by how large the portions were, especially the mussels and the confit duck breast. Unfortunately, the mussels were our least favourite - the orange zest was really quite strong, and the overall taste was something I'd expect more from a light lunch than a hearty dinner. My confit duck breast was delicious - the duck was juicy and flavorful. To me, however, it was a very heavy dish that I had difficulty finishing as the duck was served with beans and bacon. Brussel sprouts added some freshness but I would recommend splitting this appetizer. For most creative, I'd hand it to the burrata dish - the plating was just so creative, with cheese curd placed inside a larger cheese "bowl" to resemble an egg.

For our mains, we ordered the smoked double pork chop, braised lamb shank, and grilled cornish chicken. Again, the portion sizes were huge, especially the pork chop and lamb leg. The pork chop was full of flavor, perfectly seasoned and complemented by tart apples. My lamb leg was fall-off-the-bone tender, but my favorite part of the dish was actually the sweet potato gnocchi it was served with. I only had a very small taste of the chicken, but my friend seemed to enjoy it. 

Despite the fact we were all stuffed to the brim, we decided to go all out on what Thomson's had to offer and ordered all four desserts on special - berry gateau (cake), pecan pie, white chocolate cheesecake, and the "grown up sundae". The plating was stunning, especially the "grown up sundae" (middle left). The pie and cake were the standouts - the cake was flavorful, soft, and loaded with sweet berries, and who doesn't love pecan pie? Unfortunately the brownie in the sundae was very rich and quite bitter. Although some may enjoy the taste of cocoa alone, I would have preferred a hint of sweetness. Although the cheesecake was good, it wasn't anything special - I wasn't able to pick out any white chocolate flavor.

Overall, I was really impressed by Thomsons tonight. The flavors were spot-on, the plating was beautiful, and the portions were very generous. However, I would prefer to see smaller portion sizes at a lower price, because I was only able to finish about half of my appetizer/entree/dessert meal. Definitely a matter of personal preference however, because I am sure true cowboys will appreciate the sheer amount of food more than a small Asian girl. I would also recommend Thomsons for those who are visiting from out of town and want to experience a true Calgary meal, because I think Thomsons has really made the effort to reflect Calgary in everything from its atmosphere to its menu.

Disclaimer: Food and beverages were complimentary of Thomsons. I was not asked to write a review, nor expected to, and all opinions (positive and negative) are wholly my own.

Quick Eats: Wa's Japanese, Calgary AB

Wa's is well known in Calgary for their uber fresh fish and authentic Japanese style, but I view it as a treat rather than a regular occurrence as the dinnertime prices definitely reflect the quality. On a recent Saturday, though, a friend wanted to meet for lunch. Located conveniently just off 16 Ave, Wa's is decorated rather traditionally inside. We were seated in the covered patio-like area, allowing us to enjoy the ample sunshine and do some people-watching. When the waitress brought the lunch menu, I was surprised that the prices were so much lower than the dinnertime menu. I spent a long time debating whether I had stomach space for the chirashi lunch - $16 for udon noodles, salad, and a large selection of sashimi served over rice. Finally deciding I probably couldn't finish both noodles and rice, I decided on the sashimi lunch - $14 for a small side dish, miso soup, salad, sashimi, and rice.

Sashimi lunch - there was a small noodle salad included as the side dish, but I was a bit over-eager and dug in before I remembered to take a picture

Can you believe all this was only $14?! The side dish (a vermicelli noodle salad), salad, and miso soup were all quite standard, but I was so impressed by the sashimi. It was beautifully plated with the black dish for contrast, and the pieces of sashimi were thick and deliciously fresh. My favorites were the tuna and scallop. Though stuffed to the brim, I couldn't leave even one piece of sashimi behind because it was that good. I was glad I hadn't gone with the chirashi lunch - my friend had opted for it and had considerably more difficulty than me finishing off her plate. 

I highly recommend giving Wa's a try, but as mentioned before their dinner menu is priced a bit on the higher side. If you're on a budget, definitely stop by for lunch - they are open Tuesday to Saturday, and their full menu can be viewed here (looks like it was updated in 2008, so I am not sure how accurate it really is).

Bolero: Authentic Brazilian Steak House - Calgary, AB

I will admit right off the bat that I am not a huge meat eater. Don't get me wrong, I love my protein, but only as part of a well-balanced meal that includes a decent amount of carbs and some vegetables for good measure. A Brazilian steakhouse with all-you-can-eat meat, therefore, would not be my first choice for a nice meal out. A previous visit to Gaucho Brazilian Barbeque had cemented this in my mind, as I suffered from meat sweats for hours afterwards from a meal that I didn't even particularly enjoy. Attractive, I know. I thought the meats were dry, overly salty, and altogether unimpressive. But my brother had been to Calgary's other Brazilian steakhouse, Bolero, on several occasions and mentioned it was quite good. Since it was his birthday recently, I couldn't say no when he wanted to go again. I balked at paying $40 for dinner, however, so I managed to talk him down to Sunday brunch at a reasonable $21.95.

When I stepped into Bolero, the first thing that I noticed was that it was dark. It actually reminded me somewhat of a lair, probably because there was no natural light. It took several minutes for my eyes to adjust but when I could finally see again, the decor was pleasant enough, homey and comfortable with a fireplace near the entrance. If you've never been to a rodizio type restaurant, waiters circle with samples of food while you signal yes or no with your colored cylinder, green on one side and red on the other. It's really more of a gimmick at Bolero, since each waiter will stop by your table regardless. Our rotating items featured more than listed on the paper menu, and included caraway seed French toast, garlic bread, lemon basa, top sirloin, bottom sirloin with garlic and parmesan, chicken drumsticks, bacon wrapped chicken, butter roast beef, sausage, pork ribs, lamb shoulder, and grilled pineapple, grapefruit, and vegetables. I am not sure whether I should be proud or ashamed of this, but I managed to try every single thing on that list except for the garlic bread (my #1 buffet rule: never eat a large portion of anything, because you never know what deliciousness will come your way next). My favorite meats were the butter roast beef and the bottom sirloin with garlic and parmesan, which I thought had the best flavor. The pineapple and grapefruit were a great way to break up the heaviness, with their natural sweetness brought out by the grill. Each skewer came around at least 2-3 times during our meal, which according to my brother was more frequent than at dinner. When I wanted to have another piece of the roast beef, I asked my waiter whether it would be coming around again, and he told me he'd make sure it came out soon. Sure enough, it came out within the next 10 minutes.

Cold buffet items

Although you come for the meat skewers, Bolero also has an impressive self-serve buffet with both cold and hot items. There were the standard fruits and salads, but also snow crab, mussels, eggs benedict, and bacon. The snow crab was tasty and not too dry, but I was disappointed by the lack of crab crackers, even when I specifically asked my waiter for one. There were a few pieces that had been sufficiently pre-cracked, but for the most part all I could do was stare sadly at that succulent meat I knew I would never be able to eat. I also noticed that the hot buffet items very rarely got replenished. There was plenty of food when we arrived at 11, but by around 12 or so the crab legs were depleted.

 If the self-serve buffet and the circulating meats still aren't enough for you, there is also a pasta/omelette/crepe station manned by a friendly chef. For the pasta, you get a choice of red or white sauce and a number of vegetables to add. I chose a white sauce with cherry tomatos, portabello mushrooms, and artichoke which was actually quite tasty, with the chef taking care to saute my vegetables with garlic and adding fresh parsley and parmesan to the finished product. I also tried a crepe with bananas and strawberries, and again the chef drizzled it nicely with strawberry and chocolate sauces. The dessert table had an array of standard cakes and pastries, nothing special (I'm pretty sure I've bought that exact cheesecake before at Superstore). With that much other food, however, dessert is really an afterthought at Bolero.

I never thought I'd say this, but I actually had a great meal at Bolero's Sunday brunch. For $21.95, I'd go so far as to say it's a steal (I still don't think I'd ever pay $40 for dinner). Speaking to the waiter, he told me Sundays are usually quite slow, but I don't see why, as the array of meats are almost comparable to what you would receive at dinner and you are guaranteed to leave stuffed and satisfied. Especially compared to Gaucho, Bolero's brunch has a wide array of offerings to satisfy even the pickiest eater. Definitely a pleasant surprise.

Top Pick of the Day: Grilled pineapple and grapefruit

http://bolerocalgary.com/

 Rating:

4/5 Erics

Muku Japanese Ramen - Calgary, AB

On a cold winter's day, there is nothing more satisfying than a good bowl of noodle soup, whether it’s chicken noodle soup, Vietnamese pho, Chinese wonton mein, or Japanese ramen. Some people dismiss ramen as nothing more than "instant noodles," but when you get that perfect mix of soup, homemade noodles, and carefully chosen toppings, it can't be beat. I’ve spent many a vacation chasing down delicious bowls of ramen, dragging along whichever unfortunate soul happened to be with me. Having never visited Japan, the best ramen I've ever had was at Ippudo in New York. After a two hour wait (do NOT go at peak dinner hours) I was rewarded with the most delicious broth I have ever tasted. My favorite broths are creamy, rich, and hearty, with flavors so well developed you can almost taste the hours that went into making them. I’m not a huge fan of the clearer broths like shio (salt) or shoyu (soy sauce), so I’m definitely a bit biased when it comes to the places I prefer. But after tasting ramen in New York, Toronto, and Vancouver, one thing is clear: it’s just not the same in Alberta. When I need my ramen fix, though, there are some reliable alternatives.

In Calgary, my go-tos are Shikiji and Muku. Shikiji serves four soup bases: soy, miso, salt, and chili sesame. I’ve only tried the soy, miso, and salt, but the miso is definitely my favorite as I find the soy and salt bases too one note (salty). I like that Shikiji offers a choice of lean or fatty pork to top your ramen. Despite the deliciousness of fatty pork, I usually end up choosing the lean pork. At Shikiji, a bowl of dinnertime ramen will run you from $11.60-$15.60. Last time I was at Shikiji, it was about $2 cheaper per bowl at lunchtime, but I am not sure whether this is still the case. Shikiji also serves decent sushi, so if you are craving both ramen and sushi, this would be the place for you. 

The more I visit Muku, though, the more I prefer it. It’s a small restaurant located next to Globefish Sushi, and is nothing special in terms of décor. Muku has a much larger selection of ramen types than Shikiji, and the prices are also lower (most basic bowls of ramen are under $10). For an additional $3, you can make your ramen into a set menu, with the addition of a salad and a rice bowl. Since I prefer the creamy broths, my regular order is the kuro-ton ramen. It's a deliciously garlicky pork soup base, rich, fatty, and full of flavor. As you can see, the toppings are nothing special but it is a satisfying meal nonetheless. I've ordered different ramen bowls from Muku in the past, but I always come back to the kuro-ton.

We also ordered the takoyaki on this visit. Although it came out steaming hot and nicely plated, the balls were mushy and doughy, without the crisp exterior that I love about takoyaki. Not a dish I would order again.

Overall, Muku is a great place to go for an inexpensive, flavorful meal when in Calgary. Now if only I could find a good option for ramen in Edmonton. 

Top Pick of the Night: kuro-ton ramen

Rating:

3/5 Erics

Sho Sushi Bar & Kitchen - Calgary, AB

Whenever my family goes out for dinner, I am usually the only one who cares where we eat. So I was rather surprised that my mom had a suggestion when I asked where she'd like to go for her birthday. She told me, "We could try that new sushi place... on Macleod Trail... that I read about in a magazine, I can't remember which." Without any more hints about the restaurant or the magazine, I told her I'd figure it out, but I'd been away from Calgary for so long that I hadn't realized just how many new sushi restaurants had opened on Macleod Trail in that time. So I put off making reservations until the day of the dinner when I was back in Calgary, and was pretty amused to find that the magazine she'd been talking about was Avenue, and that there was a copy sitting on our coffee table. The restaurant was Sho Sushi Bar and Kitchen, and I almost didn't make reservations as I'd read it was a gigantic space with two floors. I'm glad I did though, because when we arrived at Sho at 8 pm, the front space was filled with people waiting for a table while we were seated immediately.

My first impression of Sho was that it wasn't very traditional, nor was it trying to be. There was techno music playing, and the servers, almost none of whom were Asian, were dressed in tight black skirts similar to Cactus Club Cafe or Joeys. The space was modern and large but also cramped - the tables were quite close together, but not in a purposeful communal-dining type way.

Perusing the menu, the prices looked low compared to other sushi places, with most rolls under $8. We decided on the vegetable tempura, Asari miso (miso soup with clams), silver gold roll, lobster roll, fire dragon roll, spider roll, seared-grilled roll, and various sashimi and sushi. In rapid succession, we received the sushi and sashimi followed by all the rolls. It was almost impossible to fit everything onto the table, and I think if Sho insists on serving everything all at once they should plate rolls together. They could also work on their timing as the miso soup came out last.

The sushi was pretty average, and the sashimi didn't taste particularly fresh. But for the price ($5.40 for three pieces), I guess it was about right. You get what you pay for, especially when it comes to sashimi. The silver gold roll consisted of spicy tuna topped with unagi and what looked like pea shoots (apparently oba, a Japanese herb). It was plated nicely, but the roll itself was nothing special and I didn't think the oba added anything. The fire dragon roll had a similar description (spicy tuna and cucumber topped unagi with unagi and volcano sauce), but it was actually much tastier and more impressive in presentation. It was my favorite roll of the night, as the spicy tuna and unagi sauce actually complemented each other quite well. It seems like quite a popular roll, probably in part because it's so eye-catching with literal flames.

Fire Dragon Roll

Lobster Roll

The roll I had been most looking forward to, the lobster roll, was a huge disappointment. I'd read so many reviews on Urbanspoon about how great it was, but I didn't think the components went well together at all. It's supposedly served with a garlic pepper sauce, but to me it tasted more like sweet chili sauce that overwhelmed the flavor of the lobster. In fact, all I could taste was the sauce, and the lobster was quite chewy. But for the price ($8.50) I suppose it's not fair to expect the same quality of lobster you might elsewhere. The seared-grilled roll was also underwhelming. It consisted of salmon and toro wrapped unagi, and when it was brought to the table the server lightly "seared" the top with a portable blow torch. It felt gimmicky to do it this way, as the sear was way too light to make a difference. I would have gladly traded the show for a nice pan-sear. As for the spider roll, it was pretty average - it certainly didn't stand out, as I can't remember much about it.

The Silver Gold Roll (back) and the Seared-Grilled Roll (seriously, THAT'S a sear?)

The asari miso was pretty tasty, although it just tasted like normal miso soup with clams added in. The tempura was fried nicely, but I wasn't impressed that the yam was in the form of yam fries. I suppose it's economical for the kitchen, since yam fries are also on the menu, but it looks very lazy as part of a tempura dish.

Vegetable tempura

Although the prices at Sho Sushi seem low compared to other sushi restaurants, the portion sizes are much smaller than you'd get elsewhere and you end up ordering much more than you'd expect. For four people, our bill came to $100 not including tip, and we were barely full. Don't come to Sho Sushi expecting a traditional Japanese meal, or even a particularly well done fusion one. The atmosphere feels way too commercial, with cramped tables and lack of attention to the timing of dishes. Overall, it was a disappointing experience and with so many other options for sushi in Calgary, I won't be coming back.

Top Pick of the Night: Fire Dragon Roll

Rating:

 2/5 Erics