Market on 17th

My final night, of two nights, in Calgary was spent at Market on 17th. It was ranked as one of the top restaurants in Canada in 2014, on Vacay Canada, and I agree with their assessment this day. Forgot my camera unfortunately.


I started with their market soup of foraged mushrooms with a mushroom pastry tart, which was delicious and creamy. For a main I had the Pork Royale, which was local pork cooked and deboned, mixed with foie gras and shaved truffles stuffed in a sausage case. With that was cheese curd mashed potatoes, brocolini, carrot salad with a citrus sauce, and a pork reduction around everything. It didn't look large enough when it was served to me but I was feeling very full afterwards. Not full enough to not have three house made chocolates though: burnt caramel, hazelnut, and maple. The chocolate outsides was done using a marbling technique using different colours.


The whole meal was a great way to end my stay in Calgary. I would eat here again in a heartbeat.

Hapa Izakaya Restaurant

I was looking forward to eating at an Italian place nearby but it was closed for a staff function. I did mark on my map some other places nearby and this place, Hapa Izakaya was closest. I was so happy I did. It was also participating in an event called the Big Taste. It is an event to generate interest in restaurants during this slow season they have special menu options or features.

I started with a vegetable entree: spinach with a peanut sauce, mixed greens with citrus sauce, and eggplant in a rich marinade. So far it was well made but not fantastic, at least that was until...

...the salmon. It was cooked sous-vide in a citrus sauce to perfection, and served with a beefy flavoured barley with enochi mushrooms and some veg. Wonderful.

For desert, another wonderful treat...matcha brulee with raspberries on top.

I would come back here again.

Mikey's Juke Joint

After arriving in Calgary, I drove to Sentry Box but was hungry for lunch so I went across the street to Mikey's Juke Joint. It has quite the cool decor inside that indicates its blues and jazz roots.

I had their special, chicken gumbo and a sub with chorizo, peppers, cheese and onions. The sub was average but the chicken gumbo was the best I have ever had. Could of had a huge bowl of it. Would stop by again.

Flight to Calgary

I went to Calgary this week for work and the scenery was quite something. Here is just above the South of Vancouver Island.

Over the Rocky Mountains.

Just West of the Rocky mountains and into Alberta.

On final decent into Calgary airport with the downtown area nearby.