unannounced. They conduct
a meticulous checklist of
evaluations to award a score
of one to five Diamonds to
each approved establishment. Rouge has won accolades for its partnership with
local farms, and for using
ingredients from its onsite
garden. The restaurant summarizes its approach with
one phrase: “You can almost
taste the terroir.”
Jump-start your
spring with
this roster of
amazing events,
restaurants,
festivals and
more
rougecalgary.com
For a list of Alberta’s
Diamond-rated establishments, see AMATravel.ca/
AMADiamonds
FESTIVALS
Calgary chef Paul
Rogalski at Rouge,
his CAA/AAA Four
Diamond-winning
restaurant
Diamond-Rated Dining
As well as being a culinary innovator, chef Paul
Hail the Haskap
Rogalski is a fiercely proud
Alberta was the first provAlbertan. In fact, his province to commercially grow
enance is central to the
the haskap berry—the discooking at Rouge, his
tinctive indigo honeysuckle
French-inspired Calgary bisfruit that’s a cross between
tro. For the second year in
a blueberry and an oddly
a row, Rouge has earned a
long grape. So it’s fitting
CAA/AAA Fourthat Alberta restaurants
Diamond rating,
are among the best
awarded to those
at using it. The
rare venues with
haskap cheeseexceptional
cake at Escape
service, facilBistro and Bar
ities and cuiin Grande
sine. Housed in
Prairie is a tartthe former home
sweet triumph,
Haskap berry:
of Stampede coand one you don’t
blue and beautiful
founder A.E.
have to feel guilty
Cross, the restauabout: Haskaps
rant focuses on local farmare high in vitamins C and
to-fork flavours, a tradition
A, and boast a high fibre
that Rogalski has helped
content as well. Best of
pioneer in Alberta. “The
all, haskap season is just
sweet spot is when everyaround the corner.
thing aligns: the weather,
Escape, Grande Prairie
nature, people,” he’s said
escapebistrobar.com
(CHEF) DAN CLAPSON; (BERRIES) KAREN HINE/FLICKR; (JASPER PRIDE) MATTHEW PARREIRA
EATING AND DRINKING
about the power of regional
cooking. Rogalski mined his
techniques as a participant
in Cook it Raw, a 2015 event
that brought acclaimed
chefs from around the world
to Alberta for a taste of the
region’s cuisine. For Rouge,
the Four-Diamond rating is
a prestigious win. Each year,
CAA and AAA award their
Diamond designations, one
of North America’s leading
hospitality rating systems.
Professional inspectors visit
lodgings and restaurants
Jasper Pride
This cool winter pride festival welcomes the LGBT
community and friends to
Jasper, the Rockies town
that’s a gateway to soaring peaks and tons of powder. The action on and off
the slopes includes group
skiing, ice-canyon tours,
movie night, karaoke, family
events, winter games, dogsledding and the popular
“high heels on the hills.”
March 17-20, jasperpride.ca
Pre-purchase your annual
Parks Canada Discovery
Family Pass for entry and
save $10 at an AMA centre
(ask about savings on
individual senior passes).
AMATravel.ca/Ski
The Jasper Pride
Festival takes the
fun to the slopes
AMA INSIDER
SPRING 2016
59