Dining
BY R AC HA E L F RE Y
CHINIKI
CULTURE
ON THE
TABLE
WORTH THE TRIP
Downtown certainly has its fair share of excellent
restaurants, but there’s also plenty to discover outside
of the core. Whether they’re located in Calgary’s
further reaches or outside city limits altogether, these
restaurants (recommended by the Where to Dine
judges, page 14) are well worth venturing to.
Safari Grill
This place is a darling of Calgary’s food scene with
a menu of flavourful East African and Indo-African
cuisine, located in Mayor Naheed Nenshi’s favourite
food destination, the strip mall named Short Pants
Plaza. 255 - 28 St SE in Calgary, 403-235-6655,
safarigrillcalgary.com
Hayloft Restaurant
Recommended by no less than three Where to Dine
judges, this welcoming place has taken the town
of Airdrie by storm with locally sourced, stick-to-
your-ribs fare such as house-made braised rabbit
agnolotti. 5101 - 403 Mackenzie Way SW in Airdrie,
403-980-8123, www.haylofton8th.com
Bun Bo Hue Deli
The “no frills” décor and service leave room for the
food to shine. Unsurprisingly, the specialty is bún bò
Hue (Vietnamese beef noodle soup) with an added
perk—you can bring your own pot and get it filled for
a bargain price of $20. 4909 - 17 Ave SE in Calgary,
403-248-3030
Chuckwagon Café & Cattle Co.
The legendary status of this down-home restaurant
is well-deserved. The food is not only house-made,
it’s house-raised—all the beef comes from the
owner’s cattle ranch. They have all day breakfast
too! 105 Sunset Blvd in Turner Valley, 403-933-0003,
www.chuckwagoncafe.ca
24
where.ca
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018
You might not expect to pull off the highway in the middle
of a wind-swept prairie and discover mouth-watering and
elegant cuisine in a quiet, light-filled dining room, but that’s
exactly what awaits you at Stones Restaurant in the Chiniki
Cultural Centre. The menu is inspired by the rich history
of the Chiniki First Nation and by some of Canada’s finest
Indigenous chefs, including recipes such as saskatoon berry
soup that have been handed down for generations. The
bannock—which comes in baked and fried varieties—is a
must-have, as is the blueberry house-cured salmon gravlax.
Ingredients are seasonal and locally sourced, resulting in
creations like the slow-cooked roast elk taco, a uniquely
delicious presentation of flavourful elk meat. After your
meal, browse the art and history galleries in the cultural
centre and check out the one-of-a-kind experiences the
centre offers (page 28).
Scopa Neighbourhood Italian
This friendly neighbourhood restaurant serves up
fresh, uncomplicated, Italian-inspired dishes along
with a carefully selected wine list. Pizza, pasta,
antipasti and entrees such as a classic osso buco
adorn the menu. 2220 - Centre St NE in Calgary,
403-276-2030, scopacalgary.com