Calgary’s recent boom years (it’s Canada’s oil capital) mean a wealth of decadent food choices. You’ll be hard-pressed to find better beef anyplace—the city’s nickname is Cowtown, after all! Sample Alberta’s legendary beef at one of two-dozen steakhouses, including trendy SaltLik. Sink your teeth into lean prairie bison—the region’s original red meat. Chow down on gourmet deli food at Spolumbo’s, a sausage factory owned by ex-pro-football players.
Downtown at Mango Shiva, indulge in a karmic blend of Indian spices and pork. Come up for air—and veggies. Browse the Calgary Farmers’ Market; yes, great produce does grow during the short prairie summer. Taste the sweetest corn in memory. Ask Simple Simon to recommend which pie to taste. Buy spuds from Hutterite vendors and realize there’s something comforting about buying food from direct from the people who grow it.
Spend an afternoon in Kensington. Your nose will fall in love with the aromatic teas sold at the Naked Leaf. Rub shoulders with yuppies over authentic Napoletana pizza at Pulcinella. Sip global vintages with hipsters at a neighborhood wine bar. Indulge in European-influenced decadence at Chef’s Table, known for dazzling food and superb service. Ditto River Café. Walk off dinner along the nearby river pathways of Prince’s Island Park.
Stop in at the bar at the Westin Hotel: Canada’s de-facto national cocktail, the Bloody Caesar, was invented here. The bar has changed, but you can still raise a glass to prairie bounty.
