A rare Saturday off in April could only mean one thing: ROAD TRIP! We spent the day in Calgary doing what we do best. Eating, as per usual.
Itinerary
B I G F I S H
1112 Edmonton Trail
Calgary, AB
(403) 277-3403
Brunch in Calgary, sort of a big deal. I'm not one to enjoy hour-long waits for some eggs in the morning, so I found a place that I thought would be relatively low-key.
Located on Edmonton Trail, Big Fish, as the name implies, is a seafood restaurant. It's a casual place, small, cozy, and quiet. It almost felt like dining in someone's living room (you know, if they're into nautical decor and have a giant octopus painted on their wall).
The brunch menu has a good amount of options, from basic breakfast fare to those with a little bit more flair.
SC ordered their daily special, smoked trout hash. I almost expected the fish to be chopped up and mixed in with the potatoes, but there was actually a whole fillet on top. The dish is finished with a couple poached eggs and some hollandaise sauce. They also give a side of toast, complete with homemade jam, and some homemade ketchup for the crispy potatoes.
Whenever soft shell crab is on the menu, you know I'm ordering it. The soft shell crab club ($19.00) comes complete with BLT trimmings -- organic tomatoes and a couple strips of double smoked bacon. You also have a choice of side: yam chips, brunch potatoes, or salad.
The soft shell crab was fried perfectly; it was crispy and well-seasoned. Unfortunately, the bread was almost too toasted for my liking. I think a soft bun, like a brioche, would've been a better choice. I also could have done without the bacon in there. It was just way too tough and almost impossible to chew. A couple changes and the sandwich could have been a winner.
The soft shell crab was fried perfectly; it was crispy and well-seasoned. Unfortunately, the bread was almost too toasted for my liking. I think a soft bun, like a brioche, would've been a better choice. I also could have done without the bacon in there. It was just way too tough and almost impossible to chew. A couple changes and the sandwich could have been a winner.
M A D E B Y M A R C U S
#121, 1013 17 Ave SW
Calgary, AB
(403) 452-1692
As we made our way to our next destination, we made an impromptu stop at Made by Marcus' 17th Ave location. What cemented our decision? Only the fact that April's soft serve flavour was carrot cake!
For $4.00 a cup, you do get a lot of ice cream for your buck. The soft serve is creamy and the carrot cake flavour really does come through. SC ordered one scoop ($5.00), but two flavours: the malted mini egg and the Chinook bee pollen & lavender (both seasonal). The malted mini egg tasted exactly as advertised! Sweet milk chocolate in a malted milk base. The bee pollen and lavender was a more subtly sweet flavour, with floral and honey notes.
Super stoked that Edmonton is also about to have their very own Made by Marcus! Summer 2019 will officially be known as the renaissance of ice cream.
B U T T E R B L O C K & C O
The Devenish Building
Suite 111, 908 17 Ave SW
Calgary, AB
Our original destination before our unplanned ice cream break was Butter Block & Co. Located in the historic Devenish building, this small little bakery emits the most unreal smell through the hallways. I contacted them through Instagram and they were so kind to set aside the baked goods I wanted in case they sold out by the time I got there.
The bakery specializes in croissants -- whether they're plain, double-baked, stuffed, or made into sandwiches! They also do scones, cookies, buns, and danishes. Every Tuesday, they also feature a "test run" treat for only $2.50!
I ordered a bunch of goodies to bring back home. In a clockwise direction, I got their ham & cheese croissant, a zucchini & brie danish, a spicy cheese knot, a stuffed matcha croissant, and a double-baked black sesame croissant.
Although all of them were delicious, my particular favourite was the double-baked black sesame. Super nutty, toasty and fragrant!
If you can't make it to the bakery, Butter Block also sells their pastries at a few coffee shops and pop-ups throughout Calgary.
F I N E S S E D E S S E R T S
#32, 7337 Macleod Trail SW
Calgary, AB
(587) 777-8010
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Located close to Chinook Centre, Finesse Desserts is a relatively new bakery. It's absolutely gorgeous inside, with a wall decorated entirely in roses. There's a lot of sweet, ornate details that just goes to highlight how pretty their desserts are.
SC got two of their individual glazed cakes ($7.75 each). The red cake was named passion, with raspberry mousse, passion fruit, and a pistachio base. The pink cake was the fairytale, with vanilla mousse, pineapple, and a coconut sponge base. The two macarons ($2.25 each) were mini egg and papaya & Prosecco.
Although the desserts were really pretty, they were just too sweet for us (and I have a pretty sweet tooth). The macarons especially almost didn't have any flavour besides sugar.
However, we did very much enjoy their canelés ($2.25). It was our first time trying this small French cake but I could see them quickly becoming my new obsession.
Canelés are flavoured with rum and vanilla and baked in a fluted mold. The outside is crunchy and caramelized while the inside is soft and almost custard-like.
Too bad I can't find any bakery that makes them in Edmonton T_T.
K A T S U T E N
3220 28 St SW
Calgary, AB
(403) 475-1677
Dinner came next, so we were off to a very unassuming strip mall in southwest Calgary. Katsuten specializes in Japanese katsu, or deep fried cutlets.
Although many characterize it as a hidden gem, the secret is definitely out. Because it's a small restaurant, it was packed when we arrived. Make a reservation or get there early!
AL joined us for dinner and ordered the yaki udon ($12.90), stir-fried udon noodles with carrots, mushrooms, onions, and your choice of chicken or beef. Katsuten seems to have taken this dish off their menu recently, but it looked like a pretty tasty, solid bowl of noodles.
SC and I both opted for the assorted katsu plate ($18.90): two pieces of cheese cutlet, two pieces of prawn, and a smaller pork tenderloin cutlet. It also comes with a bowl of rice, miso soup, shredded cabbage, and sauce.
Katsuten uses fresh breadcrumbs from Glamorgan Bakery (who also sell amazing cheese buns fyi) and you could really taste the difference it makes. The breading is crispy but it almost has a fluffy, airy texture. I'm the type to get tired of eating one thing easily so it was nice to have a variety with the assorted plate. With the cheese cutlet in particular, it was almost too rich so I couldn't imagine ordering the full entree portion to myself.
Overall, Katsuten lives up to the hype. They stick to one thing, and they do it well.
That concludes another gluttonous day in Calgary! Until the next one!
- CT
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