CALGARY: Sharing at FARM

I can see why FARM has been an early favourite of many of my friends who live around 17th Ave SW. It’s a cozy, farmhouse-chic setup with an open kitchen and candles in mismatched teacups.

FARM is the restaurant extension of Janice Beaton Fine Cheese around the corner. So no surprise that cheese and charcuterie have their own separate menu (1 for $5.50, 3 for $15 and 5 for $25) here.

The cutting board comes sliced baguette and cute little accompaniments (pickles, chutneys, grainy mustards etc.)for each of your cheese/meats. I enjoyed the smokey chimney sticks (duh, I guess that’s why they’re named that) from Canmore’s Valbella Meats and the housemade lamb liver pate.

The meat/cheeses concept is gold mine but it is a great way to snack and share and enjoy some wine.

Which brings me to their thoughtfully selected wine and beer list. The very friendly servers are more than happy to help you pick one if you can’t decide.

The menu and chalkboard specials are set up to encourage sharing, so come here with people you like.

I enjoy the surprise of each day’s specials that can range from “Rocky Mountain oysters” ($8), deliciously breaded and deep-fried so you barely remember they’re simply bull’s testicles, to in-house smoked Alberta trout.

FARM shines in the confidence of its comfort foods such as a bubbling mac and cheese (small $10, large $13) blanketed by slightly spicy, baked breadcrumbs.

The BLT salad ($12) defies you to put your fork down with a shower of grated three-year raw cheddar, double-smoked bacon, tomato, honey mustard vinaigrette and butter leaf lettuce I didn’t know could have flavour.

— From my review this week in Metro Calgary

The main plates are small-ish, enough to fill you up if you have a small appetite or aren’t that hungry. But again, get a few and share! I liked the honey-brined quail ($18) with Hotchkiss swiss chard and Brassica mustard demi-glace, but it may not be for people who don’t like bones (wusses).

FARM, 1006-17th Ave. SW, Calgary, (403) 245-2276. Open Monday to Wednesday & Sunday 11 a.m.-2 p.m., 5-11 p.m., Thursday to Saturday 11 a.m.-2p.m., 5 p.m.-1 a.m.