are you gonna eat that? » tapas

RICHMOND: Gudrun wine bar

are you gonna eat that? — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 01:55:06 +0000

Gudrun fromagerie and wine bar is literally a hidden gem in Steveston. It’s down an alley protected by a big tree, and as its website states “tucked behind the Filipino karaoke hair salon.”

It’s unique for many reasons. In an area dominated by seafood restaurants and coffee shops, Gudrun is a cool spot for [...]

VICTORIA: Ferris’ Oyster Bar

are you gonna eat that? — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 01:23:34 +0000

Victoria is a fantastic food destination with many brew pubs and little bistros. We tried to hit one of the local brunch hotspots but the lineups were just way too unwieldy to risk with a hungry toddler. I wish we had more time and less baby to explore the city properly, but I’m sure [...]

CALGARY: Vin Room

are you gonna eat that? — Tue, 17 May 2011 18:00:28 +0000

Vin Room is a place I wish I visited more before we moved. It’s got great small plates, amazing wines (and wine experts), a beautiful space and the city’s best rooftop patio. (Best patio still belongs to Bonterra.)

I have to apologize for these meh photos as my blogging commitment took a back seat [...]

CALGARY: Artisan Bistro

are you gonna eat that? — Sun, 15 May 2011 17:01:56 +0000

UPDATE – Summer 2011: Artisan Bistro is now closed.

Artisan Bistro is one of those quaint independent places that I really want to love. It’s a quiet European bistro with a decidedly civilized setting. It recently stopped serving dinner to focus on all-day brunch with a Spanish/French menu.

First the pros. There is lots of choice on [...]

CALGARY: Tango Bistro

are you gonna eat that? — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 14:00:00 +0000

I dread restaurants that say they specialize in “sharing plates,” “small plates,” or tapas. A lot of the time, it’s a token concept that brings small portions and high prices, mediocre cold cuts or overly fussy concoctions.

So I was leery of Tango Bistro, the latest venture from the Smuggler’s Group that runs Smuggler’s Inn, Open [...]

CALGARY: Sharing at FARM

are you gonna eat that? — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 15:00:52 +0000

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 [...]

CALGARY: Anju

are you gonna eat that? — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 16:16:04 +0000

This is how I always start off describing Anju: “You know those two round condo towers downtown near the Bow? The ones that look like Miami Vice?

“OK, and you know how there’s a big liquor store on the corner? Go down that dead-end street, and Anju is in the little house.”

Now that you [...]

CALGARY: Milk Tiger Lounge

are you gonna eat that? — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 17:00:54 +0000

I began taking photos of Milk Tiger Lounge as the sun was setting outside, but then the dapper bartender/owners started serving me their delicious cocktails and the rest is history.

The lounge is as polar opposite as you can get from the space formerly occupied by A Bar Named Sue, as well as from the [...]

CALGARY: winebar, a sweet underground spot

are you gonna eat that? — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 05:46:54 +0000

Before I could get to the little crepe place on my mental list of places to try in Kensington, the basement space had closed and was papered up for months.

I didn’t think anything of it until some tidy lettering went up late this summer. “winebar,” it read in a nice sans-serif font. A good [...]

CALGARY: Vero, the truth of the matter

are you gonna eat that? — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 02:57:25 +0000

There’s a reason respected, professional critics are paid to visit restaurants anonymously three, four or five times before they form and publish a critique.

Restaurants live or die by reviews and to be judged on one visit, where the kitchen or servers may be having an off day, could be fatal. However, most of us are [...]