Undercover Gourmet

A weekend in Calgary with good friends and good food can only end with good results.

Avenue Diner was our choice for brunch. Located in the heart of downtown Calgary it was only a stone’s throw away from the hotel. As we ran into this small and narrow diner, escaping from the dreadful May rain, we were greeted by a mouth-watering picture of baked macaroni and cheese. Not even seated in the dining room yet, I already knew what to consider ordering. Visual media you’ve done it again!

The menu is simple and straightforward, yet there is nothing simple about the dishes offered here. What was complicated, was deciding on what to order. Everything looked delicious! Luckily, no strenuous decisions were to be made. Several of us wanted to try the same dishes and were more than happy to share, another reason to dine with many close friends. We ordered: Avenue Florentine Eggs Benny with Organic Spinach, Smoked Bacon and Garlic Roasted Shallots; Three-Cheese Grilled Cheese with Danish Fontina, Aged White Cheddar and Double Cream Brie; Dad’s Famous Aged White Cheddar Mac and Cheese with Truffle Oil and Mushrooms.

Avenue Diner has the right to boast being “the superhero of comfort food”. Each dish was spectacular, everything was fresh, and it was all very comforting. The egg on the Benedict was poached to perfection and the sauce was light yet rich in flavor, the grilled cheese had the most complimenting medley of creamy cheeses, and the mac and cheese (although not advertised exactly as the photo out front) was familiar yet modern with the truffle oil adding an upscale twist.

Overall, I was impressed by the relaxed ambiance and service of this stylish little diner. Thanks to the company of friends with similar taste buds, I had the joy of sampling all (well almost all, there was an Avenue Stuffed French Toast that we couldn’t possibly have crammed in) the desired dishes without causing any stress. I shall return, for the French Toast of course…

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Not often do you find something so delicate in a place so rough. To be very honest, Asian supermarkets scare me, and yes it’s scary even though I’m Chinese Canadian. There is usually shouting, it can sometimes get pushy, and if you hover around the cheap produce, there is a chance you will get run over by a shopping basket. All fears aside, it is worth braving the aggressive crowd at T&T Supermarket for a fresh mango cake.

Assembled with such care and attention to detail, this cake is as delicate as it tastes. Thin slices of mango wrap around moist layers of vanilla sponge cake and cream filling. The top is decorated with diced fruits and coated with a glaze. Light, airy, and not too sweet, it is easy to polish off a quarter of this cake in a blink of an eye, which is ideal since the fresh mango will not last long.

A 10″ cake sells for $22.99. Order 1 day in advance and receive 10% off.

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