Livin’ la vida locavore: Where to eat local in Calgary

Calgary has taken to the so-called locavore food trend with delicious enthusiasm. Alberta-grown and raised ingredients are featured on a host of city menus. From wild boar, lamb, duck and Angus beef to asparagus, fingerling potatoes and honey, these high-quality eats are also often organically and sustainably raised.

By Ian Doig

Rouge

1240 8 Ave SE, Calgary, AB T2G 0M7

• Phone Number
  • 403-531-2767Primary
• Directions
• Menu

With a French-inspired fine-dining menu that’s militantly local, Rouge has earned international acclaim. And far from being a starchy dining spot, Rouge is located in the very homey Deane House, a converted antique mansion that backs onto the Bow River corridor. In summer, Rouge even grows its own veggies next to its lovely outdoor patio in its sprawling side yard.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

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Lake House

747 Lake Bonavista Dr SE, Calgary, AB T2J 0N2

• Phone Number
  • 403-225-3939Primary
• Directions
• Menu

Located on lovely Lake Bonavista in the city’s deep southeast, this Canadian Resorts of the Rocky Mountains (CRMR) restaurant is almost too pretty to be true. With the complexion of a cozy mountain lodge, the second-floor dining room overlooks the lake. The menu features seasonal ingredients including some very local meats such as bison produced on the CRMR ranch near Calgary. As well, you’ll find locally farmed vegetables, chicken and more in its evolving array of dishes. Stretching the definition of local a tad, is seafood from both Canadian coasts and wild caribou from the far north.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

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Deane House

806 9 Avenue SE, Calgary, AB T2G 0S2

• Phone Number
  • 403-269-7747Primary
• Directions

Since re-opening in 2016, the historic Deane House has impressed guests with its renovated restaurant and delicious food. Those seeking out local eats will be impressed, too – the restaurant features a local, seasonal menu courtesy of executive chef Jamie Harling.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

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More from Ian Doig

Ian Doig’s week may include dim sum lunch with friends, rummaging through indie bookstore shelves as well as scribbling in his notepad at Calgary shops and farmers’ markets. It most often concludes with a relaxing Friday evening pint of locally brewed craft beer.

Terrific taco spots

The quintessential Mexican meal, tacos are also a relatively scarce commodity in Calgary. However, we’ve done some digging and unearthed the select few restaurants that make truly marvelous versions of these hand-held snacks.

10 hot and tasty summer food festivals

The city’s summer season features a delicious dance card of culinary festivals and events. Many, such as Stampede-time pancake breakfasts, are easy to access the day of, but the various tasting and tippling shindigs listed here can fill up quickly, so purchasing tickets sooner than later for these foodie festivities is recommended. Image credit: iStock.com/kasto80.

Cycling pathway pit stops

The city’s pathway system is one of the longest in North America. Given its lengthy stretches, the occasional rest and snack stop, though few and far between, are a welcome sight when walking, biking and inline skating. Here are a few restaurants, cafés and snack shacks located on or near our scenic cycling system. Image credit: iStock.com/mihailomilovanovic.