Calgary Food, coffee, etc. - Page 359

Rusty van Reddick · #**7161** Posted **Dec 16, 2014, 10:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by flipstah

I have a feeling it'll be like a WURST setup: bakery and fine dining at top; rowdiness at the bottom.

Wrong. There is no "bottom." Basement is staff lockers, wine and beer storage. No "bottom."

Rusty van Reddick · #**7162** Posted **Dec 16, 2014, 10:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Stardust*

So does that mean the bakery will close shop at lunch time? What if I want a croissant at like 8pm?

Flipstah was assuming something that is absolutely not the case. There is no bottom to the place and this is not like Wurst. If it works like most bakeries in the world there'll be an AM and a PM bake and if you want that croissant you'll be able to get it if they don't run out.

flipstah · #**7163** Posted **Dec 16, 2014, 10:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Stardust*

So does that mean the bakery will close shop at lunch time? What if I want a croissant at like 8pm?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rusty van Reddick

Wrong. There is no "bottom." Basement is staff lockers, wine and beer storage. No "bottom."

No bottom? Okay.

---

I called Fratello and they said the concept will change throughout the day. Just reporting what was told.

Rusty van Reddick · #**7164** Posted **Dec 16, 2014, 10:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by flipstah

[No bottom? Okay.

---

I called Fratello and they said the concept will change throughout the day. Just reporting what was told.

yeah no bottom- works out better than you might expect.

I get that the concept will change but the idea that it's a dining room up and party downstairs is wrong since there is no downstairs at least not open to public aside from restrooms (which are NICE).

flipstah · #**7165** Posted **Dec 16, 2014, 11:03 PM**

Anyone know if Hy's is open yet? I'm going to gorge at Itza Bakery on Friday.

Rusty van Reddick · #**7166** Posted **Dec 16, 2014, 11:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by flipstah

Anyone know if Hy's is open yet? I'm going to gorge at Itza Bakery on Friday.

Yep they're open. Get the almond croissants and the royale (if they haven't sold out) at Itza. You won't believe how good these are, as good as Yann's and that is really a high bar to compare.

flipstah · #**7167** Posted **Dec 16, 2014, 11:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rusty van Reddick

Yep they're open. Get the almond croissants and the royale (if they haven't sold out) at Itza. You won't believe how good these are, as good as Yann's and that is really a high bar to compare.

Yann's is awesome so quite excited now.

Fuzz · #**7168** Posted **Dec 16, 2014, 11:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rusty van Reddick

Do you have a gluten allergy, like the owner of Big Star, who will die of anaphylaxis if he consumes even a tiny bit of it (akin to a peanut allergy), or are you celiac? I know Ben Put (the barista champ) is celiac, has been his entire life, and I've absolutely seen him eating at restos that didn't have separate kitchens. Anyway I know what a pain this can be but you can't expect a place that identifies first as a bakery that makes traditional wheat based breads and pastries to ever be the sort of place a celiac or gluten allergic person would dine. There are so many more options for gluten free nowadays but I say again a bakery is the last place you'd think to ask (unless the bakery is completely gluten free in which case, again and sorry but obviously, gluten free is impossible).

I'm celiac. I wasn't "expecting" anything, I was just asking. There are plenty of places I can eat at. I was just in Italy, and found a few restaurants that maintained a separate gluten free kitchen. Given this is a bakery/restaurant, and a lot of places ARE catering to gluten free these days, I thought I'd ask. It certainly wouldn't be impossible to have a separate gluten free kitchen/baking area.

hulkrogan · #**7169** Posted **Dec 17, 2014, 4:10 PM**

whoops, wrong thread

Rusty van Reddick · #**7170** Posted **Dec 17, 2014, 6:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fuzz

I'm celiac. I wasn't "expecting" anything, I was just asking. There are plenty of places I can eat at. I was just in Italy, and found a few restaurants that maintained a separate gluten free kitchen. Given this is a bakery/restaurant, and a lot of places ARE catering to gluten free these days, I thought I'd ask. It certainly wouldn't be impossible to have a separate gluten free kitchen/baking area.

Noted. Ask them.

Innersoul1 · #**7171** Posted **Dec 18, 2014, 6:03 PM**

I had the pleasure of having lunch at Bocce yesterday. I must say that I was really impressed. It was more of a light lunch. Kristen and I shared the Calamari (cooked with arugula, fennel and a balsamic reduction - $13) and the Calazone served with pickled eggplant and banana peppers $10).

The calamari was perfect, I haven't had calamari that great in a long time. Light, fluffy breading, not rubbery and the portion of arugula was generous. The dough on the calazone was awesome, cooked to golden perfection and the filling of Italian sausage and pepperoni was ample. The pickled eggplant and peppers was a nice addition to add some complexity and spice.

I really like how more and more restaurants are offering sparkling water as an option. At Bocce it is offered at no additional charge. Service was prompt and friendly. $24 before tip I thought it was a fantastic value.

Spring2008 · #**7172** Posted **Dec 18, 2014, 10:10 PM**

Anybody know what's opening at the former Marble Slab location on 17th?

Also, lots of work going on at the former The Park sales centre close to Model Milk, resto opening there?

dazzlingdave88 · #**7173** Posted **Dec 18, 2014, 10:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Innersoul1

The calamari was perfect, I haven't had calamari that great in a long time. Light, fluffy breading, not rubbery and the portion of arugula was generous. The dough on the calazone was awesome, cooked to golden perfection and the filling of Italian sausage and pepperoni was ample. The pickled eggplant and peppers was a nice addition to add some complexity and spice.

I agree! My wife and I shared it, it is fantastic!

*Stardust* · #**7174** Posted **Dec 18, 2014, 11:06 PM**

Not sure where to post this, cause there isn't a specific sheesha section ;p

Looks like there's lots of work happening in the basement level of Fire & Ice on 16th avenue. Between the main entrance of Fire & Ice and the Smith sales centre. Anyone know if they are expanding or what?

Rusty van Reddick · #**7175** Posted **Dec 18, 2014, 11:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spring2008

Anybody know what's opening at the former Marble Slab location on 17th?

New resto called Tuk Tuk Thai.

Rusty van Reddick · #**7176** Posted **Dec 19, 2014, 5:31 PM**

Wow, that was fast- Carino in Mission is now open. It's the space that used to be Antonio's Garlic Clove, and good riddance.

fusili · #**7177** Posted **Dec 19, 2014, 5:44 PM**

I'll post this here. Taste Kitchen (previously Ric's Grill) in Emerald stone seems to have swapped out (or removed film) the dark green reflective glass from the windows and replaced with a transparent glazing. HUGE improvement. Restaurants should be designed to draw interest into the space, not shut everyone out. This isn't just an urban design feature, it is good restaurant design. I feel Ric's (or ProCura) made a terrible decision to have reflective glazing on the restaurant. Compare to a place like Bocce- when you walk by, you want to go in. Especially at a location such as 8th street, you need to draw people in from the street. You don't do that by making the place look dark and empty.

On a related note, I think Best Buy does a similarly terrible job of this. When you look up from the street you should see tons of large screen TVs and other electronics through the 2nd floor windows. It should make you want to go up and see them. Instead they have essentially covered the windows and have product on the other side.

flipstah · #**7178** Posted **Dec 19, 2014, 6:24 PM**

Finally went to Itza Bakeshop and initially, I had trouble finding it.

The Devenish isn't inviting to patrons at all. I finally got in and had an almond croissant

Will return but man, weird location. Terrible imo.

McMurph · #**7179** Posted **Dec 19, 2014, 6:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by flipstah

Finally went to Itza Bakeshop and initially, I had trouble finding it.

The Devenish isn't inviting to patrons at all. I finally got in and had an almond croissant

Will return but man, weird location. Terrible imo.

I work in the building and love it, and love Itza. It's definitely an odd spot for a bakery and I was worried for her when she started it up. She seems to have a business model that doesn't require random walk-in customers.

It isn't a terrible location, it's a great location that could fail epically if you have wrong business model.

flipstah · #**7180** Posted **Dec 19, 2014, 8:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by McMurph

I work in the building and love it, and love Itza. It's definitely an odd spot for a bakery and I was worried for her when she started it up. She seems to have a business model that doesn't require random walk-in customers.

It isn't a terrible location, it's a great location that could fail epically if you have wrong business model.

I was thinking that as well. Her approach seems to be reliant on catering, and the retail side is just an add-on so it's like an office.

It was weird because there's no exterior advertising for her bakery. Only when you get in that you see it.

I love the building but its not inviting for random traffic. Then again judging by the stores within, random traffic isn't a priority so if it works. It works.