FARM

Eating well on the road can be a challenge if you don't do your homework. I’ve been away quite a bit this summer. One trip took me to Alberta for my baby brother’s wedding. Following the celebrations, my hubby and I took a little road trip around Alberta. We covered quite a bit of ground in the 4 days that we had to explore. As I haven’t spent too much time in my adult years in Alberta, the big question was: where should we eat? A month or so before we left I quizzed a friend of Amberley’s who is a real foodie and who also went to school in Alberta. She made some wonderful suggestions but the one that I really feel the need to share is Farm, located in Calgary.

We had only one night in Calgary and after checking out their website (http://farm-restaurant.com), I knew it was the one restaurant on this trip that I HAD to try. Their whole philosophy is that they use local suppliers, they are inspired by the foods produced in Alberta and they work with farmers who care for their animals and the land. Sounds right up my alley! I was stoked! The only problem is... when you have really high expectations for something, it’s really easy to be disappointed.

Well, I won’t keep you in suspense. It was a marvelous experience and actually went above and beyond any expectations that I possibly could’ve had. Here’s how it all went down:

We rolled into town and basically drove right to the restaurant. We weren’t hungry but we wanted to check the place out and then spend a bit of time getting our bearings in this sprawling city. We entered the small restaurant and were greeted by the friendly, young hostess. Even though it was a Tuesday, she said that it would be very busy and that she couldn’t guarantee us a table but that she could save us a spot at the bar. The bar is a countertop that surrounds the open kitchen. Even better!

Returning a couple hours later having worked up an appetite, we were seated at our spot at the end of the bar with a full on view of the kitchen. I was in culinary heaven! My husband, JM, started with an Amber's Lunch Pail Ale and I sampled their made-in-house iced tea. I ordered the Crispy Duck. JM ordered the Silver Sage Strip Steak and the house pickles. We then sat back and watched, with great interest, the bustle of activity coming out of the small kitchen. We were perched right in front of the guy in charge of desserts and cheese plates. It took all self-control not to simply reach over and snatch up a morsel of cheese or two.

The drool must have been pooling on the countertop or something but for reasons unbeknownst to us, the chef noticed us and announced that he felt that we had been waiting too long and that something must be done. We certainly didn’t feel that we were waiting too long, however, I was never one to argue with someone thrusting food in my direction! 

To start, a round of drinks came to us. “Are you having iced tea?” My response, “Well... I can drink!” (As in alcohol.) “What do you like?” “Wine. Red.” Our server, a charming blonde Betty Boop lookalike with a 50s style hair do, dark penciled in eyebrows and bright red lips, promptly brought over the wine list and recommended a red that would complement my duck. Don’t mind if I do! 

Then the sous-chef brought both JM and I the market salad of the day. It was a salad of baby romaine with a mix of lightly sauteed mushrooms, heirloom tomatoes in a dill vinaigrette and topped with pine nuts. It was lovely! 

Market Salad

Soon after came our main courses. JM’s steak was cooked to perfection and accompanied by chimichurri sauce and herb crème fraîche as well as roasted potatoes and shallots. My duck was served, perched on a bed of micro greens with an asian inspired vinaigrette. It was topped with crispy shoestring potatoes and surrounded with a moat of Thai peanut sauce. Soooo good.

The Crispy Duck

During the course of our meal, the chef came over several times to check on us and describe the various dishes to us. He was very friendly and obviously passionate about he was doing. He apologized that we had to wait- even though, like I said, we didn’t notice. He explained that their kitchen, which was quite small, that they only had 6 burners & 2 ovens but that even so, he doesn’t like his customers to have to wait more than 15 minutes for food. The pace that he and his kitchen staff were pumping out amazing, quality dishes that were just as delicious as they were beautiful was nothing short of miraculous. I really enjoyed watching the interplay between the various staff. Although they were super busy, they were all smiles and genuinely seemed to be having a good time in that tiny kitchen. I guess that’s how you know you’re cut out for the restaurant business, your ability to handle stress with grace and humour!

Macarons

After dinner, I headed off towards the back of the restaurant where there was a full on cheese shop. I wasn’t really in a position to stock up on cheeses but it was fun to have a look! When I returned to my seat, I arrived to house-made macarons. Being a self-proclaimed connoisseur of the French macaron (as in I’ve eaten more than my fair share of them), I can assure you, they were tip top! John and I decided that we would share a dessert and have a coffee and just linger a bit to draw out this experience that we were so thoroughly enjoying. The coffee was in a French press. Made to order in our own little bodum. We had the chai carrot cake with vanilla bean icing that was garnished with a pistachio brittle. Yes, it was really as fantastic as it sounds. 

Chai Carrot Cake

As we were getting up to leave, the chef came over again wanting to ensure that we had enjoyed ourselves. He reiterated that it was so important to him that we not only enjoy the food but the experience. We thanked him profusely and assured him that we were so grateful and overjoyed. I let him know that that we had been looking forward to eating here for a while now. I explained that I was particularly interested in their establishment because of their dedication to using local suppliers and knowing where their food came from. He was happy to hear that we were of the same ilk as he not only seeks out local food for the restaurant but also at home. It was one of those happy, feel good moments that you really don’t want to end. But it did. 

Earlier in the evening, we had assured our server that we really didn’t feel like we had been made to wait and that we didn’t feel deserving of all the special attention. She mused, “I’m not sure why he has singled you two out, but I’d say: LET IT RAIN!” And that we did! It was such a great evening. It will go down in my books as one of my most memorable meals. And like the good chef said, it was just as much about the experience as the food. 

I have a feeling I will soon be spending a lot more time in Calgary. There is a food scene that needs to be explored in more detail. And if you are ever in Calgary, you must eat at FARM! I insist. You may not be the pet of the chef on that particular night, but you won't be disappointed!