Where better to spend an afternoon than eating at the River Café in the heart of Calgary- that is, if you count the heart of Calgary as Prince’s Island Park. In all honesty, if you’re truly Calgarian you’d have to agree! If not, then at least Prince’s Island Park is a vital organ. Speaking of bodily organs, when I think of the River Café, I think of a satisfied stomach. I was graciously given the opportunity and privilege to dine at the River Café, and without exaggeration, it was an absolutely phenomenal meal.
I started by testing my palette with the Fish and Game Board. It was a harmonic composition of candied salmon, potted rabbit, duck liver pate, smoked bison, smoked steelhead lox, Sylvan Star gouda, and homemade crackers. There was a symphony of flavour on this plate; everything complimented each other. From the sharpness of the bison to the delicacy of the rabbit, the entire dish presented itself in an abstract clash of flavours that gave you the freedom to mix and match, creating one-of-a-kind experiences for your taste buds.
Up next was the Bite Ranch Grass Finished Beef Tartare. Rare beef complimented with smoked pablano pepper sauce, watermelon radish slices, cured egg yolk shavings, verjus gelée (a fancy way to say vinegar jello) and potato crisps fried in duck fat. I’ve been a medium-rare kind of guy my entire life, but this beef tartare definitely changed my perspective. I was skeptical at first but almost immediately after my first taste, I couldn’t resist the urge to dive in. What I thought was a great display of complimentary flavours in the appetizer was minuscule in comparison to the tartare. The beef itself was delicate, but with such distinct additions, the entire dish painted a culinary Starry Night; the van Gogh of cuisine. The beef paired superbly with everything; the richness of the yolk, the bite of the sauce, the saltiness of the chips, the little tang of the gelée, the freshness of the radish slices. I wisely chose to savour as opposed to devour the dish, as tempted as I was. Individually, every single bite offered different pieces to a perfectly painted picture. As a whole, it was a masterful medley of bite-after-bite exquisiteness.
Continuing on, the crab arancini was a new addition to the menu and a great addition to my stomach. Rich crab balls topped with smooth sauce and caviar meant only one thing: room would be made in my stomach for these. The crab balls were still steaming after biting into them, yet the sauce was right there ready to soothe. The caviar provided mini bursts of delicacy, quite the oxymoron but once you taste it you’d understand. This dish was simple yet it presented a palatable array of savoury goodness.
Finally, dessert came. In a mesmerising draw towards the three different chocolate items in front of me, I could have sworn “dessert” could be rearranged to spell “decadence.” Though it unfortunately can’t, there’s nothing stopping this dessert to be decadent! Homemade chocolate marshmallow Smores with dark chocolate, chocolate lava cake with a berry reduction, and a couple of chocolate almond macaroons to top it off. Simply delectable.
I would like to once again thank The River Café for such an amazing experience, for my eyes (and mouth) have been opened to an entirely new exhibit of cuisine. If you’re looking for a new place to go eat, the River Café should undoubtedly be your first choice. Stay tuned next week for the story behind the River Café.