Affair to rememberReviewed by:
chomp!craig
on Apr. 27, 2009
I got one of those invitations by email, for an event at Belgo Brasserie, to celebrate their 4th anniversary. You know the ones. I think, for the most part, I didn’t give them much credit because of my restaurant experiences over the years. I guess that there was also that side of me that thought “the guy that brought us Cowboy’s can’t really create a beautiful dining experience!” Can he?
I had heard from a very good friend who has become somewhat of a regular as of late, that her experience was phenomenal and she has continued to feel especially significant each and every occasion since the first time. So when Lorry corresponded with me and extended the invitation to come down early(I just couldn’t make the evening affair)I had a slight eagerness to find that little something unique, right here in Calgary. I did have high hopes as well as my grave hunger to satisfy, so it was a tall order. Never mind that my good friend that was joining me, is also a high maintenance kind of guy, so we tend to easily offend timid staff.
We were greeted by two very pleasant, young ladies, who were expecting us and then called me by my last name. Shardey and I had met once when I stopped in briefly weeks prior and she remembered me immediately.(Obviously, my severely Scandinavian good looks!) Since I had never been to Belgo, when she asked where we wanted to sit, I had little idea except to say “ I like to see the whole restaurant”. On the way we were treated to a quick tour of the restaurant and then brought to the best table in the entire restaurant(for our tastes anyway)! We were sat at a high table that over looked the main floor. This allowed us to get right into people watching mode.
Shardey offered us one of the 59 choices of beers as soon as we sat, but if you like beer, this will take a little more time to determine than the allotted one minute given. Luckily, she was able to advise us, based on our past experiences and we eagerly awaited our bubbly Belgian beverages. I was having Leffe and my friend had ordered the peach flavored Lambic Ale(kind of sweet, but that is his thing). Both were very satisfying and flavorful.
After hearing more about Shardey and some of her travels, we both decided that we were getting hungry. The description of the Club Maison was too tempting so I ordered it, while my friend had the “Man salad”. That wasn’t the name but what Shardey called it and we loved the description. This meat salad was a lamb chop, sausage and chicken with some small greens and blue cheese dressing(had to be on the side for my delicate friend). The food really looked great as Shardey climbed the stairs with our meals for the 200th time. My sandwich was fresh and seemed as if it was prepared with love, by people like CJ and Shaun(we met them during the course of the preparations for the evening event). The “Man salad” must have been good because my high maintenance friend only said mmmm, mmmm, through the whole lunch.
Preparations continued while we were treated to the sights and sounds of Belgo and guests on this early afternoon on Thursday. Every person(and there were many) made us feel as if we were missing the second coming, by not attending the Anniversary event! The management and staff had really rallied behind this event. It was quite infectious!
Belgo and all of it’s treasures, from Shardey to the management, unique décor to the red velvet swing, never mind the 59 beer choices, really are an escape from the sometimes mundane dining choices. When I think back, it was the experiences, stories and the wonderful smiles from the staff that really made me want to return soon and often. Thank you for the micro vacation Shardey and friends!