Cuisine: Italian, Celiac Friendly
Neighborhood: Victoria Park
Price: $$ Affordable
Atmosphere: Fine Dining, Casual Fine Dining
Payment Types: Cash, Interac, Visa, MC, AMEX
IN THEIR OWN WORDS...
A divine Italian bistro located in the historic Dafoe building, La Vita creates modern Italian fare in an inviting and sleek setting. Situated just steps from the Olympic Saddledome, Calgary Roundup Center and new Stampede Casino, we are at the heart of Victoria Crossing's revitalization.
With tables spread over 3 rooms, we are an ideal choice to host celebrations, meetings and functions in addition to casual lunches and intimate dinners. Our enticing menu and extensive wine list will make your experience at La Vita e Bella unforgettable.
CHOMP! SAYS...
La Vita e Bella is a comfortably elegant restaurant located adjacent to the Stampede grounds in the revitalized neighbourhood of Victoria Park.
LVeB serves modern Italian cuisine and serves it well by taking some classic dishes and adding their own distinct Canadian twist. The caprese salad, for instance, designed to be a sharing plate, starts with a bed of fresh arugula, topped with locally sourced grape and vine-ripened yellow tomatoes and imported buffalo mozzarella direct from Italy and finishes with the house-made, balsamic-maple reduction which offsets the crunch and peppery character of the arugula. A must try.
Other great dishes include the black spaghetti with scallops, prawns, clams, calamari and mussels set atop fresh spaghetti blackened by squid ink. It may sound, well, interesting, but it's delicious none the less. The gnocchi fan is well taken care of as well with the ricotta gnocchi dish being made fresh in-house with roasted russet potatoes and sheeps ricotta and served with double smoked bacon, cherry tomatoes, basil and a spicy tomato sauce.
For all you celiacs out there, or even just those watching their gluten intake, La Vita e Bella is your place when you're craving Italian. The team at LVeB sympathizes but also recognizes that this condition doesn't condemn diners to bland dishes or strangely modified cuisine. A special menu of over 20 items has been specially designed with you in mind.
Newly renovated, the restaurant offers three separate dining rooms, one or all of which may be hired out for special functions and events. The first, the front room, presents diners with simple, understated elegance - clean and comfortable with an exposed brick wall and stretched canvas hangings. The second and smallest offers more privacy, while the third, the function room, seats up to 25 and is ideal for family reunions or smaller corporate events.
An east-facing, two level patio overlooks the stampede grounds and seats 80.
Parking is available in La Vita's private lot and plenty of free street parking can be found after 6pm as well.
Reservations are recommended. Dress code is casual, business casual - no ripped jeans or t-shirts please.
CHOMP! RECOMMENDS...
Antipasto: Caprese Salad
Primi: Black Spaghetti or Ricotta Gnocchi
MEET THE CHEF...
Douglas Stassi, Head Chef, La Vita e Bella, Calgary
Did you have a mentor getting started? Who do you admire in the restaurant industry today?
There was always the one guy in every new kitchen that seemed to be a bit better, faster, more advanced that the others and each one of those guys was completely different from the guy in the previous kitchen. As long as I payed attention I was always learning. Those are also the guys I always admired.
From where do you source your ingredients?
Some of our ingredients we get direct from Italy, like the buffalo mozzarella. A lot of what we use comes from Calgary's local Italian & farmers markets. Other Items are purchased from various Calgary suppliers.
Awareness and incidence of Celiac Disease seems to be a growing concern. What precautions do you take and what dishes do you like to prepare for those with this condition?
We have an extensive gluten free menu with more than 20 menu choices.
What was the concept behind the menu?
Uncomplicated, fresh italian food where there isn't too many ingredients in each dish and the basic flavors of each ingredient shine through.
Aside from your own, what are some of your favourite restaurants and why?
Anywhere that makes an awesome authentic sandwich also authentic ethnic restaurants i.e. Indian, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, German etc (places that aren't too westernized).
Do you have a favorite dish for friends/family?
BBQ with friends and family is always a great time.
What's your favourite ingredient?
onion
What other food trends have you noticed recently?
Lighter, healthier, organic, local choices.
Coffee or tea, and from where?
Coffee, melbourne australia
Where else in the world have you practiced? How do the preparation and presentation styles differ between there and Calgary?
A few places in Canada, Australia, & Korea. I cooked western cuisine in all those place so most aspects of the preparation and presentation were very similar in the majority of the restaurants I worked. I think those styles vary more based on the cuisine and not the country each particular cuisine is prepared in.
A divine Italian bistro located in the historic Dafoe building, La Vita creates modern Italian fare in an inviting and sleek setting. Situated just steps from the Olympic Saddledome, Calgary Roundup Center and new Stampede Casino, we are at the heart of Victoria Crossing's revitalization.
With tables spread over 3 rooms, we are an ideal choice to host celebrations, meetings and functions in addition to casual lunches and intimate dinners. Our enticing menu and extensive wine list will make your experience at La Vita e Bella unforgettable.
CHOMP! SAYS...
La Vita e Bella is a comfortably elegant restaurant located adjacent to the Stampede grounds in the revitalized neighbourhood of Victoria Park.
LVeB serves modern Italian cuisine and serves it well by taking some classic dishes and adding their own distinct Canadian twist. The caprese salad, for instance, designed to be a sharing plate, starts with a bed of fresh arugula, topped with locally sourced grape and vine-ripened yellow tomatoes and imported buffalo mozzarella direct from Italy and finishes with the house-made, balsamic-maple reduction which offsets the crunch and peppery character of the arugula. A must try.
Other great dishes include the black spaghetti with scallops, prawns, clams, calamari and mussels set atop fresh spaghetti blackened by squid ink. It may sound, well, interesting, but it's delicious none the less. The gnocchi fan is well taken care of as well with the ricotta gnocchi dish being made fresh in-house with roasted russet potatoes and sheeps ricotta and served with double smoked bacon, cherry tomatoes, basil and a spicy tomato sauce.
For all you celiacs out there, or even just those watching their gluten intake, La Vita e Bella is your place when you're craving Italian. The team at LVeB sympathizes but also recognizes that this condition doesn't condemn diners to bland dishes or strangely modified cuisine. A special menu of over 20 items has been specially designed with you in mind.
Newly renovated, the restaurant offers three separate dining rooms, one or all of which may be hired out for special functions and events. The first, the front room, presents diners with simple, understated elegance - clean and comfortable with an exposed brick wall and stretched canvas hangings. The second and smallest offers more privacy, while the third, the function room, seats up to 25 and is ideal for family reunions or smaller corporate events.
An east-facing, two level patio overlooks the stampede grounds and seats 80.
Parking is available in La Vita's private lot and plenty of free street parking can be found after 6pm as well.
Reservations are recommended. Dress code is casual, business casual - no ripped jeans or t-shirts please.
CHOMP! RECOMMENDS...
Antipasto: Caprese Salad
Primi: Black Spaghetti or Ricotta Gnocchi
MEET THE CHEF...
Douglas Stassi, Head Chef, La Vita e Bella, Calgary
Did you have a mentor getting started? Who do you admire in the restaurant industry today?
There was always the one guy in every new kitchen that seemed to be a bit better, faster, more advanced that the others and each one of those guys was completely different from the guy in the previous kitchen. As long as I payed attention I was always learning. Those are also the guys I always admired.
From where do you source your ingredients?
Some of our ingredients we get direct from Italy, like the buffalo mozzarella. A lot of what we use comes from Calgary's local Italian & farmers markets. Other Items are purchased from various Calgary suppliers.
Awareness and incidence of Celiac Disease seems to be a growing concern. What precautions do you take and what dishes do you like to prepare for those with this condition?
We have an extensive gluten free menu with more than 20 menu choices.
What was the concept behind the menu?
Uncomplicated, fresh italian food where there isn't too many ingredients in each dish and the basic flavors of each ingredient shine through.
Aside from your own, what are some of your favourite restaurants and why?
Anywhere that makes an awesome authentic sandwich also authentic ethnic restaurants i.e. Indian, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, German etc (places that aren't too westernized).
Do you have a favorite dish for friends/family?
BBQ with friends and family is always a great time.
What's your favourite ingredient?
onion
What other food trends have you noticed recently?
Lighter, healthier, organic, local choices.
Coffee or tea, and from where?
Coffee, melbourne australia
Where else in the world have you practiced? How do the preparation and presentation styles differ between there and Calgary?
A few places in Canada, Australia, & Korea. I cooked western cuisine in all those place so most aspects of the preparation and presentation were very similar in the majority of the restaurants I worked. I think those styles vary more based on the cuisine and not the country each particular cuisine is prepared in.
This restaurant delivers for food and beverage. The meals are worth every penny you pay.
I am not a wine drinker but those I have enjoyed this venue with have been pleased with the selection.
Service is freindly and casual, some are better... Continue Reading >
I am not a wine drinker but those I have enjoyed this venue with have been pleased with the selection.
Service is freindly and casual, some are better... Continue Reading >
My husband and I ate here for our Aniversary. Neither of us were that impressed. I had the valentines day menu and my husband ordered off the regular menu. My pasta dish was really good but it's not on the regular menu. My main dish was not...
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Made in Canada.