Resurrection

If you should find yourself in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and you're looking for a truly worthwhile dining experience, then make your way to The Block Kitchen & Lounge in the city's Northwest. The Block occupies the space that was home to Rembrandt's Pub & Grill for 27 years or so. The less said about that place the better, but know that it was very tired and needed to be put to rest. The new venue is fresh, inviting, and decorated with a deft touch that feels both casual and elegant at the same time.

Inviting Environment

With luck, you'll run into Kai Salimäki, your energetic and outgoing restaurateur, and what appears to be the driving force behind this outstanding operation. This is not Kai's first rodeo, and it shows. I really didn't want to write this post as a review at all, and instead wanted to use this new restaurant in a rapidly redeveloping neighborhood as a springboard for a treatise on urban rebirth. Travellers rarely see this process in action, but often benefit from it. Unfortunately for me as a writer, Kai kept setting food of such distinction in front of us that I've been robbed of my first plan, and have now been forced to expound on the food. Damn him!

Coolest Light Bulbs EVER - But I Digress...

The older you get, the harder it is to be surprised. There is no greater honor that can be bestowed upon a chef than to say that he or she surprised you. To taste a forkful of something and not have a ready-made dusty pigeonhole of past taste memories to file it in, is as good as it gets. The Lobster Ravioli for instance needed a shiny new spot on the shelf of food experiences in my mind. It featured a subtle and delicate combination of flavors that let the easily overpowered taste of lobster hold the spotlight.

Lobster Ravioli - Wow, that's...NEW!

Vicky had the Steak Sandwich, which held down the fort at the opposite end of the taste spectrum with a powerhouse explosion of "umami". (For those of you not glued to the Food Network all day, umami is a word borrowed from Japanese -- roughly translated as "deliciousness" -- and is the fifth taste. It's often described as savory, meaty, and satisfying). Once again, neither Vicky nor I had ever tasted anything quite like it. Two for two.

A Surprising Steak Sandwich

Then came the Calamari (expertly cooked, and the pickled red onion was a well chosen counterpoint). We rank it in the top three we've ever had, and that number includes the Calamari at the incomparable Sorrisi in Cozumel, Mexico. Trust us, this is high praise.

Calamari - Crunchy Outside, Tender Inside

We also sampled the Deep Fried Pickle Chips (piping hot, perfectly acidic, and slightly spicy) and on an earlier visit, a Cubano Flatbread Sandwich lunch special (a fiesta of contrasts in texture, temperature, and taste), as well as the Prawn Po' Boy. All hits - no misses.

Fried Dill Pickle Chips

There are plenty of great options for the craft beer fan and we thoroughly enjoyed the St Ambroise Oatmeal Stout, and the heavily hopped Wild Rose IPA, both on tap, as well as the Village Blacksmith in a bottle. You'll find an extensive and varied wine list here as well. While our visits were during quiet times of the day, we found the staff to be happy, pleasant, and clearly invested in making the place a success.

The Wine Selection

While what's taken Rembrandt's place is completely different in every way that matters, a single gene was passed onto The Block from it's deceased ancestor. Like Rembrandt's, The Block has VLT's (Video Lottery Terminals, which is Government-Speak in Canada for slot machines). Do NOT let this throw you. We've been there twice, and we still haven't seen them. We have no idea where they are, and we don't care. (Gambling is just a tax levied against people that can't do math anyway).

The real "payoff" here for you and me is that the presence of the VLT's (wherever they are) means that minors are utterly forbidden to be on the premises. Period. So those adults among us that -- for whatever reason -- would prefer to enjoy their dining experience only in the company of other adults, are safe at The Block. (Insert dreamy, contented, sigh of happiness here).

The Menu Of The Moment - Expect Regular Updates

There's real value to be had at The Block, but remember that value doesn't necessarily imply inexpensive. That said, any day that I can put something brand new into my mental collection of taste experiences is a day, and a restaurant tab, well spent.

Fox & Vicky